PE

3721 F4 1890 v.l Rota

,

SLANG
AND
ITS

ANALOGUES.

Seven Hundred and Fifty Copies only printed,

of which this

is

No.

SLANG

A ND

TS

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
" Americanisms

S.
"Ex

FARMER,
Oriente

AUTHOR OF
Old and

New"

Lux"

" 'Twixt

Two Worlds."

V912.

I.

-A TO

BYZ.

PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

MDCCCXC.

-'"
.

...-..,

PE

V.

The author

will

esteem

it

a favour to be furnished with examples

of cant or slang of any kind or nationality, together with quotations,

especially

early

ones,

illustrating

usage,

meaning, derivation,

etc.

All

communications may be addressed to

JOHN

S.

FARMER, care

of A. P.

WATT,

Esq.,

2,

Paternoster Square, London, E.G.

PREFATORY NOTE.
E
that undertakes to compile a dictionary, undertakes that which, if it comprehends the full extent of his design, he knows

himself

unable

to

perform.

Yet

his

labours, though deficient,

may be

useful,

his activity,

and with the hope of this inferior praise, he must incite So wrote the and solace his weariness." great lexicographer, Dr. Johnson, in the "Advertisement"
to the fourth edition of his Dictionary of the English

Language,

published in 1773.

In another place he had

classical,

already told, in

words which have since become

had encountered, and of his own estimate of the shortcomings of his work as compared with the original design. It is in very much the same position that I find myself, now that I have completed the first instalment of my own task, smaller and less
of the difficulties he

important though
imperfections
;

it

be.

am

fully

conscious of manifold

have, in "

yet I hope, and indeed believe, that I presentation of what is generically known as While slang," advanced the enquiry in some measure. I aid have derived from the the cordially acknowledging

my

labours of

my

predecessors in the

field,

cannot but

recognise that, again and again, having adopted a new " mode of treatment, I have found myself forced to " blaze

the

way

into

what was

practically a term incognita.

Prefatory Note.

The

difficulties

were manifold, and crowded upon one

from the very outset. First and foremost came the question of deciding whether any given word,
at every turn

phrase, or turn of expression could with justice be in short relegated to the limbo of unorthodox speech to decide, What is Slang ? As a matter of fact, I have

not yet discovered, nor have I been able to formulate any which covers the whole of the ground to be As Dr. Murray truly observes, " there is traversed. the circle absolutely no defining line in any direction
definition
:

of the English language has

well-defined centre, but

no discernible circumference." Authorities differ between themselves, and often with themselves when asked to
plain scientific terms the marks which the vagrant words of slang from correct and distinguish Nor is the difficulty removed or orthodox English.
set

down

in

lessened by an analysis of the genesis, or the applicaand motley crowd of heterodox tion of this vast

words:

of a verity the borderland between slang and the " Queen's English" is an ill-defined territory, the

limits of
It
is,

which have never been

not

clearly

mapped
that
I

out.

therefore,

without

hesitation,

have

" ventured to explore this " Dark Continent of the World

of

ray of light where before was darkness, or reduce to some sort of order where much

Words.

If I

cast a

was confusion

well

my

steps at times

and good on the other hand, if, chance to falter, others will, in such a
:

case, be able to profit

by

my

experience as

have by

that of

my

predecessors.
of

Hence
of

much

bearing in mind the ill-defined character the enquiry my title, " Slang and its
I

Analogues," which

think fairly and accurately describes

Prefatory Note.

vii

the scope and intent of the present work, though it may not satisfy those critics who, without examination, seek
to decry or put aside that which it has cost years of labour and research to produce. For the rest, however, a conscientious worker may well be content to abide

the result of careful and honest

praise or demerit.

criticism,

whether

for

Great as was the

line

initial difficulty in

regard to a dividing

between the three great divisions of colloquial English it was clearly and dialectical, technical, and slang

obviously necessary to draw the line somewhere. After careful consideration, I adopted, as a standard between
literary

Ogilvie's Imperial

and non-literary English, Annandale's edition of With but few English Dictionary.
it

exceptions,

will

be found that no word

is

here included

there set down as forming part of the orthodox inheritance of " the noble English tongue." The next

which

is

great difficulty with which I found myself confronted was the determination of the exact meanings of slang words and expressions. Frequently I discovered I had to

deal with a veritable Proteus

sense

shades
fact I

off

to-morrow

into

slang used to-day in one many modifications.

in

This

have had to keep steadily

mind.
first

It will

account, in some instances, for what may, at

to

sight,

be an unnecessarily extended list of illustrative appear in such cases it will generally be found, quotations
;

on examination,
exemplified.

that different

shades of meaning are

its entirety,

As regards treatment, I have adopted, though not in what is commonly known as the " historical
at the

method," supplementing this by an attempt

parative study
of slang,
i.e.,

comun-

the

presentation

of

Prefatory Note.

orthodox English in juxtaposition with the argots of other

European nations, notably those of the French, German, The historical usage of Italian, and Spanish peoples.
slang
to
is

amply

illustrated

by the quotations appended

in their

each example.

These comprise

range the whole

period of English literature from the earliest

present time, my ascertainable use of any given

down

to the
first
it

plan having been to

give

the

word

or phrase, tracing

down century by century, winding up with an example " down to date." These illustrative quotations, roughly speaking, number upwards of 100,000 for the whole work. I was fortunate enough shortly after commencing my
final task of revision to

have about 12,000 quotations placed

my disposal by Mr. G. L. Apperson, of Wimbledon, who for many years has had special knowledge of the requirements of such work, having sub- edited certain
at

sections of the

New
;

able

to

make

English Dictionary. special mention of

am glad to be my indebtedness
I

in this respect

as also to Mr. G. A. King, of Croydon, an old Wykehamist, for invaluable aid in connection with public school words and phrases.

Copious materials for English and foreign slang

times

a
will

comparative study of be found in the often-

lengthy

lists

of

analogous

and

terms

appended
branch
of

to

the

more
in

important

synonymous and more

the work.

commonly used examples

This

the
I

body

of

my
I

study

shall

deal

with

more

fully in

an

article to follow the

completion of the vocabu-

lary proper,

and

purpose to enhance the usefulness of

that portion of the dictionary by a complete alphabetical list of all the foreign slang words and phrases herein used, with full references to page and column.

Prefatory Note.

For the
dation.
its
I

rest,

my method

will, I think,

need

little eluci-

have endeavoured

to

make each example, with

explanation, derivation, synonyms, and illustrative Over quotations, as far as possible, complete in itself.

and above and

I

this,

however, the cross-references will be found

of considerable value
will,

for the purpose of comparison, I may also add that, be hope, acceptable.

wherever possible, I have given a reference indicating where synonymous or analogous words may be found.

synonyms has been a matter of as to the most fitting place for inclusion and second, so to distribute them throughout the dictionary as to present a piece of work evenly balanced, and ready of reference.
of these
;

The arrangement
;

considerable thought

first,

There are certain sources of information of which I must make special acknowledgment. Among books, first and foremost, comes that invaluable store-house, Notes and
Queries.
I

have

freely

drawn

for

information upon this

inestimable periodical from its very first issue, invariably making a note of my indebtedness, and to whom, in the
text.

The New

English Dictionary has also been of service

in supplying, at times, earlier

slang word

or phrase than those of

examples of the. use of a which I was already

It is not, however, without a certain amount possessed. of perhaps pardonable satisfaction that I, working single-

handed,

am

often able to

give

much

earlier

illustra-

tions of the slang side

and usage of our mother tongue,

than occurs elsewhere.

As regards French
Larchey,

Argot, Francisque Michel,

Loredan

and

A.

authorities to

whom

Barrere, respectively, I wish to render due acknowledg-

are the chief

Prefatory Note.

ment

Ave-Lallemant and Kahle have

also

been specially

useful in connection with the

German

Gannersprdche.

The

dates of quotations have, wherever possible, been finally verified by comparison with the comprehensive and useful

appendix to Dr. Brewer's Reader's Handbook.

It

may

not be out of place to give some indication of

ITS

the complete scheme (subject to slight modification) of

SLANG AND
I.

ANALOGUES.
of

The work
and

will

comprise

dictionary slang, treated

lists

ancient

modern

English
Italian

historically, including copious

of English, French,
etc.

German, and

II.

synonyms, chapter on
subject
;

comparative study of the this embraces English cant and slang,

the

French Argot, German Gannersprdche, Italian Fourbesque, Spanish Germania, and Portuguese
Calao.
III.

A new and

exhaustive Bibliography, with copious

entries of foreign books treating of the subject.

IV.

list

of authorities

and references

to periodical

literature,

with

full titles

and dates as mentioned

words
to
in

throughout the dictionary.

V.

complete vocabulary of
of

all

foreign slang

and expressions occurring throughout the body

the

work,

with

detailed

references
will

example, page, and column.

itself

This

form

a comprehensive dictionary of

foreign

slang.

NOTE.

table of abbreviations used in this

Volume

will

be found

on page 406.

II

:: II

linillll

lilllllllllllllllllllll

IIIII

II

III

IIII

III

Illlllllllllllllllllll

iiiillllllllliiiinillli!

III

nil

mil mil

ill

[lllllllll

:.':::"":':!:i;i::"

["a" (vulgar) as in baf] common vulgarism in speakfor ing (i) " "
.

have, (2) "I," (3) "he," "at," (4) (5)

etc.

"on,"
;

It

occurs in these connections

for

more than 300 years all were used by Shakspeare, as well as by Beaumont and Fletcher and other
writers of the Elizabethan period.
A1 or A1

to show the quality of the equipments, such as masts and rigging in sailing vessels, or boilers and engines in steamers. When hull and fittings alike are of the best, a vessel is classed Ai. Hence, in mercantile circles, has become the expression popularly current, in a figurative sense, to signify the highest commercial credit and, by a process of expansion, excellence of quality in general, i.e., first-

added

The form class first - rate. varies, being rendered by FIRST;

COPPER-BOTTOMED, adj.phr. Applied to men or (popular). things, Ai is synonymous with He a high degree of praise. must be a first -rater,' said
'

Ai COPPERBOTTOMED and, in the U.S.A., Ai AND NO MISTAKE. The

CLASS LETTER A
; )

earliest reference given in

the

New English Dictionary for the colloquially figurative usage bears date 1836, but it was employed at least two years previously in a quarter which seems definitely to fix, not only the period of its adoption, but the process of Ai was a transition as well. perfectly natural colloquialism in the hands of Captain Marry at,
at

Sam.
Roker.

The
used in
Lloyd's
Letters

Mr. 'Ai,' replied [1837, Pickwick Papers.'\ derivation of this colfrom

the

loquialism

symbols

registering ships at is pretty well known.

A. A.
to

JE

(in black),

ployed

of grees hulls of vessels,

black and red), E, etc. are emdenote various deexcellence in the

(in

figures

being

once an experienced seaman and a practised writer.

i

Ai.
1833.
xliii.
'

A.B.
arriver bon premier (literally
'

MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch. Broached molasses, cask No. i,

A."

to

LETTER

arrive a

good

first').

C. HINDLEY, Life and Adven1876. tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 229. ' Here's spoons for six, and tea and sugar for one. Sold again and this time to old sweetheart of all. She's a prime girl,
!

(Fenian).

Sometimes

erro-

my

she

is;

she

is

NUMBER ONE, COPPER;

BOTTOMED, and can sail as well in her she is full stays as out of her stays rigged, and carries a lot of canvas. But 1 must not tell tales out of school.'
1882. Punch, Ixxxii. 181, i. IN VINO 'What's up, old (ET CETERA) VERITAS. man ? You seem to be out of sorts
' ! '

In the copy neously No. i. of Hotten's Slang Dictionary, annotated by H. J. Byron, the playwright, now in the British Museum, this is given as a title for the commander of 900
'

men."

I begged him Snappe's been here. to give me his candid opinion about He did!' 'Ah! I see! pictures. It differs from yours ! when I want a fellow's candid opinion about

'The AARON, subs, (thieves'). AARON,' says H. O. Manton in

Slangiana, is the chief or captain of a gang or school of thieves.
'

my

Now

I ask him to dinner, give him a first-rate bottle of claret, a cup of Ai coffee, a glass of old cognac, and the best cigar money can buy, and then I

my

pictures,

The

show him my pictures, and I always find that his candid opinion coincides
with

All brandy; about East (Ameabout right at par rican) the cheese all there bang a corker up up to Dick that's Bible downy fizzing

my own.' ENG. SYNONYMS.

;

invariably preceded par excellence the first similar to the eldest representatives of certain Irish and Scotch clans or families, such as The O'Connor Don, The

title is

by the

prefix The

the pure quill

; ;

Chisholm, etc. As AARON was the first high priest .... it is probably of Jewish origin in its
slang application.

An AARON

splash up up to the nines up to the knocker; down to the

;
;

ground

slap up, etc.

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
cadabrant,
adj.

Abra(from Abracadoignons (liter-

for one of a class of cadgers, who combined begging with acting as guide to the summits of mountains, chiefly to evade the laws against vagabondage, no doubt a play, in its slang sense, on its

was an old cant term

abra)
'

aux
like

Hebrew
that just

equivalent, lofty.'

In

petits

ally

English,

small onions.' Cf., 'like a thousand of

:

this last connection a closer relationship probably exists than

'like winkey'); bricks,' and bath (adj. also bate. In Argot

stated,

inasmuch as

and Slang the origin of the term is thus stated Towards 1848 some Bath notepaper of superior quality was hawked about in the streets of Paris, and sold at a low price. Thus
:

Gesenius thinks that the Hebrew AARON is a derivative of Huron, a mountaineer. It is to be

remarked that leaders of the church were also called AARONS.

A. B., or A. B. S.

'papier bath' mous of

became synonyremained

An

(commercial).

able-bodied

seaman.

See

term

excellent paper. (sic) In a short time the qualifying

alont,

BOTTLE SUCKER.
1875.

and
;

received a general application)

Of

all

most

reliable

Chambers' Journal, No. 627. the European sailors by far the were five stalwart A.B'S,

Abaddon.

Abbess.
innuendo involved in the appelhardly calls for further comment. See ANONYMA.
lation

A thief ABADDON, subs. (old). who, to general nefarious practices, adds perfidy to his companions. Rarely, and perhaps only
It is obviously locally used. derived from ABADDON, the destroyer or angel of the bottom-

ABBESS

less pit

(Revelation

ix.,

n).
subs.

ABANDANNAD, ABANDANNAAD,
(thieves').
i.

ABBESS, subs. of a keeper house of ill-fame also a It has been sugprocuress. gested that the origin of this term for the mistress of a
(old).

or

LADY

The

nearly obsolete term to designate primarily a pickpocket, whose chief quarry is handkerchiefs or pocket bandannas; and, hence 2. A petty thief, i.e., one whose depredations are regarded by the fraternity as not worth the risk incurred. Brewer writes down the word as a contraction of 'a bandanna lad.' With this derivation is connected the story of an incident said to have been a prime factor in the movement in the resulting

brothel, as also that of

(q.v.),

ABBOT
to

the of the mistress, may be traced to the alleged illicit amours of Abelard and Heloise. In this

the

name given

male

associate

connection

it

is

significant

that, according

to

Francisque

Michel's Etudes Comparees sur V Argot, a common woman was, in the old French cant, said to

passing of Sir Samuel Romilly's

come from Vabbaye des s'o/re a tous. The keeper of such an establishment was called her associate le I'abbesse, and sacristain. The analogy was
carried
still

Act for the abolition of capital punishment for highway robberies under 403. value. Briefly told, it is that a footpad robbed
a

further,

inmates

being

termed

by the nuns
'

'

woman

'sisters of charity." This depravation in the meaning of

and

of a

bandanna shawl,
an offence for

valued

at

gd.,

which a notorious highwayman was hanged. Subsequently, however, he was proved to have been innocent, whereupon the
fact of her mistaken accusation having done an innocent man to death so preyed upon the woman's mind that she became

raving

mad.

The

incidents

touched the public conscience, an agitation ensued, and the law was amended as stated.

words, usually applied only to the holders of sacred offices, may possibly, without undue license, be regarded as resulting from the mockery born of the degradation, in the popular mind, of the priestly office or, it may naturally flow from the loose way in which the title of abbot was often applied to the holders of non-monastic offices. Thus, the first step toward degeneration may have occurred in applying the term to the principal of a body of clergy, as an
; ' '

ABANDONED

stibs. HABITS, phr. The riding costumes (popular) of the ladies of the demi-monde
.

in

Hyde Park

punning and

(Slangiana). The sufficiently obvious

trate. The second stage was reached when, in the middle ages, abbot was applied ironi'
'

episcopal rector or, as amongst the Genoese, to a chief magis;

Abbey Lubber.
cally to the heads of various guilds and associations, and to the leaders in popular assem-

A.B.C.'s.
the utmost scorn for laziness and meanness, he finds a

blages and disorderly festivities, the Abbot of Bell-ringers, e.g., the Abbot of Misrule, the Abbot
of Unreason. Henceforward deterioration was both easy and rapid to the point when 'abbot' and its co-relative ABBESS,

very much more forcible expression in a 'dirty dog and no sailor.' See LUBBERS' HOLE.

ABBOT,

subs.

(old).

The

hus-

steward and stewardess of the STEWS (q.v.). The terms are now obsolete on both sides of the Channel. In England the modern equivalent
signified a
for ABBESS is MOTHER (q.v.}\ and in France la maca, mere maca, la or V institutrice do maquecee,
,

similar duty.

band or 'fancy man' of an ABBESS now called a (q.v.) PONCE (q.v.) In the old French argot these gentry were dignified by the title of sacristain. They were occasionally spoken of as CROZIERED ABBOTS, Or ABBOTS ON THE CROSS, in which case the establishments over which they mounted guard were not so much brothels as PANEL CRIBS (q.v.), where prostitution
;

WOLCOT [P. Pindar] Odes to 1782. the Pope, Ode ii. in Works (Dublin, 1795), vol. II., p. 492.
,

served

mainly as a cloak for

robbery.

So an old ABBESS, for the

tempting dish of
1840.

And

human nature makes, dresses up a luscious maid.

rattling rakes,

KIDD, London and all Its infernal wretches who traffic in the souls and bodies of their victims are called LADY helpless ABBESSES.
Dangers.

W.

The

ABBOTT-S PRIORY, subs. phr. (popuThe King's Bench Prison lar). was formerly so-called perhaps from Chief Justice Abbott.
;

ABBEY LUBBER, [From ABBEY

siibs.

pJir.

LUBBER.] 1. An old term of contempt for an able - bodied

(old).

idler

who grew

sleek

and

fat

the charity of religious houses; also sometimes, especially subsequent to the Reformation, applied to monks. In this sense it has long fallen

upon

ABBREVIATIONS. These occasionally partake most clearly of the nature of slang. As illustrative examples may be mentioned K.D.Gs., the King's, now the First Dragoon Guards. O.K., all right 'orl krect.' B.T.I., a big thing on ice. Q.T., generally 'on the strict Q.T. i.e., T.T., too thin. quiet. Cri., the Criterion ( restaurant or
:

into disuse.
1680.

This is no LUBBER.
2.

DRYDEN, Spanish Friar, III. 3. huge, overgrown ABBEY

survives,

The term
and
'

how-

pretty d

Ox., the Oxford Tec., detective. B. and B.P., British Public. S., brandy and soda. P.D.Q.,
theatre).

The

Music Hall.

d quick.

ever,
'

is

still

occasionally

used by seafaring men, although lubber is now more common amongst our Jack tars for a
lazy, thriftless individual. a sailor wishes to
If

A.B.C.-s (London). i. The Aerated Bread Co.'s establishments are,

Bread and Cheese on

familiarly speaking, A B. C.'s. 2. (Christ's Alie, Hospital).

. '

express

home

going

night,'

A -Bear.
As EASY AS
(popular).
A. B. c.,
'

A bigail.
adv.phr.
facile
;

Extremely the acme of ease, i.e., from an chiladult's point of view dren, however, probably view
;

of

He cannot ABYDE the hearyng my words. ABIDE, therefore,

'

may be classed amongst those words which, once respectable, have now fallen into disrepute.
Shakspeare puts into the mouth of one of his characters a phrase which, to those acquainted with the speech of the uneducated
has a very modern appearance, I cannot ABIDE the smell of hot meat.
classes,
' 1

the matter in a different light. In this, as in much else, distance lends enchantment to the scene.

This

means
1

colloquialism modern of

Shakspeare coming like A. B. C. book.'

A- BEAR,
gar).
v.

by no growth speaks of answer

is
;

(provincial

and

vul-

ABIGAIL, subs, (popular).

lady's

To
or

suffer, or to tolerate.

[From old English

bear
carry]
.

abearan, to

This term, though hoary with age, and long of honorable usage (from A.D. 885 downward), must now be classed with degenerate words or at all events with non-literary
,

English.

Though

still

largely

dialectical, its use

amongst peowith

maid. There can be little doubt that the familiar use of this name for the genus waiting woman,' was primaan allusion to the title of rily handmaid assumed by ABIGAIL, the wife of Nabal, in speaking to the servants of King David. Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the
' '

ple of education is reckoned It is now invariably vulgar.

employed
'

in conjunction

cannot

'

'I

can't

ABEAR

furriners.'

ABELWHACKETS.
KETS.

See

ABLEWHAC-

ABERDEEN CUTLET,
liar).

subs. phr. (fami-

dried

haddock.

C/.,

BILLINGSGATE PHEASANT.
ABIDE,
v.

servants of my Lord (i Sam. xxv. 41) Other names recorded in the Bible, and for the matter of that elsewhere, have been used much in the same way as marking distinctive character. ABIGAIL has thus become associated with the idea of a female servant so, too, a giant is spoken of as a Goliath a patient man as a Job a shrew as a Jezebel; a coward as a Bob Acres,
'
.

(vulgar).

To tolerate

to

put up with. This, like ABEAR (q.v.), has ancient sanction for its use. In the senses of to endure, suffer, bear, or sustain meanings which are now obsolete the word can be traced back as far as A.D. 1205 the
;

cum multis aliis. In Beaumont and Fletcher's comedy of The one of Scornful Lady (1616), the characters, Mrs. Youngton, a waiting gentlewoman,' is named ABIGAIL. This play, having a long run of public in his Diary favour, Pepys [1666], iv. 195, specially men'

modern vulgar usage, rarely employed affirmatively, dates from about A.D. 1526, when Tindale translated John viii. 43, by

tions it, possibly led to the popularization of the nickname. At all events it subsequently

appeared

on

more than one

occasion in the same connection

A bigail.
in

About East.
the
period.

the

plays
is

of

ABLEWHACKETS,

also

ABELWHACK-

There

no reason to suppose that the term was derived from the notorious ABIGAIL
Hill,

ETS, ABELWACKETS.SZ^S. (nautical).

better known as Mrs. Masham, a poor relative of

the Duchess of Marlborough, whom she was introduced to a subordinate place about the

[From ABLE (uncertain, perhaps alluding to able seaman) + WHACK]. A game of cards played by sailors, in which the loser receives a whack or blow
every

by

with a knotted handkerchief for game (or point) he loses.

person of Queen Anne nor will the contention that it was first established in public usage by
;

Smyth,

in his Sailor's

Word Book

Dean

Swift,

who employed

it
;

in

a letter to Stella, hold good although likely enough he caused it to take deeper root than The terms on which he before. was with the Mashams rendered him the last person in the world likely to have used such a term, unless it had been so long in familiar use as to be deprived of all appearance of personal allusion to them.
1663.

[1867], says it is very popular with horny-fisted salts. It is quoted by Grose as far back as Clark Russell, in 1785, but Sailor's Language [1883], refers to it as obsolete.

ABOUND, v. (American). prominent en evidence.

;

To be

1873.

ary.

When we

Evening Standard, 28 Januare told of a professed

more than usually ABOUNDING at an evening party, there is no temptation to

wit
recruit our dictionaries from the English manufactured in the United States.

ding,
425.

II., vi.

termed an ABIGAIL.]
ch.

T. KILLIGREW, Parson's Wedin Dodsley, O.P. (1780), xi., [In this play, a waiting woman is

ABOUT EAST, adv.phr. (American).

the frontiersman or pioneer, the Eastern or New England States are typical of all that he cherishes most and loves best. The vicissitudes of his rough Western life, the toil and hardships he has undergone while battling with nature and building up a new habitation far from the old homestead, all predispose him to turn with longing eyes and undying, though quaintly exaggerated love to the East the home of his fathers. A famous Yankee character

To

1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, book XL, ii. The mistress was no sooner in bed than the maid prepared to follow her example. She began to make many apologies to her sister ABIGAIL for leav-

an

ing her alone in so horrid a place as

inn.

1858. G. ELIOT, Mr. Gilfil's Loveiii. The next morning, Mrs. Sharp, then a blooming ABIGAIL of threeand-thirty, entered her lady's private room.

Story, ch.

It has been stated that Old English writers used the word ABIGAIL to signify a termagant woman, and also a female bigamist, but there is no evidence to support these views. It may be mentioned that the French use the word in the popular English sense. A waiting woman was also formerly called a COMB-BRUSH (q.v.).

would Go EAST of sunrise any day to see sich a place.' Everybody and everything connected
'

(Major Jack Downing) makes use of the expression that he

with the East,

land, is

i.e.,

his native

commendable. To his mind they cannot be surpassed hence the things he would

About Right.
hold up to admiration he says about are ABOUT EAST, i.e.,
'

A hove
libery,

Par.
o' books. 'Yes, Sir

right.'

Indeed,

it

is

surprising

what a strong hold this idea has upon the minds of men. Many
a familiar phrase recalls the old times and the old folks to memory, which, in this respect, is
evergreen.

Gorgius. What sort of books shall I order ? Oh, the best, of course, with Yes, binding and all that to match Sir Gorgius, how many shall I order ? Well, let me see, suppose we say a couple o' 'undred yards of 'em, hay ? That's ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT, I think.
'

you know; 'ave a lot Mind you order me some.'

'

'

'

'

'

They
that

DOWN EAST,

talk of GOING is, to New

England, EASTER is neither more nor less than the pure and veritable FARMER'S AmericanYankee. isms, Old and New.

while

the

DOWN-

ABOVE BOARD, adv. phr. (common). Without disguise or concealment with an absence of artifice. Jamieson refers this to the language of the gaming
;

ABOUT RIGHT,
;

table, the players when changing cards putting their hands on, i.e., above the table or

adv. phr. (vulgar).

;

board
It

to

ensure

fair

Correctly to the purpose properly general satisfaction on the part of the speaker concerning a given thing or action. Arry sometimes varies the locu'

dealing.

appears, however, even in its figurative sense to be a colloquialism of long standing. See MURRAY'S New English Dictionary.

tion

by TER RIGHTS
'

(q.v.).

leigh,

F. E. 1850. ch. iv.

I

SMEDLEY, Frank FairYOU'RE ABOUT RIGHT,

;

ABOVE

ONE'S

BEND,
See

adv.

phr.

there,

Mr. Lawless

you're

down

to

(American).

BEND.

every move,
1883.

see, as usual.'

ch. xxii.

went a little awry yesterday,' observed Mrs. Daventry 'YOU'RE ABOUT RIGHT they did.'
.

HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines, I am afraid your schemes

' . .

ABOVE PAR,

adv. phr. (familiar). figuratively in a multitude of senses, e.g. (i) in reference to one's health or spirits, in good

Used

condition

(2)
it

applied to a

man

ABOUT THE SIZE OF

IT,

i. An expression (American). covering a wide field assent, general satisfaction, approval, etc. Synonymous with ABOUT RIGHT; O.K. TER RIGHTS, etc.
;

adv. phr.

a state of moderate drunkenness; or, (3) used in regard to pecuniary matters it is synonymous with the flush,' being having
in liquor
signifies
' '

2.
1

Used

also
etc.

for

'

how

'

how much,'
1876
(?).

a measure of

quantity or quality.
'Roughs' Guide' in 'Odd People in
Places.'

needful best bliss of earth," as Duncombe puts it. Derived from the technical, commercial meaning. Stocks are said to be
'

'

at

JAMES GREENWOOD, New

par
'

their

face

Odd
are,

when purchasable at value when at a

'

ABOUT THE SIZE

sir.

Got no home, no wittles, and never a 'a'penny to buy none with. That's
of

premium they are ABOVE PAR and when selling at a decline in

;

how destitoot we

Punch, May 14, p. 228. SIR G[ORGIUS] M[IDAS] GOES IN FOR CUL" TURE. Look 'ere, Clarke. 'Appy thought! I'll make this little room the
1881.

value, i.e., at a discount, they are said to be below par ; hence the colloquial usage. See ex-

ample in quotation. Synonyms, UP TO, Or ABOVE THE MARK.

A bracadabra.
1880. Punch, June 5, p. 253. FRED ON PRETTY GIRLS AND PICTURES. he Awful fellow that Ted at his letters writes for the Scanmag, you know PAR.' falls below never And his style Not my joke, heard him putting it
!
;

Abracadabra.
according to the Greek numeration, the number 365. Des auteurs beaucoup plus anciens n'ont vu dans le mot abraxas, qu'une
reunion des lettres numeriques, qui etant additionees donnent le nombre 365, ou 1'annee entiere, en sorte qu' abraxas serait le symbole du soleil ou de sa revolution annuelle presumee. Depping.

'

And

so the pars in the Scanmag he does them are proper, and chock full of
.

'go.'

Only paper I care

never to grind through, preachy, or gushing, or slow

I

In Persian, according to Grotenford, abraxas means the Sun if this be so its use God
' '
;

ABRACADABRA,
gon).
1.

(scientific jarcabalistic word When used in incantations. written in a manner similar to

subs,

that

shown
so

in

accompanying
to

diagram,

as to be read in different directions, and worn as

as a talisman is easily understood. Yet another derivation is from a corrupt form of the Hebrew dabar is verbu, and abraca is benedixit, i.e., verbum benedixit. If, however, the word is Semetic at all, and
ligible

an amulet,

it

was supposed

cure certain ailments.

A A

BRACADABRA BRACADABR ABRACADAB A ABRACAD A B R A C A D

A B R A C A A B R A C A B R A A B R
A A B

nothing more than an uninteljargon of letters, it could possibly be better explained than by Littre, by Abra(i) seda spirit, out!" bra(i), 'Out, bad as a magic formula for driving out the demon which causes the
fever. It is interesting in this connection to compare Mark i. 25, ix. 25, and parallel passages.

Hence (2), any word-charm, empty jingle of words, gibberish,

nonsense, or extravagant idea. derivation from the Littre's

1687. AUBREY'S Remaines of Gentilisme, p. 124 (1881). [In this work ABRACA-

DABRA

Hebrew

ab father, mack spirit,

is

and dabar word

regarded by
;

authorities as fanciful as also is T. A. G. Balfour's reference of it to a composition of the first letters of the Hebrew words signifying Father, Son,

many

given arranged as a spell.] Spectator, No. 221. They [the signatures] are, perhaps, little amulets or charms to preserve the paper against the fascination and malice of evil eyes for which reason I would not have my reader surprised, if hereafter he sees any of my papers marked with a Q, a Z, a Y, an &c., or with the word ABRACADABRA.
is

1711.

1722.

DEFOE, Journal of
'

(ed. Brayley,

1835,

p. 56).

the Plague This mys-

'

and Holy Spirit.' Other authorities, though by no means in

accord, generally agree that a Persian origin is the most likely.

terious word, which, written in the form of a triangle or a pyramid, was regarded as a talisman or charm of wonderful power, is said to have been the name of a Syrian god, whose aid

was considered

Mr. R.

S.

Charnock

(Notes and

Queries, 7 S., iii., 504) thinks it related to the cabalistic word

to be invoked by the wearers of the amulet. It originated in the superstitions of a very remote period, and was recommended as an antidote by Serenus Sammonicus, a Roman physician,

who

lived in

the

early part of

abraxas

composed of the Greeek

/3,

the third century, in the reigns of the

Its emperors Severus and Caracalla. efficacy was reputed to be most powerful

letters a,

p, a,

a,

making,

A braham.
and other disorders of a febrile kind, and particularly against the fever called by the physicians Hemitritaeus.'
in agues
col.

Abraham-Cove.
of mendicant lunatics, who on certain days were permitted to

1879. Literary 2 [M!. The

'

World,

5 Dec., p. 358,

new ABRACADABRA

of

go out begging. It is an open question whether the ward gave

the

science,

organic evolution.'
stlbs.

ABRAHAM,
clothier's

(popular).

shop of the lowest where slop-made description, garments of shoddy cloth form
the staple commodity together with second-hand clothes or

to the men or vice In either case, however, the use of the term Abraham is in this connection possibly an allusion to the beggar Lazarus

name

versa.

'

'

in

Luke

xvii.

These mendi-

HAND-ME-DOWNS
localized in

Chiefly (q.v.}. the East End of London, where these establishments are kept by Jews hence probably the derivation of the
;

cants bore a badge, but many assumed the distinction without right, and begged feigning lunacy. Hence, it may be, the more popular signification of the term

term;

adj.

(old

cant).

See

ABRAM.
ABRAHAM-MAN, ABRAHAM-COVE, ABRAM-COVE, ABRAM-MAN, TOM OF BEDLAM'S MAN, or BEDLAM
BEGGAR,
It
is

An impostor, wandering 2. about the country pretending to be mad, begging in the streets,
laying hands upon all considered or unconsidered' in his way. Dekker, in his English Villanies [1632] has many curious particulars of the habits of this class of impostors who were said to

and

trifles

'

'

'

subs,

(old

cant).

difficult

now-a-days

to

trace with certainty the origin of these terms, notwithstanding a wealth of matter on the Nares describes the subject. fraternity as a set of vagabonds

SHAM

also, in

who wandered about the country

soon after the dissolution of the the provision religious houses
:

ABRAHAM. Shakspeare King Lear [1605] Act ii., Scene 3, describes and puts into the mouth of one of these characters the following words
,

for

the poor ifi those places being cut off and no other substituted.

the basest and most poorest shape, That ever penury in contempt of man,
.
. .

Thus, primarily, an

ABRAHAM-MAN was a vagabond,

a beggar
'

tattered, unwashed; unkempt and a thief withal. an exclaWhat an Abram mation for a naked fellow.
' !

Brought near to beast: my face I'll grime with filth Blanket my loins elf all my hair in knots And with presented nakedness outface The winds, and persecutions of the sky. The country gives me proof and precedent Of BEDLAM BEGGARS, who, with roaring
; ; ;

Harman, the
rity,

earliest

authofeign-

refers

to

them

voices, Strike in their numb'd

and mortified bare

sprigs

as

ing madness (see quot.), as having been resident in Bethlehem Hospital. Wards in the ancient Bedlam bore distinctive names of some saint or that named after patriarch; Abraham was devoted to a class

and

Pins,

arms wooden rosemary

farms,

pricks, nails,

of

And with
mills,

this horrible object,

from low

Poor pelting

villages, sheep-cotes

and

Sometime with

lunatic bans, with prayers, Enforce their charity.

sometime

Abraham

Grains.

10

A braham's
or

Willing.

The term is now obsolete, though Scott used it as late as 1824, and from the Quarterly
Review
(1813),

spoken of as to SHAM ABRAHAM,

ABRAM

(q-v.}.

From

this

IX.,

p.

167,

it

seems

to

have then

been

in

The modpretty general use. ern prototype is called a tramp or cadger. To SHAM ABRAHAM, i.e., to feign sickness or distress The is, however, still in vogue. French equivalent is Fagotin (m)
.

primary meaning, joined with an allusion to the name of a once well-known chief cashier of the Bank of England, was derived the secondary meaning of the term SHAMMING ABRAHAM, to
forge

bank-notes.
in

Abraham
in

Newland was

office

the
:

See also

ABRAHAM SHAM and

ABRAM.
1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 29. These ABRAHAM MEN be those that fayn themselves to have bene mad, and have bene kept either in Bethlehem, or in some other pryson a good time, and not one amongst twenty that ever came in prison for any such cause. 1625. MASSINGER, New Way to Pay Old Debts, II., i. Are they padders or

years 1778-1807, and a popular song of the period ran as follows 'I have heard people say that SHAM ABRAHAM you may, But you mustn't SHAM ABRAHAM Newland.'

Further point

is

added

to this

stanza by the fact that bank notes were themselves termed

ABRAHAM NEWLANDS
that

(q.v.),

ABRAM-MEN

that are your consorts ? E. COLES, Eng. Diet, ABRAM 1724. COVE, naked or poor man.

forgery

was

felony

and by

statute.
Citizen of the 1759. GOLDSMITH, " He swore that I underWorld, cxix. stood my business perfectly well, but that I SHAMMED ABRAHAM merely to be
idle."

SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, ch. There is a trick for you to find xxi. an ABRAM-MAN, and save sixpence out when he begs of you as a disbanded
1825.
'

seaman."

ABRAHAM GRAINS, subs, (thieves'). A publican who brews his own

beer.

ABRAHAM NEW LAND, subs, (popular). A bank note. Abraham Newland was chief cashier to the Bank of England, from 1778 to
1807.
1829. Croker in

C. BRONTE, Shirley, ch. Matthew, sceptic and scoffer, had already failed to subscribe a prompt belief in that pain about the heart; he had muttered some words, amongst which the phrase SHAMMING ABRAHAM had been very distinctly
1849. xxxiii.

audible.

ABRAHAM

SUIT, subs. phr. (thieves').

;

SIR W.

SCOTT,

letter

to

A bank

Croker Papers, vol. II., p. 36. note seems to terrify everybody out of their wits, and they will rather give up their constitution to Hunt and Cobbett than part with an ABRAHAM NEWLAND to preserve it.
subs.
(old).

fraudulent pretences representations to excite sympathy. The term is applied to any trick or artifice calculated to extract money from the

False

ABRAHAM-S BALSAM, Death by hanging.

IN ONE'S BOOTS.

See

To

DIE

a faked-up letter, appearance, or other contriThose who resort to vance. such practices are said TO GO

charitable, of begging

whether by means

ON THE ABRAHAM

SUIT.

C/.,

ABRAHAM SHAM.
ABRAHAM SHAM,
i.

subs, (old cant).

Feigned sickness or

distress.

See

ABRAHAM-MAN.

Usually

ABRAHAM'S WILLING, (rhyming slang), A

subs.

phy.

shilling.

Abraham Work.
ABRAHAM WORK,
subs.phr. (popular).
all

ii

A broad,
which Toke examines). Your Toke. I is von beggar, etc. the ABRIDGEMENTS, but you've accept forgotten to line the pockets.
clothes,

kinds are so a bubble from designated, company down to the most

of

Shams

master

trumpery
&S.

'city pen'orth.'

ABROAD,
fused
;

adv.

(old).
;

i.

Con-

(old
i.

and also modern

More
sense

staggered perplexed. generally retained in this

in

sea

slang).
;

The same
(q.v.).

as

America

than

in

ABRAHAM-MAN
lingerer the sick

2.

A maon

England.
2. Generally ALL (popular). ABROAD i.e., wide of the mark wrong uncertain in one's estimate or, 'all at sea.' In this
;
; ; ;

one
list

who gets put to shirk work.

i.

Adj. (old cant).

p.

Mad.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, ABRAM 36 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). niadde. He maunds ABRAM, he begs as

figurative sense the expression

is

madde man.
2.

much

older than
See

is

popularly
p. 255.

Naked,

'she's all ABRAM.'

supposed.
1821.

BEDOOZLED.
vol.
I.,

The Fancy,

In

I.,

1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, part ch. v., p. 47 (1874). ABRAM, naked.
3.

ABRAM or ABRAM COLOUR-

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.
1840.

Derivation uncertain, (old). but supposed to be a corruption of 'auburn.' In this connection it may be remarked that it is to be found in Coriolanus, Act II., scene 3; but where the original reads A bram the folio has
'

ED

DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop,

'
' !

repeated Kit, My friend You're ABROAD, seemingly,' returned the other man. 'There's his letter, take hold.'
ch.
'

Ixi.

ALL

1846.

THACKERAY, V. Fair,

ch.

v.

(old).

auburn." To SHAM ABRAM, verb. Also see ABRAHAM SHAM. The original signification of

At the twelfth round the latter champion was ALL ABROAD, as the saying is, and had lost all presence of mind, and power
of attack or defence.

word, to feign sickness, led t cits use to describe pretence of any kind; this is specially the
this

To be transported. The 3. French have a similar circumlution, allev en traverse, and the Italian Fourbesque has andar a
traverse.
4. (Win. Coll.) A boy returning to school work after COME said to being ill is When on the sick ABROAD.
list

case amongst sailors, workmen, tc., who describe malingering as doing Abram, the defaulter also being called by the same

name.
ABREGOYNS, ABERGOINS, ABROGANS, subs. Vulgarisms (American).
for
'

he

is

CONTINENT

(q.v.} i.e.,

aborigines.'

cameram, vel lectum, When keeping his room or bed. recovered he is allowed to go forts, out of doors, or more collocontinens

ABRIDGMENTS subs, (nonce word). Knee breeches. This term

f

for

small

clothes

appears

in

Bulwer Lytton's comedy, Money. 1840. BULWER LYTTON, Money,

iv. 4.

Frantz (producing a pair of small

ABROAD. Adams, in Wykehamica, remarks that the use of this term shows the antiquity of the school, dating as it does from the times of the patrium sermonem fugito,
quially,
'

A broaded.
Latinum
legum.' a less
1

12

Absquatulate.
ABSENCE,

exerceto,

of the Tabula

TO BE FURKED ABROAD is
complimentary term imman has been
' ' '

plying that a
;

it is specially apshuffling plied to those who having gone continent' in the morning are sent back to school by the
'

Namessubs. (Eton). which takes place at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m on half-holidays and at 11.30 a.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. on whole holidays at 6
calling,
; ;

p.m. only in

summer
Said
of

half.

ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE,

(thieves').

adv. phr.

doctor at 9 a.m.

one

who

has broken

prison;

or (popu-

ABROADED (society). See quotation, and compare with ABROAD.

1876.
p.
ii

lar)

absconded.
subs.

H.

O.

MANTON, Slangiana,

ABSIT,

(Cambridge).

Set

Fashionable (See Bibliography). slang for a noble defaulter on the Continent (sic.) to avoid creditors. It is the police official slang for convicts sent to a colonial or penal settlement, but it is applied by thieves to transportation either at home or in the Colonies.

quotation. 1886. DICKENS'S Dictionary of the University of Cambridge, p. 3. Every undergraduate wishing to leave Cambridge for a whole day, not including a night, must obtain an ABSIT from his
'
'

ABS (Win.
viation

i. An abbreabsent placed against the name of a boy when absent from the school.

Coll.)
'

of

'

for a longer period, either at the end of the term or in the middle, is called an exeat,' and no undergraduate should go down without obtaining his exeat.
tutor.

Permission

to

go

away

'

takeaway. Formerly, circa, 1840, TO ABS a tolly (candle), meant to put it out now it would mean to take it away whether lighted or un2.

v. tr.,

to

lighted, the for putting

'

modern
it

'

notion

'

out

being
;

to

dump
3.

'

it.

v.n.
'

To get away
' ! !

gener-

used in the imperative, as, ABS Oh do ABS Sometimes, however, a fellow is said TO ABS quickly, and MESS THINGS
ally
'

ABSKIZE, ABSCHIZE, v. (American). To depart go away. Said to be of Western origin, and to have been in use about Of rare and probably 1883. It has been delocal usage. rived from the Dutch afscheyden Ger. abscheiden of similar meaning a not unlikely origin, bearing in mind the large Dutch and German element in the
;

U.S.A.
ABSQUATULATE, also ABSQUOTILATE, v. (American). To run away; to decamp; with the more or less forcible idea of absconding in disgrace. A factitious word,
origin and jocular simulating a Latin form, perhaps from Latin ab and

!'

(q.v.)

are ABSED

(trans.),

or put

away.
4.

To

HAVE

ONE'S

WIND

ABSED is away by a
stomach.

to have it taken violent blow in the

of

American

use,

squat,

ABSCOTCHALATER,
Slangiana as
'

subs,

(thieves').

Quoted by H. O. Manton
one

in

who

is

hiding
Cf.,

away from the ABSQUATULATE.

police.'

to settle on land, i.e., especially public or new lands, without any title or right whether of purchase or permission, though in Australia

the term

is

employed

in

a more

Academician.
restricted sense for a sub-lessee of the government at a nominal
rent.

Academy.
character as regards style, equipment, and cost, but of whatever grade, rooms may be
in

used by Mr. Wildfire, a Kentucky character, in a play called 'The Kentuckian,' by Bernard, produced in 1833. It than is now less often heard formerly, having been replaced in some degree by the word
It
first

was

Hackett, as

Nimrod

had

SKEDADDLE
nyms,
see

(q.v.).

For synoONE'S

AMPUTATE

or shorter longer as The required. French call them maisons de societe maisons de passe foutoirs, and gros numeros, the last from the fact, that these semi-private brothels bear a number of large dimensions over the entrance. The French have also a somefor

periods
;

MAHOGANY.
1835-1840. 'What's the use of legs 3 S., ch. xiv. but to ABSQUOTILATE with when traps are sot for you.'
.

1879.

THE REWARD OF MERIT.

Hunter,
'

Punch, Jan.

18,

p. 23, col.

i.
'

Mrs.

do you do, Mr. Brown ? Let me present you to the Duchess of Your Grace, permit me to preStilton sent to you Mr. Brown, the distinguished scholar!' Her Grace (affably). 'Charmed er Mr. to make your acquaintance Mr. Brown (with effusion). Brown Your Grace is really too kind. This is the ninth time I've enjoyed the distinction of being presented to your Grace
!
'

How

Lyon

what analogous term for the mistress of an academic in Vinsthe teacher. In the titutrice, FINISHING ACADEMY (q.V.) the inmates are young prostitutes, the next stage in whose downward career is taken on the
streets.
2.

According to the N.Y. Slang

'

within the last twelve months but it's a distinction I value so highly, that without trespassing too much on your Grace's indulgence, I hope I may be occasionally permitted to enjoy it again. [Bows, and
;

Dictionary, a penitentiary or prison for minor offences. 3. A thieves' school; also a band of thieves. There are establishments of similar character bearing more distinctive

names,
4.

e.g.

ABSQUATULATES.
Daily Telegraph, August 20, p. Yet who knows but that some 6, col. i. accident an may happen to the day the Aberdeenshire works of art sense of the cartoons be totally subverted in Rabelaisian phrase, 'absquashed
.
. .

1884.

A school for thieves, chiefly boys. Fagan, the old Jew in Oliver Twist, will occur to mind, as also the devices by which he
taught his gang to pick pockets

BUZZING AcADEMY(thieves').

and
5.

and ABSQUATULATED.'

pilfer adroitly.

CANTING ACADEMY

ACADEMICIAN, mate of a brothel.

subs. (old).

The

in-

grants').

ACADEMY,

subs.

(old).
;

i.

dis;

a brothel a orderly house Grose remarks that bagnio. these establishments were also
called PUSHING SCHOOLS. The old brothels have of late years rapidly disappeared, their places

being taken by what are

as

known

BED HOUSES

(q.v.}.

These vary

A house of call or comlodging house, frequented a cadger's by the fraternity dossing ken. The term is also applied to any house where application for food or money is At the likely to be successful. house regular beggar's establishments which abound more or less in every town information can be obtained so that the district can be thoroughly and systematically 'worked.'
mon
;
'

(va-

'

A cause.
6.

Accumulative^.
At
1846-48. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, ch. xx. The persecuted animals [rats] above ground bolted the terrier ACCOUNTED FOR one, the keeper for
:

CHARACTER ACADEMY.

these places false characters are drawn up, to say nothing of the concoction of schemes of robbery.
7.

another.
1858. Letter from Lahore, 28 September, in Times, 19 November. In the course of one week they were hunted up

FLOATING ACADEMY

The hulks or prison ships were formerly so-called. When the regulations as regards transportation were relaxed, convicts condemned to hard labour were sent on board these vessels.
(thieves').
8.

in

and ACCOUNTED FOR and you know that Punjab phraseology ACCOUNTING FOR means the extreme fate due to mu;

tineers.

[M.]

ACCOUNTS. COUNTS,

To CAST UP

ONE'S AC;

GAMMONING ACADEMY.

A
cor-

To

verb. phr. vomit. Still

.

common

(old cant).

quoted

reformatory.

ACAUSE, conj. (vulgar). ruption of because.'

'

The expresby Grose [1785] sion sometimes runs, amongst seafaring men, TO AUDIT ONE'S ACCOUNTS AT THE COURT OF
NEPTUNE. ENG. SYNONYMS.
the cat
miettes
;

ACCOMMODATION
(popular).

HOUSE,

subs.

To

shoot

frequently police court phraseology are known as disorderly houses, i.e.,

Also brothel. applied to what in

to cat. to

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Semerdes

(lit.
;

sow or
le
'

houses
hired

where rooms

can

be

crumbs) piquer to goad the fox.

the
cat.'

scatter renard (lit.

Cf.

for shorter or longer periods as desired. See BED

The
cliasser

phrase was
'

to shoot old French or escorcher le

HOUSE.

ACCORDING TO COCKER.
COCKER.

See

renard, either because, says Cotgrave, in spueing one makes a noise like a fox that barks, or

because the flaying of so unsavory an animal will make any

ACCORDING TO THE REVISED STATSee REVISED STATUTES. UTES

ACCOUNT.
verb.

man spue

'

renverser
;

(lit.

to

overturn, to upset)
;

To GO ON THE ACCOUNT, To join phr. (old nautical).

;

in a filibustering or buccaneerto turn pirate. ing expedition

tution (lit. to make revoir la carte (lit. to restore) look at the bill of fare again). To turn Queen's (Thieves').
;

faire restiamends to

evidence.

Ogilvie says, probably from the parties sharing, as in a commercial venture.

hope
to

ACCUMULATIVES,

fortune

SCOTT, Letter to a Friend. I no new thing for gentlemen of who are GOING ON THE ACCOUNT change a captain now and then.
1812.
it is

To ACCOUNT FOR (sporting). To kill; literally to be answerable for bringing down one's
share of the shooting
to

make

away

with.

subs. (Ame'rican). journalistic sparring are a essentially In England notion.' they are called CODICILS (q.v.), under which see an amusing example which will illustrate their character, as also the length to which American editors sometimes go in heaping Ossa upon Pelion.

These matches 'Yankee

Accumulator.
ACCUMULATOR,
bettor,
subs,

A corn.
A
absurdity.

(racing).

We

never

send
1

successful with one horse, carries forward the stakes to another event.

who when

haystacks
'

New York
1

to or cornfields or Philadelphia.

Well, what do you

send

'

Why,

horses,
'

mules,

cattle,

ACE OF SPADES, subs. phr. (old). A widow. Though obsolete in England, it is quoted by the

hogs.'

Well,

what

makes

your hogs?
dollars'

horses,

New
as

still

York Slang Dictionary (1881) current in America.

cattle, mules, You feed a hundred worth of hay to a

ACK,
'

No

(Christ's Hospital). refusal of a request, e.g., Lend me your book.' 'ACK!'

intj.
!

horse, you just animate and get upon the top of your haystack and ride off to market.

How

is

it

with your cattle

of

You make one

fifty dollars'

them carry worth of hay and

ACKMAN, ACKPIRATE

RUFF (American), A freshwater thief; a ruffian who in conjunction with watermen robs and sometimes murders on the
water. [AcK (unknown derivation, unless a corrupted form of a ark, boat; or wherry) + MAN,
etc.]

(old) subs.

Or ACK-

grass to the Eastern market. Mr. Wickliffe, you send a hog worth ten dollars to an Eastern
it

Quoted by Grose [1785], and also by Clark Russell, in

Language [1883].
verb. phr.

Sailor's

how much corn does take at thirty-three cents per to fatten it ? bushel Why, Then you thirty bushels that of bushels thirty put corn into the shape of a hog, and make it walk off to the Eastern market.' Mr. Wickliffe
market
;
' ' ' ' !

jumped up
ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN,
;

and

said

'
:

Mr.

(American). To make an admission of failure to admit The various being outwitted. stories professing to account for derivation are discussed in detail in Americanisms, Old and New : the most circumstantial and certainly the best authenticated, runs as follows In 1828, the Hon. Andrew Stewart was in Congress discussing the principle of Protection,' and said in the course of his remarks, that Ohio,
:

Speaker, I ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN. [De Vere's Americanisms [1872] p. 47.] Latterly the expression has been used in England in the sense of simply to make an admission.
1860.

HALIBURTON

(SAM

SLICK),

The Season Ticket, No. 9. 'He had a beard that wouldn't ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN to no man's.'
1865.
p. 361.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN,

BACON, Handbook of America,

to

'

sent Indiana, and Kentucky their haystacks, cornfields, and fodder to New York and PhilaThe Hon. delphia for sale.

confess a charge or imputation. 1883. G. A. SALA, Living London, Mr. Porter ACKNOWLEDGES THE p. 97. CORN as regards his fourteen days' imprisonment, and is forgiven by his loving consort.

Charles A. Wickliffe, from Kentucky, jumped up and said, Why that is absurd Mr. Speaker, I call the gentleman
1

to

order.

He

is

stating

an

ACORN. A HORSE FOALED OF AN ACORN, subs. phr. (old). The gallows. Euphemisms for hangtree itself, and the ing, the victim of the law's majesty were, at the time when the
' '

Acquaintance.
death penalty was a common punishment, both many and

16

A cres

curious. A HORSE FOALED OF AN ACORN, is obviously an allusion to the timber of which the TRIPLE

There is an anecdote connected with Hadrian and the custom of bathing, from which is derived the proverbial saying of SCRAPING AN ACQUAINTANCE. The Emperor, entering a bath, saw an
old soldier scraping himself with a tile. He recognised the man as a former his memory on such points never failed him and, pitying his condition that he had nothing better than a tile for a flesh-brush, he ordered the veteran to be presented with a considerable sum of money, and a costly set of Thereupon all the bathing garments old soldiers of the Imperial Army became as anxious to claim fellowship with the Emperor as the Kirkpatricks of Great Britain and Ireland are proudly eager to establish kinship with the Empress of the French. As Hadrian entered the bath the day after that on which he had rewarded his former comrade, he observed dozens of old soldiers

TREE (q.v.) was constructed. The widows of those who had

suffered the extreme penalty of the law were termed HEMPEN WIDOWS (q.v.) the children of such, or those likely to meet
;

comrade

with death by hanging, HEMP-

SEED
(q.v.)

(q.v.)

and HEMPEN FEVER

the

represented
itself.

dread

malady
viii.

1760-61. SMOLLETT, SirL. Greaves,ch. I believe as how 'tis no horse, but a devil incarnate and yet I've been worse mounted, that I have I'd like to have rid A HORSE THAT WAS FOALED OF AN ACORN (i.e., he had nearly met with the fate of Absalom).
;

He scraping themselves with tiles. understood the intent, but wittily evaded it. Scrape one another, gentlemen,' said he, you will not SCRAPE ACQUAINT' '

1827.
4

The cove

LYTTON, Pelham,

....

ch. Ixxxii.

ANCE WITH ME!

ACQUISITIVE,
;

'

is

as

pretty

a
subs.
;

Shcppard [1889], p. 8. Tom Sheppard was always a close file, and would never Of this I'm certell whom he married. tain, however, she was much too good
. .

Tyburn blossom as ever was brought up to ride A HORSE FOALED BY AN ACORN.' HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack 1839.

A Plunder booty pickings. noun formed from the adjective.

ACREOCRACY, The landed
subs,

(American).

(common).

. for him. ... As to this little fellow. he shall never mount A HORSE FOALED .

BY AN ACORN,

if I

can help

it.

Possibly of American coinage [of simulated Greek formation, from

interest.

To SCRAPE ACACQUAINTANCE. QUAINTANCE, verb. phr. (common). To make acquaintance. bowing and Probably from to a person, in order scraping to curry favor.
' '

English ACRE + Greek Kpareu, to hold sway or to govern] Compare with democracy, mobo.

cracy, aristocracy, etc.

1878.
zine,

1698.
[ed.

FARQUHAR, Love and a

;

Bottle

p. 5, Lucinda. Caesar, keep off your paws

1711],

ACQUAINTANCE
origin,

for

Pray good no SCRAPING Heaven's sake.

The introduction of a p. 622. plutocracy among the aristocracy and the ACREOCRACY though it has tended somewhat to vulgarize our social institutions, etc.

Hallberger's Illustrated

Maga-

This phrase has a classical an account of which from the pen of Dr. Doran, F.S.A., appears in the Gentleman's Magazine [N.S. xxxix. 230] The Masters in an article on
'

of the

Roman World

during the

A c R E s subs (theatrical) A coward From Bob ACRES, in Sheridan's Rivals [1775] here the character part is of a blusterer, one who talks big, but when put to the push, to use his own words, his courage always oozed out of
, . . ; '

Happiest Years of the

Race.'

Human

his finger ends.'

Cf.,
;

Abigail for
for a

a waiting maid

Samson

Across Lots.
strong

A dual.
monuACT or PARLIAMENT, subs. (old). A military term for small beer, five pints of which, by an Act
of Parliament, a landlord

man
LOTS.

Job

for a

ment
ACROSS

of patience,

and others.

To
;

GO

ACROSS

was

LOTS, verb. phr. To proceed by the shortest route similarly to do anything in the most expeditious manner.
its rise in

formerly obliged to give gratis to

The phrase had

each soldier billetted upon him. For synonyms, see COLD BLOOD.
ACTUAL.THEACTUAL,stt6s. (popular). Money, when spoken of collectively. The fact of the existence
of innumerable

the natural tendency of settlers, in thinly-populated districts, to shorten the distance

from point to point by leaving the road and striking across

vacant
lots.

synonyms
'

for

the

'

modern
'

staff of life

goes

Brigham

Young

familiarized its idiomatic use in the now notoriously historic saying attributed to that
' '

Saint,'

We'll
to

send
hell

them
across

(the
lots.'

Gentiles)

1848. LOWELL, Biglow Papers. Past noontime they went trampin' round An' nary thing to pop at found,
Till, fairly tired o' their spree,

An' jest ez they wuz settin' down To take their noonin', Joe looked roun' And see (ACROST LOTS in a pond

They leaned

their

guns agin a

tree,

That warn't mor'n twenty rod beyond),

Ez
!

goose that on the water sot ef awaitin' to be shot.

1854.
P- 35
[t

J.

cut ACROSS
lightning,
1887.
if

LOT, like a streak of you had a chance.'

'

THE

NEAL, Charcoal Sketch's, a grumbler] You would

C.
' :

humor and pathos running through not a few of them This applies equally to English and to the French, slang, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese argots. Compare for exthe feathers ample English with the Spanish amigos (friends)
' '
,

bear out the latter-day contention that it is not the evil itself [' money is the root of all evil Old Saw] but the lack of it that is to be deplored. The central idea enshrined in many of these terms will well repay comparative study, a vein of subtle, and sometimes grim
far to
'
'

the Italian agresto (sour grapes), and the French dufoin (hay), or de I'os (bone), and obviously

I Scribner's Magazine. didn't see Crossby goby, did you?' 'He'd have had to foot it by the path CROSSLOTS, replied Ezra, gravely, from the

many

new

side-light

national habits

upon and modes of

thought

doorstep.'

ACTEON,

subs.

(old).

cuckold;

from the horns planted on the head of Acteon by Diana.

ACTING THE DECEITFUL, verb. phr. Performing (old theatrical)
.

from. the two nations whose slang vocabularies are by far the most

may be obtained thereThe English and French,

copious extant, have respectively upwards of 130 and 50 synonymous terms for money. The generic names are as follows
:

ENG.
soft,

SYNONYMS.
(i.e.,

mumming
combe.

acting.

Dun-

beans; blunt
brads
;

Ballast not specie,

; ;

ACTIVE CITIZEN,

subs,

(popular).
see

louse.

For

synonyms,

CHATES.

or rags, i.e., bank-notes) brass bustle coal coppers (copper money, or mixed pence) chink chinkers chips corks dibs dimmock dinarly
; ; ;
;
;

A dual.
dooteroomus (or doot) dumps; dust; dye stuffs; feathers;
dirt
;
;

18

Actual.
de Vhuile (lit. oil) du refuse) beurre (pop. lit. de la butter)
;
;
:

dollars family plate (silver) gent (silver, from argent] gilt haddock (a purse of money) hard stuff (or hard) horse nails huckster John John Davis leaver; lour (the oldest cant
;
; ;
;

braise

(pop.:

of endearment
nais,

and

is

ma braise is a term among the Lyonequivalent to mon

; ;

term for money) mopusses muck; needful; nobbings (money collected in a hat by street-per;

du bath treasure) the tip-top the excellent. From a superior kind of Bath note paper, which, in 1848, was hawked about the streets of
tresor,

my
:

(thieves'

Paris,

and sold

at a

low

price.

formers) ochre (gold)

;

oof oof; ;

pewter palm oil pieces posh; queen's pictures; quids; rags (bank-notes) ready ready gilt; ready John; redge (gold);
; ; ;
;

tish

Thus papier bath became synonymous with excellent paper. In

a short time the qualifying term alone remained, and received a general application. Argot and du graissage (pop.: lit. Slang)
;

shadscales (or shot shekels sinews of war shiners (sovereigns) shin skin (a plasters (or plasters) purse of money); Spanish; spondulics stamps stiff (cheques, or
;

rhino
;

rowdy
;

scales)

grease, Cf., palm oil,' and greasing the palm' in English slang); de la thune (thieves' in old French
1 ' :

bills of

acceptance); stuff; stum-

cant the Roi de la Thune was the king of the beggars, and the old prison of Bicetre, where free

py; tin (silver)

(silver);

tow wad wedge wherewith; and yellow;

board and lodging was provided

for many of the fraternity, was called La Thune. It is easy to

boys (sovereigns).
century
1
'

In the iyth

money was often called shells is this the origin of to shell out ? and Oil of
'

see

why

the

name

of a place,
in
re-

'

where beggars congregated considerable numbers and

Angels'
(thieves'

(q.v.).

FRENCH ARGOT.
:

Vartiche retirer de Vartiche, is to

;

De

pick the pockets of a drunkard) du morningue; dufoin (lit. hay) du lit. du pldtre (thieves' plaster)
;
:

ceived relief, should pass into use to signify pecuniary alms) de la miche de profon de (pop. and thieves': this exactly corresponds to the English loaver ') de
;
'

I'oignon pcse

(pop.
:

lit.

heavy
;
;

lit. coal-dust poussier (thieves' Cf., English 'coal' and 'dust'); des soldats (thieves' Falstaff, in
:

du

onion. Cf., Fourbesque argume) des sable (pop. lit. sand)

(thieves':
fine,
:

Merry
'

says
de

Wives of Windsor, ii., 2, money is a good soldier ')

mornifle
(this

pimpions pimpant,

Qy.,

from
;

la

thieves'

term for money, whether good

or counterfeit, originally signified false money only there is a grim suggestiveness between the orthodox meaning of the word, 'a slap on the face,' and its de la slang signification) sauvette (also a basket used by rag;

spruce, smart) de I'os (familiar lit. bone); du nerf sinew. Cf., English 'sinews (lit. of war ') des pepettes (pop. (pepette, a coin of the value of
;
:

fifty

centimes)
:

des

achetoires
;

(pop.
la
;

from

acheter,
:

to buy)
:

de

lit. sea galette (pop. des picaillons (pop. cuit)

bis-

pro-

pickers and collectors of street

bably a corruption of picaron, a Spanish coin) de ce qui se that which pushes poiisse (pop.
;
:

A dual.
itself

Adam.
asta, asti

forward.
'

Cf.,

verb,

It's

money makes
; '

to go ') de wherewithal. Cf., English 'the needful,' the ready ') de I'oignon
:

mare

English prothe the quoi (pop.

;

(from lta\.asta, a
(silver
;

staff)

contramaglia
brunotti
(lit.
;

money)

penne (lit. brownish) smilzi (from Ital. feathers) = smilzi squame (lit. menu)
;

(pop.

lit.

onion.
lit.

has also
onion)
sorrel)
fig
;

argiime, de I'oseille

in Italian,
:

Fourbesque an

chips or scales).

SPANISH GERMANIA.
;

Amigos

de
:

and pop.

much
'

lit. (pop. (thieves' from a kind of large esteemed in Paris)

la

douille

(lit. friends) florin (here can be traced the Spanish connection with the Netherlands) sangre
;

(lit.

blood).

des jaunets

(lit.

buttercups.
; ;

Cf.,

English
sous
(lit.

des yellow-boys ') de la graisse pence)

' :

PORTUGUESE CALAO. Parne. GERMAN SYNONYMS (GAUNERSPRACHE).

AD.
See GILT.

and thieves' lit. grease.' de laffare (a Cf., palm oil) thieves' term, probably from
(pop.
;

ADVER. subs, (printers'). An abbreviated form of adver'

the argotic verb affurer, to cheat, du metal (lit. steal, or deceive) du zinc (lit. zinc) du metal) pl-ze (from the Italian pezzo, a piece Spanish peso, a silver coin, weighing an ounce) du pedzale
; ;

tisement.'
1854.
xiii., 9.

The

DICKENS, Household Words, really interesting ADS are

in the

body of the paper.

. .
.

des des lish

noyaux

nettes
'

(popular) plombes (plomb

(lit.

des son-

'

1888. New York Times, Ap. 6. reads [The country editor's wife ] the ADS with the editor, Just to find what each has paid. But the column AD of the jeweller,
there,'
'

lead)

sonnettes

bells.
;

Cf.,

Eng-

So he

says,

and the harness, and human

' !

chinkers ') (from the Latin)

fat)
;

du quantum du gras (lit.

de

hair,

de
;

I'atout

cards)

de

hand
grease

oil,
')
;

trumps in main (lit. the English palm

(lit.

Vhuile

Must be taken out in trade She wears the corsets he gets for ADS, And rattles his sewing machine She uses the butter, and cups, and
;

'

things,

The country
brings,

subscriber

so

faithfully

(obsolete now copper coins, value Jd. to a twoapplied particularly sous piece, and to money gener;

des patards

With a cheerfulness seldom

seen.

ADAM,

subs.

(old).

bailiff;

a master

ally)

de la vaisselle de poche
:

pocket plate
;

vaisselle

= gold and
circles; de la
;

(lit.

man.

Now

sergeant or or foreused by thieves in

man

silver plate) du carme (from the game of Trictrac }; de la pccune

(lit.

cash)

desronds
billon]

(lit.

from the shape of coins)

bille

(from

du

"

sine

qua

non" (from the Latin; meaning obvious) du sit nomen

; ;

the sense of an accomplice. Explained by commentators as a reference to the fact that the buff worn by a bailiff resembled the native buff worn by our first parent, or from his keeping the garden.
1598.
iv., 3.

quibus (an (from the Latin) of abbreviation quibus fiunt omnia)

.

AntS
mean

SHAKSPEARE, Comedy of Errors

What Adam

dost

ITALIAN FOURBESQUE. Agresto

albume (lit. sour grapes) (lit. white of egg); argume (lit. onions);
;

? Dro. S. Not that Adam that kept the Paradise, but that ADAM that keeps the prison he that goes into the calf-skin that was killed for the prodigal.

thou

1848. Sinks of
96.

London Laid Open, p. ADAM, a henchman, an accomplice.

Adam's Ale.
ADAM'S ALE, or sometimes simply ADAM, and in Scotland ADAM'S
WINE. A colloquialism of long standing for water, humorously suggesting that anything stronger was unknown to our first parents. Duncombe wittily adds a comment that our first father's drink is best with brandy. This also would appear to be the view taken in most of the French and

Addition.
From wide-mouth'd
teous tide.
1884.
col.

pitchers, in a pleni, p. 5,

The spectral banquet graced 2. now only by ADAM'S ALE, or the sickroom toast and water.
1886.

Daily Telegraph, April

JOHN COLEMAN,

Elfie, pt.

I.,

ii. For my part, I stuck to ADAM'S ALE, which Elfie brought from the spring.

ch.

ADAM

German

A TILER, subs, (old slang). pickpocket's associate one who receives stolen goods, and then
;

equivalents.

ENG. SYNONYMS. Fish broth;

aqua pompaginis.

runs off with them. [From ADAM, an accomplice + TILER, a watch-

FRENCH.
(a

Anisette de barbillon

man. C/., Masonic term.] synonyms, see FENCE.

For

popular

term)
;

essence

ADDED TO THE LIST

abbreviation of
list
'

parapluie (popular: lit. essence of umbrella) V Adam's ale (a literal translation of the

de

added

(racing). to

An
the
1

of

geldings

English term) hmonade (popua caustic comment surely upon the virtues of lemonade)
;

Among French
the term castration or,
is
;

lar

in training. thieves, dcsatiller employed to signify

tion is

lance

(popular and

term

thieves' this also does duty for rain

:
' '

where the operaperformed upon a man,

i.e.,

abelardiser,

to

mutilate a

properly written Vance, derived from the Spanish Germania ansia, itself an abbreviation of angustia, an allusion to the employment of water as a means of torture) shop or ratafia de
;

man, as Chanoine Fulbert mutilated Abelard, the lover of his

daughter or niece, Heloise.

ADDITION, subs. (old). A term for various toilet requisites, used by women such as paint, rouge,
;

grenouilles

(popular
;

lit.

syrup
;

powder,
1704.
iii.,

etc.

of

frogs)
:

sirop
lit.

de

I'aigutire

(popular
sirop

de

pitcher syrup) barometre (popular,

barometer syrup).

GERMAN

GAUNERSPRACHE.
goose- wine).

Gdnsewein
(the

(lit.

ITALIAN FOURBESQUE. Lenza remarks on French lance quoted above, apply equally
here).

Ha, Peeper, are these your London fashions ? Peeper. No, no, ADDITION is only paint, madam.

CENTLIVRE, Platonick Love, Act Scene i. Milliner. Be pleased to put on the ADDITION madam. Mrs. Dowdy. What does she mean now ? to pull my skin off, mehap, next.

PRYNNE, Sov. Power of Par/., They have been shut up in and allowed onely prisons dungeons a poore pittance of ADAM'S ALE, and scarce a penny bread a day to support
1643.
32.
II.,
. .

ADDITION, DIVISION, AND SILENCE: A Philadelphr. (American). phia expression, which, for a time, had a vogue as a catch It is phrase. properly rendered MULTIPLICATION, DIVI-

their lives.

[M.]

WOLCOT [P. PindarJ, 1786-9. siad, c. ii., line 453.

Lou-

AND SILENCE William M. Tweed, or as he is more famiBoss Tweed, is liarly known

SION,
! '
'

Old ADAM'S beverage flows with pride,

generally credited with this exBeing asked what in pression.

Addle Cove.
his view was the proper qualification for a member of a ring or trust, in which all play into

Admiral of the Blue.

letter, which she sent to an ADJECTIVE JERKER on a society weekly, and in which she said she would spend the summer months in the Rocky Moun-

each other's hands for mutual advantages, he replied MULTIPLICATION,

DIVISION,

tains.

AND

SI-

LENCE

ADJUTANT'S GIG, subs. phr. (military) .The barrack roller. Men

ADDLE COVE,
foolish
literally,

subs,
;

man

a RANK SUCKER
to

(common). A an easy dupe

;

under punishment are generally

put to the task of drawing this machine.

(q.v.),

and equivalent
addle-pate, which are

addle-plot,

addle-head, all of
dictionary

ADMIRAL.

To TAP THE
known

verb phr. (nautical).

common

A.DMIRAL, practice
'

words.

Hotten have followed the lead of Grose in classing these words as slang is hardly clear. Dialectical they may have been,
all English was similarly placed prior to the i5th century, and the first reference given by Murray, bears the date

Why

Barrere

and

but

as SUCKING Explained in Peter Simple as having originally been used amongst sailors for drinking rum out of cocoa nuts from which the milk had been extracted and replaced by spirits, an evasion of the regu-

otherwise

THE

MONKEY.'

of A.D. 1250.

lation prohibiting the purchase of ardent liquors when on shore in the tropics. The Germans

ADEPT,

expert amongst the light-fingered genIt is an try. quite open question whether ADEPT, even

subs, (thieves').

An

in a thief's sense, can fairly be classed as slang, the meaning being obviously identical with that commonly attached to the

have an analogous expression Den a/en saugen, to 'suck the monkey,' with the same signification. Nowadays it is applied to drinking on the sly from a cask by inserting a straw through a gimlet hole, and to drinking
generally.
1887.

word.
ADJECTIVE JERKER,
subs. phr. (liter-

(the Black Mousquetaire). What the vulgar call SUCKING

BARHAM, Ingoldsby

Legends

THE

term of derision ary). applied, like INK-SLINGER (q.v.}, to those who write for the press. The special allusion in the present case is doubtless to the want of discrimination which

Has much
funky.

MONKEY,
less effect

on a man when he's

ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE,

(old).

subs.

phr.
;

young

writers,

and reporters on
often exhibit

THE RED.

from the colour of his apron now obsolete. Cf., ADMIRAL OF

publican or tapster;

low-class papers,

in the use of a plethora of adjectives to qualify a simple

THE ADMIRAL
'

1731. Poor Robin [Pseudonym Robert Herrick] Almanac. As soon as customers begin to stir,

of

OF
'

statement of

fact.

THE BLUE, CHCS,

mate
his place

Or
1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat, April 29. Genevieve spent four hours last night in constructing a three-line

if

Coming, grown
;

sir

fat,

the

And

supplies
says,
rise.

'tis

not

my

master's time to

A dmiral of Narrow Seas.

Of
all

22

Adullamites.

He

our trades, the tapster is the best, has more men at work than all the
rest.

To make
tive
;

ADMIRAL
subs.

OF

THE

NARROW

SEAS,

phr.

(nautical).

A man

beautiful or attracto adorn oneself with a view of attracting admiration; said only of men.
1818. S.
'

who, under drink, vomits into the lap of his neighbour or

vis-a-vis.

E.

FERRIER,

Marriage,
'

ch.

ix.
' !

Venus and the Graces, by

;

Jove

ADMIRAL

OF THE RED, subs. phr. wine-bibber; one (popular). whose face by its redness bears evidence of a fondness for the

exclaimed Sir Sampson, bowand ing with an air of gallantry now I must go and ADONIZE a little The then separated company myself.' to perform the important offices of the
toilette.

1850.

F. E.
'

SMEDLEY, Frank Fair-

leigh, ch. xl. to face the ladies

He

positively refused

till

bottle.

Formerly the highest

of

he had changed
I

naval officers was divided into three grades or classes denominated from the colours hoisted them, by Admirals of the Red, White, or Blue squadron. Now there are four grades Admiral of the ViceFleet, Admiral, and Rear-admiral. admiral, The French call the bottle or copper-nose possessed by AD-

rank

his shooting costume, so at the hall to ADONIZE.'

left

him up

ADSUM,

verb.

The response made

'

(Charterhouse).
in answer-

ing to names-calling. 1855. THACKERAY, The Newcomes,

p. 774.

At the usual evening hour the chapel bell began to toll, and Thomas
beat
outside the bed feebly And just as the last bell time. a struck, peculiar sweet smile shone over his face and he lifted up his head

Newcome's hands

MIRALS
(lit.

OF

THE RED
;

betterave

fell

a beetroot)

also un piton
;

passe

I'encaustique
Cf.,

piffard.

and un ADMIRAL OF THE

and quickly said, 'ADSUM,' and back. It was the word we used at school when names were called and lo, he whose heart was as that of a little
little,
;

child

had answered

to his

name, and

stood in the presence of the Master.'

BLUE.

ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE, subs. phr. Quoted as a white(familiar). faced person a a coward woman in a faint.' Rarely and at best but an heard,
'

extremely weak imitation of kindred phrases, to wit, ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE, and ADMIRAL OF THE RED.

ADMIRALS OF THE RED, WHITE, AND

phr. (familiar). and hall-porters when functionaries sporting their gorgeous liveries of office.

BLUE,

subs.
;

Beadles

such-like

ADONIZE,
tdoniscr
;

verb.

(rare). [French from ADONIS + IZE]

.

ADULLAMITES, subs. (parliamentary). A nickname, in the first instance, for a party of seceding Liberals, namely, Messrs. Horsman, Lowe, Earl Grosvenor, Lord Elcho, etc., who in 1866 voted with the Tories, when Earl Russell and Mr. Gladstone introduced a measure for the extension of the Franchise, In the debate on the 3Oth March John Bright said they had agreed to draw back into a political cave of ADULLAM. The reference is to those who, with King David, took refuge in the cave of ADULLAM (i Sam. The political party in xxii., i). question were also known collectively as

'The Cave.'

Advance Backward.
1878-80. JUSTIN MCCARTHY, History of Our Own Times, p. 142. The little third party were at once christened the ADULLAMITES, and the name still survives and is likely long to survive its old

23

Affinity.
certificate

given to a

student,

showing that he has been prevented by sickness from attending to his duties, or his examination also used for the degree taken by those so excused. Also
;

political

history.

Ibid,

p.

143.

The

wild cheers of the Conservatives and the ADULLAMITES showed on which

'sword sat laurel victory.' Ibid,p. 153. [Lord Derby] had at once invited the
the ADULLAMITE party to accept places in his Adminle leading

called ;EGER
1794.
[at

(q.v.).

members

of

Gent.

Mag.,
!

p.

1085.

They

Cambridge] sported an ^GROTAT, and

istration.

The primary usage has been extended as explained in the

following quotations. 1870. Notes and Queries, March 5, The Scriptural CAVE OF p. 241. ADULLAM has become an adopted for a small clique who unite to byword obstruct the party with which they
'
'

coat 1864. BABBAGE, Passages from the Life of a Philosopher, 37. I sent my servant to the apothecary for a thing
called an .CGROTAT,
.

they sported a

new

which

understood
I

meant a

certificate

that

was

indisposed.

READING JEGROTAT.

In some

usually associate.
1884. New York Times, July 19. party then presented a tolerably solid front against the extension of the franchise, and received a besides reinforcement of large ADULLAMITES from the Liberal side.

universities leave taken, commonly in December, in order to get time to read for one's degree.

The Conservative

AFFAIR OF

HONOUR

subs.

Killing an innocent man in a This euphemism was duel. largely in vogue during the

(old).

Regency days.
ADVANCE BACKWARD,
can).
1888.

verb.

(AmeriAFFIDAVIT Mcn.sub.phr. (old slang), or, as they also used to be

rather

odd way of

expressing retrogression.
Chicago Inter-Ocean, Jan. 23. The advice given to his company by a raw Yankee captain TO ADVANCE BACKWARD, seems paralleled in the Chicago Tribune of the i8th inst.

KNIGHTS OF THE POST. False witnesses who attended Westminster Hall and other Courts of Justice, ready to
called,

ADVANTAGE

(Californian).

See

POCKET ADVANTAGE.
>EGER,
subs.

swear anything for hire they were distinguished by having

;

straws stuck
their shoes.

in the heels of See STRAW BAIL

Same
p.

Lat. sick. (Univ.). as AEGROTAT (q.v.).

'

under BAIL.

1870. Chambers' Journal, June 18, Dick laughed. I'll get the 395. receipt from him. I often want a good thing for an ,EGER.'

in Temple Bar, Instead of applying I had resorted to the old device of pricking ^EGER.'
1888.

H. SMART,
'

February,

p. 213.

for leave to

my

tutor,

JCGROTAT,

subs.

(Univ.).

[L.

he

is

sick,

3rd pers. sing. pres.

ind. of cegrotare, to

be sick from
.

In agrotus, sick, from ager, sick] English universities a medical

A cant AFFINITY, subs. (American). term in frequent use amongst socalled free-lovers. One's AFFINITY is supposed to be a person of the opposite sex, for whom an attachment so strong is felt that even if already married, as more often than not is the case, the husband will abandon his legitimate wife, and vice versa, in favour of the new attraction, or AFFINITY as he or she is called.
The argument
is

generally only

Afflicke.

24

Afternoon Farmer.
affair is

an excuse for unbridled sexual license indeed, it is inconceivable that it could be otherwise, except in a society of seraphs
;

supposed to be

at

an

end.

and archangels.
AFFLICKE, subs.
tion.
1610.
p. 38

(old).

See quota-

AFTERNOON'S AFTER-DINNER MAN MAN. Generally read to mean a tippler one given to long potations after the mid-day meal, formerly the most sub;

ROWLAND'S

Martin, Mark-all,

(H. Chub's Repr., 1874).

AFFLICKE,

a theefe.

AFFLICTIONS,

subs,

(drapers').

Mourning goods, half-mourning being designated MITIGATED AFFLICTIONS

(q.v.).

the taken during hours. Smythe twenty-four Palmer, however, appears to throw a different gloss upon the term, for he says [N.
stantial

and

NOONES MEN equivalent to AFTER-DINNER MEN. It was the

custom, formerly, to dine in the halls of our Inns of Court about noon, and those who returned after dinner to work must have been much devoted
to business, or obliged to work at unusual hours by an excess See quot. from Earle. of it."
1614.
196,

Q., 5 S.,

viii.,

112],

'AFTER-

'It AFFYGRAPHY, SM&S. (common). fits to an AFFYGRAPHY,' i.e., to a nicety to a T also of time in an AFFYGRAPHY.'
; '

AFLOAT, adv.

move

en evidence.

(common). On the This term is

of nautical origin.

To HAVE ONE'S BACK-TEETH WELL AFLOAT, is to be wellprimed with liquor in short, to be in one of the many degrees of
;

Make him an AFTERNOONES MAN.

1621.

OVERBURY, A

wife, etc. (1638),

BURTON, Anat. Mel. Democr.

intoxication.
Missouri Republican, Jan. 25. sober on the bench Judge Noonan is a model of all the virtues. On Friday night, however, in company with Dr. Munford, of Kansas City, ex-Speaker Wood, Mr. Charles Mead, and several other gentlemen, his honor once more drank until, as an onlooker put it, his BACK TEETH WERE WELL AFLOAT.
1888.

Bervaldus will to Reader (1657), 44. have drunkards, AFTERNOON MEN, and such as more than ordinarily delight in drink, to be mad.

When

EARLE, Microcosmography (A Your Innes of Court men were undone but for him, hee is their chiefe guest and employment, and the sole businesse that makes them AFTERNOONES MEN.
1628.

Player).

1830.

Dublin

Sketch

Book.

The

good Baronet (Sir Francis Burdett) was

not only a foxhunter, but a celebrated

A-FLY, adv. (vulgar).

See FLY.

AFTER-DINNER MAN a good bout indeed

worsted.

It

in

must have been which he was

AFTERCLAP, subs. (American). An attempt to unjustly extort more in a bargain or agreement than at first settled upon. Derived from AFTER -f CLAP, a blow or

AFTER FOUR,

subs.

From

phr. (Eton).

3
;

to

6
to

p.m.
5

holidays 4 schoolday.

on halfon whole

Current in England shock.] since the beginning of the fifteenth century, signifying an unexpected subsequent event
;

AFTERNOON
lar).

FA RMER.SK&S. />/*'. (popufor

who

This expression
procrastinates,

one

or

who
is,

something happening after an

misses

an

opportunity

in

After Twelve.
It is reality, a provincialism. quoted in more than one of the English Dialect Society's Glossaries as a very common phrase for one who is always behind,
i.e.,

25

Aggerawator.
AGAINST THE GRAIN, therefore take
the author has given
1868.
it

it

as

you.

WILKIE COLLINS, The MoonAs

I

stone, ist Period., ch. xi.

had pro-

mised lowed
that
I

for them, the other servants follead, sorely AGAINST THE

my

late in preparing his land, in

GRAIN, of course, but

took.

all

taking the view

sowing or harvesting his crops. It is only slang when used figuratively apart from agricultural pursuits.

1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Courtship, ch. xxiii. It went AGAINST MY GRAIN to leave the poor chap alone.

AFTER TWELVE,

From noon
1861.

subs. phr. (Eton).

AGAZE, adv. (American thieves'). Astonished open-eyed.

;

till

2 p.m.
for
to visit

WHVTE MELVILLE, Good

p. 39.
I

Nothing,
larly in

used

him regu-

AGGERAWATOR, subs, (common) also H AGGERAWATOR, both forms

;

the dear old college from the

AFTER TWELVE.

AGAINST COLLAR. To WORK AGAINST COLLAR, verb. phr. (popular). To battle or cope with difficulties
'
'

;
'

pricks
tide.
1

to to

kick
pull

against the against the

C. HINDLEY, Life and Advena Cheap Jack, p. 114. 'It is always thought to be a bad plan to let journeymen Cheap Johns get into debt with their employers. It is bad in two ways, for if they owe their governors a few pounds, they are WORKING an uphill game, or AGAINST COLLAR, and that don't
1876. tures of

corruptions of aggraA lock of hair brought down from the forehead, well greased, and then twisted in spiral form upon the temple, either toward the ear, or conversely toward the outer corner of the eye. This style of dressing the hair was formerly much

'

being

vator.'

affected

by costermongers, male
' '

and

female, and other street folk, but the ornament is now It appears to be rarely seen. known among certain classes

in France, especially prostitutes'

bullies.

and it destroys the indewhich is, and always should Eendence e, between the master and the man.'
suit their book,

ENG. SYNONYMS. Kiss-curls

cobbler's
;

AGAINST THE
(popular).
;

adv. GRAIN, phr. Against the fibres of the wood hence, in opposition to the wish ununwillingly
;
; '

knots cow - licks Newgate knockers (from a supposed resemblance to the knocker on the prisoner's door at
;

Newgate)
curls

number
;

sixes

bell-

pleasantly
it,

reluctantly.

It

went AGAINST THE GRAIN to do but I knew I must,' is a com-

ropes (being wherewith to draw the belles) bow-catchers spit; ;

lovelocks, etc.

mon
1673.

expression.

FRENCH ARGOT.
Amboyna,
;

DRYDEN,

Act

i.

des

Seizing their factories I like well enough, it has some savour in't but for this whoresome cutting of throats, it goes a little AGAINST THE GRAIN.
1693. DRYDEN, Juvenal, i., 202, Though much AGAINST THE GRAIN forc'd

rouflaquettes
accroche-cceurs

(from
(lit.

Des guiches being

;

sported by prostitutes' bullies),

des

heart-

hooks).
1836. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. His hair carefully twisted into the 132. outer corner of each eye, till it formed a variety of that description of semi-curls, usually known as AGGERAWATORS.'
'

to retire.
1709.

STEELE,
is

Tatter,

No.

2.

Nothing

in nature

so ungrateful as story-telling

Agility.

26

Agony Column.
much noise. You lose when you PILE UP THE AGONY like

From

the

following

they

a great deal too

effect that.'

would appear at one time to have formed part of the personal adornment of women in Australia.
1859. FRANK FOWLER, Southern Lights and Shadows, p. 38. The ladies are addicted to ... straw-coloured gloves, and strained hair, embellished with two or three c's AGGRAVATORS they call them running over the temple.

AGONY COLUMN,
lar).

phr. (poputhe Times ; originally so-called from the fact of its being devoted to advertisements for miss-

subs.

The second column of

AGILITY,

subs.

(low).

A woman
stile,

who,

in

when more

mounting a being swung,

person

or,

ing friends, and private communications, many of which are of a harrowing character. Most London newspapers, for the

of her

exposes than is

usually counted decent, is said The her AGILITY. to show

story told is

phrase is chiefly local, have now a similar column. Subjoined are a few examples of these advertisements
:

an absurdly vulgar

T I

AM

not sure
of
1873

of identity.
?

Are you
to

play upon words.

verb, AGITATE THE COMMUNICATOR Ring the bell phr. (common).
I
!

Juan
B.

Longing

see

you.

AGITATOR, subs, (common). rope, or knocker.

A bell-

darling, how often do I say from TV/fY iv my heart come and let us reason together that we may be happy here and live and love for ever. God bless and spare us to meet again.

AGOG A RE,

SATISFIED. Farringdon
intj.

Meet
Street

Friday

outside

(American

thieves').

p.m.
hole.

Have
J.

quick! a warning signal [from AGOG]. New York Slang

Dictionary.

Be

Station, Three slip paper in coat button-

T.

AGONY.
verbal

To

PILE UP

THE AGONY.

TTERBERT WILLIAM II who left Bristol onBONNETT, Thursday, is Sept. 5, REQUESTED to COMMUNICATE at once with his uncle
at
is

To (popular). phr. intensify a statement or relation by exaggerated or blood' '

Keynsham. If any shipping agent aware of his taking passage in any boat leaving England, either London,
Liverpool,
or

elsewhere,

please write

Newspapers curdling details. writing pile on the agony when up murder, divorce, and other
sensations.
1857. C. Life, ch. xxv.

at once to Mr. J. D. Coates, Keynsham, near Bristol. All expenses will be paid.

The

earliest

mention in Mur-

BRONTE,
till

What climax

not

come on

in Mrs. Gaskell's there is does near the conclusion

;

ray's Dictionary is dated 1880, but from the following quotation it will be seen that the term has been in use for at least

and even
regular
'

then, I doubt whether the novel-reader will consider the AGONY PILED sufficiently high (as the Americans say), or the colours dashed on to the canvas with the proper amount of daring. 1881. W. BLACK, Beautiful Wretch,
'

twenty years.
1870.
II., p. 78.

L.

OLIPHANT,

The advertisement
which appeared
the

mittee,

COLUMN of the know how I wished

Piccadilly, part of the comin the AGONY Times, who wanted to

later that organ will shake the Cathedral to bits the vibrations were fearful. I thought there was

ch. vi.

'

Sooner or

W. BLACK, Beautiful Wretch, 1881. ch. xxiii. There were anonymous appeals to the runaways in AGONY COLUMNS.

money

applied.

Agony
AGONY
FILER,

Filer.

27

Air Line.
Chetwynd case). sell) meant was

subs, (theatrical).

An

actor

who performs
parts
in

curdling
plays.

bloodsensational

AGROUND,
fast like
;

adv.

(common).
; ;

Stuck
ruined
;

stopped at a loss a boat or vessel AGROUND.

society instructions were given. A wink was as good as a nod, and trainers and jockeys, from various trivial circumstances, very easily gathered whether a particular horse was only OUT FOR AN AIRING, or whether it was on the job.

What he (Sir C. Rusthat Sir G. Chetwynd never did anything so gross and vulgar as that [tell the jockey to pull horses], and that if horses were pulled, that was not the way in which in any class of turf
' '

AIN'T,
'

sometimes

(vulgar).

A
' ;

A'N'T, verb. phr.

(i
' '

am

not
not.'

corruption for are not (2)

;

(3

'is

This vulgarism ap-

pears to be of much older standing than set down in the New English Dictionary, where the
earliest
1710.

AIR LINE, or AIR LINE ROAD (AmeriTo TAKE THE AIR LINE can). to go direct, and by the shortest route; idiomatically, to avoid circumlocution. The origin of
J

example

is

dated 1778.
to Stella,

this expression is to be found in the straight lines of railway,

SWIFT, Journal

24

without expensive detours and

Nov., Letter ix. I AIN'T vexed at this business of the bishops, although Fuppy was a little at first.
1800. COLERIDGE, Piccolomini, II., xiii. Ter. Where's the hurry ? Come, one other composing draught Goetz. Excuse me AIN'T able. Ter. A thimble-full Goetz. Excuse me.
!

grades, which in the New World are rendered possible by the vast expanses of unbroken level. These lines of railway are called AIR LINE ROADS, Or STRAIGHT

SHOOTS

(q.v.).

De Vere remarks

275.

1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. 'You are a clever fellow, Tottle, AIN'T you?'

AIR AND EXERCISE,

subs. phr. (old).

To have had

AIR

CISE, signified that one

AND EXERhad un-

that since the number of such roads has increased in the more thickly settled parts of the Union, the advantages of direct lines between two great centres over others which meander from

town

to

town have become very

dergone a whipping at the cart's tail. About the beginning of the present century the same operation was termed SHOVING

manifest, and for a few years a tendency to build such AIR LINES

THE TUMBLER
vitude

(q.v.).

Among
ser-

has agitated Legislatures, from and from financial circles in the States and abroad help is

whom

thieves at the present time, AIR

asked.

AND EXERCISE means penal

;

in America it is only applied to a short term of imprisonment.

These lines not unfrequently run for long distances by the side of older lines.
1888.
St.

Louis Globe Democrat, Jan.

24.

now

When it is AIRING, subs, (racing). not intended that a horse shall

win a race for which
to the starting post,
1889.
it is

brought
said to

The obese style once admired is disliked. Many old English authors had too much rhetoric for our age. Of one thing we are profoundly convicted, that we have no time to spare for superAn author must take the AIR fluities. LINE or we will not travel.
Florida 1888. tisement, Feb. n.
AIR LINE.

it

is

be OUT FOR AN AIRING.

Evening Standard, June 25 (Sir Chas. Russell's speech in Durham-

Times Union Adver-

Ask

for tickets via

Augusta or Atlanta and fhe Piedmont

Air One's Heels.

AIR ONE-S HEELS,
ular).
verb. phr.
;

28

Albany Beef.
her delicacy, Queen Elizabeth kept him for some time in disUsed directly for a grace. necessary house.
1611. COTGRAVE, Eng. Treasury, p. 1 6. Which (like the glorious AJAX of Lincoln's Inne, I saw in London) laps up naught but filth and excrements. 1720. Hasp, of Incurab. Fooles, p. 6. Adoring Sterculio for a god, no lesse unworthily then shamfully constituting him a patron and protector of AJAX and

(pop-

To

loiter

to

hang

about.

Am

ONE'S VOCABULARY,

(old).

To
;

verb. phr.

talk

by one's 'to flash the gab.' of the wits One of the time of George IV. .when asked what was going on in the House of Commons answered that Lord Castletalk;

sake

to

show

for off

talking's

his commodities.

reagh was AIRING HIS VOCABULARY. The term is now rarely heard, but the practice is with us always.

A corruption AIRY, subs, (vulgar). of area,' e.g., 'Down the AIRY

'

the above work of Sir J. Harrington, Ben Jonson seems to allude, as a masterpiece in its way, when, at the conclusion of a dirty poem, he says,
1574-1637.
vol. VI., p. 290
:

To

On

the

Famous Voyage,
eterniz'd

steps.'

And
See AJAX.
(old). a's
'

could wish for their

sakes,

A- JAKES.

My muse
Pronounced
'

had plough'd with his that

sung A-JAX.

AJAX,

subs.

The rhyme here

ing.

with

both

long).

The

name of this hero furnished many unsavoury puns to our

ancestors, from
its

proves that the pronunciation of the time was suited to the English mean-

Even Camden condescends

similarity in

sound to the two English words, A JAKES. In some of the passages the allusion obscure, as in this
is
:

to play upon this word. Speaking of the French word pet, he says,
1605. Remains, p. 117. Inquire, if you understand it not, of Cloacina's Chaplains, or such as are well read in

rather

BEN JONSON, Epiccene, or The 1609. Silent Woman, iv., 5. A stool were better, sir, of Sir AJAX, his invention.
plainer in Shakspeare 1594. Love's Labour Lost, y., a. Your lion, that holds his poll-ax, sitting on a close stool, will be given to AJAX.
It is
:

AJAX.

See JAKES.

AKERMAN'S HOTEL,

subs, (obsolete).

Newgate
so
called.

prison

was once
governor's
See

The

name was AKERMAN.

AKEYBO.

CAGE.

The cause

low wit John Harrington, who

of all this vein of Sir was, perhaps,

in

1596

published his celebrated tract called The Metamorphosis of

AJAX, by which he meant the improvement of a jakes, or necessary, by forming it into what we now call a water-closet, of which Sir John was clearly the
inventor.

A slang phrase used in the following manner He beats AKEYBO, and AKEYBO beat the devil. Hotten.
:

A-LA-MORT.

See

AMORT.
(Ameri-

ALBANY BEEF,

subs. phr.

For

this

offence to

The popular name of can). the flesh of the sturgeon. This,

Albertopolis.
in color and taste, has some resemblance to beef, especially when cut in steaks and grilled. Albany is a town on the Hudson River as high as which the fish in question is or was to be caught in large numbers, and as a matter of course, it consequently formed a not incon-

Alderman's Pace.
1859. FAIRHOLT, Tobacco (1876), 173. Such long pipes were reverently termed in the last age, and irreve-

ALDERMAN
3.

rently yards of clay in the present one.

siderable

factor

supply of the hence the term

ALBERTOPOLIS,

in the food inhabitants

turkey a variant is AN IN CHAINS; *'.., aroast turkey well stuffed and garnished with sausages. The latter are said to be emblematical of the gold chain worn by the civic dignitary what then about the
;

ALDERMAN

ALBANY BEEF.
(popular).

stuffing
1782.

GEORGE PARKER, Humorous

subs,

nickname formerly given by Londoners to the Kensington Gore district, out of compliment to the late Prince Consort. The Albert Hall and the
Exhibition buildings of 1862, with which Prince Albert was

Sketches, p. 31. Nick often eat a roast fowl and sausage with me, which in cant is called an ALDERMAN, double slang'd.
1

sometimes ALDERMAN JEMMY. A weightier tool is called a Lord Mayor, whereby it is clear that
the criminal classes are not without some kind of respect for the

4.

(thieves

).

A JEMMY (q.v.)

so closely identified, are situated within the radius and the

;

Albert Memorial

is

hard by.

The tool is used city fathers. for burglary purposes.

1883. Daily Telegraph, May 14, p. :ol. 7. A complete set of safe-breaking tools had been used and left behind, including wedges, an ALDERMAN JEMMY, a hammer weighing 14 Ibs. 1888. Saturday Review, 15 Dec., p. One side of slang was illustrated the by burglar Casey in a well-known case of robbery in the City some years who explained in Court that the ago, big jemmy with which iron shutters were prised open was called the 'ALDERMAN,'
719.

E. YATES, Broken to Harness, 1864. ch. xxxiii., p. 366 (1877). Mr. Cauthar

tripped out of the house, and devoted the remainder of the evening to working out a composition for the nutriment ot th hair, which, under the name of Cauthar's Crinibus, has an enormous circulation over the infant heads of ALBERTOPOLIS.

ALBONIZED, ppl. adj. (pugilistic). Whitened. [From *L.albus, white.]

ALDERMAN,

subs,

(popular).

i.

A
ex-

adding, it would never do to be talking about crowbars in the street.'

'

half-crown.

This term

is

plained by Brewer as containing an allusion to the fact that an alderman is a kind of half-king,

5.

BLOOD AND GUTS ALDERsubs.

MAN,

pompous man

phr.
;

(popular).
'

one with a cor-

whatever that
1857.
ed., p. 444.

may mean.
Assistant, 3

SNOWDEN, Mag.

Two

ALDERMAN.
2.

shillings

and sixpence

The allusion is ,to poration.' the alleged or real over-eating and drinking of ALDERMEN as
a class.
subs.

long pipe

also called a
;

ALDERMAN LUSHINGTON,
tralian).

CHURCHWARDEN (q.v.) in both instances the name is probably

an allusion to the penchant these personages had at one time for
the long clay.

m.^jV-lWC ^ntoxicating

(Ausbever-

ages.

ALDERMAN'S

PACE.

A
i

slow

and

stately gait, like that of a burly

A Idgate

Algerinc.
1863-64. CHAMBERS' Bk. of Days, ii., This man was a regularly dubbed ALE-KNIGHT, loved barley wine to the full.
597.

man as aldermen are generally represented. The French have an equivalent phrase, pas d'abbc-.
ALDGATE.

A DRAUGHT ON THE PUMP AT A.'LDG\TE.,subst.phy. (commerA bad bill of exchange. cial). A play on the word draught.'
'

ALES,

The

subs. (Stock Exchange). shares in the brewery busi-

ness of S. Allsopp and Sons, Limited, are thus known.

ALECAMPANE.
ALECIE,

See

ALLACOMPAIN.
(old

ALECY,

subs,

nonce

ALE SPINNER, subs, phr. (old) [from ALE + SPINNER, a manufacturer or producer]. A brewer or
publican.

[from ALE + suffix CIE or CY, as in 'lunacy']. The state of being under the influence of ale drunkenness also words)
;

ALEXANDRA LIMP,

balmyness.
1594.
If

he had arrested a mare instead of a it had beene a slight oversight, but to arrest a man, that hath no likehorse,

J.

LYLY, Mother Bombie,

cc. 9.

nesse of a horse, isflatlunasie, or ALECIE.

ALE- DRAPER,

subs, (old) [from ALE DRAPER as in linen-draper] A humorous title for an ale. ;

given to an erstwhile fit of semi-imbecility on the part of Society.' The Princess of Wales, through a slight infirmity, walks with a suspicion of lameness, and servile imitation of everything pertaining to royalty caused the sudden appearance (circa 1860-70) of a
'

The name

subs, (popular).

crowd of limping petticoated

toadies. The craze passed away as suddenly as it came. Cf., GRECIAN BEND.
1876.

house keeper probably from the ancient custom of measuring

ale

by the yard. It long survived dialectically, but is now

obsolete.

Synonyms were RUM(q.v.)

CULL, and SQUIRT-QUESTER

1593.

Your own advocacy of the Grecian bend and the ALEXANDRA LIMP both positive and practical imitations of physical
affliction.
[H.]

Chambers' Journal, No. 629.

set

Dreams. Two milch maydens that had up a shoppe of ALE-DRAPERY.

1747.

HENRY CHETTLE,Kinde-Harts
ALFRED DAVID,
subs,

Line.

Broughton, Farmer and ALE DRAPER.

In Parish Register- of Scatter, Thomas 8th, [Buried], July

ALE-KNIGHT, subs. phr. (old) [from ALE + KNIGHT, used derisively]. A tippler; a boon companion.
1575.

obviously a humorous corruption in pronunciation also AFFIDAVY and, by an extended process of curtailment, DAVY. All are common colloquialisms among the uneducated classes. AFTER-DAVY
affidavit
; ;

An

(common).

Eccl.

Proc.

Chester.

[The

Vicar of Whalley, Lane., is charged with being a common dronker and ALE KNIGHT.]
1654.

is likewise occasionally heard, generally in connection with a

person

in extremis.

WITT'S

Recreations.

Come all you brave wights, That are dubbed ALE-KNIGHTS

Now set out

And
let

them

youselves in fight that crack

In the praises of sack, Know malt is of mickle might.

ALGERINE, subs, (theat.) A member of a company who, when the cannot be induced to ghost walk, i.e., when the exchequer is low, and salaries are not paid,
'
'

A live
'

and Kicking.
'

Alley.
ALL-A-MORT.
See

with the manais also used to designate the hard-up borrower of petty sums.
remonstrates
ger.

AMORT.

The term

ALL AROUND SPORTS, sub. (American). Obviously a corruption Of ALL ROUND SPORTSMEN,' i.e.,
'

ALIVE AND K\CK\NG,adv.phr. (popuAn intensive form of lar).

men whose
catholic,

interest in sport is
all

and

embracing.

most colloquial sense of being alert and full of action. In the days of Pierce Egan's Tom and Jerry, ALIVE par1

ALIVE

'

in its

ALL AT SEA, adv. phr. (popular). In an uncertain, vague condition.

Of

nautical origin, and

to

took far more of the nature of Sometimes slang than now. ALL ALIVE AND KICKING is varied

perhaps more colloquial than

slang
;

equivalent
(q.v.).

ALL

ABROAD

by ALL ALIVO
FLY. in the

KNOWING

ALL

The

allusion is to a child womb after quickening.

ALL BRANDY, adv. phr. (common).

it is desired to comor speak well of anything it is said to be ALL BRANDY. The use of such a term suggests curious reflections upon the drinking habits of those who employ it.

When

mend

1889. Globe, Oct. 4, p. i, col. 3. Next day there appeared a letter from a Mr. Basil Watts Phillips, who proclaimed himself as a son of the playwright, and stated, moreover, that his mother, the playwright's widow, as well as another son, named Gordon, were to use a popular phrase alive and Miss Emma, therefore, could kicking.' hardly be recognised, with fairness, as the only living representative of the
' '

SYNONYMS. Ai; thepure quill; about east about right at par the cheese.
; ;
;

late

Watts

Phillips.'

ALL DICKEY.

See
subs,

DICKEY.

A LLACOM PA

(rhyming slang). Forms ALIALACOMPAIN, CUMPANE, ELECAMPAIN, etc. I.

i :

N.swfo.

ALLEVIATOR, (common). drink; refreshment.

1846.

In the so-called rhyming slang this is the equivalent of rain.

MARK LEMON,

Golden Fetters.

If any of you feel thirsty after this exciting interview, I shall be happy to

stand an ALLEVIATOR.

Candy sup(common). posed to be made from the root

2.

of inula helenium or bellwort

it

SYNONYMS. Gargle smile Alderman Lushington long

; ;

however, than colored sugar.

contains,

little

else

sleeved

'un

(Australian,

when
glass)
;

taken shout
slang).

from
;

a
See

long

etc.

GARGLE.

ALL A-FLOAT -(rhyming

coat.

ALL ALIVE, adv. and adj. (tailors'). Ill-made garments, and misfits,' are said to be ALL ALIVE.
'

ALL ALONG OF (vulgarism). count of by reason of,

;

On acetc.

ALLEY, ALLY, A LAY, subs, (schoolA superior kind boys' term). of marble. Supposed to be a corrupted and abbreviated form of alabaster,' of which these superior kind of marbles are sometimes made. ALLEY is the name given to the medium sizes, smaller ones
'

All-Fired.
MIVVIES being called and the largest BONCES
as
(q.v.),
(q.v.).

All Gay.
1835.
S., ch. xxiv.

HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i Look at that 'ere Dives,

' '

The word sometimes appears

ALLEY TOR, Or ALLEY TAW.
Foe, in
'

they say, 'what an ALL-FIRED scrape he got into by his avarice with Lazarus
1861.

De

Duncan Campbell,"

HUGHES,
'

Tom

Brown

at

as early as 1720, speaks of a large bag of marbles and ALLEYS, and at that time the term was
It is invulgar. teresting to note that the supposed derivation of ALLEY from alabaster is borne out by the fact, that among school-boys marbles are called stone

I knows I be so ALLOxford, ch. xl. FIRED jealous; I can't abear to hear o' her talkin', let alone writin' to

'

considered

1883. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than Well,' he said .... Water, ch. xvii. 'you've been an ALL-FIRED time you have in selling those jars.'
'

ALL

FLY.

See

FLY.

clay ones Ad(q.v.). ditional weight is also given to the accuracy of this deriva-

STONEYS

COMMONEYS
tion,

(q.v.),

and

that

it is remembered are what known as DUTCH ALLEYS' (q.v.), are or only STONEYS enamelled

when

In glazed different colours. old Berlin slang, ALLEY TORS were known as Kalbacher.
ALL-FIRED,
adj. ALL-FIREDLY, adv. (American). Thought by most to be a Puritanical corruption of

ALL FOURS. To GO or BE ON ALL FOURS, verb.phr. (popular) .-From the four legs of a quadruped, or the two legs and two arms of a child or man. Hence to go on ALL FOURS is to go evenly, the figure of speech presented being the reverse of limping like a lame dog. Thence follows the metaphorical use of the phrase in
the sense of exact analogy and
similarity of
'

relation.
'

It

is

in that respect a profane euphemistic adjective. In this connection it carries

'hell-fired,'

and

with

it

the
'

meaning of
or
;

'

im'in-

as like thus synomyous with as two peas (the French say, comme deux goitttes d'eau, as like as two drops of water) a a chip of the old block Chinese copy,' etc. At the same time, a show of proba'

'

'

mense/

bility

must

be

conceded

to

ordinate but, of course, the primary signification of this is corruption Some, howperfectly obvious. ever, think the word may be taken at its face value [ALL+ FIRE+ED.] an intensitive of the
,

'excessive,' in general

those philologists who refer the phrase to the masonic symbol of the square, emblematic of

harmony

and completeness. Possibly masons gave its use a fresh impetus.

Commerely rhetorical fire. mon now on both sides of the

Atlantic.
1755.

ALL

GAMMON!
nonsense MY EYE.
adv.
;

phr.
;

All

(common). rubbish See

!

ALL
140.

The World, No.

!

How
ALL GAY,
serene
clear.
(thieves').
;

custom

arbitrary is language arid how does the of mankind join words, that reason has put asunder Thus we often hear of HELL-FIRE COLD, of devilish handsome, and the like.
!

All
is

all

right

the coast

The French

voleur says,

c'est franco !

All-Get-Out.
ALL-GET-OUT, phr. (American). That beats ALL-GET-OUT, is an old retort to any extravagant Barrere story or assertion. oh, get out says, appears to have suggested the phrase, which is, perhaps, not alto' ' !

33

All Lombard Street.

ALL HOLLOW, adv. (popular). To BEAT, Or CARRY ALL HOLLOW,
i.e.,

utterly; completely.
I

ALL HOT

subs,

cry used potato. patetic street vendors.

(common).

hot

by

peri-

gether obvious.

ALL ALL HANDS TO

phr.
(old).

IN,

THE

PUMP,

verb,

An
one

When
vails,

phr. (Stock

the market
it

Exchange). is depressed

expression
life,

borrowed
signifying

from seafaring
concentration
'

and a disposition
is

to sell presaid to be ALL IN.

of

energy in any

direction.

long say, a strong pull, and a pull this also is a altogether

pull,
'

Now-a-days we
;

Conversely, ALL OUT signifies that the market is improving.

ALL

IN A

PUCKER.

See

PUCKER.

sailor's phrase.

ALL IN FITS, adv.

phr. (tailors').
to

ALL

HOLIDAY

AT

Badly made clothes are said

PECKHAM,

verbial phr. (popular).

No work

pro-

to do; and, as a concomitant, nothing to eat. play upon words. See PECKISH.

be ALL IN FITS, or to have a paralytic stroke. Such garments are also said to fit where they Now nowhere. touch, i.e.,

common.
ALL JAW. ALL JAW LIKE A SHEEP'S HEAD, adv. phr. (common). Said of one who is a great talker or, who has the gift of the gab.
;

Lexicon Balatronicum. ALL HOLIDAY AT PECKHAM .... a saying signifying that it is all over with the business or person spoken of or alluded
1811.
to.

bk.

I.,

1848. FORSTER, Oliver Goldsmith, ch. vi., p. 55 (sed.) 'Oh, that is

ALL A HOLIDAY AT PECKHAM,' Said an Old friend very innocently one day, is a common proverbial phrase.
It

C. HINDLEY, Life and 1876. tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 41.

'

Adven-

Look

at

seems that Goldsmith

in

the early part of his London life passed some miserable months as usher in a school at Peckham, and the memory of this doleful period was ever bitter to him Years afterwards, a friend in conversation hap-

hear him why, he's ALL JAW LIKE A SHEEP'S HEAD. He was drummed out of the regiment he was in for eating his comrades' knapsacks.'
the
! ;

man

A synonym is

ALL MOUTH.

See

pened
'

to

being
this

all

speak facetiously of it holiday at Peckham,'

reference
to find that to a

JAW. ALL LOMBARD STREET TO A CHINA ORANGE, phr. (old) sometimes ALL LOMBARD STREET TO NINEPENCE. One of many fanciful forms of betting once current
;

and was surprised

innocent

the sporting fraternity; others were Chelsea College to

among

'

recognised proverbial phrase was regarded by Goldsmith as an unkind allusion to his past misery, and, therefore, a personal
insult.

a sentry box,' Pompey's Pillar to a stick of sealing wax,' etc. 1819. THOMAS MOORE, Tom Cribb's
'

Memorial to Congress, p. 38 A pause ensued "till crie

of

'

Greg-

A II
soon,

Moonshine.

34

All

My

Eye.
est ado

Brought Bob, the poet, on his legs

que proceden del

holla
la

My

And twenty more such

on
it.

writes! Talk of your camels, hogs and crabs,

eyes,

how

prettily

Bob

Luna.'

Hence

Pidcock frights Bob's worth a hundred of these dabs,

French, modern and des hines,' he is whimsical or

' :

en que se also in II a old

la lune,'
;

ALL LOMBARD STREET TO NINEPENCE

ALL

Tenir de fantastic. to be inconstant,

'

mutable
la la lune,

'Avoir un quartier de

lune,'

MOONSHINE, adverbial phr. Moonshine is in and provincial old-fashioned English an illusive shadow a mere pretence [Halliwell]. The expression IT is ALL MOONSHINE is now variously applied, whether as referring to empty
(popular).
'

en la
is

teste,'

or II y a de

he
'

,'

'

'

changeable, giddy, capricious. In the language of symbols the moon is the emblem of hypocrisy, as in the following device La lune avec ces mots,
'

'

Mentiri didicit.
(Elle

professions, to vain boasts,

trustworthy, questionable statements, or any kind of extravagant talk. There exist in several languages so many words of lunar con-

promises

not

to to to

trompe

toujours.)

dont la lune est le symbole.' MENESTRIAR, Philosophic des vol. 266. I., p. Images,

Pour

1'hypocrisie,

Another lowing
:

emblem
'

is

the

fol-

nection, all implying variableness or inconstancy, that possibly this phrase also, IT is ALL

La

lune,

non color unus, Pour une personne qui n'est pas sincere.'
vultus
Ibid,
I.,

Non

p. 269.

MOONSHINE, may have been primarily employed to express

some degree
price
;

of fickleness, or cain allusion to the incon-

Moonshine, in conformity with these ideas, was probably employed originally in characterising

stancy or changeableness of the moon, or rather moonlight. When anyone professes or

the

talk

of

persons

too

mutable to be relied on from one time to another. Notes

and Queries.
Several 1714. Spectator, No. 597. correspondents have been pleased send me an account how they have
sleep, and

promises great things, which we do not expect to see realized, we say IT is ALL MOONSHINE, for moonshine is very shifty one week we have it, another we have it not nay, it shifts 'Lunes' from night to night. in old English, are not only but freaks. fits of insanity, And the term lunatic itself did not properly signify a person always insane, but one
; ;
' '

of
to

my

adventure they have been engaged in during that MOONSHINE IN THE BRAIN. MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny Litd1874. 'They are low, i S., No. xxii., p. 397. all pig-headed together they are blinded by specious arguments that will be ALL MOONSHINE.' to I turn out, fear,
. .
.

been employed in

what notable

who was mad

at intervals, de-

pendent as was supposed on the phases of the moon. This distinction is still very accurately maintained in Spanish philology: Lunatics, El loco, cuya dementia
'

ALL MOUTH, adv. (common). Applied to a loquacious talker. Cf., ALL JAW.

ALL Mv EYE, adv. phr. (common). ALL Variations in form are

:

no

est continua, sino

por intervalos

MY EYE AND BETTY MARTIN MY ELBOW TOMMY and MY

A II My
GRANDMOTHER.
rubbish. rivations

Eye.
;

35

A II My

Eye.

All nonsense deof this significant retort to a tedious narration containing neither rhyme nor reason are as various as the forms in which the phrase appears. Not so clear, however, is the evidence in support of any of them, although Barrere unwittingly stumbles upon what is probably the true

The

suggested

standing) such a conference should what reason have you to promise such success as to obtain so a You have had coneasy victory ? ferences and conferences again at Poissy and other places, and gained by them just as much as you might PUT IN YOUR EYE and see never the worse.
hold,
to yourself

1682.

Preface to Julian the Apostate

for

(London, printed

benefit a Popish successor can reap from lives and fortunes spent in defence of the Protestant religion he may PUT IN HIS EYE and what the
;

What

Langley

Curtis).

origin.

Had he

studied

the

subject

of

Protestant religion gets by lives and fortunes spent in the service of a Popish successor will be over the left shoulder.

slang

historically,

he would have been able to adduce adequate proof for what he merely puts forth as a more probable derivation than those of his predecessors. After stating that some have suggested the origin of the phrase in the Welsh, AL MI HIVY, it is very tedious or all nonsense, he says, It seems far more proba'
' '

Good-natured That's ALL MY can pardon. only 1811. POOLE, Hamlet Travestied, i, i. As for black clothes, THAT'S ALL MY
1768.

GOLDSMITH,
Bailiff.

Man, Act
EYE.

iii.

The king

EYE AND TOMMY.

Hotten's contention, that

ALL

MY EYE AND BETTY MARTIN

was a vulgar phrase constructed from the commencement of a
Catholic prayer to St. (the patron saint of 'Oh, mihi, beate drunkards), Marti ne,' which in common with many another fell into discredit and ridicule after the Reformation, is both fanciful and untrue. In the first place there is no prayer in the Breviary which answers to the and in the description given second it has been shown that the essential part of the phrase is very much older than the Joe Millerism which first set the copy for every lexicounwritten grapher of the word,' from Hotten down to Brewer and Barrere, the latter of whom, strangely enough, after pitching on the right track, stultifies himself by an admission that ALL MY EYE AND

Roman

ble that
'

it is

a contraction of the
is

Martin

phrase
as there

there
is

as

much

of

it

ALL MY EYE,' the words being made more forcible by closing one of the organs
in

of vision.

To

express dissent

from any statement, or a refusal to comply with a request. French slang has the corresponding term mon ail! which is usually accompanied by a knowing wink and a significant gesture as an invitation to inthe organ.' From a spect comparative study of the dates and examples which follow, it seems a fair deduction to assume that the original form of the phrase was simply ALL MY EYE, and that the additional tags given above are later importations.
1653.

'

swer
tiere
1842.]

to

the Epistle of
vol.
I.,

ARCHBISHOP BRAMHALL, AnM. de la Mille-

[Works,

pp. 68-9. ed. Ox. Fifthly, suppose (all this notwith-

BETTY MARTIN seems to have been the original phrase. The earliest example of the Betty Martin' found after form,
'

All Nations.
occurs in Tom Memorial to Congress, published in 1819, where it appears simply as ALL MY EYE, BETTY, but that the phrase was known long previously is proved by the extract from Poole quoted above.
long
search,
Crib's

A II
ALL-NIGHT-MAN, body snatcher.
1861.

Out.
subs.
(old).

Now

obsolete.

The body

lifters,

they were wont

RAMSAY, Remin, ser. ii., 133. or ALL-NIGHT-MEN, as to be called.

See

ALL OF A HEAP.

HEAP.

Among ENGLISH SYNONYMS

of refusal or incredulity, are Cock and bull story a wilda mare's nest goose chase fiddle-de-dee do you see any
:

ALL OF A HOUGH, adv.phr. (tailors'). Said of an unskilled workman.

green in my eye? that's a flam over the left go teach your grannie to suck eggs
;

You you be blowed Not for Joe! hanged! How's your brother, Job ? Don't you wish you may get it ? Yes, in a horn (American); That's all round my hat.
Walker
be
!

Equivalent to clumsy bungunworkmanlike. Hotten this as a Suffolk quotes phrase (HOUGH being spelt Hugh, and with a pronounced grunt). Synonymous with all on one with side a thump. falling
;

ling

'

'

ALL OF MY LONE, adv. pJir. (AmeriA negro vulgarism for can). 'ALONE.' ALL ON THE Go (vulgarism). Go.
See

FR. Des fadeurs

ity)
;

insipidC'est des vannes ? (lit. flood(lit.

; ;

gates or sluices); des nefles (lit. medlars) des navets ! (turnips) du flan ! de I'anis ! (lit. aniseed) tu fen fera is custard) (lit. moitrir ! (lit. you will die after
; ;

ALL OUT,

adv. phr.
;

(vulgar).
;

i.

it)

man
!

ceil !

(my

eye)
!)

Zut

(go to the
'

deuce
;

; '

flute ! et ta

who's (phrase of the your hatter stamp) des plis !

sceur ?

(don't
it)
;

you wish you may

peau
!

get
;

Entirely completely by far, as in 'ALL OUT the best.' This vulgarism must now be classed among depraved words but as far as written English is concerned, it can be traced back to the year 1300. It seems to have fallen out of use about the middle of the seventeenth cen;

la

(blow
;

it

all

!)

de

tury.

la mousse

(expression of ironi;

cal

refusal)

pot !); on t'enfricasse

du vent ! (go to des emblemes ! desfouilles /;

!

CARLETON, Traits and Stories, He's now in his grave, thank and, God, it's he that had the dacent funeral ALL OUT.'
1830.
vol. II., p. 102.
'

2.

ALL NATIONS, subs. (old). I. A mixture of the drainings of all kinds of spirits and malt liquors it is of an extremely intoxi;

pression,

Another old English exnow obsolete, is TO

Sometimes cating character. called ALLS, or ALL SORTS.

parti-colored dress or a Joseph's garment. Also one that is patched.
2.

DRINK ALL OUT, to empty a bumper; and hence, Used substantively, e.g., 3. an ALL OUT being equivalent to what 'Arry would call now-a-

coat

The condays a BIG DRUNK. nection between the ancient and

modern usage
is clear.

All-Overish.
4.

37

All Round.
terns that are intricate, or de-

To BE ALL OUT
to

nifies

be

in

also sig error quite

;

wrong.
5.

signs in which the pattern of a set character.

F. E. 1881. in Floral Design.

is

not

(turf).

A man

is

said to

HULME.

be ALL OUT when unsuccessful during the whole of a day's

racing.
6.

(Stock
IN.

ALL
7.

Exchange).

See

(athletic).

Exhausted;

or crew who, having exerted him or themselves to the utmost, can do no more.
said of a
1886. Graphic, April 10, p. 392. Pitman, the Cambridge stroke, after passing the Queen's Head,' Mortlake, put on a grand spurt, to which his crew fairly responded, though pretty well ALL OUT.
'

man

A term [ALL OVER PATTERN] used to denote a design in which the whole of a field is covered with ornament in contradistinction to such as have units only at intervals, leaving spaces of the ground between them. The ornament of the Moors as seen in the decorations of the Alhambra, and that of Eastern nations generally, is most commonly of this nature; the whole surface of the object is covered with decorative forms so as to present to the eye a mass of elaborate detail, the leading lines of which can often only be detected by careful scrutiny. When, as
in some Persian surfaces, these lines are often quite lost, the result is unsatisfactory.

Suggestions

ALL-OVERISH,
indefinite

adj. (colloquial).

An
per-

feeling

which
at

vades
periods,
illness,

the

body

critical

ALL OVER THE SHOP, adv. phr. (common). r. A phrase applied to any ubiquitous person, thing or deed. See SHOP.
1883.

when sickening for an a moment of or at supreme excitement, as when about to pop the question which, says Hotten, 'is sometimes called feeling all over
'
'

Character).

OVER THE SHOP, each day

thrown
2.
1887.
is.

G. R. SIMS, Lifeboat, etc. (Awful He kills little babies ALL in a river one

Disconcerted.
'

and touching nowhere.' are to feel all round one's hat,' and chippy.'
alike,
'

Synonyms

E. E. MONEY, Little Dutch Maiden, II., xi., 225. Oh, please don't blush it makes me feel ALL OVER THE
;

'

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 52. When the mob began to gather round, I felt ALL'

ALLOW,

subs. (Harrow School). boy's weekly allowance.

OVERISH.'

ALL-OVERISHNESS,
quial).

subs.

(collo-

The

overish.
1854.
pt. II.,

state of being allSee foregoing.

'

AINSWORTH, Flitch of Bacon,

I

ch. v.

feel a sort

of shivering

and ALL-OVERISHNESS."
1841. JOHN MILLS, Old English Gentleman, ch. xxiv., p. 186 (3 ed.). Isn't it natural for a body to feel a sort of a queer ALL-OVERISHNESS on the eve of a wedding, I should like to know ?
' '

ALLOWANCES, subs, (tailors'). The extra measure in cutting cloth for a garment to permit of turnalso the ings in for seams trimmings, such as wadding, Rather buttons, braid, etc. technical than slang.
;

ALL ROUND, adj. (popular). i. Able in all departments adaptable in every respect to the purpose in
;

ALL OVER PATTERN, subs. plw. (comUsed in describing patmon).

view. Whether applied to sport, business, or indeed any department of life or thought, within a

A It-Rounder.
given circle,
ing.
Cf.
it carries with it, mutatis mutandis, the same mean-

A II
EYE.

Set.

A
this

had
3.

ALL AROUND

music hall song [1834] phrase as a refrain.

SPORTS.

1881. JAMES PAYN, Thorn, ch. xl. 'He's a bad

Grape from a one ALL ROUND.'

SPICY AS ALL ROUND

i.e.,

MY
177,

HAT,
1882.
col.
i.

sensational.
p.

1883.
col. 2.

Graphic,

August
'

n,

p.

138,
'

Foremost

still

cricketer

W.

among

as an ALL-ROUND the gentlemen stands

Punch, vol. LXXXII, 'ARRY ON A JEWRY.

is, I

G. Grace.
2.

Fact
see

have bin on a JURY.

NEW

Average;

quotation.

line for yours

it

1869.
p. 98.

We

Notes on N.
find

so

much per

W. Prov. India, an ALL ROUND rent of acre charged on the cultiva-

tion.

truly, dear boy, and I 'oped might be a rare barney, a thing as a chap could enjoy. I am nuts upon Criminal Cases, Perlice News, you know, and all that, And, thinks I, this will be tuppence coloured,' and SPICY AS ALL ROUND MY HAT.
1

ALL-ROUNDER,
;

subs,

[From ALL ROUND + erj he who or that which is ALL ROUND

as an all round man (q.v.) particularly applied, however, to a shirt collar the same height all
;

(popular)

ALLS, subs.
1868.

i.

See

ALL NATIONS.

BREWER, Phrase and Fable, s.v. ALLS, tap-droppings. The refuse of all
sorts of spirits drained from the glasses, The mixture is or spilt in drawing. sold in gin-houses at a cheap rate.
2.

round the neck and meeting

front.
little
1857.

in
(artisans').

Once fashionable, but worn now.

A. TROLLOPE, Three Clerks, But he had bestowed, perhaps,

See

BENS.

ALL'S BLUE.

See

BLUE.

ch. xxii.

the greatest

amount of personal attention

. . .

on

his collar

think that an ALL-ROUNDER

Some people may

is

ALL SERENE!
right.

an ALL-

ROUNDER, and that if one is careful to get an ALL-ROUNDER one has done all that is necessary. But so thought not Macassar Jones. 1860. All the Year Round, No. 42, That particularly demonstrative 369.
type of the [collar] species the ALL ROUNDER. [M.]
1865.

intj. (popular). --All All's well This phrase is thought to be of Spanish origin, and to be derived from the word serena a counter!

known

as

LORD STRANGFORD,

Selection

(1869), II., 163.

ALL ROUNDER not having

Asia.
[M.]

Dressed in full uniform, with high stand-up collar; the modern

got so far into

sign used by sentinels in Cuba. The night watchmen in Spain likewise end their proclamation of the hour by c sereno ! It is also equivalent to O.K., and a few years since was the burden of one of the senseless street
'

'

Chambers' Journal, No. 586. To present himself in an ALL ROUNDER hat and coat of formal cut on Sunday.
1875.

cries,

again,
cities.

which, every now and have a vogue in large Most of these catches
in

originate

music-hall

ALL ROUND MY HAT, adv.phr. (popular).

I.

ALL SERENE, however, was

songs. vul-

TO FEEL ALL ROUND

is

ONE'S HAT
of sorts
2.
;

all

to feel queer overish.

out

garly colloquial long before the period in question, as will be seen by the following example
:

THAT'S ALL ROUND MY HAT is synonymous with gamNonsense See ALL MY jnon
!

1857.
xlv.

TROLLOPE, Three 'You're ALL SERENE,

A.

Clerks, ch.

Snape,' said right bon.'

Charley

' ;

then, Mr. you're in the

All Smoke.
ALL SMOKE,
See

39

A II
proval
;

to Pieces.

GAMMON AND
subs,

PICKLES.

a tailor's equivalent of
right
it
;

SMOKE.
(common).
See

all

all

there

of

which
ALL SORTS,
NATIONS.
1859.

last

is

Ex-

possibly

an

abbreviated form.

plained by quotation.

ALL
ALL THE CABOOSE, adv. phr.
See

ch. vi.

SALA, Gaslight and Daylight, counter perforated in elabo-

CABOOSE.
ALL THE Go, adv. phr.

rately-pricked patterns, like a convivial shroud, apparently for ornament, but really for the purpose of allowing the drainings, overflowings, and out-spillings of the gin-glasses to drop through, which, being collected with sundry washings, and a dash, perhaps, of fresh material, is, by the thrifty landlord, dispensed to his customers under the title Of ALL SORTS.

One
;

of

the

(common]. innumerable
;

superlatives of work - a - day English quite up to the mark in full demand; no deception, See Go. gents
' ' !

ALL SORTS
First rate

OF, adj.
;

(American).

ALL THERE, adv. phr. (popular). Up to the mark first-rate

; ;

excellent. phrase very common in the South and West, and used in many differ-

a ready for any emergency phrase of general satisfaction and approval also, in one's
;

ent ways. It carries with it the idea of smartness and chic,

as, e.g.
,

element!
ch.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, He stayed in a place iii., p. 220. doing the grand and sucking the flats till the folks began to smoke him as not ALL THERE.'
'

when applied to a woman,

a horse, or a building.
ALLSPICE, subs, (popular.) A nickname for a grocer the derivation is obvious.
;

1880.

Punch,
'
'

Aug.

7,

p.

THERE

59.

ALL

ALL'S QUIET ON THE POTOMAC, />/ir. (American). period of un-

Clerk (who has called to see the Is yours a wet, or a dry gas-meter). meter, madam ? Young Wife (who does not like to show ignorance). Well, it is rather damp, I'm afraid
!

'

'

disturbed rest, quiet enjoyment, or peaceful possession a phrase dating from the Civil War,
;

1883. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than It was his excusable Water, ch. xx. though expressed in somewhat vulgar language, that when anything was wanted he was ALL THERE.'

boast,

'

when

frequent repetition in the bulletins of the War Secretary made it familiar to the
its

ALL THE SHOOT. Equivalent to THE WHOLE BOILING (q.V.).

'
'

public,

who

quickly appropri-

it in a metaphorical sense. has since formed the refrain of many a song.

ated
It

ALL THE

(popular)

WAY DOWN, adv. phr. Synonymous with

.

1862.

The Picket Guard.

ALL QUIET ALONG THE POTOMAC, they

Is shot

complete adaptibility to the end in view sometimes varied by UP TO THE KNOCKER,' Ot

;
'
'

Except now and then a stray picket on his beat as he walks to and
fro,

say,

UP TO THE NINES.'
His

ALL TO

OWN CHEEK.

See

By a
ALL

rifleman hid in a thicket.

CHEEK.
cut-

T. H.,

adv.

phr.

(tailors

ters').

Said in

praise or

ap-

ALL TO PIECES, adverbial phr. (common). i. [C/. Go TO PIECES.]

All

to

Smash.
all
is

4o

Almighty.
of action
fruitless
is
; ;

superlative of
;

work.

To
;

i.e.,

the endeavour
;

is

GO ALL TO PIECES

to Collapse

utter ruin or collapse

;

utterly to be altogether ruined to be in a state of utter collapse.

1667.

PEPYS, Diary, Aug. 29. I find by all hands that the Court is at this day ALL TO PIECES, every man of a faction of one sort or other.
1811. ch. xxx.

the end of it all there is nothing left for hope sometimes also, death. This phrase,
indicative of total failure, discomfiture, and destruction, does not appear to be of very ancient standing, and can only be traced back as far as Fielding (see quotation).

JANE AUSTEN, Sense and S., and Fifty thousand pounds by all accounts it won't come before its TO for he is ALL wanted; they say No wonder dashing about PIECES. with his curricle and hunters 'Ah 1882. Punch, LXXXII., 185, 2. Jerry, we might as well go back to the Shades as be among such a shady crowd.' Young Bob Logic seemed
'
!
! ' !

The mock
late

which the

Mr.

W.

epitaph,
J.

Cony-

beare inserted in his novel Perversion, fitly illustrates the

rather nettled at this speech of the Corinthian's, and said, Well, don't you know you can't expect a fellow to look very bright till he's had an S. and B., or two and a Kiimmel? These pals will be 'Let us hope all right after dinner.' they will,' said the Corinthian, for they
' '

popuusage of ALL UP. It is supposed to be written in commemoration of a country squire cut off in the midst of festivilar
ties.

'

look ALL TO PIECES nOW.'

2.

Taken

Quite well at ten, Had a few friends to sup with

ill

me

at twelve,
it

When
is
;

woman

And at one
is

was ALL UP with

me.'

con-

fined she

said TO GO PIECES variants being PLODE TO BUST UP.

;

ALL TO TO EX-

Also UP.

Among ENGLISH SYNONYMS To have may be mentioned

:

(rowing). Collapsed; exhausted said of a crew when

3.
;

rowing wildly.
1884.

missed stays (nautical) to have gone to pot to have gone to smash to have gone to the
;

Oxford men were now ALL TO PIECES

their boat

Echo, April
full of

j,

p. 3, col.

i.

The
I

devil.
1752.

was

water.

ch. vi.

'ALL

FIELDING, A melia, book XII., is UP and undone !' cries

4. (sporting). athletic circles want of form.

In racing and equivalent to

Murphy.
1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby, Ix. A-double 1, all, everything a cobbler's weapon u-p, up, adjective, not down s-q-u-double e-r-s, Squeers, noun substantive, a educator of youth. Total,

ch.

ALL TO SMASH, adv. phr. (common). ALL TO PIECES,' i.e., Also bankrupt ruined in a state of
' ;

ALL UP with Squeers.

ALLUS, adv. (vulgar).

utter delapidation or, complete See SMASH. discomfiture.

;

Always.

ALL

WAG
;

BLUE, subs. phr. (Ameri-

1861.

CUTHBERT BEDE, Our New

I

can).

frolicing,
;

Rector, ch. x., p. 105. fellow at school can

Moore

'There isn't a match me, Miss beat them ALL TO SMASH !'
'

rollicking

time

a spree
See

a kick-up.

ALLY BEG.

LLYBEGE.

ALL UP, adv. phr. (common). It's ALL UP with so-and-so, or with such and such a thing, or course
'

ALMIGHTY, ad/, (common). Mighty; a superlagreat exceedingly

;

Almighty.
For example, tive of all work. in the dialect of which this
' '

41

Almighty Dollar.
XVI.,
tice)

word
'

a component part, an man is put down or a horse as ALMIGHTY fast with good points as an ALis

1824. DE QUINCEY, Works (1871), Such rubbish, such AL261. MIGHTY nonsense (to speak transatlan-

no eye has ever beheld.

1833.

over-officious

'

'

MARRYAT, Peter Simple (1863), An ALMIGHTY pretty French pri328. vateer lying in St. Pierre's.
1888. New York Mercury, July 21. 'This is a rum world,' said the driver, with a chuckle, as he drove up the

and so on throughout the whole range of superlative merit. It ranks with

MIGHTY

fine beast

'

'

'

awful,'

eternal,'

everlasting,'

and a multitude of other words, orthodox enough

'lovely,'

when

properly
used,

handled,
is

but

which become the purest slang

when

as

frequently
finite,

the case, of things

even of

trifles.
is

and So employed,

'And of all places in it New And hack-drivin' is the rummest. the rummest business, leadin' one into the rummest secrets. Another pas" I wonder Rookery." senger to the whether the other boys gits as many customers to that place as Luke Hyatt ? If they do it must be ALMIGHTY full sometimes.'
street.

York
is

ALMIGHTY

generally regarded

an Americanism, and is as credited to our kinsmen across

the sea, a view supported by De Quincey's use of the term. If this be so, there is, in truth,
little at
'

In another place De Quincey speaks of a man who cannot in live and cannot die as being
'

an ALMIGHTY
pression

fix,'

and the ex-

is otherwise frequently used by him. Captain Marryat

which to wonder. The wild,' the boundless West is no unlikely nursery for big,
and words high - sounding though one may justly condemn such depravation of our
;

likewise constantly employs it in fact, the phrase was well acclimatised on this side of the Atlantic long prior to the publication of My Novel [1853] and Prof. Barrere, in attributing
; ' ' ,

its

mother

tongue, the fact rethe mains. Thus, amongst untutored backwoodsmen and rough pioneers of the West a week is an eternal time a
' '

in a cerpopularisation tain measure to Lord Lytton, failed to render due credit, if any, either to De Quincey or
'

'

Marryat.

good

officer
;

is

an ALMIGHTY
spell of rain is
' '

general

and a

ALMIGHTY DOLLAR,

subs.

everlasting deluge. The foregoing examples by no means exhaust the potentialities of the language; as, talk of a man e.g., when people

spoken of as an

mon

The power

ment
is,

of money Mamregarded as an embodiof the worship of, and

;

(American).

the quest for gold. This phrase in reality, an old friend with

playing ALMIGHTY
his prospects,
;

smash with meaning that he

'

'

is hopelessly ruining his chances of success or driving a fellowcitizen into a state of ALMIGHTY shivers through ill-treatment
1
'

a new face, for Ben used the term in its sense when speaking power of money. Its

Jonson

modern
of

the

modern

or of a thing lasting

till

AL-

application to dollars is traceable to Washington Irving, who made use of it in a charming

little

MIGHTY

'

crack,'

i.e.,

for

an

inter-

sketch,

entitled

Creole

minable period.

Village.

Aloft.
15741637. BEN JONSON, Epistle to Elizabeth, Countess of Rutland. Whilst that for which all virtue now is
sold,

Aloft.
earth bath to croak to take a to go under ground sweat (American the visible disposal
;

And almost every vice, ALMIGHTIE gold. WASHINGTON IRVING, Wol1839. A Creole Village, p. 40. fert's Roost The ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, that great
:

of the body furnishing a simile to go for the process of death)

;

up (compare with foregoing

our land, seems to have no genuine devotee in these peculiar villages. BESANT AND RICE, Golden 1876. Genius, gentlemen, Butterfly, ch. xxii. is apt to be careless of the main chance.
'

object of universal devotion throughput

when

the victim of lynch law is enquired after the questioner is told that he has 'gone up,' to lose the i.e., been hanged)
;

number of
;

one's mess (a sailor's

it
;

don't care for the lets fellows like stamps.'

It
it

ALMIGHTY DOLLAR me heap up the

;

1886.
p. 102.

G.

travelling Yankee, with an overwearing confidence in the ALMIGHTY

The

SUTHERLAND,

Australia,

ALOFT.

(common). of speech
1790. C.

To GO ALOFT, To die;

verb. phr.

the figure presented here is

nautical in origin.
DIBDIN, Sea Songs: Tom Bowling, hulk, lies poor Tom [Bowling, darling of our crew No more he'll hear the tempest howling, For death has broached him to. His form was of the manliest beauty, His heart was kind and soft Faithful below, Tom did his duty, And now he's GONE ALOFT.

Here a sheer

The

(from snuffphrase) to lay down ing a candle) one's knife and fork to stick one's spoon in the wall to give in to give up to peg out to to slip one's cable (this, like go to Davy Jones' locker,' is of to pass in nautical origin) one's checks (a euphemism drawn from the game of poker, the simile being that of settling one's earthly accounts and the paying in to the banker of the dues at the end of the game)
;

to snuff

'

Kickeraboo (West
corruption
bucket').

of

'

Indian a to kick the

:

FRENCH.
' ;

Passer
' :

Vavme

Few
with
is

expressions synonymous the act of dying equal

;

pathos rarely, moreover, that slang climbs on the wings of hope into a purer atmosphere than that of the vices and follies of men with which it is mainly concerned. By no means few in number, nor wanting in sententiousness and dramatic meaning are the phrases employed in the vulgar tongue to signify
the greatest of
periences.
all

this in force or

and

to lay down gauche (popular one's arms ) casser sa pipe (lit. to break one's pipe ') dcvisser or
'
;

it

decoller son billard

'

(lit.
'

to break
(lit.

one's cue
'

')

;graisser ses bottes

;
'

to grease one's boots ) avaler to swallow one's sa langue (lit. tongue'); avaler sa gaffe ('to lower sa avaler one's boat-hook )
'

human

to lay down one's ses avaler baguettes spoon ) (military: lit. 'to lay aside one's drum-sticks ) n'avoir plus mal aux dents (lit. to have toothache
cuiller
'

(lit.
;

'

'

'

ex-

no more.'
love)
'

dents is also

ENGLISH
kick
;

the

twig Davy Jones' to be put to locker (nautical) bed with a shovel to take an
; ;

bucket to go to

SYNONYMS. To to hop the

;

In Fr. Argot mal de synonymous with

poser sa chique (popular: to lay down one's finish, in short elegance, dash, spirit all that is distinctive in a man) claquer (familiar lit. to chatter
;

lit.

'

'

Aloft.
with cold
'

43
'

Aloft.
genuine sleep feigned sleep can always be detected by the turning up eyelids of the if sleeper, sleep be genuine whites of the eyes only the will be discoverable) perdre lc to lose gout du pain (popular one's taste for bread ) lacker la to lose sight rampc (theatrical of the footlights ) faire ses
; ' '

or

'

public(thea.t.:

one's one's last appearance on this world's stage, and one's first in that land where the dead are many, and the living few ) recevoir to son dccompte (military lit. receive deferred pay dccompte is also military slang for a
'

lit.

fear to

saltier le

make

bow

'

to

make

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

mortal

wound'
:

cracker

ses

petits paqnets

embouchtires

(an musical origin obviously that

expression of the figure is of losing the

power
lar
:

to
'

perform
'

on

wind

to pack (popular up one's [small] traps'); casser son crachoir (popular lit. to break one's spittoon or mouth)
: '

'

'

instruments
lit.
'

dcteindre (popu-

remercier son boulanger (thieves' lit. 'to thank the baker.' It

:

to wash off the colour' or dye.' Is this a play upon words, or an allusion to death as the great revealer of man as he is ?) donner son dernier bon a tirer (familiar equivalent to the American, to pass in one's checks.' French printers understand by this phrase to send the last proofs to press ) lacker la perche (popular lit. to slip off one's perch ) eteindre son to turn off the gaz (popular gas.' C/.,' to snuff it ) {pointer son foret (popular lit. to break
; :
' ' ' ;

baker

must be explained that boulanger is a French nickname for the devil) canner divider a
;

Vestorgue
'

(thieves')
' ;

baiser

la

camarde (popular: 'to salute,' or kiss Death camarde is a popular euphemism for the Messenger of Life ) camarder see (popular previous
'
'

'

example) 'to fly

;
'

fuir

(thieves'
'
'

lit.

or

escape
;
'
:

from
casser

'

'

or justice capture) son cable (popular

to

slip

'

the cable
fouet
'

'

evidently a simile
'

'

drawn from the

(popular
:

off the point of the drill,' as in boring) etre expropric (popular lit. to be dispossessed
;
' ' :

sea) to

casser son
'

break
')
;

or
'

lay aside one's

'

whip
:

faire sa

exproprier is a judical term signifying to take possession of the

'

landed property of a debtor

;

'

peter son lof (sailors') fumer ses terres fermer son parapluie (popular to close one's umbrella ) to perdre son baton (popular lose one's walking stick ') descendre la garde (popular to come
;
'

'

'

'

'

off

guard
'

defiler

la

parade
'

to crever, die is usually only employed in speaking of animals) dcralinguer (sailors' properly to detach from the bolt virer de bord (sailors' rope ') lit. to tack about ) dechirer son faux -col (popular: verbatim, collar to burst open one's se the allusion is obvious) to French, degeler (in good
crevaison
kill

(popular
'

or
;

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

to file off parade equivalent to the English to lose the number of one's mess ') is tourner de Vceil (popular there not here an allusion to

(military

thaw
whip
mettre

')
:

'

man's

')

couper sa meche (coachto throw down the piquer sa plaque (sailors');

'

the

phenomenon

attendant on

pour les asticots properly to lay the table [become food] for worms');
la
table
'

(popular

A lone.
aller

44

Alsatia.
allowed to go ALONE.

manger Us pissenlits par la to go and feed ratine (popular off dandelion roots observe,
:

one was said to be FLY

Such a UP TO

'

SNUFF
ALONG

(q.v.), etc.

by the way, that

'

pissenlit is

an
dialecOF, adv. (vulgar). form for on account of owing to pertaining, or belongtical
; ;

exact equivalent for one of the English field names of the dan'

delion, viz., piddle-the-bed ) laisser fuir son tonneau (familiar lit. or kick away to let fly to kick the the cask.' C/. calancher (vagrants') bucket ')
; :
' '
'

ing

to.
it

'

and
A.D.

Formerly ALONG ON, so appeared as early as

:

laisser

ses
:

bottes
'

quelque
'

(familiar
habit

lit.

boots somewhere
:

rend
coat
lar
: '

'

(popular or cast
'

to leave dechirer son ) to properly

;
'

part one's

880 ALONG OF was used by Chaucer, but it is now mainly

confined
vulgar.
1369.

to

the

illiterate

or

aside

one's

me

is

not

in

dechirer son tablier (popuFrench this literary

'

1581.
plaints, p.
'

CHAUCER, Troylus ii., 1001. On ALONG thin evil fare. W. STAFFORD, Exam, of Com16

(New Shaks.

Soc.

Ed.).
:
1

means,

to

throw
:

aside

or

Complaining of general poverty, he says Whereof it is LONGE, I cannot well tell.

1601.

destroy one's apron'); souffler sa veilleuse (popular meaning lit. to blow out one's nightlamp or floating wick.' Compare with to snuff it or to put out one's light in English
'

Pliny, p. 25, quoted in Morris' Elem. Hist. Eng. Gram., p. 198. And that is LONG OF contrarie

HOLLAND,

'

'

causes.
1858. DICKENS, Xmas. Stories (going into Society), p. 65 (II. ed.). Would he to object say why he left it ? Not at all
;

'

'

'

'

slang) pousser le bourn de cygne (popular) avoir son coke (familiar) prendre sa secousse (popular i.e., to take one's blow or
; ; ;
'
'

why should he
dwarf.
1881.

He

left it

ALONG OF a

W
'

BLACK, Beautiful Wretch,

the concert didn't

ch. xviii.

shock') rendresabuche (tailors': the allusion is an obvious one) rendre sa canne au ministre lit. to resign one's (military commission to the Minister
; ;
'

'

come

Mayhap

off,

ALONG OF the snow.'

ALSATIA,

subs, (old slang).

rendre sa clef (gypsy to give up the key') rendre son livret (popular lit. to throw
[of

War]

'

lit.

or ALSATIA THE HIGHER, i. Whitefriars, once a place privileged from arrests for debt, as was also ALSATIA THE LOWER, or the

'

Mint

in

Southwark.

Both were

up

one's cards

').

GERMAN HOP THE

'

SYNONYMS.
TWIG.

See

suppressed, in 1697, on account of the notorious abuses comA charter of mitted there.
liberties

ITALIAN FOURBESQUE.
to faint away su le funi (lit. 'to faint the rope').
sire (lit.
')
;

Sbasbasire

granted,

and privileges had been in 1608, by King

to the inhabitants of

away on

James
this

I.

district,

and

became the haunt

ALONE, adv. (old). In the flash vocabulary of the time of Pierce Egan's Tom and Jerry [circa 1800-1825], only an experienced man of the world could be

it speedily of insolvent

debtors, cheats, and gamesters, who conferred upon it the jocular cant name of ALSATIA, a Latinised form of Alsace, a

province which had long enjoyed

Alsatian.
the reputation of a
land.'
1688.
'

45
debateable

Altamel, Altemal.
1882. ditions of

SuA.D\VELL,Sq. of Alsatia I., in Who are these? IV., 25. of White-fryers; inhabitants some bullies of ALSATIA. 1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvi. Whitefriars, adjacent to the well known by the cant then Temple, name of ALSATIA.

wks.

(1720),

Some

BESANT, All Sorts and ConMen, ch. vii. The road has be regarded with admiration as one of those ALSATIAN retreats, growing every day rarer, which are beyond and

come

to

above the law.

ALSATIA PHRASE, subs. (old). A slang or cant term, such as was used by Alsatians or, now-a;

2.

Hence any rendezvous or

for loose characters

days,
1704.

by thieves and vagrants.

asylum

and
;

criminals, where immunity from a arrest is tolerably certain haunt of thieves, and the criminal classes a low quarter.
;

SWIFT, Tale of a Tub. Apology author. The second instance to the author's wit is not his own, is Peter's banter (as he calls it in his ALSATIA PHRASE) upon transubstantiafor

shew

tion.

1787.

GROSE, Prov.

(1811), p. 82.

Glossary, 'squire of ALSATIA.

etc.

spendthrift or sharper, inhabiting places formerly privileged from arrests. Miss BRADDON, Trail of the 1861. Serpent, bk. II., ch. i. So Blind Peter was the ALSATIA of Slopperton, a refuge for

terms were Synonymous PEDLER'S FRENCH, ST. GILES' GREEK, etc.

ALTAMEL, ALTEMAL,
subs., adj., adv.,

crime and destitution. LORD JUSTICE JAMES, in ex 1876. parte Saffery re. Cooke, Law Times, 35, The Stock Exchange is not an p. 718. ALSATIA; the Queen's laws are paramount there, and the Queen's writ runs even
into the sa red precincts of Capel-Court.

and

intj.

(American

thieves').
'

Adv. All together, as 'Let's anchor ALTEMAL,' i.e., Let us come to a stop altogether.'
Subs.
bill

The sum

total of
'

or story.

ALSATIAN,

A rogue, or as haunted Alsatia or Whitefriars.

subs. (oldl.

Intj.
it

An

injunction to

cut

debauchee,
1691.

such

short.'

ALTEMAL
rived

LUTTRELL, Brief

II.,

259.

The benchers

Rel. (1857),

Temple having given orders

up
their little
it

fryers

of the Inner for bricking gate leading into Whitethe ALSATIANS came and
Instructed, p. 491

but

is said to be defrom the Dutch altemal, Murray has it as altu'

mal

pulled

c. 1700.

down. Gentleman

He spurr'd to London, and left a thousand curses behind him. Here he struck up with sharpers, scourers, and ALSATIANS.
[10 ed., 1732].

deL. altum, the deep, i.e., the sea -f- AL.] Grose leans to the former and quotes DUTCH RECKONING as from a verbal synonymous
different rivation.

'

with

[From

1822.

SCOTT, Fortunes
'

You shall sink a nobleman ch. xvii. in the Temple Gardens, and rise an ALSATIAN at Whitefriars.'
Pertaining to Alsatia; Adj. roguish debauched. 1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia I. He came out of in wks. (1720), IV., 27. he's some ALSATIAN White Fryers
;

of

Nigel,

account without particulars, such as was given in brothels and sponging houses accounts which allowed of no sort of
verification.
C/.,

FLEMISH
under
(1712), 186.

ACCOUNT and remarks DUTCH.

1711.

bully. 1822. ch. xvii. bully.

SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, An extravagantly long rapier and poinard marked the true ALSATIAN

Traffick

His ALTUMAL cant, a mark of his poor and Tar-Education.

1758. CHAMBERS, Cycl. Supp. ALTUMAL, a term used to denote the mercanor dialect. In this sense, we

Medleys,

29

Jan.

tile style,

Altering Jeff's Click.

meet with ALTUMAL cant, to denote the language of petty traders and tars.

46

A mbidexter.
ALYCOMPAINE.
See

ALLACOMPAIN.

ALTERING THE JEFF'S CLICK. JEFF'S CLICK.

See

AMBASSADOR,

A
'

snbs. (nautical). sailor's practical joke upon hands, similar to the green
'

ALTHAM,

subs, (old cant).

wife

mistress.

See quotation.

formerly universally observed when crossing the line.' These tricks have been
'

festivities

1560. JOHN AWDELEY, Fraternity e English Dialect of Vacabondes (1869. A curtail is Society's Reprint), p. 4. much like to the Vpright man, but hys is not so He great. fully authority 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.

common
nation.

to

sailors

of

every

AMBASSADOR was thus

:

large tub was water, two stools being placed on either side of it over the whole was thrown a tarpaulin or old sail, kept tight

managed

filled

with

ALTITUDES.
phr.

IN

(old).

HIS ALTITUDES, In an elevated

;
;

from liquor chiefly putting on airs and graces using lofty phrases in a state of excitement and, in a special slang sense, drunk. The phrase has been incorrectly given as

mood,

by two persons, who represented the king and queen of a foreign country, and who were seated on the stools. To the victim was allotted the part of AMBASafter repeating SADOR, who,
a ridiculous speech dictated to him, was led in great state up to the throne, and seated between the king and queen. They rising suddenly, as soon as the unsuspecting victim was seated, caused him to fall backward into the tub of water.

'out of his
first

trace of

ALTITUDES.' The it is to be found

.

in Beaumont and Fletcher's Laws of Candy, II. [1616] I have 1630. JONSON, New Inn, I. talked somewhat above my share, at
large,

and been

IN

THE ALTITUDES,

the

extfavagants.
1668.

AMBASSADOR OF COMMERCE,
commercial (familiar). veller; a BAGMAN (q.v.}.
AMBIA,
subs.

subs.

Act iii. If we men could but learn to value ourselves, we should soon take down our mistresses from all their ALTITUDES, and make them dance after our pipes. 1705. VANBRUGH, Confederacy, Act
v.

DRYDEN, An Evening's Love,

tra-

euphemism
tobacco,

for

(American). the juice

A
of

Clar.

'

Who

makes thee cry out

'

thus, poor Brass

husband,

madam;

Brass. he's IN

'

Why, your
HIS ALTI-

TUDES

here.

as expectorated after chewing. Most frequently heard in the Southern and Western States. Apparently a corruption of

FRANCIS GROSE, Dictionary 1785. The man is IN of the Vulgar Tongue.

HIS ALTITUDES,
i.e.,

amber (indeed it is commonly spelt and pronounced

' '

he

is

drunk.

ALTOCAD,
ber of ALTO.

subs.

(Win.
choir

somewhat venerable paid memthe

Coll.).

from a colour between tobacco saliva expectorated and the mineralised resinous
ambeer) similarity

presumably
in

who

takes

product.

ALYBBEG.

See

LYBBEGE.

AMBIDEXTER, "also in lyth century, AMBODEXTER, subs, and adj. (old

Ambush.
[From ambo, both + the right hand, i.e., the of using both hands as faculty right hands, or equally well.] Applied first in a slang sense to a lawyer taking fees or bribes from both plaintiff and defendant, AMBIDEXTER gradually became identified with doubledealing of all kinds.
slang).
dexter,
1532.

47

American Shoulders.
the chaplain's clerk
is

called

an

AMEN WALLAH
AMENER,

(q.V.).

subs. (old).

nickname

given to one who agrees to everything said or done. [From that sense of AMEN = to ratify

solemnly

+
;

ER.]
subs. (Australian).

AMEN-SNORTER,

Use of Dice Play

with
our

Never with those that be honest. Marry with such as be AMBIDEXTERS, and used to play in both the hands. [M.]
!

Any

affinity

men

(1850),

17.
?

of

law

parson from which it will be observed that the fifth continent is evolving words and
phrases as peculiar to
itself

as

1555.

RIDLEY,

Works,

27.

They

may be called neutrals, AMBIDEXTERS, or rather such as can shift on both sides.
[M.]

America has already done. For synonyms, see DEVIL DODGER.

1888.

Bulletin,

Nov.
to

24.

In Maori-

BLOUNT, Law Dictionary. AMBIDEXTER .... That Juror or Em1691.

land

it

is

impossible

swing any kind

braceor who takes Money on both sides, for giving his Verdict. DE FOE,' Ref. Manners, 93. 1703.

of cat without smiting some variety of AMEN-SNORTER. Still the saints are not

happy. They have just held at Wellington a United Ker-nstian Conference' to ruminate on the sinfulness of things and
'

Those AMBODEXTERS in Religion, who Can any thing dispute, yet any thing can
do.

the scarcity of the unsanctified three-

penny.

SIR F. PALGRAVE, Norman 1864. and Eng. III., 278. An AMBIDEXTER, owing fealty to both Counts, and not
faithful to either.

A Rev. vessel, one Potter, opined gre quantity and infer of quality family devotion accounted for the depleted condition of the treasury of the Loard,' and suggested that steps should be taken to find out what families
' '

AMBUSH, subs. (American thieves'). Fraudulent weights and measures. A punning allusion to the accepted meaning of the

snatchers plead when before the Binch that they were only mouching round to find out whether the family neglected its religious dooties, yer washup.'
'

omit this important duty.' Since which all the dead-beats and suspected hen-

word
this

to

lie

in

wait

(lying

AMEN WALLAH,

subs, (military).
;
'

A
'

weight).

may
a

juxtaposition to be placed the Four;

In

besque (Italian thieves' argot)

giusta,

pair
'

of

scales,

chaplain's clerk the allusion is Wallah sufficiently obvious. is Hindustani for man or person. Cf., the old English slang,
'
'

balance,

which in Italian litermeans correct.' Cf., ally French thieves' argot, juste (an
abbreviation of justice) for the assizes also the Spanish Germsima. justia in a similar sense, the last-named being a shortened form of the Spanish justicia.
,

AMEN CURLER

(q.V.).

AMERACE. adv. (American thieves'). Jargon signifying near at

hand

within

call.

AMERICAN SHOULDERS,
lors').

subs,

AMEN CURLER, subs, (old slang). The name formerly given to a parish clerk. In the army

particular 'cut,' in which the shoulders of a coat are so shaped as to give the

(tai-

wearer a broad and burly appearance. This is usually done

A mevican
the

Tweezers.

A mpntaie.
i.e.,

where a man's shoulders are of

CHAMPAGNE

(q.v.)

order,

like the neck of a wine bottle, with nothing upon which the garment in question can be hung.

sometimes used as a synonym Of BALMY, CRACKED, DOTTY, all of which see. A-la-mort, from the
French,
is

ginal form,

regarded as the orithough it is doubtful

AM ER

An

cANTwEEZERs.sttfo. (thieves'). ingenious instrument of

which took precedence in literary English. At one time both forms were quite naturalised
;

they

are

now

of

interest

as

American invention, by means of which it is possible to turn a key in a door and unlock it from
the outside.

AMES

ACE, AMBS-ACE, or AMBESACE. WITHIN AMES ACE, snbs.phr-

very near; AMBS-ACE was the double ace, the lowest throw at dice. Hence
(old).
i.

Nearly;

affording an instance of words, gradually lapsing into slang or vulgar usage, and then coming to be regarded as Anglo-French phrases. American thieves still retain them, to signify struck dumb, or confounded in these senses they are given by Grose
;

in his Dictionary

of the

Vulgar

Tongue

[1787]

also

seem

to

which would show they had already

,

luck; misfortune. The expression, according to Murray, dates back to A.D.

2.

Bad

commenced
career.

their

downward

1297.

AMPERSAND,
subs.

subs, (familiar).
'

The

AMINIDAB,

(old).

jeering

name

for a

Quaker.
subs,

Grose.

AMMUNITION, Paper for

d'aisance.

(common).

use at the cabinet Also called CURL

breech; or posteriors. [From Eng. AND + Latin per se, by + Eng. AND literally, itself, and by itself and used to &,' distinguish the character which in old nursery books
;

'

'

'

PAPERS

(q.v.).

AMMUNITION LEG,

subs,
'

(military).

A wooden

leg.

From

the
'

at the end of the alphabet. Hence, employed to signify the The word in its hinder parts.] slang sense is quite a recent introduction, said to be of

came

attributive use of

ammunition

as applied to stores supplied to soldiers for equipment or rations To show the length to which
.

For American origin. nonyms, see BLIND CHEEKS.

AMPUTATE.

sy-

this

application of

the

word

has been carried, it may be noted that Robertson, in 1693, an ammunition speaks of
'

To AMPUTATE ONE'S MAHOGANY or TIMBER (familiar). To be off; to begone the

whore.'

scortum castrense.

AMORT, adv. and pred. adj. (old). Usually ALL AMORT, an antithetical phrase to ALL ALIVE (q.v.), and meaning half dead in a state of stupor without spirit
; ; ;

idea being that of quick or violent motion, often, though not always, the result of moral or physical force. [Probably from that sense of AMPUTATE equivalent to 'cut off' or 'away.' A Cf., cut,' a slang synonym.] welcher is called a TIMBER'

MERCHANT, because he removes

A mputatc.
celerity

49
'

Amputate.
(popular lit. to play the stag ') s'tvanouir (popular: lit. 'to vanish or fade away ') se cramper or tirer sa crampe (cramper is a popular term for rapid flight, and contains an allusion to the
: ; '
' ; '

himself, or as

'

cuts his stick with occasion requires.

Both the English and French have many synonymous words and phrases to express the same idea. Among the more popular

may be mentioned
ENGLISH

skedaddle (an to sling, or to cut one's lucky take one's hook to mizzle to absquatulate to pad the hoof
; ; ;
;

To SYNONYMS. American term)

cramp or nervous contraction sometimes caused by violent motion. Old French had the
in the sense of to bend or double up.' Tirer sa crampe is lit.' to get cramped '); se lacker du ballon (popular to
1
'

verb crampir

'

'

to give leg bail to bolt to cut and run to chivey to walk the trotters to slip one's cable to tip the to step it to leg it double to make, or take tracks to hook it to make beef (thieves' to cut the to slope term)
; ;

loose the balloon,' an allusion to the rapidity with which a balloon shoots up into the
let

air

when

set free)
'

se la couler

(exactly equivalent to the English slang to slip it ') sedonner

;

cable and run before the wind

(obviously a sailor's
;
;

del air (popular:

de
I'
;

Cf., faire la file

phrase)
;

to paddle to slip it to abskize to guy (used by thieves) to to vamoose (Amerievaporate

;
;

lar

air] sepousscrdu zepli (popuproperly to push forward with the wind.' Zeph is a con' : ;

can, from the Spanish imperato specie tive vamos, let us go) to skip to (used by thieves) to walk tip one's rags a gallop to pike to hop one's chalks the twig to turn it up to cap
;
;

traction of zephir) se sylphider (popular fromsylphidt, a sylph a reference to what in English

:

racing terminology termed the 'light-weight' character of such creatures enabling them to get over the ground
quickly) sefaire la debinette ; jouer des fonrchettes (popular to put
;
' :

would

be

one's lucky
;

(a

phrase mainly
;
;

confined to American thieves) to crush to cut dirt to bunk to pike it to stir one's stumps.
;

one's forks into play ') fonrchettes = legs or pins') ; (in French argot se la donner (Michel says la here
; '

FRENCH.
fille

Faire
'

or jouer

la

refers to 'la clef des champs,'

1 ' '

an

go like the wind,' Jill de I' air, daughter of air, being a poetical embodiment) faire le Uzard (a thief's term, and meaning properly to imitate a lizard,' an allusion to
de I'air
'e

(lit.

to

expression synonymous with or freedom ') se la liberty briser ramasser un (popular)

;
;

bidon

(thieves')
; ;

se
;

la

casser

'

se la tirer tirer ses (popular) valser (lit. to dance) granches

;

swiftness of
iat-jat
;
'

motion)

faire la paire

faire to (lit.
; '

le

se tirer les pincettes

1
' '

(popular

lit.

go
;

double,' Cf., to tip the double ') faire gille (a very old French phrase it means also to become bankrupt. The connection be;

'to pull along or to extricate 'one's tongs or nippers.' Cf.,

'

English
les
(lit.
'

nip along
;

')

se

tirer

baladoires se tirer les pattes to move one's paws ') se

;
:

tween bankruptcy and decamping

is

obvious)

se

dcguiser en cerf

tritrimoires (thieves' moires is a cant term for legs,

tirer les

A mputate.
and
trimer signifies painful pro-

A mputate.
pull

oneself

forward

extra

gression,

or doing most

of a
les

endeavour
:

fifties
'

= les flutes (popular shanks or pegs ') jouer des guibes (gtiibe is a popular term for the leg, chiefly employed in
:
' ' ;

journey

on

foot)

se

tirer

resulting in rapid progression) happer le taillis lit. to catch, lay (thieves'

;
'

gain the copse a place of concealment); i.e., flasqucr du poivre a qiielqu'un or la

or
;

hold

of

'

'

burlesque) jouer des quilles (this expression is very old. Quilles properly signifies 'crutches,' and is popularly employed for to the legs) se carapater (lit. run on one's paws. C/., to take to one's heels ') se barrer (lit. to dash over ') baudrouiller this has the significa(thieves'
;
'

rousse (thieves': C/.,

fly

AMUSE;
is

'to

from the police '; lit. to shake the pepper box in the eyes of
the
police
for
; ;

rousse

term
peace)

guardian

of
:

a cant the
this

'

decaniller (thieves'

'

from canille, derived word, a French provincialism for a caterpillar, is an chenille,

allusion to the metamorphoof the grub into a butterfly when it takes unto itself wings); decarrer (thieves' to leave prison; decarrer de belle, to be released
sis
:

tion of
ler

'

to

whip up
:

')

se

cava-

(thieves'

cavaler

was once

with chevaucher ; therefore, se cavaler signifies in to go on horseback on reality, oneself,' in which connection it

synonymous
'

may

be compared with shanks'

'

from been
sien

prison
tried)
;
:

without
exhiber

having
prus-

son

mare,' the marrow-bone stage or [the Marylebone stage] the German Schnhster's Rapthe shoemaker's black pen, horses, i. e., the shoes. Se cavaler likewise has reference to running away with the tail between the legs when fright has seized hold of an animal, and as employed by thieves conveys the idea of cowardice as well as that of locomotion) faire une cavale or se payer une cavale (popular se C/., cavaler); jouer des or
' '
,

(popular prussien is a common colloquialism for the posteriors, and the phrase literally means to show one's behind,' or turn tail.' It may be worth while remarking that the term prussien as applied to the breech is no vulgar expression of contempt towards the Prussians.
'

'

The
tini,

word is derived, says Michel, from the gypsy prusiapistol.

' '

which Borrow translates Formerly the French called the behind by the name
by
of a Parisian church, Saint-Jean le Rond] demurger (thieves' to leave a place to be set at desarrer (thieves' to liberty) to make beef) guy gagner
; : ; '

se

tirer

les

paturons
:

(popular

and

thieves'
'

this

may
'

be

to pad the hoof.' translated Paturons is properly the pasThe frequent use of terns. se tirer in connection with the idea of moving from place to place with a celerity which is oftentimes accentuated by a fear of arrest or unwelcome obstruction is extremely fitting. Se tirer means literally to extricate onself to get through to
1

'

les gigoteaux (also gagner au trot aupied, gagner le camp, la colline,

le taillis,

la gucrite, etc.)

se

faire

une paire de mains courantes a la mode (thieves'); fendre I' ergot (lit. to split the spur,' an allusion to the toes being pressed to the
'

ground,

and

thus

naturally

A inputate.
parted)
cable
'
;

Amputate.
or son
lit.
'

filer

son
'

nceud,

(sailors'

and popular:
or
'

to winnow.' Others trace it to the old French vanoyer, to

' '

cable ) se dcfiler (popular, but derived from the military term, signifying to go off parade might be translated to leg it ) s'ccar;
: '

to cut the ropes

In all cases, howdisappear.' ever, it would seem to be equivalent to the English come shake be ambier yourself! off!');
'

'

bouiller

(popular
;

crush

'

English
esballonner
cable

properly to compare with the crush ) synonym

: ' '

'

(thieves') lar 'to to be at

:

chier

du poivre (popu;

abscond/ or 'to fail hand when needed ')

or
;

se

dcbiner,
'

se debiner
' :

des fu;

(popular)
'

filer
;

son

merons (popular

to stir one's
at-

bout (sailors') fairs chibis (thieves' to escape from

pay
'

le

stumps

caleter

(popular)
;

prison
fouintr

dcraper

(common)
'

(popular: this is, in reality, no more slang than the

tacher une gamelle (popular and thieves') camper (low) offnter ses lit. to sharppincettes (thieves'
;
'

en the pins or

'

'

to leg

'

it

and

English
la

sneak away ) se fracturer (popular properly

to
;
:

'

a surgical term, meaning

fracture
'

'to
'

many others. GERMAN SYNONYMS.

sclien
' '

Abba-

'

jouer des gambettes ) be translated to (popular 'to stir one's stumps leg it
;
:

(from paschen,
;
'

to
'

smug;

may
;

'

gambettes

is

from the old French

: '

abbanen (literally to regle ) move, or finish [a building] ) abhalchen (from Heabfocken

;

gambe, a leg) s'esbjgner (popular to give the slip ) properly ramoner ses tuyaux (popular lit. to sweep one's chimney ramoner, in its primary cant signification of to mutter or to mumble,' is an allusion to the rumbling noise produced by Se faire sweeping a chimney. ramoner is to go to confession, or to take a purgative the one a moral, and the other a
'

brew
;

'

holach,

to go

')

schefften

abschmirren (a beggar-musicians' term also to beg through a

lane, town, or district.

'

[M.H.G.,
;

'

'

'

snurren, schnurren, schnurrant\ ) abtarchenen abtippeln (to run alchen (from away secretly ) Hebrew holach, 'to go ) asch; ;
'

'

'

'

ween (Hanoverian: according to Thiele hascheweine probably corrupted from schuw; heschiw, to turn round ) bldttern (cor1 '

physical cleansing.

Hence

ra-

rupted
pleto
)
;
'

from
caball

plettern
'

Hebrew

moner

tuyaux, to run away,' in reference to the speedy locoses

'

motion

consequent
;
:

upon the

process of purging) foutre h camp (popular equivalent to hook it a coarse expression)

'
'

(from Latin caa horse ballus, hence, to fly quickly as if on horseback) dippeln (a Viennese thieves' term)
;

fucken orfocken.

ITALIAN FOURBESQUE.
nare

Sbig-

tirer

se (popular) vanner (thieves Michel derives this from the Italian vannare, to flap the wings,' but another
le
; : '

chausson

or svignare (these words though given as cant by the author of the Nuovo Modo are now received words) comprare
; '

authority refers it to the motions of the body and arms of a winnower the word in literary French signifying to sift or
; ' '

(lit.

to

buy
il
')
;
'

allungare

comprar viole muvo (lit. 'to lengthen

')
;

the wall
1

to

skip,'

balzare (lit. to caper,' to bounce') batter

;

'

A muse.
la calcosa
'

52

A nd
abode
;

Don't Forget
where one
origin

It.

