Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 1 [of 7]
Author: John Stephen Farmer; William Ernest Henley
Date: 2026-03-21T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries; Slang -- Dictionaries

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Title: Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 1 [of 7]

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

Author: John Stephen Farmer

William Ernest Henley

Release date: March 21, 2026 [eBook #78263]

Language: English

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

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78263

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

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLANG AND ITS ANALOGUES PAST AND PRESENT, VOLUME 1 [OF 7] ***

SLANG
AND ITS
ANALOGUES.

Seven Hundred and Fifty Copies only printed, of which this is
No..….….….….….….….….…

Slang and its Analogues Past and Present.

A Dictionary, Historical and Comparative, of the Heterodox Speech of all Classes of Society for more than Three Hundred Years.

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

COMPILED AND EDITED BY
JOHN S. FARMER,
“Americanisms—Old and New”: “Ex Oriente Lux”: “’Twixt Two Worlds.”

VOL. I.—A to Byz.
PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.
MDCCCXC.

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.C. [v]

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, and with the hope of this inferior praise, he must incite his activity, and solace his weariness.” So wrote the 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 already told, in words which have since become classical, of the difficulties he 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 important though it be. I am fully conscious of manifold imperfections; yet I hope, and indeed believe, that I have, in my presentation of what is generically known as “slang,” advanced the enquiry in some measure. While cordially acknowledging the aid I have derived from the labours of my predecessors in the field, I 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 terra incognita. [vi]

The difficulties were manifold, and crowded upon one at every turn from the very outset. First and foremost came the question of deciding whether any given word, phrase, or turn of expression could with justice be relegated to the limbo of unorthodox speech—in short to decide, What is Slang? As a matter of fact, I have not yet discovered, nor have I been able to formulate any definition which covers the whole of the ground to be traversed. As Dr. Murray truly observes, “there is absolutely no defining line in any direction: the circle of the English language has a well-defined centre, but no discernible circumference.” Authorities differ between themselves, and often with themselves when asked to set down in plain scientific terms the marks which distinguish the vagrant words of slang from correct and orthodox English. Nor is the difficulty removed or lessened by an analysis of the genesis, or the application of this vast and motley crowd of heterodox words: of a verity the borderland between slang and the “Queen’s English” is an ill-defined territory, the limits of which have never been clearly mapped out. It is, therefore, not without hesitation, that I have ventured to explore this “Dark Continent” of the World of Words. If I cast a ray of light where before was darkness, or reduce to some sort of order where much was confusion—well and good: if, on the other hand, my steps at times chance to falter, others will, in such a case, be able to profit by my experience as I have by that of my predecessors.

Hence—bearing in mind the ill-defined character of much of the enquiry—my title, “Slang and its Analogues,” which I think fairly and accurately describes [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 criticism, whether for praise or demerit.

Great as was the initial difficulty in regard to a dividing line between the three great divisions of colloquial English—dialectical, technical, and slang—it was clearly and obviously necessary to draw the line somewhere. After careful consideration, I adopted, as a standard between literary and non-literary English, Annandale’s edition of Ogilvie’s Imperial English Dictionary. With but few exceptions, it will be found that no word is here included which is there set down as forming part of the orthodox inheritance of “the noble English tongue.” The next 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—slang used to-day in one sense shades off to-morrow into many modifications. This fact I have had to keep steadily in mind. It will account, in some instances, for what may, at first sight, appear to be an unnecessarily extended list of illustrative quotations; in such cases it will generally be found, on examination, that different shades of meaning are exemplified.

As regards treatment, I have adopted, though not in its entirety, what is commonly known as the “historical method,” supplementing this by an attempt at the comparative study of slang, i.e., the presentation of unorthodox [viii]English in juxtaposition with the argots of other European nations, notably those of the French, German, Italian, and Spanish peoples. The historical usage of slang is amply illustrated by the quotations appended to each example. These comprise in their range the whole period of English literature from the earliest down to the present time, my plan having been to give the first ascertainable use of any given word or phrase, tracing it 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 at 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 sections of the New English Dictionary. I am glad to be able to make special mention of my indebtedness 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 a comparative study of English and foreign slang will be found in the often-times lengthy lists of analogous and synonymous terms appended to the more important and more commonly used examples in the body of the work. This branch of my study I shall deal with more fully in an article to follow the completion of the vocabulary proper, and I 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. [9]

For the rest, my method will, I think, need little elucidation. I have endeavoured to make each example, with its explanation, derivation, synonyms, and illustrative quotations, as far as possible, complete in itself. Over and above this, however, the cross-references will be found of considerable value for the purpose of comparison, and will, I hope, be acceptable. I may also add that, wherever possible, I have given a reference indicating where synonymous or analogous words may be found. The arrangement of these synonyms has been a matter of considerable thought; first, 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.

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 examples of the use of a slang word or phrase than those of which I was already possessed. It is not, however, without a certain amount of perhaps pardonable satisfaction that I, working single-handed, am often able to give much earlier illustrations of the slang side and usage of our mother tongue, than occurs elsewhere.

As regards French Argot, Francisque Michel, Lorédan Larchey, and A. Barrère, respectively, are the chief authorities to whom I wish to render due acknowledgment; [x]Avé-Lallemant and Kahle have also been specially useful in connection with the German Gaunersprache. 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 the complete scheme (subject to slight modification) of Slang and its Analogues. The work will comprise:—

- I. A dictionary of ancient and modern English slang, treated historically, including copious lists of English, French, German, and Italian synonyms, etc.

- II. A chapter on the comparative study of the subject; this embraces English cant and slang, French Argot, German Gaunersprache, Italian Fourbesque, Spanish Germania, and Portuguese Calão.

- III. A new and exhaustive Bibliography, with copious entries of foreign books treating of the subject.

- IV. A list of authorities and references to periodical literature, with full titles and dates as mentioned throughout the dictionary.

- V. A complete vocabulary of all foreign slang words and expressions occurring throughout the body of the work, with detailed references to example, page, and column. This will form in itself a comprehensive dictionary of foreign slang.

Note.—A table of abbreviations used in this Volume will be found on page 406. [1]

A Dictionary of Slang and its Analogues.

(vulgar)—[“ă” as in bat].—A common vulgarism in speaking for (1) “have,” (2) “I,” (3) “he,” (4) “at,” (5) “on,” etc. 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 Copper-Bottomed, adj. phr. (popular).—Applied to men or things, A1 is synonymous with a high degree of praise. ‘He must be a first-rater,’ said Sam. ‘A1,’ replied Mr. Roker. [1837, Pickwick Papers.]

The derivation of this colloquialism from the symbols used in registering ships at Lloyd’s is pretty well known. Letters—A.A. (in black and red), Æ (in black), E, etc.—are employed to denote various degrees of excellence in the hulls of vessels, figures being added 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 A1. Hence, in mercantile circles, the expression has become 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-class; first-rate. The form varies, being rendered by first-class letter a; A1 copper-bottomed; and, in the U.S.A., A1 and no mistake. The 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 transition as well. A1 was a perfectly natural colloquialism in the hands of Captain Marryat, at once an experienced seaman and a practised writer. [2]

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xliii. ‘Broached molasses, cask No. 1, letter A.’

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 229. ‘Here’s spoons for six, and tea and sugar for one. Sold again! and this time to my old sweetheart of all. She’s a prime girl, she is; she is a number one, copper-bottomed, and can sail as well in her stays as out of her stays; she is full rigged, and carries a lot of canvas. But I must not tell tales out of school.’

1882. Punch, lxxxii. 181, 1. In Vino (et cetera) Veritas. ‘What’s up, old man? You seem to be out of sorts!’ ‘Snappe’s been here. I begged him to give me his candid opinion about my pictures. He did!’ ‘Ah! I see! It differs from yours! Now when I want a fellow’s candid opinion about my pictures, I ask him to dinner, give him a first-rate bottle of claret, a cup of A1 coffee, a glass of old cognac, and the best cigar money can buy, and then I show him my pictures, and I always find that his candid opinion coincides with my own.’

Eng. Synonyms. All brandy; the pure quill; about East (American); about right; at par; the cheese; all there; bang up; a corker; up to Dick; downy; fizzing; that’s Bible; splash up; up to the nines; up to the knocker; down to the ground; slap up, etc.

French Synonyms. Abracadabrant, adj. (from Abracadabra); aux petits oignons (literally ‘like small onions.’ Cf., English, ‘like a thousand of bricks,’ and ‘like winkey’); bath (adj.: also bate. In Argot 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 ‘papier bath’ became synonymous of (sic) excellent paper. In a short time the qualifying term alone remained and received a general application); arriver bon premier (literally ‘to arrive a good first’).

(Fenian).—Sometimes erroneously No. 1. In the copy 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.’

Aaron, subs. (thieves’).—‘The Aaron,’ says H. O. Manton in Slangiana, ‘is the chief or captain of a gang or school of thieves. The title is invariably preceded by the prefix The—par excellence the first—similar to the eldest representatives of certain Irish and Scotch clans or families, such as The O’Connor Don, The Chisholm, etc. As Aaron was the first high priest … it is probably of Jewish origin in its slang application. An Aaron was an old cant term 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 Hebrew equivalent, lofty.’ In this last connection a closer relationship probably exists than that just stated, inasmuch as Gesenius thinks that the Hebrew Aaron is a derivative of Hāron, a mountaineer. It is to be remarked that leaders of the church were also called Aarons.

A. B., or A. B. S. (commercial).—An able-bodied seaman.—See Bottle sucker.

1875. Chambers’ Journal, No. 627. Of all the European sailors by far the most reliable were five stalwart A.B’S. [3]

Abaddon, subs. (old).—A thief who, to general nefarious practices, adds perfidy to his companions. Rarely, and perhaps only locally used. It is obviously derived from Abaddon, the destroyer or angel of the bottomless pit (Revelation ix., 11).

Abandannad, Abandannaad, subs. (thieves’).—1. A nearly obsolete term to designate primarily a pickpocket, whose chief quarry is pocket handkerchiefs or 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 resulting in the passing of Sir Samuel Romilly’s Act for the abolition of capital punishment for highway robberies under 40s. value. Briefly told, it is that a footpad robbed a woman of a bandanna shawl, valued at 9d., an offence for 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.

Abandoned Habits, subs. phr. (popular).—The riding costumes of the ladies of the demi-monde in Hyde Park—(Slangiana). The punning and sufficiently obvious innuendo involved in the appellation hardly calls for further comment.—See Anonyma.

Abbess or Lady Abbess, subs. (old).—The keeper of a house of ill-fame; also a procuress. It has been suggested that the origin of this term for the mistress of a brothel, as also that of Abbot (q.v.), the name given to the male associate of the mistress, may be traced to the alleged illicit amours of Abelard and Héloïse. In this connection it is significant that, according to Francisque Michel’s Etudes Comparées sur l’Argot, a common woman was, in the old French cant, said to come from l’abbaye des s’offre à tous. The keeper of such an establishment was called l’abbesse, and her associate le sacristain. The analogy was carried still further, by the inmates being termed ‘nuns’ and ‘sisters of charity.’ This depravation in the meaning of 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 episcopal rector; or, as amongst the Genoese, to a chief magistrate. The second stage was reached when, in the middle ages, ‘abbot’ was applied ironically [4]to the heads of various guilds and associations, and to the leaders in popular assemblages and disorderly festivities, e.g., the Abbot of Bell-ringers, 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, signified a steward and stewardess of the stews (q.v.). The terms are now obsolete on both sides of the Channel. In England the modern equivalent for abbess is mother (q.v.); and in France la maca, mère maca, la maquecée, or l’institutrice, do similar duty.

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

So an old abbess, for the rattling rakes,

A tempting dish of human nature makes,

And dresses up a luscious maid.

1840. W. Kidd, London and all Its Dangers. The infernal wretches who traffic in the souls and bodies of their helpless victims are called lady abbesses.

Abbey Lubber, subs. phr. (old).—[From abbey + lubber.]

1. An old term of contempt for an able-bodied idler who grew sleek and fat upon the charity of religious houses; also sometimes, especially subsequent to the Reformation, applied to monks. In this sense it has long fallen into disuse.

1680. Dryden, Spanish Friar, III. 3. This is no huge, overgrown abbey lubber.

2. The term survives, however, and is still occasionally used by seafaring men, although ‘lubber’ is now more common amongst our Jack tars for a lazy, thriftless individual. If a sailor wishes to express the utmost scorn for laziness and meanness, he finds a very much more forcible expression in a ‘dirty dog and no sailor.’—See Lubbers’ hole.

Abbot, subs. (old).—The husband or ‘fancy man’ of an abbess (q.v.); now called a 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 served mainly as a cloak for robbery.

Abbott’s Priory, subs. phr. (popular).—The King’s Bench Prison was formerly so-called; perhaps from Chief Justice Abbott.

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., quiet.—T.T., too thin.—Cri., the Criterion (restaurant or theatre).—The Ox., the Oxford Music Hall.—Tec., detective.—B.P., British Public.—B. and S., brandy and soda.—P.D.Q., pretty d——d quick.

A. B. C.’s (London).—1. The Aërated Bread Co.’s establishments are, familiarly speaking, A. B. C.’s.

2. (Christ’s Hospital).—Ale, Bread and Cheese on ‘going home night.’ [5]

As easy as a. b. c., adv. phr. (popular).—Extremely facile; the acme of ease, i.e., from an adult’s point of view; children, however, probably view the matter in a different light. In this, as in much else, distance lends enchantment to the scene. This colloquialism is by no means of modern growth; Shakspeare speaks of answer ‘coming like A. B. C. book.’

A-Bear, v. (provincial and vulgar).—To suffer, or to tolerate. [From old English abearan, to bear or carry].—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 people of education is reckoned vulgar. It is now invariably employed in conjunction with ‘cannot’—‘I can’t abear furriners.’

Abelwhackets.—See Ablewhackets.

Aberdeen Cutlet, subs. phr. (familiar).—A dried haddock.—Cf., Billingsgate pheasant.

Abide, v. (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 modern vulgar usage, rarely employed affirmatively, dates from about A.D. 1526, when Tindale translated John viii. 43, by ‘He cannot abyde the hearyng of 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 classes, has a very modern appearance, ‘I cannot abide the smell of hot meat.’

Abigail, subs. (popular).—A lady’s maid. There can be little doubt that the familiar use of this name for the genus ‘waiting woman,’ was primarily an allusion to the title of 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 servants of my Lord’ (1 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, cum multis aliis. In Beaumont and Fletcher’s comedy of The Scornful Lady (1616), one of the characters, Mrs. Youngton, a ‘waiting gentlewoman,’ is named Abigail. This play, having a long run of public favour,—Pepys in his Diary [1666], iv. 195, specially mentions it,—possibly led to the popularization of the nickname. At all events it subsequently appeared on more than one occasion in the same connection [6]in the plays of the period. There is no reason to suppose that the term was derived from the notorious Abigail Hill, better known as Mrs. Masham, a poor relative of the Duchess of Marlborough, by whom she was introduced to a subordinate place about the person of Queen Anne; nor will the contention that it was first established in public usage by Dean Swift, who employed it in a letter to Stella, hold good; although likely enough he caused it to take deeper root than before. The terms on which he 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. T. Killigrew, Parson’s Wedding, II., vi. in Dodsley, O.P. (1780), xi., 425. [In this play, a waiting woman is termed an Abigail.]

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, book XI., ch. 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 leaving her alone in so horrid a place as an inn.

1858. G. Eliot, Mr. Gilfil’s Love-Story, ch. iii. The next morning, Mrs. Sharp, then a blooming Abigail of three-and-thirty, entered her lady’s private room.

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.).

Ablewhackets, also Abelwhackets, Abelwackets, subs. (nautical).—[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 with a knotted handkerchief for every game (or point) he loses. Smyth, in his Sailor’s Word Book [1867], says it is very popular with horny-fisted salts. It is quoted by Grose as far back as 1785, but Clark Russell, in Sailor’s Language [1883], refers to it as obsolete.

Abound, v. (American).—To be prominent; en évidence.

1873. Evening Standard, 28 January. When we are told of a professed wit more than usually abounding at an evening party, there is no temptation to recruit our dictionaries from the English manufactured in the United States.

About East, adv. phr. (American).—To 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 (Major Jack Downing) makes use of the expression that he would ‘Go East of sunrise any day to see sich a place.’ Everybody and everything connected with the East, i.e., his native land, is commendable. To his mind they cannot be surpassed—hence the things he would [7]hold up to admiration he says are about East, i.e., ‘about 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. They talk of going down East, that is, to New England, while the Down-Easter is neither more nor less than the pure and veritable Yankee.—Farmer’s Americanisms, Old and New.

About Right, adv. phr. (vulgar).—Correctly; to the purpose; properly—general satisfaction on the part of the speaker concerning a given thing or action. ’Arry sometimes varies the locution by ter rights (q.v.).

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. iv. ‘You’re about right, there, Mr. Lawless; you’re down to every move, I see, as usual.’

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xxii. ‘I am afraid your schemes went a little awry yesterday,’ observed Mrs. Daventry.… ‘You’re about right; they did.’

About the Size of It, adv. phr. (American).—1. An expression covering a wide field—assent, general satisfaction, approval, etc. Synonymous with about right; o.k.; ter rights, etc.

2. Used also for ‘how’; ‘how much,’ etc.—a measure of quantity or quality.

1876 (?). James Greenwood, New ‘Roughs’ Guide’ in ‘Odd People in Odd Places.’ Got no home, no wittles, and never a ’a’penny to buy none with. That’s about the size of how destitoot we are, sir.

1881. Punch, May 14, p. 228. Sir G[orgius] M[idas] goes in for Culture. “Look ’ere, Clarke. ‘Appy thought! I’ll make this little room the libery, you know; ’ave a lot o’ books. Mind you order me some.’ ‘Yes, Sir Gorgius. What sort of books shall I order?’ ‘Oh, the best, of course, with binding and all that to match!’ ‘Yes, 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.”

Above Board, adv. phr. (common).—Without disguise or concealment; with an absence of artifice. Jamieson refers this to the language of the gaming table, the players when changing cards putting their hands on, i.e., above the table or board to ensure fair dealing. It appears, however, even in its figurative sense to be a colloquialism of long standing.—See Murray’s New English Dictionary.

Above One’s Bend, adv. phr. (American).—See Bend.

Above Par, adv. phr. (familiar).—Used figuratively in a multitude of senses, e.g. (1) in reference to one’s health or spirits, in good condition; (2) applied to a man in liquor it signifies a state of moderate drunkenness; or (3) used in regard to pecuniary matters it is synonymous with being ‘flush,’ having ‘the needful’—‘best bliss of earth,’ as Duncombe puts it. Derived from the technical, commercial meaning. Stocks are said to be at par when purchasable at their ‘face’ value; when at a premium they are above par; and when selling at a decline in value, i.e., at a discount, they are said to be below par; hence the colloquial usage. See example in quotation. Synonyms, up to, or above the mark. [8]

1880. Punch, June 5, p. 253. Fred on Pretty Girls and Pictures.

Awful fellow that Ted at his letters!—he writes for the Scanmag, you know;

And his style never falls below ‘par.’ Not my joke, heard him putting it so——.

And the pars in the Scanmag—he does them—are proper, and chock full of ‘go.’

Only paper I care to grind through, never preachy, or gushing, or slow!

Abracadabra, subs. (scientific jargon).——1.—A cabalistic word used in incantations. When written in a manner similar to that shown in accompanying diagram, so as to be read in different directions, and worn as an amulet, it was supposed to cure certain ailments.

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

Hence (2), any word-charm, empty jingle of words, gibberish, nonsense, or extravagant idea. Littré’s derivation from the Hebrew—ab father, mach spirit, and dabar word—is regarded by many 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, and Holy Spirit.’ Other authorities, though by no means in accord, generally agree that a Persian origin is the most likely. Mr. R. S. Charnock (Notes and Queries, 7 S., iii., 504) thinks it related to the cabalistic word abraxas composed of the Greek letters α, β, ρ, α, ξ, α, ς, making, according to the Greek numeration, the number 365.

Des auteurs beaucoup plus anciens n’ont vu dans le mot abraxas, qu’une réunion des lettres numériques, qui étant additionées donnent le nombre 365, ou l’année entière, en sorte qu’ abraxas serait le symbole du soleil ou de sa révolution annuelle presumée.—Depping.

In Persian, according to Grotenford, abraxas means the ‘Sun God’; if this be so its use as a talisman is easily understood. Yet another derivation is from a corrupt form of the Hebrew—dabar is verbū, and abraca is benedixit, i.e., verbum benedixit. If, however, the word is Semitic at all, and nothing more than an unintelligible jargon of letters, it could possibly be better explained than by Littré, by Abra(i) seda bra(i), ‘Out, bad spirit, out!’ 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.

1687. Aubrey’s Remaines of Gentilisme, p. 124 (1881). [In this work abracadabra is given arranged as a spell.]

1711. 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.

1722. Defoe, Journal of the Plague (ed. Brayley, 1835, p. 56). ‘This mysterious 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 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 the third century, in the reigns of the emperors Severus and Caracalla. Its efficacy was reputed to be most powerful [9]in agues and other disorders of a febrile kind, and particularly against the fever called by the physicians Hemitritæus.’

1879. Literary World, 5 Dec., p. 358, col. 2 [m]. The new abracadabra of science, ‘organic evolution.’

Abraham, subs. (popular).—A clothier’s shop of the lowest description, where slop-made garments of shoddy cloth form the staple commodity together with second-hand clothes or hand-me-downs (q.v.). Chiefly localized in the East End of London, where these establishments are kept by Jews; hence probably the derivation of the term; adj. (old cant).—See Abram.

Abraham-Cove, Abraham-Man, Abram-Cove, Abram-Man, Tom of Bedlam’s Man, or Bedlam Beggar, subs. (old cant).—It is difficult now-a-days to trace with certainty the origin of these terms, notwithstanding a wealth of matter on the subject. Nares describes the fraternity as a set of vagabonds who wandered about the country soon after the dissolution of the religious houses: the provision for the poor in those places being cut off and no other substituted. Thus, primarily, an Abraham-man was a vagabond, a beggar—tattered, unwashed, unkempt—and a thief withal. ‘What an Abram!’ an exclamation for a naked fellow. Harman, the earliest authority, refers to them as feigning madness (see quot.), and as having been resident in Bethlehem Hospital. Wards in the ancient Bedlam bore distinctive names of some saint or patriarch; that named after Abraham was devoted to a class of mendicant lunatics, who on certain days were permitted to go out begging. It is an open question whether the ward gave the name to the men or vice versâ. In either case, however, the use of the term ‘Abraham’ is in this connection possibly an allusion to the beggar Lazarus in Luke xvii. These mendicants 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—

2. An impostor, wandering about the country pretending to be mad, begging in the streets, and laying hands upon all trifles ‘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 sham Abraham. Shakspeare also, in King Lear [1605], Act ii., Scene 3, describes and puts into the mouth of one of these characters the following words:

… the basest and most poorest shape,

That ever penury in contempt of man,

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 voices,

Strike in their numb’d and mortified bare arms

Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary;

And with this horrible object, from low farms,

Poor pelting villages, sheep-cotes and mills,

Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with prayers,

Enforce their charity.

[10]

The term is now obsolete, though Scott used it as late as 1824, and from the Quarterly Review (1813), IX., p. 167, it seems to have then been in pretty general use. The modern prototype is called a tramp or cadger. To sham Abraham, i.e., to feign sickness or distress is, however, still in vogue. The French equivalent is Fagotin (m).—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 Abram-men that are your consorts?

1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Abram cove, naked or poor man.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxi. ‘There is a trick for you to find an Abram-man, and save sixpence out when he begs of you as a disbanded seaman.’

Abraham Grains, subs. (thieves’).—A publican who brews his own beer.

Abraham Newland, subs. (popular).—A bank note. Abraham Newland was chief cashier to the Bank of England, from 1778 to 1807.

1829. Sir W. Scott, letter to Croker in Croker Papers, vol. II., p. 36. A bank 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.

Abraham’s Balsam, subs. (old).—Death by hanging.—See To die in one’s boots.

Abraham Sham, subs. (old cant).—1.—Feigned sickness or distress. See Abraham-man. Usually spoken of as to sham Abraham, or Abram (q.v.). From this 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. Abraham Newland was in office in the 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 (q.v.), and that forgery was felony by statute.

1759. Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, cxix. “He swore that I understood my business perfectly well, but that I shammed Abraham merely to be idle.”

1849. C. Bronté, Shirley, ch. xxxiii. 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 audible.

Abraham Suit, subs. phr. (thieves’).—False pretences; fraudulent representations to excite sympathy. The term is applied to any trick or artifice calculated to extract money from the charitable, whether by means of begging letter, a faked-up appearance, or other contrivance. Those who resort to such practices are said to go on the Abraham suit. Cf., Abraham sham.

Abraham’s Willing, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—A shilling. [11]

Abraham Work, subs. phr. (popular).—Shams of all kinds are so designated, from a bubble company down to the most trumpery ‘city pen’orth.’

Abram, subs. (old and also modern sea slang).—1. The same as Abraham-man (q.v.).—2. A malingerer; one who gets put on the sick list to shirk work.

Adj. (old cant).—1. Mad.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 36 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Abram madde. He maunds Abram, he begs as a madde man.

2. Naked, ‘she’s all Abram.’

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, part I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). Abram, naked.

3. Abram or Abram coloured (old).—Derivation uncertain, 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 Abram the folio has ‘auburn.’ To sham Abram, verb (old).—Also see Abraham sham.—The original signification of this word, to feign sickness, led to its use to describe pretence of any kind; this is specially the case amongst sailors, workmen, etc., who describe malingering as doing Abram, the defaulter also being called by the same name.

Abregoyns, Abergoins, Abrogans, subs. (American).—Vulgarisms for ‘aborigines.’

Abridgments, subs. (nonce word).—Knee breeches. This term for small clothes appears in Bulwer Lytton’s comedy, Money.

1840. Bulwer Lytton, Money, iv. 4. Frantz (producing a pair of small clothes, which Toke examines). Your master is von beggar, etc. Toke. I accept the abridgements, but you’ve forgotten to line the pockets.

Abroad, adv. (old).—1. Confused; staggered; perplexed. More generally retained in this sense in America than in England.

2. (popular).—Generally all abroad; i.e., wide of the mark; wrong; uncertain in one’s estimate; or, ‘all at sea.’ In this figurative sense the expression is much older than is popularly supposed.—See Bedoozled.

1821. The Fancy, vol. I., p. 255. In the fourth round he came in all abroad, and got a doubler in the bread-basket, which spoiled him for the remainder of the fight.

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. lxi. ‘My friend!’ repeated Kit, ‘You’re all abroad, seemingly,’ returned the other man. ‘There’s his letter, take hold.’

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. v. 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.

3. To be transported. The French have a similar circumlution, aller en traverse, and the Italian Fourbesque has andar a traverso.

4. (Win. Coll.)—A boy returning to school work after being ill is said to come abroad. When on the sick list he is continent (q.v.) i.e., continens cameram, vel lectum, keeping his room or bed. When recovered he is allowed to go foris, out of doors, or more colloquially, 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, [12]Latinum exerceto, of the Tabula legum.’ To be furked abroad is a less complimentary term implying that a ‘man’ has been ‘shuffling’; it is specially applied to those who having ‘gone continent’ in the morning are sent back to school by the doctor at 9 a.m.

Abroaded (society).—See quotation, and compare with abroad.

1876. H. O. Manton, Slangiana, p. 11 (See Bibliography). Fashionable 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.

Abs (Win. Coll.)—1. An abbreviation of ‘absent’ placed against the name of a boy when absent from the school.

2. v. tr., to take away. Formerly, circa, 1840, to abs a tolly (candle), meant to put it out; now it would mean to take it away whether lighted or unlighted, the modern ‘notion’ for putting it out being to ‘dump’ it.

3. v. n. To get away; generally used in the imperative, as, ‘abs!’ ‘Oh! do abs!’ Sometimes, however, a fellow is said to abs quickly, and mess things (q.v.) are absed (trans.), or put away.

4. To have one’s wind absed is to have it taken away by a violent blow in the stomach.

Abscotchalater, subs. (thieves’).—Quoted by H. O. Manton in Slangiana as ‘one who is hiding away from the police.’ Cf., Absquatulate.

Absence, subs. (Eton).—Names-calling, 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 p.m. only in summer half.

Absent Without Leave, adv. phr. (thieves’).—Said of one who has broken prison; or (popular) absconded.

Absit, subs. (Cambridge).—See 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 tutor. Permission to go away 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.’

Abskize, Abschize, v. (American).—To depart; go away. Said to be of Western origin, and to have been in use about 1883. Of rare and probably local usage. It has been derived 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, of American origin and jocular use, simulating a Latin form, perhaps from Latin ab and squat, i.e., to settle on land, 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 [13]restricted sense for a sub-lessee of the government at a nominal rent. It was first used by Mr. Hackett, as Nimrod Wildfire, a Kentucky character, in a play called ‘The Kentuckian,’ by Bernard, produced in 1833. It is now less often heard than formerly, having been replaced in some degree by the word skedaddle (q.v.). For synonyms, see Amputate one’s mahogany.

1835–1840. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xiv. ‘What’s the use of legs but to absquotilate with … when traps are sot for you.’

1879. Punch, Jan. 18, p. 23, col. 1. The Reward of Merit. Mrs. Lyon Hunter, ‘How do you do, Mr. Brown? Let me present you to the Duchess of Stilton! Your Grace, permit me to present to you Mr. Brown, the distinguished scholar!’ Her Grace (affably). ‘Charmed to make your acquaintance—er—Mr. Brown!’ Mr. Brown (with effusion). ‘Your Grace is really too kind. This is the ninth time I’ve enjoyed the distinction of being presented to your Grace 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 absquatulates.]

1884. Daily Telegraph, August 20, p. 6, col. 1. Yet who knows but that some day an accident may happen to the Aberdeenshire works of art … the sense of the cartoons be totally subverted—in Rabelaisian phrase, ‘absquashed and absquatulated.’

Academician, subs. (old).—The inmate of a brothel.

Academy, subs. (old).—1. A disorderly house; a brothel; a bagnio. Grose remarks that these establishments were also called pushing schools. The old brothels have of late years rapidly disappeared, their places being taken by what are known as bed houses (q.v.). These vary in character as regards style, equipment, and cost, but of whatever grade, rooms may be had for longer or shorter periods as required. The French call them maisons de societé; maisons de passe; foutoirs, and gros numéros, the last from the fact, that these semi-private brothels bear a number of large dimensions over the entrance. The French have also a somewhat analogous term for the mistress of an académie in l’institutrice, the teacher. In the 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 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, e.g.:

4. Buzzing Academy (thieves’).—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 and pilfer adroitly.

5. Canting Academy (vagrants’).—A house of call or common lodging house, frequented by the fraternity; a cadger’s dossing ken. The term is also applied to any house where application for food or money is likely to be successful. At the regular ‘beggar’s house’—establishments which abound more or less in every town—information can be obtained so that the district can be thoroughly and systematically ‘worked.’ [14]

6. Character Academy.—At these places false characters are drawn up, to say nothing of the concoction of schemes of robbery.

7. Floating Academy (thieves’).—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.

8. Gammoning Academy.—A reformatory.

Acause, conj. (vulgar).—A corruption of ‘because.’

Accommodation House, subs. (popular).—A brothel. Also frequently applied to what in police court phraseology are known as disorderly houses, i.e., houses where rooms can be hired for shorter or longer periods as desired.—See Bed house.

According to Cocker.—See Cocker.

According to the Revised Statutes.—See Revised statutes.

Account. To go on the account, verb. phr. (old nautical).—To join in a fillibustering or buccaneering expedition; to turn pirate. Ogilvie says, probably from the parties sharing, as in a commercial venture.

1812. Scott, Letter to a Friend. I hope it is no new thing for gentlemen of fortune who are going on the account to change a captain now and then.

To account for (sporting).—To kill; literally to be answerable for bringing down one’s share of the shooting; to make away with.

1846–48. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. xx. The persecuted animals [rats] bolted above ground: the terrier accounted for one, the keeper for another.

1858. Letter from Lahore, 28 September, in Times, 19 November. In the course of one week they were hunted up and accounted for; and you know that in Punjab phraseology accounting for means the extreme fate due to mutineers. [M.]

Accounts. To cast up one’s accounts, verb. phr. (old cant).—To vomit. Still common; quoted by Grose [1785]. The expression sometimes runs, amongst seafaring men, to audit one’s accounts at the Court of Neptune.

Eng. Synonyms. To shoot the cat; to cat.

French Synonyms. Semer des miettes (lit. to sow or scatter crumbs); piquer le renard (lit. to goad the fox). Cf. ‘to shoot the cat.’ The old French phrase was chasser or escorcher le 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 man spue’; renverser (lit. to overturn, to upset); faire restitution (lit. to make amends; to restore); revoir la carte (lit. to look at the bill of fare again).

(Thieves’).—To turn Queen’s evidence.

Accumulatives, subs. (American).—These journalistic sparring matches are essentially a ‘Yankee notion.’ In England 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. [15]

Accumulator, subs. (racing).—A bettor, who when successful with one horse, carries forward the stakes to another event.

Ace of Spades, subs. phr. (old).—A widow. Though obsolete in England, it is quoted by the New York Slang Dictionary (1881) as still current in America.

Ack, intj. (Christ’s Hospital).—No! refusal of a request, e.g., ‘Lend me your book.’ ‘Ack!’

Ackman, Ackpirate (old), Or Ackruff (American), subs.—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 ark, a boat; or wherry) + man, etc.] Quoted by Grose [1785], and also by Clark Russell, in Sailor’s Language [1883].

Acknowledge the Corn, verb. phr. (American).—To make an admission of failure; to admit being outwitted. The various 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, Indiana, and Kentucky sent their haystacks, cornfields, and fodder to New York and Philadelphia for sale. The Hon. Charles A. Wickliffe, from Kentucky, jumped up and said, ‘Why that is absurd; Mr. Speaker, I call the gentleman to order. He is stating an absurdity. We never send haystacks or cornfields to New York or Philadelphia.’ ‘Well, what do you send?’ ‘Why, horses, mules, cattle, hogs.’ ‘Well, what makes your horses, mules, cattle, hogs? You feed a hundred dollars’ worth of hay to a horse, you just animate and get upon the top of your haystack and ride off to market. How is it with your cattle? You make one of them carry fifty dollars’ worth of hay and grass to the Eastern market. Mr. Wickliffe, you send a hog worth ten dollars to an Eastern market; how much corn does it take at thirty-three cents per bushel to fatten it?’ ‘Why, thirty bushels!’ ‘Then you put that thirty bushels of corn into the shape of a hog, and make it walk off to the Eastern market.’ Mr. Wickliffe jumped up and said: ‘Mr. 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. Bacon, Handbook of America, p. 361. Acknowledge the corn, to confess a charge or imputation.

1883. G. A. Sala, Living London, p. 97. Mr. Porter acknowledges the corn as regards his fourteen days’ imprisonment, and is forgiven by his loving consort.

Acorn. A horse foaled of an acorn, subs. phr. (old).—The gallows. Euphemisms for hanging, the ‘tree’ itself, and the victim of the law’s majesty were, at the time when the [16]death penalty was a common punishment, both many and curious. A horse foaled of an acorn, is obviously an allusion to the timber of which the triple 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 with death by hanging, hempseed (q.v.); and hempen fever (q.v.) represented the dread malady itself.

1760–61. Smollett, Sir L. Greaves, ch. viii. 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).

1827. Lytton, Pelham, ch. lxxxii. ‘The cove … is as pretty a Tyburn blossom as ever was brought up to ride a horse foaled by an acorn.’

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 8. Tom Sheppard was always a close file, and would never tell whom he married. Of this I’m certain, however, she was much too good for him.… As to this little fellow … he shall never mount a horse foaled by an acorn, if I can help it.

Acquaintance. To scrape acquaintance, verb. phr. (common).—To make acquaintance. Probably from ‘bowing and scraping’ to a person, in order to curry favor.

1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle [ed. 1711], p. 5, Lucinda. Pray good Cæsar, keep off your paws; no scraping acquaintance for Heaven’s sake.

This phrase has a classical origin, an account of which from the pen of Dr. Doran, F.S.A., appears in the Gentleman’s Magazine [N.S. xxxix. 230] in an article on ‘The Masters of the Roman World during the Happiest Years of the Human Race.’

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 comrade—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 bathing garments. Thereupon all the 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 scraping themselves with tiles. He understood the intent, but wittily evaded it. ‘Scrape one another, gentlemen,’ said he, ‘you will not scrape acquaintance with me!’

Acquisitive, subs. (American).—Plunder; booty; pickings. A noun formed from the adjective.

Acreocracy, subs. (common).—The landed interest. Possibly of American coinage [of simulated Greek formation, from English acre + Greek κρατέω, to hold sway or to govern]. Compare with democracy, mobocracy, aristocracy, etc.

1878. Hallberger’s Illustrated Magazine, p. 622. The introduction of a plutocracy among the aristocracy and the acreocracy though it has tended somewhat to vulgarize our social institutions, etc.

Acres, 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 his finger ends.’ Cf., Abigail for a waiting maid; Samson for a [17]strong man; Job for a monument of patience, and others.

Across Lots. To go across lots, verb. phr.—To proceed by the shortest route; similarly to do anything in the most expeditious manner. The phrase had its rise in 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. Brigham Young familiarized its idiomatic use in the now notoriously historic saying attributed to that ‘Saint,’—‘We’ll send them (the Gentiles) to hell across lots.’

1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers.

Past noontime they went trampin’ round

An’ nary thing to pop at found,

Till, fairly tired o’ their spree,

They leaned their guns agin a tree,

An’ jest ez they wuz settin’ down

To take their noonin’, Joe looked roun’

And see (acrost lots in a pond

That warn’t mor’n twenty rod beyond),

A goose that on the water sot

Ez ef awaitin’ to be shot.

1854. J. C. Neal, Charcoal Sketches, i., p. 35 [to a grumbler]:—‘You would cut across the lot, like a streak of lightning, if you had a chance.’

1887. Scribner’s Magazine. ‘I didn’t see Crossby go by, did you?’ ‘He’d have had to foot it by the path cross-lots, replied Ezra, gravely, from the doorstep.’

Acteon, subs. (old).—A cuckold; from the horns planted on the head of Acteon by Diana.

Acting the Deceitful, verb. phr. (old theatrical).—Performing; mumming; acting.—Duncombe.

Active Citizen, subs. (popular).—A louse. For synonyms, see Chates.

Act of Parliament, subs. (old).—A military term for small beer, five pints of which, by an Act of Parliament, a landlord was formerly obliged to give gratis to each soldier billetted upon him. For synonyms, see Cold blood.

Actual. The actual, subs. (popular).—Money, when spoken of collectively. The fact of the existence of innumerable synonyms for the ‘modern staff of life’ goes far to 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 humor and pathos running through not a few of them. This applies equally to English slang, and to the French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese argots. Compare for example the English ‘feathers’ with the Spanish amigos (friends), the Italian agresto (sour grapes), and the French du foin (hay), or de l’os (bone), and obviously many a new side-light upon national habits and modes of thought may be obtained therefrom. The English and French, the two nations whose slang vocabularies are by far the most copious extant, have respectively upwards of 130 and 50 synonymous terms for money. The generic names are as follows:—

Eng. Synonyms. Ballast; beans; blunt (i.e., specie,—not soft, or rags, i.e., bank-notes); brads; brass; bustle; coal; coppers (copper money, or mixed pence); chink; chinkers; chips; corks; dibs; dimmock; dinarly; [18]dirt; dooteroomus (or doot); dumps; dust; dye stuffs; feathers; family plate (silver); dollars; gent (silver,—from argent); gilt; haddock (a purse of money); hard stuff (or hard); horse nails; huckster; John; John Davis; loaver; lour (the oldest cant term for money); mopusses; muck; needful; nothings (money collected in a hat by street-performers); ochre (gold); oof; ooftish; pewter; palm oil; pieces; posh; queen’s pictures; quids; rags (bank-notes); ready; ready gilt; ready John; redge (gold); rhino; rowdy; shadscales (or scales); shot; shekels; sinews of war; shiners (sovereigns); shin plasters (or plasters); skin (a purse of money); Spanish; spondulics; stamps; stiff (cheques, or bills of acceptance); stuff; stumpy; tin (silver); tow; wad; wedge (silver); wherewith; and yellow-boys (sovereigns). In the 17th century money was often called ‘shells’—is this the origin of ‘to shell out’?—and ‘Oil of Angels’ (q.v.).

French Argot. De l’artiche (thieves’: retirer de l’artiche, is to pick the pockets of a drunkard); du morningue; du foin (lit. hay); du plâtre (thieves’: lit. plaster); du poussier (thieves’: lit. coal-dust; Cf., English ‘coal’ and ‘dust’); des soldats (thieves’: Falstaff, in Merry Wives of Windsor, ii., 2, says ‘money is a good soldier’); de la mornifle (this 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 slang signification); de la sauvette (also a basket used by rag-pickers and collectors of street refuse); de l’huile (lit. oil); du beurre (pop.: lit. butter); de la braise (pop.: ma braise is a term of endearment among the Lyonnais, and is equivalent to mon trésor, my treasure); du bath (thieves’: the tip-top; the excellent. From a superior kind of Bath note paper, which, in 1848, was hawked about the streets of Paris, and sold at a low price. Thus papier bath became synonymous with excellent paper. In a short time the qualifying term alone remained, and received a general application.—Argot and Slang); du graissage (pop.: lit. grease, Cf., ‘palm oil,’ and ‘greasing the palm’ in English slang); de la thune (thieves’: in old French cant the Roi de la Thune was the king of the beggars, and the old prison of Bicêtre, where free board and lodging was provided for many of the fraternity, was called La Thune. It is easy to see why the name of a place, where beggars congregated in considerable numbers and received relief, should pass into use to signify pecuniary alms); de la miche de profonde (pop. and thieves’: this exactly corresponds to the English ‘loaver’); de l’oignon pèse (pop.: lit. heavy onion. Cf., Fourbesque argume); du sable (pop.: lit. sand); des pimpions (thieves’: Qy., from pimpant, fine, spruce, smart); de l’os (familiar: lit. bone); du nerf (lit. sinew. Cf., English ‘sinews of war’); des pepettes (pop.: pepette, a coin of the value of fifty centimes); des achetoires (pop.: from acheter, to buy); de la galette (pop.: lit. sea biscuit); des picaillons (pop.: probably a corruption of picaron, a Spanish coin); de ce qui se pousse (pop.: that which pushes [19]itself forward. Cf., English proverb, ‘It’s money makes the mare to go’); de quoi (pop.: the wherewithal. Cf., English ‘the needful,’ the ‘ready’), de l’oignon (pop.: lit. onion. Fourbesque has also argume, lit. in Italian, an onion); de l’oseille (pop.: lit. sorrel); de la douille (thieves’ and pop.: from a kind of large fig much esteemed in Paris); des jaunets (lit. buttercups. Cf., English ‘yellow-boys’); des sous (lit. pence); de la graisse (pop. and thieves’: lit. ‘grease.’ Cf., palm oil); de l’affare (a thieves’ term, probably from the argotic verb affurer, to cheat, steal, or deceive); du metal (lit. metal); du zinc (lit. zinc); du pèze (from the Italian pezzo, a piece; Spanish peso, a silver coin, weighing an ounce); du pedzale; des noyaux (popular); des sonnettes plombes (plomb = lead); des sonnettes (lit. bells. Cf., English ‘chinkers’); du quantum (from the Latin); du gras (lit. fat); de l’atout (lit. trumps in cards); de l’huile de main (lit. hand oil, the English ‘palm grease’); des patards (obsolete copper coins, value ¼d.; now applied particularly to a two-sous piece, and to money generally); de la vaisselle de poche (lit. pocket plate: vaisselle = gold and silver plate); du carme (from the game of Trictrac); de la pécune (lit. cash); des ronds (lit. circles; from the shape of coins); de la bille (from billon); du “sine quâ non” (from the Latin; meaning obvious); du sit nomen (from the Latin); quibus (an abbreviation of quibus fiunt omnia).

Italian Fourbesque. Agresto (lit. sour grapes); albume (lit. white of egg), argume (lit. onions); asta, asti (from Ital. asta, a staff); contramaglia (silver money); brunotti (lit. brownish); penne (lit. feathers); smilzi (from Ital. smilzi = menu); squame (lit. chips or scales).

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

Portuguese Calão.—Parne.

German Synonyms (Gaunersprache).—See Gilt.

Ad., Adver. subs. (printers’).—An abbreviated form of ‘advertisement.’

1854. Dickens, Household Words, xiii., 9. The really interesting ads are in the body of the paper.

1888. New York Times, Ap. 6.

[The country editor’s wife—] … reads the ads with the editor,

Just to find what each has paid.

‘But the column ad of the jeweller, there,’

So he says, ‘and the harness, and human hair,

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 subscriber so faithfully brings,

With a cheerfulness seldom seen.

Adam, subs. (old).—A sergeant or bailiff; a master man or foreman. Now used by thieves in 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. Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors, iv., 3. Ant. S.… What Adam dost thou mean? 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.

1848. Sinks of London Laid Open, p. 96. Adam, a henchman, an accomplice. [20]

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 German equivalents.

Eng. Synonyms. Fish broth; aqua pompaginis.

French. Anisette de barbillon (a popular term); essence de parapluie (popular: lit. essence of umbrella); l’Adam’s ale (a literal translation of the English term); limonade (popular: a caustic comment surely upon the virtues of lemonade); lance (popular and thieves’: this term also does duty for ‘rain’; properly written l’ance, derived from the Spanish Germania ansia, itself an abbreviation of angustia, an allusion to the employment of water as a means of torture); sirop or ratafia de grenouilles (popular: lit. syrup of frogs); sirop de l’aiguière (popular: lit. pitcher syrup); sirop de baromètre (popular, barometer syrup).

German Gaunersprache. Gänsewein (lit. goose-wine).

Italian Fourbesque. Lenza (the remarks on French lance quoted above, apply equally here).

1643. Prynne, Sov. Power of Parl., II., 32. They have been shut up in prisons and dungeons … allowed onely a poore pittance of Adam’s ale, and scarce a penny bread a day to support their lives. [M.]

1786–9. Wolcot [P. Pindar], Lousiad, c. ii., line 453.

Old Adam’s beverage flows with pride,

From wide-mouth’d pitchers, in a plenteous tide.

1884. Daily Telegraph, April 1, p. 5, col. 2. The spectral banquet graced now only by Adam’s ale, or the sick-room toast and water.

1886. John Coleman, Elfie, pt. I., ch. ii. For my part, I stuck to Adam’s ale, which Elfie brought from the spring.

Adam Tiler, subs. (old slang).—A pickpocket’s associate; one who receives stolen goods, and then runs off with them. [From Adam, an accomplice + tiler, a watchman. Cf., Masonic term.] For synonyms, see Fence.

Added to the List (racing).—An abbreviation of ‘added to the list of geldings in training.’ Among French thieves, désatiller is the term employed to signify castration; or, where the operation is performed upon a man, abélardiser, i.e., to mutilate a man, as Chanoine Fulbert mutilated Abélard, the lover of his daughter or niece, Héloise.

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

1704. Centlivre, Platonick Love, Act iii., Scene 1. Milliner. Be pleased to put on the addition madam. Mrs. Dowdy. What does she mean now? to pull my skin off, mehap, next. Ha, Peeper, are these your London fashions? Peeper. No, no, addition is only paint, madam.

Addition, Division, and Silence! phr. (American).—A Philadelphia expression, which, for a time, had a vogue as a catch phrase. It is properly rendered multiplication, division, and silence! William M. Tweed, or as he is more familiarly known ‘Boss’ Tweed, is generally credited with this expression. Being asked what in [21]his view was the proper qualification for a member of a ring or trust, in which all play into each other’s hands for mutual advantages, he replied multiplication, division, and silence!

Addle Cove, subs. (common).—A foolish man; an easy dupe; literally, a rank sucker (q.v.), and equivalent to addle-head, addle-pate, addle-plot, all of which are common dictionary words. Why Barrère and Hotten have followed the lead of Grose in classing these words as slang is hardly clear. Dialectical they may have been, but all English was similarly placed prior to the 15th century, and the first reference given by Murray, bears the date of A.D. 1250.

Adept, subs. (thieves’).—An expert amongst the light-fingered gentry. It is quite an open question whether adept, even in a thief’s sense, can fairly be classed as slang, the meaning being obviously identical with that commonly attached to the word.

Adjective Jerker, subs. phr. (literary).—A term of derision 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 young writers, and reporters on low-class papers, often exhibit in the use of a plethora of adjectives to qualify a simple statement of fact.

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

Adjutant’s Gig, subs. phr. (military).—The barrack roller. Men under punishment are generally put to the task of drawing this machine.

Admiral. To tap the Admiral, verb phr. (nautical).—A practice otherwise known as ‘sucking the monkey.’ 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 regulation prohibiting the purchase of ardent liquors when on shore in the tropics. The Germans have an analogous expression Den affen 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.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (the Black Mousquetaire).

What the vulgar call sucking the monkey,

Has much less effect on a man when he’s funky.

Admiral of the Blue, subs. phr. (old).—A publican or tapster; from the colour of his apron; now obsolete. Cf., Admiral of the red.

1731. Poor Robin [Pseudonym of Robert Herrick] Almanac.

As soon as customers begin to stir,

The admiral of the blue, cries, ‘Coming, sir!’

Or if grown fat, the mate his place supplies;

And says, ’tis not my master’s time to rise. [22]

Of all our trades, the tapster is the best,

He has more men at work than all the rest.

Admiral of the Narrow Seas, subs. phr. (nautical).—A man who, under drink, vomits into the lap of his neighbour or vis-à-vis.

Admiral of the Red, subs. phr. (popular).—A wine-bibber; one whose face by its redness bears evidence of a fondness for the bottle. Formerly the highest rank of naval officers was divided into three grades or classes denominated from the colours hoisted by them, Admirals of the Red, White, or Blue squadron. Now there are four grades; Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice-admiral, and Rear-admiral. The French call the bottle or copper-nose possessed by admirals of the red betterave (lit. a beetroot); also un piton passé à l’encaustique; and un piffard. Cf., Admiral of the blue.

Admiral of the White, subs. phr. (familiar).—Quoted as ‘a white-faced person; a coward; a woman in a faint.’ Rarely heard, and at best but an extremely weak imitation of kindred phrases, to wit, admiral of the blue, and admiral of the red.

Admirals of the Red, White, and Blue, subs. phr. (familiar).—Beadles; hall-porters; and such-like functionaries when sporting their gorgeous liveries of office.

Adonize, verb. (rare). [French adoniser; from adonis + ize].—To make beautiful or attractive; to adorn oneself with a view of attracting admiration; said only of men.

1818. S. E. Ferrier, Marriage, ch. ix. ‘Venus and the Graces, by Jove!’ exclaimed Sir Sampson, bowing with an air of gallantry; ‘and now I must go and adonize a little myself.’ The company then separated to perform the important offices of the toilette.

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xl. ‘He positively refused to face the ladies till he had changed his shooting costume, so I left him up at the hall to adonize.’

Adsum, verb. (Charterhouse).—The response made in answering to names-calling.

1855. Thackeray, The Newcomes, p. 774. ‘At the usual evening hour the chapel bell began to toll, and Thomas Newcome’s hands outside the bed feebly beat time. And just as the last bell struck, a peculiar sweet smile shone over his face and he lifted up his head a little, and quickly said, ‘adsum,’ and fell back. It was the word we used at school when names were called; and lo, he whose heart was as that of a little child had answered to his name, and stood in the presence of the Master.’

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 30th 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 (1 Sam. xxii., 1). The political party in question were also known collectively as ‘The Cave.’ [23]

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 political history. Ibid., p. 143. The wild cheers of the Conservatives and the adullamites showed on which ‘sword sat laurel victory.’ Ibid., p. 152. [Lord Derby] had at once invited the leading members of the adullamite party to accept places in his Administration.

The primary usage has been extended as explained in the following quotations.

1870. Notes and Queries, March 5, p. 241. The Scriptural ‘cave of adullam’ has become an adopted byword for a small clique who unite to obstruct the party with which they usually associate.

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

Advance Backward, verb. (American).—A rather odd way of expressing retrogression.

1888. 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 18th inst.

Advantage (Californian).—See Pocket advantage.

Æger, subs. (Univ.). Lat. sick.—Same as Ægrotat (q.v.).

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

1888. H. Smart, in Temple Bar, February, p. 213. ‘Instead of applying for leave to my tutor, I had resorted to the old device of pricking Æger.’

Ægrotat, subs. (Univ.).—[L. he is sick, 3rd pers. sing. pres. ind. of ægrotare, to be sick from ægrotus, sick, from æger, sick]. In English universities a medical 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 called Æger (q.v.).

1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. They [at Cambridge] sported an Ægrotat, and they sported a new coat!

1864. Babbage, Passages from the Life of a Philosopher, 37. I sent my servant to the apothecary for a thing called an Ægrotat, which I understood … meant a certificate that I was indisposed.

Reading ægrotat.—In some universities leave taken, commonly in December, in order to get time to read for one’s degree.

Affair of Honour, subs. (old).—Killing an innocent man in a duel. This euphemism was largely in vogue during the Regency days.

Affidavit Men, sub. phr. (old slang), or, as they also used to be called, Knights of the Post.—False witnesses who attended Westminster Hall and other Courts of Justice, ready to swear anything for hire; they were distinguished by having straws stuck in the heels of their shoes.—See Straw bail under Bail.

Affinity, subs. (American).—A cant term in frequent use amongst so-called 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 versâ, in favour of the new attraction, or affinity as he or she is called. The argument is generally only [24]an excuse for unbridled sexual license; indeed, it is inconceivable that it could be otherwise, except in a society of seraphs and archangels.

Afflicke, subs. (old).—See quotation.

1610. Rowland’s Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Chub’s Repr., 1874). Afflicke, a theefe.

Afflictions, subs. (drapers’).—Mourning goods, half-mourning being designated mitigated afflictions (q.v.).

Affygraphy, subs. (common).—‘It fits to an affygraphy,’ i.e., to a nicety—to a T; also of time—‘in an affygraphy.’

Afloat, adv. (common).—On the move; en évidence. This term is of nautical origin.

To have one’s back-teeth well afloat, is to be well-primed with liquor; in short, to be in one of the many degrees of intoxication.

1888. Missouri Republican, Jan. 25. When 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.

A-Fly, adv. (vulgar).—See Fly.

Afterclap, subs. (American).—An attempt to unjustly extort more in a bargain or agreement than at first settled upon. [Derived from after + clap, a blow or shock.] Current in England since the beginning of the fifteenth century, signifying an unexpected subsequent event; something happening after an affair is supposed to be at an end.

After-Dinner Man; Afternoon’s Man.—Generally read to mean a tippler; one given to long potations after the mid-day meal, formerly the most substantial taken during the twenty-four hours. Smythe Palmer, however, appears to throw a different gloss upon the term, for he says [N. and Q., 5 S., viii., 112], Afternoones 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 of it.—See quot. from Earle.

1614. Overbury, A wife, etc. (1638), 196. Make him an afternoones man.

1621. Burton, Anat. Mel. Democr. to Reader (1657), 44. Bervaldus will have drunkards, afternoon men, and such as more than ordinarily delight in drink, to be mad.

1628. Earle, Microcosmography (A Player). 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.

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

After Four, subs. phr. (Eton).—From 3 to 6 p.m. on half-holidays; 4 to 5 on whole schoolday.

Afternoon Farmer, subs. phr. (popular).—This expression for one who procrastinates, or who misses an opportunity is, in [25]reality, a provincialism. It is 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., late in preparing his land, in sowing or harvesting his crops. It is only slang when used figuratively apart from agricultural pursuits.

After Twelve, subs. phr. (Eton).—From noon till 2 p.m.

1861. Whyte Melville, Good for Nothing, p. 39. I used to visit him regularly in the dear old college from the after twelve.

Against Collar. To work against collar, verb. phr. (popular).—To battle or cope with difficulties; ‘to kick against the pricks’; ‘to pull against the tide.’

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a 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 suit their book, and it destroys the independence which is, and always should be, between the master and the man.’

Against the Grain, adv. phr. (popular).—Against the fibres of the wood; hence, in opposition to the wish; unwillingly; unpleasantly; reluctantly. ‘It went against the grain to do it, but I knew I must,’ is a common expression.

1673. Dryden, Amboyna, Act i. 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 to retire.

1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 2. Nothing in nature is so ungrateful as story-telling against the grain, therefore take it as the author has given it you.

1868. Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone, 1st Period., ch. xi. As I had promised for them, the other servants followed my lead, sorely against the grain, of course, but all taking the view that I took.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xxiii. It went against my grain to leave the poor chap alone.

Agaze, adv. (American thieves’).—Astonished; open-eyed.

Aggerawator, subs. (common); also Haggerawator, both forms being corruptions of ‘aggravator.’—A 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 affected by costermongers, male and female, and other street folk, but the ‘ornament’ is now rarely seen. It appears to be known among certain classes in France, especially prostitutes’ bullies.

Eng. Synonyms. Kiss-curls; cobbler’s knots; cow-licks; Newgate knockers (from a supposed resemblance to the knocker on the prisoner’s door at Newgate); number sixes; bellropes (being wherewith to draw the belles); bow-catchers; spit-curls; lovelocks, etc.

French Argot. Des guiches; des rouflaquettes (from being sported by prostitutes’ bullies), des accroche-cœeurs (lit. heart-hooks).

1836. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 132. His hair carefully twisted into the outer corner of each eye, till it formed a variety of that description of semi-curls, usually known as ‘aggerawators.’ [26]

From the following they 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.

Agility, subs. (low).—A woman who, in mounting a stile, or, when being swung, exposes more of her person than is usually counted decent, is said to show her agility. The story told is an absurdly vulgar play upon words.

Agitate the Communicator! verb. phr. (common).—Ring the bell!

Agitator, subs. (common).—A bell-rope, or knocker.

Agogare, intj. (American thieves’).—Be quick! a warning signal [from agog].—New York Slang Dictionary.

Agony. To pile up the agony. verbal phr. (popular).—To intensify a statement or relation by exaggerated or blood-curdling details. Newspapers pile on the agony when ‘writing up’ murder, divorce, and other sensations.

1857. C. Bronté, in Mrs. Gaskell’s Life, ch. xxv. What climax there is does not come on till near the conclusion; and even then, I doubt whether the regular 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, ch. vi. ‘Sooner or later that organ will shake the Cathedral to bits; the vibrations were fearful. I thought there was a great deal too much noise. You lose effect when you pile up the agony like that.’

Agony column, subs. phr. (popular).—The second column of the Times; originally so-called from the fact of its being devoted to advertisements for missing friends, and private communications, many of which are of a harrowing character. Most London newspapers, for the phrase is chiefly local, have now a similar column. Subjoined are a few examples of these advertisements:—

I am not sure of identity. Are you Juan of 1873? Longing to see you.—B.

My darling, how often do I say from 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.

Satisfied.—Meet Friday outside Farringdon Street Station, Three p.m. Have slip paper in coat button-hole.—J. T.

HERBERT WILLIAM BONNETT, who left Bristol on Thursday, Sept. 5, is REQUESTED to COMMUNICATE at once with his uncle at Keynsham. If any shipping agent is aware of his taking passage in any boat leaving England, either London, Liverpool, or elsewhere, please write at once to Mr. J. D. Coates, Keynsham, near Bristol. All expenses will be paid.

The earliest mention in Murray’s Dictionary is dated 1880, but from the following quotation it will be seen that the term has been in use for at least twenty years.

1870. L. Oliphant, Piccadilly, part II., p. 78. The advertisement of the committee, which appeared in the agony column of the Times, who wanted to know how I wished the money applied.

1881. W. Black, Beautiful Wretch, ch. xxiii. There were anonymous appeals to the runaways in agony columns. [27]

Agony Piler, subs. (theatrical).—An actor who performs blood-curdling parts in sensational plays.

Aground, adv. (common).—Stuck fast; stopped; at a loss; ruined; like a boat or vessel aground.

Ain’t, sometimes A’N’T, verb. phr. (vulgar).—A corruption for (1) ‘am not’; (2) ‘are not’; (3) ‘is not.’ This vulgarism appears to be of much older standing than set down in the New English Dictionary, where the earliest example is dated 1778.

1710. Swift, Journal to Stella, 24 Nov., Letter ix. I ain’t vexed at this puppy business of the bishops, although I 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.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 275. ‘You are a clever fellow, Tottle, ain’t you?’

Air and Exercise, subs. phr. (old).—To have had air and exercise, signified that one had undergone a whipping at the cart’s tail. About the beginning of the present century the same operation was termed shoving the tumbler (q.v.). Among thieves at the present time, air and exercise means penal servitude; in America it is only applied to a short term of imprisonment.

Airing, subs. (racing).—When it is not intended that a horse shall win a race for which it is brought to the starting post, it is said to be out for an airing.

1889. Evening Standard, June 25 (Sir Chas. Russell’s speech in Durham-Chetwynd case).—What he (Sir C. Russell) meant was that 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 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.

Air Line, or Air Line Road (American).—To take the air line; to go direct, and by the shortest route; idiomatically, to avoid circumlocution. The origin of this expression is to be found in the straight lines of railway, without expensive detours and 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 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 manifest, and for a few years a tendency to build such air lines has agitated Legislatures, from whom and from financial circles in the States and abroad help is asked. These lines not unfrequently run for long distances by the side of older lines.

1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat, Jan. 24. The obese style once admired is now 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 superfluities. An author must take the air line or we will not travel.

1888. Florida Times Union Advertisement, Feb. 11. Ask for tickets viâ Augusta or Atlanta and the Piedmont air line. [28]

Air One’s Heels, verb. phr. (popular).—To loiter; to hang about.

Air One’s Vocabulary, verb. phr. (old).—To talk for talking’s sake; to show off by one’s talk; ‘to flash the gab.’ One of the wits of the time of George IV., when asked what was going on in the House of Commons answered that Lord Castlereagh was airing his vocabulary. The term is now rarely heard, but the practice is with us always.

Airy, subs. (vulgar).—A corruption of ‘area,’ e.g., ‘Down the airy steps.’

A-Jakes.—See Ajax.

Ajax, subs. (old). (Pronounced with both ‘a’s’ long).—The name of this hero furnished many unsavoury puns to our ancestors, from its similarity in sound to the two English words, a jakes. In some of the passages the allusion is rather obscure, as in this:

1609. Ben Jonson, Epicœne, or The Silent Woman, iv., 5. A stool were better, sir, of Sir Ajax, his invention.

It is plainer in Shakspeare:

1594. Love’s Labour Lost, v., 2. Your lion, that holds his poll-ax, sitting on a close stool, will be given to Ajax.

The cause of all this vein of low wit was, perhaps, Sir John Harrington, who 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. For this offence to her delicacy, Queen Elizabeth kept him for some time in disgrace. Used directly for a necessary house.

1611. Cotgrave, Eng. Treasury, p. 16. Which (like the glorious Ajax of Lincoln’s Inne, I saw in London) laps up naught but filth and excrements.

1720. Hosp. of Incurab. Fooles, p. 6. Adoring Sterculio for a god, no lesse unworthily then shamfully constituting him a patron and protector of Ajax and his commodities.

To 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. On the Famous Voyage, vol. VI., p. 290:

And I could wish for their eterniz’d sakes,

My muse had plough’d with his that sung A-jax.

The rhyme here proves that the pronunciation of the time was suited to the English meaning. Even Camden condescends 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 Ajax.—See Jakes.

Akerman’s Hotel, subs. (obsolete).—Newgate prison was once so called. The governor’s name was Akerman.—See Cage.

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

A-la-Mort.—See Amort.

Albany Beef, subs. phr. (American).—The popular name of the flesh of the sturgeon. This, [29]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 inconsiderable factor in the food supply of the inhabitants—hence the term Albany beef.

Albertopolis, subs. (popular).—A 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 so closely identified, are situated within the radius; and the Albert Memorial is hard by.

1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, 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 of the 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).—1. A half-crown. This term is explained by Brewer as containing an allusion to the fact that an alderman is a kind of half-king, whatever that may mean.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. Two shillings and sixpence—alderman.

2. A long pipe; also called a 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.

1859. Fairholt, Tobacco (1876), 173. Such long pipes were reverently termed alderman in the last age, and irreverently yards of clay in the present one.

3. A turkey; a variant is an alderman in chains; i.e., a roast 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 stuffing?

1782. George Parker, Humorous Sketches, p. 31. Nick often eat a roast fowl and sausage with me, which in cant is called an alderman, double slang’d.

4. (thieves’).—A jemmy (q.v.); 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 city fathers. The tool is used for burglary purposes.

1883. Daily Telegraph, May 14, p. 3, col. 7. A complete set of safe-breaking tools had been used and left behind, including wedges, an alderman jemmy, a hammer weighing 14 lbs.

1888. Saturday Review, 15 Dec, p. 719. One side of slang was illustrated by the burglar Casey in a well-known case of robbery in the City some years ago, who explained in Court that the big jemmy with which iron shutters were prised open was called the ‘alderman,’ adding, ‘it would never do to be talking about crowbars in the street.’

5. Blood and guts alderman, subs. phr. (popular).—A pompous man; one with a ‘corporation.’ The allusion is to the alleged or real over-eating and drinking of aldermen as a class.

Alderman Lushington, subs. (Australian).—Intoxicating beverages.

Alderman’s Pace.—A slow and stately gait, like that of a burly [30]man as aldermen are generally represented. The French have an equivalent phrase, pas d’abbé.

Aldgate. A draught on the pump at Aldgate, subs. phr. (commercial).—A bad bill of exchange. A play on the word ‘draught.’

Alecampane.—See Allacompain.

Alecie, Alecy, subs. (old nonce words) [from ale + suffix cie or cy, as in ‘lunacy’].—The state of being under the influence of ale; drunkenness; also balmyness.

1594. J. Lyly, Mother Bombie, cc. 9. If he had arrested a mare instead of a horse, it had beene a slight oversight, but to arrest a man, that hath no likenesse of a horse, is flat lunasie, or alecie.

Ale-Draper, subs. (old) [from ale + draper as in linen-draper].—A humorous title for an alehouse keeper; probably from the ancient custom of measuring ale by the yard. It long survived dialectically, but is now obsolete. Synonyms were rum-cull, and squirt-quester (q.v.).

1593. Henry Chettle, Kinde-Harts Dreame. Two milch maydens that had set up a shoppe of ale-drapery.

1747. In Parish Register of Scotter, Linc. [Buried], July 8th, Thomas Broughton, Farmer and Ale Draper.

Ale-Knight, subs. phr. (old) [from ale + knight, used derisively].—A tippler; a boon companion.

1575. Eccl. Proc., Chester. [The Vicar of Whalley, Lanc., is charged with being a common dronker and ale knight.]

1654. Witt’s Recreations.

Come all you brave wights,

That are dubbed ale-knights

Now set out youselves in fight:

And let them that crack

In the praises of sack,

Know malt is of mickle might.

1863–64. Chambers’ Bk. of Days, ii., 597. This man was a regularly dubbed ale-knight, loved barley wine to the full.

Ales, subs. (Stock Exchange).—The shares in the brewery business of S. Allsopp and Sons, Limited, are thus known.

Ale Spinner, subs. phr. (old) [from ale + spinner, a manufacturer or producer].—A brewer or publican.

Alexandra Limp, subs. (popular).—The name 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 crowd of limping petticoated toadies. The craze passed away as suddenly as it came. Cf., Grecian bend.

1876. Chambers’ Journal, No. 629. Your own advocacy of the Grecian bend and the Alexandra limp—both positive and practical imitations of physical affliction. [h.]

Alfred David, subs. (common).—An affidavit—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 is likewise occasionally heard, generally in connection with a person in extremis.

Algerine, subs. (theat.).—A member of a company who, when ‘the ghost’ cannot be induced to walk, i.e., when the exchequer is low, and salaries are not paid, [31]‘remonstrates’ with the manager. The term is also used to designate the hard-up borrower of petty sums.

Alive and Kicking, adv. phr. (popular).—An intensive form of ‘alive’ in its most colloquial sense of being alert and full of action. In the days of Pierce Egan’s Tom and Jerry, alive partook far more of the nature of slang than now. Sometimes all alive and kicking is varied by all alivo; knowing; all fly. The allusion is to a child in the womb after quickening.

1889. Globe, Oct. 4, p. 1, 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 kicking.’ Miss Emma, therefore, could hardly be recognised, with fairness, as the ‘only living representative of the late Watts Phillips.’

Allacompain, subs. (rhyming slang).—Forms: alacompain, alicumpane, elecampain, etc. 1. In the so-called rhyming slang this is the equivalent of rain.

2. (common).—Candy supposed to be made from the root of inula helenium or bellwort; it contains, however, little else than colored sugar.

All A-Float, subs. (rhyming slang).—A coat.

All Alive, adv. and adj. (tailors’).—Ill-made garments, and ‘misfits,’ are said to be all alive.

All Along Of (vulgarism).—On account of; by reason of, etc.

All-a-Mort.—See Amort.

All Around Sports, sub. (American).—Obviously a corruption of ‘all round sportsmen,’ i.e., men whose interest in sport is catholic, and all embracing.

All at Sea, adv. phr. (popular).—In an uncertain, vague condition. Of nautical origin, and perhaps more colloquial than slang; equivalent to all abroad (q.v.).

All Brandy, adv. phr. (common).—When it is desired to commend or 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.

Synonyms. A1; the pure quill; about east; about right; at par; the cheese.

All Dickey.—See Dickey.

Alleviator, subs. (common).—A drink; refreshment.

1846. Mark Lemon, Golden Fetters. If any of you feel thirsty after this exciting interview, I shall be happy to stand an alleviator.

Synonyms. Gargle; smile; Alderman Lushington; long sleeved ’un (Australian, when taken from a long glass); shout; etc.—See Gargle.

Alley, Ally, Alay, subs. (schoolboys’ term).—A superior kind 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 [32]being called mivvies (q.v.), and the largest bonces (q.v.). The word sometimes appears as alley tor, or alley taw. De Foe, in ‘Duncan Campbell,’ as early as 1720, speaks of a large bag of marbles and alleys, and at that time the term was considered vulgar. It is interesting to note that the supposed derivation of alley from alabaster is borne out by the fact, that among school-boys stone marbles are called stoneys (q.v.), and clay ones commoneys (q.v.). Additional weight is also given to the accuracy of this derivation, when it is remembered that what are known as ‘Dutch alleys’ (q.v.), are only stoneys enamelled or glazed different colours. In 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 ‘hell-fired,’ and in that respect a profane euphemistic adjective. In this connection it carries with it the meaning of ‘immense,’ ‘excessive,’ or ‘inordinate’ in general; but, of course, the primary signification of this corruption is perfectly obvious. Some, however, think the word may be taken at its face value [all + fire + ed.], an intensitive of the merely rhetorical fire. Common now on both sides of the Atlantic.

1755. The World, No. 140. How arbitrary is language! and how does the custom of mankind join words, that reason has put asunder! Thus we often hear of hell-fire cold, of devilish handsome, and the like.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xxiv. ‘Look at that ’ere Dives,’ they say, ‘what an all-fired scrape he got into by his avarice with Lazarus.’

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xl. ‘I knows I be so all-fired jealous; I can’t abear to hear o’ her talkin’, let alone writin’ to——’

1883. James Payn, Thicker than Water, ch. xvii. ‘Well,’ he said … ‘you’ve been an all-fired time you have in selling those jars.’

All Fly.—See Fly.

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 thus synonymous with ‘as like as two peas’ (the French say, comme deux gouttes d’eau, as like as two drops of water); ‘a chip of the old block’; a ‘Chinese copy,’ etc. At the same time, a show of probability must be conceded to 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.

All Gammon! phr. (common).—All nonsense; rubbish!—See All my eye.

All Gay, adv. (thieves’).—All serene; all right; the coast is clear. The French voleur says, c’est franco! [33]

All-Get-Out, phr. (American).—That beats all-get-out, is an old retort to any extravagant story or assertion. Barrère says, ‘oh, get out!’ appears to have suggested the phrase, which is, perhaps, not altogether obvious.

All Hands to the Pump, verb. phr. (old).—An expression borrowed from seafaring life, signifying concentration of energy in any one direction. Now-a-days we say, ‘a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether’; this also is a sailor’s phrase.

All Holiday at Peckham, proverbial phr. (popular).—No work to do; and, as a concomitant, nothing to eat. A play upon words.—See Peckish.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. All holiday at Peckham … a saying signifying that it is all over with the business or person spoken of or alluded to.

1848. Forster, Oliver Goldsmith, bk. I., ch. vi., p. 55 (5ed.) ‘Oh, that is all a holiday at peckham,’ said an old friend very innocently one day, is a common proverbial phrase.

It 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 happened to speak facetiously of it being ‘all holiday at Peckham,’ and was surprised to find that this innocent reference to a recognised proverbial phrase was regarded by Goldsmith as an unkind allusion to his past misery, and, therefore, a personal insult.

All Hollow, adv. (popular).—To beat, or carry all hollow, i.e., utterly; completely.

All Hot! subs. (common).—A hot potato. A cry used by peripatetic street vendors.

All In, phr. (Stock Exchange).—When the market is depressed and a disposition to sell prevails, it is said to be all in. Conversely, all out signifies that the market is improving.

All in a Pucker.—See Pucker.

All in Fits, adv. phr. (tailors’).—Badly made clothes are said to be all in fits, or to have a paralytic stroke. Such garments are also said to fit where they touch, i.e., nowhere. Now 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.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 41. ‘Look at the man! 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.’

A synonym is all mouth.—See 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 among the sporting fraternity; others were ‘Chelsea College to 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 ‘Gregson,’ [34]

Brought Bob, the poet, on his legs soon,—

My eyes, how prettily Bob writes!

Talk of your camels, hogs and crabs,

And twenty more such Pidcock frights—

Bob’s worth a hundred of these dabs,

All Lombard Street to ninepence on it.

All Moonshine, adverbial phr. (popular).—Moonshine is in old-fashioned and provincial English ‘an illusive shadow,’ ‘a mere pretence’ [Halliwell]. The expression it is all moonshine is now variously applied, whether as referring to empty professions, to vain boasts, to promises not trustworthy, to questionable statements, or to any kind of extravagant talk. There exist in several languages so many words of lunar connection, all implying variableness or inconstancy, that possibly this phrase also, it is all moonshine, may have been primarily employed to express some degree of fickleness, or caprice; in allusion to the inconstancy or changeableness of the moon, or rather moonlight. When anyone professes or 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 from night to night. ‘Lunes’ in old English, are not only fits of insanity, but freaks. And the term ‘lunatic’ itself did not properly signify a person always insane, but one who was mad at intervals, dependent as was supposed on the phases of the moon. This distinction is still very accurately maintained in Spanish philology: ‘Lunatics, El loco, cuya demencia no est continua, sino por intervalos que proceden del estado en que se halla la Luna.’ Hence also in French, modern and old: ‘Il a des lunes,’ he is whimsical or fantastic. ‘Tenir de la lune,’ to be inconstant, mutable; ‘Avoir un quartier de la lune, en la teste,’ or ‘Il y a de la lune,’ he is 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 trompe toujours.)

Pour l’hypocrisie, dont la lune est le symbole.’ Menestriar, Philosophie des Images, vol. I., p. 266.

Another emblem is the following:

‘La lune,

Non vultus non color unus,

Pour une personne qui n’est pas sincère.’

Ibid, I., p. 269.

Moonshine, in conformity with these ideas, was probably employed originally in characterising the talk of persons too mutable to be relied on from one time to another.—Notes and Queries.

1714. Spectator, No. 597. Several of my correspondents have been pleased to send me an account how they have been employed in sleep, and what notable adventure they have been engaged in during that moonshine in the brain.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. xxii., p. 397. ‘They are all pig-headed together … they are blinded by specious arguments that will turn out, I fear, to be all moonshine.’

All Mouth, adv. (common).—Applied to a loquacious talker. Cf., All jaw.

All My Eye, adv. phr. (common).—Variations in form are: all my eye and Betty Martin—my elbow—Tommy—and my [35]grandmother. All nonsense; rubbish. The suggested derivations of 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 Barrère unwittingly stumbles upon what is probably the true origin. Had he studied the subject of 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 probable that it is a contraction of the phrase ‘there is as much of it as there is in all my eye,’ the words being made more forcible by closing one of the organs of vision. To express dissent from any statement, or a refusal to comply with a request. French slang has the corresponding term mon œil! which is usually accompanied by a knowing wink and a significant gesture as an invitation to inspect the organ.’ From a 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. Archbishop Bramhall, Answer to the Epistle of M. de la Milletière [Works, vol. I., pp. 68–9. ed. Ox. 1842.] Fifthly, suppose (all this notwithstanding) such a conference should hold, what reason have you to promise to yourself such success as to obtain so easy a victory? You have had conferences 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.

1682. Preface to Julian the Apostate (London, printed for Langley Curtis). What benefit a Popish successor can reap from lives and fortunes spent in defence of the Protestant religion he may put in his eye; and what the Protestant religion gets by lives and fortunes spent in the service of a Popish successor will be over the left shoulder.

1768. Goldsmith, Good-natured Man, Act iii. Bailiff. That’s all my eye. The king only can pardon.

1811. Poole, Hamlet Travestied, i, 1. As for black clothes,—that’s all my eye and Tommy.

Hotten’s contention, that all my eye and Betty Martin was a vulgar phrase constructed from the commencement of a Roman Catholic prayer to St. Martin (the patron saint of drunkards), ‘Oh, mihi, beate Martine,’ 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 description given; and in the 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 lexicographer of the ‘unwritten word,’ from Hotten down to Brewer and Barrère, the latter of whom, strangely enough, after pitching on the right track, stultifies himself by an admission that all my eye and Betty Martin seems to have been the original phrase. The earliest example of the ‘Betty Martin’ form, found after [36]long search, occurs in Tom Crib’s 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.

Among English Synonyms of refusal or incredulity, are: Cock and bull story; a wild-goose chase; a mare’s nest; fiddle-de-dee; do you see any green in my eye? that’s a flam; over the left; go teach your grannie to suck eggs; Walker! you be blowed! You be hanged! Not for Joe! How’s your brother, Job? Don’t you wish you may get it? Yes, in a horn (American); That’s all round my hat.

Fr. Des fadeurs (lit. insipidity); C’est des vannes? (lit. floodgates or sluices); des nèfles (lit. medlars); des navets! (turnips); de l’anis! (lit. aniseed); du flan! (lit. custard); tu t’en ferais mourir! (lit. you will die after it); mon œil! (my eye); flûte! Zut! (go to the deuce!); et ta sœur? (phrase of the ‘who’s your hatter’ stamp); des plis! (don’t you wish you may get it); la peau! (blow it all!); de la mousse! (expression of ironical refusal); du vent! (go to pot!); des emblèmes!; des fouilles!; on t’en fricasse!

All Nations, subs. (old).—1. A mixture of the drainings of all kinds of spirits and malt liquors; it is of an extremely intoxicating character. Sometimes called alls, or all sorts.

2. A parti-colored dress or coat; a Joseph’s garment. Also one that is patched.

All-Night-Man, subs. (old).—A body snatcher. Now obsolete.

1861. Ramsay, Remin, ser. ii., 133. The body lifters, or all-night-men, as they were wont to be called.

All of a Heap.—See Heap.

All of a Hough, adv. phr. (tailors’).—Said of an unskilled workman. Equivalent to clumsy; bungling; unworkmanlike. Hotten quotes this as a Suffolk phrase (hough being spelt hugh, and pronounced with a grunt). Synonymous with ‘all on one side’; falling with a thump.

All of my Lone, adv. phr. (American).—A negro vulgarism for ‘alone.’

All on the Go (vulgarism).—See Go.

All Out, adv. phr. (vulgar).—1. 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 century.

1830. Carleton, Traits and Stories, vol. II., p. 102. ‘He’s now in his grave, and, thank God, it’s he that had the dacent funeral all out.’

2. Another old English expression, now obsolete, is to drink all out, to empty a bumper; and hence,—

3. Used substantively, e.g., an all out being equivalent to what ’Arry would call now-a-days a big drunk. The connection between the ancient and modern usage is clear. [37]

4. To be all out also signifies to be in error; quite wrong.

5. (turf).—A man is said to be all out when unsuccessful during the whole of a day’s racing.

6. (Stock Exchange).—See All in.

7. (athletic).—Exhausted; said of a man or crew who, having exerted him or themselves to the utmost, can do no more.

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.

All-Overish, adj. (colloquial). An indefinite feeling which pervades the body at critical periods, when sickening for an illness, or at a moment of supreme excitement, as when about to ‘pop the question’ which, says Hotten, ‘is sometimes called feeling all over alike, and touching nowhere.’ Synonyms are ‘to feel all round one’s hat,’ and ‘chippy.’

1851. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 52. ‘When the mob began to gather round, I felt all-overish.’

All-Overishness, subs. (colloquial).—The state of being all-overish.—See foregoing.

1854. Ainsworth, Flitch of Bacon, pt. II., ch. v. ‘I 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?’

All over Pattern, subs. phr. (common). Used in describing patterns that are intricate, or designs in which the pattern is not of a set character.

1881. F. E. Hulme. Suggestions in Floral Design. 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.

All Over the Shop, adv. phr. (common).—1. A phrase applied to any ubiquitous person, thing or deed.—See Shop.

1883. G. R. Sims, Lifeboat, etc. (Awful Character). He kills little babies all over the shop, each day in a river one thrown is.

2. Disconcerted.

1887. E. E. Money, Little Dutch Maiden, II., xi., 225. ‘Oh, please don’t blush; it makes me feel all over the shop.’

Allow, subs. (Harrow School).—A boy’s weekly allowance.

Allowances, subs. (tailors’).—The extra measure in cutting cloth for a garment to permit of turnings in for seams; also the trimmings, such as wadding, buttons, braid, etc. Rather technical than slang.

All Round, adj. (popular).—1. Able in all departments; adaptable in every respect to the purpose in view. Whether applied to sport, business, or indeed any department of life or thought, within a [38]given circle, it carries with it, mutatis mutandis, the same meaning. Cf. All around sports.

1881. James Payn, Grape from a Thorn, ch. xl. ‘He’s a bad one all round.’

1883. Graphic, August 11, p. 138, col. 2. Foremost still as an ‘all-round’ cricketer among the gentlemen stands W. G. Grace.

2. Average; see quotation.

1869. Notes on N. W. Prov. India, p. 98. We find an all round rent of so much per acre charged on the cultivation.

All-Rounder, subs. (popular). [From all round + er] he who or that which is all round (q.v.); as an all round man; particularly applied, however, to a shirt collar the same height all round the neck and meeting in front. Once fashionable, but little worn now.

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xxii. But he had bestowed, perhaps, the greatest amount of personal attention on his collar.… Some people may think that an all-rounder is 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, 369. That particularly demonstrative type of the [collar] species known as the all rounder. [M.]

1865. Lord Strangford, Selection (1869), II., 163. Dressed in full uniform, with high stand-up collar; the modern all rounder not having got so far into Asia. [M.]

1875. Chambers’ Journal, No. 586. To present himself in an all rounder hat and coat of formal cut on Sunday.

All Round my Hat, adv. phr. (popular).—1. To feel all round one’s hat is to feel queer; out of sorts; all overish.

2. That’s all round my hat is synonymous with gammon! Nonsense! See All my eye. A music hall song [1834] had this phrase as a refrain.

3. Spicy as all round my hat, i.e., sensational.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII, p. 177, col. 1. ’Arry on a jewry.

Fact is, I have bin on a Jury. New line for yours truly, dear boy, and I ’oped it 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.

Alls, subs.—1. See All nations.

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. alls, tap-droppings. The refuse of all sorts of spirits drained from the glasses, or spilt in drawing. The mixture is sold in gin-houses at a cheap rate.

2. (artisans’).—See Bens.

All’s Blue.—See Blue.

All Serene! intj. (popular).—All right. All’s well! This phrase is thought to be of Spanish origin, and to be derived from the word serena a countersign used by sentinels in Cuba. The night watchmen in Spain likewise end their proclamation of the hour by ‘é sereno!’ It is also equivalent to O.K., and a few years since was the burden of one of the senseless street cries, which, every now and again, have a vogue in large cities. Most of these catches originate in music-hall songs. All serene, however, was vulgarly colloquial long before the period in question, as will be seen by the following example:

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xlv. ‘You’re all serene, then, Mr. Snape,’ said Charley; ‘you’re in the right bon.’ [39]

All Smoke, Gammon and Pickles.—See Smoke.

All Sorts, subs. (common).—Explained by quotation.—See All nations.

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. vi. A counter perforated in elaborately-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.

All Sorts of, adj. (American).—First rate; excellent. A phrase very common in the South and West, and used in many different ways. It carries with it the idea of smartness and chic, as, e.g., when applied to a woman, a horse, or a building.

Allspice, subs. (popular).—A nickname for a grocer; the derivation is obvious.

All’s Quiet on the Potomac, phr. (American).—A period of undisturbed rest, quiet enjoyment, or peaceful possession; a phrase dating from the Civil War, when its frequent repetition in the bulletins of the War Secretary made it familiar to the public, who quickly appropriated it in a metaphorical sense. It has since formed the refrain of many a song.

1862. The Picket Guard.

All quiet along the Potomac, they say,

Except now and then a stray picket

Is shot on his beat as he walks to and fro,

By a rifleman hid in a thicket.

All T. H., adv. phr. (tailors cutters’).—Said in praise or approval; a tailor’s equivalent of a 1; all right; all there—of which last it is possibly an abbreviated form.

All the Caboose, adv. phr.—See Caboose.

All the Go, adv. phr. (common).—One of the innumerable superlatives of work-a-day English; quite up to the mark; in full demand; ‘no deception, gents!’—See Go.

All There, adv. phr. (popular).—Up to the mark; first-rate; ready for any emergency; a phrase of general satisfaction and approval; also, in one’s element.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 220. ‘He stayed in a place doing the grand and sucking the flats till the folks began to smoke him as not all there.’

1880. Punch, Aug. 7, p. 59. All there! Clerk (who has called to see the gas-meter). ‘Is yours a wet, or a dry meter, madam?’ Young Wife (who does not like to show ignorance). ‘Well, it is rather damp, I’m afraid!’

1883. James Payn, Thicker than Water, ch. xx. It was his excusable boast, though expressed in somewhat vulgar language, that when anything was wanted he was ‘all there.’

All the Shoot.—Equivalent to ‘the whole boiling’ (q.v.).

All the Way Down, adv. phr. (popular).—Synonymous with complete adaptability to the end in view; sometimes varied by ‘up to the knocker,’ or ‘up to the nines.’

All to His Own Cheek.—See Cheek.

All to Pieces, adverbial phr. (common).—1. [Cf. Go to pieces.] [40]A superlative of all work. To go all to pieces is to 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. Jane Austen, Sense and S., ch. xxx. ‘Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts it won’t come before its wanted; for they say he is all to pieces. No wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!’

1882. Punch, LXXXII., 185, 2. ‘Ah Jerry, we might as well go back to the Shades as be among such a shady crowd.’ Young Bob Logic seemed 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 Kümmel? These pals will be all right after dinner.’ ‘Let us hope they will,’ said the Corinthian, ‘for they look all to pieces now.’

2. When a woman is confined she is said to go all to pieces; variants being to explode; to bust up.

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

1884. Echo, April 7, p. 3, col. 1. The Oxford men were now all to pieces! their boat was full of water.

4. (sporting).—In racing and athletic circles equivalent to want of form.

All to Smash, adv. phr. (common).—Also ‘all to pieces,’ i.e., bankrupt; ruined; in a state of utter delapidation; or, complete discomfiture.—See Smash.

1861. Cuthbert Bede, Our New Rector, ch. x., p. 105. ‘There isn’t a fellow at school can match me, Miss Moore! I beat them all to smash!’

All Up, adv. phr. (common).—‘It’s all up’ with so-and-so, or with such and such a thing, or course of action; i.e., the endeavour is fruitless; utter ruin or collapse is 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). The mock epitaph, which the late Mr. W. J. Conybeare inserted in his novel Perversion, fitly illustrates the popular usage of all up. It is supposed to be written in commemoration of a country squire cut off in the midst of festivities.

‘Quite well at ten,

Had a few friends to sup with me;

Taken ill at twelve,

And at one it was all up with me.’

Also Up.

Among English Synonyms may be mentioned:—To have missed stays (nautical); to have gone to pot; to have gone to smash; to have gone to the devil.

1752. Fielding, Amelia, book XII., ch. vi. ‘All is up and undone!’ cries Murphy.

1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. lx. A-double l, 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, all up with Squeers.

Allus, adv. (vulgar).—Always.

All Wag Blue, subs. phr. (American).—A frolicing, rollicking time; a spree; a kick-up.

Allybeg.—See Llybege.

Almighty, adj. (common).—Mighty; great; exceedingly—a superlative [41]of all work. For example, in the ‘dialect’ of which this word is a component part, an over-officious man is put down as ‘almighty fast’; or a horse with good points as an ‘almighty fine beast’; and so on throughout the whole range of superlative merit. It ranks with ‘awful,’ ‘eternal,’ ‘everlasting,’ ‘lovely,’ and a multitude of other words, orthodox enough when properly handled, but which become the purest slang when used, as is frequently the case, of things finite, and even of trifles. So employed, almighty is generally regarded as an Americanism, and is 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 which to wonder. The ‘wild,’ the boundless West is no unlikely nursery for big, high-sounding words; and though one may justly condemn such depravation of our mother-tongue, the fact remains. Thus, amongst the untutored backwoodsmen and rough pioneers of the West a week is an ‘eternal’ time; a good officer is an almighty general; and a spell of rain is spoken of as an ‘everlasting’ deluge. The foregoing examples by no means exhaust the potentialities of the language; as, e.g., when people talk of a man playing almighty ‘smash’ with his prospects, meaning that he is hopelessly ruining his chances of success: or driving a fellow-citizen into a state of almighty ‘shivers’ through ill-treatment; or of a thing lasting till almighty ‘crack,’ i.e., for an interminable period.

1824. De Quincey, Works (1871), XVI., 261. Such rubbish, such almighty nonsense (to speak transatlantice) no eye has ever beheld.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple (1863), 328. An almighty pretty French privateer 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 street. ‘And of all places in it New York is the rummest. And hack-drivin’ is the rummest business, leadin’ one into the rummest secrets. Another passenger to the “Rookery.” I wonder whether the other boys gits as many customers to that place as Luke Hyatt? If they do it must be almighty full sometimes.’

In another place De Quincey speaks of a man who cannot live and cannot die as being ‘in an almighty fix,’ and the expression is otherwise frequently used by him. Captain Marryat 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. Barrère, in attributing its popularisation ‘in a certain measure’ to Lord Lytton, failed to render due credit, if any, either to De Quincey or Marryat.

Almighty Dollar, subs. (American).—The power of money; Mammon regarded as an embodiment of the worship of, and the quest for gold. This phrase is, in reality, an old friend with a new face, for Ben Jonson used the term in its modern sense when speaking of the power of money. Its modern application to dollars is traceable to Washington Irving, who made use of it in a charming little sketch, entitled A Creole Village. [42]

1574–1637. Ben Jonson, Epistle to Elizabeth, Countess of Rutland.

Whilst that for which all virtue now is sold,

And almost every vice, almightie gold.

1839. Washington Irving, Wolfert’s Roost: A Creole Village, p. 40. The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land, seems to have no genuine devotee in these peculiar villages.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xxii. ‘Genius, gentlemen, is apt to be careless of the main chance. It don’t care for the almighty dollar; it lets fellows like me heap up the stamps.’

1886. G. Sutherland, Australia, p. 102. The travelling Yankee, with an overwearing confidence in the almighty dollar.

Aloft. To go aloft, verb. phr. (common).—To die; the figure of speech presented here is nautical in origin.

1790. C. Dibdin, Sea Songs: Tom Bowling.

Here a sheer hulk, lies poor Tom Bowling,

The 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.

Few expressions synonymous with the act of dying equal this in force or pathos; and it is 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 all human experiences.

English Synonyms. To kick the bucket; to hop the twig; to go to Davy Jones’ locker (nautical); to be put to bed with a shovel; to take an earth bath; to croak; to take a ground sweat; to go under (American: the visible disposal of the body furnishing a simile for the process of death); to go up (compare with foregoing: when the victim of lynch law is enquired after the questioner is told that he has ‘gone up,’ i.e., been hanged); to lose the number of one’s mess (a sailor’s phrase); to snuff it (from snuffing a candle); to lay down one’s knife and fork; to stick one’s spoon in the wall; to give in; to give up; to peg out; to slip one’s cable (this, like ‘to go to Davy Jones’ locker,’ is of nautical origin); to pass in 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); Kickeraboo (West Indian: a corruption of ‘to kick the bucket’).

French. Passer l’arme à gauche (popular: ‘to lay down one’s arms’); casser sa pipe (lit. ‘to break one’s pipe’); dévisser or décoller son billard (lit. ‘to break one’s cue’); graisser ses bottes (lit. ‘to grease one’s boots’); avaler sa langue (lit. ‘to swallow one’s tongue’); avaler sa gaffe (‘to lower one’s boat-hook’); avaler sa cuiller (lit. ‘to lay down one’s spoon’); avaler ses baguettes (military: lit. ‘to lay aside one’s drum-sticks’); n’avoir plus mal aux dents (lit. ‘to have toothache no more.’ In Fr. Argot mal de dents is also synonymous with love); poser sa chique (popular: lit. ‘to lay down one’s finish, elegance, dash, spirit’—in short all that is distinctive in a man); claquer (familiar: lit. ‘to chatter [43]with cold’ or ‘fear’); saluer le public (theat.: lit. ‘to make one’s bow’—to make 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 son décompte (military: lit. ‘to receive deferred pay’; décompte is also military slang for a ‘mortal wound’); cracher ses embouchures (an expression of musical origin: the figure is obviously that of losing the power to perform on wind instruments); déteindre (popular: lit. ‘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 à 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’); lâcher la perche (popular: lit. ‘to slip off one’s perch’); éteindre son gaz (popular: ‘to turn off the gas.’ Cf., ‘to snuff it’); épointer son foret (popular: lit. ‘to break off the point of the drill,’ as in boring); être exproprié (popular: lit. ‘to be dispossessed’; exproprier is a judicial term signifying ‘to take possession of the landed property of a debtor’); péter son lof (sailors’); fumer ses terres; fermer son parapluie (popular: ‘to close one’s umbrella’); perdre son bâton (popular: ‘to lose one’s walking stick’); descendre la garde (popular: ‘to come off guard’); défiler la parade (military: ‘to file off parade’; equivalent to the English ‘to lose the number of one’s mess’); tourner de l’œil (popular: is there not here an allusion to the phenomenon attendant on genuine sleep; feigned sleep can always be detected by turning up the eyelids of the sleeper, if sleep be genuine only the ‘whites’ of the eyes will be discoverable); perdre le goût du pain (popular: ‘to lose one’s taste for bread’); lâcher la rampe (theatrical: ‘to lose sight of the footlights’); faire ses petits paquets (popular: ‘to pack up one’s [small] traps’); casser son crachoir (popular: lit. ‘to break one’s spittoon’ or mouth); remercier son boulanger (thieves’: lit. ‘to thank the baker.’ It must be explained that boulanger baker is a French nickname for the devil); canner; dévider à l’estorgue (thieves’); baiser la camarde (popular: ‘to salute,’ or ‘kiss Death’; camarde is a popular euphemism for the ‘Messenger of Life’); camarder (popular: see previous example); fuir (thieves’: lit. ‘to fly’ or ‘escape’—from justice or capture); casser son câble (popular: ‘to slip the cable’—evidently a simile drawn from the sea); casser son fouet (popular: ‘to break’ or ‘lay aside one’s whip’); faire sa crevaison (popular: crever, ‘to kill’ or ‘die’ is usually only employed in speaking of animals); déralinguer (sailors’: properly ‘to detach from the bolt rope’); virer de bord (sailors’: lit. ‘to tack about’); déchirer son faux-col (popular: verbatim, ‘to burst open one’s collar’—the allusion is obvious); se dégeler (in good French, ‘to thaw’); couper sa mèche (coachman’s: ‘to throw down the whip’); piquer sa plaque (sailors’); mettre la table pour les asticots (popular: properly ‘to lay the table [become food] for worms’); [44]aller manger les pissenlits par la racine (popular: ‘to go and feed off dandelion roots’—observe, by the way, that pissenlit is an exact equivalent for one of the English field names of the dandelion, viz., ‘piddle-the-bed’); laisser fuir son tonneau (familiar: lit. ‘to let fly’ or ‘kick away the cask.’ Cf., ‘to kick the bucket’); calancher (vagrants’); laisser ses bottes quelque part (familiar: lit. ‘to leave one’s boots somewhere’); déchirer son habit (popular: properly ‘to rend’ or ‘cast aside one’s coat’); déchirer son tablier (popular: in literary French this means, ‘to throw aside or 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 slang); pousser le boum de cygne (popular); avoir son coke (familiar); prendre sa secousse (popular: i.e., ‘to take one’s blow’ or ‘shock’); rendre sa buche (tailors’: the allusion is an obvious one); rendre sa canne au ministre (military: lit. ‘to resign one’s commission to the Minister [of War]’); rendre sa clef (gypsy: lit. ‘to give up the key’); rendre son livret (popular: lit. ‘to throw up one’s cards’).

German Synonyms. See Hop the twig.

Italian Fourbesque. Sbasire (lit. ‘to faint away’); sbasire su le funi (lit. ‘to faint away on the rope’).

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 allowed to go alone. Such a one was said to be fly; up to snuff (q.v.), etc.

Along Of, adv. (vulgar).—A dialectical form for on account of; owing to; pertaining, or belonging to. Formerly along on, and it so appeared as early as A.D. 880: along of was used by Chaucer, but it is now mainly confined to the illiterate or vulgar.

1369. Chaucer, Troylus ii., 1001. On me is not along thin evil fare.

1581. W. Stafford, Exam. of Complaints, p. 16 (New Shaks. Soc.: Ed.). Complaining of general poverty, he says: ‘Whereof it is longe, I cannot well tell.’

1601. Holland, Pliny, p. 25, quoted in Morris’ Elem. Hist. Eng. Gram., p. 198. And that is long of contrarie causes.

1858. Dickens, Xmas. Stories (going into Society), p. 65 (II. ed.). Would he object to say why he left it? Not at all; why should he? He left it along of a dwarf.

1881. W. Black, Beautiful Wretch, ch. xviii. ‘Mayhap the concert didn’t come off, along of the snow.’

Alsatia, or Alsatia the Higher, subs. (old slang).—1. Whitefriars, once a place privileged from arrests for debt, as was also Alsatia the lower, or the Mint in Southwark. Both were suppressed, in 1697, on account of the notorious abuses committed there. A charter of liberties and privileges had been granted, in 1608, by King James I. to the inhabitants of this district, and it speedily became the haunt 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 [45]the reputation of a ‘debateable land.’

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia I., in wks. (1720), IV., 25. Who are these? Some inhabitants of White-fryers; some bullies of Alsatia.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvi. Whitefriars, adjacent to the Temple, then well known by the cant name of Alsatia.

2. Hence any rendezvous or asylum for loose characters and criminals, where immunity from arrest is tolerably certain; a haunt of thieves, and the criminal classes; a low quarter.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, etc. (1811), p. 82. A ’squire of Alsatia. A spendthrift or sharper, inhabiting places formerly privileged from arrests.

1861. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, bk. II., ch. i. So Blind Peter was the Alsatia of Slopperton, a refuge for crime and destitution.

1876. Lord Justice James, in ex parte Saffery re Cooke, Law Times, 35, p. 718. The Stock Exchange is not an Alsatia; the Queen’s laws are paramount there, and the Queen’s writ runs even into the sacred precincts of Capel-Court.

Alsatian, subs. (old).—A rogue, or debauchee, such as haunted Alsatia or Whitefriars.

1691. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II., 259. The benchers of the Inner Temple having given orders for bricking up their little gate leading into White-fryers … the Alsatians came and pulled it down.

c. 1700. Gentleman Instructed, p. 491 [10 ed., 1732]. He spurr’d to London, and left a thousand curses behind him. Here he struck up with sharpers, scourers, and Alsatians.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. ‘You shall sink a nobleman in the Temple Gardens, and rise an Alsatian at Whitefriars.’

Adj.—Pertaining to Alsatia; roguish; debauched.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia I. in wks. (1720), IV., 27. He came out of White Fryers: he’s some Alsatian bully.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. An extravagantly long rapier and poinard marked the true Alsatian bully.

1882. Besant, All Sorts and Conditions of Men, ch. vii. The road has come to be regarded with admiration as one of those Alsatian retreats, growing every day rarer, which are beyond and above the law.

Alsatia Phrase, subs. (old).—A slang or cant term, such as was used by Alsatians; or, now-a-days, by thieves and vagrants.

1704. Swift, Tale of a Tub. Apology for author. The second instance to shew the author’s wit is not his own, is Peter’s banter (as he calls it in his Alsatia phrase) upon transubstantiation.

Synonymous terms were Pedler’s French, St. Giles’ Greek, etc.

Altamel, Altemal, subs., adj., adv., and intj. (American thieves’).—

Adv.—All together, as ‘Let’s anchor altemal,’ i.e., ‘Let us come to a stop altogether.’

Subs.—The sum total of a bill or story.

Intj.—An injunction to ‘cut it short.’

Altemal is said to be derived from the Dutch altemal, but Murray has it as ‘altumal’ with a different derivation. [From L. altum, the deep, i.e., the sea + al.] Grose leans to the former and quotes Dutch reckoning as synonymous; from a verbal account without particulars, such as was given in brothels and sponging houses—accounts which allowed of no sort of verification. Cf., Flemish account and remarks under Dutch.

1711. Medleys, 29 Jan. (1712), 186. His altumal cant, a mark of his poor Traffick and Tar-Education.

1758. Chambers, Cycl. Supp. Altumal, a term used to denote the mercantile style, or dialect. In this sense, we [46]meet with altumal cant, to denote the language of petty traders and tars.

Altering the Jeff’s Click.—See Jeff’s click.

Altham, subs. (old cant).—A wife; mistress.—See quotation.

1560. John Awdeley, Fraternitye of Vacabondes (1869. English Dialect Society’s Reprint), p. 4. A curtall is much like to the Vpright man, but hys authority is not fully so great. He vseth commonly to go with a short cloke, like to grey Friers, and his woman with him in like liuery, which he calleth his altham if she be hys.

Altitudes. In his altitudes, phr. (old).—In an elevated mood, chiefly from liquor; 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 ‘out of his altitudes.’ The first trace of it is to be found in Beaumont and Fletcher’s Laws of Candy, II. [1616].

1630. Jonson, New Inn, I. I have talked somewhat above my share, at large, and been in the altitudes, the extravagants.

1668. Dryden, An Evening’s Love, 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. Clar. ‘Who makes thee cry out thus, poor Brass?’ Brass. ‘Why, your husband, madam; he’s in his altitudes here.’

1785. Francis Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. The man is in his altitudes, i.e., he is drunk.

Altocad, subs. (Win. Coll.).—A somewhat venerable paid member of the choir who takes alto.

Alybbeg.—See Lybbege.

Alycompaine.—See Allacompain.

Ambassador, subs. (nautical).—A sailor’s practical joke upon ‘green’ hands, similar to the festivities formerly universally observed when ‘crossing the line.’ These tricks have been common to sailors of every nation. Ambassador was thus managed:—A large tub was filled with water, two stools being placed on either side of it; over the whole was thrown a tarpaulin or old sail, kept tight 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 ambassador, who, after repeating 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.

Ambassador of Commerce, subs. (familiar).—A commercial traveller; a bagman (q.v.).

Ambia, subs. (American).—A euphemism for the juice of tobacco, as expectorated after chewing. Most frequently heard in the Southern and Western States. Apparently a corruption of ‘amber’ (indeed it is commonly spelt and pronounced ambeer)—presumably from a similarity in colour between expectorated tobacco saliva and the mineralised resinous product.

Ambidexter, also in 17th century, Ambodexter, subs. and adj. (old [47]slang).—[From ambo, both + dexter, the right hand, i.e., the faculty of using both hands as 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 double-dealing of all kinds.

1532. Use of Dice Play (1850), 17. Any affinity with our men of law? Never with those that be honest. Marry! with such as be ambidexters, and used to play in both the hands. [M.]

1555. Ridley, Works, 27. They may be called neutrals, ambidexters, or rather such as can shift on both sides. [M.]

1691. Blount, Law Dictionary. Ambidexter.… That Juror or Embraceor who takes Money on both sides, for giving his Verdict.

1703. De Foe, Ref. Manners, 93. Those ambodexters in Religion, who Can any thing dispute, yet any thing can do.

1864. Sir F. Palgrave, Norman and Eng. III., 278. An ambidexter, owing fealty to both Counts, and not faithful to either.

Ambush, subs. (American thieves’).—Fraudulent weights and measures. A punning allusion to the accepted meaning of the word—to lie in wait (lying weight). In juxtaposition to this may be placed the Fourbesque (Italian thieves’ argot); giusta, a pair of scales, a balance, which in Italian literally means ‘correct.’ Cf., French thieves’ argot, juste (an abbreviation of justice), for the assizes; also the Spanish Germania justia, in a similar sense, the last-named being a shortened form of the Spanish justicia.

Amen Curler, subs. (old slang).—The name formerly given to a parish clerk. In the army the chaplain’s clerk is called an amen wallah (q.v.).

Amener, subs. (old).—A nickname given to one who agrees to everything said or done. [From that sense of amen = to ratify solemnly + er.]

Amen-Snorter, subs. (Australian).—A parson; from which it will be observed that the fifth continent is evolving words and phrases as peculiar to itself as America has already done. For synonyms, see Devil dodger.

1888. Bulletin, Nov. 24. In Maori-land it is impossible to swing any kind of cat without smiting some variety of amen-snorter. Still the saints are not happy. They have just held at Wellington a ‘United Ker-ristian Conference’ to ruminate on the sinfulness of things and the scarcity of the unsanctified threepenny. A Rev. vessel, one Potter, opined that the meagre quantity and inferior quality of 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 omit this important duty.’ Since which all the dead-beats and suspected hen-snatchers plead when before the Binch that they were ‘only mouching round to find out whether the family neglected its religious dooties, yer washup.’

Amen Wallah, subs. (military).—A chaplain’s clerk; the allusion is sufficiently obvious. ‘Wallah’ is Hindustani for ‘man’ or person. Cf., the old English slang, amen curler (q.v.).

Amerace, adv. (American thieves’).—Jargon signifying near at hand; within call.

American Shoulders, subs. (tailors’).—A particular ‘cut,’ in which the shoulders of a coat are so shaped as to give the wearer a broad and burly appearance. This is usually done [48]where a man’s shoulders are of the champagne (q.v.) order, i.e., like the neck of a wine bottle, with nothing upon which the garment in question can be hung.

American Tweezers, subs. (thieves’).—An ingenious instrument of 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 Ambes-Ace. Within ames ace, subs. phr. (old).—1. Nearly; very near; ambs-ace was the double ace, the lowest throw at dice. Hence also

2. Bad luck; misfortune. The expression, according to Murray, dates back to A.D. 1297.

Aminidab, subs. (old).—A jeering name for a Quaker.—Grose.

Ammunition, subs. (common).—Paper for use at the cabinet d’aisance. Also called curl papers (q.v.).

Ammunition Leg, subs. (military).—A wooden leg. From the attributive use of ‘ammunition’ as applied to stores supplied to soldiers for equipment or rations. To show the length to which this application of the word has been carried, it may be noted that Robertson, in 1693, speaks of ‘an ammunition 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; sometimes used as a synonym of balmy, cracked, dotty, all of which see. A-la-mort, from the French, is regarded as the original form, though it is doubtful which took precedence in literary English. At one time both forms were quite naturalised; they are now of interest as 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], which would seem to show they had already commenced their downward career.

Ampersand, subs. (familiar).—The breech; or posteriors. [From Eng. and + Latin per se, by itself, + Eng. and; literally, ‘and by itself and’ used to distinguish the character ‘&,’ which in old nursery books came at the end of the alphabet. Hence, employed to signify the hinder parts.] The word in its slang sense is quite a recent introduction, said to be of American origin. For synonyms, see Blind cheeks.

Amputate. To amputate one’s mahogany or timber (familiar).—To be off; to begone—the 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.’ Cf., ‘cut,’ a slang synonym.] A welcher is called a timber-merchant, because he removes [49]himself, or ‘cuts his stick’ with celerity as 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 Synonyms. To skedaddle (an American term); to cut one’s lucky; to sling, or take one’s hook; to mizzle; to absquatulate; to pad the hoof; to give leg bail; to bolt; to cut and run; to chivey; to walk the trotters; to slip one’s cable; to step it; to leg it; to tip the double; to make, or take tracks; to hook it; to make beef (thieves’ term); to slope; to cut the cable and run before the wind (obviously a sailor’s phrase); to slip it; to abskize; to paddle; to guy (used by thieves); to evaporate; to vamoose (American, from the Spanish imperative vamos, let us go); to speele (used by thieves); to skip; to tip one’s rags a gallop; to walk one’s chalks; to pike; to hop the twig; to turn it up; to cap 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.

French. Faire or jouer la fille de l’air (lit. ‘to go like the wind,’ fille de l’air, daughter of air, being a poetical embodiment); faire le lézard (a thief’s term, and meaning properly ‘to imitate a lizard,’ an allusion to swiftness of motion); faire le jat-jat; faire la paire (lit. ‘to go double,’ Cf., ‘to tip the double’); faire gille (a very old French phrase; it means also to become bankrupt. The connection between bankruptcy and decamping is obvious); se déguiser en cerf (popular: lit. ‘to play the stag’); s’évanouir (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 cramp or nervous contraction sometimes caused by violent motion. Old French had the verb crampir in the sense of ‘to bend’ or ‘double up.’ Tirer sa crampe is lit. ‘to get cramped’); se lâcher du ballon (popular: ‘to let loose the balloon,’ an allusion to the rapidity with which a balloon shoots up into the air when set free); se la couler (exactly equivalent to the English slang ‘to slip it’); se donner de l’air (popular: Cf., faire la fille de l’air); se pousser du zeph (popular: properly ‘to push forward with the wind.’ Zeph is a contraction of zephir); se sylphider (popular: from sylphide, a sylph; a reference to what in English racing terminology would be termed the ‘light-weight’ character of such creatures enabling them to get over the ground quickly); se faire la débinette; jouer des fourchettes (popular: ‘to put one’s forks into play’); fourchettes (in French argot = legs or ‘pins’); se la donner (Michel says la here refers to ‘la clef des champs,’ an expression synonymous with ‘liberty’ or ‘freedom’); se la briser (popular); ramasser un bidon (thieves’); se la casser (popular); se la tirer; tirer ses granches; valser (lit. to dance); se tirer les pincettes (popular: lit. ‘to pull along’ or to extricate ‘one’s tongs’ or ‘nippers.’ Cf., English ‘nip along’); se tirer les baladoires; se tirer les pattes (lit. ‘to move one’s paws’); se tirer les trimoires (thieves’: trimoires is a cant term for legs, [50]and trimer signifies painful progression, or doing most of a journey on foot); se tirer les flûtes (popular: les flûtes = ‘shanks’ or ‘pegs’); jouer des guibes (guibe is a popular term for the leg, chiefly employed in burlesque); jouer des quilles (this expression is very old. Quilles properly signifies ‘crutches,’ and is popularly employed for the legs); se carapater (lit. ‘to run on one’s paws.’ Cf., ‘to take to one’s heels’); se barrer (lit. ‘to dash over’); baudrouiller (thieves’: this has the signification of ‘to whip up’); se cavaler (thieves’: cavaler was once synonymous with chevaucher; therefore, se cavaler signifies in reality, ‘to go on horseback on oneself,’ in which connection it may be compared with ‘shanks’ mare,’ the ‘marrow-bone stage’ [the Marylebone stage], or the German Schuhster’s Rappen, the shoemaker’s black 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: Cf., se cavaler); jouer des or se tirer les paturons (popular and thieves’: this may be translated ‘to pad the hoof.’ Paturons is properly the ‘pasterns.’ The frequent use of 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 oneself; to get through; to pull oneself forward—extra endeavour resulting in rapid progression); happer le taillis (thieves’: lit. ‘to catch, lay hold of’ or ‘gain the copse’; i.e., a place of concealment); flasquer du poivre à quelqu’un or la rousse (thieves’: Cf., Amuse; ‘to fly from the police’; lit. ‘to shake the pepper box in the eyes of the police’; rousse is a cant term for a guardian of the peace); décaniller (thieves’: this word, derived from canille, a French provincialism for chenille, a caterpillar, is an allusion to the metamorphosis of the grub into a butterfly when it takes unto itself wings); décarrer (thieves’: to leave prison; décarrer de belle, to be released from prison without having been tried); exhiber son prussien (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 word is derived, says Michel, from the gypsy prusiatiñi, which Borrow translates by pistol. Formerly the French called ‘the behind’ by the name of a Parisian church, Saint-Jean le Rond); démurger (thieves’: to leave a place; to be set at liberty); désarrer (thieves’: ‘to guy’; to make beef); gagner les gigoteaux (also gagner au trot, au pied, gagner le camp, la colline, le taillis, la guérite, etc.); se faire une paire de mains courantes à la mode (thieves’); fendre l’ergot (lit. ‘to split the spur,’ an allusion to the toes being pressed to the ground, and thus naturally [51]parted); filer son nœud, or son cable (sailors’ and popular: lit. ‘to cut the ropes’ or ‘cable’); se défiler (popular, but derived from the military term, signifying to go off parade: might be translated ‘to leg it’); s’écar-bouiller (popular: properly ‘to crush’; compare with the English synonym ‘crush’); esballonner (popular); filer son cable par le bout (sailors’); faire chibis (thieves’: ‘to escape from prison’); déraper (common); fouiner (popular: this is, in reality, no more slang than the English ‘to sneak away’); se la fracturer (popular: properly a surgical term, meaning ‘to fracture’); jouer des gambettes (popular: may be translated ‘to leg it’; ‘to stir one’s stumps’; gambettes is from the old French gambe, a leg); s’esbigner (popular: properly ‘to give the slip’); 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 sweeping a chimney. Se faire ramoner is ‘to go to confession,’ or ‘to take a purgative’—the one a moral, and the other a physical cleansing. Hence ramoner ses tuyaux, ‘to run away,’ in reference to the speedy locomotion consequent upon the process of purging); foutre le camp (popular: equivalent to ‘hook it’; a coarse expression); tirer le chausson (popular); se vanner (thieves: Michel derives this from the Italian vannare, ‘to flap the wings,’ but another authority refers it to the motions of the body and arms of a winnower; the word in literary French signifying ‘to sift’ or ‘to winnow.’ Others trace it to the old French vanoyer, ‘to disappear.’ In all cases, however, it would seem to be equivalent to the English ‘come shake yourself! be off!’); ambier (thieves’); chier du poivre (popular: ‘to abscond,’ or ‘to fail to be at hand when needed’); se débiner, or se débiner des fumerons (popular: ‘to stir one’s stumps’); caleter (popular); attacher une gamelle (popular and thieves’); camper (low); affuter ses pincettes (thieves’: lit. ‘to sharpen the pins’ or ‘to leg it’); and many others.

