r FROM THE LIBRARY OF H.L.TEVIS AT ALMA n ^ A i Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/dictionaryofslan02barrrich A DICTIONARY OF SLANG, JARGON & CANT GEORGE BELL & SONS, LONDON : YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN, BOMBAY : 53 ESPLANADE ROAD, AND NEW YORK : 66, FIFTH AVENUE, CAMBRIDGE : DEIGHTON, BELL & CO. A DICTIONARY SLANG, JARGON & CANT EMBRACING ENGLISH, AMERICAN, AND ANGLO-INDIAN SLANG PIDGIN ENGLISH, GYPSIES' JARGON AND OTHER IRREGULAR PHRASEOLOGY COMPILED AND EDITED BY ALBERT BARRfeRE Officier de I' instruction piiblique; Professor R.M.A. Woolwich Author of '''' Argot and Slang" &^c. &^c. CHARLES G. LELAND, M.A, Hon. F.R.S.L. I Author ^" The Breitmann Ballads," " The English Gypsies and their Language," dy'c. VOL. II. L— Z. LONDON GEORGE BELL «& SONS 1897 Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co At the Ballantyne Press A DICTIONARY SLANG, JARGON, AND CANT. } LABELS (American), postage stamps. Lace (popular), spirits. He got royally blind, showed a liking for /ace. — Birdo' Freedom. Laced (old cant), sugared, as J/iced coffee. Laced mutton, used by Shak- speare (Two Gentlemeil of Ver- ona). Vide Mutton. Lacing (popular), a beating. Ladder (common), "can't see a hole in a ladder" said of one who is intoxicated. Ladies' grog (common), hot, strong, sweet, and plenty of it (Dickens). Ladies' Mile (society ),Eotten Row. Ladle, to (theatrical), to speak the text in a pedantic and pre- tentious manner, i.e., to ^Hadle it out." Lad of wax (thieves), shoemaker. VOL. 11. Ladroneship (nautical), literally a pirate, but it is the usual epithet applied by the Chinese to a man-of-war (Admiral Smyth). Lady (old cant), a misshapen woman. Lady-bird (common), a specially nice or dainty kept mistress. (Popular), a wanton or lewd girl. Lady-caller (American), explained by quotation. A lady-caller is a cultivated and pre- sentable woman nicely dressed, who takes a salary for distributing cards for fashion- able folk, and, as we presume from the accomplishments demanded of her, even occasionally makes actual calls instead of the lady who employs her, and who, by a social fiction, is supposed to be calling. — St. James's Gazette. Lady -fender (popular), a lazy woman who gives herself airs. Chiefly used by servants in reference to a mistress who likes to sit by the fireside doing nothing. A (^^ Lady Green — Lagniappe, Lady Green (prison), the prison chaplain. Lag (thieves), a prisoner, convict. Vide To Lag. Asking • . . what improvement there was in the grub at Brixton ; was Jihere going to be a war with Russia? If so, was it likely they would want the lags for soldiers. — Evening News. An old lag, one who has been through penal servitude. To start, I, a confirmed old lag myself, think I may say that there isn't a prison in London that I haven't seen the inside of. — Greenwood: Dick Temple. (Westminster School), a fag. Every morning the lag junior prepares and brings to hall the " list," which is the rota of duties for the day. — Everyday Life in Our Public Schools. Lage (old cant), wash water, thin drink. Probably from the Gaelic and Irish lag, weak, feeble. I bowse no lage, but a whole gage Of this I bowse to you. —Brome : A Jovial Crew. This term is still used by the low class of actors. It is curious to note that laigue, in old French argot, signifies water, from the Spanish agua, with the article prefixed. But there is no evidence that the English term is from the French laigue. Lager (American). In German lager means a resting-place, a camp ; from the root legen, lay a place. Hence a warehouse where goods lie, a stock or deposit. Lager bier in Germany is stock beer, as one says stock ale in Anglo-Saxondom. It was in America that the word lager was most incorrectly applied, for the fiirst time about 1847, in Philadelphia, to German beer, to distinguish it from American and English malt drinks. All German beer is not lager, any more than all English beer is Indian pale ale or " bitter." Und is mein sabre sharp and true ? Und is mein war-horse goot ? To get one quart of lager bier, I'd shpill a sea of bloot ! —Ballads of Hans Breitmann. Lage, to (old cant), to wash. Yidje Lage. Lagger (thieves), a sailor. Pos- sibly from his way of walking. Also one who gives evidence ; an informer. Vide To Lag. Lagging (thieves), a term of im- prisonment or hard labour. Vide To Lag. Now the whole of the difference between passing a comfortable lagging and a hard lagging, is to give no trouble to the officer. I always make it a rule — don't trouble me and I'll not trouble you. — Evening News. Lagniappe (Creole American), a trifling commission or discount. All New Orleans grocers give to every purchaser a lagniappe. If child or servant buys five cents' worth, lagniappe is ex- pected and given rigidly, as though so nominated in the bond. It may be sugar, or spice, or candy. If the purchaser de- mand quartee (two and a half cents' worth) rice and quartee beans, two lagniappe are given. There are groceries in the French quarter where the chief business of the supplemental small boy is the rolling of brown paper sheets into cornucopias, and the filling of these horns of plenty with lagniappe. — American Newspaper. Lagn iappe — Laker. This system is getting general now in London for grocers to give presents to all purchasers. The higher the purchase the greater the present. The prac- tice is usual in France, and probably in most countries. Lags (American), layers of leaves of tobacco. Dutch laag, a lay, a row layer. Lag, to (thieves), formerly to transport or cause to be trans- ported; now to send to penal servitude or to prison. They'll ask no questions after him, fear they should be obliged to prosecute, and so get him lagged. — Dickens : Oliver Twist. A day or two after Bill returns alone. The girl asks him where her sweetheart is. "He's lagged," says Bill. — Sims: How the Poor Live. To lag, which, it is conjectured, originally came from " lagging," or tying the prisoners together, is curiously allied to lagan, the right of the lord to take goods cast up on the shore of his manor. Also goods tied to a buoy and then sunk in the sea. In gypsy and Hindu lagar or lugarna has the same meaning. Compare the French cant word " fagot," for a convict, i.e., tied up like a bundle of sticks. Hotten suggests the derivation from the old Norse lagda, laid, laid by the leg. To Icig, which formerly had also the meaning of to steal, seems to be con- nected in the sense with the German lagern, to lay, to put away. (Old cant), to lag, to void urine. A lagging gage, a cham- ber-pot. The expression is still common among showmen and strolling actors. Vide Lagb. Laid in lavender. Vide Lavender. Laid out (American), also Eng- lish, but more extensively ap- plied in " the States." Beaten, flattened out. Mr. M is horizontally laid out. Nevertheless, the war taxes must go. Boston Herald. Laker. Although applied as a term of derision to Wordsworth, Southey, and their famous friends, because they lived in the Lake country, the word had been in use from time imme- morial in Yorkshire and Lanca- shire, in another sense, with reference to players. The dic- tionaries give " Lake, to play, to sport," hence lalcer, or de- risively, "lazy lalcer.'" Lake, a north-country word for play, is from Danish lege, to play. One of the delicate pleasan- tries invented at the expense of the players in the last century, runs as follows. When the drum announced their advent in the rural districts of York- shire, the farmers' dames were wont to say — "Get the shirts off the hedge, wench, for here comes the lakers." In the year 1750, Gentleman Holman, a famous actor and author, and the recipient of high honours from his Alma Laker — Lamm. Mater at Oxford, was fulfilling an engagement at Leeds. He had dressed at his hotel for Beverley, in "The Gamester," and was attired in his court suit, with powdered hair and bag, chapeau bras, diamond buckles, &c. On his way to the theatre, in a sedan chair, the porters were stopped on Leeds Bridge, and overhauled by a gang of roughs of the period, who demanded to know who was inside. On being informed that the gentle- man in court dress was a play- actor, the ringleader said to his friends — "Oh I it's nobbut a Uher ; chuck him in t' river, lads." Before they could carry out this laudable intention, the laker stepped out, confronted them with his rapier, which he slipped into them, right and left, sending the ruffians howl- ing in every direction. La-li-loong (pidgin- English), a thief, thieves. The barber complained he had been called a la-U-loong, the pidgin-English for a thief. — Celestial Empire, 1876. Just t'hen he savvy la-li-loong. Same tief-man muchee bad, Hab wantchee kill one foleigna' An' catchee alio had. — Wang-ti. Lall-shraub (Anglo-Indian). English-Hindu, Idl-shrdby red wine. The name for claret in India. In English gypsy, laZ or lulli-moll. Lamb (old), name given formerly to a dupe, now a "pigeon," "mug," or "juggins." (Popular), an elderly person who dresses and makes up like a young one. Vide Lambs. Lamb and salad (popular), to give one lamb and salad, to give a sound thrashing. Also lamb- pie, a flogging. From lam, vide Lamm. Lambasting thrashing. (popular), beating, Vide To Lamb. Lamb down (Australian up- country), to beat. Vide To Lamm. He saw the publican . . . narrating with coarse glee to a fellow-poisoner how he had copped the old on the hop and lambed him down to rights. — A. C. Grant. Lamb, lam, to (popular). Vide To Lamm. Lambs (common), the roughs at an election employed to create a disturbance and break up the meetings held by and in favour of an opposing candidate. Also roughs of any kind. The bold Bendy, who until the past year or two was notorious as the fore- most " bully boy " amongst the lambs of Nottingham. — •/. Greenwood: Low-Life Deeps. Lame duck. Vide Duck. Lammie Todd (tailors), a phrase used by tailors, meaning " I would if I could." Lamm, to (popular) to beat, strike. From the Icelandic hlemma, to beat, bruise ; Anglo-Saxon lama, Irish lamh, old Norse lamr. Hot- ten deriving it from the old Norse lam, hand. Lam is ori- ginally to strike with the hand. Lamm — Land. Compare smack, to slap, and Irish smac, the palm of the hand. This word is old Eng- lish, and is now nsed only by slang-talking people. Dauber, to beat, swindge, latnme. — Cotgrave. De vellers ash lam de Romans dill dey roon mit noses plue. — Charles G. Leland: Breitmann Ballads. But forty-nine more were wanted, and I was getting mad. For I hadn't done what I wanted, which was, I'll now expound. To lamtn the ball to a certain and distant part of the ground. — Bird o' Freedom. Lamm it on, lay it on, hit hard. Lammy (thieves), a blanket. An allusion to lamb and wool. Lamp country (military), walking out at night without money in one's pockets. The soldier's hours of recreation are generally after dark, when the lights are lit, and if he has no funds to defray entrance to places of amusement, or pay for refresh- ments at other houses of call, he has to be content with lairi'p country. Lamp-post (common), a nickname for a tall lanky individual, much in vogue among schoolboys. A synonym is "sky-topper." Lampresado, defined in the New Canting Dictionary as one who comes into company with but twopence in his pocket! An impostor, an informer. Lamps (thieves and others), the eyes. The synonyms in French argot and Italian furbesco are quinquets and lampante. Vide Gig-Lamps. Landed (popular). A man is said to be landed when he has amassed a fortune large enough to keep him for the rest of his life. (Thieves), to be landed, ex- plained by quotation. When I fell this time I had between four and five quid found on me, but they gave it me back, so I was landed (was all right).— I/orsley : Jottings from Jail. Land-grabber (common), farmer who rents a farm from which another has been evicted. Oh, those dreadful Irish ! Fiendish affair reported in Banner. Goose belong- ing to Nationalist deliberately allowed to wander about meadow rented by a land- grabber, and eat up grass. Land-grabber's horse consequently has to go short of green food, poor starved thing ! The Coercion Bill must be pressed on at all hazards. — Funny Folks. Landlubber (nautical), a useless long-shorer ; a vagrant stroller. Applied by sailors to the mass of landsmen, especially those without employment (Admiral Smyth). Landsharks (nautical), crimps, pettifogging attorneys, shop- mongers and the canaille in- festing the slums of seaport towns (Admiral Smyth). Also lawyers. Land, to (common), to hit, to place a blow, to fall. And he landed the P. P. to rights, and he dodged his redoubtable digits, And Grimthorpe cried, Go for him, G. G. ! — Punch. Land — Lap. To MitchelHse him till he couldn't hit half an ounce, or land within half a mile of a haystack. — Punch. (Common), to land a kick, to bring one's foot in violent con- tact with a person's breech. Also "to hoof, hoof one's bum, to root," &c. (Popular), land- ing it hot, hitting hard ; land, to strike. Her fingers so lovely and taper, ah, yes, No hand e'er had fingers like those ; But the way she has got of just clenching the lot, And landing me hot on the nose ! —Song: Poor Mr. Coppit. Lane, Harriet (military), pre- served or tinned meat. A mo- dern epithet on a ration now much used in campaigns, and obviously derived from the unfortunate girl Ha/rriet Lane, who was murdered by Wain- wright, and put by in a box with chloride of lime, which preserved instead of destroying the body. Lane, red (popular), the throai. Lane, the (legal). Chancery Lane is always spoken of by lawyers as The Lane. (Theatrical), a col- loquial abbreviation among the employes of Drury Lane for the theatre. (Popular and thieves). Petticoat Lane. (Thieves), the Lane, represented, in the slang of the criminal classes. Horse- monger Lane Gaol. Lanthom, dark (old cant), a ser- vant or agent in a court who receives a bribe. Lan-tun (pidgin), London. " Hab muchee man in Lan-tun town, but flom dat tim I know." Lap (old cant), tea. (Popular), liquor, drink. Lap is a term invariably used in the ballet- girls' dressing - room for gin (Hotten). Lap ears (American University), students of a religious turn of mind are so called ; also don- keys. Lapland (popular), the society of women, an expression derived from the female sex being called "cats." Lapper (popular), a rare lapper, a hard drinker. (Thieves), drink. Laprogh (tinker), a goose or duck ; a bird of any kind. Lap, to (common), to drink. (American), this word still re- tains many old meanings among American thieves and gamblers, or has taken new ones, such as to pick up, to take, steal, wipe out, put out of sight, drink, and buttermilk, which, like lap, is also a term for gin. A "lap- tea. " is where there are so many guests that girls sit in one another's laps, or in those of the men, or where it is done for pleasure. A "Zap -ride," where the same thing is done in a vehicle. " To lap a girl." " Do you let George lap you ? " "No, we only sit sideways as yet." To lap the gutter, vide Gutter. Lardy-da — Larrikin. Lardy-da, lah-de-dah (common), a word borrowed from the re- frain of a song which was popu- lar some twenty years ago. Applied to a fop or dandy. At the bar, forming the central figure ot a group otherwise composed of lah-de-dah youths (now known as imitation dudes), stood a short, stocky-built man of about thirty-five years of age. — American News- paper. Lardy - dardy toffs (popular), effeminate swells. Large blue kind, the (American). This very eccentric expression, signifying magnitude and inten- sity, seems to have been sug- gested by blue bottle flies, which are larger and more disliked than any others. A particularly bad humbug or lie is sometimes described as being one of the large blue kind. Large order. Vide Order. Largo, largey, largo {g soft like^) (pidgin), much, great, magnani- mous, loud. Expresses magni- tude or extent of all kinds. My lar£^o man, my have catchee peace, my have catchee war. — Points and Pick- ings of Information about China (Lon- don, 1844). Larkin (tinkers), a girl. This is curious as indicating an affinity between the Hindustani Idrki, a girl, and the gypsy rakli. (Anglo-Indian), a very strong spiced punch. Lark rig. Vide EiG. Larks (American thieves), boys who steal newspapers from doorsteps. " Boy, why don't your father take a newspaper," said a man to a small lark, whom he had just found larking his morning Tribune. "He generally does," was the reply, " but this momin' he sent me to take one wherever I could snap it." — Tribune. Larky subaltern's coach, the (military), a carriage which used to be attached nightly to a goods train, starting from the Nine Elms Station at 2.30 a.m. for Aldershot, put on for the convenience of military officers who had from various causes got benighted in London, and missedthe ordinary train. Larky, as used here, is probably from the phrase, " up with the lark." Larn-pidgin (pidgin), learn- pigeon ; an apprentice, a boy admitted by favour of the upper servants to a house that he may learn English and domestic duties. Larrikin (common), a rough, a wild fellow. And yonder yelling fools contrive To lend some truth to Mammon's text. The laziest larrikin alive, With babbling tongue and brow per- plex'd, Can help do that —Punch. Imported from Australia, where it is sometimes abbre- viated to lary. In your article on " Our Larrikins" of June 2nd, you invite an explanation of the origin of this Colonial synonym for "rough." If the common account be correct, it arose out of a misunderstanding. An Irishman, on being brought up for unruly behaviour before an Australian magistrate, excused himself by saying that he was only " larkin'." Any one familiar with the peculiarities of the Irish brogue Lascar — Lawful. will easily realise how the two-syllabled participle was mistaken for a three-syl- labled noun. — Celt in the Spectator. Lascar (Anglo-Indian), originally meaning a soldier, "lashkari." It has now become a generally- used term for a Malay sailor. In the French army the term is applied to a bold, devil-may-care fellow. Lashins (Irish), large quantities. Lashool (tinker), nice. Irish, "lachool." Lass, to (American, Western), to catch with the lasso, lariat, or reata. It don't pay to have fellows blazing off their revolvers, and stampeding the cattle, and spurring their horses on the shoulders, and always going on a lape, and driving cattle at a lape too, and lassing steers by the fore feet on the trail, and throwing 'em head over heels, just for the satisfaction of hearing the thud they make when they fall. — F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Last of the Barons (legal), a nickname given to the " Baron of Exchequer" last appointed, since afterwards the Court of Exchequer was done away with, and merged in that of Queen's Bench, and no more barons would therefore be appointed. Last run of shad, the (American). To say that a man looks as if he had come in the last run of shad, is equivalent to declaring that he has a very thin, wretched, forlorn, or "played-out" ap- pearance. To be "in the last of pea-time," signifies a hard-up and poverty-stricken condition. Latchpan (popular), the lower lip. Late-play (Westminster School), a half-holiday, or holiday be- ginning at noon. Lather, to (popular), to beat, thrash. My father is a barber. And is unkind to me, So I'd rather lather father. Than father lather me. — Popular Song. Latty (theatrical), a bed. Yide Letty. Launch, to (Winchester College), to pull a bed over a " man." Lavender-cove (popular), a pawn- broker. So called because pro- perty is there laid up " in laven- der." Lavender, in (turf), is said of a man or horse to denote that he is ill, unfit, out of the way. Most people are tired of waiting for the Beaver, who was put down as certain to win one of the early spring handicaps, but so far has been in lavender. — Bird o' Freedom. (Common), laid in lavender, put away, pawned, or left in lodging for debt. From the practice of placing lavender in drawers in which clothes are kept. (Thieves), hidden from the police. Lawful time (Winchester College), at the end of "log-time," oi preparation on a "remedy" or holiday, the prefect on duty calls out lawful time, as an an- Lawn — Lay, 9 nouncement that all may leave study. Lawn, the (sporting), Ascot Lawn. Lay (thieves and roughs), par- ticular business, line of work, pursuit, enterprise. Kept a leaving shop — a sort of unlicensed pawnbroker's, you know . . . that wos his /ay for years. — /. Greenwood: Dick Temple. A dodge, swindle. To a constable he told the misadventure of the day, But the man in blue responded, " It's a very common lay, Did she talk about a child, sir?" Said the innocent, " She did." "I thought so," said the officer — "but, bless you, that's her kid ! " — Sporting Times. Alas, that writer kept it, too. Reminded me of debts long due, Then lodged me safe in Holloway The victim of a heartless lay. — Bird o' Freedom. On the lay, at work. Dodger ! Charley ! It's time you were on the lay. — Dickens: Oliver Twist. In America (north-east coast), a lay is a share in a venture. (Tailors), a good lay, an economical method of cutting, or when a man is doing any- thing that will be beneficial to himself or others. Lay down the knife and fork, to (common), to die. Layer. Vide To Lay. Lay for, to (American), to lie in wait for, to ambush. Also " to lay by for." There's a cat in the garden A layinfor a rat, And a boy with a catapult A layinfor the cat ; The cat's name is Susan, The boy's name is Jim ; And his father round the corner Is a layin by for him. — American Ballad. Lay it on, to (common), to ex- aggerate. The member who moved an amendment throwing responsibility upon the employe as well as the employer was told he was " laying it on too thick," and the amend- ment was defeated. — Funny Folks. Lay one out, to (roughs and thieves), to kiU one. Several of the prisoners were with him. Galletly was saying, " I've laid one out" to the other prisoners. . . . Witness also saw the knife, and there was blood on it half way up the steel. — Evening News. Lay out (American), a turn. "It's my lay out,'' i.e., it's my turn. " Boys, yer got me this time. They've called her ' Utella ! ' as near my name as they could get, and it's my lay out. What'llyehev?" The glasses clinked merrily, and Mr. Bill beamed with happiness. — A^ew York Star Lay over, to (American), to de- feat, excel, surpass. Probably derived from wrestling. " Can you write?" " Well, I've seed people could lay me over, thar." — Mark Twain: A Tramp A broad. "In scolding a blue jay can lay over anything human or divine." — Mark Twain : A Tramp Abroad. Lay them down, to (thieves), to play cards. Lay, to (turf), to bet for or against. 10 Lay — Leather. He overheard one noble penclller tell another ominously that "he could lay the favourite. "—Bird o' Freedom. To lay the field, vide Field. (Common), to lay one's shirt on a horse, to lay all one's money on a horse. Lead (theatrical), the most im- portant part in a play. Miss , who returned from abroad yesterday, has, we learn, refused to enter- tain an offer to play "the lead" in the old English comedies at the Strand Theatre. Daily News, (Thieves), lead, or friendly lead, a collection made for one " in trouble." I was landed without them getting me a lead (collection). — Horsley : Jottings from. Jail. Lead or leader (Australian min- ing slang), a vein of gold. The leader is the vein or deposit of gold in an Australian gold mine : said always to run north and south, which if it be true is a phenomenon of magnetism. In size, form, and value, the precious metal within a certain area will present great diversities. Sometimes the leader from which the gold is presumably dis- charged could be identified if it were not that specimens of an entirely opposite character embedded in greenstone, some- times combined both with greenstone and quartz, sometimes with quartz alone. Often it is as fine as flour, again it will range from " colours" to nuggets of several ounces. It may be worth only £,-2, i8s. per ounce : it may and does assay £-3„ i8s. and ;^4. — Queenslander. Leading^ juvenile (theatrical), the expression explains itself. Corresponds to the jtune •pre- mier of the French. Hamlet is the " lead," Laertes the lead- ing juvenile^ and Horatio, though an ex- cellent pal, is known as the walking gentleman. — Globe. Leafless tree (old cant), the gal- lows. Oh I there never was life like the robber's — so Jolly, and bold, and free ; And its end — why, a cheer from the crowd below, And a leap from a leafless tree I — Lord Lytton : Paul Clifford. Lean (printers), this is a metaphor used to indicate solid or bad paying work in contradistinc- tion to " fat " or good work. Leanaway (slangy Australian), one who is tipsy. The meta- phor is of course from the drunkard's reeling. Leap the book (common), a false marriage, or one which is illegal. Leary (popular and thieves), wide - awake, knowing, wary. Zmry-bloke, a knowing or art- ful man. But mummery and slummery You must keep in your mind, For every day, mind what I say, Fresh fakements you will find. But stick to this while you can crawl, To stand till you're obliged to fall ; And when you're wide-awake to all. You'll be a leary man. — The Leary Matt. From lear or lere, to learn, obsolete or provincial English. On that sad book his shame and loss he leared. — S/>enser. Leary cum Fitz (theatrical), a vulgar, impudent minor theatre actor, is usually described as a regular Leary cum Fitz. Leather (American pocket-book. thieves), a Leather — Lei. II He burst out into a grin, when the magistrate, who was up to his little game, suddenly asked him if he remembered how a certain elderly gentleman had been rob- bed of his pocket-book while going on board a steam ferry-boat. " Don't I just remember," he cried, "how we 'lifted' the old bloke's 'leather.'" — American Newspaper. (Football), the leathei\ the football. Leather-head (Canadian), a swin- dler. Now the Senator is only a leather-head, who made his pile by such and such a swindle, and the parson is a gospel-shark, or devil-dodger. — Phillipps- Wolley : Trot- tings of a Tenderfoot. Leather-hunting (cricket), this term is sometimes used to mean fielding. A leather-hunting game is one in which there is much fielding to be done. Leather-necks (naval), a term for soldiers ; from their leather stock, which to a sailor, with his neck free of any hindrance, must appear such an uncom- fortable appliance. Leathers (popular), the ears, otherwise "lugs." Leather, to (popular), to beat. Leaving shop (thieves and others), an unlicensed pawn- broker's establishment. Led captain, a fashionable sponger or " swell," who by artifice ingratiates himself into the favour of the master of the house, and lives at his table (Hotten). Leer (old cant), a print, a news- paper ; old English lere, to learn. Leet jury (popular), explained by quotation. The meddlesome fellows who had caused the disagreeable exposure were called a leet jury, whose business it was to pounce on evil-doers whenever they thought fit, once in the course of every month.—/. Greenwood: Seven Curses of London. Left forepart (tailors), the wife. Left-handed wife (common), a mistress. Left, or sinister, is in all languages applied to that which is doubtful or bad. In gypsy hongo means left-handed, crooked, or evil. Compare the French " mariage de la main gauche." Left, over the. Tide Ovee the Left. Leg (turf), abbreviation for black- leg, a bookmaker or ring-man. Leg-bail, to give (common), to run away, or decamp from lia- bility. Leggings (popular), a name for stockings. Leg it, to (popular), to run. Legs (American cadet), a nick- name given to a tall lanky man, one who is sparely and angularly built. Legs and arms (tailors), beer without any " body " in it. Lei (gypsy), to take, to arrest. Not uncommon among the lower orders in London. The writer has heard " Look out, or you'll 12 Lei— Let get lelled" said by one young girl to another within a few steps of Regent Street. It is from the third person indica- tive present, Ida; first person, lava, I take. This use of the third person for all the others is usual in posh an' posh (half and half), or corrupted Romany, and it occurs in Hindustani. Lengfth (theatrical), an arbitrary division of a part into so many components, after this fashion. Hamlet is thirty-seven lengths, and seventeen lines. Each length is forty-two lines. Actors do not learn their parts, they " study " them, and they measure each part by lengths. — Globe. (Thieves), six months' impri- sonment. Let her flicker (American), said of any doubtful issue, the simile being that of a flame flickering in a draught of air, when it is doubtful whether it will be blown out or not. It may be re- marked that in American slang there is more metaphor than in that of any other country. Let her up I Let 'er up 1 (Ame- rican), stop there, be quiet for an instant, hear what I have to say. This agrees exactly with the Dutch Ld 'er 7<7C^ Report. Loafer (military), a soldier em- ployed on the staff, or in any capacity that takes him from his regular "sentry-go" duty. Vide OUTPITTEE. (American), originally a pil- fering vagabond ; now applied to idlers and hangers-about of every description. The term is now recognised and in com- mon use in England. There have been many suggestions as to the origin of this now familiar word. Bartlett declares, rather boldly, that it came into the United States "probably from Mexico or Texas, and derives it from the Spanish (jaUofero, or gallofo, a vagabond." But this would imply the first Mexican war, at least, as the date of its advent. The word loafer, how- ever, was common in New Eng- land and Philadelphia in 1834, 1835, but it was generally ap- plied by boys to "pilfering." They would say in jest, " Where did you loaf that ? " Loafer, merely as a drunken, thievish bummer, succeeded this. At this time all the sketches of the genus loafer represented him as a petty pilferer, one who carried a gimlet and tube with him to steal whisky from the barrels, and who was popularly regarded as a lazy sponger of food and garments. In the first year of the New York Herald, and in the sketches of J. C. Neal as well as in other "life pictures " of the time, the loafer is always a pilfering bummer of the lowest class. It was several years be- fore the word was extended to mean a Jldneur of any kind whatever. Bartlett says that " the origin of this word is alto- gether uncertain. Two etymo- logies have been suggested for it; namely, the German laufer. Loafer — Lobster. 23 a runner (compare the Dutch leegloopei' and landlooper, a va- grant), and the Spanish gallofero, abbreviated gallofo, whence the Italian gagloffo (?), a wandering mendicant, a vagabond. The Spanish gallofa means what was given to the galloferos, alms, vegetables, &c." It may here be observed that laufer in German thieves' slang is the abbreviate of landlanfej; which means ex- actly and precisely a tramp or loafer in its later American sense. As regards the Dutch, there is in its low slang the word loever, from loeven, to go (gaan), to stroll about ; but with the sense of going astray or out of the course. Compare (says Teirlinck) with loeven, op zee van den koers ofwijken, op side sturen (to go aside out of the course — to luff). Loever is pronounced almost like loafer, and meaning the same, that is, one who idly strolls here and there, allows but little room for doubt as to its New York derivation. In old English cant loaver was the same with loure, to steal, as well as money. It would seem as if it had kept an unnoticed place in English slang, and then in America been influenced by or combined with the Dutch loever, or loefer, f being synony- mous with V. Loaf, to, an Americanism which has become a recognised word, to idle about. Shoeblacks are compelled to a great deal of unavoidable /(7«;?«^; but certainly this one loafed rather energetically, for he was hot and frantic in his play. — H. Kingsley : Ravenshoe. (American University), to bor- row anything, generally without any intention of returning it, Loaver (popular), money. From the gypsy louver, specie, or coin. Lob (thieves), a till ; properly something heavy. Zo6-sneak- ing, stealing the contents ©f tills. To pinch a lob has the same signification. Xo&-crawler, a thief who crawls into a shop, and behind the counter, to rifle the till. Poor old Tim, the /t?^-crawler, fell from Racker and got pinched. — Horsley : Jot- tings from Jail. Also a box, snuff-box. (Pugi- listic), the head. Properly a large lump. Lobber or looper (American), run, curdled, coagulated, run together. A New York term, from the Dutch loopcn, to run ; hy heft de loop, he has a loose- ness ; een loopend toater, run- ning water. Bartlett says very correctly that the proper term is loppered. Loblolly boy, a derisive term for a surgeon's mate in the navy. Loblolly is water-gruel, or spoon meat. Lobster (popular). Sailors dressed in blue were vulgarly called raw lobsters in the first five decades of the present century, and sol- diers were called boiled lobsters 24 Lobster-box — Loco-foco. from the colour of their coats. Soldiers were sometimes and are still called crabs. The name of lobster has been in later times transferred to the policeman. Lobster-box (popular), a barrack. Lobster, to (Winchester College), to weep, which makes the eyes and face red. Lock (jailors), " on the lock,'' attending to prisoners. (Old cant), a receiver of stolen goods. That woman they spoke to is a lock, alias receiver and buyer of stolen goods. — Hitchin : A True Discovery, &^c. Abbreviated from " lock all fast," which had the same meaning. The lock, the maga- zine or warehouse whither the thieves carry stolen goods. Lock, also chance, means of livelihood. " He stood a queer lock," he stood an indifferent chance. "What lock do you cut ? " how do you get your livelihood ? In this sense it seems to be the same word as lurk, which has the same mean- ing. It must be remembered that in many canting diction- aries distortions of words con- stantly occur. Lockees (Westminster School), lock-house. Locker (old cant), explained by quotation. I am a locker, I leave goods at a house and borrow money on them, pretending that they are made in London. — Hitchin : A True Discovery, d^c. Vide Lock. Lock, stock, and barrel (Ameri- can). Bartlett says of this phrase that it means the whole, a figurative expression borrowed from sportsmen and having re- ference to a gun. Sometimes we hear horse, foot, and artil- lery used in the same phrase. It is also very commonly used to say that anything has been so renewed that nothing of the original is left, from the story of a fine gun which had be- longed to General Washington or some other great man, and of which certain portions were new, such as the lock, stock, barrel, and ramrod. Also used in reference to a knife which had a new blade, and then a new handle, and again a new blade, and so on for many restorations, but which " was still the same old knife." Lock-ups (Harrow School), de- tention in study. Loco-foco (American). Bartlett defines this, as " i. A self -ignit- ing match (or cigar) ; 2. the name by which the Democratic party was (till within a few years) extensively distinguished throughout the United States." He also gives the history of the match, and how its name came to be applied to the Democrats, all of which the writer can con- firm from memory. It is very doubtful, however, whether the matches took their name from "locomotive." The wild flash which the first matches made when "snapped off" was greatly Loco-foco — Logy. 25 admired. They were sold in combs of about twenty matches in the piece, 144 matches cost- ing 12^ cents (6d.). This was in 1834, 1835. Boys regarded them as a kind of fireworks. The waiter was the first to in- troduce them to his school, and to a large rural neighbourhood, where they excited as much astonishment as they now do among savages. He has always been under the impression since early boyhood that the name is derived from a barbarous com- bination of loco, the Spanish for "mad," and foco {i.e. fue- go), "fire," literally wild-fire, Marck, the inventor or patentee, had in all probability the Ger- man word irrlicht, as well as the English " wild-fire," to guide him in the name. Locomotive (American), a drink made of half of the yolk of an egg, a tablespoonful of honey, a dash of curagoa, a flavouring of cloves, all whisked thoroughly together in a quarter of a pint of hot Burgundy. A winter drink. Locomotive tailor (tailors), one who travels by train. Loddomy, luddemy ker (gypsy), a lodging-house ; lodder, to lodge ; haro loddomy ker, a hotel, i.e., a great lodging-house; loddomen- gro, a lodger ; loddomengro rye, a landlord. Loge (old cant), a watch ; from the French horloge. Logie (theatrical), an ornament made from zinc. So called from one David Logie, who invented it. At one period these orna- ments were made as large as saucers, and were in great vogue in transformation scenes, and halls of enchantment, in which they dazzled and delighted the eyes of the rising genera- tion. Log-rolling (American), explained as follows by the Cornhill Maga- zine : ' ' Log-rolling is a somewhat rare term in England, but is well understood at Washington. When a backwoodsman cuts down trees, his neighbours help him to roll them away, and in return he helps them with their trees ; so in Congress, when members support a bill, not because they >are interested therein, but simply to gain the help of its promoters for some scheme of their own, their action is called log-rolling." A log-rolling in America, where neighbours meet to bring logs together to build a house, is generally made the occasion of a frolic. Logy (American), dull, slow, awkward ; " he's a regular logy." Also loggy, i.e., like a log. It would seem also to be derived from the Dutch log, heavy, slow, unwieldy. £en log verstand, a dull wit (Jewel). John Clossen was a real ^ogy, Heavy, bungling, dull old fogy, Yet he had his startlin' flashes, Now and then like flames from ashes, 26 Loll — Long-kn ife. And it made the people stare To think that embers still were there. — Sunday Courier. Loll (American), a favourite child, the mother's darling. Loller (American), usually ap- plied to a lively, sportive damsel, or " bit of muslin." Oh, if she is a toiler, I would like to be her loll I And if she is a scholar, Let me turn into a schol ! Or whate'er she scholarises Or whate'er she tries to do. Or what kind of game arises, So she'd only put me through ! — A Song: Poor Jones. Lolly (pugilistic), the head. Lone ducks, lone doves, quiet mice. Women who hire their apartments, where they receive gentlemen visitors, or who go with them to houses of assigna- tion. A woman without a &ou- tenewr, one who tries as much as possible to evade observation, and to keep up a respectable ap- pearance. This class of women has increased incredibly within a very few years in London, as in all the larger American cities. Long (University), explained by quotation. " Last Long? " " Hem ! last protracted vacation." — Charles Reade : Hard Cash. Long bow. Vide Draw. Long ear (American University), a sober, religiously - minded student. The reverse is called a short ear. Long-faced one (army), a horse. Long feathers (army), straw. In French argot 'plume de Beauce. Xa Beauce, formerly a province, is renowned for its wheat, and consequently straw. Long firm (common), an associa- tion of swindlers who pretend to be a solvent firm of traders. It is called bande noire by the French. The Austrian Consul-General in London having informed the Vienna Chamber of Commerce that Austrian merchants have repeatedly incurred heavy loss by giving credit to long firms in England, the Chamber has issued a notice warning traders of the risk of opening accounts with foreign customers, without first ob- taining satisfactory information respecting their position. — Standard. The police reports give us occasional glimpses of what are called long firms, but glimpses which are for the most part deceptive. They show us small bands of disreputable people taking premises in busy quarters, starting sham businesses, and obtaining goods from manufacturers for which they never intend to pay, and which they dispose of as quickly as pos- sible at any price they will fetch. The reports go on to show us how this kind of thing lasts until one or other of the vic- timised manufacturers sets the police upon the track of the swindlers, who are invari- ably hunted up and arrested, when the business collapses. — T}ior Fredur: Shady Places. Long-ghost (common), a tall, thin person. Long-haired chum (tailors), a young woman, a young lady friend. Long-knife (American), a white man, so called from the swords which the first settlers wore. The term came from the Algon- Long-knife — Loo. 27 kin Indians. In Chippeway to this day the term for a white man is chee-mdkoinon, i.e., great or long-knife. The writer once knew a very refined and beauti- ful young lady, a Miss Foster, of Philadelphia, and also an old Indian whose name meant " He who changes his position while sitting," but who was termed Martin " for short." Martin usually smoked a very handsome poaugun, or pipe mounted with silver, but one day he appeared with a miserable affair, made of freestone, not worth a sixpence. On the writer's asking him what he had done with the fine calumet, he replied, "I sold it yesterday to the ehee-mdkomon ikweh," — toth.eloiig-knifevfoma.n. The ^'long-knife woman" re- ferred to was Miss Foster. Long-oats (army), fork or handle of a broom used to belabour a horse with. Long paper (Winchester College), paper for writing tasks on. Longs (Fenian), rifles. Longs and "shorts" for rifles and re- volvers were familiar enough names to those who followed the Fenian trials a score of years ago.— 6"^. James's Gazette. Longs and shorts (gambling cheats), cards contrived for cheating. Long-shore butcher (nautical), a coastguardsman. Long shots (turf), to take the long shots is to back a horse which is not in popular favour at the moment, and against which the bookmakers there- fore give a larger rate of odds. It is in fact a form of speculat- ing for the rise. Button Park and Bonnie Lassie, at 33 to I each, seem fairly well backed ; but the outsiders that smack of business amongst the long-shot division are Ten Broeck and Althorp. — Bird o' Freedom. How oft at morn we've laughed to scorn A long shot's chance to win ; How oft at eve we've had to grieve O'er our departed tin. We've had the tip, and let it slip, What's done we can't retract. And we have to pay on the settling day, O'er the winner we might have backed. — Sporting Times. Long- tailed one (thieves), a bank note for a large amount. Long tails (sporting), pheasants, greyhounds. Long ton (miners), twenty- one hundredweight. In the coal trade they usually reckon twenty-one tons as twenty. Long trot (popular), explained by quotation. We was 'bliged to shoot the load afore we could begin ag'in. Sometimes we had to do the lo7ig trot (go home) with it, and so sp'iled a whole arternoon. —Greenwood : Seven Curses of London. Lonsdale's nine-pins (political), the nine boroughs for which Lord Lonsdale used to send up members to St. Stephen's. A reparteie connected with them is attributed to Burke. Loo (common), for the good of the loo, for the benefit of the company or the community. 28 Loocher — Loose. Loocher (Anglo-Indian), a low and especially a lascivious black- guard. Hind, luchcha, a lecher ; the being one, luchchi pana. In English gypsy luchipen or lut- chipen, lustfulness. Loo'd, looed (English and Ameri- can), beaten or defeated. "A term borrowed from the game called ' loo ' " (Bartlett). In a list of imaginary last words attri- buted to notorious Southern characters, Bella Boyd, a cele- brated fast woman and female spy, was represented as say- ing, " I'm looed." In provincial English, looed means supplanted. Looking-glass, ancient slang for a chamber utensil, derived from the usual examination made by medical men, for diagnosing the probable ailments of their patients. In Ireland the neces- sary article is often, if not com- monly, called a "Twiss," be- cause the portrait of that once noted politician appeared as an ornament at the bottom, pro- duced for ready sale by a satirical and patriotic earthen- ware manufacturer in Cole- raine to perpetuate the name and fame of Mr. Tvdss, for having slandered the women of Ireland by a baseless accusation of unchastity. The accusation was denied, but the penalty remained, by the operation of the principle sarcastically re- commended by Douglas Jerrold in all cases of doubt : if you do not know the rights of a thing, believe the worst. Looking on (turf), one of the many terms which imply that a horse is not intended to do his best in a race. Look nine ways for Sundays, to (nautical), to squint. Look-see pidgin (pidgin), mere sham, hypocrisy. " This is all look-see pidgin" (Anglo-Chinese newspaper), religious humbug. My link he cat he makee chin-chin Fo, My tinkee puss-cat be Joss-pidgin-man Who no can chow-chow meat — hai-yah ! ph'hoy I Dat cat hab cheatee, cheatee, cheatee my; My tink he 'hood — he all too bad — mas- ked He Joss-pidgin be all look-see pidgin. My wish dat cat be dam — wit' e vely-ting i For alio worl' be bad, an' all be bad, An' evely side hab pizen — cats an' tlaps, My no can do make tlust one man no more. —The Cat. Loon - flat (old cant), thirteen- pence halfpenny. Loose-box, a term sometimes applied to a brougham. Loose ends (common). When a business is neglected, or its finances are in a precarious condition, it is said to be at loose ends. Loose, on the (common), out carousing. At the same fair, Jem Moor was about three-quarters and an eighth towards being tight through having been out on the loose all the morning with the governor. — Hindley : Adventures of a Cheap Jack. Also getting a living by pros- titution. Looter — Lose, 29 Looter (gypsy), to steal from. Anglo - Indian loot, plunder, booty. Hind, lut, from Sans- krit lotra^ root ; Zwp, rob, plun- der. Luier and lour are English gypsy terms for the same word, and are also used as verbs. Lop, horse (army), puddings of suet without plums. Loppers, lobbes, loppus (Ameri- can). The writer has never seen this word in print, but he has often heard it in Pennsylvania. An awkward, shambling fellow, a hobble-de-hoy. Dutch lobbes, a clownish fellow, also a shaggy dog. This is nearly allied to the English loh, a lubber or clown. Lord (popular), a hump-backed man. That a deformed person is a lord . . . after a painful investigation of the rolls and records under the reign of Richard the Third, or " Richard Crouchback," as he is more usually designated in the chronicles . . . we do not find that that monarch conferred any such lordships as here pretended, upon any subject or sub- jects, on a simple plea of conformity in that respect to the "royal nature." — C. Lamb: Essays of E Ha. She invariably wound up at night with a mad fighting fit, during which my lord, vulgar slang for hunchback, was always thrashed unmercifully. — Standard. Probably thus called in ridi- cule from the self-importance and air of complacency sup- posed to be generally assumed by hunchbacks. Wright sug- gests the Greek lordds, bent for- wards, and Smythe A. Palmer the old English loord, lordain, lurden, or Zowrc^en, heavy, clumsy, sluggard. French lourdaud, old French lorde, Low Latin lurdus. Lord Mayor (burglars), a large crowbar or jemmy, used for breaking open safes. Numerous are the names given to crow- bars. There is " the Lord 31 ay or," " the Alderman," "the Common Councilman," and so on. These are principally used for breaking into safes. — Tit Bits. Lords (Winchester College), the first eleven are thus called. Lose the combination, to (Ame- rican), to miss the meaning or point of anything. One often hears such an expression in conversation as " Hold on there. I've missed the combination." "Did you see the butchers' parade?" asked the snake-editor of a casual caller yesterday afternoon. "Yes" " See that man throwing sausages at the crowd ? " " Yes." " Well, I never sausage a thing before." "Ha! ha! Pretty good. I'll surprise my wife with that when I get home." When the casual caller arrived at home he said to his wife : " My dear, in the butchers' parade to- day there was a man throwing sausages to the spectators." "Was there?" " Yes ; and I never saw anything like that done before." " Neither did I." He waited five minutes for his wife to laugh, and then went out to wonder how he lost the combination. — Pittsburg Chronicle. The " snake-editor " -men- tioned in this anecdote is sup- posed to be the writer specially employed on a newspaper, to invent or discover wonderful 30 Lost — Low-down. "yarns" of snakes, mosquitoes, enormous pumpkins, extraor- dinary instances of instinct in animals, and similar marvels. He is " the big gooseberry man " of the English provincial press. Lost and gone poetry (Ameri- can). The wailing, feeble-minded rhyming over "lost Edens and buried Lenores," imaginary griefs and sham sorrows, so characteristic of all beginners in poetry, has not escaped the notice of American newspaper wits, who often turn it into ridicule. Lotion (popular), a drink. "What's your lotion?" what are you drinking ? Loud (common), flashy, " pro- nounced," extravagant, whether in manners or colours, dress or demeanour. Originally English, it has been very much extended in America. A much more loquacious, ostentatious, much louder style. — Carlyle : Life of Sterling. Husband— "• Now, Mrs. B.'s dress, I suppose, is what you would call a sym- phony?" Wife — "Yes, a Wagnerian symphony." Husband — " Why Wagnerian ?" Wife — " Because it's so loud." — Detroit Free Press. Lounce (sailor's), a drink. Gene- rally a pint of beer, probably a corruption of allowance. Lounge (university and public schools), a term of Etonian origin. It means a treat. In the West of England a lownge is a large lump of bread. Lour, loure (old cant), money. From the gypsy. To strowling ken the mort bings then To fetch loure for her cheats. — The English Rogue. Louver, Iowa, lovo, lowy, lover (gypsy), money, i.e., specie, or coin. Vide LoUE. Lovag-e (popular), tap droppings. Properly a plant which possesses diuretic properties. Love (common), in scoring of any game equals nought, or nothing. I have seen those lose the game that have had so many for love. — Bailey's Erasmus. I sometimes play a game at piquet for love. — C. Lamb : Essays of Elia. Love is here the antithesis of money. " To play for love (of the game) and not for money." French, " pour I'amour de I'art," " gratis pro Deo." Love apples, explained by quota- tion. Love apples, the latest name which the dynamiters have given to their bombs, affords another illustration of the love of conspirators for euphemistic terms. — St. James's Gazette. Tomatoes were generally called love apples in Australia about sixty years ago. In France pommes d'amour. It may be re- marked, en passant, that the terms love apples and pommes d'amour are mistranslations of Italian pomi del mori or Moors^ apples, mala JEthiopica. Low-down (common), out of sorts, out of money, and out of luck ; also mean, underhand. Lowie — Lumberer. 