(lit.

C/.,

American

to beat the earth.' to cut dirt ')

'

dwells.

Of

nautical

dare a Iat a; sco scare.

For synonyms,

(see ANCHOR). see DIGGINGS.

SPANISH GERMANIA. Pinarse (an old and now obsolete term)

;

alar

alarse
')
;

'

alolargo
'

(lit.

at
'

large

picar
safarse

(lit.
'

spurs')

(lit.
'

to use the to escape

ANCIENT MARINERS, Oxford). A term rowing dons.

subs.

(Univ. applied to

or

'

save oneself
verb, (old

[from arrest] ).

AND DON-T You FORGET

(American).

AMUSE,

cant).

To

dust or snuff in the eyes of a person intended to be robbed. Also, to invent some plausible tale, to delude shop-keepers and

fling

others, thereby to put them off their guard, and so to obtain an

opportunity of robbing them.

AM USERS,
throw

words employed indiscriminately in season and out of season. Like Who's your hatter ?' How's your poor feet?' 'Not for Joe!' 'Does your mother know you're out? What again so soon? and many others, which every now and then have caught the
of
'
'

IT, phr. senseless string

'

'

subs, (old

cant and

Ame-

accomplices who snuff, pepper, and other noxious substances in the eyes of the person they intend to rob, a confederate then, while apparently coming to the rescue, comIn this, pleting the operation. as in much of the slang of the criminal classes, there runs a vein of brutal cynicism. Though obsolete in England the term survives in America

rican thieves'). of thieves'

certain class

of the streets of our 'fancy large towns, the phrase under consideration has run an almost riotous course through the large centres of population in America. In most cases these strings of words no
special idea, and can only be described as utterly vulgar, without the slightest scintilation of wit or humour of any

convey

kind.
29. There can be no two opposing opinions in that respect. Great capital demands dividends. Dividends can be had only from a prosperous business. A prosperous business must recognise the law of supply and demand, and if the public demand dirt the newspapers will furnish dirt AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT.

1888. Boston

the criminal classes.

amongst

Weekly Globe, Feb.

ANABAPTIST, subs, (old slang). A pickpocket caught in the act, and punished with the discipline of the pump or horse-pond.
Grose.

"

ANCHOR. To COME TO AN ANCHOR, verb. phr. (nautical and common).

To

stop

to sit

down

1888. Detroit Free Press, Oct. 6. 'Did you see any Quakers in Philadelphia ? was asked of a Detroiter who lately returned from that city. Only one that I was sure of.' Did he thee and thou you ?
1 ' '
'

'

'

'

'

to rest. [From the operation of bringing ships to a standstill

He

did.
'
:

and said I'll knock thy blamed head

got down off his hack If thee don't pay me 2 dols

off,'

He

and

by casting anchor.]
ANCHORAGE,
subs,

(common).

An

the regular fare don't want to fool with those Quakers any, AND

was twelve

paid, although

knew

shillings.

You

DON'T YOU FORGET

IT,'

And He
AND HE

Didn't.

53

A ngclics

DIDN'T, phr. (tailors').

that I think you have the action referred to being generally of a discreditable character.
;

phrase of the ALL (q.v.) stamp, i.e., 'You you have not but for
'

MY EYE
tell

me

all

nection between this ANDREW, however general the use of the name may have become, and the ANDREW MILLAR of modern sailors' slang, would be difficult.
1598.

SHAKSPEARE,
27.

Merchant

of

Venice,

i., i.,

But

should think of shallows and of

AND No MOGUE? phr. (tailors'). Used in a variety of ways to signify doubt and uncertainty.
It
is

flats,

And

see

my

wealthy

ANDREW

dock'd

in sand.

gamin's

equivalent to the street no kid ? when used

' '

interrogatively,

i.e.,

'there's
' '

Australian smugglers term still survives for a revenue cutter.

Among

the

no mistake,
joking apart
1

is
?'

there

Now,
ANGEL or FLYING ANGEL, subs, (common). Explained by quotation.
1880.

Also used as a

set

down

'

to narrators claim-

ing descent from Baron Munchausen, in which case it is You don't equivalent to the in say so !' of politer circles both cases the spokesman conveys the idea that one's credu'

Insanity in
45.

It is at this

JAMES GREENWOOD, Seaside Odd People in Odd Places, p. point when the one day

lity

has been somewhat taxed.

/-/Jr.

AND No WHISTLE,

kind of tu quoqnc ; usually applied to a man by a listener to desiring convey to the speaker the idea that no matter what others may think to the contrary, he [the listener] believes that what has been said the person refers to
speaking.

(tailors').

excursionist, who, as well as his wife, has an olive-branch or two with him, finds his fortitude suddenly collapse. With the youngest but one (his good lady, of course, carries the baby) bestriding his shoulder, he puts his best foot foremost from the beach to the town so as to be in good time at the station. He is hot and fagged, and his temper is not improved by the knowledge that the cherub to whom he is giving a 'FLYING ANGEL" is smearing his Sunday hat with

the seaweed with which

full.

its little fists

are

ANGELICAS.

See

ANGELICS.

ANGELICS,
subs,

subs.

(old).

Unmarried
ANGELICAS.

ANDREW MILLAR,

young
(nautical). for a ship
1821.
p.

ladies.

Now

curious cant
;

name

MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,

has been pointed out that Antonio, in the Merchant of Venice, speaks of one of his vessels as his
;

war ANDREW. unknown

of

sometimes
Its origin
is

simply
quite

but

it

'

conjectured that in this case the ship was named after the celebrated Admiral Andrea Doria, who died in But to trace any con1560.

wealthy has been

ANDREW

'

and

it

(Dicks' ed., 1889.) Jerry. You 5. think the cut of my clothes rather too rustic eh ? Tom. Exactly dress is the order of the day. A man must have the look of a gentleman, if he has nothing must assume a style if we else. have it not. This, what do you call it ? this cover-me-decently, was all very well at Hawthorn Hall, I daresay but here, among the pinks in Rotten Row, the ladybirds in the Saloon, the ANGELICS at Almack's, the top-of-the-tree heroes, the legs and levanters at Tattersail's, nay, even among the millers at the Fives, it would be taken for nothing less than the index of a complete flat.
;

We

Angcliferous.
ANGELIFEROUS, adj. (American). Angelic also super-excellent a factitious word. It is interesting to note that angelification,' an; ;
' '

54
'

Anglers.
foreign including British bottoms, as well as those of nations other than Anglo-Saxon). Imaginary sails are crowded on their craft, among these
'

gelify,'

and

'

angelified,

were in

use in the seventeenth century, but never to any great extent. [From ANGEL + IFEROUS, a spurious form based on the

being one which they jokingly

model of auriferous.'] It is said to have been first used by Bird

'

an ANGEL'S FOOTSTOOL. It is pretended to be a square sail, and is supposed to top the SKYand MOON-SAILS, SCRAPERS,
call

CLOUD CLEANERS
ANGEL'S GEAR,
cal). It
is

(q.V.).

in his novel, entitled Nick of the

Woods.

subs.

thus

phr. (nautithat 'jolly

ANGELS ALTOGETHER, (West Indian). A

It

subs.

phr. sobriquet

tars'

applied to habitual drunkards.

originated

about the year

sometimes speak of female attire. Jack is notoriously most susceptible where a petticoat is concerned.

1876, and was, in the first instance, a bon-mot of a well-

known sugar

East A Coast negro hand, notorious for his hard drinking, applied for a holiday, and the manager having a suspicion that Quashie wanted it simply to go on the drink,' bantered him as follows John you were drunk
' ' : !

on Demerara.
planter

the

ANGEL-S-OIL, subs. (old). A seventeenth century colloquialism for

money used
times

for bribery

some-

OIL

OF
see

synonyms,

ANGELS. ACTUAL,

For and

BOODLE.
ANGELAS SUIT, subs. phr. (tailors'). A combination garment for
' '

? Yes, massa too ? Yes, massa and on the question being repeated as regards Tuesday,

on Sunday
1

'

'

'

Monday

'

'

'

males. The coat and waistcoat were made in one, and the unmentionables buttoned
' '

on

to

it.

name

Neither garment nor was extensively adopted.

Wednesday,

Thursday,
'

and
ANGEL'S WHISPER,
'

Friday, it elicited similar responses, whereupon the boss but pointedly said, quietly, But John, you can't be an
'

ANGEL ALTOGETHER,
'

yOU
with

Needless to say it is, as Artemus Ward would express it, wrote

'

name given tary). call to defaulter's drill.

subs. phr. (mili-

to

the

know

story got abroad, caught on, and in a short time

!

The

sarcastic.'

the whole colony rang the expression.

ANGLERS, HOOKERS, or STARRERS,

subs.
(old).

Pilferers or petty

ANGEL'S
given

FOOTSTOOL,
to

stibs.

phr.
aver

(nautical).

Yankee
high

skippers,

falutin',

that their craft carry far more canvas than any vessel afloat of origin (the term foreign
'

who, with a stick having a hook at the end, steal goods from shop windows, etc. So far Grose; but Buncombe adds that STARRERS are an order of thieves who break show
thieves,

'

glasses

in

jewellers'

windows

Angling Cove.
and, in the consequent confusion goods. The term is a very ancient one. Dekker
steal the

55

Ankle.
policy of
phobists.
its

members, be AngloSee

in

English
'

thus describes an

duds
in

':

his
filch,

[1632], ANGLER for carries a short staff hand, which is called

'

Villanies

ANGRY BOYS.
ANGULAR

BLOODS.
subs. phr.

He

having it a ferme (that is to say a hole) into which, upon any piece of service, when he goes a filching, he putteth ahooke of iron, with which hook he angles at a window in the dead of night for shirts, smockes, or any It other linen or woollen.'

in

the nab or

head of

PARTY, (common). A term given to any of of which the gathering people number is odd say three, seven,
;

thirteen, etc.

ANIMAL,
arrival
Cf.,

subs.

at

(American). the United

Anew
States

Military Academy at

West Point.

SNOOKER.

would appear from this that modern thieves are both much more daring and expert. It is not an uncommon thing for a crack thief, in the broad daythe most crowded light, in streets of London, to break a jeweller's window, snatch some valuables, and make off with

TO GO THE WHOLE ANIMAL

(American).

A
See

variant of 'to
'

go the whole hog.' In the West Indies it is varied by to go the

whole
leby, p.

dog.'

HOG.

1838. C. DICKENS, Nicholas Nick... Opposing all half measures, and preferring TO GO THE EXTREME

ANIMAL.
G. A. SALA, Twice Round the .... that they had much pay first-class, and GO THE ENTIRE ANIMAL.
1859.

An iron instrument is them. used for the purpose which is concealed by the coat sleeve. See AREA SNEAK.
ANGLING COVE,
subs,

dock,

p. 62

better

AN MULES,
i

(thieves').

receiver of See FENCE.

stolen

goods.

subs. (American). This expression is very generally used in the South-western territories, and in California, as a substi-

tute for 'mules.'

'
'

A
'

witty play
1

ANGLING FOR FARTHINGS, verb. phr. Begging out of (old thieves'). a prison window with a cap or box, let down at the end of a long string Grose. Such a
practice,
it

upon animals and mules.

1834
(?)
'

Centre-Pole Bill, in Overland

Monthly.

Ten miles

to

town

Waal,

stranger, I guess I'll stake out here tonight. Them ANIMULES is too beat to do
'It's all that. Where's yer water?' around you to-night; but you can turn your mules into the corral."

would
days.

be
See

needless to say, nowaimpossible

is

HOOKER.

ANKLE.
verb.

ANGLOMANIACS,

subs. phr. (Americlub in Boston is thus can). Its members are self-styled. opposed to anything British in

SPRAIN ONE'S ANKLE, When a girl (old). has been seduced she is said to
phr.

To

have

SPRAINED

HER

ANKLE.
;

Both French and German slang

have analogous expressions
'

in

The every shape and form. term is of course a contradiction, and should, to express the

the former, die a mal aux gcnoux is said of a woman who is pregnant, i.e., she has a bad knee.'

Ankle- Beaters.
In
1

56

Anodyne Necklace.
ANODYNE NECKLACE, subs. phr.

ladies so placed but of synonyms there are plenty. See LEG.

German,

lose a shoe

'

halter.

An

(old).

which
pain,

allays

anodyne is that or extinguishes

ANKLE-BEATERS, subs. phr. (old). A class of boys who attended cattle markets for the purpose
driving to the slaughterhouse the animals purchased by the butcher. They were called ANKLE-BEATERS from their driving the animals with
of

and the hangman's rope may indeed be regarded, from one point of view, as a cure for

The expression is being traced back to 1639. During the period when the death penalty was inflicted for all kinds of comparatively trivial
all

pains.

old,

long wattles, and beating them on the legs to avoid spoiling or bruising the flesh. Also called

offences for sheep stealing, and even highway robberies of not more than forty shillings value

PENNY-BOYS

(q.v.),

because they

synonyms equally grim and

were numerous. According to Wilyam Bullein, an ANODYNE NECKLACE was that
sententious

received one penny per head as remuneration.

ANNE-S FAN, properly QUEEN ANNE-S FAN, subs. phr. (common). Putting the tip of the
of either hand to the and then spreading the fingers in the shape of a fan. A gesture of contempt often intensified either by twiddling
nose,

which
call

'

.... neckweede,

light fellows merrily will

or SIR

thumb

TRISTAM'S KNOT, or ST. ANDREW'S LACE (q.v.).' Other terms for the hangman's noose were HEMPEN CRAVAT, HORSE'S NIGHTCAP, TYBURN TIPPET (q.v.).
1639. F. BEAUMONT, Bloody Brother, Act iii., Sc. 2. [Speaks of the hangman's halter as a necklace.']
'

the digits

when

in the position

named, or by similarly placing the other hand in an extended line. It is also called TAKING A SIGHT (q.v.), and BITING THE

1766.
p.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH, Vicar of

'

THUMB
ANNEX,
in

(q.v.).

Wakefteld [works, Globe ed., chap, xx., 43. [George Primrose's cousin exMay I die by an ANODYNE NECKLACE, but I'd rather be an underin turnkey Newgate [than an usher in a boarding-school ']
claims]
.

verb.( American).
it

England the wise

See
,

call

Tosteal; con'

vey.'

BONE.
.

The water poet (John Taylor, a Thames waterman, 15801654), explaining the virtue of

A N o DY N E
the

SM&S

A euphemism for death. From

sense of the word anything that soothes wounded or excited feelings, or that lessens the sense of misfigurative
fortunes. C/., Old English slang term for a halter, ANODYNE

(American thieves')

hemp, says Some call it neck-weed,

:

for

it

hath a

To

tricke cure the necke that's troubled with the crick.

also the
let,

An ANODYNE NECKLACE was name of a quack amuwhich, for a long period,

NECKLACE.
Verb.

was a household word. This famous remedy occupied as

thieves').
;

To

(American
C/.,

kill.

foregoing

also

To

COOK ONE'S GOOSE.

prominent a position in the the advertising columns of journals of the middle of the

A noint.
eighteenth as Holloway's pills in the latter part of the nineteenth century. This necklace was of beads artificially prepared, small, like barleycorns, and cost five shillings. For
foreign synonyms,
see

57

Anonyma.
ANOINTED, ppl.adj. (old). I. Used in a depraved sense to signify eminence in rascality. The

HORSE'S

NIGHTCAP.
ANOINT, verb, (familiar). To beat to thrash humorsoundly ously derived from the proper meaning of the word, to smear' or rub over with oil or other unctuous substances.' In the
;

most probable derivation appears to be that suggested by Prof. Skeat [N. and Q., 3 S., ix., 422]. In a French MS., Romance of Melusine, is an account of a man who had received a thorough and severe beating, which is thus referred to Qui anoit este si bien oignt.
:

'

The English
English Text
lates this,
'

version

[Early

'

Society] transwhich so well was

North of England the saying is somewhat more analogous to ANOINT with the sap of a
'

hazel rod.'
1175. 5^53fly,

Rom. of Partenay (SKEAT),

hout, the

indeed.' From this clear that to ANOINT a man was to give him a sound drubbing, and that the word was so used in the fifteenth
it

ANOYNTED
is

Then thay puthym

kyng away

Which so well was ANOYNTED indede, That no slene ne pane had he hole of
brede.
1703.

Thus, an ANOINTED rogue means either one who has been well thrashed or who has deserved to be. Cf., To ANOINT.
century.
1769. ROBERTSON, Hist, of Reign of Charles V. Many assumed the clerical character for no other reason than that it might screen them from the punishment which their actions deserved. The German nobles complained loudly that their ANOINTED malefactors, as they called them, seldom suffered capitally even for the most enormous crimes.

FULLER'S Trip
to

to

Bridewell,

quoted in Ashton's The

Fleet, p. 211.

The

whipper began

NOINT

instrument, that had, I a dozen strings notted at the end.

v.
'

with his believe, about

me

1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch. I'll bring him to the gangway, and ANOINT him with a cat-and-nine-tails."
1824.
287.

W. IRVING, Tales of a Trav., II., Seize a trusty staft and ANOINT the

back

ot the aggressor.

There seems to be some connection, too, between this sense of TO ANOINT, and the depraved use of ANOINTED (q.v.) to signify great rascality. Cf., STRAP OIL.
ANOINT or GREASE THE PALM, verb, To bribe. The phr. (common). Scotch say 'to creesh the luif.'

SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, But, not being Lord Ether ington, and an ANOINTED scoundrel into the bargain, I will content myself with cudgelling him to death.'
1825. ch. xxxvii.
'

2.

Knowing;
Duncombe
.

ripe

for

mis-

chief.

ANONYMA,
of the

subs, (popular).

A lady

The

expression
KNOX,

is

very old.
of Reformation,

generally, though not invariably, applied to one of the better class. of this status were also called by the Times PRETTY
;

demi-monde

Women

1584.

Hist,

works [1846] I., 102. Yea, the handis of our Lordis so liberallie were ANOYNTED.

HORSEBREAKERS,

notorious

ANONYMA
been a Another

(circa

1868)
earlier

having

See

GREASE THE PALM.

good and

horsewoman.

name

A nother.
was
well

Another Lie.
this

INCOGNITA
as
to

as

ANONYMA had
the
'

refer-

ence

position these what is called

ladies

unrecognised hold in

N. UDALL, Roister Doister, 58 (Arber). R. ROYSTER. If it were another but thou, it were a tenane. M. MERY. YE ARE AN OTHER your
c. 1584.
III., v., p.

selfe, sir.

[M.]

Society,' which tries to shut its eyes to a product of its own vice. The

1750. IX., ch. vi.

French
to

cocotte

the

English

best corresponds term. For

see

synonyms generally, RACK HACK.

BAR-

I did not mean to Partridge, abuse the cloth I only said your conclusion was a non-seqitituy.' You ARE ANOTHER,' cries the Serjeant, an' you come to that. No more a sequitur than

FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk. You mistake me, friend,'

' ' ;

cries

'

'

yourself.'

G. A. SALA, Quite Alone, ch. i. 1864. Is that ANONYMA driving twin ponies in a low phaeton, a parasol attached to her whip, and a groom with folded arms behind her ? Bah there are so many ANONYMAS nowadays. If it isn't the Nameless One herself, it is Synonyma.
!

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xv., p. 123. Sir,' said Mr. Tupman, 'you're a fellow.' Sir,' said Mr. Pickwick, YOU'RE
'
'

ANOTHER.'
1888. SIR W. HARCOURT, Speech at Eighty Club, Feb. 21. You know the urchins in the street have a conclusive argument. They say YOU'RE ANOTHER.'
little
'

1865.
4

OUIDA,

Strathmore,

ch.

vi.

I'm getting tired of Mondes, one confounds so easily with Demi-monde, and aristocrats that are so near allied to ANONYMA.' Do RAN, In and about Drury 1881. Lane, vol. II., p. 159. Those ANONYMAS, who dress with such exquisite propriety lest they should be mistaken for modest

ANOTHER ACROBAT, phr. (musicAnother drink ACROBAT hall) being a play upon the word
.

'

tumbler,'

i.e.,

a glass.

women.
1889.
'

Modern

Society,

July

13,

p.

ANOTHER GUESS, adj., or ANOTHER GUESS SORT OF MAN, phr. (old).

852.

Christopher's

Honeymoon,' by

cute

man

one

who
TO
;

is,

in

Mr. Malcolm Watson, produced at the Strand, on Wednesday, is not wholly bad, but it is too thin. The honey-

mooner is surprised at his wedding breakfast by the news that a former wife, whom he thought dead, is still Matters are still further comalive. plicated when his mother-in-law mistakes his buxom laundress for a fair
ANONYMA.

SNUFF 'Guess* suggests an (q.v.}. erroneous derivation the word

lingo,

modern

UP

corruption of ANOTHER GATES [according to Murray the original genitive case of another-gate, i.e., of another way, manner, or fashion']
is
'

really a
-

'

'

ANOTHER. YOU'RE ANOTHER, phr. (common). A retort in usage hardly courteous or suave. Generally spoken in anger or
resentment. The quotations which follow specify clearly It is inthe manner of use. teresting to note how very old
is

ANOTHER

The practice spurious coins to shop counters is, even yet, not an obsolete custom in country districts and hence, probably, is derived this colloquialism.
detected slander.
of
nailing
;

LIE NAILED THE TO COUNTER, phr. (American). A

this

common
the

rejoinder
it is,

1888.

nearly 350 years

over, an
illustrates historical

morefully

example which
value
of

the

method in dealing with slang words and phrases.

speaker, who had me back up his declaration that Cleveland was in the habit of beating his wife But that LIE WAS NAILED a good while ago.' I know it,' chuckled the C.L, but it's easy enough to pull out the nail.'
'

employed you

Texas Siftings, Oct. 20. Who last ? 'A Republican

'
'

'

'

'

A ntagonise.
ANTAGONISE,
verb, (sporting). This, 'to act as an opponent,' sounds very like slang but, as a matter of fact, so long as the antagonising forces are of the same kind the word is legitimate enough. It has been so
;

59

Anythingarian.
ANYHOW.
IT,

ANYHOW YOU CAN

FIX

(American). A slang expression of acquiescence as, 'I don't know if you'll e.g., succeed, but ANYHOW YOU CAN FIX IT.'
phr.

Mill, and others. Only when (as for example in America a person in political phraseology a said to is

used from 1634 downwards, by Herbert, Keats, John Stuart

ANY OTHER MAN!

call

phr. (American). to order addressed to

ANTAGONISE

prosy, discursive speakers when they give themselves over to the use of synonymous terms.

measure when it is meant that he opposes it) the word is used

in connection with antagonistic forces not of a kind can it be

ANY RACKET, subs, (rhyming slang) A penny faggot.

ANYTHING.
adv.

regarded as partaking of slang. In the quotation by Barrere from the Saturday Review (no date given refer, however, to Sat. R., Dec. 18, 1886, p. 799) the word is used in a perfectly correct manner.
:

LIKE, or AS ANYTHING,

(common). A vulgarism rather than slang. Used in the same manner, as are LIKE ONE O'CLOCK; LIKE OLD BOOTS (q.v.), when a person is at a loss for a simile. See WINKEY.
phr.
1542.

1886.

Saturday Review on Sporting

Slang, 18 Dec., p. 799, col. i. Dingley Dell sent Jones and Robinson to the wickets, where they were antagonised with the leather by Alf and the Young

Phenomenon.

UDALL'S Erasmus Apoph., The young maiden, where the on quaked and trembled for feare, daunced without any feare at all emong sweardes and kniues, beyng as sharpe AS ANYTHYNG.
p. 32.

lokers

ANTHONY, orTo CUFF ANTHONY, verb. To knock one's knees (old). together from an infirmity. Also called TO CUFF JONAS. ANTONY, or ANTHONY CUFFIN, subs. A knock-kneed man.
ANTHONY, or TANTONY
(old).
1787.

1740. RICHARDSON, Pamela, ii., 57. dear father and mother, I fear your girl will grow as proud AS ANYTHING. 1840. BARHAM, /. L. (Misadv. at

O my

The
His

Margate). tear-drop

in his

little

eye again

began

to spring,

bosom throbo'd with agony, he

CARROLL, Through a Looking They wept LIKE ANY73.
such quantities of sand.

cried LIKE ANYTHING.

1873.

PIG,

subs.

See

TANTONY

Glass,

iv.,

PIG.
the Vul-

THING

to see

GROSE, Dictionary of

gar Tongue.
pig in the
pig,
i.e.,

The
;

favourite or smallest

litter

to follow like a

tantony

ANYTHINGARIAN,

pig, signified to follow close at one's heels. St. Anthony,

St.

Anthony's

who

subs, (common). contemptuous term for one

is

the hermit, was a swine herd, and is always represented with his bell and
Pig-

ANTIMONY,

subs.

(printers').

Type
its

so called from one of

parts.

component

apathetic as regards his or religious creed, or other matters upon which mankind generally hold decided views. [Frpm ANYTHING + ARIAN, after /nwrt-ARiAN, unitARIAN.]
political

A ny thingarianism

6o

Apartments.

1717. Entertainer, Nov. 6 [quoted in N. & Q., 7 S., vi., 66]. Nor, which is ten times worse, Free-thinkers, Atheists,

FRENCH
'

SYNONYMS.

Avoir
:

ANYTHINGARIANS.
1738.

SWIFT,

Polite

Conversation

(conv.

i.).

Lady Sm. Lady Sp.

ARIAN. Lady Ans.

What religion is he of ? Why, he is an ANYTHINGI

une ecrevisse dans la tourte, or dans le vol-au-vent (popular to have a crawfish that is in the head.' in the pie,' or to have rats in the upper C/.,
' '

believe he has his religion to chuse, my lord. 1849. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, ch. xxii. They made puir Robbie Burns

an ANYTHINGARIAN with their blethers.

ANYTHINGARIAIMISM, subs, (popuThe creed or doctrine of lar).

an

Anythingarian.
.

[See

pre-

ceding]
1851. Schiller's
'

KINGSLEY (Life, i., 215). Gods of Greece expresses, I think, a tone of feeling very common, and which finds its vent in modern NeoPlatonism ANYTHINGARIANISM.
C.
'

avoir la boule dctraquce lit. to have one's avoir le coco f'de ball turned ') lit. to have one's (popular cocoa nut cracked.' In English slang the head is also called a cocoa-nut ') avoir le trognon to have dctraquee (popular a bee in one's bonnet. Trognon is also a slang term for the avoir un head or noddle ')

'

storey ) (popular

'

'

'

'

'

asticot
'

dans

la

noisette

lit.

to
is

have a maggot
In

nut.'

English
'

(popular in one's slang the

:

head

ANYTHING ELSE.

See

NOT DOING

ANYTHING ELSE.

ANYWHERE DOWN THERE (tailors'). If, in a workroom or elsewhere

!

where

tailors

article is

ANYWHERE DOWN THERE

APARTMENTS.
lar).!.
'

congregate, an dropped upon the floor,

!

is

used as a kind of catch-phrase.

To HAVE APART-

verb. phr. (poputake rank in the estimation of one's fellows as an idiot a born fool one who is empty-headed, not furnished

MENTS TO LET,

To

likewise the nut.' C/., also the expression a worm in avoir un bceuf gras the bud ') dans le char (popular) avoir un cancrelat dans la boule (popular to have a cockroach in lit. here referball one's ball ing to the head or nut.' Cancrelat is properly kakerlac or American cockroach) avoir un hanneton dans le reservoir (popular lit. to have a May-bug or cockchafer in one's cistern' or This seems to be on all well.' fours with a bee in one's bon'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

net.'

The phrase sometimes

with brains.

runs avoir un hanneton dans le plafond, i.e., to have a cockchafer in one's ceiling, and here
the analogy between the two phrases is more clearly markavoir un moustique dans la ed) boite au sel (popular: lit. 'to have a mosquito in the salt-box avoir un voyageur or cellar ') avoir dans V omnibus (popular) une araignce dans le plafond (popular lit. to have a spider in the head plafond, a ceiling,' be it noted is a slang term for the
;
;

To be have a screw loose to be balmy to have a bee in one's bonnet (Scotch) to be off one's chump to have no milk in the cocoa-nut to be touched to be balmy in one's crumpet to be wrong in the upper storey to have rats in the upper storey to have a tile loose to be half
ENGLISH SYNONYMS.
;

dotty

to

'

'

'

baked.

'

Ape-Leader.
avoir une grtnouille dans head') lit to V aquarium (popular have a frog in one's aquarium ') avoir line hirondelle dans
;
'
:

61

Apostle's Grove.
ndtres de singe.

To PUT AN APE

ONE'S HOOD or CAP, to make a fool of one, etc.

INTO
APES, subs. (Stock Exchange). Atlantic and North - Western Railway first mortgage bonds.

h
a

soliveau

'

swallow
tine

(popular in the
:
;

to have head ')

;

Marseillaise dans le tine avoir (popular) punaise dans le soufflet (popular in one's a bug to have brain ') avoir une sardine dans to a Var moire glace (popular have a sardine in the head Annoire a glace or brain.' avoir une trichinne the head) dans le jambonneau (popular jambonneau, the head) avoir une sauterelle dans la guitare (popular lit. to have a grasshopper in the guitar').

avoir

Kiosque
'

APOSTLES, or THE TWELVE APOSTLES,

subs. phr.

(Cambridge Univ.).

'

Formerly, when the Poll, or ordinary B.A. degree list was arranged in order of merit, the last twelve were nicknamed

THE TWELVE APOSTLES. They were also called THE CHOSEN

TWELVE, and the
'

'

For other synonyms,

LOOSE.
2.

see

TILE

last, St. Poll or St. Paul a punning allusion to i Cor. xv., 9, For I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an

Apostle.'
is

The

list

is

now

A widow

said

TO HAVE

arranged alphabetically and in

classes.

APARTMENTS TO LET.

APOSTLES
post
It

Hotten suggests that is a corruption of

'

An old APE- LEADER, subs. (old). maid. Leading apes in hell was the employment jocularly assigned to those who neglected
to

after the others.' also be mentioned that in one American University at least, Columbia
alias, i.e.,

may perhaps

assume

marital

functions
Ra-

while living.
1581.

on the B.A.
(Arb.), 87.

College, D.C., the last twelve list actually receive the personal names of the

LYLY, Euphucs

ther thou shouldest leade a lyfe to thine LEADE owne lyking in earthe, than APES IN HELL. [M.] 'Tes an I. Lond. 1605. Prodigal, ,"2. old proverb, and you know it well, that IN HELL. APES maids LEAD women dying
1717.
II., i.

Apostles.
1795.
19.

[The

&.ambridge

Gentleman's Magazine, Jan., last twelve names on the list are here called THE

TWELVE

APOSTLES.]

MANEUVERING
'

THE APOS-

Poor

MRS. CENTLIVRE, Bold Stroke, girl she must certainly LEAD

;

APES, as the saying

1830.
(1842),
I.,

is.

GENERAL
198. [M.]

P.

THOMPSON, Exerc.
with other old

Joining

TLES, a variant of the familiar expression, to rob Peter to pay Paul'; i.e., to borrow from one person to pay another.
APOSTLE-S GROVE,
subs,

women,
Tartarus.

in

LEADING

THEIR

APES

in

(common).

There are several proverbial sayings in which the ape plays To SAY AN an important part. APE'S PATERNOSTER is to chatter with cold this corresponds with the French, dire des paU;

The London

district

known

Also as St. John's Wood. called GROVE OF THE EVANGEBoth names are applied LIST. sarcastically in allusion to the large numbers of the demi-

Apothecary.

62

Apple-Pie Bed.
to overthrow to disarrange ruin an undertaking. Sometimes the expression is varied by
;

monde who
of town.

live in that

quarter

APOTHECARY.

To TALK
verb p/ir.
;

LIKE AN
(old).

APOTHECARY,

TO UPSET THE OLD WOMAN'S APPLECART. Barrere's reference

of the genesis of the phrase to the costermonger's imaginative powers is all conjecture as also is his and fancy American derivation of the expression in its more figurative In the first place APPLE sense. CARTS are perfectly familiar ob'
' ;

talk nonsense from the pseudo gravity and affectation of knowledge often assumed by these gentlemen at a time when

To

their status was not legally held under examination and license

of the Apothecaries'

Company.
subs.

APOTHECARIES'
(old).

BILL,

long

bill.

APOTHECARIES', or RAW LANow called TIN, siibs. (old).

DOG-LATIN
APPLE CART,

jects in all country districts and, in the second, the phrase is too old a provincialism to need deriving from the peripatetic vendors in
;

(q.v.}.

subs,

The human
' '

body. A slang term similar to 'POTATO TRAP,' 'BREADBLUE BASKET,' BELLOWS,' BEERPLUMB," BACON,' and
' '

(common),

i.

TO APPLE CART AND SPILL THE PEACHES may be an American variation for the
question.

Further, though

UPSET HIS

second sense, as

it

appears to

(all of which see). There numerous variations in if two men are usage e.g., quarrelling, and a friend of one

BARREL'
are
;

have been so used, dialectically, throughout England, the weight of assumption must be given to its English origin, and
subsequent transference to America.

interferes saying I will upset his APPLE CART 'it means, while
'

'

ENGLISH
barrel
;

SYNONYMS. SYNONYMS.
;

BeerAcabit

bacon.
cylindre
'

you are parleying with the

I will
if

enemy

knock him down.' Again, a child falls down, says W. W. Skeat (referring to his early Kentish remembrance of the
word), you
first

FRENCH
lar
Cf.
' :

(literally, quality)
'

(popu1

a cylinder,' or barrel. lit. with English beer barrel ')

: ' ;

if he is he is merely a little frightened you say, Well, never mind, then you've only APPLE CART and upset your spilt

much

enquire

hurt.

If

'

grosse caisse (popular lit.' a large case,' or box ') paillasse (popua straw mattress ') lar lit.
'

also place d'armes; casaquin.

The child gooseberries.' laughs and all is well again.

the
2.

APPLE DUMPLING SHOP, subs. phr. (common). A woman's bosom. For synonyms, see DAIRIES.

To UPSET AN APPLE CART sometimes means, not so much to knock a man down, as to prevent him from doing what he wants to do by the upsetting as it were, of an imaginary APPLE CART; i.e., to thwart to
tive sense.
;

Also employed in a figura-

APPLE-MONGER. APPLE-SQUIRE

The same
(q.V.).

as

APPLE-PIE BED, subs. phr. (common). A practical joke, which consists in making up a bed with the sheets doubled half way

Apple-Pie Day.
up, so as to prevent a person from stretching out at full length, and filling the bag thus formed with brushes, soapSo called, either dishes, etc. from the apple-turnover, in which the paste is turned over the apples, or from the French, a pits, folded.
'
'

Apples.
incline to this view point out that cap d pied in the sense of occurs in perfectly appointed one of the scenes of Hamlet.
1 '

Though
transition
other,
at

orthographically

from
first

one
sight,

to

the the

would

appear to be somewhat lame

and
the

1811. C. K. SHARPE, in Correspondence (1888), i., 466. After squeezing myself up, and making a sort of APPLE-PYE BED with the beginning of my sheet.
1883. Saturday Some 566, col. 2.

halting, yet phonetically difference is much less

It

marked.

has further been

Review, Nov.

3,

p.

'evil-disposed per-

sons' have already visited his room, MADE HIS BED INTO AN APPLE-PIE, plenwith hair-brushes and tifully strewn
razors.

The French have an

'

analolit

gous phrase,
portefeuille .'

mettre

un

en

APPLE- PIE DAY, subs. phr. (Winchester Coll.) The day on which Six -and -Six (q.v.) is It is the Thursday played. after the first Tuesday in December. So called because hot apple-pies were served on

suggested that APPLE PIE ORDER is a corruption of 'Alpha-beta' i.e., alphabetical order, but this would seem rather far-fetched, as also is the reference of it to the nursery rhyme of 'A was an C cut it apple pie B bit it D divided it,' and so on, the allusion being to the regular order in which the letters of the alphabet occur. Probably the weight of evidence is on the side of the derivation from
; ;

cap

pied,

that

phrase
SCOTT

more especially as was once very

in

familiar.
1813.

COMERS
dinner.

(q.v.)

in

College

for

APPLE

subs. ORDER, phr. Exact or perfect order. Etymolygists have long puzzled themselves concerning

PIE

(familiar).

The childien's garden is in (1839), 131. APPLE PIE ORDER. 1835. MARRYAT, Jacob Faithful, viii., 29. Put the craft a little into APPLE PIE ORDER. 1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Old Woman
in Grey). I am just in the order
I

Lochart, Life, IV.

which some
you

folks
call

this
in

expression, and many derivations have been put forward

am

though why,
tell

sure I can't apple pie.

would

Some have an allusion to the regular order in which the component parts of some varieties of that toothsome delicacy, apple pie, were formerly laid one on the top of, or side by side with each other. Others, on the contrary, scout such a homely origin, and suggest that APPLE PIE ORDER is cap d pied
explanation.
it

found in

APPLES.
phr.

How WE APPLES SWIM (common). *'.., 'What a good time we are having.' This expression, a very old one, is synonymous with pleasureable experience coupled with brisk
!

action.
1697-1764.

HOGARTH (Works by
J.

J.

Ireland and
III., p. 29.

Nichols, London, 1873),

order.

The

authorities

who

gives

And even this, little as it is, him so much importance in his

assumes a consequen-

own

eyes, that he

Apples and Pears.

tial air, sets his

64
strut-

Apron-Strings.
APRONEER,
keeper
;

arms akimbo, and

ting
'

HOW WE APPLES
1860.

among

the historical artists cries, SWIM.'

Cornhill

Mag.

(D.

Mallett,

down

HOW WE APPLES

Tyburn), Dec., p. 737. While tumbling the turbid stream, Lord, love us,

SWIM.
subs.

A shopsubs. (old). a tradesman. Murray states that the term was used contemptuously of the Parliamentary party during the Civil
Wars.
1659.

APPLES AND PEARS, (rhyming slang).

stairs.

phr. pair of

Some

GAUDEN, Tears

prating

of Church,^. or some sequestrator,

surly APKONEER.
1690. D'URFEY, Collin's Walk, c. But every sturdy APRONEER, p. 107. arm'd with battoon, did straight appear.
iii.,

APPLE-SQUIRE,
lot's
;

subs. (old). A harattendant, or FANCY MAN these gentry are now (q.v.) BULLIES commonly called
' '

APRON-ROGUE,
labourer
;

subs.

(old).

a mechanic.

(q.v.).

Nares gives
'

'

SQUIRE OF

THE BODY
term
;

a synonymous also APRON-SQUIRE.

as

1663. KILLEGREW, Parson's Wedding in Dodsley's Old Plays (1780), XL, 382. APRON-ROGUES with horn hands. [M.]

1500. (circa) to Spyttel Hous, 832 in Hazl. E. P. P., iv., 60. [Here given

Way

APRON

as APPLESQUYERS.]
[1580-1654] TAYLOR, Discourse by Sea (works II., 21). Are whoremasters decai'd, are bawds
all
all

- SQUIRE. SQUIRE.

See

APPLE-

APRON-STRING
subs. phr.

HOLD or TENURE,

dead,
fled? IN.]

Are pandars, pimps, and APPLE-SQUIRES

Poor Robin Little be found amongst cut-purses, bawds, whores, pimps, pandars, and APPLE-SQUIRES only the pimp pretends to something more of truth than the other, for if he promise to help you to a whore, he will be sure that she shall not be an honest woman. [N.]
1738. truth will
;

held by a man during his wife's life; or by virtue of her right.

1647.
[M.]

(familiar).

An

estate

....

WARD,

Simp.
is

Cobler,

67.

APRON-STRING TENURE
1753.
23.

very weak.

liars,

He

tenure, peace.
I.,

RICHARDSON, Grandison, iv., cursed the APRON-STRING by which he said he held his
[D.]

For synonyms, ancient and modern, and also foreign equivalents, see FANCY MAN.
APRON.

MRS. BARBAULD, Richardson 1804. All her fortune in her own 160.
a very APRON-STRING TENURE.

power

APRON-STRINGS.
Or

To BE TIED TO

ALWAYS AT A WOMAN'S APRONverb. phr. (common). petticoat government to

;

GREEN

contemptuous term for a See BIBLElay preacher. POUNDER.

1654.
It

APRON,

subs. (old).

STRINGS,

Under

WARREN,
befits a

Unbelievers,
[M.]

more

145.

dangle after a woman. Formerly said only of children; later of all who follow a woman subserviently.
1712.

GREEN-APRON preacher,

than such a Gamaliel.

1705. (1721), 21.

HICKERINGILL, Priestcraft I. Unbeneficed Noncons. (that live by Alms and no Paternoster, no the GREEN-APRONS). [M.] Penny, say
1765.

Spectator, No. 506.

The

fair

The gifted priestess amongst the Quakers is known by her GREEN APRON. [M.]

TUCKER,

Lt. Nat.,

II.,

451.

sex are so conscious to themselves, that they have nothing in them which can deserve entirely to ingross the whole man, that they heartily despise one, who, to use their own expression, is

always HANGING STRINGS.

AT

THEIR

APRON-

A qua.
1834.
viii.

A rchduke.
ch.

A homebred
1849.

Miss EDGEWORTH, Helen,

lordling,
folly.

the

moment he SLIPPED

who, from

ARABS,

subs,

(common).

Nick-

HIS MOTHER'S
of

names

for

young
'

street vagrants

APRON-STRINGS, had fallen into

MACAULAY, History
649.

land,

II.,

He

Eng-

could not submit to

be TIED TO THE APRON-STRINGS CVCn of

the best of wives.

are numerous. They are 'Bedouins,' 'Street Arabs,' and 'Juvenile Roughs in London Gamins in Paris they are
; '
'

AQUA,

subs.

Water.

From

(American

Bowery Boys Hoodlums in San Francisco

' ' '

'

in

New York

thieves').

the Latin.
subs. phr.

AQUA POMPAGINIS,

water [Dog-Latin from L., AQUA, water + English, PUMP + simulated Latin termina;

- Pump

(old).

and Larrikins in Melbourne. This last phrase is an Irish constable's broad pronuncialarking,' applied to the nightly street performances of these young scamps, there, as elsewhere, a real social pesti-

tion of

'

tion, aginis]
1785.

lence.
Dictionary
of
.

See

STREET ARAB.

GROSE,

the
.

Vulgar Tongue. AQUA POMPAGINIS.

Apothecaries' Latin.
1839.

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack

'

Sheppard

[1889],

p.

13.

Exactly
;

my
'

I Blueskin. sentiments,' rejoined wouldn't force him for the world but if he don't tip the stivers, may I be cursed if he don't get a taste of the AQUA POMPAGINIS. Let's have a look at the kinchen that ought to have been throttled,' added he, snatching the child from Wood. My stars here's a pretty lullaby-cheat to make a fuss about ho
'
!

GUTHRIE, Plea for Ragged Schools. [In this work the homeless wanderers and children of the streets were spoken of as ARABS OF THE CITY, and City Arabs.]
1848.

ARBOR
penis. Life].

VIT>E,

subs.
;

[Latin

= the Tree

(old).

The
of
see

For CREAMSTICK.
See

synonyms,

ho!'
1839.

ARCH.
HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack

ARK.
subs.

shall go Sheppard [1889], p. 15. through the whole course,' replied Blueskin, with a ferocious grin, 'unless he

'He

ARCH-COVE or ARCH-ROGUE,
(thieves').

The

chief or leader

comes down to the last grig. We'll lather him with mud, shave him with a rusty razor, and drench him with AQUA
POMPAGINIS.'

of a gang of thieves.

[From

For synonyms,
ALE.
AQUATICS,
subs.

see

ADAM'S

Greek, archo to be first, to command, to rule + COVE, a slang term for a man.] Formerly
also

MAN. See SNEAK.

(Eton college).

DIMBER DAMBER, UPRIGHT COVE and AREA

The
in

particular

game

of cricket

which men

in the boats play.

ARCHDEACON, subs. (Oxford Univ.). Merton strong ale.

AQUA-VIT/E, subs. (old).

;

Formerly

an alchemic term but, after a while, popularly received as a generic name for ardent spirits, such as brandy, whiskey, etc. [From L. = water of life. Cf., French eau-de-vie, and Irish
usquebaugh.]

ARCH-DELL or ARCH-DOXY,
(old).

subs.

The

wife or female comSee

panion of an ARCH-COVE.

DELL.
ARCHDUKE,
buffoon
;

subs,

(old

slang).

an eccentric person.
5

Arch Gonnof.
ARCH OONNOF.
BER.
See

66

Area-Sneak.
depredations to meat-markets and butchers' shops) gun (a contraction of GONNOF, which or angler gleaner, hooker, see) (these are petty thieves, who work with hooks and rods) lobsneak lully-prigger (one who steals clothes when they are hanging out to dry) snakesman a or sneaksman (a shoplifter
; ;
;

DlMBER DAM-

ARD,

adj.
;

(American
a

thieves').

Hot

corrupted

form
'afoot.'

of

'ardent.' Formerly See CREEPERS.

AREA-SNEAK,
thief

subs,

lurks about areas for the purposes of theft.

ch.
1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby, lix., p. 480. Why wasn't I a thief, swindler, housebreaker, AREA-SNEAK, robber of pence out of the trays of blind man's dogs?
'
'

who

(common).

1869.
p. 181, col.

become pickpockets
1883.

English Mechanic, 14 May, i. [They] would invariably or AREA-SNEAKS.

petty thief) sneeze-lurker (this kind work by first blinding victims with pepper, etc.); moucher mill-ben (an (a prowling thief) old cant term, which see) prig prop-nailer (a prop is a scarf pin) palmer (a thief who rings the changes but see under
;
;
;

'

'

'

'

Daily Telegraph, June 13, p. 7, col. 3. The AREA-SNEAK, too, may find his occupation partially gone through
the strictness of the rules which encompass the trade of the second-hand
dealer.

PALMER)

pudding

snammer
;

(an eating-house thief) drummer or drammer (these gentry stupify their victims prior stock-hauler to robbing them)
;

Among other names for thieves may be mentioned:

'

pocket handker(speciality tooler (a pickpocket) chiefs)

;

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN. Beak or beaker-hunter (a poultry

ality
thief)
;

toy -getter (a watch thief).

droguiste

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
' '
'

Un
'

bug-hunter (speci;
;

bouncer (one who steals while bargaining with a tradesman a bridle-cull (a highshoplifter) wayman) cracksman (a burgcrossman (an old term. lar) Literally a man on the cross, or who gets his living surrepticross-cove (see foretiously)
;

breast pins, studs, etc.) buz-faker (a pickpocket) buttock and file (a shoplifter)
;

(corresponds to the or rook ) English hawk flash un chcne affranchi ( a cove ) un careur, or voleur a la care (thief who robs moneychangers while pretending to un offer old coins for sale) a child de la matte enfant (' of folly.' See FAMILY MAN);
;
' '

un

tiretaine (a

country

thief)

un

'

'

going) conveyancer (a pickdancer (a thief who pocket) gains entrance to houses from the roof) flash-cove (a sharp; ;
;

garqon de cambrouse (a highwayun gar$on de campagne man) (same as example last quoted) un frere de la manicle un philanun bontrope (a peddlar's term) jourier or voleur an bonjour (an
;
; ;

er)

prostitute's bully who pretends to catch the victim in flagrante delicto with his
;

flashman

(a

morning thief, but see under THIEVES) un philibert (of the sharper stamp) un philosophe
early
;
;

wife,

for robbery finder (a thief

and thus makes an excuse and extortion)

;

philosopher' ); un enfant de minuit (formerly, says Cotgrave,

(lit.

'a

who

enfants de la messe de minuit,

i.e.,

confines his

companions

of

the

midnight

Area-Sneak.
mass, not for devotion, but for ramasrobbery and abuse) tiqneiir (one who swindles by
;

67
'

Area-Sneak.
to steal ') achelpeter (an inactive lazy old thief who sponges
;

means of pocket-book dropping,

a variety of the confidence trick) un jardinier, un Americain ('confidence trick'
etc.
;

tirebogue ( a watch English slang a toygetter ') unfriauche un grinchisseur de bogues (a watch thief ) un mion de bottle (equivalent to the English prig ) un fil de soie un un doubleur ( = English prig

men)

un
;

upon his confederates. From Hebrew ochal, to eat putzen, from O.H.G., bizan, pizzan, food ') golehopser (a thief who jumps on a loaded cart or other vehicle whilst in motion to

'

thief

in

'

steal

boxes or small packages. In English slang this kind of thief is called a dragsman ')
'

goleschdchter (the

'

'

ceding,

same as prebut instead of making

'

'

doubleur
;

night tire (a pickthief) pocket) un tireur (a pickpocket literally one who draws out )
;
;
' '

de sorgue, un voleur a la

'a

with the booty, the packages are cut open, and the contents thrown down for an
off bodily
bihengst steals bees) baldower (a principal, or leader of
;

accomplice to secure)
(a thief

who

etc.

GERMAN SYNONYMS.
chem-blatter
;

Broscho-

cocliem
;

(a thieves'

accomplice

from Hebrew
;

a gang of thieves; one who advises and plans robberies. Balhoche is also a man who has

chem, wise, instructed) erntemackener (thieves who steal from

houses while the

owners are
;

an opportunity for theft balspiess the host of an inn, frequented by thieves and rogues) brenner
; ;

harvest
;

From erndte, harvesting. -f machen, to make) anstiebler (one who plans robberies an instigator to theft. A corrupted form of anstifter, an
away
;

(a thief

who

preys upon others

of

his

kind,

by

demanding,

achbrosch (also achinstigator) achprosch, achperosch, approsch, an infamous thief or

berosch,

threats of exposure, a share of a successful robbery, without having taken part in it. From brennen, to claim litto burn or it may be erally
' '

under

'

'

robber, a rogue, a sharper. Not so much from the Chaldean achbero, a mouse + rosch, head, as from the passage Jer. Baba. Mez. 8., achberi reschii, i.e., 'the mice are vile.' Hence applied primarily to a notorious thief. Thiele says the expressions have not been so much in use since the suppression of the famous

from berennen, or blockade ')

chalfen,
'

'

to run against chalfan (also

chilfer,

chalfener,

legiti-

money changer,' but amongst German thieves the name of the rogue who, in
mately
a

changing money, commits

'

theft.

Cf.,

Rhenish
words,
obsolete,

robber however,

gang

the

particularly

achbrosch, are not

by any means

being very

much
;

in

the English, ringing chawer (Hebrew changes ') chaweress literally an associate [/i?;.], a thief's confederate; a comrade. Chawrusse, kabruse, a gang or confederation of thieves chawrusse melochenen, to form a gang of thieves; chen; : ; ;

use by cattle and horsedealers, and sharpers generally) ganof (Hebrew, a thief fromgonaw,
'

neter, a thief who knows how to conduct himself with tact and address in good society. From

A rea-Sneak.
the

68

Area-Sneak.
by fiesel
the

Hebrew
;

cJiono, gentle,

kind,

commonest

thief,

affable)

chessenspiess, fern., ches-

senspiesse (the landlord or mistress of an inn frequented by thieves a place where they may find refuge without fear of discovery. From the Hebrew) chcchom (also chochem, chochemer,
;
'

professional vagabond, a protector of brothels and whores of the most repulsive kind. These thieves are of great
daring, utterly unscrupulous, are consequently much Some feign to carry dreaded. on the business of a rag and in the what bone-picker, fiesellange or Viennese thieves'

and

wise one. A prudent, cunning thief. Chochem lehorre, a dan-

more frequently spelled with from the Hebrew, the

'

lingo
rod,'
fiesel

is

gerous thief, one prepared for the worst of a similar meanchochem mechutten, a ing is dangerous companion, a rogue of the worst type) bahnherr
; ;

profit.'

termed, 'going out for a In the sense of applied to the fiesel is

'

membrum
strength,

genitale masculi
i.e.,

as

synonymous

hence with

road-master a one who prepares a burglar diffler (a thoroughly robbery) dexterous thief from tup/el, a
' ; ;
'
;

(also bohnherr a literally

and Herr by

itself
'

stronger sex.

pertaining to the It was formerly

used in connection with many other words; e.g., mddchenfiesel, one who habitually runs after women,' a molrower,' a loose
' ' '

point ') drdngley (a thief, who, to divert the attention of people from his intention, causes a
;

fish."

FmtfManguage

means

the language of the strong, of those belonging to the fellowship of thieves, burglars, and a thief freikdufer ( rowdies)
;

crowd

driicker (a

paddenassemble) pickpocket one whose drucker speciality is purses is a corrupted form of trecken, or to draw steal quickly
;
:

to

whose
at

speciality
(a

it

is

to steal
;

fairs

and markets)

freis;

'

'

'

'

Drucker, like adroitly. to steal is never used driichen,

' '

and

a card sharper gambling cheat who carries on his business in crowded

chupper

but always with the the theft hence thief; paddendri'icker, a purse a watch thief; luppendrucker, torfdritcker, a generic name for a pickpocket) eintreiber (a confederate who entices a victim to

by

itself,

places
gacheler

of

public

resort)

object

of

gachler, gackler, (also a panhachler, kakler, kegler : one who steals eattry thief
;

ables and plate from kitchens whilst servants are attending at

table)
;
'

gannew (from Hebrew

;
'

play so that his comrade may swindle him) erefschieber (a thief who goes out at evening time
;

gonaw,

to steal ') gaslan (from Hebrew gosal, to rob') glitscher

;
'

(gypsy
thief

glitschin,

the key

to

commit
,

robberies.
ere/ganger,

Also
eref;

who works by means

;

erefhalchener

hdndler.
;

skeleton keys)

of godler chochem
godol,

Eref=evemng)
'

fichteganger (a night thief or burglar) fiesel (supposed to be

derived from faser, a birch," fibre.' In Vienna, rod,' or the scum of society is meant
'

Hebrew strong, celebrated hence, chochem, the wise one a clever rogue, a thief who
;

(from

Hebrew

great,

'

thoroughly
business)
;

understands
goi

his

gomur (an utterly

Area-Sneak.
unreliable confederate. Goi, plural gojim is applied to those not Jews, to Christians in the plural, especially, in the sense of ignorant people, suspicious or two-faced characters also used as a synonym for Philistine a man of whom
; ;
'

Argol-Bargol.
a lince (lit. species) This class of thief varies robbery with begging) piloto
'
'

hawk
'
.

lynx

thief who directs others (a to the place of rendezvous, i.e.,

where a robbery has been planlit. 'a pilot ') ned trabajar See THIEVES. 'a traveller ). (lit.
; ;

be careful. Goje almost always used contemptuously for a female)

one
has
to
[femJ]
is
;

gotte

(also

gotti,

gode,

gottling

[O. H. G., gataling] a confederate, a relative especially used to denote one who has

(Cacaptain of thieves an Aaron or arch-cove) maguino (a highwayman). For exhaustive and comparalao).

PORTUGUESE SYNONYMS
Pai
(a

been
1

doing

good

tive description of all classes of thieves, both English and

see THIEVES foreign, NAMES AND METHODS.

business)
' :

THEIR

gutenmorgenwimscher

(literally

thieves good morning wisher who break into rooms early in the morning for purposes of robbery. The French have an analogous expression in
bonjourier,

ARF,
'

adj.

'arf

an

Half; e.g., (vulgarism). 'our,' i.e., half an hour.

See

jour).
see

or au bon voleur For other synonyms,

*ARF AND 'ARF. HALF.

ARGAL.
See

FOUR-

THIEVES. ITALIAN SYNONYMS

ARGOL-BARGOL.

(Four-

Quadro (a cut-purse. besque). In the Germania or Spanish argot, quadro is used in the sense of 'a poignard,' and quadrata in that of 'purse.' Possibly the Fourbesque quadro is derived from one of these
words. In Italian it is literally a square or a rule ') gran1

ARGOL-BARGOL, subs, and verb. (old). ARGOL, sometimes ARGAL, is a corrupt pronunciation of Latin ergo, therefore hence, from that word being frequently used in conversation, a clumsy,
;

'

'

chetto

'

(also
;

one

who

speaks
:

lavorante di scarpe gibberish ') lit. (a pickpocket or cut-purse working shoes ') camuffo fiadetto (also a dolt, a duffer ') a begtruccante (also carpione
' ; ; '

unsound piece of reasoning or and verbally, to bandy words. Hotten says ARGOLBARGOL is Scotch, but ARGAL is found in Hamlet, v. i., and the fuller form is probably onamacavilling
;

'

'

topoeticlike shilly-shally,' hocus-pocus,' etc., unless it comes

' '

from the Hebrew through the

Yiddish
bar-leu
.
'

gar')-

SPANISH
'

SYNONYMS
;

to talk or speak
v.
;

'

mania). A quila (a sharper lit. an eagle ') bolador (thought to be derived from the French
:

(Gerist

[anyhow]
1596.

SHAKSPEAR, Hamlet
; :

i.,

21.,
:

voleur}

coinendadores

de

bold

(thieves
at fairs
(lit.

'a

who work principally and markets) gerifalte gerfalcon' one of the

;

Clown. Here lies the water good here stands the man good If the man to this water, it is, will he, nil he, he go goes mark you that but if the water come to him, he drowns not himself: ARGAL, he that is not guilty of his own death, shortens not his own life.
; :

A rgol-Bargolous.
'

Armpits.
With a strong ARKANSAS TOOTHPICK, Screwed in every joint of steel.'
1881.

1823. J. GALT, The Entail, i., Weel, weel,' said the laird, dinna
'

53. let

us ARGOL-BARGOL about it; entail your own property as ye will, mine shall be on the second son." Mr. Buckle's 1861. Times, 23 Aug. argument [is] as absurd an ARGAL as ever was invented by philsopher or gravedigger. [M.]

A. B.

GREEN LEAK, Ten

Years

in Texas, p. 27. All these (men) irrespective of age, size, or condition in

life, could be seen with a Navy sixshooter and an ARKANSAS TOOTHPICK suspended to a raw-hide belt tucked around their waists. Supplement the above equipment with a sore-backed mustang pony, an old army saddle-tree and rope bridle, and you have an exact picture and entire possession of the

ARGOL-BARGOLOUS, adj. (old). Quarrelsome. See ARGOL-BARGOL.

J. GALT, The Provost, p. 194. No doubt his ARGOL-BARGOLOUS disposition was an inheritance accumulated with his other conquest of wealth from the mannerless Yankees.

fifteenth constitutional
1888.

amendment.

1822.

Detroit Free Press, Aug.

It is

not good form to use a TOOTHPICK in ARKANSAS now. A big revolver is the thing in the best society.

For synonyms,
ARK- FLOATER,
subs,

see

CHIVE.

ARGUFY, rupted

verb,

(vulgar).
'

cor-

form of to argue,' usually associated with cavilling or a bandying of words also, to signify' e.g., It doesn't
; '

An actor well advanced in

'

(theatrical).

years.

'

much
1758.

ARGUFY.'
MURPHY, The
it

Act
ING.

i.

A. Well,

Upholsterer,

does not signify ARGIFY-

[From an allusion to the proverbial saying concerning anything ancient, He, or it, must have come out of Noah's ARK,' + FLOATS, the footlights.]
A R KM AN, subs. waterman.
(old).

1837.

'Lord! how I should like to have you on the roadside instead of within these four gimcrack walls. Ha! ha! the ARGUFYING would be all in
bk. IV., ch.
vii.

LYTTON, Ernest Maltravers,

A Thames
The

Cf.,

ACKMAN.

ARK-RUFF, or ARK-RUFFIAN.

my favour

then.'

same as ACK-MAN
ARMOUR.
'

(q.v.).

i. A ARISTIPPUS, subs. (old). diet drink or decoction of sarsaparilla and other drugs, sold at the coffee-houses, and drank as tea. Grose. 2. Also a cant name for canary wine.

phr. (old).
'

To BE IN ARMOUR, verb, To be pot-valiant

;

primed
age.

See

full of Dutch courSCREWED.

1627. Wks. (circa) MIDDLETON, (Halliwell), II., 422. Rich ARISTIPPUS,

sparkling sherry.

ARKANSAS TOOTHPICK,
can). for a

subs. (Amerigrimly facetious name

ARMPITS. To WORK UNDER THE ARMPITS, verb. phr. (old). To sail so far to the windward of the law in petty larceny, that, if caught and tried, the punishment would not amount to more than transportation. On the
passing of Sir Samuel Romilly's
Act,
capital

folding bowie knife of large dimensions.

1854.
'

punishment
Hence,

was
for-

Aytoun), Bon Gaultier Ballads. Straightway leaped the valiant Slingby Into armor of Seville,

SIR THEO. MARTIN (with Prof.

abolished for high way robberies

under

403. in value.

merly, TO

WORK UNDER THE

to avoid the halter

ARMPITS was

Arm-Props.
is

'Arry.
1880.

or NECK-SQUEEZER (q.v.), which applied above the armpits.

subs,
;

MILLIKIN, Punch's Almanac.

!

JANUARY Tailor's bill comes in. Blow that blooming snip! I'm short
tin.

ot

ARM -PR OPS,

Crutches

(common).

otherwise
T. MONCRIEFF,
I

WOODEN

LEGS
1825.

(q.v.).

W.
;

can get fifteen bob a day by gammoning a maim, the devil may vork for me. If any lady or gemman is inclined for a dance, I'll nash my ARM-PROPS in a minute.
(Throws down
his crutches.)

Jerry, Act ii., Scene 6. quite right veil, vile

Tom and Beggar You did

:

ARMS AND

LEGS, subs. phr. (comPoor, weak beer, bemon). cause there is no body in it See SWIPES.
!

fifteen do look queer paper. another new rig out, wuss luck, Gurl at Boodle's bar seems awful struck. Like to take her to pantermime That and O) sters after would be prime. Fan's a screamer; this top coat would blue it, Yaller at the seams, black ink wont do it. Wonder if old snip would spring another? Boots, too. rayther seedy beastly bother! Lots o" larks that empty pockets 'queer.' Can't do much on fifty quid a year.

Werry much enjoyed my autumn Caper,

But three quid

Want

FEBRVWARY

High old time for sprees Now's yer chance the gals to please or
! !

ARMSTRONG.

To COME CAPTAIN
See

ARMSTRONG. ARMSTRONG.

tease. Dowds to guy and pooty ones' to wheedle, And give all rival chaps the needle. Crab your enemies, I've got a many, You can pot 'em proper for a penny.

CAPTAIN

My

First-rate fun

them walentines do 'it 'em 'ot. I always buy a lot.

:

Prigs complain they're spiteful,

lor*

wot

ARROW

(vulgarism). tion of e'er, a,' or

'

'

corrupever a.'

stuff!

Jones, bk. V., ch. viii. I don't believe there is ARROW a servant in the house ever saw the colour of his money.'
1750.

FIELDING,

Tom

'

can't ever get 'em strong enough. Safe too no one twigs your little spree, If you do it on the strict Q.T. * If you're spoons, a flowery one's your plan, Mem. I sent a proper one to Fan.
I
;

1771.
ker,
[.,

SMOLLETT, Humphrey
'

Clin-

126.

higher than of Vales.'

now carries my head ARROW private gentlewoman

I

MARCH I'm nuts upon a windy day, Gurls do get in such a awful way. Petticoats yer know, and pooty feet
!
;

Hair all flying, tell you it's a treat. Pancake day. Don't like 'em flabby,
tough,

subs. ARRY, (common). The Christian name Harry without the aspirate. A popular embodiment of the vulgar, rollicking, yet on the whole goodtempered rough of the great
'

Rayther do a pennorth o' plum-duff. Seediness shows up as Spring advances, Ah the gurls do lead us pretty dances.
!

Days a-lengthening, think I spotted Fan Casting sheep's eyes at another man. Quarter-day, too, no more chance of tick,

'

His is, metropolis. get-up as he would himself put it, immense' he is seen to most
' 1

'

Two d left
1

advantage his own on Sunbank days and holidays

;
'
'

Fancy I shall 'ave to cut my stick. Got the doldrums dreadful, that is clear, must go and do a beer APRIL All Fools' Day's a proper time, old Cop gurls and guy old buffers prime. Scissors! don't they goggle and look
!

his young woman generally Arriet suite taken is en

1 '

altogether he is a lively, jovial, but ill-bred 'cuss.' Mr. Punch in an inimitable series of sketches has hit off his man
' '

you land them with a regular 'do? Lor! the world would not be worth a mivvey, If there warn't no fools to cheek and
'

When

blue,

chivy.

Then comes
'and,

Easter.

Got some coin

fellows

in

Trot a bonnet out and do the grand.

'toaT.'

Fan

all

flounce and flower

mad,

'Arry.
us henvious nuts to me, my lad. 'Ampstead 'Ampton Which is it to be ? Fan no flat prefers the Crystal P. Nobby togs, high jinks, and lots o' lotion, That's the style to go it, I've a notion MAY The month o' flowers. Spooney

72

'Arry.
AUGUST Time
1

Heye

to think

about

my

out-

No

ing.

dibs yet, though, so it's no use shouting. Make the best of the Bank 'Oliday. Fan engaged Don't look too bloomin'
'
' !

sell! ' 'ot with,' is wot/ likes to smell. Beats yer roses holler. chice weed,

Rum

Licks

all

flowers that ever run to seed.

'oler
;

Nobby button

very well, When one wants to do the 'eavy swell Otherwise don't care not one brass
farden, For the best ever

gay. Drop into the bar to do a beer. Twig her talking to that volunteer. Sling my 'ook instanter sharp and short, Took Jemimer down to 'Ampton Court, Not arf bad that gurl. Got rather

screwed,
'It

blowed

in

Covent

Little toff complained as I was rude. 'im in the wind, he went like death

Garden. Fan, though, likes 'em, costs a pretty

pile,

Weak, consumptive cove and

shot'

short o' breath. Licked 'im proper, dropped 'im like a

Rayther stiff, a tanner for a smile. Blued ten bob last time I took 'er out, Left my silver ticker up the spout. Women are sech sharks If I don't drop
!

Only wish that Fan had seen that

'Ere's

lot.
!

'er,

Off to Mustard-coloured
paint,

SEPTEMBER Margit mean

!

'Oliday at last
to

go

it

fast.

togs

still

fresh

as

Guess that
per!

shall

come a hawful

crop-

JUNE

A jolly month; sech stunning weather Fan and I have lots of outs together Rorty on the river, sech prime 'unts, Foul the racers, run into the punts.
1 I
:

Like to know who's natty, if I ain't. Got three quid have cried a go with Fan, Game to spend my money like a man. But stickin' tight to one gal ain't no
;

fun,

Prime

When

to 'ear the anglers rave and cuss, in quiet swims we raise a muss.
' '

Snack on
quiet,

someone's lawn upon the

raise a tidy riot

Won't the owner

When

he twigs our scraps and broken

?

Here's no end of prime 'unson the run Carn't resist me somehow, togs and tile All Ai make even swell ones smile. Lor if I'd the ochre, make no doubt I could cut no end of big pots out. Call me cad ? When money's in the
!

bottles

Cheaper this than rusty-rongs or bottles. Whitsuntide 'ud be a lot more gay
If it

Snip turns sour, pulls

warn't so near to Quarter-day. county-courting

'

Cad and swell are pooty much the same. Now OCTOBER Back again to collar, Funds run low, reduced to last 'arf
!

game,

'

dollar.

Must

faces, try and land a little

!

on the races.
'

At JULY

(Twenty-five driver
'

just nicked a to one

!

handy fiver, on old Screwmustard

colour

Snip on rampage, boots a getting thin, 'Ave to try the turf to raise some tin. Evenings gettinggloomy; high old games; Music 'alls look up the taking names. Proper swells them pros If I'd had my
!

New

rig-out.

This

choice,

mixture
Suits me nobly. Fan appears a fixture. Gurls like style, you know, and colour ketches 'em, But good show of ochre, that's what
fetches 'em.

There's my mark. Just wish I'd got a voice Cut the old den to-morrow, lots o'cham, Cabs and diamonds ain't that real jam?
;

Got the
If
I

straight tip for the Siezerwitch,

it, I'll

honly land

be

rich.

Wimbledon I'm not a wolunteer,

!

Guess next mornin' wouldn't

find

me

Discipline

don't suit this child no fear! But we 'ave fine capers at the camp, Proper, but for that confounded scamp Punched my 'ead, because I guyed his
:

sober Allays get the blues about October. Dull NOVEMBER! Didn't land that lot. Fear my father's son is going to pot. Fan jest passed me, turned away 'er
eyes,

shooting. Fan I fancied rather 'igh faluting Ogled the big beggar as he propped me, Would 'a licked 'im if she 'adn't stopped
;

Guess she ranked

ys.

me

with the other

But

it

upon the Ninth, my joker queers a chap to want the ochre.

larks

Arse.
Nothing
Ain't
it

73

Arsy-Varsy.
HEAVY-ARSE, a hulking, lazy
fellow
1530.
;

like a crowd for regular sprees, fine to do a rush, and squeeze ?

Twig

the per!

women

fainting! oh, it's pro-

a sluggard.
436, 2.

Bonnet

buffers

when

PALSGRAVE,

What

up,

the blooming cop-

HEAVY-ARSE, cannest thou nat aryse ?

[M.]

per Can't get near yer nohow.

fogs
If a
!

Then

the

TO HANG THE
or hold back advance.
;

Rare old time

ARSE, to hang to be afraid to

v.

for regular jolly dogs.

'ot

He can keep the game up in November Dun DECEMBER! Dismal, dingy, dirty.
Still

chap's a genuine

member,
!

short

commons makes

a chap feel

1633. MASSINGER, Guardian, V., Nay, no HANGING AN ARSE. [M.]

shirty.

ARSE-UPWARDS
1600 (circa).

in

Snip rampageous, drops a regular summons. Fan gets married ah them gurls is rum
;
!

good

luck.

Timon

I.,

5 (1842), 20.

This

man
:

this

'uns! After all the coin

UPWARDS
a noble.

To daye

daye rose with his ARSE a fidler, and at night

Want
Snow

it

now.

squandered on

'er

'eap too bad, 'pon hon-

our.

ah, that's yer sort though, and no error, Treat to twig the women scud in terror. Hot 'un in the eye for that old feller Cold 'un down 'is neck, burst his um!

breller.

Ha! ha! then Christmas,

feast
least.
If I
!

Also such forms as ARSEBOARD, the tail board of a cart ARSEthis is still dialectical GUT, the rectum ARSE-LONG ARSE-PUSH, a heavy backward fall ARSE-ROPES, the intestines.
;

'ave a jolly

The Boss

will

drop a

tip,

'ope so, at
look-out's

ARSE-COOLER,
tle

don't land queer.

'

some

tin,
'

my

Well, let's drink, boys year

!

Better luck next

ARSE, subs. (low). The posterior; the breech the fundament. Once in polite use, but now considered
;

A bussubs. (low). or dress-improver. [From COOLER; ARSE, see preceding in reference to the manner in which this article of feminine attire extends the dress, and prevents it clinging to the part of the body referred to.]

very vulgar.

As Grose

For synonyms,

see

BIRD-CAGE.

in his

Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue [1785] prints the word thus, a e,' it is evident that it had then fallen into disfavour, Murray traces the word back to about A.D.IOOO. [AL.S.,ears,ceurs;
1

The ARS-MUSICA, subs. (low). podex when used as a noisy vent. A play upon words.
ARST (vulgarism).
ciation of
'

A
1

mispronun-

asked.

Icelandic

and Swedish, ars Danish, arts, and German, arsch]

1000 (circa).

^ELFRIC,

Glossary in
.

ARSY-VARSY or ARSY-VERSY, adv. and adj. (low). Topsy-turvy;

topside t'other way heels over head or the cart before the
; '

Wright, 44-2
1480.

[.Nates,

EARS-lyeJ

[M.]

CAXTON, Chronicles of England, ccxxvi., 233. They lete hange fox tailles .... to hele and hyde her ARSES. 1663. BUTLER, Hudibras I., iii., 964. Then mounted both upon their Horses, But with their Faces to the ARSES. [M.]
1704.
235. to do

horse." versus

[From ARSE
'

Latin

to
like

turn,
'

following

Do you think I have nothing else but to mend and repair after your
[i.e.,

SWIFT, Battle of the Books (1711),

model pounds

onamatopoetic

com-

hirdie-girdie,'

ARSE

behind you,

in

your rear].

in polite use, but now confined to the low and vulgar.

'higgledy-piggledy,' etc.]

Once

A rter.
1539.
(1552), 62.

74
Prov.

Articles of Virtue.
of water over him, crying out, If during Hail, King Arthur the ceremony the person introduced laughs or smiles (to which his majesty endeavours to excite him by all sorts of ridiculous gesticulations), he changes
1
' !

Ye set the cart before the cleane contrarily, and ARSYVERSY as they say.
horse
. . .

TAVERNER, Erasm.

BAILEY, Dictionary. ARSYtopsy-turvy, preposterously, perversely, without order.

1728.

VERSEY,

Still dialectical.

Dialect

Society's eg., West Somerset

See English Glossaries,

Word Book.

places with, and then becomes King Arthur, till relieved by some brother tar who has as
little

A RTER (vulgarism). pronunciation of

An
'

incorrect

command over his muscles

See also

after.'

as himself.

AMBASSA-

DOR.

ARTESIAN, subs. (Australian). In Gippsland, Victoria, a wellknown and popular brew of beer is manufactured with water obtained from an artesian well at Sale and hence ARTESIAN as a common nickname for all Colonial beer. See also CASCADE.
will

ARTICHOKE,
thieves').

subs.

An aged
see

(American
prostitute

of the lowest type.

For general

synonyms,

BARRACK HACK.

i. A ARTICLE, subs, (popular). term of contempt for a worthless or insignificant person or

English synonyms for beer be found under SWIPES.

subs,

animal
is.'

'A pretty ARTICLE he

ARTFUL DODGER,
thieves'
1881.

(rhyming and
i.

slang).

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxvi., p. 268. You're a nice ARTICLE, to turn sulky on first coming home
!

lodger.

New

ARTFUL DODGERS,
sleep twice in the
arrest.
2.

York Slang Dictionary. fellows who dare not

same place

for fear of

An

expert

thief.

The

ARTFUL
'

DODGER
'

Oliver Twist mind in this connection.

in Dickens' will occur to

In this sense generally current at the bea ginning of the century prime ARTICLE,' a handsome girl, as the Lexicon Balatronicum or, [1811] has it, a hell of a goer.'
2.
'
'

woman.

ARTHUR,
sailor's

KING ARTHUR

(old).

TROLLOPE, Three Clerks, She'd never have done for you, you know; and she's the very ARTICLE for such a man as Peppermint.
1857.

A.
'

ch. xxxi.

game, thus described, in effect, by Grose. When near the line, or in a hot latitude, a

See also SAPPY for English and foreign synonyms.

man who
is

is

to represent

ARTICLES,
of
in

siibs.

(thieves').
[circa

suit

ridiculously dressed, having a large wig made out of oakum, or some He is seated on the old swabs. side, or over a large vessel of

King Arthur,

clothes.

Formerly current
1780-1825] principally
;

now

England

surviving

amongst American
ARTICLES
OF
the

thieves.

water, and every person in turn

is

ceremoniously introduced to him, and has to pour a bucket

(popular).

VIRTUE, subs. Virgins. A

phr.

play
in

upon

word

'

virtue,'

Artist.
allusion the absence of to defloration and also upon vertu in its special English usage.
;

75

Astronomer.
... is in the centre of a district where Indians in the British metropolis mostly congregate, a circumstance which has acquired for this part of London the nickname of ASIA MINOR, by which it
is

ARTIST, subs. (American thieves'). An adroit rogue a skilful

;

sometimes

called.

gamester.

N.Y.S.D.
AS THEY

ASK

BOGY

slang).

An

phr.

nautical (old evasive reply.

As

MAKE

'Ew,

phr. (common).

Generally eme.g.,

ASKEW,

ployed with such adjectives as

'hot,' 'drunk,' 'bad,' etc.;

Hairman
W.

subs, (old cant).

A cuppe.

[1567]

AS BAD AS THEY MAKE 'EM.

Bird o Freedom, Aug. [7, p. 3. On reaching the party it was evident that one of the Frenchmen was, not to put too fine a point on it, about AS DRUNK AS THEY MAKE 'EM. He opened the campaign by asking us to have a drink with him. Of course, he spoke in French.
1889.
1

ASQUIRM.
1866. Life, ch.

See
D.
xviii.

SQUIRM.
It

HOWELLS, Venetian is wet and slimy

underfoot, and the innumerable gigantic eels, writhing everywhere, set the soul

ASQUIRM.

Ass,

ASIA MINOR,
tricts in

subs,

(popular).

The

Kensington and Bayswater disLondon, on account of the many Anglo-Indians who, on their retirement, take refuge therein. The nickname, however, is a double-barrelled one,

A componicknamed by pressmen, who, in turn, are called PIGS (q.v.). Ass is sometimes varied by DONKEY. In French
subs,

(printers').

sitor,

so

printing offices compositors are called mulcts, i.e., mules.'

'

inasmuch as

this quarter is also the headquarters of the Greek community in the metropolis. Sobriquets of the kind are not

ASSAY
ly

IT! intj.

infrequent.

The

Obviousfrom the verb 'to assay, and probably introduced by

!

Commence

(American
try
it
!

thieves').
1

district

be-

counterfeit coiners.
ASSIG.,
tion.
subs.

tween Maida Vale and St. Peter's Park, Paddington, is called 'the New Jerusalem,' because of the large number of Jews who live there and the same reason has given an exactly identical appel;

(old).

An

assigna-

Grose.
subs,

ASTE,

(old

cant).

Nares

lation to Brighton, while Chel-

tenham is nicknamed the Black Hole from its numerous

' '

quotes this as an old cant term for money. For modern syno-

nyms,

see

ACTUAL.

Anglo-Indian residents. A sketch appeared under the title of The Ladies in Parliament in Macmillan's Magazine [Nov., 1866] wherein Tyburnia was described as the pension'd Indian's undisturbed retreat.'
'

'

'

1612. The Passenger of Benyenuto. These companions, who in the phisionomie of their forehead, eyes, and nose, 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.

1888.
5.

Daily News, g Feb.,

p. 2, col.
. .

The Ladbroke

Hall, Notting-hill

ASTRONOMER, SM&S. (old). A horse which carries its head high.

Athanasian Wench.
ATHANASIAN

Attack.
ATOMY,
subs,

WENCH,

subs.

A forward, abandoned woman,

(old).

(familiar).

i.

of obliging disposition one who practises prostitution from libidinous desire rather than for gain.

diminutive, or deformed person. [From a jocular pronunciation of anatomy.'] As will be seen from the historical examples
'

Also

synonyms,

QUICUNQUE VULT. For see BARRACK HACK.

subs,

which

follow,

this

expression

has been in the mouths of the English people for at least 300
years.
1595.
iv.,
i.,

ATLANTIC-RANGER,

herring.

The

(common).
is

derivation

SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and Juliet,

57.
I

too obvious to need particularization.

....
She

see,

Queen Mab hath been with

;

you.
is

the fairies' midwife

and she

Good Words, p. 378. Peaspudding, and hard-boiled eggs, rubbing shoulders, as it were, with ATLANTIC RANGERS (i.e., red herrings).
1883.

comes
In shape no bigger than an agate-stone On the forefinger of an alderman, Drawn with a team of little ATOMIES, Athwart men's noses as they fall asleep.
1598.
v., 4, 33.

Among
nyms
tioned

other

curious syno-

for this fish

may be men-

Host.

BILLINGSGATE PHEASANT; TWO-EYED STEAK; YARMOUTH CAPON SEA ROVER and

;
;

Dot.

Come, you
'

SHAKSPEARE, 2 Henry IV., Thou ATOMY, thou thin thing, come,

!

you
ch.

rascal.
1822.
iii.

GLASGOW MAGISTRATE, all of which see. A very common reLockhart's coffeeat houses in London is for a door step and a sea rover,' i.e., a halfpenny slice of bread and butter and a herring.
quest
'

ATMOSPHERE,

subs.

(American).

By the ATMOSPHERE of a thing, whether book, church, or individual, is meant its tone or influence. ATMOSPHERE is one of the most recent introductions into the canting-slang phraseology of Culchaw, don't It belongs to the you know same category as that which
'

SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, He was an ATOMY when he the North, and I am sure he died ... at twenty stone weight.' 1866. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. ix. A miserable little ATOMY, more deformed, more diminutive, more mutilated than any beggar in a bowl. 1884. Cornhill Magazine, May, p. And ATOMY scarecrow and ATOMY, 478. what next will you call me ? Yet you want to marry me Miss BRADDON, Mohawks, ch. 1886. How lovely his young wife looks xxii. to-night; lovely enough to keep that poor

came up from

'

'

old

ATOMY
2.

in perpetual torment."

(American

thieves').

Amongst the

fraternity

ATOMY

has the special meaning of an empty-headed person, and not necessarily one deformed or of
small,
see

'

mean

For synonyms,
SAPPY.

stature. in first sense,

employs awfully and

for
' '

dreadfully

very

or lovely for any-

thing ber of legitimate words perverted from their legitimate meanings and used in senses oftentimes ludicrous is much larger than most people would care to admit.

pleasing, etc.

The num-

ATTACK, verb, (common). A jocular rendering of the legitimate

word

to

commence operations,

not necessarily, however, with the idea of force, which is always associated with the proper usage. Also as a subs.

At
1812.
f

That.

77

Attorney.
Tolerably well all day, but the noise in the ATTIC unremoved

xvii., 62.

nounced the grace TACK was soon begun.

.

COMBE (Dr. Syntax), Pictur. The Doctor then proThe fierce AT. . .

It

commenced perusing
fore he

THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. i. was a double letter, and the Major

1849.

Drunk

IN THE ATTIC, etc. also weak-minded, or 'cracked.'

QUEER
;

ATTACKED

the envelope bethe inner epistle.

ATTIC-SALT,

AT THAT,

adv. phr.

Australian).

An

(American and
intensitive

phrase tacked on to the end of an assertion or statement al'He's a slick ready made. 'cute rascal, and a pretty demon AT THAT,' i.e., he is a rascal of rascals, an adept at villainy. It is a purely cant phrase, and has achieved a degree of popularity quite out of proportion to its merits if any. Proctor
suggests that the expression is an abbreviation of added to that,' but others regard it as the German dazu, a theory which is not improbable, in view of the large German element in the States.
'

Wellsubs, (literary). turned phrases spiced with wit and humour. A reference to the peculiar style and idiom of the Greek language as used by the Athenians, and, says Hotten, partly a sly hit at the well'

known poverty of many writers." Whether so, or not, the phrase

is

one of long standing.

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.) In Philology, we say ATTIC-SALT, for a delicate, poignant kind of wit and humour after the Athenian manner, who were particular in this way.
1748.
1779. SHERIDAN, The Critic, Act i., I have the plot from the author, Sc. 2. characters and only add strongly drawn highly coloured hand of a master fund of genuine humour mine

of invention SALT.
1848.

neat dialogue

ATTIC-

and

1882. PINKERTON'S Mollie Maguires Detectives. A miner from Wades-

JAS.

HANNAY, King Dobbs,

'

ix., p.

129 (1856).

was spoken of as an ancient Mollie Cooney being actually what the detective assumed to be, and a sharp
ville,

style,

we'll lose the day,'

'

tions.

who had some What ?

as
'

ch. in that said Dobbs. quiet homely superstiIf

you joke
unlucky
as

is

it

to

spill

one AT THAT.
1888.

ATTIC-SALT, kind ?

well

the

ordinary

Worth

Forest and Stream, March 15. a year's subscription, and cheap

ATTLEBOROUGH.

AT_THAT.
York Herald, July 22. Who would have supposed that the selfcontained Mr. French, the icily regular T. Henry French, with a disposition as undemonstrative as the Alpine edelweiss, would suffer his temper to go away because of the loss of a hat aye, and of an old hat AT THAT.
1888.

New

Sham
cisely
1

subs. (American). used in prejewelry the same manner as

;

ATTIC or ATTIC-STOREY, subs, (common). The head, from its being the highest or crowning member, the body being figuraas a house. tively regarded

Brummagem,' and as widely applied to men and things. It has passed from the classics of thiefdom into general use, and is applied to anything of a sham, pinchbeck, insincere, or character. Attledoubtful borough is a town celebrated for its manufacture of trashy
jewelry.

Sometimes UPPER-STOREY. synonyms, see CRUMPET.

1870.

For
467.

A ATTORNEY, sribs. (popular). drumstick of goose, or turkey,

grilled

ALFORD,

in Life

(1873),

and

devilled.

[From

A ttorney -General's
DEVIL
routine

Devil.

78

Auly-Auly.
(1884),

a lawyer
for

work

who does another =

1876. TREVELYAN, Life of Macaulay ch. iv., p. 127. A glass of the

still

AUDIT ALE, which reminded him that he

attorney.]
1828.
xiii.
'

was

a fellow of Trinity.

G. GRIFFIN, Collegians, ch. love a plain beef steak before a

AUDLEY.
AUFE.

See

JOHN AUDLEY.

grilled

ATTORNEY.'

(Thieves').

A
over

often

not

shrewd, and or honest

See OAF.

possessof the law, acts in the capacity of legal adviser to those of the crooked craft' unfortunate enough to Such men need assistance. and solicitors are generally others whose names have been struck off the rolls, as also, occasionally, solicitors' clerks ing some knowledge
'

scrupulous

man who,

AUGER, subs. (American thieves'). A person given to prosiness so called a bore.

;

is

AUGHT,

subs,

mon

illiteracy

(vulgarism). for

A
'
'

com'

naught
o
'.

when naming
AULD HORNIE,

the cipher

subs,

One

(common).

of

the
;

numerous nickold scratch

;
;

who have
life.

otherwise failed in

names given to the devil. Others

are, old nick
;

old

Their practices are shady,

but their fees are low.

man
etc.

Harry
;

old gentleskipper deuce dickens ruffian,

; ;

See

SKIPPER

for

ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEVIL. DEVIL.

See

synonyms.

AUCTIONEER. To TIP or GIVE THE A phrase borAUCTIONEER. rowed from the sale room, and to knock a man signifying down.'
'

AULD REEKIE (popular). A sobriquet for the old town of Edinburgh. It means old smoky. Of late years it has been applied to the whole city.
'

G. A. SALA, Breakfast in Bed, Essay I., p. 4 (1864). And who, in return for a craven blow, can DELIVER THE AUCTIONEER well over the face and eyes.
1863.

1806. Miss PITMAN, in C. K. Sharpe's are Correspondence (1888), i., 271. within two hours-and-a-half of AULD

We

REEKY.
1816. SCOTT, Antiquary, ch. vi. And what news do you bring us from Montkbarns ? said Sir Edinburgh, Arthur how wags the world in AULD
1
' ' ;

AUDIT

ALE,

Univ.). peculiar

(Cambridge special brew of ale,

subs.

REEKIE

'

Trinity College, made in the first instance for draught on audit days, whence
its

to

1889.
p. 10, col.

Colonies

name.
Ingoldsby

i. The Australasian Colony AULD REEKIE is prospering apace, and it may soon be necessary to plant some gum trees along Princes Street to

and India, July

24,

in

meet the growing demands of the popuLegends

lation.

1837. BARHAM, (Lay of S. Dunstan).

To be
Of
all

sure the best beer did not appear,

late
'

AULY-AULY,

subs.

For I've said 'twas in June, and so

in the year

A game
'

(Win. Coll.). formerly played in

'

Grass

Court

on

Saturday

The
As

'

Trinity AUDIT ALE

is

not come-at-

able, I've found to great grief dining at that table.

my

when

It afternoons after chapel. consisted in throwing an indiarubber ball at one another, and

Aunt.
everybody was obliged to go Haul ye, down and join in it. call ye,' is the supposed derivation but, as the game, though in vogue in 1830, was not played as late as 1845, there
'

79

Autem, Autum.
be met with suspended outside the shops of rag and marine
'

is
it

some
in

difficulty detail.

in

defining

AUNT,
ally

subs. (old).

during

Applied, especithe Elizabethan

store dealers. writer in Notes and Queries [2 S., x., 117] affirms that AUNT SALLY is the heroine of a popular negro melody, in which the old lady meets with several ludicrous adventures, but evidence in support of this theory is at

'

present wanting.
1866.
light, ch.
i.,

period, to either a procuress, a It prostitute, or a concubine.

survived till the commencement of the present century and then gradually died out. For

by the rail, and create disturbances on the course, and among the sticks
'

G. A. SALA, Gaslight and Dayp. ii. They will go to Epsom

'

and AUNT SALLIES.

1883.

synonyms,
the

see

MOTHER.

The average number

Punch, June

z,

p. 264, col.
'

i.

of

chucks

'

at

1608. MIDDLE-TON, Trick to Catch Old One, II., i. Was it not then better bestowed upon his uncle than upon one of his AUNTS ? I need not say
for everyone knows what stands for in the last translation.

cocoa-nuts before achieving success is six, and of 'shies' at AUNT SALLY, four.

Au RESERVOIR

bawd,

AUNT
Tale,

An

revoir.

sounds.

1623.
iv., 3.

SHAKSPEAR,

Winter's

A mere play upon Common in America,

now

intj.

phr. (common).

Summer songs for me and my aunts, While we lie tumbling in the hay.
(common).
See

where it originated, and often heard in England.

AUSTRALIAN FLAG,
Australian).
subs.

To GO AND SEE To go
MRS. JONES.
subs,

ONE'S AUNT
to the

(Anglo-

W.C.

The tail of a shirt, when, after exertion, it rucks up in folds between the
trousers and the waistcoat an 'up-country phrase. See CORN'

AUNT SALLY,

well-known game, common to race-courses and fairs, which consists in throwing short staves at a wooden head mounted on a stick, placed upright in the ground, and forming a kind of
target.

(familiar).

AUSTRALIAN GRIP, subs. (Australian). A hearty shake of the hands.

In the
is

mouth

of the

placed a clay pipe, and the object of the player, who stands at say twenty or thirty

image

AUTEM, AUTUM, AUTOM, subs, (old A church. The term cant). in first Harman's appears
Caveat [1573]
;

again in

Row;

yards distance,
this.

is

to

demolish
is
'

AUNT SALLY is wrapped in mysshe

is it known whether any relation to the black lady whose effigy some few years since was frequently to

not unlike the more popular three shies a penny." The origin of
tery
;

The amusement

land's Martin Mark-all [1610] in Head's English Rogue in Cole's English Dic[1665]
;

nor

is

in Grose's [1724] Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue and in Buncombe's [1785] Sinks of London Laid Open [1848]. See also AUTEM MORT. Adi. Married. So quoted in tionary
; ,

A utem-Bawler.
Cole's English Dictionary,

Autem-Cove.
whence
And
all

the cops
'

(8)

and beaks
?

(9)

so

AUTEM MORT,
AUTEM-BAWLER,

etc.

knowin

A hundred
(old cant).

stretches hence

subs,

parson.

a church

[From AUTEM (q.v.), BAWLER, a speaker.]

'And where the swag (10), so bleakly (n) pinched (12), A hundred stretches hence ? The thimbles (13), slang (14), and danglers

For modern English and foreign synonyms, see GOSPEL SHARK. Other ancient expressions for a clergyman are AUTEM-JET, AUTEM-CACKLER, and AUTEMPRICKER the last two named,
;

A hundred
The The bugs
filled

(15)

niched, stretches hence ? chips (16), the fawneys (17), chattyfeeders (18),
(19),

the boungs

(20),

and

well-

And where
ken

readers (21); the fence (22) and snoozingprigs (24)

With

(23), all the (25),

and

however, apply, as a rule, only to Dissenters.

lushing

men

'

AUTEM-CACKLER, subs, (old cant). A Dissenter; sometimes specially

applied to Dissenting ministers.
1876. tures of

one
i.e.,

occasion

when the AUTEM-CACKLER, Dissenting minister, came and wanted to impart to the Israelite the sin he committed in carrying on his vocation on such a day [Sunday]. The Jew half listened to what the other said, but kept on calling out " Cocoa-nut a half-penny a slice, a very nice cocoa-nut cocoacocoa-nut,

HINDLEY, Life and Advena Cheap Jack, p. 260. 'On a Jew was selling

hundred stretches hence ? Played out they lay, it will be said A hundred stretches hence With shovels they were put to bed (26) A hundred stretches since! Some rubbed to wit had napped a winder (27), And some were scragged (28) and took a
;

blinder (29), Planted the swag and lost to sight, We'll bid them, one and all, good-night,

hundred stretches hence.'

i,
;

Stretch, a year 2, innkeepers, publicans pretty girls or women

;

culls of the
;

bing
cove,

3, 4,

bene

morts,

autumn

married

men
cop,

5, buffer,

smuggler, rogue,

or cheat;
titute
;

6, bruiser, 7,

prostitute's bully or

nut

"

'

prize-fighter;
8,

blowen, a
;

showy prosbeak, a magis-

policeman

9,

2.

married

woman.
it is

See

AUTEM.

In this sense

used

in a canting song in the New York Slang Dictionary, first published in 1881, and which, as a specimen of the verse affected

by the
it

light-fingered fraternity, may not be out of place to

It

swag, plunder, proceeds of robbery; u, bleakly, cleverly, also handsome 12, pinched, stolen 13, thimble, a watch 14, slang, a watch chain 15, danglers, a bunch of seals 16, chips, money; 17, fawney, a ring; 18, chatty19, bug, a breast pin feeder, a spoon 21, reader, a pocket20, boung, a purse book 22, fence, a receiver of stolen
trate; 10,
;
;

give entire.

should be read in connection with the remarks

On CANTING SONGS
1

goods; 23, snoozing-ken, a brothel; 24, prig, a thief; 25, lushing-men, drinking-men 26, put to bed with a shovel, buried 27, to nap a winder to nap, to cheat, winder, a life sentence 28, scragged, hanged 29,
;
;
;

(q. V.).
(i)

to take

A HUNDRED STRETCHES
HENCE.'
!

a blinder, to drown oneself.

subs, (old cant).

'

Oh where

will be the culls of the

AUTEM CACKLE TUB,

senters
of

A hundred A hundred
coves
(4),

bing

(2)

The meeting house

every

of Dis-

stretches hence
(3),

The bene morts

who

description.

sweetly sing,
?

stretches hence

Also a pulpit.

The AUTUMN-CACKLERS, autumnThe jolly blade who wildly roves And where the buffer (5), bruiser (6),
;

blowen

(7),

AUTEM-COVE, subs, (old cant). A married man. [From AUTEM (q.v.}, a church -f- COVE, a man.]

A titem- Dippers.

8l

A utem

Quaver-Tub.

AUTEM-DlPPERS Or AUTEM-DlVERS, subs, (old cant). i. Formerly a nickname for Baptists, from their practice of immersing
adult converts, as distinguished from infant sprinkling.

moneth and more to gether.being asociate

with

shee is a wyfe maried at the church, and they be as chaste as a cowe I have, that goeth to bull eury moone, with what bull she careth not. These walke most times from their husbands companye a

another as

honest as her

selfe.

Pickpockets who practised churches were called AUTEMDIVERS also churchwardens and overseers of the poor who defrauded, deceived, and imposed upon the parish.
2
.

These wyll pylfar clothes of hedges; some of them go with children of ten or xii years of age; yf tyme and place
serue for their purpose, they will send them into some house, at the window, to and robbe, which they call in their language, Milling of the ken and wil go with wallets on their shoulders, and slates at their backes. There is one of these AUTEM MORTES, she is now a widow, of fyfty yeres old her name is Alice Milson she goeth about with a couple of great boyes, the youngest of them is fast Upon xx yeares of age 1592. GREENE, Quip, in works IX., The pedler as bad or rather worse, 283. walketh the country with his docksey at the least, if he have not two, his mortes dels, and AUTEM MORTIS.
steale
;
; :

in

AUTEM-GOGLERS, subs, (old cant) Pretended French prophets

.

Grose.
tellers

Conjurors, Duncombe.
subs,

fortune-

AUTEM-JET,
parson.

(old

cant).

A
a
allu-

[From

AUTEM,
in

church
sion
to

JET, black,

black garments usually worn by 'the cloth.'] For some curious synonyms, see
the

DEVIL-DODGER.
AUTEM, or AUTENI-MORT, subs, (old A married woman, i.e., cant). one wedded in a church. [From AUTEM, a church + MORT, or The term MOT, a woman.]
belongs to the oldest cant, and is the subject of a long description in Harman's Caveat. (See quotation.) The old fraternity of vagabonds (for a full description of which, see CADGERS

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, (H. Club's Reprint, 1874). Here another [complains] that they could not quietly take their rest in the night, nor keepe his AUTEM, or doxie sole vnto himselfe.
p. 7

1884.

H.
ch.
v.

bk.

III.,

AINSWORTH, Rookwood, Morts, AUTEM-MORTS,

walking morts, dells, doxies with all the shades and grades of the canting crew, were assembled.

Toward
eighteenth

the

end

of

the

AUTEMcentury MORT was used as synonymous with a female beggar alone; then another meaning crept into the word a prostitute.
See

CADGER.

ANCIENT AND MODERN) was divided into well marked classes, as also were the women who accompanied them in their The men were peregrinations.
not strict monogamists, either as regards lawful companions or those of another grade
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. These AUTEM MORTES be maried wemen, as there be but a fewe For Autem in their language is a church, so
49.
:

AUTEM-PRICKEAR.

The same
(q.V.).

as

AUTEM-CACKLER

AUTEM-QUAVER, subs, (old cant). A Quaker. [From AUTEM, a church -f QUAVER, referring to
the shaking, peculiar to some of the religious exercises of the
Society of Friends.]

AUTEM

QUAVER

TUB,

subs,

(old

Author -Baiting.
cant).

82

Avuncular -Relation.
men
use basta, in the sense of
!

A
;

Quaker's meeting-

house

also a desk therein.

AUTHOR-BAITING, subs, (theatrical). Calling the author of an unthe before successful play
curtain, and then, wanting all sense of decency and feeling, to

overwhelm him with every imaginable source of annoyance yelling, hooting, bellowing, etc.

AVAST! intj. (nautical). Hold on! Stop! Shut up! Stow it! etc., etc. No word perhaps has more suggested derivations than

The same enough no more term occurs also in the Spanish. Hotten connects it with the old cant BYNGE A WASTE, get out of the way go hence but though one cannot speak with certainty, this is not, on the face of it, apparent. There seems no discoverable connection between the two; morethe over, comparative and historical method of dealing with slang shows us that AVAST in its present form and sense can be traced as far back as 1 68 1, within about a hundred
! ! !

AVAST

down

it writes Webster as from the Italian basta,

! ;

years a

of

the

publication

of

Harman's Caveat where

bynge

literally, it suffices, enough He from bastare, to suffice. does not, however, seem to have been altogether certain, for he queries whether it is not a worn-down form of the

The waste first occurs. probability therefore is that the two terms are distinct, and that AVAST is derived from a
different

WASTE

(q.v.)

source to BYNGE A which, as Leland

its

Dutch houd vast, hou' vast, hold fast a derivation which Dr. Murray endorses as proin his New Dictionary bable Bearof the English Language. that in mind AVAST, ing although used colloquially is foremost a sailor's first and term, this derivation does not
!

points out, has probably origin in the Romany.

1681.
i.

'

'

the seem far-fetched for, Dutch having been themselves

;

OTWAY, Soldiers' Fortune, iv., up so AVAST there, sir. 1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch. AVAST there, friend none of your xli. tricks upon travellers.' 1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xcvii. 'And upon this scrap of paper no, AVAST that's my discharge from

Hoa
'

up, hoa

the parish.'

maritime of the great nations of the past, it is not unlikely that the term should
one

W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court1884. But AVAST now we've ship, ch., xiv.
!

had enough

of philosopherising.

have come from them, especially when it is borne in mind that

a large proportion of nautical terms are so derived.

AVOIRDUPOIS- LAY,
thieves' cant).

subs,

(old

Such are boom

schooner
taffrail
; ;

skate

sloop

yacht

reef stiver to (jaghten,

;

sprit
;

This is given by Grose as meaning the theft of brass weights off shop counters.
AVUNCULAR-RELATION, subs, (common. A pawnbroker a facetious

'

On the other hand, as regards the Italian basta, it is only fair to point out that French work-

chase'), etc.

variant of

UNCLE
for

(q.v.),

another

name

the

same

individual.

A wake.
AWAKE,
alert
;

Ax, Axe.
modern
1883.
v., 82.
'

adv.

(old,

and

HAWLEY SMART,
I'm

AtFault,

III.,

American

WIDEAWAKE, a certain kind of hat, so from called, by-the-bye, its never having a For 'nap.' see FLY. synonyms, 1821. 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, Prirnefit I say, Jerry you see he's down upon you. Jerry. Yes, he's up, he's AWAKE, he's
;

thieves'). vigilant. Cf.,

On

the

AWFUL

made
is

glad you two have

acquaintance."

AWFULLY, the adverbial form, subjected to the same illas

treatment,
1877.
p. 165.
It's

the

following

examples will show.

Punch's Pocket Book for 1878,

too

You should have come with us. AWFULLY nice, as I told you I
it

thought
ch. vii.

1878.

would be. M. E. BRADDON, Cloven Foot, 'AWFULLY,' was Miss Clare's

; '

fly

Hal ha!
1888.

DICKENS,
'

Nich.
If

Nickleby,

ch.

you hear the waiter coming, sir, shove it in your pocket and look out of the window, d'ye hear ? I'm AWAKE, father,' replied the dutiful Wackford.
xxxix., p.
314.
'

chief laudatory adjective [sic] her superlative form of praise was quite too AWFULLY,' and when enthusiasm carried her beyond herself she called things nice.' Quite too AWFULLY nice,' was her maximum of rapture.
1 '

1889.
'

'

The ham

AN OLD PROVERB TWISTED. of the sandwich was AWFULLY

said, for, oh, it was dry, he tried to bite into the stuff,

Illustrated Bits, July 13.

He
As

tough,"

at first

AWFUL,

(common). A sensational newspaper, tale, or narration a penny AWFUL. e.g., Sometimes called a DREADFUL
subs,
;

All in vain, But at last,

how hard he would try. when fairly bit into the

it

He
'

thing,

found that

was

other names for this kind of mental pabulum are BLOOD AND THUNDER TALES, and GUTTER

And he said, as happy as any king, The bark was worse than the bite.'

all right,

LITER ATTJRE.
Generally colloquial as an intensitive, conveying no more awe-full meaning than
Adj.

French equivalents are, bigrement; jusqu'a la troisieme capucine ;

and pommc.

'very,' 'exceedingly,' etc. Strange as it may appear this familiar usage is very old, and was frequently heard north of the Tweed long prior to its use by Southrons. An intermediate stage was its appearance across
the Atlantic, whence its re-introduction into the Mother Country

AWKWARD-SQUAD, subs, (military and naval). Recruits when commencing to learn their drill.
Ax, AXE, verb, (vulgar).

To Though now looked upon

ask.

as a

vulgarism, AX is still largely dialectical, and is really the most correct form of the word.

Ask is the northern gloss which has gradually supplanted

1
'

may be
Wks.

traced.

1834. LAMB, Gent. Giantess, Misc. She is indeed, as the (1871), 363. Americans would express it, something AWFUL. b. 1789, d. 1880. PLANCHE, Good Woman in the Wood. A poor widow and her orphan chicks Left without fixtures, in an AWFUL fix.
'
1

The latter, down to nearly 1600, says Dr. Murray, was the regular literary form.
AX.
c.

1380.

CHAUCER, Tale of Melibeus.

:

Seint Jame eck saith If eny fellow have neede of sapiens, AXE it of God. 1474. CAXTON, Game of the Chesse, bk. III., ch. viii. He must nedes begge and AXE his breed.

Axe.
1758.

84

Ayrshires.
believe is right is more often so because it GRINDS OUR AXE than otherwise.
Lexicon).
1871. (From Hoppe's Conversations Miner. Who'll turn the When I see a merchant grindstones ? over-polite to his customers, begging them to taste a little brandy, and throwing half his goods on the counter, thinks I, that man has an AXE TO GRIND. 1888. Detroit Free Press, Sept. 22. William Black, the novelist, says the only AX a novelist has TO GRIND is the climax.
'
'

A.

Act i. An old crazy fool AXING your pardon, ma'am, for calling your father
so.

MURPHY, The

Upholsterer,

we

1768.
ii.,

Sc.
?

2.

puppy
for
vi.
'

Mrs. Sneak. Where is the Sneak. Yes, yes, she is AXING

FOOTE, Mayor of Garratt, Act

me.
1861.
I

AXED

live in the great house,

no.'

H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch. her would she like to and she said

1883. Echo, Jan. 25, p. 2, col. 3. To AXE, considered but a vulgarism, for to

ask, is

good Saxon.

AXE.

AN AXE TO

(American).

GRIND,

phr.
-

AXE-MY-EYEI

subs,
is

much

used

One who
1876. tures of a

phrase of political origin.

Men

up

(cheap jacks'). to every trick

;

a cute fellow.
C. HINDLEY, Life and AdvenCheap Jack, p, 232. Stow your gab and gauftery,

are said to have AXES TO GRIND when suspected of selfish or interested motives. From politics the expression has passed into use among all classes of

To every fakement I'm a fly never takes no fluffery, For I'm a regular AXE-MY-EYE.
;

The Chicago Daily society. Inter-Ocean (Feb. 1888) spoke of certain politicians as men
'

AYRSHIRES,
change).

with AXES TO

GRIND.'

What

subs. Ex(Stock Glasgow and Southwestern Railway Stock.

NOT TO KNOW
B

FROM A BAT-

this as the title of a captain in the army of the Irish Republi'

TLEDORE,
(old).

To be
illiter-

phr.

can Brotherhood.'
B'S.

entirely ate very ignorant. This old

;

See

FLAT.

BABE,

cant phrase has

several varithem alliterative in character. For example, NOT TO KNOW B. FROM A BULL'S-FOOT FROM A BROOMSTICK CHALK FROM CHEESE, etc. Each and all inants,
all

of

The (parliamentary). elected member of the The of Commons. the oldest representative of chamber is called the FATHER
subs,

last

House

OF THE HOUSE

(q.V.).

member

(American).

The youngest

dicate

inability

to
is

between
differ.

familiar

Battledore

distinguish objects that an old name

a class at the of United States Military College term sans at West Point. sans almost wit, sans point,

for the hornbook from which children used to learn the alphabet.
1401. Pol. Poems, II., 57. I know not an A from the wynd-mylne, ne a B FROM A BOLE FOOT. [M.] 1609. DEKKER, Guls-Hornebooke, 3. You shall not neede to buy bookes no, scorne to DISTINGUISH A B FROM A
;

everything.

BABE

IN

THE WOOD,

victim of the law's solicitude in other words, a culprit sentenced to the stocks or the Obsolete. pillory.
i.
;

subs. phr. (old).

BATTLEDORE onely looke that your eares be long enough to reach our rudiments, and you are made for ever. 1846. BRACKENRIDGE, Modem Chiva ^ ry> 43There were members who SCARCELY KNEW B FROM A BULL'S-FOOT.
;

2.

Dice are also called BABES

IN

THE WOOD.

[M.]

Mr. H. J. Byron, the playwright in his annotated copy of the Slang Dictionary, mentions
(fenian).
,

BABES, subs, (auctioneers'). A set of auction thieves, who attend sales for the express purpose of blackmail. Their modus operandi is as follows. In consideration of a small bribe of or beer, or both, they money

Baboo-English.
agree not to oppose the bidding of the larger dealers, who thus dishonestly keep down the price of lots. The practice is generally

86

Back.
1592. The LYLY, Midas, V., 2. masculine gender is more worthy than the feminine. Therefore, Licio. BACKARE.

1593.

SHAKSPEARE, Taming of

the

Shrew,

ii.;

worked KNOCK-OUTS

in connection with
(q.V.}.

Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak
too;

(American). A set of Baltimore rowdies are so-called at various times they have also received the names of BLOOD
;

BACCARE! you are marvellous forward.

[*.]

TUBS and PLUG-UGLIES

BABOO-ENGLISH,
dian).
subs.
'

(q.v.).

BACCY, also mon). A

1

BACCA, subs, (comcorrupted form of tobacco.' Apparently of quite

(Anglo-In-

species of

'ENGLISH
ii.

recent introduction. valent term in French

An

equi-

is perlot,

AS SHE

IS

WROTE

main peculiarity

Its (q.V.}. is its grandilo-

from
1833.
'

perle.

quence, a feature born of an to Western attempt adapt speech to Eastern imagery and hyperbole.

MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch. You must larn to chaw BACCY.' 1861. JAS. CON WAY, Forays among

Salmon and Deer,

Affghan

I lay on an p. 228. spread over fresh goat-rug heather, with a pipe filled with good BACCY in my mouth.

BABY-HERDER, subs. (American). A nurse a simile drawn from life on the plains, and worked out with true cowboy
;

BACH or BATCH,

To

live as

verb. (American). a bachelor.

humour.
BABYLON ITISH,
College).
subs.

BACHELOR'S BABY,

subs.

(old).

An

illegitimate
see

child.

For

A dressing gown. An
form
1

(Winchester
of
'

synonyms,

BYE-BLOW.

abbreviated

Baby-

lonitish garment.

BACHELOR'S-FARE, subs, (familiar). Bread and cheese and kisses a humorous allusion to the real
or alleged short^commons,' generally assumed to be meted out to a man who is unattached. Like many other proverbial sayings there is more sound than truth in it.
1738.
'

BABY-PAP, subs, (thieves'). A cap; part of the so-called RHYMING

SLANG
BACCA.

(q.v.).

See BACCY.

SWIFT, Polite

BACCA- PIPES,
lets,

subs, (common). Whiskers when curled in ring-

conv.

i.

Lady Ans.
what
will

Conversation, Colonel, some ladies

now

obsolete

fashion,

See

MUTTON-CHOPS.
!

have promised to I am to wait on you give us ? Col. Why, faith, madam, BACHELOR'S-FARE, bread and cheese and kisses.
of your acquaintance

breakfast with you, and

them

BACCARE
cant).

BACKARE intj. (old back! [a humorous form of BACK + a simulated Latin termination] In use from
1

Go

BACK,

verb,
;

(popular).

To

bet or

wager to support by means of money, kind, or influence, on

the
turf

about 1553-1660.

or elsewhere.

From

Back and
the earlier and

Belly.

87

Backdoor-Trot.
BELLY, phr.
clothe.
Cf.,

more legitimate

to support, maintain, or strengthen. Possibly in the sense of to wager or support

meaning

To feed and (old). BELLY-TIMBER and

subs,

BACK-TIMBER.
BACK-BREAKER,

by betting, BACK can hardly nowadays be classed as slang there seems too, to be long and
;

One who

(common).
is,

sets,

or that which

constant usage to support its claim as a regular dictionary word.

an example of more than ordinary human powers of endurance

;

e.g.,

(Uppingham
football,

School).

At
for

to

be
or

ready

man or horse whose pace is considerably over the average. In sporting phraseology he or
it

in pedestrianism or racing

chance.

To PUT
angry
to
is

SET

UP ONE'S

is called a SCORCHER (q.v.) and the pace of such is also

BACK, phr. (familiar). oneself to antipathy

;

To
;

rouse
get figure

eloquently

called

'

killing.'

to

resist.

The

presented

that of a cat, which, when irritated, arches or sets up its back. Also used negatively as an exhortation to keep one's temper. DON'T GET YOUR

therefore excessive exertion or effort of all kinds.

is BACK-BREAKING synonymous with

BACK-CAP.

To GIVE

A BACK-CAP,

BACK

UP

phrases,

see

HOLD YOUR HAIR

For synonymous

To expose; phr. (American). to reveal what one knows of another, in a detrimental sense.
MARK TWAIN, Life on the 1883. [A pretended conMississippi, p. 462. i told him verted thief is made to say] all about my being in prison and about
:

ON

VANBRUGH AND GIBBER, ProO Lud iii., 112. HOW HER BACK WILL BE UP then when
1726.

voked Husband, V.,

she meets me.

SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker, ch. 66. My uncle's BACK WAS UP in a moment and he desired him to explain
1771.
;

his pretensions.
1855.

had almost done giving up looking for work and how the Lord got me the job when i asked him and then i felt better than ever i had done in my life, for i had given Mr. Brown a fair start with me and now i didn't fear no one GIVING ME A BACKCAP and running me off the job.
you, and
i
. .

how

THACKERAY, Newcomes,
;

ch.

I know she is nighty, and that and Brian's BACK is UP a little. But he ain't a bad fellow and I wish I could see you and his wife better friends.'

xvi.

'

BACK-CHEAT, subs, (old cant). A Also called a WRAPcloak.

RASCAL

(q.v.).

1883.
1

GREENWOOD,

Grandmother

Cooper, in Odd People in Odd Places, p 2. You don't know what you're sayin' therefore you don't mean no harm. If so be you think what you just now said, keep it to yourself, don't say it to me. MY BACK UP, and when my It SETS back's set up I'm sometimes orkard.'
;

BACK-DOOR.

A GENTLEMAN OF THE BACK-DOOR, subs. phr. (common)

a
.

sodomist
is

formerly

BACKGAMMON PLAYER.
called

The

vice itself

To
(old).

RIDE ON ONE'S BACK, phr

WORK.

For

BACK-DOOR see synonyms,

To

USHER.
BACKDOOR-TROT,
subs, (provincial).

deceive successfully.
Diarrhoea. The allusion is obvious. A more common term
is

BACK AND BELLY, phr. (vulgar). i Back and before all over. 2. To KEEP ONE BACK AND
.

JERRY-GO-NJMBLE

(q.V.).

Back Down.
BACK DOWN,
yield tion
;
;

88

Backing and
An

Filling.

verb,

(common).

To

BACK-HANDED TURN (Stock

change).
gain.

Ex-

to retreat from a posiof to abandon a line argument to eat one's words.

;

unprofitable bar-

Originally an American turn of

expression.
Subs.

BACKHANDER,
i
.

sttbs.

See

BACK TRACK

and BACK OUT.

SQUARE Usually a a severe rebuff utter sometimes, collapse.

BACK DOWN
; ;

drink out of turn also detention of wine at table so as to get an extra share.
;

(common).

1855.
xliii.

THACKERY,

Newcomes, ch.

'Thank you, Mr. Binnie, I will take a BACKHANDER, as Clive don't seem
to drink." 1873. Saturday Keviiw, p. 798. Long experience has shown us that to get small advantages over us gives the Scotch so much pleasure, that we should not think of grudging them the mild satisfaction, just as a kindly host affects not to notice a valued guest, who, he observes, always helps himself to an innocent BACKHANDER. 2. A blow on the face with the back of the hand. 1836. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy, 'Go away, Sarah,' said Johnny, with a BACKHANDER.

BACKED, ppl.

adj.

(old).

Dead
'

figurative use of to put on one's back," i.e., to place hors de combat.

BACK-END,
last

subs,

(racing).

The
than

two months of the racing

season.
slang.

More

technical

Blackw. Mag., Oct., p. 3. you did me the honour to stop a day or two at last BACK-END. 1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines, ch. xxix. Most of what I got over that steeplechase I dropped at the BACK-END over the October handicaps.'
1820.

When

p. ii.

'

1862. xxxiii.

The meaning, mutatis Adj. mutandis, is the same as BACKEND.

1883.
3, col. 6.

FARRAR, St. Winifred's, ch. administered a BACKHANDER as he spoke, and the next minute Charlie, roused beyond all bearing, had knocked him down.

He

to Elgood,

And

Daily Telegraph, April 30, p. neither [horse] could beat

Palermo on BACK-END form.

1870. MANSFIELD, School -Life at Winchester College. The doctor conies a corner, and finds Tibbs round suddenly [a fag] mopping the rosy fluid from his nose with a rueful countenance, having just received a sharp BACKHANDER from one of his lords and masters.
3.

BACK-GAMMON PLAYER.
DOOR.

See

BACK-

Hence, figuratively, a
;

re-

buke

'

setting down.'

BACKHAND,

verb,

(common).

To

detain the decanter when it is passed round, and thus to drink more than one's share a more recent phrase is not drinking
; '

1856. MELVILLE, Kate CovI knew this was what John entry, ch. i. calls a BACK HANDER at me, but I can be so good-natured when I have anything to gain, therefore I only said

WHYTE

fair.'

See,

however,

BACK-

HANDER.
stone,

BACKING AND FILLING, adj. (colloA BACKING AND FILLquial). ing policy is one that is shifty
;

G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Livingviii. Livingstone, if you begin BACKHANDING already, you'll never be able to hold that great raking chestnut I saw your groom leading this evening.'
1857. ch.
'

irresolute trifling. tive usage derived from

;

figura-

BACKING

keeping it in the middle of the stream of a narrow river by advancing

i.e.,

AND FILLING a

vessel,

Backing -On.
to one shore, and then first backing to the other, allowing the stream to make the way, the wind blowing in an opposite direction to the stream.

Back-Slums.
BACK SEAT.
SEAT, phr.

To TAKE

BACK
;

(American). Figuratively, to retire into obscurity it also sometimes implies a silent confession of failure an
;

BACKING-ON.

See

TURNING-ON.
(Winchester

BACKINGS UP,
College). ends of

subs.

The

unconsumed
fagots.

half-burned

They
times
fires

are collected and somemade into surreptitious

'Juniors.'

inability to accomplish what one has attempted. The colloquialism has gained a worldwide currency it received an immense 'send off,' as the Americans say, from Andrew John;

by

son's famous saying in 1868, that in the work of Reconstruction traitors should TAKE BACK

SEATS.

BACK JUMP, subs, (thieves'). back window. See JUMP.

BACKMARKED.
verb
.

1885.

Society,

Feb.

7,

p.

9.

This

To BE BACKMARKED,
.

great batting achievement must, however, TAKE A BACK SEAT when compared with the enormous total recently scored

In handi(pedestrian) capping to receive less start

from scratch
'

given
to
'

than previously even to being put back

'

by Shaw's Eleven in Australia, against a powerful Colonial team. 1888. Daily News, Feb. 24, p. 5, col. 2. Any form of art which is barred by its very nature from perfection must TAKE what the Americans call A BACK
SEAT.
1888.

scratch.'
'verb,

Texas Siftings,

p. 426.

Who

BACK OUT,

To (colloquial). retreat cautiously and tacitly from stable phraseology; e.g., the BACKING OUT of a horse. Very much the same as to BACK
;

DOWN

(q.v.}.

will say the Britishers are not a forbearing and forgiving race, and the inhabitants of Stratford-on-Avon don't by any means TAKE A BACK SEAT in that line ? Ignatius Donnelly actually visited the birthplace of Shakespeare, and wasn't lynched Far from it, he was hospitably received and entertained.
!

1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. viii. Jobson, however, was determined that Morris should not BACK OUT of the scrape so easily.
1855.

BACK-SLUM,

subs,

The

(colloquial).
;

A.

How was he to BACK OUT of a matter in which his name was already
ch. xii.

TROLLOPE, The

Warden,

so publicly concerned ? L. OLIPHANT, Piccadilly, pt. 1870. I am sure that he had done IV., p. 152. his best to spread the report of my

lowest and most disreputable quarters of a town or city generally applied to the dens and rookeries of the criminal and outcast classes.
'

'

marriage with his sister BACKING OUT.

for fear of

my

BACK SCUTTLE,

verb,

The same

(thieves').

as BACK-SLANG (q.v .).

BACK-SEAM. To BE DOWN ON ONE'S BACK-SEAM, phr. (tailors'). To be down on one's luck to be unfortunate.

MONCRIEFF'S Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Scene 5. Log. Well, don't grumble every one must pay for his learning and you wouldn't bilk the schoolmaster, would you ? But, come, I'm getting merry; so if you wish for a bit of good truth, come with me, and let's have a dive among the cadgers in the BACK SLUMS, in the Holy Land. Jerry. BACK SLUMS Holy
1821.

W.

T.

Land I'm at fault again. Log. Why, among the beggars in Dyot Street, St. Giles's. Tom. Beggars ah, we shall be
! !

very good figures tor the part. (Turns out his pockets.)

Backstaircase.
M. E. BRADDON, 1876. Joshua Not in Haggard's Daughter, ch. xx. and festering London BACKSLUMS only is man's fight with {difficulty a bitter and crushing battle.
fetid alleys

go

Back-Slang.
BACK TEETH. To HAVE ONE'S BACK TEETH WELL AFLOAT, phr.
(popular). facetiously brutal of implying that the subject of such a remark is well primed with liquor even to the verge of drunkenness. See

way

room or

(Australian thieves'.) entrance.

subs,
'

A back

SCREWED.
BACKSTAIRCASE,

(common).

bustle, or

dress improver.'
see

For synonyms,

BIRDCAGE.
subs,

BACKSTAIR INFLUENCE,
liar).

(fami;

Underhand dealing or
;

persuasion
intrigue.

a stab in the dark

Missouri Republican, Jan. 25. on the bench, Judge Noqnan is a model of all the virtues. On Friday night, however, in company with Dr. Munford, of Kansas City, ex-Speaker Wood, Mr. Charles Mead and several other gentlemen, his honour once more drank until, as an onlooker put it, his
1888.

When sober

BACK TEETH WERE WELL AFLOAT.

[From the use

back

private for other than palace, etc., state visitors hence, a secret mode of approach and, attributively, applied to indirect, oblique, and unfair intrigue.]
; ;

or

of the stairs of a

BACK-TIM BER,SMS. (old). Clothes. A humorous term which dates back to the middle of the seventeenth Other century.
slang equivalents are TOGS and

TOGGERY

also

WAR-PAINT

in

1697. is like a

VANBRUGH,

Relapse,

II.

He

BACKSTAIR minister at Court, who, while the reputed favourites are sauntering in the bed-chamber, is ruling the roast in the closet.

the sense of fine or showy garb. In French argot, alpague is used

synonymously.
b.

GRENVILLE MURRAY, Round about France, p. 77. These men are the
1877.

543.

Was there ever more

and

1574, d. 1656.

BP. HALL, Works V., riot and excess

in diet
[D.]

most indefatigable
STAIRS small talk journalism.

retailers of BACKto the little fry of

BACK-TIMBER, than

clothes, in belly-cheer and we see at this day ?

BACK TOMMY,
BACK-STALL,
subs,

subs,

(tailors').

accomplice

who

(thieves').

An
the

'covers'

piece of cloth used to cover the stays at the waist.

'

'

especially used in relation to garrote-robberies,

actual thief;

in

which the BACK-STALL has two functions, first to screen his companion, and then, if necessary,
to
'

BACK-TRACK. TRACK, phr.

;

To TAKE THE
(American).

BACK-

To

make

off

'

with the

retreat from any assumed position to BACK OUT (q.v.).

booty.

BACK UP,

verb.

BACK TALK. (common).

discussion

No
i.

BACK TALK! phr.

In College various times are called out by

'

lege).

To call out.
'

(Winchester Col'

phrase indicating matter in question

'

slang catchthe that is closed to

Chambers,' such as Junior in Three quarters !' 'Hour !' 'Bells Bells down go single
'

'

'

'

there's

nothing

more
2.

to be said.'

BACK -SLANG,
insinuation.

subs,

Underhand

costermonger).

(street

and
of

species

Backwardation.
slang, in which every word, as far as possible, is pronounced

Bacon.
about

The BACKWARDATION on
off at the close.

lower, at 94, after being 93^. the stock went

backwards.
tive
'

A ComparaSee and Historical Study of Slang at the end of this work.

'

BACKY,
other.

subs,

(tailors').

verb.

i.

(thieves').

To
or

mate who works

shop-

behind an-

talk

in the
2.

BACK-SLANG

lingo.

(thieves').

To go

come
;

from a place to sneak by a roundabout way also, to go away quickly.

stealthily

BACON,

subs,

3. (Australian). country in Australia, as in most parts a little out of the beaten tracks

Up

of

welcome

civilization, a traveller is at most of the homesteads in his way. Though

body. A reference probably to the fact that the flesh of the pig forms the staple meat diet of the rural population, and lower classes generally. Formerly, no doubt, the term was at first applied, ironically or contemptuously, to a sleek, gross

human

(popular).

The

to the inmates, and bearing no letter of introduction, it is a common thing for a wayfarer to ride or drive up to a house, maybe call for help, and then take up his quarters for the night. This, in Australia, is called BACK-SLANGING

unknown

person hence such compounds as 'chaw-bacon,' 'bacon-brains,'

;
'

bacon -

'

face,"

bacon

slicer,'

though how the phrase is derived is not quite clear, for there is no suggestion of sneaking or proceeding stealthily in the question.
IT,

and a curtailment in form, in which BACON came to signify the human body was, from this point, easy For synonyms, see enough. APPLE-CART. To SAVE ONE'S BACON, phr.
(popular).

'bacon-picker,' ference in sense,

etc.

trans-

To

escape narrowly

from
to

loss,

danger, or

damage

BACKWARDATION,

subs. (Stock ExA penalty paid for change). an extension of time, by sellers, when unable to deliver stock or shares which they have contracted to deliver by a certain date. BACKWARDATION is the reverse of CONTANGO (q.v.). Ob-

The term is just get off. here an attributive usage of the slang sense, in- which BACON
signifies the
it is

said that a

human body. When man has just

'

viously this sometimes permits the purchase of stock cheaper on credit than for cash.
1850. KEYSER, Law of the Stock ExThe term BACKWARDATION is employed when stock is more in demand than money, and a premium is given to

SAVED HIS BACON, it refers to the individual himself. So also in the kindred phrase, Oh, SPARE MY BACON,' the suppliant asks to be spared in his own person and the same idea occurs in 'TO SELL ONE'S BACON,' i.e., one's flesh or body, as in the case of women of the town.
;

change.

Falstaff, in/.

Henry IV., Act

'

ii.,

obtain the loan of stock against

in

its

value

money.
1886.

col. i.

The

Daily News, 14 Dec., p. 6, 1873 loan is, on balance,

thus applies On beings So far the general Bacons, on aspect of the question; in regard to particulars, Mr. Thomas
Sc.
2.

93

[1596]
'

BACON

to

human
!

Bacon.
Boys has some curious remarks upon the subject [N.and Q., 2
S., iv., 132] in effect as follows.

92

Bacon.
fire.

Consequently, the phrase

In

connecting

the phrase TO
its ori-

SAVE ONE'S BACON with

ginal meaning, back to times

was contumeliously addressed to anyone who was secretly a Jew (Moraes). Thus the persecuted
fastly
Israelite,

who

stead-

we are carried when imputed

;

heresy was expiated at the stake and a man was said to have just SAVED HIS BACON (i.e., from frying), who had himself narrowly escaped the penalty of This conbeing burnt alive. nection of the two ideas is thus shown. When a pig is killed, it is the custom in some of the southern countries of Europe,
as well as in

adhered to his forefathers' creed, and lived in daily peril of the stake, was allusively but threateningly and insultingly compared to the abhorred carcass, which, though not yet
roasted, boiled or fried, ready the smell of fire.

had
If,

al-

after

all, he was actually burnt alive, the same allusion was carried out to the end for he was then said, morrer frito,' to be fried to
; '

many

parts

of

England, to remove the bristles from the dead pig's hide, not by scalding but by singeing. This is an operation of some nicety
;

death (literally, to die fried'). But even if not burnt he still

'

had the
fire
'

smell of chamusco, or that is, he had only JUST

No, they'l conBACON. [M.]
Redivivus,

'

SAVED HIS BACON.

clude
vol.

too much singeing would But practice spoil the bacon. makes perfect and by the aid of ignited stubble, straw, or paper, the object is effected. The bristles are all singed off, and the bacon remains intact. This operation of singeing is in Portugal called chamiiscar, from chama or chamma, a flame or blaze. ChaniMscar, to singe, as pigs, to take off the hair (Moraes) Hence the noun chamusco, which is the smell of anything that has Hence also the been singed. phrase cheira a chamusco (he This last smells of singeing). phrase, however, cheira a chafor
;
.

1691. Weesils, I., 5. I do't tO SAVE MY

1705.
I.,

WARD, Hudibras
II.,

pt.

p.

12.

For could

And

their talent be forsaken, they unite truth to SAVE THEIR

BACON.
1721.
v.,

MRS. CENTLIVRE, The A rtifice,

That pretence shan't SAVE YOUR ii. BACON, you old villain you. M. SCOTT, Cringle's Log, ch. 1836.
'You know
I

v.

SAVED YOUR BACON

in

that

awkward
C.

affair,

when

through

drunkenness
ashore.'
1856.

you

plumped the Torch

ch.

Hi.

Jem drew a
'

said

brutally, satisfaction, BACON this time.'

READE, Never Too Late, long breath and yet with something of You have SAVED YOUR

specially applied to any suspected heretic: 'o que merece ser queimado, e faz per onde o seja, o que diziao por afronta aos

musco,

was

The French equivalent it may be noticed is somewhat analogous

sauver son lard, one's bacon.'
'

i.e.,

to save

Judeos encobertos. That is he who deserved to be burnt, and acted in a way that was very likely to lead to it,' was said to smell of singeing (' cheirar a chamusco'), i.e., to smell of the
'

Possibly, however, most peotake the ple will be inclined to phrase at its face value, withto resort out complicated In argumentative derivation. such a case the figurative use

Bacon-Faced.
of bacon as signifying the body will suffice to its explain
origin.

93

Bad
rustic.

'A penny.
subs.

BACON -SLICER,
See

(old).

CHAWBACON.

To PULL BACON, phr. (popuAn operation described lar).

by the immortal Ingoldsby
the line
in

He

put his thumb unto his nose and spread his fingers out.

count me for ever hereafter a very clounch, and BACON-SLICER of Brene.

1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, bk. I., ch. xv. (Bohn), I., 149. If he have not a better judgment, a better discourse, and that expressed in better terms than your son, with a complete carriage and civility to all manner of persons, ac-

words TO TAKE A Or TO MAKE QUEEN ANNE'S FAN (q.v.).

In
other

BAD,

adj.

(popular).

Hard

diffi-

SIGHT
1886.

cult.
1884. ch. xi.
'

(q.V.),

Used as in quotation. HAWLEY SMART, Post to Finish,

Household Words, Oct.

'

2,

p.

[This] peculiar action has, I 453. believe, almost invariably been described as taking a sight.' A solicitor, however, in a recent police case at Manchester, described it as PULLING

I have heard you say over and over again that, when they are in the their mood, very temper makes them

BAD

to beat.'

BACON.

loquial).

To GO TO THE To be

BAD, phr. (colruined to be;

Methley, was summoned under the Hackney Carriage Bye-laws for having driven on the wrong side of
Hall,

Evening News, Sept. PULLING BACON AT LEEDS POLICE15. MEN. Before Mr. Goodman and Mr. Farrar Smith, at the Leeds Police Court to-day, George Evans (50), coachman to the Earl of Mexborough, Mexborough
1887.
'
'

Leeds

come depraved.
similar
'

Virgil has a

phrase in pejus mere, go to the worse.' M. E. BRADDON, A urora Floyd, 1864.

to
'
;

ch. xi.

near

THE BAD by any road

there
others.'
1880.

A reckless man, ready TO GO TO that can take me worthless alike to myself and to
G. R. SIMS, Ballads of Babyand Beast). Let him GO TO

the road.

Police-constables

Lockwood were on duty in on the 6th inst., when they saw the

Moody and Boar Lane

lon (Beauty

THE BAD

at his

own mad
BAD,
i.e.,

pace.

defendant driving a pair of horses attached to a carriage on the wrong side of the road for a distance of one hundred The officers spoke to him, when yards. he put his fingers to his nose and PULLED BACON at them. He had been previously cautioned, but had not taken the slightest notice. Defendant said he had been a driver in London for eighteen years, and knew they had policemen in the road there, but he did not understand the law
of driving in Yorkshire.
20S.

To THE

on the wrong
;

side of the account

in deficit.

1816. 'Quiz,' Grand Master, viii., I've really TO THE BAD some thou25. sand of rupees to add. [M.]

1884.

between

Pa//MflG.,6Feb., 4 He was 70 and 80 TO THE BAD. [M.]

.

He was

fined

BACON-FACED,

WANT 'EM or HIM BAD, phr. (American). A humorous manner of expressing strong desire. 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, March 9.
is seriously annoying defense, and does not appear as it did when the proseas quite funny cution called for him on Saturday last. It is not probable that the Court will very long suspend the trial if Myers does not appear. As the case now stands, the defense want Myers, and

With sleek, Otway in

adj. (colloquial). fat face full faced.

;

Myers' absence
to the

the Atheist speaks of one with a FACE like a cherubim.'

[1684]
'

BACON

BACON-FED,
or

adi. (colloquial).

Fat

WANT HIM

BAD.

greasy.
in

occurs

expression Shakspeare's King

See

The

Henry IV.

BACON.

BAD 'APENNY. PENNY.

See

BAD

HALF-

Bad-Bargain.
ForBAD-BARGAIN, subs. (old). merly a worthless soldier; a malingerer. Nowadays the term is applied to any worthless

94

Badger.

person or scapegrace.
subs.

BAD-BREAK, (American). corruption of bad outbreak," i.e., riotous conduct, generally

'

He BAD FORM, subs, (society). who, or that which fails to conform to the shifting fads and fancies of Society, with a big S and, in a more general sense, anybody or anything vulgar or
;

lacking polish.
Punch. ETON BOY. What an energy you've got uncle Pretty well, my boy, for my time of life, I think! E. B. Yes! but energy's such awful BAD FORM, you know!
1882.

awful

lot of

attributable to drink.

UNCLE.

BAD CROWD GENERALLY, phr. (AmeOf Western origin, rican). and equivalent to the English NO GREAT SHAKES (q.V.). 'Crowd/
it

may be remarked,

in

America,
indi-

signifies either one or

more

BADGE, subs. (old). Used in the canting sense, for one branded in the hand. He has got his BADGE, and piked'; i.e., 'he was burned in the hand, and is
'

viduals.

at liberty.
(familiar).
;

Grose.

BAD- EGG, subs, scoundrel a

; '

a blackguard loose fish.' In America the meaning attached to the term does not necessarily involve such an idea of depravity as on this side of the Atlantic. In the States the term is also applied to a worthless speculation.
1866.

BADGE-COVE, subs. (old). A parish pensioner also in the sixteenth,

;

seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries a licensed beggar or

almsman.

The remarks under ABRAM MAN and ABRAM SHAM

are to the point in this connection.

The man
from head

in

SALA, Trip to Barbary, p. 130. black baize with the felt

BADGER,
thief.

stibs.

(old).

i.

river

kepi, rately scarred with the small-pox, looked

to heel a

and who had a hatchet face despeBAD EGG.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, ch. There is no doubt, but there ii., p. 123. are many of the officials of the convict who are what the Yankees call prisons

gentry Ainsworth's Jack Sheppard. In 2. (American thieves'). the cant language of the American criminal classes a BADGER
or

good account of these Harrison appears in

BAD EGGS.

PANEL THIEF
robs a

(q.v.}

is

one

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Badlot bad halfpenny bad-hat.

;
;

who

man

after a

woman

In Australia ne'er-do-wells are

'

'

termed sundowners
or,

dry hash

accomplice has enticed the victim into her den. A red haired 3. (schoolboy).
individual.

a stringy bark.
;

Malfrat (popular) mauvais gobet (popular mauvais, bad gobet, properly a mouthful, morsel, lump, or piece) ferlampier or ferlandier
:

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
;

common 4. (harlotry). See BARRACK-HACK. prostitute.

5.

(nautical).

Sometimes
fictitious

BADGER -BAG.

The

(thieves' ferlampic formerly signified a dunce) clique (popular)

:

individual personating Neptune the festivities incident to in crossing the line.' See AMBAS'

mariasse (popular).

SADOR and ARTHUR.

Badger
6.

State.

95

Bad Man.
be one or two BAD HATS among but there is not one, I am there cannot be one who would dare to take his wife's salary and deprive her of her son.

fellow
ball.

(Wellington School). A who has got his badge

' '

may
sure

eldest sons

for play in the

2nd XV.

at foot-

verb, (popular).

To

tease

to

annoy

to confound.

BAD

LOT.

term derived from

1798. O. KEEFE, Wild Oats, I., i. At home, abroad, you will still BADGER me. 1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xxxiv.,
p. 299.

auctioneering slang, and now generally used to describe a man or woman of indifferent morals.
1849.
Ix.

Tracy Tupman, and Augustus

;

Snodgrass, were severally called into the box both corroborated the testimony and each was of their unhappy friend driven to the verge of desperation by excessive BADGERING.
;

THACKERAY, Pcndennis,
Miss BRADDON, Trail of
I.,

ch.

'He's a bad'un, Mr. Lightfoot a BAD LOT, sir, and that you know.'
1868.

1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, Which I meantersay,' ch. xviii., p. 82. cried Joe, 'that if you come into place bull-baiting and BADGERING me, come
'

Serpent, bk. nothing,' he

I

ch.

'

ii.
'

a BAD LOT. said, wonder they don't hang such men as

I

am

am good

the for

my

me.'

out!'

The popular French

lent of

equiva-

TO BADGER
(popular).
'

is

agujgner.

To OVERDRAW THE BADGER,

phr.

figurative
'

use of
to

drawing the badger overdraw one's banking

;

M. E. BRADDON, Dead Sea 1872. ch. i. The impracticable Daniel has a certain kind of influence and though he rarely cares to use it on his own account being so BAD A LOT that he dare not give himself a decent character he will employ it to the uttermost for a spotless nephew.'
Fruit,
' ;

account.
1843-4. HOOD, Miss Kilmansegg. His cheeks no longer drew the cash, Because, as his comrades explain'd in
flash,

BAD MAN, subs. (American). A BAD MAN, in the West, is a somewhat mixed character. The term is generally understood to mean a professional fighter or man-killer, but who,
despite this drawback, is said by Roosevelt, in Ranch Life in the Far West, to be sometimes, according to his light, perfectly honest. These are the men who do most of the killing in frontier communities yet it is a noteworthy fact that the men who are killed generally deserve their fate. These men are, of course, used to brawling, and are not only sure shots, but, what is equally important, able
;

He had

overdrawn

his badger.

BADGER STATE,

subs.

popular name Wisconsin, and so called because of the BADGERS which once abounded there.
of

(American). for the State

BAD GIVE-AWAY.
BAD-HALFPENNY,

See

GIVE AWAY.

subs, (popular).
;

ne'er-do-weel an allusion to the frequency with which, like bad coins, they are always turn'

ing up.'

Cf.,

BAD-EGG.
.

(Australian) lation a risky venture.

;

A failing specuThe

draw their weapon with marvellous quickness. They think nothing whatever of murder, and are the dread
to
' '

BAD HAT,

subs,

(popular).
(q.v.}.

and terror of

same
II.,

as

BAD EGG

1883. BESANT, They Were Married, p. ch. ix., in Captain's. Room, etc. There

their associates; yet they are very chary of taking the life of a man of good standing, and will often weak'

Bad Match
' '

Twist.
'

96

Bag.
name.
like

en and backdown at once if With confronted fearlessly. many of them their courage arises from confidence in their own powers and knowledge of the fear in which they are held and men of this type often show the white feather when they get into a tight place.' Others, however, will face any odds without flinching, and when mortally wounded, have been known to fight with a cool
;
'

CLARET
is

(q.v.),

reason, language of

also,

for a in the

the

prize-ring,

synonymous with blood.

BAD RECORD.
BAD SHOT,
abortive
guess.
1844.
I

See
subs,

RECORD.
(popular).

An

attempt;

a woman's
viii.,

KINGLAKE, Eothen,
'

137.

secretly smiled at this last aS A BAD SHOT.

prophecy
Cuthbert
S., viii.,

ferocious
terrible.

that was despair During the last two

Bede

1859. REV. E. BRADLEY ( in Notes and Queries, 2 )

'

or three years, stockmen have

these to put down dangerous characters, often by the most summary exercise of and, as a conselynch law quence, many localities once

united

one of the worst p. 492. exposures of his ignorance that a Uniman when versity up for examination can make.
is

A BAD SHOT

See,

however, SHOT.
subs,

BAD SLANG,
showmen's).
strosities
1876.
;

infested

by BAD MEN are now

subs.

and (circus Faked up mon-

perfectly law-abiding.

spurious curiosities.

BAD

MATCH TWIST,

(hairdressers'). has red, or carotty

A man who

phr.

hair and black whiskers is said to have a BAD MATCH TWIST.

C. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 206. Roderick Palsgrave was considered by all who knew him to be the best showman of a BAD SLANG that ever travelled. He would get hold of any black girl or woman, dress her up, and then show her as one of the greatest novelties ever seen.

BADMINTON,

subs,

(common).
;

i.

drink a kind of claret-cup, so called because invented at the Duke of Beaufort's seat of the same name. Composed of claret, sugar, spice, soda-water, and ice.
cooling
1845.

BAG, subs, (old slang).

i.

A woman
'

when
2.

enceinte
Cf.,

was said
BAG.

to

have
3.

a BAG.'
Milk.

To

Sense
School).

(Westminster

TO
(old).

EMPTY THE

'

DISRAELI, Sybil, bk. I., ch. i. Waiter, bring me a tumbler of BADMIN1853.

To

tell,
;

BAG, phr. or disclose the

TON.'

WHYTE
ix.

Grand, ch.

An enormous measure

MELVILLE,

Digby
of

grateful compound of mingled claret, sugar, and soda-water. Under Two Flags, 1868. OUIDA, ch. ix. Looking up out of a great silver of BADMINTON, with which he was flagon ending his breakfast.
2.

BADMINTON, that

whole truth to wind up an argument or discussion. TO GIVE THE BAG, phr. (old). i. Formerly used in varying
senses. In the following quotation it conveys, says Nares, the idea of chicanery and cheating.

(pugilistic).

Blood

from

This, however, is doubtful, but compare to give the bag to hold.

'

the similarity in colour to the summer drink of the same

1592.
363.

You

GREENE, Quip, in works IX., shall be .... lighte witted

Bag.
upon every small occasion TO maister THE BAGGE.

97 GEUE your

Bag.
masters, they are said to RECEIVE THE CANVAS, Or THE

2. In another respect TO GIVE THE BAG was used in a sense analogous to that conveyed in TO GIVE THE SACK
(q.v.), i.e.,

BAG because in this their tools and necessaries are packed up,
;

to dismiss

a person

from one's employment, with this important difference that primarily the bag or sack was not given by the master or
' ' '

preparatory to their removal.' This suggested derivation would possibly pass muster were it not that, treated historically, the phrase though identical in

'

form

is

shown

to

have had an

mistress
vice

to

versa,

the servant, and, therefore,

'

but the
leave

meant expression without warning.' the earliest usage.

to

usage, and one, moreover, of an entirely antagonistic character unless indeed, in the first instance, it was cusearlier
;

This was

1592. Defence of Conny Catching, in Greene's works XL, 86. If he meane to GIUE HER THE BAGGE, he selleth whatsoever he can, and so leaues hir spoild both of hir wealth and honestie. 1647. Speedy Hue and Crie, I. ... He being sometime an Apprentice on London Bridge .... GAVE HIS MASTER

for employers to find of tools and working bags implements for their employees,

tomary
' '

in

which case the workman or servant in leaving his work would naturally GIVE the master THE BAG. The transition in sense which the phrase has undergone

THE BAG.

[M.]

Gradually the meaning of TO GIVE THE BAG changed to that which, even to-day, is dialectically current,
'

would then become perfectly clear, as far as the why and wherefore of the change is concerned.
Cf.,

SACK.

i.e.,

to dismiss

TO GIVE ONE THE BAG TO HOLD, phr. (old). To leave in

the lurch
attention
Cf.,
;

a person from one's

employ-

ment,' though in large centres of population TO GIVE or RECEIVE

present, the more popular equivalent. While dealing with variations of this kind, it is noteworthy that bag
is,

to engage a person's in order to deceive.

To GIVE THE
She
will
[M.]

BAG, sensei.

THE SACK

at

1793.
iv., 7.

T. JEFFERSON, Writings (1859),

LEAVE Spain THE BAG TO

vii.

HOLD.

'

'

1823.

was, in the seventeenth century, varied by canvas,' as Shirley has it

'

She GAVE ME THE BAG to hold and was smuggling in a corner with a rich
old Puritan.

SCOTT, Peveril of the Peak,

SHIRLEY, The Brothers, Act have promis'd him as much as marriage comes to, and I lose my honour, if my don RECEIVE THE CANVAS.
1652.
I
ii.

IN THE BOTTOM OF
phr. (old). valent to
slang,
is

An

THE BAG, expression equiin modern what,

'

termed

having
'

Gifford and Dyce in a note say the phrase is taken from the practice of journeymen
'
.

sometrump card in reserve thing in hand as a last resource

;

or expedient.
1659.

mechanics who travel in quest of work, with the implements

of
their

REYNOLDS,
If this

(1828), iv., 447.

in Burton Diary be done which is

profession.

When

IN

THE BOTTOM OF THE

be done,

we

shall

...
[M.]

BAG, and
to

be able

they are

must buoy
7

discharged by their

up our reputation.

Bag.
To LET THE CAT OUT OF THE
BAG, phr. (familiar). To close a trick or secret.
dis-

98
1881.

Baggage.
MOORE, Fudge
Paris, VI.

When Sidmouth
1862.

Who

Family

in

See
xxxv.

can help TO BAG a few, wants a death or two ?

St.

CAT.

FARRAR,

Winifred's,

ch.

They would
it"

To PUT ONE
(old).

IN A BAG, phr.

BAGGING a
bing
a

derivation explained, as far as known, in quotation.

Usage

and

new name.
3.

not call it stealing but thing, or, at the worst, 'cribconcealing the villainy under

(old).
;

To

beget

to con-

ceive

to

breed.

hence we have borrowed our English by-word to express such, betwixt whom there is apparent odds of strength. He is able to PUT HIM UP IN A BAGGE.'
'

1662. FULLER, Worthies, Cardigan (ii., 579). They (the Welsh) had a kind of play wherein the stronger who prevailed put the weaker into a sack and
;

BAGGED. This from about A.D. 1400, and was colloquial until about the mid-

Also TO BE usage dates

Warner

dle of the seventeenth century. [in Alb. Eng. VI., 148]

line

has the

[.]
1676.

EARL OF ROCHESTER, Hist,

st. 14.

of

Insipids,

Well, Venus shortly BAGGED, and ere long was Cupid bred.

Hans had been PUT INTO A BAG.

Had haughty Holms but call'd

in Spragg,

To PUT or GET ONE'S HEAD IN A BAG, phr. (printers'). A bag here signifies a pot of beer; hence, to drink. Also in use amongst seafaring men.
'
'

To GET BAGGY, phr. (comSaid of clothes when mon). loosened by the stretching which
arises from wear and Trousers get BAGGY at
tear.

the

knees.

1887.
It is

Sat.

when one printer says of another has GOT HIS HEAD IN THE BAG.

slang,

Review, 14 May, p. 700. and yet purely trade slang,

that he

(old).

TO TURN TO BAG AND WALLET To become a beggar.

i.

BAG AND BAGGAGE, phr. (common). To clear one out BAG AND BAGGAGE is to get quit of one A deprecatory exentirely. pression indicating complete
riddance.

Verb, (popular). for oneself. Most

To secure

mere extension of the colloquial sporting usage of TO BAG (pro-

probably a

BAG AND BOTTLE, subs. phr. (old). Food and drink. The former from being carried in a bag as by beggars and vagrants the
;

perly, to put or enclose in a bag), in the sense of to seize,

also derivation.

latter

being

of

similar

entrap, or otherwise bring within one's reach.

capture,

in

1880. MORTIMER COLLINS, Thoughts my Garden, vol. I., p. 163. The word beggar itself is from bag meaning a man who carries a bag and modern commercial slang reproduces the phrase, saying of a clever man of business that he has BAGGED a good thing.
;

1671. EACHARD, Observations. An ill-contriving rascal that in his younger years should choose to lug the BAG AND THE BOTTLE a mile or two to school

and to bring home only a small bit of Greek or Latin most magisterially construed.

BAGGAGE.

HEAVY BAGGAGE,

subs,

2.

To

steal; or

thief or man).

to catch (a Sometimes ren(q.v.).

i. phr. (old). children. Grose.

Women
is

and

dered by TO COLLAR

2,

BAGGAGE

also a fami-

Baggage-Smasher.
liar colloquialism for a pert, like saucy, young woman 'wench,' 'rogue,' 'gypsy,' it is often used endearingly.
;

99

Bagging.
burdens with

and

appalling recklessness, responsibility there is none.

1880.

New

'

Viginians,
[M.j

i.,

37.

Called

BAGGAGE-SMASHERS.
1888.

1693.
i.

believe the

CONGREVE, Old Batchelor, BAGGAGE loves me.

I.,

FIELDING, The Miser, Act i., Here's a BAGGAGE of a daughter, refuses the most advantageous match that ever was offered.
1732.

Sc.

9.

who

1863. ALEX. SMITH, Dreamthorpe, p. 12. And Beauty, who is something of a coquette goes off in a huff. Let the BAGGAGE gO
.

3.

(old).

whore or strumof loose morals.

'rot.'

Texas Siftings, Nov. 3. Fashionable people who have spent the summer at the watering places or at the seaside, but have now returned to the cities, assert that the BAGGAGE-SMASHER has become more destructive than ever. The BAGGAGE-SMASHER is indeed a terror. In fact there are two of them: the one who flits from station to station and dumps your poor dumb trunk with force enough to drive piles in a government breakwater, and the one who loiters around the depot watching for his chance to shatter your baggage. The depot

pet
4.

woman

(old).

Rubbish;

1575. Touchstone
118.

of Complexions, p.

For throughe cruditye and lacke of perfect concoction in the stomacke is engendered great abundance of naughty BAGGAGE and hurtful phlegme.
1576.
79.

baggageman is the most culpable of the two species. In his long and dark career of smashing trunks, he has, evidently, knocked the hoops off his conscience, and there is no remorse brave, foolhardy and reckless enough to tackle his heart-strings and play on them.
2. Also a thief who hangs about 'depots,' with a view to robbery of luggage.

GASCOIGNE, The Steele Glas, p. When brewers put no BAGAGE in

their beere.

Used contempAdj. (old). individuals and tuously of a worththings. Cf. BAGGAGE

,

1861. New York Tribune, Nov. 23. Gamblers, ticket-swindlers, emigrant robbers, BAGGAGE-'SMASHERS, and all the worst classes of the city.

less,
1593.

good-for-nothing

woman.

G. HARVEY, Pierces Superero,

works (Gresart) II., 273. Bibbing Nash, BAGGAGE Nash, swaddish Nash, rogish Nash, the bellweather of the
in

BAGGED, ppl. adj. (American). A term used to signify imprison-

ment

and

victimization

pro-

scribling flocke.

HACKET, Life of Williams, ii., For four cellars of wine, syder, ale, beer, with wood, hay, corn, and the like, stored up for a year or two, he gave not
1692.
128.

bably only an extension of the idea of capture as derived from to sport, through the slang
' 1

bag,

i.e.,

to steal.

Cf.,

To BAG.

account of sixpence, but spent

it

BAGGAGE, and loose franions. Ibid, p. Booth himself confest, in the hear123. ing of those witnesses, that Pregion had nothing to do with that BAGGAGE woman.

upon

BAGGING, subs, (provincial slang). In the first instance, food taken between regular meals;
generally applied, espein Lancashire, to what in the South of England as high tea.'
cially
is

now

known
'

BAGGAGL-SMASHER,
can).
i.

sitbs.

A railway porter. The

this nick-

(Ameri-

why and wherefore of name is abundantly

1871.

1750.
till

J.

COLLIER,
Hoo'l
[M.]

in

Lancashire

apparent

Glossary (E.D.S.). BAGGIN' TIME.

naw cum agen

from the following quotations.

VERE, Americanisms, p. 358. The BAGGAGE-SMASHER, as the porter is commonly called, handles his

DE

1870. Chambers' Journal, Oct., p. Lancashire adopts the whole-board or partial-board system very extensively. The local term of BAGGING implies bread and cheese, or pies and there are all
661.
;

Bagging
the

the Over.

I0

Bags.
1851. THACKERAY, English Humour, V. (1858), 243. How the prodigal drinks and sports at the BAGNIO. 1861. WRIGHT, Domestic Manners in England during the Middle Ages, 491. They were soon used to such an extent for illicit intrigues, that the name of a hothouse or BAGNIO became equivalent to that of a brothel.

varieties of board and lodging, of potatoes and bacon with buttermilk, BAGGING in the forenoon and afternoon, dinner and lunch, and rations allowed for women.

dinner

In Temple Bar Mag., 4 Jan. 1879. BAGGIN' is not only lunch, but any accidental meal coming between two regular ones.

BAGGING THE OVER. ING THE OVER.

JOCKEY-

BAG OF BONES,

BAGMAN, subs, (popular). i. A commercial traveller. Formerly

of respectable usage
1765.
;

now

only

attenuated person sometimes called a walking skeleton.' The French have un sac a os (often contracted into a literal translation. sacdos)
lean,
; '

subs.phr. (familiar).

employed contemptuously.
GOLDSMITH, Essays, I. The BAGMAN was telling a better story. [M.] 1840. THACKERAY, Paris Sketch Book, p. 20. When all the rest of mankind look hideous, dirty, peevish, wretched, after a forty hours' coachjourney, a BAGMAN appears as gay and spruce as when he started.

The term
being
further

is

quite

modern,

traced

Murray no back than 1838, when

by
used
64].
phr. See
it

Dickens
Twist,
iv.,

[in

Oliver

subs. BAG o- MOONSHINE, Nonsense. (common). ALL MOONSHINE.

The term BAGMAN

took

its

rise in the saddle-bags in

which

BAG OF NAILS,
thieves').

the commercial traveller of the

past century carried his patterns and goods. These saddle-bags being of larger dimensions than those usually carried by travellers on horseback, would designate the commercial traveller par excellence as the BAGMAN.
2.

subs. phr.

(American
[Qy. from

state of confusion

or topsy-turveydom. bacchanals.']

BAG OF TRICKS, phr. (common).

Generally,

THE WHOLE BAG OF

every expedient.

TRICKS;
BAGPIPE,

i.e.,

subs,
;

(common).

In sporting slang, a 'bag-

windy

talker a senseless chatter-box. The derivation is

fox.'
1875.
II., iv.,

STONEHENGE,
5.

Brit. Sports,

I.,

obviously from the musical instrument of the same name.

Verb. (old). lascivious too indecent for expractice planation.
;

If

found, a
tained.

BAGMAN
[M.]

... wild cubs cannot be or two must be ob-

BAGNIO,

subs.

(old).

A
;

brothel.

BAGS,

subs, (popular).

An ironical
'

[From

Italian

baqno,

a bath,

properly a hot bath whence an application as in the case of STEW (q.v.), for a house of
prostitution.]
1624. MASSINGER, Parliament of Love, II., ii. To be sold to a brothel or a common BAGNIO.

nickname for trousers, thought by some to be of University the origin, and borrowed from
of Euripides variegated bags TOVQ SrvXcLKOVQ TOVQ TTOlKlXoVg
'

(Cyclops., 182). 1853. REV. E. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert Bede'), Adventures of Verdant Green, p,

Bags.
Just jump into a pair of BAGS and His black goWellingtons. Ibid, p. 5. to-meeting BAGS. Chambers' Journal (Christmas 1870. he cried, as Number). But, holloa he caught sight of his legs. Parsons don't wear light tweed BAGS
51.
' ' !

101

Bail.
Schools PIKE I Or PRIOR PIKE serve to lay claim to anything, or for asserting priority of claim. Also BAR! e.g., 'He wanted me to do so and so,

'

'

Jack had to unpack his portmanteau and get out his evening inexpressibles. 1874. M. COLLINS, Frances, ch. xv. His well-shapen hip and calf were hidden in loose-fitting BAGS of corduroy.
1880.

but I barred not.' PIKE, and BAR.

Cf.,

FAIN,
phr.

To HAVE THE
(popular).

BAGS,

This

Punch, Jan.

10,

p.

6.

THE

SPREAD OF
IDEAS.

and Bermondsey. 'Just look at these BAGS you last built me, Snippe J'ever see such beastly BAGS in your life ? I shall always be glad to come and dine with you, old man but I'll be hanged if you shall ever measure me for another Mr. Snippe (of Snippe pair of BAGS and Son, St. James's Street). 'You've always grumbled about your BAGS, as you call 'em, ever since you were my fag at Eton and at Christchurch you were just as bad, even though my poor dear old governor used to come all the way down and measure you himself. It ain't the fault of the BAGS, my dear Popsy
! ; ' ! ;

EDUCATION AND LIBERAL His Grace the Duke of Poplar

erroneously given (and Barrere has followed suit)

as

phrase is by Hotten
,

TO HAVE THE BAGS off. The meaning is to be of age, and thus to possess all the rights and privileges of adultalso to have plenty of ship money. Obviously an allusion to the transition from child's attire to the garments of man;

hood.

BAGS OF MYSTERY,

subs. phr.

(common).
of their

Sausages

and

it's the fault of the legs inside 'em So, shut up, old Stick-in-the-mud, and let's join the ladies the duchess has promised to give us " Little Billee."
!

saveloys are so called from the often mysterious character

'

ably

Presumcompounds. composed of minced

When
material,

made
or

exaggerated they become

of startling cut in an style of fashion

' '

HOWLING BAGS.

and seasoned that no man can tell whereof they are made. To TAKE THE BAGS (athletic).

'meat,' but so highly flavoured

ENGLISH
Dittoes
;

SYNONYMS.
;

To

act as

'

hare

'

in

'

Hare

kicks

kicksies
;

bum;

bags
ables

unmentionsit-upons continuations hams

; ;

and Hounds,' a game too well known to need description in

this place.
(

abridgements drumstick-cases and ducks (when made of white material).

inexpressibles
; ;

Stock Exchange

Buenos
the

/lyres Great Southern Railway

Bonds.

Formed from
thus B-A-G-S.

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
falzay.
Intj.

Dalzar;
!

initial letters,

BAGS

BAGS or (schoolboy). is frequently used to

!

BAIJAN.
BAIL.

See BEJAN.

assert a claim to

some

article

or privilege. Analogous schoolboy slang is FAINS or FAIN IT (q.v.) for demanding a truce during the progress of a game,

STRAW-BAIL or STRAWsubs. (common). A nickname for a person willSHOES,

a consideration, to ing for give evidence, or act as bail.

and which

is

always granted by
In other

Formerly

men

were
in

much
plying

the opposing party.

more

ostentatious

Bail.
a
is

102

Bail Up.
is a man of straw.' figure is the effigy of a man, stuffed with straw hence, a man of straw,' the semblance of a man a person of neither

vocation

of

perjury

than

manner,

'

now happily no uncommon

possible. It was thing for such openly to perambulate the entrances to the law-courts ready for any chance customer. They made known their occupation

The
'

substance nor responsibility or one put forward to screen a

;

just sticking out of their shoes. The Quarterly Review (xxxiii., 344) points out that the practice is a very ancient one,

by wearing a piece of straw

real

delinquent. usage, akin to the foregoing, is also sometimes heard among

curious

Athens

having

abounded

in

The modus operstraw-shoes. andi was much the same then as in later days. When it was desirable to season Attic testi' '

For example, a strike wages having taken place amongst the crew of a ship, 'BLACKLEGS' (g.v.), or strawas they were called yarders
sailors.

for

'

'

in

with bribery and perjury, the scene outside a Greek court of justice might be thus described. An advocate or lawyer who wanted a convenient witness knew by these signs [the straws in the sandals] where to find the colloquy one, and between the parties was brief.

mony

nautical phraseology, took the place of the strikers. On the meaning of the expression being asked, it was explained was a that a straw-yarder man about the docks who had
'

'

never been to sea, and knew little or nothing of the duties of a seaman.

TO GIVE

Or

TAKE LEG-BAIL,

Don't you the advocate

1

remember

'

said
:

(the party looked the fee and gave no sign but the fee increased and the powers of memory increased with it). To be sure I do Then come into the court
at
'

To escape, phr. (common). either from arrest, or from prison literally, to be indebted For to one's legs for flight. exhaustive list of synonyms, see
;

'

AMPUTATE.
1775. ADAIR, American Indians, 277. I had concluded to use no chivalry, but GIVE THEM LEG-BAIL instead of it, by .... making for a deep swamp. [M.] 1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch.
'

'

and swear it.' And STRAWSHOES went into the court and swore it. As B.C., so A.D. 1754 before and after.
FIELDING, Jonathan Wild, book I., chap. ii. Charity took to husband an eminent gentleman whose name I cannot learn but who was famous for so friendly a disposition, that he was BAIL for above a hundred persons in one year. He had likewise the remarkable honour of walking in Westminster Hall with a straw in his
1754.
;

iii.

some

e'en GAE THEM LEG-BAIL, for I there's nae ease in dealing wi' quarrelfowk.'
1848.

MARRVAT, Poacher,
I

xxii.

GIVEN

THEM

LEG-BAIL,

SWCar.

The phrase is sometimes amplified

TO TAKE LEGthus: BAIL and GIVE LAND SECURITY.

shoe.

At present lawyers use STRAWdesignate insufficient bail. Closely allied to this term, and used much in the same

BAIL to

BAIL UP! also BALE UP! intj. (AusA bushranger's phrase tralian) Shell for stand and deliver out
.

'

'

'

'

Bait.
1880.

103

Baker-Kneed.

Blackwood's Mag., July,

'

p. 91.
' !

[Australian log.]

BAIL UP

BAIL UP

shout the two red-veiled attackers, revolvers in hand. G. L. APPERSON, All the Year 1887. In times Round, July 30, p. 68, col. i.

1380. SIR FERUMB, 577. For euere MY BRED HAD BE BAKE; myn lyf dawes had be tynt.

HALF

BAKED

(common)
'

is
'

said of a dull-witted or imbecile

it was by no means an uncomoccurrence [in Australia] for a coach to be 'stuck up' by a band of bushrangers, whose snouts of BAIL UP, an invitation equivalent to our shell out,' supported by revolver barrels, ter-

mon

gone

by,

person, i.e., one who is soft or inexperienced, in contrast to one who is BAKED in the sense of
'seasoned,' quick-witted, etc.
2.

'

a coach is now seldom interfered with, and to stick up' is applied to less daring attempts to rob.
'

rified the hearts of the passengers.

But

1864. Notes and Queries, 3 S., vi., 494, He is only HALF-BAKED put in with the bread, and taken out with the cakes.

demand
OUT
!

a colloquially, for instant payment. Equivalent to the English FORK

2.

Hence,

STUMP UP etc. For synonyms, see SHELL OUT.

!

BAKER, subs. (Winchester College) A cushion These were of two kinds that used in College was of large size, oblong in
. . '

'

shape,

and green
'

in

colour.
'

BAIT,

subs,
;

rage the figurative sense of to bait," harass or tease. i.e., to worry

' ; ;

Anger; (common). indignation. Derived from

The other used in Commoners was thin, narrow, much smaller, and of red colour. The term
BAKER is also applied to anything placed upon a form to sit upon, e.g., a blotting book or other article in short, anything
;

1882.
1

F.

went calmly on, smoking my cigar as That put nothing was the matter. the Proctor in a BAIT, I can tell you
1

ANSTEY, Vice-Versa,

ch. v.

if

'

BAITLAND,
ral

subs, (nautical).
'

Admi-

sit upon. (American). A loafer. The word is generally attributed to

comfortable to

in his Sailors' Word Book quotes this as an old word, formerly used to signify

Smyth

Baron de Mandat Grancey, who, in his work Cowboys and

Colonels,

a port where refreshments could

the word

innocently translated loafer as BAKER.

'
'

be procured.'
BAKE,
verb.

To SPELL BAKER
'

(colloquial).

To

(Winchester College). rest, or lie down.

To attempt a difficult task. In the old spelling books baker was frequently the first
'

BAKED, ppl. adj. (common). Collapsed exhausted done up toward the end of the e.g., course the crew were regularly BAKED.' A common colloquialism at the beginning of the but the punpresent century ning idea involved is very ancient. BAKE To ONE'S BREAD in the sense of to do for one' occurs as early as 1380, as will be seen from the follow;

word

of a child
spell.

two

syllables to

which

came when

learning to

'

'

ing quotation.

BAKER-KNEED, also BAKER-LEGGED, i. Knockadj. (common). kneed disfigured by crooked incident This deformity, legs. to bakers, arising from the constrained position in which they knead bread, is said to be the almost certain penalty of habitually bearing any burden of
;

Baker Layer.
bulk in the right hand, or of
excessive force constantly exerted by the right side of the The knees gradually inbody. cline inwards until they closely resemble the right side of the
letter
1607.

104

Baker's Doz,en.
was the
weight
sale of bread, that the of loaves was fixed by law, for every price from eighteenpence down to two-

K.

DEKKER, Westward Hoe, Act Will women's tongues, like Sc. 2. ii., BAKERS' LEGS, never go straight ?
L'EsTRANGE, Life of JEsop. was flat-nos'd, hunchback'd. blabber-lipp'd, a long misshapen head his body crooked all over, bigBAKER-LEGG'D, and his combelly'd, plexion so swarthy that he took his very name from 't for JEsop is the same
1692.
.

pence, but penny loaves or rolls were not specified in the statute. Bakers, therefore, when selling the latter, in order to be on the
safe side, gave, for a dozen of bread, an additional loaf, known similar custom as inbread.' of giving extra quantity was
'

yEsop
;

with /Ethiop.
B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet., 2 ed. BAKES-LEGG'D, straddling, with the legs
1754.

bowing outward. 1812. COLMAN,

p.
13.

Poetical

His voice had broken

Vagaries, to a

formerly observed with regard to coal, and publishers nowadays reckon thirteen copies of a book as twelve. That the term BAKER'S DOZEN was thoroughly colloquial at the latter end of the sixteenth century is apparent from the first of the
following quotations 1596. NASHE, Saffron Walden, in works III., ii. Conioyning with his
:

gruffish squeak.

He had grown bleargummy.

Either an

eyed, BAKER-KNEED, and

2.

Effeminate.

attributive usage of the foregoing, or an allusion to the popular belief that a woman's Comlegs are never straight.

aforesaid Doctor Brother in eightie eight browne BAKER'S DOZEN of Alma-

nackes.

Will of Francis Pynner, of 1639. Bury, Gent., dated April 26 [Camden The yerely Society's 'Bury Wills ].
1

pared physiologically with those of a man this is doubtless true but otherwise most women would resent the imputation as a libel.
;

sume

KNEED

1652. GA.vL.E,Hagastrom, 186. signifies effeminate.

BAKER-

of ffiue pounds p'cell of the said yerely rents to be bestowed in wheaten bread, to be made into penny loaves, and upon eu'y Lord's day, called Sonday, throughout eu'y yere of the said terme [40 years or thereabouts], fowre and twenty loaves of the said bread, with the

BAKER LAYER,

subs.

College). Junior who used to take a prefect's green BAKER Hall at (q.v.) in and out of meal times. The term is now obsolete.
'
'

(Winchester

BAKER'S DOZEN, subs, (colloquial). Thirteen reckoned as twelve. Formerly, so careful were the powers that be regarding the supply of bread, that bakers were
' '

inbread allowed by the baker for those twoe dosens of bread, to be timely brought and sett vpon a forme towards the vpp'end of the chancell of the said p'ish church of St. Marie, and the same twoe dosens of bread to be giuen to and amongst and distributed fowre and twentie poore people And they, the said clarke, sexton, and bedell, shall alwaies haue the inbread of all the bread aforesaid ovr and besides their shares in the said twoe dosens of bread.
. .

...

liable to

heavy penalties
in

for

any
of

deficiency
loaves.

the

weight
in,

So hedged

indeed,

1733. FIELDING, Don Quixote, III., I dare I could not number them. swear there were a good round BAKER'S DOZEN, at least. 1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, ch. xxviii. As to your lawyer, you get just your guinea's worth from him not even so much as the BAKER'S BARGAIN, THIRTEEN TO THE DOZEN.'
vi.
'

Bakes.
BAKER'S

105

Balaam-Basket.
miscellaneous matter, generally of a trumpery and indifferent character, used as padding in Eviperiodical publications.
'

DOZEN

is

occa-

sionally used in a somewhat more figurative sense, and is not confined to the technicalities of trade. It is employed to signify thirteen or fourteen. It is so quoted in Grose (1785),

'

dently from Numbers xxii., 30, in which the ass spoke with
'

man's

voice.'
'

BALAAM hence

the usage is apparently for older than that, Hudson, the navigator, when he discovered the bay to which his name is given, designated a cluster of thirteen or fourteen islands on the east shore of it.

but

much

the speech of an ass,' well applied to the stupid jokes, and silly paragraphs with which odd corners and short columns are often

denotes
is

and

lengthened out.

Brewer claims
'

THE BAKER'S DOZEN,

be seen on the charts
;

as

may

and even

French atlases exhibit these islands as La Douzaine du boulangtr.

ONE A BAKER'S pummell a man well to thrash him soundly a humorous allusion to the good measure implied by the
GIVE
is

To
;

DOZEN

to

but Weba cant term. In any case the term has clearly reference to nonsense to be thrown in to fill space, or nonsense thrown out as refuse. The curious point in the story of Balaam is that the ass talks like a philosopher and the prophet behaves like a donkey.

an American

origin,
it

ster only calls

phrase.

popularised by frequent use in Blackwood's Magazine.

its
1826.
cally)
I

The term was

BAKES, subs. (American thieves'). A schoolboy.

How much BALAAM

able paper.
1839.
622.

SCOTT, Mai. Maiagr.

iii.,

3.

have edged out of your valu-

(speaking techni-

BAKESTER,
lege).

One
;

BAKE)
is

(Winchester Colbakes (see a sluggard. The term

subs.

who

LOCHART,
is

Scott,

Ixx.