German Synonyms. Abbaschen (from paschen, ‘to smuggle’); abbauen (literally ‘to remove, or finish’ [a building]); abfocken; abhalchen (from Hebrew holach, ‘to go’); schefften; abschnurren (a beggar-musicians’ term; also to beg through a lane, town, or district. [M.H.G., snurren, schnurren, schnurrant]); abtarchenen; abtippeln (to run away secretly); alchen (from Hebrew holach, ‘to go’); aschween (Hanoverian: according to Thiele hascheweine—probably corrupted from schuw; heschiw, ‘to turn round’); blättern (corrupted from plettern—Hebrew pleto); caball (from Latin caballus, ‘a horse’; hence, to fly quickly as if on horseback); dippeln (a Viennese thieves’ term) fucken or focken.

Italian Fourbesque. Sbignare or svignare (these words though given as cant by the author of the Nuovo Modo are now received words); comprare (lit. ‘to buy’); comprar viole; allungare il muro (lit. ‘to lengthen the wall’); balzare (lit. ‘to caper,’ ‘to skip,’ ‘to bounce’); batter [52]la calcosa (lit. ‘to beat the earth.’ Cf., American ‘to cut dirt’); dare a lata; scoscare.

Spanish Germania. Piñarse (an old and now obsolete term); alar; alarse; alolargo (lit. ‘at large’); picar (lit. ‘to use the spurs’); safarse (lit. ‘to escape’ or ‘save oneself’ [from arrest]).

Amuse, verb. (old cant).—To fling dust or snuff in the eyes of a person intended to be robbed. Also, to invent some plausible tale, to delude shop-keepers and others, thereby to put them off their guard, and so to obtain an opportunity of robbing them.

Amusers, subs. (old cant and American thieves’).—A certain class of thieves’ accomplices who throw 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, completing the operation. In this, 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 amongst the criminal classes.

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; to rest. [From the operation of bringing ships to a standstill by casting anchor.]

Anchorage, subs. (common).—An abode; where one dwells. Of nautical origin (see Anchor). For synonyms, see Diggings.

Ancient Mariners, subs. (Univ. Oxford).—A term applied to rowing dons.

And Don’t You Forget It, phr. (American).—A senseless string of 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 ‘fancy’ of the streets of our 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 convey no special idea, and can only be described as utterly vulgar, without the slightest scintillation of wit or humour of any kind.

1888. Boston Weekly Globe, Feb. 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. 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?’

‘He did. He got down off his hack 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 was twelve shillings. You don’t want to fool with those Quakers any, and don’t you forget it.’ [53]

And He Didn’t, phr. (tailors’).—A phrase of the all my eye (q.v.) stamp, i.e., ‘You tell me you have not; but for all that I think you have’—the action referred to being generally of a discreditable character.

And No Mogue? phr. (tailors’).—Used in a variety of ways to signify doubt and uncertainty. It is equivalent to the street gamin’s ‘no kid?’ when used interrogatively, i.e., ‘there’s no mistake, is there?’ ‘Now, joking apart?’ Also used as a ‘set down’ to narrators claiming descent from Baron Munchausen, in which case it is equivalent to the ‘You don’t say so!’ of politer circles; in both cases the spokesman conveys the idea that one’s credulity has been somewhat taxed.

And No Whistle, phr. (tailors’).—A kind of tu quoque; usually applied to a man by a listener desiring to 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 refers to the person speaking.

Andrew Millar, subs. (nautical).—A curious cant name for a ship of war; sometimes simply Andrew. Its origin is quite unknown; but it has been pointed out that Antonio, in the Merchant of Venice, speaks of one of his vessels as his ‘wealthy Andrew’; and it has been conjectured that in this case the ship was named after the celebrated Admiral Andrea Doria, who died in 1560. But to trace any connection 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, Merchant of Venice, i., i., 27.

But I should think of shallows and of flats,

And see my wealthy Andrew dock’d in sand.

Among Australian smugglers the term still survives for a revenue cutter.

Angel or Flying Angel, subs. (common).—Explained by quotation.

1880. James Greenwood, Seaside Insanity in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 45. It is at this point when the one day 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 its little fists are full.

Angelicas.—See Angelics.

Angelics, subs. (old).—Unmarried young ladies. Now Angelicas.

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, p. 5. (Dicks’ ed., 1889.) Jerry. You 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 else. We must assume a style if we 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 Tattersall’s, nay, even among the millers at the Fives, it would be taken for nothing less than the index of a complete flat. [54]

Angeliferous, adj. (American).—Angelic; also super-excellent; a factitious word. It is interesting to note that ‘angelification,’ ‘angelify,’ and ‘angelified,’ were in use in the seventeenth century, but never to any great extent. [From angel + iferous, a spurious form based on the model of ‘auriferous.’] It is said to have been first used by Bird in his novel, entitled Nick of the Woods.

Angels Altogether, subs. phr. (West Indian).—A sobriquet applied to habitual drunkards. It originated about the year 1876, and was, in the first instance, a bon-mot of a well-known sugar planter on the East Coast Demerara. A 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 Sunday?’ ‘Yes, massa!’ ‘Monday too?’ ‘Yes, massa!’ and on the question being repeated as regards Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, it elicited similar responses, whereupon the ‘boss’ quietly, but pointedly said, ‘But John, you can’t be an angel altogether, you know!’ The story got abroad, caught on, and in a short time the whole colony rang with the expression.

Angel’s Footstool, subs. phr. (nautical).—Yankee skippers, given to high falutin’, aver that their craft carry far more canvas than any vessel afloat of ‘foreign’ origin (the term ‘foreign’ including British bottoms, as well as those of nations other than Anglo-Saxon). Imaginary sails are crowded on their craft, among these being one which they jokingly call an angel’s footstool. It is pretended to be a square sail, and is supposed to top the skyscrapers, moon-sails, and cloud cleaners (q.v.).

Angel’s Gear, subs. phr. (nautical).—It is thus that ‘jolly tars’ sometimes speak of female attire. Jack is notoriously most susceptible where a petticoat is concerned.

Angel’s-Oil, subs. (old).—A seventeenth century colloquialism for money used for bribery; sometimes oil of angels. For synonyms, see Actual, and Boodle.

Angel’s Suit, subs. phr. (tailors’).—A ‘combination’ garment for males. The coat and waistcoat were made in one, and the ‘unmentionables’ buttoned on to it. Neither garment nor name was extensively adopted.

Angel’s Whisper, subs. phr. (military).—A name given to the call to defaulter’s drill. Needless to say it is, as Artemus Ward would express it, ‘wrote sarcastic.’

Anglers, Hookers, or Starrers, subs. (old).—Pilferers or petty thieves, who, with a stick having a hook at the end, steal goods from shop windows, etc. So far Grose; but Duncombe adds that starrers are an order of thieves who break show glasses in jewellers’ windows [55]and, in the consequent confusion steal the goods. The term is a very ancient one. Dekker in English Villanies [1632], thus describes an ‘angler for duds’:—‘He carries a short staff in his hand, which is called a filch, having in the nab or head of it a ferme (that is to say a hole) into which, upon any piece of service, when he goes a filching, he putteth a hooke of iron, with which hook he angles at a window in the dead of night for shirts, smockes, or any other linen or woollen.’ It 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 daylight, in the most crowded streets of London, to break a jeweller’s window, snatch some valuables, and make off with them. An iron instrument is used for the purpose which is concealed by the coat sleeve.—See Area sneak.

Angling Cove, subs. (thieves’).—A receiver of stolen goods.—See Fence.

Angling for Farthings, verb. phr. (old thieves’).—Begging out of a prison window with a cap or box, let down at the end of a long string.—Grose. Such a practice, it is needless to say, would be impossible nowadays.—See Hooker.

Anglomaniacs, subs. phr. (American).—A club in Boston is thus self-styled. Its members are opposed to anything British in every shape and form. The term is of course a contradiction, and should, to express the policy of its members, be Anglophobists.

Angry Boys.—See Bloods.

Angular Party, subs. phr. (common).—A term given to any gathering of people of which the number is odd; say three, seven, thirteen, etc.

Animal, subs. (American).—A new arrival at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Cf., Snooker.

To go the whole animal (American).—A variant of ‘to go the whole hog.’ In the West Indies it is varied by ‘to go the whole dog.’—See Hog.

1838. C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, p.… Opposing all half measures, and preferring to go the extreme animal.

1859. G. A. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, p. 62.… that they had much better pay first-class, and go the entire animal.

Animules, subs. (American).—This expression is very generally used in the South-western territories, and in California, as a substitute for ‘mules.’ A witty play upon ‘animals’ and ‘mules.’

1834(?) Centre-Pole Bill, in Overland Monthly. ‘Ten miles to town! Waal, stranger, I guess I’ll stake out here to-night. Them animules is too beat to do that. Where’s yer water?’ ‘It’s all around you to-night; but you can turn your mules into the corral.’

Ankle. To sprain one’s ankle, verb. phr. (old).—When a girl has been seduced she is said to have sprained her ankle. Both French and German slang have analogous expressions; in the former, elle a mal aux genoux is said of a woman who is pregnant, i.e., ‘she has a bad knee.’ [56]In German, ladies so placed ‘lose a shoe’; but of synonyms there are plenty.—See Leg.

Ankle-Beaters, subs. phr. (old).—A class of boys who attended cattle markets for the purpose of driving to the slaughter-house the animals purchased by the butcher. They were called ankle-beaters from their driving the animals with long wattles, and beating them on the legs to avoid spoiling or bruising the flesh. Also called penny-boys (q.v.), because they received one penny per head as remuneration.

Anne’s Fan, properly Queen Anne’s Fan, subs. phr. (common).—Putting the tip of the thumb of either hand to the nose, and then spreading the fingers in the shape of a fan. A gesture of contempt often intensified either by twiddling 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 thumb (q.v.).

Annex, verb. (American).—To steal; in England the wise it call ‘convey.’—See Bone.

Anodyne, subs. (American thieves’).—A euphemism for death. From the figurative sense of the word—anything that soothes wounded or excited feelings, or that lessens the sense of misfortunes. Cf., Old English slang term for a halter, Anodyne necklace.

Verb. (American thieves’).—To kill. Cf., foregoing; also To cook one’s goose.

Anodyne Necklace, subs. phr. (old).—A halter. An anodyne is that which allays or extinguishes pain, and the hangman’s rope may indeed be regarded, from one point of view, as a cure for all pains. The expression is old, being traced back to 1639. During the period when the death penalty was inflicted for all kinds of comparatively trivial offences—for sheep stealing, and even highway robberies of not more than forty shillings value—synonyms equally grim and sententious were numerous. According to Wilyam Bullein, an anodyne necklace was that which ‘light fellows merrily will call … neckweede, or Sir 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.’]

1766. Oliver Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield [works, Globe ed., chap. xx., p. 43.] [George Primrose’s cousin exclaims] ‘May I die by an anodyne necklace, but I’d rather be an under-turnkey in Newgate [than an usher in a boarding-school]’.

The water poet (John Taylor, a Thames waterman, 1580–1654), explaining the virtue of hemp, says:—

Some call it neck-weed, for it hath a tricke

To cure the necke that’s troubled with the crick.

An anodyne necklace was also the name of a quack amulet, which, for a long period, was a household word. This famous remedy occupied as prominent a position in the advertising columns of the journals of the middle of the [57]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 Horse’s nightcap.

Anoint, verb. (familiar).—To beat soundly; to thrash; humorously derived from the proper meaning of the word, ‘to smear’ or ‘rub over with oil or other unctuous substances.’ In the North of England the saying is somewhat more analogous—‘to anoint with the sap of a hazel rod.’

1175. Rom. of Partenay (Skeat), 5653.

Then thay put hym hout, the kyng away fly,

Which so well was anoynted indede,

That no slene ne pane had he hole of brede.

1703. Fuller’s Trip to Bridewell, quoted in Ashton’s The Fleet, p. 211. The whipper began to noint me with his instrument, that had, I believe, about a dozen strings notted at the end.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. v. ‘I’ll bring him to the gangway, and anoint him with a cat-and-nine-tails.’

1824. W. Irving, Tales of a Trav., II., 287. Seize a trusty staff and anoint the back of 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. phr. (common).—To bribe. The Scotch say ‘to creesh the luif.’ The expression is very old.

1584. Knox, Hist. of Reformation, works [1846] I., 102. Yea, the handis of our Lordis so liberallie were anoynted.

See Grease the palm.

Anointed, ppl. adj. (old).—1. Used in a depraved sense to signify eminence in rascality. 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 version [Early English Text Society] translates this, ‘which so well was anoynted indeed.’ From this it is clear that to anoint a man was to give him a sound drubbing, and that the word was so used in the fifteenth century. Thus, an anointed rogue means either one who has been well thrashed or who has deserved to be. Cf., To anoint.

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.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxxvii. ‘But, not being Lord Etherington, and an anointed scoundrel into the bargain, I will content myself with cudgelling him to death.’

2. Knowing; ripe for mischief.—Duncombe.

Anonyma, subs. (popular).—A lady of the demi-monde; generally, though not invariably, applied to one of the better class. Women of this status were also called by the Times pretty horsebreakers, a notorious anonyma (circa 1868) having been a good horsewoman. Another and earlier name [58]was Incognita; this as well as anonyma had reference to the unrecognised position these ladies hold in what is called ‘Society,’ which tries to shut its eyes to a product of its own vice. The French cocotte best corresponds to the English term. For synonyms generally, see Barrack hack.

1864. G. A. Sala, Quite Alone, ch. i. 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.

1865. 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.’

1881. Doran, In and about Drury Lane, vol. II., p. 159. Those anonymas, who dress with such exquisite propriety lest they should be mistaken for modest women.

1889. Modern Society, July 13, p. 852. ‘Christopher’s Honeymoon,’ by Mr. Malcolm Watson, produced at the Strand, on Wednesday, is not wholly bad, but it is too thin. The honeymooner is surprised at his wedding breakfast by the news that a former wife, whom he thought dead, is still alive. Matters are still further complicated when his mother-in-law mistakes his buxom laundress for a fair anonyma.

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 the manner of use. It is interesting to note how very old is this common rejoinder—nearly 350 years; it is, moreover, an example which fully illustrates the value of the historical method in dealing with slang words and phrases.

c. 1534. N. Udall, Roister Doister, III., v., p. 58 (Arber). R. Royster. If it were another but thou, it were a tenane. M. Mery. Ye are an other your selfe, sir. [M.]

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. IX., ch. vi. ‘You mistake me, friend,’ cries Partridge, ‘I did not mean to abuse the cloth; I only said your conclusion was a non-sequitur.’ ‘You are another,’ cries the Serjeant, ‘an’ you come to that. No more a sequitur than yourself.’

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 little urchins in the street have a conclusive argument. They say ‘you’re another.’

Another Acrobat, phr. (music-hall).—Another drink—acrobat being a play upon the word ‘tumbler,’ i.e., a glass.

Another Guess, adj., or Another Guess Sort of Man, phr. (old). A cute man; one who is, in modern lingo, up to snuff (q.v.). ‘Guess’ suggests an erroneous derivation; the word is really a corruption of ‘another-gates’ [according to Murray the original genitive case ‘of another-gate, i.e., of another way, manner, or fashion’].

Another Lie Nailed to the Counter, phr. (American).—A detected slander. The practice of nailing spurious coins to shop counters is, even yet, not an obsolete custom in country districts; and hence, probably, is derived this colloquialism.

1888. Texas Siftings, Oct. 20. ‘Who employed you last?’ ‘A Republican 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.’ [59]

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 used from 1634 downwards, by Herbert, Keats, John Stuart Mill, and others. Only when (as for example in America a person in political phraseology is said to antagonise a 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 regarded as partaking of slang. In the quotation by Barrère 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.

1886. Saturday Review on Sporting Slang, 18 Dec, p. 799, col. 1. Dingley Dell sent Jones and Robinson to the wickets, where they were antagonised with the leather by Alf and the Young Phenomenon.

Anthony, or To Cuff Anthony, verb. (old).—To knock one’s knees together from an infirmity. Also called to cuff Jonas.

Antony, or Anthony Cuffin, subs.—A knock-kneed man.

Anthony, or Tantony Pig, subs. (old).—See Tantony pig.

1787. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. The favourite or smallest pig in the litter; to follow like a tantony pig, i.e., St. Anthony’s pig, signified to follow close at one’s heels. St. Anthony, the hermit, was a swine herd, and is always represented with his bell and pig.

Antimony, subs. (printers’).—Type; so called from one of its component parts.

Anyhow. Anyhow you can fix it, phr. (American).—A slang expression of acquiescence as, e.g., ‘I don’t know if you’ll succeed, but anyhow you can fix it.’

Any Other Man! phr. (American).—A call to order addressed to prosy, discursive speakers when they give themselves over to the use of synonymous terms.

Any Racket, subs. (rhyming slang).—A penny faggot.

Anything. Like, or as anything, adv. phr. (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.

1542. Udall’s Erasmus Apoph., p. 32. The young maiden, where the lokers on quaked and trembled for feare, daunced without any feare at all emong sweardes and kniues, beyng as sharpe as anythyng.

1740. Richardson, Pamela, ii., 57. O my dear father and mother, I fear your girl will grow as proud as anything.

1840. Barham, I. L. (Misadv. at Margate).

The tear-drop in his little eye again began to spring,

His bosom throbb’d with agony, he cried like anything.

1878. Carroll, Through a Looking Glass, iv., 73. They wept like anything to see such quantities of sand.

Anythingarian, subs. (common).—A contemptuous term for one who is apathetic as regards his political or religious creed, or other matters upon which mankind generally hold decided views. [From anything + arian, after trinit-arian, unit-arian.] [60]

1717. Entertainer, Nov. 6 [quoted in N. & Q., 7 S., vi., 66]. Nor, which is ten times worse, Free-thinkers, Atheists, Anythingarians.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. i.).

Lady Sm. What religion is he of?

Lady Sp. Why, he is an anythingarian.

Lady Ans. I 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.

Anythingarianism, subs. (popular).—The creed or doctrine of an Anythingarian.—[See preceding].

1851. C. Kingsley (Life, i., 215). Schiller’s ‘Gods of Greece’ expresses, I think, a tone of feeling very common, and which finds its vent in modern Neo-Platonism—Anythingarianism.

Anything Else.—See Not doing anything else.

Anywhere Down There! (tailors’).—If, in a workroom or elsewhere where tailors congregate, an article is dropped upon the floor, anywhere down there! is used as a kind of catch-phrase.

Apartments. To have apartments to let, verb. phr. (popular).—1. To take rank in the estimation of one’s fellows as an idiot; ‘a born fool’—one who is empty-headed, not furnished with brains.

English Synonyms. To be dotty; to 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 baked.

French Synonyms. Avoir une écrevisse dans la tourte, or dans le vol-au-vent (popular: that is ‘to have a crawfish in the pie,’ or ‘in the head.’ Cf., ‘to have rats in the upper storey’); avoir la boule détraquée (popular: lit. ‘to have one’s ball turned’); avoir le coco félé (popular: lit. ‘to have one’s cocoa nut cracked.’ In English slang the head is also called a ‘cocoa-nut’); avoir le trognon détraquée (popular: ‘to have a bee in one’s bonnet.’ Trognon is also a slang term for the head or ‘noddle’); avoir un asticot dans la noisette (popular: lit. ‘to have a maggot in one’s nut.’ In English slang the head is likewise ‘the nut.’ Cf., also the expression ‘a worm in the bud’); avoir un bœuf gras dans le char (popular); avoir un cancrelat dans la boule (popular: lit. ‘to have a cockroach in one’s ball’—‘ball’ here referring 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 ‘well.’ This seems to be on all fours with ‘a bee in one’s bonnet.’ The phrase sometimes 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 marked); avoir un moustique dans la boite au sel (popular: lit. ‘to have a mosquito in the salt-box or cellar’); avoir un voyageur dans l’omnibus (popular); avoir une araignée dans le plafond (popular: lit. ‘to have a spider in the head’; plafond, ‘a ceiling,’ be it noted is a slang term for ‘the [61]head’); avoir une grenouille dans l’aquarium (popular: lit: ‘to have a frog in one’s aquarium’); avoir une hirondelle dans le soliveau (popular: ‘to have a swallow in the head’); avoir une Marseillaise dans le Kiosque (popular); avoir une punaise dans le soufflet (popular: ‘to have a bug in one’s brain’); avoir une sardine dans l’armoire à glace (popular: ‘to have a sardine in the head or brain.’ Armoire à glace = the head); avoir une trichinne dans le jambonneau (popular: jambonneau, the head); avoir une sauterelle dans la guitare (popular: lit. ‘to have a grasshopper in the guitar’).

For other synonyms, see Tile loose.

2. A widow is said to have apartments to let.

Ape-leader, subs. (old).—An old maid. Leading apes in hell was the employment jocularly assigned to those who neglected to assume marital functions while living.

1581. Lyly, Euphucs (Arb.), 87. Rather thou shouldest leade a lyfe to thine owne lyking in earthe, than … leade apes in hell. [M.]

1605. Lond. Prodigal, I., 2. ’Tes an old proverb, and you know it well, that women dying maids lead apes in hell.

1717. Mrs. Centlivre, Bold Stroke, II., 1. Poor girl; she must certainly lead apes, as the saying is.

1830. General P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I., 198. Joining with other old women, in leading their apes in Tartarus. [M.]

There are several proverbial sayings in which the ape plays an important part. To say an ape’s paternoster is to chatter with cold; this corresponds with the French, dire des patenôtres de singe. To put an ape into one’s hood or cap, to make a fool of one, etc.

Apes, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Atlantic and North-Western Railway first mortgage bonds.

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 last, St. Poll or St. Paul—a punning allusion to 1 Cor. xv., 9, ‘For I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an Apostle.’ The list is now arranged alphabetically and in classes. Hotten suggests that Apostles is a corruption of post alios, i.e., ‘after the others.’ It may perhaps also be mentioned that in one American University at least, Columbia College, D.C., the last twelve on the B.A. list actually receive the personal names of the Apostles.

1795. Gentleman’s Magazine, Jan., p. 19. [The last twelve names on the Cambridge list are here called The Twelve Apostles.]

Manœuvering the Apostles, 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. (common).—The London district known as St. John’s Wood. Also called grove of the evangelist. Both names are applied sarcastically in allusion to the large numbers of the demi-monde [62]who live in that quarter of town.

Apothecary. To talk like an apothecary, verb phr. (old).—To talk nonsense; from the pseudo gravity and affectation of knowledge often assumed by these gentlemen at a time when their status was not legally held under examination and license of the Apothecaries’ Company.

Apothecaries’ bill, subs. (old).—A long bill.

Apothecaries’, or raw Latin, subs. (old).—Now called dog-Latin (q.v.).

Apple Cart, subs. (common). 1. The human body. A slang term similar to ‘potato trap,’ ‘bread-basket,’ ‘bellows,’ ‘blue plumb,’ ‘bacon,’ and ‘beer-barrel’ (all of which see). There are numerous variations in usage; e.g., if two men are quarrelling, and a friend of one interferes saying ‘I will upset his apple cart’ it means, ‘while you are parleying with the enemy I will knock him down.’ Again, if a child falls down, says W. W. Skeat (referring to his early Kentish remembrance of the word), you first enquire if he is much hurt. If he is merely a little frightened you say, ‘Well, never mind, then; you’ve only upset your apple cart and spilt the gooseberries.’ The child laughs and all is well again.

2. Also employed in a figurative sense. 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 disarrange; to overthrow; to ruin an undertaking. Sometimes the expression is varied by to upset the old woman’s apple cart. Barrère’s reference of the genesis of the phrase to the costermonger’s imaginative powers is ‘all conjecture and fancy’; as also is his American derivation of the expression in its more figurative sense. In the first place apple carts are perfectly familiar objects in all country districts; and, in the second, the phrase is too old a provincialism to need deriving from the peripatetic vendors in question. Further, though to upset his apple cart and spill the peaches may be an American variation for the second sense, as it appears to have been so used, dialectically, throughout England, the weight of assumption must be given to its English origin, and subsequent transference to America.

English Synonyms. Beer-barrel; bacon.

French Synonyms. Acabit (literally, quality); cylindre (popular: lit. ‘a cylinder,’ or ‘barrel.’ Cf. with English ‘beer barrel’); grosse caisse (popular: lit. ‘a large case,’ or ‘box’); paillasse (popular: lit. ‘a straw mattress’); also place d’armes; casaquin.

Apple Dumpling Shop, subs. phr. (common).—A woman’s bosom. For synonyms, see Dairies.

Apple-Monger.—The same as apple-squire (q.v.).

Apple-Pie Bed, subs. phr. (common).—A practical joke, which consists in making up a bed with the sheets doubled half way [63]up, so as to prevent a person from stretching out at full length, and filling the bag thus formed with brushes, soap-dishes, etc. So called, either from the apple-turnover, in which the ‘paste’ is turned over the apples, or from the French, à plis, folded.

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 Review, Nov. 3, p. 566, col. 2. Some ‘evil-disposed persons’ have already visited his room, made his bed into an apple-pie, plentifully strewn with hair-brushes and razors.

The French have an analogous phrase, ‘mettre un lit en portefeuille.’

Apple-Pie Day, subs. phr. (Winchester Coll.)—The day on which Six-and-Six (q.v.) is played. It is the Thursday after the first Tuesday in December. So called because hot apple-pies were served on gomers (q.v.) in College for dinner.

Apple Pie Order, subs. phr. (familiar).—Exact or perfect order. Etymologists have long puzzled themselves concerning this expression, and many derivations have been put forward in explanation. Some have found in it 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 à pied order. The authorities who incline to this view point out that cap à pied in the sense of ‘perfectly appointed’ occurs in one of the scenes of Hamlet. Though orthographically the transition from one to the other, at first sight, would appear to be somewhat lame and halting, yet phonetically the difference is much less marked. It has further been 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 apple pie; B bit it; C cut 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 à pied, more especially as that phrase was once very familiar.

1813. Scott in Lochart, Life, IV. (1839), 131. The children’s garden is in apple pie order.

1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, viii., 29. Put the craft a little into apple pie order.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Old Woman in Grey).

I am just in the order which some folks—though why,

I am sure I can’t tell you—would call apple pie.

Apples. How we apples swim! phr. (common).—i.e., ‘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. Ireland and J. Nichols, London, 1873), III., p. 29. And even this, little as it is, gives him so much importance in his own eyes, that he assumes a consequential [64]air, sets his arms akimbo, and strutting among the historical artists cries, ‘how we apples swim.’

1860. Cornhill Mag. (D. Mallett, Tyburn), Dec., p. 737. While tumbling down the turbid stream, Lord, love us, how we apples swim.

Apples and Pears, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—A pair of stairs.

Apple-Squire, subs. (old).—A harlot’s attendant, or fancy man (q.v.); these gentry are now commonly called ‘bullies’ (q.v.). Nares gives ‘squire of the body’ as a synonymous term; also apron-squire.

1500. (circa) Way to Spyttel Hous, 832 in Hazl. E. P. P., iv., 60. [Here given as applesquyers.]

[1580–1654] Taylor, Discourse by Sea (works II., 21).

Are whoremasters decai’d, are bawds all dead,

Are pandars, pimps, and apple-squires all fled? [N.]

1738. Poor Robin.… Little truth will be found amongst cut-purses, liars, 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.]

For synonyms, ancient and modern, and also foreign equivalents, see Fancy man.

Apron. Green apron, subs. (old).—A contemptuous term for a lay preacher.—See Bible-pounder.

1654. Warren, Unbelievers, 145. It more befits a green-apron preacher, than such a Gamaliel. [M.]

1705. Hickeringill, Priestcraft I. (1721). 21. Unbeneficed Noncons. (that live by Alms and no Paternoster, no Penny, say the green-aprons). [M.]

1765. Tucker, Lt. Nat., II., 451. The gifted priestess amongst the Quakers is known by her green apron. [M.]

Aproneer, subs. (old).—A shop-keeper; a tradesman. Murray states that the term was used contemptuously of the Parliamentary party during the Civil Wars.

1659. Gauden, Tears of Church, 238. Some prating sequestrator, or some surly aproneer.

1690. D’urfey, Collin’s Walk, c. iii., p. 107. But every sturdy aproneer, arm’d with battoon, did straight appear.

Apron-Rogue, subs. (old).—A labourer; a mechanic.

1663. Killegrew, Parson’s Wedding in Dodsley’s Old Plays (1780), XI., 382. Apron-rogues with horn hands. [M.]

Apron-Squire.—See Apple-squire.

Apron-String Hold or Tenure, subs. phr. (familiar).—An estate held by a man during his wife’s life; or by virtue of her right.

1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 67. Apron-string tenure is very weak. [M.]

1753. Richardson, Grandison, iv., 23. He cursed the apron-string tenure, by which he said he held his peace. [d.]

1804. Mrs. Barbauld, Richardson I., 160. All her fortune in her own power—a very apron-string tenure.

Apron-Strings. To be tied to or always at a woman’s apron-strings, verb. phr. (common).—Under petticoat government; to dangle after a woman. Formerly said only of children; later of all who follow a woman subserviently.

1712. Spectator, No. 506. The fair 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 at their apron-strings. [65]

1834. Miss Edgeworth, Helen, ch. viii. A homebred lordling, who, from the moment he slipped his mother’s apron-strings, had fallen into folly.

1849. Macaulay, History of England, II., 649. He could not submit to be tied to the apron-strings even of the best of wives.

Aqua, subs. (American thieves’).—Water. From the Latin.

Aqua Pompaginis, subs. phr. (old).—Pump water [Dog-Latin; from L., aqua, water + English, pump + simulated Latin termination, aginis].

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Aqua Pompaginis.… Apothecaries’ Latin.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 13. ‘Exactly my sentiments,’ rejoined Blueskin. ‘I 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 ho!’

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 15. ‘He shall go through the whole course,’ replied Blueskin, with a ferocious grin, ‘unless he comes down to the last grig. We’ll lather him with mud, shave him with a rusty razor, and drench him with aqua pompaginis.’

For synonyms, see Adam’s ale.

Aquatics, subs. (Eton college).—The particular game of cricket in which men in the boats play.

Aqua-Vitæ, 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.]

Arabs, subs. (common).—Nicknames for young street vagrants are numerous. They are ‘Bedouins,’ ‘Street Arabs,’ and ‘Juvenile Roughs’ in London; they are ‘Gamins’ in Paris; ‘Bowery Boys’ in New York; ‘Hoodlums’ in San Francisco; and ‘Larrikins’ in Melbourne. This last phrase is an Irish constable’s broad pronunciation of ‘larking,’ applied to the nightly street performances of these young scamps, there, as elsewhere, a real social pestilence.—See Street Arab.

1848. 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.]

Arbor Vitæ, subs. (old).—The penis. [Latin; = the Tree of Life]. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Arch.—See Ark.

Arch-Cove or Arch-Rogue, subs. (thieves’).—The chief or leader of a gang of thieves. [From Greek, archo to be first, to command, to rule + cove, a slang term for a man.] Formerly also dimber damber, upright man.—See Cove and Area sneak.

Archdeacon, subs. (Oxford Univ.).—Merton strong ale.

Arch-Dell or Arch-Doxy, subs. (old).—The wife or female companion of an arch-cove.—See Dell.

Archduke, subs. (old slang).—A buffoon; an eccentric person. [66]

Arch Gonnof.—See Dimber damber.

Ard, adj. (American thieves’).—Hot; a corrupted form of ‘ardent.’ Formerly ‘a foot.’—See Creepers.

Area-Sneak, subs. (common).—A thief who lurks about areas for the purposes of theft.

1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. 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?’

1869. English Mechanic, 14 May, p. 181, col. 1. [They] would invariably become pickpockets or area-sneaks.

1883. 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.

Among other names for thieves may be mentioned:—

English and American. Beak or beaker-hunter (a poultry thief); bug-hunter (speciality—breast pins, studs, etc.); buz-faker (a pickpocket); buttock and file (a shoplifter); bouncer (one who steals while bargaining with a tradesman; a shoplifter); bridle-cull (a highwayman); cracksman (a burglar); crossman (an old term. Literally a man ‘on the cross,’ or who gets his living surreptitiously); cross-cove (see foregoing); conveyancer (a pickpocket); dancer (a thief who gains entrance to houses from the roof); flash-cove (a sharper); flashman (a prostitute’s bully who pretends to catch the victim in flagrante delicto with his wife, and thus makes an excuse for robbery and extortion); finder (a thief who confines his depredations to meat-markets and butchers’ shops); gun (a contraction of gonnof, which see); gleaner, hooker, or angler (these are petty thieves, who work with hooks and rods); lob-sneak; lully-prigger (one who steals clothes when they are hanging out to dry); snakesman or sneaksman (a shoplifter; a petty thief); sneeze-lurker (this kind work by first blinding victims with pepper, etc.); moucher (a prowling thief); mill-ben (an old cant term, which see); prig; prop-nailer (a ‘prop’ is a scarf pin); palmer (a thief who ‘rings the changes’; but see under Palmer); pudding-snammer (an eating-house thief); drummer or drammer (these gentry stupify their victims prior to robbing them); stook-hauler (speciality—pocket-handkerchiefs); tooler (a pickpocket); toy-getter (a watch thief).

French Synonyms. Un droguiste (corresponds to the English ‘hawk’ or ‘rook’); un chêne affranchi (a ‘flash cove’); un careur, or voleur à la care (thief who robs money-changers while pretending to offer old coins for sale); un enfant de la matte (‘a child of folly.’—See Family man); un tiretaine (a country thief); un garçon de cambrouse (a highwayman); un garçon de campagne (same as example last quoted); un frère de la manicle; un philantrope (a peddlar’s term); un bonjourier or voleur au bonjour (an early morning thief, but see under Thieves); un philibert (of the sharper stamp); un philosophe (lit. ‘a philosopher’); un enfant de minuit (formerly, says Cotgrave, enfants de la messe de minuit, i.e., companions of the midnight [67]mass, not for devotion, but for robbery and abuse); ramastiqueur (one who swindles by means of pocket-book dropping, etc.—a variety of the confidence trick); un jardinier, un Americain (‘confidence trick’ men); un tirebogue (a watch thief; in English slang a ‘toy-getter’); un friauche; un grinchisseur de bogues (a watch thief); un mion de boule (equivalent to the English ‘prig’); un fil de soie; un doubleur (= English ‘prig’; un doubleur de sorgue, ‘a night thief’); un voleur à la tire (a pickpocket); un tireur (a pickpocket; literally ‘one who draws out’); etc.

German Synonyms. Broschem-blatter; cochem (a thieves’ accomplice; from Hebrew chochem, wise, instructed); erntemackener (thieves who steal from houses while the owners are away harvesting. From erndte, harvest + machen, to make); anstiebler (one who plans robberies; an instigator to theft. A corrupted form of anstifter, an instigator); achbrosch (also achberosch, achperosch, achprosch, approsch, an infamous thief or 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 Rhenish robber gang; the words, however, particularly achbrosch, are not by any means obsolete, being very much in use by cattle and horsedealers, and sharpers generally); ganof (Hebrew, ‘a thief’; from gonaw, ‘to steal’); achelpeter (an inactive lazy old thief who sponges 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 steal boxes or small packages. In English slang this kind of thief is called a ‘dragsman’); goleschàchter (the same as preceding, but instead of making off bodily with the booty, the packages are cut open, and the contents thrown down for an accomplice to secure); bihengst (a thief who steals bees); baldower (a principal, or leader of a gang of thieves; one who advises and plans robberies. Balhoche is also a man who has an opportunity for theft; balspiess, the host of an inn, frequented by thieves and rogues); brenner (a thief who preys upon others of his kind, by demanding, under threats of exposure, a share of a successful robbery, without having taken part in it. From brennen, ‘to claim’; literally ‘to burn’; or it may be from berennen, ‘to run against or blockade’); chalfan (also chalfen, chalfener, chilfer, legitimately ‘a money changer,’ but amongst German thieves the name of the rogue who, in changing money, commits theft. Cf., English, ‘ringing the changes’); chawer (Hebrew: literally an associate; chaweress [fem.], a thief’s confederate; a comrade. Chawrusse, kabruse, a gang or confederation of thieves; chawrusse melochenen, to form a gang of thieves; chenneter, a thief who knows how to conduct himself with tact and address in good society. From [68]the Hebrew chono, gentle, kind, affable); chessenspiess, fem., chessenspiesse (the landlord or mistress of an inn frequented by thieves—a place where they may find refuge without fear of discovery. From the Hebrew); chechom (also chochem, chochemer,—more frequently spelled with ‘K’—from the Hebrew, the wise one. A prudent, cunning thief. Chochem lehorre, a dangerous thief, one prepared for the worst; of a similar meaning is chochem mechutten, a dangerous companion, a rogue of the worst type); bahnherr (also bohnherr and Herr by itself: literally ‘a road-master’; a burglar—one who prepares a robbery); diffler (a thoroughly dexterous thief; from tupfel, ‘a point’); drängler (a thief, who, to divert the attention of people from his intention, causes a crowd to assemble); paddendrücker (a pickpocket—one whose speciality is purses: drücker is a corrupted form of trecken, ‘to draw’ or ‘steal’ quickly and adroitly. Drücker, like drücken, ‘to steal’ is never used by itself, but always with the object of the theft; hence paddendrücker, a purse thief; luppendrücker, a watch thief; torfdrücker, a generic name for a pickpocket); eintreiber (a confederate who entices a victim to play so that his comrade may swindle him); erefschieber (a thief who goes out at evening time to commit robberies. Also erefhalchener, erefgänger, erefhändler. Eref = evening); fichtegänger (a night thief or burglar); fiesel (supposed to be derived from faser, ‘a birch,’ ‘rod,’ or ‘fibre.’ In Vienna, the scum of society is meant by fiesel—the commonest thief, professional vagabond, a protector of brothels and whores of the most repulsive kind. These thieves are of great daring, utterly unscrupulous, and are consequently much dreaded. Some feign to carry on the business of a rag and bone-picker, what in the fiesellange or Viennese thieves’ lingo is termed, ‘going out for profit.’ In the sense of ‘a rod,’ fiesel is applied to the membrum genitale masculi; hence fiesel as synonymous with strength, i.e., pertaining to the stronger sex. It was formerly used in connection with many other words; e.g., mädchenfiesel, ‘one who habitually runs after women,’ ‘a molrower,’ a ‘loose fish.’ Fiesel-language means the language of the strong, of those belonging to the fellowship of thieves, burglars, and rowdies); freikäufer (a thief whose speciality it is to steal at fairs and markets); freischupper (a card sharper; a gambling cheat who carries on his business in crowded places of public resort); gacheler (also gachler, gackler, kachler, kakler, kegler: a pantry thief; one who steals eatables and plate from kitchens whilst servants are attending at table); gannew (from Hebrew gonaw, ‘to steal’); gaslan (from Hebrew gosal, ‘to rob’); glitscher (gypsy: glitschin, ‘the key’: a thief who works by means of skeleton keys); godler chochem (from Hebrew godol, great, strong, celebrated + Hebrew chochem, the wise one; hence, a clever rogue, a thief who thoroughly understands his business); goi gomur (an utterly [69]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 one has to be careful. Goje [fem.] is almost always used contemptuously for a female); götte (also götti, göde, göttling [O.H.G., gataling] a confederate, a relative—especially used to denote one who has been doing good business); gutenmorgenwünscher (literally ‘good morning wisher’: thieves who break into rooms early in the morning for purposes of robbery. The French have an analogous expression in bonjourier, or voleur au bon jour). For other synonyms, see Thieves.

Italian Synonyms (Fourbesque). Quadro (a cut-purse. 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’); granchetto (also ‘one who speaks gibberish’); lavorante di scarpe (a pickpocket or cut-purse: lit. ‘working shoes’); camuffo; fiadetto (also ‘a dolt,’ ‘a duffer’); carpione; truccante (also ‘a beggar’).

Spanish Synonyms (Germania). Aquila (a sharper: lit. ‘an eagle’); bolador (thought to be derived from the French voleur); comendadores de bola (thieves who work principally at fairs and markets); gerifalte (lit. ‘a gerfalcon’—one of the ‘hawk’ species); lince (lit. ‘a lynx.’ This class of thief varies robbery with begging); piloto (a thief who directs others to the place of rendezvous, i.e., where a robbery has been planned; lit. ‘a pilot’); trabajar (lit. ‘a traveller’).—See Thieves.

Portuguese Synonyms (Calão). Pai (a captain of thieves—an Aaron or arch-cove); maguino (a highwayman).

For exhaustive and comparative description of all classes of thieves, both English and foreign, see Thieves—their names and methods.

Arf, adj. (vulgarism).—Half; e.g., ‘’arf an ’our,’ i.e., half an hour.

’Arf and ’arf.—See Four-half.

Argal.—See Argol-bargol.

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, unsound piece of reasoning or cavilling; and verbally, to bandy words. Hotten says argol-bargol is Scotch, but argal is found in Hamlet, v. i., and the fuller form is probably onomatopoetic like ‘shilly-shally,’ ‘hocus-pocus,’ etc., unless it comes from the Hebrew through the Yiddish bar-len ‘to talk or speak’ [anyhow].

1596. Shakspear, Hamlet v. i., 21., 1st Clown. Here lies the water; good: here stands the man; good: If the man go to this water, it is, will he, nil he, he 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. [70]

1823. J. Galt, The Entail, i., 53. ‘Weel, weel,’ said the laird, ‘dinna let us argol-bargol about it; entail your own property as ye will, mine shall be on the second son.’

1861. Times, 23 Aug. Mr. Buckle’s argument [is] as absurd an argal as ever was invented by philosopher or gravedigger. [M.]

Argol-Bargolous, adj. (old).—Quarrelsome.—See Argol-bargol.

1822. 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.

Argufy, verb. (vulgar).—A corrupted form of ‘to argue,’ usually associated with cavilling or a bandying of words; also, ‘to signify’; e.g., ‘It doesn’t much argufy.’

1758. A. Murphy, The Upholsterer, Act i. Well, it does not signify argifying.

1837. Lytton, Ernest Maltravers, bk. IV., ch. vii. ‘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 my favour then.’

Aristippus, subs. (old).—1. A 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.

1627. (circa) Middleton, Wks. (Halliwell), II., 422. Rich aristippus, sparkling sherry.

Arkansas Toothpick, subs. (American).—A grimly facetious name for a folding bowie knife of large dimensions.

1854. Sir Theo. Martin (with Prof. Aytoun), Bon Gaultier Ballads.

‘Straightway leaped the valiant Slingby

Into armor of Seville,

With a strong Arkansas toothpick,

Screwed in every joint of steel.’

1881. A. B. Greenleaf, Ten Years in Texas, p. 27. All these (men) irrespective of age, size, or condition in life, could be seen with a Navy six-shooter 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 fifteenth constitutional amendment.

1888. 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, see Chive.

Ark-Floater, subs. (theatrical).—An actor well advanced in years. [From an allusion to the proverbial saying concerning anything ancient, ‘He, or it, must have come out of Noah’s ark,’ + floats, the footlights.]

Arkman, subs. (old).—A Thames waterman. Cf., Ackman.

Ark-Ruff, or Ark-Ruffian.—The same as ack-man (q.v.).

Armour. To be in armour, verb. phr. (old).—To be pot-valiant; ‘primed’; full of Dutch courage.—See Screwed.

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 punishment was abolished for highway robberies under 40s. in value. Hence, formerly, to work under the armpits was to avoid the halter [71]or neck-squeezer (q.v.), which is applied above the armpits.

Arm-Props, subs. (common).—Crutches; otherwise wooden legs (q.v.).

1825. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Scene 6. Beggar: You did quite right; vell, vile I 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.)

Arms and Legs, subs. phr. (common).—Poor, weak beer, because there is no body in it!—See Swipes.

Armstrong. To come Captain Armstrong.—See Captain Armstrong.

Arrow (vulgarism).—A corruption of ‘e’er, a,’ or ‘ever a.’

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. V., ch. viii. ‘I don’t believe there is arrow a servant in the house ever saw the colour of his money.’

1771. Smollett, Humphrey Clinker, i., 126. ‘I now carries my head higher than arrow private gentlewoman of Vales.’

’Arry, subs. (common).—The Christian name Harry without the aspirate. A popular embodiment of the vulgar, rollicking, yet on the whole good-tempered ‘rough’ of the great metropolis. His ‘get-up’ is, as he would himself put it, ‘immense’; he is seen to most advantage—his own—on Sundays and bank holidays; his ‘young woman’—generally ‘’Arriet’—is en suite; taken altogether he is a lively, jovial, but ill-bred ‘cuss.’ Mr. Punch in an inimitable series of sketches has ‘hit off’ his man ‘to a T.’

1880. Millikin, Punch’s Almanac.

January! Tailor’s bill comes in.

Blow that blooming snip! I’m short of tin.

Werry much enjoyed my autumn Caper,

But three quid fifteen do look queer paper.

Want another new rig out, wuss luck,

Gurl at Boodle’s bar seems awful struck.

Like to take her to pantermime;

That and oysters 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.

Febrywary! High old time for sprees!

Now’s yer chance the gals to please or 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.

My! them walentines do ’it ’em ’ot.

First-rate fun: I always buy a lot.

Prigs complain they’re spiteful, lor’ wot stuff!

I 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.

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,

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,

Fancy I shall ’ave to cut my stick.

Got the doldrums dreadful, that is clear,

Two d left!—must go and do a beer!

April! All Fools’ Day’s a proper time,

Cop old gurls and guy old buffers prime.

Scissors! don’t they goggle and look blue,

When 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 chivy.

Then comes Easter. Got some coin in ’and,

Trot a bonnet out and do the grand.

Fan all flounce and flower; fellows mad, [72]

Heye 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 sell!

‘Rum ’ot with,’ is wot I likes to smell.

Beats yer roses holler. A chice weed,

Licks all flowers that ever run to seed.

Nobby button ’oler very well,

When one wants to do the ’eavy swell;

Otherwise don’t care not one brass farden,

For the best ever blowed in Covent Garden.

Fan, though, likes ’em, costs a pretty pile,

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 ’er,

Guess that I shall come a hawful cropper!

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.

Prime to ’ear the anglers rave and cuss,

When in quiet ‘swims’ we raise a muss.

Snack on someone’s lawn upon the quiet,

Won’t the owner raise a tidy riot

When he twigs our scraps and broken bottles?

Cheaper this than rusty-rongs or hottles.

Whitsuntide ’ud be a lot more gay

If it warn’t so near to Quarter-day.

Snip turns sour, pulls ‘county-courting’ faces,

Must try and land a little on the races.

At July! just nicked a handy fiver,

(Twenty-five to one on old ‘Screw-driver’!)

New rig-out. This mustard colour 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.

Wimbledon! I’m not a wolunteer,

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 shooting.

Fan I fancied rather ’igh faluting;

Ogled the big beggar as he propped me,

Would ’a licked ’im if she ’adn’t stopped me.

August! Time to think about my outing.

No dibs yet, though, so it’s no use shouting.

Make the best of the Bank ’Oliday.

Fan ‘engaged’! Don’t look too bloomin’ 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,

Little toff complained as I was rude.

’It ’im in the wind, he went like death;

Weak, consumptive cove and short o’ breath.

Licked ’im proper, dropped ’im like a shot’—

Only wish that Fan had seen that lot.

’Ere’s September! ’Oliday at last!

Off to Margit—mean to go it fast.

Mustard-coloured togs still fresh as paint,

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,—

Here’s no end of prime ’uns on the run

Carn’t resist me somehow, togs and tile

All A1—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 game,

Cad and swell are pooty much the same.

Now October! Back again to collar,

Funds run low, reduced to last ’arf dollar.

Snip on rampage, boots a getting thin,

’Ave to try the turf to raise some tin.

Evenings getting gloomy; high old games;

Music ’alls look up the taking names.

Proper swells them pros! If I’d had my choice,

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 straight tip for the Siezerwitch,

If I honly land it, I’ll be rich.

Guess next mornin’ wouldn’t find me 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,

Guess she ranked me with the other guys.

Nobby larks upon the Ninth, my joker

But it queers a chap to want the ochre. [73]

Nothing like a crowd for regular sprees,

Ain’t it fine to do a rush, and squeeze?

Twig the women fainting! oh, it’s proper!

Bonnet buffers when the blooming copper

Can’t get near yer nohow. Then the fogs!

Rare old time for regular jolly dogs.

If a chap’s a genuine ’ot member,

He can keep the game up in November!

Dun December! Dismal, dingy, dirty.

Still short commons—makes a chap feel shirty.

Snip rampageous, drops a regular summons.

Fan gets married; ah! them gurls is rum ’uns!

After all the coin I squandered on ’er!

Want it now. A ’eap too bad, ’pon honour.

Snow! 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 umbreller.

Ha! ha! then Christmas,—’ave a jolly feast!

The Boss will drop a tip,—’ope so, at least.

If I don’t land some tin, my look-out’s queer.

Well, let’s drink, boys—‘Better luck next year!’

Arse, subs. (low).—The posterior; the breech; the fundament. Once in polite use, but now considered very vulgar. As Grose 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. 1000. [A.S., ears, œurs; Icelandic and Swedish, ars; Danish, arts, and German, arsch].

1000 (circa). Ælfric, Glossary in Wright, 44·2 [Nates, ears-lye]. [M.]

1480. 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. Swift, Battle of the Books (1711), 235. Do you think I have nothing else to do but to mend and repair after your arse [i.e., behind you, in your rear].

Heavy-arse, a hulking, lazy fellow; a sluggard.

1530. Palsgrave, 436, 2. What up, heavy-arse, cannest thou nat aryse? [M.]

To hang the arse, to hang or hold back; to be afraid to advance.

1633. Massinger, Guardian, V., v. Nay, no hanging an arse. [M.]

Arse-upwards in good luck.

1600 (circa). Timon I., 5 (1842), 20. This man this daye rose with his arse upwards: To daye a fidler, and at night a noble.

Also such forms as arse-board, the tail board of a cart—this is still dialectical; arse-gut, the rectum; arse-long; arse-push, a heavy backward fall; arse-ropes, the intestines.

Arse-Cooler, subs. (low).—A bustle or dress-improver. [From arse, see preceding + cooler; 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.]

For synonyms, see Bird-cage.

Ars-Musica, subs. (low).—The podex when used as a noisy vent.—A play upon words.

Arst (vulgarism).—A mispronunciation of ‘asked.’

Arsy-Varsy or Arsy-Versy, adv. and adj. (low).—Topsy-turvy; topside t’other way; heels over head; or ‘the cart before the horse.’ [From arse + Latin versus ‘to turn,’ following model onomatopoetic compounds like ‘hirdie-girdie,’ ‘higgledy-piggledy,’ etc.] Once in polite use, but now confined to the low and vulgar. [74]

1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 62. Ye set the cart before the horse … cleane contrarily, and arsy-versy as they say.

1728. Bailey, Dictionary. Arsy-versey, topsy-turvy, preposterously, perversely, without order.

Still dialectical. See English Dialect Society’s Glossaries, e.g., West Somerset Word Book.

Arter (vulgarism).—An incorrect pronunciation of ‘after.’

Artesian, subs. (Australian).—In Gippsland, Victoria, a well-known 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.

English synonyms for beer will be found under Swipes.

Artful Dodger, subs. (rhyming and thieves’ slang).—1. A lodger.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. Artful dodgers, fellows who dare not sleep twice in the same place for fear of arrest.

2. An expert thief. The artful dodger in Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’ will occur to mind in this connection.

Arthur. King Arthur (old).—A sailor’s game, thus described, in effect, by Grose. When near the line, or in a hot latitude, a man who is to represent King Arthur, is ridiculously dressed, having a large wig made out of oakum, or some old swabs. He is seated on the side, or over a large vessel of water, and every person in turn is ceremoniously introduced to him, and has to pour a bucket of water over him, crying out, ‘Hail, King Arthur!’ If during the ceremony the person introduced laughs or smiles (to which his majesty endeavours to excite him by all sorts of ridiculous gesticulations), he changes places with, and then becomes King Arthur, till relieved by some brother tar who has as little command over his muscles as himself.—See also Ambassador.

Artichoke, subs. (American thieves’).—An aged prostitute of the lowest type. For general synonyms, see Barrack hack.

Article, subs. (popular).—1. A term of contempt for a worthless or insignificant person or animal—‘A pretty article he is.’

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxvi., p. 268. You’re a nice article, to turn sulky on first coming home!

2. A woman. In this sense generally current at the beginning of the century—‘a prime article,’ a handsome girl, or, as the Lexicon Balatronicum [1811] has it, ‘a hell of a goer.’

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xxxi. ‘She’d never have done for you, you know; and she’s the very article for such a man as Peppermint.’

See also Sappy for English and foreign synonyms.

Articles, subs. (thieves’).—A suit of clothes. Formerly current in England [circa 1780–1825]; now surviving principally amongst American thieves.

Articles of Virtue, subs. phr. (popular).—Virgins. A play upon the word ‘virtue,’ in [75]allusion to the absence of defloration; and also upon vertu in its special English usage.

Artist, subs. (American thieves’).—An adroit rogue; a skilful gamester.—N.Y.S.D.

As … as They Make ’Em, phr. (common).—Generally employed with such adjectives as ‘hot,’ ‘drunk,’ ‘bad,’ etc.; e.g., as bad as they make ’em.

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, Aug. 17, 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.

Asia Minor, subs. (popular).—The Kensington and Bayswater districts in London, on account of the many Anglo-Indians who, on their retirement, take refuge therein. The nickname, however, is a double-barrelled one, inasmuch as this quarter is also the headquarters of the Greek community in the metropolis. Sobriquets of the kind are not infrequent. The district between 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 appellation to Brighton, while Cheltenham is nicknamed ‘the Black Hole’ from its numerous 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.’

1888. Daily News, 9 Feb., p. 2, col. 5. The Ladbroke Hall, Notting-hill … 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 sometimes called.

Ask Bogy! phr. (old nautical slang).—An evasive reply.

Askew, subs. (old cant).—A cuppe.—Harman [1567].

Asquirm.—See Squirm.

1866. W. D. Howells, Venetian Life, ch. xviii. It is wet and slimy underfoot, and the innumerable gigantic eels, writhing everywhere, set the soul asquirm.

Ass, subs. (printers’).—A compositor, so nicknamed by pressmen, who, in turn, are called pigs (q.v.). Ass is sometimes varied by donkey. In French printing offices compositors are called mulets, i.e., ‘mules.’

Assay It! intj. (American thieves’).—Commence! try it! Obviously from the verb ‘to assay,’ and probably introduced by counterfeit coiners.

Assig., subs. (old).—An assignation.—Grose.

Aste, subs. (old cant).—Nares quotes this as an old cant term for money. For modern synonyms, see Actual.

1612. The Passenger of Benvenuto. 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.

Astronomer, subs. (old).—A horse which carries its head high. [76]

Athanasian Wench, subs. (old).—A forward, abandoned woman, of obliging disposition—one who practises prostitution from libidinous desire rather than for gain. Also Quicunque vult. For synonyms, see Barrack hack.

Atlantic-Ranger, subs. (common).—A herring. The derivation is too obvious to need particularization.

1883. Good Words, p. 378. Peas-pudding, and hard-boiled eggs, rubbing shoulders, as it were, with Atlantic rangers (i.e., red herrings).

Among other curious synonyms for this fish may be mentioned Billingsgate pheasant; two-eyed steak; Yarmouth capon; sea rover; and Glasgow magistrate, all of which see. A very common request at Lockhart’s coffee-houses in London is for ‘a door step and a sea rover,’ i.e., a halfpenny slice of bread and butter and a herring.

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 you know!’ It belongs to the same category as that which employs awfully and dreadfully for ‘very’; or lovely for anything pleasing, etc. The number of legitimate words perverted from their legitimate meanings and used in senses oftentimes ludicrous is much larger than most people would care to admit.

Atomy, subs. (familiar).—1. A diminutive, or deformed person. [From a jocular pronunciation of ‘anatomy.’] As will be seen from the historical examples which follow, this expression has been in the mouths of the English people for at least 300 years.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, iv., i., 57.

… I see, Queen Mab hath been with you.

She is the fairies’ midwife; and she 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. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., v., 4, 33. Host. Thou atomy, thou!

Dot. Come, you thin thing, come, you rascal.

1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. iii. ‘He was an atomy when he came up from 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. 478. ‘And atomy scarecrow and atomy, what next will you call me? Yet you want to marry me!’

1886. Miss Braddon, Mohawks, ch. xxii. ‘How lovely his young wife looks to-night; lovely enough to keep that poor old atomy in perpetual torment.’

2. (American thieves’).—Amongst the fraternity atomy has the special meaning of an empty-headed person, and not necessarily one deformed or of small, mean stature.

For synonyms, in first sense, see Sappy.

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. [77]

1812. Combe (Dr. Syntax), Pictur. xvii., 62. The Doctor then … pronounced the grace … The fierce attack was soon begun.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. i. It was a double letter, and the Major commenced perusing the envelope before he attacked the inner epistle.

At That, adv. phr. (American and Australian).—An intensitive phrase tacked on to the end of an assertion or statement already made. ‘He’s a slick ’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.

1882. Pinkerton’s Mollie Maguires and Detectives. A miner from Wadesville, was spoken of as an ancient Mollie—Cooney being actually what the detective assumed to be, and a sharp one at that.

1888. Forest and Stream, March 15. Worth a year’s subscription, and cheap at that.

1888. New York Herald, July 22. Who would have supposed that the self-contained 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.

Attic or Attic-Storey, subs. (common).—The head, from its being the highest or crowning member, the body being figuratively regarded as a house. Sometimes upper-storey. For synonyms, see Crumpet.

1870. Alford, in Life (1873), 467. Tolerably well all day, but the noise in the attic unremoved.

Queer in the attic, etc. Drunk; also weak-minded, or ‘cracked.’

Attic-Salt, subs. (literary).—Well-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.

1748. 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.

1779. Sheridan, The Critic, Act i., Sc. 2. I have the plot from the author, and only add—characters strongly drawn—highly coloured—hand of a master—fund of genuine humour—mine of invention—neat dialogue—attic-salt.

1848. Jas. Hannay, King Dobbs, ch. ix., p. 129 (1856). ‘If you joke in that style, we’ll lose the day,’ said Dobbs, who had some quiet homely superstitions. ‘What? is it unlucky to spill attic-salt, as well as the ordinary kind?’

Attleborough, subs. (American).—Sham jewelry; used in precisely the same manner as ‘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 doubtful character. Attleborough is a town celebrated for its manufacture of trashy jewelry.

Attorney, subs. (popular).—A drumstick of goose, or turkey, grilled and devilled. [From [78]devil = a lawyer who does routine work for another = attorney.]

1828. G. Griffin, Collegians, ch. xiii. ‘I love a plain beef steak before a grilled attorney.’

(Thieves’).—A shrewd, and often not over honest or scrupulous man who, possessing some knowledge of the law, acts in the capacity of legal adviser to those of the ‘crooked craft’ unfortunate enough to need assistance. Such men are generally solicitors and others whose names have been struck off the rolls, as also, occasionally, solicitors’ clerks who have otherwise failed in life. Their practices are shady, but their fees are low.

Attorney-General’s Devil.—See Devil.

Auctioneer. To tip or give the auctioneer.—A phrase borrowed from the sale room, and signifying ‘to knock a man down.’

1863. 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.

Audit-Ale, subs. (Cambridge Univ.).—A special brew of ale, peculiar to Trinity College, made in the first instance for draught on audit days, whence its name.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (Lay of S. Dunstan).

To be sure the best beer

Of all did not appear,

For I’ve said ’twas in June, and so late in the year

The ‘Trinity audit ale’ is not come-at-able,

As I’ve found to my great grief when dining at that table.

1876. Trevelyan, Life of Macaulay (1884), ch. iv., p. 127. A glass of the audit ale, which reminded him that he was still a fellow of Trinity.

Audley.—See John Audley.

Aufe.—See Oaf.

Auger, subs. (American thieves’).—A person given to prosiness is so called; a bore.

Aught, subs. (vulgarism).—A common illiteracy for ‘naught’ when naming the cipher—‘o’.

Auld Hornie, subs. (common).—One of the numerous nicknames given to the devil. Others are, old nick; old scratch; old Harry; skipper; old gentleman; deuce; dickens; ruffian, etc.—See Skipper for synonyms.

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.

1806. Miss Pitman, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), i., 271. We are within two hours-and-a-half of Auld Reeky.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. vi. ‘And what news do you bring us from Edinburgh, Monkbarns?’ said Sir Arthur; ‘how wags the world in Auld Reekie?’

1889. Colonies and India, July 24, p. 10, col. 1. The Australasian Colony in Auld Reekie is prospering apace, and it may soon be necessary to plant some gum trees along Princes Street to meet the growing demands of the population.

Auly-Auly, subs. (Win. Coll.).—A game formerly played in ‘Grass Court’ on Saturday afternoons after chapel. It consisted in throwing an india-rubber ball at one another, and [79]everybody was obliged to go down and join in it. ‘Haul ye, call ye,’ is the supposed derivation; but, as the game, though in vogue in 1830, was not played as late as 1845, there is some difficulty in defining it in detail.

Aunt, subs. (old).—Applied, especially during the Elizabethan period, to either a procuress, a prostitute, or a concubine. It survived till the commencement of the present century and then gradually died out. For synonyms, see Mother.

1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch the Old One, II., i. Was it not then better bestowed upon his uncle than upon one of his aunts?—I need not say bawd, for everyone knows what aunt stands for in the last translation.

1623. Shakspear, Winter’s Tale, iv., 3.

Summer songs for me and my aunts,

While we lie tumbling in the hay.

To go and see one’s aunt (common).—To go to the W.C.—See Mrs. Jones.

Aunt Sally, subs. (familiar).—A 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. In the mouth of the image is placed a clay pipe, and the object of the player, who stands at say twenty or thirty yards distance, is to demolish this. The amusement is not unlike the more popular ‘three shies a penny.’ The origin of Aunt Sally is wrapped in mystery; nor is it known whether she is any relation to the black lady whose effigy some few years since was frequently to be met with suspended outside the shops of rag and ‘marine store’ dealers. A 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. G. A. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. i., p. 11. They will go to Epsom by the rail, and create disturbances on the course, and among the ‘sticks’ and aunt sallies.

1883. Punch, June 2, p. 264, col. 1. The average number of ‘chucks’ at cocoa-nuts before achieving success is six, and of ‘shies’ at aunt sally, four.

Au Reservoir! intj. phr. (common).—Au revoir. A mere play upon sounds. Common in America, where it originated, and now often heard in England.

Australian Flag, subs. (Anglo-Australian).—The tail of a shirt, when, after exertion, it rucks up in folds between the trousers and the waistcoat—an ‘up-country’ phrase.—See Cornstalk.

Australian Grip, subs. (Australian).—A hearty shake of the hands.

Autem, Autum, Autom, subs. (old cant).—A church. The term first appears in Harman’s Caveat [1573]; again in Rowland’s Martin Mark-all [1610]; in Head’s English Rogue [1665]; in Cole’s English Dictionary [1724]; in Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue [1785], and in Duncombe’s Sinks of London Laid Open [1848].—See also Autem mort.

Adj.—Married. So quoted in [80]Cole’s English Dictionary, whence autem mort, etc.

Autem-Bawler, subs. (old cant).—A parson. [From autem (q.v.), a church + bawler, a speaker.] For modern English and foreign synonyms, see Gospel shark. Other ancient expressions for a clergyman are autem-jet, autem-cackler, and autem-pricker; the last two named, however, apply, as a rule, only to Dissenters.

Autem-Cackler, subs. (old cant).—A Dissenter; sometimes specially applied to Dissenting ministers.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 260. ‘On one occasion a Jew was selling cocoa-nut, when the autem-cackler, i.e., 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—cocoanut!” ’

2. A married woman.—See Autem. In this sense it is 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 light-fingered fraternity, it may not be out of place to give entire. It should be read in connection with the remarks On canting songs (q.v.).

‘A HUNDRED STRETCHES (1) HENCE.’

‘Oh! where will be the culls of the bing (2)

A hundred stretches hence?

The bene morts (3), who sweetly sing,

A hundred stretches hence?

The autumn-cacklers, autumn-coves (4),

The jolly blade who wildly roves;

And where the buffer (5), bruiser (6), blowen (7),

And all the cops (8) and beaks (9) so knowin’

A hundred stretches hence?

‘And where the swag (10), so bleakly (11) pinched (12),

A hundred stretches hence?

The thimbles (13), slang (14), and danglers (15) filched,

A hundred stretches hence?

The chips (16), the fawneys (17), chatty-feeders (18),

The bugs (19), the boungs (20), and well-filled readers (21);

And where the fence (22) and snoozing-ken (23),

With all the prigs (24) and lushing men (25),

A 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,

A hundred stretches hence.’

1, Stretch, a year; 2, culls of the bing, innkeepers, publicans; 3, bene morts, pretty girls or women; 4, autumn cove, married men; 5, buffer, smuggler, rogue, or cheat; 6, bruiser, prostitute’s bully or prize-fighter; 7, blowen, a showy prostitute; 8, cop, policeman; 9, beak, a magistrate; 10, swag, plunder, proceeds of robbery; 11, 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, chatty-feeder, a spoon; 19, bug, a breast pin; 20, boung, a purse; 21, reader, a pocket-book; 22, fence, a receiver of stolen 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, to take a blinder, to drown oneself.

Autem Cackle Tub, subs. (old cant).—The meeting house of Dissenters of every description. Also a pulpit.

Autem-Cove, subs. (old cant).—A married man. [From autem (q.v.), a church + cove, a man.] [81]

Autem-Dippers or Autem-Divers, subs. (old cant).—1. Formerly a nickname for Baptists, from their practice of immersing adult converts, as distinguished from infant sprinkling.

2. Pickpockets who practised in churches were called autem-divers; also churchwardens and overseers of the poor who defrauded, deceived, and imposed upon the parish.

Autem-Goglers, subs. (old cant).—Pretended French prophets—Grose. Conjurors, fortune-tellers—Duncombe.

Autem-Jet, subs. (old cant).—A parson. [From autem, a church + jet, black, in allusion to the black garments usually worn by ‘the cloth.’] For some curious synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

Autem, or Autem-Mort, subs. (old cant).—A married woman, i.e., one wedded in a church. [From autem, a church + mort, or mot, a woman.] The term 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—ancient and modern) was divided into well marked classes, as also were the women who accompanied them in their peregrinations. The men were not strict monogamists, either as regards lawful companions or those of another grade—

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 49. These Autem Mortes be maried wemen, as there be but a fewe: For Autem in their language is a church, so shee is a wyfe maried at the church, and they be as chaste as a cowe I have, that goeth to bull eury moone, with what bull she careth not. These walke most times from their husbands companye a moneth and more to gether, being asociate with another as honest as her selfe. 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 steale 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., 283. The pedler as bad or rather worse, walketh the country with his docksey at the least, if he have not two, his mortes dels, and Autem Mortis.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 7 (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.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. Morts, autem-morts, walking morts, dells, doxies with all the shades and grades of the canting crew, were assembled.

Toward the end of the eighteenth century autem-mort was used as synonymous with a female beggar alone; then another meaning crept into the word—a prostitute.—See Cadger.

Autem-Prickear.—The same as autem-cackler (q.v.).

Autem-Quaver, subs. (old cant).—A Quaker. [From autem, a church + quaver, referring to the shaking, peculiar to some of the religious exercises of the Society of Friends.]

Autem-Quaver-Tub, subs. (old [82]cant).—A Quaker’s meeting-house; also a desk therein.

Author-Baiting, subs. (theatrical).—Calling the author of an unsuccessful play before the 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 avast! Webster writes it down as from the Italian basta, enough; literally, it suffices, from bastare, to suffice. He does not, however, seem to have been altogether certain, for he queries whether it is not a worn-down form of the Dutch houd vast, hou’ vast, hold fast! a derivation which Dr. Murray endorses as ‘probable’ in his New Dictionary of the English Language. Bearing in mind that avast, although used colloquially is first and foremost a sailor’s term, this derivation does not seem far-fetched; for, the Dutch having been themselves one of the great maritime nations of the past, it is not unlikely that the term should have come from them, especially when it is borne in mind that a large proportion of nautical terms are so derived.

Such are boom; sprit; reef; schooner; skate; sloop; stiver; taffrail; yacht (jaghten, ‘to chase’), etc.

On the other hand, as regards the Italian basta, it is only fair to point out that French workmen use basta, in the sense of enough! no more! The same 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; moreover, the 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 1681, within about a hundred years of the publication of Harman’s Caveat where bynge a waste first occurs. The probability therefore is that the two terms are distinct, and that avast is derived from a different source to bynge a waste (q.v.) which, as Leland points out, has probably its origin in the Romany.

1681. Otway, Soldiers’ Fortune, iv., i. Hoa up, hoa up; so avast there, sir.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xli. ‘Avast there, friend: none of your tricks upon travellers.’

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xcvii. ‘And upon this scrap of paper—no, avast—that’s my discharge from the parish.’

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xiv. But avast now! we’ve had enough of philosopherising.

Avoirdupois-Lay, subs. (old thieves’ cant).—This is given by Grose as meaning the theft of brass weights off shop counters.

Avuncular-Relation, subs. (common).—A pawnbroker—a facetious variant of uncle (q.v.), another name for the same individual. [83]

Awake, adv. (old, and modern American thieves’).—On the alert; vigilant. Cf., wide-awake, a certain kind of hat, so called, by-the-bye, from its never having a ‘nap.’ For synonyms, see Fly.

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, Primefit; I say, Jerry—you see he’s down upon you.

Jerry. Yes, he’s up, he’s awake, he’s fly—Ha! ha!

1838. Dickens, Nich. Nickleby, ch. xxxix., p. 314. ‘If 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.

Awful, subs. (common).—A sensational newspaper, tale, or narration; e.g., a penny awful. Sometimes called a dreadful; other names for this kind of mental pabulum are blood and thunder tales, and gutter literature.

Adj.—Generally colloquial as an intensitive, conveying no more awe-full meaning than ‘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 may be traced.

1834. Lamb, Gent. Giantess, Misc. Wks. (1871), 363. She is indeed, as the Americans would express it, something awful.

b. 1789, d. 1880. Planché, Good Woman in the Wood.

‘A poor widow and her orphan chicks

Left without fixtures, in an awful fix.’

1883. Hawley Smart, At Fault, III., v., 82. ‘I’m awful glad you two have made acquaintance.’

Awfully, the adverbial form, is subjected to the same ill-treatment, as the following examples will show.

1877. Punch’s Pocket Book for 1878, p. 165. You should have come with us. It’s too awfully nice, as I told you I thought it would be.

1878. M. E. Braddon, Cloven Foot, ch. vii. ‘Awfully,’ was Miss Clare’s 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.

1889. Illustrated Bits, July 13.

An Old Proverb Twisted.

‘The ham of the sandwich was awfully tough,’

He said, for, oh, it was dry,

As at first he tried to bite into the stuff,

All in vain, how hard he would try.

But at last, when fairly bit into the thing,

He found that it was all right,

And he said, as happy as any king,

‘The bark was worse than the bite.’

French equivalents are, bigrement; jusqu’à la troisième capucine; and pommé.

Awkward-Squad, subs. (military and naval).—Recruits when commencing to learn their drill.

Ax, Axe, verb. (vulgar).—To ask. Though now looked upon 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 ax. The latter, down to nearly 1600, says Dr. Murray, was the regular literary form.

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. [84]

1758. A. Murphy, The Upholsterer, Act i. An old crazy fool—axing your pardon, ma’am, for calling your father so.

1763. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, Act ii., Sc. 2. Mrs. Sneak. Where is the puppy? Sneak. Yes, yes, she is axing for me.

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. vi. ‘I axed her would she like to live in the great house, and she said no.’

1883. Echo, Jan. 25, p. 2, col. 3. To axe, considered but a vulgarism, for to ask, is good Saxon.

Axe. An axe to grind, phr. (American).—A much-used phrase of political origin. Men 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 society. The Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean (Feb. 1888) spoke of certain politicians as ‘men with axes to grind.’ What we believe is right is more often so because it grinds our axe than otherwise.

1871. (From Hoppe’s Conversations Lexicon). Miner. ‘Who’ll turn the grindstones?’ When I see a merchant 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.

Axe-My-Eye! subs. (cheap jacks’).—One who is up to every trick; a cute fellow.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 232.

Stow your gab and gauffery,

To every fakement I’m a fly;

I never takes no fluffery,

For I’m a regular axe-my-eye.

Ayrshires, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Glasgow and South-Western Railway Stock.

[85]

Not to know b from a battledore, phr. (old).—To be entirely illiterate; very ignorant. This old cant phrase has several variants, all of them alliterative in character. For example, not to know b from a bull’s-foot—from a broomstick—chalk from cheese, etc. Each and all indicate inability to distinguish between familiar objects that differ. Battledore is an old name 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 battledore; onely looke that your eares be long enough to reach our rudiments, and you are made for ever.

1846. Brackenridge, Modern Chivalry, 43. There were members who scarcely knew b from a bull’s-foot. [M.]

B (fenian).—Mr. H. J. Byron, the playwright, in his annotated copy of the Slang Dictionary, mentions this as the title of a captain in the ‘army of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.’

B’s.—See B flat.

Babe, subs. (parliamentary).—The last elected member of the House of Commons. The oldest representative of the chamber is called the father of the house (q.v.).

(American).—The youngest member of a class at the United States Military College at West Point. A term sans wit, sans point, sans almost everything.

Babe in the Wood, subs. phr. (old).—1. A victim of the law’s solicitude; in other words, a culprit sentenced to the stocks or the pillory. Obsolete.

2. Dice are also called babes in the wood.

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 money or beer, or both, they [86]agree not to oppose the bidding of the larger dealers, who thus dishonestly keep down the price of lots. The practice is generally worked in connection with knock-outs (q.v.).

(American).—A set of Baltimore rowdies are so-called; at various times they have also received the names of blood tubs and plug-uglies (q.v.).

Baboo-English, subs. (Anglo-Indian).—A species of ‘English as she is wrote’ (q.v.). Its main peculiarity is its grandiloquence, a feature born of an attempt to adapt Western speech to Eastern imagery and hyperbole.

Baby-Herder, subs. (American).—A nurse; a simile drawn from life on the plains, and worked out with true cowboy humour.

Babylonitish, subs. (Winchester College).—A dressing gown. An abbreviated form of ‘Babylonitish garment.’

Baby-Pap, subs. (thieves’).—A cap; part of the so-called rhyming slang (q.v.).

Bacca.—See Baccy.

Bacca-Pipes, subs. (common).—Whiskers when curled in ringlets, a now obsolete fashion.—See Mutton-chops.

Baccare! Backare! intj. (old cant).—Go back! [a humorous form of back + a simulated Latin termination]. In use from about 1553–1660.

1592. Lyly, Midas, V., 2. The masculine gender is more worthy than the feminine. Therefore, Licio. backare.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, ii.;

Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray

Let us, that are poor petitioners, speak too;

Baccare! you are marvellous forward.

[N.]

Baccy, also Bacca, subs. (common).—A corrupted form of ‘tobacco.’ Apparently of quite recent introduction. An equivalent term in French is perlot, from perle.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. ii. ‘You must larn to chaw baccy.’

1861. Jas. Conway, Forays among Salmon and Deer, p. 228. I lay on an Affghan goat-rug spread over fresh heather, with a pipe filled with good baccy in my mouth.

Bach or Batch, verb. (American).—To live as a bachelor.

Bachelor’s Baby, subs. (old).—An illegitimate child. For synonyms, see Bye-blow.

Bachelors-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. Swift, Polite Conversation, conv. i. Lady Ans. Colonel, some ladies of your acquaintance have promised to breakfast with you, and I am to wait on them; what will you give us? Col. Why, faith, madam, bachelor’s-fare, bread and cheese and kisses.

Back, verb. (popular).—To bet or wager; to support by means of money, kind, or influence, on the turf or elsewhere. From [87]the earlier and more legitimate meaning to support, maintain, or strengthen. Possibly in the sense of to wager or support by betting, back can hardly nowadays be classed as slang; there seems too, to be long and constant usage to support its claim as a regular dictionary word.

(Uppingham School).—At football, to be ready for a chance.

To put or set up one’s back, phr. (familiar).—To rouse oneself to antipathy; to get angry; to resist. The figure presented is 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 back up! For synonymous phrases, see Hold your hair on!

1726. Vanbrugh and Cibber, Provoked Husband, V., iii., 112. O Lud! how her back will be up then when she meets me.

1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, ch. 66. My uncle’s back was up in a moment; and he desired him to explain his pretensions.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xvi. ‘I know she is flighty, 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.’

1883. 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. It sets my back up, and when my back’s set up I’m sometimes orkard.’

To ride on one’s back, phr. (old).—To deceive successfully.

Back and Belly, phr. (vulgar).—1. Back and before; all over.

2. To keep one back and belly, phr. (old).—To feed and clothe. Cf., Belly-timber and Back-timber.

Back-Breaker, subs. (common).—One who sets, or that which is, an example of more than ordinary human powers of endurance; e.g., in pedestrianism or racing a man or horse whose pace is considerably over the average. In sporting phraseology he or it is called a scorcher (q.v.) and the pace of such is also eloquently called ‘killing.’ Back-breaking is therefore synonymous with excessive exertion or effort of all kinds.

Back-Cap. To give a back-cap, phr. (American).—To expose; to reveal what one knows of another, in a detrimental sense.

1883. Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi, p. 462. [A pretended converted thief is made to say]:—i told him all about my being in prison and about you, and how i 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 back-cap and running me off the job.

Back-Cheat, subs. (old cant).—A cloak. Also called a wrap-rascal (q.v.).

Back-Door. A gentleman of the back-door, subs. phr. (common).—A sodomist; formerly a backgammon player. The vice itself is called back-door work. For synonyms, see Usher.

Backdoor-Trot, subs. (provincial).—Diarrhœa. The allusion is obvious. A more common term is jerry-go-nimble (q.v.). [88]

Back Down, verb, (common).—To yield; to retreat from a position; to abandon a line of argument; to eat one’s words. Originally an American turn of expression.—See Back track and Back out.

Subs.—Usually a square back down; a severe rebuff; sometimes, utter collapse.

Backed, ppl. adj. (old).—Dead—a figurative use of to ‘put on one’s back,’ i.e., to place hors de combat.

Back-End, subs. (racing).—The last two months of the racing season. More technical than slang.

1820. Blackw. Mag., Oct., p. 3. When 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.’

Adj.—The meaning, mutatis mutandis, is the same as back-end.

1883. Daily Telegraph, April 30, p. 3, col. 6. And neither [horse] could beat Palermo on back-end form.

Back-Gammon Player.—See Back-door.

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 fair.’—See, however, Backhander.

1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. viii. ‘Livingstone, if you begin backhanding already, you’ll never be able to hold that great raking chestnut I saw your groom leading this evening.’

Back-Handed Turn (Stock Exchange).—An unprofitable bargain.

Backhander, subs. (common).—1. A drink out of turn; also detention of wine at table so as to get an extra share.

1855. Thackery, Newcomes, ch. xliii. ‘Thank you, Mr. Binnie, I will take a backhander, as Clive don’t seem to drink.’

1873. Saturday Review, 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, p. 11. ‘Go away, Sarah,’ said Johnny, with a backhander.

1862. Farrar, St. Winifred’s, ch. xxxiii. He administered a backhander to Elgood, as he spoke, and the next minute Charlie, roused beyond all bearing, had knocked him down.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College. The doctor comes suddenly round a corner, and finds Tibbs [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. Hence, figuratively, a rebuke; a ‘setting down.’

1850. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. i. I knew this was what John calls a back hander at me, but I can be so good-natured when I have anything to gain, therefore I only said ——.

Backing and Filling, adj. (colloquial).—A backing and filling policy is one that is shifty; irresolute; trifling. A figurative usage derived from backing and filling a vessel, i.e., keeping it in the middle of the stream of a narrow river by advancing [89]first to one shore, and then backing to the other, allowing the stream to make the way, the wind blowing in an opposite direction to the stream.

Backing-On.—See Turning-on.

Backings Up, subs. (Winchester College).—The unconsumed ends of half-burned fagots. They are collected and sometimes made into surreptitious fires by ‘Juniors.’

Back Jump, subs. (thieves’).—A back window.—See Jump.

Backmarked. To be backmarked, verb. (pedestrian).—In handicapping to receive less start from ‘scratch’ than previously given—even to being put back to ‘scratch.’

Back Out, verb. (colloquial).—To 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.).

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. viii. Jobson, however, was determined that Morris should not back out of the scrape so easily.

1855. A. Trollope, The Warden, ch. xii. How was he to back out of a matter in which his name was already so publicly concerned?

1870. L. Oliphant, Piccadilly, pt. IV., p. 152. I am sure that he had done his best to spread the report of my marriage with his sister for fear of my backing out.

Back Scuttle, verb. (thieves’).—The same 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.

Back Seat. To take a back seat, phr. (American).—Figuratively, to retire into obscurity; it also sometimes implies a silent confession of failure; an inability to accomplish what one has attempted. The colloquialism has gained a world-wide currency; it received an immense ‘send off,’ as the Americans say, from Andrew Johnson’s famous saying in 1868, that in the work of Reconstruction traitors should take back seats.

1885. Society, Feb. 7, p. 9. This great batting achievement must, however, take a back seat when compared with the enormous total recently scored 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. Texas Siftings, p. 426. Who 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.

Back-Slum, subs. (colloquial).—The lowest and most disreputable quarters of a town or city; generally applied to the dens and rookeries of the criminal and ‘outcast’ classes.

1821. W. T. 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 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 for the part.

(Turns out his pockets.) [90]

1876. M. E. Braddon, Joshua Haggard’s Daughter, ch. xx. Not in fetid alleys and festering London back-slums only is man’s fight with difficulty a bitter and crushing battle.

(Australian thieves’.)—A back room or entrance.

Backstaircase, subs. (common).—A bustle, or ‘dress improver.’ For synonyms, see Birdcage.

Backstair Influence, subs. (familiar).—Underhand dealing or persuasion; a stab in the dark; intrigue. [From the use of the back or private stairs of a palace, etc., for other than state visitors; hence, a secret mode of approach; and, attributively, applied to indirect, oblique, and unfair intrigue.]

1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, II. He is like a backstair minister at Court, who, while the reputed favourites are sauntering in the bed-chamber, is ruling the roast in the closet.

1877. Grenville Murray, Round about France, p. 77. These men are the most indefatigable retailers of backstairs small talk to the little fry of journalism.

Back-Stall, subs. (thieves’).—An accomplice who ‘covers’ the actual thief; especially used in relation to garrote-robberies, in which the back-stall has two functions, first to screen his companion, and then, if necessary, to ‘make off’ with the booty.

Back Talk. No back talk! phr. (common).— 1. A slang catch-phrase indicating that the matter in question is closed to discussion; ‘there’s nothing more to be said.’

2. Underhand insinuation.

Back Teeth. To have one’s back teeth well afloat, phr. (popular).—A facetiously brutal way of implying that the subject of such a remark is well primed with liquor—even to the verge of drunkenness.—See Screwed.

1888. Missouri Republican, Jan. 25. When 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 honour once more drank until, as an onlooker put it, his back teeth were well afloat.

Back-Timber, subs. (old).—Clothes. A humorous term which dates back to the middle of the seventeenth century. Other slang equivalents are togs and toggery; also war-paint in the sense of fine or showy garb. In French argot, alpague is used synonymously.

b. 1574, d. 1656. Bp. Hall, Works V., 543. Was there ever more riot and excess in diet and clothes, in belly-cheer and back-timber, than we see at this day? [d.]

Back Tommy, subs. (tailors’).—A piece of cloth used to cover the ‘stays’ at the waist.

Back-Track. To take the back-track, phr. (American).—To retreat from any assumed position; to back out (q.v.).

Back Up, verb. (Winchester College).—To call out. In ‘College’ various times are called out by Junior in ‘Chambers,’ such as ‘Three quarters!’ ‘Hour!’ ‘Bells go single!’ ‘Bells down!’

Back-Slang, subs. (street and costermonger).—A species of [91]slang, in which every word, as far as possible, is pronounced backwards. See ‘A Comparative and Historical Study of Slang’ at the end of this work.

verb. 1. (thieves’).—To talk in the back-slang lingo.

2. (thieves’).—To go or come stealthily from a place; to sneak by a roundabout way; also, to go away quickly.

3. (Australian).—Up country in Australia, as in most parts a little out of the beaten tracks of civilization, a traveller is welcome at most of the homesteads in his way. Though unknown 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 it, though how the phrase is derived is not quite clear, for there is no suggestion of sneaking or proceeding stealthily in the question.

Backwardation, subs. (Stock Exchange).—A penalty paid for 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.). Obviously this sometimes permits the purchase of stock cheaper on credit than for cash.

1850. Keyser, Law of the Stock Exchange. The term backwardation is employed when stock is more in demand than money, and a premium is given to obtain the loan of stock against its value in money.

1886. Daily News, 14 Dec, p. 6, col. 1. The 1873 loan is, on balance, about ⅝ lower, at 94, after being 93½. The backwardation on the stock went off at the close.

Backy, subs. (tailors’).—A shop-mate who works behind another.

Bacon, subs. (popular).—The human 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 applied, at first ironically or contemptuously, to a sleek, gross person; hence such compounds as ‘chaw-bacon,’ ‘bacon-brains,’ ‘bacon-face,’ ‘bacon-slicer,’ ‘bacon-picker,’ etc. A transference in sense, and a curtailment in form, in which bacon came to signify the human body was, from this point, easy enough. For synonyms, see Apple-cart.

To save one’s bacon, phr. (popular).—To escape narrowly from loss, danger, or damage; to just get off. The term is here an attributive usage of the slang sense, in which bacon signifies the human body. When it is said that a man has just 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. Falstaff, in. I. Henry IV., Act ii., Sc. 2. 93 [1596] thus applies bacon to human beings—‘On! Bacons, on!’ So far the general aspect of the question; in regard to particulars, Mr. Thomas [92]Boys has some curious remarks upon the subject [N. and Q., 2 S., iv., 132] in effect as follows. In connecting the phrase to save one’s bacon with its original meaning, we are carried back to times 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 being burnt alive. This connection 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 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; for too much singeing would spoil the bacon. But practice 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 chamuscar, from chama or chamma, a flame or blaze. Chamuscar, to singe, as pigs, to takeoff the hair (Moraes). Hence the noun chamusco, which is the smell of anything that has been singed. Hence also the phrase cheira a chamusco (he smells of singeing). This last phrase, however, cheira a chamusco, was specially applied to any suspected heretic:—‘o que merece ser queimado, e faz per onde o seja, o que dizião por afronta aos 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 fire. Consequently, the phrase was contumeliously addressed to anyone who was secretly a Jew (Moraes). Thus the persecuted Israelite, who steadfastly 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, had already the smell of fire. If, 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 death (literally, ‘to die fried’). But even if not burnt he still had the chamusco, or ‘smell of fire’; that is, he had only just saved his bacon.

1691. Weesils, I., 5. No, they’l conclude I do’t to save my bacon. [M.]

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. II., p. 12.

For could their talent be forsaken,

And they unite truth to save their bacon.

1721. Mrs. Centlivre, The Artifice, v., ii. That pretence shan’t save your bacon, you old villain you.

1836. M. Scott, Cringle’s Log, ch. v. ‘You know I saved your bacon in that awkward affair, when through drunkenness you plumped the Torch ashore.’

1866. C. Reade, Never Too Late, ch. lii. Jem drew a long breath and said brutally, yet with something of satisfaction, ‘You have saved your bacon this time.’

The French equivalent it may be noticed is somewhat analogous—sauver son lard, i.e., ‘to save one’s bacon.’

Possibly, however, most people will be inclined to take the phrase at its face value, without resort to complicated argumentative derivation. In such a case the figurative use [93]of bacon as signifying the body will suffice to explain its origin.

To pull bacon, phr. (popular).—An operation described by the immortal Ingoldsby in the line—

He put his thumb unto his nose and spread his fingers out.

In other words to take a sight (q.v.), or to make Queen Anne’s fan (q.v.).

1886. Household Words, Oct. 2, p. 453. [This] peculiar action has, I believe, almost invariably been described as ‘taking a sight.’ A solicitor, however, in a recent police case at Manchester, described it as pulling bacon.

1887. Leeds Evening News, Sept. 15. ‘Pulling bacon’ at Leeds policemen.—Before Mr. Goodman and Mr. Farrar Smith, at the Leeds Police Court to-day, George Evans (50), coachman to the Earl of Mexborough, Mexborough Hall, near Methley, was summoned under the Hackney Carriage Bye-laws for having driven on the wrong side of the road. Police-constables Moody and Lockwood were on duty in Boar Lane on the 6th inst., when they saw the defendant driving a pair of horses attached to a carriage on the wrong side of the road for a distance of one hundred yards. The officers spoke to him, when 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. He was fined 20s.

Bacon-Faced, adj. (colloquial).—With sleek, fat face; full faced. Otway in the Atheist [1684] speaks of one with a ‘bacon face like a cherubim.’

Bacon-Fed, adj. (colloquial).—Fat or greasy. The expression occurs in Shakspeare’s King Henry IV.—See Bacon.

Bacon-Slicer, subs. (old).—A rustic.—See Chawbacon.

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, account me for ever hereafter a very clounch, and bacon-slicer of Brene.

Bad, adj. (popular).—Hard; difficult. Used as in quotation.

1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, ch. xi. ‘I have heard you say over and over again that, when they are in the mood, their very temper makes them bad to beat.’

To go to the bad, phr. (colloquial).—To be ruined; to become depraved. Virgil has a similar phrase in pejus ruere, ‘to go to the worse.’

1864. M. E. Braddon, Aurora Floyd, ch. xi. ‘A reckless man, ready to go to the bad by any road that can take me there; worthless alike to myself and to others.’

1880. G. R. Sims, Ballads of Babylon (Beauty and Beast). Let him go to the bad at his own mad pace.

To the bad, i.e., on the wrong side of the account; in deficit.

1816. ‘Quiz,’ Grand Master, viii., 25. I’ve really to the bad some thousand of rupees to add. [M.]

1884. Pall Mall G., 6 Feb., 4. He was between £70 and £80 to the bad. [M.]

Want ’em or him bad, phr. (American).—A humorous manner of expressing strong desire.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, March 9. Myers’ absence is seriously annoying to the defense, and does not appear quite as funny as it did when the prosecution 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 want him bad.

Bad ’Apenny.—See Bad halfpenny. [94]

Bad-Bargain, subs. (old).—Formerly a worthless soldier; a malingerer. Nowadays the term is applied to any worthless person or scapegrace.

Bad-Break, subs. (American).—A corruption of ‘bad outbreak,’ i.e., riotous conduct, generally attributable to drink.

Bad Crowd Generally, phr. (American).—Of Western origin, and equivalent to the English no great shakes (q.v.). ‘Crowd,’ it may be remarked, in America, signifies either one or more individuals.

Bad-Egg, subs. (familiar).—A scoundrel; a blackguard; a ‘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. Sala, Trip to Barbary, p. 130. The man in black baize with the felt képi, and who had a hatchet face desperately scarred with the small-pox, looked from head to heel a bad egg.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 123. There is no doubt, but there are many of the officials of the convict prisons who are what the Yankees call bad eggs.

English Synonyms. Bad-lot; bad halfpenny; bad-hat. In Australia ‘ne’er-do-wells’ are termed sundowners; dry hash; or, a stringy bark.

French Synonyms. Malfrat (popular); mauvais gobet (popular: mauvais, bad; gobet, properly a mouthful, morsel, lump, or piece); ferlampier or ferlandier (thieves’: ferlampié formerly signified a dunce); clique (popular); mariasse (popular).

Bad Form, subs. (society).—He 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.

1882. Punch. Eton boy. What an awful lot of energy you’ve got uncle! Uncle. Pretty well, my boy, for my time of life, I think! e. b. Yes! but energy’s such awful bad form, you know!

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 at liberty.’—Grose.

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.

Badger, subs. (old).—1. A river thief. A good account of these gentry appears in Harrison Ainsworth’s Jack Sheppard.

2. (American thieves’).—In the cant language of the American criminal classes a badger or panel thief (q.v.) is one who robs a man after a woman accomplice has enticed the victim into her den.

3. (schoolboy).—A red haired individual.

4. (harlotry).—A common prostitute.—See Barrack-hack.

5. (nautical).—Sometimes badger-bag. The fictitious individual personating Neptune in the festivities incident to ‘crossing the line.’—See Ambassador and Arthur. [95]

6. (Wellington School).—A fellow who has got his ‘badge’ for play in the 2nd XV. at football.

verb. (popular).—To tease; to annoy; to confound.

1798. O. Keefe, Wild Oats, I., i. At home, abroad, you will still badger me.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxiv., p. 299. Tracy Tupman, and Augustus Snodgrass, were severally called into the box; both corroborated the testimony of their unhappy friend; and each was driven to the verge of desperation by excessive badgering.

1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. xviii., p. 82. ‘Which I meantersay,’ cried Joe, ‘that if you come into my place bull-baiting and badgering me, come out!’

The popular French equivalent of to badger is aguigner.

To overdraw the badger, phr. (popular).—A figurative use of ‘drawing the badger’; to overdraw one’s banking account.

1843–4. Hood, Miss Kilmansegg.

His cheeks no longer drew the cash,

Because, as his comrades explain’d in flash,

He had overdrawn his badger.

Badger State, subs. (American).—A popular name for the State of Wisconsin, and so called because of the badgers which once abounded there.

Bad Give-Away.—See Give away.

Bad-Halfpenny, subs. (popular).—A ne’er-do-weel; an allusion to the frequency with which, like bad coins, they are always ‘turning up.’ Cf., Bad-egg.

(Australian).—A failing speculation; a risky venture.

Bad Hat, subs. (popular).—The same as bad egg (q.v.).

1883. Besant, They Were Married, p. II., ch. ix., in Captain’s Room, etc. There may be one or two bad hats among eldest sons; but there is not one, I am sure—there cannot be one—who would dare to take his wife’s salary and deprive her of her son.

Bad Lot.—A term derived from auctioneering slang, and now generally used to describe a man or woman of indifferent morals.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lx. ‘He’s a bad’un, Mr. Lightfoot—a bad lot, sir, and that you know.’

1868. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, bk. I., ch. ii. ‘I am good for nothing,’ he said, ‘I am a bad lot. I wonder they don’t hang such men as me.’

1872. M. E. Braddon, Dead Sea Fruit, 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.’

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 to ‘draw’ their weapon with marvellous quickness. They think nothing whatever of murder, and are the dread and terror of their associates; yet they are very chary of taking the life of a man of good standing, and will often ‘weaken’ [96]and ‘backdown’ at once if confronted fearlessly. With 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 ferocious despair that was terrible. During the last two or three years, stockmen have united to put down these dangerous characters, often by the most summary exercise of lynch law; and, as a consequence, many localities once infested by bad men are now perfectly law-abiding.

Bad Match Twist, subs. phr. (hairdressers’).—A man who has red, or carotty hair and black whiskers is said to have a bad match twist.

Badminton, subs. (common).—1. A cooling 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.

1845. Disraeli, Sybil, bk. I., ch. i. ‘Waiter, bring me a tumbler of Badminton.’

1853. Whyte Melville, Digby Grand, ch. ix. An enormous measure of Badminton, that grateful compound of mingled claret, sugar, and soda-water.

1868. Ouida, Under Two Flags, ch. ix. Looking up out of a great silver flagon of Badminton, with which he was ending his breakfast.

2. (pugilistic).—Blood; from the similarity in colour to the summer drink of the same name. Claret (q.v.), for a like reason, is also, in the language of the prize-ring, synonymous with blood.

Bad Record.—See Record.

Bad Shot, subs. (popular).—An abortive attempt; a woman’s guess.

1844. Kinglake, Eothen, viii., 137. I secretly smiled at this last prophecy as a bad shot.

1859. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’) in Notes and Queries, 2 S., viii., p. 492. A bad shot is one of the worst exposures of his ignorance that a University man when up for examination can make.

See, however, Shot.

Bad Slang, subs. (circus and showmen’s).—Faked up monstrosities; spurious curiosities.

1876. 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.

Bag, subs. (old slang).—1. A woman when enceinte was said ‘to have a bag.’ Cf., To bag. Sense 3.

2. (Westminster School).—Milk.

To empty the bag, phr. (old).—To tell, or disclose the whole truth; to wind up an argument or discussion.

To give the bag, phr. (old).—1. Formerly used in varying senses. In the following quotation it conveys, says Nares, the idea of chicanery and cheating. This, however, is doubtful, but compare ‘to give the bag to hold.’

1592. Greene, Quip, in works IX., 263. You shall be … lighte witted [97]upon every small occasion to geue your maister the bagge.

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., 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 mistress to the servant, but vice versâ, and, therefore, the expression meant ‘to leave without warning.’ This was the earliest usage.

1592. Defence of Conny Catching, in Greene’s works XI., 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 the bag. [M.]

Gradually the meaning of to give the bag changed to that which, even to-day, is dialectically current, i.e., ‘to dismiss a person from one’s employment,’ though in large centres of population to give or receive the sack is, at present, the more popular equivalent. While dealing with variations of this kind, it is noteworthy that ‘bag’ was, in the seventeenth century, varied by ‘canvas,’ as Shirley has it——

1652. Shirley, The Brothers, Act ii. I have promis’d him as much as marriage comes to, and I lose my honour, if my don receive the canvas.

Gifford and Dyce in a note say ‘the phrase is taken from the practice of journeymen mechanics who travel in quest of work, with the implements of their profession. When they are discharged by their masters, they are said to receive the canvas, or the bag; because in this their tools and necessaries are packed up, 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 earlier usage, and one, moreover, of an entirely antagonistic character; unless indeed, in the first instance, it was customary for employers to find ‘bags’ of tools and working implements for their employees, 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 would then become perfectly clear, as far as the why and wherefore of the change is concerned. Cf., Sack.

To give one the bag to hold, phr. (old).—To leave in the lurch; to engage a person’s attention in order to deceive. Cf., To give the bag, sense 1.

1793. T. Jefferson, Writings (1859), iv., 7. She will leave Spain the bag to hold. [M.]

1823. Scott, Peveril of the Peak, vii. She gave me the bag to hold and was smuggling in a corner with a rich old Puritan.

In the bottom of the bag, phr. (old).—An expression equivalent to what, in modern slang, is termed ‘having a trump card in reserve’; something in hand as a last resource or expedient.

1659. Reynolds, in Burton Diary (1828), iv., 447. If this be done which is in the bottom of the bag, and must be done, we shall … be able to buoy up our reputation, [M.] [98]

To let the cat out of the bag, phr. (familiar).—To disclose a trick or secret.—See Cat.

To put one in a bag, phr. (old).—Usage and derivation explained, as far as known, in quotation.

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 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.’ [d.]

1676. Earl of Rochester, Hist. of Insipids, st. 14.

Had haughty Holms but call’d in Spragg,

Hans had been put into a bag.

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.

1887. Sat. Review, 14 May, p. 700. It is slang, and yet purely trade slang, when one printer says of another that he has got his head in the bag.

To turn to bag and wallet (old).—To become a beggar.

Verb. (popular).—1. To secure for oneself. Most probably a mere extension of the colloquial sporting usage of to bag (properly, to put or enclose in a bag), in the sense of to seize, capture, entrap, or otherwise bring within one’s reach.

1880. Mortimer Collins, Thoughts in 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.

2. To steal; or to catch (a thief or man). Sometimes rendered by to collar (q.v.).

1818. Moore, Fudge Family in Paris, VI. Who can help to bag a few, When Sidmouth wants a death or two?

1862. Farrar, St. Winifred’s, ch. xxxv. They would not call it stealing but bagging a thing, or, at the worst, ‘cribbing it’—concealing the villainy under a new name.

3. (old).—To beget; to conceive; to breed. Also to be bagged. This usage dates from about A.D. 1400, and was colloquial until about the middle of the seventeenth century. Warner [in Alb. Eng. VI., 148] has the line

Well, Venus shortly bagged, and ere long was Cupid bred.

To get baggy, phr. (common).—Said of clothes when loosened by the stretching which arises from wear and tear. Trousers get baggy at the knees.

Bag and Baggage, phr. (common).—To clear one out bag and baggage is to get quit of one entirely. A deprecatory expression indicating complete riddance.

Bag and Bottle, subs. phr. (old).—Food and drink. The former from being carried in a bag as by beggars and vagrants; the latter also being of similar derivation.

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. phr. (old).—1. Women and children.—Grose.

2. Baggage is also a familiar [99]colloquialism for a pert, saucy, young woman; like ‘wench,’ ‘rogue,’ ‘gypsy,’ it is often used endearingly.

1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, I., iii. I believe the baggage loves me.

1732. Fielding, The Miser, Act i., Sc. 9. Here’s a baggage of a daughter, who refuses the most advantageous match that ever was offered.

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).—A whore or strumpet; a woman of loose morals.

4. (old).—Rubbish; ‘rot.’

1575. Touchstone of Complexions, p. 118. For throughe cruditye and lacke of perfect concoction in the stomacke is engendered great abundance of naughty baggage and hurtful phlegme.

1576. Gascoigne, The Steele Glas, p. 79. When brewers put no bagage in their beere.

Adj. (old).—Used contemptuously of individuals and things. Cf., Baggage—a worthless, good-for-nothing woman.

1593. G. Harvey, Pierees Superero, in works (Gresart) II., 273. Bibbing Nash, baggage Nash, swaddish Nash, rogish Nash, the bellweather of the scribling flocke.

1692. Hacket, Life of Williams, ii., 128. 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 account of sixpence, but spent it upon baggage, and loose franions. Ibid., p. 123. Booth himself confest, in the hearing of those witnesses, that Pregion had nothing to do with that baggage woman.

Baggage-Smasher, subs. (American).—1. A railway porter. The why and wherefore of this nickname is abundantly apparent from the following quotations.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 358. The baggage-smasher, as the porter is commonly called, handles his burdens with appalling recklessness, and responsibility there is none.

1880. New Virginians, i., 37. ‘Called baggage-smashers.’ [M.]

1888. 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 depôt watching for his chance to shatter your baggage. The depôt 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 ‘depôts,’ with a view to robbery of luggage.

1861. New York Tribune, Nov. 23. Gamblers, ticket-swindlers, emigrant robbers, baggage-smashers, and all the worst classes of the city.

Bagged, ppl. adj. (American).—A term used to signify imprisonment and victimization—probably only an extension of the idea of capture as derived from sport, through the slang ‘to bag,’ i.e., to steal. Cf., To bag.

Bagging, subs. (provincial slang).—In the first instance, food taken between regular meals; now generally applied, especially in Lancashire, to what is known in the South of England as ‘high tea.’

1750. J. Collier, in Lancashire Glossary (E.D.S.). Hoo’l naw cum agen till baggin’ time. [M.]

1870. Chambers’ Journal, Oct., p. 661. 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 [100]the varieties of board and lodging, dinner of potatoes and bacon with buttermilk, bagging in the forenoon and afternoon, dinner and lunch, and rations allowed for women.

1879. In Temple Bar Mag., 4 Jan. Baggin’ is not only lunch, but any accidental meal coming between two regular ones.

Bagging the Over.—See Jockeying the over.

Bagman, subs. (popular).—1. A commercial traveller. Formerly of respectable usage; now only employed contemptuously.

1765. 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’ coach-journey, a bagman appears as gay and spruce as when he started.

The term bagman took its rise in the saddle-bags in which 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. In sporting slang, a ‘bag-fox.’

1875. Stonehenge, Brit. Sports, I., II., iv., § 5. If … wild cubs cannot be found, a bagman or two must be obtained. [M.]

Bagnio, subs. (old).—A brothel. [From Italian bagno, 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.

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.

Bag of Bones, subs. phr. (familiar).—A lean, attenuated person; sometimes called a ‘walking skeleton.’ The French have un sac à os (often contracted into sacdos)—a literal translation. The term is quite modern, being traced by Murray no further back than 1838, when Dickens used it [in Oliver Twist, iv., 64].

Bag o’ Moonshine, subs. phr. (common).—Nonsense.—See All moonshine.

Bag of Nails, subs. phr. (American thieves’).—A state of confusion or topsy-turveydom. [Qy. from ‘bacchanals.’]

Bag of Tricks, phr. (common).—Generally, the whole bag of tricks; i.e., every expedient.

Bagpipe, subs. (common).—A windy talker; a senseless chatter-box. The derivation is obviously from the musical instrument of the same name.

Verb. (old).—A lascivious practice; too indecent for explanation.

Bags, subs. (popular).—An ironical nickname for trousers, thought by some to be of University origin, and borrowed from ‘the variegated bags’ of Euripides—τους θυλάκους τους ποικίλους (Cyclops., 182).

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, p. [101]51. Just jump into a pair of bags and Wellingtons. Ibid., p. 5. His black go-to-meeting bags.

1870. Chambers’ Journal (Christmas Number). ‘But, holloa!’ he cried, as he caught sight of his legs. ‘Parsons don’t wear light tweed bags!’… 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. Punch, Jan. 10, p. 6. The spread of education and liberal ideas.—His Grace the Duke of Poplar 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 pair of bags!’ Mr. Snippe (of Snippe 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—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 made of startling material, or ‘cut’ in an exaggerated style of fashion they become howling bags.

English Synonyms. Dittoes; kicks; kicksies; bum-bags; sit-upons; unmentionables; continuations; hams; inexpressibles; abridgements; drumstick-cases; and ducks (when made of white material).

French Synonyms. Dalzar; falzar.

Intj. (schoolboy).—Bags! or bags I! is frequently used to 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, and which is always granted by the opposing party. In other 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, but I barred not.’ Cf., Fain, Pike, and Bar.

To have the bags, phr. (popular).—This phrase is erroneously given by Hotten (and Barrère has followed suit), as to have the bags off. The meaning is to be of age, and thus to possess all the rights and privileges of adultship; also to have plenty of money. Obviously an allusion to the transition from child’s attire to the garments of manhood.

Bags of mystery, subs. phr. (common).—Sausages and saveloys are so called—from the often mysterious character of their compounds. Presumably composed of minced ‘meat,’ but so highly flavoured and seasoned that no man can tell whereof they are made.

To take the bags (athletic).—To act as ‘hare’ in ‘Hare and Hounds,’ a game too well known to need description in this place.

(Stock Exchange).—Buenos Ayres Great Southern Railway Bonds.—Formed from the initial letters, thus B-A-G-S.

Baijan.—See Bejan.

Bail. Straw-bail or straw-shoes, subs. (common).—A nickname for a person willing for a consideration, to give evidence, or act as bail. Formerly men were much more ostentatious in plying [102]a vocation of perjury than is now happily possible. It was no uncommon thing for such openly to perambulate the entrances to the law-courts ready for any chance customer. They made known their occupation by wearing a piece of straw just sticking out of their shoes. The Quarterly Review (xxxiii., 344) points out that the practice is a very ancient one, Athens having abounded in straw-shoes. The modus operandi was much the same then as in later days. When it was ‘desirable’ to season Attic testimony 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 one, and the colloquy between the parties was brief. ‘Don’t you remember’ said the advocate—(the party looked at 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 and swear it.’ And straw-shoes went into the court and swore it. As b.c., so A.D. 1754—before and after.

1754. 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 shoe.

At present lawyers use straw-bail to designate insufficient bail. Closely allied to this term, and used much in the same manner, is ‘a man of straw.’ The figure is the effigy of a man, stuffed with straw; hence, ‘a man of straw,’ the semblance of a man—a person of neither substance nor responsibility; or one put forward to screen a real delinquent. A curious usage, akin to the foregoing, is also sometimes heard among sailors. For example, a strike for wages having taken place amongst the crew of a ship, ‘blacklegs’ (q.v.), or ‘straw-yarders’ as they were called in nautical phraseology, took the place of the strikers. On the meaning of the expression being asked, it was explained that a ‘straw-yarder’ was a 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, phr. (common).—To escape, either from arrest, or from prison; literally, to be indebted to one’s legs for flight. For 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. iii. ‘I e’en gae them leg-bail, for there’s nae ease in dealing wi’ quarrelsome fowk.’

1848. Marryat, Poacher, xxii. Given them leg-bail, I swear.

The phrase is sometimes amplified thus:—to take leg-bail and give land security.

Bail Up! also Bale Up! intj. (Australian).—A bushranger’s phrase for ‘stand and deliver’! ‘Shell out’! [103]

1880. Blackwood’s Mag., July, p. 91. [Australian loq.] ‘Bail up! Bail up!’ shout the two red-veiled attackers, revolvers in hand.

1887. G. L. Apperson, All the Year Round, July 30, p. 68, col. 1. In times gone by, it was by no means an uncommon occurrence [in Australia] for a coach to be ‘stuck up’ by a band of bushrangers, whose shouts of bail up, an invitation equivalent to our ‘shell out,’ supported by revolver barrels, terrified the hearts of the passengers. But a coach is now seldom interfered with, and to ‘stick up’ is applied to less daring attempts to rob.

2. Hence, colloquially, a demand for instant payment. Equivalent to the English fork out! stump up! etc. For synonyms, see Shell out.

Bait, subs. (common).—Anger; rage; indignation. Derived from the figurative sense of ‘to bait,’ i.e., to worry; harass; or tease.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice-Versâ, ch. v. ‘I went calmly on, smoking my cigar as if nothing was the matter. That put the Proctor in a bait, I can tell you!’

Baitland, subs. (nautical).—Admiral Smyth in his Sailors’ Word Book quotes this as ‘an old word, formerly used to signify a port where refreshments could be procured.’

Bake, verb. (Winchester College).—To rest, or lie down.

Baked, ppl. adj. (common).—Collapsed; exhausted; done up; e.g., ‘toward the end of the course the crew were regularly baked.’ A common colloquialism at the beginning of the present century; but the punning idea involved is very ancient. To bake one’s bread in the sense of ‘to do for one’ occurs as early as 1380, as will be seen from the following quotation.

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 person, i.e., one who is ‘soft’ or inexperienced, in contrast to one who is baked in the sense of ‘seasoned,’ quick-witted, etc.

1864. Notes and Queries, 3 S., vi., 494, 2. He is only half-baked—put in with the bread, and taken out with the cakes.

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. 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 comfortable to sit upon.

(American).—A loafer. The word is generally attributed to Baron de Mandat Grancey, who, in his work Cowboys and Colonels, innocently translated the word ‘loafer’ as baker.

To spell baker (colloquial).—To attempt a difficult task. In the old spelling books ‘baker’ was frequently the first word of two syllables to which a child came when learning to spell.

Baker-Kneed, also Baker-legged, adj. (common).—1. Knock-kneed; disfigured by crooked legs. This deformity, incident 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 [104]bulk in the right hand, or of excessive force constantly exerted by the right side of the body. The knees gradually incline inwards until they closely resemble the right side of the letter K.

1607. Dekker, Westward Hoe, Act ii., Sc. 2. Will women’s tongues, like bakers’ legs, never go straight?

1692. L’Estrange, Life of Æsop. Æsop … was … flat-nos’d, hunch-back’d, blabber-lipp’d, a long misshapen head; his body crooked all over, big-belly’d, baker-legg’d, and his complexion so swarthy that he took his very name from ’t; for Æsop is the same with Æthiop.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. Bakes-legg’d, straddling, with the legs bowing outward.

1812. Colman, Poetical Vagaries, p. 13. His voice had broken to a gruffish squeak. He had grown blear-eyed, baker-kneed, and gummy.

2. Effeminate. Either an attributive usage of the foregoing, or an allusion to the popular belief that a woman’s legs are never straight. Compared physiologically with those of a man this is doubtless true; but otherwise most women would resent the imputation as a libel.

1652. Gaule, Hagastrom, 186. Baker-kneed signifies effeminate.

Baker Layer, subs. (Winchester College).—A Junior who used to take a prefect’s green baker (q.v.) in and out of ‘Hall’ at meal times. The term is now obsolete.

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 liable to heavy penalties for any deficiency in the weight of loaves. So hedged in, indeed, was the sale of bread, that the weight of loaves was fixed by law, for every price from eighteenpence down to twopence, 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 as ‘inbread.’ A similar custom of giving extra quantity was 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 aforesaid Doctor Brother in eightie eight browne baker’s dozen of Almanackes.

1639. Will of Francis Pynner, of Bury, Gent., dated April 26 [Camden Society’s ‘Bury Wills’]. The yerely sume 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 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 and distributed … to and amongst 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.

1733. Fielding, Don Quixote, III., vi. I could not number them. I dare 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.’ [105]

Baker’s dozen is occasionally 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), but the usage is apparently much older than that, for 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. The Baker’s Dozen, as may be seen on the charts; and even French atlases exhibit these islands as La Douzaine du boulanger.

To give one a baker’s dozen is to pummell a man well; to thrash him soundly—a humorous allusion to the good measure implied by the phrase.

Bakes, subs. (American thieves’).—A schoolboy.

Bakester, subs. (Winchester College).—One who bakes (see Bake); a sluggard. The term is now obsolete.

Baking Leave, subs. (Winchester College).—Permission to bake (q.v.) in a study in ‘Commoners,’ 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.

Baking Place, subs. (Winchester College).—A kind of sofa in ‘Studies’ of ‘Commoners.’

Balaam, subs. (journalistic).—A term applied to all kinds of miscellaneous matter, generally of a trumpery and indifferent character, used as ‘padding’ in periodical publications. Evidently from Numbers xxii., 30, in which the ass spoke ‘with man’s voice.’ Balaam hence denotes ‘the speech of an ass,’ and is well applied to the stupid jokes, and silly paragraphs with which odd corners and short columns are often lengthened out. Brewer claims an American origin, but Webster only calls it ‘a 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. The term was popularised by its frequent use in Blackwood’s Magazine.

1826. Scott, Mal. Malagr. iii., 3. How much Balaam (speaking technically) I have edged out of your valuable paper.

1839. Lochart, Scott, lxx. (1842), 622. Balaam is the cant name for asinine 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 somehow. [M.]

Balaam-Basket or Balaam-Box, subs. (journalistic).—1. The receptacle for Balaam (q.v.).

2. When articles or other contributions are rejected they are put in the Balaam-basket, which may either be a pigeon-hole (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 [106]said to be the Baalam-basket or box.

1827. Blackw. Mag., xxi., 340. Several dozen letters on the same subject now in our Balaam-box.

1873. Hall, Modern English, p. 17. An essay for the Edinburgh Review, in ‘the old unpolluted English language,’ would have been consigned by the editor to his Balaam-basket.

1877. Notes and Queries, 5 S., vii., 270, 2. At the risk of getting into your Balaam-box, I venture to record the whole contents of my bundle as they lie before me.

Balaclava-Day, subs. (military).—A soldier’s pay day. Balaclava, in the Crimean War [1854–6], was the base of supply for the English troops; and, as pay was drawn, the men went down to make their purchases.

Balance, subs. (American).—A 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 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 floating cabin. [b.]

1861. Boston Transcript, Dec. 27. ‘We listened to Wendell Phillips for about half an hour, and having an engagement elsewhere, we were forced to leave, and so lost the balance of his oration.’ [de v.]

The word is thus used very much like the Scottish lave (what is left), employed by Burns in the line—

‘I’ll get a blessing with the lave,

And never miss it.’

In some parts of Virginia the word ‘shank’ is quaintly used for the same purpose, and one friend will say to another, ‘Suppose you come in and spend the shank of the evening with me?’ The vulgarism is becoming common in England, as witness the following:—

1875. Blackwood’s Magazine, April, 443. Balance, long familiar to American ears, is becoming so to ours. In an account of a ship on fire we read ‘Those saved remained the balance of the night watching the burning wreck.’ [M.]

1883. P. Fitzgerald, Recreations of a Literary Man, 170. Everyone is away shooting or riding; a balance of the ladies is left. [M.]

Balbus, subs. (University).—A Latin prose composition. In 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 this, 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 question, cannot fail to remember that doughty old fossil of a Roman to their dying day.