31 That's just the way ; a person does a low-down thing, and then he don't want to take no consequences of it. — The Ad- ventures of Huckleberry Finn. Lowie (Scotch thieves), money; a form of lour, or the common gypsy lowy or lovvy. A good deal of talk afterwards took place about the lowie, which he believed signified money. — Scottish Newspaper. Low in the lay (thieves), in want of money, "hard up." Fighting Attie, my hero, I saw you to-day A purse full of yellow boys seize ; And as, just at present, I'm loiv in the lay, I'll borrow a "quid," if you please. —Lytton : Paul Clifford. Low-pad (old cant), a footpad. Low- water-mark, at (common), without funds. I'm at low-water-mark, myself, only one bob and a magpie. — Dickens: Oliver Twist. Lucky (popular), to make or cut one's lucky, to escape, run away. That was all out of consideration for Fagin, 'cause the traps know that we work together, and he might have got into trouble if we hadn't made our lucky. — Dickens : Oliver Twist. Lug chovey (popular), a pawn- broker's shop. Lug, in (popular), in pawn. Scotch lagd, laid by, put away Lullaby cheat (old cant), a child. Luller (gypsy), to vanish, dis- appear. LuUy (thieves), linen, a shirt ; lully prigger, a thief who steals linen off hedges or lines. Lumber (old cant), a room. Lumberer (turf), a swindling tipster, who works his business vivd voce instead of by advertise- ment. His happy hunting- grounds are the bars of fashion- able restaurants, though he may be also encountered on race- courses. His method is either to be introduced by a con- federate, or to force acquaint- ance with raw youths {vide Juggins), and by pretending to intimacy with jockeys and familiarity with owners of horses to persuade his victim that he is wilhng, from sheer good-fellowship, to part with valuable information ; and, pro- vided a commission is entrusted to him, to insure success on some impending race. The name of the horse is given or withheld as may suit the cir- cumstances of the case, but once he has secured the money or credit of the "juggins" the result is the same. Should the horse win (a most unlikely con- tingency), there are twenty ex- cellent reasons why the stake has not been invested ; if beaten, as he usually is, the lumberer urges some impossible combi- nation of rascality on the part of owner or jockey as an excuse for present defeat and in proof of future infallibility. (Com- mon), a man who goes about public-houses sponging on ac- quaintances. From to lumber, to loiter, stroll lazily. So I pulled out my flask, and my two lumberers drained it, and, with a " Lord luv us, Bill, I feels er nu'un," and with 32 Lummox — Lunk-headed. the other saying, "Them's ray senti- ments," began chaffing me — " Are yer agoing to have another game er nap ? " — Bird o' Freedom. Lummox (American), a fat, un- wieldy, stupid person. From provincial English lummock, a lump. Lummy (popular), first-rate, clever, jolly. To think of Jack Dawkins — Lummy Jack — the Dodger — the Artful Dodger going abroad for a common twopenny halfpenny sneeze-box.— Z?/c/tfi^«J : Oliver Twist. Lump (popular), a party, associa- tion ; to go in the luitvp, means to go to the parish workhouse. Lump hotel (popular), the work- house. Termed also the • * pan, ' ' Lump on the thick un's, to (turf), to make a heavy bet in sove- reigns. Lump, to (popular), used in the phrase "if you don't like it you may luta'p it," i.e., get rid of it by swallowing it. " M. Oliphant regards the word as a corrup- tion of old English lomp, Anglo- Saxon gdamp, it happened ; and so to lum.'p would be ' to take what may chance ' " (A. Smythe Palmer). (Thieves), to lump the lighter, to be trans- ported. In this case to lump signifies to load. (Turf), to put weight on. Not content with lumping him in the handicap. — Bird o' Freedom.. Lumpy (booksellers), costly ; lumpy books, costly books. (Popular) , intoxicated, pregnant. (Cricket), applied to rough ground. The wicket was unsatisfactory, and the batsmen complained that it was lumpy. — Evening News. Lunan. Hotten declares that this is gypsy for a girl. It is common in canting, but the writer has never been able to determine that it is Eomany. Probably from the Swedish or Danish Iwas, a slatternly girl. Lung-box (popular), mouth. My tar, if you don't close your lung-box I shall run you in. — Brighton Beach Loafer. Lunka (Anglo-Indian), a strong cheroot from the Bengal Presi- dency, so called from being made from tobacco grown in the islands, the local term for which is lanlca of the Godavery Delta (Anglo-Indian Glossary). They are becoming known in London. Lunkhead (American), a horse of inferior breed and appearance. Our new Minister to France is studying the art of politeness and elegance of diction prior to his advent into Parisian society. He calls our worthy Secretary of State (Mr. Fish) a "fossilised lunkhead." The term lunkltead is usually applied by sport- ing men to a very sorry style of horse, but never, we believe, to a horse mackerel. — New York Herald. From the Swedish lunk, a very slow, heavy horse. Lunk-headed (American), idiotic senseless. We shall go armed, and the lunk- headed, overgrown calf had better keep out of our sight if he values his miserable, worthless life. — Estelline {Dakota) Bell. Luny — Lush. 33 Luny (popular), a lunatic. " Go along, you luny^'' is a common phrase. Combining business with pleasure, he chartered a horse and trap, and drove the luny to the asyhim, intending to wind up with a pleasant drive on his own account. On the road, however, the luny saw in the master's pocket the order for admission to the asylum, and he quietly abstracted it. When they arrived he got down from the trap, and told the officials that he had brought them an inmate, a very quiet man, whose only madness was an idea that he was the master of a suburban workhouse. The master vehemently protested that the other man was the lunatic, and that he himself was really the master of the work- house. "I told you so," said the lunatic pityingly ; " but this will settle the mat- ter ; here is the order for his admission." The unlucky master was violently re- moved, and the lunatic got up in the trap, and drove away. — Ross : Variety Paper. Lur, loure (gypsy), to rob ; booty, plunder. This word passed into canting at a very early period. Your'e out ben morts and toure ! Look out ben morts and toure ! For all the Rome coves are budged a beake. And the quire (queer) coves tippe the loure. — ^. Rowlands, t6io. That " Kome coves " means gypsies here, as well as "good men," is apparent enough. Stealing linen from hedges, &c., has always been regarded as a speciality of the Komany. Loure is still commonly used among gypsies. " Do you pen mandy'd loure tute?" — "Do you think I'd rob you ? " Lurk (tramps and others), a swindle ; specially applied to obtaining money by a false beg- ging petition. An occupation. VOL. II. Then says Pudding-faced Ned, with a grin on his phiz, " It's no one but horses and asses that work; Now Larry's got his fancy, Jerry's got his, And so I 've got mine, and it's cadging's my lurk." —J. Greenwood : A Night in a Workhouse. Formerly lurch. The tapster having many of these lurches fell to decay. — Pee^s Jests. (Tinker), eye. This word, in the sense of looking about, ob- serving where work may be got, or anything stolen, &c., possibly suggested the old canting word lurh, which was used for every kind of "lay," trick, swindle, or " game." To keenly observe forms the first part of the edu- cation of a young thief, and to this his eyesight was regularly trained by observing mingled objects thrown up together, &c. — an exercise which might be with great advantage applied in all schools to develop quick- ness of perception. Lurker (tramps and others), an impostor who goes about with a false begging petition. Lurries (thieves), money or jewel- lery. From the gypsy loure, plunder. Lurry (old cant), valuables. Vide LuE. The fifth was a glazier, who, when he creeps in, To pinch all the lurry he thinks it no sin. — From A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs, colled ed by W. H. Logan. Lush (Eton), dainty. Shakespeare uses lush with the meaning of C 34 Lush — Lypken. luxury. It is a provincial term for rich, succulent. (Common), drink ; more especially drink to excess. Applied equally to beer, wine, or spirits. I boast not such lush, but whoever his glass Does not like, I'll be hanged if I press him. —Lytton: Paul Clifford. Though it once was our game when the chucking time came, 'Tis a fact that I freely allow. When in search of a lush to the "Spoofs' we would rush. But the sharps do the "rushing" just now. — Sporting Times. Suggested to be from lush, full of juice, traced by Wright to luscwui, lushious, luxurious. Drink seems, in most languages, to be synonymous with "juice." Thus in Scotland whisky is called the " barley bree," or juice of the barley. The French have " jus de la treille " for wine, and the slang term "jus d'^chalas." French sailors call rum of the best quality " jus de botte pre- mier brin." But more probably from the gypsy lush or losher, to drink ; or German loschen. Lush-crib (popular and thieves), a public-house or tavern. Lushin^on (popular), a low, drunken fellow, a sot. Up to recent date, there was, or may be now, a tap-room in a certain hostelry, in the immediate vicinity of Drury Lane Theatre, famous for being a favourite haunt of Edmund Kean. Here that ill-starred genius and his parasites were wont to turn night into day, in making their followers free of "the City of Lushington." Other times, other manners. Lush, to (common), to drink, or drink to excess. Vide Lush. . . . piece of double Glo'ster; and to wind up all, some of the richest sort you ever lushed. — Dickens: Oliver Twist. Lushy or lushey (popular), in- toxicated. It was half-past four when I got to Somerstown, and then I was so uncommon lushey that I couldn't find the place where the latch-key went in. — Dickens: Pick- wick Papers. Lyesken chirps (tinker), telling a fortune. Lying in (Eoyal Military Academy), is said of a cadet who stops at the Koyal Military Academy, in his room, on a Sunday when he is supposed to have left on leave. L y 1 o (Anglo - Chinese), come hither (Hotten). Lypken, a word used by tramps in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and probably at an earlier period, for a house where vagrants and thieves could procure a night's lodg- ing. From the Gaelic leaba, a bed ; and ceam (ken), a house. Mab — Macing. 35 M MAB (American), a harlot. Pos- sibly from the canting Mob, ' ' a hackney coach," which is com- mon to all who will pay for a passage in it. So the French call afille de joie an omnibus. In the north of England a mab is a loose, slatternly girl. Mabbed up (old cant), dressed carelessly, as a slattern. Macaroni (thieves), pony (Du- cange Anglicus). Formerly a swell, fop. " The Italians are extremely fond of a dish they call macaroni, . . . and as they consider this as the summum honum of all good eating, so they figuratively call everything they think elegant and uncommon macaroni. Our young travel- lers, who generally catch the follies of the countries they visit, judged that the title of macaroni was very applicable to a clever fellow; and accord- ingly to distinguish themselves as such, they instituted a club under this denomination, the members of which were sup- posed to be the standard of taste. The infection at St. James's was soon caught in the city, and we have now macar- onies of every denomination " (Pocket-book, 1773). Mace (thieves), to give it on the mace, or strike the mace, to ob- tain goods on credit without any intention of paying for them ; to sponge an acquaint- ance, beg or borrow money. Formerly mace griefifs were men who wittingly bought and sold stolen fish. Several Yiddish words may have contributed to this term, such as inasser or meser, a betrayer, hence *' masse- stapler," which see; m4s-chomet, a blackguard. Also moser or moser, a cheat ; mos, money, hence to make money. Man at the mace, explained by quota- tion. The following peoplfe used to go in there : toy-getters (watch-stealers), mags- men (confidence-trick men), men at the Moce (sham loan offices), &c. — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. To mace, to cheat, swindle in any way. Maceman, macer (thieves), a man who conducts a sham loan office, a welsher, swindler. Vide Mace. Machin (pidgin), a merchant. "Alio dot go doun blongy one numpa-one machin, he catchee too much doUa'." Macing the rattler (thieves), tra- velling in a railway train with- out paying one's fare. Vide Mace. A rough shock head was obtruded from under the seat, and a gruff voice cried : " J'yer, guv'nor, does your dog bite ? " " Great heaven ! " gasped the little man, 36 Mackarel — Maggots. "what in the name of all that's holy are you doing under there ? " " Same as your dog. Macing the rattler." — Sporting Times. Mackarel, mackawl (old cant), a bawd. French maquereau, ma- querdle. Madam (thieves), a pocket-hand- kerchief. One day I went to Lewisham and touched for a lot of wedge. I tore up my madam (handkerchieQ, and tied the wedge in small packets and put them into my pockets. — Horsley : Jottings from. Jail. (Old cant), Madam Van, a prostitute. Made (Winchester). A prefect is said to be made when he has received full power from the head-master. Made beer (Winchester), a be- verage compounded of college small-beer, raisins, sugar, nut- meg, and rice, so as to give it some sort of a " head." Made his Jack (American), got what he aimed at, attained his point, got into oflSce, or became somebody of consequence. Old English, ' ' Jock with the bush." "This phrase," says Wright, " occurs in Barclay's * Eclo- gues,' 1570, and seems to mean a Jack-in-office." Dutch, een groot Hans, a great Jack or per- son, " a swashing blade ; " Ger- man, prablhans, a " swell." Madza (thieves and coster- mongers), half; from the Ita- lian mezza, used as in madza saltee, a halfpenny ; madza poona, half a sovereign, &c. Also medza, in low theatrical slang ; medza beargered, half drunk. Mafoo (pidgin), horse-boy, groom. "Talkee mafoo to come chop- chop." (Mandarin), mah, a horse ; mah-tung, a stirrup. Mag (thieves and popular), a halfpenny ; in ancient cant a "make." You has not a heart for the general dis- tress — You cares not a mag if our party should fall, And if Scarlet Jem were not good at a press, By Goles, it would soon be all up with us all ! —Lytton : Paul Clifford. If he don't keep such a business as the present as close as possible, it can't be worth a mag to \C\m.— Dickens : Bleak House. In society, "not a mxig'" is equivalent to " not a sou." And the staff, going and downing it on Indian Ocean and Atlantic, are still broke to a man and a mag. — Sporting Times. (Literary and printers), a magazine. And now of Hawkesbury they talked, Who wrote in mags for hire. —Wolcot (A Pindar). Maggots (popular), whims, fancies. Hence "maggotty," fanciful, fidgety. It was once a popular belief that small maggots were generated in the human brain, so that the fret- ting of these insects produced odd fancies and foolish notions. Hence probably the origin which may perhaps also be traced to Magistrands — Mahogany. 37 the fact that crazy sheep have a worm in the brain. Magistrands. Vide Bejant. Magistrate (Scotch slang), a herring. Magpie (popular and thieves), sixpence. I'm at low- water-mark myself— only one bob and a inagpie. — Dickens : Oliver Twist. Also the black and white circles in a target. Magsman (common slang), the Tuagsman is at the very head of the profession of roguery. He is the great man, the Magnus Apollo among thieves and swindlers, or what the French call de la haute j)egre. He is a first-class confidence man who selects his victims in the street, in the smoking-rooms of hotels, in stylish bars. '' Magsmen are wonderful actors. Their work is done in broad daylight, without any stage-accessories, and often a look, a wink, a slip of the tongue, would betray their con- federacy. They are very often men of superior education. Those who work the tidal trains and boats are often faultlessly dressed and highly accomp- lished" (Hotten). He has not the slightest sympathy with evil-doers, and fifty guineas would not tempt him to permit on his premises the hilarious celebration of bold Toby Crac- kitt's release over a bowl of punch, by a select circle of admiring magsmen. — Greenwood : In Strange Company. Probably from the Yiddish mochas or magas (to which mann maybe arbitrarily added), mean- ing a great swell, a great man or highly honoured lord ; or from to mag, to talk persua- sively. It is curious to note that meg, in French cant, which Victor Hugo derives from mag- nus, means master, head of a gang (more probably from Ita- lian cant, maggio, lord). It may be these words have a common origin, or this is mere coinci- dence. Compare old cant dahe, head of a gang, and French dab, same meaning ; the latter probably from dam, low Latin for lord. Mag, to (thieves), to talk, to talk persuasively ; a provincial- ism meaning to chatter. In the quotation mag signifies talk. Probably from " magpie." Oh ! if you have any mag in you we'll draw it out. — Madame D'A rblay : Diary. Mahmy (up-country Australian), the white commander of a troop of native police. The troopers were, of course, delighted at the prospect of a collision with their countrymen, and an unusual degree of activity prevailed in the camp, so much so that next morning before sunrise, while Stone and his guest were getting through their hasty breakfast, the corporal of the troop made his appearance at the door, and stiffening himself into an erect military attitude saluted gravely, reporting at the same time, " Every sing all righ, mahmy." — A. C. Grant- Mahogany (society), table ; to have one's feet under another man's mahogany, to sit at his 38 Mahogany — Make. table, be supported on other than one's own resources (Hot- ten). Vide Amputate youe TIMBEE. In a casual way he mentioned the days when his father, the J. P., sat for some- where or other, and of the dainties that nightly graced his hospitable mahogany. — Sporting Times. (Popular), mahogany flat, a bug. Maiden (turf), a horse which has never won a race open to the public. Therefore the winning of one or more matches does not disqualify a horse from being entered as a maiden for subsequent events. Maidstone jailer (rhyming slang), a tailor. Mails (Stock Exchange), Mexican Railway ordinary stock. Mailyas, maillhas (tinker), fin- gers. Gaelic, meirlach, stealers, as "pickers and stealers." hands. Possibly the real origin of «'maulies,"influencedby"maul." Mai-pan (pidgin, Cantonese), com- pradore, steward. Maistry, mixtry, sometimes mys- tery (Anglo-Indian), properly a foreman, a master- workman, but used for any artisan, as rajmistri, a mason or bricklayer, lohar-mistri, a blacksmith. From the Portuguese mestre, a skilled or master- workman. Make (old cant), a penny or half- penny. (General), to be "on the make," to be always intent on the main chance, seeking to make money. It generally implies unscrupulousness and cleverness. The English doctors can earn their living in their own country. They haven't gone to Germany on the make. — Referee. While the word is unques- tionably derived from the Eng- lish make, as "to make money," it is worth pointing out its resemblance to the Yiddish mdkir, one who knows, who is intelligent in anything. No- thing is more remarkable in slang than the manner in which words mutually form and help one another into currency. It is said also of one who asks too high a price for his goods. " On the make " is of American origin ; a make is a successful swindle. Make a bolt of it, to (common), to run away. And he has been suspected, detected, has made a bolt of it, and has been dis- covered and brought to justice. — The Graphic. Make a kick, to (common), to raise an objection. French re- gimber, said of a horse that backs and kicks, and figuratively of an unwilling person. Make a small war, to (American), to amass as- small fortune. In reference to a man who had amassed a fortune during the civil war, and of whom it was said that he would like to viake a small war of his own simply to "finance" it. Makee — Make-up. 39 Many scores of these philanthropists who have spent their lives in looking for men to enrich whilst anxious only to make a small war for themselves, have I en- countered. — F. Francis : Saddle and Mac- Makee (pidgin), to make, do, cause, effect. " Supposy you makee buy-lo ! " It is in pidgin generally prefixed to verbs to make them active, e.g., ** I makee stlike dat too-muchee bad boy." Make hay {vide Hay), to put in disorder, to mix in utter con- fusion. The expression explains itself. Some of the warders, full of the irrepres- sible spirits of Old Erin (we do not mean whisky) had made hay with the drugs in the infirmary, with the result that lini- ments were taken as medicines, blisters applied in lieu of linseed plasters, and in one instance laudanum administered in- stead of black draught. — Funny Folks. Hay-hag is an old word for a noise, riot, mess. Make no bones, to (popular), to make no bones about doing any- thing, is to do it without demur or difficulty. Of very ancient origin, Erasmus in his Para- phrase (1548) using it — "He made no manier bones ne stickyng but went in hande to offre vp his onely sone Isaac in sacrifice " (Luke, f. 15). Its de- rivation is obscure unless it be an allusion to the habit of some people, in eating fish and small birds, to eat bones and aU. Make, to (popular and thieves), to appropriate to one's personal use ; to make clocks, to steal watches. Making-clocks was too risky, and guying warn't no catch after I fell in the river at 'Ampton, with a countryman as could swim like a bloomin' duck a throttlin' me. — Sporting Times. (Freemasons), to initiate. Make tracks, to (American), to decamp, to run away ; in allu- sion to one who leaves traces behind him, without intending to do so. He was one of those unpleasant people who keep firearms on the premises, and handy for use. We made tracks, as you may suppose, and quickly too. The other two got clear off. As for myself, a snap-shot caught me in the calf of the leg as I tumbled anyhow over the garden wall, and thus put an end to my "crib-cracking " for one while. — Thor Fredur: Sketches in Shady Places. Make-up (theatrical), materials used for making up the face, hands, &c. Soap and water, cold cream, pomatum, or vaseline, pearl powder, Indian ink, rouge, vermilion, blanc de perle, rose water, cr§p^ hair, spirit gum, wigs, and grease paint of every description. The latter, though a recent discovery in Europe, has been known and used in China for ages. The use of it was first introduced here by the distinguished actor, Hermann Vezin, who, before it became an article of commerce, manu- factured it for his own use. A little girl at the back of the dress circle cried : "See, ma, he's been kissing the maid, and her make-up's come off on his face ! " — Bird o' Freedom. This term also refers to the personal appearance assumed by 40 Make-up — Manders. an actor impersonating a char- acter. Mr. took the part of the aged diplomatist, Sir Henry Craven. His make-up was admirable, and his acting worthy of all praise. — Sporting Times. It has the general sense of appearance produced by dress, habits, &c. Perhaps he owed this freedom from the sort of professional make-up which pene- trates skin, tones, and gestures. — G. Eliot : Daniel Deronda. Making a pitch (street performers, cheap Jacks, circus, &c.), select- ing a locality for a performance of any kind, stopping at any place to perform. Five times did we make a pitch in the wind and the deadly-cold sleet, playing over three times. — Greenwood: In Strange Company. Making a song (thieves), ex- plained by quotation. Only a purse, with four shillings and a railway ticket in it. What makes me remember the ticket? Why, when I got home — I was still staying at the lodging- house in George Street — a pal toW me of a lark he had seen at the market ; some poor chap had lost all his money and his return railway ticket, and was making a song (telling everybody) about it. — /. Greenwood: Gaol Birds at Large. Making up the log (tailors), putting down the wages. In the stock trade it is taking the number of garments cut, and in some cases where they pay "day work," if the quantity does not come up to the specified number of garments, the deficiency is deducted per ratio from the men's wages. Malleko (gypsy), a sneaking spy, an informer, a mischief-maker. This is old gypsy, and it re- calls the "miching Mallecho" of Shakspeare. Malley (Anglo-Indian), dener. a gar- Malt (popular), beer. When the purchase-money was paid over, the farmer invited the dealer, as is the custom, to have a glass of ittalt before parting, and they entered a neighbouring public-house. — Tit-Bits. Malt, to (popular), to drink beer. Malum (Anglo-Indian), a sailing- master. "In a ship with English officers and a native crew, the mate is called malum sahib. The word is, in Arabic, mu'allim, literally 'the instructor,' and is properly applied to the pilot or sailing-master " (Anglo-Indian Glossary). Mammy (West Indian), an elderly negress ; generally an old nurse. Sometimes corrupted into Mau- mer. Manablins (popular), broken vic- tuals (Hotten). Man a-hanging (common), a man in difficulties (Hotten). Man at the duff. Vide Duff. Manchester silk (tailors), thread. Manders (thieves), "remands." One promising little lad of about twelve, and who really had some claim to being regarded as an "old offender," overdid it by endeavouring, in the enumeration of his numerous convictions, to palm off a Man-handle — Marbles. 41 couple of manders ... as genuine ma- gisterial sentences to imprisonment. — /. Greenwood: Dick Temple. Man-handle, to (thieves), to use a person roughly, as to take him prisoner, to turn him out of a room, or give him a beating (Hotten). Properly, to man - handle is a nautical term, meaning to move by force of men, without levers or tackles. M a n - m a n (pidgin - English), slowly, gradually, little by little. Italian Triano mano. Man-man one peach-tlee flowery become one piecy peach, Man-man one littee chilo get wise an' all men teach, You catchee one piece can-do ; some day it make you gleat, Ahong hab larn this lesson — to fightee, shave an' wait. — The Ballad 0/ Ahong and the Mosquito, Man of the world (thieves), pro- fessional thief. Man of the world. ... He so loves to style himself, not from any resemblance to the similarly designated personage of polite society, but from the fact of his accomplishments being such that he can follow his profession anywhere. — Michael Davitt : Leaves from a Prison Diary. Man-trap (common), patches of cow dung in the fields. Also a widow. This old term, still used habitually among American thieves, recalls the bright boy in the New York school who, on being asked the meaning and derivation of the word "virgin," replied, "fir, a man; gin, a trap; virgin, a man- trap." Manual subscription (American), a blow with the fist. In Eng- land "a sign manual." Want me to subscribe to a Life of Grant, do ye? I'll grant ye yer life ef ye clar out from hyar 'n less 'n a minit, ye scum ! General Grant's soldiers stole all my hens, an' shot my second cousin's brother's arm off, and now ye want me to subscribe for his life ! I'll give ye a manual subscrip- tion in the face with my knuckles, ye hel- lion of a Yankee book-pedlar ! — Trials of a Book Agent. Man with no frills (American), a plain person, a man without cul- ture or refinement. An amiable term to express a vulgar fellow. The Nevada Transcript describes a blackguard who, because he was worth a million, insisted on being allowed to sit at a table d'hdte in his shirt-sleeves, as a mvner millionaire with no frills. Map (printers), a dirty proof, heavily marked all over by the reader in consequence of blun- ders and errors in composing — likened to a geographical draw- ing with many references. Marble (American), also marvel. To bound, bounce, or run along. From a boy's marble thrown along a sidewalk, which, if pro- perly propelled, will proceed to an incredible distance. Marbles are also vulgarly called marvels in Philadelphia, as in Suffolk- shire. Marbles (common), furniture, movables. I can't git the 'ang of his lingo ; his pat- ter's all picter somehow, And wot he quite means by Calf, mate, I dunno no more than a cow. 42 Margery — Marooning. But the Scapegoat, that's him, I suppose, and he looks it ; it's rough, as he says ; No marbles, no lodging, no grub, and that sort o' thing for days ! — Punch. Margery prater (thieves and gypsies), a hen, from its con- stant clucking. So called by association with margery-hoiolet, an old word for an owl, and margery daw, jack-daw ; margot, in French, is a nickname for a magpie. Maria, for Black Maria, which see. Although I had no motive for evading her, 'Twas but lately that I came across her track, And two stern-faced men were forcibly persuading her To enter a conveyance, painted black. Aghast at conduct seemingly so cruel, base, And wicked, I its meaning did inquire — Quoth a gamin, " She's been lifting some cove's jewel case, And she's going for a ride in the Maria. " — Sporh'ftg- Times. Marinated (old cant), transported. Marine (nautical), an empty bottle. Mark (pugilistic), the pit of the stomach. Gretting (1724-34) had the nearest way of going to the stomach (which is what they call the mark) of any man I knew, — Captain God/ray: Useful AH of Self- Defence. (Swindlers), one marked by thieves or swindlers as easy to dupe or rob. " Buy a watch-ticket, John ? " cry one did— " Will you bid ?— take a quid ; " " In for eight guineas ! " " Oh, nay, you don't kid This young man," said I, "from the North!" Whispered to me a mock-auction shark- Thought me a »«ar^— "keep it dark." — /. A . Hardivick : Up from the Country. (Popular), "to come to the, or be up to the viarh,'" to be satisfactory. When one is dissatisfied and says that a thing is not up to the mark, does not come up to the mark, one is still using the metaphor of a measure not filled up to the rim or proper mark. Marked up (tailors), to have one marked up, is to know all about him. Marketeer (turf), a betting-man who devotes himself, by means of special information, to the study of favourites, and the diseases incident to that con- dition of equine life (Hotten). Market -horse (turf), a horse simply kept in the betting-lists for the purpose of being betted against (Hotten). The "market" is the Turf Exchange, which is held at Tattersall's, in the bet- ting clubs on the racecourse, or at any great centre where ring- men congregate. Marking- (thieves), watching or picking out a victim. Marmalade, true (common), ex- cellent. Also "real jam." Marm puss (tailors), the master's wife, or the wife of any other man. Marooning (nautical), explained by quotation. Marooning — Mash. 43 In the good old times when punishments were heroic, when floggings were every- day occurrences and keelhaulings frequent, marooning was a well-known term. It consisted of putting a refractory seaman ashore on a desert island and leaving him there to wait for the next ship, which very often never arrived. — Globe. Admiral Smytli says maroon- ing was a custom among former pirates, of putting an offender on shore on some desolate cape or island, with a gun, a few shot, a flask of powder, and a bottle of water. The French marron (English " maroon ") was an epithet applied to run- away negroes, or to an animal which has become wild, as " un cochon marron," from the Spanish cimarron, wild. Married on the carpet and the banns up the chimney (popular), living as man and wife, though not married. Marrow, local in the North of England for a mate or fellow- workman. The word, though almost obsolete, survives in a variety of applications in the sense of one thing being like another ; as in the Scottish phrase, " thae shoon are nae marrows," these shoes are not pairs ; "his een are no mar- rows," eyes are not alike — i.e., he squints ; " my winsome mar- row," my dear "mate," my love, my sweetheart, my wife. The word is used by Sbak- speare in a phrase hitherto un- explained by his numerous critics and commentators. Mark Antony, speaking of the as- sassination of Caesar, says that he was "marr'd " with traitors — i.e., likened with traitors — as if he himself had been a traitor. Marrow -bones (popular), the knees ; to go by marrow-bone stage, to walk. Marrowskying, vide Medical Geeek. Mary (printers), an expression used to indicate " nix" or " nought," in throwing with the nine quadrats, should it happen that not a single one is turned up with the nick upper- most. Mary Ann (popular), an effemi- nate youth or young man, known in America as a Molly. Latin cincedus. Also a designation among the secret societies who govern and make rules for Trades Unions and associations of workmen in Great Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, of which the ob- jects are to shorten the hours of labour, maintaining and increasing the rate of wages, &c. " La Marianne," in 1848, was the name of a secret Ke- publican Society in France. The Kepubhc has been thus nicknamed. Marygold (turf), one million ster- ling. Marylebone stage (popular), the legs. " To go by the Marylebone stage," i.e., to walk. Mash (common), elegance, woo- ing. 44 Mash — Masher. They hint that such a niggard mash They wouldn't very much like ; They'd look for 'kerchief, scent, or sash, Gloves, jewellery, or such like. " 'Tis thus the green-eyed one appears," Says Mary Ann, with laughter ; " You see I have the mask, my dears. The presents may come after." — Fun. To be on the mash, to be making love to ; to go on the mash, to go about in search of amourettes; to mash, to make love to. A Johnny . . . masking a young lady behind the counter of a large Boulogne Chemisier, received an abrupt check. "Awy voo, si woo play, un necktie — un scarf— of the colours of petite chere mam'selle's eyes— bleu 1 " "Ve have not, m'sieur — vare sorree — but ve have ze scarf of ze same colaire as m'sieu's nose — rouge ! " — Sporting Times. To make an irresistible im- pression on girls, to make a girl in love with one. My name it is Bertie, the little pet page, At court I'm considered the go. My carriage and grace, my angelic face. Quite mashes the ladies, you know. — Bertie tke Masker. About the year i860 mash was a word found only in theatrical parlance in the United States. When an actress or any girl on the stage smiled at or ogled a friend in the audience, she was said to mash him, and " mashing " was always punish- able by a fine deducted from the wages of the offender. It oc- curred to the writer that it must have been derived from the gypsy mash {masher-ava), to aUure, to entice. This was suggested to Mr. Palmer, a well-known im- presario, who said that the con- jecture was not only correct, but that he could confirm it, for the term had originated with the C family, who were all comic actors and actresses, of Komany stock, who spoke gypsy familiarly among themselves. Mashed (common), in love. He was mashed, so was she, they were married— though sure They were each minus oof of their own. — Sporting Times. Also mashed on. He also took charge of the saddle-bags, which contained a cake of tobacco and a love-letter, or, as he styled them, "a chunk of baccer and some durned gush from a gal who's got masked on the owner." — F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Masheen (tinker), a cat. Masher (common), an exquisite, a swell, a dandy. Imported from America. For origin vide Mash. ' ' Out of the way, fellow 1 " cried a masher the other evening, " or I will give you a dressing ! " "I shouldn't try it on," answered the fellow, as he exhibited a shoulder-of-mutton fist, "or you'll still be the better dressed of the two." — Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday. Formerly termed "flasher, blood, Jack-pudding, macaroni, buck, top-sawyer," &c. Girls call their lover their masher or "mash." So, friends, take my dear-bought advice. On girls don't waste your cash. If you instead of dark are fair— You'll never be their mash. The darling creature you adore — Don't fancy you're her " mark," Or think you e'er her love will gain, Unless you're ' ' tall and dark 1 ' — Bird o' Freedom. Mashery — Matching. 45 Mashery (common), explained by quotation. Vide Masheb. A mass of conceit from the head to the feet, A blending of " cheek " and a bashery, A hat awry set, and a mild cigarette, Appear as the symptoms of mashery ? — Moonsh ine. Mashing, vide Mash. In the quotation this has the meaning of elegant and overwhelming. The Government's prisoner apparently thought that the time had arrived when a little fresh air would be desirable, and hey presto ! a new suit of clothes by some extraordinary means or another was con- veyed into the prison, and when the Governor went to see Mr. O'Brien that gentleman was seated by his bedside arrayed in quite the "latest" and most mashing suit of tweeds.— ^//y S leper's Half-Holiday. Maskee (pidgin - English), the commonest interjection in pid- gin, meaning all right. In the Chinese " Vocabulary of Words in Use among the Red-Haired People" (i.e., Europeans), it is spelt ma-sze-ki, and defined to mean " all good." The authors of the Anglo- Indian Glossary say it is a term meaning " Never mind," nHmporte, which is in- deed the way in which it is generally used. It is also used for "anyway," or "anyhow," and very often in an indeter- minate manner. They talk all same they savvy you — they all can do, maskee. Such facey man in allo-tim my nevva hab look-see. My tinkee muchee culio — he alio be China-man, But alio hab he head cut off, and holdee in he ban'. —The Ballad of Captain Brown. That mightey-time being chop-chop, One young man walkey, no can stop, Maskee snow, maskee ice, He cally flag wit' chop so nice. Top-side galow ! — " Excelsior" in Pidgin. Maskin (old cant), coal. Mason's maund (old cant), sham sore, counterfeiting a broken arm by a fall from scaffolding. Masoner (old cant), explained by quotation. Masoners are a set of people that give paper for goods. There are generally three or four of them that go to a fair or market together, where one appears like a farmer or grazier, and the other two as vouchers. — The Discoveries off. Poulter alias Baxter. Masse-stapler (old cant), a rogue disguised as a woman. Ma-ta (pidgin), mother. *' Ma-ta hab got one-piecee chilo. Joss- pidgin-man hab makee dat chilo Clistun (Christian)." Matches (Stock Exchange), Bry- ant & May Shares. (American cadet), a stripling of a youth. A tall lanky cadet will often be accosted with " Hulloa, Matches ! " Matching for keeps (American), matching coins or marbles, odd or even, &c., with the condition that the money won is to be kept. Ever since that time he has been work- ing industriously, accumulating wealth and fame, and gliding swiftly for office, office of all kinds, and abstaining scornfully from juggling with such youthful pranks as ■matching for keeps. All his leisure time was spent in the exhilarating sprint for fame. — Daily Inter-Ocean. 46 Matriarchs — M. B. Matriarchs (American), old dow- agers. The analogy between this word and patriarchs is ob- vious. Matspeak (church), sixpence from every one for the seats in the cathedral Mauks (popular), a term of oppro- brium for a woman among the lower classes, a prostitute. Provincial, mawTcs, a slattern. Mauld (popular), very drunk. Old provincial, mauled up, tired and dirty. Mauley (pugilists), fist. Also " mawlers," " mawleys." Professor Sloggins, the eminent artist with the mauleys, will deliver a series of instructive experiences. — Sporting Times. Also a signature. Mauleys, handy with his (pugi- listic), clever at boxing. " Now," said the Corinthian, " we shall see whether this supposed ' slogger ' is as handy with his mauleys as my old friend Mr. Jackson," — Punch. Maunder (old cant), a beggar, a tramp. Nor will any go to law, With a maunder for a straw. All which happiness, he brags, Is only owing to his rags. — History of Bampfylde-Moore Careiv. From maund, a basket, as beg from bag. Keference to a basket occurs in several cant terms used by the mendicant tribe, as bawdy basket, ballad basket. Webster gives maunder, to beg, from the French mendier; in German cant mumsen. Maundring broth (old cant), a scolding. Maverick (West American), an unbranded motherless calf. Nowadays you don't dare to clap a brand on a mavorirk even ; and if they catch you altering a brand — hell ! that's a penitentiary job. — F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin. Maw (popular), mouth. Mawworm (common), a hypo- crite. From BickerstafE's play of the "Hypocrite" (Hotten). Max (popular and thieves), gin ; said to be an abbreviation of maxvme, meaning properly the best gin. I bes' the cove — the merry old cove, Of whose 7nax all the rufflers sing ; And a lushing cove, I think, by Jove, Is as great as a sober king I —Lytton : Paul Clifford. But ere they could perform this pious duty, The dying man cried, " Hold 1 I've got my gruel ! Oh ! for a glass of ^lax ! " — Byron: Don Juan. Max it, to (American cadet), to say one's recitation with readi- ness and style. From maxime. Sometimes "to make a cold max." Mazarine (popular), a common councilman, from his wearing a mazarine blue cloak. I had procured a ticket through the interest of Mr. , who was one of the committee for managing the entertainment, and a mazarine. — Annual Register. M.B. waistcoat, a name said to have been invented by an Oxford tailor for the cassock- waistcoat which the clergy Mealer — Melton. 47 began to wear in the earlier days of the Tractarian move- ment. It meant Mark-of-the- Beast waistcoat. Mealer, in temperance lingo, is a partial abstainer who pledges himself to drink intoxicating liquor only at his meals. Mean (American). The word is most peculiar in its application to bad quality. The night was dark and stormy, about as mean a night as was ever experienced in Washington. — Philadelphia Post. (West American), inferior, savage. There ain't a drop of mean blood in him. — F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Meant (turf), short for meant to Mean white, formerly a term of contempt among negroes for white men without landed pro- perty (Hotten). Measly (popular), mean, miser- able-looking. Measured for a funeral sermon, to be (American), to be near death's door. The allusion is obvious. He had been measured for a fur^ral sertnoti three times, he said, and had never used either one of them. He knew a clergyman named Braley who went up into that region with Bright 's justly cele- brated disease. — New York Mercury. Meat and drink (West Indian), a swizzle or cocktail, in which an egg — both white and yolk — is beaten up. Med. (medical students), an abbre- viation of medical student. Common cads, who, it is well known, describe themselves as Meds. when in a scrape. — Sporting Times. Medes and Persians (Winchester College), jumping on another " man " when he is in bed. Medical Greek, the slang used by medical students at the hospitals. Medicine-Joss (pidgin), the god of medicine, Joh-Uong. No hab got Joh-Uong-Chii-Su, he Me- dicine-Joss outside China-side. — Captain Jones and his Medicine Chest. Medico (common), physician. " Give him," said the worthy medico, "plenty of champagne and oysters." A week or so passed by and the doctor looked in again, finding his patient considerably better. He said to the wife, " I sup- pose you've been following my advice?" " Well," she replied, " we're not very well off. Can't afford much in the way of champagne and oysters, but I've done the best I could for him with gin and cockles." — Bird o' Freedom. Megs (Stock Exchange), Mexican Railway ist Preference Stock. (Old cant), guineas. M ei-le-kween-kwok (pidgin. Can- ton), American, 'Melican. Melt, to (old cant), to spend money. Melthog (tinker), under or inner shirt. This word has given the theatrical slang term miLltog, a shirt, mostly used by strolling actors. Melton (tailors), dry bread. A reference to Melton cloth. 48 Mem-sahib — Met. Mem-sahib (Anglo-Indian), the (English) lady head of a family. Ma'am, madam. " This singular example of a hybrid term is the usual re- spectful designation of an Euro- pean married lady in the Ben- gal Presidency" (Anglo-Indian Glossary). Menagerie, the (theatrical), the orchestra. So called from the infernal discord occasioned by the tuning of instruments. Menavelings, odd money remain- ing after the daily accounts are made up at railway booking- oflBces. Menavdings is properly applied to very small sums, as pence or sixpences. From menave, an old provincial word for a minnow, as if the money were smaU fry, and perhaps because all is fish that comes to certain nets. Mend fences, to (American), to mend or repair fences for a man is to attend to his interests. A story of a political agent for a man who was candidate for the governorship of Ehode Island, and who succeeded in dexter- ously obtaining the vote of a community by paying for the restoration of their place of worship, is described in a Western newspaper as "A ju- dicious emissary — how he re- paired fences both of the church and his candidate." Men on the fence. Vide Float- ers. Mephisto (tailors), the foreman. Mess (army), to lose the num- ber of one's mess, to die. In nautical parlance, " to slip one's cable." The correspond- ing French slang terms are, " descendre la garde, passer I'arme k gauche, d^filer la parade ; " and " casser son cable, ddralinguer, virer de bord." Mess, to (popular), to play with a woman lewdly, to interfere unduly. Costermongers, says Hotten, refer to police super- vision as " messing." Mesty, mustee, mestez (Anglo- Indian), a half-caste. Metallician (turf), a racing book- maker. Bookmakers use metal- lic books and pencils (Hotten). Little used now. Metal rule ( ) (printers). This is a polite way of expressing a vulgar word or oath. Metal rule in speech, and " " in print would be used. Thus a man in irritation would say, "You be metal-ruled." Mets (American). In sporting circles the members of the Metropolitan or New York base- ball club are called Mets. The term is extending, so that pro- bably ere long a New Yorker will be generally known as a Met. (Stock Exchange), Metro- politan Eailway Ordinary Stock. Met, the, common abbreviation among East-enders for the Met- ropolitan Music Hall. Mew-mew — Mike. 49 Mew-mew (tailors), a derisive ejaculation meaning tell it to some one else, " tell that to the marines." Mia-mia (up-country Australian), a bed, pronounced my-my, rest. Mia-mia or gunyah is the hut the Australian blackfellow con- structs for himself by making a sloping screen of leafy branches. It has passed into white men's slang. Australians say, "I'm going to my mia-mia" meaning " I'm going to bed" or " going to rest." Within our leafy mia-mia then we crept. And ere a man could fifty count we slept. — Keighley Goodchild : On the Tramp. Mickey (American), a common word for an Irishman, the same as Paddy. Micky (up-country Australian), a term for a wild bull, said to have originated in Gippsland, Victoria. Probably from the association of ittZZs with Mickey s or Irishmen. Micky, by the way, has nothing in common with Michael, as generally sup- posed, but is derived from mike, which see. The rope after passing through two or three pulleys is fastened round the barrel of a windlass outside. It tightens, the micky feels the strain, and gives a great leap. — A. C. Grant. Middies (Stock Exchange), Mid- land Railway Ordinary Stock. Middy is a common term for a midshipman. Middle, an old cant term for finger. Vide Breton's " Court and Country," 1618. VOL. II. Middleman (thieves), explained by quotation. And what is worse, there doesn't seem to be any middleman in these degenerate days, who can get stolen property back for you, as in days of yore. — Bird o" Freedom. (Tailors), the immediate em- ployer of workmen, who con- tracts for others. . . . The hot haste with which they were stitching away, so as to be able to earn at the rate of a shilling a day of the middleman, who paid them the magni- ficent sum of sevenpence for making a pair of gentleman's trousers. — •/. Greenwood: Shadows on the Blind. Middle pie (popular), the stomach. Middling (tailors), I don't think so, I don't believe what you say. Midgic (tinker), a shilling. Miesli, misli (tinker), to go, to come, to send. The origin of " mizzle," begone. It is not generally, or in fact at all, known how extensively Shelta is understood among vagrants even in London. It has probably been the medium by which many Celtic words have passed into English. Misli means in Shelta not only to go, but to transfer by going or transit, hence to send, and also to send a message or write. E.rj., " Misli to my bewer," write to my woman, or wife; "My deal is mislin to krady in the kiena," I am going to stay in the house. Also to rain. Mike (tailors), to do a mike, to pretend to be working or hang D 50 Mild— Mill about. The term is also used as a verb. A corruption of old English mich (still used by printers), to skulk or shirk work. Mild (common), inferior, applied to a feeble attempt. Tide Dkaw it Mild. Mild bloater (popular), weak young man who has pretensions to being horsey. Miles' boy (tailors), a very know- ing lad in receipt of much in- formation. Miles' boy is spotted (common), a saying addressed to any one in a printing-ofl&ce who begins to spin a yarn. "Miles' boy" was a young gentleman at- tached to the last coach which started from Hampstead, and was celebrated for his faculty of diverting the passengers with anecdotes and tales. Mile£ hoy is spotted, we know all about Miles' boy. Milestonemonger (common), one who likes roaming, a tramp. Of all men I should be the last to utter a harsh word against the most inveterate milestonevionger that ever fled from his family to enjoy the sweets of freedom.