BALAAM

(1842),

the

cant

name

for

now

obsolete.

BAKING LEAVE, subs. (Winchester Permission to BAKE College). in a study in Com(q.v.) moners,' or in a scob place in College. In this sense the term is obsolete but it is now used of leave to sit in any other person's TOYS (q.v.) a sort of bureau.
' ' '

paragraphs about monstrous productions of nature and the like, kept standing in type to be used whenever the real news of the day leave an awkward space that must be filled up
asinine

somehow.

[M.]

BALAAM-BASKET
subs,

or

BALAAM-BOX,

i. The re(journalistic). ceptacle for BALAAM (q.v.).

'

'

BAKING PLACE,
College).
'

subs.

A
'

(Winchester
of sofa
in

kind

Studies

'

of

Commoners."

BALAAM, (journalistic). term applied to all kinds of

subs,

2. When articles or other contributions are rejected they are put in the BALAAM-BASKET, which may either be a pigeonhole (to await return to the author) the waste paper basket or, as the readiest mode of extinction, the flames. In any case, the destination is
; ;

Balaclava-Day.
said to be the

106

Balderdash.
(what
is
left),

BAALAM-BASKET

employed

by

or BOX.
dozen
1827. Blackw.Mag.,xxi.,340. Several letters on the same subject now

Burns
'

in the line

I'll

And never miss

' '

get a blessing with the lave,

it.'

in our

BALAAM-BOX.

An
'

1873. HALL, Modern English, p. 17. essay for the Edinburgh Review, in the old unpolluted English language,' would have been consigned by the editor to his

In some parts of Virginia the word shank is quaintly used for the same purpose, and one
friend will say to another,
'

BALAAM-BASKET.

Notes and Queries, 5 S., vii., At the risk of getting into your BALAAM-BOX, I venture to record the whole contents of my bundle as they lie before me.
1877.
270, 2.

shank of the evening with me ? The vulgarism is becoming common in England, as witness the
'

pose you come

in

Supand spend the

following
1875.

BALACLAVA-DAY,

A
in

subs, (military).

soldier's

pay day. Balaclava, the Crimean War [1854-6]

;

Blackwood's Magazine, April, BALANCE, long familiar to Ameri443. can ears, is becoming so to ours. In an account of a ship on fire we read
of the night
[M.]

was the base of supply

English troops
and,
to

was drawn, the men went down

for the as pay

'Those saved remained the BALANCE watching the burning wreck.

make

their purchases.
subs.

P. FITZGERALD, Recreations of 1883. a Literary Man, 170. Everyone is away

shooting or riding; a BALANCE of the

ladies
is left.

[M.]

BALANCE,

(American). BALANCE properly is that which balances or produces equilibrium. It is the difference

between two sides of an account the amount of which is necessary to make the one
equal to the other. It is not the rest or the remainder, yet we continually hear of the BALANCE of this or that thing. In the sense of rest,' residue,' or 'remainder,' BALANCE is the
'
'

A BALBUS, subs. (University). In Latin prose composition. Arnold's well-known text book, Latin Prose Composition, BALBUS turns up at every corner he is
;

here, there, and everywhere he appears to be willing and able to do anything, and go anywhere in fact it is BALBUS
; ;

purest slang.
1846. Albany Journal, Jan. 7. The yawl returned to the wreck, took ten or eleven persons and landed them, and then went and got the BALANCE from the

and BALBUS that, until the wonder is whether BALBUS was not something of a prig or bore, or both. At all events those who used the text book in
this,

question,

cannot
that

fail

to to

re-

member
fossil

of

Roman

doughty

old their

floating cabin.
1861.

[B.]

dying day.
27.

Boston
to

'We listened

Wendell

Transcript, Dec. Phillips

for

about half an hour, and having an engag-

1870. Quarterly Review. in constant use.

BALBUS was

ment elsewhere, we were forced to leave, and so lost the BALANCE of his oration.
[DE
V.]

The word much like

thus used very the Scottish lave

is

BALDERDASH, subs. (old). i. Adulterated wine a mixture of liquors such as wine and beer, milk and beer, etc.
;

Bald-Face.
2. (colloquial).

107

Balditude.
BALDHEADED.

Frothy talk;

To GO
phr.

IT

BALD-

nonsense

a jumble of words.

1885. MURRAY, New English Dictionary, Art. BALDERDASH, vol. I., p. 633,
col. 3.

From the evidence at present, the inference is that the current sense was transferred from i or 2 [i.e., Froth, frothy liquid, or a jumbled mixture of liquids] either with the notion of frothy a senseless farrago,' or talk,' or of jumble of words.' Most etymologists have, however, assumed 3 [nonsense to be the original frothy talk, etc.] sense, and sought its explanation in the obvious similarity of balder to dialectical balder, to use coarse language Dutch,
' ' '

(American). With eager impetuosity, or great haste to do a thing with all one's might A and main. suggestion of action without stopping to cover one's head, i.e., on the spur of the moment.
;

HEADED,

1848-62.

J.

R.

LOWELL, Biglow

Papers, p.
It ain't
I

6.

'

'

by princerples nor men My preudunt course is steadied, scent which pays the best, an' then

balderen, to roar, thunder Norwegian, baldra Icelandic, baldrast, ballrast, to make a clatter,' and of -dash to the verb dash in various senses. The Welsh
'
; ' ;

'

Go

into

1869.

baldorddus, adj.,/. baldordd,

talk,

'

idle,

noisy

been adduced .... Other conjectures may be found in Wedgwood, Skeat, and E. Muller.
chatter,'

has also

he had made up his mind to do a thing he WENT AT IT BALDHEADED. [DE V.] 1888. Pall Mall Gazette, June 22. The Chicago Republicans, to use an Americanism, have gone BALDHEADED for protection. If shouting could win a Presidential contest, Elaine and Protection would be certain.

it BALDHEADED. Our Young Folks.

Whenever

BALD- FACE, subs. (American). New whiskey so villainous is the compound, that only by courtesy can it be recognised as
;

To defeat (American). person in a street fight.

1871.

TO SNATCH BALDHEADED, phr.

a

at all

Pure. For synonyms,

approaching the Simon see DRINKS.

subs.

R.

GRANT WHITE, Words and

a specimen
his goose.

Their Uses.

The crowd than gave

calumny broke
loose,

of

BALD-FACED SHIRT,
can). shirt
;

(AmeriIn cowboy lingo, a white from the fact of being white on the face or front. Ordinarily bald-face is used of animals, e.g., a BALD-FACED STAG. Hereford cattle, too, have white
as cowboys are brought into close contact with all kinds of cattle, the term as applied to a linen shirt is possibly a mere transference in sense. Cf., BOILED SHIRT.
faces,

And said I'd SNATCHED HIM BALDHEADED,

and likewise cooked

BALD-HEADED Row,

The first row of stalls rican). at those theatres, especially

which make a feature of ballets. The term is a cynical allusion to
the fact that these seats are generally occupied by men of mature age the innuendo is obSee FROG-SALAD. vious.
;

subs. phr.

(Ame-

and

BALD-FACED STAG, subs, (common). A bald-headed man [from BALD-FACED, having white on face + STAG, a slang term for a man. Cf., STAG PARTY.] For
;

BALDITUDE, state of
1882. S.

subs.

(American). baldness. Probably

a nonce word.

L.CLEMENS ('Mark
;

synonyms,
LARD.

see

BLADDER

OF

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p. 187. Trouble has done it, Bilgewater, trouble has done it trouble has brung these gray hairs and this premature BALDITUDE.

Twain'),

Baldober.
BALDOBER
BALDOWER, subs. leader; a head man; a spokesman. This term has been imported into the lingo of English thieves from the German Gaunersprache, in which it has very much the same meaning.
(thieves').

108

B allam bangjang.
An
account of runs as follows
:

or

the

incident

Nonsense; BALDucTUM,s7<6s. (old) rubbish. Cf., BALDERDASH.

.

1889. Daily News, April 11. Resogovernment has net been absolutely Now at Letterkenny, extinguished. Mr. Balfour has introduced a new invention, the latest development ot resolute government. The Government were questioned on the subject, and they accepted the responsibility for the facts. It stated that in view of the Olphert estate evictions, there reached an there iron-headed spiked batteringram to be used in carrying out the evic-

lute

BALDY,

subs.

(American).

tions.

collo-

Why,
of

really,

you read

these

quial vulgarism for a bald-headed

gentlemen, when things they are

like the pictures

one sees of the Siege

man.

Cf.,

BALDITUDE.

BALFOUR-S MAIDEN, subs. (ParliaA nickname given mentary) to a kind of covered batteringram used by the Royal Irish Constabulary in carrying out evictions in Ireland in the years 1888-9. On many estates the tenants made most desperate resistance to all attempts on the part of the landlords to recover which the possession, upon latter appealed for, and obtained the assistance of the authorities. This but served to intensify the struggle, and the
.

of Jerusalem (loud laughter) of the implements, which the Latins called tormenta. are familiar with them in old mediaeval castles. You find instruments called 'The Scavenger's Daugh'The Maiden,' and other ter,' and implements of that character. I think this last pattern of ram of Mr. Balfour's might be called The Unionist's Daughter' (loud laughter) or it might be

We

'

christened 'BALFOUR'S MAIDEN.' (Cheers and laughter.) But not to deprive the Liberal Unionists of their share we might call it Chamberlain's Tenants' Protector.' (Renewed merriment.)
'

BALL, subs, (thieves'). ration. drink. 2.

i.

A prison

tenants,
in

driven to extremities,
.
.

mon). taking
1876.
.

To OPEN THE BALL,/>/*r. (comTo commence an under;

to start

off.

resisted all endeavours, even to throwing boiling water over the soldiers

some cases

Eton Chronicle, July 20. Whatever may seem the mishaps of

his team,

and police
them.

protect the evictors, to render easier the demolition of the cabins of the

To

employed against

Whatever their failings and sinnings, He who OPENED THE BALL and who saw them all fall,
Scarce deserved that defeat in one
innings.

and also

wretched people, a kind of covered was battering-ram made, whereupon the Home Rule Party sarcastically gave it, amongst other nick-names, that of BALFOUR'S MAIDEN. The term was first used by Sir Wm. Harcourt in a speech at a monster Home Rule meeting, held at St. James's Hall, on Wednesday, April 10, 1889.

BALLAD-BASKET,
street
is

subs.

(old).

PITCHER. A French equivalent un braillard.

subs,

singer.

See

A STREET

BALLAMBANGJANG,

The

(nautical).

Straits of

BALLAMBANG-

JANG, though unnoticed by geographers, are frequently mentioned in sailors' yarns as being so narrow, and the rocks on each side so crowded with trees

Ballast.
inhabited by monkeys, that the
ship's yards cannot be squared, on account of the monkey's tails

Ballum Rancum.
BALL- KEEPER,
4

subs.

(Winchester

getting jammed into, and choking up, the brace blocks.

Hotten.

BALLAST, subs, (common).

A rich man is said to be WELL-BALLASTED. ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To be flush also to have brass 5^ synonyms for brads,' etc. money generally under ACTUAL. Among French equivalents for the solidity arising from
mon).
'

Money. For synonyms, see ACTUAL. WELL-BALLASTED, adj. (com-

In 'Commoners' an College). Inferior appointed to look In after cricket and footballs. return for this service he was exempted from kicking in and watching out.' Junior in has to bring through College See BALLS. balls every evening.
'
'

'

'

'

'

BALL OF FIRE,

subs. phr. (popular). glass of fiery and pungent

brandy.

For

all

synonyms,

see

'

'

DRINKS.
BALLOONING,
subs. Ex(Stock Inflating the price of change). stocks by fictitious means, such as newspaper articles, bogus

the possession of wealth may be mentioned Etre zingue (popular: literally 'to be covered with zinc ) avoir des monacos (popular monaco is an
:

sales, etc.

'

BALLOON

To

ironical

term for a sou)

daim,

daim

huppe (popular:
1

a slang

term for a swell, is properly a buck,' and huppe also signifies high in station, well-off) homme au sac (familiar a man with a bag,' presumably of money)
;
'

verb. (American). IT, indulge in rhodomontade to draw the long bow to talk big. Obviously from to puff or swell out as a balloon.
; ; '
'

1878.

T. SINCLAIR, Mount, 33.

Gas-

brained,
CM.]

BALLOONING wandering men.

BALL

O-

WAX,

subs,

avoir

des
is

picaillons

(popular
to

snob, or shoe-maker.

(common). A See SNOB.

picaillons

thought

be

a
BALLS.
phr.
'

corruption of picarons, a Spanish etre de la fete (popular coin)

; :

i.e.,

'to

be in
;

luck's
:

way');
;

etre

sacque (popular meaning obvious) rupin (thieves' term) avoir de ce qui sonne (popular to have that which chinks )
: '

BALLS, (Winchester College). in collects Junior College footballs from the lockers in
'

To BRING THROUGH

school,
at
six

and brings them through o'clock to be blown, or

if

'

repaired,

necessary.

tailler en

pkin drap (popular).

In the Spanish Germania a

rich or
is

To MAKE BALLS OF, verb. phr. To go wrong to do (popular).

;

WELL-BALLASTED man
i.e.,

what

'

lands

'

one

in trouble

florido,

'flowery'

or

generally, to

make a
;

mistake.

'agreeable.'

BALL FACE,

(American). A contemptuous epithet applied by negroes to white persons. Salem, Mass., 1810-1820.
subs.

BALLS, adv. (popular). rubbish nonsense. For synonyms, see ALL MY EYE.
All

ALL

BALLUM RANCUM, subs. (old). A hop or dance, where the women

Bally.
a dance at a all prostitutes These orgies somebrothel. times take the form of buffall balls, present dancing in
are
;
' 1

no

Balmy.
BALMY, subs, and adj. (common). [From the figuSleep sleepy. rative sense of BALMY, i.e.,
;

deliciously soft

and soothing.]

the nude.

TO HAVE A DOSE OF THE

BALLY,
(popular). comparatively recent coinage, it is of the Sporting Times, said,
adj.

BALMY
1840.

'

i.e.,

to go to sleep.'

from 'bally-hooly.' Generally, though not always, used as is

bloody,' in the lower strata of the body politic. It also signifies intensity, and in cases
'

DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. viii., p. 42. As it's rather late, I'll and try get A WINK OR TWO OF THE
'

BALMY.'

ENGLISH
doss
(q.v.)
;

SYNONYMS.

To

to

go to BEDFORDSHIRE

where the vocabulary at command is limited, BALLY does yeoman's service for such words
as fearful,' 'dreadful,' terrible," 'outrageous,' 'confounded.'
1889. Sporting Times, July 6 (Answers to Correspondents). H. G. Steele. What a BALLY idiot you Thanks.
'
'

a play upon words.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. La
pionce or piongage (popular: subs.,
see

pioneer]

le

somno (popular

an abbreviated form of somnolence)

must

be.

1889.

Bird

piquage de romance (a military term) casser une canne, or sa canne (popular this also means to die.' In French as in other languages the analogy between
; ;
:

'

o'

Freedom, Aug.
'

7, p. 5.

Newman Noggs, bringing small boy to carry master's bag, and inculcating manners at the same time, Now, what would you say if I was to give you sixpence for 'I should say 'twasnt half taking it ? enough, and you can BALLY well take it the prompt reply. was Boys yourself,' are boys nowadays, and no error, thinks
'

Sleep and Death

nised.

is fully

Many
phrases
also

of

slang

for

recogthe French the forvita

:

mer are
casser

used to express
!}
;

the latter.
son

Mors janua
'

Newman.
BALLY-BOUNDER.
See

pif pif (popular in French argot = the nose.' the of NorAmongst peasants

BALLY and

mandy and Berry

a grog-blossom
'

it

signifies

BOUNDER.
BALLY-FELLOW.
See

')

pioneer (pop;

BOUNDER and
and

BALLY.
BALLY FLAT.
See

BOUNDER

BALLY.
BALLY FOOL.
See

BOUNDER and

BALLY.
BALLYRAG.
See

ular from piausser, a provincialism for to sleep ') piquer un chien (popular piquer a verb of to do' action, canting to do as a dog ') therefore piquer une romance (popular) Cf., faire son lezard (popular son un chien) faire piquer 'to michaud (thieves' rest i.e., one's head or knowledge box ')
: ' :
'

'

roupiller (this

term
;

is in

general

BULLYRAG.

colloquial
'

(popular meditation
:

se recueillir use) to wrap oneself in

;

BALM,

subs.

(old).

lie.

Dun-

compter des pauses ') (musicians': 'to count the beats.'

combe.

Cf.,

various suggested remedies

Balmy.
for overcoming insomnia; e.g., counting slowly up to a hun-

in

Balsam.
TO LET, but in addition to those there mentioned may be instanced
following in the slang Demenager to remove one's (popular

dred,
Cf.,

etc.,
:

etc.);
'

taper de

I' ceil

the

(popular

to
'

English

rub the eyes.' to have sleepy

')
;

French

'

dust in one's eyes

'

mettre

le
:

furniture.'
die')
;

It

also

means

chien au cran de repos (popular to curl oneself up like a dog') to soufflcr ses clairs (popular
;
'

paumer

la sorbonne

(i.e.,

'to to

punch the

blow or put out one's

' '
:

light,'
;

i.e.,

to shut the eyes ) fermer to close maillard (popular one's shutters, i.e., eyelids. Maillard was the inventor of a particular kind of shutter.

head,' sorbonne being a slang term for that part of the human body. The Sorbonne is a well-known university

Among
ctre

seat of learning. thieves, too, sorbonner is used in the sense of to think ')
'

and

Other
are
etre
'

analogous
terrasse

expressions

nn pen toe (i.e., slightly crazy; toe in slang = ridiculous);

avoir une

par maillard, to be extremely sleepy.' i.e., Sleep is expressed by fermetnre)

faire schloff or schlo/er,

pomme
:

de

canne
'

feli-e

(popular

a rather opprobrious

expression,

meaning
'

to

from the

a slate
tile

off.'
')
'

Cf.,

to
line

have have a
fissure
;

German

schlafen.

loose

avoir

SPANISH SYNONYM. In the Germania difunto, properly 'defunct,' is

to (literally avoir un grain.

have a crack ')

used for asleep.

for
is

A PORTUGUESE SYNONYM
sound
i.e.,

sleep

a bom sornar,
ears.'

BALMY COVE, subs, (common). A weak-minded individual one

;

'to sleep

on both
;

who

has

'

tile loose.'

BALMY

Dull-witted thick-skulled. In this sense BALMY is used up and down the whole gamut of imbecility from mere sto2.

(q.v.)

[From
a man.]

COVE,

thieves such an individual is called un hurlubier (hurlublu is an obsolete term

Among French

lidity

to

used jestingly for a giddy goose

or
biscayen

downright
it

Popularly used,

insanity. signifies in

cases little more than shallow-brained or muddleheaded to use or, slang

most

hair-brained person) also from the Bicctre prison which has a lunatic ward for
;

demented convicts.
itself
is

calle

La

The prison
Biscaye, but

in their most equivalents familiar sense, 'to be touched,' to be wrong in the upper
'
'

story,"

dotty.'
it

Among thieves,
usually applied

this name has no connection with the province of Biscay as might be supposed.

however,
to

is

insanity,

TO

PUT ON THE

BALSAM,
lar).

subs,

(thieves'

One
list

and poputhe

of

BALMY STICK
victs, to feign

being,

among

con-

H. 1851. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. List of Insane. patterers' words. BALMY

madness. MAYHEW, London Lab.

generic
full

found
allusion
i.e.,

names for money. A of synonyms will be under ACTUAL. The

many

A
will

large

number

of

synonyms

be found under APARTMENTS

of course is obvious, a healing soothing agent or agency but, in its secondary of impertinence, signification
;

Bam.
the recheek, etc brass,' verse of the shield is given. Such reversals in the legitimate meanings of words are not un, '

Bamboozle.
1754. H. MARTIN, Eng. Diet., 2 ed. To BAM, or TO BAMBOOZLE, to fun, to fib, to sham. 1760.

'

'

in

^L<ks.

common
BAM,
subs,
;

in slang.
(old
slang).
;

he beha-ves!
i.

Lord, how well (1777) IV., 43. shall certainly BAM

COLMAN, Polly Honeycombe,

We

the old gentleman.

A
;

1830.
xlix.
'

cheat an imposition a story intended to hoax the credulous

MARRYAT, King's Own, ch. Now, you're BAMMING me don't

off

attempt to put such stories

on your

under the name of chaff or humis thought to be an abbreviated form of BAMBOOZLE (q.v.)~\ Murray has traced it back to 1762, but it appears nearly twenty years previous in Dyche's dictionary, and also in Martin's, the second edition of which was published in 1754. See verb To BAM.

what nowadays generally goes

bug [BAM
.

old granny.' E. L. LINTON, Patricia Kern1874. For a moment the ball, ch. xxxix. thought flashed across him whether that tale of Gordon Frere was all a BAM, and had the girl taken a liking for
'

himself?'

BAMBLUSTERCATE,

verb. (noncefactitious creation word). A to embarrass consignifying fuse or hoax in a blustering

; ;

1748.

BAM
I

(s.),

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). a sham or pretence, a lying

excuse.
1762.

know

FOOTE, Orators, Act ii. Why that man, he is all upon his fun
;

manner. [From BAM, to hoax, or confuse + BLUSTER, noisy assertion + GATE, a termination in imitation of conglome'

rate'.]

See also

COMFLOGISTI-

he lecture
1817.
all

why

'tis all

but a BAM.
'

CATE.

It's SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. ix. a BAM, ma'am all a bamboozle and

BAMBOO,
;

a bite, that affair of his

illness."

Verb. To hoax, to bamboozle to wheedle to cheat. [Of same formation as substantive, which see above, and Cf.,
; ;

verb. A (American). To corruption of bamboozle. cheat to victimize to hoax.

;

however, BOOZLE.
See,

BAM and BAM-

The first trace BAMBOOZLE.] of it appears in Gibber's Double Gallant [1707] and is discussed by Swift in his introduction to Polite Conversation [1738], where he mentions among the exthen in quisite refinements BAM for bamboozle, vogue,
,
' '

BAMBOOZLE, verb, (familiar). To hoax deceive or impose upon.

; ;

Philologists are all confessedly at sea in regard to the derivation of BAMBOOZLE and its attributive forms, but the general tendency of evidence is to refer
to a gypsy origin. Johnson states it to be a cant word and Bouchier, in his glossary says,
it
;

and bamboozle
what.

for,

God knows
corresQueries allud-

Whereupon a

pondent of Notes and

[2 S., Jan. 10, '57, p. 31]

ing to the despair of etymologists in regard to these words

remarked that
in

if

from was put

the place of for, it would describe the predicament in which philologists are placed.

'it has with great propriety long had a place in the gypsy or it dictionaries,' canting being in his opinion 'the sole invention of gypsies or vagrants. Leland thinks it possibly the Hindu word bambhorna, to humbug, with the gypsy terminative
'
' '

Bamboozle.
dsel.

Bamboozle.
its

Wedgwood

suggests

origin in the Italian bamboccio, a

BOOZLED BAMBOOZLEMENT BAMBOOZLER BAMBOOZLING.

;
;

young babe, and metaphorically

an old dotard or babyish gull
;

1703.

imbambolare, to blear or dim one's sight, also with flatteries and blandishments, to inveigle and make a fool of one. If a verb were made of bambocciolo in the same way as banibocciolare, it

Would Not, II., i. (1736), 34. Sham proofs, that they propos'd to BAMBOOZLE me with. [M.]
1709.

GIBBER, She Would and She

STEELE,
I

Tatler,

No.

says

I, sir,

perceive this

But, 31. is to you all

BAMBOOZLING.
1712. ARBUTHNOT, History of John Bull, pt. III., ch. vi. There are a sort of fellows that they call banterers and BAMBOOZLERS, that play such tricks but it seems these fellows were in earnest
; !

would have much the sense of BAMBOOZLE. A. E. Quekett (N. and Q., 5 S., xii., 488) throws a side-light upon this

1731.

Sc.

3.

You

theory by pointing out in Shakspeare's Taming of the Shrew, Katharina says, Belike you mean to make a puppet of me,' and Petruchio
last

BOOZLING

COFFEY, Devil to Pay, Act i., BAMjuggler, you cheating,

villain!

that
'

'

replies,

to

make a puppet

Why

true

he
of

means
thee.'

1754. FOOTE, Knights, Act ii. You are tricked, imposed on, BAMBOOZLED R. CUMBERLAND, Wheel of 1779. Fortune, Act ii., Sc. i. You know I love you, Emily, .... and therefore you baffle and BAMBOOZLE and make a bumpkin of me.
!

this passage with the rest of the scene it would seem that Petruchio's answer is not a mere repetition of Katharina's words, but contains a

Comparing

double entendre of

some

kind.
'

He

(Quekett) then hazards that perhaps she meant to say, Perhaps you mean to treat me as a doll without a will of its own,'

It's 1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. ix. a bam, ma'am all a BAMBOOZLE and a bite, that affair of his illness.' 1827. LYTTON, Pclham, ch. xxxvi. One does not like to be BAMBOOZLED out of one's right of election, by a smoothtongued fellow, who sends one to the devil the moment the election is over.'
all
'

'

1886.

The
body.

public

Sat. Review, No. 1587, p. 423. is a great BAMBOOZABLE

while Petruchio appears to mean something very like. He wishes

'

enemy by

tO

BAMBOOZLE

Be

all

yOU.' this as it

may, BAM-

To decoy the (Nautical). hoisting false colours merely an extension of the popular sense.
ENGLISH
throw dust
' ;

into vogue during the early part of the last century for in the Tatler No. 230 [1710], we read, The third refinement observable in the letter I send you consists in the choice of certain words infirst
; '

BOOZLE

came

SYNONYMS.
in

'

To
'to

the eyes
' ;

'

'to gild use the pepper-box the pill 'to throw a tub to 'to make believe a whale the moon is made of cream to jockey to stick cheese
'

'

'

'

'

'

vented by some pretty fellows, such as banter, BAMBOOZLE,

country-put, and kidney, some of which are now struggling for the vogue, and others are in possession of it So also with the derivatives
'

to bilk to do 'to best to bounce to to do brown 'to kid 'to gamtake in

'
' ' '

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

mon.'

FRENCH
des

SYNONYMS.
lovers)
:

Une
monter de-

monteuse de coups (a

woman who
;
'

bamboozles her
couleurs

e.g.,

BAMBOOZLE

(subs.)

BAM-

(popular

to

Bamboozle.
ceive

114

Banaghan.
'

by
;

false

representations
'

couleur signifies

pretence,' semblance ') faire la queue a qudtirer la carotte qu'iin (popular) (thieves') fane voir le tour (popucanarder (popular literally lar) 'to shoot at one from a sheltered position' i.e., to have an advantage, and thus to be able to hoax or humbug) dindonner
' ;
;

pigeons ') flancher (popular ridicule ') or to laugh at la barbe (popular: Cf., faire hisser un gandin faire la queue]
:

'

'

'

(popular from dindon, a goose'); faire le coup, or monter le coup a in quelqu'un (popular coup French slang is a secret pro' :
:

to hoist a mettre swell ') to take a rise dedans (popular out of one literally to take in'); etre V attire (popular Cf., to get left.' The phrase also signifies the misto be the lover,' tress) planter un chou (familiar)
'

(thieves'
'

literally
'

dandy

or
;

'

'

GERMAN

SYNONYMS.

See

'

cess,'

hence

hand
trick

'a knack' or 'dodge' to deal one an underblow,' or to serve one a

' '

JOCKEY. ITALIAN SYNONYMS.

sare (literally
'

Traver')
;

to cross over

')

empaler

deceive
tions
'

by

to (popular false representa:

'

dar

la stolfa.

SPANISH SYNONYM.
(literally

Encantar
'to en'

';

passer to make a fool of one ') monter une gaffe (popular gaffe in French slang='a joke'; a piece of de:

literally 'to des curettes

empale'); (popular
;

'to enchant,'

tertain with soft

words

).

BAM BOSH,

subs,

(nonce word).

ceit)
1

or jobarder (popular job is equivalent to simpleton or flat,' and is the same SLSjobelin) mener en bateau,
;

monter
: '

le

job

Apparently a variation of BAMBOOZLING, as follows. [BAM +

'

BOSH.]
hoaxing.
1865.

Humbug;
BAMBOSH.
[M.]

deceit;

un pante pour
'

le

to deceive a
')
;

rob him

in order to monter un batteau

'

man

refaire (thieves'

Day
that

of Rest, Oct., 585.

was

deaf to

all

donner un pont a (popular) to lay a trap faucher (thieves' or snare ') promener quelqu'un to make a fool of (popular
: ;
' :

one.' Cf.,

'

to rush

')

compterdes
mistouffle
'

mistouffles (familiar:
'

'a scurvy trick'; 'a joke'); to stick '; to gourrer (popular kid to deceive') affluer (from a flouer, to cheat to diddle out of ') roustir (popular and thieves' to cheat ') affuter (thieves': 'to make unlawful pro: '
'

This coined BAMBSQUABBLED. word, which is, however, rarely used except in humorous writings, first saw the light in The It Legend of the American War. signifies discomfiture and defeat, or stupefaction sometimes written BUMSQUABBLED. Sam 1835-40. T. C. HALIBURTON
; '

'

'

'

The Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. ii. The judge said, He had got too much
Slick
),
'

'

'

already, cut
didn't look

him

and make him pay

off the other two-thirds, If he all costs."

it's

BUMSQUABBLED

a pity.

fits')

bouler
:

(popular)

juiffer

pigeonner (familiar to do,' to pluck.' In English the victims of card and slang other are called sharpers
;
: '

(popular English)

literally 'to

Jew' as in

'

HE BEATS BANABANAGHAN. GHAN, phr. (old). An Irish saying of one who tells wonderful stories Banaghan, thought Grose, was a minstrel famous
;

Banagher.
for dealing in the marvellous a kind of prototype of Baron Munchausen. Of this, deponent knowing nothing, says the same.

Ban-Dog.
BANCO -STEERER.
STEERER.
See

BUNCO-

BANDANNA, merly a

BANAGHER,

verb

(old).

To

bang.

BANANALAND, BANANALANDER, subs. Queensland, and (Australian). a native of Queensland respectively. Apparently from a large
portion of that section of fifth continent lying within tropics, thus allowing of cultivation of the banana
the the the
tree

(common). Forhandkerchief with white, yellow, or other coloured spots on a dark ground. Now applied to handkerchiefs of all kinds. The name is thought to come from the Spanish bandano, a neckerchief.
sitbs.

silk

(Musa sapientum)
1886.

1752. (1870), 31. J. LONG, Bengal Plain tafiaties, ordinary BANDANNOES, and chappas. 1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch. iv. The Colonel was striding about the room

BANANA-MEN (natives Wales and Queensland

1887.

Chamb. Journal, Feb. 20, p. 124. Booted and spurred Cornstalks and
'
'

in his loose garments, puffing his cigar fiercely anon, and then waving his yellow

BANDANNA.

of

New

South

respectively).

BANDED, ppl.

adj.

(old).

Hungry.
'

man,

Melbourne (Victoria) SportsMarch, p. 7, col. 2. Paddy Slavin came from Queensland with the reputation of having beaten all the
23

To

BANANALANDERS.
1887. Sydney _(N.S.W.) Bulletin, 26 Feb., p. 6. His friends rallied up to congratulate him, and see him through, after the custom of the simple BANANA-

the pangs of mitigate hunger, starving men tighten the belt round the middle. Bamfylde Moore Carew, the king of the beggars, mentions CAFFRE'S the practice. Cf.,
1

TIGHTENER and BANDS.

BANDERO,
of the
subs.

LANDER.
It

may be
a
is

that

interesting to note native of New South

'

(American).
; '

nicknamed a CORNSTALK,' because built somewhat Those whose tall and thin.
stature is shorter, with circumference of wider dimensions in proportion to their height are said to be NUGGETY.' The gum trees of Tasmania give the elegant nickname 'GUMSUCKER to In this practice its inhabitants. antipodean colonists follow suit with their cousins across the Atlantic. See NICKNAMES.
'

Wales

a corruption obsolete bandore,' BANa widow's head-dress. DORE was itself a corruption of the French bandeau, given by Littre as anciennement, coiffure The term was curdes veuves. rent about the beginning of the

Widows' weeds

now

last

'

but in 1785 we It quoted as slang. have to however, appears,

century,
it

find

survived

in

America

whilst

BANCO, subs. (Charterhouse School). Evening preparation down at house each day, superintended by a monitor. It answers to the Winchester TOY-TIME,
' '

dropping entirely out of use in the Mother Country. In the English drapery trade mourning goods are sometimes called AFFLICTIONS (q.V.).

BAN -DOG,
his

subs. (old).

bailiff,

or

assistant.

Originally, says

Bands.
Murray, a dog tied or chained either to guard a house, or on account of its ferocity hence generally a mastiff or bloodhound. The transition from this point to the slang

116

Bang.

up

He's the darling of the barmaid and the honest waiter's joy, As he quaffs his Pommery, Extra Sec,'
'

his 'Giesler,' or

'

Ivroy.'

sense
1839.

is clear.

BANDY, pence

subs,
;

(thieves').

six-

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack

'
, '

But where are Shepf>ard [1889] p. 12. the lurchers ? Who ? asked Wood. The traps responded a bystander. The shoulder-clappers added a lady, in her who, anxiety to join the party, had unintentionally substituted her hus'
'

so called, in the first instance, from these coins being often thin, worn, and bent. Also called a CRIPPLE and

'

'

'

'

BENDER, but, for synonyms, see the latter. The term appears in Grose [1785].
1819.
rial, p. 25,

band's nether habiliments for her

'

own

T. MOORE,
11.

thundered a tall man whose stature and former avocations had procured him the nickname of 'The long drover of the
petticoats.
!

The BAN-DOGS

'

Tom A BANDY or
is

Crib's

Memo-

cripple, a six20,

pence.
1885.
p. 155.

Where are they ? Borough market.' 'Ay. where are they?' chorused the mob, flourishing their various weapons, and flashing their torches in the air
'

'

The sixpence

Household Words, June

a coin more

'

we'll sarve

'em

out.'

others, so it is not surprising to find that several of its popular names have reference to this weakness. It is called a BANDY, a
liable to
'

bend than most

bender,' a

'

cripple.'

BANDS,

subs.

To

BANDS
hungry.
B.

(old See

cant).

WEAR THE To be

BANG,

subs,
;

(colloquial).

i.

A
a

BANDED.

blow Old hammering.

tionary

Norse,

bang,

AND s. (popular). day colloquialism,

soda.
1868.

An

Though a dicword, BANG has not yet

'

in the

everyab-

breviated form, for brandy and

WHYTE

MELVILLE,

White

Before the B. AND s. Rose, ch. xiii. signifying a beaker of brandy and soda-

water
ch. v.

could
'

1881.

some
for

make its appearance. W. BLACK, Beautiful Wretch, Come away, and I will get you
though what would be better would be some B. AND s.'
Punch,
vol.

tea,

you
i.

still,

1882.
col.
I'll

LXXXIL,

p.

69,

succeeded in passing from the limbo of vulgarism in many of its uses. For example, a BANG of the door sounds legitimate enough, and is an expression to which even the most pronounced stickler for linguistic purity would scarcely object BANG on the nose or yet, a would, doubtless, be jaw looked upon as low and vulgar. Only to illustrate such variafind a tions, can the word
'

'

'

'

'

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.
;

fitting

entry into these pages.

Amongst pugilists and the vulgar, BANG is, without doubt,

closely identified with personal and, in this concastigation nection,
;

He will

say that port and sherry his nice palate always cloy He'll nothing drink but B. AND s.' and big magnums of the boy
;

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

are not

'

'

'

rare. To BANG one in the jaw; to spoil one's picture; to give a wipe on the nose to fetch
;

Bang.
one a
;

117

Bang.
distances from ear to ear, combing the rest back. This is repeated until the whole front hair

stinger, etc.
; ;

The blow
;
;

designated a whopper wipe clout prop cant dig corker shooting stars (in allusion to the dazed condition of a person so struck, stars being seen dancing before one's eyes).
itself is
; ;

has been successfully BANGED. In England these fringes are also called TOFFS (q.v .}.
1880.
lifted

W.

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
gnon (popular)
;
;

Un
;

un ecopage (faline dandine (popular) miliar) un cabochon (common) un es;

covered Country, ch. viii. When one his hat to wipe his forehead, he showed his hair cut in front like a young
lady's BANG.
1883.
4, col.
i.

D. HOWELL, The Undis-

Pall Mall Gazette, Dec.

It

19, p.

(popular may be rendered a BANG on the nut ') un coup de gilquin (popular) un a blow renfoncement (colloquial with the fist lit. an indentation ') une beugne (common) tine beigne (popular) une dariole (familiar properly a kind of un pastry) coup de tampon (popular a hard shove tampon, a buffer ') une balk de coton
taffion
: '

was no doubt unfortunate

'

'

'

that when the Empress Eugenie cut her hair across her forehead from sorrow of heart, the women of five continents should imitate her until the BANG became universal.

Verb.

i.

To

deliver a bio was

(subs, i
)
;

described under BANG

generally, to thump to thrash. violently
;

or strike

'

'

'

(popular) une baffre (popular 'a blow in the face with the
; :

fist

either
'

un petard (familiar a box on the ear or a cant on the gills ) une

)
;
: ' '
'

'

Marprelate's Epistle, p. 4 (ed. Arber). His grace will cary to his grave I warrant you theblowes which M. Cartwright gave him in this cause: and, therefore, no marvell though he was loth to have any other so BANGED as he himselfe was to his woe.

1588.

paraphe (popular paraphe is properly the flourish added to

:

Act

one's
'

signature)

dcgradcr

le
:

1592. JOHN DAY, Blind Beggar, Sc. 2, p. 37. I am sure my ii., cloak cannot go without hands and I'll have it again, or I'll BANG it out of the coxcombs of some of them.
;

portrait a to fetch

qiielqu'un
'

one a BANG

(popular in the

b.

1719.
st. 3.

H. CAREY, Sally

in

our

Alley,

to spoil one's picture ') detacher un coup de pinceau sur la frimousse (popular to make pencil marks upon the face '; i.e., to spoil one's

mug."

Cf.,

master comes, like any Turk, And BANGS me most severely.

1731. FIELDING, The Lottery, Sc. 2. Ah, think, my lord how I should grieve to see your lordship BANG'D. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851-61. It was and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 47.
I '

My

'

'

the allusion physiognomy,' presumably being to the face as the work of the Divine For other synonyms, Artist).
see

hasn't been abused, and that's the rea-

good

stuff

and good make

to

at first,

and

son
it

why it always BANGS a

begin with.'
'

slop,

because

WIPE.

was good
1884.

2.

A style adopted by women

in dressing the hair

upon the forehead, generally curled and

frizzed, the process being thus To make the BANG, described.

Cornhill Mag., April, p. 442. Davis,' said Toddy, you haven't had a BANGING this term, and you're getting cocky.'
'

one must
the
front

begin by dividing hair at half-inch

To dress the hair with 2. a fringe on the forehead, cut squarely across, so that it ends
abruptly.

Bang-Beggar.
Century Mag., XXV., 192. was bareheaded, his hair BANGED even with his eyebrows in front.
1882.

Il8

Bang-Up.
BANG-OUT.
phi',

He

BANG,
If

1888. Detroit Free Press. Sister, BANG with care your poker's too hot you'll lose your
;

To BANG-OUT, verbal To depart (common). hurriedly and with noise.

Adv. phy.
Completely,
'

en-

hair.
3.

tirely,

To

surpass

to excel.

ness

combined with suddenthe candle went e.g.

,

So

also BANGING,

adj.,

great or

BANG-OUT.'

thumping.
(Stock Exchange.) To loudly offer stock with the intention of lowering the price.
4.

A BANG-PITCHER, subs. (old). drunkard. Possibly only dialectical.

To BE BANGED UP TO THE
EYES, phr. (common). To be For synonyms, see drunk.

SCREWED.
BANG-BEGGAR,
subs. (old). beadle. It is

BANGSTER subs, (provincial). i. A According to Jamieson violent and disorderly person, who regards no law but his
:

own

will.

2.

con-

braggart.

4.

A victor. 3. A A loose woman.

not quite stable or clear whether this is not merely a dialecticism. In Lowland Scotch
it

signifies

a strong

staff.

1820. SCOTT, The Abbot, rh.\ix. If the Pope's champions are to be BANGSTERS in our very change houses, we shall soon have the changelings back again. [H.]

BANGER,

(common). A lie. Generally, THAT'S A BANGER! This elegant phrase is somesubs,

times varied by that's a WHOPPER (q.v.) or the now classical THUMPER (q.v.), an invention of the late Lord Iddesleigh.
'

SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, ch. you are so certain of being the so very certain, I mean, of sweeping stakes, what harm will Miss Clara come to by your having the use of her siller.
xxiii.

1825. If

BANGSTER

'

'

'

BANG-STRAW,

subs.

name

(old).

nick;

for a thresher of corn

(Yale College). A club like cane or stick a bludgeon. This word is one of the Yale voca;

provincialism.

bles.

HALL'S

College

Words and
p. 75.

BANG-TAILED, Short tailed.

to horses.

adj.

(popular).

Usually applied

Customs.
Yale Lit. Mag., vol. XX.,

The Freshman
key,

reluctantly

turned the

1861. HUGHES, These ford, ch. vi.

'

Tom Brown
'

at

Ox-

BANG-TAILED
said

little

Expecting a Sophomore gang to see, Who, with faces masked and BANGERS
stout,

any good Drysdale, throwing some cock-a-bondies across the table. 'Yes, I never like to be without them and a governor or two.'
?

sinners

Had come

resolved to smoke

him

out.

BANG-OFF, adv. (familiar). Without stopping; right away ;.., I wrote as promised BANG-OFF,' without i.e., [From delay. BANG, a loud, sudden sound from a movement + OFF, place
'

BANG-UP,

adj.
;

First-rate

mark
UP.
1812.

phr. (common). quite up to the in the slap up

;

height of fashion. Also BANGEDH. AND

J.

SMITH,

Rejected

or thing.]

Addresses, p. 188. theatrical cotillion.

Dance a BANG-UP

ft an }$>.

119

Banian-Days.
the term used to designate a brownish hue, that a gate of

LEVER, Jack Hinton, ch. vii. on one side, his BANG-UP spotted neckcloth knotted in mode. 1844. Quarterly Review, XXIV., 368. We could not resist giving a specimen of John Thorpe .... altogether the best portrait of a species which, though almost extinct, cannot yet be quite
1842.

So universally was

His hat

set jauntily

BANGY

classed

among

the

Palosotheria,

the

that colour at Winchester Colformerly leading from lege, Grass Court into Sick House Meads, was called the BANGY Gate. The name is now often

BANG-UP Oxonian. 1846. THACKERAY, V. Fair, vol. I., There appeared on the ch. xxxiv. cliff in a tax cart, drawn by a BANG-UP his friends, the Sutbury Pet pony ... and the Rottingdean Fibber.
Subs.
tively

used for the gate by Racquet Court, into Kingsgate Street.

Also
as
;

in
'

used the following

is
'

substan-

example
right
1882.
;

that which

quite
go.'

the

thing

';

the
185,

BANIAN-DAYS or BANYAN-DAYS, subs. Those days in which (nautical) sailors have no flesh meat. Probably derived from the practice of the Banians, a caste of Hindoos, traders or merchants, who anientirely abstained from all
.

back Life in London, or Tom and jerry the ARCADE, again. The trio turned into and and saw a number of gay sparks fair 'Twas a curious ones promenading. IN LONDON, one sight, a glimpse of LIFE of its primest features, and yet, as the CORINTHIAN remarked to his Coz, these ghosts of a people seemed like the These then are former generation.' the dandies, the fops, the goes and the BANG-UPS, these the CORINTHIANS of to'
'

Punch,

LXXXIL,

i.

Modern

mal
'dian rice,

food.

OVINGTON, in Yules' A nglo-InOf kitcheney (butter, Glossary. and dai)the European sailors feed in these parts, and are forced at such times to a Pagan abstinence from flesh, which creates in them an utter detestation to those BANIAN-DAYS as they call
1690.

them.
xxv.
1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch. They told me that on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the ship's company had no allowance of meat, and that these meagre days were called BANYAN-DAYS, the reason of which they did not know but I have since learned from they take their denomination
;

was also Tom's exclamation to know young Bob, who said, I don't about being CORINTHIANS, but some of these fellows are very good form,' and as to being BANG-UP, a good many poor old chappies are deuced hard-up.'
day,"
' '

a sect of devotees in

some

Yerb

tr.

To make smart

to

East Indies,
1820.
tal).

who never

parts of the taste flesh.

produce
1821.
c. v.

in first-rate style.
iii.,

We had three
in the week.
If

LAMB, Elia (Christ's HospiBANYAN to four meat

COOMBE, Dr. Syntax, Tour

DAYS
Ixiii.

Pat to his neckcloth gave an air In style, and a la militaire His pocket too a kerchief bore With scented water sprinkled o'er Thus BANGED-UP, sweeten'd, and clean
;
;

THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch. he might be so bold as to carry on the Eastern metaphor, he would say,
1855.

knowing the excellence of the Colonel's claret and the splendour of his hosa cocoapitality, that he would prefer

The

shav'd, sage the dinner-table braved.

sw&s.

nut day at the Colonel's to a BANYAN-

BANGY,

(Winchester College).
'

'Brown

sugar.

From Ban-

galore, a once coarse-growing sugar country. Colour of brown sugar Adj. brown trousers. e.g. BANGY BAGS, These were also called BANGIES.
,

DAY anywhere else. 1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. [From Strolling Players' bill.] WOOLDRIDGE'S THEATRE. Wanted 700 men, to man that splendid first-class Frigate, The Theatre,' commanded by A. J Wooldridge, now lying
'
.

at

her moorings, in Cheapside. Mr. Wooldridge, with all due respects to his brother Tars, hopes they will lend a hand to man his Vessel. He cannot

Banjo.
offer

120

Bank-Sneak.
shaver from a sailor's point of view being a man who is cute and possibly unscrupulous from the unpleasant operation of shaving on board ship when
crossing the
line.

Ale, but he will a promise of his unfeigned thanks and gratitude for this and past favours, with his hearty good wishes for the prosperity of the Town and Trade of

them a barrel of

make them

Brighton that his Shipmates, wherever bound, may set sail with fair wind and have good passage that they may never short allowance BANYAN DAYS; or a
; ;

southerly wind in the Bread Basket.

A bedBANJO, subs, (common). pan also called a FIDDLE or SLIPPER (q.v.) the latter from
;

an

improved

shape

which

allows of its being slipped in without disturbing the patient.

BANK,

subs,

(common).
;

A lump
To secure;

sum

of

money

one's fortune.
i.

Verb (thieves').

to obtain (in a pilfering sense). To put in a place of 2.

safety.
3.

BANKSIDE LADIES, subs. phr. (old). Ladies of more complaisance than virtue. BANKSIDE, Southwark, was once the fashionable theatrical quarter of London. There stood once the Globe, the Swan, the Rose, and the Hope On the boards of the theatres. first-named originally appeared most of Shakspeare's plays. In Old London the neighbourhoods of the principal theatres appear to have been noted for
anything
but
vestal
virtue.

To go

shares; to divide

Covent Garden and Drury Lane, like BANKSIDE, have entered

largely into the vicious slang of

fairly

with confederates. Millbank prison. 4. (prison.) A nswcrs, May 25, p. 412. We 1889.

approached our destination, Millbank the BANK in a convict's parlance.

the past. 1638. RANDOLPH, Muses' LookingGlass, O. PL, 9., 206. Come, I will send for a whole coach or two of BANKSIDE LADIES, and we will be jovial.

BANKERS, subs. (old). Clumsy now called boots and shoes

;

BANK-SNEAK,

51/65.

beetle-crushers.
generally,
see

For synonyms TROTTER-CASES.

variety of the genus thief who confines his attention to bank robberies. Smart, clever, welldressed, they usually work in gangs, two or three confederates being employed as cover whilst the leader does the work.

(American).

BANK SHAVING,

subs. phr. (American. Before banks were regulated by Act of Congress, a

practice prevailed among the least reputable of such institutions of purchasing notes of hand and similar documents at enormously usurious rates of discount. Many were the facilities for sharp practice of every kind. Such banks were called shaving banks, and the unforturaised nate wretch who thus the wind was said to GET HIS PAPER SHAVED. The origin of the phrase may be looked for
'

In

large towns considerable finesse is exhibited by these men in effecting their purpose but in the more thinly populated districts polish and ruse are abandoned in favour of The more drastic methods.
;

BANK-SNEAK of the West pursues his depredations more as

a bandit; his
city
confrere
is

'

more

adroit,
see

and therefore
AREA-SNEAK.

in-

finitely

more dangerous.

For

in

maritime

nomenclature,

synonyms,

Banner.
1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Feb. 16. Buffalo officers to-day picked out from a batch of Erie convicts Watt N. Jones,

121

Bar.
Appended are a few examples of its use when knocking for admittance at the doors
bastard.
of the dictionaries.

the notorious BANK-SNEAK and burglar so widely known professionally in every city of the United States and Canada.

BANNER,
boys').

subs.

The money

(American

news-

paid for

1593. DRAYTON, Eclog., vii., 102. Lovely Venus smiling to see her wanton BANTLINGS game. 1635. QUARLES, Emblems, II., viii.
. . .

board and lodging

at the homes frequented by these flying mercuries. The origin of the term
is

unknown.

See how the dancing bells turn round ... to please my BANTLING. 1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch. xlvii. That he may at once deliver himself from the importunities of the mother and the suspense of her BANT(1718), 93.
'

BANT, verb (common.) To follow the dietary prescribed by Mr. Banting. See BANTING.
subs. BANTING, (common). A course of diet by which fat people seek to reduce their bulk. It consists in strictly discarding as food all articles known to favour the development of adipose tissue. It was introduced about the year 1864 by a Mr. W. Banting hence the name.

LING.' 1751. ch. Ixxx.

'

SMOLLETT, Peregrine
' . .

Pickle,
.

Let the BANTLINGS,' said

and she, be sent to the hospital a small collection be made for the present support of the mother."
1758. GOLDSMITH, Essays, x. Who follow the camp, and keep up with the line of march, though loaded with BANTLINGS and other baggage.
xxi.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. to a gipsy, to carry Sell

'

me

pots, pans,

and beggars BANTLINGS.'

BANTY,

adj.
;

The

dietary the use of butcher's meat prin-

recommended was

Saucy

(American impudent.

thieves').

cipally,

beer,

and abstinence from farinaceous food, and

Also figuratively, vegetables. to reduce in any way. 1864. Times, 12 Aug., 4. The classics seemed to have undergone a successful
course of BANTING.

BAPTISED or CHRISTENED, ppl. adj. Mixed with water (old) spirits and wines are said to be BAPTISED when diluted. The
.

French equivalent
also baptise.

is

chrt-tien

He

Miss BRADDON, Only a Clod, She was a rigid disciplinarian of p. 114. the school formed by Mr. BANTING. A parlour where all the Ibid, p. 113. furniture seemed to have undergone a
1868.

1636. HEALEY, Theophrastus, 46. wil give his best friends his BAPTIZED

wine.

prolonged course of BANTING.

1883.
col.
2.

Knowledge, 27 July, BANTINGISM excludes

p.

49,

beer,

butter,

and sugar.

BANTLING, subs. (old). A young, This word, or small child. once slang, is now a received dictionary word. It is stated in Bacchus and Venus [1737], and by Grose, to be a cant term. It was formerly synonymous with

BAR, verb and prep, (colloquial and i. Used as a verb BAR racing). signifies to exclude to prohibit also to object to- a person or Its lineage is of unaction. doubted respectability, but its usage is now but little removed As a prefrom the vulgar. position it is synonymous with mainly used in except
;
; ' '
'

racing
one.
c.
ii.,
1

e.g.,

Four

to

one BAR

1598.
207.

2,

SHAKSPEARE, M. of Venice, AK to-night: Nay, but I

Baragan
you
shall not
1672.

Tailor.

122

Barber's Chaiv.
be BARBERISED. Tradition relates that a learned barber was at one time frequently employed as a scapegoat in working oft this species of punishment inflicted on peccant students hence the expression. A story
ben trovato esd non
e

gauge

me by what we do
in a

to-night.

Wood, wks. III. (1712), 382. That were as hard as to BAR a young parson in the pulpit, the fifth of November, railing at the

WYCHERLEY, Love

Church

of

1697.

What I have in my mind, out it comes but BAR that; I'se an honest lad as well as another.
:

Rome. VANBRUGH, dlsop,

Act

ii.

vero

THAT'S THE BARBER.

A street

FOOTE, Taste, Act ii. I don't suppose now, but, BARRING the nose, Roubiliac could cut as good a head every
1752.

whit.
I 1818. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. iii. 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.'
'

catch-phrase, says Grose, about the year 1760. There is nothing new under the sun not even
;

idiotic
cries,

and wearisome street which so many good phi-

lologists

the
'

1836.
483.

DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. lv., Til bet you ten guineas to five,
'

THAT'S THE
1

deplore as a sign of depravity of the times.

'

E.e cuts his throat,' said

'
!

Wilkins Flasher, Done,' replied Mr. Simmery. Esquire. said Wilkins I BAR,' Flasher, Stop Perhaps he may Esquire, thoughtfully.
'

BARBER, like and Who's your hatter ? How's your poor feet ? meant
'
'

nothing, save a general and indefinite

hang

himself.'
2.

comment on any action, ALL SEmeasure, or thing.

RENE!
'

(American
;

thieves'.)

To

(q.v.)

is

presumably

its

stop

to cease. Obviously an attributive meaning of the legi-

nearest modern street equivalent.

timate word.
3.

BARBER'S-CAT,
sickly

sz^s.(old).

A weak,

(American colloquial.)

spurious verb, the signification of which is derived from the Thus a tippler drinking-bar. is said TO BAR too much when given to inordinate drinking.

In looking individual. French such a person is called un faiblard and un astec, the latter an allusion to the Mexican dwarfs. According to used Hotten, the term is also
'

BARAGAN TAILOR, subs, (tailors'). A rough-working tailor.

in connexion with an expression too coarse to print.'

To BARB BARB, verb (old cant). gold was heretofore a cant term The for clipping or shaving it.
modern term
is

BARBER'S-CHAIR, subs. (old). A a strumpet. prostitute a drab So called from a BARBER'S; ;

CHAIR being
comers.

common

to

all

TO SWEAT

(q.v.).

[Apparently from to BARBER, to shave or trim.]

1610.

BEN JON SON,

Alchemist,

I.,

i.

be remembered that Shakspeare in All's Well [ii., 2.] likens an all-embracing a answer to a question to BARBER'S-CHAIR that fits all
It will
'

Ay, and perhaps thy neck within a noose, for laundring gold, and BARB-

ING

it.

the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock.'

buttocks

BARBER,

verb- (University). impositions are worked off by deputy they are said to

1621.

BURTON, Anatomy
iv.,
i,
iii.

of Melan665.

When

choly,

III.

(1651),

notorious strumpet as BARBER'S-CHAIR. [M.]

common

as

Barbels-Clerk.
1708.

123

Barge.
them
for symbols (cymbals) we made BARBER'S MUSIC.

MOTTEUX,
v.

Rabelais' Pantagr.,

Bonarobaes. CHAIRS, hedge whores.

Prognost.

BARBER'S-

BAREFOOTED ON THE Top OF ONE'S

BARBER'S-CLERK, subs, (common). A term of reproach generally by mechanics and applied to artisans overdressed and vaunting clerks and shopmen. In a secondary sense it is used
of anyone over-particular in his

HEAD, phr. (American). Baldheaded. The application of the

simile is obvious.

BARGAIN.
phr.

SELLING A BARGAIN,

(old).

species of

low

personal appearance
'

The

oh, he's just come from the barber's,' and one of Truefitt's young men are com-

wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen

phrases

'

'

mon

enough.
' ' !

DICKENS, Sketches by Bos, screamed a third. Tailor p. 155. 'BARBER'S-CLERK!' shouted a fourth. Throw him O-VER roared a fifth. [D.]
1835.
1
' !

is of much It ancient is usage. frequently alluded to by Swift, who remarks that the maids of honor often amused themselves

Anne, but which

more

'

BARBER'S

Music, subs. (old). Harsh and roughly discordant music. Barber's shops were formerly places of great resort, and the old plays are full of
references
to the means by which customers, while wait-

with it.' If so, it seems incredible and one would say so much maids of the worse for the honor.' It is thus described person would come into a room full of company, appa; '
:

A
'

rently in a fright, crying out, It is white, and follows me On any of the company asking what ? the bargain was sold by
' !

ing their turn, wiled away the time. Amongst other things it was usual to provide a cittern, a musical instrument similar to

a guitar, upon which any who chose could try their skill.

Many of the old proverbs refer to this circumstance. Ben Jonson in The Silent Woman [iii., 5] makes Morose say of his wife whom his barber had recommended, I have married his cittern that is common to all and Matheo, in The men
'

speaker naming a cerportion of the body. In another, and happily more decent form, this somewhat senseless sell still has a vogue. This slang expression and practice was apparently well known to
the
first

tain

'

'

Shakspeare, who makes Costard use it in Love's Labour Lost

[Act
sold
iii.,

him a

The Sc. i] bargain."

' ,

boy hath

'

A BARGE, subs, (printers'). i. case in which there is an un' '

Honest Whore, speaks of a barber's citterne for every serving man to play upon. Therefore,
it is little

due proportion of some letters, and a corresponding shortness of those which are most valuable.
2. The term among printers

wonder that BARBER'S MUSIC should be synonymous with discord.

is

also applied

to

a card or
in
'

lord 1660. PEPYS, June 5. called for the lieutenant's cittern, and with two candlesticks with money in

My

small
'

box
'

on

or

which

spaces are put while correcting formes away from case,'

Barge-Arse.
Verb.
C/.,
is,

124

Bark.
2 Dec., p. 80,
off his stick.

BULLYRAG.

of

To abuse to slang. The allusion course, to the rough mode

;

1876. Family Herald, With the BARK all i. from a blow with a hockey
col.

shins

of speaking peculiar to bargees or bargemen.

1861. dent, p. 102. to BARGE the "his coffee

3.

(colloquial.)

Cf., verb,

To

cough.
2.

BARK, sense

ALBERT SMITH, Medical StuWhereupon they all began

'

i. Verb. off the skin

To
;

scrape; or rub

to abraise.

master at once

one saying

was

all

snuff and chick-

weed."'

(Uppingham
knock

come

School.) against a person into collision with.

subs,

To
;

1856. HUGHES, Tom Brown's Schooldays, p. 227. So, after getting up [the tree] three or four feet, down they came slithering to the ground, BARKING their

to

arms and
1859.
p. 18.

faces.

The knuckles

Macmillan's Magazine, Nov.,

of his right

hand
It, p.

BARGE-ARSE,

man

or

woman

(common). A of rotund de-

were BARKED.
1872.

velopment BARGE, a
tock.]

at the back.

[From

clumsy

vessel,

ARSE, O.K.,

low term of ridicule. Also used as an adjective, BARGE-ARSED.

BARGE-POLE,
subs.

posterior or but-

(Routledge's ed.). Every time we avalanched from one end of the stage to the other, the Unabridged Dictionary would come too and, every time it came, it damaged somebody. One trip it BARKED the Secretary's elbow the next trip it hurt me in the stomach, and the third, it tilted Bemis's nose up till he could look down his nostrils he said.
16
'
'

MARK TWAIN, Roughing

2.

To cough;
when
it

College). bough, of which there was one in each fagot. Also generally used for any large piece of wood.

(Winchester

generally appersistent

large stick or thick

plied

is

and

hacking.

THE WORD WITH THE BARK

WithIT, phr. (American). out mincing the matter without circumlocution.
;

ON

BARK, subs, (common). i. Irishman or Irishwoman.

An
C/.,

1872.

BARKSHIRE.
Notes and Queries, 4 S., in., In Lancashire an Irishman is vulgarly called a BARK. 1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 191. Mike when
1869.

If ever another man gives a chap. xv. whistle to a child of mine, and I get my hands on him, I will hang him higher

MARK TWAIN, Roughing

It,

406.

than

Haman

That

is

THE WORD WITH

THE BARK ON

IT.

asked by some of his countrymen wKy he called Fairbanks a BARK,' i.e., an If I had not put the Irishman, said, bark' on him he would have put it on me, so I had the first pull.'
'
'

'

TO TAKE THE BARK OFF, phr. To reduce in value, (popular). either deliberately, or by accident a figurative usage of to to take the skin off.' graze,
'

'

2.

The

skin.

also

dialectically.

This occurs In Alan

it is

1849.
p. 310. I

DICKENS, David
rode

Copperfield,

my

Ramsay's poems [1758]

used.

so

to the wheel, that

leg against it and TOOK THE BARK OFF, as his owner toki me, to the tune of three

gallant grey so close grazed his near fore-

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xx., p. 209. To the great detriment of what is called by fancy gentlemen the BARK upon his shins, which were most

pun' sivin.
1853. REV. ED. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert Bede'), Further Adventures of Verdant

Green, p. 31.

That'll

unmercifully
leather

bumped

against the hard

and the iron buckles.

FROM your nozzle, and pink for you, won't it ?

TAKE THE BARK distil the Dutch

Barker.

125

Barker.
acts: Act i., a word; Act ii., a flash of blue lightning and Act iii., certain death); 'whistler'
;

TO BARK AT THE MOON

;

(col;

To clamour uselessly loquial). to labour to agitate to no effect

TAYLOR'S Workes. And thus and comparisons end tofor thus much I know, that I gether have but all this while BARK'D AT THE feathers against the throwne MOONE, winde, built upon the sands, vsash'd a laboured in vaine. and blackmore,
1630.

(from the sharp hissing sound of a bullet in its flight) peace' ;

my

booke
;

maker
onings

'

(a sarcastic

commentary
'

on the proverb that

make
;

long

short reckfriends )
'

dag

pop
:

etc.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un aboyeur

a literal translation of barker'; also 'a tout'); unpitroux in the old Provencal, (thieves' pitrou bore the sense of a piece of wood or stick, and it is possible that French thieves have here merely transferred the name from one weapon to
(popular
' :

BARKER,
pistol.

subs,

(popular).

i.

assailant, i.e., one who barks like a dog.] Sometimes called

[From BARKER, a noisy

(q .v .)

BARKING IRON
ter,

The

lat-

as far as is known, is the An early use oldest term. of BARKERS bears date of 1815, whilst BARKING IRON occurs in

Parker's Life's Painter, 1789.

SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch. asked the Justice. Ay, ay, they are never without BARKERS and slashers.'
1815. xxxiii.
'

Had he no arms ?
'

'

1837. DICKENS, ' BARKERS for xxii.

Oliver Twist,

ch.

me, Barney,' said

are,' replied pair of pistols.

Toby

Crackit.

'

Here they

Barney, producing a 1857. C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, ch. xxiv. I'll give you five for those pistols being rather a knowing one about the pretty little BARKERS.
. . .

another) unpetouze (a play upon words. In the old cant petouze signified the ancient coin known as a pistole) un bayafe (thieves' formerly baillaf, a term employed by the robbers who infested the highways of Southern France. It is thought to be derived from two words bailler, to give, and affe or rather a/re, un mandolet signifying fear)
; ;
:

(thieves' ) pied de cochon (milia pig's foot ; literally tary

; '

'

ENGLISH SYNONYMS.

'

Meat

in the pot.' (A Texan term, alluding to the means by which meat is literally provided for the

pot.

Texan

are often
originality

figures startling

of speech

a variety of weapon of large un crucifix or size and calibre) un crucifix a ressort (thieves' a crucifix,' or a cruliterally cifix with a spring ) un soufflant
; : '
'

'

enough

in

(thieves':
les

souffle t

= to

whisper);

and sententiousness. Nor is the moral ingenuity revealed by this vernacular less
striking; e.g., when revolvers are said to make all men equal. ') Other synonyms for revolvers of similar character are 'my unconverted friend 'a oneeyed scribe (an argument al'

burettes (thieves'
:

and popu-

lar

literally 'phials').

(common.) A man employed to stand in front of shops

2.

and shows

'

'

ways persuasive and sometimes

blue lightning unanswerable) (sometimes a tragedy in three
'

'

to attract the attention of passers-by and if possible to entice them inside, where he can safely leave them to the tender mercies of the salesmen. The origin of the term is obvious and, it is interesting to note that BARKER has its exact
,

Barker.
equivalent in the French aboyeur. Amongst touting photographers,
in

126

Barkshire.
5.

See quotation, as follows

low neighbourhoods,

1879.

this in-

GREENWOOD,

Outcasts of Lon-

dividual is called a DOORSMAN, and the term is likewise applied to auction-room touts.
1748.

BARKER

(s.),

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). a salesman's servant that

to

But what was barking ? i thought a great deal about the matter, and could arrive at no more feasible conclusion than that a BARKER was a boy that attended a drover, and helped him to drive his sheep by means of imitating the bark of a dog.
don.

walks before his door, tomers in to buy cloaths.

invite cus-

man

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of BARKER. The shopVulgar Tongue. of a dealer in second-hand clothes,

the

A noisy and, in a complimentary sense, a great

6. (University.) assertive individual
;

swell.
7.

particularly about walks before his

Monmouth
'

St.,

who

shop and deafens passenger with his cries ot clothes, coats, or gowns, what d'ye want
every
'

(American.)
;

A
bully.

noisy

coward a blatant

gemmen, what d'ye buy

1828.

JON. BEE, Picture of London, Mock-auctions and p. 109. selling-off are not the only pests where shops BARKERS are kept at the doors to invite
'
'

BAR KEY (nautical). A term of endearment in use amongst seafaring men when speaking of a vessel to which they have got

unwary passengers
sale just begun.'
1888.

to

'

walk

in,

walk

in,

attached.

'

She's a BARKEY
'
!

she

is,

Texas Siftings, Oct. 13. I am a BARKER by profession. The pedestrian agility required to pace up and down before the Half-dime Museum of Anatomy and Natural History,' solicit'

my

lads

BARKING-IRONS,
Pistols.
C/.,

snbs.

(thieves').

ing

enormous
hit is

passers-by to enter, is of itself but where it gets in its base when it increases the appetite.
;

BARKER, sense i. BARKING-IRON is, historically, an older term than BARKER by

Formerly applied,
1789.
p. 173.

McGinty knows

this.

McGinty

is

my

friend, but I wouldn't serve a tenth of his unexpired terms for ten dollars. I

about a quarter of a century. in the navy,

GEO. PARKER,
Life's Painter,

to large duelling pistols.

Pistols,

have peddled clams with McGinty and have seen him eat three bushels of our stock. That is nothing. When the show isn't paying, I have to go out and eat grass. This shows you what nickelplated, back-action appetites
3.

BARKING-IRONS.

we

have.

H. 1834. bk. II., ch. vi.

touch-hole, or

AINSWORTH,
'

Rookwood,

And

look you, prick the

your BARKING-IRON will

never bite

with a troublesome cough his complaint is otherwise known as a CHURCHYARD COUGH,' or a NOTICE TO QUIT' (q.v.).
; '
'

A man

for you.'

BARKING THROUGH THE FENCE, phr. (American). A taking advantage of some obstacle or shield for saying or doing something, which, but for such protection, would not be said or done or which if done or said might
;

4.

(nautical.)

used as
pistol,

designation
is

Besides being for a

also

BARKER

ployed for board ship.

emlower deck guns on

entail unpleasant

consequences
doer.

upon the sayer or

BARKSHIRE,
land.
See
51/65.

1842. COOPER, Jack O' Lanthprne, I., Four more carronades with two 151. BARKERS for'ard.

(common). BARK.

Ire-

Bark up Wrong

Tree.

I2 7

Barnacles.
b.

BARK UP THE WRONG TREE, verbal phr. (American). Of trapper and pioneer derivation, and
,

1809, d. 1870.

Hall. The man that stood beside thee is old Crookfinger, the most notorious setter, BARNACLE and foist in the city.
2.

MARK LEMON,

Leyton

idiomatically used to signify that a person is at fault as to his purpose, or the means by

(old.)

good job,

snack
3.

which he
attain
his

is

endeavouring to

easily got. Balatronicum (1811).

(old.)

or Lexicon

this way pression the Western huntsman found that his prey gradually became more and more wily and cunning in eluding pursuit, and frequently he and his dogs
:

object. arose in

The

exto

gratuity given

grooms by the buyers and

were

at
'

fault,
'

supposing they

had

treed

their

game when

of horses. Lexicon Balatronicum (1811). A constant atten4. (old.) dant he who, or that which sticks to one like a barnacle to a ship's bottom.
sellers
;

in reality, especially in the case of opossums and squirrels and

1607.

wks., 1873,
1868.

yong BARNICLES.
Serpent,
I., i., 7.

DEKKER, Northward Hoe III., He cashiere all my III., 39.

!

[M.]

such - like animals, it had escaped by jumping from the boughs of one tree to another. The dogs consequently were
left

Miss BRADDON, Trail

of the

Slopper found him a

difficult to

species of

BARNACLE rather
(old
;

shake

off.

BARKING UP THE

WRONG
8.

TREE.
1835.
'

Richmond Enquirer, Sep.

didn't really go to old Bullion,' politician to an office-seeker, Why, he has no influence there, I can You BARKED UP THE WRONG tell you. TREE there, my friend, and you deserve

You

said
'

A decoy cant.) from the pertinacity with which such a one fastens on to a victim and will not be shaken off until the purpose in view is effected. Cf., senses i and 4.
5.

swindler

1591.

to

fail.'

Coosnage
Detroit Free Press, Oct.

(1859), 23.

GREENE, Notable Discovery of Thus doth the Verser

1888.

Pro-

When we left Xenia, O., the Sheriff patted us on the back and lent us half-aare the only man in this town who doesn't turn pale when the stage comes in, and the only one who doesn't break for the sage brush when it is announced that the United States ain't rich or Marshal is here. pretty, but we are good, and the Prodollar.

Rose who 'hit' this town last is around calling us a fugitive from justice, and asking why the police don't do something. Gently, Professor.
fessor

spring

We

wks. (1885) III., 131. He that .before counterfeited the dronken Bernard is now sober and called the BARNACLE.
. .

and the Setter feign a kind friendship to the Cony ... As thus they sit tippling, corns the BARNACKLE and thrusts open the doore steps back again: and very mannerly saith I cry you mercy, Gentlemen. I thoght a frend of mine had bin heere. 1608. DEKKER, Belman of London,
.
. .

We

6.

(old.)

An

individual
;

fessor is

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.

speaking with a nasal twang one who speaks through his

nose.
1591. PERCIVALL, Sp. Dictionary. Gango, a BARNACLE, one that speaketh through the nose, Chenolopex. [Chenalopex in Pliny, a species of goose.J [M.]

BARNABY.

To DANCE BARNABY,
;

To move phr. (popular). expeditiously irregularly.

BARNACLE,
subs,

A
see

(old

cant).

I.

pickpocket.

For synonyms,

BARNACLES,
Spectacles.

subs,

AREA SNEAK.

(popular).

i.

Fprmerly applied

Barnacles.
only
to spectacles with side pieces of coloured glass, and used more as protectors from wind, dust, and glaring light than as aids to the sight.

128

Bavnet Pair.
quotation usage is
:

illustrative

of

the

ch.

Hence used popularly

for

all

1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, i. Give me the BARNACLES, my good youth, and who can say what nose they may bestride in two years hence ?
' '

kinds of glasses. The derivaThe seems uncertain. tion

origins suggested principal of binoare (i) a corruption culis [from Latin bini, double,
:

ENGLISH
'Bossers';
'

SYNONYMS.
'gig-lamps';
is
'

goggles.'
'

man wearing
sometimes
(q.v.).

these aids to sight called FOUR EYES

+ oculus, an eye] (2) an attributive Usage Of BARNACLES, horse-twitchers which, with or 'brakes,' are tools put on the nostrils of horses when they will not stand still to be shooed
; ' ' ;

FRENCH
persiennes

SYNONYMS.
:

Les

(popular
:

properly
'

v Urine

and in support of this it has been pointed out [N. and Q.,
the figure of the BARNACLE borne in heraldry the shows why sufficiently term has been transferred to
i

shutters'); une a (popular literally shop window,' or glass case in a museum).

2.

'Venetian

(old

cant.)

See

quotaed.).

S., v., 13]

tion.
1748.

T. DYCHE, Dictionary
;

(5

which were formerly only kept in position by the manner in which they clipped the nose; (3) that BARNACLES are so called from the similarity in shape to the black streak which proceeds from the upper part of the beak in a line to the corner of, and right round the eye of the bernicle, or BARNACLE
spectacles,

BARNACLES (s.) .... in the Canting Language, a pair of spectacles also the irons or fetters worn by felons are so called also the gratuity or reward that jockies have for buying horses for
;

gentlemen.

BARNDOOR,

subs,

(sporting).
;

i.

facetious term for a target too large to be missed i.e., as large as a BARNDOOR. Hence BARNDOOR PRACTICE as applied to

goose (Anser bernicla). There is a strong resemblance in the mark to a pair of spectacles.
Pythias (Dodsley's These Hazlett IV., 81. spectales put on. Grim. They be gay the see never better. I BARNACLES, yet
1571.

game

Damon and

organised battues, in which is driven within a range from which it is impossible to This can hardly be escape. called sport rather let it be
;

Old

known
2.

as

'

Plays),

slaughter.'

(cricket.)

player

who

1653.

SIR

THOMAS

URQUHART,
bk.
V.,

blocks every ball.

Translation
xxvii.

of Rabelais,

ch.

They had BARNACLES on

the

handles of their faces, or spectacles at most.

BARNET! intj. (Christ's Hospital). Nonsense humbug Now

!

obsolete.

The
tacles

difference between specand BARNACLES seems to

BARNET

FAIR,
;

subs,

(thieves').

be indicated in this passage. In the original French the phrase

reads
'

The
see

hair

part of the

RHYMING

SLANG

bezicles

au

nez.'

(q-v.}.

later

TOP DRESSING.

For synonyms

Barney.
BARNEY,
I. (popular). varies in sense according to the predelictions of

129

Barnumese.
this season on the Transatlantic waters, though exhibitions and BARNEY contests have been plentiful.
3.

subs,

word which

the person using it. Generally speaking it means a jollification 'lark' pleasurable outing pic;

(American.)

At Harvard

College, about the year 1810, this word was used to designate

and roughs of London, however, always associate it with a certain amount Its derivation is of rowdyism. Barrere unknown, although gives a long dissertation connic.

The

'Arries

a bad recitation.

To BARNEY

HALL'S badly. College Words and Customs.

was
to
recite

cerning its origin in the Yiddish. As, however, this is founded mainly upon a misreading of a quotation from Punch, it is somewhat beside the mark.
2.

BARN-MOUSE. To BE BITTEN BY A BARN-MOUSE, phr. (old). To be The 'screwed.' tipsy;

Lexicon Balatronicum says it is probably an allusion to barley,' presumably as the source of
'

malt
'

liquor.
'

Cf.,

'To HAVE

Humbug;
it

cheating;

a
cir-

ON Or WEAR A BARLEY-CAP,' to be tipsy also BARLEY-CAP =

;

hoax; something pre-arranged

not genuine.
cles
signifies

In sporting

a tippler.

an unfair race of
II., 19.

BARN-STORMER,

subs,

any kind.
1865.
I

(theatrical).

deprecatory epithet applied

B. BRIERLEY, Irkdale,
i'

won

thee

fair

powell one toss an' no

BARNEY.
1882.
col.
6.

Evening News, 2 Sept., p. i, Blackguardly BARNEYS called

[M.]

to strolling players. 1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 6 June, p. 5, be BARN-STORMING, col. i. If this Betterton and Garrick were BARN-

STORMERS.
1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. Travelling players who acted short and highly tragic pieces to audiences of clodpoles in any barn or shed they could get, used to be known as BARNSTORMERS, and a ranting, noisy style of acting and speaking is still called barn'

boxing competitions.

Murray gives this last in illustration of the secondary sense which he applies to the word,
a prize-fight. BARNEY, it is does signify a prize-fight, but it means more than that. A fair contest would not be so named there must be an eleviz.,

true,

storming.'
1887. Referee, 21 August, p. 3, col. i. Mr. Edward Terry has again been elected

ment of chicanery
ter.

in the

mat-

at the head of the poll as trustee of the He is not the charities of Barnes.
first

clev

actor

who has been known

for

Besides
to

which,

BARNEY

as a

BARNES-STORMER.

unfair sporting is applied competitions of any kind. A comparison of the different quotations given under this heading will clearly prove that point.
1884.

The French term

such a troupe

one of

is cabotin.

BARNUMESE,

subs.

(American).

would believe that Mr. Gladstone ill, and that Sir Andrew Clark issued false bulletins, and that the whole thing was a BARNEY from

Who

Referee, April 13, p.

7,

col. 4.

Barnum, the proprietor of 'the greatest show upon earth,' has

at

shammed being

beginning to end.
1885.
Bell's Life, Jan.
3,

any rate one claim to imfame in having, like Boycot, Burke, and Balfour, added a new word to the
mortal
English
falutin,"

p.

3, col. 4.

Few

genuine matches have taken place

The high tongue. bombastic style of the 9

'

Baronet.
great man's announcements are notorious as much so, in fact, as is the diction of the great
;

130

Barrack-Hack.
is

both
in

long

and grim

the

names

London newspaper which claims

the largest circulation in the world.' From such circumstances we get words like BAR'

cases speaking volumes on a subject which it would be painful as well as needless to pursue farther in this place, inasmuch as the

many

telegraphese, to signify exaggeration of style what in slang parlance is known as the putting on of
'

NUMESE and

epithets both in French and English, and, it must be added, those of other languages as well, speak with a brutal

side.'

Verb. To BARNUMIZE is to talk or assert oneself in the style popularly attributed to

cynicism to which it would be out of place to add a comment. ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Ladies
of accommodating morals; ladies of more complaisance than virtue anonyma pretty horse;
;

Barnum.
BARONET,
1749.

subs. (old).

A humorous

breaker
crack
virtue
;

variation for sirloin [of beef].

FIELDING,
ch. x.

common Jack
;

The

him dumb, permitting him only to say grace, and to declare he must pay his

bk. IV., sight of the roast beef struck

Tom Jones,

artichoke columbine convenient cow aunt ladies of easy; ; ; ; ;

respects to the BARONET, for so he called the sirloin.

BARRACK-HACK, subs, (familiar). i. In an inoffensive sense

applied to young women who attend garrison balls year after So used there is no year.

such imputation of lax morals

as occurs in sense
2.
2.

bangster blowen garrison-hack bat bawdy-basket o' bit bed-fagot fireship muslin laced mutton mot bobtail bona roba brevet wife grass widow brimstone black Bess brown Bessy bulker bunter burick buttock cab moll cat chauvering donna chauvering moll barber's chair demi-rep tartlet trollop; shake;
;
;

poll

dolly-mop
;
;

gay
-

woman
lodger

unfortunate

dress
;

soldier's

There are but

persons

prostitute. few classes of

mauks

woman

quaedam
;

(obsolete)

bitch
;

to whom a greater of slang epithets have been applied than to the poor

number

public ledger ing-pan nun.

;

perfect necessary;

lady

warmUne
vial

FRENCH
persilleuse

SYNONYMS.
(familiar)
' : ;
;

wretched creatures,

who from

une

choice, bad-treatment, or as a means of subsistence abandon themselves to a life of prostitution. These names are to be found in plenty for all grades of semi-public or public women.

peignce

dressed
'

woman
)
;

(popular
une

a dirty illdrab; ordrag-

They run
from
to
last

the

the gilded the veriest drab

gauntlet courtezan
in

the

moellonneuse (a prostitute who frequents builders' yards) hirondelle de gogitenot a barrack-hack in (military French soldiers' slang un goguenot is a tin can used for making coffee or soup) un chausson
gletail
;
' ' :

stages of destitution and The list of synonyms disease,

'

(literally

a sock or stocking
'

'

'

almanack

de

trente

six

mille

Barrack-Hack.
adf esses
'

Barrack-Hack.
'

(popular
;

literally
'

a
:

directory. Cf., English publicune gcnisse (popular ledger )

'

telas
'

the Bois de Boulogne) ; un maambulant (popular properly

:

a walking mattress."
'
'

Cf.,

Eng-

literally
'

heifer.'
'

Cf.,

English
(popu'
;

cow
:

'

line

rciccrocheiise

lar raccrocher, to hook ) line vache a lait (popular literally

: '

milch
'

cow

'

;
' :

macadam (popular
;

une flew de a roadside

'

flower 'a street walker ) in old une roulante (popular French slang tin roulant a
;
:

bed-fagot ) une demoiselle Pont-Neitf (popular this kind haunt the bridge of the name over the Seine) un demi-castor (popular a woman of the demimonde); une laqueuse (familiar a prostitute frequenting the lake in the Bois de Boulogne) une
lish
;

dit

pailletee
1

(common
;

properly
:

vehicle.

Cf.,

English 'cab');
:

une camelote (popular a prostitute of the lowest class a une movue (popudraggletail) lar a cod-fish ) literally une marcheuse (popular properly a walker in theatrical parune lance, a female super)
;
; ' '
:

spangled ') un pelican (familiar une ningle a dressy courtesan)

;

(a literary

term)
'

une maquillce

(popular
'

one

with painted
:

'

'

une gueuse (popular face ) gueuse beggarly, wretched) une fille or femme du trottoir
;

piqueuse de trains (popular

one
;

who prowls about

tions. Piqueuse
girl
'

railway sta:

needlewoman)

un pigeon voyageur (familiar

who

travels

up and down
;
' ;

a a

railway seeking clients

:

literally

a carrier pigeon ) une pieuvre a kept woman pro(familiar perly an octopus ) un carcan a crinoline (popular carcan, applied to either sex is an opprobrious epithet the phrase also a gaunt-woman ) signifies un omnibus i.e., (popular: one who may be ridden by
;
'

une vieille an old worngarde (familiar biche out une prostitute) a hind or roe ') (popular a une dehanchee (popular une demi-mondaine waddler ') (general a woman of the demi')
;
:

a girl (popular of the pavement

'

'

or

'

woman

'

'

'

'

monde;
'

fashionable
'
'

prosti:

'

tute); une portion (military

liter'

ally

who
slug
sort

a share or portion is shared by many)

: ;

one
'

limace
')

'

'

une a properly (popular une terrinicre (the lowest

;

of

'

earthen pan)

prostitute une
;

terrine

terreuse

(a

'

proune a dirty bottom ) perly an allusion to trychine (popular trichina spiralis, the disease-germ une fenetriere in bad pork) an allusion to the (popular custom of this class to watch at
)
;

all

tin

cul

crotte

(low
'

woman

who
; ;

prowls

'

une lonely spots) une fille a parties (popular) (popular) une rivette une voirie
;

about tenure

a common sewer ') (popular une boule rouge (familiar a frequenter of the Quartier de la
' :

windows and
to
visit
:

invite passers-by
;

Boule Rouge, Fanbourg Montmartre) une vessie (popular a very low prostitute vessie ap; : ;

une tralneuse them) (familiar a prostitute who plies at her trade railway stations) un trumeau (popular literally une crevette a leg of beef )
;
: '

'

'

(popular

a prawn or shrimp")

'

'

;
'

une boulonnaise (a girl

who walks
'

plied to either sex is an offenune demoiselle de sive epithet) bitume (familiar) un pont d''Avigune pontonniere non (popular) (popular a prostitute who plies
; ; ; :

Barrack -Hack.
her trade under the arches of bridges ponton = pontoon, a bridge of boats pontonnier a toll gatherer ') line polisseuse a de tuyaux de pipe (literally une polisher of pipe stems ')
' ;

132

Barrack-Hack.
r

(familiar: prostitute

a" 'kind

of

semi-

a sempstress
'

who
;

'

'

'

walks the streets at night in work their own words, they for their living, but do the
naughty
une
fille

(familiar prounc funeral pomp ') perly polissense de mats de cocagne en

:

pompe funebre
'

their clothes ) for de maison or une fille a

;

'

numcro

chambre (popular an extremely degraded variety of prostitute a polisher of greasy literally une pitnaise poles in a room ') a bug a public (general woman of the lowest grade) une dessalee (popular literally a knowing woman ') une mangeuse a dede viande erne (popular vourer of raw meat ') une cite d' amour a city of (literally love ') autel de besoin (popular 'an altar of necessity'; Cf., English 'necessary') une vesua vienne literally (familiar
:

'

'

'

these names (familiar are given to girls in brothels dress-lodgers ) Cf., English une fille de tournure (familiar is this also applied to the inmate of a brothel literally a girl of figure ) une poupce a doll ') une mouqitette (popular
:
; ' ' ;
:

'

'

'

'

'

des ponies (popular (popular) the inmates of a brothel are so une hens ) called literally
:

'

'

'

'

vesuvian,' either in allusion to the volcano or the well-known in either brand of matches
;

case the

epithet comes very close to the old English slang 'fireship,' an old and diseased
;
' :

pcan, or peau de prostitute) chien (popular dog's literally skin ') un grenier a coups de sabre term a soldiers' grenier, (a
; :

galvauder, galvaudeuse (popular une planche a scold ) to bo ud in a literally (familiar in English slice of pudding harlotry to take one's pudding or greens is to have sexual une blanchisseuse en connection) chemise (blanchisseuse = laundress ctre dans la chemise de quelqu'un is un to be constantly with one) lard (literally bacon or body) street une gadoue (properly un sommier refuse or mud )
: '

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

pardeuse (a woman quents the ramparts)

granary coups de sabre, thrusts with a broad sword) une rem;

sommier (military means 'hair-mattress,' and caserne = barracks '; applied to about bargirls who prowl une grivoise (this term racks)
de
caserne
' :

who

fre-

is

now

me

de

terrain

(a

une femdraggletailed
;

town

merly

applied

obsolete, but to a
It

was

for-

garrison

prostitute.

means,
canteen a
;

woman ;femme, woman,

ground)
; ;

terrain,
:

literally,

'a

jolly
;

une saucisse (popular 'a small sausage'); une i.e., une bcfleine trainee (familiar) a whale ') une Icsc(popular bombe (popular) une fille en breme (a registered prostitute la breme is the card given to such women by the police) une fille en carte
' : ; ;

woman');
soldats (a
'

une

paillasse

barrack-hack literally a straw mattress for soldiers ') un passe-lacet (properly a bodkin' i.e., something to be un chameau (the threaded )
' ' '

(a registered

woman

see

preced-

ing)

une boutonnierc a pantalons

it a gaunt, ungainly woman now signifies a prostitute also) membre de la caravans (a un

;

term was originally applied to

;

Barrack-Hack.
euphemism
q.v.}
;

133

Barrack-Hack.
of Cavalry) un blanc (literally blank or white the derivation is somewhat obscure, but the term is a very ancient one for a public woman. Mangeur de blanc is a man who lives upon the earnings of prostitutes and ruins them. Formerly, the
;
'

for
lolo
:

un

un

(popular)

chameau, une
; ;

'

'

'

grue (popular fnire le pied de grue,

'

a kept
'

woman

to

dance

attendance'); tine soupense one who takes sup(literally

'

per

an allusion to the
'

'

cabinets

particuliers

of

French

restau-

une belle petite (a young and pretty prostitute of the

rants)
;

une pcche cl ) quinze sous (a literary term) une boulevardiere superior (a class of prostitute frequenting the boulevards) un camelia (a kept woman a reference to the heroine of La Dame aux camelias by A. Dumas fils) une lorette (a named variety of prostitute after the Quartier Notre Dame
;
;

superior pretty darling

class
'

' ;

literally

expression mettre a blanc was used in the sense of to ruin ') une vache (this term in its popular signification merely means a woman of indifferent character if a prostitute is intended, the expression is une vache a lait, a
'

'

'

de Lorette, the Paris Pimlico) une petite dame (literally a little une impure a kept lady ) ( woman properly an unchaste
; ' '

milch cow) un veau (literally a calf the phrase is applied to a young prostitute. Cf., vache a lait') line retapeuse un wagon (popular (popular) a dirty prostitute. Cf., wagon, a railway carriage and un
;
'

'

'

'

'

omnibus)
literally

une

taupe
;

(familiar
'

'

a mole, an animal that works in the dark also a

one');

une
;

agenouillce

nalistic)

une

verticale

(jourune
;

cunning
:

fox

')

une

Jeanneton
;

hoyizontale de grande marque

(a

chambermaid at (popular an inn) une andre (an old word

a
;

une courtezan) une (a generic term ) pierreuse (a public woman of the lowest grade who plies her hideous trade in houses in course of building, etc.) une chamegue un bourdon (thieves' literally a drone ') une lipete (popular) une magneuse (popular a woman
;

fashionable

see

Fourbesque
:

landra)

une rou-

cocotte

'

who depraves herself with members of her own sex. The name
is

(popular of the lowest description. Ro tiler to wander,' to roll,' signifies 'to stroll,' 'to keep going'); une fille de barriere (popular a prostitute plying her trade at the barriers or gates of the une dossiers (thieves' city) a back ') une rouleuse literally
'
'

lure

a public

woman

'

(familiar
literally

said to be in allusion to a religious community who derived their cognomen from that of their founder, Jeanne Canart, the daughter of Nicholas Colbert,

the
(a

an abandoned woman name of a species

;

of caterpillar)
troufion
:

une paillasse a

soldier's woman); une paillasse de corps de garde (mili-

who was
;
:

the Seigneur de
;

Magneux)
(popular
lanterne

=
'

une vielle lanterne old prostitute window ') une feuille

an

a guard-room tary literally mattress') une marneuse (popular a variety of low class the frequenting prostitute
'

river-side

'

literally

clayey

')

(literally

a leaf

'
;

the term

is

one used at the Saumur School

une Louis (a bully's mistress the allusion is to the fancy

;

Barrack-Hack.
which women in brothels often have of powdering and dressing
the hair in the fashion of the une of Louis XV.) times
;

Barrack-Hack.
(thieves' and roughs') a street galupe (popular walking prostitute) une ponife, ponife, or poniffle (thieves').
laissee
;

une

ouvricre

(also
'

'

'

bully's
signifies,

mistress.
literally,

The term

a workwoman.' These creatures wretched support their companions who live and batten on what the woman
earns in the sale of her person) tine fesse (popular properly a une marmite (harlotry breech') a flesh pot') un torchon (a low
;
' :

For GERMAN SYNONYMS, see TART. ITALIAN Una SYNONYMS. sbriso (this term has another cant signification, viz., to be naked hence, probably, its
' ' ;

attributive usage for a prostitute)

;

una losena
'

(this, like

other

Fourbesque terms for a woman,

also

'

means
'

class of

woman
;
' :

dish

clout') a grass-hopper ') (familiar une Jemme de cavoisi un prat

;

a torchon = une sauterelle

'

town

a woman of the indeed in most argots

little, if

there seems to be

any

a well dressed pros(thieves' une titute of the boulevards)

:

louille

une

larque
;

regis-

drawn between distinction women of easy virtue, and the sex as a whole) una guagnastra one who acts as a sheath (i.e., the allusion is obvious. Cf.,
; ;

tered

largue]

a corruption of une menesse (a thieves' term) une larguepe une magmtce une casserole (see une magneuse] a sauceliterally (thieves' a pan ') une goipeuse (thieves'
;

woman

English broom and broomhandle for the female pudenda

'

'

'

'

and the male penis respectively) una marcona (said to be an

;

'

name
une

wander
part
',

given to prostitutes who about the country)

;

ronfle

une ronfle a
ronfleur
'

un

gripthieves'
:
; '

ronfler is

to snore ') un grippeur (gripper = to nab une panterne crib clutch) une bourre de soie (a kept wosoie man bourre = floss

properly
;

'

allusion to a certain incident in the of the Papal history una landra (curiously States) enough this term signifying, in orthodox Italian, a prostitute is, in the Fourbesque, synonymous also with woman.' The French andre, a woman of to the back town, dates una the sixteenth century)
;
'

brocca (literally

silk)

un
'

asticot
;

(a

bully's

or
'

thief's

mistress
;

literally

maggot
asticot is

it

may be

stated that

also used for both the virile, and for vermiune panuche (thieves' celli) a term applied to showily dressed women who live in brothels) une calege (thieves' a kept woman cale, a kind of

membrum
;

a jug, pitcher, una brocchiera or stupid person) Italian a brocchiere, (from buckler or shield ') una baia una farfoia a mistress) (i.e., (also a nun, in which connection compare with English ABBESS) una chierlera (this term likewise is also used in the sense of a Both the female devotee.
;
' '
'

head-dress) uneponante (thieves'

;

low

class

mome
une

or momeresse
lutainpem

prostitute) (thieves')
;

une
;

(thieves')

une

English and French slang have nun as an equivalent for a una carniera or prostitute) terms for a carnifica (cant una cara sister,' and fox also)
'

'

'

'

'

Barracking.
'

135

Barring.
this

(literally
belle petite,
'

dear.'
little

C/.,

French
1

darling.

The Spanish Germania has

gay a
to
is

signify

prostitute.
'

an exact equivalent of the French fille de joie or gay girl gaya in Spanish signifies Another name is found gay."
'

This

be Democratic, but the Demodepend upon carrying it with money. 1888. Florida Times Union, Feb. n, It will be remembered that Mr. p. 4. Flower was the nominal candidate of
district to

CAMPAIGNS here. Nobody supposes

crats

the anti-Cleveland
really did achieve

men

four years ago,

and with the aid of

'

his BARREL they some show of success.

in

gennana, in explanation
it

which

may be

briefly

of ex-

BARREL-FEVER,

plained that the Spanish argot or Germania took its name from a band or brotherhood of thieves and robbers and it would thus appear that gennana, the name for a female member of the band was also used generically for a prostitute Marca, or marquida and marqnisa are also all used in the sense of a public woman. It may be noted that in the Italian marchesata stands for a woman when under menstruation, the physiological fact itself being called marchese mercenario, a street walker, also signifies a nun of the religious order of La Merced.
;
!

An

subs, (popular). indisposition caused by excessive drinking. He died of

'

'he killed himself through drink.' For syn'; i.e.,

BARREL-FEVER
see

onyms,

GALLON DISTEMPER.

BARREL-HOUSE, subs. (American). A low groggery.

1888.

The West-Side
BARREL-HOUSE
catching them.

Missouri Republican, Feb. n. police are still arresting loafers in the hope of an expert cracksman among

BARRELL-S BLUES,
tary).

A nickname given

subs. phr. (mili-

to the

Fourth Foot. [From its facings and Colonel's name from 1734
to 1739.] They are also called 'the Lions,' from the ancient badge of the regiment.

BARRACKING, subs. Banter chaff.

;

(Australian).
Cf.,
subs.

BARRIKIN.

BAR RES,
BARREL-BOARDER,
loafer saloons.

subs,

(gaming).

in

(American). low drinking-

but not paid. The term is an old one, and has long been obsolete. A corrupt form
lost at play,

Money

BARREL-CAMPAIGN, subs. (American).

Political

contests

in

which

of of

'

barrace,"
'

an obsolete plural

bar.'

bribery

and

hand-in-hand

and voting.
'

corruption go with canvassing candiwealthy

date for office is said to have originated the phrase by remarkLet the boys know that ing, there's a BAR'L o' money ready for 'em,' or words to that effect. The use of the term in this sense became general about
1876.
1884.

BARRIKIN, subs, (common). Gibberish a jumble of jargon words. For usage, see quota;
;

tion.
1851-61.

and Lon. Poor,

KIN.'

H. MAYHEW, London Lab.

vol.
'

I.,

wordr. in a tragedy we call jaw-breakers, and say we can't tumble to that BARRIIbid, p. 25.
[i.e.,

p. 15.

The high

BARRIKIN

Can't tumble to your

See

BOODLE.

Ibid, p. 27. to themselves.

The

can't understand you], rich has all that BARRIKIN

Nov.,

i.

We

Boston (Mass.) Journal, i are accustomed to BARREL-

BARRING.

See

To

BAR.

Barring Out.
BARRING OUT, subs.phr. (old). Exclusion from a place by means of locks and bars. More para half to ticularly applied serious but oftentimes jocular rebellion of schoolboys against
the schoolmaster.
1728.

Bartholomew-Pig.
was played
what frantic Rapid got well hold of a and sent the ball from lar,' right over Mead's
;

shouting
'

when
' .
. .

BARTER

'

Spanish Popwall by Log

'

pond.'
1878. ADAMS, Wykehainica, p. 327. Barter was the most popular boy of his day with his schoolfellows. Wonderful

SWIFT, Journal of a Modern

Lady.

Not schoolboys

at a BARRING-OUT, Raised ever such incessant rout. 1847. TENNYSON, Princess, conclusion. Revolts, republics, revolutions, most, No graver than a schoolboys' BARRING-

OUT.

A BARROW-BUNTER, subs. (old). barrow - woman female a

;

things are told of his scores at cricket at which he is supposed to have been the hardest hitter of his own times, or of any near him. ... He was so renowned for the tremendous force with which he was wont to swipe the ball, commonly known to cricketers as a half-volley," that it actually changed its name in the Wykehamical vocabulary, and for fully half a century afterwards and, for all I know, to the present day bore the name of a BARTER.
'

Verb.

To

hit a ball

hard

at

i.,

costermonger. 1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker, I saw a dirty BARROW-BUNTER 140.

cricket.

HITTING BARTERS.
'
'

Practice

in the street cleaning her dusty fruit

with her

own

spittle.

BARROW-MAN, subs. (old). I. A man who hawks his wares on a barrow a costermonger. The
;

catching; full pitches hit from towards the middle of Turf Ball-Court for catching practice towards the end of 'Long Meads.
'

BARTHOLOMEW BABY,

term dates back to the middle

of the seventeenth century. Un marottier is the French equivalent for one species of the fraternity, better known in England as a DUDSMAN (q.v.).
2. Also formerly a man under sentence of transporta-

subs. (old).

gaudily dressed doll, such as appears to have been commonly

sold at

Bartholomew
a

Fair.

See

BARTHOLOMEW -PIG.
to plied dressed.
1682.

Also apgaudily person

Wit and

Drollery, p. 343.

tion.

Her petticoat of sattin, Her gown of crimson

Just like a

tabby,

Lac'd up before, and spangl'd ore,

BARTHOLOMEW

BABY.

BARROW-TRAM,

subs,

An

(familiar).
;

ungainly person

one awk-

ward in gait, and coarse and rawboned in feature.

BARTER,
lege).

BARTHOLOMEW-PIG, subs. (old). Roasted pigs, says Nares, were

formerly among the chief attractions of Bartholomew Fair, West Smithfield, London
:

(Winchester Colhalf volley. From the Warden of that name famous for disposing of them.
stibs.

they were sold piping hot, in booths and on stalls, and ostentatiously

displayed,

to

excite

1870.

Winchester College, p. 133. What a noble game cricket must be when one loved it so much, notwithstanding the What genuine exprevious training citement when College and Commoners
!

MANSFIELD, School-Life

at

the

appetite of passengers. Hence a BARTHOLOMEW-PIG became a common subject of

allusion
:

the

Puritan

railed

against

it.

Bartholomew -Pig.

37

Bash.
BARTS., subs, (medical students').

B. JONS., Bai-t. Fair, i., 6. For 1614. the very calling it a BARTHOLOMEW-PIG, and to eat it so, is a spice of idolatry.

An abbreviation
Bartholomew

of

'St.

Hospital.'

Falstaff, in coaxing ridicule of his enormous figure, is playfully called by his favourite,
1598.

Thou whoreson
LOMEW-boar-piG.

SHAKSPEARE,
little

Hen. IV.,
tidy

ii.,

4.

BARTHO-

BASH, verb (popular). To beat; thrash or crush out of shape. Possibly from the Scandinavian box also seems bask, a slap
;
' '

Dr. Johnson thought that pastebut the pigs were there meant
:

to

have the same derivation.

Chiefly appearing in the northern

true

BARTHOLOMEW-PIGS were
;

substantial, real, hot, roasted pigs as may be seen throughout the above play of old Ben,

days in the

where Ursula, the pig-woman, is no inconsiderable personage. Gayton also speaks of the pigdressers.

regarded nowaa vulgar Thieves use it colloquialism. synonymously with to flog.' See BASHING. In older writers the word appears as PASH, the in this case p being simply a harder form than b.' An alterndialects,
is

BASH

light of
'

'

'

Like

dressers, well as the cooks of what they roasted.

BARTHOLOMEW Fair PIGwho look like the dams, as

Fcst. N., p. 57.

The young

wife in Jonson's play pretends a violent longing for pig, that she may be taken to the fair and it seems that her case was far from uncommon. Davenant speaks of the
;

ative onomatopoetic derivation has, however, been suggested, the b of such words as beat and bang being transferred to the terminal letters of dash,"
'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

gash,'
1592.

smash,' etc.
Strange Newes,
in

wks. II., 272. A leane arme put out of the bed shall grind and PASH euerie cn*m of thy booke into pin-dust.
1622.
ii.

NASHE,

BARTLEMEW-PIG,
That gaping
lies

MASSINGER, Virgin Martyr,

II.,

on every

Jove's artillery shot

1882.

down

Till female with great

stall, belly call.

PASH your gods

col. 6.

at once, to

in pieces.
. .

The
and

fair in its later

be a place of too
dition.

much mobbing

days got to

riot for ladies in that con-

There might also be paste-pigs, but, if so, they were very inferior objects, and meant only for children. Mrs. Ursula
also tells us the price of her pigs namely, five shillings, five shillings and sixpence, or
;

Daily Telegraph, Dec. 9, p. 2, told witness that he if he cared to a certain woman the complainant give a couple of black eyes. His instructions were to follow the man he met in the public-house in Bear Street, and to BASH the woman he would point out to him in Portland Street.

A man

would earn a sovereign

F. ANSTEY, Vice Versa, ch. 1882. xii. If you have got BASHED about pretty well since you came back, it's
'

been

even

six shillings

This was

surely as dear in James I.'s The time, as a guinea lately. highest price, of course, was to be asked of a longing woman. The fair was abolished in 1854,

summons was

your own fault, and you know it.' Standard, March 2, p. 6, col. 7. Mr. Hannay reminded her that when the
all

1883.

applied for, the boy's father had said that the boy was BASHED on the floor, and received a black eye

and a bruised head.

having
1133.

been
Nares.

inaugurated

in

Amongst synonyms may be mentioned the English verb bang,' and the French bcclier,
'

Basher.
which
signifies properly to dig or break up ground. See TAN.

138

Basketed,
to their release,
it

is

called a

BASHING OUT.
1877.

BASHER,
see

subs,

(pugilistic).

ch.

iii.,

p.

Five Years' Penal Servitude, There were the evi157.

prize-fighter.

For synonyms,

BRUISER.

dences of former floggings, or BASHINGS, as the prisoners call them.

Daily Telegraph, Dec. 16, According to the statement of the prosecuting solicitor, this was the man who undertook to point out to BASHER, the Leech, the professed woman whom he was to assault in
1882.
p. 2, col. 6.

BASILS, subs, (old cant). on one leg only.

Fetters

BASIN,

subs.

(American).
(q.v.).

Portland Street.

SCHOONER
BASING.
See

BASHI-BAZOUK,
ruffian
;

subs, (popular).

THAT'S BASING.
adj.

and used loosely as a more or less mild term of opprobrium also applied to any;

BASKETED, ppl.

(old).

From
used of

thing bizarre composition.

in

character

or

this cockpit expression

The
the

came
period

into

vogue

expression during the

when

Bulgarian
.

atrocities were electrifying the world by their barbarous cruelty

The Bashi-bazouks

are

pro-

perly irregular Turkish soldiery. They are collected hastily in times of emergency; and are, somewhat imconsequently, patient of discipline, assuming that such a commodity in its Western sense is known at all to the Tartar-descended Turk the unspeakable Turk as he was fitly called during the So period above alluded to. infamous have these levies become at times, that more than
' '

persons unable or unwilling to their losses, and who in consequence were relegated for the rest of the day to a basket hung over the cockpit, is derived the figurative usage in the sense of to be left out in the cold not understood non-plussed

pay

'

'

floored.'
b.

1788, d. 1841. HOOK, Gerv. Skinner, iii. Skinner was quite enchanted with the brilliancy of his guests, although now and then a little puzzled at tKeir allusions there jokes were chiefly local or professional, and very frequently my excellent friend Gervase was, to use a modern phrase of general acceptation,

ch.

BASKETED.
1818.
79.

P.

The

EGAN, Boxiana,
and the

vol.

I.,

fight

was soon over

p.

after this
!

sweaters and circumstance, trainers were completely in the BASKET

1866.

once they have been disbanded in deference to pressure brought to bear upon the Turkish authorities by the Western powers.
BASHING, subs, (prison). A flogging a taste of the cat-o'-ninePrisoners condemned to tails.
;

And
like

E. YATES,
like

Land

at Last.

find like
!

you in his den, lighting

it

up

I'm regularlyBASKETED,

by jove

TO BE BROUGHT
TO THE BASKET, phr.

Or TO
;

GO

To be imprisoned
duced
to poverty.
sion, or alms.

(familiar). to be re-

at the commencement of their term are said by their companions to receive also if they a BASHING IN this

punishment

basket is here the symbol of daily provi-

undergo a flogging just previous

Formerly prisoners were dependent on charity for daily sustenance, and it was customary for them to let down

Basket-Making.

T 39

Baste.
18(?).

a basket by a string through the gaol windows, soliciting the

Tatters,

I.,

alms of passers-by.
1632.

See

also

worthy of

ANNIE THOMAS, A Passion in BASS that was not p. no. its name.

ANGLING FOR FARTHINGS.

MASSINGER AND FIELD, Fatal
i.
. !

Pontalicr [to Liladam, who is in custody for debt] Arrested this is one of those whose

Dowry,

v.,

base

And

abject
;

flattery

help'd to dig his

;

He is not worth your pity, nor my anger Go TO THE BASKET, and repent.
1700.
!

grave

Gentleman Instructed [1732], I am not BROUGHT p. 6. God be praised TO THE BASKET, though I had rather live on charity than rapine. [D.]

verb To BASTE, (colloquial). thrash to beat soundly. This verb is given a place here for the purpose of comparison, as it is somewhat uncertain whether it can with propriety be classed as slang. Of uncertain origin, but dating from the sixteenth century TO BASTE,
;

TO BE LEFT
phr.
.

IN

THE BASKET,
;

to sew together loosely,' or 'to apply fat or gravy to a joint,' is, in its
'

properly

To be rejected (common) unchosen. abandoned; Cf.,

passing
other

figurative usage, of more than interest when com(q.v.),

second quotation. 1840. BARHAM, I. L. (House Warning}.

pared with ANOINT

and

same

words employed
figurative

in the

Whatever he wants, he has only

ask
it,

to

curious
for a
all

indeed

sense. It is to note the

And

all

other suitors are LEFT IN

THE

many synonymous

analogues

BASKET.
1874. Bell's Life, 26 Dec. The pick of the BASKET, a compact young grey-

good beating or thrashing, of which pertain more or less to slang. R. W. Hack[AT.

hound.

wood

BASKET

MAKING,
enceinte
'

subs.

When

a
to

woman was

(old).

have a kid in the BASKET.' [Cf., BAY-WINDOW.] Hence BASKET-MAKING

formerly said
to signify the

amongst (q.v.), used by at in Marry Midshipman Easy. As bearing upon the general
several,

mentions

and Q., 7

S., vii.,

153]

others COLTING

act of

copula-

tion.

idea involved in this class of words, the quotation may be placed side by side with another from the King's Own by the

same
BASS, subs, (popular). A familiar abbreviation for Bass' ale, brewed at Burton-on-Trent.
REV. E. BRADLEY ( Cuthbert Adventures of Verdant Green, p. exhibited 23. great capacity for the beer of BASS, and the porter of Guiness.
1853.
'

writer.

'

Bede

),

MARRY AT, King's Own, ch. vii. always carried in his pocket a COLT a foot and a half of rope, knotted at (i.e., one end and whipped at the other), for the benefit of the youngsters, to whom he was a most inordinate tyrant.'
1830.
'

He

The young gentleman

1836. ch. xii.

'

Then he COLTED me
all.'

MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy,

for half-

an-hour, and that's

OUDIA, Held in Bondage, I., Those idle lads in the Temple, p. 65. who smoke cavendish and drink BASS. Ibid, p. 126. Discussing BASS and a cold
1863.

COLTING
uncertain

like

BASTING

is

of

derivation.

Com-

luncheon.
1868.
I.,

p. 138.

Miss BRADDON, Only a Clod, A lot of fellows drinking no

paring it, however, with analogous words, may we not take it, continues the writer referred
to,

end of BASS.

as very closely

associated

Baste.
with, if not actually belonging to, the series of synonyms for the operations -which derive from the shoetheir origin

140

Bat.

Among some ENGLISH SYNONYMS may also be mentioned

:

makers,
trades,

as

and allied curriers, we find it in 'a

'

leathering,' 'a strapping,' 'a a welting,' etc ? Intanning,' deed, it is worth noting in this

to give a hiding to give a walto dust one's jacket to loping to to tan to set about quilt walk into; to manhandle; to give one Jesse; to give one gas; to dowse to pay.
; ; ; ;
;

connection, from the

number

of epithets applied to the operation, what a deal of chastising

For synonyms generally, TAN.

BASTER,
subs.

see

apparently been required in most trades and occupations, for nearly all except, perhaps, the carpenter's, where sticks be are plentiful appear to represented, and even in the domestic circle one can have a a choice of a towelling,' 'a clouting," 'a rubbasting, bing down,' 'a dressing,' 'a trimming,' or 'a wiping' when occasion requires.

has

A New York
house
thief.

(American

thieves').

cant term for a

BASTI LE, subs, (vagrants') house. For synonyms,

.

A worksee

BIG

'

'

Probably from the lockBastile, a famous prison ups for a long time being gene;

HOUSE.

rically

named

Bastiles.

Now

corrupted into STEEL.

1883. CUTHBERT BEDE, in Graphic, June 2, p. 558, col. 2. Mister Corbyn had always called the workhouse by the opprobrious epithet of THE BASTEEL.

1533.
223.

He

BELLENDEN, Livy,
-

III. (1822),

departit weil BASIT

and de-

fuleyeit of his clothing.

1599. GREENE, George a Greene, in wks. (Grosart) XIV., 174. He BASTE you both so well, you were neuer better BASTED in your liues.

(Thieves'.)

prison.

See

CAGE. BASTILE in this sense is mentioned by Captain Grose

[1785]-

1605. Tryall of Chevalry, III., i., in Bullen's Old Plays, iii., 305. But, had I knowne as much, I would have BASTED

BAT, subs, (old slang).

titute

i.

pros-

him

till

his

bones had rattled

in his skin.

1611.

BEAUMONT, Knight

of Burning

Pestle, II., iv.

Look on my shoulders, they are black

and blue
;

Whilst to and fro winding,

binding.
1660.

fair

Luce and

were

He came and BASTED me

with a hedge22.

her trade by night an allusion to the nocturnal habits of the flying mammal indeed, another old term for a woman of the town was literally a FLY-BY-NIGHT.
plies
;

who

The

man was BASTED by

carrying
1754.

PEPYS, Diary, July

One

hirondelle de nuit,

some people over on

Eng.
. . .

the keeper, for his back,

Diet.,

equivalent French term, 'a night i.e., swallow,' is more poetic. For full lists of synonyms, see BAR-

through the water.

RACK-HACK.
2

MARTIN, To BASTE or BAST

soundly.
1874.

ed.
2.

to beat, or

bang

(American.)
;

spree;

low,

S.,

MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny LitdHold your row, xix., p. 328.

' :

and sometimes a drunken bout. A contracted form of

frolic
'

Davvy,' he roared out, wrathfully 'you'd not like me to come back and give you a BASTING.'

batter.'
1889.

Bird
'

o'

Freedom, Aug.

7, p. r.

Mr. Potc

see in the evening paper

Bat.
that a woman has been bitten by a bat, and afterwards died of lockjaw.' Mrs. P. If she had been bitten by the (tartily): kind of BAT you went on when I was away last Saturday week, she would probably have died at delirium trcmens.'
'

141

Bates'

Farm.

manner, and OFF HIS OWN BAT, lost for the Government an important seat by a
crushing majority.

To CARRY OUT
phr.

(popular).

ONE'S BAT, This also is

3.

(athletic.)

Pace

speed

walking, rowing, etc.). Partly also dialectical, especially Scotch, Craven, and Lin(in

derived from a cricketing expression. In the game it means to be not out, i.e., the last man
Figuratively, therefore, TO CARRY OUT ONE'S BAT is to persevere and carry through an undertaking to outlast all other opponents and thus to secure the result aimed at.
in.
;

colnshire.
1887.
col. 3.

Here they come, a mixed

Daily News, 18 August, p.

6,

flock

of birds full BAT overhead.

To BAT

ONE'S

i. A (American). ern term which is

EYES, phr. South-westexplained

by quotation.
1846. Overland Monthly, p. 79. The ox whip has both parts as long as they can be managed. I have seen a poor fellow from Ohio, totally unused to this enormous affair, swing it round his head in many an awkward twist, while the Texans stood by and laughed to see him knock off his hat and BAT HIS EYES at every twitch, to avoid cutting them

M. COLLINS, Frances, ch. The General defended his stumps as he would have defended a fortress, and CARRIED HIS BAT OUT with a score of a hundred and seven.
1874. xxviii.

BATCHELOR'S SON,
bastard.

subs.

(old).

BATES'

out.

Cf.,

Italian

batter

d'occhio,

GARDEN, subs. Fields Coldbath prison. [From a warder of that

(thieves').

FARM

or

twinkling of an eye.

name

+a

certain

(American gaming.) To look on but not to play. Cf., BET.

2.

ness in the

initials,

prison

initials,

appropriateC.B.F., the and used as a

convicts

OFF
phr.
tions.

or ON
;

ONE'S

OWN
one's

stamp =CHARLEYBATES'FARM.]

BAT,

When,
'

(popular).

On
one's
'

own

formerly, the

account

exerby figurative usage of a

own

were put to the treadmill in this prison, they were said to be feeding the chickens on

cricketing OWN BAT,'

term
is

OFF ONE'S
a score

CHARLEY BATES' FARM.' Newgate was albO called AKERMAN'S HOTEL, from a former governor, and a similar reason has caused the Melbourne gaol to be nick-

said of

player individually. 1845. SYDNEY SMITH, Fragm. Irish He had no rewks. II., Ch., 340, i. venues but what he got OFF HIS OWN
BAT.
[M.]

made by a

named Castilan's Hotel tralian thieves.

[Circa
1850,

by Aus-

1855.

LORD LONSDALE,
III.,

in

Croker

Papers
.

(1884), vol.

would not
his

FROM

own

friends or HIS
'

make a Ministry OWN BAT.

Good.

p. 325.

Derby

but

date

uncertain.]
do,

BATES' FARM.

1880. ners, ch. xxiii.

HAWLEY SMART,
You have
?

Social Sina weakness

Good evening pals, how do you

for the great

world

Score OFF

And

YOUR OWN BAT, and comes to you.'

1884.

it is

the great world

thought I'd give a call, introduce myself to you, For I'm glad to see you all. I'm up to every little fake,
I

col, 2,

He

Sat. Revieiv, March 8, p. 308, has in the most workmanlike

But in me there's no harm, For it was this blooming morning That I left OLD BATHS' FARM,

Bath.
CHORUS. Then, here's success my knowing I'm filled with ev'ry charm, I feel so gay this blessed day, I've left OLD BATES' FARM.

142

Bath.
'

kids,

1840. BARHAM, I. L. (Grey Dolphin). Go TO BATH said the baron. A defiance so contemptuous roused the ire of the adverse commanders.
'
!

1885.

Frank

Leslie's

Illustrated

And if you don't eat all they send You have to work the wheel. Then so merrily we go,
And for a little pastime work The everlasting stairs.

Now, every morning when you You get a starving meal,

rise,

Newspaper, Oct. 16, p. 362. You tell a disagreeable neighbour to GO TO BATH in the sense in which a Roman would have said abi in malam rent.
2. Hence, to become a begBath, especially in the gar. latter part of the last century, and at the of beginning

To chapel

to

have prayers,
Chorus.

The last time that I went to see OLD BATES, he shook my hand, And said, I'm glad to see you,
'

You're a chap I understand.' He said, You're here for nothing now ? I said Yes,' like the rest, It was only for knocking a bobby down,
' '

'

one, enjoyed a present reputation for its fashion and it was baths also, naturally enough, for this very reason, the resort of countless numbers of

the

And jumping on
I've got

his chest.

Chorus.

beggars.
signified,

To

GO

TO

BATH

So now
I

liberty, And once again I'm free, mean to 'crack a crib' to-night.
'

my

But pals don't crack on me.' So if I should touch lucre, For a time I will keep calm, If I don't see you here some night, I shall at BATES' FARM.
Chorus.

BATH.
liar).

GOTO BATH

phr. (fami-

This popular saying ap-

pears to have two distinct readings, both of which, however, are traceable to the same source.
i.

therefore, amongst vagrants, to proceed to what was in reality one of the first centres of beggardom presumHence ably to solicit alms. also an additional clue to the process of transition into sense i. What more natural than to bid an importunate applicant to betake himself to Bath to join his fellows ? Fuller in his
;

Worthies has a

passage which
additional
light

throws
1662.

some

upon the question.

FULLER, History of the WorBeggars of Bath. of England. in that place some natives there, others repairing thither from all parts of the land the poor for alms, the pained for ease. Whither should flock fowl in a hard frost, but to the barndoor ? Here, all the two seasons, being the general confluence of gentry. Indeed laws are daily made to restrain beggars, and daily broken by the connivance of
thies

Go TO BATH
;

i.e.,

an

in;

junction to desist to be gone get out of my sight, or hearing, for you are mad or cracked a forcible expression of incredulity,
'

Many

AND GET YOUR HEAD SHAVED.'

sometimes intensified by

The who

saying is applied to those either relate crack-brained stories, or propose undertakings that raise a doubt as to The allusion is to the sanity.
fact that, in

those
sible

who make them when the hungry

to
oil

it

being impos-

belly barks,

and

bowels sound,

And

although

keep the tongue silent. of whip be the proper

sons

who showed symptoms insanity were sent to BATH

;

former days, perof to

plaister for the cramp of laziness, yet some pity is due to impotent persons.

drink the medicinal waters the process of shaving the head being previously resorted to.

In a word, seeing there is the Lazar's bath in this city, I doubt not but many a good Lazarus, the true object of
charity,

may beg

therein.

Long previous

to 1662,

how-

Bathing Machines.
ever,

X 43

Batter.

stringent
in force.

vagrant

laws

were

graduates' term that he should BATTEL, i.e., obtain food in College on a certain number of days each week.

WILLIAM 1588. LAMBARD, The Office of the Justices of the Peace, p. 334.
License diseased persons (living of almes) to to Buckstone or trauell to Bathe, [Buxton], for remedie of their griefe.

Such two Justices may

....

To quote Dr. Murray again, however, it appears that the word has apparently undergone
progressive extensions of application, owing partly to changes in the internal economy of the Some Oxford men of colleges. a previous generation state that
it was understood by them to apply to the buttery accounts alone, or even to the provisions ordered from the buttery, as distinct from the commons supplied from the kitchen but this latter use is disavowed by others but whether the BATTELS were originally the provisions themselves, or the sums due on account of them, must at present be left undecided.
'

BATHING MACHINES.SZ^S.

A name
10

(nautical).

given

to

the

old

ton

brigs.

RUSSELL'S

Sailor's Language.

BAT-MUGGER,
College).

subs.

A
for

(Winchester
oil

wooden
rubbing

ment used
cricket bats.

instruinto

'

BATS, subs, (thieves'). A pair of bad or old boots. Elworthy in West Somerset Words gives this as a heavy laced boot with hobnails.

1853.

CUTHBERT
II.,

BEDE,

Verdant

BATS DOWN
general).

?
'

(Winchester

How

and MANY BATS

wickets

Green, pt.

ch. vii.

The Michaelmas

DOWN
have
BATTELS,

'

i.e.,
?

how many

fallen
subs.

term was drawing to its close. Buttery and kitchen books were adding up their sums total bursars were preparing for BATTELS.
;

The (University). weekly bills of students at Oxford. The derivation of the term has been the subject of

(Eton.)
1798.

See quotation.

H. TOOKE, Purity, 390. BATTEL, a term used at Eton for the small portion of food which, in addition to
the College allowance, the receive from their dames.
collegers

much

discussion, and is very uncertain. Murray says much

depends on the original sense at Oxford if this was food, pro' :

visions,'
it

natural to connect with 'battle,' to feed, or receive

it is

BATTER, subs. ( common ). Wear and tear; eg., the BATTER is more than any human being can stand for long. [From
'

nourishment.

See quotation.

1886-7. DICKENS, Dictionary of Oxford and Cambridge, p. 16. BATTELS is properly a designation of the food obtained from the College Buttery. An account of this, and of the account due to the Kitchen, is sent in to every undergraduate weekly, hence these bills also are known as BATTELS, and the name, further, is extended to the total amount of the term's expenses furnished by the College. In some Colleges it is made essential to the keeping of an under-

one of the ordinary meanings of TO BATTER, to wear or impair by beating or long service, as a

BATTERED

jade.]

PpL

adj.
;

Given up to dethis

bauchery upon

sense

follows

To GO ON THE
;

BATTER,

i.e.,

to walk the streets for purposes of prostitution but cf., BAT.

Battle of the Nile.

BATTLE OF THE NILE, (rhyming slang). A
hat.
subs.
'

44

Bawcock.
i.e.,

phr.
'

has killed the ox.

Grose

tile
see

[1785]-

For synonyms,

CADY.
BATTY,
subs,

BATTLE ROYAL,

subs, (colloquial).

perquisites.

vehement quarrel.

from Derived BATTA, an extra pay given to

soldiers while serving in India. often. Col. Yule says in

(general).

Wages;

1698. HOWARD, All Mistaken, Act i. ist Nurse. Your husband is the noted'st cuckold in all our street. 2nd Nurse. You lie, you jade yours is a greater. Phil. Hist now for a BATTLE;

Indian banking, agio or difference in exchange discount on coins not current or of short
; ;

ROYAL.

weight.
1824. T. HOOK, Sayings and Doings, Whether he S., Merton, ch. viii. could draw full BATTA in peace-time.
i

THACKERAY, Shabby Genteel A BATTLE-ROYAL speedily took place between the two worthy
18(?).

Story, ch. vi.

mothers-in-law.
1865.
137.

Our brethren there

Sketches from Cambridge, p.

[in

Oxford]

1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable, S. Batta.' BATTA or BATTY (Hin'

seem

to be always indulging in BATTLES-

dustanee). Perquisites

ROYAL.

an allowance
the
field.

to

wages. Properly, East Indian troops in

;

BATTLINGS subs, (public schools'). A weekly allowance of money. At Winchester it is is., while at Repton it is only 6d. 1864. Household Words, p. 188. The business of the latter was to call us of
>

BAULK,

subs.

A
is

(Winchester College).
report
is

false

that a master

(especially at hand), which

false

SPORTED

(q.v.),

(Popular.) mistake.

not spread. shot

;

a morning to distribute amongst us our BATTLINGS, or pocket-money.

1870.

MANSFIELD,
p. 184.

School-Life at

BAUM,

verb
;

was defrayed by the boys subscribing

the last three BATTLINGS
(i.e.,

Winchester College,

The expense
the weekly

To fawn

(American Univ.).
;

This was shilling allowed each boy). rather an illusory coin, for we seldom actually fingered it, as some one of the
College servants generally had a kind of prescriptive right to a benefit and whenever Saturday arrived, Praefect of Hall's valet was sure to come round to ask the boys if they would give their BATTLING to Rat Williams, or Dungy, or Purver, or Long John, or some other equally deserving individual.
;

to curry to natter favour. HALL'S College Words and Phrases.

BAWBELS or BAWBLES, subs. (old). A man's testicles. Originally, a provincialism. For synonyms,
see

CODS.

TROLLOPE, Autobiogr. (1883), Every boy had a shilling a week pocket-money, which we called BATTELS.
1883.
I.,

13.

the [This is probably a misprint Winchester term, as that used at other schools, is BATTLING. It was advanced out of the pocket of the second master.]

BAWCOCK, subs. (old). A burlesque term of endearment. [From either French beau, fine, + French coq, cock = a fine or good feller '; or from English BOY + COCK = a young dandy
'

or strut.] 1599. SHAKSPEARE, Henry

2,

V.,

iii.,

An ox BATTNER, subs. (old). beef being apt to batten or fatten those that eat it. The cove has hushed the BATTNER,'
;
'

to men of mould 'bate thy rage

!

25.

Pist.

Be

merciful,
! . .
.

Good BAWCOCK

great duke,

1861.

H. AINSWORTH, Constable of the

131.

Tower,
little

p.

One
jests.

of the

gamesome

BAWCOCK'S

Bawd.
BAWD,
subs. (old).

M5
female pro-

Bayard of Ten

Toes.

CARTED BAWD meant one who had been placed in a cart and led through the town to make her person
curess.

known

ABBESS.

to the inhabitants. C/., See also CART and BARRACK-HACK for synonyms

vpright men haue good acquayntance with these, and will helpe and relieue them when they want. Thus they trade their lyues in lewed lothsome lechery. Amongest them all is but one honest woman, and she is of good yeares; her name is lone Messenger. I haue had good proofe of her, as I haue learned by
the true report of diuers. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. 1671. I., ch. v., p. 39 (1874). [In list of orders of thieves], BAWDY-BASKETS.
2.

BAWDE PHISICKE.
1560-1.

See quotation.
orders
p. 14.

AWHELEY, The XXV.

(ed.
is

prostitute

an alterna-

of Knaucs,

1869),

BAWDE

tive and earlier form of

(q.v.}.

BAWD
Eng.

he that is a Cocke, when meate is euyll dressed, and he challenging him therefore, he wyl say he wyll eate the rawest morsel thereof him selfe. This is a sausye knaue, that wyl contrary his Mayster alway.
PHISICKE,
his Maysters

1589. PUTTENHAM, Art Poesie, bk. III., ch. xix. a faire lasse in London Many

of

Many Many Many

towne, a BAWDIE BASKET borne vp and

:

downe
a

a broker in a thridbare gowne,

BAWDY BANQUET, subs. (old). Whoremongering. [From BAWDY, lewd,

1567.
1

bankrowte scarce worth crowne. In London.

+
'

BANQUET.]
(1869), p. 63.
'

Where haue I bene ? quoth he, and began to smyle. Now, by the mas, thou hast bene at some BAUDY BANQUET.'

HARMAN, Caveat

1608. DEKKER, Belman of London, in 86. wks. The III., (Grosart) victualers to the carnpe are women, and to those some are some Glymerers, BAWDY-BASKETS, some Aittem-Morts.

BAWDY HOUSE BOTTLE,

BAWDY
BANQUET, subs. running after loose molrowing.
subs,

subs.

(old).

A
;

women

BAWDY BASKET,
i.

(old cant).

The

twenty-third

rank

of

canters (see Harman), who carried pins, tape, ballads, and

very small one, short measure, being among the many means used by the keepers of those houses, to gain what they call an honest livelihood indeed, this is one of the least reprehensible, the less they give a
(old).
;

phr.

man

of their infernal beverages

obscene books to

sell,

but lived

for his

money, the kinder they

to him.

mostly by stealing, 1567. HARMAN, Caveat (ed. 1869), These BAWDY BASKETS be also p. 65. wemen, and go with baskets and
Capeases on their armes, where in they haue laces, pynnes, nedles, white ynkell, and round sylke gyrdles of al coulours. These wyl bye cowneyskiws and steale line;; clothes of on hedges. And for
seruaunts, whew [leaf 20, back] their mystres or dame is oute of the waye, either some good peece of beefe, baken, or cheese, that shalbe worth xij pens, for ii pens of their toyes. And as they walke by the waye, they often gaine some money wyth their instrument, by such as they sodaynely mete withall. The
their trifles they will procure of

behave

Grose.

BAYARD OF TEN TOES. To RIDE BAYARD OF TEN TOES, phr. (old). To go on foot. Bayard was a horse famous in old romances. See MARROW BONE STAGE.
BRETON, Good and Radde, p. Breton says of the honest poore his trauell is the walke of the woful, and his horse BAYARD OF TEN
1606.
'

mayden

14.

man,'

TOES.
1662.
(ii.,

FULLER,
At
last

Worthies,

Somerset

he [Coryat] undertook East Indies by land, mounted on AN HORSE WITH TEN TOES. IO
291).

to travail into the

Bay Window.
BAY WINDOW, subs, (common). A slang phrase applied to women

146
1847.
757. [M.]
col.

Bead.
A
1880.

Black-wood's Magazine, LXI., daring Yankee BEECH-COMBER.

when
'

pregnant,
obvious.

or

have corporations.'
sion
is

men who The allu-

The white scamps who, as 2. BEECH-COMBERS, have polluted these Edens and debauched their inhabitants.
1885. A. LANG, in Longm.Mag., VI., 417, note. BEACH-COMBER is the local term for the European adventurers and long-shore loafers who infest the Pacific

Atheneeum,

18 Dec., p.

809,

c.,

subs,

(common).
to

A name
a

jokingly applied person who brings a trumpery action for libel against another. Dr. Brewer in Phrase and Fable thus, in effect, explains the allusion
:

young woman complained to Mr. Ingham [the magistrate at Bow Street Police Court and now (1889) Sir James Ingham] of having been abused by a

woman who called her a B. c. On being asked the meaning, the young woman said c meant
,

Archipelagoes. There is a well-known tale of an English castaway on one of the isles, who was worshipped as a deity by the ignorant people. At length he made his escape, by swimming, and was taken aboard a British vessel, whose The captain accosted him roughly. mariner turned aside and dashed away a tear I've been a god for months and you call me a (something alliterative) BEACH-COMBER!" he exclaimed, and refused to be comforted.
'
:

2.

A A
;

river thief

boatman.

who prowls about

;

was

'cat' but the B well, it too shocking to utter, and the magistrate allowed her to whisper the word in his ear. It was a well-known word of
;

a plunderer of wrecks a picker-up of waifs and strays. This is derived from sense 4.
long wave the ocean. Hence applied to those whose occupation it is to pick up, as pirates or wreckers, whatever these waves wash in to them.
4.

the sea-shore

(American.)
in

sanguinary sound but, though B.C. was hardly a pretty epithet, yet his worship could hardly grant a summons for libel against the person of whom

rolling

from

complaint was made for using

BEACH-CADGER, subs. (old). beggar whose pitch
'

it.

BEACH-TRAM PER,

A
is

subs, (nautical).

'

at

watering-places, and sea-ports. [From BEACH, the sea-shore

coastguardsman. [ From BEACH, the shore of the sea-fTRAMP, to walk along + ER.]
BEAD.

CADGER, a beggar.]
BEACH-COMBER,
i.

phr. (American).
(nautical).

To DRAW A BEAD [ON ONE], To attack an

subs,

One who hangs about

the

opponent by speech or otherwise. The phrase has passed into colloquial use from back-

on the look-out for It was chiefly applied to jobs. deserters seamen, runaway from whalers, who lived along the beach in South America, the South Sea Islands, etc. It is a term of contempt. CLARK RUSSELL'S Sailors' Language.
sea-shore

woods parlance, where

fies

it

signi-

the process of taking aim and firing. The front sight of a gun is in appearance like a

BEAD.
1841.
(1844),
I., x.,

enough TO DRAW A BEAD upon one of them,

to get near

CATLIX, North American Indians 77. I made several attempts

Beagle.
BRET HARTE, Society on the 1870. Stanislaus (in Poems and Prose). It is not a proper plan, to lay for that same member for TO PUT A BEAD ON HIM.
188(?)
'

Beak.
the oldest cant term of a class of men, who, perhaps, above all o hers, have been the recipients of

beck

')

is

for a

member

S.

CLEMENS

('

Mark Twain

'),

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p. 48. liwas pretty close to the Shanty, and I thought I heard the old man coming all the time but I got her hid and then I out and looked around a bunch of willows, and there was the old man down the path apiece just DRAWING A BEAD on a bird with his gun. 1889. Albany Journal Aug. 6. H Jake's not careful I'll DRAW A BEAD ON HIM. Very little more will make me go
; ;

nicknames and epithets, and these, be it noted, not always of a complimentary character. In Harman's Caveat (1573), harman BECK is explained as the
'

for

him tooth and

nail.

RAISE A BEAD. To bring to ensure success. to the point The figure is taken from brandy, rum, or other liquors, which will not 'raise a bead,' unless of the proper strength.
;

To

counstable,' harmans being the stockes.' The derivation of BECK or BEAK is doubtful. Especially vague seems that which finds its source in the Saxon beag, a gold collar worn
'

by

civic

emblem

magistrates, and an of authority. This

genesis appears to be based on the later and secondary sense of BEAK, a magistrate, a mean-

1846.

Ohio.

The

N. Y. Tribune, Letter from result was, if the convention

ing which

it still

retains.

But,
for a

had been then held, the party wouldn't have been able TO RAISE A BEAD. [B.]

against this must fact that, as the

be placed the

name

BEAGLE,

subs.
;

(old).

A
;

spy; inpolice-

former
;

man-hunter

man also a general term of [From BEAGLE, a contempt. small hound, which tracks by scent, formerly used for hunting-]

watchman or guardian of the peace, BEAK boasts a much older usage. Sir John Fielding, half brother of the author of Tom Jones, and an active Middlesex Justice in the last century, was popularly known as the
'

Blind

Beak

'

[c.

1750]

but

beyond
,

That

me
iii.,

1599. Myrr. Mag., Jack Cade, xix. 2. restless BEGLE sought and found out. [M.]

this
fied

no instance of sense has been found. If,

this date

therefore,

BEAK

originally signi-

1607.

DEKKER, Westward Hoe, Act

Ten. You are a sweet BEAGLE. 1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). BEAGLE (s.) .... also a contemptuous name given to a boy or man, as to say, you are a special BEAGLE, is the same as,

Sc. 4. Mon. I beseech you, Mistress Tenterhook, before God, I'll be Mist. sick, if you will not be merry.

a policeman, it is difficult to discover any connection with the Saxon beag, inasmuch as watchmen are not known to have been decorated with gold
collars.

The

tions

will

following quotagive other illustra-

you are good for nothing. 1837. CARLYLE, French Revolution,

III., vii.,
v.,

377.

Attorneys and Lawthis

and also show that, tions, meaning a policeman, the term has not long been obsolete.
1609.

BEAGLES, which hunt ravenous on

Earth.

Lanthorne and Candlelight,

subs, (old cant).
i.

DEKKER, a Gypsy song,

etc.

in

BEAK,

A police-

The
If

Ruffin cly the

nab of the HARMAN

lap or Ruff-

man
As

or guardian of the peace. far as is known, this (as

BECK,

we

mawnd Pannam,

peck,

Beak.
Or poplars Or
else
;

148

Beak.
knew her company: there was something in the very name of a constable
which sent them
1

To the quier cuffing we bing, And then to the quier-Ken to scowre

in the lightmans,

of yarum he cuts, bing to the Ruffmans. he sweares by the lightmans, To put our stamps in the Harmans. The Ruffian cly the ghost of the HARMAN BECK. If we heaue a booth we cly the Jerke. If we niggle or mill a bousing ken. Or nip a bung that has but a win, Or dup the giger of a gentry cofes ken
:

all a-flying.

ENGLISH
Blue
'

SYNONYMS.
to

(traceable

Elizabeth 's days when the colour of the uniform was the same as men in blue now) Royal
'
' '

Queen

the

Cramp-rin^, And then to the Trin'de on the chates,

The Bube and

[ This DEKKER],

Ruffian cly the

HARMAN
'

BECK and Harmans.

is

Footguards Blue bluebottle (used by Shakblew coate (also a speare) Shakspearian term, and still in use) Dogberry (an allusion

Regiment
1

of
'

'

'

'

'

'

to
thus
'

Much Ado
'

Englished

by

'charley'
'

about Nothing) the old (one of

; 1

The Diuell take the Constable's head, If we beg Bacon, Butter-milke or bread.
shall
lie.

Or Pottage, to the hedge he bids us hie, Or sweares (by this light) i'th' stocks we

watchmen); 'bobby 'peeler'; copper (a thieves' term, from to to hold cop lay of)
;
'
'

The Deuill haunt the Constable's ghoast, If we rob but a booth, we are whip'd at
a poast.

an ale-house we rob or be tane with a whore, Or cut a purse that has iust a penny, and no more,
If

(thieves'); 'slop' (a back slang corruption of police' = esclop, with c not sounded and shortened to slop') scufter (a northern term, as also is the example next follow' ' ;
'

'crusher'

'

Or come but

stealing in at a gentleman's

dore: To the Justice straight we goe, And then to the Jayle to be shakled And so To be hang'd on the gallows i'th day time the pox And the Deuill take the Constable and
:
1

bulky (used by Bulwer Lytton) philip (from a thieves' cossack signal)

'

'

ing)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

philistine'

pouncing 'Johnnie Darby'

'

frog (from upon criminals)

;

(a
'

corrup'

his stocks.
1821.

tion of gendarme) Johnnie ' pig (a plain clothes man)

; '

W.
ii.,

T. MONCRIEFF,
Sc.
6.

Tom and

worm
'

'

'

nose

' ;

'

nark
'

'

Jerry, Act

Gentlemen vagabonds; the and half a thousand beadles and beaksmen are now about the
Land.
traps are abroad,

dee (a detective) tec the C.T.A. (a circus man's term)

'

'

'

demon
reeler
'
'

'

'

door.

(Australian thieves') raw lobster (this

;
'
'

ing on table to command attention.) Jack. Silence for the chair Jemmy. Put out the lights, put out the lights, every one shift for himself. Here, Bob, carry me up the ladder, good luck to you do, Bob.
!

Jemmy. Gemmen

Billy.

De BEAK oh
!

curse a de BEAK gemmen (Knock! !

like

to

would appear be a reference to the colour

blue,' etc.,

of the uniform).

FRENCH
rousse

SYNONYMS.
'

Un
:

1840.

THACKERAY,
' 1

But Mrs. Polly, with a wonderful presence of mind, restored peace by exclaiming, Hush, hush the BEAKS, the BEAKS Upon which, with one common instinct, the whole party made a rush for the garden gates, and disappeared into the fields. Mrs. Briggs
' !

Catherine, ch. x.

and thieves' roux signifies red,' and red hair has always been held in contempt as indicative of treachery and craft hence its application by the criminal classes to their
(popular
;

natural
(thieves'
:

enemies)
of
;

un

roussin

same derivation as
un baton de
reglisse

foregoing)

Beak.
a stick of liquorice') ; baladin (properly a mountebank, juggler, or buffoon ') ; tine 'a dog, cagne (popular: a slut '; i.e., a worthless fellow,' cagne or caigne in Old French
'

149

Beak.
'a warder' or 'military patrol'); laune (thieves') un flique also a petty police (popular magistrate. Thought to be a corruption of friquet, another opprobrious term for a police

(popular

tin

'

un

'

dog,' and was derived from the Latin cants, whence

'

signified
'

man)
'a

tin bee
:

du gaz

un

estaffier

(familiar
:

also,
'

among

thieves,
'

caignot,

little

prior to the establishment of the modern gendarmerie, the archers of the watch were known as chiens-

also

be noted

dog.' that,

It

may

cat');

une

bourrique
;
'

also an informer ) (thieves' un pousse trottoir (pousse from to push trottoir, a pousser,
'

un cogne (thieves' another form of cagne) un balai (hawkers' properly a broom, un serin brush, or besom ') (popular: properly 'a canary'; serin is also slang for a foolish a greenhorn ') un fellow,' the guardians pousse (thieves' of public order formerly known
courants)
; : ;
'

'

'

in Paris as serjents or archers de

I'ccuelle were called pousse-culs) une vache (literally a cow '); un
;

am*/ (thieves');
'

unepeste (thieves':
'

a plague or torment ') une tranche d la manque un flaquadard un cabestan a hand(thieves' properly winch Michel thinks this is derived either from cabe, a dog'; or from capitan, 'a captain.' The latter, be it noted, has also the signification of hector or braggadocio ') un raille or railleux a de(thieves' tective. Michel derives it from a with which the raillon, weapon police were formerly armed. Victor Hugo thought it came from the English word rascal,' but there seems little, if any, un sacre authority for this) (Nicot gives this as a bird of prey,' but Henri Estienne adds that it was used to denote one who lays hands on everything that comes in his way also a gourmand ') un grive (thieves'
'

literally
;

un lampion rouge un escargot de trottoir (thieves') of a snail (popular literally the un cierge footpath ) (thieves properly 'a wax un sergo (popular) taper ) un grippe-Jesus (a term used by thieves in the north of France, and by seafaring men which, says Michel, might lead one to suppose that gendarmes only arrested innocent persons) un a sly, pince sans rire (thieves' malicious person) unpot d tabac a tobacco jar ') un (popular
footpath)
;

'

'

'

'

'

singe de la rousse key, de la rousse,

(singe
'

= mon-

of the police

'

force

')

'

'

For GERMAN COPPER.

ITALIAN
zaffo
' ' '

SYNONYMS,

see

(literally
)
;

SYNONYMS. a bung
un'
'

'

Un' or
un'

'

'

tipstaff

foco
'

or

fuoco (literally

fire

).

SPANISH
' '
'

SYNONYMS.
'

Una
'

mastin (literally
'

a mastiff

or
'

'

bulldog a clown

;
'

harpeo grapnel grappling-iron ) una fiera (properly

' ; '

a clumsy fellow una harpia (un

;
'

'

or

'

'

a wild beast
2.

').

'

'

'

magistrate. (popular.) Cf. foregoing, much of which has reference to this secondary meaning of BEAK. Sometimes Called A BEAK OF THE LAW.

Beak.
1837.
'

150

Beaker -Hunter.
tier')
;

My

eyes,

DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. viii. how green exclaimed the

'

un singe a rabat (thieves'

'

young gentleman.
madgst'rate.'
18(?)

'

Why

a BEAK'S a

possibly rabat is an abbreviated form of rabat-joie, a wet blanket.'

The pies And other Dicky

HOOD, Tale of a Trumpet. and jays that utter words,

gossips of birds, much good sense and

The phrase would then

'
' '

mean

Who

talk with as

decorum, As many BEAKS who belong to the quorum. 1881. Punch, Dec. 3, 258. A PAIR OF ANTI-VIVISECTIONISTS. Sir Slungsby that old fellow, Miss 'See Jaunter. Diana? That's Doctor Katchett, who swears he's going to find a cure for
Just got into trouble. Been trying the effects of extreme terror and bodily fatigue on a rabbit, and without And chloroform, too, the old ruffian then he killed it, and dissected its brain. Going to be had up before the BEAK for
lunatics
!
!

a baboon with a wet a damper or it may be derived from singe, a monkey + rabat, slang for a cloak.' Cf., singe de la rousse) un
blanket,'
;
'
',

lustre

(thieves'
' '

nown

distinction

reproperly un pant' ')

;

'

de la magistral imiche (thieves').

ITALIAN
'

SYNONYM.
'

Un
'

tigo (literally

an old one

analso

a master,'

'

a boss').

SPANISH
brador

(thieves'
'

SYNONYM. Somand popular

:

it!
'

Miss Diana. Serve him right, horrid man Don't want to know about such people. But talking of rabbits, what a splendid run that second Hare gave us to-day Thirty minutes gallop without a check! Wasn't it lovely And I was in at the death
St.,
!
! '

Bow

you know!'

shade' i.e., one who puts in the shade. Poner d la sombra is to imprison '). -- The nose. 3.
;
'

from sombra,

(popular.)

For synonyms,
FLORIO. BEAKE-nose. [M.]
1598.
1854.

see

CONK.
adunco,
I.,

Naso

col.

Pall Mall Gaz., Oct. 12, p. 5, before some French BEAK whom he did not know, and an interpreter brought, the 'cotched' culprit was made to pay 20 f., his friend escaping because he was not caught red1889.
2.

Taken

The well-known hooked BEAK of the old countess. [M.] 1865. E. C. CLAYTON, Cruel Fort, I., 143. A large, fat, greasy woman, with a
prominent BEAK.
1876.

THACKERAY, Newcomcs,

296.

An

ENGLISH
'

SYNONYM

is

E. C.

GRENVILLE MURRAY,

'queer cuffin
penr (thieves'
'

(old cant).

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
'
:

Un

sa1

properly

one who undermines [one's chances of wrong doing] ) un pante en robe (pante in French slang is equivalent to a man en robe = in a robe ') or cove un endormi (popular properly a sleepy-head ') un grignon from probably gri(thieves'
per,'
i.e.,
;

a sap-

The Member for Paris, I., p. 80. It was most agreeable thing in the world to be suddenly interrupted in a mantel-shelf conversation by a gentleman with a firm BEAK-NOSE and a red
not the
rosette in his button-hole.
4.

(Eton and

Schools.)

Marlborough

master.

'

'

'

'

'

BEAKER

subs,

(thieves').

A fowl.

Sometimes shortened into BEAK.

'

The

illusion

to gner les dents, teeth threateningly

; ;

'

show
'

one's or from

'grumbler,' 'growlgyognon, un gerbier un curieux er ')

(thieves':
'

derivation is obviously an to the beak or horny mandibles of poultry. Formerly Called CACKLING-CHEAT (q.v.), and by French thieves une cstable, or une estaphle.

i.e.,

'the
adj.

curious
curieux.

from the one Michel, however,

;

adds

curieux formerly signified 'a

that cour-

BEAKER-HUNTER, subs, (thieves'). A poultry yard thief. Also BEAK-HUNTER.

Beak-Gander.
1857.
3
ed.,
p.

Bean.
Assistant,

SNOWDEN,
445.

Mag.

poultry stealer.

gold pieces are now called BEANS

BEAKER-HUNTER.

BEAK-GANDER, subs, (common). A judge of the Superior Courts. [From BEAK (q.v .), a magistrate f GANDER, a humorous term for an old man.]

HALF-BEAN and HADDOCK OF BEANS. In the old French cant, biens meant money or property. For synonyms, see CANARY.
See also
1811.

Lexicon Balatronicum. BEAN,

a guinea.
1834.

HALF-BEAN. H. AINSWORTH,

Rookwood,

BEAKSMAN,

subs.

(old).

See
it

BEAK
is

(sense i), of which alternative form.

an

bk. III., ch. ix. Zoroaster took long odds that the match was off; offering a BEAN to half a quid (in other words, a guinea to a half guinea).
1885. D. C. MURRAY, Rainbow Gold, bk. V., ch. vi. Here's some of the BEANS,' he continued figuratively, as he drew five sovereigns from the same pocket, and surveyed them in his great
'

BEAM ENDS.

To BE THROWN ON ONE'S BEAM ENDS, pliv (nautii. To be in bad circumcal). stances to be at one's last shift a metaphor hard-up drawn from sea-faring life. A ship is said to be on her BEAM ENDS when she is so prostrated on her side by stress of weather,
'.

brown palm.

FULL OF BEANS, phr.

(society).
;

or shifting of cargo, as to submerge her lee rail.

DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, In short, he laughed the idea down xl. and Tom, abandoning it, completely
1843.
;

In good form or condition as full of health, spirits, or capacity as a horse after a good feed of beans. Among the ancients the word signified
possibly, therefore, a esoteric meaning may be attached to it than commonly supposed. See BEANY.

venery

more

Was THROWN UPON HIS BEAM ENDS again for some other solution. [H.]
1851.

HENRY

Labour and London Poor, III., 121. When is ON HIS BEAM ENDS, as I was must keep his eyes about him, and have impudence enough for anyor else he may stop and starve. thing,
a fellow
then, he
[H.]

MAYHEW, London

1889. Sporting Times, June 29. The tennis-ground [was] a pretty place, overlooking the harbour, and surrounded by The game trees and female beauty. Ich dien,' shouted Jack, as began. FULL OF BEANS as the Prince of Wales' plume, and immediately sent a ball which went bang through the window of an adjoining house.
'

2.

Also, less figuratively, to

;

be thrown to the ground to be reduced to a sitting or lying

posture.
1830. MARRYAT, King's Own, xxvi. Our first lieutenant was ... ON HIS BEAM ENDS, with the rheumatiz. REV. E. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert 1853. Bede '), Adventures of Verdant Green. You get on stunningly, gig-lamps, and haven't been ON YOUR BEAM ENDS more than once a minute.

mon).

To GIVE BEANS, phr. To chastise; to

(comgive a

good drubbing. For synonyms, see TAN. LIKE BEANS, adv. phr. (common). In good form, style,
time, etc.
;

with force

a gene-

BEAN or BIEN,

subs, (popular). a sovereign. Formerly In America five-dollar guinea.

approval and LIKE BLAZES, C/., praise. BRICKS, Or ONE O'CLOCK. NOT TO CARE, Or BE WORTH A BEAN. To hold in little esteem to think lightly of; to be of
ral expression of
;

little

value.

The

allusion is to

Bean.

152

Bean.
1830.
42.

the small worth, or value of a bean, or the black of a bean.' A variant is NOT WORTH A STRAW (q.v.). Both phrases are
'

Few men who

GALT, Laurie,

MANY BLUE BEANS

FIVE. [M.]
1886.

T. (1849), H., i. better knew HOW IT TAKES TO MAKE

old,

NOT WORTH A BEAN being

.

Zoological

Comparisons,

in

Broadside Ballad.

traced back to 1297.

To BE BEANY, pliv (common). To be in good humour a

metaphor
stable.

also

drawn from the

The
BEANS, phr. (Ameribe well informed. phrase is incorporated
expressions in a very
;

can).

To KNOW To
many

Then just as we begin to know 'HOW MANY BEANS MAKE FIVE,' ladies call us puppies when we at
that age arrive a deer, if in favour with some lass, not you're called a donkey, and oftentimes an ass.
;

Nature and art improves us, the girls with smiles are moving us, Which very often ruin us there's no gammon about that;

You may perchance become

If

The
into
to

strange way and is an allusion the fondness of New

in general, in particular,

1889.
5.

Mr.

Englanders Bostonians

and
for

baked beans and

pork, combined with a sly hit at the assumption of superior culture on which they are supposed to
insist.

To KNOW
'

fore, is to

BEANS, therebe sharp and shrewd

;
'

to be within the charmed circle of the cultured elect in short to be fully equipped in

to improve my mind. ... It says that there were eighty-six Parnellites, and that if Mr. Gladstone, by his wickedness, could make them leave off voting for the Tories, and vote for him, instead of being in a minority of four, he would have had a majority of 80. Why, Sir, the dunce of the school knows that if you take 80 from one side and

Review. Sir, My master, who is a good Conservative, lends me The Saturday

Daily News, 4 Nov., p. 6, col. Gladstone and The Saturday

Review

add
not

it

on
but

80,

the

'

upper

MANY BLUE BEANS MAKE FIVE. I some people are losing their wits
than
Mr. Gladstone.
I

to the other, the difference is 160. It is as simple as

HOW

think
faster

storey."

1888.

The

member of the assembled family, including a dainty Boston girl who, of course, KNOWS BEANS.
by each
1888. latest

Portland Transcript, March 7. pudding was pronounced a success

respectfully,

A SCHOOLBOY.

am,

Sir,

yours

THREE BLUE
BLUE
BLADDER.

KNOW BEANS
ment
at

Chicago Herald. One has to to be successful in the

for entertain-

Washington novelty
luncheons.

An

alternative

may, however, be found

English form.

derivation in the

confesses his inability to discover the origin of this whimsical combination of words, but points out that it is at least of long standing. The subjoined quotations would seem to indicate the meaning as noisy,
frothy talk
1600.
p. 128.
;

BEANS Nares

IN

TO KNOW HOW MANY BLUE BEANS MAKE FIVE WHITE ONES,

phy.

clap-trap.
Fortnnatits,
?
iii.,

DEKKER, Old

This is geneform of a question, the answer" to which is Five, if peeled, and those who fail to get tripped by the catch are said TO KNOW HOW in other words to MANY,' etc. be cute knowing wide awake.

(common).

rally put in the

'

F.

Hark, does't

rattle

S. Yes, like THREE BLUE BEANS IN A BLUE BLADDER, rattle, bladder, rattle. 1717.
I., v.,

MATHEW

PRIOR,

Alma

(cant),

25.

'

'

That putting all his words together, 'Tis THREE BLUE BEANS IN ONE BLUE BLADDER.

They say

Bean
BEAN BELLY,

Belly,
(old).

153

Bear.
are five-dollar gold pieces, and the insinuation is obvious. In old English cant a BEAN meant a guinea, probably from the

subs.

nick;

name

for a Leicestershire man from a real or supposed fondness of the inhabitants of this county for beans.

French

biens,

property.

BEAN-FEAST, subs, (common). An annual feast given by employers to their work-people. The derivation is uncertain, and, at present, their is little evidence to go upon. Some

BEANY, adj. (common). Full of fresh, like a bean-fed vigour horse. Or, it may be an allusion to the meaning of venery,
;

have suggested its origin in the prominence of the bean goose, or even beans at these
spreads
;

which Aristotle was says attached to the word BEANS.

1852.
278.

BEANY and
1870.

The very

KINGSLEY,
jolly.

in Life (1876), I., incongruity keeps one

others refer
bien,

it

to the
[M.]

good, i.e., a good feast (by-the-bye, tailors call all good feeds BEAN-FEASTS) whilst others favour its derivation from the modern English bene, a request or solicitation, from the custom of collecting to subscriptions defray the cost. All three suggestions are, at the best, unsatisfactory, and
;

French

horses

Daily News, 27 July, 5. The . looked fresh and BEANY.

.

BEAR, subs. (Stock Exchange). i. Applied, in the first instance, to stock sold by jobbers for delivery by a certain date on the chance of prices falling in the meantime, thus allowing the seller to re-purchase at a profit.

numerous objections crop up

The phrase was probably at

'

first

An
is

at every turn to

each of them. annual outing of this kind also called a WAYZGOOSE

(q.v.}.

Printing Times, 15 Feb., 26, 2. BEAN-FEAST dinner served up at a

1882.

country inn. [M.] 1884. Bath. Jour., 26 July, 6, i. The annual grant of 20 for their BEAN-FEAST.
[M.]

BEAR-SKIN the buyers of such bargains being called BEAR-SKIN JOBBERS (see qUOt.), in allusion to the proverb, To sell the bear's skin before one has caught the bear.' So far, the origin of the phrase seems
to sell the
,

'

'

pretty clear of the date of its introduction, however, nothing is

;

known.
subs,

BEAN-FEASTER,

One who
FEAST
1884.

(common).

in

was a common term Stock Exchange circles, at the

It

takes part in a BEAN-

time of the

bursting

of

the

(q.v.).

the

Cornh. Mag., Jan., 621. For delectation of the bold BEAN[M.]

South Sea Bubble in 1720, but it does not seem to have become
In colloquial until much later. these transactions no stock was difference being passed, the settled according to the quotation of the day, as is the practice now in securities dealt with for At the account." present the term for such an
' ' '

FEASTERS.

BEANO,

subs,

(printers').
(q.v.).

The

same as BEAN-FEAST
BEAN
TRAPS,
subs.

swell mobsman, thieves'). or stylish sharper. BEANS (q.v.)

(American

arrangement

is

TIME-BARGAIN.

Bear.
1709. STEELE, Tatler, No. 38, p. 3. at that General Mart of stock-

154
of

Bear.
the
rising generation are unlicked called Also called formerly
'

Being

jobbers called Jonathans ... he bought the BEAR of another officer. [M.]
1719. Anatomy of Change Alley (N. and Q., 5 S., vi., 118). Those who buy Exchange Alley bargains are styled

sometimes
cubs.'

BRIDLED-BEAR.
1832. Legends of London, II., 247. I was the youthful BEAR as the disciple of a private tutor is called at

When

'buyers of BEAR-SKINS.' [M.] 1778. BAILEY, Dictionary (24 ed.). To sell A BEAR, to sell what one hath
not.
2.

Oxford.

[M.]

Verb.
1861.

To

act as a

BEAR (#.*;.).
29.

New
no

Hence a
for

dealer

lates

instance

a fall. noted of this transis in

86.

who specuThe earliest

York Tribune, Nov.

There
is

truth in the startling developments, implicating British officials, in

is

ferred usage
1744.

London Magazine,

These

His Lordship wholly guiltless of the charge which the Herald, in its anxiety to BEAR THE MARKET, has brought against him.
the Herald's despatch
.
. .

fact

noisy devotees were false ones, and in were only bulls and BEARS. [M.] 1768. FOOTE, Devil upon Two Sticks,

ARE YOU THERE WITH YOUR

BEARS
?

phr.

(colloquial).

A
;

Act

and BEAR booby the patron of lame ducks, brokers, and

i.

A mere

bull

fraudulent bankrupts.

COLMAN, Man of Business, iv., wks. (1777) II., 179. My young i., in master is the bull, and Sir Charles is the
1774.

greeting of surprise at the reappearance of anybody or anything are you there again or, in the words of its most recent
;

stock expecting it to be up at three hundred by this time but, lack-a-day, sir, it has been falling ever since.

BEAR.

He

agreed

for

1817.

hum and

wont to and brokers of Stock-alley. 1860. PEACOCK, Gryll Grange, ch. In Stock Exchange slang, bulls xviii. are speculators for a rise, BEARS for a
fall.

SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. iv. The which his approach was produce among the bulls, BEARS,
bustle

slang equivalent, What, again so soon ? The phrase is explained by Joe Miller, as the exclamation of a man who, not liking a sermon he had heard on Elisha and the BEARS, went next Sunday to another church, only to find the same preacher and the same discourse.
'
!

'

1642.

JAMES HOWELL,
,

Instructions

1889.

A lly

Sloper's

H. H., Aug.

3, p.

Mrs. Spingles says she 242, col. 3. doesn't wonder that the Stock Exchange at times resembles a menagerie let loose, seeing what a lot of bulls, BEARS and stags they have at Capel Court.

Another for Forreine Travell sec. 3. when at the racket court he had a ball struck into his hazard, he would ever and anon cry out, cstcs vous la, avec vos ours ? ARE YOU THERE WITH YOUR BEARS ? which is ridiculous in any other language but English.
335.

equivaun baissier. See the analogous terms BULL STAG and LAME DUCK.
lent
is
; ;

The French Bourse

1740. RICHARDSON, Pamela, III., O no, nephew ARE YOU THEREABOUTS WITH YOUR BEARS?
!

1820.

come

SCOTT, Abbot, xv.

'

Marry,

up.
'

ARE YOU THERE WITH YOUR

phr. in a

3. (old.) pupil of a private tutor, the latter being called

The

BEARS

muttered the dragon.

From a BEAR-LEADER (q.v.). the general roughness and uncouthness of boys a reference to the heavy build and ungain;

To PLAY THE BEAR, To behave (common). rough and rude manner.

1579.

TOMSON,

Calvin's Serm. Tim.,

liness

of

the

question,

plantigrade in Even now the youth

p. 473, col. i. all order vpsidowne

When we
. . .

haue so turned
there
is

nothing

but
vs.

PLAYING THE BEARE amongst

Bearded Cad.
BEAR A
(nautical).

Bear Up.
phr.

BOB,
i.
!

verbal

To

lend a hand;
!

look sharp
2.

look alive

or using artifices to lower (q.v.) the price of stock to suit a bear account.
;
' '

(popular.)

To

aid,

to

assist, to

take part in anything.

subs.

BEARDED CAD,
College).

porter, employed by the College to convey luggage from the railway station to the school. The term originated in an extremely hirsute individual, who, at one time, acted in

(Winchester

BEARINGS. To BRING ONE TO ONE'S BEARINGS, verbal phr. To bring one to (colloquial). reason A to act as a check. nautical term.
;

BEAR

LEADER,

subs.

(old).

the capacity.

A BEARD-SPLITTER, s^^bs. (old). man much given to the company of prostitutes; nowadays called A HOT MEMBER, or MOLROWER, which see for synonyms. [From BEARD, a tuft of hair + SPLITTER, one who divides.
4

more common and than is nowadays the

In the days when it was customary to send young hopefuls on the Grand Tour, the expression was much
travelling
tutor.
1
'

significant case. The

simile is taken from a person leads about a tame bear for exhibition.

who
June

1749.

WALPOLE,
(1883),
if

not wonder

Lett, to Mann, vol. II., p. 392. I shall for his she takes

me

The

allusion

is

obvious.]

BEARER-UP.

See

BEAR UP

and

BEAR-LEADER, his travelling governor 1756. FOOTE, Englishman Returned from Paris, Act i.
!

Serv.

My

young master's

travelling

BONNET.
BEAR-GARDEN JAW, subs. (old). Rough, unmannerly speech;
talk akin to that used in bear gardens and other places of low

Crab Shew him in. This BEARLEADER, I reckon now, is either the curate of the knight's own parish clumsy church, or some needy highlander. 1812. COMBE, Dr. Syntax, Tour I
ch. xxiii.

tutor, sir, just arrived.

And
I

Quoted by Grose, 1785. [From BEAR-GARDEN, a place set apart for bear baiting and other rough sports + JAW, talk or
speech.]
1848.

resort.

as I almost wanted bread, undertook a BEAR TO LEAD, see the brute perform his dance Through Holland, Italy, and France But it was such a very Bruin,

To

took
1848.

Some humbler Swiss

of Oliver He called
ch. vii.

JOHN FORSTER, Life

ARCHIBALD FORBES,

Goldsmith, bk. IV., chap. xi. Burke a BEAR-GARDEN RAILER.

1871.

Experience of the War between France and Germany, p. 301. THE BEAR-GARDENLIKE BABEL was rather more noisy than

My

nobility, ling with their

leave, and left the cub to pay and drub. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, They pounced upon the stray and seized young lords travel-

my

BEAR-LEADERS.
subs.
(

usual.

BEARSKIN-JOBBER, Exchange). See

sense
i.

Stock
subs.,

BEAR,

BE - ARGERED, Drunk.

adj.

(familiar).

BEAR
(Stock Exas a BEAR

UP,
;

cheat

verb (common). to swindle in any

' '

To
way
;

BEARING, ppl. adj. Acting change).

more
the

particularly applied to action of and decoys

Beast.
confederates. See BONNET. The derivation is obviously from that sense of TO BEAR UP, signifying support or backing up.
p. 40.

156
1778.
etc.

Beat.
JOHNSON,
I.,

in

D'Arblay Diary,
'

(1876), vol.

p.

37.

It

moves

my
Mr.

indignation

a gentleman pains to appear a tradesman. Braughton would have written his with just such BEASTLY flourishes
to

see

take

name
'

1828. G. SMEETON, Doings in London, The billiard-marker refused to make any division of the spoil, or even

Daily Telegraph, 24 Oct., p. He was in good health 5, col. 3. looked almost BEASTLY well,' as I once
. . .
'

1865.

heard

10 which had to return the him in BEARING UP the cull.

1883.

been
2,

lost to
col. 4.

This looks as if the BEARING UP and bonneting which has been done by friendly writers in response to my remarks is all thrown away.
' '

Referee, Dec.

2, p.

described. [M.] F. ANSTEY, Vice Versa, ch. i. 1882. He had a troublesome dryness in his throat, and a general sensation of dull heaviness, which he himself would have described expressively enough, if not as 'feeling with academical elegance
it

BEASTLY.'

BEAST,

subs,

plied or, to that

e.g.,

to

i. Ap(common). anything unpleasant

;

BEAST WITH Two BACKS, subs. phr. Explained in second (old).

quotation.
1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, Act i., Sc. i. Brabantio: What profane wretch art thou ? lago I am one, Sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the
:

which displeases

a perfect BEAST of a day,' for 'it's an unpleasant

'It's

day.'
2.

See

BEASTLY.

(American cadet.)

A name

given to Military
Point.
3.

new cadets Academy

at the U.S. at West

Moor are now making THE TWO BACKS.

1785.

the BEAST

WITH

GROSE,

Classical

See

SNOOKER.

of Vulgar Tongue. BACKS, a man and

copulation.

BEAST WITH TWO

Dictionary

woman

in the act of

(Cambridge University.) Anyone who has left school and come up to Cambridge for study, before entering the University, is called

BEAT, subs.

(American).

i.

This
its

word

is

used in

many ways,

cause
boy.'

'

he

is

a BEAST, beneither man nor

precise meaning often depending on its qualifying adjective. It is said of both men and
is

BEASTLY, adv. (popular). In modern colloquial usage applied to whatever may offend the
taste.
'

Akin also

to

'

awful,'
'

when used everlasting,' etc. as mere intensitives, i.e., very,

1

not derogatory in the least. A dead BEAT, on the other hand, is the name given to a man who

for example, a live BEAT anybody or anything that surpasses another, and the sense is

things

[Originally from 'exceedingly. BEASTLY, of, or pertaining to the nature of a beast hence,
1

sponges on his fellows. [Probably from that sense of BEAT

signifying to overcome to show oneself superior to, either in a good or bad sense].
;

figuratively, brutish, irrational,

unmanly
series

whence, through a
transitions, its

1888.

New

York Tribune,

May

16.

As we pay big money

for our special

of

slang

significations.]
1611.

DEKKER, Roaring
I

Girle, wks.,

1873, III., 159.

thought 'twould bee a

BEASTLY iourney.

news, we can't afford to throw it away on account of a little mistake in the name. So we shove her in with the single remark that it is better to have a Carrot for a President than a DEAD BEAT for a son-in-law. In this way, we again score

Beat.
a LIVE BEAT on the galoot
snorter.' Whoopee! to subscribe.
1888.
'

157

Beat.

The

Now

is

Ripthe time
7.

New

York Mercury, Aug.

lawyer or artist named Diss Debar. Previous to this she had been in Montreal and telegraphed that she was dyinp. She BEAT the hotel out of a hundred
dollars.

But not only steamboats and locomotives were used by reporters for BEATS, but one newspaper man named Monroe F. Gale made a trip across the Atlantic in a Hot-boat, to get some peculiar news in E is own fashion. All things taken into consideration, there never was a bolder voyage over the Atlantic than this made by the Romer,' all for the sake of a few
' '
'

DAISY
thieves').

BEAT

A swindle of the first

(American

points
2.

in news.

water; a robbery of magnitude. To BEAT HOLLOW TO STICKS TO RIBANDS TO FITS ALL CREATION TO SHIVERS, etc.
(popular) pass.
1759.
.

To

excel

to

sur-

(popular.)
;

a policeman or on duty one's daily round of duty, work, etc.; and, figuratively, one's sphere of influence.
G. A. STEVENS, Adv. of a The first evening I i., 211. in Fleet Street, to look stand took my out for a fare, I was drove from street to
1788.

The round of watchman when

Stairs,

I.,

ii.

TOWNLEY, High Life Below Crab was BEAT HOLLOW,

Speculist,

his rider, and Miss Slammerkin had the distemper. 1847. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends were (1877), p. 55. Many ladies BEAT ALL TO STICKS by the lovely

Careless

threw

Odille. [M.]

street

by women of my own profession, who swore I should not come in their

BEATS
until
1835.

p.

31.

The costermongers
BEATS

had paid my 'footing.' DICKENS, Sketches by Boz,

I

WHYTE MELVILLE, General i. Talk of climate a real day in England, like a really handsome Englishwoman, BEATS CREATION. WHYTE MELVILLE, Kate 1856.
1854.

Bounce, ch.
fine

repaired to

Coventry, ch.
.

i.

their ordinary

in the suburbs.

Bob Dashwood
.
.

the

295

1862. Saturday Review, 15 March, Ask him why anything is so-and-so, and you have got out of his BEAT. [M.]

and BEAT HIM ALL TO RIBANDS.

1879.

rode a race against other morning,

Poetical Works, 418. shall BEAT THEM
19
Oct.,
p.

And

there's
1889.

LOWELL, where

HOLLOW.

Faire sa nouveaute

is

said of a

French prostitute when seeking fresh fields and pastures new.

Modem

Society,

many.)
drink

(How the Nobility live in GerGermans BEAT THE ENGLISH HOLLOW at drinking beer; the ladies
1302.
;

come

i. Overexhausted; 'done up.' Generally DEAD-BEAT (q.v.). [A shortened form of BEATEN.] See BEATEN OUT.

Ppl. adj. (popular).

;

it, and the children also, like milk seems to agree with them, for they very robust. They are not ceremonious at any meal, and eat as if in a hurry for a train, cutting up all on their plate first, then forking it in with the aid of bread or their fingers.

and
are

it

1832.

MOORE, Jerome,
fairly

gave

Till (1862), 558. o'er. [M.]

etc., wks. II. BEAT, the saint

The French say

'

arriver
'

bon
in

premier,

to

arrive
Cf.,

or

'

be a

H. KINGSLEY, Geoffery 1859. The lad was getting lyn, ch. xxxvii.
'

Hammuch

good
Ai.

first.'

synonyms
IS

BEAT,
further.
2.
1

and

couldn't

a'gone

TO GET

A BEAT ON

to get

Hence
;

be baffled
;

also, figuratively, to defeated.

.

TO BEAT ONE'S WAY THROUGH

the advantage of. The same idea is expressed in the phrase

To swinVerb (American) dle to deceive to cheat.

;

THE WORLD

in other words, to

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Ap. 12. Later he heard of her marriage to some

push one's interests with vigour and pertinacity. As used by thieves and their associates, TO

Beat Daddy

Mammy.
besides
streets.

Beauty.
Barclay, in Shyp of speaks of night watchers and BETERS of the
'

GET A BEAT ON ONE,

conveying the idea of obtaining an advantage, also implies that the point has been scored by underhand, secret, or unlawful means.
phr.