1870. Quarterly Review. Balbus was in constant use.

Balderdash, subs. (old).—1. Adulterated wine; a mixture of liquors such as wine and beer, milk and beer, etc. [107]

2. (colloquial).—Frothy talk; 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 1 or 2 [i.e., Froth, frothy liquid, or a jumbled mixture of liquids] either with the notion of ‘frothy talk,’ or of ‘a senseless farrago,’ or ‘jumble of words.’ Most etymologists have, however, assumed 3 [nonsense; frothy talk, etc.] to be the original sense, and sought its explanation in the obvious similarity of balder to dialectical balder, ‘to use coarse language’; Dutch, 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 baldorddus, adj., f. baldordd, ‘idle, noisy talk, chatter,’ has also been adduced.… Other conjectures may be found in Wedgwood, Skeat, and E. Müller.

Bald-Face, subs. (American).—New whiskey; so villainous is the compound, that only by courtesy can it be recognised as at all approaching the Simon Pure. For synonyms, see Drinks.

Bald-Faced Shirt, subs. (American).—In cowboy lingo, a white shirt; 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 faces, and 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.

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 synonyms, see Bladder of lard.

Baldheaded.—To go it baldheaded, phr. (American).—With eager impetuosity, or great haste; to do a thing with all one’s might and main. A suggestion of action without stopping to cover one’s head, i.e., on the spur of the moment.

1848–62. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers, p. 6.

It ain’t by princerples nor men

My preudunt course is steadied,—

I scent which pays the best, an’ then

Go into it baldheaded.

1869. Our Young Folks. Whenever 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, Blaine and Protection would be certain.

To snatch baldheaded, phr. (American).—To defeat a person in a street fight.

1871. R. Grant White, Words and Their Uses.

The crowd than gave a specimen of calumny broke loose,

And said I’d snatched him baldheaded, and likewise cooked his goose.

Bald-Headed Row, subs. phr. (American).—The first row of stalls at theatres, especially those 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 obvious.—See Frog-salad.

Balditude, subs. (American).—A state of baldness. Probably a nonce word.

1882. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), 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. [108]

Baldober or Baldower, subs. (thieves’).—A 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.

Balductum, subs. (old).—Nonsense; rubbish. Cf., Balderdash.

Baldy, subs. (American).—A colloquial vulgarism for a bald-headed man. Cf., Balditude.

Balfour’s Maiden, subs. (Parliamentary).—A nickname given to a kind of covered battering-ram 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 possession, upon which the latter appealed for, and obtained the assistance of the authorities. This but served to intensify the struggle, and the tenants, driven to extremities, in some cases resisted all endeavours, even to throwing boiling water over the soldiers and police employed against them. To protect the evictors, and also to render easier the demolition of the cabins of the wretched people, a kind of covered battering-ram was 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. An account of the incident runs as follows:—

1889. Daily News, April 11. Resolute government has not been absolutely extinguished. Now at Letterkenny, Mr. Balfour has introduced a new invention, the latest development of 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 there an iron-headed spiked battering-ram to be used in carrying out the evictions. Why, really, gentlemen, when you read of these things they are like the pictures one sees of the Siege of Jerusalem—(loud laughter)—of the implements, which the Latins called tormenta. We are familiar with them in old mediæval castles. You find instruments called ‘The Scavenger’s Daughter,’ and ‘The Maiden,’ and other 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 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’).—1. A prison ration. 2. A drink.

To open the ball, phr. (common).—To commence an undertaking; to start off.

1876. Eton Chronicle, July 20.

… Whatever may seem the mishaps of his team,

Whatever their failings and sinnings,

He who opened the ball and who saw them all fall,

Scarce deserved that defeat in one innings.

Ballad-Basket, subs. (old).—A street singer.—See Street pitcher. A French equivalent is un braillard.

Ballambangjang, subs. (nautical).—The Straits of Ballambangjang, though unnoticed by geographers, are frequently mentioned in sailors’ yarns as being so narrow, and the rocks on each side so crowded with trees [109]inhabited by monkeys, that the ship’s yards cannot be squared, on account of the monkey’s tails getting jammed into, and choking up, the brace blocks.—Hotten.

Ballast, subs. (common).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual.

Well-ballasted, adj. (common).—A rich man is said to be well-ballasted.

English Synonyms. ‘To be flush’; also ‘to have brass; brads,’ etc. See synonyms for money generally under Actual.

Among French equivalents for the solidity arising from the possession of wealth may be mentioned:—Être zingué (popular: literally ‘to be covered with zinc’); avoir des monacos (popular: monaco is an ironical term for a sou); daim huppé (popular: daim, a slang term for a swell, is properly a ‘buck,’ and huppé also signifies high in station, well-off); homme au sac (familiar: ‘a man with a bag,’—presumably of money); avoir des picaillons (popular: picaillons is thought to be a corruption of picarons, a Spanish coin); être de la fête (popular: i.e., ‘to be in luck’s way’); être sacqué (popular: meaning obvious); rupin (thieves’ term); avoir de ce qui sonne (popular: ‘to have that which chinks’); tailler en plein drap (popular).

In the Spanish Germania a rich or well-ballasted man is florido, i.e., ‘flowery’ or ‘agreeable.’

Ball Face, subs. (American).—A contemptuous epithet applied by negroes to white persons. Salem, Mass., 1810–1820.

Ball-Keeper, subs. (Winchester College).—In ‘Commoners’ an ‘Inferior’ appointed to look after cricket and footballs. In return for this service he was exempted from ‘kicking in’ and ‘watching out.’ ‘Junior in College’ has to bring through balls every evening.—See Balls.

Ball of Fire, subs. phr. (popular).—A glass of fiery and pungent brandy. For all synonyms, see Drinks.

Ballooning, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Inflating the price of stocks by fictitious means, such as newspaper articles, bogus sales, etc.

Balloon It, verb. (American).—To 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, ballooning wandering men. [M.]

Ball O’ Wax, subs. (common).—A snob, or shoe-maker.—See Snob.

Balls. To bring through balls, phr. (Winchester College).—‘Junior in College’ collects footballs from the lockers in school, and brings them through at six o’clock to be blown, or repaired, if necessary.

To make balls of, verb. phr. (popular).—To go wrong; to do what ‘lands’ one in trouble; generally, to make a mistake.

All balls, adv. (popular).—All rubbish; nonsense. For synonyms, see All my eye.

Ballum Rancum, subs. (old).—A hop or dance, where the women [110]are all prostitutes; a dance at a brothel. These orgies sometimes take the form of ‘buff-balls,’ all present dancing in the nude.

Bally, adj. (popular).—A comparatively recent coinage, it is said, of the Sporting Times, 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 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.—Thanks. What a bally idiot you must be.

1889. Bird 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 taking it?’ ‘I should say ’twasnt half enough, and you can bally well take it yourself,’ was the prompt reply. Boys are boys nowadays, and no error, thinks Newman.

Bally-Bounder.—See Bally and Bounder.

Bally-Fellow.—See Bounder and Bally.

Bally Flat.—See Bounder and Bally.

Bally Fool.—See Bounder and Bally.

Ballyrag.—See Bullyrag.

Balm, subs. (old).—A lie.—Duncombe.

Balmy, subs. and adj. (common).—Sleep; sleepy. [From the figurative sense of balmy, i.e., deliciously soft and soothing.]

To have a dose of the balmy; i.e., ‘to go to sleep.’

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. viii., p. 42. ‘As it’s rather late, I’ll try and get a wink or two of the balmy.’

English Synonyms. To doss; to go to Bedfordshire (q.v.)—a play upon words.

French Synonyms. La pionce or pionçage (popular: subs., see pioncer); le somno (popular: an abbreviated form of somnolence); 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 Sleep and Death is fully recognised. Many of the French slang phrases for the former are also used to express the latter. Mors janua vitæ!); casser son pif (popular: pif in French argot = ‘the nose.’ Amongst the peasants of Normandy and Berry it signifies a ‘grog-blossom’); pioncer (popular: from piausser, a provincialism for ‘to sleep’); piquer un chien (popular: piquer a canting verb of action, ‘to do’; therefore ‘to do as a dog’); piquer une romance (popular); faire son lézard (popular: Cf., piquer un chien); faire son michaud (thieves’: i.e., ‘to rest one’s head or knowledge box’); roupiller (this term is in general colloquial use); se recueillir (popular: ‘to wrap oneself in meditation’); compter des pauses (musicians’: ‘to count the beats.’ Cf., various suggested remedies [111]for overcoming insomnia; e.g., counting slowly up to a hundred, etc., etc.); taper de l’œil (popular: ‘to rub the eyes.’ Cf., English ‘to have sleepy dust in one’s eyes’); mettre le chien au cran de repos (popular: ‘to curl oneself up like a dog’); souffler ses clairs (popular: ‘to blow or put out one’s light,’ i.e., ‘to shut the eyes’); fermer maillard (popular: to close one’s shutters, i.e., eyelids. Maillard was the inventor of a particular kind of shutter. Other analogous expressions are être terrassé par maillard, i.e., ‘to be extremely sleepy.’ Sleep is expressed by fermeture); faire schloff or schloffer, from the German schlafen.

Spanish Synonym. In the Germania difunto, properly ‘defunct,’ is used for asleep.

A Portuguese Synonym for sound sleep is a bom sornar, i.e., ‘to sleep on both ears.’

2. Dull-witted; thick-skulled. In this sense balmy is used up and down the whole gamut of imbecility from mere stolidity to downright insanity. Popularly used, it signifies in most cases little more than shallow-brained or muddle-headed; or, to use slang equivalents in their most familiar sense, ‘to be touched,’ ‘to be wrong in the upper story,’ ‘dotty.’ Among thieves, however, it is usually applied to insanity, to put on the balmy stick being, among convicts, to feign madness.

1851. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. List of patterers’ words. Balmy—Insane.

A large number of synonyms will be found under apartments to let, but in addition to those there mentioned may be instanced the following in the French slang:—Demenager (popular: ‘to remove one’s furniture.’ It also means ‘to die’); paumer la sorbonne (i.e., ‘to punch the head,’ sorbonne being a slang term for that part of the human body. The Sorbonne is a well-known university and seat of learning. Among thieves, too, sorbonner is used in the sense of ‘to think’); être un peu toc (i.e., slightly crazy; toc in slang = ridiculous); avoir une pomme de canne felée (popular: a rather opprobrious expression, meaning ‘to have a slate off.’ Cf., ‘to have a tile loose’); avoir une fissure (literally ‘to have a crack’); avoir un grain.

Balmy Cove, subs. (common).—A weak-minded individual; one who has ‘a tile loose.’ [From balmy (q.v.) + cove, a man.] Among French thieves such an individual is called un hurlubier (hurlublu is an obsolete term used jestingly for a giddy goose or hair-brained person); also biscayen from the Bicêtre prison which has a lunatic ward for demented convicts. The prison itself is called La Biscaye, but this name has no connection with the province of Biscay as might be supposed.

Balsam, subs. (thieves’ and popular).—One of the many generic names for money. A full list of synonyms will be found under Actual. The allusion of course is obvious, i.e., a healing soothing agent or agency; but, in its secondary signification of impertinence, [112]‘brass,’ ‘cheek,’ etc., the reverse of the shield is given. Such reversals in the legitimate meanings of words are not uncommon in slang.

Bam, subs. (old slang).—1. A cheat; an imposition; a story intended to hoax the credulous; what nowadays generally goes under the name of chaff or humbug [bam is 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.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bam (s.), a sham or pretence, a lying excuse.

1762. Foote, Orators, Act ii. Why I know that man, he is all upon his fun; he lecture—why ’tis all but a bam.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. ix. ‘It’s all a bam, ma’am—all a bamboozle and 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., Bamboozle.] The first trace of it appears in Cibber’s Double Gallant [1707], and is discussed by Swift in his introduction to Polite Conversation [1738], where he mentions among ‘the exquisite refinements’ then in vogue,—bam for bamboozle, and bamboozle for, God knows what. Whereupon a correspondent of Notes and Queries [2 S., Jan. 10, ’57, p. 31] alluding to the despair of etymologists in regard to these words remarked that if from was put in the place of for, it would describe the predicament in which philologists are placed.

1754. H. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. To bam, or to bamboozle, to fun, to fib, to sham.

1760. Colman, Polly Honeycombe, in wks. (1777) IV., 43. Lord, how well he behaves! We shall certainly bam the old gentleman.

1830. Marryat, King’s Own, ch. xlix. ‘Now, you’re bamming me—don’t attempt to put such stories off on your old granny.’

1874. E. L. Linton, Patricia Kemball, ch. xxxix. For a moment the 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. (nonce-word).—A factitious creation signifying to embarrass; confuse; or hoax in a blustering manner. [From bam, to hoax, or confuse + bluster, noisy assertion + cate, a termination in imitation of ‘conglomerate’.]—See also Comflogisticate.

Bamboo, verb. (American).—A corruption of bamboozle. To cheat; to victimize; to hoax.—See, however, Bam and Bamboozle.

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 it to a gypsy origin. Johnson states it to be a cant word; and Bouchier, in his glossary says, ‘it has with great propriety long had a place in the gypsy or canting dictionaries,’ it 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 [113]āsel. Wedgwood suggests its origin in the Italian bamboccio, a young babe, and metaphorically an old dotard or babyish gull; 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 bambocciolare, it would have much the sense of bamboozle. A. E. Quekett (N. and Q., 5 S., xii., 488) throws a side-light upon this last theory by pointing out that in Shakspeare’s Taming of the Shrew, Katharina says, ‘Belike you mean to make a puppet of me,’ and Petruchio replies, ‘Why true; he means to make a puppet of thee.’ Comparing 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 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,’ while Petruchio appears to mean something very like, ‘He wishes to bamboozle you.’

Be all this as it may, bamboozle first came 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 invented 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; e.g., bamboozle (subs.); Bamboozled; bamboozlement; bamboozler; bamboozling.

1703. Cibber, She Would and She Would Not, II., i. (1736), 34. Sham proofs, that they propos’d to bamboozle me with. [M.]

1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 31. But, says I, sir, I perceive this 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!

1731. Coffey, Devil to Pay, Act i., Sc. 3. You juggler, you cheating, bamboozling villain!

1754. Foote, Knights, Act ii. You are tricked, imposed on, bamboozled!

1779. R. Cumberland, Wheel of Fortune, Act ii., Sc. 1. You know I love you, Emily, … and therefore you baffle and bamboozle and make a bumpkin of me.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. ix. ‘It’s all a bam, ma’am—all a bamboozle and a bite, that affair of his illness.’

1827. Lytton, Pelham, ch. xxxvi. ‘One does not like to be bamboozled out of one’s right of election, by a smooth-tongued fellow, who sends one to the devil the moment the election is over.’

1886. Sat. Review, No. 1587, p. 423. The public is a great bamboozable body.

(Nautical).—To decoy the enemy by hoisting false colours—merely an extension of the popular sense.

English Synonyms. ‘To throw dust in the eyes’; ‘to use the pepper-box’; ‘to gild the pill’; ‘to throw a tub to a whale’; ‘to make believe the moon is made of cream cheese’; ‘to jockey’; ‘to stick’; ‘to bilk’; ‘to do’; ‘to best’; ‘to do brown’; ‘to bounce’; ‘to take in’; ‘to kid’; ‘to gammon.’

French Synonyms. Une monteuse de coups (a woman who bamboozles her lovers); monter des couleurs (popular: ‘to deceive [114]by false representations’; couleur signifies ‘pretence,’ ‘semblance’); faire la queue à quelqu’un (popular); tirer la carotte (thieves’); faire voir le tour (popular); canarder (popular: literally ‘to shoot at one from a sheltered position’; i.e., to have an advantage, and thus to be able to hoax or humbug); dindonner (popular: from dindon, a ‘goose’); faire le coup, or monter le coup à quelqu’un (popular: coup in French slang is ‘a secret process,’ ‘a knack’ or ‘dodge’—hence ‘to deal one an underhand blow,’ or ‘to serve one a trick’); empaler (popular: ‘to deceive by false representations’; literally ‘to empale’); passer des curettes (popular: ‘to make a fool of one’); monter une gaffe (popular: gaffe in French slang = ‘a joke’; a piece of deceit); monter le job or jobarder (popular: job is equivalent to ‘simpleton’ or ‘flat,’ and is the same as jobelin); mener en bateau un pante pour le refaire (thieves’: ‘to deceive a man in order to rob him’); monter un batteau (popular); donner un pont à faucher (thieves’: ‘to lay a trap or snare’); promener quelqu’un (popular: ‘to make a fool of one.’ Cf., ‘to rush’); compter des mistouffles (familiar: mistouffle = ‘a scurvy trick’; ‘a joke’); gourrer (popular: ‘to stick’; ‘to kid’; ‘to deceive’); affluer (from à flouer, ‘to cheat’; ‘to diddle out of’); roustir (popular and thieves’: ‘to cheat’); affûter (thieves’: ‘to make unlawful profits’); bouler (popular); juiffer (popular: literally ‘to Jew’ as in English); pigeonner (familiar: ‘to do,’ ‘to pluck.’ In English slang the victims of card and other sharpers are called ‘pigeons’); flancher (popular: ‘to laugh at’ or ‘ridicule’); faire la barbe (popular: Cf., faire la queue); hisser un gandin (thieves’: literally ‘to hoist a dandy’ or ‘swell’); mettre dedans (popular: to take a rise out of one; literally to ‘take in’); être l’autre (popular: Cf., ‘to get left.’ The phrase also signifies ‘to be the lover,’ the mistress); planter un chou (familiar).

German Synonyms.—See Jockey.

Italian Synonyms. Traversare (literally ‘to cross over’); dar la stolfa.

Spanish Synonym. Encantar (literally ‘to enchant,’ ‘to entertain with soft words’).

Bambosh, subs. (nonce word).—Apparently a variation of bamboozling, as follows. [Bam + bosh.] Humbug; deceit; hoaxing.

1865. Day of Rest, Oct., 585. I was deaf to all that bambosh. [M.]

Bambsquabbled.—This coined word, which is, however, rarely used except in humorous writings, first saw the light in The Legend of the American War. It signifies discomfiture and defeat, or stupefaction; sometimes written bumsquabbled.

1835–40. T. C. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. ii. The judge said, ‘He had got too much already, cut him off the other two-thirds, and make him pay all costs.’ If he didn’t look bumsquabbled it’s a pity.

Banaghan. He beats Banaghan, phr. (old).—An Irish saying of one who tells wonderful stories; Banaghan, thought Grose, was a minstrel famous [115]for dealing in the marvellous—a kind of prototype of Baron Munchausen. Of this, deponent knowing nothing, says the same.

Banagher, verb. (old).—To bang.

Bananaland, Bananalander, subs. (Australian).—Queensland, and a native of Queensland respectively. Apparently from a large portion of that section of the fifth continent lying within the tropics, thus allowing of the cultivation of the banana tree (Musa sapientum).

1886. Chamb. Journal, Feb. 20, p. 124. Booted and spurred ‘Cornstalks’ and Banana-men (natives of New South Wales and Queensland respectively).

1887. Melbourne (Victoria) Sportsman, 23 March, p. 7, col. 2. Paddy Slavin came from Queensland with the reputation of having beaten all the 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 Bananalander.

It may be interesting to note that a native of New South Wales is nicknamed a ‘cornstalk’ because built somewhat tall and thin. Those whose 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 its inhabitants. In this practice antipodean colonists follow suit with their cousins across the Atlantic.—See Nicknames.

Banco, subs. (Charterhouse School).—Evening preparation down at ‘house’ each day, superintended by a monitor. It answers to the Winchester toy-time.

Banco-Steerer.—See Bunco-steerer.

Bandanna, subs. (common).—Formerly a silk handkerchief 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.

1752. J. Long, Bengal (1870), 31. Plain taffaties, ordinary bandannoes, and chappas.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. iv. The Colonel was striding about the room in his loose garments, puffing his cigar fiercely anon, and then waving his yellow bandanna.

Banded, ppl. adj. (old).—Hungry. To mitigate the pangs of hunger, starving men tighten the belt round the ‘middle.’ Bamfylde Moore Carew, the king of the beggars, mentions the practice. Cf., Caffre’s tightener and bands.

Bandero, subs. (American).—Widows’ weeds; a corruption of the now obsolete ‘bandore,’ a widow’s head-dress. Bandore was itself a corruption of the French bandeau, given by Littré as anciennement, coiffure des veuves. The term was current about the beginning of the last century, but in 1785 we find it quoted as slang. It appears, however, to have survived in America whilst dropping entirely out of use in the Mother Country. In the English drapery trade mourning goods are sometimes called afflictions (q.v.).

Ban-Dog, subs. (old).—A bailiff, or his assistant. Originally, says [116]Murray, a dog tied or chained up 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 sense is clear.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 12. ‘But where are the lurchers?’ ‘Who?’ asked Wood. ‘The traps!’ responded a bystander. ‘The shoulder-clappers!’ added a lady, who, in her anxiety to join the party, had unintentionally substituted her husband’s nether habiliments for her own petticoats. ‘The ban-dogs!’ thundered a tall man whose stature and former avocations had procured him the nickname of ‘The long drover of the Borough market.’ ‘Where are they?’ ‘Ay. where are they?’ chorused the mob, flourishing their various weapons, and flashing their torches in the air; ‘we’ll sarve ’em out.’

Bands, subs. To wear the bands (old cant).—To be hungry.—See Banded.

B. and S. (popular).—An everyday colloquialism, in the abbreviated form, for brandy and soda.

1868. Whyte Melville, White Rose, ch. xiii. Before the b. and s.—signifying a beaker of brandy and soda-water—could make its appearance.

1881. W. Black, Beautiful Wretch, ch. v. ‘Come away, and I will get you some tea, though what would be better for you still, would be some b. and s.’

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 69, col. 1.

I’ll sing you a fine new song, all about a fine young spark,

Who’s a fine young London gentleman, quite up to any lark,

Who takes supper very early, and breakfasts in the dark;

Who’s a real ‘dear old chappie,’ as I needn’t perhaps remark.

*   *   *

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’;

He’s the darling of the barmaid and the honest waiter’s joy,

As he quaffs his Pommery, ‘Extra Sec,’ his ‘Giesler,’ or ‘Ivroy.’

Bandy, subs. (thieves’).—A sixpence; 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. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 25, n. A bandy or cripple, a sixpence.

1885. Household Words, June 20, p. 155. The sixpence is a coin more liable to bend than most 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 ‘bender,’ a ‘cripple.’

Bang, subs. (colloquial).—1. A blow; Old Norse, bang, a hammering. Though a dictionary word, bang has not yet 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; yet, a ‘bang on the nose’ or ‘jaw’ would, doubtless, be looked upon as low and vulgar. Only to illustrate such variations, can the word find a fitting entry into these pages. Amongst pugilists and the vulgar, bang is, without doubt, closely identified with personal castigation; and, in this connection.

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 [117]one a stinger, etc. The blow itself is 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).

French Synonyms. Un gnon (popular); un écopage (familiar); une dandine (popular); un cabochon (common); un estaffion (popular: may be rendered ‘a bang on the nut’); un coup de gilquin (popular); un renfoncement (colloquial: ‘a blow with the fist’; lit. ‘an indentation’); une beugne (common); une beigne (popular); une dariole (familiar: properly a kind of pastry); un coup de tampon (popular: ‘a hard shove’; tampon, ‘a buffer’); une balle de coton (popular); une baffre (popular: ‘a blow in the face with the fist’); un pétard (familiar: either ‘a box on the ear’ or ‘a cant on the gills’); une paraphe (popular: paraphe is properly the flourish added to one’s signature); dégrader le portrait à quelqu’un (popular: ‘to fetch one a bang in the mug.’ Cf., ‘to spoil one’s picture’); détacher un coup de pinceau sur la frimousse (popular: ‘to make pencil marks upon the face’; i.e., ‘to spoil one’s physiognomy,’—the allusion presumably being to the face as the work of the Divine Artist). For other synonyms, see Wipe.

2. A style adopted by women in dressing the hair upon the forehead, generally curled and frizzed, the process being thus described. To make the bang, one must begin by dividing the front hair at half-inch distances from ear to ear, combing the rest back. This is repeated until the whole front hair has been successfully banged. In England these fringes are also called toffs (q.v.).

1880. W. D. Howell, The Undiscovered Country, ch. viii. When one lifted his hat to wipe his forehead, he showed his hair cut in front like a young lady’s bang.

1883. Pall Mall Gazette, Dec. 19, p. 4, col. 1. It 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.—1. To deliver a blow as described under bang (subs. 1); generally, to thump or strike violently; to thrash.

1588. Marprelate’s Epistle, p. 4 (ed. Arber). His grace will cary to his grave I warrant you the blowes 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.

1592. John Day, Blind Beggar, Act ii., Sc. 2, p. 37. I am sure my cloak cannot go without hands; and I’ll have it again, or I’ll bang it out of the coxcombs of some of them.

b. 1719. H. Carey, Sally in our Alley, st. 3.

My 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.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 47. ‘It was good stuff and good make at first, and hasn’t been abused, and that’s the reason why it always bangs a slop, because it was good to begin with.’

1884. Cornhill Mag., April, p. 442. ‘Davis,’ said Toddy, ‘you haven’t had a banging this term, and you’re getting cocky.’

2. To dress the hair with a fringe on the forehead, cut squarely across, so that it ends abruptly. [118]

1882. Century Mag., XXV., 192. He was bareheaded, his hair banged even with his eyebrows in front.

1888. Detroit Free Press.

Bang, Sister, bang with care;

If your poker’s too hot you’ll lose your hair.

3. To surpass; to excel. So also banging, adj., great or thumping.

4. (Stock Exchange.)—To loudly offer stock with the intention of lowering the price.

To be banged up to the eyes, phr. (common).—To be drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed.

Bang-Beggar, subs. (old).—A constable or beadle. It is not quite clear whether this is not merely a dialecticism. In Lowland Scotch it signifies a strong staff.

Banger, subs. (common).—A lie. Generally, that’s a banger! This elegant phrase is sometimes varied by ‘that’s a whopper’ (q.v.); or the now classical ‘thumper’ (q.v.), an invention of the late Lord Iddesleigh.

(Yale College).—A club-like cane or stick; a bludgeon. This word is one of the Yale vocables.—Hall’s College Words and Customs.

Yale Lit. Mag., vol. XX., p. 75.

The Freshman reluctantly turned the key,

Expecting a Sophomore gang to see,

Who, with faces masked and bangers stout,

Had come resolved to smoke him out.

Bang-Off, adv. (familiar).—Without stopping; right away; e.g., ‘I wrote as promised bang-off,’ i.e., without delay. [From bang, a loud, sudden sound + off, movement from a place or thing.]

Bang-Out. To bang-out, verbal phr. (common).—To depart hurriedly and with noise.

Adv. phr.—Completely, entirely, combined with suddenness; e.g., ‘the candle went bang-out.’

Bang-Pitcher, subs. (old).—A drunkard. Possibly only dialectical.

Bangster subs. (provincial).—According to Jamieson:—1. A violent and disorderly person, who regards no law but his own will. 2. A victor. 3. A braggart. 4. A loose woman.

1820. Scott, The Abbot, ch. xix. If the Pope’s champions are to be bangsters in our very change houses, we shall soon have the changelings back again, [h.]

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxiii. If you are so certain of being the bangster—so very certain, I mean, of sweeping stakes, what harm will Miss Clara come to by your having the use of her siller.

Bang-Straw, subs. (old).—A nickname for a thresher of corn; a provincialism.

Bang-Tailed, adj. (popular).—Short tailed. Usually applied to horses.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. vi. ‘These bang-tailed little sinners any good?’ said Drysdale, throwing some cock-a-bondies across the table. ‘Yes, I never like to be without them and a governor or two.’

Bang-Up, adj. phr. (common).—First-rate; quite up to the mark; A 1; slap up; in the height of fashion. Also banged-up.

1812. H. and J. Smith, Rejected Addresses, p. 188. Dance a bang-up theatrical cotillion. [119]

1842. Lever, Jack Hinton, ch. vii. His hat set jauntily on one side, his spotted neckcloth knotted in bang-up 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 classed among the Palæotheria, the bang-up Oxonian.

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, vol. I., ch. xxxiv. There appeared on the cliff in a tax cart, drawn by a bang-up pony … his friends, the Sutbury Pet and the Rottingdean Fibber.

Subs.—Also used substantively as in the following example; that which is quite right; the ‘thing’; the ‘go.’

1882. Punch, LXXXII., 185, 1. Modern Life in London, or Tom and Jerry back again. The trio turned into the Arcade, and saw a number of gay sparks and fair ones promenading. ’Twas a curious sight, a glimpse of Life in London, one of its primest features, and yet, as the Corinthian remarked to his Coz, these people seemed like the ‘ghosts of a former generation.’ ‘These then are the dandies, the fops, the goes and the bang-ups, these the Corinthians of to-day,’ was also Tom’s exclamation to young Bob, who said, ‘I don’t know 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.’

Verb tr.—To make smart; produce in first-rate style.

1821. Coombe, Dr. Syntax, Tour iii., c. v.

Pat to his neckcloth gave an air

In style, and á la militaire;

His pocket too a kerchief bore

With scented water sprinkled o’er;

Thus banged-up, sweeten’d, and clean shav’d,

The sage the dinner-table braved.

Bangy, subs. (Winchester College).—‘Brown’ sugar. From Bangalore, a once coarse-growing sugar country.

Adj.—Colour of brown sugar; e.g., bangy bags, brown trousers. These were also called bangies. So universally was the term bangy used to designate a brownish hue, that a gate of that colour at Winchester College, formerly leading from Grass Court into Sick House Meads, was called the Bangy Gate. The name is now often used for the gate by Racquet Court, into Kingsgate Street.

Banian-Days or Banyan-Days, subs. (nautical).—Those days in which sailors have no flesh meat. Probably derived from the practice of the Banians, a caste of Hindoos, traders or merchants, who entirely abstained from all animal food.

1690. Ovington, in Yules’ Anglo-Indian Glossary. Of kitcheney (butter, rice, 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 them.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xxv. 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 they take their denomination from a sect of devotees in some parts of the East Indies, who never taste flesh.

1820. Lamb, Elia (Christ’s Hospital). We had three banyan to four meat days in the week.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. lxiii. If he might be so bold as to carry on the Eastern metaphor, he would say, knowing the excellence of the Colonel’s claret and the splendour of his hospitality, that he would prefer a cocoanut day at the Colonel’s to a banyan-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 [120]offer them a barrel of Ale, but he will make them 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 Brighton; that his Shipmates, wherever bound, may set sail with fair wind and good passage; that they may never have short allowance—banyan days; or a southerly wind in the Bread Basket.

Banjo, subs. (common).—A bed-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 sum of money; one’s fortune.

Verb (thieves’).—1. To secure; to obtain (in a pilfering sense).

2. To put in a place of safety.

3. To go shares; to divide fairly with confederates.

4. (prison.)—Millbank prison.

1889. Answers, May 25, p. 412. We approached our destination, Millbank—the bank in a convict’s parlance.

Bankers, subs. (old).—Clumsy boots and shoes; now called beetle-crushers. For synonyms generally, see Trotter-cases.

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 unfortunate wretch who thus ‘raised the wind’ was said to get his paper shaved. The origin of the phrase may be looked for in maritime nomenclature, a shaver from a sailor’s point of view being a man who is cute and unscrupulous—possibly from the unpleasant operation of shaving on board ship when crossing the line.

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 theatres. On the boards of the 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. Covent Garden and Drury Lane, like Bankside, have entered largely into the vicious slang of the past.

1638. Randolph, Muses’ Looking-Glass, O. Pl., 9., 206. Come, I will send for a whole coach or two of Bankside ladies, and we will be jovial.

Bank-Sneak, subs. (American).—A variety of the genus thief who confines his attention to bank robberies. Smart, clever, well-dressed, they usually work in gangs, two or three confederates being employed as cover whilst the leader does the work. 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 more drastic methods. The bank-sneak of the West pursues his depredations more as a bandit; his city confrère is more adroit, and therefore infinitely more dangerous. For synonyms, see Area-sneak. [121]

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Feb. 16. Buffalo officers to-day picked out from a batch of Erie convicts Watt N. Jones, the notorious bank-sneak and burglar so widely known professionally in every city of the United States and Canada.

Banner, subs. (American news-boys’).—The money paid for board and lodging at the homes frequented by these flying mercuries. The origin of the term is unknown.

Bant, verb (common.)—To follow the dietary prescribed by Mr. Banting.—See Banting.

Banting, subs. (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. The dietary recommended was the use of butcher’s meat principally, and abstinence from beer, farinaceous food, and vegetables. Also figuratively, to reduce in any way.

1864. Times, 12 Aug., 4. The classics seemed to have undergone a successful course of banting.

1868. Miss Braddon, Only a Clod, p. 114. She was a rigid disciplinarian of the school formed by Mr. Banting. Ibid., p. 113. A parlour where all the furniture seemed to have undergone a prolonged course of banting.

1883. Knowledge, 27 July, p. 49, col. 2. Bantingism excludes beer, butter, and sugar.

Bantling, subs. (old).—A young, or small child. This word, 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 bastard. Appended are a few examples of its use when knocking for admittance at the doors of the dictionaries.

1593. Drayton, Eclog., vii., 102. Lovely Venus … smiling to see her wanton bantlings game.

1635. Quarles, Emblems, II., viii. (1718), 93. 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 bantling.’

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxxx. ‘Let the bantlings,’ said she, ‘be sent to the hospital … and 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.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxi. ‘Sell me to a gipsy, to carry pots, pans, and beggars bantlings.’

Banty, adj. (American thieves’).—Saucy; impudent.

Baptised or Christened, ppl. adj. (old).—Mixed with water; spirits and wines are said to be baptised when diluted. The French equivalent is chrétien; also baptisé.

1636. Healey, Theophrastus, 46. He wil give his best friends his baptized wine.

Bar, verb and prep. (colloquial and racing).—1. Used as a verb bar signifies to exclude; to prohibit; also to object to a person or action. Its lineage is of undoubted respectability, but its usage is now but little removed from the vulgar. As a preposition it is synonymous with ‘except’—mainly used in racing; e.g., ‘Four to one bar one.’

c. 1598. Shakspeare, M. of Venice, ii., 2, 207. Nay, but I bar to-night: [122]you shall not gauge me by what we do to-night.

1672. Wycherley, Love in a 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 Church of Rome.

1697. Vanbrugh, Æsop, Act ii. What I have in my mind, out it comes: but bar that; I’se an honest lad as well as another.

1752. Foote, Taste, Act ii. I don’t suppose now, but, barring the nose, Roubiliac could cut as good a head every whit.

1818. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iii. ‘I should like to try that daisy-cutter of yours upon a piece of level road (barring canter) for a quart of claret at the next inn.’

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. lv., p. 483. ‘I’ll bet you ten guineas to five, he cuts his throat,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. ‘Done,’ replied Mr. Simmery. ‘Stop! I bar,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, thoughtfully. ‘Perhaps he may hang himself.’

2. (American thieves’.)—To stop; to cease. Obviously an attributive meaning of the legitimate word.

3. (American colloquial.)—A spurious verb, the signification of which is derived from the drinking-bar. Thus a tippler is said to bar too much when given to inordinate drinking.

Baragan Tailor, subs. (tailors’).—A rough-working tailor.

Barb, verb (old cant).—To barb gold was heretofore a cant term for clipping or shaving it. The modern term is to sweat (q.v.). [Apparently from to barber, to shave or trim.]

1610. Ben Jonson, Alchemist, I., i. Ay, and perhaps thy neck within a noose, for laundring gold, and barbing it.

Barber, verb. (University).—When impositions are worked off by deputy they are said to be barberised. Tradition relates that a learned barber was at one time frequently employed as a scapegoat in working off this species of punishment inflicted on peccant students—hence the expression. A story ben trovato esd non e vero!

That’s the barber.—A street catch-phrase, says Grose, about the year 1760. There is nothing new under the sun; not even idiotic and wearisome street cries, which so many good philologists deplore as a sign of the depravity of the times. That’s the barber, like ‘Who’s your hatter?’ and ‘How’s your poor feet?’ meant nothing, save a general and indefinite comment on any action, measure, or thing. ‘All serene!’ (q.v.) is presumably its nearest modern street equivalent.

Barber’s-Cat, subs. (old).—A weak, sickly looking individual. In French such a person is called un faiblard and un astec, the latter an allusion to the Mexican dwarfs. According to Hotten, the term is also ‘used in connexion with an expression too coarse to print.’

Barber’s-Chair, subs. (old).—A prostitute; a drab; a strumpet. So called from a barber’s-chair being common to all comers. It will be remembered that Shakspeare in All’s Well [ii., 2.] likens an all-embracing answer to a question to ‘a barber’s-chair that fits all buttocks; the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock.’

1621. Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, III. iv., i, iii. (1651), 665. A notorious strumpet as common as a barber’s-chair. [M.] [123]

1708. Motteux, Rabelais’ Pantagr., Prognost. v. Bonarobaes. Barber’s-chairs, hedge whores.

Barber’s-Clerk, subs. (common).—A term of reproach generally applied by mechanics and artisans to overdressed and vaunting clerks and shopmen. In a secondary sense it is used of anyone over-particular in his personal appearance. The phrases ‘oh, he’s just come from the barber’s,’ and ‘one of Truefitt’s young men’ are common enough.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 155. ‘Tailor!’ screamed a third. ‘Barber’s-clerk!’ shouted a fourth. ‘Throw him o-ver!’ roared a fifth, [d.]

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 waiting 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 men’; and Matheo, in The Honest Whore, speaks of a barber’s citterne for every serving man to play upon. Therefore, it is little wonder that barber’s music should be synonymous with discord.

1660. Pepys, June 5. My lord called for the lieutenant’s cittern, and with two candlesticks with money in them for symbols (cymbals) we made barber’s music.

Barefooted on the Top of Ones Head, phr. (American).—Bald-headed. The application of the simile is obvious.

Bargain. Selling a bargain, phr. (old).—A species of low wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, but which is of much more ancient usage. It is frequently alluded to by Swift, who remarks that ‘the maids of honor often amused themselves with it.’ If so, it seems incredible; and one would say so much the worse for the ‘maids of honor.’ It is thus described: A person would come into a room full of company, apparently in a fright, crying out, ‘It is white, and follows me!’ On any of the company asking what? the bargain was sold by the first speaker naming a certain portion 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 Shakspeare, who makes Costard use it in Love’s Labour Lost [Act iii., Sc. 1], ‘The boy hath sold him a bargain.’

Barge, subs. (printers’).—1. A ‘case’ in which there is an undue proportion of some letters, and a corresponding shortness of those which are most valuable.

2. The term is also applied among printers to a card or small box on or in which ‘spaces’ are put while correcting formes away from ‘case.’ [124]

Verb.—To abuse; to slang. Cf., Bullyrag. The allusion is, of course, to the rough mode of speaking peculiar to bargees or bargemen.

1861. Albert Smith, Medical Student, p. 102. ‘Whereupon they all began to barge the master at once; one saying “his coffee was all snuff and chick-weed.” ’

(Uppingham School.)—To knock against a person; to come into collision with.

Barge-Arse, subs. (common).—A man or woman of rotund development at the back. [From barge, a clumsy vessel, + arse, O.E., posterior or buttock.] A low term of ridicule. Also used as an adjective, barge-arsed.

Barge-pole, subs. (Winchester College).—A large stick or thick bough, of which there was one in each fagot. Also generally used for any large piece of wood.

Bark, subs. (common).—1. An Irishman or Irishwoman. Cf., Barkshire.

1869. Notes and Queries, 4 S., iii., 406. In Lancashire an Irishman is vulgarly called a bark.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 191. Mike when asked by some of his countrymen why he called Fairbanks a ‘bark,’ i.e., an Irishman, said, ‘If I had not put the ‘bark’ on him he would have put it on me, so I had the first pull.’

2. The skin. This occurs also dialectically. In Alan Ramsay’s poems [1758] it is so used.

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 unmercifully bumped against the hard leather and the iron buckles.

1876. Family Herald, 2 Dec., p. 80, col. 1. With the bark all off his shins from a blow with a hockey stick.

3. (colloquial.)—A cough. Cf., verb, To bark, sense 2.

Verb.—1. To scrape; or rub off the skin; to abraise.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 227. So, after getting up [the tree] three or four feet, down they came slithering to the ground, barking their arms and faces.

1859. Macmillan’s Magazine, Nov., p. 18. The knuckles of his right hand were barked.

1872. Mark Twain, Roughing It, p. 16 (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.

2. To cough; generally applied when it is persistent and hacking.

The word with the bark on it, phr. (American).—Without mincing the matter; without circumlocution.

1872. Mark Twain, Roughing It, chap. xv. If ever another man gives a whistle to a child of mine, and I get my hands on him, I will hang him nigher than Haman! That is the word with the bark on it.

To take the bark off, phr. (popular).—To reduce in value, either deliberately, or by accident; a figurative usage of ‘to graze,’ ‘to take the skin off.’

1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, p. 310. I rode my gallant grey so close to the wheel, that I grazed his near foreleg against it and took the bark off, as his owner told me, to the tune of three pun’ sivin.

1853. Rev. Ed. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Further Adventures of Verdant Green, p. 31. That’ll take the bark from your nozzle, and distil the Dutch pink for you, won’t it? [125]

To bark at the moon (colloquial).—To clamour uselessly; to agitate to no effect; to labour in vain.

1630. Taylor’s Workes. And thus my booke and comparisons end together; for thus much I know, that I have but all this while bark’d at the moone, throwne feathers against the winde, built upon the sands, wash’d a blackmore, and laboured in vaine.

Barker, subs. (popular).—1. A pistol. [From barker, a noisy assailant, i.e., one who barks like a dog.] Sometimes called barking iron (q.v.). The latter, as far as is known, is the oldest term. An early use of barkers bears date of 1815, whilst barking iron occurs in Parker’s Life’s Painter, 1789.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxiii. ‘Had he no arms?’ asked the Justice. ‘Ay, ay, they are never without barkers and slashers.’

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xxii. ‘Barkers for me, Barney,’ said Toby Crackit. ‘Here they are,’ replied Barney, producing a pair of pistols.

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.

English Synonyms. ‘Meat in the pot.’ (A Texan term, alluding to the means by which meat is literally provided for the pot. Texan figures of speech are often startling enough in originality 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 one-eyed scribe’ (an argument always persuasive and sometimes unanswerable); ‘blue lightning’ (sometimes a tragedy in three acts: Act i., a word; Act ii., a flash of blue lightning; and Act iii., certain death); ‘whistler’ (from the sharp hissing sound of a bullet in its flight); ‘peace-maker’ (a sarcastic commentary on the proverb that ‘short reckonings make long friends’); dag; pop; etc.

French Synonyms. Un aboyeur (popular: a literal translation of ‘barker’; also ‘a tout’); un pitroux (thieves’: in the old Provencal, 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 another); un pétouze (a play upon words. In the old cant pétouze 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 affre, signifying fear); un mandolet (thieves’); pied de cochon (military: literally ‘a pig’s foot’; a variety of weapon of large size and calibre); un crucifix or un crucifix à ressort (thieves’: literally ‘a crucifix,’ or ‘a crucifix with a spring’); un soufflant (thieves’: soufflet = to whisper); les burettes (thieves’ and popular: literally ‘phials’).

2. (common.)—A man employed to stand in front of shops and shows 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 [126]equivalent in the French aboyeur. Amongst touting photographers, in low neighbourhoods, this individual is called a doorsman, and the term is likewise applied to auction-room touts.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Barker (s.), a salesman’s servant that walks before his door, to invite customers in to buy cloaths.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Barker. The shopman of a dealer in second-hand clothes, particularly about Monmouth St., who walks before his shop and deafens every passenger with his cries of clothes, coats, or gowns, ‘what d’ye want gemmen, what d’ye buy?’

1828. Jon. Bee, Picture of London, p. 109. Mock-auctions and ‘selling-off’ shops are not the only pests where barkers are kept at the doors to invite unwary passengers to ‘walk in, walk in, sale just begun.’

1888. 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,’ soliciting passers-by to enter, is of itself enormous; but where it gets in its base hit is when it increases the appetite. McGinty knows this. McGinty is my friend, but I wouldn’t serve a tenth of his unexpired terms for ten dollars. I 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 nickel-plated, back-action appetites we have.

3. A man with a troublesome cough; his complaint is otherwise known as a ‘churchyard cough,’ or a ‘notice to quit’ (q.v.).

4. (nautical.)—Besides being used as a designation for a pistol, barker is also employed for lower deck guns on board ship.

1842. Cooper, Jack O’ Lanthorne, I., 151. Four more carronades with two barkers for’ard.

5. See quotation, as follows:—

1879. Greenwood, Outcasts of London. 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.

6. (University.)—A noisy assertive individual; and, in a complimentary sense, a great swell.

7. (American.)—A noisy coward; a blatant bully.

Barkey (nautical).—A term of endearment in use amongst seafaring men when speaking of a vessel to which they have got attached. ‘She’s a barkey—she is, my lads!’

Barking-Irons, subs. (thieves’).—Pistols. Cf., Barker, sense 1. Barking-iron is, historically, an older term than barker by about a quarter of a century. Formerly applied, in the navy, to large duelling pistols.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 173. Pistols, barking-irons.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. II., ch. vi. ‘And look you, prick the touch-hole, or your barking-iron will never bite 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 entail unpleasant consequences upon the sayer or doer.

Barkshire, subs. (common).—Ireland.—See Bark. [127]

Bark up the Wrong Tree, verbal phr. (American).—Of trapper and pioneer derivation, and idiomatically used to signify that a person is at fault as to his purpose, or the means by which he is endeavouring to attain his object. The expression arose in this way: the Western huntsman found that his prey gradually became more and more wily and cunning in eluding pursuit, and frequently he and his dogs were at fault, supposing they had ‘treed’ their game when in reality, especially in the case of opossums and squirrels and such-like animals, it had escaped by jumping from the boughs of one tree to another. The dogs consequently were left barking up the wrong tree.

1835. Richmond Enquirer, Sep. 8. ‘You didn’t really go to old Bullion,’ said a politician to an office-seeker, ‘Why, he has no influence there, I can tell you. You barked up the wrong tree there, my friend, and you deserve to fail.’

1888. Detroit Free Press, Oct. Professor Rose who ‘hit’ this town last spring is around calling us a fugitive from justice, and asking why the police don’t do something. Gently, Professor. When we left Xenia, O., the Sheriff patted us on the back and lent us half-a-dollar. We are 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 Marshal is here. We ain’t rich or pretty, but we are good, and the Professor is barking up the wrong tree.

Barnaby. To dance barnaby, phr. (popular).—To move expeditiously; irregularly.

Barnacle, subs. (old cant).—1. A pickpocket. For synonyms, see Area sneak.

b. 1809, d. 1870. Mark Lemon, Leyton Hall. The man that stood beside thee is old Crookfinger, the most notorious setter, barnacle and foist in the city.

2. (old.)—A good job, or snack easily got.—Lexicon Balatronicum (1811).

3. (old.)—A gratuity given to grooms by the buyers and sellers of horses.—Lexicon Balatronicum (1811).

4. (old.)—A constant attendant; he who, or that which sticks to one like a barnacle to a ship’s bottom.

1607. Dekker, Northward Hoe! III., wks., 1873, III., 39. Ile cashiere all my yong barnicles. [M.]

1868. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, I., i., 7. Slopper found him a species of barnacle rather difficult to shake off.

5. (old cant.)—A decoy swindler; 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 1 and 4.

1591. Greene, Notable Discovery of Coosnage (1859), 23. Thus doth the Verser and the Setter feign a kind friendship to the Cony.… As thus they sit tippling, coms 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, wks. (1885) III., 131. He that … before counterfeited the dronken Bernard is now sober and called the barnacle.

6. (old.)—An individual 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.] [M.]

Barnacles, subs. (popular).—1. Spectacles. Formerly applied [128]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. Hence used popularly for all kinds of glasses. The derivation seems uncertain. The principal suggested origins are:—(1) a corruption of binoculis [from Latin bini, double, + oculus, an eye]; (2) an attributive usage of barnacles, which, with ‘horse-twitchers’ or ‘brakes,’ are tools put on the nostrils of horses when they will not stand still to be shooed; and in support of this it has been pointed out [N. and Q., 1 S., v., 13] the figure of the barnacle borne in heraldry sufficiently shows why the term has been transferred to spectacles, 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 goose (Anser bernicla). There is a strong resemblance in the mark to a pair of spectacles.

1571. Damon and Pythias (Dodsley’s Old Plays), Hazlett IV., 81. These spectacles put on. Grim. They be gay barnacles, yet I see never the better.

1653. Sir Thomas Urquhart, Translation of Rabelais, bk. V., ch. xxvii. They had barnacles on the handles of their faces, or spectacles at most.

The difference between spectacles and barnacles seems to be indicated in this passage. In the original French the phrase reads ‘bezicles au nez.’ A later quotation illustrative of the usage is:

1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. i. ‘Give me the barnacles, my good youth, and who can say what nose they may bestride in two years hence?’

English Synonyms. ‘Bossers’; ‘gig-lamps’; ‘goggles.’ A man wearing these aids to sight is sometimes called ‘four eyes’ (q.v.).

French Synonyms. Les persiennes (popular: properly ‘venetian shutters’); une vitrine (popular: literally ‘a shop window,’ or glass case in a museum).

2. (old cant.)—See quotation.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). 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).—1. A facetious term for a target too large to be missed; i.e., as large as a barndoor. Hence barndoor practice as applied to organised battues, in which game is driven within a range from which it is impossible to escape. This can hardly be called sport; rather let it be known as ‘slaughter.’

2. (cricket.)—A player who blocks every ball.

Barnet! intj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Nonsense! humbug! Now obsolete.

Barnet Fair, subs. (thieves’).—The hair; part of the rhyming slang (q.v.). For synonyms see Top dressing. [129]

Barney, subs. (popular).—1. A word which varies in sense according to the predelictions of the person using it. Generally speaking it means a jollification; ‘lark’; pleasurable outing; picnic. The ’Arries and roughs of London, however, always associate it with a certain amount of rowdyism. Its derivation is unknown, although Barrère gives a long dissertation concerning 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. Humbug; cheating; a hoax; something pre-arranged—not genuine. In sporting circles it signifies an unfair race of any kind.

1865. B. Brierley, Irkdale, II., 19. I won thee i’ fair powell one toss an’ no barney.

1882. Evening News, 2 Sept., p. 1, col. 6. Blackguardly barneys called boxing competitions. [M.]

Murray gives this last in illustration of the secondary sense which he applies to the word, viz., a prize-fight. Barney, it is true, does signify a prize-fight, but it means more than that. A fair contest would not be so named; there must be an element of chicanery in the matter. Besides which, barney is applied to unfair sporting competitions of any kind. A comparison of the different quotations given under this heading will clearly prove that point.

1884. Referee, April 13, p. 7, col. 4. Who would believe that Mr. Gladstone shammed being ill, and that Sir Andrew Clark issued false bulletins, and that the whole thing was a barney from beginning to end.

1885. Bell’s Life, Jan. 3, p. 3, col. 4. Few genuine matches have taken place this season on the Transatlantic waters, though exhibitions and barney contests have been plentiful.

3. (American.)—At Harvard College, about the year 1810, this word was used to designate a bad recitation. To barney was to recite badly.—Hall’s College Words and Customs.

Barn-Mouse. To be bitten by a barn-mouse, phr. (old).—To be tipsy; ‘screwed.’ The Lexicon Balatronicum says ‘it is probably an allusion to barley,’ presumably as the source of malt liquor. Cf., ‘To have on’ Or ‘wear a barley-cap,’ to be tipsy; also barley-cap = a tippler.

Barn-stormer, subs. (theatrical).—A deprecatory epithet applied to strolling players.

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 6 June, p. 5, col. 1. If this be barn-storming, 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 barn-stormers, and a ranting, noisy style of acting and speaking is still called ‘barn-storming.’

1887. Referee, 21 August, p. 3, col. 1. Mr. Edward Terry has again been elected at the head of the poll as trustee of the charities of Barnes. He is not the first clever actor who has been known as a Barnes-stormer.

The French term for one of such a troupe is cabotin.

Barnumese, subs. (American).—Barnum, the proprietor of ‘the greatest show upon earth,’ has at any rate one claim to immortal fame in having, like Boycot, Burke, and Balfour, added a new word to the English tongue. The ‘high falutin,’ bombastic style of the [130]great man’s announcements are notorious; as much so, in fact, as is the diction of the great London newspaper which claims ‘the largest circulation in the world.’ From such circumstances we get words like barnumese and telegraphese, to signify exaggeration of style—what in slang parlance is known as the ‘putting on of side.’

Verb.—To Barnumize is to talk or assert oneself in the style popularly attributed to Barnum.

Baronet, subs. (old).—A humorous variation for sirloin [of beef].

1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. IV., ch. x. The sight of the roast beef struck him dumb, permitting him only to say grace, and to declare he must pay his respects to the baronet, for so he called the sirloin.

Barrack-Hack, subs. (familiar).—1. In an inoffensive sense applied to young women who attend garrison balls year after year. So used there is no such imputation of lax morals as occurs in sense 2.

2. A soldier’s prostitute. There are but few classes of persons to whom a greater number of slang epithets have been applied than to the poor wretched creatures, who from 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. They run the gauntlet from the gilded courtezan to the veriest drab in the last stages of destitution and disease. The list of synonyms is both long and grim; the names in many cases speaking volumes on a subject which it would be painful as well as needless to pursue farther in this place, inasmuch as the epithets both in French and English, and, it must be added, those of other languages as well, speak with a brutal 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 horsebreaker; artichoke; columbine; common Jack; convenient; cow; crack; aunt; ladies of easy virtue; bangster; blowen; garrison-hack; bat; bawdy-basket; bed-fagot; fireship; bit o’ 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; unfortunate; dress-lodger; mauks; quædam (obsolete); woman; bitch; perfect lady; public ledger; necessary; warming-pan; nun.

French Synonyms. Une persilleuse (familiar); une mal peignée (popular: ‘a dirty ill-dressed woman; drab; or draggletail’); une moellonneuse (a prostitute who frequents builders’ yards); hirondelle de goguenot (military: ‘a barrack-hack’; in French soldiers’ slang un goguenot is a tin can used for making coffee or soup); un chausson (literally ‘a sock’ or ‘stocking’); almanach de trente six mille [131]adresses (popular: literally ‘a directory.’ Cf., English ‘public-ledger’); une génisse (popular: literally ‘a heifer.’ Cf., English ‘cow’); une raccrocheuse (popular: raccrocher, ‘to hook’); une vache à lait (popular: literally ‘a milch cow’); une fleur de macadam (popular: ‘a roadside flower’; ‘a street walker’); une roulante (popular: in old French slang un roulant = a vehicle. Cf., English ‘cab’); une camelote (popular: a prostitute of the lowest class; a draggletail); une morue (popular: literally ‘a cod-fish’); une marcheuse (popular: properly ‘a walker’; in theatrical parlance, a female super); une piqueuse de trains (popular: one who prowls about railway stations. Piqueuse = needlewoman); un pigeon voyageur (familiar: a girl who travels up and down a railway seeking clients; literally ‘a carrier pigeon’); une pieuvre (familiar: a kept woman; properly ‘an octopus’); un carcan à crinoline (popular: carcan, applied to either sex is an opprobrious epithet; the phrase also signifies ‘a gaunt-woman’); un omnibus (popular: i.e., ‘one who may be ridden by all’); un cul crotté (low: properly ‘a dirty bottom’); une trychine (popular: an allusion to trichina spiralis, the disease-germ in bad pork); une fenêtrière (popular: an allusion to the custom of this class to watch at windows and invite passers-by to visit them); une traîneuse (familiar: a prostitute who plies her trade at railway stations); un trumeau (popular: literally ‘a leg of beef’); une crevette (popular: ‘a prawn’ or ‘shrimp’); une boulonnaise (a girl who ‘walks’ the Bois de Boulogne); un matelas ambulant (popular: properly ‘a walking mattress.’ Cf., English ‘bed-fagot’); une demoiselle du Pont-Neuf (popular: this kind haunt the bridge of the name over the Seine); un demi-castor (popular: a woman of the demi-monde); une laqueuse (familiar: a prostitute frequenting the lake in the Bois de Boulogne); une pailletée (common: properly ‘spangled’); un pelican (familiar: a dressy courtesan); une ningle (a literary term); une maquillée (popular: ‘one with painted face’); une gueuse (popular: gueuse = beggarly, wretched); une fille or femme du trottoir (popular: ‘a girl’ or ‘woman of the pavement’); une vieille garde (familiar: an old worn-out prostitute); une biche (popular: ‘a hind’ or ‘roe’); une déhanchée (popular: ‘a waddler’); une demi-mondaine (general: a woman of the demi-monde; a fashionable prostitute); une portion (military: literally ‘a share’ or ‘portion’; one who is shared by many); une limace (popular: properly ‘a slug’); une terrinière (the lowest sort of prostitute; terrine = earthen pan); une terreuse (a woman who prowls about lonely spots); une terrière (popular); une fille à parties (popular); une rivette; une voirie (popular: ‘a common sewer’); une boule rouge (familiar: a frequenter of the Quartier de la Boule Rouge, Fanbourg Montmartre); une vessie (popular: a very low prostitute; vessie applied to either sex is an offensive epithet); une demoiselle de bitume (familiar); un pont d’Avignon (popular); une pontonnière (popular: a prostitute who plies [132]her trade under the arches of bridges; ponton = pontoon, ‘a bridge of boats’; pontonnier = ‘a toll gatherer’); une polisseuse de tuyaux de pipe (literally ‘a polisher of pipe stems’); une pompe funèbre (familiar: properly ‘funeral pomp’); une polisseuse de mâts de cocagne en chambre (popular: an extremely degraded variety of prostitute; literally ‘a polisher of greasy poles in a room’); une punaise (general: ‘a bug’—a public woman of the lowest grade); une dessalée (popular: literally ‘a knowing woman’); une mangeuse de viande crue (popular: ‘a devourer of raw meat’); une cité d’amour (literally ‘a city of love’); autel de besoin (popular: ‘an altar of necessity’; Cf., English ‘necessary’); une vésuvienne (familiar: literally ‘a vesuvian,’ either in allusion to the volcano or the well-known brand of matches; in either case the epithet comes very close to the old English slang ‘fireship,’ an old and diseased prostitute); peau, or peau de chien (popular: literally ‘dog’s skin’); un grenier à coups de sabre (a soldiers’ term: grenier, a granary; coups de sabre, thrusts with a broad sword); une rempardeuse (a woman who frequents the ramparts); une femme de terrain (a draggletailed woman; femme, woman, terrain, ground); une saucisse (popular: i.e., ‘a small sausage’); une trainée (familiar); une baleine (popular: ‘a whale’); une lésé-bombe (popular); une fille en brème (a registered prostitute; la brème is the card given to such women by the police); une fille en carte (a registered woman: see preceding); une boutonnière à pantalons (familiar: a kind of semi-prostitute; a sempstress who walks the streets at night; in their own words, they ‘work for their living, but do the naughty for their clothes’); une fille de maison or une fille à numéro (familiar: these names are given to girls in brothels; Cf., English ‘dress-lodgers’); une fille de tournure (familiar: this also is applied to the inmate of a brothel; literally ‘a girl of figure’); une poupée (popular: ‘a doll’); une mouquette (popular); des poules (popular: the inmates of a brothel are so called; literally ‘hens’); une galvaudeuse (popular: galvauder, ‘to scold’); une planche à boudin (familiar: literally ‘a slice of pudding’; in English harlotry ‘to take one’s pudding’ or ‘greens’ is to have sexual connection); une blanchisseuse en chemise (blanchisseuse = laundress; être dans la chemise de quelqu’un is to be constantly with one); un lard (literally ‘bacon’ or body); une gadoue (properly ‘street refuse’ or ‘mud’); un sommier de caserne (military: sommier means ‘hair-mattress,’ and caserne = ‘barracks’; applied to girls who prowl about barracks); une grivoise (this term is now obsolete, but was formerly applied to a garrison town prostitute. It means, literally, ‘a jolly canteen woman’); une paillasse à soldats (a barrack-hack; literally ‘a straw mattress for soldiers’); un passe-lacet (properly ‘a bodkin’—i.e., ‘something to be threaded’); un chameau (the term was originally applied to a gaunt, ungainly woman; it now signifies a prostitute also); un membre de la caravane (a [133]euphemism for un chameau, q.v.); un lolo (popular); une grue (popular: a kept woman; faire le pied de grue, ‘to dance attendance’); une soupeuse (literally ‘one who takes supper’; an allusion to the ‘cabinets particuliers’ of French restaurants); une belle petite (a young and pretty prostitute of the superior class; literally ‘a pretty darling’); une pêche à quinze sous (a literary term); une boulevardière (a superior class of prostitute frequenting the boulevards); un camélia (a kept woman; a reference to the heroine of La Dame aux camélias by A. Dumas fils); une lorette (a variety of prostitute named after the Quartier Notre Dame de Lorette, the Paris Pimlico); une petite dame (literally ‘a little lady’); une impure (a kept woman; properly ‘an unchaste one’); une agenouillée (journalistic); une verticale; une horizontale de grande marque (a fashionable courtezan); une cocotte (a generic term); une pierreuse (a public woman of the lowest grade who plies her hideous trade in houses in course of building, etc.); une chamègue; un bourdon (thieves’: literally ‘a drone’); une lipète (popular); une magneuse (popular: a woman who depraves herself with members of her own sex. The name is 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, who was the Seigneur de Magneux); une vielle lanterne (popular: an old prostitute; lanterne = ‘window’); une feuille (literally ‘a leaf’; the term is one used at the Saumur School 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 expression mettre à 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 à lait, a milch cow); un veau (literally ‘a calf’; the phrase is applied to a young prostitute. Cf., ‘vache à lait’); une retapeuse (popular); un wagon (popular: a dirty prostitute. Cf., wagon, ‘a railway carriage’ and un omnibus); une taupe (familiar: literally a mole, an animal that works in the dark; also ‘a cunning fox’); une Jeanneton (popular: a chambermaid at an inn); une andre (an old word; see Fourbesque landra); une roulure (popular: a public woman of the lowest description. Rouler signifies ‘to roll,’ ‘to wander,’ ‘to stroll,’ ‘to keep going’); une fille de barrière (popular: a prostitute plying her trade at the barriers or gates of the city); une dossière (thieves’: literally ‘a back’); une rouleuse (familiar: an abandoned woman; literally the name of a species of caterpillar); une paillasse à troufion (a soldier’s woman); une paillasse de corps de garde (military: literally ‘a guard-room mattress’); une marneuse (popular: a variety of low class prostitute frequenting the river-side; literally ‘clayey’); une Louis (a bully’s mistress; the allusion is to the fancy [134]which women in brothels often have of powdering and dressing the hair in the fashion of the times of Louis XV.); une ouvrière (also a ‘bully’s’ mistress. The term signifies, literally, ‘a workwoman.’ These wretched creatures support their companions who live and batten on what the woman earns in the sale of her person); une fesse (popular: properly ‘a breech’); une marmite (harlotry: ‘a flesh pot’); un torchon (a low class of woman; torchon = ‘a dish clout’); une sauterelle (familiar: ‘a grass-hopper’); un prat; une femme de cavoisi (thieves’: a well dressed prostitute of the boulevards); une louille; une larque (a registered woman; a corruption of largue); une menesse (a thieves’ term); une larguèpe; une magnuce (see une magneuse); une casserole (thieves’: literally ‘a saucepan’); une goipeuse (thieves’: a name given to prostitutes who wander about the country); une ronfle; une ronfle à grippart; un ronfleur (thieves’: ronfler is properly ‘to snore’); un grippeur (gripper = ‘to nab’; crib; clutch); une panterne; une bourre de soie (a kept woman; bourre = floss + soie = silk); un asticot (a bully’s or thief’s mistress; literally ‘a maggot’; it may be stated that asticot is also used for both the membrum virile, and for vermicelli); une panuche (thieves’: a term applied to showily dressed women who live in brothels); une calège (thieves’: a kept woman; cale, a kind of head-dress); une ponante (thieves’: a low-class prostitute); une môme or mômeresse (thieves’); une lutainpem (thieves’); une laissée (thieves’ and roughs’); une galupe (popular: a street walking prostitute); une ponife, poniffe, or poniffle (thieves’).

For German Synonyms, see Tart.

Italian Synonyms. Una 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 ‘a woman of the town’; indeed in most argots there seems to be little, if any distinction drawn between women of easy virtue, and the sex as a whole); una guagnastra (i.e., one who acts as a sheath; the allusion is obvious. Cf., English ‘broom’ and ‘broom-handle’ for the female pudenda and the male penis respectively); una marcona (said to be an allusion to a certain incident in the history of the Papal States); una landra (curiously enough this term signifying, in orthodox Italian, a prostitute is, in the Fourbesque, synonymous also with ‘woman.’ The French andre, a woman of the town, dates back to the sixteenth century); una brocca (literally a jug, pitcher, or stupid person); una brocchiera (from Italian brocchiere, ‘a buckler’ or ‘shield’); una baia (i.e., a mistress); una farfoia (also a nun, in which connection compare with English abbess); una chierlera (this term likewise is also used in the sense of a female devotee. Both the English and French slang have ‘nun’ as an equivalent for a prostitute); una carniera or carnifica (cant terms for a ‘sister,’ and ‘fox’ also); una cara [135](literally ‘dear.’ Cf., French belle petite, ‘little darling.’)

The Spanish Germania has gaya to signify a prostitute. This is an exact equivalent of the French fille de joie or ‘gay girl’; gaya in Spanish signifies ‘gay.’ Another name is found in germana, in explanation of which it may be briefly explained that the Spanish argot or Germania took its name from a band or brotherhood of thieves and robbers; and it would thus appear that germana, the name for a female member of the band was also used generically for a prostitute! Marca, or marquida and marquisa 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.

Barracking, subs. (Australian).—Banter; chaff. Cf., Barrikin.

Barrel-Boarder, subs. (American).—A loafer in low drinking-saloons.

Barrel-Campaign, subs. (American).—Political contests in which bribery and corruption go hand-in-hand with canvassing and voting. A wealthy candidate for office is said to have originated the phrase by remarking, ‘Let the boys know that 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.—See Boodle.

1884. Boston (Mass.) Journal, 1 Nov., 1. We are accustomed to barrel-campaigns here. Nobody supposes this district to be Democratic, but the Democrats depend upon carrying it with money.

1888. Florida Times Union, Feb. 11, p. 4. It will be remembered that Mr. Flower was the nominal candidate of the anti-Cleveland men four years ago, and with the aid of his barrel they really did achieve some show of success.

Barrel-Fever, subs. (popular).—An indisposition caused by excessive drinking. ‘He died of barrel-fever’; i.e., ‘he killed himself through drink.’ For synonyms, see Gallon distemper.

Barrel-House, subs. (American).—A low groggery.

1888. Missouri Republican, Feb. 11. The West-Side police are still arresting barrel-house loafers in the hope of catching an expert cracksman among them.

Barrell’s Blues, subs. phr. (military).—A nickname given 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.

Barres, subs. (gaming).—Money lost at play, but not paid. The term is an old one, and has long been obsolete. A corrupt form of ‘barrace,’ an obsolete plural of ‘bar.’

Barrikin, subs. (common).—Gibberish; jargon; a jumble of words. For usage, see quotation.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 15. ‘The high words in a tragedy we call jaw-breakers, and say we can’t tumble to that barrikin.’ Ibid, p. 25. Can’t tumble to your barrikin [i.e., can’t understand you]. Ibid, p. 27. The rich has all that barrikin to themselves.

Barring.—See To bar. [136]

Barring Out, subs. phr. (old).—Exclusion from a place by means of locks and bars. More particularly applied to a half serious but oftentimes jocular rebellion of schoolboys against the schoolmaster.

1728. 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.

Barrow-Bunter, subs. (old).—A barrow-woman; a female costermonger.

1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, i., 140. I saw a dirty barrow-bunter in the street cleaning her dusty fruit with her own spittle.

Barrow-Man, subs. (old).—1. A man who hawks his wares on a barrow; a costermonger. The 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 transportation.

Barrow-Tram, subs. (familiar).—An ungainly person; one awkward in gait, and coarse and rawboned in feature.

Barter, subs. (Winchester College).—A half volley. From the Warden of that name famous for disposing of them.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 133. What a noble game cricket must be when one loved it so much, notwithstanding the previous training! What genuine excitement when College and Commoners was played; what frantic shouting when Rapid got well hold of a ‘barter’ … and sent the ball from ‘Spanish Poplar,’ right over Mead’s wall by ‘Log pond.’

1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 327. Barter was the most popular boy of his day with his schoolfellows. Wonderful 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 cricket.

Hitting barters.—Practice catching; full pitches hit from the middle of ‘Turf’ towards Ball-Court for catching practice towards the end of ‘Long Meads.’

Bartholomew Baby, subs. (old).—A gaudily dressed doll, such as appears to have been commonly sold at Bartholomew Fair.—See Bartholomew-pig. Also applied to a person gaudily dressed.

1682. Wit and Drollery, p. 343.

Her petticoat of sattin,

Her gown of crimson tabby,

Lac’d up before, and spangl’d ore,

Just like a Bartholomew baby.

Bartholomew-Pig, subs. (old).—Roasted pigs, says Nares, were formerly among the chief attractions of Bartholomew Fair, West Smithfield, London: they were sold piping hot, in booths and on stalls, and ostentatiously displayed, to excite the appetite of passengers. Hence a Bartholomew-pig became a common subject of allusion: the Puritan railed against it. [137]

1614. B. Jons., Bart. Fair, i., 6. For the very calling it a Bartholomew-pig, and to eat it so, is a spice of idolatry.

Falstaff, in coaxing ridicule of his enormous figure, is playfully called by his favourite,

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV., ii., 4. Thou whoreson little tidy Bartholomew-boar-pig.

Dr. Johnson thought that paste-pigs were there meant: but the true Bartholomew-pigs were substantial, real, hot, roasted pigs; as may be seen throughout the above play of old Ben, where Ursula, the pig-woman, is no inconsiderable personage. Gayton also speaks of the pig-dressers.

Like Bartholomew Fair pig-dressers, who look like the dams, as well as the cooks of what they roasted.

Fest. 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 Bartlemew-pig,

That gaping lies on every stall,

Till female with great belly call.

The fair in its later days got to be a place of too much mobbing and riot for ladies in that condition. 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 even six shillings! This was surely as dear in James I.’s time, as a guinea lately. The highest price, of course, was to be asked of a longing woman. The fair was abolished in 1854, having been inaugurated in 1133.—Nares.

Barts., subs. (medical students’).—An abbreviation of ‘St. Bartholomew Hospital.’

Bash, verb (popular).—To beat; thrash; or crush out of shape. Possibly from the Scandinavian bask, a slap; ‘box’ also seems to have the same derivation. Chiefly appearing in the northern dialects, bash is regarded nowadays in the light of a vulgar colloquialism. Thieves use it synonymously with ‘to flog.’—See Bashing. In older writers the word appears as pash, the ‘p’ in this case being simply a harder form than ‘b.’ An alternative onomatopoetic derivation has, however, been suggested, the ‘b’ of such words as ‘beat’ and ‘bang’ being transferred to the terminal letters of ‘dash,’ ‘gash,’ ‘smash,’ etc.

1592. Nashe, Strange Newes, in wks. II., 272. A leane arme put out of the bed shall grind and pash euerie crum of thy booke into pin-dust.

1622. Massinger, Virgin Martyr, II., ii. Jove’s artillery shot down at once, to pash your gods in pieces.

1882. Daily Telegraph, Dec. 9, p. 2, col. 6. A man … told witness that he would earn a sovereign if he cared to give a certain woman—the complainant—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.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. xii. ‘If you have got bashed about pretty well since you came back, it’s been all your own fault, and you know it.’

1883. Standard, March 2, p. 6, col. 7. Mr. Hannay reminded her that when the summons was 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.

Amongst synonyms may be mentioned the English verb ‘bang,’ and the French bêcher, [138]which signifies properly to dig or break up ground.—See Tan.

Basher, subs. (pugilistic).—A prize-fighter. For synonyms, see Bruiser.

1882. Daily Telegraph, Dec. 16, p. 2, col. 6. According to the statement of the prosecuting solicitor, this was the man who undertook to point out to Leech, the professed basher, the woman whom he was to assault in Portland Street.

Bashi-Bazouk, subs. (popular).—A ruffian; and used loosely as a more or less mild term of opprobrium; also applied to anything bizarre in character or composition. The expression came into vogue during the period when the Bulgarian atrocities were electrifying the world by their barbarous cruelty. The Bashi-bazouks are properly irregular Turkish soldiery. They are collected hastily in times of emergency; and are, consequently, somewhat impatient 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 period above alluded to. So infamous have these levies become at times, that more than 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’-nine-tails. Prisoners condemned to this punishment at the commencement of their term are said by their companions to receive a bashing in; if they also undergo a flogging just previous to their release, it is called a bashing out.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 157. There were the evidences of former floggings, or bashings, as the prisoners call them.

Basils, subs. (old cant).—Fetters on one leg only.

Basin, subs. (American).—A schooner (q.v.).

Basing.—See That’s basing.

Basketed, ppl. adj. (old).—From this cockpit expression used of persons unable or unwilling to pay 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; ‘floored.’

b. 1788, d. 1841. Hook, Gerv. Skinner, ch. iii. Skinner was quite enchanted with the brilliancy of his guests, although now and then a little puzzled at their allusions; there jokes were chiefly local or professional, and very frequently my excellent friend Gervase was, to use a modern phrase of general acceptation, basketed.

1818. P. Egan, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 79. The fight was soon over after this circumstance, and the sweaters and trainers were completely in the basket!

1866. E. Yates, Land at Last.… And find you in his den, lighting it up like—like—like—I’m regularly basketed, by jove!

To be brought or to go to the basket, phr. (familiar).—To be imprisoned; to be reduced to poverty. A basket is here the symbol of daily provision, or alms. Formerly prisoners were dependent on charity for daily sustenance, and it was customary for them to let down [139]a basket by a string through the gaol windows, soliciting the alms of passers-by.—See also Angling for farthings.

1632. Massinger and Field, Fatal Dowry, v., 1. Pontalier [to Liladam, who is in custody for debt].

Arrested! this is one of those whose base

And abject flattery help’d to dig his grave;

He is not worth your pity, nor my anger;

Go to the basket, and repent.

1700. Gentleman Instructed [1732], p. 6. God be praised! I am not brought to the basket, though I had rather live on charity than rapine. [d.]

To be left in the basket, phr. (common).—To be rejected; abandoned; unchosen. Cf., second quotation.

1840. Barham, I. L. (House Warning).

Whatever he wants, he has only to ask it,

And all other suitors are left in the basket.

1874. Bell’s Life, 26 Dec. The pick of the basket, a compact young greyhound.

Basket-Making, subs. (old).—When enceinte a woman was formerly said ‘to have a kid in the basket.’ [Cf., Bay-window.] Hence basket-making to signify the act of copulation.

Bass, subs. (popular).—A familiar abbreviation for Bass’ ale, brewed at Burton-on-Trent.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, p. 23. The young gentleman exhibited great capacity for the beer of Bass, and the porter of Guiness.

1863. Oudia, Held in Bondage, I., p. 65. Those idle lads in the Temple, who smoke cavendish and drink Bass. Ibid, p. 126. Discussing Bass and a cold luncheon.

1868. Miss Braddon, Only a Clod, I., p. 138. A lot of fellows drinking no end of Bass.

18(?). Annie Thomas, A Passion in Tatters, I., p. 110. Bass that was not worthy of its name.

Baste, verb (colloquial).—To 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, properly ‘to sew together loosely,’ or ‘to apply fat or gravy to a joint,’ is, in its figurative usage, of more than passing interest when compared with anoint (q.v.), and other words employed in the same figurative sense. It is curious indeed to note the many synonymous analogues for a good beating or thrashing, all of which pertain more or less to slang. R. W. Hackwood [N. and Q., 7 S., vii., 153] mentions several, amongst others colting (q.v.), used by Marryat in Midshipman Easy. As bearing upon the general 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 writer.

1830. Marryat, King’s Own, ch. vii. ‘He always carried in his pocket a colt (i.e., a foot and a half of rope, knotted at one end and whipped at the other), for the benefit of the youngsters, to whom he was a most inordinate tyrant.’

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xii. ‘Then he colted me for half-an-hour, and that’s all.’

Colting like basting is of uncertain derivation. Comparing it, however, with analogous words, may we not take it, continues the writer referred to, as very closely associated [140]with, if not actually belonging to, the series of synonyms for the operations which derive their origin from the shoemakers, curriers, and allied trades, as we find it in ‘a leathering,’ ‘a strapping,’ ‘a tanning,’ ‘a welting,’ etc. Indeed, it is worth noting in this connection, from the number of epithets applied to the operation, what a deal of chastising has apparently been required in most trades and occupations, for nearly all—except, perhaps, the carpenter’s, where sticks are plentiful—appear to be represented, and even in the domestic circle one can have a choice of ‘a towelling,’ ‘a basting,’ ‘a clouting,’ ‘a rubbing down,’ ‘a dressing,’ ‘a trimming,’ or ‘a wiping’ when occasion requires.

1533. Bellenden, Livy, III. (1822), 223. He departit weil basit and defuleyeit of his clothing.

1599. Greene, George-a-Greene, in wks. (Grosart) XIV., 174. Ile baste you both so well, you were neuer better basted in your liues.

1605. Tryall of Chevalry, III., i., in Bullen’s Old Plays, iii., 305. But, had I knowne as much, I would have basted 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 fair Luce and I were winding,

He came and basted me with a hedge-binding.

1660. Pepys, Diary, July 22. One man was basted by the keeper, for carrying some people over on his back, through the water.

1754. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. To baste or bast … to beat, or bang soundly.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., xix., p. 328. ‘Hold your row, Davvy,’ he roared out, wrathfully: ‘you’d not like me to come back and give you a basting.’

Among some English Synonyms may also be mentioned:—to give a hiding; to give a walloping; to dust one’s jacket; to quilt; to tan; to set about; to walk into; to manhandle; to give one Jesse; to give one gas; to dowse; to pay.

For synonyms generally, see Tan.

Baster, subs. (American thieves’).—A New York cant term for a house thief.

Bastile, subs. (vagrants’).—A workhouse. For synonyms, see Big house. Probably from the Bastile, a famous prison; lock-ups for a long time being generically 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.

(Thieves’.)—A prison.—See Cage. Bastile in this sense is mentioned by Captain Grose [1785].

Bat, subs. (old slang).—1. A prostitute who plies 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. The equivalent French term, hirondelle de nuit, i.e., ‘a night swallow,’ is more poetic. For full lists of synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

2. (American.)—A spree; frolic; and sometimes a drunken bout. A contracted form of ‘batter.’

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, Aug. 7, p. 1. Mr. Pote: ‘I see in the evening paper [141]that a woman has been bitten by a bat, and afterwards died of lockjaw.’ Mrs. P. (tartily): ‘If she had been bitten by the kind of bat you went on when I was away last Saturday week, she would probably have died of delirium tremens.’

3. (athletic.)—Pace; speed (in walking, rowing, etc.). Partly also dialectical, especially Scotch, Craven, and Lincolnshire.

1887. Daily News, 18 August, p. 6, col. 3. Here they come, a mixed flock of birds full bat overhead.

To bat one’s eyes, phr. (American).—1. A South-western term which is explained 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 out.

Cf., Italian batter d’occhio, twinkling of an eye.

2. (American gaming.)—To look on but not to play. Cf., Bet.

Off or on one’s own bat, phr. (popular).—On one’s own account; by one’s own exertions. A figurative usage of a cricketing term; ‘off one’s own bat,’ is said of a score made by a player individually.

1845. Sydney Smith, Fragm. Irish Ch., wks. II., 340, 1. He had no revenues but what he got off his own bat. [M.]

1855. Lord Lonsdale, in Croker Papers (1884), vol. III., p. 325. Derby … would not make a Ministry from his own friends or his own bat.

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, ch. xxiii. ‘You have a weakness for the great world? Good. Score off your own bat, and it is the great world comes to you.’

1884. Sat. Review, March 8, p. 308, col. 2. He has in the most workmanlike manner, and off his own bat, lost for the Government an important seat by a crushing majority.

To carry out one’s bat, phr. (popular).—This also is derived from a cricketing expression. In the game it means to be not out, i.e., the last man in. 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.

1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. xxviii. 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.

Batchelor’s Son, subs. (old).—A bastard.

Bates’ Farm or Garden, subs. (thieves’).—Coldbath Fields prison. [From a warder of that name + a certain appropriateness in the initials, C.B.F., the prison initials, and used as a stamp = Charley Bates’ Farm.] When, formerly, the convicts were put to the treadmill in this prison, they were said to be ‘feeding the chickens on Charley Bates’ Farm.’ Newgate was also called Akerman’s Hotel, from a former governor, and a similar reason has caused the Melbourne gaol to be nicknamed Castilan’s Hotel by Australian thieves.

[Circa 1850, but date uncertain.]

Bates’ Farm.

Good evening pals, how do you do,

I thought I’d give a call,

And introduce myself to you,

For I’m glad to see you all.

I’m up to every little fake,

But in me there’s no harm,

For it was this blooming morning

That I left Old Bates’ Farm.

[142]

CHORUS.

Then, here’s success my knowing kids,

I’m filled with ev’ry charm,

I feel so gay this blessed day,

I’ve left Old Bates’ Farm.

Now, every morning when you rise,

You get a starving meal,

And if you don’t eat all they send

You have to work the wheel.

Then so merrily we go,

To chapel to have prayers,

And for a little pastime work

The everlasting stairs.

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,

And jumping on his chest.

Chorus.

So now I’ve got my liberty,

And once again I’m free,

I mean to ‘crack a crib’ to-night.

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. Go to Bath! phr. (familiar).—This popular saying appears to have two distinct readings, both of which, however, are traceable to the same source.

1. Go to Bath! i.e., an injunction to desist; to be gone; get out of my sight, or hearing, for you are mad or cracked—a forcible expression of incredulity, sometimes intensified by ‘and get your head shaved.’ The saying is applied to those who either relate crack-brained stories, or propose undertakings that raise a doubt as to sanity. The allusion is to the fact that, in former days, persons who showed symptoms of insanity were sent to Bath to drink the medicinal waters; the process of shaving the head being previously resorted to.

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 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 rem.

2. Hence, to become a beggar. Bath, especially in the latter part of the last century, and at the beginning of the present one, enjoyed a reputation for its fashion and baths: it was also, naturally enough, for this very reason, the resort of countless numbers of beggars. To go to Bath signified, therefore, amongst vagrants, to proceed to what was in reality one of the first centres of beggardom; presumably to solicit alms. Hence also an additional clue to the process of transition into sense 1. 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 throws some additional light upon the question.

1662. Fuller, History of the Worthies of England. Beggars of Bath.—Many 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 barn-door? 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 those who make them; it being impossible when the hungry belly barks, and bowels sound, to keep the tongue silent. And although oil of whip be the proper plaister for the cramp of laziness, yet some pity is due to impotent persons. 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, however, [143]stringent vagrant laws were in force.

1588. William Lambard, The Office of the Justices of the Peace, p. 334. Such two Justices may … License diseased persons (living of almes) to trauell to Bathe, or to Buckstone [Buxton], for remedie of their griefe.

Bathing Machines, subs. (nautical).—A name given to the old 10 ton brigs.—Russell’s Sailor’s Language.

Bat-Mugger, subs. (Winchester College).—A wooden instrument used for rubbing oil into cricket bats.

Bats, subs. (thieves’).—A pair of bad or old boots. Elworthy in West Somerset Words gives this as a heavy laced boot with hobnails.

Bats Down? (Winchester and general).—‘How many bats down?’ i.e., how many wickets have fallen?

Battels, subs. (University).—The weekly bills of students at Oxford. The derivation of the term has been the subject of much discussion, and is very uncertain. Murray says much depends on the original sense at Oxford: if this was ‘food, provisions,’ it is natural to connect it with ‘battle,’ to feed, or receive 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 undergraduates’ term that he should battel, i.e., obtain food in College on a certain number of days each week.

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 colleges. Some Oxford men of 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.

1853. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. vii. The Michaelmas term was drawing to its close. Buttery and kitchen books were adding up their sums total; bursars were preparing for battels.

(Eton.)—See quotation.

1798. H. Tooke, Purley, 390. Battel, a term used at Eton for the small portion of food which, in addition to the College allowance, the collegers receive from their dames.

Batter, subs. (common).—Wear and tear; e.g., ‘the batter is more than any human being can stand for long.’ [From 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 debauchery; this sense follows upon

To go on the batter, i.e., to walk the streets for purposes of prostitution; but cf., Bat. [144]

Battle of the Nile, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—A ‘tile’ = a hat. For synonyms, see Cady.

Battle Royal, subs. (colloquial).—A vehement quarrel.

1698. Howard, All Mistaken, Act i.

1st 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-royal.

18(?). Thackeray, Shabby Genteel Story, ch. vi. A battle-royal speedily took place between the two worthy mothers-in-law.

1865. Sketches from Cambridge, p. 137. Our brethren there [in Oxford] seem to be always indulging in battles-royal.

Battlings, subs. (public schools’).—A weekly allowance of money. At Winchester it is 1s., while at Repton it is only 6d.

1864. Household Words, p. 188. The business of the latter was to call us of a morning to distribute amongst us our battlings, or pocket-money.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 184. The expense was defrayed by the boys subscribing the last three battlings (i.e., the weekly shilling allowed each boy). This was 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, Præfect 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.

1883. Trollope, Autobiogr. (1883), I., 13. Every boy had a shilling a week pocket-money, which we called battels. [This is probably a misprint—the Winchester term, as that used at other schools, is battling. It was advanced out of the pocket of the second master.]

Battner, subs. (old).—An ox; beef being apt to batten or fatten those that eat it. ‘The cove has hushed the battner,’ i.e., has killed the ox.—Grose [1785].

Batty, subs. (general).—Wages; perquisites. Derived from batta, an extra pay given to soldiers while serving in India.—Hotten. Col. Yule says in Indian banking, agio or difference in exchange; discount on coins not current; or of short weight.

1824. T. Hook, Sayings and Doings, 1 S., Merton, ch. viii. Whether he could draw full batta in peace-time.

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, 5 S., ‘Batta.’ Batta or Batty (Hindustanee). Perquisites; wages. Properly, an allowance to East Indian troops in the field.

Baulk, subs. (Winchester College).—A false report (especially that a master is at hand), which is sported (q.v.), not spread.

(Popular.)—A false shot; a mistake.

Baum, verb (American Univ.).—To fawn; to flatter; to curry favour.—Hall’s College Words and Phrases.

Bawbels or Bawbles, subs. (old).—A man’s testicles. Originally, a provincialism. For synonyms, see Cods.

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 V., iii., 2, 25. Pist. Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould!… Good bawcock ’bate thy rage!

1861. H. Ainsworth, Constable of the Tower, p. 131. One of the gamesome little bawcock’s jests. [145]

Bawd, subs. (old).—A female procuress. A carted bawd meant one who had been placed in a cart and led through the town to make her person known to the inhabitants. Cf., Abbess. See also Cart and Barrack-hack for synonyms.

Bawde Phisicke.—See quotation.

1560–1. Awdeley, The XXV. orders of Knaues, (ed. 1869), p. 14. Bawde Phisicke, is he that is a Cocke, when his Maysters 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.

Bawdy Banquet, subs. (old).—Whoremongering. [From bawdy, lewd, + banquet.]

1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p. 63. ‘Where haue I bene?’ quoth he, and began to smyle. ‘Now, by the mas, thou hast bene at some baudy banquet.’

Bawdy Banquet, subs. (old).—A running after loose women; molrowing.

Bawdy Basket, subs. (old cant).—1. The twenty-third rank of canters (see Harman), who carried pins, tape, ballads, and obscene books to sell, but lived mostly by stealing,

1567. Harman, Caveat (ed. 1869), p. 65. These bawdy baskets be also 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 conneyskins and steale linen clothes of on hedges. And for their trifles they will procure of mayden seruaunts, when [leaf 20, back] their mystres or dame is oute of the waye, either some good peece of béefe, baken, or chéese, 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 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 Ione Messenger. I haue had good proofe of her, as I haue learned by the true report of diuers.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 39 (1874). [In list of orders of thieves], bawdy-baskets.

2. A prostitute; an alternative and earlier form of bawd (q.v.).

1589. Puttenham, Art of Eng. Poesie, bk. III., ch. xix.

Many a faire lasse in London towne,

Many a bawdie basket borne vp and downe:

Many a broker in a thridbare gowne,

Many a bankrowte scarce worth a crowne. In London.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 86. The victualers to the campe are women, and to those some are Glymerers, some bawdy-baskets, some Autem-Morts.

Bawdy House Bottle, subs. phr. (old).—A 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 man of their infernal beverages for his money, the kinder they behave to him.—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.

1606. Breton, Good and Badde, p. 14. Breton says of the ‘honest poore man,’—his trauell is the walke of the woful, and his horse Bayard of ten toes.

1662. Fuller, Worthies, Somerset (ii., 291). At last he [Coryat] undertook to travail into the East Indies by land, mounted on an horse with ten toes. [146]

Bay Window, subs. (common).—A slang phrase applied to women when pregnant, or men who have ‘corporations.’ The allusion is obvious.

B. C., subs. (common).—A name jokingly applied to a person who brings a trumpery action for libel against another. Dr. Brewer in Phrase and Fable thus, in effect, explains the allusion:—A 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 ‘cat’ but the B——, well, it was too shocking to utter, and the magistrate allowed her to whisper the word in his ear. It was a well-known word of 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 complaint was made for using it.

Beach-Cadger, subs. (old).—A beggar whose ‘pitch’ is at watering-places, and sea-ports. [From beach, the sea-shore + cadger, a beggar.]

Beach-Comber, subs. (nautical).—1. One who hangs about the sea-shore on the look-out for jobs. It was chiefly applied to runaway seamen, deserters 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.

1847. Blackwood’s Magazine, LXI., 757. A daring Yankee beech-comber. [M.]

1880. Athenæum, 18 Dec., p. 809, col. 2. The white scamps who, as 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 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 captain accosted him roughly. The 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 river boatman.

3. A thief who prowls about the sea-shore; a plunderer of wrecks; a picker-up of waifs and strays. This is derived from sense 4.

4. (American.)—A long wave rolling in from the ocean. Hence applied to those whose occupation it is to pick up, as pirates or wreckers, whatever these waves wash in to them.

Beach-Tramper, subs. (nautical).—A coastguardsman. [From beach, the shore of the sea + tramp, to walk along + er.]

Bead. To draw a bead [on one], phr. (American).—To attack an opponent by speech or otherwise. The phrase has passed into colloquial use from backwoods parlance, where it signifies the process of taking aim and firing. The front sight of a gun is in appearance like a bead.

1841. Catlin, North American Indians (1844), I., x., 77. I made several attempts to get near enough to draw a bead upon one of them. [147]

1870. Bret Harte, Society on the 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(?) S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p. 48. I was 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. If Jake’s not careful I’ll draw a bead on him. Very little more will make me go for him tooth and nail.

To raise a bead.—To bring to the point; to ensure success. The figure is taken from brandy, rum, or other liquors, which will not ‘raise a bead,’ unless of the proper strength.

1846. N. Y. Tribune, Letter from Ohio. The result was, if the convention had been then held, the party wouldn’t have been able to raise a bead. [b.]

Beagle, subs. (old).—A spy; informer; man-hunter; policeman; also a general term of contempt. [From beagle, a small hound, which tracks by scent, formerly used for hunting.]

1599. Myrr. Mag., Jack Cade, xix., 2. That restless begle sought and found me out. [M.]

1607. Dekker, Westward Hoe, Act iii., Sc. 4. Mon. I beseech you, Mistress Tenterhook,—before God, I’ll be sick, if you will not be merry. Mist. 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, you are good for nothing.

1837. Carlyle, French Revolution, III., vii., v., 377. Attorneys and Law-beagles, which hunt ravenous on this Earth.

Beak, subs. (old cant).—1. A policeman or guardian of the peace. As far as is known, this (as ‘beck’) is the oldest cant term for a member of a class of men, who, perhaps, above all others, have been the recipients of 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 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 magistrates, and an emblem of authority. This genesis appears to be based on the later and secondary sense of beak, a magistrate, a meaning which it still retains. But, against this must be placed the fact that, as the name for a 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 this date no instance of this sense has been found. If, therefore, beak originally signified 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 following quotations will give other illustrations, and also show that, meaning a policeman, the term has not long been obsolete.

1609. Dekker, a Gypsy song, in Lanthorne and Candlelight, etc.

The Ruffin cly the nab of the Harman beck,

If we mawnd Pannam, lap or Ruff-peck,

[148]

Or poplars of yarum; he cuts, bing to the Ruffmans.

Or else 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:

To the quier cuffing we bing,

And then to the quier-Ken to scowre the Cramp-ring,

And then to the Trin’de on the chates, in the lightmans,

The Bube and Ruffian cly the Harman beck and Harmans.

[This is thus ‘Englished’ by Dekker].

The Diuell take the Constable’s head,

If we beg Bacon, Butter-milke or bread.

Or Pottage, to the hedge he bids us hie,

Or sweares (by this light) i’th’ stocks we shall lie.

The Deuill haunt the Constable’s ghoast,

If we rob but a booth, we are whip’d at a poast.

If an ale-house we rob or be tane with a whore,

Or cut a purse that has iust a penny, and no more,

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 his stocks.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 6.

Land. Gentlemen vagabonds; the traps are abroad, and half a thousand beadles and beaksmen are now about the door.

Billy. De beak! oh curse a de beak!

Jemmy. Gemmen!—gemmen! (Knocking 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.

1840. Thackeray, Catherine, ch. x. 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 knew her company: there was something in the very name of a constable which sent them all a-flying.

English Synonyms. ‘Blue’ (traceable to Queen Elizabeth’s days when the colour of the uniform was the same as now); ‘men in blue’; ‘Royal Regiment of Footguards Blue’; ‘bluebottle’ (used by Shakspeare); ‘blew coate’ (also a Shakspearian term, and still in use); ‘Dogberry’ (an allusion to Much Ado about Nothing); ‘charley’ (one of the old watchmen); ‘bobby’; ‘peeler’; ‘copper’ (a thieves’ term, from ‘to cop’ to lay hold of); ‘crusher’ (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 following); ‘bulky’ (used by Bulwer Lytton); ‘philip’ (from a thieves’ signal); ‘cossack’; ‘philistine’; ‘frog’ (from pouncing upon criminals); ‘Johnnie Darby’ (a corruption of gendarme); ‘Johnnie’; ‘pig’ (a plain clothes man); ‘worm’; ‘nose’; ‘nark’; ‘dee’ (a detective); ‘tec’; the C.T.A. (a circus man’s term); ‘demon’ (Australian thieves’); ‘reeler’; ‘raw lobster’ (this like ‘blue,’ etc., would appear to be a reference to the colour of the uniform).

French Synonyms. Un rousse (popular 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 natural enemies); un roussin (thieves’: of same derivation as foregoing); un bâton de réglisse [149](popular: ‘a stick of liquorice’); un baladin (properly ‘a mountebank, juggler, or buffoon’); une cagne (popular: ‘a dog,’ i.e., ‘a worthless fellow,’ ‘a slut’; cagne or caigne in Old French signified ‘dog,’ and was derived from the Latin canis, whence caignot, ‘a little dog.’ It may also be noted that, prior to the establishment of the modern gendarmerie, the archers of the watch were known as chiens-courants); un cogne (thieves’: another form of cagne); un balai (hawkers’: properly ‘a broom, brush, or besom’); un serin (popular: properly ‘a canary’; serin is also slang for ‘a foolish fellow,’ ‘a greenhorn’); un pousse (thieves’: the guardians of public order formerly known in Paris as serjents or archers de l’écuelle were called pousse-culs); une vache (literally ‘a cow’); un arnif (thieves’); une peste (thieves’: literally ‘a plague’ or ‘torment’); une tronche â la manque; un flaquadard; un cabestan (thieves’: properly ‘a hand-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 (thieves’: a detective. Michel derives it from raillon, a weapon with which the police were formerly armed. Victor Hugo thought it came from the English word ‘rascal,’ but there seems little, if any, authority for this); un sacre (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’: ‘a warder’ or ‘military patrol’); un laune (thieves’); un flique (popular: also a petty police magistrate. Thought to be a corruption of friquet, another opprobrious term for a police man); un bec du gaz; un estaffier (familiar: also, among thieves, ‘a cat’); une bourrique (thieves’: also ‘an informer’); un pousse trottoir (pousse from pousser, ‘to push’; trottoir, a footpath); un lampion rouge (thieves’); un escargot de trottoir (popular: literally ‘a snail of the footpath’); un cierge (thieves’: properly ‘a wax taper’); un sergo (popular); 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 pince sans rire (thieves’: a sly, malicious person); un pot â tabac (popular: ‘a tobacco jar’); un singe de la rousse (singe = monkey, de la rousse, ‘of the police force’).

For German Synonyms, see Copper.

Italian Synonyms. Un’ zaffo (literally ‘a bung’ or ‘tipstaff’); un’ foco or un’ fuoco (literally ‘fire’).

Spanish Synonyms. Uno mastin (literally ‘a mastiff’ or ‘bulldog’; ‘a clumsy fellow’; ‘a clown’); una harpia (un harpeo = ‘grapnel’ or ‘grappling-iron’); una fiera (properly ‘a wild beast’).

2. (popular.)—A magistrate. Cf. foregoing, much of which has reference to this secondary meaning of beak. Sometimes Called a beak of the law. [150]

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. viii. ‘My eyes, how green!’ exclaimed the young gentleman. ‘Why a beak’s a madgst’rate.’

18(?) Hood, Tale of a Trumpet.

The pies and jays that utter words,

And other Dicky gossips of birds,

Who talk with as much good sense and decorum,

As many beaks who belong to the quorum.

1881. Punch, Dec. 3, 258. A pair of anti-vivisectionists. Sir Slangsby Jaunter. ‘See that old fellow, Miss Diana? That’s Doctor Katchett, who swears he’s going to find a cure for lunatics! Just got into trouble. Been trying the effects of extreme terror and bodily fatigue on a rabbit, and without chloroform, too, the old ruffian! And then he killed it, and dissected its brain. Going to be had up before the beak for it! Bow St., you know!’ 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!’

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., Oct. 12, p. 5, col. 2. Taken before some French beak whom he did not know, and an interpreter brought, the ‘cotched’ culprit was made to pay 20 f., his friend escaping because he was not caught red-handed.

An English Synonym is ‘queer cuffin’ (old cant).

French Synonyms. Un sapeur (thieves’: properly ‘a sapper,’ i.e., ‘one who undermines’ [one’s chances of wrong doing]); un pante en robe (pante in French slang is equivalent to ‘a man’ or ‘cove’; en robe = ‘in a robe’); un endormi (popular: properly ‘a sleepy-head’); un grignon (thieves’: probably from grigner les dents, ‘to show one’s teeth threateningly’; or from grognon, ‘grumbler,’ ‘growler’); un gerbier; un curieux (thieves’: i.e., ‘the curious one’; from the adj. curieux. Michel, however, adds that curieux formerly signified ‘a courtier’); un singe à rabat (thieves’: possibly rabat is an abbreviated form of rabat-joie, ‘a wet blanket.’ The phrase would then mean ‘a baboon with a wet blanket,’ ‘a damper’; or it may be derived from singe, a monkey + rabat, slang for ‘a cloak.’ Cf., singe de la rousse); un lustre (thieves’: properly ‘renown’; ‘distinction’); un pant’ de la magistrat’ muche (thieves’).

Italian Synonym. Un antigo (literally ‘an old one’; also ‘a master,’ ‘a boss’).

Spanish Synonym. Sombrador (thieves’ and popular: from sombra, ‘shade’; i.e., one who puts in the shade. Poner â la sombra is ‘to imprison’).

3. (popular.)—The nose. For synonyms, see Conk.

1598. Florio. Naso adunco, a beake-nose. [M.]

1854. Thackeray, Newcomes, I., 296. 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. E. C. Grenville Murray, The Member for Paris, I., p. 80. It was not the 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 rosette in his button-hole.

4. (Eton and Marlborough Schools.)—A master.

Beaker, subs. (thieves’).—A fowl. Sometimes shortened into beak. The derivation is obviously an illusion to the beak or horny mandibles of poultry. Formerly called cackling-cheat (q.v.), and by French thieves une estable, or une estaphle.

Beaker-Hunter, subs. (thieves’).—A poultry yard thief. Also beak-hunter. [151]

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 445. A poultry stealer. A beaker-hunter.

Beak-Gander, subs. (common).—A judge of the Superior Courts. [From beak (q.v.), a magistrate + gander, a humorous term for an old man.]

Beaksman, subs. (old).—See Beak (sense 1), of which it is an alternative form.

Beam Ends. To be thrown on one’s beam ends, phr. (nautical).—1. To be in bad circumstances; to be at one’s last shift; hard-up; a metaphor 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, or shifting of cargo, as to submerge her lee rail.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xl. In short, he laughed the idea down completely; and Tom, abandoning it, was thrown upon his beam ends again for some other solution. [h.]

1851. Henry Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., 121. When a fellow is on his beam ends, as I was then, he must keep his eyes about him, and have impudence enough for anything, or else he may stop and starve. [h.]

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.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green. You get on stunningly, gig-lamps, and haven’t been on your beam ends more than once a minute.

Bean or Bien, subs. (popular).—A sovereign. Formerly a guinea. In America five-dollar gold pieces are now called beans. See also Half-bean and Haddock of beans. In the old French cant, biens meant money or property. For synonyms, see Canary.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Bean, a guinea. Half-bean.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, 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 brown palm.

Full of beans, phr. (society).—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 venery; possibly, therefore, a more esoteric meaning may be attached to it than commonly supposed.—See Beany.

1889. Sporting Times, June 29. The tennis-ground [was] a pretty place, overlooking the harbour, and surrounded by trees and female beauty. The game began. ‘Ich dien,’ shouted Jack, as full of beans as the Prince of Wales’ plume, and immediately sent a ball which went bang through the window of an adjoining house.

To give beans, phr. (common).—To chastise; to give a good drubbing. For synonyms, see Tan.

Like beans, adv. phr. (common).—In good form, style, time, etc.; with force; a general expression of approval and praise. Cf., Like blazes, 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 little value. The allusion is to [152]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 old, not worth a bean being traced back to 1297.

To be beany, phr. (common).—To be in good humour—a metaphor also drawn from the stable.

To know beans, phr. (American).—To be well informed. The phrase is incorporated into many expressions in a very strange way; and is an allusion to the fondness of New Englanders in general, and Bostonians in particular, 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 beans, therefore, is to be sharp and shrewd; to be within the charmed circle of the ‘cultured elect’—in short to be fully equipped in the ‘upper storey.’

1888. Portland Transcript, March 7. The pudding was pronounced a success by each member of the assembled family, including a dainty Boston girl who, of course, knows beans.

1888. Chicago Herald. One has to know beans to be successful in the latest Washington novelty for entertainment at luncheons.

An alternative derivation may, however, be found in the English form.

To know how many blue beans make five white ones, phr. (common).—This is generally put in the form 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 many,’ etc.; in other words to be cute; knowing; wide awake.

1830. Galt, Laurie, T. (1849), II., i. 42. Few men who better knew how many blue beans it takes to make five. [M.]

1886. Zoological Comparisons, in Broadside Ballad.

Nature and art improves us, the girls with smiles are moving us,

Which very often ruin us there’s no gammon about that;

Then just as we begin to know ‘how many beans make five,’

The ladies call us puppies when we at that age arrive;

You may perchance become a deer, if in favour with some lass,

If not you’re called a donkey, and oftentimes an ass.

1889. Daily News, 4 Nov., p. 6, col. 5. Mr. Gladstone and The Saturday Review. Sir,—My master, who is a good Conservative, lends me The Saturday Review 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 add it on to the other, the difference is not 80, but 160. It is as simple as how many blue beans make five. I think some people are losing their wits faster than Mr. Gladstone.—I am, Sir, yours respectfully, A Schoolboy.

Three blue beans in a blue bladder.—Nares 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; clap-trap.

1600. Dekker, Old Fortunatus, iii., p. 128.

F. Hark, does’t rattle?

S. Yes, like three blue beans in a blue bladder, rattle, bladder, rattle.

1717. Mathew Prior, Alma (cant), I., v., 25.

They say——

That putting all his words together,

’Tis three blue beans in one blue bladder.

[153]

Bean Belly, subs. (old).—A nickname for a Leicestershire man; from a real or supposed fondness of the inhabitants of this county for beans.

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 have suggested its origin in the prominence of the bean goose, or even beans at these spreads; others refer it to the French bien, good, i.e., a good feast (by-the-bye, tailors call all good feeds bean-feasts); whilst others favour its derivation from the modern English bene, a request or solicitation, from the custom of collecting subscriptions to defray the cost. All three suggestions are, at the best, unsatisfactory, and numerous objections crop up at every turn to each of them. An annual outing of this kind is also called a wayzgoose (q.v.).

1882. Printing Times, 15 Feb., 26, 2. A bean-feast dinner served up at a country inn. [M.]

1884. Bath. Jour., 26 July, 6, 1. The annual grant of £20 for their bean-feast. [M.]

Bean-Feaster, subs. (common).—One who takes part in a bean-feast (q.v.).

1884. Cornh. Mag., Jan., 621. For the delectation of the bold bean-feasters. [M.]

Beano, subs. (printers’).—The same as bean-feast (q.v.).

Bean Traps, subs. (American thieves’).—A swell mobsman, or stylish sharper. Beans (q.v.) are five-dollar gold pieces, and the insinuation is obvious. In old English cant a bean meant a guinea, probably from the French biens, property.

Beany, adj. (common).—Full of vigour; fresh, like a bean-fed horse. Or, it may be an allusion to the meaning of venery, which Aristotle says was attached to the word beans.

1852. Kingsley, in Life (1876), I., 278. The very incongruity keeps one beany and jolly.

1870. Daily News, 27 July, 5. The horses … looked fresh and beany. [M.]

Bear, subs. (Stock Exchange).—1. 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. The phrase was probably at first ‘to sell the 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 pretty clear; of the date of its introduction, however, nothing is known. It was a common term in Stock Exchange circles, at the time of the bursting of the South Sea Bubble in 1720, but it does not seem to have become colloquial until much later. In these transactions no stock was passed, the ‘difference’ being settled according to the quotation of the day, as is the practice now in securities dealt with for ‘the account.’ At present the term for such an arrangement is time-bargain. [154]

1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 38, p. 3. Being at that General Mart of stock-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 ‘buyers of bear-skins.’ [M.]

1778. Bailey, Dictionary (24 ed.). To sell a bear, to sell what one hath not.

2. Hence a dealer who speculates for a fall. The earliest instance noted of this transferred usage is in

1744. London Magazine, 86. These noisy devotees were false ones, and in fact were only bulls and bears. [M.]

1768. Foote, Devil upon Two Sticks, Act i. A mere bull and bear booby; the patron of lame ducks, brokers, and fraudulent bankrupts.

1774. Colman, Man of Business, iv., i., in wks. (1777) II., 179. My young master is the bull, and Sir Charles is the bear. He 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.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iv. The hum and bustle which his approach was wont to produce among the bulls, bears, and brokers of Stock-alley.

1860. Peacock, Gryll Grange, ch. xviii. In Stock Exchange slang, bulls are speculators for a rise, bears for a fall.

1889. Ally Sloper’s H. H., Aug. 3, p. 242, col. 3. Mrs. Spingles says she 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.

The French Bourse equivalent is un baissier. See the analogous terms bull; stag; and lame duck.

3. (old.)—The pupil of a private tutor, the latter being called a bear-leader (q.v.). From the general roughness and uncouthness of boys; a reference to the heavy build and ungainliness of the plantigrade in question. Even now the youth of the rising generation are sometimes called ‘unlicked cubs.’ Also called formerly bridled-bear.

1832. Legends of London, II., 247. When I was the youthful bear—as the disciple of a private tutor is called at Oxford. [M.]

Verb.—To act as a bear (q.v.).

1861. New York Tribune, Nov. 29. There is no truth in the startling developments, implicating British officials, in the Herald’s despatch.… His Lordship is wholly guiltless of the charge which the Herald, in its anxiety to bear the market, has brought against him.

Are you there with your bears? phr. (colloquial).—A greeting of surprise at the reappearance of anybody or anything; are you there again; or, in the words of its most recent 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 for Forreine Travell, sec. 3. Another when at the racket court he had a ball struck into his hazard, he would ever and anon cry out, estes vous là avec vos ours? Are you there with your bears? which is ridiculous in any other language but English.

1740. Richardson, Pamela, III., 335. O no, nephew! Are you thereabouts with your bears?

1820. Scott, Abbot, xv. Marry, come up. ‘Are you there with your bears?’ muttered the dragon.

To play the bear, phr. (common).—To behave in a rough and rude manner.

1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., p. 473, col. 1. When we haue so turned all order vpsidowne … there is nothing but … playing the beare amongst vs. [155]

Bear a bob, verbal phr. (nautical).—1. To lend a hand; look sharp! look alive!

2. (popular.)—To aid, to assist, to take part in anything.

Bearded Cad, subs. (Winchester College).—A 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 the capacity.

Beard-Splitter, subs. (old).—A 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. The allusion is obvious.]

Bearer-Up.—See Bear up and Bonnet.

Bear-Garden Jaw, subs. (old).—Rough, unmannerly speech; talk akin to that used in bear gardens and other places of low resort. Quoted by Grose, 1785. [From bear-garden, a place set apart for bear baiting and other rough sports + jaw, talk or speech.]

1848. John Forster, Life of Oliver Goldsmith, bk. IV., chap. xi. He called Burke a bear-garden railer.

1871. Archibald Forbes, My Experience of the War between France and Germany, p. 301. The bear-garden-like Babel was rather more noisy than usual.

Be-Argered, adj. (familiar).—Drunk.

Bearing, ppl. adj. (Stock Exchange).—Acting as a bear (q.v.); or using artifices to lower the price of stock to suit a ‘bear’ account.

Bearings. To bring one to one’s bearings, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To bring one to reason; to act as a check. A nautical term.

Bear-Leader, subs. (old).—A travelling tutor. In the days when it was customary to send ‘young hopefuls’ on the Grand Tour, the expression was much more common and significant than is nowadays the case. The simile is taken from a person who leads about a tame bear for exhibition.

1749. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 4 June (1883), vol. II., p. 392. I shall not wonder if she takes me for his bear-leader, his travelling governor!

1756. Foote, Englishman Returned from Paris, Act i.

Serv. My young master’s travelling tutor, sir, just arrived.

Crab. … Shew him in. This bear-leader, I reckon now, is either the clumsy curate of the knight’s own parish church, or some needy highlander.

1812. Combe, Dr. Syntax, Tour I ch. xxiii.

And as I almost wanted bread,

I undertook a bear to lead,

To see the brute perform his dance

Through Holland, Italy, and France;

But it was such a very Bruin,

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .

I took my leave, and left the cub

Some humbler Swiss to pay and drub.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. vii. They pounced upon the stray nobility, and seized young lords travelling with their bear-leaders.

Bearskin-Jobber, subs. (Stock Exchange).—See Bear, subs., sense 1.

Bear Up, verb (common).—To cheat; to swindle in any way; more particularly applied to the action of ‘decoys’ and [156]confederates.—See Bonnet. The derivation is obviously from that sense of to bear up, signifying support or backing up.

1828. G. Smeeton, Doings in London, p. 40. The billiard-marker refused to make any division of the spoil, or even to return the £10 which had been lost to him in bearing up the cull.

1883. Referee, Dec. 2, p. 2, 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.

Beast, subs. (common).—1. Applied to anything unpleasant; or, to that which displeases; e.g., ‘It’s a perfect beast of a day,’ for ‘it’s an unpleasant day.’—See Beastly.

2. (American cadet.)—A name given to new cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.—See Snooker.

3. (Cambridge University.)—Anyone who has left school and come up to Cambridge for study, before entering the University, is called a beast, because ‘he is neither man nor boy.’

Beastly, adv. (popular).—In modern colloquial usage applied to whatever may offend the taste. Akin also to ‘awful,’ ‘everlasting,’ etc.—when used as mere intensitives, i.e., ‘very,’ ‘exceedingly.’ [Originally from beastly, of, or pertaining to the nature of a beast; hence, figuratively, brutish, irrational, unmanly; whence, through a series of transitions, its slang significations.]

1611. Dekker, Roaring Girle, wks., 1873, III., 159. I thought ’twould bee a beastly iourney.

1778. Johnson, in D’Arblay Diary, etc. (1876), vol. I., p. 37. ‘It moves my indignation to see a gentleman take pains to appear a tradesman. Mr. Braughton would have written his name with just such beastly flourishes!’

1865. Daily Telegraph, 24 Oct., p. 5, col. 3. He was in good health … looked almost ‘beastly well,’ as I once heard it described. [M.]

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. i. 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 with academical elegance—as ‘feeling beastly.’

Beast with Two Backs, subs. phr. (old).—Explained in second quotation.

1602. Shakspeare, Othello, Act i., Sc. 1. Brabantio: What profane wretch art thou? Iago: I am one, Sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with the two backs.

1785. Grose, Classical Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue. Beast with two backs, a man and woman in the act of copulation.

Beat, subs. (American).—1. This word is used in many ways, its precise meaning often depending on its qualifying adjective. It is said of both men and things; for example, a live beat is anybody or anything that surpasses another, and the sense is not derogatory in the least. A dead beat, on the other hand, is the name given to a man who 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].

1888. New York Tribune, May 16. As we pay big money for our special 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 [157]a live beat on the galoot ‘The Rip-snorter.’ Whoopee! Now is the time to subscribe.

1888. New York Mercury, Aug. 7. 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 pilot-boat, to get some peculiar news in his 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 ‘points’ in news.

2. (popular.)—The round of a policeman or watchman when on duty; one’s daily round of duty, work, etc.; and, figuratively, one’s sphere of influence.

1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Speculist, i., 211. The first evening I took my stand in Fleet Street, to look out for a fare, I was drove from street to street by women of my own profession, who swore I should not come in their beats until I had paid my ‘footing.’

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 31. The costermongers repaired to their ordinary beats in the suburbs.

1862. Saturday Review, 15 March, 295. Ask him why anything is so-and-so, and you have got out of his beat. [M.]

Faire sa nouveauté is said of a French prostitute when seeking fresh fields and pastures new.

Ppl. adj. (popular).—1. Overcome; exhausted; ‘done up.’ Generally dead-beat (q.v.). [A shortened form of beaten.]—See Beaten out.

1832. Moore, Jerome, etc., wks. II. (1862), 558. Till fairly beat, the saint gave o’er, [M.]

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffery Hamlyn, ch. xxxvii. ‘The lad was getting beat, and couldn’t a’gone much further.’

2. Hence also, figuratively, to be baffled; defeated.

Verb (American).—To swindle; to deceive; to cheat.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Ap. 12. Later he heard of her marriage to some lawyer or artist named Diss Debar. Previous to this she had been in Montreal and telegraphed that she was dying. She beat the hotel out of a hundred dollars.

Daisy beat (American thieves’).—A swindle of the first water; a robbery of magnitude.

To beat hollow—to sticks—to ribands—to fits—all creation—to shivers, etc. (popular).—To excel; to surpass.

1759. Townley, High Life Below Stairs, I., ii. Crab was beat hollow, Careless threw his rider, and Miss Slammerkin had the distemper.

1847. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1877), p. 55. Many ladies … were beat all to sticks by the lovely Odille. [M.]

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. i. Talk of climate! a real fine day in England, like a really handsome Englishwoman, beats creation.

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. i. I rode a race against Bob Dashwood the other morning, … and beat him all to ribands.