—/. Greenwood : Tag, Rag &= Co. Mile, to (society), to ride on the Ladies' Mile in Hyde Park. At six o'clock within the Park, Midst beauty, rank, and style, I canter on my bonny bay, Adown the Ladies' Mile. I mile — I tnile — When riding down the Mile. —Ballad: The Ladies' Mile. Milk hole (Winchester), the hole formed by the rush of water through lock gates. Milk horse (racing), a horse en- tered at a race to make money on, and always scratched before the affair comes off. Vide To Milk. Milk shake (American), explained by quotation. The latest craze in New York is the use of milk in numerous ways, and the dairy trade is enjoying a boom in consequence. The greatest calls for the lacteal fluid are from physicians and their patients, and from saloons and drug stores, where the milk shake has become a favourite beve- rage. — Sporting Times. Milk, to (popular), to bleed, to obtain money from by coax- ing, &c. (Turf), to lay against a horse fraudulently, i.e., when the bettor has full knowledge that the horse is not meant to win, or has the power and in- tention of preventing him from so doing. Milky ones (popular), white linen rags. Mill (popular and thieves), the treadmill. Was you never on the mill ? — Dickens : Oliver Twist. (Common), a fight. Quite cautiously the mill hegan, For neither knew the other's plan. — Ainsworth: Rookwood. The MiU was the old Insolvent Debtors' Court. Mill, to (popular), to fight ; to pound with the fists, as beat- ing corn with a stone. Mill— Miller. 51 My Lord related all his feats in London . .* how he had milled a policeman, — Thackeray : Shabby-Genteel Story. From maHl, to hammer, stamp or beat ; malle^ a hammer ; Latin malletis ; Aryan root mar. (Thieves and vagabonds), to kill, as "to millsi bleating cheate," to kill a sheep. Mill a ken, to (thieves), to com- mit burglary. To mill each ken let Cove bing then, Through Ruffmans, Jague, or Laund. — The English Rogue described in the Life o/Meriton Latroon. Also to steal. Probably the old gypsy miU or miller, to convey away, to take. "Old Ruffler mill the quire-cuflfin," i.e., the devil take the Justice of the Peace. Mill-clapper (old cant), a woman's tongue. Milled (thieves), a reference to the treadmill. I shouldn't have been milled, if it hadn't been for her advice . . . and what's six weeks of it ? — Dickens : Oliver Twist. Miller (old cant), a murderer, housebreaker. (Common), to drown the miller, is, according to Bartlett, to put too much water in the flour in making bread, which he says is " doubt- less an English expression." At all events, he adds, that "putting the miller's eye out " is a phrase used when too much liquid is put to a dry or powdery sub- stance. As water-mills are far more common in the United States than wind-mills, Mr. Bartlett might easily have found an apter illustration for the saying than that which he has adopted, and left both England and the baker out of the ques- tion. Thewater is saidto "drown the miller" when the mill-wheels are rendered useless for work in flood time by superabundance of the fluid. The saying was exemplified by the American miller, whose wife in his opinion was a great poetess — who, see- ing that the useful mill-stream had become a raging, 'useless torrent, looked up to it, her eye in a fine frenzy rolling, and ex- claimed — " This here water Comes down much faster than it ought ter ! " A gentleman had mixed his toddy, when a teetotaller sitting beside him said, in a deep voice : " There's death in that glass 1 " " What did you say?" replied the other. " There's death in that glass ! " repeated the cold-water man, in a still more sepul- chral tone. The gentleman looked at his toddy inquiringly, ladled some out, sipped it slowly to taste it better, and at length said : " You're right — you're right. I believe I have drowned the tniller" and at once proceeded to strengthen his liquor. — Scraps. To give one the miller, to engage a person in conversation till a sufticient number of per- sons have gathered together to set upon the victim with stones, dirt, garbage, &c. Vide To Mill. Generally to hoot at, to handle roughly, to ill-treat. The special correspondent of the Even- ing News appears to have been brutally maltreated at Exeter. Future generations 52 Miller — Mim m ing. of correspondents will do well to reflect upon his "two lovely black eyes," and to pause ere working up ultra-sensational matter about this city, whose inhabitants are of the rough and ready order. Upon one occasion they did not spare their bishop— the present Bishop of London — who fairly " got the miller" whilst address- ing a meeting at the Victoria Hall. — Bird o' Freedom. Miller, to (old cant), to rob or steal. (Gypsy), to convey away, remove, involving stealing. Miller in gypsy means also to mix,' mingle, add up, count, colour, adjust. Hindu, milana. Vide To Mill a Ken. Milling (popular), fighting. With Tommy Sayers, too, I've felt To box I would be willing ; I should have won his cups and belt — I stand A I at milling: —Bill Sykes : The Coiner's Song. (West America), explained by quotation. He plunges into the fray with as much mastery of himself as possible, singling out the finest-conditioned head, wasting no balls, and, instead of keeping the frightened game on the run, executing the cowboy's device to check a stampede of cattle, namely, milling.— H. L. Williams: In the Wild West. Milling cove (popular), prize- fighter. Two milling coves, each vide avake, Vere backed to fight for heavy stake. — Ainsworih: Rookwood. Mill, in the (army), to be a prisoner in the guardroom. Mill-ken (old cant), housebreaker. Mr. Wild, with much solemnity, rejoined " that the same capacity which qualifies a mill-ken, a bridle-cull, or a buttock-and- file to arrive at any degree of eminence in his profession, would likewise raise a man in what the world esteems a more honour- able calling." — Fielding: Jonathan Wild. Mill-lay (thieves), burglary. To Mill a Ken. Vide Mil-mil (Australian bush slang), see. Mil-mil is a blackfellow's word that the whites have in- corporated into their slang, principally in the pidgin-Eng- lish in which the whites carry on their conversation with the blacks. '* Here, Mahmy," said one to his chief, " here that been cut him head oflf. You mil-mil blood." I shuddered. There, now that it was pointed out to me, on the very stone I had sat down on when stripping to search for the body, the blood-stains were plain. They spattered the dead leaves and stained the grass stalks. — A . C. Grant : Bush Life in Queensland. Mill the glaze, to (thieves), break the window. Vide To Mill a Ken. Mill the quod, to (thieves), to break away from jail. M i 11 1 o g (theatrical), a shirt. From the tinker mdthog. Millwash (tailors), vest canvas. Mimming mugger (theatrical). From obsolete to mvim, to mimic, play the buffoon. "A buffoon, who attempts to excite laughter or derision, by act- ing or speaking in the man- ner of another, a mean and servile imitator" (Ogilvie). Of this class are the ape-like ani- mals who, in burlesquing the strongly marked peculiarities Mind — Miserere. 53 of eminent artists, hold them up to derision and contempt. " In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king," and amongst mimics, the monkey is legitimate monarch. Mind your eye (popular), take care. Mind your p's and q's (popular), observe the details of etiquette. Of viind your p's and q's Mr. Edward Fitzgerald, in the Aus- tralian Printers' Keepsake, writes, " This advice has a most distinct smack of its origin and extraction, and is now in gene- ral use in society which is pro- bably unaware of the source of its obligation. Most unmistak- ably it originated in the pardon- able confusion with which a beginner is likely to treat ' characters ' so much alike as p and q, when first making their acquaintance in a reversed form. It is a near relation of * to speak by the card,' to which it has a preferential claim on those who endeavour to fulfil the cere- monial law of politeness — etiquette." Mingo (Harvard University), a chamber-pot. An amusing story in this connection is told of Harvard. Many years ago, some students wishing to make a present to their tutor, Mr. Flynt, called on him, informed him of their intention, and re- quested him to select a gift which would be acceptable to him. He replied that he was a single man, that he already had a well-filled library, and in reality wanted nothing. The students, not at all satisfied with this answer, determined to pre- sent him with a silver cham- ber-pot. One was accordingly made of the appropriate dimen- sions and inscribed with these words : — " Mingere cum bombis Res est saluberrima lumbis." On the morning of Com- mencement Day this was borne in procession, in a morocco case, and presented to the tutor. Tradition does not say with what feelings he received it, but it remained for many years at a room in Quincy, where he was accustomed to spend his Saturdays and Sundays, and finally disappeared about the beginning of the Revolutionary War. It is supposed to have been carried to England. Minor (Harvard University), a water-closet. This term is peculiar to Harvard and is of classical derivation, from minor, smaller, "house" being under- stood. Minor-clergy (popular), young chimney-sweeps. Mint (old cant), gold. Also a sanctuary in Southwark for those who fled from their cre- ditors. Hence " minters," the inhabitants there. Miserere seats, in many churches and chapels seats so constructed 54 Misfit — Mitten, that if the occupier went to sleep when sitting on one of them he tumbled off. Misfit (tailors), said of an awk- ward man, badly built. Mish (thieves), a shirt. From " commission," which see. Mish it them (tinker), hit it hard ! Mishtopper (thieves), a coat. Vide Mish. Mislain (tinker), rain, to rain. Mislain (or miesli, misli), in the Shelta or tinkers' dialect, also means to go. Vide To Mizzle. Miss (printers). In printers' par- lance a miss is an omission to lay on a sheet in feeding a printing machine. Miss Baxter (American), a person occasionally referred to in New England in reference to those who are " too previous," or too prompt in love-making, &c. There was a nice young lady named Miss Baxter, Refused a fine young man before he axed her. Miss one's fig^ire, to (common), to miss a chance, to make a mistake. Miss the tip, to (circus), to fall short of an order, suggestion, intention, or object. This is used generally in slang, but in exhibitions it has a special ap- plication to the performer not understanding or catching the tip or word which indicates that he must act. Missy baba (Anglo - Indian), a young lady ; a term borrowed from the natives, 'baba being meant for baby. "Is Miss Smith at home ? " was asked of a native servant by a visitor. "No, Missy baba in tub eating mango," was the answer. Mistura God help 'em (medical), the title of an omnium gatherum of medicines, generally the col- lected dregs of several bottles, said to have been given as a last resource on the off-chance of some one of the many drugs having a beneficial (I) effect. From a story that a certain man who had a valuable mare apparently dying, gave her all the old odds and ends of medi- cine in his garret, labelled "Fiat mistura, God help and cure her!" The mare recovered, but, " singular to relate," every dis- ease for which the medicines were intended came out on her one after the other ! Mitten (American), to give the mitten, to dismiss as a lover. Hotten confines the word to Canada. In Germany a dis- carded suitor is said to get a basket. Had I only got her glove — Without a g I'd have her love. But the lilting jilting kitten, Has bestowed on me a mitten. — The Sorrows of Sam. Possibly from the old custom of throwing the glove down as a sign of defiance, or derisively bestowing a mitten instead of a glove as a keepsake. M. E. Mitten — Mockered. 55 Cobham Brewer, in Notes and Quei'ies, suggests the Latin mit- tere, to send about your busi- ness. There is an obsolete ad- jective mittent, sending forth. Webster gives the phrase as colloquial English. Mittens (pugilistic), boxing- gloves. Mivies (popular), landladies. A lot of old mivies gone queer with the greens. —Punch. Mizzler or rum mizzler (popu- lar), one clever at effecting an escape, or getting out of a diflB- culty. Vide To Mizzle. Mizzle, to (common), to go away, decamp, vanish. "Come, come," the Saint answer'd, "you very well know, The young man's no more his than your own to bestow — Touch one button of his if you dare, Nick — no ! no ! Cut your stick, sir, — come, mizzle! be off with you ! go ! " The Devil grew hot—" If I do I'll be shot ! An' you come to that, Cuthbert, I'll tell you what's what, He has asked us to dine here, and go we will not ! " — Ingoldsby Legends. From the Shelta or tinkers' dialect (Celtic), miesli, mislain, to go. In the same tongue needy mizzler, a tramp. " To mizzle — synonymous v«dth drizzle — thick, fine, persistent downfall of moisture from a foggy sky. About George IV., and afterwards William IV., the vulgar punsters of the time indulged themselves in the pun- ning witticisms that pleased the unfastidious public of the time : ' First they reigned, and then they mizzled.' The point of the joke consisted in the double meaning of the word mizzle, which signifies to disappear silently, to vanish. Thomas Hood used the word in the same sense." . And then one vtizzling Michael night, The lout he mizzled too. — Laughter from. Year to Year. Mob (thieves), gang. Being with the nice vtob (gang) you may be sure what I learned. I went out at the game three or four times a week, and used to touch almost every time. — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. (Up - country Australian), a herd, a flock. Occasionally they passed through a mob standing on the roadside, and John was greatly amused at seeing some of the young calves and steers advancing boldly to them with many airs of assumed anger. — A. C. Grant : Busk Life in Queensland. (Popular), a young woman, a corruption of mxib. Mobs (thieves), companions. Mobsman (thieves), pickpocket. Getting obsolete. My cousin's a fence, with a crib in the Mint; My sister goes out with a mobsman so smart. — /. Greenwood : A Night in a Workhouse. Mockered (common), dirtied, de- filed. Hotten defines this as "holey, marked unpleasantly." It is the gypsy mukkado, often pronounced mockerdo, or mock- 56 Mods — Moll-hook. ered, meaning smeared, defiled, dirtied, spotted, and sometimes "painted." Mods, short for Moderations, the intermediate examination at Oxford. Mofussil (Anglo-Indian), the pro- vinces, or the country stations and districts as distinguished from the Presidency, or the rural localities of a district as contradistinguished from the Sudder or chief station. The word (Hind, from Arab.) mu- fassal, means properly " sepa- rate," and hence provincial (Anglo-Indian Glossary). Moging (tailors), telling an un- truth. Moisten. Vide Chaffer. Moke, the costermonger's name for a donkey, first given in anger or contempt, or as an objurga- tion to urge the animal to go on ; but now more commonly used in affection for the useful beast. " It originally signified a pig, from the Gaelic vmich, but has long ceased to have the objectionable meaning among the class who use it." Another derivation is from Swedish moJca, quarrelsome, obstinate, sullen. Also mocka, dung ; both terms of abuse. What the horse is to the predatory Arab, the donkey is to the costermonger — his all-in-all. The " coster " would sooner sell his wife in Smithfield, if the law would permit, than "swap" his moke at the cattle market.— D//rose : London Life Moko, a name given by sportsmen to pheasants killed by mistake during September, before the pheasant-shooting season comes in. They pull out their tails, and roundly assert that they are no pheasants at all; but mokos (Hotten). Moko is pro- bably from "mock," or a humorous corruption of macaw. Moles (up-country Australian), moleskin breeches. Though our pants are moles, and appa- rently made With the aid of a tomahawk ; Though we are not in fashion's garb arrayed, We can revel in tea and talk. —Keighley Goodchild: While the Billy Boils. Moll (thieves), a girl, woman. At the head of the letter the following was written across the paga : " Poison the moll." — Greemvood : Seven Curses of London. A female companion, wife, or mistress. The party congratulated him that his moll would be in good hands. — Evening News. This word, from its resem- blance to the nickname for Mary, is assumed to be the same. Compare with "poll," "polled up." It has been sug- gested that it owes its form to the gypsy Hindu mal, which means a female friend or ally. Moll-sack, a reticule. Moiled (popular), in company with a woman. Moll -hook (thieves), a female pickpocket. Moll-rowing — Moniker. S7 Moll-rowing. Hotten says that this means "out on the spree in company with so-called ' gay women,' in allusion to the ama- tory serenadings of the London cats." It may be derived, and probably was, from Moll, and row, a noise. There appears to have been also, nearly a century ago, a very noted woman named Moll Eoe, who is often alluded to in the "fast" literature of the time, and who formed the sub- ject of a song ; but whether this was not a pseudonym borrowed from the term, we are not in- formed. Or whistle Moll Roe to a pig. — Irish Song. Moll-slavey servant. (old cant), maid- Moll, to, moiling" (common), to go with women, to act effemi nately. To coddle up or cuddle Dutch, mallen, to play the fool to behave one's self wantonly, Malloot, a foolish girl or wench Molly (printers), " Mary." Prac tically a blank in j effing with the nine quadrats, when no nicks appear uppermost in the quad- rats thrown ; hence no count. (London slang), a young sodom- ite. Molly Cotton-tail (American), a she-rabbit. " Which of the girls did the Rabbit marry?" asked the little boy dubiously. " I did year tell un 'er name," replied the old man, with a great affectation of interest, " but look like I done gone en fergit it off 'n my mine. Ef I don't disremember," he continued, "hit wuz Miss Molly Cotton- tail, en I speck we better let it go at dat." — Uncle ReiJius. Molocher (popular), a cheap hat. Molo-man (pidgin), i.e., moro, a Moor, a negro. Molto cattivo (circus, theatre. Punch and Judy, &c.), very bad, doing badly. Molungeon (American). Mr. Henry A. Wise once said, in the Legislature of Virginia, that a mulatto was the offspring of the young gentleman heir-appa- rent of an estate with one of the family or house servants, but that the child of a female field-labourer by a Yankee pedlar was a molungeon. Monarch (popular and thieves), a man's signature or name. Literally the king, number one. Evidently a term suggested by exalted ideas of one's self-im- portance. This explanation is supported by the Italian cant term monarco, signifying I, my- self, which has given the French monarque, same meaning. Also montagna, mia madre. Mondayish (popular), disinclined for work, Monday being a day for amusement among workmen. (Clerical), used up, tired, A phrase that has its origin in the clergyman's supposed state of fatigue on Monday, after the work of Sunday. Moniker, monacher (popular, thieves, and tinker), a man's 58 Moniker — Monkey. signature or name. A corrup- tion of " monarch," which see. When the " box-man " reached out the tools, the new comer seized a pick-axe, which was immediately claimed by another man. The new arrival quietly said, " There's my moniker upon it." — Evening News. Monk (printers). Mr. Edward Fitzgerald, in " The Australian Printers' Keepsake," writes: — " Sometimes a vionk is the object of solicitude, an unsightly black- ness caused by ' furniture ' show- ing, or undistributed ink. It is a saying manifestly originating with the venerable Caxton him- self, and evidently alluding to the unwelcome intrusion of the gentlemen of the Scriptorium, near which portion of West- minster Abbey Caxton com- menced his English labours." Monk is also applied to a proof which is too black, and " friar " when it is too light or grey. From the respective colours of their garments. Vide Friar. (American), abbreviation of monkeying, trifling with. Vide To Monkey. Monkery (tinker), the country. Adopted into common canting, and used especially by Punch and Judy men, itinerants, &c. Monkey (turf), five hundred pounds. The cry not unfre- quently heard in the ring of "The field a monkey," means that the layer is willing to bet 500 even against any one horse in the race. Later on 400 to 500 was accepted, and finally seven monkeys. — Sporting Times. (Common), to get one's mon- key up, to rouse his anger. Hotten says " a man is said to have the monkey up, or the monkey on his back, when he is out of temper." Probably in allusion originally to the evil spirit which was supposed to be always present with a man. A variant in some parts is "to stroke the black dog down." Monkey-ho&rdi, the step behind an omnibus on which the con- ductor stands. (Legal), monkey with a long tail, a mortgage. (Popular), a short jacket, a hod for mortar or bricks. 'Pon me sowl, I was sick, sore, and tired of goin' up and down the latther wid that ould monkey on me shoulder. — T. Bro7vne : Gilligan's on the Spree. (Nautical), the vessel in which a mess receives its allowance of grog. Sucking the monkey, ex- plained by quotation. " Do you know what sucking the mon- key means?" "No, sir." "Well, then, I'll tell you ; it's a term used among sea- men for drinking rum out of cocoa-nuts, the milk having been poured out, and the liquor substituted." — Marryat : Peter Simple. Also drinking generally, or abstracting liquor from a cask by sucking with a straw. Her late lamented was only a low cus- toms' officer, who had been bowled out sucking the monkey. — Sporting Times. Monkey catcher (West Indian). Amongst the Jamaican negroes this signifies a cute, shrewd, and level-headed individual — one not too scrupulous in his methods, and who adds a spice Monkey — Mooch . 59 of cunning to his cleverness. If a piece of work, or any matter requires special care and attention in its execution, they say, " Soffly catch monkey" meaning, take care, exercise tact, don't go blundering, that matter requires finesse and judgment to carry it through. Looked at in any light, the phrase is a curious one. In the first place, it is a good illustration of a certain rough and elementary shrewdness in the negro character ; and fur- ther, is an example of the hold which the memory of African life still retains upon them, in- asmuch as there are no mon- keys indigenous to Jamaica, and the phrase is most likely of African origin. Monkey on one's back, to get a (popular), to get out of temper. Monkeys (printers), another ex- pression used by pressmen to denote a compositor by way of retaliation for calling them "pigs." Monkey shines (popular), eccen- tricities, queer actions. How can human beings be guilty of such monkey shines. — Detroit Free Press. Monkey, to (American), to play tricks, to trifle, to fool with, to tamper with, obviously from the mischievousness and trickiness of these animals. It had on it, " Please don't monkey with this Indian-rubber trunk. It has loaded guns and pistols, and it won't stand any monk." — New York Mercury. Also to make, effect, execute in any way. Used jestingly or sarcastically, Andrew Jones he wuz er artis' On he high an' lofty scale, Fo' he monkeyed wid de ceilin' An' de white-wash brush an' pail. —S. Keller. " Wall, old boss," I says to Meissonier, "how much do you git a squar' yard fer monkeyin such a pictur as thet ar'?" — The Hoosier in Europe. Monopolises the macaroon (masher), a new way of saying it takes the cake. " Devilish fine gal, deah boy." " Yaas, quite takes the cake, Cholly." " Bah Jove, yass, monopolises the maca- roon, don't cher know." — Conversation Overheard in a Theatre. Mon. OS. (Westminster School), abbreviation of monitor ostii, the Queen's scholar of the second election, who announces the hour in Latin at the close of school. M o n s (Winchester College). From the Latin vions, a moun- tain, a heap or crowd, a pile of anything. Month (city), "a bad attack of the end of the month," in the city, is to have run through one's funds about the 20th, and to have to borrow for the remaining ten days. Mooch (common), the robbers' mooch is that peculiar well- known step or striding walk of the brigand or bravo in a melodrama. On the mooch, vide To Mooch. 6o Mooch — Moonlight. Mooch, mouch, to (general), to sponge, to slink away and allow others to pay for your entertain- ment, to look out for any articles or circumstances which may be turned to a profitable account ; also for scraps of food, old clothes, watching in the streets for odd jobs, horses to hold. Loafing about in quest of any- thing that may turn up in the shape of amusement, strolling about to look at the girls. Also begging, explained by quo- tations. He may while away the tedium of the tramp by mooching^. Mooching is the art of getting what things you want to eat at different houses. A successful moocher must be a man of some imagination who can not only lie, but lie in a logical and plausible manner ; that is not to be caught by the most rigid cross-examination. — Detroit Free Press. Here I assume the proper -mouching pose — stoop my head, bend my shoulders, ... to look at, I am the incarnation of all that is forlorn ; and I tell you I cannot get to the end of Bishopsgate Street without being stopped by a dozen people, all of whom thrust something into my hand. — Thar Fredur: Sketches from Shady Places. To mooch is from old English mooch, mich, to creep softly about, to skulk, stroll, idle about, pick while strolling. Moocher, moucher (popular), a street thief, a beggar. My friend, the tramp, admitted with some excusable pride that he was con- sidered in the profession a successful moocher. — Detroit Free Press. Also one who "sponges" on acquaintances ; one who slinks away and allows others to pay for his drink. Moochy (Anglo-Indian), a man who works in leather in any way. The name of a low caste. Hindu, mochi. In English gypsy, leather is called morchea or mortchy. Moolvee (Anglo-Indian), a judge or doctor of the law. Arabic maulavi, from the same root as niulld (Anglo-Indian Glossary). A pundit in Bengal or molavee May daily see a carcase burn ; But you can't furnish, for the soul of ye, A dirge sans ashes and an urn ? — N. B. Halhed: Anglo-Indian Glossary. Moon (thieves), a month or month's imprisonment. They ask the reeler if I was known, and he said no, so I was sent to Maidstone btreet (prison) for two moon. — Horsley: Jottings from. Jail. Moonack (West Indian), pro- bably of African origin. A mythical animal known to neg- roes only. To meet it, is to be doomed to madness or some lingering disease. Moon-curser (old cant), a link- boy or one that under colour of lighting people robs them. Also termed a "glim- jack." Mooney (nautical), not quite in- toxicated, but sufficiently so to be unfit for duty. Moonlight (American University) , to make a rush for moonlight is to attempt to get the prize for elocution. Moonlight flitting (common), leaving a house by night to avoid paying the rent. Vide Fly-by-Night. Moonlighters — Moppy. 6i Moonlighters (common), men in Ireland who carry out sentences of secret societies against in- dividuals and perform their work of violence by night. The road on either side is bounded with a low wall composed of ragged little slabs of stone, loosely laid and loopholed to an extent that would delight the heart of an Irish moonlighter.— J. Greenwood: Tag, Rag, &= Co. Moon-rakers (nautical), sails above the sky-sails. Moonshee (Anglo-Indian), a secre- tary, a reader, an interpreter, a writer. It is commonly applied by Europeans specifically to a native teacher of languages, i.e., Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. Its authenticity was fully proved by Persian moonshee, who translated. — Mill: History. Moonshine (common), decep- tion, nonsense, humbug. (Old), gilded moonshine, sham bills of exchange. Moonshiner (American), a smug- gler, illicit distiller. As both brothers had now escaped to the mountains, which are filled with moon- shiners, it was thought that the Burrows had made good their escape. — Chicago Inter Ocean. Moonshiny (common), deceptive. The National publishes an extraor- dinary, and, of course, a very moonshiny summary of General Boulanger's pro- gramme as confided by the deputy for the Nord to a friend on Sunday night. — Sporting Times. Moose-face (American thieves), a rich, ugly-faced man. Mop (common), an habitual drun- kard. From an obvious meta- phor. On the mop, continu- ally drinking. It may be inte- resting to remark that mop in its proper sense is from old French mappe, Latin mappa, a napkin. " Some suppose mop to be of Celtic origin, as we have Welsh moya and wop, Irish moipal ; but it is probable that these are from the English " (Skeat). It may be added that there are a great many Celtic words which have Aryan roots, and, of course, a resemblance to Saxon or English. Moper (popular), a deserter. From mope, a spiritless person. Mopped the floor (American), a common slang phrase, signifying that one man has thrashed an- other so completely as to have taken him like a broom or a mop, and swept or cleaned the floor with him. In speaking of Charles A. Dana, of the New York Sun, who is noted for the severity and savageness of his attacks, an admiring Western editor wrote, " Uncle Dana pro- ceeded to mop the floor with his opponent." When Smith Came on to fight, he took him by the heels. And mopped the stage with him until 'twas clean. — Brand New Ballads. At last the crisis came, when one fine day. For some imagined fault, the boarder said Unto the waiter, that unless he stirred A little quicker, he would bung his eye, And take him by the legs, instanterly. And wipe thejloor with him. — Est Modus in Rebus. Moppy (common), tipsy. From "to mop" or "mop up," which 62 Moppy — Mort. see. Some of the numerous synonyms are, " slewed, queer, tosticated, so so, been in the sun, muggy, murky, muzzy, fresh, glorious, bright in the eye, dull in the eye, overtaken, overshot, overdone, done over, lushy, tight, foggy, hazy, swipey, lumpy, obfuscated, groggy, ploughed, bosky, buffy, in liquor, far gone, sewed up, mooney, half seas over, disguised; drunk as an emperor, as a wheel-barrow, as David's sow, as a fish, as a lord, as a piper, as a fiddler," and the old expression "has a drop in his eye. " "Boozy " and " hoodman " are now much in vogue among " mashers." The writer has seen a collection of nearly 300 synonyms for drunkenness, mostly American. Mops (provincial). Statute fairs or "statties " are held, where ser- vants seek to be hired. After the statute fair, a second is held for the benefit of those not en- gaged. This is called a mop, as it Tnqps or wipes up the refuse of the statute fair, carrying away the dregs of the servants left. There is hardly a clergyman or a school- master in the Northern and Midland Counties who is not able to make out the strongest of cases against mops, " roasts," and "statties" — fairs or quasi-fairs, which were formerly very useful for the oppor- tunities they afforded to farmers and housewives for annually hiring labourers and domestic servants. — Daily Telegraph. Mop up, to (nautical), a metaphor, to drink or empty a glass. Also to whisk up, as wiping up with a mop. The fourth I hooked but lost, and by that time the rest of the capricious tribe simultaneously ceased rising, and refused to be tempted. Had I been there earlier, I might possibly have tuopped up the entire row. — Sir Henry Pottinger: Trout Fishing. Mopusses (popular), cash, coin, money. He that has the mopusses May buy diamonds and topazes. — Punch. Possibly a corruption of " mops," grimaces, faces. Com- pare with French slang faces, for coin. This is, of course, mere conjecture. Mora (Anglo-Indian), a stool. In common use among the English in India. Moral (popular). "That's a moral,'' equivalent to " that's a certainty." Short for a moral certainty. They must come a cropper soon, They muttered— /Art^'i a moral. — Punch. Morfydite (American), a maritime pronunciation for hermaphro- dite, generally applied to the so-called hermaphrodite brig, a vessel between a brig and a schooner. Morris, to (old cant), to hang dangling in the air, to be hanged. (Theatrical), to make oneself scarce. Alluding in both senses to the quick motions of the legs in the morris (or Moor- ish) dance. Also used by tailors with a like signification. Mort (canting), a woman. The same in old gypsy. Hindu, Mort — Moshkeneer. 63 mahar, a wife, woman. It is not improbable that the French word motte {pud. mid.), which has long been common in England for a woman, and that which the French word expresses, has caused the gyp- sies to add the t. The g^-psies very commonly use minj for a woman. Tissot, in his work on Hungary, innocently mentions that gali ming (English-gypsy halo minj) means a dark girl! This derivation is more pro- bable than that from the Welsh modryh, a matron ; and moryun, a virgin, given by C. J. Kibton Turner in his " History of Vagrants and Vagrancy " (1887). Mortar-board (University), the square cap forming part of the academical dress of all mem- bers of the university. Said to be a corruption of the French mwtier cap worn by Presidents of Courts. "And as your skill," resumed Mr. Tozer, " has been exercised in defence of my per- son ... I will overlook your offence in assuming that portion of the academical attire, to which you gave the offensive epithet of mortar-board. " — C. Bede : Ver- dant Green. It may seem strange that an educated gentleman prefers to wander in the streets of Oxford in the evening, clad in horsey "checks" or bookmaker's stripes, in pre- ference to the tattered gown and battered mortar-board, constituting the costume of an undergraduate. — Bird o' Freedom. Also mortar. Some of them wore a mortar on their heads. — Fuller: Pisgah. 'Mos (printers), an abridgment of the word " animosity," very often used by printers. " To show no 'mos" is to express no grudge against a companion. Moses, a man that for a con- sideration declares himself to be the father of another man's child. Grose says, " A man is said to stand Moses when he has another man's bastard child fathered upon him, and he is obliged by the parish to maintain it." This may be con- nected with a phrase given by Cotgrave, " Holie Moses, whose ordinarie counterfeit having on either side of the head an emi- nence or luster, arising some- what in the forme of a home, hath imboldened a prophane author to stile cuckolds parents de Moyse" (Hall). The Moses of Michael Angelo has decided horns, probably based on the head of Jupiter Ammon. Mosh, to (thieves), dining at an eating-house, and leaving without paying. Also doing the mash on the quiet. A cor- ruption of " mooch," which see. Moshkeneer, to (common), to pawn an article for more than it is worth. There are watches and articles of jewellery made for the special purpose of swind- ling, and which appear to be of solid gold or silver, but which are only covered with thin rol- led metal. Probably from the Yiddish or German-Hebrew mos, money, and Jcenner, one who knows, one who is " fly," as in 64 Moshkeneer — Mother. the word kenner-fetzer, a thieves' butcher. The word moss, it may be observed, has in slang taken a wide range, and is quite applicable not only to money or gold coin, but also to any kind of valuables. Mosque (old cant), a church. Moss-backs (American), old fogies, *' fossils," men behind the times. People who are " groovy," and slow to learn or advance. The Dodo didn't exsight as much curi- osity as might have been expected ; but when I cum to look into the matter, I found a dozen or more county offishels with tnoss on their backs an inch an' a half long, and they had sorter promted the populace (out of jealousy) to look koldly upon my great livin' kuriosity, — Detroit Free Press : Letter by Professor Brown Whyte. Mot (general), a harlot. Turner (" History of Vagrants and Va- grancy") says, '■'■Mot Jiuys is a brothel in Dutch, but mot is not a word of Dutch origin." It is, however, an old Dutch slang word, whatever its origin maybe. In the "Wordenboek van Bargoensch," mot is given as hoer. " Te mot gaen." Mot- kasse is the true Dutch slang for a brothel. Mot-cart (popular), a mattress. Vide Mot. Mother Shawney (theatrical), a rude offshoot of the Mary Anne. An institution to compel a new member of a company to pay his footing. It was the custom for the novice to be served with a formal notice, usually written in a feigned hand, and running after this fashion : " Whereas it has come to our knowledge that Joseph Green- horn is an aspirant to Thespian honours, it is our good will and pleasure that the said Green- horn shall provide on Saturday next, at the hour of nine, for the delectation of his brethren, my children, in their respective dressing-rooms at the Theatre Koyal, Slumstone in the Mud, one bottle of brandy, one of whisky, one of gin, two dozens of soda, and a gallon of beer. Whereupon the boys shall drink said Greenhorn's jolly good health, and wish him luck in all his undertakings, present, and to come. The said Green- horn is warned that disobedi- ence to our commands will be attended with pains and penal- ties of the most stringent char- acter. Given under our hand and seal at our Palace of Slum- stone. (Signed) Kobin Goodfellow, Hon. Secretary, Shawney x Mother, Her Mark." If the neophyte failed to obey this mysterious mandate, the following week he received a more peremptory one, the week after one more imperative still. If he still remained ob- durate, he would find his dress- ing-case rifled and upset, his properties destroyed, his ward- Mother — Mourning. 65 robe ransacked, the sleeves of his dress-coat cut and tied in knots, his hat smashed, his boots filled with filth, &c. Of course, he met with an abun- dance of affected sympathy ; and, of course, no one ever knew who perpetrated these playful practical jokes. Puck, or Kobin Goodfellow, was ubiqui- tous. There was nothing for it but to grin and bear, and pay. This institution flourished for a considerable period, until a quarter of a century ago, when, one night at Liverpool, a young actor, who afterwards attained considerable celebrity, refused to obey Mother Shawney's be- hests, and catching Eobin Good- fellow in flagrante delicto {i.e., tampering with his dressing-case and wardrobe), gave the tricksy sprite a sound licking, and in- timated that the dose would be repeated, if necessary. It never was necessary. From that time this charming institution frizz- led away until it died out alto- gether, and Mother Shaivney rests in peace in the lumber-closet of antiquity. Mouchey (popular), a Jew. Mouch, on the (common), strol- ling about in quest of amuse- ment; at Oxford, strolling about to watch the girls. For other meaning vide To MooCH. But when once or twice she remained out so late, That her people all night her return had to wait ; VOL. II. And when on the mouch in the park she was met While supposed to be "churching," they thought it, you bet. Somewhat strange ! — Bird o' Freedom. Moulder (pugilistic), a lumbering boxer who fights as if he were moulding clay. Mouldy (naval), purser's steward, or assistant. Mouldy grubs (popular), travel- ling showmen, mountebanks who perform in the open air. Mouldy pates (street), servants in livery with hair powder. Mouldy 'un, a contemptuous term for a penny. The chief verger informed him that the fee was eighteen mouldy 'uns for maimed ladies. — Sporting Times. Mount (thieves). Applied not only as in England to men who will swear falsely, but also to those who hire clothes out for disguise ; also to those who wear second-hand clothes even honestly. (Old cant), a bridge; "stall on the mov/nt," stop on the bridge. Mountain - pecker (popular), a sheep's head. Mounter (thieves), a false swearer. Vide Mount. Mount, to (theatrical), to '* get up" a piece, i.e., to provide scenery, costumes, &c. Mourning (common), a full suit of mourning, two black eyes ; halt-mourning, one black eye. E 66 Mourning — M^s and w*s. Mourning shirts (common), flan- nel shirts, that do not require washing so often as others. We say mourning shirts, it being cus- tomary for men in sadness to spare the pains of their laundresses. — Thos. Fuller: Pisgah. Mouse (pugilistic) a black eye, now a common expression. Poor Chinnery, our favourite "pug," I fear came off but ill ; He has a blister on his foot, 'Twould take a pint to fill. His " dexter ogle " has a mouse. His " conk's devoid of bark," The off-side of his " kissing-trap " Displays an ugly mark. — A tkin : House Scraps. Mouse digger (Winchester Col- lege), a small pick-axe used for digging up fossils, &c., in chalk pits. Mousetrap (turf), a sovereign. From the resemblance of the crown and shield to a set trap. " No hunter in England can clear that water," replies the earl. " It's even bet- ting—it's five to two on him — it's a monkey to a mousetrap 1 " rejoins the excited girl. " Don't be so slangy, Julia," remonstrates her father. " Papa, the mousetrap's mine." — Daily Paper. (Old cant), marriage. Mouth (old cant), an ignorant person, a dupe, one that gapes with mouth wide open ready to swallow anything. In French gohe-mouclies. One shall lead a horse about, and an- other shall look for a mouth that has a horse to sell or change. — The Discoveries of John Poulter. Mouth-almighty (popular), a very talkative, noisy person. Mouth-bet (American), when a man in gambling gives only a verbal promise to pay it is called a mouth-het. "Then, governor, I see you ten dollars and raise you the whole State of Vermont." The game ceased. Mouth-betting -wa?, not a success. — Detroit Free Press. Mouthpiece (thieves), a counsel. " You come from ' Brum' (Birmingham), don't yer ? " " Yes ; I have got seven ' stretch ' for a * burst. ' " " Had you a mouthpiece ? " "No, I pleaded guilty. I expected to get off with a ' sixer.' " " What did you get ?" "Seven .stretch and supervision."— Evening News. Mouth, to have a (popular), to feel the effects of drinking alcohol ; an abbreviation for having a dry mouth. One of the most general effects in the morning of taking too much alcohol overnight ; another ex- pression for this is, having "hot coppers" or "the coppers." This produces a burning thirst, for which a " brandy and soda " or a "Hock and soda-water," are the most approved remedies. Move (common), a cunning trick or device ; up to a move or two, cunning, experienced. Mow-beater (old cant), a drover. Mower (old cant), an ox, cow. Mozzy (Punch and Judy), Judy. Punch being known as " Swat- chell." M's and w's (printers). A man in a drunken state walking M. T. — Mud-lark. 67 through the streets would be said to be making m's and w's, owing to his uncertain and zig- zag gait, likened to the shape of these particular letters. M. T. (railway), an empty car- riage. Muchee (pidgin-English), much, very ; intensified as mucJiee- muchee. My catch one spirit tell my all, but he can no be heard, Some notha spilit hab got heah — he no can talkee word, They makee muchee bobbely — too vtuchee clowd aloun', They wantchee muchee bad one time to chin-chin Captin Bloun. — The Ballad of Captain Brown. " Massa he fnuchee-goody, Mississee she ioo-muchee goody — yunki Missee (young Miss) she too-muchee-jnuchee goody galaw — she givee my one dolla' cumshaw fo' time." Muck (old cant), money. Mucker (army), a term for com- missariat officer, nearly obsolete. (Common), to go a mucker, to fail, to come to grief. To go a fearful mucker . . . bad dash at anything and fails, whether he is thrown from his horse when taking a leap, or making * ' confusion worse confounded " of his college examination. — C. Bede: Notes and Queries. From inuck, dirt. It has been suggested that it comes from "run amuck." Muck forks (common), alow term for the hands or fingers. " Keep your muck forks off me." Mucking-togs (popular), clothes worn when mucking about in rain and mud. Possibly a play on macintosh. Muck-out, to (gambling), to clean out. Mucked-out, ruined. The more modern synonym is " stony broke." Vide Muckek. Mucks, mux, to (American), to disarrange, discompose, to make a muddle or a failure of anything. " He made a regular mux of the whole business." " Don't mux my collar ! " Provincial English mucksen, to dirty. Muck-snipe (gamblers), one who has been cleaned out. Muck, to (popular), to beat, to excel. Muck train (army), an obsolete term for commissariat. Mud crusher (military), name given to infantry men. In French pousse-caillou. Mudding-face (popular), equi- valent to muffin-face, or stupid. A muff. She oped the lattice, and I saw that form of queenly grace, And heard her very softly say, "Good- night, old muddingface! " — Ballad: She was True to Some- body Else. Muddler (turf), a clumsy horse, one who gets in a " muddle." Mr. , who had the oflfer of the mount, declined it, thinking the horse was too much of a muddler to have any chance. — Bird o' Freedom. Mud-hook (nautical), an anchor. Mud-lark, a phrase applied to those who wade or paddle in the 68 Mud-lark — Muffin-cap. slush left on the shores of tidal rivers that run through great towns, in search of articles of little but still of some mercan- tile value, brought down by the drains and common sewers. The word is metaphorical, de- rived from the flocks of birds that sometimes come down to the shore on a similar errand in search of nutriment, and the fragments of waste food that sometimes reward them. A conveyer; other meaning ex- plained by quotation. He . • . became what is called a fnud- lark ; that is, a plunderer of the ships' car- goes that unload in the Thames. — Mrs. Edgeworth: Lame Jervas. Mud-major (army), an infantry major, one not mounted, who commands a company on foot, on parade. The term dates from the recent addition made to the number of majors in an infantry battalion, which was increased from two to four. Mud-pickers (garrison towns), garrison military police. Mud pipes (popular), any kind of boots or shoes, but more spe- cially applied to riding-boots or gaiters. Mud player (cricketers), one who plays best when the ground is soft. Mud plunger (streets), explained by quotations. That rascal and his wife are street- singers and cadgers of the sort known as mud-plungers. Fine weather don't suit them ; they can't come out strong enough. Give 'em a soaking wet day, with the mud over their naked toes.