Folys

(1509),

stretes.']

For

synonyms,

see

CREEPERS.
BEAT THE HOOF, verbal phr. (popuTo walk; to plod; to lar).

TO BEAT THE BOOBY Or GOOSE, To strike the (nautical).

across the chest and the armpits to warm

hands under
them.
JONAS.
1883.

Formerly

TO

BEAT

Times, 15 March, p. 9, col. 6. labourers at outdoor work were BEATING GOOSE to drive the blood

To BEAT THE HOOF

HOOF
1596.
(q.v.).

[From BEAT, in the prowl. sense of to strike the ground in walking, etc., HOOF, a humorous term for the foot.]

The common
from

is an older form of the modern PAD THE

their fingers.

[M.]

To BEAT

THE

ROAD,

(American). To travel by rail without DEADpaying. See HEADS and To BEAT, sense i. THAT BEAT'S THE DUTCH
!

phr.

SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act i., Sc. 3. Falstaff: Hold, sirrah, [to Robin] bear you these letters
tightly Sail like
;

my
;

pinnace to these golden

!

shores.

See

DUTCH.

Rogues, hence, avaunt vanish like hailstones, go Trudge, PLOD AWAY, o' THE HOOF seek
;

shelter,

pack

BEAT DADDY

MAMMY (old military). tattoo; to practice the elements of drum beating.

To
adv.

1691.

They

all

BEATED
[M.]

WOOD,

Ath. Oxon.,
IT

II.,

ON THE HOOF

412. to

London.

BEATEN DOWN TO BED-ROCK,

phr. (American).

BEAT THE

RIB.

See RIB.

See
adj.

BEDROCK.

BEAU TRAP,
stone
in

subs. (old).

i.

loose

BEATEN OUT, (common)

.

one's last
1851.

with adv. in Impoverished straits hard up.

ppl.
;
;

The

London Poor, I., p. OUT mechanics and want of employment take to making small

MAYHEW, London Labour and 351. The BEATEN

artisans, who, from in their own trade,

a pavement, under which water lodges, and which, on being trodden upon, squirts it up, to the great damage of
clean clothes.
2. Also a well-dressed (old.) sharper, on the look out for

things. Ibid, p. 400. last class of street sellers is the

raw country
like.
3.

visitors

and such
well-

BEATEN OUT mechanic

or

workman.

(old.)

Boots BEATER-CASES, subs. (old). or shoes. Nearly obsolete. TROTTER-CASES (q.v.) is the usual term nowadays. See BEATERS.
BEATERS,
feet.

fop,

dressed outwardly indeed, but whose linen, person, and habits generally, are unclean.

BEAUTY,
subs.

[A

(American). The transferred sense of

subs. (American cadet). term applied, on the rule

BEATER, originally signifying one who 'beat' or walked the

of contrary, to the plainest or ugliest cadet in the class at the

United States Military Academy

Beauty-Sleep.
at

150

Bed.
1855.
'

West

Point.

C/.,

SNOOKER

THACKERAY, Newcomes,
'

ch. ix.
'

and BABE.
BEAUTY-SLEEP, subs, (familiar). Sleep before midnight, the idea being that early hours conduce to health and beauty. 1850. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairleigh, II., p. 120. The fair pupils have talked themselves to sleep, which, if report does not belie them, is not until they have forfeited all chance of adding to their attractions by getting a little BEAUTYSLEEP before twelve o'clock.

Had you not better take off your hat ? asks the Duchess, pointing ... to the foring cove's BEAVER, which he had neglected to remove. 1857. O. W. HOLMES, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, ch. x. know this of our hats, and are always reminded of it when we happen to put them on wrong side foremost. We soon find that the BEAVER is a hollow cast of the skull, with all its irregular bumps and depressions.
'

We

KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, Are you going ? it is not late not ten o'clock yet.' 'A medical man, who may be called up at any moment. must make sure of his BEAUTY-SLEEP.'
1857. ch. xv.
' ;

IN BEAVER, phr. (University). In a tall hat and non-academical garb, as distinguished from cap and gown.
1840.
271.

New

1869.

ch. Ixiv. Would I please to remember that I had roused him up at night, and the quality always made a point of paying four times over for a man's loss of his BEAUTY-SLEEP. I replied that his loss of BEAUTY-SLEEP was rather improving to a man of so high a complexion.

BLACKMORE,

Lorna

Doone,

He ... went out of College in what the members of the United Service
called mufti, but members of the University BEAVER, which means not in his academics his cap and gown. [M.]

Monthly Magazine,

lix.,

See also

BEVER.
i.

BECK,

subs, (old cant).

con-

JAS. PAYN, Confid. Agent, ch. get your BEAUTY-SLEEP,' cried he to his wife when Barlow had departed, or you will have no colour in
'

1880.

iii.

You must
'

stable.

See

BEAK and COPPER.

your cheeks to-morrow.'

i. An BEAVER, subs, (common). old term for a hat GOSS or CADY, however, is more freAt quently heard nowadays. one time hats were made of beaver's fur hence the name the term is still occasionally
; ;

2. A parish beadle. Apparently the term was applied to all kinds of watchmen. See

HARMAN-BECK.
Verb
prison.
(thieves').

To

im-

Amongst Dutch thieves bekaan has the same signification,

imprisoned.
1861. READE, Cloister and Hearth Iv. The circle with the two dots was writ by another of our brotherhood, and it signifies as how the writer was BECKED, was asking here, and lay two months in Starabin.

ch.

applied

to

tall

'

chimney-pot

hats,' in spite of the fact that for many years silk has replaced

the skin of the rodent in their

manufacture.
1528.

BED.

ROY, Sat.

folde
[M.]

crowne Of

To exalte the thre anti-christ hys BEVER.

Mr.
cost

To PUT TO BED WITH A PICKAXE AND SHOVEL (common). To bury. For analogous exsee

1661.

Holden sent me a BEVER, which

1712.

PEPYS, Diary, 27 June.

pressions,
c.

LADDER.
'

me
off'

1881.

Broadside Ballad,

Hands

GAY, Trivia, bk.

II.,

1.,

The broker here

wears,

277.

his spacious

BEAVER
cares.

Kitty Crea, some fine day, when I'm laid in the clay, PUT TO BED WITH A SPADE in the usual

Upon

his

brow

sit

jealousies

and

way,

Bedder.
And yourself on the shelf a neglected old maid, Troth, your conscience will sting you, I'm greatly afraid.
BEDDER,

160

Bedpost.
old

English verb 'bedazzle,' used by Shakspeare in Taming

of the
SJireii.', iv.,

5, 46.

[1593.]

(Cambridge UniverA charwoman one who sity). makes the beds and performs other necessary domestic duties
subs.
;

BEDPOST. IN THE TWINKLING OF A BEDPOST, phr. (familiar). with great Instantaneously

;

rapidity.

Originally

IN

THE

for residents in college.

TWINKLING
i.

OF

BEDSTAFF.

BED- FAGOT, subs, (familiar). Applied contemptuously to

a
1

woman;
etc.
2.

Cf.,

'hussy,'

'witch,
prosti-

Synonymous with

For full list of analogous terms, see BARRACK-HACK.

tute.

BEDFORDSHIRE,

subs,

A humorous
example,

(familiar). term for bed.

as, for
(q.v.)
; ;

There are several other phrases

of a kindred character
;

SHEET ALLEY

BLANKET FAIR (q.v.) LAND OF NOD (q.v.), etc.

THE

This phrase has given rise to not a little speculation; first, as to what use the BEDSTAFF was put and, secondly, as to its possible connection with rapidity of motion. The generally received explanation is that the staff referred to was, as Johnson puts it, a wooden pin stuck anciently on sides of the bedstead to hold the cloaths from Dr. slipping on either side.' Murray, however, points out that the great lexicographer gave no authority, and also that no corroborative evidence has
;
'

'

been

1665. COTTON, Poet. Wks. (1765), 76. Each one departs to BEDFORDSHIRE. And pillows all securely snort on. [M.] 1738.

found." Still it seems certain that bedstaffs were used

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) I'm going to the Land of Nod. Col. Ner. Faith, I'm for BEDFORDSHIRE.
. . .

beds for some our ancestors. Bobadil, in Every Man in his Humour [1596], uses one to display his skill with the rapier,

and kept

near

purpose

by

and the following explanation has been suggested by Mr.

[Notes and Queries, The bedstaff 437]. was an upright peg, fixed into the side of the bedstead after the manner of a pin, and projecting upwards to keep the bed clothes in their place. Consequently, as offering the means of exhibiting the use of the wooden bedstaff the rapier, may have afforded a very available as well as harmless
2 S.,
vi.,

Thomas Boys

HOOD, Miss Kilmansegg. The time for sleep had come at last, And there was the bed, so soft, so vast, Quite a field of BEDFORDSHIRE clover.
1845.

BED- House,

subs,

(common).

place of assignation where beds can be hired for a longer or shorter period as required hence the name. For synonyms generally, see NANNY SHOP.

BEDOOZLE, verb (American).

;

To

implement.
bedstaff
to

Suppose then the have been an up-

confuse to bewilder. Probably a corrupt form of the

right peg or pin fitting into a hole or socket in the side of

Bedpost.
the bedstead, and, in length, about equal to the rapier. The socket is a few inches deep and the bedstaff has (to steady a projecting rim which overit) The lays the socket like a lid. which part of the bedstaff enters the socket will then be the hilt of the rapier the projecting rim will be the guard; and the rest of the staff will do duty as the blade. In the bedstaff we have then the form of
;

161

Bedrock.

E. F. 1854. SMEDLEY, Harry I'll adown and be i. Coyerdale, ch. with yOU IN ... THE TWINKLING OF A
'

BEDPOST.'

Among ENGLISH SYNONYMS In a jiffy may be included

:

a brace of shakes before you can say Jack Robinson in a crack in the squeezing of a lemon.
in

two two's
; ;

in

BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE BEDPOST, plw (familiar). A humorous tag to an assertion
. ;

a rapier

and, with this imple-

i.e.,

ment of wood, Captain Bobadil would have no difficulty in exhibiting his passado and stoccado. The rapier of the sixteenth and
seventeenth
over,
centuries,

'I between ourselves know what you say, but, BE'

'

TWEEN YOU AND

more-

was by no means the light and foil-like weapon now known as the small sword. It was of great length and heavy, and a bedstaff such as that
suggested above, with a species of guard, and most likely about the weight of a heavy singlestick,

ME, etc. the thing is absurd.' Sometimes the last word is varied by 'post,' 'doorpost,' or 'gate any prop seems to serve. post
. . .
'

1831.

BULWER
Ah,

LYTTON,
sir,

Eugene

Aram,

p. 234.

all

say so; but,

BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND

very well to

THE BEDPOST, young

with old master.
1838.
127.

master's quarrelled
p.

And BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE

sir,
it

DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby,

will

POST,
too.

be a very nice portrait

instrument

would have been no bad wherewith to in-

doctrinate a tyro in the noble art of self defence.

Hence, probably,
IN

if

this

be

so,

1879. Punch, March 8, p. 108. Discussing an absent friend. 'Yes, Robinson's a clever feller, and he's a modest but BEfeller, and he's a honest feller TWIXT YOU AND I AND THE POST, Mr.
;

the derivation of the expression,

THE TWINKLING OF A BEDSTAFF more especially if, as would occasionally be the case, it were used as a weapon of
;

defence against intruders, when possibly even life itself might hang upon a dexterous use of the implement.

Jones,' said Brown, confidentially, picking his wisdom tooth with his little finger Robinson ain't got neither the nail, Looks, nor yet the Language, nor yet the Manners of a Gentleman.' said Jones, Right you are, sir shovelling the melted remains of his Ice Pudding into his Mouth with a Steel Knife (which he afterwards wiped on the Table Cloth). You've 'it 'im orf t* a
'

'

'

'

'

Charac. Italy, 78. IN THE 1660. TWINKLING OF A BEDSTAFF he disrobed and was just skipping into himself
. . .

bed.

[M.]

BEDROCK. To GET DOWN TO BEDROCK [in anything; whether in an enquiry, or in one's circumTo the bottom stances, etc.]
.

1676.
I'll

do it instantly, IN THE TWINK'Gad, LING OF A BEDSTAFF.

T. SHADWELL, Virtuoso,

I., i.

miner's to the lowest level. term, alluding to the solid rock

WARD, London Spy, pt. XL, Shake 'em off and leap into bed, IN 259. THE TWINKLING OF A BEDSTAFF.
1698.

underlying superficial and other formations. Therefore, metaphorically, to reach BEDROCK

' '

ii

Bee.
to attain a solid basis or foundation BEDROCK FACTS are the chiels that winna ding the incontestible and unconis
;
'

162

Beef.
1868.

Phrase and Fable, p. 77, col. 2. You HAVE A BEE IN YOUR BONNET Or YOUR HEAD
crotchets, fancies, dreamy theories.
full of devices, and inventions, beonce and the soul was bees tween generally maintained .... the moon was called a bee by the priestesses of Ceres, and the word lunatic or moonstruck still means one with BEES IN HIS HEAD.'

DR. BREWER, Dictionary

of

'

is

FULL OF BEES

[i.e.']

trovertible truth.

The connection

To COME DOWN TO THE BEDROCK

just this,' etc.

BRET HARTE, Poems and 1870. Prose, p. 113. 'No! no!' continued T. ' I play this yer hand alone. hastily.
it's

'

1875. Scribner's Magazine, p. 277. Getting to the real character of a man is

COMING TO THE BEDROCK.

1888.

IEEF, subs,

(common).
;

i.

Human
;

Thomas

Press, March 31. J. Whiteman, of Carrol county, is a Republican candidate for Governor of Missouri. You can bet your BEDROCK

Louisiana

flesh (a transferred sense) or fleshy obese stolid

;

i.e.,

like

dollar that the next governor of Missouri will be a white man, although his first

name

isn't apt to

be Thomas.

showed
2.

Cork Examiner, March 28. 1862. Chelmsford stood higher in the leg, and less BEEF about him. [M.]
(nautical.)
;

By

BEE. TO HAVE A BEE IN THE HEAD or BONNET, phr. (familiar). To be possessed of queer ideas This 'half-cracked flighty. phrase is of considerable antiquity, being traced back to a
;
1

transition to signify
'

BEEF has

a further also come

;

hands

'

';

men strength More BEEF a

'
!

or
bo'-

sun's exhortation exertion.

1863.

to

extra
'

Scotch writer, Gawin Douglas by name [1474-1521] Bishop of Dunkeld, who used it in a trans,

on Board a Man of War." Useful at the heavy hauling of braces, etc., where plenty of BEEF is required. [M.]

Cornhill Magazine. Feb.,

Life

lation of Virgil's JEneid.

1512-3 (translated: published in 1553). GAWIN DOUGLAS, &neis, VIII., Prol. 120. Quhat bern be thou in bed with HEID FULL OF BEIS.
1657.

SAMUEL COLVIL,

Whigg's

Supplication, or Scotch Hudibras [1710].

Which comes from BRAINS WHICH HAVE

1825.
'

The penis. 3. (common.) For synonyms, see CREAMSTICK. To BE IN BEEF, phr. (old) Said only of women. It means to have carnal knowledge. To BE IN A MAN'S BEEF, phr.
(old).

A BEE.

To wound with

a sword.

SCOTT,

St. Ronan's, ch. xvii.

Grose.

BEE

Maybe ye think the puir lassie has A IN HER BONNET; but ye ken yournaebody but wise
folk

To CRY
;

or GIVE BEEF, Or
(thieves').
;

HOT
give

sell if

were

to

BEEF, phr.

To

marry, the warld

1853.

wad be

ill

peopled.'

BULWER LYTTON, My Novel, III., 307. It is not an uncommon crochet amongst benevolent men to maintain
that wickedness in necessarily a sort of insanity, and that nobody would make a violent start out of a straight path unless stung to such disorder by a BEE IN HIS BONNET.

an alarm to pursue to set up a hue and cry. It has been suggested that BEEF in this case is a rhyming synonym to
'thief.'

For synonyms,

see

To

GUY.

To BE DRESSED LIKE CHRISTMAS BEEF, phr. (common). To

be decked raiment
;

For

synonyms,

see

APART-

out
in

MENTS TO LET.

in one's best allusion to the

Beef-Brained.
'

l6 3

Bee-Line.
manifest from the crown of the to the sole of the foot;

'

dressing butchers.

of Christmas beef

by

head
;

To MAKE BEEF, To run away

For synonyms,

phr. (thieves'). to decamp.

literally,

ALL

BEEF DOWN TO

THE HEELS.
c.

see

AMPUTATE.
fine

1880.

RHODA BROUGHTON, Cometh

as they say, at
; ;

BEEF!
'

intj.

Stop thief.' C/., To CRY or GIVE BEEF. BEEF UP phr. (common). Give Put on your strength a long pull and a strong pull
!

(Australian).

p. 193. Dolly was not a all not BEEF TO THE HEELS, by any means in a grazier's eye she would have had no charm whatsoever.

up as a Flower,

woman

'

'

'

BEEF-WITTED,

adj.

(common).

Sec

BEEF-BRAINED.
1594. NASHE, Terrors of the Night, wks. Liues (Grosart) III., 257. there anie such slowe yce-braind BEEFK-

BEEF-BRAINED, adj. (common). thickheaded Doltish obtuse a reference to the heavy, dullness of appearance of oxen.
;

in

WITTED

gull.

A BEEF-HEAD, subs, (common). dolt a stupid, thickheaded person. C/., BEEF-BRAINED.

;

Reader, 22 Aug. This British bull-neckedness, this British BEEF-WIT1863.

TEDNESS.

[M.]

BEEFY,

BEEF

IT,

verb

(common).

Con-

sidered originally a provincialThe ism, but now common. lower classes in the East End of London frequently speak of BEEFING IT, either in reality or anticipation (mostly latter), when referring to a meat meal,

more

particularly

when

it

hap-

adj. (common). Fleshy; unduly thick, or obese. [From BEEF + Y a transferred Also BEEFINESS, subs., sense.] fleshy development. The ankles of women are sometimes ungallantly spoken of as BEEFY, with which compare BEEF TO THE HEELS. A run of luck and good fortune, generally, is likewise referred to as BEEFY.
:

pens to be beef.

BEEFMENT.
;

adv. phr. on the look out. alert

ON THE BEEFMENT, On the (thieves').

The
'

1859. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xi. To see him in his huge shirtsleeves, with his awkward BEEFY hands hanging inanely by his side, and his great foolish mouth open.

BEEF-STICK,
'

subs, (military).

BEE-LINE.

To TAKE

or

MAKE A
,

bone in a joint of beef. At mess it is first come, best served and those who come last sometimes get little more than the
;

BEE-LINE [fora place or object] now phr. (originally American as common). To go direct the crow flies without cir;
'

'

BEEF-STICK.

BEEF STRAIGHT.

See

STRAIGHT.

BEEF TO THE HEELS, LIKE A MULLINGAR HEIFER, phr. (Irish). A stalwart man, or a fine woman one whose superiority is i.e.,
;

cumlocution. Bees, when fully laden with pollen, make for the hive in a straight, or BEE-LINE. One of the American railways is called the BEE-LINE ROAD from the direct route it takes

between

its

termini.

Cf.,

STRAIGHT SHOOT.

Beelzebub's Paradise.
1848. J. R. LOWELL, Biglow Papers. field of Lexin'ton where England tried The fastest colors thet she ever dyed. An' Concord Bridge, thet Davis, when

l6 4

Beer.
clothes, or who has struck out a new line of action, the wisdom of which is doubtful. The joke is an old one and refers to a man of it was said that nothing fitted him but his umbrella.

The

he came,

Found

BEE-LINE TRACK to an' fame, Ez all roads be by natur", ef your soul Don't sneak thur shun-pikes so's to save

was the

whom

heaven
the

toll.

M. COLLINS, Frances, ch. y. How they could follow an enemy's trail, or STRIKE A BEE-LINE through unpathed woods to the point they sought
1874.
!

I'VE BEEN THERE. OH, YES, BEEN THERE, phr. (American), I know what I am about.' i.e.,
'

Miss BIRD, Six Mos. in Sand1875. wich Islands, Lett, xxix., p. 275 (1886). Horses cross the sand and hummocks as nearly as possible ON A BEE-LINE.

The
pest
air,

1884. ALDRIDGE, Ranch Notes, p. 78. cattle are in great dread of this

animal

and

[the heel-fly], and the instant an feels one, it hoists its tail in the TAKES A BEE-LINE for the

popular exclamation. When it is said of a man that he has BEEN THERE, shrewdness, perexperience are tinacity, and A variant may be implied. found in the equally slang ex-

pression, he got there See GOT THERE. same.'

'

all

the

nearest water.

BEELZEBUB'S

Silbs. PARADISE, Hell the infernal (popular). Beelzebub is a freregions. quent mis-reading for Beelzebul, the name given by the Jews to the prince of demons. The in New occurs the usage
;

The Japanese
;

Atlanta Constitution, May 4. 1888. say: 'A man takes a drink then the drink takes a drink, and next the drink takes the man.' Evidently the Japanese have BEEN THERE.'
'

2.

Another and more invidious

Testament at Matthew x., 25, and xii., 24-27, where Beelze-

is attached Women susthe phrase. pected of clandestine meetings with men are said to have BEEN

meaning, however,
to

THERE.
BEER, subs, (familiar). To DO A BEER, i.e., to take a drink of
beer.
1880. Punch's Almanac, p. 3. Quarter-day, too, no more chance
tick,

bub should read

former
is

Beelzebul.

The

properly the god of the Philistines, worshipped as the destroyer of flies [from Hebrew b a,al, lord + zebub, a fly] whilst the latter is an opprobrious change on the former
;

ot

[from dung].

Hebrew

baal,

\ord+zebul,

BEEN
in

IN THE SUN, adv. phr. (common). A synonym for drunk,' connection with which see SCREWED. An allusion to a flushed, heated appearance.
'

Fancy I shall 'ave to cut my stick. Got the doldrums dreadful, that is clear, Two d. left! must GO AND DO A BEER! 1889. Sporting Times, July 6. It was
the old tale of stony, pebble-beached, block granite Wednesday, and money on the staff there was none. Pitcher,' said Shifter, brushing the dust off his tongue, Enough for got enough for a BEER ?
' '
' '

BEEN

MEASURED

FOR

NEW

UMBRELLA, phr. (American). Said of sportively anyone appearing in new, ill-fitting

Good repeated Pitcher. heavens, I wish I had. If Bass's ale was a ha'penny a barrel I couldn't buy enough to soak a fly-paper
a BEER
' '

'

Verb.

To

drink beer

also, to

get drunk.

Beer and Bible.

1780-6.

Beer and
')

Skittles.
interest

WOLCOT

('

P.

Pindar

Odes

R. Acad., wks., 1794,

I.,

had been brandying

it

He surely 105. or BEERING, that

[D.]

called

BEER AND BIBLE

is,

in plainer English,

he was drunk.

TO THINK NO SMALL BEER

[of oneself]
,

phr.

(common).
;

Small beer

is

weak beer

hence,

figuratively equivalent to a trifle. The expression, TO THINK NO SMALL BEER OF ONESELF, indicates, therefore, a of self-esteem.
1840.
174.
[I]

rapid strides: in 1870 the Conservatives were at their low water mark among the London constituencies but, in 1880, they had carried seats in the City, Westminster, Marylebone, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, and South wark A notable
;

made

good measure

DE QUINCEY, Style, wks. XL, should express her self-esteem

by the popular phrase, that she did not THINK SMALL BEER OF HERSELF.

exception to this strange fellowship was Mr. Bass [afterwards Lord Bass], of pale-ale fame, who held aloof from opposition to the measure in question. Anent the nickname BEER AND BIBLE GAZETTE given to the Morning
Advertiser,

BEER AND BIBLE, phr.

An

(political).

that
itself

it

epithet applied sarcastically to a political party which first came into prominence during

quet.

it may be mentioned had already earned for a somewhat similar sobriFor a long time this

the last Beaconsfield Adminis-

was called into being by a measure introduced by the

tration.
It

moderate Liberals in 1873, with a view to placing certain restrictions upon the sale of intoxiThe Licensed cating drinks. Victuallers, an extremely powerful association,

paper devoted one-half of its front page to notices of publicans and tavern-keepers while the other half was filled up with
;

whose influence

extended all over the kingdom, took alarm, and turned to the Conservatives for help in opposing the bill. In the ranks of the

of announcements religious books, and lists of preachers at the London churches and This gained for the chapels. singular paper the equally Gin and sobriquet of the Gospel Gazette.'
'

BEER
phr.

AND SKITTLES.
(familiar),
i.e.,

were numbered the chief brewers the leaders of the association, moreover, had mostly strong high church tendencies, while one of them was president
latter
;

NOT ALL BEER AND

Generally, SKITTLES, not alto-

The Liberals,
sarcastically alliance the

of the Exeter Hall organization. noting these facts,

gether pleasant, or couleur de A tap room simile, the rose. allusion being to drinking beer and playing at skittles at one and the same time.
1870.

nicknamed
;

this

MANSFIELD,

School-Life

at

BEER AND BIBLE

ASSOCIATION
Advertiser,

the Morning the organ of the LicensedVictuallers, was dubbed the BEER AND BIBLE GAZETTE
;

and

lastly, electioneering tactics

!

ascribed to them the war cry of

Winchester College, p. 138. But football wasn't all BEER AND SKITTLES to the Fags. There was an institution called Kicking in,' which, while it lasted, was much worse than watching out at cricket, although it had the very great merit of not continuing so long; for, even on a whole holiday, we seldom had more than two hours of it.
4 ' '

BEER AND BIBLE

This

SO-

1889. Pall Mull Gaz., Aug. 13, p. 6. Prince George of Wales is learning his
'

Beer-Barrel.
profession,'

166

Beeswaxers.
BEEROCRACY. subs, (common). The brewing and beer-selling interest. [A humorous appellation in imitation of aristocracy. From BEER [o] CRACY, from Greek jqoareu, to rule, to hold.

nimble. The commander of No. 79 arrived in the harbour, having shown that at least in one respect he has already something in common with the late admiral, Lord Nelson. The officers of the Revenge had the honour to request the pleasure of the company of the Prince and his brother officers to breakfast. The brother officers went, His Royal Highness spent, the day in his

finds it is not all BEER That run across the Channel into Queenstown harbour showed our young naval officer the diffeience between an ironclad and a torpedo boat. The latter is an uncommonly lively craft, and in a choppy sea under a fresh breeze was surprisingly

and AND SKITTLES.

1881.

The
[M.]

BEEROCRACY

World, 19 Jan., p. 10, col. 2. startling mixture of peerage and was absent this time.
.

BEER-SLINGER. JERKER.

See

SLINGER

also

hammock, and towards evening wrote

to

his Royal Father a description of the perils of the deep.

BEESWAX,

subs.

(old).

i.

Poor,

soft cheese.

Sometimes called SWEATY-TOE CHEESE (q.V.).

1821.

BEER-BARREL,

subs,

The human
BEERINESS, (common).
state

body.
subs.,

(common). Cf., BACON.

W.
ii.,

T. MONCRIEFK,
Sc.
3.

Tom and

BEERY, adj. Pertaining to a

;

of, approaching to drunkenness intoxicated fuddled with beer. For synonyms,

;

or

Bob: Now, landdrap of max, suppose we haves a drain o' heavy wet, just by way of cooling our chaffers mine's as dry as a chip and, I say, do you hear, let's have a twopenny burster, half a quartern of BEESVAX, a ha'p'orth o' ingens, and a dollop o' salt along vith it, vill you?
Jerry, Act
lord, 'arter that 'ere

Mace

Bellay

a burster and BEESVAX

here.

see

SCREWED.
DICKENS, Dorrit, bk.
I.,

ingens and
muzzle.
1849.

salt

(Calling

as

he

fetches the porter

1857.
p. 56.

ch.

viii.,
.

from the side wing, L.). Now, then, here you are, Master GrimBell's Life.

The stranger was left to the BEERY atmosphere, sawdust, pipe-lights, spittoons, and repose. D. C. MURRAY, in Belgravia, 1877. There was a BEERY and July, p. 73.
. .

[From Baumann.]
'

burster with a slice of BEESWAX.

2.

A bore
'

one who

button-

bloated captain, resident in the inn, who had left the army, as the rumour ran, under disreputable auspices.

holes

another.

Generally,

OLD

BEESWAX.
BEESWAXERS,
College).
subs.

Modern Society, July 13, p. 838. 1889. It is a fact that does not seem to have struck anyone, that Shakspeare's first appearance as a sporting tipster was in the words, Lay on Macdufl. believe, however, that they could at that time have got five to one against him. So sure was the bard of his tip, that he added, in his own classical language, Damn'd be he that first cries, Hold, enough,' which is vulgarly translated by the BEERY oracle of the kerbstone, Put yer shirt on 'im, cuffs an' all.'
'
1

(Winchester

We

Thick boots used for football. Probably from being smeared with beeswax or other
substitute
waxers.
1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 137. Our costume consisted of a jersey, flannel trousers, BEESWAXERS (lace-up boots), or 'Highlows' (low shoes), with two or three Worsteders (thick worsted pairs of stockings), the /eet of all but one pair being cut off.
' '

for

rendering

foot-

gear supple.

Pronounced Bes-

'

'

BEER-JERKER,

subs.

(American).

tippler.

See

JERKER and

SLINGER.

Beeswing.
subs, BEESWING, gauzy film or

167

Beggar-Maker.
them by the cavalry. A variant is MUD-CRUSHER, which see for
synonyms.
BEETLE-CRUSHING,
adj. (popular).

(common).

'crust,' in port wines, the result of age. [From BEES -f WING so called from
;

its

appearance when broken up

the

in

process of
also

decanting.]

Hence
winked
Act

BEESWINGED.

such as comes from large heavy feet encased

solid tread,
eg., the

With
in

1846. THACKERAY, VanityFair, III., Scott from under bushy eyebrows p. 26.

at the apparition of a BEESWING. 1850. D. JERROLD, The Catspaw,

WING

i. Whereupon, the animal spirits are held in suspense, like like the BEES-

shoes to match marching of infantry. Cf., BEETLE-CRUSHER, sense 3. 1876. Anteros, I., p. 188. The possiboots or
;

in port.

all

bility floated before him, now, of sending his live and dead stock into the

1873.

FITZEDWARD

HALL, Modern
is

market,

English, p. 32. This port able unless BEESWINGED.

not present-

of exchange into BEETLE-CRUSHING Corps.

sedate

(comnickname for anyone, mon). but especially for one who

OLD BEESWING,

BEETLES, subs. (Stock Exchange).

subs,

Colorado mine shares.

1887.

takes to his liquor kindly the saying goes.

18(?).
II., p. 74.

'

'

as

supposing our creamjugs were broken, Or BEETLES were sowing the babies.

Oh

ATKINS, House Scraps.

MARK LEMON,
cock,'

Golden Fetters, Mr. Clendon did not call Mr.

'old
fellow,'

Barnard 'old OLD BEESWING.

or

BEETLE-STICKER, subs, (common). An entomologist.

BEETLE CRUSHER or BEETLE SQUASHER, subs, (popular). I.

BEFORE THE WIND, phr.

(colloquial).
;

large

foot.

The term was

popularised by Leech in the pages of Punch. For synonyms,

see

In prosperous circumstances out of debt or difficulty. From the nautical expression.

HOOF.
2.

BEGAD!

intj.

(common).

cor-

In a transferred and now more common sense to that obtaining, a large originally boot or shoe. Also BEETLECASES. For synonyms, see

ruption of 'By God!' and, as such a euphemistic oath. See

OATHS.
1742.

GAD
met.

madam

FIELDING, J. Andrews. BE'tis the very same I

. . .

TROTTER-CASES.
1869.

1848.

W. BRADWOOD, The

O.V.H.,

iv., 39.

THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, II., Only one, BEGAD in the world.

!

ch. xxi.

Writhing pleasant on the

just inflicted
r.

yet striving to look infliction which the

arrival

BEETLE-CRUSHER of a recent
on his pet corn.
1880.

had

RHODA BROUGHTON, Cometh

!

II., p. 200. Yes, but what horrible boots Whoever could have had the atwocity to fwame such BEETLE-

up as a Flower,

BEGGARED. I'LL BE BEGGARED IF, An emetc., phr. (common). phatic form of asseveration i.e., I'll give up everything, even to being reduced to beggary, if,' etc.
;
'

CRUSHERS.
3. (military.) soldier the term
;

An
is

infantry applied to

BEGGAR-MAKER,
publican.

subs.

(old).

Beggars.
BEGGARS,
subs,

168

Behind One's Side.

BEGGAR'S VELVET,
subs,

(cards').

The

(common).

small cards from the deuce to the ten are so called.

BEGGAR'S BOLTS.

See

BEGGAR'S

particles which accumulate under furniture from the negligence of housemaids. Otherwise called SLUTS'-WOOL

Downy

BULLETS.
BEGGAR'S BULLETS or BOLTS
Stones.
Judith, in Sylvester's Du Barias (1608), 698. A pack of country clowns that them to battail
. . .

(q.v.}.

BEGGAR THE THING

(old).
'
'

1584.

HUDSON,
with

intj. (com'conto mon). Equivalent found or hang the thing used to give additional emphasis to a word or action.
!
'

bownes,
1785.

BEGGER'S

BOLTS
of

and
the

levers. [M.]

GROSE,
Tongue.

Dictionary
'

Vulgar
to

The
;

BULLETS began

to fly

'

i.e.,

BEGGAR'S they began

BEGIN UPON [A PERSON], verb (common). To attack to assault.

;

throw stones.

BEGOSH

B-GOSH
;

BEGGAR'S BUSH. To GO HOME BY BEGGAR'S BUSH, phr. (old). To go to ruin otherwise explained
;

expletive, probably of negro origin a half veiled oath a corruption of By God See
;
' ' !

An

intj.

(American).

OATHS.
1888.
'

as follows.

The Epoch, May

'

He
as
is

Twelve Ingenious Characters. throws away his wealth as heartily

1686.

heirs, or old philosophers, and eager of a goal, or a mumper's wallet, that he will not wait fortune's leisure to undo him, but rides post to

young
so

(descanting on the virtues of the picture). You will observe, sir, that the drawing is free, that Well, if the Agriculturist. drawin's free an' you don't tax me too much for the frame B'GOSH I'll take it.'
'

5.

Art dealer

BEGGAR'S BUSH, and then takes more pains to spend money than day-labourers
it.

BEHIND,
c.

subs,
;

(common).
the rump.

i.

The

to get

[N.]

posterior
1830.
tell

1868.

and Fable, p. 78. BEGGAR'S BUSH. To GO BY BEGGAR'S BUSH (or) GO HOME BY BEGGAR'S BUSH, i.e., to go to ruin. BEGGAR'S BUSH is the name of a tree which once stood on the left hand of the London road from Huntingdon to Caxton, so called because it was a noted rendezvous for beggars. These punning phrases and proverbs are very common.

BREWER, Dictionary

of Phrase

George

Review bidding

(1862),

him he
name.

IV., in Saturday 8 Feb. Go and do my lies, and kick his

[M.]

BEHIND
2.

in

my

(Eton

Colleges.)

Russell Hill, near Croydon, where the Warehousemen's and Clerks' Schools are, is locally known as BEGGAR'S BUSH.

BEGGAR-S PLUSH, subs, (old) Corduroy. See quotation.

1688.
4.

At Eton HIND and LONG BEHIND, usualshort and ly abbreviated to At Winchester, SECOND long.' BEHIND and LAST BEHIND. These answer to the half-back and back of Association football. At Winchester, in the Fifteens, there is also a THIRD BEHIND.
'

and Winchester A back at football. called SHORT BE'

page

Gazette, No. 2379, in a dark grey person Cloth Coat Breeches of BEGGAR'S

London
. .

BEHIND ONE*S SIDE,

adv.

phr.

PLUSH.

[M.I

Said of (Winchester College). a man when nearer the opponent's goal than the player of

Beilby's Ball.
his
ball.

169

Belcher.
BELCH,
subs,

team who

last

touched the

(common).

Beer,

BEILBVS BALL, subs. Old Bailey execution.

1785.

(old).

An
the

GROSE,

Dictionary

of

BEILBY'S BALL, 'he BALL, where the musick: he will be hanged. Who Mr. Beilby was, or why that ceremony was so called remains with the quadrature of the circle, the

Vulgar Tongue.

will dance at BEILBY'S sheriff pays [for] the

especially poor beer. So called because of its liability to cause eructation. The term is probably much older than indicated by quotations. One of characters in Shakspeare's Twelfth Night is Sir Toby Belch,

knight

reckless, of

roystering,

jolly
see

the

Elizabethan

discovery of the philosopher's stone, and diverse other desiderata yet undiscovered.

period.

For

synonyms,

SWIPES.
1698.
p. 347.

Those Poor
at his

BEJAN, BAIJAIM,
University).

etc.,

subs.

(Scotch
;

BELCH
vol.
I
I.,

freshman

1705.

WARD, London Spy, pt. XV., Sots who are gussling own Ale-house. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus,

student of the first year at the Universities of St Andrew's and Aberdeen it is now obsolete at Edinburgh. [From the French becjaune, yellow beak, in allusion to the color of the mandibles of
:

pt. VII., p. 18.

little house, porters do their BELCH carouse. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). BELCH (s.), common beer or ale sold in publick houses is so called.

sneak'd into a
1748.

Where

young
;

birds.]

The term was

' '

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BELCH, all sorts of beer,

adopted from the University of Paris but, signifying a novice it has been in more or less general use for nearly three hundred years. At Aberdeen,
the
1
'

that liquor being apt to cause eructation. 1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. iii., p. 265. 'Let's have a pot of that fourpenny English Burgundy of yours, and, whilst my mates are drinking the BELCH, I want to talk business with you.'

second-class students are

'

in the third SEMI-BEJANS TERTIANS while those in the highest rank are MAGISTRANDS.' In the University of Vienna the freshman is called beanus, and in France footing money is bejaunia. For synonymous terms for freshmen and raw recruits, see SNOOKER.
;
'

BELCHER,

subs,

(pugilistic).

'

neckerchief named after Jim Belcher, a noted pugilist. The

ground
Also,
tern.
1812.

'

'

is blue, with white spots. to attributatively, any handkerchief of a similar pat-

For synonyms,
. . .

see

FOGLE.
607,
i.

The

Examiner, 21 Sept.,

1611.
. .

or

COTGRAVE. Bejaune, a novice young beginner, in a trade or art.

G. MACDONALD, Alec Forbes, The benches were occupied

traverser tied a kerchief round his neck.

BELCHER hand-

1865.

ch. xxxiv.

by about two hundred students, most of the freshmen or BEJANS in their red
gowns.
*

18(?). DICKENS, The Ghost of Art, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 215. I saw that the lower part of his face was tied up, in what is commonly called a BELCHER

handkerchief.

1887.

BAIJAN, used in one of the Scottish universities to designate a freshman, is from the French bee jaitnc, yellow beak young birds having

The term

Standard, Feb.

10, p. 5, col. 2.

Macmillan's Magazine, April, spotted blue and white neckerchief, still called a BELCHER, bears
1874.
p.

506.

The

the

name
2.

of a

famous prize

fighter.

(thieves'.)

ring.

Des-

usually bills of this hue.

cribed in quotation.

Belial.

170
of
'

Bellows.
to to blow one's trumpet sound one's praises personally.
; '

1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 399. The best sort of rings for fewney dropping is the BEL-

CHERS.
ring,

and have the crown and V.R. stamped upon them.

They

are a good thick looking

BELL- BASTARD,
slang).

subs,

(provincial

3.

(circus

and showmen.)
;

In the West of England the illegitimate child of a

;

drinker of beer
Cf.,

generally a

hard drinker.
1876.

BELCH.

woman who is herself illegitimate why and wherefore is

obscure, though possibly a corruption of double bastard.
'

of a Cheap Jack, p. 99. Now it is well known that travelling mummers are all rare BELCHERS ... I kept them in until the drink took conversation the desired effect, and one by one the and kings dropped on the grass princes floor, and were sound drunk and asleep.
. .

HINDLEY, Life and Adventure^

BELLMARE,
political

subs.

(American).

mostly used The term is contemptuously. a slang appropriation from the

leader,

BELIAL, subs. (Oxford University). A nickname of Balliol College.

of Western life, seems to be used in regard to mules much in the

terminology
it

where

BELIEVE.

BELIEVE YOU, phr. (common). This phrase is frequently employed to signify general assent; 'yes.' SomeI BELIEVE times colloquially once a favourite YOU MY BOY catch-phrase of a well-known
I
' '

same way as bell-wether is employed in England in reference to sheep. Why the grey mare, says the author of A Ride with Kit Carson, should be the better horse in the estimation of mules I cannot say, but such is certainly the fact. Though very cautious animals when relying solely on their own judgment, they would appear to have a consciousness of their own inferiority, which induces them to entertain a great regard for the sagacity of the horse, and especially for that of a white mare. The wily Californians, taking advantage of this amiable weakness, employ a steady, old, white mare of known gentleness and good character, to act as a kind of mother and guide to each drove of unruly mules.

actor.
1835.
286.
'

Now
?

surprised

DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. confess were you not a little I BELIEVE YOU,' replied
: '

'

that illustrious person.

1849-50.
'

p. 140.
I

Miss Rouney,

THACKERAY, Pendennis, I., I gather, was the

'

confidante of the other.'

Confidant

BELIEVE YOU.'
1860.
'I

GEORGE ELIOT, The

'

Mill on
'

the Floss, p. 199. 1879.

Is

she a cross

woman ?

BELIEVE YOU.'

DUDLEY
of

Millionaire
'

And she
I

hates that fellow

COSTELLO, The Mincing Lane, p. 204. ? Hates

' '

him?

BELIEVE YOU.'
(vagrants').

BELL, subs,

song.

Tramps' term. Simply diminutive of BELLOW. Rotten. Verb (schoolboy) To BELL a marble is to run away with it, but the action scarcely amounts
.

BELLOWS,
lungs.

subs,
'

(popular).

The

This, etymologically, is the same as belly,' both words

to actual theft.

To RING
phr.

ONE'S

OWN

(American).

BELL,

variation

having passed through a most complicated history. Properly speaking a bellows is an instrument constructed to produce a strong current of air, and the

Bellowsed.
word
itself

Bells go Single
. .

can be traced back

to about A.D. 800. Its figurative and slang signification is recorded as follows
:

LATHAM, Falconry (1633), 115. The lungs doe draw a breath When these BELLOWES doe decay, then health
1615.
. . .

2 (old ) A sentence of transportation for life. 1856. Novels and Talcs (from Household Words), Tauch. ed. vi., p. 187. A sigh of the kind which is called by the lower classes a BELLOWSER.

from both doth fade away. [M.] 1730. JAS. MILLER, Humours of OxHeark ford, Act v., Sc. 2., p. 75 (2 ed.). you, madam, don't abuse my wife slut quotha i'gad let me tell you, she has done a cleaner thing than you'll ever do while your BELLOWS blow, old lady.
1

BELLOWS TO Mcno.phr. (common). It is said of a broken-winded horse that it has BELLOWS TO MEND likewise of a man whose lungs are affected, or one who from any cause is out of
;
'

1821.

W.
ii.,

T. MONCRIEFF,
Sc.
3.

Tom and
;

health.'
1856. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. iv. To one gentleman he would pleasantly observe, as he tapped him on the chest, BELLOWS TO MEND for you, my buck!
' '

Jerry, Act

Who'd have us

plague on those malty cove fellows,

in spirits relax

Drink, they say, and you'll ne'er burn

the BELLOWS,

Half water instead of all max glass of good max, had they twigg'd it, Would have made them, like us, lads
;

of

wax

BELL-ROPE,

subs,

For Sal swigg'd, and Dick swigg'd, And Bob swigg'd, and Nick swigg'd, And I've swigged, and we've all of us
swigg'd
it,

same
'

(common).

The

as

AGGERAWATORS

(q.v.).

And, by Jingo, there's nothing

like

max.

By Jingo,
1843.

All Max ! there's nothing like

max

1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable, Love lock.' When men indulge in s.v., a curl in front of their ears, the lovelock is called a BELL-ROPE i.e., a rope to pull the belles after them.

Sam

HALIBURTON ('Sam
. .

Slick in England, ch. xxii. servant] is so fat and lazy

He

Slick'), [the

BELLS DOWN
lege).

intj.

(Winchester Col-

walkin'
I

put him out

o"

breath
lick
to

.... How
.
. .

would like park ...

teach

to to

him

GO SINGLE
1870.

See quotation
!

and BELLS

him how

improve

mend

round the his wind, and

his pace. I'd for him, I

repair his old

BELLOWSES

know.

Though regarded
England, the quially used in

as slang in
is

word

collo-

many

in the America, plural form BELLOWSES.

1848.
J.
I.,

parts of duplicated

School-Life at The junior in of it ... while endeavouring to get through his multifarious duties, he had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the chapel bell, and to call out accordingly first peal second peal and BELLS

MANSFIELD,

chamber had a hard time

Winchester College,

p. 62.

'

'

'

DOWN

BELLS GO SINGLE

R.
23.

Papers,

p.

LOWELL, in Biglow His BELLOWSES is

sound enough.

BELLOWSED,
;

ppl. adj. (old).

Cf.,

Trans-

lagged. ported SER, sense 2.

BELLOW-

For College evening chapel three three's are rung, and then follows a 'bell,' one for

College). single bell is rung for five minutes before the hour at which chapel commences.

intj.

(Winchester

man
(pugilistic).
i.

in College

every

70.

BELLOWSER,

subs,

A blow in the pit of the stomach,

or wind one breath away.
that

takes

the

1878. ADAMS, Wykehamica, p. 256. At a quarter to six the peal again rang out, and the cry of BELLS GO was sounded in shrill tones through every chamber of College and Commoners.

Bellswagger.
.
.
.

172

Belly-Can.

After ten minutes the peal changed,

and only a single bell continued to ring. This was notified by the cry BELLS GO SINGLE, and five minutes afterwards, by
that of
'

To ride down phr. (American). a hill in a sled lying on one's

stomach,
fined,
it

an amusement

con-

bells
. :

down.'
. .

Presently the
. .

would descend from his library or the second master would appear at the archway near Sixth Chamber, and the warning voice would be heard Gabell or Williams Williams,' or through,' Ridding in.' Straightway there would be a general
head-master
.
'
'

'

'

'

rush, the college-boys darting across the quadrangle in the rear of the Praefect of Chapel; while the Commoners hurried in,

hardly needs saying, to The idea of young America. toboganning was derived from this boyish pastime, and the oaken board has been succeeded by the fleet- winged toboggan, made of seasoned maple with

keeping up a continuous stream

their

from

handsomely upholstered seats. With the advent of improved

the interest in has increased, sports and instead of being confined to the vulgar boys who used to ride down hill BELLY-BUSTER and even the fashion, men most fashionable women now partake of this pleasant and
ice

more distant

quarters.

vehicles

these

BELLSWAGGER.
BELL-TOPPED,
adj.

See

BELSWAGGER.
ppl.

BELL-KNOBBED,

Said of a man (harlotry). whose penis is considerably thicker at the top end than at
the root or middle.

BELL-TOPPER,
silk hat.

subs,

(popular).

Also invigorating pastime. or belly bumbo, belly guts, gutter, belly -flounders, bellyflumps, and belly-plumper.
1888. Chicago Inter-Ocean. Barney has a sled, on which he hauls the fish in snowy weather. Barney had his sled

shape, + TOP, from its position when worn, in relation to the rest of the body -f ER.]
to the

[From BELL, alluding

For synonyms,
1885.

see

GOLGOTHA.
His very BELL-

out
little

yesterday,

BELLY-BUMPING on a

patch of ice and snow.

subs.

G.
p.

A S ALA,
.

in Daily Telegraph,

Aug.

5,

5,

col.

4.

TOPPER hat had been garlanded with

flowers.
subs. BELLY-ACHE, (vulgar). pain in the bowels a colic.
;

BELLY-BUTTON,

(American).

The

navel.

B E LLY-CA N
1889.

(political)

Explained

by quotation.
Pall Mall
Gazette, Mar. 28.

1881. New York Times, Dec. 18, quoted in N. and Q., 6 S., v., 65. BELLYACHE. To grumble without good cause. Employes BELLYACHE at being overworked, or when they fancy themselves

Whatever ultimately comes of the Sunday Closing movement, it will at any

rate leave behind it a curious addition to the English language. This is the

underfed,

etc.

BELLY-BENDER, stibs. (American). A boy's term for weak and unsafe ice.

BELLY-BOUND,
stipated
;

adj. (vulgar). costive.

Con-

BELLY-CAN,' which is (according opponents of Sunday Closing) the plebeian counterpart of the more 'small cask' both things genteel being, of course, contrivances for getting round the legal prohibition of Sunday drinking. Lexicographers may perhaps be glad to have the definitions of the two phrases as given yesterday afternoon
'

word

to the

BELLY-BUMPER OR BELLY- BUSTER. TO TAKE A BELLY - BUSTER,

Mr. Cavendisn Bentinck The by BELLY-CAN was a tin vessel not unlike saddle in shape, which men and
: '
'

women, generally members note that

the latter let hon. got filled with beer

Belly-Cheat.
and secreted about
quarts.
their
clothes,

Belly-Hedges.
an
the Serjeants meet you, you may have swaggering work your BELLY-FULL. He 1666. PEPYS, Diary, Oct. 28. says that in the July fight, both the Prince and Holmes had their BELLYFULLS, and were fain to go aside. 1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, Bunker's Hill, where, 3 S., ch. xvi. Mr. Slick observed, 'the British first of a taste what they afterwards got, a got BELLY-FULL.'
if

averaged-sized can holding about four

of the small cask." The small cask industry was said to be an exceedingly prosperous one in certain districts. Grocers advertised for casks as a speciality, and one grocer advertised on a Saturday fifty and sixty and sometimes
'

method of private Sunday drinking was by means

aristocratic

A more

even 100 empty casks.

BELLY-CHEAT or BELLY-CHETE, subs. An apron also food. (old). [From BELLY + slang CHEAT, a thing from Anglo-Saxon ceat, a thing.]
; ;

2. woman with child was also formerly said to have her BELLY-FULL. See BELLY-UP.

BELLY-FURNITURE,
furnish the belly.
1653.

subs.

(old).

Food; something wherewith

Cf.,

to

DEKKER, Lanthornc and CandleA BELLYlight, Wks. (l88 5 III., I 9 6. an CHETE, apron.
1609.
)

BELLYetc.
I.,

TIMBER, BACK-TIMBER,
URQUHART,

1622.
i.

Each man

FLETCHER, Beggar's Bush,

shall eat

II.,

Rabelais, bk.

his

own

stol'n

eggs and shall possess what he can purchase back or BELLY-CHEATS.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicuin. BELLYCHEAT, an apron.

ch. v. (Bohn's), i., no. Then did they fall upon the victuals, and some BELLYFURNITURE to be snatched at in the very same p lace.

BELLY-GO- FIRSTER,

subs.

BELLY -CHEER

BELLY- CHERE, subs, (old). Food. This term is of considerable antiquity, as

or

istic)

given, say

some authorities, in the stomach whence its classic

!

An initial blow, generally

(pugil-

also is BELLY-CHEERING for eatFor synoing and drinking.

name

nyms,
1559.

see

GRUB.

Eliotes Dictionarie. Abdomini indulgere, to geve hym selfe to BEALY-

BELLY-GUT, subs. greedy fellow.

1540.

(old).

lazy,

CHERE.

Wisd.

viij.
.
.

1612.
etc.

ROWLANDS, Knaves of Spades, Gluttonie mounted on a greedie

feastes

MORYSINE, transl., Vives' Introd. Such as be skoffers, swell BELY GUTS. [M.]
.

beare,

To BELLY-CHEERE and banquets

lends his care.

1699. COLES, English Dictionary. BELLY-CHEER, Cibaria.

BAILEY, Erasmus, p. 346. Since then thou would'st not have a BELLY-GUT for thy servant, but rather one brisk and agile, why then dost thou provide for thyself a minister fat and unwieldy ?
1733.

BELLY-CHERE.
BELLY-CHETE.
BELLY-FULL,
1599.
V., 265.

See

BELLY-CHEER. BELLY-CHEAT.
(old).
;

BELLY- GUTS,

subs.

(American

See
subs.

i. In Pennsylschoolboys'). vania, molasses candy.

2.
i.

(American.)

Equivalent to

A
wks.

BELLY-BUMPER

(q.V.).

sound drubbing a thrashing.

churlish frampild waues gaue him his BELLY-FULL of fish broath. 1605. CHAPMAN, All Fooles, Act ii. p. 58 (Plays, 1874). Walk not too boldly
;

The

NASHE, Lenten

Stuffe, in

BELLY-HEDGES, subs. (Shrewsbury In school steepleSchool). chases, obstructions of such a height that they can easily be cleared i.e., about belly-high.'
'

Belly-Piece.
I. BELLY-PIECE, subs. (old). apron. Cf., BELLY-CHEAT.

74

Belly -Vengeance.
dramatists employed it seriously; toward the end of the seventeenth century it began to be used in a ludicrous and vulButler employs it gar sense. thus, and in Charles Cotton's Scarronides (1678), the hero we are told

An
If

1689.

thou shoulds cry, it would make streaks down thy face; as the tears of the tankard do upon my fat host's BELLYPIECES.
2.

SHADWELL, Bury

Fair.

mistress

a concubine

a whore.
RANDOLPH, Jealous Lovers. Come, blush not, bashfull BELLYPIECE I will meet thee: I ever keep my word with a fair lady. I will requite that
1630.
:

Lay thinking now

How

they

might

his guts grew limber, more BELLYget

A sot

TIMBER.

Jewell with a richer.

For synonyms GRUB.

1614.

generally, see

BELLY PLEA, subs. (old). A plea of pregnancy, generally adduced by female felons capitally convicted. This they took care to
provide for, previous to trial every gaol had, as the Beggars' Opera informs us, one or more child-getters, who qualified the
;

Terence

in
is

cara

est.

Corne
are
by.

at

English, Annona a high price;

victuals

deare;

BELLY-TIMBER

is

hard

to

come

1637.

MASSINGER, Guardian,

III., iii.

A dor. Haste you unto my

take Car.
all

villa,

and
. . .

provisions along with you

Trust

me
S.

for

BELLY-TIMBER.
vast,

1663-78.

BUTLER, Hudibras.

ladies for that expedient. The plea still holds good, execution of female convicts in an inter'

And regions desolate they pass'd, Where BELLY-TIMBER, above ground

Or under, was not
1719. to

Through deserts

be found.

esting condition being deferred until after accouchement. In

it really means a commutation of the death penalty for life All imprisonment. chances, however, of becoming

'

practice,

Poor Robin's Almanack, Feb. the loth day of this month, being Shrove-Tuesday, is like to be a great innundation of BELLY-TIMBER.

On

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (s ed.). BELLY-TIMBER (s.), all sorts of food. 1820. SCOTT, Monastery, ch. xv. Yonder comes the monkish retinue ... I hope a'gad, they have not forgotten my trunk-mails of apparel amid the ample provision they have made for their own BELLY-TIMBER
4
'

are sedulously guarded against by the rules of modern prison life.

enceinte

after

arrest

BELLY -PLUM PER,

See

subs.

(American).

BELLY-BUMPER.

BELLY-UP, adv.phr.
to

women when

Applied (old). enceinte.

From

the
BELLY-TIMBER, subs. (old). Food; provisions of all kinds. [From BELLY + TIMBER.] This, like many other words of its class
(e.g.,

protrusion of the abdomen which takes place under such circumstances. See

BELLY-FULL.
BELLY - VENGEANCE, subs, (common). Sour beer, apt to cause

BACK-TIMBER,

q.v.),

was

once in serious use, but for a long period it has been going down hill, and it is now a thorough-going vulgarism, only surviving dialectically, and as slang. Massinger and the older

The French call gastralgia. this pissin de cheval, i.e., horse urine.' For synonyms, see
'

SWIPES.

Belongings.
BELONGINGS,
Qualities
ties.
2.
;

Ben.
I.

subs, (colloquial).

endowments
;

facul-

BELTINKER, subs, and verb (common). A beating; a drubbing. To thrash to beat soundly.
;

Relations

one's kindred.
;

For synonyms,
BEMUSED, Fuddled
ppl.
;

see

TAN.
(common).

One's effects or posses3. sions. In sense i BELONGINGS has long been an accepted word senses 2 and 3 are given by
;

adj.

as in the stupid stage of drunkenness. [From BE

Annandale as
vulgar.'
1852.

'

colloquial

and

MUSE + ED,

originally to be

sunk

in reverie,

The

I DICKENS, Bleak House. have been trouble enough to my BELONGINGS in my day.

1866. Saturday Review, 24 Feb., p. 244, col. 2. The rich uncle whose mission is to bring prosperity to his BELONG-

INGS.
4.

[M.]

the

Used by (American.) inclined for prudishly

See

trousers.

BAGS.

used now is BEMUSED WITH BEER. This phrase, originally used by Pope, was given a new impetus by G. A. Sala (in GasIn America, light and Daylight}. especially, it caught the popular fancy and ran a brief but riotous course throughout the Union to signify one who addicted himself to The soaking with beer.
' '

contemplation.] expression as generally

or

BELOW THE

BELT, adv. phr. (popuTo strike a man BELOW lar). THE BELT is to hit him unfairly,

transatlantic usage naturally re-

a term derived from the pugilistic arena. Hence, underhand dealing, and the taking of mean advantage generally. It is akin with To stab a man in the
'

acted upon the Mother Country, and from being occasionally employed it became much more popular, and was heard on all sides a striking instance of fashion in words.'
'

1735.
1854.

back.'

much BE-MUS'D
Bounce, ch.

POPE, Pro!.

Sat., 15. in beer.

A parson
General

WHYTE MELVILLE,
viii.

BELSWAGGER, subs. (old). I. A lewd man a whoremaster a to be a [ Thought pimp. contracted form of BELLY +
;
;

fat little

with port, but who, when not thus BEMUSED, is an influential member of his committee.
R. L. STEVENSON, The Trea1883. sure of Franchard, ch. iv., in Longman's Mag., April, p. 694. So while the Doctor

man, primed

SWAGGER,

i.e.,

man

to bodily pleasure.

given up Ash has

both forms.]
1775.

made himself drunk with words, the adopted stable-boy BEMUSED himself with silence.

ASH, Dictionary. BELSWAGGER,

a whoremaster.
2.

bully;

fellow.
least
1592.

This is important usage.

.

a hectoring the older, but

For synonyms SCREWED.

BEN,
subs,

generally,

see

(theatrical).

i.

Catching. country.

GREENE, Defence of Coneythe BELSWAGGERS of the

.
.

performance of which the receipts, after paying expenses, are devoted to one
benefit; a

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BELLSWAGGER, a noisy,

bullying fellow.

person's special use or benefit. Miss BRADDON, Dead Sea 1872. I have played clown Fruit, I., 190.
'

Benar.
for

176
the great Dr.

Bend.
the

my
1880.

BEN,'

murmured

To beg on
meets,

way and rob

all

thou
shirt

Mortemas.
G. R. SIMS, Ballads of Babylon (Forgotten). You saw me as Hamlet, the night that I had my BEN. Charley,
2.

To
And

steal

from the hedge both the

sheets,

and the

(old

cant.)

fool.

Grose.
3.

See

BENISH.

lie with thy wench in the straw till she twang, Let the Constable, Justice, and Devil go hang
!

(common.)

of BENJAMIN coat; also of BENJY waistcoat.

1876. tures of a

form

shortened a (q.v.), (q.v.), a

BENCHER,
of

subs. (old).
;

A frequenter
;

C. HINDLEY, Life and AdvenCheap Jack, p. 252. Being at Hailsham, a small market town in Sussex, about the year 1846, I attended the club feast, which was held on the common. At that time we used to buy men's waistcoats of Michael Riley, of Manchester, at
5

one who hulks about public houses perhaps with an allusion to the Benchers of the Inns of Court.
taverns

BEN CULL or COVE,

subs, (thieves').
' '

friend

pall

a com-

per gross, and

at is. 6d., is. 3d., a shilling each.

;

sell them and the lowest price at I had a bale containing

[From old cant BENE panion. or BEN, good + CULL, a man.]

For synonyms,
see

COVE.

twelve dozen arrive that morning, they were red ones and in offering these BENS, the plan was to put them on to show how well they fitted.

To tipple; BEND, verb (Scotch). to drink hard. Jamieson, the

first

To STAND BEN
To
stand treat.
See

(popular).

attention to

to draw lexicographer the word in its

BENAR.

BENE.

slang sense, illustrates his example by quotations from Alan Ramsay. Murray suggests that it is derived from that sense of

BENBOUSE,
beer.

sw&s. (old cant).

Good

TO BEND,
'

signifying
'

good
1567.

[From the Latin bene BOUSE or BOOZE.]

:

=
215.
85.
'

to strain,'
1758.

to pull, to apply oneself.

1

'

A. RAMSAY, Poems (1800), I., which we Brawtippony

.
.

The

HARMAN, Caveat (1869), p. vpright cofe canteth to the Roge

;

saye by the Salomon I will lag'e it of with a gage of BENEBOUSE then cut to my nose watch.' [' I sweare by the masse, I wull washe it of with a quart of good drynke then saye to me what thou wylt.']
;

with greed BENDED, as fast as she could brew. Ibid, ii., 73. To BEND wi' ye, and spend wi' ye, an evening, and gaffaw.
[1860.

BEND weel
here

RAMSAY, Remin., Ser. i (ed. 7), to the Madeira at dinner,

47.

for

ye'll get little o't after.]

1622.

JOHN FLETCHER,
of

Beggar's

Bush.
I

mon).

ABOVE ONE'S BEND, phr. (comAbove one's ability,

;
. '

And stall thee by the salmon intoclowes, To maund on the pad and strike all the

crown thy nab with a gag

BENBOUSE,

power or capacity

or out of one' s reach Probably a corruption of above one's bent.'

in

To

cheats, mill from the Ruffmans,

and com-

mission and slates.

Twang

dell's,

i'

the stiromel, and let the

strine

And Herman Beck

the Ruffin!
I

quire cuffin

and

trine to

Shakspeare puts the expression to the mouth of Hamlet, the top of my bent (in., 2). In the Southern States [U.S.A.],
' '

its
i.e.,

place

is

generally taken by
(q.V.).
'

poure on thy pate a pot ot good ale, And by the Rogue's oath, a Rogue the
install,

ABOVE MY HUCKLEBERRY

An

English equivalent

is

above

one's hook.'

Bender.
1848.
J. It

177

Bender.

Openings.
to

attempt telling you the red skins.

F. COOPER, The Oak would be ABOVE MY BEND all we saw among

this

Among synonymous terms for coin may be mentioned

;
;

GRECIAN BEND (popular). craze amongst women which had a vogue from about 1872 to

crookback bandy lord of the fyebuck tanner kick sprat half a borde tizzy.
cripple
;

downer manor

consisted in walking with the body bent forward.

It
1876.

1880.

2. A (Scotch.) persistent drinker

hard
a

and

tippler.

Chambers'

Your own advocacy for the GRECIAN BEND and the Alexandra limp both positive and practical imitations of
physical affliction.

Journal, No.

629.

This should be compared with BEND.

1728.
162.
fine,

Now
1810.

RAMSAY, Poems

(1848),

III.,

wha ken

lend your Jugs, ye BENDERS the benefit of wine.

(1846), 53.

BEND, phr. (common). In an underhand, oblique, or crooked way not on the

'

ON THE

Or BENDERS,
3.

TANNAHILL, Poems
blest your

wizzens weetin'.

square.'
Live It 1863. J. C. JEAFFRESON, I never have paid anyII., 152. thing yet on the square, and I never will. When I die, I'll order my executor to buy my coffin off the square. He shall get it ON THE BEND somehow or other.

Down,

In pub(public schools'.) school phraseology a BENDER is a stroke of the cane administered by the master while the culprit bends down his back.
lic

(common.) The arm. In with this see the following, and for synonyms, see
4.

connection

CHALK FARM.
BENDER,
subs, (popular).
i.

A six-

pence. Thought to be an allusion to the ease with which these coins were liable to be bent in use. At one time the currency was not of such good quality as now.
1789.
p. 178.

5. (American.) A drinking bout or spree, in the course of which, to use another slang exthe town is painted pression,
'

and the participants decidedly unbent. This is possibly derived from any one of the
red,'

three

following

sources:

(i)

GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter, Sixpence. A BENDER.

DICKENS, Pickwick, ch.
'

1836.
p.

xlii.,
'

Will you take three bob ? 367. 'And a BENDER,' suggested the clerical 'What do you say, gentleman.
.
.

from the Scotch usage; (2) from the facetious name given to the arm, which becomes a BENDER from being so freto quently bent or crooked
'

'

now

We'll pay you out for three-andsixpence a week. Come

?
'

MELVILLE, M. or N., A ragged boy established, at the p. 66. crossing, who had indeed rendered himself conspicuous by his endeavours to
1869.

WHYTE

the glass to the mouth (3) from the Dutch bende, an assembly, party, or band.
lift
;

1854.
I

ferry Puckers over dry-shod, was accosted by a shabby-genteel and remark-

ably good-looking man, in the following vernacular On this minnit, off at six, Buster two bob an' a BENDER, and a three of eye-water, in ? Done for another joey,' replied Buster, with the premature acuteness of youth foraging for itself in the streets of London.
'

met her at the Chinese room She wore a wreath of roses, She walked in beauty like the night, Her breath was like sweet posies.
;

Putnam's Monthly, Aug.

'

'

'

Her glance was soft and tender She whispered gently in my ear, Say, Mose, ain't this a BENDER ? 1864. Richmond Dispatch, 3 Jan. Most of the owners of these names had
;
'

led her through the festal hall,

12

Bender.
been tempted by the festivities of the day to go on a regular BENDER, and had to pay the penalty for their New Year's frolic by appearing this morning in the
police-court.' 1888. Detroit Free Press, 4 Aug. He was a character noted for going on frequent BENDERS until he came very near

178

Bene Ben.
y

OVER THE BENDER, phr.

mon)
.

A variant of 'over the left

'

(com-

shoulder

the connection between BENDER, a slang term for the arm, and the shoulder is
;

sufficiently apparent.

There are

having the jimjams and then sobering

up.

many
which
LEFT.

analogous
see

expressions,

under

OVER THE

(American.) A euphemism employed by the squeamishly inclined for the leg. A similar
6.

piece of prudishness is displayed in an analogous use of 'limb.' With a notorious mock-modesty American women decline to call a leg a leg; they call it a limb instead. This tendency is the more remarkable when the freedom extended to great

An exclamation of inIntj. credulity; also used as a kind of saving clause to a promise which the speaker does not intend to carry into effect. Probably an abbreviated form of
OVER THE BENDER.

American

girls
;

and women

is

A BENDIGO, subs, (common). rough fur cap named after a notorious pugilist.
BEND OVER,
direction to put onelege). self into position to receive a

borne in mind unless, indeed, it arises from guilty knowledge. White, who, perhaps, was rather
given to excessive incisiveness of speech, remarked that perhaps such persons think that it
is

intj.

(Winchester Col-

legs,

indelicate for women to have and that therefore they

are concealed by garments, and should be concealed in speech. Professor Geikie, during one of his Canadian tours, also found out that both sexes had limbs of some sort the difficulty was to discover whether they were used to stand on or to hold by. Sensible people everywhere,
;

spanking." This is done by bending over so that the tips of the ringers extend towards the toes, thus presenting a surface as tight as a drum on the part to be castigated.
'

however, have such prudery.

1849.

little

part

in

BENE, BEN, adj. (old cant). Good. This belongs to the most ancient English cant, and is probably a corruption from the Latin. BENAR and BENAT appear to have been used as comparatives of BENE. (See quots.)
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1869), p. 86. What, stowe your BENE, cofe, and sut BENAT whydds, and byng we to rome What, hold vyle to nyp a bong. [i.e. your peace good fellow and speak better words, and let us go to London to cut, or

LONGFELLOW,

Kavanagh.
to cross

Young ladies are not allowed their BENDERS in school.

7.

(schoolboys'.)

The bowkite.
Fever,

shaped segment of a paper

1873.
p.

steal a purse.] 1610. ROWLANDS,

p. 37 (H.

145.

The

DR. BLACKLEY,
first

kite

was

Hay

Club's Repr., 1874).

Martin Mark-all, BEN, good.

six feet in

length by three feet in width, and was made of the usual form, namely, with a central shaft or 'standard,' and a semicircular top Or BENDER.

1611. THOMAS MIDDLETON AND THOMAS DEKKER, The Roaring Girl or

Moll Cut Purse. A gage of BEN Rom-bouse, In a bousing ken of Rom-vile

Bene-Bouze.
Is

179

Beneshiply.
'

BENAR than a
lay popler.

Caster, Peck,

pennam,

1856. C. BRONTE, Professor, ch. xxiv. Are you married, Mr. Hunsden ? asked
' '

Or

i.e.,

A quart

pot of good wine In a drinking house of London Is better than a cloak, meat, butter milk (?) or porridge.
1714.
p. ii, list

Frances, suddenly. No. I should have thought you might have guessed I was a BENEDICK

by
bread,

my

look.'

Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), words in. BIEN, good. 1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, I've brought a bk. III., ch. iii., p. 265.
of cant
'

BENE FEAKERS,

subs. (cant).

Coun-

terfeiters of bills.

Grose.

couple of BENE coves, with

lots of

the
'

BENE FEAKERS OF

GY BE s,

subs,

Queen's
[pockets]
.

pictures

in

their

sacks

Counterfeiters of phr. (cant). Grose. passes.

Subs, (old cant).

'

'

Stowe your

hold your tongue.' BENE,' i.e., See quotation above from Har-

BENE or BIEN
cant).
;

MORT,

subs,
;

man's Caveat.
BENE-BOUZE.
BENE-COVE.
See See

BENBOUSE.

a pretty a hostess. [From BENE, girl old cant for good,' + MORT, a canting term for a woman.]
fine
'

(old

woman

1567.

BEN-CULL.
!

1869).

A BENE MORT

HARMAN,
[i.e.,

hereby

of the prauncer.
1671.
intj.

Caveat, p. 85 (ed. at the sign The Horse.]

BENE DARKMANS
!

RICHARD HEAD, The English

MORTS, and ture
MORTS, and toure
;

(old cant).

Good night French thieves say sorgabon, an inversion of

bonne sorgue.

Rogue.

Bing

out, BIEN ture, Bing out, BIEN

all

and

For
(familiar).
I.

The
BENEDICK,
sportive
subs,

your duds are bing'd awast, bien cove hath the loure.
i.e.,
:

name for a newlymarried man; especially one who has long been a bachelor.

Go

look out, look forth, brave girls out, Look out, I say, good maids, For all your clothes are stole, I doubt,

Apparently, however, there is some confusion in the usage The name sense 2). (see was derived from Shakspeare's character in Mitch Ado About
Nothing.

And

shar'd

among

the blades.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. 'Tour out, 'said the one ruffian .to xvii.

tour the BIEN the other at the gentry cove.'

'
;

MORT twiring

1823. SCOTT, Peveril of the Peak, ch.xxxvi. Why the BIEN MORTS will think you a chimney-sweeper on May-day.

Much Ado 1599. SHAKSPEARE, About Nothing, v., 4, 100. Don Pedro. How dost thou, BENEDICK, the married

1881.

New

[See

first

stanza of canting

York Slang Dictionary. song on

man ?

page 80 ante.]

REV. J. MARRIOTT, in C. K. 1805. Sharpe's Correspondence (1888), I., 239. From what I have seen of his lordship, both as a bachelor and as a BENEDICK.
2.

BENESHIP.
1567.

See

BENSHIP.
(1869), p. 86.

bachelor.

C/.,

fore-

The vpright man canteth to the Roge. Man! 'That is BENESHYPto our watche.'
[That
is

HARMAN, Caveat
vs.]

very good for

adv.

going.
Life in the West. He is no longer a BENEDIC, but a quiet married
1843.

BENESHIPLY,

(old

cant).

man.

Worshipfully.

Ben-Flake.
BEN-FLAKE,
steak.
subs.

80

Bermudas.
1883.

(thieves').

W. CLARK RUSSELL,
p. 14.

Sailors'

Language,
a straw hat
subs,

BENJIE, the
sailors.

name

of

worn by

BENGAL TIGERS,

The

(military).

Seventeenth
its

nicknamed from

Foot so badge of a
;
'

2. (common.) A waistcoat. Also BEN (q.v.). For synonyms,

see

FAN.
D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
vest.

royal tiger granted for services in India from 1804-1823. Also called The Lily-Whites from
'

1821.
p. 171.

BENJY, a
subs.

its facings.
1874.

BENS,

(American).

worktools.

Chambers'
. . .

The
their

i7th

badge

Journal, p. 801. the BENGAL TIGERS, from a tiger.

man's slang term for his In England called ALLS.

BENGI,

subs, (military).

An

onion.

BENSHIP or BEENSHIP,
cant).

subs,

(old

Worship
(q.v.),

goodness.

BENGY.
BENISH,
See

See
adj.

BENJY.
(old cant.)
2.

This word, evidently from BENEFoolish.

in his
is given by Bailey Dictionary [1728], and by Coles in 1724. Adv. (old cant). Very good.
1567. 1610.
p. 37 (H.

SHIP

BEN, sense
subs.
i.

BENJAMIN,
College).
2.

(Winchester
small ruler.

HARMAN, Caveat
Club's Repr.).

(1814), p. 65.

BENSHIP, very good.

It is

(thieves'.)

coat.

ROWLANDS, Martin

Mark-all,

said to have been derived from

BENSHIP, very

London advertising tailor of the same name. Formerly this garment was
a

well-known

good.
1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). BENSHIPLY, very well.

called a JOSEPH, but for syno-

nyms,
1815.

see

CAPELLA.

An UPPER

BEONG,

subs, (thieves'

and
;

coster-

BENJAMIN
p. 159.

a great coat.

mongers').

shilling.

[From

T. PEACOCK, Nightmare A bbey, His heart is seen to beat through his UPPER BENJAMIN. [M.] M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle's Log, 1836. ch. ii. BENJAMINS, and great-coats, and
cloaks of
all sorts

Italian bianco, white also the name of a silver coin.] For full list of synonyms, see DEANER.

and

sizes.

BERAY, verb (old cant).

to befoul
;

To

defile

1851. G. BORROW, Lavengro, ch. lix., with p. 181 (1888). The coachman
. . .

to abuse.
subs,

narrow -rimmed hat BENJAMIN.

1865.
p. 3, col. 2.

and

fashionable

BERKELEYS,

Pall Mall

[Quoting
subs,

7 March, East-end slang.]

Gazette,

woman's
burk

(common).

breasts. [It may be noted that in the gypsy, berk, or

breast;

plural,
see

berhiaJ]

BEN JOLT RAM,

Brown bread and skimmed milk a Norfolk term for a ploughboy's

;

(provincial).

For synonyms,

DAIRIES.

breakfast.

Hotten.
(nautical).
i.

BENJY,

subs,

BERMUDAS, subs. (old). A district in London, similar to ALSATIA in Whitefriars (q.v.), and the Mint in Southward, privileged against
arrests.

low crowned straw hat having a very broad brim.

The BERMUDAS

are

thought to have

been certain

Berthas.
narrow and obscure
alleys

181

Best.

and

passages north of the Strand, near Covent Garden, and consee, tiguous to Drury Lane however, the second quotation where the Mint would seem
;

BERTHAS to an average of x in Americans. Tintos climbed to i2j, and even Kaffirs

raised their sickly heads.
bulls

AH

the

little

went home happier than they have

for three

been

weeks.

to

be indicated.

Mcercraft.

JONSON, Devil's an Ass, II., i. Engine, when did you see Everhill ? keeps he still your in the BERMUDAS ? Eng, Yes, quarter sir, he was writing this morning very
1616.

BERWICKS.SM&S. (Stock Exchange). The ordinary stock of the North Eastern Railway.

my cousin
hard.
1839.

BESPEAK-NIGHT,

subs,

A
BESS.

(theatrical).

benefit.

See

BEN.

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack

See

BETTY.
subs.
(old).

Sheppard, p. 12. In short, every contrivance that ingenuity could devise was resorted to by this horde of reprobates to secure themselves from danger or Whitefriars had lost its molestation. privileges; Salisbury Court and the Savoy no longer offered places of refuge to the debtor; and it was, therefore,

BESS-O'-BEDLAM,
lunatic vagrant.
1821.
1

Why, what BESS OF BEDLAM is this, would ask to see my lord on such a day
as the present
'

SCOTT, Kcnilworth, ch. xxvi.

doubly requisite that the ISLAND of the BERMUDA (as the Mint was termed by its occupants) should uphold its rights, as long as it was able to do so.

BEST.

As regards the derivation of the name, Nares suggests it in the actual practice, which obtained of debtors fleeing to the
Islands, when first discovered, to elude their creditors. This fact is alluded to in the

ONE, verb (comobtain an advanto secure a superior tage position in a contest or bargain. The meaning of TO BEST, theremon).
;

To BEST i. To

Bermuda

to worst." fore, is really this sense, not necessarily cheat. See sense 2.
1863.

'

In
to

following. Cf. second quotation already given.

,

As I am a staunch Churchman I 77. cannot stand quiet and see the DissenBEST the Establishment. [M.] ters
HINDLEY, Life and AdBob Cheap Jack, p. 69. of bad temper, who if he could not get rid of any unruly fellow by his chaffing him, would invariably turn to Perdue and say, Look at this man I shan't bother with him, why don't you get him away ? He's I interrupting me and the business. can't jolly him down, so you must settle and do away with him, or I must " dry
1876.

TRAFFORD, World in

Ch.,

II.,

1616. JONSON, Devil's an Ass, III., 3. There's an old debt of forty, I ga' my word. For one is run away to the

C.

ventures of a

was a good salesman, but

BERMUDAS.

'

BERTHAS,

(Stock Exchange). The nickname in the House and for the ordinary brokers among stock of the London, Brighton
'

subs.

'

and South Coast Railway Company.

The Rialto, Mar. 23. The 1889. the Stock Exchange, and two or three days of utter

up," for the fellow's

BESTED me.'

week opened very badly on

stagnation followed, but yesterday afternoon a revival took place, which was quite dramatic in its suddenness and vigour. Between two o'clock and the closing of the doors at four o'clock, ad-

vances were made ranging from 2^

in

c. 1879. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to Finish, p. 92. His intimates were wont to say there was no trusting Cuddie Elliston, while, as for Sam Pearson, it was a current saying that No one had ever BESTED him.' Still, Yorkshire has a certain respect for this faculty; and though Pearson was regarded as a man who carried it rather far, and would have skinned his own brother upon occasion, yet public opinion did not get
'
*

B ester.
much
'

182

Bet.
H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and 1851. Lon. Poor, IV., 24. Those who cheat the Public Bouncers and HESTERS' defrauding, by laying wagers, swaggering, or using threats. 1885. Evening News, 21 September, The complainant called her father 4, i. a liar, a BESTER and a crawler.'
' .
. .

Lawyer Pearson knew his away about and you'd to get up main early in the morning to get a point the BEST of him.'
;

further regarding

him than

that

1883.

So there are people who will not scruple TO BEST a railway company, who would be loth to wrong a private person.
2. Sometimes, however, passing the ill-defined border line between sharp practice and down-right roguery, TO BEST is an equivalent of to cheat to swindle.
;

Graphic, Feb.

24, p. 191, col.

i.

'

BESTING THE PISTOL, phr. (pedestrian).

signal given.

To get away before the for starting is actually

[From BESTING, gaining

an advantage,
firing of
'

which

is

1876. tures of a

C. HINDLEY, Life and AdvenCheap Jack, p. 234. His game

it

PISTOL, the the signal to

Go

']

was BESTING everybody, whether

for pounds, shillings, or pence.

was

1889.
p. 330.

At one

The man was in liquor at the time, and when he came to his senses he went right
to another part of the country, and his poor wife took it so to heart that she died shortly afterwards. 1879. HORSLEY, in Macmillan's I went to the Magazine, Oct.

time he cheated a poor farming man out of his milch cow in exchange for another.

The

Polytechnic Magazine, July 7, third man from scratch was

;

evidently in too great a hurry twice he tried to BEST THE PISTOL, and as often the whole start had to be made afresh.

away

BET.

When

You BET! intj. (American). You may depend on it you be may be sure certainly
;

fence he BESTED (cheated) me because I was drunk, and only gave me 8 IDS. for the lot. So the next day I went to him and asked him if he was not going to grease my duke (put money into my hand). So he said, No.' Then he said, I will give you another half-a-quid and said, Do anybody, but mind they don't do you.' So I thought to myself, All right, my lad you will find me as good as my master,' and left him.
' ' ' ; ' ' ;

assured! Originally a Californian phrase tacked on to an assertion to give it additional emphasis. So popular is the
expression that it has been given as a name in the form of UBET to a town in the Canadian

Northwest.
1 ' 1

Oftentimes
'

it

is

1885. MAY, in Fortnightly Review, The quack broker who piles up money by BESTING his clients. [M.]

Oct., p. 578.

amplified into 'you bet your bottom dollar,' life, boots, an d so on The two former were
.

used in
c.

New York

and Boston

To GIVE ONE BEST (thieves'). To leave one to sever com;

as far back as 1840.

1882.
to

panionship.
HORSLEY, in Macmillan's Mag., Oct. While using one of those places [concerts], I first met a sparring bloke
1879.

Home.
'

We reached

STAVELY HILL, From Home

the settlement of

Ubet.

The name had been selected from

taught me how to spar, (pugilist), and showed me the way to put my dukes

who

up.

(left

my

But after a time I GAVE HIM BEST him) because he used to want to bite ear (borrow) too often.

BESTER.SJ^S. (common). Acheat; a swindler. See BEST, sense 2. Generally applied to a turf or

gaming

blackleg.

the slang phrase so laconically expressive of You may be sure I will "... A night marauder took advantage of a good moon to place a ladder against a window, hoping to secure the property of a gentleman asleep within the chamber. As he lifted the window, and put his head in, the gentleman woke up, and with great promptness presented his sixWith shooter, shouting out You get equal promptness the detected thief exclaimed YOU BET! and slid down the ladder, et procul in tenuem ex oculis evanuit auram.
'
'

Bethel
1870.

183
The
pt.

Betting Round.
1854. AINSWORTH, Flitch of Bacon, Pastor of Little ch. v. for fifty years and BETTER.'
'

BRET HARTE, Poems,

etc.,

new

Tale of a Pony: Ah, here comes Rosey's turn-out! Smart! You BET YOUR
1872.
S.

I.,

Dunmow
I.,

Church
'

LIFE 'twas that!

1857.
'

DICKENS, Dorrit, bk.

ch.

CLEMENS

Mark Twain
'

'

),

x., 75.

Roughing It, ch. ii. 'The mosquitoes are You pretty bad about here, madam BET!' 'What did I understand you to You BET say, madam ? 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Mar. 7.
'
!
' '

Yes. Rather BETTER than twelve years ago.'

'

'

from

1860. DICKENS, Xmas Stories (Mess, He shipped Sea), p. 89 (H. ed.). for his last voyage BETTER than three

years ago."

That

Mr. Boutelle Congressional Report. is the bravery to which you refer ? (Applause on the Republican side.) Mr. O'Ferrall Well, sir, it is the right kind of bravery: you may BET YOUR BOTTOM

BETTER HALF,

subs,

humorous term

(colloquial). for a wife.

DOLLAR on

that.

The

(American.) To BET ONE'S EYES is a gambler's term for an onlooker who neither takes part in, nor bets upon the

game.
BETHEL,
1740.

verb.

See quotation.

history of the phrase is thus given by Murray, 'originally my better half, i.e. the more than half of my being said of a very close and intimate friend the better part of me (Cf., mece pavtem Shaks. animce,' anwhe dimidium me&,' Hornostrif ace anima pavtem
,

'

'

'

'

'

'

chosen sheriffs. The former used to walk about more like a corn-cutter than Sheriff of London. He kept no house,

NORTH, Exainen, p. 93. In the year 1680 Bethel and Cornish were

'

but lived upon chops, whence it is proverbial for not feasting to BETHEL the
city.

majorem especially Statius) my (after Sidney) used for husband or wife now, jocthe to ularly appropriated
; ' '
'

'

latter.

Formerly also applied

as the better part
III.,

to the soul,

of man.
1580.

BE THERE, verbal pliv. (common). To BE THERE is to be on the alive qui vive knowing in
; ;

SIDNEY, Arcadia,
to

280.

[Argalus
deare,
find
I

one's element.
adv. (vulgar). BETTER, More; without any idea of superiority.

Parthenia, his wife.} My (sayd hee), I must now leaue thee. [M.]

my BETTER HALFE
2.

Circa 1600.
xxxix.,

SHAKSPEARE, Sonnets,
I

O how

thy worth with manners may

art all the

depraved word

usage, but vulgarism.

1587.
III.,

now regarded
Cont.

once in good as a
Holinshed,

When thou me ?
self

sing,

BETTER PART

of

What can mine own

And what
bring
?

praise to

mine own
I

is't

but mine

own when

FLEMING,
1382, col. 2.

p.

Woorth one hun-

praise thee.
1720.

dred and twentie pounds and BETTER.

[M.]

SHEFFIELD (Duke
I.,

of Bucking-

ham), wks. (1753)

274.

BETTER HALF
1679.
. .

My

dear and

PLOT, Staffordshire (1686), p. The bodies 239. being BETTER than an inch long. [M.] 1769. GRAY, in N. Nicholls' Corr. It is BETTER than three (1843), p. 87. weeks since I wrote to you. [M.] 1851. G. BORROW, Lavengro, ch. Ixx., p. 217 (1888). Following its windings for somewhat BETTER than a
.

out of danger. [M.] 1842. THEODORE MARTIN, in Eraser's Magazine, Dec., p. 241, col. 2. I ... shall look out for a BETTER HALF. [M.]
is

BETTING ROUND, ppl.

adj. (racing).

against

furlong.

equally fairly and nearly all the horses in a race, so that no great risk

Laying

Bettor Round.
can be run. Commonly called GETTING ROUND. HottCH.

184

Flats.

BETWEEN You AND ME ANDTHE BEDPOST. See BEDPOST.

SEVER, BEVIR, BCEVER, subs. (Eton, Winchester, and Westminster An afternoon meal Colleges) served in hall. An old time term for a repast or snack between meals, especially in the after.

BETTOR ROUND,

subs,

One who is addicted ROUND (q.v.).

(racing).

to

BETTING

1882. 'THORMANBY,' Famous Racing Men, p. 75. He [John Gully] worked on gradually as a layer of odds a 'BETTOR ROUND,' or 'leg,' as he was called in those days. [c. 1820.]

BETTY or BESS, subs. (old). A small instrument used formerly by burglars to force open doors and pick locks. Now called a

noon it is still dialectical in some parts of England. Murray gives examples of its use dating back to 1500.
;

1870.

MANSFIELD,

JENNY
twist
;

also jemmy tivvil or screw. For syno; ;

In summer Winchester College, p. 83. time we were let out of afternoon school for a short time about four p.m., when there was a slight refection of bread and cheese laid out in Hall. It was called BEEVER-TIME, and the pieces of bread

School-Life

at

nyms,

see

THIEVES,

etc.

BEEVERS.
1884. M. MORRIS, in English Illustrated Magazine, Nov., p. 73. [At Eton, we] came up from cricket in the summer afternoons for BEAVER.

R. HEAD, English 1671. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). BETTY, ment to break a door.
1705. WARD, Hitdibras vol. II., pt. IX., p. 7.

Rogue,

pt.

an instruRedivivns,

So

Ruffains, who, with Crows and

it

BEVERAGE or BEVY,

subs.

BETTIES, Break Houses, when

A
;

(old).

tip

a vail

equivalent to the
;

dark and late is.

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bring BESS and glym the instrument to force the i.e., bring door, and the dark lanthorn. 1851. H. MAYHEW, Low. Lab. and Low. Poor, IV., 339. Expert burglars are generally equipped with good tools. They have a jemmy, a cutter, a dozen of BETTIES, better known as picklocks.

French pourboire money for drink, demanded, says Grose [1785], of any one having a new suit of clothes. For synonyms,
see

TIP.
subs,

BEWARE,

(theatrical).

Ex-

Verb (colloquial). To potter to fuss about. Usually said of a man assuming the domestic functions of a woman.

plained by quotation. 1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, vol. III., p. 149. We
'

about

[strolling actors] call breakfast, dinner, " " and tea, supper, all of them numyare
;

all

beer,

brandy, water, or soup, are

BEWARE.'

ALL BETTY

intj.
;
'

(thieves').
'it's all

B FLATS,
;

subs,

cry of warning the game is lost

!

up

Cf.
see

F SHARPS, and

(common). Bugs. for synonyms,

NORFOLK HOWARDS.

BETTY MARTIN.

See

ALL MY

EYE.

DICKENS, Household Words, Mrs. B. beheld one night a stout negro of the flat-back tribe known
1866.
326.
xx.,

BETWATTLED, ppl. adj. (old). Surconfounded out of prised

;

one's senses
Grose.

also bewrayed.

writers as B FLATS up towards the head of the bed. 1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable, s.v. B FLATS. Bugs. The pun is B (the initial letter), and FLAT,' from the
stealing
' ' '

among comic

flatness

of the obnoxious

insect.

Bib.
BIB.
to
'

185
or ONE'S

Bible.
properly
'to
;

To NAP
'

A
;

BIB,
'

blow,'

'to

be

BIB, phr.

To (popular). to snivel.' blubber

'

weep;

windy
soak,'
'

')

lenzare or lenzire (pri-

Ldcherles to let loose the ccluses (popular the phrase also floodgates means to void urine ) pisser to urinate des yeux (common:
:
'

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
; '

'

'

with

pleuvoir des = to chdsses (thieves' pleuvoir in military slang to void rain verver chdsse = eye) urine a corrupted form of (thieves' verser, 'to pour out,' to shed) viauper (popular: this argotic verb also means to go molrowing or to lead a dissolute life '); chasser des reluits (popular: chasser reto expel,' to drive out
')
:

the eyes

'

sense, 'to this the meaning is transferred to signify to make water, 'i.e., 'to urinate,' the and also to shed tears word is properly written Vance the derivation will be found under the French synonyms for

marily, in a
'

slang
'

to

wet

from

'

'

'

ADAM'S ALE,
'

q.v.).

In Spanish there is one exwhich is pression for to cry full of poetry fabricar las perlas,
'
'

i.e.,

to

make

pearls.'
'

Arabs
pearls

'

'

'

likewise speak of tears as on the face.'

'

'

'

the eyes,' or ogles ) a chdsses chier des (popular coarse term) chigner (popular) baver des clignots (popular literally to drivel, slaver or slobber the eyes cligner signifying to hence clignots, wink or blink or winkers ) the blinkers
luits
'
'

'

BIBABLES or BIBIBLES, subs. (AmeriDrink, as distinguished can). from food. [A coinage on the

model of
'

'edibles,'
;

'eatables,'

'

'

'

'

'

drinkables,' etc. EiB-ere, to drink, able to be drunk.]

1860.

from Latin

ABLE,

i.e.,

'

'

'

'

'

'

WILLIAM HOWARD RUSSELL

'

properly beugler (popular bellow' [like a bull]).

:

to

GERMAN SYNONYMS.
eiclien

Echen
echa,

(Special Correspondent of the Times), My Diary in India in the years 1858-9, I., Could all the pale-ale, soda-water, p. 8. sherry, porter, and vin ordinaire, and the feebler BIBABLES be turned into nectar,
etc.

(from the

Hebrew

the

first

word

in the

Lamenta(to

tions of Jeremiah) ;flonen,phlonen,

flannen,
flaussen,

or flennen

Pittsburg Despatch, Aug. The was loaded and spread with edibles of every possible kind. BIBIBLES and [DE V.]
1860.

table

one's

mouth awry,

either

Eull Dr laughing

among German

or crying, but thieves mainly

;

in the former sense) jalenjaulen, or jolen machen (from the HebrewyWa/, whining to howl,'
'

A BIB-ALL-NIGHT, subs. (old). a confirmed drunkard. toper [From viB-ere, to drink, -f ALL;

NIGHT.]
1612. SYLVESTER, Lacrymcz LacryBats, Harpies, Syrens, p. 101. Centaurs, BIB-ALL-NIGHTS.

to whine).

maram,

ITALIAN
Cf.,
'

SYNONYMS.
'

nare (this also signifies

Trigto rain
' :

the
;

French,
' :

pleuv^r

des

BIBLE,

subs,

(nautical).

See quoSailors'
;

chdsses}
les

slenzare or slenzire
Cf.,

Mso
'

tations.
1867.

to urinate
ecluses)
;

French, ldc^ v

ADMIRAL

SMYTH,

slang moisten,' hence

venture (the primary to sense of venture is

'

to shed tears

'
:

Book. BIBLE, a hand-axe a small holy-stone [a kind of sand-stone used in cleaning decks] so called from seamen using them kneeling.'
,

Word

Bible-Carrier.
1883.

186

Bibling.

W. CLARK RUSSELL,

Sailors'

Language, p. 14. BIBLES. Small holyno doubt originally so called because they oblige those who use them to kneel. They are also termed prayer books for the same reason.
stones,
'
'

the more heinous offenders being confided to the BIBLE-CLERK, the others
to the Ostiarus.
1878. ADAMS, Wykehamica, p. 59. There appears to have been no regular

BIBLE-CLERK.
offices

From

THAT'S BIBLE,

phr. (common). That's the truth that's i.

;

inferred that the

this it has been institution of these

must have been subsequent, and

subsequent to the

(some think) long Founder's time.

BIBLE-CARRIER, subs, (vagrants'). A person who sell songs without Often heard in singing them. the neighbourhood of Seven
Dials.

BIBLE-POUNDER, subs, (common). A clergyman. [From BIBLE + POUNDER, from the practice indulged in by some excitable exponents, of pounding or beating their hands upon the book or desk while preaching.] For

BIBLE-CLERK,
College).
.

subs.

College prefect in full power, appointed for one week e keeps order in school reads the lessons in chapel, takes round ROLLS (q.v.), and assists at floggings. He is absolved from going up to BOOKS f.v.) during his term of office. fc "he prefect of HALL need not act as BIBLE-CLERK unless he likes, and the prefect of School

(Winchester

synonyms,
BIBLER,
subs.

see

DEVIL-DODGER.

Now

(Winchester College).
(q.v.).

called BIBLING

may choose any week he pleases

in College.

the rest take weeks in rotation, in the order of their Chambers

See

Prtmnm tcmpus.' For a more serious breach of duty, a flogging of six cuts (a BIBLER) was administered, in which case the culprit had to order his name to the BIBLE-CLERK,' and that individual, with the help of Ostiarius, performed the office of Jack Ketch.
'
'

1870. MANSFIELD, School - Life at Winchester College, p. 109. The first time a boy's name was ordered, the punishment was remitted on his pleading

BIBLER AND
BIBLER UNDER NAIL, (Winchester College).
subs.

BIBLING.
Blackwood's Magazine, vol. XCV., p. 73. [At dinner] portions of beef were served out to the boys the BIBLE-CLERK meanwhile reading a chapter from the Old Testament. Ibid, An hour ... is expected to be p. 87.
1864.
.

phr. See BIB-

LING UNDER NAIL.

in working under the superintendence of the BIBLE-CLERK, as the in praefect daily course is termed, who is responsible for a decent amount of order and silence at these hours.

employed

'

'

1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. Order was kept during school hours by the BIBLECLERK and Ostiarus, two of the Praefects, who held these offices in rotation the former lasting for a week, the latter for one day only. They paraded School armed with sticks, and brought up to the Head and Second Masters (who alone had the power of flogging) the names of the which had been delinquents ordered for punishment the names of
1
' ;

1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 109. If a boy was detected in a lie, or any very disgraceful proceeding a rare occurrence, I am happy to say he had to stand up in the centre of Junior row during the whole of the School time, immediately the infliction of the preceding flogging this pillory process was called a BIBLER
;

UNDER THE
BIBLING,
lege).
(q.v.).

NAIL.
subs.

(Winchester

Col-

Formerly called a BIBLER A flogging of six cuts on

the small of the back, administered by the head or second master. So called because the

person

to

be

operated

upon

Sibling-Rod.
ORDERED
1864.
(q.v.)

Big.
to the
Cornhill Mag., May, p. 510. he gave to one old BIDDY five to buy a jack,' and to another guineas substantial help towards her boy's
1887.

his

name

BIBLE-CLERK

How

'

(q.v.).

Blackwood's

Magazine,

vol.

XCV., p. 79. Underneath is the place of execution, where delinquents are BIBLED. It need hardly be said that Ibid, p. 72. it [the rod] is applied in the ordinary fashion six cuts forming what is techwhich nically called a BIBLING on occasions the Bible-Clerk introduces the victim four being the sum of a less terrible operation called a scrubbing.'
: ; '

schooling.
4. (Winchester College.) BIDET. 5. (American.) generally Irish.

See

A servant girl

BIBLING-ROD,
College).

subs.

The instrument with

(Winchester

which

a BIBLING (q.v.) was administered. It consisted of a handle with four apple twigs in the end, twisted together.
It is

BIDET, or BIDDY, subs. (Winchester A bath. Juniors fill College). these for Prasfect. The Winchester term is the French word bidet, the name given to the low

represented on

'

Aut

narrow bedroom bathing stools, used principally by women, but more frequently on the Continent than in England. They are of such a shape that they can be bestridden. In this connection it may be mentioned, that
in

Disce."

was invented and by Warden Baker in

It
is

first

used
It

1454.

not used now.

French

bidet
'

also
'

signifies

SIBLING

UNDER

NAIL,

subs.

(Winchester College). LING (q.v.) administered

phr. BIBfor

'

a small horse

or

pony.'

very heinous offences after an offender had stood under NAIL

(q.v.).

See

quot.

in

BIBLER

UNDER

NAIL.
i. A chicken CHICK- A- BIDDY.
;

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the VulBIDET, commonly progar Tongue. nounced biddy, a kind of tub, contrived for ladies to wash themselves, for which purpose they bestride it like a little French pony or post horse, called in France BIDETS.

BIDDY, subs. (old).

BIEN.

See

BENE.

sometimes
2.

Hence, figuratively.

BIFF, subs.

young (familiar.) woman, not necessarily Irish. In both these senses the word
in Grose [ 1785 ]. appears Since that time it would seem

'

To

(American). A blow. give [one] a BIFF in the

'

jaw'

Anglice,
Cf.,
see

to

wipe one in
for

the chops.'

BANG, and

synonyms,
FIN
'

DIG.

to have changed somewhat meaning as follows.

3.

in

BIFFIN, subs, (familiar).

' !

(familiar.)

woman,

whether young or old. O. W. HOLMES, Guardian 1868.

Angel, ch. xxviii., p. 233 (Rose Lib.). Don't trouble yourself about Kitty
'

A biffin pal is properly a dried apple Norfolk biffins especially are considered great delicacies.
i.e.,

'My
:

BIF-

my

'

BIG.

The BIDDIES

Fagan, for

pity's sake, Mr. Bradshaw. are all alike, and they're all

(familiar).

To TALK or LOOK BIG, phr. To assume a pom;

as stupid as owls, except when you tell 'em just what to do, and how to do it. A pack of priest-ridden fools
' !

pous style or manner with a view to impressing others with a sense of one's importance to

Big As All Outdoors.

talk

188

Big Bug.
whose supervision it was constructed. It was commenced in 1856, and finished in 1857.
1869.

A boastingly. equivalent is se hancher.

1579.

French

The shepheards swayne you cannot wel

ken,

SPENSER, Shep.

Cat., Sept., 50.

be by his pryde, from other They LOOKEN BIGGE as Bulls.

it

But

men

graphy, p. 213. With Sir Charles Barry's sanction he designed the ornament cast

The Register or Mag. of BioBell,

on

the
1880.

Westminster
as BIG BEN.

familiarly

SHAKSPEARE, Winter's Tale, Act iv., Sc. 3. Not a more cowardly rogue, in all Bohemia if you had but LOOKED BIG, and spit at him, he'd have
1604.
:

known
BEN

No. 2039, p. 51. BIG struck two, and the house adjourned.
Punch,

run.
Clinker, squire, in all probability, cursed his punctuality in his heart, but he affected to TALK BIG.
1.

1771.

26.

The

SMOLLETT, Humphry

BIG BIRD. To GET or GIVE THE BIG BIRD, phr. (theatrical). To be hissed on the stage or,
;

1822.

xv.

'You
1838.

will gain

SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. nought by SPEAKING

BIG with me.'

HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. viii. He LOOKED BIG, and TALKED BIG, and altogether was a considerable
'

big

man

conversely, to hiss. When an actor or actress GETS THE BIG BIRD, it may be from two causes either it is a compliment for successful pourtrayal of villainy, in which case the GODS (q.v.)
:

in his

1855.

Warden, p.

own consait.' ANTHONY TROLLOPE, The 207. The Archdeacon waxed

simply express their abhorence

of the character and not of the actor or, the hissing may be directed against the actor, personally, for some reason or other. The BIG BIRD is the goose. For
;

wrath, TALKED BIG, and LOOKED BIGGER.

BIG AS ALL OUTDOORS, phr. (AmeriAn expression intended can). to convey an idea of indefinite size
;

synonyms,
1886.

see

GOOSED.

hugeness

enormous
Slick
1

capacity.
1838.

HALIBURTON ('Sam
2 S.,

),

The Clockmaker,
farnal villain
if
!

ch.

ii.

The
is,

in-

Tell

me who he
He
is

he was BIG AS ALL OUTDOORS,

Ibid, ch. iv.

I'd

and walk
is

Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. To BE GOOSED, or, as it is sometimes phrased, to GET THE BIG BIRD, is occasionally a compliment to the actor's power of representing villainy, but more often is disagreeably suggestive of a failure to please.

into him.

looking as

BIG AS ALL
waitin' for

OUTDOORS gist now, and us to come to him.

BIG

BUG,

subs,

(popular).

person of standing or consequence, either self-estimated or in reality. A disrespectful but

BIG-BELLIED,

adj.

(colloquial).

common mode

of

allusion

to

Advanced
1711. 1848.

in

pregnancy.
.

of Oliver Goldsmith, bk. II., ch. iv. My desires are as capricious as the BIG-

ADDISON [Referred to by] JOHN FORSTER, Life and Times

BELLIED woman's.

persons of wealth or with other claims to distinction. Variants are BIG-DOG, BIG-TOAD, BIGWIG, and GREAT GUN (which see for general synonyms).
1854.

Widow

Bedott Papers,

p. 301.

BIG BEN,

subs, (popular).

nick-

name
Sir

for the clock in the

tower
at after

of the

Houses of Parliament

Miss Samson Savage is one of the BIG BUGS, that is, she's got more money than a'most anybody else in town. 1857. N. Y. Times, February. The
free-and-easy manner in which the hairbrained Sir Robert Peel described some of the BIG BUGS at Moscow has got him
into difficulty.

Westminster.

Named

Benjamin Hall, the Comof missioner Works, under

Big Country

Biggest

Toad

in Puddle.

1872. SCHELE DE VERB, Americanisms, p. 392. Persons of great wealth and distinction are irreverently called BIG BUGS, and I-street, in Washington,
is

Also applied to the Atlantic. called the BIG POND, HERRING

POND, the PUDDLE (q.v.). 1882. Miss BRADDON, Mount Royal, ch. xiii. I was coming across the BIG DRINK as fast as a Cunard could bring
'

thus said to be inhabited by the foreign ambassadors and other BIG BUGS. J. C. Neal makes a nice distinction when he

says of a rich

man without
sense.'

ance

' :

He

social import-

is

more money than

1888.

one of your BIG BUGS, with

me.'
2.

Texas Si/tings, Sep. 15. Don't appear unduly surprised or flustrated if, on answering the front door bell, you find Mr. Gladstone wiping his feet on the door mat. Invite him to walk in in a Show cool, collected tone of voice him you have entertained BIG BUGS
.
.

When
talks

(Western
a
of

Western

American.) plainsman

the BIG DRINK, he is always understood to mean the Mississippi river. To TAKE A BIG Or LONG

before.

BIG COUNTRY,

subs,

(hunting).

The open
BIG

country.
pin-.

DRINK is to partake of liquor from a large glass. It is very customary when calling for refreshment to state whether a LONG or SHORT DRINK is required.

A consequential, (American). pompous individual one who will neither allow others a voice in any matter, or permit dissent from his own views. The obvious derivation is from the customary guarding of tan;

DOG OF THE TANYARD,

To GO THE BIG BIG FIGURE. FIGURE, phr. (common). A variant of to go the whole hog,' or to go the whole animal.' It
' '

signifies

embarking upon an en-

yards by ferocious watch-dogs.

For synonyms,

see

GREAT GUN.

of magnitude. The phrase is mainly current in the Southern States, and is derived from a term used in poker.
terprise
1868.
226.

BIG DOG WITH THE: BRASS COLLAR, The chief in phr. (American). any undertaking or enterprise a A simile evidently deleader. rived from the stable or kennel.
;

When

Pickings from the Picayune, p.

I

saw

that,

thought
;

might as well GO THE BIG FIGURE, you see, and so I grabbed the bag but mischief would have it, that just then the policeman grabbed me and took me to
the caboose.

The phrase
1848. J. R.
p. 42.

sometimes shortened to BIG DOG. For synonyms, see GREAT GUN.

is

BIGGEST,
'

adj.

(American).
'

su-

BARTLETT, Americanisms,

perlative often used in the sense of the best or the finest."

'

In some parts of the country, the principal man of a place or in an undertaking is called the BIG DOG WITH A BRASS COLLAR, as opposed to the little curs not thought worthy of a collar.
1882.

1848.
129.

The thermal

RUXTON, Life

in Far West, p. springs are regarded

;

ALAN PINKERTON, The Molly

'

by the trappers as the breathing-places of his Satanic majesty and considered, moreover, to be the BIGGEST kind of medicine to be found in the mountains.
1888.

Maguires,
4

p.

24.

Yes,'

said Dormer,

Lawler is the BIG DOG in these parts now; besides he kapes a good tavern,
will see no old-timer, or young one either, for that matther, sufferin' from

Washington
little

(Pa.)
is

Review.

and

The Pittsburg Times journal as comes to this

BIGGEST
with.

office.

paper we

as breezy a It is the are acquainted

want while he can relieve him

' !

BIG

DRINK,
;

subs,

The ocean

(familiar).

i.

BIGGEST TOAD
(American).

IN

THE PUDDLE, phr.

of the

more

particularly

One

many

Biggin.
bold, if equivocal to which the West
rise.

Big Nuts
metaphors has given
IN
1888.

to

Crack.
'

a BIG

GUN

Texas Siftings, Oct. 13. Who's ? You don't consider that

'

The BIGGEST TOAD

is

THE

the recognised leader or chief whether in politics, or in connection with the rougher avocations of pioneer life. Equivalent tO THE BIG DOG WITH

PUDDLE

insignificant ink-slinger across the way a BIG GUN, do you ? My wife can hardly wait to get it out of the mail," shouted Jones, desperately.
'

BIG-HEAD.
phr.

THE BRASS COLLAR

also

BIG BUG, and

J.

(q.V.).See

for

generally,
1848.

GREAT GUN.

synonyms

p.

BARTLETT, A mericanisms, BIGGEST TOAD IN THE PUDDLE. 42. Western expression for a head-man a
R.
;

To HAVE A BIG-HEAD, i. To be (American). conceited Also bumptious. applied to men or youths who are cocksure of everything, or affected in manner. See also
; '
'

SWELL-HEAD.
1848.
p. 43.
J. R. BARTLETT, A mericanisms, Boys who smoke cigars, chew

leader of a political party, or of a crowd. Not an elegant expression, though sometimes well applied. Thus a Western newspaper, in speaking of the most prominent man engaged in the political contest for one of the Presidential candidates before Congress, says Mr. D. D. F. is the BIGGEST TOAD IN THE PUDDLE.'
'
:

tobacco,

and
'

BIGGIN, subs. (Winchester College).

coffee

machine

in

two

has GOT THE BIG-HEAD.' Texas Siftings, Oct. 20. If we were to base our calculation upon the corpulency of his iron hat and helmet, we should say it was a case of BIG-HEAD, while his legs were long as a pair of duplex pinchers, his arms like
1888.

drink strong liquors, gamble, treat their parents and superiors as their inferiors of such a boy it is said,

He

parts a strainer, and a coffeepot for the infusion. It took its name from the inventor, a Mr. Biggin, who received letters
'

foot of

annex

the fans of a windmill, his feet like the Mont Blanc, while his digital is like an inverted ham.
2.

The phrase

also signifies

patent
to 1803.
1094.)

some years
(Gent.

'

previous
Ixxiii., p.

the after effect of a debauch.

Mag.,

To GET THE
get drunk.

BIG-HEAD.

To
see

For synonyms,

SCREWED.
BIGGITY, adv.

Con(American). sequential giving oneself airs. A negro term.

;

BIG HOUSE,

r.

1884.

S.

made havoc with the steamboat commerce. The clerk of our boat was a
steamboat
clerk

Mississippi, p. 511.

L.CLEMENS, Life on the These railroads have

before
these day the

subs, (common). The workhouse, a phrase used by the sometimes very poor called the LARGE HOUSE.
;

1851-61.

H. MAYHEW, London Lab.

'

roads

were

that influx of population was so great, and the freight business so heavy, that the boats
built.

In

were not able

to

demands
;

made upon

keep

up with the
their

As long as vol. I., p. 52. they kept out of the BIG HOUSE (the workhouse), she would not complain.' The men hate the Ibid, II., p. 251. thought of going to the BIG HOUSE.

and Lon. Poor,

carrying

capacity consequently the Captain was very independent and airy pretty BIGGITY as Uncle Remus would say.

BIG MOUTH, subs. (American). Excessive talkativeness loqua;

city.

Cf.,

ALL MOUTH.
see

For

BIG

A GUN, subs, (familiar). person of consequence. Possibly of sporting origin. For synonyms, see GREAT GUN.

synonyms,
BIG

GAS.
CRACK, subs. phr. undertaking of

NUTS

TO

(American).

An

Big One.
magnitude
perform.
;

191

Big-Wig.
Call me cad? When money's in the game, Cad and swell are pooty the same.
out.

one

not

easy to

[From a presumed

much

difficulty in cracking large nuts.]

BIG-SIDE, subs.

BIG ONE or BIG '(jN.snbs. (old). A man of note or importance. The current colloquialism is BIG-WIG, but at one time BIGONE was the more frequentlyused expression. For synonyms,
see

The combination

(Rugby School). of all the in the" school in fellows bigger

one and the same game or run also the ground specially used for the game so denomi;

nated.

Used

also

at

other

GREAT GUN.

public schools.

1819.

Then up rose Ward, the veteran Joe, And, 'twixt his whiffs, suggested briefly That but a few at first should go, And those, the light-weight Gemmen chiefly As if too many BIG ONES went, They might alarm the Contito Congress, p. 42.
;

MOORE, Tom

Crib's

Memorial

BIG-SIDE RUN,
School).

subs.

chase, in which picked representatives of all houses take part, as opposed to a house run.

(Rugby

paper

nent

BIG PEOPLE, subs, (familiar). Persons of standing or consequence.

Cf.,

BIG TAKE, subs. (American). That which takes the public fancy a
;

great

GREAT GUN.

in short, success, etc., anything that catches on.' See

'

ANTHONY TROLLOPE, Dr. Thome, I., p. 43. He would n no way assume a familiarity with bigger men
1858.

TAKE.
BIG TALK,
subs,
;

than himself; allowing to the bigger men the privilege of making the first advances.

(popular).

Pom-

pous speech
long words.
1874.

a pedantic use of

one is absolutely in Ibid, p. 81. the dirt at their feet, perhaps these BIG PEOPLE won't wish one to stoop any
further.

When

280.

Saturday Review, Feb., p. [With regard to words like

'
1

BIG

POND,

subs,

(popular).

The

'psithurism,' cheirognomy, 'scintillating eyes,' 'the phaesimbrotous sun '] perhaps they have been grown so

accustomed

to

Atlantic.

Also called THE BIG

Slick'), ch. xviii. He

BIG TALK that,

etc.

DRINK
1838.

(q.v.).

HALIBURTON ('Sam
3
S.,

The Clockmaker,

[old Clay] is all sorts of a hoss, and the best live one that ever cut dirt this side of the BIG POND, or t'other side either.
1883.

BIG-WIG, subs. (popular). A person of consequence one high in [From BIG authority or rank. -f WIG, an allusion to the large and ornate headgear of men of
;

Next time Miss Ward crosses the BIG POND, I earnestly hope that she will cross the 'Rockies,' and triumphantly
descend the Pacific slope.

SALA, Living London,

p. 204.

importance

in
is

The term

former times.] used both con-

temptuously and humorously. For synonyms, see GREAT GUN.

1703. English Spy, p. 255. Most and worthy cousin noble cracks, introduce a trumps, permit me to brother of the togati, fresh as a newblown rose, and innocent as the lilies of Be unto him ever ready St. Clements. to promote his wishes, whether for spree

BIG POT, subs, (familiar). A person of consequence. For syno-

nyms,
1880.

see

GREAT GUN.
!

Punch's Almanac, The Cad's

Calendar. Lor if I'd the ochre, make no doubt, I could cut no end of BIG POTS

or sport, in term and out of term, against the Inquisition and their bull-

Big-Wigged.
the town-raff and the bargees well-blunted or stiver-cramped against or don nob or BIG WIG so may you never want a bumper of bishop. 1846. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, ch.

192

Bilbo.
BIG-WIGGISM,
subs,

dogs

(popular).

dun

Pomposity.
(q.v.) -f

BIG-WIG [G]ISM, a state or con-

[From

xx.

We

dition.]
1871-72. ch. xvii. I

live

among bankers and

city

BIG-WIGS, and be hanged to them, and every man, as he talks to you, is jingling his guineas in his pocket.

thing in
at least.
I

London
I

G. ELIOT, Middlemarch, determined not to try anyfor a good many years

H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey HamSo you are going to sit among the BIG-WIGS in the House of
1859.
lyn, ch. xlv.

didn't like

what
so

was studying there

BIG-WIGGISM and obstructive trickery.

I saw when much empty

Lords.
1876 circa. Broadside Ballad, 'Justice

BIG

WORDS,

subs,
;

and Law.
twist,

(familiar).
' '

The Penge Case you know took

a curious

Pompous speech crack-jaw words. Cf., To TALK BIG, and

BIG TALK.
1879.

But how it occurred, we can't guess, Unless, unexpected, some turn of the
wrist,

GRENVILLE MURRAY, Member

I.,
'

Has got some BIG-WIG To some folks it seems

'

'

in a mess.

for Paris,

p. 103.
'

'I

rather queer,
'

cynicism

Oh,

cynicism

don't like such is a BIG

When

now, you see, Sentence of Death

'

had been

passed,

That one
free,

of the four is allowed to go

And her
1880.

prison doors wide open cast.

BILBO or BILBO A, subs. (old). A sword. Bilboa in Spain was once renowned for well-tempered
blades.
ever,
1592.

Chorus.
A. TROLLOPE, The Duke's Children, ch. xxvi. 'The Right Honorable gentleman no doubt means,' said Phineas, that we must carry ourselves with some increased external dignity.
'

Grose

[1785]

quotes

the term as slang;

is

this, howsomewhat doubtful.

Disputation,
etc.,

GREENE,

in

The world

BIGWIGGING itself, and we must buy a bigger wig than any we have
is

wks. X., 236. Let them doe what they dare with their BILBOWE blades, I feare

them
iii.,

not.

got, in order to confront the world with proper self-respect.'

refund

BIG-WIGGED, ppl.

adj.
;

(popular).
.

CONGREVE, Old Batchelor, Act Tell them, I say, he must 7. or BILBO'S the word, and slaughter will ensue.
1693.

Sc.

Pompous

consequential
(q.v.)

[From BIG-WIG

[G] ED.]

1851. CARLYLE, John Sterling, pt. I., ch. vii. And along with obsolete spiritualisms, he sees all manner of obsolete

1713. Guardian, No. 145. 'He that shall rashly attempt to regulate our hilts, or reduce our blades, had need to have a heart of oak BILBO is the word, remember that and tremble.'
.
. .

thrones and BIG-WIGGED temporalities.

1816.
'

SCOTT, Old Mortality, ch.

all
fall,

iv.

It
'

was

fair play;

your
1

comrade

sought a

and he has got

it.

BIG- WIGGERY, subs, (popular). A display of consequence, or [From BIG -WIG pomposity. (q.v.) + [G] ERY, a condition.] 1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs,
ch.
ii. Whilst Louis XIV., his old squaretoes of a contemporary the great worshipper of BIGWIGGERY has always struck me as a most undoubted and Royal Snob.

That is true enough,' said Bothvvell, as he slowly rose; 'put up your BILBO,
Tom.'

A kind of stock a long 2. iron bar with sliding shackles for the ankles of prisoners, and a lock by which to fasten the bar at one end to the ground. The derivation is very uncertain.
1557. HAKLUYT, Voy., I., 295. was also conveyed to their lodgings where I saw a pair of BILBOWES.
.

1855.

Household Words,

xii.,

250.

I
. .

All

this solemn BIGWIGGERY these triumphs, ovations, sacrifices, orations.

Bile.
1594. NASHE, Tenors of the Night, in wks. (Grosart) III., 255. He that is spyced with the gowte or the dropsie,
cles,

193

Bilk.
Sjibs.
i.

(obsolete.)

state-

ment or
out

frequently dreameth of fetters and manaand being put on the BILBOWES.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, Act Sc. 2. Hani. Methought I lay worse than the mutines in the BILBOES. 1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, Act
.

string of words withsense, truth, or meaning,

jointly or severally.
1663. JONSON, Tale of a Tub, I., i. Tub. He will have the last word, though he talk BILK for't. Hugh. BILK! what's that.

v.,

Now a Man that is marry'd, iii., Sc. 6. has as it were, d'ye see, his Feet in the and BILBOES, may-hap mayn't get 'em out again when he wou'd. 1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), And are those snear'd, or put into p. 19. BILBOES, and handcufft.
1748. T.

Tub.

Why

nothing

word

signifying

Nothing. [Note refers to Cole's English Diet. (n.d. given) and to Halliwell, Arch,

and Prov. Words,

loe

s.v.]

knew
BILK.

1740. NORTH, Examen, p. 213. Bedwas sworn, and being asked what he

DYCHE, Dictionary

(5

ed.).

over and over,

2.

against the prisoner, answered, Nothing .... Bedloe was questioned who still swore the same

BILBOES, the punishing a person at sea, by laying or putting the offender in irons, or a sort of stocks, but more severe than the common stocks.
1815.
'

(common.)
;

hoax

an

And now let us talk about our xxxiv. business.' Your business, if you please,' said Hatterick; hagel and donner mine was done when I got out of the BILBOES.'
' '
I

SCOTT,

Guy Mannering,

ch.

For a humbug. synonyms, see SELL. Cf., BITE.

imposition
1664.
376.

BUTLER, Hudibras,

II.,

iii.,

Spells,

Which over
th'

ev'ry month's

blank-page In BILK'S presage.

1694:
x.

Almanack

strange
III.,

[M.]

BILE,

subs.

(old).

i.

The female
see

CONGREVE, Double Deal,

he's secure

There
[M.]

from danger of a
Lives,
i.,

pudenda.
2.

For

synonyms,

BILK.

MONOSYLLABLE.
(common.)
boil.'

1733 circa. After this BILK

NORTH,
of

260.

discovery

was

vulgarism

known.
3.

[M.]

for

'

BILGEWATER,

subs,

beer. given to the drainings to the lowest part of a ship; being difficult to get at, these become, at times, exceedingly foul and offensive. For synonyms, see

Bad

(common). Properly the name

cheat.

(common.) A swindler a This is the most familiar

;

SWIPES.
BILK,
subs,

current use of the word in its substantive form, and is applied mainly to persons who cheat cabmen of their fares, or to men who swindle prostitutes out of their wretched earnings. Also BILKER. For synonyms,
see

SELL.

Cf.,

BITE.

(common).
in

word

1790.
:

formerly
rity is

general

use,

to

109.

which a certain stigma of vulga-

Thou

SHERIDAN, in Sheridaniana, Johnny W[i] Iks, Johnny W[i] Iks,

greatest of BILKS.

now attached. Uncertain in

'
'

derivation possibly a corrupted form of balk it was first

employed technically at cribbage to signify the spoiling of an adversary's score in the

crib.

MARRYAT, Japhet, ch. ix. After a little delay, the wagoner drove and vowing off, cursing him for a BILK, that he'd never have any more to do with a larned man.'
1836.
'

4.

Among
usages

obsolete

or

de-

offensive term used in the West to signify a person who habitually

(American.)

strongly

praved
tioned.

may be men-

who

sponges upon another, and never by any chance makes

13

Bilk.

194

Bill.
BILK THE SCHOOLMASTER, To obtain (common). knowledge or experience without paying for it.
1821.

a return or even offers to do so. In English slang it means a downright cheat or swindler It will therefore (see sense 3). Western the be seen that American usage has considerably softened its meaning.
1840.
p. 211.

TO

phr.

Jerry, Act

grumble
his

McCLURE, Rocky Mountain, The term was entirely novel to

I

THE SCHOOLMASTER, WOuld yOU

;

T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Sc. 5. Log. Well, don't one must pay for learning and you wouldn't BILK
ii.,

W.

every

But,

meaning of a landlord, who explained to me by saying

first

me, and

asked

its

for a bit of

man who never misses a meal and never pays a cent.

that a BILK is a

come, I'm getting merry so if you wish good truth, come with me, and let's have a dive among the cadgers in the back slums, in the Holy Land.
subs. A BILKER, (common). cheat a swindler. Sometimes abbreviated to BILK (sense 3).
;

Fallacious; Adj. (obsolete). without truth or meaning. 1740. NORTH, Examen, p. 129. To
that
[Oates's plot] and the author's BILK account of it I am approaching.

Verb (common).

To
one's

cheat;
obliga-

defraud
tions
;

evade

The BILKING, subs, (common). action of cheating or swindling.

BILL, subs.
list

escape from, etc.

(see subs.,

and compare with 2, For synonyms, see quotations).

sense

(Eton College).

i.

A
;

of the boys

STICK.
1677.

BITE. WYCHERLEY,
Cf.,

to the head also of those

to go master at 12 o'clock

who have
who

Act v., Sc. 3. i lawyer that shall be nameless BILKED

too.

Plain Dealer, Knight: Ay, a great

me

get off or names(<j-v.), calling, e.g., an eleven playing in a match are thus exempt.

ABSENCE

GAY, Polly, Act ii., Sc. 9. Honour plays a bubbles part, ever BILK'D and cheated.
1729.
1748.

1876.

T. DYCHE, Dictionary
;

(5 ed.).

BILK (v.), to cheat, balk, disappoint, deceive, gull, or bubble also to go out of a publick-house or tavern, without paying
the reckoning.
1750.

FIELDING,
'
'

Tom

Some of the small boys youth tempted to ape his habits, had often occasion to rue it when they staggered back to college giddy and sick, carrying with them a perfume which told its tale to their tutors, and caused them to be put in the
Years at Eton.

BRINSLEY RICHARDS, Seven

whom

this delightful

Jones, bk.

BILL.
2.

I promise you,' an swered XIV., ch. iv. I don't intend to BILK my Nightingale, lodgings but I have a private reason for not taking a formal leave.' 1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the VulLet us BILK the gar Tongue. BILKE. let us cheat the hackney rattling cove coachman of his fare bilking a coachman, a box keeper, or a poor whore, was formerly among men of the town thought a gallant action.
;

(Harrow School.)
A

Namesphr.

calling.

To HANG UP
(American
ed by quotation.

BILL,

'

'

political).

Explain-

1847.
'

Are you playing me false ? Have xix. you set another man on the track with a view to BILK me of my promised fee ?
'

LYTTON, Lucretia,

pt. II., ch.

1887. Corn hill Magazine, June, p. To HANG UP A BILL IS to paSS it through one or more of its stages, and then to lay it aside and defer its further
628.

consideration for a more or less indefinite period.

To
See

BILK

(thieves').

THE BLUES, phr. To evade the police.

BLUES.

A BILL, phr. (AmeriTo expedite the passing of a bill through the Senate and Congress. Cf., RUSH,

To RUSH

can

political).

Billbrigkter.
1887.
628.

195

Billingsgate.
BILLIARD BLOCK, subs, (society). An epithet applied to one who puts up with disagreeables for the sake of pecuniary or other

Cornhill

To RUSH

well known in the American Senate, and occasionally also used here.

Magazine, June, p. A BILL is an expression

LONG or SHORT BILL, tubs, long or short phr. (thieves'). term of imprisonment.

advantages also, occasionally, to one who acts as jackal for another and to TAME CATS (q.v.).
; ' '

TO PAY
phr.

woman who

(old).

A BILL AT Said of a
is

man

SIGHT, or

always ready for

sexual commerce.

BILLBRIGHTER,

subs

small fagot used College). for lighting coal fires in Kitchen. So called from a servant, Bill Bright, who was living in 1830.
1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 89. The Kitchen is a spacious apartment with a vaulted roof, occupying the entire height of the building on the west side of the quadhere rangle, and at least half its length we might see a few Fags endeavouring to coax Jem Sims, John Coward, or Mother Mariner (the cooks), for an extra supply of mashed potatoes, till Kitchen is cleared by the exasperated Manciple, who has just detected a delinquent in the act of secreting under his gown an armful of the small faggots used for lighting the Kitchen fires (called BILL BRIGHTERS), an opportunity for purloining which was never allowed to slip by a Junior of a properly regulated mind.
;

(Winchester

1831. MRS. GORE, Mothers and Daughters, p. 75. The Duke of L. was fortunate in somewhat more than the usual apportionments of souffre-douleurs, doubles, BILLIARD-BLOCKS, living hunters, younger brothers, to talk to the young lady nieces, etc.

BILLIARD-SLUM, subs. (Australian thieves ) False pretences

'
. .

To GIVE ON THE
SLUM.
See

BILLIARD-

MACE.

BILLINGSGATE, subs, (popular). scurFoul, coarse language rilous vituperation. From the evil reputation 'which the market of the same name has enjoyed for centuries. In the seventeenth century references to the violent and abusive speech of those frequenting the place were very numerous. In French an analogous reference is made to the Place Maubert, long noted for its noisy market.
;

BILLED UP, ppl. adj. (military). In the Guards' regiments to be BILLED UP signifies to be confined to barracks.

1677.

WYCHERLEY, Plain
Quaint.
.
. .

Act

iii.

Whose

tion, though never so clear and evident in the eye of the world, yet with sharp

Dealer, reputa-

invectives Wid. Alias, BILLINGSGATE. Quaint. With poignant and sour invectives, I say, I will deface.
1711. DEFOE, The Review, vol. VII., As long as faction feeds the preface. we shall never want BILLINGSflame, GATE to revile one another with. 1712. Spectator, No. 451. Our satire nothing but ribaldry, and BILLINGS GATE.
is

BILLET, tion

subs,
;

'

situa(popular). berth.' [From BILLET,

official military order requiring food and shelter to be provided for the soldier bearing
it.]

an

TO GET A BILLET,/^, (thieves')

prison to obtain promotion to duties which carry with them certain privileges.

When in

1852. THACKERAY, Esmond, ch. ix. If she had come with bowl and dagger, would have been routed off the ground by the enemy with a volley of BILLINGSGATE, which the fair person always kept by her.

Billingsgate Pheasant.
1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. Messrs. Cannon and Co. defied the surgeon or anybody else to say the fish was bad, and kept jabbering away both at the same time and in elegant BILLINGSGATE, until the constable returned but he came without the doctor, who had gone to attend an urgent case out of the town, and the people at his house could not say when he would return.
;

Billy.
centre. Sometimes a BIRD'SEYE WIPE has a white ground BLOOD-RED and blue spots.

To BILLINGSGATE or TALK to BILLINGSGATE. To scold

;

talk
'

coarsely, or slang.
1

violently

to

A. LITTLETON, Lat. Diet. To 1678. BILLINGSGATE IT. Arripere maledictum

ex trivio.

FANCY, red. BLUE BILLY, blue ground, generally with white CREAM FANCY, any figures. pattern on a white ground. KING'S MAN, yellow pattern on RANDAL'S a green ground. MAN, green, with white spots; named after the favourite colours of Jack Randal, pugilist. WATER'S MAN, sky coloured. YELLOW FANCY, yellow with YELLOW MAN, white spots.
all

YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN A BILLINGSGATE FISHFAG, i.e., rude and ill-mannered

So
also,
;

yellow. generally, see

1857.
ed., p. 444.

For WIPE.

synonyms
Assistant,

SNOWDEN, Mag.

silk

handkerchief.

BILLY.

BILLINGSGATRY, scurrilous language.

2.

(thieves'.)

Stolen metal.

See

BILLY-HUNTING.
(American
thieves'.)

BILLINGSGATE

PHEASANT,

subs.

3.

(common). A red herring or This is also called a bloater.

weapon used by desperadoes,

TWO-EYED STEAK, but for synonyms, see ATLANTIC RANGER.

BILL OF SALE, subs. (old). Widow's weeds. Such are also said to have APARTMENTS or a HOUSE

and also by the police when apprehending violence or dangerous resistance on the part of
the former when pursued. The construction of a BILLY varies, but usually it is composed of a piece of untanned cowhide, as hard as horn itself, some six inches in length, twisted or braided into a sort of handle,

TO LET

(q.V.).
i.

BILLY, subs, (thieves').

'

A pocket
' :

and covered from end

to

end

or neck-handkerchief, chiefly of silk. The various fancies have BELbeen thus described CHER, darkish blue ground,
large round white
spots, with a spot in the centre of darker This blue than the ground. was adopted by Jem Belcher, the pugilist, as his colours,' soon became popular and amongst the fancy.' BIRD'SEYE WIPE, a handkerchief of any colour, containing white spots. The blue bird's-eye is similar to the Belcher except in the
' '

with woollen cloth. One extremity is loaded with three

quarters of a pound of lead to the other is firmly attached a loop, large enough to admit a man's
;

"

hand, formed of strong linen cord, and intended to allow the BILLY to hang loose from the wrist, and at the same time prevent it being lost or wrenched from the grasp of its owner. At close quarters, it proves a very savage and formidable arm of defence, resembling, but being much more dangerous than

Billy Barlow.
the ordinary slung-shot in use
others. and by policemen Twelve ounces of solid lead and

*97

Billy -Buz man.

so called from the hero of a

raw-hide,
ruffian,

thickest skull

dashed against the by a strong armed

as
effectually

would

silence a man as an ounce of the same metal discharged from the bore of a Springfield rifle.
It

witticisms. He was a wellknown street character about the

slang song. Billy was a real person, semi-idiotic, and though in dirt and rags, fancied himself a swell of the first water. Occasionally he came out with real

may be remarked

that BILLY

in

staff,

condition of the man reported as having been shot twice in the head on Thursday It afternoon, is not at all alarming. transpires that his wounds are not of the but were inflicted with a gun-shot sort, BILLY in the hands of a Pinkerton man.
4.

English slang is a policeman's a very different weapon. 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Ap. 4. The

and Lon. Poor,

East-end of London, and died in Whitechapel Workhouse. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851-61.
vol. III., p. 148.
is

BARLOW

another

supposed

BILLY comic

(popular.)

policeman's
7, p. 5, col.
i.

umbrella.

character, that usually accompanies either the street-dancers or acrobats in their peregrinations. The dress consists of a cocked-hat and red feather, a soldier's coat (generally a sergeant's with sash), white trousers with the legs tucked into Wellington boots, a large tin eye-glass, and an old broken and ragged

staff;
1884.

a truncheon.
Daily News, Ap.

Anderson was first brought down by a pistol shot, and was then corrected with
a BILLY, quished.
5.
till

he declared himself van-

These merry Andrews are otherwise called JIM CROWS and SALTIMBANCOS among the French, un pit-re.
;

(Australian and

New

Zea-

BILLY-BOY,
vessel

subs,

land.)

bushman's tea-pot or

like

(nautical). galliot, with

A
two

masts,
rigged.

the

fore-mast

saucepan.
SALA, in Daily Telegraph, Sept. 3, 5, 5. They got enough flour from Sydney to make their 'dampers,' and
1885. G. A.

square-

They

Goole.

hail mainly from Also called HUMBER-

KEELS.
BILLY- BUTTON,
slang).
i.

enough tea to
1886.

boil in their BILLIES.

p. 194.

SUTHERLAND, Australia, BILLY, or small tin can, for boiling tea or coffee.

G.

subs,

(rhyming

Mutton.

1889.

Illustrations, Oct., p. 22.

Re-

2. (tailors'.)

A contemptuous
BILLY BUTTON.

fusing a pressing invitation to stay and spend Christmas with the good people with whom I had been boarding, and heeding lightly their remarks as to 'new

term for a journeyman tailor. 1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 117. And there I did
Jeremiah Stitchem
Ibid, p. 142.
to his

chum,' dangers of the bush,'

'

'

'

all alone,'

strange country,' etc., etc., I took a look at the map, and packed my 'swag.' Now a 'swag' proper, usually contains blankets, towels, BILLY,' pannikin, and many other articles . Ibid, p. 28. The BILLY is off, but the roadman (Irish, of course) gives me a grateful cup of beer, and accompanies me to the hotel another mile down the road.
'
. .

laughable sketch entitled

BILLY BUTTON'S ride to Brentford, and I used to be Jeremiah Stitchem, a servant of BILLY BUTTON'S, that comes
for a
'

sitiation."

'

'

BILLY-BUZMAN,
thief

subs,

(thieves').

whose speciality is silk pocket and neckerchiefs. [From

kerchief,
thief.]

BILLY BARLOW, subs,

(common).

BILLY, slang for a pocket-handBUZ MAN, slang for a

street

clown; a mountebank

Billy-Cock.

198

Billy-Roller.
1872.

A BILLY-COCK, subs, (popular). round, low-crowned hat generally of soft felt, and with a broad brim. Speculation has been rife as to the derivation of the term. Murray says 'apparently the same as "bullyused cocked," 1721, probably of the meaning "after the fashion " "bullies or hectoring " blades of the period' (see quot.). A writer, C. K. C. in Notes and
Queries,

FARJEON,

Griff, p.

14.

With

the men, mole-skin trousers, pea-jackets, BILLY-COCK hats, and dirty pipes pre-

dominated.
1884.
col.
i.

He wore

in at the waist COCK hat.

2.

Pall Mall G., March 28, p. u, a plaited blouse drawn and a dilapidated BILLY-

(Australian.)

The

BILLY-

however

[6
' ' '

S.,

ii.,

p.
' '

COCK of the Antipodean colonies differs from the English headgear known by the name in being made of hard instead of soft felt, and in having a turned

points out that these hats were first made for Billy Coke or to speak more respectfully,
355]
,

Mr. William Coke a gentleman well known at Melton Mowbray a quarter of a century ago [circa 1853] and used by him at the great shooting parties at Hoik,

up brim. For synonymous terms head-gear, see DEERSTALKER.

BILLY-FENCER,
subs,

of

(thieves').

marine store dealer.

See

FENCE.

ham.
hatters
call

The
in

old-established

A BILLY-GOAT, subs, (common). tufted beard similar to that of

;

the

West-end
hats."
'

still

them "Coke
of

Of the
of

a goat.
1882.

reality

the personality

Standard,
[M.]

Feb., p.

3, col. 2.

William Coke of Melton fame there is, and can be no doubt, and although the name of the hat may be derived from bullycock yet the weight of evidence seems to be against it, unless a
'

GOAT beard.

Hair turning grey, hazel eyes, BILLY-

BILLY-HUNTING, subs, (thieves'). i. Collecting and buying old

metal.
1851-61.

,'

See

BILLY-FENCE.
'

slight transference of meaning, very common in slang, has taken place.

1721.
46, p. 246.
'
'

and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 465. He goes tatling and BILLY-HUNTING in the country (gathering rags and buying old
metal).'
2. Going out to steal pockethandkerchiefs. See BILLY,

H. MAYHEW, London Lab.

AMHERST,

smart or dandy.] When he walks the street, he is easily distinguish'd by a stiff silk gown, which rustles in the wind, as he struts along; a flaxen tiewig, or sometimes a long natural one, which reaches down below his waist a broad BULLY-COCK'D hat, or a square cap of above twice the usual size; white stockings, thin Spanish leather shoes his cloaths lined with tawdry silk, and
; ;

Terrce Filius, No. [A description of an Oxford

BILLY NOODLE, subs. (American).

This combination stands in American slang for a fellow

whose
tive

self-conceit leads

him

to

suppose himself specially attracto the other sex.

his shirt ruffled down the bosom as well as at the wrists. Besides all which marks, he has a delicate jaunt in his gait, and smells very philosophically of essence.

[From

BILLY, a male name,+ NOODLE, a fool.]

BILLY-ROLLER, subs, See quotations.

was

1862. Life Among Colliers, 35. I told to take off bonnet, and tie a

BILLY-COCK [wide-awake] tight down.

my

(common).

Bim, Bimshire.
1840.

199
Michael is the

Bingy.
BOYS, from their badge, which consists of a death's head, with the words, or glory."
'

MRS.
ch.

TROLLOPE,
xiv.

BILLY-ROLLER ?'...' It's a long StOUt stick, ma'am, that's used often and often to beat the little ones employed in the
mills

Armstrong,

'What

when
is

1875.

URE,
the

their strength fails.' Diet. Arts, III.,

1166.

This

BILLY-ROLLER,

so

much

talked of in the controversies between the operatives and masters in the cottonfactories, as an instrument of cruel punishment to children, though no such machine has been used in cotton-mills for half a century at least. [M.]

BINGO, subs, (old cant). Brandy, or other spirituous liquor. Thought by Dr. Murray to be a humorous formation from B. for 'brandy' (Cf., B. and
'

S.') and stingo. 1785. GROSE, Dictionary of

Vulgar Paul

BIM, BIMSHIRE,
Indian).

Tongue.
subs.

BINGO, brandy.

(West
for

1830.

BULWER

Nicknames

LYTTON,

Clifford, p. 41.

Barbadian and the island of Barbadoes. This place is also sometimes jeeringly called LITTLE ENGLAND, and Barbadian
is

Air.
'

'

FIGHTING ATTIE'S SONG. He was famed for deeds of arms

you doubt
' !

Rise at six dine at twoRob your man without ado

Such my maxims
Their wisdom,
to

if

contracted into 'BADIAN.

PATON, Down
is

1887.

the

Islands.
1

Barbadoes
as the
it

little

people are enterprising and energetic, go-ahead and driving in short, the business men of these islands (the Caribbees). Barbadian may therefore be said to mean a man with go and grit, energy and vim.'
;
;

has never been conquered

known all the world over island that pays her way;
its

to the rightabout a sallow gentleman on the (Signing same side of the table to send up the brandy bowl.) Pass round the BINGO, of a gun, You musty, dusty, husky son ! (The sallow gentleman in a hoarse
'

voice,)
'

'

'

Attie the BINGO'S now with me, I can't resign it yet, d'ye see (Attie, seizing the bowl,) Resign, resign it cease your dust
'

'
!

BING.

See

BYNGE A WASTE.
'

(Wresting it away, and fiercely regarding the sallow gentleman.) You have resigned it and you must.'

BINGE, subs. (Oxford drinking bout.

Univ.)

A
'

CHORUS.

You have resigned it and you must.' 1861. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, xxxiii. Some soda water with a dash of
BINGO clears one's head
in the morning.

DANDIES, subs, (milii yth Lancers. From its Colonel (Lord Bingham) causing the men's uniforms to fit so well. It is one of the smartest regiments of the sertary).

The

For all synonyms, see DRINKS. Hence BINGO BOY, a tippler BINGO MORT, a a drunkard. drunken woman. See MORT.
;

vice.

They were
christened

also

at

one
BINGY,
adj.

time
of this
'

the

HORSE

MARINES (q.v.). Two troops showy corps were em'

(trading).

term
;

ployed as marines on board the Hermione frigate during some severe fighting in the West
Indies.

largely used in the butter trade to denote bad, ropy butter nearly equivalent to VINNIED. It may be noted that in the

now
known

Hence the sobriquet

i yth

almost
as the

But the

quite are

still

forgotten. well-

English Dialect Society's ChesBINGY is given as a peculiar clouty or frowsty taste in milk the first stage of turntere Glossary,

DEATH OR GLORY

ing sour.

Binnacle Word.
1857.

200
of C. often

Birdlime.
BIRD-CAGE,
i. subs, (common). an article of feminine used for extending the

MRS. GASKELL,
iv.

Bronte, ch.

The

Life

milk, too,

was

BINGY, to use a country expression for a kind of taint that is far worse than sourness, and suggests the idea that it is caused by want of cleanliness about the milk pans, rather than by the heat of the weather.
1860. MRS. GASKELL, Sylvia's Lovers, ch. xv. I've heerd my aunt say as she found out as summat was wrong wi' Nancy as soon as the milk turned BINGY, for there ne'er had been such a clean lass about her milk-cans afore that.

bustle,

attire,

skirts

of the dress.

So

called

because at one time constructed of such a size and in such a manner as to be not altogether unlike an elongated BIRD-CAGE.
1860 circa.

Broadside Ballad, 'The

Ag ricultural Irish Girl,' verse 3. Sh has no great education, for She

She's not

BINNACLE WORD,
tical).

naufine or affected word,

subs,

But

(old

Would

much past her letters for acting like a lady, I like to see her betters
:

which
Grose.

sailors jeeringly offer to

chalk up upon the binnacle.

Nor Bow Bells' fashions pages And she does not wear those
behind,

She does not read Ouida's works,

;

things

The

ladies call BIRD-CAGES.

BIRCH-BROOM, subs, A room. slang).

LIKE
A

(rhyming

Among ENGLISH SYNONYMS may be mentioned canary cage

;

BIRCH-BROOM IN A Said of a FiT,phr. (common).

rough, towzly head. 1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures
of a Cheap Jack, p. 90.
I

backstaircase
bishop.

false

hereafter

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un
puk
(a
;

vola-

un strapontin
;

un lieutenant
ce

should like to

looks worse than to see a young man or woman with their hair in an uproar, LIKE A BIRCH-BROOM IN A FIT, and some of you chaps down there look as if you hadn't had your hair combed since last reaping time, when you did it with a field-rake, which is very harrow-

know what

pun on
la
.

tenant lieu de

qui

manque)
cache
teriors)
2.

un
lune
;

nuage
lune

(parcequ'il

the pos-

ing to one's feelings.

cab. ER.

(common.) A four-wheeled For synonyms, see GROWL-

BIRCHIN LANE.
;

BIRCHIN LANE,

To SEND ONE TO To phr. (old).

The paddock 3. (racing.) at the Newmarket race - course

where saddling takes place. adjoins the grand stand. 1884. St. James's Gazette, May i,
It

castigate to flog. allusion to birch, a

punning
C/.,

rod.

STRAP

OIL, etc.

p.

All the favourites were brought into i. the BIRD-CAGE. [M.]

BIRD, subs,
J. is

(theatrical).

Mr. H.
BIRDLIME,
i.

that when a piece hissed the actors say The BIRD'S there! '; the bird alluded

Byron says

subs,

'

(rhyming

slang).

Time.
2.

to being the goose notorious for its hissing capacities. See

(old.)

thief.

From

however, BIG BIRD and GOOSE.

Verb
steal
;

(old).

To

thieve;
for

to

the glutinous substance of the same name spread upon twigs for the purpose of catching birds and holding them fast.
1705. VANBRUGH, Confederacy, That BIRDLIME there stole it.
V.,
2.

to

look

So used by Ben

plunder. Jonson.

Bird's-Eye.
1705.
2.

Bishop.
III.,

VANBRUGH,
on't.

Confederacy,

permit
the
rose,

me

to introduce

a brother of

My

rogue of a son has laid his BIRD-

togati,

fresh

as

new-blown
lilies

LIME fingers

BIRD'S- EYE, BIRD'S-EYE FOGLE, subs, BIRD'S-EYE WIPE, (com-

promote
dogs

mon).

of St. to his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term, against the Inquisition and their bull-

and innocent as the

Clements.

Be unto him ever ready

silk

handkerchief

spotted with eye-like markings.

See also
1665.

BILLY and WIPE.

the town-raff and the bargees well-blunted or stiver cramped against dun or don nob or big-wig so may you never want a bumper of BISHOP.
1738.

PEPYS, Diary, May 14. To church, it being Whit-Sunday; my wife very fine in a new yellow BIRD'S-EYE hood, as the fashion is now. 1861. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xviii.
1883.
6,

SWIFT,

wks., 1755, IV., i., 278. Well roasted, with sugar and wine in a cup.

Women Who Cry

Oranges,
They'll

make

a sweet BISHOP.

He wore a blue BIRD'SEYE handkerchief round his neck.

col. 2.

World, No. 37- Punch, BISHOP, cool tankard, and negus are denied me. equally
1753.

The

same hue

Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. His neckerchief was of the [silver grey], with a light

p. 421.

crimson BIRD'S-EYE.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xlviii., He and the landlord were drinkbowl a of BISHOP together. ing

BIRD-WITTED, adj. (old). Inconsiderate thoughtless easily im; ;

posed on.
1605.
(1861), 228.

Grose.

subs. (American). A bustle part of feminine attire consisting of a pad worn on the back part of the waist, and de2.

that

is,

BACON, Adv. Learning, II. If a child be BIRD-WITTED, hath not the faculty of attention,

signed to give prominence to the skirt. For synonyms, see

the mathematics giveth a unto.

remedy

there-

BIRD-CAGE.
1848.

1650. UssHER,,4;m., VI., 360. [He] proved .... but a BIRD-WITTED man.

canisms, p. 42.
to a lady's bustle.
I

BARTLETT, Dictionary of A meriBISHOP. An appendage

wardrobe, otherwise called a

BIRK,
'

subs.
'

(back

slang).

A
For

sing the BISHOP, alias the bustle.

(q.v.), i.e., a house. synonyms, see DIGGINGS.

CRIB

1862-75.

SAXE,

Progress.

Imperial

Fashion decides the gravest questions which divide the world. If wrong may not, by circumstance, be
right, If black cravats

BIRTHDAY SUIT, subs, (common). Naked in Jhe BUFF (q.v.) in

; ;

be more genteel than

the suit
'

and Eve first other, and were not ashamed.' A French

in
is s'habiller

which saw each

Adam

white,
If,

by her BISHOP, or her 'grace,' alone genuine lady, or a church, is known.

3.

equivalent
1771.
I
1.

en sauvage.

SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker, went in the morning to a private place, along with the housemaid, and we bathed in our BIRTH-DAY SOOT.
61.

utensil a IT (q.v.).
;

(common.) JERRY

A chamber JORDAN and

;

4.

(Winchester

The
is

College.)

i. A warm BISHOP, subs. (old). decoction of wine, orange or

sapling with which a fagot bound together.

lemon

and sugar but variously compounded. Similar to FLIP and PURL (q.v.).
peel,
1703.

Verb. i. term among horse dealers, for burning marks into a horse's teeth, after he has

English Spy,

p.

255.

Most

noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,

them by age or, by other deceptive arts to give a good appearance to a bad horse. By
lost
;

Bismarquer.
BISHOPPING, a horse is made to appear younger than he is. The expression is derived from the name of a person who initiated the practice, and has no connection with to bishop,' a pro'

202

Bitch.
1607.

DEKKER,

Jests to

make you

If they Merie, in wks. (Grosart) II., 328. follow you in the street, and once know where the bung and the BIT is, as much as to say your purse and the money.

vincialism for to burn." synonyms, see FIG.

'

For

1608. DEKKER, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 122. To learne before he play what store of BIT he hath in his Bay, that is, what money he hath

in his pursse.
1789.
p.

BRADLEY, Family Diet., vol. I., s. v. Horse.' This way of making a horse look young, is by Horse Coursers called BISHOPING.
1727.
'

R.

149.

GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter, Snack the BIT. To share the

money.
H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, bk. 1834. ch. v. He is caught he must stand and deliver then out with the dummy [pocket book], and off with the
III.,
'
'

///. Lon. News, 23 August, 171, BISHOP ... a term signiof deceptive arts to make the use fying an old horse appear like a young one.

1884.

col. 2.

To

BIT.
2.

In

French

the

process
;

is

(colloquial.)

The name

called masquer en alezan maquiller un gayet.

2.

also

The

term,

To murder by drowning. now obsolete, is like

BURKE and BOYCOTT from the

name of an individual. A man named Bishop drowned a boy in

Bethnal Green, in 1831, to
sell

given to coins varying in value according to locality usually, however, to the silver piece of the lowest denomination. Fourpenny pieces are still called BITS in English slang, but are more

popularly
for

known
;

New

the body for dissecting purposes. 1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Account of a

Play).
I

synonyms) rara the term

for the

as JOEYS (q.v., and in Deme-

is in
;

general use
in

same coin

America

burked the papa, now

[D.]

I'll

BISHOP the son.

have

1864. Athenaum, p. 559, col. i. ' to burke,' and TO BISHOP.' [M.]

'

We

a 12^ cent piece is called a BIT, and a defaced 20 cent piece is termed a LONG BIT. A BIT is
the smallest coin in Jamaica, equal to 6d. 1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
it is (s.) ... In the West Indies, the least piece of silver coin, which goes current at 7 pence half-penny.

BISMARQUER,
cheat
the the
;

verb (familiar). To to play foul at cards or

billiards.

word formed from

BIT

name of Prince Bismarck, German Chancellor, whose

1875.
277.

Scribner's Magazine, July, p.

city,

1865-6 roused the policy in indignation of a large section of European thought.

BIT, BITE, BYTE, subs. (old). old cant term for money.
i.

An
For

synonyms,

see

ACTUAL.

1532. Use of Dice Play (Percy Soc.). Now waxen is he so proud of his gain, because he hath gotten a new chain, fyer

new apparel, and some

1592.

store of BYTE.

to petty traditions. the BIT with a deathlike tenacity clings to it against all reason and against its own interests. The BIT It is neither is a mythical quantity. twelve and a half cents, nor half of twenty-five it is neither fifteen cents nor ten cents. If you buy a BIT'S worth, and throw down twenty-five cents, you get ten cents back if you offer the same ten cents in lieu of a BIT, you are looked upon as a mild sort of a swindler. And yet, the BIT is the standard of minimum

very

much wedded
;

For a young

San Francisco

is

It

clings to

Defence of Conny-Catching, in So some that Greene's wks. XL, 44. would not stoope a farthing at cardes, would venter all the BYTE in their boung
at dice.

monetary value.
i. An opproBITCH, subs. (low). brious term for a woman,

Bitch.
generally containing an implifastcation of lewdness and
'

203

Bite.
tea table, or to perform a female part. BITCH is here used generically for a

ness.'

Not now

in literary use,
so.

woman.

though formerly

[From

its

sense of a female dog.] frimary t is the most offensive apellation that can be given to an

BITCH BOOBY, subs, (old military). A country girl. Grose.

BITCHERY, subs. (low). Harlotry lewdness. [From BITCH, sense
;

English woman, even more provoking than that of whore.

1400. Chester PI. (1843), 181. calleste them queine skabde
[M.]

Whom
BICHE
?

I, -f

ERY.]

1575.
ii.

Come
1712.

STILL, Gammer Gurton, II., out, thou hungry needy BITCH.

J.

1532-3. 648, col. i.

MORE, Confiit. Tindale, wks., Such marriage is very vnand plain abhominable
Sco. Villanie, I.,iv.,

lawfull leckery

BYCHERY.
1598.
188.

[M.]

9.

An

ARBUTHNOT, John Bull

BITCH of

(1755),

extravagant

a wife.

He

MARSTON,
will

vnline

himselfe

from

BITCHERY.
1663-1704.

1750. FIELDING. Tom Jones, bk. There was my lady XVII., ch. iii. cousin Bellaston, and my lady Betty, and my lady Catharine, and my lady I don't know who damn me if ever you catch me among such a kennel of hoop-petticoated BITCHES.
;

THOMAS BROWN, Works,

to
.
. .

Serious and Comical,

III., p. 94. Thither be drunk that they the roguery of their forget may lawyers, the BITCHERY of their paraor the mours, ingratitude of the world.

run Sots purely

. . .

1833.
446.

MARRYAT, P. Simple (1834), You are a ... son of a BITCH.

(old.)

( ? ). STANYHURST, Description of Ireland, p. 14. The quip sat as unseemly in his mouth as for a whore to reprehend BITCHERY, or for an usurer to con-

Applied, opprosense i, to a briously, man. It has long since passed out of decent usage.
as in
E. E. Misc. (1855), a schrewed BYCHE, In fayth, be a wyche.
c.

2.

demn

simony.

BITCH

PARTY, subs, (popular). party composed of women.

1500.

54.
I

He

is

trow, he
310.

1675.

HOBBES, Odyssey,

xviii.,

Ulysses looking sourly answered, BITCH. [M.]

You

Originally an Oxford term for a tea-party, tea being considered a beverage only fit for women. [From BITCH, a woman, + PARTY.] Also HEN PARTY (q.V.). Cf., STAG PARTY.
1889. C. WHIBLEY, In Cap and Gown, Characters of Freshmen, p. 176. 'The studious freshman goeth to a small BITCH-PARTY and findeth his gown taken "by mistake."
.

1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk. XVII., iii. It is an old acquaintance of above twenty years standing. I can tell you landlord is a vast comical BITCH, you will like un hugely.

'

Verb (low).

i.
;

To go whor-

ing the

molrowing

company

to frequent of prostitutes.

i. An old slang BITE, subs. (old). term for money. See BIT.

2.

To

yield,

or give up an
fear.

2.

(old.)

attempt through
3.

Grose.
spoil
;

denda.

For synonyms,

The female pusee MONO;

(common.)

To

SYLLABLE.
to
3.

An

bungle.

To STAND
tea, or

humbug; a
BITCH.

imposition a piece of 'sell' or 'do.' Cf.,

To make

do the honours of the

BILK, BAM, BARGAIN, and SELL, The sense runs for synonyms.

Bite.
through all stages, from jocular hoaxing to downright swindling. Also in the sense of disappointment, as in the old proverb the
'

204
1846.

Bite.
BRACKENRIDGE, Mod.Chiv.,
21.

The jockeys suspected that the horse was what they call a BITE, that under the
appearance of leanness and stiffness, was concealed some hidden quality of
swiftness.
6.

biter bit.'

A man

is

bitten

when
See

he burns his fingers meddling in matters, which, though promising well, turn out failures.
also

(common.)

One
;

who
'

drives a hard bargain

fist.'

close

CROSS

BITE.
7.

(familiar.)

nickname
See Daily

STEELE, Spectator, No. 156, It was a common BITE with him, to 1T 2. lay Suspicions that he was favoured by a
1711.

for a

Yorkshireman.

News, Sept. n, 1883, and Yorkshire Post, Jan. 9, 1884.

1883.

Lady's Enemy.
1721.

AMHERST,
the

Terras FiL,

ix.,

43.

Sharpers would not frequent gamingtables,

if

The

men

of fortune

knew

great

Daily News, Sept. 4, and puissant race

'

p. 5, col. 6.

known

in-

the
'

differently as
8.

'

tykes

or BITES.

BITE.
1817.
all

a bam,

It's SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. ix. ma'am all a bamboozle and

(printers'.)

An

irregular

a BITE, that afiair of his

illness.'

Sat. Review, Ap. 14, 475, 2. 1860. of practical joking, which in the time of 'The Spectator,' was known as a BITE ... in the popular slang of the day, is designated a sell.'

That form

white spot on the edge or corner of a printed page, caused by the frisket not being sufficiently cut
out.
1677.
is

'

MOXON, Mech.Exerc.

in Sav-

Daily News, Ap. Lord Randolph Churchill, we fear, has been making Mr. Gladstone the victim
18, p. 5, col. 4.

1883.

BITE. If the frisket s.v. not sufficiently cut away, but covers some part of the form, so that it prints on the frisket, it is called a BITE. [M.]

age Diet. Print,

of what, in the slang of Addison's time, would have been called a BITE, and what in the slang of our own time is called a
'
1

ulum

sell.

1884. BLADES, Caxton, 130. In SpecVitas Christi we actually find a BITE, half of the bottom line remaining
' '

imprinted.
4.

[M.]

(old.)

A
Cf.,

trickster.

cheat sharper BILK. See ROOK

;
;

for

synonyms.
Miss Lucy (1762), idiot, or a BITE ?

cheat take
'

176.

an Marry me, with a pox

!

1742. FIELDING, Is this wench

i. To deceive; do or swindle to in.' In modern colloquial English TO SLICK or TO SELL Formerly used both (q.v.).

Verb
;

(old).

'

'

transitively

and passively

now

1751. ch. xcviii.

SMOLLETT, Peregnne Pickle, From which circumstance it was conjectured that Peregrine was a BITE from the beginning, who had found credit on account of his effrontery and appearance, and imposed himself upon the town as a young gentleman of
1787. S. JENYNS, in Dodsley, III., 169. fool would fain be thought a BITE.

only in

latter.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. Then a rook (ed. Park), ii., 109. follows him close, and engages him in and at length worries advantageous bets, him, that is gets all his money, and then smile and The lamb is BITTEN.' they say,
.

'

fortune.

The

STEELE, Tatler, No. 12. he has BIT you fairly enough,

1709.

Nay,
that's

certain.
1724. A Journey through England. Many a poor German hath been BIT by an ordinary or his taylor, after this manner they have suffered the poor wretch to run in debt, made him an extravagant bill, and then arrested him, and so forced him to pay their demands.
;

5. Applied in a (popular.) transferred sense to anybody or anything suspected of being dif-

ferent to

what

it

appears, but

not necessarily in a bad sense.

Bite.

205
'

Biter.
fist,

1731. FIELDING, The Lottery, Sc. 3. However, Madam, you are BIT as well as I am for I am no more a lord, than you
;

cries,
'

BITE,

am

to

be hanged

in

chains
2.

are a fortune.
1822. [NARES] old ballad. He shall not have
I

Love in a Barn, an

ing

= Cave To DO A THING WHEN THE

!

(Charterhouse.)

warn-

my maiden-head, solemnly do swear I'll BITE him of a portion, Then marry with Ralph, my dear. 1838. THACKERAY, Yellowplush MeYou were completely moirs, ch. x. BITTEN, my boy humbugged, bamboozled ay, and by your old father, you
;

MAGGOT
is

BITES,
it

plir.

(common),

But

'

dog.' 1858. THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, ch. xvii., p. 232. I have no particular Newmarket pleasure in recalling
I was infernally BIT and bubdoings. bled in almost every one of my transac-

my

tions there.

Hence
strike a
3.

2.

(popular.)

To

the fancy takes one at one's own sweet will.' When a person acts from no apparent motive in external circumstances, he is said to have a maggot in his head,' to have a bee in his bonnet or, in French, avoir des rats dans la in Platt-Deutsch, to have tete a mouse-nest in his head, the eccentric behaviour being attributed to the influence of the
to
'

do

when

'

'

'

hard bargain.

internal irritation.

Cf.,

APART-

steal; e.g., 'to BITE the roger,' to steal a portmanteau; 'to BITE the wiper,'
(old.)
i.e.,

To

MENTS TO LET.
BITE ONE'S HIPS, verbal phr.
ors').

to purloin a handkerchief.
(old.)
i.

To

(tail-

regret

a word

or

Intj.
'

Formerly an
the
'

action.

equivalent

to

modern
Husband,

Sold
1704.
iii.

'

'

Done

etc.

BITE ONE'S

NAME

IN,

verbal j>hr.

(common).
GIBBER,
Careless

Act

to tipple

drink heavily; also to drink greedily.

To

'Tis possible I may not Ld. Mo. have the same regard to her frown that your Lordship has. Ld. Fop. That's BITE, I'm sure he'd give a joint of his little finger to be as well with her as I am.
;

BITE ON THE BR\D\.E.,verbalphr.(o\d).

To be pinched
stances
;

to

be

in circumreduced in
;

difficulties.

1738.

SWIFT,

Polite

Conversation

(conv. i.). Miss.

for you.

I'm sure the gallows groans

BITE, Miss
;

BITER, subs. (old).

; ;

i.
;

practical

Nev.
1714.

was but

in jest.
514.

one who a hoaxer joker deceives a cheat and trickster.

It is a superstition with some surgeons who beg the bodies of condemned malefactors, to go to the gaol and bargain for the carcass with the criminal himself.

ADDISON, Spectator, No.

The term now only Cf., BITE. survives in the proverbial exFor pression, 'the biter bit."
synonyms,
1669.

see

ROOK.

killed the officer of Newgate, very forwardly, and like a who was man willing to deal, told him, Look you, Mr. Surgeon, that little dry been half starved all his who has fellow, life, is now half dead with fear, can. . .

The

fellow

who

'

Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 108. [BITER is given in a list of names of cheats and thieves'.]
1680. COTTON, Complete Gamester, in Singer's Hist, Playing Cards (1816), p. 333. Hectors, setters, gilts, pads, BITERS,
etc.,

for

twenty shillings I am your man.' Done, there's a Says the Surgeon, This witty rogue took the guinea.' as he had it in his as soon and money,
'

not answer your purpose

Come,

and these may all pass under the general appellation of rooks.
1709.

BITER,

who

STEELE,
is

Tatler,

No.

12.

A
tells

a dull fellow, that

Bite the Ear.

you a lye with a grave
at you for knowing to believe him.
1711.

206

Bit-Faker.
the

face,

and laughs
better than

him no
No.
:

thumb forward, using at the same time an expression equivato

is
'

Spectator,

47.

These

lent

don't care that for

gentlemen are commonly distinguished by the name of BITERS a race of men that are perpetually employed in laughing at those mistakes which are of their

you."

Another

contemptuous

action

placing the

thumb

be-

own

production.
1712.

tween the closed fore and middle fingers while according to Dar;

No. 504. A BITER is one who tells you a thing you have no reason to disbelieve in itself, and perhaps has given you, before he bit you, no reason to disbelieve it for his saying it and if you give him credit, laughs in your face, and triumphs that he has deceived
Spectator,
;

win's Expression of the Emotions, it appears that with the Dakota Indians of North America con'

shown conventempt tionally by the hand being closed

is
. .
.

you.
1812.
c. xix.

COOMBE, Syntax,

Picturesque,

Pray have you travell'd so far north, To think we have so little wit, As by such BITERS to be bit ?
2.

(old.)

An amorous woman
C/.,

(sexually).

ATHANASIAN

WENCH.

To borrow. Formerly, a term of endearment to caress For synonyms, see fondly. SHINS. 1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm. Mag., He used to want to BITE MY xl., 502.
;

BITE THE EAR, verbal phr. (thieves').

then, the fore arm is suddenly extended, the hand is opened and the fingers separated from If the person at each other. whose expense the sign is made is present, the hand is moved towards him and the head sometimes averted from him.' This sudden extension and opening of the hand perhaps indicates the dropping or throwing away a valueless object.
;

and held near the breast

as

1595.
Juliet,
i.,

SHAKSPEARE,
i.
I

Romeo

and
at
if

will

BITE MY

THUMB

them

which
it.

is

a disgrace to them
Miserie.

they bear
1596.

EAR (borrow) too

often.

LODGE, Wit's

Behold

BITE THE THUMB, verbal phr. (old). To make a gesture of contempt,

next I see Contempt marching forth, giving me the fies, WITH HIS THOMBE IN HIS MOUTH.
1638. RANDOLPH, Muses' L. Glass, O. To BITE PL, ix.,220. Dogs and pistols Wear I a sword To HIS THUMB at me see men BITE THEIR THUMBS ?
! !

which was formerly regarded in the light of an insult. Nares

says the thumb in the action represented a fig, and the whole was equivalent to a fig for There are several gesyou.' tures of this kind. That best
'

1678.

Rules of Civility, transl. from

known

is probably TAKING A SIGHT (q.v.). A similar gesture of contempt is used by the lower orders in France which, there is

French, p. 44. 'Tis no less disrespectful TO BITE THE NAIL OF YOUR THUMB, by way of scorn and disdain, and drawing your nail from between your teeth, to tell them you value not this what they can do.

BITE

little

doubt,
'

THUMB
Juliet.

is the BITING THE spoken of in Romeo and The person using the
'

UP, subs, (tailors'). pleasant altercation.

An

un-

BIT-FAKER or TURNER
(thieves').

OUT,

subs.

gesture placed the nail of his thumb under the front teeth of the upper jaw, and then jerked

Coiner of bad money. [From BIT, an old canting term for money, + FAKER, one who makes, or does.] Also

Bit Faking.
BIT-MAKER.
See

207

Bit of

Stiff.

TURNER OUT
thieves'
;

and FAKER.
BIT FAKING,
terfeiting.
subs.
(

are right, Jerry I shall here buy a BIT OF CAVALRY that fs a prad, on your

judgment.
).

Manufacturing base coin

coun-

[From

BIT

FAKE
Cf.,

BIT OF EBONY, subs, (common). A negro or negress. For syno-

ING.

See preceding.]

nyms,

see

SNOWBALL.
i.

TURNER

OUT.

BIT OF FAT, subs. (common).

An

GrievBITING UP, subs, (tailors'). ing over a loss or bereavement.

unexpected pecuniary advantage in a transaction. See FAT. 2. (printers'.)

BIT OF JAM.
BIT OF
LEAF,

BIT-MAKER,
feiter.
1857.
ed., p. 447.

subs. (old).

A counterAssistant, 3

See BIT-FAKER.

See JAM.
subs,

SNOWDEN, Mag.
Coiners
subs.

BIT-MAKERS.
(old).

(thieves').

Tobacco.
BIT-O'-BULL,

Beef.
;

The French say

un gobet merly, a dainty morsel.

for-

BIT OF MUSLIN,

subs,
;

(common).

young

girl

only to prostitutes.
BIT OF BLOOD, subs,

generally applied Also BIT OF

see

(common). horse a high - spirited derivation The thoroughbred.

STUFF. For synonyms, RACK-HACK.

BAR-

is

obvious.

For synonyms,
Crib's

see

PRAD.
1819.

MOORE, Tom

Memorial

BIT OF MUTTON, subs, (familiar). A woman generally, a prostitute is meant. Cf., LACED MUT;

to Congress, p. 10.

'Mong the vehicles, too, which were many and various,

TON, and for synonyms, RACK-HACK.

BIT OF STICKS,

see

BAR-

From

natty barouche

down

to

buggy pre-

We
C

carious,

On

twigg'd more than one queerish sort of turn-out, N N G came in a job, and then canter'd about a showy, but hot and unsound, BIT

subs. phr. (sporting).

corpse.

DEAD MEAT.

For synonyms,

see

OF BLOOD,
(For a leader once meant, but cast
off,

as

that we slacken in our pace the while, not we we rather put the BITS OF BLOOD upon their mettle.
II., p. 156.

no good). 1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,

Not

BIT OF STIFF, subs, (common). A bank-note, or other paper money the equivalent of money when not in specie, i.e., a draft or bill of exchange.
;

1854.
I.,

LEVER, Dodd Family A broad,

BIT OF CAVALRY, horse.

1821.

subs.

(old).

I'm sorry that BIT OF STIFF, meaning the bill, wasn't for five thousand francs.
313.

W.

Jerry, Act i., Sc. 6. Tom. You are now at Tattersal's, Jerry, a very worthy fellow, who made his fortune by a horse and if called Highflyer. Jerry.

T. MONCRIEFF,

Tom and

Hum

1876. HINDLEY, Life and A dventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 234. He liked to have the party s name written across a piece of paper with a stamp attached, commonly called a BIT OF STIFF.

one may judge from the splendour and extent of his premises, he seems to be no small highflyer himself. Tom. You

TO DO A BIT OF STIFF, phr. (common). To accept a bill.

Bit of
BIT OF STUFF,

Stuff.
(familiar).
;

208

B. K. S.
1802. J.

subs,

WILSON
;

('

Congleton

'),

M.S.

overdressed man with full confidence

An

a
in

man
his
;

Let. to F. Boucher. BITTOCK, a small Piece or small Bit Cheshire. [M.]

1816.
'

appearance

and
;

abilities

young
1835.
'

woman

To Chamwood, madam ?
and
the water.'
1884.

also

called a

late,

SCOTT, Old Mortality, ch. x. It's unco its sax miles an' a BITTOCK
15,

BIT OF MUSLIN.
Faithful, ch. xxiii. One night he says to me, " Will, come up and I'll show you a devilish fine

down
col. 7.

MARRYAT, Jacob

Daily News, April

p.

4,

PIECE OF STUFF." So I walks with him, and he takes me to a shop where they dealed in marine stores, and we goes and finds your mother in the back parlour."

Edinburgh University is three hundred years old, or rather, three hundred years and a BITTOCK.
BIT YOU.

THAT BIT YOU.

HAIR OF THE DOG See HAIR.

BIT ON.

See

ON.

BITTER, subs, (popular). of beer.

glass

To DO A BITTER. To drink a glass of bitter. Originally, says Hotten, an Oxford term varied by TO DO A BEER.
1853.

BIVVY or GATTER.SZ^S. (provincial). shant of BIVVY,' a Beer; pot or quart of beer probably from the Italian, BEVERE, BERE. Latin, BIBERE. English, BEVERAGE.
'

Biz,

stibs.

(originally

REV. E. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert

Verdant Green,
ist.,

now general).