1879. Lowell, Poetical Works, 418. And there’s where I shall beat them hollow.

1889. Modern Society, 19 Oct., p. 1302. (How the Nobility live in Germany.) Germans beat the English hollow at drinking beer; the ladies drink it, and the children also, like milk; and it seems to agree with them, for they are 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.

The French say arriver bon premier, ‘to arrive’ or ‘be a good first.’ Cf., synonyms in A1.

To get a beat on is to get the advantage of. The same idea is expressed in the phrase to beat one’s way through the world; in other words, to push one’s interests with vigour and pertinacity. As used by thieves and their associates, to [158]get a beat on one, besides conveying the idea of obtaining an advantage, also implies that the point has been scored by underhand, secret, or unlawful means.

To beat the booby or goose, phr. (nautical).—To strike the hands across the chest and under the armpits to warm them. Formerly to beat Jonas.

1883. Times, 15 March, p. 9, col. 6. The common labourers at outdoor work were beating goose to drive the blood from their fingers. [M.]

To beat the road, phr. (American).—To travel by rail without paying.—See Dead-heads and To beat, sense 1.

That beat’s the Dutch!—See Dutch.

Beat Daddy Mammy (old military).—To tattoo; to practice the elements of drum beating.

Beaten Down to Bed-Rock, adv. phr. (American).—See Bedrock.

Beaten Out, ppl. adj. with adv. (common).—Impoverished; in one’s last straits; hard up.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 351. The beaten out mechanics and artisans, who, from want of employment in their own trade, take to making small things. Ibid, p. 400. The last class of street sellers is the beaten out mechanic or workman.

Beater-Cases, subs. (old).—Boots or shoes. Nearly obsolete. Trotter-cases (q.v.) is the usual term nowadays.—See Beaters.

Beaters, subs. (American).—The feet. [A transferred sense of beater, originally signifying one who ‘beat’ or walked the streets. Barclay, in Shyp of Folys (1509), speaks of ‘night watchers and beters of the stretes.’] For synonyms, see Creepers.

Beat the Hoof, verbal phr. (popular).—To walk; to plod; to prowl. [From beat, in the sense of to strike the ground in walking, etc., + hoof, a humorous term for the foot.] To beat the hoof is an older form of the modern pad the hoof (q.v.).

1596. 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.—

Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hailstones, go;

Trudge, plod away, o’ the hoof; seek shelter, pack!

1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II., 412. They all beated it on the hoof to London, [M.]

Beat the Rib.—See Rib.

Beau Trap, subs. (old).—1. A loose stone in a pavement, under which water lodges, and which, on being trodden upon, squirts it up, to the great damage of clean clothes.

2. (old.)—Also a well-dressed sharper, on the look out for raw country visitors and such like.

3. (old.)—A fop, well-dressed outwardly indeed, but whose linen, person, and habits generally, are unclean.

Beauty, subs. (American cadet).—A term applied, on the rule of contrary, to the plainest or ugliest cadet in the class at the United States Military Academy [159]at West Point. Cf., Snooker 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 beauty-sleep before twelve o’clock.

1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, ch. xv. ‘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.’

1869. Blackmore, Lorna Doone, ch. lxiv. 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.

1880. Jas. Payn, Confid. Agent, ch. iii. ‘You must get your beauty-sleep,’ cried he to his wife when Barlow had departed, ‘or you will have no colour in your cheeks to-morrow.’

Beaver, subs. (common).—1. An old term for a hat; goss or cady, however, is more frequently heard nowadays. At one time hats were made of beaver’s fur—hence the name; the term is still occasionally 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. Roy, Sat. To exalte the thre folde crowne Of anti-christ hys bever. [M.]

1661. Pepys, Diary, 27 June. Mr. Holden sent me a bever, which cost me £4 5s.

1712. Gay, Trivia, bk. II., l., 277.

The broker here his spacious beaver wears,

Upon his brow sit jealousies and cares.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. ix. ‘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. We 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.

In beaver, phr. (University).—In a tall hat and non-academical garb, as distinguished from cap and gown.

1840. New Monthly Magazine, lix., 271. 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.]

See also Bever.

Beck, subs. (old cant).—1. A constable.—See Beak and Copper.

2. A parish beadle. Apparently the term was applied to all kinds of watchmen.—See Harman-beck.

Verb (thieves’).—To imprison. Amongst Dutch thieves bekaan has the same signification, imprisoned.

1861. Reade, Cloister and Hearth ch. lv. 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.

Bed. To put to bed with a pickaxe and shovel (common).—To bury. For analogous expressions, see Ladder.

c. 1881. Broadside Ballad, ‘Hands off’—

Kitty Crea, some fine day, when I’m laid in the clay,

Put to bed with a spade in the usual way, [160]

And yourself on the shelf a neglected old maid,

Troth, your conscience will sting you, I’m greatly afraid.

Bedder, subs. (Cambridge University).—A charwoman; one who makes the beds and performs other necessary domestic duties for residents in college.

Bed-Fagot, subs. (familiar).—1. Applied contemptuously to a woman; Cf., ‘hussy,’ ‘witch,’ etc.

2. Synonymous with prostitute. For full list of analogous terms, see Barrack-hack.

Bedfordshire, subs. (familiar).—A humorous term for bed. There are several other phrases of a kindred character; as, for example, Sheet Alley (q.v.); Blanket Fair (q.v.); The Land of Nod (q.v.), etc.

1665. Cotton, Poet. Wks. (1765), 76.

Each one departs to Bedfordshire.

And pillows all securely snort on. [M.]

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.).

Lady Ans. I’m sure ’tis time for all honest folks to go to bed.

Miss. Indeed my eyes draw straws (she’s almost asleep).…

Col. I’m going to the Land of Nod.

Ner. Faith, I’m for Bedfordshire.

1845. 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.

Bed-House, subs. (common).—A 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 confuse; to bewilder. Probably a corrupt form of the old English verb ‘bedazzle,’ used by Shakspeare in Taming of the Shrew, iv., 5, 46. [1593.]

Bedpost. In the twinkling of a bedpost, phr. (familiar).—Instantaneously; with great rapidity. Originally in the twinkling of a bedstaff. 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 slipping on either side.’ Dr. Murray, however, points out that the great lexicographer gave no authority, and also that ‘no corroborative evidence has been found.’ Still it seems certain that bedstaffs were used and kept near beds for some purpose by our ancestors. Bobadil, in Every Man in his Humour [1596], uses one to display his skill with the rapier, and the following explanation has been suggested by Mr. Thomas Boys [Notes and Queries, 2 S., vi., 437]. The bedstaff 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 rapier, the wooden bedstaff may have afforded a very available as well as harmless implement. Suppose then the bedstaff to have been an upright peg or pin fitting into a hole or socket in the side of [161]the bedstead, and, in length, about equal to the rapier. The socket is a few inches deep; and the bedstaff has (to steady it) a projecting rim which overlays the socket like a lid. The part of the bedstaff which 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 a rapier; and, with this implement of wood, Captain Bobadil would have no difficulty in exhibiting his passado and stoccado. The rapier of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, moreover, 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 single-stick, would have been no bad instrument wherewith to indoctrinate a tyro in the noble art of self defence.

Hence, probably, if this be so, the derivation of the expression, in 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.

1660. Charac. Italy, 78. In the twinkling of a Bedstaff he disrobed himself … and was just skipping into bed. [M.]

1676. T. Shadwell, Virtuoso, I., i. ’Gad, I’ll do it instantly, in the twinkling of a bedstaff.

1698. Ward, London Spy, pt. XI., 259. Shake ’em off and leap into bed, in the twinkling of a bedstaff.

1854. F. E. Smedley, Harry Coverdale, ch. i. ‘I’ll adown and be with you in … the twinkling of a bedpost.’

Among English Synonyms may be included:—In a jiffy; in two two’s; in a brace of shakes; before you can say Jack Robinson; in a crack; in the squeezing of a lemon.

Between you and me and the bedpost, phr. (familiar).—A humorous tag to an assertion; i.e., ‘between ourselves’;—‘I know what you say, but, between you and me, etc. … the thing is absurd.’ Sometimes the last word is varied by ‘post,’ ‘door post,’ or ‘gate post’—any prop seems to serve.

1831. Bulwer Lytton, Eugene Aram, p. 234. Ah, sir, all very well to say so; but, between you and me and the bedpost, young master’s quarrelled with old master.

1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, p. 127. And between you and me and the post, sir, it will be a very nice portrait too.

1879. Punch, March 8, p. 108. Discussing an absent friend. ‘Yes, Robinson’s a clever feller, and he’s a modest feller, and he’s a honest feller; but betwixt you and i and the post, Mr. Jones,’ said Brown, confidentially, picking his wisdom tooth with his little finger nail, ‘Robinson ain’t got neither the Looks, nor yet the Language, nor yet the Manners of a Gentleman.’

‘Right you are, sir!’ said Jones, 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 T!’

Bedrock. To get down to bedrock [in anything; whether in an enquiry, or in one’s circumstances, etc.].—To the bottom; to the lowest level. A miner’s term, alluding to the solid rock underlying superficial and other formations. Therefore, metaphorically, ‘to reach bedrock’ [162]is to attain a solid basis or foundation; bedrock facts are the ‘chiels that winna ding’—the incontestible and uncontrovertible truth.

1870. Bret Harte, Poems and Prose, p. 113. ‘No! no!’ continued T. hastily. ‘I play this yer hand alone. To come down to the bedrock it’s just this,’ etc.

1875. Scribner’s Magazine, p. 277. Getting to the real character of a man is coming to the bedrock.

1888. Louisiana Press, March 31. Thomas J. Whiteman, of Carrol county, is a Republican candidate for Governor of Missouri. You can bet your bedrock dollar that the next governor of Missouri will be a white man, although his first name isn’t apt to be Thomas.

Bee. To have a bee in the head or bonnet, phr. (familiar).—To be possessed of queer ideas; ‘half-cracked’; flighty. This phrase is of considerable antiquity, being traced back to a Scotch writer, Gawin Douglas by name [1474–1521], Bishop of Dunkeld, who used it in a translation of Virgil’s Æneid.

1512–3 (translated: published in 1553). Gawin Douglas, Æneis, 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 a bee.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s, ch. xvii. ‘Maybe ye think the puir lassie has a bee in her bonnet; but ye ken yoursell if naebody but wise folk were to marry, the warld wad be ill peopled.’

1853. 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.

For synonyms, see Apartments to let.

1868. Dr. Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, p. 77, col. 2. You have a bee in your bonnet or your head is full of bees; [i.e.] full of devices, crotchets, fancies, inventions, and dreamy theories. The connection between bees and the soul was once generally maintained … the moon was called a bee by the priestesses of Cerës, and the word lunatic or moon-struck still means one with ‘bees in his head.’

Beef, subs. (common).—1. Human flesh (a transferred sense); i.e., obese; stolid; or fleshy like an ox.

1862. Cork Examiner, March 28. Chelmsford stood higher in the leg, and showed less beef about him. [M.]

2. (nautical.)—By a further transition beef has also come to signify men; strength; or ‘hands’; ‘More beef!’ a bo’sun’s exhortation to extra exertion.

1863. Cornhill Magazine. Feb., ‘Life on Board a Man of War.’ Useful at the heavy hauling of braces, etc., where plenty of beef is required. [M.]

3. (common.)—The penis. 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).—To wound with a sword.—Grose.

To cry or give beef, or hot beef, phr. (thieves’).—To give 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 out in one’s best raiment; in allusion to the [163]‘dressing’ of Christmas beef by butchers.

To make beef, phr. (thieves’).—To run away; to decamp. For synonyms, see Amputate.

Beef! intj. (Australian).—‘Stop thief.’ Cf., To cry or give beef.

Beef up! phr. (common).—‘Put on your strength!’ ‘Give a long pull and a strong pull!’

Beef-Brained, adj. (common).—Doltish; obtuse; thickheaded; a reference to the heavy, dullness of appearance of oxen.

Beef-Head, subs. (common).—A dolt; a stupid, thickheaded person. Cf., Beef-brained.

Beef It, verb (common).—Considered originally a provincialism, but now common. The 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 happens to be beef.

Beefment. On the beefment, adv. phr. (thieves’).—On the alert; on the look out.

Beef-Stick, subs. (military).—The bone in a joint of beef. At mess it is ‘first come, best served’; and those who come last sometimes get little more than the beef-stick.

Beef Straight.—See Straight.

Beef to the Heels, like a Mullingar Heifer, phr. (Irish).—A stalwart man, or a fine woman; i.e., one whose superiority is manifest from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot; literally, all beef down to the heels.

c. 1880. Rhoda Broughton, Cometh up as a Flower, p. 193. Dolly was not a fine woman as they say, at all; not beef to the heels, by any means; in a grazier’s eye she would have had no charm whatsoever.

Beef-Witted, adj. (common).—See Beef-brained.

1594. Nashe, Terrors of the Night, in wks. (Grosart) III., 257. Liues there anie such slowe yce-braind beefe-witted gull.

1863. Reader, 22 Aug. This British bull-neckedness, this British beef-wittedness. [M.]

Beefy, adj. (common).—Fleshy; unduly thick, or obese. [From beef + y: a transferred sense.] Also beefiness, subs., 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.

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xi. To see him in his huge shirt-sleeves, with his awkward beefy hands hanging inanely by his side, and his great foolish mouth open.

Bee-Line. To take or make a bee-line [for a place or object], phr. (originally American; now common).—To go direct; ‘as the crow flies’; without circumlocution. Bees, when fully laden with pollen, make for the hive in a straight, or bee-line. One of the American railways is called the Bee-Line Road from the direct route it takes between its termini. Cf., Straight shoot. [164]

1848. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers.

The field of Lexin’ton where England tried

The fastest colors thet she ever dyed.

An’ Concord Bridge, thet Davis, when he came,

Found was the bee-line track to heaven an’ fame,

Ez all roads be by natur’, ef your soul

Don’t sneak thur shun-pikes so’s to save the toll.

1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. v. How they could follow an enemy’s trail, or strike a bee-line through unpathed woods to the point they sought!

1875. Miss Bird, Six Mos. in Sandwich Islands, Lett. xxix., p. 275 (1886). Horses cross the sand and hummocks as nearly as possible on a bee-line.

1884. Aldridge, Ranch Notes, p. 78. The cattle are in great dread of this pest [the heel-fly], and the instant an animal feels one, it hoists its tail in the air, and takes a bee-line for the nearest water.

Beelzebub’s Paradise, subs. (popular).—Hell; the infernal regions. Beelzebub is a frequent mis-reading for Beelzebul, the name given by the Jews to the prince of demons. The usage occurs in the New Testament at Matthew x., 25, and xii., 24–27, where Beelzebub should read Beelzebul. The former is properly the god of the Philistines, worshipped as the destroyer of flies [from Hebrew baal, lord + zebub, a fly]; whilst the latter is an opprobrious change on the former [from Hebrew baal, lord + zebul, dung].

Been in the Sun, adv. phr. (common).—A synonym for ‘drunk,’ in connection with which see Screwed. An allusion to a flushed, heated appearance.

Been Measured for a New Umbrella, phr. (American).—Said sportively of anyone appearing in new, ill-fitting 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 whom it was said that nothing fitted him but his umbrella.

Been There. Oh, yes, I’ve been there, phr. (American), i.e., ‘I know what I am about.’ A popular exclamation. When it is said of a man that he has been there, shrewdness, pertinacity, and experience are implied. A variant may be found in the equally slang expression, ‘he got there all the same.’—See Got there.

1888. Atlanta Constitution, May 4. The Japanese 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 meaning, however, is attached to the phrase. Women suspected of clandestine meetings with men are said to have been 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 of tick,

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, ‘got enough for a beer?’ ‘Enough for a beer?’ repeated Pitcher. ‘Good 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!’

Verb.—To drink beer; also, to get drunk. [165]

1780–6. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’) Odes R. Acad., wks., 1794, I., 105. He surely had been brandying it or beering, that is, in plainer English, he was drunk. [d.]

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 good measure of self-esteem.

1840. De Quincey, Style, wks. XI., 174. [I] should express her self-esteem by the popular phrase, that she did not think small beer of herself.

Beer and Bible, phr. (political).—An epithet applied sarcastically to a political party which first came into prominence during the last Beaconsfield Administration. It was called into being by a measure introduced by the moderate Liberals in 1873, with a view to placing certain restrictions upon the sale of intoxicating drinks. The Licensed Victuallers, an extremely powerful association, whose influence extended all over the kingdom, took alarm, and turned to the Conservatives for help in opposing the bill. In the ranks of the latter were numbered the chief brewers; the leaders of the association, moreover, had mostly strong high church tendencies, while one of them was president of the Exeter Hall organization. The Liberals, noting these facts, sarcastically nicknamed this alliance the Beer and Bible Association; the Morning Advertiser, the organ of the Licensed Victuallers, was dubbed the Beer and Bible Gazette; and lastly, electioneering tactics ascribed to them the war cry of beer and bible! This so-called beer and bible interest made rapid strides: in 1870 the Conservatives were at their low water mark among the London constituencies; but, in 1880, they had carried seats in the City, Westminster, Marylebone, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, and Southwark. A notable exception to this strange fellowship was Mr. Bass [afterwards Lord Bass], of pale-ale fame, who held aloof from opposition to the measure in question. Anent the nickname Beer and Bible Gazette given to the Morning Advertiser, it may be mentioned that it had already earned for itself a somewhat similar sobriquet. For a long time this paper devoted one-half of its front page to notices of publicans and tavern-keepers; while the other half was filled up with announcements of religious books, and lists of preachers at the London churches and chapels. This gained for the paper the equally singular sobriquet of the ‘Gin and Gospel Gazette.’

Beer and Skittles. Generally, Not all beer and skittles, phr. (familiar), i.e., not altogether pleasant, or couleur de rose. A tap room simile, the allusion being to drinking beer and playing at skittles at one and the same time.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 138. But football wasn’t all beer and skittles to the Fags. There was an institution called ‘Kicking in,’ which, while it lasted, was much worse than ‘watching out’ at cricket, although it had the very great merit of not continuing so long; for, even on a whole holiday, we seldom had more than two hours of it.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., Aug. 13, p. 6. Prince George of Wales is ‘learning his [166]profession,’ and finds it is not all beer and skittles. That run across the Channel into Queenstown harbour showed our young naval officer the difference 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 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 hammock, and towards evening wrote to his Royal Father a description of the perils of the deep.

Beer-Barrel, subs. (common).—The human body. Cf., Bacon.

Beeriness, subs., Beery, adj. (common).—Pertaining to a state of, or approaching to drunkenness; intoxicated; fuddled with beer. For synonyms, see Screwed.

1857. Dickens, Dorrit, bk. I., ch. viii., p. 56. The stranger was left to the … beery atmosphere, sawdust, pipe-lights, spittoons, and repose.

1877. D. C. Murray, in Belgravia, July, p. 73. There was a beery and bloated captain, resident in the inn, who had left the army, as the rumour ran, under disreputable auspices.

1889. Modern Society, July 13, p. 838. 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 Macduff.’ We 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.’

Beer-Jerker, subs. (American).—A tippler.—See Jerker and Slinger.

Beerocracy, subs. (common).—The brewing and beer-selling interest. [A humorous appellation in imitation of aristocracy. From beer + [o] cracy, from Greek κρατέω, to rule, to hold.]

1881. World, 19 Jan., p. 10, col. 2. The startling mixture of peerage and beerocracy … was absent this time. [M.]

Beer-Slinger.—See Slinger; also Jerker.

Beeswax, subs. (old).—1. Poor, soft cheese. Sometimes called sweaty-toe cheese (q.v.).

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob: Now, landlord, ’arter that ’ere drap 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? 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.

1849. Bell’s Life. [From Baumann.] A burster with a slice of beeswax.

2. A bore; one who ‘buttonholes’ another. Generally, Old beeswax.

Beeswaxers, subs. (Winchester College).—Thick boots used for football. Probably from being smeared with beeswax or other substitute for rendering footgear supple. Pronounced Bĕswaxers.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 137. Our costume consisted of a jersey, flannel trousers, beeswaxers (lace-up boots), or ‘High-lows’ (low shoes), with two or three pairs of ‘Worsteders’ (thick worsted stockings), the feet of all but one pair being cut off. [167]

Beeswing, subs. (common).—A gauzy film or ‘crust,’ in port wines, the result of age. [From bees + wing; so called from its appearance when broken up in the process of decanting.] Hence also beeswinged.

1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, III., p. 26. Scott from under bushy eyebrows winked at the apparition of a beeswing.

1850. D. Jerrold, The Catspaw, Act i. Whereupon, the animal spirits are held in suspense, like—like the beeswing in port.

1873. Fitzedward Hall, Modern English, p. 32. This port is not presentable unless beeswinged.

Old beeswing, subs. (common).—A nickname for anyone, but especially for one who ‘takes to his liquor kindly’ as the saying goes.

18(?). Mark Lemon, Golden Fetters, II., p. 74. Mr. Clendon did not call Mr. Barnard ‘old cock,’ ‘old fellow,’ or old beeswing.

Beetle-Crusher or Beetle Squasher, subs. (popular).—1. A large foot. The term was popularised by Leech in the pages of Punch. For synonyms, see Hoof.

2. In a transferred and now more common sense to that originally obtaining, a large boot or shoe. Also Beetle-cases. For synonyms, see Trotter-cases.

1869. W. Bradwood, The O.V.H., ch. xxi. Writhing yet striving to look pleasant on the infliction which the beetle-crusher of a recent arrival had just inflicted on his pet corn.

c. 1880. Rhoda Broughton, Cometh up as a Flower, II., p. 200. Yes, but what horrible boots! Whoever could have had the atwocity to fwame such beetle-crushers.

3. (military.)—An infantry soldier; the term is applied to them by the cavalry. A variant is Mud-crusher, which see for synonyms.

Beetle-Crushing, adj. (popular).—With solid tread, such as comes from large heavy feet encased in boots or shoes to match; e.g., the marching of infantry. Cf., Beetle-crusher, sense 3.

1876. Anteros, I., p. 188. The possibility floated before him, now, of sending all his live and dead stock into the market,—of exchange into a sedate beetle-crushing corps.

Beetles, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Colorado mine shares.

1887. Atkins, House Scraps.

Oh supposing our creamjugs were broken,

Or beetles were sowing the babies.

Beetle-Sticker, subs. (common).—An entomologist.

Before the Wind, phr. (colloquial).—In prosperous circumstances; out of debt or difficulty. From the nautical expression.

Begad! intj. (common).—A corruption of ‘By God!’ and, as such a euphemistic oath.—See Oaths.

1742. Fielding, J. Andrews. Begad! madam … ’tis the very same I met.

1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, II., iv., 39. Only one, begad! in the world.

Beggared. I’ll be beggared if, etc., phr. (common).—An emphatic form of asseveration; i.e., ‘I’ll give up everything, even to being reduced to beggary, if,’ etc.

Beggar-Maker, subs. (old).—A publican. [168]

Beggars, subs. (cards’).—The small cards from the deuce to the ten are so called.

Beggar’s Bolts.—See Beggar’s bullets.

Beggar’s Bullets or Bolts (old).—Stones.

1584. Hudson, Judith, in Sylvester’s Du Bartas (1608), 698. A pack of country clowns … that them to battail bownes, with begger’s bolts and levers. [M.]

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. ‘The beggar’s bullets began to fly’; i.e., they began to throw stones.

Beggar’s Bush. To go home by beggar’s bush, phr. (old).—To go to ruin; otherwise explained as follows.

1686. Twelve Ingenious Characters. He throws away his wealth as heartily as young heirs, or old philosophers, and is so eager of a goal, or a mumper’s wallet, that he will not wait fortune’s leisure to undo him, but rides post to beggar’s bush, and then takes more pains to spend money than day-labourers to get it. [N.]

1868. Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase 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.

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. London Gazette, No. 2379, page 4. A person … in a dark grey Cloth Coat.… Breeches of Beggar’s Plush. [M.]

Beggar’s Velvet, subs. (common).—Downy particles which accumulate under furniture from the negligence of housemaids. Otherwise called sluts’-wool (q.v.).

Beggar the Thing! intj. (common).—Equivalent to ‘confound’ or ‘hang the thing’—used to give additional emphasis to a word or action.

Begin Upon [a Person], verb (common).—To attack; to assault.

Begosh! B’gosh! intj. (American).—An expletive, probably of negro origin; a half veiled oath; a corruption of ‘By God!’—See Oaths.

1888. The Epoch, May 5. Art dealer (descanting on the virtues of the picture). ‘You will observe, sir, that the drawing is free, that—’ Agriculturist. ‘Well, if the drawin’s free an’ you don’t tax me too much for the frame b’gosh I’ll take it.’

Behind, subs. (common).—1. The posterior; the rump.

c. 1830. George IV., in Saturday Review (1862), 8 Feb. Go and do my bidding—tell him he lies, and kick his behind in my name. [M.]

2. (Eton and Winchester Colleges.)—A back at football. At Eton called short behind and long behind, usually abbreviated to ‘short’ and ‘long.’ At Winchester, second 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.

Behind One’s Side, adv. phr. (Winchester College).—Said of a man when nearer the opponent’s goal than the player of [169]his team who last touched the ball.

Beilby’s Ball, subs. (old).—An Old Bailey execution.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Beilby’s Ball,—‘he will dance at Beilby’s Ball, where the sheriff pays [for] 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 discovery of the philosopher’s stone, and diverse other desiderata yet undiscovered.’

Bejan, Baijan, etc., subs. (Scotch University).—A freshman; a student of the first year at the Universities of St Andrew’s and Aberdeen: it is now obsolete at Edinburgh. [From the French bec jaune, yellow beak, in allusion to the color of the mandibles of young birds.] The term was adopted from the University of Paris; but, signifying ‘a novice’ it has been in more or less general use for nearly three hundred years. At Aberdeen, the second-class students are ‘semi-bejans’; in the third ‘tertians’; while those in the highest rank are ‘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.

1611. Cotgrave. Bejaune, a novice … or young beginner, in a trade or art.

1865. G. Macdonald, Alec Forbes, ch. xxxiv. The benches were occupied by about two hundred students, most of the freshmen or bejans in their red gowns.

1887. Standard, Feb. 10, p. 5, col. 2. The term baijan, used in one of the Scottish universities to designate a freshman, is from the French bec jaune, yellow beak—young birds having usually bills of this hue.

Belch, subs. (common).—Beer, especially poor beer. So called because of its liability to cause eructation. The term is probably much older than indicated by quotations. One of Shakspeare’s characters in Twelfth Night is Sir Toby Belch, a reckless, roystering, jolly knight of the Elizabethan period. For synonyms, see Swipes.

1698. Ward, London Spy, pt. XV., p. 347. Those Poor Sots who are gussling belch at his own Ale-house.

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. VII., p. 18.

I sneak’d into a little house,

Where porters do their belch carouse.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Belch (s.), common beer or ale sold in publick houses is so called.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Belch, all sorts of beer, 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.’

Belcher, subs. (pugilistic).—A neckerchief named after Jim Belcher, a noted pugilist. The ground is blue, with white spots. Also, attributatively, to any handkerchief of a similar pattern. For synonyms, see Fogle.

1812. Examiner, 21 Sept., 607, 1. The traverser … tied a belcher handkerchief round his neck.

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.

1874. Macmillan’s Magazine, April, p. 506. The spotted blue and white neckerchief, still called a belcher, bears the name of a famous prize fighter.

2. (thieves’.)—A ring. Described in quotation. [170]

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 399. The best sort of rings for fawney dropping is the belchers. They are a good thick looking ring, and have the crown and V.R. stamped upon them.

3. (circus and showmen.)—A drinker of beer; generally a hard drinker. Cf., Belch.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 99. Now it is well known that travelling mummers are all rare belchers … I kept them in conversation … until the drink took the desired effect, and one by one the princes and kings dropped on the grass floor, and were sound drunk and asleep.

Belial, subs. (Oxford University).—A nickname of Balliol College.

Believe. I believe you, phr. (common).—This phrase is frequently employed to signify general assent; ‘yes.’ Sometimes colloquially ‘I believe you my boy’; once a favourite catch-phrase of a well-known actor.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 286. ‘Now confess: were you not a little surprised?’—‘I believe you,’ replied that illustrious person.

1849–50. Thackeray, Pendennis, I., p. 140. ‘Miss Rouney, I gather, was the confidante of the other.’ ‘Confidant? I believe you.’

1860. George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, p. 199. ‘Is she a cross woman?’—‘I believe you.’

1879. Dudley Costello, The Millionaire of Mincing Lane, p. 204. ‘And she hates that fellow?’—‘Hates him? I believe you.’

Bell, subs. (vagrants’).—A song. Tramps’ term. Simply diminutive of bellow.—Hotten.

Verb (schoolboy).—To bell a marble is to run away with it, but the action scarcely amounts to actual theft.

To ring one’s own bell, phr. (American).—A variation of ‘to blow one’s trumpet’; to sound one’s praises personally.

Bell-Bastard, subs. (provincial slang).—In the West of England the illegitimate child of a woman who is herself illegitimate; why and wherefore is obscure, though possibly a corruption of ‘double bastard.’

Bellmare, subs. (American).—A political leader, mostly used contemptuously. The term is a slang appropriation from the terminology of Western life, where it seems to be used in regard to mules much in the 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.

Bellows, subs. (popular).—The lungs. This, etymologically, is the same as ‘belly,’ both words having passed through a most complicated history. Properly speaking a bellows is an instrument constructed to produce a strong current of air, and the [171]word itself can be traced back to about A.D. 800. Its figurative and slang signification is recorded as follows:—

1615. Latham, Falconry (1633), 115. The lungs doe draw a breath.… When these bellowes doe decay, then health from both doth fade away, [M.]

1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, Act v., Sc. 2., p. 75 (2 ed.). Heark 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.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3.

A plague on those malty cove fellows,

Who’d have us in spirits relax;

Drink, they say, and you’ll ne’er burn the bellows,

Half water instead of all max;

A glass of good max, had they twigg’d it,

Would have made them, like us, lads of wax;

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,

And, by Jingo, there’s nothing like max.

All Max!

By Jingo, there’s nothing like max!

1843. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), Sam Slick in England, ch. xxii. He [the servant] is so fat and lazy … walkin’ put him out o’ breath.… How I would like to lick him … round the park … to improve his wind, and teach him how to mend his pace. I’d repair his old bellowses for him, I know.

Though regarded as slang in England, the word is colloquially used in many parts of America, in the duplicated plural form—bellowses.

1848. J. R. Lowell, in Biglow Papers, I., p. 23. His bellowses is sound enough.

Bellowsed, ppl. adj. (old).—Transported; lagged. Cf., Bellowser, sense 2.

Bellowser, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A blow in the pit of the stomach, or wind—one that takes the breath away.

2. (old.)—A sentence of transportation for life.

1856. Novels and Tales (from Household Words), Tauch. ed. vi., p. 187. A sigh of the kind which is called by the lower classes a bellowser.

Bellows to Mend, 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 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!’

Bell-Rope, subs. (common).—The same as aggerawators (q.v.).

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v., ‘Love lock.’ When men indulge in a curl in front of their ears, the love-lock is called a bell-rope—i.e., a rope to pull the belles after them.

Bells Down! intj. (Winchester College).—See quotation and Bells go single!

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 62. The junior in chamber had a hard time 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 down!

Bells go Single! intj. (Winchester College).—A single bell is rung for five minutes before the hour at which chapel commences. For College evening chapel three three’s are rung, and then follows a ‘bell,’ one for every man in College—70.

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.… [172]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 ‘bells down.’… Presently the head-master … 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 through,’ ‘Williams,’ or ‘Ridding in.’ Straightway there would be a general rush, the college-boys darting across the quadrangle in the rear of the Præfect of Chapel; while the Commoners hurried in, keeping up a continuous stream from their more distant quarters.

Bellswagger.—See Belswagger.

Bell-Topped, Bell-Knobbed, ppl. adj. (harlotry).—Said of a man whose penis is considerably thicker at the top end than at the root or middle.

Bell-Topper, subs. (popular).—A silk hat. [From bell, alluding to the shape, + top, from its position when worn, in relation to the rest of the body + er.] For synonyms, see Golgotha.

1885. G. A. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, Aug. 5, p. 5, col. 4. His very bell-topper hat had been garlanded with flowers.

Belly-Ache, subs. (vulgar).—A pain in the bowels; a colic.

1881. New York Times, Dec. 18, quoted in N. and Q., 6 S., v., 65. Bellyache. To grumble without good cause. Employés bellyache at being overworked, or when they fancy themselves underfed, etc.

Belly-Bender, subs. (American).—A boy’s term for weak and unsafe ice.

Belly-Bound, adj. (vulgar).—Constipated; costive.

Belly-Bumper or Belly-Buster. To take a belly-buster, phr. (American).—To ride down a hill in a sled lying on one’s stomach, an amusement confined, it hardly needs saying, to young America. The idea of toboganning was derived from this boyish pastime, and the oaken board has been succeeded by the fleet-winged toboggan, made of seasoned maple with handsomely upholstered seats. With the advent of improved ice vehicles the interest in these sports has increased, and instead of being confined to the vulgar boys who used to ride down hill belly-buster fashion, men and even the most fashionable women now partake of this pleasant and invigorating pastime. Also belly-bumbo, belly-guts, or gutter, belly-flounders, belly-flumps, and belly-plumper.

1888. Chicago Inter-Ocean. Barney has a sled, on which he hauls the fish in snowy weather. Barney had his sled out yesterday, belly-bumping on a little patch of ice and snow.

Belly-Button, subs. (American).—The navel.

Belly-Can (political).—Explained by quotation.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Mar. 28. 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 word ‘belly-can,’ which is (according to the opponents of Sunday Closing) the plebeian counterpart of the more genteel ‘small cask’—both things 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 by Mr. Cavendish Bentinck:—The ‘belly-can’ was a tin vessel not unlike a saddle in shape, which men and women, generally the latter—let hon. members note that—got filled with beer [173]and secreted about their clothes, an averaged-sized can holding about four quarts. A more aristocratic method of private Sunday drinking was by means 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 even 100 empty casks.

Belly-Cheat or Belly-Chete, subs. (old).—An apron; also food. [From belly + slang cheat, a thing; from Anglo-Saxon ceat, a thing.]

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, wks. (1885) III., 196. A belly-chete, an apron.

1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, II., i. Each man shall eat his own stol’n eggs and shall possess what he can purchase—back or belly-cheats.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Belly-cheat, an apron.

Belly-Cheer or Belly-Chere, subs. (old).—Food. This term is of considerable antiquity, as also is belly-cheering for eating and drinking. For synonyms, see Grub.

1559. Eliotes Dictionarie. Abdomini indulgere, to geve hym selfe to bealy-chere.

1612. Rowlands, Knaves of Spades, etc. Gluttonie mounted on a greedie beare, To belly-cheere and banquets lends his care.

1699. Coles, English Dictionary. Belly-cheer, Cibaria.

Belly-chere.—See Belly-cheer.

Belly-Chete.—See Belly-cheat.

Belly-Full, subs. (old).—1. A sound drubbing; a thrashing.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 265. The 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; if the serjeants meet you, you may have swaggering work your belly-full.

1666. Pepys, Diary, Oct. 28. He says that in the July fight, both the Prince and Holmes had their belly-fulls, and were fain to go aside.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xvi. Bunker’s Hill, where, Mr. Slick observed, ‘the British first got a taste of what they afterwards got, a belly-full.’

2. A woman with child was also formerly said to have her belly-full.—See Belly-up.

Belly-Furniture, subs. (old).—Food; something wherewith to furnish the belly. Cf., Belly-timber, Back-timber, etc.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, bk. I., ch. v. (Bohn’s), i., 110. Then did they fall upon the victuals, and some belly-furniture to be snatched at in the very same place.

Belly-go-Firster, subs. (pugilistic).—An initial blow, generally given, say some authorities, in the stomach—whence its classic name!

Belly-Gut, subs. (old).—A lazy, greedy fellow.

1540. Morysine, transl., Vives’ Introd. Wisd., viij. Such as be skoffers, swell feastes … bely guts. [M.]

1733. 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?

Belly-Guts, subs. (American schoolboys’).—1. In Pennsylvania, molasses candy.

2. (American.)—Equivalent to belly-bumper (q.v.).

Belly-Hedges, subs. (Shrewsbury School).—In school steeple-chases, obstructions of such a height that they can easily be cleared—i.e., about ‘belly-high.’ [174]

Belly-Piece, subs. (old).—1. An apron. Cf., Belly-cheat.

1689. Shadwell, Bury Fair. If thou shoulds cry, it would make streaks down thy face; as the tears of the tankard do upon my fat host’s belly-pieces.

2. A mistress; a concubine; a whore.

1630. Randolph, Jealous Lovers. Asot: Come, blush not, bashfull belly-piece—I will meet thee: I ever keep my word with a fair lady. I will requite that jewell with a richer.

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 ladies for that expedient. The plea still holds good, execution of female convicts in ‘an interesting condition’ being deferred until after accouchement. In practice, it really means a commutation of the death penalty for life imprisonment. All chances, however, of becoming enceinte after arrest are sedulously guarded against by the rules of modern prison life.

Belly-Plumper, subs. (American).—See Belly-bumper.

Belly-Timber, subs. (old).—Food; provisions of all kinds. [From belly + timber.] This, like many other words of its class (e.g., 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 dramatists employed it seriously; toward the end of the seventeenth century it began to be used in a ludicrous and vulgar sense. Butler employs it thus, and in Charles Cotton’s Scarronides (1678), the hero we are told—

Lay thinking now his guts grew limber,

How they might get more belly-timber.

For synonyms generally, see Grub.

1614. Terence in English, Annona cara est. Corne is at a high price; victuals are deare; belly-timber is hard to come by.

1637. Massinger, Guardian, III., iii.

Ador. Haste you unto my villa, and take all provisions along with you.…

Car. Trust me for belly-timber.

1663–78. S. Butler, Hudibras.

Through deserts vast,

And regions desolate they pass’d,

Where belly-timber, above ground

Or under, was not to be found.

1719. Poor Robin’s Almanack, Feb. On the 10th day of this month, being Shrove-Tuesday, is like to be a great innundation of belly-timber.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 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.’

Belly-Up, adv. phr. (old).—Applied to women when enceinte. From the protrusion of the abdomen which takes place under such circumstances.—See Belly-full.

Belly-Vengeance, subs. (common).—Sour beer, apt to cause gastralgia. The French call this pissin de cheval, i.e., ‘horse urine.’ For synonyms, see Swipes. [175]

Belongings, subs. (colloquial).—1. Qualities; endowments; faculties.

2. Relations; one’s kindred.

3. One’s effects; or possessions. In sense 1 belongings has long been an accepted word; senses 2 and 3 are given by Annandale as ‘colloquial and vulgar.’

1852. Dickens, Bleak House. I 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 belongings. [M.]

4. (American.)—Used by the prudishly inclined for trousers.—See Bags.

Below the Belt, adv. phr. (popular).—To strike a man below the belt is to hit him unfairly, 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 back.’

Belswagger, subs. (old).—1. A lewd man; a whoremaster; a pimp. [Thought to be a contracted form of belly + swagger, i.e., a man given up to bodily pleasure. Ash has both forms.]

1775. Ash, Dictionary. Belswagger, a whoremaster.

2. A bully; a hectoring fellow. This is the older, but least important usage.

1592. Greene, Defence of Coney-Catching. … the belswaggers of the country.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bellswagger, a noisy, bullying fellow.

Beltinker, subs. and verb (common).—A beating; a drubbing. To thrash; to beat soundly.—For synonyms, see Tan.

Bemused, ppl. adj. (common).—Fuddled; as in the stupid stage of drunkenness. [From be + muse + ed, originally to be sunk in reverie, or contemplation.] The expression as generally used now is bemused with beer. This phrase, originally used by Pope, was given a new impetus by G. A. Sala (in Gaslight and Daylight). In America, especially, it caught the popular fancy and ran a brief but riotous course throughout the Union to signify one who addicted himself to ‘soaking’ with beer. The transatlantic usage naturally reacted 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. Pope, Prol. Sat., 15. A parson much be-mus’d in beer.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. viii. A fat little man, primed with port, but who, when not thus bemused, is an influential member of his committee.

1883. R. L. Stevenson, The Treasure of Franchard, ch. iv., in Longman’s Mag., April, p. 694. So while the Doctor made himself drunk with words, the adopted stable-boy bemused himself with silence.

For synonyms generally, see Screwed.

Ben, subs. (theatrical).—1. A benefit; a performance of which the receipts, after paying expenses, are devoted to one person’s special use or benefit.

1872. Miss Braddon, Dead Sea Fruit, I., 190. ‘I have played clown [176]for my ben,’ murmured the great Dr. Mortemas.

1880. G. R. Sims, Ballads of Babylon (Forgotten). You saw me as Hamlet, Charley, the night that I had my ben.

2. (old cant.)—A fool.—Grose.—See Benish.

3. (common.)—A shortened form of Benjamin (q.v.), a coat; also of benjy (q.v.), a waistcoat.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap 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 per gross, and sell them at 1s. 6d., 1s. 3d., and the lowest price at a shilling each. I had a bale containing 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 stand ben (popular).—To stand treat.

Benar.—See Bene.

Benbouse, subs. (old cant).—Good beer. [From the Latin bene = good + bouse or booze.]

1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p. 85. The vpright cofe canteth to the Roge: ‘I saye by the Salomon I will lage it of with a gage of benebouse; then cut to my nose watch.’ [‘I sweare by the masse, I wull washe it of with a quart of good drynke; then saye to me what thou wylt.’]

1622. John Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush.

I crown thy nab with a gag of benbouse,

And stall thee by the salmon into clowes,

To maund on the pad and strike all the cheats,

To mill from the Ruffmans, and commission and slates.

Twang dell’s, i’ the stiromel, and let the quire cuffin

And Herman Beck strine and trine to the Ruffin!

i.e.,

I poure on thy pate a pot of good ale,

And by the Rogue’s oath, a Rogue the install,

To beg on the way and rob all thou meets,

To steal from the hedge both the shirt and the sheets,

And lie with thy wench in the straw till she twang,

Let the Constable, Justice, and Devil go hang!

Bencher, subs. (old).—A frequenter of taverns; one who hulks about public houses; perhaps with an allusion to the Benchers of the Inns of Court.

Ben Cull or Cove, subs. (thieves’).—A friend; a ‘pall’; a companion. [From old cant bene or ben, good + cull, a man.] For synonyms, see Cove.

Bend, verb (Scotch).—To tipple; to drink hard. Jamieson, the first lexicographer to draw attention to the word in its slang sense, illustrates his example by quotations from Alan Ramsay. Murray suggests that it is derived from that sense of to bend, signifying ‘to pull,’ ‘to strain,’ ‘to apply oneself.’

1758. A. Ramsay, Poems (1800), I., 215. Brawtippony … which we 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. Ramsay, Remin., Ser. 1 (ed. 7), 47. Bend weel to the Madeira at dinner, for here ye’ll get little o’t after.]

Above one’s bend, phr. (common).—Above one’s ability, power or capacity; or out of one’s reach. Probably a corruption of ‘above one’s bent.’ Shakspeare puts the expression in the mouth of Hamlet, ‘to the top of my bent’ (iii., 2). In the Southern States [U.S.A.], its place is generally taken by above my huckleberry (q.v.). An English equivalent is ‘above one’s hook.’ [177]

1848. J. F. Cooper, The Oak Openings. It would be above my bend to attempt telling you all we saw among the red skins.

Grecian bend (popular).—A craze amongst women which had a vogue from about 1872 to 1880. It consisted in walking with the body bent forward.

1876. Chambers’ Journal, No. 629. Your own advocacy for the Grecian bend and the Alexandra limp—both positive and practical imitations of physical affliction.

On the bend, phr. (common).—In an underhand, oblique, or crooked way—not ‘on the square.’

1863. J. C. Jeaffreson, Live It Down, II., 152. I never have paid anything 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.

Bender, subs. (popular).—1. A sixpence. 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. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 178. Sixpence. A bender.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlii., p. 367. ‘Will you take three bob?’ ‘And a bender,’ suggested the clerical gentleman.… ‘What do you say, now? We’ll pay you out for three-and-sixpence a week. Come!’

1869. Whyte Melville, M. or N., p. 66. A ragged boy established, at the crossing, who had indeed rendered himself conspicuous by his endeavours to ferry Puckers over dry-shod, was accosted by a shabby-genteel and remarkably 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.

Among synonymous terms for this coin may be mentioned cripple; bandy; crookback; downer; fyebuck; lord of the manor; tanner; sprat; kick; half a borde; tizzy.

2. (Scotch.)—A hard and persistent drinker; a tippler. This should be compared with bend.

1728. Ramsay, Poems (1848), III., 162. Now lend your lugs, ye benders fine, wha ken the benefit of wine.

1810. Tannahill, Poems (1846), 53. Or benders, blest your wizzens weetin’.

3. (public schools’.)—In public school phraseology a bender is a stroke of the cane administered by the master while the culprit bends down his back.

4. (common.)—The arm. In connection with this see the following, and for synonyms, see Chalk Farm.

5. (American.)—A drinking bout or spree, in the course of which, to use another slang expression, ‘the town is painted red,’ and the participants decidedly unbent. This is possibly derived from any one of the three following sources:—(1) from the Scotch usage; (2) from the facetious name given to the arm, which becomes a bender from being so frequently bent or ‘crooked’ to lift the glass to the mouth; (3) from the Dutch bende, an assembly, party, or band.

1854. Putnam’s Monthly, Aug.

I 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.

I led her through the festal hall,

Her glance was soft and tender;

She whispered gently in my ear,

‘Say, Mose, ain’t this a bender?’

1864. Richmond Dispatch, 3 Jan. ‘Most of the owners of these names had [178]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 having the jimjams and then sobering up.

6. (American.)—A euphemism employed by the squeamishly inclined for the leg. A similar 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 great freedom extended to American girls and women is 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 indelicate for women to have legs, 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, however, have little part in such prudery.

1849. Longfellow, Kavanagh. Young ladies are not allowed to cross their benders in school.

7. (schoolboys’.)—The bow-shaped segment of a paper kite.

1873. Dr. Blackley, Hay Fever, p. 145. The first kite was 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 semi-circular top or bender.

Over the bender, phr. (common).—A variant of ‘over the left shoulder’; the connection between bender, a slang term for the arm, and the shoulder is sufficiently apparent. There are many analogous expressions, which see under Over the left.

Intj.—An exclamation of incredulity; also used as a kind of saving clause to a promise which the speaker does not intend to carry into effect. Probably an abbreviated form of over the bender.

Bendigo, subs. (common).—A rough fur cap named after a notorious pugilist.

Bend Over, intj. (Winchester College).—A direction to put oneself into position to receive a ‘spanking.’ This is done by bending over so that the tips of the fingers extend towards the toes, thus presenting a surface as tight as a drum on the part to be castigated.

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 vyle to nyp a bong. [i.e. What, hold your peace good fellow and speak better words, and let us go to London to cut, or steal a purse.]

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Ben, good.

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

[179]

Is benar than a Caster, Peck, pennam, lay

Or popler.

i.e.,

A quart pot of good wine

In a drinking house of London

Is better than a cloak, meat, bread, butter milk (?) or porridge.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11, list of cant words in. Bien, good.

1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. iii., p. 265. ‘I’ve brought a couple of bene coves, with lots of the Queen’s pictures in their sacks’ [pockets].

Subs. (old cant).—‘Stowe your bene,’ i.e., ‘hold your tongue.’ See quotation above from Harman’s Caveat.

Bene-Bouze.—See Benbouse.

Bene-Cove.—See Ben-cull.

Bene Darkmans! intj. (old cant).—Good night! French thieves say sorgabon, an inversion of bonne sorgue.

Benedick, subs. (familiar).—1. A sportive name for a newly-married man; especially one who has long been a bachelor. Apparently, however, there is some confusion in the usage (see sense 2). The name was derived from Shakspeare’s character in Much Ado About Nothing.

1599. Shakspeare, Much Ado About Nothing, v., 4, 100. Don Pedro. How dost thou, benedick, the married man?

1805. Rev. J. Marriott, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), I., 239. From what I have seen of his lordship, both as a bachelor and as a benedick.

2. A bachelor. Cf., foregoing.

1843. Life in the West. He is no longer a benedic, but a quiet married man.

1856. C. Bronté, Professor, ch. xxiv. ‘Are you married, Mr. Hunsden?’ asked Frances, suddenly.

‘No. I should have thought you might have guessed I was a benedick by my look.’

Bene Feakers, subs. (cant).—Counterfeiters of bills.—Grose.

Bene Feakers of Gybes, subs. phr. (cant).—Counterfeiters of passes.—Grose.

Bene or Bien Mort, subs. (old cant).—A fine woman; a pretty girl; a hostess. [From bene, old cant for ‘good,’ + mort, a canting term for a woman.]

1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 85 (ed. 1869). A bene mort hereby at the sign of the prauncer. [i.e., The Horse.]

1671. Richard Head, The English Rogue.

Bing out, bien morts, and ture and ture,

Bing out, bien morts, and toure;

For all your duds are bing’d awast,

The bien cove hath the loure.

i.e.,

Go forth, brave girls: look out, look out,

Look out, I say, good maids,

For all your clothes are stole, I doubt,

And shar’d among the blades.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. ‘Tour out,’ said the one ruffian to the other; ‘tour the bien mort twiring at the gentry cove.’

1823. Scott, Peveril of the Peak, ch. xxxvi. Why the bien morts will think you a chimney-sweeper on May-day.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. [See first stanza of canting song on page 80 ante.]

Beneship.—See Benship.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p. 86. The vpright man canteth to the Roge. Man! ‘That is beneshyp to our watche.’ [That is very good for vs.]

Beneshiply, adv. (old cant).—Worshipfully.—Grose. [180]

Ben-Flake, subs. (thieves’).—A steak.

Bengal Tigers, subs. (military).—The Seventeenth Foot; so nicknamed from its badge of a royal tiger granted for services in India from 1804–1823. Also called ‘The Lily-Whites’ from its facings.

1874. Chambers’ Journal, p. 801. The 17th … the Bengal Tigers, from their badge—a tiger.

Bengi, subs. (military).—An onion.

Bengy.—See Benjy.

Benish, adj. (old cant.)—Foolish.—See Ben, sense 2.

Benjamin, subs. (Winchester College).—1. A small ruler.

2. (thieves’.)—A coat. It is said to have been derived from a well-known London advertising tailor of the same name. Formerly this garment was called a Joseph, but for synonyms, see Capella. An upper Benjamin = a great coat.

1815. T. Peacock, Nightmare Abbey, p. 159. His heart is seen to beat through his upper Benjamin. [M.]

1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. Benjamins, and great-coats, and cloaks of all sorts and sizes.

1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lix., p. 181 (1888). The coachman … with narrow-rimmed hat and fashionable Benjamin.

1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 7 March, p. 3, col. 2. [Quoting East-end slang.]

Ben Joltram, subs. (provincial).—Brown bread and skimmed milk; a Norfolk term for a ploughboy’s breakfast.—Hotten.

Benjy, subs. (nautical).—1. A low crowned straw hat having a very broad brim.

1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, p. 14. Benjie, the name of a straw hat worn by sailors.

2. (common.)—A waistcoat. Also ben (q.v.). For synonyms, see Fan.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Benjy, a vest.

Bens, subs. (American).—A workman’s slang term for his tools. In England called alls.

Benship or Beenship, subs. (old cant).—Worship; goodness. This word, evidently from beneship (q.v.), is given by Bailey in his Dictionary [1728], and by Coles in 1724.

Adv. (old cant).—Very good.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. Benship, very good.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr.). Benship, very good.

1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). Benshiply, very well.

Beong, subs. (thieves’ and costermongers’).—A shilling. [From Italian bianco, white; also the name of a silver coin.] For full list of synonyms, see Deaner.

Beray, verb (old cant).—To defile; to befoul; to abuse.

Berkeleys, subs. (common).—A woman’s breasts. [It may be noted that in the gypsy, berk, or burk = breast; plural, berkia.] For synonyms, see Dairies.

Bermudas, subs. (old).—A district in London, similar to Alsatia in Whitefriars (q.v.), and the Mint in Southwark, privileged against arrests. The Bermudas are thought to have been certain [181]narrow and obscure alleys and passages north of the Strand, near Covent Garden, and contiguous to Drury Lane; see, however, the second quotation where the Mint would seem to be indicated.

1616. Jonson, Devil’s an Ass, II., 1. Meercraft. Engine, when did you see my cousin Everhill? keeps he still your quarter in the Bermudas? Eng. Yes, sir, he was writing this morning very hard.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack 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 molestation. Whitefriars had lost its privileges; Salisbury Court and the Savoy no longer offered places of refuge to the debtor; and it was, therefore, 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.

As regards the derivation of the name, Nares suggests it in the actual practice, which obtained of debtors fleeing to the Bermuda Islands, when first discovered, to elude their creditors. This fact is alluded to in the following. Cf., second quotation already given.

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 Bermudas.

Berthas, subs. (Stock Exchange).—The nickname in the ‘House’ and among brokers for the ordinary stock of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company.

1889. The Rialto, Mar. 23. The week opened very badly on the Stock Exchange, and two or three days of utter 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, advances were made ranging from 2½ in Berthas to an average of 1 in Americans. Tintos climbed to 12¼, and even Kaffirs raised their sickly heads. All the little bulls went home happier than they have been for three weeks.

Berwicks, subs. (Stock Exchange).—The ordinary stock of the North Eastern Railway.

Bespeak-Night, subs. (theatrical).—A benefit.—See Ben.

Bess.—See Betty.

Bess-o’-Bedlam, subs. (old).—A lunatic vagrant.

1821. Scott, Kenilworth, ch. xxvi. ‘Why, what Bess of Bedlam is this, would ask to see my lord on such a day as the present?’

Best. To best one, verb (common).—1. To obtain an advantage; to secure a superior position in a contest or bargain. The meaning of to best, therefore, is really ‘to worst.’ In this sense, not necessarily to cheat.—See sense 2.

1863. Trafford, World in Ch., II., 77. As I am a staunch Churchman I cannot stand quiet and see the Dissenters best the Establishment. [M.]

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 69. Bob was a good salesman, but 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 interrupting me and the business. I can’t jolly him down, so you must settle and do away with him, or I must “dry up,” for the fellow’s bested me.’

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 [182]much further regarding him than that ‘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.’

1883. Graphic, Feb. 24, p. 191, col. 1. 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.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 234. His game was besting everybody, whether it was for pounds, shillings, or pence. At one time he cheated a poor farming man out of his milch cow in exchange for another. The man was in liquor at the time, and when he came to his senses he went right away 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 Magazine, Oct. When I went to the fence he bested (cheated) me because I was drunk, and only gave me £8 10s. 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.

1885. May, in Fortnightly Review, Oct., p. 578. The quack broker who piles up money by besting his clients. [M.]

To give one best (thieves’).—To leave one; to sever companionship.

1879. Horsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., Oct. While using one of those places [concerts], I first met a sparring bloke (pugilist), who taught me how to spar, and showed me the way to put my dukes up. But after a time I gave him best (left him) because he used to want to bite my ear (borrow) too often.

Bester, subs. (common).—A cheat; a swindler.—See Best, sense 2. Generally applied to a turf or gaming blackleg.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 24. Those who cheat the Public … ‘Bouncers and Besters’ defrauding, by laying wagers, swaggering, or using threats.

1885. Evening News, 21 September, 4, 1. The complainant called her father a liar, ‘a bester and a crawler.’

Besting the Pistol, phr. (pedestrian).—To get away before the signal for starting is actually given. [From besting, gaining an advantage, + pistol, the firing of which is the signal to ‘Go!’]

1889. Polytechnic Magazine, July 7, p. 330. The 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.

Bet. You bet! intj. (American).—You may depend on it; you may be sure; certainly! be 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. Oftentimes it is amplified into ‘you bet your boots,’ ‘life,’ ‘bottom dollar,’ and so on. The two former were used in New York and Boston as far back as 1840.

c. 1882. Stavely Hill, From Home to Home. We reached the settlement of Ubet. The name had been selected from the slang phrase so laconically expressive of ‘You may be sure I will’.… A night marauder took advantage of a good moon to place a ladder against a window, hoping to secure the property of a gentleman asleep within the chamber. As he lifted the window, and put his head in, the gentleman woke up, and with great promptness presented his six-shooter, shouting out ‘You get!’ With equal promptness the detected thief exclaimed you bet! and slid down the ladder,—et procul in tenuem ex oculis evanuit auram. [183]

1870. Bret Harte, Poems, etc., The Tale of a Pony: Ah, here comes Rosey’s new turn-out! Smart! You bet your life ’twas that!

1872. S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, ch. ii. ‘The mosquitoes are pretty bad about here, madam!’ ‘You bet!’ ‘What did I understand you to say, madam?’ ‘You bet!’

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Mar. 7. Congressional Report. Mr. Boutelle—That 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 dollar on that.

(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, verb.—See quotation.

1740. North, Examen, p. 93. In the year 1680 Bethel and Cornish were chosen sheriffs. The former used to walk about more like a corn-cutter than Sheriff of London. He kept no house, but lived upon chops, whence it is proverbial for not feasting to bethel the city.

Be There, verbal phr. (common).—To be there is to be on the qui vive; alive; knowing; in one’s element.

Better, adv. (vulgar).—More; without any idea of superiority. A depraved word; once in good usage, but now regarded as a vulgarism.

1587. Fleming, Cont. Holinshed, III., p. 1382, col. 2. Woorth one hundred and twentie pounds and better. [M.]

1679. Plot, Staffordshire (1686), p. 239. The bodies … being better than an inch long. [M.]

1769. Gray, in N. Nichols’ Corr. (1843), p. 87. It is better than three weeks since I wrote to you. [M.]

1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lxx., p. 217 (1888). Following its windings for somewhat better than a furlong.

1854. Ainsworth, Flitch of Bacon, pt. I., ch. v. ‘Pastor of Little Dunmow Church for fifty years and better.’

1857. Dickens, Dorrit, bk. I., ch. x., 75. ‘Yes. Rather better than twelve years ago.’

1860. Dickens, Xmas Stories (Mess. from Sea), p. 89 (H. ed.). ‘He shipped for his last voyage better than three years ago.’

Better Half, subs. (colloquial).—humorous term for a wife. The 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’; (Cf., ‘the better part of me’ Shaks.; ‘meæ partem animæ,’ ‘animæ dimidium meæ,’ Horace; ‘animæ partem … nostra majorem’ Statius); especially (after Sidney) used for ‘my husband’ or ‘wife’; now, jocularly appropriated to the latter. Formerly also applied to the soul, as the better part of man.

1580. Sidney, Arcadia, III., 280. [Argalus to Parthenia, his wife.] My deare, my better halfe (sayd hee), I find I must now leaue thee. [M.]

Circa 1600. Shakspeare, Sonnets, xxxix., 2.

O how thy worth with manners may I sing,

When thou art all the better part of me?

What can mine own praise to mine own self bring?

And what is’t but mine own when I praise thee.

1720. Sheffield (Duke of Buckingham), wks. (1753) I., 274. My dear and better half is out of danger. [M.]

1842. Theodore Martin, in Fraser’s Magazine, Dec., p. 241, col. 2. I … shall look out for a better half. [M.]

Betting Round, ppl. adj. (racing).—Laying fairly and equally against nearly all the horses in a race, so that no great risk [184]can be run. Commonly called getting round.—Hotten.

Bettor Round, subs. (racing).—One who is addicted to betting round (q.v.).

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 jenny; also jemmy; tivvil; twist; or screw. For synonyms, see Thieves, etc.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). Betty, an instrument to break a door.

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus. vol. II., pt. IX., p. 7.

So Ruffains, who, with Crows and Betties,

Break Houses, when it dark and late is.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bring bess and glym; i.e., bring the instrument to force the door, and the dark lanthorn.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 339. Expert burglars are generally equipped with good tools. They have a jemmy, a cutter, a dozen of betties, better known as picklocks.

Verb (colloquial).—To potter about; to fuss about. Usually said of a man assuming the domestic functions of a woman.

All betty! intj. (thieves’).—cry of warning; ‘it’s all up; the game is lost!’

Betty Martin.—See All my eye.

Betwattled, ppl. adj. (old).—Surprised; confounded; out of one’s senses; also bewrayed.—Grose.

Between You and Me and the Bedpost.—See Bedpost.

Bever, Bevir, Bœver, subs. (Eton, Winchester, and Westminster Colleges).—An afternoon meal served in hall. An old time term for a repast or snack between meals, especially in the afternoon; it is still dialectical in some parts of England. Murray gives examples of its use dating back to 1500.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 83. In summer 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 beevers.

1884. M. Morris, in English Illustrated Magazine, Nov., p. 73. [At Eton, we] came up from cricket in the summer afternoons for beaver.

Beverage or Bevy, subs. (old).—A tip; a vail; equivalent to the French pourboire; money for drink, demanded, says Grose [1785], of any one having a new suit of clothes. For synonyms, see Tip.

Beware, subs. (theatrical).—Explained by quotation.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, vol. III., p. 149. ‘We [strolling actors] call breakfast, dinner, tea, supper, all of them “numyare”; and all beer, brandy, water, or soup, are beware.’

B Flats, subs. (common).—Bugs. Cf., F sharps, and for synonyms, see Norfolk Howards.

1866. Dickens, Household Words, xx., 326. Mrs. B. beheld one night a stout negro of the flat-back tribe—known among comic writers as b flats—stealing 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 flatness of the obnoxious insect. [185]

Bib. To nap a bib, or one’s bib, phr. (popular).—To weep; to ‘blubber’; to ‘snivel.’

French Synonyms. Lâcher les écluses (popular: ‘to let loose the floodgates’; the phrase also means ‘to void urine’); pisser des yeux (common: ‘to urinate with the eyes’); pleuvoir des châsses (thieves’: pleuvoir = ‘to rain’; in military slang to void urine; châsse = eye); verver (thieves’: a corrupted form of 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 = ‘to expel,’ ‘to drive out’; reluits = ‘the eyes,’ or ‘ogles’); chier des châsses (popular: a coarse term); chigner (popular); baver des clignots (popular: literally ‘to drivel, slaver’ or ‘slobber the eyes’—cligner signifying ‘to wink’ or ‘blink’; hence clignots, ‘the blinkers’ or ‘winkers’); beugler (popular: properly ‘to bellow’ [like a bull]).

German Synonyms. Echen eichen (from the Hebrew echa, the first word in the Lamentations of Jeremiah); flonen, phlonen, flannen, flaussen, or flennen (to pull one’s mouth awry, either for laughing or crying, but among German thieves mainly in the former sense); jalen jaulen, or jolen machen (from the Hebrew jolal, whining; ‘to howl,’ to whine).

Italian Synonyms. Trignare (this also signifies to ‘rain’: Cf., the French, pleuvoir des châsses); slenzare or slenzire (also ‘to urinate’: Cf., French, lâcher les écluses); ventare (the primary slang sense of ventare is ‘to moisten,’ hence ‘to shed tears’: properly ‘to blow,’ ‘to be windy’); lenzare or lenzire (primarily, in a slang sense, ‘to soak,’ ‘to wet’; from this the meaning is transferred to signify ‘to make water,’ i.e., ‘to urinate,’ and also ‘to shed tears’: the word is properly written l’ance; the derivation will be found under the French synonyms for Adam’s ale, q.v.).

In Spanish there is one expression for ‘to cry’ which is full of poetry—fabricar las perlas, i.e., ‘to make pearls.’ Arabs likewise speak of tears as ‘pearls on the face.’

Bibables or Bibibles, subs. (American).—Drink, as distinguished from food. [A coinage on the model of ‘edibles,’ ‘eatables,’ ‘drinkables,’ etc.; from Latin bib-ĕre, to drink, + able, i.e., able to be drunk.]

1860. William Howard Russell (Special Correspondent of the Times), My Diary in India in the years 1858–9, I., p. 8. Could all the pale-ale, soda-water, sherry, porter, and vin ordinaire, and the feebler bibables be turned into nectar, etc.

1860. Pittsburg Despatch, Aug. The table was loaded and spread with edibles and bibibles of every possible kind. [de v.]

Bib-All-Night, subs. (old).—A toper; a confirmed drunkard. [From bib-ĕre, to drink, + all-night.]

1612. Sylvester, Lacrymæ Lacrymaram, p. 101. Bats, Harpies, Syrens, Centaurs, Bib-all-nights.

Bible, subs. (nautical).—See quotations.

1867. Admiral Smyth, Sailors’ Word 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. [186]

1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, p. 14. Bibles. Small holy-stones, no doubt originally so called because they oblige those who use them to kneel. They are also termed ‘prayer books’ for the same reason.

That’s bible, phr. (common).—That’s the truth; that’s A 1.

Bible-Carrier, subs. (vagrants’).—A person who sell songs without singing them. Often heard in the neighbourhood of Seven Dials.

Bible-Clerk, subs. (Winchester College).—A College prefect in full power, appointed for one week. He keeps order in school, reads the lessons in chapel, takes round rolls (q.v.), and assists at floggings. He is absolved from going up to books (q.v.) during his term of office. The prefect of Hall need not act as Bible-clerk unless he likes, and the prefect of School may choose any week he pleases; the rest take weeks in rotation, in the order of their Chambers in College.—See Bibler and Bibling.

1864. 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, p. 87. An hour … is expected to be employed in working under the superintendence of the Bible-Clerk, as the præfect in daily ‘course’ is termed, who is responsible for a decent amount of order and silence at these hours.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. Order was kept during school hours by the Bible-clerk and Ostiarus, two of the Præfects, 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 delinquents which had been ‘ordered’ for punishment; the names of 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.… From this it has been inferred that the institution of these offices must have been subsequent, and (some think) long subsequent to the Founder’s time.

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 synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

Bibler, subs. (Winchester College).—Now called bibling (q.v.).

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 ‘Primum tempus.’ 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.

Bibler Under Nail, subs. phr. (Winchester College).—See Bibling under nail.

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 preceding the infliction of the flogging; this pillory process was called a bibler under the nail.

Bibling, subs. (Winchester College).—Formerly called a bibler (q.v.). 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 [187]ordered (q.v.) his name to the Bible-clerk (q.v.).

1864. Blackwood’s Magazine, vol. XCV., p. 79. Underneath is the place of execution, where delinquents are bibled. Ibid, p. 72. It need hardly be said that it [the rod] is applied in the ordinary fashion: six cuts forming what is technically called a bibling—on which occasions the Bible-Clerk introduces the victim; four being the sum of a less terrible operation called a ‘scrubbing.’

Bibling-Rod, subs. (Winchester College).—The instrument with which a bibling (q.v.) was administered. It consisted of a handle with four apple twigs in the end, twisted together. It is represented on ‘Aut Disce.’ It was invented and first used by Warden Baker in 1454. It is not used now.

Bibling Under Nail, subs. phr. (Winchester College).—A bibling (q.v.) administered for very heinous offences after an offender had stood under nail (q.v.).—See quot. in Bibler under nail.

Biddy, subs. (old).—1. A chicken; sometimes chick-a-biddy. Hence, figuratively.

2. (familiar.)—A young woman, not necessarily Irish. In both these senses the word appears in Grose [1785]. Since that time it would seem to have changed somewhat in meaning as follows.

3. (familiar.)—A woman, whether young or old.

1868. O. W. Holmes, Guardian Angel, ch. xxviii., p. 233 (Rose Lib.). ‘Don’t trouble yourself about Kitty Fagan, for pity’s sake, Mr. Bradshaw. The biddies are all alike, and they’re all as stupid as owls, except when you tell ’em just what to do, and how to do it. A pack of priest-ridden fools!’

1887. Cornhill Mag., May, p. 510. How he gave to one old biddy ‘five guineas to buy a jack,’ and to another substantial help towards her boy’s schooling.

4. (Winchester College.)—See Bidet.

5. (American.)—A servant girl—generally Irish.

Bidet, or Biddy, subs. (Winchester College).—A bath. Juniors fill these for Præfect. The Winchester term is the French word bidet, the name given to the low 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 French bidet also signifies ‘a small horse’ or ‘pony.’

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bidet, commonly pronounced 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.

Bien.—See Bene.

Biff, subs. (American).—A blow. ‘To give [one] a biff in the jaw’; Anglicé, ‘to wipe one in the chops.’ Cf., Bang, and for synonyms, see Dig.

Biffin, subs. (familiar).—‘My biffin!’ i.e., ‘my pal!’ A biffin is properly a dried apple: Norfolk biffins especially are considered great delicacies.

Big. To talk or look big, phr. (familiar).—To assume a pompous style or manner with a view to impressing others with a sense of one’s importance; to [188]talk boastingly. A French equivalent is se hancher.

1579. Spenser, Shep. Cal., Sept., 50.

The shepheards swayne you cannot wel ken,

But it be by his pryde, from other men:

They looken bigge as Bulls.

1604. 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 run.

1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, l. 26. The squire, in all probability, cursed his punctuality in his heart, but he affected to talk big.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xv. ‘You will gain nought by speaking big with me.’

1838. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. viii. ‘He looked big, and talked big, and altogether was a considerable big man in his own consait.’

1855. Anthony Trollope, The Warden, p. 207. The Archdeacon waxed wrath, talked big, and looked bigger.

Big as All Outdoors, phr. (American).—An expression intended to convey an idea of indefinite size; hugeness; enormous capacity.

1838. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. ii. The infarnal villain! Tell me who he is, and if he was big as all outdoors, I’d walk into him. Ibid, ch. iv. He is looking as big as all outdoors gist now, and is waitin’ for us to come to him.

Big-Bellied, adj. (colloquial).—Advanced in pregnancy.

1711. Addison [Referred to by].

1848. John Forster, Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith, bk. II., ch. iv. My desires are as capricious as the big-bellied woman’s.

Big Ben, subs. (popular).—A nickname for the clock in the tower of the Houses of Parliament at Westminster. Named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the Commissioner of Works, under whose supervision it was constructed. It was commenced in 1856, and finished in 1857.

1869. The Register or Mag. of Biography, p. 213. With Sir Charles Barry’s sanction he designed the ornament cast on the Westminster Bell, familiarly known as big Ben.

1880. Punch, No. 2039, p. 51. Big Ben struck two, and the house adjourned.

Big Bird. To get or give the big bird, phr. (theatrical).—To be hissed on the stage; or, 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.) 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 synonyms, see Goosed.

1886. 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.

Big Bug, subs. (popular).—A person of standing or consequence, either self-estimated or in reality. A disrespectful but common mode of allusion to persons of wealth or with other claims to distinction. Variants are Big-dog, Big-toad, Big-wig, and Great gun (which see for general synonyms).

1854. Widow Bedott Papers, p. 301. 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 hair-brained Sir Robert Peel described some of the big bugs at Moscow has got him into difficulty. [189]

1872. Schele de Vere, Americanisms, p. 392. Persons of great wealth and distinction are irreverently called big bugs, and I-street, in Washington, is 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 social importance: ‘He is one of your big bugs, with more money than sense.’

1888. Texas Siftings, 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 cool, collected tone of voice.… Show him you have entertained big bugs before.

Big Country, subs. (hunting).—The open country.

Big Dog of the Tanyard, phr. (American).—A consequential, 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 tanyards by ferocious watch-dogs. For synonyms, see Great gun.

Big Dog with the Brass Collar, phr. (American).—The chief in any undertaking or enterprise; a leader. A simile evidently derived from the stable or kennel. The phrase is sometimes shortened to big dog. For synonyms, see Great gun.

1848. J. R. Bartlett, Americanisms, p. 42. 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. Alan Pinkerton, The Molly Maguires, p. 24. ‘Yes,’ said Dormer, ‘Lawler is the big dog in these parts now; besides he kapes a good tavern, and will see no old-timer, or young one either, for that matther, sufferin’ from want while he can relieve him!’

Big Drink, subs. (familiar).—1. The ocean; more particularly applied to the Atlantic. Also 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 me.’

2. (Western American.)—When a Western plainsman talks of the big drink, he is always understood to mean the Mississippi river.

To take a big or long 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.

Big Figure. To go the big figure, phr. (common).—A variant of ‘to go the whole hog,’ or ‘to go the whole animal.’ It signifies embarking upon an enterprise of magnitude. The phrase is mainly current in the Southern States, and is derived from a term used in poker.

1868. Pickings from the Picayune, p. 226. When I saw that, I thought I 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.

Biggest, adj. (American).—A superlative often used in the sense of ‘the best’ or ‘the finest.’

1848. Ruxton, Life in Far West, p. 129. The thermal springs are regarded 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. Washington (Pa.) Review. The Pittsburg Times is as breezy a journal as comes to this office. It is the biggest little paper we are acquainted with.

Biggest Toad in the Puddle, phr. (American).—One of the many [190]bold, if equivocal metaphors to which the West has given rise. The biggest toad in the puddle is the recognised leader or chief whether in politics, or in connection with the rougher avocations of pioneer life. Equivalent to the big dog with the brass collar (q.v.).—See also Big bug, and for synonyms generally, Great gun.

1848. J. R. Bartlett, Americanisms, p. 42. Biggest toad in the puddle. A Western expression for a head-man; a 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.’

Biggin, subs. (Winchester College).—A coffee machine in two parts—a strainer, and a coffee-pot for the infusion. It took its name from the inventor, a Mr. Biggin, who received letters patent ‘some years’ previous to 1803. (Gent. Mag., lxxiii., p. 1094.)

Biggity, adv. (American).—Consequential; giving oneself airs. A negro term.

c. 1884. S. L. Clemens, Life on the Mississippi, p. 511. These railroads have made havoc with the steamboat commerce. The clerk of our boat was a steamboat clerk before these roads were built. In that day the influx of population was so great, and the freight business so heavy, that the boats were not able to keep up with the demands made upon their carrying capacity; consequently the Captain was very independent and airy—pretty biggity as Uncle Remus would say.

Big Gun, subs. (familiar).—A person of consequence. Possibly of sporting origin. For synonyms, see Great gun.

1888. Texas Siftings, Oct. 13. ‘Who’s a big gun? You don’t consider that insignificant ink-slinger across the way a big gun, do you?’ ‘My wife can hardly wait to get it out of the mail,’ shouted Jones, desperately.

Big-Head. To have a big-head, phr. (American).—1. To be conceited; bumptious. Also applied to men or youths who are ‘cocksure’ of everything, or affected in manner.—See also Swell-head.

1848. J. R. Bartlett, Americanisms, p. 43. Boys who smoke cigars, chew tobacco, drink strong liquors, gamble, and treat their parents and superiors as their inferiors—of such a boy it is said, ‘He has got the big-head.’

1888. 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 the fans of a windmill, his feet like the foot of Mont Blanc, while his digital annex is like an inverted ham.

2. The phrase also signifies the after effect of a debauch.

To get the big-head. To get drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed.

Big House, subs. (common).—The workhouse,—a phrase used by the very poor; sometimes called the large house.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 52. ‘As long as they kept out of the big house (the workhouse), she would not complain.’ Ibid, II., p. 251. The men hate the thought of going to the big house.

Big Mouth, subs. (American).—Excessive talkativeness; loquacity. Cf., All mouth. For synonyms, see Gas.

Big Nuts to Crack, subs. phr. (American).—An undertaking of [191]magnitude; one not easy to perform. [From a presumed difficulty in cracking large nuts.]

Big One or Big ’Un, subs. (old).—A man of note or importance. The current colloquialism is big-wig, but at one time big-one was the more frequently-used expression. For synonyms, see Great gun.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 42. 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 Continent!

Big People, subs. (familiar).—Persons of standing or consequence. Cf., Great gun.

1858. Anthony Trollope, Dr. Thorne, I., p. 43. He would in no way assume a familiarity with bigger men than himself; allowing to the bigger men the privilege of making the first advances. Ibid, p. 81. When one is absolutely in the dirt at their feet, perhaps these big people won’t wish one to stoop any further.

Big Pond, subs. (popular).—The Atlantic. Also called the big drink (q.v.).

1838. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xviii. He [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. Sala, Living London, p. 204. Next time Miss Ward crosses the big pond, I earnestly hope that she will cross the ‘Rockies,’ and triumphantly descend the Pacific slope.

Big Pot, subs. (familiar).—A person of consequence. For synonyms, see Great gun.

1880. Punch’s Almanac, The Cad’s Calendar. 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 game, Cad and swell are pooty much the same.

Big-Side, subs. (Rugby School).—The combination of all the bigger fellows in the school in one and the same game or run; also the ground specially used for the game so denominated. Used also at other public schools.

Big-Side Run, subs. (Rugby School).—A paper chase, in which picked representatives of all houses take part, as opposed to a house run.

Big Take, subs. (American).—That which takes the public fancy; a great success, etc.,—in short, anything that ‘catches on.’—See Take.

Big Talk, subs. (popular).—Pompous speech; a pedantic use of long words.

1874. Saturday Review, Feb., p. 280. [With regard to words like ‘psithurism,’ ‘cheirognomy,’ ‘scintillating eyes,’ ‘the phaesimbrotous sun’] perhaps they have been grown so accustomed to big talk that, etc.

Big-Wig, subs. (popular).—A person of consequence; one high in authority or rank. [From big + wig, an allusion to the large and ornate headgear of men of importance in former times.] The term is used both contemptuously and humorously. For synonyms, see Great gun.

1703. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their bull-dogs[192]—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.

1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. xx. We 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.

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xlv. So you are going to sit among the big-wigs in the House of Lords.

1876 circa. Broadside Ballad, ‘Justice and Law.’

The Penge Case you know took a curious twist,

But how it occurred, we can’t guess,

Unless, unexpected, some turn of the wrist,

Has got some ‘big-wig’ in a mess.

To some folks it seems rather queer, now, you see,

When ‘Sentence of Death’ had been passed,

That one of the four is allowed to go free,

And her prison doors wide open cast.

Chorus.

1880. 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. The world is bigwigging itself, and we must buy a bigger wig than any we have got, in order to confront the world with proper self-respect.’

Big-Wigged, ppl. adj. (popular).—Pompous; consequential. [From big-wig (q.v.) + [g] ed.]

1851. Carlyle, John Sterling, pt. I., ch. vii. And along with obsolete spiritualisms, he sees all manner of obsolete thrones and big-wigged temporalities.

Big-Wiggery, subs. (popular).—A display of consequence, or pomposity. [From big-wig (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.

1855. Household Words, xii., 250. All this solemn bigwiggery—these triumphs, ovations, sacrifices, orations.

Big-Wiggism, subs. (popular).—Pomposity. [From big-wig (q.v.) + [g] ism, a state or condition.]

1871–72. G. Eliot, Middlemarch, ch. xvii. I determined not to try anything in London for a good many years at least. I didn’t like what I saw when I was studying there—so much empty big-wiggism and obstructive trickery.

Big Words, subs. (familiar).—Pompous speech; ‘crack-jaw’ words. Cf., To talk big, and Big talk.

1879. Grenville Murray, Member for Paris, I., p. 103. ‘I don’t like such cynicism!’ ‘Oh, cynicism is a big word.’

Bilbo or Bilboa, subs. (old).—A sword. Bilboa in Spain was once renowned for well-tempered blades. Grose [1785] quotes the term as slang; this, however, is somewhat doubtful.

1592. Greene, Disputation, etc., in wks. X., 236. Let them doe what they dare with their bilbowe blades, I feare them not.

1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, Act iii., Sc. 7. Tell them, I say, he must refund—or bilbo’s the word, and slaughter will ensue.

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.’

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, ch. iv. ‘It was all fair play; your comrade sought a fall, and he has got it.’

‘That is true enough,’ said Bothwell, as he slowly rose; ‘put up your bilbo, Tom.’

2. A kind of stock—a long 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. I was also conveyed to their lodgings … where I saw a pair of bilbowes. [193]

1594. Nashe, Terrors of the Night, in wks. (Grosart) III., 255. He that is spyced with the gowte or the dropsie, frequently dreameth of fetters and manacles, and being put on the bilbowes.

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, Act v., Sc. 2. Ham. … Methought I lay worse than the mutines in the bilboes.

1695. Congreve, Love for Love, Act iii., Sc. 6. Now a Man that is marry’d, has as it were, d’ye see, his Feet in the bilboes, and may-hap mayn’t get ’em out again when he wou’d.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 19. And are those shear’d, or put into bilboes, and handcufft.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). 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. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxiv. ‘And now let us talk about our business.’ ‘Your business, if you please,’ said Hatterick; ‘bagel and donner!—mine was done when I got out of the bilboes.’

Bile, subs. (old).—1. The female pudenda. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

2. (common.)—A vulgarism for ‘boil.’

Bilgewater, subs. (common).—Bad beer. Properly the name 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 Swipes.

Bilk, subs. (common).—A word, formerly in general use, to which a certain stigma of vulgarity is 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. Among obsolete or depraved usages may be mentioned.

Subs. 1. (obsolete.)—A statement or string of words without sense, 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. Tub. Why nothing; a word signifying Nothing. [Note refers to Cole’s English Dict. (n.d. given) and to Halliwell, Arch. and Prov. Words, s.v.]

1740. North, Examen, p. 213. Bedloe was sworn, and being asked what he knew against the prisoner, answered, Nothing.… Bedloe was questioned over and over, who still swore the same bilk.

2. (common.)—A hoax; an imposition; a humbug. For synonyms, see Sell. Cf., Bite.

1664. Butler, Hudibras, II., iii., 376. Spells, Which over ev’ry month’s blank-page In th’ Almanack strange bilk’s presage. [M.]

1694. Congreve, Double Deal, III., x. There he’s secure from danger of a bilk. [M.]

1733 circa. North, Lives, i., 260. After this bilk of a discovery was known. [M.]

3. (common.)—A swindler; a cheat. This is the most familiar current use of the word in its substantive form, and is applied mainly to persons who cheat cabmen of their fares, or to men who swindle prostitutes out of their wretched earnings. Also bilker. For synonyms, see Sell. Cf., Bite.

1790. Sheridan, in Sheridaniana, 109. Johnny W[i]lks, Johnny W[i]lks, Thou greatest of bilks.

1836. Marryat, Japhet, ch. ix. After a little delay, the wagoner drove off, cursing him for a bilk, and vowing that he’d never have any more to do with a ‘larned man.’

4. (American.)—A strongly offensive term used in the West to signify a person who habitually sponges upon another, and who never by any chance makes [194]a return or even offers to do so. In English slang it means a downright cheat or swindler (see sense 3). It will therefore be seen that the Western American usage has considerably softened its meaning.

1840. McClure, Rocky Mountain, p. 211. The term was entirely novel to me, and I first asked its meaning of a landlord, who explained to me by saying that a bilk is a man who never misses a meal and never pays a cent.

Adj. (obsolete).—Fallacious; 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 cheat; defraud; evade one’s obligations; escape from, etc. (see subs., sense 2, and compare with quotations). For synonyms, see Stick. Cf., Bite.

1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, Act v., Sc. 3. 1. Knight: Ay, a great lawyer that shall be nameless bilked me too.

1729. Gay, Polly, Act ii., Sc. 9. Honour plays a bubbles part, ever bilk’d and cheated.

1748. 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 Jones, bk. XIV., ch. iv. ‘I promise you,’ answered Nightingale, ‘I don’t intend to bilk my lodgings; but I have a private reason for not taking a formal leave.’

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bilke. ‘Let us bilk the rattling cove’; let us cheat the hackney 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.

1847. Lytton, Lucretia, pt. II., ch. xix. ‘Are you playing me false? Have you set another man on the track with a view to bilk me of my promised fee?’

To bilk the blues, phr. (thieves’).—To evade the police.—See Blues.

To bilk the schoolmaster, phr. (common).—To obtain knowledge or experience without paying for it.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 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.

Bilker, subs. (common).—A cheat; a swindler. Sometimes abbreviated to bilk (sense 3).

Bilking, subs. (common).—The action of cheating or swindling.

Bill, subs. (Eton College).—1. A list of the boys who have to go to the head master at 12 o’clock; also of those who get off absence (q.v.), or names-calling, e.g., an eleven playing in a match are thus exempt.

1876. Brinsley Richards, Seven Years at Eton. Some of the small boys whom this delightful youth tempted to ape his habits, had often occasion to rue it when they staggered back to college giddy and sick, carrying with them a perfume which told its tale to their tutors, and caused them to be put in the bill.

2. (Harrow School.)—Names-calling.

To hang up a bill, phr. (American political).—Explained by quotation.

1887. Cornhill Magazine, June, p. 628. 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 consideration for a more or less indefinite period.

To rush a bill, phr. (American political).—To expedite the passing of a bill through the Senate and Congress. Cf., Rush. [195]

1887. Cornhill Magazine, June, p. 628. To rush a bill is an expression well known in the American Senate, and occasionally also used here.

Long or short bill, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A long or short term of imprisonment.

To pay a bill at sight, phr. (old).—Said of a man or woman who is always ready for sexual commerce.

Billbrighter, subs. (Winchester College).—A small fagot used 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 quadrangle, and at least half its length; here 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.

Billed Up, ppl. adj. (military).—In the Guards’ regiments to be billed up signifies to be confined to barracks.

Billet, subs. (popular).—A situation; a ‘berth.’ [From billet, an official military order requiring food and shelter to be provided for the soldier bearing it.]

To get a billet, phr. (thieves’)—When in prison to obtain promotion to duties which carry with them certain privileges.

Billiard Block, subs. (society).—An epithet applied to one who puts up with disagreeables for the sake of pecuniary or other advantages; also, occasionally, to one who acts as ‘jackal’ for another and to tame cats (q.v.).

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 billiard-slum.—See Mace.

Billingsgate, subs. (popular).—Foul, coarse language; scurrilous 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.

1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, Act iii. Quaint. … Whose reputation, though never so clear and evident in the eye of the world, yet with sharp invectives—Wid. Alias, Billingsgate. Quaint. With poignant and sour invectives, I say, I will deface.

1711. Defoe, The Review, vol. VII., preface. As long as faction feeds the flame, we shall never want Billingsgate to revile one another with.

1712. Spectator, No. 451. Our satire is nothing but ribaldry, and Billingsgate.

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. [196]

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.

To Billingsgate or talk Billingsgate.—To scold; to talk coarsely, or violently; to ‘slang.’

1678. A. Littleton, Lat. Dict. To Billingsgate it. Arripere maledictum ex trivio.

So also, You’re no better than a Billingsgate fish-fag, i.e., rude and ill-mannered; Billingsgatry, scurrilous language.

Billingsgate Pheasant, subs. (common).—A red herring or bloater. This is also called a 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 to let (q.v.).

Billy, subs. (thieves’).—1. A pocket or neck-handkerchief, chiefly of silk. The various ‘fancies’ have been thus described:—Belcher, darkish blue ground, large round white spots, with a spot in the centre of darker blue than the ground. This was adopted by Jem Belcher, the pugilist, as his ‘colours,’ and soon became popular amongst ‘the fancy.’ Bird’s-eye wipe, a handkerchief of any colour, containing white spots. The blue bird’s-eye is similar to the Belcher except in the centre. Sometimes a bird’s-eye wipe has a white ground and blue spots. Blood-red fancy, red. Blue Billy, blue ground, generally with white figures. Cream fancy, any pattern on a white ground. King’s man, yellow pattern on a green ground. Randal’s man, green, with white spots; named after the favourite colours of Jack Randal, pugilist. Water’s man, sky coloured. Yellow fancy, yellow with white spots. Yellow man, all yellow. For synonyms generally, see Wipe.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. A silk handkerchief. A billy.

2. (thieves’.)—Stolen metal.—See Billy-hunting.

3. (American thieves’.)—A weapon used by desperadoes, 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, and covered from end to end 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 [197]the ordinary slung-shot in use by policemen and others. Twelve ounces of solid lead and raw-hide, dashed against the thickest skull by a strong armed ruffian, would as effectually silence a man as an ounce of the same metal discharged from the bore of a Springfield rifle. It may be remarked that billy in English slang is a policeman’s staff, a very different weapon.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Ap. 4. The condition of the man reported as having been shot twice in the head on Thursday afternoon, is not at all alarming. It transpires that his wounds are not of the gun-shot sort, but were inflicted with a billy in the hands of a Pinkerton man.

4. (popular.)—A policeman’s staff; a truncheon.

1884. Daily News, Ap. 7, p. 5, col. 1. Anderson was first brought down by a pistol shot, and was then corrected with a billy, till he declared himself vanquished.

5. (Australian and New Zealand.)—A bushman’s tea-pot or saucepan.

1885. G. A. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, Sept. 3, 5, 5. They got enough flour from Sydney to make their ‘dampers,’ and enough tea to boil in their billies.

1886. G. Sutherland, Australia, p. 104. A billy, or small tin can, for boiling tea or coffee.

1889. Illustrations, Oct., p. 22. Refusing 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 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.

Billy Barlow, subs. (common).—A street clown; a mountebank—so called from the hero of a slang song. Billy was a real person, semi-idiotic, and though in dirt and rags, fancied himself a swell of the first water. Occasionally he came out with real witticisms. He was a well-known street character about the East-end of London, and died in Whitechapel Workhouse.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 148. Billy Barlow is another supposed comic 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 umbrella.

These merry Andrews are otherwise called Jim crows and saltimbancos; among the French, un pitre.

Billy-Boy, subs. (nautical).—A vessel like a galliot, with two masts, the fore-mast square-rigged. They hail mainly from Goole. Also called humber-keels.

Billy-Button, subs. (rhyming slang).—1. Mutton.

2. (tailors’.)—A contemptuous term for a journeyman tailor.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 117. And there I did Jeremiah Stitchem to his Billy Button. Ibid, p. 142. A 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 ‘situation.’

Billy-Buzman, subs. (thieves’).—A thief whose speciality is silk pocket and neckerchiefs. [From billy, slang for a pocket-handkerchief, + buzman, slang for a thief.] [198]

Billy-Cock, subs. (popular).—A 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 “bully-cocked,” used 1721, probably meaning after the fashion of the “bullies” or hectoring “blades” of the period’ (see quot.). A writer, C. K. C. in Notes and Queries, however [6 S., ii., p. 355], points out that ‘these hats were first made for “Billy Coke”—or to speak more respectfully, 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 Holkham. The old-established hatters in the West-end still call them “Coke hats.” ’ Of the reality of the personality of William Coke of Melton fame there is, and can be no doubt, and although the name of the hat may be derived from ‘bully-cock,’ yet the weight of evidence seems to be against it, unless a slight transference of meaning, very common in slang, has taken place.

1721. Amherst, Terræ Filius, No. 46, p. 246. [A description of an Oxford ‘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 tie-wig, 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 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.

1862. Life Among Colliers, 35. I was told to take off my bonnet, and tie a billy-cock [wide-awake] tight down.

1872. Farjeon, Griff, p. 14. With the men, mole-skin trousers, pea-jackets, billy-cock hats, and dirty pipes predominated.

1884. Pall Mall G., March 28, p. 11, col. 1. He wore a plaited blouse drawn in at the waist and a dilapidated billy-cock hat.

2. (Australian.)—The billy-cock of the Antipodean colonies differs from the English head-gear known by the name in being made of hard instead of soft felt, and in having a turned up brim.

For synonymous terms of head-gear, see Deerstalker.

Billy-Fencer, subs. (thieves’).—A marine store dealer.—See Fence.

Billy-Goat, subs. (common).—A tufted beard; similar to that of a goat.

1882. Standard, 11 Feb., p. 3, col. 2. Hair turning grey, hazel eyes, billy-goat beard. [M.]

Billy-Hunting, subs. (thieves’).—1. Collecting and buying old metal.—See Billy-fence.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. 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 pocket-handkerchiefs.—See Billy, sense 1.

Billy Noodle, subs. (American).—This combination stands in American slang for a fellow whose self-conceit leads him to suppose himself specially attractive to the other sex. [From Billy, a male name, + noodle, a fool.]

Billy-Roller, subs. (common).—See quotations. [199]

1840. Mrs. Trollope, Michael Armstrong, ch. xiv. ‘What is the 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 when their strength fails.’

1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III., 1166. This is the billy-roller, so much talked of in the controversies between the operatives and masters in the cotton-factories, 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.]

Bim, Bimshire, subs. (West Indian).—Nicknames for a Barbadian and the island of Barbadoes. This place is also sometimes jeeringly called Little England, and Barbadian is contracted into ’Badian.

1887. Paton, Down the Islands. Barbadoes is known all the world over as the little island that pays her way; it has never been conquered; its 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.’

Bing.—See Bynge a waste.

Binge, subs. (Oxford Univ.)—A drinking bout.

Bingham’s Dandies, subs. (military).—The 17th Lancers. From its Colonel (Lord Bingham) causing the men’s uniforms to fit so well. It is one of the smartest regiments of the service. They were also at one time christened the Horse Marines (q.v.). Two troops of this showy corps were employed as marines on board the ‘Hermione’ frigate during some severe fighting in the West Indies. Hence the sobriquet now almost quite forgotten. But the 17th are still well-known as the Death or Glory Boys, from their badge, which consists of a death’s head, with the words, ‘or glory.’

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 Tongue. Bingo, brandy.

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 41.

FIGHTING ATTIE’S SONG.

Air.—‘He was famed for deeds of arms

’Rise at six—dine at two—

Rob your man without ado-

Such my maxims—if you doubt

Their wisdom, to the rightabout!’

(Signing to a sallow gentleman on the 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!’

(Wresting it away, and fiercely regarding the sallow gentleman.)

‘You have resigned it—and you must.’

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.

For all synonyms, see Drinks.

Hence bingo boy, a tippler; a drunkard. Bingo mort, a drunken woman.—See Mort.

Bingy, adj. (trading).—A term largely used in the butter trade to denote bad, ropy butter; nearly equivalent to vinnied. It may be noted that in the English Dialect Society’s Chestere Glossary, bingy is given as a peculiar clouty or frowsty taste in milk—the first stage of turning sour. [200]

1857. Mrs. Gaskell, Life of C. Bronté, ch. iv. The milk, too, was often 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.

Binnacle Word, subs. (old nautical).—A fine or affected word, which sailors jeeringly offer to chalk up upon the binnacle.—Grose.

Birch-Broom, subs. (rhyming slang).—A room.

Like a birch-broom in a fit, phr. (common).—Said of a rough, towzly head.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 90. I should like to know what 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 harrowing to one’s feelings.

Birchin Lane.—To send one to Birchin Lane, phr. (old).—To castigate; to flog. A punning allusion to birch, a rod. Cf., Strap oil, etc.

Bird, subs. (theatrical).—Mr. H. J. Byron says that when a piece is hissed the actors say ‘The bird’s there!’;—the bird alluded to being the goose notorious for its hissing capacities.—See however, Big bird and Goose.

Verb (old).—To thieve; to steal; to look for plunder. So used by Ben Jonson.

Bird-Cage, subs. (common).—1. A bustle, an article of feminine attire, used for extending the 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 Agricultural Irish Girl,’ verse 3.

She has no great education, for

She’s not much past her letters;

But for acting like a lady, I

Would like to see her betters:

She does not read Ouida’s works,

Nor Bow Bells’ fashions pages;

And she does not wear those things behind,

The ladies call bird-cages.

Among English Synonyms may be mentioned canary cage; backstaircase; false hereafter; bishop.

French Synonyms. Un volapuk; un strapontin; un lieutenant (a pun on tenant lieu de ce qui manque); un nuage (parcequ’il cache la lune; lune = the posteriors).

2. (common.)—A four-wheeled cab. For synonyms, see Growler.

3. (racing.)—The paddock at the Newmarket race-course where saddling takes place. It adjoins the grand stand.

1884. St. James’s Gazette, May 1, p. 1. All the favourites were brought into the bird-cage. [M.]

Birdlime, subs. (rhyming slang).—1. Time.

2. (old.)—A thief. From the glutinous substance of the same name spread upon twigs for the purpose of catching birds and holding them fast.

1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, V., 2. That birdlime there stole it. [201]

1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, III., 2. My rogue of a son has laid his birdlime fingers on’t.

Bird’s-Eye, Bird’s-Eye Fogle, Bird’s-Eye Wipe, subs. (common).—A silk handkerchief spotted with eye-like markings.—See also Billy and Wipe.

1665. 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. He wore a blue bird’s-eye handkerchief round his neck.

1883. Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. 6, col. 2. His neckerchief was of the same hue [silver grey], with a light crimson bird’s-eye.

Bird-Witted, adj. (old).—Inconsiderate; thoughtless; easily imposed on.—Grose.

1605. Bacon, Adv. Learning, II. (1861), 228. If a child be bird-witted, that is, hath not the faculty of attention, the mathematics giveth a remedy thereunto.

1650. Ussher, Ann., VI., 360. [He] proved … but a bird-witted man.

Birk, subs. (back slang).—A ‘crib’ (q.v.), i.e., a house. For synonyms, see Diggings.

Birthday Suit, subs. (common).—Naked; in the buff (q.v.); in the suit in which Adam and Eve first saw each other, and ‘were not ashamed.’ A French equivalent is s’habiller en sauvage.

1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, l. 61. I went in the morning to a private place, along with the housemaid, and we bathed in our birth-day soot.

Bishop, subs. (old).—1. A warm decoction of wine, orange or lemon peel, and sugar—but variously compounded. Similar to flip and purl (q.v.).

1703. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their bull-dogs—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. Swift, Women Who Cry Oranges, wks., 1755, IV., i., 278. Well roasted, with sugar and wine in a cup. They’ll make a sweet bishop.

1753. The World, No. 37. Punch, bishop, cool tankard, and negus are equally denied me.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlviii., p. 421. He and the landlord were drinking a bowl of bishop together.

2. subs. (American).—A bustle—part of feminine attire consisting of a pad worn on the back part of the waist, and designed to give prominence to the skirt. For synonyms, see Bird-cage.

1848. Bartlett, Dictionary of Americanisms, p. 42. Bishop. An appendage to a lady’s wardrobe, otherwise called a bustle.

I sing the bishop, alias the bustle.

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 be more genteel than white,—

If, by her bishop, or her ‘grace,’ alone

A genuine lady, or a church, is known.

3. (common.)—A chamber utensil; a jerry; jordan; and it (q.v.).

4. (Winchester College.)—The sapling with which a fagot is bound together.

Verb.—1. A term among horse dealers, for burning marks into a horse’s teeth, after he has lost them by age; or, by other deceptive arts to give a good appearance to a bad horse. By [202]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 provincialism for ‘to burn.’ For synonyms, see Fig.

1727. R. Bradley, Family Dict., vol. I., s.v. ‘Horse.’ This way of making a horse look young, is by Horse Coursers called Bishoping.

1884. Ill. Lon. News, 23 August, 171, col. 2. To bishop … a term … signifying the use of deceptive arts to make an old horse appear like a young one.

In French the process is called masquer en alezan; also maquiller un gayet.

2. To murder by drowning. The term, 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 the body for dissecting purposes.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Account of a New Play). I burked the papa, now I’ll bishop the son. [d.]

1864. Athenæum, p. 559, col. 1. We have ‘to burke,’ and ‘to bishop.’ [M.]

Bismarquer, verb (familiar).—To cheat; to play foul at cards or billiards. A word formed from the name of Prince Bismarck, the German Chancellor, whose policy in 1865–6 roused the indignation of a large section of European thought.

Bit, Bite, Byte, subs. (old).—1. An old cant term for money. 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 store of byte.

1592. Defence of Conny-Catching, in Greene’s wks. XI., 44. So some that would not stoope a farthing at cardes, would venter all the byte in their boung at dice.

1607. Dekker, Jests to make you Merie, in wks. (Grosart) II., 328. If they 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.

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. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 149. Snack the bit. To share the money.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. He is caught—he must ‘stand and deliver’; then out with the dummy [pocket book], and off with the bit.

2. (colloquial)—The name 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 known as Joeys (q.v., for synonyms); and in Demerara the term is in general use for the same coin; in America a 12½ 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.). Bit (s.) … In the West Indies, it is the least piece of silver coin, which goes current at 7 pence half-penny.

1875. Scribner’s Magazine, July, p. 277. For a young city, San Francisco is very much wedded to petty traditions. It clings to the bit with a deathlike tenacity; clings to it against all reason and against its own interests. The bit is a mythical quantity. It is neither 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 monetary value.

Bitch, subs. (low).—1. An opprobrious term for a woman, [203]generally containing an implication of lewdness and ‘fastness.’ Not now in literary use, though formerly so. [From its primary sense of a female dog.] It is the most offensive apellation that can be given to an English woman, even more provoking than that of whore.

1400. Chester Pl. (1843), 181. Whom calleste thou queine skabde biche? [M.]

1575. J. Still, Gammer Gurton, II., ii. Come out, thou hungry needy bitch. [M.]

1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1755), 9. An extravagant bitch of a wife.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XVII., ch. iii. There was my lady 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.

1833. Marryat, P. Simple (1834), 446. You are a … son of a bitch.

2. (old.)—Applied, opprobriously, as in sense 1, to a man. It has long since passed out of decent usage.

c. 1500. E. E. Misc. (1855), 54. He is a schrewed byche, In fayth, I trow, he be a wyche.

1675. Hobbes, Odyssey, xviii., 310. Ulysses looking sourly answered, You bitch. [M.]

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).—1. To go whoring; molrowing; to frequent the company of prostitutes.

2. To yield, or give up an attempt through fear.—Grose.

3. (common.)—To spoil; to bungle.

To stand bitch.—To make tea, or do the honours of the tea table, or to perform a female part. Bitch is here used generically for a woman.

Bitch Booby, subs. (old military).—A country girl.—Grose.

Bitchery, subs. (low).—Harlotry; lewdness. [From bitch, sense 1, + ery.]

1532–3. More, Confut. Tindale, wks., 648, col. 1. Such marriage is very vnlawfull leckery and plain abhominable bychery.

1598. Marston, Sco. Villanie, I., iv., 188. He will vnline himselfe from bitchery.

1663–1704. Thomas Brown, Works, Serious and Comical, III., p. 94. Thither run Sots purely to be drunk that they may … forget … the roguery of their lawyers, the bitchery of their paramours, or the ingratitude of the world.

(?). 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 condemn simony.

Bitch Party, subs. (popular).—A party composed of women. 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.” ’

Bite, subs. (old).—1. An old slang term for money.—See Bit.

2. (old.)—The female pudenda. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

3. An imposition; a piece of humbug; a ‘sell’ or ‘do.’ Cf., Bilk, Bam, Bargain, and Sell, for synonyms. The sense runs [204]through all stages, from jocular hoaxing to downright swindling. Also in the sense of disappointment, as in the old proverb ‘the biter bit.’ A man is bitten when he burns his fingers meddling in matters, which, though promising well, turn out failures.—See also Cross bite.

1711. Steele, Spectator, No. 156, ¶ 2. It was a common bite with him, to lay Suspicions that he was favoured by a Lady’s Enemy.

1721. Amherst, Terræ Fil., ix., 43. Sharpers would not frequent gaming-tables, if the men of fortune knew the bite.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. ix. ‘It’s all a bam, ma’am—all a bamboozle and a bite, that affair of his illness.’

1860. Sat. Review, Ap. 14, 475, 2. That form 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.’

1883. Daily News, Ap. 18, p. 5, col. 4. Lord Randolph Churchill, we fear, has been making Mr. Gladstone the victim 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 ‘sell.’

4. (old.)—A sharper; cheat; trickster. Cf., Bilk. See Rook for synonyms.

1742. Fielding, Miss Lucy (1762), 176. Is this wench an idiot, or a bite? Marry me, with a pox!

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xcviii. 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 fortune.

1787. S. Jenyns, in Dodsley, III., 169. The fool would fain be thought a bite.

5. (popular.)—Applied in a transferred sense to anybody or anything suspected of being different to what it appears, but not necessarily in a bad sense.

1846. 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. (common.)—One who drives a hard bargain; a ‘close fist.’

7. (familiar.)—A nickname for a Yorkshireman.—See Daily News, Sept. 11, 1883, and Yorkshire Post, Jan. 9, 1884.

1883. Daily News, Sept. 4, p. 5, col. 6. The great and puissant race known indifferently as ‘tykes’ or bites.

8. (printers’.)—An irregular white spot on the edge or corner of a printed page, caused by the frisket not being sufficiently cut out.

1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. in Savage Dict. Print, s.v. Bite. If the frisket is not sufficiently cut away, but covers some part of the form, so that it prints on the frisket, it is called a bite. [M.]

1884. Blades, Caxton, 130. In ‘Speculum Vitæ Christi’ we actually find a bite, half of the bottom line remaining unprinted. [M.]

Verb (old).—1. To deceive; cheat; swindle; to ‘do’ or ‘take in.’ In modern colloquial English to slick or to sell (q.v.). Formerly used both transitively and passively; now only in latter.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 109. Then a rook … follows him close, and engages him in advantageous bets, and at length worries him, that is gets all his money, and then they smile and say, ‘The lamb is bitten.’

1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 12. Nay, he has bit you fairly enough, 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. [205]

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 are a fortune.

1822. [Nares] Love in a Barn, an old ballad.

He shall not have my maiden-head,

I solemnly do swear;

But I’ll bite him of a portion,

Then marry with Ralph, my dear.

1838. Thackeray, Yellowplush Memoirs, ch. x. ‘You were completely bitten, my boy—humbugged, bamboozled—ay, and by your old father, you dog.’

1853. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, ch. xvii., p. 232. I have no particular pleasure in recalling my Newmarket doings. I was infernally bit and bubbled in almost every one of my transactions there.

Hence 2. (popular.)—To strike a hard bargain.

3. (old.)—To steal; e.g., ‘to bite the roger,’ to steal a portmanteau; ‘to bite the wiper,’ i.e., to purloin a handkerchief.

Intj. (old.)—1. Formerly an equivalent to the modern ‘Sold!’ ‘Done!’ etc.

1704. Cibber, Careless Husband, Act iii.

Ld. Mo. ’Tis possible I may not 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.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. i.).

Miss. I’m sure the gallows groans for you.

Nev. Bite, Miss; I was but in jest.

1714. Addison, Spectator, No. 514. 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.… The fellow who killed the officer of Newgate, very forwardly, and like a man who was willing to deal, told him, ‘Look you, Mr. Surgeon, that little dry fellow, who has been half starved all his life, is now half dead with fear, cannot answer your purpose.… Come, for twenty shillings I am your man.’ Says the Surgeon, ‘Done, there’s a guinea.’ This witty rogue took the money, and as soon as he had it in his fist, cries, ‘bite, I am to be hanged in chains.’

2. (Charterhouse.)—A warning = Cave!

To do a thing when the maggot bites, phr. (common), is to do it when 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 tête; in Platt-Deutsch, to have a mouse-nest in his head, the eccentric behaviour being attributed to the influence of the internal irritation. Cf., Apartments to let.

Bite One’s Hips, verbal phr. (tailors’).—To regret a word or action.

Bite One’s Name In, verbal phr. (common).—To drink heavily; to tipple; also to drink greedily.

Bite on the Bridle, verbal phr. (old).—To be pinched in circumstances; to be reduced; in difficulties.

Biter, subs. (old).—1. A practical joker; a hoaxer; one who deceives; a cheat and trickster. Cf., Bite. The term now only survives in the proverbial expression, ‘the biter bit.’ For synonyms, see Rook.

1669. 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., and these may all pass under the general appellation of rooks.

1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 12. A biter, who is a dull fellow, that tells [206]you a lye with a grave face, and laughs at you for knowing him no better than to believe him.

1711. Spectator, No. 47. These 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 own production.

1712. Spectator, 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 you.

1812. Coombe, Syntax, Picturesque, c. xix.

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 (sexually). Cf., Athanasian wench.

Bite the Ear, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To borrow. Formerly, a term of endearment; to caress fondly. For synonyms, see Shins.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 502. He used to want to bite my ear (borrow) too often.

Bite the Thumb, verbal phr. (old).—To make a gesture of contempt, 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 you.’ There are several gestures of this kind. That best known is probably taking a sight (q.v.). A similar gesture of contempt is used by the lower orders in France which, there is little doubt, is the ‘biting the thumb’ spoken of in Romeo and Juliet. The person using the gesture placed the nail of his thumb under the front teeth of the upper jaw, and then jerked the thumb forward, using at the same time an expression equivalent to ‘I don’t care that for you.’ Another contemptuous action is placing the thumb between the closed fore and middle fingers; while according to Darwin’s Expression of the Emotions, it appears that with the Dakota Indians of North America ‘contempt is shown … conventionally by the hand being closed and held near the breast; then, as the fore arm is suddenly extended, the hand is opened and the fingers separated from each other. If the person at 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.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, i., 1. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them if they bear it.

1596. Lodge, Wit’s Miserie. Behold next I see Contempt marching forth, giving me the fies, with his thombe in his mouth.

1638. Randolph, Muses’ L. Glass, O. Pl., ix., 220. Dogs and pistols! To bite his thumb at me! Wear I a sword To see men bite their thumbs?

1678. Rules of Civility, transl. from 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 Up, subs. (tailors’).—An unpleasant altercation.

Bit-Faker or Turner Out, subs. (thieves’).—Coiner of bad money. [From bit, an old canting term for money, + faker, one who makes, or does.] Also [207]bit-maker.—See Turner out and Faker.

Bit Faking, subs. (thieves’).—Manufacturing base coin; counterfeiting. [From bit + fake + ing.—See preceding.] Cf., Turner out.

Biting Up, subs. (tailors’).—Grieving over a loss or bereavement.

Bit-Maker, subs. (old).—A counterfeiter.—See Bit-faker.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 447. Coiners—bit-makers.

Bit-o’-Bull, subs. (old).—Beef. The French say un gobet; formerly, a dainty morsel.

Bit of Blood, subs. (common).—A high-spirited horse; a thoroughbred. The derivation is obvious. For synonyms, see Prad.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 10.

’Mong the vehicles, too, which were many and various,

From natty barouche down to buggy precarious,

We twigg’d more than one queerish sort of turn-out,

C—n n—g came in a job, and then canter’d about

On a showy, but hot and unsound, bit of blood,

(For a leader once meant, but cast off, as no good).

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, II., p. 156. Not that we slacken in our pace the while, not we: we rather put the bits of blood upon their mettle.

Bit of Cavalry, subs. (old).—A horse.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act i., Sc. 6. Tom. You are now at Tattersal’s, Jerry, a very worthy fellow, who made his fortune by a horse called Highflyer. Jerry. Hum! and if one may judge from the splendour and extent of his premises, he seems to be no small highflyer himself. Tom. You are right, Jerry—I shall here buy a bit of cavalry—that is a prad, on your judgment.

Bit of Ebony, subs. (common).—A negro or negress. For synonyms, see Snowball.

Bit of Fat, subs. (common).—1. An unexpected pecuniary advantage in a transaction.

2. (printers’.)—See Fat.

Bit of Jam.—See Jam.

Bit of Leaf, subs. (thieves’).—Tobacco.

Bit of Muslin, subs. (common).—A young girl; generally applied only to prostitutes. Also bit of stuff. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

Bit of Mutton, subs. (familiar).—A woman; generally, a prostitute is meant. Cf., Laced mutton, and for synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

Bit of Sticks, subs. phr. (sporting).—A corpse. For synonyms, see Dead meat.

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. Lever, Dodd Family Abroad, I., 313. I’m sorry that bit of stiff, meaning the bill, wasn’t for five thousand francs.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures 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.

To do a bit of stiff, phr. (common).—To accept a bill. [208]

Bit of Stuff, subs. (familiar).—An overdressed man; a man with full confidence in his appearance and abilities; a young woman; also called a bit of muslin.

1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xxiii. ‘One night he says to me, “Will, come up and I’ll show you a devilish fine 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.’

Bit On.—See On.

Bitter, subs. (popular).—A glass of beer.

To do a bitter.—To drink a glass of bitter. Originally, says Hotten, an Oxford term varied by to do a beer.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, 1st., III., ch. x. 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.

c. 1882. Comic Song, ‘The West End Boys,’ verse 3.

Let fortune frown and friends betray,

There’s a class of men that’s ever gay,

Where some make troubles, they make joys,

And are known by the title of the West End Boys.

They commence their evening with cigars,

And ‘How-d’ye-do, dear,’ at the bars,

‘Another bitter, I really can’t go,

There’s something about you that charms me so.’

Oh, don’t they like, etc.

Bittock, subs. (originally provincial; now common).—A distance of very undecided length. If a 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 + ock, a diminutive suffix.]

1802. J. Wilson (‘Congleton’), M.S. Let. to F. Boucher. Bittock, a small Piece or small Bit; Cheshire. [M.]

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, ch. x. ‘To Chamwood, madam? It’s unco late, and its sax miles an’ a bittock down the water.’

1884. Daily News, April 15, p. 4, col. 7. Edinburgh University is three hundred years old, or rather, three hundred years and a bittock.

Bit You.—A hair of the dog that bit you.—See Hair.

Bivvy or Gatter, subs. (provincial).—Beer; ‘shant of bivvy,’ a pot or quart of beer; probably from the Italian, bevere, bere. Latin, bibere. English, beverage.

Biz, subs. (originally American, now general).—A vulgar corruption for business, employment, or occupation. ‘Good biz’ is profitable business.

1882. Democracy, ch. vii. A number of gentlemen were waiting for interviews with the President, and among them was the whole Pennsylvania delegation, ready for biz, as Mr. Tom Lord remarked, with a wink.

1884. Saturday Review, Jan. 5, p. 13, col. 2. It is satisfactory to learn from the conductor of the circus that biz is very fair.

1889. Ally Sloper, Aug. 17, p. 262, col. 1. We understand, though we 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 and a royalty upon future sales. Very good biz, this, eh!

B. K. S., subs. (military).—An abbreviation of ‘barracks’; its usage is explained by quotation.

1887. Standard, 10 Feb., p. 5, col. 2. B. k. s., used by officers ‘in mufti,’ who do not wish to give their address. [209]

Blab, subs. (vulgar).—A revealer of that which should be kept secret; a betrayer; a babbler. A depraved word; once in common use, but rarely employed 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 ‘blabber,’ ‘blabbing,’ ‘blabbing-book,’ etc.—a taint of vulgarism now rests upon them all.

Black Act, subs. (American).—A corrupted form of black art (q.v.).

Blackamoor’s Teeth, subs. (old).—Cowrie shells—the currency of some savage tribes.

1700. W. King, Transactioneer, p. 36. He has shells called Blackmoore’s Teeth, I suppose … from their Whiteness. [M.]

1719. W. Wood, Surv. Trade, p. 334. Known by the Name of Cowries amongst Merchants, or of Blackamores’ Teeth among other Persons. [M.]

Black-and-Tan, subs. (vagrants’).—Porter or stout and ale, mixed in 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.]

Black-and-Tan Country, subs. phr. (American).—The Southern 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; i.e., the country where the negroes were tanned or beaten.]

Black and White, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The black characters of print or writing on white paper. Therefore, to put a thing down in black and white is to preserve it in writing or in print. Black on white is a variant.

1596. Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, IV., ii. I have it here in black and white. [Pulls out the warrant.]

1667. Shirley, Love Tricks, Act ii., Sc. 2. Gov. [with a letter] … Alas, poor gentleman! Little does he think what black and white is here.

1712. Spectator, No. 286. My desire is, Sir, that you will be pleased to give us, in black and white, your opinion in the matter of dispute between us.

1714. Spectator, No. 616. They had like to have dumfounded the justice; but his clerk came in to his assistance, and took them all down in black and white.

1837. Carlyle, French Revolution, pt. III., bk. II., ch. viii. His accounts lie all ready, correct in black and white to the uttermost farthing.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. xii., p. 202. ‘A man can’t 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!’

Black-Arse, subs. (old).—A kettle; a pot. [From black, from its colour, + arse, the posterior, hinder, or ‘bottom’ part.]

Black Art, subs. (old).—1. Picking of locks; burglary. For synonyms, see Crack.

1591. Greene, Conny-Catch., wks., 1883, II., x., 72. I can set down the subtiltie of the blacke art, which is picking of lockes.