—/. Greenwood: Low Life Deeps. Except for professional mud-plungers — beggars whose harvest-time is when they can wade in the middle of the road, and in the pouring rain, with an agonising dis- play of saturated rags, and mire-soddened naked feet — wet weather is unfavourable. — ■/. Greenwood: In Strange Company. Mud-salad market (common), Covent Garden Market, so called from its filthy condition when vegetable refuse and slush pre- vail. Mud-salad Market again. Not content with drawing a princely income from his toll on London's food supply, the Duke of Bedford actually refuses to pay for the sweeping-up of the thoroughfares, ren- dered necessary by their use as a part of " his " market. — The Star. Mud-student, a farming pupil. The name given to the students at the Agricultural College, Cirencester. Muffin (Canadian), explained by quotation. In reference to muf- fins lying warm and close. If any young lady, not previously en- gaged, of course, found favour in your sight, you were at liberty then and there to constitute her your muffin^ which, being interpreted, signified that by entering into such an arrangement, you might walk, ride, or drive tite-d-tite with her; that you had the entree of her parents' house, those parents at the same time keeping obligingly in the background ; that at balls, no ill-natured remarks were made by even the most virulent old maids when you danced every dance together, . . the usual English winding up of such an exten- sive flirtation was by no means a neces- sity. — Once a Week. Muffin-cap (popular), a flat cap similar to those of charity-boys. Muffin — Mug. 69 Muffin face. Tide Mudding Face. Muffin-worry, an old lady's tea- party (Hotten). Mufflers (pugilistic), the old ver- nacular for boxing-gloves, the " mittens. " They are supposed to have been invented by Jack Broughton, The Daily Adver- tiser, in February 1747, an- nounced that "Mr. Broughton proposed, with proper assist- ance, to open an academy at his house in the Haymarket . . . and, in order that persons of quality and distinction might not be debarred from entering into a course of those lectures, they will be given with the ut- most tenderness and regard to the delicacy of the frame and constitution of the pupil ; for which reason mufflers are pro- vided that will effectually secure them from the inconvenience of black eyes, broken jaws, and bloody noses." Muffling cheat (old cant), a towel. Muff, to (society). To muff a thing is to spoil it, make a mess of it, i.e., to do it like a " muff." You were muffing your birds awfully. — Saturday Review. Mufti, in (common), in civilian's clothes. Originally Anglo-In- dian, from a word signifying a priest. This is now a recognised term. Blessings flow From your bold eyes and brown mous- tache so tufty ; But why, sweet Benedictine, choose to go So much in nmfti ? — Punch. Mug (general), mouth, face. His mug wore a confident smile, which some might esteem a bit bounceable : These big 'uns are apt to be cocky, but even a Titan is trounceable. —Punch. It has been suggested that mug is from the old form munkh or mugh of the gypsy mui or mooe (mouth and face), but it probably originated in an ordi- nary slang simile. Another sug- gested derivation is from the Scottish murg, French morgue, a solemn, sour face ; Languedoc murga, a snout. Formerly mugs or jugs were made which exhi- bited distortions of the human face, but there is no evidence to show that the term mug arose from this circumstance, or vice versa. Mug, a simpleton, a per- son easily imposed upon. Also a "jug," formerly a "mouth." In French, cruche, bSte comme un pot. Any man who is mug enough to take a loo-guinea watch to the Derby, does so at his own risk. — The Globe. It might have been the jug — I know I was the ittug. That's why I seldom talk about it now. — sporting Times. That man must be a maudlin dunce, What wise men term a mug. — Punch. In turf parlance there is but little difference between the ?nw$r and the "juggins," except that the former is rather the more hopeless case of the two, the "juggins" being almost in- variably a neophyte who may in time develop into a sharp, or, at any rate, into a being rea- 70 Mug. sonably able to take care of himself on the turf; while the true mug seldom, if ever, emerges from mughood. Also a stupid financier who finds money for rotten speculations, and is not infrequently swin- dled by the knave who has led him into a fool's paradise. Mugging (Winchester and other schools), staying and studying indoors. Vide To MuG. Mugging hall (Winchester Col- lege), the hall where boys " mug," that is, prepare their lessons and exercises. Vide To Mug. Muggins (popular), one easily taken in, a simpleton. Variant of "mug," as "juggins" of "jug." Must ha' thought me a inuggins, old man, To ask such a question of 'Arry — as though grubbing short was his plan. —Punch. Muggy (popular), half - intoxi- cated. Vide To Mug, to get tipsy. Mug-hunter (thieves), one of a wretched horde (chiefly of women) who infest the streets at night to pick up and rob those who are made foolish (mugs) by their drunkenness. Mug, mugged (Winchester Col- lege). A thing is said to be mug or mugged when it has a plea- sant appearance to the eye, like a bat which has been well mugged, that is, well oiled and polished, entailing much labour. Yide To MuG. Mugs (American), roughs and thieves. "See 'em," said the man at my side; "there's mugs for you — look at 'em." " Mugs ? " said I. " What are mugs ? " " Hard characters," said he. " Those are thieves from the First Ward, the fel- lows that rob immigrants, steal cotton from the bales, go through the trunks that stray down by the riverside, and empty pockets on the ferries and excursion boats." — Philadelphia Press. Mugster (Winchester College), one who works hard. Vide To Mug. Mug, to (Winchester College), to work hard. From early Eng- lish mog, to sit over in a dis- contented way, as of a boy sitting over his books. Also to rub oil well into a bat. In one corner of school some one may be discovered mugging, i.e., oiling his own or prefect's bat. — Everyday Life in our Public Schools. (Popular and thieves), to strike in the face, to thrash, to swindle, that is, make a fool of one. Vide MuG. To mug one- self, to get tipsy. In this sense it is derivable from mug, a drinking vessel, in the same way as the French gobeloter, to indulge in drink, from gobe- let. An ale-house was formerly termed a mug-house. Again, it may be due to a metaphor, as of one in a mug, provincial for mist. Compare with its synonyms, "in a haze," and "foggy," " muzzy," for intoxi- cated. (Common), to criticise keenly, to examine in a minute and teasing manner. Possibly from Mug — Mullock, 71 slang mug for face, in which case to mug would nearly corre- spond in one of its applications with the French divisager. Mug up, to (theatrical), to paint one's face, or dress specially to impersonation. From the slang mug, for face. (Army), to work hard or " cram " for an examination. Vide To Mug. Mugwump (American), explained by quotation. ' ' Mugwump is an Indian word, and means a cap- tain, or leader, or notable person. From this genuine original meaning it was an easy transi- tion to the signifying a man who thought himself of con- sequence ; and during the last contest for the Presidentship the name had a political mean- ing attached to it, by its ap- plication, in derision, to those members of the Kepublican party who, rejecting Mr. Blaine, declared that they would vote for his Democratic opponent, Mr. Cleveland, the late Pre- sident. Such is the explana- tion, doubtless correct, given by Mr. Brander Matthews of New York. The name is now generally applied to those who profess to study the interests of their country before those of their party " {Cornhill Maga- zine). Mull (common), failure. (Obsolete English), rubbish; to make a mull of it, to spoil it, to bungle, fail through awkwardness. Vide Mullock. In seais, p'r'aps, her crew have the pull o'er their rivals ; But what if the pullers make mulls f — Funny Folks. The public, how he bores or gulls. This buzzing busy B. , Starts maudlin' " Leagues," that end in mulls. And pure fiddle-de-dee!— /'wwcA. Mulligrubs (popular), colic. From provincial English mull, to rub, squeeze, rub about ; and gruh. Peakyish you feel, don't you, now, with a touch of the nndligrubs in the colly- wobbles. — C. Bede : Verdant Green. Also low spirits. Mullock (mining slang), rubbish. From obsolete English muU, dirt, rubbish. Mullock is liter- ally the moraine, the heaps of earth and other rubbish accu- mulated by glaciers ; from this it is applied to the refuse of mines, the heaps of earthy rub- bish which remain after crush- ing, washing, and the other pro- cesses have been gone through. It also means type in bad con- dition, in Australian printers' slang. The metaphor here is from the mining refuse. The Boss had got a set on him to set The mullock of the whole establishment. — The Australian Printers' Keepsake : The Legend of Lonely Gully. (Anglo-Indian), a nickname applied to members of the Madras Presidency service, as Bengal people are called "Qui- his," and Bombayans, *' Ducks." It is ane darke Londe, and ther dwellen y® Cimmerians whereof speketh Homerus Poeta in his Odesseia, and to this Daye thei clepen Tenebrosi or ye Be- nighted ffolke. Bot thei clepen themselves 72 Multee — Mummer. mullys (mulls), from Mulligatawnee wh«J» is ane of theyr goddys from wh*!" thei ben ysprong. — Anglo-Indian Glossary: Lately Discovered MS. of Sir John Maundevile. Multee kerteever (coster- mongers), corruption of m(Mo cattivo, which see. Mumble mumper (theatrical), an old, sulky, inarticulate, unin- telligible actor. Mum-glass (common). "A cant word for the monument in Fish Street, near London Bridge, in commemoration of the dreadful fire in 1666, which consumed the greatest part of the city" (Dyche and Pardon's English Dictionary). Mummer (theatrical). This term, which properly signified a mime, buffoon, is now used in the slangy and deprecatory sense of strol- ling or inferior actor. Stage slang is a thing of art, just as turf slang is. Every one knows what " the ghost walking" means, and there are a dozen and more phrases peculiar to " the " profession in England. Over here the same thing exists among the "cabotins," which \\ ord corresponds exactly with the English niutntners. — Bird o' Freedom. According to the best authori- ties, mummery is described as "low buffoonery" (Nuttall), or, "alow contemptible amusement, buffoonery, farcical show; hypo- critical disguise, and parade, to delude vulgar minds" (Ogilvie and Webster). The mummery of foreign strollers. — Fenton. The same authorities describe a mumm.er as one who masks him- self, and makes diversion in disguise, literally a "guiser," one of those village bumpkins who from time immemorial have gone from house to house, at Christmas and other festi- vals, spouting scraps of the old mysteries handed down by oral tradition. A guiser is described by Mitchell as "a person in disguise, a mummer;" and by Ogilvie as "a person in dis- guise, a mummer who goes about at Christmas." The term mummer is also fre- quently applied derisively to a certain class of players. The application of the word in this relation is directly to be attri- buted to the feud between the equestrians and the actors. About half a century ago certain players from the minor theatres were engaged by Ducrow to act at Astley's in the "Battle of Waterloo," "Mazeppa," and pieces of a similar character. These gentle- men gave themselves great airs when the equestrians came " 'twixt the wind and their no- bility," and were regarded by the horse-riders as highly ob- jectionable interlopers. As a natural consequence, when the equestrians were compelled to officiate as supers for the glorification of the vainglorious players, considerable friction occurred, and much ill-blood ensued. The players affected to look down upon the eques- trians with contempt, and had the good taste to dub them Mummer — Muogh. 73 " mountebanks, horse dung, and sawdust gentry." The equestrians, nothing loth, re- sponded to the compliment by- christening the actors "cack- ling coves and mummers." Kecently, certain journalists, irritated, doubtless, at the social distinction accorded to eminent actors and actresses, have sought to degrade them in pub- lic estimation by stigmatising the entire fraternity, from the highest to the lowest, as mum- mers. It is indisputable, that from the time of the master up- wards there have been so-called actors, and popular ones too, who are, and have been, neither more nor less than buffoons. Mumming (old cant), explained by quotation. At Abingdon fair there was a person named Smith who was the proprietor of a mumming, i.e., a theatrical booth. — Parker: Variegated Characters. Mummock, mummick (Ameri- can), to handle any object. To handle or feel the person. * ' Don't mummick me that-a-way, Billy, or I'll tell my ma ! " From the Dutch main, the breast. Mumper (popular). Vide To Mump. a beggar. Mumpish, to feel (common), to feel dull, miserable, like one who has the mumps. Mums (old), lips. Why, you jade, you look so rosy this morning I must have a smack at your mums. — Foote : The Minor. Mum, to (theatrical), to act ; specially applied to strolling actors. In the quotation the word is used figuratively. A nice stake for Mr. J. A. Craven, for whom the colt mummed successfully again in the Double Trial Plate yesterday. —Sporting Times. Munches (tinker), tobacco. Munds,muns (thieves), the mouth. German, mund. The guests now being met, The first thing that was done, sir, Was handing round the kid That all might smack his ttiuns, sir. — Parker : Variegated Characters. Mundungus (popular), trashy, coarse tobacco. Spanish mon- dongo, black pudding (Hotten), seldom heard. Mungarly (hawkers, strolling actors, &c.), explained by quo- tation. Now, a lot of us chaps propose to assist you to-night, as it's the last one, in getting you up a rare full house, to help you and your school to some dinarly and mungarly, i.e., money and food. — Hind- ley : Life and Adventures o/a Cheap Jack. Mungarly casa, a baker's shop or eating-house. Mungarly is derived from the Italian man- giare, to eat. Mung news (American), news which has been heard before. Now obsolete. In its time it was equivalent to the more modern term "chestnut." From obsolete English mung, past of ming, to speak of, mention. Munlee (pidgin), money. Muogh (tinker), pig. Irish, muck. 74 Murerk — Muzzy. Murerk (tinker and tramps), the mistress of a house, a lady. Perhaps it has a common origin with Spanish cant marca, a woman ; Italian f urbeschi mar- cona ; French argot marque. Mush (common slang), an um- brella. An abbreviation of mushroom, which an umbrella is supposed to resemble. He'll shelter " Floss" beneath his cape if she hasn't got a mush. When the tart is young. — Song: When the Tart is Young. (American), stuff, nonsense, in- different, uninteresting matter. From provincial English muih, dusty refuse. Great Jee-rusalem ! a sweet time he'll have. Just fancy her making him slick up to the music of slow church bells Sunday mornings and marching him off, 'stead of having a good time at the gar- dens, to a straight-backed pew to listen to Gospel 7nush ! — Cleveland Leader. Mush-head (American), a stupid, witless fellow. Soft like mmh, i.e., rye, or Indian (maize) meal, boiled to a pap with water. Mushroom - faker, mush - faker (tinker and popular), umbrella- maker or mender. Music. Vide Face the Music. Mutiny (nautical), explained by quotation. Some, of course, were planning how they could get a bust-up of mutiny (grog) for the occasion. — Tit-Bits. Mutton (common), used in the phrase "a bit of mutton," a woman. The term is used also in America. Also a woman of bad character, otherwise laced mutton. In French veau. Muttoner (Winchester College), a hard knock on the thumb from a cricket-ball. Mutton -fist (common), a large hand. The French call it 4paule de mouton. (Printers), an index hand (^^) is generally called thus, probably from the fact of its being somewhat fat and shapeless. Muttongosht (Anglo-Indian), the common English-Hindu for mut- ton, i.e., '• mutton-flesh." Muttons (Stock Exchange), Turks 1873- Mutton-walk, the saloon at Drury Lane Theatre (Hotten). Muzz, to (Westminster School), to read. Muzzier (pugilistic), a blow on the mouth. Muzzle, to (popular), to get, to take. Muzzy (popular), drunk, properly bewildered. Lord Frederick Foretop and I were carelessly sliding the Ranelagh Round picking our teeth, after a damned muzzj/ dinner at Boodle's. — Foote : Lame Lover. Excuse me, you've made a mistake, sir ! Not the first one you've made, I sup- pose. I'm a lady, that's straight, and I'm only out late 'Cause it's late when the May Meet- ings close. None the less, I'm a bit wideawake, sir- Taking care of one's self's only right — My — Mysteries. 75 And you can't make too free with a lady like me, Though you are a bit muzzy to-night ! — Sporting Times. My (pidgin), I, me, mine. Some- times we or ours. Myall (up-country Australian), one of the wild blacks in the North of Australia. The name Myall is generally applied to those Northern tribes who in physique and ferocity are far more formidable to the white man than the feeble natives of the southern colonies. Many of them probably have a consider- able mixture of the Papuan blood, a much more powerful and warlike strain. The blackfellow now put his feet to- gether and jumped about, imitating the action of a hobbled horse, upon which light at once dawned on the Englishman, who provided the delighted Myall with the articles in question. — A. C. Grant. Mycetal duffer (theatrical), a "howling" or great duffer, so called after " a genus of the largest-sized monkeys of Ame- rica, commonly called the howl- ers, from the loud sounds of their voices " (Nuttall). My-deal, correctly mo-dide, my- self, I, us. In gypsy, my-koJcero, myself, is often used for I, and in old canting men said "my watch," for me. " That is bene- ship to our watch," that is very good for us. " The same sys- tem," says Turner, "prevails in the North Country cant at the present day, ' my nabs,' myself; 'his nabs,' himself." This word, probably derived from nab (old cant), or nob, meaning head, is in theatrical slang " nibs." Mo-dide occurs in the following verse (Shelta or tinker) : — " Cosson kailyah corrum me morro sari, Me gul ogaly ach mir, Rahet manent trasha moroch Me tu soste mo-diele." — " Coming from Gal way tired and weary I met a woman, I'll go bail that by this time to-morrow You'll have had enough of me." Me tu soste is gypsy. Mysteries (popular), sausages ; so called because no one is sup- posed to know what they are made of. The peelers I scorn and defy. While strings of these mysteries I wave round my head, And then to the people I cry, "Sassidges, oh, sassidges ! Oh, beef and pork and German ! Little gee-gee, little donkey, newly made to-day ! Sassidges, oh, sassidges ! oh, beef and pork and German ! Pussy, mi-aow ! doggy, bow-wow ! and beautiful sassidges, oh ! " — G. Homcastle : Sassidges, oh ! 76 Nab — Na-hop. N NAB (old cant), the head, in modern slang "nob." Explained by quotation. There were particularly two parties, viz., those who wore hats fiercely cocked and those who preferred the nab or trencher hat, with the brim flapping over the eyes. — Fielding: Jonathan Wild. I crown thy nab with a gag of benbouse, And stall thee by the salmon into clowes. — /. Fletcher: The Beggars Bush. Scandinavian nahh, beak or bill, once a synonym for face and head. Nabcheat (old cant). Y\d& Chete. Nab-girder (old cant), a bridle. Nab, to (old English), now used in a slangy sense, properly to take, seize. In thieves' lingo, to receive or take in stolen goods. It is possible that as the "fences" or receivers were once generally Jews, the word in this sense is derived from the Yiddish wppp. (French thieves use the word ne'p for a rascally Jew, a receiver, or dealer in sham jewellery.) Nepp-Tiandel is cheating by hav- ing false or inferior wares, a trade or place in which the goods are all "dickey." Vide Rust. Nag drag (thieves), explained by quotation. Detective-Sergeant Garner, I Division, stated that when the prisoners were re- moved to the cells, he went into the passage and heard them calling to one another. Hill said, "This will be a nag drag." Mr. Chance: "What is that?" Witness explained that it was a slang term for three months' imprisonment. — Daily Telegraph. Nag, to (popular), to scold or reprove, or " keep at" any one continuously. Nagging implies annoying or vexing one all the time, a "following-up" more than anything else. Probably from the Swedish nagg, to prick, i.e., to spur or goad, as in the gypsy chiv, chivvy. She's always, nag, nag, nagging. And keeping up the game. No matter where we go to. She always is the same. — Ballad by G. Horncastle: Are You Coming. My mother-in-law has come to stay For ever. It's ten to one she goes away For ever. She's always on the N.A.G. And makes a perfect show of me, I'll chuck her out, I will, you see ! For ever ! —Ballad by C. Williams : For Ever. Naggy is provincial English for irritable. Na-hop (pidgin), i.e., "no-hab" or "no have." This is given as meaning "without," i.e., "de- prived of," or "wanting," in the Chinese-English or Pidgin Vocabulary, according to the idea that not to have is (to be) without. " One piecee man no- Jwp doUa' dat man so bad inisy as no-hop lifey " — " He who is Nail- box — Nancy. 77 without money is as miserable as if he were dead." Nail-box (printers), the place where printers would assemble to " nail " (which see) or " back- bite " any one. Very often re- fers to a neighbouring "pub." or other rendezvous. Nailer, nailing (common), terms expressing excellence in any way ; a nailer at football, riding, &c., a nailing shot. It is said of a handsome, clever, or fashion - able lady that she is a nailer. At school a nailer is a clever, good student. (Turf), a horse which cannot be shaken off, that keeps pace with his an- tagonists. Still, she had some difficulty in getting rid of the attentions of Theodore, who is evidently a nailer when the going is a bit soft. — Sporting Times. Nailing good thing (popular), a thing which is good and dur- able. The Commander - in - chief inspected Ducker's portable hospital hut. ... It is a nailing good thing, with ne'er a nail in it, nor even a loose screw. — The Sun- day Times. Nail, to (common), to take, seize, detect. (Thieves), to arrest, catch in the act, steaL " I see," said Mouldy, sagaciously nodding his head. "What was it that you nailed?" '' Nailed r' "Ay, prigged, don't you know? Did they ketch it on you, or did you get clean off with it ? " — The Little Ragamuffins. (Winchester College), to de- tect, perceive, catch, secure. "To nail a man" is to go and tell him to "sweat" or fag for some prefect; also to "watch out " or field at cricket, and to keep in balls at football, that is, to throw the ball back when it goes beyond a certain line. The nail is a nail planted in the middle of the wainscoting un- der "aut disce" in "school," under which any one nailed or detected telling a falsehood was placed for punishment. (Printers), to nail or "brass nail " any one is to " backbite." " No nail " would be an expres- sion of apology, or " I am sorry, but it is true." Namo (costermongers), girl ; back slang for woman. Nammus (thieves and coster- mongers), look out, beware. " If a stranger should advance, the cry is given, nammus," and all signs of gambling are out of sight instanter. Also be off, let us be off. Said to be a corrup- tion of Spanish vamos, let us be off, which has given vamose, which see. " Done !" said Aaron, and each held up their hands in fighting attitude, when, after sparring a bit for an opening, and not fancying the fellow, Aaron suddenly exclaimed nammus, thereby meaning, cut, run, take care of yourselves. — Hindley. Nancy (military), the behind. Nancy Dawson (popular), a name for a molly, an effeminate youth, apathetic, &c. A recent sketch of the characteristics of the mashers of the pre- sent day, which appeared in a leading magazine, represents 78 Nancy — Nap. two of the fraternity, who are very intimate, as always call- ing one another by girls' names. I'll tell you of a fellow who's a very heavy swell, Who fancies he's the idol of each fashion- able belle, And they call him Nancy Dawson, And isn't he a caution ! Oh, Mr. Nancy Dawson, what a tricky man you are ! Oh, Nancy Dawson, can't you do the la-di-dar? — Ballad : Nancy Dawson. The original Nancy Dawson was a noted prostitute, on whom there is a song still cur- rent among sailors. Proverbi- ally a finicky, effeminate man is called a Miss Nancy. Nanny (common), a prostitute. Probably from nun, meaning the same. Vide Abbess. Nanny shop (common), a brothel. Nantee, nanty (showmen, itine- rant actors, &c.), no, not any. Also be quiet, hold your tongue ; from Italian niente, nothing. Nanty dinarly, no money, poor receipts, doing badly. Nanty paraarly (low), used in Clerkenwell, King's Cross, and Leicester Square, and where there are a number of English- men and foreigners. If two men are talking confidentially and a third joins them who is not desired to overhear their conversation, one will say to the other nxinty parnarly, meaning be careful. This is a corruption of the Italian niente parlare. Napkin (common), a nap. "To be buried in a napkin," to be half asleep, not to have one's wits fully about one. Nap nix (theatrical), one who plays for nothing. Nap, to take, receive ; and nix, nothing. Nap, nob, or nopper, the head. "One for his nob or nopper," pugilistic slang for a blow on the head. Nappy was a once favourite epithet for strong ale, equivalent to the French capi- teux, heady, affecting the head from below. Derived apparently from the old English hnoh, a pro- tuberance ; German knorpe, a button, a swelling, a bud be- fore its expansion into a flower. A picturesque mountain in the vale of Grasmere in Westmore- land is named Nab Scaur {nab, rising ground), and is more than once mentioned in Words- worth's poems. Burns uses the word in his admirable poem of "Tam o' Shanter." " Sit bouzing at the nappy. An' gettin' fu' an' unco happy." Nap one's bib, to (popular), to cry, i.e., to catch up one's bib. Nap the regulars, to (thieves), to share the booty. Vid^ To NAP. And ve vent and fenced the swag that wery night, and afterwards napped the regulars. — Lytton : Paul Clifford. Nap the slap. Vide Knap the Slap. Nap the teaze, to (prison), to be whipped. From tees or T's, the iron holdfasts to which JSJap — Ndaba. 79 criminals are tied when whip- ped in prison. From the shape of a T. Vide To Nap. Nap, to (popular), to catch, re- ceive. Napp, Danish, Swedish, to catch, snap, bite, &c. While to another he would mention as a fact not to be disputed, " You napp'd it heavily on your whisker-bed, didn't you ? " — C. Bede ; Verdant Green. Also to steal. To go nap, to take, sweep the whole. Pro- bably from the game of nap. Men raise bubble companies others to trap, And when they're bowled out in it, don't care a rap. But what is the reason ? well, you can go naj>. It pays them much better than work ! —Music Hall Song. Nark, or copper's nark (thieves), a man or woman who is a police spy upon his comrades or class. He had a nark with him, so I went and looked for my two pals, and told them to look out for S. and his nark. — Horsley .* Jottings from Jail. This seems to have some con- nection with the Dutch nar- ruken, to follow about, spy, and narrecht, information. German, nachrickten. Nark, to (thieves), to watch, ob- serve, look after or into closely. Vide Naek. Narrow squeak (common), just escaping or avoiding anything by the merest chance. " Not exactly in danger," murmured Gommy, "but once, if I had not been possessed of great presence of mind, I might have had a narrow squeak for it." — Sporting Times. Nash, to (old cant), to run away, default. Gypsy, nasher, to run away, to lose, hang, forget, spoil, injure, in all their variations ; nashered, nashcrdo, hanged on the gallows, executed, utterly ruined ; mandy nashered lis avri my sherro, I forgot it (lost it out of my head) ; tiro wongurs sdr nasherd avrl, your money is all spent. Hence nass ! away ! Nashermengro, policeman. Hin- du, ndsdna, to destroy ; nash, destruction. Nask (old cant), a prison. Nasty (common), spiteful, ill- tempered. " But couldn't you get rid of them?" " Not without heiTignasty." — Pall Mall Gazette. Nazie (old cant), drunken; nazie cove, a drunken man ; nazie mort a drunken woman. From the German nass, wet. The English lower classes use ' ' wet " in the sense of drink, as in the well- known phrase " heavy wet " for porter or beer. " Wet the other eye," take another drink. " Wet the whistle," drink, or moisten the throat. " Wet Quaker," one who drinks on the sly. To make nase nahes, literally to make the head drunk. Now I towr that ben bouse makes nase nabes. — Harman : Caveat. Ndaba (South African), explained by quotation. Ndaba, a pure Zulu word, meaning affair or business, is in frequent use even among the whites. With the natives, it has a most elastic signification, and ndaba may 8o Neap — Needle. mean a wedding, a beer-drinking bout, a quarrel, a trial at law, or a hanging. — G. A. Sala: Illustrated London News. Neap, nip (Suffolk), a turnip, is commonly used to denote a big watch. In French slang oignon. Neat, spirits without water, &c. Liquor or spirit unmixed is "plain, straight, bald-face, re- verend, pure, out of the barrel, bare-footed, naked, stark-naked, primitive, raw, in the state of nature, in puris naturalibus, unsophisticated, without a shirt, ah, don't mingle, aboriginal, unalloyed, untempered, cold- without, neat as imported, or neat, simplex e munditiis, uncor- rupted, unmarried, virgin, and clean from the still." Stone- fence is a drink of whisky plain, a raw recruit is a glass of spirits without water. Neckcloth (common), the halter. For the neckcloth I don't care a button. And by this time to-morrow you'll see Your Larry will be as dead as mutton. —Burrowes : The Death of Socrates. Neck, to (popular), to swallow; wccyfc-oil, drink. Not to be able to neck it, not to have the moral courage to do or ask. Neck-verse, chap. li. ver. 7 of the Psalms in the Vulgate, com- mencing miserere met domine. The test of clerkship in those claiming benefit of clergy. The record was indorsed in such cases : " Po. se. cul. pet. lib. leg. u. cler. u. i. m. delib. or." — "Posset se (super patriam) cul- pabilis petit librum legit ut clericus ustus in manu delibera- tus ordinario." Puts himself on the country, asks for the book, reads like a clerk, is branded on the hand, and de- livered over to the bishop; in later times, deliheratur secundum statutum. Such were branded with a hot iron on the brawn of the left hand. Ben Jonson escaped in this way. Sometimes it ran cog. indict., &c., pleads guilty, &c. The record of Ben Jonson's conviction for killing Gabriel Spencer in a duel in Toggeston Fields, has been found by Mr. Cordy Jeaffreson, whence it ap- pears he saved his neck by these means : — Letter or line I know never a one Wer't my neck-verse at Harribee. — Scott: Lay of the Last Minstrel. The judge will read thy neck-verse for thee here. — Clobery Div. Glimpses, 1659. Neddy (thieves and popular), a life-preserver or loaded cane whereby life may be taken. A donkey. Needful, the (common), money. Was ordered to pay a fine and costs. . . . Not having the needful, Pat went into retirement at the expense of the country. — Scraps. Needle, the (general), vexation, stinging annoyance. And it gives a man the needle when he hasn't got a bob, To see his pals come round and wish him joy. — Song : You should never Marry. (Turf), " to get tlie needle,'' or " cop the needle" is to be so goaded by "the slings and Needle — Newgate . 8i arrows of outrageous fortune" that the bettor loses his self- control and "plunges" wildly to recover his money. (Athletics), to get the needle is to feel very nervous and funky. feedle, to (common), to annoy. feedy-mizzler (tinker), a tramp. Fegotiate, a modern slang ex- pression often employed by sportsmen and the writers who chronicle their achievements to signify any attempt to surmount the difficulties they may meet with in the hunting-field. They aspire to negotiate awkward aces. — Bird o Freedom. Neither buff nor bum (popular), neither one thing nor the other. Nerve (Eton), impudence. Nestor (Winchester College), aboy small for his age. Netgen (coster), half a sovereign ; from back slang for ten, and gen, a shilling. Never hit the use (pidgin English- Chinese). 'M. Chung-yung not hit the use, i.e., was idle, useless, or all in vain. One night Wang-ti go walkee — he feel like lonely goose, How all he study 'M. Chung-yung— he ueva hit the use. How some man pass an' catch deglee while he stick fass' behind, Like one big piecee lock while waves fly pass' him on the wind. — Wang-ti. Never, never country, the (Aus- Itralian), the Ultima Thule of ^ VOL. II. I ¥ civilisation. "TAe never, never country means in Queensland the occupied pastoral country which is furthest removed from the more settled districts" (J. S. O'Halloran, Secretary Royal Colonial Institute). There is no such thing as an "Austra- Han cow-boy." There is as much differ- ence between the real never, never stock- man and the Earl's Court article as there is between the real shell-back of the fore- castle or the British tar in " Ruddigore." —Globe. Never too late to mend shop (tailors). Vide Hand me down Place. New-bug (Marlborough College), a contemptuous term to signify a new boy. New chum (Australian), a new comer, a fresh arrival in the country. More than once on the road, meeting these fellows tramping along, my driver or companion has recognised them as new chums by the cut of their pack.— C. T. : Blackwood's Magazine. This expression is simply the English "chum" with a "new" prefixed to it. It is often used rather contemptuously. Newgate fringe (thieves), collar of beard worn under the chin. Newgate hornpipe (common), hanging. And we shall caper a-heel-and -toeing A Newgate hornpipe some fine day. — W. Maginn : Vidocg's Slang Song. Newgate knocker (coster- mongers), the mode of wear- ing the hair curled in the shape F 82 Newgate- ring — Nim . of the figure 6 over the ears. In vogue about 1840 to 1850. Newgate-ring (popular), mous- tache and lower beard worn as one, the side whiskers being shaved off. Newy (Winchester College), a "cad," that is, a fellow who was paid to take care of the canvas tent in " commoner" or school field. N. F. (printers). This term is very largely used by printers in abbreviation of the words " no fly," to indicate an artful com- panion — one who is only cogni- sant of what suits him, and feigns ignorance of matters that apply to him. Nib (American thieves), the mouth. Nih or neh is old English for mouth, snout, beak. Anglo- Saxon nehh, head, face. Icelan- dic nehhi, beak of a bird, nose. Swedish snabel, beak. Probably the origin of "his nibs," self, face, and mouth, being synony- mous. In French cant mon gniasse, son gniasse, &c., mean myself, &c., and seem to be ab- breviated from ma tignasse, my hair, that is, head. (Printers), an expression generally applied to indicate a silly person, other- wise a " mouth," which see. Nib-like (thieves and coster- mongers), gentlemanly. Vide Nobby. Nibs. Vide His Nibs. Nickers, wild young fellows or mohawks who, in the eighteenth century, when the watch of Lon- don was composed of old and feeble men, amused themselves by traversing the streets howl- ing and shouting. Nick, to (thieves), to steal. " He that nicks and runs away will live to nick another day," in- scribed in a prison cell. That there cove wot you're a-speaking of . . . what had he been nicking l^J. Greenwood: Dick Temple. Originated from nick, to cut, i.e., cutting away pockets. Also to apprehend, arrest. "Well, 'Jones,' I see you are Robinson this time. What have you got ? " " Ten stretch and my ticket." " What did you get nicked for this time?" "Me and my pal were buckled by the coppers as were going to the fence with the swag." — Evening News. Nigger spit (popular), the lumps in Demerara sugar. Nightshade (popular), or deadly nightshade, a shameless prosti- tute of the very lowest class. Nibbler (popular), a petty thief. Nimmer (thieves), thief. Nibble, to (popular), to take or steal. Nibble, to have a (tailors), to have the best of the bargain, or an easy, well-paid job. Nimshod (popular), a cat. The allusion is obvious. Nim, to (thieves), to steal; old English slang nim, to take ; Ninepence — Nix. 83 same root as the German neh- men. Anglo-Saxon niman. Ninepence, right as (popular), means perfectly correct, appa- rently a corruption from " right as ninepins," which are care- fully set up in proper rhomboidal disposition (A. Smythe Palmer). Nine shillings (colloquialism), cool audacity. Said to be from French nonchalance, but it must be noted that nine, one of the mystical numbers (three, trinity, represents a perfect unity, twice three is the perfect dual, and thrice three is the perfect plural), occurs in many phrases as in- dicating an exhaustive plural, perfection or completion, as a nine days' wonder, nine tailors make a man, dressed up to the nines, &c. Ning-nang (horse - coupers), a worthless thoroughbred. Nip (old cant), a pickpocket. One of them is a nij^. I took him in the twopenny gallery at the Fortune. — Roaring Girl. Nip and tuck (Cornwall), a close contest. An old term in wres- tling. iVip, to seize, and tuck, to chuck or throw. Speaking of bust-ups, it appears to be nip and tuck between Ed. Wolcott, Scott Lee, and the Cincinnati banks. As the score stands now it is a dead tie. — The Solid Muldoon, Otway, Colorado. Also " nip and go tuck," I've had a terribul fit of the ager since I writ yer last, and one time I thought it was about nij> and go tuck wether the ager or natur wud whip. — Major Jack Downing. Nip-cheese (nautical), purser's steward. Also a miser. Nipper (popular), a baby, a child. Also a small draught. One who goes in for sharp practice. The metaphor is in nipping, grasping or squeezing a man more than the bargain purports. " Like enough," returned Stone. " That accounts why he has the credit of being such a nipper." — A. C. Grant: Bush Life in Queensland. Also a pickpocket ; formerly a cut-purse. (Marlborough Col- lege), a little cad. (Coster- monger), the youngest of lads employed by costermongers. (Popular and thieves), explained by quotation. " Dowse the glim ! here come the nippers. " That a nipper was a policeman, I well knew. — The Little Ragamuffins. Nip, to (old cant), to take, seize, steal, apprehend. Meanwhile the cut-purse in the throng, Hath a fair means to nyp a bung. — Poor Robin, 1740. If we niggle or mill a bousing ken, Or nip a. bung that has but a win, Or dup the giger of a gentry cofe's ken, To the quier cuffing we bing. — T. Dekker: Lanthome and Caf idle- light. Nix or nicks (thieves), nothing. The German nichts. In a bright check suit with staring squares, And a "topper" of striking grey. The magsman fly to the course repairs In quest of "mugs " as prey. In his " exes " being nil our friend confides. His "brief" he snatches and for nix he rides. —Bird o' Freedom. 84 Nix — Nobbier. It won't do, I say, to stand here for nicks.^Parker : Variegated Characters. Used by French thieves. Spanish cant nexo ; Italian niha^ niberta. Nix my dolly (thieves), never mind. Nzx my dolly, pals, fake away ! — Ainsworth: Rookivood. Niz priz (legal), a writ of nisi prius. Nizzie (old cant), a fool. Nob (common), the head, origin- ally pugilistic. From knob or nwJ, the nape of the neck. The coachman he not Hkin' the job Set off at a full gal-lop. But Dick put a couple of balls in his twi And prevailed on him to stop. — Romance from Pickwick Papers. I went jest for a lark, nothink else, and wos quietly slinging my 'ook, Wen a bit of a rush came around me, a truncheon dropped smack on my nob. And 'ere I ham, tucked up in bed, with a jug of 'ot spruce on the 'ob. —Punch. To scuttle your nob, to break your head. Soon I'll give you to know, you d d thief, That you're cracking your jokes out of season, And scuttle your nob with my fist. — Burrowes : The Death oj" Socrates. A great swell, a man of high position. Abbreviated from great nob (nob, head). In Parisian popular slang grosse tite. I came to London — p'rhaps I'd better say how I begun, For no nabob was half such a nob. As the Shallaba'lah Ma'rajah. — Punch. Vide One for his nob. No battle (printers), no good; not worth while. Nobba saltee (costermongers), ninepence. From nove soldi. Nobber, nobbier (pugilistic), a blow on the " nob " or head. Nobbet, nobbing, to collect, or collecting money. " A term much used by buskers," says Hotten. Naubat, in the language of the Hindu Nats, or musical gypsies, signifies, time, tune, and instruments of music sound- ing at the gate of a great man at certain intervals. Nobbet, which is a gypsy word, well known to all itinerant negro minstrels or tavern singers, means to go about with music, to get money, or to take it in turn. It is manifestly enough of Indian origin. "To nobbet round," means to go about by turns to collect. Nobbing slum (showmen), the bag for collecting money. This is specially used by Punch and Judy men. Nobbier, thus described by Hind- ley: — "In my young days there used to travel about in gangs, like men of business, a lot of people called nobhlers, who used to work the thimble and pea rig, and go 'buzzing,' that is, pick- ing pockets, assisted by some small boys. These men travel- led to markets, fairs, and races, and dressed for the most part Nobbier — Nommus. 8s like country farmers, in brown top-boots, &c. The race of noh- hlers is now nearly extinct, as the old ones have died out, and the younger hands have either turned betting -men or burglars." (Australian), a glass of spirits, literally that nobbles, i.e., throttles, kills you. The other proceeded in the most correct bush style. Every now and then uttering a wild cry, and dashing his spurs into his nag's sides, he would fly along at his top- most speed, only to pull up again at the nearest public-house, to the verandah of which his horse's bridle was hung until he had imbibed a nobbier or two. — A. C. Grant : Bush Life in Queensland. (Rodfishers), the nobbier, the gaff, i.e., that which gives the finishing blow, that kills. Then after one alarming flurry on the top of the water, my left hand slips the landing-net under him, and his final strug- gles are shortly ended with a single tap of the nobbier. — Sir Harry Pottinger: Trout Fishing. Nobble, to (turf), to incapacitate a horse from starting or from winning a race by previously drugging, laming, or otherwise injuring him. It is no use blinking the matter. The horse was nobbled — by whom it does not concern us to conjecture. — Bird o' Free- dom. From old word nobble, to beat or rub ; also nubble, to strike, bruise with fist, or to nub (which see), to hang, throttle. (Popular and thieves), to cheat, outwit, overreach, i.e., to beat. Don't you fancy the hunemployed bun- kum has nobbled me : not such a mug ! — Punch. Also to throttle, kill. There's a fiver in the puss, and nine good quid. Have it. Nobble him, lads, and share it betwixt you.—/. Greenwood: Dick Temple. Nobby, nobbish (popular and thieves), fine, stylish; deriv- able from nob, great nob, which see. Yah, pitch us over yer red slang I Take orf that ere nobby coat ! — Punch. "Look here, mate," said another, " they've reformed all that now. The old Jew in Dudley Street has got the sack. You know it ain't a year since I ' chucked up ' and I got my duds at the society in Charing Cross, and a real nobby suit they were until a shower of rain came on and then you should have seen what a scare- crow I looked." — Evening Ne^vs. Nob thatch (popular), the hair. Nob thatcher (popular), a peruke- maker. Noddle (popular), the head. Probably from nod. Used by Shakspeare. Vide " Taming of the Shrew," act i. scene i. Doubt not, her care should be To combe your noddle with a three-legg'd stool. Noifgurs (London), prostitutes. Wrong 'uns at the " Wateries," Noffgurs at the Troc, Schiksas at the Umperies, Pastry in a frock. Parties fines at Purfleet, P elites in the " Square," Coryphees by Kettner, I'artlets anywhere. — Bird o' Freedom. No flies. Vide Flies. No kid. Vide Kid. Nommus or namous (coster- mongers), be off. 86 No — Not. No moss (tailors), no ill-feeling or animosity. No name, no pull (tailors), signi- fies if names are not mentioned there can be no libel, or if I do not mention his name he can- not take offence, unless he likes to apply the remarks to him- self. Nonsense (Eton School). The present Provost of King's, then Lower Master at Eton, on reading over the names of boys who had gained their remove, I remember, quite impressed us with his regal position when he announced that King-Harman was monarch of Non- setise. All old Etonians will remember that Nonsense was a small division of the third form. — Standard. Noodle (common), simpleton. The chuckling grin of noodles. — Sydney Smith. In society a foolish man is called noodles. Noodle is pro- bably from" nod, "like "noddle" and " noddy," because a person who constantly nods to assent is looked upon as being foolish. Noras (Stock Exchange), Great Northern Eailway Def. Ord. Stock. No repairs (common), said of a set-to or struggle, where the parties rush heedlessly into the fray ; neck or nought. Norping (theatrical), quoting pa- thetic, thrilling phrases that will "fetch "the gallery; termed also " piling it up." North (common), too far north for me, too clever, knows too much. In reference to Yorkshiremen and Scotchmen. The French say of a person who is con- fused, perplexed, "il a perdu le nord." Nose (thieves), a spy or detective, i.e., one with his nose on the scent like a bloodhound. How would they know that there wasn't a nose — that is, a detective p'leceman — there in disguise. — J. Greenwood: Dick Temple. Nose-bag (waiters), a visitor at a house of refreshment who car- ries his own victuals, Nosender (popular), a blow on the nose. Originally pugilistic. "You see, sir," said the Pet, "I ain't used to the feel of it, and I couldn't go to business properly, or give a straight nosender, nohow." — C. Bede : Verdant Green. Noser (popular), a blow on the nose. It was a noser, and no mistake about it, and the ruby spurted in all directions. — Hindley : Life and Adventures of a Cheap fack. Nose, to (thieves), to give infor- mation to the police, to turn approver, to watch. Nose warmer (common), a very short black pipe. In French hrHle-gueule. Noter (Harrow School), a note- book. Not for Joe, or Joseph, used to intimate that one does not in tend or care to do, or have anything requested. Not — -Nursery. 87 Not half bad, an expression of approval. Joking apart, * ' I'Aind " is not half a bad piece. — Punch. The French say similarly of a man, "il n'est pas la moiti^ d'un sot," meaning he is no fool. Notions (Winchester College), words, phrases peculiar to the *' men " of Winchester College. Not much of a shower (Ameri- can), a popular phrase, used whenever a political opponent or "any other man" makes light of a great defeat. Not much of a shower. — With all their efforts, and with many political circum- stances in their favour, the Republicans have been unable to create a reaction of any consequence whatever. — Richmond Whig. It is said that while Noah was building his ark a certain man used to visit him daily and laugh at his "fad" of constructing such a boat. But when the rain be- gan, and the flood rose till the scoffer's chin was just above water-level, his tone changed, ' and he humbly entreated to be taken on board. To this Noah would in nowise assent, when the man, turning his back indignantly, walked off ex- claiming, "Go to thunder with your old ark. I don't believe there's going to be much of a shower 1 " Nowhere (common), to be no- where, to be in a state of utter (comparatively speaking) in- feriority or insignificancy for the time being. From a racing phrase; horses not placed in a race, that is, which are neither first, second, nor third, are said to be nowhere. The brave panther when he has once crossed the threshold of that splendid damsel (who, by the way, is a thief, and addicted to drinking brandy by the " bumper ") is, vulgarly speaking, no- •where. — ■/. Greenwood: Seven Curses of London. Nozzle the bottoms, to (tailors), to shrink the front of trousers. Also to pawn them. Nubbing chit (old), the gallows. When he came to the nubbing chit. He was tucked up so neat and so pretty. — R. Burrowes : The Death of Socrates. Nub, to (thieves), to hang ; from nuh, the nape of the neck. All the comfort I shall have when you are nubbed is that I gave you good advice. — Fielding: Jonathan Wild. N u fF (soldiers), to have one's nuff, means to have had more drink than is good for one, i.e., enough. Nursery (turf), a race for two- year- olds only, and almost al- ways a handicap. (Billiards), when all three balls are close together, and the player, by cannoning, scores several times without materially altering the position of the balls, these scores are termed a "rmrsery of can- nons. " In this latter run the balls touched when he had made 42, but he soon got them to- gether after they had been spotted, and made a run of 23 nursery cannons. — Even- ing ITews^ 88 Nurse — Oat. Nurse, to (billiards). Vide NUE- SERY. (Omnibus people), to nurse an omnibus, to try and run it off the road. This is done by sending a rival omnibus close behind, or two omnibuses are placed, one before, the other behind an opposition omnibus to prevent it picking up any passengers. Nut (general), head. Noisette (nut), for head, occurs in the French slang phrase "avoir un asticot dans la noisette," to be off one's nut, i.e., crazy. Chaucer has noshed, a head like a nut. A not-hed hadde he, with a broune visage. — Canterbury Tales. Nut-cracker (popular), sharp blow over the head. Nuts on (popular), partial to, very fond of. Nutted (popular), deceived by a person who professed to be "nuts on you." I ain't nuts on sweaters myself, And I do 'ate a blood-sucking screw, Who sponges and never stands Sam, And whose motto's "all cop, and no blue." — Punch. From the phrase "that's nuts to one," i.e., a great treat, a thing one is partial to. Nut has here the sense of a dainty morsel, from nut, a sweetbread, or the lump of fat called the Pope's eye ; the nut of a leg of mutton {noix in French, same meaning, hence la noix, the best part, dainty morsel). Nutty (old), nice. Who on a lark with black-eyed Sal (his blowing), So prime, so swell, so nutty, and so knowing. — Byron : Don Juan. O (printers), abbreviation for word " overseer." Generally used as a note of warning on his approach. Oak (University). An undergra- duate's rooms at college are en- closed by double doors. The outer one is called his oak, being made of extra strength to meet the rough usage usually in store for it. A man is said to " sport his oak " when he locks his outer door. The ex- pression has become common for to be " not at home " to visitors. Oar (nautical), "to shove in an oar,'' to intermeddle, or give an opinion unasked. Oat (popular), used in the phrase "I never got an oat of it," I never got an atom of it. From the small size of an oat. Com- pare with the French " n'y voir goutte;"" "point," not at all, from punctumi; the old mie, same meaning, from mica, a crumb ; and the Latin ne-hilum, which became nihil, nothing, from hHum, a black dot in a bean. Oats— Off. 89 Oats (American), " to feel his oats" to be lively and full of spirits. An expression taken from the stables. When a horse is well fed and in good condition, he feels his oats. Oat stealer (popular), an ostler. Ob (Winchester College), for obit. Obfuscated (common), drunk. She is scarcely for a moment off the stage, and she appears in half a dozen different disguises ; she climbs up a lad- der ; she gets obfuscated by drinking a bottle of //^«^«r. — Daily Telegraph. Observationist (thieves), one who looks out tempting objects for the skilful thief to steal, &c. Generally pedlars, hawkers, &c. Ochives (old cant), bone-handled knives. chiv, the knife, in gypsy. Ochre (roughs), money. From the colour of gold. Sport your ochre like a man, I'm the cove that keeps the tater can. —Old Song. O'clock (popular and thieves), to "know what's o'clock," to be wide awake. Synonymous with " up to the time of day." Our governor's wide awake, he is. I'll never say nothin' agin him, nor no man ; but he knows what's o'clock, he does, un- common. — Charles Dickens: Sketches. October (pugilistic), jocular for blood, being short for October ale, the body being the beer- barrel. While to another he would mention as an interesting item of news, " Now we'll ta.Y>yo\XTh&st October."— C. Bede: Verdant Green. Oddment (printing), said of a book that ends on an odd leaf. (Linen - drapers), short pieces left from rolls of stu£f, linen, cloth, &c. Odds (turf), an imaginary scale of arithmetical chance, arbi- trarily fixed by the bookmakers in respect of the prospects of any horse winning any future event on which their customers may wish to bet. (Common), "what's the odds" what is the consequence ; "it's no odds,''' it's of no consequence. Odno (roughs and thieves), back slang for no do. Kiding on the odno, travelling in a railway train without paying the fare. Vide Duck. Off colour (society), out of health, out of form, not oneself, un- able to do things as well as usual. Alluding to a pale face, or a phrase borrowed from the lapidary, who speaks of dia- monds as being off colour. When a man has not slept a wink for over a week it is not remarkable that he should look a little Oj^ colour, but when a constant and not- to-be-escaped brain jangle is added to insomnia, as was the case with the famous Q.C., great ravages are worked at the double. — The World. The arbitrator listened to both sides separately, and soon found that each was a bit off colour. Said Billy to the German Sheenie, " You know you cannot show a clean bill of health." — Sporting Times. Mr. struck me as a bit off colour in his acting on that particular evening. It was, however, an anxious time, no doubt. —Fun. (Printers), a term frequently used by pressmen when they 90 Off. feel like " St. Monday," and de- sire a "miche." Derived pro- bably from the fact that a man thus shirking work would be ofE from inking, &c., the type for printing. It is now used in the United States to indicate any kind of inferiority or defect in men or objects. Off his base (American), out of his mind, insane, queer. A Brooklyn professor has been investi- gating cats and dogs, and he finds just as many cranks and fools among them as among human beings. He says that every fourth cat is off her base, while every ninth dog is a sort of fanatic. — Detroit Free Press. Off his cocoa-nut (popular), crazy, mad. Off his dot (popular), crazy, mad. Off his kadoova (Australian popu- lar), off his head, insane. Off his kadoova, "off his head," "off his chump," or simply "off," all convey the same idea — as a train being off the rails, or a man off his play. And at the very chapel-door began a free fight, because a man had tried to prove a man wrong who said he was off kis kadoova. — New South Wales Paper. Off his nut (common), weak in the head, crazy, mad. (American), illogical, cracked. Also applied to any one who behaves eccen- trically or obstinately, or who presses his opinions on others in an asinine manner. Off his onion (costermongers), imbecile, cracked. I've a chap on the book now for a hundred and twenty who's gone clean off his onion betting. — Sporting Times. Off his own bat (common), by his own exertions ; same as on his own hook. Off his saucer (Australian), tired, not in the humour, out of sorts. Office (general), giving or tipping the office, warning ; giving a hint dishonestly to a confederate. And then, in a word or two that none of the outsiders can understand, the con- ductor gives the office to his driver, who sets the picter of good behaviour, you may depend, till the point of danger is passed.—/. Greenwood: Low- Life Deeps. Information. Good old Baron, I will still stick to thee. Eurasian has gone up, and has gone down, the office having been given that John Hammond was going for Quicksand. — Evening News. They gives the public the offce, and the public believes 'em, bust 'em !— /. Green- wood: Seven Curses of London. Office is a provincial corrup- tion pf efese (Anglo-Saxon), the eaves of a house ; old English, ovese. Hence, perhaps, the phrase, "to give the office" as of a person who gives informa- tion, the result of caves- drop- ping. Office sneak (common), one who sneaks into offices to steal coats and umbrellas. Offish (common), distant, not familiar (Hotten). Off its feet (printers), a reference made by printers when type Off— Oh. 91 does not stand square through bad workmanship or "locking up." Off one's chump (common), crazy. Tide Chump. "Young man," said the litterateur, as alight dawned in upon him, "you're off your chump. I don't want a razor to shave with, I want a raiser that will take me upstairs to bed without having to walk." — Bird o' Freedom. Then I got ill, an' know'd nothing for weeks. They said I was orf my chump. — Fergus W. Hume; The Mystery of a Hansom Cab. Off one's feed (common), unable to eat, having no appetite. Ori- ginally stable slang. Off one's rocker (popular), crazy, mad. Off the reel (nautical), at once, without stopping. In allusion to the way in which the log- line flies off the reel when a ship is sailing fast. Off the spot (popular), out of form, silly, imbecile. The meta- phor is from billiards off or on the spot — off or on the spot stroke, the most paying stroke at billiards. To be off the spot, therefore, is strictly to be " out of form," whence it gets an implied meaning of silly, im- becile. To be "off one's dot," which has this latter meaning, is perhaps only a variation of off the spot. Ogle (thieves and pugilistic), eye. And we shall caper a-heel-and-toeing, With the mots their ogles throwing, ^nd old Cotton humming his pray. — Burrowes. That'll raise a tidy mouse on your ogle^ my lad. — C. Bede: Verdant Green. Oh, after you (tailors), that will do, cease talking. Oh, dummy ! (popular), humbug, nonsense. Yes, last night I had been making a speech outside the old spot, when a little fellow came up to me and said, "Oh, dummy I governor, I've just heard that speech of yours, and I'll lay you had some- thing when you're at home." — Broadside Ballad : The Second Fiddler of the Band. Oh, Moses! (popular), a vulgar expletive expression of surprise or incredulity, like "Oh, Hea- vens!" "Oh, Jupiter!" "Oh, Jehoshaphat ! " and the like. Thy face " the human face divine ! " Oh, Moses! Whatever trait divine thy face discloses. Some vile Olympian cross-play pre-sup- poses. — /. B. Stephens : To a Black Gin. Oh my! (common). Application gathered from quotation. The upper crust of Nassau has, as a rule, very little sense of humour, therefore jokes have been voted ill-bred. Venture on one before a Conch lady and she will make a painstaking and conscientious mental effort to discover whether she ought to laugh or not. If her inner con- sciousness answers this question in the afifirmative, she will venture on a smile; if she is in doubt she will probably com- promise the matter by exclaiming, Oh i}iyt This is a favourite expression with them on all occasions. If they hear a friend has bought a new dress, or is going to be married, they exclaim, Oh my! or if the friend has died, or had his house burnt down, they exclaim, Oh my ! all the same. — St. James's Gazette. Oh swallow yourself! (popular), hold your tongue 1 don't bother ! 92 Oil— Old. Oil of palms (popular), a money bribe, a tip. To oil the palm, to bribe, give a gratuity; "to oil the knocker," to fee the por- ter. The French have " graisser le marteau." Ointment (medical student), butter. O.K. (American telegraph), all correct, used to denote the line is clear, also to express anything very nice. An ex- pression first attributed to Pre- sident Jackson, who was said to have written O.K. for "all correct." Old boots ! like (popular), a silly simile, like anything, "as cheeky as old boots," "as quick as old boots." Old do* ! (popular), anything ex- hausted, played out, behind the time. O/e do' ! Oleclo f any old hats I'll buy 'em, They say the lories are no good, well, let the nation try 'em, Gladstone was a statesman, some thirty years ago. But now his line of business ought to be Ole eld ! — Catnach Press Broadside. Old crow (American), a drink. I don't tip very often, but when I'm feel- ing low, Life seems a bit to soften when I try a good old crow. — Broadside. Wherever I go they say hullo, Hip, hurrah for a jolly old crow I — Francis Bros. : Jolly Old Crow. In the United States Old Crow is the name of a choice brand of Bourbon or corn whisky. Old dog (prison), meaning gathered from quotation. One of the greatest delicacies were large white or black slugs which crawled out in numbers after a shower of rain. I must confess to being shocked upon my march out to labour to find that the men were looking eagerly for those slugs, and as soon as one was seen it was pounced upon by a prisoner and swallowed in an instant while the officer was darting about to see if it was an old dog, as the bowls of the tobacco pipes were called. — Evening News. Old doss (New York thieves), the Tombs, the city prison, a sombre building in the gloomiest style of Egyptian architecture. Old ebony (journalistic), a slang title formerly given to Black- wood's Magazine — in allusion to the publisher's name. Old gentleman (cardsharpers), a card longer than the rest in the deck used by sharpers. Old gown, smuggled tea (Hotten). Old Harvey (nautical), the large boat (the launch) of a line-of- battle ship. Old horse (American), a slang term applied by sailors to salt beef, especially when it does not please them. On such occasions they sometimes re- peat the following " grace : " "Old horse! old horse! what brought you here? From Sacarap to Portland Pier I carted stone for many a year Till slain by blows and sore abuse They salted me down for sailors' use. The sailors they do me despise. Turn me over and damn my eyes. Old, 93 Eat my meat and pick my bones, And pitch the rest to Davy Jones." Also "salt horse." Old hoss (American), a term of endearment, equivalent to " old cock." Used also in England. Old iron (nautical), clothes worn when on shore. A sailor will sometimes say, " I am going to work up my old iron,'" i.e., he means to say, " I'm going ashore." Old man (common), the ridge found between two sleepers in a featherbed ; also the southern- wood tree. In misses' phraseo- logy a blanket used to wrap a young child in. An old name for a species of bird somewhat like a cuckoo, and called other- wise a rain-fowl. (Up-country Australian), an old male or buck kangaroo. In bush parlance the old male kangaroo is called an old man; the young female "a flying doe," and the young one till eight or ten months old a "joey." Some of the old men reach to an immense size, and I have often killed them over 2 cwts. — Bush Wanderings of a Naturalist. Ringed by the fathers of the tribe, Surrounded yet alone, The Bossaroo superbly posed Upon a granite throne — A very old old man who had Four generations known. — /. B. Stephens : Marsupial Bill. (English and American sail- ors), the old ma/n, the captain or master. Now this is pretty bad, Yet it's nothing to what's a-coming. But I hear the old man a-bawling like mad So I guess I will stop my humming. —The Ballad of William Duff. Old pelt (printers). This is applied to old and worn-out pressmen — referring to the old ink pelts used in olden times by these individuals for distri- buting the ink. Old pie (American), an expres- sion equivalent to a note of admiration or of approval. " Sir," sed he, turnin' as red as a biled beet, " don't you know that the rules of our Church is, that I the Profit may hev as many wives as I wants?" " Jes' so," I said. "You 3.IT old pie, ain't >ou?" — Artemus Ward. Old pod (American), an old man. Probably associated with limp- ing along or walking slowly. ''Pod, to put down awkwardly, to go afoot" (Wright). Poda- ger, gout in the feet. Latin podagra. Old pot and pan (popular), a familiar form of addressing any one. To be called an old man, or old pot and pan. Is quite the thing, as you know. By your servant-maid, a saucy young jade, When your wife's in the kitchen below. — C. S heard : Betsy. Old rats (American), equivalent to " one of the boys," a thorough- going one, a buck, a hearty old fellow. She then lade her hed over onto my showlder and sed I was old rats. I was astonished to beer this obsarvashun, which I knowd was never used in refined society, and I perlitely but emfattercally shoved her hed away. — Artemus Ward. Old Scratch (common), the devil. A proper degree of this organ furnishes the possessor with a reasonable foresight 94 Old, of consequences, and a tendency to avoid their evils. Witness an example, on the part of ladies, who choose female servants as ugly as Old Scratch — bless the matrons' wisdom — I don't blame them for their prudence, as a charming domestic is apt to be mistaken for the mistress, and the error not found out until the fat's in the fire. — Stump Orations. Old shoe (cant), good luck. Pro- bably alluding to shoes and slip- pers thrown at a newly -married couple. Old six (common), old ale at six- pence a quart. spoken — Look what I've got to do to- night I There's fourteen "pubs" on my beat, and I've got to see that every one on 'em is closed at half-past twelve. That means that I've got fourteen pints of old six to get down me. Course you're not obliged to drink it, but you don't like to see good stuflf wasted. I often thinks of the 'ardships of our perfession. — Popular Song: As I Walks by my Beat. Old son (Australian popular), my fine fellow. An expression of patronage or contempt. One often hears, "I had you there, old son," "Steady, old son," and such expressions. Ha! they've fired the stable. Don't stir ! Have patience. I have you covered, you see, old son. — New South IVales Paper. Old stager (common), one well initiated in anything. Old, the, death. Sometimes " the old man " or master is spoken of as tJie old. Old time, high (American), to have a high old time of it is to amuse oneself prodigiously, to be at liberty to act as one pleases, to have it "all to one- self." " The boys " had a high old time of it at the Epsom Drag Hunt Meeting last Wednesday. Enraged at the oofless state of the visitors, these merry men proceeded to cut through the refreshment tent. — Bird o' Freedom. Old timer (American), a man who has been in California, or in the mining regions of the ad- jacent States, since they were first settled. Coming from the barren deserts of Ne- vada and Western Utah— from the land where the irreverent and irrepressible old timer fills the air with a sulphurous odour from his profanity, and where nature is seen in its sternest aspect, and then sud- denly finding oneself literally surrounded by flowers, and conversing with beauty about religion, is enough to charm the heart of a marble statue. — T. Stevens: A round the World on a Bicycle. Old Toast, Old Poger (American thieves), the devil. Old Tom (common), gin. Old Tom, he is the best of gin ; Drink him once, and you'll drink him again 1 — Lytton : Ernest Maltravers. Dr. Brewer says, " Thomas Norris, one of the men employed in Messrs. Hodges' distillery, opened a gin palace in Great Eussell Street, and called the gin concocted by Thomas Chamber- lain, one of the firm of Hodges, Old Tom, in compliment to his former master." But, accord- ing to Bee's Slang Dictionary, 1823, the term is properly ap- plicable to the cask containing the liquor. Old— On, 95 There are two side-aisles of great casks, . . . bearing such inscriptions as Old Tom, 549 ; Young Tom, 360 ; Samson, 1421, the figures agreeing, we presume, with gallons understood. — Sketches by Boz. Old 'uns (turf), horses that are more than three years old. Of seven horses that were in front at the finish six were old 'uns. — Sporting Times. Old 'un, the, or fool's father (theatrical), the pantaloon. Old •whale (nautical), a term for a sailor. Also * ' sea-boj, shell- back, old shell." Old women (prison), for those prisoners who, being unfit for physically hard work, are em- ployed in knitting stockings. Ole Virginia never tire (Ameri- can), a time-honoured expres- sion applied to the Old Do- minion State, or the Mother of Presidents. It is generally heard, however, as a negro ex- pression. In ole Kentuck in de arternoon We sweep de floor wid a bran-new broom. An' arter dat we form a ring, And dis de song dat we do sing : Klar de kitchen, ole fo'ks, young fo'ks, Ole Virginny nebba' tire. Oliver (thieves), the moon. From its colour. It may be conjec- tured, however, that it is pos- sibly from the Danish uif or ulfa, a wolf. The moon (or night) was one of Odin's wolves. Now Oliver puts his black nightcap on. And every star its glim is hiding ; And forth to the heath is the Sampsman gone. His matchless cherry-black prancer riding. — Ainsworth: Rookwood. Omee (roughs and thieves), a man. From the Italian w>'mo. Oh, donnys and omees, what gives me the spur Is, I'm told by a mug (he tells whoppers) That I ought to have greased to have kept out of stir The dukes of the narks and the coppers. — The Referee. (Theatrical), '■^omee of the carsa," master of the house. Itinerant actors are accustomed to inquire at a new theatre for the manager, or at their lodgings for the landlord, thus, "Who's the omee of the carsa ? " On (popular), tipsy. Henceforth when door-exploring Jones, Who reaches home a little on, Observes, in somewhat husky tones, " Hulloa, I shay, the keyhole's gone ! " We must not hasten to cry " Shame ! " For it's the climate that's to blame. — Funny Folks. (Sporting), to get on a man or horse, to make bets on him or it. (Common), to try it on, to make an attempt generally with a view of deceiving. (Win- chester CoUege), a call by any prefect to announce that the " men " may enter chapel. On a string (American). "To send a person to look for some- thing that you are sure is some- where else is putting him on a string. Humbugging, deceiving in any way. When a girl flirts with a sucker she has him on a string" (New York Slang Dic- tionary). Derived from billiards, as when a man gets a "run," or from anything with a view 96 On — Oner. to one's advantage, as, for in- stance, two ducks in a line. On doog (costermongers' back- slang), no good. One (popular), a fib or lie. " Don't tell me one " is constantly in the popular mouth. Also a blow. One, &c. (legal), an attorney, being an abbreviation of One of the Attorneys of Her Majesty. Onee soldi or win (low theatrical), one penny. Vide Soldi. Win, old cant, is from a different source. One-eyed town (theatrical), a disparaging term for some small town or theatre which somebody has visited to his sorrow. One five (common), hand. When a " Bobby " apprehends any one, he asks to look at his hands, and judges from the "palm" of one Jive as to the honesty of his prisoner. — Topical Times. One for his nob (popular), a blow on the head. A snatch was made at the tray, whereon the man with the broken nose dealt the snatcher one /or his nob with his knuckly fist, coolly remarking, as he did so, " That's wot I'm here for ! " — Daily Telegraph. (Cards), when the knave of trump is held at the game of cribbage, the holder cries one for his nob ! One-horse (American), anything small or comparatively unim- portant. A one-horse bank, a one-horse town, a one-horse in- surance company, a one-horse candidate, are depreciatory epithets that are thoroughly understood. When it was said by an opponent that General Grant was a one-horse candidate for the Presidency of the United States, the New York Herald declared, on the contrary, *' that he was a ' whole team ' and a big dog under the waggon." He returned rather out of breath, just as the captain was giving the signal for departure. "A one-horse little place, I guess," said a companion. "Well, no," said the explorer frankly; "I guess not. I stole a pair of socks in the market. I was tried, convicted, and publicly whipped in twenty minutes. I call it an uncom- monly smart little place." — Daily News. One nitch (printers), a vulgarism applied to infants of the male sex. One of the Lord's own (Ameri- can society), a dandy; one who is eminent as regards form, style, and chic. Also a " daisy, a stunner, or first-classer " (MS. Americanisms by C. Leland Harrison). One out of it (tailors). This phrase signifies, "I don't care to be mixed up in it," " I will have no- thing to do with the business. " Oner (pronounced wunner), an emphatic rendering of the word " one " — as of a person super-eminent, or greatly dis- tinguished for strength, agility, or prowess of any kind. A heavy blow is also called a oner; "one for his nob," or a ''oner for his nob," are pugilistic elegancies of speech that have Oner — On. 97 survived pugilism itself, in popular usage. I gave him a oner on the nose, — Punch. The watcher is generally hanging about, and he'll "down" you with a oner in the back or side (he won't hit you in the face, for fear of spoiling it). — Greenwood: Seven Curses of London. Also a blow, a shilling. Hence perhaps the slang term "blow " for shilling. One side to his mouth (sporting), is said of a horse that only- feels the bit on one side of his mouth. The horse has then a right - handed or left - handed mouth. One under your arm (tailors), getting in an extra job. One who makes the eagle squeal (American), said of any grasp- ing, avaricious, or mean man, that when he gets hold of a coin squeezes it so closely that the eagle impressed on it utters a scream or squeal. The ex- pression has been in use for at least forty years. To make the ea/jle squeal is also used in a very different meaning when applied to anything which pro- vokes national indignation (MS. Americanisms by C. Leland Har- rison). On his lines (printers), an alter- native expression for "on the piece," or work paid for accord- ing to scale, and not by weekly wages or " 'stab." On his uppers (tailors), in very reduced circumstances. VOL. II. Onion (popular), the head. Vide Off his Onion. Onions (thieves), watch seals. When his ticker I set a-going. With his onions, chain, and key. — IV. Maginn: Vidocqs Slang Song. On it (American). This eccentric expression meant originally that a man was decidedly engaged in anything. It implied determi- nation. " I'm on it" I under- stand it. It came into very general use about 1 860. On the batter (popular), a bout of low debauchery, riotous liv- ing, principally said of a street walker. "It is of Anglo-Irish origin, and signifies on the street, on the road; from the Irish word bdthar, a road (ori- ginally a road for cattle, from bo, a cow), in some parts of Ire- land pronounced batter, as in the place names Batterstown, Greenbatter, Stonybatter, Boo- terstown " (A. Smythe Palmer). As for the word bater, that in English purporteth a lane bearing to an highwaie, I take it for a mere Irish word that crept unawares into the English. — Stanihurst .* Description of Ireland. On the booze. Vide Booze. On the burst, bust. Vide Bust. On the cross. Vide Ceoss. On the dead (American), gratis, free. Probably derived from " dead head" (which see). So we followed him into the chamber as soon as these words were said. To get those beautiful presents all gratis and on the dead. — Song. G 98 On, On the dead quiet (common), in secret. A variant is "on the strictest Q. T." "Why did you sacrifice your beard?" asked a young man yesterday of a friend whose honeymoon was barely over. "On the dead quiet I'll tell you," re- plied the Benedict. — Sporting: Times. On the fly (popular and thieves), getting one's living by thieving or other dishonest practices. Also out drinking. On the forty-ninth ballot (Ameri- can). When an election is re- peated many times before a candidate can be elected, it may be prolonged until it equals that of a Pennsylvania senator which required forty-nine bal- lottings. Hence the expression as applied to a very long contest of any kind. Miss Jennie, mindful of her Texas nati- vity, " went for " a hickory club and the " sarpent " at the same time, tucking her skirts in genuine Amazonian style and attacking by echelon. In spite of his re- peated eflForts to fasten his fangs in the brave girl she got away with him on the forty-ninth ballot and left the field with the slimy varmint dragging behind her triumphant car. His snakeship was the proprietor of sixteen rattles, which makes him nineteen years of age — a regular octo- genarian in the reptile kingdom.— Z>a//aj News. On the ground-floor (American). Those who are the very first in any scheme to make money, or the original "promoters" of a speculation, are said to be on the ground-floor. It is a common trick to take investors in by assuring them that they are among the first and will have the best chance. So in Amsterdam Herr Ganef paddled out his Glory bonds ; And to all he slyly whispered, " I will let you in de first. On de ground-Jloor — sell out quickly — for you know de ding may burst." — Rise and Fall o/Gloryville. On the half-shell (American), a very peculiar phrase, derived from an oyster thus served. It is applied to anything prepared and ready for use. When Page's picture of Venus, naked and standing in a shell, was exhibited in New York, the "boys" described it as a girl on the half-shell. Also a part of, or by retail, by half-dozens. I don't intend this essay for laffing in the lump, but for laffing on the half-shell. — Josh Billings on Laughing: On the job. Vide Job, on the. On the lay (thieves). Vide Lay. On the lay conveys the same metaphor as lying in ambush, or lying in wait. On the ledge (popular), in a predicament, or in danger or trouble. And now my mother's made a vow. If he don't take the pledge, The next time that he gets run in, She'll leave him on the ledge. — Geo. Horncastle : The Frying-Pan On the loose (popular), free, at liberty, out of prison. I'd rather have 'arf a bellyfuU on the loose, than roast meat and baked taters all day long in the steel (prison). — Green- wood: In Strange Cojnpany. Also applied to any one en- gaged in a course of immoral indulgence, in drink or dissipa- tion of any kind. On. 99 On the make. Vide Make. On the nod (common), speaking to everybody, and claiming or making acquaintances by mere impudence. I've found out a secret to live without work, Which has proved a good fortune to me, I am now on the nod, and I find that it pays. For I tap every one that I see. — T. W. Barrett: The Strand- rushing Masher. (Theatrical), getting trust — particularly at public - houses. Also applies to passing in at theatres. (Turf), to bet on the nod is to bet on credit, each party to the wager merely registering it in their books, and settling on the following Monday. So called in contradistinction to ready- money betting, where the backer hands over his cash to the book- maker at the time of making the bet, and if a winner, receives payment immediately after the race. Since the suppression of the piquets there has been a good deal of betting on the nod, and there is hardly a penciller who has not a few thousands of dead money on his head. — Bird o' Freedom. Also silent bidding at auctions. On the nose (thieves), watching. Vide Nose. On the pounce (common). If, as is thought, a word or phrase becomes legitimatised when it has once been used in Parlia- ment, then on the pounce, mean- ing to be on the look-out for attacking, is no longer slang, as appears by the following extract from the report of the proceed- ings in the House on September 13-14, 1887. " I shall not resume my seat," he shouted in tones of passion, waving his arms the while. " You, Mr. Speaker, have been on the pounce for me ever since I rose, and I claim my right to speak. I have not trans- gressed your ruling. You have been on the pounce waiting for me all the evening, and I again claim my right to speak." — Standard. On the prigging lay (thieves), out on a thieving expedition, pick- ing pockets, &c. As from ken to ken I was going, Doing a bit on the prigging lay. Who should I meet but a jolly blowen. — W. Maginn : Vidocqs Slang Song. On the road (theatrical), explained by quotation. Companies in the provinces are on the road, another relic of the past. — Globe. On the scent (showmen and circus), on the road, travelUng about. On the shallow (beggars), going about half-naked to excite com- passion. Apparently from shale, a husk, as of anything husked or stripped. Provincial English, shalligo, scanty, applied to dress. On the sharp (American thieves). A man who is familiar with all the mysteries of gambling and not to be taken in is said to be on the sharp. On the shelf (old), transported. On the slate (printers), waiting for something to turn up. 100 On — Oof. On the square (popular), of masonic origin, and borrowed from the symbolism of operative masonry. To "act on the square," is to act honourably; the square is one of the most important working tools, per- fection of detail and accuracy being impossible without it. Hence the metaphor which has now passed into universal ac- ceptance as synonymous with probity, truth, and honour, or more probably used in contra- distinction to "on the cross," or " crook," the reverse of straightforward. On the stairs (tailors), the usual answer when a job is called for. On the strict Q.T. (common), on the quiet ; a phrase much in favour with the flirting ser- vant girls when they meet their soldiers round the corner, or the cook treats Kobert to the tradi- tional cold mutton. On the swing (American), going, acting, or being employed well enough but only temporarily. Thus a "swing-station" is one where a man only rests, or has a short swing of rest — not "a full swing," till the horses are changed. Probably through New York, from a Dutch phrase. Jemand op den schopzetten means to put any one on the swing, that is, to employ him temporarily, with the understanding that he may be summarily dismissed at any time. Vide To Scoop. It may here be observed that to scup for " to swing " is common in New York (Bartlett). On the tiles (common), out all night carousing. Alluding to cats. On the win (American), winning or making money. This form of expression is now applied to an endless number of verbal nouns, e.g., " on the walk," " on the borrow," " on the preach," " on the steal," &c. The coffee ring were on the win. They confidently expected to see coffee selling at sixty cents. — Detroit Free Press. On toast (American), anything nicely served. Hence a man who is served out, or at one's mercy. Probably the meta- phor is from the way small birds, such as snipe, quail, larks, &c., are eaten on toast, trussed and spitted. To have an adver- sary on toast, therefore, means to have him, as it were, trussed and spitted at one's mercy. Oodles (American), plenty. "Plenty of money" (Bartlett). Possibly from "out deal;" Ger- man austheilen, to deal out. Oof (common), the most recent slang term for money. A word brought into vogue by the Sporting Times, and now very common. They quickly sought a neighbouring bar — They had not far to search — And there she told him that her pa Was pastor of a church. He knew not that the game was spoof, Or he had held aloof Oof— opposite. lOI " I love but thee— dost need a proof?" And echo answered " Oof!" — Sporting Times. O Goschen, mighty king of oof. — Funny Folks. Said to be of Yiddish or Hebrew origin, but a punning joke on the French ceuf, with reference to the goose with the golden eggs, may have contri- buted to the term, the more so as mention of the "oof bird" (which see) is often made. The word ceuf seems always to have tickled the fancy of English- men. Said one young 'Arry to the other young Arry, " Wot blooming fools these French- men are ! Why, they atcheley call eggs money." "'Ow's that?" says the other. "Why," says the first, " they call a hegg ' day's oof.' "—Scraps. Oof bird (common), funds, source from which comes the money. Vide Oof. It is sometimes said of a man who marries a wealthy lady that he has found the oof bird, or the oof bird has come to him. "Good evening, mein herr,' said the lady in white, To the Johnny who seemingly looked rather tight, For the oof bird was somewhat remote on that night. And his fingers with diamonds were gaily bedight. And the Johnny divined as he looked at that sight, She was German. — Sporting Times. The ''oof bird on the job" means that money is plentiful. (Cashiers and clerks), " to make the oof bird walk," to make the money circulate. Oofless (common), poor, without money. Vide OOF. He was loyal, did his painting in a hue that shouldn't fade, At the Jubilee she must of course rejoice ; Still the peelers couldn't sanction every playful escapade. And he found himself compelled to make a choice 'Twixt a month's incarceration and pecu- niary amends. Being oojless 'twas a case of lock and key. He found it most convenient on returning to his friends, To say he paid a visit to the sea. — Bird o' Freedom. Ooftisch (common), a variation of " oof," money (which see). If my ooftisch disappears before my screw has fallen due, He's the boy who lets me have a bit ; Of the Johnnies I'm acquainted with he numbered 'mongst the few Who'll help me in the matter of a writ. To whom it is I'm wont to trust my golden watch and chain. My diamond ring, and wifey's silver plate ; My demands, however frequent, our rela- tions do not strain, For he charges me, for love, a heavy rate — Does my uncle. — Bird o' Freedom. Open the occurrence, to (poHce), to make an entry in the books at a police - station of a new case. Opening his mouth too wide (Stock Exchange), is said of one who gets excited, and in conse- quence bids for large amounts of stock which is adjudged to him. Opera buffer (theatrical), one who performs in " opera bouffe." Opposite tacks (nautical), cross purposes. I02 Optic — Orders, Optic (pugilistic), eye. Casting my optics on the bruisers an gluttons of the past. — Punch. You will see to what I refer if you will cast your "^ hoptic over the enclosed cmX.- \\nz." —Sporting Times. Orchid (Stock Exchange), ex- plained by quotation. A young sprig of nobility, who was ad- mitted to the House as the unauthorised clerk of a dealer in the American market, was once heard to tell a friend that when he was in the House he felt like an " orchid in a turnip-field." It is almost needless to say that he very shortly had cause to regret his speech, as ever afterwards he and his friends were known as Z," very favourite simile for intoxication. Wanted, a man who can go to Mexico on Government business without getting drunker'n a biled ozvl. Address State Department, Washington, D. C. — St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Oxford clink. A play upon words is called an Oxford clink by Leicester in Strafford's Let. i. 224. (Theatrical), free tickets of admission. Fs— Paint. 107 P's and Q's. Vide Mind youe P'S AND Q's. Pace, to go the (common), to live extravagantly. He is the son of a famous racing man who went the pace, and cut his throat in Newmarket.— r^^ Tattler. Pack (old cant), a gang. No hooker of another pack. — Oath of the Canting Crew. Padding (literary), the light articles in the monthly maga- zines. Also extraneous matter inserted in any literary work for the sake of quantity. Padding ken (tramps), a low lodging-house. One on the "pad or road. Paddle, to (American), to go or run away. Paddy, to come Paddy over one (American), to bamboozle, hum- bug. " Oh, you infernal, lying, blackguardly rascal," said the devil, who had been im- proving his language of late by reading the New York Sunday papers, "do you think to come Paddy over me in that style?" — American Story. Paddy's hurricane (nautical), up and down the mast, i.e., no wind at all. Pad the hoof, to (thieves and tramps), to walk, to tramp. It would be more correct to say, " to hoof the pad," i.e., to tramp on the fad or road. French, fendre V ergot. Literally to split the spur (of birds). In bus or brougham, city merchants roll to villas snug, While city arabs/«^ the hoof, to where a "shoddy" rug, In some cold gloomy casual ward, will cover them to-night, Well ! such is life in London now, but say — is it quite right ? — ■/. A. Hardwick: London Bridge. stand (street), to beg piece of paper on the Pad, to with £ breast bearing the words " I am starving." Literally to stand on the ipad, obsolete English for footpath, road. Paint a town red, to (American), explained by quotation. To paint a town red is, I ought to explain, a Western expression, and signi- fies the height of reckless debauch ; and when a cowboy, having drunk his fill of whisky, has let daylight with revolver shots through the hats of those who have ventured to differ from him, and has smashed all the glasses in the drinking saloon with his stock whip, and gallopped with a wild whoop down the principal street to the danger and consternation of the inhabitants, he may fairly be said to have done his part towards painting the town red. — Cutnberland : The Queen's Highway. Also to paint the town. One of these chaps from Texas came in there to paint the town, and got his tank full. — F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Paint, to (popular), to drink, alluding to a red nose caused by over-indulgence. io8 Pair— Pall. The muse is dry, And Pegasus does thirst for Hippocrene, And fain would paint — imbibe the vulgar call— Or hot, or cold, or long, or short. —Kingsley : Two Years Ago. Pair off, to (American). In order to avoid the trouble of voting a man will agree with some one of the opposite side that neither shall vote. Then both will pair off with as many others as they can induce to do the same. It is said that in a Western town this was carried to such an extent that at an election not a single vote was "deposited." The vast majority of strong-minded women wouldn't care so much about vot- ing if they could only get a chance io pair off. — Nevj Haven News. Pair, to (parliamentary), formerly to pair off, to go in couples ; my pair, my companion. Pal (gypsy), brother, friend. Till within fifty years this word existed among English gypsies as prala, which is the common Romany form all over the Con- tinent, derived directly from the Hindu and Sanskrit hrat. The accent of a word is called pal of a lav, i.e., its brother; palal oh, brother! " Mat, hav akai ! ma pur aja ; Sar 'shan tu, kushto, puro pul ; " — " Mat, come here ! don't turn away ! How are you, good old friend?" — E. H. Painter. Paleskro, brotherly. "The geero kaired mandy ssit paleskro, as tacho as you'd kam " — " The man treated me brotherly, as well as you'd wish." The term has become general. In society it means a great friend of either sex. When used with regard to a man as being a great pal of a lady, it means more than mere friendship. The lower classes and thieves use it with the sense of companion, friend, comrade, accomplice. Ned was a wide-awake villain. It was not the first time he had been " in trouble," and he was properly alive to the advantage of having a trustworthy pal at liberty. — The Little Ragamuffins. A prisoner inscribed in one of his library books, "Good-bye, Lucy dear, I'm parted from you for seven year — Alf . Jones. " Beneath this a sour sceptic who subsequently used the book added — "If Lucy dear is like most gals She'll give few sighs or moans, But soon will find among your pals Another Alfred Jones." — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Palaver, conversation ; from Spanish palahra. His Highness last year met the Crown Prince on the Riviera. They had several conversations together ; they dined at Pegli, they breakfasted at Savona, and their palaver meant peace and nothing but peace. — Evening News. Palaver, to (general), to talk. Tide Palaver. The expression is common among tramps, itinerant vendors, strolling ac- tors, &c. Nantee palaver, cease talking. Pall, to (popular), originally nautical, to stop. From poM, a small instrument which is used to stop the windlass or capstan Pallyard — Panel-crib. 109 in a ship. I am palled, I cannot or dare not say any more ; I am nonplussed, confounded. Pallyard (old cant), a beggar with manufactured sores. From the French paiUard, a dissolute fel- low ; properly and originally a poor person who sleeps on the straw, such as mendicants, tramps. Du Cange says, " pal- hardus, homo nihili et infimse conditionis." Palm grease (common), a bribe. In French slang graisse. Also palm oil. French huile. In England a bribe is commonly known i&palm oil. — Standard. Palmer (thieves), a thief who steals articles in a shop, jewel- lery, for instance, by making them adhere to his palm. Palmer's twisters (medical), the name given to strychnine pills, which were the medicine em- ployed by Palmer of Kugeley in getting rid of Cooke. Palming (thieves), exchanging spurious articles, e.g., watches, rings, diamonds, coins, for real ones. From the term in leger- demain. Pal, to (popular), to associate. And we pals on with Dukes, Lords, and Markisses, Which our manners is strictly O.K., And they don't make no nasty remarkeses Respectu-ing Botany Bay. — Blueskin: A Lay oj Lag. Panel-crib (American). The New York Slang Dictionary gives the following explanation : — "Panel- crib, a place especially fitted up for the robbery of gentlemen, who are enticed thereto by women who make it their busi- ness to pick up strangers. Panel- cribs are sometimes called bad- ger-cribs, shake-downs, touch- cribs, and are variously fitted for the admission of those who are in the secret, but which defy the scrutiny of the un- initiated. Sometimes the casing of the door is made to swing on well-oiled hinges which are not discoverable in the room, while the door itself appears to be hung in the usual manner, and well secured by bolts and lock. At other times the entrance is effected by means of what ap- pears to be an ordinary ward- robe, the back of which revolves like a turnstile on pivots. When the victim is ready the thief en- ters, and picking the pocket-book out of the pocket, abstracts the money, and supplying its place with a small roll of paper, re- turns the book to its place. He then withdraws, and coming to the door raps and demands ad- mission, calling the woman by the name of wife. The fright- ened victim dresses himself in a hurry, feels his pocket-book in its proper place, and escapes through another door, congra- tulating himself on his happy deliverance." A panel-crib was formerly termed a panel-house. Hence the word panel for a prostitute, an inmate of such an establishment ; abbreviated no Panel-thief- — Parentheses. from panel-girl. Compare with panel-thief, which see. Panel- thief, one who extorts money by threats of violence in a panel-house or panel-crib, which see. P a n n u m ( costermongers and thieves), bread, food. From the Italian pane. Panny (thieves), a house ; flash- panny, a public-house or lodg- ing-house frequented by thieves. Doing a panny, committing a burglary. Ranting Rob, poor fellow, was lagged for doing a panny !—Lytton : Paul Clif- Jord. Panny is probably a corrup- tion of the old^ancZ-house (same as panel- crib, which see), with extended meaning. Panny-man (thieves), a burglar. Also "buster," "cracksman." Pan on (printers). A person with a fit of the "blues," or "down in the dumps," is said to have a pan on. Pan out, to (American), to pay well, to prove profitable. I am afraid that, to use a miner's ex- pression, we did not pan out as well as was anticipated.— /^. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin. From "panning," the process which gold-diggers employ to separate the precious metal from the earth and other substances with which it is usually found associated. Pantile (nautical), biscuit. (Popu- lar), a hat. More common as " tile." Properly the mould into which sugar is poured. Pap (thieves), paper; especially in the form of bank-notes. Come on, we have had a lucky touch for half a century in pap {£s° in paper, i.e., notts).— Hors ley : Jottings from Jail. Paper-maker (popular), a rag gatherer. Paper-mill, the office in the old Court of Queen's Bench where the Crown Kecords were de- posited. Paper, to (theatrical), to paper a house, i.e., a theatre, is to fill it with orders. A paper -\\.o\x.%q is a theatre so filled. " There's a good deal of paper in the house," is a common expression. Paper-worker (popular), a vendor of street literature. Papoose (American), a baby, derived from the aboriginal language of the Virginian In- dians. Paralytic fit (tailors), a very badly fitting garment. Pard (American), a corruption of partner. Gold -miners, &c., usually work and live in couples, whence the term. Say, old pard, do you want to stake me with fifty dollars? — it's real good invest- ment. — F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Parentheses (printers), a pair of parentheses applies to bandy Parishes — Pasteboard. Ill Parishes (Rugby), explained by quotation. The victims stand on one of the old wooden bedsteads, flanked by two small boys, each holding one of those tin sconces called at Rugby parishes. — Everyday Life in our Public Schools. Park railings (popular), the teeth. A neck of mutton. Parliamentary press (tailors), an old custom of claiming any iron, which happens to be in use, for the purpose of opening the collar seam. Parlour -jumping (thieves), rob- bing rooms, usually by getting in through the window of rooms seen to be unguarded. This time I palled in with some older hands at the game, who used to take me a parlour-jumping. — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Parter (sport), a liberal man. Particular, a special mistress, one belonging particularly to one man. A term much in vogue in the time of George IV., but which is seldom heard now. Also " peculiar." In French particuliere has the meaning of wife or mistress. Part, to (sport), to pay willingly, i.e., part with one's money. Party-rolls (Winchester College). On the last Friday but one of the Half after dinner when the tutors had gone out, men used to call out " once, twice, thrice, party -rolls,'' three times. The custom arose from the coaching days when the students left the school in different parties. Pass in one's chips, to (West American), to die. It was not until the following morning that I overtook Lone Wolf, when I found that thirty-two of his band had passed in their chips, and over forty -five were wounded. —O'Reilly : Fifty Years on the Trail. Chips are counters in games of faro. (American newspaper), items of news. Pass the compliment, to (popu- lar), to give a douceur or tip to a servant. Past mark of mouth (society), expresses that a lady or gentle- man is getting on into middle age, borrowed from horse-deal- ing. After seven years old you cannot tell for certain the age of a horse by the marks on his teeth, and he is called past mark of mouth. The French have the vulgar phrase, applicable to a woman past her prime, "elle ne marque plus." Paste (printers), a synonym for brains, referring to the "paste and scissors " class of editorial gentlemen. Paste and scissors (printers). Matter borrowed from other sources is from an editorial point of view termed thus — especially that which is appro- priated without acknowledg- ment. Pasteboard (society), a visiting card. To "shoot a p. &,," to leave a card. Pasteboard customer (trading), one who takes long credit. 112 Pasteboard — Patter. Pasteboard, to (society), to paste- board a person is to drop a card at an absent person's house. Paste-hom (popular), the nose ; originally shoemaking expres- sion. From the receptacle used by them for paste. Pastry. In the language of young men about town, pastry is the demi-monde, composed of "tarts" and "tartlets." Oh, beaks so stern and peelers proud, You know the whole of the pastry crowd. Their tricks are trite, their graces old, And they never will go home when they're told. When we get in the Brighton or Margate train We're all right — but the tarts remain, They are left to skulk at their end of town. — Sporting Times. Pasty (popular), a bookbinder. Patchey (theatrical), harlequin; so called from the triangular- spangled patches on his dress. Patch upon, not a (common), not to be compared to. A patch ought to match the stuff upon which it is placed — therefore not a patch upon signifies liter- ally " not to be matched with," " not fit to hold a candle to." She's not a patch upon the duchess. — Punch. Whatever at the time had been Her satisfaction at fourteen When Ted had petted her, she now Felt to herself inclined to vow That it was not a patch upon That which she just had undergone. —D. B. IV. Sladen : A Sujnmer Christmas. Patent Frenchman (tailors), an Irishman. Patrico or pater cove (old cant), a vagabond, a degraded friar, monk, or priest, afterwards in Protestant times called a hedge- parson, who associated with tramps or thieves, and gave his services to them for a fee in mock marriages. It was custo- mary, according to Grose, on these occasions for the man to stand on one side of the carcase of a dead beast and the woman on the other, and on shaking hands they were bidden by the priest to live together till death did them part, meaning appa- rently that they were parted by death as soon as the ceremony was ended. This was an old gypsy-Hindu custom. But alas ! 'tis my fear that the false patricoe Is reaping those transports are only due to me. — Retoure, my dear Delle. Patrico is termed patriarkeo in the "Fraternity of Vaga- bondes," 1575. Patter (popular and thieves), talk, conjuror's talk to his audience, puffing speech. French honi- ment. Mavor's Spellin' and Copybook motters is all they can run to. But slang ? Wy, it's simply smart patter, of wich ony me and my sort 'as the 'ang. Snappy snideness put pithy, my pippin, the pick of the chick and the hodd, And it fettles up talk, my dear Charlie like 'ot hoyster sauce with biled cod. — Punch. You've got the patter all right, Billy, but you've on'y got it in the rough. . . You'll have to put it in perliter langwage, Billy.—/. Greenwood: Under the Blue Blanket. Patter. 113 To 'pattet^ flash, i.e., to talk cant, is old canting. I pattered in flash like a covey knowing. — W. Maginn. Has been derived from 'pater- noster, but it is the old gypsy jsa^, or patterava; Hindu hat, which means slang or secret language. It is possibly allied in Eomany to pat-serava, corrupt patter, to trust or confide in, hence to speak secretly. The true origin of the word patter occurred to the writer in a strange way. " It was in Brigh- ton, when at a corner I saw a tramp with a few ferns in a basket. " ' ShdkingalopasV I casually said in the curious Celtic dialect known as Shelta. Shelkin galo- pas means * selling ferns.' " ' That one word,' replied the tramp gravely, * indicates that you, sir, are a gentleman who knows the world. Indeed, your knowledge of it is more than unusual — it is unique.' " I at once saw that the tramp had been educated. I asked him if there were any gypsies in town. "'I have just seen old Lee, the tinker,' he replied. ' And if you will come with me you may see him.' "We went along to a small public, and entering found old Lee. He had known me of yore. Once, three years before, I had promised to give him a treat. It took the form of rum-hot sweet with a bit 0' lemon, if VOL. IL you please. Then contrary to our express compact that the treat was not to exceed drinks, the needy knife-grinder asked for sixpence. And I replied — * I give thee sixpence ! I will see thee damned first.' *' On seeing me again he burst out into Romany — he treated; the tramp spoke to me in Shelta. The landlord glanced at me unfavourably. I asked for a private room. Drinks and cigars were provided. Mr. Lee had three hot rums, the tramp three whiskies. The tramp was a pale man and seemed to grow sober as Lee got drunk. " * I don't think,' he remarked, * that the gypsies are of Hindoo origin. I rather think that they come from the Jdngdla, the hill tribes.' ("Heyday!" I thought. "He doesn't call them jungle men, but uses the vernacular.") " ' For I always observed,' he resumed, ' that while the Hin- doos only talk Hindustani, the Jd!ng41as use that and have the Bat among themselves.' " 'Great Dictionary! ' I cried, * why, that's Hindoo slang for slang itself. Bat or pat, and patter, are Romany for the jt&.' " ' That's true ! ' exclaimed Lee. ' But patter is cantin' now. ' " ' Lee,' I answered, ' your great - great - great - grandfather used patter for talk. It was old Romany. Then your people dropped it when it got blown. Patter's the lav.'' And turning to the tramp, I added— 'With 114 Patter — Fay, your permission I will incor- porate that observation of yours into the next paper which I propose to read before the Oriental Society. Don't you think that the gypsies came from the Dom ? ' " ' I used to see a great many of the Domes when I was a soldier in India. I always thought they were real gypsies.' " People sometimes ask me, ' How did you learn gypsy ? ' Well, for every word learned, • bang went a saxpence ' for rum or beer." Patter is, however, very old English for to mutter. Ever he paired on theyr names fast. — Hovj the Ploughman Learned his Paternoster. The old English to patter, to mutter (a paternoster), probably combined with the Romany meaning merely slang. Patteran, a gypsy trail, made by throwing down a handful of grass occasionally (Hotten). Patter -crib (thieves), a public- house or lodging-house fre- quented by thieves. Patterer (streets), one who cried last dying speeches in the streets, &c. Paul's pigeons (school), the scholars of St. Paul's School have been so called from time immemorial. Pav. (London), the Pavilion Music Hall. The Dalston Colosseum has an animated Cirque ; The Moore and Burgess Minstrels are, as usual, at work ; And if you're fond of music halls, the Empire and the Pav. Will give you just about the utmost you could wish to have. — Fun. Pawnee, Pani (Anglo-Indian and gypsy). In the latter also parny, water. " The word is used extensively in Anglo-Indian compound names, such as hild- gati-pdni, soda-water ; brandy - pawnee, brandy and water ; kush- bo-pdni, European perfumes (in gypsy kushto-pdni, or kushto- sumeni-pani, &c." (Anglo-Indian Glossary). In both Hindustani and English gypsy the ocean is known as the kola, or halo-pdni, " the black water," a term of terror in reference to transpor- tation to penal settlements. In German cant water is termed hani. Pax (Winchester), cease talking, be quiet. Also a chum. Pay-away (common), go on with your discourse. Originally nau- tical ; from the. phrase to pay- away, i.e., to allow a rope to run out. Pay dirt (American). When the soil of a place afforded indica- tion of gold in sufficient quanti- ties to render mining profitable, it is called pay dirt. The term probably came from the Chinese diggers. The first story in which it occurs is one of a Chinaman who, having been employed to Pay— Peck IIS dig a grave, and finding pay dirt or gold wliile so employed, " pre-empted " the ground, and was shot for so doing. The prefix pay is to be found in several pidgin- English words. As their eyes remarked the symptoms, thus their tongues responsive spoke : "In this undiscovered section there is pay dirt, sure as smoke." — The Rise and Fall of Gloryville. Pay for one's whistle, to (com- mon), to pay extravagantly for any fancy. Some, though round them life's expenses bristle, Are not opposed to paying for their whistle I — Funny Folks. Pay, to (popular), to punish, beat. Her father once said he would kill her mother, and once or twice he paid her — Standard. Pay with a hook, to (Australian thieves' patter), to steal. An expression probably imported into New South Wales in the old convict days. To pay with a hook signifies to obtain the article, not by payment, but by hooking it, or running away. You bought them ? Ah, I fear me, John, You paid them with a hook. —J. Brunton Stephens : My Chinee Cook. P. D. (trade), a substance which is sold to grocers for mixing with, and thus adulterating, pepper. It is known in the trade by this rather enigmatical appellation. Peach (English and American), a very complimentary epithet for a young lady. Also " plum." (Drivers), an informer against omnibus conductors and drivers. From to peach, to reveal a secret, inform against ; corrupted from impeach. Peacock engine (railway), a loco- motive which carries coals and water in a separate tender, as dis- tinguished from a tank engine, which carries engine, fuel, and water all on one frame. Peacock horse, amongst under- takers, one with a showy tail and mane. Pearlies (costermongers), pearl buttons sewn down the sides of the costermongers' trousers in the East End. Pear, to (thieves), to take money from the police for information, and then from thieves for tell- ing them how to escape. Pear- making, the act of drawing supplies from both sides. Evi- dently from " pair," and to "pair off." Pebble - beached (London), i.e., high and dry, or very poor. Explained by quotation. He had arrived at a crisis of impecuni- osity compared to which the small circum- stance of h&in^ pebble-beached and stony- broke might be described as comparative affluence. — Sporting Times. Pec (Eton), money ; from the Latin pecunia. Peck (popular), food. Peck and hooze, food and drink ; peckish, hungry; a good pecker, a good appetite. Peck-alley, the guUet. ii6 Peck — Peeler, A holiday at Pechham, having nothing to eat. Peck is probably- derived from the action of a hungry bird pecking at seed, and from its beak, which it has to open for the purpose. (Old cant), pek, meat (Harman). Ruff-pck, bacon. Pek or pekker means in gypsy to roast or bake, and is commonly applied to roast meat. It is found in all gypsy dialects. Mr. Turner derives pek from pecus, cattle (" Vagrants and Vagrancy," p. 474). Peck-alley (common), the throat. Pecker (Oxford), appetite. (Com- mon), a rare pecker, a hearty eater. From to peck, to eat voraciously. Keep your pecker up, take heart, do not be discouraged, never say die ; literally keep your beak or head up, do not be down in the mouth. Keep your pecker up, old fellow ! and put your trust in old beans. — C. Bede : Verdant Green. Peckish (common), hungry. Peck, to (common), to eat vora- ciously. Also " to wolf." Ped (sporting), a pedestrian — usually a professional one. These well-known Birmingham peds have joined in a sweepstakes of £s each to run 120 yards level. — Referee. Pedlar's French and St. Giles* Greek. The English common- alty, not understanding the secret jargon of tramps and beggars, different from what was called "flash," or ordinary vulgar slang, were accustomed to call it either " French " or ** Greek," which two lan- guages were equally unintelli- gible to them. The " cant " words of tramps, pedlars, and beggars were thus designated as "French," and the Gaelic words spoken to a large extent by the Irish, who in the seven- teenth and eighteenth centuries, and up to the third decade of the nineteenth, inhabited the rooke- ries of St. Giles', London, through which New Oxford Street has been driven, was designated as " Greek." Shakspeare speaks of the phrase duc-da-me, used in the sport, called Tom Tiddler's ground, as a Greek invocation to catch fools into a circle. There was a district in the slums of Westminster, inhabited chiefly by the disreputable classes, who spoke in a cant unknown to the other and less vulgar inhabitants of the metro- polis, known as "Petty France." Pedlar's news (Scotch popular), stale news. Pedlar's pony (American), a walking-stick. Peel eggs with, to (common), to stand on ceremony. " He's not one you would stand to peel eggs with," i.e., stand on ceremony with. Peeler (general), a policeman; derived from Sir Eobert Peel, who first started the metro- politan police in the place of the Bow Street runners. Peeler — Peg. 117 Bobby too open to the furtive " tip " ? How can the world malign in such a manner? Although self-offered to the Peelers grip, 'Tis plain a "Copper" will not take a "Tanner." — Punch. Some yeaxs ago policemen were still called ' ' Bobby Peelers." Vide Bobby. Peel, to (common), to strip, take off, expose, or show. Peepers (common), the eyes. The next question was how long they should wait to let the inmates close their peepers. — Reade : Never too Late to Mend. ... Or would amiably recommend an- other that, as \vi% peepers were a-goin' fast, he'd best put up the shutters, because the early-closing movement ought to be fol- lered out.— C. Bede: Verdant Green. Peepers in mourning, bruised, black eyes. His peepers are just going out of mourning. — Bird o' Freedom. Peeping Tom (old cant), still in use. A man who is mighty particular in peering, peaking, and prying about, es- pecially to perceive maids undressing or undrest, when they, poor innocents, deem themselves unseen. — The Comical Critick. The term is derived from Peeping Tom of Coventry, who was struck blind for thus offend- ing. So Peeping Thomas lost his sight. The world cries out, "It served him right, For looking at my Lady G." But oh, if every soul of us. Who've done the same were punished thus. How many blind men there would be ! —Ballad of Peeping Tom. Peepsies (Punch and Judy), the pan pipes. Peg (general), a drink, generally brandy and soda. Hard drink- ers in India, every time they have a drink, are said to add a peg to their coffin. The latter is synonymous with "to add a nail to one's coffin." (Thieves), a shilling. Peg, on the (military), to be under arrest, as a non-commis- sioned officer. The expression is also used when a soldier is put under stoppages. A very common synonym in the army is to be "roosted." Peg out a claim, to (Australian), properly to mark out for one's possession. The miner who wishes to claim a certain piece of ground had to mark it out with pegs; so has the free se- lector Xq.v.) when taking up land. Therefore to peg out one's claim means to mark out for one's possession, and is used figuratively in ordinary con- versation, as well as techni- cally. She is haunted by viscounts and barons. With aristocratical names, Fitzgerald, Fitzjames, and Fitzclarence, All anxious to peg out their claijns On her heart, and her hand, and her portion Their broken estates to renew, Long emaciate with the extortion Of lawyer, and broker, and Jew. —Douglas B. W. Sladen : A Bush Flower. Peg out, to (common), to die. Like a man who strikes his tent to take his departure. ii8 Peg — Perfectly. There is every reason to believe that the unfortunate woman pegged out because a remarkably enlarged liver interfered with the natural play of other internal appa- ratus. — Fun. Pegf, putting in the (military), taking a pull at one's self ; being on the sober or quiet tack, voluntarily, or by superior orders. Pegs (popular), legs. Peg, to (common), to drink fre- quently. Tide Peg. Pelter (nautical), the small ten- gun ship of old. (Popular), out for a 'pdter, means in a very bad temper. Pelt, to (tailors), to sev?^ thickly. Pempe (Winchester College). When a new " man " comes, he is asked whether he has his pempe (which in reality is an imaginary object, but is repre- sented as being a book). Of course, the answer is in the negative, whereupon he is as- sured that it is quite indispen- sable, and is sent from one man to another, each telling him that some one else has it in his possession. The joke ends by his being sent to some master, who gets him out of his diffi- culties. The derivation is ireix- Tc/Mupov irporepov, that is, " send the fool further." A kindred joke, perpetrated on a raw re- cruit in the French army, is to send him on a fool's errand after the "clef du champ de manoeuvres," or "le parapluie de I'escouade." Pen (colonial), a threepenny piece. Penang lawyer (Anglo-Indian), the name of a handsome walk- ing-stick from Penang and Salampore. " The name is popu- larly thought to have originated in a jocular supposition that lawsuits in Penang were decided by the lex hocalinum (club-law). But pinang liyar (wild areca), may almost certainly be assumed to be the real name " (Anglo- Indian Glossary). Pencil-fever (turf), this imaginary disease sets in when, despite the efforts of the "marketeers," a horse can no longer be kept at a short price in the lists (Hotten). Penciller (sporting), a bookmaker's clerk. Penny gaff. Vide Gaff. Penny starver (popular), a penny . roll. Pepper-box. Vide Coffee-mill. Peppered (turf), used in reference to a man who has laid large stakes on a horse. He was peppered in one dangerous quarter alone lo the extent of three or four thousand pounds, simultaneously with a large outlay on Jerry. — Sporting Times. Perchera (Winchester College), a mark put against a "man's" name who has been " late " for chapel. Perfectly demmy (American cadet). A man who is dressed in perfectly good taste — stylishly so — is said to \>% perfectly demmy. Periodicals — Pete. 119 Probably from association with Mr. Mantalini of "Nicholas Nickleby." Periodicals (American), men who go at regular intervals on sprees, or who get drunk only at certain times, are said to have their periodicals, i.e., perio- dical dissipations. " Mr. Featherly," inquired Bobby from across the table, "are you in the book business?" "I? No; I'm in the dry- goods business. You know that very well, Bobby." "Yes; but ma and pa were talking last night about your having your little periodicals, and I thought perhaps that you had made a change."— iV^w York Times. Perks (common), perquisites. To first-class passengers I speak In accents soft and bland, To second-class, though quite polite, No nonsense will I stand ; But the third-class I'm down upon, I treat them just like Turks, The reason is, you understand. From them I get no perks. — T. Russell: The Railway Guard. Pemicated dude (Canadian), a dandy who assumes a highly swaggering manner. Pemicketty (American), fastidi- ous, mean, and over-particular. The Comptroller of St. Louis must be very pemicketty. He objects, it seems, to paying out of the City Treasury for carriages to take aldermen home at night. — Detroit Free Press. Perpendicular (London), a lunch taken standing at a bar. Persuaders (common), pistols. ^^'Y\i'& persuaders 1" "I've got 'em," replied Sikes. — Charles Dickens: Oliver Twist. Also spurs. I have known a coster get a month for inflicting upon his donkey half the pain which the poor mare suffered from the lo^^ys, persuaders. — Daily Paper. Persuading plate (thieves), an implement used by burglars. It is an iron disk, revolving on a pivot with a cutting point. Detective - sergeant now produced a quantity of property found on the prisoners, including a fersuading plate used for the purpose of forcing safes. — Daily News. Pesky (American), an adjective used in detraction, as " the pesky horse I " " This is a pesTcy sight too bad." Probably from the Dutch pestje! Pest on itl was a well-known English oath a century ago, but was still commoner in Dutch and German. Ein poitchen (dialect, Pestche'). Pete Jenkins (circus), a character introduced in the ring as one who has friends in the audience. Sometimes it is an imaginary old aunt from the country, who is delighted at recognising her long lost nephew, yet horrified at seeing him risking his life by his daring feats on horseback. Peter assures her that there is no danger, and finally persuades her to take a ride. She, of course, tumbles off, and " makes business," to the delight of all lookers-on. Anon some appa- rent rustic greets him, inquires if the circus-business pays, and is also persuaded into the ring. The original Pete Jenkins, a small man with a large nose, was in Dan Kice's troop, or I20 Peter. "Great Show," in America about 1855. Pete Jenkins now means a variation on the clown. Peter (thieves), a parcel. So while I was looking about I piped a little peter (parcel).— Nors/ejf : Jottings front Jail. A cash-box. After we left the course, we found a dead 'un, and got 2l peter with very near a century of quids in it. — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Also a very old word for port- manteau. This was the origi- nal word. (Australian prison), punishment celL (Poachers), a partridge. Peter-claimer (thieves), one who steals boxes, portmanteaus, bundles. Peter Collins (theatrical), a gentleman never to be found. In towns there are generally young aspirants who want to act, who apply at the theatre, and are told to call in the after- noon. If he does he is sent in search of Peter Collins, "that's the man to give him a job," by one of the stage men, or any one who knows the game, and " will you take this up to him," a sack with something heavy in it, counterweights, and an old pantomime mask generally. So the youth is sent from the roof to the cellar, and, finally, is generally let down a trap and left to get out as best he can. The same trick is practised at circuses, but the password is the "green -handled rake," which the youth is requested to ask for. He is generally settled with a pill of horse-dung when they have had enough of him. Peter out, to (American), a Cali- fornia mining expression mean- ing to give out, be exhausted, or come to an end. "To go through St. Peter's needle," (English provincial), to be beaten, or incur loss. Hence perhaps the expression. Peter Funk (American). In New York city for nearly a century all kinds of petty humbug, deceit, and sham, especially in business, has been characterised by a mythical character named Peter Funk. Bartlett ingeniously conjectures that this was a fictitious name given in at the mock - auction shops, where Peter is employed as a by- bidder to run up prices and swindle the ignorant. But there is much in the term "to funk out," or to disappear mysteri- ously, and in the associations with funk, a stench, or a smoke, which suggest humbug and foul dealing. Peter Funk is very fully described in an amusing old American novel called " The Perils of Pearl Street." Peter Rugg (American). " He'll get home as soon as Peter Rugg." " He's like Peter Rugg, the miss- ing man." * ' He brings weather like Peter Rugg." The writer has often heard these and similar sayings in his youth, in Massachusetts. They are Peter — Pickmg-up. 121 founded on the following legend. About the end of the seven- teenth century one Peter Rugg and his daughter left Roxbury in a chaise to get to their home in Boston. A friend remarked that a storm was coming up which would prevent his getting home. To which Peter Rugg replied with a dire oath, " I will get home to-night or may I never get home." For a hundred years whenever a storm was coming it was always pre- ceded by Peter Rugg in his old chaise, asking the way to his house. He was always in great distress, seeming to be be- wildered. At last one day when his house had just been sold by auction and passed into the hands of a stranger and was no longer legally his home, Peter Rugg drove up, and then dis- appeared. His penance was at an end. Petticoat pensioner (common), a man who lives on a prostitute's earnings. Also " Sunday-man, ponce, pressor, Kaflfir." Pew-opener's muscle (medical), a muscle of the palm of the hand so called by the late Sir Benjamin Brodie because it helps to contract and hollow the palm for the reception of a gratuity. Pewter (common), money. Philadelphia Catechism (nauti- cal), the name by which the following couplet is known. " Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thou art able, And on the seventh — holystone the decks and scrape the cable." Philip (thieves), a policeman. Ob- solete. Also a warning cry. Philiper (thieves), a thief's ac- complice who keeps watch and calls out Philip / as a warning cry. Phiz (common), face, countenance. Proves as 'Arry is well to the front wen sech higperlite pens pop on him. Does me proud and no herror, dear pal ; shows we're both in the same bloomin' swim. Still, they don't cop my phiz quite ker-rect ; they know Gladstone right down to the ground ; But I ain't quite so easy 'it off, don'tcher see, if you take me all round. — Punch. Piccadilly crawl, a languid walk much affected about ten years ago. Pickers (popular), a very old term for hands. Picker-up (Stock Exchange), a man who tries to get members to make a wrong price, and then deals with them. Pick flies off it, to (tailors), to find fault with it. Picking out robins' eyes (tailors), side- stitching a black cloth or fine material. Picking-up (popular), explained by quotation. There, it seems, the girls of the working class go out picking-up, just as the boys go out "mashing." They go by twos or threes, each little party of the same sex ; 122 Pickle — Piece. the girls looking in the shop windows and giggling, the boys sauntering along, cigar- ette in mouth and hands' in pocket. Presently the latter jostle up against the former. They apologise. No apology, they are told, is needed. *' Going to market?" asks the lad. "Yes," is the reply. " May we come along ? " "Very well." Thus is the ice speedily and satis- factorily broken \— Globe. Pickle jar (popular), a coachman in yellow livery. Pick-me-up (popular), a stimulat- ing draught before dinner, or after a debauch. Pick off, to (Winchester College), to hit somebody with a stone. Picture, not in the (turf), not placed. In the Hardwicke Stakes he was fully fifty yards behind Bendigo, who, in turn, was not in the picture. — SportingTimes. Pie (printers). Almost technical. Different kinds of type mixed up together, either through ac- cident, as when a forme not tightened enough falls to pieces when being carried away, or through negligence. German and French printers use respec- tively the expressions, zwiehd- Jisch, literally fish with onions ; and pdt4, or pie, "faire du p Day). Pieces (thieves), money. Reve d'Or should be the mare to go, Unless you boldly strike for Freedom, Concerning /iVc^^ thus to show The heartless bookies that you need 'em. — Bird o Freedom. The flash terms for pieces are : "brown, copper, blow," a penny ; "bit," threepence ; " lord of the manor, pig, sprat, downer, snid, tanner," sixpence; "bob,breaky- leg, deaner," shilling; "alder- man," half-a - crown ; "bull, cartwheel," crown ; " half a quid," half a sovereign ; " sov., quid, couter, yellow-boy, canary, foont," sovereign ; " finnup, fiver," five-pound note ; *' double finnup, tenner," ten-pound note ; "pony," twenty pounds; "mon- key," fifty pounds ; " century," hundred pounds ; " plum," ;^ 1 00,000 ; " marygold," one million. Pieman (streets), he who is toss- ing at pitch and toss. Pie, to put into the (auction). At book sales, to put into a large lot, to be sold at the end. Pig (thieves and popular), a policeman or detective. (Trade), sometimes cold pig, but more often the former. A term by which goods returned from any cause are known. Pigeon (common), a dupe whose fate it is to be "plucked" by blacklegs and others. The French use pigeon in the same sense. In Spanish cant palomo, pigeon, is a gullible person. Pigeon, blue. Vide Blue Pigeon. Pigeon holes (Winchester Col- lege), small studies. (Printers), matter widely and badly spaced. This is a recognised expres- sion amongst compositors and readers, owing to the amount of white between the words, likened to a nest of pigeon holes. Pig, pork (tailors), garments spoiled, cut wrong, not the right material, or any error which precludes the possibility of alteration. Pigs (Cambridge University), members of St. John's College are called ^i^s. The Johnians are always known by the name oi pigs ; they put up a new organ the other day, which was immediately christened " Bacon i Novum Organum." — Westminster Review. (Printers), a term of contempt applied by compositors to press- men. When pressmen entered the composing-room they would be received with grunts. A compositor would not dare to do this out of his own particular department. So " Savage's Dic- tionary," 1 841, says. Pig's ear, pig's lug (tailors), a name given to a lappel collar or flap too heavy for the size of garment. Pig's foot (American thieves), a " jimmy," or thieves' short crow- 124 Pig-sticker — Pile, bax, cloven at one end like a •pig's foot Pig-sticker (army), sabre. Pig-sty (printers), a press-room is thus somewhat inelegantly described. Pig's whistle (American), accord- ing to Bartlett, who gives it as a synonym for an instant, " In less than a pig's whistle.'" As there exists an old English equivalent for this in "less than a pig's whisper," and as there is a well-known old tav- ern sign called the "Pig and Whistle," it is easy to see how one term might be derived from another. It seems to be a fact and not a mere philological guess, that "pig and whistle" was originally pigen wcBshcBlJ Hail to the Virgin ! an amusing instance of bathos. Pigtails (Stock Exchange) , Chartered Bank of India, Aus- tralia, and China. Pike (American), a name applied in California to the migratory poor whites, said to have origi- nated, according to Bartlett, from the supposition that they came from Pike County, Mis- souri. " The true pike,'' says Mr. Fraahofif, "is the wandering gypsy -like Southern poor white who lives in a waggon." As the term pike and pikey have been used for at least a century in England, and probably much longer, for a gypsy or a tramp, the term is evidently enough not derived from ''Pike County, Missouri." (Thieves), turn- pike. Pikers (Australian), wild cattle which cannot be got out of the bush. From English slang to pike, to run away. Pike it, to (popular and thieves), to run away. From taking to the pike or turnpike road, as applied to a discontented per- son, "if you don't like it you can^i'^e it." Pikey (popular), a tramp or gypsy. Pile (American), now used in Eng- land. In the course of conversation it was very remarkable to notice the variety of occupa- tions which a rich American has filled be- fore he has "made his pile." He may have been a bootblack, a messenger boy, the editor of a newspaper, the captain of a ferry-boat, a lawyer, or a murderer, but somehow he has "done the trick." — Pall Mall Gazette. To have made his pile, is generally supposed to be a term of Californian origin referring to a pile of gold dust, or to have come from the gambling tables, meaning a quantity of heaped- up gold. Bartlett has, however, indicated that the term seems to be the revival of an old one used by Dr. Franklin in his "Poor Eichard's Almanac" for April 1 741, where he says — Rash mortal, ere you take a wife. Contrive your pile to last for life. Piler is obsolete English for one who accumulates money, and this supports the above deriva- Pile— Pill 125 tion (also the French amasscr, to hoard). "In Dutch peyl, a certain mark, as a water- mark ; hoven de peyl, above the set mark; peyler, one that sounds the deep, hence peyllood, a sound- ing lead, and peyloot, a pilot. Hence a man who had made his pile would be one who had attained his determined mark or limit, certainly a much more definite expression than that of a mere heap. It is true that about twenty-five years ago an Indian tribe in the West, when the Government offered them an indemnity for certain losses, in their ignorance of the art of counting, could only keep re- peating, 'Want heap money — heap big.' At last one of the chiefs set an arrow in the ground and stipulated that there should be as much specie given as would quite cover it. It is curious that the word pro- nounced pile in Dutch should — apropos of this story — mean both a set mark and an arrow, and also in English, a heap" (Chas. G. Leland : Notes). Pile in, to (American), a common form of invitation to take part in anything, as a meal, or to come into a house, make one of a party in a vehicle or a dance, &c. They gave us a friendly hail, and whether they fancied we looked hungry or not, kindly asked us to sit down with them and />ile in, which being interpreted signifies " Pitch in and eat." — M. Roberts : The Western Avemus. To pile out means to come forth. Pile of mag's (conjuring), a pile of "faked" coins, or of coins so distributed as to move freely one above the other. This is a very old term, which must have been long in the profession, as the mags are generally gold, real or apparent ; and in the so-called Gypsy Vocabulary of Bampfylde Moore Carew (but which has hardly a gypsy word in it), meg is a guinea. The an- cient cant form of the word was make. Also make, a halfpenny ; " Brummagen macks," coun- terfeit halfpence, according to Dekker. Pile on the agony, to. Vide Agony. Pile on, to (American), applied to excess or intensity in any form. " In acting you should go and see Our friend///^ on the agony." Pile on the lather, Mr. Jones— do ! Tell me that I am a twenty-five horse-power angel, iled with ottar of roses. It won't tire me much, and it may relieve you. — — How Jones told his Story. Pill (common), a doctor ; pill- driver, an itinerant apothecary. Pill-box (popular), a soldier's cap. Pilled (common), synonymous with "black-balled." Mr. Jubilee Plunger Benzon was filled for the Southdown Club. — Bird o Free- dom. Pill, to (University), to talk twad- dle, or in platitudes. 126 Pillow-sham — Pinked. Pillow-sham (American), a cover for a pillow. ♦' Outwardly I was as decorous as a clean 'pHlow- sham," a quaint and slightly sarcastic phrase to express an appearance of decorous gravity assumed for the occasion. Pimple (popular), the head. Pimp, to (University), to do httle, mean, petty actions, to curry favour. Pinchbeck villas (journalistic), small cheap houses, mostly in the suburbs of cities, bearing pretentious names, such as "The Oaks," " The Gables," &c. Our correspondent in Paris informs us that " there is a growing tendency to dub even the pinchbeck villas which are spring- ing up all round the metropolis with the pretentious title of chiteau." — Daily Tele- graph. Pinch-board (American thieves or gambling), a swindling roulette- table. There's the pinch-board. That's dead crooked. A sucker sees the wheel and the numbers all straight enough, and the little arrow in the middle. The owner tells him his chances are two to one if he bets on the odd or even numbers, and twelve to one if he puts his money on any one of the twelve. That's all muck. The owner has a brass tube running from the arrow to the edge of the board. There's a rod run through that, and a button on to the end of it. His capper stands next to the button, and by pressing his leg against it he can make the arrow stop (or point to) where he wants it. Sometimes the crowd think that the man that's work- ing the wheel is playing them, and they tell him to stand away from the table. He says, " Certainly, gentlemen ; anything to oblige ! " and steps back a foot or two ; but the capper he's there just the same, and nobody suspects him, 'cause he keeps losin' his money just like the rest of 'em.— Confidence Crooks : Philadelphia Press. It may be remarked that the roulette-tables, spin- boards, dice, teetotums, in short, all the games seen at fairs and races, are swindles. The rifles for firing at a mark for prizes cheat by having false sights or curves in the barrels. The writer at one of these places once suc- ceeded in bitting the mark many times by aiming six inches be- low it. Pinch, to (thieves), to arrest, to steal. Pink (common), the height of perfection. Used by Shakspeare in this sense. (American cadet), being reported for some infrac- tion of the regulations. " He's got a hefty skin of a pink for that jollification," i.e., " He's got a severe report against him." Pinked (tailors), beautifully and carefully made. Pinked between the lacings, a very old term, from pinked, stabbed, still current among criminals and detectives in New York. It signifies convicted by reason of perjury. Also when an honest man is convicted of a false charge by treacherous ad- vantage being taken of some weak point. To question a wit- ness (as is very commonly done by unscrupulous counsel) as to all the sins of all his past life, which have no reference to the Pinked — Pipers. 127 case whatever, is to jiink him hettoeen the lacings. Pinked or skinned, to get (Ameri- can cadet), to get reported. Pinker (pugilistic), a blow that draws the claret or blood. Pinky (American), an old New York term for the little finger, from the provincial English pinJcy, very small. A common term in New York, especially among small children, who, when making a bargain with each other, are accustomed to confirm it by interlocking the little finger of each other's right hands, and repeating the following : Pinky, pinky, bow-bell. Whoever tells a lie, Will sink down to the bad place, And never rise up again. (Bartlett.) Pinnel (thieves), corruption of penal servitude. Pinners-up (tramps), the sellers of wall -songs, that is, songs printed on small sheets and pinned on a canvas stretched on a wall for display. Pins (common), legs. Pint (tailors), " my jpm^ for him," I commend him. Pinto (American cowboys), a pie- bald horse. From the Spanish 'pi'nio, painted or coloured (MS. Americanisms by C. Leland Har- rison). Pints round (tailors), an expres- sion used in places where there are a number of cutters em- ployed and one drops his shears on the floor. Then the cry comes as from one man, -pinU round, and means that the un- fortunate individual will have to pay for a pint of ale for every man in the shop. It is said that it was customary to enforce this rule, but it is not so now. Pipeclaying it over (tailors), hid- ing the faults. Pipe-laying (American), making arrangements to procure frau- dulent votes. It is said to have been first used about 1835, in connection with a plot to import voters to New York from Phila- delphia. Extensive works in connection with laying croton water-pipes were then in pro- gress, and hence the phrase acquired its accepted signifi- cance. The Whig leaders were actually indicted for the alleged attempt at fraud, but were ac- quitted by the jury by whom they were tried. (Police), tak- ing measures for the detection of a suspected criminal Pipe one's eye, to (popular), to weep. Why, what's that to you, if my eyes I'm a piping, A tear is a comfort, d'ye see, in its way. — Charles Dibdin. Piper (London), a spy on omnibus conductors. (American police), a spy. Vide To Pipe. Pipers (pugilistic), the lungs. 128 Piper's news — Pitcher. Piper's news (Scotch popular), stale news. Pipe, to (old cant), to cry. (Thieves), to see. In this sense a corruption of "peep," the eyes being termed "peepers." If I pipe a good chat, why, I touch for the wedge, But I'm not a "particular " robber ; I smug any snowy I see on the hedge. And I ain't above daisies and clobber. —The Referee. Also to follow and spy. (Popu- lar), to talk. " You see," said the barber. " we help one another here, and I have fetched you out this last two nights so as to get you alongside this y'ere chum, who has got fourteen stretch and his ticket. Now then, pipe away, red 'un." — Evening News. Pip, to (card-players), to take the trick from your opponent. Pirates (London street), omni- buses in which extravagant prices are charged for fare. Did Mr. Shillibeer, when he started the London omnibus on its prosperous career of useful activity, ever foresee a time when a bold bad 'bus, called a pirate, would invade the streets ? — Daily Telegraph. Pit (thieves), explained by quota- tion, I had developed a special aptitude for "buzzing" (pocket-picking) from the/// or inside breast coat pocket. — Tit-Bits. Pitch (circus, strolling players, itinerants, &c.), a place suitable for a performance of any kind, sale of goods, &c. In certain towns, some sixteen years ago, actors could not work without getting permission from the mayor or justice of the peace, else they were liable to impri- sonment as rogues and vaga- bonds. Showmen are agreed that there is no better pitch in the world than London. — Daily Telegraph. A performance. His "fakements" or "properties" were costly and tasteful, and, in short, the en- tire /iVcA was a complete triumph. — Daily Telegraph. Doing a 'pitch, doing business. Being at Plymouth fair, and doing a good business, there stood among the crowd a youth who bought a great many lots of me, so that when I had done my pitch, and got down from the stage . . . — Hindley : Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. To " queer the pitch," to spoil the pitch, or performance, a theatrical and circus phrase, meaning to stop, spoil a per- formance in any way. He was never "loose in ponging, " nor did he ever " miss his tip." His eques- trianism was emphatically "bono," and there was nothing to "queer his pitch." — Daily Telegraph. Used also figuratively, to mar, spoil one's plans, business. When my pitch you endeavoured to queer. Wasn't friendly at all, so I look for a share In her merry ten thousand a year. — Sporting Times. (Popular), a short interval for sleep. Pitched (tailors), acquaintance cut. No intercourse of any kind. Pitcher (coiners), one who utters base coin. Pitching — Plain-headed. 129 Pitching it strong (common), exaggerating, overdoing it. "Well, I am thinking the 'Tiser is pitching it rather strong." " My love, what an expression." — Reade: Hard Cash. Pitch in, pull out, to (tailors), to work with a will. Pitch into a person, to (common), to castigate him, to revile him severely. Pitch the fork, to (popular), to tell a pitiful tale. Pitch the hunters, to (fairs), ex- plained by quotation. When Elias was at a pleasure fair, he would pitch the hutiters, that is, put up the three sticks a penny business. — Hind- ley : Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. Pitch the nob. Gaetee. Vide Peick the Pitch, to (coiners), to utter base coin. (Popular), to have a short sleep. Pitch up (Winchester College), a clique or party, a set of chums. A Winchester boy's 'pitch wp are his friends at home. Pitch up with, to (Winchester College), to associate with. Vide Pitch up. Pit circlers (theatrical). The ex- pression explains itself. It is, however, so magnificently put on and so splendidly acted that it is no wonder the stallites, not to mention the pit circlers, crowd nightly to see it. — Bird o' Freedom. Pit-pat's the way (popular), trot along, go on, don't stop 1 VOL. II. Wire in and go ahead, like fashionable Fred, Pit-pat's the way and sharp's about the word, — Ballad: Fashionable Fred. Pit riser (theatrical), a burst of powerful acting which evokes an enthusiastic acclamation from the pit. Derived from the well-known anecdote of Ed- mund Kean. On returning home, after his first appearance at Drury Lane, while describing his triumph to his wife, Mrs. Kean interrupted him by inquiring what Lord Essex thought of the little man's Shylock ? " Damn Lord Essex ! The pit rose at me ! " replied Kean, Pittsburg grip (American), ex- plained by quotation. The Pittsburg- grip, a throat disorder that troubled singers in the smoky city for years; has disappeared with the introduc- tion of natural gas. — Atnerican Humorist. From the French grippe, in- fluenza. Place (tailors), "a breast-pocket kind of place,'^ or " a one-eyed kind of place," is a small shop. Placebo (medical), "I will please," a dose of coloured water, or something equally harmless, given to a patient with an imagi- nary malady. Plain as a yard of pumpwater (tailors), a quaint phrase, mean- ing very plain. Plain-headed (society), a term to express that a lady is not good- I 130 Plain — Plant. looking; it is borrowed from house language. Plain statement (tailors), an indifferent meal, or an easy, simple, and straightforward gar- ment to make. Plank, to (American and old Eng- lish), to pay down money. "To plank the pewter." In old cant, both shillings and Spanish dol- lars were called boards. Now then, ye noble sportsmen, if you can find anything to beat him for a shop, plank down your spondulicks. — Sporting Times. To plank it down, to lay money on a horse. This is a better bloomin' game, I give you my vord, than plankifi! it down to Kempton ! — Sporting Times. Plant (thieves and various), a preconcerted swindle, robbery, or burglary, in which sense the term explains itself as being a metaphor taken from planting cuttings or seeds in a garden. " What have you got to say for yourself, you withered old fence, eh ? " "I was away on a plant." — Dickens : Oliver Twist. Hence any dishonest trick, dodge, device. " He should have tried mustachios, and a pair of military trousers." " So he did, and they wam't of no more use than the aCti^x plant." — Dickens : Oliver Twist. " Have they got the requisite coin — you know what I mean — the money ? " inquired Mr. Laggers. "It isn't & plant V— J. Greenwood : Dick Temple. You have really no idea What an artful bird it is. Fly to trap and up to biz. Twigs a. plant in half a minute. —Punch. A plant, a decoy, one who keeps watch for burglars to warn them. In this sense it literally means one planted there, like the French planton, orderly in waiting. Also hidden money or valuables ; to spring a plant, to unearth such a hidden hoard. Plant, to (thieves and various), to mark a person out for robbery or a swindle. It is curious to note that the French have jar- dinier for a confederate in a confidence trick swindle, whose duty is to prepare the victim, foster and nurse him as a gar- dener would a plant. Also to conceal, hide. In this sense common in Australia. Why, they stuck up Wilson's station there, and murdered the man and woman in the kitchen ; they then planted inside the house, and waited until Wilson came home at night with his stockman ; then they rushed out and knocked old Wilson on the head, and drove a spear through the man's side. — A. C. Grant : Bush Life in Queensland. Not being able to send my gold down to the escort office for security, I was forced to content myself with planting it, which I did just inside my tent. — Australian Story. To plant the job, to arrange and prepare, generally in refer- ence to a robbery. It was not found necessary to plant the job by squaring the servants beforehand, nor to invent any elaborate ruse, for it was considered that the more natural the mode of attack the better would be the chances of success. — Daily Telegraph. (Coiners), to plant, to pass spurious coin, intrusted to them by the "dandy master," or manu- Plant — Platform, 131 facturer of base sovereigns and half sovereigns. A bottle of spirits is the ordinary purchase, and the smasher receives it and seven and sixpence as a com- mission. It is a two-handed job, and two women, generally an old and a young one, manage it. The former carries the base coin, and the X&nar plants it.—/. Greenwood: Rag, Tag, &^ Co. Also flant the sour. Although the tradesman on whom "her poor old man" had tried to ^'^ plant the sour " had sent for a constable, Mr. Maloney in the interim had contrived to put down his throat such evidence of his being a " regular hand" as he happened to have about him.—/. Greenwood : Rag, Tag, &= Co. (Conjurors), to place an object to be afterwards magically dis- covered by the conjuror in the hands or pockets of a conscious or unconscious confederate among the spectators. (Cardsharpers), to 'plant the books, to place the cards in the pack unfairly, for the purpose of cheating at play, or deceiving by legerdemain. (Football), when a football is kicked against a person he is said to be -planted. Is used more specially with reference to a hit in the face. The blow itself is called a planter. Plasterer (sporting), explained in the following extract. Worse, if it be possible, than this desolater of hares is the "masher" or " chappie " of modern England who prides himself on quick shooting, and cuts down his birds before they are well on the wing. Mr. Bromley-Davenport calls him the plasterer — one who thinks nothing of the lives and eyes of the men who sur- round him on all sides, and blows his pheasant to a pulp before the bird is seven feet in the air. — Daily Telegraph. Plaster, to (popular), to flatter. He'd go out and get as drunk as a fiddler, and then he'd come rowlin' home and begin plasierin myself over, calling me his colleen jhas and lovin' me the same as if we'd been married only fifteen minutes. — T. Browne : My Husband's Toddy. Plate it, to (London), to walk. Vide Plates of Meat. An adipose gentleman plates it on to the stage, and chirrups the soul-stirring anthem, "You shan't wipe your nose on the ^&g."— Sporting Times. Plates of meat (popular), the feet. As I walk along my beat. You can hear my plates of meat. —Music Hall Song. They recognise their favourite comedian, and anticipate his lines by numerous gags, and inquiries having reference to " what cheer " he is enjoying, and how his plates o' meat are. — Sporting Times. Platform (common). " The word 2)latfo7'm, when used for the programme of a political party, is often classed as an Ameri- canism, but it is really a revival of a use of the word that was very common in English litera- ture in the sixteenth and seven- teenth centuries, though less common, perhaps, as a noun than as a verb, meaning to lay down principles. For instance, Milton, in his 'Eeason of Church Government,' says that some ' do not think it for the ease of their inconsequent opinions 132 Platform — Please. to grant that church discipline is platformed in the Bible, but that it is left to the discretion of men ' " {CornhUl Magazine). It is used as a noun in Crom- well's letters. A standpoint in an argument, a statement of opinion. Mrs. Anthony presented the following platform, which was unanimously adopted, "That the present claim for manhood suffrage sugar-coated with the words equal, impartial, universal, &c., is a fraud so long as woman is not permitted to share in the said suffrage." — Report of the Great Womatis Demonstration, New York, 1867. Pastor Chignel has set aside Dr. Bar- ham's Liturgy and has taken the most advanced platform known to modern Unitarianism. " — Nonconformist. Platter (common), broken crockery. Play board (Punch and Judy), the stage. Play booty, to (theatrical), to play badly, and with malice prepense, for the purpose of flooring a play, or a player. Play dark, to (popular), to con- ceal one's true character. " Look here," said Smithers, wiping the mess from his mouth, "you've been playing dark, and I'm out of training, and . " — Moonshine. Play for, to (American), to deal with generally, with an idea of deceiving. Vide Jay. Play Hell and Tommy, to. This expression is thought to be a corruption of " Hal and Tommy," the allusion being to Henry VIII. and his unscrupulous minister. Thomas Cromwell, who seized and rifled the religious houses, and turned out their occupants to starve. This is, however, a very doubtful derivation. In some parts of England it is very common for an angry man to threaten another that he will "play Hell and Tommy with him. Playing it low down (American), an expression signifying that a man has been too unprincipled, mean, or rapacious in an act. I ain't over particular, but this I do say, that interducin' a feller to your sister, and availin' himself of the opportunity while you're a kissin' her to stock the cards, is a play in' it mighty low down. — News- paper Story. Playingthe sovereign (American). Office-seekers who, shortly be- fore an election, put on shabby clothes, drink whisky, and shake hands with everybody, and make themselves generally agreeable to all of inferior social position whom it is to their interest to conciliate, are said to be play- ing the sovereign, the object being to secure their good graces and obtain their votes. Probably derived from the common phrase the " sovereign people." Play old gooseberry, to (popu- lar), to do a person a mischief, to "kick up a row," to behave in a violently inimical manner. Vide GOOSEBEEEY. Please the pigs! (common), if you are willing, if all goes well — a form of assent providing no obstacle crops up. Edwards Please — Plugs. 133 says the phrase, ludicrous as it is in its present shape, had its origin in a deep religious feel- ing. It was formerly " please the pyx." The pyx was the box which contained the con- secrated wafer, and was held in the greatest veneration as the symbol of the Almighty. The phrase therefore, "If it please the pyx," was equivalent to "If it shall please God," or, in modern form, " D.V.," i.e., Deo Volente, or, God being willing. This derivation is, how- ever, much more ingenious than probable. Plebe (American cadet), a new cadet; a military synonym for the freshman of the univer- sities. Plebs (Westminster school), a tradesman's son. From the Latin plebs, populace. Pledge (Winchester College), to give away. ^'Pledge me " means after you. Ploughed (common), drunk. Plough, to (university). A man is ploughed when he fails in an examination. Probably this word was suggested by the har- rowed feelings of the candidate. Well, the " gooseberry pie" ' is really too deep for me ; but ploughed is the new Ox- fordish for "plucked." — C. Reade: Hard Cash. Pluck, to (common), an Oxford term now in general use, to reject a candidate for examina- tion. "When the degrees are conferred," says Cuthbert Bede, ' ' the name of each person is read out before he is presented to the Vice- Chancellor. The proc- tor then walks once up and down the room, so that any person who objects to the de- gree being granted may signify the same by pulling or plucking the proctor's robes." Plug (university), explained by quotation. Getting up his subjects by the aid of those royal roads to knowledge, variously known as cribs, crams, plugs, abstracts, analyses, or epitomes. — C. Bede : Verdant Green. (American), a high hat. Plug a man, to (Eoyal Military Academy), to kick one behind. Plugged money (American). Silver money is often treated by rogues who bore pieces out and fill the holes with lead or amalgam. The term is applied also to men with moral defects, e.g., "He is clever but there is a plug in him." "You are not up to his plugs." "Young man!" shouted the retail to- bacconist, " didn't I caution you to keep your eyes peeled for plugged silver coins ? ' — Detroit Free Press. Plugs (American), people who assemble on the side-walks and stand there chatting, to the great inconvenience of the passers-by, or who, as any one may see for himself in Bond Street, London, love to stand with their backs to shop win- dows to exhibit themselves. 134 Plug-teaching — Plumper. Oh, stand on the side-walk — do ! That the world may look at you ! You think you're so complete And are dressed so very neat, Oh, />lug on the side-walk, do. Oh, stand in the doorway, do 1 To hinder passing through, 'Tis so very distingue To be standing in the way ; Oh, piug^ up the doorway — do ! —Newspaper Ballad. Plug-teaching (American), teach- ing trades and arts in casual or evening lessons. A good deal of boy (and girl) labour in America is brought into existence by what is called plug-teaching^. "Two young men will be taught engraving in the even- ings on easy terms." Telegraphy, type- setting, dress-cutting, and designing are among the businesses thus " taught ; " and as a rule the teaching is the merest swindle. — St. James's Gazette. Plug-Ugly (American), the name given in Baltimore to roughs and rowdies, now common. One that shall devote as much space to literature as to " sport " (of the dog-fight- ing, rat-baiting kind) ; one that shall give a dead plug-ugly a line (if it is in the way of news), and a dead man who has done something in the world, for the world, many lines. — New York IVorld. Plum (common), ;^ioo,ooo. The next day they disposed of their swag for a plum, And invested the proceeds in Spaniards and Turks. — Punch. Plums, money. Daddy's plums in the bank, or daddy's dear, delightful daughter, which?— 7V<^. It is curious to note that in Spanish pluma, and in Italian pennes, meaning properly feather, have the slang signification of money. "It is possible to trace the slang term plum for ;^ioo,ooo to pluma, a feather, the idea being that a man who had accumu- lated this sum had feathered his nest " {Standard). Plum or plumb (common), direct, exactly, quite. "The original signification of this word is ' as the plummet hangs, perpen- dicularly,' hence its secondary meaning of straightforward, directly " (Bartlett). Tom said she was going to get one of us, sure, before we got through. We got her half way ; and then we was plumb played out, and most drownded with sweat.— TA*? Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Plum duff (sailor), plum pudding. Plummy (popular), satisfactory, profitable. Ftc^e Plum or Plumb. They do manage their things so plum- my. — Mayhew : London Labojir and the London Poor. Plummy and slam (thieves), all right. Yide Plum or Plumb. Plumper (racing), all one's money laid on one horse. The Fitzwilliam Plate was won by Lord Randolph Churchill's colt by Retreat out of White Lily, for which I gave a plumper, and he started at 7 to i. — Truth. (Election), vide To Plump. (American), explained by quo- tations. A device for puffing out to smoothness the wrinkles of the cheeks, called plum- pers, has been introduced. — New York Paper. Milo Morgan was yesterday charged with feloniously taking one " j",alpitating bosom," the property of Emile Horner, who keeps a fancy store, and Milo Morgan Plump — Plush. 135 stole from it a plumper, an article used for artificially rounding out the female bust, palpitating with it. — Hartford (Coti- iiecticui) Times. Plump, to (election), to give all one's votes to one single can- ■ didate. "Another election term, which will not be so common in the future as it has been in the past, is the expression to plump, and its opposite to ' split.' With the increase of single-membered constituencies these phrases must fall into disuse, and a 'floater' will no longer be able to say with Mr. Chubb, in 'Felix Holt'— 'I'll plump or I'll split for them as treat me the handsomest and are the most of what I call gentlemen ; that's my idea ' " {CornhiU Magazine). (Racing), to lay one's money on one single horse. But I shall plump for Lord R. Ch.'s L'Abbesse de Jouarre, who has been well tried. — Truth. Plum, to (popular), to deceive ; plum him up, plum the public, &c. Cheating costers fix three large plums at the bottom of a measure. They are so tightly wedged as to be immovable, and though they are in the measure they are not passed on to the purchaser. Plunder (American), the personal luggage of travellers. " Help yourself, stranger," said the landlord, " while I take the plunder into the other room."— Hoffman: Winter in the West. They'd put in so much plunder, two trunks, bandboxes, &c. — Bartlett : Major Jones's Courtship. In Lower Canada packmen call luggage "butin," that is, plunder, booty. French soldiers also use the word "butin" for equipment, belongings. (Common), profit. (Ameri- can), luggage. Plunge (society), reckless bet. a heavy and We did not altogether like Mr. 's plunge on Hartley, and are not surprised to hear that the horse is struck out. — Sporting Times. Now my soul the question worries. Which to plunge on — which to back, Friday — though the market flurries, Shall the colt a backer lack ? —Belts Life. Plunger (society), a wealthy man who bets in a reckless manner, who takes large bets at any odds. The current week has served to introduce us to a new plunger, who up to the present has given strong evidence of possession of more money than brains. He is said to have attained his majority only a few days since, and having come into upwards of half a million "ready," has been showing "who's which" in rare style. — Sporting Times. Also a heavy dragoon. A Baptist. Plush (nautical), from plus. The overplus of the gravy, arising from being distributed in a smaller measure than the true one, and assigned to the cook of each mess, becomes a cause of irregularity (Smyth). 136 Poach — Poke. Poach, to (sporting), to get the best of a start. Poacher (Stock Exchange), a jobber who deals out of his own market. The term is also applied to a broker who is con- tinually changing his market. Pocket mining. Vide Fossick. Pockettes (conjurors), pockets worn by some conjurors in ad- dition to the profondes. From poke, or French pochettes. Pod, in (popular), in the family way, i.e., run to seed. Pod is provincial for belly. (Ameri- can), pod, intimate, old-fash- ioned ways ; an old pod, an old-fashioned man. Also old pod, a man with a prominent stomach. Poet's walk (Eton), when cricke- ters get leave of absence from roU-call, and have tea under the trees, they are said to go to poeVs walk. Poge (thieves), purse; a corruption of "pouch," or "poke." I went out the next day to Maidenhead, and touched for some wedge and a page (purse), with over five quid in it. — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Poggle, puggly, porgly, &c. (Anglo-Indian), a madman, an idiot, a dolt. Hindu pbgal. Often used colloquially by Anglo- Indians. A friend belonging to that body used to adduce a macaronic adage which we fear the non-Indian will fail to ap- preciate : " Pogal et pecunia jalde separantur," i.e., a fool and his money are soon parted (Anglo- Indian Glossary). Point (Stock Exchange). Points are the bases of speculative operations. When a man has a point, it generally means that he has secret information con- cerning a particular stock, which enables him to deal with it to considerable advantage. Pointer (American), a hint ; the same as " straight tip" in Eng- lish. She fell into a cogitation on the Irish banshees who came to give one pointers on approaching death. — Chicago Tribune. Point rise (American), the rise of one dollar, e.g., as an unit in the value of a stock. Poke (thieves), purse. Properly a pocket. Kit, from Seven Dials, remanded inno- cent on two charges of pokes, only out two weeks for a drag, expects to get fulled or else chucked. — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. "The thieves of London," said Dr. Lathom, " are the con- servators of Saxonisms." So poke is from the Saxon pocca, a bag, which otherwise survives in its diminutive "pocket," i.e., a little bag, in " buying a pig in a poke,""^ in the noun and verb " pouch," &c. Poke bogey, to (popular), to play nonsense, to humbug. "Now, don't you poke none of your hogey at me." From hogey, a hobgoblin bugbear, and pro- Poke — Foley. m bably connected with 'puck and puckle, old provincial English for spirit or ghost. Icelandic puka ; Welsh pucca, a bugbear ; Celtic bucan, a ghost. Poke fun, to (common), to make jokes, to laugh at one. Little he deems that Stephen de Hoagues, Who ' ' hisyun, " as the Yankees say, every- where ^' pokes" And is always too fond of his jokes. Has written a circular note to De Nokes, And De Stiles, and De Roe, and the rest of the folks. One and all, great and small, Who were asked to the Hall. — Ingoldsby Legends. Poke him fly (tailors), show him how. Vide Fly. Poker (university), an esquire bedell who carries a large mace before the Vice-Chancellor when engaged in his official capacity. (Fencing), a disorderly, un- courteous, rough fencer. " Un ferrailleur, tirailleur." He was no better than a " tirailleur, jeu de soldat" — Anglicised 2^ poker. — Angelo's Reminiscences, in his account of the bouts •with Dr. Keys. Pokerish (American), doubtful, or of dubious safety, an expres- sion implying something dan- gerous or alarming, but not used very seriously. From to poke, to feel in the dark. I knew by the pokerish hole in the ground Which yawned at my feet that a mud- hole was near, And I said to myself, " If there's dirt to be found, The man who is humble may roll in it here ! " — Newspaper Parody. Poking drill (military), aiming drill in the course of musketry instruction, so called because the rifle is being constantly poked or pushed to the front so as to accustom the soldier to the weight, and to get his eye quickly along the sights. Pole (printers). This term is ap- plied to a man's weekly bill, probably from the fact that the more he earns the taller or higher the pole. Pole, to (American university), to study hard. Probably allud- ing to the exertion in climbing a greasy pole ; poler, one who studies hard ; poling, close ap- plication to study. Pole, up the (military), thought well of by your superiors. Also applied to strict, strait-laced people, who are or like to be considered " goody-goody." Poley (Australian up-country), with the horns oif. Though spelt differently, probably con- nected with "to poll." "Polled" or "pollard" trees, willows, limes, &c., are those which have their tops or polls cut off, and are trimmed down. " Polled" animals are often mentioned in the Bible. When he is jogging along, and not in exciting chase, he sits loosely in his sad- dle, his feet hanging anyhow from sheer laziness ; but his keen eye darts this way and that in search of some stray beast — t\i2it poley-co-w that got out of the yard, or Bleny, the strawberry bullock that bolted down by Sandy Creek.— TVi^ Globe. 138 Policeman — Pongelow. Policeman (popular), a fly, espe- cially the " blue - bottle " fly, which has given its name to a policeman. Also a sneak, a mean fellow. (Tailors), a man deputed to remind a new-comer that it is customary for new hands to contribute a certain sum of money to enable the men to drink his health ; in other words, to pay his " footing." The cus- tom is dying out. It also means " spy " or tale-bearer. Poll (university), a contraction of poUoi {ttoWoi), a term applied to the ordinary examination for the B. A. degree, as distinguished from the honour examinations at Cambridge. (Society), a pros- titute, one of the demi-monde. It is derived from sailors, who always christen women Polly. Polled up (popular), living with a mistress. Poll, to (printers), to vanquish in competition. (Sporting), to dis- tance, beat in a race. (Thieves), is said of a thief {poll thief) who robs another of his share of the booty. From to poll, to plunder, piUage, strip. Used by Spenser and Bacon. Polty (cricketers), easy ; polty, or dolly catch, an easy catch. Pompadours, the 56th Eegiment of Foot (Hotten). Ponce (popular and thieves), a brothel bully, or one who lives on prostitutes. After he and his wife had entered, the constable came in and said to him, " You come here along with me, you /once," — Standard. Ponce shicer (theatrical), an odious epithet, invented by the actors to stigmatise the most infamous of adventurers, crea- tures who lay themselves out to captivate actresses, and to live upon their earnings. Crapu- lous scoundrels who live by chantaje. Poncess (thieves), a woman who supports a man by prostituting herself. The feminine of ponce, which see. Pond (common), abbreviated from herring pond, the ocean. We trust Colonel Cody and Mr. Sals- bury's plucky venture — for it requires pluck to cross the pond with such a show — will meet with a well - deserved reward. — Bailey's Monthly Magazine. Poney (racing), £2^. An arbi- trary denomination like " mon- key " and others. So there was much plunging on Blanch of Lancaster — ponies, tenners, fivers, even quids were being dumped down enthusi- astically. — Sporting Times. (American), a petit verre of brandy. Hence poney brandy, the T^'^cf. Alcrv Q ir/n-iT K+-*-1/» best, woman Also a very little Poney up (American), pay up; said to be from the German poniren, to pay. In Dutch slang poen is money. Pongelow, pongellorum (general), beer ; also used in the army. Pongelow — Pop. 139 Pongelow, to (London), to have some beer. Pong, ponge, to (theatrical), to vamp through a part in a play in ignorance of the text, substi- tuting the actor's own words for those of the author. (Circus), to perform. Pongo (circus and showmen), a monkey. Pon my sivey, a corruption of " asseveration," upon my word. Pon my sivey, if you were to see her picking you'd think she was laying on pounds' weight in a day instead of losing it.—/. Greenwood : Tag, Rag, 6r» Co. Ponte (showmen), a sovereign; Italian pondo, pound. Ponto (college), explained by quo- tation. During a chorister's life in college he had to put up with such a thing as a wooden trencher, or & ponto (a much softer missile) thrown at his head [Note. — A ponto was the crumb of a new roll kneaded into a ball] and sundry cuffs. — Sporting Life. Poodle (popular), facetiously ap- plied to any kind of dog. Pool (American), a combination, clique, gang, association, or syndicate formed by all the dealers in a certain article, to force up the price of it. A window-glass pool follows swiftly after the hard and soft coal pools, as these had been preceded or accompanied by monopolies for the control of other essen- tial articles. — New York World. Pool, to (common), to form an association, to club together. So we pooled our wealth together, and bought spring traps, and started off to try our luck with the beavers. — O'Reilly: Fifty Years on the Trail. Poona (costermongers), a pound ; a corruption of this word. Poop downhaul (nautical). Rus- sell gives this as "an imaginary rope" — a seaman's jest, like " clapping the reel athwart ships," and other such say- ings. Pootly-nautch (Anglo-Indian), a puppet-show. Hindu, Tcath-putli- 7}dch, a wooden-puppet dance. Pop (society), champagne ; ginger pop is ginger beer. The deriva- tion is obvious. (Eton School), the aristocratic club at Eton, originally a debating society, now a fashionable and exclusive lounge. (American), papa. It seems that American children know not " dad," and are in the habit of calling their fathers po^. On this side of the Atlantic we only associate the word with our "uncles." — Funny Folks. (London), Monday popular concerts. Passing over the Pop. on Monday, as containing nothing remarkable, I come to the performance of the " Rose of Sharon" on Tuesday. — Referee. Pop off the hooks, to (popular), to die. He stirr'd not, — he spoke not, — he none of them knew, And Achille cried " Odzooks ! I fear by his looks, Our friend, Francois Xavier, ha.spopp'do/f the hooks 1 " —Ingoldsby Legends. 140 Pop — Posers. Pop off, to (common), to die. But should I be popped off, you, my mates left behind me, Regard my last words, see 'em kindly obeyed. —Davey: Will Watch. Popped (tailors), annoyed, in a temper. Popped as a hatter (tailors), very- much annoyed. Popping (American University), getting an advantage. Poppy -cock (American), bosh, nonsense, idle" talk. It has no such meaning as " sound or fury," as the English edition of Artemus Ward declares, but refers rather to the display which appeals to and humbugs, or dazzles. I venture to say that if you sarch all the earth over with a ten-hoss power mikri- scope you won't be able to find such another pack o{ poppy-cock gabblers as the present Congress of the United States of America. — Artemus Ward. From "pop-peacock," as in poppin-jay, influenced by pea- cock. Pops (thieves), pistols. "Are you armed?" asked Ginger. " I have a brace of pistols in my pocket," replied Thomeycroft. "All right, then— ve've all zoX.pops and cutlashes," said Gmgtx. — Aiytsworth : Auriol. P o p - s h o p (common), pawn- broker's. As to the other cloak and shawl, don't be afraid ; they shan't go to the pop-shop. — Lord Lytton : Ernest Maltravers. Pop, to (common), to pawn. And that he meant to pop It round at " Uncle's shop, I never had the shadow of a doubt. —Song : Many Capers I have Seen. (Society), to pop the question, to propose marriage. Also to pop. Pop your corn (American), "now, then, ^op your corn" say what you have to say, speak out. Pop-corn is a variety of maize, of a small grain, sometimes of a dark colour. When roasted it pops or expands suddenly. It is often eaten with milk. " Juliana ! " he said to me in a tremorous voice. "I've some corn that I want to pop — will you acknowledge that com." And I said I would. That was the way he popped. — Newspaper. P. P. (racing), play or pay. Porridge disturber (pugilistic), a blow in the pit of the stomach. Porterhouse steak (American), a large steak with a small bone. Porter's knot (common), the large bob of hair at the back of the head worn by women in 1866. Also known as a "waterfall," "cataract," &c. Portrait (common), a sovereign. Posers (Winchester College), two men who come down from New College at election. They examine for the Winchester and New College scholarships and exhibitions. From poser, an awkward question. Posh — Posted. 141 Posh (society), modern term for money, originally used for a halfpenny or small coin. From the gypsy pash or posh, a half. In Romany poshero, the affix ero being corrupted from hctro, copper, i.e., a copper or a penny. Posh an' posh, half and half, applied to those who are of mixed blood, or half gypsy. Also a dandy. Possum-guts (Australian bush), a term of contempt. Two bushmen walked into the bar of an hotel which an enterprising Frenchman had just set up in the principal Riverina township : not finding any one to serve them, they pursued their rambles into the house until they were confronted by a glass door with Salle-k-manger painted on it. Sandy was ' ' stuck." ' ' What's that ? " he said, with a storm of expletive words to his mate, an Irishman. " You possum-guts ! Why, it says if you want anything, sound for the manager." — D. B. W. S laden. " I'll teach you to whistle when a gentle- man comes into the hut, you possum- guts I " — ff. Kingsley : Geoffrey Hamlyn. Possum, to (American), to feign, to dissemble, to sham dead — a slang phrase almost equivalent to the old English "sham Abra- ham " {q.v.). " The expression," says Bartlett, "alludes to the habit of the opossum, which throws itself on its back, and feigns death on the approach of an enemy. " As one who counterfeits sickness, or dissembles strongly for a particular pur- pose, is said to be possum^mg. — Flint: Geography of the Mississippi Valley. Also to play possum. You see, the first grizzly I caught in a trap played possum with me. After the first or second shot I went up to him, sup- posing him to be dead. But I will never allow another grizzly to play that racket. — Cincinnati Enquirer. Post-and-rails (Australian), wooden matches as distin- guished from wax vestas. The ordinary Australian has a great contempt for wooden matches, very likely because safety-mat- ches, such a necessary precau- tion in the bush, are generally made of wood. " Alf," said a great friend of mine to a companion who was engaged with us on a shooting expedition down in Bulu-Bulu, one of the eastern provinces of Victoria, " Have you got a match ?" " Only 3l post-and-rails," was the depre- cating reply, responded to with a patronis- ing " Never mind." — D. B. IV. Sladen, Post-and-rails tea, coarse tea with stalks and leaves floating in it. The metaphor is obvious. The tea supplied to the station- hands is proverbially bad. It gets its name from the stalks, leaves, &c. , floating about when it is decocted. He brought us some black damper and a dry chip of cheese (for we were famished), together with a hot beverage in a tin pot, which richly deserved the colonial epithet of post-and-rails tea, for it might well . have been a decoction of "split stuff," or " iron bark shingles" for any resemblance it bore to the Chinese plant. — D, B. W. Sladen. Posted (American), informed as to anything, posted up. This term was first used in this sense and made popular by Mr. David Stearns Godfrey of Mil- ford, Massachusetts. (Cambridge University), to he posted is to be rejected in an examination. 42 Post-horn — Pot-boiler. Fifty marks will prevent one from being posted, but there are always two or three too stupid as well as idle to save th&ir post. These drones are posted separately, as " not worthy to be classed," and privately slanged afterwards by the master and seniors. Should a man be posted twice in succession, he is generally recommended to try the air of some small college, or devote his energies to some other walk of life. — Hall : College Words and Customs. Post-horn (popular), the nose. From the noise when blowing one's nose. In French slang trompette means face. Postman (legal), one of the bar- risters in a common law court is so called from the privileges he enjoys. The expression is well understood. Postmasters (Oxford University), scholars on the foundation at Merton College. The postmasters anciently performed the duties of choristers, and their pay- ment for this duty was six shillings and fourpence per annum. — Oxford Guide. Post-mortem (Cambridge Univer- sity), the second examination after failure. Post the coin, to (sporting), to make a deposit for a match. Generally to pay. Post, to (university), to put up a man's name as not having paid for food supplied by the college, which precludes him from hav- ing any more till he does pay. (Common), post the cole, v\de Coal. Pot (common), short ior pot hat. Nice lads, very nice ; always like Eton boys when they haven't got pots on. — Punch. (Sporting and American), the amount of stakes on a horse. On receiving the list of winning num- bers the ticket was at once placed in the hands of the First National bank and yesterday the full amount of the prize, less a small sum for collection, was paid over by the bank to Mr. Poppendick and the pot duly divided with his -^zx^.— Omaha (Neb.) Bee. Also an adept, a swell, the favourite in the betting for a race. The prospects of respective cricket pots. — Punch. To put on a pot, to lay a large sum of money on a horse. (Winchester College), the pot, the canal ; j9o<-cad, a workman at the sawmills ; po^gates, lock- gates ; ^o^houser, a jump into the canal from the roof of a house called ^Jo^house. Potate (American), signifying to drink ; an abbreviation from potation, as the kindred but more permissible vulgarism orate, from oration. The last word has already been natural- ised in English, but potate re- mains an alien. Potato-trap (common), the mouth. That'll damage your potato-trap! — C. Bede : Verdant Green. Pot-boiler (studios), an appella- tion given by artists to a picture painted only for the sake of the pecuniary advantages it brings. French artists term "faire du metier" painting such pictures for the trade. (Journalistic), any Pot-fair — Pot-shot. 143 production written for money not glory. It is a strange coincidence that the writer of these lines was actively engaged with Archie M'Neil in collaborating on a pot-boiler. — Topical Times. Pot-fair (university), the name given to the midsummer fair held at Cambridge. The fair on Midsummer Green, known by the name of Pot-fair, was in all its glory. There were booths at which raffles for pictures, china, and millinery took place every evening, which were not over till a late hour. — Gunning: Reminiscences. Pot, go to (common), be off, you be hanged. Explained by quo- tation. Isn't saying of a man who's come to grief through beer, that he's "gone to pot" a pewter-ful sort of ale-legory? — Funny Folks. To go to pot, to die. This ex- pression refers to broken metal placed in the melting-pot. Pothouse, i.e., Peterhouse, or St. Peter's College, Cambridge. Pot-hunter (sporting), a man who goes round to small athletic meetings with a view of getting as many prizes as he can. Vide Pots. (Fisher), one who fishes only for the sake of the catch, not for the sport. But ordinary mortals have a natural dis- like to returning with empty baskets, and some people not necessarily pot-hunters like to eat trout. — Sir H. Pottinger: Trout- Fishing. Pot -hunting (sporting), a sport greatly favoured by amateurs since the abolition of the gen- tleman-amateur qualification — e.g., the crack expert arranges on Whit-Monday with his more formidable rivals not on any ac- count to clash with them, but to farm a meeting a-piece. In the old days gentlemen would go any distance to meet a rival and have it out with him, but nothing is further from the thoughts of the present "crack." Potlash (Canadian), explained by quotation. Roughly speaking, it seems a potlash is an entertainment lasting any time from a week to three months, provided by one tribe for another, and entailing on the tribe so entertained the duties of receiving their hosts in like manner on some future occasion, generally at the same date in the succeeding year. — Phillipps- Wolley: Trot- tings o/a Tenderfoot. Pot on, to put the (trade), to overcharge. (Common), to ex- aggerate. Pots (sporting), prizes for athletic sports, generally given in the shape of mugs. (Stock Ex- change), North Staffordshire Kailway ordinary stock. (Nau- tical), name for the steward on board passenger-boats. From the pots or basins he provides for sick persons. Pot-shot (common), a shot from a hole or ambush. But when you turn in your hounds and wait till the deer come like dumb driven cattle to the water, beside which you have sat till you have got cold and cramped, there is none of the credit due to the quiet pot-shot which a quick snap-shot at a buck on the jump might earn. — Phillipps- Wol- ley : Trottings of a Tenderfoot. 144 Potted — Poultice. Potted fug (Eugby), boys thus term potted meat. Potted, to be (common), to be snubbed or suppressed. Pot, to (common), to shoot. PoisoncFS of hounds, and enemies of all sport save the potting a fellow-creature from behind a fence, can and should be dealt with in no other way. — Bird o' Freedom. (Eacing), to lay a large sum on a horse. Two of these accomplished gentry, who had severally gone for the crack and the field, that is, had systematically and regu- larly backed the one and potted the other. — Sporting Times. (Billiards), to 'pot a ball, send it in the pocket. Pot, to put on the big (sporting), to bully, arrogantly patronise. A hiy -pot is a great swell, an adept, a favourite in racing. Pot-walloper (elections), thus explained in the CornhiU Maga- zine : — " One can well imagine what influence the ' man in the moon ' had in days gone by with voters of the class known as pot-wal- lopers. The bearers of this melodious name were electors whose sole title to the possession of the franchise was the fact of their having been settled in the parish for six months, the set- tlement being considered suflB- ciently proved if the claimant had boiled his own pot within its boundaries for the required period — icall meaning to boil. The pot-wallopers, with many other electoral anomalies, were abolished by the passing of the great Eeform Bill ; but a cog- nate abuse, that of ' faggot- voting,' survives in some con- stituencies." (Common), a low parasite. (Theatrical), a tap-room talker. Pouch through, to (American), a post-oflSce term, meaning to convey mail matter in a pouch. Till Special-Agent Death came by one day. And pouched the old man through the graveyard town. He lay quite still, when suddenly he cried, " Mail closed 1 " and drew his salary, and died. —Robert J. Burdette. Pouf (theatrical), an epithet ap- plied by the actors to a silly fellow, who imagines himself to be an actor. Poulderlings (old), students of the second year at St. John's, Oxford. The whole companye, or most parte of the students of the same house mette toogeher to beginne their Christmas, of woi" some came to see sports, to witte the seniors as well graduates as vnder-gra- duates. Others to make sports, viz., studentes of the seconde yeare, whom they call Poulderlings. — Christmas Prinee. Poulterer (thieves), one who gets letters from post -boxes, opens them, steals the money which they contain, seals them, and drops them again into the box. The receiver naturally supposes that the sender omitted to en- close the money. Poultice wallah (military), a man of the staff corps ; one whose Pound — Prim. 145 business it is to attend on the surgeon, carry out treatment, give medicines, apply poultices, and so forth. Hence the expres- sion. Pound, to go one's (military), applied to a man with a good appetite, is evidently derived from the weight of the soldier's ration ; the pound of bread and of meat which the hungry man can easily devour. Powerful nerve (tailors), a great amount of impudence. Pow-wow (American), a confer- ence. Properly the sorcery and ceremony of the Red Indian conjurors. From the Algonkin bo-din, a magician. And everybody was whooping at once, and there was a raXtWng pow-wow. — The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Poz (popular), certain, positive. That's poz, dear old pal, and no flies. — Punch. Practitioner (popular), a thief. It is only fair to state, however, that his lordship was not personally responsible for his startling statements. He had them from a practitioner, from a thief, that is to say. — Greenwood: Seven Curses of London. Prad (common), a horse. Just send somebody out to relieve my mate . . . he's in the gig, a-minding the prad. — Dickens : Oliver Twist. Prairie-schooner (American), an emigrant waggon. I am not long out before meeting with that characteristic feature of a scene on the Western plains, z. prairie-schooner, and VOL. II. meeting prairie-schooners will now be a daily incident of my Eastward journey. — Stevens : A round the World on a Bicycle. Prat (popular), the buttock, hind. be- Prater (old cant), a hen. Also margery prater. Prat, to (thieves), to go, to enter. I pratted into the house. — Horsley : Jottings frotn Jail. Press (American sporting). When a man wins a bet, and instead of taking away his winnings he adds to the original stake and the winnings also, it is called a press. Pretty horse-breaker, a fashion- able and good-looking young woman of immoral life and bad reputation, sometimes called an "anonyma." Prex (American student), the pre- sident of a college, equivalent to the pro-rector of a German uni- versity. I used to think owv prex Was great as any rex, In my green freshman-nual days. — Student Song. Prick the garter (thimble-riggers), a swindling game. The bet is made that you can't, with a pin, prick the point at which a garter is double. Prig (thieves and popular), a thief. Prim (American sporting), a hand- some woman. Possibly from prima, i.e., prima donna. 146 Primed — Prop. Primed (common), on the verge of intoxication. (Students), crammed for an examination. Prime flat (thieves), an easy dupe. Vaux, in his " Memoirs," says : "Any person who is found an easy dupe to the designs of the family is said to be a prime flat" Printer's devil (printers), a printer's boy. Moxon, 1683, attributes this term to the fact that the boys used to "black andbedaub themselves," whence the workmen jocosely called them " Devils." The real origin, it is believed, was that Aldus Manutius, the Venetian printer, had a negro boy, and in those days printing was ignorantly supposed to be a "black art," hence the term. Passing for the nonce the itinerant "paper boy," the "errand boy," and the printer's devil, which last genus gargon machinery is fast driving from his stool, come we to the Arabs of the town.—/. Diprose: London Life. Private stitch, to (tailors), to stitch without showing the mark. Pro (popular), one of the profes- sion, an actor. (Theatrical), an actor. Actors are astonishingly fond of abbre- viations, and herein lies most of their slang. They love to call themselves /rwj. —Globe. Procession (circus), the parade or public show is always called the •proctidon. Profondes (conjurors), the pockets in the tails of a conjuror's dress coat. French slang. Prog (common), food of any kind. What other fellows call beastly /r<7§ Is the very stuff for me. —Punch. Prog, according to Skeat, is from prog, to go about begging victuals. Middle English prok- ken, to beg or demand ; Swedish pracka. Proggins (university), proctor. The proctors and their subordi- nates, the pro-proctors, are the magistrates of the university. Prog, to (printers), an abbrevia- tion much used by printers for the word "prognosticate." "To prog the winner of the Derby," &c. Promossing (Australian popular), talking rubbish, playing the fool, mooning about. Prompter (school), a member of the second form at Merchant Taylors' School. Proms (London and American), promenade concerts. They go to the Proms, to a tartlet they'll speak, Stand one drink, the reason is not far to seek, For all this is done on a sovereign a week ! 'Tis the way of the world, of the age. —Bird d Freedom, • They have for several years tried to abolish the proms, because it adds heavily to many students' expenses. — Chicago Tri- bune. Prop (thieves), a breast-pin. Pro- bably from proper (Cornwall), Proper — Pross. 147 pretty, ornamental. (Pugilistic), a blow. (Punch and Judy), the prop, the gallows. Proper crowd (Australian up- country), particular friends, a circle, a clique, dependants. An Australian would describe Harcourt, Childers, Labouchere, Conybeare & Co., as Gladstone's own proper crowd; Lord Car- rington, the Duke of Suther- land, Mr. Christopher Sykes, &c., as being the Prince of Wales's proper crowd; and would talk of Lord Wolseley's proper crowd as Englishmen talk of his "gang," or apply the term to the Browning Society, &c. Insolent and overbearing, his own/roper crowd detested him. — A . C. Grant. Proper first class (popular) de- notes excellence. Prop-nailer (thieves), a thief who devotes his attention to scarf- pins in a crowd. Props (theatrical), properties. All the inanimate objects or articles used in a play, viz., stage carpet, baize, sea cloth, furniture, any thing to eat or drink, books, pic tures, vases, statuettes, lamps fire-irons, fireplace, kettle, pens ink, paper, swords, foils, guns pistols, powder, blue fire, thun der, lightning, purse, money table-cloth, dinner or breakfast service, &c. Certain animate objects, such as horses, pigs, dogs, and babies. Props include everything kept in the theatre for use on the stage. — Globe. Propster (theatrical), the property master. The man whose busi- ness it is, not only to provide ordinary properties for the stage, but to prepare new ones, to make and ornament banners, to model masks, &c. Prop, to (pugilistic), to strike. His whole person put in Chancery, slung, bruised, fibbed, propped, fiddled, slogged, and otherwise ill-treated. — C Bede : Verdant Green. Pross, to (theatrical), to sponge. Doubtless derived from the Ko- many prass. The actors, how- ever, affect to derive this detest- able word from a line in Otway's play of "Venice Preserved," in which that "dashing, gay, bold- faced villain" Pierre says, "The clock has struck, and I may lose my proselyte." The wealthy proselyte of dogma is always under the thumb of the prose- lytiser, who invariably makes his pupil "shell out" for the good of the cause. Similarly, the lowest class of players have, from time immemorial, been accustomed to sponge upon their proselytes, to bleed them in money or malt. The hand- some but infamous " Scum " Goodman, the actor, the amant de coeur of the notorious Bar- bara Castlemaine, bled that lubricous lady almost as freely as the illustrious Jack Churchill, or as she herself bled that anointed scoundrel, old Kowley, who in his turn bled the nation. There is a restaurant, not a hundred miles from a certain 148 Pross — Puckah. fashionable theatre in the Strand, known to the initiated as '' Prossers* Avenue." At cer- tain times of the day this place is infested by impecunious loafers, consisting of the out- casts of all professions — actors, journalists, disbanded soldiers, unfrocked parsons, and broken- down adventurers of every de- scription, all of whom make it their business to 'pross for any- thing, from a fiver down to a glass of gin or beer. The at- tentions of these enterprising gentry are not restricted to their own immediate circle ; they are superior to vulgar pre- judice, and will pross anything from anybody, more especially from " the stranger at their gates." This term is common among workmen and others. Are you one for a jtross ? Will you stand a drink 1 But now I've grown to man's estate, for work I've never cared, I've prossed my meals from off my pals, oftiimes I've badly fared. —Music Hall Song. Prosser (popular and thieves), a degraded creature, one who sponges, a male prostitute. Said to be from prostitute. Prov. (printers). " On the prov.'' signifies that a man is out of work and reaping the benefit of the Provident Fund of his Trade Society— a fund established to compensate the unemployed. Provost (military), garrison or other cells, where the penalty of imprisonment for a week and under is inflicted, without rele- gation to a military prison. Prowl, to (theatrical), waiting for one's pay. Pruff (Winchester College), ex- plained by quotation. But deprive a Wykehamist of words in constant use, such as "quill," meaning to curry favour with ; pru^, signifying sturdy, or proof against pain ; "spree," upstart, impudent; "cud," pretty, and many more, and his vocabulary becomes limited. — Everyday Life in our Public Schools. Psalm-smiler (popular), one who sings at a conventicle. Pub (common), public-house. Public patterers (popular), swell mobsmen, who pretend to be Dissenting preachers, and har- angue in the open air to attract a crowd for their confederates to rob (Hotten). Puckah (Anglo - Indian). The word is applied in various ways ; puckah in Hindostani means properly red brick. So a pucJca house is a red brick house, and in opposition to a "kutcha" house, one built of earth, it is a good, comfortable house. Hence the meaning of good, best, at- tached to the word. A pucka spin is a young lady who is not engaged, a pucka officer is a senior officer ; should an oflScer in command go on leave, his deputy is not puckah. But I believe that marrying An " acting " man is a fudge ; Pucker— Pull. 149 And do not fancy anything Below a/«cAa judge. — A leph Cheem : Lays of Ind. Pucker (military), the best of anything, as the pucker colonel, the senior. Vide Puckah. Pucker up, to (popular), to get in a bad temper. Pudding (thieves), liver prepared with a narcotic drug and used by burglars to silence house- dogs. When I opened a door there was a great tyke lying in front of the door, so I pulled out a piece of pudding and threw it to him, but he did not move. So I threw a piece more, and it did not take any notice ; so I got close up to it, and I found it was a dead dog stuffed, so I done the place for some wedge and clobber. — Hor- shy : Jottings front Jail. Pudding club (popular), a woman in the family way is said to be in the jyudding club, Pudding-snammer (popular), one who robs a cookshop. Pud, to (popular), to greet affec- tionately, familiarly. Pud, the hand. Puff (common), a favourable notice or praise of any kind in a newspaper, usually in- corporated in general reading matter. (Tailors), never in your jmff, never in your life. Puffer (boating), a small river steamboat, a steam launch. These are the lolling idlers in those comfortable floating hotels, which are called steam-launches by the literate, and puffers by the river folk. — Daily Tele- graph. (Popular), a steam-engine. And under we went, one on each side, intending to get out again, as usual, as soon as the puffer began a-taking us along again. — Sporting Times. (Cheap Jacks, &c.), the special slang meaning is explained by quotation. We bid or praised up his goods ; in fact, often acted as puffers or bonnets to give him a leg up. — Hindley : Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. Pug (common), a prize-fighter. Abbreviated from "pugilist." He insisted, with a smile serene and smug, That he'd gain distinction later as a fistic gladiator, Or, in plainer phraseology, a. pug. — Sporting Times. A portion of Highgate Ce- metery, where Tom Sayers, Knacker - Atcherly, and other pugilists lie buried, is called " Pugs' Acre." Puke, to (schools), to vomit. A variant of " spew." Puker (Shrewsbury), a good-for- nothing fellow. Pull (society), to take &pull means to stop, check, put an end to, and is very commonly in use. It is borrowed from racing par- lance, to take a puU at a horse. But it is like the will-o'-the-wisp, which is pretty sure to lead them to their destruc- tion if they have not the moral courage to "take & pull" when they are getting out of their depth. — Saturday Review. (Cricketers), to make a pull is to hit a straight ball crookedly. This is generally done inten- tionally. (Popular), the puU, ISO Pull. the advantage. To have the upper - hand in pulling a rope gives an extra grip, whence the expression. Sharpers try to pick him up, Thinking they've a flat in tow, But at pool he cleans them out, All the puirs with Oxford Joe. — Music Hall Ballad: Oxford Joe. Pull a horse's head off (racing), to check a horse's progress so as to prevent him from winning. Pulling is done by a man leaning back and pulling at the horse's head. The witness, pressed to explain what the meaning oi pulling a horse's head off ^zs, said that pulling must be intentional on the part of a jockey. — St. James s Gazette. Pull down your vest (American). A few years ago, when trousers were not made quite so high as at present, and waistcoats were shorter, it often happened that a portion of the shirt became visible from the latter garment "rising." Hence the frequent admonition of "pull down your vest from careful mothers to their sons, or of wives to care- less husbands. The phrase soon became general, and took the obvious application of " make yourself look decenter," "attend to your personal appearance," and " mind your own affairs I " Pulled trade (tailors), secured work. Pulled up, to be (popular and thieves), to be taken before a magistrate. Pulley (old cant), a girl. A varia- tion of pullet, a girL Pullet- squeezer, a man who is always fondling young girls. Pulling a kite (popular), making a face, looking serious. Liter- ally, looking like a kite or fool, or alluding to the fixed ex- pression in the face of a person flying a kite. Again, perhaps, from a filthy simile. My mug, mate, was made for a larf, and you don't ketch it pulling a kite. — Punch. Pulling in the pieces (popu- lar), to make money, get good wages, or be successful in speculation. Pull off, to (popular), to achieve, make. The burglar is flush of money, and each of his comrades knows that a big job has been pulled off.— Evening News. Pull one's self together, to (com- mon), used as a metaphorical expression for collecting one's thoughts, or cooling one's self down from a previous state of excitement. To "pull up," to cease, to refrain. These phrases are constantly used by lady novelists, though not by any writer of high or deserved re- pute. That Lord Hartington's speech outdid the utmost expectations of his friends, in regard to its matter and its fearless out- spokenness, is everywhere acknowledged. Here and there it was delivered admir- ably, and with something of the large manner demanded by his great position. But, truth to say, this was not by any means maintained uniformly, and he fre- quently seemed only by an eflfort to pull himself together.— The World. Pull — Push. 151 Pull out, to (sporting), in athle- tics, is being thoroughly " ex- tended '■ — usually by a friendly pacemaker. (American), to leave, depart. For a minute or two they stood looking at one another, and then Doc pulled out. — F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin. Pull the legf, to (society), to im- pose upon, to cram one. Pull the long bow, to (common), to tell falsehoods, cram. " Don't it strike you, Billiam, that chaps about to be hanged generally do /«// the Ions bow a bit ? " " It does, Alexandry," replied the Red- Handed One. " If they had kept Percy Lefroy bottled up much longer, he'd have sworn he murdered Maria Martin, Abra- ham Lincoln, Harriet Lane, and the Mys- tery at Rainham." — Ally Slopers Half- Holiday. Pull the string, to (tailors), to make use of all your influence to obtain the desired result. (Popular), to do well. Pull, to (common), to drink. (Turf), to prevent a horse from winning by pulling at the reins. Pumped (common), exhausted. Pump sucker (popular), totaller. a tee- Puncher (American), a cowboy, one who punches and brands cattle. Perhaps you find it impossible to bring yourself to eat with "aw — cow-servants, you know," as certain young Englishmen, but newly come from college to New Mexico, and unpurged as yet of old world prejudices, found it not long ago. The title " cow-servants " so delighted the gentle puncher that it has become a standing quotation in New Mexico. — F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Pun-paper (Harrow), specially ruled paper for ^wns or imposi- tions. Punting-shop (common), a gam- bling house. Pupe (Harrow), pupil-room. Pure cussedness. Tide Cussed- NESS. Pure-pickers (street), pickers up of dogs' dung, which is sold to curriers. Purge (popular), beer, from its peculiar effects. Comrades, listen while I urge. Drink yourselves and pass the purge. — Barrack Room Poet. Purko (military), beer ; possibly from Barclay & Perkins, the great brewers. Purl, purler (schools), a jump into the water head foremost. (Sporting), a heavy fall from a horse. Purser's grins (nautical), hypo- critical and satirical sneers. Purser's name (nautical), an assumed one. During the war, when pressed men caught at every opportunity to desert, they adopted aliases to avoid discovery if retaken, which alias was handed to the purser for entry upon the ship's books (Smyth). Push (prison), a gang associated in penal servitude labour. 