A vulgar
'

American,
corrup'

Bede

'),

III., ch. x.
. .
.

tion for business,

Mr. Verdant Green and Mr. Bouncer turned into the coffee-room of 'The Mitre' TO DO BITTERS, as Mr. Bouncer phrased the act of drinking bitter beer. Comic Song, The West End c. 1882.
'

employment,
is

or occupation. Good BIZ profitable business.

of

Boys,' verse 3. Let fortune frown There's a class of

joys,

men that's ever gay, Where some make troubles, they make
And

and friends betray,

1882. Democracy, ch.vii. A number gentlemen were waiting for interviews President, and among them was the whole Pennsylvania delegation, ready for BIZ, as Mr. Tom Lord remarked, with a wink.

with the

are known by the title of the West End Boys. They commence their evening with
cigars,

1884. Saturday Review, Jan. 5, p. 13, It is satisfactory to learn from the conductor of the circus that BIZ is
col. 2.

very
col.

fair.

And How-d'ye-do,
'
1

Another There's something

dear,' at the bars, BITTER, I really can't go,

about

charms me

you

that

so.'

Oh, don't they

like, etc.

BITTOCK, subs,
cial;

(originally

now common).

A distance
If

provin-

Ally Sloper, Aug. 17, p. 262, We understand, though we i. cannot vouch for the truth of the statement, that a New York lady, moving in the best society, while twisting some worsted, hit upon the idea of applying a little system of her own to a larger field than mere yarn, so she invented a machine for twisting wire rope, and has
sold the patent for
10,000

1889.

of very undecided length.

North countryman be asked the distance to a place, he will most probably reply, a mile and a BITTOCK.' The latter may be considered any distance from one hundred yards to ten miles. Also of time. [From BIT +
'

upon future
eh
!

sales.

and a royalty Very good BIZ, this,

B. K. 6.,

subs,

(military).
'

An
'

abbreviation of

barracks

its

usage
1887.

is

explained by quotation.
p. 5, col. 2.
'

OCK, a diminutive

suffix.]

B. K. s., used by officers in mufti,' who do not wish to give their address.

Standard, 10 Feb.,

Blab.

209

Black Art.
i.e.,

BLAB, subs, (vulgar). Arevealerof that which should be kept secret a betrayer a babbler.
;

the country where the negroes were tanned or beaten.]

subs. phr. (collo-

common

depraved
use,

word
but

once in

rarely

em-

BLACK AND WHITE,

quial).

The black

ployed now, except colloquially. Grose [1785] includes it in his

Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue as forming part of the slang of his time. These remarks apply with more or less cogency to BLAB when used to signify loose talk or chatter, when employed as a verb, and to the various derivative compounds and allied forms, such as blab'

of

print

paper. thing down in BLACK AND WHITE is to preserve it in writing or in BLACK ON WHITE is a print.
variant.
1596.

characters or writing on white Therefore, to put a

Humour, IV., ii. BLACK AND WHITE.

rant.']

JONSON, Every Man in His I have it here in [Pulls out the war-

ber,'

'blabbing,'
rests

book,' etc.

'blabbinga taint of vulgarism

all.

now

upon them

1667. SHIRLEY, Love Tricks, Act Sc. 2. Gov [with a letter] Alas, poor gentleman! Little does he think what BLACK AND WHITE is here.
ii.,
.

BLACK ACT, subs. (American). A corrupted form of BLACK ART

(**.).

1712. Spectator, No. 286. desire Sir, that you will be pleased to give us, in BLACK AND WHITE, your opinion in the matter of dispute between us.

My

is,

1714. Spectator, No. 616. They had like to have dumfounded the justice'; but his clerk came in to his assistance, and

BLACKAMOOR-S TEETH, subs. (old). Cowrie shells the currency of

took

them

all

down

in

BLACK

AND

WHITE.
1837.
all

some savage
1700.
36.

tribes.

pt. III., bk. II., ch. viii.

CARLYLE, French Revolution, His accounts lie

He

TEETH,

Transactioneer, p. has shells called BLACKMOORE'S I from their suppose

.

W.

KING,

ready, correct in BLACK to the uttermost farthing.

1874.

AND WHITE

Whiteness.
1719.

MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny LudNo.

xii., p.

[M.]

W. WOOD, Surv. Trade, p. 334. Known by the Name of Cowries amongst Merchants, or of BLACKAMORES' TEETH
among
other Persons.
[M.]

so much as put on a pair of clean stockings in the morning, but its laid before high quarters in BLACK AND WHITE at mid-day by the secret police
'

low,

i S.,

202.

'

A man

can't

BLACK-AND-TAN.SW&S. (vagrants'). Porter or stout and ale, mixed

equal quantities. [From BLACK, in allusion to the dark colour of porter and stout, + AND +TAN, i.e., of the yellowish brown colour of ale.]
in

BLACK-ARSE, subs. (old). A kettle a pot. [From BLACK, from its colour, + ARSE, the posterior, hinder, or 'bottom part.]
;
1

BLACK ART,
of locks
;

subs. (old).

i.

Picking

burglary. For syno-

BLACK-AND-TAN COUNTRY,

The Southern (American). States of North America. [From BLACK, a sobriquet for a negro, + AND + TAN, a pun and an allusion to the slang verb to tan/to thrash or beat + COUNTRY;
'

subs. phr.

nyms,
1591.
tiltie

see

CRACK.
I

GREENE, Conny-Catch., wks.,

can
set

1883, II., x., 72.

down

the subis

of the BLACKE picking of lockes.

1608.

ART,

which

DE.KKER,BelmanofLond.,\vks.,
. . .

is

This BLACKE ART. 1884-5, HI., 137. called in English, Picking of Lockes.

14

Black-Bali.

210

Black-Boy.
BLACKBIRD, subs, (popular). Formerly an African captive on board a slaver now generally understood as referring to a Polynesian indentured labourer, who, if not by name a slave, is often one to all intents and purposes. [Obviously derived from the black or dark-brown colour
;

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the VulBLACK ART, the art of gar Tongue. picking a lock. Lexicon Balatroniciim. [The 1811. definition given is the same as that of Grose, as above-mentioned.]
2.

ness
1861.
i.,

The busi(undertakers'.) of an undertaker. Cf.,

SALA, Seven Sons of Mammon, Rich men's funerals in the first

BLACK WORK.
p. 78.

of these people.]
1881.

Style Of BLACK ART.

white

men on board knew

Verb.

Chequered Career,

p. 180.

The
once
.
. .

that

if

BLACK-BALL, verb (common). PILL.

BLACKBALLING,
subs,

See

the BLACKBIRDS burst the hatches they would soon master the ship. [M.]

(nautical). sailor's Stealing or pilfering.

word. It originated amongst the employees of the old Black Ball line of steamers between

capture negroes to kidnap (see Hence the verbal sitbsubs.). stantive and ppl. adj. BLACKBIRDING, in the same sense.
or Polynesians
;

To

New York and Liverpool. The cruelty and scandalous conduct of officers to men and sailors to each other were so proverbial, that the line of vessels in question became known all over the world for the cruelty of its officers, and the thieving propensities of its sailors.
BLACKBEETLES, subs. (old). The lower strata of society. [Apparently a term of contempt derived from the cockroach, generally called a blackbeetle.]
Obsolete.
1821.

1883. Graphic, April 21, p. 398, col. i. The day is not far distant when, to avoid BLACKBIRDING, and the revengeful massacres which these kidnappers pro-

voke, the whole of Oceania will have to

be placed under civilised control.

1883.

Academy,

8 Sep., p. 158.

[He]

slays Bishop Patteson

for the atrocities of

some BLACKBIRDING
BLACKBIRDING
Fiji.

by way of reprisal

crew. [M.]
1884.
2,

Pall Mall Gazette, 19 Aug. p.

col.

2.

Years ago

scoundrels
[M.]

may have

hailed from

BLACKBIRD-CATCHING.
BIRD.

See

BLACK-

BLACK-BIRDERS,
See quotation.
1883.

subs,

(popular).

W.

Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 6. Jerry here's a group of BLACKBEETLES

T. MONCRIEFF,

Tom and
:

All the Year Round, 22 Sep., p. 355. BLACKBIRDERS, the kidnappers for labour purposes on the islands of the
Pacific.

Tom,
do you

see

those

lovely

mendicants

Tom

Beauty in rags I do Cupid imploring chanty. I'll relieve him, for I'll be after that match-girl directly. Jerry: And I'll chant a few words to that beautiful ballad-singer. Lo%: And I'll take pity

BLACK Box, subs. So given in

on that charming beggar.

lawyer. [1785] Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]; and in Buncombe's Sinks of London [From the black tin [1848].
(old).

Grose

boxes in which
subs,

clients'

papers

BLACKBERRY SWAGGER,
mon).

(com-

are kept.]

person

who hawks

tapes, boot-laces, etc.

BLACK-BOY, COAT.

sttbs.(old).

See

BLACK-

Black Bracelets.
BLACK
BRACELETS, subs. (old). Handcuffs. For synonyms, see

Black Dog.
BLACK-CUFFS,
subs,

(military).

The

DARBIES.
1839.

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack

[1889], p. 63.

Sheppard

Fifty-eight Foot, from the regimental facings which have been black since 1767. They have also been nicknamed THE

When

The

him dumb The sheriffs BLACK BRACELETS lay strewn

;

morning, turnkey, next stepped into his room, of hole in the wall struck the sight
the

STEEL BACKS

(q.v.).

on the ground, But the lad that had worn 'em could nowhere be found.
Tol-de-rol
!

BLACK DIAMONDS, subs, (popular). i. Coals. [A simile in allusion to the colour, and also to the fact that both coal and dia-

monds
1849.

are carbon.]
T.

BLACK-CATTLE,
;

subs,

(popular).

i.

Clergymen parsons. [From prevailing hue of the garments worn by the profession.] Sometimes used in the same way as
\

the

MILLER, in Gabarni in Were he even trusted London, p. 43. with the favourite horse and gig to fetch a sack of BLACK DIAMONDS from the
wharf.

RED-COATS for soldiers, e.g., BLACK-COATS (q.V.) also DEVIL DODGERS, the latter of which, see for synonyms. These are 2. Lice. (old.) also called ACTIVE CITIZENS and

clever

Also formerly a rough but or good person this sobriquet, however, has given
2.
;

place to

ROUGH DIAMOND
subs.

(q.v.).
i.

BLACK DOG,

(old).

Ap-

CHATES

(q.v.).

plied, circa 1702-30, to a counterfeit shilling and other base silver coinage. In this con-

BLACK-CATTLE SHOW, subs, (popuA gathering of clergymen. lar).

had long previously been applied to base money.

Ruding, in his Annals of the Coinage [London, 1817, vol. I., p. 405], having mentioned black

nection it that black

may

be pointed out

[From BLACK-CATTLE
SHOW,
in
its

(q.v.)

-f

slang sense of a party or meeting.]

A BLACK-COAT, subs, (familiar.) parson. Cf., BLACK-CATTLE and

DEVIL-DODGER.
PERROT, Jacob's Vow, 52. how these BLACKday of us. [M.] 1671. EACHARD, Observations, p. 176. Suppose we should bestow upon a poor low thinking BLACK-COAT, one of our best forms, such as follows; it is five to one he would commit some ecclesiastical
1627.

money, appends this note Qy. p Turonenses Nigri Copper

'

money

struck at Tours.'

[See

R.

Let us take heed

get the

COATES

Turney's infra. Qy. corrupted from Tierney, name of maker.] It is introduced in his account of the Statute of Money, passed at York, 1335, 9 cap., Edward III.,

which
black

recites that all

manner

of

money which had been commonly current in the king's

blunder or other, in setting his

too near.
1818.

name

You

SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, i. are the BLACK-COAT'S son of Knock-

tarlitie.

1870.
p. 197.

The BLACK-COATS
for

EMERSON,

Soc.

and

Solit., ix.,

are good
[M.]

com-

realm and obeisance should be utterly excluded, so as not to be current in one month after proclamation, on pain of forLater on, feiture of the same. in 1339, a certain black money
called
' '

pany only

BLACK-COATS.

turneys

was made by

Black Dog.

212

Blackguard.
BLACK DOLL.
1835.

certain persons in Ireland, who circulated it to the injury of the king's sterling money, and to his no little loss and prejudice. Proclamation had, therefore,

See

DOLLY

SHOP.

been ordered to be made to prohibit the circulation of it, on

pain of forfeiture of money and But the king having goods. been informed that great inconvenience had arisen from this prohibition on account of the scarcity of sterling money, it

Sketches by Boz, p. 174. [Speaking of a marinestore shop] imagine, in addition to this incongruous mass, a BLACK DOLL in a white frock, with two faces one looking up the street, the other looking down, swinging; over the door.
:

CHARLES DICKENS,

1838.

DOUGLAS JERROLD, Men

II.,

of

Character,
articles,

p.

100.

Five hundred

knockers, scrapers, barbers' poles, BLACK

among which might be found

DOLLS.
609.

was, therefore, commanded that, provided it should be found on due inquiry more advantageous to the public to allow the cur-

1861. Cornhill Magazine, Nov., p. The best price given for old ragsinquire at the sign of the BLACK DOLL.

To GIVE A BOTTLE BLACK-EYE. A BLACK EYE, phr. (old). To

empty
it.

rency of the said black money, proclamation should be made to authorise it until a sufficient quantity of other money was
provided.
1706. LUTTRELL, in Ashton's Reign The Art of Queen Anne, II., p. 225. making BLACK DOGS, which are shillings,

C/.,

DEAD MAN.
subs.

BLACK-EYED SUSAN,
can).

(Ameria revolver. other slang equivalents for this weapon current in the Lone Star State may be mentioned MEAT IN THE POT, BLUE

Texan

for

Among

or other pieces of money made only of Pewter, double wash'd. [M.]

1724.
1755, V.,

SWIFT, Drapier's
ii.,

Lett.,

wks.
'

44.

Butcher's half-pence'
like.

BLACK-DOGS, and others the

2.

[M.]

Delirium trethe horrors; 'jim jams.' BLACK DOG is a frequent figurative expression dialectically for depression of spirits, and melancholy. Among the ancients a black dog and its pups were considered an evil omen. For

LIGHTNING, THE PEACE-MAKER, MR. SPEAKER, A ONE - EYED SCRIBE, PILL BOX and MY UNCONVERTED FRIEND. For synonyms, see MEAT IN THE POT.
BLACK-FLY,
subs.
(old).

(common.)

mens

con-

temptuous name for a clergyman. For synonyms, see DEVILDODGER.

1811.

Lexicon Balatronicum.

The

synonyms, TEMPER.
1861.

see

GALLON
at

DIS-

greatest drawback on the farmer is the BLACK FLY, i.e., the parson who takes tithe of the harvest.

HUGHES, Tom Brown

xxxiii.
'

Ox-

ford, ch.

butler, nodding, his rages the BLACK

'Yes, sir,' said the D.T., sir. After one of

DOG comes, and

you'll go, sir."

BLACKFRIARSI intj. (thieves'). An exclamation of warning; look out beware See THIEVES.
! !

it's

hawful work

so

hope

LIKE A BLACK DOG, phr. (old) .- -Not to blush at all to be shameless. See also BLUSH. 1634. WITHAL, Dictionary, p. 557
;

TO BLUSH

BLACKGUARD,

subs,

man
a
fellow.

(common).
speech,
;

A
;

coarse
;

in

offensive in

manner

and a scamp

scoundrel

ed.

1634

Faciem

perfricuit.

He

BLUSHETH LIKE A BLACK DOGGE, hee hath a brazen face.

is one brium,

a disreputable term, as now used, of the utmost opproand although a good

The

Blackguard.
deal of uncertainty hangs about history and derivation, it seems pretty clear that a certain amount of odium has always been attached to the word. Between two of its
its

213

Blackguard.
dlelight,

1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Canwks. [1884-5] HI-, 214. The Great Lord of Limbo did therefore comall

maund

his

BLACKE GUARD

that stood
[M.]

about him, to bestirre them.

Comparing these one with

the other,
face

primary
ever, (i) scullion,

howa kitchen knave or and (2) a guard of

significations,

we

are clearly face to

attendants, black in person, dress, or character, generally in reference to the devil's bodyguard and the modern usage, there is a somewhat marked
line to

in one set of quotations with a popular superstition a belief of an age when witchcraft was prevalent, and when hobgoblins and the like were as-

be drawn. The mention is as follows

:

earliest

1532. MS. St. Margaret's,

Churchwarden's A ccompts. Westminster (Receipts for

signed as BLACK GUARDS to his Whether Satanic Majesty. there was any connection in the popular mind between the King's scullions and the Devil's body-

guard, cannot

burials).
iiij.

Item Recey vid for the lycens of

torchis of the

BLAKE GARDE

vjd.

What
definitely
;

this

guard was is not known. Some have

suggested that it was a body of soldiers others that it was a band of torch bearers at funerals while some incline to the belief that it was comprised of
;

now be definitely stated. Still, it is probable and this view is borne out by It is curious later references. to note the concluding lines of Hudibras' Address to Ralpho,
;

which may perhaps explain the process by which the term of BLACK GUARD may have come to be applied to the lowest class of
domestics in the royal kitchens or other great establishments. Still, as stated, priority cannot be given to either moreover, the use of BLACK GUARD in either sense may have been a mere play on words, whether of i on 2, or 2 on i is equally uncertain. The quotation from Hudibras
;

street link-boys.

Better supported by evidence are the senses first mentioned,

which BLACKGUARD signifies a scullion, and (2) a member of the devil's body-guard. But
in
(i)

here too,
that
it

Murray

points
difficult

out
to

would be
priority.

assign
:

First,

how-

ever, let the quotations be given in sets

is

as follows

SENSE
1535.

a scullion.

1678. BUTLER, canto i, line 1403.

I

Hudibras,

pt.
;

III.,

do believe

SIR

Aug., in Cal. State Papers. Two of the ring-leaders had been some time of the BLACK GUARD of the king's kitchen. [M.]
1579.

W. FITZWILLIAMS,

thee,

17

Thus far I'm sure thou'rt in the right, And know what 'tis that troubles thee,
Better than thou hast guess'd of me.

quoth the knight

Thou art some paltry, BLACKGUARD

Condemn'd

sprite,

FULKE,
not,

They ought
scullerie or

BLACKE GARDE.

Rcfut. Kastel, 779. nor yet any of the

[M.]
;

Devil's body-guard other attendants.

2

SENSE

also

1583. FULKE, Defence, x., 386. Pelagius, Celestins, and other like heretics of the devil's body-guard. [M.]

to drudg'ry in the night; hast no work to do in th' house, Nor half-penny to drop in shoes Without the raising of which sum You dare not be so troublesome To pinch the slatterns black and blue, For leaving you their work to do. This is your business, good Pug Robin, And your diversion, dull dry bobbing.

Thou

Blackguard.
So
also the following
:

214

Blackguard.
and kettles, which, with every other article of furniture, then removed from palace to palace, the people, in derision, gave the
carts with the pots

1655. FULLER, Church For [1845], vol. V., p. 160.

who can

History

were

otherwise conceive but such a princeprincipal of darkness must be proportionately attended with a BLACK GUARD of

name

of

BLACK GUARDS

a term since

become

sufficiently familiar,

and never

monstrous opinions.

properly explained.

The BLACK GUARD

argues
a writer
in

of Satan, Notes and

Many

other references

also

Queries [Sir J. Emmerson Tennent, N. and Q., i S., vii., 78], was supposed, in the popular view, to perform the drudgery of the kitchen and servants' hall in the infernal household.
1588-1628.
vol. II., p. 134.
I

go to prove the connection in the popular mind, so far as usage is concerned, between the two significations. In all this, however, the peculiarly contemptuous odium attached to
the word in modern times is absent, and between the old and the modern significations

HOBBES,

Microcosimis,

am

the devil himself will entertain me but for one of his BLACKGUARDS, and he shall be sure to have his roast burnt.

Since my lady's decay degraded from a cook, and I fear

a sharp line may, as already stated, be drawn.

The

earliest

reference

to

the popular superstition that these goblin scullions, on their visits to the upper world confined themselves to the servants' apartments of the houses which they

Hence

came

BLACKGUARD as applied to a vagabond or loafer occurs in Since that time the word 1683. seems gradually to have become more and more depraved, until its present meaning of a low,
worthless fellow, one open to, and ready for any villainy has been reached. The following quotations will well repay comparative study.
1683. MS., in Lord Steward's Office, Windsor Castle [N. and Q., i S., ix., 7 May, Whereas of late a sort oi vicious, idle, and masterless boys and rogues, commonly called the BLACKGUARD, with divers other lewd and loose fellowes, vagabonds, vagrants, and wandering men and women, do usually haunt and follow the Court.
p. 15]
.

favoured with their presence, and

swept and garnished pinching those of the maids in their sleep who,
at night they
;

which

their laziness, had imposed toil on their elfin assistants but slipping money into the shoes of the more tidy and

by

such

industrious servants whose attention to their own duties before going to rest had spared the goblins the task of performing their share of the drudgery. In allusion to this is Gifford's note on Ben Jonson's plays
[vol. II., p. 170],

1695.
iii.,

Sc. 10.

CONGREVE, Love for Love, Act Or if that won't do, I'll bring
:

Lawyer that shall out-lye the Devil and so I'll try whether my BLACK-GUARD or his shall get the better of the day.
1744.

In all great houses, but particularly in the Royal Residences, there were a number of mean dirty dependents, whose office it was to attend the woolyard, sculleries, etc. Of these, the most
forlorn wretches seem to have been selected to carry coals to the kitchens,

Nov.

Mann
filled

26,

(1833), II., 57.

WALPOLE, Lett, to The whole stage

with BLACKGUARDS, armed with bludgeons and clubs. 1780. Parody on the Rosciad, etc., Like him I'm a BLACKGUARD and p. 13.
sot.

smutty regiment, who attended the progresses, and rode in the

halls, etc.

To

this

1788.
Spectilist,

G.
i.,

A.
59.

STEVENS, Adv. of a As BLACK-GUARDS at

Blackguard.
Newmarket meeting bawl about
of horses.
1874.
i

215
the lists

Black Job.
ber
of

who
'

live

MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny LndNo. iii., p. 37. I must request be a little more careful in your language. You have come amidst gentlemen here, not BLACKGUARDS.'
low,
S.,

retired Anglo-Indians ASIA there. C/.,

MINOR.
1878. Notes and Queries, 5 S., x., p. Gained for Cheltenham the 234, col. i.
.

you

to

title

of

THE BLACK HOLE.

Of or pertaining to a blackguard to the scum or reAdj.

;

fuse of society
II.,

vile

vicious.

1760. ch. ix.

SMOLLETT, SirL. Greaves, vol. He is become a BLACKGUARD

BLACK HORSE, subs, (military). A nickname of the Seventh Dragoon Guards, so called from
the

gaol-bird.
1803. C. K. SHARPE, in Correspondence (1888), I., 178. His friends were

on

ill-natured, and GUARD beasts.

behaved

like

BLACK-

regimental facings, black Occasionally the epithet is shortened into THE BLACKS. During the reign of George II., the corps was
scarlet.

act like a ruffian to use filthy, scurrilous language; to play the vagabond or scounVerb.
;

To

known as THE VIRGIN MARY'S GUARD, and is now often called STRAWBOOTS (q.v.).
BLACK
HOUSE,
subs,

drel.

(trade).

Ncwcomes, ch. xxix. I have been called names, and BLACKGUARDED quite sufficiently for one
'

1855.

THACKERAY,

place of business where hours are long, and wages at starvation rates a sweating house.
;

sitting.'

1851.

So
tives

also

with

MAYHEW, London Labour and

III.,

other deriva-

London Poor,

p. 234.

have men-

and compounds BLACKGUARDISM, BLACKGUARDIZE, BLACKGUARDLY, BLACKGUARDRY.

1781.
I.,

tioned that the BLACK HOUSES or linendrapers at the west end of London, were principally supplied from the east end.

124.

The

G. PARKER,
talent of

common

View of

Society,

BLACK INDIES,

subs.

BLACK-

GUARDISM.
1849.
v.
I

castle-on-Tyne, from

(old). its

Newwealth

C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, ch.

was awakened by being shoved

through the folding-doors of a gin-shop, into a glare ol light and hubbub of BLACK-

in coal. The term is now obsolete, but it was in common use at the latter part of the

GUARDISM.
H. KINGSLEY, Rayenshoe, ch. I beg your pardon, sir, for xxvi. saying that I said it in a hurry. It was BLACKGUARDLY.'
1861.
' ;

eighteenth century.

BLACK JACK,
College). for beer,

subs.

1883.

in
p.

Almost nary wares now made by

243,

Illust. London col. 3.

WILLIAM MORRIS, reported News, March 10,

all

The

large leathern jug holding two gallons. term was not peculiar to
;

(Winchester

ordi. . .

man were
oh

Winchester JACKS were

where.
(?)
!

in

olden

times
every-

common
How

and pretentiously ugly Not even the pine-trees and gardens make the rich men's houses at Bournemouth tolerable. They were and even as simply BLACKGUARDLY he spoke they were being built by the
shabbily

could

Simon

the Cellarer.

But oh, oh,

oft the

BLACK JACK

his nose doth show, to his lips doth go.

mile.

BLACK JOB,

subs,

(common).

BLACK HOLE, subs. (Anglo-Indian). Cheltenham, from the num-

funeral. Mr. H. J. Byron, in the his annotated copy of it was Slang Dictionary states
'

Black Joke.
the

216

Black Man.
3.

hobby

Lord Portsmouth's late to attend all the BLACK

of

Also by another transference meaning applied to any one

JOBS he could hear of.' [From BLACK, in reference to the sombre trappings of funerals +
JOB].
1866.
101.
Sir,
'

failing,

or refusing to join his fellows in combination for a

given purpose.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Nov. 21, p. 5, i. It was stated at the meeting that the master bakers were much behind the journeymen in the matter of organisation, and the difficulty of maintaining the price against unscrupulous bakers at a living The question figure was emphasized. of the preparation of a list of master
col.
' '

See

BLACK WORK.
I.,
'

YATES, Land at Last, What, a funeral mute ?

'

p.

Yes,

BLACK-JOB business,'

etc.

BLACK JOKE, subs. female pudenda.

(old).

See

The MONO-

SYLLABLE for synonyms. Said to have been the burden of an

obscene song,
BLACKLEG,
subs, circa 1811.

baker 'BLACKLEGS' was also touched upon. These men are selling bread at 4jd. the quartern, and at even a lower rate.

turf
;

swindler

welsher at cards or billiards. Origin unknown although many speculations have been hazarded
;
,

i. (common). a rook a also one who cheats

; ;

Verb (tailors'). Amongst the fraternity of snips,' TO BLACKLEG is used as synonymous with 'to to make boycott' i.e., things so uncomfortable for a man that he is compelled to leave his work or the town.
'

none are

satisfactory.

See

LEG.

B. PARSONS, Newmarket, II., 1771. The frequenters of the Turf, and 163. numberless words of theirs are exotics everywhere else; then how should we have been told of BLACKLEGS, and of town-tops
etc.
. .
.

To BLACKLEG iT,phr. (trades'). Amongst trades' union men to return to work before the causes
of a strike have been removed, or settled to the satisfaction of

the leaders.
1888. Baltimore Herald, May 6. Early this morning the mountain paths leading to the William Pen colliery were lined with men, dinner in hand, determined to Some were non-union go to work.

taken in

beat hollow,
I.,

[M.I

1774.

COLMAN, Man
II.,

of Business,

in wks. (1777)

133.

semptresses,

lords,

LEGS, and Oxonians.

Countesses and aldermen, BLACK-

from the

1812. COOMBE, Dr. Syntax, Picturesque, ch. x. The crowd with their commission pleas'd, Rudely the trembling BLACK-LEG seiz'd, Who, to their justice forc'd to yield, Soon ran off dripping
field.

miners, while the remainder were Knights of Labor who had determined TO BLACKLEG IT, regardless of the jeers

and threats

of their

companions.

of a Late Mr. T is purPhysician, ch. xv. suing quite disgraceful courses all night and day, squandering away his money among sharpers and BLACKLEGS.'
1830.
S.

WARREN, Diary
'

BLACK-LEGGISM, BLACK-LEGGERY, subs. Cheating (common). swindling the arts and practices of a BLACKLEG (q.v. sense i).
; ;

1832.

MAGINN,
427.

in Blackwood's

2.

A workman

who, when

fession save the

his

fellows are on strike, is An willing to go on working.

Cf.,

following any proArmy, the Navy, Blackapronry and BLACK-LEGGERY. [M.]

XXXII.,

From

Mag.,

opprobrious term. NOB and SCAB.

BLACK-

1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Oct., p. 7. If the timber merchants persist in putting on BLACKLEGS, a serious disturbance will ensue. [M.]

BLACK-MAN or BLACK GENTLEMAN, subs, The devil. For (old). synonyms, see SKIPPER.
1606.

DEKKER,
(Grosart)

in
II.,

Newes from
113.

Hell,

in

wks.

[Old Nick

called the

BLACK GENTLEMAN.]

Blackmans.
1861. ch.
'

217
day.
'

Black-Monday.

ton,

iii.,

G. MEREDITH, Evan HarringRich as p. 23 (1885).

!

Croesus,

and as wicked as the BLACK MAN below as dear papa used to say.'

BLACKMANS.

See

DARKMANS.

The passengers politely term them mails.' The day van holds eighteen passengers not including the driver and warder, and the night van a dozen. The vans are divided into two halves, and on each side are small compartments about two feet square with a seat and door,
which
is

BLACK MARIA, subs, (popular). A prison van or omnibus, used for the conveyance of prisoners. The origin of the phrase is unknown, but BLACK is obviously from the dark and sombre colour of HER MAJESTY'S CARRIAGE as it is sometimes jocuThis view is also larly called. supported by the fact that a
variant
quot.).
is

carefully locked.

FRENCH SYNOAmongst Le NYMS may be mentioned

:

courrier

du

Palais

(a

thieves'

term

courrier,

+
of

Palais,

a post or mail an abbreviated form

de
Justice,

Palais

police
; '
:

court or

sessions
'

house)

panier a salade salad basket )

(familiar
le
:

un a

courrier de la

SABLE

MARIA

(see

Marshall, in Julian Notes and Queries [6 S., vii., p. 355] suggests that the term

Cf., courrier prefecture (thieves' du Palais. Prefecture the office

of a chief magistrate)

'omnibus

MARIA may be
nated,'

transported

allied to to

'

Mari-

some
'

married,' persons chained or handto be in order cuffed together, conveyed to gaol [Grose has this, as also has the Lexicon
foreign plantation,

and

pegres (in slang un pegre signiun guimbard fies 'a thief); (thieves' une guimbarde is prole service du perly a long cart ) chateau (roughs' and thieves' chateau = the prison service
: '

'

'

'

prison).

Balatronicum}. evident allusion

In
is
;

marinated
to the

For other synonyms, MAJESTY'S CARRIAGE.

see

HER

made

compulsory voyage in married to the forced wedlock of convictism. BLACK MARIA may, therefore, possibly be a corruption of one or the other, or both terms. A writer on slang states that the term is said to have originated in
Philadelphia in 1838, but gives in support of the statement.

no evidence
1877.

Five Years' Penal Servitude,

BLACK-MONDAY, subs, (old). I. A schoolboys' term for the Monday on which, after holidays, school Obviously re-opens. called black, from the reluctance with which young hopefuls turn their backs upon the sweets of home and play. BLACK FRIDAY was used of the day on which Overend, Gurney & Co., suspended payment loMay, 1886.
Cf.,

ch.
'

ii.,

p. 61.
'

On

SABLE MARIA we were ushered through

alighting

from the

BLUE MONDAY.

a door into a long white-washed passage, with cells on one side. 1880. G. R. SIMS, Three Brass Balls, pledge xvii. It is the time when BLACK MARIA, the prison van, stands waiting at the door, and the signal is given that the prisoners are coming out. 1889. Answers, Feb. 9. There are two kinds of BLACK MARIAS. One is called the night van and the other the

1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones,' bk. VIII., ch. xi. She now hated sight, and made home so disagreeable to me,

my

that

called by school-boys BLACK MONDAY was to me the whitest in the whole year. F. ANSTEY, Vice Versa, ch. i. 1882.
is

what

There comes a time when the days are grudgingly counted to a BLACKER MONDAY than ever makes a schoolboy's heart quake within him.

Black-Mummer.
2.

218

Blacksmith's Daughter.

(popular.)
;

The Monday
is

on which the death penalty

these events are carried out generally arranged to fall on the day in question.

BLACK SATURDAY, subs, (workmen's). A Saturday on which an artisan or mechanic has no money to take, having anticipated it by
advances.
Cf.,

BLACK MONDAY

and BLUE MONDAY.

BLACK-SHEEP, subs, (common). A mildly opprobrious term for a scapegrace a bad lot un mauvais sujet.' It is also
' '

BLACK-MUMMER,
and unshorn.
BLACK-NOB,

subs.

(old).

An

epithet applied to one

unwashed

subs, (trades' union).

;

non-unionist one who, while his fellows are on strike, pera sists in working at his trade
;

applied
persist

like

BLACKLEG

and

BLACK-NOB
in

to

workmen who

BLACKLEG (q.v.}. [Apparently a humorous variant of BLACKLEG. From BLACK = wicked,

atrocious, NOB, the head, in place of leg in BLACKLEG.] They are also called KNOB-

working when their comrades are on strike. The word is hardly slang now.

STICKS and SCABS

(q.v.).

LE FANU, Uncle Silas, ch. 1864. 'Your Uncle Silas had injured himself before that in the opinion of the people of his county. He was a BLACK SHEEP, in fact. Very bad stories were told and believed of him.'
xxvi.

BLACK OINTMENT, subs. (American A term for uncooked thieves').

meat.

M. COLLINS, Frances, ch. 1874. xxxvii. In all cities there are BLACK SHEEP, but in a city like London, sound
'

finance
subs. (old).

is

the rule,

am
'

sure.'

BLACK- POT,
tippler.

A toper

1876.
;

BESANT AND RICE, Golden

[Beer mugs were called BLACK-POTS also BLACK-JACKS,

;

hence, probably, a transference name from the utensil to the drinker.]

of the
1594.
I'll

Many companies, Butterfly, ch. xxviii. perfectly sound in principle, may be ruined by a sudden decrease in the price of shares a panic sets in, and in a few hours the shareholders may lose all. And if you bring this about by selling
;

allottees, you'll

without concert with the other favoured be called a BLACK SHEEP.

be Prince of Wales over BLACK-POTS in Oxford.

1636.

GREENE,

Fr. Bacon,

v., all

122.

the

When

Verb (Winchester College). a fellow in Junior Part

'

'

HEYWOOD, Love's Mistr., II. lugg, what's shee but sister to a BLACKPOT.
1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, whole whiskin, or BLACK-POT xxxii. of sufficient double ale.

got above (or 'jockeyed') fellow in Middle Part.'

'

BLACKSMITH'S
(popular).

BLACK PSALM. To SING THE BLACK PSALM, phr. (old). To cry; a saying used to children. Grose.
BLACKS.
See

Slibs. DAUGHTER, Formerly key. the key with which the doors of sponging houses were unAlso LOCKSMITH'S locked.

BLACK HORSE.
subs,

DAUGHTER, which nyms.

see

for syno-

BLACK SAL or SUKE,

lar).

(popufor

1859. C. DICKENS, Tale of Two Cities. Place it under the care of the BLACKSMITH'S DAUGHTER.

kettle.

See

SUKEY

1864.

Reader [quoted

synonyms.

5 S., ix., 263],

in N. and Q., BLACKSMITH'S DAUGHTER.

Black-Spice Racket.
A
key.
I

219
word

Blackwork.
common
tion of

have never met with

it

this

in print, but have heard conversation.

frequently in

the spirit.
subs.
(old).

BLACK-SPICE

RACKET,

The practice of robbing chimney sweepers of their bag, and soot. Lexicon
tronicum.
tools,

The seething BLACKSTRAP for use. It rapidly disappeared, and, as it diminished and was imbibed, the fun and hilarity proportionately increased.
. . .

molasses, in about the proporone gallon of the latter to four of

was pronounced ready

Bala-

3.

(old.)

task of labour

imposed on soldiers at Gibraltar as a punishment for small

offences. Grose.

BLACK SPY,

subs.

(old).

cant

name
nyms,

for the devil.

is ledache.

The French
For synoBLACK-S YOUR EYE. To SAY BLACK'S YOUR EYE, phr. (old). To accuse to find fault with. The phrase was varied by BLACK'S
;

equivalent
see

SKIPPER.

BLACK-STRAP, subs, (common). i. Thick, sweet port. A contemptuous term, in allusion to its dark colour, STRAP being an
old

YOUR EYEBROW, NAIL, etc. A more modern rendering is BLACK IS THE WHITE OF YOUR EYE.
1528.

name

for wine.

(See quot.).
of London,

ROY, Sat.
HIS EYE.

1608.

DEKKER, Belman

their belies full

They eate (1845). .... And none sayth

[M.]

in wks.

(Grosart) III., 131. Sometimes likewise this Card-cheating, goes not vnder the name of Bernard's Lawe, but is called Bait fowling, and then ye Setter is the Beater, the foole that is caught in the net, the bird, the Tauerne to which they repaire to worke the Feate, is the Bush the wine the STRAP, and the cardes theLiinctwigs.
;

BLACKE
p. 65.

IS

STUBBS, Anatomic of Abuses, then no man say BLACKE is THEIR EYE, but all is well, and they as good Christians, as those that suffer them unpunished.
1583.

And

1647.

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER,

;

MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, Tom (taking his seat): Gentlemen, 3. ?. beg pardon for being scarce so long;
1821.

I can say BLACK'S be grey I have conniv'd at this your friend, and you.

Love's Cure, iii., i. YOUR EYE, though it

1750.

but having to start early,

to see that the toggery

thought
all

it

best

was
:

I never shirk the BLACK fly tionally, you know. Jerry tion it, dear Tom.

right and STRAP intenDon't men-

my

1853. WH. MELVILLE, Dtgby Grand, ch. x. The orator gets deeper into his

is well known to be a house of as good reputation as any on the road, and, I though say it, is frequented by gentry of the best quality, both Irish and EngI defy anybody, to say BLACK is lish. MY EYE, for that matter.

FIELDING,

Tom Jones,

IX., iv.

The house

subject,

till
.
. .

clusion
'

BLACK STRAP

an extremely abrupt conempties every bumper of

'

like a shot.

BLACK-TEAPOT, subs, A negro footman.

(popular).

2. (American.) Properly speaking, gin mixed with molasses, but frequently applied to a compound of any alcoholic liquor with molasses. Beverages of this description were at one time the commonest of drinks among agricultural labourers.

BLACKWORK,

subs.

Undertaking. The waiters met with at public dinners are often employed during the day as mutes, etc. Omnibus and cab drivers regard BLACKWORK as un See BLACK-JOB. dernier ressort.
1859.

(common).

1882.

and

Detectives, p. 84. From the great iron kettle a savory incense arose; it came

PINKERTON, Molly Maguires

ch. xxvi.

SALA, Gaslight and Daylight,

florid

man who

officiates as

from an admixture of high-wines and

a waiter at the London Tavern o'nights, and sometimes takes a spell in the BLACK WORK, or undertaking line of business.

Bladder of Lard.
BLADDER OF LARD,
subs,

220

Blamed.
1698.

A bald-headed person.

(popular).

FARQUHAR, Love and a

;

Bottle,

[From

the supposed similarity of the smooth, hairless cranium to a bag or bladder of lard.]
1886.

iv., Sc. 2. These London BLADES are stark mad I met one about two hours ago, that had forgot his name, and this fellow would persuade me now, that I had forgot mine.

Act
all

Athenceum, July

31, p. 142.

An

1748.

she afterwards describes to her admiring friends as a BLADDER OF LARD, a graceful reference to his baldness and tendency
elderly

Jew money-lender,

whom

BLADE (s.) .... is sometimes used to signify a beau, spark, or hectoring fellow.
O. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to 1773. Conquer, Act L, Sc. 2. 'A troublesome old BLADE, to be sure but a keeps as good wines and beds as any in the whole
;

T. DYCHE, Dictionary

(5

ed.).

to stoutness.

A roystBLADE, subs, (common.) erer a gallant a sharp, keen a free and easy, good fellow
; ;

country.'
1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, ch. xxiv., p. 115. 'He forged wills, this BLADE did, if he didn't also put the supposed testators to sleep too.' Broadside Ballad, 1883. Happy
'

[Probably from BLADE, There sword, a soldier. seems no warrant for supposing the word connected with the Dutch bloed, or with the term blood,' a dandy, in use in the time of the Georges in a somewhat similar sense indeed, the following quotations show a much older usage. In French called un is a sly BLADE
fellow.

Thoughts,'

st. 4.
;

Uncle Dowle has lots of money He's a very knowing looking BLADE.

My

'

BLAMED,

'

'

renare.
1595.
Juliet, ii., 4. The pox of lisping, affecting fantasticoes

An ppl. adj. (popular). expletive used to emphasize a statement. It partakes of the nature of an oath, being often used instead of doomed or In America the damned.' expression is more of a collo' ' '

SHAKSPEARE,

Romeo
;

and

quialism than
See
1835.

it is

in

England.
Slick'),

tuners of accents

BLADE

a very

tall

By man

these new Jesu, a very good

!

such antic,

OATHS.
HALIBURTON
3 S.,

('Sam
vi.

The Clockmaker,
Bull
is

ch.

1632.

CHAPMAN AND SHIRLEY, The

BLAMED blockhead.
S.

Yes, John
It,

Ball, Act iv.

1872.
ix.

This came first o' keeping company with the BLADES, From whom I learnt to roar and run away. 1636. DAVENANT, The Wits, Act v.

The keeper had fired four times at an Indian, but he said with an injured air, that the Indian had skipped around
'
'

CLEMENS, Roughing

ch.

so's to nition's

spile

BLAMED skurse

everything
too.

and

ammup.

The

old

BLADE
18.

1873.

Skulks there like a tame filcher, as he had New stolen 'bove eggs from market-

CARLETON, Farm Ballads,

And And

so

women.
1637.
I., ii.

that pourin" dissentions in our

cup;
so
that

FLETCHER,
If

Elder

Brother,

BLAMED

cow-critter

was

he be that old

Rough

testy

1664.

fering his man (a spruce BLADE) to be so saucy as to strike a ball while his master was playing in the Mall.

BLADE he always used to be. PEPYS, Diary, Jan. 4. For suf-

PEPYS, Diary, Tune 3. With his hat cocked like a fool behind, as the
1667.

always coming up. Detroit Free Press, Oct. 6. 1888. Did you see any Quakers in Philadel? was asked of a Detroiter who lately phia returned from that city. Only one that I was sure of.' Did he " thee " and " thou" He did. He got down off his hack you ? and said " If thee don't pay me 2 dols. I'll knock thy BLAMED head off," and I paid, although I knew the regular fare
'
' '

'

'

'

present fashion

among

the

BLADES

is.

was twelve

shillings.

You

don't

want

Blame
to fool with those

It

221

Blarm Me
you, do you expect

Quakers any, and don't

me

to starve?

Go

you forget
1888.
'

it.

Portland Transcript,

May

9.

Why do you object to your daughter 'Wouldn't object ef she marrying?' wuster marry the right sorter man.'
'

and order supper first! Stop! Where in BLANK are you going? Here you've been and gone three hours on an errand for me, and blame me if you ain't runnin' off without a word about it.
1888. Troy Daily Times, Feb. 3. The captain looked anxious, and an irate fellow-passenger, who had not ceased swearing since we left Tuxpan, declared by all that is sacred and profane that he had known vessels to be hindered thirty days yes, even three months, by that
;

Isn't

Tom

the right sort of

sight.'

man ?

'

'

Not

by a BLAMED

BLAME
'

ITI intj. (common). A round-about oath. Equivalent to Damn it [A transferred sense of BLAME.]
'
!

BLANKETY BLANKETY bar

1888.
'

BLAMENATIONI

intj.
!

(common).

Damnation

See

OATHS.

BLANK, BLANKED, BLANKETY, adj. (common). Euphemistic oaths, the derivation of which is clearly an outcome of the practice of representing an oath, for decency's sake in printing,

Owosso (Mich.) Press, April. Not right Doctor, I'm a dead man now ? said I, as I kicked his dog out. 'Just as good as dead,' said he, 'or you wouldn't kick that dog in that way with safety. Not by a BLANKETY BLANK BLANK sight.' 'Needn't waste so much profanity, Mr. Starkhill,' said I.
'
'

'

BLANKET.
(old).
see

LAWFUL BLANKET,
wife.

subs.

For synonyms,

DUTCH.
FAIR,
subs,

by a dash or blank space;

e.g.,

d. The terms are used in d America in many combinations Cf., OATHS. (see quots.).

BLANKET
Bed.

(popular).

BEDFORDSHIRE, SHEET ALLEY, and LAND OF NOD.

Cf.,

C. DICKENS, Farce for the 1857. Championship, in All the Year Round. Enter a closely shaven, bullet-headed fellow in an ecstasy of excitement at having just seen Cuss, and at the ex'

BLANKET
mon).
allusion

HORNPIPE, subs, (comSexual commerce. The

is

obvious.

C/.,

BASKET

quisite

help
edly,

me
'

if

worthy. BLANK, BLANK he cries delighthe ain't a BLANK picter with the
' !

fitness

'

of that

'

So

MAKING.
BLARMED,
'

ppl.
' '

adj.

in his face down 'ere and 'ere, a showin" put just if a BLANK hartist "ad Tell yer he's beautiful, painted him. fine as a BLANK greyhound, with a BLANK heavy air with him that looks BLANK like winnin'. Take yer two quid to one, guv'nor,' adds the speaker, suddenly picking out a stout purple-faced farmer in the group of eager listeners. C. READE, Simpleton, xxiii. 1873. BLANK him! that is just like him the

(common).
' ;

A
;

weins

euphemism for BLESSED (q.v.) damned BLOWED (q.v.) or BLAMED (q.v.), of the last of
;

which
ruption.
1867.

it

is

probably a cor-

See

OATHS.
I.,

No

BLARMED
1872.

Church,

104.

To be

in

hurry.

uneasy
'

fool

ch. xxxi. (III., p. 191).

JOHN FORSTER, Life of Dickens, He saw a strange

; '

[M.]

sensation

MRS. EDWARDES, Jet iii., 272. the colonel of the regiment!' exBLANK the colonel claims Mark. With slow, unmisof the regiment takable gusto she lingers over the mono[M.] syllable 'BLANK.'
1878.
' . . '
!

whom

among the angry travellers he had detained so long heard a

I

voice exclaim,
'

am BLARMED

if it ain't

and stood in the centre of a Dickens group of Five A mericans !

!

BRET HARTE, Gabriel Conroy, 1879. in Hallberger's Illustrated Magazine, vol.

I.,

BLARM

ME

intj.

(common).
oath.

euphemistic

See

p. 378.

Because you're religious, BLANK

BLARMED.

Blarney.

222

Blast.
i. To wheedle; Verb. to flatter grossly.
;

subs. BLARNEY, (colloquial). Blandishment; soft speech, or

'

to

coax
2.

sawder

mon.'
difficult

gamgross flattery [From Castle Blarney

; ;

'

'

(American
'

thieves'.)

Be-

in Ireland, in the wall of

of access,

is

to be persuade to anything. BLARNEY is from bladh-ey, flowery island, and this may have some connection with the

stone. this is able to

Whoever
said

is

which, placed a able to kiss

sides the English slang signification of to wheedle,' it also bears

thereafter

the secondary meaning, among the low and criminal classes of America, of to pick locks.'
'

verb BLART OUT, (American, ? nonce A corruption of word).

'

curious tradition. hand, according

On
to

the other

blurt out
1835.

'

to utter abruptly.
'

Cormack Macarthy

Brewer, held the

HALIBURTON

Sam

Slick'),

Castle of Blarney in 1602, and concluded an armistice with Carew, the lord president, on condition of surrendering the fort to the English garrison.

The Clockmaker, pref., p. v. It warn't the part of a gentleman for to go and pump me arter that fashion, and then go right off and BLART IT OUT in print.

And there are others again who BLART RIGHT OUT whatever comes
Ibid, ch. viii.

uppermost.

Day after day his lordship looked for the fulfilment of the terms, but received nothing except protocols and soft speeches,
till

BLASE,

Used up adj. (common). exhausted with enjoyment sa;

tiated.

of

he became the laughing-

[From French blaser, unknown derivation.] Its

and

stock of Elizabeth's ministers, the dupe of the lord of

the Vul-

extended colloquial use in England is explained in second

quotation.

gar Tongue. He has licked the BLARNEY stone he deals in the wonderful, or tips
;

Blarney. 1785. GROSE, Dictionary of

us the traveller.
1839.
xix.

BYRON, Don Juan, ch. xii., st. 81. BLASE 'tis not to be wondered At, that his heart had got a tougher rind, And though not vainer from his past success, No doubt his sensibilities were
1823.

little

LEVER, Harry Lorrequer,

ch.

less.

could

They were as cunning as foxes and tell BLARNEY from good sense. Broadside Ballad, 'A nice c. 1876.

1883.

G. A.

SALA,

in

Illustrated
col. 3.

London News, March 10, p. 235, There should be a chronology of

It is

young thing.' Such a nice young thing, such a sweet young thing, Her name was Kate Carney, she came from Killarney, So full of her BLARNEY, but fond of her
Barney,

about forty years ago,

slang. think, that

Such a

And just

fair young thing, a rare young thing, for a lark she had dyed her hair

dark, they called her the Colleen Dhu. RUSKIN, in Pall Mall Gazette, It was bombastic 17 Nov., p. n, col. 2. English BLARNEY not Irish. [M.]

And

1884.

the great popularity of a French farce called 'L'Homme BLASE' brought the word into colloquial use in England indeed the first translation of the French piece (at the Princess's, Wright, the low comedian, playing the hero,) was called BLASE, with some sub-title that I forget. Subsequently another translation was produced, Charles Mathews playing the principal character. As a title for this version, we borrowed a slang term from the Americans, and L'Homme BLASE
;

'

'

became
BLAST,

'

Used Up'!
verb (low).

The French have baliverne and

pelotage ing.

with the same

mean-

damn.
bation

To curse to expression of reproand hatred. Used in

;

An

Blasted.
such
combinations

22 3
as BLAST BLAST YOUR

Blayney's Bloodhounds.
B LATER,
'

subs.

(old).
its

A
cry.]

calf.

ME

BLAST YOU
!

[Probably
bleater,'
1714.
p. ii [list calf.

EYES
1654.
V.,
ii.

etc.

See
I
!

OATHS.

a from

corruption

of

And

CHAPMAN, Revenge for Honour,

thus
!

kiss'd

BLAST YOU ALL

perate villain
1752.
v.
'

my

last breath.

Ta.

Damn'd

of cant

des-

Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), words in]. BLATER, a

ch. Ixxxii.

FIELDING, Amelia, bk. X., ch. don't know what you mean by
' ;

but, BLAST ominous,' cries the colonel MY REPUTATION, if I had received such a letter, if I would not have searched the

1827. LYTTON, Pelham, Don't be glim-flashy; why beef on a BLATER.

you'd

cry

BLATHER,
talk;

subs,

(familiar).

Noisy
Cf.,

world

to

have found the

writer.'
'

voluble

nonsense.

1759. GOLDSMITH, Cit. of the World, 'BLAST ME!' cries Tibbs, if lett., 105. that be all, there is no need of paying for
that.'

BLETHER.
E. YATES, Broken to Harness, 1864. 'There's a letter ch. xxix., p. 309 (1873). there from Sir Mordaunt, askin' for more time, and promisin' all sorts of things but I'm sick of him and his BLATHER.'

viii.

1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, ch. exHands, Captain MacTurk claimed Sir Bingo, in some confusion
'
'
!

'no,

BLAST HIM

not

so

bad as that

Verb.

To talk
W.
xxiv.

neither.'

nonsensically.

volubly; noisily; See BLETHER.

BLASTED, crable

Exeadj. (low). confounded often substituted for damned,' 'bloody,' it being thought a milder form. Grose has BLASTED FELLOW for an abandoned rogue, and
ppl.
; ;
'

1884.
ship,

Mrs. O'Brien was BLATHERING about the pedigree of the O'Briens and the O' Shandrydans to Mrs.
ch.

C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-

Joyce.

BLASTED BRIMSTONE for a prostitute. [From BLAST, q.v.] See OATHS. 1682. DRYDEN, Medal, 260. What curses on thy BLASTED Name will fall.
CM.]

BLATHERSKITE, subs, (common). Boastful disputatious swagi.

ger.
2.

Cf.,

BLETHERSKITE.
;
;

boaster swaggerer one who talks volubly and nonsensically. Cf., BLETHERSKITE.
1888.

1750.
(1870), 169.

who Colonel Chartres was, I believe, the most notorious BLASTED rascal in the world. [M.]
. . .

CHESTERFIELD,

Letters, 8 Jan.

New

York Herald, July

29.

Every BLATHERSKITE republican is filled to the brim and spouting high protection,
while the democrats are not prepared to meet them for want of documents. Dr. 1888. Chicago Watchman. Brookes, of St. Louis, must be a nice man He refers to Dr. R. W. to live with. Dale and Dr. Parker as blatant BLATHERSKITES,' and evidently regards Professor
'

1874. PUSEY, Lent. Sermons, 79. Balaam after the success of his BLASTED

counsel.
1884.
col.

[M.]

Good Words, Nov., p. 767, i. Jim Black states that the BLASTED railway has done away with

those journeys.

Drummond

as

beyond reformation.

BLATANTATION,
word).

subs.

(?
;

Noisy

effusion

nonce swag-

BLAYNEVS
(military)
.

BLOODHOUNDS,

subs.

The Eighty-ninth
this nick-

[From BLATANT, noisy, ger. offensively clamorous, -f ATION.]

Cf.,
3.

Foot. They obtained name during the Irish

in 1798.

Rebellion

BLATANCY.
199, col.

[BLAYNEY, from their

Colonel's name +

BLOODHOUNDS

Graphic, Feb. 24, p. the ground betting men are conspicuous with their books, BLATANTATION s, blackguardism, and swell clothes.
1833.

On

from their
rebels.]

tracking Irish also earned for themselves the sobriquet of THE

skill in

They

Blaze.
ROLLICKERS,
1

224
1737.
it.

Blazer.
WESLEY, wks. (1872) I., 68. found another BLAZE and pur[M.]
'

in allusion to the
'

jolly doggish

bearing of the

We then
sued

corps.

BLAZE, (common). In some of the usages of this the word, precincts of slang are narrowly touched, even if the boundary line is not crossed as a man is said to e.g., when BLAZE his way through the labyrinths of the metropolis. The original meaning is well known.
;

subs,

and

verb

1883. BRET HARTE, In the Carquints I made a blaze hereWoods, ch. viii. abouts to show where to leave the trail. There it is,' he added, pointing to a slight notch cut in the trunk of an adjoining
tree.
. .

They proceeded

cautiously
tree for

at right angles with the

BLAZED

ten minutes more.

BLAZE-AWAY, intj. (common). Look sharp stir your stumps

' ;

'

an injunction

to

renewed and

The

early settlers in traversing the vast forests which abounded on the American continent,

more
BLAZER,
the
of

effective effort.

found

very necessary to mark This they did by their route. the simple expedient of BLAZING the trees at convenient
it

subs, Origi(popular). nally applied to the uniform of

distances. BLAZING consists merely in chopping a piece of the bark off each tree selected in the desired line of march. The mark itself is called a BLAZE. In addition to this, BLAZING was also adopted as an indication that the land within the limits of the trees

Lady Margaret Boat Club John's College, Cambridge, which was of a bright red and was called a BLAZER.
St.

Now
or

applied to any light jacket

of bright colour

worn

at cricket

thus marked had been appropriated by a settler a rude and informal, but, in early days, a thoroughly well recognised method of securing a title to the land. Some writers affect to derive the word from the old French blazon, the armorial bearing of the Normans, and quote the use of 'blazen,' by Shakspeare, in a sense not altogether dissimilar to the meaning conveyed by BLAZING, as proof to
this effect.
It is employed generally in America and all English-speak-

Prof. Skeat other sports. [N. and Q.,j S.,iii., 436] speaking of the JOHNIAN BLAZER, says it was always of the most brilliant scarlet, and thinks it not improbable that the fact suggested the name which sub-

sequently became general.

1880. Times, June 19. Men in spotless flannel, and club BLAZERS. [M.] 1885. Punch, June 27, p. 304. On the morning of the start for our Spin to Brighton,' Harkaway turns up clad in what he calls a BLAZER, which makes him look like a nigger minstrel out for a holi'

day.
1889.
6.

DRESS

Daily Neivs, Aug. 22, p. 6, BY THE SEA. SIR,

' ' '

col.

In

your

article of to-day,

The following ing colonies. quotations will exemplify its use both in the original and
more
figurative
senses.

See

BLAZES.

heading, you speak of black BLAZER,' the BLAZER,' also of the pale toned ones. This is worth noting as a case of the specific becoming the generic. A BLAZER is the red flannel boating jacket, worn by the Lady Margaret, St. John's College, Cambridge, Boat Club. When I was at Cambridge It seems it meant that and nothing else. from your article that a BLAZER now means a coloured flannel jacket, whether for cricket, tennis, boating, or seaside wear. Yours faithfully, WALTER WREN.
'

under the above a striped red and

Blazes.
BLAZES,
subs,

225

Blazes.
we
shall
1862.

(general).

The

infernal regions. This, an allusion to the flames of hell, was

the original meaning constant use, however, has lessened the force of the expression, and as in the case of bloody,' few who employ such flowers of oratory have any notion of the proper signification. In most cases the word is now a meaningless intensitive, and takes rank with such expressions as LIKE ONE LIKE WINKEY, etc. O'CLOCK, The verb TO BLAZE is likewise employed in a manner closely
; '

mark my words MRS. RIDDELL ( F. G. TrafHas no ford'), Too Much A lone, p. 200. one been here this afternoon?' 'Yes, one man, to ask his way to BLAZES, or
BLAZES,
sir,
!
'

be blown into BLAZES,

into

'

some place
1880.

else.'

S.

CLEMENS

('

Mark Twain

'),

I could have Johnny Skae that I would not receive his communication at such a late hour, and to GO TO BLAZES with it.

Sketch (Mr. Skae's Item).

told

1882. JAS. PAYN, Justice', in Glow

in
'

'A Failure of
let
'

Worm

cried

me tell you authoritatively, I am a Middlesex magistrate.' Oh, yes a likely story was his audacious reply. You've got 'Ighbury Barn written on
I,
: ' !

Tales, p. 97. 'Sir,'

'

bordering on slang. Thus one says of an action that it is a that he has a blazing shame blazing headache that so-andso is a blazing thief that such a job is blazing hard work that it is a blazing hot day all
;

countenance you have, GO TO BLAZES and he slammed down the window.

your
' !

lar).

LIKE BLAZES, adv. phr. (popuVehemently; with exSee

treme ardour. and WINKEY.

ANYTHING

figurative uses of the legitimate idea. Appended are illustrations of some of its usages.

1845. B. DISRAELI, Sybil or The Two Nations, p. 330. Syllabubs LIKE BLAZES,

and snapdragon as makes the flunkeys

quite pale. police
. .

Ibid, p. 369.
'
.

'

They pelted the And cheered the red-coats

'

(Common.)
'

The

brilliant

habiliments of flunkeys. rived from the episode of Weller and the swarry.'

De-

LIKE BLAZES,' said Mick. Ibid. She sets her face against gals working in mills LIKE BLAZES.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 159. She liked this very much, in fact so much, that the other little ones used to cry LIKE BLAZES because I wouldn't let them have a turn at them [the stilts] 1859. CHAS. DICKENS, Tale of Two A BLAZING Cities, I., p. 15 (in parts).
.

Sam

OLD BLAZES, subs, (common). The devil. For synonyms,

see

SKIPPER.
Southern Literary Messenger,

1849.

June.
all

He looked, upon my word, like OLD BLAZES himself, with his clothing
on
fire,

strange answer.
1864.
J.

and rage and

despair in his

or Thorough.

LAWRENCE, Guy Livingstone They hate each other LIKE

face.

BLAZES.

Go TO BLAZES, phr. (common). Go to the devil go to hell

;

sect. 24.

expressions of contempt used in imprecations. 1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 135. He jumps
through a trap in the window with a Old Tom,' and bottle on it, marked
'

DE QUINCEY, Spanish Nun, 18(?). The horse was so maddened by wound, and the road so steep, that he Went LIKE BLAZES.
the

How, WHO,
BLAZES,
phr.

or

WHAT THE
A
or What What the

somewhat more
rogatory than
or- even

(popular). intense inter-

Who
or

a scroll

falls

down, written GONE TO

Adventures
of

Who

BLAZES.
1861.

Dickens.
THACKERAY,
p.
I.,

Philip,

mined,

sir

Old Parr Street is And some morning mined

99.
!

1836.
'

479.

Pell,'

DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. lv., p. he used to say to me many a 15

Bleach.
'

226

Bleating Prig.
BLEA-CHED MORT,
subs. (old).

HOW THE BLAZES you can stand time, the head-work you do, is a mystery to
me.'
1884. W. C. ship, ch. xvii.
'

A fair

WHO

RUSSELL, Jack's CourtTHE BLAZES would

in those shore-

Grose. complexioned wench. [From BLEACHED, white or fair, -f MORT, a girl or woman.]

recognise Jack going duds ?

'

Seymour

or BLAZES BLAIZERS, phr. (common). what is vulgarly Very drunk

DRUNK
'

AS

BLEAK, adj. (American thieves'). In the phraseology of American

thieves,

BLEAK

means

hand-

some.
BLEATER, subs. (old). The victim In the of a sharper or rook. following quotation a JACK IN

called beastly drunk. Whether this expression follows the derivation of the examples given
'

above, or whether we must seek its origin in a totally different direction, is a matter of some doubt. The alternative derivation suggested is that the

THE BOX
term
1609.

(g.v.) is an old thieves' for a swindler or cheat.

DEKKER, Lanthorne, wks.,

phrase is really DRUNK AS BLAIZERS, an expression which dates back at least to 1830 Sir [N. andQ., 6 S., i., 434].

by lacke

They that are Cheated 1884-5, III., 290. in a Boxe are called BLEATERS.

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BLEATERS, those cheated by Jack in a Box.
1811.

Thomas Wyse,
of of
J.

in

Greece,

speaking

Richard Waldo Fowler, 1880, p. reverence for St.

Greece (who is known, the patron English woolcombers) and how his feast was observed in the
,

Impressions Life (see Sibthorp, by 227) of the Blaize, in as is also, saint of the

Lexicon Balatronicwn. (Same

definition given.)

BLEATING CHEAT,
sheep.
Grose.

57/65.

(old).

[In the old cant

CHEAT or CHETE [from AngloSaxon cent] signified a thing; and the names of animals were frequently formed by
adding an adjective descriptive

woollen

manufactories
'

of the

says, Those who took part in the procession were called BLAIZERS,

Midland Counties,

and the phrase AS DRUNK AS BLAIZERS originated in the convivialities common on those occasions So good Bishop and Martyr Blaize is dishonoured as well as honoured in England, and very probably in Greece. Further data may be found in Chambers Book of Days, vol. I.,
'
! ' '

Thus a GRUNTING CHEAT was a CACKLING CHEAT a a pig fowl a BLEATING CHEAT a
; ;

of their peculiar noise or cry.

sheep.]

sheep

is

also called

WOOL-BIRD (q~v.). Among French thieves this animal is

a
designated nne morne.

pp. 219-20.

A subs. BLEATING CULL, (old). sheep stealer. [From BLEATING, see preceding, -f- CULL, a man, honest or otherwise.]
BLEATING PRIG or RIG, 5&5.
(old).

BLEACH,
sity.)

verb

To

(Harvard Univerabsent oneself from

Sheep

stealing.
see

morning prayers. HALL'S College Words and Phrases.

ING, PRIG, or RIG, the act of stealing.]

[From BLEATBLEATING CHEAT, -f-

Bleed.
BLEED, verb
i.
tr.

22 7

Bleed
superlative

the

Monkey.
for

andintr. (popular). victimised to lose or part with money so that the

fool,

To be
;

euphemism
2.

(common). bloody
'

fool.'

loss is felt to be RUSHED (q.v.) to have money drawn or extorted from one. [An allusion to the loss sustained by parting with one's life blood.]
' ' ;

(sporting.)
see

sovereign.

For synonyms,
3.

CANARY.
an
ob-

(old.)

spur;

vious allusion.

1668.

DRYDEN, An Evening's Love,

i.

Act

iv.,

Sc.

In fine, he

is

and BLEEDS on to fourscore or an hundred and I, not willing to tempt fortune, come away a moderate winner of two hundred pistoles.
;

vehement,

1748.

BLEED

(v.)

T. DYCHE, Dictionary .... also to part with

(5 ed.).

money

freely, upon proposing something agreeable to a person's disposition, whether it be in gaming of anything else.

An expletive, BLEEDING, adj. which, if meant, would partake of the nature of an oath as it is there is little enough, sanguinary, either literally or metaphorically about much that is It described as BLEEDING. sounds big and weighty to those who use it, and that suffices.
;

SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, To whom he was particularly agreeable, on account of his person, address, and BLEEDING freely at play.
1751. ch. Ixvi.
1830. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. xxii. The reputed readiness with which she BLED, at last brought her the honour of an old

1877.

BESANT AND RICE, Sow

'

Vulcan,

pt. II., ch. xxiii.

is

When

of

he

isn't

one dodge -he make no BLEEDING

up

to

to another. error.'

up

You

BLEEDING CULLY,

subs.

(old).

countess,

who condescended
two
sittings,

to

win

parts easily with his money, or bleeds freely. Grose.

{See

One who

from

her, at 5,000.
1849.

very nearly
ch.

BLEED.]

THACKERAY,

Pendennis,

Ixviii.

'You have got a bill of sale for her furniture ... By Jove, sir, you've BLED that poor woman enough.'
1885.

Manchester
2,

23 June, p.

col. 2.

Men who

Evening

News,

give bills

have

to

BLEED

for the

accommodation.

A book 2. (printers'.) BLEEDS when the margins are

'

BLEED THE MONKEY, verbalphr. (nauTo steal rum from the tical). mess tub called the monkey.' The term is exclusively naval, monkeys not being known on merchant ships. The practice is also called SUCKING THE MONKEY, and TAPPING THE AD' '

'

MIRAL.
1889.
p.

See

ADMIRAL.
Journal,
3

planed
of

so that the edge the printed portion is cut

'

down

Chambers'

away.
1876. Daily Telegraph, June 9, p. 2, col. So very carelessly has the mechanical part of production been done that, in the phraseology of the craft half technical, half slang the pages BLEED in many places i.e., the binder's knife when cutting the edges has also cut away portions of the printed matter.
i.

liquor substituted. It is now applied to the act of drinking on the sly from a cask by inserting a straw through a gimlet hole, and to drinking generally. Barham, in the legend of the Black Mousquetaire says: What the vulgar call SUCKING THE

TO SUCK THE MONKEY is a 495. phrase explained in Peter Simple as having originally been used among sailors for drinking rum out of cocoa-nuts, the milk having been poured out and the

Aug.,

BLEEDER,

subs.

(University).
;

i.

Has much

MONKEY,
less effect

on a man when he's

duffer

beyond compare

funky.

Blenker.
BLENKER,
verb

228

Blessed.
1849.

To (American). cant phrase much used during the Civil War. Possibly allied to the northern blenk,' a trick provincialism or stratagem. Blenk was also used in Morte d''Arthur in the sense of to bilk," or 'cheat.
plunder.

'

'

'

PENCE TO BLESS HIMSELF WITH. 1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 55. The most of 'em AIN'T GOT A FARTHING TO BLESS

I heard that Mr. Mell was not I., p. 113. a bad sort of fellow, but HADN'T A SIX-

DICKENS, David Coppcrfield,

THEMSELVES WITH.
1861.
p. 38.
I HAVE NOT A SHILLING TO BLESS MYSELF WITH.

'

GEORGE ELIOT,

Silas Marner,

BLESS, verb (popular).

to

To

curse;

damn.

See

BLESSED.

To BLESS
phr.
self
;

To BLESS ONESELF, verbal plir. (common). To be surprised; to be vexed to be mortified.

;

ONE'S STARS, verbal (common). To thank oneto attribute one's good

fortune to luck, generally in a ludicrous sense.

1845.

God bless me Generally, Bless my eyes Bless soul Lor' bless me

' 1 ' ' ! '

' !

or

my

Carol,
ch.

iii.

HOOD, Pauper's Christmas Ought not I to BLESS MY STARS ?

'

'

Midsummer SHAKSPEARE, Night's Dream, iv., 2, n. Quin Yea, and the best person too and he is a very paramour, for a sweet voice. Flu : You must say, paragon a paramour is, GOD BLESS us, a thing of nought.
1592.
:
:
:

Five Years' Penal Servitude, 230. Forty-eight marks! a The very thought made me savage, but I BLESSED MY STARS I had not lost my class, or my
1877.
iii.,

p.

week's remission.

good berth.

1615.
. . .

T. ADAMS, Black Dev., 71. He Would BLESSE HIMSELFE tO think

little

BLESSED, BLEST, ppl.

An

adj. (popular).
;

ironical
like
'

euphemism
'
,

often

that so
to

a thing could extend

itself

used
'

BLAZING

such a capacity. [M.] 1665. PEPYS, Diary, i Apr. How my Lord Treasurer did BLESS HIMSELF, crying he could do no more, etc. 1759. STERNE, Tristam Shandy, ch. xl. Rub your hands thrice across your foreheads blow cleanse your nose your emunctories sneeze, my good GOD BLESS YOU. people
!

damned,
1806.

for cursed," etc. or as a vow. See

quot. from Hindley and

OATHS.

WINDHAM,
77.

(1812),

I.,

As one

Let. in Speeches of the happy con-

sequences of our BLESSED system of printing debates, I am described to-day ... as having talked a language directly the reverse of that which I did talk. [M.]
C. HINDLEY, Life and Advena Cheap Jack, p. 139. One Maidstone Fair time, I saw one of the gipsy Lees called 'Jemmy,' fighting with
1876. tures of

Miss AUSTEN, Mansfield Park, ch. xviii. Could Sir Thomas look in upon us just now, he would BLESS HIMSELF, for we are rehearsing all over the house. 1843. DICKENS, Christmas Carol, p. 77. Why, BLESS MY SOUL,' cried Fred,
1814.
' 1

who's that?
1853.
p. 307.

'

Novel, After they had lain apart for a while, very silent and sullen, John sneezed. GOD BLESS YOU says Joan, over the bolster.
I.,

BULWER LYTTON, My
'

little

'

NOT A [PENNY] TO BLESS ONESELF WITH, phr. (popular). without Utterly impecunious
'

a sou.'
DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, He landed there WITHOUT A PENNY TO BLESS HIMSELF WITH.
1843.
I.,

a man much bigger than himself. Tom Rosseter, the mumper, was seconding his brother-in-law, Jemmy Lee, when, as kept throwing his man very Iemmy eavily, he said, My dear BLESSED brother, don't throw the BLESSED man like that or you will be sure to kill him.' said Jemmy, but my dear Well," BLESSED brother, if I don't kill the dear BLESSED man, why the big BLESSED will be sure to kill me, and so I must keep on throwing the dear BLESSED man, for you see what a BLESSED big dear fellow he is to me.'
'
'

'

1877. ch.
p. 237.

Five Years' Penal Servitude,

iii., p. 245. 'They called in the coppers, and some feller in the shop old twigged my girl as one he'd a-seen

Blether.
and BLESSED if they didn't identify her as having lifted some things out of the shop, and she was pinched for seven "stretch."
before,
'

229

Blew.

Sir 1882. Punch, Aug. 5, p. 49. Potnpcy Bedell: 'Oh! er Mr. Grigsby, I think How d'ye do ? [extending two I hope I see you fingers] Grigsby And next time you well, Sir Pompey. me two I'm BLEST if I don't give lingers,
' ! '
.

+ SKATE, allied to Scotch SKYTE, a contemptible fellow.] It occurs in Maggie Lauder, a well-known Scotch song, a fact
which Murray says led to its popularisation in the United In Ireland it seems to States. have taken the forms of BLADDER-SKATE and

pull

'em
1889.

off'.'

BLADDERUM-

Sporting
'

Times,

July

6.

St.

Did you ever hear a still, small voice whispering over its morning What a pair of BLESSED fools shrimps, you are
Mannock.
' !

SKATE.
Circa
1650.

Lander, SKATE.
p.

i.

F. SEMPILL, Maggie Jog on your gait, ye BLETHER-

[M.]

1825.

BLETHER.
talk
b.
;

BLATHER,

and U.S.A.).
1759, d. 1796.

(Scotch Nonsense; vapid

subs.

170.

He
[M.]

with

his

C. CROKER, Tradit. S. Ireland, was, as usual, getting on BLETHERUMSKITE about the

voluble chatter. BURNS, TamSamson's

fairies.

Elegy, st. 12. Yon auld gray stane, amang the heather, Marks out his head,

the

Whare Burns has wrote

BLETHER,

in

rhyming

Redesdale was speaking of people who learnt to skate with bladders under their arms, to buoy them up if they should fall into a hole and risk being drowned. 'Ah,
1

J. R. O'FLANAGAN, Lives of Lord Lord Chancellors of Ireland.

1870.

'

Tarn Samson's dead ! Pall Mall Gazette, 3 May, 6, 2. 1886. Havelock's florid adjurations to his men, the grim veterans of the 78th, bluntly characterized as BLETHER.

my
call

Lord,' said Toler,

BLADDERUMSKATE

that is what in Ireland."

'

we

Hence BLETHERING (verb,subs.) used in the same sense as

BLETHER, and as an adjective
*
'

i. To BLEW, verb (common). inform to peach to expose to betray. See BLOW UPON, of which it is a variant.
' '

volubly
Cf.,
b.

or

'

foolishly

for talka-

tive.'

BLETHERSKATE.
BURNS, Holy Fair,
are busy BLETHRIN' Right loud that day.

1759, d. 1796.

2. To spend to (popular.) waste generally in connection with money. When a man has
;

st. 8.

spent or lost
is

And some
'

to

1816. SCOTT, Old Mortality, ch. xiv. hae been clean spoilt, just wi' listening twa BLETHERING auld wives.'
1883.

all his money, he said to have BLEWED IT. [The derivation is uncertain, that most likely being its refer-

He had brought this BLETHERING Irishman down here, and deluyed him with punch for the express purpose of
ch. vi.

HAWLEY SMART, Hard

Lines,

ence to a corrupt grammatical use of BLEW, the past tense of

'

to blow."

Money

spent reckif

turning

him

inside out.

and wasted vanishes as blown away by the wind.] 1884. Daily Telegraph, May 28, p.
lessly
col.
'

BLETHERSKATE, BLATHERS KITE, subs. i. (provincial and American). Boastful swagger, whether in
talk or action.
2.

i.

pensation, when he took to horses, and BLEWED the blooming lot in eighteen months.'
1889.

Which paid him

5,

1,700

com-

of

boaster; noisy blatant nonsense.

talker

Isabel
its

Sporting Times, June 29. and Maudie knew the Turf and
arts

all

[From

BLETHER,

to talk nonsensically,

They had often BLEWED a wrong 'un

dollar

on a

Blimey.
And
Isabel one evening rural parts,

230

Blind.

met a mug from

An

attenuated Juggins, and a long 'un.

shift

rincer
'

Se faire to be cleared (popular out [at a game] Rincer, properly to drench,' to serve out, also has the slang signification of to thrash ') painncr (thieves' and vagrants' this verb is very old, and is derived {rompalma
'

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
: .
' '

A pretence; a an action through which one's real purpose is concealed;

2.

(familiar.)

that

which obstructs
DRYDEN, Wild

'

makeiii.

believe.'
1663.
. .
.

'

He took your court to her, only as a BLIND to your afiection for me. 1694. CONGREVE, Double Dealer, Act I know you don't love Sc. 5. ii., Cynthia, only as a BLIND for your passion
to

Gallant, Act

me.
1703.

empoigner.
arrest,
lose,

It

also signifies to laumir (an etc.)

;

MRS. CENTLIVRE, Beau's Dual,

i.,

I., i.

(1872),

70.

Am

publish'd to the

old cant term)

(familiar:
; '

faire ratisser literally 'to scrape

;

se

oneself ') faire rasoir (gaming to be penniless ') se faire enturer to cut into oneself (popular enture = incision or cut); panner mettre dans quclqu'un (popular)
: ;
' ' :

world as a BLIND for his designs ? 1877. E. L. LINTON, World Well Lost, ch. xxviii. The excuse was too palpably a BLIND to be accepted as a reason.
1889.

The Major and

le

sac (gamesters'
')
;

'
:

Cf.,

be in a
:

to in his letters were mere BLINDS.' The Captain relied upon the fact that not one person In a dozen took the trouble to apply to these gentlemen.
'

Answers, July 13, p. 104, col. 3. the Captain he referred

hole

dccavage

term employed circumstances of a gamester who has blewed it one who is in from decave, a Queer Street
'

a (familiar to signify the

3.
[51]

(printers'.)

'

'

'

so called eye of the reversed filled up.

is

mark

paragraph from the

;

'

'

being

ruined gamester)
'

se faire lessiver

Adj. (old).

Michel gives lessive = defence, and lessiveur = barrister, and remarks that better terms could hardly be given to advocate and speech by those charged with offence, and who wish to return from the same white as snow,' or, as police phraseology hath it, without a
to
oneself.'
'

wash

Nares says
used with
of
[1630].

Tipsy; in liquor. this cant term was others in the works

the

Taylor,

water-poet
see

For

synonyms,

SCREWED.

BLIND AS A BRICKBAT,
phr.
(colloquial). simile for very blind

adv.

facetious

mentally
Copperfield,

stain

upon

one's character.
see

For

or physically.
1849.
III., p. 97.

other synonyms,

SHAVE.

DICKENS, David

The

old scholar

...

is

as

BLIND AS A BRICKBAT.

BLIMEY, intj. (low). corruption Blind me an expression of

'
' !

little

those

who

enough understood by constantly have it

mouths.

adv.

in their

DEVIL is BLIND, (common). Never. The French have three very graphic though in one case
phr.

WHEN THE

i. The BLIND, subs, (common). night time an allusion to the absence of light. See DARKMANS.-

very vulgar analogues for this expression quand les poules pisseront, which need not be translated le trente six du mois, i.e., on the thirty-sixth day of the month,' and quand les pottles
; 1

Blind Checks.
auront des dents,
i.e.,

Blind Half Hundred.

when cocks

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un
a one-eyed per(low un cydope (the allusion son ') from Cyclops, is mythological the one-eyed giant, whose optic was placed in the middle of the un la rose des vents forehead) un pignard ; boite aux piffe
'

and hens have

teeth.

borgne

luminous To GO IT BLIND. the figure of speech to convey idea of entering upon an underwithout thought as to the
taking
result,

This

is

or inquiry beforehand. one of the many slang

their

expressions which owe of origin to the American game of which poker, the special form the known as blind poker, where cards are betted upon before

ordures.

GERMAN
'

SYNONYM.

achar Acherponim (from Hebrew at the ponim ; literally the face For other synonyms, back').
see

BUM.
adj. phr. (common). Very intoxicated so drunk as
;

being looked at being responsible for the phrase now in question.

,

BLIND DRUNK,
to
'

Cf., also
1848.
J.

BLIND
118

(subs.).

RUSSELL LOWELL, Biglow

Papers,

The

impress on the popular mind comfort and wisdom of COIN' IT

'

II., p.

to

BLIND.'

DE VERB, Americanisms, 1871. Blind Poker has given rise to the very common phrase, to GO IT BLIND, used whenever an enterprise is undertaken without previous inquiry. 1882. GENERAL SHERMAN, Memoirs,
p. 328.

be unable to see better than a blind man. Americans say, So drunk as not to be able to For see through a ladder. synonyms, see SCREWED. 1845. DISRAELI, Sybil or the Two Nations, p. 350. Hang me if I wasn't BLIND DRUNK at the end of it.
1

BLINDER.
phr.

vol.

ton I am incomprehensible, because at the outset of the war I would not GO IT BLIND, and rush headlong into a war unprepared and with an utter ignorance of its extent and purpose. And 1888. Chicago Ledger, May 12. so you've married a jewel, have you, Dick.' a for 'I have, Tom ? fact, Lucky dog You're a man in a million. Mighty few GO IT BLIND and fare as well I didn't GO IT BLIND. as you've done.' I employed a detective, and he managed to get board in the family.'
' ' '
!

I.,

p. 342.

know

that in

Washing-

(thieves').
see

To TAKE A To
ALOFT.

BLINDER,
die.

For

synonyms,

BLIND EYE, subs, (common). The podex. See BLIND CHEEKS.

BLIND HALF HUNDRED,

tary).

subs,

(mili-

The
;

'

of Foot

Fiftieth Regiment from so many men

suffering

ing

the
;

from ophthalmia durEgyptian campaign

also the

[1801]

DIRTY HALF

BLIND CHEEKS,

(common). The posteriors. [The derivation is from an obvious simile.]

are

subs,

HUNDRED from
Peninsula

the

men

in

Among ENGLISH SYNONYMS Two fat cheeks and ne'er

; ;
; ;

action wiping their faces with their black facings during the

a nose blind Cupid ampersand cheeks arse corybungo

;
;

War. HALF HUNDRED is an adaptation of the number of the regiment the

Fiftieth.

dopey
feak
mill
;

droddum

dummock
;

called

notch
;

'a nock (i.e., round mouth windblind-eye monocular eye-

bum;

')

corps is also 'Gallant Fiftieth,' from its gallantry at the battle of Vimiera, 1808.
the
1871.

The

glass.

p. 803.

The DIRTY HALF HUNDRED was

Chambers' Journal, No. 417.

Blind Harpers.
the curious nickname given to the 5oth Foot. Two accounts are given of the origin of this. One asserts that it was from their red uniforms being faced with black and silver lace, and thus giving the regiment a dull and sombre appearance whilst the other tells us that it was from the men wiping their perspiring faces with the black cuffs of their coats, and thus giving their countenances a some;

232
tion

Blind Monkeys.
of

'blind-man's

all-day.'

The meaning then would be

gradual departure of brings one to the state which the blind man endures all day, or which is all the day Whichthe blind man has. ever derivation be true, it is, however, interesting to note that this household word of to-day has been in the mouths of the English people for more than three hundred years. It is the English equivalent of the Scotch IN THE GLOAMING, of an equally venerable lineage.
that the
light
'

what swarthy

tint.

Whatever may be

the origin of this sobriquet, they bear a second about which there can be no doubt. From the glorious charge, led by

'

Colonel Walker, at Vimiera, this regiment is known as the Gallant Fiftieth.'

'

'

Magazine, April, p. Most people have heard of the 322. Fighting Fiftieth.' But the soth are rich in nicknames. They are, or at least
Tinsley's

1886.

they were, the

BLIND HALF-HUNDREDTH,

having been but too literally blinded by the ravages of ophthalmia when in Egypt with Sir Ralph Abercromby. And when on one occasion the men dried the perspiration from their faces with their cuffs, they for a while became the DIRTY

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. And what will not blinde Cupid V., 263. doe in the night which is his BLINDMAN'S HOLIDAY ?

1738.

SWIFT,
Indeed,
;

Polite

Conversation

HALF-HUNDREDTH.

(conv.

iii.).

MAN'S HOLIDAY
a colour.
1824.

it is BLINDwe shall soon be all of

madam,

BLIND HARPERS, subs. (old). Beggars counterfeiting blindness, playing on fiddles, etc. Grose.

T.

FIELDING, Proverbs,
p.

etc.

(Familiar Phrases), HOLIDAY.

1866.

147.

BLINDMAN'S
Oct., 358.

Aunt Judy's Mag.,

BLIND-MAN'S HOLIDAY, subs, (familiar). Formerly this common

colloquialism signified the night or darkness it is now, however, usually applied to the
;

At meal times, or in BLINDMAN'S HOLIDAY, when no work was to be done. [M.]

between lights when it is too dark to see, but often not dark enough to light up, and a holiday or rest from work is taken. The blind from their
time
' '

BLIND MONKEYS, subs, (common). Hotten thus explains this exAn imaginary collecpression tion at the Zoological Gardens, which are supposed to receive care and attention from persons fitted by nature for such office
:

and

for little else.

is

An

idle

and

general exempted from labour, and in this view keep holiday when the twilight hour comes, when those that can work, or read, etc., can
infirmity
;

are

in

often told that he is only fit to lead the BLIND MONKEYS to evacuate. Another
useless person

form

no longer see to do so, it is BLIND-MAN'S HOLIDAY to them, and they of necessity rest This derivation, accordingly. one would think, is sufficiently obvious on the other but,
;

this elegant conversation is for one man to tell another that he knows of a suit-

takes,

able situation for him.

'

How
'

and what to do ? are natural questions, and then comes the scathing and sarcastic reply, Five bob a week at
?
'

much

a week

hand,

there are those who think the expression a corrup-

the doctor's you're to stand behind the door and make the

Blind o.
patients sick.

233

Blink-Fencer.
comrades before drinking.
'

They won't want no physic when they sees your

mug.'

A
'

BUN DO,

verb (military).
see

To

die.

For synonyms,

ALOFT.

BLIND ONE'S TRAIL, verbal phr. (American) Figuratively, to

.

frequent toast is I look towards you,' and the transference of sense in such a phrase as I wink or BLINK to you,' and then the use of TO BLINK for to drink is easy enough. Cf., also To GO OUT AND SEE A
' ' ' '

remove
actions;
tentions.

the
to

traces

of

one's
in-

conceal one's

expression is obviously traceable to the days of Indian warfare, when e.ven the lives of those engaged often depended upon the success with which the trail could be Also blinded, or obliterated.
1 1

This

BLINKER,
eye.

subs,

(popular).

i.

[From
eyelids,
;

BLINK,
to
;

to

The move
Cf.,

the
etc.]
1816.

wink;

WINKERS
A

OPTICS, For synonyms, see GLIMS. Quiz, Grand Master, I., ii.

PEEPERS

ceal'd
[M.]

TO TRASH ONE'S TRAIL

patent pair of goggle winkers, Confrom public view his BLINKERS.

(q.v.}.

BLIND SIDE, subs, (familiar). The BLIND SIDE of a person or thing is that which is weakest
;

1888. American Humorist. 'BLANK YOUR BLINKERS,' angrily retorted Brudee, your business was not to fight, but show
1

us the enemy.'
2.

the most assailable side. The expression is much older than the example quoted by Murray
[1655]1606.

(common.)
M. GREEN,

pi.
see

Spectacles.

For synonyms,
1732.

BARNACLES.

who

but one
1803.

way
[M.]

Grotto, 10. Bigots see through BLINKERS

of authority.

Act

i.,

For

CHAPMAN, Gentleman Usher, 79 (Plays, 1874). we'll follow the BLIND SIDE of that,
p.
it

little

fellow,
[M.]

BRISTED, Pedest. Tour, I., 38. with BLINKERS over his

eyes.

him,

1851.

And make
mirth.
1663.
iii.

sometimes subject of our

Gallant, credulous,

(1858), 205.
life

THACKERAY, Eng. Hum., IV. Who only dare to look up at

[M.]

through BLINKERS.
3.

DRYDEN, Wild

Act

Con.

My

father's

and

this

rogue has found the BLIND SIDE of

1742.

(provincial.) a black eye.

4.

In Norfolk,

him.
III., ch. v. Indeed, if this good man had an enthusiasm, or what the vulgar he thought call a BLIND SIDE, it was this,

FIELDING, Joseph

Andrews,

(pugilistic.)

A hard blow

bk.

in the eye.

a schoolmaster the greatest character in the world, and himself the greatest of all schoolmasters.
1820.

BLANK YOUR BLINKERS. A euphemistic oath, equivalent to the more common D n your
'

eyes.'

See

OATHS.

people

LAMB, Elia (Mrs. Battle). All have their BLIND SIDE their

superstitions.

verb BLINK, (American). --To drink. [Probably of humorous origin, similar to SMILE (q.v.). and alluding to a wink or BLINK exchanged between friends and

BLINK-FENCER, subs, (thieves'). A person who sells spectacles. [From BLINK, a contracted form of 'blinkers,' spectacles + FENCE, primarily a receiver of stolen goods, but also applied to a tradesman of any kind, + ER.j

Blinko.
BLINKO,
subs,

234

Blizzard.
antagonistic between the two theories of its genesis, and a further light is perhaps thrown upon the subject, tending to

grants').

An amateur
;

(thieves'

and

vaenter-

tainment held, generally, at a public house a FREE AND EASY a SING SONG (q.v .}. (q.v.}
;

Temple. What is a BLINKO for instance ? Well, it's a kind of entertainment, singto ing, and that,' replied the old fellow, which strangers are not invited least of all the police.'
J.
1
'

1877.

GREENWOOD, Dick

'

'

1883. Daily Telegraph, August 4, p. 2, i. 'An Harmonic BLINKO, the proceeds of which will be given towards buying a barrow for Young Duckling, who has got married with no visible
col.

means

of support.'

support its German origin, by the fact that, in Pennsylvania, it has been familiar, according to a correspondent of the New York Sun, for more than half-acentury, its use and meaning being akin to the instances above mentioned. It appears that in the central counties of the State in question, the word was always used to include the idea of the poser,' and even of
'

BLISTER,

verb

(common).

Em'

ployed euphemistically for damn.' Cf., BLAMED.

1840.
'

to

force, violence, spitefulness, or If one dealt vindictiveness.

another a hostile blow he

'

him a BLIZZARD on the nose,' on

'

gave

H. COCKTON, Valentine Vox, ch. xxvi. Where can they be hid ? he exclaimed, with great emphasis. BLISTER 'em Where can the scoundrels be got to ?
'

'

'

the jaw,' 'between the eyes,' etc. If a magistrate lectured a litigant severely he gave him a BLIZZARD.' If in debate one
'

A BLIZZARD, subs, (popular). poser a stunning blow an un;

answerable argument, etc., etc. This word, recently brought into prominent notice as the name by which sudden and exceptionally severe snowstorms are known in the Western States of America, is one the etymology of which is dubious. Some authorities derive it from the
lightning, but a correspondent of N\ andQ. claims
blitz

one man swore at or cursed another he gave him a BLIZIf a man's wife scolded ZARD.' him she 'gave him a BLIZZARD.'
If
'

dealt mercilessly in ridicule he gave his opponent a BLIZZARD.'

'

When

it

is

remembered that
is

Pennsylvania

the

State

in

which the Dutch or German element most largely predominates, it does not seem far
fetched to attribute its origin to a Teutonic source, more especially as there is nothing in the English usage to preclude

German

as of English nationality, asserting that the word has been

it

such a derivation.
this

However

known

in the

Midland Counties
;

may be,
rate,
it

the word invariably

;

in its present form, or nearly so, for over thirty years further

seems to imply suddenness combined with violence and, at

stating

that
is

zered

'

may common
'

'

I be blizoath there.

any

apparently disposes

Assuming that the expression is a variation of the more generally familiar

of the supposition that the word is of Western origin, or a coinage of so recent a date as is

me

May God
is

strike

frequently supposed.

by

(that is, lightning), there

blind

'

presumably
nothing

words of

its

class,

Like most which have

largely struck the popular taste,

Bloak.
it has been generally adopted in an idiomatic sense to signify a stunning blow an overwhelming argument or a cool reception 1834. CROCKETT, Tour Down East,
;
. ,

235

Block.
spoke of a certain statesman as a bloated minister' [1731].
1

1861.

THACKERAY,
p.

16. A gentleman at dinner asked me and supposing he meant to have some fun at my expense, I concluded to go ahead, and give him and his likes a BLIZZARD.

ARISTOCRAT Thingamy has become since he got his place!

1863.

Philip,

I.,

TOT.

What

Adventures of a BLOATED

for a toast

G. A. SALA, Breakfast

in

Bed,

Of the two most I., p. 17 (1864). salient English gentlemen represented, one is a BLOATED ARISTOCRAT of a Baronet
essay
hopelessly in debt, the other a rapid brainless nobleman.
1869. M.TWAIN, Innocents Abroad, sat down finally, at a late ch. x. in the great Casino, and called for hour, unstinted champagne. It is so easy to

1871.
443.

DE VERE, Americanisms, BLIZZARD, a term referred back

Blitz,

p.

to

the

German

means

in the

West

stunning blow or an overwhelming argument. 1884. G. A. S[ALA], in ///. L. News, Feb. 23, p. 171, col. 2. BLIZZARD. The philologers in American Slang refer back to the German blitz and its
;

We

be BLOATED ARISTOCRATS where nothing of consequence

!

it

costs

meaning in the Western States seems to have been a stunning blow or an overwhelming argument. In the Eastern States a sudden set-in of severe
original
frost is called a

BLOATER.

See

MY

BLOATER;

also

MILD BLOATER.
BLOB, verb (vagrants').
to
'

many

'

cold snap.' Query, how cold snaps does it take to make

'
'

To

talk

a 'BLIZZARD'

1888. San Francisco News Letter. I should like to have seen the Colonel's face when he got that very cold, BLIZ-

ZARDY letter. I bet that if Minnie had been near him he would have slapped
her real hard.

[Probably a corrupted form of BLAB.] Begthose gars are of two kinds who SCREEVE (introducing themselves with a FAKEMENT, or false document) and those who
patter.'

BLOB, or
their

state

their
'

case

in
'

BLOAK.
BLOAT,
i.

See
subs.

BLOKE.
(American
thieves').

own

truly
[See,

language.
quot.]
1851-61.

unvarnished however, second

2.

A drowned body. A drunkard. The

BLOAT,

H. MAYHEW, London Lab.

'

simile
is,

which groups the two

haps, not far wrong.

per-

[Probably

from

adjective signifying puffed, swollen, inflated. BLOAT was also formerly in use in England as a

an

and Lou. Poor, vol. I., p. 339. Of professional beggars there are two kinds " those who do it on the BLOB " (by word of mouth), and those who do it by " screeving," that is, by petitions and
letters.'

1861.

WHYTE
shall

MELVILLE, Good for

'

contemptuous name
being.]

for a

human

BLOATED ARISTOCRAT, subs, (famiAn opprobrious epithet liar). for a man swollen with the of rank or wealth also pride a general sobriquet applied by 'the masses' to 'the classes.' Bloated has long been employed in a similar sense. Swift
; '
'

Five minutes more run into him,' he shouts, sitting well back on his horse, and urging him to his extreme pace, when he BLOBS like that he's getting beat. See how Canvas sticks to him, and the yellow dog hangs back waiting for the turn.'
Nothing, ch. xxvi.

and we

'

BLOCK, son
;

subs.

(old).

stupid per-

hard
;

unsympathetic

individual one of mean, unattractive appearance. [A figurative sense of BLOCK, as of wood or stone.]

Block.
a. 1534.
III.,
iii.,

236

Block House.

calfe,

N. UDALL, Roister Doister, Ye are such a p. 44 (Arber). such an asse, such a BLOCKE.

1627. SANDERSON, Serm., I., 283. I a child of the same Adam, a vessel of the same clay, A CHIP OF THE SAME

Am

not

1595

men, Act art thou

What
not
!

Two GentleSpeed. What an ass I understand thee not. Launcc. a BLOCK art thou, that thou canst
SHAKSPEARE,
Sc.
5.
ii.,
!

BLOCK, with him.

1655.

[M.]

L'ESTRANGE, Charles I., 126. Episcopacy, which they thought but a great CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK Popery.
[M.]

1599.

Humour. BLOCK
!

JONSON, Every
Induct.
Cor.

Man
Hang

out of his

him, dull

This

1624. MASSINGER, will bring him on,

(s)

Bondman, II., ii. Or he's a BLOCK.

(5

1748. T.

BLOCK

DYCHE, Dictionary
.
.

ed.).

To CUT A BLOCK WITH A InconseRAZOR, phr. (old). futile enquent argument deavour incongruous application of means or ability to the
; ;

sometimes an ignorant,

end

in view.

stupid fellow.
1881. BESANT AND RICE, Chaplain of the Fleet, pt. II., ch. iv. She said that her partner was delightful to dance with,
1774.

GOLDSMITH,

Retaliation,

42.

'Twas his
sir,

to eat

fate unemployed or in place, mutton cold and CUT BLOCKS

partly because he was a lord and a title, she said, gives an air of grace to any BLOCK partly because he danced well and talked amiably.
2.

WITH A RAZOR.

lar).

To BLOCK A HAT, phr. (popuTo crush a man's hat

;

The

head.

abbreviated

BLOCK (q.v.). CRUMPET.

1637.

an form of BARBER'S For synonyms, see

Possibly

over the eyes by a blow

TO

BONNET
BLOCKERS.

(q.v.}.

See

BLOCK
subs.

ORNA-

MENTS. BLOCK
HOUSE,
;

SHIRLEY, Lady of Pleas, II., i. own BLOCK. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoc, ch. 1861. xxxv. I cleaned a groom's boots on Toosday, and he punched my BLOCK because I blacked the tops.'

Buy

a beaver For thy

'

(old).

prison
1624.
xi.,

the house of detention.

see

For synonyms,

CAGE.
III.,

BARBER'S BLOCK,
mon). [from
i.

subs,

(comfor

transferred sense

To stop the disorders of our 85. built a BLOCKdisorderly Theeues

.

CAPT. SMITH, Virginia,

. .

a
off

wooden

head
;

HOUSE.
1785.

[M.]

a wig] applied to a showing showy, over-dressed man a fop. E. LYNN LINTON, Hallbcrgcr's 1876.
Illns.

GROSE,

Dictionary

of

the

Mag.,

p. 72.

of the

name

of

men men,
head.

No, not

to

men worthy BLOCK,

not BARBER'S

BLOCKS.
2.

Vulgar Tongue. BLOCK-HOUSES, Prisons, houses of correction, etc. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicinn. [Same definition given as in Grose.] 1889. MURRAY, New English Dictionary.

The
2.

See

sense
1823.

uncertain history. The Ger. equivalent blockhaus (' einen steinen Blockhaus') is quoted by Grimm, 1557 and 1602 the Du.
;

[Common

since

c.

1500:

of

SCOTT, Peveril of the Peak, ch. v. (I., p. 67). Were I not to take better care of the wood than you, brother, there

blokhtiis is

in Kilian,

would soon be no more wood about the town than the BARBER'S BLOCK that's on
your

own

shoulders.

CHIP OF THE SAME OLD BLOCK, phr. (common). A man or thing exhibiting the same qualities as he or that with which a comparison is made.

the same word, and orig. in same sense, is quoted by Littre in the i6th c. (C/., Bloccuz). So far as evidence goes, the Eng. is thus the earliest; but we should expect it to be of Du. or Ger. origin. In any case the sense was not originally (as in modern notion) a house composed of blocks of wood, but one which blocks or obstructs a passage. The history and age of the Ger. blockhaus and Fr. blocus

1599

Fr. blocus,

generally considered

to

be

require

more

investigation.]

Block Island Turkey.

2 37

Bloke.
'

BLOCK ISLAND TURKEY,

subs.

Salted cod-fish. (American). Connecticut and Rhode Island.

ten defines

" not strictly " a man as Hotit, but a man in a

Slang delights in naming fish

as flesh.

For some curious

see

ex-

amples,

TWO-EYED STEAK.
or BLOCKERS,

BLOCK ORNAMENTS, subs, i. Small (common). pieces of meat of indifferent the quality, trimmings from
joints,
etc.

contemptuous sense,' Barrere is himself wide of the mark. The word may sometimes be used contemptuously but, generally speaking, any idea of reproach or praise is absent, and a BLOKE means a man pure and simple. In witness whereof are the following examples of its use.
;

Exposed

for

sale
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 397. If we met an old BLOKE (man) we propped him. 1857.

on the blocks or counters of butcher's shops in cheap neighbourhoods.

1848. Frase/s Mag., XXXVII., 396. Forced to substitute a BLOCKER of meat, with its cheap accompaniment of bread for poultry and rump and vegetables
. . .

SNOWDEN,

3 ed., p. 446.

Mag.

gentleman.

A
!

Assistant,

BLOAK.
Peer-

1860.

SALA, The Baddington

age,

II., p. 49.

My

old

BLOKE

steaks.

[M.]

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851-61. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 54. For dinner they buy BLOCK ORNAMENTS, as they
.
.
.

1862. KINGSLEY, in Macmillan's Mag., Dec., 96. Little better than BLOKES and boodles after all. [M.] 1863. OUIDA, Held in Bondage, bk.
I.,

call the small,

dark-coloured pieces of

p.

245.

The

girl

is

daily off good BLOCK ORNAMENTS (small pieces of meat, discoloured and dirty, but not tainted, usually set for sale on the butcher's block).

blocks or counters. Ibid, p. 516. What they consider a good living is a dinner

meat exposed on the cheap butchers'

BLOKES
1865.

say, so

we must

stunning, the forgive you.

in

Miss BRADDON,

XIII., 483.

BLOKE

is

The society of the aged apt to pull upon the youthful

Temple Bar,

intellect.

Punch, No. 2063, p. 29. And eager-faced women must bargain for
1884.

tainted

BLOCK ORNAMENTS

still.

1869. J. GREENWOOD, Seven Curses of London. It came out in the course of the evidence that the meaning of the word BLOKE was a man whom a woman might pick up in the street.'
'

1887. Standard, Jan. 20, The Poor at Market. Watching a man who stands with his wife and little girl before a butcher's shop, let us see what they have to choose from in buying for the next day's dinner. On the shelves set out in front of the shop meat scraps are better scraps (or offered at 3^d. the Ib. BLOCK ORNAMENTS, as they are termed) at 4d. somewhat shapeless small joints of beef from inferior parts at sd., one coarse shoulder of mutton at the same tolerably good-looking meat at 6d.
; ;

1873. ROBINSON, Little Kate Kirby, Give us a border then, old I., p. 136. BLOKE,' shrieked another gamin. c. 1875. Broadside Ballad, Keep it Dark.' I have heard though may be it isn't a
' '

fact,

Keep That
the present Lord going to be sacked,

it

dark

Chancellor's

And
Is

Keep

it

dark

mutton chops
steak at rod.
2.

at j&.

and

8d.

and rump

That extremely warm member, the member for Stoke, about to succeed him, the lawyers to

Dr. Kenealy, that popular BLOKE,

Applied to individuals, a
signifies

choke
But, keep it dark Broadside Ballad, Shooting the Moon.' Spoken Yes, and I used to do very well, until some ragged young urchin said to his pal, don't you varder, don't you know that ere BLOKE, that's the BLOKE we saw the other day with a barrow.
!

BLOCK ORNAMENT

queer looking one odd in appearance.

man

or

woman

c.

1869.

'

BLOKE or BLOAK,

subs,

A man

(common).
In saying

a fellow.

Blood.
Daily News, May 15, p. 7, col. you are conning out into the ask the next BLOKE to change numyard bers with you.'
1883.
'

238
1752.

Blood.
Adventurer, No.
15.

Our heroes

2.

When

In each case the face value of the word appears to be simply 'a and in spite of man,' Barrere's assertion that in the
' '

'

of liberty, whether Bucks or BLOODS, or of whatever other denomination, when by some creditor of slavish principles they have been locked up in a never yet petitioned to be prison,

hanged.
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack Trenchard Sheppard [1889], p. 21. he muttered Aliva Trenchard. They were right, then, as to the name. Well,
'
' !

'

newspapers twenty-five years ago a BLOKE was a victim of sharps, a stupid person, a
police

greenhorn,' the evidence is all the other way in one instance, indeed, the individual in ques;

if she survives the accident as the BLOOD who styles himself Sir Cecil fancies she may do this ring will make my fortune by leading to the discovery of the chief parties concerned in this strange affair.'

is to be 'a reported As regards degentleman.' rivation, its origin is uncertain.

tion

THACKERAY, V. Fair, ch. x. and celebrated BLOOD, or dandy about town, was this young officer.
1846.

perfect
1853.

Hotten and Ogilvie compare it with the Hindustanee loke, a man while Leland traces it to the Dutch blok, a log, a fool. For synonyms, see COVE.
; ' 1

ch.

ii.,

p. 36.

THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, The modern BLOODS have

given up the respectful ceremonies which distinguished a gentleman in my time.

2.

(old.)

Money.

[A com-

BLOOD,

subs.
;

(old).
;

i.
'

A
'

fop;

dandy

buck

or

fast

man.

Originally in

common
[From

use, but

now

obsolete.

that legi-

parison of blood, as the vital principle, to money, as that upon which the sustenance of life sinews of depends the For war,' the needful,' etc.]
' '

timate sense of the word which attributes the seat of the passions and emotions to the blood. Hence, a man of spirit one who is worth mention, and, in an inferior sense, he who makes himself notorious,
;

all

synonyms,

see

ACTUAL.

1748.
III., 199.

DODSLEY,

Collection of Poems,

He

Turns

sticks to gaming, as the surer trade; downright sharper, lives by

sucking BLOOD.
1872.

M. E.
'

whether by dress or rowdyism.]

In the last century, especially during the regency of Georgel V., the term was largely in vogue to denote a young man of good birth or social standing about

Fruit, ch. iv. sider himself

A man who

BRADDON, Dead Sea

ought
to confortunate

never to have known what it was to be hard up, or to have a pack of extravagant sons sucking his BLOOD, like so many

uncommonly

modern vampires.'
of

town

mean
fellow.
1562.

subsequently, it came to a riotous, disorderly

730.

BULLEYN, Sicke Men,

etc.,

Verb (familiar). To deplete money to victimise a figurative usage of 'to bleed'; i.e., surgically, to let or draw blood by opening a vein. Cf., subs., sense 2, and BLEED.
;
;

brave young

lustie BLOOD, or a pleasaunte roister. [M.]

1884.
to

Finish, p. 187.

1606. JOHN DAY, lie of G^^lls, Act i., Basil. Welcome gallants, welp. 9. come honord BLOODS. Ibid. To which effect we have sent a generall challenge to all the youthfull BLOODS of Africa.

want a thousand pounds

HAWLEY SMART, From Post He is very likely to

'

at

any moment.

There's a leaven of the old squire in his composition, and I recollect hearing that he was BLOODED over the Phaeton You surely can't mean that he Leger.'
'

Blood and Entrails.

has taken
to racing
?

2 39

Blood-Tub.
struck him. But, BLOOD-AN'-'OUNS if ould Nick himself were to hit a blow, I'd be afther givin' him another."
I
!

Why, you must be

for

aware that he has no money

of that sort.'

anything

man,

me

BLOOD AND ENTRAILS,

can).

subs.

The

(Ameriis

British ensign

so
;

nicknamed by Yankee

sailors

English salts return the compliment by jokingly speaking of the American flag as THE

BLOOD-CURDLER or BLOOD-FREEZER, subs, (common). A narration or incident which makes the flesh that which stirs one's creep feelings strongly, and generally
' '

GRIDIRON AND DOUGHBOYS

(q.V.).

Said of a sensarepulsively. tional murder, a thrilling ghoststory,

etc.
Cf.,

BLOOD AND THUNDER,

mon).

subs, (combeverage of port wine and brandy mixed. Port is the BLOOD, from its colour brandy the THUNDER the combined

BLOOD AND

THUNDER TALES.
BLOOD FOR BLOOD, phr. When tradesmen
(trade).

exchange

effects

being,
'

it

is

held, pro'

vocative of aches.

thundering

head-

wares, setting the cost of one kind off against another instead
of

BLOOD AND THUNDER TALES,

phr. (originally

subs.

making payment in currency, they are said to give BLOOD FOR the BLOOD. Cf., BLOOD, (r)
;

American, now

vital fluid

common)

Low class fiction, the

(2)

money

hence

term being generally applied to works dealing with the exploits of desperadoes, cut-throats, and
other
criminals.

applied to that upon the sale of which a man is dependent for a livelihood.
hat1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. ter furnishing a hosier with a hat, and taking payment in stockings, is said to

Also called

AWFULS,
see for
1876.

DREADFULS, GUTTER LITERATURE, SHILLING SHOCKERS, etc., all of which

further illustrations.

PENNY

deal

BLOOD FOR BLOOD.

See

BLOOD-FREEZER.
CURDLER.
BLOOD-RED FANCY,
tic).

BLOOD-

Portland Transcript, May. Here let me say one word to the TransLook carefully to your cript mothers. child's reading matter. Beware of the cheap, trashy romances, the BLOOD AND

subs,

(pugilis-

particular kind of hand-

THUNDER TALES by
Harry,

many
Col.

which fill the counters of our bookstores.

Daily News, March

Tom, Dick and

of so
2,

sometimes worn by pugilists and frequenters of prize See BILLY. fights.

kerchief
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, Red silk handkerchief. 3 ed., p. 446. BLOOD-RED FANCY.

1883.
3.

The

BLOOD AND

THUNDER

26, p.

tragedies generally associated with the transpontine drama.

plw

(old).

An

BLOOD SUCKERS,

subs,

abbreviated form of an old and blasphemous oath 'God's blood

The
Foot.

(military).

Sixty-third

Regiment of

and wounds
1839.

' !

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 58. 'Och! if he's a friend o' yours, my dear joy, there's no more to be said and right sorry am I
;

BLOOD-TUB,

subs.

(American).
;

rowdy
rough.

a blustering bully a This nickname was pe-

culiar to Baltimore,

which

city,

Bloody.
perhaps of all cities in the Union, enjoyed, for a time, an unenviable reputation on account of the rowdyism of a
or
section of its inhabitants. More less, however, these turbulent
infest
all the more important centres of population, and answer in many respects to the JLnglish 'roughs.' They are recruited from the largely

240
of

Bloody.
London roughs
of the lowest

type,
less

no special meaning, much a sanguinary one, can be

attached to its use. In such a case it forms a convenient intensitive, sufficiently important as regards sound to satisfy those

gangs

whose lack of language causes them to fall back upon a frequent use of words of this type.

BLOODY

occasionally

carries

labouring and commercial population they drink, and swear, but commit no crime, save an occasional deed of violence in times when excitement runs unusually high, and are for the most part affiliated with one or other of the two political the parties, Republicans or Democrats. They are known as Dead Rabbits in New York, Moyamensing Hounds in Phila;

with it a suspicion of anger, resentment, or detestation. [For

suggested derivations, and some incidental illustrative examples, see adverbial which usage,
follows.]
1840.

R.

You'll find
xx., 61.

me

DANA, Bef. Mast, a BLOODY rascal.

ii.,

2.

They've got a man for a mate of that ship, and not a BLOODY sheep
about decks.
1880.
29.
[M.]

Ibid,

delphia,

BLOOD-TUBS in Baltimore, where at other times they

have also been designated Babes, and Ashlanders. Plug-uglies,

use of the word BLOODY in is a deeper corruption, not altering the form of the but the word, defiling thought in it. [M.]

The

RUSKIN, Fiction, Fair and

F.,

modern low English

The BLOOD-TUBS

are reported to have been mostly butchers, and to have got their epithet from having, on an election day,

dipped an obnoxious German's head in a tub of warm blood, and then driven him running through the town,
18 (?). Song of the Irish Legion. BLOOD-TUBS and plug-uglies, and others

Adv. (low). Among the vulgar at the present day BLOODY, used adverbially, says G. A. Sala [Notes and Queries, 4 S., i., Feb. 8, 1868] simply qualifies the superlative and excessive.
,

Admiral Gambier, who is said to have introduced tea and

'

Are sick

galore, for a thrashing in sweet Balti-

piety' into the navy, very properly discountenanced the practice so long common to naval officers of d g the sailors'

more

eyes

while they were

reefing

;
!

Be

jabers

that

same

I'd

be proud

to

inform

Of the terrible force of an Irishman's arm.

BLOODY,

adj. (low). difficult to define,

An

epithet

and used in a multitude of vague and varyMost frequently, ing senses. however, as it falls with wearisome reiteration every two or three seconds from the mouths

His tars, scarcely nicknamed the admiral 'Old Bloody Politeful.' The lower classes use BLOODY indifferently as a term of depreciation or appreciation. Thus, it's a BLOODY shame and per
topsails. grateful,
;

contra in a flash song, the poet (supposed to be languishing in

prison) recounts that the chaplain discoursed to the inmates

Bloody.

241

Bloody.
marks
'

How Jonah lived inside of a whale, 'Twas a BLOODY sight better than county
'

upon

Hotten's

a exact

misquotation.

words

are

gaol.'

As regards derivation, dual causes seem to have operated in the evolution of BLOODY in its The various depraved sense. stages are summarised by Murray, in so far as evidence will permit, as follows. The origin but there is not quite certain is good reason to think that it was at first a reference to the habits of the bloods or aristocratic rowdies of the end of the iyth and beginning of the i8th
;
'

expletive used, without reference to meaning, as an adjective and an adverb, a simply for intensification very different thing ergo as far as Hotten goes he is absolutely correct.
'

BLOODY,

an

'

There seems little doubt, however, that the association of BLOODY with bloodshed and murder has had a very large influence in determining its
present bad signification in the mouth of a cockney of the

The phrase BLOODY drunk c. was apparently = as drunk as a

' ' '

lower classes.
too, that the

It is

noteworthy,
blutig is

German
i.,

drunk as a (Cf. thence it was extended lord ') to kindred expressions, and at length to others probably in
blood
'

'

as

sometimes used, says H. Tiede-

man
the

[A7.

and

Q., 4 S.,

Feb.

8,

1868], in the

London

same manner as While BLOODY

:

with bloodshed and murder (Cf., a BLOODY battle, a BLOODY butcher) have recommended it to the rough classes as a word that
later times, its associations

living in Dresden, I heard many times uttered such phrases as

'

Ich habe keinen blutigen Heller mehr, BLOODY penny or 'red no have I cent more]
'
,

We

appeals

imagination. may compare the prevalent craving for impressive or graphic intensives, seen in the use of
awfully,
terribly,

to

their

for

'

have not a single penny

etc.

left,'

Was,
blutig

then,

the

Dresden

jolly,

devilish,

the London of BLOODY ?

mob

introduced to in the shape

bloedig

The Dutch

damned, ripping, rattling, thumping, stunning, thundering, There is no ground for the etc. notion that BLOODY, offensive as from association it now is to ears polite, contains any profane allusion, or has connec'sblood tion with the oath In this particular it may be noted that Mr. C. G. Leland is Mr. in error when he says Hotten thinks this is an expletive without reference to any [italics not in original] meanMr. Hotten neither said ing.' nor implied anything of the kind, but just the reverse and
deuced,
'
' !

used figuratively, just Une as the French sanglant. transinjure sanglante might be

may be
lated
It

by

'een bloedige beleediging .'

might, and it is in fact, sometimes used to qualify an adjecbloedig schoon say bloody beautiful '), (literally, would be perfectly correct, but then it has not the sense of exceedingly ; it keeps its original Bloedig schoon could meaning. not be rendered otherwise than
tive.
'

To

'

'

'

'

'

by sanguinary and
1676.

beautiful.

SIR G. ETHEREDGE,
Sc.
i),

Man

of

Mode

(Act i., Dor. Give

p. 186, ed. 1723.

him

half-a-crown.
will

Mr. Leland has hung his

re-

Med. Not without he be BLOODY drunk.

promise

to

16

Bloody Back.
1684.

242
Southci-nc's
[M.]

Bloody Shirt.

DRYDEN,
line

Prol.
59.

Disappointment,
bullies enter
1706.

The doughty

An uncooked
See

sheep's head.

BLOODY drunk.

SANGUINARY

JAMES

for

FARQUHAR, Recruiting Officer, Act iv., Sc. i. Plume. Thou art a BLOODY impudent fellow. [There is no question
of fighting in the context.]
1711. SWIFT, May, letter 22. It

synonyms.

BLOODY SHIRT.

To WAVE THE

Journal

to

Stella,

was BLOODY hot walk-

BLOODY SHIRT. which is only one

' '

A
of

phrase

many

of

ing to-day.
1836.

ch.

'

M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle's Log,

I've a

ii.

BLOODY great mind

to

go

down

with him,' stuttered another.

From the foregoing examples the word would appear to have been once in literary use it is not now customary to print it In in full, but thus, b y.
;

passing it that there

tributing

may be mentioned
is

a similar character, variants such as to wave the crimson banner,' the ensanguined under etc., garment,' being quite frequently met with in American journalism. Its origin and history is thus explained in Americanisms, Old and New. It is a political phrase used in the States to signify the opening

no ground

for at'

anew

its

derivation to

By'r

Our Lady.'

or keeping alive of factious strife on party questions. Primarily it was the symbol of

A BLOODY BACK, subs. (old). soldier a nickname alluding to the colour of his coat. [From
;

BLOODY =
1811.

i.e.,

of the colour of blood, scarlet or blood-red BACK.]

Lexicon Balatronicum.

BLOODY

BACK.

A jeering appellation for a soldier.

BLOODY CHASM. To BRIDGE THE BLOODY CHASM, phr. (Amerifavourite expression can) with orators who, during the years immediately succeeding the Civil War, sought to obliterate the memory of the struggle.
.

those who, during the Reconstruction period at the close of the rebellion of the Southern or Confederate States, would not suffer the Civil War to sink into oblivion out of consideration for the feelings of the vanquished. Perhaps a more odious term never crept into politics than the BLOODY SHIRT it is alike distasteful to the sense, brutal and vulgar, and capable of misuse. There are still those who, in American politics, in the
;

The antithetical phrase WAVE THE BLOODY SHIRT

is

TO

(q.V.).

BLOODY ELEVENTH, subs, (military). The Eleventh Regiment of Foot. At the battle of Salamanca, fought with the French,
the corps
pieces,

and one points of which continually and inevitably must arise between institutions so diverse in origin, tradition, and practice as those of the North and
thousand
difference

was nearly cut to whence its sanguinary At Fontenoy and sobriquet. Ostend also, it was hard-pressed and nearly annihilated.
subs,

South, seek for party purposes to estrange the one from the other by keeping alive the exciting memories of the old bitter a man is said struggle. to have waved the BLOODY

When

BLOODY JEMMY,

(common).

SHIRT it is known that he has gone back in spirit and intent to the sorrowful days of the Republic, when the blue and

Bloody Shirt.
the grey, each confident of were battling for the right, in the slaying each other He South. valleys of the
ignores the peace which has settled over the old fields of war, and does not assent to the hand clasp of Federal with Confederate. He tries to open the strife anew, mocks the spirit of forgiveness, and rakes the old ashes over in the hunt
for a burning coal. He scoffs at those who fought against the Union, and, because they have

2 43

Bloody Shirt.
It has recently any cause. been introduced into English

journalism in connection with

the Irish struggle, and the Unionist Party has been accused of WAVING THE BLOODY SHIRT with how much truth or the reverse there is here no concern. The origin of the expression is to be
1
'

sought in a Corsican

custom

now

come back
insincere.

to

it,

calls

them
the

He

rebukes

forgave them when together they laid down their arms. This is called WAVING THE BLOODY SHIRT, and tOwhen many of those day,

veteran

who

not quite, obsolete. In the days of the fierce vendette the feuds which divided the Corsicans, family from family, bloodshed was a common occurrence. Before the burial of a murdered man, the gridata was celebrated.
nearly,
if

This

now
the

in

active

life

cannot

time when the Rebellion had closed, and the boys were marching home, there are legislators and journalists who devote their efforts to stirring up a sectional hatred which without these efforts would be but a tradition. Many Southerners keenly resent the spirit which thus traduces the now loyal South, and de-

which literally word, means a crying aloud, may be translated a wake. The body of the victim was laid upon a
' '

remember

plank

his

useless

firearms

were placed near his hand, and his blood-stained shirt was hung above his head. Around the rude bier sat a circle of women,

wrapped

who rocked

in their black mantles, themselves to and

fro with strange wailings. The men, relatives and friends of the murdered man, fully armed stood around the room,

clares

it

BLOODY SHIRTERS,
called, rail at the

The hypocritical. as they are

mad
Then
the

with thirst for revenge. one of the women

wife

decency which and forgets, and with venomous tongues revile alike
forgives

those those those

So honour will do this the acit tion must have a name will be called WAVING THE

who fell in the lost cause, who lived to repent, and who would grant pardon. as men lost to long

or mother or dead man with a sharp scream would snatch the BLOODY SHIRT, and waving it
sister of the

aloft the begin the voccro lamentation. This rhythmic discourse was made up of alternate expressions of love for the dead, and hatred of his enemies and
;

BLOODY

SHIRT.

From

this

special meaning it is now passing into general use to indicate similar tactics in regard to

images and tremendous curses were echoed in the faces and amidst the mutterings Its of the armed mourners.
its startling

application to American politics

Bloomer.
Mr. Oliver P. who, elected United States senator in 1867, and again in 1873, took a prominent
is

244

Blooming.
count
is

credited to

taken

of

its

exact

Morton,

part as a leader of the more radical Republicans, favouring a stern policy of coercion in the reconstruction of the

primary meaning. Its slang use may be traced to that figurative sense of the orthodox word, which signifies in the bloom in of health and beauty,'
'

'

Southern States.

He was

one

of the Presidential Candidates at the Cincinnati Convention of 1876, his name standing second

the prime, flourishing,' etc. Some uncertainty exists as to the origin of this not overornamental addition to our If the expletive vocabulary.
'

'

on the first ballot. Happily, however, his opinions were too pronounced to unite the factions of his party, and the ultimate choice fell upon Mr. Hayes.
1888.

in its

word is used by Granvil(s^? quot modern sense, then the

.)

The BLOODY SHIRT is gradually fading away. The white-winged dove of peace
her wings here and there, patriotism forgets and forgives old differences, sectionalism is gradually the giving way to love of country whole country. In fact the ill-feeling between the North and South would have died out years ago among the veterans of both sections, had they been left to themselves, and the politicians been as patriotic as they.

Coldwater (Mich.) Sun, Jan.

phrase is very much older than has hitherto been imagined. Barring this, it would seem that we are indebted for it to the Californian coast, although there is little doubt that the chief instrument in its acclimatiza-

spreads

England was Mr. Alfred G. Vance, the comic singer, well-known in connection with and other ex'Jolly dogs,'
tion in

tensively songs.

popular

music - hall
stated,
it

As before
'

Times, Mar. 21. It is reprehensible to the last degree for the Bourbons of the South to continue to play on the colour line the Southern BLOODY SHIRT and then denounce Republican extremists for doing the same thing at the North.

1888.

New

York

Weekly

very largely supplanted is BALLY bloody (q.v.) also used in the same manner. Its are maniapplications fold. One is requested not to make any BLOOMING mistake or error another showing off,' or putting on side," is told not to be so BLOOMING flash an
1
;
'

has

'

BLOOMER,

(Australian prison A mistake. Said to be slang). an abbreviated form of bloom'

subs.

excessively stupid man is spoken of as a BLOOMING idiot and an inquisitive individual is told
;

ing error.'

See

BLOOMING.

more

forcibly

than
asks

BLOOMING, often BLOOM IN ,/>/>/. adj. (common). This word, similar

in type to
' '

me no BLOOMIN' imper'int questions, an* I tells yer no BLOOMIN'

perhaps,

politely,

'you

lies.'
J. GRANVIL, Sadducismits [under the head of 'The Tedworth' (1661). Granvil makes mention that on one occasion the spirit came into a room panting like a dog, and] company coming up, the room was presently filled with a BLOOMING noisome smell.

blessed,'

blamed,'
1726.

and other words of the kind, is, as used by the lower classes, a euphemism for BLOODY (q.v.) but it is also frequently employed as a mere meaningless intensitive.
,

REV.

triumphatits Demon of

Like the last-named word,

little

Bloss.
COLONEL JOHN HAY, 18(?). The Mystery of Gilgal.'
for his 'leven inch

2-15

Bloviate.

Ballad,
:

'

He went
I

1785. GROSK, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BLOSS (cant), the pretended

bowie knife

wife of a bully or shop-lifter.

1881.
1

But

tries to foller a Christian life, I'll drop a slice of liver or two,

New

York Slang Dictionary,

'

My

BLOOMIN' shrub, with you. 1887. G. R. SIMS, Dagonet Ballads

to the
I feels like a Missionary). I gets so infernal weak.'
'

Slang

Stories,' p. 42.

Why,

Bell, is

it

(Told

BLOOMIN' babby
1877.

ch.

Five Years' Penal Servitude, 'Afore that I worked in iii., p. 222. the galleries, a making the casemates for
the guns,

yourself? Tip us your daddle, my bene mort. May I dance at my death, and grin in a class-case, if I didn't think you had been put to bed with a shovel. .' No, Jim, I only piked into Grassville with a dimber-damber, who couldn't pad the hoof for a single darkman's
.
.

'

and BLOOMING hard work

p. 4.

without his BLOSS

getting pogy.'

to

it

keep him from

was.

1882.
sit

('Sic Tran'Andsomc 'Arriet: 'Owmy! If it 'yn't that BLOOMIN' old Temple Bar, as they did aw'y with out o' Fleet Street Mr. Belleville (referring

STEAM LAUNCH

Punch's Almanac,
IN

THE

VENICE

Gloria Mundi')
'

BLOT THE SCRIP, verbal phr. (old). To put an undertaking into

writing to put
'

the
it

modern phrase

is

in black

and white.'

to

guide book)

'
:

Now

it

'yn't.

It's

the

Hence

fymous Bridge o' Sighs, as Byron went and stood on; 'im as wrote 'Our Boys,'

To BLOT THE
IT (old),
i.e.,

SCRIP

AND JARK

yerknow!'
I

'Andsome 'Arriet:

'Well,

never

'
\

1880.

Odd People in Odd Places, p. 59. Who's got any music ? presently exclaimed the dirty scoundrel who had been mending the boxing-glove;
Hotel, in
' '

JAS.

GREENWOOD,

Flyfaker's

to stand engaged, or bound for anyone. Grose. JARK means a seal, and in Oxford in slang, a safe conduct pass
;

'

me, let's have a BLOOMIN' lark! Let's have a tune and a song. Who's got any BLOOMIN' music?
'

1884. ship,

W.

C.

RUSSELL, Jack's Court'

ch. xxxviii.

And

if

there's fire

there ought to be nothen to stop us from cooking a BLOOMIN' old goat.'

1889.

Ally Sloper, July

: !

6.

Innocence Indignant Son of Labour. If that 'ere BLOOMIN' Well, I'm blowed
swell ain't a-himitatin'

Injured

me

BLOSS,

subs,

thieves').

(old,

and American

generic

name

for

a woman, whether girl, wife, or

mistress. Probably from an attributive sense of 'blossom.' For example, Shakspeare, in Titus A ndromicus [1588, iv., 2, 72] employs it in the sense of one lovely and full of promise. Sweet
, '

the former sense it is retained in the patter of modern American thieves, a synonym being JASKER. Jarkman is the name given in America to a begging letter writer, whose accomplishments in this respect are varied by the production of false characters for servants, and other documents of a kindred This is a case, like nature. many others, in which old English cant terms have, across the Atlantic, been invested with a new meaning. Formerly a

jarkman was equivalent to an 'Abram-man,' i.e., a licensed

beggar.
BLOVIATE, verb (American). To talk aimlessly and boastingly in 'high falutin'. to indulge
;

BLOWSE you are a beautious BLOSSOME sure Tennyson also

'

[1847]

in the Princess
'

[v.,

79]
1

uses the expression, My babe, my BLOSSOM, ah, my child!

Cf.,

[A factitious' word probably founded on the verb BLOW, sense i, on the model of deSaid to have been in viate.']
'

BLOWEN.

use since 1850.

Blow.
BLOW,
ling.
subs,

246
i.

Blow.
not to

(common).

shil-

BLOW (as

they say)

a not unneeded

lesson.

Amongst SYNONYMS
; ; ;

for this
;

1883.

MRS.

CAMPBELL

PKAED,

coin are beong borde button deaner or deener bob bob;

Sketches of Australian Life,

p. 45.

'He

stick

(old
(this

slang)

breaky-leg
;
;

was famous for his coolness and daring, and for BLOWING, in Australian parlance, both of his exploits and of his " bonnes,
'

forms part of the socalled back slang) hog levy teviss twelver stag peg touch-me (this is an abbreviated form of touch-me-on-

fortunes."
2.

gen

expose

To (general.) to betray
;
;

inform
to

to

Cf., also

BLOW UPON and BLOW

peach.

THE

the-nob,

rhyming
;

slang

for

bob or

Abraham's shilling) willing (also rhyming slang for

a shilling).
1879.

J. HORSLEY, in Macm. But afterwards I got Mag., XL., 501. Ibid. I 35. gd., and then four BLOW. went to the Steel (Bastile Coldbath

W.

GAB. [This is a transferred sense of blow = to breathe out to give forth by breathing hence, to sound a signal on an instrument to blaze abroad as by a trumpet.] For synonyms,
; ; ;

see

PEACH.
Appius and Virg., in Hazl. Was all well agreed ?

1575.

Fields Prison), having a clobber on me and about my brigh (pocket).

1885.
col.
6.

new
fifty

suit

BLOW

of in

Dpdsley, IV., 136.

did nobody
1721.

BLOW

ye

[M.]

DEFOE,

Daily Telegraph, Feb.

5, p. 2,

They said they could sell some for five BLOWS (shillings), and that he could easily make 158 of the stuff.
2.

(Old

University.)
;

A
Cf.
,

drunken

frolic

spree'.

For BLOW-OUT, subs. nyms, see JAMBOREE.

Verb.
'

syno;

Jack. 'As for that,' tell it well enough, if not be seen anywhere among my old acquaintances, for I am BLOWN, and they will all betray me.' 1748. T. DVCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). BLOW (v.) also to discover the secrets of another; also when a person undervalues or slights a person or thing,
.

History of Colonel says Will, 'I could I had it, but I must

he

is

said to

boast; to brag to gas generally to talk boastfully or self assertingly of oneself or one's affairs. In this sense TO BLOW, long diai.
'

To

a. 1859.

L.
if

BLOW upon it. HUNT, Country Lodgings,

(1877),
I.,

D n Tom
in

in Casquet Lit.

p. 42,
. . .

col.

i.

me,

don't
[M.]

BLOW

I'll tell

Neville.
3.

current, is now reIt is also garded as slang. associated with the idea of
lectically
ing.'

(American.) To lie and a slightly less opprobrious sense to gas so much as to be perilously near the border-line
;
' '

angry speech, 'storming,' 'fumCf., BLOW UP, and for synonyms, see GAS.
c.

which separates boasting exaggeration from absolute untruth.

4.
'

(general.)
'

Frequently
for

1400.

Apol. Loll., 97.

[M.]

BLOUING

employed euphemistically
to
'

veynly wip fleschli wit.

1519.
ley,
I.,

damn
or

41.

so to
st. 16.
ill I

BLOW
I

Four Elements, in Hazl. DodsWhy, man, what aileth thee

?

perative.
it
!

BLOW
it
!

generally in the imIT

'
!

i.e.

hang

damn

C/.,

BLOWED,

[M.]

with which
all senses.
1849.
;

it is

closely allied in

1785.
like

BURNS, Epistle to J. Lapraik, winna BLAW about rnysel As

my

fauts to

tell.

C.

ch.

'

ii.

Well,
tall

1883.

The

Graphic, Jan. 27, p. 79, col. i. whole team has taught Australia

quoth the

KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, if you won't stand a pot," man, I will, that's all, and
'

BLOW

temperance.'

Blow a Cloud.
1883.
cli.

247

Slowed.

Miss BRADDON, Golden

'

Calf,
life
!

xxvi.

BLOW
I

his station in

If

he was a duke
5.

shouldn't want

him.'

(general.)
Cf.,

To To

lose

or

publickly shewing in Bartholomew Fair a book called a BLOW-BOOK, in which were many obscene and filthy pictures: the book was likewise burnt, and the

spend money.
6.

BLUE.
indulge
Cf.,

person paid

costs.

(University.)
;

SLOWED.

in a frolic or spree.

BLOW
THE

(familiar).

To BE BLOWED, verb BLOWED is here a

for
'

OUT
7.

also

To GO ON

euphemism
intents

damned

'

to all
it

BLOW.

and

purposes,

is

To blush. To BITE
(old cant).

(Winchester

School.)

frequently

little

THE BLOW, phr. To steal goods to

;

thinly-veiled says that

tell

more than a Hotten oath.

used
:

Tom Hood

to
'

PRIG, which

see

for

synonyms.
phr. (col'

BLOW

CLOUD, verbal

a cigar or Hotten says, a phrase pipe but used two centuries ago
loquial).
; '

To smoke

I following story was once asked to contribute to a new journal, not exactly but at a very gratuitously, small advance upon nothing and avowedly because the work

the

gives no authority, ray's earliest example only dates from 1855, but as will be seen below, it occurs in Tom Crib in
1819.
1819.
to
. . .

and Mur-

had been planned according that estimate. However,

accepted the terms
ally

to
I

condition-

that

is

to say,

provided

MOORE, Tom
I

Crib's

Memorial

Congress, p. 39.

His fame

For

that,

my

need not tell, friends, all England's loud

Swell A CLOUD with.

with;

But

this I'll say, a civiller I'd never wish to BLOW

1870.

ch.

vii.

M. TWAIN, Innocents Abroad, And BLOWING suffocating

the principle could be properly carried out. Accordingly, I wrote to my butcher, baker, and other tradesmen, informing them that it was necessary, for the sake of cheap literature and the interest of the reading public, that they should furnish me with their several commodities at a very trifling per-centage

'CLOUDS' and boisterously performing at dominoes in the smoking-room at

night.

above
of

sufficient

It will be cost price. to quote the answer

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
en line (popular tuber cloud iQ
: ' ; '

let's

Tubons blow a
;

the butcher

"

Sir,

Res-

smoke); piper
:

la fumerie (popular smoking) faire du brouillard (' to produce

;

or

make a
;

fog or mist
bouffarder.

bourrer une

')

en

GER-

MAN SYNONYM is
or schweihtn.

Escf schwdchen,

buy your own

kill

pectin' your note, Cheap literaButchers BE BLOWED ter must live as well as other pepel be if so and you or the readin' publick wants to have meat at prime cost, you must
!

beastesses,
I

and
etc.,

yourselves. John Stokes."

'

remain,

BLOW-BOOK,
'

subs,

(old).

A
'

book

Cf.,
1835.

BLOW ME

containing indelicate or smutty pictures. Post Man, 8 June. Last Sun1708. day a person did pennance in the Chapter-House of St. Paul's, London, for

DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, Others remonstrating with the p. 50. said Thomas Sludberry, on the impropriety of his conduct, the said Thomas Sludberry repeated the aforesaid ex'

pression,

You BE BLOWED.'

Blowen.
1863.
III., p. 249.
'

248

Blow Great Guns.

1812.

JEAFFRESON, Live
(Cries of
' '

It Doivn,
'
!

Chair, Chair,' and Order BE SLOWED exclaimed the infuriated Mr. H. 1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, bk. II., ch. v. HOLIDAY BE BLOWED said Fledgely, entering, What have yon got to do with holidays ? Five Years' Penal Servitude, 1877. ch. iii., p. 244. No," says she, we've got some more besides that, and enough, too, to take us to France. BLOWED, old man, if we don't go to Paris, and there we can

Order, order.')

BLOWEN, a prostitute: a woman who cohabits with a man without marriage.

1847.
'

J.

H.

VAUX,

Flash

Diet.

LYTTON,

Lttcrctia, pt. II., ch.

'

'

ii.

'

'

she'll her.'

If she's a good girl, not let you spend

'

and loves you,

your money on
'

haint such a ninny as that,' said Beck, with majestic contempt. I 'spises the flat that is done brown by the
I

'

'

BLOWENS.'
1848. C. KINGSLEY, Yeast, ch. xi. don't they have a short simple service now and then, that might catch the ears of the roughs and the BLOWENS, without tiring out the poor thoughtless creatures' patience, as they do now ?

Why

g et

f r

them.'
7.

1879.

sonable

You BE For Summer. I'll warm yer For Autumn. Not so blooming green For Winter. An ice little game all

BLOWED
round.

Slang.

Punch's Almanac, p. For Spring.

Sea!

prostitute, see

For synonyms in the sense of BARRACK-HACK.

1889.

Ally Sloper's H. H., Aug.

'

p. 242, col. 2.

BLOWED if

3,

I'd

have made
'
!

her Mrs. Juggins, if I'd have known she wor going to make a footstool of me

BLOWER, subs. (old). i. A girl; a contemptuous name in opposition to

BLOWEN or BLOWING, subs, (old.) This word appears to have

passed through a series of ups and downs in the course of its career. Originally signifying a woman, without special reference to moral character, it subsequently came to mean a showy It courtesan, or a prostitute.
still

JOMER (q.v.) given by Grose [1785] 2. (American and Colonial.) A good talker a boaster a
;
.

'gas-bag.'

Cf.,

BLOW,
in

verb,

sense
1863.

i.

MANHATTAN,

Evening
. .
.

Standard, 10 Dec. General Grant is not one of the BLOWER generals.

1864.

[M.]
i.

but

is

retains the latter meaning, frequently used in a more

Notorious among our bar and the public as a BLOWER. [M.]

1871.
'

Spectator, 22 Oct., 1202, col.

DE VERE,

Americanisms,

p.

complimentary sense than heretofore to signify

a finely built

584. don't believe

handsome girl. In America among the criminal classes it

is

You need not blow so, my friend, a word of what you say.' Hence also the noun BLOWER, a braggart,

with special reference to his success in imitating Baron Munchausen.

3.

only used

mistress.

extremely most important suggestions being that it comes (i) from the reputation having been blown and (2) that in Wilts upon BLOWEN signifies a blossom hence BLOWEN a flower a pet.
'
'

designate a derivation is uncertain, the two

to
Its

pipe.

Cf.,

BLOW

CLOUD.

BLOW GREAT GUNS,

ular).

verbal phr. (pop-

a a violent gale. varied by to BLOW

To blow

hurricane

Sometimes GREAT GUNS

AINSWORTH,
'

AND SMALL ARMS.

1839.

HARRISON
[1889], 23.

1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia, I., in wks. (1720) IV., 17. What ogling there will be between thee and the BLOWINGS ! 1789.
p. 143.

GEO. PARKER,

BLOWEN, a woman.

Life's Painter,

don't think all the world means to fine night!' cross the Thames this One'd think it rained observed Ben. fares as well as BLOWED GREAT GUNS.
I
'

Jack Sheppard

Curse me,

if

Blow hard.

249

Blow
BLOW
IN

Out.
verbal phr.

Why, there's another party on the stairhead inquiring arter scullers; and, by the mass they appear in a greater hurry than any of us.' H. MILLER, Sch. and Schm. 1854. It soon began to BLOW GREAT (1858), 14. GUNS. [M.]
!

ONE-S PIPE,

A transatlantic (American). equivalent of to BLOW or BLEW

[one's

money]

i.e.,

to

spend

it.

BLOW ME! BLOW ME UP! BLOW ME

TIGHT phr. (popular). intj. Expressions which, like SLOWED
I

BLOWHARD, Western

subs.

(American).

term of revilement, the precise meaning of which it would be difficult to explain, since a newcomer may, in one and the same breath, be called a a BLARSTED BRITISHER, COYOTE, and a BLOWHARD. If all these are synonymous, then
indeed
the
is

(q.v.),

serve

either

as

half-

oaths or as merely big sounding but meaningless exclamations.

veiled
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, 'BLOW ME UP (says he) if I have I., 48. had a fellow with such rum toggys cross

my company
1819.
to

these

many

a day.'
Crib's

America

in

Englishman a bad way.

2.

in
Cf.,

MOORE, Tom

Memorial

BLOWER, sense

And BLOW ME TIGHT'

verbal phr.
;

Says

Congress. Bill 'there's nothing like a Bull

Bill

Gibbons

BLOW HOT AND COLD,

(familiar).

To be
;

treacherous

inconsistent vacillating. There is an allusion in the expression to one of ./Esop's fables.

1577.
176.

ne'er his days was known to swear, Except light oaths, to grace his speeches, Like dash my wig or burn my breeches,'

In

all

'

'

'

BLOW ME
I'll

'

1876. tures of a

W. BuLLiNGER.Dccflrffs (1592),

ME,

C. HINDLEY, Life and AdvenCheap Jack, p. 25. Here BLOW do such a thing I never did
yes, thirty shilI'll

doeth
[M.]

One which out of one mouth, BLOWE BOTH HOAT AND COLDE.
This The World, No. 185. most capricious, unin the

before, I'll say thirty lings buys the lot, and

have no more

nor take no

less.

1756.

old fellow is of a
fable,

BLOW ONE'S BAZOO,

(American).

equal temper, and, like the satyr in the

To

boast

verbal phr. to
;

BLOWS HOT AND COLD

same

breath.
1856.
750.

MOTLEY, Dutch Rep., V., v., Being constantly ordered to BLOW

'

HOT AND COLD with

the

same

breath.'

to gasconade. [From the Dutch bazu, an abbreviation hence an of bazuin, a trumpet equivalent of the English 'to

swagger

blow one's
a
(colloquial). severe repri-

own

trumpet'.]

BLOWING

UP, subs,
;

mand a jobation. See BLOW UP. The French equivalent is

;

scolding

BLOW ONESELF OUT,

verb (comto heartily; mon). To eat gorge oneself. See BLOW OUT.
1837.

a/res (fem.pl.),
1839.

i.e.,

'agonies.'

BARHAM,

/.

L. (Babes

in

the

West, IV.,

HALIBURTON, Letter-Bag Gt. I would give him a good 42.

Wood).
In the dog-days, don't be so absurd As to BLOW YOURSELVES OUT with green-

No. xxv., p. 448. The waves dashed over the pier, ducking the three
low,
i

BLOWING-UP. [M.] MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny Lud1874.

S.,

gages

BLOW OUT,

subs,

or four venturesome spirits who went on there. I was one and received a good

(common).
'

BLOWING UP from Mr. Brandon

pains.

for

my

gluttonous feast, a heavy feed,' or entertainment. Also called a TUCK IN, which see for syno-

Blowse.
nyms.
OUT.
1825.
'

250

Blow Up.
And
rists,

Cf.,

BLOW ONESELF

So the old Babylonian BLOUZE, her demure fanatick Spouse.

1851.

THACKERAY, English Humo-

SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, II., She sent me a card for her BLOWOUT,' said Mowbray, 'and so I am
264.

Are not the Rosalindas of p. 167. Britain as charming as the BLOUSALINDAS of the Hague?

resolved to
1847.

go.'

TH. HOOK, Man of Many Friends. giving good feeds is, with many of these worthies, the grand criterion by which the virtues and talents of mankind are measured these persons

The

BLOW THE GAB or GAFF,

(common).
out
'

To
;

a secret

verbal phr. reveal, or 'let to peach. Cf.,

call

a similar favour either a

'

'

spread

or

'

BLOW-OUT.' 1852. H. B. STOWE,

'

GAFF, GAG and GAB. synonyms, see PEACH.

For

Uncle

Tom's

Get us hot water, and Cabin, ch. viii. sugar, and cigars, and plenty of the real
stuff,

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To BLOW THE GAB (cant), to confess, or impeach a confederate. 1833.
'

and

we'll

have a BLOW-OUT.'

MARRYAT,

Peter Simple,

ch.

Verb

(thieves').
see

To
PRIG.

steal.

One of the French officers, after he was taken prisoner, axed me how we
xliii.

For synonyms,

had managed
but
ch.
I

1877.

to get the gun up there wasn't going to BLOW THE GAFF.' Five Years' Penal Servitude,
p. 122.

BLOWSE, BLOWSY, BLOUZE, BLOWZY,

subs. (old).
i..

ii.,

The
'

prisoner, burning for

beggar's trull

a wench.
2.

revenge, quietly bides his time till the chief warder comes round, then asks to speak to him, and BLOWS THE GAFF.'

slatternly

woman,

es-

pecially
hair.

one
In

Thought

origin.

with dishevelled to be of canting Grose's time the

BLOW THE

term

was humorously varied

GRAMPUSE, verbal phr. To throw cold water on a man who has fallen asleep when on duty.
(nautical).
verbal phi'.

by Blowsabella,

in reference to the country girl in Gay's pastoral

BLOW THE GROUNDSELS,

(old).

poem, 'The Shepherd's Week,' which depicts rural life in its character of poverty and rudeness, rather

To have

sexual

com-

merce on the ground.

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To BLOW THE GROUNDSILS with a woman on the floor. to lie (cant),

than as clothed in the colours of romance.

fair, fine ladies,

We,

who park

out our

lives

BLOW TOGETHER,
(tailors').

verbal

phr.

From common

sheep-paths, cannot help.

;

To make garments in
subs,
;

the crows, From flying over As Blousalinda.

1557.
st. 37,

we're as natural

still

a slovenly manner.

p. 43 (E.D.S.).
is

TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. xvi., Whiles Gillet, his

a milking thy cow.

BLOW

UP,

(colloquial).
'

A
rail-

scolding

'

wigging

BLOUSE,
1605.

CHAPMAN, All

Foolcs,

Act

iv.,

p. 68 (Plays, 1874).

without my advice, my love, my knowledge, a beggar, too, a trull, a BLOWSE and Ay, 1638. FORD, Lady's Trial, III., i. Wench is your trull, your BLOUZE, your dowdie.
!

Wed

ing. 1809. SIR CELL, in C. K. Sharpe's Correspondence (1888), I., 355. There won't be any quarrel, so you need not fear. The only chance is Keppel making a BLOW UP when she abuses me.

1849.
Ixviii.

1705. WARD, Hitdibras vol. 11., pt. VII., p. 20.

Rcdivivus,

guv'nor, and was going to retire from the business haltogether.'

BLOW HUP

THACKERAY, Pendcnnis, Morgan had had a devil

'

ch.

of a

with his

own

Blow Upon.
1855.
vii.
'

25 1

Blubber-Belly.
recriminations
'

they'll

be a BLOW UP with your governor.'

THACKERAY, Newcomcs, ch. Mind the hice is here in time; or

as

to

'

'

rounding

and
Tales,

BLOWING
1882.
'

'

ON each

other.

Verb (colloquial).

To

scold.

1809. SIR W. CELL, in C. K. Sharpe's Correspondence (1888), I., 355. I have heard her daughter BLOW UP Lady Salisbury when she had quarrelled with Lady Sefton.

An Improvement on a System.' Prince had caught me before his establishment had got BLOWN UPON in the public prints, he might have perp. 301. If Mr.
' '

JAS. PAYN, in G/otc<

Worm

suaded

me

to
I

become an inmate
hope
I

of the

G. A. S[ALA], in Illust. L. 1883. June 16, p. 599, col. i. That the 'aughty nobleman should BLOW UP the clerk for presuming to take a seat in his presence.
Neii's,

approved of the manner of life in vogue at that institution, but I make no doubt that I should have fallen in with it without much resistance.

Agapemone.

should not have

BLUB.

See

BLUBBER,

verb.

TO BLOW UP SKY-HIGH, phr The American, (American). fond of doing everything with unusual energy, likes to BLOW UP SKY-HIGH, an addition which lends colour to the supposition that probably the phrase is originally a nautical one, and really borrowed from the blowing up of a vessel, much as the meaning of the words must have evaporated before it reached the
.

I. BLUBBER, subs, (common). The mouth. From the figurative use of the word, especially of anything swollen or pro-

truding,

as

of the lips.

For
of
the

synonyms,

see

POTATO-TRAP.
Dictionary
I

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue. BLUBBER, I fellow's mouth.

cull's

have stopped the have stopped the

2. A woman's breasts. See SPORT BLUBBER, and for syno-

present stage.

nyms, DAIRIES.

BLOW UPON
tell

(old).
;

To

betray; to
;

tales

defame.
2.

of to discredit to See BLOW, verb, sense Used also with indirect

To cry to used contemptuously. Also shortened into BLUB.

Verb (familiar).
;

weep

passive.
1402. T. OCCLEVE], Letter of [? Cupid, in Arber's Garner, vol. IV., p. 61. Thus they despised be, on every side,

women none other wrech BLOBtR and wepe till hem list
1748.
xliv. (1804), 202.

1400. Test. Love, II. (1560), 283,

.

i.
.

Han
but [M ]

stint.

great school-boy

SMOLLETT, Roderick- Random, He BLUBBERED like a who had been whipped.

Dislandered
wide.
1750.

and

BLOWN UPON

full

FIELDING,

Tom

1826. SCOTT, Woodstock, IV. Phrebe Mayflower BLUBBERED heartily for com-

Jones, bk. X.,

pany.

[M.]

ii. That the reputation of her house, which was never BLOWN UPON before, was utterly destroyed.'

ch.

'

To SPORT BLUBBER, phr. (common). To show one's breasts,

said of

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, It fortunately occurred to p. 239. me, that if I gave it him myself, I could be of no farther use. I should have been
II.,

women,

especially those

with large bosoms.

and

prominent

BLOWN UPON
1864.

immediately.

bk. III., ch.

affairs is desperate, and UPON at any moment.'

DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, xii. 'The condition of our may be BLOWN
Five Years' Penal Servitude,

BLUBBER AND GUTS,

mon).
Obesity
;

snbs. (coma low term.

ch.

i.,

_1877. p. 4.

BLUBBER-BELLY,

subs,

Both desisted from their own

(common).

fat

person.

Blubber Head,

252
1852.

Blue.
lllackuood's Magazine, p. 224.

BLUBBER HEAD, subs, (common). A toolish, empty-headed indiSee APARTMENTS TO vidual.

LET.

Those brutal BLUDGEONEERS ... go out ... in gangs to poach. [M.J 1855. TROLLOPE, Warden, xiv., p. Old St. Dunstan with its smiting 144.

BLUDGEONEER has been removed.

BLUCHER

hard), subs. (Wini. A College chester College). Their praefect in half power. does not extend jurisdiction beyond Seventh Chamber passage,' though their privileges are the same as those of other prasfects. They are eight in
(ch.
'

BLUDGER,
thief,

subs,

(thieves').

low

does not hesitate to use violence literally one who will use a bludgeon. Cf.,
;

who

BLUDGET.
1856.

H.
p. 46.

London,
violence
;

number.
1864. Blackwood, p. 86. The maining eight college praefects (called in Winchester tongue, BLUCHERS) have a
re-

as

... BLUDGERS
in

MAYHEW, Gt. World of Those who plunder with

or
'

stick

slingers,'

who rob

women.

company with low

more limited authority, confined Chambers and the Quadrangle. 1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life
Winchester College,
p.

to

at

30.

The

eight
'

senior praefects were said to have full power,' and had some slight^ privileges not enjoyed by the remaining ten, who were generally called BLUCHERS.

BLUDGET, subs. (American). This is given in the New York Slang a low Dictionary [i88ij as female thief, who decoys her
'

victims

into to rob them.

1

alley-ways, etc.,
Cf.,

BLUDGER.

A non-privileged cab ply2. The ing at railway stations. origin of the name and its application, as far as known, is given in the two following quotations.
The
Soc. Sc. Review, I., p. 406. 1864. railway companies recognise two other classes of cabs, called the 'priand the BLUCHERS, 'named vileged'. after the Prussian Field-Marshal who the field of Waterloo only to on arrived
'
. .

BLUE.

Few words enter more largely into the composition of slang, and colloquialisms bordering on slang, than does the word BLUE. Expressive alike of the utmost contempt, as of all that men hold dearest and love
best, its manifold combinations, in ever varying shades of meaning, greet the philologist at every turn. very Proteus, it defies all attempts to trace the

do the work that chanced

to

be undone.

1870. Athenceum, 5 March, p. 328. Non-privileged cabs, which are admitted

why and wherefore

should

to stations after all the privileged have been hired, are known as BLUCHERS.

of many of the turns of expression of which it forms a part why true BLUE

be

synonymous

with
to
;

BLUDGEONER,
bully
;

subs,
;

pimp ponce a man attached to a house of ill-fame for the purpose of terrorising
;

(harlotry).

faithful, staunch adherence one's faith and principles

or why, on the other hand, to look

BLUE should
with
fear,

signify

affected

victims, and rendering easier the task of plunder. [From BLUDGEON, a stout stick or club, i.e., one armed -f ER or EER with the weapon in question.]
;

dismayed, and lowspirited. Curiously enough, the historical method helps but little to decide why in one case an exact reversal of meaning should have taken place in the appli-

Blue.
;

253

Blue.
beadles, the varlets who wore the blue, the blue-coat boys, and even harlots in a house of correction, who wore blue as a dress of ignominy. The proverb he's in his quoted by Ray, better blue clothes,' i.e., 'he thinks himself wondrous fine,' has reference to the livery of a The police more reservant.
'
' '

cation of the word for, as far as the evidence is concerned, both the good and bad shades of meaning appear to run contemporaneously. It is also noteworthy that the word enters largely into the slang of nationalities other than our own; indeed, one of the most curious, as well as one of the most interesting facts connected with the comparative study of slang, is that which reveals the oneness of the human race in its modes of thought and speech, the Tower of Babel notwithstanding. This special feature of slang will, to some extent, be found dealt with but the at the end of this work subject is too wide, and the field too vast, for one student to
;

cently

have been known

col-

lectively as BLUES, the

BLUE, TLES, BLUE-DEVILS, ROYAL REGIMENT OF FOOT-GUARDS BLUE, all nicknames referring to the colour of the uniform. For
general synonyms,
1877.

MEN IN BLUE-BOYS, BLUE BOT-

see

BEAK.

have accomplished much singlehanded. This, however, may be said that, comparing the slang of one nation with that of another, one finds the same ideas cropping up, revealing, alas the same follies and foibles, but also showing, let it be said, in the few cases where slang travels beyond the earthy and
; !

Years' Penal Servitude, He would chatter gaily ch. iv., p. 257. and enter with great gusto into the bit of details of some cleverly executed

Five

'

business,' or bilking evading the police.

18(?).

'

the

BLUES,'

HOOD, Row

at the

'Oxford
guess

Arms.' Well, that's the row, and the upshot after all ?
'
'

who can

Whether Harmony will ever make the Arms her house of call Or whether this here mobbing, as some
;

longish heads fortell it, Will grow to such a riot that the Oxford

the sensual,
tions, the

the same aspirasame endeavour, and

BLUES must
2.

quell

it.

the same hope. Subs. i. A policeman. [From the colour of the uniform.] This epithet can be traced back
to Elizabethan days
,

is known to victuallers and their customers in certain districts of Wales as a compromise between

BLUE

licensed

[see

BLUE-

BOTTLE] and the uniform seems have been blue from time immemorial indeed, this colour appears from the earliest times to have been the badge of servito
;

the half-pint and the pint pot. It is not recognised as a legal measure by the authorities on weights and measures, but it is
like a status, as it deserves to do in the interests of temperance.

approaching to something

tude. Pliny tells us blue was the colour in which the Gauls clothed their slaves and, for many ages, blue coats were the
;

Although there is no Board of Trade standard of the BLUE, and inspectors have no power to stamp measures of this denomination for

liveries of servants, apprentices, and those in humble stations of

life

use

in

trade,

the
that

Board
to

of

Trade has pointed out

local

to

wit,

the

blue-clad

the

authorities

Blue.
nothing in the Weights to prevent the use of the BLUE or to make
there
is

254
court

Blue.
of Elizabeth, of BLUES.
the

very

Virgin

and Measures Act

its

Queen

5.

Female learning or pe47. [M.]

possessor liable to penalties, always provided of course that the vessel is not used as a measure.

dantry. 1824. BYRON, Don Juan, xvi., Shealsohada twilight tinge of BLUE.
6.

scholar of Christ's a blue-coat boy. Hospital [This nickname is also derived from the colour of the clothes a blue drugget gown or body with ample skirts to it, a yellow vest underneath in winter time, small clothes of Russia duck, worsted yellow stockings, a leathern girdle, and a little black worsted cap, usually carried in the hand, being the complete costume. This was the ordinary dress of children in humble life during the reigns of the Tudors.]
3.
;

and Cambridge a man

get his

(University.)

At Oxford
is said to selected as a

BLUE when

competitor in

The University colours sports. blue are, for Oxford, dark and for Cambridge, light blue.
;

inter-university

ONE'S SILK, said of Cf., a barrister when made Queen's Counsel.

Adj. epithet
i.

To GET

contemptuous
to See

women

applied usually of literary tastes.

;

BLUE-STOCKING. The have elk est blene celle-ld

French
en voild

1834.

W. TROLLOPE
.
. .

(Title),

Hospital

with memoirs

Christ's of Eirim.-nt

BLUES.

W. H. BLANCH, Blue-Coat 1877. To some extent it holds also p. 33. with regard to Civil Engineers, amongst whom, however, one well-known name is that of a BLUE.
Boys,

une de Ueue;je la troitve bleue. 1788. MAD. D'ARBLAY, Diary (1842), iv., p. 219. Nobody would have thought it more odd or more BLUE. 1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor, ch. Ixxxix. Les Dames des Roches, both mother and daughter were remarkable and exemplary women and there was
;

Short for BLUE-STOCKING formerly a contemptuous term for a woman having or

4.
(q v.)
;

a time when Poictiers derived as much glory from those BLUE ladies as from the

Black Prince.
1839.
xi.

affecting literary tastes.

1788.
(1876), iv.,

MADAME D'ARBLAY, Diary He was a little the more 219.

She was a little, a very little BLUE rather a babbler in the ologies than a real disciple.
'
'

LEVER, Harry

Lorrcqiicr, ch.

1842.
iii.,

anxious not to be surprised to-night, but his being too tired for walking should be imputed to his literary preference of reading to a BLUE. At tea Miss Planta again joined us, and instantly behind him went the book he was very right, for nobody would have thought it more odd or more BLUE.
;

BLUE ladies there are, in like philosophers of that colour and sex in most other latitudes, they rather desire to be thought superior
p.
33.

DICKENS, American Notes, ch.

Boston; but
than to be

so.

1852. F. E. SMEDLEY, Lewis A t undel, ch. xxxiii. She had been growing de-

1823.
50.

BYRON, Don Juan, ch. xi., st. The BLUES, that tender tribe, who
' ' '

sigh o'er sonnets.

But 1845. DISRAELI, Sybil, p. 76. she was very clever Accomfar ? that Oh, beyond plished
.

cidedly BLUE. Not only had she, under Bray's auspices, published a series of papers in Bhtnt's Magazine, but she had positively written a child's book. A 18G4. Spectator, No. 1875, p. 660. clever, sensible woman, rather BLUE.
2.

'

'

'

Indecent

'A regular BLUE.' REV. E. BRADLEY 1853.

p. 7.

scene.
('

This

Cuthbert

obsmutty may be derived

'

'

from the blue dress of harlots

see

Bede'), Adventures of Verdant Green, I., His Aunt Virginia was as learned a BLUE as her esteemed ancestress in the

preceding,

subs., i
it

although
as

Hotten suggests

coming

Blue.
the French Bibliothcqne a series of books of very questionable character. Books or conversation of an nature are entirely opposite said to be BROWN or Quakerish, i.e., serious, grave, decent.
3.

255
an

Blue.
bleu.

from

Bleu,

dissipate,

For to pawn,
1880.

Faire passer au bleu is to spend, or squander. synonyms, in the sense of

see

POP.
p. 2.

Punch's Almanac,
?

This

top coat

would BLUE

IT.

1887.

Punch, 10 Sept.,

p.

Gloomy
;

fearful

de-

minds BLUEING
gets a
3.

the pieces

in. I never purvided I

'

low - spirited. C/., BLUE, BLUE FUNK, and IN THE BLUES. Possibly an
pressed

good spree.

To LOOK

To
"

miscalculate

to
'

make a
to mull.
4.

mess

"

of anything

allusion to the blueness of cold.

A. TROLLOPE, Three Clerks, 1857. ch. xxviii. Charley replied that neither at home. That's
' '

had he any money BLUE,' said the man.

said Charley.
1862.
93.
It's

It is

rather BLUE,'
I.,

plunder. To BE BLUED, to be robbed. For synonyms, see PRIG.

(thieves'.)

To

steal

to

BY ALL
p.

TROLLOPE, Orley Farm, BLUE; uncommon BLUE.

YATES, Broken
to

(popular).

A euphemistic oath
'

THAT'S BLUE, phr.

;

Harness, I., p. Go. My dear Charlie,' said the girl 'That certainly is a BLUE look-out,' she continued for however earnest was her purpose she would not but express herself in her slang metaphor.
' . .

1864.

probably meaning by Heaven.' It may be compared with the Frenchparbleii, synonymous with
par Dicn.
1840.
'

1872. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain'), BLUE Roughing It, ch. xl. I kept up

The

MARRYAT, Poor Jack, xxiii. black cat, by ALL THAT'S BLUE

' !

my

cried the Captain.

meditations.
1874. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain'), Gilded Age, ch. xxvii. I had forgotten dear, but when a body gets BLUE, a body forgets everything. ... I am sorry I was BLUE, but it did seem as if everything had been going against me for whole ages.

MEN
The
sense
i.

police.

IN BLUE, phr. (popular). See BLUE, subs.,

Verb.

i.

To

blush.

Cf.,stibs.,

1882. BESANT, All Sorts and Cond. of Men, ch. xliii. 'You must now begin to think seriously about handcuffs and prison, and MEN IN BLUE.'

sense
1709.

3.

STEELE AND SWIFT,

Tatler,

No.

If a Virgin blushes, 71, p. 8. longer cry she BLUES. [M.]

we no

G. A. APPERSON, Graphic, 30 1886. The police in recent times p. 137. ve been known as the BLUES and the MEN IN BLUE.
n.,

pledge; spend; get rid of money actually BLEW. There are quickly. C/., two suggested derivations of the word when used in this sense that it is connected with (i) blown,' i.e., dissipated or scattered and (2) that money so squandered has disappeared as effectually as if it had passed into the BLUE, i.e., the sky or the
to
;
' ;

2.

To pawn;

TILL ALL
lar)
.

is EL.VE,phr.

i
;

To

the utmost

(poputo the

end for an indefinite period. Smyth, in his Sailors' Word Book, says this phrase is borrowed from the idea of a vessel making out of port and getting into deep water.
1835.

2 S., ch. xix.

HALIBURTON, TheClockmaker, [The land] could be made

to carry wheat till ALL'S BLUE again. Your mother kickin' Ibid, 3 S., ch. xx.

deep sea. blaue hinein,

The German has ins away into the blue,'

'

and screamin'
1850.
p. 184.
I'll

equivalent to the French passer

till ALL WAS BLUE again. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairlegh, I., have at her again, and dance TILL ALL'S BLUE before I give in.

Blue.
2.

256

Bluebacks.
or things of signify persons sterling character or quality.

When

applied to drinking,

TILL ALL exceeding

seen, this ancient. It is

BLUE signifies As will be tipsy. usage is somewhat

is

an allusion to

the supposed effect of drinking on the eyesight. An analogous French expression is avoir un coup d'bleu (to be slightly tipsy).
1616.

R. C., Times'
. .
.

IVhis., v.,

1835.

Vntil their adle heads They drink doe make the ground Seeme BLEW vnto them.
1638. FORD, Lady's Trial, iv., can drink TILL ALL LOOK BLUE. 1837. Ditnstan).
2.

In neither case is the argument clear or decisive there is certainly no reason in nature why the colour and cardinal virtue should be thus associated. Blue skies and blue seas are proverand on the bially deceitful, the other hand, expression seems too old a one to owe its skill. to the origin dyer's
;

We
St.

1383.

CHAUCER,

BARHAM,
'

I.

L. (Lay of
to

And by hire bedde's hed she made a mew, And covered it with velouettes BLEW, In signe of trouthethat is in woman sene.
Ibid,

Squiere's Tale.

And

have nothing

do

Court of Love, line 246.

George, I'll sit here and drink TILL ALL'S BLUE !'
'fore

I'll

To LOOK BLUE, ph Y. (popular). To be confounded surprised

;

So you dir folke (quod she) that knele in BLEW, They were the colour ay and ever shal, In signe they were, and ever wil be true,
Withoutin change.

astonished

annoyed or
;

dis-

appointed. French equivalents are en rester tout bleu en etre bleu en bailler tout bleu and baba from ebahi, astounded.
; ;

BLUE APRON,

subs,

(common).

tradesman.

c.

1600. Rob.
It

84.

made

the sunne

LOOKE BLUE.

[M.]

1721. AMHERST, Terra Fil., xliii., For if any saucy BLUE-APRON dares 230. to affront any venerable person ... all scholars are immediately forbid to have

B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet. BLUE, adj. ... 2, blank, or cast down; as, he
1754.

any dealing or commerce with him.

1868.

LOOKED BLUE Upon

1884.

it.

Cornhill

The prudent
LOOKED BLUE.

Mag., Jan.,

p.

in.

and Fable, p. q8. A BLUE-APRON statesman, a lay politician, a tradesman who

interferes with the affairs of the nation.

BREWER, Dictionary

of Phrase

(and

But

sagacious) officer he speedily re-

The

reference

is to

the

BLUE APRON once

covered himself.

worn by nearly

all

tradesmen, but

now

TO MAKE THE AIR BLUE, phr. To curse to swear (popular). to use profane language. C/.,
;

restricted to butchers, poulterers, fishmongers, and so on.

BLUEBACKS,

subs.

i.

BLUE,

adj.,

sense

2.

phr. (colloquial). Faithful genuine real an allusion to blue as the colour of reference either constancy. to the deep blue of the sky or sea suggestive of interminableness or, it may be derived as
; ;

TRUE BLUE,

of the Confederates. A cant name, originating, as in the case of United States paper currency GREENBACKS, in the colour of the printing on the reverse.

The paper

money

more pronounced slang name,

'

was

Coventry blue,' from a dye that would neither change its colour nor be discharged by washing hence figuratively, to
'

subsequently applied to BLUEBACKS, was shucks,' from their worthlessness after the war.* an old English Shucks is term for the refuse of peas and similar products when shelled.
1 '

Blue
1871.
291.

Bellies.

257

Blue-Bottle.

The

DE VERE, Americanisms, p. confederate notes bore, for the

the

worn and used

prize-fights.
2.

same reason,

BLUEBACKS, which was, however, soon exchanged for the slang term of shucks.
2.

name

of

as a colour at See BILLY, sense i.

See quotation.

(mining.)

The Orange Free

State

'Death of BLUE BILLY,' in Chamb. Jour., Dec. 17, p. 812. BLUE BILLY
1887.

paper money.
1878. TROLLOPS, South Africa, II., p. 206. BLUEBACKS, as they were called, were printed. Ibid, p. 222. The BLUE-

the technical name given to the lime rendered foul in the purification of the
is

BACKS as the Orange Free State banknotes were called.

BLUE BLANKET,
i.

The

sky.
;

subs, (common). This simile is an

A nickname beBLUE BELLIES. stowed by Southerners, during

the
Civil

War,

upon

their

old one Defoe's use of it may probably have been suggested blanket of by Shakspeare's the dark (Macbeth, I., v.).
'

'

opponents of the North, whose uniform was blue. They were called BOYS IN BLUE, YANKS, etc. The Southerners, on the other hand, received such names as THE SECESH,
also

c.

1720.
ii.,

DEFOE,
492.

Hist,
t

quoted in N. and Q. 7
also 7 S.,

and JOHNNY REBS, the being sometimes shortened to JOHNNIES. The grey uniform of the Confederates likewise caused them to be
REBS,
latter

must be content till we come on the other side the BLUE BLANKET, and then we shall know the whole story. 1877. GREENWOOD, Under the Blue Blanket. The vagrant brotherhood have
field or

We

S.,

ii.,

of Devil, 289; see

in Hedge daisies
'

several slang terms for sleeping out in a meadow. It is called snoozing dossing with the Square and lying under the BLUE
' '

'

BLANKET."
coucher a 'to sleep while in at the Star Hotel the Fourbesque, or Italian cant,
'

styled

BOYS IN GREY and GREY-

The French

say,
'

BACKS, the latter epithet cutting two ways, as the Southern soldiers not only wore grey in uniforms, but greyback
' '

I'

hotel de I'Etoile,'

i.e.,
;

America as well as England

signifies
1883.
col. 4.

copertore,
2.

heaven or the sky is termed a covering or blanket.

(common.)
coat

a louse.

the great Civil War in America were known ... as 'Greybacks,' whereas their Federal opponents, from the light-azure gaberdines which they wore, were dubbed 'BLUE-BELLIES.'
. . .

Daily Telegraph, Feb. 9, p. 5, The Confederate armies during

made

A rough overof coarse pilot cloth.

See

BLUE BLAZES. BLUE BOAR,

BLAZES.

subs. (old).

certain

venereal disease.
i. BLUE-BOTTLE, subs, (popular). A policeman. This epithet, at one time applied generally to all wearers of a dark blue uniform, is now invariably understood to mean a guardian of the peace. It is one of the oldest of the nicknames given

BLUE

BILLS,

subs.

The tradesmen's bills College). sent home to the parents and of students. guardians [So called from the colour of the
envelopes generally used.]

(Winchester

BLUE BILLY, subs, (pugilistic). i. A handkerchief (blue ground with white spots) sometimes

to

members
as

occurs

far

of the force, and back as 1598.

Blue-Bottle.
Cf.,

258

Blue-Coat.
into
cloaks,

BLUE,
for

sense

i,

and

see

one

can

BEAK
1598.
v., 4.

synonyms.
2

know
Henry IV., you
. . .

the

man from

scarce the master.

SHAKSPEARE,

Dall [addressing beadle]

filthy

BLUE-BOTTLE rogue, you

correctioner.
F. E. 1852. del, ch. Ixiv.
'

famished

B. Jonson [Mask of Christmas} introduces New Yeares Gift, In a blew coat, serving-man like,

SMEDLEY, Lewis ArttnmutPolice, indeed can't the General tered Charley, remember that he is out of London These confounded sulky Austrian officials are rather different customers to deal with from our BLUE-BOTTLES. Messrs. Ai and Co.
'

with an orange,
1845.
p. 325.

etc.