1608. Dekker, Belman of Lond., wks., 1884–5, III., 137. This blacke art … is called in English, Picking of Lockes. [210]

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Black art, the art of picking a lock.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. [The definition given is the same as that of Grose, as above-mentioned.]

2. (undertakers’.)—The business of an undertaker. Cf., Black work.

1861. Sala, Seven Sons of Mammon, i., p. 78. Rich men’s funerals in the first style of black art.

Black-ball, verb (common).—See Pill.

Blackballing, subs. (nautical).—Stealing or pilfering. A sailor’s word. It originated amongst the employees of the old Black Ball line of steamers between New York and Liverpool. The cruelty and 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. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 6. Jerry: Tom, here’s a group of blackbeetles—do you see those lovely mendicants? Tom: Beauty in rags—I do—Cupid imploring charity. 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. Log: And I’ll take pity on that charming beggar.

Blackberry Swagger, subs. (common).—A person who hawks tapes, boot-laces, etc.

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 of these people.]

1881. Chequered Career, p. 180. The white men on board knew that if once the blackbirds burst the hatches … they would soon master the ship. [M.]

Verb.—To capture negroes or Polynesians; to kidnap (see subs.). Hence the verbal substantive and ppl. adj. blackbirding, in the same sense.

1883. Graphic, April 21, p. 398, col. 1. The day is not far distant when, to avoid blackbirding, and the revengeful massacres which these kidnappers provoke, the whole of Oceania will have to be placed under civilised control.

1883. Academy, 8 Sep., p. 158. [He] slays Bishop Patteson by way of reprisal for the atrocities of some blackbirding crew. [M.]

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 19 Aug. p. 2, col. 2. Years ago blackbirding scoundrels may have hailed from Fiji. [M.]

Blackbird-Catching.—See Blackbird.

Black-Birders, subs. (popular).—See quotation.

1883. All the Year Round, 22 Sep., p. 355. Blackbirders, the kidnappers for labour purposes on the islands of the Pacific.

Black Box, subs. (old).—A lawyer. So given in Grose [1785]; Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]; and in Duncombe’s Sinks of London [1848]. [From the black tin boxes in which clients’ papers are kept.]

Black-Boy, subs. (old).—See Black-coat. [211]

Black Bracelets, subs. (old).—Handcuffs. For synonyms, see Darbies.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 63.

When the turnkey, next morning, stepped into his room,

The sight of the hole in the wall struck him dumb;

The sheriff’s black bracelets lay strewn on the ground,

But the lad that had worn ’em could nowhere be found.

Tol-de-rol!

Black-Cattle, subs. (popular).—1. Clergymen; parsons. [From the prevailing hue of the garments worn by the profession.] Sometimes used in the same way as red-coats for soldiers, e.g., black-coats (q.v.); also devil dodgers, the latter of which, see for synonyms.

2. (old.)—Lice. These are also called active citizens and chates (q.v.).

Black-Cattle Show, subs. (popular).—A gathering of clergymen. [From black-cattle (q.v.) + show, in its slang sense of a party or meeting.]

Black-Coat, subs. (familiar.)—A parson. Cf., Black-cattle and Devil-dodger.

1627. R. Perrot, Jacob’s Vow, 52. Let us take heed how these black-coates get the day 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 blunder or other, in setting his name too near.

1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, i. You are the black-coat’s son of Knocktarlitie.

1870. Emerson, Soc. and Solit., ix., p. 197. The black-coats are good company only for black-coats. [M.]

Black-Cuffs, subs. (military).—The Fifty-eight Foot, from the regimental facings which have been black since 1767. They have also been nicknamed the Steel Backs (q.v.).

Black Diamonds, subs. (popular).—1. Coals. [A simile in allusion to the colour, and also to the fact that both coal and diamonds are carbon.]

1849. T. Miller, in Gabarni in London, p. 43. Were he even trusted with the favourite horse and gig to fetch a sack of black diamonds from the wharf.

2. Also formerly a rough but clever or good person; this sobriquet, however, has given place to rough diamond (q.v.).

Black Dog, subs. (old).—1. Applied, circa 1702–30, to a counterfeit shilling and other base silver coinage. In this connection it may be pointed out that black had long previously been applied to base money. Ruding, in his Annals of the Coinage [London, 1817, vol. I., p. 405], having mentioned black money, appends this note—‘Qy. Turonenses Nigri? Copper money struck at Tours.’ [See 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 recites that all manner of black money which had been commonly current in the king’s realm and obeisance should be utterly excluded, so as not to be current in one month after proclamation, on pain of forfeiture of the same. Later on, in 1339, a certain black money called ‘turneys’ was made by [212]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, been ordered to be made to prohibit the circulation of it, on pain of forfeiture of money and goods. But the king having been informed that great inconvenience had arisen from this prohibition on account of the scarcity of sterling money, it was, therefore, commanded that, provided it should be found on due inquiry more advantageous to the public to allow the currency 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 Queen Anne, II., p. 225. The Art of making black dogs, which are shillings, or other pieces of money made only of Pewter, double wash’d. [M.]

1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., wks., 1755, V., ii., 44. Butcher’s half-pence, black-dogs, and others the like. [M.]

2. (common.)—Delirium tremens; the 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 synonyms, see Gallon distemper.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xxxiii. ‘Yes, sir,’ said the butler, nodding, ‘D.T., sir. After one of his rages the black dog comes, and it’s hawful work; so I hope you’ll go, sir.’

To blush like a black dog, phr. (old).—Not to blush at all; to be shameless.—See also Blush.

1634. Withal, Dictionary, p. 557 [ed. 1634]. Faciem perfricuit. He blusheth like a black dogge, hee hath a brazen face.

Black Doll.—See Dolly shop.

1835. Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 174. [Speaking of a marine-store 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.

1838. Douglas Jerrold, Men of Character, II., p. 100. Five hundred articles, among which might be found knockers, scrapers, barbers’ poles, black dolls.

1861. Cornhill Magazine, Nov., p. 609. The best price given for old rags—inquire at the sign of the black doll.

Black-Eye. To give a bottle a black eye, phr. (old).—To empty it. Cf., Dead man.

Black-Eyed Susan, subs. (American).—Texan for a revolver. Among other slang equivalents for this weapon current in the Lone Star State may be mentioned meat in the pot, blue 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).—A contemptuous name for a clergyman. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. The greatest drawback on the farmer is the black fly, i.e., the parson who takes tithe of the harvest.

Blackfriars! intj. (thieves’).—An exclamation of warning; look out! beware!—See Thieves.

Blackguard, subs. (common).—A man coarse in speech, and offensive in manner; a scamp; a scoundrel; a disreputable fellow. The term, as now used, is one of the utmost opprobrium, and although a good [213]deal of uncertainty hangs about its history and derivation, it seems pretty clear that a certain amount of odium has always been attached to the word. Between two of its primary significations, however,—(1) a kitchen knave or scullion, and (2) a guard of attendants, black in person, dress, or character, generally in reference to the devil’s body-guard—and the modern usage, there is a somewhat marked line to be drawn. The earliest mention is as follows:—

1532. MS. Churchwarden’s Accompts. St. Margaret’s, Westminster (Receipts for burials). Item Receyvid for the lycens of iiij. torchis of the blake garde vjd.

What this guard was is not definitely 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 street link-boys.

Better supported by evidence are the senses first mentioned, in which blackguard signifies (1) a scullion, and (2) a member of the devil’s body-guard. But here too, Murray points out that it would be difficult to assign priority. First, however, let the quotations be given in sets:—

Sense 1 = a scullion.

1535. Sir W. Fitzwilliams, 17 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. Fulke, Refut. Kastel, 779. They ought not, nor yet any of the scullerie or blacke garde. [M.]

Sense 2 = Devil’s body-guard; also other attendants.

1583. Fulke, Defence, x., 386. Pelagius, Celestins, and other like heretics of the devil’s body-guard, [M.]

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, wks. [1884–5] III., 214. The Great Lord of Limbo did therefore commaund all his Blacke guard that stood about him, to bestirre them. [M.]

Comparing these one with the other, we are clearly face to face 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 assigned as black guards to his Satanic Majesty. Whether there was any connection in the popular mind between the King’s scullions and the Devil’s body-guard, cannot now be definitely stated. Still, it is probable; and this view is borne out by later references. It is curious 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 1 on 2, or 2 on 1 is equally uncertain. The quotation from Hudibras is as follows:

1678. Butler, Hudibras, pt. III., canto 1, line 1403.

I do believe thee, quoth the knight;

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.

Thou art some paltry, blackguard sprite,

Condemn’d to drudg’ry in the night;

Thou 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.

[214]

So also the following:—

1655. Fuller, Church History [1845], vol. V., p. 160. For who can otherwise conceive but such a prince-principal of darkness must be proportionately attended with a black guard of monstrous opinions.

The Black Guard of Satan, argues a writer in Notes and Queries [Sir J. Emmerson Tennent, N. and Q., 1 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. Hobbes, Microcosmus, vol. II., p. 134. Since my lady’s decay I am degraded from a cook, and I fear the devil himself will entertain me but for one of his blackguards, and he shall be sure to have his roast burnt.

Hence came 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 favoured with their presence, and which at night they swept and garnished; pinching those of the maids in their sleep who, by their laziness, had imposed such toil on their elfin assistants; but slipping money into the shoes of the more tidy and 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],—

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 wool-yard, sculleries, etc. Of these, the most forlorn wretches seem to have been selected to carry coals to the kitchens, halls, etc. To this smutty regiment, who attended the progresses, and rode in the carts with the pots and kettles, which, with every other article of furniture, were then removed from palace to palace, the people, in derision, gave the name of black guards; a term since become sufficiently familiar, and never properly explained.

Many other references also 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 a sharp line may, as already stated, be drawn.

The earliest reference to blackguard as applied to a vagabond or loafer occurs in 1683. Since that time the word 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., 1 S., ix., p. 15]. 7 May, Whereas of late a sort of 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.

1695. Congreve, Love for Love, Act iii., Sc. 10. Or if that won’t do, I’ll bring a 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. Nov. 26, Walpole, Lett. to Mann (1833), II., 57. The whole stage filled with blackguards, armed with bludgeons and clubs.

1780. Parody on the Rosciad, etc., p. 13. Like him I’m a blackguard and sot.

1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Speculist, i., 59. As black-guards at [215]Newmarket meeting bawl about the lists of horses.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. iii., p. 37. ‘I must request you to be a little more careful in your language. You have come amidst gentlemen here, not blackguards.’

Adj.—Of or pertaining to a blackguard; to the scum or refuse of society; vile; vicious.

1760. Smollett, Sir L. Greaves, vol. II., ch. ix. He is become a blackguard gaol-bird.

1803. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), I., 178. His friends were ill-natured, and behaved like blackguard beasts.

Verb.—To act like a ruffian; to use filthy, scurrilous language; to play the vagabond or scoundrel.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxix. ‘I have been called names, and blackguarded quite sufficiently for one sitting.’

So also with other derivatives and compounds—blackguardism, blackguardize, blackguardly, blackguardy.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 124. The talent of common blackguardism.

1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. v. I was awakened by being shoved through the folding-doors of a gin-shop, into a glare of light and hubbub of blackguardism.

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xxvi. ‘I beg your pardon, sir, for saying that; I said it in a hurry. It was blackguardly.’

1883. William Morris, reported in Illust. London News, March 10, p. 243, col. 3. Almost all ordinary wares now made by man were shabbily and pretentiously ugly.… Not even the pine-trees and gardens could make the rich men’s houses at Bournemouth tolerable. They were simply blackguardly; and even as he spoke they were being built by the mile.

Black Hole, subs. (Anglo-Indian).—Cheltenham, from the number of retired Anglo-Indians who live there. Cf., Asia Minor.

1878. Notes and Queries, 5 S., x., p. 234, col. 1. Gained for Cheltenham the … title of The Black Hole.

Black Horse, subs. (military).—A nickname of the Seventh Dragoon Guards, so called from the regimental facings, black on scarlet. Occasionally the epithet is shortened into The Blacks. During the reign of George II., the corps was known as The Virgin Mary’s Guard, and is now often called Strawboots (q.v.).

Black House, subs. (trade).—A place of business where hours are long, and wages at starvation rates; a sweating house.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 234. I have mentioned that the black houses or linen-drapers at the west end of London, were principally supplied from the east end.

Black Indies, subs. (old).—Newcastle-on-Tyne, from its wealth in coal. The term is now obsolete, but it was in common use at the latter part of the eighteenth century.

Black Jack, subs. (Winchester College).—A large leathern jug for beer, holding two gallons. The term was not peculiar to Winchester; in olden times Jacks were common everywhere.

(?) Simon the Cellarer. But oh, oh, oh! his nose doth show, How oft the Black Jack to his lips doth go.

Black job, subs. (common).—A funeral. Mr. H. J. Byron, in his annotated copy of the Slang Dictionary states ‘it was [216]the late Lord Portsmouth’s hobby to attend all the black jobs he could hear of.’ [From black, in reference to the sombre trappings of funerals + job].—See Black work.

1866. Yates, Land at Last, I., p. 101. ‘What, a funeral mute?’ ‘Yes, Sir, black-job business,’ etc.

Black Joke, subs. (old).—The female pudenda.—See Monosyllable for synonyms. Said to have been the burden of an obscene song, circa 1811.

Blackleg, subs. (common).—1. A turf swindler; a rook; a welsher; also one who cheats at cards or billiards. Origin unknown; although many speculations have been hazarded, none are satisfactory.—See Leg.

1771. B. Parsons, Newmarket, II., 163. The frequenters of the Turf, and numberless words of theirs are exotics everywhere else; then how should we have been told of blacklegs, and of town-tops … taken in … beat hollow, etc. [M.]

1774. Colman, Man of Business, I., in wks. (1777) II., 133. Countesses and semptresses, lords, aldermen, blacklegs, and Oxonians.

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 from the field.

1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. xv. ‘Mr. T—— is pursuing quite disgraceful courses all night and day, squandering away his money among sharpers and blacklegs.’

2. A workman who, when his fellows are on strike, is willing to go on working. An opprobrious term. Cf., Black-nob and Scab.

1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Oct., p. 7. If the timber merchants persist in putting on blacklegs, a serious disturbance will ensue. [M.]

3. Also by another transference of meaning applied to any one failing, or refusing to join his fellows in combination for a given purpose.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Nov. 21, p. 5, col. 1. 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 figure’ was emphasized. The question of the preparation of a list of master baker ‘blacklegs’ was also touched upon. These men are selling bread at 4½d. the quartern, and at even a lower rate.

Verb (tailors’).—Amongst the fraternity of ‘snips,’ to blackleg is used as synonymous with ‘to boycott’—i.e., to make things so uncomfortable for a man that he is compelled to leave his work or the town.

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 go to work. Some were non-union miners, while the remainder were Knights of Labor who had determined to blackleg it, regardless of the jeers and threats of their companions.

Black-Leggism, Black-Leggery, subs. (common).—Cheating; swindling; the arts and practices of a blackleg (q.v.—sense 1).

1832. Maginn, in Blackwood’s Mag., XXXII., 427. From following any profession save the Army, the Navy, Black-apronry and Black-leggery. [M.]

Black-Man or Black Gentleman, subs. (old).—The devil. For synonyms, see Skipper.

1606. Dekker, in Newes from Hell, in wks. (Grosart) II., 113. [Old Nick called the Black Gentleman.] [217]

1861. G. Meredith, Evan Harrington, ch. iii., p. 23 (1885). ‘Rich as Crœsus, and as wicked as the black man below! as dear papa used to say.’

Blackmans.—See Darkmans.

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 jocularly called. This view is also supported by the fact that a variant is Sable Maria (see quot.). Julian Marshall, in Notes and Queries [6 S., vii., p. 355], suggests that the term Maria may be allied to ‘Marinated,’ transported to some foreign plantation, and ‘married,’ persons chained or handcuffed together, in order to be conveyed to gaol [Grose has this, as also has the Lexicon Balatronicum]. In marinated evident allusion is made to the 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 no evidence in support of the statement.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 61. On alighting from the ‘Sable Maria’ we were ushered through 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 day. 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 carefully locked.

Amongst French Synonyms may be mentioned:—Le courrier du Palais (a thieves’ term: courrier, a post or mail + Palais, an abbreviated form of Palais de Justice, a police court or sessions house); un panier à salade (familiar: ‘a salad basket’); le courrier de la prefecture (thieves’: Cf., courrier du Palais. Préfecture = the office of a chief magistrate); l’omnibus pègres (in slang un pègre signifies ‘a thief’); un guimbard (thieves’: une guimbarde is properly ‘a long cart’); le service du château (roughs’ and thieves’: ‘the prison service’; château = prison).

For other synonyms, see Her Majesty’s Carriage.

Black-Monday, subs. (old).—1. A schoolboys’ term for the Monday on which, after holidays, school re-opens. Obviously 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—10 May, 1886. Cf., Blue Monday.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VIII., ch. xi. She now hated my sight, and made home so disagreeable to me, that what is called by school-boys black Monday was to me the whitest in the whole year.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. i. There comes a time when the days are grudgingly counted to a blacker Monday than ever makes a schoolboy’s heart quake within him. [218]

2. (popular.)—The Monday on which the death penalty is carried out; these events are generally arranged to fall on the day in question.

Black-Mummer, subs. (old).—An epithet applied to one unwashed and unshorn.

Black-Nob, subs. (trades’ union).—A non-unionist; one who, while his fellows are on strike, persists in working at his trade; a 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 knobsticks and scabs (q.v.).

Black Ointment, subs. (American thieves’).—A term for uncooked meat.

Black-Pot, subs. (old).—A toper; a tippler. [Beer mugs were called black-pots; also black-jacks, hence, probably, a transference of the name from the utensil to the drinker.]

1594. Greene, Fr. Bacon, v., 122. I’ll be Prince of Wales over all the black-pots in Oxford.

1636. Heywood, Love’s Mistr., II. Iugg, what’s shee but sister to a black-pot.

1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, xxxii. A whole whiskin, or black-pot of sufficient double ale.

Black Psalm. To sing the black psalm, phr. (old).—To cry; a saying used to children.—Grose.

Blacks.—See Black horse.

Black Sal or Suke, subs. (popular).—A kettle.—See Sukey for synonyms.

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 applied like blackleg and black-nob to workmen who persist in working when their comrades are on strike. The word is hardly slang now.

1864. Le Fanu, Uncle Silas, ch. xxvi. ‘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.’

1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. xxxvii. ‘In all cities there are black sheep, but in a city like London, sound finance is the rule, I am sure.’

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xxviii. ‘Many companies, 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 without concert with the other favoured allottees, you’ll be called a black sheep.’

Verb (Winchester College).—When a fellow in ‘Junior Part’ got above (or ‘jockeyed’) a fellow in ‘Middle Part.’

Blacksmith’s Daughter, subs. (popular).—A key. Formerly the key with which the doors of sponging houses were unlocked. Also Locksmith’s daughter, which see for synonyms.

1859. C. Dickens, Tale of Two Cities. Place it under the care of the blacksmith’s daughter.

1864. Reader [quoted in N. and Q., 5 S., ix., 263]. Blacksmith’s daughter. [219]A key. I have never met with this word in print, but have heard it frequently in conversation.

Black-Spice Racket, subs. (old).—The practice of robbing chimney sweepers of their tools, bag, and soot.—Lexicon Balatronicum.

Black Spy, subs. (old).—A cant name for the devil. The French equivalent is le dache. For synonyms, see Skipper.

Black-Strap, subs. (common).—1. Thick, sweet port. A contemptuous term, in allusion to its dark colour, strap being an old name for wine.—(See quot.).

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 131. Sometimes likewise this Card-cheating, goes not vnder the name of Bernard’s Lawe, but is called Batt 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 the Limetwigs.

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, p. 3. Tom (taking his seat): Gentlemen, I beg pardon for being scarce so long; but having to start early, I thought it best to see that the toggery was all right and fly—I never shirk the black strap intentionally, you know. Jerry: Don’t mention it, my dear Tom.

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. x. The orator gets deeper into his subject, till an extremely abrupt conclusion … empties every bumper of ‘black strap’ like a shot.

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.

1882. Pinkerton, Molly Maguires and Detectives, p. 84. From the great iron kettle a savory incense arose; it came from an admixture of high-wines and common molasses, in about the proportion of one gallon of the latter to four of the spirit.… The seething blackstrap was pronounced ready for use. It rapidly disappeared, and, as it diminished and was imbibed, the fun and hilarity proportionately increased.

3. (old.)—A task of labour imposed on soldiers at Gibraltar as a punishment for small offences.—Grose.

Black’s Your Eye. To say black’s your eye, phr. (old).—To accuse; to find fault with. The phrase was varied by black’s your eyebrow, nail, etc. A more modern rendering is black is the white of your eye.

1528. Roy, Sat. (1845). They eate their belies full.… And none sayth blacke is his eye. [M.]

1583. Stubbs, Anatomic of Abuses, p. 65. And then no man say blacke is their eye, but all is well, and they as good Christians, as those that suffer them unpunished.

1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, Love’s Cure, iii., 1. I can say black’s your eye, though it be grey; I have conniv’d at this your friend, and you.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, IX., iv. The house is well known to be a house of as good reputation as any on the road, and, though I say it, is frequented by gentry of the best quality, both Irish and English. I defy anybody, to say black is my eye, for that matter.

Black-Teapot, subs. (popular).—A negro footman.

Blackwork, subs. (common).—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 dernier ressort.—See Black-job.

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxvi. A florid man who officiates as a waiter at the London Tavern o’nights, and sometimes takes a spell in the black work, or undertaking line of business. [220]

Bladder of Lard, subs. (popular).—A bald-headed person. [From the supposed similarity of the smooth, hairless cranium to a bag or bladder of lard.]

1886. Athenæum, July 31, p. 142. An elderly Jew money-lender, whom she afterwards describes to her admiring friends as a bladder of lard, a graceful reference to his baldness and tendency to stoutness.

Blade, subs. (common.)—A roysterer; a gallant; a sharp, keen fellow; a free and easy, good fellow. [Probably from blade, a sword, a soldier. There 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 a ‘sly blade’ is called un renaré.]

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, ii., 4. The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting fantasticoes; these new tuners of accents! By Jesu, a very good blade!—a very tall man!

1632. Chapman and Shirley, The Ball, Act iv.

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 old blade

Skulks there like a tame filcher, as he had

New stolen ’bove eggs from market-women.

1637. Fletcher, Elder Brother, I., ii.

If he be that old

Rough testy blade he always used to be.

1664. Pepys, Diary, Jan. 4. For suffering his man (a spruce blade) to be so saucy as to strike a ball while his master was playing in the Mall.

1667. Pepys, Diary, June 3. With his hat cocked like a fool behind, as the present fashion among the blades is.

1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, Act iv., Sc. 2. These London blades are all 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.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Blade (s.) … is sometimes used to signify a beau, spark, or hectoring fellow.

1773. O. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act i., Sc. 2. ‘A troublesome old blade, to be sure; but a keeps as good wines and beds as any in the whole 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.’

1883. Broadside Ballad, ‘Happy Thoughts,’ st. 4.

My Uncle Dowle has lots of money;

He’s a very knowing looking blade.

Blamed, ppl. adj. (popular).—An expletive used to emphasize a statement. It partakes of the nature of an oath, being often used instead of ‘doomed’ or ‘damned.’ In America the expression is more of a colloquialism than it is in England.—See Oaths.

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. vi. Yes, John Bull is a blamed blockhead.

1872. S. Clemens, Roughing It, ch. ix. The keeper had fired four times at an Indian, but he said with an injured air, that the Indian had ‘skipped’ around so’s to spile everything—and ammunition’s blamed skurse too.

1873. Carleton, Farm Ballads, p. 18.

And so that pourin’ dissentions in our cup;

And so that blamed cow-critter was always coming up.

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?’ ‘He did. He got down off his hack 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 was twelve shillings. You don’t want [221]to fool with those Quakers any, and don’t you forget it.’

1888. Portland Transcript, May 9. ‘Why do you object to your daughter marrying?’ ‘Wouldn’t object ef she wuster marry the right sorter man.’ ‘Isn’t Tom the right sort of man?’ ‘Not by a blamed sight.’

Blame it! intj. (common).—A round-about oath. Equivalent to ‘Damn it!’ [A transferred sense of blame.]

Blamenation! 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, by a dash or blank space; e.g., d——d. The terms are used in America in many combinations (see quots.). Cf., Oaths.

1857. C. Dickens, Farce for the 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 exquisite ‘fitness’ of that worthy. ‘So help me blank, blank!’ he cries delightedly, ‘if he ain’t a blank picter with the weins in his face down ’ere and ’ere, a showin’ out just if a blank hartist ’ad painted him. Tell yer he’s beautiful, fine as a blank greyhound, with a blank heavy air with him that looks blank like winnin’. Take yer two quid to one, guv’nor,’ adds the speaker, suddenly picking out a stout purple-faced farmer in the group of eager listeners.

1873. C. Reade, Simpleton, xxiii. Blank him! that is just like him; the uneasy fool! [M.]

1878. Mrs. Edwardes, Jet, iii., 272. ‘——the colonel of the regiment!’ exclaims Mark.… ‘Blank the colonel of the regiment!’ With slow, unmistakable gusto she lingers over the monosyllable ‘blank.’ [M.]

1879. Bret Harte, Gabriel Conroy, in Hallberger’s Illustrated Magazine, vol. I., p. 378. Because you’re religious, blank you, do you expect me to starve? Go 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 blankety blankety bar!

1888. Owosso (Mich.) Press, April. ‘Doctor, I’m a dead man!’ ‘Not right 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. Lawful blanket, subs. (old).—A wife. For synonyms, see Dutch.

Blanket Fair, subs. (popular).—Bed. Cf., Bedfordshire, Sheet Alley, and Land of Nod.

Blanket Hornpipe, subs. (common).—Sexual commerce. The allusion is obvious. Cf., Basket making.

Blarmed, ppl. adj. (common).—A euphemism for blessed (q.v.); ‘damned’; ‘blowed’ (q.v.); or blamed (q.v.), of the last of which it is probably a corruption.—See Oaths.

1867. No Church, I., 104. To be in a blarmed hurry.

1872. John Forster, Life of Dickens, ch. xxxi. (III., p. 191). He saw a strange sensation among the angry travellers whom he had detained so long; heard a voice exclaim, ‘I am blarmed if it ain’t Dickens!’ and stood in the centre of a group of Five Americans!

Blarm Me! intj. (common).—A euphemistic oath.—See Blarmed. [222]

Blarney, subs. (colloquial).—Blandishment; soft speech, or ‘sawder’; gross flattery; ‘gammon.’ [From Castle Blarney in Ireland, in the wall of which, difficult of access, is placed a stone. Whoever is able to kiss this is said thereafter to be able to persuade to anything. Blarney is from bladh-ey, flowery island, and this may have some connection with the curious tradition. On the other hand, according to Brewer, Cormack Macarthy held the Castle of Blarney in 1602, and concluded an armistice with Carew, the lord president, on condition of surrendering the fort to the English garrison. Day after day his lordship looked for the fulfilment of the terms, but received nothing except protocols and soft speeches, till he became the laughing-stock of Elizabeth’s ministers, and the dupe of the lord of Blarney.]

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. He has licked the blarney stone; he deals in the wonderful, or tips us the traveller.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. xix. They were as cunning as foxes and could tell blarney from good sense.

c. 1876. Broadside Ballad, ‘A nice 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,

Such a fair young thing, a rare young thing,

And just for a lark she had dyed her hair dark,

And they called her the Colleen Dhu.

1884. Ruskin, in Pall Mall Gazette, 17 Nov., p. 11, col. 2. It was bombastic English blarney—not Irish. [M.]

The French have baliverne and pelotage with the same meaning.

Verb.—1. To wheedle; to coax; to flatter grossly.

2. (American thieves’.)—Besides the English slang signification of ‘to wheedle,’ it also bears the secondary meaning, among the low and criminal classes of America, of ‘to pick locks.’

Blart Out, verb (American, ? nonce word).—A corruption of ‘blurt out’; to utter abruptly.

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), 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. Ibid, ch. viii. And there are others again who blart right out whatever comes uppermost.

Blasé, adj. (common).—Used up; exhausted with enjoyment; satiated. [From French blaser, of unknown derivation.] Its extended colloquial use in England is explained in second quotation.

1823. Byron, Don Juan, ch. xii., st. 81. A little blasé—’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 less.

1883. G. A. Sala, in Illustrated London News, March 10, p. 235, col. 3. There should be a chronology of slang. It is about forty years ago, I think, that the great popularity of a French farce called ‘L’Homme Blasé’ 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 Blasé, 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 Blasé’ became ‘Used Up’!

Blast, verb (low).—To curse; to damn. An expression of reprobation and hatred. Used in [223]such combinations as Blast me! Blast you! Blast your eyes! etc.—See Oaths.

1654. Chapman, Revenge for Honour, V., ii. And thus I kiss’d my last breath. Blast you all! Ta. Damn’d desperate villain!

1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. X., ch. v. ‘I don’t know what you mean by ominous,’ cries the colonel; ‘but, blast my reputation, if I had received such a letter, if I would not have searched the world to have found the writer.’

1759. Goldsmith, Cit. of the World, lett., 105. ‘Blast me!’ cries Tibbs, ‘if that be all, there is no need of paying for that.’

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. viii. ‘Hands, Captain MacTurk!’ exclaimed Sir Bingo, in some confusion; ‘no, blast him—not so bad as that neither.’

Blasted, ppl. adj. (low).—Execrable; confounded; often substituted for ‘damned,’ ‘bloody,’ it being thought a milder form. Grose has blasted fellow for an abandoned rogue, and blasted brimstone for a prostitute. [From blast, q.v.]—See Oaths.

1682. Dryden, Medal, 260. What curses on thy blasted Name will fall.

1750. Chesterfield, Letters, 8 Jan. (1870), 169. Colonel Chartres … who was, I believe, the most notorious blasted rascal in the world. [M.]

1874. Pusey, Lent. Sermons, 79. Balaam after the success of his blasted counsel. [M.]

1884. Good Words, Nov., p. 767, col. 1. Jim Black states that the blasted railway has done away with those journeys.

Blatantation, subs. (? nonce word).—Noisy effusion; swagger. [From blatant, noisy, offensively clamorous, + ation.] Cf., Blatancy.

1833. Graphic, Feb. 24, p. 199, col. 3. On the ground betting men are conspicuous with their books, blatantations, blackguardism, and swell clothes.

Blater, subs. (old).—A calf. [Probably a corruption of ‘bleater,’ from its cry.]

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11 [list of cant words in]. Blater, a calf.

1827. Lytton, Pelham, ch. lxxxii. Don’t be glim-flashy; why you’d cry beef on a blater.

Blather, subs. (familiar).—Noisy talk; voluble nonsense. Cf., Blether.

1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. xxix., p. 309 (1873). ‘There’s a letter there from Sir Mordaunt, askin’ for more time, and promisin’ all sorts of things; but I’m sick of him and his blather.’

Verb.—To talk volubly; noisily; nonsensically.—See Blether.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xxiv. Mrs. O’Brien was blathering about the pedigree of the O’Briens and the O’Shandrydans to Mrs. Joyce.

Blatherskite, subs. (common).—1. Boastful disputatious swagger. Cf., Bletherskite.

2. A swaggerer; boaster; one who talks volubly and nonsensically. Cf., Bletherskite.

1888. 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.

1888. Chicago Watchman. Dr. Brookes, of St. Louis, must be a nice man to live with. He refers to Dr. R. W. Dale and Dr. Parker as ‘blatant blatherskites,’ and evidently regards Professor Drummond as beyond reformation.

Blayney’s Bloodhounds, subs. (military).—The Eighty-ninth Foot. They obtained this nickname during the Irish Rebellion in 1798. [Blayney, from their Colonel’s name + Bloodhounds from their skill in tracking Irish rebels.] They also earned for themselves the sobriquet of The [224]Rollickers, in allusion to the ‘jolly doggish’ bearing of the corps.

Blaze, subs. and verb (common).—In some of the usages of this word, the precincts of slang are narrowly touched, even if the boundary line is not crossed; as e.g., when a man is said to blaze his way through the labyrinths of the metropolis. The original meaning is well known. The early settlers in traversing the vast forests which abounded on the American continent, found it very necessary to mark their route. This they did by the simple expedient of blazing the trees at convenient 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 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-speaking colonies. The following quotations will exemplify its use both in the original and more figurative senses.—See Blazes.

1737. Wesley, wks. (1872) I., 68. We then found another blaze and pursued it. [M.]

1883. Bret Harte, In the Carquinez Woods, ch. viii. ‘I made a blaze hereabouts 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 at right angles with the blazed tree for ten minutes more.

Blaze-away, intj. (common).—Look sharp; ‘stir your stumps’—an injunction to renewed and more effective effort.

Blazer, subs. (popular).—Originally applied to the uniform of the Lady Margaret Boat Club of St. John’s College, Cambridge, which was of a bright red and was called a blazer. Now applied to any light jacket of bright colour worn at cricket or other sports. Prof. Skeat [N. and Q., 7 S., iii., 436] speaking of the Johnian blazer, says it was always of the most brilliant scarlet, and thinks it not improbable that the fact suggested the name which subsequently 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 holiday.

1889. Daily News, Aug. 22, p. 6, col. 6. Dress by the Sea. Sir,—In your article of to-day, under the above heading, you speak of ‘a striped red and 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 meant that and nothing else. It seems from your article that a blazer now means a coloured flannel jacket, whether for cricket, tennis, boating, or seaside wear.—Yours faithfully, Walter Wren. [225]

Blazes, subs. (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 o’clock, like winkey, etc. The verb to blaze is likewise employed in a manner closely bordering on slang. Thus one says of an action that it is a blazing shame; that he has a blazing headache; that so-and-so is a blazing thief; that such a job is blazing hard work; that it is a blazing hot day—all figurative uses of the legitimate idea. Appended are illustrations of some of its usages.

(Common.)—The brilliant habiliments of flunkeys. Derived from the episode of Sam Weller and the ‘swarry.’

Old Blazes, subs. (common).—The devil. For synonyms, see Skipper.

1849. Southern Literary Messenger, June. He looked, upon my word, like Old Blazes himself, with his clothing all on fire, and rage and despair in his face.

Go to blazes, phr. (common).—Go to the devil; go to hell—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 bottle on it, marked ‘Old Tom,’ and a scroll falls down, written gone to blazes.

1861. Thackeray, Adventures of Philip, I., p. 99. Old Parr Street is mined, sir—mined! And some morning we shall be blown into blazes,—into blazes, sir, mark my words!

1862. Mrs. Riddell (‘F. G. Trafford’), Too Much Alone, p. 200. ‘Has no one been here this afternoon?’ ‘Yes, one man, to ask his way to blazes, or some place else.’

1880. S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Sketch (Mr. Skae’s Item). I could have told Johnny Skae that I would not receive his communication at such a late hour, and to go to blazes with it.

1882. Jas. Payn, in ‘A Failure of Justice’, in Glow Worm Tales, p. 97. ‘Sir,’ cried I, authoritatively, ‘let me tell you I am a Middlesex magistrate.’ ‘Oh, yes: a likely story!’ was his audacious reply. ‘You’ve got ’Ighbury Barn written on your countenance you have, go to blazes!’ and he slammed down the window.

Like blazes, adv. phr. (popular).—Vehemently; with extreme ardour.—See Anything and Winkey.

1845. B. Disraeli, Sybil or The Two Nations, p. 330. Syllabubs like blazes, and snapdragon as makes the flunkeys quite pale. Ibid, p. 369. ‘They pelted the police.…’ ‘And cheered the red-coats 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 Cities, I., p. 15 (in parts). A blazing strange answer.

1864. J. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone or Thorough. They hate each other like blazes.

18(?). De Quincey, Spanish Nun, sect. 24. The horse was so maddened by the wound, and the road so steep, that he went like blazes.

How, Who, or What the blazes, phr. (popular).—A somewhat more intense interrogatory than Who or What or even Who or What the Dickens.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. lv., p. 479. ‘Pell,’ he used to say to me many a [226]time, ‘how the blazes you can stand the head-work you do, is a mystery to me.’

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xvii. ‘Who the blazes would recognise Jack Seymour in those shore-going duds?’

Drunk as blazes or blaizers, phr. (common).—Very drunk; what is vulgarly 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 phrase is really drunk as blaizers, an expression which dates back at least to 1830 [N. and Q., 6 S., i., 434]. Sir Thomas Wyse, in Impressions of Greece, speaking (see Life of Richard Waldo Sibthorp, by J. Fowler, 1880, p. 227) of the reverence for St. Blaize, in Greece (who is also, as is known, the patron saint of the English woolcombers), and how his feast was observed in the woollen manufactories of the Midland Counties, says, ‘Those who took part in the procession were called Blaizers, 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., pp. 219–20.

Bleach, verb (Harvard University.)—To absent oneself from morning prayers.—Hall’s College Words and Phrases.

Bleached Mort, subs. (old).—A fair complexioned wench.—Grose. [From bleached, white or fair, + mort, a girl or woman.]

Bleak, adj. (American thieves’).—In the phraseology of American thieves, bleak means handsome.

Bleater, subs. (old).—The victim of a sharper or rook. In the following quotation a Jack in the box (q.v.) is an old thieves’ term for a swindler or cheat.

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne, wks., 1884–5, III., 290. They that are Cheated by Iacke in a Boxe are called bleaters.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bleaters, those cheated by Jack in a Box.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. (Same definition given.)

Bleating Cheat, subs. (old).—A sheep.—Grose. [In the old cant cheat or chete [from Anglo-Saxon ceat] signified a thing; and the names of animals were frequently formed by adding an adjective descriptive of their peculiar noise or cry. Thus a grunting cheat was a pig; a cackling cheat a fowl; a bleating cheat a sheep.] A sheep is also called a wool-bird (q.v.). Among French thieves this animal is designated une morne.

Bleating Cull, subs. (old).—A sheep stealer. [From bleating, see preceding, + cull, a man, honest or otherwise.]

Bleating Prig or Rig, subs. (old).—Sheep stealing. [From bleating, see Bleating cheat, + prig, or rig, the act of stealing.] [227]

Bleed, verb tr. and intr. (popular).—1. To be victimised; to lose or part with money so that the 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.]

1668. Dryden, An Evening’s Love, Act iv., Sc. 1. In fine, he is vehement, and bleeds on to fourscore or an hundred; and I, not willing to tempt fortune, come away a moderate winner of two hundred pistoles.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bleed (v.) … also to part with money freely, upon proposing something agreeable to a person’s disposition, whether it be in gaming or anything else.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxvi. To whom he was particularly agreeable, on account of his person, address, and bleeding freely at play.

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 countess, who condescended to win from her, at two sittings, very nearly £5,000.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxviii. ‘You have got a bill of sale for her furniture.… By Jove, sir, you’ve bled that poor woman enough.’

1885. Manchester Evening News, 23 June, p. 2, col. 2. Men who give bills have to bleed for the accommodation.

2. (printers’.)—A book bleeds when the margins are ‘planed’ down so that the edge of the printed portion is cut away.

1876. Daily Telegraph, June 9, p. 2, col. 1. 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.

Bleeder, subs. (University).—1. A duffer beyond compare; a superlative fool. (common).—A euphemism for ‘bloody fool.’

2. (sporting.)—A sovereign. For synonyms, see Canary.

3. (old.)—A spur; an obvious allusion.

Bleeding, adj.—An expletive, 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 described as bleeding. It sounds big and weighty to those who use it, and that suffices.

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, pt. II., ch. xxiii. ‘When he isn’t up to one dodge he is up to another. You make no bleeding error.’

Bleeding Cully, subs. (old).—One who parts easily with his money, or bleeds freely.—Grose.—[See Bleed.]

Bleed the Monkey, verbal phr. (nautical).—To steal rum from the 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 admiral.—See Admiral.

1889. Chambers’ Journal, 3 Aug., p. 495. To suck the monkey is a 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 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 monkey,

Has much less effect on a man when he’s funky.

[228]

Blenker, verb (American).—To plunder. A cant phrase much used during the Civil War. Possibly allied to the northern provincialism ‘blenk,’ a trick or stratagem. ‘Blenk’ was also used in Morte d’Arthur in the sense of ‘to bilk,’ or ‘cheat.’

Bless, verb (popular).—To curse; to damn.—See Blessed.

To bless oneself, verbal phr. (common).—To be surprised; to be vexed; to be mortified. Generally, ‘God bless me!’ or ‘Bless my eyes!’ ‘Bless my soul!’ ‘Lor’ bless me!’

1592. Shakspeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream, iv., 2, 11. 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.

1615. T. Adams, Black Dev., 71. He … would blesse himselfe to think that so little a thing could extend itself to such a capacity. [M.]

1665. Pepys, Diary, 1 Apr. How my Lord Treasurer did bless himself, crying he could do no more, etc.

1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, ch. xl. Rub your hands thrice across your foreheads—blow your nose—cleanse your emunctories—sneeze, my good people!—God bless you.

1814. 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, ‘who’s that?’

1853. Bulwer Lytton, My Novel, I., p. 307. After they had lain apart for a little while, very silent and sullen, John sneezed. ‘God bless you!’ says Joan, over the bolster.

Not a [penny] to bless oneself with, phr. (popular).—Utterly impecunious; ‘without a sou.’

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, I., p. 237. He landed there without a penny to bless himself with.

1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, I., p. 113. I heard that Mr. Mell was not a bad sort of fellow, but hadn’t a sixpence 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 themselves with.

1861. George Eliot, Silas Marner, p. 38. I have not a shilling to bless myself with.

To bless one’s stars, verbal phr. (common).—To thank oneself; to attribute one’s good fortune to luck, generally in a ludicrous sense.

1845. Hood, Pauper’s Christmas Carol, iii. Ought not I to bless my stars?

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 230. Forty-eight marks! a week’s remission. The very thought made me savage, but I blessed my stars I had not lost my class, or my good berth.

Blessed, Blest, ppl. adj. (popular).—An ironical euphemism; often used like blazing for ‘cursed,’ ‘damned,’ etc., or as a vow.—See quot. from Hindley and Oaths.

1806. Windham, Let. in Speeches (1812), I., 77. As one of the happy consequences 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.]

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 139. One Maidstone Fair time, I saw one of the gipsy Lees called ‘Jemmy,’ fighting with a man much bigger than himself. Tom Rosseter, the mumper, was seconding his brother-in-law, Jemmy Lee, when, as Jemmy kept throwing his man very heavily, he said, ‘My dear blessed brother, don’t throw the blessed man like that or you will be sure to kill him.’ ‘Well,’ said Jemmy, ‘but my dear 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. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 245. ‘They called in the coppers, and some feller in the shop twigged my old girl as one he’d a-seen [229]before, and blessed if they didn’t identify her as having lifted some things out of the shop, and she was pinched for seven “stretch.” ’

1882. Punch, Aug. 5, p. 49. Sir Pompey Bedell: ‘Oh!—er—Mr. Grigsby, I think! How d’ye do?’ [extending two fingers]. Grigsby: ‘I hope I see you well, Sir Pompey. And next time you give me two fingers, I’m blest if I don’t pull ’em off.’

1889. Sporting Times, July 6. St. Mannock.—Did you ever hear a still, small voice whispering over its morning shrimps, ‘What a pair of blessed fools you are!’

Blether, Blather, subs. (Scotch and U.S.A.).—Nonsense; vapid talk; voluble chatter.

b. 1759, d. 1796. Burns, Tam Samson’s Elegy, st. 12.

Yon auld gray stane, amang the heather,

Marks out his head,

Whare Burns has wrote in rhyming blether,

Tam Samson’s dead!

1886. Pall Mall Gazette, 3 May, 6, 2. Havelock’s florid adjurations to his men, the grim veterans of the 78th, bluntly characterized as blether.

Hence blethering (verb, subs.) used in the same sense as blether, and as an adjective for ‘volubly’ or ‘foolishly talkative.’ Cf., Bletherskate.

b. 1759, d. 1796. Burns, Holy Fair, st. 8.

And some are busy blethrin’

Right loud that day.

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, ch. xiv. ‘I hae been clean spoilt, just wi’ listening to twa blethering auld wives.’

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. vi. He had brought this blethering Irishman down here, and deluged him with punch for the express purpose of turning him inside out.

Bletherskate, Blatherskite, subs. (provincial and American).—1. Boastful swagger, whether in talk or action.

2. A boaster; noisy talker of blatant nonsense. [From blether, to talk nonsensically, + 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 States. In Ireland it seems to have taken the forms of bladder-skate and bladderum-skate.

Circa 1650. F. Sempill, Maggie Lauder, i. Jog on your gait, ye blether-skate. [M.]

1825. C. Croker, Tradit. S. Ireland, p. 170. He was, as usual, getting on with his bletherumskite about the fairies. [M.]

1870. J. R. O’Flanagan, Lives of the Lord Chancellors of Ireland. ‘Lord 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, my Lord,’ said Toler, ‘that is what we call bladderumskate in Ireland.’

Blew, verb (common).—1. To inform; to ‘peach’; to expose; to betray.—See Blow upon, of which it is a variant.

2. (popular.)—To spend; to waste; generally in connection with money. When a man has spent or lost all his money, he is said to have blewed it. [The derivation is uncertain, that most likely being its reference to a corrupt grammatical use of blew, the past tense of ‘to blow.’ Money spent recklessly and wasted vanishes as if blown away by the wind.]

1884. Daily Telegraph, May 28, p. 5, col. 1. ‘Which paid him £1,700 compensation, when he took to horses, and blewed the blooming lot in eighteen months.’

1889. Sporting Times, June 29.

Isabel and Maudie knew the Turf and all its arts—

They had often blewed a dollar on a wrong ’un— [230]

And Isabel one evening met a mug from rural parts,

An attenuated Juggins, and a long ’un.

French Synonyms. Se faire rincer (popular: ‘to be cleared out’ [at a game]. Rincer, properly ‘to drench,’ ‘to serve out,’ also has the slang signification of ‘to thrash’); paumer (thieves’ and vagrants’: this verb is very old, and is derived from palma = empoigner. It also signifies to arrest, lose, etc.); laumir (an old cant term); se faire ratisser (familiar: literally ‘to scrape oneself’); faire rasoir (gaming: ‘to be penniless’); se faire enturer (popular: ‘to cut into oneself’; enture = incision or cut); panner quelqu’un (popular); mettre dans le sac (gamesters’: Cf., ‘be in a hole’); décavage (familiar: a term employed to signify the circumstances of a gamester who has ‘blewed it’; one who is in ‘Queer Street’—from décavé, a ruined gamester); se faire lessiver: ‘to wash oneself.’ 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 stain upon one’s character. For other synonyms, see Shave.

Blimey, intj. (low).—A corruption of ‘Blind me!’; an expression little enough understood by those who constantly have it in their mouths.

Blind, subs. (common).—1. The night time—an allusion to the absence of light.—See Darkmans.

2. (familiar.)—A pretence; a shift; an action through which one’s real purpose is concealed; that which obstructs; a ‘make-believe.’

1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act iii. He … took your court to her, only as a blind to your affection for me.

1694. Congreve, Double Dealer, Act ii., Sc. 5. I know you don’t love Cynthia, only as a blind for your passion to me.

1703. Mrs. Centlivre, Beau’s Dual, I., i. (1872), i., 70. Am I publish’d to the 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. Answers, July 13, p. 104, col. 3. The Major and the Captain he referred 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.

3. (printers’.)—A paragraph [¶] mark is so called; from the eye of the reversed ‘P’ being filled up.

Adj. (old).—Tipsy; in liquor. Nares says this cant term was used with others in the works of Taylor, the water-poet [1630]. For synonyms, see Screwed.

Blind as a brickbat, adv. phr. (colloquial).—A facetious simile for very blind—mentally or physically.

1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, III., p. 97. The old scholar … is as blind as a brickbat.

When the devil is blind, adv. phr. (common).—Never. The French have three very graphic—though in one case 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 poules [231]auront des dents, i.e., when cocks and hens have teeth.

To go it blind.—A luminous figure of speech to convey the idea of entering upon an undertaking without thought as to the result, or inquiry beforehand. This is one of the many slang expressions which owe their origin to the American game of poker, the special form of which known as blind poker, where the cards are betted upon before being looked at, being responsible for the phrase now in question. Cf., also Blind (subs.).

1848. J. Russell Lowell, Biglow Papers, II., p. 118—

‘to impress on the popular mind

The comfort and wisdom of goin’ it blind.’

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 328. 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, vol. I., p. 342. I know that in Washington 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.

1888. Chicago Ledger, May 12. ‘And so you’ve married a jewel, have you, Tom?’ ‘I have, for a fact, Dick.’ ‘Lucky dog! You’re a man in a million. Mighty few go it blind and fare as well as you’ve done.’ ‘I didn’t go it blind. I employed a detective, and he managed to get board in the family.’

Blind Cheeks, subs. (common).—The posteriors. [The derivation is from an obvious simile.]

Among English Synonyms are—Two fat cheeks and ne’er a nose; blind Cupid; ampersand; cheeks; arse; corybungo; dopey; droddum; dummock; feak; bum; nock (i.e., ‘a notch’); round mouth; windmill; blind-eye; monocular eye-glass.

French Synonyms. Un borgne (low: ‘a one-eyed person’); un cyclope (the allusion is mythological—from Cyclops, the one-eyed giant, whose optic was placed in the middle of the forehead); la rose des vents; un piffe; un pignard; boite aux ordures. German Synonym. Acherponim (from Hebrew achar ponim; literally ‘the face at the back’). For other synonyms, see Bum.

Blind Drunk, adj. phr. (common).—Very intoxicated; so drunk as to be unable to see better than a blind man. Americans say, ‘So drunk as not to be able to see through a ladder.’ For 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.

Blinder. To take a blinder, phr. (thieves’).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft.

Blind Eye, subs. (common).—The podex.—See Blind cheeks.

Blind Half Hundred, subs. (military).—The Fiftieth Regiment of Foot; from so many men suffering from ophthalmia during the Egyptian campaign [1801]; also the Dirty Half Hundred from the men in action wiping their faces with their black facings during the Peninsula War. Half Hundred is an adaptation of the number of the regiment—the Fiftieth. The corps is also called the ‘Gallant Fiftieth,’ from its gallantry at the battle of Vimiera, 1808.

1871. Chambers’ Journal, No. 417, p. 803. The Dirty Half Hundred was [232]the curious nickname given to the 50th 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 somewhat 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.’

1886. Tinsley’s Magazine, April, p. 322. Most people have heard of the ‘Fighting Fiftieth.’ But the 50th are rich in nicknames. They are, or at least 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 Half-Hundredth.

Blind Harpers, subs. (old).—Beggars counterfeiting blindness, playing on fiddles, etc.—Grose.

Blind-Man’s Holiday, subs. (familiar).—Formerly this common colloquialism signified the night or darkness; it is now, however, usually applied to the time ‘between lights’ when it is too dark to see, but often not dark enough to light up, and a holiday or rest from work is taken. The blind from their infirmity are in general exempted from labour, and in this view keep holiday; when the twilight hour comes, when those that can work, or read, etc., can no longer see to do so, it is blind-man’s holiday to them, and they of necessity rest accordingly. This derivation, one would think, is sufficiently obvious; but, on the other hand, there are those who think the expression a corruption of ‘blind-man’s all-day.’ The meaning then would be that the gradual departure of light brings one to the state which the blind man endures all day, or which is all the day the blind man has. Whichever 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.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 263. And what will not blinde Cupid doe in the night which is his blindman’s holiday?

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Indeed, madam, it is blindman’s holiday; we shall soon be all of a colour.

1824. T. Fielding, Proverbs, etc. (Familiar Phrases), p. 147. Blindman’s holiday.

1866. Aunt Judy’s Mag., Oct., 358. At meal times, or in blindman’s holiday, when no work was to be done. [M.]

Blind Monkeys, subs. (common).—Hotten thus explains this expression:—An imaginary collection at the Zoological Gardens, which are supposed to receive care and attention from persons fitted by nature for such office and for little else. An idle and useless person is often told that he is only fit to lead the blind monkeys to evacuate. Another form this elegant conversation takes, is for one man to tell another that he knows of a suitable situation for him. ‘How much a week? and what to do?’ are natural questions, and then comes the scathing and sarcastic reply, ‘Five bob a week at the doctor’s—you’re to stand behind the door and make the [233]patients sick. They won’t want no physic when they sees your mug.’

Blindo, verb (military).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft.

Blind One’s Trail, verbal phr. (American).—Figuratively, to remove the traces of one’s actions; to conceal one’s intentions. This expression is obviously traceable to the days of Indian warfare, when even the lives of those engaged often depended upon the success with which the trail could be ‘blinded,’ or obliterated. Also to trash one’s trail (q.v.).

Blind Side, subs. (familiar).—The blind side of a person or thing is that which is weakest; the most assailable side. The expression is much older than the example quoted by Murray [1655].

1606. Chapman, Gentleman Usher, Act i., p. 79 (Plays, 1874).

For that, we’ll follow the blind side of him,

And make it sometimes subject of our mirth.

1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act iii. Con. My father’s credulous, and this rogue has found the blind side of him.

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk. III., ch. v. Indeed, if this good man had an enthusiasm, or what the vulgar call a blind side, it was this,—he thought a schoolmaster the greatest character in the world, and himself the greatest of all schoolmasters.

1820. Lamb, Elia (Mrs. Battle). All people have their blind side—their superstitions.

Blink, verb (American).—To drink. [Probably of humorous origin, similar to smile (q.v.).—and alluding to a wink or blink exchanged between friends and comrades before drinking. A 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 man.]

Blinker, subs. (popular).—1. The eye. [From blink, to move the eyelids, to wink; Cf., Winkers; Peepers; Optics, etc.] For synonyms, see Glims.

1816. Quiz, Grand Master, I., ii. A patent pair of goggle winkers, Conceal’d from public view his blinkers. [M.]

1888. American Humorist. ‘Blank your blinkers,’ angrily retorted Brudee, ‘your business was not to fight, but show us the enemy.’

2. (common.)—pl. Spectacles. For synonyms, see Barnacles.

1732. M. Green, Grotto, 10. Bigots who but one way see through blinkers of authority. [M.]

1803. Bristed, Pedest. Tour, I., 38. A little fellow, with blinkers over his eyes. [M.]

1851. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., IV. (1858), 205. Who only dare to look up at life through blinkers. [M.]

3. (provincial.)—In Norfolk, a black eye.

4. (pugilistic.)—A hard blow in the eye.

Blank your blinkers.—A euphemistic oath, equivalent to the more common ‘D——n your eyes.’—See Oaths.

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.] [234]

Blinko, subs. (thieves’ and vagrants’).—An amateur entertainment held, generally, at a public house; a free and easy (q.v.); a sing song (q.v.).

1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple. ‘What is a blinko for instance?’ ‘Well, it’s a kind of entertainment, singing, and that,’ replied the old fellow, ‘to which strangers are not invited—least of all the police.’

1883. Daily Telegraph, August 4, p. 2, col. 1. ‘An Harmonic blinko, the proceeds of which will be given towards buying a barrow for Young Duckling, who has got married with no visible means of support.’

Blister, verb (common).—Employed euphemistically for ‘to damn.’ Cf., Blamed.

1840. 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?’

Blizzard, subs. (popular).—A poser; a stunning blow; an unanswerable 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 German blitz—lightning, but a correspondent of N. and Q. claims it as of English nationality, asserting that the word has been known in the Midland Counties in its present form, or nearly so, for over thirty years; further stating that ‘may I be blizzered’ is a common oath there. Assuming that the expression is a variation of the more generally familiar ‘May God strike me blind’ (that is, presumably by lightning), there is nothing antagonistic between the two theories of its genesis, and a further light is perhaps thrown upon the subject, tending to 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-a-century, 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 force, violence, spitefulness, or vindictiveness. If one dealt another a hostile blow he ‘gave him a blizzard on the nose,’ ‘on the jaw,’ ‘between the eyes,’ etc. If a magistrate lectured a litigant severely he ‘gave him a blizzard.’ If in debate one dealt mercilessly in ridicule he ‘gave his opponent a blizzard.’ If one man swore at or cursed another he ‘gave him a blizzard.’ If a man’s wife scolded him she ‘gave him a blizzard.’ When it is remembered that Pennsylvania is 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 such a derivation. However this may be, the word invariably seems to imply suddenness combined with violence; and, at any rate, it apparently disposes of the supposition that the word is of Western origin, or a coinage of so recent a date as is frequently supposed. Like most words of its class, which have largely struck the popular taste, [235]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, 16. A gentleman at dinner asked me for a toast; and supposing he meant to have some fun at my expense, I concluded to go ahead, and give him and his likes a blizzard.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 443. Blizzard, a term referred back to the German Blitz, means in the West a stunning blow or an overwhelming argument.

1884. G. A. S[ala], in Ill. L. News, Feb. 23, p. 171, col. 2. Blizzard. The philologers in American Slang refer back to the German blitz; and its original 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 frost is called a ‘cold snap.’ Query, how many ‘cold snaps’ does it take to make a ‘blizzard’?

1888. San Francisco News Letter. I should like to have seen the Colonel’s face when he got that very cold, blizzardy letter. I bet that if Minnie had been near him he would have slapped her real hard.

Bloak.—See Bloke.

Bloat, subs. (American thieves’).—1. A drowned body.

2. A drunkard. The simile which groups the two is, perhaps, not far wrong. [Probably from bloat, an adjective signifying puffed, swollen, inflated. Bloat was also formerly in use in England as a contemptuous name for a human being.]

Bloated Aristocrat, subs. (familiar).—An opprobrious epithet for a man swollen with the pride of rank or wealth; also a general sobriquet applied by ‘the masses’ to ‘the classes.’ ‘Bloated’ has long been employed in a similar sense. Swift spoke of a certain statesman as ‘a bloated minister’ [1731].

1861. Thackeray, Adventures of Philip, I., p. 101. What a bloated aristocrat Thingamy has become since he got his place!

1863. G. A. Sala, Breakfast in Bed, essay I., p. 17 (1864). Of the two most salient English gentlemen represented, one is a bloated aristocrat of a Baronet hopelessly in debt, the other a rapid brainless nobleman.

1869. M. Twain, Innocents Abroad, ch. x. We sat down finally, at a late hour, in the great Casino, and called for unstinted champagne. It is so easy to be bloated aristocrats where it costs nothing of consequence!

Bloater.—See My Bloater; also Mild Bloater.

Blob, verb (vagrants’).—To talk; to ‘patter.’ [Probably a corrupted form of blab.] Beggars are of two kinds—those who screeve (introducing themselves with a fakement, or false document) and those who blob, or state their case in their own truly ‘unvarnished’ language. [See, however, second quot.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. 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 Melville, Good for Nothing, ch. xxvi. ‘Five minutes more and we shall 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.’

Block, subs. (old).—A stupid person; a hard unsympathetic individual; one of mean, unattractive appearance. [A figurative sense of block, as of wood or stone.] [236]

a. 1534. N. Udall, Roister Doister, III., iii., p. 44 (Arber). Ye are such a calfe, such an asse, such a blocke.

1595. Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen, Act ii., Sc. 5. Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee not. Launce. What a block art thou, that thou canst not!

1599. Jonson, Every Man out of his Humour. Induct. Cor. Hang him, dull block!

1624. Massinger, Bondman, II., ii. This will bring him on, Or he’s a block.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Block (s) … sometimes an ignorant, stupid fellow.

1881. Besant and Rice, Chaplain of the Fleet, pt. II., ch. iv. She said that her partner was delightful to dance with, 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. The head. Possibly an abbreviated form of barber’s block (q.v.). For synonyms, see Crumpet.

1637. Shirley, Lady of Pleas, II., i. Buy a beaver For thy own block.

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xxxv. ‘I cleaned a groom’s boots on Toosday, and he punched my block because I blacked the tops.’

Barber’s Block, subs. (common).—1. A transferred sense [from a wooden head for showing off a wig] applied to a showy, over-dressed man; a fop.

1876. E. Lynn Linton, Hallberger’s Illus. Mag., p. 72. No, not to men worthy of the name of men—men, not barber’s blocks.

2. The head.—See Block, sense 2.

1823. Scott, Peveril of the Peak, ch. v. (I., p. 67). Were I not to take better care of the wood than you, brother, there would soon be no more wood about the town than the barber’s block that’s on your own shoulders.

A 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.

1627. Sanderson, Serm., I., 283. Am not I a child of the same Adam, a vessel of the same clay, a chip of the same block, with him. [M.]

1655. L’Estrange, Charles I., 126. Episcopacy, which they thought but a great chip of the old block Popery. [M.]

To cut a block with a razor, phr. (old).—Inconsequent argument; futile endeavour; incongruous application of means or ability to the end in view.

1774. Goldsmith, Retaliation, 42. ’Twas his fate unemployed or in place, sir, to eat mutton cold and cut blocks with a razor.

To block a hat, phr. (popular).—To crush a man’s hat over the eyes by a blow; to bonnet (q.v.).

Blockers.—See Block Ornaments.

Block House, subs. (old).—A prison; the house of detention. For synonyms, see Cage.

1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, III., xi., 85. To stop the disorders of our disorderly Theeues … built a Block-house. [M.]

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Block-houses, Prisons, houses of correction, etc.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. [Same definition given as in Grose.]

1889. Murray, New English Dictionary. [Common since c. 1500: of uncertain history. The Ger. equivalent blockhaus (‘einen steinen Blockhaus’) is quoted by Grimm, 1557 and 1602; the Du. blokhuis is in Kilian, 1599; Fr. blocus, generally considered to be the same word, and orig. in same sense, is quoted by Littré in the 16th c. (Cf., 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 require more investigation.] [237]

Block Island Turkey, subs. (American).—Salted cod-fish. Connecticut and Rhode Island. Slang delights in naming fish as flesh. For some curious examples, see Two-eyed steak.

Block Ornaments, or Blockers, subs. (common).—1. Small pieces of meat of indifferent quality, trimmings from the joints, etc. Exposed for sale on the blocks or counters of butcher’s shops in cheap neighbourhoods.

1848. Fraser’s Mag., XXXVII., 396. Forced to substitute a blocker of meat, with its cheap accompaniment of bread and vegetables … for poultry and rump steaks. [M.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 54. For dinner … they buy block ornaments, as they call the small, dark-coloured pieces of meat exposed on the cheap butchers’ blocks or counters. Ibid, p. 516. What they consider a good living is a dinner daily off good block ornaments (small pieces of meat, discoloured and dirty, but not tainted, usually set for sale on the butcher’s block).

1884. Punch, No. 2063, p. 29. And eager-faced women must bargain for tainted block ornaments still.

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 offered at 3½d. the lb.; better scraps (or block ornaments, as they are termed) at 4d.; somewhat shapeless small joints of beef from inferior parts at 5d., one coarse shoulder of mutton at the same; tolerably good-looking meat at 6d.; mutton chops at 7d. and 8d.; and rump steak at 10d.

2. Applied to individuals, a block ornament signifies a queer looking man or woman—one odd in appearance.

Bloke or Bloak, subs. (common).—A man; a fellow. In saying ‘not strictly “a man” as Hotten defines it, but a man in a contemptuous sense,’ Barrère 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.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 397. If we met an old bloke (man) we propped him.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 446. A gentleman.—A bloak.

1860. Sala, The Baddington Peerage, II., p. 49. My old bloke!

1862. Kingsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., Dec, 96. Little better than blokes and boodles after all. [M.]

1863. Ouida, Held in Bondage, bk. I., p. 245. The girl is stunning, the blokes say, so we must forgive you.

1865. Miss Braddon, in Temple Bar, XIII., 483. The society of the aged bloke is apt to pull upon the youthful intellect.

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.’

1873. Robinson, Little Kate Kirby, I., p. 136. ‘Give us a horder then, old bloke,’ shrieked another gamin.

c. 1875. Broadside Ballad, ‘Keep it Dark.’

I have heard though may be it isn’t a fact,

Keep it dark!

That the present Lord Chancellor’s going to be sacked,

Keep it dark!

And Dr. Kenealy, that popular bloke,

That extremely warm member, the member for Stoke,

Is about to succeed him, the lawyers to choke—

But, keep it dark!

c. 1869. 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. [238]

1883. Daily News, May 15, p. 7, col. 2. ‘When you are coming out into the yard ask the next bloke to change numbers with you.’

In each case the ‘face value’ of the word appears to be simply ‘a man,’ and in spite of Barrère’s assertion that ‘in the police newspapers twenty-five years ago a bloke was a victim of sharps, a stupid person, a greenhorn,’ the evidence is all the other way; in one instance, indeed, the individual in question is reported to be ‘a gentleman.’ As regards derivation, its origin is uncertain. 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.

Blood, subs. (old).—1. A fop; dandy; buck; or ‘fast’ man. Originally in common use, but now obsolete. [From that legitimate 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, whether by dress or rowdyism.] In the last century, especially during the regency of George IV., the term was largely in vogue to denote a young man of good birth or social standing about town; subsequently, it came to mean a riotous, disorderly fellow.

1562. Bulleyn, Sicke Men, etc., 73a. A lustie blood, or a pleasaunte brave young roister. [M.]

1606. John Day, Ile of Gulls, Act i., p. 9. Basil. Welcome gallants, welcome honord bloods. Ibid. To which effect we have sent a generall challenge to all the youthfull bloods of Africa.

1752. Adventurer, No. 15. Our heroes 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 prison, never yet petitioned to be hanged.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 21. ‘Trenchard!’ he muttered—‘Aliva Trenchard. They were right, then, as to the name. Well, 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.’

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. x. A perfect and celebrated blood, or dandy about town, was this young officer.

1853. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, ch. ii., p. 36. The modern bloods have given up the respectful ceremonies which distinguished a gentleman in my time.

2. (old.)—Money. [A comparison of blood, as the vital principle, to money, as that upon which the sustenance of life depends—the ‘sinews of war,’ the ‘needful,’ etc.] For all synonyms, see Actual.

1748. Dodsley, Collection of Poems, III., 199.

He sticks to gaming, as the surer trade;

Turns downright sharper, lives by sucking blood.

1872. M. E. Braddon, Dead Sea Fruit, ch. iv. ‘A man who ought to consider himself uncommonly fortunate 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 modern vampires.’

Verb (familiar).—To deplete of 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.

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 187. ‘He is very likely to want a thousand pounds 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 Leger.’ ‘You surely can’t mean that he [239]has taken to racing? Why, you must be aware that he has no money for anything of that sort.’

Blood and Entrails, subs. (American).—The British ensign is so nicknamed by Yankee sailors; English salts return the compliment by jokingly speaking of the American flag as the gridiron and doughboys (q.v.).

Blood and Thunder, subs. (common).—A beverage of port wine and brandy mixed. Port is the blood, from its colour; brandy the thunder—the combined effects being, it is held, provocative of ‘thundering’ head-aches.

Blood and Thunder Tales, subs. phr. (originally American, now common).—Low class fiction, the term being generally applied to works dealing with the exploits of desperadoes, cut-throats, and other criminals. Also called Awfuls, Penny dreadfuls, Gutter literature, Shilling shockers, etc., all of which see for further illustrations.

1876. Portland Transcript, May. Here let me say one word to the Transcript mothers. Look carefully to your child’s reading matter. Beware of the cheap, trashy romances, the blood and thunder tales by Tom, Dick and Harry, which fill the counters of so many of our bookstores.

1883. Daily News, March 26, p. 2, col. 3. The blood and thunder tragedies generally associated with the transpontine drama.

Blood-an’-’Ouns, phr. (old).—An abbreviated form of an old and blasphemous oath—‘God’s blood 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 I struck him. But, blood-an’-’ouns! man, if ould Nick himself were to hit me a blow, I’d be afther givin’ him another.’

Blood-Curdler or Blood-Freezer, subs. (common).—A narration or incident which ‘makes the flesh creep’; that which stirs one’s feelings strongly, and generally repulsively. Said of a sensational murder, a thrilling ghost-story, etc. Cf., Blood and thunder tales.

Blood for Blood, phr. (trade).—When tradesmen exchange wares, setting the cost of one kind off against another instead of making payment in currency, they are said to give blood for blood. Cf., Blood. (1) the vital fluid; (2) money—hence applied to that upon the sale of which a man is dependent for a livelihood.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. A hatter furnishing a hosier with a hat, and taking payment in stockings, is said to deal blood for blood.

Blood-Freezer.—See Blood-curdler.

Blood-Red Fancy, subs. (pugilistic).—A particular kind of handkerchief sometimes worn by pugilists and frequenters of prize fights.—See Billy.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 446. Red silk handkerchief. Blood-red fancy.

Blood Suckers, subs. (military).—The Sixty-third Regiment of Foot.

Blood-Tub, subs. (American).—A rowdy; a blustering bully; a rough. This nickname was peculiar to Baltimore, which city, [240]perhaps of all cities in the Union, enjoyed, for a time, an unenviable reputation on account of the rowdyism of a section of its inhabitants. More or less, however, these turbulent gangs infest all the more important centres of population, and answer in many respects to the English ‘roughs.’ They are recruited largely from the 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 parties, the Republicans or Democrats. They are known as Dead Rabbits in New York, Moyamensing Hounds in Philadelphia, Blood-tubs in Baltimore, where at other times they have also been designated Babes, Plug-uglies, and Ashlanders. 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 galore,

Are sick for a thrashing in sweet Baltimore;

Be jabers! that same I’d be proud to inform

Of the terrible force of an Irishman’s arm.

Bloody, adj. (low).—An epithet difficult to define, and used in a multitude of vague and varying senses. Most frequently, however, as it falls with wearisome reiteration every two or three seconds from the mouths of London roughs of the lowest type, no special meaning, much less 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 whose lack of language causes them to fall back upon a frequent use of words of this type. Bloody occasionally carries with it a suspicion of anger, resentment, or detestation. [For suggested derivations, and some incidental illustrative examples, see adverbial usage, which follows.]

1840. R. Dana, Bef. Mast, ii., 2. You’ll find me a bloody rascal. Ibid, xx., 61. They’ve got a man for a mate of that ship, and not a bloody sheep about decks. [M.]

1880. Ruskin, Fiction, Fair and F., § 29. The use of the word bloody in modern low English is a deeper corruption, not altering the form of the word, but defiling the thought in it. [M.]

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 piety’ into the navy, very properly discountenanced the practice so long common to naval officers of d——g the sailors’ eyes while they were reefing topsails. His tars, scarcely grateful, 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 contra in a flash song, the poet (supposed to be languishing in prison) recounts that the chaplain discoursed to the inmates— [241]

‘How Jonah lived inside of a whale,

’Twas a bloody sight better than county gaol.’

As regards derivation, dual causes seem to have operated in the evolution of bloody in its depraved sense. The various stages are summarised by Murray, in so far as evidence will permit, as follows. The origin is not quite certain; but there 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 17th and beginning of the 18th c. The phrase ‘bloody drunk’ was apparently = ‘as drunk as a blood’ (Cf., ‘as drunk as a lord’); thence it was extended to kindred expressions, and at length to others; probably in later times, its associations with bloodshed and murder (Cf., a bloody battle, a bloody butcher) have recommended it to the rough classes as a word that appeals to their imagination. We may compare the prevalent craving for impressive or graphic intensives, seen in the use of jolly, awfully, terribly, devilish, deuced, damned, ripping, rattling, thumping, stunning, thundering, etc. There is no ground for the notion that bloody, offensive as from association it now is to ears polite, contains any profane allusion, or has connection with the oath ‘’sblood!’ In this particular it may be noted that Mr. C. G. Leland is in error when he says ‘Mr. Hotten thinks this is an expletive without reference to any [italics not in original] meaning.’ Mr. Hotten neither said nor implied anything of the kind, but just the reverse; and Mr. Leland has hung his remarks upon a misquotation. Hotten’s exact words are ‘bloody, an expletive used, without reference to meaning, as an adjective and an adverb, simply for intensification’—a very different thing; ergo as far as Hotten goes he is absolutely correct.

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 lower classes. It is noteworthy, too, that the German blutig is sometimes used, says H. Tiedeman [N. and Q., 4 S., i., Feb. 8, 1868], in the same manner as the London bloody:—While living in Dresden, I heard many times uttered such phrases as—

‘Ich habe keinen blutigen Heller mehr,’

[I have no bloody penny or ‘red cent’ more],

for ‘I have not a single penny left,’ etc. Was, then, the Dresden blutig introduced to the London mob in the shape of bloody? The Dutch bloedig may be used figuratively, just as the French sanglant. Une injure sanglante might be translated by ‘een bloedige beleediging.’ It might, and it is in fact, sometimes used to qualify an adjective. To say ‘bloedig schoon’ (literally, ‘bloody beautiful’), would be perfectly correct, but then it has not the sense of exceedingly; it keeps its original meaning. ‘Bloedig schoon’ could not be rendered otherwise than by sanguinary and beautiful.

1676. Sir G. Etheredge, Man of Mode (Act i., Sc. 1), p. 186, ed. 1723.

Dor. Give him half-a-crown.

Med. Not without he will promise to be bloody drunk. [242]

1684. Dryden, Prol. Southerne’s Disappointment, line 59. The doughty bullies enter bloody drunk. [M.]

1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, Act iv., Sc. 1. Plume. Thou art a bloody impudent fellow. [There is no question of fighting in the context.]

1711. Swift, Journal to Stella, 8 May, letter 22. It was bloody hot walking to-day.

1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. ‘I’ve a 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 full, but thus, b——y. In passing it may be mentioned that there is no ground for attributing its derivation to ‘By’r Our Lady.’

Bloody Back, subs. (old).—A soldier; a nickname alluding to the colour of his coat. [From bloody = of the colour of blood, i.e., scarlet or blood-red + back.]

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Bloody back. A jeering appellation for a soldier.

Bloody Chasm. To bridge the bloody chasm, phr. (American).—A favourite expression with orators who, during the years immediately succeeding the Civil War, sought to obliterate the memory of the struggle. The antithetical phrase is to wave the bloody shirt (q.v.).

Bloody Eleventh, subs. (military). The Eleventh Regiment of Foot. At the battle of Salamanca, fought with the French, the corps was nearly cut to pieces, whence its sanguinary sobriquet. At Fontenoy and Ostend also, it was hard-pressed and nearly annihilated.

Bloody Jemmy, subs. (common).—An uncooked sheep’s head.—See Sanguinary James for synonyms.

Bloody Shirt. To wave the bloody shirt.—A phrase which is only one of many of a similar character, variants such as ‘to wave the crimson banner,’ ‘the ensanguined under garment,’ etc., 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 anew or keeping alive of factious strife on party questions. Primarily it was the symbol of those who, during the Reconstruction period at the close of the rebellion of the 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 thousand and one points of difference which continually and inevitably must arise between institutions so diverse in origin, tradition, and practice as those of the North and South, seek for party purposes to estrange the one from the other by keeping alive the exciting memories of the old bitter struggle. When a man is said to have waved the bloody shirt it is known that he has gone back in spirit and intent to the sorrowful days of the Republic, when the blue and [243]the grey, each confident of battling for the right, were slaying each other in the valleys of the South. He 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 come back to it, calls them insincere. He rebukes the veteran who forgave them when together they laid down their arms. This is called waving the bloody shirt, and to-day, when many of those now in active life cannot remember the 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 declares it hypocritical. The bloody shirters, as they are called, rail at the decency which forgives and forgets, and with venomous tongues revile alike those who fell in the lost cause, those who lived to repent, and those who would grant pardon. So long as men lost to honour will do this the action must have a name—it will be called waving the bloody shirt. From this special meaning it is now passing into general use to indicate similar tactics in regard to any cause. It has recently 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 sought in a Corsican custom now nearly, if 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. This word, which literally means a crying aloud, may be translated ‘a wake.’ The body of the victim was laid upon a 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 in their black mantles, who rocked themselves to and fro with strange wailings. The men, relatives and friends of the murdered man, fully armed stood around the room, mad with thirst for revenge. Then one of the women—the wife or mother or sister of the dead man—with a sharp scream would snatch the bloody shirt, and waving it aloft begin the vocero—the lamentation. This rhythmic discourse was made up of alternate expressions of love for the dead, and hatred of his enemies; and its startling images and tremendous curses were echoed in the faces and amidst the mutterings of the armed mourners. Its application to American politics [244]is credited to Mr. Oliver P. Morton, who, elected United States senator in 1867, and again in 1873, took a prominent part as a leader of the more radical Republicans, favouring a stern policy of coercion in the reconstruction of the Southern States. He was one of the Presidential Candidates at the Cincinnati Convention of 1876, his name standing second 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. Coldwater (Mich.) Sun, Jan. The bloody shirt is gradually fading away. The white-winged dove of peace spreads her wings here and there, patriotism forgets and forgives old differences, sectionalism is gradually giving way to love of country—the 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.

1888. New York Weekly 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.

Bloomer, subs. (Australian prison slang).—A mistake. Said to be an abbreviated form of ‘blooming error.’—See Blooming.

Blooming, often Bloomin’, ppl. adj. (common).—This word, similar in type to ‘blessed,’ ‘blamed,’ 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. Like the last-named word, little count is taken of its exact primary meaning. Its slang use may be traced to that figurative sense of the orthodox word, which signifies ‘in the bloom of health and beauty,’ ‘in the prime,’ ‘flourishing,’ etc. Some uncertainty exists as to the origin of this not over-ornamental addition to our expletive vocabulary. If the word is used by Granvil (see quot.) in its modern sense, then the 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 acclimatization in England was Mr. Alfred G. Vance, the comic singer, well-known in connection with ‘Jolly dogs,’ and other extensively popular music-hall songs. As before stated, it has very largely supplanted ‘bloody’; bally (q.v.) is also used in the same manner. Its applications are manifold. 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 excessively stupid man is spoken of as a blooming idiot; and an inquisitive individual is told more forcibly than politely, perhaps, ‘you asks me no bloomin’ imper’int questions, an’ I tells yer no bloomin’ lies.’

1726. Rev. J. Granvil, Sadducismus triumphatus [under the head of ‘The Demon of 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. [245]

18(?). Colonel John Hay, Ballad, ‘The Mystery of Gilgal.’

He went for his ’leven inch bowie knife:

I tries to foller a Christian life,

But I’ll drop a slice of liver or two,

My bloomin’ shrub, with you.

1887. G. R. Sims, Dagonet Ballads (Told to the Missionary). ‘I feels like a bloomin’ babby—I gets so infernal weak.’

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 222. ‘Afore that I worked in the galleries, a making the casemates for the guns, and blooming hard work it was.’

1882. Punch’s Almanac, p. 4. The Steam Launch in Venice (‘Sic Transit Gloria Mundi’)—’Andsome ’Arriet: ‘Ow my! If it ’yn’t that bloomin’ old Temple Bar, as they did aw’y with out o’ Fleet Street!’ Mr. Belleville (referring to guide book): ‘Now it ’yn’t. It’s the fymous Bridge o’ Sighs, as Byron went and stood on; ’im as wrote ‘Our Boys,’ yer know!’ ’Andsome ’Arriet: ‘Well, I never!’

1880. Jas. Greenwood, Flyfaker’s Hotel, in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 59. ‘Who’s got any music?’ presently exclaimed the dirty scoundrel who had been mending the boxing-glove; ‘—— me, let’s have a bloomin’ lark! Let’s have a tune and a song. Who’s got any bloomin’ music?’

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, 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. Injured Innocence: Indignant Son of Labour. Well, I’m blowed! If that ’ere bloomin’ swell ain’t a-himitatin’ me!

Bloss, subs. (old, and American thieves’).—A generic name for a woman, whether girl, wife, or mistress. Probably from an attributive sense of ‘blossom.’ For example, Shakspeare, in Titus Andronicus [1588, iv., 2, 72], employs it in the sense of one lovely and full of promise. ‘Sweet blowse you are a beautious blossome sure.’ Tennyson also [1847] in the Princess [v., 79] uses the expression, ‘My babe, my blossom, ah, my child!’ Cf., Blowen.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bloss (cant), the pretended wife of a bully or shop-lifter.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary, ‘Slang Stories,’ p. 42. ‘Why, Bell, is it 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 without his bloss to keep him from getting pogy.’

Blot the Scrip, verbal phr. (old).—To put an undertaking into writing; the modern phrase is ‘to put it in black and white.’ Hence

To blot the scrip and jark it (old), i.e., to stand engaged, or bound for anyone.—Grose. Jark means a seal, and in Oxford slang, a safe conduct pass; in 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 nature. This is a case, like 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; to indulge in ‘high falutin’. [A factitious word probably founded on the verb blow, sense 1, on the model of ‘deviate.’] Said to have been in use since 1850. [246]

Blow, subs. (common).—1. A shilling.

Amongst Synonyms for this coin are beong; borde; button; deaner or deener; bob; bobstick (old slang); breaky-leg; gen (this forms part of the so-called back slang); hog; levy; peg; stag; teviss; twelver; touch-me (this is an abbreviated form of touch-me-on-the-nob, rhyming slang for bob or shilling); Abraham’s willing (also rhyming slang for a shilling).

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 501. But afterwards I got 3s. 9d., and then four blow. Ibid. I went to the Steel (Bastile—Coldbath Fields Prison), having a new suit of clobber on me and about fifty blow in my brigh (pocket).

1885. Daily Telegraph, Feb. 5, p. 2, col. 6. They said they could sell some for five blows (shillings), and that he could easily make £158 of the stuff.

2. (Old University.)—A drunken frolic; a spree. Cf., Blow-out, subs. For synonyms, see Jamboree.

Verb.—1. 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 dialectically current, is now regarded as slang. It is also associated with the idea of angry speech, ‘storming,’ ‘fuming.’ Cf., Blow up, and for synonyms, see Gas.

c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 97. Blouing veynly wip fleschli wit. [M.]

1519. Four Elements, in Hazl. Dodsley, I., 41. Why, man, what aileth thee so to blow? [M.]

1785. Burns, Epistle to J. Lapraik, st. 16. I winna blaw about mysel; As ill I like my fauts to tell.

1883. Graphic, Jan. 27, p. 79, col. i. The whole team has taught Australia not to blow (as they say)—a not unneeded lesson.

1883. Mrs. Campbell Praed, Sketches of Australian Life, p. 45. ‘He was famous for his coolness and daring, and for blowing, in Australian parlance, both of his exploits and of his “bonnes fortunes.” ’

2. (general.)—To inform; to expose; to betray; to peach. Cf., also Blow upon and Blow the 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.

1575. Appius and Virg., in Hazl. Dodsley, IV., 136. Was all well agreed? did nobody blow ye? [M.]

1721. Defoe, History of Colonel Jack. ‘As for that,’ says Will, ‘I could tell it well enough, if I had it, but I must not be seen anywhere among my old acquaintances, for I am blown, and they will all betray me.’

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Blow (v.) … also to discover the secrets of another; also when a person undervalues or slights a person or thing, he is said to blow upon it.

a. 1859. L. Hunt, Country Lodgings, in Casquet Lit. (1877), I., p. 42, col. 1. D—n me, if I don’t blow … I’ll tell Tom Neville, [M.]

3. (American.)—To lie; and in a slightly less opprobrious sense to ‘gas’ so much as to be perilously near the border-line which separates boasting exaggeration from absolute untruth.

4. (general.)—Frequently employed euphemistically for ‘to damn’—generally in the imperative.—Blow it! i.e., ‘hang it’! or damn it! Cf., Blowed, with which it is closely allied in all senses.

1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. ii. ‘Well, if you won’t stand a pot,’ quoth the tall man, ‘I will, that’s all, and blow temperance.’ [247]

1883. Miss Braddon, Golden Calf, ch. xxvi. ‘Blow his station in life! If he was a duke I shouldn’t want him.’

5. (general.)—To lose or spend money. Cf., Blue.

6. (University.)—To indulge in a frolic or spree. Cf., Blow out; also To go on the blow.

7. (Winchester School.)—To blush.

To bite the blow, phr. (old cant).—To steal goods; to Prig, which see for synonyms.

Blow a Cloud, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To smoke a cigar or pipe; Hotten says, ‘a phrase used two centuries ago’ but gives no authority, and Murray’s earliest example only dates from 1855, but as will be seen below, it occurs in Tom Crib in 1819.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 39.

… His fame I need not tell,

For that, my friends, all England’s loud with;

But this I’ll say, a civiller Swell

I’d never wish to blow a cloud with.

1870. M. Twain, Innocents Abroad, ch. vii. And blowing suffocating ‘clouds’ and boisterously performing at dominoes in the smoking-room at night.

French Synonyms. Tubons en une (popular: ‘let’s blow a cloud’; tuber = to smoke); piper; la fumerie (popular: smoking); faire du brouillard (‘to produce or make a fog or mist’); en bourrer une; bouffarder. A German Synonym is Esef schwächen, or schweihen.

Blow-Book, subs. (old).—A book containing indelicate or ‘smutty’ pictures.

1708. Post Man, 8 June. Last Sunday a person did pennance in the Chapter-House of St. Paul’s, London, for 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 person paid costs.

Blowed. To be blowed, verb (familiar).—Blowed is here a euphemism for ‘damned’; to all intents and purposes, it is frequently little more than a thinly-veiled oath. Hotten says that Tom Hood used to tell the following story:—‘I was once asked to contribute to a new journal, not exactly gratuitously, but at a very small advance upon nothing—and avowedly because the work had been planned according to that estimate. However, I accepted the terms conditionally—that is to say, provided 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 above cost price. It will be sufficient to quote the answer of the butcher:—“Sir,—Respectin’ your note, Cheap literater be blowed! Butchers must live as well as other pepel—and if so be you or the readin’ publick wants to have meat at prime cost, you must buy your own beastesses, and kill yourselves.—I remain, etc., John Stokes.” ’

Cf., Blow me!

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 50. Others remonstrating with the said Thomas Sludberry, on the impropriety of his conduct, the said Thomas Sludberry repeated the aforesaid expression, ‘You be blowed.’ [248]

1863. Jeaffreson, Live It Down, III., p. 249. (Cries of ‘Chair, Chair,’ and ‘Order, order.’) ‘Order be blowed!’ exclaimed the infuriated Mr. H.

1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. II., ch. v. ‘Holiday be blowed!’ said Fledgely, entering, ‘What have you got to do with holidays?’

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, 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 get £300 for them.’

1879. Punch’s Almanac, p. 7. Seasonable Slang. For Spring.—You be blowed! For Summer.—I’ll warm yer! For Autumn.—Not so blooming green! For Winter.—An ice little game all round.

1889. Ally Sloper’s H. H., Aug. 3, p. 242, col. 2. ‘Blowed if I’d have made her Mrs. Juggins, if I’d have known she wor going to make a footstool of me!’

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 courtesan, or a prostitute. It still retains the latter meaning, but is frequently used in a more complimentary sense than heretofore to signify a finely built handsome girl. In America among the criminal classes it is only used to designate a mistress. Its derivation is extremely uncertain, the two most important suggestions being that it comes (1) from the reputation having been ‘blown upon’; and (2) that in Wilts blowen signifies a blossom—hence blowen a flower; a pet.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, I., in wks. (1720) IV., 17. What ogling there will be between thee and the blowings!

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 143. Blowen, a woman.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Blowen, a prostitute: a woman who cohabits with a man without marriage.

1847. Lytton, Lucretia, pt. II., ch. ii. ‘If she’s a good girl, and loves you, she’ll not let you spend your money on her.’ ‘I haint such a ninny as that,’ said Beck, with majestic contempt. ‘I ’spises the flat that is done brown by the blowens.’

1848. C. Kingsley, Yeast, ch. xi. Why 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?

For synonyms in the sense of prostitute, see Barrack-hack.

Blower, subs. (old).—1. A girl; a contemptuous name in opposition to jomer (q.v.); given by Grose [1785].

2. (American and Colonial.)—A good talker; a boaster; a ‘gas-bag.’ Cf., Blow, verb, sense 1.

1863. Manhattan, in Evening Standard, 10 Dec. General Grant … is not one of the blower generals. [M.]

1864. Spectator, 22 Oct., 1202, col. 1. Notorious among our bar and the public as a blower. [M.]

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 584. ‘You need not blow so, my friend. I don’t believe a word of what you say.’ Hence also the noun blower, a braggart, with special reference to his success in imitating Baron Munchausen.

3. A pipe. Cf., Blow a cloud.

Blow Great Guns, verbal phr. (popular).—To blow a hurricane; a violent gale. Sometimes varied by to blow great guns and small arms.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], 23. ‘Curse me, if I don’t think all the world means to cross the Thames this fine night!’ observed Ben. ‘One’d think it rained fares as well as blowed great guns. [249]Why, there’s another party on the stair-head inquiring arter scullers; and, by the mass! they appear in a greater hurry than any of us.’

1854. H. Miller, Sch. and Schm. (1858), 14. It soon began to blow great guns. [M.]

Blowhard, subs. (American).—A Western 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 blarsted Britisher, a Coyote, and a blowhard. If all these are synonymous, then indeed the Englishman in America is in a bad way. Cf., Blower, sense 2.

Blow Hot and Cold, verbal phr. (familiar).—To be treacherous; inconsistent; vacillating. There is an allusion in the expression to one of Æsop’s fables.

1577. W. Bullinger, Decades (1592), 176. One which out of one mouth, doeth blowe both hoat and colde. [M.]

1756. The World, No. 185. This old fellow is of a most capricious, unequal temper, and, like the satyr in the fable, blows hot and cold in the same breath.

1856. Motley, Dutch Rep., V., v., 750. Being constantly ordered ‘to blow hot and cold with the same breath.’

Blowing Up, subs. (colloquial).—A scolding; a severe reprimand; a jobation.—See Blow up. The French equivalent is affres (fem. pl.), i.e., ‘agonies.’

1839. Haliburton, Letter-Bag Gt. West, IV., 42. I would give him a good blowing-up. [M.]

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. xxv., p. 448. The waves dashed over the pier, ducking the three or four venturesome spirits who went on there. I was one—and received a good blowing up from Mr. Brandon for my pains.

Blow in One’s Pipe, verbal phr. (American).—A transatlantic equivalent of to blow or blew [one’s money]; i.e., to spend it.

Blow Me! Blow Me Up! Blow Me Tight! intj. phr. (popular).—Expressions which, like blowed (q.v.), serve either as half-veiled oaths or as merely big sounding but meaningless exclamations.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 48. ‘Blow me up (says he) if I have had a fellow with such rum toggys cross my company these many a day.’

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress.

Says Bill ‘there’s nothing like a Bull

And blow me tight’—Bill Gibbons ne’er

In all his days was known to swear,

Except light oaths, to grace his speeches,

Like ‘dash my wig’ or ‘burn my breeches,’

‘Blow me——’

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 25. Here blow me, I’ll do such a thing I never did before, I’ll say thirty—yes, thirty shillings buys the lot, and I’ll have no more nor take no less.

Blow One’s Bazoo, verbal phr. (American).—To boast; to swagger; to gasconade. [From the Dutch bazu, an abbreviation of bazuin, a trumpet; hence an equivalent of the English ‘to blow one’s own trumpet’.]

Blow Oneself Out, verb (common).—To eat heartily; to gorge oneself.—See Blow out.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Babes in the Wood).

In the dog-days, don’t be so absurd

As to blow yourselves out with green-gages!

Blow Out, subs. (common).—A gluttonous feast, a heavy ‘feed,’ or entertainment. Also called a Tuck in, which see for synonyms. [250]Cf., Blow oneself out.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, II., 264. ‘She sent me a card for her blow-out,’ said Mowbray, ‘and so I am resolved to go.’

1847. Th. Hook, Man of Many Friends. The giving good feeds is, with many of these worthies, the grand criterion by which the virtues and talents of mankind are measured … these persons call a similar favour either a ‘spread’ or a ‘blow-out.’

1852. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. viii. ‘Get us hot water, and sugar, and cigars, and plenty of the real stuff, and we’ll have a blow-out.’

Verb (thieves’).—To steal. For synonyms, see prig.

Blowse, Blowsy, Blouze, Blowzy, subs. (old).—1. A beggar’s trull; a wench.

2. A slatternly woman, especially one with dishevelled hair. Thought to be of canting origin. In Grose’s time the term was humorously varied by Blowsabella, in reference to the country girl in Gay’s pastoral poem, ‘The Shepherd’s Week,’ which depicts rural life in its character of poverty and rudeness, rather than as clothed in the colours of romance.

We, fair, fine ladies, who park out our lives

From common sheep-paths, cannot help the crows,

From flying over; we’re as natural still

As Blousalinda.

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. xvi., st. 37, p. 43 (E.D.S.). Whiles Gillet, his blouse, is a milking thy cow.

1605. Chapman, All Fooles, Act iv., p. 68 (Plays, 1874).

Wed without my advice, my love, my knowledge,

Ay, and a beggar, too, a trull, a blowse!

1638. Ford, Lady’s Trial, III., i. Wench is your trull, your blouze, your dowdie.

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. VII., p. 20.

So the old Babylonian Blouze,

And her demure fanatick Spouse.

1851. Thackeray, English Humorists, p. 167. Are not the Rosalindas of Britain as charming as the Blousalindas of the Hague?

Blow the Gab or Gaff, verbal phr. (common).—To reveal, or ‘let out’ a secret; to peach. Cf., Gaff, Gag and Gab. For synonyms, see Peach.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To blow the gab (cant), to confess, or impeach a confederate.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xliii. ‘One of the French officers, after he was taken prisoner, axed me how we had managed to get the gun up there; but I wasn’t going to blow the gaff.’

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 122. The prisoner, burning for revenge, quietly bides his time till the chief warder comes round, then asks to speak to him, and ‘blows the gaff.’

Blow the Grampuse, verbal phr. (nautical).—To throw cold water on a man who has fallen asleep when on duty.

Blow the Groundsels, verbal phr. (old).—To have sexual commerce on the ground.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To blow the groundsils (cant), to lie with a woman on the floor.

Blow Together, verbal phr. (tailors’).—To make garments in a slovenly manner.

Blow Up, subs. (colloquial).—A scolding; a ‘wigging’; a railing.

1809. Sir W Gell, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1883), 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. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxviii. Morgan had had ‘a devil of a blow hup with his own guv’nor, and was going to retire from the business haltogether.’ [251]

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. vii. ‘Mind the hice is here in time; or they’ll be a blow up with your governor.’

Verb (colloquial).—To scold.

1809. Sir W. Gell, 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.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Illust. L. News, June 16, p. 599, col. 1. That the ’aughty nobleman should blow up the clerk for presuming to take a seat in his presence.

To blow up sky-high, phr. (American).—The 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 present stage.

Blow upon (old).—To betray; to tell tales of; to discredit; to defame.—See Blow, verb, sense 2. Used also with indirect passive.

1402. [? T. Occleve], Letter of Cupid, in Arber’s Garner, vol. IV., p. 61.

Thus they despisèd be, on every side,

Dislanderèd and blown upon full wide.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. X., ch. ii. ‘That the reputation of her house, which was never blown upon before, was utterly destroyed.’

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, II., p. 239. It fortunately occurred to me, that if I gave it him myself, I could be of no farther use. I should have been blown upon immediately.

1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. III., ch. xii. ‘The condition of our affairs is desperate, and may be blown upon at any moment.’

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. i., p. 4. Both desisted from their own recriminations as to ‘rounding’ and ‘blowing’ on each other.

1882. Jas. Payn, in Glow Worm Tales, p. 301. ‘An Improvement on a System.’ If Mr. Prince had caught me before his establishment had got ‘blown upon’ in the public prints, he might have persuaded me to become an inmate of the Agapemone. I hope I should not have 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.

Blub.—See Blubber, verb.

Blubber, subs. (common).—1. The mouth. From the figurative use of the word, especially of anything swollen or protruding, as of the lips. For synonyms, see Potato-trap.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. I have stopped the cull’s blubber, I have stopped the fellow’s mouth.

2. A woman’s breasts.—See Sport blubber, and for synonyms, Dairies.

Verb (familiar).—To cry; to weep—used contemptuously. Also shortened into blub.

1400. Test. Love, II. (1560), 283, 1. Han women none other wrech … but blober and wepe till hem list stint. [M.]

1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, xliv. (1804), 202. He blubbered like a great school-boy who had been whipped.

1826. Scott, Woodstock, IV. Phœbe Mayflower blubbered heartily for company. [M.]

To sport blubber, phr. (common).—To show one’s breasts, said of women, especially those with large and prominent bosoms.

Blubber and Guts, subs. (common).—Obesity; a low term.

Blubber-Belly, subs. (common).—A fat person. [252]

Blubber Head, subs. (common).—A foolish, empty-headed individual.—See Apartments to let.

Blucher (ch. hard), subs. (Winchester College).—1. A College præfect in half power. Their jurisdiction does not extend beyond ‘Seventh Chamber passage,’ though their privileges are the same as those of other præfects. They are eight in number.

1864. Blackwood, p. 86. The remaining eight college præfects (called in Winchester tongue, bluchers) have a more limited authority, confined to Chambers and the Quadrangle.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 30. The eight senior præfects were said to have ‘full power,’ and had some slight privileges not enjoyed by the remaining ten, who were generally called bluchers.

2. A non-privileged cab plying at railway stations. The origin of the name and its application, as far as known, is given in the two following quotations.

1864. Soc. Sc. Review, I., p. 406. The railway companies recognise two other classes of cabs, called the ‘privileged’ … and the ‘Bluchers,’ named after the Prussian Field-Marshal who arrived on the field of Waterloo only to do the work that chanced to be undone.

1870. Athenæum, 5 March, p. 328. Non-privileged cabs, which are admitted to stations after all the privileged have been hired, are known as Bluchers.

Bludgeoner, subs. (harlotry).—A bully; pimp; ponce; a man attached to a house of ill-fame for the purpose of terrorising victims, and rendering easier the task of plunder. [From bludgeon, a stout stick or club, + er or eer; i.e., one armed with the weapon in question.]

1852. Blackwood’s Magazine, p. 224. Those brutal bludgeoneers … go out … in gangs to poach. [M.]

1855. Trollope, Warden, xiv., p. 144. Old St. Dunstan with its smiting bludgeoneer has been removed.

Bludger, subs. (thieves’).—A low thief, who does not hesitate to use violence; literally one who will use a bludgeon. Cf., Bludget.

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Those who plunder with violence; as … bludgers or ‘stick slingers,’ who rob in company with low women.

Bludget, subs. (American).—This is given in the New York Slang Dictionary [1881] as ‘a low female thief, who decoys her victims into alley-ways, etc., to rob them.’ Cf., Bludger.

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. A very Proteus, it defies all attempts to trace the why and wherefore of many of the turns of expression of which it forms a part—why true blue should be synonymous with faithful, staunch adherence to one’s faith and principles; or why, on the other hand, to look blue should signify affected with fear, dismayed, and low-spirited. 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 application [253]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 at the end of this work; but the subject is too wide, and the field too vast, for one student to have accomplished much single-handed. 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 the sensual, the same aspirations, the same endeavour, and the same hope.

Subs.—1. A policeman. [From the colour of the uniform.] This epithet can be traced back to Elizabethan days [see Blue-bottle], and the uniform seems to have been blue from time immemorial; indeed, this colour appears from the earliest times to have been the badge of servitude. Pliny tells us blue was the colour in which the Gauls clothed their slaves; and, for many ages, blue coats were the liveries of servants, apprentices, and those in humble stations of life—to wit, the blue-clad 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 quoted by Ray, ‘he’s in his better blue clothes,’ i.e., ‘he thinks himself wondrous fine,’ has reference to the livery of a servant. The police more recently have been known collectively as blues, the men in blue, blue-boys, blue bottles, blue-devils, royal regiment of foot-guards blue, all nicknames referring to the colour of the uniform. For general synonyms, see Beak.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 257. He would chatter gaily and enter with great gusto into the details of some cleverly executed ‘bit of business,’ or ‘bilking the blues,’—evading the police.

18(?). Hood, Row at the ‘Oxford Arms.’

Well, that’s the row, and who can guess the upshot after all?

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 blues must quell it.

2. A blue is known to licensed victuallers and their customers in certain districts of Wales as a compromise between 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 approaching to something like a status, as it deserves to do in the interests of temperance. Although there is no Board of Trade standard of the blue, and inspectors have no power to stamp measures of this denomination for use in trade, the Board of Trade has pointed out to the local authorities that [254]there is nothing in the Weights and Measures Act to prevent the use of the blue or to make its possessor liable to penalties, always provided of course that the vessel is not used as a measure.

3. A scholar of Christ’s Hospital; a blue-coat boy. [This nickname is also derived from the colour of the clothes—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.]

1834. W. Trollope (Title), Christ’s Hospital … with memoirs of Eminent Blues.

1877. W. H. Blanch, Blue-Coat Boys, p. 33. To some extent it holds also with regard to Civil Engineers, amongst whom, however, one well-known name is that of a blue.

4. Short for blue-stocking (q.v.); formerly a contemptuous term for a woman having or affecting literary tastes.

1788. Madame D’Arblay, Diary (1876), iv., 219. He was a little the more 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.

1823. Byron, Don Juan, ch. xi., st. 50. The Blues, that tender tribe, who sigh o’er sonnets.

1845. Disraeli, Sybil, p. 76. ‘But she was very clever.…’ ‘Accomplished?’ ‘Oh, far beyond that.…’ ‘A regular blue.’

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, I., p. 7. His Aunt Virginia was as learned a blue as her esteemed ancestress in the court of Elizabeth, the very Virgin Queen of Blues.

5. Female learning or pedantry.

1824. Byron, Don Juan, xvi., 47. She also had a twilight tinge of blue. [M.]

6. (University.)—At Oxford and Cambridge a man is said to get his blue when selected as a competitor in inter-university sports. The University colours are, for Oxford, dark blue; and for Cambridge, light blue. Cf., To get one’s silk, said of a barrister when made Queen’s Counsel.

Adj.—1. A contemptuous epithet applied usually to women of literary tastes.—See Blue-stocking. The French have elle est bleue celle-là; en voilà une de bleue; je la trouve 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. lxxxix. Les Dames des Roches, both mother and daughter were remarkable and exemplary women; and there was a time when Poictiers derived as much glory from those blue ladies as from the Black Prince.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. xi. She was a little, a very little blue—rather a babbler in the ‘ologies’ than a real disciple.

1842. Dickens, American Notes, ch. iii., p. 33. Blue ladies there are, in Boston; but like philosophers of that colour and sex in most other latitudes, they rather desire to be thought superior than to be so.

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. xxxiii. She had been growing decidedly blue. Not only had she, under Bray’s auspices, published a series of papers in Blunt’s Magazine, but she had positively written a child’s book.

1864. Spectator, No. 1875, p. 660. A clever, sensible woman, rather blue.

2. Indecent; ‘smutty’; obscene. This may be derived from the blue dress of harlots—see preceding, subs., 1.—although Hotten suggests it as coming [255]from the French Bibliothèque Bleu, a series of books of very questionable character. Books or conversation of an entirely opposite nature are said to be brown or Quakerish, i.e., serious, grave, decent.

3. Gloomy; fearful; depressed; low-spirited. Cf., To look blue, Blue funk, and In the blues. Possibly an allusion to the blueness of cold.

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xxviii. Charley replied that neither had he any money at home. ‘That’s blue,’ said the man. ‘It is rather blue,’ said Charley.

1862. Trollope, Orley Farm, I., p. 93. It’s blue; uncommon blue.

1864. Yates, Broken to Harness, I., p. 60. ‘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.

1872. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, ch. xl. I kept up my blue 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.

Verb.—1. To blush. Cf., subs., sense 3.

1709. Steele and Swift, Tatler, No. 71, p. 8. If a Virgin blushes, we no longer cry she blues. [M.]

2. To pawn; pledge; spend; actually to get rid of money quickly. Cf., Blew. There are two suggested derivations of the word when used in this sense; (1) that it is connected with ‘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 deep sea. The German has ins blaue hinein, ‘away into the blue,’ equivalent to the French passer au bleu. Faire passer au bleu is to dissipate, spend, or squander. For synonyms, in the sense of to pawn, see Pop.

1880. Punch’s Almanac, p. 2. This top coat?—would blue it.

1887. Punch, 10 Sept., p. 111. I never minds blueing the pieces purvided I gets a good spree.

3. To miscalculate; ‘to make a “mess” of anything’; to mull.

4. (thieves’.)—To steal; to plunder. To be blued, to be robbed. For synonyms, see Prig.

By all that’s blue, phr. (popular).—A euphemistic oath; probably meaning ‘by Heaven.’ It may be compared with the French parbleu, synonymous with par Dieu.

1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xxiii. ‘The black cat, by all that’s blue!’ cried the Captain.

Men in blue, phr. (popular).—The police.—See Blue, subs., sense 1.

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.’

1886. G. A. Apperson, Graphic, 30 Jan., p. 137. The police in recent times have been known as the blues and the men in blue.

Till all is blue, phr. (popular).—1. To the utmost; to 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. Haliburton, The Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. xix. [The land] could be made to carry wheat till all’s blue again. Ibid., 3 S., ch. xx. Your mother kickin’ and screamin’ till all was blue again.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, I., p. 184. I’ll have at her again, and dance till all’s blue before I give in. [256]

2. When applied to drinking, till all is blue signifies exceeding tipsy. As will be seen, this usage is somewhat ancient. It 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’ Whis., v., 1835. They drink … Vntil their adle heads doe make the ground Seeme blew vnto them.

1638. Ford, Lady’s Trial, iv., 2. We can drink till all look blue.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Lay of St. Dunstan).

‘I have nothing to do:

And ’fore George, I’ll sit here and I’ll drink till all’s blue!’

To look blue, phr. (popular).—To be confounded; surprised; astonished; annoyed or disappointed. French equivalents are en rester tout bleu; en être bleu; en bailler tout bleu; and baba from ébahi, astounded.

c. 1600. Rob. Hood (‘Ritson’), II., xxxvi., 84. It made the sunne looke blue. [M.]

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. Blue, adj. … 2, blank, or cast down; as, he looked blue upon it.

1884. Cornhill Mag., Jan., p. 111. The prudent (and sagacious) officer looked blue. But he speedily recovered himself.

To make the air blue, phr. (popular).—To curse; to swear; to use profane language. Cf., Blue, adj., sense 2.

True blue, phr. (colloquial).—Faithful; genuine; real; an allusion to blue as the colour of constancy. A reference either to the deep blue of the sky or sea suggestive of interminableness; or, it may be derived as was ‘Coventry blue,’ from a dye that would neither change its colour nor be discharged by washing; hence figuratively, to signify persons or things of sterling character or quality. 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 proverbially deceitful, and on the other hand, the expression seems too old a one to owe its origin to the dyer’s skill.

1383. Chaucer, Squiere’s Tale.

And by hire bedde’s hed she made a mew,

And covered it with velouettes blew,

In signe of trouthe that is in woman sene.

Ibid, Court of Love, line 246.

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.

Blue Apron, subs. (common).—A tradesman.

1721. Amherst, Terræ Fil., xliii., 230. For if any saucy blue-apron dares to affront any venerable person … all scholars are immediately forbid to have any dealing or commerce with him.

1868. Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, p. 98. A blue-apron statesman, a lay politician, a tradesman who interferes with the affairs of the nation. The reference is to the blue apron once worn by nearly all tradesmen, but now restricted to butchers, poulterers, fishmongers, and so on.

Bluebacks, subs.—1. The paper money 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. A more pronounced slang name, subsequently applied to bluebacks, was ‘shucks,’ from their worthlessness after the war. ‘Shucks’ is an old English term for the refuse of peas and similar products when shelled. [257]

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 291. The confederate notes bore, for the same reason, the name of bluebacks, which was, however, soon exchanged for the slang term of shucks.

2. The Orange Free State paper money.

1878. Trollope, South Africa, II., p. 206. Bluebacks, as they were called, were printed. Ibid, p. 222. The bluebacks as the Orange Free State banknotes were called.

Blue Bellies.—A nickname bestowed by Southerners, during the Civil War, upon their opponents of the North, whose uniform was blue. They were also called boys in blue, yanks, etc. The Southerners, on the other hand, received such names as the secesh, rebs, and johnny rebs, the latter being sometimes shortened to johnnies. The grey uniform of the Confederates likewise caused them to be styled boys in grey and greybacks, the latter epithet cutting two ways, as the Southern soldiers not only wore grey uniforms, but ‘greyback’ in America as well as England signifies a louse.

1883. Daily Telegraph, Feb. 9, p. 5, col. 4. The Confederate armies during 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.’

Blue Bills, subs. (Winchester College).—The tradesmen’s bills sent home to the parents and guardians of students. [So called from the colour of the envelopes generally used.]

Blue Billy, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A handkerchief (blue ground with white spots) sometimes worn and used as a colour at prize-fights.—See Billy, sense 1.

2. (mining.)—See quotation.

1887. ‘Death of Blue Billy,’ in Chamb. Jour., Dec. 17, p. 812. Blue Billy is the technical name given to the lime rendered foul in the purification of the gas.

Blue Blanket, subs. (common).—1. The sky. This simile is an old one; Defoe’s use of it may probably have been suggested by Shakspeare’s ‘blanket of the dark’ (Macbeth, I., v.).

c. 1720. Defoe, Hist. of Devil, quoted in N. and Q., 7 S., ii., 289; see also 7 S., ii., 492. We 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 several slang terms for sleeping out in a field or meadow. It is called ‘snoozing in Hedge Square’; ‘dossing with the daisies’; and ‘lying under the blue blanket.’

The French say, ‘coucher à l’hotel de l’Etoile,’ i.e., ‘to sleep at the Star Hotel’; while in the Fourbesque, or Italian cant, heaven or the sky is termed copertore, a covering or blanket.

2. (common.)—A rough overcoat made of coarse pilot cloth.

Blue Blazes.—See Blazes.

Blue Boar, subs. (old).—A certain venereal disease.

Blue-Bottle, subs. (popular).—1. 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 to members of the force, and occurs as far back as 1598. [258]

Cf., Blue, sense 1, and see Beak for synonyms.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., v., 4. Dall [addressing beadle] … you blue-bottle rogue, you filthy famished correctioner.

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. lxiv. ‘Police, indeed!’ muttered Charley, ‘the General can’t remember that he is out of London.… These confounded sulky Austrian officials are rather different customers to deal with from our blue-bottles.—Messrs. Al and Co.’

1864. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, Sept. 13. Caught in his own toils by the blue-bottles of Scotland Yard, [M.]

1864. Blackwood’s Mag., p. 15. He who could summon to his aid every alphabetical blue-bottle that ever handled a truncheon.

1888. Middleton, Michaelmas Term. And to be free from the interruption of blue beadles, and other bawdy officers.

2. A serving-man, blue having been the usual habit of servants. Cf., Blue-coat.

1602. Honest Whore, O. Pl., iii., 389. You proud varlets, you need not be ashamed to wear blue, when your master is one of your fellows.

1608. Dekker, Belman, sign E., 3. The others act their parts in blew coates, as (if) they were their serving-men.

Hence blue-bottle is sometimes a term of reproach for a servant. [Case Altered, i., 2. O. Pl., v., 6.] And a serving-man, in B. Jonson, says, ‘Ever since I was of the blue order.’

About 1608, when Middleton’s Comedy of A Trick to catch the Old One was produced, the blue-coats of servants appear to have been changed for cloaks, such as were worn by the upper classes also at that time. Thus, in that comedy [Act ii., Anc. Drama, v., p. 151]:—There’s more true 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 into cloaks, one can scarce know the man from the master. B. Jonson [Mask of Christmas] introduces New Yeares Gift, In a blew coat, serving-man like, with an orange, etc.

1845. G. P. R. James, Arrah Neil, p. 325. The personage to whom he addressed himself, was one of the serving-men of that day, known by the general term of blue-bottles.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. x. (I., p. 173). I fancy you would love to move to court like him, followed by a round score of old blue-bottles. Ibid, ch. xi. My lord, my father … has blue-bottles enough to wait on him.

Blue Boy, subs. (common).—A bubo; a tumour or abscess with inflammation. Specially applied to that kind which is a result of venereal disease.

Blue-Boys, subs. (popular).—The police. The expression is generally used in the plural. Cf., Blue, sense 1, and Beak, sense 1.

1880. Jas. Greenwood, Help Myself Society, in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 68. The ‘Help Yourselves’ are especially strong in instrumental music. They have a friend in Colonel Fraser, the head of the City police, and the excellent band of that branch of the force is at their service, and Sir E. Henderson shows himself to be at heart a ‘Help Yourself,’ by permitting the instrumental blue boys belonging to several metropolitan divisions to spend a Saturday night there. Besides these, they have the Polytechnic orchestral band when it is required, and an excellent grand piano with a skilled player and accompanyist.

Blue Butter, subs. (common).—Mercurial ointment, used for the destruction of parasites.

Blue-Coat, subs.—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 [259]blue colour. Like blue, blue-bottle, etc., its application to a policeman is of some antiquity. Cf., Blue, sense 1, and Beak, sense 1.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 19 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). And being so taken, haue beene carried to places of correction, there wofully tormented by blew-coates, cowardly fellowes, that … haue so scourged vs, that flesh and blood could hardly endure it.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 417. ‘I thinks them Chartists are a weak-minded set … a hundred o’ them would run away from one blue-coat.’

Blued or Blewed, ppl. adj. (common).—Tipsy; drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed.

Blue Dahlia, subs. (common).—A colloquialism for something rare or seldom seen; a rara avis.

Blue Devils, subs. (popular).—1. Dejection; lowness of spirits; hypochondria.

1786. Cowper, Letters, No. 219, vol. II., p. 143 (ed. 1834). I have not that which commonly is a symptom of such a case belonging to me,—I mean 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.

1790. W. B. Rhodes, Bombastes Furioso, Sc. 1.

Or, dropping poisons in the cup of joy,

Do the blue devils your repose annoy?

1871. Planché, King Christmas. There are blue devils which defy blue pills.

1880. G. R. Sims, Three Brass Balls, pledge iii. He got discontented and had fits of blue devils.

Two French equivalents for feeling out of sorts are s’emboucaner, and s’éncoliflucheter.

2. (popular.)—Delirium tremens. From the apparitions drunkards often suppose they see. In both this and the foregoing sense blue devils is contracted into blues.

1818–9. Cobbett, Resid. U.S., 42. It was just the weather to give drunkards the blue devils.

1831. Scott, Demonology, i., 18. They, by a continued series of intoxication, became subject to what is popularly called the blue devils.

Hence such derivatives as blue devilage; blue devilry; blue devilism; and an adjectival form blue devilly.

1871. Lockhart, Fair to See, I., p. 208. On the lower hills the pine-trees loomed through stagnant mists with a dejected and blue-devilly aspect.

Blue Fear, subs. (popular).—Extreme fright. [From the ‘blue’ or pallid cast of countenance which fear is supposed to induce. The same as blue funk (q.v.), which is more general.]

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 strictly in the country. The very name of Paris put her in a blue fear.

Blue Flag, subs. (common).—A blue apron (q.v.). Worn by butchers, publicans, and other tradesmen.

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.

Blue Funk, subs. (popular).—Extreme fright, nervousness, or dread. [Funk is ‘to stink through fear’; Wedgwood connects it with the Walloon funker, ‘to smoke.’]

1856. Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 196. If I was going to be flogged next minute, I should be in a blue funk.

1861. Macmillan’s Magazine, p. 211. I was in a real blue funk. [260]

1861. Saturday Review, Nov. 23, 534. We encounter … the miserable Dr. Blandling in what is called a blue funk. [M.]

1871. Maxwell, in Life (1882), xvi., 382. Certainly χλωρὸν θέος is the Homeric for a blue funk.

Blue Hen’s Chickens, subs. (American).—A slang name for the inhabitants of 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 popular, and his regiment becoming famous for their valour, they were soon known as ‘game-cocks’; and as Caldwell maintained that no cock was truly game unless its mother was a blue hen, his regiment, and subsequently Delawareans generally, became known as blue hen’s chickens, and Delaware as the Blue Hen State for the same reason. A boaster is also often brought to book by the sarcasm, ‘Your mother was a blue hen no doubt.’