152 Push — Put. Most of these pseudo-aristocratic impos- tors had succeeded in obtaining admission to the stocking-knitting party, which, in consequence, became known among the rest of the prisoners as the "upper ten push." — Michael Davitt : Leaves from a Prison Diary. (Thieves), a crowd ; an asso- ciation for a robbery or swindle. "I am in this ^wsA," I intend to participate. (Shopmen), to get the -push, to be discharged. (Popular), to get the pttsA, to be set aside, rejected, discharged. The girl that stole my heart has given me the push. — Ballad : I' II Say no More to Mary Ann. Pusher (popular), a high-low or blucher boot. Also a female. A square 'pusher is a girl of good reputation. (American), a bit of bread held by children in the left hand to be used as a fork. Push your barrow (popular), go away. Puss, an appellation given by Woolwich cads to gentlemen cadets of the Royal Military Academy, formerly called pus- sies, when their uniform coats were short jackets with a pointed tail in rear, as may be seen in old pictures at the R.A. Institu- tion, Woolwich. Put a down upon a man, to (Australian convicts), is to in- form against him. Probably introduced into Australia by the transportees. •To put a down upon a man is to give information of any rob- bery or fraud he is about to per- petrate, so as to cause his failure or detection" (Vaux's Memoirs). Put a head on, to (American), to beat a man on the head. To make one's head swell. Und he gets madt und says he put sotne heads on me if I doan' gif oop dot twenty. Vhell, I vhas a greenhorn und a fool, you know. — Detroit Free Press. Put-away, to (prison), has the same sense as the foregoing ; it means to split or peach, or so act that a man is discovered through the information given. Put in a hole, to (thieves), to defraud an accomplice of his share of the booty. Also " to put in the garden," possibly an allusion to " plant," meaning swindle. (Common), to defraud any one for whom you are acting confidentially, to victimise. There was a class of people who if they were advised to put £\o on a horse which won thought the man a good fellow who told them, but if they lost thought they had been robbed or put in a hole. — SL James's Gazette. Put in the well, to (thieves), to defraud an accomplice of his share of the booty, or to de- fraud any one for whom one is acting confidentially. Put it up, to (American), to spend money, to gamble. " Bully for you, Squito ! " cried Joe. " When it comes to gambling he's a thoroughbred ; he p7(ts it up as if it was bad." — F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Put me in my little bed (Ameri- can), one of many current slang expressions signifying that the Putney — Putty. 153 one addressed is beaten or dis- tanced, or has no more to say. Also the name of a "fancy" drink. Putney, oh, go to (popular), equivalent to go to Jericho, Ballyhock, or any other of the numerous milder modifications of the place of eternal punish- ment. Sometimes improved by adding "on a pig." Sarah's gone and left me, Her love for me was sham, She can go to Putney on a pig. Along with her cat's-meat man ! — The Cat's- Meat Man. Put one's back into it, to (com- mon), to act with energy. It seems to me that if I only hit hard enough I must do something. I put my back into it — that's his expression, not mine — and two balls disappear into two pockets. — Ally Slopers Half-Holiday. Put one's back up, to. Vide Back. Put on, to (common), to initiate. Once on the course he will undertake 'Yo put you on should you be Green at the game, but the quids you stake Never again you'll see. Or perhaps near a bookie like a clerk he'll stand, And gonoph any tickets that may reach his hand. — Bird o' Freedom. Putter up (thieves), a spy in the interest of burglars, whose busi- ness it is to collect and impart information to the gang with which he is connected as to the general condition and domes- tic arrangements of houses that may be most easily robbed, and that offer the greatest chances of plunder. The putters up are commonly men of glib tongues and agreeable manners, who endeavour to ingratiate them- selves with the female servants. They seldom endanger their own necks by active participation in the burglaries they recommend, but are content to receive a portion of the booty, trusting to the validity of the well- known axiom of " honour among thieves " for the reward which they have earned. They are worse, but not very much worse, than the professional detectives who do similarly dirty work for people who are not burglars or criminals, but who do not scruple to employ such disreputable agents. Put the kibosh on, to (popular), to put a stop to. Vide Kibosh. Put the pot on, to (popular), to punish, to extinguish. And Damon Tubbs, who loved in vain The self-same damsel, lots Of times declared with racking brain He'd, put the pot on Potts. — Fun. (Turf), to lay heavily on a horse. Putting a nail in your coffin (tailors), talking ill of you. Puttun (Anglo-Indian), a regi- ment. Putty and plaster on the Solomon Knob, the (masons, &c.), an intimation that the master is coming, be silent 1 Putty walla (Anglo-Indian), "the one with a belt," a term in 154 Put — Pyke. Bombay for a messenger or orderly attached to an office. Called in Bengal a Chuprassy, and in Madras a Peon (Anglo- Indian Glossary). Put up, betrayal. Hotten limits this simply to inspecting or planning a robbery, or obtaining information in regard to pro- jected theft. But this is very far from the true meaning of the word as used in both Eng- land and America. It is thus explained in the "New York Slang Dictionary : " — "Put up. This refers to in- formation given to thieves by persons in the employment of parties to be robbed, such as servants, clerks, porters, &c., whereby the thief is facilitated in his operations. A job is said to be put up if the porter of a store should allow a 'fitter' to take an impression of the keys of the door of a safe ; or when a clerk sent to the bank to make a deposit, or to draw money, allows himself to be thrown down and robbed, in order to have his pocket picked." It may be observed that it is quite in this sense that Dickens uses the word in " Oliver Twist," and not at all in that of obtain- ing information. Put-up jobs (burglars), explained by quotation. We often hear that these burglaries are what are called put-up jobs; that is to say, they are the result of long and careful study on the part of the criminals, com- bined with information supplied to them by persons familiar with the inmates and contents of the house marked down for plunder.— ZJ^z/y Telegraph. Put upon, to (American and Eng- lish), to impose upon, to ill- treat. The Pike's Peak gold fever was raging (1859, &c.). He went to the mines and took a claim, but was much put upon by bullies because he was the youngest man in camp. — H. L. Williams : In the Wild West. (Common), to sham. Put up your forks, or, bones up (popular), a challenge to fight. Put up your hands, to (thieves), to submit to being handcuffed. One of the family who has been in prison before, and knows the penalties of resistance, will say when a policeman comes for him, "All right, I'll put up my hands'' meaning that he will hold out his hands to be hand- cuffed without a struggle. Put your forks down, to (thieves), to pick a pocket. Vide Forks. Put your name into it (tailors), get it well forward. Pyah (nautical)', weak, paltry. Pyke (military), a civilian friend by whom the soldier on the prowl and impecunious is treated and entertained ; some good-natured creature who likes to hear military yarns, and is proud of the privilege of pay- ing for a gallant man's drink. Probably from French slang word pekin, civilian, heard by English soldiers in the Crimea. } Q.C. — Quay, 155 Q Q. C. (common), a Queen's Counsel. I am a barrister elect, I try my best to please ; Attorneys pay me great respect — I wish they'd pay my fees. Of business I get my share, As much as some Q. C. 's ; But, oh ! what drives me to despair — I cannot get my fees. —Bill Sykes : The Barristers Q. H. B. (naval), Queen's hard bargain, i.e., a lazy sailor, a "lubber." Q. T. (popular), quiet. Vide On THE Strict Q. T. The essence of 'Arry, he sez, is high sperrits. That ain't so fur out. I'm " Fiz," not four 'arf, my dear feller. Flare-up is my motter, no doubt. Cam't set in a corner canoodling, and do the Q. T. day and night. —Punch. Quack (common), a duck. " Dear madam, your daughter Being very much better, Instead of a call I write you a letter, Saying as a regular doctor No longer she lacks, I send her herewith a couple of quacks." A splendid couple of ducks accompanied this cheerful letter. — Bird d Freedom. Quad (printers) is the abbreviated form of the word "quadrat," a piece of metal used by printers to fill up short lines, &c. From Latin quadratus, square. Quadding (Kugby), the triumphal promenade of the chief football players round the cloisters at calling over time before a match. Quail (thieves), an old maid. Quails are supposed to be very amorous. Le Koux gives quail- ler, evidently from caille (quail), for to have carnal connection. Quarron (old cant), the body ; allied to carrion. Old French, carongne. Quarter-deckish (naval), severe, punctilious. Quartereen (shows, strolling actors), a farthing. The slang expressions for money, used spe- cially by Punch and Judy show- men, and probably by others, are " mezzo," halfpenny ; " solde," penny; "dui, tri, quarto or qua- tri, chickwa, sei, sette, oddo, novo, deger, long deger soldi. Beone," a shilling; "ponte," a sovereign. From the Italian. Quart-pot tea (Australian). The following passage is fully ex- planatory of this Irish phrase for tea. Quart-pot tea, as tea made in the bush is always called, is really the proper way to make it. A tin quart of water is set down by the fire, and when it is boiling hard a handful of tea is thrown in, and the pot instantly removed from the fire. Thus the tea is really made with boiling water, which brings out its full flavour, and it is drunk before it has time to draw too much. — Finch-H atton : Advance Australia. Quay (American thieves), unsafe, not to be trusted. Dutch kwaed, bad, &c. 156 Queen^s bus — Queer. Queen's bus (thieves), the prison van. A crazy inmate of Clerken- well was about to be sent away. To quiet him the warder said the Queen had sent one of her own carriages for him. " One of them with We E. on the side? " " Yes, one of her carriages." " Wot's We R. stand for ? " " Why, Victoria Regina, of course." " No, it don't ; it stands for Wagabones Re- moved," said the prisoner. The V.R. on the van is also inter- preted by its habitual occu- pants as standing for Virtue Rewarded. Queer bail, fraudulent bail ; in- solvent persons who made it a trade to bail out persons when arrested. Also called "Jew 6aiZ." Sometimes also "moun- ters," as the mounted borrowed clothes for the occasion so as to look respectable. Queer bit (thieves), spurious coin. Queer, in old cant, means any- thing wrong, counterfeit, or illegal. Possibly allied to the German quer, across, athwart, contrary to. Queer cuf5fin(old cant), magistrate. The gentry cove will be romboyled by his dam, . . . queer cuffiif will be the word yet, if we don't tout. — Beaconsfield: Venetia. Cuffin is synonymous with cofe, cove. Queer money (thieves), spurious coin. That town had been worked with a rush by a gang and $20,000 in the queer money had been left there inside of two days. — Detroit Free Press. Queer rooster (American thieves), a man that lodges among thieves to pick up information for the police. Queer soft (thieves), bad notes. Queer street, in (common), in a difficulty. Queer the stifler, to (thieves), avoid the gallows. I think Handle Dandie and I may queer the stijler for all that is come and gone. — Scott: Heart of Mid-Lothian. Queer, to (popular), to ridicule, sneer at. A shoulder-knotted puppy, with a grin, Queering the thread-bare curate, let him in. — Colman : Poetical Vagaries. To spoil, mar. But over the doorstep she happened to trip, And queered the ingenious crime. — Sporting Times. To upset arrangements. The Briton threw a five-franc piece into the machine, stopping the ball, and utterly queering the calculations of the numerous systematicians. — Bird o' Freedom. To queer a flat, fool, impose upon a simpleton. Who in a row like Tom could lead the van, Booze in the ken, or at the spelken hustle ? Who queer a flat ? — Lord Byron: Don Juan. To outwit. He came back in great glee at having queered the bobbies on this side the Chan- nel, and " bothered the gendarmes " on the other. — Punch. To queer the pitch, vide Pitch. Quencher — Quiffing. 157 Quencher. Vide Modest Quencher. Qui (printers), an abbreviation of the Latin term quietus, an old expression equivalent to the "billet" or "sack," to denote a man has notice to leave his situation. Quiblets (American), a kind of witticism much in vogue in negro minstrelsy. A man makes a remark which calls forth a question, and the reply involves a jesting equivoque. Quick (society), explained by quotation. Young Prince Albert Vic, it would seem, is most quick • (That's the new word for dapper and clever). — Fun. Quick, slick, to cut (popular), to start off hurriedly. Quick upon the trigger (Ameri- can), very acute to observe, quick to perceive and act, wide- awake, prompt, "fly." A sig- nificant expression derived from seeing game the instant it ap- pears, and being quick to shoot it. It occurs in the Crockett Almanacs, 1838, 1840, but is much older. He's as big and may be bigger, That's all the same to me ; But I'm quicker on the trigger. And hit twice as hard as he. For I've lived among the Crows and the Kaws, And the Soos and the Kroos and the Daws, And can make a bully Injun take a tree ! — Circus Song. Quid (general), a sovereign. Quids, money in general ; this corresponds to the French de quoi and quihus. Oh, well, I thought I wouldn't star, but wait a year or two ; I know your party's solid, so I'll try and go with you. A modest forty quid a week, you pay all train fares, eh ? Your offer is an insult and I'll leave you, sir. Good day. — Bird o' Freedom. 'Tis the last quid of many Left sadly alone, All its golden companions Are changed, and are gone ; No coin of its kindred, No "fiver" is here, To burn in tobacco, Or melt into beer. — Fun. Quiff (military), the small curl on a soldier's temple just showing under his glengarry or forage cap. Close-cropped hair is one of the indispensable conditions of military smartness, but the curl used to be allowed, or in lieu of it a false curl which was gummed inside the forage cap so as to lie on the forehead. This postiche was especially in favour with men just released from military prison. (Tailors), a word used in ex- pressing an idea that a satis- factory result may be obtained by other than strictly recognised rules or principles. Quiffing in the press (tailors), changing a breast-pocket to the other side. Quiffing the bladder (tailors), drawing the long hair over to hide a bald pate. 158 Quill-driver — Quot. Quill-driver (common), a writer. (Turf), a bookmaker. The annual cricket match between the Press and the Jockeys will be played to- day on the Queen's Club Ground, West Kensington, and my information is to ihe effect that the quill-drivers are likely to have the best of the willow-wielding and leather-flapping engagement with the knights of the pigskin. — Sporting Times. Quiller (common), a parasite ; a person who sucks neatly through a quill, says Hotten. Quill, to (Winchester College), to curry favour with, to flatter. Quilster (Winchester College), a flatterer. Yide To Quill. Quilt, to (popular), to thrash. Much used by tailors. Probably originally a tailor's phrase. Quint (American cowboy), a whip (Spanish). Quisby (popular). Hotten defines this as bankrupt. According to a song " sung with terrific success by Miss Kate Con- stance " it appears to have a slightly different meaning : — When tars have been away on a voyage o'er the sea. They're glad to get home again to have a jolly spree, But when they kiss and cuddle you and won't let you be. Don't it make you feel quisby in the morning ? Quite too nice (society), expression much used bj the assthetic female portion of society, mean- ing much the same as " awfully jolly," aesthetic conversation being largely composed of many adverbs and adjectives strung together. "He is really quite too nice" applied to some die- away gentleman with long hair and black velvet coat, who dabbles in art, and who wor- ships a sunflower, regarding it in the light of the most artistic production of nature. Quius kius (low theatrical), hush ! cease 1 A warning. Quiz (legal), among American law-students a weekly examina- tion in reading is so called. It is equivalent to coaching. Quod (thieves), prison. Probably from the Hindu gypsy quaid, prison. Also said to be from " quadrangle , ' ' within four walls. Here I have been in and out of quod for the last five-and-twenty stretch, and I have a right to get a good billet if any- body has one. — Evening News. Quodded (thieves), imprisoned. Quodger (legal), a corruption of quo jure. Quot (old slang), a man who interferes in household affairs, especially in the kitchen. Rabbit — Rads. 159 R RABBIT (American), a very rough, raging rowdy. Generally heard as " dead rabbit." From a gang of roughs who paraded New York in 1848, carrying a dead rabbit as a standard, the dead rabbit meaning a conquered enemy. Also "dead duck." "A very athletic rowdy fellow ; an extinct political party." Rabbit- suckers, young spendthrifts, fast, licentious young men. Rabbit- pie (popular), a low word for a woman in a sensual or carnal sense ; a prostitute. Rabbit-pie shifter (roughs), a policeman. Probably an allusion to his impeding prostitutes' trade. Vide Kabbit-pie. Never to take notice of vulgar nick- names, such as "slop," "copper," rabbit- pie shifter, " peeler."— iJ/wj/c Hall Song. Rabbit-skin (University), by synecdoche, is the academical hood adorned both at Oxford and Cambridge by the rabbit's white fur. To " get one's rabbit- skin" is to take the B.A. degree. Rabid beast (American cadet), a term applied to a new cadet who is impertinent, i.e., according to the views of those who have been longer in residence. Rabitter (Winchester College), a blow on the head with the wide of the hand, so called from the way of killing a rabbit. Rack (Canadian), on the rack, constantly moving about, travel- ling; "always on the rack" is synonymous with "always on the move." Rack is an abbrevia- tion of "racket," a Canadian snow-shoe. Racket. Originally meaning in England a dodge, manoeuvre, or desire, it has within a few years been greatly extended in the United States, so that one can rarely look through certain news- papers without finding it. You know all the safe-workers arrested here last season were lodging-house bums, and they were up to that racket. — Chicago Tribune. The place was pretty full of all the blackguards in creation then on the same racket. — O'Reilly: Fifty Years on the Trail. Raclan, racklaw (tramps), from the gypsy rakli, a girl. Rads (common), for radicals. " The Rads have a name of more modern political application, for the term 'Eadical,' as a party name, was first applied to Major Cartwright, Henry Hunt, and their associates in 1818. The Americans have many more or less strange nicknames, and one of the last invented has reached this country, only to be in various ways misapplied and misunderstood, we mean the euphonious word mugvmmp " {Coynhill Magazine). i6o Rafe — Rags. He turned him round and right-about All on the Irish shore, Said he, " We'll give P-rn-11 a shake, And make the Rads to roar, My boy ! And make the Rads to roar ! " —Punch. Rafe, ralph (popular), a pawn- broker's duplicate (Hotten). Raft (American), a great number or quantity of anything or of any kind of objects. It is de- rived from the rafts or vast ac- cumulations of floating timber, driftwood, &c. , which some- times form in Western Ameri- can rivers. Rag (popular), the green curtain. Hence the gods shout " Up with the rag" (Common), a con- temptuous term for a newspaper of the inferior sort. The French call this " f euille de chou." A writer in a penny rag, who has him- self failed far more lamentably than Mrs. , and in the same attempt, viz,, to entertain the public. — Sporting Times, (Thieves), a bank-note. Rag-fair (military), kit inspection, at which all the necessaries, shirts, socks, underclothing, the "rags," in short, are displayed. Ragged brigade, the 50th Irish regiment of foot. In his youth he did good service abroad with the Carabineers, the ragged brigade, and the Springers.— r^^ World. Rag off (Americanism), explained by quotation. Well, if that don't " cap all I " That beats the bugs ; it does fairly take the rag off. — Sam Slick : The Clockmaker. Abbreviated from the rag o/the bush." it takes Rag out, to (American), to dress up well. Wall, don't make fun of our clothes in the papers. We are goin' right straight through in these here clothes — we air. We ain't agoin' to rag out till we get to Nevady. — Artemus Ward. Rag proper, to (cowboys), to dress well. Rags (American), bank-bills. Before the war, when there was no uniform currency, the bills of the innumerable banks of the •* wild cat," "blue pup," and "ees' dog" description often circulated at a discount of 50 or 60 per cent., and in a very dirty and tattered condition. These were familiarly called rags, a word still used now and then as a synonym for paper- money. Oh, times are hard 1 folks say. And very well too we know it ; And therefore the best way Is while you're young to go it. The banks are all clean broke, Their rags are good for naught, The specie's all bespoke. So certainly we ought To go it while we're young. — Song o/iZ^o. (Common), to go rags, to share. Rags and sticks (travelling show- men), explained by quotation. When old Sawny Williams, the pro- prietor, came later in the morning, he was horrified at finding his rags and sticks, as a theatrical booth is always termed, just as he had left them the overnight. — Hiiidky : Life and A dven tures of a Cheap Jack. Rag-shop — Raise. i6i Ragf-shop (thieves), a bank. Vide Rag. Rag-splawger (thieves), awealthy man. Vide Rag. Rag stabber (common), a tailor. Rag tacker (popular), a dress- maker. Rag, the (London), explained by- quotation. There is not a single music-hall, from tlie vast " Alhambra" in Leicester Square, to the unaristocratic establishment in the neighbourhood of the Leather Lane, ori- ginally christened the "/?a^-lan," but more popularly known as the ^^ Rng," that I have not visited. And I am bound to confess that the same damning elements are discoverable in one and all. — Green- wood: Seven Curses of London. Rag, to (American University). Hall quotes a correspondent of Union College as follows : — ' ' To rag and ' ragging ' you will find of very extensive appli- cation, they being employed pri- marily as expressive of what is called by the vulgar thieving and stealing, but in a more ex- tended sense as meaning supe- riority. Thus if one declaims or composes much better than his classmates, he is said to rag all his competitors." (English provincial), to abuse, slander. At English universi- ties to annoy, hustle. For other signification vide Ballyeag, its synonym. Rag trade, the (tailors), the tailoring business. Also the mantle-making trade. VOL. n. Rain napper (popular), an um- brella. To nap, to take, seize, receive. Raise a bead, to (American), to aim at, to make sure of. The sight of a rifle is called a bead, hence the term. " To raise a head on him," to take aim at him. Bartlett defines the same phrase as to bring to a head, to succeed, and adds that the figure is taken from brandy, rum, or other liquors which will not raise a head unless of the proper strength. Raised bill (American), a bank- bill which has had the value raised or increased by pasting over it slips cut from other and worthless bills. A couple of young men entered M. Levin & Co.'s saloon, Jefferson and Bar- dell Streets, called for drinks, and tender- ing what appeared to be a $20 bill in pay- ment received the change and left. After they had gone the bill was found to be a clumsily-raised $10. The numbers of a Confederate $20 bill had been pasted over the figures in the corners, while a strip of paper stuck across the " X " on the back gave the bill the appearance of having been pasted together and partially con- cealed the fact that there was only a single "X." — Chicago Tribune. Raise the wind, to (common), an almost recognised phrase. To procure money by borrowing, pawning, or otherwise. In lieu of a calf ! It was too bad by half ! At a "nigger" so pitiful who would not laugh And turn up their noses at one who could find No decenter method of raising the wind? — Ingoldsby Legends. 1 62 Raising — Ramp. Raising an organ (tailors), club- bing clips together to raise a shilling's worth. Rake (popular), a comb. Rake an X, to (American Univer- sity), to recite perfectly. Rake in, to (American), to acquire, win, conquer, make one's own. From the very obvious simile of using a rake of any kind to draw objects together. " Yes," said Tim, with a mournful shake of the head, " Pug's converted. I suppose you've been to the revival meetings of Goodman and Worship. No ! Well, you've met Mike Ratagan on Groghan Street ? Don't know Mike ! Well, they've raked him in too." — Luke Sharp. Raker (turf), a heavy bet. It is said the " new plunger " is standing the favourite for a raker. — Bird o' Free- dont. To go a raker, to make a heavy bet. Rake the pot, to (American), to take the stakes at gambling. The artist sat and drew : No view of frozen Arctic shores. Where icy billow sweeps and roars ; Nor Southern desert, Western plain, Nor colours of the Spanish Main — Nor vision of celestial spot — He drew an ace, and raked the pot! —St. Louis Whip. Rally (common), a row, a fight, a spill. (Theatrical), the rally, the movement by clown, panta- loon, harlequin, and columbine after transformation scene. Ralph (printers), the mischief - monger or " spirit " that is said to haunt men when they will not conform to chapel rules. (See Dr. Franklin's " Waps," 1819, p. 56.) A man is "sent to Coventry " if he dares to defy the decision of the chapel, and many tricks are played on him by his companions in con- sequence. Vide Rafe. Ram (American University), a practical joke, a hoax, Rama Sammy (Anglo - Indian), used as a generic name for all Hindoos, like Tommy Atkins for a British soldier. A twisted roving of cotton in a tube used to furnish light for a cigar. The name Ramo Samee was popularised in 1820 in England by a Hindoo juggler, who first exhibited swallowing a sword. Ramcat or rancat cove (thieves), a man dressed in furs. Ramjam (American), the last morsel eaten after which one is filled to repletion. Ramp (common). This word, when applied to swindling and cheating, e.g., "rampage," thiev- ing and taking in, is evidently of a different origin from ramp, to rage, rear up, and act with violence. It is possibly in the former sense allied to the Yid- dish rame, a deceiver or cheat ; Chaldaic ramons, deceit. Ramp, to rage, occurs in several old English writers, e.g., Jonson. These, it is only fair to say, were mostly ramps, or swindles, got up to obtain the gate-money, and generally interrupted by Ramp — Ranks. 163 circumstances arranged beforehand by those who were going to "cut up" the plunder. — George R. Sims : How the Poor Live. (Thieves), the hall mark on plate. From the rampant lion which is one of the marks. They told me all about the wedge, how I should know it by the ramp. — Horsley : J ottings from. Jail. Vide On the Rampage. Ramper (common), a low fellow, a swindler or ruffian who fre- quents racecourses, generally on welshing expeditions. Hardly a day passes without some mis- creant being charged at police courts, and being recognised by constables as a " welsher," ramper, or "ticket snatcher." These are criminal trades, belonging essen- tially to the racecourse. — Sporting Times. Ramping (thieves), explained by quotation. George Stamper was charged, on re- mand, with felony, technically known as ramping, i.e., calling at the houses where parcels had just been delivered from trades- men to customers, and obtaining posses- sion of them under various pretences. — Standard. (Sports), a swindle, a con- spiracy. The ramping of the Jubilee Plunger at pigeon shooting at Brighton is still the principal topic of conversation. Whether Mr. will pay up and look pleasant, or repudiate, or prosecute the different parties for conspiracy is more than I can say. — Sporting Times. Also vide To Ramp. Ramp, to (thieves), to steal forci- bly from the person. (Sport- ing), to swindle, but more especially to bet against one's own horse. Also to levy black- mail in a brutal manner. From to ramp, to spring with violence. Ramping mad (old), uproariously drunk. Rampoman (thieves), one who plunders by force. InMayhews "Criminal Prisons of London," but obsolete now. Rams, the (American), the deli- rium tremens. ' ' To have the rams" to be extremely eccen- tric. Ram, to (American), to ram one's face in, or on ; to intrude, to force oneself into any company. Ranee sniffle (Texas), mean and dastardly malignity. Peculiar to Georgia. Randlesman (thieves), silk pocket handkerchief, green ground with white spots. Random, three horses driven in a line ; — " Harum-scarum " being four horses driven in a line (Hotten). Reinker (military), an oflScer who has risen from the ranks. Rank outsider (common), a vulgar fellow, a cad. From a racing term applied to a horse outside the rank. A rank outsider might possibly drop from the clouds— just at the bell — but it is hardly possible that Grandisori, or Love- gold, or Lourdes, or Florentine, or Stetch- worth, or any other "ranker" can be the horse. — Sporting Times. Ranks (printers). A compositor that has been promoted to the 1 64 Ranks — Rat. position of overseer or reader is said to return to the ranks again should he be reduced. Attributed by Savage, 1841, to thefact that compositors' frames are placed in ranks or rows. More probably from a military term. Ran-tan (popular), to be on the ran- tan (originally American) is to " be on the big drunk," to be in a fit of drunkenness extending over several days, or it may be weeks, after a period of enforced absti- nence. Possibly from provincial ranter, a large beer jug. The word appears in the works of Taylor, the Water-poet, in 1630. Also "ran-ran," frolic, drunken- ness. My second son's been made a Buff, and goes on the ran-ran. — Broadside Ballad. On the ran-tan also means drunk. Rapparee (old slang), a Tory. Rap, to (thieves), to talk, to say. From "rap out." So I said, "All right;" but he rapped, "It is not all right." — Horsley: Jottings from Jail. To swear. D me ! I scorn to rap against any lady. — Fielding : A melia. Raspberry (coachmen), explained by quotation. One gentleman I came across had a way of finding out the cussedness of this or that animal by a method that I found to be not entirely his own. The tongue is inserted in the left cheek and forced through the lips, producing a peculiarly squashy noise that is extremely irritating. It is termed, I believe, a raspberry, and when not employed for the purpose of testing horseflesh, is regarded rather as an expression of contempt than of admiration. — Sporting Times. The allusion is to a grating noise like that produced by rasping. Raspberry tart (American), a nice dainty girl. Raspberry tart, with a little poke bonnet. And a great big bunch of thingamies upon it. With a pinafore dress that was just the thing. And a little pug dog at the end of a string. — Broadside Ballad. Rasper (Stock Exchange), a big "turn," i.e., a large profit on a bargain. Raspin (old cant), the bridewell So called from the task there of rasping wood. Rasping shorter (cricketers), a ball which swiftly slides along the ground when knocked off by the bat, instead of rebounding. Rat (old cant), a clergyman. " Ratichon " is a very common slang name for a priest in France. (Common), a sneak, informer, turncoat. Also an ab- breviation of water-rai. (Nau- tical), an infernal machine for blowing up insured ships for the purpose of defrauding ship in- surance companies. There are two species of rats. One species is intended to operate upon iron ships, the other upon wooden ones. — Times. (Printers), a workman that accepts work or wages at un- Rat— Rattle. 165 fair rates— not paid according to the existing scale of prices recognised in the locality. Rat house, rat shop (printers), an office where unfair wages are paid — the employes being called "rats," or "furry tails." Rats (popular), to " give a person green rats " is to backbite him. " To be in the rats," to be suf- fering from drink ; to have or see rats, the incipient stage of delirium tremens (see Zola's VAssommoir). (Common), "to have rats in one's garret," to be soft-brained, silly, or idiotic. "Say, mimmaw," Miss Arethusa re- marked, " what's gettin' into you lately. You've got rats in your garret, haven't you?" " No, I haven't anny rats in me garret, ur in me brain, aither, me foine lady," said the widow indignantly — New York Mer- cury. (American), " to have rats,'^ to have wild or eccentric fancies ; a synonym for "rams," or other animals seen by men with ddi- rium tremens. The word rat stands as an opprobrious epithet applied to persons suddenly chang- ing their opinions. Hence the term "rat- ted," which has become so common in late years. Sir Robert Peel seems to have been the first noted person to whom the term rat was applied, and he brou.uht the epithet upon himself by changing his opinions on Catholic Emancipation. Some of our Western editors use the word rats in a way unknown to M. Barrere. For example, if one editor takes a flippant view of what another regards as a grave question, the latter at once declares that "our contem- porary has rats;" and sometimes it will be added that "he has got them bad." Dennis Kearney, of Sand Lots fame, wrote, some years ago, of a certain California capitalist whom he described as a " slab- sided, bung-eyed hyena," and he said also that the capitalist had rats.—C. Leland Harrison: MS. Collection of American- isms. Ratted (common), applied to a "rat," i.e., a turncoat. Rattled, to get (American), to become nervous, shaky, to lose presence of mind. Anarchist August Vincent Theodor Spies was the next witness. Spies was a failure. He got rattled. He was ner- vous and fidgety while trying to be smart, and both in his manner and in his damaging admissions he was the worst witness the defence has yet called. — Chi- cago Tribune. She lifted up another shovelful, but the exertion caused her to slip, and she got rattled. — Detroit Free Press. Rattler (old cant), a coach. (Thieves), a railway train. As soon as he got round a double, I guyed away to Maiden, and touched for two wedge teapots, and took the rattler to Waterloo. — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. (American), a neck-tie. It is a very curious coincidence that so far back as 1831 a comic writer spoke of a very great swell as one who " Is on fashion leading-tattler, And his tie's a real rattler" and that recently in America cravats are made of rattlesnakes' skins. Rattle, to give the (American thieves), to talk to a man so as to divert his attention, as, for instance, while robbing him. To confuse by talking. " Give him. the rattle with your mouth all the time you're working him," said Mr i66 Rattling — Reader. Sutton. " Tell him he mustn't fall asleep in a public place. " — Confidence Crooks : Philadelphia Press. Rattling (general), jolly, excel- lent, smart, as rattling bait, first-class food, excellent eating. That's my plan. Give 'em bumping weight (with the little finger in) and shout, "There you are, all that lot for tuppence, it's rattling bait I " and they swallers it like jam. — S. May: Hurrah for a Costers Life'. Rattling gloke (old cant), a coach- Rat-trap (popular), a woman's bustle. Rawg (tinker), a waggon. Raw lobsters (common), a nick- name at one time applied to policemen. It was originated about fifty years ago by the Weeldy Despatch, and was de- rived from the blue coats of the then new force. Soldiers had previously been called, and were then known, as lobsters, from their red coats, and as when caught and previous to boiling a lobster is of a dark bluish hue, the policemen were called raw lobsta-s to distinguish them from soldiers. Rawnie. This word, according to Hotten, is the gypsy for a young woman. It has, however, no such meaning in Komany, where it is invariably applied to a lady. From the Hindustani ranee, a queen. •' Dui Romany chals were bitchadey pardel, Bitchadey parlo boro panT. Platos for kaurin, Lasho for chorin, The putsi avri a boro rawnee " — " Two gypsies were transported, trans- ported across the great water, Plato for pilfering, Lewis for stealing the pocket from a great lady. " Rawniel, runniel (tinker), beer. Tnpo-rauniel, a pot of beer. Razor (American University), a pun. Many of the members of this time- honoured institution, from whom we ought to expect better things, not only do their own shaving but actually make their own razors. But I must explain for the bene- fit of the uninitiated. A pun in the elegant college dialect is called a razor, while an attempt at a pun is styled a sick razor. The sick ones are by far the most numerous ; however, once in a while you meet with one in quite respectable health. — Yale Literary Magazine. Reacher (pugilistic), a blow. And our pugilistic hero felt his courage go to zeroj When the stranger started making matters snug. By landing sundry reachers on our hero's classic features — Or, in plainer phraseology, his " mug." — Sporting Times. Reach-me-downs, hand- - me -downs (common), clothes bought at second-hand shops. In French " d^crochez-moi 9a." The phrase has now the more extended meaning of ready- made articles as opposed to those made to order. Read and write (thieves' rhyming slang), flight. Also to fight. Reader (thieves and tinker), a letter, book, newspaper. I Reader — Red. 167 He rubbed his hands so strongly on a man's body that anything in the shape of a piece of thread, a pencil, or a bit of reader (newspaper) could be discovered, but he never looked at the handkerchief which was paneled loosely between the thumb and forefinger. — Evening News. Also a pocket-book. "Agreed," replied the tinker; "but first let's see wot he has got in his pockets." " Vith all my 'art," replied the sandman, searching the clothes of the victim. "A reader! — I hope it's well lined." — Ains- worth: Auriol. (Tinkers), " you're readered sooblee," you are put in the Police Gazette, my man ; there is a de- scription of you published. Read, to (Stock Exchange), to try to ascertain by the expres- sion of a man's features what his intentions are. Ready (common), money. Also ready stuff. While limiting expenses in this true Arcadian way, He borrowed all the ready which at her disposal lay, Promising the loan he would infallibly repay — Sm'other time. —Bird o' Freedom. Ready-gilt (thieves and popular), money. Vide Gilt. Readying (turf), explained by quotation. Do you mean to say that you don't know what was meant by readying Suc- cess? — Of course I know what it means. It means pulling. — Standard. Ready-reckoners, the Highland regiments of the British army (Hotten). Ready thick 'un (thieves and others), a sovereign. To his appetite still royal, he soon stormed the Caf^ Royal, Where he blewed a ready thick 'un on some dinner. — Sporting Times. Real jam. Vide Jam. " She's real jam, she is, by Jove!" — so said the Johnny, as he strove To make the very most of his position ; For though he in the front row sat, his opera-glass was levelled at The tasty choregraphic exhibition. — Sporting Times. Ream (theatrical), good. From ream, cream, a synonym for anything unusually good. Swetter than ani milkes rem. — Leg. Catholic, 13th century. " Reaming," getting on well. Reckoning up (common), talking of, usually in a slanderous manner. It was in the dressing-room, and they were reckoning up an absent friend in a manner peculiar to the profession. " How anybody can consider her an actress," sneered "Tottie, " I'm sure I can't imagine. And yet she has the temerity to call herself an artist 1 " "And why not, dear?" said Lottie "I'm sure she paints very nicely 1" — Sporting Times. Red (stage, thieves, &c.), gold. Same in Icelandic. In French cant jaune. In furbesche or Italian cant rossume, literally redness. (American), a cent. In French slang, a sou. Red eel (West American), an abusive term. "Stranger," said I, "you're a red eel! "—Crockett's Almanac. 1 68 Red — Relieving. Red flannel (popular), the tongue. Red fustian (popular), port wine. Redge, ridge (thieves), gold. Probably from red, which see. Red herring (popular), a soldier. " The terms," says Hotten, "are exchangeable, the fish being often called a soldier." Red kettle. Fide Kettle. " What did you earn on an average by your trade as a thief? " " Generally from two to three pounds a week clear. You see, I laid myself out for picking pockets, and I generally got two or three 'red kettles' a week." "What is a red kettle V I inquired, feeling ashamed of my ignorance. '* A redkettle is a gold watch. " — Evening News. Red lane (common), the throat. Red liner (beggars), an officer of the Mendicity Society. Red rag (popular), the tongue, also "red flannel." In French slang " le chiffon rouge." Bah, Peter ! your red rag will never be %\\\\. — Beaco)isfield: Venetia. Redraw (prison), back-slang for warder. Oh, I know now ! It was for shying a lump of wet oakum at the redraw.— J. Greenwood : Low Life Deeps. Red ribbon (thieves), brandy. Red 'un (thieves), a sovereign. She observed, "You'll give me some- thing — won't you, kid?" So the youth, her wish obeying, placed a coin down — gently saying — "There's a red'un — or in other words 'a quid I ' " —Sporting Times. Also a watch. Reefing (thieves), drawing with the fingers. " Reefing up into work," is drawing up the pocket until the portemonnaie or purse is within reach of th# fingers. Reeler (thieves), a policeman. From his rolling gait when sauntering about. One of my pals said, " There is a reeler over there who knows me, we had better spli^out. " — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Reesbin (tinker), prison. Refresher, a fee paid to a barrister daily in addition to his retaining fee, to remind him of the case intrusted to his care (Dr. Brewer). Regimental fire (military), some particular regimental custom carried out after drinking a toast, generally on great oc- casions. The usual loyal toasts were drunk with much enthusiasm and honoured with regimental fire. — Standard. Regulars (thieves), a thief's share of the spoil. They were quarrelling about the regu- lars. — Times. Reign, to (Australian prison), to be at liberty. " A wire never reigns long," a pickpocket is not long without being appre- hended. Reliever, a coat worn in turn by any party of poor devils whose wardrobes are in pawn (Hotten). Relieving officer (University), a father. Religious — Revelation. i6g Religious (Texas), quiet, good. It is amusing to hear a Texan ask when about to purchase a horse, "Is he religious ? " Generally a mustang is anything but that. It means, Is he free from vice ? and as Texan horses are notorious for sulking and kicking, the in- quiry seems a trifle superfluous. Remedy (Winchester School), (quasi dies remissionis), on Tues- day or Thursday. If there was any reasonable excuse, prefect of hall used to go up to the doctor after chapel and asked if they might have a remedy. If this was granted the doctor gave him a ring {remedy ring), and there was a half-holiday, except that all who had not studied had to sit in hall from 9 to II A.M. There is still a remedy every Thursday in cloister time. There used formerly to be a remedy every Tuesday and Thursday, now there is only a half rem. A holiday at Winchester is termed a remedy ..." remiday," i.e., remission day. — Pascoe : Our Public Schools. Remi (Westminster School), re- mission from tasks. Renovator (tailors), one who does repairs. Rent (old cant), to collect the rent, to rob travellers on the highway. A rent collector, a robber of money only. Reptile (American cadet), a new cadet. Re-raw, to be on the (popular), to be on a prolonged drunken spree. Respun (tinker), to steal. Resurrection (tailors), the warm- ing up of some previous leav- ing. Resurrection pie (common), a pie supposed to be made of scraps and leavings. Ret (printers), a pressman or ma- chine-minder terms the second side of a sheet or " reiteration " thus. Retree (printers), a term derived from the French retrii, picked again, and used by printers and stationers to denote out- side or bad sheets in a ream. An equivalent perhaps to the old term "Cassie" paper, quoted by Moxon, 1683. The term is indicated by stationers by two crosses ( x x ). Returned empty (clerical), un- charitable name for retired colonial bishops of the class that the late Bishop Blomfield described as forming the "Home and Colonial " Episcopate. Revelation (American), to have a revelation, to take a drink. A phrase invented by C. F. Browne. Smith did a more flourishing business m the prophet line than Brigham Young does. Smith used to have his little reve- lation almost every day — sometimes two before dinner. Brigham Young only takes one once in a -while.—Artemus Ward: Brigham Young. I/O Reviver — Ribhers. Will you have a revelation, Mr. Jones, an outpouring of the spirit — Monongahela or brandy— I've got 'em both?— 5". Courier: Hard and Fast. Reviver (common), a drink, a " pick-me-up" or stimulant. It was but twelve o'clock, and therefore early for revivers of any sort. — The Golden Butterfly. Reward (kennel), dogs' or hounds' supper. Also the blood and en- trails of the objects of chase. R'ghoglin, gogh'leen (tinker), to laugh. Rhino (common), money, Why gold and silver Should be christened rhino. As I'm a sinner. Blow me tight if I know. —Punch. If my rhino had lasted longer I might have got into worse company still. — Green- wood: Odd People in Odd Places. The word rMno can be traced back to the restoration of Charles 11. The Seaman's Adieu, an old ballad dated 1670, has the following : — Some as I know Have parted with their ready rino. Dr. Brewer suggests that it came from the German rinos, a nose, alluding to the Swedish nose-tax. Other suggested de- rivations are the Scottish rino and the Spanish rindn, meaning kidney; "tener cubierto el rin6n " signifies to be wealthy. Again it may have been coined from the phrase, " to pay through the nose," i.e., to pay a high price. " Probably as a Yorkshire and Northern word from the Scan- dinavian or Danish ren or reno, fine, brilliant, shining ; a com- mon synonym in every language for money, as the ' shiners.' In the Icelandic Skaldespraket, or poets' language (a part of the Edda), the word Mine (Khen- floden) is, however, given as one of the twenty terms for gold, because the great treasure of the Nibelungen lies in it " (0. G. Leland: Notes). Rhinoceral, rich. Vide Rhino. Thou shalt be rhinoceral, my lad, thou shalt. — Shadwell: Squire of Alsatia. Rhyme-slinger, a vulgar term for a poet. " Poetic license," said Doss Chiderdoss, " is all very well, but you have to pay for it now and again." " Exactly," observed Miss Park Palings. " I suppose you have to take out a license the same as you do for dogs." But the highly indignant rhyme-slinger had rushed oflf to Yaughan's to get a stoup of liquor. — Sporting Times. Rib (popular), a wife ; of Biblical origin. Rib bender (pugilistic), a violent blow in the ribs. If it had killed the man, he deserved it, the rough fellow. I afterwards heard that it was some time before he recovered the rib-benderh& got from the fat show- woman. — Hindley : Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. Ribbers (pugilistic), blows in the ribs. Yet, sprightly to the scratch both buffers came, While ribbers rung from each resounding frame. — Thomas Moore : Works. Ribbon — Right. 171 Ribbon (popular), gin or other spirits. Vide Ked Kibbon. Ribbons (common), the reins ; to handle the ribbons, to drive. Rib-roaster, colloquially a rap across the body at singlestick. Much resorted to in the old cudgelling or " backswording " play for the purpose of trying to bring the opponent's guard down, and thus obtain an open- ing at his head. An old term. And he departs, not meanly boasting Of his magnificent rib-roasting, — Hudibras. (Pugilistic), a smart blow in the ribs. There's a regular rib-roaster for you ! — C. Bede : Verdant Green. Rice-bags (popular), trousers. Richard (schools), a dictionary. From the abbreviation die (Dick) of dictionary. Ricochet (American cadet), gay, splendid. Ridgecully (old cant), a goldsmith. From ridge, gold, and cuUy, man. Riding on the cheap. Vide Duck, Doing a. Riding the donkey (thieves), cheating in weight. Rig (booksellers). H. J. Byron says a rig is a term which signifies in the book trade a sale by auction, where the lots are " missed " by the proprietor or proprietors. And a leading bookseller says that these rigs have now (1868) become a re- cognised feature in the business. Rig is good English for sportive trick, lively frolic, bit of mis- chief. The rig in auction sales is a trick by which the dealers agree not to bid against one another, buy low, and resell by a mock auction called "knock out." A man is said to have the rig run upon him when he has to undergo a number of false imputations. Right as rain (popular), quite right, safe, comfortable. There was six of us took the rattler at King's Cross by the first train in the morning, and we'd got three briefs and a old 'un with the date sucked off — right as rain we was ! We got a kerridge all to ourselves, nice and comfortable. — Sporting Times. Right man (tailors), the workman who makes the right forepart, and finishes the coat. Right smart (American), a " right smart of work," a large amount of work ; the phrase is further explained by the following quo- tation. Mayor Hewitt has laid out what they call in the far West " a right smart of work," and it will be interesting to see what the less energetic aldermen are going to do about it. — New York Times. Right smart chance, many, much, a good occasion. Rights, to (thieves), to have one to rights, to be even with him. "You are to rights this time," there is a clear case against you. Right up to the handle (Ameri- can), thoroughly ; " he is a good fellow wp to the handled' 1/2 Rtgs — Ring. Rigs (popular), clothes. From the expression "to rig out," "to rig up," which see. I fancy that the style is neat, Look at my tile, and twig my feet. With r/gy like mine you seldom meet, Eh! Rather! — //. Jioss : The Husbands Boat. Rig, to (Stock Exchange), to un- duly inflate a security by fair means or foul. (Mercantile), to rig the market, to play tricks so as to defraud purchasers. (Popular), "