'

G. P. R. JAMES, Arrah Neil, The personage to whom he ad-

dressed himself, was one of the servingmen of that day, known by the general

term of BLUE-BOTTLES.

13.

1864. SALA, in Daily Telegraph, Sept. Caught in his own toils by the BLUE-

SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. I fancy you would love to court like him, followed by a round score of old BLUE-BOTTLES. Ibid,
1822.
to
x. (I., p.
173).

move
ch.

BOTTLES
1864.

of Scotland Yard.

[M.]

xi.

My
BOY,
;

lord,

my

father

has

Blacku'ood's Mag., p. 15. He who could summon to his aid every BLUE-BOTTLE that ever alphabetical handled a truncheon.
1888. MIDDLETON, Michaelmas Term. And to be free from the interruption of

BLUE-BOTTLES enough

to wait

on him.

BLUE

subs,

(common).

bubo a tumour or abscess with

inflammation. Specially applied to that kind which is a result of venereal disease.

BLUE BEADLES, and other bawdy officers. 2. A serving-man, blue having been the usual habit of
servants.
1602.

Cf.,

BLUE-COAT.
PI.,
iii.,

BLUE-BOYS,

subs,

(popular).

The

Honest Whore, O.
to

389.

You proud
ashamed
is

varlets, you need not be wear BLUE, when your master

The expression is genepolice. Cf., rally used in the plural.

BLUE
1880.

sense
JAS.

and BEAK, sense i

'

one of your fellows.

1608.

The
as

(if)

DEKKER, Belman, sign E., 3. others act their parts in blew coatcs, they were their serving-men.

self Society, in ' Help p. 68.

Hence BLUE-BOTTLE

is

some-

times a term of reproach for a O. servant. {Case Altered,!. ,2. And a serving-man, PI., v., 6.] in B. Jonson, says, Ever since
'

Yourselves are espein instrumental music. They have a friend in Colonel Eraser, the head of the City police, and the excellent band of that branch of the force is at their service, and Sir E. Henderson
cially

The

GREENWOOD, Help MyOdd People in Odd Places,

strong

was of About

the blue order.'

1608,

when Middle-

to be at heart a Help by permitting the instrumental BLUE BOYS belonging to several metropolitan divisions to spend a Saturday night there. Besides these, they have
'

shows himself
Yourself,'

ton's
the

Comedy

of

Trick

to

catch

Old One was produced, the bluecoats of servants appear to have

is

the Polytechnic orchestral band when it required, and an excellent grand piano with a skilled player and accompanyist.

been changed for cloaks, such as were worn by the upper classes also at that time. Thus, in that comedy [Act ii., Anc. Drama, There's more true v., p. 151]: honesty in such a country serving man, than in a hundred of our cloak companions. I may well call 'em companions, for since blue coats have been turned

BLUE BUTTER, subs, (common). Mercurial ointment, used for

the destruction of parasites.

BLUE-COAT, 57/65. A constable; a guardian of public order. This, like many of its congeners, has been applied to serving-men,
beadles,
tailors,

and

others

wearing a uniform of a dark

Blued.
blue colour.

259

Blue Funk.
foregoing sense BLUE DEVILS is contracted into BLUES. 1818-9. COBBETT, /?</. U.S. ,42. It was just the weather to give drunkards the BLUE DEVILS.
1831. SCOTT, Dcmonology, i., 18. They, by a continued series of intoxication, became subject to what is popularly

Like BLUE BLUEits

application to is of some antiquity. Cf., BLUE, sense i, and BEAK, sense i.

BOTTLE, etc., a policeman

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. And being 19 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). so taken, haue beene carried to places of

called the

BLUE DEVILS.

correction, there wofully tormented by HLEW-COATES, cowardly fellowes, that haue so scourged vs, that flesh and
. . .

blood could hardly endure it. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851-61. I thinks and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 417.
'

Hence such derivatives as BLUE DEVILAGE; BLUE DEVILRY; BLUE DEVILISM and an adjectival form BLUE DEVILLY.
;

them Chartists are a weak-minded set ... a hundred o' them would run away from one BLUE-COAT.'

1871.
208.

LOCKHART, Fair

to

See,

I.,

p.

On

the lower hills the pine-trees

loomed through stagnant mists with a dejected and BLUE-DEVILLY aspect.

BLUED or SLEWED, ppl. adj. (comFor Tipsy; drunk. mon). synonyms, see SCREWED.
BLUE DAHLIA,
subs,

for colloquialism rare or seldom seen

(common). A something
;

BLUE FEAR, subs, (popular). Extreme fright. [From the 'blue' or pallid cast of countenance which fear is supposed to
induce.

The same
(q.v.),

as
is

a rara

FUNK

which

BLUE more

avis.

general.]

BLUE DEVILS,
;

subs,

Dejection hypochondria.
1786.
vol.
II.,

i. (popular). lowness of spirits

;

COWPER,
p.

Letters,
1834).
is
I

143 (ed.

No. 219, have not

1883. R. L. STEVENSON, The Treasure of Franchard, in Longman's Mag., April, p. 683. Anastasie had saved the remainder of his fortune by keeping him The very name strictly in the country. of Paris put her in a BLUE FEAR.

that

which commonly

such a case belonging to me,

symptom of I mean

BLUE

FLAG,

subs,

(common).

extraordinary elevation in the absence of Mr. BLUE DEVIL. When I am in the best health, my tide of animal sprightliness flows with great equality. W. B. RHODES, Bombastes 1790. Furioso, Sc. i. Or, dropping poisons in the cup of joy, Do the BLUE DEVILS your repose annoy?
1871. PLANCHE, King Christmas. There are BLUE DEVILS which defy blue
pills.

BLUE APRON
tradesmen.

(<?.#.).

Worn by

butchers, publicans, and other

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. He has hoisted the BLUE FLAG, he has commenced publican, or taken a public house, alluding to the blue aprons worn by publicans.

itS

G. R. SIMS, Three Brass Balls, He got discontented and had ~ieiii. Of BLUE DEVILS.
1880.

BLUE FUNK, subs, (popular). Extreme fright, nervousness, or

dread.

[FUNK
'

is

'

to

stink

Two French equivalents for out of sorts are feeling s'emboucaner, and s'cncoliflucheter.
tremens.

through fear Wedgwood connects it with the Walloon/w^A^r,

;
'

to smoke.']
1856.

Delirium the apparitions drunkards often suppose see. In both this and the they
2.

(popular.)

From

School-days, p. 196. If I was going to be flogged next minute, I should be in a

THOMAS HUGHES, Tom Brown's

BLUE FUNK.
I

was

1861. Macmillan's Magazine, p. 211. in a real BLUE FUNK.

Blue Hen's Chickens.

260

Bine Murder.
feel

1861. Saturday Review, Nov. 23, 534. We encounter the miserable Dr. Blandling in what is called a BLUE FUNK. [M.]
.

MONDAYISH.'

The GerCf.,

man
1885.
col.
i.

BLACK SATURDAY.
The workman
Harper's
his usual

has der blaue Montag.

1871.
382.

MAXWELL,

in Life (1882), xvi.,

Homeric

Certainly xAwpW for a BLUE FUNK.

Stog

is

the

BLUE MONDAY.

Magazine, p. 873, getting sober after

[M.]

BLUE HEN-S CHICKENS, subs. (American). A slang name for

Delaware. The nickname arose thus Captain Caldwell, an officer of the first Delaware regiment in the American War of Independence, was noted for his love of cock-fighting. Being personally his popular, and regiment
:

the

inhabitants

of

BLUE MOON. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, Exphr. (popular). an unlimited tremely seldom time a rarely recurring period. An old phrase, first used in the sense of something absurd. A BLUE MOON, like the Greek Kalends, is something which does not exist. A variant is
;
;

becoming famous for their valour, they were soon known as game-cocks and as Caldwell maintained that no cock was truly game unless its mother was a blue hen, his
'
'

when two Sundays come in a As regards origin nothing is known barring the ex'

week.
tract

from

Roy and Barlow,

give

authorities
earlier

no
-a

examples
fact.

than 1876

curious

and subsequently Delawareans generally, became known as BLUE HEN'S CHICKENS, and Delaware as the BLUE HEN STATE for the same reason. A
regiment, boaster
to
'

is also often brought book the sarcasm, by Your mother was a blue hen no doubt.'

and Yf they saye the MONE is belewe, We must beleve that it is true, Admittynge their interpretacion. 1860. F. W. ROBINSON, Grandmother's Money, I., p. 144. till a BLUE MOON, etc.
1876.
If

1526. ROY AND BARLOWE, Rede me be not wroth, p. 114 [ed. Arber, 1871],

he talked

Miss BRADDON, Joshua Hag.

BLUE from

HORSE,

subs,

gard's Daughter, ch. xxiv. Why should she stint as to one or two puddings a week and a fruit pasty ONCE IN A
. .

The Fourth Dragoon Horse,

its facings.

(military).

BLUE MOON.

Sand, ch. xxi.

BLUE LIGHTNING,

subs.

One

(American).

1884. R. E. FRANCILLON, Ropes of I've made bold to take the chance of your being at home for ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, Mr. Carew,' said
'

of the grimly facetious

she.

names with which Texans have

At times a dispute has literally been a word, a flash of BLUE LIGHTchristened revolvers.

BLUE
subs,

MURDER

or BLUE MURDERS,

(common).
;

term used
;

NING and certain death. synonyms, see BARKER.

BLUE MONDAY,
subs,

For

of terror or an unalarm a great noise usual racket. Cf., French morto describe cries
bleu.
1887.
J. S.

(workmen's). A Monday spent in dissipation and absence from work. One often hears the phrase to
'

Dec., p. 179.
his victim

WINTER, Eng. 111. Mag., The dingy person dropped and howled what the half. .

dozen
as

officers

graphically described

BLUE MURDER.

Blueness.
BLUENESS,
subs,

261

Blue Pigeon Flyer.

BEETON, Handy Book of Games, Since the introduction of BLUE the PETER, necessity of leading through your adversary's hand has become less
1875.
p. 358.

(common).
is

decency. Smutty talk cribed as BLUE, sense 2

1840.

Indes-

(q.v.).

and

less.

CARLYLE, Diderot, Ess., 240. The occasional BLUENESS of both [writings] shall not altogether affright us.

FRENCH
horreurs To talk
;

SYNONYMS.
bctises
is
;

Lcs

les

les

gneulces.

blue

rendered by

dccravatcr ses propos.

BLUE PIGEON, subs, (thieves'). Lead used for roofing purposes. Cf., BLUEY and BLUE PIGEON FLYER. Of doubtful origin, but possibly a punning allusion. Lead has long been known as
'bluey,' and pigeons frequently find a resting-place on housetops.
1887. Judy, 27 April, p. 200. A burglar whose particular lay was flying the BLUE PIGEON, i.e., stealing lead.
'
'

BLUE NOSES,

subs.

The natives

of

Nova

(American).
Scotia.

nickname given them by the Yankees in allusion, it is said, to a potato of that name which
Scotians claim to be the the world. Proctor, however, thinks differently, and says he would wager that the Nova Scotians were called BLUE NOSES before the potato which they rear was so named, and hazards the suggestion that the nickname refers to the blueness of nose resulting from intense
best in
cold.
1837-40.

Nova

(Nautical.) lead.

The sounding
FLYER,
thief
subs.

BLUE

PIGEON

(thieves').

phr.
steals

who

lead from the roofs of buildings. Hotten thus explains the modus
operandi.

man

Sometimes a journeyplumber, glazier, or other workman, who, when repairing

formance

HALIBURTON

('

Sam

houses, strips off the lead, and makes away with it. This peris, though, by no means confined to workmen. An empty house is often entered and the whole of the roof

the reason monkeys are no Because they chatter all day as do the niggers, and so do the BLUE NOSES of Nova Scotia. SIR GEORGE SIMPSON, Over18(?). land journey, vol. I., p. 19. After a run

know

Slick').

Eou
,

the steamer] of fourteen days, we entered the harbour of Halifax, amid the hearty cheers of a large number of BLUE
[in

in its vicinity stripped, the only notice given to the folks below

NOSES.

BLUE

ONE'S SCREW, [or BLEW] verbal phr. (common). To waste

or squander one's salary. BLUE Or BLEW (q.V.} +
(q.v.).]

[From SCREW

rain. The term FLYER has, indeed, of late years been more peculiarly applied to the man who steals the lead in pursuance of his vocation as a thief, than to him who takes it because it comes in the way of his work.
1789.
p. 165.

being received by them on the occasion of a heavy downfall of

BLUE PETER,

subs, (card-players'). signal or call for trumps at whist. [Properly a blue flag with white square in centre, hoisted as a signal for immediate

The

BLUE PIGEON FLYING.

GEO. PARKER,

Life's Painter,

Fellows

who

steal lead off houses, or cut pipes

away.

French
limousincur
\

equivalents are un gras-doublier

nn un

sailing.]

mastaroufleur.

Blue

Pill.

262

Blue Skin.
partner
;

To FLY THE BLUE

verbal phr. (thieves').

PIGEON,

To
la

steal

me

many de good vill and de power

get from de Jack Tar.

. . .

lead from the roofs of houses.

See

BLUE
;

PIGEON.

French
mastar an
double.

equivalents are faire

gras-double
1872. J. 4 S., x., 308.

1847. LYTTON, Lucrdia, pt. II., ch. xx. 'The littel un had been abrought up upon spoon-meat, with a dash o' BLUE-RUIN to make him slim and
ginteel.'

ratisser

dugras

DORAN,

Even

in Notes and Queries, at the present day, no

1859. ch. xxiii.

The

SALA, Gaslight and Daylight,

stuff itself,
'

which

in the

rascal would stoop to strip lead from the roof of a house. At least, what honest men would call by that name, he would prettily designate as 'FLYING THE BLUE

western gin-shops goes generally by the

name

of

BLUE-RUIN or
subs,

short.'

PIGEON.'

BLUES,

pondency
BLUE
PILL,
;

bullet

(popular). also called BLUE

subs,

A
PLUM
For

and BLUE WHISTLER. synonyms, see PILL.

7
.

1861. A 7. Tribune (Let. from Nov. 10. Between BLUE Missouri), and the penitentiary, we PILLS, halters, shall soon work off this element of rascaldom and horse-thieves.

Desi. hypochondria depression of spirits. [A shortened form of BLUE DEVILS (q.v.}.'] A French synonym is se faire des plumes or paumer ses plumes. 1807. WASHINGTON IRVING, Sal(popular).
;
;

magundi
BLUES.
1856.

(1824), P- 9 6 [M.]

In a

fit

of

the

WHYTE

Coventry, ch. viii. enough to give one the BLUES.

1889."

Kate MELVILLE, The moat alone is

BLUE

PLUM,

subs,

bullet.

BLUE WHISTLER.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Surfeited with a BLUE PLUMB, wounded with a bullet; a sortment of George R 's BLUE PLUMBS, a volley of ball, shot from soldier's fire-

Cf.,

BLUE

(thieves').

A
and

JOHN
'

STRANGE

WINTER,
'

PILL

That Imp, p. 10. Miss Aurora,' he said suddenly, one evening after dinner, it's dull at Drive now does it never awfully
;

strike

you so

'

'

Very

often,

locks.
1834.

answered Miss Aurora promptly. It's as dull as Ditch-water,' supplied she Driver, finding paused for a word which would express dulness enough. I wonder you and Betty don't die of the BLUES.'
'
'

my

dear,'

'

'

wood

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Rookis

2.

The
i.

police.

See

BLUE,

(1884), p. 95.

Believe me, there

To compare with the game of high toby No rapture can equal the toby man's joys, To blue devils, BLUE PLUMBS give the
;

brave boys,

not a game,

my

sense

go by.

The Royal 3. (military.) Horse Guards Blue are popularly so known from the blue facings on the scarlet uniform. The corps first obtained the name
Oxford Blues' in 1690, to distinguish it from a Dutch regiment of Horse Guards dressed in blue, commanded by the Earl of Portland, the former being commanded by the Earl of Oxford. Subsequently the regiment was, during the campaign in Flanders [1742-45], known as the Blue Guards."
of
'
'

BLUE RUIN,
generally
c.

subs,

(common).
inferior
see

Gin,

of

For synonyms,
1817.

quality.

DRINKS.
Portrait.

sipped no olden Tom or RUIN BLUE, or Nantz or cherry brandy.

1819.

KEATS, A

He

MOORE, Tom

Crib's

Memorial

to Congress, p. 39.

A few short words I first must spare, To him, the Hero, that sits there,

Jerry, Act

lord, more BLUE RUIN, my boy! Sal. Massa Bob, you find me no such bad

Swigging BLUE RUIN, in that chair. 1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and iii., Sc. 3. Log. Here, Land-

BLUE SKIN, subs. (old). i. Formerly a contemptuous term for

Blue Squadron.
a Presbyterian. Butler, Hndibras [I., p. 26], says
:

26 3
in

Blue Stone.
plea of being in his travelling costume, to which there was the reply, Oh we never mind dress on these occasions you may come in has bleus or BLUE
'
!

'

'twas Presbyterian true bine,

For he was of the stubborn crew Of errant saints, whom all men grant To be the true Church Militant.'

the Presbyterian used as an adjective by them in describing books and

is still
is

Blue

STOCKINGS,'
Stillingfleet 's

with

allusion

to

colour, and

stockings,

when
that

the

foreigner,

fancying

bas bleus

were part of the neces-

people.
2.

(West Indian.)
the
child

A
a

half-

breed

of

black

woman by
One
of

a white man.
subs, (colonial).
;

BLUE SQUADRON,

sary costume, called the meetafter the Bas-bleu ing ever In modern slang the Society. term BLUE-STOCKING is abbreDerivatives viated into BLUE. are BLUE-STOCKINGISM, BLUE-

one Eurasians belong to the BLUE SQUADRON. Cf., TOUCH OF THE TAR BRUSH.

mixed blood properly with a Hindoo strain.

STOCKINGER,
b.

etc.

1738, rf. 1819.

WOLCOT

('

P.

Pindar

'

),

Benevolent Epistle, in wks. (Dublin, 1795),

vol. II., p. 125.
I

see the band of BLUE-STOCKINGS arise, Historic, critic, and poetic dames
!

BLUE STOCKING,
:

subs.

literary

Who

1780.

MAD. D'ARBLAY, Diary, i., 326. would not be a BLUE-STOCKINGER

?

lady applied usually with the imputation cf pedantry. The generally received explanation is that the term is derived from the name given to certain meetings held by ladies in the days of Dr. Johnson for conversation with distinguished literary men. One of the most eminent of these literati was a Mr. Ben-

at this rate
1784.

WALPOLE,
writing
to

Letters,

iv.,

381.

[Walpole,
playfully

Hannah More,

makes

it

a verb

jamin Stillingfleet, who always wore BLUE STOCKINGS, and

conversation at these meetings was so much prized, that his absence at any time was felt to be a great so that the remark loss,

BLUE STOCKINGS.] When will you BLUESTOCKING yourself, and come amongst us ? 1877. Macmillan's Mag., May, p. 50. On the airs and graces of the gushing BLUE STOCKINGS who were in vogue in that day .... she had no mercy. Miss MARTINEAU, Autob., 1877. vol. I., p. 100. Young ladies (at least in provincial towns) were expected to sit

to put

on

down

in

the parlour
;

to

sew,

during

whose

which reading aloud was permitted, or to practice their music but so as to fit to receive callers, without any signs of BLUE-STOCKINGISM which could be reported abroad.

became

common,

'

We

can

do nothing
ings

without the BLUE STOCKINGS,' hence these meet-

were sportively called BLUE-STOCKING clubs, and the ladies who attended them BLUEIt is stated that STOCKINGS. the name specially arose in

BLUE STONE, subs, (common). Gin or whiskey of so bad a quality that it can only be compared to vitriol, of which BLUESTONE is also a nickname in the north of England and Scotland. For all synonyms, see DRINKS.
1880.

The bar was

effects of the

this

foreigner of rank refused to accompany a friend to one of these parties on the

way.

Blackwopd's Mag., June, p. 786. still thronged, and the mixture of spirits of wine,

BLUESTONE, and tobacco-juice, were to be seen on a miserable wretch who lay

stretched in the courtyard.

Blue Tape
W. G. BLACK, in Notes and 188-2. Queries, 6 S., v., p. 348. A witness was asked in the Northern Police Court, Glasgow, a few weeks ago, a question relative to the quality of certain whiskey said to have been supplied to him. 'It wasn't whiskey,' he said, it was nothing but BLUESTONE.' 'Butwhat?' inquired the magistrate. BLUESTONE,' your honour,' was the answer poison.' I heard the question and answer, and there can be no doubt that the word was used as a
'

264

Bluff.

FLYER

HUNTER
1851-61.

(q.V.), is

Of which BLUEY-

a synonym.

Cf.,

BILLY-HUNTER.
Lon. Poor, IV., 26. BLUEY-HUNTERS, or those who purloin lead from the tops of
houses.
1856.

H. MAYHEW, Lou. Lab. and

'

'

H.
p.

MAYHEW,

London,

46.

take lead from the tops of houses.

Gt. World of BLUEY-HUNTERS, who

familiar one.

BLUFF, subs,

BLUE TAPE,

sttbs. (old).

One

of the

many

cant terms for gin.

see

For

excuse; a pretence that which is intended to hood-

mon).

An
'

(vagrants' and

com;

synonyms,

DRINKS.
subs.

wink or
a

to blind.'

Probably
of

transferred
sense.

usage

the

BLUE WHISTLER,

(American).

American

bullet.

For

synonyms,
4.

see.

PILL.

1888.

New

York Herald, Nov.

1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. [List of patterer's words.] BLUFF, an excuse.

It

was Mr. Barbour's rifle shot which had hit him in the head and caused him to
stagger. The pellet of lead passed deep into the brain. The second shot was from the Atlanta drummer, and his thir-

teen

BLUE WHISTLERS

tore the brute's

Gabriel Conroy, a strong suspicion are level that this Minstrel Variety Performance is a BLUFF of the' Messenger' to keep from the public the real motives of the murder.
1879.

BRET HARTE,
There
is

ch. xxxix.

among men whose heads

liver into shreds and made a great hole in his side. Ibid. After a few moments of reflection, being nearest to the quarry, I
lifted

The

1884. Boston (U.S.) Journal, Sept. 25. otter was only a BLUFF.

my double-barrelled shotgun and let

a

drive

straight

BLUE WHISTLERS afbruin's yawning jaws.

volley
of

Verb (common). To turn aside to stop to hoodwink to blind as to one's real inten;

tion.

BLUEY,

subs,

See also BLUE PIGEON. [Supposed to be an allusion to the

(thieves').

i.

Lead.

Properly, to brag; to conceal one's weakness from the American game of poker.
;

See subs.

colour.]

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Du
sin
;

dons;

du noir (noir black) du To dispose of BLUEY at the fence,' i.e., the receiver of stolen goods -porter du gntsdouble au moulin.
saucisson.
'

2.

(Australian.)

Abushman's

DE VERE, Americanisms, p. Like its near cousin, suggestively called BLUFF, poker is a mere hazard game, with which, however, is combined great skill in bragging to a purpose. One man offers a bet on his hand another doubles the bet and goes one better then the first tries TO BLUFF him off by a still higher bet, and thus the stake rises rapidly to often enormous sums.
1871.
327.
;

'

'

bundle, the outside wrapper of which is generally a blue blanket hence the name. This
also called his SWAG likewise a DRUM (q.v.}.
is (q.v.)
;

1883.

Echo, April

20,

p.

3,

col.

5.

BLUEY-HUNTER,

subs,

thief

who

(thieves').

steals lead, as des-

cribed

under

BLUE

PIGEON

Subsequently a prominent bookmaker attempted to BLUFF Captain Machell by laying him 2,000 to 1,000 on Goggles against Sweetbread a merry little bit of financial diplomacy, which was promptly followed by Goggles being struck out. BRET HARTE, Ship of '49, ch. 1885. Far from BLUFFING, Sleight, I am v. throwing my cards on the table. Consider that I've passed out. Let some
'

other

man

take

my

hand.'

Bluffer.
that Ray as to blindfold, and Bailey [1721] as
It

26 5

Blush Like a Dog.

coins.

may be remarked
gives

[1674-91]

BLUFF

A third is that it received the name from Mr. John BLUNT, the chairman of South Sea
1714.

to

hoodwink.
;

The German has

'

Bubble.]
Memoirs of John Hall
cant words.]
(4 ed.),

bluffen

the

Dutch

bloffen,

to
p.

bark

at,'

and

vcrlii/en,

'to put

out of countenance.'

u. money.

[List of

BLUNT,

So
1889.
2.

also

BLUFFING

in

a simi-

1821.

W.

T. MONCRIEFF,

Tom and

lar sense.

The youths
'

Answers, July 20, p. 121, col. evidently disagreed as

to the nature of business: one, as far as I could gather, assumed that I was a nark,' and that I was BLUFFING (mak-

my
'

ing an excuse), and

'

flamming

(lying).

An innBLUFFER, subs. (old). Grose. keeper. Bailey [1721] also gives the term with the
same meaning, and American thieves still retain the word in
a similar sense.
2.

Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. (Holding out his right hand for the money, and keeping the porter away with the other.) Bob. That's your sort; give us hold on it. (Takes Mace's empty hand.) Vy, vhere ? Mace. (Keeping the porter back.) Vy, here. Bob. Oh, you are afeard of the BLUNT, are you ? Mace. No, it ain't that; only I'm no schollard so I alvays takes the BLUNT vith von hand, and gives the pot It saves chalk and previth t'other.

wents mistakes, you know. 1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist,

xxxix.
'

ch.

It's
I

all

very
'

well,'

said

Mr.

Sikes

'but

must have some BLUNT

(nautical.)
subs.

bo'sun.

BLUNDERBUSS,
stupid
Grose.

(old).

I haven't a piece of from you to-night.' coin about me,' replied the Jew. and 1878. Notes Queries, 5 S., x., p. BLUNT ... is also a well-known 315. slang term for money. 1882. Punch, vol. LXXXIL, p. 147,

blundering

fellow.

Almacks.' It appears, said the Corinthian, can enter here who that anybody his BLUNT"' that is, chooses to "sport
col. 2.
'

'The

New

my
'

dear Jerry,'

BLUNT,

subs, (popular). Money, For a especially ready money. of list long synonyms, see ACTUAL. [There are several suggested derivations; (i) that
it

to pay.

BLUNTED,

ppl.

adj.

(old).

Pos-

sessed of money.

is

from the French

blond,

sandy or golden colour, and that a parallel may be found in BROWN or BROWNS, the Farslang for halfpence. fetched as this etymology seems, say Hotten, it may be correct, as it is borne out by the analogy of similar expressions. Cf.,

Most 18(?). English Spy, p. 255. and worthy cousin noble cracks, me to introduce a trumps, permit brother of the tpgati, fresh as a newblown rose, and innocent as the lilies of Be unto him ever ready St. Clements.
to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term, against the Inquisition and their bulldogs the town-raff and the bargees well-BLUNTED or stiver-cramped against dun or don nob or big wig so may you never want a bumper of bishop.

BLANQUILLO, a word used in Morocco and Southern Spain The for a small Moorish coin.
(atnrpov) of Constantinople is called by the Turks akcheh, i.e., 'little white'; (2) that it received its name in
' '

BLUSH LIKE

BLACK OR BLUE Doc,

asper

verbal phr. (old). at all.

Not

to blush

allusion

to

the

BLUNT rim

of

1579. GOSSON, Apologic of School of Abuse, p. 75. If it bee my fortune too meete with the learned woorkes of this London Sabinus, that can not playe the

B.N.C.
part without a prompter, nor utter a wise worde without a piper, you shall see we

266

Boarding House.
SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, ii., 2. HAMLET, reading.] Queen. But where sadly the poor wretch comes Pol. I'll BOARD him prereading.
[Enter
look,
. . .

1596.

make him to BLUSH LIKE A BLACKE DOGGE, when he is graveled. cd. 1634. WITHAL, Dictionary, p. Faciem pcrfricuit. Hee BLUSHETH 557.
will

O, give me leave. sently 1672-1726. VANBRUGH, False Friend,

:

LIKE A BLACKE DOGGE, hee hath a brazen

face.
1738.

I., i.,

SWIFT,
(to

Polite

Conversation

a woman already soul engaged to another.

97.

What do you expectfrom BOARD. . .

ING
i.).

heart and

(conv.

1867.

how does your body

Col.

Lord Sp.

the Maid).

Mrs. Betty,

BOARD

SMYTH,

Sailors'

Word

Book.
ask,

HIM, a colloquialism for

I'll

Fye,

my

politick ? lord, you'll

!

demand, or accost him.

make Mrs.

Betty blush.

TO BOARD
(nautical).

IN

THE SMOKE,
take

phr.

Lady Sm.
A BLUE DOG.
1828.

Blush

Ay, BLUSH LIKE

to a

C. K.

SHARPE

lady, in

C. K. S.'s Correspondence (1888), II., 421. I send you a pair of blue stockings of my I BLUSH LIKE A BLUE DOG about the workmanship, for I fear they are too short.

own knitting.

unawares, or by surprise. In the midst of a naval fight boarding operations were often successfully cariied out under cover of the smoke from a broadside.

To

one

ON THE

BOARD, phr.

(tailors').

B.N.C., abbreviation (University). ForBrasenose; initials of Brasen Nose College. In spite of the

nose over the gate, the probability is that the real

name was
famous
13, p.
5,

Brasinium.
for its beer.
1885.
col.
r.

It

is still

Enjoying all the privileges and emoluments of a competent workman. When an apprentice becomes a regular journeyman ON THE BOARD.' he goes Tailors usually work squatting on a low raised platform hence
'

possibly the expression.

1877.

As when Corpus bumped

Daily News, March

Five

Years' Penal

Servitude,

B.N.C.

years ago, and went head of the river, whereon a spirit of wrath entered into the B.N.C. men, and next night they

iii., p. 146. During the term of his imprisonment he became an excellent working tailor, and was ON THE BOARD,

ch.

as

it

is

bumped Corpus back

BOARD, verb borrow.
2.

again.

efficient

termed, hands.

among

those

who

are

(military).

i.

To
ask

To KEEP ONE'S NAME ON THE BOARD, phr. (Cambridge Univ.). To remain a member of a
College.

(nautical.)

To accost;

make a demand; i.e., to come to close quarters. The

of;

allusion
for

is to boarding a ship hand-to-hand conflict originally in a forcible or hostile sense, but now used in a modimake up to,' fied form for to to 'make advances to.' The figure of speech is a very old one, as will be seen from the

BOARDING HOUSE or SCHOOL, subs. A nickname given by (old). thieves in London to Newgate,
but
it

is

equally applicable to

'

York thieves gaol. [From apply it to the Tombs. that sense of Boarding School =
any
an establishment where persons are boarded and taught, convicts being likened to scholars.]

New

following examples.
1547.
395.

EARL SURREY, &neid, IV., At length her self BORDETH Aeneas

[M.]

French thieves call such an un For institution college.

synonyms,
see

thus.

CAGE.

Boar dm an.
1785.

267
of
the
1856.

Bob.
H. MAYHEW, Great World of
p.
82,

GROSE,
Tongue.

Dictionary

Vulgar

BOARDING

SCHOOL.

London,

note.

[List

Bridewell, Newgate, or any other prison or house of correction.

names
Public

The Hulks, Works THE BOAT.

of prisons.]

of thieves' or any

BOARDMAN,
quotation.

subs,

(vagrants').
;

standing patterer

explained by Sometimes called

'

sandwich man.'

1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 251. I have no doubt that there are always at least twenty standing patterers sometimes they are called BOARDMEN at work in London. Ibid, p. 248. They endeavour

I. Originally to Verb (old). the term is now transport applied to penal servitude. To or to be the BOAT,' get BOATED,' is to be sentenced to a long term of imprisonment,
;
' '

equivalent under the

to

old

transportation Cf., system.

for

BOAT,
see
2.

subs.,

and

synonyms,

to

attract

more commonly, pamphlets ... by means of a board with coloured pictures upon it, illustrative of the contents of what they sell (This) is what is usually denominated in street technology
. .

attention to their papers, or,

COP.

(American
;
'

thieves'.)

To

join as

'

board work.'
subs, (fami-

partner evidently a to be in the corruption of same boat," i.e., to be in the same position or circumstances.

BOARD OF GREEN CLOTH,

To
fhr.

BAIL

ONE'S

card or billiard table. liar). [From BOARD, a table, + GREEN CLOTH, from the colour of the cloth with which the table is
covered.]
1771.
II., 24.

(American).

OWN BOAT, To be self'

reliant.

A variant

is

ONE'S
BOB,

OWN

CANOE.'

to See
i.

PADDLE CANOE.

subs,

(popular).

shil-

P.

PARSONS, New Newmarket,

ling.

That BOARD OF GREEN CLOTH,

'

the billiard table.

1850.
p. 23.
I

am

usual, the

SMEDLEY, Frank Fairlcgh, As going down to F BOARD OF GREEN CLOTH, eh ?

-'
'

you

will go there once too often, if you don't mind, old fellow.' 'That's my look out,' replied Cumberland.
1853.

obscure, but there are several suggested explanations. Murray points out that there was an old French coin called a bobe, but he thinks its survival in English

[The derivation

is

slang think
'

WHYTE
vi.

MELVILLE,
I

Grand, ch.
rise

Often have

seen him

Digby

from the BOARD OF GREEN CLOTH, and turning his chair thrice, from right

to left, reseat himself at the play-table, confident that success would follow the mystical manoeuvre.
1886.
viii.

The soft seductive sound of the dice sliding gently on to the BOARD OF
GREEN CLOTH.
BOAT, subs. (old). Formerly applied to the hulks latterly to any prison. [The derivation is obvious, old dismasted ships having long served as places of detention for convicts.]
;

Miss BRADDON, Mohawks,

ch.

very unlikely. Others a of corruption or 'bawbee,' a debaubee based Scotch coin, issued in the reign of James VI. of Scotland, equal in value to a halfpenny. A more likely origin than either of the foregoing is from BOB, a grub used as bait for fish, the allusion being to money as a The old cant had BOBbribe.] STICK (q.v.) as a synonym, and a spurious plural is sometimes formed of BOB, thus BOBBER TWO BOBBER = a two-shilling
is
it
'

piece.

Cf.,

BLOW

for

syno-

nyms.
J. H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary. BOB or BOBSTICK, a shilling.

For synonyms,

1812.

see

CAGE.

Bob.
Tom. Now then, Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. what's to pay, landlord ? Mace. All out, and a kick, your BOB vill be fourteen honour. Tom. Well, there's a flimsy for you serve the change out in max to the covies. (Gives money.)
;

268

Bob.
1888.

1821.

W.

T. MONCRIEFF,

Tom and

member.

it was to bring away the portions of bread and cheese and BOBS of beer for consumption in the afternoon.

T. A. TROLLOPE, What I ReOnly those 'Juniors' attended

whose

office

Adj. (old).

Lively; nice; in

BARHAM, /. L. (Misadventures I at Margate). changed a shilling in town the people call a BOB). (which 1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 74, Haw col. i. ACCOMMODATION. Swell. Minstrel. no small change about me.'
1837.
'

good

spirits.

1721. GIBBER, Refusal, I., sp. 109. Yesterday at Marybone, they had me all BOB as a Robin. [M.] 1864.
bobtail.'

Miss YONGE,
.
.

Trial,
.

I.,

113.

BOB will do sar. club tosar, and if you'll call at morrow, sar, the hall portar will give you kyard, sar, sixpence back, sar. etc.
'

Oh, don't mention

't

A my

'That's a nice girl"

[M.J

'BOBBER than
to cheat; Also to

'

My

Verb
trick
;

(old).

To

2. shoplifter's (old.) one who receives and assistant In carries off stolen goods. French he is called un nonne or un nonne.
;

--

BOB

to disappoint. OUT OF.

1605. Try all Chev., I., in Bullcn's O. Plays, iii., 273. I had rather dye in a ditch than be BOBD of my fayre Thomasin.

1748.

3.

(old.)

Gin.

See

quota-

BOB (v.), to some such

T. DYCHE, Dictionary
;

(5 ed.). jog, touch, or give notice by

tions in BOBSTICK, for synonyms.

1749.
'

and DRINKS

like sign for to trick or cheat.

also a cant

word

Intj. (familiar).

Stop! That's
June
' !

Honours

of the Fleet,' quoted

enough
1889.

H' had in Ashton's The Fleet, p. 286. strain'd his credit for a Dram of BOB.

Modern

Society,

6.

'

Say
I.

An infantry 4. (military.) soldier generally LIGHT-BOB, i.e. a soldier of the light infantry. [This is probably an allusion to their being enlisted with the
;
,

when,' said Bonko, taking up a flagon of whiskey and commencing to pour out
the spirit into

my glass.

'

BOB

replied

DRY
DRY
(Eton

BOB, phr.
BOB,
is

(old).

Fruitsubs.
first-

less coition.

WET
who
;

BOB,

Queen's shilling or BOB.] For synonyms, see MUDCRUSHER. W. H. MAXWELL, Sports and 1844.
Adventures in Scotland, xxxv., 282. Me, listened to a LIGHT-BOB. that never
. . .

College).

The

named
self

one

devotes him-

to cricket or football and the latter other land sports one who goes in for rowing

1848.

THACKERAY, Vanity Fair,

ch.

and aquatics
origin of See ful.

generally.

The

xxiv. Mr. Stubble, as may be supposed from his size andslenderness, was of the

the

LIGHT-BOBS.

DRY

term is doubtBOB and WET

p.

BOB.
1844.
'

(Winchester College ) A white jug containing about a gallon in measure, and used for beer.
5.

DISRAELI, Coningsby,

42.

large

It is settled,

be between Aquatics and

a senior boy.
1874.

the match to-morrow shall DRY BOBS,' said

p. 212.

1870.

MANSFIELD,
p. 85.
'

School-Life

at

The

Saturday Review, Aug.,

Each end and Praefect's mess had their beer served up in a large white jug, or BOB.' The vessel used for the same purpose in Commoners' was called a Joram.'
Winchester College,
'

friendly rivalry between England and America led some while ago to a contest between the WET BOBS, to use an Eton phrase, of either country, and it was only fair that the DRY BOBS should show what they could do.

Bobber.

269
All's

Bobbish.

ALL
safe
;

is BOB, phr.
'

(old).
'

serene"
see

synonyms,
1785.

gay.'

For

W. WHITE, Round Wrekin, 34. 1860. BOBBER being the equivalent of chum.
[M.]

K.

1871.

GROSE,

Vulgar Tongue.
as foregoing.]
1839.

the of Dictionary [ALL'S BOB is defined

sells these, the

Daily News, May 19. As he buyers or their BOBBERS

off.

carry them
2.

[M.]

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack

p. 12.

Sheppard,
the street
torchlight,

A moment

afterwards,

(q.v.)

spurious plural of BOB a shilling.

was illumined by a blaze of and a tumultuous uproar

arrival of
'

announced the tachment of

the first deMr. Wood Minters. rushed instantly to meet them. Hurrah shouted he, waving his hat triumphantly over his head. 'Saved!' 'Ay, ay, it's ALL BOB, my covey You're safe enough, that's certain!' responded the Minters.
'
! !

BOBBERY.SH&S. (popular). squabble disturbance

;

A noise;
;

or

'

rac-

ket.'

[An Anglo-Indian repre-

sentation of

common

Bap

re

father

exclamation of sur-

prise

BEAR A BOB phr. (common). Be brisk look sharp BOB A NOD, phr. (common.)
! !

or grief. Yule. Murray thinks the evidence for its origination in India is decisive, other plausible derivations to the con-

shilling a head. BOB, slang for shilling,

[From

NOD,
.

the head.]

The trary notwithstanding.] first of the following quotations shows an earlier use by thirteen years than that given by the

To GIVE THE To give the

BOB, phr. (old) door. An old

'

New
i.

English Dictionary.
I

It term used by Massinger can be no other but TO GIVE

1803. If II.,

KENNEY, Raising the Wind, don't go back, and kick up

SUCh a BOBBERY
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch. ii. I'll bet a wager there'll be a BOBBERY in the pigsty before long, for they are ripe for mischief.
1836. ch. xix.
'

me THE

BOB.'
'

S'HELP ME BOB, phr.

(low). street oath, equivalent to So

So form of the legal oath. help is pronounced swelp. There are several variants, such as S'HELP THE CAT MY GREENS THE TATURS, etc.
' '

help

me God

' ;

a corrupted

MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy, can do nothing but there's a

bottom of it.'

BOBBERY
1879.

at the

Punch, 17 May, 227. I might in quiet hold my own, And not go kicking a BOBBERY. [M.] Up

1837. BARHAM, I. L. (Dead Drummer], For his jaw-work would never, I'm sure,

S'ELP ME BOB, Have come for to go

1880. JAS.

for to

do sich a job

BOBBISH, adj. (common). Frequently PRETTY BOBBISH, i.e., in good health and hearty
;

spirits;

PAYN, Confid. Agent, ch. ' Not another word will I say, xix. S'HELP ME BOB.' And John rolled over in his bed like an indignant porpoise.

BOB,
adv.
1819.
(1842),

adj.

clever; spruce. 'Cf., So also BOBBISHLY,

in

SCOTT,
I

Lockhart,

SHIFT ONE'S BOB, phr. (common). To go away. Cf., to go exBOBBING AROUND, peditiously from place to place.'
'

To

394.

trust
[M.]

you

xliv will find me

Police,

pretty BOBBISH.
1857.

DICKENS, The Detective

'

in

Reprinted
!

Pieces,

p.
'

247.
'
'

Halloa,

BOBBER,
fellow
'

subs,
'

(common).
;

i.
;

A
or

Butcher is that you ? Yes, it's me, How do you find yourself? BOBBISH,' he says.
'

workman
(q.v. for

mate

1860.

CHUM

ch.

iv., p. 13.

synonyms).

retorted, as he

DICKENS, Great Expectations, Every Christmas Day, he now retorted, It's no

'

Bobbles.
more than your
you
all

270

Bob

Tail.

merits.

And now

are

of halfpence ?'
Practice, ch.

BOBBISH, and how's sixpennorth meaning me. W. D. HOWELLS, Dr. Breen's 1881.
'

vii.

didn't

know

that

mustn't look downcast. I didn't suppose it would be very polite, under the circumstances, to go round looking as

inside the cat. ... In this order the ghastly procession moved off, to the evident amusement of a BOBBY," whose beat seems to include nothing beyond the area-railings of the opposite house.

presume,

'

BOBBISH as

feel.'

BOBBY-TWISTER,

BOBBLES,
testicles

subs,

(common).

The
of
see

a corrupted form

burglar or thief, who, when resisting pursuit or capture, uses violence. Of obvious derivation.
See
subs,

subs, (thieves').

BAWBELLS. CODS.
BOBBY,
subs,

For synonyms,

THIEVES.
(thieves').

BOB-CULL,
(popular).

A good

police-

man.

This nickname, though

possibly not derived from, was certainly popularised by the fact that the Metropolitan Police Act of 1828 was mainly the work of Mr., afterwards Sir Robert Peel. Long before that statesman remodelled the police, however, the term BOBBY the beadle was in use to signify a guardian of a public square or other open space. There seems, however, a lack of evidence, and examples of its literary use prior to 1851 have not been discovered. For synonyms, see BEAK, sense i. At the Universities the Proctors are or used to be called BOBBIES.
' '

a pleasant companion. [From BOB (adj.)=mce, lively + CULL, old cant for a man.]
fellow
;

BOB MY

PAL, subs, (rhyming slang).

'

girl,

i.e.,

gal.'

BOBSTICK, subs. (old). A shilling's worth. Cf., BOB, sense i. 1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter, BOBSTICK of rum slim. That is, p. 162.
a shilling's worth of punch. 1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Tom. Allans done-

Waiter, bring some wine. Log. Hang cards! a BOBSTICK of bring me rum slim, or a glass of Barsac stay, on second thoughts, I'll have a sniker of green tea punch.

BOB TAIL, subs. (old). i. A lewd woman. For synonyms, see BARRACK-HACK.
2.

1851.

H. MAYHEW, London Labour

An

and London Poor, I., p. 16. It is often said in admiration of such a man that he could muzzle half a dozen BOBBIES before breakfast
!

impotent

man
;

or

eunuch.

TAG, RAG, AND

;

BOBTAIL

a
;

Going round a corner and crying, BOBBY BOBBY BOBBY when he saw a Proctor.
1880.
!

Punch, No. 2038.

mob of all sorts of low people the common herd the rabble.
.

1884.

Punch, July
for

26,

p.

41, col. 2.

But oh,

hand

the grip of the 'BOBBY'S'

1659-60. PEPYS, Diary, Mar. 6. The was full of TAG, RAG, dining-room AND BOBTAIL, dancing, singing, and
. .

drinking.

[M.]

Upon

his

neck that day.

The Mirror, Aug. 26, p. 7, col. 2. the back seat was perched the perfidious Amelia Ann, the lust of conquest clearly written upon her sinful and perspiring face. She had put her cat in the birdcage, its former occupant being, I
1889.

to

On

1785. WOLCOT ('P. Pindar'), Ode R. A.'s, ii., wks. (1812) I., 80. TAGRAGS AND BOBTAILS of the sacred Brush.
[M.]

1820.

RAG, TAG,
call
'

BYRON, Blues, ii., 23. The AND BOBTAIL of those they

[M.]

Blues.'

Boco.
1841.

271

Body-Snatcher.

xxxv.

'We

DICKENS,

AND BOBTAIL

don't take in at our house.'

Barnaby Rndgc, no TAGRAG

[M.]

To RIDE Or SIT BODKIN, phr. (common). To take a placeand be wedged in between other
persons when the accommodation is intended for two only.
1638.
186. [M.]

Boco,

subs,

(originally
i.

pugilistic,

now common).

The

nose.

[Probably from BEAK, sense 3.] The form employed by American thieves is BOKE. For synonyms,
see

Where

must be
1798.

FORD, Fancies, IV., i. (1811), but two lie in a bed, you BODKIN, bitch-baby must ye ?
Loves of the Triangles,
182.

CONK.
'

BKSANT AND RICE, Seamy 1880. common keeper, who Side, ch. i. was in the lot, got a heavy oner on the BOKO for his share.' Boys,' said Mr. Haniblin, 'who use slang come to the

'

BOKO is 'Conk or BOKO,' gallows. said Nicolas the vulgar. It's all the same."
'

'

While the pressed BODKIN, punched and squeezed to death, Sweats in the midmost place. 1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, ch. xxxiv. The writer supposes Aubrey to come to town in post-chaise and pair, sitting BODKIN probably between his wife and sister.

1889.

July
trust

6.

you

will allow

Ally Sloper's Half Holiday, Dear Old Blistered BOKO, I me to thank you and

BODY-COVER,
thieves').

subs.

character I your Graphologist for received this morning. friends say I am saving up my pocketit is correct. money for a bottle of nose bloomer. I can see your BOKO blushing at the
prospect.
1889. Sporting Times, July 6. The Gnat, with the Cunning peculiar to the flew up the Lion's BOKO and Stung hin so Badly, that the Great Beast 'rent himself to Death with his Own Claws.

my My

coat. One is almost tempted to ask whether this is the only garment known to the criminal classes. Cf.,

(American

WRAP-RASCAL.
BODY OF DIVINITY BOUND
IN

BLACK

Wicked

A parson. So CALF, phr. (old). quoted in the Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]. For synonyms, DEVIL-DODGER.
BODY-SLANGS,
Fetters.
subs,
see

2.

Nonsense;

'bosh.'

[Of
with
Lop-

unknown derivation, and it seems

to

(thieves').

have no
i.]

connection

sense
1886.

chain.]
145.

[From SLANG (q.v.), a S^quot. and for syno-

nyms, DARBIES.
1819.

Punch, 25 Sept., p. sided Free Trade is all BOKO.

VAUX, Memoirs. BODY-SLANGS

BODIER, subs, (pugilistic). A blow on the side of the body. See

RIB-ROASTER.
BODKIN, subs, (sporting). Amongst sporting men, a person who takes his turn between the sheets on alternate nights, when an hotel has twice as many
visitors as
;

are of two kinds. Each consists of a heavy iron ring to go round the waist, to which are attached in one case two bars or heavy chains, connected with the fetters round the ankles, in the other case a link at each side attached to a handcuff. Into these the wrists are locked, and thus held down to the sides. The latter are now prisoner's only to be found in museums.

BODY-SNATCHER,
bailiff or

subs. (old).

I.

runner.
trick

lodge as, a race-week. sense from

can comfortably for instance, during

it

was the

[The SNATCH by which the

bailiff captured

transferred

These terms are now

the delinquent.] obsolete, so far as the pursuits mentioned

Bog.
are concerned. They are mentioned by Parker [1781] in his

272

Bog
gle,'
'

Latin.
' '

to bungle or BOTCH, to construct clumsily.'] BOGitself is

View of
2.

Society, II., 70.

GLE by
1834.

more frequently

For synopoliceman. nyms, see BEAK, sense i.

with Gold, bk. III., ch. i., p. 254. Now, if you or I was to do such a dodge as that, we should have the BODY-SNATCHERS (police
'

employed.
xxvi.

1858.

A.

MAYHEW, Paved

A
of

fine
it.

made

Miss EDGEWORTH, Helen, ch. BOGGLE-DE-BOTCH I have ... I am aware it is not a

;

officers) after us.'

3. (American.) A generally objectionable individual. This variety is especially known as

canonical word, classical, I mean nor in nor out of any dictionary perhaps but when people are warm, they cannot stand picking terms.

BOG-HOUSE, BOG-SHOP,

MEAN BODY-SNATCHER
4.
' ;

(q.V.).

A violator of (popular.) graves a resurrectionist.'

SIR F. HEAD, Bubbles from the Bntnnen, 126. Any one of our BODYSNATCHERS would have rubbed his rough hands. [M.] 1868. Reader, Aug. 22. At that time
1833.
(1827-28)
. . .

a necessary house. privy The term, as will be seen, is an old one. [The derivation is probably from BOG, a morass of decaying matter a soft, spongy
;

subs. (low).

place.]

For synonyms, see BURY QUAKER and MRS. JONES.

BODY-SNATCHING became

a trade.
5.

R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. 1671. ch. xii., p. 123 (1874). Fearing I should catch cold, they out of pity covered me warm in a BOGG-HOUSE.
I.,

taker.

An under(common.) For synonyms, see COLD

i.

1703.
p. 47.

WARD, London

Its

COOK.
BOG,
at
subs, (prison).

many unsavoury

Spy, pt. III., walls being adorn'd with as Finger-dabs as an Inns

of Court BOG-HOUSE.

The works

Dartmoor, on which convicts

;

B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet., 2 ed. 1754. BOG-HOUSE, a privy, or necessary-house.

labour

during recent years a large quantity of land has been

reclaimed in this way.
ch.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, These were the men iii., p. 158. destined for outdoor work, the BOGS, as where the different outside the places
[at

BOGLANDER, subs. (old). An Irishman. [From the boggy and marshy character of a considerable portion
Isle.]

Cf.,

of the Emerald BOG-TROTTER.

gangs worked were called

2.

Dartmoor].

(low.)

An

abbreviated
(q.v.),

form of BOG-HOUSE
BOG-SHOP.
Verb.

1698-1700. WARD, London Spy, pt. XVI., p. 383. [BOGLANDER is the name an to Irishman in this work.] applied
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BOG LANDER, an Irishman. Ireland being famous for its large bogs which furnish the chief fuel in many parts of that kingdom. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. [The

or
to

To

ease

oneself;

evacuate.

See

BURY

QUAKER.

BOGEY.

See

BOGY.

same

definition given as in Grose.]

BOGGLE-DE-BOTCH, BOGGLEDYBOTCH, bungle;

subs,
'

BOG

LATIN,

subs.

(colloquial).
' ;

rious

mode of speech
LATIN.

(Irish).

A spusimulating
See

mess' hash.' [From BOGGLE, 'to fumble,' 'to bun-

the Latin in construction.

DOG

Bog-Oranges.
BOG-ORANGES,
subs,

273
true

Bogus.
the BOG-TROTTING rascal denies his Ould Ireland for a mother.'
;

(popular).

name

The phrase is an Potatoes. allusion to the vegetable in question forming a very substantial food staple of the Irish peasantry, with whom, in the popular mind, potatoes are largely associated. Hence probably the nickname.
the shape, + BOG = Irish, Bogland being a humorous nickname for the Emerald Isle.]
Cf.,

MURPHY.

[ORANGES, from

BOGUS, adj. (American, now comfictitious Spurious mon). a term applied to anything sham, or to that which is not what it professes to be. Various accounts, some of them of a
: ;

are circumstantial character, given as to the genesis of this word. One thing only seems
certain
;

and that

is its

Ameri-

BOG-TROTTER,
satirical

subs,

name

(familiar). for an Irishman.

[c.
'

A
,

can

origin.

The

generally re-

Camden,
'

however

1605]

debateable speaking of the land on the borders of England and Scotland, says, both these dales breed notable BOG-TROTTERS.' From this the original sense would appear to have
'

been one accustomed to walk across bogs. As a nickname for an Irishman, it dates at least from 1671.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. xxvii. (Repr. 1874), p. 232. [Irishmen are spoken of as BOG-TROTTERS in this

ceived derivation, hitherto, has been that given by the Boston Courier (12 June, 1857) to the effect that the word is a vile corruption of the Italian name Borghese, a notorious swindler, who about the year 1837 literally flooded the Western and South - western with States

cheques, notes, and of exchange and similar securities to an enormous amount. It is said that the
fictitious
bills

name was

first to borges

gradually corrupted and then to BOGUS,

work.]

SALA, Gaslight and Daylight, Gaunt reapers and BOGTROTTERS in those traditional blue bodyleathern smalls, and bell-crowned coats, hats, that seem to be manufactured nowhere save in Ireland.
ch.
1859. xxix.

and the man Borghese being associated in the popular mind

with
doubtful

BOG-TROTTING, adj. (familiar). A contemptuous epithet applied to one living among bogs e.g., a BOG-TROTTING Irishman. 1758-65. GOLDSMITH, On Quack
;

became applied to fraudulent papers and practices, and latterly to any spurious or counterfeit object, as BOGUS money, hair, diamonds, accusations, etc.

actions, his into BOGUS

money transname so corrupted

tion is

Yet another suggesone put forward by Mr.

Doctors (Essays and Poems, 1836), p. 127. Rock advises the world to beware of BOG-TROTTING quacks.
1849.
169.

Jas. Russell Lowell. it has descended in a

He

thinks

corrupted

The

scamp dare not threaten me 1876. C. HINDLEY, Adventures of a

!
'

THACKERAY, Pendennis, I., p. impudent, BOG-TROTTING

Cheap Jack, p. 191. What do you mean by calling me Irish ? it is you that are .' 'Ha! ha! ha! ha!' Irish, you There, I tould you jerked out Fagan. He can't stand to be called by his so.
'

form from the French Bagasse, the refuse of the sugar cane after the juice has been exThis worthless propressed. duct has, it is suggested, given the name to other worthless things having travelled from Louisiana up the Mississippi,
18

Bogus.
and

274
1869.

Bogy, Bogey.
Innocents at
;

thence throughout the Union, finally spreading itself over the English speaking world. A few, however, affect to regard it as a corruption of [hocus] pocus, and say that it refers to the German Hocus Pocus Imperatus, wcr nicht sieht
'

S.L.CLEMENS ('Mark Twain'), Home, ch. xvii. Nobody had

ever received his BOGUS history as gospel before its genuineness had always been called in question either by words or looks but here was a man that not only swallowed it all down, but was grateful
;

for the dose.

1874. M. COLLINS, Frances, ch. xxxv. They've got some good money, as well

'

ist blind.'

as

BOGUS
1883.

notes.'

The

latest

light

upon the

history of the word is thrown, as usual, by the indefatigable

p. 399, col. 2.

Dr. Murray, who, while slily satirising the bogus derivations

'

a number of forged autographs of Moliere; his whole collection was a

Saturday Review, March 31, M. Soleirol had probably

of frauds.

BOGUS assortment

circumstantially given,' makes another attempt to solve the riddle. He says: 'Dr. S. Willard, of Chicago, in a letter to the editor of this Dictionary, quotes from the Painesville (Ohio) Telegraph of July 6 and Nov. 2, 1827, the word BOGUS as a subs.,

BOGY, BOGEY,

subs,

landlord. usage of the

An

(common).
attributive familiar devil (2)
;

more

applied to an apparatus for coining false money. Mr. Eber D. Howe, who was then editor of that paper, describes in his Autobiography (1878) the discovery of such a piece of mechanism in the hands of a gang of coiners at Painesville, in May, 1827 it was a mysterious looking object, and some one in the crowd styled it a BOGUS, a designation adopted in the succeeding numbers of the paper. Dr. Willard considers this to have been short for tantrabogus, a word familiar to him from his childhood, and which in his
'

A French equivalent is Monsieur Vautour vautour = a vulture and the term is applied
easy.
;
;

the dreaded. The transition from sense 2 to that which signifies a landlord is

meanings
a person

(i)

much

to a hard-hearted landlord. In passing, it may perhaps be mentioned (having in view the uncertainty which Murray confesses hangs round the history

word in its primary meanings) that ASK BOGY, as a reply to a question, occurs in
of this

Grose [1785]. It is true it is there associated with a vulgarism which, however, on the
little

face of it, appears to have had to do with the expression,

father's

time

he points out that tantarabobs is given in Halliwell as a Devonshire word for

;

applied in looking object

was commonly Vermont to any ill-

except perhaps in the not over clean mind of the burly bonvivant who compiled the dictionary in question.
to
It

seems
as
'
!

have
'

been used
'

much
'

the devil.'

[Bocus seems thus

in

the or

modern

BRAMAH

God knows KNOWS under

This,

to be related to BOGY, etc.]

similar

circumstances.

HUGHES, J. Ludlow's Hist. U. S., 338. This precious house of representativesthe BOGUS legislature as it was at once called.
1825.

at any rate, would carry it back, in very much its present form, much earlier than 1825, Murray's earliest trace of it. Grose

Bohn.
says that
it

275
1888. 258.

Boiled Shirt.
Polytechnic Mag., 25 Oct., p.

was

'

sea wit," whatever

may mean.
(studios').
tint.

Adj.

dark in

Sombre, or Said of a painting

exhibiting these characteristics.

And say in the readiest way And whether you write on rural
;

Whatever you have to say, my friend, Whether witty, or grave, or gay Condense as much as ever you can,
affairs,

BOHN,

(American College). A translation a PONY (q.v.). The volumes of Bonn's Classical Library are in such general use among undergraduates in American Colleges, that BOHN has come to be a common name for
;

subs.

particular things in town, }ust a word of friendly advice

Or

BOIL IT

DOWN.

a translation.
1855.

'Twas plenty good deal of BOHN.

College.

Songs, Biennial Jubilee, Yale of skin with a

BOIL, verb (old).

To
see

betray;

'to

BOILED SHIRT, BILED SHIRT or BOILED RAG, subs. (American). In the West, BILED SHIRT is the odd name given to a shirt of white linen, and it is not difficult to see the line of reasoning from which the term derives its significance. In the active stirring life of the West little count is taken of the convenances of
civilization, and only on Sundays and festive occasions would

PEACH," which
1602.

for

synonyms.

Greene's Coney His cloyer or follower Catchers, 16. fortwith BOYLES him, that is, bewrayes

ROWLANDS,

him.

[M.]

1611.

MlDDLETON
. . .

AND

Roaring Girl e, wks., 1873, III., 220. Wee are smoakt wee are BOYL'D, pox on
her!
[M.]

DEKKER,

the woollen undergarment be discarded for the white linen article. Indeed, in many cases, the former would be worn until

BOIL DOWN, verb (popular). To reduce in bulk by condensing or When a literary epitomizing. work is reduced to smaller compass by the presentation only of the main or salient features, it
is

dropped to pieces. white shirts are facetiously known as BILED SHIRTS all over the States, and only recently (May, 1888) a question in dispute between the employes of the Chicago Tramway Comit

Now

literally

said

to

be BOILED

DOWN.

[The expression is a figurative use (quite recent by-the-bye) of BOILING DOWN in the sense of lessening the bulk by boiling. ]
1880.
is

panies and the managers of the same was whether the former should wear, when on duty, coloured or BILED SHIRTS. Cf., BALD-FACED SHIRT.
1854.
p. 412.

McCLURE, Rocky Mountains,

Sat. Review,

No.

1288, 28.

It

surprising to see
S.

Mr.

how much research has sometimes contrived TO BOIL

[M.]

DOWN
Him,

into a single line.

p. 125.

In order to attend the Governor's reception, I borrowed a BOILED SHIRT, and plunged in with a Byron collar, and polished boots, and also the other necessary apparel.
1869. S.L.CLEMENS ('Mark Twain'), Home, ch. xii. But they were rough in those times if a man wanted a fight on his hands without any annoying delay, all he had to do was to appear in public in a white shirt or a stove-pipe hat, and he would be accommodated. For those people hated aris tocrats. They had a particular and

1885.

G. DOLLY, Dickens as I

Knew
politi-

The newspaper and

cal elements having been consulted, and their opinions having been BOILED

Innocents at

DOWN.
1887.
'

To BOIL DOWN columns of I., 479. narrative into a few lines of bald, cold statement.
'

H. FREDERIC, in Scribn. Mag.,

Boiler.
malignant animosity toward what they called a BILED SHIRT.
Dublin Univ. Mag., Feb., p. Every man arrays himself in 219. store-clothes and BOILED SHIRTS.
1872.
'
'

276
2.

Bold

as Brass.

(Royal Military Academy.)

Boiled potatoes. Fried potatoes are called GREASERS.

BOILING or BILING. WHOLE BOILING or BILING, subs. phr. (common). The whole lot; entire
quantity.
time.]

1888.
it

New York

World, 13 May.

Is

possible that the Chicagoans never heard of white shirts before this spring ? May be the street-railway presidents never saw a starched shirt (I must deplore the use of the word BILED as

from a quantity boiled

GRIDIRON SHOOT.
1835. (q.v.}

[A figurative usage, at one

applied to shirts) until this year.

Variants are the

WHOLE

and ALL THE

('

BOILER, subs. (Winchester College). i. A plain coffee-pot used for Called fourheating water. penny and sixpenny boilers, not from their price, but from the quantity of milk they will hold TO Trav BOILERS were large tin saucepan-like vessels in which
:

HALIBURTON

Sam

The last Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xviii. mile, he said, tho' the shortest one of the WHOLE BILIN', took the longest [time]
to

Slick'),

do

it

by a jug
.
.

full.

MARRYAT, Dog Fiend, xiii. [He] may whip the WHOLE BOILING
1837.
.

of us off to the Ingees.

1852.
lix., p.

water for hot BIDETS

heated.
2.

(q.v .)

was

496.

DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. And the WHOLE BILEING of

'

people was

See

POT

BOILER.
(American).
stolid
;

BOILER-PLATED,

adj.
;

Imperturbable

stoical.

mixed up in the same business, and no other.' 1874. E. L. LINTON, Patricia KernHe have Dora ? No, ball, ch. xxii. not if he licked my foot for her, and I broke the WHOLE BOILING of them as I
'

[The simile
contained
in

is

akin

to

that
like

will

' !

expressions

BOIL ONE-S
(old).

iron-clad, copper-bottomed, etc.,

drawn

mainly
or

from

marine

phraseology.]

BOILERS

BROMPTON
i.

subs, (popular).

A name

BOILERS,
ori-

sington Museum and School of Art, in allusion to the peculiar form of the buildings, and the fact of their being mainly com-

ginally given to the

new Ken-

LOBSTER, verbal phr. enter the army after having been in the church. [From LOBSTER, a slang term for a soldier, the allusion being to the change in colour which lobsters undergo in the process of boiling, from a turning bluish black to red.] Cf. BLACK COAT and RED COAT.

To

covered with, has been changed since the extensive alterations in the building, or rather pile of buildings, and the term BOILERS is now applied to the Bethnal Green Museum.

posed
sheet

of,

and

BOKE,

subs.

iron.

This

The

(American
[This

thieves').

nose.

may

either

be derived directly from BEAK, sense 3, or indirectly from BOKO (q.v.).] For synonyms, see CONK.

See PEPPER-BOXES.
1885.

The
old
'

BROMPTON

Daily News, July 9, p. 5, col. i. building is merely a fragment of the

BOILERS,' set up originally South Kensington Museum.

BOLD AS BRASS, adv. phr. (popular). Audaciously forward presumptuous without shame.
;
;

for the

The simile, or at least the general idea, seems to be an old

Boler.
one.

277
1821.

Bolt.
W.
T. MONCRIEFF,

Shakspeare
'

the expression

and even
sense
I

to

(see quot.) uses a face of brass,' this day BRASS,

Tom

tind

(q.v.),

is

synonymous
'

Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Tom. Here, Dusty, my prince, now then, sluice your BOLT. (Gives Bob gin.) Bob. Veil, your honours, here's luck. (Bolts gin.) That's a re-

with impudence or

cheek.'

gular kwortern,

knows by my mouth.

1594. SHAKSPEARE, Love's Labour Lost, v., 2. Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury.

now

Can any FACE OF BRASS hold longer

out?
1846.

one period slang, i. To esrecognised). cape to leave suddenly. BOLT is an instance of a word which
Verb
(at
;

p. 12.

He came

THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, in as BOLD AS BRASS.

II.,

THACKERAY, Lovel the Widower, p. 195. 'A nursery governess at the wages of a housemaid' I continued, BOLD AS CORINTHIAN BRASS.
1854.
c.

1882.

Broadside Ballad, 'Timothy

Titus.'

The name belongs

I
;

to brave men, and I'm as BOLD AS BRASS, do not wear the lion's skin and show myself an ass I'm full of pluck and can defy, like Ajax,

once orthodox, subsequently fell into disrepute, but which, after having for generations served as a mere slang term, is now nearly as respectable as when Dry den wrote I have reflected on those who, from time to time, have shot into the world, some BOLTING out on the stage with vast applause, and others hissed off.' The following are a few
' :

anything, And if you put

examples of its use. For synonyms, see AMPUTATE.

1668.

me

to

the

test,

a proof

soon can bring.

ETHEREGE, She Would

i.

if

She

Could, Court.
subs,

I.,

(1704),
!

p. 94.

Is

Ay, ay

you may

he gone? venture to

BOLER,
lar).

also

BOWLER,

(popu-

stiff felt hat.

For syno-

nyms,

see

CADY.

Hist, of John Bull, pt. IV., ch. vi. Then, of a sudden, BOLTING into the room, he began to
tell
.

BOLT now. 1712. ARBUTHNOT,

.

1861. Sat. Review, Sept. 21, 297. are informed that he ... wore, or rather carried in his hand, a white BOWLER hat. 1882.
158.

We

The ministers, in BOWLERS and pea-jackets, are to be found upon the shore of highland locks.
1889.

PEBODY, Eng. Journalism,

xxi.,

FIELDING, Amelia, bk. XL, In his way home, Booth was met by a lady in a chair, who immediBOLTED out of ately upon seeing him
1752.

ch. vii.

men were clothed in loud and greasy suits of tweed, and wore what are known as BOWLER hats, many of them much the worse for wear. The ladies affected fine and smart costumes, but as the greater part of their dresses had seen long months of service, the smartness was somewhat of the bedraggled order.
of the

Ansivers,

June

8,

p. 24.

Most

T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Log. Come along, Jerry, Act i., Sc. 7. then. Now, Jerry, chivey Jerry. Chivey? Log. Mizzle? Jerry. Mizzle? Log. Tip your rags a gallop Jerry. Tip my rags a gallop ? Log. Walk your trotters Log. Jerry. Walk my trotters ? BOLT! Jerry. BOLT ? oh, aye! I'm fly
1821.
!
!

W.

now.

BOLLY,
lege)
.

subs.

(Marlborough ColPudding.

(M. of Venice). Jessy ransack'd the house, popp'd her breeks on, and when so Disguis'd, BOLTED off with her beau one Lorenzo.
1843.

1837.

You mean go. BARHAM, /. L.

DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlcwit,

90. to

ch.

ix., p.

He was more

The throat. BOLT, subs. (old). [This curious term would seem to be derived from BOLT = to
gulp down.]

tempted ...
into

the neighbouring alleys answered the door.

make excursive BOLTS when he

strongly

The usage in 2. (American.) the United States indicates the

Bolt.
right

278

Bolter.

of the independently to revolt against partisan rule, as He BOLTED the party nominations.' Also substantively, as He has organized a BOLT.' The word derived

GETTING
(thieves').

THE

BOLT,

pJir.

minded

'

'

Being sentenced to penal servitude. Cf., BOAT. TO TURN THE CORNER OF BOLT STREET, /Af. (popular).

this

meaning from

humorous
away.
i,

its

sporting

expression
Cf.,

for

application to a horse

when

it

running
sense

becomes unmanageable on the race-course. It Cf., BOLTER.

is

and
TATE.
BOLTER,

for

BOLT, also QUEER STREET, synonyms, see AMPU-

rarely used with its dictionary political connections; and, when so used, is generally

meaning in
reader.

subs.

(old).

i.

Explained

misunderstood by the average

Louis Democrat, 3 April. our contemporaries have as a well-established fact, that Carl Schurz has BOLTED from the We have the very Republican party. best authority for denying the report.'
1871.
St.
1

by quotation.

privileged places referred to were such as the Mint, Higher Whitefriars, and Lower Alsatia, etc.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). BOLTER (s.), a cant name for one who hides himself in his own house, or some privileged place, and dares only peep, but not go out of his retreat.
2.

The

Several of

announced

it

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 3 Feb. What the Register does object to are the fellows who BOLT the ticket and support the opposition candidate when they can not control nominations.

One

who

'

bolts

' ;

es-

To eat hurwithout chewing to swallow whole to gulp down. Wolcot in a note to the first quotation hereunder appended, explains BOLT as a Hampshire word. A rapid deglutition of bacon, without the sober ceremony
3.

(colloquial.)
;

pecially applied to horses, but figuratively to persons in the sense of one given to throwing off restraint in American par;

riedly

lance one
1840.
244.

who KICKS
'

'

(q.v.).

The engine may

[M.]

THACKERAY,

Paris Sk. Bk. (1872), explode ... or be

a BOLTER.

'

F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fair1850. 'Three of the horses had legh, ch. xiii. never been in harness before, and the

of mastication.'
1794.

fourth

was a BOLTER.'
DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.

WOLCOT

1852.
('

P. Pindar'),

Ode

to

Tyrants, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol.

o

II.,

push'd the Emp'ror on, with stride

so noble,
his

BOLTING
gobble.
1843.

subjects

with majestic

This sparkling sally is to p. 483. the effect that, although he always knew she was the best-groomed woman in the stud, he had no idea she was a BOLTER. It is immensely received in turf-circles.
Iviii.,

1881.
p. 17.

C.

J.

DUNPHIE, The Chameleon,

trust

ch.

xvi.,

BOLTED
xiii.,

DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, p. 171. Dyspeptic individuals

wedges.
Dorrit, bk. I., ch. as short a time as

It is

better to ride a steady old

their food in

plodder than to BOLTER.

3.

your neck to a

1857. DICKENS, 101. 'Give you like to BOLT at it."

(American.)

One who

me
p.

me my

meals

in,

and keep
10, Jan. habit of or three

1883.
5,

exercises the right of abstention in regard to his political party. See BOLT, verb, sense 2.
1883.

Daily
3.

col.

BOLTING a
minutes.

The dangerous
luncheon
in

Telegraph,

light

two

To whom
more

Atlantic Monthly, LII., 327. a scratcher or a BOLTER is hateful than the Beast. [M.]
'
'

Bolt-in-Tun.
100. To 1884. American, VIII., denounce the twenty-seven as BOLTERS from their party.

279

Bona.
subs.

BOMAN,
fellow.

(old).

gallant

BOLT-IN-TUN,
thieves').

phr.

(London

This is mentioned by could Nares, who, however, find no example illustrating its

Bolted; runaway.

1819. J. H. VAUX, Memoirs. A term founded on the cant word bolt,' and merely a fanciful variation very common among flash persons, there being in London a famous inn so called. It is customary when a man has run away from his lodgings, broken out of jail, or made any other sudden movement, to say the BOLT-IN-TUN is concerned,' or he's gone to the BOLT-IN-TUN instead of simply saying, he has bolted,' etc.
'
' ' '

BOMBAY

DUCKS,

subs.

The Bombay regiments

(old).

I.

of the

East India Company's were so called.

2.

army

well known delicacy, the exact nature of which is explained by G. A. Sala in the

'

second quotation.
1865. G. A. SALA, in Daily Telegraph, 14 August, 5, 4. His cuisine was, with the occasional interpolation of a not entirely objectionable curry, accompanied by BOMBAY DUCKS, exclusively old-fashioned English. G. A. SALA, in III. Low. News, 1886. 7 August, 138, 2. The BOMBAY DUCK is the Anglo-Indian relation of the Digby chick. Alive, it is a fish called the bummelo dead and dried, it becomes a
;

BOLTSPRIT, BOLTSPREET, BOWSPRIT, subs, (common). An old and humorous term for the nose. [The analogy is between the spar or boom extending beyond the stem of a vessel and the nose as a prominent and projecting feature of the face.]

For synonyms,
1690.

see

CONK.
Bigot,

DUCK.

SHADWELL, Amorous

Actv. As thou lovest thy ears, or nose, that BOLT-SPRIT of thy face. [M.] 1691. SHADWELL, Scowerers, Act v. They do not consider the tenderness of my BOLT-SPRIT. [M.]
1748. T.

BOMBO, BUMBO, subs, (common). A nickname given to various

mixtures, but chiefly to cold Smollett, in a note in Roderick Random, speaks of it as a liquor composed of rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg.'

punch.
'

DYCHE, Dictionary
a cant

(5 ed.).

BOLTSPRIT

(s.),

name for the

nose.

BOLT THE MOON, verbal phr. To remove one's goods and chattels under cover of night with a view of evading the payment of rent.

1748.

SMOLLETT, Roderick Random,

ch.

xxxiv.

table

well

stored

with

BUMBO and wine. 1867. SMYTH, Sailors' Word Book. BOMBO, weak cold punch.
a. 1886. Northmnb. Song, in N. and The pitmen and the Q., 6 March, 195. keelman drink BUMBO made of gin.
. .

(q.v.)

variant of SHOOT the act itself

;

THE MOON
is

called a

MOONLIGHT FLITTING
Bo LUS
,

(q.V.).

subs,
;

cary a large
scribed

(common) .An apothea doctor. [From BOLUS,

pill

BONA,

subs,

young woman
c. 18(1).

(popular).
;

A
'

girl;

belle.

Broadside Ballad, Oh, Fred,

frequently

pre-

by physicians.]
'

1878. HATTON, Cruel London, bk. The doctor, up from the VI., ch. ii. Indian bar, came and said I was wanted in London good for old BOLUS,'
'

'

don't be so frivolous.' Girls are in vulgar called DONAS, Some are called Miss and some Mrs., The best of them all are called BONAS, The whole jolly lot's fond of kisses. I kiss pretty lips, and I squeeze finger
tips,

said

Kernan

' ;

and

believe him.

No

matter what

have

to pay,

Bonanza.
If
I

280
somewhat
'

Bone.
Lucretius
inentin
scil.

meet a dear maid who

is

says,

Parvida, pumilio, iota

afraid, She'll blush like a virgin

and

say,

Oh

my.'

Chorus.

1822.

Adj.

(theatrical).
Latin.]

Good.

ship there
there.

is

are

xvi. Your lordfor a frolic into Alsatia ? BONA-ROBAS to be found

SCOTT, Nigel,

[From the
BONANZA,

S^RUMBO.

[M.]

1839.

(American). a stroke of fortune [From the Spanish, a fair wind, fine weather, prosperous voyage.] BONANZA was originally the name of a mine in Nevada, which once, quite unexpectedly, turned out to be a big thing, and of enormous value now applied to any lucky hit or successful enter-

subs.
;

A
;

happy

hit

success.

[1889], p. 69. The other BONAROBA, known amongst her companions as Mistress Poll Maggot, was a beauty on a much larger scale in fact, a perfect

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack

Shcppard

Amazon.

BONCE, head
sense
see

subs,
;

(popular).

i.

The

[probably a derivative of from the analogy 2,

between them.] For synonyms,

CRUMPET.
2.

A
subs.

large marble
see

[origin

unknown, but
BONE,

ALLEY].

prise.
1875.

But a BONANZA with millions struck every week.

Scribner's Mag., July, p. 272. in it is not

(American).

When

traveller, in passing his

luggage

1888. San Francisco News Letter, 4 Feb. The mines along the veins running north and south, of which North Belle Isle is the center, are all stayers, and in the east and west ledge Grand Prize has entered a body of ore which may develop into a BONANZA as big as the one which paid millions in dividends in years gone by.

through the Custom House, tips the officer in the expectation that the latter's examination of
impedimenta will be more or less superficial, the fee thus given is termed a BONE. The practice, is, of course, contrary to all regulations but, human
his
;

BONA-ROBA, subs. (old). A courtesan a showy prostitute. [From Italian buona, good, + ROBA = a robe or dress.] The term was
;

nature being human nature all the world over, it is believed

that
similar

expedients

for

much in use among the older dramatists. Ben Jonson speaks of a bouncing BONA-ROBA and Cowley seems to have considered it as implying a fine, tall
;

evading the law are not altogether unknown in England.

Adj.
cellent
;

(thieves').
<^>

Good;

ex-

figure.
is

BONA

the vagabonds' hieroglyphic for BONE, or good, chalked by them on houses and street corners as a hint to
is

in

modern times

frequently employed to signify a girl or young woman, without reference to morals.

SHAKSPEARE, 2 Henry IV., We knew where the BONA-ROBAS and had the best of them all at were; commandment.
iii., 2.

succeeding beggars.

[Probably

1598.

from French bon, good. Cf., BOON.] H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851-61. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. He [beggar]
mostly chalks a signal on or near the
door. I give one or two instances. <> BONE,' meaning good. 1883. G. A. S [ALA], in III. L. News,
'

b.

1618, d. 1667.

COWLEY, Essay on

Greatness (quoted by Nares). I would neither wish that my mistress nor my fortune should be a BONA-ROBA but as
;

Nov.

10, p. 451, col. 3.

It is

well

known

that the lozenge-shaped diagram chalked by beggars and tramps on doors and

Bone.
BONE,' a corruption of the French ban,' as a hint to succeeding that vagabonds they will find the happiest of hunting-grounds in the locality.
'

281

Bone-Crusher.

walls in stands for

'

'

promising
'

neighbourhoods

To HAVE A BONE
ARM
mon).

IN

THE LEG
pllV
'.

THROAT, ETC.,

A humorous
;

Verb (popular).
;

i.

To

filch;
;

declining to use spoken of a feigned obstacle.

1542.

(comreason for the member

to make off with to to steal take into custody. [There are

NICHOLAS UDALL, Erasmus's

two suggested derivations

that

the

figure

of

speech

(i) is

drawn from the manner in which a dog makes off with a BONE is a corbone (2) that
;

ruption of bonnet cheat who sharks

'

'

(a
'

gambling

Apophthi'gmcs (1877, Reprint of ed. 1562), He refused to speake, allegeing p. 375. that HE HAD A BONE IN HIS THROTE, and he could not speake. 1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation Nev. Miss, conie, be kind (conv. iii.). for once, and order me a dish of coffee. Miss. Pray go yourself; let us wear out
the oldest first besides, HAVE A BONE IN MY LEG.
;

can't go, for

'

one's

money

For synonyms in sense slyly).] in sense of to steal, see PRIG of to apprehend, see NAB.
;

BONE-ACHE,
vcnerea.

subs.

(old).

The
is

lues

[The
NASHE,

allusion

ob-

T. DVCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). BONE (v.), a cant word to seize or arrest; also to cheat or strip a person of his money or goods. 1819. J. H. VAUX, Memoirs, II., 157. Tell us how you was BONED, signifies tell us the story of your apprehension, a common request among fellow-prisoners in a jail, which is readily complied with as a rule and the various circumstances therein related afford present amusement, and also useful hints for regulating their future operations, so as to avoid the like misfortune.
1748.
;

vious.]
1592.

Pierce Penilesse.
will

cucnl I us
their

non facit

newe bonnets

But monachitm 'tis not keepe them from

.,

the old BOAN-ACK.

SHAKSPEARE, Tro. and C ii., this the vengeance on the or rather the BONE-ACHE for that, methinks, is the ciirse dependent on those that war for a placket.
1606.
3.

After

whole camp

BONE-BOX, snbs. (common). mouth. [The teeth are

The
here

1838.
Ivii., p.

467.

so quiet here, and what you had BONED, and who you had BONED it from, wasn't
it?'
1861.

DICKENS, Nich. Nickleby, ch. 'And why you were living

The

as the 'bones.' represented latter are now more comcalled

'ivories.']

monly

For

Serpent, bk. hasn't been

it'll

Tin blest if he II., ch. ii. and BONED my mug. I hope do him more good than it's done

Miss BRADDON, Trail of

the

synonyms, see POTATO-TRAP, and compare with BONE-HOUSE.

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.. Shut your BONE-BOX; shut your mouth.

me.'
1871. Chambers' Journal, Dec. 9, A Double Event, p. 774. It would be a breach of confidence to tell you how it was arranged, but, after some haggling, it was arranged that, on the understanding that I gave up the securities, I was
to

BONE the reward which the detectives had missed.

2.

(American.)

To
See

bribe;

BONE-CRUSHER, subs, (sporting). A heavy bore rifle used for killing big game. [Literally that which crushes or breaks bones by force. BONEC/., SHAKER.]
1872.

to 'grease the palm.'

subs.
3.

BONE,

H. M. STANLEY,

How

Found

(American
hard.
-

cadets'.)

To
BOHN

study

From

African (2 ed.), p. 63. Livingstone game require BONE-CRUSHERS; for any carbine sufficient ordinary possesses penetrative qualities, yet has not the disabling qualities which a gun must possess to be useful in the hands of an

Boned.

282

Bone-Picker.
extended to all having to do with funerals.
1863.

African explorer. Ibid, p. 342. What is wanted for this country is a heavy bore No. 10 or 12 is the real BONE-CRUSHER, that will drop every animal shot.

G. A. SALA, Breakfast in Bed,

p.

essay

vii.,

181 (1864).

The crowd

in

BONED.

See

BONE,

verb,

sense

i.

They

Cheapside declared that I was a mute. called me BONE-GRUBBER.

BONE-GRUBBER,
i.

subs,

One who

(common).

BONE-HOUSE,
i.

subs,

(familiar).

lives

by

bones

from heaps

collecting of refuse,

The human body

EMERSON,
called
Soc.
[M.]

an obvious
and
Sol., vi.,

allusion.
1870.
119.

selling his spoils at the marine stores or to bone grinders. GRUB, to seek [From BONE

by burrowing,

+ + ER.]

This
is

wonderful

BONE-HOUSE
is

which

man.

Also called

BONE-PICKER (gv.), and TOTPICKERS (q.v.). See first quotation and cf. BONE-PICKER form. The French term is un biffin,
also signifies a foothis knapsack being compared to a rag or bonepicker's basket also un chifferton
soldier,
;

2.

coffin.

The term
'

also used to signify a charnel-

house, and Americans generally call a cemetery a bone-yard.'

1836.
II., p. 207.

which

DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, Nothing soon lie in bed

little

starve

Inquest poor prisoner.

die

BONE-HOUSE

or un chiffortin un cupidon (an ironical allusion to his hook and un graffin. For other basket)
; ;

1846. WALBRAN, Guide Ripon. The celebrated BONE-HOUSE no longer exists.

1848. FORSTER, Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith, II., p. 165 (bk. IV., The body [of a man who had ch. viii.). poisoned himself] was taken to the BONE-HOUSE of St. Andrew's, but no one

synonyms,
c.

see

TOT-PICKER.

1750.
J.

quoted in
p. 366.

'The Hunter's Wedding,' Ashton's The Fleet, 1888,

he having

came

to

claim

it.

Sam

the

GRUBBER,

had

His wallet and broom down did lay. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and 1851-61. Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 155. The BONEGRUBBER generally seeks out the narrow back streets, where dust and refuse are or where any dust-bins are cast, accessible. The articles for which he chiefly searches are rags and bones, rags he prefers, but waste metal, such
as bits of lead, pewter, copper, brass, or old iron, he prizes above all.
1862.

warning,

BONE MUSCLE,
can
gymnastics. sense 3.

verbal phr.

college).
Cf.,

To

(Ameripractice
verb,

BONE,

BONE-PICKER, A footman.

subs,

(common).

i.

MAYHEW, Crim.
and

Prisons, 40.

[Evidently a contemptuous allusion to sense 2, a footman's duties being to pick up and set in order after his

black-chinned

lanthorn-jawed

employer.]
is tin larbin.

The French term

BONE-GRUBBER.
2. A resurrectionist a violator of graves. Cobbett was therefore called a BONE-GRUBBER," because he brought the remains of Tom Paine from America.
;

'

BONE-HOUSE. Latterly, from the quotation which follows, the term seems to have been
Cf.,

A collector 2. (common.) of bones, rags, and other refuse from the streets and places where rubbish is placed, for the purpose of sale to marine dealers and bone crushers. The same as BONE-GRUBBER,

Boner.
1866.
p. 25.

283

Bones.
and
played Spanish castanet Generally used as an accompaniment to banjo and other negro minstrel music.
fashion.
'

The deceased was

RUSKIN, Crown of Wild

Olives,

a BONE-PICKER.

He was

in the lowest stage of poverty,

etc.

'

BONER, subs. (Winchester College). A sharp blow on the spine.

BONES,
subs, (common). i. Dice, which are also called ST. HUGH'S BONES (q.v.). [So called because made of bone or ivory.]

1592.

SHAKSPEARE,

Midsummer

Night's Dream,

Tita. iv., i, line 27. What, wilt thou hear some music, ray sweet love? Bot. I have a reasonable good ear in music let us have the tongs
:

and the BONES.

1851.

MAYHEW, London Labour and

III., p.

London Poor,

195.

Peter rolling

rattle the BONES,' i.e., to play at dice.' The term is a very old one, as also seem to
'

'To

be games played with the cubes in question.

little

about in his chair like a serenader playing the BONES, and the young Othello laughing as if he was being tickled. The BONES, we've real Ibid, p. 201. BONES, rib-of-beef BONES, but some have which sound better than ebony BONES, rib-BONES they tell best, etc.
1865.

c. 1386. CHAUCER, Pard. T., 328. This fruyt cometh of the bicched BONES two, fforsweryng, Ire, falsnesse, Homy-

Times, 17 July.
.

melodists

thumped
[M.]

the banjo

Amateur negro and

rattled the BONES.

3.

cide.
a. 1529.
I.,

52.

On

SKELTON, wks.

(ed.

Dyce)

the horde he whyrled a payre

Of BONES.
1608.

DEKKER, Belman of London,

Grosart
)

in wks.
left

III., 123.

Who

A member (common.) negro minstrel troupe to one of the generally applied end men who plays the BONES
of a
' '
'

'

being

money and musicke of BONES danced so long, square ratling that hee hath danced himselfe into the
by his parents rich
hath
to

in

(sense
1851.

2).

possessions,

the

London

company
1698.

of beggers.

Poor, III. First of all we formed a school of three two banjos and a tambourine, and after that we added a

MAYHEW, London Labour and

But then

DRYDEN,

BONES and a
1867.

fiddle.

Persius, III., 96.

And

study was to cog the dice, dexterously to throw the lucky

my

up as a Flower,
out
;

RHODA BROUGHTON, Cometh p. 236. The band clashes

little fiddle,

sice

To shun

ames-ace, that swept

;

my

stakes

BONES,

big fiddle and off they go.

harp and

And watch
convey

away

the box, for fear they should

False BONES, and put upon

1772.

me in
ii.

Sat. Review, June 7, 740, col. i. A single row of negro minstrels seated on chairs . . while at the end are
1884.
.

the play.

BONES and Sambo.

4.

[M.]

FOOTE, Nabob, Act

is

When

your chance

low, as tray, ace, or two deuces, the best method is to dribble out the BONES from the box.
1849.
xviii.
'

The bones of body, but more generally applied to the teeth.

(general.)

the

human

THACKERAY, Pendennis, saw you sit down to ecarte

ch. last

French

thieves
;

call

these

les

week

Trumpington's, and taking your turn with the BONES after Ringwood's
at

piloches (/)

supper.'
1861.

WHYTE

MELVILLE, Good for

'

Nothing, ch, xxviii.

What

with specu-

and les osselots (m). Cf., BONE-BOX and BONE-HOUSE, and for synonyms, see GRINDERS. A surgeon; 5. (common. )

lations failing, and consols dropping all at once, not to mention a continual run of ill-luck with the BONES, I saw no way out of it but to bolt.'

generally SAWBONES (q.v.). A list of curious nicknames for the medical profession will also

be found under SQUIRT.

'

of Pieces (common.) BONES held between the fingers

2.

1887. Chamb. Journal, Jan. 8, p. 30. have sent for the village BONES, and

Bones.
he can but patch be too late.
if

284
it

Bones.
to show no mence and

me

up,

may

not yet

hesitation
finish a

to comwork with;

6. (Stock Exchange.) (i) The shares of Wickens, Pease and ist Co.; (2) North British 4/ Preference Shares, the 4/ 2nd Preference Stock being nick-

named BONETTAS. As DRY or HARD

BONE,
phr.

AS
i.e.,

A
as

(common),

free from moisture as a after it has been picked

bone and
i.

cleaned, as
1833. 1837.

by a dog.
Petty Simple,
It's

MARRYAT,

AS DRY AS A BONE.
R. NICOLL, Poems (1843),
IS
83.

out difficulty now restricted to it was forcolloquial use merly current literary coin, and is frequently to be met with in our older literature. Its earlier form was, 'to find bones in,' which clearly shows the phrase to have originated in a reference to bones in soup, or similar food, regarded as obstacles to swallowing. In this sense it is found as early as the middle of the fifteenth century, in the Paston Letters. It does not
;

Dubs were HARD AS ONY BANE.

occur in
;

its

ONE END

PRETTY SURE TO

MAKE BONES

present shape TO until a century

BE BONE, phr. (American). An old time saying equivalent to an admission that all is not gold
'

later but, from this period on to the end of the seventeenth century it was in constant use.
1459.

that the realizathat glitters tion of one's hopes never comes up to the ideal formed of them.
;

'

Paston
that
[M.]

And FOND
matere.

Lett.,

331,

I.,

444.

tyiue

NO BONYS

in the

The World, 13 May. People 1888. here (in the west) have to get up and get in order to make both ends meet, and even then ONE END is PRETTY SURE TO BE BONE.

p. 133 (1877).

1542. UDALL, Apoph. of Erasmus, Yea, and rather then faill, both whole mainor places, and also whole Lordships, the 'MAKE NO BONES, ne sticke not, quite and cleue to swallow

TO BE UPON THE BONES, phr.

(vulgar).
b.

To

attack.
SIR R. L'ESTRANGE Puss had a month's

1616, d. 1704.

doune the narrow lane, and the same to spue up again.' 1565. SHACKLOCK, Hatchet of HereAnd instede of that whiche he sies. saide, This is my body, they haue MADE NO BONES AT IT, to say, this is my brede.
1590. GREENE, Francesco's Fortune, in wks. VIII., 189. Tricke thy selfe vp in thy best reparrell, and MAKE NO BONES at it but on a woing [wooing]
.

(in

Annandale).

mind TO BE UPON THE BONES OF him, but was not willing to pick a quarrel.

To FEEL A THING
BONES. surance
1887.

A
;

IN ONE'S simile signifying asconviction.

I

1596.

NASHE,
112.

wks.

III.,

He

Saffron
.

Waldcn,

in

would MAKE NO
Philip

BONES
ain't

to take

the wall of Sir

Scribner's Magazine.

Sidney.
Dealer, Act iii. Man. How could I refrain ? A lawyer talked peremptorily and saucily to me, and as good as gave me the lie. Free. They do it so often to one another at the bar, that they MAKE NO BONES on't
1677.

a-goin' to mention no names but I kin FEEL IT IN MY BONES that things ain't on the square here, there's a nigger in the fence.

WYCHERLEY, Plain

Missouri Republican, 22 Feb. 1888. I Nat. M. Shelton, of Lancaster, said am in the race of attorney-general, and I FEEL IT IN MY BONES that I will get the
'
:

elsewhere.
1849. Ixiv.

nomination.

(familiar)

TO MAKE NO BONES, pllV To make no scruple

.

'.

THACKERAY, Pcndcnnis, ch. Do you think that the Government or the Opposition would MAKE ANY BONES about accepting the seat if it be offered
to

them

Bonesetter.
PICK A BONE Or BONES WITH ONE, phr. (colloquial). To have an unpleasant matter to settle with one; also, a difficulty a nut to crack.' to solve

285
there,

Bone-Shaker.
let's

TO

hasten

to

dress at once.

Log.

Aye; rattler! I'm

Jerry. call a rattler. rattler at fault again. Log.

'

1565.

(1846), 277. [M.]

COLFHILL, Answ. Treat. Cron. A BONE for you TO PICK ON.

1783.
rell),
i,

s.v.

BONE TO

Pick, To GIVE ONE A PICK, scrupulum alicui injicere.

AINSWORTH, Lat.
H.

Diet.

(Mo-

ROGERS, Ess., II., ii. BONE in these lectures (1874), 103. Many which a keen metaphysician would be the author. WITH PICK TO disposed
1850-68.

a jarvy! better is a rumbler, otherwise known perhaps by the name of a hack or a hurry. wet a in day, handy enough If it's the thing we Jerry. A hack! It might in stones the to-day, over rattled more properly be called a BONE-SETTER. if But you bone-breaker. Or Tom a dislike going in a hack, we'll get you fault again at I'm mab A mab. Jerry. in. broken never shall get properly cabTom. A mab is a jingling jarvy But we must mind our riolet, Jerry. Tis s. Almack out at doesn't flash peep
;
!

!a

classic

ground

there.

BONESETTER, subs. (old). A hard riding horse a ricketty conveyance properly one whose occuand pation is to set broken
; ;

BONE-SHAKE, verb (popular). To ride a BONE-SHAKER (q.v.), i.e., a heavy bicycle of a very old
type.
those who learnt to BONESHAKE was Charles Dickens, who, had he lived, would have been a devoted cyclist.
1889.

dislocated bones. The sarcastic, to punning reference is of course the dire effects which naturally follow the use of an animal of

A usurers, Feb.

23, p. 195, col. i.

Among

such a description.

The odd
is

way

often derived, strikes one at times as Not only are very curious.
in

which slang

A i. BONE-SHAKER, subs. (old). hard trotting horse. See BONESETTER.

An old type of 2. (popular.) introbicycle in use prior to the duction of india-rubber tires and other manifold improvements. The first bicycle propelled by cranks and pedals was ridden It created in Paris in 1864. On excitement. enormous
being introduced into England people went bicycle mad, and the number of persons who suffered in consequence of riding the old BONE-SHAKERS was considerable. Among those who was bone-shake learnt to Charles Dickens, who, had he been a would have lived, devoted cyclist, for he regarded the sport as a grand one, and it. prophesied a big future for In 1868 Mr. Charles Spencer rode to Brighton on a BONESHAKER in 14 hours from
' '

words frequently coined which resemble genuine words, such as

solemncholy for melancholy,' and it don't much magnify
' ' ' ' '

for

'

it

don't
is,

much
many

signify,'

but

the meaning of such factitious

words
subtly

in

cases, either

reversed

or

endowed

with an extremely cynical tinge of humour and sarcasm. The a case in present instance is A more modern term is point.

BONESHAKER
subtle
in

(q.v.),

which is

less

its

meaning, BONEfar
its

SETTER being certainly more brutally cynical in

suggestiveness. for tation

See second quo-

some synonyms formerly in

curious
use.

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BONE SETTER, a hard

trotting horse. 1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and 1 long to be Jerry, Act i., Sc. 7. Jerry.

London.

The

papers were

full

Bone Standing.
what was then considered an extraordinary feat, but on Aug. four riders of the 10, 1889,
of

286

Bonnet.
to

stamp the peculiar BONIFACE.

traits

of honest

Club Cycling Polytechnic covered the distance to Brighton and back, 108 miles, in 7 hours 50 minutes, which is better time than a most perfectly-appointed modern four-in-hand can be driven over the same course by the aid of unlimited relays of horses kept in readiness to be changed at a moment's
notice.

WHYTE MELVILLE, General 1854. Bounce, ch. xvi. The landlord either could not, or would not, give them any actual information as to his guests. So the blue-coated myrmidons of Scotland Yard got but little information from
.
.

BONIFACE.

BONING ADJUTANT, verbal phr. (American cadets'). Aping a

military bearing.

[From BONE,
So also
is

to study, to imitate.]

BONING MUSCLE

Only

one

machine was
trial,

(q.v.)

going

used throughout the a safety roadster,

36 Ibs.
1874.

viz.,

in largely for gymnastics. To BONE STANDING, to study hard.

weighing
10.

BONING

DEMERIT,

giving

no

A.

HOWARD,

Bicycle,

In

and 1871, the low, long BONE-SHAKER began to fall in public esteem. [M.] G. L. HILLIER, in Longman's 1884. Mag., March, p. 487. The BONE-SHAKER, as the ribald cyclist of the present day
1870

cause for complaint as regards All West Point one's conduct. cadet slang.

BONK,

subs,

designates the ancestor of his present

bicycle. 1885. Nineteenth Century, Jan., p. 92. In the Field's report of the performance

mens'). A short, steep hill. [Possibly only a provincialism, or an obsolete form of bank.']
'

(travelling

show-

of the

we

find this entry

Cambridge Town Bicycle Club Half Mile Race on

' :

BONE-SHAKERS, not exceeding 36

in.'

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a In Lancashire, Cheap Jack, p. 302. Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, the approaches to some of the

BONE STANDING,
rican college).

verbal phr.

To study hard. [Evidently an allusion to the alertness implied by a standing

position.]

(Ame-

large works are either up or down some steep, short hill, usually termed BONK, and the drivers of heavily laden carts with two horses have the breeching on the leading chain-horse, as well as the horse in the shafts, so that when they are going down one of these steep BONKS, the horse is as useful as a help in drawing
up.

BON ETTAS,

(Stock Exchange.) The 4 / 2nd North British See 2nd Preference Stock. BONES, sfo.,sense6, 2.
See

subs.

BONNET,

subs.
;

(old).

i.

gam-

BONG.

BOUNG.
subs,

bling cheat a decoy at auctions. [So-called because they BONNET or blind the eyes of the victims. See BONNET, verb, sense i.] Hotten says sometimes called a

BONIFACE, landlord
1707.

(popular).

The
.

of

tavern or inn.
]

[Derived from Farquhar 's play

FARQUHAR, Beaux Stratagem. [BONIFACE is here given as the name of

landlord of the inn.]

To

1803. BRISTED, Pedest. Tour, I., 120. give the characteristic features and

BEARER-UP. The BONNET plays though he were a member of the general public, and by his good luck, or by the force of his example, induces others to venture their stakes. BONNETING is often done in much better society than that
as

Bonnet.

287

Bonnets So Blue.
1871.
'

to be found in the ordinary A man who gaming-rooms. persuades another to buy an article on which he receives commission or percentage, is said to BONNET or bear-up for the seller. Also called a BONNETER. The French has bonneteur for one profuse in compliments and bows.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash BONNET, a concealment.

Notes, p.

2.

Hawk's-Eye,' Budget of Turf I could point out now what

is

horses he

BONNETING

Guineas and Derby of

discredit.
1887.

horses whose pretensions he

Referee, 15

for the 2,000 this year, and the is trying to

p.
i,

Nobody can suppose that I am anxious to BONNET for the Times newspaper.
2.

May,

col. 3.

(popular.)

To

crush

man's hat down over his eyes.

1835.
229.

Dictionary.

Two

DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. young men, who, now and

1841.

Comic

Or a man at a hell, Playing the part of a BONNETTER well. WHYTE MELVILLE, Digly 1853.
Grand,
ch.
xxi.
I

Almanack, October.

then, varied their amusements by BONNETING the proprietor of this itinerant

coffee-house.

You

my

military

friend

was

began
'

to

think BONNET,'

one of those harpies employed by gambling-house keepers to enhance temptation by the influence of example, and generally selected for their respectable and innocent appearance. Times (quoted by BREWER, (?) 1868. Phrase and Fable, p. 104). A man who sits at a gaming-table, and appears to be
playing against the stranger appears, the wins.
1876.

DICKENS, Pickwick, II., p. 216. are a dutiful and affectionate little a BONNETIN' your father in come boy his old age.
1836.

to

DICKENS, Christmas Carol in Scrooge reverently disany knowledge of having BONNETED the Spirit at any wilfully
1843.

Prose, p. 22.
.
.

claimed

period of his
1882.

life.

table

BONNET

a generally

when

The students hustled and BONNETTED' a new professor.

'

Saturday Review, LIV.,

p. 629.

To HAVE

A GREEN BONNET,
.

HINDLEY, Life and A dventures

bid or praised of a Cheap Jack, p. 217. up his goods in fact, often acted as puffers' or BONNETS, to give him a leg up.
:

We

To fail in busiphr. (common) ness. [From the green cloth

cap formerly worn
rupts.]

by

bank-

1885.
col. 3.

Morning Post, Sept. 5, p. 7, There was no distinct evidence

.
.

with a conspiracy to He might have been used as defraud. a sort of BONNET to conceal the utter worthlessness of propositions made by
to

connect him

BON NET- BUILDER, subs, (popular). A milliner. [The derivation

clear.]
1839.

is

See

BUILD.
in

Song
!

The

Little

Melodist,

the others.
2. (old.)

Apretex
believe.'

pretence;
is

or

'make
3.

quoted in J. Ashton's The Fleet, p. 93. Will you go to Bagnigge Wells, BONNET BUILDER, O 1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable,
s.v.
' '

woman.
'

[This sense

Build.' A milliner is jestingly called a BONNET-BUILDER.'

analogous

to petticoat,' the names of articles of feminine attire being transferred to the

BONNETER.
sense
i.

i.

See

BONNET,

subs.,

wearer.]
1880.

Punch's Almanac,

p. 3.

Then

2. (common.) blow on the hat.

A
See

crushing

comes Easter, Got some coin in hand, Trot a BONNET out and do the grand.
i. Verb (common). To act as a BONNET (q.v .) to cheat to puff; to BEAR UP (q.v.).
;

BONNET,

verb, sense

2.

BONNETS So BLUE,
slang).

subs,

(rhyming
See

Irish stew.

RHYM-

'

'

ING SLANG.

Bono.
BONO, adj. (circus and thieves'). Good. [From the Latin.]

288

Boodle.
given below from New sense 2 Dictionary) (also only in U.S.) may be a different word. BOODLE suggests a Dutch origin from boedel
tation

English

BOOBY

HUTCH,

subs,
;

(thieves').

called no doubt from the light in which

police station

so

the criminal classes regard those who are foolish enough or unfortunate enough to get landed
'

'

in such places. fool HUTCH, a fined space.]

[BOOBY = a box or con-

pronounced BOODLE, and in its primary sense means household stuff, and refers to property left by a testator. It is curious to note that BODLE was a Scotch coin of the value of
'

one-sixth of a penny.]
1625.

F.

BOOBY-TRAP, subs, (schoolboys'). An arrangement of books, wet sponges, vessels of water, etc., so arranged on the top of a door set ajar that when the intended victim enters the room, the whole falls upon him.
SMEDLEY, Frank Fairlegh, ch. iii., p. 28. He had devoted it to the construction of what he called a BOOBYTRAP,' which ingenious piece of mechanism was arranged in the following manner: The victim's room-door was placed ajar, and upon the top thereof a Greek
1850.
'

IV.,

ii.

Men

MARKHAM, Bk. Honour,

curiously and carefully all the BUDDLE and
for their

chosen out (from

masse of great ones) wisedome. [M.]

1857.

approoued

Autocrat, p. He would like to have the whole 139. BOODLE of them (I remonstrated against this word, but the professor said it was a diabolish good word with their ) wives and children shipwrecked on a
. .

O.

W. HOLMES,

remote
p. 361.

island.

1865.

BACON, Handbook of America, BOODLE, the whole BOODLE of

'

them,'

i.e.,

all,

the

whole.

[List

of

Americanisms.]
1884. E. E. HALE, gansett, ch. ix., p. 272.

Lexicon, or any other equally ponderous volume, was carefully balanced, and

upon
water.

this

was

set

in its turn a jug of

If all

these were

properly ad-

justed, the catastrophe

was

certain to
1882.

above described ensue when the door was

xiv.

Xmas. in NarraAt eleven o'clock whole BOODLE of them,' as Uncle Nahum called the caravan had to boot and spur for church. [M.]
the
'
. . .

opened.
F.
1

made

ANSTEY, Vice P'ma.ch.

one day

came
col. 2.

for an old in to see you.'

a first-rate BOOBY-TRAP, though, yellow buffer who

In its second 2 (Am erican .) signification this curious word seems to have come into prominent use in politics during the
.

past

five

years.
is

Its

meaning

Sat. Review, Nov. 3, p. 566, bis way down to dinner he is suddenly drenched from head to foot by a BOOBY-TRAP a sponge soaked in water
1883.

On

placed above a half-open door.

BOODLE,
;

subs.
'

crowd a company the WHOLE BOILING (q.v.). With this meaning the form often appears as CABOODLE (q.v.). [As regards derivation, which is obscure, Murray,
' ;

(American).

i.

thus explained in Old and New. Americanisms Some elections cannot be conducted without BOODLE first BOODLE does not and last. mean the capital or stock-intrade, except the business or trade be something secret, peculiar

and usage

and

illegal.

BOODLE always

speaking of both senses as here treated, says the U.S. BOODLE, in sense i, must be the same as Markham's buddle (see quo' '

means money; but money has not always been BOODLE (see sense 4). Money honestly received and
spent,

money

that circulates in

regular and honest channels, that appears in cash-book and

Boodle.
ledger and
is

289

Boodler.
You're convinced his mind's replete

expense account, never BOODLE but when a sum a thousand dollars, more or less is given to some one to use in third influencing a
;

With the legal science high That he ponders of divorce, Or, of BOODLE cases great That he spends all day, of course,
;
;

Fighting counsel for the State.

3.

party, given perhaps in silence and certainly without requiring any writing of acknowledgment or obligation that is BOODLE. BOODLE is money used for purposes of bribery and cor-

(American

thieves'.)

Amongst the thieving fraternity BOODLE is used to denote money

spurious or not merely money used for nefarious purposes, but which as currency is
that
is

actually

counterfeit,

and

ruption and the same word is employed to indicate the money that comes as spoils, the result of some secret deal, the profits of which are silently divided. The term is likewise used to cover the ill-gotten gains of the bank
;

genuine enough.
general.) (American This is the latest sense imported into the word. The transition by which it has come to be synonymous with 'dust,'
4.

Money.

robber,

the absconding carried away so much BOODLE.' In elections the primaries have to be' fixed,' a great many men have to be in short, the amount of seen
or
cashier.
'

He

'pieces,'
1888.

an easy one.

'rhino,' 'oof,' etc., is See ACTUAL.

4.

Puck's Library, Jan., p.

;

Shakey, take a fader's plessing, Take it, for you ket it sheap

'

'

money that it seems necessary in some cases to use to elect a

Go in hot for making money, Go in for to make a heap.

Don' you do no dings vot's grooked, Don' you do no dings vot's mean Aber rake right in dot BOODLE, Qviet, calm, and all serene.

And when thing to wonder at. these men are elected, it appears that they often lose the power of between distinguishing
straight money and BOODLE. The word seems destined to
1 '

few honest public servants

is

TO CARRY BOODLE
base coinage.
See

IS

to Utter

BOODLER.

take

its

language.
1884.
1
1

permanent place in the See also BOODLERS.

7.

Boston (Mass.) Globe, Oct.

'Sinews of war,' and 'living issues,' soap, and other synonyms for campaign BOODLE are familiar. [M.]
Philadelphia Bulletin, 24 Feb. The best man in the world cannot make an honest living by being a City Councilman. The office is an unsalaried one, and any money that is made out of it is BOODLE. This is the new term for plunder, fraud and every form of stealing that can be practised by office-holders, who, in the practice, add the crime of perjury. It is an easy business for men of easy virtue. 1888. Puck's Library, May, p. 3. In the evening, up the street, As you see him passing by,
1888.

FAKE-BOODLE, subs. (American thieves'). A roll of paper over which, after folding, a dollar bill is pasted, and another bill being loosely wrapped round this it looks as if the whole roll is made up of a large sum of

money
BOODLER,
cal).

in bills.
subs.

i.

rupts.
1888.

bribes or corSee BOODLE, sense 2.

World.

One who

(American

politi-

Omaha

A merican.

'

As

you are a native of Canada I suppose you think that country is all right, but for my part I should hate most awfully to be a subject of a queen.' Canadian. The queen is a mere figure-head there is no difference at all between Canada Come to think, and the United States.' I believe you do have elections there.'
'
; '

19

Booget.
'

290

Book.
mathematics, which to make a BOOK upon every event of the year. great racing Pall Mall Gazette, Oct. 21, p. 6, 1889. col. i. Every sporting man is nattered if termed a sportsman, but it would be almost an insult to speak to a sportsman as a sporting man. Wherein does the distinction lie ? it may be asked. The one is a lover of sport for the sake of the itself. The other is a of it lover thing for what he can get out of the business. The former may bet, but he does not look at sport through the glasses of a BOOK the latter always bets, and in fact would not care about it at all if he could not take or give odds.
too,

have elecI should say we did. tions and campaigns, and political parties, and bosses, and ringsters, and BOODLERS, .' BOODLERS?' Plenty of 'em.' and Well, well Why, you are freemen
' '

We

of practical

enabled him

'

just like us.'

2.

(American

thieves'.)

BOODLERS and shovers are the men who issue false money (see
BOODLE, sense
this
3).

Swindlers of

type generally hunt in couples; one carrying the bulk of the counterfeit money, and receiving the good change as obtained by his companion, who utters the BOODLE piece by
generally worked so that at the slightest alarm the BOODLE CARRIER vanishes and leaves nothing to criminate his confederate.
piece.

The game

is

2. (card-players'.) six tricks at whist.

The

first

The copy of 3. (general.) words to which music is set the words of a play formerly
;

only applied to the libretto of

BOOGET,

subs, (old cant).

A travelQuoted by
I.,

an opera.
1768. 180.

ling tinker's basket.

STERNE, Sentimental Journey, small pamphlet, it might be

Harman
BOOK,

[1567]

the

BOOK

of the opera. 1889. Answers, 8 June, p. 24.

The

In betting, more especially in connection with horse racing, an arsubs, (sporting).

i.

rangement of bets made against certain horses, and so calculated that the BOOKMAKER (q.v.) has a strong chance of winning something whatever the result.
1836.
it

prompter had a little table on the 'prompt' side; that is, the right-hand side looking from the house, and his BOOK was one mass of directions, the margins being covered with little pictures and diagrams of the stage, showing
'
'

the positions of the leading actors in

every scene.

DICKENS, Pickwick,

I.,

p. 400.

And Wilkins
;

(the bet) in a

pencil-case entered it also, in another little BOOK with another gold pencil-case. 1837. DISRAELI, Henrietta Temple,
p. 260.

Flasher, Esquire, entered little BOOK with a gold and the other gentleman

To KNOW ONE'S BOOK, phr. To have made up (popular). one's mind to know what is best for one's interest.
;

c.

1879.

Broadside

Ballad,

'Ain't

Am I to be branded because I have made half a million by a good

BOOK
?

1852. F. E. SuEVLEY,LewisAtunclel, He has backed the Dodona ch. liii. colt for the Derby, and has got a heavier
'

you glad you didn't.' Ain't you glad sometimes to know, A second thought you took, About a subject upon which You thought you KNEW YOUR BOOK Now first of all you think you will, And then you think you won't, While someone says Go in and win
'

' !

And someone

else says

'

Don't.'

BOOK on the race than he

1869.

likes.'

Gent. Mag., July, p. 231. He wins your money with a smile, will accommodate his BOOK to suit what bets

To SUIT (common).

ONE'S

BOOK,
suit

To
C/.,

phr. one's
subs.,

you may choose

to

make.

arrangements. sense i, the

BOOK,

allusion

being

1879. High Spirits JAS. PAYN, (Change of Views). He had a knowledge,

to betting books, in which bets are formally entered.

Booked.

291 the
class

Bookmaker.
other
'backers,' in

1852. F. E. SMEDLEY, Lewis A rundd, ch. vi. 'By which time he expects to be so hard up that he must marry somebody, and as there will be plenty of the needful, she will SUIT HIS BOOK as well as any other.

which
of

may be included owners

BOOKED,

ppl.
;

adj.
;

(common).
;

Caught

fixed

destined, etc.

keeping term
or registered.
1840.

disposed of From the bookentered in a book,

I

am BOOKED
1857.
cd.,
p.

HOOD,
for a

much longer journey. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,

U{> the Rhine, p. 6.

446.
of.

BOOKED, caught, taken, or

'

disposed
ch.

1881. JAS.
xxiii.
I

having given me an
before
great
;

don't remember anyone " " engaged ring and it's not leap year, neither. However, the lady's BOOKED, which is a
relief.'

PAYN, Grape from a Thorn,

horses as well as the public. The backer takes the odds which the BOOKMAKER lays against a horse, the former speculating upon the success of the animal, the latter upon its defeat and taking the case of Cremorne for the Derby of 1872, just before the race, the BOOKMAKER would have laid 3 to i, or per1000 to haps 300 against him, by which transaction, if the horse won, as he did, the backer would win 1000 for risking ^300, and the BOOKMAKER lose the 1000 which he risked to win the smaller sum.
;

French thieves use etre planche for to be booked also etre

'

'

mart

be dead'); the adjective is rendered by faitre. and the person BOOKED is un

(i.e.,

'to

gerbable.

BOOK-FORM, subs, (sporting). The relative powers of speed or endurance of race-horses as set

down

in the Racing Calendar or

'book.'

sight this may appear of very questionable policy on the part of the BOOKMAKER but really it is not so, because so far from running a greater risk than the backer, he runs less, inasmuch as it is his plan to lay the same amount (1000) against every horse in the race, and as there can be but one winner, he would in all probability receive more than
first

At an

act

BOOKIE or BOOKY,

siibs.

An
1885.

(sporting).

abbreviated form of BOOK(q.v.).

MAKER
known

but a few quiet and wellBOOKIES, who were ready enough to lay the odds to a modest fiver. 1889. Sporting Times, 29 June. He now had occasion to speedily hie To the BOOKIE who laid him the bet, Who was one of the small and particular
fry,

No rowdy ring,

Eng.

III.

Mag., April,

p. 509.

enough money from the many losers to pay the stated sum of 1000 which the chances are he has laid against the one winner, whichever it is. See also BOOK, subs., sense i, and
BOOKIE.
1862. London Review, Aug. 30, p. 188. Betting there seemed to be none could not perceive a single book or
.

we

BOOKMAKER.
1880.

W. DAY,

Racehorscin Training,

That

at times,

when

convenient, forget.

BOOKMAKER,

subs, (sporting).

The
:

ch. xxiv., p. 245. BOOKMAKERS pursue a legitimate and lucrative trade by laying against all horses as they appear in the

market.
1883.

says Encyclopedia English In betting there are two parties one called 'layers,' as the BOOKMAKERS are termed, and

HAWLEY SMART, Hard

Finding
.

ch.

iii.

Lines, that the BOOK-

MAKER whom for once they have landed

for 'a

thousand

to thirty' is hopelessly

insolvent.

Bookmaker's Pocket.
BOOKMAKER'S POCKET,
ing).

Boom.
(c.)

breast-pocket made inside the waistcoat, for notes of

large

subs, (sport-

UP AT

BOOKS.

In class

amount.

H often.

repeating lessons; UP TO BOOKS.

1876.

now

called
at

See

MANSFIELD,

School-Life

BOOKMAKER.
BOOKS, subs, (card-players'). i. A pack of cards. A term used mainly by professional cardAlso called DEVIL'S players. BOOKS BOOK OF BROADS BOOK OF BRIEFS. The French equivalent is im jnge de paix; while
; ;

Winchester College,

p. 101.

At each end

On these 'Junior Row" respectively. the Classes sit when UP AT BOOKS,' i.e., when repeating lessons.
'

of school are three tiers of benches rising gradually one above the other, that on the ground being called Senior Row,' and the others Middle,' and
'

'

(d.)

BOOKS

CHAMBERS.

Ex-

une

cartoiichure a ponces

is

plained by quotation. 1876. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. On Reme(a kind of whole holiday), we also into School in the morning and afternoon for an hour or two without masters this was called BOOKS CHAMBERS; and on Sundays, from four till a quarter to five.

prepared pack used by sharpers.

1706.

dies

went

MRS.

CENTLIVRE,

Basset

ii., wks. (1872) I., 245. L. Revel. Clean cards here. Mrs. Sago. Burn this BOOK, 't has an unlucky air [tears them]. Bring some mere BOOKS.

Table, IV.,

To GET (e) To make the

anything.

or

MAKE BOOKS.
score at
211.

highest

2.

The
'

by Lord Say and Sele, now given by the governing body, to

'
'

(Winchester College.) (a.) prizes formerly presented

Cf.,

BOOKS, sense

the Senior in each division at the end of Half.' The (b.) school is thus divided SIXTH BOOK and Senior Junior Division the whole of the rest of the School is in FIFTH BOOK Senior Part, Middle
: ;

BOOKWORK, subs. (University). Mathematics that can be learned verbatim from books all that
are not problems.

BOOM.

being

Part, Junior Part, each divided into so

part

many

divisions, Senior, 2nd, 3rd Junior, or Senior, and Junior, as the case may rethere was also quire. Formerly
'

Middle and

This word is a compararecent production in its slang sense; and is variously used as a substantive or as a verb. Before particularizing its special usages, it may be interesting to note how, within a few years, it has made its appearance in a variety of combinations the whole State as,
tively
'

FOURTH BOOK,' but

it

ceased

is

BOOMING
have

for Smith,' or

'

the

to exist about twenty-five years

boys
'

ago.
1876. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 104. The school was divided into three classes, or BOOKS, as they were called. Of these, the

whooped up the State to BOOM for Smith,' or the Smith BOOM is ahead in
State,'
etc.,

this

etc.

Stocks

formed one, SIXTH BOOK; FIFTH BOOK was sub-divided into three
Praefects
parts,

and money are said to be BOOMING when active and any

;

called

'

respectively,

Senior,
'

Fifth were generally omitted. The rest of the boys made up Fourth Book.'
' '

Middle, and Junior part of the Fifth in speaking of them, the words, of the
;
'

particular spot within a flourishing district is regarded as

within
to be a

the

BOOM-BELT.
is

successful team or party

said

BOOMING SQUAD, and we

Boom.
even
read
of

293

Boom.
works the machine. They trade in 'Horses and mules?' said Jim. hit's all on No, paper, and nobody can see what he's buyin'. You put your in If it and wait for a swell. money comes you are all right, but if a shrink comes you are busted, and you feel so ashamed that you don't say anything about it, and it never gets into the papers
stock.'
'

BOOMLETS
of

express degree.

progress

to lesser

[Its origin is largely a matter of conjecture, but the most probable derivation is from the nautical phrase boomout,' signifying a vessel running but rapidly before the wind
' ;

nothing but the swells gits into

papers.

the

points out that as various associations are probable, and as the actual use of the word has not been regulated

Murray

To go off with a Verb, intr. See subs. To make rapid and vigorous to progress
BOOM.
;

by any
feeling,

distinct
it is

etymological

not likely that any derivation will account for all

its

advance by leaps and bounds trans, to push to puff; to bring into prominence with a rush.
; ;

applications.]

1874.
;

S.

L.

CLEMENS

('

Mark

Subs.

rapid

Commercial activity advance in prices a

;

Twain'), Gilded Age, ch. xxvii. There's 200,000 dollars coming, and that will set
things

BOOMING

again.
to-\ ay,

flourishing state of affairs all its it applications

in
is

1875.

Stocks

may BOOM

Scribner's^Iag., July, p. 272.

with extreme synonymous vigour and effectiveness. The

quotation carries its use back a few years beyond the earliest date given in the New English Dictionary.
first
1875.
for.

morrow, and with the remorse and repentance.

but droop tocrash come

Ibid, p. 277.

When

stocks are active they are said to

be BOOMING.
1884.
xiii.,
,

3.

We

M. TWAIN, Huckleberry Finn,

BOOMED along down

the

river, watching for lights for our raft.

and watching

Another BOOM in prices

1883.

Scribner's Mag., July, p. 277. is to be looked

The city of

and

'The Merry Duchess'

I

Referee,

May

6,

p.

3,

col.

2.

is a big BOOM, understand that money is being

1888. Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean. Paris is said to'be diminishing instead of increasing in population. They don't know how to BOOM a town over there.

turned away nightly.

1883. M. TWAIN, Life on the MissisI lived here in sippi, ch. Ivii., p. 499.

As

already
(q.V.),

stated,

BOOM
;

enters into

an extraordinary year there in 1857 real-estate matters. The BOOM was somewonderful. Everybody bought, everybody sold anything in the semblance of a town lot, no matter how
thing
. . .

BOOMER

many combinations

BOOM -BELT,

BOOMING-SQUAD, etc. 1888. New Orleans Picayune. A BOOM

North Carolina is not the kind of to which we are accushere. Sales of land at from 2 dols. to 10 dols. an acre in a BOOM BELT
in

situated,

was

saleable.

phenomenon
tomed

to Boston. The Ohio statesman knows where all the real live BOOMS start. If Mr. Elaine is wise he also will come to the Hub without
'
'

man must come

1888. Boston Daily Globe. After the Sheridan reception, of course John Sher-

are not of record hereabout.

1888. Chicago Herald. Ben Butterworth, of Ohio, one of the mainstays of

delay.
1888.

just

'Jim, they say thar is a big BUM up at Rome.' 'What's that ?' said Jim. 'It's a kind of new tradin" business what swells and shrinks, and the sweller and

Missouri Republican,

16 Feb.

John Sherman's BOOMING SQUAD, has had the title of boss Republican tariff debater conferred upon him by the
culture of Boston.

To TOP

shrinker stays

down

in

a celler and

To be off, or (nautical). start in a certain direction.

ONE'S BOOM OFF, phr.

to

Boomer.
1871.

294
Rich'

Boon-Companionship.
BOOM-PASSENGER,
vict

And mond, ch. xxxviii., p. 346 (1886). now TOP YOUR BOOM, and to bed here.'

G. MEREDITH, Harry

A sailor's slang term for

subs, (nautical).

a con-

BOOMER subs. (American). i. One who BOOMS or causes an enterprise to become flourishing, active or notorious. [From
BOOM,
1888.
5tt

on board ship. Derived from the circumstance that prisoners on board convict ships were chained to, or were made to crawl along or stand on the

booms
ment.

for exercise or Hotten.

punish-

Times, Sept.

26, p. 8.

[He]

is

BOOMER of great a North-Western earnestness. [M.] Boston (Mass.) Journal, Aug. 1885.
iq, p. 2, col. 4.

The Oklahoma BOOMERS.

[M.J

subs. BOON-COMPANION, (colloA comrade in a drinkquial). bout a fellow. ing [BooN good
;

Attributively applied or anything considerably above the average.

2.

to

is

evidently a corruption of the

bon.~\

anybody
Thus,

French
1566.
is

English people a bouncing lie, an American, if given to slang, would call a BOOMER so also a fine woman, a horse with extra

what

DRANT, Med. Morall, A. v. He my BONE companion, it's he that

[M.]

would

call

cheares up me.
1592.

To

PANIONS

in wks. XI., 220. seeke good consortes and BOONE COMto passe away the day withall.

GREENE, Quip,

good

points, etc.; etc.

subs.

1594. NASHE, Terrors of the Night, in wks. III., 228. Our Poets or BOONE

BOOMERANG,

(American). Figuratively used to signify acts or words, the results of which recoil upon the person

COMPANIONS they are out of question. W. KEMP, Nine Days' Wonder, 1600.
in

Arber's English

p. 27.

host was a very BOON COMPANION, sired to see him.

And coming to my

Garner, vol. VII., inn, where the I de-

from

whom

BOOMERANG

they originate. is properly

The
an

Australian missile weapon which, when thrown, can be made to return to the
thrower can be
opposite
;

1712. ARBUTHNOT, History of John Bull, pt. I., ch. v. This was occasioned by his being a BOON COMPANION, loving his bottle and his diversion. 1825.
xxiii.

SCOTT,

St.

Ronan's Well, ch.

after a

which, caused to
*

or

likewise,

usually one

direction

to

take an that in

which
1845.

it is first

thrown.

HOLMES, Modest Request, Poems

debauch is of reflection, even to the most customary BOON COMPANION. 1827. LYTTON, Pelham, ch. Ixvii. We went downstairs to our dinner, as charmed with each other as BOON COMPANIONS always should be.

The morning

Like the strange weapon, (1884), 42. which the Australian throws, Your verbal BOOMERANG slaps you on the nose.
[M.]

BOON-COMPANIONSHIP,
quial).

subs, (collo-

Jollity

conviviality.
in wks.

1870. LOWELL, A mong Books, The BOOMERANG of S. (1873), 219. in the which one throws argument, opposite direction of what he means to

My

See

BOON-COMPANION.
NASHE, Strange Newes,

1592.

hit.

[M.]

BOOMING,

ppl. adj.
;

(American).
;

Thinke not, though vnder corII., 176. rection Of your BOONE-COMPANIONSHIP, I am disposd to be a little pleasant, I cpndemne you of anie immoderation, either in eating or drinking.
1849. LYTTON, Caxtons, ch. iv. A little society, and
.

Flourishing

active
;

in

good

pt.

XII.,

form

large

astonishing.

BOOM and BOOMER

See in all senses.

BOON-COMwould take Roland out PANIONSHIP of those gloomy reveries.

.
.

Boong.
BOONG.
BOORDE.
BOOST,
ing
1 ;

295

Boots.
punishment
is

See

BUNG.
BORD.

irregular

and

unconventional, being inflicted

See
soldiers on a comrade discovered guilty of some serious breach of the unwritten law of comradeship, such as theft, etc. The beating was formerly inhence flicted with a bootjack the name.

by

subs.

push

shove a up
' '

(American). a
'

A
'

hoist' ;

lift

New

England

vulgarism.
1858. Dow, Sermons. Office seekers ask you to give them a BOOST into the

tree of office.

[M.]

BOOTH,
'to

subs, (thieves').

house
i e.,

1866. T. A. RICHARDS, Rice Fields of the South. [A negro-preacher in South

heave

BOOTH,'

'to

Carolina,

'

loq.~\

For,

Zaccheus was bound to see the Lord for once, dough he had to climb up de tree to do it. And how did he get up der tree ? Ah, how did he get up der ? bredderen Did he wait for tree, my some lazy nigger to bring him a ladder ? Did he wait to bredderen. Ah, no, my be BOOSTED ? Ah, no, my bredderen. Not a BOOST He climbed right straight up der tree hisself, like de possum, by his own hands and feet and de grace of God!'
!

my

rob a house.'

bredderen,

little

BOOTH-BURSTER, subs, (theatrical). A loud and noisy actor. A

variant of

BARN-STORMER

(q.v.).

BOOTING, subs, (military). ishment administered

strap.
Cf.,

A punwith a
Mus-

COLTING.
(military).

1888. Puck's Library, genius took hold of the gave it a little BOOST. He the times, and he applied faculties to the problem him. What,' he asked, means of success ?

May,

p.

n.

BOOT-JOE,
ketry

subs,

business, and was a man of

his reasoning

drill.

presented to
'

'

is

the chief

BOOT-LEG PLAN. See BOOT-LEG PLAN.

ON THE

'

Verb.

To

to shove.

hoist See subs.

to

lift

up

R. LOWELL, Biglow 1848-64. J. Papers, II., 106. Whereas ole Abram 'd sink afore he'd let a darkie BOOST him.
1872.
S.

BOOTLICK, subs. (American). A flunkey hanger-on or doer of dirty work. [In England such a one is called a bootlicker,' of
;
;
'

which BOOTLICK
Verb.

is

probably an
;

L.

CLEMENS

('

Mark

abbreviated form.]

Twain'), Roughing It, ch. vii. You ought that spider-legged old to have seen skeleton go and you ought to have seen the bull cut out after him, top head down, tongue out, tail up, bellowing like everything, and actually mowing down the weeds, and tearing up the earth, and BOOSTING up the sand like a whirl!

on

to

To toady to hang undertake dirty work.

'

'

wind

1884.
481, col.
i.

helpless avoirdupois carriage door.

Harper's Magazine, Aug., p. To BOOST a jurist of so much in through the

i. The BOOTS, subs, (colloquial). servant at hotels and places of a kindred character who cleans the boots of visitors. Formerly called boot-catchers, because in the old riding and coaching days part of their duty was to divest travellers of their footgear.

BOOSY.

See

BOOZY.

2. The youngest (military.) officer in a regimental mess.

To beat; BOOT, verb (military). The to punish with a strap.

LIKE
BRICKS

OLD

BOOTS

BEANS
(com-

BLAZES,

etc. ,phr.

Boots and Leathers.

Thoroughly vigorously. simile as general in its application as it is irrelevant. It
mon).
;

Booze.
by the rider than by the horse himself; especially after he had scornfully refused a considerable bribe to PLAY BOOTY on such an occasion.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). BOOTY (s.), plunder, spoil, prize also a cant word signifying a pretence to one thing, and at the same time intends and does the contrary, in order to cheat, impose upon, and draw in a person to lay wagers, play at some
;

may mean anything,

comprehension.
1868.
xxvii., p. 282.

everything,

and nothing. Why old boots and not new boots is beyond
Miss BRADDON.SJV Jasper, ch. I'll stick to you LIKE OLD

BOOTS.

game,
(1777)

etc.

An
.

Saturday Review, Jan., p. 55. Oxford man, nay even a Balliol man
.

1874.

1776.

introduced in the story a pleasing

stumbled

COLMAN, The Spleen, in wks. IV., 276. Jubilee started and but, by-the-bye, I believe his

change by such a phrase as jawing away LIKE OLD BOOTS.

rider PLAYED BOOTY Duenna stakes, and the knowing ones

won
were

the
all

taken
'

in.

To
(old).

BUY

OLD

To marry

BOOTS, phr. or keep the

(q.v.).

cast-off mistress of another man.

1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. vii. Were he caught PLAYING BOOTY, he would be disarmed, and probably dis-

mounted.'
1831.

To

DIE IN ONE'S BOOTS

See

thing remained to be lost

DISRAELI, Young Duke. One what he called

BOOTS AND LEATHERS.

COM-

his honour,

which was already on the

scent to PLAY BOOTY.

MONER
BOOTY.

PEAL.
(old).
;

To play falsely dishonestly or unfairly this with the object of not winning, a previous
;

To PLAY BOOTY ,phr.

;

also So BOOTY = playing BOOTY, and BOOTY-FELLOW, a

sharer in the plunder.

BOOZE,
;

subs.

popular

i.

arrangement having been made with a confederate to share the spoils resulting from the bogus
play.

Sometimes it takes the form of permitting the victim to win small stakes in order to encourage him to hazard larger sums which, naturally, he is not
allowed to win.
See quotation

Drink a draught. The older forms are BOUSE or BOUZE (q.v.), but BOOZE in its present form appears as early as 1714. For synonyms, see DRINKS.
1714.
p.
ii.

Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), BOOZE, Drink. [List of cant

words.]
1821.

W.
ii.,

T. MONCRIEFK,
Sc.
6.

from Dyche.
1575.

Jerry, Act

Frat.

They

wil

make

of Vacabondcs, p. 13. as much as they can,

have you ordered the peck and BOOZE for the evening? Sold. Sttkc. Aye, aye,
I've taken care of that

Jemmy.

Tom and Gemmen,

shoulder of veal

and consent as though they wil PLAY BOOTY againt him. 1608. DEKKER, Belman of London,
wks. (Grosart) III., 133. They haue still an eare how the layes [bets] are made, and according to that leuell doe they throw their bowles, so that be sure the bowlers PLAY BOOTY.
in
. . .

and garnish Turkey and appendleges Parmesan Filberds Port and Madery.
1889.

The Music

Sporting Times, 6 July.

Kid.

Hall Sports are at Alexandra Park on the 23rd, and there will be rare Master and doings on that occasion. Shifter both give prizes, and there will be BOOZE in our drag.
2.

1742.

FIELDING,

bk. I., ch. ii. The best gamesters, before they laid their money, always inquired which horse little Joey was to ride and the bets were rather proportioned
;

Joseph Andrews,

A
;

drinking bout

a tipsy

Murray's first quote for this form and sense is dated but, from the following, 1864

frolic.

Booze.
it

2 97

Boozing-Ken.
I.,

will be seen to be at least For synothirty years older.

see

R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. 1671. Most part of the ch. iv., p. 36 (1874).

night
i

we
.
.

spent
.

in
is

BOOZING,

pecking

nyms,
1834.

JAMBOREE.
AINSWORTH,
v.

umly

that

drinking, eating.

H.
ch.

Rookwood,

1693.

DRYDEN,
in

bk.

III.,

'We'll have a jolly

Gazette, 19 Dec.,

Which
sings.
1705.

his

Juvenal, x., 288. cups the BOWSY poet

BOOSE when
1884.
p. 4, col.
i.

all's over.'

St.

James's

WARD,

Hudibras

Rcdivivus,

There was a great BOOZE

vol. II.,pt. IV., p. 14.

Amongst a Crowd
P. Pindar, p. 303,

on board. Verb
;

of Sots, half BOOZY.

c. 1819. ed. 1830.

(common).
to tipple
;
'

To

drink

WOLCOT,

heavily An old term sense of to drink

'

to guzzle. employed in some

as early as

Also BOOZE (q.v.). 1300. synonyms, see SWILL.

For

This landlord was a BOOZER stout, A snuff-taker and smoker. [D.] 1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, ch. xxiii. The BOOZY unshorn wretch is seen hovering round quays as packets arrive, and tippling drams in inn bars where he
gets credit.
1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, ch. xxxiii. The quantity of brandy-andwater that Jack took showed what a

The

1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 5. buriall was tourned to BOUSING and

belly cheere.
1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilcssc, in II., 91. They should haue all the companie that resort to them, byeBOWZING and beere-bathing in their BOUSES

regular

wks.

1850.

BOOZER he was. P. CROOK, War

BOOZED in
'

every after-noone.
1777. COLMAN, Epilogue to Sheridan's School for Scandal. While good Sir Peter BOOZES with the squire.

press drove

of Hats, 50. their tavern dens, The scurril all their dirty pens.

1853. THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, I wonder, Sir Charles xiii., p. 173. Lyndon, a gentleman who has been the King's ambassador, can demean himself by gambling and BOOZING with low Irish

ch.

'

1866. G. ELIOT, Felix Holt, ch. xi. Till they can show there's something they love better than swilling themselves with ale, entension of the suffrage can never mean anything for them but entension of BOOZING.'

1889.

Ally

Slopcr's

Half Holiday,
;

'

black-legs

BOOZED (ppl. adj.), drunk, fuddled; BOOZY (adj.), screwed BOOZING drunken,
So
also
'
'

In Canton gardens I have BOOZED Beneath the palm-trees I have snoozed I've seen the alligator smile. And peppered at the crocodile.

Aug.

24, p. 267, col. 2.

BOOZING CHEAT,

subs,

the act of drinking hard; and BOOZER (subs.), a drunkard, a tippler examples
(verbal subs.),

(thieves').
(q.v.),

bottle.

[From BOOZE

drink,

CHEAT, from A.S.

ceat,

of

which respectively

a thing.]

will

be
BOOZING-KEN,
subs.
(old).

found hereunder in sections.

b, 1529. SKELTON, Elvnoor Roininin, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), I., 416.

Droupy and drowsie, Scurvy and lousie Her face all BOWSIE. 1592. GREENE, Quip, in wks. XI., 353. To marke the BOWSIE drunkard to
dye of the dropsy.
1611.

drinking den. [From BOOZE (q.v.), drink, + KEN, a place.] term of A A long standing. French equivalent is une bibine, for but general synonyms,
see

LUSH

CRIB.
(1814), p. 65.

a
4.

tipler,

COTGRAVE, BOWSER.
in the

Piailleur:

1567.
.

HARMAN, Caveat

BOWSING-KEN, a
1610.

ale house.

1616.

And

JoflsoN, Devil's

meantime,

to

an Ass, V., be greasy,

ROWLANDS, Martin
1874).

Mark-all,

p. 37

and BOUZV.

(H. Club's Repr., KEN, an Ale-house.

BOWSING-

Boozington.
1622.
II.,
i.

298

Bore.

FLETCHER, Beggar's Bush,

conference at the BOOZING-

When

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. [The same definition.]

last in

KEN,

This other day we sat about our dead

prince.
1714.
p.
ii.

subs. BORDEAUX, (pugilistic). Blood [an allusion to the colour

Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), BOOZING-KEN, an Ale-house.

in.]

of the wine.

[List of cant words

1834.

BADMINTON]. see CLARET.

Cf CLARET and For synonyms,

,

H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,

bk. III., ch. v. The hovel termed their BOOZING-KEN.

which they

BORD You

phr.

(nautical).

An

BOOZINGTON, A thieves').
parently

expression used to claim the next turn in drinking.

subs.

(Australian

drunkard. formation

[Ap-

BOOZE (q.v.), to model of LUSHINGTON (q.v.), an English equivalent.] For synonyms, see ELBOW CROCKER.
BORACHIO.SW&S. (old). for a drunkard skin for holding
;

from drink, on the

BORE, but
or

subs,

and

verb

(old slang,

now

recognised).
;

Anybody

wearisome or anything to weary or to be annoying

wearied.

[The derivation is unknown, and the word does

not appear in English literature Hotten's referprior to 1750. ence to King Shakspeare,

A nickname
formerly
wine.

For

Henry VIII.,

i.,

i,

synonyms,
BORAK.

see

ELBOW

CROOKER.

He BORES me

At this instant with some trick,

' ' '

BORAK, verbal To pour fictiphr. (colonial). tious news into credulous ears
;

To POKE
to
'

is a misreading, in this bore instance signifying to stab,' as the context clearly shows.]

to 'stuff'
1587.

kid.'

Notes and Queries, 7 S., iii., POKE BORAK, applied in Colonial 476. conversation to the operations of a person who pours fictitious information into the ears of a credulous listener.

Verb (sporting). To push or thrust out of the course and BORING, subs., the practice of
; '

boring.'
signifies

Amongst
to

pugilists

it

BORD, BORDE, BOORDE,

cant).
is

Subs,

(old
see

shilling.

The

origin

unknown.
HARMAN,

For synonyms,
Caveat, p. 85.
i.e.,

BLOW.
1567.

drive an opponent on to the ropes of the ring by sheer weight, whilst amongst rowing men it denotes the action of a coxswain in so steering a boat as to force his opponent into the shore, or into

ROGE,

but bouse there a BORD, there a shilling.

1610.

but drink

water, thus obtaining an unfair advantage; also analostill

Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). BOORD, a shilling Halfe a BOORD, sixepence.
;

ROWLANDS, Martin

gously applied to horse-racing. The term, as so used, is a very old one, and is derived from the persistency of motion of a boring
tool.
1672. VANBRUGH, Lover's Quarrels, 317 in Hazl. E.P., pt. II., 266. He BOR'D him out of the saddle fair.
1819.
to

1611.

(1873) III., 219.

bestowes vpon you two, two BOORDES

DEKKER, Roaring Girle, wks. My Lord Noland

. .

and a
I.,

half.

R. HEAD, English RogTte, pt. 1671. ch. v., p. 47 (1874). BORDE, a shilling.

MOORE, Tom

Congress.

Crib's

Memorial

rl

y,

that very great

Born Days.
Count, stood deploring,

299
1834.

Boshing.
is

Gecrgy
the

his

new

hadn't taught modes of BORING.

He

firman

MORIER, Ayesha, L, 219. This BOSH nothing. [M.]

1821.
first

The
round.

Fancy,
in,

vol.

I.,

Evans BORED
1870.

and upset

his

man

p.

255.

in

xvii., p. 129.

in great

DICKENS, Edwin Drood, ch. Their fighting code stood need of revision, as empowering them not only to BORE their man to the also to hit him when he ropes, but was down.
.
. .

C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, 1857. ch. x. I always like to read old Darwin's Loves of the Plants, BOSH as it is in a scientific point of view.
1880.
'

Punch, 10 Jan.,

p.

9,
'

col.

2.

'of things evil!' 'Prophet,' said I, Things are going to the devil Is the formula of fogies, I have heard that BOSH before.

BORN

DAYS. DAYS, phr.

lifetime.
1740.

ALL ONE'S BORN

(colloquial).

Verb.

One's
71.

To humbug
Macmillan's

to spoil

to

mar.
Magazine,
;

1870.
383.

He

RICHARDSON, Pamela, III., never was so delighted in his

BORN DAYS.
1753. RICHARDSON, Grandison, I., There was one Miss Byron, a Northamptonshire lady, whom I never saw before in my BORN DAYS.
103.

You BOSH his joke [a man's] by refusing to laugh at it you BOSH his chance of sleep by playing on the cornet all night in the room next to him. [M.]
1883. ch. xiv.
'

XXL,

Miss EDGEWORTH, Ennui, ch. 1809. ix. Craiglethorpe will know just as much of the lower Irish as the Cockney who has never been out of London, and who has never in all his BORN DAYS
seen an Irishman but on the English
stage.

wouldn't he make a jolly exclaimed Reginald. Boys would get on capitally with Jardine. They'd never try to BOSH him.'
'

And
?

Miss BRADDON, Golden

'

Calf,

schoolmaster

Intj. It's all

Nonsense

Rubbish
See

my
!

eye

ALL MY
ch.

EYE.
1852.
xxi.

BORN WEAK,

Said phr. (nautical). of a vessel feebly built. CLARK

BOSH
1889.
i.

DICKENS, Bleak House,

It's all correct.

RUSSELL'S

Sailors'

Language.

p. 3, col.

Pall Mall Gazette, October 30, 'You always learn in front

of the looking-glass, do

BOSH,
sense
;

subs,

(common).
' '

Non' '

rot rubbish stuff anything beneath contempt.

; ;

[The

derivation
in

is

uncertain.

!' was the laughing reply. generally learn my plays and recitations whilst I am dressing but you don't think I deliberately stand and make monkey-faces in the looking-glass.
'

Brandram?
'

you

not,

Mr.

'Bosn

Murray says the word became

current

England

from

its

BOSH FAKER,
violin
bosh,

subs,

(vagrants').

frequent occurrence in Morier's Persian novels, Ayesha [1834], etc., most of them extremely popular productions. Its source has been suggested in the Turkish bosh lakerdi, empty talk in the German bosh or bossch, an equivalent of swipes and in the Gypsy bosh, 'a noise,' a
;
'

a violin, + FAKER, a performer or player.]

player.

[From Gypsy

'

'

1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 231. Can you rocker Romanic Can you patter flash,

'

Can you rocker Romanic Can you FAKE A BOSH.

subs.

from which latter it has been thought that there may be some connection between the exclamation BOSH and FIDDLEfiddle,'
!

BOSHING,

[Apparently a corrupted form of BASHING.]

flogging.

(American

thieves').

DE-DEE

(q.v.).']

See

BASH.

Bo shy.
BOSHY, pery
1882.
'

300

Boss.
1851-61.

adj.
;

(common).
See

TrumBOSH.

nonsensical.

and Lon. Poor,

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. vol. I., p. 471. / I've seen

F. ANSTEY, Vice Versa, ch. There was no dancing, only BOSHY and a conjuror.' games
iv.

the swell BOSMEN (farmers) buy the pills to give the people standing about."

Boss,

subs.
i.
;

Bos -KEN,
term.

subs,

farmhouse.

An

(vagrants').

lish).

(American and EngA master; a head

old

[From L. 60s = ox + KEN, a house.] Cf., KEN.

1851-61.
'

canting

man
the

one

who

directs.

[From
master.]

Dutch

baas,

Few words have

acquired

H. MAYHEW, London Lab.

and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 472. Up at a BOSKEN (farm-house) they'll get among
the servant
girls.'

BOSKINESS,
;

subs,

(popular).
;

The
with
of

quality of being fuddled

greater hold on American life than this term, and the primitive meaning of master, overseer, or superior of any kind, though in a large measure retained to this day, has been widened out
in every direction.

drink bemused drunkenness.

1887.

state

The political

Town
his

Judy, 31 August, p. 101. The Councillor had a squabble with and accused him of parent BOSKINESS.
. .
.

BOSKY,

Drunk; adj. (popular). fuddled. [Derivation untipsy certain BOSKY = wooded,' or

; ' ;

BOSS is the leader whose word is law to his henchman. Boss Tweed, of New York, is believed to have been the first to bear the title in a semi-official way. The phrase BOSS RULE is said to have been invented by Mr.

Wayne MacVeagh, and employed by him in political is It speeches in Chicago. now in common use in this sense. In the two first quotations the word appears to be used much as in the modern
sense.

bushy,' and there may be an allusion to the obscurity and

'

overshadowing,

peculiar

to

wooded country. Bailey [1728] has also BOSKY = swelled, but

does not give the slang sense of the word, although it appears in the editions 1730-6. It may, a figuratively be therefore,

For GOVERNOR.
1590.

synonyms,

see

MARLOWE, Tamburlaine,

pt.

I.,

humorous reading of swelled,' For synonyms, i.e., 'tight.'] see SCREWED.

'

1748.

BOSKY

(A.),

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). fuddled, half or quite drunk.

1824.

may be tipsy,
drunk.

Blackw. Mag., XVI., 573. He BOSKY, cut, or anything but

Zab. Base concubine, iii., Sc. 3. must thou be placed by me, That am the empress of the mighty Turk ? Zen. Disdainful Turkess and unreverend BOSS! M. PHILIPSE, Early Voyage to 1679. New Netherlands (quoted by De Vere). Here they had their first interview with the female BOSS or supercargo of the

Act

vessel.
1848. BARTLETT, Americanisms. I have never known a second wife but what was BOSS of the situation.

I got 1886. Punch, 17 April, p. 185. a bit BOSKY last night. Has the 'eadache

got into

my rhymes?
subs,
[

BOSNIAN, farmer.

(vagrants').

The

bosch-man,

one

From the Dutch who lives in

position.

the woods; otherwise Bosclijeman, or bushman.] Cf., BOSKEN.

New York Herald, May 24. Eternal City is in a very curious The Pope has returned to his ancestral home; but he has nothing in his pocket, and Rothschild refuses to let him have any more money. A thousand years ago, and the boot would have been on t'other leg. To-day it is very
1850.
.
.

Boss.
different.

301

Bot, Bott, Botts.

1887.

ment to make Hamline the general superintendent and chief BOSS of this whole gas business.
2.

The Father of Holiness is the dependent of the Jew, and Rothschild is the real Pope and BOSS of all Europe. 1888. New York Herald, Jan. 12. Alderman Campbell I move an amend-

BOSS

is

N. and Q., 7 S., schoolboy slang for

iii.,
'

236. to miss.'

To

So also derivatives BOSSING, BOSSISM, a acting as a boss system of management or wire;

person
Cf.,

(popular.) also one

;

A short-sighted
who
squints.
verb,

BOSSY, pertaining pulling the qualities of a leader.

;

to

BOSSERS,
tacles.

subs,

BOSS-EYED and Boss,

2.

See

(common). BARNACLES.

Spec-

sense
3.

(popular.)

A
;

blunder.
Adj.
chief.
1884.

Boss, Pleasant
Cf.,

verb,

miss; a sense 2.
rate
col.
;

first

The Americans

Echo, March

Boss- EYED, adj. (common). Said of a person with one eye, or rather with one eye injured a person with an obliquity of vision. In this sense sometimes
;

3, p.

i,

4.

are acknowledged to be the BOSS artificers in wood.

1888. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 18. Take it all together, with scarcity of food and little sleep, we had a hard but a BOSS time.

varied by
as a subs.
c.

SQUINNY-EYED and SWIVEL-EYED (q.v.). Also used

BOSS-EYE.
Broadside Ballad,
'

1884.

Put

me

To manage direct See subs., sense i. 1856. National Intelligencer, Nov. 3. The little fellow that BOSSES it over the crowd.
Verb.
i.
; ;

some Jam Roll by, Jenny.' Come where the waves roll high, Jenny, Come where the waves roll high,
Jenny, old

control.

1872. A thtnaum, March 9. A child wishing to charge his sister with being the aggressor in a quarrel for which he was punished, exclaimed, I did not BOSS the job it was sister.'
'
;

Come where the waves roll high. Come where the waves roll high, Jenny, Come where the sea-sick lie, Come where we eat salt-junk, love, Come with your old BOS-EYE. FRENCH SYNONYMS. Borgniat
des
;

girl, I

love you,

cligner dcs ccillets (a military

'

term,

Saturday Review, April 28, p. It is long since the more respectable inhabitants of America have been divided between the convenience
515, col.
i.

1883.

calots

to be boss-eyed ') hotter to be boss-eyed ) ('

;
'

calorgne.

of the Irish as hewers of wood and drawers of water, and as voters easily BOSSED or bribed on the one hand, and the manifold nuisance of them on the
other.
1885.

BOSTRUCHYZER,

subs.

small kind of comb versity). for the whiskers. curling

Hotten.

(Oxford Uni-

Obsolete.

Shah has fairly BOSSED everything this week he has been chief actor in our
social system. 1888. Texas Siftings, July.

Sporting Times, July

6.

The
BOT, BOTT, BOTTS, subs, (common). The colic; belly-ache gripes.
;

When

lovely woman hires a servant And BOSSES her around all day, What makes the girl pray half so fervent

Properly a name given to maggots found in the intestines of horses, under the hides of oxen,

As her desire
2.
;

aim BOSS-EYED (q.v.) person would be expected to make. BOSS-

to run away. To miss one's (popular.) to make such a shot as a

and in the nostrils of sheep. A French equivalent is la tourmente,

'

i.e.,

the torment.'

SHOT

is

common

phrase.

Dr. BURNS, Death and Hornbook, st. 27. A countra Laird had ta'en the BATTS, Or some curmurring in his guts.
1787.

Botanical Excursion.
1816. SCOTT, Old Mortality, ch. viii. ne'er gat ony gude by his doctrine, as wi' ye ca't, but a sour fit o' the BATTS sitting amang the wet moss-hays for four hours at a yoking.
1

32
died

Bottle-Holder.
of,

or to have
Cf.,

BOTANY-BAY

FEVER.

HEMPEN FEVER

for hanging.

BOTANICAL EXCURSION, subs. (old). A thief's circumlocution

for transportation

the allusion
(q.v.).

being to

BOTANY BAY
subs.

BOTANY BAY,
i.

(University).

At Oxford, Worcester College is so designated on account of its remote situation as regards the bulk of the collegiate It will be seen that buildings. a similar reason has caused a
lege,

BOTCH, subs. (old). A tailor. [An abbreviated form of botcher, which has been used for a very long period in all the following senses a cobbler, tailor who does repairs, jobber, and an unskilful workman.] Also called a SNIP, which see for synonyms.
'

BOTTLE.
;

To TURN OUT NO
Not

BOTTLE,

phr. (sporting). well to fail.

to turn out

certain portion of Trinity Colto receive an Dublin,

BOTTLE-ACHE,

identical nickname.

The general

underlying the term is obviously that to get to the has places in question one as far figuratively to go almost as if transported to the real BOTANY BAY, formerly a convict settlement in New South
idea

subs, (common). also applied to Drunkenness an attack of delirium tremens. [From BOTTLE, in allusion to
;

drink causing indisposition, + ACHE, a pain or sickness.] There are many curious terms for this effect of intemperance, such as

Jim-jams, barrel fever, quartmania but for full list of syno;

Wales.
1841.
xx., note.

nyms,
LEVER, Charles O'Malley,
ch.

see

GALLON DISTEMPER.
adj.

BOTANY BAY was the slang given by college men to a new square rather remotely situated from the remainder of the college [i.e., Trinity, Dublin] REV. E. BRADLEY (' Cuthbert 1853. Bede'), Adventures of Verdant Green, I., A name given to W. College, p. 63. from its being the most distant college.

BOTTLE-ARSED,

phr. (printers').

name

Type thicker at one end than the other a result of wear and
tear.

BOTTLE-HOLDER, subs, (common). A second at a prize-fight, i. hence

2.

2.

(thieves'

and

prison.)

One
;

who
was

gives
;

Formerly convicts [1787-1867] were transported to BOTANY BAY, a convict settlement at the Antipodes. Hence to go to BOTANY BAY was in popular use for a long

Penal

servitude.

support a backer In the Times of

moral an adviser.

1851,

Lord

Palmerston

consider himself

reported to the BOTTLE:

and

term of imprisonment.

BOTANY-BAY FEVER, subs. (old). Transportation penal servitude.

;

of oppressed states Punch of the same year, a cartoon appeared representing that statesman as the judicious BOTTLE-HOLDER.'
in
'

HOLDER

Convicts condemned
portation

to to

trans-

1753.

were

said

have

An

old bruiser

SMOLLETT, Ct. Fathom (L.). makes a good BOTTLE-

HOLDER.

Bottle-Holding.
1816. SCOTT, Antiquary, ch. xxxix. Petrie recommends, upon his own experience, as tutor in a family of distinction, this attitude to all led captains,
. . .

303

Bottom.
his partner's knave, led out strong suits of trumps without any suit to them BOTTLED when his partner follow, led them first time round.
. . .

tutors,

dependents, and BOTTLE-HOLDERS

of every description.

modern
'

SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. ii. Cold water, and a little vinegar, applied according to the scientific method practised by the BOTTLE-HOLDERS in a
1822. ring.
1860.

Cincinnati Commercial, April, 1871. He will BOTTLE UP his wrath, having had some experience in the line of BOTTLING UP during the war, and pour out his vials upon General Farnsworth's
p. 637.

head, whenever the occasion offers.

Do you remember his tremendous fight with Biggs ? Remember ? who didn't ? Marston was Berry's BOTTLE-HOLDER.'
' '

THACKERAY,

Philip, ch.

xl.

BOTTOM,

subs,

The
see

(colloquial).
;

i.

posteriors

not

now

in

literary
1794-6.
253.

use. For synonyms, BLIND-CHEEKS and BUM.

to

BOTTLE-HOLDING, verbal subs, (common). Backing; supporting.

1878-80.

So as

E. DARWIN, Zoon. (1801), III., have his head and shoulders

J.

much

lower than his BOTTOM.

tory of

noble lord (Palmerston) told the deputarequired

JUSTIN MACCARTHY, HisOur Own Times, II., p. 115. The

1822-36.
. . .

Government much generalship and judgment, and that a good deal of judicious BOTTLE-HOLDING was obliged to be brought into play.

tion that the past crisis was one which on the part of the British

xxxix. (1864), iv., 79. The Dunghill cock hides his head in a hole unashamed of the exposure of his enormous
. .

WILSON, Nodes. Ambr.,

.

BOTTOM.
1837.
185.

CARLYLE, Fr.

Patriot

women

Rev.,
.

II., iv., i.,

take their hazel

.

wands, and
of priests.
2.

fustigate

broad BOTTOM

BOTTLE OF
phr.
;

BRANDY

IN

GLASS,

(popular.)
;

Capital
' ;

re-

A glass of (common). beer a recent and absurd slang

introduction.
subs, (rhyming Twopence. The play of words is upon deuce two.
' '

sources
1662.

stamina

grit.'
II.,

451.

him by

FULLER, Worthies (1840), Beginning on a good BOTTOM

his father.

left

BOTTLE OF SPRUCE,
slang).

BOTTLES,

(Stock Exchange). Barrett's Brewery and Bottling Co. Shares,

subs.

1747. CAPTN. GODFREY, Science of Defence, p. 54. I have mentioned strength and art as the two ingredients of a boxer. But there is another, which is vastly necessary that is, what we call a BOTThere are two things required TOM. to make this BOTTOM, that is, wind and or heart, or wherever you can fix spirit, the residence of courage.
; .

BOTTLE-SUCKER, subs, (nautical). An able-bodied seaman the abbreviation is A.B.S., and A BOTTLE-SUCKER IS Supposed to be a humorous rendering.
;

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial Congress, pref., p. xv. The peculiarities of this boxer discussed his power of standing with his arms extended for two
to

whole days, without any rest, by which means he wore out his adversaries' BOTTOM, and conquered without either
giving or taking.
V. Fair, vol. II., did not like to dine with had run races of They pleasure together in youth when Bareacres was the winner. But Steyne had
1846. ch. xiv.

BOTTLE-UP, verb (old). To restrain to keep (temper, feelings, etc.) or hold back.
;

He

THACKERAY,

Steyne now.

1622.

T.
. .

Scott,

Belg.

Vapours

BOTTELED UP

Pismire, 53.
in cloudes.

more BOTTOM than him out.

he,

and had lasted

H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, 1863. ch. xi. Austin played very bad, trumped

3. Spirit placed (popular.) in a glass prior to the addition

Bottom Dollar.

304
1888.

Bounce.
Omaha
'

of water. [From BOTTOM, the lowest surface or part of anything, the foundation, the basis. See peculiar American usage in 1883 quot] Also used as a verb.
1854. SIR THEO. MARTIN, Gaiiltier Ballads. BOTTOMED well

World.

BOTTOM ROCK.
some

Conductor (on California train

'

All out for Pitholeville.' years hence) Real Estate Agent (entering car) Orange groves and apple orchards, two for a penny."

Bon
with

BOTTOMLESS

PIT, subs,

brandy.
1857.

coarse and vulgar name for the female pudenda. For syno-

(old slang).

A.

ch.

xxxi.

TROLLOPE, Three Clerks, Gin and water was the or;

nyms,

see

MONOSYLLABLE.

dinary 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.
1883.
col. 3.

An infant's BoTTf.subs. (popular). posteriors the French say tu tu.

;

Daily Telegraph, 2 July,

p. 5,

Adj.

(popular).

Conceited;
is

tioned in a
this article.

Soda and DARK BOTTOM is menlist of American drinks in

swaggering.

To LOOK BOTTY
mcrdf
;

in French, faire sa son matador.

fain

TO KNOCK THE BOTTOM OUT OF ONE, pJir. (American). To overcome to defeat, etc.
;

BOUGH,

subs.
(<?.r.)

(old).
is

The

gallows.

TREE
sense.

used in a similar

1888. Clevdam( Leader. The declination of Mr. Elaine, has knocked the BOTTOM out of Mugwumpery.

BOTTOM DOLLAR,
can).

subs. phr.

The
'

(Ameri-

1590. SWINBURN, Testaments, 53. Or for there it is Kent in Gauelkind said, the father to the BOUGHE, and the to the son ploughe. [M.]

in

last

dollar.

The

phrase

to
is

bet one's

BOTTOM

DOLLAR

'

frequently heard.
subs. phr.

1596. SPENSER, State Ird., wks. Some have (1862), p. 553, col. 2. beene for their goods sake caught up, and carryed straight to the BOUGH.
.

1870.

BOTTOM FACTS,

(AmeriThe exact truth about can). matter. To 'get to the any BOTTOM FACTS concerning a subject, is to arrive at an unquestionable conclusion con'

iv., 77.

If

she

MORRIS, Earthly Par., III., doom thee to the BOUGH.

BOUGHS.
(old).

UP

IN

THE BOUGHS,

phr.

In a passion. by Grose.

Quoted

cerning

it

or, as

is

said in

England, to get to the root of

the question.
1877. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain '), on the Mississippi, p. 393. You take a family able to emba'm, and you've got a soft thing. You can mention sixteen different ways to do it though there
Life^

BOUNCE, subs, (common). Brag; swagger boastful falsehood and

;

exaggeration.
1714.
is

supposed
1748.

STEELE, Lover (1723), 93. This to be only a BOUNCE.

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). also the huff, brag, or
.
.

BOUNCE
1765.
1.

(s.)

one or two ways when you come down to the BOTTOM FACTS of it and they'll take the highest priced way
aint only

swaggering of a bully or great pretender.

every time. It's nature in grief.

human
is

nature

human

The phrase
BOTTOM ROCK.

also varied

by

GOLDSMITH, Haunch of VeniBut hold let me pause don't I hear you pronounce this tale of the bacon a damnable BOUNCE ? WHYTE MELVILLE, Kate 1856. Coventry, ch. i. Only tell a man you think him good-looking, and he falls in
son,
14.

Bounce.
love with you directly or if that is too great a BOUNCE and indeed very few of them have the slightest pretensions to beauty you need only hint that he rides
;

305

Bouncer.
,

gallantly.

Blackicood's Mag., May, p. 670. The whole heroic adventure was the veriest BOUNCE, the merest bunkum
1880.
!

1762. FOOTE, Liar, II., i. If it had to an oath, I don't think he would have BOUNCED. H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, 1863. ch. x. It's them gals, Mr. Austin, got a shilling of mine among un somewhere, and wants to BOUNCE me out of it.'

come

'

2.

Impudence; cheek; BRASS

JOHN
FORSTER,

(q.v.}.

BOUNCE, phr. (comIn a state of spasmodic movement general liveliness.

mon).
;

ON THE

Life of Dickens, ch. Ix. It is the face of the Webster type, but without the BOUNCE of Webster's face.
3.

1872-4.

boaster

swaggerer
bully.

of the select and chosen of Lord Coventry, Major Clements, and those that rule the interior of the Invited Enclosure at Ascot. Several well known defaulters would be observed going to and fro ON
'

1889. Times, June 29. Sporting Funny to a degree was it to watch some

showy swindler; BOUNCER.

1812.
J.

Cf.,

man who once signed

tialled to a

THE BOUNCE, 'including one young gentlehis surname uninicheque which was cashed by

H. VAUX, Flash Diet. BOUNCE, a person well or fashionably drest is said to be a RANK BOUNCE.
Verb.
i.
;

a confiding tradesman,
said

who

took

the

endorsement

for that of his baronial

parent.

To

boast; bluster

To GET THE GRAND BOUNCE,

;

hector
i.

bully;

blow up.
more

phr. (American)
lent, in

This is equiva-

1633. FLETCHER, Nt. Walkers, IV., doe so whirle her to the Counsellors'
. .

chambers money.
1698.

and BOUNCE her

for

parlance, to dismissal, especially in reference to government appointments.

political

p. 428.

Feats,

WARD, London Spy, pt. XVIII., With lies he tells his Bloody And BOUNCES like a Bully.

BOUNCEABLE, adj. (common). Prone to bouncing or boasting uppish bumptious.' [From

;

'

'

'

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). BOUNCE (v.), to swagger, boast, crack, or stump, pretend to great matters.
1748. 1749.

WALPOLE,
II.,

May

(1833), vol.
first

had four moner at

1760.

tickets a-piece,

BOUNCED and obtained a

COLMAN,
55.
!

Mann, 3 The Lords and each Combut two, till the Speaker
p. 374.

Lett, to

third.

wks. (1777) IV.,

Polly Honcycombe, in Nay, nay, old gentle-

man, no BOUNCING; you're mistaken in your man, sir 1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey Plamlyn,
ch. v.

which he became quite BOUNCIBLE, and ranted about the feat he was to take a prominent part in. 1849. DICKENS, David Coppeifield, I heard that Mr. Sharp's wig ch. iv. didn't fit him and that he needn't be so BOUNCEABLE somebody else said 'bump;

ABLE.] (q.V.) S. WARREN, Diary of a Late As ch. xvi. soon as we had Physician, exhibited sundry doses of Irish cordial to pur friend Tip under the effects of
1830.

BOUNCE

tious

'about

it.

He'll be drinking at all the places coining along to get his courage up to BOUNCE me.'
1883.
col. 8.

'

BOUNCER,
bully
;

subs,

(common).
;

i.
;

A
one

hector

blusterer

To BOUNCE

Daily News, July 26, p. 4, is simply to prevail

who
the

on persons whose mirth interferes with the general enjoyment to withdraw from society which they embarrass rather
than adorn.
2.

talks swaggeringly. [From verb senses i BOUNCE,

2,
-f-

and

ER.]

1748.

BOUNCER
bravado.
lie;

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (4 ed.). a bully or hectoring (s.),

To

to

cheat;

to

1851-61.

swindle.

H. MAYHEW.LoM.Lfl6.anrf
24.

Lon. Poor, IV.,

Those who cheat the 20

Bouncer.
Public
. . .

36
de6.

Bouncing Cheat.
(harlotry.)
;

BOUNCERS and Besters

A
;

prostitute's

frauding, by laying wagers, swaggering, or using threats.

1

2.

(thieves.

thief

who

companion ponce bully. synonyms, see PONCE.

7.
'

For
that

steals

goods from shop counters the with while bargaining tradesman. The exact French
equivalent is the practice
di'gringoleur, and itself is termed

(naval.)

gun

kicks'

when

fired.

dcgringoler a
3.

la carve.

(common.)

A
see

lie

liar.

BOUNCING, ppl. adj. (common). Vigorous lusty exaggerated excessive big. This word has manifold meanings, referring,
; ;

For synonyms,

[This usage in completely overlaps sense

1762.
tell

WHOPPER. many instances

4.]

in

FOOTE, Liar, II., i. He will ye more lies in an hour, than all the

put together will publish in a year ... he was always distinguished by the facetious appellation of the BOUNCER.
1833.

circulating libraries

its various senses, to largeness of size, vigour of action, with the idea of ungainliness rather than elegance. It is, as will be seen, of long continued use.
c. 1563. Jacke Jugder, p. 42 (ed. And made you a banket [banquet], and BOUNCING cheare.

Grosart).

MARRYAT,
He's
.
.

Peter Simple,

ch.
!

xxxi.

'

such

...

mean

that he's

a BOUNCER the greatest liar

!

that ever
1872.

walked a deck.' M. E. BRADDON, Dead Sea

'

In that case, I should Fruit, ch. xxii. say wait, and put your trust in Time Time, the father of Truth, as Mary Stuart called him when she wanted to and oh, what go in for a BOUNCER, an incredible number of royal BOUNCERS were carried to and fro in the despatches of that period
' !

1588. Marprelate's Epistle, p. 14 (ed. Arber). For there must bee orders of ministers in the congregation where you meane this BOUNSING priest should haue

superiortie.
1611.

Act

iii.,

Sc.

MIDDLETON, Roaring The duck that 3.

Girle,
sits is

the BOUNCING ramp, that roaring

girl

my mistress.
xix.

4.
'

(common.)
'

Anything large
'

1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch. While I was at work in the shop, a BOUNCING damsel, well dressed, came in.

of its kind
'

thumper

a whopper a corker.'
'

1596. NASHE, Saffron Walden, in wks. III., 140. My Book will grow such a BOUNCER, that those which buy it must bee faine to hire a porter to carry it after them in a basket.
5.

THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, ch. the side of niany tall and BOUNCING young ladies in the establishment, Rebecca Sharp looked like a child.
1846.
ii.

By

(American.)
'

A man who
'

ejects; a
1883.
8.

CHUCKER-OUT

(q.v.).

The

Daily News, July

other fresh

One remarkable the BOUNCER. might suppose that a BOUNCER was a

less
;

26, p. 4, col. American type is

but no. A scientific noisy braggart writer in the Nation describes a BOUNCER as a silent, strong man.' Every one who mixes much in society in Whitechapel will understand the functions of the BOUNCER when we explain that he is merely the English chucker' '

out.'

BOUNCING CHEAT, subs. (old). A bottle. [BOUNCING, probably, says Grose, an allusion to the explosive noise made in drawing a cork, + CHEAT, a thing = Anglo Saxon ceat of the same meaning.] The French equivalent is une rouillarde or rouille, said to be derived from rouler. Empty bottles, it may be mentioned, are known as DEAD-MEN CAMPCANDLESTICKS DEAD-MARINES For FELLOW-COMMONERS, etc. other synonyms, see DEAD-MEN.
;

Bounder.
BOUNDER,
subs,

307

Bounty -Jumper.
of

(popular).
to

i.

much

later

origin.

The

four-wheeled cab or

GROWLER

be an allu(q-v.). [Supposed sion to the jolting motion caused when travelling over a rough road, a fact intensified by the
indifferent springs
2.

following quotation will illustrate the usage in question, and further examples will be found

under HAD, SHINE,

1864.

etc.

upon which

such vehicles are often hung.]

(University.)
;

student

whose manners are not acceptable one whose companionship

is

Hartford Post, July 14. When the public have an opportunity of examining this beautiful steamer, they will pronounce her the finest and most comfortable boat they have ever visited, and be satisfied that she is BOUND TO
SHINE.

not cared
3.

for.

(University.)

BOUNG.
dog-cart.

See

BUNG.
See

Cf.,
4.

sense

i.

BOUNG-N

IPPER.

BUNG-

(common.)
well-dressed
'

though

vulgar man a
;
'

NIPPER.

one superior kind of 'Arry whose dress and personal appearance are correct, but whose manners are of a questionable The term is very character. often used in connection with
;

BALLY
is

(q.v.).

A BALLY-BOUNDER A synonymous
(q.v.),

one of the most objectionable

is

of the genus.