Blue Horse, subs. (military).—The Fourth Dragoon Horse, from its facings.

Blue Lightning, subs. (American).—One of the grimly facetious names with which Texans have christened revolvers. At times a dispute has literally been a word, a flash of blue lightning and—certain death. For synonyms, see Barker.

Blue Monday, subs. (workmen’s).—A Monday spent in dissipation and absence from work. One often hears the phrase ‘to feel Mondayish.’ The German has der blaue Montag. Cf., Black Saturday.

1885. Harper’s Magazine, p. 873, col. 1. The workman getting sober after his usual blue Monday. [M.]

Blue Moon. Once in a blue moon, phr. (popular).—Extremely seldom; an unlimited time; a rarely recurring period. An old phrase, first used in the sense of something absurd. A blue moon, like the Greek Kalends, is something which does not exist. A variant is ‘when two Sundays come in a week.’ As regards origin nothing is known; barring the extract from Roy and Barlow, authorities give no examples earlier than 1876—a curious fact.

1526. Roy and Barlowe, Rede me and be not wroth, p. 114 [ed. Arber, 1871].

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. If he talked till a blue moon, etc.

1876. Miss Braddon, Joshua Haggard’s Daughter, ch. xxiv. Why should she stint as to one or two puddings a week … and a fruit pasty once in a blue moon.

1884. R. E. Francillon, Ropes of Sand, ch. xxi. ‘I’ve made bold to take the chance of your being at home for once in a blue moon, Mr. Carew,’ said she.

Blue Murder or Blue Murders, subs. (common).—A term used to describe cries of terror or alarm; a great noise; an unusual racket. Cf., French morbleu.

1887. J. S. Winter, Eng. Ill. Mag., Dec., p. 179. The dingy person dropped his victim and howled what the half-dozen officers … graphically described as blue murder. [261]

Blueness, subs. (common).—Indecency. Smutty talk is described as blue, sense 2 (q.v.).

1840. Carlyle, Diderot, Ess., 240. The occasional blueness of both [writings] shall not altogether affright us.

French Synonyms. Les horreurs; les bêtises; les gueulées. To talk blue is rendered by décravater ses propos.

Blue Noses, subs. (American).—The natives of Nova Scotia. A nickname given them by the Yankees in allusion, it is said, to a potato of that name which Nova Scotians claim to be the best in 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 cold.

1837–40. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’). Do you know the reason monkeys are no good? Because they chatter all day long,—as do the niggers,—and so do the blue noses of Nova Scotia.

18(?). Sir George Simpson, Overland Journey, vol. I., p. 19. After a run [in the steamer] of fourteen days, we entered the harbour of Halifax, amid the hearty cheers of a large number of blue noses.

Blue [or Blew] One’s Screw, verbal phr. (common).—To waste or squander one’s salary. [From blue or blew (q.v.) + screw (q.v.).]

Blue Peter, subs. (card-players’).—The signal or call for trumps at whist. [Properly a blue flag with white square in centre, hoisted as a signal for immediate sailing.]

1875. Beeton, Handy Book of Games, p. 358. Since the introduction of Blue Peter, the necessity of leading through your adversary’s hand has become less and less.

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 house-tops.

1887. Judy, 27 April, p. 200. A burglar whose particular ‘lay’ was flying the blue pigeon, i.e., stealing lead.

(Nautical.)—The sounding lead.

Blue Pigeon Flyer, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A thief who steals lead from the roofs of buildings. Hotten thus explains the modus operandi. Sometimes a journeyman plumber, glazier, or other workman, who, when repairing houses, strips off the lead, and makes away with it. This performance is, though, by no means confined to workmen. An empty house is often entered and the whole of the roof in its vicinity stripped, the only notice given to the folks below being received by them on the occasion of a heavy downfall of rain. The term flyer has, indeed, of late years been more peculiarly 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. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 165. Blue pigeon flying. Fellows who steal lead off houses, or cut pipes away.

French equivalents are un limousineur; un gras-doublier; un mastaroufleur. [262]

To fly the blue pigeon, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To steal lead from the roofs of houses.—See Blue pigeon. French equivalents are faire la mastar au gras-double; ratisser du gras double.

1872. J. Doran, in Notes and Queries, 4 S., x., 308. Even at the present day, no 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 pigeon.’

Blue Pill, subs. (popular).—A bullet; also called blue plum and blue whistler. For synonyms, see Pill.

1861. N. Y. Tribune (Let. from Missouri), Nov. 10. Between blue pills, halters, and the penitentiary, we shall soon work off this element of rascaldom and horse-thieves.

Blue Plum, subs. (thieves’).—A bullet. Cf., Blue pill and 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 firelocks.

1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood (1884), p. 95.

Believe me, there is not a game, my brave boys,

To compare with the game of high toby;

No rapture can equal the toby man’s joys,

To blue devils, blue plumbs give the go by.

Blue Ruin, subs. (common).—Gin, generally of inferior quality. For synonyms, see Drinks.

c. 1817. Keats, A Portrait. He sipped no olden Tom or ruin blue, or Nantz or cherry brandy.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 39.

A few short words I first must spare,

To him, the Hero, that sits there,

Swigging Blue ruin, in that chair.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Log. Here, Landlord, more Blue Ruin, my boy! Sal. Massa Bob, you find me no such bad partner; many de good vill and de power me get from de Jack Tar.

1847. Lytton, Lucretia, 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.’

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxiii. The stuff itself, which in the western gin-shops goes generally by the name of blue-ruin or ‘short.’

Blues, subs. (popular).—1. Despondency; 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, Salmagundi (1824), p. 96. In a fit of the blues. [M.]

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. viii. The moat alone is enough to give one the blues.

1889. John Strange Winter, That Imp, p. 10. ‘Miss Aurora,’ he said suddenly, one evening after dinner, ‘it’s awfully dull at Drive now; does it never strike you so?’ ‘Very often, my dear,’ answered Miss Aurora promptly. ‘It’s as dull as—’ ‘Ditch-water,’ supplied Driver, finding she paused for a word which would express dulness enough. ‘I wonder you and Betty don’t die of the blues.’

2. The police.—See Blue, sense 1.

3. (military.)—The Royal Horse Guards Blue are popularly so known from the blue facings on the scarlet uniform. The corps first obtained the name of ‘Oxford Blues’ in 1690, to distinguish it from a Dutch regiment of Horse Guards dressed in blue, commanded by the 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.’

Blue Skin, subs. (old).—1. Formerly a contemptuous term for [263]a Presbyterian. Butler, in Hudibras [I., p. 26], says:—

‘’twas Presbyterian true blue,

For he was of the stubborn crew

Of errant saints, whom all men grant

To be the true Church Militant.’

Blue is still the Presbyterian colour, and is used as an adjective by them in describing books and people.

2. (West Indian.)—A half-breed—the child of a black woman by a white man.

Blue Squadron, subs. (colonial).—One of mixed blood; properly one with a Hindoo strain. Eurasians belong to the blue squadron. Cf., Touch of the tar brush.

Blue Stocking, subs.—A literary lady: applied usually with the imputation of 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. Benjamin Stillingfleet, who always wore blue stockings, and whose conversation at these meetings was so much prized, that his absence at any time was felt to be a great loss, so that the remark became common, ‘We can do nothing without the blue stockings,’ hence these meetings were sportively called blue-stocking clubs, and the ladies who attended them blue-stockings. It is stated that the name specially arose in this way. A foreigner of rank refused to accompany a friend to one of these parties on the 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 bas bleus or blue stockings,’ with allusion to Stillingfleet’s stockings, when the foreigner, fancying that bas bleus were part of the necessary costume, called the meeting ever after the Bas-bleu Society. In modern slang the term blue-stocking is abbreviated into blue. Derivatives are blue-stockingism, blue-stockinger, etc.

b. 1738, d. 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!

1780. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, i., 326. Who would not be a blue-stockinger at this rate?

1784. Walpole, Letters, iv., 381. [Walpole, writing to Hannah More, playfully makes it a verb = to put on blue stockings.] When will you blue-stocking 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.

1877. Miss Martineau, Autob., vol. I., p. 100. Young ladies (at least in provincial towns) were expected to sit down in the parlour to sew,—during 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.

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. Blackwood’s Mag., June, p. 786. The bar was still thronged, and the effects of the mixture of spirits of wine, bluestone, and tobacco-juice, were to be seen on a miserable wretch who lay stretched in the courtyard. [264]

1882. W. G. Black, in Notes and 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.’ ‘But what?’ 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 familiar one.

Blue Tape, subs. (old).—One of the many cant terms for gin. For synonyms, see Drinks.

Blue Whistler, subs. (American).—A bullet. For synonyms, see Pill.

1888. New York Herald, Nov. 4. 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 thirteen blue whistlers tore the brute’s 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 my double-barrelled shotgun and let drive a volley of blue whistlers straight at bruin’s yawning jaws.

Bluey, subs. (thieves’).—1. Lead.—See also Blue pigeon. [Supposed to be an allusion to the colour.]

French Synonyms. Du doussin; du noir (noir = black); du saucisson. ‘To dispose of bluey at the fence,’ i.e., the receiver of stolen goods—porter du gras-double au moulin.

2. (Australian.)—A bushman’s bundle, the outside wrapper of which is generally a blue blanket—hence the name. This is also called his swag (q.v.); likewise a drum (q.v.).

Bluey-Hunter, subs. (thieves’).—A thief who steals lead, as described under blue pigeon flyer (q.v.), of which bluey-hunter is a synonym. Cf., Billy-hunter.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 26. Bluey-hunters, or those who purloin lead from the tops of houses.

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Bluey-hunters, who take lead from the tops of houses.

Bluff, subs. (vagrants’ and common).—An excuse; a pretence; that which is intended to hoodwink or ‘to blind.’ Probably a transferred usage of the American sense.

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

1879. Bret Harte, Gabriel Conroy, ch. xxxix. There is a strong suspicion among men whose heads are level that this Minstrel Variety Performance is a bluff of the ‘Messenger’ to keep from the public the real motives of the murder.

1884. Boston (U.S.) Journal, Sept. 25. The oiler was only a bluff.

Verb (common).—To turn aside; to stop; to hoodwink; to blind as to one’s real intention. Properly, to brag; to conceal one’s weakness; from the American game of poker.—See subs.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 327. 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.

1883. Echo, April 20, p. 3, col. 5. 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.

1885. Bret Harte, Ship of ’49, ch. v. ‘Far from bluffing, Sleight, I am throwing my cards on the table. Consider that I’ve passed out. Let some other man take my hand.’ [265]

It may be remarked that Ray [1674–91] gives bluff as to blindfold, and Bailey [1721] as to hoodwink. The German has blüffen; the Dutch blaffen, ‘to bark at,’ and verblüffen, ‘to put out of countenance.’

So also bluffing in a similar sense.

1889. Answers, July 20, p. 121, col. 2. The youths evidently disagreed as to the nature of my business: one, as far as I could gather, assumed that I was a ‘nark,’ and that I was bluffing (making an excuse), and ‘flamming’ (lying).

Bluffer, subs. (old).—An innkeeper.—Grose. Bailey [1721] also gives the term with the same meaning, and American thieves still retain the word in a similar sense.

2. (nautical).—A bo’sun.

Blunderbuss, subs. (old).—A stupid blundering fellow.—Grose.

Blunt, subs. (popular).—Money, especially ready money. For a long list of synonyms, see Actual. [There are several suggested derivations; (1) that it is from the French blond, sandy or golden colour, and that a parallel may be found in brown or browns, the slang for halfpence. Far-fetched as this etymology seems, say Hotten, it may be correct, as it is borne out by the analogy of similar expressions. Cf., Blanquillo, a word used in Morocco and Southern Spain for a small Moorish coin. The ‘asper’ (ἄσπρόν) of Constantinople is called by the Turks akcheh, i.e., ‘little white’; (2) that it received its name in allusion to the blunt rim of coins. A third is that it received the name from Mr. John Blunt, the chairman of South Sea Bubble.]

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11. [List of cant words.] Blunt, money.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and 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 vith t’other. It saves chalk and prewents mistakes, you know.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xxxix. ‘It’s all very well,’ said Mr. Sikes; ‘but I must have some blunt from you to-night.’ ‘I haven’t a piece of coin about me,’ replied the Jew.

1878. Notes and Queries, 5 S., x., p. 315. Blunt … is also a well-known slang term for money.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 147, col. 2. ‘The New Almacks.’ ‘It appears, my dear Jerry,’ said the Corinthian, ‘that anybody can enter here who chooses to “sport his blunt” ’—that is, to pay.

Blunted, ppl. adj. (old).—Possessed of money.

18(?). English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their bull-dogs—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.

Blush like a Black or Blue Dog, verbal phr. (old).—Not to blush at all.

1579. Gosson, Apologie 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 [266]part without a prompter, nor utter a wise worde without a piper, you shall see we will make him to blush like a blacke dogge, when he is graveled.

ed. 1634. Withal, Dictionary, p. 557. Faciem perfricuit. Hee blusheth like a blacke dogge, hee hath a brazen face.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. i.).

Lord Sp. (to the Maid). Mrs. Betty, how does your body politick?

Col. Fye, my lord, you’ll make Mrs. Betty blush.

Lady Sm. Blush! Ay, blush like a blue dog.

1828. C. K. Sharpe to a lady, in C. K. S.’s Correspondence (1888), II., 421. I send you a pair of blue stockings of my own knitting. I blush like a blue dog about the workmanship, for I fear they are too short.

B.N.C., abbreviation (University).—For Brasenose; initials of Brasen Nose College. In spite of the nose over the gate, the probability is that the real name was Brasinium. It is still famous for its beer.

1885. Daily News, March 13, p. 5, col. 1. As when Corpus bumped 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 bumped Corpus back again.

Board, verb (military).—1. To borrow.

2. (nautical.)—To accost; ask of; make a demand; i.e., to come to close quarters. The allusion is to boarding a ship for a hand-to-hand conflict; originally in a forcible or hostile sense, but now used in a modified form for to ‘make up to,’ to ‘make advances to.’ The figure of speech is a very old one, as will be seen from the following examples.

1547. Earl Surrey, Æneid, IV., 395. At length her self bordeth Aeneas thus. [M.]

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, ii., 2. [Enter Hamlet, reading.] Queen. But look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. Pol. … I’ll board him presently:—O, give me leave.

1672–1726. Vanbrugh, False Friend, I., i., 97. What do you expect from boarding a woman … already heart and soul engaged to another.

1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. Board him, a colloquialism for I’ll ask, demand, or accost him.

To board in the smoke, phr. (nautical).—To take one unawares, or by surprise. In the midst of a naval fight boarding operations were often successfully carried out under cover of the smoke from a broadside.

On the board, phr. (tailors’).—Enjoying all the privileges and emoluments of a competent workman. When an apprentice becomes a regular journeyman he goes ‘on the board.’ Tailors usually work squatting on a low raised platform—hence possibly the expression.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 146. During the term of his imprisonment he became an excellent working tailor, and was on the board, as it is termed, among those who are efficient hands.

To keep one’s name on the board, phr. (Cambridge Univ.).—To remain a member of a College.

Boarding House or School, subs. (old).—A nickname given by thieves in London to Newgate, but it is equally applicable to any gaol. New York thieves apply it to the Tombs. [From that sense of Boarding School = an establishment where persons are boarded and taught, convicts being likened to scholars.] French thieves call such an institution un collège. For synonyms, see Cage. [267]

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Boarding School. Bridewell, Newgate, or any other prison or house of correction.

Boardman, subs. (vagrants’).—A standing patterer; explained by quotation. Sometimes called a ‘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 to attract attention to their papers, or, 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 ‘board work.’

Board of Green Cloth, subs. (familiar).—A card or billiard table. [From board, a table, + green cloth, from the colour of the cloth with which the table is covered.]

1771. P. Parsons, New Newmarket, II., 24. That board of green cloth, the billiard table.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, p. 23. ‘I am going down to F——’ ‘As usual, the 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. Whyte Melville, Digby Grand, ch. vi. Often have I seen him rise 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 manœuvre.

1886. Miss Braddon, Mohawks, ch. 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.] For synonyms, see Cage.

1856. H. Mayhew, Great World of London, p. 82, note. [List of thieves’ names of prisons.] The Hulks, or any Public Works—The Boat.

Verb (old).—1. Originally to transport; the term is now applied to penal servitude. To ‘get the boat,’ or to ‘be boated,’ is to be sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, equivalent to transportation under the old system. Cf., Boat, subs., and for synonyms, see Cop.

2. (American thieves’.)—To join as partner; evidently a corruption of ‘to be in the same boat,’ i.e., to be in the same position or circumstances.

To bail one’s own boat, phr. (American).—To be self-reliant. A variant is ‘to paddle one’s own canoe.’—See Canoe.

Bob, subs. (popular).—1. A shilling. [The derivation is 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 slang is very unlikely. Others think it a corruption of ‘baubee’ or ‘bawbee,’ a debased 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 bribe.] The old cant had bobstick (q.v.) as a synonym, and a spurious plural is sometimes formed of bob, thus bobber—two bobber = a two-shilling piece. Cf., Blow for synonyms.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Bob or bobstick, a shilling. [268]

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Tom. Now then, what’s to pay, landlord? Mace. All out, vill be fourteen bob and a kick, your honour. Tom. Well, there’s a flimsy for you; serve the change out in max to the covies. (Gives money.)

1837. Barham, I. L. (Misadventures at Margate). I changed a shilling—(which in town the people call a bob).

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 74, col. 1. Accommodation. Swell. ‘Haw—no small change about me.’ Minstrel. ‘Oh, don’t mention ’t sar. A bob will do sar, and if you’ll call at my club tomorrow, sar, the hall portar will give you sixpence back, sar. My kyard, sar, etc.!!’

2. (old.)—A shoplifter’s assistant; one who receives and carries off stolen goods. In French he is called un nonne or un noune.

3. (old.)—Gin.—See quotations in Bobstick, and Drinks for synonyms.

1749. ‘Honours of the Fleet,’ quoted in Ashton’s The Fleet, p. 286. H’ had strain’d his credit for a Dram of Bob.

4. (military.)—An infantry soldier; generally light-bob, i.e., a soldier of the light infantry. [This is probably an allusion to their being enlisted with the Queen’s shilling or bob.] For synonyms, see Mudcrusher.

1844. W. H. Maxwell, Sports and Adventures in Scotland, xxxv., 282. Me, that never … listened to a light-bob.

1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. xxiv. Mr. Stubble, as may be supposed from his size and slenderness, was of the light-bobs.

5. (Winchester College).—A large white jug containing about a gallon in measure, and used for beer.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 85. Each end and Præfect’s mess had their beer served up in a large white jug, or ‘bob.’ The vessel used for the same purpose in Commoners’ was called a ‘Joram.’

1888. T. A. Trollope, What I Remember. Only those ‘Juniors’ attended whose office it was to bring away the portions of bread and cheese and bobs of beer for consumption in the afternoon.

Adj. (old).—Lively; nice; in good spirits.

1721. Cibber, Refusal, I., sp. 109. Yesterday at Marybone, they had me all Bob as a Robin. [M.]

1864. Miss Yonge, Trial, I., 113. ‘That’s a nice girl’.… ‘Bobber than bobtail.’ [M.]

Verb (old).—To cheat; to trick; to disappoint. Also to bob out of.

1605. Tryall Chev., I., in Bullen’s O. Plays, iii., 273. I had rather dye in a ditch than be bobd of my fayre Thomasin.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bob (v.), to jog, touch, or give notice by some such like sign; also a cant word for to trick or cheat.

Intj. (familiar).—Stop! That’s enough!

1889. Modern Society, June 6. ‘Say when,’ said Bonko, taking up a flagon of whiskey and commencing to pour out the spirit into my glass. ‘Bob!’ replied I.

Dry bob, phr. (old).—Fruitless coition.

Dry bob, Wet bob, subs. (Eton College).—The first-named is one who devotes himself to cricket or football and other land sports; the latter one who goes in for rowing and aquatics generally. The origin of the term is doubtful.—See Dry bob and Wet bob.

1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, p. 42. ‘It is settled, the match to-morrow shall be between Aquatics and Dry bobs,’ said a senior boy.

1874. Saturday Review, Aug., p. 212. The 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. [269]

All is bob, phr. (old).—All’s safe; ‘serene’; ‘gay.’ For synonyms, see O.K.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. [All’s bob is defined as foregoing.]

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, p. 12. A moment afterwards, the street was illumined by a blaze of torchlight, and a tumultuous uproar announced the arrival of the first detachment of Minters. Mr. Wood 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.

Bear a bob! phr. (common).—Be brisk! look sharp!

Bob a nod, phr. (common.)—A shilling a head. [From bob, slang for shilling, + nod, the head.]

To give the bob, phr. (old).—To give the door. An old term used by Massinger—‘It can be no other but to give me the bob.’

S’help me bob, phr. (low).—A street oath, equivalent to ‘So help me God’; a corrupted form of the legal oath. ‘So help’ is pronounced swelp. There are several variants, such as s’help the cat—my greens—the taturs, etc.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Dead Drummer).

For his jaw-work would never, I’m sure, s’elp me bob,

Have come for to go for to do sich a job!

1880. Jas. Payn, Confid. Agent, ch. xix. ‘Not another word will I say, s’help me bob.’ And John rolled over in his bed like an indignant porpoise.

To shift one’s bob, phr. (common).—To go away. Cf., Bobbing around, ‘to go expeditiously from place to place.’

Bobber, subs. (common).—1. A fellow-workman; mate; or ‘chum’ (q.v. for synonyms).

1860. W. White, Round Wrekin, 34. Bobber being the equivalent of chum. [M.]

1871. Daily News, May 19. As he sells these, the buyers or their bobbers carry them off. [M.]

2. A spurious plural of bob (q.v.) = a shilling.

Bobbery, subs. (popular).—A noise; squabble; disturbance; or ‘racket.’ [An Anglo-Indian representation of Bāp re! O father! a common exclamation of surprise or grief.—Yule. Murray thinks the evidence for its origination in India is decisive, other plausible derivations to the contrary notwithstanding.] The first of the following quotations shows an earlier use by thirteen years than that given by the New English Dictionary.

1803. Kenney, Raising the Wind, II., i. If I 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. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xix. ‘I can do nothing but there’s a bobbery at the bottom of it.’

1879. Punch, 17 May, 227. I might in quiet hold my own, And not go kicking up a bobbery. [M.]

Bobbish, adj. (common).—Frequently pretty bobbish, i.e., hearty; in good health and spirits; clever; spruce. Cf., Bob, adj. So also bobbishly, adv.

1819. Scott, in Lockhart, xliv. (1842), 394. I trust you will find me pretty bobbish. [M.]

1857. Dickens, The Detective Police, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 247. ‘Halloa, Butcher! is that you?’ ‘Yes, it’s me, How do you find yourself?’ ‘Bobbish,’ he says.

1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. iv., p. 13. Every Christmas Day, he retorted, as he now retorted, ‘It’s no [270]more than your merits. And now are you all bobbish, and how’s sixpennorth of halfpence?’ meaning me.

1881. W. D. Howells, Dr. Breen’s Practice, ch. vii. ‘I didn’t know that I mustn’t look downcast. I didn’t suppose it would be very polite, under the circumstances, to go round looking as bobbish as I feel.’

Bobbles, subs. (common).—The testicles—a corrupted form of bawbells. For synonyms, see Cods.

Bobby, subs. (popular).—A policeman. 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 1.

At the Universities the Proctors are or used to be called bobbies.

1851. H. Mayhew, London Labour 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!

1880. Punch, No. 2038. Going round a corner and crying, Bobby! bobby! bobby! when he saw a Proctor.

1884. Punch, July 26, p. 41, col. 2.

But oh, for the grip of the ‘Bobby’s’ hand

Upon his neck that day.

1889. The Mirror, Aug. 26, p. 7, col. 2. On 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 presume, 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.

Bobby-Twister, subs. (thieves’).—A burglar or thief, who, when resisting pursuit or capture, uses violence. Of obvious derivation.—See Thieves.

Bob-Cull, subs. (thieves’).—A good fellow; a pleasant companion. [From bob (adj.) = nice, lively + cull, old cant for a man.]

Bob My Pal, subs. (rhyming slang).—A girl, i.e., ‘gal.’

Bobstick, subs. (old).—A shilling’s worth. Cf., Bob, sense 1.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 162. Bobstick of rum slim. That is, a shilling’s worth of punch.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Tom. Allons donc—Waiter, bring some wine. Log. Hang cards! bring me a bobstick of rum slim, or a glass of Barsac—stay, on second thoughts, I’ll have a sniker of green tea punch.

Bob Tail, subs. (old).—1. A lewd woman. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

2. An impotent man or eunuch.

Tag, rag, and bobtail; a mob of all sorts of low people; the common herd; the rabble.

1659–60. Pepys, Diary, Mar. 6. The dining-room … was full of tag, rag, and bobtail, dancing, singing, and drinking. [M.]

1785. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Ode to R. A.’s, ii., wks. (1812) I., 80. Tag-rags and Bobtails of the sacred Brush. [M.]

1820. Byron, Blues, ii., 23. The rag, tag, and bobtail of those they call ‘Blues.’ [M.] [271]

1841. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge, xxxv. ‘We don’t take in no tagrag and bobtail at our house.’ [M.]

Boco, subs. (originally pugilistic, now common).—1. The nose. [Probably from beak, sense 3.] The form employed by American thieves is boke. For synonyms, see Conk.

1880. Besant and Rice, Seamy Side, ch. i. ‘A common keeper, who was in the lot, got a heavy oner on the boko for his share.’ ‘Boys,’ said Mr. Hamblin, ‘who use slang come to the gallows. Boko is—’ ‘Conk or boko,’ said Nicolas the vulgar. ‘It’s all the same.’

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, July 6. Dear Old Blistered Boko,—I trust you will allow me to thank you and your Graphologist for my character I received this morning. My friends say it is correct. I am saving up my pocket-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 Wicked flew up the Lion’s boko and Stung him so Badly, that the Great Beast rent himself to Death with his Own Claws.

2. Nonsense; ‘bosh.’ [Of unknown derivation, and it seems to have no connection with sense 1.]

1886. Punch, 25 Sept., p. 145. Lop-sided Free Trade is all boko.

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 it can comfortably lodge; as, for instance, during a race-week. A transferred sense from

To ride or sit bodkin, phr. (common).—To take a place and be wedged in between other persons when the accommodation is intended for two only.

1638. Ford, Fancies, IV., i. (1811), 186. Where but two lie in a bed, you must be—bodkin, bitch-baby—must ye? [M.]

1798. Loves of the Triangles, 182. While the pressed bodkin, punched and squeezed to death, Sweats in the mid-most 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.

Body-Cover, subs. (American thieves’).—A coat. One is almost tempted to ask whether this is the only garment known to the criminal classes. Cf., Wrap-rascal.

Body of Divinity Bound in Black Calf, phr. (old).—A parson. So quoted in the Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

Body-Slangs, subs. (thieves’).—Fetters. [From slang (q.v.), a chain.]—See quot. and for synonyms, Darbies.

1819. Vaux, Memoirs. Body-slangs 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 prisoner’s sides. The latter are now only to be found in museums.

Body-Snatcher, subs. (old).—1. A bailiff or runner. [The snatch was the trick by which the bailiff captured the delinquent.] These terms are now obsolete, so far as the pursuits mentioned [272]are concerned. They are mentioned by Parker [1781] in his View of Society, II., 70.

2. A policeman. For synonyms, see Beak, sense 1.

1858. A. Mayhew, Paved 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 officers) after us.’

3. (American.)—A generally objectionable individual. This variety is especially known as a mean body-snatcher (q.v.).

4. (popular.)—A violator of graves; a ‘resurrectionist.’

1833. Sir F. Head, Bubbles from the Brunnen, 126. Any one of our body-snatchers would have rubbed his rough hands. [M.]

1863. Reader, Aug. 22. At that time (1827–28) … body-snatching became a trade.

5. (common.)—An undertaker. For synonyms, see Cold cook.

Bog, subs. (prison).—1. The works at Dartmoor, on which convicts labour; during recent years a large quantity of land has been reclaimed in this way.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 158. These were the men destined for outdoor work, the bogs, as the places where the different outside gangs worked were called [at Dartmoor].

2. (low.)—An abbreviated form of bog-house (q.v.), or bog-shop.

Verb.—To ease oneself; to evacuate.—See Bury a Quaker.

Bogey.—See Bogy.

Boggle-De-Botch, Boggledy-Botch, subs. (colloquial).—A bungle; ‘mess’; ‘hash.’ [From boggle, ‘to fumble,’ ‘to bungle,’ + botch, ‘to bungle’ or ‘to construct clumsily.’] Boggle by itself is more frequently employed.

1834. Miss Edgeworth, Helen, ch. xxvi. A fine boggle-de-botch I have made of it.… I am aware it is not a 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, subs. (low).—A privy; a necessary house. The term, as will be seen, is an old one. [The derivation is probably from bog, a morass of decaying matter; a soft, spongy place.] For synonyms, see Bury a Quaker and Mrs. Jones.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. xii., p. 123 (1874). Fearing I should catch cold, they out of pity covered me warm in a bogg-house.

1703. Ward, London Spy, pt. III., p. 47. Its walls being adorn’d with as many unsavoury Finger-dabs as an Inns of Court Bog-house.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. Bog-house, a privy, or necessary-house.

Boglander, subs. (old).—An Irishman. [From the boggy and marshy character of a considerable portion of the Emerald Isle.] Cf., Bog-trotter.

1698–1700. Ward, London Spy, pt. XVI., p. 383. [Boglander is the name applied to an Irishman in this work.]

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 same definition given as in Grose.]

Bog Latin, subs. (Irish).—A spurious mode of speech simulating the Latin in construction.—See Dog Latin. [273]

Bog-Oranges, subs. (popular).—Potatoes. The phrase is an 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. Cf., Murphy. [Oranges, from the shape, + bog = Irish, Bogland being a humorous nick-name for the Emerald Isle.]

Bog-trotter, subs. (familiar).—A satirical name for an Irishman. Camden, however [c. 1605], speaking of the ‘debateable 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 work.]

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxix. Gaunt reapers and bog-trotters in those traditional blue body-coats, leathern smalls, and bell-crowned hats, that seem to be manufactured nowhere save in Ireland.

Bog-trotting, adj. (familiar).—A contemptuous epithet applied to one living among bogs; e.g., a bog-trotting Irishman.

1758–65. Goldsmith, On Quack Doctors (Essays and Poems, 1836), p. 127. Rock advises the world to beware of bog-trotting quacks.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, I., p. 169. The impudent, bog-trotting scamp dare not threaten me!

1876. C. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 191. ‘What do you mean by calling me Irish? it is you that are Irish, you——.’ ‘Ha! ha! ha! ha!’ jerked out Fagan. ‘There, I tould you so. He can’t stand to be called by his true name; the bog-trotting rascal denies his Ould Ireland for a mother.’

Bogus, adj. (American, now common).—Spurious: fictitious; a term applied to anything sham, or to that which is not what it professes to be. Various accounts, some of them of a circumstantial character, are given as to the genesis of this word. One thing only seems certain; and that is its American origin. The generally received 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 States with fictitious cheques, notes, and bills of exchange and similar securities to an enormous amount. It is said that the name was gradually corrupted first to borges and then to bogus, and the man Borghese being associated in the popular mind with doubtful money transactions, his name so corrupted into bogus became applied to fraudulent papers and practices, and latterly to any spurious or counterfeit object, as bogus money, hair, diamonds, accusations, etc. Yet another suggestion is one put forward by Mr. Jas. Russell Lowell. He thinks it has descended in a corrupted form from the French Bagasse, the refuse of the sugar cane after the juice has been expressed. This worthless product has, it is suggested, given the name to other worthless things having travelled from Louisiana up the Mississippi, [274]and 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, wer nicht sieht ist blind.’

The latest light upon the history of the word is thrown, as usual, by the indefatigable Dr. Murray, who, while slily satirising the ‘bogus derivations 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., 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 father’s time was commonly applied in Vermont to any ill-looking object; he points out that tantarabobs is given in Halliwell as a Devonshire word for the devil.’ [Bogus seems thus to be related to bogy, etc.]

1825. Hughes, in J. Ludlow’s Hist. U.S., 338. This precious house of representatives—the bogus legislature as it was at once called.

1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’) Innocents at 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 as bogus notes.’

1883. Saturday Review, March 31, p. 399, col. 2. M. Soleirol had probably a number of forged autographs of Molière; his whole collection was a bogus assortment of frauds.

Bogy, Bogey, subs. (common).—A landlord. An attributive usage of the more familiar meanings—(1) the devil; (2) a person much dreaded. The transition from sense 2 to that which signifies a landlord is easy. A French equivalent is Monsieur Vautour; vautour = a vulture; and the term is applied to a hard-hearted landlord. In passing, it may perhaps be mentioned (having in view the uncertainty which Murray confesses hangs round the history of this word in its primary meanings) that ask Bogy, as a reply to a question, occurs in Grose [1785]. It is true it is there associated with a vulgarism which, however, on the face of it, appears to have had little to do with the expression, except perhaps in the not over clean mind of the burly bon-vivant who compiled the dictionary in question. It seems to have been used much as the modern ‘God knows’! or ‘Bramah knows’ under similar circumstances. This, at any rate, would carry it back, in very much its present form, much earlier than 1825, Murray’s earliest trace of it. Grose [275]says it was ‘sea wit,’ whatever that may mean.

Adj. (studios’).—Sombre, or dark in tint. Said of a painting exhibiting these characteristics.

Bohn, subs. (American College).—A translation; a pony (q.v.). The volumes of Bohn’s Classical Library are in such general use among undergraduates in American Colleges, that Bohn has come to be a common name for a translation.

1855. Songs, Biennial Jubilee, Yale College. ’Twas plenty of skin with a good deal of bohn.

Boil, verb (old).—To betray; ‘to Peach,’ which see for synonyms.

1602. Rowlands, Greene’s Coney Catchers, 16. His cloyer or follower fortwith boyles him, that is, bewrayes him. [M.]

1611. Middleton and Dekker, Roaring Girle, wks., 1873, III., 220. Wee are smoakt … wee are boyl’d, pox on her! [M.]

Boil Down, verb (popular).—To reduce in bulk by condensing or epitomizing. When a literary work is reduced to smaller compass by the presentation only of the main or salient features, it is 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. Sat. Review, No. 1288, 28. It is surprising to see how much research Mr. S. has sometimes contrived to boil down into a single line. [M.]

1885. G. Dolly, Dickens as I Knew Him, p. 125. The newspaper and political elements having been consulted, and their opinions having been boiled down.

1887. H. Frederic, in Scribn. Mag., I., 479. ‘To boil down’ columns of narrative into a few lines of bald, cold statement.

1888. Polytechnic Mag., 25 Oct., p. 258.

Whatever you have to say, my friend,

Whether witty, or grave, or gay—

Condense as much as ever you can,

And say in the readiest way;

And whether you write on rural affairs,

Or particular things in town,

Just a word of friendly advice—boil it down.

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 the woollen undergarment be discarded for the white linen article. Indeed, in many cases, the former would be worn until it literally dropped to pieces. Now white shirts are facetiously known as biled shirts all over the States, and only recently (May, 1888) a question in dispute between the employés of the Chicago Tramway Companies and the managers of the same was whether the former should wear, when on duty, coloured or biled shirts. Cf., Bald-faced shirt.

1854. McClure, Rocky Mountains, p. 412. 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’), Innocents at 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 aristocrats. They had a particular and [276]malignant animosity toward what they called a biled shirt.

1872. Dublin Univ. Mag., Feb., p. 219. Every man arrays himself in ‘store-clothes’ and boiled shirts.

1888. New York World, 13 May. Is it 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 applied to shirts) until this year.

Boiler, subs. (Winchester College).—1. A plain coffee-pot used for heating water. Called fourpenny and sixpenny boilers, not from their price, but from the quantity of milk they will hold: τὸ παν boilers were large tin saucepan-like vessels in which water for hot bidets (q.v.) was heated.

2. See Pot boiler.

Boiler-Plated, adj. (American).—Imperturbable; stolid; stoical. [The simile is akin to that contained in expressions like iron-clad, copper-bottomed, etc., drawn mainly from marine phraseology.]

Boilers or Brompton Boilers, subs. (popular).—1. A name originally given to the new Kensington Museum and School of Art, in allusion to the peculiar form of the buildings, and the fact of their being mainly composed of, and covered with, sheet iron. This 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.—See Pepper-boxes.

1885. Daily News, July 9, p. 5, col. 1. The building is merely a fragment of the old ‘Brompton boilers,’ set up originally for the South Kensington Museum.

2. (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. [A figurative usage, from a quantity boiled at one time.] Variants are the whole gridiron (q.v.) and all the shoot.

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xviii. The last mile, he said, tho’ the shortest one of the whole bilin’, took the longest [time] to do it by a jug full.

1837. Marryat, Dog Fiend, xiii. [He] may … whip the whole boiling of us off to the Ingees.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lix., p. 496. ‘And the whole bileing of people was mixed up in the same business, and no other.’

1874. E. L. Linton, Patricia Kemball, ch. xxii. ‘He have Dora? No, not if he licked my foot for her, and I broke the whole boiling of them—as I will!’

Boil One’s Lobster, verbal phr. (old).—To 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, turning from a bluish black to red.] Cf., Black coat and Red coat.

Boke, subs. (American thieves’).—The nose. [This may either be derived directly from beak, sense 3, or indirectly from boko (q.v.).] For synonyms, see Conk.

Bold as Brass, adv. phr. (popular).—Audaciously forward; presumptuous; without shame. The simile, or at least the general idea, seems to be an old [277]one. Shakspeare (see quot.) uses the expression ‘a face of brass,’ and even to this day brass, sense 1 (q.v.), is synonymous with impudence or ‘cheek.’

1594. Shakspeare, Love’s Labour Lost, v., 2.

Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury.

Can any face of brass hold longer out?——

1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, II., p. 12. He came in as bold as brass.

1854. Thackeray, Lovel the Widower, p. 195. ‘A nursery governess at the wages of a housemaid’ I continued, bold as Corinthian brass.

c. 1882. Broadside Ballad, ‘Timothy Titus.’

The name belongs to brave men, and I’m as bold as brass,

I do not wear the lion’s skin and show myself an ass;

I’m full of pluck and can defy, like Ajax, anything,

And if you put me to the test, a proof I soon can bring.

Boler, also Bowler, subs. (popular).—A stiff felt hat. For synonyms, see Cady.

1861. Sat. Review, Sept. 21, 297. We are informed that he … wore, or rather carried in his hand, a white bowler hat.

1882. Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xxi., 158. The ministers, in bowlers and pea-jackets, are to be found upon the shore of highland locks.

1889. Answers, June 8, p. 24. Most of the 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.

Bolly, subs. (Marlborough College).—Pudding.

Bolt, subs. (old).—The throat. [This curious term would seem to be derived from bolt = to gulp down.]

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Tom. Here, Dusty, my prince, now then, sluice your bolt. (Gives Bob gin.) Bob. Vell, your honours, here’s luck. (Bolts gin.) That’s a regular kwortern, I knows by my mouth.

Verb (at one period slang, now recognised).—1. To escape; to leave suddenly. Bolt is an instance of a word which once orthodox, subsequently fell into disrepute, but which, after having for generations served as a mere slang term, is now nearly as respectable as when Dryden wrote: ‘I have reflected on those who, from time to time, have shot into the world, some bolting out on the stage with vast applause, and others hissed off.’ The following are a few examples of its use. For synonyms, see Amputate.

1668. Etherege, She Would if She Could, I., i. (1704), p. 94. Is he gone? Court. Ay, ay! you may venture to bolt now.

1712. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, pt. IV., ch. vi. Then, of a sudden, bolting into the room, he began to tell.…

1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. XI., ch. vii. In his way home, Booth was met by a lady in a chair, who immediately upon seeing him … bolted out of it.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act i., Sc, 7. Log. Come along, then. Now, Jerry, chivey! Jerry. Chivey? Log. Mizzle? Jerry. Mizzle? Log. Tip your rags a gallop! Jerry. Tip my rags a gallop? Log. Walk your trotters! Jerry. Walk my trotters? Log. Bolt! Jerry. Bolt? oh, aye! I’m fly now. You mean go.

1837. Barham, I. L. (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. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. ix., p. 90. He was more strongly tempted … to make excursive bolts into the neighbouring alleys when he answered the door.

2. (American).—The usage in the United States indicates the [278]right of the independently minded to revolt against partisan rule, as ‘He bolted the party nominations.’ Also substantively, as ‘He has organized a bolt.’ The word derived this meaning from its sporting application to a horse when it becomes unmanageable on the race-course. Cf., Bolter. It is rarely used with its dictionary meaning in political connections; and, when so used, is generally misunderstood by the average reader.

1871. St. Louis Democrat, 3 April. ‘Several of our contemporaries have announced it as a well-established fact, that Carl Schurz has bolted from the Republican party. We have the very best authority for denying the report.’

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.

3. (colloquial.)—To eat hurriedly without 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 of mastication.’

1794. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Ode to Tyrants, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol. II., p. 527.

Bold push’d the Emp’ror on, with stride so noble,

Bolting his subjects with majestic gobble.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xvi., p. 171. Dyspeptic individuals bolted their food in wedges.

1857. Dickens, Dorrit, bk. I., ch. xiii., 101. ‘Give me as short a time as you like to bolt my meals in, and keep me at it.’

1883. Daily Telegraph, Jan. 10, p. 5, col. 3. The dangerous habit of bolting a light luncheon in two or three minutes.

Getting the bolt, phr. (thieves’).—Being sentenced to penal servitude. Cf., Boat.

To turn the corner of Bolt Street, phr. (popular).—A humorous expression for running away. Cf., Bolt, sense 1, also Queer Street, and for synonyms, see Amputate.

Bolter, subs. (old).—1. Explained by quotation. The privileged places referred to were such as Whitefriars, the Mint, Higher 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. One who ‘bolts’; especially applied to horses, but figuratively to persons in the sense of one given to throwing off restraint; in American parlance one who ‘kicks’ (q.v.).

1840. Thackeray, Paris Sk. Bk. (1872), 244. The engine may explode … or be a bolter. [M.]

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, ch. xiii. ‘Three of the horses had never been in harness before, and the fourth was a bolter.’

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lviii., p. 483. This sparkling sally is to 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.

1881. C. J. Dunphie, The Chameleon, p. 17. It is better to ride a steady old plodder than to trust your neck to a bolter.

3. (American.)—One who exercises the right of abstention in regard to his political party. See Bolt, verb, sense 2.

1883. Atlantic Monthly, LII., 327. To whom a ‘scratcher’ or a bolter is more hateful than the Beast. [M.] [279]

1884. American, VIII., 100. To denounce the twenty-seven as bolters from their party.

Bolt-in-Tun, phr. (London thieves’).—Bolted; run away.

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.

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, see Conk.

1690. Shadwell, Amorous Bigot, Act v. 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. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Boltsprit (s.), a cant 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. A variant of shoot the moon (q.v.); the act itself is called a moonlight flitting (q.v.).

Bolus, subs. (common).—An apothecary; a doctor. [From bolus, a large pill frequently prescribed by physicians.]

1878. Hatton, Cruel London, bk. VI., ch. ii. ‘The doctor, up from the Indian bar, came and said I was wanted in London’ … ‘good for old Bolus,’ said Kernan; ‘and I believe him.’

Boman, subs. (old).—A gallant fellow. This is mentioned by Nares, who, however, could find no example illustrating its use.

Bombay Ducks, subs. (old).—1. The Bombay regiments of the East India Company’s army were so called.

2. A 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.

1886. G. A. Sala, in Ill. Lon. News, 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 duck.

Bombo, Bumbo, subs. (common).—A nickname given to various mixtures, but chiefly to cold punch. Smollett, in a note in Roderick Random, speaks of it as ‘a liquor composed of rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg.’

1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, ch. xxxiv. A table well stored with bumbo and wine.

1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. Bombo, weak cold punch.

a. 1886. Northumb. Song, in N. and Q., 6 March, 195. The pitmen and the keelman … drink bumbo made of gin.

Bona, subs. (popular).—A girl; young woman; a belle.

c. 18(?). Broadside Ballad, ‘Oh, Fred, 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,

No matter what I have to pay,

[280]

If I meet a dear maid who is somewhat afraid,

She’ll blush like a virgin and say, ‘Oh my.’

Chorus.

Adj. (theatrical).—Good. [From the Latin.]—See Rumbo.

Bonanza, subs. (American).—A happy hit; a stroke of fortune; success. [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 enterprise.

1875. Scribner’s Mag., July, p. 272. But a bonanza with millions in it is not struck every week.

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.

Bona-Roba, subs. (old).—A courtesan; a showy prostitute. [From Italian buona, good, + roba = a robe or dress.] The term was much in use among the older dramatists. Ben Jonson speaks of a bouncing bona-roba; and Cowley seems to have considered it as implying a fine, tall figure. Bona in modern times is frequently employed to signify a girl or young woman, without reference to morals.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., iii., 2. We knew where the bona-robas were; and had the best of them all at commandment.

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 Lucretius says, Parvula, pumilio, tota merum sal.

1822. Scott, Nigel, xvi. Your lordship is for a frolic into Alsatia? … there are bona-robas to be found there. [M.]

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 69. The other bona-roba, known amongst her companions as Mistress Poll Maggot, was a beauty on a much larger scale—in fact, a perfect Amazon.

Bonce, subs. (popular).—1. The head; [probably a derivative of sense 2, from the analogy between them.] For synonyms, see Crumpet.

2. A large marble [origin unknown, but see Alley].

Bone, subs. (American).—When a traveller, in passing his luggage through the Custom House, tips the officer in the expectation that the latter’s examination of his 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 nature being human nature all the world over, it is believed that similar expedients for evading the law are not altogether unknown in England.

Adj. (thieves’).—Good; excellent; ◇ is the vagabonds’ hieroglyphic for bone, or good, chalked by them on houses and street corners as a hint to succeeding beggars. [Probably from French bon, good. Cf., Boon.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. 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 Ill. L. News, Nov. 10, p. 451, col. 3. It is well known that the lozenge-shaped diagram chalked by beggars and tramps on doors and [281]walls in ‘promising’ neighbourhoods stands for ‘bone,’ a corruption of the French ‘bon,’ as a hint to succeeding vagabonds that they will find the happiest of hunting-grounds in the locality.

Verb (popular).—1. To filch; to steal; to make off with; to take into custody. [There are two suggested derivations:—(1) that the figure of speech is drawn from the manner in which a dog makes off with a bone; (2) that bone is a corruption of ‘bonnet’ (a gambling cheat who ‘sharks’ one’s money slyly).] For synonyms in sense of to steal, see Prig; in sense of to apprehend, see Nab.

1748. T. Dyche, 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.

1838. Dickens, Nich. Nickleby, ch. lvii., p. 467. ‘And why you were living so quiet here, and what you had boned, and who you had boned it from, wasn’t it?’

1861. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, bk. II., ch. ii. ‘I’m blest if he hasn’t been and boned my mug. I hope it’ll do him more good than it’s done 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 bribe; to ‘grease the palm.’—See Bone, subs.

3.(American cadets’.)—To study hard. [From bohn (q.v.).]

To have a bone in the leg—arm—throat, etc., phr. (common).—A humorous reason for declining to use the member spoken of; a feigned obstacle.

1542. Nicholas Udall, Erasmus’s Apophthegmes (1877, Reprint of ed. 1562). p. 375. He refused to speake, allegeing that he had a bone in his throte, and he could not speake.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Nev. Miss, come, be kind for once, and order me a dish of coffee. Miss. Pray go yourself; let us wear out the oldest first; besides, I can’t go, for I have a bone in my leg.

Bone-Ache, subs. (old).—The lues venerea. [The allusion is obvious.]

1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse. But cucullus non facit monachum—’tis not their newe bonnets will keepe them from the old boan-ack.

1606. Shakspeare, Tro. and C., ii., 3. After this the vengeance on the whole camp! or rather the bone-ache! for that, methinks, is the curse dependent on those that war for a placket.

Bone-Box, subs. (common).—The mouth. [The teeth are here represented as the ‘bones.’ The latter are now more commonly called ‘ivories.’] For synonyms, see Potato-trap, and compare with Bone-house.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Shut your bone-box; shut your mouth.

Bone-Crusher, subs. (sporting).—A heavy bore rifle used for killing big game. [Literally that which crushes or breaks bones by force. Cf., Bone-shaker.]

1872. H. M. Stanley, How I Found Livingstone (2 ed.), p. 63. African game require bone-crushers; for any ordinary carbine possesses sufficient penetrative qualities, yet has not the disabling qualities which a gun must possess to be useful in the hands of an [282]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.

Boned.—See Bone, verb, sense 1.

Bone-Grubber, subs. (common).—One who lives by collecting bones from heaps of refuse, selling his spoils at the marine stores or to bone grinders. [From bone + grub, to seek by burrowing, + er.] Also called bone-picker (q.v.), and tot-pickers (q.v.). See first quotation and cf. bone-picker form. The French term is un biffin, which also signifies a foot-soldier, his knapsack being compared to a rag or bone-picker’s basket; also un chifferton or un chiffortin; un cupidon (an ironical allusion to his hook and basket); un graffin. For other synonyms, see Tot-picker.

c. 1750. ‘The Hunter’s Wedding,’ quoted in J. Ashton’s The Fleet, 1888, p. 366.

Sam the grubber, he having had warning,

His wallet and broom down did lay.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 155. The bone-grubber generally seeks out the narrow back streets, where dust and refuse are cast, or where any dust-bins are 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. Mayhew, Crim. Prisons, 40. A black-chinned and lanthorn-jawed 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. Cf., Bone-house. Latterly, from the quotation which follows, the term seems to have been extended to all having to do with funerals.

1863. G. A. Sala, Breakfast in Bed, essay vii., p. 181 (1864). The crowd in Cheapside declared that I was a mute. They called me bone-grubber.

Bone-House, subs. (familiar).—1. The human body—an obvious allusion.

1870. Emerson, Soc. and Sol., vi., 119. This wonderful bone-house which is called man. [M.]

2. A coffin. The term is also used to signify a charnel-house, and Americans generally call a cemetery a ‘bone-yard.’

1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, II., p. 207. Nothing soon—lie in bed—starve—die—Inquest—little bone-house—poor prisoner.

1846. Walbran, Guide Ripon. The celebrated bone-house no longer exists.

1848. Forster, Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith, II., p. 165 (bk. IV., ch. viii.). The body [of a man who had poisoned himself] was taken to the bone-house of St. Andrew’s, but no one came to claim it.

Bone Muscle, verbal phr. (American college).—To practice gymnastics. Cf., Bone, verb, sense 3.

Bone-Picker, subs. (common).—1. A footman. [Evidently a contemptuous allusion to sense 2, a footman’s duties being to pick up and set in order after his employer.] The French term is un larbin.

2. (common.)—A collector of bones, rags, and other refuse from the streets and places where rubbish is placed, for the purpose of sale to marine dealers and bone crushers. The same as bone-grubber, sense 1 (q.v.). [283]

1866. Ruskin, Crown of Wild Olives, p. 25. The deceased was 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).—1. Dice, which are also called St. Hugh’s bones (q.v.). [So called because made of bone or ivory.] ‘To rattle the bones,’ i.e., ‘to play at dice.’ The term is a very old one, as also seem to be games played with the little cubes in question.

c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 328. This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two, fforsweryng, Ire, falsnesse, Homycide.

a. 1529. Skelton, wks. (ed. Dyce) I., 52. On the borde he whyrled a payre of bones.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 123. Who being left by his parents rich in money and possessions, hath to the musicke of square ratling bones danced so long, that hee hath danced himselfe into the company of beggers.

1698. Dryden, Persius, III., 96.

But then my study was to cog the dice,

And dexterously to throw the lucky sice:

To shun ames-ace, that swept my stakes away;

And watch the box, for fear they should convey

False bones, and put upon me in the play.

1772. Foote, Nabob, Act ii. When your chance is low, as tray, ace, or two deuces, the best method is to dribble out the bones from the box.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xviii. ‘I saw you sit down to écarté last week at Trumpington’s, and taking your turn with the bones after Ringwood’s supper.’

1861. Whyte Melville, Good for Nothing, ch. xxviii. ‘What with speculations 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.’

2. (common.)—Pieces of bones held between the fingers and played Spanish castanet fashion. Generally used as an accompaniment to banjo and other ‘negro’ minstrel music.

1592. Shakspeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream, iv., 1, line 27. Tita. What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love? Bot. I have a reasonable good ear in music: let us have the tongs and the bones.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 195. Peter rolling about in his chair like a serenader playing the bones, and the young Othello laughing as if he was being tickled. Ibid, p. 201. The bones, we’ve real bones, rib-of-beef bones, but some have ebony bones, which sound better than rib-bones—they tell best, etc.

1865. Times, 17 July. Amateur negro melodists … thumped the banjo and rattled the bones. [M.]

3. (common.)—A member of a ‘negro’ minstrel troupe; generally applied to one of the ‘end’ men who plays the bones (sense 2).

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III. First of all we formed a school of three—two banjos and a tambourine, and after that we added a bones and a fiddle.

1867. Rhoda Broughton, Cometh up as a Flower, p. 236. The band clashes out; big fiddle and little fiddle, harp and bones, off they go.

1884. Sat. Review, June 7,740, col. 1. A single row of negro minstrels seated on chairs … while at the end are Bones and Sambo. [M.]

4. (general.)—The bones of the human body, but more generally applied to the teeth. French thieves call these les piloches (f); and les osselots (m). Cf., Bone-box and Bone-house, and for synonyms, see Grinders.

5. (common.)—A surgeon; generally sawbones (q.v.). A list of curious nicknames for the medical profession will also be found under Squirt.

1887. Chamb. Journal, Jan. 8, p. 30. ‘I have sent for the village bones, and [284]if he can but patch me up, it may not yet be too late.’

6. (Stock Exchange.)—(1) The shares of Wickens, Pease and Co.; (2) North British 4% 1st Preference Shares, the 4% 2nd Preference Stock being nicknamed Bonettas.

As dry or hard as a bone, phr. (common), i.e., as free from moisture as a bone after it has been picked and cleaned, as by a dog.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, i. It’s as dry as a bone.

1837. R. Nicoll, Poems (1843), 83. Dubs were hard as ony bane.

One end is pretty sure to be bone, phr. (American).—An old time saying equivalent to an admission that ‘all is not gold that glitters’; that the realization of one’s hopes never comes up to the ideal formed of them.

1888. The World, 13 May. People 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.

To be upon the bones, phr. (vulgar).—To attack.

b. 1616, d. 1704. Sir R. L’Estrange (in Annandale). Puss had a month’s mind to be upon the bones of him, but was not willing to pick a quarrel.

To feel a thing in one’s bones.—A simile signifying assurance; conviction.

1887. Scribner’s Magazine. I ain’t 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.

1888. Missouri Republican, 22 Feb. Nat. M. Shelton, of Lancaster, said: ‘I am in the race of attorney-general, and I feel it in my bones that I will get the nomination.’

To make no bones, phr. (familiar).—To make no scruple; to show no hesitation; to commence and finish a work without difficulty—now restricted to colloquial use; it was formerly 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 occur in its present shape to make bones until a century later; but, from this period on to the end of the seventeenth century it was in constant use.

1459. Paston Lett., 331, I., 444. And fond that tyme no bonys in the matere. [M.]

1542. Udall, Apoph. of Erasmus, p. 133 (1877). 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 doune the narrow lane, and the same to spue up again.’

1565. Shacklock, Hatchet of Heresies. And instede of that whiche he 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].

1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in wks. III., 112. He … would make no bones to take the wall of Sir Philip Sidney.

1677. Wycherley, Plain 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 elsewhere.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxiv. Do you think that the Government or the Opposition would make any bones about accepting the seat if it be offered to them? [285]

To pick a bone or bones with one, phr. (colloquial).—To have an unpleasant matter to settle with one; also, a difficulty to solve; ‘a nut to crack.’

1565. Colfhill, Answ. Treat. Cron. (1846), 277. A bone for you to pick on. [M.]

1783. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), 1, s.v. Pick, To give one a bone to pick, scrupulum alicui injicere.

1850–68. H. Rogers, Ess., II., ii. (1874), 103. Many a bone in these lectures which a keen metaphysician would be disposed to pick with the author.

Bonesetter, subs. (old).—A hard riding horse; a ricketty conveyance; properly one whose occupation is to set broken and dislocated bones. The sarcastic, punning reference is of course to the dire effects which naturally follow the use of an animal of such a description. The odd way in which slang is often derived, strikes one at times as very curious. Not only are words frequently coined which resemble genuine words, such as ‘solemncholy’ for ‘melancholy,’ and ‘it don’t much magnify’ for ‘it don’t much signify,’ but the meaning of such factitious words is, in many cases, either subtly reversed or endowed with an extremely cynical tinge of humour and sarcasm. The present instance is a case in point. A more modern term is boneshaker (q.v.), which is less subtle in its meaning, bone-setter being certainly far more brutally cynical in its suggestiveness. See second quotation for some curious synonyms formerly in use.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bone Setter, a hard trotting horse.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act i., Sc. 7. Jerry. I long to be there,—let’s hasten to dress at once. Log. Aye; call a rattler. Jerry. A rattler! I’m at fault again. Log. A rattler is a rumbler, otherwise a jarvy! better known perhaps by the name of a hack; handy enough in a wet day, or a hurry. Jerry. A hack! If it’s the thing we rattled over the stones in to-day, It might more properly be called a bone-setter. Tom. Or bone-breaker.—But if you dislike going in a hack, we’ll get you a mab. Jerry. A mab! I’m at fault again—never shall get properly broken in. Tom. A mab is a jingling jarvy!—a cabriolet, Jerry.—But we must mind our flash doesn’t peep out at Almack’s. ’Tis classic ground there.

Bone-Shake, verb (popular).—To ride a bone-shaker (q.v.), i.e., a heavy bicycle of a very old type.

1889. Answers, Feb. 23, p. 195, col. 1. Among those who learnt to boneshake was Charles Dickens, who, had he lived, would have been a devoted cyclist.

Bone-Shaker, subs. (old).—1. A hard trotting horse.—See Bone-setter.

2. (popular.)—An old type of bicycle in use prior to the introduction of india-rubber tires and other manifold improvements. The first bicycle propelled by cranks and pedals was ridden in Paris in 1864. It created enormous excitement. On 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 learnt to ‘bone-shake’ was Charles Dickens, who, had he lived, would have been a devoted cyclist, for he regarded the sport as a grand one, and prophesied a big future for it. In 1868 Mr. Charles Spencer rode to Brighton on a bone-shaker in 14 hours from London. The papers were full [286]of what was then considered an extraordinary feat, but on Aug. 10, 1889, four riders of the Polytechnic Cycling Club 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. Only one machine was used throughout the trial, viz., a safety roadster, weighing 36 lbs.

1874. A. Howard, Bicycle, 10. In 1870 and 1871, the low, long bone-shaker began to fall in public esteem. [M.]

1884. G. L. Hillier, in Longman’s Mag., March, p. 487. The bone-shaker, as the ribald cyclist of the present day designates the ancestor of his present bicycle.

1885. Nineteenth Century, Jan., p. 92. In the Field’s report of the performance of the Cambridge Town Bicycle Club we find this entry: ‘Half Mile Race on bone-shakers, not exceeding 36 in.’

Bone Standing, verbal phr. (American college).—To study hard. [Evidently an allusion to the alertness implied by a standing position.]

Bonettas, subs. (Stock Exchange.)—The 4% 2nd North British 2nd Preference Stock.—See Bones, subs., sense 6, § 2.

Bong.—See Boung.

Boniface, subs. (popular).—The landlord of a tavern or inn. [Derived from Farquhar’s play.]

1707. Farquhar, Beaux Stratagem. [Boniface is here given as the name of landlord of the inn.]

1803. Bristed, Pedest. Tour, I., 120. To give the characteristic features and to stamp the peculiar traits of honest Boniface.

1854. Whyte Melville, General 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, to study, to imitate.] So also boning muscle (q.v.) is going in largely for gymnastics. To bone standing, to study hard. Boning demerit, giving no cause for complaint as regards one’s conduct. All West Point cadet slang.

Bonk, subs. (travelling showmens’).—A short, steep hill. [Possibly only a provincialism, or an obsolete form of ‘bank.’]

1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 302. In Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, the approaches to some of the 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.

Bonnet, subs. (old).—1. A gambling cheat; a decoy at auctions. [So-called because they bonnet or blind the eyes of the victims.—See Bonnet, verb, sense 1.] Hotten says sometimes called a bearer-up. The bonnet plays as though he were a member of the general public, and by his good luck, or by the force of his example, induces others to venture their stakes. Bonneting is often done in much better society than that [287]to be found in the ordinary gaming-rooms. A man who persuades another to buy an article on which he receives commission or percentage, is said to bonnet or bear-up for the seller. Also called a bonneter. The French has bonneteur for one profuse in compliments and bows.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Bonnet, a concealment.

1841. Comic Almanack, October. Or a man at a hell, Playing the part of a bonnetter well.

1853. Whyte Melville, Digby Grand, ch. xxi. I began to think my military friend was ‘a 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.

(?) 1868. Times (quoted by Brewer, Phrase and Fable, p. 104). A man who sits at a gaming-table, and appears to be playing against the table; when a stranger appears, the bonnet generally wins.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 217. We bid or praised up his goods: in fact, often acted as ‘puffers’ or bonnets, to give him a leg up.

1885. Morning Post, Sept. 5, p. 7, col. 3. There was no distinct evidence to connect him with a conspiracy to defraud.… He might have been used as a sort of bonnet to conceal the utter worthlessness of propositions made by the others.

2. (old.)—A pretext; pretence; or ‘make believe.’

3. A woman. [This sense is analogous to ‘petticoat,’ the names of articles of feminine attire being transferred to the wearer.]

1880. Punch’s Almanac, p. 3. Then comes Easter, Got some coin in hand, Trot a bonnet out and do the grand.

Verb (common).—1. To act as a bonnet (q.v.); to cheat; to puff; to ‘bear up’ (q.v.).

1871. ‘Hawk’s-Eye,’ Budget of Turf Notes, p. 2. I could point out now what horses he is bonneting for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby of this year, and the horses whose pretensions he is trying to discredit.

1887. Referee, 15 May, p. 1, col. 3. Nobody can suppose that I am anxious to bonnet for the Times newspaper.

2. (popular.)—To crush a man’s hat down over his eyes.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 229. Two young men, who, now and then, varied their amusements by bonneting the proprietor of this itinerant coffee-house.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, II., p. 216. You are a dutiful and affectionate little boy to come a bonnetin’ your father in his old age.

1843. Dickens, Christmas Carol in Prose, p. 22. Scrooge reverently disclaimed … any knowledge of having wilfully bonneted the Spirit at any period of his life.

1882. Saturday Review, LIV., p. 629. The students hustled and ‘bonnetted’ a new professor.

To have a green bonnet, phr. (common).—To fail in business. [From the green cloth cap formerly worn by bankrupts.]

Bonnet-Builder, subs. (popular).—A milliner. [The derivation is clear.]—See Build.

1839. Song in The Little Melodist, 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. ‘Build.’ A milliner is jestingly called a ‘bonnet-builder.’

Bonneter.—1. See Bonnet, subs., sense 1.

2. (common.)—A crushing blow on the hat.—See Bonnet, verb, sense 2.

Bonnets So Blue, subs. (rhyming slang).—Irish stew.—See Rhyming slang. [288]

Bono, adj. (circus and thieves’).—Good. [From the Latin.]

Booby Hutch, subs. (thieves’).—A police station; so called no doubt from the light in which the criminal classes regard those who are foolish enough or unfortunate enough to get ‘landed’ in such places. [Booby = a fool + hutch, a box or confined space.]

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.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, ch. iii., p. 28. He had devoted it to the construction of what he called a ‘booby-trap,’ 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 Lexicon, or any other equally ponderous volume, was carefully balanced, and upon this was set in its turn a jug of water. If all these were properly adjusted, the catastrophe above described was certain to ensue when the door was opened.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. xiv. ‘I made a first-rate booby-trap, though, one day for an old yellow buffer who came in to see you.’

1883. Sat. Review, Nov. 3, p. 566, col. 2. On his way down to dinner he is suddenly drenched from head to foot by a booby-trap—a sponge soaked in water placed above a half-open door.

Boodle, subs. (American).—1. A 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, speaking of both senses as here treated, says the U.S. boodle, in sense 1, must be the same as Markham’s ‘buddle’ (see quotation given below from New English Dictionary); sense 2 (also only in U.S.) may be a different word. Boodle suggests a Dutch origin from boedel 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. Markham, Bk. Honour, IV., ii. Men curiously and carefully chosen out (from all the buddle and masse of great ones) for their approoued wisedome. [M.]

1857. O. W. Holmes, Autocrat, p. 139. He would like to have the whole 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 remote island.

1865. Bacon, Handbook of America, p. 361. Boodle, ‘the whole boodle of them,’ i.e., all, the whole. [List of Americanisms.]

1884. E. E. Hale, Xmas. in Narragansett, ch. ix., p. 272. At eleven o’clock the ‘whole boodle of them,’ as Uncle Nahum called the caravan … had to boot and spur for church. [M.]

2. (American.)—In its second signification this curious word seems to have come into prominent use in politics during the past five years. Its meaning and usage is thus explained in Americanisms—Old and New. Some elections cannot be conducted without boodle first and last. Boodle does not mean the capital or stock-in-trade, except the business or trade be something secret, peculiar and illegal. Boodle always 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 [289]ledger and expense account, is never boodle; but when a sum—a thousand dollars, more or less—is given to some one to use in influencing a third 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 corruption; 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 robber, or the absconding cashier. ‘He carried away so much boodle.’ In elections the primaries have to be ‘fixed,’ a great many men have to be ‘seen’; in short, the amount of money that it seems necessary in some cases to use to elect a few honest public servants is a thing to wonder at. And when these men are elected, it appears that they often lose the power of distinguishing between ‘straight money’ and boodle. The word seems destined to take its permanent place in the language.—See also Boodlers.

1884. Boston (Mass.) Globe, Oct. 7. ‘Sinews of war,’ and ‘living issues,’ ‘soap,’ and other synonyms for campaign boodle are familiar. [M.]

1888. 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,

You’re convinced his mind’s replete

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. (American thieves’.)—Amongst the thieving fraternity boodle is used to denote money that is actually spurious or counterfeit, and not merely money used for nefarious purposes, but which as currency is genuine enough.

4. (American general.)—Money. This is the latest sense imported into the word. The transition by which it has come to be synonymous with ‘dust,’ ‘pieces,’ ‘rhino,’ ‘oof,’ etc., is an easy one.—See Actual.

1888. Puck’s Library, Jan., p. 4.

Shakey, take a fader’s plessing,

Take it, for you ket it sheap;

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.

To carry boodle is to utter base coinage.—See Boodler.

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 in bills.

Boodler, subs. (American political).—1. One who bribes or corrupts.—See Boodle, sense 2.

1888. Omaha World. American. ‘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 and the United States.’ ‘Come to think, I believe you do have elections there.’ [290]‘I should say we did. We have elections and campaigns, and political parties, and bosses, and ringsters, and boodlers, and——.’ ‘Boodlers?’ ‘Plenty of ’em.’ ‘Well, well! Why, you are freemen just like us.’

2. (American thieves’.)—Boodlers and shovers are the men who issue false money (see Boodle, sense 3). Swindlers of this 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 piece. The game is generally worked so that at the slightest alarm the boodle carrier vanishes and leaves nothing to criminate his confederate.

Booget, subs. (old cant).—A travelling tinker’s basket. Quoted by Harman [1567].

Book, subs. (sporting).—1. In betting, more especially in connection with horse racing, an arrangement 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. Dickens, Pickwick, I., p. 400. And Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, entered it (the bet) in a little book with a gold pencil-case; and the other gentleman entered it also, in another little book with another gold pencil-case.

1837. Disraeli, Henrietta Temple, p. 260. Am I to be branded because I have made half a million by a good book?

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. liii. ‘He has backed the Dodona colt for the Derby, and has got a heavier book on the race than he likes.’

1869. Gent. Mag., July, p. 231. He wins your money with a smile, will accommodate his book to suit what bets you may choose to make.

1879. Jas. Payn, High Spirits (Change of Views). He had a knowledge, too, of practical mathematics, which enabled him to make a book upon every great racing event of the year.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Oct. 21, p. 6, col. 1. Every sporting man is flattered 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 thing itself. The other is a lover of it 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.

2. (card-players’.)—The first six tricks at whist.

3. (general.)—The copy of words to which music is set; the words of a play; formerly only applied to the libretto of an opera.

1768. Sterne, Sentimental Journey, I., 180. A small pamphlet, it might be the book of the opera.

1889. Answers, 8 June, p. 24. The 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.

To know one’s book, phr. (popular).—To have made up one’s mind; to know what is best for one’s interest.

c. 1879. Broadside Ballad, ‘Ain’t 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.’

To suit one’s book, phr. (common).—To suit one’s arrangements. Cf., Book, subs., sense 1, the allusion being to betting books, in which bets are formally entered. [291]

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, 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.’

Booked, ppl. adj. (common).—Caught; fixed; disposed of; destined, etc. From the book-keeping term—entered in a book, or registered.

1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, p. 6. I am booked for a much longer journey.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 446. Booked, caught, taken, or disposed of.

1881. Jas. Payn, Grape from a Thorn, ch. xxiii. ‘I don’t remember anyone having given me an “engaged ring” before; and it’s not leap year, neither. However, the lady’s booked, which is a great relief.’

French thieves use être planché for ‘to be booked’; also être mort (i.e., ‘to be dead’); the adjective is rendered by faitré, and the person booked is un gerbable.

Book-Form, subs. (sporting).—The relative powers of speed or endurance of race-horses as set down in the Racing Calendar or ‘book.’

Bookie or Booky, subs. (sporting).—An abbreviated form of bookmaker (q.v.).

1885. Eng. Ill. Mag., April, p. 509. No rowdy ring, but a few quiet and well-known bookies, 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,

That at times, when convenient, forget.

Bookmaker, subs. (sporting).—The English Encyclopædia says:—In betting there are two parties—one called ‘layers,’ as the bookmakers are termed, and the other ‘backers,’ in which class may be included owners of horses as well as the public. The backer takes the odds which the bookmaker lays against a horse, the former speculating upon the success of the animal, the latter upon its defeat; and taking the case of Cremorne for the Derby of 1872, just before the race, the bookmaker would have laid 3 to 1, or perhaps £1000 to £300 against him, by which transaction, if the horse won, as he did, the backer would win £1000 for risking £300, and the bookmaker lose the £1000 which he risked to win the smaller sum. At first sight this may appear an act of very questionable 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 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 1, and Bookie.

1862. London Review, Aug. 30, p. 188. Betting there seemed to be none … we could not perceive a single book or bookmaker.

1880. W. Day, Racehorse in Training, ch. xxiv., p. 245. Bookmakers pursue a legitimate and lucrative trade by laying against all horses as they appear in the market.

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. iii. Finding … that the bookmaker whom for once they have landed for ‘a thousand to thirty’ is hopelessly insolvent. [292]

Bookmaker’s Pocket, subs. (sporting).—A breast-pocket made inside the waistcoat, for notes of large amount.—Hotten.—See Bookmaker.

Books, subs. (card-players’).—1. A pack of cards. A term used mainly by professional card-players. Also called devil’s books; book of broads; book of briefs. The French equivalent is un juge de paix; while une cartouchière à portées is a prepared pack used by sharpers.

1706. Mrs. Centlivre, Basset Table, IV., ii., wks. (1872) I., 245.

L. Revel. Clean cards here.

Mrs. Sago. Burn this book, ’t has an unlucky air [tears them]. Bring some more books.

2. (Winchester College.)—(a.) The prizes formerly presented by Lord Say and Sele, now given by the governing body, to the ‘Senior’ in each division at the end of ‘Half.’

(b.) The school is thus divided:—Sixth Book—Senior and Junior Division; the whole of the rest of the School is in Fifth Book—Senior Part, Middle Part, Junior Part, each part being divided into so many divisions, Senior, Middle and Junior, or Senior, 2nd, 3rd and Junior, as the case may require. Formerly there was also ‘Fourth Book,’ but it ceased to exist about twenty-five years 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 Præfects formed one, Sixth Book; Fifth Book was sub-divided into three parts, called respectively, ‘Senior, Middle, and Junior part of the Fifth’; in speaking of them, the words, ‘of the Fifth’ were generally omitted. The rest of the boys made up ‘Fourth Book.’

(c.) Up at books.—In class; repeating lessons; now called Up to books.

1876. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 101. At each end 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 ‘Junior Row’ respectively. On these the Classes sit when ‘up at books,’ i.e., when repeating lessons.

(d.) Books chambers.—Explained by quotation.

1876. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. On Remedies (a kind of whole holiday), we also went 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.

(e) To get or make books.—To make the highest score at anything. Cf., Books, sense 2a.

Bookwork, subs. (University).—Mathematics that can be learned verbatim from books—all that are not problems.

Boom.—This word is a comparatively recent 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; as, ‘the whole State is booming for Smith,’ or ‘the boys have whooped up the State to boom for Smith,’ or ‘the Smith boom is ahead in this State,’ etc., etc. Stocks and money are said to be booming when active; and any particular spot within a flourishing district is regarded as within the boom-belt. A successful team or party is said to be a booming squad, and we [293]even read of boomlets to express progress of a lesser degree. [Its origin is largely a matter of conjecture, but the most probable derivation is from the nautical phrase ‘boom-out,’ signifying a vessel running rapidly before the wind; but Murray points out that as various associations are probable, and as the actual use of the word has not been regulated by any distinct etymological feeling, it is not likely that any derivation will account for all its applications.]

Subs.—Commercial activity; rapid advance in prices; a flourishing state of affairs—in all its applications it is synonymous with extreme vigour and effectiveness. The first quotation carries its use back a few years beyond the earliest date given in the New English Dictionary.

1875. Scribner’s Mag., July, p. 277. Another boom in prices is to be looked for.

1883. Referee, May 6, p. 3, col. 2. ‘The Merry Duchess’ is a big boom, and I understand that money is being turned away nightly.

1883. M. Twain, Life on the Mississippi, ch. lvii., p. 499. I lived here in 1857—an extraordinary year there in real-estate matters. The boom was something wonderful. Everybody bought, everybody sold … anything in the semblance of a town lot, no matter how situated, was saleable.

1888. Boston Daily Globe. After the Sheridan reception, of course John Sherman must come to Boston. The Ohio statesman knows where all the real live booms start. If Mr. Blaine is wise he also will come to the ‘Hub’ without delay.

1888. Missouri Republican, 16 Feb. ‘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 shrinker stays down in a celler and works the machine. They trade in stock.’ ‘Horses and mules?’ said Jim. ‘No, hit’s all on paper, and nobody can see what he’s buyin’. You put your money in and wait for a swell. If it 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—nothing but the swells gits into the papers.

Verb, intr.—To go off with a boom.—See subs. To make rapid and vigorous progress; to advance by leaps and bounds; trans. to push; to puff; to bring into prominence with a rush.

1874. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Gilded Age, ch. xxvii. There’s 200,000 dollars coming, and that will set things booming again.

1875. Scribner’s Mag., July, p. 272. Stocks may boom to-day, but droop to-morrow, and with the crash come remorse and repentance. Ibid, p. 277. When stocks are active they are said to be booming.

1884. M. Twain, Huckleberry Finn, xiii., 3. We boomed along down the river, watching for lights and watching for our raft.

1888. Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean. The city of Paris is said to be diminishing instead of increasing in population. They don’t know how to boom a town over there.

As already stated, boom enters into many combinations; boomer (q.v.), boom-belt, booming-squad, etc.

1888. New Orleans Picayune. A boom in North Carolina is not the kind of phenomenon to which we are accustomed here. Sales of land at from 2 dols. to 10 dols. an acre in a boom belt are not of record hereabout.

1888. Chicago Herald. Ben Butterworth, of Ohio, one of the mainstays of John Sherman’s booming squad, has just had the title of boss Republican tariff debater conferred upon him by the culture of Boston.

To top one’s boom off, phr. (nautical).—To be off, or to start in a certain direction. [294]

1871. G. Meredith, Harry Richmond, ch. xxxviii., p. 346 (1886). ‘And now top your boom, and to bed here.’

Boomer, subs. (American).—1. One who booms or causes an enterprise to become flourishing, active or notorious. [From boom, subs., + er.]

1888. Times, Sept. 26, p. 8. [He] is a North-Western boomer of great earnestness. [M.]

1885. Boston (Mass.) Journal, Aug. 19, p. 2, col. 4. The Oklahoma boomers. [M.]

2. Attributively applied to anybody or anything considerably above the average. Thus, what English people would call a bouncing lie, an American, if given to slang, would call a boomer; so also a fine woman, a horse with extra good points, etc., etc.

Boomerang, subs. (American).—Figuratively used to signify acts or words, the results of which recoil upon the person from whom they originate. The boomerang is properly an Australian missile weapon which, when thrown, can be made to return to the thrower; or which, likewise, can be caused to take an opposite direction to that in which it is first thrown.

1845. Holmes, Modest Request, Poems (1884), 42. Like the strange weapon, which the Australian throws, Your verbal boomerang slaps you on the nose. [M.]

1870. Lowell, Among My Books, 1 S. (1873), 219. The boomerang of argument, which one throws in the opposite direction of what he means to hit. [M.]

Booming, ppl. adj. (American).—Flourishing; active; in good form; large; astonishing.—See Boom and Boomer in all senses.

Boom-Passenger, subs. (nautical).—A sailor’s slang term for a convict 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 for exercise or punishment.—Hotten.

Boon-Companion, subs. (colloquial).—A comrade in a drinking bout; a good fellow. [Boon is evidently a corruption of the French bon.]

1566. Drant, Med. Morall, A. v. He is my bone companion, it’s he that cheares up me. [M.]

1592. Greene, Quip, in wks. XI., 220. To seeke good consortes and boone companions to passe away the day withall.

1594. Nashe, Terrors of the Night, in wks. III., 228. Our Poets or boone companions they are out of question.

1600. W. Kemp, Nine Days’ Wonder, in Arber’s English Garner, vol. VII., p. 27. And coming to my inn, where the host was a very boon companion, I desired to see him.

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. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxiii. The morning after a debauch is usually one of reflection, even to the most customary boon companion.

1827. Lytton, Pelham, ch. lxvii. We went downstairs to our dinner, as charmed with each other as boon companions always should be.

Boon-Companionship, subs. (colloquial).—Jollity; conviviality.—See Boon-companion.

1592. Nashe, Strange Newes, in wks. II., 176. Thinke not, though vnder correction Of your boone-companionship, I am disposd to be a little pleasant, I condemne you of anie immoderation, either in eating or drinking.

1849. Lytton, Caxtons, pt. XII., ch. iv. A little society, and boon-companionship … would take Roland out of those gloomy reveries. [295]

Boong.—See Bung.

Boorde.—See Bord.

Boost, subs. (American).—A hoisting; a ‘shove’; a ‘lift’; a ‘push up’—a New England vulgarism.

1858. Dow, Sermons. Office seekers ask you to give them a boost into the tree of office. [M.]

1866. T. A. Richards, Rice Fields of the South. [A negro-preacher in South Carolina, loq.] ‘For, my bredderen, little 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 tree, my bredderen? Did he wait for some lazy nigger to bring him a ladder? Ah, no, my bredderen. Did he wait to 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!’

1888. Puck’s Library, May, p. 11. A genius took hold of the business, and gave it a little boost. He was a man of the times, and he applied his reasoning faculties to the problem presented to him. ‘What,’ he asked, ‘is the chief means of success?’

Verb.—To hoist; to lift up; to shove.—See subs.

1848–64. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers, II., 106. Whereas ole Abram ’d sink afore he’d let a darkie boost him.

1872. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, ch. vii. You ought to have seen that spider-legged old skeleton go! and you ought to have seen the bull cut out after him, too—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 whirlwind!

1884. Harper’s Magazine, Aug., p. 481, col. 1. To boost a jurist of so much helpless avoirdupois in through the carriage door.

Boosy.—See Boozy.

Boot, verb (military).—To beat; to punish with a strap. The punishment is irregular and unconventional, being inflicted by soldiers on a comrade discovered guilty of some serious breach of the unwritten law of comradeship, such as theft, etc. The beating was formerly inflicted with a bootjack—hence the name.

Booth, subs. (thieves’).—A house; ‘to heave a booth,’ i.e., ‘to rob a house.’

Booth-Burster, subs. (theatrical).—A loud and noisy actor. A variant of barn-stormer (q.v.).

Booting, subs. (military).—A punishment administered with a strap. Cf., Colting.

Boot-Joe, subs. (military).—Musketry drill.

Boot-Leg Plan.—See On the boot-leg plan.

Bootlick, subs. (American).—A flunkey; hanger-on; or doer of dirty work. [In England such a one is called a ‘bootlicker,’ of which bootlick is probably an abbreviated form.]

Verb.—To toady; to hang on; to undertake ‘dirty’ work.

Boots, subs. (colloquial).—1. The 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.

2. (military.)—The youngest officer in a regimental mess.

Like old boots—beans—bricks—blazes, etc., phr. (common).[296]—Thoroughly; vigorously. A simile as general in its application as it is irrelevant. It may mean anything, everything, and nothing. Why old boots and not new boots is beyond comprehension.

1868. Miss Braddon, Sir Jasper, ch. xxvii., p. 282. I’ll stick to you like old boots.

1874. Saturday Review, Jan., p. 55. An Oxford man, nay even a Balliol man … introduced in the story a pleasing change by such a phrase as jawing away like old boots.

To buy old boots, phr. (old).—To marry or keep the cast-off mistress of another man.

To die in one’s boots (q.v.).

Boots and Leathers.—See Commoner peal.

Booty. To play booty, phr. (old).—To play falsely; dishonestly; or unfairly; this with the object of not winning, a previous 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 from Dyche.

1575. Frat. of Vacabondes, p. 13. They wil make as much as they can, and consent as though they wil play booty againt him.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in 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.

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, 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 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 game, etc.

1776. Colman, The Spleen, in wks. (1777) IV., 276. Jubilee started and stumbled but, by-the-bye, I believe his rider played booty—Duenna won the stakes, and the knowing ones were all taken in.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. vii. ‘Were he caught playing booty, he would be disarmed, and probably dismounted.’

1831. Disraeli, Young Duke. One thing remained to be lost—what he called his honour, which was already on the scent to play booty.

So also booty = playing booty, and booty-fellow, a sharer in the plunder.

Booze, subs. (popular).—1. 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. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11. Booze, Drink. [List of cant words.]

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 6. Jemmy. Gemmen, have you ordered the peck and booze for the evening? Sold. Suke. Aye, aye, I’ve taken care of that—shoulder of veal and garnish—Turkey and appendleges—Parmesan—Filberds—Port and Madery.

1889. Sporting Times, 6 July. Kid. The Music Hall Sports are at Alexandra Park on the 23rd, and there will be rare doings on that occasion. Master and Shifter both give prizes, and there will be booze in our drag.

2. A drinking bout; a tipsy frolic. Murray’s first quote for this form and sense is dated 1864; but, from the following, [297]it will be seen to be at least thirty years older. For synonyms, see Jamboree.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. ‘We’ll have a jolly boose when all’s over.’

1884. St. James’s Gazette, 19 Dec., p. 4, col. 1. There was a great booze on board.

Verb (common).—To drink heavily; to tipple; to guzzle. An old term employed in some sense of ‘to drink’ as early as 1300. Also booze (q.v.). For synonyms, see Swill.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 5. The buriall was tourned to bousing and belly cheere.

1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse, in wks. II., 91. They should haue all the companie that resort to them, bye bowzing and beere-bathing in their bouses every after-noone.

1777. Colman, Epilogue to Sheridan’s School for Scandal. While good Sir Peter boozes with the squire.

1853. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, ch. xiii., p. 173. ‘I wonder, Sir Charles Lyndon, a gentleman who has been the King’s ambassador, can demean himself by gambling and boozing with low Irish black-legs!’

So also boozed (ppl. adj.), drunk, fuddled; boozy (adj.), drunken, ‘screwed’; boozing (verbal subs.), the act of drinking hard; and boozer (subs.), a drunkard, a tippler—examples of which respectively will be found hereunder in sections.

b. 1529. Skelton, Elynoor Rommin, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), I., 416.

Droupy and drowsie,

Scurvy and lousie

Her face all bowsie.

1592. Greene, Quip, in wks. XI., 253. To marke the bowsie drunkard to dye of the dropsy.

1611. Cotgrave, Piailleur: m … a tipler, bowser.

1616. Jonson, Devil’s an Ass, V., 4. And in the meantime, to be greasy, and bouzy.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. iv., p. 36 (1874). Most part of the night we spent in boozing, pecking rumly … that is drinking, eating.

1693. Dryden, Juvenal, x., 288. Which in his cups the bowsy poet sings.

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. IV., p. 14. Amongst a Crowd of Sots, half boozy.

c. 1819. Wolcot, P. Pindar, p. 303, ed. 1830.

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-and-water that Jack took showed what a regular boozer he was.

1850. P. Crook, War of Hats, 50. Boozed in their tavern dens, The scurril press drove all their dirty pens.

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 Sloper’s Half Holiday, Aug. 24, p. 267, col. 2.

In Canton gardens I have boozed;

Beneath the palm-trees I have snoozed;

I’ve seen the alligator smile,

And peppered at the crocodile.

Boozing Cheat, subs. (thieves’).—A bottle. [From booze (q.v.), drink, + cheat, from A.S. ceat, a thing.]

Boozing-Ken, subs. (old).—A drinking den. [From booze (q.v.), drink, + ken, a place.] A term of long standing. A French equivalent is une bibine, but for general synonyms, see Lush crib.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A bowsing-ken, a ale house.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Bowsing-ken, an Ale-house. [298]

1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, II., i.

When last in conference at the boozing-ken,

This other day we sat about our dead prince.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11. Boozing-ken, an Ale-house. [List of cant words in.]

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. The hovel which they termed their boozing-ken.

Boozington, subs. (Australian thieves’).—A drunkard. [Apparently a formation from booze (q.v.), to drink, on the model of lushington (q.v.), an English equivalent.] For synonyms, see Elbow crooker.

Borachio, subs. (old).—A nickname for a drunkard; formerly a skin for holding wine. For synonyms, see Elbow crooker.

Borak. To poke borak, verbal phr. (colonial).—To pour fictitious news into credulous ears; to ‘stuff’; to ‘kid.’

1587. Notes and Queries, 7 S., iii., 476. Poke borak, applied in Colonial conversation to the operations of a person who pours fictitious information into the ears of a credulous listener.

Bord, Borde, Boorde, subs. (old cant).—A shilling. The origin is unknown. For synonyms, see Blow.

1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 85. Roge, but bouse there a bord, i.e., but drink there a shilling.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Boord, a shilling; Halfe a Boord, sixepence.

1611. Dekker, Roaring Girle, wks. (1873) III., 219. My Lord Noland … bestowes vpon you two, two boordes and a half.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). Borde, a shilling.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. [The same definition.]

Bordeaux, subs. (pugilistic).—Blood [an allusion to the colour of the wine. Cf. Claret and Badminton]. For synonyms, see Claret.

Bord You! phr. (nautical).—An expression used to claim the next turn in drinking.

Bore, subs. and verb (old slang, but now recognised).—Anybody or anything wearisome or annoying; to weary or to be wearied. [The derivation is unknown, and the word does not appear in English literature prior to 1750. Hotten’s reference to Shakspeare, King Henry VIII., i., 1,

At this instant

He bores me with some trick,

is a misreading, ‘bore’ in this instance signifying ‘to stab,’ as the context clearly shows.]

Verb (sporting).—To push or thrust out of the course; and boring, subs., the practice of ‘boring.’ Amongst pugilists it signifies to drive an opponent on to the ropes of the ring by sheer weight, whilst amongst rowing men it denotes the action of a coxswain in so steering a boat as to force his opponent into the shore, or into still water, thus obtaining an unfair advantage; also analogously applied to horse-racing. 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. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress. M—rl—y, that very great [299]Count, stood deploring, He hadn’t taught Georgy his new modes of boring.

1821. The Fancy, vol. I., p. 255. Evans bored in, and upset his man in the first round.

1870. Dickens, Edwin Drood, ch. xvii., p. 129. Their fighting code stood in great need of revision, as empowering them not only to bore their man to the ropes, but … also to hit him when he was down.

Born Days. All One’s Born Days, phr. (colloquial).—One’s lifetime.

1740. Richarsdon, Pamela, III., 383. He never was so delighted in his born days.

1758. Richardson, Grandison, I., 103. There was one Miss Byron, a Northamptonshire lady, whom I never saw before in my born days.

1809. Miss Edgeworth, Ennui, ch. 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.

Born Weak, phr. (nautical).—Said of a vessel feebly built.—Clark Russell’s Sailors’ Language.

Bosh, subs. (common).—Nonsense; rubbish; ‘stuff’; ‘rot’—anything beneath contempt. [The derivation is uncertain. Murray says the word became current in England from its 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 fiddle,’ from which latter it has been thought that there may be some connection between the exclamation bosh! and fiddle-de-dee (q.v.).]

1834. Morier, Ayesha, I., 219. This firman is bosh—nothing, [M.]

1857. C. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, 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. ‘Prophet,’ said I, ‘of things evil!’ ‘Things are going to the devil’ Is the formula of fogies, I have heard that bosh before.

Verb.—To humbug; to spoil; to mar.

1870. Macmillan’s Magazine, XXI, 71. 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. Miss Braddon, Golden Calf, ch. xiv. ‘And wouldn’t he make a jolly schoolmaster?’ exclaimed Reginald. ‘Boys would get on capitally with Jardine. They’d never try to bosh him.’

Intj.—Nonsense! Rubbish! It’s all my eye!—See All my eye.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xxi. Bosh! It’s all correct.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, October 30, p. 3, col. 1. ‘You always learn in front of the looking-glass, do you not, Mr. Brandram?’—‘Bosh!’ was the laughing reply. ‘I 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.’

Bosh Faker, subs. (vagrants’).—A violin player. [From Gypsy bosh, a violin, + faker, a performer or player.]

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 231.

Can you rocker Romanie

Can you patter flash,

Can you rocker Romanie

Can you fake a bosh.

Boshing, subs. (American thieves’).—A flogging. [Apparently a corrupted form of bashing.]—See Bash. [300]

Boshy, adj. (common).—Trumpery; nonsensical.—See Bosh.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. iv. ‘There was no dancing, only boshy games and a conjuror.’

Bos-Ken, subs. (vagrants’).—A farmhouse. An old canting term. [From L. bos = ox + ken, a house.] Cf., Ken.

1851–61. 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 quality of being fuddled with drink; bemused; a state of drunkenness.

1887. Judy, 31 August, p. 101. The Town Councillor had a squabble with his parent … and accused him of boskiness.

Bosky, adj. (popular).—Drunk; tipsy; fuddled. [Derivation uncertain; bosky = ‘wooded,’ or ‘bushy,’ and there may be an allusion to the obscurity and overshadowing, peculiar to a 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, therefore, be a figuratively humorous reading of ‘swelled,’ i.e., ‘tight.’] For synonyms, see Screwed.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bosky (a.), fuddled, half or quite drunk.

1824. Blackw. Mag., XVI., 573. He may be tipsy, bosky, cut, or anything but drunk.

1886. Punch, 17 April, p. 185. I got a bit bosky last night. Has the ’eadache got into my rhymes?

Bosman, subs. (vagrants’).—A farmer. [From the Dutch bosch-man, one who lives in the woods; otherwise Boschje-man, or bushman.] Cf., Bosken.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 471. ‘I’ve seen the swell bosmen (farmers) buy the pills to give the people standing about.’

Boss, subs. (American and English).—1. A master; a head man; one who directs. [From the Dutch baas, a master.] Few words have acquired a 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. The political 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 speeches in Chicago. It is now in common use in this sense. In the two first quotations the word appears to be used much as in the modern sense. For synonyms, see Governor.

1590. Marlowe, Tamburlaine, pt. I., Act iii., Sc. 3. Zab. Base concubine, must thou be placed by me, That am the empress of the mighty Turk? Zen. Disdainful Turkess and unreverend boss!

1679. M. Philipse, Early Voyage to New Netherlands (quoted by De Vere). Here they had their first interview with the female boss or supercargo of the vessel.

1848. Bartlett, Americanisms. I have never known a second wife but what was boss of the situation.

1850. New York Herald, May 24. The Eternal City is in a very curious position. The Pope has returned to his ancestral home; but he has nothing in his pocket, and Rothschild refuses to let him have any more money. A thousand years ago, and the boot would have been on t’other leg.… To-day it is very [301]different. 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 amendment to make Hamline the general superintendent and chief boss of this whole gas business.

2. (popular.)—A short-sighted person; also one who squints. Cf., Boss-eyed and Boss, verb, sense 2.

3. (popular.)—A miss; a blunder. Cf., Boss, verb, sense 2.

Adj.—Pleasant; first rate; chief.

1884. Echo, March 3, p. 1, col. 4. The Americans 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.

Verb.—1. To manage; direct; control.—See subs., sense 1.

1856. National Intelligencer, Nov. 3. The little fellow that bosses it over the crowd.

1872. Athenæum, 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.’

1883. Saturday Review, April 28, p. 515, col. 1. It is long since the more respectable inhabitants of America have been divided between the convenience 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. Sporting Times, July 6. The Shah has fairly bossed everything this week—he has been chief actor in our social system.

1888. Texas Siftings, July.

When lovely woman hires a servant

And bosses her around all day,

What makes the girl pray half so fervent

As her desire to run away.

2. (popular.)—To miss one’s aim; to make such a shot as a boss-eyed (q.v.) person would be expected to make. Boss-shot is a common phrase.

1887. N. and Q., 7 S., iii., 236. To boss is schoolboy slang for ‘to miss.’

So also derivatives—bossing, acting as a boss; bossism, a system of management or wire-pulling; bossy, pertaining to the qualities of a leader.

Bossers, subs. (common).—Spectacles.—See Barnacles.

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 varied by squinny-eyed and swivel-eyed (q.v.). Also used as a subs.—Boss-eye.

c. 1884. Broadside Ballad, ‘Put me some Jam Roll by, Jenny.’

Come where the waves roll high, Jenny,

Come where the waves roll high,

Jenny, old girl, I love you,

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; cligner des œillets (a military term, ‘to be boss-eyed’); boiter des calots (‘to be boss-eyed’); calorgne.

Bostruchyzer, subs. (Oxford University).—A small kind of comb for curling the whiskers.—Hotten. Obsolete.

Bot, Bott, Botts, subs. (common).—The colic; belly-ache; gripes. Properly a name given to maggots found in the intestines of horses, under the hides of oxen, and in the nostrils of sheep. A French equivalent is la tourmente, i.e., ‘the torment.’

1787. Burns, Death and Dr. Hornbook, st. 27.

A countra Laird had ta’en the batts,

Or some curmurring in his guts.

[302]

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, ch. viii. ‘I ne’er gat ony gude by his doctrine, as ye ca’t, but a sour fit o’ the batts wi’ sitting amang the wet moss-hays for four hours at a yoking.

Botanical Excursion, subs. (old).—A thief’s circumlocution for transportation—the allusion being to Botany Bay (q.v.).

Botany Bay, subs. (University).—1. At Oxford, Worcester College is so designated on account of its remote situation as regards the bulk of the collegiate buildings. It will be seen that a similar reason has caused a certain portion of Trinity College, Dublin, to receive an identical nickname. The general idea underlying the term is obviously that to get to the places in question one has figuratively to go almost as far as if transported to the real Botany Bay, formerly a convict settlement in New South Wales.

1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, ch. xx., note. Botany Bay was the slang name given by college men to a new square rather remotely situated from the remainder of the college [i.e., Trinity, Dublin].

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, I., p. 63. A name given to W. College, from its being the most distant college.

2. (thieves’ and prison.)—Penal servitude. 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 term of imprisonment.

Botany-Bay Fever, subs. (old).—Transportation; penal servitude. Convicts condemned to transportation were said to have died of, or to have Botany-Bay fever. Cf., Hempen fever for hanging.

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 bottle, phr. (sporting).—Not to turnout well; to fail.

Bottle-Ache, subs. (common).—Drunkenness; also applied to 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, quart-mania; but for full list of synonyms, see Gallon distemper.

Bottle-Arsed, adj. phr. (printers’).—Type thicker at one end than the other—a result of wear and tear.

Bottle-holder, subs. (common).—A second at a prize-fight, hence—

2. One who gives moral support; a backer; an adviser. In the Times of 1851, Lord Palmerston was reported to consider himself the bottle-holder of oppressed states: and in Punch of the same year, a cartoon appeared representing that statesman as the ‘judicious bottle-holder.’

1753. Smollett, Ct. Fathom (l.). An old bruiser makes a good bottle-holder. [303]

1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. xxxix. Petrie … recommends, upon his own experience, as tutor in a family of distinction, this attitude to all led captains, tutors, dependents, and bottle-holders of every description.

1822. 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 modern ring.

1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. xl. ‘Do you remember his tremendous fight with Biggs?’ ‘Remember? who didn’t? Marston was Berry’s bottle-holder.’

Bottle-Holding, verbal subs. (common).—Backing; supporting.

1878–80. Justin MacCarthy, History of Our Own Times, II., p. 115. The noble lord (Palmerston) told the deputation that the past crisis was one which required on the part of the British Government much generalship and judgment, and that a good deal of judicious bottle-holding was obliged to be brought into play.

Bottle of Brandy in a Glass, phr. (common).—A glass of beer; a recent and absurd slang introduction.

Bottle of Spruce, subs. (rhyming slang).—Twopence. The play of words is upon ‘deuce’ = two.

Bottles, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Barrett’s Brewery and Bottling Co. Shares.

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.

Bottle-Up, verb (old).—To restrain (temper, feelings, etc.); to keep or hold back.

1622. T. Scott, Belg. Pismire, 53. Vapours … botteled up in cloudes.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xi. Austin played very bad, trumped his partner’s … knave, led out strong suits of trumps without any suit to follow, bottled them when his partner led them first time round.

1871. Cincinnati Commercial, April, p. 637. 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 head, whenever the occasion offers.

Bottom, subs. (colloquial).—1. The posteriors; not now in literary use. For synonyms, see Blind-cheeks and Bum.

1794–6. E. Darwin, Zoon. (1801), III., 253. So as to have his head and shoulders much lower than his bottom.

1822–36. J. Wilson, Noctes Ambr., xxxix. (1864), iv., 79. The Dunghill cock … hides his head in a hole … unashamed of the exposure of his enormous bottom.

1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II., iv., i., 185. Patriot women take their hazel wands, and fustigate … broad bottom of priests.

2. (popular.)—Capital; resources; stamina; ‘grit.’

1662. Fuller, Worthies (1840), II., 451. Beginning on a good bottom left him by his father.

1747. Captn. Godfrey, Science of Defence, p. 34. 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 bottom.… There are two things required to make this bottom, that is, wind and spirit, or heart, or wherever you can fix the residence of courage.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, pref., p. xv. The peculiarities of this boxer discussed—his power of standing with his arms extended for two whole days, without any rest, by which means he wore out his adversaries’ bottom, and conquered without either giving or taking.

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, vol. II., ch. xiv. He did not like to dine with Steyne now. They had run races of pleasure together in youth when Bareacres was the winner. But Steyne had more bottom than he, and had lasted him out.

3. (popular.)—Spirit placed in a glass prior to the addition [304]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, Bon Gaultier Ballads. Bottomed well with brandy.

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xxxi. Gin and water was the ordinary tipple in the front parlour; and any one of its denizens inclined to cut a dash above his neighbours, generally did so with a bottom of brandy.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 2 July, p. 5, col. 3. Soda and dark bottom is mentioned in a list of American drinks in this article.

To knock the bottom out of one, phr. (American).—To overcome; to defeat, etc.

1888. Cleveland Leader. The declination of Mr. Blaine, has knocked the bottom out of Mugwumpery.

Bottom Dollar, subs. phr. (American).—The last dollar. The phrase ‘to bet one’s bottom dollar’ is frequently heard.

Bottom Facts, subs. phr. (American).—The exact truth about any matter. To ‘get to the bottom facts’ concerning a subject, is to arrive at an unquestionable conclusion concerning it; or, as is said in England, to get to the root of the question.

1877. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Life 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 aint only one or two ways when you come down to the bottom facts of it—and they’ll take the highest priced way every time. It’s human nature—human nature in grief.

The phrase is also varied by bottom rock.

1888. Omaha World. Bottom Rock. Conductor (on California train some years hence)—‘All out for Pitholeville.’ Real Estate Agent (entering car)—‘Orange groves and apple orchards, two for a penny.’

Bottomless Pit, subs. (old slang).—A coarse and vulgar name for the female pudenda. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Botty, subs. (popular).—An infant’s posteriors; the French say tu tu.

Adj. (popular).—Conceited; swaggering. To look botty is in French, faire sa merde; faire son matador.

Bough, subs. (old).—The gallows. Tree (q.v.) is used in a similar sense.

1590. Swinburn, Testaments, 53. Or in Kent in Gauelkind … for there it is said, the father to the boughe, and the son to the ploughe. [M.]

1596. Spenser, State Irel., wks. (1862), p. 553, col. 2. Some … have beene for their goods sake caught up, and carryed straight to the bough.

1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III., iv., 77. If she doom thee to the bough.

Boughs. Up in the boughs, phr. (old).—In a passion. Quoted by Grose.

Bounce, subs. (common).—Brag; swagger; boastful falsehood and exaggeration.

1714. Steele, Lover (1723), 93. This is supposed to be only a bounce.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bounce (s.) … also the huff, brag, or swaggering of a bully or great pretender.

1765. Goldsmith, Haunch of Venison, l. 14. But hold—let me pause—don’t I hear you pronounce this tale of the bacon a damnable bounce?

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. i. Only tell a man you think him good-looking, and he falls in [305]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 gallantly.

1880. Blackwood’s Mag., May, p. 670. The whole heroic adventure was the veriest bounce, the merest bunkum!

2. Impudence; cheek; brass (q.v.).

1872–4. John Forster, Life of Dickens, ch. lx. It is the face of the Webster type, but without the bounce of Webster’s face.

3. A boaster; swaggerer; showy swindler; bully. Cf., Bouncer.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Bounce, a person well or fashionably drest is said to be a rank bounce.

Verb.—1. To boast; bluster; hector; bully; blow up.

1633. Fletcher, Nt. Walkers, IV., i. I doe so whirle her to the Counsellors’ chambers … and bounce her for more money.

1698. Ward, London Spy, pt. XVIII., p. 428. With lies he tells his Bloody Feats, And Bounces like a Bully.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bounce (v.), to swagger, boast, crack, stump, or pretend to great matters.

1749. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 3 May (1833), vol. II., p. 374. The Lords had four tickets a-piece, and each Commoner at first but two, till the Speaker bounced and obtained a third.

1760. Colman, Polly Honeycombe, in wks. (1777) IV., 55. Nay, nay, old gentleman, no bouncing; you’re mistaken in your man, sir!

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. v. ‘He’ll be drinking at all the places coming along to get his courage up to bounce me.’

1883. Daily News, July 26, p. 4, col. 8. To bounce is simply to prevail on persons whose mirth interferes with the general enjoyment to withdraw from society which they embarrass rather than adorn.

2. To lie; to cheat; to swindle.

1762. Foote, Liar, II., i. If it had come to an oath, I don’t think he would have bounced.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. x. ‘It’s them gals, Mr. Austin, got a shilling of mine among un somewhere, and wants to bounce me out of it.’

On the bounce, phr. (common).—In a state of spasmodic movement; general liveliness.

1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Funny to a degree was it to watch some 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 the bounce,’ including one young gentleman who once signed his surname uninitialled to a cheque which was cashed by a confiding tradesman, who took the said endorsement for that of his baronial parent.

To get the grand bounce, phr. (American).—This is equivalent, in political parlance, to dismissal, especially in reference to government appointments.

Bounceable, adj. (common).—Prone to bouncing or boasting; ‘uppish’; ‘bumptious.’ [From bounce (q.v.) + able.]

1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. xvi. As soon as we had exhibited sundry doses of Irish cordial to our friend Tip—under the effects of which he became quite bouncible, and ranted about the feat he was to take a prominent part in.

1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, ch. iv. I heard that Mr. Sharp’s wig didn’t fit him; and that he needn’t be so bounceable—somebody else said ‘bumptious’—about it.

Bouncer, subs. (common).—1. A bully; hector; blusterer; one who talks swaggeringly. [From the verb bounce, senses 1 and 2, + er.]

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (4 ed.). Bouncer (s.), a bully or hectoring bravado.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 24. Those who cheat the [306]Public … Bouncers and Besters defrauding, by laying wagers, swaggering, or using threats.

2. (thieves’.)—A thief who steals goods from shop counters while bargaining with the tradesman. The exact French equivalent is dégringoleur, and the practice itself is termed dégringoler à la carre.

3. (common.)—A lie; a liar. For synonyms, see Whopper. [This usage in many instances completely overlaps sense 4.]

1762. Foote, Liar, II., i. He will tell ye more lies in an hour, than all the circulating libraries put together will publish in a year … he was always distinguished by the facetious appellation of the bouncer.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xxxi. ‘He’s … such a bouncer!!… I mean that he’s the greatest liar that ever walked a deck.’

1872. M. E. Braddon, Dead Sea Fruit, ch. xxii. ‘In that case, I should say wait, and put your trust in Time—Time, the father of Truth, as Mary Stuart called him when she wanted to go in for a bouncer,—and oh, what an incredible number of royal bouncers were carried to and fro in the despatches of that period!’

4. (common.)—Anything large of its kind; a ‘whopper’; a ‘thumper’; 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. (American.)—A man who ejects; a ‘chucker-out’ (q.v.).

1883. Daily News, July 26, p. 4, col. 8. The other fresh American type is less remarkable—the bouncer. One might suppose that a bouncer was a noisy braggart; but no. A scientific 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.’

6. (harlotry.)—A prostitute’s companion; ponce; bully. For synonyms, see Ponce.

7. (naval.)—A gun that ‘kicks’ when fired.

Bouncing, ppl. adj. (common).—Vigorous; lusty; exaggerated; excessive; big. This word has manifold meanings, referring, in 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. Grosart). And made you a banket [banquet], and bouncing cheare.

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. Middleton, Roaring Girle, Act iii., Sc. 3. The duck that sits is the bouncing ramp, that roaring girl my mistress.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xix. While I was at work in the shop, a bouncing damsel, well dressed, came in.

1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. ii. By the side of many tall and bouncing young ladies in the establishment, Rebecca Sharp looked like a child.

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; camp-candlesticks; dead-marines; fellow-commoners, etc. For other synonyms, see Dead-men. [307]

Bounder, subs. (popular).—1. A four-wheeled cab or growler (q.v.). [Supposed to be an allusion to the jolting motion caused when travelling over a rough road, a fact intensified by the indifferent springs upon which such vehicles are often hung.]

2. (University.)—A student whose manners are not acceptable; one whose companionship is not cared for.

3. (University.)—A dog-cart. Cf., sense 1.

4. (common.)—A vulgar though well-dressed man; a superior kind of ‘’Arry’; one whose dress and personal appearance are correct, but whose manners are of a questionable character. The term is very often used in connection with bally (q.v.). a bally-bounder is one of the most objectionable of the genus. A synonymous term is snide (q.v.), and French equivalents are un mufe and un espèce de cafouilleux. A curious instance of French back-slang is found in another name—un lof, loff, loffard, loffe; lof here is fol reversed, i.e., mad, senseless, foolish.

Bound To Be Had, Bound To Shine, etc., ppl. adj. (colloquial).—This expression enters into many slang phrases; for instance, 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 expressions which bring it within the category of slang, are of much later origin. The following quotation will illustrate the usage in question, and further examples will be found under had, shine, etc.

1864. 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.

Boung.—See Bung.

Boung-Nipper.—See Bung-nipper.

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.] The War of the 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. 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 practice was called bounty-jumping.—See Jumping.

1875. Higginson, History of United States, p. 306. Bringing into the service many bounty-jumpers, who enlisted merely for money, and soon deserted to enlist again. [308]

ante 1880. Song of the Bounty-Jumper (quoted in Bartlett).

My song is of a fast young man whose name was Billy Wires;

He used to run with the machine, and go to all the fires:

But as he lov’d a soldier’s life, and wished strange things to see,

So the thought struck him that he would go and jump the bounti-e.

Bounty-Jumping, subs. (American).—Obtaining a bounty by enlisting and then deserting. Cf., Bounty-jumper.

1887. Illus. Lon. News, May 14, 552, 1. In the Civil War in America 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.

Bourbon, subs. (American).—1. A Democrat of the straitest sect; a fire-eater. Applied, for the most part, to the Southern Democrats of the old school. This use of the word probably ante-dates the Civil War, but no instance of such use has been found in print. Bourbon County, Kentucky, is popularly associated with this kind of Democrat, but we must look to the old Bourbon party in France—uncompromising adherents of political tradition—for its true paternity.

2. A superior kind of whiskey; originally applied to that manufactured in Bourbon, Kentucky. For synonyms, see Drinks.

Bouse, Bowse, Booze, subs. (old).—1. Applied to drink or liquor of any kind. In the sixteenth 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, to drink to excess.] For synonyms, see Drinks.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. Bowse, drinke.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Bowse, drinke.

1633. Massinger, New Way to Pay Old Debts, I., i. Well. No bouse? nor no tobacco?

1785. Grose, Dictionary Vulgar Tongue. Bouze, etc., drink.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. As above.

2. (old.)—A drinking bout; a carouse. This sense is more frequently current than sense 1.

Verb.—To drink to excess; to tipple; to ‘swill.’ Both this and the substantive seem to have been known as early as 1300, but neither came into general use until the sixteenth century, from which period both forms have become more and more colloquial. For synonyms, see Lush.

1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 32. They bowle and bowse one to another, and for the tyme bousing belly chere.

1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse. Who surmise, 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.

1615. Harington, Epigrams.

Yet such the fashion is of Bacchus crue

To quaffe and bowze, until they belch and spue.

Well, leave it, Marcus, else thy drinking health.

Will prove an eating to thy wit and wealth.

So also bouser, a toper; bousing, hard drinking; and bousy, intoxicated or ‘screwed.’

Bouse the jib, verbal phr. (nautical).—To tipple; to drink heavily.—See Lush.

Bousing Ken, subs. (old).—A tavern; inn; or drinking den; [309]now applied to a low public house. For synonyms, see Lush crib.

1567. Harman, Caveat. 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 to the deuseauyel, we wyll fylche some duddes of the Ruffemans, or myll the ken for a bagge of dudes.

1652. Brome, Jovial Crew, II., wks. (1873) III., 390 … As Tom or Tib When they at bowsing ken do swill.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 27. But notwithstanding 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; prancers, horses; bouzing-ken, an alehouse; cove, a fellow; a sou’s baby, a pig, etc., etc.

Bouzy.—See Boozy.

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. Numerous figurative expressions in all languages indicate the dominant pursuits of the respective nations; the English abounds in habitual phrases testifying to the engrossing avocations in all times. It is in this manner that to have two strings to one’s bow has passed into proverbial usage. In the fourteenth century—a Frenchman, Gaston de Foix, said of our ancestors, ‘Of bows I know not much, but who would know more, let him go to England, for that is truly their business.’ In the olden time, archery, as the dominant pursuit, gave figures of speech to the language—with the very pith of wisdom or Saxon sarcasm. If you made an enemy’s machinations recoil upon himself, you ‘outshot a man in his own bow.’ If you are a cautious man, ‘Always have two strings to your bow,’ and ‘Get the shaft-hand of your adversaries,’ or ‘Draw not thy bow before thy arrow be fixed.’ Of course, if you can ‘Kill two birds with one shaft,’ so much the better. Never ‘shoot wide of the mark’—that is, don’t make a foolish guess on a subject you know nothing about. Of useless, silly conversation, our ancestors said—‘The fool’s bolt is soon shot’; and if a man evidently exaggerated, he was said to ‘draw a long bow.’ If a 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 that he ‘had a famous bow, but it was up at the Castle.’ Vain military and other boasters were the many who ‘talked of Robin Hood, but who never shot his bow.’ ‘An archer is known by his aim, and not by his arrows’; that is, if you are not answerable for your materials, at least show your skill in the modus operandi; or at all events, don’t depend entirely upon your tool.

1562. Heywood, Prov. and Epigr. (1867), 30. Ye have many stryngis to the bowe. [M.]

1588. Marprelate’s Epistle, p. 18 (ed. Arber). Doe you not thinke that I haue two strings to my bow. [310]

1606. John Day, Isle of Gulls, Act ii., Sc. 2, p. 39. A wise man’s bow goes with a two-fold string.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xvii. He 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. 1760. A man in Amsterdam is suffer’d to have but one religion, whereas in London he may have two strings to his bow.

1886. Mrs. Riddell, For Dick’s Sake, ch. iv., p. 11 (S.P.C.K.). She had 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 ‘Yours truly.’

To draw the long bow, phr. (colloquial).—To exaggerate; to ‘gas’; to ‘talk up.’

1819–24. Byron, Don Juan, xvi., 1. They … draw the long bow better now than ever.

To draw the bow up to the ear, phr. (colloquial).—To do a thing with alacrity; ‘to put on full steam’; to exert oneself to the utmost.

1860. Macmillan’s Mag., Feb., p. 258. So Miller, the coxswain, took to drawing the bow up to the ear at once.

Bow-Catcher, subs. (common).—A kiss-curl. For synonyms, see Aggerawator. [A corruption of ‘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, ‘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, … 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., p. 47. No profane hand shall dare, for me, to curtail my Chaucer, to bowdlerise my Shakspeare, or to mutilate my Milton.

1874. E. L. 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 bowdlerization, squeamish emasculation of a work; also bowdlerizer, etc.

1882. Westm. Review, April, p. 583. The bowdlerization which the Editor has thought necessary is done in an exceedingly awkward and clumsy fashion.

Bower, subs. (American thieves’).—A prison—a transferred usage of the orthodox word. For synonyms, see Cage.

Bowery Boy, Bowery Girl, subs. (American).—The ’Arry and ’Arriet of New York of some years ago. The Bowery is a well known thoroughfare in the American metropolis. [Formerly spelt bouwerij, and derived from bouw, tillage, or bouwen, to till, to cultivate, being equivalent to the modern Dutch word boerderij, a farm, or the business of farming. The Bowery was the farm of Governor Stuyvesant.] Cf., Blood tub.

Bowlas, subs. (common).—Explained by quotation.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 208. Bowlas, or round tarts made of sugar, apple, and bread.

Bowled, ppl. adj. (Winchester).—Croppled (q.v.). [311]

Bowler.—See Boler.

Bowles, subs. (common).—Shoes. For synonyms, see Trotter-cases.

Bowl Out, verb (popular).—To overcome; to get the better of; to defeat. [Formerly a cricketing term—to bowl a man out by displacing the bails.] Cf., Bowl over. Among thieves it signifies, in a transitive form, to be arrested or ‘lagged.’

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Bowled out, when he [a thief] is ultimately taken, tried, and convicted [he] is said to be bowled out at last.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iii. The polite and accomplished adventurer, who nicked you out of your money at White’s, or bowled you out of it at Marybone.

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. xxiv. ‘He’s handsomer than you are; if you don’t mind your play, he’ll bowl you out.’

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 121. Now and again a warder does get bowled out, and comes to grief. At the very least he loses his situation.

Bowl Over, verb (popular).—To defeat; to worst. Cf., Bowl out.