BOUNTY-JUMPER, subs. (American). A term applied to men who, receiving a bounty when enlisting, desert, re-enlist, and receive a second bounty. [From BOUNTY, a gratuity given to recruits on joining the army or navy, + JUMPER, a slang term for one who decamps surreptitiously.]

term

SNIDE

and French

The War

of

the

equivalents are un miife and un A curious espece de cafouilkux. instance of French back-slang is found in another name un lof,
loff,

loffard, loffe
i.e.,

lof

here

is fol

reversed,
foolish.

mad,

senseless,

Rebellion is responsible for this, as for many other colloquialisms. As the conflict lengthened out men became in great request and large bounties were offered by the North for volunteers.
, ,

BOUND To BE HAD, BOUND To SHINE,

etc.,ppL adj. (colloquial) .This expression enters into many for instance, slang phrases when it seems certain that a man will be out-witted, cheated, or 'bested,' it is said of him that he is BOUND TO BE HAD; similarly, a man fated or resolved to distinguish himself is BOUND TO SHINE. The colloquial use of BOUND dates back as far as 1360, but the peculiar
;

This bounty was found in many cases to be a direct incitement with unprincipled men to bad faith and unfair dealing. Such

would

enlist,

receive

their

bounty, join their regiment, and then decamp, to reappear in another State, to go through the same performance. Cases

were known where this was done many times over, and the was called BOUNTYpractice JUMPING. See JUMPING.
1875.

HIGGINSON, History of United

Bringing into the service
enlisted
to

States, p. 306.

which bring it expressions within the category of slang, are

many BOUNTY-JUMPERS, who

enlist again.

merely for money, and soon deserted

Bounty -Jumping.
ante
18^,0.

38

Bousing Ken.
to drink to excess.]

Song

of the

Bounty-Jumper

(quoted in Bartlctt). My song is of a fast young

For syno(1814), p. 65.

man whose

nyms,
1567.

see

DRINKS.

name was

He
But

used

Billy Wires to run with the machine, and go to all the fires: as he lov'd a soldier's life, and
;

HARMAN, Caveat

BOWSE,
.

drinke.

1610.

ROWLANDS, Martin
Repr., 1874).

Mark-all,

wished strange things to see, So the thought struck him that he would go and JUMP THE BOUNTI-E.

37 (H. Club's rinke.

1633.

BOWSE,

Old Debts,

MASSINGER, New Way to Pay nor Well. No BOUSE I.,

i.

BOUNTY-JUMPING, subs. (American). Obtaining a bounty by enlisting and then deserting. C/.,

no tobacco?
1785.

Tongue.
1811.

BOUNTY-JUMPER.
1887.
i.

GROSE, Dictionary Vulgar BOUZE, etc., drink. Lexicon Balatronicum. As

above.
Neivs,

Illns.

Lon.

In the Civil War in America 552, between the Northern and Southern States, BOUNTY-JUMPING, or enlisting, and obtaining the bounty in several regiments, and then deserting, rose to the dignity of a fine art.

May

14,

a carouse.
Verb.

A drinking bout This sense is more frequently current than sense i.

2.

(old.)

To
to
'

drink to excess

to

Both this and the substantive seem to have

tipple
;

swill.'

BOURBON, subs. (American). Democrat of the straitest

a
fire-eater.

i.

A
;

Applied,

sect for the

most part, to the Southern Democrats of the old school. This use of the word probably antedates the Civil War, but no instance of such use has been found in Bourbon print. County, Kentucky, is popularly associated

been known as early as 1300, but neither came into general use until the sixteenth century, from which period both forms

have become more and more For synonyms, see colloquial. LUSH.
1567.
for the

bowle and BOWSE one to another, and tyme BOUSING belly chere.
1592.

HARMAN,

Caveat, p. 32.

They

with this kind

NASHE, Pierce Penilesse.

Who

of Democrat, but we must look to the old Bourbon party in France uncompromising adherents of political tradition for its true paternity.
2.

if there were no playes, they should have all the companie that resort to them bye BOWZING and beere-bathing in their houses everie afternoone.

surmise,

A superior kind of whiskey;

see

1615. HARINGTON, Epigrams. Yet such the fashion is of Bacchus crue To quaffe and BOWZE, until they belch

and spue.
Well, leave
health.
it,

originally applied to that manufactured in Bourbon, Kentucky.

Marcus, else thy drinking

wit and

For synonyms,

DRINKS.

Will prove an eating to thy

wealth.

BOUSE, BOWSE, BOOZE, subs. (old). i. Applied to drink or liquor In the sixteenth of any kind. century BOUSE formed part of the cant of beggars and thieves latterly the word, whether as substantive or verb, has become colloquial. [Thought to be derived from the Dutch busen,
;

So also BOUSER, a toper and BOUSING, hard drinking BOUSY, intoxicated or 'screwed.'
;

(nautical)

BOUSE THE To
.

JIB,

tipple

verbal phr. to drink

;

heavily.

See

LUSH.

BOUSING
tavern
;

subs. A KEN, (old). inn or drinking den

;

Bouzy.
now applied to a low public house. For synonyms, see LUSH
CRIB.
1567.

303

Bow.
In the olden their business.' time, archery, as the dominant pursuit, gave figures of speech to the language with the very of wisdom or Saxon pith

HARMAN,

Caveat.

Man. What,

the BOUSING KEN, and when we byng back to the deuseauyel, we wyll fylche some duddes of the Ruffemans, or myll the ken for a bagge of dudes.
1652.
(1873)

stowe your bene, cofe, and cut benat whydds, and byng we to roine vyle, to nypabong; so shall we haue lovvre for

sarcasm.

If

you
'

made

an

machinations recoil upon himself, you outshot a

enemy's

When

BROME, Jovial Crew, II., wks. As Tom or Tib III., 390 ... they at BOWSING KEN do swill.
MOORE, Tom
Crib's

1819.
to

Memorial

prancers, horses; BOUZING-KEN, an alehouse cove, a fellow a sou's baby, a pig,

; ;

But notwithstanding Congress, p. 27. the Protean nature of the Flash or Cant language, the greater part of its vocabulary has remained unchanged for centuries, and many of the words used by the Canting Beggars in Beaumont and Fletcher, and the Gipsies in Ben Jonson's Masque, are still to be heard among the Gnostics of Dyot-street and Tothill-fields. To prig is still to steal to fib, to beat lour, money duds, clothes
;

EOW.' If you man, Always have TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW,' and Get the shaft-hand of or 'Draw your adversaries,' not thy BOW before thy arrow be fixed.' Of course, if you can Kill two birds with one
in

man

his

own

are a cautious
'

'

'

shaft,'

so
'

much
is,

the

better.

Never mark'

shoot

wide
don't

of

the

that

foolish guess

a on a subject you

make

know nothing
silly

about. Of useless, conversation, our ancestors

'

said

The
' ;

fool's

bolt

is

etc., etc.

BOUZY.

See

BOOZY.

soon shot and if a man evidently exaggerated, he was said to draw a long BOW.' If a
'

BOW. Two (or MANY) STRINGS TO ONE'S BOW, phr. (colloquial). To have an alternative more resources than one. The phrase sometimes formerly ran TO HAVE MANY STRINGS TO THE BOW.
;

man's pretensions were not in accordance with the facts of his case in other words, if he came under the category of
'

false

'

pretences
'

it

was said
'

figurative expressions languages indicate the dominant pursuits of the rethe English spective nations abounds in habitual phrases the engrossing to testifying avocations in all times. It is
in
all
;

Numerous

had a famous BOW, he but it was up at the Castle Vain and other military boasters were the many who talked of Robin Hood, but who
that
'

'An never shot his BOW.' archer is known by his aim, and that is, if not by his arrows you are not answerable for your
' ;

manner that TO HAVE TWO STRINGS TO ONE'S BOW has

in this

materials, at least show your or skill in the modus operandi all at events, don't depend
;

passed into proverbial usage. In the fourteenth century a Frenchman, Gaston de Foix, Of our ancestors, said of BOWS I know not much, but who would know more, let him go to England, for that is truly
'

entirely
1562.
(1867), 30.

upon your

tool.

HEYWOOD, Prov. and Epigr. Ye have MANY STRYNGIS TO

[M.]

THE BOWE.
1588.

Arber).

TWO STRINGS TO MY BOW.

Marprelate's Epistle, p. 18 (ed. Doe you not thinke that I haue

Bow-Catcher.
1606.
ii.,

310

Bowled.
which modern ultra-christians would have thought formidably heathenish while Epaphroditus and Narcissus they would probably have BOWDLERIZED. 1870. Notes and Queries, 4 S., vi., No profane hand shall dare, for p. 47. me, to curtail my Chaucer, to BOWDLER;

Sc. 2, p. 39. A wise man's With a TWO-FOLD STRING.

JOHN DAY,

Isle

of Gulls, Act

BOW

goes

SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch. was resolved to have TWO STRINGS TO HIS BOW, that in case the one failed, he might use the other. T. BROWN, wks. IV., 115, ed. (?)
1748. xvii. He
1760. to have

A man

in

Amsterdam

London he may have TWO STRINGS TO

HIS BOW.
1886. MRS. RIDDELL, For Dick's She had Sake, ch. iv., p. (S.P.C.K.). a SECOND STRING TO HER BOW, which suited her far better and she sent Dick back his letters and his presents, and a note beginning, Dear sir,' and ending

but one religion,

suffer'd whereas in
is

ISE my Shakspeare, or to mutilate Milton.

1874. E. L.

my

u
'

LINTON, Patricia Kemball, ch. iii. Her uncle had not made her read much beside the Bible and Shakspeare, which last he had BOWDLERISED on his own account with a broad pen and
very thick ink. From this

comes BOWDLERI-

ZATION, squeamish emasculation

of a work; also BOWDLERIZER,
etc.
1882.

'

Yours

truly.'
.

To DRAW THE LONG BOW, pkr To exaggerate (colloquial)

.

to

'

'

The BOWDLERIZATION which

has thought necessary awkward exceedingly
fashion.
is

Westm. Review, April,

p. 583.

the Editor

gas
. .
.

to

'

talk up.'

1819-24.

now

They

BYRON, Don Juan, xvi., i. DRAW THE LONG BOW better

done in an and clumsy

than ever.

To DRAW THE BOW UP TO THE EAR, phr. (colloquial). To do a

thing with alacrity
full

BOWER,

subs.

(American

thieves').

of

prison a transferred usage the orthodox word. For

see

steam

'

to put on to exert oneself to

'

synonyms,

CAGE.

the utmost.
1860.

Mactnillan's Mag., Feb., p. 258.

So Miller, the coxswain, took to DRAWING THE BOW UP TO THE EAR at OnCC.

BOWERY BOY, BOWERY GIRL, subs. and (American). The 'Arry 'Arriet of New York of some
years ago. The BOWERY is a well known thoroughfare in the American metropolis. [Formerly and derived spelt bouwery, from bouw, tillage, or bouwen,
to till, to cultivate, being equivalent to the modern Dutch word
boerderij,

BOW-CATCHER,

(common). A kiss-curl. For synonyms, see AGGERAWATOR. [A corruption

of
'

subs,

beau-catcher.'

Cf.,

BELL-

ROPE.]

BOWDLERIZE, verb (colloquial). To expurgate by removing offensive or questionable words from a book or writing. [From Dr. T. Bowdler's method in editing an edition of Shakspeare, in which, to use his own words,
'

a farm, or the business of farming. The BOWERY was the farm of Governor StuyveCf.,

sant.]

BLOOD TUB.

Bow LAS,

subs,

(common).

Ex-

plained by quotation.
H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851-61. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 208. BOWLAS, or round tarts made of sugar, apple, and
bread.

Those

expressions

are

omitted which cannot with propriety be read aloud in a family. ']

1836.
. . .

GEN.

P.

THOMPSON,

Let. in
. .

Exerc. (1842), IV., 124. Among the names are many, like Hermes, Nereus,
.

BOWLED,

CROPPLED

ppl. adj. (Winchester).

(q.v.).

Bowler.
BOWLER.
See

3 11

Bow -Wow.
HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack 1839. Shcppard [1889] p. u. Help ejaculated Wood, renewing his cries. Arrest! Jigshouted a hoarse voice in ger closed Fear All's BOWMAN, my covey. reply. We'll be upon the ban-dogs nothing. before they can shake their trotters
!

BOLER.

BOWLES, subs, (common). Shoes. For synonyms, see TROTTERCASES.

BOWL

OUT,
;

overcome
to defeat.

verb To (popular). to get the better of

;

BOWSE.

See

BOOZE.
See

[Formerly a cricketing term to bowl a man out by displacing the bails.] C/., BOWL OVER. Among thieves it signifies,
in a transitive form, to

BOWSING KEN.
BOWSPRIT,
nose.

BOUSING KEN.

be ar-

subs, (popular). Sec BOLTSPRIT.

The

rested or 'lagged.'
1812.

To HAVE
'

ONE'S BOWSPRIT IN

BOWLED
is

H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary. OUT, when he [a thief] is ultiJ.

mately taken, tried, and convicted [he] said TO BE BOWLED OUT at last.
1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. iii. The and accomplished adventurer, who nicked you out of your money at White's,

is to have it To have one's head pulled. in Coventry will occur to mind as another English slang phrase very similar in character.
'

PARENTHESIS

polite

or

BOWLED YOU OUT

'

of

it

at

Marybone.

1852. F. E. SMEDLEY, Lewis ArunHe's handsomer than you del, ch. xxiv. are if you don't mind your play, he'll
;

BOWL YOU

OUT.'

BOW-WINDOW, subs, (common). A stomach of large proportions. [A bay or BOW-WINDOW is properly a curved window, hence the transference of the term to
a
big
belly.]
i.e.,

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, Now and again a warder ii., p. 121. does get BOWLED OUT, and comes to At the grief. very least he loses his

Also

BOW-

ch.

WINDOWED,
He was a
is

big-bellied.

situation.

1840. MARRYAT, Poor Jack, ch. i. with what very large man termed a considerable BOW-WINDOW
.

BOWL OVER,
defeat;
1862.

verb

to

To (popular). worst. C/., BOWL

p.

in front.
1849-50.

THACKERAY,

Pendcnnis,
that

xxxiv. (-884), 334.

1889.

Look at BOW-WINDOWED MAN. [M.]

Daily Telegraph,
is

very

have BOWLED me OVER, and I can't get up again. 1878. STANLEY, Through the Dark

Cornhill Mag.,

729.

You know I

was what WINDOWED.

May
called

6.

vulgarly

She BOW-

I sent in a zinc Continent, II., p. 291. bullet close to the ear, which BOWLED it [the rhinoceros] OVER, dead.

Bow-Wow,

subs,

childish

name

(common).
for a dog.
Reply.

i.

1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke's He confessed to Children, ch. xlvii. himself that he was completely BOWLED knocked off his OVER, pins
'
'

1800.

COWPER, Beau's

Let

BOWL THE HOOP,

slang).

Nor some reproof yourself refuse From your aggrieved BOW-WOW.

for
I

my obedience then excuse My disobedience now,

'

subs,

(rhyming

Soup.
adv.
(old).

18(?82). Broadside Ballad, I haven't along time now.' used to have a sweetheart, once,

BOWMAN,
tion.

See

quota-

precious

little

Indeed she was she really was, A very charming girl.

pearl

Bow -Wow -Mutton.

I

3 12

Box Harry,
mon).
fix
' ;

sang outside her door each night Till her father bought a big BOW-WOW,
I

But

haven't haven't haven't for a long time

I

To BE IN A To be
stuck
'

BOX, phr. (com-

cornered
'

in a

now

or

hung

up.'

2.

(old.)

Bostonian

TO BE

IN

term
3.

of contempt.

verbal phr. (colloquial). out of one's element to

;
;

THE WRONG BOX, To be

be
in

(popular.) lover specially

;

cavalier;

applied to

false position mistaken. Brewer traces this to Lord Lyttelton,

man who dangles after a woman. Also see TAME CAT.

1877.
p. 173.

who, being of rather a melancholy disposition, used to tell his friends that when he went to Vauxhall he was always supposing pleasure to be in the next box to his, or at least that he himself was so unhappily situated as always TO BE IN THE The only WRONG BOX for it. objection to be raised to this story is that the phrase is a very old one, ot which the
derivation
1554. is

Chamb. Journal, 12 March, Mrs. Brittomart was one of

'

those who never tolerated a BOW-WOW a species of animal well known in India and never went to the hills as a grass-widow.'

BOW-WOW-MUTTON, subs, (old) [From BOW-WOW, Dog's flesh. a humorous term for a dog, + here used generically MUTTON,
.

for meat.]

now
('

lost.
vi.,

RIDLEY

BOW-WOW-WORD,

subs,

(common).

Max
it

term applied sarcastically by Miiller to words for which is claimed that they are in im-

Sir, quoth I, if you will hear how St. Augustine expoundeth that place, you shall perceive that you are IN A WRONG
.

Foxe,' 1838),

438.

BOX.
1588.
J.

UDALL,

itation

of natural sounds, i.e., onamatopoetic words, of which a full list will be found under

perceive that you and BOX.

ch.
'

Distrephes, p. 31. I I are IN A WRONG

CACHUNK.
BOWYER, subs. (old). One who draws a long bow a dealer
'
'

in the marvellous improbable stories

a teller of a liar. See

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, xliii. That, I grant you, must be confessed: doctor, I'm afraid we have got INTO THE WRONG BOX.' 1836. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy, Take care your rights of man ch. x. don't get you IN THE WRONG BOX there's no arguing on board of a man-of-war.'
'

LONG BOW.
subs,

Box,
cell.

(thieves').

prison

on strike and receipt of strike pay is said be ON THE BOX.

1889.

A man when

ON THE BOX, phr.

(workmen's).
in to

1834.

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Rook-

wood, p. 89. In a BOX of the stone-jug I was born, Of a hempen widow the kid forlorn

Fake away.

Arising. As these have to be allowed strike pay in order to keep them out of temptation, the number of men ON THE BOX, as they say in the North, may be taken to be a
7.

Daily News, 19 Nov.,

'

p. 6, col.

The Blackleg Question

'

1878.
214.

The

Notes and Queries, 5 S., x., p. BOX in the stone-jug is doubt-

thousand.

less a cell.

Box HARRY,
;

verbal phr.
.

(commercial
tea together
;

Verb (Westminster School). To take possession of 'to bag.'

travellers') to take dinner

Among bag-men
and

Box Hat.
'

313

Boy.
a youth was told off to supply the company with champagne. The day being hot and the sportsmen thirsty, cries of Boy Boy Boy were heard This tickling the all day long. fancy of the royal and noble party, the term BOY became Also applied to champagne.]
'

dining out,' a meal at all.

i.e.,

doing without

Box HAT, subs, (common). A silk hat. For synonyms, see CADY.
BOX-IRONS,
CASES.
1789.
p. 173.

'

subs.

(old).
see

Shoes.

For synonyms,
Shoes.

TROTTER-

'

'

GEO. PARKER,

Life's Painter, Hockcy-dockies, or BOX-

called

FIZ

and

CHAM

(q.v.).

The
le

IRONS.

latter form produced in the

is

nearly reslang,

French

Box OF DOMINOES,
lar).

snbs.phr. (popu-

The mouth.
(q.v.),

[From BOX
a slang term

+ DOMINOES
see

champ ; they also brutally speak of this wine as coco epilepanother epithet being tique,
cidre elegant.
1882.
col. 2.

for the teeth.]

For synonyms,

POTATO-TRAP.

Punch,
fine

vol.

LXXXII.,

p. 69,

'The

young London Gentle-

Box THE

COMPASS, verbal phr. To repeat in succes(nautical). or sion, irregularly, the thirty;

man.'
will say that port and sherry his nice palate always cloy He'll nothing drink but 'B. and S.' and big magnums of THE BOY He's the darling of the Barmaid, and the honest waiter's joy, As he quaffs his Pommery Extra Sec,' ' his Giesler or Ivroy,'
; ;

He

two points of the compass beginners on accomplishing this feat are said to be able to BOX

'

'

'

THE COMPASS.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, A light, good-humoured, sensich. vi. ble wench, who knows very well how to
'

Like a fine young London Gentleman, Quite of the present style.

1882.
col.
i.

BOX HER COMPASS.' BOX1753. CHAMBERS, Cycl. Supp. ING, among sailors, is used to denote the rehearsing the several points of the compass in their proper order. [M.] 1836. MARRYAT, Midsh. Easy, xviii. and BOX I can raise a perpendicular THE COMPASS. 1867. SMYTH, Sailors' Word Book. To BOX THE COMPASS. Not only torepeat the names of the thirty-two points in order and backwards, but also to be able to answer any and all questions respecting its division.
. .

Dined with Tom and Corky at place they had discovered, and raved of. Of course, beastly dinner, but very good BOY. Had two magnums of it.
a

Punch,

vol.

LXXXII.,

p. 155,

new

1883.

Shall

it

Punch, August 18, p. 84, col. i. be B.-and-S., or bumpers of the

BOY?

A hump on a 2. (common.) man's back. In low circles it is

usual to speak of a humpbacked man as two persons him and
'

his BOY,"

and from this much coarse fun and personality are

at times evolved.

Box THE JESUIT, verbal phr. See COCKROACHES.

(old).
3.

(Anglo-Indian and colonial.) servant of whatever age.

BOY, subs, (popular).
is
;

i. ChamBOY, subs, (popular). [A story, ben trovato, is pagne. told by the Sporting Times of June 30, 1882, as regards the At a origin of the phrase: shooting party in Norfolk once,

OLD

i.

A familiar term of address.

OLD BOY
'guv'nor,'

The

times

MY

the one's father Someor 'boss.' BOY.

Boys.
1G02.
[M.]

314

Bracelets.

But di'de thy

1740.
380.

SHAKS., Twcl. N., ii., 4, 122. sister of her loue MY BOY ?

RICHARDSON,

Pamela,

III.,

Never fear, OLD BOY, said Sir Charles, we'll bear our Parts in Conversation. [M.]
2.

The account of their origin king minding his sports, many riotous demeanours crept into the kingdom divers sects of vicious persons, going under the title of ROARING BOYS, brava:

The
see

nyms,
(1862), 140.

1835-40.

As we invigorate the form of government (as we must do, or go to the OLD BOY).

devil. For synoSKIPPER. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker,

does,

many

roysterers, etc., the insolencies

;

commit
streets

with bloody quarrels, private duels fomented, etc.

swarm, night

and day,

YELLOW
mon).

BOY,

subs,

(com-

1599.
vii ., 25.

GREENE,

Tti.

Quoquc, Old Plays,

guinea;

also,

one
the

This

is

no ANGRY, nor no ROARING BOY,

pound
colour.]

be seen the term is an old one. For synonyms, see CANARY.

1663.

sterling. As will

[From

but a blustering boy.

1609.

The

BEN JONSON,

Epicccne,

i.,

4.

How

DRYDEN, Wild Gallant, Act i. now, YELLOW BOYS, by this good

doubtfulness of your phrase, believe would breed you a quarrel once an hour with the TERRIBLE BOYS, if you should but keep 'em fellowship a day.
it, sir,

light! Sirrah, varlet,

1712.

how came I by this gold ? ARBUTHNOT, History of John

1610. Sir, not so

BEN JONSON,
young, but
I

Alchemist,

Hi., 4.

have heard some

speech

Of the ANGRY BOYS, and seen "em take

tobacco.
1616.

Bull, pt.

ch. vi. There wanted not YELLOW BOYS to fee counsel, hire witand bribe nesses, juries.
I.,

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER,

1840.

DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop,

ch.

xlii.

'The
'

the

money
and
!

BOYS
pocket

sweeping 'em

delight of picking up the bright, shining YELLOW into one's

Scornful Lady, iv., i. Get thee another nose, that will be pull'd Off, by the ANGRY BOYS, for thy conversion.

BOYS, is very generally in use in the plural. Thus, bookmakers speak of their fellows, in the aggreand it must gate, as the BOYS be noted as a curious fact that on race-courses the whole army of the swindling and thieving fraternity are so designated.
;

subs, (popular).

This word

BOYS OF THE HOLY GROUND, subs, Formerly [1800-25] phr. (old). bands of roughs infesting a well-

known region

in St. Giles.
Crib's

See

HOLY LAND.
1819.
to

MOORE, Tom
7.

Memorial

For we are the BOYS OF THE HOLY

Congress, p.

GROUND,

And

we'll

dance upon nothing and turn

us round.

ANGRY
(old).

or ROARING BOYS, subs.

set

BRACE,

of

young BUCKS,
'

BLOODS or BLADES (q v.), of noisy manners and 'fire-eating tastes. Nares says like the MOHAWKS (q.v.) described by the Spectator,
'

To get BRACE
BRACE

verb (American thieves'). credit by swagger.

IT

THROUGH,

phr.

'

To succeed (American). dint of sheer impudence.

'

by
Cf.,
1

they delighted to commit outrages and get into quarrels. Early mention is made of such characters. Wilson, in his Life
of

UP, 'to buckle to.'

to gird oneself up,

BRACELETS, Handcuffs
wrist.

subs,
;

(familiar). fetters for the

James

I.

[1653],

gives an

[Derivation

obvious.]

Brace of Shakes.
French
alliances,
'

3J5

Brads.
2.

thieves

rings

Us

lacets.

them Us wedding also la tartouve and For synonyms, see

call
'

properly

drink.

(American.) To take a [A transferred sense

;

from BRACE-UP
1888.

to string

up

to give firmness to.]

DARBIES.
1661.

Wit and

Drollery, quoted in

Come

Disraeli Cur. of Wit. (Tom O'Bedlams.) [Fetters are called BRACELETS in a song in this work.]
R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. 1671. ch. lv., p. 371 (1874). Fetters confined legs from stragling, and BRACELETS were clapt upon my arms.
I.,

will pull

Puck's Library, Ap., p. ig>. old boy, let's BRACE UP; a bumper you together again.

BRACKET-FACED,
hard-featured.

adj. (old).

Ugly

Grose.

my

BRACKET-MUG,

subs,

1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard (1889), p. 62. 'Thank you thank you! faltered Jack, in a voice full of emotion. I'll soon free you from these BRACELETS." 1848. W. H. AINSWORTH, James the Second, bk. I., ch. ii. 'It may be, young squire, you'll have to go ... with a pair of BRACELETS on your wrists, and pay your next reck'nin' to the gov'nor of Newgate.' Five Years' Penal Servitude, 1877.
'
'

An

(common).

[From BRACKET (Cf., BRACKET-FACED) + MUG, a For slang term for the face.] synonyms, see HATCHET-FACE.
ugly face.

BRADS, subs, (common). A generic term for money. De Vaux (see quot .) though somewhat limiting the meaning, uses the term else,

He travels with other are also bound to London, and who, seeing him handcuffed, know very well his steel BRACELETS are not the insignia of honour.
ch.
v.,

p.

people

who

359.

where as equivalent
or 'coppers.'
It

to

'

'

pence

possibly origi-

nated among shoemakers, BRADS being small rivets or nails largely employed by them. Cf., HORSENAILS,

and
J.

for

BRACE OF SHAKES, phr. (popular).

In a

synonyms,
Flash Diet.

ACTUAL.
1812.

moment

'

ling of an eye,' ever, SHAKES.

jiffy ; twinketc. See, how-

'

'

H.
;

VAUX,
also

expression is sometimes A COUPLE, instead Of A BRACE OF SHAKES. A

The

BRADS,
general.
1855.

halfpence

money

in

French equivalent
1837.
I.

is far-far.

Wood). SHAKES.
'

L. (Babes in the BARHAM, I'll be back in a COUPLE OF

Punch, XXIX., to. [Cf., Punch's suggestion for a fast partner in banks who should enquire of customers] Will you take it in flimsies, or will you have it all in tin? Come, look sharp, my
'
'

'

downy
s.v.
'

one,

and

I'll

fork out the BRADS

likebricksy wicksy.'

1868. xii. But I've a trick with a 'oss that'll set that sort o' thing if it ain't gone too far, that is to say right in a BRACE

OUIDA, Under Two Flags,

ch.

1868.

BREWER, Phrase and Fable, B Flats." Four B's, essential for

success.

social

Blood,

brains,

brass,

BRADS [money].
ch.

American.
:

OF SHAKES.'
1884.
'

Cornhill

Mag., Jan.,

p. ror.

If there were now like those

any boys at Oppingbury who were here when I was young, they'd break the window in a COUPLE OF SHAKES."

1888-9. PAYNE, Eavesdropper, pt. II., ii. They used such funny terms 'BRADS "and 'dibbs' ... at last it was borne in upon me that they were talking about money.

tion

TIP THE BRADS. and TIP.

See

quota-

BRACE

i. To UP, verb (thieves'). pawn stolen goods generally to their utmost value.

1821.

W.
i.,

Jerry, Act

Sc.

T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and [To] TIP THE BRADS 4.

dust, is to

and down with the

be

at

Brag.
once pood,
plished,
great, handsome, accomand everything that's desirable money, money, is your universal good, only get into Tip Street, Jerry.

316
1622.
ii., 2.

Brandy Face.
MASSINGER,
Virgin-Martyr,

Oh,

sir,

his BRAIN-PAN is a

Whose

sting shoots

bed of snakes, through his eye-

balls.

BRAG, subs, (thieves'). A usurer a Jew. Cf., SIXTY-PER-CENT.

;
'

1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. xxxiii. Weize a brace of balls through his
!'

HARN-PAN
1822.
xi.
I
'

BRAGGADOCIA, subs, (thieves'). This is explained in Dickens' Reprinted Pieces (in a footnote) to mean three months' impri-

Were

sonment as reputed
is

thieves.

It

would make your BRAIN-PAN, as you call it, boil over, were you to speak a word in my presence before you were spoken to.'

SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, I your master, sirrah,

ch.
.
.

the connection between this and the ordinary meaning of BRAGGADOCIO.

difficult to trace
1857. DICKENS, Reprinted Pieces (Three Detective' Anecdotes, The Artful don't tike much by Touch), p. 253. this move, anyway, for nothing's found upon 'em, and it's only the BRAGGAUOCIA
1 '

BRAMBLE, subs, (provincial slang). In Kent a lawyer is so called

;

obviously a sarcastic allusion to the tangles of the law.

'
'

We

BRAMBLE-GELDER A derisive slang).

after

all.'

(provincial appellation a Suffolk for an agriculturist term.

;

BRAIN

PAN,

subs,

(sporting).

i.

The

Also skull, or skull-cap. Called BRAIN-CANISTER. Hotten quotes the term as of pugilistic origin, but it ante-dates the palmy days of the Fancy by
'
'

BRAN,

subs,

(common).

loaf.

[In all likelihood this is a mere of abbreviation BRAN-LOAF.]

For synonyms,
1837.

see

TOMMY.

BRAIN PAN in this years. sense can, perhaps, hardly be

many
ever,

classed as slang sense 2.

not so, how-

Scotch See equivalent is HARN-PAN. quotations under sense 2.

2.

The

DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. viii. He purchased a sufficiency of ready-dressed ham and a half-quartern a loaf, or, as he himself expressed it, Ibid, p. 306. Two fourpenny BRAN half -quartern BRANS, pound of best
'
' !

fresh.

itself.

head (common.) For general synonyms,

The

BRANDED TICKET,
'

subs,

(nautical).

see

CHUMP.
Upon her BRAIN PAN Like an Egyptian

b. 1529. SKE^TON, Elynoor Romtnin, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), I., 417.

Admiral Smyth [1867] quotes this as a discharge given to an infamous man, on which his character is given, and the reason he is turned out of the

1608. in wks. (Grosart) III., or. The spirit of her owne malt walkt in her BRAYNE

Capped about. DEKKER, Belman of London,

BRANDY
tippler

FACE,
;

subs.

PAN.
1609.
.
.

(old).

DEKKER,

Gul's

Hornbook,

Prcemium. Tarleton, Kemp, nor Singer never played the clownes more naturally then the arrantest Sot of you all shall if hee will but boyle my Instruc.

a drunkard, especially one whose favourite drink is

brandy.
a. 1687.

tions in his BRAINE-PAN.

(1692), 85.

COTTON, Aineid, II. Burl. You goodman BRANDY-FACE,

[M.]

unfist her.

Brandy-Faced.
BRANDY- FACED,
faced bloated. [A reference to the effects upon the physiognomy of excessive in;

3*7

Bran-Mash.
[From BRANDY
pu.nl
t

Red

ppl. adj.

(general).

water.

Cf.,

Hindustan PARNEY, also

dulgence in intoxicating drinks.] The expression is mentioned by Grose as early as 1785, but it is probably still older, for see quotation under BRANDY-FACE.
1859.
284.

a slang term for water.] 1816. Quiz, Grand Master, pref. And died at last with BRANDY PAUNY.
[M.]

1855.
1

THACKERAY, Ncwcomes,

ch.

i.

I'm sorry to see you, gentlemen, drinking BRANDY-PAWNEE,' says he; 'it plays the deuce with our young men in India.'
1860.

G. A. SALA, Tw. Round Clock, Hulking labourers and BRANDYviragos,

W. H. RUSSELL, My Diary
p. 120.

in
;

FACED
doors.

squabbling at

tavern

India,

I.,

They had

tiffin

at

two

hot lunch and ale and BRANDY-PAWNEE.

BRANDY

is

LATIN FOR

GOOSE or FOR

This punning vulgarism appears first in Swift's Polite Conversation, and

FISH, phr. (popular).

BRANDY SMASH, sttbs. (popular). An American drink concocted of brandy and crushed ice. Cf.,
DRINKS.
E. MACDERMOTT, Popular International Exhibition, 1862, In the vestibule of each refreshment room there is an American bar, where visitors may indulge in 'juleps,'
1862.
to

Brewer thus

states the philo-

logical equation.

Guide

THE LATIN FOR GOOSE? (Answer) BRANDY. The pun is on the word answer. Anscr is the Latin for
is

WHAT

p. 185.

goose, which brandy follows as surely and quickly as an answer follows a question. 1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation (conv. ii.). LordSm. Well, but after all, Tom, can you tell me what's Latin for a goose? Nev. O my lord, I know that;

'cobblers,' 'rattlesnakes,' 'gum-ticklers,' 'eye-openers,' ftashes-o''cocktails,'

'

'stoneBRANDY-SMASHES, lightning," fences,' and a variety of similar beverages.

1869.
S.

CLEMENS

Why, BRANDY IS LATIN FOR A GOOSE, and Tacc is Latin for a candle.
'

1835. MARRYAT, Jacob Faithful, ch. xi. Art thou forward in thy learning ?

Canst thou tell me LATIN FOR GOOSE To be sure,' replied Tom, BRANDY.'
1

'

'

As regards the second form, namely, BRANDY is LATIN FOR FISH, the origin is more obscure, although it is to some extent
explained quotation.
in

Innocents Abroad. procured the services of a gentleman experienced in the nomenclature of the American bar a bowing, aproned Frenchman stepped forward and said (Jue veulent les messieurs ? Our general said (after naming several other drinks) give us a BRANDY SMASH the Frenchman began to back away suspicious of the ominous vigour of the last order.
.
. . ;

We

('

Mark Twain

'),

1883.
col. 3.

Daily Telegraph, 2 July,

p. 5,

list

of

the

[BRANDY-SMASH is mentioned American drinks.]

in

following

1888.

New

Feb.

1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, I., 125. We are told that the thirst and uneasy feeling at the

do not see how any one ever learns the absurd English. I read on the menu of
drinks, Sherree Cobblair,' I find in the dictionary a mender of shoes of sherry wine Santa Cruz Sour,' La Salute Croix acide ; BRANDY SMASH, Eau de vie Bete de langue ecrase.'
'
;

Philological.

York Evening Post, 24 Gallic Tourist 'I

'

stomach, frequently experienced after the use of the richer species of fish, have
led to the employment of spirit to this kind of food. Hence, says Dr. Pereira,

'

the vulgar proverb,

BRANDY

is

LATIN

FOR FISH.

BRANDY

PAWNEE,

subs.

Indian).

Brandy

(Angloand water.

BRAN - MASH, subs, (military). Bread sopped in coffee or tea. Cf., FLOATING BATTERIES.

Brass.
BRASS,
subs, (popular).
; ;

3 l8

Brass Farthing.
1526.

i.

Impu-

dence effrontery BRASS being a type of unblushing hardness, shamelessness, etc. This colloquialism is by no means of yesterday, having been used by Sometimes renShakspeare. dered BOLD AS BRASS. Cf.,

not golde, nor youre gerdels.

TYNDALE, Matt,
silver,

x., 9.

nor

Posses BRASSE yn

1597. HALL, Satires, IV., v., 12. Hirelings enow beside can be so base, Tho' we should scorn each bribing varlet's

BRASS.
'

which synonyms.

CHEEK,
1594.

also

see

for

Lost, v., 2, 395. Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury. Can any face of BRASS hold longer out ?
1701.

SHAKSPEARE, Love's Labour

MRS. GASKELL, Sylvia's There'll be Fosters i' background, as one may say, to take t' biggest share on t' profits,' said Bell. Ay, ay, that's but as it should be, for I reckon they'll ha' to find the BRASS the
1860.

Lovers, ch. xx.

th'
'

first.'

1864.

M.
'

E.

BRADDON,

Aurora

man,

pt. II.

printed in my face competence of English BRASS.

1703.

Devil], who

DEFOE, True Born EnglishBy my Old Friend [The

Steeve's a little too fond Floyd, ch. xii. of the BRASS to murder any of you for
nothing.'
1884.
to

A needful
i.,

HAWLEY SMART, From

'

Post

Sc. 2. Thou hast impudence to set a good face upon anything; I would change half my gold for half thy BRASS,

FARQUHAR, Inconstant, Act

It's noa use Finish, p. 129. they're telling us afterwards they ain't collared the BRASS.'

with

all

my

heart.

NORTH, Examen, p. 256. She in her defence made him appear such a rogue upon record, that the Chief Justice wondered he had the BRASS to appear in
1740.

1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Billy Wells. What the dickens is all this about the hats? have seventytwo telegrams and letters on the subject, and would prefer the BRASS.

We

a court of justice.
O. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, Act iii., Sc. i. 'To me he appears the most impudent piece of BRASS that ever spoke with a tongue.'
1778.

RASS-BOUND AND COPPER

FASTENED, adj. phr. (nautical) Said of a lad dressed in a midW. Clark shipman's uniform.
Russell.

1819.
to

MOORE, Tom

Crib's

Memorial

BRASS was his, show'd his phyz.

'

Congress, p. 68.

Who

Oh, what a face of first at Congress

BRASS-BOUNDER, subs, A midshipman.

BRASSER,

(nautical).

1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. lv., I haven't BRASS enough in my composition, to see him in this place and
p. 462.

under
vol.
I.,

this charge.'

subs. (Christ's

Hospital).

bully.

1876.

C.

p. 18.

boor, readily believe everything you say, provided you have BRASS
. .

who will

H. WALL, trans. Moliere, Gorgibus is a simpleton, a

.

BRASS FARTHING or FAROE

lowest
quots.
limit

The
See

of

value.

enough.
1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 199. He started with a lot of tin, but had not sufficient BRASS or physique to stand the wear-andtear of the life.

1642. ROGERS, Naaman, 33. As bare and beggarly as if he had not one BRASSE FARTHING. [M.] 1880.

Punch's Almanac, p.

A generic (common.) term for money. At one time

2.

money was
Cf.,

made

of

brass,

one wants Otherwise don't care not one BRASS FARDEN, For the best ever blowed in Covent Garden.
button'-oler very well to do the 'eavy swell
;

When

5.

Nobby

hence probably the slang usage.

TIN.

1880. BESANT AND RICE, Seamy I care not one BRASS FARSide, x., 78.

THING.

Brass Knocker.
BRASS KNOCKER, subs, (vagrants'). Broken victuals the remains of a meal. Specially applied by
;

3*9
1596.

Bread-Barge.
NASHE, Saffron Walden. in Amidst his impudent
defamation
of

wks. III., 84. BRAZEN-FAC'D

Doctor

Feme.
1693. DRYDEN, Juvenal, III., 133Quick-witted, BRAZEN-FAC'D, with fluent tongues. Memoirs of John Hall (4 1714. Thus with an unparallell'd ed.), p. 10. Impudence every BRAZEN-FAC'D Male-

beggars to the scraps often bestowed upon them in place of

money.
BRASS-PLATE MERCHANT, subs, (common). Explained by quotation.
H. MAYHEW, London Labour 1851. and London Poor, II., p. 95. The BRASSPLATE MERCHANT, as he is called in the

factor
low,

is

1874.
i

harden'd in his Sin. MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny Lud'Of all the S., viii., p. 137.

impudent BRAZEN-FACED rascals that are cheating the gallows, you must be the
worst.'

trade, being a person who merely procures orders for coal, gets some merchant who buys in the coal-market to execute them in his name, and manages to make a living by the profits of these

transactions.

BREAD, subs, (old). Employment a transferred sense, the idea being no work no food.
;
;

1785.

GROSE,

Dictionary

of

the

BRASSY, adj. (common). Impushameless. dent impertinent Cf., BRASS, sense i.

; ;

Vulgar Tongue. employment.

Out of BREAD, out of

BREAD AND BUTTER FASHION, phr.

1570-76.
(1826),
156.

LAMBARDE, Peramb. Kent

To make them

blush

were they never so BRASSIE and impudent.

1661.

An expression de(harlotry). scriptive of the sexual embrace.

BREAD
AND
BUTTER WAREHOUSE,

Quinborough, iii., i. There's no gallant so BRASSY impudent durst undertake the words that shall belong to't.
1738-1819.
73, ed. 1830.

nickname given phr. (old). to the old Ranelagh Gardens. An allusion to the scenes of
infamy and debauchery which once characterized the place.
See

WOLCOT,

P.

Pindar,

p.

No. Mr. Gattle Betty was too BRASSY, We never keep a servant that is saucy.
'

BREAD

AND

BUTTER

MRS. H. WOOD. Channings, to leave his I asked him name, sir," and he said Mr. Rowland Yorke knew his name quite well enough without having it left for him.' 'As BRASSY as that was he I wish to goodness it was the fashion to have a cistern in your house roofs
1862. ch. xxxii.
! ' !

FASHION.

BREAD AND MEAT,

tary).

subs. phr.

(mili-

The

commissariat.

BREAD BAGS, subs, (military). A nickname given in the army and navy to any one connected with
the victualling department, as a purser or purveyor in the commissariat. At one time called

BRAZEN-FACED, ppl.

Shamele s s
blushing.
brass,
see

adj. (common). unimpudent

;

With a face as of BRASS. Hotten remarks that such a person is sometimes said to have had his face rubbed with a brass
candle-stick.
1571.

MUCKERS, and amongst French

soldiers riz-pain-sel.

BREAD- BARGE,

subs,

The
Ps., xii., 5.

(nautical).

GOLDING, Calvin on

distributing basket or tray containing the rations of bis-

With such BRAZENFASTE baldnesse.

cuits.

Bread-Basket.
BREAD-BASKET, subs, (popular). The stomach. [An obvious
allusion
to

320

Break.
READE, Never too Late to Mend, When you can't fill the BREADBASKET, shut it. Go to sleep till the Southern Cross conies out again.
1856. ch. Ixx. 1876.
vol.
I.,

that

part

of

the

body as a receptacle of ENGLISH SYNONYMS.

food.]

C. H.

Bread;

p. 194.

WALL, And get

trans. Moliere, as a reward an

room

dumpling-depot
;

victu-

BREAD-BASKET.

ugly piece of cold steel light through

my

alling-office

porridge-bowl.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. La
properly a bag or satchel wherein shepherds put their bread a pouch. Akin to this is the slang term la pantiere the mouth) \panierau pain (a literal translation of the
paneticre

BREAD - PICKER,
College).

subs.

(common

senior praefects used to appoint 'Juniors' to this office which was

The four

(Winchester

nominal,

English term) h jabot (popular formerly heart or breast. 50 to have a remplir le jabot blow out ') la halle aux crontes (popular this may be rendered Crust hall also, literally as a baker's shop) la place d'armes (popular: the place of arms, stronghold or arsenal) la soute an pain (popular soute storeroom, etc. thus, the expression would correspond closely to vic;
: '

but which carried with it exemption from fagging at meal times. No notion book states in what the office consisted, but
'

'

it is

supposed that

it

relates to

times when Juniors had to secure the bread, etc., served out for their masters.

'

'

BREAD-ROOM,

subs.

stomach. A variant of BREADBASKET, which see for synonyms.

SMOLLETT, Sir L. Greaves, v. He ordered the waiter bring along-side a short allowance of brandy or grog, that he might cant a slug [dram] into his BREAD-ROOM. Ibid, ch. xvii. The waiter returned with a quartern of brandy, which Crowe, snatching eagerly, started into his BREAD1760-61. vol. II., ch. ... to ...
. . .

(old).

The

'

tualling office Or BREAD-BASKET. Put that in your BREAD-BASKET'

is

rendered by
i.e.,
').

colle-toi

Fusil,

'ram that

ga dans le in your

gun

ROOM

at

one cant.
subs,

ITALIAN SYNONYM.
Fourbesque

The

BREAD-ROOM JACK,

has fagiana (properly a chest or store house for

beans.)
FOOTE, Englishman in Paris, Act i. Another came up to second time, but I let drive at the mark, made the rumble in his BREADsoup-maigre BASKET, and laid him sprawling.
1753. 1819.
to

A
BREAK,

(nautical).

purser's servant.

subs, (thieves'). collection (of money) usually got up by a prisoner's friends, either to the of his dedefray expenses fence, or as a lift when leaving
'

'

MOORE, Tom
18.

Round

Congress, p.
hits in

what with

Home

Crib's Memorial Neat milling this on the nob, the BREAD-BASKET, clicks in
clouts

the gob.
1821.

W.

T. MONCRIEFF,

Tom and

Jerry, Act iii., Sc. i. Jerry. Now, doctor, take care of your BREAD-BASKET eyes
right, look to your napper.

prison Formerly and more generally applied to a pause in street performances to enable the hat to be passed round. C/., LEAD. French slang has une bouline with the same meaning and,
.

to

make

a collection

is,

among

mountebanks,

faire la mancJie.

Break Down.
1879.
J.

321
in

Break Shins.
of mine, three at the least, that have B y this so sicken'd their estates, that never

W.

Mag., XL., 502.

The mob

HORSLEY,

Macm.
a

(collection), and I got five or six foont (sovereigns).

BREAK

got

me up

between

BREAK DOWN, stibs. (Australian). i. A measure of liquor. See

quotation.

laying manors journey.

iii.,

They shall abound as formerly. Buck. O, many Have BROKE THEIR BACKS with
on 'em For
this great
1620. MIDDLETON, Chaste Maid, 2. [The word is here used in the sense of bankruptcy and ruin.]

FRANK FOWLER, Southern 1759. Lights and Shadows, p. 53. To pay for liquor for another is to stand,' or to The measure shout,' or to sacrifice.' is called a nobbier,' or a BREAK-DOWN.
' '
'

BARING GOULD, The Game1887. cocks, ch. xxviii. 'They are very poor, and have made a hard fight to get on. I fear this change would BREAK THEIR
BACKS.'
1888.

'

ASHTON, Mod,

noisy dance also, a convivial gatherThe term at was, first, ing. specially applied to a negro but is in now dance, general use in England in a humorous sense. Also used as a verb, i.e.,
;

2.

(common.)

p.

13.

The

cesses,

rates,

Street Ballads, and tithes

nearly BREAKS THEIR BACKS.

BREAK ONE'S
ONE'S EGG.

EGG.

See

CRACK
FRESH

BREAK OUT ALL OVER or

can).

IN A

TO
'

dance riotously to be boisterous and For synonyms, see spreeish."

BREAK
;

DOWN,

to

SPOT, ETC., verbal phr.

use
in

in the

Expressions in common one case conveying

;

(Ameri-

FLARE
p. 54.

UP.

an idea of completeness
the
other,

and,

of

commenc-

1864. YATES, Broken to Harness, II., And Mr. Pingle retired into the next room, where he indulged in the steps of a comic dance popular with burlesque actors, and known as A nigger

ing

some new undertaking, or

assuming a different position whether in an argument or These usages may be action.

traced to medicine.

BREAK-DOWN.
1873. shall not

Sat. Revieii',

May,

p. 676.

We

the phraseology of

be surprised to learn that they

have serious thoughts of engaging a few comic singers and BREAK-DOWN dancers for their next campaign. 1883. Daily News, March 26, p. 2, A patter song col. 4. was twice redemanded, chiefly, it appeared, for the sake of a comical BREAK-DOWN danced by the demented king.
.
. . ' '

BREAK SHINS, verbal phr. (general). To borrow money. Hotten thinks the term is a variant of
to kick,' formerly in use with a similar meaning. This may be so, but it is worthy of note
'

that

'

to shin

'

is

colloquial in
' '

BREAK

o-

DAY

DRUM

thieves').

drinking saloon which keeps its doors open all

night.

(American

America in the sense of to walk quickly,' to gad about

'

BREAK ONE-S
(colloquial).

BACK,

verbal

phr.

To become bank-

but having particular reference also, in mercantile phraseology, to the action of a man who, finding himself short of money to meet his engagements, goes

rupt
tive

an extension of the figurausage to overpower; render nugatory; crush.

;

1601.

Act

i.,

Sc.

i.

SHAKSPEARE, Henry VIII., Aber. I do know Kinsmen

round to his friends to borrow what he requires. To BITE THE EAR (q.v.) has the same signifibut for synonyms, see cation
;

SHINS.
21

Break

the Balls.
verbal phr. (bil;

322

Breeches.
BREECH,
flog or
verb

BREAK THE BALLS,

liards).

a
1

To commence playing phrase very much akin to

'

(schoolboys').
;

To

indeed few breaking ground verbs enter more largely into figurative or colloquial combinations than BREAK.
;

be flogged especially on the posteriors. This verb was formerly in literary use, but has
fallen into disuetude.
1557.

now

TUSSER,

Husbandrie,

ch.

Ixxiv., st. 6, p. i66(S.D.S.).

BREAK THE MOLASSES JUG,

phr.
;

verbal

Maides, up I beseech yee Least Mistresdoe BREECH yee.

1637.

(American). To come to grief to make a mistake.

How

MASSINGER, Guardian,
!

i.,

i.

he looks

like a school-boy

that
to

had play'd the

BREECH'D.
1821.
to,'

truant,

And went

be

BREAK THE NECK or BACK OF ANYTHING, verbal phr, (common). To accomplish the major portion of a task to be near the end of an undertaking; to be
;

SCOTT, Kenilworth, ch. xxiv. Wayland, thou art a prating boy, and should be BREECHED for
1

Go

said

'

thine assurance.'

past the middle of same.

BREAKY-LEG,

(common). i. Intoxicating drink of any kind. [A humorous allusion to one of the possible effects of confirmed drunkenness, or the weakness produced in one's legs by For all synonyms, tippling.] see DRINKS.
2. 1857.

subs,

BREECHED, ppl. adj. (popular). i. To be well off; to have plenty well of to be money to be in good BREECHED,'
'
;

Cf., BALLASTED. have a similar idiom. If a man is bankrupt he is said to be deculotte unbreeched. Given in this sense by Vaux in his Flash Dictionary

circumstances.

The French

(thieves'.)

[1812].

shilling.

SNOWDEN,

3 ed., p. 446.

shilling.

Mag. Assistant, BREAKE-LEG.

BREECHES.

To WEAR THE
; ;

BREAST FLEET,
;

subs. (old).

Roman

Catholics so called from their practice of crossing themselves on the breast as an act of devotion.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. He (or she) belongs to the BREAST FLEET i.e., is a Roman Catholic; an appellation derived from their custom of beating their breasts in the confession of their sins.
;

BREECHES, phr. (common). A phrase said only of women and signifying to rule to usurp a husband's prerogative to be master.' An analogous phrase
;
'

the grey mare is the better horse of the two.' [The derivation is obviously an allusion to BREECHES as the symbol of authority, i.e., of manhood.] Murray traces the expression
is
'

back

much
BREATH.

CHANGE YOUR BREATH,

An injunction phr. (American). to adopt a different manner or

bearing.
offensive, slang expression which, originating in ran its California, quickly course through the Union.

to 1553, but it is, in reality, older. It is found in French as early as 1450.

1450.

An

La

Les Quinze Joyes de Manage: Dixiesme Joye. Edition ElzeviParis Et sachez rienne, (1853), p. 113. qu'il est avenu a aucuns que 1'en leur faisoit boire de mauves brouez affin de porter les braies ou pour autres choses
pires.

Breeches.

323
now,

Brevet Hell.
I'll do you one I have the keys BREECHES.

The
lish at

idea

is met with in Engabout the same date in

my husband
;

asleep:

and

WEAR TH

a carol, the burden of which founded on it

:

is

BREECHING,
boys')
(q.v.),
.

verbal

subs,

14(?).

teenth

Century,

Songs and Carols of the FifPercy Soc. Pub., vol.

of the

A flogging. Like BREECH

Vtilg. (1527), 26.
I

(school-

The moste mayster

NO BRYCH.

XXIII., p. 65. Nova, nova, sawe you ever such,

formerly in general use.

WHITTINGTON,
fere a

hows WERYTH

1520.
I

BRECHYNG.

studye to-day to-daye bycause

Also a

little later,
:

from the same

vol. VI.,

collection
p. 21.

The Boke of Maid Emlyn,

All

1594. NASHE, Unfortunate Traveller, in wks. V., 149. Heeres a stirre thought I to selfe after I was set at libertie, that is worse than an vpbrayding lesson after a BRITCHING.

my

Thoughe
It is

women be suche, the man WEAR THE BRECHE.

BREEF.

See BRIEF.

curious to note also that

in

the expression has cropped up most languages. The Dutch

'
'

De vrouw draagd'er de say, brock '; the Germans, Sie hat die Hosen.' The Germans have also other 'breeches' sayings; as
e.g.,

BREEZE, subs, (general). A row; quarrel; disturbance; coolness. [From BREEZE, a cool wind.]
1785.

far reed

GROSE, Dictionary of the VulTongue. To kick up a BREEZE, to a disturbance.

'Das Hertz ist ihm in die Hosen gefalien.' Other illustrative quotations are
1557.
:

TUSSER, Husbandrie,
wiues' husband

ch. Ixvii.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress, p. 5. But, though we must hope for such good times as these, Yet, as something may happen to kick up a BREEZE.
1865.

st. 18,

156 (E.D.S.).
talke, as is the speech,

Least some should

The good
1591.

WEARES NO
in

119.

Saturday Review, 28 Jan., p. 'Don't be angry; we've had our

BREEZE.

Shake hands
subs.

' !

BREECH.

[M.]

NASHE, A Prognostication,
158.

wks.
this

II.,

yere

to

houses where BREECHES.

1663.

Diverse great stormes are be feared, especially in the wives WEARE THE

BREKKER,
versity).

(Oxford

Unifirst

Breakfast.
' '

[Formed

by phonetically taking the

T. KILLIGREW, Parson's Wedding, ii., 3, in Dodsley's O. P. (1780), xi., Anything that may get rule I love 413.
;

tO

WEAR THE BREECHES.

1724.

SWIFT, Misc. Poems, in wks.

199.

(1824)

Those men, who WORE THE BREECHES

least,

XIV.,

ER, a syllable of breakfast of slang formation, species at which originated Harrow.] See Comparative and Historical Study of Slang at the end of this work.
'

'

Call'd

1820. ch. v.

him a cuckold, fool, and beast. COOMBE, Syntax, Consolation,

she doth

BREVET HELL, A nickname

subs.

(American).

When
And The

WEAR THE BREECHES;

for a battle, which originated during the Civil War.

the poor fool dare not resist terrors of her threat'ning fist.
1821.

The meaning is obvious enough. The carnage and bloodshed of a

battle-field is only a degree short

W.
ii.,

Jerry, Act

Sc.

no mischief harkye, you did me a service just now in the street. Tom. I know I did, down by the pump. Mrs. T. Well,

T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Mrs. T. No, no4.

of the horrors of the theological

hell.' Compare with BREVETWIFE, BREVET-RANK.
'

Brevet- Wife.
BREVET-WIFE,
subs,

324

Brick.
the expression is logically deduced in the following amusing manner. A brick is deep-red,' so a man is a deep-read BRICK. The punning syllogism is carried further. To read like a BRICK is to read till you are a deep-read man deep-' read is in University-phrase a good man a good man is a jolly fellow with non-reading men, ergo a jolly fellow is a BRICK.
'

ried to a takes his

without being marman, lives with him, name, and enjoys all the privileges of a wife. A

woman who,

(general).

'

'

transferred figurative sense of the legitimate word.

'

BREW,

verb

'

To make

Maryborough School).
afternoon
tea.

'

Al-

most always carried on in couples, but sometimes three boys BREW together.

BREWER'S HORSE, subs. (old). drunkard. For synonyms,

A
see

It has, however, been pointed out that dedicatory columns of various forms have been found

ELBOW CROCKER.

BREWING,

verbal subs.

College).

noon
BRIAN
see

tea.
o'

The making See BREW.

fiibs.

(Marlborough
of after-

Greek bearing inscriptions, records of the great and virtuous. Some of these were circular and fluted pillars but the Athenians are said to have dedicated square columns so
;

inscribed,

which gave

rise

to

LINN,

slang).

Gin.

DRINKS.

(rhyming For synonyms,

UVOQ avfjp [see rer/oay Aristotle, Eth., i., 10] one whose worth entitled him to honorary
style
,

the

mention on some monumental

'

BRIAR, BRIER, subs, (popular). A brier-wood colloquialism for The Erica arborea or pipe.' White Heath, a native of the

stone of the/or m described. The distinction anticipatory might,

therefore, be easily accorded to

Mediterranean littoral is largely used in the manufacture of pipes.

[C/., Fr. bruyere
1882.

heath.']
16, p. 683, col. 2.

Graphic, Dec.
third

has a cigarette or a BRIAR in his mouth. 1886. Harper's Mag., 27 Dec. There is the ever-ready BRiER-root pipe loaded with Caporal.

Nowadays, every

man you meet

honours. From the meritorious notion of the rectangular stone or pillar we get the living type of genuine or supposititious worth a regular BRICK. A further analogy may be drawn from the clayey basis of the BRICK, even in a state of combination with sand and ashes those types
of instability and decay and we naturally acquire the notion of solidity, consistency, and are thus enabled strength. to apply the above phrase to the child of clay, who may chance to resemble it in its

one worthy of such posthumous

BRICK, subs, (popular). A good fellow one whose staunchness

;

and loyalty commend him to

his fellows a highly eulogistic epithet for one man to apply to another. Said to be of University origin, the simile being

We

drawn from

the

classics.

constitution,
terials

whose moral ma-

writer in Hallberger's Illustrated Magazine [1878, p. 635], says

originally

so

parts have been so carefully formed, judiciously tempered and

and

Brick.
skilfully

325

Brick.

moulded, that, in spite of a frail and infirm nature, he

has preserved his shape

early given.

The

thus fiery test but

;

who shared the religious ideas of some of the Bulgarians, received the name of bougres); it it zig, zigne, zigorneau, zigard, or
Michel gives zingo (popular in zig as camarade, a comrade Italian zigno or petit Iczard which latter (Iczard} signifies in French
:
'

determines his solidity his sound, staunch, and unshrinking firmness, constitutes him a regular BRICK or hero, the attributes which especially qualify

'

argot, a

'

bad

lot

').

him

for

that
Cf.,

metaphorical

appellation.
;

ON

STRAIGHT SQUARE CLEAN AS A DIE.

1837.

THE TRUE
Legends

BARHAM, Ingoldsby

To (American). punish a man by bringing the knees close up to the chin, and lashing the arms tightly to the knees a species of trussing.
Verb

(Brothers of Birchington). In brief I don't stick to declare, Father Dick, So they called him for short, was a regular BRICK

LIKE A BRICK
(and in

LIKE

BRICKS

A metaphor
1850.

taken, I have not the page aright, Out of an ethical work by the Stagyrite.

SMEDLEY,

Frank

Mr. Fairlegh, let me introduce gentleman, Mr. George Lawless; he is, if he will allow me to say so, one of the most rising young men of his generation, one of the firmest props of the glorious edifice of our rights and priviA regular BRICK,' interposed leges.'
p.
10.
'

Fairlcgh,

this

form) LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICKS, "With adv. phr. (common). thoroughly energy alacrity vehemently and with much [Derived partly attridisplay. butively from BRICK (q.v.), and partly in allusion to the crash
; ; ;

an

intensive

of

'

falling bricks.]

There are
a kindred
;

Coleman.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomcs, But the others are capital. There is that little chap who has just had the measles he's a dear little BRICK.'
'

numerous
character
;

similes of
e.g.,

LIKE
see.

ch. x.

LIKE
BLAZES,
1835.

ONE
all

O'CLOCK

BEANS LIKE
;

of

which

1856.

T.

HUGHES, Tom Brown's

School-days, p. 100.

He

voted E.'s

new

DICKENS, Sketches, p. 139. Bump they [cab and horse] cums agin the post, and out flies the fare LIKE
BRICKS.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Ingoldsby Penance). For the Friar to his skirts closely sticks, Running after him,' so said the Abbot,

crony a BRICK.
1876.

GEORGE

ELIOT,

Daniel

Deronda, ch. xvi. Their brothers' friend, declared by Hans to be the salvation of him, a fellow like nobody else, and, in fine, a BRICK.

'

LIKE BRICKS!
I860.

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
gniasse (cads'

Un
;

ban

New

Orleans Picayune, April

'

d'un bon brick. Michel gives bouchon as cadet ') un bon bougre (popular Barrere says the word bougre is often used with a
'
; :

etve thieves') be a bouchon (to

and

27 (Police Report).

When

it

came

to

the breakdown, Your Honor, he kicked up a row like a drove of contrary mules, and when we wanted to turn him out, he fell upon us LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICKS, and threatened to make minced meat of the police and every one of us.
1864. Western World, March 5. Mr. Nye had finished, Mr. Stewart rose, and with his irresistible logic and impressive language came down upon him LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICKS, till he was utterly crushed and

disparaging
'

sense

bougre
;

de

'When

cochon,
'

serin,

bougre

you dirty pig' bougre de you ass.' Littre derives from Bulgarus, Bulthe
heretic
Albigeois,

garian;

demolished.'

Brick-Duster.
BRICK
is

326

Bricklayer.
ruption of jRttBRICKLAYER, to denote general character for Rubrical exactness said of men who not only lay down LiturWith gical law, but obey it.
it

IN

THE

HAT,

(American).
said

drunken man BRICK IN to have a

phr.

HAT, the allusion being to top-heaviness and inability to preserve a steady gait.

HIS

BRICK-DUSTER.
FIELDER.
BRICKDUSTS,
Fifty-third

See

BRICK-

propriety, however, may be held as referring to the important part taken by the

more

subs, (military).

The

mediaeval clergy in ecclesiastical architecture. Mr. Thomas Boys, in the course of an interesting
article on the Q., 2 S., vii.,

Regiment of Foot, so nicknamed from its facings, which are scarlet. Another
slang appellation
is
'

THE OLD

FIVE-AND-THREEPENNIES,' from its number and the daily pay of an ensign.

BRICKFIELDER or BRICKDUSTER.SJ^S. In Syd(Australian colloquial) ney the name given to a dust or sand-storm brought by southerly winds from sand hills locally known as the BRICKFIELDS hence the name. Also called the BUSTER or SOUTHERLY BURSTER.
.

subject [N. and 115], traces its historical derivation somewhat as follows: It is well known how in former days the building of cathedrals and other sacred
edifices

was patronised and promoted both by the dignitaries and by the clergy generally
;

but

it is

not, perhaps,

matter of

equal notoriety that many chapters and collegiate bodies had a functionary called a workman (operarius), on whom devolved the charge of repairing and maintaining the sacred fabric,

Antipodes. In October, 1848, as I find by my diary, I witnessed a fine instance of a nocturnal BRICKFIELDER. Awakened by the roaring of the wind I arose and looked out. It was bright moonlight, or it would have been bright but for the clouds of dust, which, impelled by a perfect hurricane, curled up from the earth, and absolulely muffled the fair face of the planet. Pulverised specimens of every kind and colour of soil within two miles of Sydney, flew past the house high over the chimney tops in lurid whirl-winds, now white, now red. It had all the appearance of an American prairie fire, barring the fire.
18(?).

MUNDAY, Our

and who was often one of their own number. In fact, he was of
the dignitaries of the church.
Operarius, Dignitas, in Collegiis et Monasteriis, cui operibus publicis vacare incumbit (Carpenter). The office of this operarius or workman was called
'

Canonicorum,

'

'0peraria. Dignitas operaria.' Operarii in collegiis canonicorum et monasteriis' (ib). In Spain, the clerical operarius was called by
'

the

corresponding

Spanish

1853.

What

Fraser's Mag., XLVIII., 515.

the

Sydney people

call

a BRICK-

FIELDER.

COWAN, Charcoal Sk. The buster and BRICKFIELDER: Austral reddust blizzard and red-hot simoon.
1886.

obrero (a workman). Obrero. Se llama tambien el que cuida de las obras, en las Iglesias o en Comunidades, que algunas Cathedrales es dignidad (Dice, dela Ac. Esp.); i.e., in some cathe' '

name,

A BRICKLAYER, subs, (clerical). clergyman. [It has been hazarded that the term is a familiar cor-

drals the office made the holder of it a dignitary. Salazar de Mendoza, in his Cronica del
'

Cardenal

Don

R. G. de Men-

Bricklayer's Clerk.

327

Bridge.
BRICKS,
subs.

us that, the Cardinal ,' tells having conceded to the Chapter

(Wellington College)

sort of pudding.
subs, (cards').

of the cathedral at Toledo, the administration of the buildingfund, the Chapter in 1485, nominated as workman (obrero) the Canon Juan de Contreras
(Lib. II., cap. 62, par. 2).

BRIDGE,
trick

cheating

May

we

not conjecture, then, that, if clergymen are now provincially called BRICKLAYERS, it is because their mediaeval predecessors were, with a special called reference to building, 'workmen'? Possibly, from certain of the appointment
ecclesiastics

by which any particular card is cut by previously curving it by the presUsed in sure of the hand. France as well as in England, and termed in the Parisian Argot
at

cards,

faire
le

also couper dans operandi of avoiding, or rather of neutralizle

pont

sec,

pont.

The modus

ing the cut, which is the very backbone of the card-sharper's

art, is
is

somewhat

difficult,

in

former
of

generally performed
'

and by one
res-

days

of

two methods, termed

'

under

the

name

operarii

or workmen, for the repair and maintenance of public edifices in the University of Oxford, the
title

and the pectively the BRIDGE In the former method 'pass.' the sharper, at the end of his
the cards being still held backs uppermost in the takes some twelve or left hand fifteen of the underneath cards lengthwise between the thumb and first and second fingers of the right hand and throws them on the top of the pack, at the same time giving them a
shuffle

of

BRICKLAYERS may have

to the passed, in course of time, neighbouring clergy of Oxon and Berks. The use of bricks,

which ceased in this country after the decline of the Roman is stated by Hallam to

power, have been reintroduced, probably from Flanders, in the early part of the fourteenth century. With perhaps equal propriety is term the [BRICKLAYER] thought to refer to the oiicoo/ii) TOV (TwparoQ TOV Xptorov (Eph.
iv., 12),

trusting that they, like 'master St. Paul, are wise builders on the only builders true foundation, which is Jesus
'

squeeze outwards which causes them to assume an imperon ceptible curve. When placed the table to be cut, the pack will now, owing to this curve or BRIDGE,' present in the middle a very slight gap almost invisible to the eye; and experience shows that the odds are to one that the adverslight
'

twenty

have

Christ.' Edify, edificare oiKodo/tetu to reference

primary houses built with hands, as well as to the spiritual one of building up the

Church

of Christ.]

at that sary will cut exactly off the very spot, thus taking twelve or fifteen cards thrown on the top and bringing the readied portion of the pack
'
'

back
BRICKLAYER'S
cal).

to its original position.

CLERK, subs, (nautithe hundred of names given to a lubberly sailor. W. Clark Russell. For syno-

One

nyms,

see

STRAWYARDER, and

1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 266. I got my living by card-playing in the low lodginghouses ... I worked the oracle; they were not up to it. I put the first and seconds on, and the BRIDGE too.

CM

BAIL.

Bridle-Cull.
1859. LEVER, Davenport I've found out the 251. ?.ankee fellows does the king.

328
Dunn,

Briefs.
navy should be made thereabouts. 1807. SOUTHEY, Espriella's Letters, i-, 35 (3 ed.). The neighbourhood is so proverbially productive of hemp, that when a man is hanged, they have a vulgar saying, that he has been stabbed with a BRIDPORT DAGGER.

I.,

now disused,

that the cables for the royal

way
It's

that

not

the

common BRIDGE

that every

body

knows.

The
'

1866. YATES, Black Sheep, I., p. 70. genius which had hitherto been confined to BRIDGING a pack of cards, or securing a die, talking over a flat, or winning money of a greenhorn, was to have its vent in launching a great City Company.
'

Verb

(old).

Explained

by

A ticket BRIEF, subs, (thieves'). of any kind, whether railway pass, pawnbrokers' duplicate, or also a pocket ticket for a raffle
;

quotation.
H. VAUX, Flash Did. To BRIDGE a person, or to throw him over the bridge, is ... to deceive him by betraying the confidence he has reposed
1812.
J.

book.
1879.

Hence BRIEFLESS
J.

(q.v.).

W. HORSLEY,
I

in

Macm.

Mag., XL., 501.

to

took a BRIEF (ticket)

London
1885.
2.

Bridge.

in you.

col.
'

BRIDLE-CULL,

subs.

(old).

high-

A man.'] equivalent is un garcon pagne also un grinche brouse allev au trimar or

CULL,
a
'
',

wayman.

[From

BRIDLE + French
de cam-

Daily Telegraph, Aug. 18, p. 3, His usual line of business was BRiEF-snatching,' i.e., hovering about the crowd that surrounds a small bookmaker, and snatching from the hands of

de cam-

trimard,

'

to

Trimar = road or

become a highwayman.'
'

the unwary the credential they with rash eagerness exhibit, and which they desire to exchange with the man they have bet with for their winnings. 1889. Sporting Times, 6 July. They copped the BRIEFS at the next station, and he changed carriages.

toby.'

1754. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild, bk. I., ch. v. booty of 10 looks as great in the eye of a BRIDLE-CULL, and gives as much real happiness to his fancy, as that of as many thousands to

BRIEFLESS,
Ticketless.

adj.

See

(common). BRIEF.

the statesman.

1889. Bird o' Freedom, Aug. 7, p. 3. Following close at the heels of Newman, I soon found myself within the Aquarium, all BRIEFLESS as I was, and without having been asked any questions.

BRIDPORT or
subs.
(old).
'

To be stabbed BRIDPORT DAGGER

rope.
'
'

BRYDPORT DAGGER, The hangman's

with a
signifies

BRIEFS

be hanged.' For synonyms, see HORSE'S NIGHTCAP, and Cf., ANODYNE NECKLACE.
to
1662.
'

or B REEFS, subs, (cardCards tampered sharpers'). with for the purpose of swindSee BRIDGE, CONCAVES, ling.

FULLER,

Worthies,

Dorset

Stab'd with a BRYDPORT 310). (I., DAGGER.' That is, hang'd or executed at the Gallowes the best, if not the most, hemp (for the quantity of ground) growing about Brydport.
;

and CONVEXES, LONGS, and SHORTS.REFLECTORS, etc. [From the German briefe, which Baron Heinecken says was the name given to the cards manufactured at Ulm. Brief is also the syno-

nym
is

for a card in the

dialect,

German
briefen

Rothwalsch

and

(1811), p. 67.

GROSE, Prov. Glossary, etc. Stabbed with a BRYDPORT DAGGER. That is hanged. Great quantity of hemp is grown about this town and,
1787.
;

to play at cards.]

on

superior qualities, Fuller says there was an ancient statute,

account of

its

1529. [Edited by] LUTHER, Liber 'ItemVagatorum (1860), p. 47beware of the Joners (gamblers), who

practice Beseflery with the BRIEF (cheat-

Brief-Snatclier.

329

Brimstone.
BRIGHT
IN THE EYE, subs, (common) Slightly tipsy. [An allusion sparkling appearance of the eyes at an early stage of intoxication subsequently they become dull and sleepy.] For

ing at cards), who deal falsely and cut one for the other, cheat with Boglein and spies, pick one BRIEF from the ground, and another from a cupboard,'
etc.

to the

Old Book of Games, quoted by 1720. Hotten. Take a pack of cards and open then take out all the honours them, and cut a little from the edges of the rest
' .
.

synonyms,

see

SCREWED.
subs.

as to 'make the honours broader than the rest, so that when your cuts to you, you are certain of adversary an honour. When you cut to your adcut at the versary ends, and then it is a chance if you cut him an honour, because the cards at the ends are all of a length. Thus you may make BREEFS end-ways as well as side-ways.'
all

alike, so

BRIGHTON TIPPER,
liar

pecu-

kind of

ale.

See quotation.

BRIEF-SNATCHER, subs, (thieves'). Pocket-book thieves. [From BRIEF (q.v., sense i), slang term for a pocket-book, -f-SNATCHER.]
BRIGH,
subs, (thieves').

DICKENS, Martin Chitzzlevit, Requiring ... a pint of the ale, or Real Old BRIGHTON TIPPER, at supper. Ibid, p. If 447. they draws the BRIGHTON TIPPER here, I takes that ale at night,
1843.

!> P- 347-

celebrated staggering

my

love.

BRIM,

subs. (old).

i.

prostitute.

[A contraction

A pocket.

For (q.v.) ] BARRACK-HACK.

1730
[il.]

BRIMSTONE synonyms, see

of
[?.

1879. J. VV. HoRSLEY.inMacw. Mag., XL., 502. Having a new suit of clobber on me, and about fifty blow in my BRIGH

6.

BAILEY. BRIM

tion of Brimstone], a
1764.

common

a contracstrumpet.

(pocket).

Some
are
:

ENGLISH

SYNONYMS
are
line

Cly, skyrocket.

thee

T. BRVDGKS,_Homer Travest. Can mortal scoundrels i., 173. [Hera] perplex, And the great BRIM of brimstones vex?
(1797),

FRENCH
;

SYNONYMS
:

une profonde, grande or prophcte (thieves'

parfonde
literally

1808. for a trull.

2.

JAMIESON. BRIM, a cant term

Loth.

deep
'

;
'

also
or
' :

used
;
'

for

cellar ') une this term is fouillouse (thieves' ati old one. Fouille = a dig-

cave

There or excavation. ging are various forms foulle, felouse,

'

(common.) Nowadays the signifies an angry, violent woman, or a termagant, without reference to moral character. An equivalent French term is une chipie. Cf., BRIMSTONE.

term

filoche)

gueidard

une gueularde (thieves' wallet in slang, but

:

1799.

Whim

of the Day.

She raved,
;
!

properly
une

signifies
'

she abused me, and splenetic was She's a vixen, she's a BRIM, zounds She's all
that
is

stove)

bad.

baguenaude
' :

(thieves'

and
;

une from avaler, une valade (thieves' une fondricre to swallow up) (thieves') un four banal (thieves': either used to signify a pocket,' a 'false pocket,' or an 'omnibus ') une sonde (literally sonde
;
:

cads nut ')

properly

a bladderbalade or ballade
;

BRIMSTONE, subs. (old). i. A violent tempered woman a virago a spitfire. [A reference to the inflammable character of the
;

'

mineral.]
BP. BURNET, in Walpole's 1712. Reminiscences (1819), p. 75. Oh, madam,' said the bishop, 'do not you know what a BRIMSTONE of a wife he had ?
'
'

probe).

Briney.
1751. ch. vi. like Kate 1760.

330

Brisket-Beater.

SMOLLETT, Peregrine
'

Pickle,

She is ... not a BRIMSTONE, Koddle, of Chatham.'

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Herring big pond big drink pond

;

C. JOHNSTON, Chrysal, II., 190. I hate the law damnably ever since I lost a year's pay for hindering our boatswain's mate's brother from beating his wife. The BRIMSTONE swore I beat her husband, and so I paid for meddling.

the puddle
tasse

Davy's locker.
' :

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Lagrande

(familiar big cup.' Boire

properly
dans
:

the

la
'

grande
;

KINGSLEY, Geoffrey HamWho seemed, too, to have a temper of her own, and promised, under circumstances, to turn out a bit
H. 1859. lyn, ch. xxiii.
of a B
2.

MST

NE.

la 'to be drowned ) tasse, grande blene (popular the great blue an allusion to the colour le grand of deep sea water) sale (popular literally the great
;
' :

(old.)
see

synonyms,
1785.

For BARRACK-HACK.
prostitute.
;

salt

(popular pre properly the salted or BRINY

')
;

le

sale

meadow.)
BRING
phr.

GROSE. Brim (abbreviation of BRIMSTONE), an abandoned woman

perhaps originally only a passionate or irascible woman, compared to BRIMSTONE for its inflammability.

DOWN THE HOUSE, verbal To elicit loud (general).

;

BRINEY or BRINY,

subs,
'

dip in the BRINEY' once a year is a great attraction to Cockney excursea.

sionists. Hotten tells a story of one excursionist saying to another, as they stripped in a

The

(popular).

and, still more figuratively, to be successful. [The figure of speech is that demonstrative applause will cause

applause

the walls to give way.

Cf.,

To

RAISE

THE ROOF

OFF.]

1754. World, II., No. 76, 125. His apprehension that your statues will BRING THE HOUSE DOWN. 1853.

double machine,

'

Why,

'Arry
'

what
'

you've got dirty 'Ave I well yer see I wasn't

! ;

feet

Bede
p. 23.

'

),

down

last

year.'
'

[From the

broadsword combat BRING DOWN THE HOUSE.

sailor's
.

REV. E. BRADLEY ( Cuthbert Adventures of Verdant Green, II., Why, it would surpass the British
'

for six,

and

adj. signifying,

of or pertaining

to brine or the sea.']

1856.

WHYTE

Coventry, ch. xiv. which a stout gentleman had found himself, by the temporary loss of all his apparel, while he was disporting in the BRINY.
1881. Punch, Jan. 15, p. 14. Grigsby. Hullo, my Jellaby, you here Come and take a dip in the BRINY, old man. I'm sure you look as if you wanted it. never I Postlethwaite. Thanks, no. bathe. I always see myself so dreadfully foreshortened in the Water, you
!

The

MELVILLE,

Kate

1872. FORSTER, Life of Charles Dickens, ch. xliv. (IV., p 252). And give us your applause, for that is always just
'
'

luckless plight in

Which BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE with

rapture.

MRS. RIDDELL, Her Mother's 1877. I do not Darling, II., p. 61 (ch. xii). fancy she would ever forgive any of us
if

Honie were
at

to

BRING

DOWN THE

HOUSE

Elm

Vale.

1889. Bird o' Freedom, Aug. 7, p. 3. But Samson's crowning feat of all was break with his fist two steel chains, suspended from a couple of posts. This fairly BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE. to

know!
1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Next day bathing, returning from which we beheld a curious sight, three nymphs

BRISKET-BEATER,

subs.

(old).

Roman

Catholic.

strand a bath in carrying which one of them was, apparently with a curious mistrust of the sea, going to try the BRINY.
to the

down

FLEET and synonymous terms.

Grose [1785].

BREAST CRAW-THUMPER,
Cf.,

Quoted by

Bristles.
BRISTLES or BRISTLE
(old).

331

Broadbottoms.
BROADBOTTOMS, subs, (political). A nickname given to two Coalition Governments, one in the last century [1741] and the
,

DICE, subs. of 'cogging' dice by inserting BRISTLES into them, and thus influencing the position of the cubes when

A method

other in 1807.

'

thrown.'
1532.

See quots.
18,

pamphlet dated April

has
reference
:

DICE, be now too gross a practice to be put in use. [M.]

1680.
335.

Dice Play

(1050), 28.

BRISTLE

1807,
latter.

to
'

the

Its full title is

litter

The

pigs possessed, or

COTTON,

This they do by
1822.

in Singer Hist. Cards, false dice, as ...

[M.]

BOTTOM'D

the BROADrunning head-

By BRISTLE-DICE.
xxiii.
'

Men talk of high and low dice, and a hunFulhams and BRISTLES dred ways of rooking besides.'
.

SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.

.
.

long into the Sea of Perdition.' characters are George III., as the British farmer Lords

The

BRISTOL MILK.

subs. (old).

[An

allusion

formerly a the city of

see

Sherry. sherry being large import of

to

synonyms, PRYNNE 1644. AND Fiennes'Trial, 78. Good store

MILK, strong wines and

BRISTOL.] DRINKS.
of waters.

For

Sidmouth, Ellenborough, Howick (' Test Act ') Mr. Windham Lords Holland, Walpole, Vincent Carlisle St. Earls Temple ('Last Stake'), Grenville ('Catholic Bill'), and of Derby Lords Erskine, Lauderdale (a Scotch pig), H. Petty,
;
;

WALKER,
BRISTOL
[M.]

1662. FULLER, Worthies, Bristol. 'BRISTOL MILK'; this metaphorical milk, whereby Xeres or Sherry Sack is

andMoira; the Duke of Bedford, who was Lord Lieutenant of marked Erin go Ireland, Earl Spencer, MarBragh quis of Buckingham (' Family '),
' ' ;

intended.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BRISTOL MILK, a Spanish wine called sherry, much drank at that place, particularly in the morning.

R. B. Sheridan (Harlequin), Courtney, Tierney, and Whitbread (' Entire '). Courtney is
placed in profile between Ellen-

He borough and Sidmouth. was an intimate friend of Fox.

This
said to be the only porhim. The print is a supplement to another styled More Pigs than Teats.' The
is

1849-61.

rich beverage made of the best Spanish wine, and celebrated ... as

MACAULAY, Hist.Eng.,

I., iii.

trait of
'

BRISTOL MILK.

BROACH CLARET, verbal phr. To draw blood. istic). however, CLARET.

(pugilSee,

Ministers represent the described commonly by the phrase All the Talents,' or the
pigs
'

'

BROAD-BOTTOMS

'

who were

BROAD AND SHALLOW,

ular).

An
'

epithet
'

(popapplied to
phr.
to

the so-called
in
'

Broad Church,'
the
'

contradistinction

succeeded, April, 1807, by the Duke of Portland and his supThe former are not porters. be confounded with an to

High
See
1886.

and

'

Low

Churches.

HIGH and

DRY.

BROAD-BOTTOM AdThe latter was commemorated in the satiearlier

' '

ministration.

Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. In the Church have we not the three schools of High and Dry, Low and Slow,

rical

inscription

for

tomb,

Hie

jacet

Pater

Fox's Broad-

and BROAD AND SHALLOW

Bottomos.

Broadbrim.
1742.
(1833), No. 22, Feb. 18, vol. I., p. 106. The Tories declare against any farther prosecution if Tories there are, for now one heard of nothing but the BROAD-BOTTOM it is the reigning cant word, and means, the taking all parties and people, in;

332
to

Broadsman.
BROAD COVES, subs. (old). Cardsharpers. [From BROADS (q.v.)> cards, + COVE (q v.), a man.] The modern term for swindling at cards is BROAD FAKING (q.v.). A French equivalent is un bremeuY. For synonyms, see ROOK. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and 1821.
Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Your swell BROAD COVES, with
airs
all

WALPOLE,

Lett,

Mann

differently, into the ministry.

1843.
II., p.

244.

MACAULAY, Historical Essays, The Pelhams had forced the

. .

King,

much

Lord

against his will, to part with Carteret They proceeded,

.

after this victory, to form the Government on that basis, called by the cant

their

name

of the 'BROAD-BOTTOM.'

1863.
p. 249.

The star of Granville is falling, that of Pelham is in the ascendant and the great coalition on 'The BR. B.' is managing the affairs of the State.
;

JEAFFRESON, Live

Can't

It

Down,

match the kids near Wapping

;

I.,

They are so down and knowing Of lowest life you'll see the best,
At Maces's, All-max, in the East So let's at once be going
:

stairs,

Miss BRADDON, Robert AinsA scathing reply from Icigh, I., p. 37. the polished chief of the famous BR. B.
1871.

Come, toddle

along, toddle along, etc.

Administration.
Slang, in Cornhill Mag., A Coalition Government June, p. in the last century was known by the apt nickname of the BROAD BOTTOM.'
1887.

BROAD-FAKING,
sharpers').
' '

subs,

(card-

Pol. 628.

'

Playing at cards. Generally used, however, to denote work of the three card and kindred descriptions.

A BROADBRIM, subs, (common). [The origin of this Quaker. expression is to be found in the to hat once the peculiar Society of Friends.' Hotten says the epithet is now used of any quiet, sedate, old man.]
'

BROAD

FENCER,

subs,
'

'

k'rect card

(thieves'). seller at races.

[From BROAD (q.v.), a FENCE or FENCER, a

man.']

card, trades'

BROADS,
cards.
1789.
p. 142.

subs,

(general).

Playing

1712.

Spectator,

No.

276.

[BROAD-

See

STOCK BROADS.
Life's Painter,

BRIM

is

used as the

name

of a

Quaker

correspondent.]
1750. VII., ch.

FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk. x. This the Quaker had

Who

GEO. PARKER,

observed, and this, added to the rest of his behaviour, inspired honest BROADBRIM with a conceit that his companion was, in reality, out of his senses. 1864. Reader (quoted in Notes and

for flats, in order to BROADS, that is cards. 1812.

J.

are continually looking out do them upon the

H.
;

VAUX,
a

BROADS, cards which is said

PLAYER.
1834.

to

Flash Diet. person expert at be a good BROAD-

BROADBRIM, Queries, This word clearly owes its a Quaker. hat the worn to peculiar by the origin
5

S.,

ix.,

p. 263).

HARRISON AINSWORTH, Rookii.

wood, IV.,
1877.

Society of Friends.

ch.
the

Six sly BROAD-BRIM, Hundred, and popularity-hunters of the Peace Society sent a deputation to the Emperor
1876.

JAS. ch. i.

GRANT, One of

The

He became one of iv., p. 262. a gang who practised with the BROADS trick.' and confidence the card-sharping
. .
.

I nick the BROADS. Five Years' Penal Servitude,

'

Nicholas.

BROADSMAN,

subs,

(common).

A
For

BROAD-COOPER, subs, (brewers'). A person employed by brewers to negotiate with publicans.

[From BROADS card-sharper. = cards + MAN.] Formerly

called

synonyms,

BROAD COVE (q.v.). see ROOK.

Broady.
1879.
502.
J.

333
'Autobio'

Broiled.
ciples
different from those which he supported a short time before, is said to EAT BOILED CROW." Originally the phrase was simply TO EAT CROW, and the following ac'

W. HORSLEY,
in

graphy of a Thief,"

BROADSMEN

Macm. Mag., XL.,

Sat.

1888.

G. R.

(card-sharpers). SIMS, in Cass.

p. 7.

Journal, si- March, is a card-sharper.

The BROADSMAN

BROADY,
Cloth.

subs, i. (common). [A corruption of BROAD-

count
as to

is

its

that currently accepted derivation.

London Poor,
ing their

CLOTH.] 1851. MAVHEW, London Labour and

Gentlemen findown BROADY can be accomI.,

p. 54.

modated.
1883.
6,

col.

2.

mated that own BROADY

.

Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. The prospectus further intigentlemen 'finding their could be accom. .

1888. Atlanta Constitution. During the unpleasantness between the States and England, there were located on opposite sides of the Niagara river a British and an American foit, and during an armistice the soldiers of both garrisons were accustomed to go hunting. Among the American troops was one long, lank, stuttering specimen of the

modated.'
2.

(thieves'.)
See

Anything

genus Yankee, who would persist, in spite of orders to the contrary, in going across the river on his hunting expeditions.

worth stealing. WORKER.

BROADY

One day when on the Canada he had had poor luck and got nothing, but resolved not to go back enside

BROADY WORKER,
vile

subs,

A man who goes round

shoddy
that
stuff
it

(thieves').

selling

under
is
'

the
got

pretence
material,

excellent

which has been

i.e.,

on the
BROCK,

cross,'

stolen.

verb

To
badger.

(Winchester College).
;

bully

to

tease

to

[BROCK is a north country and Hampshire name for a badger.] In French mili-

empty handed. While passing through the grounds of an English gentleman, he spied a CROW, and, blazing away, brought it down. The Englishman had witnessed the shot and resolved to punish the offender for poaching on his private grounds. As the Yankee was loading his gun he approached, and, complimenting him on his good shot, asked to look at his gun. The unsuspecting Yankee handed it to him, and the Briton, bringing the gun to his shoulder and covering the Yankee, abused him for trespassing on his grounds, and ordered him, on pain of death, to take a bite out of the CROW. The soldier begged and
tirely

tary schools this is called faire line brimade or faire brimer.

BROCKSTER,
lege).

subs.

(Winchester ColSee

bully.

BROCK.
Hospital).

leaded, but to no avail. The Englishman E ad the drop on him, so he finally bit a piece from the breast of the CROW. The Englishman, after warning him to keep off his premises in the future, handed him back his gun and bade him clear out. No sooner was his rifle returned than he covered the Briton and ordered him to finish the CROW. Then it was the

BROGUES,

subs. (Christ's

Englishman's turn

Breeches. This is, in reality, an obsolete old English term which has survived among the
'

Yankee was
with

to beg off, but the firm, and the Englishman, a wry face, did succeed in downing several bites of the unsavoury

many

bird.

His

Blues.'

appeased, the

back

to the fort.

BROILED or BOILED CROW. To EAT BOILED CROW. A newspaper

editor,
' '

who
or

party
fluences,

is obliged by his other outside into advocate prin'

next day went to the American commander and told his version of the affair, and demanded that the culprit be punished. From the description given,

wounded honour being Yankee betook himself The Englishman the

the American officer knew that the offender must have been the stuttering
soldier,

and ordered him

to

be brought

Broke.
before them. When he came in the captain asked him if he had ever seen the gentleman before. The Yankee to shifted uneasily from one foot the other, and, after several attempts, When finally answered that he had.
'

334

Broncho -Buster.
ppl.
adj.

BROKEN LEGGED,
mon).

(com-

Seduced.

See

DOCK and

LEG

for

synonyms.
(general).
first

and under what circumstances

'

?'

asked

BROLLY,
brella.

subs,

An um-

I d-dmed with him y-y-yesthe officer. terday, captin,' stuttered the soldier. The story goes that his wit saved the soldier

from punishment.

used at Winchester, being subsequently adopted at both Oxford and

Term

Cambridge
1885.

Universities.
6,

BROKE.
mon).

DEAD
Ruined
;

BROKE
(q.v.),

Punch, June

p.

(q.v.)

o'

pattens and

BROLLY are more

273. in

Pair

your

adj. (comdecayed hard up said of health or pecuniary The French circumstances. slang has n* avoir pas un radis, literally not to have a radish but for all synonyms, see DEADBROKE.
;
'

STONE BROKE

line.

BRONCHO,

'

Unadj. (American). ruly; wild; savage. The epithet is derived from BRONCHO, the name of the native horse a somewhat of California, tricky and uncertain quadru-

G. R. SIMS, How the Poor Live, do you do when you're STONE BROKE ? I ask him. Well, sir, sometimes I comes across a gentleman
1887.
p.
16.
'

How

'

'

as gives me a bob and

1889.

starts

me

The term is familiarly ped. applied to horses that buck and show other signs of vice. The Spanish signification of the
word
little
is

again.'

Pall Mall Gaz., Aug. 14. I see that Sullivan made 21,000 dols. out of his fight, but as he was DEAD BROKE before the battle, there won't be much of it left. Nevertheless, Sullivan has received hundreds of begging letters from
' '

beast, deserves this

sin.

rough and crabbed and in truth he name.

folks who want him to pay off mortgages on their homes or buy them houses and lots and things of that sort.

1888. FRANCIS, Saddle and MocasOh I don't know. He'd been singing the music to 'em' (imitating them). Sam's too BRONCHO.
!

BRONCHO-BUSTER,

subs.

(American).
;

breaker-in
called

BROKEN FEATHER
siibs.

IN

ONE'S WING,

also

phr. (popular). one's character.

1880.

blot

on

[From
BUST,

BRONCHOS FLASH - RIDER. BRONCHO + (q-v.)

of

MRS. OLIPHANT, Phcebe,jun., If an angel were to walk about, ii., 6. Mrs. Sam Hurst would never rest till she had found out where he came from. And perhaps whether he had a BROKEN FEATHER IN HIS WING.

in its slang sense of annihilate, or overcome, .+ ER.]

These men make a profession of their business and perform

really marvellous feats, riding with ease the most vicious and

unbroken beasts that no ordinary rider would dare tackle.

favourite feat is to sit out the antics of a bucking-horse with silver half-dollars under each knee or in the stirrups under Their method of each foot.

BROKEN-KNEED,
mon).

who ANKLE and BROKEN LEGGED for synonyms, see DOCK and LEG.
;

ppl. adj. (comSaid of a girl or woman has been seduced. Cf.,

In French theatrical slang, avoir mal aux genoux.

breaking-in may be described as the exercise of main force,

Bronze John.
it

335

Brosier.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 336. The old woman (who kept the ken), when any female, old or young, who had no tin, came into the kitchen, made up a match for her Fellows half-drunk, with some men. had the old women. There was always Without that a BROOMSTICK wedding. ceremony a couple weren't looked on as and man wife.
1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, ch. xlviii., p. 227. They both led tramping lives, and this woman in Gerrard
'

being a tussle as to which can hold out the longest, man or BRONCHO. The calling is a dangerous one, and a first-class BRONCHO-BUSTER can always command high wages and constant employment on large
ranches.

BRONZE JOHN, subs. (American). A Texas name for yellow fever Englishmen commonly call it YELLOW JACK (q.v.)
;

had been married very young, OVER THE BROOMSTICK (as we say), to a tramping man, and was a perfect fury in
St. here,

BROOM,
1815. xxviii.
'

subs, (old).

i.

See quot.

point of jealousy.' Broadside Ballad, c. 18(79).

'

David

and would not

so

SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch. The people got rusty about it,
deal,

Dove that fell in love.' By L. M. THORNTON. The girl that I had hoped to hear
Pronounce

many BROOMS that Ibid, ch. xxxiii. (II., p. 96). What are you wanting here? Yell be come wi' a BROOM in
'

and they

held

bought

Had

my happy doom,

sir,

bolted with a carpenter, In fact HOPPED O'ER THE BROOM,

subs. (old).

sir.

your pocket frae Ellengowan

Got so

many warrants
2.

out.

BROOMSTICKS,
less
bail.

(harlotry.)

The female

WorthFor synonyms, see

The male penis is pudenda. the BROOMSTICK. For synonyms,

see

STRAW BAIL andC/., BAIL.

1812.
J.

H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary.

MONOSYLLABLE.
Verb
(old).

For synonyms,
1821.

To run away.
see

AMPUTATE.

Queer bail are persons of no repute, hired to bail a prisoner in any bailable These men are to be had in case. London for a trifling sum, and are called
BROOMSTICKS.

6.

MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, Tom. That will do now then

! !

BROSIER or BROZIER,
College).

subs.

be scarce BROOM Dicky, mizzle Prime. Wouldn't intrude a moment, gentlemen, good morning order my
!

carriage.

BROOMSTICK, subs, (athletic). A sort of rough cricket bat, very narrow in the blade and all of one piece of wood.

boy when he had spent all his pocket - money. [BROZIER is a Cheshire term for a bankrupt.] A French
term
for

(Eton

a
i.e.,

deculotte,

bankrupt is un one unbreeched

;

To JUMP THE BROOMSTICK

HOP

THE

BROOM

JUMP THE
(in

alsQtM bauce or bausse fondu. Cleaned BROZIERED,/>/>/. adj. out done up ruined bank;
; ;

BESOM, phr. (common). To live as man and wife without the The allusion is to a legal tie. quasi marriage ceremony performed by both parties jumping over a broomstick.
POOLE, Hamlet Travestied, ii., 3. JUMP O'ER A BROOMSTICK, but don't make a farce on The marriage ceremo1811.

rupt.
1796.

MERTON, Way
[The term

Inchbald's

XXVI).

to get Married 'British Theatre,' vol. is so used here]

.

BROZIER-MY-DAME,

verbal phr.

(Eton College). Eating one out of house and home. At Eton,

when a DAME

nies of the parson.

(q.v.) keeps an unusually bad table, the boys agree together on a day to eat,

Brother-Blade.
pocket, or waste everything eatable in the house. The censure is well understood, and the hint is generally effective.
44.

33^

Brother of

the

Whip.
subs. phr.

BROTHER OF THE BUNG,

(old).

Notes and Queries, June 15, p. the phrase BROZIERMY-DAME, signifying to eat her out of
1850.
I

brewer; one of the same trade. [BUNG here is used as an emblem of the trade of a brewer.]

well

remember

BROTHER OF THE BUSKIN,

(old).

subs.

house and home. REV. W. ROGERS, Reminis1888. Etonians of my standing cences, p. 15. will remember John Francis Plumptre, one of the Fellows ... I once behaved very shabbily to him, for I joined a conspiracy to BROZIER' HIM. There were ten or twelve of us [at breakfast] and we devoured everything within reach.
' ,

phr.

player

actor

the
is in

same

profession.

one of [BUSKIN

allusion to the covering for the foot and leg (cothurnus) worn by actors in trag dy among the ancients in contrast to the sock (soccus) worn by comedians. Stage BUSKINS had very thick
;

A BROTHER-BLADE, subs. (old). soldier. Formerly BROTHER OF THE BLADE, i.e., of the sword; a fellow-soldier. For synonyms,
see

soles to give an appearance of Hence BUSKIN as symheight. bolical of tragedy, but used in

the phrase

MUDCRUSHER.

BUSKIN
general

in

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, BROTHER OF THE BLADE,

BROTHER OF THE transferred and sense.] Quoted by

a

Grose

[1785].

Cf,

BARN

a soldier.
1834.

STORMER and BOOTH-BURSTER.

BROTHER OF THE
COIF, subs. (old). serjeant at law. [The coif was a close-fitting cap worn by the serjeants-at-law hence the term.] Quoted by Grose [1785].

H.

AINSWORTH,
'

Rookwood,

me

I heard some devilish bk. IV., ch. ii. good stories of you at D'Osyndar's t'other day the fellow who told them to
;

little

thought

was a

BROTHER

BLADE.'

BROTHER

CHIP (provincial workOne of the same callmen's). ing or trade formerly a fellow carpenter.
;

BROTHER
(old).

OF

A pimp

THE GUSSET,
or PONCE
see

subs.
(q.v.).

1820. CLARE, Poems of Rural Life, Familiar Epistle, st. 3. And, BROTHER CHIP, I love ye dearly, poor as ye be
!

For synonyms,

BULLY.
subs. phr.

BROTHER OF THE
(old).

QUILL,

BROTHER OF THE BRUSH,

(old).

An

subs. phr.

pen.]
1754.

[QuiLL = For synonyms, see INK-

An

author.

artist;

house-

SLINGER.
B.

painter.
BP. CARTWRIGHT, in Hist. 1687. Magd. Coll. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), 143. Pray make use of BROTHER OF THE BRUSH.

BROTHER OF THE
of the

MARTIN, Eng.

Diet. (2 ed.).

same

QUILL, an author, one

profession.

my

[M.]

1759.
I.,

the

The honourable devices which Pentagraphic BRETHEREN OF THE BRUSH have shewn in taking copies. [M.] 1833. BYRON, wks. (1846), p. 585,
133.
i.

STERNE,

TV.

Shandy

(1793),

BROTHER OF THE STRING, subs. phr. A fiddler. [A reference to (old)

.

the violin or fiddle as a stringed instrument.]

col.

A young American BROTHER OF

[M.]

THE BRUSH.

BROTHER OF THE WHIP, subs. phr. A coachman, the whip (old).

Brother-Smut.
being taken, as
insignia of office.
it

337

Brown.
subs,

were, as an

BROWN,

(common).

i.

The World, No. 207. He ... 1756. had always greased my heels himself, and upon every one of my birthdays, had treated all his BROTHER WHIPS at
expence. T. MILLER, in Gabarni in 1849. London, p. 39. He is very kind to any BROTHER OF THE WHIP whom he poor sees tugging up-hill in vain, with a load and an ill-fed team. weighty
his

halfpenny. [Probably an allusion to the colour of the coin in For synonyms of question.]

money
1812.

generally,
J.

see

ACTUAL.

own

VAUX, Flash Diet. BROWNS and whistlers, bad halfpence and farthings. 1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
then Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob. for the stumpy. (Searching about in his pockets for the money.) My tanners are like young colts I'm obliged to hunt 'em into a corner, afore I can get hold on
;

H.

Now

BROTHER-SMUT, subs. phr. (popuA term of familiarity. lar). DITTO, BROTHER or SISTER
SMUT,' tu
qiioque.
subs.

there hand us over three BROWNS out of that 'ere tizzy; and tip us the

'em

heavy.

(Landlord receives money,

and

delivers porter.)

1837.

BROTHER STARLINGS,

BARHAM,

I.

L. (Black Mousque-

Men who
same
1785^

(old).

taire).

cohabit with

the

mistress.

The magic effect of a hand of crowns Upon people whose pockets boast nothing but BROWNS.
1851.
If I takes a hat III., p. 57. round, they has a plate, and they gets sovereigns where we has only BROWNS. Ibid. We keeps it up for half an hour or an hour if the BROWNS tumble in
.
. .

G~ROSE, Dictionary of the VulBROTHER STARLING gar Tongue. one who builds in the same nest.
.
.

London Poor,

MAYHEW, London Labour and

BROTH OF A BOY,
originally, jolly

subs.

phr.

(Irish

but

Cf., good [The term is thought to Irish from the Broth, originate

now common).
fellow.

well.
1853. Grand, ch. iv.

BRICK.

WHYTE MELVILLE, Digby A shower of BROWNS, the

silver,

coppers mingled with

from our

private box, rewards their exertions.

c. 1884. Broadside Ballad, 'Jimmy Johnson's Holiday.'

passion
spirited
'

Brotha,
its

passionate,

meaning being,

He's a lad of spirit,' though it may come from the ancient Cornish name for the mastiff Hence a BROTH OF A brath. BOY would then mean a stout dog of a boy robust.']
'

But

Who always call'd

Said
'

Violet, the

Margate

pet, like

him Teaser,
mortar'd

She would

stick

brick,

While Johnson had a BROWN."

2.

(old.)

Porter.
'

abbreviation of

Brown Stout.']
;

[Qy. an

BYRON, Don yuan, c. viii., But Juan was quite A BROTH OF A a BOY, thing of impulse and a child of
1819-24.
st. 24.

1820. Glossary at end of Corcoran's The Fancy. BROWN, porter HEAVY BROWN, stout.

song.

BESANT AND RICE, Son of 1877. Vulcan, ch. xx. You ought to have been a preacher and a boy. Faith, and a BROTH OF A BOY, and a BROTH of a preacher you'd have made.

Verb.

i.

A
i.e.,

variant of
to

'

to

do brown,'

do to per-

fection; to get the better of. [The simile is obviously taken

A BROUGHTONIAN, subs. (old). bruiser boxer pugilist. [From Broughton, once the best boxer
;
;

from the browning process which meat undergoes during See Do BROWN. roasting.]
2.

To

understand; compre22

of his day.]

hend.

Brown
To DO
(common).
'

Bess.

338

Brown
p.

Bess.
BESS, in
is

BROWN, verbal phr. To do well; also

'

259].

BROWN
barrel.

its

primary meaning,
to
is

deceive to exto take in ceed bounds. Cf., BROWN, verb, French equivalents sense i. for to allow oneself to be DONE BROWN are godancer and ctre See second quotation for flonc.
;
;
'

brown

equivalent Bus, in Dutch

;

the barrel of a gun

bilsse,

in

Low

Germ, Hence

our

Swed. byssa. English BESS as

in

'

(Conf. applied to a gun-barrel. bus-bas fragor in Med. Latin

scloporum
et

variation in usage.
a.

certaminis.)

The
in
;

1GOO.

JOHN BON,
!

162 in

Hazl.

Dutch

bus

appears

often

E. P.
[M.]

P., iv., 16.

Ha BROWNE

DONE.

1828.
p. 5.

BROWN
1

JON. BEE, Picture of London, 'Those who consider themselves to every move upon the board
'

of actual
1837.

life.

composition. Hand-bus, a pistol Busliterally a hand-barrel. a gunner schieter, literally a have the barrel-shooter. Dutch bus (a barrel) in three
;

We

uncommonly BROWN
1854.
'

BARHAM, /. L. (The Execution). they'd laugh at and quiz us all are all of us DONE so over the town,

Why,

We

' !

Harper's Monthly, January. And some of the greenhorns

Resolved upon

flight,

And vamosed

the ranch In a desperate plight While those who succeeded In reaching the town, Confessed they were DONE, Most exceedingly BROWN.'
;

English names of fire-arms namely arquebuse, obus, blunderbuss. At the first of these three, arquebuse, we must look a would we little more closely trace the term BROWN BESS to The most its primaeval source.
:

formidable of cross-bows before

fire-arms
pellet

came into general use, was one which shot a ball or

from
a
barrel.

1861.

Times (on American

affairs).

John
'

Bull, slyly winkin', then said

unto

he:
Times, my old covey, go pitch into he Let us wallop great Doodle now when he

mens may yet be seen. Now this was the original arquebuse
(i.e.,

Speci-

My dear
is

arc-bus,

or

arc-et-bus,

bow
of

and
use,

barrel).

In

process

well, we will DO HIM UP BROWN.' 1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures I was once of a Cheap Jack, p. 267. done myself with some pigs I and DONE at a time when I ought and BROWN too, to have known better.
If

we wallops him

down;

time as gunpowder came into

the
buss

the arc disappeared, and or barrel remained.

arquebuse,

Hence

though

it

BROWN BESS,
i.

subs. (rhyming slang),

Yes.
(military.)

2.

The old regula-

properly implies a bow fitted with a tube or barrel, came into use as the old appellation And of a soldier's firelock. hence the name of BESS (bus, bilsse or byssa), which the musket has borne more recently. BESS or bus is the last syllable of the old arquebuse or harquebus cut off for use, separate just as in the more recent bus from omniinstance of bus. The barrels of firelocks

tion musket.

Considerable discussion has taken place over the It first origin of this term. appears in Grose [1785] but the term brown musquet occurs at the beginning of the eighThe teenth century [1708]. following suggested derivation appeared in N. and Q. [2 S., v.,
, '
'

BROWNED. sometimes were Sometimes, however, they were required to be kept bright.

Brown

Bess.

339

Brown
much

George.
his

Could we ascertain who first in mercy ordained the browning of the barrel, we might have some
prospect of ascertaining the first introduction of the term

not to mention
stay

BROWN BESS,

main-

him

and dependence
so as wet.
1877.

nothing punishes

BROWN BESS.
some hero

Doubtless

it

was

Chambers' Journal, No. 720. in the days but a spinning conical ball from the Martini-Henry will pierce

Such may have been the case

of

BROWN BESS,

of the fight, not of the field-day. For a further illustration of the term BROWN BESS, it may be proper to remark that in Northumberland,

the largest crocodile.

3.

(old.)

A
see

synonyms,

For prostitute. BARRACK-HACK.

according to Halliwell, a gun is known by the not very elegant

title

1631. DORE, Polydorun. Things proffered and easie to come by diminish themselves in reputation and price, for how full of pangs and dotage is a way-

of black-bitch.

Now

ling lover, for

it

like bus
ein

may be some BBOWN

BESS, verbal as a

BESSIE.

in

Dutch,

biichse is in
('

German a
2,

To HUG BROWN
To phr. (old) private soldier.
.

gun-barrel.
eisernes

Bilchse,

Rohr zum

schiessen,'

an

serve

iron tube for shooting.)

bitch
i.e.,

May we

not infer, therefore, that black-

was

with
'

originally black biichse ,' black barrel, in conformity brown barrel or BROWN
'

'

BROWN GEORGE,
1837.

subs.

(old).

I.

Explained by quotations.

BESS

and gunpowder, arquebuse signified a bow with a barrel (Bogen Biichse), which is the literal meaning of the word. Hotten, however, says it is much more likely that the phrase is derived from the fact that the soldier is wedded to his weapon,' and
1 '

Formerly,' says Zedler, before the invention of

He looked dis'Jerry Jarvis's Wig.' dainfully at the wig it had once been a comely jasey enough, of the colour of over-baked ginger-bread, one of the description commonly known during the latter half of the last century by the name of a BROWN GEORGE.
;

BARHAM, Ingoldsby

L., 3 S.

1882.
. . .

Globe, 24 July, p.
III.]

2, col. i.

The
as

known popularly a century ago BROWN GEORGE.

2.

King [George

wore a brown wig

(common.)

jug

geneCf.,

given to this alternative derivation by the fact that the Dutch soldier, mindful of all the care he has
is

some colour

rally of

brown earthenware.
at

BLACK-JACK. 1861. HUGHES, Tom Brown

ford, ch. xxiv.

Ox-

to bestow upon his gun, calls it his wife mijn geweer is mijn vrouw. French soldiers call their weapon la clarinette de cinq
pieds.
1785.

stood behind his GEORGE, or huge earthenware receptacle, half full of dirty water, in which his bedmaker had
oak,

He ...

holding his

BROWN

been washing up his tea-things.

1881. BESANT AND RICE, Chap, of the Fleet, pt. II., ch. iii. His country brother might have been seen at the Crown, over a pipe and a BROWN GEORGE full of strong October.
3.

GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-

far relock.
ch.
Till
ii.

Tongue.

BROWN

BESS, a soldier's
II.,

1820.

COOMBE, Dr. Syntax,Tour

loaf

A coarse (old.) or hard biscuit.

brown

Religion Jack did never profess, he had shoulder'd old BROWN BESS.

1653.

1854. Bounce, ch. xi.

General The British soldier, with his clothing and accoutrements,

.

WHYTE MELVILLE,

Author's Prologue. musty crust of a

URQUHART, Rabelais, bk. IV. The devil of one BROWN GEORGE the
to

poor boys had

with.

scour their grinders

Brownie.
1693.

34
1872.

Bruiser.
Anteros,
five
xii.,

DRYDEN,

Persius, V., 215.

p.
. .

Cubb'd

On

in a cabin, on a mattrass laid, a BROWN GEORGE, with lousy swabbers fed.

baron hunted his

ALONG determinedly.

days

no. The BRUISING

BROWNIE,

subs,

(nautical),

The

BRUISER,

subs,
;

(pugilistic).

I.

polar bear.

prize-fighter a boxer. BRUISE, to maul,-f ER.]

1744.

[From

BROWN
BROWN

JANET, knapsack.
JOE,

subs, (nautical).

intj.

No.
'yes.'

Cf.,

BROWN BESS

(rhyming

slang). for

WALPOLE, Lett, to He let into the pit of bear-garden BRUISERS (that is the term), to knock down everybody that hissed.

Mann

Nov. 26, (1833), II., 57.

great numbers

BROWN-PAPERMEN,

subs, (thieves').

Low
1851.
is

gamblers.

See quot.
'

Lon. Poor,

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and But the Little vol. I., p. 502. call only BROWN PAPERMEN,' low gamblers playing for pence, and is. being a great go.'

Nick

what we

'

Physician, ch. xii. The man last named was short in stature, but of a square iron build and it needed only a glance at his posture to see he was a scientific, pera haps thorough-bred BRUISER.
;

1753. FOOTE, Englishman in Paris, Act i. Dick Daylight and Bob Breadbasket the BRUISERS. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late 1830.

1846-48.

THACKERAY, V. Fair, ch.

'

xi.

BROWN STONE,
thieves').
see

At college he pulled stroke-oar in the Christchurch boat, and had thrashed all the best BRUISERS of the town.'
Philip, ch. xlii. A jolly wag, a fellow of indifferent a frequenter of all the alecharacter, houses in the neighbourhood, and rather celebrated for his skill as a BRUISER.
1860.

(American Beer. For synonyms,

subs.

THACKERAY,

SWIPES.

BROWN

TALK, subs, (common). Conversation of an exceedingly 'proper' character, Quakerish. Compare BLUE.

1880.

Hotel, in
little

Odd

JAS. GREENWOOD, Flyfaker's People in Odd Places, p. 58.

to have some was necessary to
;

Nearly every one seemed

job or other that

be done at this almost last moment for the business of to-morrow even one of
the two villanous-looking BRUISERS had. They were of the very lowest of the 'rough' type broken-nosed, besotted, pimple-visaged, and unwholesome-looking fellows, whose foul and blasphemous language seemed to pollute the pestilent air of the place more than anything else that contributed thereto.
2.

BROWSE, verb (Marlborough and Royal Military Academy). To idle loll take things easy. [A
;
;

transferred sense of the legiti-

mate word

to eat lazily.]

A dj.

See foregoing. 'A BROWSE

morning,' i.e., one in which there is little work.

BRUISE,
verb (prize-fighters').
i.

(thieves'.)
see

prostitute's

bully or fancy man.

For synoof

nyms,

BULLY.

To fight; box generally with the idea of mauling.

BRUISE
(hunting).
1865.

3.

(common.)
Cf.,

One fond

fighting.

CHUCKER-OUT,

and next
4.

sense.

ALONG,

verbal

To pound

phr. along.

(American.)

generic

name

Dublin University Magazine, A majority of those who follow II., 19. them have ... no notion of hunting, but gO BRUISING ALONG.

in large cities for a rowdy or bully. Sometimes, however, the term has been limited in its application to a particular band

Bruising.
of ruffians. This was the case once in Baltimore.

34 1

Brummagem.
4.

of

(common.) Birmingham.

An

inhabitant

BRUISING,

verbal subs,

(prize-

fighters'). Fighting fists; boxing.

1751.

with the

ch.

c.

The combatants
and
;

SMOLLETT, Peregrine

Pickle,

were, in point

of strength

matched but
1855.

agility, pretty equally the jailer had been regular-

1876. HINDLEY, Life and A dventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 321. For Nottingham is a rare place for good eating here you may buy anything to eat of the commonest person, or in the commonest place with confidence that it is good, clean, and wholesome, very different to dirty Birmingham and the BRUMS.
;

ly trained to the art of

BRUISING.

THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch. x. At that time the Sunday newspapers contained many and many exciting reports of boxing matches. BRUISING was considered a fine manly old English
custom.
Philip, ch. xxxv. Mugford always persisted that he could have got the better of his great hulking sub-editor, who did not know the use of his fists. In Mugford's youthful time,
1860.

Mean
lative

Adj. (Winchester College). poor stingy. A super; ;

THACKERAY,

form is DEAD BRUM. [There are two derivations sug= gested viz. (i) from bruma and (2) traditional winter that it is an abin College breviated form of brevissim urn.] A popular French equivalent, used both as a substantive and
; ; '
'

BRUISING was a fashionable

Ppl.
adj.

art.

adjective, is rapiat.

(hunting).

That
Guy

BRUMBY,
wild

subs.

pounds along. 1872. A nteros, by

Livingstone,
I.,

(Australian).

horse.

An Antipodean
the

the author of

a good though by no means BRUISING rider to hounds. Ibid, p. 234. There were not a few admirers of his BRUISING style, etc.
p. 207.

He was
fair,

second-rate shot, and a

counterpart broncho.'
'

of

American

BRUMMAGEM, subs, (popular). A nickname for Birmingham.

1862.

i.

BRUM,

subs. (old).

feit coin.

i. A counter[Contracted form of

Cornhill, Nov., p. 648.

We

have just touched for a rattling stake of sugar (i.e., a large stake of money) at

BRUMMAGEM
to specially to

appears

The term (q.v.}.] have been given

some
counterfeit

BRUM.
2. Base money of (old.) various denominations has been so called especially groats in

groats [about 1691].

2.

(common.)
;

counterfeit

not genuine.
of

contraction
1883.

BRUMMAGEM

Something [A

zyth century hence its application to anything spurious or unreal as in adjectival sense.
See also

BRUMMAGEM BUTTONS

and BRUMS.
Daily Telegraph, July 9, p. 3, col. 2. One [earring] might be gold, and the other a BRUM, though exactly alike.
3.

(common.)

Copper money

struck by Boulton and

their

Watt

at

works
J.

at

Soho, Birming-

ham.
1787.

Ashton's

silver I p. 133. ful of BRUMS.

My

WEST, Trip to Richmond, in Eighteenth Century Waifs, chang'd for a hand-

G. MIEGE, New State Eng., 1691. BROMICHAM, particularly noted a few years ago for the counterfeit groats made here, and from hence dispersed all over the kingdom. [M.] B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet., 2 ed. 1754. BROMIDGHAM, money of base metal. 1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor, ch. He picked it up, and it proved to cxl. be a BRUMMEJAM of the coarsest and clumsiest kind, with a head on each
235.

side.

Brummagem
Adj.
;

Buttons.
;

342

B rusher.
BRUSH. i. See BRUSH.
2.

Counterfeit
;

unreal

BROTHER OF THE

pretentious. substantive, senses i and 2.

1637.

sham showy

See

subs.

(old).

hasty de-

Calendar Dom. St. Papers, 105. Those swords which he ... pretends to be blades of his owne makeing are all

parture.
see
1750. ch. xii.

For analogous terms, AMPUTATE.

FIELDING,
'

BROMEDGHAM
1686.

blades and forraine blades.

D'URFEY,
I., i.

Commonwealth
!

Women,
a
4

wh

A BRUMMINGHAM,

of

son of

affront the

Noble Admiral

G. ELIOT, Felix Holt, ch. v. The most of the middle class are as ignorant as the working people about everything that doesn't belong to their
1866.

reminded him, not without my having no money. He answered, 'That signifies nothing, score it behind the door, or make a bold BRUSH, and take no notice.'
I

Tom Jones, bk. VIII.,

blushing, of

3.

(old.)

person

who
evades

own BRUMMAGEM
1883.
little

life.'

Echo, March
of a

There is

BRUMMAGEM

28, p.

i,

col. 5.

hastily, or his creditors.

decamps
1748.

who

character
T.
. .

about the municipal, parochial, and philanthropic work of Birmingham, whatever we may think of some of her industrial

productions.
subs,

BRUSH (v.) also a canting term for one who goes off privately, or runs away from his creditors, or with stolen goods.
.

DYCHE, Dictionary

(5

ed.).

BRUMMAGEM BUTTONS,
mon).
1836. DICKENS, of the Pickwick Club,

(com-

To

Verb (Christ's
flog.
(old.)

Hospital).

i.

Counterfeit coin.

2.

To have

sexual

Posthumous Papers I., p. n. Bad silver, BRUMMAGEM BUTTONS, etc. 1873. Saturday Review, Nov., p. 661. They [BRUMMAGEM BUTTONS] were marvellously inexpensive, and being such ingenious imitations of the spade guineas and half-guineas then current that many Englishmen might have failed to detect the difference they must have been of very great use to the Indians
;

intercourse.
see

For synonyms,
;

RIDE.
3.

To run away to (old.) decamp. Also TO BRUSH OFF. For synonyms, see AMPUTATE.
BRUSH,
c.,

B. 1690. E., Diet. Cant. to Fly or Run away. [M.]

Crew.

'

'

1706.

E. COLES, Eng. Diet.

A.

BRUSH,

indeed.

run away.
1764.

R u

M M s H adj. (common) Doubtful counterfeit. [From

i
,
.

BRUM
1805.

(q.v.)

One's Enemy but his Own, Act ii. Rascal, says my Master, do as I bid you, and so off he BRUSHED to the tune of an old song.
1776. FOOTE, Bankrupt, I. But I must BRUSH off, for here comes my lady.
(1877), 204.

MURPHY, No

ISH.]

G. COLMAN, John Bull Brit. one seems Theat., 55. Two guineas and t'other looks a little BRUMMISH. light
. . .

[M.]

BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends And one Sergeant Matcham had BRUSH'D with the dibs.
1837.

BRUMS,

subs.

London and
Stock.

(Stock Exchange).

1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Dead Drummer). One of their drummers, and one

North
Ry.).
'

Western

Sergeant Matcham,

Had BRUSH'D

with

(Formerly London and

the dibs, and they never could catch'em.

Birmingham
1887.

BRUSHER,
glass.
2.

subs.

(old).

full

ATKIN, House Scraps. We kneel at the feet of our Nancys,' We load them with 'cottons' and
1

(old.)

See quotation.
(5

tapes.'
If

We
'

anything tickles our fancy,

1748.

buy them BRUMS, 'Caleys'or

1

Apes.

steals

also one BRUSHER (s.) away privately.

. . .

T. DYCHE, Dictionary

ed.).

that gets or

Brute.
3.

343

Bub.
1748.
III., 262.

(common and
(American.)

schools'.)

DODSLEY,

Collection of Poems,

schoolmaster.
4.

Tho' beef twice

To humbug
phr.

by

flattery.

P n's BUB, And sixpence chang'd

club.

boil'd his meal, with

defrays the frugal

BRUSHING UP A FLAT,
(general).

Using
or,
'

mealy-

ep.

mouthed words,
other
ing
it

to

employ
'

BUBB have
2.

1839. H. Aius\voKTH,JackSheppard, 'Och! many a mug o' II., ch. xi. I drained wi' the landlord.'

slang

equivalents,
soft

lay-

on

thick,'

soaping

(common.)
;

A woman's

breast
plural

generally used in the

BUBBIES
(old.)

(q.v.).

BRUTE,
quot.
1868.
s.

subs.

(University).

See

3.

brother.

v.

BREWER, Phrase and Fable, BRUTE, in Cambridge University

slang, is a

man who

lated. The play is evident. in college phrase, is a collegian

has not yet matricu-

A
;

man, and as

'

(American.) Also BUBBY. term of affection applied to a [Said to have origiboy. nated in Pennsylvania from the German Bube.~\ Likewise used

4.

little

matriculation is the sign and seal of acceptance, a scholar before that ceremony is not a man,' and therefore only a BIPED BRUTE."
' '

figuratively as a familiar of address.

1872.
S.
It.
('

mode
'),

BRYDPORT DAGGER. DAGGER.

B. T.

SV0BRIDPORT

An I., phr. (American). abbreviation of A BIG THING ON ICE. These curtailments of slang phrases are not infrequent in America, and among others
may be mentioned
P.D.Q.
;

O.K.

N.G.

and

blandly upon him once more, and with a something about it which seems to say Well, I shall have to tear myself away from you, BUB business is and it will not do for me to be business, fooling along this way all day.' San Francisco Weekly Ex1888. When she was ready to go aminer. home, she did so without carriage or baby. Shortly after BUBBY kicked up high jinks, and the joker clerk was sent for to take him away.
' :

Roughing

CLEMENS Mark Twain The cayote turns smiles

Q.K., etc. (q.v.).

5.

(old.)

An

abbreviated

BUB,

subs. (old).

i.

Strong drink

form of BUBBLE,

subs.

of any kind, but usually applied to malt liquor. [It is suggested that this term is onamatopoetic, an imitation of the sound of
others, however, incline to regard the word as a derivative of the Latin bib-ere, to drink. Sometimes spelt BUBB.] common expression for eating and drinking is to take BUB

1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew. BUB or BUBBLE, one that is cheated. [M.]

drinking

Verb (old). See substantive.

1671.

i.

To

drink.

R.

HEAD, English Rogue,

ch.

vi., p.

54 (1874).

We

pt. I.,

'

ourselves to the Boozing Ken ; and having BUBB'D rumly, we concluded an everlasting friendship.

straight betook

and
lent

grub,' a French
for

equivacaresser

2
Cf.,

(old

To bribe

to cheat

which

is

se

BUBBLE.
. .
.

I'Angotdcme.
1671.

R.

HEAD, English Rogue,

BUB and

pt.

I.,

ch.

iv., p.

36(1874).

In a short time these

food.

four retuin'd laden with

1719. D'URFEY, Pills, II., 54. Another makes Racing a Trade And many a Crimp Match has made, By BUBBING another Man's Groom.

Bubber.
BUBBER,
subs.
(old).
i.

344

Bubble.
child needing
its

hard

mother's milk.

drinker;

a confirmed tippler. [From BUB (q.v.) = drink + ER.]

synonymous French term

is

For synonyms, see DAIRIES. 1686. D'URFEY, New Poems (1690),

206.

un bibassier, but for analogous terms generally, see ELBOW

The Ladies here may without Scandal

shew,

CROCKER.
1653.

Face or white BUBBIES,

Beau.

to

each ogling

Though
in the

I am no mark in respect of a huge butt, yet I can tell you great BUBBERS have shot at me. [There is a play

MIDDLETON, Sp.

Gipsy,

ii., i.

word
.

'

butt.']

1674.

R.
.

A BUBBER
1785.

HEAD, Canting A cad.,

.

191.

goes to the Alehouse, steals there the Plate.

and

GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BUBBER, ... a great drinker. A thief that steals plate from
publick houses.
2.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchclor, Did not her eyes twinkle, v., Sc. 7. and her mouth water ? Did not she pull up her little BUBBIES? 1712. ARBUTHNOT, Hist, of John Bull, 'To see a handsome, pt. III., ch. viii. brisk, genteel, young fellow so much a governed by doating old woman Why don't you go and suck the BUBBY ?

Act

'

1715.
v.

Cf.,

A drinking bowl. (old.) derivation of previous sense.

B.
E.,

1690.

Diet.
;

BUBBER, a drinking Bowl Drinker, and he that used from Publick-houses.

Cant. Crew. also a great

He talked to me of you, and said you had the charmingest BUBBIES. 1748. DODSLEY, Collection of Poems, And snowy BUBBIES pull'd III., 191. above the stays. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet., 2 ed. 1754. BUBBYS, a woman's breasts.
BUBBING,
tippling.
1678.
sttbs.

VANBRUGH, Country House,

II.,

to steal Plate

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BUBBER, a drinking

(old).

Drinking;
6.

bowl,

etc.

3.

(old.)

thief.

public house See quotation 1690, sense

She clamours at him so long which makes him seek BUBBING -schools to
. .

Poor Robin's Char, of Scold,

.

hide himself in from her fury.

[M.]

also

mentioned

by Grose
BUBBLE,
also
(q-v.).

[1785]-

(American.) A nickname for an old woman with large

4.

subs. (old).

Adupe;
;

gull;

CARAVAN

and ROOK Grose thinks from the

(q.v.)

pendulous
heard.
1848.

breasts.

Rarely

party cheated being like an airBUBBLE filled with words which

are only wind instead of real property. Also apparently used of anything not genuine. Applied to persons, it is older

stout or stoutly mammalated old woman. Used in Salem, in 'BUBBER Mass., 1820, and since. Old Jones.' (Fr. poitron, old woman Fr. pect. poitron Lat. pectus, the breast.)

BUBBER.

BARTLETT,

Americanisms.

than appears from Murray.

vi., 5.

BUBBIES,

subs.

woman's breasts. An old term of which the derivation is somewhat doubtful, though it may
be noted that the ancient cant has BUB in the sense of to drink, and also as an abbreviated form of BUBBY Arber says that bu bu is the cry of a
' 1
. '

(common).

BUBBLE. Ber. Do you think deceived in him ?

1688.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, All's Well, iii., Sec. Lord. On life, lord, a I am so far

my

my

This kinsman a BUBBLE first, and afterwards a of heirs. betrayer young 1697. VANBRUGH, Provoked Wife, V., If her conduct has put a trick upon iii.
in wks. (1720) IV., 62.

SH\DWELL,Sq.ofAlsatia,

III.,

most

silly

'

her virtue, her virtue's the BUBBLE, but her husband's the loser.

Bubble.

345
the Allies.

Bubble Company.
xli.,

We

1711.

SWIFT, Conduct of
the
of Europe.

are thus become

1712.

dupes and
of

BUBBLES
Bull, pt.

ARBUTHNOT, History
II.,

ch.

iii.

He

John

1880. -MCCARTHY, Own Times, III., that Some critics declared 235. the French Emperor had BUBBLED him [Mr. Cobden]
.

has been

my
BUBBLEABLE, adj. (old). That can be duped [A very gullible. rare form from BUBBLE, to cheat, -f ABLE.]
;

BUBBLE
to

no

[tool] these twenty years; and certain knowledge, understands more of his own affairs than a child

my

in swaddling clothes.

Jones, bk. I., ch. vii. 'This would be to own herself the meer tool and BUBBLE of the man.'
1750.

FIELDING, Tom

1788.

G.
I.,

A.
69.

Speculist,

He

STEVENS, Adv. of a
persuades his BUB-

prudent man will be his BUBBLE. 1805. G. HARRINGTON, New London Spy (4 ed.), p. 24. The shame of being thought a BUBBLE, and exposed to the town, frequently prevents gentlemen from making use of the statute provided in such cases.

BLE, that he will insure him a certain way of getting a sum of money. R. CUMBERLAND, The Jew, 1795. Act iii., Sc. 2. If he attempts to raise money upon expectancies, be at their peril who are fools enough to trust him
safe
:

Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. If the winner be II., 109. BUBBLEABLE, they will insinuate themselves into his acquaintance, and civilly invite him to drink a glass of wine
1669.
(ed.

Park),

wheedle him into play, and win money.

all

his

No

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK, subs. phr. (common). A compound of cold meat fried up with potatoes and greens. [From the hissing sound produced by the
frying
1785.
;

originally nautical.]

Verb (old).

To

cheat

hum;

bug

delude as with BURBLES

Cf.,

to overreach. sense.
1664.
II., iii.,

substantive

GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BUBBLE AND SQUEAK, beef and cabbage fried together it is so called from its bubbling up and squeaking
;

whilst over the

1786-89.

fire.
'

ETHERIDGE, Comical Revenge,

I

gone down
1685.

in wks. (1704), 24.

to

believe he's
;

Lousiad, ch.

excellent design to

Receive money 'twere an BUBBLE him. DRYDEN, Prol. to Albion and

zeal

Such Form'd by what mortals BUBBLE call, and

P. Pindar ), ( line 366. is the sound (the simile's not weak)

i.,

WOLCOT

'

When
The

SQUEAK,
'midst the frying-pan, in accents savage, beef so sorely quarrels with the

Albanius,

23.

Freedom and
and
o'er
;

have choused you o'er

to

cabbage.

Pray give us leave more.

1711.

BUBBLE you once

89.

ch. viii.

Spectator,

No

That she
. .

has BUBBLED him out of his youth and that he verily believes she will drop him in his old age, if she can find her account in another.
.

1853. LYTTON, My Novel, bk. VIII., Rank and title BUBBLE AND SQUEAK No, not half so good as BUBBLE AND SQUEAK. English beef and good
' !
!

cabbage."

BUBBLE
bailiff.

1752. FIELDING, Amelia, bk. XI., ch. iv. He actually BUBBLED several of their money by undertaking to do them services, which, in reality, were not within his power.
.
.

BUFF,

subs.

(old).

BUBBLE COMPANY,

subs,

SHERIDAN, Trip to Scarborough, Act ii. Help the gentleman with a chair, and carry him to my house presently
1777.

swindling association, enterprise or project. [From

(common).

BUBBLE,

to cheat,

properest place [aside] BUBBLE him out of his money.

1788.
list,
I.,

that's

the

to

The South Sea BUBBLE

tion.
1754.

company.]
will

75.

which the pretenders to the Philosopher's Stone used to BUBBLE their pigeons with.

G. A. STEVENS, A dv. of a SpecuAnd this was the language

occur to mind in this connecB. MARTIN, Eng. Diet.

5 (in
(2 ed.).

BUBBLE ...

Commerce), a cant

Bubbled.
name given to certain projects money on imaginary grounds.
1880.
ners,

346
for raising

Buck.
'

HAWLEY SMART,
'

ch. xix.

pears as if it had been invested in a BUBBLE COMPANY."

My

Social Sininheritance disap-

Mr. Bunny is, to use a Emery). sair owerhanded," not by Scotticism, a BUBBLY JOCK,' but by his wife's aunt.
'

BUBBY.
Bucco,

See

BUB and BUBBIES.

BUBBLED,

ppl.
;

adj. (old).

Gulled;

deceived

befooled.

[From

sitbs. (American thieves'). [A corruption of dandy.

BUBBLE,
a. 1683. (1686), 66.

to cheat,

BUCK
BUCK,
first

ED.]

(q.v.).]

OLDHAM, Wks. and Rem. BUBLED Monarchs are at first

and
kill'd.

subs,

(common).
;

i.

In the

beguil'd ... at last depos'd,

EM-]

instance a

man

of spirit or

1701.

DEFOE, True Born Englishman,

Introd.

Who

shall this

BUBBLED nation

dis?

abuse,

While they,

their

own

felicities refuse

1889. Gentleman's Mag., June, p. Towards the end of the century 598. [xvii] a person easily gulled, or BUBBLED
' '

gaiety of conduct later a fop, a dandy. [A transferred sense of BUCK, the male of the fallow In the form old BUCK deer.] it is merely a familiar mode of address. The epithet, as ap' '

plied to a

man

about town,
;

is

somewhat
its place.

obsolete

was known as a caravan,' but earlier the term rook,' which is now restricted
to

MASHER,

to a cheat or sharper,

been applied

appears to have the person cheated.

subs.

DUDE, and SWELL having taken Cf., BLOOD.

BUBBLING SQUEAK,

(army).

1725. New Cant. Diet. BUCK, as a bold BUCK, is sometimes used to signify a forward daring Person of either Sex. 1752.
ii.

Hot soup.
BUBBLY JOCK,
subs,

a gobbler.' i. A turkey-cock [Probably in allusion to the cry of the bird.]

'

(old Scotch).
;

A large assembly whom they call BUCKS.

1846-48.

FIELDING, A melia, bk. X., ch.

of

young

fellows,

THACKERAY, V. Fair, ch. vi. She had sate by him on the box of his open carriage (a most tremendous BUCK
he was, as hesi there, serene, in state, driving his greys). 1889. A nswers, Feb. 9. The ancient BUCK was last seen (at the age of eightyfour) wearing a wig, a pair of stays, plumpers,' rouge, and padding, and he daily anointed his face with a compound called skin-tightener.' Skin-tightener removes wrinkles, and after the face has been washed with bloom of roses,' the wearer can strut forth with the consciousness that all the world takes him for a quarter of a century younger than
1

1785.

GROSE,

Vulgar Tongue.
cock.

Dictionary of the BUBBLY JOCK, a turkey-

1843. THACKERAY, Irish Sketch Book, He took but one glass of water ch. xv. to that intolerable deal of BUBBLY JOCK. Three tui key-wings and a glass of
. . .

'

'

'

'

water.
1877.

'

BESANT AND RICE, Son

pt.
II..

Vulcan,

ch. xviii.

Puffing

of his

cheeks like some infuriated BUBBLY JOCK

in a stable-yard.
2.

he

is.

(common.)

A A

stupid

2.

boaster.
3. pert, con(popular.) a ceited, pragmatical fellow
;

cabdriver.

(common.) An unlicensed Apparently also ap-

plied to a quotation.

sham

fare.

See last

prig; a cad.
G. A. SALA, Living London, Mr. Benjamin Bunny (Mr. J. L. p. 113. Toole) is the good-natured husband of a young wife (Miss Winifred pretty
1883.

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851-61. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 362. The long-day men are the parties who mostly they are glad to employ the BUCKS avail themselves of the services of a BUCK for some hours at the end of the
.

Buck.
day. Ibid. The BUCKS are unlicensed cabdrivers, who are employed by those who have a license to take charge of the cab while the regular drivers are at their meals or enjoying themselves.
1865.
is

347

Buck.
2.

(Western American.)

As

applied to horses this term is used to describe the action of

plunging forward

and

throw-

Morning
?

Star, 14 Sept.

the prisoner
[M.]

Constable

What He is a

BUCK,
stand.

who hangs about an omnibus

1887. Daily News, 5 October, 5, 4. At Bow Street something was further heard of the BUCK. This person ... is the sham fare whom a cabby drives past the police in order to get up to the theatre doors out of his proper turn, and so increase his chance of securing a legitimate fare.
3.

ing the head to the ground in an effort to unseat the rider a motion of which probably no domesticated beast is capable, aside from the Texan miserable and treacherous species of horse.

raw hand thus

'

relates
I

experience

When

was

his told

how hard he

[Thought

(old.) A sixpence. to be a corruption of

(q.v.}.~]

could BUCK, I only laughed, my impression being that no pony standing on four I legs could throw me off.

FYEBUCK

The word

is

" ^

rarely used by itself, but generally denotes the sixpence attached to shillings in reference to cost, as, three and a BUCK,'
'

mounted my new horse, and waving my bran new hat about my head, galloped away in a
Suddenly the His ears went back, and his hind legs went between his front. The motion was a curious one. But I did
dignified style.

horse stopped.

three shillings and sixpence. For

synonyms,
1885.
'
'

see

BENDER.

fyebuck,' a slang name for sixpence, which is now almost, if not altogether, obsolete.
of
'

155.

Household Words, June 20, p. BUCK is most likely a corruption

not

fall.

man on
to

his

Realizing that the back could ride a

little bit,

the pony got right

down

business.

4.

(schoolboys'.)
Cf.,

large

seemed to fly and millions of

about

stomach up into my mouth,

stars
I

My

floated

marble.

ALLEY, BONCE,

MIVEY.
1885. Household Words, June 20, p. 155. Readers whose school-days are still green in their memories will also recog-

not prepared to state what kind of hold the pony got on me, but I went sprawling on the ground, my

my

head.

am

nise in

BUCK

the

name

for

the

large

marble once dear

5.

to their

boyish hearts.

(American.)
(q.v.).

nose making an irrigating ditch. It was all done not more than one hundred yards from where

in

POKER
Adj.

Cf.,

term used TIGER.

my
on
dle,

girl

was standing.
with me.
greeted

well,
off

I stuck however, as the sad-

(American University). At Princeton College anything which is of an intensive

degree, good, excellent, pleasant or agreeable, is called BUCK.
i. To (American). to run counter to. [Possibly a corruption of butt, or from BUCK as applied to a See sense 2.] horse.

blanket,

gun and

bridle

came
yell

The

wild

that

Verb

oppose;

While nearly drove me mad. I spit the dirt and curses out of my mouth, I thought that if I had that pony back I'd break him in or break my head. It ran out on the prairie and joined the Government herd. When an old-timer tried to fix

my

exploit

Buck.

348

Bucket.
the image is made of or clay, or drawn on a piece of paper or board. The title of the beast, His Excellency the Grasping Cash TIGER, is frequently written on a piece of paper, and placed in the

girl

things for me in front of my by saying, "It's no disgrace, pardnr, that horse can BUCK off

times

wood

a porus plaster," I thanked him from the bottom of my heart.'

3.

of to COOK accounts.

(commercial.) A variant as applied to (q.v.),

4. (Western American.) To play against the bank, usually 'to BUCK the tiger.' See fol-

lowing.
1879.
p. 375.
I

gambling rooms between two bunches of mock-money suspended under the table or on the wall behind it. This figure is the sign for a gambling house The FIGHTING TIGER.'
' :

I'd

BUCK

Gabriel Conroy, don't like your looks at all. against any bank you ran, all

BRET HARTE,

night.

BRET HARTE, Brown of Cala1880. veras. (Tales of theArg., p.8i). don't

you say you want to BUCK agin' faro
1888.

Why

Hotel Mail. A man may hunt the wildest game Along the Nile or the Niger, In woods or ranch But he will find the sport most tame Compared with BUCKING the tiger At dear Long Branch.
;

Daily Inter-Ocean, Feb. 14. Last night and to-day they have succeeded in placing under arrest six of the gaming-house keepers of the city and subprenaed thirty citizens as witnesses, among whom are said to be prominent The city officials and business men. affair has caused a good deal of talk
1888.

already,

and
it

if

reports are

anywhere

will create a great sensation when the cases are called, and more than one unsuspecting wife will have her eyes opened to the fact that the wicked

near true,

TIGER, and not legitimate business has been detaining her husband out so late at
night.

5. (Western American.) To put forth one's whole energy. [An extension of meaning from sense 4.]

BUCK

BAIT, subs,

(thieves').

Bail
Cf.,

1870. have to

San Antonio Paper. 'You'll BUCK at it like a whole team,

given by BAIT.

a confederate.

gentlemen, or you won't hear the whistle near your diggings for many a year."

BUCK DOWN,
College).

verbalphr. (Winchester
Cf.,

To RUN A
(old Irish). at an election.

BUCK,

To

verbal phr.

poll a bad vote

Grose.

happy.

To be sorry; unBUCK UP and

BUCKSOME.

TIGER, To (American). [There are two degamble. rivations suggested that (i) the phrase is derived from the division or parti-coloured stripes on a gambling table (2) that it is of Chinese origin. A favourite figure of one of the Chinese gods of gambling is a TIGER standing on his hind- feet, and grasping a large cash in his mouth or his paws. Someverbal

BUCK OR FIGHT THE

phr.

To BE BUCKED, BUCKED. (Uppingham). To be tired.

BUCK
UP.

verb
Cf.
,

BUCKEEN,
Grose.

subs.

(Irish).

bully.

Properly a young of the poorer aristocracy.

BUCKET,
Verb
subs.

man

(American).
letter.
i.

An
ride

anonymous
hard
;

(general).

To

not to spare one's beast.

Bucket.
1856.

349
Kate

Bucket Shop.
BUCKET. ALOFT.
1785.

WHYTE MELVILLE,
'
'

Coventry, ch. xi. Brilliant a good

I had rather give BUCKETING [Aunt

For synonyms,
Dictionary
of

see

knew she I Horsingham shuddered would, and used the word on purpose] over an even heath or a line of grass, than go bodkin in a chariot.' 1864. YATES, Broken to Harness, II., There's room in the Row to give p. 218. him [the horse] a very good BUCKETING.
'

GROSE,
Tongue.

the

THE BUCKET;
1796.

Vulgar

BUCKET
('

TO

KICK

to die. P. Pindar '), Tristia, Pitt has KICKED THE

WOLCOT
242.

wks. (1812) V., BUCKET.

1840.

1868. 243.

TOTTENHAM, C. Villars, I., BUCKETING his wretched horse

'

drained

it

MARRYAT, Poor Jack, xxx. He and KICKED THE dry

. . . '

home

Cambridge. [M.] 1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to Ten thousand pardons, Finish, p. 342. but I only got your Dollie, dearest message an hour or so ago, and am so busy I couldn't get here before. As it is have had to BUCKET my hack unI
;

to

BUCKET.
1849. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, ch. ii. Fine him a pot roared one, for talking about KICKING THE BUCKET. He'sanice young man to keep a cove's spirits up, and talk about a short life and a merry
' '

one.'

mercifully.
2.

(old.)

To

cheat; ruin;
Diet.,
s.

1876 (?). Broadside Ballad, Niggers.'

'

Ten Little
heard
of

deceive.
1812.

Eight

little

niggers

never

To BUCKET
putting
(1839),

J.

H. VAUX, Flash

v.

One KICKED THE BUCKET, and then

were seven.
col. 3.

heav'n,

there

him
.ix.,

a person is synonymous with in the well.

1828.

SCOTT, Diary,
253.

in
. .
.

Lockhart

Thurtell

must

in

to

slang phrase have

3.

BUCKETED

his palls.

(rowing.) water unfairly

To

take

the

with a

scoop
stroke

at the beginning of the

He KICKED THE BUCKET was slang, and that the polite expression was, He propelled his pedal extremities with violence against a familiar utensil used for the transportation of water and other fluids.'
'

1889. Answers, July 27, p. 141, The high-school girl explained her particular friend yesterday that

instead of a steady

even pull

throughout.
1876.

BUCKET AFLOAT,
slang).

subs,

(rhyming

coat.

Butterfly, ch. xv., p. 130. straight in the back as an

BESANT AND RICE, Golden He was not so

Oxford stroke
;

BUCKET SHOP,
i.

and he BUCKETED about a good

but he got along.

deal,

siibs. (American). Primarily a petty stock gam-

To GIVE THE BUCKET, phr. To dismiss from one's (old).

employment
to send a person about his business. C/., BAG and SACK.
'

den carried on in bling opposition to regular exchange business, and usually of a very doubtful character. The New
York World recently investigated the whole question, and some very interesting gave details as to the many tortuous ways of these crooked corners of the money world. The conclusion arrived at was that Wall Street and its vicinity did not contain a single square
'

I860. ch. xxi.

He were sore put about because Hester had GI'EN HIM THE BUCKET.

MRS. GASKELL,

Sylvia's Lovers,

To

KICK

(general)

.To die.

THE BUCKET,

phr.

[The bucket

here is thought to refer to a Norfolk term for a pulley.]

and honest
1

When

hung

pigs are killed they are by their hind legs on a

BUCKET-SHOP all their dealings were nothing but a brace gambling game.' By
;

'

Bucket Shop.
their
'

350

Buckhorse.
2.

schemes the customer had not the ghost of a chance to win." Their quotations were obtained surreptitiously, and, in handling them, the BUCKETSHOP keepers in several ways take unfair advantage of their
clients.

Also applied generally to

;

low groggeries gambling dens,

lottery offices

etc.

BUCK

FACE, subs. (old).

in
loger rue

A cuckold
is

The term BUCKET SHOP has become common in

one who to be iin

French slang

said

du Croissant.

England, but, fortunately for the community at large, no be drawn comparison can establishments between the

BUCK
roue

FITCH, subs,
;

(old).

An

old

a lecherous old man.

name in by that and those which flourish in America under the same title, though in very truth
known
England,
the proceedings of some of the former are scandalous enough. [Possibly from BUCKET (q.v.), As an alterto cheat, -f SHOP. native derivation, the 'bucket' into which the tape falls may be
suggested.
1887. Daily News, 14 April, 7, i. Mr. Charles Fisher said that he carried on business as an agent ... He did Stock Exchange business, for clients.

BUCKHARA,

subs. (American). A given in California to a cattle-driver or cowboy.

name

BUCKHORSE, subs, (pugilistic). A smart blow or box on the ear. [Derived from the name of a
celebrated
'

bruiser

'

of

that

name.

BUCKHORSE was a man

who either possessed or professed insensibility to pain, and who would for a small sum allow
anyone to strike him with the utmost force on the side of the face. His real name was John Smith, and he fought in public
1732-46.]

Mr. Besley Commonly called a BUCKET SHOP, I think. 1888. Missouri Republican, Feb. 12. New York, Feb. u. (Special). Inspector Brynes was seized with another
:

FRENCH
the
une

spasm of indignation against the BUCKETSHOPS this morning, and, accompanied by detectives and a squad of officers, he swooped down upon the lairs of these enemies of the Stock Exchange that abound on Lower Broadway and New
Street.

blow
bouffe
;

(from
accolade

SYNONYMS. Une the old word

itself.)
;

(For
boffete buffet]
;
;

une chdtaigne une une pamure. To re;

Pall Mall Gazette, 12 Nov., p. The tape is credited with 3, Well, we know fostering gambling.' that there are BUCKET-SHOPS, but we have for some time refused to entertain any proposal for a machine if there is the least prospect of its being used for BUCKET-SHOP purposes. There is gambling, of course, but it is unfair to say that the tape is responsible for it. The tape was not originated for that purpose, but in order to inform the public, through the newspapers or otherwise, how secuIn rities were going, and it does that. practice it serves as a check between client and broker, and broker and jobber.'
1889.
col.
'

ceive a BUCKHORSE, encaisser un to give a BUCKHORSE soufflet donner la savate.

;

i.

'

1864. Black-wood's Mag., II., p. 463 (the Public Schools' Report, 1864 Westminster School). One of the Seniors informs us that the common punishment was BUCKHORSING. 'That was boxing

the ears,
'

was

it?'

'Yes.'

'BUCKHORSit

ING was rather severe, was

I

not

'

etc.

got

BUCKHORSED

pretty often.'

of

LORD ALBEMARLE, Fifty Years 1876. Life, quoted in Temple Bar, August, then felled to the 1884, p. 517.

my

He

me

ground by a swinging BUCKHORSE on

my

right cheek.

Buckish.

351

Buckles.
'BUCKLE them, my Lord Bishop,
fast as

BUCKISH, adj. (old). Foppish [From BUCK (q.v.) dandyish.

;

as

i.,

-fiSH.] colloquial. 1782. D'ARBLAY, Diary, etc. (1876), A BUCKISH kind of young man of 463.
1785.

Now

The Bishop accordingly opened his book and commenced the marriage ceremony.'
1857. ch. xlvi.

you can.

A.
'

fashion.

We

TROLLOPE, Three Clerks, could have half a dozen

all

Pindar '), A polog. Postscript to Ode upon Ode, in wks. (DubDid not good lin, 1795), vol. I., p. 365.

WOLCOT ('P.

married couples
rid of their ribs

separating,

getting

Nathan

tell that BUCKISH youth, David the King, that he stole sheep?

helter-skelter, every else's wife."

and BUCKLING again, man to somebody

1789.

GEO. PARKER,

Life's Painter,

BUCKLE-BEGGAR,
'

subs.

Having beat the rounds (as BUCKp. 57. ISH spirits phrase it) of that bustling
microcoser, the British metropolis, for eighteen months. 1812. COOMBE, Dr. Syntax, Picturesque, ch. xvii.

(old).
'

Fleet prison one clergyman who celebrated marriage ceremonies therein thence, one who celebrated irregular mar;
;

A BUCKISH blade, who kept a horse, To try his fortune on the course.
'

1858. G. ELIOT, Janet's Repentance, ch. v. I've made him as neat as a new pin this morning, and he says the Bishop will think him too BUCKISH by half.'

W. D. HowELLS, A Chance 1873. Acquaintance, ch. xiii. A very BUCKISH young fellow, with a heavy black moustache and black eyes, who wore a jaunty round hat, blue checked trousers, a white vest, and a morning-coat of blue
diagonals.

a hedge priest one who undertook similar offices for gypsies and tramps a BUCKLE THE BEGGARS. See COUPLEBEGGAR. [Of Scotch derivation, but Cf., BUCKLE, verb,
riages
; ;

i.] c. 1700. LD. FOUNTAINHILL, Diary, in Larwood, Bk. Cleric. Anecd., 294. He after turn'd a BUCKLE-BEGGAR, i.e., one who married without license. [M.]
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. A hedge parson, or (II., p. 86). BUCKLE-BEGGAR, as that order of priesthood has been irreverently termed. Ibid,
xvii.

sense

BUCK-JUMP,
fashion.
1864.

made in BUCK
G. A.
stone, ch. ix.

subs, (stable). (q.v., verb,

A jump
sense
2)

ch.

xxvii.

(III.,

p.

22).

BUCKLES BEGGARS for a and a dram of Geneva.

Dr. R.,

who

tester [sixpence]

LAWRENCE, Guy LivingThe instant the chestnut

BUCKLED, ppl. adj. rested taken
;
'

was mounted he reared, and indulged in two or three 'BUCK-JUMPS' that would have made a weaker man tremble for his
backbone.

(thieves').

into

Arcustody
;

scragged.'

BUCKLE,

verb,

trans,
i.

and

intrans.

BUCKLE DOWN,

verb
'

wedlock a humorous term. For synonyms, see French thieves call SPLICE. such a union Vamadouage.
DRYDEN, Juvenal, vi., 37. Is this an age to BUCKLE with a bride ? 1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle,
1693.

(colloquial). be united in

To

unite

or

To
'

'

settle

down
;
'

(common).
;

to

become

reconciled to

a variant of to
(q.V.).

KNUCKLE DOWN
'

1874. Jos. HATTON, Clytie, bk. III., ch. iv. But you do not BUCKLE DOWN to your position,' said Cuffing 'you
.

wrangle, you higgle.'

BUCKLER,

subs.

ch.

Ixvii.

Who

declared

himself

(American
Cf.,

thieves').

collar.
subs.

ALL-ROUNDER.
Fetters of
see

well satisfied with the young man's addresses, and desired that they might be BUCKLED with all expedition. 1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel,
ch. xxxii.

BUCKLES,

(old).

any kind. DARBIES.

For synonyms,

Buckle To.
BUCKLE To, undertake
in
'

352

Budge-a-Beake.
1671.

verb
;

(familiar).
'

To
slip

R.

grapple with

ch. v., p. 48 (1874). steals cloaks.

1674.

HEAD, English Rogue, pt. I., BUDGE, one that

work vigorously.
TussER,Httsbandrie, ch.
187 (E.D.S.).
pelfe,
xcvi.,

R.
.

1557.
st. 84, p.

Then purchase some

by
fiftie

his employment is in the dark of the Evening, to go into any door that he seeth open, and take
.

The BUDGE

HEAD, Canting A cad.,

. .

95.

and three

whatever next cometh

2.

to

hand.

or BUCKLE thy selfe, a drudge for to bee.

1663.
ii., 1.

(thieves'.)

Also

called

BUTLER, Hudibras,
it

pt.

I.,

ch.

SNEAKING BUDGE (q~V.). In more modern times an accomplice who gains access to a building during the day for the purpose of being locked in. When night comes he is thus easily able to admit his fellow thieves.

And

926. fitting

for

sudden

fight,

Straight drew it up, t'attack the Knight, For getting up on stump and huckle, He with the foe began to BUCKLE.
1712.
pt. IV., ch. viii.

ARBVTHNOT,Hist. of John Bull, At last Esquire South

TO, to assist his friend Nic.

BUCKLED

For synonyms, see AREA-SNEAK, and Cf., STANDING BRIDGE.

1752.

1883. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than Of course it could Water, ch. xxvii. never have been taken up as a serious the way you BUCKLED TO at occupation Mr. Payton, was something it, as I told
' ;

ch.

iii.

BUDGE
3.

FIELDING, Amelia, bk. I., I find you are some sneaking rascal [cant term for pilfering].
'
'

amazing.'
1889.

Modern

Society, 19 Oct., p. 1302.

('How

the Nobility live in

rule,

Germany.

Drink; liquor. See to be a corruption of BOOZE.] There are

(old.)

DRINKS.
)

[Thought

courteous to ladies at dinner, when a course is served all BUCKLE TO, and conversation is at an end. Each gentleman forgets his fair neighbour, and minds only number one. Between the courses, when nothing better is on, they converse, and always everything is served a laRusse.

Though, as a

several
' '

derivatives
;
'

BUDGY,
' '

drunk BUDGING-KEN, a public house COVE OF THE BUDG;

'

ING-KEN, a publican BUDGER, a drunkard all of which see.

'

'

1821.
171.

D. HAGGAKT, Lt/c, Glossary,

drink.

p.

BUDGE,

BUCKSOME,
lege).
'

(Winchester Colin a state of BUCK-UPPISHNESS.' See BUCKadj.

Happy;

Verb (old slang, but now colTo move; 'to make loquial). tracks.' For modern synonyms,
see

UP.

AMPUTATE, and

Cf.,

BUDGE-

A-BEAKE.

BUCK
Cf.,

College).

UP, verbal phr. (Winchester To be glad; pleased.

BUCK DOWN.
is
'

expression

Oh

usual BUCK UP,' a

The

phrase which at Westminster School would have a very difexert ferent meaning, namely,
'

BUDGE-A-BEAKE, verbal phr. (old). To run away (presumably from justice). There seems some connection in meaning between this expression and a modern phrase TO BILK
'

yourself.'

At Uppingham TO
(q.v.)

BE

BUCKED

is

to

be

THE BLUES' BUDGE (q.v.),

1

(q.v.).

[From
away,'

'to

move

tired.

to decamp,'

BUDGE, subs. pocket; a

quots.,

(old).

i.

general

pickthief. See

a policeman.]
see

BEAK (q.v.), For synonyms,

Mark-all,

AMPUTATE.
ROWLANDS, Martin
BUDGE-A-

and for synonyms, AREASNEAK and THIEVES.

1610.

p. 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874).

BEAKE, runne away.

Budger.
BUDGER,
'

353

Buff.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BUFE, a dog; BUFE'S NOB, a dog's head.

subs. (old).
(q.v.) see

A
subs.,

drunkard.
sense
3,

[From BUDGE,
drink'

ER.]

nyms,

ELBOW CROOKER.
subs. (old).

For syno-

BUFE-NABBER
(old)
.

or

BUDGING- KEN,
lic

NAPPER,
thief.
'

subs.

dog

[From
see

pub-

house.

See

drink, place or house.] see LUSH CRIB.

1821.
p. 171.

BUDGE,

BUDGE. [From + KEN (q.v.), a For synonyms,

BUFE, old cant for a

NABBER,

one

who

dog,' -f steals or

For 'nabs.'] AREA-SNEAK.

1785.

synonyms,
Dictionary

BUDGE

D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary, KAIN, a public-house.

GROSE,

of the

Vulgar Tongue. BUFE-NABBER, a dogstealer.

BUDGY,

Drunk; intoxi[From BUDGE (q.v.), sense 3, drink.] For synonyms, see SCREWED.
adj. (old).

BUFF,

subs,

(common).

i.

The

cated.

bare skin.
colour.]
1654.

[An

allusion to the

CHAPMAN, Revenge for Honour,

accoutrements you wear the
it

BUD OF PROMISE,
can).

facetious term for a young, unmarried woman. See

subs.phr. (Ameri-

Then

for

BUFF,

As you believed
For linen
In
lint.
:

heresy

to

change
is

ROSEBUD.
1889.
Is called

surely most of yours

spent

Charlestown Enterprise.
girl, in sport,
;

The young, unmarried

The weather when it warm is. And in the Fall a score of men, Whose hearts till now have harm
missed,

a BUD OF PROMISE She blooms each year at some

FITZCOTTON, Homer, L, If you perplex me with your stuff 38. All that are here shan't save your BUFF.
CM.]

1749.

H.

resort,

Compare sad

notes,

and

find out then

To each

the

BUD

is

promised.

1760. JOHNSTON, Chrysal, II., 235. have got as many clothes and things all kinds as would serve to set up a Monmouth-street merchant if the place had held put but a few days longer, the poor devils must have done duty in their BUFF; ha! ha! ha!' 'And the
'

of

BUD SALLOGH (Old

applied to

A term Irish). one who practises unmentionable vices. See JESUIT.

properest dress for them,' returned the admiral who wants any clothes in such a climate as this ?
'
;

'

1824.

BUENOS AYRES (provincial). The Royal Crescent at Margate at the extreme end of the town

horse Chay (Blackwood). When our pair were soused enough, and returned in
their BUFF.

HUGHES, Magic Lay of the One-

The used to be so called. houses remained unfinished for a very considerable time.
H. J. Byron.
BUFE,
dog. (old cant). says, from the sound See BUFFER, and of its bark.] TIKE for synonyms.
subs,

H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of 1856. There's a fine young London, p. 223. chap there, stript to the BUFF, and working away hard
'
'

1872.
176.

we hung up our steaming

2.

C. KING, Sierra Nev., viii., Stripping ourselves to the BUFF,

clothes.
[M.]

(old.)

A man;
(q.v.).
[M.]

a fellow;

also

BUFFER

[Murray

1708-15.
1709.
col.
2.

KERSEY. BUFF ... a dull

No. 8, p. 3, BUFFS, Partly

Sot, or dronish Fellow.

Brit. Apollo, II,

1567.

HARMAN, Caveat,

84.

BUFE,

Tell

me Grave
[M.]

a dogge.

Gods, partly men.

23

Buff.
1725. New Cant. Diet., s. v. BUFF, a Newgate Cant Word used in familiar Salutation as, How dost do, my BUFF ?

354
1697.
I., i.

Buffer.
Would my courage come up
VANBRUGH, Provoked Wife,
to a

fourth part of

1748.

ch.
left

iv.,

p.

my kinsman
1764.

SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, 15. Mayhaps old BUFF has

here his heir.

BUFF

my

ill-nature, I'd

STAND

to

her relations, and thrust her out

of doors.
1737. FIELDING, The Miser, Act ii., Sc. 2. Love. How rascal, is it you that abandon yourself to those intolerable extravagancies? Fred. I must even STAND BUFF, and outface him.
!

(1797), II.,

BRYDGES, Homer Travcst. You seem afraid these 420.

i.

BUFFS

will flinch.

BUFF IT, verb (common). To swear to to adhere to

;

1748.

a
to to IT

To STAND BUFF
1761.
139.

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). (v.), to stand stoutly to

statement hard and fast stand firm. [Query from

bluff.']

a thing, to be resolute

and unmoved,

;
'

though the danger be

Stick close to
1822.
xii.
'

great.

To BUFF

IT is

some-

times

enlarged

TO

BUFF

may STAND BUFF

COLMAN, Jealous Wife, V., i., my advice and you

to a tigress.

HOME.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Diet., s. y. BUFF, To BUFF to a person or thing, is swear to the identity of them. 1881. New York Slang Dictionary. BUFFING IT HOME is swearing point-blank

SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. STAND BUFF against the reproach

of thine over-tender conscience.'

to

BUFF- BALL,

subs,

(vagrants').

to anything, about the

it,

making
2.

as bluffing a bold stand on no backing.

same

(common.)

To
'

strip;

to

dancing party in which both sexes dance together naked. [From BUFF (q.v.), naked, +
BALL.]
1880.

bare oneself to the

skin.
1851.

BUFF

'

or

Cf.,

BALLUM RANCUM.

MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, II., p. 416. You had
'

pany.

at this place is

GREENWOOD, In Strange ComThe most favourite entertainment known as BUFF-BALL, in

BUFF wouldn't do
better
on.

but Jim says I his trowsers it, and kept So I locks the door, Ibid, p. 417.
it,

Jim,'

and BUFFS

it,

and f6rces myself up,

key, and the music of a fiddle whistle.

which both sexes innocent of clothing madly join, stimulated with raw whisand a tin

etc.

BUFF, phr. (common). Naked; in a state of nudity. Among English equivalents are

IN

ABRAM
SUIT

(q.v.)

and

BIRTHDAY

see

but for all synonyms, NATURE'S GARB.

(q.v.),

BUFFER, subs. (old). i. A dog. [Considerable obscurity surrounds the origin of this term. in It occurs varying forms from 1567 down to the present
time.

Harman

gives

it

as
;

1602.
1855.
'

DEKKER, Satiro-Mastix.

go

in stag, IN BUFF.
467. 5.ity, he is in BUFF.'

We say of

Notes and Queries, i S., xi., one in a state of nu-

BUFE (1567) and BUFA (1573) Rowlands as BUFFA (1610) Head as BUGHER (1673) whilst in The Memorials of John Hall
; ;

it

To STAND BUFF, verbal phr. To stand the brunt; to (old).

to endure without flinching. [From BUFF, an old pugilistic term for a blow.]
;

appears as BUFFER.] terms will be found under TIKE.

first

Synonymous
1567. 1610.

pay the piper

HARMAN, Caveat

(1814), p. 65.

BUFA, a dogge.

ROWLANDS, Martin
Club's Repr., 1874).

Mark-all,

taph.
cuff.

BUTLER, Hudibras's Epigood old cause STOOD BUFF 'Gainst many a bitter kick and
a. 1680.

p. 37 (H.

BUFFA,
(4

And

for the

a Dogge.
1714.
p. ii.

Memoirs of John Hall BUFFER, a Dog.

ed.),

Buffer.
1842.
'

355

Buff Howards.
their

LOVER, Handy Andy,

It is

know

not every day

.
. .

we

ch. iv. get a badger, you

Were on
and

broad bread-baskets heard

that rarely

felt.

Reilly or three capital dogs, and there's a wicked mastiff below stairs, and I'll send for

the butcher has two

With roving aim, but aim

Round

miss'd, lugs
fist;

and

my

'

BUFFER
C.

'

and

we'd

have

some

ogles flew the frequent

spanking
1876. tures of a

sport.'

While showers of
well,
fell

facers told so deadly

HINDLEY, Life and AdvenCheap Jack, p. 162. They had a dog belonging to them that would be
sure to begin

That the crush'd jaw-bones crackled as

they
4.
1690.
!

a quarrel with another BUFFER, whenever his master or mistress found a match.

(old.)

See quots.
E.,

B.

Diet.

Cant.

Crew.

a (common.) fellow sometimes used with a slightly contemptuous meana ing generally speaking
2.
; ;

A man

BUFFER, a Rogue that kills good sound Horses only for their Skins. 1737. Bacchus and Venus. BUFFER, a rogue that killed good sound horses for the sake of their skins, by running a long
wire into them.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BUFFER, one that steals and kills horses and dogs for their skins.
5.

familiar mode of address, as in Old Buffer, although even this form may be used dis-

paragingly.
1749.
(1748),
23.

rear'd in

The

H. FITZCOTTON, Homer, I. You're a BUFFER always

brutal pleasures of BearI.

false
C/.,
6.

One who took a (old.) oath for a 'consideration.' BAIL.

(old.)

garden. [M.]
1837.

pistol.

C/.,

BARHAM,

L. (The Bagman's

BARKER.
1824.

Dog).

So

I'll

merely observe, as the water grew

to

SIR

W. SCOTT, Red

Gauntlet,
will

The more my poor hero continued

suffer,

rougher,

ch. iii. Here be a pair of bite as well as bark.

7.

BUFFERS

Till the Sailors

'

themselves cried, in pity,

'

(old.)

A smuggler

rogue

Poor BUFFER

or cheat.
8. navy term (nautical.) for a boatswain's mate, one of whose duties it is or was to

1882.
'

made

F. ANSTEY, Vice Versd,ch. xiv. a first-rate booby-trap, though,

came

one day

for an old yellow in to see you.'

BUFFER who

boxer one of the fancy.' [Hotten gives this as of Irish origin, but it would rather seem to come from O.K. BUFF, a blow.]
3.
'

(pugilistic.)

administer the BUFF, a blow.

'cat.'

C/.,

O.K.

BUFF HOWARDS,

subs,

(military).
;

1819.

MOORE, Tom

Crib's

Memorial

to Congress, p. 7.

Last Tuesday, at Moulsey, the Balance

of
in

The Third Regiment of Foot now contracted into BUFFS. It the BUFF was nicknamed HOWARDS, from its facings and
Colonel from 1737 to 1749; also and the NUT-CRACKERS (q.v.) the RESURRECTIONISTS (q.v.), from its re-appearing at the Battle of Albuera after being dispersed by the Polish Lancers Old Buffs," from its also the
;

Power

Was settled
Ground.'

by twelve Tightish Rounds

Ibid, p. 51

an hour, The BUFFERS, both 'Boys of the Holy

:

Yet, sprightly to the Scratch both

BUFFERS

came,

While

ribbers

rung from each resounding

'

frame, And divers digs, and

pelt,

many

a ponderous

facings,

and

to

distinguish

it

from

the

3ist,

the

'

Young

Buffle.
Buffs
' '

356

Buffle.
of a low class to designate their protector or fancy man) cuckoo;
;

but the most ancient Old Buffs were the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiments,' raised in 1664, and incorporated into the 2nd or Coldstream Guards in 1689.
; ' '

block
head.

cake cabbage-head old curgreenhorn mudgeon doddering old sheep's

calf
; ;
; ;

p.

1886. Tinsley's Mag., 'Our Regimental Mottoes and Nicknames,' April, Trie BUFFS a corps which 319. enjoys the almost unique privilege of marching through the city of London with bayonets fixed. The 3rd Foot owes its immortal cognomen to the fact of its having originally been clad in scarlet, lined and faced with BUFF its members also had BUFF waistcoats, BUFF breeches, and BUFF stockings. Being the senior regiment thus clothed, they were oc; ' ' ;

FRENCH
cchappc
de
;

SYNONYMS.

Un

Charenton (echapper = to escape Charenton is the name of a lunatic asylum in Paris hence one escaped from
;

Charenton. Cf., English colloquial use of the names of Hanwell, Colney Hatch, and Bed-

lam

and casionally styled the OLD BUFFS the 3ist, raised in 1702, and dressed in a precisely similar fashion, were known as the YOUNG BUFFS. The following tradition, however, offers a more circumstantial account of the latter appellation. Having earned in some hotly-contested action, the good opinion of a general under whom they were serving, and who expressed his approbation by calling out to the 3ist, Well done, OLD BUFFS A few of the men, somewhat excited by close combat, replied, are not the OLD BUFFS, Sir.' Whereupon the general 'Then well YOUNG BUFFS cried, done, And so the Young BUFFS they became, and have since remained, although the days of BUFF waistcoats and stockings have long passed away.
' '
!

in describing idiotic or foolish conversation or beha;

echappe viour) un foregoing)

;

d'Herode (Cf., vieil embaitme

;

(this term is applied to a foolish person well advanced in years an old curmudgeon) un actionnaive (literary properly a share;
:

holder).

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Amhorez

(literally

'

We
'

a countryman;
om, the people,
;

from
erez,

'

Hebrew
;

'

BUFFLE, subs. (old). A Cf., stupid person.

fool;

country) Blechseppel (a soldier's term) C hammer (a butcher's or knacker's word it also signifies a donkey, and is derived from the Hebrew chamor) Dilmisch,
;

BUFFLEHEAD and BUFF, sense 2. Murray quotes it as occurring

French

in 1655, but the term is, as will be seen, nearly a century older.

Dilledali, Dilldapp, Didel, Dellemelle, Dirledapp, Dilldan Tatidel, Dudeldop, (all these are popular expressions

Dilledapp,

[After

buffle.~\

For syno:

fen

for a stupid fellow. to exhaust)

Ewil (from the Hebrew owal; the term also

;

Cf., dildal-

nymous terms, see following ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bufflehead head

Sammy-soft, often contracted into Sammy sheep's
; ;

crock (the original meanrather concerned with a ing slow worthless horse, but in
;

is

has also sporting phraseology come to mean a foolish, goodit

duffer for-nothing person) dotty (also used by prostitutes

;
;

stands for a sinner) Godeschaute (a great fool, a perfect fool from the Hebrew godol, great, strong, celebrated, + schoto, a a nickfool) Gomol (used only as name from the Hebrew gamal, a camel) Hanne or Hannes (a shortened form of Johannes, the German for the English John it is curious that in both languages the nicknames Hanne
; ; ; ;
;

Buffle.

357 but
it

Buffle.
wall,

to

and Jack should, as applied be used men, always

;

when he discovered

that

see depreciatingly, JACK) Harbogen, Hornickel, Hornigel a fool or (besides signifying weak-headed one, these words are used to designate an ox they are employed indiscrimi;

with

Heckel, Hcickel, Hegel fop; heckeln = to fool anyone, probably from hacken or hecheln, to hew, to hackle) Koppel (a diminutive of Jacob sometimes written Jacket) Ksil (from the Hebrew kossal variations in spelling are Kessil, Kessel, and in students' slang Nebbich or Neivich Theekessel) (among thieves employed to

nately)

Og b'rum = the [great] Er hat die Grosse high. von Og Melech haboschon, he has the size of Og, King of Bashan. A corresponding expression is found in the Low
therefore

was a man he was seized Rum = on high, terror.

Og on

(also

German,
tall,

de lange

Rick,

i.e.,

a
;

slenderly built fellow) Schote or Schaitte or Schotte (from used the Hebrew schoto especially of one who can be cheated or robbed with his eyes a tradesman or money open
;
;

changer who
'

can be robbed while transacting business at the counter or while exchanging money) Sonof (a Hebrew word signifying properly a tail, and mostly used proverbially of things low and contemptible. It is also employed to designate the male penis the German
;

clumsy, stupid only entrusted with unimportant tasks connected with a robbery, such for instance as holding the sacks in which the stolen property is in off placed, or carrying the plunder) Nille or Knolle or Nolle (these terms are used to signify a fool, jester, or the male Nowel or Newil or Nebcl penis) (also a cunning fellow, a rogue or sly blade das ist ein Newele, the equivalent of the Low German dat is een A as vim Kcrl might be rendered by the English he is a devil of a fellow ') Oochbram or Ogbrom (a fool or
fellow

designate

the

who

is

Gaunersprache offers frequent examples in which contemptible names are also used synonymously for the male and female
organs of generation).

'

'

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Fiadetto meaning of a dolt or duffer, this term is also applied
(besides its

'

rather one whose craziness resembles in extent the traditional stature of Og, King of Bashan at least authorities agree in thinking this the most likely derivation of the word. Among the Jews Og is taken
as an

rogue, or indeed a any description) ribeba or ribecca (a goose or simpleton properly a violin or cordovano (this Jewish harp) also means in the Fourbesque, a big man properly it is the name of Morocco or Spanish marietta or furlana leather) marietta (a dolt or dunce).
to
thief,

villain

of

image of gigantic size. the Israelites advanced on Edrei, Og sat on the wall of the town, and his feet reached to the ground, so that Moses at first thought he was part of the

When

SPANISH
(Cf.,
1580.
fo.

SYNONYM.

Dupa

English dupe).
Beehive of the Romish Churche, An unlearned BUFFLE did

66 babble.

b.

Buffle-Head.
1655.

358

Bug.
1874. Saturday Review, p. 95. This regiment [the First or Grenadier Guards] has almost the longest record of any in

He

with their hats in their hands.

Comic Hist. Francion, iv., 22. said to the three BUFFLES who stood Tell me
etc.

you Waggs,
1710.

[M.].
(1860),
II.,

Pol. Ballads

To

90.

see the chief attorney such a BUFFLE.

the service, only yielding, we believe, to the ist Royals, and to the 3rd BUFFS, which were originally raised for the service of the States-General of Holland.

BUFFLE-HEAD, subs. (old). An ignoramus a stupid obtuse fellow.

;

Cf.,

BUFFLE, and which synonyms.

1659.

BUFFY,
cated.

see

for

adj.

Intoxi(common). For synonyms, see

at Last,

SCREWED.
in Hazl.
1866.

Lady Alimony,
xiv.,

I.,

ii.,

Dodsley,

278.
is this
!

What

BUFFLE-HEAD

a drolling

YATES, Land

I.,

p. 85.

Flexor was fine and BUFFY

home

1663. PEPYS, Diary, March 17. But my Lord Mayor a talking, bragging, BUFFLE-HEADED fellow.

last night, after

'

1872.
first

when he came you was gone, sir. BESANT AND RICE, R. M.

xlii.

Mortiboy, ch.

My

ideas take

me

1668.
tells

me

PEPYS, Diary,

robe,

HEAD
Act

that Townsend, is the veriest knave that ever he saw.

Jan. 29. He of the Ward-

of all unawares.

begin, like a toothache,

and BUFFLE-

1677.
ii.

BUFFLE-HEADED stupid creature you. 1686. D'URFEY, Commonwealth of Women, I., i. A damn'd huffing fellow yonder, a Rebel, Whiggy BUFFLE-HEAD. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet., 2 ed. 1754. BUFFLE-HEAD, an ignoramus, or dull
sot.

WYCHERLEY, Plain Dealer, Oliv. You know nothing, you

pect them. BUFFY, in the morning mayhap, after an extra go of grog the night before. Then one comes all of a sudden.
;
1

They generally when I least exPerhaps when I feel a little

BUG,

subs, (thieves').

i.

A A

breast

pin.
2.

name

(Old
for
'

Irish.)

jeering

Dead Man's Rock, bk. I., ch. v. 'Jonathan's a BUFFLE-HEAD ... a daft
1887.

Grose says introduced

an Englishman because BUGS were

into
' ! !

Ireland

by

fule like Jonathan.'

Englishmen
3.

BUFFLEHEADED,
idiotic
;

adj. (old).

foolish.

Stupid [From BUFJ

FLEHEAD, a

foolish fellow

+
1

(q.v.),

ED.]

The term (American.) in the United States, not confined merely, as in England, to the domestic pest, but is applied to all insects of the
BUG
is,

1883. BARING GOULD, John Herring, vol. II., ch. xxv., p. 275. (Tauchnitz ed.)

Coleoptera order, which includes what in this country are

A BUFFLEHEADED

sort of a chap,' said

Joyce.

BUFFS,

subs, (military).

The Third

Regiment of Foot
army.
See
1849.
295.

From BUFF HOWARDS.

in the British their facings.

The

MACAULAY, Hist. England, I., third regiment, distinguished

The generally called beetles. English BUG (Cimex lectularius] is, in the Southern States, known as the CHINCH. It may be mentioned, however, that at Winchester College a usage akin to that prevailing in America exists.
There a BUG merely means an insect, whether belonging to
the Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, or any other order. Synonyms for the English domestic pest
will

by flesh-coloured facings, from which it derived the well-known name of the BUFFS. 1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 232. His father was a captain in the BUFFS, and himself a commissioned officer at seventeen.

be found under

NORFOLK

HOWARDS.

Bug.
1642.
74.

359
the Syrian,

Bugger.
the furs and wools of diverse animals, among which is a small portion of bever's fur. BUGGING is stealing the bever, and substituting in lieu thereof an equal

at

Do not all as much and more wonder God's rare workmanship in the Ant,
BUGGE
that creeps.
1888.

ROGERS, Naaman

the poorest

Grass Valley (Cal.) Tidings. Entomology, or bugology, is now taught to some extent in our public schools. This is well, and is of use. The children ought to learn about the BUGS that are destructive to useful vegetation. It is better to learn much about BUGS than so much about how to solve those arithmetical problems that will never face
.

weight of some cheaper ingreBailiffs who take money dient. to postpone or refrain the serving of a writ, are said to BUG the writ. Grose.
2.

anybody
1888.

in the practical affairs of

life.

(thieves'.)

To

bribe.

In

Daily Inter-Ocean, March. The Insane Asylum Board some time ago discontinued a bug-killer's employment, and the doctor avers that the old hospital building is swarming with cockroaches, and that these BUGS will soon be large and fat enough to carry out the inmates and take their food and clothes.

bailiffs slang, accepting money to delay service were said TO BUG the writ.
3.

old

(thieves'.)
;

To

give;

hand
2.
'

over
1812.

to deliver.
J.

Cf.,

sense

(American.) BUG is also used idiomatically in various combinations, as BIG BUGS (q.v.), a jocose and vulgar name for persons of wealth or distinction.
4.

BUG'D

me

H. VAUX, Flash Diet.

'

He

a quid.'
adj.

BUG OVER
(Old
;

the rag.'

BUGAROCH,
Pretty
;

Irish).

comely

handsome.

Grose.

Thence, similarly, CATTLE-BUGS, that is, wealthy stock-raisers GOLD-BUGS, or monied men, etc.
1843.

BUG-BLINDING,

subs,

(military).

Whitewashing operations.
BUGGER,
subs.
(old).
i.

England, ch. xv. The great guns and BIG BUGS have to take in each other's ladies. Ibid, p. 24. Pick out the BIG

HALIBURTON, Sam

Slick

in

thief

whose

speciality

is

stealing

BUGS and see what

made

sort of stuff they're

of.

him in New York.' I think not I do not think the feeling against silver is anything like as strong as it was. Of course, a few GOLD-BUGS might fight him, but any of the men I have mentioned are reasonably certain to carry New York.'
rate materially against
'
;

Globe Democrat, Senator Allison's well-known views on silver coinage ope1888.

St.

Louis

breast-pins from drunken men. [From BUG, a cant term for a breast pin, Also (G) GER.]

March

5.

'Would

BUG HUNTER. For synonymous terms, see AREASNEAK and BUG-HUNTER.

called

THAT BEATS THE BUGS, phr. (American). A phrase conveythat ing a high mead of praise beats cock-fighting.'
'

A man a fellow. (low.) coarse term of abuse without, however, any reference to the a sodomite. legal meaning The French has an exact equivalent in Bougre, which Littre says is une terme de mepris et d' injure, usite dans le langage
2.
;

Verb (old).

i.

populaire
grassier.

cant word

among journey men

hatters, sig-

nifying the exchanging some of the dearest materials of which a hat is made for others of less value. Hats are composed of

plus trivial et le plus term, as applied to a man, is equivalent to BITCH as applied to women. (q.v.), Hence also BUGGERY (q.v.).
le

The

1719.

D'URFEY,

Pills,

I.,

59.

From

every trench the BOUGERS

fly.

[M.I

Buggery.
1854.
'

360

Build.
terms are now applied to bad whiskey of all kinds. For synonyms, see DRINKS.
1888.

203.
[M.]

If I'd

was comin',

M. HOLMES, Tempest and Sun, known all you city BUGGERS

I'd a

kivered

my

bar

feet.'

Texas Siftings, 7 July.

It is

BUGGERY,
finite

adj.

(low).

An

inde-

gust the

expression signifying disor disapprobation. Of same type as BLOODY,

etc.
(q.V.),

but

BLASTED, conveying a intenser meaning.

BLAMED,

a singular fact, that nearly every characby Charles Dickens into his numerous novels, was addicted to each and every individual drinking took his BUG-POISON with surprising regularity and eminent satisfaction.
ter introduced
. . .

somewhat

BUGLE

IT,

verb

London

1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and Poor, I., p. 23. A BUGGERY fool, why don't he let people go to hell their own way ? Ibid, p. 180. Here mother,

abstain from going into class until the last moment i.e., until the bugle sounds.

To

(American

cadets').

give us one of your

BUGGERY

trotters.

BUG WALK,
bed.

subs,

(common).

BUGGY,
bottle.

subs.

(old).

[Derivation obvious.]

leather

ENGLISH
;

SYNONYMS.
;

Bed; ;

BUGHER.

See

BUFFER.
subs,

fordshire Sheet Alley Blanket Fair Land of Nod doss rip

; ;

Cloth Market.

BUG-HUNTER,
thief

(thieves').

A
'

FRENCH
portfeuille

SYNONYMS.
: ;

Un

who plunders drunken men. The same as BUGGER,

sense
i.

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
rier
'

Un poiv;

(familiar properly a portfolio ') la bolte a puces this almost (popular exactly corresponds to the English BUG
:

'

(popular and thieves')

un
'

WALK,' the French phrase

'
; :

sig-

allumeur (this term is also applied to an auction room button or to a cardconfederate, and

sharper's decoy) faireunlouave, or fain les gaves (to go bugLouave and gave hunting. drunkard, the latter from gaver,
;

le nifying the flea box') pucier from puce = flea) le (popular tremblant (popular) le plumard le fournil (popular) (popular and thieves') la halle aux draps Sheet Market (popular literally, or Fair. C/., English Blanket
; ; ; ; :

'

Fair

to glut).
1856.

')

le

pagne

le

panier aux

ordures.

H.

Those who hocus or London, p. 46. plunder persons by stupefying as 'drummers,' who drug liquor, and 'BUG-HUNTERS,' who plunder drunken men.
;

MAYHEW,

Gt.

World of

BUILD, subs, and verb (popular). Properly TO BUILD is to con'

struct,'

says

2.

subs.

sterer.

uphol(old). Lexicon Balatronicum.

subs,

An

dwelling and by

meaning ...
;

'for a extension of to construct by

Murray,

BUG-JUICE,

(common).

i.

Ginger
2.

ale.

(American.) The Schlechter whiskey of the Pennsylvania Dutch a very inferior spirit. Also called BUG-POISON. These

of fitting together separate parts chiefly with reference to structures of considerable size (not, e.g., a watch or a piano).' Difficult as it may be at times to draw a dividing line between a literary, or even a colloquial usage and a slang signification,
. .
.

Build.
there can be
little
is

361

Bulge.
you call 'em, ever since you were my fag at Eton; and at Christchurch you were just as bad, even though my poor dear old governor used to come all the way down and measure you himself. It ain't
the fault of the bags, my dear Popsy it's the fault of the legs inside 'em So, shut up, old Stick-in-the-mud, and let's join the ladies the duchess has promised " to give us Little Billee."
! '

when BUILD make or style

doubt that applied to the

' '

of dress, that it is the purest slang It's a tidy A tailor, BUILD, who made it ? it may be noted, is sometimes called a trousers' BUILDER.' In the United States, this verb
'

is

used with much more latitude than in England. There, as

puts it, The BUILT. priest BUILDS up a flock; the speculator a fortune the lawyer a reputation the landlord a town and the tailor, as in England, BUILDS up a suit of clothes. A fire is BUILT instead of made, and the expression is
is
;

Fennimore

Cooper

verbal phr. steer badly, and so cause a ship to veer round.

(nautical).

BUILD A CHAPEL,

To

everything

NOT BUILT THAT WAY,

sion

pllY

Not to one's taste, (general). in one's line a general expreswhether said

things.
1881.

of disapproval or dissent, of persons or

even extended to individuals, to be BUILT being used with the I was not meaning of formed. BUILT that way and hence in a still more idiomatic sense to
'
'

We cannot shut our eyes to

mankind
is
;

American Humorist, May

12.

the fact that

passing through a great era of change even womankind is not BUILT as she was a few brief years ago. 1888. Missouri Republican, Jan. 25.
'

Why didn't
1

you

roll

down

'

express unwillingness to adopt a specified course or carry out any inconvenient plan. See NOT

wasn't BUILT that way.'

BUILT THAT WAY. 1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand,

That creator of manly beauty, who BUILDS your coat on the model of
ch. xx.

BULGARIAN ATROCITIES, subs. (Stock Varna and RutExchange). schuk Ry 3 per cent, obligations.
.

an Apollo.
1853.

REV. E. BRADLEY

('

Cuthbert

ATKIN, House Scraps. And we've really quite a crew Offancynames to represent a share But fancy, by the way,
1887.

Green, pt. I., ch. x. If he forswore the primitive garments that his had condemned him to country-tailor wear, and adapted the BUILD of his dress
to the peculiar requirements of university fashion.

Bede '), Verdant

A Varna's

Now,
a

in the present day,

BULGARIAN ATROCITY.

the

Experience of met a gentleWar, etc., II., p. 19. man who had got a dress coat BUILT in the place [Versailles]
I
.

1871.

A. FORBES,

My

1880.

Punch, Jan.

10,

p.

6.

THE

BULGE, verb (American). The legitimate meaning is extended in many odd ways. Bags' BULGE, but do not get baggy and in a similar fashion when a man is all attention,' his eyes are said
' ; 1

SPREAD OF EDUCATION AND LIBERAL His Grace the Duke of Poplar and Bermondsey. 'Just look at these bags you last BUILT me, Snippe! J'ever
IDEAS.
shall

TO BULGE.
Puck's Library, May, p. 31. Fee. 'Yes,' said a pompous young lawyer, on a street-car, to a friend: 'I hadn't been downtown half an hour this morning, before I got a fee of ten dollars Then the eyes of a man who was hanging on to a strap began TO BULGE. 'I say, young feller,' he whiswhat saloon d'ye work pered earnestly at ? I'm a waiter, myself!
1888.

A Phenomenal

see such beastly bags in your life? I always be glad to come and dine with you, old man; but I'll be hanged if you shall ever measure me for another Mr. Snippe (of Snippe pair of bags You've and Son, St. James's Street). always grumbled about your bags, as
'
!

'

'

'

'

Bulger.

362

Bull.
BAILY. BULKER, a Common 1728. Canting term. [In a later Jilt; a Whore. edition (1790) he adds 'one who would down on a bulk to anyone.] lay
2.

To GO
verbal

or BE ON

a BULGE,

phr. (American). drink to excess.

To
ONE,

To GET THE BULGE ON

verbal

American mining To obtain an advantage slang). over an equivalent is TO GET THE DROP ON ONE.
phr.
(
;

(old.)

thief.

C/..BULK.

1669.
(ed.
list

Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. BULKER occurs in a Park), II., 108.

of

1869. S.

L.CLEMENS

('

Mark Twain'),

Innocents at Home, p. 18. Well, you've rather GOT THE BULGE ON ME. Or maybe

we've both GOT THE BULGE, somehow.

1885.
'

in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), IV., 147. He is the treasurer of the thieves' exchequer, the common fender of all BULKERS and shoplifts in the town.
1678.

names of thieves. Four for a Penny,

Household Words, Oct.

'

10, p.

Smart chap, that Jacob, for a remarked he, as we told him the nig I guess now he's outlines of our story. HAD THE BULGE ON YOU pretty considerable this trip.'
466.
'
!

BULKY,
see

subs,

police constable.

(provincial). Said to

northern term.

be a For synonyms,
p.

BEAK.
Edinburgh Mag., August,

American Humorist, May 12. Yes, my Pop are you up there ? I saw he HAD THE BULGE ON YOU son.' and I got the gun and dropped him That's what I was 'Right, my boy.
1888.
! '

1821.

'

'

'

'

This enterprising ruffian boasts of 156. his success in deceiving the BULKIES on a search, by concealing his stolen notes in the cape of his coat.
1841.

praying

for.'

LYTTON, Night and Morning,

'

BULGER,

(common). Large; synonymous with BUSTER (q.v.).

adj.

bk. V., ch. ii. respectability

would

Inquiries about your soon bring the

BULKIES about me.'

BULK,
also

subs.

(old).

See quots.

See

Adj. (Winchester College). Rich or generous, or both. The

FILE and BULKER, sense 2. R. HEAD, Canting A cad., 35. 1674. BULK and File. The one jostles you,
whilst the other picks your pocket.

opposite of
BULL,
subs,

BRUM

(q.v.).

Cant. Diet. BULK, an assistant to a File or Pickpocket, who jostles a Person up against the Wall, while the other picks his Pocket.
1725.

New

i. For(colloquial.) merly a blunder or mistake now generally understood as an

;

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BULK and file, two pickpockets the BULK jostles the party to be robbed, and the file does the business.
;

inconsistent statement; a ludicrous contradiction, often partaking largely of the nature of a [BULL in M.E. = to bepun. fool to mock.] The term was current long before the form IRISH BULL is met with.
;

BULKER,

subs.

(old).

I.

titute of

a low type

one who had no settled home one who slept on a 'bulk,' a kind of sill projecting from a For synonyms, see window. BARRACK-HACK.
;

A prosgenerally

1642. MILTON, Apol. for Smect., 6. But that such a poem should be toothI still affirm it to be a BULL, taking less, away the essence of that which it calls itself. For if it bite neither the persons

nor the vices,

it

bite either,

how is it a satire ? And how is it toothless ?

if

Scowerers, Act i., Sc. i. 'Every one in a petticoat is thy mistress, from humble BULKER to haughty countess.'
1691.

SHADWELL,

1673. DRYDEN, The Assignation, Act Sc. i. Ben. Faith, lady, I could not sleep one wink, for dreaming of you. Lan. Not sleep for dreaming? When the place falls, you shall be BULL master general at court.
iii.,

Bull.
1689. SELDEN, Table Talk, p. 96 can make no notion (Arber's ed.). of it, 'tis so full of intricacy, so full of contradiction 'tis in good earnest, as we state it, half-a-dozen BULLS one upon another.

363
1889.

Bull.
A nswers,
'
'

We

July
'

27, p. 136, col. 2.

Once found, the lurker is pretty sure to draw a BULL (five shillings), or even a
'

counter
3.

(pound).

1705. vol. II., pt. 1841.

WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, With Stale Quibbles, I., p. 6.

Puns, and BULLS.

LEVER, Charles O'M alley, ch. i. I have got into such an infernal habit of making BULLS, that I can't write
'

sense

when

want

it.'

1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xxxix. He was telling the most outrageous of Irish stories, and making, on purpose, the most outrageous of Irish

(Stock Exchange.) Originally a speculative purchase for a rise i.e. a man would agree to buy stock at a future day at a stated price with no intention of taking it up, but trusting to the market advancing in value to make the transaction profitable. BULL is the reverse of
;
,

BULLS.

BEAR (q.v.). The term is now more frequently applied to the

person engaged in the abovementioned to tactics, i.e., one who tries to enhance the value of stocks by speculative purchases or otherwise. Also used as a verb and adjective.
b. 1671, d. 1757. GIBBER, The Refusal, The Ladies' Philosophy. Granger (to Witling, who has been boasting of his

In this connection it may be noted that in French cavalry regiments portez ! and remettez ! are mock commands given upon the perpetration of a BULL. La
calinotade signifies in the

popular speech a ludicrous or foolish saying, whilst one given to uttering them is termed un
call no.
2.

or

gain)

five
is

BULL'S EYE
allusion

crown or Formerly [The origin (q.v.). It may be a mere doubtful.

(thieves'.)

And all this out of Change Alley ? Witling: Every shilling, Sir, all out of stocks, Pulls, BULLS, Rams, Bears, and Bubbles.
' ' :

1768.

shilling

piece.

Act

i.

A mere BULL and

Man

FOOTE, Devil upon Two

Sticks,
;

bear booby

the patron of lame ducks, brokers, and fraudulent foot bankrupts.

IV.,
1774. COLEMAN, of i., in wks. (1777) II., 179.
is

to the circular shape, of classical derivation, and be a reference to the herds and flocks which at one

Business,

or

it

may be

master

time constituted a man's wealth. Cf., Latin pecunia, from pecus,

cat tie or oxen.]
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary. BULL, a crown, or five shillings. 1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lou. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. List of patterers' words. BULL, a crown. 1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. Four half-BULLS, wot you may call xlvi.

agreed for stock, expecting it to be up at three hundred by this time but, lack-a-day, sir, it has been falling ever since.
;

the bear.

He

the BULL, and Sir Charles

My

young
is

1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. iv. The bustle which his approach was wont to produce among the BULL s, bears, and brokers of Stock Alley. 1860. PEACOCK, Gryll Grange, ch. In Stock Exchange slang, BULLS xviii.

hum and

are speculators for a rise, Bears for a

1881.
1085.

fall.

Mark Lane

The

half-crowns.

has, so far, the maize market.

Express, Aug. 8, p. speculative movement which exerted a BULL influence on

Notes and Queries, 2 S., 4 July. therefore much as a BULL (or a hog) stand arbitrarily for a five-shilling-piece, half-a-BULL for half-a-crown, a bob for a shilling, a tanner for sixpence, etc., with equal propriety might a plum stand for
1857.

And

On
BULL

the
is

French

Bourse
;

a
;

in called un haussier Berlin he is known as liebhaler and in Vienna the term used is

100,000.

contremine.

Bull and Cow.

4.

364

Bull-Beef.
I860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, ch. xviii., p. 82. Which I meantersay,' cried Joe, that if you come into my
'

(nautical.)

See

BULL THE

CASK Or BARREL.
5.

'

(common.)

Explained by

quotation.
p. 148.

place BULL-BAITING and badgering me, come out

'
!

1887. G. R. SIMS, How the Poor Live, In these places, too, the lodgers divide their food frequently, and a man, seeing a neighbour without anything, will

A BULL
'

you

hand him his teapot, and say, Here are, mate here's a BULL for you."
'

'

is

a teapot with the leaves

left

in for a 6.

second brew.

A freBULL-BEEF, subs. (old). quently recurring term of conPrisoners apply it to tempt. the hard, stringy meat supplied to them, and formerly the expression was in general As ugly as BULL-BEEF big as BULL-BEEF 'go
'

use.

of

Prison rations (thieves' .) meat, an allusion to its toughness also generally used for meat without any reference to its being either tough or
;

'

'as
'

sell

tender.
la

were common colloquialisms at the end of the last and the

beginning
of the present

yourself for

and BULL-BEEF
'

French equivalent
[Its

is is

cen-

bidoche.

derivation

suggested in the following

1883.

quot]
Thus

Sometimes contracted tury. into BULL. Cf., BULLY BEEF.

1579. GOSSON, Apol. of the Schoolc of Abuse, p. 64 (Arber). I vnderstand they are all in a fustian fume. They haue eaten BUL-BIEF, and threatned highly too put water in my woortes whensoeuer they catche me.
. . .

from the French bouilli we probably get the prison slang term BULL for a ration of meat.
' '

Echo, Jan.

25, p. 2, col. 3.

locomosometimes lengthened into BULLGINE. 8. (Winchester College.) Cold beef, introduced at breakfast about 1873.
7.

tive

(American.) the word is

p.

1607. ROWLANDS, DioginesLanthorne, lookes 8 (H. Cl. Repr., 1873).

How

yonder fellow ? what's the matter with him trow ? has a eaten BUL-BEEFE ?
there's a lofty slaue indeede, hee's in the
altitudes.

Verb

(American University).
J

At Dartmouth College to recite badly; to make a poor recitation. [From the substantive BULL, a blunder or contradiction, or

1738-1819.
795)>

WOLCOT
/.,

Rights of Kings, Ode

vol.
II.,

('P. Pindar'), in wks. (Dublin,

p.

219.

The Cooks,
on BULL'S-

Bluff on th' occasion,

put

BEEF

looks.

from the use of the

a
prefix,

signifying large, lubberly, blundering.]

word

as

Yet thou may'st bluster

so big.
1860.

1782. WOLCOT, Lyric Odes, No. 3, in wks. (1809) I., 62. like BULL-BEEF

BULL, subs. (Stock Stock held over Exchange). for a long period with profit.

STALE

The Season Ticket, cheap as BULL-BEEF

1868.
p. 524.

HALIBURTON ('Sam Slick'), x. Which look as

at

one cent a pound.

BULL AND Cow,

slang).

subs,

(rhyming

row.

BULL-BAIT, verb

To

nonce word). (? hector badger. bully [Clearly a figurative usage of the legitimate word.]
; ;

Fable, To look as big as BULL-BEEF. look stout and hearty, as if fed on BULL-BEEF was formerly BULL-BEEF. recommended for making men strong and muscular.

BREWER, Phrase and

To

1888. p. 61.

ASHTON, Mod.

Street

Ballads,

For soon he will his trial take, And hard BULL-BEEF be munching.

Bull Calf.
BULL CALF,
1785.

365
See quot.
the Vul-

Bull-Dose.
3.

subs, (old).

(old.)
J.

See quot.

gar Tongue. BULL CALF, a great hulkey or clumsy fellow.

GROSE, Dictionary of

1812.

H. VAUX, Flash Diet. BULL-

DOG, a sugar-loaf.

BULL CHIN, subs. by quotation.

1785.

(old).

Explained

proctor's 4. (University.) marshall. or assistant Cf., Reader's Brewer's quot. from

Handbook.
1823.
(1842), 59.

GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BULL CHIN, a fat, chubby

child.
[*.]

proctor's

LOCKHART, Reg. Dalton, I., x. Long forgotten stories about BULL-DOGS baffled. bit and

A BULL-DANCE, subs, (nautical). dance in which only men take

part. Cf.,

STAG-DANCE, GANDERetc.

PARTY, HEN-PARTY,

1841. LYTTON, Night and Morning, 'The proctor and his III., ch. iii. and gave chase BULL-DOGS came up to the delinquents ... the night was the College in reached and dark, they

bk.

men

1867. SMYTH, Sailors' Word Book. BULL-DANCE. At sea it is performed by

safety.
1847.

TENNYSON,
:

only

when without women.

March 26,

It is

We unworthier told

Princess, Prologue.

sometimes called a STAG-DANCE.

1887. Graphic,
p. 315, col. 3.

Of

college spikes,
bars,

he had climb'd across the

GenIt is obliged to be a BULL-DANCE. tlemen dance with gentlemen, and the of a also. course, gentleman pianist is,

And he had squeezed himself betwixt the

And he had
1880.

breath'd the Proctor's DOGS.

BULL- DOG,

(old). sheriff's officer; a bailiff.

subs.

i.

1698. FARQUHAR, Love and a Bottle, Mock. But pray what's the matter, Mrs. Lyric? Lyric. Nothing, sir, but a shirking bookseller that owed me about forty guineas for a few lines. He would have put me off, so I sent for a couple of BULL-DOGS, and arrested him.
iii., 2.

Reader's Handbook. BULL-DOGS, the two servants of a university proctor, who follow him in his rounds, to assist him in apprehending students who are violating the university statues, such as appearing in the streets

BREWER,

after dinner without

5.

cap and gown,

:

etc.

A name

(University

obsolete.) for a member of Trinity

College, Cambridge.

A pistol; in the 2. (old.) naval service a main-deck gun.

Cf.,

BULL-DOG BLAZER,
can).

BARKER

and

BULL-DOG

BLAZER.
1700.
iii., 2.

whips out
1825.
'

He whips out his my BULL-DOG.

FARQUHAR, Constant Couple, stiletto, and I

(Ameri[Probably a mere amplification of the kindred English canting term BULL-DOG, a pistol, -f BLAZER, an allusion to the flash attendant upon firing.] For synonyms,

subs.

revolver.

191.

SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, ii., have always a brace of BULL-

see

MEAT

IN

THE

POT.

DOGS about me.' ... So saying, he exhibited a very handsome, highly-finished, and richly-mounted pair of pistols.
1867. SMYTH, Sailors' Word Book. BULL-DOG or MUZZLED BULL-DOG, the great gun which stands housed in the officer's ward-room cabin. General term

BULL-DOSE,

subs. (American). severe castigation or flogging. Verb. To thrash to intimidate to bully. A term of Southern
;

main-deck guns. 1881. Daily News, Oct. 27, p. 6, col. 2. Revolver cartridges of the ordiBULL-DOG pattern. nary
for
'
'

political origin, originally referring to an association of negroes formed to insure, by violent and unlawful means, the success of

an election. The phrase has now

Bull-Dose.
passed into general use, political and otherwise, to signify the adoption and use of coercive measures. [The derivation is almost literal a BULL-DOSE, a flogging with a strip of hide the action itself being represented by the verb TO BULLDOSE. Though indifferently spelt both with single and double 1 and with s and z,' the correct verAlso derision is BULLDOSE.]
;
' '

366

Bullet.

A
son
'

French equivalent
fendart
'

is

faire
'

(fendart
'

signifies
;

or braggart swaggerer fendant in literary French means a hector or bully)

.

BULL-DOSER,
i.

subs.
;

bully

(American). swagbraggart
;

C/., BULL-DOSE. French printers call a bully un mata,

gerer.

'

'

'

vatives

BULLDOSER

(q.v.),

and

an abbreviation of matador. It is curious that this term in the original Spanish not only signifies

BULL-DOSING, mutatis mutandis, of a kindred meaning.

killer

bull-fight),
1878.

of bulls (as in a but also a murderer.

New York Tribune, Dec. There a bad case of BULLDOZING in Cincinnati on Monday night. A handful of bold Democrats had gathered to let out their pent-up desire for Tilden or blood. was in the chair, and Mr. C was warming up the faithful with an adwhen the Republicans crowded dress, around him in so threatening a manner that he mounted the table, shook his address in their faces, and declared, like a true hero, that he was not to be intimidated.'
1876.

N.
p.

American
426.

was

'

'

CXXVIL,
DOZER
'

The

Review, vol. BULLgreat

'

of Europe.

1882.

New

The
[M.]

hotel where visited ... by a

York Tribune, 3 May. he was staying was mob of BULL-DOZERS.

2. 1881.
col. 2.

A
A

pistol.

'

pistol

which

enough

Review, July 9, p. 40, Californian BULL-DOSER is a carries a bullet heavy with to destroy human life

Sat.

London News, vol. 1880. Illust. LXXVII., p. 587, col. i. The Americans have lately been using a strange word, BULL-DOSING,' which signifies, I believe,
'

certainty.

BULLET.

political intimidation,

but not personal

9, p.

molestation.
1881.
'

To GIVE THE BULLET, (common). To discharge an employe. Cf. To GIVE

verbal phr.
,

To BULL-DOSE a negro in the 2. Southern States means to flog him to death or nearly to death.
'

Sat. Review, July

40, col.

BAG, sense 2, under BAG, and SACK. [Possibly a punning allusion to the word 'discharge.']

THE

1881.
'

2.

A BULL-DOSE

Sat. Review, July

'

9,

p. 40, col.
effi-

means a

large

The term is variously used. To SHAKE THE BULLET at anyone,

is

dose of any sort of medicine or punishment. Cassell's Mag. (Art. on Ameri1887. To 'BULLcanisms '), June, p. 412.
cient
' '

the sack,' to threaten with but not to give actual notice to

'

DOZE is to intimidate, and the word was originally used respecting the alleged
interference Louisiana.
1888.

To GET THE BULLET is leave. to get notice, while TO GET THE INSTANT BULLET is to be dlScharged upon the spot.
1841.

with

negro

voters

in

Evening Journal, 20 Feb. The Democrats complain of the amounts of money they had to face, but that was not such a source of trouble as the BULLDOZING of voters by the mining bosses. There were driven to the polls, and compelled to vote for SeyDetroit

A workman was said to have GOT THE BULLET when he was disPrinting.

SAVAGE,

Diet,

of

Art

of

charged instanter without the customary notice on eitBfer side. 1872. Chamb. Jour., March 9, p. 147. When a fellow GETS THE BULLET from his work, he mostly has a spell at cabdriving.

Bullfinch.
1887.

367
I

Bull's Eye.
apologise for using this word but years ago (it may be so still) it was the sailors' phrase to indicate a male-attendant on the sick.
;

just

GOT THE

Punch, Sept. 17, p. 126. BULLET,' Mate

'

have

sacked

without notice.

BULLFINCH, subs. stupid fellow.

2.

(old).

I.

A
BULLOCK,
See quot.
1855. J. K., in Notes and Queries, i S., v., 12, 3 Nov., p. 344. BULLOCK, a cheat but as I think, only when cheating at marbles.
;

subs,

(schoolboys').

I.

(hunting.)

high thick

hedge; one

difficult to

jump

or

rush through. ties agree in

[Most authorisuggesting

the

origin of this term in a corruption of 'bull-fence,' i.e., a fence capable of preventing cattle from straying.]
1832.

2.

man or bushman.
PUNCHER.
Verb.

(Australian.)

A
Cf.,

country-

BULLOCKto

To

BULL-FINCH fence ... is a quickset hedge of perhaps fifty years' growth, with a ditch on one side or the other, and so high and strong that [one] cannot
clear
it.

Quart. Rev., Mar.,

226.

The

bully

over
1716.

to intimidate.

bounce [Query

from BULLY.]
Upon
M. DAVIES, Ath. Brit., I., 272. the evidence of that BULLOCKING

[M.]

1864.

G. A.

stone, ch. ix.

LAWRENCE, Guy LivingThe third is a teaser an

ugly black BULL-FINCH with a ditch on the landing side, and a drop into a

Fryer Campanella. [M.] FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk. II., Aud then you have charged me with BULLOCKING you into owning the
1750. ch. vi.
truth.'
'

ploughed
1880.

field.

The Times, Nov. 2, p. 4, col. 5. They are almost invariably attired in

double-stitched shooting coats, that will stand the ordeal of 'BULL-FINCHES' and brambles.
1889. Man of the World, June 29. See Harrington, the belted earl, bear down an opponent in the jousts, charging with lance or sword as if he were riding at a South Notts BULL-FINCH.

1763. FOOTE, Mayor of Garratt, Sc. 2. She shan't think to ii., BULLOCK and domineer over me. 1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BULLOCK, to hector, bounce,

Act

or bully.

BULLOCK'S HEART.
BULLOCK'S HORN,

See
verb

TOKEN.
(rhyming For syno-

BULL- J IN E,
sailor's

subs,

(nautical).

slang).

To pawn.
see

term for a locomotive. [Thought to be of American origin, New York thieves using the same term, as also an abbreviated form BULL.] BULL MONEY,
subs,

nyms,
of

POP.
subs.
(old).

BULL PARTY,

BULL-DANCE, STAG-PARTY, HEN-TEA, etc.

C/.,

men only.

party

(harlotry).

BULL- PUN CHER.

A variant

of

COW-

extorted from or given by those who in places of public resort have been detected in

Money

PUNCHER

(q.v.).

flagrante delicto with a as a bribe to silence.

woman,
See

BULL'S EYE, subs, (schoolboys'). i A sweetmeat of which pep.

permint
dient.

is

an important ingrereceived
its its

[It

name

in

BULL- NURSE,
quot.
1885-

subs,

(nautical).

allusion to
1825.

globular shape.]

Graphic, April

4, p.

BULL-NURSES.'

Perhaps we ought

326, col. 3. to

Hardbake,
EYES.
[M.]

HONE, Every-day Bk., I., 51. brandy-balls, and BULL'S-

BulVs-Eye

Villas.

Bull
He
May
that disdains
either,

the Cask.
it

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXIL, p. 83. Dr. Switcher (who had discovered BULL'S EYES about, and traced them to the original Don't you know, Muggins, donor). " Fools give there's an old proverb that feasts and Wise men eat them" '? Muggins. another and there's one, sir.' Yes, Sir,
' '

in heart or
to

mind

he be the more subject BULL'S FEATHER.

wear the
v.,

1748.
295.
it

The Doctor. What's that, sir? Now, What is it, Sir ? '(noticing a reticence) Sir ? or else Muggins (sternly) " no Please, Sir, (seeing escape).
' '
'

'

'

'

wise men repea

2.

make proverbs and F "

(Catches
it
!]

Fools

.'

(old.)

A good whimsical instrument, take But what, thinkest thou, altogether are the arms to this matrimonial har? Three crooked herns, binger smartley top-knotted with ribands which the ladies' being wear, seem to intimate that they may very probably adorn, as well as bestow, the BULL'S-FEATHER.
! . .

RICHARDSON,

Cl.

Harlowe,

five-shilling

piece,

otherwise

known

as

BULL
1690.

Crew. [Mentioned as a cant term for a crown.]

1714.
p. ii.

(q.v.). B. E., Diet. Cant.

Memoirs of John Hall BULL'S-EYE, a Crown.

(4 ed.),

1785.

GROSE, Dictionary of

the Vul-

BULL THE CASK or BARREL, verbal To pour water phr. (nautical). into a rum cask when empty, with a view to keeping the wood moist and preventing leakage.

gar Tongue. BULL'S-EYE, a crown piece.

The

water, receiving after

some

BULL'S-EYE VILLAS, subs, (military). A nickname given to the small open tents used by the Volunteers at their annual gathering. [An allusion to BULL'S-EYE in its meaning of the centre of a target.]
BULL'S FEATHER.
(old).

time a strong impregnation, is very intoxicating. The authorinot looking with much ties, favour upon a wholesale brewing of grog in this way .sometimes use salt water as a deterrent, though even this SALT WATER BULL as
'
'

it

is called,

when again poured

To GIVE [or GET] THE BULL'S FEATHER, verbal phr.

To be made,
Cf.,

or be a

out, has often proved too attractive for seamen to resist. Again it is common to talk in the same

cuckold.
de bceuf. 16(?).

ACTEON.

The

way
'

French say also planter des plumes

Song of
the iyth Century,

of BULLING a that coffee-pot ,' etc.

'

;
'

is

teapot,' after
;

'The BULL'S Nares by quoted FEATHER.' chanced not long ago as I was It

the first brew has been exhausted, by adding fresh water, and boiling over again, to make a second brew from the old
'

An echo

walking, did bring

materials.

This probably was

me where two were

a talking, 'Twas a man said to his wife, dye had I rather, Than to be cornuted and wear a BULL'S

FEATHER.

Then

Thou

presently she reply'd sweet, art thou jealous? canst not play Vulcan before I

Thy

play Venus fancies are foolish, such follies to

;

gather,

There's

many an honest man hath worn

FEATHER
it

the BULL'S

Though

be

invisible, let

no

man

derived from BULLING THE CASK, but whether the BULLING originally applied to the preserving the water-tight qualities of the cask, or to the making of the second brew is not quite certain. Taking, however, the present acceptation of the term, together with its probable derivation (see below), the latter would appear to be the case.

it

scorn,

Though

it

be a new feather made of an

[Thought to have its origin in French boullir, whence bouilloire,

a tea-kettle
;

old horn,

bouillon,

a decoction

Bull-Trap.
of meat to which vegetables, salt and pepper have been added.]
1824. COCHRANE, Narrative of a Pedestrian Journey through Russia and Siberian Tartary, p. 225. My liquor was at end from the effects of a very common sort of leak it had been tapped too
I could do nothing but BULL THE BARREL, that is, put a little water into it, at least the appearance of vookey. 1835. MARRYAT, Jacob Faithful, ch.

369

Bully.
an
'

April-fool)
'

Alphonse
'

(a

French
Cf., sistne

fancy name
is
;

form of Alphonso,
for a

Adonis for a dandy.

the
:

fancy man.' Alphon-

often.

Alphonse} (popular

calling of an baigne-dans-le-beurre another allusion to

and so preserve

mackerel which is generally served with butter) barbise

;

(popular);
1

barbe (popular:
barbille

lit.

Jacob, a BULL means putting a quart or two of water into a cask which has had spirits in it.'
xx.
'

Why,

G. R. SIMS, How the Poor Live, 1887. In these places, too, the lodgers p. 148. divide their food frequently, and a man, seeing a neighbour without anything,
will

hand him
are,
'

A BULL
'

you

his teapot, and say, 'Here mate; here's a BULL for you.'
left

in for a

is a teapot with the leaves second brew.

or barbillon (a young hand at the business) barbeau (popular: properly barbel, from L. L. barbellus, dim. from barbus, a barbel, i.e., the fish, from barba, a beard) marlou or marlousier (general the second term is the oldest, and Michel derives it from marlier, formerly used in the sense of marguillier,
')
;

beard

BULL-TRAP,
thieves').

subs.

(American
of

personator

police constable.

BULLY, of a prostitute a fancy man.' The name is often well applied, inasmuch as violence and swagger form the main staple of the stock-in-trade of such men in levying blackmail upon the victims enticed by their women
I.
' ;

subs. (old).

A 'protector'

churchsignifying properly warden.' Cf., S am stain) benoit brocket (popular) (popular this is properly 'pike' or jack ') dos, dos vert, and dos d'azur (general dos = back) casquette a trois ponts (popular so called from a cap often worn by such persons) chevalier du
'

'

companions.
1706.

the celestial

Venus

for

DEFOE, JMN: Divino,i.,8. Mars BULLY they adore, And an everlasting whore.
Poisson
:

guiche (familiar) chiqueur de blanc (chiqueur = glutton, and blanc, a streetwalker. Cf., mangeuse de viande bouffeur de blanc (popular) crue)
; ; ;

bidet (bidet pony; Cf., chevalier de la BUS)

OMNI-

costel

FRENCH SYNONYMS.

(familiar and popular one who subsists on the gains of a prostitute, the latter being known as his marmite, i.e., flesh-pot
'
'

cravate verte (popular) guiche (popular) (popular)

; ;

dessous

'

poisson signifies literally

fish,'

and Michel says such a one was formerly known aspoisson d'avril, a punning variation of maquereau [which see] mackerel being fit for food about that month.
,

cherished by a prostitute) ccaillc (literally 'one with scales,' like those of a fish allusive of maquereau another reference to mafish,
is
;

whom

(thieves':
'

man

for

love

'

Poisson d'avril properly means a trick or fool's errand recevoir un poisson d'avril is to be made
;

quereau} foulard rouge (popular lit. 'red silk handkerchief ) gentilhomme sous marin (popular) ambassadeur (popular) gonce a
',

C-cailles

(gonce with scales,

;

= man
goujon

a ecailles an allusion to
;

maquereau)

(general

24

Bully.
?

37

Bully.
C/.,'to
of
'

does this come from the Gascon

take

one's
:

gouie,

whence comes
;

gouge,

a.
;

valet de cceur

(popular
;

greens'); the lover

'

prostitute)
retrousseur
'

lacromuche (popular)

(popular
'

retrousser

properly means
to cock
'

to turn up,'
:

lit.

dauphin (popular ) dolphin); macchoux (popular); machabce (popular: lit. a mac or macque (popucorpse) lar; abbreviations of maquereau)
;
; ; ;

a visqueux prostitute) (properly this signifies viscous,' slimy,' clammy' the term is applied to the lowest type of
' ;

BULLIES)
fer
(lit.

bibi

(popular)
iron').

bras de

'arm of
GAY,
?

1729.
:

Polly,

Act

ii.,

Sc.

7.
!

macrottin (familiar) poissonfraveur (frayer [of fishes] signifies to milt ) releveur de fumeuse
1 '

Jimmy Sure never was such insolence how could you leave me with this bawdyhouse BULLY
1753.

A dventurer, No.

100. I
;

learned

(popular: Cf.,relever le chandelier, i.e.,io lift up the candlestick; from a practice of placing the fees of a prostitute under a candlestick) maqnignon a bidoche (popular maquignon is properly a horsedealer,' and bidoche = meat) mangeurde blanc (general
;
:
'

pack cards and to cog a die a BULLY to whores.

to
1766.
fiehl, ch. xx.

became

of the town, and the fellow her and a sharper.

1821. Jerry, Act.
I

GOLDSMITH, Vicar of WakeThe lady was only a woman BULLY

a devourer of prostitutes.
chiqueiir de blanc}
;

Cf.,

tete de pater e (popular) marloupatte, marloupin marqiiant (thieves') (see marlou} mec (popular and thieves') mec de la guiche (so called from his
; ;

T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Sc. 4. M'L. Plaise your have brought before your worship a most notorious prostitute and common street walker, who, for her foul doings, has been cooped up in the Poultry Comptor, as often as there are

W.
ii.,

honour,

kiss-curls
curls)
;

des

guiches
;

kiss-

monsieur a nageoires (lit. with fins) monsieur

: ;

years in a week. I caught her charging these honest gentlemen (pointing to Tom and Jerry) in a most impositions manner, and when I civilly axed her, how she could think of getting drunk, and acting (Pointso, she called her BULLIES here. ing to Kate and Sue.)
1883.

A.

DOBSON, Fielding,

p. 129.

rou(popular aggerawators, q.v.) flaquettes en viande chaude (popuneg lar neg is an abbreviation of negociant, i.e., merchant, dealer; hot viande chaude meat) patente is the patente (popular name of a cap worn by the fraternity) porte-nageoires roi de la a nageoires} (see monsieur mer (popular lit. king of the
: ;
:

fentleman rouflaqiiettes

Probably a professed sabreur, if not a salaried BULLY like Captain Stab in the
Rake's Progress.
1887.

Daily News,

was

thing for a prostitute to solicit a man, and if he refused her importunities, to call upon a BULLY,"
'

not an

uncommon

15 Julv, 6, 5.

It

and complain that she had been

saulted.
2.

as-

(Eton College.)
;
'
'

melee

at

football

the

Rugby

the equivalent of scrimmage and the

'

sea. Cf., maquereau, poisson, etc.) rouflaquette (Cf., monsieur a rouflaquettes} roule-en-cul soixante-six
; ;
,

Winchester

hot.

It is

where

the majority of players play.

3.

(popular

penwith an obscene prefix) un qui va aux epinards (popular one who receives money from a
sioner,'
; :

might

insulting terms be translated by

:

which
'

dearment

term of en(nautical.) in use amongst sailors.

to
'

'

Equivalent

pal,'

mate,'
this

and

similar
it

terms.

In

prostitute,

epinards

spinach.

has long been in use, sense Shakspeare often employing it. Probably hence arose the Ameri-

Bully.

371

Bully Beef.
sir. Hope you had a pleasant nap. BULLY place for a nice quiet snooze, empty stage, sir

can and colonial adjectival use

of

have been asleep

the word
'

in

the sense

of

'

fine,
4.

crack.

(American

thieves'.)

weapon formed by tying a stone

chief.

or a piece of lead in a handkerThis is used knuckleduster

this

THAT'S BULLY FOR YOU, phr. Grand or fine; (American). phrase, during the Civil had a War, remarkably popular
1873.

fashion.

run.
JUSTIN
'

Fine Adj. (American). capital; crack; 'spiff.' Applied to persons only, this adjective is traceable as far back as 1681 it seems, however, to have fallen into disuetude and to have been subsequently revived in a much more extended sense in the
;

MCCARTHY,
'

Fair

Saxon, ch. xix. Darling boy! I had BULLY FOR thought of this already.' Of course you did.' YOU, mamma
!

BULLY BOY or BULLY BOY WITH THE GLASS EYE, phr.

(American).
1815.
'

good

fellow.
'

U.S.A., whence

it

has made the

circuit of the English speaking world. applied to anything

SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxiv. Well said, my hearty captain cried Glossin, endeavouring to catch the
!

tone

Now

of revelry.
' !

BULLY BOY!

deserving of commendation, and used very much in the same way and with the same shades
of

now
'

Why,

'That's it, my you're alive again

.

meaning as

'

crack.'

SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. viii. And you, Mr. Frank Osbaldistone, are not the first BULLY-BOY that has said stand to a true man.'
1817.
1869. S. L.

ENGLISH
Ai.

SYNONYMS.

See

CLEMENS (' Mark Twain '),

FRENCH SYNONYMS.

In ad-

Innocents at Home, p. 20. You ought to seen him get started once. He was a BULLY BOY WITH A GLASS EYE.

dition to those given under Ai may be mentioned the followmuche pas pique des hanneing tons (popular literally not bitten or stung by May-bugs or cock:

BULLY-BACK or BULLY-BUCK,
(old).

subs.

Thus
:

described

chafers).
1681.

Mecum
fishers

(1689), pref.

CHETHAM, Anglers' Vade From such BULLY

book
expects

Grose A bully to a bawdy house, one who is kept in pay, to oblige the frequenters of the house to submit to the impositions of the mother abbess or
bawd, and who also sometimes

by

this

no

other

reception.

Cairo City Times. The BULLY steamboat Crystal Palace passed up to have no St. Louis on Monday. doubt she left papers. New 1870. Zealand, p. 331. MEADE, The roof fell in, there was a BULLY
1855.
'
'

pretends to be the husband of one of the ladies, and under that

pretence extorts money from greenhorns, or ignorant young men, whom he finds with her.
Cf.,

We

'

'

blaze.

BULLY-BOSS.

N. Amer. Review, vol. CXX., 'That,' replied Barney, is Merp. 128. the cury, god of merchants and thieves.' Good BULLY exclaimed that's
1875.
' '
! !

1626.
179.

AMHERST, Terra: Fil., xxxiii., They have spirtual bravves on their

and old lecherous BULLY-BACKS
[M.]

side,

to

revenge their cause.

Tweed.
1880. BRET HARTE, A Lonely Ride. 1 thought you changed horses on the road ? So we did. Two hours ago.' That's odd. I didn't notice it.' Must
I
'

BULLY BEEF,

subs,

(military).

'

'

'

Tinned meat. RATION (q.v.).

Also called IRON In the navy by

Bully-Boss.
BULLY-BEEF
salt beef.
is

372
boiled

Bullyragging.

meant

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Arranger

anxpetits oignons
;

[This may either be a corruption of BULL BEEF or from the French bovilli, boiled
meat.]
1883.

me (popular
ing or
'

gamme = thrash')
;

monter unegam-

walloping

habiller
:

CLARK
pref.,

RUSSELL,
xii.

Sailors'

Spup-and-bouilli another standing sea dish, and, taking round, is the most disgusting of the provisions served out to the merchant I have known many a strong sailor. stomach, made food-proof by years of eaten with molasses, and biscuit pork alive with worms, to be utterly capsized mere smell of soup-and-bouilli. the by Jack calls it soap and bullion, one onion to a gallon of water,' and thus fairly expresses the character of the nauseous
is
it all
'

Language,

quelqu'un de taffetas (popular i.e., to clothe anyone with fear Cf.. clothed with shame ') agonir to haul over the (popular coals to pull to properly
;
' ; '
:

'

'

pieces ') secouer les puces a quel= to shake qu'iin (popular secouer
;
:

puces

fleas.

Cf., 'to

away with a
1760. T. Verses.

flea

send one in the ear ').

WARTON, Oxford Newsman's

plains, ye

compound.
Daily News, July 9, p. 6, col. 4. The rations will be of the kind known to Tommy Atkins as BULLY BEEF.' There may be in it a considerable proportion of mutton, but that makes no difference to him.
'

On Minden's
seers
!

meek Moun-

1887.

Remember
1861.

Kingsley's grenadiers.

You vainly thought

Like your fine squadron

p.

BULLY-BOSS, subs. (American). The landlord of a brothel or thieves' den. [From BULLY, sense i (q.v.) + BOSS, a master.]
t

118. I don't want nothing I don't git enough to eat and here they can't come and gin'ally, pick a feller and BULLYRAG him so. 1880. JAS. GREENWOOD, Maids in

Tom Sawyer, p.
;

to BALLARAG us, off Cape Lagos. CHARLES LEVER, One of Them, He BULLYRAGGED me. 36. S. CLEMENS ('Mark Twain'), 1876.

better 'n this

BULLY- BUCK.

See

BULLY-BACK.
(old).
i.

p.

Odd People in Odd Places, You should have heard the BULLYRAGGING I got, ma'am, from the
Waiting, in
143.

BULLY COCK,
quot.
1785.

subs.

See
the

GROSE,

Vulgar Tongue. BULLY-COCK, one who foments quarrels in order to rob the persons quarrelling.
2.

Dictionary

of

mistress and the master as well, and I was turned out in the shameful way I've already explained to you, for doing what was no wrong at all, but only what me good-nature tempted me to. 1884. JAS. PAYN, Talk of the Town,
ch.
v.
'

He had

RAGGED

subs. (old).

low round
brim.
See
sets

in his own except by his wife

never been BALLYhouse for nothing

'
'

'

before.
subs,

with broad BILLY-COCK.

hat
3.

(old.)

A man who

BULLYRAGGING, verb, Scolding quial).

(collo-

abuse
ING.]

sometimes swindling.

other people by the ears, so that, while they quarrel, he may rob

BULLYRAG
synonyms,
1863. ch. xviii.
'

(q.V.) see

and [From For

;

WIGGING.

them with impunity.

H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, It would be a good thing for

BULLYRAG or BALLYRAG, verb (colloTo revile abuse scold quial). vehemently usually in vulgar or obscene language also to swindle by means of intimidation. [The etymology is unknown.]
;

she ... if she could bully Miss Eleanor into marrying Captain Hertford, and then that the pair on "em should have the bullying and BALLY-RAGGING of nine thousand a year."
1880.
xxi.,

MRS. PARR,

Adam and
'

Eve,

292.
1

score o

Adam's BULLY-RAGGING.'

There'll be more set to the my coaxin' than ever all be to

[M.]

Bully-Rook.
1882.
col.

373

Bum.
the historical fact that the latter, in this sense, is found from the eighteenth only besides which there century are phonetic difficulties. The

Daily Telegraph, Oct.

19, p. 3,

with

'And you should have heard the i. BULLY-RAGGING I got, ma'am, from the mistress and the master as well.'

BULLY-ROOK or BULLY-ROCK,
(old).

subs.

this term have been applied to a pleasant or boon-companion; later, however, to a swaggerer, a bully, a bravo. [Thought by most etymologists to be a com-

Originally

seems

to

probably onamatoBesides the synonyms mentioned under BLIND CHEEKS, the following may be cited
origin poetic.]
is
:

ENGLISH SYNONYMS.
fiddle;

Bum-

bination

of

BULLY

(q.v.)

bumpkin.
:

ROOK
1596.

(q.v.),

a sharper.]
Sc.
3.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Lefoiyon

(popular

from
tal
:

foire
;

diar-

SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives of

i.,

Windsor, Act

Why

says

my

BULLY-ROOK ?
1G33.
iii.,

SHIRLEY, Wittie Fairc One, Act

(popular) le gardcMichel says mangcr (popular this expression is an old one

rhosa)
;

le

Sc.

4.

we be
ROOK.

delphic,

Such in the spirit of sack, till and prophesy, my BULLY-

and

is

to be found in
'

fran<;oises

Curiositez in the sense of a

'

'

1697.

Praise of Yorkshire Ale.

My

necessary
'

house');
'

le

naze

BULLY-ROCKS, I've been experienced long In most of Liquors. [M.]

1754.

Bully, or

B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet. (2 ed.). BULLY-ROCK, i. a boisterous,

hectoring fellow.

A BULLY RUFFIAN, subs. (old). footpad or highwayman, who,

to the injury of robbery, added the insult of coarse invective.
Cf.,

to or smeller,' (equivalent le soufflet smelling cheat ') a pair of literally (popular le bellows ') prouas (the same as le prose, of nautical origin) la contre - basse the (popular
;
' :

'

double bass.'
schaffouse

Cf.,

le

BRIDLE-CULL.

BULLY TRAP, subs. (old). A man who, though of mild outside demeanour, is a match for any ruffian who may attack him.

words, the town of that name being situated on the Lower du Rhein, and Rhine chute chute du rein, the lower part of the back) le ginglu (popular)
;
;

(popular

Ars musica) a play of

;
:

la
'

tabatiere

(popular
-

literally
tire-lire

the

snuff
:

(popular

box Rigaud
')
;

la

says

this

Quoted by Grose [1785]

BULLY UP
verb.

term

is

in allusion to the
la gibcrne
')
;

means

of subsistence [daily bread] of

up. used in the imperative.

To hurry

(Uppingham

School),

prostitutes)
'

(literally

Mostly

cartridge-box canting term)

;

le

proye (an old

;

le

la figure

(i.e.,
;

cadet (popular) 'the face.' Cf.,

'
'

BUM,

subs,

(vulgar).

i.

The

'

posteriors; or, as 'the part on it,

to

Jamieson puts which we sit.' [Considerable doubt exists as

ally

la canonniere cheeks ') a drain pipe or

'

(liter-

gun

')

I'oignon
;

(literally

popthe
'

the origin of this familiar term. Murray thinks the guess that BUM is an abbreviation of bottom is at variance
' '

machine d moulures le dcpartement du bas Rhin ( the department of the Lower Rhine

onion

')

la

rein

back
;

words)

le

a democ

play
;

upon

le

schelingo-

Bum.
phone
;

374
the

Burn.
tailor cries,

le

Prussien
'

(from
;

Gypsy prusia-tini, translated by Borrow as pistol ') le panier

aux
crottes
crottes

And And

and falls into a couch then the whole quire hold their hips,
;

and

loffe.

=
;

(panier

basket
visage
'

dung)
le
')
;

le

de

campagne
'

fignard
le

(i.e.,

a one')
;

1600. DEKKER, Shoemaker's Holiday, in wks. (1873) I. ,39. Art thou acquainted with neuer a fardingale-maker, nor a French-hood maker, I must enlarge my

eyed cheek
i.e.,
'e

visage sans nez

BUMME.
Act
i.,

the face without a nose

;

1609.

SHAKSPEARE, Timon of Athens,

2.
!

Sc.

petrouskin
;

le

face du grand
;

Turc
le

le
:

tortillon

le

fleurant
')
'

What a coil's here Serving of becks, and jutting out of

BUMS
1

(popular
'

also
'

'

a nose-gay
:

pedzouille

(familiar

peasant or or le cadran
dial)
'

clod

')

le

cadran

iv., 4.

lunaise

(cadran
;
:

to

JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, Your breeches sit close enough BUM. your
1614.

le

piffe
'

medaillon

le (thieves') (popular literally

1729. 83 (2 ed.).

SWIFT,

Intelligencer,

No.

8, p.

a medallion V arriere-train
' :

or
;

'

locket
:

And first his BUM you see him clap Upon the Queen of Sheba's lap.
1742.

')

(familiar
le

lit.

SHENSTONE,

Schoolmistress,

St. 18.

after-carriage ') ular this also

;
'

trefle

(pop'

signifies

to:

All, but the wight of BUM y-galled, he Abhors both bench, and stool, andfourm,

bacco ') messire Luc (familiar Mr. Luke,' sometimes also Mrs. Jones) Nancy.' Cf., le moulin a vent (lit. the wind'

and
in

chair.

1782.

WOLCOT, Lyric
I.,

Odes, No.

i.,

wks. (1809)

12.

That lazy BUM-

delighting thing, Ridly the Chancellor.

'

mill
lune

')

la ponant (popular) in slang lime (popular

;

le

Of
It

An abbreviated form 2. (old.) BUM BAILIFF (q.V.).

1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, I., i., 393. had appeared with courage bolder,

means a
bienseant

large full (popular)

;

face)
le
:

le

(popular and

stands for sou

patois
ballon

petra

thieves' in the Normandy is used inter;

petard it also

Then Sergeant BUM, invading shoulder. 1698-1700. WARD, London Spy, pt.
VII., p. 153-

The Vermin
Does

of the

changeably
loon
;

with petard)

le

bal(popular: ballon the analogy is obvious) le moutardier (i.e., the mustardle baril de moutarde (cads' pot) the mustard barrel) Vobusier the howitzer). (lit.
;
; :

kept his distance, safely now in Triumph come. 1845. DISRAELI, Sybil, bk. III., ch. i. 'Juggings has got his rent to pay, and is afeard of the BUMS.'
3.

Who gladly

Law, the BUM,

ing

A birch(public schools'.) hiding or tanning. For

' ' '
'

GERMAN SYNONYMS.
Toges
;

Tochas
Rioppo.

synonyms,

Doges.

TANNING. also BASH and BASTE.

see

Cf.,

ITALIAN SYNONYM.
1387.
357.
It

Verb (old).

To

arrest.

[An

TREVISA, Higden semeth that his BOM

Rolls, 6 S.,
is
.

oute that
[M.]

obvious allusion to the duty of a BUM or BUM-BAILIFF (q.v.).']

hath that euel

1592.

[ficus, i.e., piles]

SHAKSPEARE,
1.

Mids. Night's
tale,

Dream,

ii., i,

51.

The

wisest aunt telling the saddest

for three-foot stool
I

CHERRY BuMS.swfts. (military). The nth Hussars. CHERRYBUM is a corruption of Cherubim

;

Sometime

mistaketh

me
Then

slip

from her BUM, down topples

she,

but the obvious reference is to the scarlet trowsers worn by this branch of the service. A simi-

Bum
lar

Bags.
to the
rouges.

375

Bumble.
quently contracted into
or dean allusion
to

nickname is given French Chasseurs Culs See CHERUBIM.

BUM

BUMMY.

[Thought

be

To TOE An (low).
physical

ONE'S BUM, phr. implied threat of

rarely,
;

castigation,
'

however, carried out literally to put or 'chuck out to show the door to either will explain
;

rived from BUM (q.v.), to the proximity of such gentry to debtors' backs, + BAILIFF; there is no reason to suppose, as suggested, that the term is a corruption of BOUND-BAILIFF.

The French have pousse

it

cul,

and

the meaning. Sometimes the phrase occurs as TO HOOF ONE'S BUM.'

'

curious that this term is also, in common use, abbreviated to cul, answering to the English
is

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
sur
filer

Sauter
;

contraction, BUM.]
1602.

la

contrebasse

un

coup de
;
:

Voignon (thieves') miere (popular properly to stuff enlever le up the touch-hole ') ballon a quelqu'un (popular the allusion is to raising an air balloon with the foot) donner un coup de pied juste an bon endroit to give a kick just (popular in the right part ') hotter (popular to make or literally supply anyone with boots ') detacher un coup de pinceau dans
'

(popular) trottinet dans bouchcr la lu-

Act

iii.,

Sc.

scout

me

SHAKSPEARE, Twelfth Night, Sir Jo, Go, Sir Andrew; 4.

orchard

for him at the corner of the like a BUM-BAILY.

1628.

Act v.

BAILY,

I was first a Varlet, then a BUMnow an under Jailor. DR. HAWKESWORTH, Edgar 1761. and Emmeline, ii., i. By the heavens!

H. SHIRLEY, Martyr'd Soulilicr,

'

'

'

'

she has the gripe of a BUM-BAILIFF. 1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. We are in right opposition to xvii. and seal, writ and warrant, serjeant sign and tipstaff, catch-poll and BUM-BAILEY.' 1869. MRS. H. WOOD, Roland Yorke,
'

ch. xxxii. in all the

niless,

You know the state we were summer Gerald next to pen'

:

la

giberne

pinceau

de (popular coup 'a kick," or a blow

:
' '

and going about

in fear of the

BUM-BAILIES.'

with the foot

;

giberne

cart-

in ridge-box or, slang, the breech) crever un ceil a quelqu'un to stave in one's (popular
' :

BUM

BASS,
S.

subs. (old).

Explained
p. 415

by quot.
1809.
(ed. 1809).

The humble-bee ought rather,

PEGGE, Anonymiana,

Cf., eye.' le train de

CYCLOPS)
derriere

graisser to (i.e.
' ,

perhaps, to be called the bumble-bee as

it is in some parts, from the deepness of the note, just as the violoncello is called by the vulgar a BUM-BASS.

grease the hinder carriage.'

Cf.,
le

Eng.

BASTING)

detruire

faubourg d quelqu'un (popular: properly FAUBOURG = suburb or outskirt) enlever le schelingo;

BUMBLE,
beadle.

subs,

(common).

phone d quelqu'un (popular).

BUM BAGS,
Trowsers.
posteriors,

subs,

(popular).
(q.v.).]

the

[From BUM,

BAGS

[This term originated in the name of the beadle in Dickens' Oliver Twist, although it may be noted that in the seventeenth century BUMBLE signified a confusion, a jumble.

Hence BUMBLER, an
sul>s.

idle fellow,

BUM
a

BAILIFF, also

BUM

BAILY,

(old). bailiff

An opprobrious name for

or sheriff's officer.

or blunderer. A French equivalent is chasse-coquin (literally a

Cf., BUMBLECREW and BUMBLEDOM.]

beggar driver).

Fre-

Bumble-Crew.
1883.

376

Bum-Brasher.
subs.

Punch, August
'
'

4,

p. 51, col.

i.

helpless nuisance Inspector,

shunned by the

BUMBO,
i.

The

(West

Indian.)

female

pudenda

Ignored by BUMBLES and by Boards of

Works.

term applied by negroes. For synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.

2. Smollett, in a note (old.) to the first quotation as follows, says BUMBO was a liquor composed of rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg.' Grose gives it
'

BUMBLE-CREW,
collective
tions,

subs,

name

A (popular). for corporaand

other

vestries,

official bodies.
(q.v.)

[From BUMBLE CREW.] See BUMBLE-

as

DOM.

brandy, water, and sugar the component parts seem to

'

'

vary according to

taste.

BUMBLEDOM,

subs,

(popular).
;

term applied to the

spirit of collective petty officialism red tape fussiness and pomposity.

SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch. xxxiv. Who were making merry in the ward-room, round a table well stored with BUMBO and wine.
1748.
1756. Diary of a Sussex Tradesman, Sussex Arch. Coll., IX., 188, quoted in N. and Q., 7 S., i., 194. 1756, April 28. I went down to Jones', where we drank one bowl of punch and two muggs of BUMBOO, and I came home again in

[From BUMBLE
1856.
col.
i.

(q.v.)

DOM.]
II.,

in
12,

The

Saturday Review,
collective
[M.]

p.

BUMBLEDOM

of

Westminster.
1884.

Daily News, Dec. 27, p. 6, col. i. Our scheme is unfolded to the chief officer not the slightest trace of BUMBLEDOM about him a kind-hearted, genial, happy-faced individual.

liquor.
1882.
p. 113,

The pitmen and the keelmen trim, They drink BUMBO made of gin.

Northumbrian Minstrelsy, etc., quoted in N. and Q., 7 S., i., 195.

BUMBLE PUPPY, subs, Family whist, i.e.,

whist.

'

(popular). unscientific

'

BUM-BRUSHER,

Also applied, says Hotten, to a game played in public houses on a large stone, placed in a slanting direction, on the lower end of which holes
are made, and numbered like the holes in a bagatelle-table. The player rolls a stone ball, or marble, from the higher end, and according to the number of the hole it falls into the game is counted. It is undoubtedly the very ancient game of Troulein-madame.
1886.
2.

subs, (schoolboys').
;

schoolmaster

also applied

to

an usher.

BRUSHER, in alluposteriors, sion to the office a schoolmaster is sometimes called upon to perform by way of punishment.

[From BUM, the

ENGLISH SYNONYMS.
bottom; haberdasher
nouns.
of

Flaypro-

FRENCH SYNONYMS.
marchand de soupe (marchand

Un

merchant
chien

de
;

soupe cour (i.e.,

;

un soup) 'a watch;

Daily News, Dec.

cards,

25, p. 5, col.

dog

')

un

fouette-cul

(a

literal

Christinas

and another

and mince-pies, helping of turkey, and

translation of BUM-BRUSHER).
1704.

family whist, or

BUMBLE PUPPY.
(general).

T. BROWN, wks. (1760)

II., 86.

[Dionysius]

was forced

to

turn

BUM-

BRUSHER.

BUMBLES,

subs,

Cover-

ings for the eyes of horses that shy in harness. Cf., BLINKERS.

1788. New London Magazine, p. 137. successor was immediately called from great nursery of BUM-BRUSHERS, Appleby School.

that

Bum
1832.

Charter.

377

Binninarec.
FIDDLE,
subs.

To
of

Blackivood's Mag., Oct., p. 426.

BUM

protract existence ... in the shape BUM-BRUSHEKS, and so forth, after the
?

(old).

The
see

posteriors.

fashion of the exalted emigres of 1792

For synonyms, BLIND CHEEKS and BUM.

1838. Comic Almanac, Dec. [Schoolmaster's Letter signed] Barnabas BOM-

BUM

BRUSH.

less
subs,

A restFIDGET, subs. (old). individual. [Obviously

BUM,
i.e.,

from

the

BUM CHARTER,
1819.
J. is

posterior,

+
sit

(thieves').

FIDGET,
still.]

one

who cannot
(old).
i.

Explained by quot.
the name given to bread steeped in hot water by the first unfortunate inhabitants of the English Bastile, where this miserable fare was their daily breakfast, each man receiving with his scanty portion of bread a quart of boiled water from the Cook's Coppers.

CHARTER

H. VAUX, Memoirs,

BUM-

BUM FODDER,
class

subs.

Low
;

worthless
in
2.

term once
sense
1653. 1753.

literature a Sec literary use.

Rabelais,
xiii.

URQUHART,
Scots'

I.,

Torche-culs, arsewisps,
col.
i

BUM FODDERS.
p. 208, for the ladies.

BUM CLINK,

subs, (provincial). In the Midland counties the inferior beer brewed for haymakers and harvest labourers.

(title).

BUM FODDER
(low.)

Magazine, April,

[M.]

2.

Toilet

paper,

otherwise
(q.v.).

[Derivation obvious.] For syno-

known as CURL PAPER Cf. BUMF.

nyms,

see

SWIPES.
subs.

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BUM FODDER, soft paper

BUM CURTAIN,
i.

for the necessary house, or torche-cul.

Univ.). scant and short especially applied to the short

An academical gown
;

(Cambridge

when worn
black

BUMMAREE,

subs,

(common).

gown worn members of Caius

1835.

till

1835 by
Cf.,

College.

BUM-PERISHER.
(Quoted in
'

Whibley's

Three

Centuries of Cambridge Wit [1889].) Tis the College of Caius 'tis the land where the BUM

Billingsgate middle-man. These men, who are not recognised as regular salesmen by the trade, are speculative buyers of large quantities of fish, which they re-sell in smaller lots. [The origin of the name is unknown,

though

some

have
;

specu-

CURTAIN
jolly

'

lately

was sported by each

But now black and blue are the gowns that they wear Like the eye of a drunkard returned from a fair.

chum,

lated that it may be from the French bon marce others, however, think that it is akin to
bomerie, a French word for in England is known as

what
'

bot-

BUMF subs, (schooboys ). Paper. [An abbreviation of BUM-FODDER (q.v.), an obvious allusion
)

to toilet paper.]

BUMFHUNT,
lege).

subs.

A paper-chase.
the
for

from

(Wellington Col[Derived popular schoolboy

paper,
i.e.,

name

BUMF

tomry,' i.e., the act of borrowing money and pledging the bottom of the ship, i.e., the ship itself, for the re-payment of the money. It is argued that the leading idea in thus borrowing money on a ship's keel is the hazarding all on a single venture hence possibly its application to other transactions, especially those connected with
:

Bummed.
;

378

Bummer.
fication, BUMMER is used as a general term of reproach in the same way as rascal, blacketc., are used in England. Other equivalents are HEELER, STRIKER, STUFFER, and PRACTICAL POLITICIAN.

the sea such as wholesale purchases of fish, in which a large risk is run with an uncertain prospect of return which is, it must be confessed, a somewhat
far-fetched
also called
1786.

leg,

wholesale retailing

This derivation.] of fish is

IT.

BUMMAREEING

a. 1865.

Report of Committee of City of London on Price of Provisions, 31. The BOMAREES will buy up half the fish the Salesmen have, and sell to the Fish-

Great March.

mongers.
1851.

[M.]

MAYHEW, London Labour and

'

In Billingsgate the I., 71. 'forestallers or middle men are known The BUMMAREE is as BUMMAREES the jobber or speculator on the fish
. . .

London Poor,

BUMMERS ain't so bad after all. We keep ahead of the skirmish line allers we let's 'em know when an enemy's a comin', and then we ain't allus away from the regiment. We turns over all we don't want ourselves, and we can
;

MAJOR NICHOLS, Sherman's Look hyar, Captain, we

lick five times as

many Rebs
CLEMENS
It,

as

we

are

any day.
1872.
S.

L.

('Mark

exchange.
SALA, Twice Round the Clock, 4 a.m., p. 17. Any one can be a BUMThe process of BUMBAREEING BAREE It consists in buying as is very simple. largely as your means will afford of an auctioneer, hiring a stall for sixpence, and retailing the fish at a swingeing
1859.
. . .

Twain

'),

Roughing

ch.

xxiv.

The

auctioneer stormed up
streets on

and down the

him

for four days, dispersing

profit.

the populace, interrupting business, and destroying children, and never got a bid at least never any but the eighteendollar one he hired, a notoriously substanceless BUMMER, to make. The people only smiled pleasantly, and restrained their desire to buy, if they had any.
1872.

BUMMED,^//,
Cf. verb,

BUM

adj. (old).

Arrested.

Sacramento

Weekly

Union,

and BUM-BAILIFF.
(old.)
i.

BUMMER,
BAILIFF
2.

subs,

Feb. 24, p. 2. All the boys to be trained as scriveners, tape-measurers, counterhoppers, clerks, pettifoggers, polite loafers, street-hounds, hoodlums, and

BUM;

BUMMERS.
1875.

(q.v.).

heavy loss a (turf.) severe pecuniary reverse. 3. (American.) An idler loafer looter sponger (see
;
; ;

San Francisco is the Elysium of BUMMERS. Nowhere can a worthless fellow,

too lazy to work, too cowardly to steal, get on so well. The climate befriends him, for he can sleep out of doors fourfifths of the year. He can gorge himself daily for a nominal sum, and get a dinner that a king might envy for fifty cents.
1877.

Scribner's Magazine,

p.

274.

quots.).

[From

the

German

with a somewhat bnmmler, similar meaning, save that the

term is used good naturedly, and has not altogether the offensive meaning of the American The term came equivalent.] into general use at the time of
the
Civil

ch.

xiii.

W. BLACK, Green Past, and Pice., Then the great crowd of BUMloafers, not finding the soil off like

MERS and

teeming with nuggets, stampeded a herd of buffalo.

Coy

War, when

it

was

specially applied to a straggler, hanger-on, or free-lance, partiwith connection cularly in

1888. Philadelphia Press, Jan. 29. is the chairman of the Democratic Central Committee in Marion County, and has wielded great power in politics as the boss of the BUMMERS. 1888. Detroit Free Press, May 16. He finds that ten per cent, of the men who patronise these places have a col-

General

march
sea.

famous Sherman's from Atlanta to the

its political signi-

Besides

legiate education forty per cent, are self-supporting, but prefer this precarious mode of living to anything more
;

Bumming.
respectable
;

379

Bump-Supper.
private worth, for which they have long been so pre-eminently distinguished, we predict that this charming actress will be greeted with a BUMPER.
3.

ten per cent, earn excellent wages, and twenty per cent, are chronic BUMS, who beg or steal the price of their
lodgings.

Hence BUMMERISM, to express of loafing and petty stealing, and BUMMERISH (adj.).
habits

(cards'.)

When,

in

long

whist, one side has scored eight before the other has scored a point, a BUMPER is the result.

BUMMING,
College).
ing.

verb,

subs.

thrashing, or lickCf., BUM, sense i.

(Wellington

BUM PERISHER, BUM-SHAVER,

(common).
a jacket.

suits.
;

A short-tailed coat
[From
'

BUMP, subs. (University). When one boat touches another in a race it is said to make a BUMP,' and technically beats its oppo'

BUM, the posteriors, + PERISHER, a slang that which variant of perishes,"

or
fails

to
Cf.,

etc.).]

BUM

protect

(from cold, CURTAIN.

nent.

Cf.,

verbal

sense,

and

BUMPING RACE.

BUMPING RACE,
races,

subs. (University).

To overtake and touch Verb. an opposing boat, thus winning

the heat or race.

Eight-oared
of
fifteen

inter-Collegiate

rowed in two divisions and sixteen boats

(q.v.),

respectively, including a SAND-

THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.iii. listened, and with respect too, to Mr. Foker's accounts of what the men did at the University of which Mr. F. was an ornament, and encountered a
1849.

He

WICH BOAT
boat
of

long series of stories about boat-racing, BUMPING, College grass-plats, and milkpunch. 1860. Macmillan's Magazine, March,

the top i.e., second division, which rows bottom of the first. The boats in each division start at a distance apart of 175 feet from stern to stern in the order
the
at

which they
preceding

left

off at

the

The chances making a BUMP the

p.

331.

of St. Ambrose's
first

last

night were

boat
in

weighed.
Sketches from Cambridge, p. 7. I can still condescend to give our boat a stout when it makes a BUMP.
1865.

which BUMPS another

any
is
it

race, and overtakes,

(i.e.,

any and
it

touches

part) before the

post

winning reached, changes place

DICKENS, Dictionary of Cambridge, p. n. Any boat which overtakes before the and BUMPS another
1886-7.
. . .

with

for the next race.

winning post
with
it

for the

is reached, changes place next race.

BUMPKIN, subs. (old). A humorous term for the posteriors.

1658.

i. BUMPER, subs, (common). Anything of superlative size, whether a 'big lie,' horse, house, or woman. Cf., CORKER, WHOPPER, and THUMPER.

And

so

take

[InNares] Wit Restored. my leave prithee, sweet

;

Thumkin, Hold up thy coats,

BUMKIN.

that

may

kisse thy

2.

(theatrical.)

full

or

BUMP-SUPPER, A supper
'

subs.

(University).

to

commemorate

crowded house.
1838.

DICKENS, Nich. Nickleby, ch.

'

In the confidence that our fellow-towsmen have not lost that high appreciation of public utility and
xxiv., p.
192.

the fact of the boat of the college having, in the annual races, BUMPED or touched the boat of another college immediately in front. Cf., BUMPING RACE.
'

Bumptious.
BUMPTIOUS, adj. (colloquial). on self-sufficient Arrogrant good terms with oneself. [Murray puts this down as a formation from BUMP on the model of
;
; '

380

Bunce.
ppl.
adj.
;

BUMSQUABBLED,

(Ameri;

Discomfitted defeated can). stupified. Cf., BUM-FIDDLED, in

first
1620.

quot.
I

fractious.

'

It is of

recent intro-

And am
bastard
?

FLETCHER, The Chances, I., v. now BUM-FIDDLED with a

HALIBURTON, The Clock-

duction.]

1835-40.

MAD. 1803. Letters, vi., 324.

BUMPTIOUS
toto.
!

D'ARBLAY, Diary and No, my dearest Padre, no, I deny the charge in

[M.]

1849. DICKENS, D. Coppcrficld, ch. I heard that Mr. p. 53 (C.D.). Sharp's wig didn't fit him, and that he needn't be so 'bounceable' somebody about it, because else said BUMPTIOUS his own red hair was very plainly to be seen behind.
vi.,
'
'

No sooner said maker, p. 251 (ed. 1862). than done, Mount Sheer Bullfrog gave the case in our favour in two twos, said Eyetaliano had got too much already, cut him off the other two-thirds, and
look

made him pay all costs. If he BUMSQUABBLED it's 3 pity.

didn't

BUM SUCKER,
;

subs,
;

(general).

A
;

Lines, ch. xiii. It was all very well while he was fresh, and having things pretty much as he liked. So long he was BUMP-

1883.

HAWLEY SMART, Hani

sponger toady lick-spittle BUM + hanger-on. [From SUCKER, allusion obvious.] Cf.,

BUM.

A French equivalent is une

subs.
(old).

TIOUS enough.

Icche-cul.

BUMPTIOUSNESS,
self-conceit.
(q.v.)
1865.

subs, (colloquial).
;

BUM TRAP,
Cf.,
ch.

bailiff.

Self-assertiveness

arrogance

[From BUMPTIOUS
to

NESS.]

BUM-BAILIFF. 1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk. VII., iii. The noble BUM-TRAP, blind and

Barbary, p. 150. SALA, Trip Poor Albert Smith, than whom, with all his occasional BUMPTIOUSNESS, an honester and more clear-sighted hater of snobbery and shams never lived.

deaf to every circumstance of distress, greatly rises above all the motives to humanity, and into the hands of the jailor resolves to deliver his miserable prey.
i. A BUN, subs. (American). one who cannot be sponger shaken off. 2. The female (common).
;

BUM

cushion worn by women to extend the dress at the back an equivalent of the modern
bustle or dress-improver. [From ROLL, in BUM, the posteriors, the sense of pad or cushion.] At one time these were called

ROLL, subs. (old).

pad or

pudenda.

For synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE. To TAKE Or YANK THE BUN,

(general).
;

verbal phr.
first

To

take
first

CORK RUMPS, but

see

for

synonyms,
Poetaster,
II.,

BIRD-CAGE.

to obtain place honours. A variant of THE CAKE. See CAKE.

TAKE

The

1601.
i.

Nor you nor your house was

of,

BEN JONSON, The

before
I

so

much
to

French say
BUNCE,
(old).

decrocher la timballe.

as spoken

disbased myself
firthingal,

from

these BUM-ROWLS, and your whale-bone bodice.

my hood and my

BUNSE

or subs. BUNT, Originally money, a sig-

nification

which

it

still

retains

KILLIGREW, Parson's Wedding, Old Plays, XL, 460. Those worthies [of a bawd] rais'd her from the flat petticoat and kercUer, to the gorget and BUM-ROLL.
1663.

generally, however, profit, to the good. gain, anything [Thought to be a corruption of

more

Buncer.
boniisJ]

381

Bunco.
1883. Daily Telegraph, April 30, p. 3, col. 2. The fingers are bent into such an ungraceful BUNCH OF FIVES, as to be suggestive both of chalkstones and of sausages.

See quot., 1851. For synonyms in the sense of money, see ACTUAL.
1719.

D'URFEY,
better.
[M.]

come no
all

Oh oh
!

Pills, 278.
!

If

cards

shall lose

my

BUNS.

ENGLISH
ley
;

SYNONYMS.
;

Mau-

1851-61.
still

H. MAYHEW, London Lab.

vol.
'

and Lou. Poor,

other
'

I.,

p. 37.

agents

mongers, and these are the boys deputed to sell a man's goods for a certain sum, all over that amount being the boys' profit or BUNTS. Ibid, p. 526. There are a great number of boys engaged by costermongers or small tradesmen, to sell upon commission, or, as it is termed,
'
' . . .

among

There are the coster-

(this

is

origin, and to mean five fingers, but see

cornstealer fam or fern said to be of Gypsy

five,
i.e.,

Fehm
;
;

in

German
1

synonyms)
;

famble

for
. . .

BUNSE (probably

a
:

corruption of
for good).

bonus,

a certain quantity of saleable commodities is given to a boy whom a costermpnger knows and
is this

The mode

bone being the slang

(see preceding ) picker goll (a seventeenth term century make them hold up their spread GOLLS,' says Ben Jonson, in the Poetaster] fin daddle
; ; ;

flipper.

GERMAN
or

SYNONYMS.

Fehm

perhaps employs, and it is arranged that the young commission-agent is to get a particular sum for them, which must be paid to the costermonger I will say 33. For these articles the lad may ask and obtain any price he can, and whatever he obtains beyond the stipulated 35., is his own profit or BUNSE. Ib., p. 36. But you see the boys will try it on for their BUNTS.
;

Vehm, or Vehn (more corThis appears to rectly Fern. be the same word as the English seventeenth century colloquialism for the hand [see preceding] and is most likely derived from
,

1881. A Chequered Career, p. 270. In the stable, and particularly in liverystables, there is a box into which all tips

the Swedish and Danish fern = five, than from the Gypsy which indeed contains no such word) Griffling or Greifling (from greifen,
;

are placed.

This
subs,

is

called BUNT.

BUNCER,

One (common). who sells on commission, as described under BUNCE (q.v.).

Jail (Hebrew jad, the Kaf (from the Hebrew hand) the [hollow] hand). kapJi
;

to seize)
; ;

ITALIAN
tola

SYNONYMS.

Taran-

(an allusion to the many tentacles and close grip of the

BUNCH OF FIVES, subs, (common). The hand or fist. [An obvious

allusion
to

tarantula spider) cerra calchi deir ala (literally the foot of the
; ;

the

five

fingers

gathered or bunched together on the hand.]

vii.

Cf., doigts du pied) grettina (properly a small sand;

arm.

French

bank).

SPANISH SYNONYMS.

Labra-

1847. LYTTON, Lucrctia, pt. Is this a h-ann, and this a

'

II.,

ch.

BUNCH

OF FIVES
18G3.

?'

dora (this, it is curious to note, is an obsolete Spanish term sig-

xxxiv.

READE, Hard Cash, ch. look at that BUNCH OF FIVES,' continued the master and laid a hand, white and soft as a duchess's, on
C.
'

Now

nifying literally a laborious or hard-working woman, and the inference from this fact is

the table.
1882.
col.

obvious)
chors).

anclas

(literally

an-

He smote crashingly down. i. with a lead-weighted truncheon he held

. .

Punch,

vol.

LXXXIL,
FIVES.

p. 133,

BUNCO

or

BUNCO

in his dexter

BUNCH OF

(American).

GAME,

subs.

swindling

game

Bunco -Steer er.

with cards or unlike three card monte. [From the Italian banco, a bench or bank]
played
dice,

382

Bundle.
he may be seen talking
intended
to his victim, but, unless caught in an overt act, he cannot be interfered with. People

either

not

2.

Philadelphia Times, No. 289, 2. Tom's method of BUNCO was the well1883.
[M.]

whom

BUNCO-STEERERS

lay

known

lottery game. 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Feb. 2. Robert B. Barnet, a plumber doing business in Grant Street, this city, was arrested in Allegheny to-night, on the charge of being implicated in the recent BUNCO GAME in which William Murdoch, an old and prominent citizen, was rob-

bed

of 10,000 dols.

for, are generally stand high in their communities consequently it is almost impossible to get victims to become complainants, as they do not care to figure in the police courts, and the thieves get practically a free

their snares

men who

rob, cheat, or swindle by means of the BUNCO GAME or by what in England

Verb.
i.
;

To

field for their operations.

1876.
. . .

BESANT

AND

RICE,

Golden

is

known

as

the

confidence
Detec-

trick, etc.
1887.

Butterfly, p. 235. The BUNCO-STEERER will find you put the morning after you land in Chicago or St. Louis. He will accost you very friendly,

tives Kirby and Funk last night spotted P. Ramby, the person accused of havJ. ng

Cincinnati Enquirer.

BUNKOED Ex-County Commissioner

Cotnty, out
of

Stephens, of Greene
2,300 dols. in
1888.

Xenia recently.

near Canton, Ohio, was BUNKOED out of 2,000 dols. to-day by two sharpers who escaped.
2.

April

14.

Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean, John Brothers, a farmer living

From
the

the primary mean-

verb TO BUNCO has come to be synonymous with

ing,

wonderful friendly when you come out of your hotel, by your name, and he will remind you which is most surprising, considerin' you never set eyes on his face before how you have dined together in Cincinnati, or it may be Orleans, or perhaps Francisco, because he finds out where you came from last and he will shake hands with you; and he will propose a drink and he will pay for that drink; and presently he will take you somewhere else, among his pals, and he will strip you so clean, that there won't be left the price of a fourcent paper to throw around your face and hide your blushes. In London they do the confidence trick.
; ; .

any attempt at swindling. So also with various derivatives, BUNCO-CASE, BUNCO-MAN, BUNCO-STEERER (q.V ).
BUNCO-STEERER,
subs.

1888.

Daily

Andrew Carnegie

Inter-Ocean, Feb. 14. fell into the hands of

a BUNCO-STEERER in Pittsburg, Saturday night, but was rescued by a detective before he lost anything.

BUNKO-STEERER,

confidence-trick man. The means these men adopt to win confidence are always varied and sometimes unique. They are extremely wary, and it is oftentimes with considerable difficulty that the arm of the law, long as

(American).

swindler;

BUNDLE, verb

(old).
(q.V.).

To

practise

BUNDLING
1781.
cut.
It is

S.

PETERS, Gen. Hist, Connecti-

thought but a piece of civility

to ask [a lady]
1797.

TO BUNDLE.

assumed to be, can lay hold A BUNCO-STEERER them. may be well known to the police as a professional swindler, and
it is

of

or Isles of Holland, after this manner. When the wench is gone to bed, the fellow enters the room and lays himself down in his clothes upon the blankets, next unto her, with one window of the room open, and thus he talks with her, very innocently as it is reported.

SEWELL. Queeston is an odd way of wooing usual in some sea towns

Bundling.

383
1814.
1842.

Bung.
Quarterly Review,X., 517. [The
in.]

1809. W. IRVING, Knickerbocker Van Corlear History of New York. stopped occasionally in the villages to dance at country frolics, and BUNDLE with the Yankee lasses.
. .
.

custom spoken of
C.
etc.,

MASSON, Journal BaloIII.,

chistan,

287.

Many

of

the

Afghan

tribes

Americanisms, p. 448. To BUNDLE, a custom still prevalent in Wales, and not unfrequently practised in the West, of men and women sleeping with all their
1871.

SCHELE

DE VERB,

similar to

have a custom in wooing, what in Wales is known as

BUNDLING-UP. 1868. W. H. DIXON, Spiritual Wives, vol. II., p. 31. An old custom, which
exists (I believe) in Wales as well as in parts of Pennsylvaniaand New England, permits under the name of BUNDLING," certain free, but stiil innocent endearments to pass between lovers who are
'

clothes on,

room

to

when there is not houseprovide better accommodation.

BUNDLING or BUNDLING UP, subs. A custom now obsolete, (old). but formerly in vogue where bed accommodation was scarce, of men and women sleeping on the same bed together without having removed their clothes. The practice is mentioned by Wright as having been customary in Wales, and it will be

engaged.

H. R. STYLES, BUNDLING its 1871. Origin, Progress, and Decline in America, title. [Contains also its history in England, Wales, Holland, curious songs,
;

etc.]

The custom

C. WAKE, Evol. Moral., 1878. of BUNDLING Celtic peoples. [M.]

. . ,

I.,

401.

among

BUNG,
cant.)

BONG,
i.

remembered

that

Washington

BOUNG,
purse.

subs,

(old

[One

of

Irving alludes to it in his Knickerbocker History of New York. Whatever may have been the case in former times, it does not appear to be a habit either in the Mother Country or the New World at the present day, even in the districts most remote

the oldest cant terms in the language, the origin of which is

unknown, though, says Murray, its resemblance to the O.E. pung, " a purse," is worth Also called SKIN or notice.']
entirely
'

POGE
term
1567.

(q.v.}. is la plotte.

French

thieves'

from civilization. No question immodesty seems to have attached to the custom indeed, attempts were made to prove that BUNDLING was very right and proper. On this point, howof
;

HARMAN, Caveat
a purse.

(1814), p. 65.

BOUNG,
1591.

Ibid, p. 86.

GREENE, Second Part Conny-

catching, in wks., vol. X., p. 96.

vseth his knife, and if he see a lie faire, strikes the stroke.
1610.
p. 37 (H.

The Nip BOUNG

opinions will vary conAlso used in verbal siderably.

ever,

now vsed
c.

ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, Club's Repr., 1874). BUNG is for a pocket, heretofore for a

form TO BUNDLE.
1809.

Cf.,

CAULK.

purse.

History

W. IRVING, Knickerbocker of New York. Among other

hideous customs they [the Yankees] attempted to introduce that of BUNDLING, which the Dutch lasses of the Nederlandts, with their eager passion for novelty and for the fashions, natural to their sex, seemed very well inclined to follow, but that their mothers, being more experienced in the world and better acquainted with men and things, discountenanced all such outlandish
innovations.

CLEVELAND, Cleivelandi Vin99 (ed. 1677). He is in the Inof the Purse an Authentick Gypsie, that nips your BUNG with a canting Ordinance. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. 1671. I., ch. v., p. 47. BOUNG, a Purse.
1658.
dicia:, p.

quisition

1706.

E. COLES, Eng. Diet.

BUNG,
Cf.,

a purse.
2.

(old.)

pickpocket.

BUNG-NIPPER BUNG, sense i. (q.v.) was in general usage later.

Bung.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, King Henry IV., Doll. Away, you cut-purse rascal By this wine, filthy BUNG, away! knife in your mouldy I'll thrust chaps, an' you play the saucy cuttle with
ii.,

384

Bung- Juice.
to deceive

one by a

lie,

to

CRAM,

4.

you

which
BUNGAY.
gation

see.

my

me.
1658.

BUNG observing
beside him.
3.

An Age for Apes,

this,

p. 232.

My

(general).

Go TO BUNGAY pkr. A euphemistic objur!

takes hold of time,

his purse that lay

equivalent

to

consign-

Just as this lord

And smoothly rims

was drawing for a prime,

(common.)

A
'

brewer;

ment to a region the climate of which is tropical in character. For analogous phrases, see Go TO HELL.
BUNG-EYED, comp. ppl. i. Drunk mon).
adj.
;

landlord of a public house, etc. [An allusion to the BUNGS, or large corks used in the mouths of beer barrels.]
'

(comfuddled
; :

Magazine (The Inner Life of a Man-of-War), Feb. From time immemorial these gentlemen [master's assistants] have had to stand at the grog-butt and see the grog served out an important duty, the discharge of which has invested them, such is the playfulness of naval humour, with the
1863.

Cornhill

SCREWED, which see for synonyms. [Derivation uncertain possibly from the Scotch bung,' a low word quoted by Jamieson as meaning tipsy or fuddled,
'

title

of

BUNGS.
Graphic, Feb.
23, p. 170, col.
i.

1884.

That Sir Wilfrid Lawson had turned BUNG, and applied for a spirit licence.
i. Generally Verb (pugilistic). BUNG UP, i.e., to close or shut up the eyes by means of a blow that causes a swelling. Formerly used of the mouth,

with perhaps an indirect allusion to the bunged or crooked distorted eye, the result of a See sense 2.] fight or squabble.
1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, One coarsebk. III., ch. iii., p. 268. featured fellow, who was nearly BUNGEYED over his beer (as they call being drunk).

2.

see
'

straight

unable Cross-eyed boss-eyed

; ' '

to

or

ears,

etc.,

and

in literary use,

'

but
ism.

now regarded

as a vulgarCf. verb, sense 2.

SQUINNY-EYED
verb
;

(q.V.).

BUNGFUNGER,

G. HARVEY, Pierces Super., in 1593. wks. (Grosart) II., 128. That will BUNGUP their mouthes with a Collyrium of all the stale iestes in a country. 1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 247. The waies beyond sea were so BUNGD VP with your dayly oratours or Beadsmen and your crutchet or croutthat a snaile coulde not chant friers wriggle in her homes betwixt them.
. .
.

(American).

To

startle

to confuse.

Com-

with BUMBSQUABBLED. pare Also used as an adjective for 'confounded.'

1835-40.

HALIBURTON,
'

The

Clock-

Well, father, I maker, p. 91 (ed. 1862). thought he'd a fainted too, he was so struck up all of a heap he was com;

1835. ch. xix.

HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i I BUNGED UP both eyes

'

S.,

pletely

BUNG-FUNGERED."
subs,

for

him.'
2.

BUNG -JUICE,
(old.)
;

(thieves').

To
;

hand over drink BUNG over almost any action. the rag,' hand over the money. Used by Beaumont and Fletcher, and Shakspeare. Also,
'

give; pass; or to perform

Porter, or beer. [From BUNG, a stopper for casks in which beer is kept, JUICE. Cf., COW-JUICE for milk, etc.] For

synonyms, SWIPES.

see

DRINKS

and

Bung
BUNG KNIFE
(old)
.

Knife.
KNIFE, subs.

385

Bunkum.
as

or

BOUNG

Considerable uncertainty exists as to the nature or use It has howof this implement. ever been conjectured that as old cant word BOUNG was an for a purse, that BOUNG KNIFE may therefore have been a
kept in the purse or but concerning this nothing definite can be stated.
knife
girdle,
1592. GREENE, Quip for Courtier (Hart. Misc., V., 407).

They didn't run such risks Do now of getting sold.

we

sooner does a bank go queer, You hear the same old strain, There's another bald-headed Manageer,

No

Has BUNKED
1885.

across to Spain.
!

It

was

And BUNKED with

is

Referee, Feb. 16, p. 7, col. 3. just such a parcel, bless him he'd clasped to his noble breast,

out

o'

the building.

them had on

Upstart One of .a skeine like a bruer's

'What 1887. Fun, g Nov., p. 201. a vanishing point ?' said the schoolmaster to little Billy. The corner you BUNKS round when the "slops" after yer,' warbled the golden-haired child.
'

2.

BOUNG-KNIFE.

To

(Wellington

College.)
.

expel [from the school]

BUNG NIPPER or BOUNG NIPPER, subs.

(old).

cut-purse

a sharper.

canting term for a purse, + NIPPER, a thief, i.e., one who In French, to nips or steals.] nip a bung is coupcr tine queue de rat, i.e., literally to cut off a rat's tail but for synonyms, see AREA;

[From

BUNG

(q-v.),

an

old

BUNKER, subs, (common). Beer. For synonyms, see DRINKS and SWIPES.

BUNKUM,
subs.

BUNCOMBE,
(American).

BUNCOME,

Talking merely for talking' s sake; clapall

trap of
its

kinds

gas

tall talk.

The employment
original
political
is

SNEAK and THIEVES.

of the word in sense of insincere

BUNG UPWARDS,
face.

adv. phr. (old).

Said of a person lying on his

speaking or claptrap ascribed to a member of Congress, Felix Walker, from

Buncombe County, North Carolina, who explained that he was

subs,

BUNK,

(common).
C/.,

Hasty
verb.

merely talking for BUNCOMBE,

his fellow members could understand why he was making a speech. Judge Haliburton (Sam Slick) in explaining this word says that 'all over America, every place likes to hear of its member of Congress, and see their speeches and, if they don't, they send a piece

departure.

BUNK,

[Of

when
not

unknown
c.

derivation.]
Broadside Ballad, 'Peck's

1870.

Bad Boy.' Of course you're heard of Peck's bad boy, that dreadful Yankee lad, Who's bothered his poor parents so
they've both gone raving mad,

put a pound of old Scotch snuff into poor Buddha's trunk, The keeper tried to catch him, but the bad boy did a BUNK.

He

to the paper, inquirin'

if

their

Verb
off; to
see

(common). i. To be decamp. For synonyms,

members died a natural death, or was skivered with a bowiefor they hante seen his speeches lately, and his friends are anxious to know his fate. Our free and enlightened citizens don't approbate silent
knife,

AMPUTATE.
we
' '

Broadside Ballad, 'Oh, c. 1872. are a getting on.' stocking used a bank to be, In the good old days of old,

members

it

don't

seem

to

them

25

Bunkum.
Squashville, or Punkinsor Lumbertown was right represented, unless Squashville, or Punkinsville, or Lumbertown
as
if

386
and

Bunt.
artillery,

had issued a BUNKUM

ville,

proclamation.
1884. Echo, May 12, p. 4, col. 2. It will be seen that the wonderful tales about the favourites were like the reports about Richmond's lameness, all

makes itself heard and known, and feared too. So every feller, in bounden duty, talks, and talks big too, and the
ay,

BUNKUM.
1888.

Daily Inter-Ocean,
;

March

3.

This thing of trying

is all

BUNCOMBE

it

to rule a husband can't be done. You

smaller the
bigger,

State, the louder, fiercer its members talk. Well, when a critter talks for talk's sake, jist to have a speech in the paper to send to

and

can coax most men, bribe some, and govern a very few, but that vulgar rubbing of the fur the right way wins every
time.
col. 2.

home, and not for any other airthly puppus but electioneering, our folks call it BUNKUM.' The term is now universal on both sides of the water, and, indeed, wherever English is So much is this the spoken.
the expression may now fairly claim a permanent The place in the language.
case that

in the three words,

Pall Mall Gazette, 18 Oct., p. 6, His explanation was contained Bosh, rubbish, and BUNKUM." Was it not time, asked the
1889.
'

the speaker, great unwashed should declare that the great unpaid
that
' '

'

'

were no longer them ?

at liberty

to

oppress

BUNKY,

adj.

Awkward
BUNNICK,
settle
;

(Christ's Hospital).
;

ill-finished.

primary meaning has been some-

verb

(common).

To

what
'

enlarged.
'

'That's
'

all

to dispose of.

BUNCOMBE
That's
absurdity.'

is

all

equivalent to nonsense or 'an

;

1886. Punch, 17 July, p. 25. 'Owsomever we've BUNNICKED up Gladsting, a

barney

all

patriots enjoy.

Also used attributively for example, a BUNKUM proclamation,

BUNNY GRUB,
the

subs.

(Cheltenham

BUNKUM

logic,

BUNKUM

politicians, etc.
1841.

Green vegetables, College). such as cabbage, lettuce, and

like. [Obviously from BUNNY, a pet name for a rabbit, a slang term for -fGRUB,
i.e.,

He was
tO 2

Richmond Compiler, Aug. 17. not speaking to the House but

BUNKUM.

1859. SALA, Tw. Round the Clock, These tales, full of a.m., par. 9. sound and fury, told by honourable idiots
full of

provender,

food akin to that

unutterable BUNKUM (an AmeriI feel constrained to use, as signifying nothingness, ineffably inept and irremediably fire-perforated windbaggery, and sublimated cucumber sunbeams hopelessly eclipsed into Dis)
'
'

canism

upon which rabbits are fed.] At the Royal Military Academy and other schools an equivalent is GRASS (q.v.).
BUNSE.
See

BUNCE.

Black-wood's April. Mag., This parable, explaining the origin of BUNCOMBE, would form a very useful text to set up, handsomely illustrated, over the Speaker's chair in Parliament.'
1861.
'

BUN-STRUGGLE or BUN-WORRY, subs. A tea meeting given (military). to soldiers. For synonymous
terms,
see

New York Tribune, Feb. n. 1862. Despatch from Kansas. General Sibley
was within
thirty miles of Fort Craig, with twenty-five hundred Texans, with

TEA

FIGHT.

BUNT.

See

BUNCE.

Bunter.
BUNTER,
subs,
;

387

Burke.
of names SPIKE, PARK, etc.; and every Chief- Justice stands For full list godfather to it. of such names, see CAGE.
1861.

(harlotry).
;

i.

prostitute one who adds theft to her other vocation also a term of contempt for any low

woman.

See,

however, quot.

from Dyche, 1748, and Mayhew, For analogous terms, see 1851. BARRACK-HACK.
1705-7.

DUTTON COOK, Paul

'

Foster's

Daughter, ch.

whatever you
at.'

David, be respectable, be respectable, and BURDON'S HOTEL is not for you to sojourn
ii.

are,

E.

WARD, Hudibras

Rediv.,

II., ii. (1715), 25. Punks, Strolers, Market Dames, and BUNTERS. [M.] 1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch. xlvii. And asked with some heat, if he thought I had spent the evening in a cellar with chairmen and HUNTERS. 1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).

BURICK or

BURERK,

subs,

Latterly applied to any woman or 'lady,' especially one showily dressed, but formerly a thief's term for a prostitute.
1819.
is J.

(old).

BUNTER

(s.),

one

who goes about

the

streets to gather rags, bones, etc. 1759. WALPOLE, Parish Register. Here Fielding met his BUNTER Muse,

a prostitute, or
1851.

common woman. MAYHEW, London Labour and

H. VAUX, Memoirs. BURICK

London

And, as they quaff'd the fiery juice, Droll Nature stamp'd each lucky hit, With unimaginable wit.
1763.
542.
I

Poor, I., p. 262. If they can meet with the BURERK (mistress) or the young
ladies, etc.
1889. Answers, July 20, p. 121, col. 2. Let him ask the loafer what his Monekear (name) is whether he can drink a shant of patter (pint of beer) whether
' '

British Magazine, vol. IV., p. heard a BUNTER at the Horse. . .

'

'

Guards

swear she would not venture

x.

into the Park.

1765.

BUNTERS who swagger

London.
1851-61.

GOLDSMITH, Essays,

The

in the streets of

he finds the bone or gammy that is good or bad as regards begging; and which sex gives him most the BURERKS*
' '

'

'

'

(ladies), or the

'

Toffs

'

(gentlemen).

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 158. They were known by the name of BUNTERS, which
signifies properly gatherers of rags.

Amongst French equivalents

for

a well-dressed
is

woman may
;

be mentioned une panuche

(this

Explained by quotation. [BUNTER here may be a confused variant of BUNKER, one who runs away or slopes.']
'

2.

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 223. There is a class of women technically known as BUNTERS,
1851.

also applied to a prostitute living in a brothel) une dubuge une faraude (the masculine form, tin faraud, signifies a vulgar fellow proud of smart clothes a snob, a swell).
;

name

who take lodgings, and after staying some time run away without paying
their rent.

BURKE, verb (military). To dye the moustache and whiskers. [BURKE properly is to smother or

HOTEL,

subs,

(thieves').

Whitecross Street Prison, of

hush up, and the allusion in the military term is to the practice which once prevailed in smart
regiments of dyeing or smothering the natural colour of the hair for the sake of uniformity. The regulations at one time as regards the style of wearing the hair were very stringent and
precise.]

which the Governor was a Mr. Burden. Almost every prison has a nickname of this kind, either from the name of the Governor, or from some local

The Queen's circumstance. Bench has an immense number

Burn.
BURN,
verb (thieves').

388

Burst.
BURNING THE PARADE, phr. (old). Thus explained by Grose Warning more men for a guard than were necessary, and ex: '

To

cheat

to swindle.

BURNANDED,

verb

(?

To
same

nonce word).
(of

pilfer

plots

plays,

novels, etc.).

nonce word

[Probably only a a formation on the

'
'

cusing the supernumeraries for This was a practice money.

formerly

winked

at

in

most

Burke,' Boycott,' etc., from the name of Mr. F. Burnand, the editor of Punch. 1
1882. The Echo, Feb. ir, p. 3. to attack the play [The Colonel] vigorously. One of the journals there has invented a new

lines as

garrisons, and was a very considerable perquisite to the adjutants and sergeant majors the pretence for it was to purchase coal and candle for the guard, whence it was called BURNING
;

American papers continue

verb to signify the
1

THE

PARADE.'
phr. (old).

BURNANDED

pilfering

of plots.

BURN MY BREECHES

'

is

the term.

A
(old).

mild kind of oath.

few

latter

BURN CRUST,
jocular

subs.

A
;

day

'

fancies

'

of the

same

kind will be found under OATHS.

1819.
p. 46.
. .

name for a baker. Cf., MASTER OF THE MINT for a

;

MOORE, Tom

Crib's Memorial,

gardener

for a brewer for a shoemaker QUILL-DRIVER for a clerk; SNIP for a tailor, etc.

BUNG

BALL OF WAX

(Bill Gibbons all his days was known to swear, Except light oaths, to grace his speeches, Like 'dash my wig,' or 'BURN MY
.

ne'er

In

BREECHES.')

BURNED.
(old).

To BE BURNED, verb To be infected with a

See

BURN THE KEN,

To

verbal phr. (old).

live

at

venereal disease.
1785.

BURNING.

without
quarters. to cheat, or place.]

an inn or tavern for one's paying

[From BURN

(q.v.),

Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. He was sent out a sacrifice, and came home a BURNT offering saying of seamen who have caught the venereal disease abroad.
;

GROSE,

KEN, an inn, tavern,

BURNER,
2.

subs.

(old).

i.

cardas

sharper.
(old.)
(q.V.}.

The

same

BURNING
BURNING,

BURR, stibs. (old). A hanger on; a dependent one who sponges. [An allusion to field burrs or prickly seed pods, which when once attached to the clothing are difficult to remove.]
;

verb,

subs.

(old).
'

To fight
BURST, spree

Verb (Marlborough
;

College).
'

scrimmage or

rag.'

venereal disease. Shakspeare alludes to it in King Lear, No heretics BURN'D, but wenches'
suitors.
1

subs,
;

drunken

i. (general). frolic big feed

;

A
;

BLOW OUT (q.v.). Usually ON THE BURST, an extension of the

figurative usage of the word signifying a violent outburst. See

BURNING SHAME.
practice.

An

obscene

See Grose.

BUST.

Bursted.
1880.
775.
'

389

Bury.
digs up afresh the This pictursymbol. esque imagery has passed into the colloquial inheritance of the American people, and the
hostilities,

He became a madman when drunk. Once ON THE BURST,' as he phrased it,

Blackwood's Mag., June,

p.

fateful

money, horses, cows, furniture, even his wife's wearing apparel, went to feed the insatiable and cruel demon who possessed him.
1881.
vol.
I.,

PRAED,
228.

p.

When

THE BURST, what daughters help ?

2.

Policy and Passion, his men go ON can he do but make his

expressions

of BURYING or DIGGING UP THE HATCHET are

frequently applied to the affairs

life. This symbolism though new in form is old in idea. Shakspeare in The Tempest,

of everyday

(sporting.)
;

sudden and

vigorous access or display of energy a lively pace or spurt.

'

v.,

i,

55, says,

I'le

breake

my

staffe,

bury

it

certaine fadomes

BURSTED,^//.

adj. (general).

Hard

in the earth.'
1855-59. WASHINGTON IRVING, Life of Washington, I., p. 361. 'They smoked the pipe of peace together, and the colonel claimed the credit of having, the by his diplomacy, persuaded

[From BURST, up. ED.] collapse,

failure or

1873. Chicago Daily Tribune, June At the far end [of the room] four 30. lank and BURSTED frontiersmen sang with a doleful want of melody or attention the celebrated ballad by John Hay on the fate of Little Breeches.

sachem

BURY THE HATCHET.' LONGFELLOW, Hiawatha, BURIED was the bloody HATCHET Buried was the dreadful war-club
to
1855.
;

13.

Buried were

all

BURSTER, fall a
;

subs, (racing).
'

i.

Aheavy
I

cropper.'

And the war-cry was forgotten Then was peace among the nations.
;

warlike weapons,

1873. 1863.

CarUton Ballads.

Benedict came

Evening Standard, 24 April. down a BURSTER, and

was

out of the race.

2.

But
i.

See also

BUSTER, sense

don't know what you'll think, sir I didn't come to inquire I picked up that agreement and stuffed it in the fire
;
;

BURY.

Go BURY YOURSELF!

(American).

phr.

Californianism
fortiter
!

I told her we'd BURY THE HATCHET alongside of the cow And we struck an agreement never to have another row.

And

which has more of the

'

To
a wife

BURY

than the suaviter in its composition. Equivalent to Go hide your diminished head.' Cf.,

(general).

CARRY ME OUT AND BURY ME

DECENTLY.

woman, FRENCH SYNONYMS.

une
ouistiti
(ouistiti

A MOLL, phr. desert or forsake or mistress. [MOLL = wife, or prostitute.]

To

Envoyer
signifies

TO BURY
HATCHET,

Or

DIG

UP

THE

properly a striated
;

Amongst Indian

verbal phr. (American). tribes certain

monkey)

symbolic ceremonies are connected with the war-hatchet or

Idcher une femme (literally to cast off a balancer une woman)

largue.

tomahawk, which are equivalent

to

To

BURY A QUAKER,

a declaration of war, or a

To BURY compact of peace. THE HATCHET is the emblem of the putting away of strife and
on the other hand, the red skin, before he commences
enmity
;

(Irish slang). ease oneself.

To evacuate;

phr. to

ENGLISH SYNONYMS.

To go

to the crapping castle, casa, or ken (castle, casa, and ken are old canting terms for a place or

Bury.
house)
;

39

Bury.
scenity, 4- em)
touser
;

to the

West Central
;

(a

flasquey (thieves')

punning allusion to the initials W.C. for water closet) to Mrs.

Jones
the chapel-of-ease to the bog-house, to Sir Harry to rear, dunnock, coffee-shop to go see one's aunt to crap
;

(this word comes from tour to use and signifies properly

to

faire corps neuf (properly to take a new lease of one's life) dcposer une mcdaille de papier volant, or des Pays-Bas
;

faire de la corde)

to go and sing sweet violets where the queen always goes on foot. FRENCH SYNONYMS. Mousser (popular literally to foam or
'
'

(obsolete)
cordes
lettre

faire

des
;

cordes

(des

strings) la poste (lit.

letter)
;

mettre

une
le

to

go and
faire

a post grand (grand

epithet);
sion
(to

= an

opprobrious
une

enterrer son colonel effervesce) alley (Cf., to bury a Quaker)

;

faire

commis;

faire une ballade a la lune (i.e., 'to go and sing to the moon'; also ballade walk, stroll, or lounge likewise in French

slang lune
Venus,

un senateur (popular)
(artists')
;

posteriors) mauler moulcr une

;
;

gazonner
;

(lite-

cover with turf ') aller au numero cent (a play upon the word sent] deponer (Michel thinks that though at first
rally to
;

errand) fogner (popular) flaquer (popular to dash [water literally or any other liquid] ) ecrire a un Juif (literally to write to a deposer une peche (popuJew) poser une pepin (popular lar) to place or cast down .poser pepin, in botany a kernel or pip)
;
' ' :

run

an

poser un factionnaire (popular factionnaire is properly a sen:

tinel or sentry)
tinelle

poser une sen:

sight this word would to be directly derived

seem from
really

(popular

with
;

same
envoy er
:

meaning as foregoing)
this

the Latin deponere, yet

either
teriors,

it

une depeche a Bismarck (popular

comes

from

the

old

may be
the

a contemptuous

French ponant, signifying posor from the verb poner,

usage of
cellor's

German Chanalthough
in

name,
;

used in the thirteenth century in

i.e., to lay dcbourrer sa pipe (poputarter defalquer (popular) lar) or tartir (popular and thieves' in Latin alvum deponere. Cf., Italian Fourbesque tartire) une moulure (moulure in faire

the sense of pondre,

; ;

eggs)

French slang couleur Bismarck brown colour) aller on le roi n'envoie personne (lit. to go where the king sends no one) flaqua;

der (flaque
;

excrement)
;

fuser

architecture

moulding) aller somewhere); quelquepart (lit. to go to aller a ses affaires (lit.

;

to go
;

(properly to dissolve) gdcher du gros (popular) galipoter (another slang meaning of this word is to smear ') pousser son rond (popular) faire ronfler la chaire
' ; ;

'

one's business ') aller ou le roi va a pied (i.e., to go where the

king goes on foot. Cf., to go where the queen always goes

Thomas le bourrelet percee la chaise percee (faire ronfler to cause to or make snore, chaire Bishop's throne, chaire close-stool, and bourrepercee

= =

on foot) ; filer (properly to spin) ; aller chez Jules (to go to Julius.

C/.,togo and see one's aunt); ierchem (low: chier, a disguised ob-

in

padded cushion with hole Thomas bedroom aller voir Bernard chamber)
let

centre,
aller

(Cf.,

chez Jules]

aller

au

Bus.
bucn-retiro

391

Bushwhacker.
BUSH or BE BUSHED,
lian).

(buen retiro properly a private place of retirement, but in this sense is an ironical allusion to a W.C.) faire unpruneau or poser un pruneau (Michel
;

verb (Austra-

Primarily to
;

camp

out

thinks this expression is derived from clos Bruneau, a facetious name given to the possixteenth the about teriors

or to get lost in the bush Hence a slang usage in which the expression is applied to a person in any mental or physical difficulty or muddle.
in
1887.
p.
68.

the bush

An

All the Year Round, July 30, Australian says that he is

century)

filer

le

cable

de proue

(Michel gives this as of nautical origin seamen's latrines being situated in the fo'cas'le).

just as an Englishman, lequally characteristically, declares that he is fogged.

BUSHED

ITALIAN

FOURBESQUE.
.

Tartire (properly to lighten or ease one's conscience by confessing to a Priest)

(old).

To BURY To

A WIFE, verbal phr.

feast

and

make

merry, an expression used in connection with the jollifications frequently indulged in by apprentices on the completion
of their term of indenture,

Ibid. We were on horseback, with blankets before us on our saddles, to We provide for our getting BUSHED. were prepared for rough times. I carried my revolver, and Lilly Trot had a villainous-looking black life-preserver up his sleeve, ready at a moment's notice for any emergency.

B. L. FARJEON, In Australian 1889. shall have TO BUSH it, Wilds. That's so,' said Lilly mate,' I said. Trot, unconcernedly but looking about him sharply, despite his apparent carelessness, for a suitable spot to camp on.
'

We

'

when

they became

'

full

blown

'

crafts-

BUSHED, ppl. adj. (old). Hard up; without money destitute.

;

men.

H. YAUX, Flash Dictionary. BUSH'D, poor without money.

1812.
J.
;

Bus or BUSS,
i.

subs,

variant of BUSINESS (q.v.), of which it is an abbreviation.

(theatrical).

BUSHED ON,
Pleased

verbal phr.
;

(common).

delighted.

Pronounced
2.

biz.

(common.)
omnibus."

A contraction
me
a

of

'

1832.

HT. MARTINEAU, Weal and

14.

Woe,

i.,

If the station offers

BUSHEL BUBBY, subs. (old). A full and large breasted woman. [From BUSHEL, a (large) measure, + BUBBY (q.v.}, abreast.] Cf., BUBBER.
BUSHWHACKER,
political).
subs.

place in a BUSS.
1852.

[M.]

He

DICKENS, Bleak House, p. 93. proposed that they should go, per
little

(American

BUSS, a

way

into the country.

In politics, as in war,

1861.

THACKERAY,

Philip, II., p. 316. to see that of the five

We

Adventures of

were mortified persons conveyed

etc.

simply a 'free-lance.' During the Rebellion deserters from the ranks of both armies inthe country, bands of these marauders making raids upon defenceless houses and even going the length of sackOriginally ing whole towns. the term was harmless enough in meaning. At a time when
fested

by the 'BUS, one was a tradesman,

1869.

BLACK, In Silk Attire, II., Annie Brunei got out of the p. 205. Hampstead 'BUS, and found herself in the muddy highway.

Verb (American).
[one's head].

To punch

Bushy Park.
water-communication was

392

Business.

the chief means of locomotion, and the rivers, streams, and creeks of densely wooded regions were alive with the advance guards of civilization, BUSHWHACKING was the name given to the

He He

does no BUSINESS of thy wives, not

he,

does thy
thee.
2.

BUSINESS (Coracine)

for

(theatrical.)
;

Dramatic
26.

action
1753.

bye-play.

means by which lumbermen propelled their craft up and down stream. This was accomplished by pulling the bushes growing by the water side or, on land, by the cutting away of a thicket in order to obtain a
;

too

much enamoured with what

1820.

The World, No.

We
is

are called

intrigue, plays.
(III.,

BUSINESS, and bustle, in our

SCOTT, The A
6).

p.

The

bbot, ch. xxvii.

went, came, and

passage.
this,

The man who

the

did

instrument a kind of scythe or cutlass with which, in the latter case, he were thus forced his way
alike called

and

returned, mingling in every scene of the piece, and interrupting the BUSINESS. 1860. Cornhill Magazine, Dec., p. 749. So well do performers understand this principle, that they give the literary composition the utmost contemptuous title of 'words,' while they dignify the movements of the characters with the name of BUSINESS.
C. HINDLEY, Life and Advena Cheap Jack, p. 282. Tom observed, I never saw such BUSINESS before how do you doit with that board
1876. tures of
;

BUSHWHACKERS. The
gone
through
yet Since the

word has
war
'

another transition. it has also come to country bumpkin,' a

'

mean a
'

clod-

pole,' or

any other^ person of a

'

I have thing, for I can't manage it ? knocked and bruised some of my people about so that they swear they would sooner leave than have such another

verdant

character.

day.
1880. Punch, Sept. 18, 130. 'Quite in his Line.' Stout Major (to Professional

BUSHY PARK,

subs,

(rhyming

slang).

Actor,

who has

been asked
' :

down

to

coach

lark.

(old).

To BE IN BUSHY PARK, To be poor.

subs.
(old).
i.

phr.

the Garrison A mateurs) we played The Bells at our last Theatricals, of which I've the Management. I aw played

Aw

Irving's
!

part

myself.

Aw

immense
'

BUSINESS,
see

Sexual

intercourse.

For

synonyms,

GREENS.

Success Of Professional (drily) course you've seen him in it?' Major: Ya-as but aw I didn't copy him in the least aw my own 'BUSINESS.' Aw In Entirely different reading. fact, every one said it wasn't a bit like
:

'

him!
Jan., p. 34.

TAYLOR, Workes. And Lais of Corinth, ask'd Demosthenes One hundred crownes for one night's BUSI1630.

H. IRVING, in Good Words, Then consider what scope the 'BUSINESS' of the scene gives to the
1883.

NESSE.
Wits Recreations. What Crispulus is that in a new gown, All trim'd with loops and buttons up and
1654.

actor's purpose.

down, That learns there on his arm

chat

To DO ONE'S BUSINESS FOR To kill; ONE, phr. (common). to cause one's death.
'They said it was his hurts as killed him,' said the old lady, but it was no use 'em telling me that. It was the bricks and mortar that DID HIS BUSINESS, poor chap.'
p. 4.
'

in private
is

With thy young

that?

wife,

what Crispulus

Cooper,

1880. JAS. GREENWOOD, Grandmother in Odd People in Odd Places,

He's proctor of a court, thou say'st and does Some BUSINESS of my wives: thou
brainless goose,

Business End.
BUSINESS END
(American).
part.
[of a thing], subs.

393

Bust.
BUST,
subs, (vulgar).
(adj.)

corrupted

The

practical

form of BURST.
ING
;

So also BUSTBUSTED (ppl. adj.],

Tivist, p. 219.

etc., etc.

BUSK
sell

IT,

verb

(vagrants').

To
A

obscene songs and books at the bars and in the tap-rooms of public houses. Sometimes it implies selling other articles.

1837.

DICKENS, Oliver

kind of BUSTING noise.

2.

(thieves'.)

burglary.
Jottings

18(?79).
'

work public houses and certain spots as an itinerant musician or vocalist. So also
Also to
'

'

HORSLEY,
Bill,
.

from

Jail. for a

Fatty

BUST
.
.

ex.

William

two years, means that has been compelled to

from City Road, rem.

BUSKING, verb subs. and///, adj. and BUSKER, a man who thus sings and performs in public houses an itinerant.
:

leave his congenial haunts in the City Road, as he is remanded for a burglary, and anticipates two years' hard labour.
3.

(general.)

spree;
Cf.,
1860.

drunken

1851.

From a Poor, III., p. 234. furniture-carter of this description I received some most shocking details of having to BUSK IT, as this taking about goods for sale is called by those in the trade. Ibid, 1., p. 229. They obtained a livelihood by BUSKING, as it is termed, or in other words, by offering their goods for sale only at the bars or in the taprooms and parlours of taverns. Ibid, III., p. 216. BUSKING is going into public
London
dancing.

MAYHEW, London Labour and

To GO ON THE
BARTLETT

a debauch. BUST.
frolic
;

(quoted

in),

Californian Song,

And when we

get our pockets full Of this bright, shinin' dust, We'll travel straight for home again,

And spend
4.

it

on a BUST.

(American.)

A
i.

failure

fizzle.

houses and playing and singing and I now thought Ibid, p. 222. I'd try what is termed BUSKING, that is going into public houses and cutting

Verb (vulgar).

To

burst

explode.
1838.
II.,

likenesses of the company. 1883. Advt. in Echo, May 10, p. 4, BUSKING. A player on the harp col. 6. and violin wants a mate.
1887.

p.

366.

DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby, His genius would have

BUSTED.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlcwit, I., p. 286. Keep cool, Jefferson don't BUST! If the Ibid, II., p. 124. biler of this vessel was Toe BUST Sir. and Toe BUST now, it would be a festival day in the calendar of despotism.
. .

Mac

Referee,
. .

August

21, p. 3, col. 2.

will appear himself Racecourse scene as a BUSKER.

.

in

the

BUSKER.
BUSKING.

See

under BUSK.

2.

(thieves'.)

To commit a
To
'

See under
See

BUSK.

burglary.
3.

BUSNAPPER.

BUZ-NAPPER.
See

BUSNAPPER'S KINCHIN. NAPPER'S KINCHIN.

Buss.
See

Buz-

against an accomplice. A slang variant of split (turn king's evidence, impeach). The person who does this SPLITS or BURSTS the whole concern.
'

(thieves'.)

inform

Bus.
subs. (old).

4. (American.) To fail in business or transactions of any

Buss BEGGAR,
beggar's

An

old
;

kind.
5.

prostitute of the lowest type

trull.

breath

To put (general.) to 'wind.'

;

out of

Buster.
Broadside Ballad, 'Taking out the Baby.' Spoken And they had been taking out the baby, and all had had such a doing that boy o' mine nearly BUSTED me and of course they all think they deserve a glass of beer.
r"""c. 1880.
all

394

Buster.

a dollop o' salt along vith it, vill you? Mace : Bellay a BURSTER and beesvax ingens and salt here. (Calling as he fetches the porter from the side wing, L.) Now, then, here you are, Master Grimmuzzle.
!

6.

(American.)

To
;

indulge

in a

drunken

frolic

to go

on

the spree. BUST.

1869.
'

Cf.,

To GO ON THE
Feb.

1841. Comic Almanacks, 1835-43 (Hotten), p. 295. us a slap-up slice of Cheshire cheese, And tip's a twopenny BURSTER if you

Cut

please.'

New

Orleans Picayune,

Because I was a good-natured fellow, I had to go with them, rollicking, teaparting, excursioning, and BUSTING
14.
1

1849.

A BURSTER

Bell's Life. [From Baumann.] with a slice of beeswax.

generally.
7.

(American.)

To destroy
;

to

commit
'

suicide

to

'

set

1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures Mo and his of a Cheap Jack, p. 192. man were having a great breakfast one morning at Newcastle, off a twopenny BUSTER and a small bit of butter, with

aside
1880.

to expose.

some wishy-washy
c.

coffee

BRET HARTE, Chiquita, p. 22. Did you know Briggs of Tuolumne ? BUSTED hisself in White Pine, and blew
out
is

brains.

North of England Advertiser, Then he got the Moabite Sept. i. pottery which Mr. Clement Ganneau
1883.

I can't get at it. I can't get at it, I can't get at it, I like the faggots tho' they smell, But now the penny's down the well, I can't get at it, I can't get at it,

1882.

Broadside Ballad,

'

BUSTED.

thought I'd have a 'BUSTER 'but all no go

!

it's

BUST ME

phr.

mild oath
!

BLOW ME JIGGER
!

(common).

2.

(thieves'.)
see

burglar.
-

For
and

ME

(q.v.)
'

See also

OATHS.
Cities,
if I

synonyms, Cf., BUST,

verb,

AREA
sense

SNEAK.
2,

1859. bk. I., ch.

DICKENS, Tale of Two

iii.

sense

subs., 2.

BUST ME
' !

don't think

he'd been a drinking

(common).
or
spree.

TO GO ON THE BUST, phr. To go on a frolic

For synonyms,
see

1879. HORSLEY, 'AutobioJ. W. graphy of a Thief,' in Macm. Mag., XL., 582. BUSTERS and screwsmen (burglars).
3. Anything of (common.) superior size that has unusual that causes admiracapacity
;
;

PAINT THE TOWN RED.

BUSTER, subs, (common). i. A small new loaf; also a coarse cake or bun of large size that fills or blows out the stomach of the eater. [From BUST, a
vulgar form of
Cf.,
'

tion

a spurt.

Hence

to
'

'

COME
'

to fall BUSTER,' to come a cropper heavily,' IN FOR A BUSTER,' prepared, ready or determined for a spree.
'

AN
'

AWFUL

burst,

ER.]

STARVER.

1821.

W.
ii.,

T. MONCRIEFF,
Sc.
3.

Tom and
land-

Jerry, Act

Bob

Now,

H. B. STOWE, Uncle Tom's 1852. Cabin, ch. x. 'Lor, Pete,' said Mose, triumphantly, 'han't we got a BUSTER of a breakfast at the same time catching at a fragment of the chicken.
' !

lord, 'artcr that ere

drap of max, suppose

ch.

1860.
vii.,

as a chip and, I say, do you hear, let's have a twopenny BURSTER, half a quartern of BEESVAX, a ha'p'orth o' ingens, and

we haves a drain o' heavy wet, just by way of cooling our chaffers mine's as dry

your sank
at

At such time as when p. 28. sister is on the Ram-page, Pip,' Joe his voice to a whisper, and glanced
' '

DICKENS, Great Expectations,

the

door,

admit that she

is

candour compels fur a BUSTER.'

to

Busting.
1870.
.
. .

395

Butcher

A bout.

Popular Song on Franco-GerAugusta,

sent belo\v, all blessings
'

man War. Thank God, my dear Ten thousand Frenchmen Praise God from whom
flow!

1857. TROLLOPE, Barchester Towers, Bertie finished off the ch. xlv., p. 384. countess's BUSTLE.
2.

We've had another awful BUSTER,

of

(old.)

Money.
will

A full

list

synonyms ACTUAL.

be found under

I'll never c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, go courting again.' A lawyer's niece, next, I admired, But brief he made my wooing spec To a banker's ward then, I aspired, But got from the banker a check
;

1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary. BUSTLE, a cant term for money. Ibid.

Any

a hurry,

object effected very suddenly, or in is said to be done on the BUSTLE.

Verb (general).

To

confuse

publican said, other measures For his girl he'd to carry out, And a baker he gave me a BUSTER,' With a brick,' sent me rolling about.
'

(cheque).

confound; perplex.
quot.
of a Cheap Jack, p. 237. him,' said Maley
straight.' 1876.

See previous

'

heavy (Australian.) storm from the south. Othera BRICK in called wise Sydney
4.

HINDLEY, Life and A dventtwes Now BUSTLE Tom you have got Let go your left him to-rights now.
' ' ;

FIELDER
1885.

BUST- MAKER,

subs,
'

(q.v.).

(common).
loose fish
'

Household Words, 10 Oct., In anxious expectation we now p. 463. awaited the result of this curious phenomenon of darkest night in day, which, accustomed to the portents that sometimes herald in the terrific BUSTERS of these southern seas, as most of us were, all declared they had never seen it
equalled.

molrower a For seducer.

;

a
see

synonyms,

MOLROWER.
protuberance,

[From BUST,

MAKER.]

BUSY-SACK,

subs,

(common).

carpet bag. Called in America a GRIP-SACK.

BUSTING,

verb,

subs,

(thieves'.)
;

BUTCHER,

subs,

Informing against accomplices turning Queen's evidence. C/..

BUST, nyms,

verb,
see

sense

3.

For syno-

PEACHING.

king in playing-cards. When card-playing in public houses was common, the kings were the queens called butchers, bitches, and the knaves jacks.

(cards').

i.

The

i. A BUSTLE, subs, (common). pad, roll, or wire contrivance worn by women at the back in order to extend the dress, and also with a view to setting off the smallness of the waist.

The

latter

term

is

now

in

general use. In French slang the king is un bceuf.

2.

(American.)
'

A
'

peri'

[Origin uncertain.]

For syno-

nyms,
1788.

see

BIRDCAGE.
in Olla Podrida, the nymphs now rustle), In rich luxu[M.]
p.

vendor of small-boy patetic and notions on varieties railway cars at once a con' '
'

venience and a
3.

'

terror.

No.

wear

40. (in silks

MONRO, Such locks

T.

(thieves'.)

The

prison
see

who

doctor.

For

synonyms,

riance reaching to the BUSTLE. Sketches 1835. by Boz,

'

CROCUS.
323.

Whether she was pretty, whether she wore much BUSTLE, etc. Ibid, p. 488.
Did you
ever,'

BUTCHER ABOUT,
College). noise to
;

verb

said a

little

coquette

with a large BUSTLE.

To make a humbug about.

(Wellington
great

Butcher's Mourning.

396
2.

Butter.
'

BUTCHER'S MOURNING, subs, (common). A white hat with a black

(old.)

Jamieson says,

to

mourning hat-band.
BUTTEKER,
BUTTER,
subs, (old)
.

increase the stakes every throw or every game.'

B. E., Dictionary of Canting 1690. Crew. BUTTER, to double or treble the bet or wager to recover all losses.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BUTTER A BET, to double

shop.

subs, (popular).
;

Fulsome
'

flattery soap."
le

unctuous praise soft A French equivalent is

;

or triple

it.

cirage.

Cf.,

verb,

sense

i.

Also BUTTERING-UP.
1819.

TO LOOK AS
NOT

IF

MELT
(old).

IN

BUTTER WOULD ONE'S MOUTH,

contemptuous

MOORE, Tom

Crib's

Memorial

to Congress, p. 40.

phr.

knowing how, on Moulsey's plain, The champion fibb'd the Poet's nob, This BUTTERING-UP against the grain, We thought was curs'd genteel in Bob.
For, 1823 Black-wood's Magazine, XIV., p. You have been daubed over by the 309. dirty BUTTER of his applause. A. TROLLOPE, Three Clerks, 1857. ch. i. The quantity of BUTTER which he poured over Mr. Hardline's head and shoulders with the view of alleviating the misery which such a communication would be sure to inflict, was very great. 1880. World, 13 Oct. A lavish interchange of compliments, the BUTTER on laid pretty thick. being

saying of a person of somewhat Murray simple demeanour.

traces back this familiar phrase to 1530, but a reference to it appears in French literature at a much earlier date.
Les Evangiles des Quenouilles Edition Elzevirienne. Journee. A. cette parolle mist Paris (1855), P- 7 2 dame Mehault ses mains a ses costez et en grant couroux luy respondy que, etc., et que, Dieu merci, aincoires FONDOIT LE BURRE EN SA BOUCHE, combien qu'elle ne peust croquier noisettes, car elle n'avoit que un seul dent.
1475.

Vme

Verb
flatter

(common).
fulsomely
;

i.

To

to

indulge

in

rhodomantic

praise.

French

He i. 1530. 620, PALGRAVE, maketh as thoughe BUTTER WOLDE NOT IN HIS MOUTH. MELTE [M.]
1562.

cirer.

LATIMER, Serm. Lord's Prayer,

.
. .

1700.
prol.
[M.]

CONGREVE, Way
259.
is

(1866),

The

of World, squire that's

can speak V., ii., 79. These fellows so finely, that a man would THINK BUTTER SHOULD SCANT MELT IN THEIR MOUTHS.
1687. SEDLEY, Bellamira. Sil. He look'd so demurely, I thought BUTTER

BUTTERED
1725.

still

sure to be

undone.

Canting Dictionary. To BUTTER signifies also to cheat or defraud in a smooth and plausible manner.

New

WOU'D NOT HAVE MELTED

I

IN HIS

1816.
'

SCOTT, A ntiquary, ch. xxxviii.

him before you send him again.

1738.

hope you

will

make

sure

MOUTH, work with

i.

hour or so like terms

1839.
xii.
'

Keep him employed, man, for half-anBUTTER him with some warpraise his dress and address.'

He

LEVER, Harry Lorrequer, ch. first BUTTHERS them up and

She LOOKS AS IF BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT IN HER MOUTH, but I warrant cheese won't choak her.
1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, ch. I xxviii. (III., p. 26). beginning to

SWIFT,

Polite Conversation,

then slithers them

1857. C.
I'll

down KINGSLEY, Two

' !

am
IN

Years Ago.

think ye are but a queer ane, ye LOOK AS

IF

BUTTER him,
1884.

trust

me.
like

Nothing
a bit of

BUTTER WADNA MELT

I

YOUR MOUTH,
ye.
I.,
. .

comforts a poor beggar praise when he is down.

col.
i.

but

sail

warrant cheese no choak

1850.
5 July, p. 27,

THACKERAY, Pendennis,

p.

The Lord Chief Justice of England made a tour through America, and generously BUTTERED the natives.

Saturday Review,

149.

Telling her landlady

how

the

Mayor was ... a nice, soft-spoken old gentleman; that BUTTER WOULD'NT MELT IN HIS MOUTH, etc.

Butter-Bag.

397

Butter-Fingered.
1865.

WILL CUT BUTTER WHEN

HOT, phr. (common).
knife when blunt. allusion.

IT'S

Said of a An obvious

That kind of praise which feels BUTTER-BOAT down one's back.

1866.
I.,

Sat. Review, 7 Jan., p. 16, col. 2. like the

[M.]

BUTTER
(common).
tations.
1862.

AND EGGS, subs. Explained by quo-

praised some things and gave advice about others, using the BUTTER-BOAT less freely than is customary at volunteer inspections. [M.]
181.

He

J.

H. SKINNER, After Storm,

And

Macrnillan's Mag., Jan., p. 238. can do BUTTER-AND-EGGS all down

. .

BUTTER-BOX.

See
subs,

BUTTER-BAG.
(common).

the slide. The feat of BUTTER-ANDEGGS consists in going down the slide on one foot and beating with the heel and toe of the other at short intervals.
.

BUTTERCUPS
>

graceful pet
Lost, ch. vii.

name

for children.

Compare the foregoing with the following.

1836.

DICKENS,

Pickwick

II., p. 9. Weller, in particular, was displaying that beautiful feat of which is currently defancy sliding

Sam

Papers,

1877. E. L. LINTON, World Well Hilda was still in the schoolroom, and seldom appeared even at afternoon tea which in general is licensed to include BUTTERCUPS.'
;

'

BUTTERED,

ppl.
Cf.,

adj.

(old).

I.

nominated knocking at the cobblers' door,' and which is achieved by skimming over the ice on one foot, and occasionally giving a two-penny postman's knock upon it, with the other.
'

Whipped. TANNED, etc.

2.

DUSTED,
See

(q.v.).

(common.)
i.

Flattered.

BUTTER, sense
BUTTERED BUN,
mistress
;

BUTTER-BAG or BUTTER-BOX, subs. Opprobrious epithets for (old).

a Dutchman.
tities
[ ?

subs.

(old).

In allusion to
Cf.,

Holland producing large quanof

butter.
quot., 1811.]
1600.
(1873)
I.,

prostitute, especially one who submits to the sexual embrace in quick succession with different men. [In this latter sense, if not in

also

have not men enow, but wee must entertaine every BUTTER21.

DEKKER,

We

Gentle Craft, wks.

former, greased

from

BOX. [M.] the latter strength we may thank our countryman Ward, and Dansker the BUTTERBAG Hollander, which may be said to have bin two of the fatallest and most infamoust men that ever Christendom bred.

pudenda. ]
1679. Misses, in

BUTTERED = BUN (q.v.), the female For synonyms, see

BARRACK-HACK.
HOWELL, Familiar
Letters.

And

1650. for

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. BUTTERA Dutchman, from the great BOX. quantity of butter eaten by the people of that country.

that sets our Monarch free From BUTTERED BUNS [i.e., Louise de Querouaille] and Slavery. One 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. lying with a woman that has just lain with another man, is said to have a BUTTERED BUN.

CULLEN, W., Flock of Court Roxburgh Ballads (1884), V., 126.

.

This

is

the day

BUTTER - BOAT. BUTTER-BOAT,

To EMPTY THE
(common).
;

BUTTER- FINGERED, comp. ppl.

adi.

(common).
fall
;

Apt
or

to let

things

To

phr. lavish praise

greasy

slippery-fin-

to

battle.

gered.
to

[From
utensil

BUTTER-BOAT,

table

of nickname BUTTER-FINGERS is hence given

The

employed

for

serving

those

who

let

things slip

melted butter.]

easily

from their grasp.

Butter-Flap.
1615.
II.,
ii.

398

Buttock and Twang.

1639.

MARKHAM, English
51.

(1668),

BUTTER-FINGERED,
faint-hearted thing fall, etc.
1857.
p.
;

Housewife, She must not be sweet-toothed, nor for the first will let every-

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER,

141.

HOOD, Pen and Pencil Pictures, He was a slovenly player, and

Wit Without Money, V., iv. I hope she has brought me no BUTTER-PRINT along with her to lay to my charge. [M.] 1709. Brit. Apollo, II., No. 46, p. 3, col. 2. Her Girl and her Boy, For Patterns employ, To make little BUTTERPRINTS by.
[M.]

went among the cricket lovers by the sobriquet of BUTTER-FINGERS. G. MEREDITH, Evan Harring1861. ton. The long-hit-off, he who never was known to miss a catch BUTTERFINGERED beast! he has let the ball
slip

BUTTOCK,

subs.

(old).

A common

prostitute.
1674.
105.

For synonyms, see BARRACK-HACK, and C/., FILE.

R.

through his fingers.

1883. xiv.

ch.

Miss BRADDON, Golden Calf, I never allow no BUTTER'

The Bawds and

HEAD, Canting Academy,

the

BUTTOCKS

FINGERED girls in this room, except to sweep or scrub, under my own eye. There's not many ornaments, but what there is is precious, and the apple of
master's eye.'

that lived there round.

1688. SHADWELL, Squire of Alsatia, wks. (1720) IV., 17. What ogling there be between thee and the Blowings
.

I.,

will
. .

Every
1690.

BUTTOCK

shall

fall

down

before thee.
subs,
i.e.,

BUTTER- FLAP,

(rhyming slang)

trap

a light cart.
(nautical).
i.

ing Crew.

B. E., Dictionary of the CantBUTTOCK AND FILE, both

whore and pickpocket.

BUTTERFLY,
2.

subs,

BUTTOCK AND

river barge.

The guard (cabmen's.) for the reins affixed to the top of a hansom cab.
1883.

Standard,

March

The box covered

6, p. 6, col. 3.

the whole roof of the cab, preventing him [the cabman] from seeing the BUTTERFLY. [M.J

and her comsometimes BULK AND FILE. Occasionally, too, BUTTOCK AND FILE is used of a one who individual single unites the roles of a thief and
prostitute
;

FILE, subs. phr. (old).

panion

prostitute.
(q.v.),

[From BUTTOCK

a whore,

FILE

(q.v.),

BUTTERNUTS, (American.) The sympathisers with the

subs.

pickpocket.]
1671. R. HEAD, English Rqgue, pt. I., BULK AND FILE v., p. 48 (1874). the Pickpocket and his mate. 1754. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild, bk. The same capacity which I., ch. v. a mill-ben, a bridle-cull, or a qualifies BUTTOCK AND FILE to arrive at any of in his profession eminence degree would likewise raise a man in what the world esteem a more honourable calling.

South in the North and the Middle States during the American Civil War the term was derived from the colour of the
;

ch.

uniforms worn in the early part war by Confederate in the West, which, being homespun, were dyed brown with the juice of the
of the soldiers

1811.

TOCK AND

Lexicon Balatronicum. BUTFILE, a common whore and a

BUTTERNUT
BUTTER
-

pickpocket.

(Juglans cinerea).

PRINT, subs. (old). child usually one that is illegitimate. Cf., BUTTERCUP.
;

A
v.

BUTTOCK AND TONGUE,

siibs.
;

(old).

scolding

woman

a shrew.

BUTTOCK AND TWANG,

be wiser one day, when you have purchased A bevy of these BUTTERPRINTS.* [M.]

You

1620. will

FLETCHER,

Chances,

I.,

A common
refrains

subs. (old).

prostitute, but
theft.
C/.,

who
BUT-

from

TOCK AND FILE.

Buttock Ball.
BUTTOCK BALL, subs. (old). I. A dance attended by prostitutes. BUFF Cf., BALLUM RANCUM and
BALL.
1687.

399

Button-Catcher.

T.

BROWN,

Lib.,

Consc., in
II.,

pushing them back, and whilst he is Come gentlemen, stand more backwarder,' one of the confederates, a BUTTON,' lifts up one of is called who the thimbles with a pea under it, and those to around, as much as to laughs say, We've found it out.'
'

saying,

'

'

Dk. Buckingham's Wks.

(1705),

131.

Why not into a Bibbing-house, as well as a Dancing School, A BUTTOC-BALL, or the like.
2. (old.)

1877.

BESANT
ix.

Vulcan, federate

The BUTTON, that is who egged on the flats.

AND RICE, Son of

the con-

The sexual embrace;

Cf.,

Verb.

To decoy

to

act

cohabitation.

BAWDY

BAN-

confederate in
aguicher.

swindles.

as Fr.

QUET and BUTTOCK BANQUETTING.

Lexicon Balatronicum. TOCK-BALL, the amorous congress.
1811.

BUT-

NOT TO CARE A BUTTON BRASS BUTTON, etc., phr. (common). A very old colloquialism
indicative
of

small

value.

It

BUTTOCK BANQUETTING,
Harlotry.
1555.

subs. (old).

F'anile Facions, II., viii., 167. Whiche [wiues] maie neuerthelesse vse BUTTOCKE BANQUETYNG abrode.

BUTTOCK-BROKER,
(q.v.).

subs.

(old).

procuress; a bawd; an ABBESS

has been in continuous use from the beginning of the fourteenth century down to the present Americans time. not say worth a cent or a red cent, while among variants in common use in England may be mentioned not to care a fig a pin or a sou.'
'

'

BUTTOCKING SHOP, subs. (old). A brothel a house of ill fame used by the lowest class of public
;

BUTTON

BURSTER

or

BUTTON

women.
BUTTON,
subs. (old).
I.

subs. BUSTER, (theatrical). A low comedian. [The deriva-

tion

is

sufficiently obvious, that

is,

shilling.

this applied to good currency it now only signifies counterfeit coin. For synonyms,

Formerly

one who causes his auditors to laugh so that by a figure of speech their buttons are regarded as bursting off their
clothes.]

see

BLOW.

2. A decoy of any kind, whether the confederate of confidence trick men, or a sham Frebuyer at an auction.

BUTTON-CATCHER,

subs, (general).

tailor.

There may be mensnip

; ;

tioned

quently called a BUTTONER(#.Z>.). Fr. un Cf., BUNCO-STEERER.

allume.
1851-61.

among ENGLISH SYNONYMS,

contractor
;

cabbage
driver
ferer
;

steel-bar
sufetc.

goose persuader ninth part of a man,

;

H. MAYHEW, London Lab.

andLon. Poor, vol. I., p. 358. They [cheap Tacks] have a man, or more generally a boy ... at a fair, to hank, or act as a BUTTON (a decoy), to purchase the first
lot of

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un gobeprune (thieves') un emmailloteur (popular) un mangeur de prunes un pique-poux un (general) un pique-puces un pique-prunes un frus-quineur. croque-prunes
; ; ;

goods put up. Ibid, III., p. 121. he (the thimble-rigger) turns round to the crowd, and pretends to be

Then

Buttoner.
(Most of these are offensive terms, as will be seen when it stated that puces fleas is poux = lice, and so on.)
;

4 oo

Button Up.
being represented by a dash. Ordinarily employed to express vexation or surprise. S^OATHS.
I860.

WM. HOWARD RUSSELL, My

I.,

BUTTONER,

subs,

(thieves').

Diary in India,

p.

26.

DARN MY
to
.
.

BUTTONS

if I

haven't jest a

mind

card-sharper's decoy, an equivalent of BUTTON, subs., sense 2. For synonyms, see DECOY-DUCK.
Blackivood's Mag., L., 202. BUTTONERS are those accomplices of
1841.

NOT TO

HAVE

ALL
;

ONE'S

BUTTONS, phr. (common). To be deficient in intellect slightly cracky to have a bee in one's
;

whose duty it is to thimble-riggers act as flat-catchers or decoys, by perflats. [M.] sonating 1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant (3 To entice another to play ed.), p. 446.
. . .

bonnet. LET.

See

APARTMENTS

TO

TO HAVE
TONS, phr.

A SOUL ABOVE BUT;

BUTTONER.
1860. ticer of
[M.]

(common). To be above one's work or duty to

think one's ability superior to one's position. [The quotation
for 1795 to which Murray calls special attention would seem to indicate the possible origin of

Cornhill Mag.,

II.,

another to play

EnBUTTONER.
334.

BUTTON-ON.

To HAVE
;

A BUTTON

ON, phr. (printers'). To have a to be desponfit of the blues See CHOPPER ON. dent.

the phrase.]
1795.
1.

G. COLMAN, Sylv. Dagger-wood,

(1808), 10.

Button-Maker

My
.

father
.

BUTTON POUND, Money.

generally,
see

subs,

(provincial).

ABOVE BUTTONS

...

but

was an eminent I HAD A SOUL

I

panted for a

For synonyms ACTUAL.

liberal profession. [M].

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch. i. But my father, who was a clergyman of the Church of England, and the youngest brother of a noble family, had a lucrative living and A SOUL ABOVE BUTTONS,
if

A BUTTONS, subs, (common). sometimes rendered by page BOY IN BUTTONS. [In allu;

his son
1855.
If I
'

had

not.

sion to the

numerous BUTTONS

93.

which usually adorn the front of a page's jacket.]

1860.
p. 289.

he would thorpe, What pretty buttons be delighted. But you you H WE A SOUL ABOVE BUTTONS, I Suppose.
' !

THACKERAY, Newcomes, III., p. were to say to Captain Crack-

THACKERAY, Lovelthe Widower, [Herein quoted as the name of

Chambers' Jour.,
p. 605.

a page.]
1873.

TO MAKE BUTTONS, phr. (old). To look sorry sad to be in

; ;

Even

the smallest BOY IN BUTTONS would have been a retainer too costly for us.

great fear.
1593.

H. MAYHEW, London Characters, p. 311. Others limit their views to a page, or BUTTONS.' 1885. ///. Lon. News, April n, p. 376, Such a man is only fit to be col. i. dressed like a BUTTONS, and set to open the door to visitors who come to call on
1874.
'

in wks.

II.,

G. HARVEY, Pierces Supererog., 238. Thy witt already MAKETH

BUTTONS.
1653.
iii.

Sam.

MIDDLETON, Sp. Gipsy, IV., O Soto, I MAKE BUTTONS!

verb

BUTTON UP,

his family.

DASH

or

DAMN MY BUTTONS
' '

A WIG, etc., phr. (general). mild oath, the word damn often

(American stocka broker has bought stock on speculation and it falls suddenly on his hands, whereby he is a loser, he keeps the matter to himself, and is
brokers').

When

Butty.
reluctant to confess the ownership of a share. This is called BUTTONING UP.

401

Buz.
BUVARE, subs, (strolling players'). Explained by quotation. C/,
also

BEWARE.

BUTTY, subs, (common). A comrade or partner. Properly and

specifically

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 201. [Ethio1851-61.

pian serenader log.] 'We could then, after our "nunyare" and "BUVARE"
(that's

a miner

who

raises

what we

call eat

and drink, and

by contract at a special price per ton, employing others to do the actual work. Perhaps more provincial than
slang, although a writer in Notes and Queries, July 30, 1870, suggests its origin in the Romany : he says in the gipsy dialect BOOTY is the term for work. BOOTY-

coal or

ore

think it's broken Italian), carry our s/- or 6/- each, easy.'

home

BUY

A PROP, phr. (Stock Exchange). term used to signify that

the market has gone flat, and that there is no one to support
it.

a fellow-workman (literAs usual work-brother). when a polysyllable is imported into ordinary use, it loses its tail so BOOTY - pal, in the mouths of navvies ignorant of its origin, would soon be cut down to BOOTY or BUTTY.
pal
is

Buz or Buzz,

subs,

ally

parlour game which is thus described by Hotten, who, however, erroneously limited
it

(common)
to

houses The leader commences saying 'one,' the next on the left hand two,' the
public
: '

1845.
i.

or six weeks, and have no out of the shop, what would the BUTTY say to me ? [A note to foregoing explains that a BUTTY in the mining districts is a middleman a Doggy is his manager. The BUTTY generally keeps a Tommy or Truck shop and pays the wages of the labourers in goods.] Ibid, The BUTTY has given notice to p. 385. quit in Parker's field this se'nnight. Ibid, p. 389. The enemies of the people all BUTTIES, doggies, dealers in truck and
. . .

month

Suppose we were

DISRAELI, Sybil, wks.

to

make

ch. a shift for

III.,

tommy

and so on to seven, when BUZ must be said. Every seven and multiple of 7, as 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, etc., must not be mentioned, but BUZ innext
'

three,'
'

'

'

'

stead. Whoever rule pays a fine.

1868.

breaks
Little
'

the

Miss ALCOTT,
. . . '

Women,

iii. were in the midst of They a quiet game of BUZZ with two or three other young people who had strayed in, when Hannah appeared.

ch.

tommy.
1859. ch. xxxi.

H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey Hamlyn, He and I cottoned together, and found out that we had been pri'

soners together five-and-twenty years agone. And so I shouted [stood drinks~\ior him, and he for me, and at last I says, BUTTY,' says I, who are those chaps round here on the lay ?
' ' '

Verb (general). i. Some uncertainty exists as to whether TO BUZ signifies to drain a bottle or decanter to the last drop, or whether it means to share equally the last of a bottle of wine, when there is not enough for a full glass to each of the

'lollipop'

Carrol was his partner, or BUTTY, in the business a dismal looking man, who had always a burnt short clay in his mouth. pipe

1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 101. William

however, quot. [See, party. I 795-J Annandale and Hotten incline to the latter Grose and Murray to the former view, and
;

the following quotations appear to favour the explanation of the 26

Buz.
word
'

402
1857.
p. 445.

Buz-Napper.
To
SNOWDEN, Mag. A ssistant, 3 ed.,
pick pockets
to

first noticed as BUZZA by the burly lexicographer of the Vulgar Tongue.' [? A corruption of BOOZE or BOUZE, i.e., to drink a bumper or to excess.]

BUZZ.

The
drink

Scotch
all.

say

BOUSE

A',

1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and AdvenIn tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 261. young days there used to travel about in gangs, like men of business, a lot of people called 'Nobblers,' who used to

my

work the

thimble and pea rig and go BUZZING, that is, picking pockets, assisted
' '

1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To BUZZA ONE, is to challenge him to pour out all the wine in the bottle into his glass, undertaking to drink it, should it prove more than the glass would hold; it is commonly said to one who hesitates to empty a bottle

by some small boys.

3.

(American
;

thieves'.)

To

search for

to look about one.

BUZ-BLOKE.
BUZ-COVE.

See

BUZ-NAPPER.

that

is

nearly out.
Gent. Mag., p.
118.

1795.

pushed towards me the decanter containing a tolerable bumper, and excome, no claimed, Sir, I'll BUZZ you
'
:

Briskly

See

BUZ-NAPPER.

heel taps

'

BUZ-GLOAK.

See

BUZ-NAPPER.
i.

1821.

W.
ii.,

T. MONCRIEFF,
Sc.
i.

Tom and
.

Jerry, Act
you,"'

May

the best

man

Cribb. win.'

I'll

give

(All drink.)
;

BUZ-MAN,
1856.

subs,

(thieves').
C/.,

Green. May the best man vin. Log. With all my heart but, zounds! we've almost BUZZ'D the bowl. Let's have another, and d'ye hear, Tom, serve it up in your prize cup Jerry hasn't seen it, and we mustn't omit that.

May

the best

man

win.

pickpocket.
London,
(swell

BUZ-NAPPER.

H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of The London BUZ MAN p. in. mobsman) can keep his pony by
' '

abstracting skins men's pockets.

2.

(purses)

from gentle-

THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, Get some more port, Bowls, II., 138. old boy, whilst I BUZZ this bottle here what was I saying ? 'I think you were
1846-48.
'
'

(thieves'.)

An

informer.
see

[From BUZZ,

marked

speaking of dogs killing

to

rats,'

Pitt re-

MAN.]

mildly, handing his cousin the

NARK.
1877. Pice., ch. xi.
' '

For synonyms,
Past,
'

to talk or whisper,

decanter
1871.

BUZZ.

ARCHIBALD FORBES,

periences of the

War

between France and

My Ex-

W. BLACK, Green What was all

'

and

Billy Rowland,'

Germany, I., p. 234. The Hotel which I had seen a few days before, where Von Tihnpling's staff were BUZZING the bottles.
2.

BUZMAN,' and the

this about Scotland Yard,' Spy,'

rest

BUZ-NAPPER,

To

subs. (old).

i.

Apick-

pick pockets.

[Pro-

bably an allusion to BUZZ in the sense of to talk busily. The victim in BUZZING or BUZ-

pocket. pockets,

[From BUZ,

to pick

FAKING (q.v.) is generally engaged in conversation with a

confederate, while the BUZZER is committing the robbery.]

For synonyms,
1789.
p. 158.

(^.v.)

see

PRIG.

Life's Painter, In order to give them an opportunity of working upon the prig and BUZ, that is, picking of pockets.

GEO. PARKER,

who seizes or snatches. buzBuz-bloke, buz-cove,' gloak,' 'buz-man,' and 'buzzer,' are all variants of BUZ-NAPPER 'bloke, 'cove/ and 'gloak,' are old canting terms for a man.] For synonyms, see AREASNEAK.
one
' 1

NAPPER or NABBER,
'
'

G. PARKER, View of Society, 1781. follow II., 174. A young fry of boys the profession of a BUZ-NAPPER.
. . .

Buz-Napper's Academy.
1819.
J.

43
BUZZING

By-Chop.
or

Life

H. VAUx,A/ewom of Convict BUZ-COVE or BUZa person who is clever at this practice is said to be a good buz.'
in

BUZ-FAKING,

subs.

Australia.

GLOAK, a pickpocket
'

(thieves'). Buz, verb,

Pocket-picking. sense 2.

Cf.,

1834.

H. AINSWORTH,

Rookwood,

BY-BLOW,

subs.

(old).

An

illegiti-

bk.

III., ch. v.

Until at last there was none so knowing, No such sneaksman or BUZ-GLOAK going.
1856.

mate child. [An allusion to the unacknowledged status of the of mother, and the accident
'

'

H.
p.

London,
stealth,

as

MAYHEW, Gt. World of Those who plunder by 46. ... BUZZERS,' who pick
'

the birth of such children.] Also called BY-CHOP and BYSLIP.

1594.

gentlemen's pockets.
1859.

SALA, Twice Round the Clock,

3 p.m., par. 10.

Where these ruffiani,

. .
.

BARNFIELD,

A ffcctionate

these

copper captains and cozening BUZGLOAKS, are to be found during the day, must reor even up to midnight

main a

secret.

In such a ladies 'lappe, at Shepherd. such a slipperie BY-BLOW, That in a world so wide could not be found such a wilie Lad in an age so old, could not be found such an old lad.
;

1862. MAYHEW, Crim. Prisons, 46. BUZZERS who pick gentlemen's pockets, and wires who pick ladies' pockets.
'
'

1625.
i.

Give

to

MASSINGER, Parl. of Love, II., each BY-BLOW, I know mine,

C.

a farm.
1678.

While the p. 634. police had no right to arrest unless they caught them pickpockets committing a theft, yet as they had the to do so, they exercised it, and power many were the car-BUZZERS they led
1867.

Galaxy,

COTTON, Scarronides,

bk.

[New York]

Venus was SEneas Mother, In the behalf then of her BY-BLOW, Which had endured many a dry-Blow, She weeping came, sighing and throbbing.
1705-7. WARD, Hudibras vol. II., pt. II., p. 19.

Now

I.,

p. 21 (ed. 1725).

captives to police headquarters.

Redivivus,

BUZ-NAPPER-S ACADEMY,

subs. (old).

school

in

which

young
Figures

The poor Man's House abound with

Brats,

thieves were trained.

were dressed up, and experienced tutors stood in various difficult attitudes for the boys
to practise upon.

As country Barn with Mice and Rats And Parishes be fill'd with BY-BLOWS As thick as Butchers' Stalls with Fly;

blows.
1748.

When

clever

enough they were sent on the Dickens gives full .streets.

particulars of this old style of business in Oliver Twist.
' '

BY-BLOW
child.
1868.
612.

(s.),

T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.). a bastard or illegitimate

BROWNING, Ring and

drab's brat,

Bk.,

iv.,

beggar's

BYE-

BLOW.
p.
.

1781.
II., 173.

named

G. PARKER, View of Society, [A BUZ-NAPPER'S ACADEMY is and described in this work.]

And whose BY-BLOW is this ? said 'The devil knows," said he who But it is Pippa.' knelt by the mother.
'
'

1875. OUIDA, Signa, vol. I., ch. iii., The one who held the child 34. turned his light on the little wet face
;

he.

'

BUZ-NAPPER'S KINCHIN,

Sllbs.

(old).

watchman.

Synonymous

terms in the sense of police will be found under BEAK (q.v.).

BUZZER.-

BY-CHOP.
1632.

See

BY-BLOW.
iv., 2.

First

JONSON, Magnetic Lady, I have sent

;

BUZ-NAPPER.

BY-CHOP away
ceaseth.

the cause gone, the fame

By
BY CRACKY
!

Cracky

44

By Hook

or Crook.

intj.

meaningless

variations on the

ejaculation conveying no idea beyond that of general surprise.

See

name of God, and gives a striking proof of his

in

ingenuity

inventing
!

new

OATHS.
!

1888. Superior Inter -Ocean. Say, haint Tubbs a Methodist? BY CRACKY here's where it is, and in we walked.

forms for the forbidden / swear. He has his BY GORRAM BY GOLDAM and BY GOSHDANG by the side of the English oath BY
!

GOLLY
BYE -DRINK,
subs,

(common).

as 1743.

which occurs as early See OATHS.

!

Liquid refreshment taken at other than meal-times. [From

BYE

not in regular course

BY GOLLY

intj.

phr.

euphemistic phrase
See

(popular). for BY

DRINK.]
1766.
i.,

GOD!
1743.

OATHS.

KENRICK, Falstaff's Wedding,

could wish, nevertheless, old i. I white wine stood higher in his lordship's favour; that I may not be stinted at table, or in my BY-DRINKINGS.
1883.
col.
3.

Our business men

'

Daily Telegraph, Jan.

10, p. 5,

others who are not men of business take, as it is, a great many more BYEDRINKS in the way of 'sherry' and whiskey cold than is good for them.
'

and many

Five Arguments against Tythes. 'The first person consulted a gentleman-farmer, and declared that he never read anything so good in his life. 'By GOLLY," says he, 'he 'as mauled the parsons."

W. WARREN,

'

H. MAYHEW, London Lab. 1851-61. and Lou. Poor, vol. III., p. 204. Then I turn round to him and say, BY GOLLY, if you don't leave off, I'll broke you over de jaw.'
'

BY GEORGE!

An

surprise,

intj. phr. (popular). ejaculation signifying either or anger, or used

BY GORRAM
!

See

BY GOLDAM

without any special meaning. Phrases of the kind are very numerous, and are mainly employed by those whose poverty of language is otherwise very marked. [By GEORGE may either be a reference to St. the saint of George, patron England, or to the predominant
!

BY GOSH intj. phr. (popular). compromise for BY GOD

!

1804. C. K. SHARPE, in CorresponI promise, BY GOSH dence (1888), I., 210. the is most elegant and classical (which

oath imaginable).
1877. W. BLACK, Green Past, and Pice., If this goes on,' said he sudch. xxxv.
' '

denly,

BY GOSH,

I'll

heave

'

Christian
sovereigns dynasty.]
1731.

name
of

of

the early

the

Brunswick

BY

GUM

BY GUMMY

intj.

phr.

Sc. 7. BY example of him.

Act

Hi.,

FIELDING, Grub Street Opera, GEORGE, I'll make an

1737.

TORE GEORGE,
'

1852. xxxviii. I er a little subject to this sort of thing er BY GEORGE

' !

Bacchus and Venus, p. 117. I'd knock him down. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.

(American). Both these expletives are extracts from the great American Dictionary of Oaths and Cuss Words, compiled by descendants of the Puritan Fathers. See OATHS.
I860.

BY GOLDAM

intj.

semi- veiled
is

phr. (American). oath. The

BY GUM, Ticket, No. ix. Squire Shegog, we have had the greatest bobbery of a shindy in our carriage you ever knowed in all our born days."
The Season
'

HALIBURTON ('Sam

Slick'),

Yankee

peculiarly fertile in

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK.

S^HooK.

By Hooky

45
1646.

By
VI.,
ix., 197.

the

Wind.

BY HOOKY, intj. phr. (popular). A See mild form of swearing.

OATHS.
1882.
xxii.
I,
'

Biondi's List., his being God-son to for that (being very fair) she thought him a BY-SCAPE of

EARL MONM.,
. . .

For her Brother, and

his. [M.]

JAS. PAYN, For Cash Only, ch. Pay me what you owe me,' says
I'll tell

'or,

BY HOOKY,

your

father.'

BY-SLIP, subs. (old). See BY-BLOW.

go.
1692.
37.

bastard.

BYNG, BING,
1567.

verb

(old).

To

BYNGE-AWASTE,
HARMAN,
for

to go away.
self

HACKET, Life of Williams, ii., As Pope Paul the Third carried him-

Commen

Caveat, or Warening

Cursetors, p. 86.

Man. What,

stowe your bene, cofe, and cut benat whydds, and BYNG we to rome vyle, to nyp a bong so shall we haue lowre for the bousing ken and when we BYNG back
;

who made no
it

to his ungracious BY-SLIPS (an Incubus could not have begot worse),

further inquisition after their horrid facts but to say, They learnt not of him.

to the deuseauyel,

we

wyll fylche

some

duddes of the RufFemans, or myll the ken for a lagge of dudes, [i.e.] What, holde your peace, good fellowe, and speake better wordes, and go we to London, to cut a purse then shall we haue money for the ale house, and when wee come backe agayne into the country, we wyll steale some lynnen clothes of one hedges, or robbe some house for a bucke of clothes. 1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, BING A p. 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). WAST, get you hence. 1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BINGED AVAST in a darkmans, stole away in the night. BING we
;

BYTE.

See BIT.

BY THE EVER-LIVING

MOSES!

intj.

phr.

JUMPING An effective

ejaculation and moral wastepipe for interior passion or wrath is seen in the exclamation,

ING

BY THE EVER-LIVING JUMPMOSES a harmless phrase,

!

length expends a considerable quantity of fiery

that for
anger.
its

Hotten.

to Rumeville, shall
1815. xxviii.
'

we go to London ? SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch.

BY THE LIVING JINGO! or BY JINGO

See JINGO.

BING out and tour [go out and watch] ye auld devil, and see that nobody has scented.'
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. I smell a spy,' replied the other, 'BiNG AVAST, looking at Nigel. BING AVAST replied his companion.
'
.

BY THE WIND, phr.

Hard up
reference

'

(nautical). in difficulties. [In to the wind being

BY-SCAPE,
Cf.,

subs.

(old).

bastard.

formerly the most important element of success in a sailor's

calling.]

BY-BLOW.

END OF

VOL.

I.

Xtet of abbreviations, Signs, etc

=
= = Middle High German.

Adj.

Adjective.

M.H.G.
[N.]

Adj.phr.

= =

Adjectival phrase.

Adv.

Adverb.
Adverbial phrase.

Adv.phr.
C.
Cf.
/.
c.

=
=

Circa, about.

cf.

Confer,

compare.

feminine.

= French. = Hebrew. imp. = imperative. int. = interjection. intr. = intransitive. It. = Italian. = literally. lit. [M.] = Murray (quoted
F. or Fr.

Heb.

= Nares (quoted from). = Old English. O.H.G. = Old High German. = participial or participle. ppl. phr. = phrase. = plural. pi. pop. = popular. = participial adjective. ppl. adj. = quod vide, which see. (q.v.) subs. = substantive. trans. = transitive. u.s. or U.S.A. = United States of
O.E.

America.

from

When

a word
it

is

printed in small

New English Dictionary), m. = masculine. M.E. = Middle English.

capitals

should be referred

to for further information.

THOS. POULTER AND SONS, LIMITED,

6,

ARTHUR STREET WEST, LONDON BRIDGE,

E.G.

PE 3721 F4 1890 v.l

Farmer, John Stephen (ed.) Slang and its analogues past and present

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