1862. Cornhill Mag., p. 729. You have bowled me over, and I know I can’t get up again.

1878. Stanley, Through the Dark Continent, II., p. 291. I sent in a zinc bullet close to the ear, which bowled it [the rhinoceros] over, dead.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. xlvii. He confessed to himself that he was completely bowled over,—‘knocked off his pins!’

Bowl the Hoop, subs. (rhyming slang).—Soup.

Bowman, adv. (old).—See quotation.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 11. Help! ejaculated Wood, renewing his cries. Arrest! Jigger closed! shouted a hoarse voice in reply. All’s bowman, my covey. Fear nothing. We’ll be upon the ban-dogs before they can shake their trotters!

Bowse.—See Booze.

Bowsing Ken.—See Bousing ken.

Bowsprit, subs. (popular).—The nose.—See Boltsprit.

To have one’s bowsprit in parenthesis is to have it pulled. ‘To have one’s head in Coventry’ will occur to mind as another English slang phrase very similar in character.

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.] Also bow-windowed, i.e., big-bellied.

1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, ch. i. He was a very large man … with what is termed a considerable bow-window in front.

1849–50. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxxiv. (1884), 334. Look at that very bow-windowed man. [M.]

1889. Daily Telegraph, May 6. She was what is vulgarly called bow-windowed.

Bow-Wow, subs. (common).—1. A childish name for a dog.

1800. Cowper, Beau’s Reply.

Let my obedience then excuse

My disobedience now,

Nor some reproof yourself refuse

From your aggrieved bow-wow.

18(?82). Broadside Ballad, ‘I haven’t for a long time now.’

I used to have a sweetheart, once,

A precious little pearl!

Indeed she was—she really was,

A very charming girl.

[312]

I sang outside her door each night

Till her father bought a big bow-wow,

But I haven’t—haven’t—

I haven’t for a long time now!

2. (old.)—A Bostonian—a term of contempt.

3. (popular.)—A cavalier; lover; specially applied to a man who dangles after a woman. Also see Tame cat.

1877. Chamb. Journal, 12 March, p. 173. 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).—Dog’s flesh. [From bow-wow, a humorous term for a dog, + mutton, here used generically for meat.]

Bow-Wow-Word, subs. (common).—A term applied sarcastically by Max Müller to words for which it is claimed that they are in imitation of natural sounds, i.e., onomatopoetic words, of which a full list will be found under Cachunk.

Bowyer, subs. (old).—One who draws a ‘long bow’; a dealer in the marvellous; a teller of improbable stories; a liar.—See Long bow.

Box, subs. (thieves’).—A prison cell.

1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 89.

In a box of the stone-jug I was born,

Of a hempen widow the kid forlorn

Fake away.

1878. Notes and Queries, 5 S., x., p. 214. The box in the stone-jug is doubtless a cell.

Verb (Westminster School).—To take possession of; ‘to bag.’

To be in a box, phr. (common).—To be cornered; in a fix; ‘stuck’ or ‘hung up.’

To be in the wrong box, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To be out of one’s element; to be in a false position; mistaken. Brewer traces this to Lord Lyttelton, 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 wrong box for it. The only objection to be raised to this story is that the phrase is a very old one, of which the derivation is now lost.

1554. Ridley (‘Foxe,’ 1838), vi., 438. Sir, quoth I, if you will hear how St. Augustine expoundeth that place, you shall perceive that you are in a wrong box.

1588. J. Udall, Distrephes, p. 31. I perceive that you and I are in a wrong box.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xliii. ‘That, I grant you, must be confessed: doctor, I’m afraid we have got into the wrong box.’

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. x. ‘Take care your rights of man don’t get you in the wrong box—there’s no arguing on board of a man-of-war.’

On the box, phr. (workmen’s).—A man when on strike and in receipt of strike pay is said to be on the box.

1889. Daily News, 19 Nov., p. 6, col. 7. The ‘Blackleg’ Question 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 thousand.

Box Harry, verbal phr. (commercial travellers’).—Among bag-men to take dinner and tea together; [313]‘dining out,’ i.e., doing without a meal at all.

Box Hat, subs. (common).—A silk hat. For synonyms, see Cady.

Box-Irons, subs. (old).—Shoes. For synonyms, see Trotter-cases.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 173. Shoes. Hockey-dockies, or Box-irons.

Box of Dominoes, subs. phr. (popular).—The mouth. [From box + dominoes (q.v.), a slang term for the teeth.] For synonyms, see Potato-trap.

Box the Compass, verbal phr. (nautical).—To repeat in succession, or irregularly, the thirty-two points of the compass; beginners on accomplishing this feat are said to be able to box the compass.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. vi. ‘A light, good-humoured, sensible wench, who knows very well how to box her compass.’

1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp. Boxing, among sailors, is used to denote the rehearsing the several points of the compass in their proper order. [M.]

1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xviii. I can raise a perpendicular … and box the compass.

1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. To box the compass. Not only to repeat 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.

Box the Jesuit, verbal phr. (old).—See Cockroaches.

Boy, subs. (popular).—1. Champagne. [A story, ben trovato, is told by the Sporting Times of June 30, 1882, as regards the origin of the phrase:—At a shooting party in Norfolk once, a youth was told off to supply the company with champagne. The day being hot and the sportsmen thirsty, cries of ‘Boy! Boy! Boy!’ were heard all day long. This tickling the fancy of the royal and noble party, the term ‘boy’ became applied to champagne.] Also called fiz and cham (q.v.). The latter form is nearly reproduced in the French slang, le champ; they also brutally speak of this wine as coco épileptique, another epithet being cidre élégant.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 69, col. 2. ‘The fine young London Gentleman.’

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;

He’s the darling of the Barmaid, and the honest waiter’s joy,

As he quaffs his Pommery ‘Extra Sec,’ his ‘Giesler’ or ‘Ivroy,’

Like a fine young London Gentleman,

Quite of the present style.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 155, col. 1. Dined with Tom and Corky at a new place they had discovered, and raved of. Of course, beastly dinner, but very good boy. Had two magnums of it.

1883. Punch, August 18, p. 84, col. 1. Shall it be B.-and-S., or bumpers of the boy?

2. (common.)—A hump on a 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.

3. (Anglo-Indian and colonial.)—A servant of whatever age.

Old boy, subs. (popular).—1. A familiar term of address. The old boy is one’s father; the ‘guv’nor,’ or ‘boss.’ Sometimes my boy. [314]

1602. Shaks., Twel. N., ii., 4, 122. But di’de thy sister of her loue my boy? [M.]

1740. Richardson, Pamela, III., 380. Never fear, old boy, said Sir Charles, we’ll bear our Parts in Conversation. [M.]

2. The devil. For synonyms, see Skipper.

1835–40. Haliburton, Clockmaker, (1862), 140. As we invigorate the form of government (as we must do, or go to the old boy).

Yellow boy, subs. (common).—A guinea; also, one pound sterling. [From the colour.] As will be seen the term is an old one. For synonyms, see Canary.

1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act i.

How now, yellow boys, by this good light!

Sirrah, varlet, how came I by this gold?

1712. Arbuthnot, History of John Bull, pt. I., ch. vi. There wanted not yellow boys to fee counsel, hire witnesses, and bribe juries.

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. xlii. ‘The delight of picking up the money—the bright, shining yellow boys—and sweeping ’em into one’s pocket!’

Boys, subs. (popular).—This word is very generally in use in the plural. Thus, bookmakers speak of their fellows, in the aggregate, as the boys; and it must be noted as a curious fact that on race-courses the whole army of the swindling and thieving fraternity are so designated.

Angry or roaring boys, subs. (old).—A set 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, they delighted to commit outrages and get into quarrels. Early mention is made of such characters. Wilson, in his Life of James I. [1653], gives an account of their origin:—The king minding his sports, many riotous demeanours crept into the kingdom; divers sects of vicious persons, going under the title of roaring boys, bravadoes, roysterers, etc., commit many insolencies; the streets swarm, night and day, with bloody quarrels, private duels fomented, etc.

1599. Greene, Tu Quoque, Old Plays, vii., 25.

This is no angry, nor no roaring boy, but a blustering boy.

1609. Ben Jonson, Epicœne, i., 4. The doubtfulness of your phrase, believe it, sir, would breed you a quarrel once an hour with the terrible boys, if you should but keep ’em fellowship a day.

1610. Ben Jonson, Alchemist, iii., 4.

Sir, not so young, but I have heard some speech

Of the angry boys, and seen ’em take tobacco.

1616. Beaumont and Fletcher, Scornful Lady, iv., 1.

Get thee another nose, that will be pull’d

Off, by the angry boys, for thy conversion.

Boys of the Holy Ground, subs. phr. (old).—Formerly [1800–25] bands of roughs infesting a well-known region in St. Giles.—See Holy Land.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 7.

For we are the boys of the holy ground,

And we’ll dance upon nothing and turn us round.

Brace, verb (American thieves’).—To get credit by swagger.

Brace it through, phr. (American).—To succeed by dint of sheer impudence. Cf., Brace up, ‘to gird oneself up,’ ‘to buckle to.’

Bracelets, subs. (familiar).—Handcuffs; fetters for the wrist. [Derivation obvious.] [315]French thieves call them les alliances, properly ‘wedding rings’; also la tartouve and les lacets. For synonyms, see Darbies.

1661. Wit and Drollery, quoted in Disraeli Cur. of Wit. (Tom O’Bedlams.) [Fetters are called bracelets in a song in this work.]

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. lv., p. 371 (1874). Fetters confined my legs from stragling, and bracelets were clapt upon my arms.

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.’

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. v., p. 359. He travels with other people who are also bound to London, and who, seeing him handcuffed, know very well his steel bracelets are not the insignia of honour.

Brace of Shakes, phr. (popular).—In a moment; ‘jiffy’; ‘twinkling of an eye,’ etc.—See, however, Shakes. The expression is sometimes a couple, instead of a brace of shakes. A French equivalent is far-far.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Babes in the Wood). I’ll be back in a couple of shakes.

1868. Ouida, Under Two Flags, ch. 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 of shakes.’

1884. Cornhill Mag., Jan., p. 101. ‘If there were any boys at Oppingbury now like those who were here when I was young, they’d break the window in a couple of shakes.’

Brace Up, verb (thieves’).—1. To pawn stolen goods—generally to their utmost value.

2. (American.)—To take a drink. [A transferred sense; from brace-up = to string up; to give firmness to.]

1888. Puck’s Library, Ap., p. 20. Come old boy, let’s brace up; a bumper will pull you together again.

Bracket-Faced, adj. (old).—Ugly; hard-featured.—Grose.

Bracket-Mug, subs. (common).—An ugly face. [From bracket (Cf., Bracket-faced) + mug, a slang term for the face.] For synonyms, see Hatchet-face.

Brads, subs. (common).—A generic term for money. De Vaux (see quot.), though somewhat limiting the meaning, uses the term elsewhere as equivalent to ‘pence’ or ‘coppers.’ It possibly originated among shoemakers, brads being small rivets or nails largely employed by them. Cf., Horse-nails, and for synonyms, Actual.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Brads, halfpence; also money in general.

1855. Punch, XXIX., 10. [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 one, and I’ll fork out the brads like bricksy wicksy.’

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. ‘B Flats.’ Four B’s, essential for social success.—Blood, brains, brass, brads [money].—American.

1888–9. Payne, Eavesdropper, pt. II., ch. ii. They used such funny terms: ‘brads’ and ‘dibbs’ … at last it was borne in upon me that they were talking about money.

Tip the brads.—See quotation and Tip.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act i., Sc. 4. [To] tip the brads—and down with the dust, is to be at [316]once good, great, handsome, accomplished, and everything that’s desirable—money, money, is your universal good,—only get into Tip Street, Jerry.

Brag, subs. (thieves’).—A usurer; a Jew. Cf., Sixty-per-cent.

Braggadocia, subs. (thieves’).—This is explained in Dickens’ Reprinted Pieces (in a footnote) to mean three months’ imprisonment as reputed thieves. It is difficult to trace the connection between this and the ordinary meaning of braggadocio.

1857. Dickens, Reprinted Pieces (Three ‘Detective’ Anecdotes, The Artful Touch), p. 253. ‘We don’t take much by this move, anyway, for nothing’s found upon ’em, and it’s only the braggadocia after all.’

Brain Pan, subs. (sporting).—1. The skull, or skull-cap. Also called brain-canister. Hotten quotes the term as of pugilistic origin, but it ante-dates the palmy days of the ‘Fancy’ by many years. Brain pan in this sense can, perhaps, hardly be classed as slang; not so, however, sense 2. The Scotch equivalent is harn-pan.—See quotations under sense 2.

2. (common.)—The head itself. For general synonyms, see Chump.

b. 1529. Skelton, Elynoor Rommin, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), I., 417.

Upon her brain pan

Like an Egyptian

Capped about.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 91. The spirit of her owne malt walkt in her brayne pan.

1609. Dekker, Gul’s Hornbook, Prœmium. Tarleton, Kemp, nor Singer … never played the clownes more naturally then the arrantest Sot of you all shall if hee will but boyle my Instructions in his braine-pan.

1622. Massinger, Virgin-Martyr, ii., 2.

Oh, sir, his brain-pan is a bed of snakes,

Whose sting shoots through his eye-balls.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. xxxiii. ‘Weize a brace of balls through his harn-pan!’

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xi. ‘Were I your master, sirrah, … I 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.’

Bramble, subs. (provincial slang).—In Kent a lawyer is so called; obviously a sarcastic allusion to the ‘tangles’ of the law.

Bramble-Gelder (provincial slang).—A derisive appellation for an agriculturist; a Suffolk term.

Bran, subs. (common).—A loaf. [In all likelihood this is a mere abbreviation of bran-loaf.] For synonyms, see Tommy.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. viii. He purchased a sufficiency of ready-dressed ham and a half-quartern loaf, or, as he himself expressed it, ‘a fourpenny bran!’ Ibid, p. 306. Two half-quartern brans, pound of best fresh.

Branded Ticket, subs. (nautical).—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 service.’

Brandy Face, subs. (old).—A tippler; a drunkard, especially one whose favourite drink is brandy.

a. 1687. Cotton, Æneid, II. Burl. (1692), 85. You goodman brandy-face, unfist her. [M.] [317]

Brandy-Faced, ppl. adj. (general).—Red-faced; bloated. [A reference to the effects upon the physiognomy of excessive indulgence 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. G. A. Sala, Tw. Round Clock, 284. Hulking labourers and brandy-faced viragos, squabbling at tavern doors.

Brandy is Latin for Goose or For Fish, phr. (popular).—This punning vulgarism appears first in Swift’s Polite Conversation, and Brewer thus states the philological equation.

What is the Latin for Goose? (Answer) Brandy. The pun is on the word answer. Anser is the Latin for goose, which brandy follows as surely and quickly as an answer follows a question.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. ii.). Lord Sm. Well, but after all, Tom, can you tell me what’s Latin for a goose? Nev. O my lord, I know that; Why, brandy is Latin for a goose, and Tace 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.’

As regards the second form, namely, brandy is Latin for fish, the origin is more obscure, although it is to some extent explained in the following quotation.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., 125. We are told that the thirst and uneasy feeling at the 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. (Anglo-Indian).—Brandy and water. [From brandy + Hindustan pānī, water. Cf., Parney, also a slang term for water.]

1816. Quiz, Grand Master, pref. And died at last with brandy pauny. [M.]

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. i. ‘I’m sorry to see you, gentlemen, drinking brandy-pawnee,’ says he; ‘it plays the deuce with our youngest men in India.’

1860. W. H. Russell, My Diary in India, I., p. 120. They had tiffin at two; hot lunch and ale and brandy-pawnee.

Brandy Smash, subs. (popular).—An American drink concocted of brandy and crushed ice. Cf., Drinks.

1862. E. MacDermott, Popular Guide to International Exhibition, 1862, p. 185. In the vestibule of each refreshment room there is an American bar, where visitors may indulge in ‘juleps,’ ‘cocktails,’ ‘cobblers,’ ‘rattlesnakes,’ ‘gum-ticklers,’ ‘eye-openers,’ ‘flashes-o’-lightning,’ brandy-smashes, ‘stone-fences,’ and a variety of similar beverages.

1869. S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Innocents Abroad. We procured the services of a gentleman experienced in the nomenclature of the American bar … a bowing, aproned Frenchman stepped forward and said Que 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.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 2 July, p. 5, col. 3. [Brandy-smash is mentioned in a list of American drinks.]

1888. New York Evening Post, 24 Feb. Philological.—Gallic Tourist—‘I 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 Sainte Croix acide; brandy smash, ‘Eau de vie écrasé.’ Bête de langue!’

Bran-Mash, subs. (military).—Bread sopped in coffee or tea. Cf., Floating batteries. [318]

Brass, subs. (popular).—1. Impudence; effrontery; brass being a type of unblushing hardness, shamelessness, etc. This colloquialism is by no means of yesterday, having been used by Shakspeare. Sometimes rendered bold as brass. Cf., Cheek, which also see for synonyms.

1594. Shakspeare, Love’s Labour Lost, v., 2, 395. Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury. Can any face of brass hold longer out?

1701. Defoe, True Born Englishman, pt. II. By my Old Friend [The Devil], who printed in my face A needful competence of English brass.

1703. Farquhar, Inconstant, Act i., Sc. 2. Thou hast impudence to set a good face upon anything; I would change half my gold for half thy brass, with all my heart.

1740. 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 a court of justice.

1773. O. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act iii., Sc. 1. ‘To me he appears the most impudent piece of brass that ever spoke with a tongue.’

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 68. Oh, what a face of brass was his, Who first at Congress show’d his phyz.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lv., p. 462. ‘I haven’t brass enough in my composition, to see him in this place and under this charge.’

1876. C. H. Wall, trans. Molière, vol. I., p. 18. Gorgibus is a simpleton, a boor, who will readily believe everything you say, provided … you have brass 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-and-tear of the life.

2. (common.)—A generic term for money. At one time money was made of brass, hence probably the slang usage. Cf., Tin.

1526. Tyndale, Matt. x., 9. Posses not golde, nor silver, nor brasse yn youre gerdels.

1597. Hall, Satires, IV., v., 12.

Hirelings enow beside can be so base,

Tho’ we should scorn each bribing varlet’s brass.

1860. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s Lovers, ch. xx. ‘There’ll be Fosters i’ th’ 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 first.’

1864. M. E. Braddon, Aurora Floyd, ch. xii. ‘Steeve’s a little too fond of the brass to murder any of you for nothing.’

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 129. ‘It’s noa use they’re telling us afterwards they ain’t collared the brass.’

1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Billy Wells. What the dickens is all this about the hats? We have seventy-two telegrams and letters on the subject, and would prefer the brass.

Brass-Bound and Copper Fastened, adj. phr. (nautical).—Said of a lad dressed in a midshipman’s uniform.—W. Clark Russell.

Brass-Bounder, subs. (nautical).—A midshipman.

Brasser, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A bully.

Brass Farthing or Farde.—The lowest limit of value.—See quots.

1642. Rogers, Naaman, 33. As bare and beggarly as if he had not one brasse farthing. [M.]

1880. Punch’s Almanac, p. 5. Nobby button’-oler very well When one wants to do the ’eavy swell; Otherwise don’t care not one brass farden, For the best ever blowed in Covent Garden.

1880. Besant and Rice, Seamy Side, x., 78. I care not one brass farthing. [319]

Brass Knocker, subs. (vagrants’).—Broken victuals; the remains of a meal. Specially applied by beggars to the scraps often bestowed upon them in place of money.

Brass-Plate Merchant, subs. (common).—Explained by quotation.

1851. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, II., p. 95. The brass-plate merchant, as he is called in the 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.

Brassy, adj. (common).—Impudent; impertinent; shameless. Cf., Brass, sense 1.

1570–76. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 156. To make them blush … were they never so brassie and impudent.

1661. T. Middleton, Mayor of Quinborough, iii., 1. There’s no gallant so brassy impudent durst undertake the words that shall belong to’t.

1738–1819. Wolcot, P. Pindar, p. 73, ed. 1830.

No. Mr. Gattle—Betty was too brassy,

We never keep a servant that is saucy.

1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Channings, ch. xxxii. ‘I asked him to leave his 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’!

Brazen-Faced, ppl. adj. (common).—Shameless; impudent; unblushing. With a face as of brass, see Brass. Hotten remarks that such a person is sometimes said to have had his face rubbed with a brass candle-stick.

1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps., xii., 5. With such brazenfaste baldnesse.

1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in wks. III., 84. Amidst his impudent brazen-fac’d defamation of Doctor Ferne.

1693. Dryden, Juvenal, III., 133. Quick-witted, brazen-fac’d, with fluent tongues.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 10. Thus with an unparallell’d Impudence every brazen-fac’d Malefactor is harden’d in his Sin.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., viii., p. 137. ‘Of all the impudent brazen-faced rascals that are cheating the gallows, you must be the worst.’

Bread, subs. (old).—Employment; a transferred sense, the idea being—no work; no food.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Out of bread, out of employment.

Bread and Butter Fashion, phr. (harlotry).—An expression descriptive of the sexual embrace.

Bread and Butter Warehouse, phr. (old).—A nickname given to the old Ranelagh Gardens. An allusion to the scenes of infamy and debauchery which once characterized the place.—See Bread and butter fashion.

Bread and Meat, subs. phr. (military).—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 muckers, and amongst French soldiers riz-pain-sel.

Bread-Barge, subs. (nautical).—The distributing basket or tray containing the rations of biscuits. [320]

Bread-Basket, subs. (popular).—The stomach. [An obvious allusion to that part of the body as a receptacle of food.]

English Synonyms. Bread-room; dumpling-depôt; victualling-office; porridge-bowl.

French Synonyms. La panetière (common: properly a bag or satchel wherein shepherds put their bread; a pouch. Akin to this is the slang term la pantière, the mouth); panier au pain (a literal translation of the English term); le jabot (popular: formerly heart or breast. Se remplir le jabot = to have a ‘blow out’); la halle aux croûtes (popular: this may be rendered literally as ‘Crust’ hall; also, a baker’s shop); la place d’armes (popular: the place of arms, stronghold or arsenal); la soute au pain (popular: soute = store-room, etc.; thus, the expression would correspond closely to victualling office or bread-basket. ‘Put that in your bread-basket’ is rendered by colle-toi ça dans le Fusil, i.e., ‘ram that in your gun’).

Italian Synonym. The Fourbesque has fagiana (properly a chest or store house for beans.)

1753. Foote, Englishman in Paris, Act 1. Another came up to second time, but I let drive at the mark, made the soup-maigre rumble in his bread-basket, and laid him sprawling.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 18. Neat milling this Round—what with clouts on the nob, Home hits in the bread-basket, clicks in the gob.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 1. Jerry. Now, doctor, take care of your bread-basket—eyes right, look to your napper.

1856. Reade, Never too Late to Mend, ch. lxx. When you can’t fill the bread-basket, shut it. Go to sleep till the Southern Cross comes out again.

1876. C. H. Wall, trans. Molière, vol. I., p. 194. And get as a reward an ugly piece of cold steel right through my bread-basket.

Bread-Picker, subs. (Winchester College).—The four senior præfects used to appoint ‘Juniors’ to this office which was nominal, but which carried with it exemption from fagging at meal times. No ‘notion’ book states in what the office consisted, but it is supposed that it relates to times when Juniors had to secure the bread, etc., served out for their masters.

Bread-Room, subs. (old).—The stomach. A variant of bread-basket, which see for synonyms.

1760–61. Smollett, Sir L. Greaves, vol. II., ch. v. He ordered the waiter … to … 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 bread-room at one cant.

Bread-Room Jack, subs. (nautical).—A purser’s servant.

Break, subs. (thieves’).—A collection (of money) usually got up by a prisoner’s friends, either to defray the expenses of his defence, or as a ‘lift’ when leaving prison. Formerly and more generally applied to a pause in street performances to enable the hat to be passed round. Cf., Lead. French slang has une bouline with the same meaning; and, to make a collection is, among mountebanks, faire la manche. [321]

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 502. The mob got me up a break (collection), and I got between five or six foont (sovereigns).

Break Down, subs. (Australian).—1. A measure of liquor.—See quotation.

1759. Frank Fowler, Southern Lights and Shadows, p. 53. To pay for liquor for another is to ‘stand,’ or to ‘shout,’ or to ‘sacrifice.’ The measure is called a ‘nobbler,’ or a break-down.

2. (common.)—A noisy dance; also, a convivial gathering. The term was, at first, specially applied to a negro dance, but is now in general use in England in a humorous sense. Also used as a verb, i.e., to break down, to dance riotously; to be boisterous and ‘spreeish.’ For synonyms, see Flare up.

1864. Yates, Broken to Harness, II., p. 54. 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 break-down.

1873. Sat. Review, May, p. 676. We shall not 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, col. 4. A patter song … was twice redemanded, chiefly, it appeared, for the sake of a comical ‘break-down’ danced by the demented king.

Break o’ Day Drum (American thieves’).—A drinking saloon which keeps its doors open all night.

Break One’s Back, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To become bankrupt; an extension of the figurative usage to overpower; render nugatory; crush.

1601. Shakspeare, Henry VIII., Act i., Sc. 1. Aber. I do know Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have By this so sicken’d their estates, that never They shall abound as formerly. Buck. O, many Have broke their backs with laying manors on ’em For this great journey.

1620. Middleton, Chaste Maid, iii., 2. [The word is here used in the sense of bankruptcy and ruin.]

1887. Baring Gould, The Game-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. Street Ballads, p. 13. The cesses, rates, and tithes nearly breaks their backs.

Break One’s Egg.—See Crack one’s egg.

Break Out All Over or In a Fresh Spot, etc., verbal phr. (American).—Expressions in common use—in the one case conveying an idea of completeness; and, in the other, of commencing some new undertaking, or assuming a different position whether in an argument or action. These usages may be traced to the phraseology of medicine.

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 America in the sense of ‘to walk quickly,’ ‘to gad about’; 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 round to his friends to borrow what he requires. To bite the ear (q.v.) has the same signification; but for synonyms, see Shins. [322]

Break the Balls, verbal phr. (billiards).—To commence playing; a phrase very much akin to ‘breaking ground’; indeed few verbs enter more largely into figurative or colloquial combinations than break.

Break the Molasses Jug, verbal phr. (American).—To come to grief; to make a mistake.

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 past the middle of same.

Breaky-Leg, subs. (common).—1. 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 tippling.] For all synonyms, see Drinks.

2. (thieves’.)—A shilling.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 446. A shilling. Breake-leg.

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.

Breath. Change your breath, phr. (American).—An injunction to adopt a different manner or bearing. An offensive, slang expression which, originating in California, quickly ran its course through the Union.

Breech, verb (schoolboys’).—To flog or be flogged; especially on the posteriors. This verb was formerly in literary use, but has now fallen into disuetude.

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. lxxiv., st. 6, p. 166 (S.D.S.).

Maides, up I beseech yee

Least Mistres doe breech yee.

1637. Massinger, Guardian, i., 1. How he looks! like a school-boy that had play’d the truant, And went to be breech’d.

1821. Scott, Kenilworth, ch. xxiv. ‘Go to,’ said Wayland, ‘thou art a prating boy, and should be breeched for thine assurance.’

Breeched, ppl. adj. (popular).—1. To be well off; to have plenty of money; ‘to be well breeched,’ to be in good circumstances. Cf., Ballasted. The French have a similar idiom. If a man is bankrupt he is said to be déculotté—unbreeched. Given in this sense by Vaux in his Flash Dictionary [1812].

Breeches. To wear the 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 is ‘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 back to 1553, but it is, in reality, much older. It is found in French as early as 1450.

1450. Les Quinze Joyes de Mariage: La Dixiesme Joye. Edition Elzevirienne, Paris (1853), p. 113. Et sachez qu’il est avenu à aucuns que l’en leur faisoit boire de mauvès brouez affin de porter les braies ou pour autres choses pires. [323]

The idea is met with in English at about the same date in a carol, the burden of which is founded on it:—

14(?). Songs and Carols of the Fifteenth Century, Percy Soc. Pub., vol. XXIII., p. 65.

Nova, nova, sawe you ever such,

The moste mayster of the hows weryth no brych.

Also a little later, from the same collection:—

The Boke of Maid Emlyn, vol. VI., p. 21.

All women be suche,

Thoughe the man wear the breche.

It is curious to note also that the expression has cropped up in most languages. The Dutch say, ‘De vrouw draagt ’er de broek’; the Germans, ‘Sie hat die Hosen.’ The Germans have also other ‘breeches’ sayings; as e.g., ‘Das Hertz ist ihm in die Hosen gefallen.’ Other illustrative quotations are:—

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. lxvii. st. 18, 156 (E.D.S.).

Least some should talke, as is the speech,

The good wiues’ husband weares no breech.

1591. Nashe, A Prognostication, in wks. II., 158. Diverse great stormes are this yere to be feared, especially in houses where the wives weare the breeches.

1663. T. Killigrew, Parson’s Wedding, ii., 3, in Dodsley’s O. P. (1780), xi., 413. Anything that may get rule; I love to wear the breeches.

1724. Swift, Misc. Poems, in wks. (1824) XIV., 199.

Those men, who wore the breeches least,

Call’d him a cuckold, fool, and beast.

1820. Coombe, Syntax, Consolation, ch. v.

When she doth wear the breeches;

And the poor fool dare not resist

The terrors of her threat’ning fist.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 4. Mrs. T. No, no—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, now, I’ll do you one—my husband is asleep: I have the keys; and I wear the breeches.

Breeching, verbal subs. (schoolboys’).—A flogging. Like breech (q.v.), formerly in general use.

1520. Whittington, Vulg. (1527), 26. I studye to-day to-daye bycause I fere a brechyng.

1594. Nashe, Unfortunate Traveller, in wks. V., 149. Heeres a stirre thought I to my selfe after I was set at libertie, that is worse than an vpbrayding lesson after a britching.

Breef.—See Brief.

Breeze, subs. (general).—A row; quarrel; disturbance; coolness. [From breeze, a cool wind.]

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To kick up a breeze, to breed a disturbance.

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. Saturday Review, 28 Jan., p. 119. ‘Don’t be angry; we’ve had our breeze. Shake hands!’ [M.]

Brekker, subs. (Oxford University).—Breakfast. [Formed by phonetically taking the first syllable of ‘breakfast’ + er, a species of slang formation, which originated at Harrow.]—See ‘Comparative and Historical Study of Slang’ at the end of this work.

Brevet Hell, subs. (American).—A nickname for a battle, which originated during the Civil War. The meaning is obvious enough. The carnage and bloodshed of a battle-field is only a degree short of the horrors of the theological ‘hell.’ Compare with brevet-wife, brevet-rank. [324]

Brevet-Wife, subs. (general).—A woman who, without being married to a man, lives with him, takes his name, and enjoys all the privileges of a wife. A transferred figurative sense of the legitimate word.

Brew, verb (Marlborough School).—To make afternoon tea. Almost always carried on in couples, but sometimes three boys brew together.

Brewer’s Horse, subs. (old).—A drunkard. For synonyms, see Elbow crooker.

Brewing, verbal subs. (Marlborough College).—The making of afternoon tea.—See Brew.

Brian o’ Linn, subs. (rhyming slang).—Gin. For synonyms, see Drinks.

Briar, Brier, subs. (popular).—A colloquialism for ‘brier-wood pipe.’ The Erica arborea or White Heath, a native of the Mediterranean littoral is largely used in the manufacture of pipes. [Cf., Fr. bruyère = ‘heath.’]

1882. Graphic, Dec. 16, p. 683, col. 2. Nowadays, every third man you meet 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.

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 drawn from the classics. A writer in Hallberger’s Illustrated Magazine [1878, p. 635], says the expression is logically deduced in the following amusing manner. A brick is ‘deep-red,’ so a ‘deep-read’ man is a brick. The punning syllogism is carried further. To read like a brick is to read till you are deep-‘read’; a deep-read man is in University-phrase a ‘good man’; a good man is a jolly fellow with non-reading men, ergo a jolly fellow is a brick.

It has, however, been pointed out that dedicatory columns of various forms have been found bearing Greek 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 the style τετράγ = ωνος ἀνὴρ [see Aristotle, Eth., i., 10], one whose worth entitled him to honorary mention on some monumental stone of the form described. The anticipatory distinction might, therefore, be easily accorded to one worthy of such posthumous 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 strength. We are thus enabled to apply the above phrase to the child of clay, who may chance to resemble it in its constitution, whose moral materials and parts have been originally so carefully formed, so judiciously tempered and [325]skilfully moulded, that, in spite of a frail and infirm nature, he has preserved his shape thus early given. The fiery test but determines his solidity; his sound, staunch, and unshrinking firmness, constitutes him a regular brick or hero, the attributes which especially qualify him for that metaphorical appellation. Cf., On the square; straight—true—clean as a die.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (Brothers of Birchington). In brief I don’t stick to declare, Father Dick, So they called him for short, was a regular brick; A metaphor taken, I have not the page aright, Out of an ethical work by the Stagyrite.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, p. 10. ‘Mr. Fairlegh, let me introduce this 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 privileges.’ ‘A regular brick,’ interposed Coleman.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. x. ‘But the others are capital. There is that little chap who has just had the measles—he’s a dear little brick.’

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 100. He voted E.’s new 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.

French Synonyms. Un bon gniasse (cads’ and thieves’); être d’un bon bouchon (to be a brick. Michel gives bouchon as ‘cadet’); un bon bougre (popular: Barrère says the word bougre is often used with a disparaging sense; bougre de cochon, ‘you dirty pig’; bougre de serin, ‘you ass.’ Littré derives bougre from Bulgarus, Bulgarian; the heretic Albigeois, who shared the religious ideas of some of the Bulgarians, received the name of bougres); un zig, zigue, zigorneau, zigard, or zingo (popular: Michel gives zig as camarade, ‘a comrade’; in Italian zigno or petit lézard which latter (lézard) signifies in French argot, a ‘bad lot’).

Verb (American).—To punish a man by bringing the knees close up to the chin, and lashing the arms tightly to the knees—a species of trussing.

Like a brick—like bricks—(and in an intensive form) like a thousand of bricks, adv. phr. (common).— With energy; alacrity; thoroughly; vehemently and with much display. [Derived partly attributively from brick (q.v.), and partly in allusion to the crash of failing bricks.] There are numerous similes of a kindred character; e.g., Like beans; Like one o’clock; Like blazes, all of which see.

1835. Dickens, Sketches, p. 139. Bump they [cab and horse] cums agin the post, and out flies the fare like bricks.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Ingoldsby Penance).

For the Friar to his skirts closely sticks,

‘Running after him,’—so said the Abbot,—like bricks!

1860. New Orleans Picayune, April 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. ‘When Mr. Nye had finished, Mr. Stewart rose, and with his irresistible logic and impressive language came down upon him like a thousand of bricks, till he was utterly crushed and demolished.’ [326]

Brick in the hat, phr. (American).—A drunken man is said to have a brick in his hat, the allusion being to top-heaviness and inability to preserve a steady gait.

Brick-duster.—See Brickfielder.

Brickdusts, subs. (military).—The Fifty-third 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, subs. (Australian colloquial).—In Sydney 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.

18(?). Munday, Our 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 absolutely 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.

1853. Fraser’s Mag., XLVIII., 515. What the Sydney people call a brickfielder.

1886. Cowan, Charcoal Sk. The buster and brickfielder: Austral red-dust blizzard and red-hot simoon.

Bricklayer, subs. (clerical).—A clergyman. [It has been hazarded that the term is a familiar corruption of Rubricklayer, to denote general character for Rubrical exactness—said of men who not only lay down Liturgical law, but obey it. With more propriety, however, may it be held as referring to the important part taken by the mediæval clergy in ecclesiastical architecture. Mr. Thomas Boys, in the course of an interesting article on the subject [N. and Q., 2 S., vii., 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, and who was often one of their own number. In fact, he was of the dignitaries of the church. ‘Operarius, Dignitas, in Collegiis Canonicorum, et Monasteriis, cui operibus publicis vacare incumbit’ (Carpenter). The office of this operarius or workman was called ‘operaria.’ ‘Operaria. Dignitas Operarii in collegiis canonicorum et monasteriis’ (ib.). In Spain, the clerical operarius was called by the corresponding Spanish name, obrero (a workman). ‘Obrero. Se llama tambien el que cuida de las obras, en las Iglesias o Comunidades, que en algunas Cathedrales es dignidad’ (Dicc. de la Ac. Esp.); i.e., in some cathedrals the office made the holder of it a dignitary. Salazar de Mendoza, in his ‘Cronica del Cardenal Don R. G. de Mendoça,’ [327]tells us that, the Cardinal having conceded to the Chapter of the cathedral at Toledo, the administration of the building-fund, the Chapter in 1485, nominated as workman (obrero) the Canon Juan de Contreras (Lib. II., cap. 62, par. 2). May we not conjecture, then, that, if clergymen are now provincially called bricklayers, it is because their mediæval predecessors were, with a special reference to building, called ‘workmen’? Possibly, from the appointment of certain ecclesiastics in former days under the name of operarii or workmen, for the repair and maintenance of public edifices in the University of Oxford, the title of bricklayers may have passed, in course of time, to the neighbouring clergy of Oxon and Berks. The use of bricks, which ceased in this country after the decline of the Roman power, is stated by Hallam to have been reintroduced, probably from Flanders, in the early part of the fourteenth century.

With perhaps equal propriety the term [bricklayer] is thought to refer to the οἰκοδομὴ τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ (Eph. iv., 12), trusting that they, like St. Paul, are wise ‘master builders’; builders on the only true foundation, ‘which is Jesus Christ.’ Edify, edificare οἰκοδομεῖν have primary reference to houses built with hands, as well as to the spiritual one of building up the Church of Christ.]

Bricklayer’s Clerk, subs. (nautical).—One of the hundred names given to a lubberly sailor.—W. Clark Russell. For synonyms, see Strawyarder, and Cf., Bail.

Bricks, subs. (Wellington College).—A sort of pudding.

Bridge, subs. (cards’).—A cheating trick at cards, by which any particular card is cut by previously curving it by the pressure of the hand. Used in France as well as in England, and termed in the Parisian Argot faire le pont sec, also couper dans le pont. The modus operandi of avoiding, or rather of neutralizing the cut, which is the very backbone of the card-sharper’s art, is somewhat difficult, and is generally performed by one of two methods, termed respectively the ‘bridge’ and the ‘pass.’ In the former method the sharper, at the end of his shuffle—the cards being still held backs uppermost in the left hand—takes some twelve or 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 slight squeeze outwards which causes them to assume an imperceptible curve. When placed on 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 twenty to one that the adversary will cut exactly at that very spot, thus taking off the twelve or fifteen cards thrown on the top and bringing the ‘readied’ portion of the pack back to its original position.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 266. I got my living by card-playing in the low lodging-houses … I worked the oracle; they were not up to it. I put the first and seconds on, and the bridge too. [328]

1859. Lever, Davenport Dunn, I., p. 251. I’ve found out the way that Yankee fellows does the king. It’s not the common bridge that every body knows.

1866. Yates, Black Sheep, I., p. 70. The 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 quotation.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. To bridge a person, or to throw him over the bridge, is … to deceive him by betraying the confidence he has reposed in you.

Bridle-Cull, subs. (old).—A highwayman. [From bridle + cull, a ‘man.’] A French equivalent is un garcon de campagne; also un grinche de cambrouse; aller au trimar or trimard, ‘to become a highwayman.’ Trimar = road or ‘toby.’

1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, bk. I., ch. v. A booty of £10 looks as great in the eye of a bridle-cull, and gives as much real happiness to his fancy, as that of as many thousands to the statesman.

Bridport or Brydport Dagger, subs. (old).—The hangman’s rope. ‘To be stabbed with a Bridport Dagger’ signifies ‘to be hanged.’ For synonyms, see Horse’s nightcap, and Cf., Anodyne necklace.

1662. Fuller, Worthies, Dorset (I., 310). ‘Stab’d with a Brydport dagger.’ That is, hang’d or executed at the Gallowes; the best, if not the most, hemp (for the quantity of ground) growing about Brydport.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, etc. (1811), p. 67. Stabbed with a Brydport dagger. That is hanged. Great quantity of hemp is grown about this town; and, on account of its superior qualities, Fuller says there was an ancient statute, now disused, that the cables for the royal 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.

Brief, subs. (thieves’).—A ticket of any kind, whether railway pass, pawnbrokers’ duplicate, or ticket for a raffle; also a pocket book. Hence briefless (q.v.).

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 501. I took a brief (ticket) to London Bridge.

1885. Daily Telegraph, Aug. 18, p. 3, col. 2. 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 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.

Briefless, adj. (common).—Ticketless.—See Brief.

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.

Briefs or Breefs, subs. (card-sharpers’).—Cards tampered with for the purpose of swindling.—See Bridge, Concaves, 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 synonym for a card in the German Rothwalsch dialect, and briefen is to play at cards.]

1529. [Edited by] Luther, Liber Vagatorum (1860), p. 47. ‘Item—beware of the Joners (gamblers), who practice Beseflery with the brief (cheating [329]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.

1720. Old Book of Games, quoted by Hotten. ‘Take a pack of cards and open them, then take out all the honours … and cut a little from the edges of the rest all alike, so as to make the honours broader than the rest, so that when your adversary cuts to you, you are certain of an honour. When you cut to your adversary cut at the ends, and then it is a chance if you cut 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.’

Brief-Snatcher, subs. (thieves’).—Pocket-book thieves. [From brief (q.v., sense 1), slang term for a pocket-book, + snatcher.]

Brigh, subs. (thieves’).—A pocket.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 502. Having a new suit of clobber on me, and about fifty blow in my brigh (pocket).

Some English Synonyms are:—Cly, skyrocket.

French Synonyms are une grande; une profonde, parfonde or prophête (thieves’: literally deep; also used for ‘cave’ or ‘cellar’); une fouillouse (thieves’: this term is an old one. Fouille = a ‘digging’ or excavation. There are various forms—foulle, felouse, filoche); une gueularde (thieves’: gueulard = wallet in slang, but properly signifies a stove); une baguenaude (thieves’ and cads’: properly ‘a bladder-nut’); une balade or ballade; une valade (thieves’: from avaler, to swallow up); une fondrière (thieves’); un four banal (thieves’: either used to signify a ‘pocket,’ a ‘false pocket,’ or an ‘omnibus’); une sonde (literally sonde = probe).

Bright in the Eye, subs. (common).—Slightly tipsy. [An allusion to the sparkling appearance of the eyes at an early stage of intoxication; subsequently they become dull and sleepy.] For synonyms, see Screwed.

Brighton Tipper, subs.—A peculiar kind of ale.—See quotation.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, I., p. 347. Requiring … a pint of the celebrated staggering ale, or Real Old Brighton Tipper, at supper. Ibid, p. 447. If they draws the Brighton Tipper here, I takes that ale at night, my love.

Brim, subs. (old).—1. A prostitute. [A contraction of brimstone (q.v.)] For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

1730–6. Bailey. Brim [q. a contraction of Brimstone], a common strumpet. [M.]

1764. T. Brydges, Homer Travest. (1797), i., 173. Can mortal scoundrels thee [Hera] perplex, And the great brim of brimstones vex?

1808. Jamieson. Brim, a cant term for a trull.—Loth.

2. (common).—Nowadays the term signifies an angry, violent woman, or a termagant, without reference to moral character. An equivalent French term is une chipie. Cf., Brimstone.

1799. Whim of the Day. She raved, she abused me, and splenetic was; She’s a vixen, she’s a brim, zounds! She’s all that is bad.

Brimstone, subs. (old).—1. A violent tempered woman; a virago; a spitfire. [A reference to the inflammable character of the mineral.]

1712. Bp. Burnet, in Walpole’s Reminiscences (1819), p. 75. ‘Oh, madam,’ said the bishop, ‘do not you know what a brimstone of a wife he had?’ [330]

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. vi. ‘She is … not a brimstone, like Kate Koddle, of Chatham.’

1760. 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.

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xxiii. Who seemed, too, to have a temper of her own, and promised, under circumstances, to turn out a bit of a b—mst—ne.

2. (old.)—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

1785. Grose. Brim (abbreviation of brimstone), an abandoned woman; perhaps originally only a passionate or irascible woman, compared to brimstone for its inflammability.

Briney or Briny, subs. (popular).—The sea. A ‘dip in the briney’ once a year is a great attraction to Cockney excursionists. Hotten tells a story of one excursionist saying to another, as they stripped in a double machine, ‘Why, ’Arry what dirty feet you’ve got!’ ‘’Ave I; well yer see I wasn’t down last year.’ [From the adj. signifying, ‘of or pertaining to brine or the sea.’]

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. The luckless plight in 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. Postlethwaite. Thanks, no. I never bathe. I always see myself so dreadfully foreshortened in the Water, you know!

1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Next day bathing, returning from which we beheld a curious sight, three nymphs carrying down to the strand a bath in which one of them was, apparently with a curious mistrust of the sea, going to try the briny.

English Synonyms. Herring pond; big pond; big drink; the puddle; Davy’s locker.

French Synonyms. La grande tasse (familiar: properly ‘the big cup.’ Boire dans la grande tasse, ‘to be drowned’); la grande bleue (popular: the great blue—an allusion to the colour of deep sea water); le grand salé (popular: literally ‘the great salt’); le pré salé (popular: properly the salted or briny meadow.)

Bring Down the House, verbal phr. (general).—To elicit loud applause; and, still more figuratively, to be successful. [The figure of speech is that demonstrative applause will cause 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. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, II., p. 23. Why, it would surpass the British sailor’s broadsword combat for six, and bring down the house.

1872. Forster, Life of Charles Dickens, ch. xliv. (IV., p. 252). ‘And give us your applause, for that is always just’! which brought down the house with rapture.

1877. Mrs. Riddell, Her Mother’s Darling, II., p. 61 (ch. xii). I do not fancy she would ever forgive any of us if Honie were to bring down the house at Elm Vale.

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, Aug. 7, p. 3. But Samson’s crowning feat of all was to break with his fist two steel chains, suspended from a couple of posts. This fairly brought down the house.

Brisket-Beater, subs. (old).—A Roman Catholic. Cf., Breast fleet and Craw-thumper, synonymous terms. Quoted by Grose [1785]. [331]

Bristles or Bristle Dice, subs. (old).—A method of ‘cogging’ dice by inserting bristles into them, and thus influencing the position of the cubes when ‘thrown.’

1532. Dice Play (1050), 28. Bristle dice, be now too gross a practice to be put in use. [M.]

1680. Cotton, in Singer Hist. Cards, 335. This they do by false dice, as … By bristle-dice. [M.]

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. ‘Men talk of high and low dice, Fulhams and bristles … and a hundred ways of rooking besides.’

Bristol Milk, subs. (old).—Sherry. [An allusion to sherry being formerly a large import of the city of Bristol.] For synonyms, see Drinks.

1644. Prynne and Walker, Fiennes’ Trial, 78. Good store of Bristol milk, strong wines and waters. [M.]

1662. Fuller, Worthies, Bristol. ‘Bristol milk’; this metaphorical milk, whereby Xeres or Sherry Sack is intended.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bristol milk, a Spanish wine called sherry, much drank at that place, particularly in the morning.

1849–61. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I., iii. A rich beverage made of the best Spanish wine, and celebrated … as Bristol milk.

Broach Claret, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—To draw blood.—See, however, Claret.

Broad and Shallow, phr. (popular).—An epithet applied to the so-called ‘Broad Church,’ in contradistinction to the ‘High’ and ‘Low’ Churches.—See High and dry.

1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. In the Church have we not the three schools of High and Dry, Low and Slow, and Broad and Shallow?

Broadbottoms, subs. (political).—A nickname given to two Coalition Governments, one in the last century [1741], and the other in 1807.—See quots.

A pamphlet dated April 18, 1807, has reference to the latter. Its full title is:—‘The pigs possessed, or the broadbottom’d litter running headlong into the Sea of Perdition.’ The characters are George III., as the British farmer; Lords Sidmouth, Ellenborough, Howick (‘Test Act’); Mr. Windham; Lords Holland, Walpole, Carlisle St. Vincent; Earls Temple (‘Last Stake’), Grenville (‘Catholic Bill’), and of Derby; Lords Erskine, Lauderdale (a Scotch pig), H. Petty, and Moira; the Duke of Bedford, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, marked ‘Erin go Bragh’; Earl Spencer, Marquis of Buckingham (‘Family’), R. B. Sheridan (Harlequin), Courtney, Tierney, and Whitbread (‘Entire’). Courtney is placed in profile between Ellenborough and Sidmouth. He was an intimate friend of Fox. This is said to be the only portrait of him. The print is a supplement to another styled ‘More Pigs than Teats.’ The pigs represent the Ministers described commonly by the phrase ‘All the Talents,’ or the ‘Broad-Bottoms’ who were succeeded, April, 1807, by the Duke of Portland and his supporters. The former are not to be confounded with an earlier ‘Broad-Bottom’ Administration. The latter was commemorated in the satirical inscription for Fox’s tomb, Hic jacet Pater Broad-Bottomos. [332]

1742. Walpole, Lett. to Mann (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, indifferently, into the ministry.

1843. Macaulay, Historical Essays, II., p. 244. The Pelhams had forced the King, much against his will, to part with Lord Carteret.… They proceeded, after this victory, to form the Government on that basis, called by the cant name of the ‘broad-bottom.’

1863. Jeaffreson, Live It Down, I., 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.

1871. Miss Braddon, Robert Ainsleigh, I., p. 37. A scathing reply from the polished chief of the famous Br. B. Administration.

1887. Pol. Slang, in Cornhill Mag., June, p. 628. A Coalition Government in the last century was known by the apt nickname of the ‘Broad Bottom.’

Broadbrim, subs. (common).—A Quaker. [The origin of this expression is to be found in the hat once peculiar to the ‘Society of Friends.’ Hotten says the epithet is now used of any quiet, sedate, old man.]

1712. Spectator, No. 276. [Broad-brim is used as the name of a Quaker correspondent.]

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VII., ch. x. This the Quaker had observed, and this, added to the rest of his behaviour, inspired honest broad-brim with a conceit that his companion was, in reality, out of his senses.

1864. Reader (quoted in Notes and Queries, 5 S., ix., p. 263). Broadbrim, a Quaker. This word clearly owes its origin to the peculiar hat worn by the Society of Friends.

1876. Jas. Grant, One of the Six Hundred, ch. i. The sly broad-brim, and popularity-hunters of the Peace Society sent a deputation to the Emperor Nicholas.

Broad-Cooper, subs. (brewers’).—A person employed by brewers to negotiate with publicans.

Broad Coves, subs. (old).—Card-sharpers. [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 brêmeur. For synonyms, see Rook.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5.

Your swell broad coves, with all their airs

Can’t match the kids near Wapping stairs,

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:

Come, toddle along, toddle along, etc.

Broad-Faking, subs. (card-sharpers’).—Playing at cards. Generally used, however, to denote ‘work’ of the three card and kindred descriptions.

Broad-Fencer, subs. (thieves’).—A ‘k’rect card’ seller at races. [From broad (q.v.), a card, + fence or fencer, a ‘tradesman.’]

Broads, subs. (general).—Playing cards.—See Stock broads.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 142. Who are continually looking out for flats, in order to do them upon the broads, that is cards.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Broads, cards; a person expert at which is said to be a good broad-player.

1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, IV., ii. I nick the broads.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 262. He … became one of a gang who practised with the broads card-sharping and the ‘confidence trick.’

Broadsman, subs. (common).—A card-sharper. [From broads = cards + man.] Formerly called broad cove (q.v.). For synonyms, see Rook. [333]

1879. J. W. Horsley, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ in Macm. Mag., XL., 502. Broadsmen (card-sharpers).

1888. G. R. Sims, in Cass. Sat. Journal, 31 March, p. 7. The broadsman is a card-sharper.

Broady, subs. (common).—1. Cloth. [A corruption of broad-cloth.]

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 54. Gentlemen finding their own broady can be accommodated.

1883. Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. 6, col. 2. The prospectus further intimated that … gentlemen ‘finding their own broady … could be accommodated.’

2. (thieves’.)—Anything worth stealing.—See Broady worker.

Broady Worker, subs. (thieves’).—A man who goes round selling vile shoddy stuff under the pretence that it is excellent material, which has been ‘got on the cross,’ i.e., stolen.

Brock, verb (Winchester College).—To bully; to tease; to badger. [Brock is a north country and Hampshire name for a badger.] In French military schools this is called faire une brimade or faire brimer.

Brockster, subs. (Winchester College).—A bully.—See Brock.

Brogues, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—Breeches. This is, in reality, an obsolete old English term which has survived among the ‘Blues.’

Broiled or Boiled Crow. To eat boiled crow.—A newspaper editor, who is obliged by his ‘party’ or other outside influences, to advocate ‘principles’ different from those which he supported a short time before, is said to ‘eat boiled crow.’ Originally the phrase was simply to eat crow, and the following account is that currently accepted as to its derivation.

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 fort, 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 genus Yankee, who would persist, in spite of orders to the contrary, in going across the river on his hunting expeditions. One day when on the Canada side he had had poor luck and got nothing, but resolved not to go back entirely 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 pleaded, but to no avail. The Englishman had 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 Englishman’s turn to beg off, but the Yankee was firm, and the Englishman, with many a wry face, did succeed in downing several bites of the unsavoury bird. His wounded honour being appeased, the Yankee betook himself back to the fort. The Englishman the 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, the American officer knew that the offender must have been the stuttering soldier, and ordered him to be brought [334]before them. When he came in the captain asked him if he had ever seen the gentleman before. The Yankee shifted uneasily from one foot to the other, and, after several attempts, finally answered that he had. ‘When and under what circumstances?’ asked the officer. ‘I d-dined with him y-y-yesterday, captin,’ stuttered the soldier. The story goes that his wit saved the soldier from punishment.

Broke. Dead broke (q.v.)—Stone broke (q.v.), adj. (common).—Ruined; decayed; hard up—said of health or pecuniary circumstances. The French slang has n’avoir pas un radis, literally ‘not to have a radish’; but for all synonyms, see Dead-broke.

1887. G. R. Sims, How the Poor Live, p. 16. ‘How do you do when you’re stone broke?’ I ask him. ‘Well, sir, sometimes I comes across a gentleman as gives me a bob and starts me again.’

1889. 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 folks who want him to pay off mortgages on their homes or buy them houses and lots and things of that sort.

Broken Feather in One’s Wing, subs. phr. (popular).—A blot on one’s character.

1880. Mrs. Oliphant, Phœbe, jun., ii., 6. If an angel were to walk about, 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.

Broken-Kneed, ppl. adj. (common).—Said of a girl or woman who has been seduced. Cf., Ankle and Broken legged; for synonyms, see Dock and Leg. In French theatrical slang, avoir mal aux genoux.

Broken Legged, ppl. adj. (common).—Seduced.—See Dock and Leg for synonyms.

Brolly, subs. (general).—An umbrella. Term first used at Winchester, being subsequently adopted at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

1885. Punch, June 6, p. 273. Pair o’ pattens and brolly are more in your line.

Broncho, adj. (American).—Unruly; wild; savage. The epithet is derived from broncho, the name of the native horse of California, a somewhat tricky and uncertain quadruped. The term is familiarly applied to horses that buck and show other signs of vice. The Spanish signification of the word is rough and crabbed little beast, and in truth he deserves this name.

1888. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. Oh! I don’t know. He’d been singing the music to ‘em’ (imitating them). Sam’s too broncho.

Broncho-Buster, subs. (American).—A breaker-in of bronchos; also called a flash-rider. [From broncho (q.v.) + bust, 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. A favourite feat is to sit out the antics of a bucking-horse with silver half-dollars under each knee or in the stirrups under each foot. Their method of breaking-in may be described as the exercise of main force, [335]it 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).—Texas name for yellow fever; Englishmen commonly call it yellow Jack (q.v.)

Broom, subs. (old).—1. See quot.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. ‘The people got rusty about it, and would not deal, and they had bought so many brooms that——’ Ibid, ch. xxxiii. (II., p. 96). What are you wanting here? Ye’ll be come wi’ a broom in your pocket frae Ellengowan? Got so many warrants out.

2. (harlotry.)—The female pudenda. The male penis is the broomstick. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Verb (old).—To run away. For synonyms, see Amputate.

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, p. 6. Tom. That will do—now then Dicky, mizzle!—be scarce!—broom! 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.

To jump the broomstick—hop the broom—jump the besom, phr. (common).—To live as man and wife without the legal tie. The allusion is to a quasi marriage ceremony performed by both parties jumping over a broomstick.

1811. Poole, Hamlet Travestied, ii., 3. Jump o’er a broomstick, but don’t make a farce on The marriage ceremonies of the parson.

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 with some men. Fellows half-drunk had the old women. There was always a broomstick wedding. Without that ceremony a couple weren’t looked on as man and wife.

1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. xlviii., p. 227. ‘They both led tramping lives, and this woman in Gerrard St. here, had been married very young, over the broomstick (as we say), to a tramping man, and was a perfect fury in point of jealousy.’

c. 18(79). Broadside Ballad, ‘David Dove that fell in love.’ By L. M. Thornton.

The girl that I had hoped to hear

Pronounce my happy doom, sir,

Had bolted with a carpenter,

In fact hopped o’er the broom, sir.

Broomsticks, subs. (old).—Worthless bail. For synonyms, see Straw bail and Cf., Bail.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Queer bail are persons of no repute, hired to bail a prisoner in any bailable case. These men are to be had in London for a trifling sum, and are called broomsticks.

Brosier or Brozier, subs. (Eton College).—A boy when he had spent all his pocket-money. [Brozier is a Cheshire term for a bankrupt.] A French term for a bankrupt is un déculotté, i.e., one unbreeched; also un bauce or bausse fondu.

Broziered, ppl. adj.—Cleaned out; done up; ruined; bankrupt.

1796. Merton, Way to get Married (in Inchbald’s ‘British Theatre,’ vol. XXVI). [The term is so used here].

Brozier-my-dame, verbal phr. (Eton College).—Eating one out of house and home. At Eton, when a dame (q.v.) keeps an unusually bad table, the boys agree together on a day to eat, [336]pocket, or waste everything eatable in the house. The censure is well understood, and the hint is generally effective.

1850. Notes and Queries, June 15, p. 44. I well remember the phrase brozier-my-dame, signifying to eat her out of house and home.

1888. Rev. W. Rogers, Reminiscences, p. 15. Etonians of my standing 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.

Brother-Blade, subs. (old).—A soldier. Formerly brother of the blade, i.e., of the sword; a fellow-soldier. For synonyms, see Mudcrusher.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Brother of the blade, a soldier.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch. ii. ‘I heard some devilish good stories of you at D’Osyndar’s t’other day; the fellow who told them to me little thought I was a brother blade.’

Brother Chip (provincial workmen’s).—One of the same calling or trade; formerly a fellow carpenter.

1820. Clare, Poems of Rural Life, Familiar Epistle, st. 3. And, brother chip, I love ye dearly, poor as ye be!

Brother of the Brush, subs. phr. (old).—An artist; a house-painter.

1687. Bp. Cartwright, in Hist. Magd. Coll. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), 143. Pray make use of my brother of the brush. [M.]

1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy (1793), I., 133. The honourable devices which the Pentagraphic bretheren of the brush have shewn in taking copies. [M.]

1833. Byron, wks. (1846), p. 585, col. 1. A young American brother of the brush. [M.]

Brother of the Bung, subs. phr. (old).—A brewer; one of the same trade. [Bung here is used as an emblem of the trade of a brewer.]

Brother of the Buskin, subs. phr. (old).—A player; actor—one of the same profession. [Buskin is in allusion to the covering for the foot and leg (cothurnus) worn by actors in tragedy among the ancients; in contrast to the sock (soccus) worn by comedians. Stage buskins had very thick soles to give an appearance of height. Hence buskin as symbolical of tragedy, but used in the phrase brother of the buskin in a transferred and general sense.] Quoted by Grose [1785]. Cf., Barn-stormer and Booth-burster.

Brother of the Coif, subs. (old).—A serjeant-at-law. [The coif was a close-fitting cap worn by the serjeants-at-law—hence the term.] Quoted by Grose [1785].

Brother of the Gusset, subs. (old).—A pimp or ponce (q.v.). For synonyms, see Bully.

Brother of the Quill, subs. phr. (old).—An author. [Quill = pen.] For synonyms, see Ink-slinger.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2 ed.). Brother of the quill, an author, one of the same profession.

Brother of the String, subs. phr. (old).—A fiddler. [A reference to the violin or fiddle as a stringed instrument.]

Brother of the Whip, subs. phr. (old).—A coachman, the whip [337]being taken, as it were, as an insignia of office.

1756. The World, No. 207. He … had always greased my heels himself, and upon every one of my birthdays, had treated all his brother whips at his own expence.

1849. T. Miller, in Gabarni in London, p. 39. He is very kind to any poor brother of the whip whom he sees tugging up-hill in vain, with a weighty load and an ill-fed team.

Brother-Smut, subs. phr. (popular).—A term of familiarity. ‘Ditto, brother or sister smut,’ tu quoque.

Brother Starlings, subs. (old).—Men who cohabit with the same mistress.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Brother Starling … one who … builds in the same nest.

Broth of a Boy, subs. phr. (Irish originally, but now common).—A jolly good fellow. Cf., Brick. [The term is thought to originate from the Irish Broth, passion—Brotha, passionate, spirited—its meaning being, ‘He’s a lad of spirit,’ though it may come from the ancient Cornish name for the mastiff—brath. Hence a broth of a boy would then mean ‘a stout dog of a boy—robust.’]

1819–24. Byron, Don Juan, c. viii., st. 24. But Juan was quite a broth of a boy, a thing of impulse and a child of song.

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of 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.

Broughtonian, subs. (old).—A bruiser; boxer; pugilist. [From Broughton, once the best boxer of his day.]

Brown, subs. (common).—1. A halfpenny. [Probably an allusion to the colour of the coin in question.] For synonyms of money generally, see Actual.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Browns and whistlers, bad halfpence and farthings.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob. Now then 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 ’em—there!—hand us over three browns out of that ’ere tizzy; and tip us the heavy. (Landlord receives money, and delivers porter.)

1837. Barham, I. L. (Black Mousquetaire).

The magic effect of a hand of crowns

Upon people whose pockets boast nothing but browns.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 57. If I takes a hat 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 well.

1853. Whyte Melville, Digby Grand, ch. iv. A shower of browns, the coppers mingled with silver, from our private box, rewards their exertions.

c. 1884. Broadside Ballad, ‘Jimmy Johnson’s Holiday.’

But Violet, the Margate pet,

Who always call’d him Teaser,

Said ‘She would stick like mortar’d brick,

While Johnson had a brown.’

2. (old.)—Porter. [Qy. an abbreviation of ‘Brown Stout.’]

1820. Glossary at end of Corcoran’s The Fancy. Brown, porter; heavy brown, stout.

Verb.—1. A variant of ‘to do brown,’ i.e., to do to perfection; to get the better of. [The simile is obviously taken from the browning process which meat undergoes during roasting.]—See Do brown.

2. To understand; comprehend. [338]

To do brown, verbal phr. (common).—To do well; also ‘to take in’; deceive; to exceed bounds. Cf., Brown, verb, sense 1. French equivalents for ‘to allow oneself to be done brown’ are godancer and être flouè.—See second quotation for variation in usage.

a. 1600. John Bon, 162 in Hazl. E. P. P., iv., 16. Ha! browne done. [M.]

1828. Jon. Bee, Picture of London, p. 5. ‘Those who consider themselves brown to every move upon the board’ of actual life.

1837. Barham, I. L. (The Execution). ‘Why, they’d laugh at and quiz us all over the town, We are all of us done so uncommonly brown!’

1854. 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.’

1861. Times (on American affairs).

John Bull, slyly winkin’, then said unto he:

‘My dear Times, my old covey, go pitch into he;

Let us wallop great Doodle now when he is down;

If we wallops him well, we will do him up brown.’

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 267. I was once done myself with some pigs—I! and done brown too, and at a time when I ought to have known better.

Brown Bess, subs. (rhyming slang).—1. Yes.

2. (military.)—The old regulation musket. Considerable discussion has taken place over the origin of this term. It first appears in Grose [1785], but the term ‘brown musquet’ occurs at the beginning of the eighteenth century [1708]. The following suggested derivation appeared in N. and Q. [2 S., v., p. 259]. Brown Bess, in its primary meaning, is equivalent to brown barrel. Bus, in Dutch is the barrel of a gun; in Low Germ. büsse, in Swed. byssa. Hence our English Bess as applied to a gun-barrel. (Conf. in Med. Latin—bus-bas fragor scloporum et certaminis.) The Dutch bus appears often in composition. Hand-bus, a pistol; literally a hand-barrel. Bus-schieter, a gunner; literally a barrel-shooter. We have the Dutch bus (a barrel) in three English names of fire-arms: namely arquebuse, obus, blunderbuss. At the first of these three, arquebuse, we must look a little more closely would we trace the term brown Bess to its primæval source. The most formidable of cross-bows before fire-arms came into general use, was one which shot a ball or pellet from a barrel. Specimens may yet be seen. Now this was the original arquebuse (i.e., arc-bus, or arc-et-bus, bow and barrel). In process of time as gunpowder came into use, the arc disappeared, and the buss or barrel remained. Hence arquebuse, though it properly implies a bow fitted with a tube or barrel, came into use as the old appellation of a soldier’s firelock. And hence the name of Bess (bus, büsse 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 separate use, just as in the more recent instance of bus from omnibus. The barrels of firelocks were sometimes browned. Sometimes, however, they were required to be kept bright. [339]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 brown Bess. Doubtless it was some hero 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, according to Halliwell, a gun is known by the not very elegant title of black-bitch. Now like bus in Dutch, büchse is in German a gun-barrel. (‘Büchse, 2, ein eisernes Rohr zum schiessen,’ an iron tube for shooting.) May we not infer, therefore, that black-bitch was originally ‘black büchse,’ i.e., black barrel, in conformity with brown barrel or brown Bess? ‘Formerly,’ says Zedler, ‘and before the invention of gunpowder, arquebuse signified a bow with a barrel’ (Bogen Büchse), 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 some colour is given to this alternative derivation by the fact that the Dutch soldier, mindful of all the care he has 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. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Brown Bess, a soldier’s firelock.

1820. Coombe, Dr. Syntax, Tour II., ch. ii.

Religion Jack did never profess,

Till he had shoulder’d old Brown Bess.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xi. The British soldier, with his clothing and accoutrements, …—not to mention brown Bess, his mainstay and dependence—nothing punishes him so much as wet.

1877. Chambers’ Journal, No. 720. Such may have been the case in the days of brown Bess, but a spinning conical ball from the Martini-Henry will pierce the largest crocodile.

3. (old.)—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

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 wayling lover, for it may be some brown Bessie.

To hug brown Bess, verbal phr. (old).—To serve as a private soldier.

Brown George, subs. (old).—1. Explained by quotations.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby L., 3 S. ‘Jerry Jarvis’s Wig.’ He looked disdainfully 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.

1882. Globe, 24 July, p. 2, col. 1. The King [George III.] wore a brown wig … known popularly a century ago as brown George.

2. (common.)—A jug; generally of brown earthenware. Cf., Black-jack.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xxiv. He … stood behind his oak, holding his brown George, or huge earthenware receptacle, half full of dirty water, in which his bedmaker had 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. (old.)—A coarse brown loaf; or hard biscuit.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, bk. IV. Author’s Prologue. The devil of one musty crust of a brown George the poor boys had to scour their grinders with. [340]

1693. Dryden, Persius, V., 215.

Cubb’d in a cabin, on a mattrass laid,

On a brown George, with lousy swabbers fed.

Brownie, subs. (nautical).—The polar bear.

Brown Janet, subs. (nautical).—A knapsack.

Brown Joe, intj. (rhyming slang).—No. Cf., Brown Bess for ‘yes.’

Brown-Papermen, subs. (thieves’).—Low gamblers.—See quot.

1851. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 502. ‘But the Little Nick is what we call only ‘brown papermen,’ low gamblers—playing for pence, and 1s. being a great go.’

Brown Stone, subs. (American thieves’).—Beer. For synonyms, see Swipes.

Brown Talk, subs. (common).—Conversation of an exceedingly ‘proper’ character, Quakerish. Compare blue.

Browse, verb (Marlborough and Royal Military Academy).—To idle; loll; take things easy. [A transferred sense of the legitimate word—to eat lazily.]

Adj.—See foregoing. ‘A browse morning,’ i.e., one in which there is little work.

Bruise, verb (prize-fighters’).—1. To fight; box—generally with the idea of mauling.

Bruise along, verbal phr. (hunting).—To pound along.

1865. Dublin University Magazine, II., 19. A majority of those who follow them have … no notion of hunting, but go bruising along.

1872. Anteros, xii., p. 110. The baron hunted his five days … bruising along determinedly.

Bruiser, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A prize-fighter; a boxer. [From bruise, to maul, + er.]

1744. Nov. 26, Walpole, Lett. to Mann (1833), II., 57. He let into the pit great numbers of bear-garden bruisers (that is the term), to knock down everybody that hissed.

1753. Foote, Englishman in Paris, Act i. Dick Daylight and Bob Bread-basket the bruisers.

1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late 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, perhaps a thorough-bred bruiser.

1846–48. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. xi. At college he pulled stroke-oar in the Christchurch boat, and had thrashed all the best bruisers of the ‘town.’

1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. xlii. A jolly wag, a fellow of indifferent character, a frequenter of all the ale-houses in the neighbourhood, and rather celebrated for his skill as a bruiser.

1880. Jas. Greenwood, Flyfaker’s Hotel, in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 58. Nearly every one seemed to have some little job or other that was necessary to 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. (thieves’.)—A prostitute’s bully or fancy man. For synonyms, see Bully.

3. (common.)—One fond of fighting. Cf., Chucker-out, and next sense.

4. (American.)—A generic name in large cities for a rowdy or bully. Sometimes, however, the term has been limited in its application to a particular band [341]of ruffians. This was the case once in Baltimore.

Bruising, verbal subs. (prize-fighters’).—Fighting with the fists; boxing.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. c. The combatants were, in point of strength and agility, pretty equally matched; but the jailer had been regularly trained to the art of bruising.

1855. 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.

1860. Thackeray, 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, bruising was a fashionable art.

Ppl. adj. (hunting).—That pounds along.

1872. Anteros, by the author of Guy Livingstone, I., p. 207. He was a good second-rate shot, and a fair, though by no means bruising rider to hounds. Ibid., p. 234. There were not a few admirers of his bruising style, etc.

Brum, subs. (old).—1. A counterfeit coin. [Contracted form of Brummagem (q.v.).] The term appears to have been given specially to some counterfeit groats [about 1691].

2. (common).—Something counterfeit; not genuine. [A contraction of Brummagem (q.v.).]

1883. 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 Watt at their works at Soho, Birmingham.

1787. J. West, Trip to Richmond, in Ashton’s Eighteenth Century Waifs, p. 133. My silver I chang’d for a handful of Brums.

4. (common).—An inhabitant of Birmingham.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures 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.

Adj. (Winchester College).—Mean; poor; stingy. A superlative form is dead brum. [There are two derivations suggested; viz. (1) from bruma = winter; and (2) traditional in ‘College’ that it is an abbreviated form of brevissimum.] A popular French equivalent, used both as a substantive and adjective, is rapiat.

Brumby, subs. (Australian).—A wild horse. An Antipodean counterpart of the American ‘broncho.’

Brummagem, subs. (popular).—1. A nickname for Birmingham.

1862. Cornhill, Nov., p. 648. We have just touched for a rattling stake of sugar (i.e., a large stake of money) at Brum.

2. (old).—Base money of various denominations has been so called—especially groats in 17th century—hence its application to anything spurious or unreal—as in adjectival sense.—See also Brummagem buttons and Brums.

1691. G. Miege, New State Eng., 235. Bromicham, particularly noted a few years ago for the counterfeit groats made here, and from hence dispersed all over the kingdom. [M.]

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. Bromidgham, money of base metal.

1834. Southey, The Doctor, ch. cxl. He picked it up, and it proved to be a Brummejam of the coarsest and clumsiest kind, with a head on each side. [342]

Adj.—Counterfeit; unreal; sham; showy; pretentious.—See substantive, senses 1 and 2.

1637. Calendar Dom. St. Papers, 105. Those swords which he … pretends to be blades of his owne makeing are all Bromedgham blades and forraine blades.

1686. D’Urfey, Commonwealth of Women, I., i. A Brummingham, son of a wh—, affront the Noble Admiral!

1866. 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 own Brummagem life.’

1883. Echo, March 28, p. 1, col. 5. There is little of a Brummagem character about the municipal, parochial, and philanthropic work of Birmingham, whatever we may think of some of her industrial productions.

Brummagem Buttons, subs. (common).—Counterfeit coin.

1836. Dickens, Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, I., p. 11. 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’ indeed.

Brummish, adj. (common).—Doubtful; counterfeit. [From Brum (q.v.) + ish.]

1805. G. Colman, John Bull Brit. Theat., 55. Two guineas … one seems light and t’other looks a little brummish. [M.]

Brums, subs. (Stock Exchange).—London and North Western Stock. (Formerly London and Birmingham Ry.).

1887. Atkin, House Scraps.

We kneel at the feet of our ‘Nancys,’

We load them with ‘cottons’ and ‘tapes.’

If anything tickles our fancy,

We buy them Brums, ‘Caleys’ or ‘Apes.’

Brush.—1. See Brother of the brush.

2. subs. (old).—A hasty departure. For analogous terms, see Amputate.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VIII., ch. xii. ‘I reminded him, not without blushing, of my having no money. He answered, “That signifies nothing, score it behind the door, or make a bold brush, and take no notice.”’

3. (old.)—A person who decamps hastily, or who evades his creditors.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Brush (v.) … also a canting term for one who goes off privately, or runs away from his creditors, or with stolen goods.

Verb (Christ’s Hospital).—1. To flog.

2. (old.)—To have sexual intercourse. For synonyms, see Ride.

3. (old.)—To run away; to decamp. Also to brush off. For synonyms, see Amputate.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Brush, to Fly or Run away. [M.]

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Brush, c., run away.

1764. A. Murphy, No 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.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1877), 204. And one Sergeant Matcham had brush’d with the dibs.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Dead Drummer). One of their drummers, and one Sergeant Matcham, Had brush’d with the dibs, and they never could catch’em.

Brusher, subs. (old).—A full glass.

2. (old.)—See quotation.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Brusher (s.) … also one that gets or steals away privately. [343]

3. (common and schools’.)—A schoolmaster.

4. (American.)—To humbug by flattery.

Brushing up a flat, phr. (general).—Using mealy-mouthed words, or, to employ other slang equivalents, ‘laying it on thick,’ ‘soft soaping one.’

Brute, subs. (University).—See quot.

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Brute, in Cambridge University slang, is a man who has not yet matriculated. The play is evident. A ‘man,’ in college phrase, is a collegian; and as matriculation is the sign and seal of acceptance, a scholar before that ceremony is not a ‘man,’ and therefore only a ‘biped brute.’

Brydport Dagger.—See Bridport dagger.

B. T. I., phr. (American).—An 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 q.k., etc. (q.v.).

Bub, subs. (old).—1. Strong drink of any kind, but usually applied to malt liquor. [It is suggested that this term is onomatopoetic, an imitation of the sound of drinking; others, however, incline to regard the word as a derivative of the Latin bib-ĕre, to drink. Sometimes spelt bubb.] A common expression for eating and drinking is ‘to take bub and grub,’ a French equivalent for which is se caresser l’Angoulême.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. iv., p. 36 (1874). In a short time these four return’d laden with bub and food.

1748. Dodsley, Collection of Poems, III., 262.

Tho’ beef twice boil’d his meal, with P—n’s bub,

And sixpence chang’d defrays the frugal club.

1839. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, ep. II., ch. xi. ‘Och! many a mug o’ bubb have I drained wi’ the landlord.’

2. (common.)—A woman’s breast; generally used in the plural—bubbies (q.v.).

3. (old.)—A brother.

4. (American.)—Also bubby. A term of affection applied to a little boy. [Said to have originated in Pennsylvania from the German Bube.] Likewise used figuratively as a familiar mode of address.

1872. S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It. The cayote turns smiles 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 business, and it will not do for me to be fooling along this way all day.’

1888. San Francisco Weekly Examiner. When she was ready to go 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.

5. (old.)—An abbreviated form of bubble, subs.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Bub or bubble, one that is cheated. [M.]

Verb (old).—1. To drink.—See substantive.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. vi., p. 54 (1874). We straight betook ourselves to the Boozing Ken; and having bubb’d rumly, we concluded an everlasting friendship.

2. (old.)—To bribe; to cheat. Cf., Bubble.

1719. D’Urfey, Pills, II., 54. Another makes Racing a Trade.… And many a Crimp Match has made, By bubbing another Man’s Groom. [344]

Bubber, subs. (old).—1. A hard drinker; a confirmed tippler. [From bub (q.v.) = drink + er.] A synonymous French term is un bibassier, but for analogous terms generally, see Elbow crooker.

1653. Middleton, Sp. Gipsy, ii., 1. Though 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 in the word ‘butt.’]

1674. R. Head, Canting Acad., 191. A bubber … goes to the Alehouse, and steals there the Plate.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bubber, … a great drinker. A thief that steals plate from publick houses.

2. (old.)—A drinking bowl. Cf., derivation of previous sense.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Bubber, a drinking Bowl; also a great Drinker, and he that used to steal Plate from Publick-houses.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bubber, a drinking bowl, etc.

3. (old.)—A public house thief.—See quotation 1690, sense 2; also mentioned by Grose [1785].

4. (American.)—A nickname for an old woman with large pendulous breasts. Rarely heard.

1848. Bartlett, Americanisms. Bubber. A stout or stoutly mammalated old woman. Used in Salem, Mass., in 1820, and since. ‘Bubber Jones.’ (Fr. poitron, old woman; Old Fr. pect. poitron; Lat. pectus, the breast.)

Bubbies, subs. (common).—A 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 child needing its mother’s milk.—For synonyms, see Dairies.

1686. D’Urfey, New Poems (1690), 206.

The Ladies here may without Scandal shew,

Face or white bubbies, to each ogling Beau.

1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, Act v., Sc. 7. Did not her eyes twinkle, and her mouth water? Did not she pull up her little bubbies?

1712. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, pt. III., ch. viii. ‘To see a handsome, brisk, genteel, young fellow so much governed by a doating old woman! Why don’t you go and suck the bubby?’

1715. Vanbrugh, Country House, II., v. He talked to me of you, and said you had the charmingest bubbies.

1748. Dodsley, Collection of Poems, III., 191. And snowy bubbies pull’d above the stays.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. Bubbys, a woman’s breasts.

Bubbing, subs. (old).—Drinking; tippling.

1678. Poor Robin’s Char. of Scold, 6. She clamours at him so long … which makes him seek Bubbing-schools to hide himself in from her fury. [M.]

Bubble, subs. (old).—A dupe; gull; also caravan (q.v.); and rook (q.v.). Grose thinks from the party cheated being like an air-bubble filled with words which are only wind instead of real property. Also apparently used of anything not genuine. Applied to persons, it is older than appears from Murray.

1598. Shakspeare, All’s Well, iii., vi., 5. Sec. Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble. Ber. Do you think I am so far deceived in him?

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, III., in wks. (1720) IV., 62. This kinsman a most silly bubble first, and afterwards a betrayer of young heirs.

1697. Vanbrugh, Provoked Wife, V., iii. If her conduct has put a trick upon her virtue, her virtue’s the bubble, but her husband’s the loser. [345]

1711. Swift, Conduct of the Allies. We are thus become the dupes and bubbles of Europe.

1712. Arbuthnot, History of John Bull, pt. II., ch. iii. He has been my bubble [tool] these twenty years; and to my certain knowledge, understands no more of his own affairs than a child in swaddling clothes.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. I., ch. vii. ‘This would be to own herself the meer tool and bubble of the man.’

1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Speculist, I., 69. He persuades his bubble, that he will insure him a certain safe way of getting a sum of money.

1795. R. Cumberland, The Jew, Act iii., Sc. 2. If he attempts to raise money upon expectancies, be at their peril who are fools enough to trust him: No prudent man will be his bubble.

1805. G. Barrington, 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.

Verb (old).—To cheat; humbug; delude as with bubbles; to overreach. Cf., substantive sense.

1664. Etheridge, Comical Revenge, II., iii., in wks. (1704), 24. I believe he’s gone down to Receive money; ’twere an excellent design to bubble him.

1685. Dryden, Prol. to Albion and Albanius, 23.

Freedom and zeal have choused you o’er and o’er;

Pray give us leave to bubble you once more.

1711. Spectator, No 89. 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.

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.

1777. Sheridan, Trip to Scarborough, Act ii. Help the gentleman with a chair, and carry him to my house presently—that’s the properest place—[aside]—to bubble him out of his money.

1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Speculist, I., 75. And this was the language which the pretenders to the Philosopher’s Stone used to bubble their pigeons with.

1880. McCarthy, Own Times, III., xli., 235. Some critics declared … that the French Emperor had bubbled him [Mr. Cobden].

Bubbleable, adj. (old).—That can be duped; gullible. [A very rare form from bubble, to cheat, + able.]

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), II., 109. If the winner be bubbleable, they will insinuate themselves into his acquaintance, and civilly invite him to drink a glass of wine; wheedle him into play, and win all his money.

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; originally nautical.]

1785. 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 fire.

1786–89. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Lousiad, ch. i., line 366.

Such is the sound (the simile’s not weak)

Form’d by what mortals bubble call, and squeak,

When ’midst the frying-pan, in accents savage,

The beef so sorely quarrels with the cabbage.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, bk. VIII., ch. viii. ‘Rank and title! bubble and squeak! No, not half so good as bubble and squeak. English beef and good cabbage.’

Bubble Buff, subs. (old).—A bailiff.

Bubble Company, subs. (common).—A swindling association, enterprise or project. [From bubble, to cheat, + company.] The South Sea Bubble will occur to mind in this connection.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2 ed.). Bubble … 5 (in Commerce), a cant [346]name given to certain projects for raising money on imaginary grounds.

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, ch. xix. ‘My inheritance disappears as if it had been invested in a bubble company.’

Bubbled, ppl. adj. (old).—Gulled; deceived; befooled. [From bubble, to cheat, + ed.]

a. 1683. Oldham, Wks. and Rem. (1686), 66. Bubled Monarchs are at first beguil’d … at last depos’d, and kill’d. [M.]

1701. Defoe, True Born Englishman, Introd.

Who shall this bubbled nation disabuse,

While they, their own felicities refuse?

1889. Gentleman’s Mag., June, p. 598. Towards the end of the century [xvii] a person easily gulled, or bubbled was known as a ‘caravan,’ but earlier the term ‘rook,’ which is now restricted to a cheat or sharper, appears to have been applied to the person cheated.

Bubbling Squeak, subs. (army).—Hot soup.

Bubbly Jock, subs. (old Scotch).—1. A turkey-cock; a ‘gobbler.’ [Probably in allusion to the cry of the bird.]

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bubbly jock, a turkey-cock.

1843. Thackeray, Irish Sketch Book, ch. xv. He took but one glass of water to that intolerable deal of bubbly jock.… Three turkey-wings and a glass of water.

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, pt. II., ch. xviii. Puffing his cheeks like some infuriated bubbly jock in a stable-yard.

2. (common.)—A stupid boaster.

3. (popular.)—A pert, conceited, pragmatical fellow; a prig; a cad.

1883. G. A. Sala, Living London, p. 113. Mr. Benjamin Bunny (Mr. J. L. Toole) is the good-natured husband of a pretty young wife (Miss Winifred Emery). Mr. Bunny is, to use a Scotticism, ‘sair owerhanded,’ not by a ‘bubbly jock,’ but by his wife’s aunt.

Bubby.—See Bub and Bubbies.

Bucco, subs. (American thieves’).—A dandy. [A corruption of buck (q.v.).]

Buck, subs. (common).—1. In the first instance a man of spirit or gaiety of conduct; later a fop, a dandy. [A transferred sense of buck, the male of the fallow deer.] In the form ‘old buck’ it is merely a familiar mode of address. The epithet, as applied to a man about town, is somewhat obsolete; masher, dude, and swell having taken its place. Cf., Blood.

1725. New Cant. Dict. Buck, as a bold buck, is sometimes used to signify a forward daring Person of either Sex.

1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. X., ch. ii. A large assembly of young fellows, whom they call bucks.

1846–48. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. vi. She had sate by him on the box of his open carriage (a most tremendous buck he was, as he sat there, serene, in state, driving his greys).

1889. Answers, Feb. 9. The ancient buck was last seen (at the age of eighty-four) 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 he is.

2. (common.)—An unlicensed cabdriver. Apparently also applied to a sham fare.—See last quotation.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 362. The long-day men are the parties who mostly employ the bucks … they are glad to avail themselves of the services of a buck for some hours at the end of the [347]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. Morning Star, 14 Sept. What is the prisoner? Constable: He is a buck, who hangs about an omnibus stand. [M.]

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. (old.)—A sixpence. [Thought to be a corruption of fyebuck (q.v.).] The word is rarely used by itself, but generally denotes the sixpence attached to shillings in reference to cost, as, ‘three and a buck,’ three shillings and sixpence. For synonyms, see Bender.

1885. Household Words, June 20, p. 155. ‘Buck’ is most likely a corruption of ‘fyebuck,’ a slang name for sixpence, which is now almost, if not altogether, obsolete.

4. (schoolboys’.)—A large marble. Cf., Alley, Bonce, Mivey.

1885. Household Words, June 20, p. 155. Readers whose school-days are still green in their memories will also recognise in buck the name for the large marble once dear to their boyish hearts.

5. (American.)—A term used in poker (q.v.). Cf., Tiger.

Adj. (American University).—At Princeton College anything which is of an intensive degree, good, excellent, pleasant or agreeable, is called buck.

Verb (American).—1. To oppose; to run counter to. [Possibly a corruption of butt, or from buck as applied to a horse.—See sense 2.]

2. (Western American.)—As applied to horses this term is used to describe the action of plunging forward and throwing 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. A raw hand thus relates his experience:—‘When I was told how hard he could buck, I only laughed, my impression being that no pony standing on four legs could throw me off. I mounted my new horse, and waving my bran new hat about my head, galloped away in a dignified style. Suddenly the horse stopped. His ears went back, and his hind legs went between his front. The motion was a curious one. But I did not fall. Realizing that the man on his back could ride a little bit, the pony got right down to business. My stomach seemed to fly up into my mouth, and millions of stars floated about my head. I am not prepared to state what kind of hold the pony got on me, but I went sprawling on the ground, my nose making an irrigating ditch. It was all done not more than one hundred yards from where my girl was standing. I stuck on well, however, as the saddle, blanket, gun and bridle came off with me. The wild yell that greeted my exploit nearly drove me mad. While 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 [348]things for me in front of my girl by saying, “It’s no disgrace, pardnr, that horse can buck off a porus plaster,” I thanked him from the bottom of my heart.’

3. (commercial.)—A variant of to cook (q.v.), as applied to accounts.

4. (Western American.)—To play against the bank, usually ‘to buck the tiger.’—See following.

1879. Bret Harte, Gabriel Conroy, p. 375. I don’t like your looks at all. I’d buck against any bank you ran, all night.

1880. Bret Harte, Brown of Calaveras. (Tales of the Arg., p. 81). Why don’t you say you want to buck agin’ faro?

1888. 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.

5. (Western American.)—To put forth one’s whole energy. [An extension of meaning from sense 4.]

1870. San Antonio Paper. ‘You’ll have to buck at it like a whole team, gentlemen, or you won’t hear the whistle near your diggings for many a year.’

To run a buck, verbal phr. (old Irish).—To poll a bad vote at an election.—Grose.

Buck or fight the tiger, verbal phr. (American).—To gamble. [There are two derivations suggested:—(1) that the phrase is derived from the parti-coloured division or 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. Sometimes the image is made of wood 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 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.’]

1888. 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 subpœnaed thirty citizens as witnesses, among whom are said to be prominent city officials and business men. The affair has caused a good deal of talk already, and if reports are anywhere near true, it 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 tiger, and not legitimate business has been detaining her husband out so late at night.

Buck Bait, subs. (thieves’).—Bail given by a confederate. Cf., Bait.

Buck Down, verbal phr. (Winchester College).—To be sorry; unhappy. Cf., Buck up and Bucksome.

Bucked. To be bucked, verb (Uppingham).—To be tired. Cf., Buck up.

Buckeen, subs. (Irish).—A bully.—Grose. Properly a young man of the poorer aristocracy.

Bucket, subs. (American).—An anonymous letter.

Verb (general).—1. To ride hard; not to spare one’s beast. [349]

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. xi. ‘I had rather give Brilliant a good bucketing’ [Aunt Horsingham shuddered—I knew she 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., p. 218. There’s room in the Row to give him [the horse] a very good bucketing.

1868. Tottenham, C. Villars, I., 243. Bucketing his wretched horse home to Cambridge. [M.]

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 342. ‘Ten thousand pardons, Dollie, dearest; but I only got your message an hour or so ago, and am so busy I couldn’t get here before. As it is I have had to bucket my hack unmercifully.’

2. (old.)—To cheat; ruin; deceive.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v. To bucket a person is synonymous with putting him in the well.

1828. Scott, Diary, in Lockhart (1839), ix., 253. Thurtell … must in slang phrase have bucketed his palls.

3. (rowing.)—To take the water unfairly—with a scoop at the beginning of the stroke instead of a steady even pull throughout.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xv., p. 130. He was not so straight in the back as an Oxford stroke; and he bucketed about a good deal, but he got along.

To give the bucket, phr. (old).—To dismiss from one’s employment; to ‘send a person about his business.’—Cf., Bag and Sack.

1860. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s Lovers, ch. xxi. He were sore put about because Hester had gi’en him the bucket.

To kick the bucket, phr. (general).—To die. [The bucket here is thought to refer to a Norfolk term for a pulley.] When pigs are killed they are hung by their hind legs on a bucket.—For synonyms, see Aloft.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bucket; to kick the bucket; to die.

1796. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Tristia, wks. (1812) V., 242. Pitt has kicked the bucket.

1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xxx. He drained it dry … and kicked the bucket.

1849. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. ii. ‘Fine him a pot’ roared one, ‘for talking about kicking the bucket. He’s a nice young man to keep a cove’s spirits up, and talk about a short life and a merry one.’

1876(?). Broadside Ballad, ‘Ten Little Niggers.’

Eight little niggers never heard of heav’n,

One kicked the bucket, and then there were seven.

1889. Answers, July 27, p. 141, col. 3. The high-school girl explained to her particular friend yesterday that 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.’

Bucket Afloat, subs. (rhyming slang).—A coat.

Bucket Shop, subs. (American).—1. Primarily a petty stock gambling den carried on in opposition to regular exchange business, and usually of a very doubtful character. The New York World recently investigated the whole question, and gave some very interesting 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 and honest’ bucket-shop; all their dealings were nothing but ‘a brace gambling game.’ By [350]their schemes the customer had ‘not the ghost of a chance to win.’ Their quotations were obtained surreptitiously, and, in handling them, the bucket-shop keepers in several ways take unfair advantage of their clients. The term bucket shop has become common in England, but, fortunately for the community at large, no comparison can be drawn between the establishments known by that name in England, and those which flourish in America under the same title, though in very truth the proceedings of some of the former are scandalous enough. [Possibly from bucket (q.v.), to cheat, + shop. As an alternative derivation, the ‘bucket’ into which the tape falls may be suggested.]

1887. Daily News, 14 April, 7, 1. Mr. Charles Fisher said that he carried on business as an agent.… He did Stock Exchange business, for clients. Mr. Besley: Commonly called a bucket shop, I think.

1888. Missouri Republican, Feb. 12. New York, Feb. 11.—(Special).—Inspector Brynes was seized with another spasm of indignation against the bucket-shops 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.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 12 Nov., p. 3, col. 1. ‘The tape is credited with fostering gambling.’ ‘Well, we know 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 securities were going, and it does that. In practice it serves as a check between client and broker, and broker and jobber.’

2. Also applied generally to low groggeries; lottery offices; gambling dens, etc.

Buck Face, subs. (old).—A cuckold; one who in French slang is said to be un loger rue du Croissant.

Buck Fitch, subs. (old).—An old roué; a lecherous old man.

Buckhara, subs. (American).—A name given in California to a cattle-driver or cowboy.

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.]

French Synonyms. (For the blow itself.) Une boffete (from the old word buffet); une bouffe; une châtaigne; une accolade; une pamure. To receive a buckhorse, encaisser un soufflet; to give a buckhorse; donner la savate.

1864. Blackwood’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.’ ‘Buckhorsing was rather severe, was it not?’ etc. ‘I got buckhorsed pretty often.’

1876. Lord Albemarle, Fifty Years of my Life, quoted in Temple Bar, August, 1884, p. 517. He then felled me to the ground by a swinging buckhorse on my right cheek. [351]

Buckish, adj. (old).—Foppish; dandyish. [From buck (q.v.) + ish.] Now colloquial.

1782. D’Arblay, Diary, etc. (1876), i., 463. A buckish kind of young man of fashion.

1785. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Apolog. Postscript to Ode upon Ode, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol. I., p. 365. Did not good Nathan tell that buckish youth, David the King, that he stole sheep?

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 57. Having beat the rounds (as buckish spirits phrase it) of that bustling microcoser, the British metropolis, for eighteen months.

1812. Coombe, Dr. Syntax, Picturesque, ch. xvii.

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.’

1873. W. D. Howells, A Chance 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.

Buck-Jump, subs. (stable).—A jump made in buck (q.v., verb, sense 2) fashion.

1864. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. ix. The instant the chestnut was mounted he reared, and indulged in two or three ‘buck-jumps’ that would have made a weaker man tremble for his backbone.

Buckle, verb, trans. and intrans. (colloquial).—1. To unite or be united in wedlock—a humorous term. For synonyms, see Splice. French thieves call such a union l’amadouage.

1693. Dryden, Juvenal, vi., 37. Is this an age to buckle with a bride?

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxvii. Who … declared himself 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.

‘Buckle them, my Lord Bishop, as fast as you can.…

‘The Bishop accordingly opened his book and commenced the marriage ceremony.’

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xlvi. ‘We could have half a dozen married couples all separating, getting rid of their ribs and buckling again, helter-skelter, every man to somebody else’s wife.’

Buckle-Beggar, subs. (old).—A Fleet prison ‘clergyman’; one who celebrated marriage ceremonies therein; thence, one who celebrated irregular marriages; a hedge priest; one who undertook similar offices for gypsies and tramps—a buckle the beggars.—See Couple-beggar. [Of Scotch derivation, but Cf., Buckle, verb, sense 1.]

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. xvii. (II., p. 86). A hedge parson, or buckle-beggar, as that order of priesthood has been irreverently termed. Ibid, ch. xxvii. (III., p. 22). Dr. R., who buckles beggars for a tester [sixpence] and a dram of Geneva.

Buckled, ppl. adj. (thieves’).—Arrested; taken into custody; ‘scragged.’

Buckle Down, verb (common).—To ‘settle down’; to become reconciled to; a variant of to ‘knuckle down’ (q.v.).

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. (American thieves’).—A collar. Cf., All-rounder.

Buckles, subs. (old).—Fetters of any kind. For synonyms, see Darbies. [352]

Buckle To, verb (familiar).—To undertake; grapple with; ‘slip in’; work vigorously.

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. xcvi., st. 84, p. 187 (E.D.S.).

Then purchase some pelfe,
by fiftie and three:

or buckle thy selfe,
a drudge for to bee.

1663. Butler, Hudibras, pt. I., ch. ii., l. 926.

And fitting it 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. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, pt. IV., ch. viii. At last Esquire South buckled to, to assist his friend Nic.

1883. James Payn, Thicket than Water, ch. xxvii. ‘Of course it could never have been taken up as a serious occupation; the way you buckled to at it, as I told Mr. Payton, was something amazing.’

1889. Modern Society, 19 Oct., p. 1302. (‘How the Nobility live in Germany.’) Though, as a rule, 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 à la Russe.

Bucksome, adj. (Winchester College).—Happy; in a state of ‘buck-uppishness.’—See Buck-up.

Buck Up, verbal phr. (Winchester College).—To be glad; pleased. Cf., Buck down. The usual expression is ‘Oh buck up,’ a phrase which at Westminster School would have a very different meaning, namely, ‘exert yourself.’ At Uppingham to be bucked (q.v.) is to be tired.

Budge, subs. (old).—1. A pickpocket; a general thief.—See quots., and for synonyms, Area-sneak and Thieves.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). Budge, one that steals cloaks.

1674. R. Head, Canting Acad., 95. The Budge … his employment is in the dark of the Evening, to go into any door that he seeth open, and … take whatever next cometh to hand.

2. (thieves’.)—Also called 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. For synonyms, see Area-sneak, and Cf., Standing bridge.

1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. I., ch. iii. ‘I find you are some sneaking budge rascal’ [cant term for pilfering].

3. (old.)—Drink; liquor.—See Drinks. [Thought to be a corruption of booze.] There are several derivatives—Budgy, ‘drunk’; Budging-ken, ‘a public house’; Cove of the budging-ken, ‘a publican’; Budger, ‘a drunkard’—all of which see.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Budge, drink.

Verb (old slang, but now colloquial).—To move; ‘to make tracks.’ For modern synonyms, see Amputate, and Cf., Budge-a-beake.

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 the blues’ (q.v.). [From budge (q.v.), ‘to move away,’ ‘to decamp,’ + a + beak (q.v.), a policeman.] For synonyms, see Amputate.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Budge-a-beake, runne away. [353]

Budger, subs. (old).—A drunkard. [From budge, subs., sense 3, ‘drink’ (q.v.) + er.] For synonyms, see Elbow crooker.

Budging-Ken, subs. (old).—A public house.—See Budge. [From budge, drink, + ken (q.v.), a place or house.] For synonyms, see Lush crib.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Budge kain, a public-house.

Budgy, adj. (old).—Drunk; intoxicated. [From budge (q.v.), sense 3, drink.] For synonyms, see Screwed.

Bud of Promise, subs. phr. (American).—A facetious term for a young, unmarried woman.—See Rosebud.

1889. Charlestown Enterprise.

The young, unmarried girl, in sport,

Is called a bud of promise;

She blooms each year at some resort,

The weather when it warm is.

And in the Fall a score of men,

Whose hearts till now have harm missed,

Compare sad notes, and find out then

To each the bud is promised.

Bud Sallogh (Old Irish).—A term applied to one who practises unmentionable vices.—See Jesuit.

Buenos Ayres (provincial).—The Royal Crescent at Margate at the extreme end of the town used to be so called. The houses remained unfinished for a very considerable time.—H. J. Byron.

Bufe, subs. (old cant).—A dog. [Murray says, from the sound of its bark.]—See Buffer, and Tike for synonyms.

1567. Harman, Caveat, 84. Bufe, a dogge.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bufe, a dog; Bufe’s nob, a dog’s head.

Bufe-Nabber or Napper, subs. (old).—A dog thief. [From bufe, old cant for a ‘dog,’ + nabber, one who steals or ‘nabs.’] For synonyms, see Area-sneak.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bufe-nabber, a dog-stealer.

Buff, subs. (common).—1. The bare skin. [An allusion to the colour.]

1654. Chapman, Revenge for Honour, I., i.

Then for accoutrements you wear the buff,

As you believed it heresy to change

For linen: surely most of yours is spent

In lint.

1749. H. Fitzcotton, Homer, I., 38. If you perplex me with your stuff—All that are here shan’t save your buff. [M.]

1760. Johnston, Chrysal, II., 235. ‘I have got as many clothes and things of all kinds as would serve to set up a Monmouth-street merchant: if the place had held out but a few days longer, the poor devils must have done duty in their buff; ha! ha! ha!’ ‘And the properest dress for them,’ returned the admiral; ‘who wants any clothes in such a climate as this?’

1824. Hughes, Magic Lay of the One-horse Chay (Blackwood). When our pair were soused enough, and returned in their buff.

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 223. ‘There’s a fine young chap there, stript to the buff, and working away hard!’

1872. C. King, Sierra Nev., viii., 176. Stripping ourselves to the buff, we hung up our steaming clothes. [M.]

2. (old.)—A man; a fellow; also buffer (q.v.).

1708–15. Kersey, Buff … a dull Sot, or dronish Fellow. [M.]

1709. Brit. Apollo, II, No. 8, p. 3, col. 2. Tell me Grave Buffs, Partly Gods, partly men. [M.] [354]

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Buff, a Newgate Cant Word used in familiar Salutation as, How dost do, my Buff?

1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, ch. iv., p. 15. Mayhaps old buff has left my kinsman here his heir.

1764. Brydges, Homer Travest. (1797), II., 420. You seem afraid these buffs will flinch.

Buff it, verb (common).—1. To swear to; to adhere to a statement hard and fast; to stand firm. [Query from ‘to bluff.’] To buff it is sometimes enlarged—to buff it home.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v. Buff, To buff to a person or thing, is to swear to the identity of them.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. Buffing it home is swearing point-blank to anything, about the same as bluffing it, making a bold stand on no backing.

2. (common.)—To strip; to bare oneself to the ‘buff’ or skin.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, II., p. 416. ‘You had better buff it, Jim,’ says I; but Jim wouldn’t do it, and kept his trowsers on. Ibid, p. 417. So I locks the door, and buffs it, and forces myself up, etc.

In buff, phr. (common).—Naked; in a state of nudity. Among English equivalents are Abram (q.v.) and birthday suit (q.v.), but for all synonyms, see Nature’s garb.

1602. Dekker, Satiro-Mastix. I go in stag, in buff.

1855. Notes and Queries, 1 S., xi., p. 467. We say of one in a state of nudity, ‘he is in buff.’

To stand buff, verbal phr. (old).—To stand the brunt; to pay the piper; to endure without flinching. [From buff, an old pugilistic term for a blow.]

a. 1680. Butler, Hudibras’s Epitaph. And for the good old cause stood buff ’Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff.

1697. Vanbrugh, Provoked Wife, I., i. Would my courage come up to a fourth part of my ill-nature, I’d stand buff 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.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). To stand Buff (v.), to stand stoutly to a thing, to be resolute and unmoved, though the danger be great.

1761. Colman, Jealous Wife, V., i., 139. Stick close to my advice and you may stand buff to a tigress.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xii. ‘Stand buff against the reproach of thine over-tender conscience.’

Buff-Ball, subs. (vagrants’).—A dancing party in which both sexes dance together naked. [From buff (q.v.), naked, + ball.] Cf., Ballum rancum.

1880. Greenwood, In Strange Company. The most favourite entertainment at this place is known as buff-ball, in which both sexes—innocent of clothing—madly join, stimulated with raw whiskey, and the music of a fiddle and a tin whistle.

Buffer, subs. (old).—1. A dog. [Considerable obscurity surrounds the origin of this term. It occurs in varying forms from 1567 down to the present time. Harman gives it as bufe (1567) and bufa (1573); Rowlands as buffa (1610); Head as bugher (1673); whilst in The Memorials of John Hall it first appears as buffer.] Synonymous terms will be found under Tike.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. Bufa, a dogge.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Buffa, a Dogge.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11. Buffer, a Dog. [355]

1842. Lover, Handy Andy, ch. iv. ‘It is not every day we get a badger, you know.… Reilly the butcher has two or three capital dogs, and there’s a wicked mastiff below stairs, and I’ll send for my ‘buffer’ and we’d have some spanking sport.’

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 162. They had a dog belonging to them that would be sure to begin a quarrel with another buffer, whenever his master or mistress found a match.

2. (common.)—A man; a fellow—sometimes used with a slightly contemptuous meaning; generally speaking a familiar mode of address, as in Old Buffer, although even this form may be used disparagingly.

1749. H. Fitzcotton, Homer, I. (1748), 23. You’re a buffer always rear’d in The brutal pleasures of Bear-garden, [M.]

1837. Barham, I. L. (The Bagman’s Dog).

So I’ll merely observe, as the water grew rougher,

The more my poor hero continued to suffer,

Till the Sailors themselves cried, in pity, ‘Poor buffer!’

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. xiv. ‘I made a first-rate booby-trap, though, one day for an old yellow buffer who came in to see you.’

3. (pugilistic.)—A boxer; one of ‘the fancy.’ [Hotten gives this as of Irish origin, but it would rather seem to come from O.E. buff, a blow.]

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 7.

Last Tuesday, at Moulsey, the Balance of Power

Was settled by twelve Tightish Rounds in an hour,

The Buffers, both ‘Boys of the Holy Ground.’—Ibid, p. 51:—

Yet, sprightly to the Scratch both Buffers came,

While ribbers rung from each resounding frame,

And divers digs, and many a ponderous pelt,

Were on their broad bread-baskets heard and felt.

With roving aim, but aim that rarely miss’d,

Round lugs and ogles flew the frequent fist;

While showers of facers told so deadly well,

That the crush’d jaw-bones crackled as they fell!

4. (old.)—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. 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. (old.)—One who took a false oath for a ‘consideration.’ Cf., Bail.

6. (old.)—A pistol. Cf., Barker.

1824. Sir W. Scott, Red Gauntlet. ch. iii. Here be a pair of buffers will bite as well as bark.

7. (old.)—A smuggler; rogue; or cheat.

8. (nautical.)—A navy term for a boatswain’s mate, one of whose duties it is—or was—to administer the ‘cat.’ Cf., O.E. Buff, a blow.

Buff Howards, subs. (military).—The Third Regiment of Foot; now contracted into Buffs. It was nicknamed the Buff Howards, from its facings and Colonel from 1737 to 1749; also the Nut-crackers (q.v.); and the Resurrectionists (q.v.), from its re-appearing at the Battle of Albuera after being dispersed by the Polish Lancers; also the ‘Old Buffs,’ from its facings, and to distinguish it from the 31st, the ‘Young [356]Buffs’; but the most ancient ‘Old Buffs’ were the ‘Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiments,’ raised in 1664, and incorporated into the 2nd or Coldstream Guards in 1689.

1886. Tinsley’s Mag., ‘Our Regimental Mottoes and Nicknames,’ April, p. 319. The Buffs—a corps which 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 occasionally styled the ‘Old Buffs’; and the 31st, 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 31st, ‘Well done, Old Buffs!’ A few of the men, somewhat excited by close combat, replied, ‘We are not the Old Buffs, Sir.’ Whereupon the general cried, ‘Then well done, Young Buffs!’ And so the ‘Young Buffs’ they became, and have since remained, although the days of buff waistcoats and stockings have long passed away.

Buffle, subs. (old).—A fool; a stupid person. Cf., Buffle-head and Buff, sense 2. Murray quotes it as occurring in 1655, but the term is, as will be seen, nearly a century older. [After French buffle.] For synonymous terms, see following:—

English Synonyms. Buffle-head; Sammy-soft, often contracted into Sammy; sheep’s head; crock (the original meaning is rather concerned with a slow worthless horse, but in sporting phraseology it has also come to mean a foolish, good-for-nothing person); duffer; dotty (also used by prostitutes of a low class to designate their protector or fancy man); cuckoo; calf; cabbage-head; cake; block; greenhorn; old curmudgeon; doddering old sheep’s head.

French Synonyms. Un échappé de Charenton (échapper = 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 Bedlam in describing idiotic or foolish conversation or behaviour); échappé d’Herode (Cf., foregoing); un vieil embaumé (this term is applied to a foolish person well advanced in years; an old curmudgeon); un actionnaire (literary: properly a shareholder).

German Synonyms. Amhorez (literally a countryman; from Hebrew om, the people, + erez, country); Blechseppel (a soldier’s term); Chammer (a butcher’s or knacker’s word; it also signifies a donkey, and is derived from the Hebrew chamor); Dilmisch, Dilledapp, Dilldapp, Dilledali, Dellemelle, Dirledapp, Didel, Tatidel, Dudeldop, Dilldan (all these are popular expressions for a stupid fellow. Cf., dildalfen = to exhaust); Ewil (from the Hebrew owal; the term also stands for a sinner); Godeschaute (a great fool, a perfect fool; from the Hebrew godol, great, strong, celebrated, + schoto, a fool); Gomol (used only as a nickname; 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 [357]and Jack should, as applied to men, always be used depreciatingly, see Jack); Harbogen, Hornickel, Hornigel (besides signifying a fool or weak-headed one, these words are used to designate an ox; they are employed indiscriminately); Heckel, Häckel, Hegel (also a fop; heckeln = to fool anyone, probably from hacken or hecheln, to hew, to hackle); Koppel (a diminutive of Jacob; sometimes written Jockel); Ksil (from the Hebrew kossal; variations in spelling are Kessil, Kessel, and in students’ slang Theekessel); Nebbich or Newich (among thieves employed to designate the clumsy, stupid fellow who is only entrusted with unimportant tasks connected with a robbery, such for instance as holding the sacks in which the stolen property is placed, or in carrying off the plunder); Nille or Knolle or Nolle (these terms are used to signify a fool, jester, or the male penis); Nowel or Newil or Nebel (also a cunning fellow, a rogue or ‘sly blade’; das ist ein Newele, the equivalent of the Low German dat is een Aas vun Kêrl might be rendered by the English ‘he is a devil of a fellow’); Oochbram or Ogbrôm (a fool or 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 image of gigantic size. When the Israelites advanced on Edrëi, 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 wall, but when he discovered that it was a man he was seized with terror. Rum = on high, therefore Og b’rum = the [great] Og on high. Er hat die Grösse von Og Melech haboschon, he has the size of Og, King of Bashan. A corresponding expression is found in the Low German, de lange Rick, i.e., a tall, slenderly built fellow); Schote or Schaute or Schotte (from the Hebrew schoto; used especially of one who can be cheated or robbed with his eyes open; a tradesman or money 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 Gaunerspräche offers frequent examples in which contemptible names are also used synonymously for the male and female organs of generation).

Italian Synonyms. Fiadetto (besides its meaning of a dolt or duffer, this term is also applied to a thief, rogue, or indeed a villain of any description); ribeba or ribecca (a goose or simpleton; properly a violin or Jewish harp); cordovano (this also means in the Fourbesque, a big man; properly it is the name of Morocco or Spanish leather); furlana; marietta or marietto (a dolt or dunce).

Spanish Synonym. Dupa (Cf., English dupe).

1580. Beehive of the Romish Churche, fo. 66 b. An unlearned buffle did babble. [358]

1655. Comic Hist. Francion, iv., 22. He said to the three buffles who stood with their hats in their hands. Tell me you Waggs, etc. [M.].

1710. Pol. Ballads (1860), II., 90. To see the chief attorney such a buffle.

Buffle-Head, subs. (old).—An ignoramus; a stupid obtuse fellow. Cf., Buffle, and which see for synonyms.

1659. Lady Alimony, I., ii., in Hazl. Dodsley, xiv., 278. What a drolling buffle-head is this!

1663. Pepys, Diary, March 17. But my Lord Mayor a talking, bragging, buffle-headed fellow.

1668. Pepys, Diary, Jan. 29. He tells me that Townsend, of the Wardrobe, is the veriest knave and buffle-head that ever he saw.

1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, Act ii. Oliv. You know nothing, you buffle-headed stupid creature you.

1686. D’Urfey, Commonwealth of Women, I., i. A damn’d huffing fellow yonder, a Rebel, Whiggy buffle-head.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. Buffle-head, an ignoramus, or dull sot.

1887. Dead Man’s Rock, bk. I., ch. v. ‘Jonathan’s a buffle-head … a daft fule like Jonathan.’

Buffleheaded, adj. (old).—Stupid; idiotic; foolish. [From bufflehead, a foolish fellow (q.v.), + ed.]

1883. Baring Gould, John Herring, vol. II., ch. xxv., p. 275. (Tauchnitz ed.) ‘A buffleheaded sort of a chap,’ said Joyce.

Buffs, subs. (military).—The Third Regiment of Foot in the British army. From their facings.—See Buff Howards.

1849. Macaulay, Hist. England, I., 295. The third regiment, distinguished 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.

1874. Saturday Review, p. 95. This regiment [the First or Grenadier Guards] has almost the longest record of any in the service, only yielding, we believe, to the 1st Royals, and to the 3rd Buffs, which were originally raised for the service of the States-General of Holland.

Buffy, adj. (common).—Intoxicated. For synonyms, see Screwed.

1866. Yates, Land at Last, I., p. 85. Flexor was fine and buffy when he came home last night, after you was gone, sir.

1872. Besant and Rice, R. M. Mortiboy, ch. xlii. ‘My ideas take me first of all unawares. They generally begin, like a toothache, when I least expect them. Perhaps when I feel a little buffy, in the morning; mayhap, after an extra go of grog the night before. Then one comes all of a sudden.’

Bug, subs. (thieves’).—1. A breast pin.

2. (Old Irish.)—A jeering name for an Englishman—Grose says ‘because bugs were introduced into Ireland by Englishmen!!’

3. (American.)—The term bug is, in the United States, not confined merely, as in England, to the domestic pest, but is applied to all insects of the Coleoptera order, which includes what in this country are generally called beetles. The 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 be found under Norfolk Howards. [359]

1642. Rogers, Naaman the Syrian, 74. Do not all as much and more wonder at God’s rare workmanship in the Ant, the poorest bugge that creeps.

1888. 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 anybody in the practical affairs of life.

1888. 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.

4. (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. Thence, similarly, cattle-bugs, that is, wealthy stock-raisers; gold-bugs, or monied men, etc.

1843. Haliburton, Sam Slick in England, ch. xv. The great guns and big bugs have to take in each other’s ladies. Ibid, p. 24. Pick out the big bugs and see what sort of stuff they’re made of.

1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat, March 5. ‘Would Senator Allison’s well-known views on silver coinage operate materially against 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.’

That beats the bugs, phr. (American).—A phrase conveying a high mead of praise; ‘that beats cock-fighting.’

Verb (old).—1. A cant word among journeymen hatters, signifying the exchanging some of the dearest materials of which a hat is made for others of less value. Hats are composed of the furs and wools of diverse animals, among which is a small portion of bever’s fur. Bugging is stealing the bever, and substituting in lieu thereof an equal weight of some cheaper ingredient. Bailiffs who take money to postpone or refrain the serving of a writ, are said to bug the writ.—Grose.

2. (thieves’.)—To bribe. In old slang, bailiffs accepting money to delay service were said to bug the writ.

3. (thieves’.)—To give; hand over; to deliver. Cf., sense 2.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. ‘He bug’d me a quid.’ ‘Bug over the rag.’

Bugaroch, adj. (Old Irish).—Pretty; comely; handsome.—Grose.

Bug-Blinding, subs. (military).—Whitewashing operations.

Bugger, subs. (old).—1. A thief whose speciality is stealing breast-pins from drunken men. [From bug, a cant term for a breast pin, + (g) ger.] Also called a bug hunter. For synonymous terms, see Area-sneak and Bug-hunter.

2. (low.)—A man; a fellow. A coarse term of abuse without, however, any reference to the legal meaning—a sodomite. The French has an exact equivalent in Bougre, which Littré says is une terme de mépris et d’injure, usité dans le langage populaire le plus trivial et le plus grossier. The term, as applied to a man, is equivalent to bitch (q.v.), as applied to women. Hence also buggery (q.v.).

1719. D’Urfey, Pills, I., 59. From every trench the bougers fly. [M.] [360]

1854. M. Holmes, Tempest and Sun, 203. ‘If I’d known all you city buggers was comin’, I’d a kivered my bar feet.’ [M.]

Buggery, adj. (low).—An indefinite expression signifying disgust; or disapprobation. Of the same type as bloody, blamed, blasted, etc. (q.v.), but conveying a somewhat intenser meaning.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 23. A buggery fool, why don’t he let people go to hell their own way? Ibid, p. 180. Here mother, give us one of your buggery trotters.

Buggy, subs. (old).—A leather bottle.

Bugher.—See Buffer.

Bug-Hunter, subs. (thieves’).—A thief who plunders drunken men. The same as bugger, sense 1.

French Synonyms. Un poivrier (popular and thieves’); un allumeur (this term is also applied to an auction room ‘button’ or confederate, and to a card-sharper’s decoy); faire un louave, or faire les gavés (to go bug-hunting. Louave and gavé = drunkard, the latter from gaver, to glut).

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Those who hocus or plunder persons by stupefying; as ‘drummers,’ who drug liquor, and ‘bug-hunters,’ who plunder drunken men.

2. subs. (old).—An upholsterer.—Lexicon Balatronicum.

Bug-Juice, subs. (common).—1. Ginger ale.

2. (American.)—The Schlechter whiskey of the Pennsylvania Dutch—a very inferior spirit. Also called bug-poison. These terms are now applied to bad whiskey of all kinds. For synonyms, see Drinks.

1888. Texas Siftings, 7 July. It is a singular fact, that nearly every character introduced by Charles Dickens into his numerous novels, was addicted to drinking … each and every individual took his bug-poison with surprising regularity and eminent satisfaction.

Bugle It, verb (American cadets’).—To abstain from going into class until the last moment—i.e., until the bugle sounds.

Bug Walk, subs. (common).—A bed. [Derivation obvious.]

English Synonyms. Bedfordshire; Sheet Alley; Blanket Fair; Land of Nod; doss; rip; Cloth Market.

French Synonyms. Un portfeuille (familiar: properly ‘a portfolio’); la boîte à puces (popular: this almost exactly corresponds to the English ‘bug walk,’ the French phrase signifying ‘the flea box’); le pucier (popular: from puce = flea); le tremblant (popular); le plumard (popular); le fournil (popular and thieves’); la halle aux draps (popular: literally, Sheet Market or Fair. Cf., English ‘Blanket Fair’); le pagne; le panier aux ordures.

Build, subs. and verb (popular).—Properly ‘to build is to construct,’ says Murray, ‘for a dwelling and by extension of meaning … to construct by fitting together of 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, [361]there can be little doubt that when build is applied to the make or style of dress, that it is the purest slang—‘It’s a tidy build, who made it?’ A tailor, 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 Fennimore Cooper puts it, everything is built. The 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 even extended to individuals, to be built being used with the meaning of formed. ‘I was not built that way’; and hence in a still more idiomatic sense to express unwillingness to adopt a specified course or carry out any inconvenient plan.—See Not built that way.

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. xx. That creator of manly beauty, who builds your coat on the model of an Apollo.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. I., ch. x. If he forswore the primitive garments that his country-tailor had condemned him to wear, and adapted the build of his dress to the peculiar requirements of university fashion.

1871. A. Forbes, My Experience of the War, etc., II., p. 19. I met a gentleman who had got a dress coat built in the place [Versailles].

1880. Punch, Jan. 10, p. 6. The spread of education and liberal ideas.—His Grace the Duke of Poplar 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 pair of bags!’ Mr. Snippe (of Snippe 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—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.” ’

Build a chapel, verbal phr. (nautical).—To steer badly, and so cause a ship to veer round.

Not built that way, phr. (general).—Not to one’s taste, in one’s line—a general expression of disapproval or dissent, whether said of persons or things.

1881. American Humorist, May 12. We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that mankind is 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 you roll down?’

‘I wasn’t built that way.’

Bulgarian Atrocities, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Varna and Rutschuk Ry. 3 per cent. obligations.

1887. Atkin, House Scraps.

And we’ve really quite a crew

Of fancy names to represent a share.…

But fancy, by the way,

Now, in the present day,

A Varna’s a Bulgarian atrocity.

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 to bulge.

1888. Puck’s Library, May, p. 31. A Phenomenal 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 whispered earnestly: ‘what saloon d’ye work at? I’m a waiter, myself!’ [362]

To go or be on a bulge, verbal phr. (American).—To drink to excess.

To get the bulge on one, verbal phr. (American mining slang).—To obtain an advantage over; an equivalent is to get the drop on one.

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. Household Words, Oct. 10, p. 466. ‘Smart chap, that Jacob, for a nig!’ remarked he, as we told him the outlines of our story. ‘I guess now he’s had the bulge on you pretty considerable this trip.’

1888. American Humorist, May 12. ‘Pop! are you up there?’ ‘Yes, my son.’ ‘I saw he had the bulge on you and I got the gun and dropped him!’ ‘Right, my boy. That’s what I was praying for.’

Bulger, adj. (common).—Large; synonymous with buster (q.v.).

Bulk, subs. (old).—See quots.—See also File and Bulker, sense 2.

1674. R. Head, Canting Acad., 35. Bulk and File. The one jostles you, whilst the other picks your pocket.

1725. New Cant. Dict. Bulk, an assistant to a File or Pickpocket, who jostles a Person up against the Wall, while the other picks his Pocket.

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.

Bulker, subs. (old).—1. A prostitute of a low type—generally one who had no settled home; one who slept on a ‘bulk,’ a kind of sill projecting from a window. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

1691. Shadwell, Scowerers, Act i., Sc. 1. ‘Every one in a petticoat is thy mistress, from humble bulker to haughty countess.’

1728. Baily, Bulker, a Common Jilt; a Whore.—Canting term. [In a later edition (1790) he adds ‘one who would lay down on a bulk to anyone.’]

2. (old.)—A thief. Cf., Bulk.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), II., 108. Bulker occurs in a list of names of thieves.

1678. Four for a Penny, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), IV., 147. He is the treasurer of the thieves’ exchequer, the common fender of all bulkers and shop-lifts in the town.

Bulky, subs. (provincial).—A police constable. Said to be a northern term. For synonyms, see Beak.

1821. Edinburgh Mag., August, p. 156. This enterprising ruffian boasts of his success in deceiving the bulkies on a search, by concealing his stolen notes in the cape of his coat.

1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, bk. V., ch. ii. ‘Inquiries about your respectability would soon bring the bulkies about me.’

Adj. (Winchester College).—Rich or generous, or both. The opposite of brum (q.v.).

Bull, subs. (colloquial.)—1. Formerly a blunder or mistake; now generally understood as an inconsistent statement; a ludicrous contradiction, often partaking largely of the nature of a pun. [Bull in M.E. = to befool; to mock.] The term was current long before the form Irish bull is met with.

1642. Milton, Apol. for Smect., § 6. But that such a poem should be toothless, I still affirm it to be a bull, taking away the essence of that which it calls itself. For if it bite neither the persons nor the vices, how is it a satire? And if it bite either, how is it toothless?

1673. Dryden, The Assignation, Act iii., Sc. 1. 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. [363]

1689. Selden, Table Talk, p. 96 (Arber’s ed.). We can make no notion 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.

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. I., p. 6. With Stale Quibbles, Puns, and Bulls.

1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, ch. i. ‘I have got into such an infernal habit of making bulls, that I can’t write sense when I 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 bulls.

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 calino.

2. (thieves’.)—A crown or five shilling piece. Formerly bull’s eye (q.v.). [The origin is doubtful. It may be a mere allusion to the circular shape, or it may be of classical derivation, and be a reference to the herds and flocks which at one time constituted a man’s wealth. Cf., Latin pecunia, from pecus, cattle or oxen.]

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Bull, a crown, or five shillings.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. List of patterers’ words. Bull, a crown.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xlvi. Four half-bulls, wot you may call half-crowns.

1857. Notes and Queries, 2 S., 4 July. And 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 £100,000.

1889. Answers, July 27, p. 136, col. 2. Once found, the ‘lurker’ is pretty sure to draw a bull (five shillings), or even a ‘counter’ (pound).

3. (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 bear (q.v.). The term is now more frequently applied to the person engaged in the above-mentioned tactics, i.e., to 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. Cibber, The Refusal, or The Ladies’ Philosophy. Granger (to Witling, who has been boasting of his gain): And all this out of ‘Change Alley’? Witling: Every shilling, Sir, all out of stocks, Pulls, Bulls, Rams, Bears, and Bubbles.

1768. Foote, Devil upon Two Sticks, Act i. A mere bull and bear booby; the patron of lame ducks, brokers, and fraudulent foot bankrupts.

1774. Coleman, Man of Business, IV., i., in wks. (1777) II., 179. My young master is the bull, and Sir Charles is the bear. He 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.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iv. The hum and bustle which his approach was wont to produce among the bulls, bears, and brokers of Stock Alley.

1860. Peacock, Gryll Grange, ch. xviii. In Stock Exchange slang, Bulls are speculators for a rise, Bears for a fall.

1881. Mark Lane Express, Aug. 8, p. 1085. The speculative movement which has, so far, exerted a bull influence on the maize market.

On the French Bourse a bull is called un haussier; in Berlin he is known as liebhaler; and in Vienna the term used is contremine. [364]

4. (nautical.)—See Bull the cask or barrel.

5. (common.)—Explained by quotation.

1887. G. R. Sims, How the Poor Live, p. 148. In these places, too, the lodgers divide their food frequently, and a man, seeing a neighbour without anything, will hand him his teapot, and say, ‘Here you are, mate; here’s a bull for you.’ A ‘bull’ is a teapot with the leaves left in for a second brew.

6. (thieves’.)—Prison rations of meat, an allusion to its toughness; also generally used for meat without any reference to its being either tough or tender. A French equivalent is la bidoche. [Its derivation is suggested in the following quot.]

1883. Echo, Jan. 25, p. 2, col. 3. Thus from the French ‘bouilli’ we probably get the prison slang term bull for a ration of meat.

7. (American.)—A locomotive; the word is sometimes lengthened into bullgine.

8. (Winchester College.)—Cold beef, introduced at breakfast about 1873.

Verb (American University).—At Dartmouth College to recite badly; to make a poor recitation. [From the substantive bull, a blunder or contradiction, or from the use of the word as a prefix, signifying large, lubberly, blundering.]

Stale bull, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Stock held over for a long period with profit.

Bull and Cow, subs. (rhyming slang).—A row.

Bull-Bait, verb (? nonce word).—To bully; hector; badger. [Clearly a figurative usage of the legitimate word.]

1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. xviii., p. 82. ‘Which I meantersay,’ cried Joe, ‘that if you come into my place bull-baiting and badgering me, come out!’

Bull-Beef, subs. (old).—A frequently recurring term of contempt. Prisoners apply it to the hard, stringy meat supplied to them, and formerly the expression was in general use. ‘As ugly as bull-beef’; ‘as big as bull-beef’; ‘go and sell yourself for bull-beef’; were common colloquialisms at the end of the last and the beginning of the present century. Sometimes contracted into bull. Cf., Bully beef.

1579. Gosson, Apol. of the Schoole 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.

1607. Rowlands, Diogines Lanthorne, p. 8 (H. Cl. Repr., 1873). How lookes 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.

1738–1819. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Rights of Kings, Ode I., in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol. II., p. 219. The Cooks, Bluff on th’ occasion, put on bull’s-beef looks.

1782. Wolcot, Lyric Odes, No. 3, in wks. (1809) I., 62.

Yet thou may’st bluster like bull-beef so big.

1860. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Season Ticket, x. Which look as cheap as bull-beef at one cent a pound.

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, p. 524. To look as big as bull-beef. To look stout and hearty, as if fed on bull-beef. Bull-beef was formerly recommended for making men strong and muscular.

1888. Ashton, Mod. Street Ballads, p. 61.

For soon he will his trial take,

And hard bull-beef be munching.

[365]

Bull Calf, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bull calf, a great hulkey or clumsy fellow.

Bull Chin, subs. (old).—Explained by quotation.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bull chin, a fat, chubby child.

Bull-Dance, subs. (nautical).—A dance in which only men take part. Cf., Stag-dance, Gander-party, Hen-party, etc.

1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. Bull-dance. At sea it is performed by men only when without women. It is sometimes called a stag-dance.

1887. Graphic, March 26, p. 315, col. 3. It is obliged to be a bull-dance. Gentlemen dance with gentlemen, and the pianist is, of course, a gentleman also.

Bull-Dog, subs. (old).—1. A sheriff’s officer; a bailiff.

1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, iii., 2. 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.

2. (old.)—A pistol; in the naval service a main-deck gun. Cf., Barker and Bull-dog blazer.

1700. Farquhar, Constant Couple, iii., 2. He whips out his stiletto, and I whips out my bull-dog.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ii., 191. ‘I have always a brace of bull-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 for main-deck guns.

1881. Daily News, Oct. 27, p. 6, col. 2. Revolver cartridges of the ordinary ‘bull-dog’ pattern.

3. (old.)—See quot.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Bull-dog, a sugar-loaf.

4. (University.)—A proctor’s assistant or marshall. Cf., quot. from Brewer’s Reader’s Handbook.

1823. Lockhart, Reg. Dalton, I., x. (1842), 59. Long forgotten stories about proctor’s bit and bull-dogs baffled. [M.]

1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, bk. III., ch. iii. ‘The proctor and his bull-dogs came up … and gave chase to the delinquents … the night was dark, and they reached the College in safety.’

1847. Tennyson, Princess, Prologue.

We unworthier told

Of college: he had climb’d across the spikes,

And he had squeezed himself betwixt the bars,

And he had breath’d the Proctor’s dogs.

1880. Brewer, 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 after dinner without cap and gown, etc.

5. (University: obsolete.)—A name for a member of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Bull-Dog Blazer, subs. (American).—A revolver. [Probably a mere amplification of the kindred English canting term; bull-dog, a pistol, + blazer, an allusion to the flash attendant upon firing.] For synonyms, see Meat in the pot.

Bull-Dose, subs. (American).—A severe castigation or flogging. Verb.—To thrash; to intimidate; to bully. A term of Southern political origin, originally referring to an association of negroes formed to insure, by violent and unlawful means, the success of an election. The phrase has now [366]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 ‘l’ and with ‘s’ and ‘z,’ the correct version is bulldose.] Also derivatives bulldoser (q.v.), and bull-dosing, mutatis mutandis, of a kindred meaning.

1876. New York Tribune, Dec. There was 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.… Mr. C—— was in the chair, and was warming up the faithful with an address, when the Republicans crowded 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.’

1880. Illust. London News, vol. LXXVII., p. 587, col. 1. The Americans have lately been using a strange word, ‘bull-dosing,’ which signifies, I believe, political intimidation, but not personal molestation.

1881. Sat. Review, July 9, p. 40, col. 2. To ‘bull-dose’ a negro in the Southern States means to flog him to death or nearly to death.

1881. Sat. Review, July 9, p. 40, col. 2. A ‘bull-dose’ means a large efficient dose of any sort of medicine or punishment.

1887. Cassell’s Mag. (Art. on ‘Americanisms’), June, p. 412. To ‘bulldoze’ is to intimidate, and the word was originally used respecting the alleged interference with negro voters in Louisiana.

1888. Detroit 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. They were driven to the polls, and compelled to vote for Seymour.

A French equivalent is faire son fendart (fendart signifies ‘braggart’ or ‘swaggerer’; fendant in literary French means a hector or bully).

Bull-Doser, subs. (American).—1. A bully; braggart; swaggerer. Cf., Bull-dose. French printers call a bully un mata, an abbreviation of matador. It is curious that this term in the original Spanish not only signifies a killer of bulls (as in a bull-fight), but also a murderer.

1878. N. American Review, vol. CXXVII., p. 426. The great ‘bulldozer’ of Europe.

1882. New York Tribune, 3 May. The hotel where he was staying was visited … by a mob of bull-dozers. [M.]

2. A pistol.

1881. Sat. Review, July 9, p. 40, col. 2. A Californian bull-doser is a pistol which carries a bullet heavy enough to destroy human life with certainty.

Bullet. To give the bullet, verbal phr. (common).—To discharge an employé. Cf., To give the bag, sense 2, under Bag, and Sack. [Possibly a punning allusion to the word ‘discharge.’] The term is variously used. To shake the bullet at anyone, is to threaten with ‘the sack,’ but not to give actual notice to leave. To get the bullet is to get notice, while to get the instant bullet is to be discharged upon the spot.

1841. Savage, Dict. of Art of Printing. A workman was said to have got the bullet when he was discharged instanter—without the customary notice on either side.

1872. Chamb. Jour., March 9, p. 147. When a fellow gets the bullet from his work, he mostly has a spell at cab-driving. [367]

1887. Punch, Sept. 17, p. 126. I have just got the ‘bullet,’ Mate—sacked without notice.

Bullfinch, subs. (old).—1. A stupid fellow.

2. (hunting.)—A high thick hedge; one difficult to jump or rush through. [Most authorities agree in suggesting the origin of this term in a corruption of ‘bull-fence,’ i.e., a fence capable of preventing cattle from straying.]

1832. Quart. Rev., Mar., 226. The 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. [M.]

1864. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. ix. The third is a teaser—an ugly black bull-finch with a ditch on the landing side, and a drop into a ploughed field.

1880. 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.

Bull-Jine, subs. (nautical).—A sailor’s 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. (harlotry).—Money extorted from or given by those who in places of public resort have been detected in flagrante delicto with a woman, as a bribe to silence.

Bull-Nurse, subs. (nautical).—See quot.

1885. Graphic, April 4, p. 326, col. 3. ‘Bull-nurses.’ Perhaps we ought to 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.

Bullock, subs. (schoolboys’).—1. See quot.

1855. J. K., in Notes and Queries, 1 S., v., 12, 3 Nov., p. 344. Bullock, a cheat; but as I think, only when cheating at marbles.

2. (Australian.)—A countryman or bushman. Cf., Bullock-puncher.

Verb.—To bully; to bounce over; to intimidate. [Query from bully.]

1716. M. Davies, Ath. Brit., I., 272. Upon the evidence of that bullocking Fryer Campanella. [M.]

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. II., ch. vi. ‘And then you have charged me with bullocking you into owning the truth.’

1763. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, Act ii., Sc. 2. She shan’t think to bullock and domineer over me.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bullock, to hector, bounce, or bully.

Bullock’s Heart.—See Token.

Bullock’s Horn, verb (rhyming slang).—To pawn. For synonyms, see Pop.

Bull Party, subs. (old).—A party of men only. Cf., Bull-dance, Stag-party, Hen-tea, etc.

Bull-Puncher.—A variant of cow-puncher (q.v.).

Bull’s Eye, subs. (schoolboys’).—1. A sweetmeat of which peppermint is an important ingredient. [It received its name in allusion to its globular shape.]

1825. Hone, Every-day Bk., I., 51. Hardbake, brandy-balls, and bull’s-eyes. [M.] [368]

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 83. Dr. Switcher (who had discovered bull’s eyes about, and traced them to the original donor). ‘Don’t you know, Muggins, there’s an old proverb that “Fools give feasts and Wise men eat them” ’? Muggins. ‘Yes, Sir, and there’s another one, sir.’ The Doctor. ‘What’s that, sir? Now, Sir?’—(noticing a reticence)—‘What is it, Sir?’—(sternly)—‘or else—!’ Muggins (seeing no escape). ‘Please, Sir, “W—— wise men make proverbs and F—— Fools repea——.” ’ [Catches it!]

2. (old.)—A five-shilling piece, otherwise known as a bull (q.v.).

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. [Mentioned as a cant term for a crown.]

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11. Bull’s-eye, a Crown.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bull’s-eye, a crown piece.

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. To give [or get] the bull’s feather, verbal phr. (old).—To be made, or be a cuckold. Cf., Acteon. The French say also planter des plumes de bœuf.

16(?). Song of the 17th Century, quoted by Nares—‘The Bull’s Feather.’

It chanced not long ago as I was walking,

An echo did bring 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 presently she reply’d sweet, art thou jealous?

Thou canst not play Vulcan before I play Venus;

Thy fancies are foolish, such follies to gather,

There’s many an honest man hath worn the bull’s feather—

Though it be invisible, let no man it scorn,

Though it be a new feather made of an old horn,

He that disdains it in heart or mind either,

May he be the more subject to wear the bull’s feather.

1748. Richardson, Cl. Harlowe, v., 295. A good whimsical instrument, take it altogether! But what, thinkest thou, are the arms to this matrimonial harbinger?… Three crooked horns, smartley top-knotted with ribands; which being the ladies’ wear, seem to intimate that they may very probably adorn, as well as bestow, the bull’s-feather.

Bull the Cask or Barrel, verbal phr. (nautical).—To pour water into a rum cask when empty, with a view to keeping the wood moist and preventing leakage. The water, receiving after some time a strong impregnation, is very intoxicating. The authorities, not looking with much 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 out, has often proved too attractive for seamen to resist. Again it is common to talk in the same way of ‘bulling a teapot,’ ‘coffee-pot,’ etc.; that is; after the first ‘brew’ has been exhausted, by adding fresh water, and boiling over again, to make a second brew from the old materials. This probably was 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. [Thought to have its origin in French boullir, whence bouilloire, a tea-kettle; bouillon, a decoction [369]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 often. I could do nothing but bull the barrel, that is, put a little water into it, and so preserve at least the appearance of vookey.

1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xx. ‘Why, Jacob, a bull means putting a quart or two of water into a cask which has had spirits in it.’

1887. G. R. Sims, How the Poor Live, p. 148. In these places, too, the lodgers divide their food frequently, and a man, seeing a neighbour without anything, will hand him his teapot, and say, ‘Here you are, mate; here’s a bull for you.’ A ‘bull’ is a teapot with the leaves left in for a second brew.

Bull-Trap, subs. (American thieves’).—A personator of a police constable.

Bully, subs. (old).—1. A ‘protector’ 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 companions.

1706. Defoe, Jure Divino, i., 8. Mars the celestial bully they adore, And Venus for an everlasting whore.

French Synonyms. Poisson (familiar and popular: one who subsists on the gains of a prostitute, the latter being known as his marmite, i.e., ‘flesh-pot’; poisson signifies literally ‘a fish,’ and Michel says such a one was formerly known as poisson d’avril, a punning variation of maquereau [which see], mackerel being fit for food about that month. Poisson d’avril properly means a trick or fool’s errand; recevoir un poisson d’avril is to be made an April-fool); Alphonse (a French form of Alphonso, a ‘fancy name’ for a ‘fancy man.’ Cf., Adonis for a dandy. Alphonsisme is the calling of an Alphonse); baigne-dans-le-beurre (popular: another allusion to mackerel which is generally served with butter); barbise (popular); barbe (popular: lit. ‘beard’); barbille 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, signifying properly ‘churchwarden.’ Cf., Sacristain); benoît (popular); brochet (popular: properly this is ‘pike’ or ‘jack’); dos, dos vert, and dos d’azur (general: dos = back); casquette à trois ponts (popular: so called from a cap often worn by such persons); chevalier du bidet (bidet = pony; Cf., Omnibus); chevalier de la guiche (familiar); chiqueur de blanc (chiqueur = glutton, and blanc, a street-walker. Cf., mangeuse de viande crue); bouffeur de blanc (popular); costel (popular); cravate verte (popular); guiche (popular); dessous (thieves’: a man for whom ‘love’ is cherished by a prostitute); écaillé (literally ‘one with scales,’ like those of a fish—allusive of maquereau; fish, another reference to maquereau); foulard rouge (popular: lit. ‘red silk handkerchief’); gentilhomme sous marin (popular); ambassadeur (popular); gonce à écailles (gonce = man; à écailles = with scales, an allusion to maquereau); goujon (general: [370]? does this come from the Gascon gouie, whence comes gouge, a prostitute); lacromuche (popular); retrousseur (popular: retrousser properly means ‘to turn up,’ ‘to cock’); dauphin (popular: lit. dolphin); macchoux (popular); machabée (popular: lit. a corpse); mac or macque (popular; abbreviations of maquereau); macrottin (familiar); poisson frayeur (frayer [of fishes] signifies ‘to milt’); releveur de fumeuse (popular: Cf., relever le chandelier, i.e., to lift up the candlestick; from a practice of placing the fees of a prostitute under a candlestick); maquignon à bidoche (popular: maquignon is properly a ‘horsedealer,’ and bidoche = meat); mangeur de blanc (general: a devourer of prostitutes. Cf., chiqueur de blanc); tête de patère (popular); marloupatte, marloupin (see marlou); marquant (thieves’); mec (popular and thieves’); mec de la guiche (so called from his kiss-curls—des guiches = kiss-curls); monsieur à nageoires (lit. gentleman with fins); monsieur à rouflaquettes (popular: rouflaquettes = aggerawators, q.v.); neg en viande chaude (popular: neg is an abbreviation of négociant, i.e., merchant, dealer; viande chaude = hot meat); patenté (popular: patente is the name of a cap worn by the fraternity); porte-nageoires (see monsieur à nageoires); roi de la mer (popular: lit. king of the sea. Cf., maquereau, poisson, etc.); rouflaquette (Cf., monsieur à rouflaquettes); roule-en-cul, soixante-six (popular: insulting terms which might be translated by ‘pensioner,’ with an obscene prefix); un qui va aux épinards (popular: one who receives money from a prostitute, épinards = spinach. Cf., ‘to take one’s greens’); valet de cœur (popular: the lover of a prostitute); visqueux (properly this signifies ‘viscous,’ ‘slimy,’ ‘clammy’; the term is applied to the lowest type of bullies); bibi (popular); bras de fer (lit. ‘arm of iron’).

1729. Gay, Polly, Act ii., Sc. 7. Jimmy: Sure never was such insolence! how could you leave me with this bawdy-house bully?

1753. Adventurer, No. 100. I learned to pack cards and to cog a die; became a bully to whores.

1766. Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield, ch. xx. The lady was only a woman of the town, and the fellow her bully and a sharper.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act. ii., Sc. 4. M’L. Plaise your honour, I 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 years in a week.—I caught her charging these honest gentlemen (pointing to Tom and Jerry) in a most impositious manner, and when I civilly axed her, how she could think of getting drunk, and acting so, she called her bullies here. (Pointing to Kate and Sue.)

1883. A. Dobson, Fielding, p. 129. Probably a professed sabreur, if not a salaried bully like Captain Stab in the Rake’s Progress.

1887. Daily News, 15 July, 6, 5. It was not an uncommon thing for a prostitute to solicit a man, and if he refused her importunities, to call upon a ‘bully,’ and complain that she had been assaulted.

2. (Eton College.)—A melée at football; the equivalent of the Rugby ‘scrimmage’ and the Winchester ‘hot.’ It is where the majority of players play.

3. (nautical.)—A term of endearment in use amongst sailors. Equivalent to ‘pal,’ ‘mate,’ and similar terms. In this sense it has long been in use, Shakspeare often employing it. Probably hence arose the American [371]and colonial adjectival use of the word in the sense of fine, ‘crack.’

4. (American thieves’.)—A weapon formed by tying a stone or a piece of lead in a handkerchief. This is used knuckleduster fashion.

Adj. (American).—Fine; 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 U.S.A., whence it has made the circuit of the English speaking world. Now applied to anything deserving of commendation, and used very much in the same way and with the same shades of meaning as ‘crack.’

English Synonyms. See A1.

French Synonyms. In addition to those given under A1 may be mentioned the following:—muche; pas piqué des hannetons (popular: literally not bitten or stung by May-bugs or cockchafers).

1681. Chetham, Anglers’ Vade Mecum (1689), pref. From such bully fishers this book expects no other reception.

1855. Cairo City Times. The bully steamboat ‘Crystal Palace’ passed up to St. Louis on Monday. We have no doubt she left papers.

1870. Meade, New Zealand, p. 331. The roof fell in, there was a ‘bully’ blaze.

1875. N. Amer. Review, vol. CXX., p. 128. ‘That,’ replied Earney, ‘is Mercury, the god of merchants and thieves.’ ‘Good! that’s bully!’ exclaimed Tweed.

1880. Bret Harte, A Lonely Ride. ‘I thought you changed horses on the road?’ ‘So we did. Two hours ago.’ ‘That’s odd. I didn’t notice it.’ ‘Must have been asleep sir. Hope you had a pleasant nap. Bully place for a nice quiet snooze,—empty stage, sir!’

That’s bully for you, phr. (American).—Grand or fine; this phrase, during the Civil War, had a remarkably popular run.

1873. Justin McCarthy, Fair Saxon, ch. xix. ‘Darling boy! I had thought of this already.’ ‘Bully for you, mamma! Of course you did.’

Bully boy or bully boy with the glass eye, phr. (American).—A good fellow.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxiv. ‘Well said, my hearty captain!’ cried Glossin, endeavouring to catch the tone of revelry.… ‘That’s it, my bully boy! Why, you’re alive again now!—’

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. viii. ‘And you, Mr. Frank Osbaldistone, are not the first bully-boy that has said stand to a true man.’

1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Innocents at Home, p. 20. You ought to seen him get started once. He was a bully boy with a glass eye.

Bully-Back or Bully-Buck, subs. (old).—Thus described by 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 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., Bully-boss.

1626. Amherst, Terræ Fil., xxxiii., 179. They have spirtual bravves on their side, and old lecherous bully-backs to revenge their cause. [M.]

Bully Beef, subs. (military).—Tinned meat. Also called iron ration (q.v.). In the navy by [372]bully-beef is meant boiled salt beef. [This may either be a corruption of bull beef or from the French bouilli, boiled meat.]

1883. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, pref., xii. Soup-and-bouilli is another standing sea dish, and, taking it all round, is the most disgusting of the provisions served out to the merchant sailor. I have known many a strong stomach, made food-proof by years of pork eaten with molasses, and biscuit alive with worms, to be utterly capsized by the mere smell of soup-and-bouilli. Jack calls it ‘soap and bullion, one onion to a gallon of water,’ and thus fairly expresses the character of the nauseous compound.

1887. 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.

Bully-Boss, subs. (American).—The landlord of a brothel or thieves’ den. [From bully, sense 1 (q.v.), + boss, a master.]

Bully-Buck.—See Bully-back.

Bully Cock, subs. (old).—1. See quot.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bully-cock, one who foments quarrels in order to rob the persons quarrelling.

2. subs. (old).—A low round hat with broad brim.—See Billy-cock.

3. (old.)—A man who sets other people by the ears, so that, while they quarrel, he may rob them with impunity.

Bullyrag or Ballyrag, verb (colloquial).—To revile; abuse; scold vehemently—usually in vulgar or obscene language; also to swindle by means of intimidation. [The etymology is unknown.]

French Synonyms. Arranger aux petits oignons; monter une gamme (popular: gamme = thrashing or ‘walloping’); habiller quelqu’un de taffetas (popular: i.e., to clothe anyone with fear; Cf., ‘clothed with shame’); agonir (popular: ‘to haul over the coals’; properly ‘to pull to pieces’); secouer les puces à quel-qu’un (popular: secouer = to shake; puces = fleas. Cf., ‘to send one away with a flea in the ear’).

1760. T. Warton, Oxford Newsman’s Verses.

On Minden’s plains, ye meek Mounseers!

Remember Kingsley’s grenadiers.

You vainly thought to ballarag us,

Like your fine squadron off Cape Lagos.

1861. Charles Lever, One of Them, p. 36. He bullyragged me.

1876. S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Tom Sawyer, p. 118. I don’t want nothing better ’n this; I don’t git enough to eat gin’ally,—and here they can’t come and pick a feller and bullyrag him so.

1880. Jas. Greenwood, Maids in Waiting, in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 143. You should have heard the bullyragging I got, ma’am, from the 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 never been ‘bally-ragged’ in his own house for ‘nothing’—except by his wife—before.

Bullyragging, verb, subs. (colloquial).—Scolding; abuse; and sometimes swindling. [From bullyrag (q.v.) + ing.] For synonyms, see Wigging.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xviii. ‘It would be a good thing for 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. Mrs. Parr, Adam and Eve, xxi., 292. There’ll be more set to the score o’ my coaxin’ than ever ‘all be to Adam’s bully-ragging.’ [M.] [373]

1882. Daily Telegraph, Oct. 19, p. 3, col. 1. ‘And you should have heard the bully-ragging I got, ma’am, from the mistress and the master as well.’

Bully-Rook or Bully-Rock, subs. (old).—Originally this term seems to 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 combination of bully (q.v.) + rook (q.v.), a sharper.]

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act i., Sc. 3. Why says my bully-rook?

1633. Shirley, Wittie Faire One, Act iii., Sc. 4. Such in the spirit of sack, till we be delphic, and prophesy, my bully-rook.

1697. Praise of Yorkshire Ale. My bully-rocks, I’ve been experienced long In most of Liquors. [M.]

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2 ed.). Bully, or bully-rock, 1. a boisterous, hectoring fellow.

Bully Ruffian, subs. (old).—A footpad or highwayman, who, to the injury of robbery, added the insult of coarse invective. Cf., Bridle-cull.

Bully Trap, subs. (old).—A man who, though of mild outside demeanour, is a match for any ruffian who may attack him. Quoted by Grose [1785].

Bully Up (Uppingham School), verb.—To hurry up. Mostly used in the imperative.

Bum, subs. (vulgar).—1. The posteriors; or, as Jamieson puts it, ‘the part on which we sit.’ [Considerable doubt exists as to the origin of this familiar term. Murray thinks the guess that bum is an abbreviation of ‘bottom’ is at variance with the historical fact that the latter, in this sense, is found only from the eighteenth century; besides which there are phonetic difficulties. The origin is probably onomatopoetic.] Besides the synonyms mentioned under Blind cheeks, the following may be cited:

English Synonyms. Bum-fiddle; bumpkin.

French Synonyms. Le foiron (popular: from foire = diarrhœa); le tal (popular); le garde-manger (popular: Michel says this expression is an old one and is to be found in ‘Curiositez françoises’ in the sense of ‘a necessary house’); le naze (equivalent to ‘smeller,’ or ‘smelling cheat’); le soufflet (popular: literally ‘a pair of bellows’); le prouas (the same as le prose, of nautical origin); la contre-basse (popular: the ‘double bass.’ Cf., Ars musica); le schaffouse (popular: a play of words, the town of that name being situated on the Lower Rhine—chute du Rhein, and chute du rein, the lower part of the back); le gingin (popular); la tabatière (popular: literally ‘the snuff-box’); la tire-lire (popular: Rigaud says this term is in allusion to the means of subsistence [daily bread] of prostitutes); la giberne (literally ‘cartridge-box’); le proye (an old canting term); le cadet (popular); la figure (i.e., ‘the face.’ Cf., ‘cheeks’); la canonnière (literally ‘a drain pipe’ or ‘pop-gun’); l’oignon (literally ‘the onion’); la machine à moulures; le département du bas Rhin (‘the department of the Lower Rhine’; rein = back—a play upon words); le démoc; le schelingophone; [374]le Prussien (from the Gypsy prusiatin̆i, translated by Borrow as ‘pistol’); le panier aux crottes (panier = basket; crottes = dung); le visage de campagne; le fignard (i.e., ‘a one-eyed cheek’); le visage sans nez (i.e., ‘the face without a nose’); le pétrouskin; le face du grand Turc; le tortillon; le fleurant (popular: also ‘a nose-gay’); le pedzouille (familiar: ‘a peasant’ or ‘clod’); le cadran or le cadran lunaise (cadran = dial); le piffe (thieves’); le médaillon (popular: literally ‘a medallion’ or ‘locket’); l’arrière-train (familiar: lit. ‘after-carriage’); le trèfle (popular: this also signifies ‘tobacco’); messire Luc (familiar: ‘Mr. Luke,’ sometimes also ‘Nancy.’ Cf., Mrs. Jones); le moulin à vent (lit. the ‘windmill’); le ponant (popular); la lune (popular: lune in slang means a large full face); le bienséant (popular); le pétard (popular and thieves’: it also stands for sou; in the Normandy patois pétra is used interchangeably with pétard); le ballon (popular: ballon = balloon; the analogy is obvious); le moutardier (i.e., the mustard-pot); le baril de moutarde (cads’: the mustard barrel); l’obusier (lit. the howitzer).

German Synonyms. Tochas; Toges; Doges.

Italian Synonym. Rioppo.

1387. Trevisa, Higden Rolls, 6 S., 357. It semeth that his bom is oute that hath that euel [ficus, i.e., piles]. [M.]

1592. Shakspeare, Mids. Night’s Dream, ii., 1, l. 51.

The wisest aunt telling the saddest tale,

Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me;

Then slip I from her bum, down topples she,

And tailor cries, and falls into a couch;

And then the whole quire hold their hips, and loffe.

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 bumme.

1609. Shakspeare, Timon of Athens, Act i., Sc. 2.

What a coil’s here!

Serving of becks, and jutting out of bums!

1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, iv., 4. Your breeches sit close enough to your bum.

1729. Swift, Intelligencer, No. 8, p. 83 (2 ed.).

And first his bum you see him clap

Upon the Queen of Sheba’s lap.

1742. Shenstone, Schoolmistress, st. 18.

All, but the wight of bum y-galled, he

Abhors both bench, and stool, and fourm, and chair.

1782. Wolcot, Lyric Odes, No. i., in wks. (1809) I., 12. That lazy bum-delighting thing, Ridly the Chancellor.

2. (old.)—An abbreviated form Of bum bailiff (q.v.).

1663. Butler, Hudibras, I., i., 393.

It had appeared with courage bolder,

Then Sergeant Bum, invading shoulder.

1698–1700. Ward, London Spy, pt. VII., p. 153.

The Vermin of the Law, the Bum,

Who gladly kept his distance,

Does 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. (public schools’.)—A birching; ‘hiding’ or ‘tanning.’ For synonyms, see Tanning. Cf., also Bash and Baste.

Verb (old).—To arrest. [An obvious allusion to the duty of a bum or bum-bailiff (q.v.).]

Cherry Bums, subs. (military).—The 11th Hussars. Cherry-bum is a corruption of Cherubim; but the obvious reference is to the scarlet trowsers worn by this branch of the service. A similar [375]nickname is given to the French Chasseurs—Culs rouges.—See Cherubim.

To toe one’s bum, phr. (low).—An implied threat of physical castigation, rarely, however, carried out literally; to put or ‘chuck’ out; to show the door to—either will explain the meaning. Sometimes the phrase occurs as ‘to hoof one’s bum.’

French Synonyms. Sauter sur la contrebasse (popular); filer un coup de trottinet dans l’oignon (thieves’); boucher la lumière (popular: properly ‘to stuff up the touch-hole’); enlever le ballon à quelqu’un (popular: the allusion is to raising an air balloon with the foot); donner un coup de pied juste au bon endroit (popular: ‘to give a kick just in the right part’); botter (popular: literally ‘to make’ or ‘supply anyone with boots’); détacher un coup de pinceau dans la giberne (popular: coup de pinceau = ‘a kick,’ or ‘a blow with the foot’; giberne = cartridge-box or, in slang, the breech); crever un œil à quelqu’un (popular: ‘to stave in one’s eye.’ Cf., Cyclops); graisser le train derrière (i.e., ‘to grease the hinder carriage.’ Cf., Eng. Basting); détruire le faubourg à quelqu’un (popular: properly faubourg = suburb or outskirt); enlever le schelingophone à quelqu’un (popular).

Bum Bags, subs. (popular).—Trowsers. [From bum, the posteriors, + bags (q.v.).]

Bum Bailiff, also Bum Baily, subs. (old).—An opprobrious name for a bailiff or sheriff’s officer. Frequently contracted into bum or bummy. [Thought to be derived from bum (q.v.), an allusion 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 cul, and it is curious that this term is also, in common use, abbreviated to cul, answering to the English contraction, bum.]

1602. Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act iii., Sc. 4. Sir Jo. Go, Sir Andrew; scout me for him at the corner of the orchard like a bum-baily.

1628. H. Shirley, Martyr’d Souldier, Act v. I was first a Varlet, then a Bum-baily, now an under Jailor.

1761. Dr. Hawkesworth, Edgar and Emmeline, ii., 1. By the heavens! she has the gripe of a bum-bailiff.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. ‘We are in right opposition to sign and seal, writ and warrant, serjeant and tipstaff, catch-poll and bum-bailey.’

1869. Mrs. H. Wood, Roland Yorke, ch. xxxii. ‘You know the state we were in all the summer: Gerald next to penniless, and going about in fear of the bum-bailies.’

Bum Bass, subs. (old).—Explained by quot.

1809. S. Pegge, Anonymiana, p. 415 (ed. 1809). The humble-bee ought rather, 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.

Bumble, subs. (common).—A beadle. [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 idle fellow, or blunderer. A French equivalent is chasse-coquin (literally a beggar driver). Cf., Bumble-crew and Bumbledom.] [376]

1883. Punch, August 4, p. 51, col. 1.

A helpless ‘nuisance’ shunned by the Inspector,

Ignored by bumbles and by Boards of Works.

Bumble-Crew, subs. (popular).—A collective name for corporations, vestries, and other official bodies. [From bumble (q.v.) + crew.]—See Bumbledom.

Bumbledom, subs. (popular).—A term applied to the spirit of collective petty officialism; red tape fussiness and pomposity. [From bumble (q.v.) + dom.]

1856. Saturday Review, II., p. 12, col. 1. The collective Bumbledom of Westminster. [M.]

1884. Daily News, Dec. 27, p. 6, col. 1. Our scheme is unfolded to the chief officer—not the slightest trace of bumbledom about him—a kind-hearted, genial, happy-faced individual.

Bumble Puppy, subs. (popular).—Family whist, i.e., ‘unscientific’ whist. Also applied, says Hotten, to a game played in public houses on a large stone, placed in a slanting direction, on the lower end of which holes are made, and numbered like the holes in a bagatelle-table. The player rolls a stone ball, or marble, from the higher end, and according to the number of the hole it falls into the game is counted. It is undoubtedly the very ancient game of Troule-in-madame.

1886. Daily News, Dec. 25, p. 5, col. 2. Christmas cards, and mince-pies, and another helping of turkey, and family whist, or bumble puppy.

Bumbles, subs. (general).—Coverings for the eyes of horses that shy in harness. Cf., Blinkers.

Bumbo, subs. (West Indian.)—1. The female pudenda; a term applied by negroes. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

2. (old.)—Smollett, in a note to the first quotation as follows, says bumbo was a liquor composed of ‘rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg.’ Grose gives it as ‘brandy, water, and sugar’—the component parts seem to vary according to taste.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xxxiv. Who were making merry in the ward-room, round a table well stored with bumbo and wine.

1756. Diary of a Sussex Tradesman, in 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 liquor.

1882. Northumbrian Minstrelsy, etc., p. 113, quoted in N. and Q., 7 S., i., 195.

The pitmen and the keelmen trim,

They drink bumbo made of gin.

Bum-Brusher, subs. (schoolboys’).—A schoolmaster; also applied to an usher. [From bum, the posteriors, + brusher, in allusion to the office a schoolmaster is sometimes called upon to perform by way of punishment.]

English Synonyms. Flaybottom; haberdasher of pronouns.

French Synonyms. Un marchand de soupe (marchand = merchant; soupe = soup); un chien de cour (i.e., ‘a watch-dog’); un fouette-cul (a literal translation of bum-brusher).

1704. T. Brown, wks. (1760) II., 86. [Dionysius] was forced to turn bum-brusher.

1788. New London Magazine, p. 137. A successor was immediately called from that great nursery of bum-brushers, Appleby School. [377]

1832. Blackwood’s Mag., Oct., p. 426. To protract existence … in the shape of bum-brushers, and so forth, after the fashion of the exalted emigrés of 1792?

1838. Comic Almanac, Dec. [School-master’s Letter signed] Barnabas Bom-brush.

Bum Charter, subs. (thieves’).—Explained by quot.

1819. J. H. Vaux, Memoirs. Bum-charter is 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.

Bumclink, subs. (provincial).—In the Midland counties the inferior beer brewed for hay-makers and harvest labourers. [Derivation obvious.] For synonyms, see Swipes.

Bum Curtain, subs. (Cambridge Univ.).—1. An academical gown when worn scant and short; especially applied to the short black gown worn till 1835 by members of Caius College. Cf., Bum-perisher.

1835. (Quoted in Whibley’s Three Centuries of Cambridge Wit [1889].)

’Tis the College of Caius—’tis the land where the ‘Bum

Curtain’ lately was sported by each jolly chum,

But now black and blue are the gowns that they wear

Like the eye of a drunkard returned from a fair.

Bumf, subs. (schooboys’).—Paper. [An abbreviation of bum-fodder (q.v.), an obvious allusion to toilet paper.]

Bumfhunt, subs. (Wellington College).—A paper-chase. [Derived from the popular schoolboy name for paper, i.e., bumf (q.v.).]

Bum Fiddle, subs. (old).—The posteriors. For synonyms, see Blind cheeks and Bum.

Bum Fidget, subs. (old).—A restless individual. [Obviously from bum, the posterior, + fidget, i.e., one who cannot sit still.]

Bum Fodder, subs. (old).—1. Low class worthless literature; a term once in literary use.—See sense 2.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I., xiii. Torche-culs, arsewisps, bum fodders.

1753. Scots’ Magazine, April, p. 208, col. 1 (title). Bum fodder for the ladies. [M.]

2. (low.)—Toilet paper, otherwise known as curl paper (q.v.). Cf. Bumf.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bum fodder, soft paper for the necessary house, or torche-cul.

Bummaree, subs. (common).—A 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 speculated that it may be from the French bon marée; others, however, think that it is akin to bomerie, a French word for what in England is known as ‘bottomry,’ 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 [378]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 derivation.] This wholesale retailing of fish is also called bummareeing it.

1786. 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 Fishmongers. [M.]

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., 71. In Billingsgate the ‘forestallers’ or middle men are known as bummarees.… The bummaree is the jobber or speculator on the fish exchange.

1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 4 a.m., p. 17. Any one can be a bumbaree.… The process of bumbareeing is very simple. It consists in buying as largely as your means will afford of an auctioneer, hiring a stall for sixpence, and retailing the fish at a swingeing profit.

Bummed, ppl. adj. (old).—Arrested. Cf. verb, Bum and Bum-bailiff.

Bummer, subs. (old.)—1. A bum-bailiff (q.v.).

2. (turf.)—A heavy loss; a severe pecuniary reverse.

3. (American.)—An idler; loafer; sponger; looter (see quots.). [From the German bummler, with a somewhat similar meaning, save that the term is used good naturedly, and has not altogether the offensive meaning of the American equivalent.] The term came into general use at the time of the Civil War, when it was specially applied to a straggler, hanger-on, or free-lance, particularly in connection with General Sherman’s famous march from Atlanta to the sea. Besides its political signification, bummer is used as a general term of reproach in the same way as rascal, blackleg, etc., are used in England. Other equivalents are heeler, striker, stuffer, and practical politician.

a. 1865. Major Nichols, Sherman’s Great March. Look hyar, Captain, we 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 lick five times as many Rebs as we are any day.

1872. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, ch. xxiv. The auctioneer stormed up and down the streets on him for four days, dispersing the populace, interrupting business, and destroying children, and never got a bid—at least never any but the eighteen-dollar 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. Sacramento Weekly Union, Feb. 24, p. 2. All the boys to be trained as scriveners, tape-measurers, counter-hoppers, clerks, pettifoggers, polite loafers, street-hounds, hoodlums, and bummers.

1875. Scribner’s Magazine, p. 274. 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 four-fifths 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. W. Black, Green Past. and Picc., ch. xiii. Then the great crowd of bummers and loafers, not finding the soil teeming with nuggets, stampeded off like a herd of buffalo.

1888. Philadelphia Press, Jan. 29. Coy 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 collegiate education; forty per cent. are self-supporting, but prefer this precarious mode of living to anything more [379]respectable; 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 habits of loafing and petty stealing, and bummerish (adj.).

Bumming, verb, subs. (Wellington College).—A thrashing, or licking. Cf., Bum, sense 1.

Bump, subs. (University).—When one boat touches another in a race it is said to ‘make a bump,’ and technically beats its opponent. Cf., verbal sense, and Bumping race.

Verb.—To overtake and touch an opposing boat, thus winning the heat or race.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. iii. He 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 long series of stories about boat-racing, bumping, College grass-plats, and milk-punch.

1860. Macmillan’s Magazine, March, p. 331. The chances of St. Ambrose’s making a bump the first night were weighed.

1865. Sketches from Cambridge, p. 7. I can still condescend to give our boat a stout when it makes a bump.

1886–7. Dickens, Dictionary of Cambridge, p. 11. Any boat which overtakes and bumps another … before the winning post is reached, changes place with it for the next race.

Bumper, subs. (common).—1. Anything of superlative size, whether a ‘big lie,’ horse, house, or woman. Cf., Corker, Whopper, and Thumper.

2. (theatrical).—A full or crowded house.

1838. Dickens, Nich. Nickleby, ch. xxiv., p. 192. ‘In the confidence that our fellow-towsmen have not lost that high appreciation of public utility and 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. (cards’.)—When, in long whist, one side has scored eight before the other has scored a point, a bumper is the result.

Bum-Perisher, Bum-Shaver, subs. (common).—A short-tailed coat; a jacket. [From bum, the posteriors, + perisher, a slang variant of that which ‘perishes,’ or fails to protect (from cold, etc.).] Cf., Bum curtain.

Bumping Race, subs. (University).—Eight-oared inter-Collegiate races, rowed in two divisions of fifteen and sixteen boats respectively, including a sandwich boat (q.v.), i.e., the top boat of the 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 at which they left off at the last preceding race, and any boat which overtakes, and bumps another (i.e., touches it in any part) before the winning post is reached, changes place with it for the next race.

Bumpkin, subs. (old).—A humorous term for the posteriors.

1658. [In Nares] Wit Restored.

And so I take my leave; prithee, sweet Thumkin,

Hold up thy coats, that I may kisse thy bumkin.

Bump-Supper, subs. (University).—A supper to commemorate 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. [380]

Bumptious, adj. (colloquial).—Arrogant; self-sufficient; on good terms with oneself. [Murray puts this down as a formation from bump on the model of ‘fractious.’ It is of recent introduction.]

1803. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary and Letters, vi., 324. No, my dearest Padre, bumptious! no, I deny the charge in toto. [M.]

1849. Dickens, D. Copperfield, ch. vi., p. 53 (C.D.). I heard that Mr. Sharp’s wig didn’t fit him, and that he needn’t be so ‘bounceable’—somebody else said ‘bumptious’—about it, because his own red hair was very plainly to be seen behind.

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xiii. It was all very well while he was fresh, and having things pretty much as he liked. So long he was bumptious enough.

Bumptiousness, subs. (colloquial).—Self-assertiveness; arrogance; self-conceit. [From bumptious (q.v.) + ness.]

1865. Sala, Trip to Barbary, p. 150. Poor Albert Smith, than whom, with all his occasional bumptiousness, an honester and more clear-sighted hater of snobbery and shams never lived.

Bum Roll, subs. (old).—A pad or cushion worn by women to extend the dress at the back—an equivalent of the modern bustle or dress-improver. [From bum, the posteriors, + roll, in the sense of pad or cushion.] At one time these were called cork rumps, but for synonyms, see Bird-cage.

1601. Ben Jonson, The Poetaster, II., i. Nor you nor your house was so much as spoken of, before I disbased myself from my hood and my farthingal, to these bum-rowls, and your whale-bone bodice.

1663. Killigrew, Parson’s Wedding, Old Plays, XI., 460. Those worthies [of a bawd] rais’d her from the flat petticoat and kercher, to the gorget and bum-roll.

Bumsquabbled, ppl. adj. (American).—Discomfitted; defeated; stupified. Cf., Bum-fiddled, in first quot.

1620. Fletcher, The Chances, I., v. And am I now bum-fiddled with a bastard?

1835–40. Haliburton, The Clockmaker, p. 251 (ed. 1862). No sooner said 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 made him pay all costs. If he didn’t look bumsquabbled it’s a pity.

Bum Sucker, subs. (general).—A sponger; toady; lick-spittle; hanger-on. [From bum + sucker, allusion obvious.] Cf., Bum. A French equivalent is une lèche-cul.

Bum Trap, subs. (old).—A bailiff. Cf., Bum-bailiff.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VII., ch. iii. The noble bum-trap, blind and deaf to every circumstance of distress, greatly rises above all the motives to humanity, and into the hands of the jailor resolves to deliver his miserable prey.

Bun, subs. (American).—1. A sponger; one who cannot be shaken off.

2. (common).—The female pudenda. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

To take or yank the bun, verbal phr. (general).—To take first place; to obtain first honours. A variant of take the cake.—See Cake. The French say décrocher la timballe.

Bunce, Bunse or Bunt, subs. (old).—Originally money, a signification which it still retains; more generally, however, profit, gain, anything to the good. [Thought to be a corruption of [381]bonus.]—See quot., 1851. For synonyms in the sense of money, see Actual.

1719. D’Urfey, Pills, 278. If cards come no better. Oh! oh! I shall lose all my buns. [M.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 37. There are still other ‘agents’ among the costermongers, 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, for bunse (probably a corruption of bonus, bone being the slang for good).… The mode is this: a certain quantity of saleable commodities is given to a boy whom a costermonger knows and 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 3s. For these articles the lad may ask and obtain any price he can, and whatever he obtains beyond the stipulated 3s., is his own profit or bunse. Ib., p. 36. But you see the boys will try it on for their bunts.

1881. A Chequered Career, p. 270. In the stable, and particularly in livery-stables, there is a box into which all tips are placed. This is called bunt.

Buncer, subs. (common).—One who sells on commission, as described under bunce (q.v.).

Bunch of Fives, subs. (common).—The hand or fist. [An obvious allusion to the five fingers gathered or bunched together on the hand.]

1847. Lytton, Lucretia, pt. II., ch. vii. ‘Is this a h-arm, and this a bunch of fives?’

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, ch. xxxiv. ‘Now look at that bunch of fives,’ continued the master; and laid a hand, white and soft as a duchess’s, on the table.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 133, col. 1. He smote crashingly down … with a lead-weighted truncheon he held in his dexter bunch of fives.

1888. 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.

English Synonyms. Mauley; cornstealer; fam or fem (this is said to be of Gypsy origin, and to mean five, i.e., five fingers, but see Fehm in German synonyms); famble (see preceding); picker; goll (a seventeenth century term—‘make them hold up their spread golls,’ says Ben Jonson, in the Poetaster); fin; daddle; flipper.

German Synonyms. Fehm or Vehm, or Vehn (more correctly Fem. This appears to be the same word as the English seventeenth century colloquialism for the hand [see preceding], and is most likely derived from the Swedish and Danish fem = five, than from the Gypsy which indeed contains no such word); Griffling or Greifling (from greifen, to seize); Jad (Hebrew jad, the hand); Kaf (from the Hebrew kaph; the [hollow] hand).

Italian Synonyms. Tarantola (an allusion to the many tentacles and close grip of the tarantula spider); cerra; calchi dell’ ala (literally the foot of the arm. Cf., French doigts du pied); grettina (properly a small sandbank).

Spanish Synonyms. Labradora (this, it is curious to note, is an obsolete Spanish term signifying literally a laborious or hard-working woman, and the inference from this fact is obvious); anclas (literally anchors).

Bunco or Bunco Game, subs. (American).—A swindling game [382]played either with cards or dice, not unlike three card monté. [From the Italian banco, a bench or bank].

1883. Philadelphia Times, No. 289, 2. 2. Tom’s method of bunco was the well-known lottery game. [M.]

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 robbed of 10,000 dols.

Verb.—1. To rob, cheat, or swindle by means of the bunco game; or by what in England is known as the confidence trick, etc.

1887. Cincinnati Enquirer. Detectives Kirby and Funk last night spotted J. P. Ramby, the person accused of having bunkoed Ex-County Commissioner Stephens, of Greene County, out of 2,300 dols. in Xenia recently.

1888. Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean, April 14. John Brothers, a farmer living near Canton, Ohio, was bunkoed out of 2,000 dols. to-day by two sharpers who escaped.

2. From the primary meaning, the verb to bunco has come to be synonymous with any attempt at swindling.

So also with various derivatives, bunco-case, bunco-man, bunco-steerer (q.v.).

Bunco-Steerer, Bunko-Steerer, subs. (American).—A swindler; 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 it is assumed to be, can lay hold of them. A bunco-steerer may be well known to the police as a professional swindler, and he may be seen talking to his intended victim, but, unless caught in an overt act, he cannot be interfered with. People whom bunco-steerers lay their snares for, are generally men who 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 field for their operations.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, p. 235. The bunco-steerer … will find you out the morning after you land in Chicago or St. Louis. He will accost you—very friendly, 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 four-cent paper to throw around your face and hide your blushes. In London … they do the confidence trick.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Feb. 14. Andrew Carnegie fell into the hands of a bunco-steerer in Pittsburg, Saturday night, but was rescued by a detective before he lost anything.

Bundle, verb (old).—To practise bundling (q.v.).

1781. S. Peters, Gen. Hist. Connecticut. It is thought but a piece of civility to ask [a lady] to bundle.

1797. Sewell. Queeston is an odd way of wooing usual in some sea towns or Isles of Holland, after this manner. When the wench is gone to bed, the fellow enters the room and lays himself down in his clothes upon the blankets, next unto her, with one window of the room open, and thus he talks with her, very innocently—as it is reported. [383]

1809. W. Irving, Knickerbocker History of New York. Van Corlear stopped occasionally in the villages to … dance at country frolics, and bundle with the Yankee lasses.

1871. Schele De Vere, 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 clothes on, when there is not house-room to provide better accommodation.

Bundling or Bundling Up, subs. (old).—A custom now obsolete, 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 remembered that Washington 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 from civilization. No question of immodesty seems to have attached to the custom; indeed, attempts were made to prove that bundling was very right and proper. On this point, however, opinions will vary considerably. Also used in verbal form to bundle. Cf., Caulk.

1809. W. Irving, Knickerbocker History 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.

1814. Quarterly Review, X., 517. [The custom spoken of in.]

1842. C. Masson, Journal Balochistan, etc., III., 287. Many of the Afghan tribes have a custom in wooing, similar to 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 Pennsylvania and New England, permits under the name of ‘bundling,’ certain free, but still innocent endearments to pass between lovers who are engaged.

1871. H. R. Styles, Bundling; its Origin, Progress, and Decline in America, title. [Contains also its history in England, Wales, Holland, curious songs, etc.]

1878. C. Wake, Evol. Moral., I., 401. The custom of bundling … among Celtic peoples. [M.]

Bung, Bong, Boung, subs. (old cant.)—1. A purse. [One of the oldest cant terms in the language, the origin of which is entirely unknown, though, says Murray, ‘its resemblance to the O.E. pung, “a purse,” is worth notice.’] Also called skin or poge (q.v.). A French thieves’ term is la plotte.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. Boung, a purse. Ibid., p. 86.

1591. Greene, Second Part Conny-catching, in wks., vol. X., p. 96. The Nip vseth his knife, and if he see a Boung lie faire, strikes the stroke.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Bung is now vsed for a pocket, heretofore for a purse.

c. 1658. Cleveland, Cleivelandi Vindiciæ, p. 99 (ed. 1677). He is in the Inquisition of the Purse an Authentick Gypsie, that nips your Bung with a canting Ordinance.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47. Boung, a Purse.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Bung, a purse.

2. (old.)—A pickpocket. Cf., Bung, sense 1. Bung-nipper (q.v.) was in general usage later. [384]

1598. Shakspeare, King Henry IV., ii., 4. Doll. Away, you cut-purse rascal! you filthy bung, away! By this wine, I’ll thrust my knife in your mouldy chaps, an’ you play the saucy cuttle with me.

1658. An Age for Apes, p. 232. My bung observing this, takes hold of time, Just as this lord was drawing for a prime, And smoothly rims his purse that lay beside him.

3. (common.)—A brewer; landlord of a public house, etc. [An allusion to the bungs, or large corks used in the ‘mouths’ of beer barrels.]

1863. Cornhill 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 title of bungs.

1884. Graphic, Feb. 23, p. 170, col. 1. That Sir Wilfrid Lawson had turned bung, and applied for a spirit licence.

Verb (pugilistic).—1. Generally 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, ears, etc., and in literary use, but now regarded as a vulgarism. Cf. verb, sense 2.

1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Super., in wks. (Grosart) II., 128. That will bung-up 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 crout-chant friers … that a snaile coulde not wriggle in her homes betwixt them.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xix. ‘I bunged up both eyes for him.’

2. (old.)—To give; pass; hand over; drink; or to perform almost any action. ‘Bung over the rag,’ hand over the money. Used by Beaumont and Fletcher, and Shakspeare. Also, to deceive one by a lie, to Cram, which see.

Bungay. Go to Bungay! phr. (general).—A euphemistic objurgation equivalent to consignment to a region the climate of which is tropical in character. For analogous phrases, see Go to hell.

Bung-Eyed, comp. ppl. adj. (common).—1. Drunk; fuddled; Screwed, which see for synonyms. [Derivation uncertain: possibly from the Scotch ‘bung,’ a low word quoted by Jamieson as meaning tipsy or fuddled, with perhaps an indirect allusion to the bunged or crooked distorted eye, the result of a fight or squabble.—See sense 2.]

1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. iii., p. 268. One coarse-featured fellow, who was nearly bung-eyed over his beer (as they call being drunk).

2. Cross-eyed; unable to see straight; ‘boss-eyed’ or ‘squinny-eyed’ (q.v.).

Bungfunger, verb (American).—To startle; to confuse. Compare with bumbsquabbled. Also used as an adjective for ‘confounded.’

1835–40. Haliburton, The Clockmaker, p. 91 (ed. 1862). ‘Well, father, I thought he’d a fainted too, he was so struck up all of a heap; he was completely bung-fungered.’

Bung-Juice, subs. (thieves’).—Porter, or beer. [From bung, a stopper for casks in which beer is kept, + juice. Cf., Cow-juice for milk, etc.] For synonyms, see Drinks and Swipes. [385]

Bung Knife or Boung Knife, subs. (old).—Considerable uncertainty exists as to the nature or use of this implement. It has however been conjectured that as boung was an old cant word for a purse, that boung knife may therefore have been a knife kept in the purse or girdle, but concerning this nothing definite can be stated.

1592. Greene, Quip for Upstart Courtier (Hart. Misc., V., 407). One of them had on … a skeine like a bruer’s boung-knife.

Bung Nipper or Boung Nipper, subs. (old).—A cut-purse; a sharper. [From bung (q.v.), an old canting term for a purse, + nipper, a thief, i.e., one who nips or steals.] In French, to nip a bung is couper une queue de rat, i.e., literally to cut off a rat’s tail; but for synonyms, see Area-sneak and Thieves.

Bung Upwards, adv. phr. (old).—Said of a person lying on his face.

Bunk, subs. (common).—Hasty departure. Cf., Bunk, verb. [Of unknown derivation.]

c. 1870. Broadside Ballad, ‘Peck’s 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,

He 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.

Verb (common).—1. To be off; to decamp. For synonyms, see Amputate.

c. 1872. Broadside Ballad, ‘Oh, we are a getting on.’

A stocking used a ‘bank’ to be,

In the good old days of old,

They didn’t run such risks as we

Do now of getting sold.

No sooner does a bank go queer,

You hear the same old strain,

There’s another bald-headed Manageer,

Has bunked across to Spain.

1885. Referee, Feb. 16, p. 7, col. 3.

It was just such a parcel, bless him! he’d clasped to his noble breast,

And bunked with out o’ the building.

1887. Fun, 9 Nov., p. 201. ‘What is 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. (Wellington College.)—To expel [from the school].

Bunker, subs. (common).—Beer. For synonyms, see Drinks and Swipes.

Bunkum, Buncombe, Buncome, subs. (American).—Talking merely for talking’s sake; claptrap of all kinds; gas; tall talk. The employment of the word in its original sense of insincere political speaking or claptrap is ascribed to a member of Congress, Felix Walker, from Buncombe County, North Carolina, who explained that he was merely talking for buncombe, when his fellow members could not 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 to the paper, inquirin’ if their members died a natural death, or was skivered with a bowie-knife, for they hante seen his speeches lately, and his friends are anxious to know his fate. Our free and enlightened citizens don’t approbate silent members; it don’t seem to them [386]as if Squashville, or Punkinsville, or Lumbertown was right represented, unless Squashville, or Punkinsville, or Lumbertown makes itself heard and known, ay, and feared too. So every feller, in bounden duty, talks, and talks big too, and the smaller the State, the louder, bigger, and fiercer its members talk. Well, when a critter talks for talk’s sake, jist to have a speech in the paper to send to 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 spoken. So much is this the case that the expression may now fairly claim a permanent place in the language. The primary meaning has been somewhat enlarged. ‘That’s all buncombe’ is equivalent to ‘That’s all nonsense’ or ‘an absurdity.’

Also used attributively; for example, a bunkum proclamation, bunkum logic, bunkum politicians, etc.

1841. Richmond Compiler, Aug. 17. He was not speaking to the House but to bunkum.

1859. Sala, Tw. Round the Clock, 2 a.m., par. 9. These tales, full of sound and fury, told by honourable idiots full of unutterable ‘bunkum’ (an Americanism I feel constrained to use, as signifying nothingness, ineftably inept and irremediably fire-perforated windbaggery, and sublimated cucumber sunbeams hopelessly eclipsed into Dis)—

1861. Blackwood’s Mag., April. ‘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.’

1862. New York Tribune, Feb. 11. Despatch from Kansas. General Sibley was within thirty miles of Fort Craig, with twenty-five hundred Texans, with artillery, and had issued a bunkum 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 bunkum.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, March 3. This thing of trying to rule a husband is all buncombe; it can’t be done. You can coax most men, bribe some, and govern a very few, but that vulgar rubbing of the fur the right way wins every time.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 18 Oct., p. 6, col. 2. His explanation was contained in the three words, ‘Bosh, rubbish, and bunkum.’ Was it not time, asked the speaker, that the ‘great unwashed’ should declare that the ‘great unpaid’ were no longer at liberty to oppress them?

Bunky, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Awkward; ill-finished.

Bunnick, verb (common).—To settle; to dispose of.

1886. Punch, 17 July, p. 25. ’Owsom-ever we’ve bunnicked up Gladsting, a barney all patriots enjoy.

Bunny Grub, subs. (Cheltenham College).—Green vegetables, such as cabbage, lettuce, and the like. [Obviously from bunny, a pet name for a rabbit, + grub, a slang term for provender, i.e., food akin to that upon which rabbits are fed.] At the Royal Military Academy and other schools an equivalent is grass (q.v.).

Bunse.—See Bunce.

Bun-Struggle or Bun-Worry, subs. (military).—A tea meeting given to soldiers. For synonymous terms, see Tea fight.

Bunt.—See Bunce. [387]

Bunter, subs. (harlotry).—1. A 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, 1851. For analogous terms, see Barrack-hack.

1705–7. 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 bunters.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bunter (s.), one who goes about the streets to gather rags, bones, etc.

1759. Walpole, Parish Register.

Here Fielding met his bunter Muse,

And, as they quaff’d the fiery juice,

Droll Nature stamp’d each lucky hit,

With unimaginable wit.

1763. British Magazine, vol. IV., p. 542. I heard a bunter at the Horse-Guards … swear she would not venture into the Park.

1765. Goldsmith, Essays, x. The bunters who swagger in the streets of London.

1851–61. 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.

2. Explained by quotation. [Bunter here may be a confused variant of bunker, one who runs away or ‘slopes.’]

1851. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 223. There is a class of women technically known as bunters, who take lodgings, and after staying some time run away without paying their rent.

Burdon’s Hotel, subs. (thieves’).—Whitecross Street Prison, of which the Governor was a Mr. Burdon. Almost every prison has a nickname of this kind, either from the name of the Governor, or from some local circumstance. The Queen’s Bench has an immense number of names—spike, park, etc.; and every Chief-Justice stands godfather to it. For full list of such names, see Cage.

1861. Dutton Cook, Paul Foster’s Daughter, ch. ii. ‘David, be respectable, whatever you are, be respectable, and Burdon’s hotel is not for you to sojourn at.’

Burick or Burerk, subs. (old).—Latterly applied to any woman or ‘lady,’ especially one showily dressed, but formerly a thief’s term for a prostitute.

1819. J. H. Vaux, Memoirs. Burick is a prostitute, or common woman.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London 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 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).

Amongst French equivalents for a well-dressed woman may be mentioned une panuche (this name is also applied to a prostitute living in a brothel); une dubuge; une faraude (the masculine form, un faraud, signifies a vulgar fellow proud of smart clothes—a snob, a swell).

Burke, verb (military).—To dye the moustache and whiskers. [Burke properly is to smother or 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.] [388]

Burn, verb (thieves).—To cheat; to swindle.

Burnanded, verb (? nonce word).—To pilfer plots (of plays, novels, etc.). [Probably only a nonce word; a formation on the same lines as ‘Burke,’ ‘Boycott,’ etc., from the name of Mr. F. Burnand, the editor of Punch.]

1882. Echo, Feb. 11, p. 3. The American papers continue to attack the play [The Colonel] vigorously. One of the journals there has invented a new verb to signify the pilfering of plots. ‘Burnanded’ is the term.

Burn Crust, subs. (old).—A jocular name for a baker. Cf., Master of the mint for a gardener; Bung for a brewer; Ball of wax for a shoemaker; Quill-driver for a clerk; Snip for a tailor, etc.

Burned. To be burned, verb (old).—To be infected with a venereal disease.—See Burning.

1785. Grose, 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.

Burner, subs. (old).—1. A card-sharper.

2. (old.)—The same as burning (q.v.).

Burning, verb, subs. (old).—A venereal disease. Shakspeare alludes to it in King Lear, ‘No heretics burn’d, but wenches’ suitors.’

Burning Shame.—An obscene practice.—See Grose.

Burning the Parade, phr. (old).—Thus explained by Grose: ‘Warning more men for a guard than were necessary, and excusing the supernumeraries for money. This was a practice formerly winked at in most 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 the parade.’

Burn My Breeches! phr. (old).—A mild kind of oath. A few latter day ‘fancies’ of the same kind will be found under Oaths.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 46.

… (Bill Gibbons ne’er

In all his days was known to swear,

Except light oaths, to grace his speeches,

Like ‘dash my wig,’ or ‘burn my breeches.’)

Burn the Ken, verbal phr. (old).—To live at an inn or tavern without paying for one’s quarters. [From burn (q.v.), to cheat, + ken, an inn, tavern, or place.]

Burr, subs. (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 (Marlborough College).—To fight; scrimmage or ‘rag.’

Burst, subs. (general).—1. A spree; drunken frolic; big feed; blow out (q.v.). Usually on the burst, an extension of the figurative usage of the word signifying a violent outburst.—See Bust. [389]

1880. Blackwood’s Mag., June, p. 775. He became a madman when drunk. Once ‘on the burst,’ as he phrased it, money, horses, cows, furniture, even his wife’s wearing apparel, went to feed the insatiable and cruel demon who possessed him.

1881. Praed, Policy and Passion, vol. I., p. 228. When his men go on the burst, what can he do but make his daughters help?

2. (sporting.)—A sudden and vigorous access or display of energy; a lively pace or spurt.

Bursted, ppl. adj. (general).—Hard up. [From burst, failure or collapse, + ed.]

1873. Chicago Daily Tribune, June 30. At the far end [of the room] four 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.

Burster, subs. (racing).—1. A heavy fall; a ‘cropper.’

1863. Evening Standard, 24 April. Benedict came down a burster, and was out of the race.

2. See also Buster, sense 1.

Bury. Go bury yourself! phr. (American).—A Californianism which has more of the fortiter than the suaviter in its composition. Equivalent to ‘Go! hide your diminished head.’ Cf., Carry me out and bury me decently.

To bury or dig up the hatchet, verbal phr. (American).—Amongst Indian tribes certain symbolic ceremonies are connected with the war-hatchet or tomahawk, which are equivalent to a declaration of war, or a compact of peace.—To bury the hatchet is the emblem of the putting away of strife and enmity; on the other hand, the red skin, before he commences hostilities, digs up afresh the fateful symbol. This picturesque imagery has passed into the colloquial inheritance of the American people, and the expressions of burying or digging up the hatchet are frequently applied to the affairs of everyday life. This symbolism though new in form is old in idea. Shakspeare in The Tempest, v., 1, 55, says, ‘I’le breake my staffe, bury it certaine fadomes 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, by his diplomacy, persuaded the sachem to bury the hatchet.’

1855. Longfellow, Hiawatha, 13.

Buried was the bloody hatchet;

Buried was the dreadful war-club;

Buried were all warlike weapons,

And the war-cry was forgotten;

Then was peace among the nations.

1873. Carleton Ballads.

I don’t know what you’ll think, sir—I didn’t come to inquire—

But I picked up that agreement and stuffed it in the fire;

And I told her we’d bury the hatchet alongside of the cow;

And we struck an agreement never to have another row.

To bury a moll, phr. (general).—To desert or forsake a wife or mistress. [Moll = woman, wife, or prostitute.]

French Synonyms. Envoyer une ouistiti (ouistiti signifies properly a striated monkey); lâcher une femme (literally to cast off a woman); balancer une largue.

To bury a Quaker, phr. (Irish slang).—To evacuate; to ease oneself.

English Synonyms. To go to the crapping castle, casa, or ken (castle, casa, and ken are old canting terms for a place or [390]house); to the West Central (a punning allusion to the initials W.C. for water closet); to Mrs. Jones; to the chapel-of-ease; to Sir Harry; to the bog-house, rear, dunnock, coffee-shop; to see one’s aunt; to crap; to go and sing ‘sweet violets’; to go where the queen always goes on foot.

French Synonyms. Mousser (popular: literally to foam or effervesce); enterrer son colonel (Cf., to bury a Quaker); aller faire une ballade à la lune (i.e., ‘to go and sing to the moon’; also ballade = stroll, walk, or lounge; likewise in French slang lune = posteriors); mouler un sénateur (popular); mouler une Venus (artists’); gazonner (literally to ‘cover with turf’); aller au numero cent (a play upon the word sent); déponer (Michel thinks that though at first sight this word would seem to be directly derived from the Latin deponere, yet it really either comes from the old French ponant, signifying posteriors, or from the verb poner, used in the thirteenth century in the sense of pondre, i.e., to lay eggs); débourrer sa pipe (popular); défalquer (popular); tarter or tartir (popular and thieves’: in Latin alvum deponere. Cf., Italian Fourbesque tartire); faire une moulure (moulure in architecture = moulding); aller quelque part (lit. to go somewhere); aller à ses affaires (lit. ‘to go to one’s business’); aller où le roi va à pied (i.e., to go where the king goes on foot. Cf., to go where the queen always goes on foot); filer (properly to spin); aller chez Jules (to go to Julius. Cf., to go and see one’s aunt); ierchem (low: chier, a disguised obscenity, + em); flasquer (thieves’); touser (this word comes from tourtouse and signifies properly faire de la corde); faire corps neuf (properly to take a new lease of one’s life); déposer une médaille de papier volant, or des Pays-Bas (obsolete); faire des cordes (des cordes = strings); mettre une lettre à la poste (lit. to go and post a letter); faire le grand (grand = an opprobrious epithet); faire une commission (to run an errand); fogner (popular); flaquer (popular: literally ‘to dash’ [water or any other liquid]); écrire à un Juif (literally to write to a Jew); déposer une pêche (popular); poser une pépin (popular: poser = to place or cast down; pépin, in botany a kernel or pip); poser un factionnaire (popular: factionnaire is properly a sentinel or sentry); poser une sentinelle (popular: with same meaning as foregoing); envoyer une depèche à Bismarck (popular: this may be a contemptuous usage of the German Chancellor’s name, although in French slang couleur Bismarck = brown colour); aller où le roi n’envoie personne (lit. to go where the king sends no one); flaquader (flaque = excrement); fuser (properly to dissolve); gâcher du gros (popular); galipoter (another slang meaning of this word is ‘to smear’); pousser son rond (popular); faire ronfler la chaire percée—Thomas—le bourrelet—la chaise percée (faire ronfler = to cause to or make snore, chaire = Bishop’s throne, chaire percée = close-stool, and bourrelet = padded cushion with hole in centre, Thomas = bedroom chamber); aller voir Bernard (Cf., aller chez Jules); aller au [391]buen-retiro (buen retiro properly = a private place of retirement, but in this sense is an ironical allusion to a W.C.); faire un pruneau or poser un pruneau (Michel thinks this expression is derived from clos Bruneau, a facetious name given to the posteriors about the sixteenth century); filer le cable de proue (Michel gives this as of nautical origin—seamen’s latrines being situated in the fo’cas’le).

Italian Fourbesque. Tartire (properly to lighten or ease one’s conscience by confessing to a Priest).

To bury a wife, verbal phr. (old).—To 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, when they became ‘full blown’ craftsmen.

Bus or Buss, subs. (theatrical).—1. A variant of business (q.v.), of which it is an abbreviation. Pronounced biz.

2. (common.)—A contraction of ‘omnibus.’

1832. Ht. Martineau, Weal and Woe, i., 14. If the station offers me a place in a buss. [M.]

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, p. 93. He proposed that they should go, per buss, a little way into the country.

1861. Thackeray, Adventures of Philip, II., p. 316. We were mortified to see that of the five persons conveyed by the ’bus, one was a tradesman, etc.

1869. Black, In Silk Attire, II., p. 205. Annie Brunel got out of the Hampstead ’bus, and found herself in the muddy highway.

Verb (American).—To punch [one’s head].

Bush or Be Bushed, verb (Australian).—Primarily to camp out in the bush; 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.

1887. All the Year Round, July 30, p. 68. An Australian says that he is bushed just as an Englishman, equally characteristically, declares that he is fogged.

1889. B. L. Farjeon, In Australian Wilds. ‘We shall have to bush it, mate,’ I said. ‘That’s so,’ said Lilly Trot, unconcernedly; but looking about him sharply, despite his apparent carelessness, for a suitable spot to camp on. Ibid. We were on horseback, with blankets before us on our saddles, to provide for our getting bushed. We 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.

Bushed, ppl. adj. (old).—Hard up; without money; destitute.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Bush’d, poor; without money.

Bushed On, verbal phr. (common).—Pleased; delighted.

Bushel Bubby, subs. (old).—A full and large breasted woman. [From bushel, a (large) measure, + bubby (q.v.), a breast.] Cf., Bubber.

Bushwhacker, subs. (American political).—In politics, as in war, simply a ‘free-lance.’ During the Rebellion deserters from the ranks of both armies infested the country, bands of these marauders making raids upon defenceless houses and even going the length of sacking whole towns. Originally the term was harmless enough in meaning. At a time when [392]water-communication was 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 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 passage. The man who did this, and the instrument—a kind of scythe or cutlass with which, in the latter case, he thus forced his way—were alike called bushwhackers. The word has gone through yet another transition. Since the war it has also come to mean a ‘country bumpkin,’ a ‘clod-pole,’ or any other person of a ‘verdant’ character.

Bushy Park, subs. (rhyming slang).—A lark.

To be in Bushy Park, phr. (old).—To be poor.

Business, subs. (old).—1. Sexual intercourse. For synonyms, see Greens.

1630. Taylor, Workes. And Lais of Corinth, ask’d Demosthenes One hundred crownes for one night’s businesse.

1654. Wits Recreations.

What Crispulus is that in a new gown,

All trim’d with loops and buttons up and down,

That learns there on his arm in private chat

With thy young wife, what Crispulus is that?

He’s proctor of a court, thou say’st and does

Some business of my wives: thou brainless goose,

He does no business of thy wives, not he,

He does thy business (Coracine) for thee.

2. (theatrical.)—Dramatic action; bye-play.

1753. The World, No. 26. We are too much enamoured with what is called intrigue, business, and bustle, in our plays.

1820. Scott, The Abbot, ch. xxvii. (III., p. 6). The … went, came, 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.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 282. Tom observed, I never saw such business before; how do you do it with that board thing, for I can’t manage it? I have knocked and bruised some of my people about so that they swear they would sooner leave than have such another day.

1880. Punch, Sept. 18, 130. ‘Quite in his Line.’ Stout Major (to Professional Actor, who has been asked down to coach the Garrison Amateurs): ‘Aw—we played The Bells at our last Theatricals, of which I’ve the Management. I—aw—played Irving’s part myself. Aw—immense Success!’ Professional (drily): ‘Of 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—Entirely different reading. In fact, every one said it wasn’t a bit like him!’

1883. H. Irving, in Good Words, Jan., p. 34. Then consider what scope the ‘business’ of the scene gives to the actor’s purpose.

To do one’s business for one, phr. (common).—To kill; to cause one’s death.

1880. Jas. Greenwood, Grandmother Cooper, in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 4. ‘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.’ [393]

Business End [of a thing], subs. (American).—The practical part.

Busk It, verb (vagrants’).—To sell obscene songs and books at the bars and in the tap-rooms of public houses. Sometimes it implies selling other articles. Also to ‘work’ public houses and certain spots as an itinerant musician or vocalist. So also busking, verb subs. and ppl. adj. and busker, a man who thus sings and performs in public houses: an itinerant.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 234. From a 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, I., 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 tap-rooms and parlours of taverns. Ibid, III., p. 216. Busking is going into public houses and playing and singing and dancing. Ibid, p. 222. I now thought I’d try what is termed busking, that is going into public houses and cutting likenesses of the company.

1883. Advt. in Echo, May 10, p. 4, col. 6. Busking.—A player on the harp and violin wants a mate.

1887. Referee, August 21, p. 3, col. 2. Mac himself … will appear in the Racecourse scene as a busker.

Busker.—See under Busk.

Busking.—See under Busk.

Busnapper.—See Buz-napper.

Busnapper’s Kinchin.—See Buz-napper’s Kinchin.

Buss.—See Bus.

Buss Beggar, subs. (old).—An old prostitute of the lowest type; a beggar’s trull.

Bust, subs. (vulgar).—A corrupted form of burst. So also busting (adj.); busted (ppl. adj.), etc., etc.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, p. 219. A kind of busting noise.

2. (thieves’.)—A burglary.

18(?79). Horsley, Jottings from Jail. ‘Fatty Bill, from City Road, rem. for a bust ex. two years,’ means that William … has been compelled to leave his congenial haunts in the City Road, as he is remanded for a burglary, and anticipates two years’ hard labour.

3. (general.)—A frolic; a spree; a drunken debauch. Cf., To go on the bust.

1860. Bartlett (quoted in), A Californian Song.

And when we get our pockets full

Of this bright, shinin’ dust,

We’ll travel straight for home again,

And spend it on a bust.

4. (American.)—A failure; a fizzle.

Verb (vulgar).—1. To burst; explode.

1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, II., p. 366. His genius would have busted.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, I., p. 286. Keep cool, Jefferson … don’t bust! Ibid, II., p. 124. If the biler of this vessel was Toe bust, Sir, … and Toe bust now, it would be a festival day in the calendar of despotism.

2. (thieves’.)—To commit a burglary.

3. (thieves’.)—To inform against an accomplice. A slang variant of ‘split’ (turn king’s evidence, impeach). The person who does this splits or bursts the whole concern.

4. (American.)—To fail in business or transactions of any kind.

5. (general.)—To put out of breath; to ‘wind.’ [394]

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘Taking out the Baby.’ Spoken—And they had all 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.

6. (American.)—To indulge in a drunken frolic; to go on the spree. Cf., To go on the bust.

1869. New Orleans Picayune, Feb. 14. ‘Because I was a good-natured fellow, I had to go with them, rollicking, teaparting, excursioning, and busting generally.’

7. (American.)—To destroy; to commit suicide; to ‘set aside’; to expose.

1880. Bret Harte, Chiquita, p. 22. Did you know Briggs of Tuolumne? Busted hisself in White Pine, and blew out is brains.

1883. North of England Advertiser, Sept. 1. Then he got the Moabite pottery which Mr. Clement Ganneau busted.

Bust me! phr. (common).—A mild oath—blow me! jigger me! (q.v.)—See also Oaths.

1859. Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, bk. I., ch. iii. ‘Bust me if I don’t think he’d been a drinking!’

To go on the bust, phr. (common).—To go on a frolic or spree. For synonyms, see Paint the town red.

Buster, subs. (common).—1. 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 ‘burst,’ + er.] Cf., Starver.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob: Now, landlord, ‘arter that ere drap 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? Mace: Bellay! a burster and beesvax—and salt here. (Calling as he fetches the porter from the side wing, l.) Now, then, here you are, Master Grimmuzzle.

1841. Comic Almanacks, 1835–43 (Hotten), p. 295.

‘Cut us a slap-up slice of Cheshire cheese,

And tip’s a twopenny burster if you please.’

1849. Bell’s Life. [From Baumann.] A burster with a slice of beeswax.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 192. Mo and his man were having a great breakfast one morning at Newcastle, off a twopenny buster and a small bit of butter, with some wishy-washy coffee.…

c. 1882. Broadside Ballad, ‘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,

I thought I’d have a ‘buster’ but it’s all no go!

2. (thieves’.)—A burglar. For synonyms, see Area-sneak. Cf., Bust, subs., sense 2, and verb, sense 2.

1879. J. W. Horsley, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ in Macm. Mag., XL., 582. Busters and screwsmen (burglars).

3. (common.)—Anything of superior size; that has unusual capacity; that causes admiration; a spurt. Hence to ‘come an awful buster,’ ‘to fall heavily,’ ‘to come a cropper’; ‘in for a buster,’ prepared, ready or determined for a spree.

1852. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s 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.

1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. vii., p. 28. ‘At such time as when your sister is on the Ram-page, Pip,’ Joe sank his voice to a whisper, and glanced at the door, ‘candour compels fur to admit that she is a Buster.’ [395]

1870. Popular Song on Franco-German War.

… Thank God, my dear Augusta,

We’ve had another awful buster,

Ten thousand Frenchmen sent below,

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘I’ll never 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 (cheque).

A 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.

4. (Australian.)—A heavy storm from the south. Otherwise called in Sydney a brick fielder (q.v.).

1885. Household Words, 10 Oct., p. 463. In anxious expectation we now 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.

Busting, verb, subs. (thieves’.)—Informing against accomplices; turning Queen’s evidence. Cf., Bust, verb, sense 3. For synonyms, see Peaching.

Bustle, subs. (common).—1. A pad, roll, or wire contrivance worn by women at the back in order to extend the dress, and also with a view to setting off the smallness of the waist. [Origin uncertain.] For synonyms, see Birdcage.

1788. T. Monro, in Olla Podrida, No. 40. Such locks the nymphs now wear (in silks who rustle), In rich luxuriance reaching to the bustle. [M.]

1835. Sketches by Boz, p. 323. Whether she was pretty, whether she wore much bustle, etc. Ibid, p. 488. ‘Did you ever,’ said a little coquette with a large bustle.

1857. Trollope, Barchester Towers, ch. xlv., p. 384. Bertie finished off the countess’s bustle.

2. (old.)—Money. A full list of synonyms will be found under Actual.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Bustle, a cant term for money. Ibid. Any object effected very suddenly, or in a hurry, is said to be done on the bustle.

Verb (general).—To confuse; confound; perplex.—See previous quot.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 237. ‘Now bustle him,’ said Tom Maley; ‘you have got him to-rights now. Let go your left straight.’

Bust-Maker, subs. (common).—A molrower; a ‘loose fish’; a seducer. For synonyms, see Molrower. [From bust, a protuberance, + maker.]

Busy-Sack, subs. (common).—A carpet bag. Called in America a grip-sack.

Butcher, subs. (cards’).—1. The king in playing-cards. When card-playing in public houses was common, the kings were called butchers, the queens bitches, and the knaves jacks. The latter term is now in general use. In French slang the king is un bœuf.

2. (American.)—A peripatetic ‘small-boy’ vendor of ‘varieties’ and ‘notions’ on railway cars—at once a convenience and a ‘terror.’

3. (thieves’.)—The prison doctor. For synonyms, see Crocus.

Butcher About, verb (Wellington College).—To make a great noise; to humbug about. [396]

Butcher’s Mourning, subs. (common).—A white hat with a black mourning hat-band.

Butteker, subs. (old).—A shop.

Butter, subs. (popular).—Fulsome flattery; unctuous praise; ‘soft soap.’ A French equivalent is le cirage. Cf., verb, sense 1. Also buttering-up.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 40.

For, 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.

1823. Blackwood’s Magazine, XIV., p. 309. You have been daubed over by the dirty butter of his applause.

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, 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 being laid on pretty thick.

Verb (common).—1. To flatter fulsomely; to indulge in rhodomantic praise. French cirer.

1700. Congreve, Way of World, prol. (1866), 259. The squire that’s buttered still is sure to be undone. [M.]

1725. New Canting Dictionary. To butter signifies also to cheat or defraud in a smooth and plausible manner.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. xxxviii. ‘Keep him employed, man, for half-an-hour or so—butter him with some warlike terms—praise his dress and address.’

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. xii. ‘He first butthers them up and then slithers them down!’

1857. C. Kingsley, Two Years Ago. I’ll butter him, trust me. Nothing comforts a poor beggar like a bit of praise when he is down.

1884. Saturday Review, 5 July, p. 27, col. 1. The Lord Chief Justice of England made a tour through America, and generously buttered the natives.

2. (old.)—Jamieson says, ‘to increase the stakes every throw or every game.’

1690. B. E., Dictionary of Canting 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 or triple it.

To look as if butter would not melt in one’s mouth, phr. (old).—A contemptuous saying of a person of somewhat simple demeanour. Murray traces back this familiar phrase to 1530, but a reference to it appears in French literature at a much earlier date.

1475. Les Evangiles des Quenouilles—Vme Journée. Edition Elzevirienne. Paris (1855), p. 72. A cette parolle mist dame Mehault ses mains à 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.

1530. Palgrave, 620, 1. He maketh as thoughe butter wolde not melte in his mouth. [M.]

1562. Latimer, Serm. Lord’s Prayer, V., ii., 79. These fellows … can speak 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 wou’d not have melted in his mouth, I hope you will make sure work with him before you send him again.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation, i. 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. xxviii. (III., p. 26). I am beginning to think ye are but a queer ane, ye look as if butter wadna melt in your mouth, but I sall warrant cheese no choak ye.

1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, I., p. 149. Telling her landlady how … the Mayor was … a nice, soft-spoken old gentleman; that butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, etc. [397]

Will cut butter when it’s hot, phr. (common).—Said of a knife when blunt. An obvious allusion.

Butter and eggs, subs. (common).—Explained by quotations.

1862. Macmillan’s Mag., Jan., p. 238. And I can do butter-and-eggs all down the slide.… The feat of butter-and-eggs consists in going down the slide on one foot and beating with the heel and toe of the other at short intervals.

Compare the foregoing with the following.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, II., p. 9. Sam Weller, in particular, was displaying that beautiful feat of fancy sliding which is currently denominated ‘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.

Butter-Bag or Butter-Box, subs. (old).—Opprobrious epithets for a Dutchman. [? In allusion to Holland producing large quantities of butter. Cf., quot., 1811.]

1600. Dekker, Gentle Craft, wks. (1873) I., 21. We have not men enow, but wee must entertaine every butter-box. [M.]

1650. Howell, Familiar Letters. And for 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.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Butter-box. A Dutchman, from the great quantity of butter eaten by the people of that country.

Butter-Boat. To empty the butter-boat, phr. (common).—To lavish praise; to battle. [From butter-boat, a table utensil employed for serving melted butter.]

1865. Sat. Review, 7 Jan., p. 16, col. 2. That kind of praise which feels like the butter-boat down one’s back. [M.]

1866. J. H. Skinner, After Storm, I., 181. He praised some things and gave advice about others, using the butter-boat less freely than is customary at volunteer inspections. [M.]

Butter-Box.—See Butter-bag.

Buttercups, subs. (common).—A graceful pet name for children.

1877. E. L. Linton, World Well Lost, ch. vii. Hilda was still in the schoolroom, and seldom appeared even at afternoon tea; which in general is licensed to include ‘buttercups.’

Buttered, ppl. adj. (old).—1. Whipped. Cf., Dusted, Tanned, etc. (q.v.).

2. (common.)—Flattered.—See Butter, sense 1.

Buttered Bun, subs. (old).—A mistress; also a prostitute, especially one who submits to the sexual embrace in quick succession with different men. [In this latter sense, if not in former, from buttered = greased + bun (q.v.), the female pudenda.] For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

1679. Cullen, W., Flock of Court Misses, in Roxburgh Ballads (1884), V., 126. This is the day … that sets our Monarch free From Buttered Buns [i.e., Louise de Quérouaille] and Slavery.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. One lying with a woman that has just lain with another man, is said to have a buttered bun.

Butter-Fingered, comp. ppl. adj. (common).—Apt to let things fall; greasy or slippery-fingered. The nickname of butter-fingers is hence given to those who let things slip easily from their grasp. [398]

1615. Markham, English Housewife, II., ii. (1668), 51. She must not be butter-fingered, sweet-toothed, nor faint-hearted; for the first will let everything fall, etc.

1857. Hood, Pen and Pencil Pictures, p. 141. He was a slovenly player, and went among the cricket lovers by the sobriquet of butter-fingers.

1861. G. Meredith, Evan Harrington. The long-hit-off, he who never was known to miss a catch—butter-fingered beast!—he has let the ball slip through his fingers.

1883. Miss Braddon, Golden Calf, ch. xiv. ‘I never allow no butter-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.’

Butter-Flap, subs. (rhyming slang).—A trap—i.e., a light cart.

Butterfly, subs. (nautical).—1. A river barge.

2. (cabmen’s.)—The guard for the reins affixed to the top of a hansom cab.

1883. Standard, March 6, p. 6, col. 3. The box covered the whole roof of the cab, preventing him [the cabman] from seeing the butterfly. [M.]

Butternuts, subs. (American.)—The sympathisers with the South in the North and the Middle States during the American Civil War; the term was derived from the colour of the uniforms worn in the early part of the war by Confederate soldiers in the West, which, being homespun, were dyed brown with the juice of the butternut (Juglans cinerea).

Butter-Print, subs. (old).—A child; usually one that is illegitimate. Cf., Buttercup.

1620. Fletcher, Chances, I., v. You will be wiser one day, when you have purchased A bevy of these butter-prints. [M.]

1639. Beaumont and Fletcher, 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 Butter-Prints by. [M.]

Buttock, subs. (old).—A common prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack, and Cf., File.

1674. R. Head, Canting Academy, 105. The Bawds and the Buttocks that lived there round.

1688. Shadwell, Squire of Alsatia, I., wks. (1720) IV., 17. What ogling there will be between thee and the Blowings!… Every buttock shall fall down before thee.

1690. B. E., Dictionary of the Canting Crew. Buttock and file, both whore and pickpocket.

Buttock and File, subs. phr. (old).—A prostitute and her companion; sometimes bulk and file. Occasionally, too, buttock and file is used of a single individual—one who unites the roles of a thief and prostitute. [From buttock (q.v.), a whore, + file (q.v.), a pickpocket.]

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). Bulk and File the Pickpocket and his mate.

1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, bk. I., ch. v. The same capacity which qualifies a mill-ben, a bridle-cull, or a buttock and file to arrive at any degree of eminence in his profession would likewise raise a man in what the world esteem a more honourable calling.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Buttock and file, a common whore and a pickpocket.

Buttock and Tongue, subs. (old).—A scolding woman; a shrew.

Buttock and Twang, subs. (old).—A common prostitute, but who refrains from theft. Cf., Buttock and file. [399]

Buttock Ball, subs. (old).—1. A dance attended by prostitutes. Cf., Ballum rancum and Buff ball.

1687. T. Brown, Lib., Consc., in Dk. Buckingham’s Wks. (1705), II., 131. Why not into a Bibbing-house, as well as a Dancing School, a buttoc-ball, or the like.

2. (old.)—The sexual embrace; cohabitation. Cf., Bawdy banquet and Buttock banquetting.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Buttock-ball, the amorous congress.

Buttock Banquetting, subs. (old).—Harlotry.

1555. Fardle Facions, II., viii., 167. Whiche [wiues] maie neuerthelesse vse buttocke banquetyng abrode.

Buttock-Broker, subs. (old).—A procuress; a bawd; an abbess (q.v.).

Buttocking Shop, subs. (old).—A brothel; a house of ill fame used by the lowest class of public women.

Button, subs. (old).—1. A shilling. Formerly this applied to good currency; it now only signifies counterfeit coin. For synonyms, see Below.

2. A decoy of any kind, whether the confederate of confidence trick men, or a sham buyer at an auction. Frequently called a buttoner (q.v.). Cf., Bunco-steerer. Fr. un allumé.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 358. They [cheap Jacks] 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 goods put up. Ibid, III., p. 121. Then he (the thimble-rigger) turns round to the crowd, and pretends to be pushing them back, and whilst he is saying, ‘Come gentlemen, stand more backwarder,’ one of the confederates, who is called a ‘button,’ lifts up one of the thimbles with a pea under it, and laughs to those around, as much as to say, ‘We’ve found it out.’

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, ix. The button, that is the confederate who egged on the flats.

Verb.—To decoy; to act as confederate in swindles. Fr. aguicher.

Not to care a button—brass button, etc., phr. (common).—A very old colloquialism indicative of small value. It has been in continuous use from the beginning of the fourteenth century down to the present time. Americans say ‘not 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.’

Button Burster or Button Buster, subs. (theatrical).—A low comedian. [The derivation is sufficiently obvious, that is, one who causes his auditors to laugh so that by a figure of speech their buttons are regarded as bursting off their clothes.]

Button-Catcher, subs. (general).—A tailor. There may be mentioned among

English Synonyms, snip; cabbage contractor; steel-bar driver; goose persuader; sufferer; ninth part of a man, etc.

French Synonyms. Un gobeprune (thieves’); un emmailloteur (popular); un mangeur de prunes (general); un pique-poux; un pique-prunes; un pique-puces; un croque-prunes; un frus-quineur. [400](Most of these are offensive terms, as will be seen when it is stated that puces = fleas; poux = lice, and so on.)

Buttoner, subs. (thieves’).—A card-sharper’s decoy, an equivalent of button, subs., sense 2. For synonyms, see Decoy-duck.

1841. Blackwood’s Mag., L., 202. Buttoners are those accomplices of thimble-riggers … whose duty it is to act as flat-catchers or decoys, by personating flats. [M.]

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3 ed.), p. 446. To entice another to play—buttoner.

1860. Cornhill Mag., II., 334. Enticer of another to play—buttoner. [M.]

Button-On. To have a button on, phr. (printers’).—To have a fit of the blues; to be despondent.—See Chopper on.

Button Pound, subs. (provincial).—Money. For synonyms generally, see Actual.

Buttons, subs. (common).—A page; sometimes rendered by boy in buttons. [In allusion to the numerous buttons which usually adorn the front of a page’s jacket.]

1860. Thackeray, Lovel the Widower, p. 289. [Herein quoted as the name of a page.]

1873. Chambers’ Jour., p. 605. Even the smallest boy in buttons would have been a retainer too costly for us.

1874. H. Mayhew, London Characters, p. 311. Others limit their views to a page, or ‘buttons.’

1885. Ill. Lon. News, April 11, p. 376, col. 1. Such a man is only fit to be dressed like a buttons, and set to open the door to visitors who come to call on his family.

Dash or damn my buttons—wig, etc., phr. (general).—A mild oath, the word ‘damn’ often being represented by a dash. Ordinarily employed to express vexation or surprise.—See Oaths.

1860. Wm. Howard Russell, My Diary in India, I., p. 26. Darn my buttons if I haven’t jest a mind to.…

Not to have all one’s buttons, phr. (common).—To be deficient in intellect; slightly cracky; to have a bee in one’s bonnet.—See Apartments to let.

To have a soul above buttons, phr. (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 the phrase.]

1795. G. Colman, Sylv. Daggerwood, I. (1808), 10. My father was an eminent Button-Maker … but I had a soul above buttons … I panted for a 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 his son had not.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, III., p. 93. If I were to say to Captain Crackthorpe, ‘What pretty buttons!’ he would be delighted. But you—you have a soul above buttons, I suppose.

To make buttons, phr. (old).—To look sorry; sad; to be in great fear.

1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Supererog., in wks. II., 238. Thy witt already maketh buttons.

1653. Middleton, Sp. Gipsy, IV., iii. Sam. O Soto, I make buttons!

Button Up, verb (American stockbrokers’).—When a 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 [401]reluctant to confess the ownership of a share. This is called buttoning up.

Butty, subs. (common).—A comrade or partner. Properly and specifically a miner who raises coal or ore 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-pal is a fellow-workman (literally work-brother). As usual 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.

1845. Disraeli, Sybil, wks. III., ch. i. Suppose we were to make a shift for a month or six weeks, … and have no tommy 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, p. 385. The butty has given notice to quit in Parker’s field this se’nnight. Ibid, p. 389. The enemies of the people: all butties, doggies, dealers in truck and tommy.

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xxxi. ‘He and I cottoned together, and found out that we had been prisoners together five-and-twenty years agone. And so I shouted [stood drinks] for him, and he for me, and at last I says, “Butty,” says I, “who are those chaps round here on the lay?”’

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 101. William Carrol was his partner, or butty, in the ‘lollipop’ business—a dismal looking man, who had always a burnt short clay pipe in his mouth.

Buvare, subs. (strolling players’).—Explained by quotation. Cf., also Beware.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 201. [Ethiopian serenader loq.] ‘We could then, after our “nunyare” and “buvare” (that’s what we call eat and drink, and I think it’s broken Italian), carry home our 5/– or 6/– each, easy.’

Buy a Prop, phr. (Stock Exchange).—A term used to signify that the market has gone flat, and that there is no one to support it.

Buz or Buzz, subs. (common).—A parlour game which is thus described by Hotten, who, however, erroneously limited it to public-houses:—The leader commences saying ‘one,’ the next on the left hand ‘two,’ the next ‘three,’ and so on to seven, when ‘buz’ must be said. Every seven and multiple of 7, as 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, etc., must not be mentioned, but ‘buz’ instead. Whoever breaks the rule pays a fine.

1868. Miss Alcott, Little Women, ch. iii. They … were in the midst of a quiet game of ‘buzz’ with two or three other young people who had strayed in, when Hannah appeared.

Verb (general).—1. Some uncertainty exists as to whether to buz signifies to drain a bottle or decanter to the last drop, or whether it means to share equally the last of a bottle of wine, when there is not enough for a full glass to each of the party. [See, however, quot. 1795.] 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 [402]word 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.] The Scotch say bouse a’, drink all.

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 that is nearly out.

1795. Gent. Mag., p. 118. Briskly pushed towards me the decanter containing a tolerable bumper, and exclaimed, ‘Sir, I’ll buzz you: come, no heel taps!’

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 1. Cribb. … I’ll give you, ‘May the best man win.’ (All drink.) May the best man win. 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.

1846–48. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, II., 138. ‘Get some more port, Bowls, old boy, whilst I buzz this bottle here—what was I saying?’ ‘I think you were speaking of dogs killing rats,’ Pitt remarked mildly, handing his cousin the decanter to buzz.

1871. Archibald Forbes, My Experiences of the War between France and Germany, I., p. 234. The Hotel which I had seen a few days before, where Von Tümpling’s staff were buzzing the bottles.

2. To pick pockets. [Probably an allusion to buzz in the sense of to talk busily. The victim in buzzing or buz-faking (q.v.) is generally engaged in conversation with a confederate, while the buzzer (q.v.) is committing the robbery.] For synonyms, see Prig.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 158. In order to give them an opportunity of working upon the prig and buz, that is, picking of pockets.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 445. To pick pockets—to buzz.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 261. In my young days there used to travel about in gangs, like men of business, a lot of people called ‘Nobblers,’ who used to work the ‘thimble and pea rig’ and go buzzing, that is, picking pockets, assisted by some small boys.

3. (American thieves’.)—To search for; to look about one.

Buz-Bloke.—See Buz-napper.

Buz-Cove.—See Buz-napper.

Buz-Gloak.—See Buz-napper.

Buz-Man, subs. (thieves’).—1. A pickpocket. Cf., Buz-napper.

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 111. The London buzman (swell mobsman) can keep his pony by abstracting ‘skins’ (purses) from gentlemen’s pockets.

2. (thieves’.)—An informer. [From buzz, to talk or whisper, + man.] For synonyms, see Nark.

1877. W. Black, Green Past. and Picc., ch. xi. What was all this about ‘Billy Rowland,’ ‘Scotland Yard,’ ‘Spy,’ ‘Buzman,’ and the rest?

Buz-Napper, subs. (old).—1. A pickpocket. [From buz, to pick pockets, + napper or nabber, one who seizes or snatches. ‘Buz-bloke,’ ‘buz-cove,’ ‘buz-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 Area-sneak.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 174. A young fry of boys … follow the profession of a buz-napper. [403]

1819. J. H. Vaux, Memoirs of Convict Life in Australia. Buz-cove or buz-gloak, a pickpocket; a person who is clever at this practice is said to be a ‘good buz.’

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v.

Until at last there was none so knowing,

No such sneaksman or buz-gloak going.

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Those who plunder by stealth, as … ‘buzzers,’ who pick gentlemen’s pockets.

1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 3 p.m., par. 10. Where these ruffiani, these copper captains and cozening buz-gloaks, are to be found during the day, or even up to midnight … must remain a secret.

1862. Mayhew, Crim. Prisons, 46. Buzzers who pick gentlemen’s pockets, and ‘wires’ who pick ladies’ pockets.

1867. Galaxy, p. 634. While the [New York] police had no right to arrest pickpockets unless they caught them committing a theft, yet as they had the power to do so, they exercised it, and many were the car-buzzers they led captives to police headquarters.

Buz-Napper’s Academy, subs. (old).—A school in which young thieves were trained. Figures were dressed up, and experienced tutors stood in various difficult attitudes for the boys to practise upon. When clever enough they were sent on the streets. Dickens gives full particulars of this old style of ‘business’ in Oliver Twist.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 173. [A Buz-napper’s Academy is named and described in this work.]

Buz-Napper’s Kinchin, subs. (old).—A watchman. Synonymous terms in the sense of police will be found under beak (q.v.).

Buzzer.—See Buz-napper.

Buzzing or Buz-Faking, subs. (thieves’).—Pocket-picking. Cf., Buz, verb, sense 2.

By-Blow, subs. (old).—An illegitimate child. [An allusion to the unacknowledged status of the mother, and the ‘accident’ of the birth of such children.] Also called by-chop and by-slip.

1594. Barnfield, Affectionate Shepherd. In such a ladies lappe, at 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.

1625. Massinger, Parl. of Love, II., i. Give to each by-blow, I know mine, a farm.

1678. C. Cotton, Scarronides, bk. I., p. 21 (ed. 1725).

Now Venus was Æneas 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 Redivivus, vol. II., pt. II., p. 19.

The poor Man’s House abound with Brats,

As country Barn with Mice and Rats;

And Parishes be fill’d with by-blows

As thick as Butchers’ Stalls with Fly-blows.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). By-blow (s.), a bastard or illegitimate child.

1868. Browning, Ring and Bk., iv., 612. A drab’s brat, A beggar’s bye-blow.

1875. Ouida, Signa, vol. I., ch. iii., p. 34. The one who held the child turned his light on the little wet face;… ‘And whose by-blow is this?’ said he. ‘The devil knows,’ said he who knelt by the mother. ‘But it is Pippa.’

By-Chop.—See By-blow.

1632. Jonson, Magnetic Lady, iv., 2.

First I have sent

By-chop away; the cause gone, the fame ceaseth.

[404]

By Cracky! intj.—A meaningless ejaculation conveying no idea beyond that of general surprise.—See Oaths.

1888. Superior Inter-Ocean. Say, haint Tubbs a Methodist? By cracky! here’s where it is, and in we walked.

Bye-Drink, subs. (common).—Liquid refreshment taken at other than meal-times. [From bye = not in regular course + drink.]

1766. Kenrick, Falstaff’s Wedding, i., 1. I could wish, nevertheless, old white wine stood higher in his lordship’s favour; that I may not be stinted at table, or in my by-drinkings.

1883. Daily Telegraph, Jan. 10, p. 5, col. 3. Our business men—and many others who are not men of business—take, as it is, a great many more ‘bye-drinks’ in the way of ‘sherry’ and ‘whiskey cold’ than is good for them.

By George! intj. phr. (popular).—An ejaculation signifying either surprise, or anger, or used 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. George, the patron saint of England, or to the predominant Christian name of the early sovereigns of the Brunswick dynasty.]

1731. Fielding, Grub Street Opera, Act iii., Sc. 7. By George, I’ll make an example of him.

1737. Bacchus and Venus, p. 117. ’Fore George, I’d knock him down.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xxxviii. ‘I—er—a little subject to this sort of thing—er—By George!’

By Goldam! intj. phr. (American).—A semi-veiled oath. The Yankee is peculiarly fertile in variations on the name of God, and gives a striking proof of his ingenuity in inventing new forms for the forbidden I swear. He has his by Gorram! by Goldam! and by Goshdang! by the side of the English oath by Golly! which occurs as early as 1743.—See Oaths.

By Golly! intj. phr. (popular).—A euphemistic phrase for by God!—See Oaths.

1743. W. Warren, 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.”’

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. 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 Gorram!—See By Goldam!

By Gosh! intj. phr. (popular).—A compromise for By God!

1804. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), I., 210. I promise, by Gosh (which is the most elegant and classical oath imaginable).

1877. W. Black, Green Past. and Picc., ch. xxxv. ‘If this goes on,’ said he suddenly, ‘by Gosh, I’ll heave!’

By Gum! By Gummy! intj. phr. (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.

1860. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Season Ticket, No. ix. ‘By gum, Squire Shegog, we have had the greatest bobbery of a shindy in our carriage you ever knowed in all our born days.’

By Hook or By Crook.—See Hook. [405]

By Hooky, intj. phr. (popular).—A mild form of swearing.—See Oaths.

1882. Jas. Payn, For Cash Only, ch. xxii. ‘Pay me what you owe me,’ says I, ‘or, by hooky, I’ll tell your father.’

Byng, Bing, verb (old).—To go. Bynge-awaste, to go away.

1567. Harman, Caveat, or Warening for Commen 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 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, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Bing a wast, get you hence.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Binged avast in a darkmans, stole away in the night. Bing we to Rumeville, shall we go to London?

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. ‘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, looking at Nigel.… ‘Bing avast, bing avast!’ replied his companion.

By-Scape, subs. (old).—A bastard. Cf., By-blow.

1646. Earl Monm., Biondi’s List., VI., ix., 197. For his being God-son to her Brother, and … for that (being very fair) she thought him a by-scape of his. [M.]

By-Slip, subs. (old).—A bastard. See By-blow.

1692. Hacket, Life of Williams, ii., 37. As Pope Paul the Third carried himself to his ungracious by-slips (an Incubus could not have begot worse), who made no further inquisition after their horrid facts but to say, They learnt it not of him.

Byte.—See Bit.

By the Ever-Living Jumping Moses! intj. phr.—An effective ejaculation and moral waste-pipe for interior passion or wrath is seen in the exclamation, by the ever-living jumping Moses!—a harmless phrase, that for its length expends a considerable quantity of fiery anger.—Hotten.

By the Living Jingo! or By Jingo!—See Jingo.

By the Wind, phr. (nautical).—Hard up; in difficulties. [In reference to the wind being formerly the most important element of success in a sailor’s calling.]

End of Vol. I.

[406]

List of Abbreviations, Signs, etc.

- Adj. = Adjective.

- Adj. phr. = Adjectival phrase.

- Adv. = Adverb.

- Adv. phr. = Adverbial phrase.

- C. c. = Circa, about.

- Cf. cf. = Confer, compare.

- f. = feminine.

- F. or Fr. = French.

- Heb. = Hebrew.

- imp. = imperative.

- int. = interjection.

- intr. = intransitive.

- It. = Italian.

- lit. = literally.

- [M.] = Murray (quoted from New English Dictionary).

- m. = masculine.

- M.E. = Middle English.

- M.H.G. = Middle High German.

- [N.] = Nares (quoted from).

- O.E. = Old English.

- O.H.G. = Old High German.

- ppl. = participial or participle.

- phr. = phrase.

- pl. = plural.

- pop. = popular.

- ppl. adj. = participial adjective.

- (q.v.) = quod vide, which see.

- subs. = substantive.

- trans. = transitive.

- U.S. or U.S.A. = United States of America.

When a word is printed in small capitals it should be referred to for further information.

THOS. POULTER AND SONS, LIMITED, 6, ARTHUR STREET WEST, LONDON BRIDGE, E.C.

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The new cover art included with this eBook is hereby granted to the public domain.

Revision History

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Corrections

The following 229 corrections have been applied to the text:

Page | Source | Correction | Edit distance
x, x | Gaunerspräche | Gaunersprache | 1 / 0
x, 19, 69 | Calaõ | Calão | 2 / 0
2 | ” | ’ | 1
3 | Hélöise | Héloïse | 2 / 0
Passim. | [Not in source] | . | 1
7, 226, 401, 404 | ’ | ” | 1
8 | Greeek | Greek | 1
8 | Semetic | Semitic | 1
10, 22, 116, 154, 240, 278 | , | . | 1
11, 12, 303, 314 | . | [Deleted] | 1
11 | t oits | to its | 2
13, 34, 43, 60, 264 | ’ | [Deleted] | 1
Passim. | [Not in source] | ’ | 1
13, 56, 166, 220, 222, 348, 350, 376 | [Not in source] | ] | 1
14 | [Not in source] | ; | 1
14, 72, 82, 120 | [Not in source] | ) | 1
18 | ( | [Deleted] | 1
19, 19, 23, 67, 80, 221, 259, 393, 393 | [Not in source] | , | 1
23, 71, 77, 113, 229, 362 | . | , | 1
24 | [Not in source] | [ | 1
28 | [Not in source] | ( | 1
30 | subst. | subs. | 1
31 | [Not in source] | , subs. | 7
32 | synomyous | synonymous | 2
34, 44, 50, 71, 111, 114, 133, 257, 299, 351, 367, 394 | [Not in source] | ‘ | 1
39, 265, 277, 329, 341, 341, 341, 341, 379 | .) | ). | 2
39 | adaptibility | adaptability | 1
43 | judical | judicial | 1
44 | [Not in source] | ’) | 2
50 | onself | oneself | 1
52 | scintilation | scintillation | 1
56 | ’] | ]’ | 2
60 | refering | referring | 1
63 | Etymolygists | Etymologists | 1
69, 73, 312, 343, 373 | onamatopoetic | onomatopoetic | 1
70 | philsopher | philosopher | 1
78 | Montkbarns | Monkbarns | 1
82 | , | [Deleted] | 1
98 | 1881 | 1818 | 2
99 | Viginians | Virginians | 1
106 | engagment | engagement | 1
109 | Etre | Être | 1 / 0
111 | calle | called | 1
119 | Palœotheria | Palæotheria | 1
128 | spectales | spectacles | 1
140 | ? | . | 1
147 | o hers | others | 1
154 | ’? | ?’ | 2
191 | n | in | 1
193 | : | . | 1
226, 342, 401, 401, 404, 404 | ‘ | “ | 1
228 | Tristam | Tristram | 1
229 | deluyed | deluged | 1
245 | Andromicus | Andronicus | 1
254 | | . | 1
265 | bloffen | blaffen | 1
265 | verlüffen | verblüffen | 1
271 | hin | him | 1
280 | S [ala] | S[ala] | 1
287 | pretex | pretext | 1
306 | .’ | ’. | 2
323 | draagd’er | draagt ’er | 2
323 | i | is | 1
326 | absolulely | absolutely | 1
327 | οὶκοδομεἴυ | οἰκοδομεῖν | 3 / 1
336 | trag dy | tragedy | 1
339 | bbown | brown | 1
342, 401, 404 | [Not in source] | ” | 1
346 | hesat | he sat | 1
366 | There | They | 2
368 | ’ ” | ” ’ | 2
380 | Arrogrant | Arrogant | 1
382 | Cotnty | County | 1
396 | would’nt | wouldn’t | 2

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Table of Contents

- Slang and its Analogues Past and Present.

- PREFATORY NOTE.

- A Dictionary of Slang and its Analogues.

- ‘A HUNDRED STRETCHES (1) HENCE.’

- An Old Proverb Twisted.

- Bates’ Farm.

- FIGHTING ATTIE’S SONG.

- List of Abbreviations, Signs, etc.

- Colophon

- Revision History

- Corrections

- THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE