Slang & Its Analogues Vol. 6 (1903)

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Slang

AND ITS

Analogues

Past and Present

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

WITH SYNONYMS IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN,

ITALIAN, ETC.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY

JOHN S. FARMER & W. E. HENLEY

VOL. VI.—Rea to Stozzle.

PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

mcmiii.

cher (ç.v.)

each er, SUbs.

(pugilistic). — I. A blow delivered at long point.

2. (colloquial). —An exaggeration ; a stretsee whopper.

1662. Fuller, Worthies, ii. 117. I can hardly believe that reacher . . . that " with the palms of his hands he could touch his knees, though he stood upright."

Reach-me-down, subs. phr. (common).—In pi. = second-hand or ready-made clothes : also handme-downs : Fr. décrochez-moi-ça. Also as adi.

i860. Thackeray, Philip, xxiv. In the Palais Royal they hang out the most splendid reach-me-down dressing-gowns, waistcoats, and so forth.

1875. Besant and Rice, Harp and Crown, xv. The capitalist who can afford two new pairs of second-hand machinemade reach-me-downs in a single winter. Where is he, I say ?

1888. W. S. Caine, Trip Round the World, xii. The gentlemen attire themselves in ready-made reach-me-downs of black cloth, shiny patent-leather shoes, and round pot-hats.

Read. To read between the lines, verb. phr. (colloquial).— To look into a milestone ; to quest for hidden meanings in plain English.

1883. Gentleman's Mag., June. They read between the unes, as they say, and find that two and two are intended to represent five.

TO read the paper, Verb.

phr. (common).—To take a nap : see Doss.

Read-and-write, subs, (rhyming). —Flight. Also, as verb. = to fight.

Reader, subs, (thieves').—1. A pocket-book ; (2) a newspaper, letter, &c. Whence to read = to steal ; reader-hunter (or -merchant) = a pickpocket, a dummy-hunter (ç.v.); readered = advertised in the Police Gazette-, wanted (ç.v.).—Parker, Grose, Vaux, Bee.

c. 1819. Song, ' The Young Prig ' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 82]. And I my reading learnt betime, From studying pocket-books, Sirs.

1828. Bee, Picture of London, 286. For this purpose they had an old pocketbook, or reader now put into one pocket, now into another.

Ready, 4

Rear.

1829. Vidocq's Memoirs, ' On the Prigging Lay' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 107. I stops a bit : then toddled quicker, For I'd prigged his reader, drawn his ticker.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookivood, iii. v. None knap a reader like me in the lay.

1842. Egan, ' Jack Flashman ' (in Capt. Macheath). Jack long was on the town, a teazer ; Could turn his fives to anything, Nap a reader, or filch a ring.

1859. Matsell, ' A Hundred Stretches Hence ' [ Vocabulum]. The bugs, the boungs, and well-filled readers.

Ready (The) (Ready-stuff, -John, -gilt,or ready-money),

subs. (old).—i. Money : spec, money in hand (B. E. and Grose). Hence ready thick'un = a sovereign ; 20/: see Rhino.

c.1618. Webster and Rowley, Cure for a Cuckold, ii. 2. Ready money is the prize I look for.

1688. Shadwell, Sç. of Alsatia, 1. Take up on the reversion, 'tis a lusty one ; and Cheatly will help you to the ready.

1712. Arbuthnot, History of John Bull, i. iii. He was not flush in ready, either to go to law or to clear old debts.

1732. Fielding, Covent Garden Tragedy, ii. 1. Therefore, come down the ready, or I go. Ibid. (1743), Jonathan Wild (1893), 28. Mr. Wild immediately conveyed the larger share of the ready into his pocket.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 1. v. The notoriety [Logic] had obtained . . . for the Waste of Ready in Hoyle's Dominions, was great indeed.

1840. Barham, Ingold. Leg. (Merchant of Venice). While, as for the ready, I'm like a Church-mouse,—I really don't think there's five pounds in the house.

2. (colloquial). — Prepared. Hence, a good ready = on

the spot (q.v).

1886. ^ Roosevelt, Hunting Trips, 119. Patiently and noiselessly from the leeward . . , his rifle at the ready.

Verb, (racing). — To pull a horse.

1886-96. Marshall, Nobbled ['Pomes,' 114]. He made us all . . . believe he could ready his chance.

1889. Sporting Times, 29 June. So as not to let the favourite be readied.

Real, adj. and adv. (originally American : now general). — A superlative : very; quite ; really. Whence real fine, glad, good, &c. = very fine, glad, good, &c, indeed ; real jam = an acme : see Jam ; real grit = ' sound to the core' : see grit ; the real (or the real thing)

= the genuine article.

c. 1830. American Humour, 1. I reckon the chaplain was the real grit for a parson—always doin' as he'd be done by, and practisin' a darn'd sight more than he preached.

1841. Thackeray, Men and Pictures, . . . Persons who make believe that they are handing you round tokay— giving you the real imperial Stuff.

1872. C. D. Warner, Blacklog Studies, 4. A cynic might suggest as the motto of modern life this simple legend— ' Just as good as the real.'

1879. Justin M'Carthy, Donna Quixote, xvii. But I do like her. I took to her from the first . . . Real jam, I call her.

1885. Punch, 3 Jan., 4, 2. Without Real Jam—cash and kisses—this world is a bitterish pill.

Ream. See Rum.

Ream-penny, subs. phr. (old).— Peter-pence (that is ' Rome 'penny). To reckon one's ream pennies = to confess one's faults.

Rear, subs. (University).—Ajakes : also as verb.

Rebec.

Recruit.

Rebec (or Rebeck), subs, (old colloquial).—An old woman : in reproach : cf. Ribibe.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, ' Friar's Tale,' 275. Here woneth an old rebekke That hadde almost as lief to lese hire nekke As for to geve a peny of hir good.

Receipt-of-Custom, subs. phr. (venery).—The femaleptidendum ; theCustom's-house (' where Adam made the first entry ') : see Monosyllable. Hence Custom'shouse officer = the penis (Grose).

Receiver-general, subs. phr. (old).—I. A prostitute : j^Tart.

2. (pugilists').—A boxer giving nothing for what he gets.

Recker, The (or Rekker), subs. (Harrow).—The town recreationground. [Where the school sports are held.]

Reckon, verb, (once literary: now American). —To think; to suppose ; to consider—peculiar to the Middle and Southern States, and provincial [Halliwell] in England : cf. guess and calculate.

1611. Bible, Isaiah xxxviii. 13. I reckoned \margin, R.V. = thought] till morning that as a lion, so will he break all my bones. Ibid., Rom. viii. 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy, &c.

rf.1745. Swift, Nobles and Commons, v. I reckon it will appear to many as a very unreasonable paradox.

1776. Foote, Bankrupt, iii. What, you are a courtier, I reckon ?

1825. Scott, St. Roman's Well, x. I reckon you'll be selling out the whole— it's needless making two bites of a cherry.

1889. Century Diet. [American], s.v. Reckon, v. it. 6. The use of reckon in this sense [to hold a supposition or impression] though regularly developed and found in good literature . . . has by reason of

its frequency in colloquial speech in some

parts of the United States, especially in the South (where it occupies a place like that of ' guess ' in New England), come to be regarded as provincial or vulgar].

1892. Gunter, Miss Dividend, iii. Reckon your pap has had too much railroad and mine on his hands to be able to even eat for the last month.

To reckon up, verb phr. (colloquial).—To gauge a person ; TO measure [q.v.) ; TO size (q.v.). Hence, to slander ; to back-bite.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, liv. 447. Mr. Tulkinghorn employed me [Bucket, the detective] to reckon up her Ladyship.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, j. 33. The officer spotted him directly, and if he could not reckon him up himself, would mark him for the attention of someone else.

See Chickens and Host.

Reckoning. See Accounts.

Record. To beat (break, cut, lower, or smash) the record, verb phr. (colloquial : chiefly athletic).—To surpass all previous performances, ' to go one better ' {q.v.).

Recordite, subs, (obsolete clerical). —The Low Church Party of the Established Church. [Their organ

was The Record.']

1854. Conybeare, Church Parties, 16. This exaggeration of Evangelicalism, sometimes called the Puritan, sometimes, from its chief organ, the Recordite party. Ibid. It is a popular delusion that the Recordites are excluded from public amusements.

Recreant, subs, (old : now recognised).—'A Poltron, or Coward, one that eats his Words, or unsaies what he said.'—B.E.(f. 1696. )

Recruit, subs. (Old Cant).—In pi. = money in prospect : e.g., ¹ Have you raised the recruits?' =

Rector.

Red.

* Has the money come in ? '—B. E. Whence (Grose) recruiting service = ⁴ robbing on the highway.'

Rector, subs, (common).—i. A poker kept for show : curate (q.v.) = the work-a-day iron ; (2) the bottom half of a tea-cake or muffin (as getting more butter), the top half" being the curate, and so forth.

Rector of the females, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis: see Prick.

1647-80. Rochester, Poems. Then pulling out the rector of the females, Nine times he bath'd him in their piping tails.

Red, subs, and adj. (thieves').—1. Gold : also red-un : Fr. jaune ( = yellow) ; Ital. rossume ( = redness). Red-rogue (old) = a gold piece ; red-toy (or kettle) = a gold watch ; red-tackle = a gold chain. Cf. ruddock. Red-un also = a sovereign.

1617. Fletcher, Mad Lover, v. 4. There's a red rogue, to buy thee handkerchiefs.

1879. Macm. Mag., xl. 502. I touched for a red toy and red tackle.

1888. Sims, Plank Bed Ballad \Referte, 12 Feb.]. A toy and a tackle— both red-'uns.

e.1886. Sporting Times [S. J. and C.]. "There's a red-'un—or in other words 'a quid."'

1901. D. Telegraph, 14 May, 11, 5. You have got a fine rkd-'un. Ibid. You just now alluded to your watch as a red'un.—Cooper : I did. And then you explained that "red-'un" was thieves'slang. —So it is.

2. (common). — Variously applied to objects red in colour : as (1) a red herring (q.v.) ; (2) in pl., the menses : whence red-rag = the menstrual cloth ; to flash

the red rag = to have one's courses ; (3) in pi. = blushes : also red-rag, whence to mount the red rag (or flag) = to blush ; (4) a Red Republican : spec. (France '93) a violent revolutionary of the established order. See also Admiral, Red-cent, and Red-coat.

Combinations are numerous — The red-ace (or C) = the female pudendum : see Monosyllable ; red-book = a book of the officers of State or the Peerage : cf Blue-book ; redbreast = a Bow-St. runner (they wore red waistcoats) ; also see infra ; red-cent [see quot. 1889, Nary and Nickel) ; red-coat = a soldier : also the reds ; red-cock — an incendiary fire ; red-cross (see quot. 1626) ; reddog (see Shinplaster) ; redeel = a term of contempt ; redeye (or red -head) = fiery whiskey ; red-eye sour = whiskey and lemon ; red-flannel = the tongue : see Rag, 2 ; red-fustian = (1) port, (2) claret (B. E. and Grose), and (3) porter : also red-tape ; redgrate (see red-lattice) ; redhead = a red-haired person, a carrots (q.V.) ; red-herring

= a soldier : cf soldier = a redherring ; red-horse = a native of Kentucky ; red-hot (adj. ) = violent, extreme : red-letter day = (1) a Church festival (printed in red characters in the Calendar) : hence (2) a happy day or lucky occasion (Geose) : whence red-letter man = a Roman Catholic (B. E. and Grose) ; red-liner (see quot. 1851) ; red-petticoat {see quot. 1670) ; red-rag (see Rag and Red), and (2) = a source of annoyance or disgust : usually ' a

Red.

red-rag to a mad-bull ' ; redribbon = brandy (Grose) : cf.

white-satin ; red-sail docker

= a buyer of stores stolen out of the royal yards and docks (Grose) ; red-skin = a North American Indian.

e.1485. Lady Bessy (Queen of Henry VII.) [Percy Soc. Pub. xx.]. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 396. We now first hear of reade coates, Lord Stanley's soldiers ; a well-known word in Cromwell's day, 130 years later].

1626. Smith, Treatise on English Sea Terms [Arber], 262. [Oliphant, New English, ii. 66. An English ship is called a red crosse].

1662. Rump Songs, ii. 5. Our Politique Doctors do us teach, That a Bloodsnarling Red-coat's as good as a Leech.

1670. Ray, Proverbs [Y$ei.iJ\, 59. The lass in the red petticoat shall pay for it. Young men answer so when they are chid for being so prodigal and expensive ; meaning, they will get a wife with a good portion, that shall pay for it.

1707. Ward, Hud. Rediv., 11. iii., 24. A drum was beaten on the ground By an old red coat.

c.1720. Old Song [Durfey, Pills, &c. (1720) vi. 324]. Old musty Maids that have Money . . . May have a Bit for their Bunny, To pleasure them in their Beds, Their hearts will turn to the Red-coats.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering. . . . We'll see if the red cock craw not in his bonny barn-yard ae morning before day dawning.

1826. Cooper, Last of Mohicans [Bartlett]. What may be right and proper in a red-skin may be sinful in a man who has not even a cross in his blood to plead for his ignorance.

1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, 80. A tumbler of blue ruin fill, fill for me, Red tape those as likes it may drain.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, 1. ix. Famous wine this—beautiful tipple—better than all your red fustian.

1848. Ruxton, Far West, 8. Jest then seven darned Red Heads top the bluff. Ibid., ii. Being as a Redskin, thirsting for their lives.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, xxv. A woman who was intimate with every duchess in the Red Book.

1851. Mayhew, London Lab., ii. 564. The Red Liners, as we calls the Mendicity officers, who goes about in disguise as gentlemen, to take up poor boys caught begging.

c.1852. Traits of Amer. Humour, 11. 114. With their furniture, and the remains of a forty-two gallon red-head.

1852. Bristed, Upper Ten Thousand, 144. It was a great catch for Miss Lewison, without a red cent of her own.

1861. Macaulay, Eng. Hist., iii. " Oliver's redcoats had once stabled their horses there."

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, . . . " Salted provisions and red-eye to boot " is the refrain of many a rude song, and if the latter is fiery and raw it is none the less welcome.

1883. C. Marvin, Gates of Herat, 98. These opinions cannot but be so many red rags to English Russophobists.

1889. Century Diet., s.v. Red. The copper cent is no longer current, but the phrase red cent remains in use as a mere emphatic form of cent : ' as it is not worth a red cent.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 15 Dec. When I got up on election morning I hadn't a blamed red in my pockets.

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, 33. Who would take her for twentyfive, and an old traveller, to see her mounting the red rag like a girl of fourteen ?

1896. Crane, Maggie, ix. Not a cent more of me money will yehs ever get —not a red.

1899. Whiteing, John St., 217. Won't it be fine to see the sojers on 'orseback ? I hope its the Reds.

1892. Kipling, Barrack-room Ballads. ' Tommy.' The publican 'e up an' sez, ' We serve no Red-coats here.'

1892. Globe, 28 Sept. 6, 1. On his journey he gathers the anathemas of those to whom the literary picture is the red rag.

Neither fish, flesh, fowl,

nor good red-herring, phr.

(old).—Nondescript ; neither one thing nor another ; neither hay nor grass.—Ray.

1528. Rede me and be nott Wrothe, i. iij. b. Wone that is nether flesshe

nor fisshe.

Redbreasts. 8 Red-lane.

1530. Tyndale, Works [Parker Soc. i. 299]. We know not whether they be good or bad, or whether they be fish or flesh.

1546. Heywood, Proverbs, i. x. Shee is neither fish, nor flesh, nor good

red herring.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV., iv. 3. She's neither fish nor flesh ; a man knows not where to have her.

1656. Muses Reer. [Hotten], 94. They are neither fish, flesh, nor good

red herring.

[?] Marsden, Hist. Ch. Churches, i. 267. "They were neither Parsons, nor Vicars, nor stipendiary curates ; in fact, They were neither fish, nor flesh,

nor good red herring."

1683. Dryden, Duke of Guise, Epil. Damn'd Neuters, in their Middle way of Steering, Are neither Fish, nor Flesh, nor good Red Herring.

TO PAINT (or VARNISH) THE TOWN RED (or CRIMSON), verb, ■bhr. (American).—See quot.

1889. Detroit Free Press, 9 Mar. Painting the town red undoubtedly originated among the cowboys of western Texas, who, upon visits to frontier towns, would first become very drunk, or pretend to be so, and then mount their bronchos, gallop up and down the principal street, shooting at anything, and signifying their intention to paint the whole town red if any opposition to their origies was attempted. It was a mere extravagant threat : one constable could usually put the whole band in the calaboose.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 105. Now, do come ... to see us row. We've got a good chance of going head, and if we do, my eye, won't we paint the whole place red on Tuesday night !

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 17 Oct., 2, 3. He appears here as the typical Johnnie . . . whose aid is sought by young men who are desirous of painting the town

red.

Redbreasts (The), subs. phr. (military). —i. The 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers.

2. See Red.

Red Feathers (The), subs. phr. (military).—The late 46th Foot, now the 2nd Batt. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. [A light company were brigaded with others in 1777 as "The Light Battalion. " The Americans, harassed by the Brigade, vowed "No Quarter." In derison, to prevent mistakes, the Light Battalion dyed their feathers red.] Also " Murray's Bucks" ; " The Surprisers " ; " The Lacedemonians " ; and " The Docs."

Redge (or Ridge), subs. (old).— Gold : see Red, subs. 1. Hence redge-cully = a goldsmith.

1665. Head, English Rogue (1874), i. v. 52, s.v. Ridge-cully.

1741. Kentish Post, No. 2479, 4, 1.,

s.v.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, 111. v. With my thimble [watch] of ridge.

Red-knights, subs.phr. (military). —The Cheshire Regiment (formerly the Twenty-second Regiment of Foot). [In 1795 ^ ^wasserved with red jackets, waistcoats and breeches in lieu of the proper uniform. ] Also The Two Two's.

Red (or Scarlet) Lancers (The),

subs. phr. (military).—The 16th (The Queen's) Lancers. [The only Lancer regiment with a scarlet tunic]

Red-lane (-close or -sea), subs, phr. (old).—The throat ; gutteralley {q.v.).—Grose.

1566. Udal, Roister Deister, i. 3. M. Mumb. And sweete malte maketh ioly good ale for the nones. Tib Talk. Whiche will slide downe the lane without any bones.

1814. Colman, Poetical Vagaries (1814), 75. O butter'd egg, best eaten with a spoon, I bid your yelk glide down my throat's red lane.

Red-lattice.

9 Red-tape.

Red-lattice (or -lettice), subs, phr. (old).—An ale-house sign. Hence red-lattice phrases = pothouse talk : also green lattice ; red-grate = tavern or brothel, or both combined.— B. E. and Grose.

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives,

ii. 2. Vour cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice phrases, and yfcur bold beating oaths. Ibid. (1598), 2 Henry IV., ii. i. He called me even now, my lord, through a red lattice.

1596. ToNSON, Ev. Man in his Humour, iii. 3. I dwell, sir, at the sign of the Water Tankard, hard by the Green⁷Lattice : I have paid Scot and lot there any time this eighteen years.

1602. Marston, Auton. and Mellida, v. No, I am not sir Jeffery Balurdo : I am not as well known by my wit, as an alehouse by a red lattice.

c.1607. WiLKiNS, Mis. of Inf. Marr [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), v. 44]. Be mild in a tavern ! 'tis treason to the redlattice, enemy to the sign post, and slave to humour.

1622. Massinger, Virgin Martyr,

iii. 3. Spun. I see then a tavern and a bawdy-house have faces much alike ; the one hath red grates next the door, the other hath peeping-holes within-doors.

Redraw, subs, (back slang).—A warder ; a jigger-dubber (ç.v.).

1875. Greenwood, Low-life Deeps. Shying a lump of wet oakum at the redraw.

Redshanks, subs. (old).—See quots.—Grose.

c.1540. Eldar [Pinkerton. Hist. Scot., ii. 396]. Both summer and winter . . . going always barelegged and barefooted . . . therefore ... as we use and delight, so to go always, the tender delicate gentlemen of Scotland call us Redshanks.

1542. Boorde, Worki, [E. E. T. S.] [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 495. We see redshank (applied to the Irish)].

1565. Stapleton, Bede, B iii., 04. A priest . . . called Columban cam from Ireland into Britany to prêche the woorde of God to the Redshankes [Picti] as dwelt in the south quarters.

1577. Holinshed, Hist. Scotland, 318. In the battle of Bannockburn were three thousande of the Irish Scots, otherwise called Kateranes or Redshanks.

rf.1599. Spenser, State of Ireland. He [Robert Bruce, 1306-30] sent over his brother Edward with a power of Scots and redshanks unto Ireland, where they got footing.

1610. England's Eliza, M irr. M. 804 [Nares]. When the redshankes on the borders by.

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. High-land-men, who for the most part speake nothing but Irish ; and in former time were . . . called the red-shankes.

1730. Burt, Letters, i. 74 [Note]. In the lowlands of Scotland, the rough footed Highlanders were called Redshanks from the colour of the red-deer hair.

1809. Scott, Lady of Lake, Ix. [Note]. The ancient buskin was made of the undress'd deer hide . . . which procured the Highlanders the well-known epithet of Red-shanks.

3. (Old Cant). — A turkey. [Properly the pool-snipe.]

1707. Old Song, ' Rum Mort's Praise of Her Faithless Maunder ' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 36]. Redshanks then I could not lack.

c.T725. Old Song, ' Retoure my dear dell [New Canting Diet.]. On redshanks and tibs thou shalt every day dine.

4. (Old Cant).—A duck or drake.—Harman and B. E.

Red-tape, subs. phr. (common).— i. Official routine; formality. Hence, as adj. = formal : also red-tapery or red-tapeism = official routine ; red-tapist = (1) a government clerk ; and (2) a precisian. Cf. Blue-tape.

1775. Lord Minto. Letter, 31 Aug. [N. & <?., 6 S, viii. 349]. Howe gets the command. The ships are in great forwardness. I can't say so much for the army. Your old friend sticks to rules, ta?e and pack thread.

Reeb.

Reeler.

1838. Lytton, Alice, m. i. The men of more dazzling genius began to sneer at the red-tape minister as a mere official manager of details. Ibid. (1853), My Novel, x. xx. Throw over that stiff

red-tapist.

1849. Kingsley, Alton Lock, iv. Fops of red-tape statesmen.

1855. Dickens, Prince Bull [Rep. Pieces]. He had a tyrannical old godmother whose name was Tape (et passim).

1863. Braddon, Aurora Floyd, xiii. A brief respite from parliamentary minutes and red-tape.

1871. Daily News, 29 Dec. It is more red tape.

1884. Spencer, Man v. State, 59. The press and criticisms in Parliament leave no one in ignorance of the vices of red-tape routine.

1873. w. Mathews, Getting on in World, 99. In no country is the redtapeist so out of place as here. Every calling is filled with bold, keen, subtlewitted men.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 17 Feb., 7, 1. An amusing instance of red-tapeism is reported from America.

2. See Red.

Reeb, subs, (back slang).—Beer : top of reeb = a pot of beer.

Reef, subs, (thieves').—To draw up a dress-pocket until the purse is within reach of the fingers.

2. (racing).—See quot. [from Century].

1888. Atlantic, lxiv. 115. When the driver moves the bit to and fro in his mouth, the effect is to enliven and stimulate the horse ... If this motion be performed with an exaggerated movement of the arm, it is called reefing.

TO let out a reef, verb, phr. (common).—To unfasten a button after a meal.

TO need a reef taken in,

verb. phr. (common).—To be drunk : see Drinks and Screwed.

Reefer, subs, (nautical).—i. A midshipman.

1834. Marryatt, Peter Simple, iv. A young lady, very nicely dressed, looked at me very hard, and said ' ' Well, Reefer, how are you off for soap ? "

1888. Harper s Mag. [Century], The gun-room, the home of darling

reefers.

2. (colloquial).—A short allround jacket ; an arse-hole

perisher or bum-freezer (q.v.).

Reek, subs. (Old Cant).—Money: see Rhino.

Reekie. See Auld Reekie.

Reel. To reel off (or out), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To speak or produce easily. Off the reel = in succession ; right off.

1883. D. Telegraph, 26 Oct. Winning three nurseries off the reel.

18S8. Elec. Rev. [Century]. [They] reeled off exactly the same number of words.

1894. Moore, Esther Waters, xxx. First five favourites straight off the reel, three yesterday, and two second favourites the day before.

TO dance the miller's-reel

(reel o' stumpie or reel of bogie), verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate : see Ride.

3.1796. Old Scots Song, 'The Mill, Mill, O' [Merry Muses (collected by Burns)]. Then she fell o'er, an' sae did I, An' danc'd the miller's reel, O.

17 [?]. Old Song, ' Cald Kaill of Aberdene' [Sharpe, Ane Pleasant Garden], The lasses about Bogingicht, Their eens they are baith cleer and rieht, And if they are but girded rieht, They'll dance the reel of Bogie.

R e e l e r, subs, (rhyming).—A policeman ; a peeler (q.v.).

1879. Horsley [Macm. Mag., xl. 502 . A reeler came to the cell and cross-kiddled (questioned) me.

Reel-pot.

11 Regular.

1888. Sims, Plank Bed Ballad [Referee, 12 Feb.]. I guyed, but the reeler he gave me hot beef.

Reel-pot, sub. phr. (old). — A drunkard : see Lushington. Reeling = drunk : see Screwed.

Re for m a do, subs. (old).—A disbanded soldier : a degraded officer. [In Sp. — an officer deprived of his command but retaining rank and pay : Fr. reformé.] As adj. = degraded.

1598. Jonson, Ev. Man in his Humour, iii. 2. Into the likeness of one of these reformados had he moulded himself.

1663. Cowley, Cutter of Coleman St. A troop of reformado officers ; most of them had been under my command before.

1664. Butler, Hudibras, 11. ii. 115. I grant you are a reformado saint.

Reener, subs, (tramps').—A coin : as in quot.

1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, xx. By all that kind of cant she done a very good thing, and she had to, for the old man never give her a reener.

R e e s bin , subs. ( tinkers' ). —A prison ; a stir : see Cage.

Reflector, subs, (gaming). — A prepared card : the pattern on the back is so grouped as to signalise its face value.

Refresher, subs, (legal).—i. A daily fee given to a barrister after the retainer : spec, when a case is adjourned.

1616. Court and Times James I. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 71. A man is refreshed with money ; a well-known legal phrase now].

1841. Punch, i. 33, 2, ' A barrister's card.' Mr. Briefless, feeling the injustice done to the public by the system of refreshers, will take out his refreshers in brandy, rum, gin, ale, or porter.

.1859. De Quincey, Sketches, 1. 72. Every fortnight or so I took care that he should receive a refresher.

1886. Times, 30 Mar. Fees had been paid and extra refreshers in order to swell the bill of costs.

1887. Fortnightly Rev., N.S. xl. 28. He might have attained to the dignity of the Bench, after feathering his nest comfortably with retainers and refreshers.

1901. Evening Standard, 16 Feb., 1, i. The late Sir Charles Russell was familiar with fees of 1000 guineas a brief and refreshers of 100 guineas a day.

2. (common).—A drink ; a go (q.v.).

1872. Globe, 12 Mar. That species of refresher which in some parts of our country is known as a ' morning ' is also a German institution.

1889. Alty Sloper, 3 Aug., 242, 1. As a rule barristers don't object to refreshers.

Regardless. See Get-up.

Regular, subs, (thieves').—In pi. = shares of a booty : see Nab.— Grose, Vaux, and Bee.

English synonyms. — To come, or stand in ; to go rags ; to whack, to go whacks, or to whack up ; to go snacks.

1828. Bee, Picture 0/ London, 15.

He who obtained what he now calls the swagg, paying to his new pal an undefined share, which the thieves persist in calling their regulars, though nothing can be more uncertain than such divisions.

1838. Reynolds, Pickwick Abroad, 223. I never was a nose for the regulars came Whenever a pannie was done.

d.1857. Moncrieff, S camps of London, i. 2. What do you mean by regulars ?

1871. Morning Advertiser, 11 May. He knew who had committed the robbery, and as they had not paid him £20 as his regulars he should round on them.

1891. Carew, Auto, of Gipsy, 414He 'cused me o' playin' Ananias and Sapphira—pinchin' the regulars as we call it. Ibid., 418. I touched two-thirds and Nat and Alf napped their regulars.

Regulator. 12

Relish.

2. (colloquial).—(i) A person keeping stated times or doing regular duty ; (2) anything recurring periodically : as a daily passenger, a drink taken at fixed hours, &c.

1397. Thirnyng, in Rolls ofParliament [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 181. He uses rewelers for regulars, speaking of the clergy].

1858. Pratt, Ten Nights in a Barroom, ii. i. I've been in the habit of taking my regulars ever since I was weaned.

1888. Gould, Double Event, 23. He had his breakfast before the regulars came down.

Adj. (colloquial).—Thorough ; out-and-out : as a regular tartar = a shrew (male or female) ; a regular sell = a consummate swindle ; a regular corpser = a knock-out blow ; a regular pelter = a cat-and-dog rain ; a regular crow = a person dismally garbed.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, 403. Our fine letter's been no go,—turned out a regular sell, you see, eh?

1888. Cornhill Mag., March, 228. If Joanna was ever so blessed as to hear her sing ' Hoop la !¹ it would be a regular eye-opener to her.

Regulator, subs, (venery).—1. The female pudendtim: see Monosyllable.

2. (Western American).—In = a band of lynchers ; a vigilance committee (q.v.'). See Rustler.

1892. Scotsman, 7 May, ' Rustlers and Regulators.' By this band the regulators were besieged for about three days at the "Ta" ranche, where they had strongly entrenched themselves.

Rehoboam, subs. (old).—i. See quot.

1849. Bronte, Shirley, i. The whole surmounted by a Rehoboam, or shovelhat, which he did not seem to think it necessary to lift.

2. (common). — A quadruple Magnum (q.v.) ; a double Jeroboam (q.v.): usually of champagne.

Reign, verb. (Australian thieves'). —To be at liberty.

Relation. See Avuncular Relation.

Relieve, verb, (common).—To ease, (1) the bowels, (2) the testes, and (3) sexual desire.

1868. Hall [Lyndesay, Works (E. E. T. S.), 347, Magin]. He sees her come quietly into his bedroom, scans her unconcealed charms with great relish, and grows amorous, . . . and will die, unless she relieves him.

Reliever, subs. (old).—See quot.

1850. Kingsley, Cheap Clothes ana Nasty. In some sweating places there is an old coat kept called the reliever, and this is borrowed by such men as have none of their own to go out in.

Relieving-officer, subs. phr.— See quot.

1883. Grenville-Murray, People I Have Met, 227. Now the Relieving Officer, or, for brevity's sake, the " R. O.," was a term of endearment which the Honourable Felix, in common with other young noblemen and gentlemen at Eton, applied to his father.

Religion. To get religion, verb, phr, (American).—To be * converted.'

Religious, adj. (Western American).—i. Free from vice : specifically of horses ; and (2) of a horse given to going on his knees : see Devotional habits.

Relish, subs. (old).—' Carnal connection with a woman' (Grose) : see Greens and Ride.

Remainder. 13

Rep.

Remainder, subs, (booksellers').— i. The unsold part of an edition bought to be re-sold at a reduced price.

1889. Athenäum [Century]. His main dealings . . . having been in remainders, and his one solitary publication a failure.

2. (publicans').—Thedrainings of pots and glasses : see All nations.

Remedy, subs. (Winchester).—1. A holiday : cf work ( = pain) and remi.

rf.1519. Colet, Statutes of St. Paul's School. I will also that they shall have no remedyes . . . excepte the Kynge . . . desire it.

1530. Magnus, Endowment Deed, Newark Grammar School. Thomas Magnus ordeyneth . . . that the said maisters shall not be myche inclyned . . . tograunt remedy for Recreacyon.

r593. Rites Durham Cath. [Surtees Soc.]. There was ... a garding and a bowling allie . . . for the Novices sumetymes to recreate themselves when they had remedy of there master.

c.1840. Mansfield, School Life, 49. Remedys were a kind of mitigated whole holiday.

1891. Wrench, Word-Book, s.v. Remedy . . . Remedium seems to have been the original word for holiday : translated Remedy . . . The tradition of Remedies being granted by great persons survives in the custom of the Judges on Circuit demanding a Half-remedy.

2. (Old Cant).—A sovereign; 20/: see Rhino.

Remedy-critch, subs. phr. (old). —A chamber-pot : see It.

Remember. See Parson Meldrum.

Rem 1, subs. (Westminster School). —A holiday : cf. Remedy.

Rem-IN-re, subs. phr. (colloquial). —The deed of kind ; copulation.

TO be caught with rem-inre = to be taken in the act.

Renovator, subs, (tailors').— A repairing tailor : cf translator.

Rent, subs. (Old Cant).— Plunder ; booty. To collect rent = to rob travellers on the highway (Bee). Hence, rent-collector = a highwayman : specifically one whose fancy was for money only.

Rents coming in, phr. (old colloquial).--Dilapidated ; ragged.

1708-10. Swift, PoliteConversation, i. I have torn my Petticoat with your odious Romping ; my Rents are coming in; I'm afraid, I shall fall into the Ragman's Hands.

To pay one's rent, verb. phr. (old).—To punish (q.v.)-, 'to pay out' (q.V.).

1370. Rom. Rich. Coer de Lion [Weber] [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 86. Richard pays the Saracens their rent ; like our " give them their bellyfull."]

Rep, subs. (old).—1. A woman of reputation (Grose) : whence (2) a harlot : a woman of a certain reputation : also demi-rep : cf. rip. Also as in quot. 1732, short for ' repute.'

1721. Durfey, Two Queens 0/ Brentford, i. Flower'd callicoes that fill our shoars, And worn by dames of rep', as well as whores.

1732. Fielding, Covent Garden Tragedy, 13. Nor modesty, nor pride, nor fear, nor rep ; Shall now forbid thif tender, chaste embrace.

'Pon (or on) rep, phr. (old).— ^f Upon my reputation.'

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, i. Lady Smart. What ! ... Do you say it upon Rep? Neverout. Poz, I saw her with my own Eyes.

Repairs.

Responsions.

1713. Addison, Spectator, 135. Some of our words ... in familiar writings and conversations . . . often lose all but their first syllables, as in mob, rep, pos, incog, and the like.

3. (Harrow).—A repetition.

1892. Anstey, VocesPopuli ¹ At the Regent Street Tuzsand's,' 65. It's not in Selections from British Poetry, which we have to get up for rep.

Repairs. No repairs,phr. (common).—Said of a reckless contest ; neck or nought.

See Road.

Repartee, subs, (old : now recognised).—' A sudden smart Reply.' —B. E. (^.1696).

Repeater, subs. (American political).—An elector voting twice on the same qualification.

Reporter, subs, (old Irish).—A duelling pistol : see Meat-INTHE-Pot.

1827. Jonah Barrington, Personal Sketches (1869), ²%%A tolerable chance of becoming acquainted with my friend's reporters (the pet name for hair-triggers). Idem, 288-9. I have this moment sent to the mail coach-office two bullet-moulds, not being certain which of them belongs to the reporters.

1865. Cornhill Mag., xi. 166. In those days Irish gentlemen always carried their reporters or pistols with them.

Reposer, subs, (common).—A final drink ; a nightcap (q.v.).

Reptile, subs. (American cadet).— i. A new cadet : cf. Rabidbeast.

2. (colloquial).—A degraded wretch ; a baseling. Hence Reptile press = the hireling press.

Republican, subs, (old colloquial : now recognised).—'A Commonwealths-man.'—B. E. (c. 1696).

Republic of letters, subs. phr. (old).—The post-office.—Bee.

Requisition, verb. (American military).—To take by force : now recognised.

1864. Sala [Daily Telegraph, 2 Aug., ['America in the Midst of War']. Nothing too small to be annexed. From a hundred thousand dollar requisition on the Municipality of a Country Town to a basket of eggs and a housewife's fresh butter.

1871. Morning Advertiser, 1 Feb. We have all heard of General Butler, We know "how Providence plesht him mit teapots and shpoons" whilst he was requisitioning down south.

Re-raw, subs, (common). — A drinking bout ; drunk.

Reservoir. Au reservoir, phr. (common).—'Au revoir.'

1897. Mitford, Romance of Cape Frontier, 1. v. " ' Au resevoir,' for your way, I believe, lies past the dam."

Residential-club, subs. phr. (common).—An habitual assemblage of loafers : spec, a crew of idlers, male and female, frequenting the reading-room of the British Museum for the sake of shelter and warmth.

Respectable, adj. (colloquial).— Chaste ; decent.

1857. Dickens, Little Dorrit, 1. 35. Something must be done with Maggy . . . who . . . is—ha—barely respectable.

1899. Whiteing, John St., xxvii. Some . . . bear it in silence, feeling that it is the price of 'keeping respectable.'

Respond, verb, (venery). — To share the sexual spasm ; to come (q.v.).

Responsions, subs. (Oxford).— The first examination for candidates for the B.A. degree.

1888. Lang, XXII. Ballades in Blue China, ' Ballad of the Midsummer Term.' When Lent and Responsions are ended.

Respun. 15 Revel-dash.

RESPUN, verb, (tinkers'). — To steal : see Prig.

Rest. And the rest? phr. (common).—A retort to anything incomplete, or in which something is being kept back.

Rest-and-be-thankful (The),

subs. phr. (venery).—See Monosyllable.

Resty, adj. and adv. (old).— ' Head-strong, Wayward, Unruly, Masterless.'—B. E. (f.1696).

Resurrection, subs. phr.—A dish made of remains : also resurrection-pie.

1884. Cornhill Mag., April, 438. He gave us resurrection-pie ; He called it beef-steak—O my eye !

Resurrectionist (or Resurrection-man, -cove, -woman),

subs. phr. (old: now rare).—1. A body-snatcher. Whence resurrection-rig = body-snatching. — Parker, Grose, and Vaux.

1814. Scott, Guy Mannering . . . Resurrection women, who had promised to procure a child's body for some young snrgeons.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. i. The slavey and her master—the surgeon and the resurrection-man— . . . they are " all there."

1859. Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, 11. xiv. " Father," said Young Jerry, "what's a Resurrection Man?" . . . " Oh, father, I should so like to be_ a Resurrection Man when I'm quite growed up."

1862. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., iv. 26. Those who steal dead bodies—as the Resurrectionists.

1865. Macdonald, Alec Forbes, lxvii. The resurrectionists were at their foul work, and the graveyard, the place of repose, was itself no longer a sanctuary !

1896. J. B. Bailey, Diary of a Resurrectionist, vii. The information concerning the Resurrection Men is very scattered. Idem, p. 137. He continued in the Resurrectionist business up to the time of the passing of the Anatomy Act. Et passim.

Resurrectionists (The), subs. (military).—The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). [From a rally at Albuera after dispersal at the hands of the Polish Lancers.] Also "The Buff Howards"; " The Nutcrackers" ; and " The Old Buffs."

Res-wort, subs. phr. (back slang). —Trousers : see Kicks.

Retoure. See Toure.

Returned-empty, subs. phr. (clerical).—A colonial missionary preferred to a place at home.

1899. Daily Telegraph, 27 Jan., 4, 5. There are two classes of returned empties, those who are called home to receive dignities and those who are not. Taken in the lump, a returned missionary does not turn out a good parish priest, but he generally turns out an admirable dignitary.

Ret-SIO, subs. phr. (back slang).— An oyster : ret-sios = oysters.

Revelation, subs. (American).—A drink ; a go [q.v.).

i8[?]. S. Courier, Hard and Fast. Will you have a revelation, Mr. Jones, an outpouring of the spirit—Monongahela or brandy—I've got 'em both ?

1863. Artemus Ward, Brigham Young. Smith used to have his little revelation almost every day—sometimes two before dinner. Brigham Young only takes one once in a while.

Revel-dash (or -rout), subs, phr. (old).—(1) A rough, noisy, and indecent gathering or carouse. Revel-rout also = a company of spreesters (q.v.).

Revenge. 16 Rex.

1591. Spenser, Mother Hub. Tale,

1. 558. Then made they revell route and goodly glee.

</.iS92. Greene, Works, 1. 175Have a flurt and a crash, Now play reveldash.

1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, 430. Laughing, singing, dauncing in honour of that God. After all this reuf.l-rout they demaund againe of the Demoniake if the God be appeased.

1619. Fletcher, Monsieur Thomas, p. 465. There is a strange thing like a gentlewoman, Like mistress Dorothy (I think the fiend), Crept into the nunnery, we know not which way, Plays revelrout among us.

c. 1620. Fryar and Boye, ii. We'll break your spell Reply'd the revel-rout.

.1625. Rowlands, Hist. Rogues [Ribton-Turner, 582]. They chose a notable swaggering rogue called Puffing Dicke to reuell over them, who plaid revell-rout with them indeede.

1632. Brome, Queen's Exchange, ii.

2. Wilt thou forsake us, Jeffrey ? then who shall daunce The hobby horse at our next Revel rout.

1707. Ward, Hud. Rediv., n. v. 16. Amongst the rest o' th' revel Rout, Two crazy Watchmen crawl'd about.

1713. "Rowe, Jane Shore, i. i. "My brother—rest and pardon to his soul—Is gone to his account : for this, his minion, The revel-rout is done."

Revenge, sub?, (common). — An opportunity for recouping or retaliation.

1710. Swift, Pol. Conv., iii. Lady Smart. Well, Miss, you'll have a sad husband, you have such good luck at cards. Miss. Well, my Lady Smart, I'll give you revenge whenever you please.

Revenge in lavender, phr. (old).—A vengeance in store ; a

rod in pickle (q.V.).—B. E.

(c.1696) ; Grose (1785).

Reverence. See Sir Reverence.

Reverent, ad;'. (American).—See quot.

1886. American Slang [The State, 20 May, 217]. A whisky or brandy which is held in merited respect for very superior potency is entitled reverent, from the same kind of fancy which led the Scotch to call a whisky-jar ' a greybeard.'

Reversed, adj. (old).—'A Man set (by Bullies) on his Head, and his Money turn'd out of his Breeches.'—B. E. and Grose.

Review. Review of the Black Cuirassiers, subs. phr. (old).— A visitation of the clergy.— Grose.

Reviver, subs, (common). — A drink; a pick-me-up (q.v.); a go (q.v.).

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, It was but twelve o'clock, and therefore early for revivers of any sort.

2. (common). — A mending tailor : cf. translator. Hence, as verb. = to mend ; to patch.

1864. The Times, 2nd Nov. Revivers, who rejuvenate seedy black coats, and, for the moment, make them look as good as new.

1865. Casseirs Paper, Article, 'Old Clo'.' They are now past 'clobbering,' 'reviving,' or 'translating.'

Rev-Lis, subs, (back slang).—Silver.

Reward, subs, (kennel).—Supper: specifically the blood and entrails of the quarry.—B. E. (^.1696).

Rex. To play rex, verb. phr. (old).—To handle roughly and terribly ; to play hell with (q.v.).

1586. Warner, Alb., 1. vi. 22. With these did Hercules play rex . . . Not one escapes his deadly hand that dares to show his head.

1599. Breton, Dream of Str. Effects% 17. Love with Rage kept such a reakes that I thought they would have gone mad together.

Rheumatism. 17

Rhino.

1599. Breton, Dream of Strange Effects, 17. Love and Rage kept such a reakes that I thought they would have gone mad together.

d. 1599. Spenser, View of Ireland, 445. Thinke it to be the greatest indignity to the queene that may be, to suffer such a caytiffe to play such rex.

1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, 504. Then plaies he rex, tears, kils, and all consumes.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet., s.v. Faire le diable de Vauvdt To keepe an old coyle, horrible, bustling, terrible swaggering ; to play monstrous reaks, or raks-jakes.

1616. Court and Tunes Chas. I., 1. 256. Then came the English ordnance, which had been brought to land, to play such reaks among the horse that they were forced to fly.

1622. Fletcher, Sea Voyage, iv. 11. In that rage (for the}' are violent fellows) they play such reaks !

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, in. ii. Playing reeks with the high and stately timber, and preparing . . . for the eve of the great Day of Judgment.

1655. Fanshawe, Luciad, x. 65. With fire and sword he overcomes and breaks ; In Beadala shall his blade play rex.

Rheumatism in the Shoulder,

sues. phr. (common).—Arrest.— Grose.

Rhino, subs. (old).—Money : generic ; specifically ready money. —B. E. (c. 1696) ; Dyche (1748) ; Grose (1785). Whence rhinofat (or rhinoceral) = rich.

Synonyms.—Generic. Actual; ballast ; beans ; bit (bite or byte) ; blunt ; brads ; brass ; bustle ; Californians ; captain (the) ; caravan ; change ; charms ; checks ; chink ; chinkers ; chips ; clink ; coal (or cole) ; cod (q.v.) ; coin ; coliander-seeds ; coppers ; cork ; corn in Egypt ; crap (or crop) ; crisp ; cuckoos ; darby ; delog (back slang) ; dibs ; dimmock; dinarly (or dinarlies) ; dingbat ; dirt ;

dollars ; dooteroomus (or doot) ; dots ; ducats ; dues ; dumps ; dust ; dye-stuffs ; evil (the) ; family-plate ; fat ; feathers ; flimsy (or Aim) ; flour ; gent ; gilt (gelt, gelter, or gilt-tick) ; gingerbread : gingleboys; ginglers; glanthorne; goree; greed; grocery; haddock (q.v.); hard; hardstuff ; hen; honey ; horsenails ; hoxters (or huxters) ; iron ; jink ; John (John Davis or ready-John) ; kelter (or kilter) ; King's (or Queen's pictures) ; lawful pictures ; legem pone ; loaver ; lour (or loure) ; £ s. d. ; lurries ; mammon ; metal ; mopusses ; mouldy-'uns ; moss ; muck ; needful ; nothings ; nonsense ; nuggets ; ochre ; oil of angels ; oil of palms ; ointment ; old ; oof (or ooftish : Yiddish) ; paint ; palm-oil ; pan ; pap (cf. soft) ; paper; pee ; penny ; pewter ; pieces ; pile ; plate ; plums ; pocket; pony; portcullis; posh; pot ; powder ; prey ; punchable (q.v.) ; purse ; queer ; quids ; rags ; ready (ready-gilt or ready-John) ; redge (or ridge) ; reek ; regulars ; ribbon ; ring ; rivets ; root of all evil ; rowdy ; salt ; sawdust ; scads ; screens ; screeves ; scuds ; shadscales (or scales) ; shan ; shekels ; shells ; shigs ; shiners ; shot ; shinplasters (or plasters) ; sinews of war ; skin ; soap ; soft ; softflimsy (base) ; Spanish ; spanks ; spankers ; spondulicks ; spoon ; stamps ; Steven ; stevers ; stiff ; stuff ; stumpy ; sugar ; tin ; teaspoons ; tow ; wad ; wedge ; wherewith (or wherewithal) ; yellowboys ; yennoms (back slang). £1,000,000 = marigold. £100,000 = plum. £1,000 = cow. £500 = monkey. £100 = century. £25 = pony. £10 = double-finnup ; long-tailed finnup (also of notes of higher

Rhino.

values) ; tenner. £5 = Abraham Newland (q.v.) ; finnup ; fiver ; flimsy ; Iii (or lill) ; Marshall ; pinnif. £1 (and in many eases formerly = £1 Is) =

bean (or bien) ; bleeder ; canary ; chip ; coûter (or cooter) ; dragon ; dunop; foont ; George (or yellowGeorge) ; gingleboy ; glistener ; goblin ; goldfinch ; harlequin ; horse-sovereign ; illegitimate ; Jack ; James ; Jane ; Jemmyo'-Goblin (rhyming) ; job (or jobe) ; meg {cf. mag = £d) ; monarch ; mousetrap ; ned (or neddy) ; new-hat ; nob ; old Mr. Gory ; ponte ; poona ; quid ; red-'un ; remedy ; ridge (or redge) ; shiner ; skin ; skiv ; stranger ; strike ; thick-'un (also °f 5/*) 5 yellow-boy ; yellowhammer. 10s = half-bean ; halfcouter ; half-Jack : half-James ; half-Jane ; half-ned (or -neddy) ; net-gen ; smelt ; young illegitimate. 7s = spangle. 6s 6d = George. 5s 3d = whore's curse. 5s = bull (or bull's-eye) ; caroon; cart-wheel; coach-wheel; case ; caser ; decus ; dollar ; hind coach (or cart) wheel ; Oxford ; thick-'un ; tusheroon ; wheel. 2s 6d = coach-wheel ; five-pot piece ; flatch ; fore-coachwheel ; George ; half-case ; halfdollar ; half-Oxford ; half-yenork; madza-caroon ; slat. 2s = halfdollar. Is 6d = hog and a kye. IS l^d = loonslate (or loonslatt) ; hangman's wages. Is — Abraham's willing (rhyming) ; blow ; bob ; bobstick ; borde ; breakyleg ; button ; deaner (or deener) ; gen ; generalise ; grunter ; hog ; jogue ; levy ; lilywhite-groat ; Manchester sovereign ; mejoge ; north-easter ; oner ; peg ; teviss ; thirteener ; touch-me ; twelver. 10d = dacha-saltee ; jumper. 9d = ill-fortune ; picture of ill-

luck. 6d = bandy ; bender ; cripple ; croaker ; crook ; crookback ; deaner ; downer ; fiddle ; fiddler ; fyebuck ; goddess Diana ; griff-metol ; grunter ; half-borde ; half-hog ; hog ; kick ; kye ; lordof-the-manor ; northeaster ; pig ; pot ; sice ; simon ; snide ; sow'sbaby ; sprat ; syebuck ; tanner ; tester ; tilbury ; tizzy. 5d = cinqua soldi ; kid's-eye. 4d = castle-rag ; flag ; groat ; joe (or joey). 3d = currants-and-plums; threps ; threeswins ; thrums. 2d = dace ; deuce ; duce. Id = D ; dibblish ; George ; harper ; pollard ; saltee ; win ; yennep. |d = flatch ; madza-saltee ; Maggie Rab (or Robb) ; magpie ; make (magg or mec) ; post ; rap ; scurrick ; tonic. 3d = Coventgarden ; fadge ; farden ; fiddler ; gennitraf ; grig ; Harrington ; jig (or gigg) ; quartereen ; scrope.

Base coin or trick pieces =

cap; cover-down ; dandy ; doubleheader ; flats ; fleet-note ; fletch (or flatch) ; gaffing-coin ; galleyhalfpenny ; gammy lour ; gray ; hard ; hardware ; kone ; mopus ; pony; queer ; soft-flimsy; snide; stumer.

French synonyms.—Generic. Achetoires ; affure ; artiche ; atout ; bathe ; beurre ; bille ; braise ; carme ; ce qui se pousse ; de quoi ; douille ; foin ; galette ; galtos ; graisse ; graissage ; gras ; huile ; huile de mains ; jaunets ; (or jauniau) ; métal ; miche (or miche de profondé) ; monaco ; mornifle; morlingue ; morningue; mous c ai lions ; nerf; noyaux; oignons ; os ; oscille ; patards ; pécune ; pépettes ; pedzale ; pèse (or pèze) ; pic ail Ions ; piesto ; pimpions ; plâtre ; plombes ; pognon (or poignon) ; pouiffe ; poussier ; quantum ; quibus ;

Rhody. 19

Ribald.

ronds; rouis caillons; rubis; sable; sauvette; sine quâ non; sitnomen ; soldats ; sonnettes ; sous ; thune (or tune) ; vaisselle de poche; zinc.

Italian synonyms.—Generic. Agresto ( = sour grapes) ; albume; argume ; as ta (or asti) ; brunotti ; contramiglia ; cucchi ; lugani ; penne ; smilzi ; squavie.

Spanish synonyms.—Generic. Amigos ( = friends) ; caire ; florin ; lana ; lozurraco ; /norma ; mosca ; numerario ; plume ( = feathers) ; san°ré ( = blood) ; â toca teja ; unguent0 (or ungttento de Mejicà).

1670. Old Ballad, ' The Seaman's Adieu' [Notes and Queries, 7 S., v. 417]. Some as I know, Have parted with their ready rino.

1688. Shadwell, Sç. of Alsatia, i. Cole is, in the language of the witty, money ; the ready, the rhino. Thou shalt be rhino-cerical, my lad.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 139. For getting rhino here's the spot.

1840. Barham, Ingold. Leg. (Sir Rupert the Fearless). And to sum up the whole, in the shortest phrase I know, Beware of the Rhine, and take care of the Rhino !

1848. Lowell, Biglozu Papers, 1 S., Intro. A gold mine . . . Containing heaps heaps of native rhino.

1899. Scarlet City, 65. He added, throwing a sovereign on the table, ' Split up that bit of rhino.'

Rhody (Little), subs.phr. (American). — The State of Rhode Island : the smallest in the Union.

Rhyme-slinger, subs. phr. (common).—A poet.

Rhyming Slang.—A method of indicating words by a rhyming or quasi-rhyming substitute ; e.g., Abraham's willing = shilling ; stand-and-shiver = river ;

elephant's trunk = drunk ; penny-come-quick = trick; and so forth. First in vogue during the late Fifties, but artistically developed of late years by The Sporting Tunes or Pink 'Un. With use the rhyme has been suppressed by experts : e.g., I'mso-frisky = whiskey becomes I'm-so, while flounder-anddab = cab is merely flounder.

Rib, subs, (common).—1. A wife : whence crooked rib = a crossgrained wife.—Grose (1785). See Dutch.

1609. Hall, Soloman's Divine A rts. How many have we known whose heads have been broken by their own rib.

1632. Jonson, Magnetic Lady, ii. 1. An ample portion for a younger brother, With a soft, tender, delicate rib of man's flesh.

1707. Farquhar, Beaux' Stratagem, v. Mrs. Sullen. Spouse ! Squire Sul. Rib.

1732. Fielding, Mock Doctor, i. Go thrash your own Rib, Sir, at home.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 133. Your dunder-pate Shan't use your rib at such a rate.

1857. Trollope, Three Clerks, xlvi. Half a dozen married couples all separating, getting rid of their ribs and buckling again, helter-skelter, every man to somebody else's wife.

2. (common).—In pl. — a stout person.

See Devil's Bones.

Ribald (Ribold or Ribaud), subs. (old colloquial : long recognised). —A profligate, male or female ; spec, (a) a harlot, and (b) a ponce (q.v.) or mutton-monger (q.v.). Whence ribaldry (ribaudry, or ribble-rabble) = (1) indecency, ' profligate talk ' (Grose), and (2) the mob, the scum of of society; ribaudour = a retailer of smut (q.v.) ; ribaldist

Ribald.

Rib-roast.

(ribaudrous, or ribaudred) = whorish, whoreson, filthy and the like; ribble-row = (i) a list of the rabble : whence (2) an inventory.

1360. Chaucer, Rom. of Rose, 5673. Many a ribaude is mery and baude.

1362. Langland, Piers Plowman (C), vii. 435. On fasting-dais by-fore noon iche fedde me with ale, Out of reson, a-mong rybaudes here rybaudrye to huyre. Ibid. (A), vii. 66. Ionete of the stuyues, And Robert the ribaudour.

1376. [Ribton-Turner, Vagrants, &*c, 52]. In the last year of this reign we find the Commons petitioning the King "that Ribalds . . . and Sturdy Beggars may be banished out of every town."

1491. Destr. of Troy [E. E. T. S.], 7651. Ephistafus hym presit with his proude wordes, As a ribold with reueray to his roide speche.

1573. Baret, Alvearie [Nares]. A ribaudrous and filthie tongue, os incesturn, obsccenum, impurum, et impudicum.

1599. Hall, Satires, ix. Rhymed in rules of stewish ribaldry.

1608. Shakspeare, Ant. Cleop., iii. 8. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt Whom leprosy o'ertake.

l6ll. cotgrave, Diet., s.v. RlBAULD.

A rogue, ruffian, rascale, scoundrele, valet, filthie fellow ; also a ribauld fornicator, whore-munger, bawdie-house haunter. s.v. Ribaulde. A whore, queane, punke, gill flurt, common hackney, doxie, mort. [See also, s.v. Ribaudaille, Ribaudine, Royaks, Ribaulds, Ribauldes, &c]

1641. Milton, Def. of Humb. Remons. As for the proverb, the Bishop's foot hath been in it, it were more fit for a Scurra in Trivio, or som Ribald upon an Ale-bench.

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares], A ribble-rabble of gossips.

1670. Cotton [Works (1734), 119]. This witch a ribble-row rehearses, Of scurvy names in scurvy verses.

1705. Ward, Hud. Rediv., 1. vii. 6. Such uncouth, wretched Ribble-Rabble.

1841-6. Browning, Bells and Pomegranates, 'Pied Piper.' Insulted by a lazy Ribalp.

RiBBiN (Ribbon or Ribband),

subs. (old).—i. Money : generic. Hence, the ribbin runs thick (or thin) = ' the breeches are well lined ' (or ' there's little cash about').—B. E. (<:. 1696); Grose (1785) ; Vaux (1812).

2. (common).—In pi. = reins : whence to handle (or flutter) the ribbons = to drive. See Handle and add quots. infra.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick (1857), 36. Give the gen'l'man the ribbins.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, 'St. Odille.' 'Tis the same with a lady, it once she contrives To get hold of the ribands.

See Blue Ribbon.

Rib-roast (-baste or -tickle),

verb. (old). — To thrash ; to punish (q.v.). Whence ribroasting (&c. : also rib-bending or ribbing) = a pummelling ; rib-roaster (&c. : also ribbender, ribber, or a rib of roast) = (pugilists') a blow on the body, or in the ribs, which brings down an opponent's guard and opens up the head.—B. E. ; Martin (1754) ; Grose.

1576. Gascoigne, Steel Glass, Ess. Ded. [Arber]. Though the shorneful do mocke me for a time, yet in the ende I hope to giue them al a rybbe to roste for their paynes.

1595. Hall, Maroccus Extalicus. Such a piece of filching as is punishable with rib-roast.

1620. Rowlands, Night-raven [Nares]. Tom, take thou a cudgell and rib-roast him.

1663. Butler, Hudibras. And he departs, not meanly boasting Of his magnificent rib-roasting.

d. 1704. L'Estrange, Works [Ency. Diet.]. I have been . . . well ribroasted . . . but I'm in now for skin and all.

1762. Smollett, Sir L. Greaves, 1. v. In which he knew he should be ribroasted every day, and murdered at last.

Ribstone.

Ride.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 51. While ribbers rung from each resounding frame.

1857. _ Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, 11. iv. To one gentleman he would pleasantly observe . . . "There's a regular rib-roaster for you ! "

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 284. It was some time before he recovered the rib-bender he got from the fat showwoman.

1886. Phil. Times, 6 May. There was some terrible slogging . . . Cleary planted two rib-roasters, and a tap on Langdon's face.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 9 Feb. Repaid the compliment with another ribbender.

Ribstone, subs, (common).—See Pippin.

1883. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads [Punch, 11 Oct.]. 'Ow are yer, my ribstone.

Rib-tickler, subs. phr. (colloquial).— i. Thick soup ; glue (q.v.).

2. See Rib-roast.

Rice-bags, subs. phr. (common).— i. Trousers : see Kicks.

2. (American).—In sing. = a rice planter.

Rich, adj. and adv. (colloquial).— i. Outrageous ; (2) ridiculous ; and (3) spicy (q.v.).

c. 1350. Turnament of Totenham [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet., iii. 91]. Alle the wyues of Totenham come . . . To fech home thaire husbondis . . . With wispys and kixes, that was a rich sight.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. ii. The left-hand side of the bar is a rich bit of low life.

1840. Porter, Southwestern Tales, 57. Thar we was . . . rollin' withlaughin' and liquor, and thought the thing was

rich.

1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, viii. 1. 'Was Spraggs rich ?'—'Wasn't he! I have not done laughing yet . . . Killing ! . . . The richest thing you ever tieard. '

1897. Mitford, Romance of Cape Frontier, ix. The notion of Allen bothering anyone to take out a bees' nest . . . struck them all as ineffably rich.

Rich-face, subs. phr. (old).—« A Red-face.'—B. E. (r.1696).

Richard, subs, (common).—A dictionary : also Richard Snary and Richardanary.—Grose. Fr. musicien.

1622. Taylor (Water Poet), Motto, Intro., s.v. Richard Snary.

Rick-ma-Tick, subs. phr. (Scots'). —i. A concern; a business; a thing : as ' The whole blessed rick-ma-tick went to smash.'

2. (school).—Arithmetic.

Ricochet, adj. (American cadet). —Gay ; splendid.

Rid. To rid the stomach, verb, phr. (common).—To vomit.

Riddlemeree, subs. (old).—See quot.

c.1772. Iunius, Letters [Woodfall], ii. 316. This style, I apprehend, Sir, is what the learned Scriblerus calls rigmarol in logic—Riddlemeree amongst Schoolboys.

Ride, verb, (venery).—1. To possess carnally; to swive (q.v.). Fr. chevaucher (= to swive) and chevaucherie ( = a swiving) (Cotgrave, 1611 ; and Grose, 1785).

English synonyms (also see Greens).—To accommodate; Adamize ; ballock ; belly-bump (Urquhart) ; bitch (generic) ; block ; bob (Fletcher) ; bore ; bounce ; brush ; bull; bum ; bumbaste (Urquhart) ; bumfiddle (Davies of Hereford) ; bung ; buttock ; caress ; caulk ; cavault ; chauver ; chuck ; ciicket (Flet-

Ride.

cher, Grose) ; club ; cock ; come about ; come aloft (E. Spenser) ; compress ; couple with ; cover ; cross ; cuddle ; dibble ; diddle ; do (Shakspeare, Jonson, generic) ; dock ; dog ; do over ; ease ( = (i) to rump, and (2) to deflower) ; embrace ; ferret (Fletcher) ; fiddle ; flap ; flesh (Florio) ; flimp ; flourish ; flutter ; foin (generic) ; fondle ; foraminate (Urquhart) ; frisk ; fuck (Lyndsay, Florio, Bailey, Burns) ; fuckle ; fugle (Durfey) ; fulke ; fumble (Fletcher); futter (R. Burton) ; get-into ; ginicomtwig (Florio) ; goose ; goose-and-duck (rhyming) ; go through ; handle ; have ; hog ; hole ; hoist ; horse (Jonson) ; huddle ; huffle ; hug (Fletcher, Burns) ; hump ; hustle ; impale ; invade ; jack ; jape (Skelton, Palsgrave, Lyndsay, Florio) ; jig-a-jig ; jiggle ; jink (Ramsay, Robertson, of Struan) ; job (Burns) ; jock ; jog (Middleton) ; jolt ; jottle ; jounce ; jumm (Urquhart) ; jumble (or jumble up : Stanyhurst, Durfey) ; jump (Randolph) ; kiss (Ramsay, Morris) ; knock (for nock : Durfey, Ramsay) ; know (Biblical) ; lay out ; lard ; leacher (Cotgrave) ; leap (Shakspeare, Jonson, Dryden) ; lerricompoop ; lie with ; line (Shakspeare) ; love ; man ; meddle with ; mell (Lydgate, Shakspeare) ; mount (Shakspeare, Jonson) ; mow (Scots' : Lyndsay, Durfey, Burns) ; muddle ; mump ; muss ; nibble ; nick ; nidge (Scots') ; nig ; niggle (Dekker, Rowlands, Brome) ; nock (Florio, Ash) ; nodge (Scots') ; nub ; nug ; oblige ; occupy (Shakspeare, Florio, Jonson); peg ; perforate ; perform on ;

pestle ; phallicize ; pizzle ; please (Chapman, Burns) ; pleasure; plough (Shakspeare) ; plowter ; pluck (Shakspeare) ; plug ; poke (Durfey) ; pole ; poop ; possess (Massinger, Smollett); pound ; priapize ; prick ; prig ; push ; qualify ; quiff ; quim ; rake ; rasp ; relish ; rig ; roger ; rummage ; rump ; rut ; SaintGeorge ; sard (Lyndsay, Florio) ; scour ; screw ; see ; serve ; sew up ; shag ; shake ; smock ; smoke (Fletcher) ; snabble ; snib ; solace ; spike ; split ; stick ; strike ; stroke ; stitch (Dorset) ; spread ; strain ; strum ; swinge (Fletcher) ; swive ; tail ; taste (Fielding) ; thrum ; towze ; touzle (Fielding) ; tread ; trim (Shakspeare, Fletcher) ; trounce ; tumble ; tup (Shakspeare); turnup; up ; vault ; wap (Old Cant) ; womanize ; work.

French synonyms [R. = Rabelais].—Abattre (or abattre du bois) ; s'aboucher ; abuser ; acclamper (R.) ; accointer (s'accointer or avoir des accointances : R. ) ; accoler (R.); accommoder (R.); accomplir (accomplir son désir or plaisir) ; accorder sa flûte ; accoupandir (R. ); s'accoupler ; accoutrer; accrocher (R.) ; accueillir ; affiler le bandage (R. ) ; affronter (R.) ; aforer le tonel(O. Fr.) ; agir (la Fontaine) ; aimer (conventional); ajuster (R.) ; aller à Cythère, à dame, à la charge, à pinada, au beurre, au bonheur, au choc, au ciel, au gratin, aux armes, aux épinards (cf. Greens), d'attaque (y), famble, and se faire couper les cheveux ; allumer le flambeau d'amour ; anhaster (R.) ; apaiser sa braise (la Fontaine) ; appointer (R.) ; apprivoiser; approcher; approvisionner ; arieter

Ride.

(R. ) ; arracher son copeau ; arresser (R. ) ; arriver à ses fins ; arriver au but ; assailler (R. : also assaillir) ; astiquer ; avoir commerce, contentement, du plaisir, forfaitla cheville au trou ; la jouissance, les bonnes grâces, le solaz, son plaisir, and une bonne fortune. Badigeonner ; badiner ( = jape) ; baguer (stitch, q.v. ) ; baiser (kiss, q.v.); ballotter; baratter ; bâter d'âne (R.) ; battre le briquet ; battre les car tier s (R.) ; battre la laine (R.) ; beliner (R.j ; beluter (R.) ; bistoquer; bistouriser (R. ) ; bluter; bobeliner (R.) ; boire (also boire la coupe de plaisir) ; boudiner ; bourrer ; bourriquer ; boxonner ; branler le cul (or la croupière) ; braquemar der (R. ) ; brecolfrétiller ; bricoler (R. ); brimballer (R.); brisgoutter (R.) ; broc hier ; brodequiner ; broquer ; brouiller ( = jumble, q.v.) ; brûler tcne cierge ; brusquer. Calendosser (also encaldosser) ; calfeutrer (cf. caulk) ; carabiner (R.); caracoler (R.) ; caramboler ; caresser (la Fontaine) ; carillonner (R.) ; cauquer ; causer; chanter la messe, Fofiflce de la Vierge, Vintroil, or un couplet ; charger ; chauldronner (R.) ; cheminer autrement qtie des pieds ; chevaucher (R. : ride, q.v.) ; cheviller; choser ; cliqueter (R. = cliquet) ; cocher (R. ) ; co_sner(R.) ; se coller ; combattre ; commettre la folie (or le forfait) ; conailler ; conférer ; confesser ; conjoindre (also se conjoindre) ; conjouir ; connaître (also connaître au fond : know, q.v.) ; conniller ; conceuvrer ; consoler ; consommer le sacrifice ; contenter (content, q.v. : also contenter Venvie, ses désirs, or sa flammé) ; converser ; copuler ; coucher (lie with, q.v.) ; coudre (la Fontaine : sew up, q.v.) ;

se coupler (R.) ; courir, un poste, or des postes, Vaiguillette, la lance, Vamble, or sur le ventre ; courter ; couvrir (R. : cover, q.v.) ; cramper ; crever l'œil ; cueillir des lauriers, la fraise, la noisette, or un bouton de rose sur le nombril ; culbuter; culler (O. Fr.) ; cultiver. Danser, aux noces, la basse danse (R.), la basse note, le branle de un dedan et deux, dehors, le branle du loup, tme bourrée, and une sarabande ; darder ; débarbouiller (R.) ; débraguetter (R.); décrotter ; déduire ; déliter ; déniaiser ; dépêcher ; dépenser ses côtelettes; descroter (R.) ; se désennuyer ; déshouser (O. F. = to scour) ; deviser ; dire ses oraison ; disposer s'en donner ; se donner carrière, de la satisfaction, des leçons de droit, des preuves d'estime, des secotisses, au bon temps, and du plaisir ; donner l'aubade, Vavoine, Passant, le picotin, tin branle, une leçon de physique expérimentale, une venue, du contentement, and tin clystèré ; dormir ; doubler. S'ébattre ; s'ébaudir (R.) ; s'édifier ; s'éwuir ; embloquer à la aipidique (R.) ; emboîter ; emboucher ; emboudiner; embourrer; embriconner (also R. = to seduce) ; embrocher (R.) ; emmancher; s'émoucheter ; empêcher (R. and la Fontaine) ; enchtiver; enclouer ; encoc her (R.)? enconner (cf. R. Burton's 'encunt' = to put in) ; enferrer ; enfiler (R.) : enfoncer ; enfourcher\ — to spread) ; enfourner ; engaîner (also enqâiner sa virgule) ; enjamber (cf. crop) ; enta/ner le cuir; enioiser ; s'entre faire le jeu ; entreprendre ; entrer au cotiple, en champ clos, en danse, en guerre, en joute, and en lice ; entretenir ; envahir ; enviander ;

Ride.

epousseter ; s' escarmoucher (Rou sseau) ; essayer un lit ; eslocader ; étaller ; éteindre sa braise, sa chandelle, and ses feux ; étrangler;

y etre ; être aux mains, aux prises, en action, en oeuvre, i?npertinent, and vainqueur ; être de corvée à la viande ; étriller ; évacuer ; exécuter ; exercer (R. : also exercer les bons membres) ; expédier (la Fontaine) ; exploiter (also exploiter au Pa-»sbas: R.). Façonner; faire ( = to do), une barbe, ime façon, bataille, beau bruit de culetis (R. )> bonne chère, catnpagne, ça, cela (Villon), connaissance, des bêtises, des galipettes, dia, Rue Haut ; s'en faire donner ; se faire donner la fessée ; faire du boti compagtion ; faire en levrette ( = dog-fashion) ; se le faire ^xaire ; faire fête, folie de son corps, galanterie, la belle joir, la besogne, la bête à deux dos (R., Shakspeare), la bonne chose, la cause (or chose) pourquoi (R. ), la chasse aux conins, la chosette, le cœur, la culbute, la fête, la folie (la Fontaine : also la folie aux garçons), la grenouille, la guerre (Voltaire), Vaubade, la pauvreté, and la vilenie ; le faire; faire Pacte vénérien,

V amour, V amoureux tripot, Vandrogyne, le cas, le déduit (Tallement des Reaux, &c), délit, désir, devoir, heurtebelin, jeti d'amour, Pœuvre de nahire, le pa^net, péché, le petit verminage, le saut (la Fontaine : also le saut de Michelet), le reste, le truc, pénitence, plaisir, river son clou, sa besogne, sa fête, sa partie, sa volunté, service, ses besognettes (Villon), ses choux gras, ses petites affaires, ses privantes, son bon, son délit, son devoir, son plaisir, son talent, and son vouloir ; faire tort. tout₉

un duel, une charade, une politesse, un tour de cul, un tronçon de bon ouvrage, un tronçon de chière lie (R. ), virade, une pirouette sur le nombril, compte* les solives à une femme, chou blanc, and pan-pan ; se faire dé°raiser ; faire zizi; fanfrelue her (R.) ; farfouiller (R. ) ; fatrouiller (O. Fr.) ; favoriser ; fer gier ; ferrer ; festoyer (Voltaire) ; fêter (Voltaire : also fêter le Saint-Priaûe) ; ficher ; flatter ; follier (R.); foraminer (R.); se forfaire ; forger ; forligner (of women : la Fontaine) ; forriller (R.) ; fouailler (R.); fouiller; fouler ; fourbir (R.) ; fourcher (R.) ; fowgonner (R.) ; fournir (also fournir la carrière) ; foutre (-fuck, q.v.); foutriller ; franchir le saut ; frayer ; frétiller (also frétiller-nature and frétinfrétailler : R. = O. Fr. = to frisk) ; fringoter ; fringuer (also fringasser) ; frotter sou lard, la coine and la conenne (R.). Galantiser ; galler (O. Fr. = s'amuser) ) gésir (O. Fr. = coucher) ; gesticular ; gimbretter (R.); glisser; goûter les ébats, les plaisirs or les joies ; grappiller ; greffer (Voltaire) ; gribouiller (R. ); grimper (R. ) ; guerroyer ; guincher. Habeloter; habiller; habiter ; haillonner (R.) ; hanter; harigoter (R. ) ; hennéquiner ; hocher (R. = shake) ; hoder(K.) ; hoguiner (R. ); houbler ; hour débuter (R.); housser (O. Fr. = to scour) ; houspiller ; hubir ; hurt er ; hurtibiller (R. : O. Fr. = s'accoupler) ; hutiner (R. ). s'Incarner; incruster; inir; instrtiire (also s'instruire) ; instrumenter (R.) ; investir. Janculer ; jaser (also jazer) ; iocqueter (R.); joindre (also se joindre) ; jouer (la Fontaine), à la bête à deux dos, à la corniche

Ride.

(R.) ; à cul-bas (R.) ; à la fossette (R. cf. Cherry-pit) ; à l'homme, au passe-temps de deux à deux, ati piquet (R.), au rêver sis, aux cailles, aux dames rabattues (R.), aux quilles, ce jeulà, de la braguette, de la flûte, de la marotte, de la navette (R.), de la saque-boute, des basses marches (R.)₅ des cymbales, des gobelets, des mannequins, des reins, du cul, du serre-cropière (R.), du mirliton, dti piston, and de Famorabaquine ; jouir ; jouter (also jouter à la quintaine : R. ). Labourer ; se laisser aller (also laisser aller le chat au fromage, se le laisser faire, and laisser tout faire) ; larder (R. ) ; lever la chemise (la cotte, le cul, le devant, or son droit) ; levretter (R.) ; lier son boudin ; loger les aveugles (or les nus) ; lutter. Manger de la chair crtte (or de la viande de Vendredi) ; manier ; manipuler; margauder (R.) ; marjoller (R. ); ?narteler ; le mettre, se mettre à la besogne, à la juchée, à l'ouvrage, chair vive en chair vive ; mettre dedans, en besogne, en œuvre, en presse, andouille au pot, la charrtie devant les bœujs, la queue entre les jambes ; le corps en presse, ses reins en besogne, un membre dans un autre ; mettre du lard en botiteille ; monter (also monter à Passant or sur la bête) ; moudre (grind, q.v.); mouvoir des reins. Négocier; niguer (R.)Obliger; officier ; ourser. Paffer ; paillarder (Villon) ; parler ; passer le pas, les détroits, par la par les mains, par les piques, par Pétamine, sa fantaisie, son appétit, son envie, and sur le ventre ; payer la bienvenue (also les arrérages de Pamour, son écot, or la comédie à Ferdinand) ; pécher ; percer ; piner (cf. to jock, to cock, to

prick) ; planter (des homines ou des femmes : also le cresson and le mai) ; pousser un argument naturel et irrésistible (also sa pointe, l'aventure à bout, or une mouluré) ; polluer; pomper (R.) ; ponifler; pourvoir; prendre charnelle liesse, le déduit, le pâture, le passe-temps, le provande, ses ébats (la Fontaine), ses rafraîchissements, son déduit, son délit, son plaisir, soulas, or une poignée ; prier ; promiscuiter ; putasser. Quiller (R.) ; quouailler (R.)Raccointer (R.); racoutrer ; ralentir sa braise ; ramoner (R.) ; rataconniculer (R.); ratisser ; recevoir un clystère (also tme leçon, or l'assaut : of women or pathics) ; recogner (also recoigner) ; recueillir la jouissance (also le fruit d'amour) ; régaler ; rehausser le linge (la Fontaine); se rejouir ; rembourrer ; remuet le croupion (R.) ; rempeller ; remuer (béranger : also remuer les fesses, or les reins) ; rendre le devoir ; repasser ; retaper ; retour de matines (la Fontaine) ; ribauder ; rire ; river le bis ; rompre un lance ; rouscaillerR.) ; roussiner (R.). Sabouler (R.) ; saccader (R.) ; sacrifuitr (of women) ; saigner entre deux orteils (R.) ; saillir (R.) ; sangler (R.) ; se satisfaire (also satisfaire à son plaisir) ; se faire satcter ; sazcter; savonner (also donner une savonnade) ; secouer ( = to shake : also secouer le pélis son) ; seutir douceur (also sentir de la volupté) ; séringuer ; serrer ; servir (la Fontaine : also se servir) ; so lacier ; sonder ; sonner Pantiqtiaille ; souffler en cul ; soûler la volonté ; soumettre (also soumettre à ses désirs) ; supposer. Tabourer (also tabourder : O. Fr. = battre du tambour : R.) ; tâcher (Beranger) ; talocher (R.) ;

Ride.

tamiser (R.) ; tantarer (R.) ; tarabuster ; tâter (also tâter de la chair or la sauce) ; têter ; therviométriser ; tirer à la cordelle, au blanc, au naturel, sa lance, son plaisir, du nerf, une venue (R. ) ; tomber, à la renverse, and sur le dos; toucher (la Fontaine); tracasser; trafarcier; travailler (also travailler à la vigne or du eut) ; trotisser (BÉranger). User. Vendanger ; Venir (en); venir à Vabordage, au choc ; en venir au fait, or aux prises ; venir la ; ventouser ; ventrouiller ; verger ; verminer (R.) ; vervignoler (R.); vétiller (R.) ; vitœuvrer ; voir. Ziguer.

c.1520. Mayd Emlyn [Hazlitt, Pop. Poet., iv. 96]. And bycause she loued rydvnge, At thestewes was her abydynge.

[....]. MS. [Bodleian, 548]. The hares haveth no seson of hure love, that as I sayde is clepid rydyng-tyme.

a?. 1529. Skelton, Bowge of Courte, 400. I let her to hyre, that men maye on her ryde.

c.1542. D. Lyndsay, On Jas. V. his Three Mistresses. Ryd not on your Olifauntes, For hurting of thy Geir.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Baiarda, a common, filthie, ouerridden whore.

1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., iii. 7, 60. They that ride so and ride not warily.

1607. Webster and Dekker, Westward Hoe, ii. 2. You know gentlewomen used to come to lords' chambers, and not lords to the gentlewomen's : I'd not have her think you are such a rank rider.

1611. Chapman, May-Day, i. 1. I have heard of wenches that have been won with singing and dancing, and some with riding, but never heard of any that was won with tumbling in my life.

c. 1618-19. Fletcher, Mad Lover, iv. 5. He rides like a nightmare, all ages, all conditions. Ibid., 1637 [?], Elder Brother, iv. 4. He'll ride you the better, Lily.

c. 1620-50. Percy Folio MS., 200, ' Lye Alone.' If dreames be true, then Ride I can : I lacke nothing but a man, for tis onlye hee can ease my moane.

1621. Burton, Anat. Melan., III. in. i. 2. The adulterer sleeping now was riding on his master's saddle.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. iii. If you find any . . . females worth the pains . . . get up, ride upon them.

1656. Fletcher, Martiall, xi. 105. The Phrygian Boyes in secret spent their seed As oft as Hector's wife rid on his steed.

1656. Muses Reer. [Hotten], 74. A smooth and gentle hand keeps women more in awe of due command Than if we set a ganneril on their Docks, Ride them with bits, or on their Geer set locks.

1692. Dryden, Juvenal, ' Tenth Satire ' (Ed. 3, 1702, p. 218). How many Boys that Pedagogue can ride.

17 [?]. Old Scots' Song, ¹ Heigh for Bread and Cream.' She poppit into bed, And I popp't in beside her ; She lifted up her leg, And I began to ride her.

1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesque, 127. More than nine long tedious years Paris has rode my brother's gear.

1786. Burns, The Inventory. Frae this time forth I do declare, I'se ne'er ride horse nor hizzie mair.

c. 1796. Morris, Plenipotentiary, 13. She had been well rid.

<5.1796. Old Scots' Song, 'Ye'se get a Hole to Hide it in.' [Farmer, Merry Songs and Ballads (1897), iv. 269]. O haud it in your hand, sir, Till I get up my claes, Now ride me, as you'd ride for life.

2. (old).—To rob on the highway.

1605. London Prodigal, v. 1. It is well known I might have rid out a hundred times if I would

Phrases.—To ride and tie see quot. 1742) ; to ride the fringes (see quot. c.iySy) ; to

ride as if fetching the midwife = to go post haste ; to ride OUT = to adopt the profession of arms. See Back ; Black donkey ; Bodkin ; Brose ; Cowlstaff ; Grub ;

Rider. 27 Riff-raff.

Holborn Hill ; High-horse ; Hobby-horse ; Marylebone Stage ; Romford ; Roughshod ; Spanish Mare ; Stang ; Wild-mare.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, Gen. Prol., 45. A knight ther was . . . That fro the time that he firste began To riden out, he loved chevalrie.

1737. Boswell, Johnson, i. v. note. Both used to talk pleasantly of this their first journey to London. Garrick . . . said one day in my hearing, ' We rode

and tied.'

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, ii. 2. They . . . agreed to ride and tie . . . The two . . . set out together, one on horseback, the other on foot : he on horseback . . . when he arrives at the distance agreed on ... is to dismount, tie his horse to some gate, tree, post . . . and then proceed on foot ; when the other comes up to the horse, he unties him, mounts, and gallops on ; till having passed by his fellow traveller, he likewise arrives at the place of tying.

c. 1787. Ireland Sixty Years Ago (1847), 51. To guard themselves from encroachment, the citizens from time immemorial perambulated the boundaries of their chartered district every third year, and this was termed riding their franchises, corrupted into riding the fringes.

Rider, subs, (common).—A question or clause added to a geometrical problem, an Act of Parliament, an examination paper, &c.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, xxxix. Vholes finally adds, by way of rider to this declaration of his principles . . . perhaps Mr. C. will favour him with an order on his agent.

1885. Report of Com. of Council on Education in Scotland for 1884, 285. They showed a very satisfactory knowledge of Euclid's propositions, and a very creditable porportion of students worked a considerable number of the riders.

2. See Ride, verb. i.

3. (old).—A Dutch coin with a man on horseback, worth about twenty-seven shillings : also a Scots gold piece issued by James VI.

1647. Fletcher, Woman's Prize, i, 2. His mouldy money ! Half a dozen riders, That cannot sit, but stampt fast to their saddles.

4. (old).—A commercial traveller ; a bagman (q.v.).

1810. Crabbe, Borough, iv. The come to us as riders in a trade.

1825. Lamb, Letters, cxii. A rider in his youth, travelling for shops.

Ridge (or Redge), subs. (old).— Gold : manufactured or specie : in latter case specifically = a guinea. Whence, ridge-montra = a gold watch ; cly full of ridge = a pocket-full of money ; ridge-cully = a goldsmith.— B. E. (^.1696); Parker (1781) ; Grose (1785) ; Vaux (1812).

Ridiculous, adj. (provincial).—See quot. 1847.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic . . . Words, àfic, s.v. Ridiculous . . . Something very indecent and improper is understood ; as, any violent attack upon a woman's chastity is called "very ridiculous behaviour :" a very disorderly, and ill-conducted house, is also called a "ridiculous one."

1889. Notes and Queries, 7 S., ix. 453. A man once informed me that the death by drowning of a relative was most ridiculous.

Riding-hag, subs.phr. (colloquial).

—The night-mare : also the

riding of the witch.

Riff-raff (raff or raffle), subs. (old).—i. Refuse, lumber; (2) the mob: spec. (Oxford Univ.) town (q.v.) as opposed to gown (q.v.), or vice versa; and (3) booty : as adj. = worthless. Whence raff-merchant = a marine-store dealer ; raffish = disreputable ; raffishness = scampishness. As verb, raff (or raffle) = to live filthily, to pig it (q.v.). Raffle-coffin = 'a ruffian, ribald fellow.'—B. E. (r.1696); Grose (1785).

Rifle. 28 Rig.

d. 1210. Mapes, Appendix, 340. Maken of the rym and raff Suche gylours for pompe and pride.

ci337. Manning, Tr. French Poem [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 21. The French words are quash . . . riff and raff].

141?]. MS. [Lincoln, A. i. 17, fol. 148]. Ilk a manne agayne his gud he gaffe, That he had tane with ryfe and raffe.

1531-47. Copland, Spy t te I Hous [Hazlitt, Pop. Poet., iv. 41]. And euer haunteth among such ryf raf.

1611. Florio, Ital. Diet. Gentaglia, common or base, riffe-raffe, the scum of the earth, the base multitude of common people. Ibid. Ciarpance, riff-raff, luggage, trash.

d. 1677. Barrow, Unity of the Church. The synod of Trent was convened to settle a raff of errors and superstitions.

1709. Hearne, Diary, to Sept. He has his riff-raff notes upon Lycophron.

1847. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxix. There is no town of any mark in Europe but it has its little colony of English raffs.

1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 325. ¹ People, you see,' he said, ' wont buy their "accounts" of raff; they won't have them of any but respectable people.'

1884. Clark Russell, Jack's Courtship, xvii. Her main deck was a surface of straw, dirt, wet, and what sailors call raffle.

1886. D. Tel., i Ap. Shipping all sorts of sea-faring riff-raff.

1888. Kipling, Departmental Ditties, 'The Galley.' And the topsmen clear the raffle.

Rifle, verb, (venery).—To grope or possess a woman : see Ride.

1620. Percy, Folio MS., p. 194. Then lets imbrace and riffle and trifle.

RlG, subs., adj., and verb. (old).— i. Generic for wantonness. As subs. = (1) a wanton (also rigmutton and rigsby) ; (2) a drinking or wenching bout ; (3) anything dubious, as a knock-out, a cross fight, a cheat ; (4) an unscrupulous person ; and (5) a half or whole gelding (see quots.

1647 and 1678). As verb. = (1) to play the wanton ; (2) to spree (q.v.); (3) to trick, to steal ; and (4) to ride pick-aback. Hence riggish = wanton ; RiGOLAGE = wantonness ; TO run (play or carry) a rig = to play fast-and-loose ; to rig the market = to raise or depress prices for one's private advantage : hence to swindle ; up to the rigs = expert, wide-awake, fly (q.v.).—Grose (1785).

c.1320. Cursor Mundi, MS. Coll. Trin., Cantab., f. i. In ryot and in rigolage Spende mony her youthe and her age.

1551. Still, Gammer Gurions Needle [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), ii. 43. Nay, fy on thee, thou rampe, thou ryg, with al that take thy part.

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, Sept., 39. Some prowleth for fewel, and some away rig Fat goose and the capon.

1570. Levins, Manip. Vocab., 119. To RiGGE, lasciuire puellam.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Galluta, a cockish, wanton, or riggish wench. Ibid. Mocciacca ... a rigge, a harlot.

1608. Shakspeare, Antony and Cleopatra, ii. 2. For vilest things Become themselves in her ; that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish.

1647. Fletcher, Women Pleased, ii. 6. A pox o' yonder old Rigel.

1650. Fuller, Pisgah Light, iv. vi. Let none condemn them [the girls] for rigs because thus hoyting with the boys.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, in. ix. The mad-pate reeks of Bedlam.

1678. Cotton, Virgil Travestie [ Works (1725), 64]. I hate a base cowardly Drone, Worse than a Rigil with one Stone.

1739. Duke of Montague [quoted by Theodore Hook in Odd People, 'An Honest Practical Joke']. "Now all my wig-singeing, and nose-blacking exploits, will be completely outdone by the rig [that was the favorite word in the year 1739] I shall run upon this unhappy devil with the tarnished lace."

Rig29 Right.

1775. Old Song; ' The Potato Man ' [Farmer, Musa Pcdestris (1896), 55]. I'm up to all your knowing rigs.

1782. Cowper, John Gilpin, 25. He little dreamt when he set out Of running such a rig.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii. 6. We haven't had a better job a long vile nor the shabby genteel lay. That, and the civil rig told in a pretty penny.

1836. Marryat, Japhet, ii. Sometimes I carry on my rigs a little too far.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick (1857), 351. One expressed his opinion that it was " a rig," and the other his conviction that it was " a go."

1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers, . . . Who ever'd ha' thought sech a pisonous rig Would be run by a chap thet wuz chose fer a Wig ?

1857-61. Mayhew, London Lab., iii. 144. You're up to the rigs of this hole ; come to my hole—you can't play there !

1851. Chamber's Journal, xv. 103. A pawnbroker contributes the linen, an exuberant quantity of which is generally one of the characteristics of the Rig Sale.

1855. Tom Taylor, Still Waters [Dicks], 13. We must rig the market. Go in and buy up every share that's offered.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 Oct., 6, 2. Mr. Burr, without the knowledge of Mr. Westmacott, issued underwriting agreements, and proceeded to . . . rig the market.

1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, 1. vii. That's the rig, Deacon.

190T. D. Telegraph, 29 April, 4, 4. He never thought of running such a rig as that which caused his appearance before Mr. Sheil, at Westminster Police-court, on Saturday. Ibid., 21 Dec, 2, 7. Yesterday the rig in Scotch pig-iron collapsed.

2. (common). — Dress ; style : whence = a turn-out, or outfit : also rig-out and rigging. As verb = to equip ; rigged = dressed ; to rig a bloss = to strip a wench ; rum rigging = fine clothes.— B. E. (^.1696); Grose (1785).

1594. Nashe, Unf. Traveller [Wks. v. 164]. Her wardrop was richly rigd.

1625. Jonson, Staple of News, ii. 1. She is not rigged, sir ; setting forth some lady Will cost as much as furnishing a fleet.

1639. Massinger, Unnatural Combat, iv. 2. But if you will look on the malecontent Belgarde, newly rigg'd up, with the train that follows him,'twill be an object worthy of your noting.

1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, iv. i. You shall see how I rigged my 'squire out, with the remains of my shipwrecked wardrobe.

1709. Centlivre, Busie Body, ii. Buy a Lady's Favour at the Price of a thousand Pieces, to rig out an Equipage for a Wench.

1729. Gay, Polly, i. 2. She is in most charming rigging ; she won't cost you a penny, Sir, in cloaths at first setting out.

1757. Foote, Author, i. He's very young, and exceedingly well rigged.

1789. Parker, Life's Painter, 62. We shortly after rigged her with an entire new and very neat change of wearables.

1818. Byron, Beppo, v. Such as in Monmouth Street, or in Rag Fair, would rig you out in seriousness or joke.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, 5. This toggery will never fit—you must have a new rig-out.

1878. Besant & Rice, By Celia's Arbour, eh. ix. I was saluted in the street—it was on the Hard—by a tall and good-looking young sailor, in his naval rig, the handiest ever invented.

1899. Whiteing, John St., xvii. A fad every week at the 'osiers shops . . . and ... a new rig-out for every fad.

RlGGEN. TO ride the riggen, verb. phr. (provincial).—To be very intimate.

Rigger, subs. (Durham School).— A racing boat.

Right, adj. and adv. (old colloquial). — Very ; just ; quite. Colloquialisms are numerous : Right as rain (as ninepence, my leg, anything, a fiddle, trivet, &c.) = absolutely dependable ; to rights = com-

Right.

30 Right.

pletely to one's satisfaction ; right there = on the spot ; right great = very much ; right now = instanter ; right

so = just SO ; to do one right

(or reason) = (1) to do justice, and (2) to pledge in drinking ; right out = to a finish ; right down = downright ; right smart = extremely clever; right away (out, or straight),

right off (here Or out) =

immediately; to turn (or send) to the right-about = to dismiss ; right you are = a complete acquiescence ; all right = certainly, O. K. (Grose) ; a bit of all right = extremely good ; right along = at these presents ; right up to the handle = excellent ; to do (or have) one to rights = to serve one out ; to set to rights = to put in order ; right on = entirely, straightforward ; right forth = straight ; by good rights = it should be so ; right royal = drunk. See Leg.

c.1307. Rel. Antic., ii. 19. As ryt

as ramis orn.

1340. Gamelyn [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 39. Men dress (set) things torightes ; this adverb (few recognise it) is the source of our setting things to rights].

1350. William ofPaleme [E.E.T.S.], 3066. The quen er the day was dight wel to rightes Hendli in that hynde-skin as swiche bestes were. Ibid., 4268. Sehe swelt for sorwe and swoned rit there.

1356. Mandeville, Travels, 181. And he hem turnethe alle the Firmament righte as dothe a Wheel that turneth be his Axille Tree.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, 3629 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 127. There are new phrases like right (just) now . . .].

c. 1440. Merlin [E. E. T. S.], ii. 129. Thei asked yef thei hadde grete haste ; and thei ansuerde, ' Ye, right grete.'

c.1450. Knight of La Tour-Landry [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 284. We have right so . . . where we now say just so].

d.iifio. Lydgate [MS. Harl., 172, 71]. Conveyde by lyne ryght as a rammes horne.

of. 1529. Skelton, Why Come Ye Not, &"c. ? 86. Do ryght and doe no wronge, As ryght as a rammes horne. Ibid., Speke Parrot, 498. So myche raggyd ryghte of a rammes horne. Ibid., Colyn Cloute, 1200. They say many matters ar born Be hyt ryghte as a rambes horn.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., v. 3. Why now you have done me right. Ibid. (1609), Tempest, iv. i. 101. And be a boy right out.

1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, ii. I doo adiure thee (O great King) by all That in the World we sacred count or call, To doe me Right.

1607. W[entworth] S[mith], Puritan, i. i. He was my brother, as right as right.

1612-5. Hall, Contemp. [Tegg], v. 176. A prudent circumlocution which right down would not be digested.

1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bust, ii. 3. 'Tis freely spoken, noble burgomaster I'll do you right.

1624. Massinger, Bondman, ii. 3. These glasses contain nothing ; do me right As e'er you hope for liberty.

1663. Tuke, Adv. Five Hours [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), xii. 26]. Your master's health, sir—I'll do you reason, sir.

1703. Farquhar, Inconstant, ii. 2. Oh, pardon me, sir, you shall do me right . . . Now, sir, can you drink a health.

1726. Swift, Gulliver's Travels, 11. viii. They let the hulk drop into the sea, which by reason of many breaches made in the bottom and sides, sunk to rights.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 26. God knows if his heart lay in the right place.

18 [?]. Humphreys, Yankee in England. Aunt. Bring back an answer,— quick. Doolittle. In a jiffing, I'll be back to rights.

1842. Dickens, A merican Notes, ii. I now saw that "right away" and "directly" meant the same thing. Ibid. (1854), Hard Times, iv. Turn this girl to the right-about, and there's an end of it.

Right-abouts.

31 Rigmarole.

1855. Taylor, Still Waters, ii. 2. ' How are you ?'...' Right as a trivet, my prince of prospectus mongers.

1856. Stowe, Dred, 1. 209. She had right smart of life in her, and was always right busy 'tending to something or other. Ibid., 1. Get the carriage out for me right away.

1856. Webster, Correspondence, 1. 339. We will shut ourselves up in the office and do the work right off.

1857. Olmsted, Texas, 301. Each man's ration consisting of a pint of mouldy corn and a right smart chunk of bacon.

1876. Macaulay, Life and Letters, i. 235. I guess I must answer him right

Slick away.

1882. McCabe, New York, xliii. 570 Take hold of it, my boy, right now.

1883. Hawley Smart, At Fault, nr. viii. 125. " Right you are, Dickinson," replied Mr. Usher, rubbing his hands softly.

1899. Whiteing, John Street, ix. If yer want to get it to rights. Ibid., xviii. He is simply ' right ' from top to toe.

Right-abouts (The), subs, (military).—The Gloucestershire Regiment. Also ' ' The Old Braggs " ; "The Slashers"; and "The Whitewashers."

Right-eye (or hand). My righteye itches, phr. (old colloquial). —See quot.

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, iii. Lady Answ. And my Right Eye itches ; I shall cry. Ibid. Lady Smart. And my Right Hand itches ; I shall receive Money.

Right-hander, subs. phr. (pugilists').—A hit with the right hand.

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, ii. 5. Tom gets . . . deposited on the grass by a right-hander from the Slogger.

Right-side. To rise on the right-side, verb. phr. (old).— A happy augury : cf. wrong side (q.v.) of the bed.

1607. Marston, What you Will [Works (1633), sig. Rb]. You rise on your right side to-day, marry.

1614. Terence in English [Nares].

C. What doth shee keepe house alreadie ?

D. Alreadie. C. O good God : we rose

on the right side to-day.

c.1620. Fletcher, Women Pleased, i. [end of act].

1633. Machin, Dumb Knight, iv. 1. Sure I said my prayers, ris'd on my right side . . . No hare did cross me, nor no bearded witch, Nor other ominous sign.

Right-sort, sttbs. phr. (old).— Gin : see White Satin.—The Fancy (1820).

Righteous, adj. (colloquial).—An inverted appreciation : e.g., a righteous (i.e., fine) as distinguished from a wicked (q.v.) day, &c. : cf. Religious.

More holy than righteous, phr. (common).—Applied to a tattered garment or person.

Rigmarole, subs, (colloquial).—A tedious story ; twaddle ; a rambling statement : also ragman roll, rig-my-roll, and rig-marole. As adj. = roundabout, nonsensical (Grose). [A corruption of Ragman roll—i.e., the Devil's Roll : cf. Rageman—applied apparently to any document containing many details ; also to an old game in which a parchment roll played a part.]

rf.1529. Skelton, Gar lande 0/Laurel I [Dyce, i. 420], 1490. I did what I cowde to scrape out the scrollis, Apollo to rase out of her ragman rollis.

1533. Pardoner and Frere [Halliwell]. * Mayster parson, I marvayll ye wyll gyve lycenc To this false knave . . . To publish his ragman rolles with lyes.

Rigol.

Ring.

rf.1556. Udaix [Smyth Palmer]. A ragman's rewe . . . we call a long geste that railleth on any person by name or toucheth a bodyes honesty somewhat near.

1753. Richardson, Sir Chas. Grandison, iv. iv. You must all of you go in one rig-my-roll way, in one beaten track.

1757. Foote, Author, ii. You are always running on with your riggmonrowles, and won't stay to hear a body's story out.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, ist S., No. xii., 203. Mrs. Blair has been writing us a strange rigmarole, which nobody can make head or tail of.

Riqol (or Rigil).—See Rig, subs. 1.

Rile (Roil or Royle), verb. (old). —To vex ; to irritate ; to disturb. Hence RILY = cross-grained ; RILEMENT = ill temper. [Originally = to make turbid.] Fr. cavaler (or coui ir) sur le haricot.

1656-8. Gurnall, Christian in Annour, in. 296. There are dregs enough within to royle and distemper the spirit.

1740. North, Examen, 359. The lamb down stream roiled the wolfs water above. Ibid., Lives of the Norths, 1. 415. He took a turn or two in his dining room and said nothing, by which I perceived that his spirits were very much roiled.

1843. Dickens, Chuzzlewit, xxi. My feller critters . . . rile up rough, along of my objecting to their selling Eden off too cheap.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 64. I gin to git Riley. Ibid., 31. Rile him up, and sot his liver workin ?

1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers, . . . We begin to think it's natur To take sarse and not be riled.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, Ixiv. What vexed and "riled" him (to use his own expression) was the infernal indifference and cowardly ingratitude of Clavering.

1883. Sat. Rev., 13 Jan., 42, 2. It is not surprising that . . . they [his speeches] " riled " some of Sir Charles's political friends not a little. But it was perhaps a little surprising that the rilement was so little manifested among Sir Charles's audiences.

RlMBLE-RAMBLE, subs. phr. (old).

—Nonsense : as adj. = nonsensical.

1690. Pagan Prince [Nares]. The greatest part of the task was only rimbleramble discourse.

Rinder, subs. (Queen's University). —An outsider.

Riner. To shed riners with a whaver, verb. phr. (old).—To cap ; to surpass.

Ring, subs, (venery).—I. The female pudendum : also Hairy ring, Hans Carvels Ring {q.v.) and Black-ring. Hence cracked (or clipped) in the ring = seduced.

1597. Lyly, Woman in Moon, iii. 2. Lear. Will Pandora be thus light? Gun. If she were twenty graines lighter I would not refuse her, provided alwayes She be clipt within the ring.

1613. Beaumont and Fletcher, Captain. Come to be married to my lady's woman, After she's craçk'd in the ring.

1622. Atley, Book of Airs, s.v.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, in. xxviii. Never fail to have continually the ring of thy wife's Commodity upon thy finger.

1660. Watson, Cheerful Airs, s.v.

c. 1700. Prior, Hans Carvel. Hans took the ring . . . And, thrusting it beyond his joint, ' 'Tis done, he cry'd ' . . . ' What's done, you drunken bear, You've thrust your finger God knows where ! '

2. (colloquial).—A place set apart for, or a concourse engaged in, some specific object : as (racing) = (1) an enclosure used for betting, and (2) the bookmakers therein ; (pugilists') = (3) the circle, square, or parallelogram within which a fight takes place : hence The Prize ring = the world of pugilists ; (horse-

R^g. 33 Ring.

dealers') = (4) the space within which horses are exhibited at fair, market, or auction ; (general) = (5) a combination for controlling a market or political measure ; in America a trust.—B. E. (c. 1696); Grose (1785). Hence

ringman = a bookmaker [q.V.).

1705. Farquhar, Twin Rivals, i. 1. I fly at nobler game ; the Ring, the Court, Pawlett's and the Park.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 57. Ruffian'd the reeling youngsters round trie Ring.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ii. Cold water and . . . vinegar applied . . . by the bottle-holders in a modern ring.

1845. Disraeli, Sybil, 1. ii. 'Will any one do anything about Hybiscus?' sang out a gentleman in the ring at Epsom.

1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xix. One day, in the ring, Rawdon's Stanhope came in sight.

1855. Taylor, Still Waters, ii. 1. I should have done better to have stuck by Tattersall's and the Turf. The Ring are sharp fellows.

1857. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ix. No ringmen to force the betting and deafen you with their blatant proffers.

1871. Manchester Guardian, 23 Dec. ' American Rings and Lobbyists.' The modern political ring he described as a combination of selfish bad men, formed for their own pecuniary advancement.

1877. Nation, xiii. 333 {Century}. A [political] Ring is, in its common form, a small number of persons who get possession of an administrative machine, and distribute the offices or other good things connected with it among a band of fellows, of greater or less dimensions, who agree to divide with them whatever the}⁷ make.

1888. D. Chronicle, 12 July. The victory was very popular, and by the success of Satiety the ring sustained a severe blow.

3. (old).—' Money extorted by Rogues on the High-way, or by Gentlemen Beggers.' — B. E. (^.1696) ; Grose (1785).

Verb, (common).—1. To manipulate ; spec, to change : e.g., to ring castors = to exchange hats (Grose) ; to ring

the changes = (1) to substitute bad money for good ; and (2) so to bustle that change is given wrong.—Grose (1785); Vaux (1812).

1678. Butler, Hudibras, in. iii. The skill To wind and manage it at will . . . And ring the changes upon cases.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 4. The changes were just beginning to ring upon some new subject.

1828. Bee, Liv. Pict. London, 45. Jarvis . . . after turning your money over and over . . . declares they ring bad, and you must change them for good ones. If you appear tolerably 'soft,' and will 'stand it,' he perhaps refuses these also, after having rung the changes once more. This is called a double do.

2. (thieves').—See quot.

1863. CornhillMag., vii. 91. When housebreakers are disturbed and have to abandon their plunder they say that they have rung themselves.

3. (Australian). — To patrol cattle by riding round and round them. Also to ring up.

4. (American). —To create a disturbance; to racket (q.v.).

5. (old).—To talk: spec, to scold : of women.—Grose.

Phrases.—To ring the horseshoes (tailors') = to welcome a man returning from a drinking bout ; to go through the ring = to go bankrupt, to be whitewashed (q.v.) ; to ring in (American) = (1) to quote ; to implicate, (2) to get the better of, (3) in gaming, to add to (or substitute) cards in a pack surreptitiously : whence to ring in a cold deck = to substitute a prepared pack of cards ; cracked in the ring = (i) flawed; (2) see subs., sense 1; to come on the ring = to take one's turn ; to take the mantle and ring = to vow perpetual widowhood. AIso^Ball.

Ring-dropper. 34

Rip.

d.1400. Chaucer, Good Women, 1887. Judge infernal Mynos . . . Now cometh thy lotte I now comestow on the rynge.

....]. Gesta Grayorum, ' Progr. of Eliz.,' ii. 54. His highness" master of the ordnance claimes to have all peeces gul'd in the touch-hole or broken within the

ringe.

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, ii. 2, 448. Pray God your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not crack'd within the ring.

1632. Jonson, Magnetic Lady. Light gold, and crack'd within the ring. [This quot. also illustrates sense 1.]

1887. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. Between them they rung in a cold deck in a faro-box.

1889. Lester Wallack, Memories [Scribner, iv. 723]. They want to ring me into it, but I do not see anything in it I can do.

RlNG-dropper (or-faller), Subs.

phr. (thieves').—See quot. 185161 : hence ring-dropping : see fawney-dropper. — Awdeley (1567); Parker (1781).

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxxvii. Tom's evil genius did not . . . mark him out as the prey of ring-droppers ... or any of those bloodless sharpers.

1849. Macaulav, Hist, of Eng., xviii. The crowd of pilferers, ringdroppers, and sharpers who infested the capital.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 389. In ring-dropping we pretend to have found a ring, and ask some simplelooking fellow if it's good gold, as it's only just picked up [they then get the fellow to buy].

Ringer, subs, (common).—A bell ; a tinkler. Fr. battante; brandillante.

Ring-man, subs. phr. (old).—The middle, or ring finger : cf. darkmans ; ruff-mans, &c.

1544. Ascham, Toxophilus, 137. When a man shooteth, the might of his shoote lyeth on the foremost finger, and on the ring-man.

2. See Ring, subs, i.

Ring-tail, subs, (military). — A recruit : see Snooker.

Ring-tailed roarer, subs. phr. (American).—The nonsense name of some imaginary beast.— Century.

Rink. To get out of one's rink, verb. phr. (old colloquial). —To sow wild oats. [Rink = a course, a race, ring, or circle.]

Rinse, subs, (common).—Any sort of potable ; lap (q.v.). Hence as verb. = to drink ; to lush (q.v.).

Riot Act. To read the Riot Act, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To administer a jobation ; to reprove.

Riotous-living, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Luxuries. [Cf. Luke xv. 13.]

RlP, subs, (common).—A reprobate ; a rake (q.v. ). Hence anything censurable : as a screw (q.v.) of a horse (Grose), 'a shabby mean fellow ' (Grose) : sometimes in jest.

1827. Peake, Comfortable Lodgings, i. 2. Roue. So, at last at Paris ; and I'll be bound I'm the greatest rip in it.

1853. Dickens, Bleak House, lv. If it's ever broke to him that his rip of a brother has turned up I could wish . . . to break it myself.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 Oct., 6, 1. The prisoner said a rip (an Americanism for low woman) has told him that she had been employed by the police to track him.

1900. Kipling, Stalky &* Co., 25. ¹ Hold on, till King loses his temper,' said Beetle. ' He's a libellous old rip, an' he'll be in a ravin' paddywhack.'

Verb, (old : now chiefly American).—i. To take one's own course ; to go as one will : to tear along ; to drive furiously :

&ip* 35 Ripping.

usually in phr. let her rip : also to rip and stave. Whence ripper = a tearer ; to rip and tear = to be furious ; to rip out = to explode ; also as an oath, rip me ! = Blast me ! (q.v.).

1600. Decker, Shorn. Holiday [Works (187s], i. 29]. Auaunt kitchin. stuffe, rippe, you browne bread tannikin, out of my sight.

1848. Jones, Sketches 0/ Travels, 78. He ripped out an oath that made the hair stand on my head.

1869. H. B. Stowe, Old Town Folks, 607. If she don't do nothing more . , . why, I say, let 'er rip.

1877. Temple Bar, May, 109. It has its drawbacks, the principal of which is a growing tolerance of misrule and misconduct in office. "Let him rip_;" is a common verdict; "we can turn him out when his time is up."

1885. Stevenson, Prince Otto, iL 7. ' You may leave the table,' he added, his temper ripping out.

1895. Marriott-Watson [New Review, 2 July], " Rip me," says he, starting up, "d'ye think I could not ha' been in the job myself? "

2. (old).—To search; to rummage : espec. with a view to plunder ; hence (3) to steal. Rippkr = a robber.

[. . . .]. Ormulum, 10,212. To rippenn hemm and raefenn.

tf.1388. Townelty Myst., 112. Com and rype oure howse, and then may ye se Who had hir.

[....]. Robin Hood and Beggar [Child, Ballads, v. 190]. And loose the strings of all thy pocks, I'll ripe them with my hand.

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, xxiii. I e'en riped his pouches, as he had dune mony an honester man's.

Ripe, adj. and adv. (common).— I. Drunk ; and (2) ready.

1609. Shakspeare, Tempest, v. 1. Trinculo is reeling ripe : where should they find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em?

C.1615. Fletcher, Woman's Prize, \. i. Do all the ramping, roaring tricks a whore, Being drunk and tumbling-RiPE.

rf.1704. Brown, Works, i. 272. To show you how soon the Women of this age grow ripe . . .

1821. Egan, Life in London, 178. Jerry was now ripe for anything.

1842. Tennyson, Poems, ' Will Water-proof.' Half mused or reeling-

ripe.

RlPON (or RiPPON), subs, (old).— I. A spur ; and (2) a sword. [The Yorkshire City was formerly famous for its fine steel.]—Grose (1785).

1625. Jonson, Staple 0/ News, i. 3. Why there's an angel, if my spurs Be not right Rippon.

1636. .Wits [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), viii. 501]. Whip me with wire, headed with rowels of Sharp Rippon spurs.

Ripper, subs, (colloquial).—Anything especial : a good ball (cricket) ; a knock-down blow (pugilistic) ; a fine woman ; an outrageous lie, &c. Hence ripping = great, excellent, stunning (q.v.).

1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 237. The . . . battle between the two young ladies of fortune is what we call a ripper.

1877. Belgravia, xxxii. 241. Mr. Wilkie Collins's last novel is a ripping book.

1881. Howells, Dr. Breen's Practice, ii. Barlow says it's the hottest day he's ever seen here. ..." It's a ripper. '

1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, i. What a ripping race it was.

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, 209. ' How are you getting on with her?' 'Rippingly as far as she is concerned.'

1896. Cotsford Dick, Ways of World, 53. He calls the sunrise a ' rippin show.'

Ripping, subs. (Eton College).—A ceremony incidental to the departure of a Senior Colleger for King's College, Cambridge : when

Rise.

36 Roach.

he has ' got King's ' his gown is stitched up that it may be ripped afterwards.

Adj. See Ripper.

Rise, subs, (colloquial).—An advance : in salary, price, betting, status, rank, &c. See Raise.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick, liii. Eighteen bob a-week, and a rise if he behaved himself.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., ii. 42. A friend or two in London . . . gave me a bit of a rise, so I began as a costermonger.

1864. Tennyson, Aylmer's Field. Wrinkled benchers oft talk'd of him Approvingly, and prophesied his rise.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 70. As to my chance of a rise wot do you think, old pal !

Verb, (colloquial).—1. To play into one's hands ; to listen credulously.

1856. Whyte-Melville, Kate Coventry, xvi. John rose freely in a moment ... he burst out quite savagely.

2. See Raise.

To get (have or take) a rise out of one, verb. phr. (common).—To mortify ; to make ridiculous ; to outwit.

1600. Kemp, Dance to No> wich [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 52. The new substantives are pipe, a rise (leap) ; whence comes " get a rise out of him "].

.1859. De Quincey, Spanish Nun. Possibly taking a rise out of his worship the Corregidor.

1901. Sporting Times, 6 Ap., 1, 4. But, I don't care how hard he tries, He out of me can't take a rise.

Phrases.—To rise a barney (showmen's) = to collect a crowd ; to rise arse upwards = ' A sign of good luck ' (Ray).

Rising, quasi-adv. (colloquial).—i. Upwards of ; and (2) approaching to.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, 1. 7. When Mr. Verdant Green was (in stable language] rising sixteen.

Rispin. See Respin.

Rites of Love, subs. phr. (conventional). — Copulation : see Greens.

rf.1638. Carew, The Rapture. We only sin when Love's Rites are not done.

1733. Bailey, Coll. Eras., 'The Uneasy Wife.' There are some Women who will be querulous, and scold even while the Rites of Love are performing.

River Le*, subs. phr. (rhyming).— The sea.

River-rat, subs. phr. (common). —A riverside thief : specifically one who robs the corpses of men drowned.

River Tick. See Tick.

Rivet, subs, (common).—In pi. = money : see Rhino.

Verb, (colloquial).—To marry ; TO hitch (q.v.) ', TO splice (q.v.).

1700. Congreve, Way of the World, i. 2. " Sir, there's such coupling at Paneras that they stood behind one another as 'twere in a country dance ... so we drove round to Duke's Place, and there they were rivetted in a trice."

Riz. See Raise.

Rizzle, verb, (provincial).—See quot.

1890. CasselFs Sat. Jour., 2 Aug., 1068, i. The newest of new verbs is the verb to rizzle ... to enjoy a short period of absolute idleness after a meal.

R.M.D., phr. (common).—Ready Money Down; immediate payment.

Roach. See Sound,

Road. 37 Roaratorio.

Road, subs, (venery).—i. The female pudendum : also road to heaven (or paradise) : see Monosyllable. Whence roadmaking (or road up for repairs) = menstruation. Also (2) a harlot.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV., ii. 2, 182. This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.

c.1796. Burns, Merry Muses, 112. TO take to the road, verb.

phr. (various).—To turn highwayman (the road also = highway robbery) ; footpad ; beggar ; tramp ; or commercial. Whence

road-agent, gentleman (or knight) of the road = (i) a

highwayman, and (2) a commercial traveller.

1704. [Ashton, Social Life, &c, 11. 242]. There is always some little Trifle given to Prisoners, they call Garnish ; we of the road are above it.

1730. Swift, Capt. Creichton [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 162. Among the verbs are ... go upon the road (as a highwayman) . . .].

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 13. I do not think you are fool enough to make any bones about consorting with gentlemen of the road.

1883. Stevenson, Silverado Squatters, 15. The highway robber—roadagent, he is quaintly called.

1893. Standard, 29 Jan., 2. Now suppose we are on the road . . . and we meet a josser policeman.

1895. Marriott-Watson [New Review, July, 8]. But if a gentleman of the road must be hindered by the impudent accidents of the weather, he had best . . . settle down with empty pockets afore a mercer's counter.

roaf, adj. (back slang).—Four. Hence Roaf-yanneps = fourpence ; Roaf-GEN = four shillings.

Roach-and-dace, subs. phr. (rhyming).—The face: see Dial.

Roadster, subs, (hunting).— A person who prefers the road to cross country riding.

1885. Field, 4 Ap. Once in a way the roadsters and shirkers are distinctly favoured.

Roarer, subs, (common).—Anything especially loud : e.g. (1) = a broken-winded horse (Grose) ; (2) a pushing newsvendor; (3) a stump-orator. Hence roar =

(1) to breathe hard: of horses ;

(2) to rant (q.V. ) ; roaring = the disease in horses causing broken wind.

1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 144. The Roarer . . . has no other qualifications for a champion of controversy than a hardened front and a strong voice.

1837. Peake, Quarter to Nine, 1. His horse is neither a crib biter nor a

roarer.

«£1841. Hook, Man of Many Friends. His stalls at Melton inhabited by slugs and roarers.

1841. Thackeray, Sketches, 'A Night's Pleasure.' Cox's most roomy fly ... in which he insists on putting the roaring gray horse.

1847. Robb, Traits of Squatter Life, 64. Ben was an old Mississip'

roarer.

1850. Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, via. Tom's a roarer when there's any thumping or fighting to be done.

1865. Evening Citizen, j hug. One of a class of men known as roarers went round with a few evening papers which he announced to be "extraordinary editions."

1872. Figaro, 30 Nov. Greeley's too great a roarer, and depended too much on the stump.

1872. Eliot, Middlemarch, xxiii. The horse was a penny trumpet to that roarer of yours.

1883. D. Telegraph, 5 Jan., 2, 6. Prosecutor, after paying for the mare, discovered her to be a roarer.

Roaratorio, subs. (old). — An oratorio.—Grose (1785).

Roaring. 38 Roaring-forties.

Roaring, adj. and adv. (common). —Brisk ; successful ; strong : see

drive, humming, &c

1831. Planche, Olympic Revels, 3. But what a roaring trade I'm driving, burn me ! But I can scarcely tell which way to turn me.

1837. Marryatt, Snarleyow, xii. You've got a roaring fire, I'll bet.

1883. Referee, 20 May, 2, 4. Rain having kindly come to the rescue of managers on Whit-Monday, most theatres did a roaring trade.

Roaring-boy (-blade, -girl, -lad, -ruffian,&c,or Roarer),

subs. phr. (old).—A street bully : late 16th and 17th centuries : also oatmeal (q.v.) and terrible-boy (q.V.). Also roar,

verb. = to riot ; to swagger ; roaring = riotous. As adv. = extravagantly, noisily, superbly. —B. E. (c.iôgô); Grose(1785).

c.1600. Brave English Gypsey [Collier, Roxburgh* Ballads (1847), 185]. Our knockers make no noise, We are no

roaring boyes.

1603. Dekker, London's^ Tempe. The gallant roars ; roarers drink oathes and gall.

1609. Shakspeare, Tempest, i. 1. What care these roarers for the name of King?

1610. Beaumont and Fletcher, Philaster, v. 4. We are thy myrmidons, thy guard, thy roarers. Ibid. (1616), Widow, ii. 3. Two roaring-boys of Rome that made all split.

1611. Middleton, THE ROARING GIRL [Title]. Ibid. (1617), A Paire Quarreil, v. i. I saw a youth, a gentlemun, a roarer.

c.1620. Court and Times James I. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 58. The new cant word roaring boy comes up in p. 322].

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. Virago roaring girles, that to their middle, To know what sexe they were, was hälfe a riddle.

1640. Humphry Mill, Night's Search, Sect. 8, 42. _ Two roaring blades being on a time in drink.

1640. The Wandering Jew. "Iam a man of the Sword ; a Battoon Gallant, one of our Dammees, a bouncing Boy, a kicker of Bawdes, a tyrant over Puncks, a terrour to Fencers, a mewer of Playes, a jeerer of Poets, a gallon-pot-flinger ; in rugged English, a Roarer."

1658. Rowley [Nares], i. 2. One of the country roaring lads ; we have such, as well as the city, and as arrant rakehells as they are.

1659. Massinger, City Madam, iii. i know them, swaggering, suburbian roarers, Sixpenny truckers.

1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie (ist ed.), 10. A Crew of drunken roaring

ruffins.

rf.1680. Rochester, Song [Works]. Room for a bold blade of the Town That takes delight in roaring.

1697. Vanbrugh, Prov. Wife, iii. 2. We's got a' roaring fow.

1759. Townley, High Life Below Stairs, i. ». We'll have a roaring night.

1791. Burns, Tarn 0'S hanter. That every naig was ca'd a shoe on The smith and thee gat roaring fou on.

1822. Scott, Fort, of Nigel, xvii. The tarnished doublet of bald velvet . . . will best suit the garb of a roaring boy.

1834. Marryat, Peter Simple, xxviii. Three of our men whom he had picked up, roaring drunk.

Roaring Buckle. See Buckle.

Roaring-forties, subs. phr. (nautical).—The degrees of latitude between 40⁰ and 50⁰ N—the most tempestuous part of the Atlantic : also, occasionally to the same zone in the South Atlantic.

1883. Buchan [Ency. Brit., xvi. 146, 2. The region of the 'brave west winds,' the roaring forties of sailors.

1884. Lady Brassey, The Trades, Tropics, and ' Roaring Forties ' [Title].

1893. J. A. Barry, Steve Brown's Bunyip, 165. They found the Roaring Forties quite strong enough for them.

Roaring game. 39

Roast.

Roaring game (The), subs. phr. (Scots'). — Curling. [Burns : * The curlers quest their roaring play.']

Roaring Meg, subs. phr. (old).— (1) A very famous piece of ordnance ; whence (2) anything loud, efficient, or extraordinary.

1575. Churchyard, Chipper, 'Siege of Edenbrough Castell.' With thondryng noyes was shot of[f] Roering Meg.

1602. Middleton, Blurt. Master Constable, n. ii. O, Cupid, grant that my blushing prove not a lintstock, and give fire too suddenly to the Roaring Meg of my desires.

1621. Burton, Anat. of M elan. A roaring meg against melancholy, to rear and revive the languishing soul.

1623. Fletcher and Rowley, Maid of the Mill, in. ii. I'll sell my mill, and buy a Roaring Meg ; I'll batter down his house.

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. Thy name and voice, more fear'd then Guy of Warwick, Or the rough rumbling, roaring Meg of Barwicke.

1638. Whiting, A Ibino ana Bellama. Beates downe a fortresse like a roaring Meg.

Roast, verb. (old).—1. To ridicule; to quiz (q.v.).—Grose.

.1732. Atterbury, Epist. Corr., ii. 417. Bishop Atterbury's roasting lord Coningsby about the topick of being priestridden.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, lxxi. Who no sooner entered the room than the mistress of the house very kindly desired one of the wits present to roast the old put.

1780. Lee, Chapter of Accidents, iii. i. But I must keep my own counsel, or my old beau of a brother will roast me to death on my system of education.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, xiii. " Let them but lay a finger on my ' Medea,' and I'll give them such a roasting as they haven't had since the days of the ' Dunciad.' "

1897. Mitford, Romance of Cape Frontier, i. ix. Poor Allen was roasted unmercifully on the strength of it.

2. (thieves').—(a) To watch closely; to stall (q.v.). Also to boast brown and to get (or give) a roasting : Fr. pousser de la ficelle. Thus (old) to smell of the roast = to get into prison.—B. E. (f.1696) ; Grose (1785).

1587. Mirour for Magistrates [Nares]. My souldiers were slayne fast before mine owne eyes, Or forc'd to flie, yeilde, and smell of the rost.

1879. Horsley, Jottings from Jail [Mac. Mag., xl. 504]. I see a reeler giving me a roasting, so I began to count my pieces for a jolly.

1888. Sims, Plank Bed Ballad [Referee, 12 Feb.]. A reeler was roasting

me brown.

Phrases.—To rule the roast = to lead, to domineer (B. E., Grose) ; to cry roast meat = to chatter about one's good fortune (B. E., Grose);

to make roast meat for worms = to kill ; to give roast meat and beat with

the spit = ' to do one a Curtesy, and Twit or Upbraid him with it ' (B. E.) ; to roast snow in a furnace = to attempt the unnecessary or absurd. Also proverbial sayings :—' Set a fool to roast eggs, and a wise man to eat them ' ; * You are in your roast meat when others are in their fod ' ; * There's reason in roasting of eggs ' ; ' Great boast and small roast make unsavoury mouths.' Cf. Ribroaster.

c.i 380. Debate of the Carpenters' Tools'[Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet, i. 85]. My mayster yet shall reule the roste.

.1529. Skelton, Why Come Ye not to Court. He ruleth all the roste With bragging and with boste.

Roast-and-boiled. 40

Robe.

1594. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., i. i. " Suffolk, the new-made duke, that rules the roast." Ibid. (1608), Pericles, i. 3. Fand. The poor Transylvanian is dead, that lay with the little baggage. Poult. Ay, she quickly poop'd him ; she made him roast meat for worms.

1606. Chapman, Gentleman Usher, v. Ah, I do domineer, and rule the roast.

1634. Lenton, Innes of Court A nag. [Nares]. They boast Of dainty cates, and afterwards cry roast.

d. T662. Gauden, Tears of the Church, 682. He might . . . not have proclaimed on the housetop to all the world the rostmeat he hath gotten.

1670. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft [ Works (1725), 256]. Why then, if I may rule the roast, I affect naked Women most.

1719. Durfey, Pills, iii. 22. When you give a Man Roast-meat, and beat with the Spit.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, li. Who was hand and glove with a certain person who ruled the roast. Ibid. (1749), Gil Bias [Routledge], 362. She began to see that there was reason in roasting of eggs.

1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, iv. v. To trumpet forth the praises of such a person would ... be crying Roast Meat.

1809. Lamb, Christ's Hospital. The foolish beast, not able to fare well but he must cry roast meat . . . would needs proclaim his good fortune to the world below.

1829. Moncrieff, Giovanni in London, i. 3. Now, sirs, I hope you'll own we are your wives, the rulers of the roast.

Roast-and-boiled, subs. phr. (old).—The Life Guards: 'who are mostly substantial housekeepers, and eat daily of roast and boiled' (Grose).

Roaster, subs. (Irish).—See quot.

1888. D. Tel., 29 Nov. The meaning of "roasters" was turnspits for landlords ; that the names of the " roasters " were kept ; that when particular "roasters " were to be boycotted it was the League that boycotted them ; and that he dare not work for the men whose names were on the list.

Roasting-jack, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum: see Monosyllable.

Roast-m eat clothes, subs. phr. (old).—Sunday or holiday gear (B. E., Grose).

Rob. See Barn, Peter.

Roba. See Bona-roba.

rob-altar, szcbs. phr. (old).—A sacrilegious plunderer.

.1655. Adams, Works, i. 179. What law can be given to kob-altars?

Robbery. Exchange is no robbery, phr. (old).—An excuse for a forced or jesting imposition.— Heywood (1546) ; Ray (1760).

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 35. Since you have taken a fancy to it, an exchange is no robbery ... a genteel way enough of making a present.

Rob-davy (or Rob-o'-davy), subs, phr. (old colloquial).—Metheglin.

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. Peter-see-mea, or headstrong Charnico, Sherry, nor Rob-o'-davy here could flow.

Robe. Gentleman of the Long Robe, subs. phr. (old).— A lawyer : see Long Robe for addit. quots.

1677. Yarranton, Eng. Impr., 34. Three worthy Gentlemen of the Long Robe.

i 702. Steele, Griefa-laMoae, Pref. Far be it from any Man's Thought to say there are not Men of strict Integrity of the Long Robe, tho* it is not every Body's good Fortune to meet with them.

1856. Motley, Dutch Republic, 1. 377. Rich advocates, and other gentlemen of the robe.

1863. Thackeray, Roundabout Papers, xviii. His honour being even then a gentleman of the long robe.

Rober (Ts-man. 41

Rob-pot.

Roberd's-man (-knave, or Roberts'-man), subs. phr. (old).— 'The third (old) Rank of the Canting Crew, mighty Thieves, like Robin-hood.'—B. E.^.1696); Grose (1785).

1362. Langland, Piers Plowman, 3. In glotonye ... Go thei to bedde, And risen with ribaudie Tho Roberdes

knaves.

1838. Tomlins, Law. Diet., s.v. Robbersmen, or Robberdsmen were a sort of great thieves mentioned in the statutes (5 Edw. 3, &c] ... of whom Coke says, that Robin Hood lived in the reign of King Richard I., on the borders of England and Scotland by robbery, burning of houses, rapine and spoil, Sec, and that these Robberdsmen took name from him.

Robert (or Roberto), subs, (common).—A policeman.

1870. Figaro, 18 Nov. That intolerable nuisance, the " British Peeler "■—who is always poking his nose where he is not wanted, and is never to be found when he is—is, after all, a sensitive creature. The blood of the Roberts is at length aroused.

t88o. Sims, An Awful Character. The guilt of one person is well to the fore, For our Roberts so terribly fly are.

Robin, subs, (common).—A penny: see Rhino.

1894. Chatham and Rochester News, 20 Jan., 7, 5. Witness asked him how much he got, and he said " Seventeen and a robin."

2. (American). — ' A flannel under-shirt. '—Bartlett.

See Round Robin.

Robin Hood. Many phrases trace back to the legend of this heroic thief. Thus Robin Hood, subs. = a daring lie ; Robin Hood's pennyworth (see quots. 1662 and 1682) ; ' Good even, good Robin Hood ' (said of civility extorted by fear) ; ' Many talk of Robin Hood that never shot

in his bow' = Many speak of things of which they have no knowledge ; ' Tales of Robin Hood are good enough for fools.'

1509. Barclay, Ship of Fooles{isjo), fol. 250. I write no ieste ne tale of Robin Hood.

d. 1529. Skelton, Why Come Ye, &>c., 193. Is nat my reason good ? Good euyn, good Robyn Hood ! Some say yes, and some Syt styll as they were dorn.

16 [?]. Star Chamber Case [Camden Soc, 117]. "Walton the BaylifFeJleavyed of the poore mans goods 77/z att Robinhood's l'eniworths."

1633. T. Newton, Lennie's Touchstone of Complexions, 129. Reporting a flim-flam tale of Robin Hood.

1652. Ashmole, Theat. Chem. Brit., 175. Many man spekyth wyth wondreng Of Robyn Hode, and of his bow, Whych never shot therin, I trow.

1662. Fuller, Worth. Eng., 315. To sell Robin Hoods pennyworths.—It is spoken of things sold under half their value ; or if you will, half sold half given. Robin Hood came lightly by his ware, and lightly parted therewith ; so that he could afford the length of his Bow for a yard of Velvet.

1682. Barnard, Life of Heylin, cxli. Soldiers seized on all . . . for the use of the Parliament (as they pretended) but sold as they passed along to any chapman, inconsiderable rates, Robin Hood's pennyworths.

1705. Ward, Hud. Rediv., 1. viii. 8. Many Fools, their Parts to show Will talk of Robin and his Bow That never, by Enquiry, knew Whether 'twas made ot Steel or Yew.

Robin Redbreast, subs. phr. (old).—A Bow-street runner : also robin and redbreast.

Robin's-eye, subs. phr. (common). —A scab.

Robinson. See Jack Robinson.

Rob-pot, subs. phr. (old).—A drunkard ; a malt-worm [q.v.).

1622. Massinger, Virgin Martyr, ii. i. Bacchus, the god of brew'd wine and sugar, grand patron of rob-pots.

Rob-the-ruffian.

Rocker.

Rob-the-ruffian, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum: see Monosyllable.

Rob-thief, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

Adams, Works, i. 195. Now he plays rob-thief, and steals from himself.

Roby Douglas, subs. phr. (nautical).—The breech : see Monocular-eyeglass.

Roch ester-portion, subs. phr. (old).—'Two torn Smocks, and what Nature gave.'—B. E. (c. 1696) ; Grose (1785).

Rock, subs, (common).—Generic for hard eatables : — (i) = a cheese made from skim-milk, and said to be * used in making pins to fasten gates' (Hampshire) ; (2) a kind of hard sweetmeat ; (3) school bread as distinguished from ' baker's-bread ' (Derby School) ; (4) a hard kind of soap : see quot. 18 . . ; &c, &c.

1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, xv. Promising them rock and bull's-eyes.

1885. W. L. Carpenter, Soap and Candles, 254. Calcium stéarate and oleate are formed . . . These . . . when mixed together constitute an insoluble soap, technically called kock.

1888. Harper's Mag., lxxvi. 625. Pieces of peppermint rock . . . prized by youthful gourmands.

5. (common).—A rock pigeon.

1885. Field, 4 Ap. Being a bit slow in firing, a fast rock escaped him.

6. (American). — In pi. = money. Hence pocketful of

rocks = flush ; on the rocks = stranded {q.V.).

1846. Pickings from the New Orleans Picayune. Spare my feelings, Squire, and don't ask me to tell any more. Here I am in town without a rock in my pocket, and without a skirt to my coat, or crown to my hat.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 165. You know if I had a pocket full of rocks you should share them.

7. (American).—A pebble; a stone (at Winchester = a mediumsized stone) : as verb. = to throw stones.

i8[?]. Jonesborough (Tenn.) Whig [Bartlett]. They commenced rocking the Clay Club House in June, on more occasions than one, and on one occasion threw a rock in at the window.

1848. Georgia Scenes, 193. S-

came home in a mighty bad way, with a cold and a cough ; so I put a hot rock to his feet, &c.

1872. O. W. Holmes, Poet at Breakf, Table, xii. The boys would follow . . . crying, ' Rock him ! ' . . . He's got a long-tailed coat on.

1893. Bret Harte, Soc. on the Stanislaus. Nor should the individual . . . Reply by heaving rocks at him.

8. (common). — A cause of difficulty, defeat, or annoyance : as an over-trump at cards, an obstacle suddenly placed in one's way, and so forth.

1601. Shakspeare, Henry VIII., i. x, 113. Lo, where comes that rock, That I advise your shunning. [Enter Cardinal Wolsey. ]

d.1654. Selden, Table Talk, 57. Every Church govern'd itself, or else we must fall upon that old foolish Rock, that St. Peter and his Successours govern'd all.

The Rock, subs. phr. (common). —Gibraltar.

TO do by rock of eye and rule of thumb, verb. phr. (tailors').—To substitute guesswork for exact measurement.

See Bedrock, Rocker.

Rocker (or rokker), verb. (tramps' : originally Gypsy).—1. To understand ; (2) to speak.

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 231. Can you rocker Romany, Can you patter flash?

Rocketer.

Roger.

1893. Standard, 29 Jan., 2. We have to be out in the road early, you know, to secure our " Toby " (great laughter). That's plain. We don't rock Romany all day long (laughter).

1894. A. Morrison [Strand Mag., July, 60]. Hewitt could rokker better than most Romany chals themselves.

Rocketer, subs, (sporting).—A flushed pheasant, rising quick and straight ; rocketting = rising straight.

1869. Quarterly Rev., cxxvii. 387. The driven partridge and the rocketing pheasant are beyond the skill of many a man who considers himself a very good shot.

1884. Field, 6 Dec. It is nonsense to say that a rocketer is easily disposed of.

1888. Harper's Mag., lxxvii. 182. Presently an old cock-pheasant came rocketing over me.

Rock-scorpion, subs. phr. (naval and military).—A mongrel Gibralterine : Spanish, Portuguese, French, Genoese, Barbary Hebrew, Moorish, negro—a mixture of all mettles.

Rocky (rocked, or rocketty),

adj. (common).—1. Broken : by drink, illness, poverty; and (2) difficult ; dubious ; debateable. Hence to go rocky = to go to pieces ; to go wrong. Whence rockiness = (1) craziness ; (2) incapacity, utter or partial ; off one's rocker = crazy ; rocked in a stone kitchen = ' the person spoken of is a fool, his brains having been disordered by the jumbling of his cradle ' (Grose).

1885. D. Telegraph, 28 Dec. Let him keen the fact of things having gone rocky with him as dark as he can.

1892. Nat. Observer, 20 Feb., 352, 1. Though the morals were rocky . . . the society was very good.

1896. Crane, Maggie, xiv. I call it rocky treatment for a fellah like me.

1897. Sporting Times, 13 Mar., 1, 2. It dawned upon the crowd that he was a bit rocky in his aspirates.

Rod, subs, (common).—An angler.

1886. Fishing Gazette, 30 Jan. The late Sir f. Sykes, a first-rate rod.

2. (venery).—The penis: see Prick : also fishing-rod. Hence as verb. = to copulate.

See Breach, Pickle, Tail.

Rod-maker, subs. phr. (Winton). —* The man who made the rods used in Bibling (ç.v.).—Mansfield (r.1840).

Rodney. A regular Rodney, subs. phr. (old).—An idle fellow ; a lazybones.

Rodomontade, subs, (old colloquial : now recognised).—Boasting ; swagger. Hence Rodomont = a boaster. [A character in Ariosto. ]

ROE, subs, (venery).—The semen : see Cream. Hence to shoot one's roe = to emit.

Rof-EFIL, subs. phr. (back slang). —A life sentence ; ' for life.'

Roger, stibs. (Old Cant).—i. A portmanteau; a poge (q.v.).— B. E. (f.1696) ; Grose (1785)-

2. (Old Cant).—A goose : also Roger (or tib) of the buttery.—Harman (1567) ; Dekker (1609) ; B. E. (^.1696) ; Grose (1785).

1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bush, v. i. Margery praters, Rogers, and Tibs o' th' Buttery.

Roge rinn.

Rogue.

3. (venery).—The penis: see Prick. Hence as verb. = to copulate : see Ride. [Cf. Roger = ram, and ' Roger a name frequently given to a bull ' (B. E., Grose).]

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. xi. Taking you know what between their fingers and dandling it. And some of the . . . women would give these names, my Roger . . . smell-smock . . . lusty live sausage.

1720. Durfey, Pills, &"c., vi. 201.

And may Prince G-'s Roger grow stiff

again and stand.

1750. Robertson of Struan, Poems, 98. Dear sweet Mr. Wright . . . Go Rodger to-night Your Wife, for ye want her.

1794. Burns, TJte Summer Morn. [Merry Muses (c. 1800), p. ]. To roger Madam Thetis. Ibid. (b. 1796), ' We're a* gaun Southie, O.' Bonie lassie, braw lassie, ' Will ye hae a sodger ? ' Then she took up her duddie sark, An' he shot in his roger.

1885. Burton, Thousana Nights, iii. 304. 1 will not Roger thee. Ibid. (1890), Priapeia, xii. Thou shalt be pedicate, (lad) thou also (lass !) shalt be

ROGERED.

4. (nautical).—A pirate flag : also Jolly Roger. — Grose (1785).

5. (old).—A rogue (q.v.).

Rogerian, subs. (old).—A kind of wig.

1599. Hall, Virgid, in. v. 16. The sportfull winde to mocke the headlesse man, Tosses apace his pitch'd rogerian.

Rogue (Roge or Roger), subs. (Old Cant).—1. A professed beggar ; ' the fourth Order of Canters' (Awdeley, Harman, B. E., Grose). Whence (2) wild rogue (see quot. 1567), and (3, modern) = a knave or rascal ; a rogue in grain = ' a great rogue, or a corn-chandler' (Grose) ; a rogue in spirit = ' a distiller or brandy-merchant ' (Grose). As verb = to beg.

^I53^I-47Copland, Spyttel Hous [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet., iv. 44]. These Rogers that . . . foot and frydge.

1567. Awdeley, Warning, âr'c. . . . A wilde Roge is he that is borne a Roge : he is more subtil and more geuen by nature to all kinde of knauery than the other. I once rebuking a wyld roge because he went idelly about he shewed me that he was a begger by enheritance— his grandfather was a begger, his father was one, and he must nedes be one by good reason.

1605. Shakspeare, Lear, iv. 7, 39. To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet., s.v. Divague. Raunging, roguing about.

1619. Fletcher, Wildgoose Chase, ii. 3. Ros. 'Tis pity such a lusty fellow should wander up and down, and want employment. Bel. She takes me for a rogue.

[Passim in English literature to the present time.]

2. (colloquial). —Anything vicious ; bastard ; or unstandardized. Thus rogue-elephant = an evil-minded murderous male or female ; rogue'sbadge = blinkers for a vicious horse. [Cf. Rogue (christened Roger) Riderhood, Dickens, Mutual Friend.]

1859. Darwin, Origin of Species, 42 and 43. When a race of plants is . . . established the seed-raisers do not pick out the best plants, but . . . pull up the rogues, as they call the plants that deviate from the proper standard . . . The destruction of horses under a certain size . . . may be compared to the roguing of plants.

1888. Referee, 11 Dec. Admiral Benbow is a rogue, but he was tried exceedingly well in the summer time.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz. He wore the rogue's badge, but is built on racing lines.

3. (colloquial). — An endearment. Whence roguish = playfully mischievous.. Also = a wag.

Rogue-and-pullet. 45 Roland.

1596. Shakspeare, Havilet, ii. 2, 197. The satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards. Ibid. (1598), 2 Hen. IV., ii. 4, 233. Ah, you sweet iittle rogue, you !

1607. Beaumont and Fletcher, Woman Hater, v. 5. Come, come, little rogue, thou art too maidenly [et passim],

1733. Pope, Imit. of Horace, 1. vii. 27. What, rob your boys ? those pretty rogues.

b.iygô. Burns, Cessnock Banks. An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een.

Derivativ es. — Rogue'sgallery — a collection of photographs of convicted prisoners ; rogue-house = a prison or lockup; rogue-money (Scots') = an assessment for police purposes ; rogue's-march = the drumming out (q.v.) of a disgraced soldier or sailor ; rogue's-yarn = a worsted thread, varying in color in each dockyard, woven in each strand of rope to prevent theft and to trace defective manufacture.

1886. Besant, World went very well Then, xxi. As for the Hue and Cry, leave that to me. I will tackle the Hue and Cry, which I value not an inch of rogues' yarn.

1891. Century Diet., s.v. Rogue . . . In rope made in United States navyyards the rogue's yarn is twisted in a contrary direction to the others, and is of manila in hemp rope, and of hemp in manila rope.

rogu e-and-pullet, subs. phr.

(thieves').—A man and woman in confederacy as thieves.

Rogue-and-villain, subs. phr. (rhyming). — A shilling : see Rhino.

1887. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. Come, cows-and-kisses, put the battle of the Nile on your Barnet fair, and a rogue and villain in your sky-rocket.

Rogueship. See Spittle rogueship. ,

Roister (Royster Doister, Royster, Roisterer, &c.), stibs. (old). — (1) A swaggerer (B. E., Grose) ; and (2) a frolic. Whence as verb, (also roist) = to swagger ; roisting (roistering, roisterly, or roisterous) = uproarious.

1553. Udall, ROISTER DOISTER, Prol. The vayne glorious . . . Whose humour the roysting sort continually doth feed.

1577. Harrison, England, 149. They ruffle and roist it out.

t6o2. Shakspeare, Troilus and Cress., ii. 2, 208. I have a roisting challenge sent amongst The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks.

1630. Time's Whistle [E. E. T. S.], 60. They must not part till they have drunk a barrell, Or straight this roister will begin to quarrel.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 175. This is beyond all bearing, screamed out the young royster.

1809. Irving, Knickerbocker, 92. An honest social race of jolly roysters, who had no objection to a drinking bout, and were very merry in their cups. Ibid., 348. A gang of merry roistering devils.

1843. Carlyle, Past and Present, ii. 15. Roysterous young dogs ; carolling, howling, breaking the Lord Abbot's sleep.

1855. Tennyson, Maud, xiv. 2. Her brother lingers late with the roystering company. Ibid. (1859), Geraint. A rout of roisterers femininely fair And dissolutely pale.

Roker, subs, (schools).—A ruler; a stick ; a poker. Flat-roker = a flat ruler. \_Roke (Halliwell) = to stir a fire, a liquid, &c]

Roland (or Rowland) for Oliver, subs. phr. (old).—(1) A match ; a tit for tat ; six of one and half a dozen of the other : a fanciful or practical proof of equality.— B. E. and Grose. Fr. Guy Contre Robert.

Roly-poly. 46 Roll,

[. . . .]. MS. Cantab, Ff. ii. 38, f. 109. Soche strokys were never seen in londe Syth Olyvere dyed and Row-

londe.

1542. Hall, Henry VI., f. But to have a Rowland to resist an Oliver, he sent solempne ambassadors to the kyng of Englande, offeryng hym hys doughter in marriage.

1565. Calfhill, Treat, of Cross, 374. Have a quarrel to Rowland and fight with Oliver.

1598. Shakspeare, 1 Hen. VI., i. 2. England all Olivers and Rolands bred.

1612. Court and Times James I., 187. There is hope you shall have an Oliver for a Roland.

1706. Ward, Wooden World, 68. By the help of some twopenny Scribbler she will always return him a Rowland for his Oliver.

1820. Combe, Syntax, 11. iii. I shall be able ... to bestow ... a quid pro quo ; Which I translate for Madam, there, A Rowland for your Oliver.

1901. D. Telegraph, 18 Nov., 7, 3. Oh, we are getting on splendidly ! (Laughter.) That is a Roland for an Oliver.

Roly-poly, subs. phr. (old).—i. A country bumpkin.

1602. Dekker, Satiromastix, iii. 116. These two rolly follies.

2. (common). — A jam roll pudding ; dog-in-a-blanket : also roll. up. As adj. — round and fat.

1841. Thackeray, Great Hoggarty Dia?nond, xii. You said I make the best roly-poly puddings in the world. Ibid. (1848,), Book of Snobs, i. As for the rolypoly, it was too good.

1851, Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 207. Sometimes made in the rounded form of the plum-pudding ; but more frequently in the roly-poly style.

1852. Mrs. Craik, Agatha's Husband, xii. Cottages, in the doors of which a few roly-poly, open-eyed children stand.

i860. Eliot, Mill on Floss, i. 6. I know what the pudden's to be—apricot roll-up—O my buttons !

1882. Worboise, Sissie, xix. Squashy rolypoly pudding.

3. (common).—See quots.

1713. Arbuthnot, Hist. John Bull. Let us begin some diversion ; what d'ye think of roulypouly or a country dance?

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., m. 145. When I danced it was merely a comic dance—what we call a roley-poley.

4. (venery).—The penis : see Prick.

Roll, subs, (common).—In//. = a baker : see Burncrust. Also Master of the Rolls.

Verb. (old).—A verb of spirit : generic (1) = to gad ; (2) to rollick in one's walk ; and (3) to swagger : also to roll about. Whence to roll in bub (or grub) = to have plenty to eat (or drink) ; to roll in gold = to be monstrous rich ; to

roll in one's ivories = tO kiss ; to roll in every

rig = to be "up-to-date";

to roll the leer = to pick

pockets ; to have a roll on = to swagger, to put on side {q.V.); to roll one's hoop = to go ahead, to be on the safe side : rolling = smart, ready ; rolling kiddy = a clever thief ; rollick (or rollop) = to romp along.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, Prol. Wife of Bath's Tale, 6235. Man shal not suffer his wif go roule about.

1542. Udall, Apoph., 243 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 490. A bombastic orator rolls (exults) in painted terms ; hence our ' roll in wealth,' and the later rollick].

1567. H arm an, Caveat, 20. These unruly rascals in their rolling disperse themselves into several companies.

1775. Old Song, ' The Potato Man ' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 55. I am a saucy rolling blade.

Roller.

47 Roman-fall.

1780. ToMLiNSON, Slang Pastoral, viü. To roll in her ivory, to pleasure her eye.

1789. Parker, Life's Painter, ' The Happy Pair.' Moll Blabbermares and Rowling Joe. [Note, a kind of fellow who dresses smart or what they term natty.] Ibid. Then we'll all roll in bub and grub. Ibid. Up to St. Giles's they roll'd, sir.

1790. Old Song, ' The Flash Man of St. Giles' [The Busy Bee]. We roll in every knowing rig.

c. 1824. Egan, Boxiana, iii. 621, 622. The boldest lad That ever mill'd the cly, or roll'd the leer. Ibid. With rolling kiddies, Dick would dive and buy.

1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford (1854), 18. He merely observed by way of compliment, that Mr. Augustus and his companions seemed to be rolling kiddies.

1836. Dickens, Sketches, ' Characters,' vii. That grave, but confident, kind of roll peculiar to old boys in general.

1837. Hook, Jack Brag [Latham]. He described his friends as rollicking blades.

1865. G. Meredith, Rhoda Fleming, xxix. He had not even money enough to pay the cabman . . . He rollicked in his present poverty.

1877. Pascoe, Everyday Life, àr'c. Anything approaching swagger is severely rebuked ; there is no more objectionable quality than that understood by the expression, " He's got such a horrid roll on."

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads. It sets a chap fair on the roll.

Roller, subs. (Oxford University). —i. A roll-call.

2. (Stock Exchange).—In pi. = United States Rolling Stock.

3. (old).—In pl., the horse and foot patrols. — Grose (1785) ; Vaux (1812).

4. (old).—A go-cart.

1660. Sunn, Lives of Highwaymen, 11. 50. He could run about without a rowler or leading-strings.

5. (common). — A big wave coming in from a distance, and so with an enormous energy : also runner.

1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho, xxxii. Rollers of the vast Atlantic . . . with a thousand crests of flying foam.

Rolley, subs, (common).—A vehicle.

Rollickers, subs, (military).—The 2nd Bat. The Princess Victoria's Royal Irish Fusiliers (formerly the Eighty-Ninth Foot). Also (1798) ' Blayney's Blood-hounds.'

Rolling-pin. See Pin.

Roll-me-in-the-dirt, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A shirt.

Roll-up. See Roly-poly.

Rom. See Romany.

Romance, subs, (colloquial).—A lie ; a tarradiddle. Hence, as verb — ^c to lie pleasantly, to Stretch in Discourse.'—B. E. (c. 1696).

1651. Evelyn, Diary, 6 Sep. The knight was . . . not a little given to romance when he spake of himselfe.

d.1721. Prior, An Eng. Padlock. A Staple of Romance and Lies, False Tears and real Perjuries.

d.1742. Bailey, Erasmus, 1. 53. I hear others romancing about Things tlley never heard nor saw . . . with that Assurance that . . . they persuade themselves they are speaking Truth all the While.

Roman-fall, subs, (obsolete).—A posture (c.1868) in walking : the head well forward and the small of the back well in : see Grecian Bend.

1870. Orchestra, 25 Mar., 'Grand Comic Concert.' The ladies have their Grecian bend, our typical gentlemen explains a correspondent masculine affectation which he dubs The Roman Fall.

Romany. 48 Romp.

1890. Answers, 8 Feb., 172, 2. Livingstone noticed that among the young bloods and sable patricians of Loanda a sort of Roman Fall seems to be practised, which consists of hobbling along as though encumbered by a load of ornaments.

Romany (Rom many or Rom), subs. (common).—1. A gypsy ; and (2) the language spoken by gypsies. Whence to patter Romany = ' to talk the gypsy flash ' (Grose); Romany rye = a gentleman who talks and associates with gypsies (Grose; Vaux). [A few Romany words have passed into English, but the only European tongues on which the Gipsy has had much influence are those of the Peninsula. In Spanish and Portuguese almost all the slang is Gipsy and almost all the Gipsy is slang. Our chief authorities, apart from personal knowledge, are J. Fitzmaurice Kelly, Esq., James Piatt, Jr., Esq., and El Gitano by Francisco Sales Mayo (Madrid, 1870)].

1749. Goadby, Moore-Carew, ' Oath of Cant. Crew.' No dummerar, or

romany.

1834. AlNSWORTH, RookwOOd (1864),

175. I'm dumb founded if he can't patter Romany as vel as the best on us !

1851. Borrow, Lavengro, xvii. ' We were talking of languages, Jasper . . . Yours must be a rum one?' "Tis called Rommany.' . . . 'And you are what is called a Gypsy King ? ' ' Ay, ay ; a Rommany kral.' Ibid. Rum and dree, Rum and dry, Rally round the Romany Rye.

1871. Meredith, Harry Richmond, xlv. I recognized a strange tongue in the cry, but too late that it was Romany to answer it.

1883. G. R. Sims, THE ROMANY RYE [Title].

1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, xx. My old man was a Romany . . . but he was an awful boozer.

See Rum. Rom below. See Rumbelow.

Romboyle (or Romboyles), verb. (Old Cant).—To make hue and cry ; to whiddle beef (q.v.). Fr. battre morasse (B. E.. Grose). Whence romboyl'd = wanted (q.v.).

Rome. See Rum, passim.

Romer (or Romekin), subs. (Old Cant).—A drinking glass (or can). —B. E. (f.1696).

Rom e-ville, subs. phr. (Old Cant). —London. [See Rum].

Romford. See Rumford.

Romp, subs, (old : now recognised). —A boisterous girl ; a tomboy : see Ramp and quot. 1698 (B. E., Grose). Also as verb. — (1) to lark (q.v.); to play the rig (q.v.); to wanton; and (2) to romp in = to win easily (racing).

1647. Fletcher, Mad Lover, i. 1. How our St. Georges will bestride the dragons, The red and ramping dragons.

1698. Collier, Eng. Stage [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 128. The a changes to o, for the noun romp is formed from the verb ramp].

t711. Steele, Spectator, t87. The air she gave herself was that of a romping girl. Ibid., Tatler, No. 15. My cousin Betty, the greatest romp in nature.

1730. Thomson, Autumn, 528. RoMP-loving miss Is haul'd about, in gallantry robust.

1761. Churchill, Rosciad. First, giggling, plotting chamber-maids arrive, Hoydens and romps, led on by Gen'ral Clive.

1882. " Thormanby," Fatuous Racing Men, 16. The north-country horse . . . could not touch Eclipse, who simply romped in, the easiest of winners.

1891. Sporting Life, 20 Mar. I recall his recent half-mile at Oxford, when he romped home in the easiest possible manner.

1894. Moore, Esther Waters, xxx. Favourites romping in one after the other.

Roncher. 49 R₀₀fg.

Roncher (or Rouncher), subs. (American). — Anything of exceptional size or quality.

Rook, subs. (old).—1. A cheat : spec, gaming : also rooker : cf. sense 2 and pigeon. Hence rookery (or roking) = swindling ; rooky (or rookish) = rascally, scampish ; as verb. = to cheat, to swindle (B. E., Dyche, Grose, Vaux, Bee). Hence rookery = (1) a gambling hell ; and (2) any place of ill repute : e.g., (a) a brothel, (b) subalterns' barrack quarters, and (c) a neighbourhood occupied by a criminal or squalid population, a slum (q.v.).

1500. Sir Thomas More [Shakspeare Soc] [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 8. There are the new verbs rooke (plunder) and sharke (prey) . . . ].

1603. Dekker, Wonderful Year [Grosart, Works, i. 89]. Rookes, catchpolls of poesy, That feed upon the fallings of hye wit.

1609. Jonson, Epicœne, i. 1. Such a rook . . . that will betray his mistress to be seen.

1641. Milton, Ref. in England, i. A band of rooking officials. Ibid., ii. The Butcherly execution of Tormentors, Rooks and Rakeshames sold to lucre.

1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, iii. 4. i dare no more venture myself with her alone, than a cully that has been bit dares venture himself in a tavern with an old rook.

d.i6ç7. Aubrey, Lives, ' Sir J. Denham.' He was much rooked by gamesters.

1705. Ward, Hud. Rediv., 1. ix. 22. For like a Rook at Gaming-Table ... he . . . cheats all sides with equal zeal.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, xlviii. He would not lend him money to squander away upon rooks. Ibid. (1751), Peregrine Pickle, lxxxviii. Having lost a few loose hundreds in his progress through the various rookeries of the place.

1760. Lucas, Gamesters, 125. Rooks are grown of late so intolerably Rude and Insolent.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. üi. Guv nur, how long are ve to be kept in this here rookery, before you give us a sight of this phenomony ?

1836. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, 105. That classical spot adjoining the brewery at the bottom of Tottenham-court-road, best known to the initiated as the Rookery.

1840. Thackeray, Captain ROOK and Mr. Pigeon [Title].

1869. Gent. Mag., July, 231. No opportunity of pigeon-plucking is lost by the majority of [billiard] markers . . .still he is not the worst form of rook.

1883. Sat. Review, 31 March, 398, 1. The registered lodging-houses are more decent than the old rookeries, but the people who live in the new buildings differ little, if at all, from those who lived in the old.

1884. Spencer, Man v. State, 54. The misery, the disease, the mortality of rookeries.

2. (old). — A simpleton ; a pigeon (q.v.). [One fit for rooking : see sense 1].

1596. Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, i. 1. Hang him, rook ! he ! why he has no more judgment than a malt horse. Ibid. (1599), Every Man Out oj His Humour, i. 1. A tame rooke, you'l take him presently. Ibid. (1602), Poetaster, i. i. What ? shall 1 have my son a Stager now ? an Enghle for Players ? a Gull ? a Rooke? a Shot-clog? to make suppers, and bee laught at?

1607. Dekker, Westward Ho, v. 1. Let's be wise, and make rooks of them that, I warrant, are now setting purse-nets to conycatch us.

1611. Chapman, May-Day, iii. An arrant rook, by this light, a capable cheating stock ; a man may carry him up and down by the ears like a pipkin.

3. (common).—A clergyman : see Skypilot : Fr. corbeau.

4. (tailors').—A sloven.

5. (thieves').—A housebreaker's jemmy (q.v.); a crow (q.v.).— Grose.

Rookery. 50

Rooster.

Verb. i. See subs. 2.

2. (gaming).—To win heavily.

1887. Sporting Times, 12 March, 2, i. We play nap, and rook George Fredericks all the way.

Rookery, subs, (o\d).~See Rook, i.

2. (colloquial). — A scoldingmatch.

Rooky (or Rookey), subs, (military).—A recruit : see Snooker, and rook, subs. 1.

1893. Kipling, Many Inventions, " His Private Honour." " 'Tis a hundred and thirty-seven rookies to the bad, son." . . . You can't ride, you can't walk, you can't shoot,—you,—you awful rookies.

Room. To leave the room, verb. phr. (conventional school). —To go to the W.C.

Verb, (colloquial).—To inhabit. Hence roomer = a lodger : spec, one occupying a single apartment.

1864. Daily Telegraph, 26 July. It's risky, I know, but I'll try him. I never did room with a Rooshian before, and I'd like to know them stript.

1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 418. I am . . . living at the minister's 1 and then I room with Esther.

i8[?] The Standard (Century). The mother . . . occupies herself more with the needs of the roomers, or tenants, and makes more money.

See Apartments.

Roombelow. See Rumbelow.

Roorback, subs. (American).—1. A journalistic, or printed lie.

1876. Providence Journal, 9 May. Another infamous Democratic roorback 1

1876. New York Tribune, 14 Ap. The manufacture of roorbacks against Mr. Blaine, though active, is not very successful in producing a merchantable article.

Roosher, subs, (thieves').—A constable : see Nark.

Roost, subs, (colloquial).—1. Bed : also roosting-place : also as verb. — (1) to sleep, and (2) to lodge.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 29. I . . . slunk to my roostingplace where I fell asleep like a man.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. ii. Mammy Brimstone . . . has also "toddled " in to have a " flash of lightning " before she goes to roost.

1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, i. 2. You can go to roost whenever you like.

1847. Lytton, Lucretia, 11. vii. And always give a look into my room every night before you go to roost.

1857. O. W. Holmes, Autocrat, vi. The world has a million roosts for a man, but only one nest.

1899. Whiteing, John St., ix. You must do like them, roost in the open air.

Verb, (colloquial).—1. .S^subs.

2. (military).—To imprison.

3. (common).—To cheat : to roost over one = to get a rise (q.v.).

Rooster, subs. (American). —A euphemism for * cock '—(a word impossible on the lips of any delicate American female)—the male of the barndoor hen.

1838. Neal, Charcoal Sketches [Bartlett], As if the flourish of a quill were the crowing of a rooster.

1855. Irving, Woolfert's Roost, 17. The Skinners and Cowboys of the Revolution, when they wrung the neck of a rooster, did not trouble . . . whether they crowed for Congress or King George.

1870. Judd, Margaret, 11. 1. A huge turkey gobbling in the road, a rooster crowing on the fence.

1870. White, Words and Their Uses [Walsh]. All birds are roosters . . . hens ... as well as the cocks. What . . . delicacy then ... in calling the cock a rooster.

Roost-lay. 51 Rope.

1880. Scribnefs Mag., 770. The crow of an early-rising rooster.

2. (old : now American).—A street brawler ; a rough.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. v. Roosters and the ' peep-o'-day boys ' were out on a prowl for a spree.

1885. N, Am. Rev., cxli. 434. The toughest set of roosters that ever shook the dust of any town.

3. (venery).—The female pudendum : see Monosyllable.

See Queer.

Roost-lay, subs. phr. (old).— Poultry stealing : see Lay.— Grose.

Root (The), subs, (common).—i. Money. [« The root of all Evil.']

1899. D. Telegraph, 7 Ap., 8, 3. All the week they do their little bit o' graft . . . an' take home the root on Sat'days to the missus or the mam.

2. (venery).—The penis: see Prick. Also Man-root.

Verb, (common). — To kick. Whence (The Leys School) rootabout = promiscuous football practice : also as verb.

Rooter, subs, (colloquial). — A superlative : as a brutal attack ; a very smart dress ; a priceless gem ; a flagrant untruth, and so forth \. see Whopper.

Rootle, verb, (venery).—To copulate : see Ride. Also TO DO A

rootle.

Rooty, subs, (military).—See quot.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Illustr. L. News, 7 July, 3, 3. [A correspondent in S. Travancore says that in Tamil and Teluga "Rôtie" means a loaf of bread.] Long since Private Tommy Atkins,_ returning from Indian service, has acclima-

tised " Rôtie " (pronounced " Rooty ") in the vocabulary of the British barrack. At least eight years ago I heard of a private soldier complaining in his barrack-room that he had not had his "proper section of rooty," i.e., his proper ration of bread.

Rope, subs, (football).—i. In//. = a half-back.

2. (old).—A trick or knack ; spec, (nautical) to know the

ropes (or to be up to the

ropes) = (i) to be expert, and (2) to be artful, fly [q.v.); to pull (or work) the

ropes = to control or direct ;

to rope in (or rope) = (i) to lose a race by pulling (q.v.) or other foul means ; (2) to decoy (in a mock-auction, gambling-den, &c.) : hence roper-in = a decoy; and (3) to pull (or gather) in : as

to rope in the pieces = to

make money. Hence plenty of rope = lots of choice ; at the end of one's rope = exhausted, done for.

1623. Mabbe, English Rogue [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 83. Among the verbs we see . . . give him line.

1670. Ray, Proverbs [Bell], 176. I thought I had given her rope enough, said Pedley, when he hanged his mare. Ibid., 59. Let him alone with the saints' bell and give him rope enough.

1840. Dana, Two Years before the Mast, ix. The captain, who had been on the coast before, and knew the ropes, took the steering oar.

1854. Cruise in Undine, 15. I don't mind young fellows having plenty of rope.

c.1859. New York Tribune [Bart-

lett], Mr. Acomplained that a

roper-in of a gambling-house had enticed him away, by whose means he had lost all his money.

1863. Eraser's Magazine, Dec, 'The English Turf.* An order to pull a horse back, i.e., to ' rope ' him, or, as in a late suspicious case it was expressed, to ' put the strings on,' is seldom resorted to.

Rope. 52 Rope.

1877. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, xliii. You've sought me out, and gone about this city with me ; you've put me up to ropes.

1882. McCabe, New York, xxxix. The visitors to these establishments are chiefly strangers in the city, who are lured, or roped, into them by agents of the proprietors.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xliv. He knew the ropes better than he did.

1889. Snacks, July, No. 1. He were sixty-nine year old—'n' got roped in by a young widow, 'n' chouseled out of twentysix thousan' dollars.

1892. Anstey, Voces Populi, ' Free Speech,' 103. Fellow-Citizens, I appeal to you, give this man rope—he's doing our work splendidly !

1897. Mitford, Romance 0/ Cape Frontier, 1. xxi. I dare say 'e's bin putting you up to the ropes.

1900. Boothby, Maker of Nations, i. You do require to know the ropes. And what is more, you require to be very careful how you pull those ropes when you are familiar with them.

Verb. (old).—1. To hang : see Ladder. Whence rope-tricks (roping or ropery) = roguery ; rope-ripe = fit for hanging ; to cry rope = to warn, to bid beware ; ' give rope [or line] enough and he'll hang ' = ' He'll decoy himself to his undoing' (B. E.); Mr. Roper (or the roper) = the hangman ; the Rope-walk = the Old Bailey ;

to go into the rope-walk =

to take up criminal practice.

1553« Wilson, Arte of Rhétorique [Nares]. Rope-ripe chiding [of very foul and abusive language].

1584. Three Ladies of London [Nares]. Thou art very pleasant, and full of thy ropery.

1592. Shakspeare, / Henry VI., i. 3» S3« Winchester Goose, I cry a rope 1 a rope! Ibid., 1593, Taming of the Shrew, 1, 2, She may perhaps call him half a score knaves or so : an' he begin once, he'll rail in his rope-tricks. Ibid,

(1595), Rom. and Juliet, ii. 4, 154. What saucy merchant was this that was so full of his ropery.

1611. Chapman^ May Day, iii. 1. Lord, how you roll in your rope-ripe terms !

1620. Fletcher, Chances, iii. 1. You'll leave this ropery, When you come to my years.

1660. Howell, Lex. Tet. A roperipe-rogue ripe for the rope, or deserving hanging.

1663. Butler, Hudibras, 1. i. Could tell what subtlest parrots mean That speak, and think, contrary clean ; What member 'tis of whom they talk When they cry Rope . . .

.1705. Dorset [Chalmers, Eng. Poets, viii. 345]. The queen, overhearing what Betty did say, Would send Mr. Roper to take her away.

1848. Ruxton, Far West, 14. Maybe you'll get roped.

1871. Temple Bar, xxxi. 321. In the law, for instance, a barrister is said to have gone into the rope-walk, when he has taken up practice in the Old Bailey.

1882.^ Serj. Ballantine, Expert' ences, viii. What was called the Ropewalk [at the Old Bailey] was represented by a set of agents clean neither in character nor person.

2. (old).—To beat with a rope : hence rope's-end = a thrashing.

c. 1460. Book of Precedence [E. E. T. S. ] [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 297. There are roppys end, coke fyghtynge, callot . . .].

1593. Shakspeare, Com. of Errors, iv. 4, 46. Mistress . . . respect your end ; or rather . . . beware the rope's-end.

Phrases.—A rope of sand (Ray) = (1) a feeble hold, and (2) an endless or unprofitable task ; on the high ropes = elated, arrogant : see High Horse (B. E., Grose); 'What a rope ! ' = ' What the devil ' ; to put a rope to the eye of a needle = to attempt the impossible or absurd ; also the proverbial saying, 'A rope and butter : if one slip, the other may hold.'

Roper (Mrs.) 53

Rose.

Roper (Mrs.)» subs, (naval).— See quot. To marry Mrs. Roper = to list in the Marines.

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. " Mistress Roper." The Marines, or any one of them : so called by the regular sailors, because they handle the ropes like girls, not being used to them.

Ropper, subs, (tramps').—A scarf; a comforter. [? ' Wrapper.']

1873. Greenwood, In Strange Com. pany. A çreat deal of the lower part of the face hidden in the thick folds of a ropper.

Roram (or ? Roland), subs. (old). —The sun : cf. Oliver = moon. —Tufts.

Roritorious, ad;, and adv. (old).

— Uproarious : cf. ¹ rory-tory ' (Devon) = showy, dashing.

1821. Egan, Real Life, i. 619. The Randallites were roritorious and flushed with good fortune.

rorty(or Raughty),o^". (costers').

— Of the very best. Hence rorty-toff = an out-and-out swell ; rorty-dasher = a fine fellow ; to do the rorty = to have a good time.

£.1864. Vance, Chickaleary Cove, i. I have a rorty gal. Ibid., 2. The vestat with the bins so rorty.

1887. Henley, Culture in Slums, 'Rondeau,' 3. For in such rorty wise doth Love express His blooming views.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 31. We'd a rare rorty time of it. Ibid., 69. A doin' the rorty.

1899. Whiteing, John St., 49. She is Boadicea ... no ' British warrior queen ' of nursery recitation, but a rightdown raughty gal leading her alley to battle against the Roman 'slops.'

Rory-O'-More, subs. phr. (rhyming). —( i ) The floor ; (2) a whore ; and (3) a door. Also Rory.

1S92. Marshall, Rhyme of the Rusher {Sporting Times, 29 Oct.]. I fired him out out of the Rory quick.

Rorys (The), subs, (military).— The Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).

Rosary, subs. (old).—A base coin (temp. Ed. I.), resembling the current silver penny. [It bore (verso) a rose or rosette.]

Rose, subs, (showmen's).—1. A bitch.

2. (Stock Exchange).—In pi. = Buenos Ayres and Rosario Railway Ordinary Stock.

3. (venery).—The female pudendum : see Monosyllable ; and (4) a maidenhead. To pluck a rose = (i) to take a maidenhead, and (2) a woman's euphemism for micturition or defecation in the open air : cf. to pick a daisy (Grose, Halliwell).

1730. Swift, Pan. on Dean [Chalmers, Eng. Poets, xi. 489]. The bashful maid, to hide our blush . . . unobserved she boldly goes ... to pluck a rose.

Under the rose, phr. (colloquial).—Secretly ; in confidence (Dyche, Grose).

1546. Dymocke, Letter to Vaughan [Walsh]. And the sayde questyon were asked with lysence, and that yt should remayn under the rosse, that is to say, to remain under the bourde and ne more to be rehersyd.

1616-25. Court and Times James I. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 71. As to the prepositions we see under the rose].

1625. Jonson, Staple of News, ii. You are my lord, The rest are cogging Jacks, Under the rose.

1632. Chapman, Ball, ii. 2. Under the rose the lords do call me cousin.

c. 1707. Old Song, ' Praise of the Dairy Maid' [Durfky, Pills, &*c. (1707), i. 12. Such bliss ne'er oppose If e'er you'll be happy-I speak under the rose].

1753. Adventurer, No. 98. Under the rose, I am a cursed favourite amongst them.

Roseberys. 54 Rosy.

1821. Lamb, Elia (Mrs. Battle). All people have their blind side—their superstitions ; and I have heard her declare, under the rose, that Hearts was her favourite suit.

i8[?] Snelling, Coins, 2. The rose . . . symbol of secrecy . . . [was] used with great propriety on privy seals, which came into use about the middle of the twelfth century.

1868. Ouida, Under Two Flags, iv. All great ladies gamble in stock nowadays

under the rose.

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, 37. I no longer wondered that he should nave quitted England under the rose.

A rose between two thorns (or nettles), phr. A woman sitting between two men : the usual retort is, mutatis mutandis, as in quot.

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, \. [Miss, sitting between Neverout and the Colonel. ]—Miss. Well ; here's a Rose between Two Nettles. Neverout. No, Madam ; with submission, here's a Nettle between Two Roses.

To strike with a feather

and stab with a rose, &c., &c.,

phr. (colloquial). —To chastise playfully. A Music Hall refrain (c. 1888), but see quot.

1612. Webster, White Devil, iv. iv. Mar. If I take her near you, I'll cut her throat. Flam. With a fan

of feathers.

RosEBERYS,.y«fo.(Stock Exchange). —London County Council 7.\ per cent. Stock. [Lord Rosebery was the first Chairman of the Council.]

Rosebud, subs, (common). — A débutante.

1847. Tennyson, Princess, Prol. A rosebud set with little wilful thorns, And sweet as English air could make her, she.

1885. Century, xl. 582. They flutter their brief hour in society. . . . Some of them hold on like grim death to rosebud privileges.

Rosh (or Roush), verb. (Royal Military Academy).—To hustle ; to horse-play. Hence stop roshing ! = an injunction to silence.

Rosin (Rozin or Rozin-thebow), subs. (old).—i. A fiddler ; and (2) fiddler's lap. Whence as verb. = ( i ) to fiddle ; and (2) to drink : rosinned (Halliwell) — drunk.

1607. Dekker, Westward Hoe, v. i. They are but rosining, sir, and they'll scrape themselves into your company presently.

1870. Figaro, 31 Oct. They playfully call me "Rosin," and . . . yet I must, perforce, go on with my playing.

1892. Watson, Wops the Waif, iii. A short lame man, with a violin under his arm, suggesting the identity with the rozin announced.

Ross er. See Rozzer.

Rost. To turn boast to rost, verb. phr. (old).—To turn from swagger to humility (Halliwell).

Rosy, j«k (common).—1. Drink; and (2) blood: i.e., claret (q.v.). Hence rosy-drop = a grog blossom. Also the ruby.

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, vii. "Fred," said Mr. Swiveller, "remember the once popular melody of Begone, Dull Care, . . . and pass the rosy wine." . . . " The Rosy Wine was, in fact, represented by one glass of cold gin and water." . . . Richard Swiveller finished the Rosy, and applied himself to the composition of another glassful." Ibid., lvi. ' ' I shall wear this emblem of woman's perfidy, in remembrance of her with whom I shall never again thread the windings of the mazy ; whom I shall never more pledge in the Rosy ; who during the short remainder of my existence will murder the balmy."

1854. Martin and Aytoun, Bon Gualtier, " Lay of the Love-Lorn." Comrades, you may pass the rosy.

1891. Sporting Life, 25 Mar. Goddard was smothered in the rosy as he went to his chair.

Rot. 55 Rot-gut.

Rosy about the gills, phr. (old). — (i) ' fresh-coloured ' (B. E., Grose), (2) = sanguine : cf. white about the gills. Also rosy = favourable, auspicious, healthy : whence the rosy = good fortune.

1885. Field, 3 Oct. The future looks most rosy.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 69. A doin' the rorty and rosy as lively as 'Opkins's lot. Ibid., 77. Not my idea of the rosy.

Rot, subs, (common).—Nonsense ; bosh (q.v.) : also TOMMY-ROT (q.v.). As verb. = to humbug ; to bully ; rotter = a good-fornothing.

1861. H. C. Pennell, Puck on Pegasus, 'Sonnet by M. F. Tupper.' A monstrous pile of quintessential rot.

1879. Braddon, Cloven Foot, iv. I thought he despised ballet-dancing, yet this is the third time I have seen him looking on at this rot.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xliii. Half what them fellows puts down is regular rot.

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 106. Everybody here would have rotted me to death.

1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, in. i. 30. Oh, rot, I ain't a parson.

1894. Moore, Esther Waters, xxxix. All bloody rot ; who says I'm drunk ? Ibid., xi. A regular rotter; that man is about as bad as they make 'em.

1899. Critic, 18 Mar., 13, 2. Rotter, at both our seats of learning, is applied indiscriminately to all persons prone towards intellectual levity. But the word must have an elastic meaning ; for it embraces quacks and impostors who pass through existence with their tongue in their cheek.

Rot it (or Rot'um), intj.phr. (common).—Hang it ! damn it !

1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie, 75. Where once your what shals' cal' ums— (kot um ! It makes me mad I have forgot 'urn).

1682. Dryden, Prol. to Southern's Loyal Brother, 5. Both pretend love, and both (plague rot 'em ! ) hate.

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, in. x. I don't care to abuse my profession ; but, rot me, if in my heart I am not inclined to the poet's side.

1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, 1. xvi. Rot the hundred and twenty pounds —he did not mind it a rush.

1806. Lamb, Mr. H., i. t. Rot his impertinence 1 bid him . . . not trouble me with his scruples.

1854. Martin and Aytoun, Boh Gualtier Ballads, ' Lay of the Lovelorn.' Sink the steamboats 1 cuss the railways ! rot, oh rot the Three-per-Cents 1

Rotan, subs. (old).—Any wheeled vehicle (Grose).

Rot-gut, subs. phr. (old).—Poor drink : generic ; spec, bad beer or alcohol : also rotto (B. E., Dyche, Grose).

1597. Harvey [Ency. Diet.]. They overwhelm their panch daily with a kind of flat rot-gut, we with a bitter dreggish mall liquor.

1633. Heywood, Eng. Traveller, iv. 5, 226 (Mermaid). Let not a tester scape To be consumed in rot-gut.

1789. Parker, Life's Painter, 40. That ... is better than all the rot-gut wine that ever came from Popish grounds.

1796. Wolcot, P. Pindar {16], 53. A poor old woman, with diarrhoea, Brought on by slip-slop tea and rot-gut beer, Went to Sangrado with a woeful face.

1830. Marryat, King's Own, xxxiv. The master requested a glass of grog, as the rot-gut French wines had given him a pain in the bowels.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown's SchoolDays, i. vi. Drinking bad spirits and punch, and such rot-gut stuff.

1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, iv. 13. What brings the man from stuff like this to rot-gut and spittoons at Mother Clarke's.

1895. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Sept., 9, 1. I armed myself with a supply of the fieriest rot-gut . . . and set out to wish him good-bye.

Rothschild. 56 Rough.

Rothschild. See Come.

Rotten-row. To belong to Rotten-row, verb. phr. (naval). To be laid up as past service : of ships.

Rotten-sheep, subs. phr. (Fenian). —See quot.

1889. Daily News, 3 July, 6. Sir Richard Webster suddenly asked him if rotten sheep was a Fenian expression. It would mean traitor or a useless fellow, said Mr. Davitt, adding that he himself had used it in a letter.

Rouge, subs. (Eton).—A point in the Eton game of football : 3 rouges = i goal.

rough, subs, and adj. (old colloquial : now largely recognised).— A ruffian : see quot. 1868. As adj. = ' uncouth, hard' (B. E.), severe: also (of fish) coarse or stale. Also to cut (or turn) up rough (or to rough up) = (1) to be annoyed, and (2) to use strong language ; to

rough one = tO vex ; to rough it (or lie rough) = (i)

to endure hardship (Grose) ; (2) to take pot-luck ; and (3) to sleep in one's clothes (B. E., Grose) ;

rough-and-ready = unpolished,

happy-go-lucky ; rough on = hard, severe.

1814. Austen, Mansfield Park, xxxix. Take care of Fanny, mother. She is tender, and not used to rough it like the rest of us.

1843. Punch, iv. 254. He has, to use his own expression, roughed-iTall through his life.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 55. The poorer classes live mostly on fish, and the "dropped " and " rough " fish is bought chiefly for the poor.

1857. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, iv. There was a railway in progress near, and the navvies and other roughs came flocking in by hundreds.

1857. F. Lockek, Mabel. My jealous Pussy cut up rough The day before I bought her muff With sable trimming.

1858. Trollope, Dr. Tliorne, xxii. He was not going to hang back ... he had always been rough and ready when wanted—and then, he was as ready as ever, and rough enough, too, God knows.

1860-5. Motley, Un. Netherlands, iv. 138. The great queen . . . was besought ... to name the man to whom she chose that the crown should devolve. 'Not to a rough,' said Elizabeth, sententiously and grimly.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, iii. Drysdale seemed to prick up his ears and get combative whenever the other spoke, and lost no chance of roughing him in his replies.

1868. Dickens, All Year Round, 10 Oct. I entertain so strong an objection to the euphonious softening of ruffian into rough, which has lately become popular, that I restore the right word to the heading of this paper.

1870. Bret Harte, Luck of Roaring Camp. Yet a few of the spectators were, I think, touched by her sufferings. Sandy Tipton thought it was rough on Sal.

1872. Judy, 29 May, 59, 2. Have the ornaments handy, in case he should turn up rough.

1883. Black, Yolande, 1. A lot oi English servants, who don't know what roughing it in a small shooting-box is like?

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 18 Nov., i, 3. It must have been during the early months of 1852 that Lord Salisbury " roughed it" on the colonial goldfields.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 80. Going to rough up. Ibid., 40. Playing it rough.

1900. White, West End, 355. She'll cut up rough. But when she hears what you expect . . . she'll have a different feeling about it.

Rough on rats, phr. (common).—A hard case.

See Ruff.

Rough-and-tumble. 57 Round.

Rough-and-tumble, subs. phr. (common).—1. A free fight ; a mellay : as adj. = boisterous.

1838. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 2 S., i. "Fair ficht, or rough and tumble,—we've whipped 'em, that's a fact."

1873. Conservative, 15 Feb. His talent for rough and tumble does not hold his own against the more scientific style and larger frame of the Oxford Pet.

1883. Payn, Thicker than Water, xiv. Ralph foresaw that there might be . . . "a rough and tumble" with his young relative.

1883. The Lute, 15 Jan., 20, 1. " That Dreadful Boy " is, in point of fact, an old-fashioned rough-and-tumble farce.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxxvii. Moran after his rough and tumble with Jim . . . was ready for anything.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum : see Monosyllable : also the Rough-and-ready. Hence a bit of rough = a woman.

Rough-diamond, subs. phr. (common).—A person of heart but no manners.

T-753Adventurer, No. 64. He married a latiy, whose influence would have polished the rough diamond by degrees.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, v. xiv. And believe me, though I'm a rough diamond, I have your true interest at heart.

Rough-fam (or Rough-fammy),

subs. phr. (old).—A waistcoat pocket.—Vaux (1812).

Rough malkin, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum: see Monosyllable.

1538. Lyndsay, Works [Laing, i. 13 r, 91]. I dreid rouch malkin die for droute.

Rough-music, subs. phr. (common).—A clatter of sticks, pots, pans, and musical instruments : for the annoyance of offenders outraging public prejudice. Sometimes accompanied by a burning in effigy.

Rough rider'swashtub, subs, phr. (military). — The barrack water-cart.

Roughshod. To ride roughshod (over, or down). — To domineer ; to be void of guts (q.v.) or bowels (q.v.).

1881. Nineteenth Century, xxvi. 894. Henry [VIII.], in his later proceedings, rode roughshod over the constitution of the Church.

1892. Lowe, Bismarck, i. 283. The Chamber had again been riding roughshod over His Majesty's schemes of army reform.

rough-up, subs. phr. (pugilists').— A fight at short notice.

1889. Referee, 26 Jan. It may be remembered that only a few weeks ago, in a similar rough up with the gloves to that under notice.

Round, subs, (colloquial).—An appointed and established circuit of travel : generic : cf. rounder. Hence gentleman of the round = an officer of the watch. Thus (1) round (topers') = (a) liquor enough to go round the table, and (b) a toast drunk round ;

(2) round (gamesters') = (a) cards to all, and (b) a hand in which all the players deal in turn ;

(3) an habitual course of visits, calls for orders, inspection ; (4) a shot, a cartridge ; and (5) archery = a competition ; (6) (pugilists' —old) = the successive periods of action in a mill : between fall and fall; and (pugilists'—new, under Queensbury Rules) == so many encounters so many minutes long.

Round. 58 Round.

1596. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, iii. 2. He had writhen himself into the habit of one of your poor infantry, your decay'd, ruinous, worm-eaten gentlemen of the round. Ibid. (1609), Epicœne, iv. 2. He walks the round, up and down, through every room of the house.

1620. Fletcher, Phi/aster, ii. 4. Come, ladies, shall we take a round ? as men Do walk a mile, women should talk an hour After supper.

.1667. Jer. Taylor, Works (1835), 1. 615. Them that drank the round, when they crouned their heads with folly and forgetfulness.

1714. Spectator, 597. Those noisy slaves . . . take their early rounds about the city in a morning.

1715. Addison, Freeholder, no. 8. The Tories . . . can scarce find beauties enough ... to supply a single round of October.

d.ijzs. Granville, Epigrams, âr'c. [Century]. Women to cards may be compar'd ; we play A round or two, when us'd, we throw away.

d.zjgo. B. Franklin, Auto., 239. They . . . would salute with some rounds fired before my door.

1827. Keble, Christian Year, ' Morning.' The trivial round, the common task.

1836. Lane, Mod. Egyptians, 1.143. They accompany the military guards in their nightly rounds through . . . the metropolis.

1847-8. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxxiv. The Banbury man . . . polished him off in four rounds.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 55. The costermongers . . . have mostly their little bit of a round ; that is, they go only to certain places.

1852. Judson, My st., &*c, of New York, i. 113. Taking a cruise about town, or going on a spree, is called taking a

round.

i860. Punch, xxxviii. 169. How many Rounds do you say these ruffians fought ?

1868. Whyte-Melville, White Rose, i. iii. The start . . . would have ensured a round of applause from any audience in Europe.

1879. Thompson, Archery, 12. The ¹ National Round ' shot by the ladies of Great Britain . . .

1880. Scribner's Mag., 49p. Taking his rounds periodically, giving ample warning of his approach.

1888. H. Adams, Albert Gallatin, 540. The second round in this diplomatic encounter closed with the British government fairly discomfited.

2. (tramps').—Trousers : short

for round-the-houses (q.V.).

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xiv. One day he walked straight into this kitchen clobbered in a black pair of rounds, light to his legs.

Adj. (old colloquial). — A general qualitative : = simple, straightforward, unmistakeable. Thus a round sum = (i) a large amount (B. E., Grose), and (2) a sum stated in one term : e.g., thirty pounds, thirty shillings, three pence ; a round answer = plain speech ; round-dealing = honest trading (B. E., Grose) ; round trot = a good pace ; round tale = the unvarnished truth ; round oath = a swingeing expletive ; round-reply = a straight answer ; roundly = plainly, vehemently, briskly ; round (or brown) dozen (see Brown).

1240. Middle English Poem [E. E. T. S. : The Ayenbyte, &=c, 234]. The tale of an hondred betokneth ane rounds figure.

1593. Harvey, Pierces Superog. [Wks., ii. 49]. Hee it is, that hath it rightly in him indeede ; and can roundly doe the feate, with a witnesse.

1596. Shakspeare, M. of Venice, i. 3, 104. Three thousand ducats ; 'tis a good round sum. Ibid._ (1598), Hen. V., iv. i. Your reproof is something too round. Ibid. (1602), Hamlet, iii. 2. Let her be round with him. Ibid. (1602), Othello, i. 3, 90. I will a round un-

Round.

varnish'd tale deliver. Ibid. (1605), King ' Lear, i. 4. He answered me in the roundest manner, he would not.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Crollare il pero . . . To tickle a woman roundlie.

1620. Fletcher and Massinger, Little Fr. Lawyer, iii. 2. What a bold man of war 1 he invites me roundly.

rf.1626. Bacon, Works(1887), 'Truth.' Clear and round dealing is the honour of man's nature. Ibid. (Johnson). The Kings interfered in a round and princely manner. Ibid., Polit. Fables, ii. He roundly and openly avows what most . . . conceal.

1646. Browne, Vulg. Err., vi. 1. The age of Noah is delivered to be just five hundred when he begat Sem ; whereas perhaps he might be somewhat above or below that round and complete number.

1700. Centlivre, Perjured Husband, iv. 2. Suppose I help you to a lady with a round sum ; you'd keep your word, and marry her?

1751. Fielding, Amelia, vu. ix. I began to entertain some suspicions, and I took Mrs. Ellison very roundly to task upon them.

1779. Sheridan, Critic, i. 1. He roundly asserts that you had not the slightest invention or original genius.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xliii. It's likely he might be brought to pay a round sum for restitution. Ibid. (1818), Rob Roy, vii. The self-willed girl told me roundly, that my dissuasions were absolutely in vain.

1847. Bronte, Jane Eyre, xxvii. You found ready and round answers.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., 11. 526. This . . . pursuing the round number system would supply nearly five articles, &c.

1859. Tennyson, Geraint. Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon.

i8[?]. Sharp, Sermons, iv., ser. 18. Either a round oath or a curse.

1882. Bekeskokd Hope, The Brandreths, i. v. Remonstrating ... in round, bold, unconventional language.

c.i 891. Lancet [Century]. The destructors now consumed, roundly, about 500 loads of refuse a week.

d. 1898. Gladstone, Might oj Right, 175. [The United States] has risen, during one simple Century of freedom, in round numbers, from two millions to forty-five.

2. (tailors').—Languid ; Mondayish (q.v.)

Verb, (colloquial).—1. To betray ; to peach (q.v.) ; (2) to turn upon and berate : also to round on.

1864. Cornhill Magazine, vi. 646. Rounding or treachery is always spoken of very indignantly, and often severely, and even murderously punished.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,

i. Both desisted from their own recriminations as to rounding and " blowing " on each other.

1882. D. Telegraph, 6 Oct., 6, 2. The prisoner . . . denied the charge, but afterwards asked who had rounded.

1889. Answers, 11 May, 380. He rounded on the warder, and the Governor, to catch the officer, ordered the prisoner to act as if the discovery had not been known.

1897. Maugham, Liza of Lambeth, xi. They've all rounded on me except you, Tom.

To round up, verb. phr. (colonial).—To collect cattle: for inspection, branding, &c. : also as szibs. Whence (general) = to complete ; to take stock.

1881. Grant, Bush Life. Round them up, if possible, and let them stand a few minutes to breathe.

1886. Roosevelt, Hunting Trips,

ii. [A ranchman's] hardest work comes during the spring and fall round-ups.

1886. Philadelphia Times, 3 May [Century], That exception . . . will probably be included in the general roundup [of an agreement among railroads] tomorrow.

1887. Francis, Saddle *nd Moccasin. As soon as the round up was completed, the branding was to take place.

To bet round, verb. phr. (racing).—To bet upon (or against) several horses in a race.

Round-about. 60 Round Mouth.

Round-about, subs. (old).—1. See quot. c. 1548. Also (2 : modern) = a short, close-fitting jacket :

also rounder.

c. 1548. Latimer, Sermons and Remains (Pauker, Works, 108). [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 516. The huge farthingales worn by women are called round-abouts].

1848. Durivac-e, Stray Subjects, 81. One of the party in a green roundabout.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 24. That's me in plaid dittos and rounder.

3. (thieves').—A female thief's all-round pocket.

4. (common).—1. A horizontal wheel or frame, turned by a small engine, and furnished with wooden horses or carriages ; a merry-go-round.

1872.^ Besant & Rice, R. M. Mortiboy, xxiii. He got ... a Punch and Judy, swing-boats, a roundabout, and a performing monkey.

5. (prison).—A treadmill ; the everlasting-staircase (q.v.).

6. (thieves').—A housebreaker's tool : it cuts a round piece, about five inches in diameter, out of a shutter or door ; also round robin (Grose).

Round-and-square, vhr. (rhyming). — Everywhere.

Round-betting. See Round.

R o u n d e m , subs, (thieves' ). — A button.

Rounder, subs, (common).—i. A whoremaster : see Muttonmonger : spec, a fancy-man (q.v.).

2. (common). — A person or thing taking or making a round (subs., sense:: 1-6).

3. (common). — A round of cheers.

1882. Blackmore, Christowell, xxxiii. Was off amid a rounder of ' Thank'e, ma'am, thank'e.'

4. (common).—A big oath.

1886. Campbell-Praed, Heaa Station, 33. We can all swear a rounder in the stock-yard.

5. (American).—A man who goes habitually from bar to bar.

1883. Century, xxxvi. 249. Midnight rounders, with nose laid over ... as evidence of their prowess in bar-room mills and paving-stone riots.

1886. Philadelphia Times [Century], G . . . had made himself conspicuous as

a rounder.

1887. Christ. Union, 25 Aug. A very large proportion . . . are old rounders, who return again and again.

TO round (or round in the ear), verb. phr. (old).—To whisper.

1604. Shakspeare, Winter's Tale, i. 2, 217. They're . . . whispering,

rounding.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet., s.v. s'accouter a l'oreille.

See Round, subs, and adj._tand Round-about.

Roundhead, subs, (old colloquial). —A Puritan (q.v.). [The hair was worn closely cropped.] To

round the head = tO CUt the

hair round.—B. E., Grose.

Roundy (or Roundy-ken), subs, phr. (old).—A watch-house ; a lock-up.

1828. Egan, Finish to Life in London, 245. To avoid a night's lodging in

the roundv-ken.

Round Mouth (The), subs. phr. (old). — The fundament : also Brother round-mouth. 'Brother round-mouth speaks ' = ' He has let a fart ' (Grose).

Round 0. 61 Rouse.

Round O, subs. phr. (old).—A thumping lie : see Whopper.

1605. London Prodigal, iii. 2. Howsoever the Devonshire man is, my master's mind is bloody, that's a round O [aside], and, therefore, Sir, entreaty is but vain.

Round Robin, subs. phr. (old).— i. See quots.

1563. Fox, Acts and Monuments, 523. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 550. Scurrilous Protestants used to call the Host round Robin ; we apply the phrase to petitions.]

</.i56q. Coverdale, Works, i. 426. Certain fond talkers . . . invent and apply to this most holy sacrament names of despite and reproach, as to call it Jack-inthe-Box and Round-robin.

1661. Heylin, Reformation, i. 99. Reproached it [the Sacrament] by the odius names of Jack-in-a-box, Round Robin, Sacrament of the Halter . . .

2. (old).—A religious (= political) brawler.

1692. Hacket, Life of Williams, ii. 177. These Wat Tylers and Round Robins being driven . . . out of Whitehall.

3. (colloquial). — See quots. (Grose).

1626. Court and Times Chas. I., i. 187. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 75. We find the first instance of a Round Robin in 1626 ; sailors write their names and marks in a good round circular form so that none might appear for a ringleader.]

1660. Rump Songs, i. 66. The Round-robin by a like fate, Is Victor in the Tubb.

1755World, 146. A round robin . . . of above a thousand of the most respectable names.

1776. Forbes [Boswell, Johnson (Hill), iii. 83]. A Round Robin, as the sailors call it ... so as not to let it be known who puts his name first or last to the paper.

1838. Lytton, Alice, iv. iii. The whole country shall sign a round robin to tell him it's a shame.

1886. D. Telegraph, 24 Feb. The members of the Royal Commission sent to Sir George Grey a sort of round-robin.

4 and 5. (thieves').—See quot. and Roundabout.

1889. Clarkson and Richardson, Police, 341. Go in for a round robin, or good heavy swindle.

Round-shaving, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A reprimand.

Round-the-houses, subs. phr. (rhyming).—Trousers: cf.

rounds.

1892. Marshall, The Rusher [Sporting Times, 29 Oct.]. My roundthe-houses I tried to dry, By the Anna Maria's heat.

1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 153. Mr. Commissioner Kerr . . . once informed a snip who was after a chap for the price of a couple o' pair o' light roundmy-houses . . . that there was no such thing as taking credit.

Ronny, subs. (old).—A potato; a

murphy (q.V.).

1821. H Aggart, Life, 90. A field where some coves were rousting ronnies.

Rouse, subs, (old).—(i) A large glass full of liquor ; a big bumper ; (2) a carouse.

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, i. 4. The king doth wake to-night, and take his

rouse.

1609. Jonson, Silent Woman, iii. 2. We will have a rouse in each of them.

1609. Dekker, Güls Hornbook [Nares], Tell me, thou soveraigne skinker, how to take the German's upsyfreeze, the Danish Rouza, the Surtyer's stoop of Rhenish.

1618. Drayton, Verses in Chapman's Hesiod. To fetch deep rouses from Jove's plenteous cup.

1618. Fletcher, Loyal Subject, iv. 5. Take the rouse freely, sir, 'Twill warm your blood, and make you fit for jollity. Ibid. (1624), Wife for a Month, ii. 6. We'll have a rouse before we go to bed, friends.

e.1620. Healey, Disc, of New World, 84. Gone is my flesh, yet thirst lies in the bone, Give me one rouse, my friend, and get thee gone.

Rouser.

Rover.

1623. Massinger, Duke of Milan, i. i. Your lord, by his patent, stands bound to take his rouse.

1840. Tennvson, Vision of Sin. Fill the cup and fill the can, Have a rouse before the morn.

3. (thieves').—See quot.

1888. Ev. Standard, 26 Dec. If the constable did not allow him to go to the station in a cab he would rouse (a slang term for fighting).

Rouser, subs, (common).—Generic for anything exceptional. Hence rousing = very, great, startling, exciting.

1677. Coles, Eng.-Lat. Diet. A rousing lye, mendacium magnificum.

1719. Durfey, Pills to Purge, i. 264. She grown coy, Call'd him Boy, He getting from her cry'd, Zoons, you'r a rouzer.

1767. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vi. 109. A Jew . . . had the ill-luck to die . . . and leave his widow in possession of a rousing trade.

t868. Putnam's Mag., Jan. He is a rouser at making punch.

1893, MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 64. We made the whole place ring a rouser, till Jolter implored us to stop.

2. (old).—A tremendous fart.

1731. Swift, Strephon and Chloe, . . . Let fly a rouser in her face.

Roust, subs. (old).—i. The act of

kind ; whence, as verb. — to copulate : see Greens and Ride.

1599. Hall, Satires, iv. 1. And with her cruel lady-star uprose She seeks her third roust on her silent toes.

Verb. (old).—1. See subs. ; (2) to frisk ; to disturb ; to shift ; (3) to steal : see Roustabout.

1599. Hall, Satires, iv. 2. While yet he rousteth at some uncouth signe

1821. Haggart, Life, 66. She raised the doun that the swag was rousted. Ibid., 90. Some coves were rousting ronnies.

Roustabout (Rouse-about or Rouser), subs, (common).—i. See quots. ; (2) a fidget, and (3) a term of contempt.

1868. Putnam's Mag., Sept., 'On the Plains.' As the steamer was leaving the levée, about forty black deck-hands or roustabouts gathered at the bow, and sang a rude Western sailor's song.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, 225. The Western rough is frequently a roustabout—a term evidently derived from the old English roust, quoted by Jamieson as meaning to disturb. He is noisy, but not necessarily a rowdy, and frequently a useful member of society in some capacity which requires hard work and constant exposure.

1883. Edw. E. Morris [Longman's Mag., June, 178]. This poor young man had been a roustabout hand on a station [in Australia] (a colonial expression for a man who can be put to any kind of work).

1890. New York Sun, 23 Mar. An old Mississippi roustabout.

1894. Sydney Morning Herald, 6 Oct. A rougher person—perhaps a happier —is the rouseabout, who makes himself useful in the shearing shed . . . sometimes . . . spoken of as a roustabout.

[?]. American [Century], Men . . . who used to be rousters, and are now broken down and played out.

Rout, subs. (old).—i. A fashionable party ; and (2) 'a card party at a private house ' (Grose). As verb. = to assemble in company.

1775. Sheridan, Rivals, i. 1. A tall Irish baronet she met ... at Lady Macshuffle's rout.

18 [?]. Macaulay [Trevelyan, i. 265]. I have attended a very splendid rout at Lord Grey's.

Router, subs. (old).—A cow: hence router-putters = cows'-feet (Haggart).

Rove, verb, (old : now recognised). —' To wander idly up and down.' —B. E. fc. 1696).

Rover, subs. (American).—I. See quot.

Row. 63 Row.

1889. Leland, in S. J. & C, s.v. Rovers . . . Young and good-looking women who go into brokers' shops, lawoffices, stores, . . . many employed by churches, hospitals, &c. ; others are cheats, who have many ingenious devices to obtain money . . . Also largely employed for purposes of intrigue.

2. (old).—A pirate ; a freebooter ; (formerly : now recognised) a 'wanderer ; a vagabond.' —B. E., Grose. Also (B. E.) to run (or shoot) at rovers = ' to run wild, to act at random.'

1440. Prompt. Parv., 437. Robare . . . yn the see (rovare, or thef of the se).

d.i$i2. Fabvan, Chronicle, 359. The best men of ye cytie by thyse ryotous persones were spoyled and robbid ; and by the rouers also of ye see.

1611. Bible, i Chron. xii. 21. And they helped David against the band of the rovers.

1715. South, Sermons [Century]. Providence never shoots at rovers.

rf.1765. Pocock, Desc. 0/ East, 11. i. 51. The Maltese rovers take away every thing that is valuable both from Turks and Christians.

1827. Cooper, Red ROVER, ii. The ship of that notorious pirate, the Red Rover.

3. (common). — In pi. — the thoughts (Jamieson).

Row, subs, (originally University : now general).—1. A disturbance ; a shindy (q.v.) ; boisterous talk : also rowing : hence (2) a mob (Univ.). Whence rowing-man (ow as ough in ' bough ') = a spreester (q.v.). Also as verb. = (1) to abuse; to create a disturbance (see quot. 1825) ; to get into a row = to get into trouble; [Grose: s.v. Rout, ' shortened into ROW, Cambridge slang.']

1794. Gent. Mag., 1085. And was very near rustication [at Cambridge], merely for kicking up a row after a beakering party.

1820. Bvron [to Mr. Murray, 20 May]. Tell [Campbell] all this, and let him take it in good part ; for I might have rammed it into a review and rowed him.

1823. Hints for Oxford, 6. Faultless and frowning beings, who must needs be ever rowing you at lecture.

1825. English Spy, 1. 158 [Note, 'Oxford.'] Rowing a fellow — going with a party in the dead of night to a man's room, nailing or screwing his oak up, so as it cannot be opened on the inside, knocking at his door, calling out fire, and when he comes to the door, burning a quantity of shavings ... to impress him with the idea that the staircase ... is on fire. And when he is frightened almost out of his senses, setting up a most hideous horse-laugh and running away.

1826. Croker [Croker Papers, i. 331]. Where there was a smart young waiter, whom, however, these two Englishmen used to row exceedingly.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Leg., i. 35. Next morning there was a great row about it.

1852. Bristed, Five Years in Eng. Univ. More disposed to rowing than reading.

1864. Eton School Days, 11. Chudleigh was going to speak . . . when Chorley cried, Hold your row, will you ?

1883. Punch, 11 August, 72, 2. My sire will row me vigorously, My mother sore complain.

1889. Time, Aug., 149. I have a reminiscence of rowing her for growing as tall as myself. Ibid., 151. He rows her so fearful that Kitty thinks he'll be sure to desert her now.

The Row, subs. phr. (common).—I. Rotten Row, Hyde Park; and (2) Paternoster Row (booksellers').

1812. Combe, Syntax, Picturesque, c. xxiii. 'Tis not confined, we all must know, To vulgar tradesmen in the Row.

1879. Dickens, Diet, of London, s.v. Bond Street. Those who would see the lounger of the present day must look for him in the Row.

Rowdy. 64 Rowl.

Phrases. A hard (or long) row to hoe = a difficult task ; to hoe one's own row = to

mind one's own business ; to

row in the same boat = to

share.

1840. Crockett, Tour Down East, 69. Gentlemen, I never opposed Andrew ackson for the sake of popularity. I new it was a hard row to hoe.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 122. God help that poor creatur, she's got a

hard row to hoe.

1871. Mulford in San Francisco Chronicle. Now that I have hoed my own row and rumor gives me a false condition, they deluge me with congratulations.

1892. Gunter, Miss Dividends, iv. I am afraid Harry Lawrence has a hard row to hoe.

Rowdy, subs, (common). — i. A blackguard ; and (2) a political brawler (American). Hence

rowdy (rowdy-dowdy, or rowdy-dow) = blackguardly, turbulent, vulgar ; rowdyism (rowdy-dow, or rowdiness) = blackguardism.

1842. Dickens, American Notes, xiii. Two . . . demi-johns, were consigned to the least rowdy of the party for safe-keeping

1852. Bristed, UpperTenThousand, 33. Whose team is that ? Some rowdy's, I perceive. Ibid., 69. My red wheels . . . are rather rowdy, I must own ; not exactly the thing for a gentleman.

1852. Cadger's 5a//[Labern, Comic Song Book], Jane of the Hatchet-face divine Just did the Rowdy-dowdy poker.

1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, x. A drunken, gambling, cut-throat rowdy.

1857. Baltimore Clipper, 8 Sept. 'Convention of Baltimore Rowdies.' [Title.]

1859. Bartlett, Did. Americanisms, s.v. Rowdy. The rowdy nomenclature of the principal cities may now be classified as follows :—New York.—Dead Rabbits ; Bowery Boys ; Forty Thieves ; Skinners ; Robin Hood Club ; Huge

Paws ; Short Boys ; Swill Boys ; Shoulderhitters ; Killers. Philadelphia.—Killers; Schuylkill Annihilators ; Moyamensing Hounds ; Northern Liberty Skivers ; and Peep of Day Boys. Baltimore.—PlugUglies ; Rough Skins ; Double Pumps ; Tigers ; Black Snakes ; Stay Lates ; Hard Times ; Little Fellows ; Blood Tubs ; Dips; Ranters ; Rip-Raps ; and Gladiators.

1866. Howells, Venetian Life, xx. The lasagnone is a loafer . . . but he cannot be a rowdy,—that pleasing blossom on the nose of our fast, high-fed, thickblooded civilisation.

1871. Observer, 24 Dec. Everything seems to be rowdy, and to have about it a flavour of brandy-and-water ; yet the people are industrious and well-ordered.

1882. Anstey, Vice-Versa, v. "I was strolling down Petty Cury with two other men, smoking (Bosher of ' Pothouse,' and Peebles of ' Cats,' both pretty well known up there for general rowdiness, you know—dear old friends of mine)."

1884. D. Telegraph, 11 Feb., 5, ?.. His methods of controversy have been coarse ; his Republicanism has been pushed to rowdyism.

T892. Pall Mall Gaz., 12 Mar., 6, 2. I have never heard him use any bad language, or behave in any rowdy kind of way.

3. (common). — Money : see Rhino : cf. ruddy.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen String Jack, i. 4. Theo, (aside.) What's rowdy, I wonder?

1842. Egan, Bould Yeoman [Capt. Macheath]. I will not down you, if you will but disburse your rowdy with me.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxxv. From your account of him he seems a muff and not a beauty. But he has got the rowdy, which is the thing.

1856. Punch, xxxi. 79. The Queen of Oude, May spend her rowd, Y, careless and sans souci.

Rowl, verb. (American University). —To recite well : cf. Rush.

2. (old).—Money : see Rhino.

Royal.

Rub.

Royal, subs, (dockers').—Äfquot.

1883. Sims, How the Poor Live, 96. Regular men, called royals, are pretty sure to be taken on, their names being on the ganger's list and called out by him as a matter of course. Ibid., 98. It is when the royals are exhausted that the real excitement begins.

Royal-goats, subs. phr. (military). —The Royal Welsh Fusiliers (formerly the Twenty-third Foot.) Also ⁴ ' Nanny-goats. " [A goat is kept as a regimental pet.]

Royal-image, subs. phr. (old).— In pi. = money : see Rhino.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 287. Poor Gil Bias was left behind, without a royal image in his pocket.

Royal Poverty, subs. phr. (old). —Gin : see White Satin.— Bailey (1728).

Royal-scamp, subs. phr. (old).—A

gentleman of the road (q.V.)

as distinguished from a foot-pad (Grose).

Royster. See Roister.

Rozin. See Rosin.

Rozzer, subs, (thieves').—A policeman : see Beak.

i8[?] Globe [S. j. & C. ]. The prisoner, seeing a detective watching him, called out to a companion, " There's a rosser ! " The term is, as the magistrate opined, a new one.

1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, xviii. If the rozzers was to see him in bona clobber they'd take him for a gun. Ibid., xx. So I took on knocker up, but when I began the rozzers was down on me.

1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 237. What does she do ? Lor' doomy ! she acksherly sticks 'er 'ead out o' winder an' calls up a rozzer !

1901. Sporting Times, 6 Ap., i. 4. From calmness I don't mean to lapse, I scorn you counterjumping chaps, Or you're some rozzer's nark, perhaps.

R's. See Three R's (The).

Rub, subs, (colloquial). — i. An obstacle ; a disputable point ; a difficulty : also (Old Cant) = a hard shift (B. E., Grose). Hence, as verb. = to hinder, to obstruct. Also rubber.

1590. Nashe, Pasquits Apologie [Works, i. 214]. Some small rubs, as I heare, haue been cast in my way to hinder my comming forth, but they shall not profit.

1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., ii. 2. We doubt not now But every rub is smoothed on our way. Ibid. (1602-3), Hamlet, iii. 1. To die, to sleep ; To sleep : perchance to dream : ay, there's the rub. Ibid. (1605), Lear, ii. 2. 'Tis the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition, all the world well knows, Will not be rubb'd nor stopped.

1606. Day, He 0/ Guts, ii. 4. The duke is comming to bowles, and I would not for hälfe mine office you shuld be a rub in the way of his patience.

1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, 243. Perceiuing that their power and authoritie would be a perillous rub in his way.

1684. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, 11. We have met with some notable rubs already, and what are yet to come we knew not.

1724. Harper in Harlequin Sheppard. He broke thro' all rubbs in the whitt.

1762. Goldsmith, Life or Nash [ Works, 552 (Globe)]. But he experienced such rubs as these, and a thousand other mortifications, every day.

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, vii. ' Look at the worst side of the question then,' said Trent. . . . ' Suppose he lives.' ' To be sure,' said Dick, ¹ There's the rub.'

1880. Trollope, Duke's Children, lxxi. He who lives on comfortable terms with the partner of his troubles can afford to acknowledge the ordinary rubs of life.

2. (military).—A loan : as of a newspaper.

Verb, (venery).—I. To masturbate; to frig (q.v.) : also TO rub up (or off) ; also subs. = an act of masturbation. Hence rubber-up = a masturbator ;

Rub.

rubbing-up = masturbation ; to do a rub up = to masturbate. Fr. se branler, se coller tine douce, &c. Also (2) to copulate : see Ride.

1599. Jonson, Ev. Man Out of His Humour, iv. 4. Carlo. Let a man sweat once a week in a hot-house and be well rubbed and froted, with a good plump juicy wench, and sweet linen, he shall ne'er have the pox.

1656. Fletcher, Martiall, xi. 30. Thus Phillis rub me up, thus tickle me.

1700. Congreve, Way of the World, i. 9. They must wait a rub off, if I want appetite.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 5. Thou that rubs up the girls of Lilla. Ibid., 42. Ever since I saw . . . Thetis stroking your knees, as on the ground you sat, And rubbing up, the Lord knows what.

3. (old).—To run or take away.

Also to rub off ; to rub to

the Whitt = to send to Newgate (B. E., Grose).

c.1550. Bansley, Pryde of Women [Hazlitt, Pop. Poet., iv. 238]. Rubbe forthe, olde trottes, to the devyl worde.

1676. Warening for Housekeepers [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 30.] O then they rub us to the whitt.

1688. Shadwell, Squire of Alsatia, i. The Captain whipt his Porker out, and away rubb'd Prigster and call'd the watch;

c. 1704. Gentleman Instructed, 351. In a huff he . . . rub'd off, and left the field to Eusebius.

1737Old Ballad, ' Black Procession [Bacchus and Venus]. Toure you well ; hark you well, see Where they are rubb'd.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, 'Hundred Stretches Hence.' Some rubbed to whit had napped a winder.

Colloquialisms.—To rub along (on or out) = (i) to manage somehow, to live indifferently, and (2) = to live tolerably well (B. E., c.iôgô); to rub down = I (police) to search : the prisoner's arms are raised, the vest unbuttoned, and the officer's hand passed over the body : also

to run the rule over ; (2) to scold, rate, or take to task ; to rub in = (1) to nag, annoy, or aggravate persistently : Fr. monter une scie ; (2) to peg away, insist, or exaggerate ; to be rubbed about = to be made a convenience ; to rub out (tailors') = to cut out, also (2—colloquial) to forget old grievances, to cancel a debt : also to rub off ; to rub out = to kill : hence rubbed out = dead ; to rub up = (1) to refresh the memory (B. E., c. 1696, Grose), (2) to polish (B. E., c. 1696 : now recognised), and (3) to touch a tender point or remembrance : hence to rub up the wrong way = to irritate, to annoy : also to rub on the

gaule ; to give a rub of the

thumb = to explain or show the way.

1461-73. Paston Letters. I wyll rubbe on.

1546. Heywood, Proverbs. Rub him on the gall.

1610. Mirr. Mag., 463. Enough, you rub'd the guiltie on the gaule.

.1704. Brown, Works, i. T93. Our affairs have made a shift to rub on without any great conjuring. Ibid., ii. 118. With a little rubbing up my memory I may be able to give you the lives of all the mitred hogs.

1778. Sheridan, Rivals, iii. 4. I must rub up my balancing, and chasing, and boring.

a. 1790. Franklin, A utobiog., 73. We had nearly consumed all my pistoles, and now just rubbed on from hand to mouth.

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, xliii. Evandale is the man on earth whom he hates worst, and . . . were he once rubbed out of the way, all, he thinks, will be his own.

1842. Punch's Almanac. You see Jinks with a three days' beard—you rub out the slates—forget his action, and—.

1848. Ruxton, Far West, 65. Inarticulate words reached the ears of his companions as they bent over him. Rubbed out at last, they heard him say.

Rubbacrock. 67 Rubber-neck.

1850. Tennyson, In Memoriam, lxxxix. We rub each other's angles down.

1863. Reade, Hard Cash, i. 46. What I have got to rub up is my Divinity and my Logic ; especially my Logic. Will you grind Logic with me ?

1868. Whyte Melville, White Rose, i. xxv. It is no unusual drawback to married life, this same knack of rubbing

the hair the wrong way.

1870. D. News, 26 May. ' Metropolitan Police.' Rubbing it in well is a well-known phrase amongst the doubtful portion of the constabulary.

1877. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, vii. Clawed I should have been, mauled I should have been, rubbed out I should have been, on that green and grassy spot, but for the crack of Mr. Dunquerque's rifle.

1879. James, Bundle oj Letters, No. IV. She is for ever throwing Boston up at me ; I can't get rid of Boston. The other one rubs it into me, too ; but in a different way.

1883. JHawthorne, Dust, 291. Philip . . . was always rubbed the wrong way by Lady Flanders.

1888. Rolf Boldrewood, Robbery Under Amis, xxix. I suppose he'd rub them out, every mother's son, if he could.

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, 86. We managed to rub along on our fifteen shillings per week.

1898. Pink ' Un and Pelican, 163. Jübber was neither hard nor remorseless as a rule unless they rubbed him the wrong way.

1900. White, West End, 25. I knew this was the aspect which he desired to see, so I rubbed it as bright as I could and held it up [speaking of patronage].

1902. Pall Mall Gaz., 24 Jan., i. 2. Mr. Rowe . . . will rub this fact into them before they are much older.

Rubbacrock, subs, (colloquial).— A filthy slattern ; a puzzle {q.v.).

Rubbage (or Rubbidge), subs. (vulgar).—Rubbi sh.

Rubber, subs, (gaming). — 1. A round of three games : also rub (B. E., Grose).

1635. Quarles, Emblems, i. 10. It is the trade of man, and ev'ry sinner Has play'd his rubbers ; every soul's a winner.

1680. Aubrey, Eminent Men [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 121. Among new words are . . . rubber (of a game . . .)].

1753. Adventurer, 35. Mrs. Overall, the housekeeper, having lost three rubbers at whist running.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xi. I've seen him play whist, with my father for a partner ; and a good rubber, too.

1869. Thackeray, What Makes my Heart to Thrill and Glow ? 7. Why was it that I laughed and grinned at whist, although I lost the rub ?

2. (old). — A slight reproof ; Reflections upon any one . . . a rencounter with drawn swords. ' —B. E. {c. 1696). Also rub.

3. (American).—In pi. = Indiarubber over-shoes ; goloshes.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. When I was a young man I had to slosh around dark, wet nights in rubbers that didn't fit.

4. (old).—See quot.

1606. Decker, Seven Deadly Sinnes, 32 (Arber's Ed.). A number of poore handy-crafts-men, that before wrought night and day, made stocks to themselves of ten groates, and crowns a peece, and what by Betting, Lurches, Rubbers, and such tricks, they never took care for a good daies worke afterwards.

Rubber-neck (or rubber), verb, phr. (American). — See quots.

Also to rubber around.

1901. Flynt and Walton, The Powers that Prey, 34. He was perfectly at a loss what to do next, except as he phrased it to rubber around, which is technical and esoteric for keeping his eyes and ears open. Ibid., 60. They rubber so that they aint thinkin' 'bout their leathers . . . they'll screw their necks till you'll think they was never goun' to get 'em in shape again. Ibid., 121. You rubber too much with your neck, you do.

1902. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Mar., 10, 1. It required considerable craning _ and stretching, or, as the Americans pithily describe it, rubber-necking, to allow even an occasional glimpse.

Rubbish.

68 Ruck.

Rubbish, subs. (old).—Money: generic : see Rhino.

1821. Egan, Real Life, 1. 142. She shall stump up the rubbish before I leave her.

Rubicon, subs, (gaming).—Used as in quot.

1896. Farjeon, Betray. John Fordham, in. 288. " Rubicon'd agin ! " cried Maxwell with a oath, dashin' 'is fist on the table. Ibid., 292. Eight fifty. Double the stake if you like. Thirteen 'underd. Another Rubicon . . . Luck wos agin me last night ; looks as if it wos turning.

Rubigo, subs, (old Scots').—The penis : see Prick.

c.1584. R. Sempill, Leg. of the Bischop, àfc. His rubigo began to ryiss.

Rubric. In (or out of) the

rubric, phr. (old).—In (or out of) holy orders.

1699. Farquhar, Constant Couple,

i. i. Who would have thought to find thee out of the rubric so long? I thought thy hypocrisy had been wedded to a pulpit cushion long ago.

Rub-rub, phr. (old).—' Us'd on Greens when the Bowl Flees too fast, to have it forbear, if Words wou'd do it.'—B. E. (^.1696).

Ruby, subs, (colloquial).—1. Blood; claret (q.v.). Hence rubyface = 'a very red face' (B. E., Grose) ; whence (2) ruby = a

grog-blossom (q.V.).

c.i6[?]. Rox. Ballads [Brit. Mus., C20, f. 7, 214], 'The Little Barly-Corne,'

ii. It will inrich the palest face, and with Rubies it adorne.

1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, 11. v. Jolly nose, the bright rubies that garnish thy tip.

i860. Chambers' Journal, xiii. 348. The fluid of which Harvey demonstrated the circulation in the human body, he speaks of as 'claret,' or 'carmine,' or

ruby.

1886-9. Marshall [' Pomes,' 49], Honest Bill. You'd be sure to nark the ruby round his gilt.

1888. Sporting Life, 11 Dec. Saunders stopped a flush right-hander with his organ of smell, the ruby duly making its appearance.

RUCK, subs, (colloquial).—1. The mob (B. E., c. 1696) ; whence (2) = rubbish. Hence to come in

with the buck (or to ruck

in) = to come in unnoticed, or (racing) unplaced.

1846. Punch, xi. 15. Who floored Sir Robin? . . . Who headed the ruck? "I," said Lord George so able, Racy speech and mind stable, "And I headed the ruck."

1857. Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, iv. First turn in the race . . . Several shew in advance of the

ruck.

1864. Derby Day, 18. It will be unpleasant for me if Ascapart is in the

ruck.

1874. Collins, Frances, xxiii. I

don't care for Americans myself, men or

women . . . the ruck want educating.

1879. Scrib. Mag., vm. 159. He's stuck up and citified, and wears gloves . . . and all that sort of ruck [Century],

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 75. A Missus with money, and rucks in along o' the rest.

«'.1893. Baker, Heart of Africa, 112. I soon found myself in the ruck of men, horses, and drawn swords.

Verb, (common).—1. To inform; to split (q.v.) ; (2) = to turn rusty (q.v.); and (3) to drag or crease.

1884. D. News, 20 Sept., 2, 2. I told the prisoner that I was not going to ruck on an old pal.

1889. Answers, 13 Ap., 313. To such of their own fraternity who ruck or "blab" upon them, they most certainly entertain feelings of the deepest hatred.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 71. Mine rucked when I turned up in trousers in checks.

1894. Egerton, Keynotes, 177. They [trousers] ruck up at the knees.

Ruction.

6₉

Ruff.

TO ruck (or rucket) along,

verb. phr. (Oxford University).— To walk quickly.

Ruction, subs, (common).—An uproar.—Halliwell (1847).

1833. Neal, Down-Easters, 11. 14. Ryled, all over, inside and out—Ryled—

ructions.

_ 1884. Echo, 19 March, 2, 3. The police, when there is a ruction, drop quietly over a wall into the midst of the combatants.

1894. SJieffield Daily Telegraph, 29 Mar., 4, 7. The ructions at the Freeman meeting yesterday.

1900. White, West End, 124. Ructions took place . . . and ... he went so far as to tell his wife that "he didn't care a damn what she did."

Rudder, subs, (venery).—The penis : see Prick. Also (Somerset) = copulation.

d. 1638. Carew, Rapture. My rudder with thy bold hand . . . thou shalt steer and guide . . . into Love's channel.

1760. Robertson of Struan, Poems, 95. Sure Venus never can be tir'd While pow'rful Mars directs the Rudder.

Ruddocks (or Red, or Golden, Ruddocks), subs, (old).—Money: specifically gold : also ruddy. [Formerly gold was conventionally " red" (' a girdle of gold so red ' and ' good red gold '—Percy Re/.).] Cf. Ridge and Redge.

1570. TURBERVILLE [ChALMER'S,

Poets, ii. 647]. The greedie carle came . . . and saw the pot behind Where ruddocks lay, but ruddocks could not find.

1585. Choise of Change [Cens. Literaria, ix. 435]. He must have his red ruddockes ready.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Zanfrone. Used also for crownes, great pieces of gold, as our countrymen say red-ruddockes.

1600. Munday and Drayton, Oldcastle, i. 2. My fingers' end do itch To be upon those golden ruddocks.

1607. Heywood, Fair Maid [ Works, 11. 277]. I believe they be little better than pirates, they are so flush of their

rudocks.

Rudesby, subs, (old colloquial).— A rude boisterous person. [Johnson (1745) 'a low word.'] Cf. sneaksby, idlesbie, wigs-

by, &c.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, iii. 2. A mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen. Ibid. (1602;, Twelfth Night, iv. i. Be not offended, dear Cesario,— Rudesby, begone.

Rudge-gown, subs. (old). —An outcast : also rug-gown. Whence rug-gowned = meanly ; rugheaded = shock-headed.

1597. Shakspeare, Richard II., ii. i, 156. We must supplant these rough rug-headed kerns.

1622. Fletcher and Massinger, Prophetess, ii. 2. I had rather meet An enemy in the field than stand thus nodding Like to a rug-gouned watchman.

1654. Witts Reer. [NaresI. A rudg-gowns ribs are good to spur a horse.

Rue, subs, (colloquial).—Repentance : as rue-quarrel, verb. = to repent and withdraw ; ruebargain = smart-money.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, xxvii. He said it would cost him a guinea of ruebargain to the man who had bought his pony before he could get it back again.

c.i852. Traits of Amer. Humour, 1. 226. I'm for no rues and after-claps.

Ruff, subs. (old).—'An oldfashioned double band.'—B. E. (r.1696).

2. (old).—A court card : hence to ruff = to trump. [Ruff = a game similar to whist, ' in which the greatest sorte of sute carrieth away the game.'—Peele, i, 211, note.] See Trump.

1593. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Ronfar. A game at cardes called ruffe or trump.

Ruffian.

Ruffle.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet., s.v. Ronße. Hand-ruff at cards.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick, xxxv. Miss Bolo would inquire . . . why Mr. Pickwick had . . . ruffed the spade, or finessed the heart.

3. (old).—See quots.

1592. Harvey, Four Letters. He . . . in the ruff of his greatest jollity was fain to cry M. Churchyard a mercy to print.

1610. Mirr. Mag., 607. In the ruffe of his felicitie ... he began disdaine His bastard lord's usurp'd authority.

4. (racing).—Ruff's Guide to the Turj.

The wooden ruff, subs. phr. (old).—The pillory.

Ruffian, subs. (old).—i. Spec, the

Devil : also old ruffian. Whence (2) anyone behaving roughly or severely : as a magistrate, and esp. a pimp (see Ponce) or bawdy-house bully, 'a brutal bully or assassin ' (B. E., Rowlands, Coles, Grose), also a pugilist all spirit and no science ; and so forth. Hence as adj. = (1) wanton (Grose) ; (2) = brutal ; and (3) = violent. As verb. = (1) to pimp, (2) to bully, and (3) to maul. Also ruffianly (or ruffinous) = wanton, outrageous. 'Ruffian cook ruffian, he scalded the devil in his feathers ' (Grose), said of a bad cook. Ruffian's-hall (see quot. 1679). Cf. Rough.

e.1450. York Plays [Shakspeare Soc], i. 17. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 288. The Devil is spoken of as Ruffyne, which perhaps led to our ruffian.]

a¹.1556. Udall [RichardsonI. Repent of light ruffianyng and blasphemous carnal gospelling.

1567. Harman, Caveat, 86. Gerry gan, the ruffian clye thee. A torde in thy mouth, the deuyll take thee.

1593. Harvey, Four Letters [Century]. Ruffianly hair, unseemly apparel, and more unseemly company.

1593. Shakspeare, Com. Errors, ii. 2, 135. That this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate. Ibid. (1598), 2 Hen. IV., iii. 1, 22. The winds, Who take the ruffian billows by the top. Ibid., iv. 5, 125. Have you a ruffian that will swear, drink, dance, Revel in the night? Ibid. (1602). If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea, What ribs of oak . . . can hold the mortice?

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Ruffiano, a ruffin, a swagrer, a swashbuckler. Ibid., Ruffo, a rufian, a ruffling roister ; . . . also rude, ruffe, or rough.

1603. Chapman, Iliad, vi. 456. To shelter the sad monument from all the ruffinous pride Of storms and tempests.

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight [Grosart, Wks. (1886), iii. 203]. The Ruffin cly the nab of the Harman beck.

1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bush, ' Maunder's Initiation.' Strine and trine to the Ruffin (justice of peace).

1657. Smith, Sermons, 208. She could not mince finer . . . nor carry more trappings about her, than our ruffians and wantons do at this day.

d.iôjç. Blount [Halliwell]. Ruffians Hall.—So that part of Smithfield was antiently called, which is now the horse-market, where tryals of skill were plaid by ordinary ruffianly people with sword and buckler.

1819. ^ Moore, Tom Crib, 57. Hammering right and left with ponderous swing, Ruffian'd the reeling youngster round the ring.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, in. ii. ' Not now, in the devil's name ! ' said Turpin, stamping impatiently. ' We shall have Old Ruffin himself amongst us presently, if Peter Bradley grows gallant.'

Ruffle, subs. (Old Cant). — A handcuff : usually in (Grose, Vaux).

1826. Old Song, ¹ Bobby and His Mary' [Univ. Songst., iii. 108]. And ruffles soon they popped on.

1839. Ainsworth, Jack Slieppard, 11. ix. ' I'll accommodate you with a pair of ruffles,' and he proceeded to handcuff his captive.

Ruffler.

Ruffmans.

The Ruffle, subs. phr. (conjurors').—The flourish to a trick at cards : the deck held firmly at the lower end by the left hand is rapidly manipulated by the right hand with a crackling noise.

See Ruffler.

Ruffler (Ruffle, or Ruffling Roister), subs, (old).—1. Spec, as in quot. 1565 (in Statue 27 Hen. VIII. = a sham soldier or sailor) : whence (2) a bully, cheat, or violent or swaggering blackguard (Awdeley, Harman, B. E., Coles, Grose). Ruffle (also ruffler), verb. — (1) to plunder, to rob : spec, with menaces and imprecations ; and (2) to swagger, flaunt it, put on side (q.v.) or be turbulent ; rufflery = violence; ruffered = boisterous ; and ruffle = to dispute.

£•.1537-50. Old Poem [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 512. There are the Dutch words ruffle (brag), and trick up (ornare).]

1565. Harman, Caveat, 29. Now these Rufflars, the out castes of seruing men, when begginge or crauinge fayles, then they pycke and pylfer, from other inferiour beggeres that they méete by the waye, as Roages, Pallyardes, Mortes, and Doxes. Ibid. A rufflar . . . wretchedly wanders aboute the most shyres of this realme ; and with stoute audacyte demaundeth where he thinketh he may be bolde, and circomspecte ynough as he sethe cause to aske charitie.

1579. Mariage of Witt and Wisdome. My man Lobb Is become a jolly ruffler.

1582. Stanihurst, JEneid, iii. But neere ioynctlye brayeth with rufflerye rumboled ./Etna.

1593. Shakspeare, Titus And., i. 2. One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons, And ruffle in the Commonwealth of Rome. Ibid. (1605), King Lear, iii. 7. I am your host, With robber's hands, my hospitable favours You should not ruffle thus. Ibid. (1609), Lovers Compl. Sometime a blusterer, that the ruffle knew Of court and city.

1598. Florio, Worlde 0/ Wördes,

^S*^V' ■^RJ^t^^r° • ' ' ^als0 ^a ruffling roister or ruffian, a swaggrer.

1600. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, iii. 3. Lady, I cannot ruffle it in red and yellow.

1610. M irr. for Mag., 473. And what the ruffler spake, the lout took for a verdite, For there the best was worst, worst best regarded. Ibid., 165. To Britain over seas from Rome went I, To quaile the Picts, that ruffled in that ile.

1611. Middleton, Roaring Girl [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), vi. 108]. Brother to this upright man, flesh and blood, ruffling Tear-cat is my name ; and a ruffler is my stile, my title, my profession.

1614. Fletcher, Wit without Money, v. 3. Can I not go about . . . But such companions as you must ruffle me.

1641. Milton, Ref. in Eng., i. Revil'd and ruffl'd by an insulting . . . Prelate.

1712. Steele, Spectator, 132. Our company was so far from being soured by this little ruffle that Ephraim and he took particular delight in being agreeable to each other for the future.

1818. Scott, Midlothian, x\v. A gude fellow that has been but a twelvemonth on the lay, be he ruffler or padder. Ibid. (1821), Kenilworth, xiii. He looked like a gay ruffling servingman.

1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, xvi. Oh, what a beast is a niggardly ruffler, Nabbing—grabbing all for himself.

1890. Answers, 27 Dec. In this fashion I ruffled like a prince for six years on a regular income of nothing per annum.

Ruffmans, subs. (Old Cant).—A hedge : cf. quot. 1610 (Harman, B. E., Hall, Grose).

1565. Harman, Caveat, 86. We wyll fylche some duddes of the Ruffemans.

1608. Dekker, The Beggars' Curse [Grosakt, Works, iii. 203]. If we mawnd Pannam, lap, or Ruff-peck, Or poplars of yarum : he cuts, hing to the Ruffmans. Ibid. (1612), O, per se O [Farmer, Musa Pedestris(1896), 12]. We did creepe, and plant in kuffe-mans low.

Ruff-peck. 72 Rule.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, 40 (H. Club, 1874). Ruffmans, not the hedge or bushes as heretofore : but now the eauesing of houses or roofes : Cragmans is now vsed for the hedge.

1611. Middleton and Dekker, Roaring Girl, v. 1. I woud lib all the lightmans . . . under the Ruffemans.

1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bush, iii. 3. To mill from the Ruffmans commissions and slates.

Ruff-peck, subs. phr. (Old Cant). —Bacon. — Harman (1567) ; Rowlands (1610); Head (1665); B. E. (^.1696) ; Coles (1724).

1608. Dekker, The Beggars' Curse [Grosart, Works, iii. 203]. If we maund Pannam, lap, or Ruff-peck.

1641. Brome, Jovial Crew, ' The Merry Beggars.' Here's Ruffpeck and Casson, and all of the best.

1707. Shirley, Triumph or Wit, ¹ Rum-Mort's Faithless Maunder.' Ruffpeck still hung on my back.

Rufty-tufty, adj. and adv. (old). —Rough ; boisterous ; indecent. Also as intj. = hey-day.

1592. Breton, Pilgrimage to Paradise, 16. To sweare and stare until we come to shore, then rifty-tufty each one to his skore.

1606. Chapman, Gentleman Usher, v. i. Were I as Vince is, I would handle you In rufty-tufty wise.

1606. Wily> ^ Beguiled [Hawkins, Eng. Drama, iii. 302]. Rufty, tufty, are you so frolick ?

</.i82i. Keats, Cap and Bells, 86. Ruffy-tuffy heads Of cinder wenches meet and soil each other.

Rufvs, subs, (venery).—The female pudendum: see Monosyllable.

Rug, subs. (Rugby School).—A Rugbeian.

1892. Evening Standard, 25 Nov., 4, 5. The controversy was started by the death of one who succumbed to his exertions. " An Old Medical Rug " describes the sufferings he endured.

2. (old).—A sort of drink.

1653. Taylor, Certaine Travailes, às>c. _ And ... of all drinks potable, Rug is most puisant, potent, notable.

3. (old).—A tug. Whence as verb. = to pull roughly ; to get a rug = to get a share ; to get there {ç.v.).

13 [?]. York Plays, 286. No ruthe were it to rug the and ryue the in ropes.

1734. Pope, Donne, iv. 134. He knows . . . who got his pension rug.

1814. Scott, Waverley, xlii. The gude auld times of rugging and riving . . . are come back again. Ibid. (1824), Redgauntlett, xi. Sir John . . . voted for the Union, having gotten it was thought, a rug of the compensations.

All rug, phr. (Old Cant).— All right; certain (B. E., Grose).

1714. Lucas, Gamesters, 104. His great dexterity of making all Rugg at Dice, as the Cant is for securing a Die between two fingers.

See Bug and Ruggins.

Ruge. See Rouge.

Rugger, subs, (schools').—Football : the Rugby game.

1902. Pall Mall Gaz., 2 Jan., 9, 2. The article which, so far as figures go, proves to the hilt England's degeneracy at Rugger, and most lucidly gives the reason why.

Ruggin's, subs. (Old Cant).—Bed; at rug = asleep : e.g., * the whole gill is safe at rug ' = * the household are asleep' (Grose).

1828. Lytton, Pelham, Ixxxii. Stash the lush . . . ay, and toddle off to Ruggins.

Ruin. See Blue Ruin.

Rule. To run the rule over, verb. phr. (thieves').—See quot;

to frisk {ç.v.).

1879. JW. Horsley [Macm. Mac., xl. 504]. I am going to run the rule over (search) you.

Rule-of-three. 73

Rum.

1886. D. News, 30 Sept., iii. 2. When paraded each man has the rule run over him, i.e., searched.

1886-96. Marshall, He Slumbered ['Pomes,' 118]. A lady . . . ran the rule through all His pockets for her cheek was fairly tall.

Rule-of-THREE (The), subs. phr. (venery).—1. The penis and testes ; and(2)copulation: cf. Addition, Multiplication, and Subtraction.

c.1720. Durfey, Pills, vi. 329.

This accountant will come without e'er a Fee, And warrants a Boy by his Rule of Three.

Rule of Thumb, subs. phr. (colloquial). — A rough-and-ready way : practical rather than exactly scientific (Grose).

1809. Sydney Smith, To Francis Jeffrey, 3 Sep. We'll settle men and things by rule of thumb.

1864. D. Review, 17 Oct. The result, we trust, will exemplify the value of Science versus Rule of Thumb in politics.

Rum (Rome, Roome, or Ram),

adj. (Old Cant).—1. A generic appreciative ; good ; fine ; clever ; excellent ; strong, &c. : cf. sense 2 and Queer ; rumly = bravely, cleverly, delicately. Thus Rumbeak (or -beck) = a Justice of the Peace ; rum-bing (or -bung) = a full purse ; rum-bit (or -bite) = (1) a clever rogue, and (2) a smart trick ; rum bleatingcheat = a fat wether ; rumblowen (or -blower) = a handsome mistress ; rum-bluffer = a jolly host ; rum-bob = (1) a young apprentice, (2) a clever trick, and (3) a smart wig ; rumbooze (-bouse, -buse, -buze, or bouze) = (1) wine, or (2) good liquor of divers kinds ; rumboozing-welt = a bunch of grapes ; rum-bubber = a good thief ; rum-buffer (or -bugher)

= a valuable dog ; rum-chant = a good song; rum-chub = (butchers') an ignorant buyer; rum-clank = a gold or silver cup; rum-clout (or wipe) = a silk handkerchief ; rum-cod = (1) a full purse, and (2) a large sum of money ; rum-cole = new money ; rum-cove (or -cull) = (1) a clever rogue, (2) a rich man, (3) a lover, and (4) an intimate: also rum-cull (theatrical) = a manager, or boss ; rumdegen (-tol, or -tilter) = a splendid sword ; rum-dell (-doxy or -mort) = a handsome whore ; rum-diver = a clever pickpocket ; rum-drawers = silk stockings ; rum-dropper = a vintner; rum-duke = (1) a handsome man, (2) a jolly companion, and (3) see quot. 1696 and also sense 2 ; rumduchess = a handsome woman ;

rum-dubber (or -file) = an

expert picklock ; rum-fam (or fem) = a diamond ring; rumfun = a clever fraud ; rum-gelt (or -gilt) = new money; rumgill = (1) a clever thief, and (2) a handsome man ; rum-gagger = a whining beggar ; rumglymmer = a chief link-boy ; rum-going = fast trotting ; rum-gutlers = canary ; rumhopper = an innkeeper ; rumkicks = silver or gold-braided breeches ; rum-ken = a popular inn or brothel ; rum-kin = a large mug; rum-maunder = a clever beggar ; rum-mizzler = a thief expert at clearing {q.v.) ; rum-mort = a lady ; rum-one = a settling blow ; rum-nab = a good hat; rum-Nantz = brandy ; rum Ned = a rich fool ; rum-pad = the highway ; rumpadder = a highwayman ; rumpeeper = a silver looking-glass ; rum-peck = good food ; rum-

Rum.

74 Rum.

prancer = a fine horse ; rumquidds = a large booty ; rumruffpeck = Westphalian ham ; rum-squeeze = fiddlers' drink in plenty ; rum-snitch = a hard blow on the nose ; rum-topping = a rich head-dress ; rum-ville = London.—Awdeley (1560) ; Harman (1567) ; Rowlands (1610) ; Head (1665) ; B. E. (c. 1696) ; Coles (1724) ; Bailey (1726); Parker (1781) ; Grose (1785); Vaux(i8i2); Bee(i823).

1567. Harman, Caveat, 86. Byng

We tO ROME-VYLE.

1607. Dekker, Jests to make you Merie in Wks. (Grosart), ii. 308. A rum coves bung (so called in their canting vse of speech) (and as much as to say in ours, a rich chuffes purse).

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-All, 'Toure Out Ben Morts.' For all the Rome coues are budgd a beake. Ibid. The quire coves are budgd to the bowsing ken As Romely as a ball.

1611. MiDDLETON and Dekker, Roaring Girl, v. i. So my bousy nab might skew rome bouse.

1612. Dekker, O per se O, ' Bing Out, Bien Morts.' On chates to trine, by Rome-coues dine for his long lib at last. Ibid. Bingd out bien morts, and toure, and toure, bing out of the Rome-vile ; . . . And Jybe well Ierkt, tick romecomfeck.

1641. Brome, Jovial Crew, ' Morts' Drinking Song.' This bowse is better than rom-bowse.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 11. i. Note. Plot a common cant word used by French clowns and other tippling companions ; it signifies rum-booze as our gypsies call good-guzzle.

1656. Blount, Gloss., 538. Rambuze. A compound drink at Cambridge, and is commonly made of eggs, ale, wine, and sugar ; but in summer, of milk, wine, sugar, and rose-water.

1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie (ist ed.), 108. With that she set it to her Nose, And off at once the Rumkin goes.

16615. Head, Eng. Rogue [RibtonTurner, 621]. We straight took ourselves to the Boozing ken ; and having bubb'd rumly, we concluded an everlasting friendship.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. 0/ Alsatia, ii. [Works (1720), iv. 47]. Belf. Sen. . . . Here's a nabb ! you never saw such a one in your life. Cheat. A rum nabb : it is a beaver of £5.

c. 1696. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, passim. Also, more particularly, s.v. Rum-dukes, c. the boldest or stoutest Fellows (lately) amongst the Alsatians, Miniers, Savoyards, &*c. Sent for to remove and guard the Goods of such Bankrupts as intended to take Sanctuary in those Places. Ibid., s.v. Peck. The Gentry Cove tipt us rum Peck and rum Gutlers, till we were all Bowsy, and snapt all the Flickers.

1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Office*, ii. 3. You are a justice of peace, and you are a king, and I am a duke, and a rum duke, a'n't I ?

1707. Shirley, Triumph of Wit, 'Rum-Mort's Praise of Her Faithless Maunder.' By the rum-pad maundeth none, . . . Like my clapper-dogeon.

1724. Harper, in Harlequin ShepPard, 'Frisky Moll's Song.' I Frisky Moll, with my rum coll.

1760. Old Song, 'Come All You Buffers Gay' [The Humourist, 2]. Come all you buffers gay, That rumly do pad the city. Ibid. If after a rum cull you pad.

1781. Parker, View of Society, 11. 174. Rum-mizzlers. Fellows who are clever in making their escape. Ibid. (3.1789), Cantata, 'The Sandman's Wedding.' For he's the kiddy rum and queer.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 76. The brandy and tea, rather thinnish, That knights of the Rumpad so rurally sip. Ibid. Thus rumly floored.

c.1819. Song, ' The Young Prig ' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 83. But my rum-chants ne'er fail, sirs ; The dubsman's senses to engage.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. iii. From a rum ken we bundled.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii. 6. Now, your honours, here's the rum peck, here's the supper.

1825. Jones, Old Song, 'The True Bottom'd Boxer' [Univ. Songst., ii. 96]. Spring's the boy for rum going and coming it. Ibid. You'll find him a rum-'un, try on if you can.

75 Rumble.

1830. Moncrieff, Heart of London, ii. i. We frisk so rummy. Ibid. We chaunt so rummy. Ibid., i. 2. Good night, my rum-'uns. Ibid., i. 1. Rummy Spitalfields wipes.

1834. Ainsworth, R ookwood (1B64), 180. Rum Gills and Queer Gills, Patricos, Palliards, &c. lèid., 60. With them the best Rumpads of England are not to be named the same day ! Ibid., 199. I want a little ready cash in Rumville—beg pardon, ma'am, London I mean. Ibid., 190. I know you can throw off a rum chant ... I heard you sing last night at the hall.

1844. Selby, London by Night, i. 2. What's in the wind, my rum cull.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. ß4i. Not one swell in a score would view it in any light than a ream concern.

1886. Stephens and Yardley, Little Jack Sheppard, 37. Farewell to Old England for ever, Farewell to my rum culls as well.

2. (common). — In modern slang (by inversion) rum = indifferent ; bad ; questionable ; odd : as adj. rummy (or rumly). Whence (3) rum = anybody or anything odd or singular in habit, appearance, &c. ; rum-Ned = a silly fellow (B. E.); rum duke = a half-witted churl (but see sense 1) ; to come it rum = to act (or talk) strangely.

1729. Swift, Grand Question Debated. A rabble of tenants and rusty dull

rums.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 155. Well said, Ulysses, cries the king (A little touch'd tho' with the sting Of this rum speech).

17 [?]. Old Song [N. &> Q., 7 S., ix. 97. Although a rummy codger, Now list to what I say.

1781. Parker, View of Society, 1. 48. ' Blow me up (says he) if I have had a fellow with such rum toggys cross my company these many a day.'

1803. Sharpe {Correspondence (1888), i. 18]. They were angry with rums, they were troubl'd with bores.

1812-15. Nichols, Lit. Anec, v. 471. The books which booksellers call rums appear to be very nnmerous, . . . yet they are not really so.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, ' Jack Holmes s Song.' Some wonder, too, the tits that pull This rum concern along, so full.

1829. Somerset, Day After the Fair. Well, dang it ! though she's a rum one to look at, she's a good one to go.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, xvi. "You're a rum 'un to look at, you are," thought Mr. Weiler.

1840. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (Hamilton Tighe). And the neighbours say, as they see him look sick, "What a rum old covey, is Hairy-faced Dick ! "

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, 11. xxvii. How much? It's a rummy ramp—but how much?

1882. Anstey, Vice-Versa, xi. There's young Tom on the box ; don't his ears stick out rummily?

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, i. What a rum thing a man should laugh when he's only got twentynine days more to live.

1892. Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads, ' Route Marchin'.' There's that rummy silver grass.

1899. Whiteing, John St., v. Rummy lot dahn there.

Rumble, suds, (colloquial).—A seat for servants at the back of a carriage : also rumble-tumble (which likewise [Grose and Vaux]) = a stage coach. See Dickey and quot. 1830.

T830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, xxv. His favourite servant sat in the dickey in front (rumble-tumbles not being then in use). Ibid. (1858), What Will He Do, ôr°c, i. 15. From the dusty height of a rumble-tumble . . . Vance caught sight of Lionel and Sophy.

1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xiv. A discontented female in a green veil and crimped curls on the rumble.

Verb. (old). — To try ; to search ; to handle.

1821. Haggart, Life,\$. I was rumbling the cloys of the twigs.

1886-96. Marshall, Beautiful Dreamer [' Pomes,' 65]. I rumbled the tip as a matter of course.

Rumblcr. 76

Rumford.

1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 209. I soon rumbled he was in it when I heard Bull givin' him the ' me lord ' for it.

Rumbler, subs. (old).—A hackney coach. Hence rumbler'sflunkey = (1) a footman and (2) a cab-runner ; runningrumbler = a carriage thief's confederate.

c.r8i6. Maher, Song, 'The Night Before Larry was Stretched.' The rumbler jugg'd off from his feet, And he died with his face to the city.

c.T819. Old Song, 'The Young Prig' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 82]. I first held horses in the street, But being found defaulter, Turned rumbler's flunkey for my meat.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii. 4. A rattler ... is a rumbler, otherwise a jarvey, better known, perhaps, by the name of a rack.

Rumbling, subs. (Old Cant: now recognised). — ' The rolling of Thunder, motion of a Wheelbarrow, or the noise in the Gutts.' —B. E. (c. 1696).

Rum-blossom (or -bud), subs, phr. (common).—A nasal pimple :

cf. grog-blossom.

1889. Bush, Effects of Ardent Spirits. Redness and eruptions generally begin with the nose . . . they have been called rum-buds, when they appear in the face.

Rum bo, subs.—I. Rum grog : also rumbullion and rumbowling : cf. rum-booze (Grose).

1651. MS. Descrip. 0/ Barbadoes [Academy, 5 Sep., 1885, 155]. The chief fudling they make in the island is Rumbullion, alias Kill-Uivil, and this is made of sugar canes distilled.

1751. Smollett, Per. Pickle, ii. He and my good master . . . come hither every evening, and drink a couple of cans of rumbo a-piece. Ibid. (1762), Sir L. Greaves, 1. i. Three of the travellers . . . agreed to pass the time . . . over a bowl of rumbo.

1821. Scott, Pirate, xxxix. Regaling themselves with a can of rumbo.

1885. D. News, 12 August, 5, 2. When sailors speak of their grog as Rum bowling the expression is really a survival of the old word [i.e., Rumbullion, supposed to be the original name of " Rum," and of which the tatler is a corruption].

2. (old). — A prison : also rumbo-ken.

3. (dockyard). — Stolen rope (Clark Russell).

Adi. (old).—Good ; plenty.

1870. Hazlewood and Williams, Leave it to Me, i. Fifty pounds ! Oh, what a coal and tater shop I will have. . . . Is that rumbo? (holds out his hand).

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 192. Mo exclaimed to his man, ' Chuck rumbo (eat plenty), my lad.'

1895. Pall Mall Gaz., 21 Dec, 8, 1. But if the carts are all rumbo, and the 'orses was all rumbo, and there was no tickets and no jumpers.

Rum bo-ken, subs. phr. (old).—I. A pawnbroker's shop.

2. (old). — A prison : also

rumbo.

1724. Harper [Harlequin Sheppard, ' Frisky Moll's Song ']. _ But filing of a rumbo ken, My Boman is snabbled again.

Rumbowline (or ram bowl! ne),

subs, (nautical).—1. Condemned stores : rope, canvas, &c. ; whence (2) anything inferior or deteriorated : as adj. — adulterated.

See Rumbo.

Rumbusticate, verb, (venery).— To copulate : see Greens and Ride.

Rumford. To ride to Romford, verb. phr. (old).—To get new breeched. [Grose : ' Rumford was formerly a famous place for leather breeches : a like saying is current of Bungay.'] Also see quot.

Rum-gagger. 77 Rum-Johnny.

1708-10. Swift, Pol. Conv., ii. One may ride to Rumford upon this knife, it is so blunt.

Rum-gagger, subs, phr. (nautical). —' A sailor who begs ' (Clark Russell).

rumgumption, rumbum ption,

&c, subs, and adj. (common).— A class of colloquialisms compounded with an intensive prefix : (1) ram (imitatively varied by rum) = very, strong ; and (2) RUM (q.v.) — good, fine, &c. : also cj. ramp as in rampageous.

Thus RAMBUNCTIOUS (or RAM-

bustious) = noisy, ' high-andmighty ' ; rambustion = a row ; RAMBUMPTious —conceited, selfassertive (Grose) ; rumbumpTION = conceit, cock-sure-ness ; RUMGUMPTION = mother-wit ; RAMGUMPTIOUS = shrewd, bold, rash (Grose) ; ramfeezled = exhausted ; rambuskious = rough; ramgunschoch = rough; ramshackle = ricketty, crazy. Substantives are similarly formed :

e.g., RAMBUNCTION, RAMBUMPTION, RAMGUMPTION, &C , whilst

such variants as rummel-fump-

TION, RUMBLE-GUMPTION, RUM-

strugenous, and the like are coined at will. Also rumbusticator = a man of means, and ramstam = a headlong fool, and as adj. = deliberately or undilutedly silly.

1768. Ross, Helenore, ¹ Beattie's Address.' They need not try thy jokes to fathom, They want rumgumption.

1778. Foote, Trip to Calais, i. The sea has been rather rumbustious, I own.

d. 1796. Burns, To fames Smith. The hairum-scairum, ram-stam boys.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, xxviii, If we gang ram-stam in on them [we'll get] a broken head to learn us better havings.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial, 3. Has thought of a plan, which — excuse his presumption — He hereby submits to your Royal rumgumption.

1822. Hogg, Perils of Man, 1. 78. Ye sud hae stayed at hame, an' wantit a wife till ye gathered mair rummel-

gumption.

1823. Galt, Entail, in. 70. Wattie is a lad of a methodical nature, and no a hurly-burly ram-stam.

1823. Lockhart, Reg. Ballon, 1. 199. This will learn you again ye young ramshackle.

1844. Surtees, Hillingdon Hall, v. 21. The rumbustical apologies for great coats that have inundated the town of late years.

1847. Porter, Big Bear, 120. He's as ramstugenous an animal as a log-cabin loafer in the dog-days.

1847. G. Eliot [Life (1885), 1. 168]. All those monstrous rombustical beasts with their horns.

1847. Thackeray, Cane-Bottom'a Chair, st. 5. And 'tis wonderful, surely, what music you get From the rickety, ramshackle, wheezy spinet.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, ix. He boldly inquired whether ... "I had not been a-enhaling laughing gas, or any sich rum-bustical wegitable?"

1853. Lytton, My Novel, xi. xix. As for that white-whiskered alligator . . . let me get out of those rambustious, unchristian, filbert-shaped claws of his.

i860. Dickens, Uncommercial Traveller, xviii. The ramshackle yetturino carriage in which I was departing.

1882. AtJienœum, 1 Ap. A ramshackle wagon, rough men, and a rougher landscape.

1883. Clemens, Life on Mississippi, xlviii. Strung along below the city, were a number of decayed, ram-shackly, superannuated old steamboats.

Rum-hole, subs. phr. (American). —A grog-shop : see Lush-crib.

rum-homee (or -omer) of

the Case. See Omer.

Rum-Johnny, subs. phr. (AngloIndian). — i. A native wharf laborer.

Rumkin.

78 Rumpus.

2. (naval and military).—A prostitute : see Tart.

Rumkin, subs. (old).—1. A drinking vessel.

1636. Davenant, The Wits, iv. 2. Wine ever flowing in large Saxon romekins About my board.

2. (old).—A tailless fowl.

Rumly (or Romely). See Rum.

Rummage, verb, (venery). — To grope (or possess) a woman ; to

firky-toodle (q.v.).

Rummy. See Rum.

Rum-m ill, subs. phr. (American). —A grog-shop ; a lush-crib (q.v.).

Rump, subs, (vulgar).—1. The posteriors : see Bum. Hence as verb = (1) to slight; (2) to fart at (q.v.); (3) to shit on (q.v.); (4) to flog (Vaux, 1812), and (5) (venery) to copulate ; whence loose in the rump = wanton ; rump-splitter = (i) the penis : see Prick ; and (2) a whoremaster. Also subs. (2) = fag end : spec, (political) the remnant of the Long Parliament after Pride's Purge (1653) ; whence rumper = a Long Parliamentarian. Again rump (3) = a whore; rumper = a whoremaster; rumpwork = copulation ; and verb. = to possess, to fuck-buttock. ' He hath eaten the hen's rump ' (Ray), said of a person full of talk.

c.1635. Broadside Ballads, 'Scotch Moggy's Misfortune' [Pepy's Collect. (Bodleian), iii. 288]. Robin he chast me about the stack, Robin laid me on my back, Robin he made my rump to crack.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. xi. Some of the women would give these names . . . my crimson chitterling, rumpSplitter, shove-devil.

1660. Pepys, Diary, 7 Mar. Sir Arthur appeared at the House ; what was done I know not, but there was all the rumpers almost come to the House to-day.

1661. Old Song, ' There was three Birds' [Farmer, Merry Songs and Ballads (1897), i. 141]. There was three birds that built on a stump, The first and the second cry'd, have at her rump, The third he went merrily in and in.

1662. The Rump [Title].

1708-10. Swift, Pol. Conv., Int. The art of blasphemy or free-thinking . . . first brought in by the fanatie faction . . . and . . . carried to Whitehall by the converted rumpers.

1711. Durfey, The Fart [Pills to Purge (1719), i. 28]. Gave a proof she

Was loose in her rump.

1807. Southey, Letters, iv. 501. An old friend rumped him, and he winced under it.

1814. Coleman, Poetical Vagaries, 129 [2nd ed.]. He rumps us quite, and won't salute us.

Rump-and-dozen, subs.phr. (old). —An Irish wager : i.e., 'A rump of beef and a dozen of claret* (Grose).

Rump-and-Kidney Men, subs, phr. (old). — ' Fidlers that Play at Feasts, Fairs, Weddings, &c, And Live chiefly on the Remnants, or Victuals' (B. E., Grose).

Rump-AND-Stump, phr. (colloquial).—Entirely ; completely.

rumpty, subs. (Stock Exchange).— The thirty-second part of a pound sterling ; a tooth (q.v.).

Rumpus, subs, (common).—(i) A row ; a noise ; a disturbance : also as verb, and adj. (Grose) ; (2) = a masquerade (Vaux, 1812).

1763. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, ii. 2. Oh Major ! such a riot and rumpus !

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 6. And, setting in case there should come such a rwmpus.

Rum-slim.

79 Run.

1830. Buckstone, Wreck Aslwre, i. 2. There never shall be no disgraceful rumpusses, now I'm come into power.

1850. Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, xxiv. And Marie routed up Mammy nights, and rumpussed and scolded.

1876. Eliot, Daniel Deronda, xii. She is a young lady with a will of her own, I fancy. Extremely well-fitted to make a

rumpus.

Rum-slim (or Rum-slum), subs, phr. (old).—Punch.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, 162. Bobstick of rum slim. That is, a shilling's worth of punch.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 1. 131. He was up to the kum-slum.

Rum-sucker, subs. phr. (American).— A toper; lushington (q.v.).

1858. New York Tribune, 9 July An acquired appetite as strong as that of a

rum-sucker.

Rum Tom Pat, subs. phr. (old).— A clergyman.

1781. Parker, Variegated Characters. " What, are Moll and you adamed ? " "Yes, we are, and by a rum Tom Pat too."

Rumtitum, adj. (old).—' On prime twig, in fine order or condition : a flash term for a game bull ' (Grose).

Rum-un. See Rum.

Run, subs, and verb. phrs. (colloquial).—Generic for freedom or continuance. Thus (subs. phrs. ),

run (of dice, cards, or luck)

= a spell or period of good or bad fortune ; run (of a play, book, fashion, &c.) = the course of representation, sale, popularity ; the run of things = the state of affairs ; the run of a place = freedom of range ; the

run of one's teeth (or knife and fork) = victuals for nothing; a run on a bank = a steady call, through panic, on its resources; cattle-run = a farm where cattle roam at will ; a run to town (or into the country) = a trip ; to have (or lose) the run = to lose sight of ; to get (or have) the run on = (1) to turn a joke on, and (2) to have the upper hand ; to have a run = (i) to take a walk, a constitutional (q.v.) ; (2) to get an opportunity : see P.P. ; and (3) to make a fight for anything ; to run = to manage ; to run a bluff = to carry things with a high hand ; to run a buck (see Buck) ; to run for office (parliament, congress, &c.) = to start as a candidate ; to run a rig = to play a trick ; to run a chance (or risk) = to take the odds ; to run a tilt at = to attack ; to run the cutter = to smuggle ; to run an eye over = (1) to glance at; to run the gauntlet (see Gauntlet) ; to run across = to meet casually ; to run after = to court ; to run against = (1) to come in collision with, (2) to calumniate, (3) to attack, and (4) to meet casually ; to run amuck (see Amuck) ; to run away with = (1) to elope, (2) to steal; to run away with a notion = to be over credulous ; to run big = to be out of training; to run counter =to oppose ; to run down = to pursue, depreciate, attack ; to run dry = to give out ; to run foul of = to attack or antagonise ; to run hard = (1) to threaten, endanger, make difficult, and (2) to equal or almost achieve; to run high

Run.

— (1) to be violent, (2) to excel in a marked degree ; to run in = (1) to arrest, and (2) to introduce; to run in one's head = (1) to bear in mind, (2) to remember ; to run into the ground = to carry to excess ; to run it (American cadets') = to go beyond bounds ; to run like mad = to go at the top of one's speed : Fr. ventre à terre ; to run low = (1) to diminish, (2) to be of little account ; to run mad after = to have a strong desire for; to run off =

(1) to repeat, (2) to count; to run off with = (i) to elope,

(2) to carry beyond bounds ; to run off the straight (see Straight) ; to run on = to keep going : spec, to chatter ; to run on all fours (see Fours) ; to run on pattens (see Pattens) ; to run on the hirl = to gad, to loaf (q.v.)', to run one's face (or shape) = to obtain credit ; to run one's head into a noose = to fall into a snare ; to run one's tail = to live by prostitution ; to run one's week (Am. Univ.) = to trust to chance for success ; to run one way and look another = to play a double game ; to run out = (1) to end, (2) to have had one's day,

(3) to be lavish ; to run out on = to enlarge on ; to run over = (1) to count, (2) to call to mind, (3) to examine, (4) to describe, and (5) to sum up ; to run riot = (1) to be violent, (2) to exaggerate, (3) to have plenty, (4) to be active, (5) to disobey ; to run rusty (see Rusty) ; to run sly (see Sly) ; to run smooth = to be prosperous ; to run thin = to back out of a bargain ; to run to = (1) to risk, (2) to suffice, (3) to

afford ; to run together = to grow like ; to run to seed =

(1) to age, (2) to deteriorate ; to run through = (i) to be uniform, (2) to pervade, (3) to be present, (4) to kill, and (5) to be prodigal; to run up = (i) to increase, (2) to build, and (3) see Runner-up ; to run up an account = (1) to get credit, (2) get into debt, and (3) to charge ; to run up bills = to obtain goods with no intention of paying ; to run upon = (1) to quiz,

(2) to require ; to run to waste = (1) to empty, (2) to fritter away; to run wild = (1) to romp (q.v.), and (2) to riot; by (or with) a run = suddenly ; a run for one's money = a good time in exchange for a certain expenditure of energy and cash; run off one's legs = (1) exhausted, (2) bankrupt ; a near run = (1) a close finish, (2) a bare escape, (3) cheek by jowl ; run after = in repute ; run down = seedy, poor. Also proverbs and sayings, ' To run through thick and thin ' ; ' His shoes are made of running leather' ; 'To run a wild-goose chase ' ; ' The Coaches won't run over him' (i.e., ' He's in gaol') ; ' He that runs may read ' (said of things unmistakeably plain) ; ' To run where the devil drives ' ; ' Run tap, run tapster ' (Ray : ' of a tapster that drinks so much himself and is so free to others that he is fain to run away ') ; ' To hold with the hare and run with the hounds' (Heywood, 1546). [Many of these colloquialisms are found passim in English literature, and, though fitly mentioned in this place, do not require extended illustration. Therefore, only early or striking quotations are given.]

Run.

rf.1400. Chaucer, Rom. of Rose. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 400. There are . . . run down his fame, valour (in the new sense of worth) . . .].

c.1500. Dunbar [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 363. Among the verbs are run down a man, take thy choice . . .].

1577. Harrison, Description of England. [Oliphant, Nezu Eng., i. 595. The verb run is applied in a new sense ; a range of hills runs in a certain direction.]

1605. Jonson, Volpone, iii. 6. So of the rest till we have quite run through, And wearied all the fables of the gods. Ibid. (1601). Poetaster, ii. 1. These courtiers run in my mind still.

1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, 196. And because these praiers are very many, therefore they run them ouer.

c.1617. Howell, Letters, 1. v. 7. Jack Stanford would have run at him, but was kept off by Mr. Nicholas.

1678. Butler, Hudibras, nr. 2, 11. That first run all religion down.

1694. Penn, Rise and Prog. 0y Quakers, v. Some . . . who, through prejudice or mistake, ran against him.

1705. Farquhar, Twin Rivals, Pref. One reason that the galleries were so thin during the run of this play.

1709. Steele, Tatler, 27. His desires ran away with him.

1710-3. Swift, Stella [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 150. A book has a run like the old course ; there is also a run of ill weather.]

1711. Spectator, 262. I run over in my mind all the eminent persons in the nation. Ibid. (1712), 300. This creature, if not in any of their little cabals, is run down for the most censorious dangerous body in the world. Ibid. (1714), 592. Several of them lay it down as a maxim, that whatever dramatic performance has a long run, must of necessity be good for nothing ; as though the first precept in poetry were not to please.

1726. Pope, Dunciad, i. 113. Now (shame to Fortune) an ill run at play Blank'd his bold visage.

1736. Fielding, Pasquin, i. I read your comedy over last night . . . if it runs as long as it deserves, you will engross the whole season to yourself.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, xlvii. I would not have you run your head precipitately into a noose.

1812. Austen, Pride and Prejudice, lui. I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbours.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick, x. You have run off with this lady for the sake of her money. Ibid. (1843), Martin Chuzzlewit, xxx. I think of giving her a run in London for a change. Ibid. (1846), Cricket on Hearth, i. ' Busy . . . Caleb ? ' ' Pretty well, John . . . There's rather a run on Noah's Arks at present.'

1847. Porter, Quarter Race, 23. I would not advise any man to try to run over me.

1848. Ruxton, Far West, 103. From the run of the hills, there must be plenty of water.

c.1854. Macaulay, Montgomery s Poems. The publications which have had a run during the last few years.

c.1860. Music Hall Song, 'Drink under the Licensing Act.' It maybe your fate, If not walking quite straight, By blue Guardians to be run in.

1861. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xxxvii. If any . . . burglar had [cracked] that particular crib . . . and got clear off with the swag he . . . might have been run ... for Congress in a year or two.

1861. Times, 23 July. Is there such a thing as a run in calamity? Misfortunes, they say, never come single.

1864. Laurence, Guy Livingstone, xii. Livingstone headed the list, though Fallowfield ran him hard.

1865. Kingsley, Hillyars &* Burtons, lix. He might have his run swept by fire . . . and be forced to hurry his sheep down to the boiling house.

1866. Eliot, Felix Holt, xx. There was a great run on Gottleb's bank in '16. Ibid., xxv. For a man who had long ago run through his own money, servitude in a great family was the best kind of retirement after that of a pensioner.

1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 29. She had the in and out of the Sullivan house, and kind o' kept the run o' how things went and came into it.

1877. North Am. Rev., July, 5.They assumed the functions of all offices, including the courts of justice, and in many places they even run the churches.

1379. Howells, Lady of the Aroostook, vii. " Every novelist runs a blonde heroine; I wonder why."

Run.

Runner.

1879. Auto, of Thief [Macm. Mag., xl. 506]. ' I got run in, and was tried at Marylebone.'

1880. Sims, Ballads of Babylon (Forgotten). I made a success, and was lucky, the play ran half a year.

1883. Referee, 29 April, 7, 2. American evangelists and speculators who run salvation on much the same lines as Barnum runs his menagerie.

1883. D. Telegraph, 28 August, 5, 1. It does not always follow that the silly backers get a run for their money. The horse . . . may be scratched a few hours before the race. Ibid. (1883), 4 Oct., 3, 2. What I should like is a nice pair of spectacles, and, as far as my money would run to it, everything else accordin', sir. Ibid. (1885), i July. Marchant being foolishly run out. Ibid. (1886), 8 Feb. Coming down to the ground with a run.

1885. Money Market Review, 29 Aug. We were unable to run the mill.

1885. Echo, 8 Sep. The run upon the Bank of Ireland and the Provincial Bank was very severe.

1886. Palmer, New and Old, 62. If I had had time to follow his fortunes, it was not possible to keep the run of him.

1887. Francis, Saddle and Moccasin. I ran a bluff on 'em. They said they wasn't driving 'em anyhow, but they got started in the trail ahead of 'em, and it wasn't their business to turn 'em.

1888. Bryce, American Commonwealth, i. 84. It is often said of the President that he is ruled—or, as the x\mericans express it, run—by his Secretary.

1888. Sp. Life, 10 Dec. His opponent eventually ran out a winner by 319 points.

1889. Marriott-Watson, Australian Wilds, 135. Drummond, a young squatter in Otago, had succeeded to the management of the run on the death of his father.

1889. Globe, 11 Feb. Of late they have had a long run of luck.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz.,^3 Mar., 5, 2. Mr. Depew asserts that he is running a railroad and not a Presidential boom.

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, 22. Sailors, as a rule, are not friends of bailiffs or Custom House officers, and thus appreciate running the

cutter.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 14. Bald buffers seem fair in the run. Ibid., 8. Cremorne's regular out of the run.

1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, xiv. Alright, give me due beonck quatro soldi per run and I'll bring you the duckets.

1895. Iota, Comedy in Spasms, iv. It will give a fellow quite an added cachet . . . to run so fine a woman as that, and pay off some old scores into the bargain.

1899. Whiteing, John St., i. A coral island . . . run on principles of almost primitive Christianity.

1900. White, West End, 40. I always had an idea that the Guv'nor had some money, but I didn't imagine it would run to this. Ibid., 157. 'Cricket tour,' said he, indignantly. ' I must get fit first. I feel quite run down.'

Runabout, subs, (old).—A gadabout ; a vagabond.

1607. Marston, What You Will, iii. i. A runne-about, a skipping Frenchman.

Runaway Preston-pans (The

Great), subs. phr. (military).— The 13th Hussars. [A panic seized some of the men in the fight with the Jacobite rebels]. Also "The Green Dragoons"; " The Ragged Brigade " ; "The Evergreens," and " The Geraniums."

Run-down, subs. phr. (conjurors'). —The bridge between stage and auditorum : Fr. practicable and tont.

Run-goods, subs. phr. (venery).— ' A maidenhead, being a commodity never entered.'—Grose.

Runner, subs, (printers').—1. See quot.

1892. Jacobi, Some Notes on Books and Printing, 47. Runners, s.v. Figures or letters placed down the length of a page to indicate the particular number or position of any given line.

Runner.

83 Running.

2. (various). — A tout : e.g. (Stock Exchange) = a broker's assistant with a private canvassing connection ; (racing) = a messenger stationed at a telegraph office to get early information ; (old gaming) = see quot. 1731 (Bailey) ; (American) = (1) a steamboat and railroad tout : see ticket-scalper ; and (2) a commercial traveller.

1731. St. James's Evg. Post [Sydney, Eng. in 18th Cent., i. 229]. List of officers attached to the most notorious gaming houses ... a runner, who is to get intelligence of the justices' meetings, and when the constables are out.

1828. Smeaton, Doings in London, 'Humours of the Fleet.' Now mean as once profuse, the stupid sot Sits by a runner's side and damns his lot.

1869. Fraser's Mag., 'British Merchant Seamen.' The "touter," whose business it is to attract the sailor to his master's lodgings by the judicious loan of money, the offer of grog or soft tack (bread) ; the runner, who volunteers to carry his box of clothes and bedding free of charge to the same destination.

3. (old).—A police officer: also Bow-street runner : in quot. 1383 = a sheriffs officer.

1383. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, ' Friar's Tale,' Prol. 19. A Sompnour is a renner up and down.

c.1820. T. Hudson . . . They Straightway sent to Bow-street for the famous old runner, Townsend.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan's Well, iii. Constables, Bow-street runners, amd such like.

1839. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xxx« ' It's the runners,' cried Brittles . . • ' The what ?'...' The Bow-street officers, sir.'

4. (common).—A wave: cf. roller.

5. (nautical). — A smuggler. Also a crimp ; a single rope rove through a moveable block; and

(formerly) a vessel sailing without a convoy in time of war. [Clark Russell].

c.1730. North, Lives o; the Norths, 11. iii. The unfair traders and runners will undersell us. Ibid., Examen, 490. Runners and trickers . . . that cover a contraband trade.

Runner-up, subs. phr. (common). —I. In coursing the hound taking second prize, losing only the final course against the winner ; whence (2) any competitor running second or taking second place ; whence run-up = the race from the slips to the first turn of the hare : see to run up.

1884. Field, 6 Dec. The falling together of last year's winner and runnerup.

Running, subs, (racing).—Pace; staying power. Whence, in (or out) of the running = (1) in (or out) of competition ; (2) qualified (or not) ; (3) likely to win (or not) ; to make good running = to do well ; to make good one's running = to do as well as one's rival ; to make the running = to force the pace; spec, (racing) to start a secondrate horse at a high speed with a view of giving a better chance to a ' stayer ' belonging to the same owner ; to take up the running = (i) to increase one's pace, (2) to take the lead or most active part.

1858. Trollope, Dr. Thome, v. But silence was not dear to the heart of the honourable John, and so he took up the running. Ibid. (1864). Small House at Allington, ii. The world had esteemed him when he first made good his running with the Lady Fanny.

1861. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xxxvi. Ben Caunt was to make the running for Haphazard.

Running-glasier. 84

Rural.

1889. Bird o' Freedom, 7 Aug., 3. Stewart made the running so fast that I couldn't see the way he went.

1892. Tit-Bits, 17 Sep., 423, 2. There is a striking variation in the periods at which women retire from the running, if we may be permitted to make use of a sporting phrase in speaking of such a subject.

Adj. (old).—Hasty.

1601. Shakspeare, Henry VIII., i. 4. Had the Cardinal But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these Should find a running banquet ere they rested. Ibid., v. 4, 69. There they are like to dance these three days ; besides the running banquet of two beadles that is to come.

Prep. (old). — Approaching ; going on for : cj. rising.

17 [?]. Laird of Wariestoun [Child, Ballads, in. 112]. I hae been your gud wife These nine years, running ten.

Running-glasier, subs. phr. (old).—A thief : a sham glazier.

Running-horse, subs. phr. (old). —A clap (q.v.); a gleet (Grose).

Running-leather. To have shoes of running leather, verb. phr. (common). — To be given to rambling.

Running(or flying) patterer (or stationer), subs. phr. (old). —A hawker of ballads, dyingspeeches, newspapers, and books : cj. pinner-up (B. E.,and Grose).

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., 1. 228. The latter include the running patterers, or death-hunters ; being men (no women) engaged in vending last dying speeches and confessions.

1864. Hotten, Slang Diet., s.v. Running stationer. Persons of this class formerly used to run, blowing a horn. Nowadays . . . these peripatetic newsmen bawl in quiet London thoroughfares, to the disturbance of the residents.

Running-rumble. Rumbler.

Running-smobble, subs. phr. (old).—' Snatching goods off a counter, and throwing them to an accomplice, who brushes off with them' (Grose).

Running-snavel, subs. phr. (old). —A thief whose speciality is the kinchin-lay (q.V.) : See

Snaffle.

Runt, subs. (old).—A term of contempt : specifically of an old woman. Whence runty = surly ; boorish. Also a short, squat man or woman [cf. Welsh runts = small cattle].

1614. Fletcher, Wit without Money, v. 2. Before I buy a bargain of such runts, I'll buy a college for bears, and live among 'em.

1711. Addison, Spectator, No. 108. This overgrown runt has struck off his heels, lowered his foretop, and contracted his figure, that he might be looked upon as a member of this newly erected Society [The Short Club].

1721. Centlivre, Artifice, iii. This city spoils all servants : I took a Welsh runt last spring.

1848. Jones, Sketches of Travel, 115. ' No indeed,' ses another little runtylookin' feller—we 've got enuff to do to take care of our own babys in these diggins.

run-to-seed, phr. (colloquial).— Pregnant ; in pod (q.v.).

Ruof, adj. (back slang).—Four.

Rural, subs, (old colloquial).—A rustic.

1604. Middleton, Father Hubbard's Tales. Amongst rurals verse is scarcely found.

1656. Ford, Sun's Darling, ii. Beckon the Rurals in ; the Country-gray Seldom ploughs treason.

To do a rural, verb. phr. (common).—To ease oneself in the open : cf. to pluck a rose.

Rush. 85 Rush.

Rush, subs, and verb, (common). —Generic for violence. Whence

(1) as subs, (old) = robbery wth violence : distinguished from a ramp (q.v.), which might refer to the 'lifting' of a single article, whereas the rush involves cleaning out (q.V.) J hence (2) any swindle ; and, as verb. = to rob, to cheat, to extort (e.g., 'I rushed the old girl for a quid') : also the rushdodge, and to give one

the rush (Parker, Grose, Vaux). Into modern colloquial usage rush enters largely : as subs. = (1) extreme urgency of affairs ; (2) a great demand, a run (q.v.); (3) a stampede of horses or cattle ; (4) a mellay ; (5) in Amer, schools = (a) a gabbled or brilliant recitation, and (b) a very successful ' pass ' ; (6) a forward's work at football : whence a scrimmage (q.v.). or play in which the ball is forced. As verb. = (1) to hurry, to force (or advance) a matter with undue haste ; (2) to go for an opponent blindly : chiefly pugilists' ; (3) to charge or attack wildly ; and (4) at football = (a) to force a ball, (b) to secure a goal by forcing. Also to do a rush (racing) = to back a safe-'un (q.v.), and (among bookmakers' touts) to bet flash (q.v.), to induce business, to bonnet (q.v.). Whence rusher = (1) a cheat, a thief (spec, a thief working a house insufficiently guarded) ;

(2) a man of sensational energy, as a ranting divine, a bawling politician, a reckless punter, a wild-hitting pugilist ; and (3) a forward good at running ball in hand or forcing the play (football). Also, to roam on the rush (racing) = to swerve from the straight at the spurt for the finish ;

on (or with) a rush = with spirit, energetically ; on the rush = on the run, hard at it ; to rush the season = to anticipate social and other functions ; to do a rush up the straight (the frills, or petticoats) = to possess without further ado a yielding woman : see Grope ; to rush a bill (parliamentary) = to put a bill through, (a) without debate, or (b) by closuring the Opposition.

1595. Shakspeare, Rom. and Juliet, iii. 3, 25. The kind prince, Taking thy part, hath rush'd aside the law.

1825. Jones, True Bottom'd Boxer [Univ. Songst., ii. 96]. For taking and giving, for sparring and rushing it. Ibid. With chancery suiting, and sparring and

rushing.

i8[?]. Brunonian [Bartlett]. A rush is a glib recitation, but to be a dead rush it must be flawless, polished, and sparkling like a Koh-i-noor.

18 [?]. Yale Lit. Mag. [Bartlett]. It was purchased by the man, who " really did not look " at the lesson on which he

rushed.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, 171. The miner in California and Nevada has been known, in times of a rush, to speak of a place where he could stand leaning against a stout post, as his diggings for the night.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 9 Feb. The place was rushed—an expressive word, which signifies that the diggers swarmed to the spot in such crowds as to render merely foolish any resistance which an owner might be inclined to make. Ibid. (1874), 4 Aug. A number of bills are rushed through Parliament. Ibid. (1883), 22 May, 2, 3. The sore point of intrigue and bribery too well known by those familiar with the rushing of private bills through the American Senate as existing in that Assembly.

1881. Grant, Bush Lije. A confused whirl of dark forms swept before him, and the camp so full of life a minute ago is desolate. It was a rush, a stampede.

1885. Punch, 24 Jan., 42. But, in affairs of empire, Have you been fogged— or rushed ?

Rush.

86 Rush-buckler.

1887. Payn, Glow Worm Tales, 123. That a fraud had been committed on us was certain, and a fraud of a very clumsy kind ... he had rushed us as the phrase goes.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxiii. I've known cases where a single bushranger was rushed by a couple of determined men. Ibid., xxiii. It's no use trying the rush dodge with them.

1888. Besant, Fifty Years Ago, 137. Peeresses . . . occupied every seat, and even rushed the reporters' gallery.

1889. Illustrated Bits, 13 July, 3. A girl of sixteen who receives calls from admirers, is commonly considered to be rushing the season. She is precocious and the reverse of passée.

1889. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 4 Jan. Ain't that the swine of a snob that rushed me at Battersea?

1890. Nineteenth Century, xxvi. 854. There was a slight boom in the mining market, and a bit of a rush on American rails.

1892. Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads, ' Fuzzy Wuzzy.' A happy day with Fuzzy on the rush.

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, 96. "Jim always meant business wherever he went," she said confidently, "and we should be sure to hear of that rush if he had taken it up."

i8[?] N. A. Review [Century]. Hazing, rushing, secret societies, society imitations and badges . . . are unknown at Oxford and Cambridge.

i8[?l Sei. American [Century]. In rushing, as well as in following or heading off . . . the front lines get the most shocks.

1897. Kennard, Girl in Brown Habit, x. She's a rusher, and just the animal to stick her forefeet into a drain like this, especially when she got excited.

1901. D. Telegraph, 9 Nov., 7, 2. At the next lecture the Swami made a dead rush to get those present to join.

7. (old).—The lowest minimum of value : cf. straw, rap, cent, &c. [See quot. 1591.]

1362. Langland, Piers Plowman, 2421. And yet yeve ye me nevere The worthe of a risshe.

c.1440. Generydes [E.E.T.S.], 1. 1680. Of all his payne he wold not sett a rissh.

<:.i54o. Doctour Doubble Ale, 279. By them I set not a rysh.

1591. Lyly, Sappho and Phaon, ii. 4. But bee not pinned alwayes on her sleeves ; strangers have greene rushes, when daily guests are not worth a rush.

1593. Shakspeare, Com. of Errors, iv. 3. A rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, a nut, a cherry-stone.

1719. Durfey, Pills, iii. 9. But the fool for his labour deserves not a rush, For grafting a Thistle upon a Rose Bush.

1767. Sterne, Tristam Shandy, ix. 17. I would not, my good people ! give a rush for your judgment.

Rush-ring. To marry with a rush-ring, verb. phr. (old).— i. To marry in jest ; and (2) to feign marriage. See quot. 1776.

1579. Spenser, Shepheards Calender, Nov., 114. Where bene . . . The knotted rush-ringes, and gilt rosemaree.

1598. Shakspeare, Airs Well, ii.

2, 22. As fit ... as Tib's rush for Tom's forefinger.

c.1610. Fletcher, F. Shepherdess, \.

3. Or gather rushes to make many a ring, For thy long finger.

1668. Davenant, Rivals. I'll crown thee with a garland of straw then, And I'll

marry thee with a rush-ring.

1684. Durfey, Winc/tester Wedding [Several New Songs]. And Tommy was so to Katty, And wedded her with a rush-ring. . . . And thus of Fifty fair Maids . . . Scarce Five of the Fifty was left ye, That so did return again.

1776. Brand, Pop. Antic., ii. 38. A custom . . . appears anciently to have prevailed, both in England and in other countries, of marrying with a rush ring ; chiefly practised, however, by designing men, for the purposes of debauching their mistresses, who sometimes were so infatuated as to believe that this mock ceremony was a real marriage.

Rush-buckler, subs.phr. (old).— A violent bully.

1551. More, Utopia, ii. 4. Take into this number also their servants : I mean all that flock of stout bragging rushbucklers.

Russia.

87 Rustle.

Russia, subs, (thieves').—A pocketbook ; a READER {q.v.).

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, 111. 244. It was the swell's Russia—a Russia, you know, is a pocket-book.

Russian-law, subs. phr. (old colloquial).—See quot.

1641. John Day, Parliament of Bees, 65 (Bullen). This three-pile-velvet rascall, widows decayer, The poore fryes beggerer and rich Bees betrayer, Let him have Russian law for all his sins. Die. What's that? Imp. A 100 blowes on his bare shins.

Rust, verb, (streets').—See quot.

1884. CornhillMag., June, 620. So far as Slinger has any business, it is that of rusting, i.e., collecting—on the chiffonier system—old metal and disposing of it to the marine-store dealers . . . though rust is the primary object of his explorations of rubbish heaps, all is fish that, comes to his net.

To nab THE rust, verb. phr. (old).—i. To take offence ; to get restive : cj. rusty.—Grose

(1785).

English synonyms.—To chew oneself ; to comb one's hair ; to cut up rusty ; to get dandered (or one's dander up) ; huffed or huffy ; in a pelter ; in a scot ; in a wax ; one's mad up ; on the high ropes ; the needle ; the monkey up ; the monkey on one's back ; popped ; shirty ; the spur ; waxy ; to have one's bristles raised ; one's shirt or one's tail out ; to lose one's vest ; to be miffed ; to pucker up ; to squall ; to stand on one's hind leg ; to throw up buckets.

French synonyms. — Avoir manga de P oseille ; avoir son cran; avoir son arnaud (also être arnaud) ; en rester tout bleu ; avoir son bœuf ; gober sa chèvre ; entrer en tempête ; monter à Varbre or Peschelle.

Spanish synonyms.—Amontanar ; atocinar ; barba ; desbantizarse despampanar ; embersencharse ; escamonearse ; mosquear.

2. (old).—To receive punishment unexpectedly.

3. (old).—See quot.

1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, in. v. There's no chance of nabbing any rust (taking any money).

Rustic, subs, (old : now recognised). — ' A clownish Country Fellow.'—B. E. (f.1696).

Rusticate, verb. (University).—To banish by way of punishment ; to send down [q.v.). Hence rustication (Grose).

1714. Spectator, 596. After this I was deeply in love with a milliner, and at last with my bedmaker, upon which I was sent away, or, in the university phrase, rusticated for ever.

^z779Johnson, Life of Milton, 12. It seems plain . . . that he had incurred rustication . . . with perhaps the loss of a term.

1794. Gent. Mag., 1085. And was very near rustication, merely for kicking up a row after a beakering party.

1841. Lever, Charles O'Malley, Ixxix. Cecil Cavendish . . . has been rusticated for immersing four bricklayers in that green receptacle of stagnant water and duckweed yclept "the Haha."

1843. Thackeray, Fitz-Boodle's Confess. Then came demand for an apology ; refusal on my part ; appeal to the dean ; convocation ; and rustication of George Savage Fitz-Boodle.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iv. Our hero . . . missed the moral of the story and took the rustication for a kind forgiveness of injuries.

1885. D. Telegraph, 29 Oct. Students who are liable at any moment to be rusticated.

Rustle, verb. (American).—To bestir oneself ; to grapple with circumstances ; to rise superior to the event. Whence rustler

Rusty. 88 Rusty-fusty-dusty.

= (i) an energetic resourceful man ; and (2) a rowdy, a desperado : spec. (Western States) a cattle-lifter. Rustling = active, energetic, smart {q.v.).

1872. S. L. Clemens, Innocents at Home, 20. Pard, he was a rustler.

1882. Century Mag., Aug., 508. I'll rustle around and pick up something. Ibid. Rustle the things off that table. Ibid. To say that a man is a rustler is the highest indorsement a Dakotan can give. It means that he is pushing, energetic, smart, and successful.

1884. Century, xxxvii. 770. They're a thirsty crowd, an' it comes expinsive ; but they're worth it, fer they're rustlers, ivery wan of thim.

1887. Morley Roberts, Western Avernus. I tell you he was a rustler ... It means a worker, an energetic man, and no slouch can be a rustler.

1889. Cornhill, July, 62. I was out one day after antelope (I rustled all my meat, except a ham now and then as a luxury), when I happened to come across a large patch of sunflowers.

1889. Harper's Mag., lxxi. 190. Rustle now, boys, rustle 1 for you have a long and hard day's work before you.

1892. Scotsman, 7 May, ' Rustlers ' and ' Regulators. ' The lawless element . . . not content with stealing cattle, openly defied the authorities. In June . . . an expedition started . . . and the result was that sixty-one thieves were hanged, after a pitched battle between the cattle men and the rustlers.

Rusty, subs, (thieves').—An informer.

1840. Lytton, Paul Clifford, xxxiv. He'll turn a rusty, and scrag one of his pals !

Adj. (also Resty) (colloquial). —Ill-tempered ; sullen ; restive ; insolent ; or (Grose) ' out of use' : whence to ride rusty or nab the rust : see Rust ; and rusty-guts (B. E., Grose) = a churl.

1362. Langland, Piers Plowman, 3941. Robyn the ribaudour For hise rusty wordes.

[ ? ]. Coventry Myst. [Shakspeare Soc], 47. Rustynes of synne is cawse of these wawys.

c. 1625. Court and Times Chas. I., 1. 36. In the meantime, there is much urging and spurring the parliament for supply and expedition, in both which they will prove somewhat rusty.

1649. Milton, Iconoclastes, xxiv. The master is too rusty or too rich to say his own prayers.

1662. Fuller, Worthies, ii. 293. This Nation long restive and rusty m ease and quiet.

1706. Ward, Wooden World, 22. If he stand on his Punctilio's ... he is immediately proclaimed throughout the Fleet a reisty Puppy.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 74. They're not to blame for being crusty, T would make a Highlander ride rusty.

f/.i794. Colman, The Gentleman, No. 5. His brown horse, Orator, took rust, ran out of the course, and was distanced.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxviii. The people got rusty about it, and would not deal. Ibid. (1821), Pirate, xxxix. Even Dick Fletcher rides rusty on me now and then.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. . . . If then she [a cat] turns rusty . . he'll [a monkey] . . . give her a nip with his teeth.

i860. Punch, xxxix. 177. He don't care in whose teeth he runs rusty.

1863. Reade, Hard Cash, xlv. They watched the yard till dusk, when its proprietor ran rusty and turned them out.

1864. Eton School Days, xix. ^ What is the good of turning rusty? with me, too. I haven't done anything.

1866. Eliot, Felix Holt, xü Company that's got no more orders to give, and wants to turn up rusty to them that has, had better be making room for filling it.

1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, vii. 16. Confound it, Deacon, Not rusty.

Rusty-fusty-dusty, ad/, and adv. (old colloquial). — Begrimed ; malodorous and dirty.

1630. Taylor, Works, ii. 24. Our cottage that for want of use was musty, And most extremely rusty-fusty-dusty.

Rusty Buckles. 89 Rye-buck.

Rusty Buckles (The), subs. phr. military).—The Second Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) : also "The Bays."

Ruttish, adj. (venery).—Lecherous (Grose) : also in rut and rutty. Hence rutting (or rutting-sport) = the deed of kind ; rut, verb, {see quot. 1679) ; and rutter (q.v.).

1598. Shakspeare, Alts Well, iv. 3, 243. A foolish idle boy, but for all that very ruttish.

1670. Cotton, Scofler Scofft [ Works (1725), 192]. What with some Goddess he'd have bin Playing, belike, at In-andin, And would be at the Rutting-sport?

167c. Dryden, Ovid's Metam., x. What piety forbids the lusty ram, Or more salacious goat, to rut their dam ?

To keep a rut, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To play the meddler ; to make mischief.

Rutat (or r att at), subs, (back slang).—A potato; a ' tatur.'

Rutter, subs, (venery). — 1. Aman or woman in rut {q.v.) ; and (2) Elizabethan for the German reiter.

1596. Lodge, Wit's Miserie. Some authors have compared it to a rutter's codpiece.

c. 1618. Fletcher, Custom of'Country\ iii. 3. The rutter, too, is gone. Ibid, (c. 1620), TJie Woman's Prize, i. 4. Such a regiment of rutters Never defied men braver.

Ry, sitbs. (Stock Exchange).—A dishonest practice ; a sharp dodge.

Ryder, subs, (common).—A cloak.

Rye. See Romany.

Rye-buck, adv. (American).—All right; o. k. (q.v.).

Sa.

90 Sack.

a, adj. (showmen's). —Six.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, XX. Veil, when I got well I was hired out to a woman for sa soldi a day.

Sabbath-day's journey, suds, phr. (colloquial).—A short walk : also (ironically) an excuse for not stirring.

Sa be (save, or savvy), subs. (American).—Shrewdness; nous \q.V.) \ gumption (ç.V.).

Sable-Maria. See Black Maria.

Sabin, subs. (old).—A whimster.

1637. Holland, Camden, 542. Grimsby, which our Sabins, or conceited persons dreaming what they list . . . will have to be so called of one Grimes a merchant.

Saccer, subs. (Harrow School).— The sacrament : cf. soccer, rugger, brekker, collecker,

&c.

Sacheverel, subs. (old).—'The iron door, or blower, to the mouth of a stove : from a divine of that name who made himself famous for blowing the coals of dissension in the latter end of the reign of Queen Ann ' (Grose, Halliwell).

Sack, subs. (Old Cant).—A pocket. As verb = to pocket ; to dive into a sack = to pick a pocket.

—B. E. (c. 1696) ; Dyche (1748) ; Grose (1785) ; Vaux (1812) ; Egan(i823). Cf. Doodlesack.

1858. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, in. iii. I've brought a couple of bene coves, with lots of the Queen's pictures [money] in their sacks.

Phrases are : To give (or get) the sack (bag, billet, bullet, canvas, kick-out, mitten, pike, or road) = to give or get discharge : from employment, office, position, &c. : see Bag : also to sack and to bestow (or get) the order of the

sack ; to buy the sack = to

get drunk (Grose) ; to break a

bottle in an empty sack = ' a

bubble bet, a sack with a bottle in it not being an empty sack' (Grose) ; more sacks to the mill ! = (1) Pile it on ! a call to increased exertion, and (2) plenty in store.

1607. Dekker and Webster, Westward Hoe, ii. i. There's other irons i' th' fire, more sacks are coming to the mill.

1623. MiDDLETON and Rowley, Spanish Gypsy, iv. 1. Soto. More sacks to the mill. San. More thieves to the sacks.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick Papers,

xx. I wonder what old Fogg would say ? ... I should get the sack, I suppose.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, 11. 247. Don't . . . fancy, because a man's nous seems to lack, That whenever you please, you can give him the sack.

1864. Yates, Broken to Harness,

xxi. If it rested with me, doctor, I'd give him unlimited leave, confer on him the

ORDER OF THE sack.

Sacrifice.

91 Saddle.

1867. All Year Round, 13 July, 55. When hands are being sacked.

1895. Standard, 18 Ap., 1, 1. Thus giving the sack arose from the fact that masters or mistresses gave dismissed servants a rough bag in which to pack up their belongings, in order to expedite their departure.

1900. Kipling, Stalky &■» Co., 10. You must sack your keeper. He's not fit to live in the same country with a Godfearing fox.

Sacrifice, subs. (Trade Cant).— The surrender, or loss of profit : as verb = to sell regardless of cost.

1844. Dickens, Chimes, ii. It's patterns were last year's and going at a sacrifice.

Sad, adj. and adv. (colloquial).— Mischievous ; troublesome ; of little account ; merry ; fast : as a sad dog = (1) 'a wicked debauched fellow ' (Grose), and (2) a playful reproach.

1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, iii. 2. Syl. . . . you are an ignorant, pretending, impudent coxcomb. Braz. Ay, ay, a sad dog.

1713. Swift, Stella [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 150. The word sad is much used ; a man is a sad dog ; sour grapes are sad things],

1713. Steele, Spectator, No. 448. Then does he begin to call himself the saddest fellow, in disappointing so many places.

1726. Vanbrugh, Provoked Husband, iii. i. When a sad wrong word is rising just to one's tongue's end, I give a great gulp, and swallow it.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, xvi I suppose you think me a sad dog . . . I . . . confess that appearances are against me.

1759. Goldsmith, Bee, No. 2. You have always been a sad dog—you'll never come to good, you'll never be rich.

1771. Mackenzie, Man of Peeling, xiv. I have been told as how London is a sad place.

1836. Dickens, Sketches by Boz_t 141. Mr. Tones used to poke him in the ribs, and tell him be had been a sad dog in his time.

Saddle, subs, (venery). —1. The female pudendum : see Monosyllable : cf. Ride. Hence, in the saddle = mounted.

1611. Chapman, May-day, iii. 2. Mine uncle Lorenzo's maid, Rose ... he will needs persuade me her old master keeps her for his own saddle.

1621. Burton, Anat. Melan., III. ill. i. 2. The adulterer sleeping now was riding on his master's saddle.

d. 1704. Brown, Works, ii. 312. Damme, if I car'd a rush who rode in my saddle.

2. theatrical).—See quot.

1781. Parker, View of Society, 1. 54. His conscience carried him to extort two guineas on each person's benefit by way of Saddle (which among theatrical people is an additional charge upon the benefits).

Phrases. — To put the saddle on the right horse = (1) to blame (or praise) where justly due, and (2) to cast a burden where best borne ; to suit one as a saddle suits a sow = to become ill ; to be incongruous : to saddle a market (Amer. Stock Exchange) = to foist a stock on the market ; to saddle one with a thing = to impose a thing on, to constrain to accept an unwelcome gift ; ' He has a saddle to fit every horse ' = ' He has a salve (or remedy) for every sore (or mishap) ' ; to saddle the spit = to give a dinner or supper (Grose) ; to saddle one's nose = to wear spectacles (Grose) ; to saddle a place (or pension) = ' to oblige the owner to pay a certain portion of his income to someone nominated by the donor ' (Grose) ; saddle-leather = the skin of the posteriors ; saddle-sick = galled by riding (Grose).

Saddleback. 92

Sails.

1607. Dekker and Webster, Westward Ho, v. i. How say you, wenches? Have I set the saddle on the right

horse ?

c. 1616. Court and Times James I. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 70. We see

set the saddle on the right horse

• • • 3 •

1668. Dryden, All for Love, Preface. A wiser part to set the saddle on the right horse.

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, ii. Ld. Smart. Why, he us'd to go very fine, when he was here in Town. Sir John. Ay; and it became him, as a Saddle becomes a Sow.

1744. North, Lord Guild ford, 1. 314. His . . . lordship had done well to have shown . . . what was so added, and then

the saddle would have fallen on the right horse.

1837. Carlyle, Diatnond Necklace,

i. Roland . . . was saddle-sick, calumniated, constipated.

Saddleback, subs, (common).—A louse : see Chates.

Sadly, adv. (colloquial). — Indifferent in health.

1866. Eliot, Felix Holt, xxvii. Mr. Holt, miss, wants to know if you'll give him leave to come in. I told him you was sadly.

Safe, adj. (occasionally colloquial). —Trustworthy ; certain : e.g., ¹ So-and-so's safe enough'= * He is certain to meet his engagements' ; safe to be hanged = sure of the gallows ; safe as houses (the bellows, coons, the Bank — anything) = perfectly sure ; a safe-card = a wideawake fellow ; a safe-un = a horse not meant to run, nor, if he runs, to win ; also stiff'un {q.v.)_f dead-'un (q.V. ), or stumer {q.v.): with such an entry a bookmaker can safely operate.

1624. Middleton, Game at Chess,

ii. i. To sell away all the powder in a kingdom To prevent blowing up : that's safe.

1851. Mayhew, London Lab., 11. 154. If you was caught up and brought afore the Lord Mayor, he'd give you fourteen days on it, as safe as the bellows.

1854. WhyteMelville, General Bounce, xiii. But here we are at Tattersail's ; ... so now for good information, long odds, a safe man, and a shot at the favourite !

1864. Derby-day, 51. We're all ruined as safe as coons.

1864. Yates, Broken to Harness, x. I shall be county-courted, as safe as houses. Ibid. (1866), Land at Last, 1. 173. One or two more of the same sort are safe to make him an associate.

1867London Herald, 23 Mar., 221, 3. We're safe to nab him ; safe as houses.

1871. " Hawk's-eye," Turf Notes, 11. Most assuredly it is the bookmakers that profit by the safe uns, or "stiff uns," as, in their own language, horses that have no chance of winning are called.

1890. Allen, Tents ofShem, xxviii. You may make your forgery itself as safe

as houses.

1894. Moore, Esther Waters, xxx. I overlaid my book against Wheatear ; I'd heard that she was as safe as 'ouses.

Sails, subs, (naval).—A saiimaker.

1835. Dana, Two Years Before Mast, xxviii. Poor ' Chips ' could eat no supper . . . Sails tried to comfort him, and told him he was a bloody fool.

Phrases.—To sail in = to put in an appearance, or take part in a matter ; to take the wind out of one's sails = to run foul of, to spoil sport ; to sail near (close to, Or too near the wind) = (i) to run

risks, (2) to act with caution, (3) to live closely to one's income, and (4) to verge upon obscenity ; * How you sail about' (B. E.) = How you saunter about.'

1860. Thackeray, Lovel the Widower. Lady B. sailed in . . . many brooches, bangles, and other gimcracks ornamenting her plenteous person.

Sailors-blessing. 93

Saint.

1888. Harp. Mag., lxxviii. 561. A man must dismiss all thoughts of . • . common-sense when it comes to masquerade dresses, and just sail in and make an unmitigated fool of himself.

1891. M. Advertiser, 30 Mar. John Harvey called William Tillman a liar 150 times, . . . and offered to lick him 104 times. At the 104th William . . .thrashed John. The verdict of the jury was that William ought to have sailed in an hour and a half earlier.

Sailor's-blessing, subs. phr. (nautical).—A curse.

Sailor's-pleasure, subs. phr. (nautical).—'Yarning, smoking, dancing, growling, &c.' (Clark Russell).

Sailor's-waiter, subs. phr. (nautical).—See quot.

1835. Dana, Two Years, &"c, iii. The second mate ... is neither officer nor man . . . The crew call him the sailor's-waiter, as he has to furnish them with spun yarn, marline, and all other stuffs that they need in their work . . .

Saint, subs. (old).—'A piece of spoiled timber in a coachmaker's shop, like a saint, devoted to the flames' (Grose).

Phrases and Derivatives.— St. Anthony's pigs (see quot. 1662) ; St. Geoffrey's day = never (Grose) : see Queen Dick ; St. Giles's breed = 'Fat, ragged, and saucy' (Grose) ; St. Giles's Greek = Cant, slang {ç.v.), peddler's french (Grose) ; St. Lawrence's tears {see quot. 1874) ; St. Lubbock's day = a bank-holiday; St. Luke's bird = an ox (Grose) ; St. Marget's ale = water : see Adam's Ale ; St. Martin's evil = drunkenness ; St. Martin's ring = a copper-gilt ring ; St. Martin's lace = imitation gold lace, stage

tinsel : quot. 1607 (Dekker) ; St. Monday = 'a holiday taken on Monday to recover from the effects of the Sunday's rest' (Grose) : whence Mondayish = lazy : see Cobbler's Sunday and Shoemaker's holiday ; St. Nicholas {see Nicholas) ; St. Patrick (or St. Patrick's well) = the best whiskey ; St. John to borrow (see Borrow) ; to dine with St. Anthony (cf. Duke Humphrey) ; riding St. George = ' the woman uppermost in the amorous congress, that is the dragon on St. George ' (Grose) : whence St. George a-horse-back = the act of kind (see quot. 1617) ; the 'spital stands too nigh st. Thomas a' Waterings = ' Widows who shed most tears are sometimes guilty of such indiscretions as render them proper subjects for the public hospitals' (Hazlitt); saint of the saucepan = an expert cook.

1600. Munday and Drayton, Oldcastle, iv. 4. If ye burn, by this flesh I'll make you drink their ashes in Saint Marget's ale.

.... Plaine Percivall[Brand, Pop. Antig., 11. 27, note]. I doubt whether all be gold that glistereth, sith saint Martin's rings be but copper within, though they be gilt without.

1607. Puritan, i. 1. Here's a puling . . . my mother weeps for all the women that ever buried husbands . . . Alas 1 a small matter lucks a handkerchief! and sometimes the 'pital stands too nigh Saint Thomas a' Waterings.

1607. Dekker, Westward Ho, ii. 1. You must to the Pawn to buy lawn ; to Saint Martin's for lace.

c.1617. Fletcher, Mad Lover, i. 1. How our Saint Georges will bestride the Dragons, The red and ramping dragons.

1632. Massinger, Fatal Dowry, iii. i. Chural. You did not see him on my couch within, Like George a-horseback, on her, nor a-bed ?

Sake, 94 Sale.

1648. A Brown Dozen 0/Drunkards . . . By one that hath drunk at St. Patrick's Well [Title].

1662^ Fuller, Worthies (London), i. 65. Nicholas Heath . . . noted for one of Saint Anthonie's Pigs therein (so were the Scholars of that school [City of London] commonly called, as those of St. Paul, Paul's Pigeons).

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 42. That saint of the saucepan . . . leaving him ... to . . . his usual nap after dinner, we took away, and demolished the remainder with appetites worthy of our master, /aid., Gil Bias (1812), 11. via. Comedians ... do not travel a-foot, and dine with St. Anthony.

1791. Lackington, Letter, iii. {Life, 1803]. While he was keeping Saint Monday, I was with boys of my own age, fighting, cudgel-playing, wrestling, &c.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, 5. Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classical language of the Holy Land ; in other words, St. Giles's Greek.

1874. Eng. Mechanic [Davies]. The familiar shower of shooting stars [9th to nth Aug.] known of old as St. Laurence's tears, but now termed—rather more scientifically—the Perseides, from the point in the heavens whence they appear to radiate.

1882. Riddell, Weird Stories, The Open Door. We were always counting the weeks to next St. Lubbock's Day.

1884. D. News, 22 July, 5, 3. It was evident that universal homage was being paid to Saint Monday. Working London proclaimed a general holiday.

1902. Pall Mall Gazette, 26 July, 3, i. It [Coronation day] will be the most memorable Bank Holiday that has yet figured in the annals of St. John Lubbock.

Sake. For sake's sake (any sake, goodness sake, Ike), phr. (colloquial).—A strong appeal. For old sake's sake = for 'auld lang syne.'

1670. Howard, Committee, iii. Run after him, and save the poor fellow for sake's sake.

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, i. iii. Us be cum to pay 'e a visit . . . for old sake's sake.

1863. Kingsley, Water Babies. Yet for old sake's sake she is still, dears, The prettiest doll in the world.

Sal, subs, (old colloquial).—1. Salivation ; in a high sal = 'in the pickling tub' (Grose).

2. (theatrical).—Salary.

1885. Household Words, 29 August, 350. I say that part of this money shall be shared among us as sals, and some of the remainder shall be used for mounting the guv'nor's panto.

Salad, subs, (nautical).—1. See quot.

1877. Notes &* Queries, 5 S., viii. 269. When an officer on board ship is wakened and fails to obey the snmmons, but has another nap, it is called taking a salad.

2. (colloquial).—A lettuce.

Salad-days (or stage), subs. phr. (colloquial).—The days of youthful simplicity ; inexperience.

1608. Shakspeare, Ant. andCleop., i. 5, 73. My salad days, When I was green in judgement.

1892. Anstey, Voces Populi, ' At a Parisian Café Chantant,' 85. The diners in the gallery at the back have passed the salad stage.

1893. Chambers's Jour., 25 Feb., 125. Having in his salad days made trial of a cheap cigar, the result somehow satisfied him that tobacco was not in his line.

Salamander,«^, (colloquial).— I. Anything fire-proof, and (2) a fire-eating juggler (circus).

1886. Besant, Children of Gibeon, i. vi. We ain't a show. Lotty ain't a clown; I ain't a jumping-horje ; Liz ain't a Salamander.

Sale. House of Sale, subs. phr. (old).—See quot. and Nannyhouse.

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, ii. 1, 6a I saw him enter such a house of sale, Videlicet, a brothel.

See Wash-sale.

Salesman!s-dog. 95

Salt.

Salesman's-dog, subs. phr. (old). —A shop tout ; a barker {q.v.). —Grose.

Salisbury, subs, (political : obsolete).—See quots.

1890. Standard, 3 Mar., 3, 4 [Mr. Labouchere loquitur]. Some time ago they invented a word for the Marquess's statements. They said, "When you are telling a lie and want to tell it civilly, say you are telling a Salisbury."

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Mar., 5, x. Lord Salisbury's evasion, which past experience, even without the facts, suggested was a Salisbury. Ibid., 6, 1. The famous Salisbury about the Secret-Treaty . . . must henceforth be read " cumgrano salis-bury."

Sally. See Aunt Sally.

Sally-port, subs. phr. (venery).— The female pudendum : see Monosyllable.

1656. Fletcher, Martiall. Torches can Best enter at the Salli-port of man.

Sallinger's(or Sallenger's— i.e., St. Leger's) round. To

dance Sallinger's-round, verb. phr. (old).—To wanton ; to copulate : cf. the tune of the shaking of the sheet. [Sallenger's round = a loose ballad and tune, te?npus Elizabeth.]

1698. London Spy [Nares]. It will restore an old man of threescore, to the juvenallity of thirty, or make a girle at fourteen, with drinking but one glass, as ripe as an old maid of four and twenty. 'Twill make a parson dance Sallinger'sround, a puritan lust after the flesh.

Salmagun dy(or Salmon-gundy),

subs. (old).—i. .SV^quot. Hence (2) = a cook.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, xxvi. Ordering the boy to bring a piece of salt beef from the brine, cut off a slice, and mixed it with an equal quantity of onions, which seasoning with a moderate proportion of pepper and salt he brought

it into a consistence with oil and vinegar. Then tasting the dish, assured us, it was the best salmagundy that he had ever made.

Salmon (or Salomon), subs. (Old Cant).—The mass ; ' the Beggers Sacrament or Oath.' [SmythPalmer, Folk Etymology : 'probably a corruption of Fr. serment ' ; Oliphant, New Eng., i. 384, 'Henry VIII., when surprised, cries by the mass (Ellis, Letters, iii. i. 196, 1513-25) ; this was to become a common oath all through the country.'] (Harman, Dekker, Rowlands, Head, B. E., Bailey, Grose, Egan, Bee.)

ci536. Copland, Spyttel-hous [Hazlitt, Pop. Poet., iv.]. By Salmon, and thou shall pek my jere.

1611. Middleton, Roaring Girl, v. i. I have, by the Salomon, a doxy that carries a kinchin-mort in her slate at her back.

1614. Overbury, Characters, 'A Canting Rogue.' He will not beg out of his limit though hee starve ; nor break his oath if hee sware by his Saloman . . . though you hang him.

1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bush, ¹ Maunder's Initiation.' I . . . stall thee by the salmon into clowes.

1641. Brome, Jovial Crew, ii. By Salamon, I think my mort is in drink.

1707. Shirley, Triumph of Wit, ' Maunder's Praise of His Strowling Mort.' Doxy, oh ! thy glaziers shine As glimmar ; by the Salomon !

1749. Moore-Carew, Oath of Canting Crew. And as I keep to the foregone, So may help me Salamon !

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. She swore by the Salmon.

Salmon-and-trout, subs. phr. (rhyming). — The mouth : see Potato-trap.

Salt, subs, (common). — 1. A sailor : esp. an old hand : also salt-water.

Salt. 96

Salt.

1835. Dana, Two Years, i. My complexion and hands were enough to distinguish me from the regular salt.

1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, vi. And why not, old saltwater? inquired Ben, turning a quid in his mouth.

1844. Selby, London By Night, i. i. I am too old a salt to allow myself to drift on the quicksand of woman's perfidy.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, viii. He can turn his ,hand to anything, like most old salts.

1884. Russell, Jack's Courtship, xxiii. The crew in oilskins, the older salts among them casting their eyes to windward at the stormy look of the driving sky.

1885. D. Telegraph, 11 Sept. An old salt sitting at the tiller.

2. (common).—Money : specifically (Eton College) the gratuity exacted at the now obsolete triennial festival of the Montem {q.v.). Also (geneiic) = a measure of value.

1886. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Salthill. At the Eton Montem the captain of the school used to collect money from the visitors on Montem day. Standing on a mound at Slough, he waved a flag, and persons appointed for the purpose collected the donations. The mound is still called Salt-hill, and the money given was called salt . . . similar to the Lat. salarium (salary) the pay given to Roman soldiers and civil officers.

1890. Speaker, 22 Feb., 210, 2. In lively, but worldly fashion we go to Eton, with its buried Montem, its "salt! your majesty, salt!" its gin-twirley, and its jumping through paper fires in Long Chamber.

3. (old).—Pointed language ; wit : whence salt-pits (old Univ.) = 'The store of attic wit' (Grose).

1580. Baret, Alvearie, s.v. Salt, a pleasaunt and merrie word that maketh folks to laugh, and sometime pricketh.

*635. Quarles, Emblems [Nares], Tempt not your salt beyond her power.

1639.^ Mayne, Citye Match, 15. She speaks with salt.

Adj. (old). — i. Wanton; amorous; proud {q.v.). Also, as subs. = (1) heat {q.v.), and (2) = the act of kind ; as verb — to copulate (B. E., Grose). Whence salt-cellar = the female pudendum : see Monosyllable ; and salt-water = urine.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Esser in frega, to be proud or salt as a bitch, or a catterwalling as cats.

1599. Jonson, Ev. Man Out of His Humour, iv. 4. Let me perish, but thou art a salt one. Ibid. (1605), Fox, ii. 1. It is no salt desire Of seeing countries . . . hath brought me out.

1599. Hall, Satires, iv. 1. He lies wallowing ... on his brothel-bed Till his salt bowels boile with poisonous fire.

1602. Shakspeare, Othello, ii. 1, 244. For the better compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection. Ibid. (1608), Antony and Cleopatra, ii. 1. All the charms of love, Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan lip.

1607. Topsell, Beasts, 139. Then they grow salt, and begin to be proud.

1647-8. Herrick, Parting Verse [Hesperides, 186]. The expressions ofthat itch And salt which frets thy suters.

d.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 202. It is not fit the silent beard should know how much it has been abus'd . . . for, if it did it would . . . make it open its sluice to the drowning of the low countries in an inundation of salt-water.

2. (colloquial).—Costly; heavy; extravagant : generic for excess : e.g., as salt as fire = as salt as may be. Also salty.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 142. Well, that thar was a salty scrape, boys.

1887. Fun, 21 Sept., 126. A magistrate who was lately fined 20s. for striking a man in the street, seemed somewhat astonished on hearing the decision, and remarked, " It's rather salt."

Verb, (common).—To swindle : specifically to cheat by fictitiously enhancing value ; e.g., to salt books = ( i ) to make bogus entries showing extensive and profitable

Salt.

Salt-box.

business ; to salt an invoice = to charge extreme prices so as to permit an apparently liberal discount ; to salt a mine = to sprinkle (or plant, q.v.) a wornout or bogus property with gold dust, diamonds, &c, with a view to good sales, and so forth. Hence salter = a fraudulent vendor.

1872. Civil Service Gaz., 28 Dec. The magnificent Californian diamond fields are nowhere . . . only salted with diamonds and rubies bought in England, according to the well-known process of salting.

1883. Payn, Canon's Ward, xlviii. Your two friends had . . . been salting the mine. There is a warrant out for Dawson's apprehension on a much more serious charge.

1885. D. Telegraph, 22 Sept. One of the first to practise the art of salting sham goldfields.

1892. Percy Clarke, New Chum in Australia, 72. A salted claim, a pit sold for a j£io note, in which a nugget worth a few shillings had before been planted.

1894. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 Dec. 'The art of salting a mine' [Title]. Ibid. Even experienced mining men and engineers have been made victims by salters.

.1901. Bret Harte .... And the tear of sensibility has salted many a claim.

2. (American colloquial).—To be-jewell profusely: see sense 1, To salt a mine.

1873. Times, 20 Jan. ' Well Salted.' An American paper states that Colorado ladies wearing much jewelry are said to be well salted.

3. (old). — See quot.

1636. [Martin, Life oj First Lord Shaftesbury, i. 42]. On a particular day, the senior undergraduates in the evening called the freshmen to the fire, and made them hold out their chins ; whilst one of the seniors with the nail of his thumb (which was left long for that purpose) grated off all the skin from the lip to the chin, and then obliged him to drink a beer glass of water and salt.

1850. Notes and Queries. 1 S., i. 390. * College Salting and Tucking of Freshmen.'

Phrases.—With a grain of salt = under reserve : Lat. ; not worth one's salt = unworthy of hire ; to eat one's salt = to be received as a guest or under protection : salt also = hospitality ; to put (cast, or lay) salt on the tail = to ensnare, to achieve : as children are told to catch birds ; to come

after with salt and spoons

('of one that is none of the Hastings,' B. E.) ; man of salt — a man of tears.

1580. Lyly, Euphues [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 607. Among the verbs are

. . . lay salt on a bird's taile].

1608-n. Hall, Epistles, Dec. i., Ep. 8. Abandon those from your table and salt whom . . . experience shall descrie dangerous

1664. Butler, Hudibras, 11. i. 278. Such great atchievements cannot fail To cast salt on a woman's tail.

1809. Wellington [Gleig, Li^re, 702]. The real fact is . . . I have eaten the King's salt. On that account I believe it to be my duty to serve without hesitation . . .

1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, xi. Were you coming near him with soldiers, or constables . . . you will never lay salt on his tail.

1854. Dickens, Hard Times, xvii. He is a dissipated extravagant idler ; he is not worth his salt. Ibid. (1861), Great Expectations, iv. Plenty of subjects going about for them that know how to put salt upon their tails.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, v. One does not eat a man's salt as it were at these dinners. There is nothing sacred in this kind of London hospitality.

Salt-box, subs, (thieves').—A prison cell : specifically (Newgate) = the condemned cell (Grose, Vaux). Fr. abattoir.

Salt-box-cly. 98

Sam.

1820. London Mag., i. 29. Leaving the stone-jug after a miserable residence in the salt-boxes, to be topp'd in front of the debtors' door.

Salt-box-cly, subs. phr. (Old Cant).—An outside pocket with a flap (Grose, Vaux).

Saltee (or Saulty), subs, (theatrical).—A penny : see Rhino.

1861. Reade, Cloister and Hearth, lv. It had rained kicks all day in lieu of saltees.

1875. Frost, Circus Life, 306. Saulty may be derived from the Italian soldi, and duey saulty and tray saulty are also of foreign origin.

Salt-eel, subs. phr. (old naval).— A rope's-end; to have salteel for supper = to be thrashed (B. E., Grose).

1695. Congreve, Love for Love, iii. 7. Ben. An' he comes near me, may hap I may giv'n a salt eel for's supper for all that.

1752. Smollett, Per. Pickle, xl. If so be as how you have a mind to give him a salt-eel for supper.

Salt-horse (or Salt-junk), subs, phr. (nautical). — Salt beef : also old-horse (or -junk) which see.

1837. Marryatt, Snarley Yow, xii. So while they cut their raw salt junks, with beef you will be crammed.

1874. Scam m on, Marine Mammals, 123. Substantial fare called salt-horse and hard-tack.

1880. Blackwoods Mag., Jan., 59. ' Let me give you some salt junk.' John was hungry, and rather enjoyed the salt beef.

1884. Russell, Jack's Courtship, i. Salt-horse works out of the pores.

Salti m banco, subs, (showmen's). —A street clown ; a Jim Crow ; a Billy Barlow. Fr. pure.

Salt River, subs.phr. (American). —See quots.

1848. Bartlett, Diet, [quoting J. Inman]. To row up Salt River . . . there is a small stream of that name in Kentucky . . . difficult and laborious by its tortuous course as by shallows and bars. The application is to the unhappy wight who has the task of propelling the boat up the stream ; but, in political or slang usage, it is to those who are rowed up.

c. 186 [?]. Burial of Unele Sam [quoted by De Vere]. " We thought . . . That Sag-Nichts and strangers would tread o'er his head, And we up the Salt River billows."

1871. De Vere, Americanisvis, . . . It has become a universal cant phrase to say, that an unlucky wight, who has failed to be elected to some public office, was rowed up Salt River. If very grievously defeated, they were apt to be rowed up to the very headwaters of Salt River.

1877. New York Tribune, 28 Feb. Put away his empty barrel ; Fold his Presidential clothes ; He has started up Salt River, Led and lit by Cronin's nose.

Salts-and-senna, subs. phr. (common). — A doctor : see Trades.

Salubrious, adj. (common).—i. Drunk : see Screwed ; (2) = 'Pretty well, thank you.'

Salve, subs, (common).—Praise; gammon {q.v.): cf. Lip-salve.

Sam, subs, (provincial).—A Liverpudlian : also Dicky Sam.

To stand Sam, verb. phr. (common).—To pay the shot; to treat {q.v.).

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, iii. 5. Landlady, serve them with a glass of tape, all round ; and I'll stand Sammy.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, iv. ii. I must insist upon standing Sam upon the present occasion.

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 123. He had perforce to stand Sam for the lot.

1885. Black, White Heather, xxxii. There's plenty ready to stand Sam, now that Ronald is kent as a writer o' poetry.

Sambo. 99

Sand.

1887. Henley, Villon's Good-Night, 2. Likewise you molls that flash your bubs For Swells to spot and stand you Sam.

1890. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 8 Feb. I'll stand Sam for a week at Brighton for both of us.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 36. If sometimes P. J. do stand Sam, why I ain't one to give myself hairs.

Sambo, subs. (old).—A negro : generic : 1558 (Arber, Gamer, v. 95) a tribe of Africans is called Samboses.

1862. Punch, Aug.. Jon. Appeal. Now, Sambo, darn it . . . You know how we in airnest air, From slavery to ease you.

Sammy (or Sammy-Soft), subs, phr. (common).—A fool : see Buffle. Also as adj. = foolish (Grose).

1837. Peake, Quarter to Nine, 2. What a Sammy, give me a shilling more than I axed him !

1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, ii. i. I'm a ruined homo, a muff, a flat, a Sam, a regular ass.

Sample, verb, (common).—i. To drink : see Lush. Hence sample-room = a drinking bar.

1847. Porter, Quarter Race, 118. Old T. never samples too much when on business.

18 [?]. H. Paul, World Upside Down [Bartlett]. John opened a sample-room, and served out beer and gin.

2. (venery).—To fumble, or occupy a woman for the first time.

Sample-count, subs.(commercial). —A traveller ; an ambassador of commerce (q.v.).

1894. Egerton, Keynotes, 72. An ubiquitous sample-count from Berlin is measuring his wits with a . . . merchant.

Sample of sin, subs. phr. (old).—

A harlot : see Tart.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 105. That delicate sample ok sin, who depends on her wantonness for her attractions.

Sampler, subs, (venery). — The

female pudendum : see Monosyllable.

Samson (or Sampson), subs. (common).—I. A drink made of brandy, cider, sugar, and a little water (Halliwell).

2. (Durham School).—A baked jam pudding.

Samson and Abel, subs. phr. (Oxford University).—A group of wrestlers in the quadrangle of Brasenose. [Some said it represented Samson killing a Philistine ; others Cain killing Abel : the matter was compromised.]

Samson's-POSTS, subs. phr. (common). — A mousetrap so constructed that the capture is crushed to death.

Sand, subs. (old).—I. Moist sugar (Grose, Vaux).

2. (American).—See quots.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 73. He set his brain to work conning a most powerful speech, one that would knock the sand from under Hoss.

1884. Clemens, Huck. Finn, viii. When I got to camp I warn't feeling very brash, there warn't much sand in my craw ; but I says, this ain't no time to be fooling around.

1892. J. L. Hill, Treason-Felony, 22. You're a long-winded old fraud, Mac, with a bonnet full of bees, and a head full of maggots, but you've got the sand.

1896. LlLLARD, Poker Stories, 19. Sand enough and money enough to sit out the game.

To eat sand, verb. phr. (old). —See quot.

1743. Memoirs of M. du GueTronin (2nd ed.), 95. Now it is very common for the man at the helm to shorten his watch by turning the glass before it is quite run out, which is called eating of sand . . . as we had not seen the sun for nine days

Sandbag.

100 Sandy-pate.

together ... it happened, that the helmsmen had eaten so much sand, that at the end of nine days they had changed the day into night, and the night into day.

Sandbag, subs, (thieves').—i. A long sausage-like bag of sand dealing a heavy blow that leaves no mark. Also as verb., and sandbagger.

1895. Pocock, Rules of the Game, 11. vii. The other burglar, who looked like a mechanic, had now come up behind, and was brandishing a sand-bag.

2. (military). — In pi. = The Grenadier Guards. Also Old Eyes, Coalheavers, Housemaids' Pets, and Bermuda Exiles (q.v.).

Sandboy. As happy (jolly or merry) as a sandboy, phr. (old).—'All rags and all happiness ... a merry fellow who has tasted a drop ' (Bee).

1840. Dickens, Old Cur. Shop, xvii. I put up at the Jolly Sandboys, and nowhere else.

1900. Boothby, Maker of Nations, iv. He had had a fairly rough time of it, but the men seemed as jolly as sandboys.

sandgate-rattle, Subs. phr.

(provincial).—A quick and violent stamping dance.

Sand-man (or Sandy-man), subs, phr. (nursery). — When sleepy children begin to rub their eyes ' the sand-man (or dustman)

is coming.'

Sandpaper, verb, (common).—See quots.

1889. Answers, 9 Feb. "You will have to enact three parts in the ' Silent Foe' to-night." "Can't do it," said Lancaster, " and I hope to be sandpapered if I try."

1901. D. Telegraph, 14 May, 10, 7. Let the American grass-widow with the broad and exasperating accent, which she takes no pains to sandpaper, be reduced to a minimum.

Sandwich, subs, (common).—1. See quots. : also sandwich man : see Toad-in-the-Hole.

1836. Dickens, Box, 147. He stopped the unstamped advertisement—an animated sandwich, composed of a boy between two boards.

1880. Scribner's Mag., Aug., 607. The double sign-boards, or sandwiches [incorrectly used] which conceal his body. Ibid., 609. The sandwich-man carries in glass cases sample boots, sample shirts, &c.

2. (common). — A gentleman between two ladies : cf. Bodkin ; Thorn between two roses, &c. Fr. âne à deux pannières.

t848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, lviii. A pale young man . . . came walking down the lane en sandwich—having a lady, that is, on each arm.

Verb, (colloquial).—To insert between dissimilars.

1886. Referee, 18 April. These proceedings were sandwiched with vocal and instrumental selections.

Sandwich-boat. See Bumping-

race.

Sandy, subs. (Scots' colloquial).— A Scot : short for Alexander.

1500. Dunbar, Works [Paterson], 251 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 362. Alexander appears as Sandy ; Englishmen on the other hand, dock the last half of the Greek word, and make it A lick].

Lyndsay, Kitty's Confessioun [Laing], i. 136. Ane plack I will gar Sandy, Gie the agane with HandieDandie,

1885. Sportsman, 28 July, 2, 1. Scotland has been troubled by a great and mighty heat, which has scorched Sandy's brow and burnt the colour out of his kilt.

Sandy-pate, subs. (old).—'One red-hair'd ' (B. E., Grose).

Sangaree.

IOI

Sard.

Sangaree, subs. (old). — i. A drunken bout (Halliwell).

Sanguinary James. ^Bloody.

Sank (Sanky, or Centipers),

subs. (old). —A soldiers' tailor (Grose) : whence sank-work (see quot).

1851-61. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., i. 377. She's gone almost as blind as myself working at the sank work (making up soldiers' clothing).

Sap (Saphead, Sap-pate, or Sapscull), subs. (old).—i. A fool : see Buffle. Whence

sappy (or sapheaded, &c. ) =

foolish ; namby-pamby ; lazy (B. E., Dyche, Martin, Grose, Bee).

1665. Head, English Rogue (1874), I. v. 48. Culle a sap-headed fellow.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xlviii. " They're sporting the door of the Customhouse, and the auld sap at Hazlewood House has ordered off the guard." Ibid. (1817), Rob Roy, xix. He maun be a soft sap.

1840. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3, v. v. Talkin' cute, looks knavish ; but talkin' soft, looks sappy.

1856. Bronte, Professor, iv. If you are patient because you think it a duty to meet an insult with submission, you are an essential sap.

1884. Clemens, Huck. Finn, iii. You don't seem to know anything, somehow—perfect sap-head.

1886. The State, 20 May, 217. A sap-head is a name for a fool.

1887. Bret Harte, Cons. 0/ Excelsior, 11. i. These sap-headed fools.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 70. Sour old sap.

2. (common).—A hard worker: (school) a diligent student ; a hash (Charterhouse). Also as verb. = to read hard ; to swot.

1827. Lytton, Pelham, ii. When I once attempted to read Pope's poems out of school hours, I was laughed at, and called a sap.

1848. Kingsley, Yeast, i. Sapping and studying still.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, 117. They pronounced me an incorrigible

sap.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, 1. xii. He was sent to school to learn his lessons, and he learns them. You calls that sapping— I call it doing his duty.

1856. Whyte-Melville, Kate Coventry, xvii. At school, if he makes an effort at distinction in school-hours, he is stigmatised by his comrades as a sap.

1888. Goschen, Speech at Aberdeen, 31 Jan. Epithets applied to those who . . . commit the heinous offence of being absorbed in it [work]. Schools and colleges . . . have invented . . . phrases, semiclassical or wholly vernacular, such as a "sap," "smug," "swot," "bloke," "a mugster."

1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, 46. I . . . haven't to go sapping round to get it when I want my own tea.

3. (common). — Ale : see Drinks. Hence, as verb. = to

booze (q.V.): sappy-drinking = excessive drinking.

Sappy, adj. (Durham School).—1. Severe ; of a caning.

2. See Sap, subs. 1.

Sarahs, subs. (Stock Exchange). —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln Deferred Stock.

Sarah's Boots, subs. phr. (Stock Exchange).—Sierra Buttes Gold Mining Co.'s Shares.

Sard, verb. (old).—To copulate : see Greens and Ride.

1539. Lyndsay, Thrie Est ait is [Laing], 3027, 8. Quhilk will, for purging of their neirs Sard up ae raw, and doun the uthir.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes s.v. Foltere. To iape, to sard, to fucke, to swive, to occupye.

1617. Howell, Letters, 17. Go, teach your grandam to sard, a Nottingham proverb.

Sardine.

102

Sauce.

Sardine, subs. (American). — i. A sailor : spec, an old whaling hand. [The living space on board a whaler is limited.] Whence (2) one of the crowd : see Herring. Packed like sardines = huddled.

c.i84[?]. New Haven, J. C. [Bartlett]. We ' Old Whalers,' or as we are sometimes called ' Sardines.'

3. (Stock Exchange).—In //. = Royal Sardinian Ry. Shares.

Sark, verb. (Sherborne School).— To sulk.

Sassenger (or sassiger), subs.

(vulgar).—A sausage.

Satan's Bones. See Bones.

Satchel-arsed. See Arse.

Sate-POLL, subs. phr. (common).— A stupid person : see Buffle.

Satin. See White Satin.

Saturday-nig ht er, subs. phr. (Harrow School).—An exercise set for Saturday night.

Saturday-scavenger (or -scaramouch. See Weekly Scarifier.

Saturday-soldier, subs. phr. (common).—A volunteer.

1890. Globe, 11 Aug., 3, 2. A slight selection of the epithets which he showered on the citizen defender : " Catshooter," Saturday soldier.

Saturday-to-Monday, subs.phr. (colloquial). — i. A week-end jaunt ; and (2) a week-end woman.

Satyr, subs. (Old Cant). — A cattle-thief.

Sauce (Sarse, Sass, or Sauciness), subs, (colloquial). — 1. Impudence ; assurance {see quot. ^I555)Hence saucy {adj.) = (1) impudent, bold, presuming ; and (2) smart {q.v.) ; as verb. (or to eat sauce) = to abuse, to lip (q.V.) ; sauce-box

(sauce-pate, sauceling, or sauce-jack) = an impertinent : see Jack-sauce (B. E., Grose).

Skelton, Bowge 0/Courte, 71. To be so perte . . . she sayde she trowed that I had eten sauce ; she asked yf euer I dranke of saucys cuppe. Ibid., Magnyfycence, 1421. Ye haue eten sauce, I trowe, at the Taylors Hall.

d. 1555. Latimer, Servions, 182. When we see a fellow sturdy, loftie, and proud, men say, this is a saucy fellow . . . whiche taketh more upon him than he ought to doe. Ibid. He that will be a Christian man . . . must be a sausie fellow : he must be well powdered with the sause of affliction.

1587. Stanihurst, Desc. of Ireland, i. 13. Ineptus is as much in English, in my phantasie, as saucie or malapert.

1588. Marprelate's Epistle (Arber), 6. This is a pretie matter yat Standers by must be so busie in other men's games : why sawcebones must you be pratling ?

1594. Tylney, Lochrine, iii. 3. You, master saucebox, lobcock, cockscomb.

1595. Shakspearb, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4, 153. What saucy merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery? Ibid. (1596), As You Like It, iii. 5. I'll sauce her with bitter words. Ibid. (1600), Merry Wives, iv. 3. I'll make them pay : I'll sauce them. Ibid., Lear (1605), i. 1. This knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for.

1598. Laydock, Lomatius on Paint' [Nahes]. Nothing can déterre these saucie doultes from this their dizardly inhumanité.

1614. Jonson, Barth. Fair. The reckonings for them are so saucy, that a man had as good licke his fingers in a baudy house.

1620. Fletcher, Philaster, ii. 1. They were grown too saucy for himself.

1630. Taylor, Works, i. 113. Jack Sawce, the worst knave amongst the pack.

Sauce. 103 Sauce.

1638. Peacham, Truth of Our Times. In Queene Elizabeth's time were the great bellied doublets, wide sawcy sleeves, that would be in every dish before their masters.

1663. KiLi.egrew, Parson's Wedding, iii. Why, goodman Sauce-box, you will not make my lady pay for their reckoning, will you ?

1689. Satyr Against Hypocrites [Nares]. Then, full of sawce and zeal, up steps Elnathan.

1705. Ward, Hud. Rediv., i. i. 28. No Saucebox, sure, by way of Farce, Will bid his Pastor Kiss his Arse.

1732. Fielding, Mock Doctor, 2. What s that to you, Sauce-box ? Is it any business of yours.

1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, 11. xii. How do you like your quarters, Saucebox? asked Sharpies, in a 'eering tone.

c. 1838. East End Tailor's Broadside Advt. Kicksies made very saucy.

1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, iii. i. I've got a sarcy pair.

1856-7. Eliot, Amos Barton, vii. Nanny . . . secretly chuckled over her outburst of sauce as the best morning's work she had ever done.

1862. Lowell, Biglow Papers. We begin to think it's nater To take sarce, and not be riled.

c. 1871. Siliad, 17. Yankee impudence and sass.

1890. M. Advertiser, 4 Nov. The witness denied that she sauced him or that she was drunk.

1897. Maugham, Liza of Lambeth, xi. I won't kill yer, but if I 'ave any more of your sauce, I'll do the next thing to it.

2. (old : now American). — Vegetables : whence gardensauce = a salad ; long-sauce = carrots, parsnips, beet, &c. ; short-sauce = potatoes, turnips, onions, &c. Whence any accessory or sequel.

1705. Beverley, Hist, of Virginia. Roots, herbs, vine fruits, and salad flowers . . . very delicious sauce to their meats.

1833. Neal, Down Easters, vii. 91. That ain't the kind o' sarse I wanted, puddin' gravy to corn-fish ! ... I wanted cabbage or potaters, or most any sort o' garden sarse.

184 [?]. Widow Bedott Papers, 88. If I should stay away to tea . . . don't be a lettin' into the plum sass and cake as you did the other day.

3. (venery).—Pox (q.v.) or clap {q.v.).

1697. Vanbrugh, Provok'd Wife, iv. 3. I hope your punks will give you sauce to your mutton.

3. (old).—Money : see Rhino.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias (1812), 1. ii. Having paid sauce for a supper which I had so ill digested. Ibid., 11. vii. Having breakfasted, and paid sauce for my good cheer, I made but one stage to Segovia.

Phrases.—To serve with the same sauce = to minister or retaliate in kind ; ' What's

sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander ' = tit-for-

tat {q.v.); carrier's(or poor man's-) sauce = hunger : cf. 'Hunger is the best sauce'; ' more sauce than pig' = 'exceeding bold' (B. E.).

1609. Man in the Moone [Nares]. After him another came unto her, and served her with the same sauce : then a third ; at last she began to wax warie.

1700. Collier, Short Def. of Short View, 37. That's sawce for a goose is sawce for a gander.

1703. Ward, Lond. Spy [Nares]. If he had been strong enough I dare swear he would" have serv'd him the same sauce.

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, ii. Neverout [giving Miss a pinch {in return)]. Take that, Miss ; What's Sauce for a Goose is for a Gander.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 367, s.v. Sauce for goose, sauce for gander.

1896. Cotsford Dick, Way of World, 44. Let the sauce good for the gander Then be seasoned, without slander, For the goose !

Saucepan. 104 Save.

Saucepan. To have the saucepan on the fire, verb. phr. (old).—To be set on a scolding bout.

The saucepan runs (or boils) over, phr. (old).—'You are exceeding bold.' — B. E. (6.1696).

Saucebox, subs, (common).—The

mouth.

2. See Sauce.

Saucers, subs, (common).—Eyes : spec, large, wide-opened eyes : also Saucer-eyes.

1599. Hall, Satires, vi. i. Her eyes like silver sauceks faire beset.

1636. Suckling, Goblins, iv. Had we no walking fire, Nor saucer-eyed devil of these woods that led us.

1655. Massinger, A Very Woman, ii. Upon my conscience, she would see the devil first, With eyes as big as saucers ; when I but named you.

1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, v. 3. Stare you in the face with huge saucekeyes.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, xiii. Damn'd if it was not Davy Jones himself. I know him by his saucer-eyes.

1864. Mark Lemon, Jest Book, 185. I always know when he has been in his cups by the state of his saucers.

Saucy Greens, subs. phr. (military).—The 2nd Bat. Worcester Regiment, formerly the ThirtySixth Foot. [From the facings 1742-1881.J

Saucy-Jack. See Saucy, and Jack, subs., sense 8.

Saucy Pompeys. See Pompadours.

Saucy Sixth (The), subs. phr. (military).—The Royal Warwickshires, formerly The 6th Foot. Also "Guise's Geese"; and "The Warwickshire Lads."

Saucy Seventh (The Old).—

The Seventh (The Queen's Own) Hussars (in the Peninsula) : also " The Lily-white Seventh," "Young Eyes," "Old Straws," and " Strawboots."

Saunter, verb, (old : now recognised).—'To loiter Idly' (B. E.).

Sausage (or Live-sausage), subs. (venery).—The penis : see Prick.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. xi. Some of the other women would give these names, my Roger . . . my lusty live sausage, my crimson chitterling.

1759-67. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, ix. 7. She made a feint, however, of defending herself by snatching up a sausage. Tom instantly laid hold of another—But seeing Tom's had more gristle in it—She signed the capitulation— and Tom seal'd it ; and there was an end of the matter.

Savagerous, adv. (American).— Savage.

1847. Porter, Big Bear, 121. Well, Capting, they war mighty savagerous arter likher.

1848. Burton, Waggeries, 24. They growed so darned savagerous that I kinder feared for my own safety.

c. 1852. Traits of A7ner. Humour,^. I looked at him sorter savigerous like.

Save, verb, (racing).—To set part of one bet against another ; to hedge [q.v.). [Two persons back different horses agreeing, if either wins, to give the other, say who thus saves a ' fiver.' Also, as in pool, to save the stakes. Likewise to keep a certain horse on one side, not betting against it, saving it as a clear winner for oneself. Hence saver = a bet so made.

1869. Bradwood, TheO. V. H.,xx. Most who received the news at least saved themselves upon the outsider.

Save-all.

105

Sawdust.

1891. Gould, Double Event, 301. The fact of the matter was, Kingdon had determined to make a ^10,000 book for Mohican, or, in other words, to save that horse to run for him. Ibid., 123. I've put a saver on Caloola.

Hang saving, phr. (old colloquial).—' Blow the expense.'

1708-t0. Swift, Polite Conversation, ii. Lord Smart. Come, hang Saving: bring us a Halfporth of Cheeze.

See Bacon.

Save-all, subs. phr. (common).— A stingy person ; a miser (Grose).

Savers, inti. (boys').—' Halves ! '

Save-reverence. See Sirreverence.

Saving-chin, subs. phr. (old).—A projecting chin : ' that catches what may fall from the nose ' :

cf. nutcrackers (grose).

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 56. It had your phizz and toothless jaws, And saving-chin and pimpl'd nose.

Save y (or Savvy), subs, and verb. (American).—1. As verb = to know ; as subs. = understanding ; wit ; nous (q.v.).

1833. Carmichael, West Indies [Bartlett]. When I read these stories, the Negroes looked delighted, and said : " We savey dat well, misses."

1884. Graphic, 18 Oct., 418, 2. " Because no can savvey if Chinaman like it," was the answer.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xiv. If George had had the savey to crack himself up a little.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 11. Fur too much savvy to frown.

2. (Pidgin). — To have ; to know ; to do ; and all the other verbs that be.

Saw, subs, (whist).—The alternate trumping by two partners of suits led for the purpose ; a ruff. Also see-saw, and as verb.

1755Connoisseur, No. 60. A forces B, who, by leading Spades, plays into A's hand, who returns a Club, and so they get to a saw between them.

2. (American).—A hoax : also as adj. and verb. Fr. scie.

1847. Porter, Quarter Race, 68. ' Running a saw ' on a French gentleman.

1847. Darley, Drama in Poterville, 68. The manager was sawed, as certainly as that Mr. Waters was not slain. Ibid. The thoroughly sawed victim made way for him as if he had been the cholera incarnate.

Saw your timber ! phr. (common).—Be off ! Cut your stick (q.v.).

Held at the (or a) long saw, phr. (old).—Held in suspense.

1742. North, Lord Guildford, \. 148. Between the one and the other he was held at the long saw over a month.

Sawbones, subs, (common).—A surgeon; flesh-tailor (q.v.).

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, xxx. ¹ What ! Don't you know what a Sawbones is, sir ? ' inquired Mr. Weller. ' I thought everybody know'd as a Sawbones was a Surgeon.'

1849-50. Thackeray, Pendennis, 11. xviii. She has taken on with another chap —another sawbones.

Sawder (or Soft-sawder), subs. (common).—Soft speech; blarney (q.v.).

1853. Lytton, My Novel, in. xiii. You've got soft sawder enough.

1863. Reade, Hard Cash, xli. She sent in a note explaining who she was, with a bit of soft sawder.

1866. Eliot, Felix Holt, xxi. My Lord Jermyn seems to have his insolence as ready as his soft sawder.

1896. Allen, Tents of S hem, x. I didn't try bullying ; I tried soft sawder.

Sawdust (or Sawdusty), subs. (common).—1. Humbug : also as adj.

Sawney. 106 Say-so.

1884. Punch, 11 Oct. Fancy, old chump, Me doing the sawdusty reglar, and follering swells on the stump.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 41. That's true poetry, ain't it Not sawdust and snivel.

2. (American).—A variety of the confidence trick.

_ 1888. Pittsburg Times, 8 Feb. He is implicated in the robbery of 10,000 dollars from William Murdock on Saturday a week ago. Murdock was drawn into a sawdust game in an office whose location he could not remember, on Grant street.

1888. New Orleans Times Democrat, 6 Feb. The prominent men you speak of are never at the front in any of these SAWDUSTtransactions . . . The courts find it very difficult to send a man to State prison for this kind of swindling, and the sawdust man who fights hard is generally certain of acquittal.

Sawney (or Sawny), subs, (old). —i. A lout : see Buffle (B. E.). As adj. = stupid.

1567. Edwards, Damon andPithias [Dodsley, Old Plays (Hazlitt), iv. 74]. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 566. A servant speaks French to astonish a friend, and calls him petit Zawne (zany or sawny).]

1871. Mrs. H. Wood, Dene Hollow, viii. That wench Pris . . . she's a regular sawney, though, in some things.

1873. Miss Broughton, Nancy, vii. The bronze of his face is a little paled by emotion, but there is no sawny sentiment in his tone, none of the lover's whine.

2. (Scots').—A Scot ; Sandy (q.v.).—B. E., Grose.

rf.1704. Brown, Highlander [Works, i. 127]. And learn from him against a time of need To husband wealth, as sawny does his weed.

1714. Gay, Shep. Week, vi. 115. He sung of Taffy Welch, and Sawney Scot.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, xiii. [Addressing a Scotchman] ' Is it oatmeal or brimstone, Sawney ? ' said he.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 138. A queer look'd whelp, called Sawney Dunn ; His men from Caledonia came. Ibid. As firm as Sawney's rubbing post.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ii. Jockey ... a name which at that time was used, as Sawney now is, for a general appellative of the Scottish nation.

1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, Tabl. 11. ii. Jock runs east, and Sawney cuts west.

3. (common). — Bacon ; also stolen cheese ; hence, sawneyhunter = a bacon thief : Fr. spec.—Grose, Vaux.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 275. Of very ready sale " fish got from the gate " (stolen from Billingsgate ; sawney (thieved bacon). Ibid, Gt. World of London (1856), 46. Sawneyhunters, who purloin cheese or bacon from cheesemongers' doors.

Sawn eying, adj. (old).—Softspeaking ; pimping ; carneying (q.v.).

1808. Southey, Letters, ii. 63. It looks like a sneaking sawneying Methodist parson.

Sawyer, subs. (American).—A

snag : a fallen tree, rising and

falling with the waves.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 106. Snags and sawyers, just thar, wur dreadful plenty.

1884. Clemens, Huckleberry Finn, and Life on the Mississippi (1883), passim.

Say. See Ape's Paternoster; Boh ; Jack Robinson ; Knife ; Mouth ; Nothing ; Parson ; Prayers; Te Deum ; Thing; When.

Say-so, subs. phr. (colloquial).— An assertion ; also a mild oath : on my say-so = ' On my word of honour ' : also sammy say-so.

1885. Craddock, Proph. of Great Smoky Mountains, xii. Pete Cayce's say-so war all 1 wanted.

1890. Barr, Friend Olivia, xvii. Kelderby stands in the wind of Charles Stuart's say-so.

you say you can, but can you? phr. (American).—'You lie.'

Scab. 107 Scaffolders.

Scab, subs. (old).—1. A rascal : spec, a constable or sheriff's officer : often jocular. Hence scabby (or scab) = contemptible ; beggarly ; scabby-sheep = a ne'er-do-weel ; scabilonian (see quot. 1600).

1591. Lyly, Endimion, iv. 2. Pages. What are yee, scabs? Watch. The Watch : this the Constable.

1594. Greene, Frier Bacon [Grosart, Works, xiii. 9]. Loue is such a proud scab, that he will never meddle with fooles nor children.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV., iii. 2. Wart, thou art a good scab. Ibid. (1600), Much Ado, iii. 3. Bora. Comrade, I say I Con. Here, man ; I am at thy elbow. Bora. Mass, and my elbow itched ; I thought there would a scab follow. Ibid. (1601), Twelfth Night, ii. 5. Sir To. Out, scab ! Fab. Nay, patience, or we break the sinews of our plot.

1600. Thomas Hill, Cath. Religion [Nares], With the introduction of the Protestant faith were introduced your galligascones, your scabilonians, your St. Thomas onions, your ruffees, your cuffees, and a thousand such new devised Luciferan trinckets.

1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch tlte Old One, ii. 1. He? he's a scab to thee.

1630. Taylor, Works, ii. in. A whore . . . growes pocky proud . . . That such poore scabs as I must net come neere her.

1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie (ist ed.), 15. A huffing Jack, a plund'ring Tearer, A vap'ring Scab, and a great Swearer.

c. 1696. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, s.v. Scab, a sorry Wench, or ScoundrilFellow.

1701. Defoe, True Born Englishman, i. The Royal Branch, from Pict land did succeed, With troops of Scots, and scabs from North-by-Tweed.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, xxi. A lousy, scabby, nasty, scurvy, skulking, lubberly noodle.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 20. He's a regular scab. Ibid., iii. 107. I was the scabby sheep of the family, and I've been punished for it.

186r. Meredith, Evan Harrington, vi. A scabby sixpence?

1900. Kipling, Stalky and Co., 71. You're three beastly scabs.

2. (artisans'). — A workman who refuses to join, or continues at work during a strike ; a blackleg [q.v.); generally applied to all non-Union men. Fr. flint.

3. (tailors').—A button-hole.

Scabbado, subs. (old).—Syphilis.

1725. Bailey, Erasmus's Colloq. (1900), ii. 23. The new Scabbado.

Scabbard, subs, (venery).—The

female pudendum: see Monosyllable.

Scabby, adj. (printers').—Unevenly printed ; blotchy.

Scabby-neck,subs.phr. (nautical).

—A Dane.

Scab-raiser, subs. phr. (military: obsolete).—A drummer. [One of whose duties was to wield the cat.]

Scad, subs. (American). — An abundance : hence in pi. =■ money ; resources.

Scadger, subs, (common). — A mean fellow ; a cadger {q.v.).

Scaff, subs. (Christ's Hospital : obsolete).—A selfish fellow : the adj. forms are scaly and scabby = mean ; stingy.

Scaff-and-raff, subs.phr. (Scots' colloquial). — Refuse, rabble, riff-raff (q.v.).

Scaffolders, subs. (old).—Spectators in the gallery ; the gods (q.v.).

1599. Hall, Satires, 1. iii. 28. He ravishes the gazing scaffolders.

Scalawag. 108 Scaldrum-dodge.

Scalawag (or Scallawag), subs. (American). — (1) Anything low class ; and spec. (2) as in quot. 1891. As adj. = wastrel ; shrunken ; profligate : cf. Carpet-bagger.

1855. Haliburton, Human Nature, [Bartlett]. You good-for-nothin' young

scalawag.

1870. Melbourne Argus. A new term has been added to the descriptive slang of the loafing classes of Melbourne. Vagrants are now denominated scalawags.

1877. North Am. Rev., July, 5. [The carpet-baggers] combining with a few scalawags and some leading Negroes to serve as decoys for the rest . . . became the strongest body of thieves that ever pillaged a people.

1884. Chambers's Journal, 1 March, 139,1. [Colorado man loquitur.] We are here to discuss the existence of thieves and scallawags amongst us.

1891. Century Diet., s.v. Scalawag. Used in the Southern States, during the Reconstruction period (1865-76) in an almost specific sense, being opprobriously applied by the opponents of the Republican party to native Southerners who acted with that party, as distinguished from Carpet-bagger, a Republican of Northern origin.

Scald, verb, (venery).—(1) To infect ; and (2) to wax amorous. Scalder = a clap (Grose). As adj. = (1) infected, and (2) contemptible ; scoundrel. Cupid's scalding-house = a brothel.

1563-4. New Custom [Nares]. Like lettuce like lips, a scab'd horse for a scald squire.

1592. Nash, Piers Penniless [Halliwell]. Other news I am advertised of that a scald, trivial, lying pamphlet is given out to be of my doing.

1599. Middleton, Old Law, iii. 2. My three court codlings that look parboil'd, As if they came from Cupid's

scalding house.

1599. Shakspeare, Hen. V., v. 1, 31, Will you be so good, scauld knave, as eat it? Ibid. (1609), Timon of Athens, ii. 2. She's even setting on water to scald such chickens as you are.

1647-8. Herrick, Hcsperides, ' To Blanch.' Blanch swears her husband's lovely, when a scald Has blear'd his eyes.

1678. Cotton, Virgil Travestie [Works (1725), 63. For that which stabb'd her was his Weapon, For which she did so scald and burn, That none but he could serve her turn.

scaldabanco, subs, (old colloquial).—See quots.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Scaldabanco, one that keepesaseate warme, but ironically spoken of idle lectures that possesse a pewe in the schooles or pulpet in churches, and baffle out they know not what ; also a hot-headed puritane.

1692. Hacket, Williams, ii. 182. The Presbyterians, those Scalda-bancos, or hot declaimers, had wrought a great distast in the Commons at the king.

Scalder, subs, (common). —See quot., and Scald.

1892. Sydney Watson, Wops the Waif, iv. I'm good at a hoperation, I can tell yer, when it's on spot and scalder (which being interpreted, meant cake and tea).

Scaldings ! intj. (Winchester).— Be gone ! * Be off ! ' Also a general warning, ' Look out !'

1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, xxv. The boy . . . returned with it full of boiled peas, crying, ' Scaldings,' all the way.

Scald-rag, subs. phr. (old).—A dyer.

1630. Taylor, Works, 11. 165. As much impeachment as to cal a justice of the peace, a beadle ; a dyer, a scaldragge ; or a fishmonger, a seller of gubbins.

Scaldrum-dodge, subs. phr. (tramps').—See quot. and Foxbite ; scaldrum = a beggar.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 262. By these Peter was initiated into the scaldrum-dodge, or the art of burning the body with a mixture of acids and gunpowder, so as to suit the hues and complexions of the accident to be deplored.

Scale. 109 Scamp.

Scale, verb, (venery).—To mount (q.v.) : see Greens and Ride.

1607. W[entworth] S[mith], Puritan, i. i. I, whom never man as yet hath

scaled.

Scales. See Shadscales.

Scallops, subs. (old).—An awkward girl (Halliwell).

Scalp, verb. (American).—To sell under price ; to share commission or discount : e.g., to scalp stock = to sell stock regardless of value ; ticket-scalping = the sale of unused railway tickets, or tickets bought in quantities as a speculation, at a cheaper than the official rate; ticket-scalper = a ticket broker.

1882. Nation, 5 Oct., 276. With the eternal quarrel between railroads and scalpers, passengers have nothing to do.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., 2, t. Ticket-scalping . . . has reference to the transferability or otherwise of tickets rather than to their date of expiry.

1894. Standard, 3 May, 7, 1. These huge grouped tenderings on a preconcerted plan . . . when successful merely represent a scalping of the Stock at the expense of the genuine investor.

2. (American party-politician's). —(a) To ostracise for rebellion, and (b) to ruin one's influence.

Scaly, adj. (common).—Shabby ; mean ; fishy (q.v.).—Grose.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. iii. If you are too scaly to tip for it, I'll shell out, and shame you.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxviii. Don't you remember hold mother Todgers's? ... a reg'lar scaly old shop, warn't it ?

1848. Lowell, Bigloiv Papers, 1. 99. The scaliest trick they ever played wuz bringin' on me hither.

1851-61. Mayhevv, Lond. Lab., 1. 85. They find the ladies their hardest of scaliest customers.

1880. J. B. Stephens, Poems, ^f To a Black Gin.' Methinks that theory is rather scaly.

1883. Payn, Thicker than Water, xlv. Do you mean to say he never gave you nothing ? . . . Scaly varmint !

Scaly-fish, subs. phr. (nautical). —'A honest, rough, blunt sailor' (Grose).

Scam an d er, verb, (common).—To

loaf (q.V.).

Scam m er ed, adj. (common).— Drunk : see Screwed.

1891. Carew, Auto, of a Gipsy, 435. He'll think he wassCAMMERED over night.

Scamp, subs. (Old Cant).—i. A highway robber (also scampsman) ; and (2) highway robbery (also scampery). Whence as verb = to rob on the highway ; royal-scamp = ' a highwayman who robs civilly' ; royal-footscamp = ' a footpad behaving in like manner' ; done for a scamp = convicted (Grose, Parker, Vaux). See quot. 1823.

1754. Disc, of John Poulter, 42. I'll scamp on the panney.

1781. Messink, Choice of Harlequin. ' Ye scamps, ye pads, ye divers.'

1823. Bee, Diet. Turf, s.v. Scamp . . . Beggars who would turn their hands to any thing occasionally, without enquiring in whom the thing is vested, are said to GO upon the scamp. Fellows who pilfer in markets, from stalls or orchards, who snatch off hats, cheat publicans out of liquor, or toss up cheatingly—commit scamping tricks.

c. 1824. Egan, Boxiana, iii. 622. And from the start the scamps are cropp'd at home.

1830. Moncrieff, Heart of London, ii. i. Cracksmen, . . . scampsmen, we ; fol de roi, &c.

1834. AiNSWORTH, Rookwood, 'The Game of High Toby.' Forth to the heath is the scami'SMAN gone. Ibid., m. 5. A rank scamp, cried the upright man.

Scamp. I io Scape.

1842. Egan, Captain Macheath, v. A scampsman, you know, must always be bold.

3. (common).—A rogue ; an arrant rascal ; sometimes (colloquial) in jest. Hence scampish = roguish, tricky ; scampery = roguery.

c.1835. Dana, Before the Mast, 84. Among the Mexicans . . . every rich man looks like a grandee, and every poor scamp like a broken-down gentleman.

1849-50. Thackekay, Pendennis, xiii. The impudent bog-trotting scamp.

1854. Whyte-Melville, General Bounce, ii. Tom Blacke was a scamp of the first water.

rf.1859. De Quincey, Works, 11. 43. He has done the scamp too much honour. Ibid., Spanish Nun, 23. The alcaide personally renewed his regrets for the ridiculous scene of the two scampish occu lists.

1879. Payn, High Spirits (Finding his Level). Vulgar dukes or scampish lords.

1883. Graphic, 24 Feb., 199, 3. All the scampery of Liverpool seems to be present.

1902. D. Mail, 14 Jan., 6, 3. Of all the scampish scamps unhung this specimen of perverted culture beats all.

Verb, (common).—2. To do carelessly and ill ; to give bad work or short measure.

1851-61. Mayhevv, Lond. Lab., m. 240. Scamping adds at least 200 per cent, to the productions of the cabinetmaker's trade.

1862. London Herald, 27 Dec, 'Answers to Corresp.' Find out, if it is an estate where any scamping is allowed to create heavy ground rents.

1881. Payn, Grape from a Thorn, xlii. The idea of scamping her work . . . had no existence for her.

1883. Trollope, Autobiog., 1. 164. It is not on my conscience that I have ever scamped my work. My novels, whether good or bad, have been as good as 1 could make them.

1886. D. Telegraph, 1 Jan. The work is as often . . . scamped as it is well done.

Scamper, verb, (old: B. E., c. 1696).—'To run away, or Scowre off, either from Justice, as Thieves, Debtors, Criminals, that are pursued ; or from ill fortune, as Soldiers that are repulst or worsted.'

Scandal-broth (chatter, or water), subs. phr. (common).— Tea; cat-lap (q.v.).—Grose.

Scandalous, subs. (old). — 'A Periwig.'—B. E. fc.1696).

Scandal-proof (old). — i. 'A

thorough pac'd Alsatian, or Minter, one harden'd or past Shame,' B. E. (c. 1696); and (2) ' one who has eaten shame and drank after it, or would blush at being ashamed,' Grose (1785).

Scan mag, subs. (common). — Scandalous jobber ; pettifogging slander ; talk. [Short and derisive for Scandalum magnatnm.~\

1883. G. A. S[ala] [Illustr. London News, 31 March, 310, 3]. The audience have to listen to the bucolic drolleries of his groom, Saul Mash, and the provincial scanmag of the notabilities of the little country town. Ibid. (1861), Twice Round the Clock, One p.m., Par. 2. The swarms of flies . . . inebriating themselves with saccharine suction in the grocers' shops, and noisily buzzing their scanmag in private parlours.

Scant-of-grace, stibs. (colloquial). —A scapegrace.

t821. Scott, Kenilworth, iii. You associate yourself with a sort of scant-ofgrace.

Scape, subs. (old).—i. A cheat.

1599. Hall, Satires. Was there no 'plaining of the brewer's scape, Nor greedy vintner mixed the strained grape.

.1634. Chapman, Horn, Hymn to Apollo. Crafty mate What other scape canst thou excogitate ?

Scape-gallows. in Scarborough-warning.

2. (old).—A fart.

i6n. Cotgrave, Diet., s.v. Pet. A scape, tayle-shot, or cracke.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Pettare. To let a scape or a fart.

3. (old).—An act, or effect, of fornication.

1594. Shakspeare, Lucrese, 749. Day . . . night's scapes doth open lay. Ibid. (1604), Winter's Tale, in. 3, 73. Sure some scape ... I can read waitinggentlewoman in the scape.

Verb, (artists').—'To neglect one's brush ' (Bee).

Scape-gallows, subs. phr. (old).

—One who deserves but has

escaped the gallows (Grose).

1839. Dickens, Nich. Nickleby, xliv. Remember this scape-gallows . . . if we meet again . . . you shall see the inside of a gaol once more.

Scape-grace (or -thrift), subs, phr. (old).—A good-for-nothing; a ne'er-do-well (Grose).

1577-87. holinshed, Hist. Scot.,

an. 1427. For shortlie vpon his deliuerance, he gathered a power of wicked scapeth rifts, and with the same comming into Inuernes, burnt the towne.

1862. Thackeray, Philip, ii. I could not always be present to guard the little scape grace.

1885. D. Telegraph, 29 Sept. The scape-graces and ne'er-do-wells you considered dead a generation since.

Scaramouch, subs. (old).—i. A buffoon ; whence (2) = a disreputable rascal. [stanford : It. Scaramticcia, the braggart buffoon of Italian comedy.]

1662. Davies, Ambass. Trav. (1669), vi. 283. Countenances and Postures, as Scaramuzza himself would be much troubled to imitate.

1673. Wycherley, Gentleman DancingMaster, iii. 1. Ah, le brave

scaramouche!

1673. Dryden, Epilogue to Univ., Oxford, 15 (Globe Ed., p. 422). Stout Scaramoucha with rush lance rode in, And run a tilt at centaur Arlequin.

1707. Ward, Hud. Rediv., 11. v. 5. Dress'd up in Black, like Scaramouches.

_ 1711. Spectator, No. 83. The third artist that I looked over was Fantasque, dressed like a Venetian scaramouch.

c. 1720. Broadside Ballad, 'The Masquerade* [Farmer, Merry Songs and Ballads (1897), iii. 233]. A Scaramouch is nimble, Tho' lazy he appears.

1716. Wilkins, Polit. Bal. (i860), 11. 175. The sacramouches everywhere, With open throats bawled out.

1725. Bailey, Coll. Eras., ' Penitent Virgin.' O these Scaramouches, how they know to wheedle the poor people !

1824. Irving, Tales of a Trav. (1849), 322. He swore no scaramouch of an Italian robber would dare to meddle with an Englishman.

2. (showmen's).—A puppet.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., in. 60. This here's the Scaramouch that dances without a head.

Scarborough-warning (leisure, scrabbling), &c, subs, phr. (old).—See quots.

1546. Heywood, Proverbs [Oliphant, Nezu Eng., i. 504. Scarborough warning (the blow before the word) is found in page 76].

1557. Heywood, O.'d Ballad[Harl. Misc. (Park), x. 258]. This term, Scarborow warning, grew (some say) By hasty hanging, for rank robbry theare.

1580. Tusser, Husbandry, x. 28, 22 [E. D. S.]. Be suretie seldome (but neuer for much) for feare of purse penniles hanging by such ; Or Skarborow warning, as ill I beleeue, when (sir I arest yee) gets hold of thy sleeue.

1582. Stanyhurst, jEnid, iv. 621. Al they the lyke poste haste dyd make with scarboro' scrabbling.

1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesy, B. iii. c. Skarborow warning, for a sodaine commandement, allowing no respect or delay to bethinke a man of his business.

1591. Harington, Ariosto, xxxiv. 22. They tooke them to a fort, with such small treasure And in so Scarborow warning they had leasure.

Scarce. 112 Scarlet-horse.

1593. Harvey, Pierces Supererog. [Grosart, Works, ii. 225]. He meaneth not to come upon me with a cowardly stratagème of Scarborough warning.

1603. T. Mathew (Bishop of Durham), Letter 19, Jan. [Nares]. I received a message from my lord chamberlaine, that it was his majesty's pleasure that I should preach before him upon Sunday next ; which Scarborough warning did not only perplex me, but so puzzel me.

1616. Letter [quoted by Nares]. I now write upon Scarborough warning.

1670. Ray, Proverbs, 263. This

Eroverb took its original from Thomas tafford, who in the reign of Queen Mary, ^T557> with a small company seizd on Scarborough Castle (utterly destitute of provision for resistance) before the townsmen had the least notice of his approach. [This is taken from Fuller's Worthies : cf. Stafford law and see quots. 1546 and 1557 which show the phrase in earlier use.]

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary (1811), 94. A Scarborough warning. That is, none at all, but a sudden surprise.

1843. Halliwell, Archaic Words, êr>c, s.v. Scarborough . . . Scarborough leisure, no leisure at all.

Scarce. To make one's self

scarce, verb. phr. (colloquial).—

To retire (Grose).

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 374. It was my fixed purpose to make myself scarce at Seville.

1812. Margravine of Anspach [C. K. Sharpe's Correspondence (1888), ii. 20]. I shall make myself very, very scarce, and live only for myself.

1821. Scott, Kenilworth, iv. Make yourself scarce—depart—vanish !

1836. M. Scott, Cruise of Midge, 114. My fine fellow, you are a little off your cruising ground, so be making yourself scarce—Bolt—vanish—get on deck with you.

1840. Barham, Ingolds. Leg. (Lay of St. Odille). Come, make yourselves scarce !—it is useless to stay.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 265. I had warned her to make herself scarce at her earliest possible convenience.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz., \6 Jan. Now, bobbies, make yourselves scarce . . . you know this is a gentleman's private apartment, and you're trespassers.

Scare. To scare up, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To find ; to discover : e.g., 'to scare up money.'

Scarecrow, subs, (thieves').—See quot.

1884. Greenwood, Little Ragamuffins. The scarecrow is the boy who has served him [a thief] until he is well known to the police, and is so closely watched that he may as well stay at home as go out.

Scare head, subs, (journalists').— A line in bold type calculated to arrest attention.

1900. White, West End, 339. One of our calm days, unbroken by scareheads in the newspapers, or by the croakings of nervous critics.

Scarlet. To dye scarlet, verb.

phr. (old).—See quot.

1598. Shakspeare, / Hen. IV., ii. 4. They call drinking deep, dyeing

scarlet.

To wear scarlet, verb. phr. (old).—i. To win the higher University degrees ; (2) to attain sheriff or aldermanic rank. [Which were scarlet-robed.]

1610. Jonson, Alchemist, i. 1. This summer he will be of the clothing of his company, and next spring called to the

scarlet.

1613. Webster, Devils Law-Case, ii. 3. Your patience has not ta'en the right degree of wearing scarlet ; I should rather take you For a bachelor in the art, than for a doctor.

Scar let-f ever, subs. phr. (common).—Flirtation with soldiers: Fr. culotte(or pantalon-) rouge: cf. Yellow-fever.

1862. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., iv. 235. Nurse-maids . . . are always ready to succumb to the scarlet-fever. A red coat is all powerful with this class.

Scar let-horse, subs. phr. (old).

—See quot.

1785. Grose, Vul^. Tongue, s.v. Scarlet Horse. A high-red, hired or back horse : a pun on the word.

Scarlet Lancers. 113 Scavenger's-daughter.

Scarlet Lancers (The). See

Red Lancers.

Scarlet-runner,subs.phr. (old). —i. A Bow-street officer ; a Robin-redbreast (q.v.). [They wore scarlet waistcoats.]

2. (common).—A footman.

Scarlet-town, stibs. phr. (provincial).—Reading [Berks.]

Scarlet-woman, subs. phr. (religious).—The Church of Rome.

Scarper, verb, (showmen's).—To run away : see Skedaddle.

1844. Selbv, London by Night, ii. i. Vamoose—scarper—fly !

Scat, verb, (common).—Begone!

1880. Harris, Uncle Remus, xxii. Wen ole man Rabbit say 'scoot,' dey scooted, en w'en ole Miss Rabbit say ' scat,' dey scatted.

1892. Nat. Observer, 20 Aug., 356, i. There is a village somewhere West of Devonshire whose inhabitants are universally called 'Scat-ups.' For . . .

once at a volunteer review they could be induced to ' dismiss ' only by an impassioned cry of 'Scat up !'

1896. Lillard, Poker Stories, 210. We chucked him two watches and 380 dollars in cash quicker'n scat.

Scate, subs, (provincial).—A lightheels (Halliwell).

Verb, (provincial).—To be loose in the bowels (Halliwell).

Scatteration, subs. (American). —A commotion ; a dispersal. Hence scatterationist = a politician running his personal fads without reference to either party or public.

1878. N. A. Rev., cxxvi. 244. Some well-directed shots . . . sent wagons flying in the air, and produced a scatteration,

t883. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xiii. I did see one explode at a review in Melbourne—and, my word ! what a scatteration it made.

Scatterbrai n , subs, (colloquial).— An unreasoning ass ; scatterbrained = giddy.

1849. Kingsley, Alton Locke, xii. A certain scatter-brained Irish lad.

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, i. ii. a . . . tearful scatterbrained girl.

.1884. C. Reade, Art, 23. Poor Alexander, he is a fool, a scatterbrain . . . but he is my son.

Scattergood, subs. (old). — A spendthrift.

1577. Kendall, Epigrammes, 56. a mery jest of a scattergood.

1653. Sanders, Physiognomie. Which intimates a man to act the consumption of his own fortunes, to be a scatter-good ; if of honey colour or red, he is a drunkard and a glutton.

Scatter-gun, subs. phr. (American).—A shot-gun.

Scatterling, subs, (old colloquial).—A vagabond.

rf.1599. Spenser, State of Ireland [Century}. Many of them be such losells and scatterlings as that they cannot easely ... be gotten.

Scavenger's-daughter, subs, phr. (old).—An instrument of torture invented by Sir W. Skevington, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, temp. Hen. VIII. : see quot. 1889.

1580. Dia. Rerum gestarum in Turri Londiniensi, 10 Dec. Thomas Cotamus et Lucas Kirbaeus presbyteri, Scavingeri filiam ad unam horum et amplius passi ; ex quo prior copiosum sanguinem e naribus emisit.

1604. Commons Journal, 14 May. [The Committee] found in Little Ease in the Tower an engine of torture . . . called Skevington's daughters.

1840. ainsworth, Tower of Lonaon, xxiii. We will wed you to the Scavenger's Daughter, my little man.

Scew. 114

School.

1889. Ansivers, 9 Feb. The scavenger's daughter was a broad hoop of iron, consisting of two parts, fastened by a hinge. The prisoner knelt on the pavement, and the executioner having introduced the hoop under his legs, compressed the victim, till he was able to fasten the extremities over the small of the back. The time allotted was an hour and a half, it commonly happened that the blood started from the nostrils ; sometimes, it was believed, from the extremities of the hands and feet.

Scew. See Skew.

Scellum, subs. (Old Cant).—A thief: cf. Skellum.

1630. Taylor, Works, ii. 123. None holds him, but all cry, Lope, scellum, lope !

Scene, subs, (colloquial).—An exhibition of feeling or temper.

1847. Bronte, Jane Eyre, xxvii. You have no desire to expostulate, to upbraid, to make a scene.

1862. Thackeray, Philip, xxvii. Hush ! hush ! . . . she must be kept quiet . . . There must be no more scenes, my fine fellow.

Behind the scenes, phr. (colloquial).—Having access to information not open to the general public ; in the know (q.v.).

Scene-rat, subs. phr. (theatrical). —An "extra" in ballet or pantomime.

Sceptre, subs, (venery).—The penis: see Trick. Also Cyprian sceptre.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. xi. One of them would call it her fiddlediddle, her staff of love . . . her Cyprian sceptre.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 47. Now night came on, The thund'rer led His helpmate to her wicker bed ; There they agreed, and where's the wonder, His sceptre rais'd she soon knock'd under.

Scheme, subs. (Winchester).—See quot.—Mansfield (c 1840).

1891. Wrench, Word Book, s.v. Scheme . . . The candle on reaching a measured point ignites paper, which by burning a string releases a weight ; this falls on the head of the boy to be waked.

Schism-shop, subs. phr. (old).— A dissenting meeting-house ; schism-monger = a dissenting parson (Grose) : amongst Catholics any Protestant church or chapel.

1840. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., iv. " Stickin' a subscription paper into a very strait-laced man, even for building a schism-shop for his own folks, is like stickin' a needle behind an ox's ear, it kills him dead on the spot."

1852. Shirley Brooks, Miss Violet and her Offers, vi. "The tenants-at-will

who vote for church candidates-."

" By the tenants-at-won't, who go in for the schism-shop "—dashed in the smart barrister.

Schitt, subs. (Winchester).—A goal : at football : see Gowner. [Wrench : This was the word in general use till i860, when it was superseded by 'goal.']

Schliver, subs. (old).—A claspknife (Bee).

Schol, subs. (Harrow). — 1. A scholar ; and (2) a scholarship.

School, subs. (old).—'A party of persons met together for the purpose of gambling ' (Grose, Vaux). Also (modern) any small band of associates, as thieves or beggars working together, a set of passengers travelling regularly by the same train, &c. Hence schoolman = a companion, a mate.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 234. Some classes of patterers, I may here observe, work in schools or ' mobs ' of two, three, or four.

1866. London Miscellany, 3 Mar., 57. We don't want no one took in that's on the square. The governor's promised tbe school as strangers shant use the bouse,

Schooling. 115

Scoff.

Schooling, subs, (thieves').—A term of confinement in a reformatory.

1879. Auto, of Thief [Macm. Mag., xl., 501]. She is young—just come from a

schooling.

2. (thieves').—See quot.

1888. Globe, 25 Mar. A batch of these grimy ones being brought up the other day for playing pitch and toss—in the local vernacular, schooling—in a public place, their counsel argued that they were driven to it by destitution.

School-butter, sztbs. phr. (old). —A flogging (B. E., Grose).

Schoolmaster, i. See Bilk.

2. (racing).—A horse good at jumping : generally ridden with one in training.

School of Venus, subs. phr. (old).—A brothel : see Nannyhouse (B. E., Grose).

School-st re et, subs. phr. (old University : Oxon.).—The University.

Schooner, sicbs. (American).—A tall glass : containing twice the quantity of an ordinary tumbler : three-masted schooner = a schooner of extra size.

1888. Texas Siftings, 30 June. Thanks, old hoss fly, what do you say to taking a schooner of beer at my expense ?

18S9. D. Telegraph, 8 Feb. There is a coloured man at Derby who can swallow two quarts of molasses with as much ease as a Whyo can drink a schooner of beer, and in about the same time.

See Prairie Schooner.

Schwassle-box. SeeSwatchelcove.

Scissor ean-operatio n , subs. pht. (literary).—Gutting a book.

Scissors. To give one scissors, verb. phr. (common).—To pay out ; to cut up (q.v.). Also Scissors ! = an exclamation of disgust or impatience.

1843. Selby, Antony andCleopatra. Oh, scissors ; insinuate that it takes nine of us to make a man !

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 64. I grabbed his slick har, and may be I didn't gin him scissors.

1893. Milliken, ' Arry Ballads, 33. Oh, scissors ! jest didn't we give 'em tantivy.

Scissors-and-paste, subs. phr. (literary).—Compilation : as distinguished from original work. Fr. travailler à coups de ciseaux = to compile.

Scob, subs. (Winchester College). —' An oak box with a double lid, set at the angles of the squares of wooden benches in school : used as desk and bookcase. [Probably the word has been transferred from the bench itself, and comes from Fr. escabeau, Lat. scabellum.y— Wrench.

1620. Account [to J. Hutton at his entrance into the College]. For a scobb to hold his books, 3s. 6d.

1890. G. Allen, Tents of S hem, xlii. Parker's scob was 270.

Scoff (or Scorf), verb, (nautical). — i. To eat : also as subs. = food. [Cf. Scots' scaff=food of any kind.]

1893. Flynt, Tramping with Tramps, 11. iii. Scoff's always more plenty than money.

1901. Walker, In the Blood, iv 'Those birds kill snakes do they?' . . . ' Rather . . . They goes down themselves and scoffs them.'

2. (American).—To run away; to skedaddle (q.v.): also to scoff (or scuff) away.

Scoffer.

Ii6 Sconce.

Scoffer, subs, (thieves').—Plate.

1891. Carew, Auto, of a Gipsy, 416. I gets clean off with the scawfer.

Scoldrum. See Scaldrum.

Schollard, stibs. (vulgar). — A scholar.

1708-10. Swift, Polite ConversaHons, Intro. Happily sings the Divine Mr. Tibbald's ... I am no schollard ; but I am polite : Therefore be sure I am no Jacobite.

Scolopendra, subs. (old).—A harlot : i.e., a ramping thing with a sting in its tail : see Tart (Halliwell).

£.1660. Da venant, The Siege, v. 1. Go, bring a barrel hither ! Why ? when

you scolopendra.

Scold's Cure, subs. phr. (old).— A coffin : ' the blowen has napped the scold's cure ; the wench is in her coffin' (Grose).

Sconce, subs. (old).—i. The head (Grose, Halliwell = ' Old Cant') ; whence (2) sense, judgment, brains.

1567. Damon and Pithias [Dodsley, Old Plays, iv.].

1593. Harvey, New Letter [Grosart, Wks., i. 283]. That can play vpon his warped sconce, as vpon a tabor, or a fiddle.

1598. Florio, Worlde 0/ Wördes, 82. A head, a pate, a noie, a sconce.

1602. Shakespeare, Hamlet, v. 1. Why does he suffer this rude knave now to knock him about the sconce with a dirty shovel?

1611. Barry, Ram Alley, xii. 436. I say no more, But 'tis within this sconce to go beyond them.

1642. Dr. H. More, Psychodia, iii. 13. Which their dull sconces cannot eas'ly reach.

1655. Fanshawe, Lusiad, viii. 51. Th' infused poyson working in his sconce.

1664. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft [ Works (1725), 179]. I go, and if I find him once, With my Battoon I'll bang his sconce.

1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, Ixiii. And, running into the house, exposed his back and his sconce to the whole family.

1840. Thackeray, Paris Sketch Book, no. At last Fips hits the West Indian such a blow across his sconce, that the other grew furious.

1856. R Burton, El-Mcdinah, 357. Though we might take advantage of shade ... we must by no means cover our sconces.

1895. Marriott-Watson [New Review, July, 7]. I've a mind to open that ugly sconce of yours.

2. (old : now University).—A fine ; a score. Hence to build a sconce (or to sconce) = (i) to run up a score : spec, with no intention of paying ; (2) to be mulcted in fines ; and (3) to sconce also = to pay out, to chastise (B. E., Dyche, Grose, Bee, Hotten).

1630. Randolph, Aristippus [Hazlitt, Works (1875), 14. 'Twere charity in him to sconce 'em soundly.

1632. Shirley, Witty Fair One, iv. 3. I have had a head in most of the butteries of Cambridge, and it has been sconced to purpose.

£.1640. [Shirley], Capt. Underwit [Bullen, Old Plays, ii. 323]. I can teach you to build a sconce, Sir.

</.i704. T. Brown, Works, ii. 282. I never parted with any of my favours, nay, not ... a clap gratis, except a lieutenant and ensign . . . once . . . built up a sconce, and left me in the lurch.

1730. Miller, Humours of Ox fora, i. I understand more manners than to leave my friends to go to church—no, though they sconce me a fortnight's commons, I'll not do it.

1760. Johnston, Chrysal., xxviii. These youths have been playing a small game, cribbing from the till, and building sconces, and such like tricks.

1764. ColMan, Terrœ Filius, No.

i. Any sconce imposed by the proctors.

1768. Foote, Devil on Two Sticks,

ii. i. She paid my bill the next day without sconcing off sixpence.

Sconick.

117

Scoot.

1821. _ The Etonian, ii. 391. Was sconced in a quart of ale for quoting Latin, a passage from Juvenal ; murmured, and the fine was doubled.

1883. Ellacombe [N. &* Q., 6S., viii. 326]. Men were sconced if accidentally they appeared in hall undressed. I think the sconce was a quantity of beer to the scouts. The sconce-table was hung up in the buttery.

1899. Answers, 14 Jan., i. 1. The average freshman is not very long at Oxford before he is acquainted with the mysteries of sconcing. a sconce is a fine of a quart of ale, in which the unlucky fresher is mulcted for various offences in Hall.

Verb, (common).—4. To reduce; to discontinue: e.g., to

sconce one's diet = to bant (q.v.) : to sconce the reckoning = to reduce expenses.

5. (Winchester).—To hinder; to get in the way : as of a kick at football, a catch at cricket, &c. : e.g., "If you had not sconced, I should have made a flyer."

1899. Pub. School Mag., Dec, 476. Opponents who get in each others way and sconce the kicks.

Sconick, verb. (American).—To hurry about ; to shin about (q.v.)-. also to sconick round.

1833. Neal, Down Easters, vii. 108. I could see plain enough which side you was on, without skonickin" round arter you much further.

Scoop, subs. (American).—1. A big haul ; an advantage : spec, (journalists') news secured in advance of a rival, a series of beats (q.v.). Also (2) on 'Change, a sudden breaking down of prices, enabling operators to buy cheaply, followed by a rise. As verb. = (1) to make a big haul : and (2) to get the better of a rival.

1882. McCabe, New York, 160. He runs seventy 'busses on this line, and scoops in three 'r four hundred a day.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 22 Sep. Mr. Terada, the editor, is in jail for fourteen months for getting a scoop on the government.

1889. Referee, 6 Jan. He is scooping in the shekels.

1890._ Answers, 25 Dec. Last night he slept in his bed when we walked the streets ... To think that he should scoop us !

1896. Lillard Poker Stories, 26. As a rule he scooped the pot.

3. (common).—To fetch, to fit.

1888. Sporting Life, 7 Dec. It would better scoop the situation if it were described as ' goloptious."

Verb, (whalers').—1. See quot.

1891. Century Mag., s.v. Scooping. The right [whalebone] whale gets into a patch of food or brit (resembling sawdust on the surface of the water) . . . goes through it with only the head out and mouth open. As soon as a mouthful of water is obtained the whale closes its lips, ejects the water, the feed being left in the mouth and throat [Sailors' slang].

On the scoop, phr. (common).—On the drink, or a round of dissipation.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 47. An English milord on the scoop carn't be equalled at blueing a quid.

Scoot (Skoot or Skute), verb. (common).—To move quickly ; on the scoot = on the run ; scooter = a restless knockabout; Scoot-train = an express.

1838. J. C. Neal, Charcoal SketcJus 'Pair of Slippers.' Notwithstanding his convulsive efforts to clutch the icy bricks, he skuted into the gutter.

18 [?]. Hill, Yankee Stories [Bartlett]. The fellow sat down on a hornet's nest ; and if he didn't run and holler, and scoot through the briar bushes, and tear his trowsers.

1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers. An send the Ensines skootin' to the bar-room with their banners.

1858. Atlantic Monthly, Max. The captain he scooted round into one port an' another.

Scorcher.

118 Scotch.

1869. Quart. Rev., cxxvi. 371. The laugh of the gull as he scoots along the shore.

1871. Philadelphia Age, Feb. An Iowa man, instead of going to the expense of a divorce, gave his wife a dollar, and told her to scoot.

18S0. Harris, Uncle Remus, xxii. Wen ole man Rabbit say ' scoot,' dey scooted, en w'en ole Miss Rabbit say ' scat,' dey scatted.

1888. Puck's Library, May 18. Scoot down and buy like the devil 1

1886-96. Marshall, He Slumbered ['Pomes,' 118]. So she scooted from the shanty.

1894. Sketch, 461, i. Once settled there, we scooted around for members, but there was at that time no subscription.

Scorch er, subs, (common).—Anybody or anything severe, eccentric, or hasty. Spec. to scorch = to ride a bicycle, drive a motor, &c., at top speed : whence scorching = hot (q.V.).

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 36. It was a very fine hot day — a regular "scorcher."

1885. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, 361. It's a scorcher . . . and Mr. Elliston not ' weighing-in ' with the Caterham money of course makes it rather worse for us.

1889. Corn/till Mag., July, 62. The next day was a scorcher.

1890. Pennell, Cant. Pilgrimage, Preface. We were pilgrims, not scorchers.

1890. Polytechnic Mag., 13 Mar., 5, i. An impromptu scorch was started by trying to keep behind a really fast cabby to obtain shelter from the wind.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 22. They're regular scorchers, these women.

1897. Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday, Oct. 23, 338, 3. The scorcher charges, without remorse, At all the people who cross his path.

1897. Referee, Oct. 24, 3, 1. A said-to-be scorching play entitled "At the Foot of the Altar."

1901. D. Telegraph, 7 Jan., 8, 3. As a result of complaints as to the excessive speed at which motor-cars are driven . . . the police have been keeping a sharp lookout for scorchers.

Score, verb, (common).—To get the better of : also to score off one.

Scorf. See Scorf.

Scorpion-of-the-brow, subs, phr. (literary). — See quot. (R. Burton).

1885. Burton, Thousand Nights, i. 168. Note 3.—In other copies of these verses the fourth couplet swears by the scorpions of his brow, i.e. the accrochecœurs, the beau-catchers, bell-ropes or " aggravators."

Scot, subs. (old).—I. A person easily vexed ; esp. one given to resent company sport ; the diversion is called getting one out (or round the corner). Also (2) = temper; a paddy {q.v.) ; Scottish = fiery, easily provoked. [Grose : ' A Scot is a bullock of a particular breed which affords superior diversion when hunted ; Bee : ⁴ A butcher's term '].

Scotch, subs, (colloquial).— i. Scotch whiskey : cf. Irish.

1886-96. Marshall, He Slumbered ['Pomes,' 118]. In the early evening watches he had started well on Scotches.

1893. Ckackanthorpe, Wreckage, 125. Mary, two bitters and a small Scotch to the Commercial Room, and a large Irish for Mr. Hays here.

2. See Scotch-peg.

Phrases.—Scotch-bait = ' A halt and a resting on a stick as practised by pedlars (Grose) ; Scotch-casement = the pillory ; Scotch-chocolate = ' brimstone and milk ' (Grose) ; Scotch-coffee = hot water

Scotch. 119 Scoundrel.

flavoured with burnt biscuit ; Scotch-fiddle = the itch ; to flay the Scotch-fiddle = 'to work the index finger of one hand like a fiddle-stick between the index and middle finger of the other' (Dyche, Grose) ; Scotch Greys = lice : hence headquarters of the Scots' Greys = a lowsy head (Grose) ; Scotchhobby = ' a little sorry, scrubbed, low Horse of that country' (B. E.); Scotch-mist = a soaking rain (B. E., Grose) ; Scotchordinary^ the house of office' (Ray); Scotch-peg = (rhyming) a leg : also Scotch ; Scotchpint = ^{a bottle containing two quarts'(Grose) ; Scotch-prize = a capture by mistake (Grose) : cf. Dutch ; Scotch-seamanship = all stupidity and main strength; Scotch-warming-pan = (1) a chambermaid, and (2) a fart (q.v— Ray, B. E., Grose); to answer Scotch fashion = to reply by asking another question ; cf. Yankee Fashion.

1675. Earl of Rochester, Tunbridge Wells, June 30. And then more smartly to expound the Riddle Of all his Prattle, gives her a Scotch Fiddle.

1762. London Register [Notes and Queries, 3 S., v. 14.] " The Scotch Fiddle," by M'Pherson. Done from himself. The figure of a Highlander sitting under a tree, enjoying the greatest of pleasures, scratching where it itches.

1834. Michael Scott, Cruise of Midge, 231. What ship is that? This was answered Scotch fashion—What felucca is that ?

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 357. But mind, if you handle any of his wares, he don't make you a present of a Scotch fiddle for nothing.

1868. Temple Bar, xxv. 76. The Scots Greys were frequently on the march in the clothes of the convicts.

1886. Marshall, Pomes, 23. But some buds of youthfull purity, with undisplayed Scotch pegs. Ibid. Giddy (70). With that portion of his right Scotch peg supposed to be his calf.

1900. St. James s Gazette, 9 Ap. 3, 1. The superiority of resources on our sidle is so overwhelming that we must win if only by what the sailors call Scotch seamanship.

1883. Clark Russell, Sailor's Language, 121. Scotchman. A piece of wood fitted to a shroud or any other standing rope to save it from being chafed.

Scotchman, stibs. (Colonial).—A florin.

i836. Rider Haggard, Jess, x. Jantjé touched his hat, spat upon the Scotchman, as the natives of that part of Africa [Transvaal] call a two-shilling piece, and pocketed it. [(1) Because once upon a time a Scotchman made a great impression on the simple native mind in Natal by palming off some thousands of florins among them at the nominal value of halfa-crown.]

Flying Scotchman, sttbs. phr. (common).—The daily 2 p.m. express from Euston to Edinburgh and the North. Cf Wild Irishman.

1885. G. Dolby, Dickens as I knew him, 33. A railway carriage which was being dragged along at the rate of fifty miles an hour by the Flying Scotchman,

The Scotchman hugging the Creole, phr. (West Indian). —See quot.

1835. M. Scott, Tom Cringle, xiv. The Scotchman hugging the Creole ; look at that tree . . . It was a magnificent cedar . . . covered over with a curious sort of fret-work, wove by the branches of some strong parasitical plant . . .

Scots (The), subs, (military).— The ist Batt. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), formerly The 26th Foot : circa 1762.

Scott. See Great Scott.

Scoundrel, subs, (old : now recognised). — i. 'A Hedge-bird or sorry Scab' (B. E.); (2) 'aman void of every principle of honour ' (Grose).

Scour.

120 Scrag.

Scour, verb. (old). — i. To run

away : also to scour away (or off).—Grose.

2. (venery).—To copulate : see Greens and Ride.

1656. Fletcher, Martiall, 11. 56. She is not wont To take, but give for scouring of her-.

TO scour the darbies (or cramp-rings), verb. phr. (Old Cant).—To go (or lie) in chains [Harman (1573), Head, B. E., Coles, Grose].

1608. Dekker, The Beggar's Curse [Grosart, Works], iii. 203. Then to the quier ken, to scoure the Cramp-ring.

1707. Shirley, Triumph of Wit, 'Rum-Works Faithless Maunder.' Thou the Cramp-rings ne'er did scowre.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxxviii. No wonder that you scour the cramp-ring and trine to the cheat sae often.

Scourer (or Scowrer), subs. (old). — i. ' Drunkards, beating the Watch, breaking Windows, clearing the Streets, &c. (B. E. : also Grose) : whence (2) a nightthief. Hence to scour the streets = to act riotously.

c. 1700. Gentleman Instructed, 491 [10 ed., 1732]. He spurr'd to London, and . . . Here he struck up with sharpers, scourers, and Alsatians.

1712. Steele, Spectator, 324. Bullies and scowerers of a long standing.

1712. Gay, Trivia, iii. 325. Who has not heard the scowerers midnight fame ? Who has not trembled at the Mohock's name?

scout, subs. (Oxford Univ.).—i. A college servant—a valet, waiter, messenger, &c, in one (Grose).

1750. The Student, i. 55. My scout, indeed, is a very learned fellow.

1822. Scott, F. of Nigil, xvi. No scout in Oxford, no gyp in Cambridge, ever matched him in speed and intelligence.

1841. Hewlett, Peter Priggins, College SCOUT, &c. [Title].

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, iii. Mr. Robert Filcher, the excellent, though occasionally erratic scout.

1884. Julian Sturgis in Longmans'', v. 65. The old don went back to his chair . . . as his scout came in with a note.

2. (old). — A watchman, or (modern) a spy, esq. a police spy. Hence scout-ken = a watchhouse (rouLTER (1754), Grose, Vaux).

1800. Parker, Life's Painter, 116. There's no hornies, traps, scouts, nor beak-runners amongst them.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. iii. Turning the corner of Old Bedlam, A scout laid me flat upon my face.

3. (old).—A watch (B. E., Grose).

1688. Shadwell, Squire of Alsatia, ii. Sirrah ! here's a scout ; what's a clock, what's a clock, Sirrah.

1821. Haggart, Life, 28. Sporting an elegant dress scout, drag, and chates.

4. (old).—A mean fellow ; a scab (q.v).—B. E.

1749. Smollett, Rod. Random, xv. Though I be a poor cobbler's son, I am no

scout.

Verb. (Sporting). — To shoot pigeons outside a gun-club enclosure.

To scout on the lay, verb, phr. (thieves').—To go in search of booty.

c. 1787. Kilmainham Minit [Ireland Sixty Years Ago, 88]. The scrag-boy may yet be outwitted, And I scout again

on de lay.

Scowbank, subs, (nautical).—A term of contempt to a sailor (C. Russell).

Scrag (or Crag), subs. (old).— The neck; colquarron (q.v.): as verb. = (1) to hang ; and (2) to throttle. Hence scragging

Scrag.

121 Scran.

= an execution : scrag-boy = the hangman ; scragging-post (scrag-squeezer or scrag) = the gallows ; scragg-'em fair = a public execution (Grose, Parker, Vaux).

d. 1555. Lyndsav, Thrie Estaitis [E. E. T. S., 4031]. Allace ! Maister, ye hurt my crag.

1579. Spenser, Shep. Calendar, Feb., 89. Thy Ewes that woont to haue blowen bags, Like wailefull widdowes hangen their crags.

1653. MiDDLETON, Changeling, i. 2. The devil put the rope about her crag.

1780. Tomlinson, Slang Pastoral, 10. What Kiddy's so rum as to get himself scragg'd.

c. 1787. Kilmainham Minit [Ireland Sixty Years Ago, 88]. But if dat de slang you run sly, The scrag-boy may yet be outwitted, And I scout again on de lay.

1820. London Mag., 1. 26. The scraggIxVG-post must have been his fate.

1827. Lytton, Pelham, lxxxiii. If he pikes we shall all be scragged.

1829. The Lag's Lament [Vidocq's Mem., iii. 169). Snitch on the gang, that'll be the best vay To save your scrag.

1834. AiNSwoRTH, Roohwood, v. i. I wish I was as certain of my reward as that Turpin will eventually figure at the

scraggimg-post.

1836. Milner, Turpin's Ride to York, i. 3. I shall never come to the scragging-post, unless you turn topsman.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Leg. So out with your whinger at once And scrag Jane, while I spiflicate Johnny.

1838. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xviii. Indicating, by a lively pantomimic representation, that scragging and hanging were one and the same thing.

1843. Moncrieff, Scamps oj London, ii. 3. He was three times lagged, and werry near scragged.

1883. D. Telegraph, 7 August, 6, 2. His waistcoat was of the tight up round the scrag pattern.

1887. Henley, Villon's Straight Tip. Until the squeezer nips your SCRAG, Booze and the blowens cop the lot.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 61. A crusher's 'ard knuckles a crunching yer

scrag.

1900. Kipling, Stalky &> Co., 46. Don't drop oil over my ' Fors,' or I'll scrag you.

2. (colloquial).—A raw-bones. Hence scraggy = lean ; thin (Grose).

3. (Shrewsbury School).—See quot.

1881. Pascoe, Public Schools. The highest mark is twenty with a cross . . . and so down to a huge duck's egg and a rent across the paper entitled a scrag.

To scrag a lay, verb. phr. (old).—'To steal clothes put on a hedge to dry ' (Tufts) ; to go snowy-hunting (q.v.).

Scragg's Hotel, sttbs. phr. (tramps').—See quot.

1886. D. Telegraph, 1 Jan., 1. It looked very much as though we should be obliged to put up at Scragg's Hotel— the Work'us, if you like it better.

Scramble, subs, (common).—A feed of any kind : usually with a qualifying subs. : as teascramble, muffin-scramble, toffee-scramble, &c.

1901. Troddles, 46. ' Rats ! . . . didn't you ever have a toffee scramble?'

Scran, subs, (beggars').— (1) Food : spec, broken victuals ; (2) = refuse ; also (3, military) = a meal. Hence scran-bag = a haversack, or tommy-bag (q.v.); on the scran = begging. Bad scran to ye ! (Irish) = a mild malediction.

1724. Harper, Frisky Molls Song [Farmer, Musa Pedestris(1896), 41. But ere for the scran he had tipt the cole, The Harman he came in.

1821. Eg an, Life in London, 207. If you open your peepers you'll go without

scran.

Scrap.

122 Scrape.

1841. Lever, Charles O'Malley, lxxxv. Bad scran to me if I wouldn't marry out of a face this blessed morning just as soon as I'd look at ye.

18.51. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 466. Most of the lodging-house keepers buy the scran of the cadgers.

£.1876. Music Hall Song, 'Uncle Attend to Tommy.' And if he gets no scran, I soon shall see him wollop me As hard as ever he can.

1883. D. Telegraph, 8 Feb., 3, 2. She used to buy the contents of their scran bags of 'em. The broken wittles was no good to them, and they'd let it go cheap.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xviii. Thin bad scran to her. Is the 'onerable Mrs. Putney in town? The bark again consulted his book.

4. (common).—The reckoning at a public-house.

Scrap, subs, (common).—(i) A

fight ; a rough-and-tumble

(q.v.) : also scrap-up : hence scrapping (or scrappingmatch) = prize-fighting or boxing ; scrapper = a pugilist. Also (2) = a blow : set quot. 1610.

1610. Rowlands, Mariin Mark-All, 40 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). Scrappes, fatte and glorious bittes : sound blowes and hangings. The muggill will tip you fat scraps and glorious bits, the Beadle will well bumbast you.

1885. G. Dolby, Dickens as I knew him, 102. An effect . . . resembling a scrap in a game of football.

1886-96. Marshall, Sad Heart [' Pomes,' 76]. Why, he can't scrap for nuts.

1887. D. News, 3 Feb., 7, 1. He put his hat down in the hall, and said, "You want to scrap." (Laughter.)—Mr. D'Eyncourt : Scrap ! What does that mean ?—Defendant : It is some boxing term, sir. He came squaring up to me in a fighting attitude, and then I admit I did the best I could.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xvii. I could put up my dooks, so I backed to scrap a cove bigger nor me for a finnif a side. The scrap came off down the river at a place near Erith.

1896. Crane, Maggie, i. He murmured with interest, ' a scrap, Gee ! ' He strode over to the cursing circle. Ibid., vi. Dat mug scrapped like a dago. He tau't he was a scrapper. But he foun' out diff ent.

3. (old).—' A villainous scheme or plot' : to whiddle the whole scrap = ' to discover the plot' (Grose).

Scrape, subs, (colloquial). — 1. Trouble ; a difficulty (Grose).

1741. Warburton, Divine Legation,

11. The too eager pursuit of his old enemy has led him into many of these scrapes.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ix. He got himself into a scrape by pawning some of his lordship's clothes. Ibid. (1749), Gil Bias [Routledge], 188. By this device I got out of the scrape.

1754. Connoisseur, No. 6. I had, indeed, like to have got into some unlucky scrapes.

1767. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, i.

12. This unwary pleasantry of thine will . . . bring thee into scrapes and difficulties.

1778. Sheridan, Rivals, v. 1. Have they drawn poor ... Sir Lucian into the

scrape.

1790. Bruce, Source of Nile, 11. 456. The Naybe Musa . . . found into what a terrible scrape he had got.

1797. M. G. Lewis, Castle Spectre, v. i. He'd be in a terrible scrape if you began knocking down his walls.

1818. Scott, Rob Roy, viii. Jobson, however, was determined that Morris should not back out of the scrape or easily. Ibid. (1819), Lammermoor, viii. Unless you be in the Jacobite scrape already, it is quite needless for me to drag you in.

2. (common).—An obeisance : also as verb = to salute by scraping the feet ; scrape-shoe = a sycophant : see Leg.

1632. Massinger [?], City Madam, jv. i. Live, scrape-shoe, and be thankful.

C.1840. Mansfield, School Life in Winchester. When a Praefect wished to go out of School he scraped with his foot till he got a nod from the Master.

Scrape. 123 Scratch.

1051. Hawthorne, Seven Gables, xi. He took off his Highland bonnet, and performed a bow and scrape.

3. (common).—A shave: hence scraper = [a) a razor, and [b) a barber ; and as verb = to shave.

1869. Public Opinion, 19 June. The beard and moustache which the sailors in the Royal Navy will be permitted to wear, thereby doing away with the objection that blue-jackets have to the scraper.

4. (school). — Cheap butter : whence bread and scrape = (a) bread very thinly spread with butter, and {b) short commons. Scrape also = short shrift.

1873. Broughton, Nancy, xlvii. Some people have their happiness thinly spread over their whole lives, like bread

and scrape !

1899. Pall Mall Gazette, 5 Ap., 2, 1. From the French adventurers he was only likely to get what schoolboys call scrape, for though musical boxes and patent armchairs are all very well in the way, they do not serve to check a Dervish attack or to keep wild Somalis in subjection.

5. (old).—A turn at fiddling : also scraping ; as verb — to

fiddle; scraper(orGUT-scraper)

= a fiddler. See Cat-gut

scraper.

1607. Dekker and Webster, Westward Hoe, v. i. ' They are but rosining, sir, and they'll scrape themselves into your company presently ' . . . ' Plague a' their cat's-guts and their scraping.'

1611. Chapman, May-day, iv. 1. Strike up, scrapers !

öf. 1667. Cowley [Johnson]. Out ! ye sempiternal scrapers.

1785. Burns, Jolly Beggars. Her charms had struck a sturdy Caird, As weel's a poor gut-scraper.

6. (old). —A miser : also

scraper, scrape-penny, scrape-all, scrapescall, and

scrapegood. As verb = to stint, to deny.

1631. G. Herbert, Temple, ' Church Porch. Never was scraper brave man.

1653. Ukquhart, Kabelais, 111. iv. A pinch-penny, a scrape-good wretch.

c.1696. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, s.v. Scrape all, a Money-Scrivener : also a miserable Wretch, or gripping Fellow.

TO scrape the enamel, Verb.

phr. (cyclists').—To scratch the skin : by a fall.

See Acquaintance ; Leg.

Scraper, subs, (nautical). — A cocked hat (C. Russell).

See Scrape, Catgut-scraper, Elbow-scraper.

Scraping, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Scraping. A mode of expressing dislike to a person, or sermon, practised at Oxford by the students, in scraping their feet against the ground during the preachment ; frequently done to testify their disapprobation of a proctor who has been, they think, too rigorous.

Scrape-trencher, subs. phr. (old).—A glutton.

1772. Foote, Nabob, iii. So, Mr. Scrapetrencher, let's have no more of your jaw.

Scrappy (Scrappiness, and Scrappily), adj., subs, and adv. (colloquial).—Made up of odds and ends ; in driblets ; without system.

1872. Eliot, Middlcmarch, ii. Balanced . . . neatness . . . conspicuous from its contrast with . . . scrappy slovenliness.

1886. Cont. Rev., xlix. 779. [Carlyle] was still a raw, narrow-minded, scrappily educated Scotchman.

1890. Academy, 12 Ap., Adv. iv. Well graduated and sufficiently long to avoid scrappiness.

Scratch, subs, (old Scots').—i. See quot. : also scrat (Coles).

1560. Lindsay, of Pitscottie, Cronicles (Edinburgh, 1883J, 1. 162. Thare was one borne quhich had the memberis both of male and female, called in oure language ane scratch.

Scratch. 124 Scratch.

2. (old).—A swaggerer (Halliwell).

3. (old).—The itch (Halliwell). Hence scratchland = Scotland : cf Scots Greys.

4. (old). — A miserly man (Halliwell).

5. (sporting). — In handicaps (a) a starting line for those contestants allowed no odds, (b) the time of starting, (c) a start, (d) contestants starting from the scratch-Iine. In boxing, a line drawn across the ring {q.v.) to which boxers are brought for a set-to (Grose). Hence to come (or bring) up to (or toe) the scratch = to be ready, willing.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 51. Sprightly to the scratch both buffers came.

182t. Egan, Life itt London, 1. i. I challenge thee to the scratch ! 'Tis one of the Fancy calls 1

1825. Jones, ' True Bottom'd Boxer ' [Univ. Songst., ii. 96]. He's for the scratch, and come up too in time.

1827. Scott, Two Drovers, ii. "How would you fight then?" said his antagonist; "though I am thinking it would be hard to bring you to the scratch anyhow."

1834. Ainsworth, Rookivood, iv. ii. Bold came each buffer to the scratch.

1857. Bradley, Verdant Green, 11. iv. Wondering ... if the gaining palms in a circus was the customary "flappershaking " before toeing the scratch for business.

1880. Athenäum, 4 Sept., 316, 2. A young lady, apparently of about thirteen years of age, who comes on the stage in a short frock, brings a timid and recalcitrant lover to the scratch.

1885. M. Post, 5 Feb. The former starting from scratch, and the latter in receipt of 200 points.

1885. Century Mag., xl. 207. The scratch, or line from which the jump is taken is a joist some five inches wide, sunk flush with the ground

1892. Anstey, Voces Pof>uli, ¹ At the Military Tonrnament,' 97. (The chestnut is at length brought up to the scratch snorting, etc.)

6. (billiards).—A fluke (q.v.).

Adj. (colloquial). — Generic for chance: hap-hazard, hasty, 'first come, first served.' Thus a

scratch-crew (-team, Or

-company) = a crew, &c, got together at short notice and without special selection ; scratchrace = a contest, unrestricted by conditions, a ' Go-as-you-please ' affair; a scratch-meal = a pick-up (q.v.) meal; &c, &c. Also to scratch along = to manage somehow.

1859. Lever, Davenport Dunn, lvi. Gathered together like what jockies call a scratch-team,

1869. Orchestra, 18 June. There is no English company—not the best— worthy of comparison with Felix's scratch troupe in respect of ensemble, of accurate detail.

1870. Figaro, 15 Feb. I do not much like the look of the scratch company that Messrs. Montague, James, and Thome have got together.

1874. Collins, Frances, xlii. Frances and Cecilia, coming down, found a hasty luncheon, and everybody busy at it . . . When this scratch luncheon was over, everybody went out.

1883. Oliphant, Altiora Pets, 1. xvi. 261. A coarse-fibred, stumpy little man . . . whose vulgarity would have fatally handicapped any other woman than his lovely and talented wife in the social scratch race.

1885. Field, 4 Ap. Notwithstanding their long preparation and perfect coaching [they] looked like scratch crews.

1888. Harpers Mag., lxxvii. 88. I suspect we'll scratch along all right.

Verb, (colloquial).—1. To expunge ; to blot-out ; spec, (a) to reject a horse, a candidate, &c ; and (b) to retire.

Scratched.

i860. W. H. Russell, Diary in India, 1. 189. His last act is to try and get his name scratched.

1868. Whyte-Melville, White Rose, i. xiii. How's the hoose ? . . . You haven't scratched him, have ye ?

1884. D. Telegraph, 25 August, 3, 4. An acceptance of fourteen has already been cut down to a dozen by the scratching of Jetsam and Loch Ranza. Ibid. (1885), 6 Oct. One of his owner's first actions . . . was to scratch the horse.

1885. D. Chronicle, 3 July. The Eton boys . . . made up their minds on Wednesday evening to scratch.

1888. D. Chronicle, 10 Dec. Grimsby Town received a bye, Gainsborough Trinity having scratched to them.

1888. Sp. Life, 18 Dec. As she was clearly handicapped out of the race at Wye I had no option but to scratch her.

2. (colloquial).—To scribble : as subs. = a scrawl. Scratcher (U. S.) = a daybook.

</.i745. Swift [Century], If any of their labourers can scratch out a pamphlet, they desire no wit, style, or argument.

1172. Eliot, Middlemarch, lxxv. This is Chichely's scratch. What is he writing to you about.

1887. Phil. Ledger, 30 Dec. He [a bank teller] would not enter deposits in his scratcher after a certain hour.

Phrases. — No great scratch = of little value ; Old Scratch (q.v.) ; to scratch one's wool (tailors') = to try one's memory, to puzzle out; ' Scratch my breech and I'll claw your elbow' (Ka me, Ka

thee, q.V.)'_} not a sixpence to scratch his arse with =

penniless.

1844. Major Jones's Courtship Detailed, 136. There are a good many Joneses in Georgia, and I know some myself that ain't no great scratches.

Scratched, adj. (Old Cant).— Drunk : see Screwed. [Taylor, Water Poet, 1630].

Screamer.

Scratch er, subs. (American).—i. An independent elector ; a bolter (q.v.).

1883. Atlantic Monthly, lh. 327. To whom a scratcher is more hateful than the Beast.

See Scratch, verb. 2.

Scrawny, subs. (American).—A thin, ill-made man or woman; a

rasher of wind (q.V.).

1890. Detroit Free Press, 21 June, 5, 3. If the line is to be drawn between the scrawny and the adipose, the scrawnies have it. They are full of delightful possibilities.

Screamer, subs, (common).—i. An exceptional person or thing : hence screaming = first-rate, splendid : spec, as causing screams of laughter.

1846. Thorpe, Backwoods [Century]. If he's a specimen of the Choctaws that live in these parts, they are screamers.

1847. Porter, Quarter Race, 189. ' Now look out for a screamer I '

1853. Wh, Melville, Digby Grand, xx. I am in for a screamer, and the bill for which I am arrested is only a ruse to prevent my leaving England.

1864. Hotten, Slang Diet, s.v. Screaming . . . Believed to have been used in the Adelphi play • bills : " a screaming farce," one calculated to make the audience scream with laughter.

1874. Siliad, 49. There'll be no child's play in the Russian dug, 'Twill be a screamer, and a frightful tug.

1879. Braddon, Cloven Foot, vi. "Well," cried the manager, radiant, "a screaming success. There's money in it. I shall run this three hundred nights."

1883. D. Telegraph, 19 Jan., 3, 5. A more amusing half-hour could not be spent than under the influence of this farce, which, in the old Adelphi days would most emphatically have been called a screamer. Ibia. (1888), 8 Dec. The ' Deputy-Registrar' is a screamer indeed.

1888. Runciman, Chequers, 38. She's a screamer, she's a real swell.

125

Screech.

126 Screw.

1891. Sporting Life, 25 Mar. The piece, which is of the screaming order of farce, certainly produces abundant laughter.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 77. Yank on to one gal, a fair screamer.

2. (thieves'). —A thief who, robbed by another thief, applies to the police ; in American a

squealer (q.v.).

Screech, sztbs. (common).—Whiskey : see Old Man's Milk.

Screech er, suds, (colloquial).— Anything harsh or strident. Hence screechy = loud mouthed.

Screed. Screed o' drink, stibs. phr. (Scots').—i. A full supply ; whence (2) a drinking bout.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering; xxv. Naething confuses one, unless it be a screed o'drink at an oration.

Screen, subs. (old).—A bank note (Grose, Vaux). Hence screenfaking = fingering notes ; queer screens = counterfeit paper : cf.

screeve.

1821. Egan, Life in London, ii. v. Vy, it's full of pot-hooks and hangers—and not a screen [£i note] in it.

1830. Moncrieff, Heart of London, 11. i. A little screen-faking, that's all.

1834. Ainsworth, Roodivood, ' Nix my Dolly.' Readily the queer screens I then could smash.

1840. Lytton, Paul Clifford, xxxi. Stretched for smashing queer screens.

Screeve (or Screave), subs. (old). i. Anything written : a begging letter, a testimonial, chalk pavement work, &c. Also (2) a bank note (Scots) : cf. screen ; Screeveton = the Bank of England. As verb. = to write, or draw ; screever (or screevefaker) = (1) a cheeky beggar (Grose, Vaux), and spec. (2) a pavement-'artist.'

1821. Haggart, Life, 25. The screaves were in his benjy cloy.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 339. Professional beggars are . . . those who 'do it on the blob' (by word of mouth), and those who do it by screeving, that is, by petitions and letters. Ibid. i. 341. Such a 'fakement' [a begging petition, &c], put into the hands of an experienced lurker, will bring the 'amanuensis,' or screever, two guineas at least, and the proceeds of such an expedition have in many cases averaged £60 per week. Ibid., 1. 542. His chief practice was screev1ng or writing on the pavement. Ibid. (1862), iv. 442. The next screeve takes the form of a resolution at a public meeting.

1857. Punch, 31 Jan., 49. It's agin the rules is screevin' to pals out o' gaol.

1866. London Miscellany, 3 Mar., 57. " You'd better be a screever if they ask you," said he. "That'll account for your hands, you know." "You mean a begging-letter writer?"

1883. Punch, 14 July, 13, 2. Here is a brilliant opening for merry old Academicians, festive flagstone screevers, and "distinguished amateurs."

1884. World, 16 April, 15, 1. A correspondent writes : " Apropos of screever . . . does it get its derivation from the Italian scrivere, to write? "

T887. Henley, Villon's Straight Tip, r. Suppose you screeve or go cheap-jack.

1889. Answers, 27 July, 136, 2. A list of subscribers to a charity is carefully cut out by the scrf.evers and studied. Ibid. A clerk is frequently called a screever, but a screever proper (or improper) is such a remarkable person.

Screw, subs, (colloquial).—1. An extortioner ; a miser. As verb. = to coerce into paying or saving money, or making a promise, yielding one's opinion, vote, person, &c. : also to screw up (or out), and to put on (or under or turn) the screw (B. E., Grose); screwy (or screwing) = mean.

c. 1696. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, s.v. Screw, to screw one up, to exact upon one, or Squeeze one in a Bargain or Reckoning.

Screw.

127

Screw.

1781. Cowper, Truth, 3B5. Strained to the last screw he can bear.

1847. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, viii. They both agreed in calling him an old screw, which means a very stingy, avaricious person.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 319. Mechanics are capital customers . . . They are not so screwy.

1852. Dow, Sermons, i. 302. Love strains the heart-strings of the human race, and not unfrequently puts the screws on so hard as to snap them asunder.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xliv. Did you ever hear of me screwing ? No, I spend my money like a man.

1857. New York Times, 15 Sep. Such turns of the screws as we have had for the last three weeks, if continued, would bring almost every mercantile house in New York to wreck.

1859. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, xxvii. However I will put the screw on them. They shall have nothing from me till they treat her better.

1860. Cornhill Mag., 11. 381. He was an immense screw at school.

1866. G. Eliot, Felix Holt, xi. A screwing fellow, by what I understand— a domineering fellow—who would expect men to do as he liked without paying them for it.

1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses, ar'c, 170. If I entrust my tailor with stuff for a suit, and it afterwards comes to my knowledge that he has screwed an extra waistcoat out of it.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, ist S., No. xvii. 301. For once in his screwy life, old Brown was generous.

1876. Braddon, Joshua Haggard, xxx. He were so hard upon 'em, and that screwy, never a drop of milk or a fagot to give 'em.

1876. Burnaby, Ride to Khiva, ii. The Russians will not openly stop you, but they will put the screw upon our own Foreign Office and force the latter to do so.

1885. Field, 12 Dec. The utterly exorbitant rents that Scotch proprietors . . . have managed to screw out of sportsmen in the last few years.

1885. D. Telegraph, 12 Sep. He had little doubt of being able to put the screw on me for any amount I was good for.

2. (American collegiate).—(a) An unnecessarily minute examination; and {Ô) a screw. The instructor is often designated by the same name.—(Hall, College Words. )

18 [?]. Harvard Register, 378 [Bartlett]. One must experience the stammering and stuttering, the unending doubtings and guessings, to understand fully the power of a mathematical screw.

3. (common). — An old or worthless horse : whence (loosely) anything old. Screwy = wornout, worthless.

1835. Apperley, Nimrods Hunting Tour, 215. Mr. Charles Boultbee, the best screw driver in England. {Note.) This is somewhat technical, and wants an explanation. A lame or very bad horse is called a screw.

1858. Lytton, What Will He Do with it, viii. vi. I suppose I was cheated and the brute proved a screw.

1869. Whyte-Melville, M. or N, 61. The utmost speed attainable by a pair of high wheels, a well-bred screw, and a rough-looking driver.

1870. R. Broughton, Red as a Rose, xix. The oldest and screwiest horse in the stables.

1870. Times, 23 July, ' Speech of Lord Granville.' A considerable number of what are vulgarly called screws have been bought at £20 a piece.

1874. Collins, Frances, xlii. Julian Orchard proved his skill as a whip by making four screws do six miles in twenty-five minutes.

1897. Kennard, Girl in Brown Habit, i. 4. A couple of likely-looking

screws.

4. (common).—See quot. 1851.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 494. I never was admitted to offer them in a parlour or tap-room ; that would have interfered with the order for screws (penny papers of tobacco), which is a rattling good profit.

i8[?] Dickens, Reprinted Pieces {Bill-Sticking), 181. A pipe, and what I understand is called a screw of tobacco— an object which has the appearance of a curl-paper taken off the barmaid's head with the curl in it.

Screw. 128 Screw.

5. (common).—Money earned.

c. i860. Music-hall Song, ' The G. P. O. ' He often thought of marriage, though his screw was low.

1872. Figaro, 18 May. The amateur element . . . takes paltry salaries (often none), and keeps down the screw of the actor.

1879. Justin M'Carthy, Donna Quixote, xvii. They get a good screw at the music-halls, I'm told.

1886. D. Telegraph, 25 Sep. .£150 per annum is considered quite a good screw for a senior hand.

1886-96. Marshall, 'Pomes,' 45. When he paid him his screw.

1892. Ally Sloper, 27 Feb., 71, 3. He had now the neat salary of £450 a year, and had come to the conclusion that a person with a screw like that might safely commit matrimony.

6. (old).—A turnkey (Grose) : Fr. raf and griffleur. As verb. — to imprison : also to put under the screw; screwing = a term of imprisonment.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 1. ii. Washing the ivory with a prime screw under the spikes in St. George's Fields. Ibid., 11. vii. The officer, for his own safety, was compelled to put him under the screw. Ibid. (ist ed.), 219. If ever I am screwed up within these walls.

1869. Temple Bar, xxvi. 72. He was a fool to let the screw see he had the snout.

1872. D. Telegraph, 4 July. The letter was produced ... It was to the effect that the woman was to try her best with the screws, and that there were plenty of " quids " to get her out of prison by next Monday.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, ii. The slang name for all the officials is screws.

1889. Answers, 9 Mar., 233, 3. Great excitement was caused ... by an attempt made by a prisoner on the life of a warder. The Screw was examining the man, who was working as a tailor, &c.

1890. Sportsman, 6 Dec. He was next trained to run at Haydock in September, and got a good screwing for an unfurnished puppy sixteen months old.

7. (old).—A skeleton-key: as verb. — to burgle : spec, by means of false keys ; the screw (or screw-game) = burglary; screwsman = a burglar (Vaux). Also *to stand on the screw' = (Grose) ' the door is not bolted merely locked.'

1852. Judson, Myst. 0/ New York, 11. ii. I sent on to have the screws fitted, and somethin's leaked out, for they've put a glim inside.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3rd Ed.), 445. Housebreaking implements—Screws.

1868. Temple Bar, xxv. 543. From that I got to be a screwsman, and a cracksman.

1879. Horsley [Macm. Mag., xl. 503]. I had the James and screws on me . . . We went and screwed into his place, and got thirty-two quid. Ibid., 505. I asked a screwsman if he would lend me some screws.

1888. Cassel? s Sat. J I., 22 Dec, 305. The screw fits the same as if it had been made for the back door.

188S. Sims, Plank Bed Ballad, 5. With screws and a jarties I was collared.

8. (old). — A prostitute : see Tart. Whence, as verb. = to copulate : see Ride (Grose).

9. (common). — A dram ; a

pick-me-up.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, iii. It seems he was in the habit of taking every morning a screw in the shape of a little dose of bitters to correct the effects of the last evening's festivities.

10. (old).—A stomach ache (Halliwell).

A screw loose, verb. phr. (old). -Something wrong (Grose : ' a complete flash phrase ').

1821. Egan, Life in London, 1. vii. The token was sufficiently impressive to remind him that if the loose screw was not attended to the hinges would be ultimately out of repair.

Screwed,

129

Screwed.

1830. Moncrieff, Heart ofLondon, ii. 2. His lordship seems hipped—something wrong in the House last night, I suppose—a screw loose on the opposition benches.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick, xlix. My uncle was confirmed in his original impression that something dark and mysterious was going forward, or, as he always said himself, that 'there was a screw loose somewhere.'

1855. Trollops, The Warden, viii. There's a screw loose in their case, and we had better do nothing.

1872. South London Press, 17 Aug. Whether there was a screw loose in the apparatus, or whether the man possessed nerves of more than ordinary power, I know not ; but somehow or other the electricity had no effect.

Screwed (or Screwy), (common).—Drunk; tight (q.v.).

English synonyms. — [Further lists will be found under Drinks,Drunk,D.T's,Gallondistemper, Lush, Lush-crib, and Lushington.] To be afflicted, afloat, alecied, all at sea, all mops-and-brooms, in one's armour, in one's altitudes, at rest, Bacchi plemts, battered, be-argered, beery, bemused, a bit on, blind, bloated, bio wed, blued, boozed, bosky, a brewer, bright in the eye, bubbed, budgy, buffy, bung-eyed, candy, canon (or cannon), chirpingmerry, chucked, clear, clinched, concerned, corked, corkscrewed, corky, corned, crooked, in one's cups, cup-shot, cut, dagged, damaged, dead-oh ! disguised, disorderly, doing the Lord (or Emperor), done over, down (with barrel-fever : see Gallon-distemper), dull in the eye, full of Dutch-courage, electrified, elephant's-trunk (rhyming), elevated, exalted, far gone, feeling funny (or right royal), fettled (or in good fettle), fighting-tight (or drunk),

flawed, floored, fluffed, flummoxed, flushed, flustered, flustrated, flying-high, fly-blown, fogged (or foggy), fou (Scots), on fourth, foxed, fresh, fuddled, full, full-flavoured, full to the bung, fuzzy, gay, gilded, glorious, grape-shot, gravelled, greetin'fou', groggy, hanced, half-seasover, happy, hard-up, hazy, heady, hearty, helpless, hicciusdoccius, hickey, high, hockey, hoodman, in a difficulty (see Gallon-distemper), incog, inspired, jagged, jolly, jug-bitten, kennurd (back slang = drunk), all keyhole, kisk, knocked-up, leary, lion drunk, in Liquor-pond Streetloaded, looking lively, lumpy, lushy, making indentures with one's legs, malted, martin-drunk, mashed, mellow, miraculous, mixed, moony, mopped, moppy, mortal, muckibus, muddled, mugged, muggy, muzzy, nappy, nase (or nazy), noddy-headed, noggy, obfuscated, oddish, off (off at the nail, or one's nut), on (also on the bend, beer, batter, fuddle, muddle, sentry, skyte, spree, etc. : see Flare-up and Floored), out (also out of funds, register, altitudes, &c), overcome, overseen, overshot, over-sparred, overtaken, over the bay, palatic, paralysed, peckish, a peg too low, pepst, pickled, piper-drunk (or -merry), ploughed, poddy, podgy, potted-off, pot-shot, potsick, pot-valiant, primed, pruned, pushed, queered, quick-tempered, raddled, rammaged, rampingmad, rather touched, rattled, reeling (or tumbling), ripe, roaring, rocky, salubrious, scammered, scooped, sewn up, shaky, three (or four) sheets in the wind, shot, shot in the neck, slewed, smeekit, smelling of the cork, snapped, snuffy, snug, so, soaked, sow-

Screwed.

130

Screwed.

drunk, spiffed, spoony-drunk, spreeish, sprung, squiffed (or squiffy), stale-drunk, starchy, swattled, swiggled, swilled, swinnied, swine-drunk, swiped (or swipey), swivelly, swizzled, taking it easy, tangle-footed, tapshackled, taverned (also hit on the head by a tavern bitch, or to have swallowed a tavern token), teeth under, thirsty, tight, tipsy, top-heavy, topsy-boosy, tosticated, under the influence, up a tree, up in one's hat, waving a flag of defiance, wet, wet-handed, what-nosed, whipcat (Florio), whittled, winey, yappish (yaupy or yappy). Also, to have a guest in the attic, the back teeth well afloat, a piece of bread and cheese in the head, drunk more than one has bled, the sun in one's eyes, a touch of boskiness, a cup too much, a brick in the hat, a drop in the eye, got the flavour, a full cargo aboard, a jag on, a cut leg, the malt above the wheat, one's nuff, one's soul in soak, yellow fever. Also, to have been barring too much, bitten by a barn mouse, driving the brewer's horse, biting one's name in, dipping rather deep, making M's and T's, paid, painting the town red, shaking a cloth in the wind. Also, to wear a barley cap, to cop the brewer, to let the finger ride the thumb, to lap the gutter, to need a reef taken in, to see the devil, to take a shard (or shourd), to shoe the goose, to see one apiece.

French Synonyms.—S allumer ; s'attendrir ; attraper tin allumette rond, un coup de sirop, or une maculature ; Avoir son affaire, son allumette (son allu-

mette ronde, de campagne, or de marchand de vin), une barbe, son caillon, un coup de bleu (de bouteille, chasselas, fard, feu, feu de société, picton, sirop, or soleil), son casque, sa chique, sa cocarde, son compte, sa ctiite, une culotte, de gaz, un grain (or petit grain), son jeune homme, le mal SaintMartin, le nez sale (or nez dechien), le panache, son paquet, sa pente, sa pistache, son plein, son plumet, sa pointe, son pompon, son poteau (or poteau télégraphique), du roulis, un sabre, le sac plein, or son toquel; avoir fumé un pipe neuve ; en avoir jusqu'à la troisième capucin, une charretée, une vraie muffée, plein son sac, or dans le toquet ; battre la muraille ; se cardinaliser ; charmer les puces ; se cingler le blair ; se coaguler ; se cocarder ; se coller un cotip de jus, or une biture ; se culotter de la tête aux pieds ; écraser un grain ; s'embrouillarder ; s'émécher ; s'émérillonner ; s'entuminer ; s'empaffer ; s'empoivrer ; Etre absinthe, allumé, asphyxié, bamboche, bien (or bien pensé), tin brin en riole, dans les brindezingues, dans le brouillard, dans les broussilles, bu, casquette, chargé, en chérance, cinglé, coinplet, dessous, en drive, éniéché, emu, dans tin état voisin, fadé (or bienfadé), fier, gai, gavé, gris d officier, humecté, lancé, en liehe, louave, machabé, monté, mouillé, paf (or paf jusqtt'à la troisième), dans (or de) la paroisse de Saint-Jean le Rond, parti (or parti pour la gloire), en patrouille, pavois, pion, plein (or plein comme un œuf, un sac), plombé pochard, poche, poivre, poussé raide (or 7aide comme la justice), riche, rond (or ronde com?ne une balle, une bourrique, tme bourrique à Robespierre, or une boule), saoul

Screwed.

13¹ Scrope.

comme un âne (un hanneton, une grive, un Polonais, or trente milles hommes), slasse (or slaze)> teinté, dans la terrine, en train, dans les vignes (or la vigne) du Seigneur, and vent dessus-dessous (or dedans) ; faire cracher ses soupapes ; se farder; fêter la Saint-Lundi ; se flanquer un coup d'arrosoir (une cuite, une Culotte, or une fameuse pétée) ; se foncer ; se grimer ; se grisoller ; mettre son nez dans le bleu ; se mettre en dedans ; se mouiller ; se paffer ; se payer ; se pincer (ox se pincer un coup de sirop or le tasseau) ; se piquer le nez (le tasseau, or le tube) ; se pocharder ; se poisser; se poivrotter; se pommader ; prendre son allumette de campagne (or une barbé) ; ramponner ; se salir le nez ; schniquer ; se schlosser ; se sculpter une guende de bois ; slasser ; se tinter ; ne pas trouver son niveau ; voir en dedans.

1837. Barham, Ing. Leg., ' Witches' Frolic.¹ Like a four-bottle man in a company screw'd, Not firm on his legs, but by no means subdued.

1841. Punch, i. 278. We had a great night in London before I started, only I got rascally screwed : not exactly sewed up, you know, but hit under the wing, so that I could not well fly.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxv. She was only a little screwed.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, 133. If any of our party were in the condition expressed by the mysterious word screwed, it certainly was Lawless himself.

i8<y . Thackeray, Newcomes, xlvii. Blest if I didn't nearly d.ive her into a wegetable cart. I was so uncommon scruey 1

1871. All Year Round, iS Feb., 288. Awfully screwed. Been keeping it up with a fast lot at Gypsum.

1895. Reynolds, 18 Aug., 4, 7. A witness suggested that the prisoners were too drunk to know what they were doing.

Mr. Gray : No. We admit being a little bit screwed, but we were not so bad as all that.

Scribbler's-luck, subs. phr. (common).—See quot.

1898. Pelican, 3 Dec, 11, 2. His purse is pretty full ; mine, worse luck, is almost empty. Scribbler's luck, an empty purse and a full hand.

Scribe. See One-eyed Scribe.

Scrimshanker, subs, (military).— A loafer : cf. Bloodsucker ; whence Scrimshank = to shirk duty.

Scrimshaw (or Scrimshander),

subs, (nautical).—See quots. Also scrimshon and scrimshorn.

i8[?]. Fisheries of U.S., v. ii. 231-2. Scrimshawing ... is the art, if art it be, of manufacturing useful and ornamental articles at sea. . . . We find handsome writing desks, toilet boxes, and work-boxes made of foreign woods, inlaid with hundreds of other pieces of precious woods of various shapes and shades.

1883. C. Russell, Sailors' Language, s.v. Scrimshandy. An Americanism signifying the objects in ivory or bone carved by whalemen during their long voyages.

Scrip, subs. (old).—See quot. and

Blot the scrip (Grose).

e.1696. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, s.v. Scrip, c. a shred or scrap of paper. 'As the Cully did freely blot the scrip, and sipt me 40 Hogs,' c. one enter'd into Bond with me for 40 Shillings.

Scroby. To be tipped the scroby (or claws) for breakfast, verb phr. (old).—'To be whipped before the justices' (Grose).

Scroof (or Scroofer), subs. (American).—A parasite : as verb = to sponge (q.v.).

Scrope, subs, (old).—A farthing: see Rhino (Hall, Grose).

Scrouger. 132 Scrub.

Scrouger, subs. (American).— Anything exceptional in size, quality, capacity. &c.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 106. The gals among em warn't any on your pigeon creaturs . . . but real scrougers— any on 'em over fourteen could lick a bar easy.

c.1852. Traits 0/Amer. Humour, 265. A drum, and a regular scrouger at that.

Scrouperize, verb, (venery).—To copulate : see Greens and Ride (Rabelais).

SCROYLE, subs. (old).—A diseased wretch: Fr. écrouelles = ~Kmgsevil.

1596. Shakspeare, King John, ii. 2. By heaven, these scroyles of Angiers flout you, kings.

1596. Jonson, Ev. Man, i. 1. To be a consort for every humdrum ; hang 'em, scroyles ! there is nothing in them in the world. Ibid. (1601), Poetaster, iv. 3. A better, prophane rascal ! I cry thee mercy, my good scroile, wast thou ?

scrub, subs, (old colloquial).— Any mean, or ill-conditioned person, or thing ; as adj. = paltry, mean : also scrubbed, and scrubby ; scrub-race = a contest between contemptible animals ; after Farquhar and The Beaux' Stratagem (1707). — B. E., Grose.

1598. Shakspeare, Mer. 0/Venice,

v. i, 162. A little scrubbed boy No higher than myself.

1621. Burton, Anat. of Mel. (1836) i. 11. in. xv. 201. Or if they keep their wits, yet they are esteemed scrubs and fools, by reason of their carriage.

1634. _ Withal, Diet. [Nares]. Promus magis quam condus : he is none of these miserable scrubs, but a liberall gentleman.

c.1696. B. E., Diet. Cant, Crew, s.v. scrub, a Ragamuffin.

1706. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, 1.

vi. 6. Each member of the holy club, From lofty saint, to lowly scrub. Ibid. i. x. 10. Mounted on scrubs that us'd to Scour, Upon a Trot, eight Miles an Hour.

1730. Swift, Traulus, i. The scrubbiest cur in all the pack Can set the mastiff on your back. Ibid., Stella_} xxviii He finds some sort of scrub acquaintance,

1731. Fielding, Letter Writers, ii. 2. i. Wh. You stoop to us, scrub ! 2. Wh. You a lord ! You are some attorney's clerk, or haberdasher's 'prentice. Ibid. (1749), Tom Jones, vm. iii. He is an errant scrub, I assure you.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, Ixxxvii. You are worse than a dog, you old flinty-faced, flea-bitten scrub.

1766. Goldsmith, Vicar 0/ Wakefield, x. We should go there in as proper a manner as possible ; not altogether like the scrubs about us.

1814. Austen, MansfieldPark, xxv. I could not expect to be welcome in such a smart place as that—poor scrubby midshipman as I am.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxxv. No scrubs would do for no such a purpose. Nothing less would satisfy our Directors than our member in the House of Commons.

1848. Thackeray, Book or Snobs, xviii. A scrubby-Iooking, yellow-faced foreigner.

1852. L'Allegro: As Good as a Comedy, 109. There was to be a scrub race for sweepstakes, in which more than twenty horses had been already entered.

1861. Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, i. iv. The dumb man was a mere scrub, one of the very lowest of the policeforce. Ibid. (1868), Dead Sea Fruit, xxiii. I told you I knew a handy scrub of a man, good at picking up any out-of-the-way book I may happen to want.

1883. Roosevelt [Century, xxxvi. 200]. We got together a scrub wagon team of four as unkempt, dejected, and vicious-looking broncos as ever stuck fast in a quicksand.

2. (American Univ.).—A servant.

Verb. (Christ's Hospital).—1. To write fast: e.g., 'Scrub it down.' Also as subs. = handwriting. [Lat. scrtbere.] See Strive.

2. (colloquial).—To drudge.

Scrubbado. 133 Scuddick.

Scrubbado, subs. (old).—The itch (B. E., Grose).

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

1859. Kingsley, Geoffry Hamlyn, xxix. The Captain was getting in the scrubbers, cattle which had been left, under the not very careful rule of the Donovans, to run wild in the mountains.

Scrubbing, subs. (Winchester: obsolete). —A flogging of four cuts : see Public School Word Book.

c.1840. Mansfield, School Life, 109. The ordinary punishment was called scrubbing ... for a more serious breach of duty a flogging of six cuts was administered.

1864. Blackwood's Mag., xcv. 79. The place of execution where delinquents are bibled . . . six cuts . . . four being the sum of a . . . scrubbing.

Scrubbing-brush, subs. phr. (venery).—The pubic hair : see Fleece.

Scrudge, subs, (provincial).—A harlot : see Tart.

Scruff, subs, (colonial).—See quot.

1870. Montreal News [Figaro, 25 Nov., 'Codland Habits.' The best society is called ' merchantable,' that being the term for fish of the best quality ; while the lowest stratum is ' scruff ' or ' dun."

Verb. (old).—To hang: see Ladder.

Scrumptious, adj. and adv. (colloquial) —First-class ; nice ; fastidious.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, i S., xxiii. A little tidy, scrumptiouslooking sleigh, a real clipper of a horse.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen String Jack, iii. 5. Will you dance, Christopher, my scrumtious pet?

T870. Judd, Margaret, 304. I don't want to be scrumptious, judge ; but I do want to be a man.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms_l xx. We had a scrumptious feed that night.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 23 Jan. Scrumptious girls who danced at the Alcazar.

t900. Kipling, Stalky & Co., 7. ' Isn't it scrumptious? Good old sea ! *

Scrunch, subs, (colloquial).—1. A hard bite ; a crushing blow ; and (figuratively) a complete effect of tyranny ; as verb. = to crush, to grind down, to squeeze ; scruncher = a glutton.

1851-61. Mayhew, Land. Lab., 11. 566. I . . . scruntched myself into a doorway, and the policeman passed four or five times without seeing on me.

1865. Dickens, Mutual Friend, 111. v. It's the same . . . with the footmen. I have found out that you must either scrunch them, or let them scrunch you.

1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 480. We . . . shouted ' Hurrah for old Heber 1 ' as his load of magnificent oak . . . came scrunching into the yard.

18S8. Fort. Rev., N.S., xliii. 627. At each step there is a scrunch of human bones.

Scud, subs, (common).—(1) A fast runner ; and (2) a hot spin (q.v.).

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown s Schooldays, i. v. I say . . . you ain't a bad

scud.

2. (American). — In pi. — money : see Rhino.

Verb, (old).—«To Sail, Ride, or Run very fast ' (B. E., c. 1696).

Scuddick, subs. (old).—The smallest item of value (Halliwell) : see quot. 1823.

1823. Bee, Diet. Turf, s.v. Scuddick—is used negatively ; ' not a scuddick '—not any brads, not a win, empty dies. ' Every scuddick gone ' ; 'she gets not a scuddick from me.' does not amend the matter from repetition.

Scuff.

134

Scumber.

1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, i. i. Hasn't a mag left—not a scuddick—is obliged to live on his wits.

Scuff, subs, (thieves').—A crowd.

1879. Macm. Mag., xl. 501. This got a scuff round us.

1888. Sims, Plank-Bed Ballad [Referee, 12 Feb.], A scuff came about me and hollared.

Scuffle-hunter, subs. phr. (obsolete).—See quot.

1797. Police of the Met., 54. Those who are distinguished by the nickname of scuffle-hunters prowl about the wharfs, quays and warehouses under pretence of asking employment as porters and labourers, but their chief object is to pillage and plunder whatever comes in their way.

Scufter, subs, (provincial).—See quot.

1886. Graphic, 30 Jan., 130, 1. In the North a constable is or was known as a scufter and a " bulky."

Scug, subs. (Eton and Harrow).— A sneak (ç.v.); a play-cad (?.v.).

1880. C. T. Buckland, Eton Fifty Years Ago. Bathing was always in great favour with the Eton boys. A boy who did not bathe was called a scug.

1889. Drage, Cyril, vii. Such a little skug, to use a word in use at my tutor's.

sculduddery (or SKUlduggery),

subs. (old). — Bawdry ; also as adj.

1713. Centlivre, The Wonder, iii. 3. _ Giboy. To run three hundred mile to this wicked town, and, before I can well fill my weam, to be sent a whorehunting after this black she-devil ! . . . there's na sic honest people here, or there wud na be sa mickle sculdudrie.

1818. Scott, Midlothian, xvi. Can find out naething but a wee bit scul-

duddery.

1890. Scots Observer, 23 Aug., 346. Living in a state of liquor and skul-

duddery.

Scull, subs. (University).—1. The head (or master) of a College (Grose). Hence scull-race = an examination.

2. (colloquial). — In pl. — a waterman using a pair of sculls or short oars (ç.v.).—Grose.

c.1704. [Ashton, Soc. Life in Reign ofQ. Anne, 11. 144.] a cry of next ' Oars ' or ' Sculls ' !

3. (old).—' A one-horse chaise or buggy ' (Grose).

Scullery-science, subs. phr. (obsolete). —Phrenology.

1836. Chorley, Mem. Mrs. Hemans, i. 255. i did very much aggravate the phrenologist lately by laughing at the whole scullery science and its votaries.

Scull-thatch er, subs. phr. (common),—i. A wig-maker (Grose); and (2) a hatter : see Nobthatcher.

Sculpin, subs. (American).—'A mean or mischief-making fellow [Local slang, New Eng.]' (Century).

Scum, subs, (old : now recognised). —'The Riff-Raff, or Tagrag and Long-tail' (B. E., Grose).

Adv. (old).—Enough (Street Robberies Considered, 20).

Scumber (or scummer), subs. (old).—Excrement : as verb. = to defecate (Cotgrave, 161 i, s.v. Chier).

1598. Florio, Worlds of Wördes, s.v. Chinchimurra ... A skammering of a dog.

[?]• Ulysses upon Ajax, B.6. The picture of a fellow in a square cap scummering at a privy.

1630. Massinger, Picture, v. 1. Just such a one as you use to a brace of reyhounds, When they are led out of their ennels to scumber.

Scumble. 135 Scuttle.

1658. Musar. Del., ' On Epsom Wells.' Old Ops . . . Is yellow, not with summer, But safronised with mortal

scummer.

Scumble, verb, (artists').—To glaze a picture.

Scurf, subs, (common).—.SV^quot. 1851.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 20. They . . . burst out into one expression of disgust. "There's a scurf!" said one; "He's a regular scab," cried another. Ibid., ii. 262. The Saxon Sceorfa, which is the original of the English Scurf, means a scab, and scab is the term given to the "cheap men" in the shoemaking trade. Scab is the root of our word Shabby, hence Scurf and Scab, deprived of their offensive associations, both mean shabby fellows.

1870. Longfellow, Dante's Inferno, xv. in. That wretched crowd ... If thou had hadst an hankering for such

scurf.

Verb, (thieves').—To arrest ; to lay hold of (Grose, Vaux).

Scurrick, subs. (Old Cant).—A halfpenny (Grose) : see Rhino.

Scurry, subs, (racing).—See quot. : ef. scab-race.

1889. Krik, Guide to the Turf. In sporting [scurry] a short race run for amusement by inferior horses or nonwinners.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xv. It would have been all right if I hadn't been welshed over the last scurry.

Scut, subs, (venery). — i. The female pudendum : see Monosyllable ; and (2) the pubic hair : see Fleece (Grose).

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives, v. 5, 20. My doe with the black scut.

1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie (ist ed.), 104. And likewise there was finely put, A Cushion underneath her Scut.

c.1705. Broadside Song, ' Oyster Nan ' [Farmer, Merry Songs and Ballads (1897), i. 177]. Come in, says he, you silly Slut, I'll lay the Itching of your Scut.

1720. Durfey, Pills, vi. 198. With her breast she does butt, and she bubs up her scut Wheu the bullets fly close by her ear.

1730. Broadside Song, ' Gee Ho, Dobbin,' 5. I rumpl'd her Feathers, and tickl'd her scutt.

Scute, subs, (old).—(i) A small coin : hence a low standard.

1596. Nash, Letter [Nares]. Worse than a scute or a dandiprat.

i5[?]. Fortescue, Dijf. Between Absolute and LimitedMonarchy[Nares]. Sum . . . that was wonte to pay ... a scute, payyth now . . . over that scute, fyve skuts.

Scuttle, subs. (old). — i. An

affected gait (see quot. 1704) ; (2) a hasty move ; a bolt (q.v.) : as verb. = (1) to run off (B. E. and Grose).

c. 1704. [Ashton, Social Life, âr~c, 1. 92]. Shut myself in my Chamber, practised Lady Betty Modely's Scuttle.

c.1711. Spectator [Century]. She went with an easy scuttle out of the shop.

d. 1797. Walpole, Letters, 11. 476. I have no inclination to scuttle barefoot after a Duke of Wolfenbuttle's army.

1841. Thackeray, Comic Tales, 11. 164. But, oh horror ! a scream was heard from Miss Binse who was seen scuttling at double-quick time towards the schoolhouse.

1869. Browning, Ring and Book, 1. 286. No . . . viper of the brood shall

scuttle off.

1872. Brighton Daily News, 4 Sep. The infant scuttled into existence about midday.

1875. W. H. Kingston, South Sea Whaler, xiv. Scuttling away at a rapid rate.

Verb. (Christ's Hospital, Hertford).—2. To cry out, under oppression, to attract the attention of the authorities. Hence scuttle-cat = one who scuttles (obsolete).

Scuttling.

136 Sea.

3. (venery). — To deflower. Hence, to scuttle a ship = to take a maidenhead.

4. (thieves').—To stab.

To scuttle a nob, verb. phr. (pugilists').—To break a head.

c.1811. Mäher, Night before Larry was Stretched. I'll scuttle your nob with my fist.

1818. Randall, On R.'sfight with Turner. As he offered to scuttle a nob o'er again.

On the scuttle, phr. (common).—On a round of drinking or whoring.

Scuttling, subs. (Manchester).— See quots.

1890. D. Telegraph, 13Dec. 'Scuttling in Lancashire.' Scuttling was a practice very prevalent within the county of Lancaster. The offence was committed by a body of young persons, male and female, belonging to one part of the city, who had a real or fancied grievance against another similar body of persons from an adjacent part. The opposing forces were armed with belts with large buckles to them, knives, pokers, stones, and the like, and the mobs so armed turned out at times for a regular affray, and inflicted serious injuries upon one another. Not only did these roughs enter into conflict with others of a similar class, but they frequently attacked unoffending passers-by.

18 t?]. Lancet, 3499, 643. Manchester is becoming notorious for a form of street ruffianism known locally as scuttling. It consists of gangs of youths going about certain districts ostensibly to fight with similar gangs of adjacent districts.

Scuttle-mouth, subs. phr. (costers').—5V<r quot.

1851-61. _# Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 77. The " big trade" was unknown until 1848, when the very large shelly oysters, the fish inside being very small, were introduced from the Sussex coast. The costermongers distinguished them by the name of scuttle-mouths.

Sea. At sea, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Puzzled; wide [q.v.) : cf. Half-seas-over.

1864. Cornhill Mag., Nov., 577. ' What is he ? ' I asked, still more at sea.

1889. Polytechnic Mag., 24 Oct., 263. For the first ten minutes the B's were all at sea on the rough and peculiarly shaped ground.

Phrases and Combinations. — Sea-crab = a sailor (Grose); sea-dog = (i) a privateer (temp. Eliz. ), and (2) a sailor : spec, an old salt (q.v.) ; seagalloper = a special correspondent ; sea-grocer = a purser ; sea-lawyer = (1) a shark (Grose), and (2) a captious or scheming fo'csle hand : whence sea-lawyering = argument with officers ; sea-legs = ability to walk the deck of a rolling ship without staggering ; sea-wag = an ocean-going vessel ; sea-rat (old) = a pirate : cf. river-rat ; sea-rover = a herring : see Atlantic ranger; son of a sea-cook = a nautical term of abuse ; sea-connie (or cunnie) = (1) the helmsman on an Indian trader, and (2) = a Lascar quartermaster (Clark Russell) ; seacoal = money.

£.1835. Dana, Before the Mast, ii. I had not got my sea legs on, was dreadfully sick . . . and it was pitch dark.

1836. Scott, Cringle's Loç, xvi. Ay, you supercilious son of a sea-cook, you may turn up your nose at the expression.

1864. Kingsley, Hillyars, xxiv. It made her stand firmer on her . . . had I been speaking of an English duchess I would have said her sea legs.

1874. Green, Short Hist., 406. The Channel swarmed with sea-dogs . . . who accepted letters of marque from the Prince of Condé.

Seal.

137 Secesh.

1890. Spectator, 3 May, Rev. of ' Slang and its Analogues.' . . . The extraordinary ' bouncer ' that a very common request at Lockhart's coffee-houses in London is for ' a doorstep and a sea-rover.'

1899. Whiteing, John St., xi. At the words ' doorsteps and sea-rover,' the man at the bar produces a slice of bread and a herring.

1899. Hyne, Furth. Adv. Captain Cuttle, v. Robinson's a sea-lawyer, is he? Courts, he talks about.

1901. Referee, 7 Ap., 1, 2. Great care should be exercised so as to minimise chances of their being able to take two chances for their money, one in the game and the other by ' sea-lawyering.'

1901. A rmy and Navy Gaz., 13 July, 683, 2. Whether these sea-gallopers— to use Lord Spencer's historical designation —in the battleships will be able to see much of the fun is, we should imagine, doubtful.

Seal, subs, (clerical).—1. See quot.

1853. Dean ConybeareJ^/«. Rev., Oct, 295, note}. A preacher is said in this phraseology to be owned when he makes many converts, and his converts are called his seals.

2. (American).—See quot.

1350-1. Stansbury, Salt Lake Exp., 136. In Mormon phraseology, all wives taken after the first are called spiritual wives, and are said to be sealed to the husband . . . under the solemn sanction of the church, and in all respects, in the same relation to the man as the wife that was first married.

3. (venery). -In= the testes : see Cods.

Verb, (venery).—To impregnate; to sew up {q.v.).

Sealer, subs. (old).—' One that gives Bonds and Judgments for Goods and Money" (B. E., Grose) : see Squeeze-wax.

Seam. See White-seam.

Sear, subs. (old).—The female pudendum : see Monosyllable, &c. [Properly the touch-hole of a pistol.] Hence light (or tickle) of the sere = wanton ; fond of bawdy laughter (Halliwell).

[ ? 1 Commune Secretary and Jalotvsye [Halliwell]. She that is fayre, lusty, and yonge, And can comon in termes wyth fyled tonge, And wyll abyde whysperynge in the eare, Thynke ye her tayle is not lyghte of the seare.

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, ii. a, 336. The clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle ok the sere.

1620. Howard De/ensative [Douce, ii. 230]. Moods and humours of the vulgar sort . . . loose and tickle or the seare.

Season, verb, (venery). -r—See quot., Greens and Ride.

1559. Eliote, Diet, Admissura, Seasoning of a cow, and coverynge of a mare.

Seat. See Back-seat.

Seat-of-Honour (Shame or Vengeance), subs. phr. (common).—The posteriors.

1725. Bailey, Erasmus, 225. A question . . . the most honourable part of aman? One . . . made answer . . . the . . . part we sit upon ; . . . when every one cried out that was absurd, he backed it with this reason, that he was commonly accounted the most honourable that was first seated, and that this honour was commonly done to the part that he spoke of.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 169. My seat of vengeance was firked most unmercifully.

d.ijçô. Wolcot, Pair 0/ Lyric Epistles {Works (Dublin, 1795), ii. 424]. Behold him seiz'd, his seat of honour bare.

1821. Coombe, Syntax, in. 2. While with his spade the conqueror plied, Stroke after stroke, the seat of shame, Which blushing Muses never name.

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, xviii. "The bullet having passed through his seat of honour, from his having presented his broadside as a target to the boatswain.

1856. Punch, xxxi. 213, 2. now I can vouch that, from the earliest ages to . . . those of the present head-master, they have, one and all, appealed to the very seat of honor.

Secesh. See Blue Bellies.

Second.

138 See.

Second. See Bow, Chop, Fiddle (adding quot. infra), and String.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 378. I am quite at your service to play second fiddle in all your laudable enterprises.

Second Peal. See Peal.

Second-timer, subs. phr. (prison). —A prisoner twice convicted.

Secret, phr. (old).—Let into the secret : ' When one is drawn in at Horse-racing, Cock-fighting, Bowling, and other Sports or Games, and Bit.' (B. E. and Grose.)

In the grand secret,/^. (colloquial).—Dead (Grose).

Sedgley-curse, subs. phr. (old). —See quots.

1632. Massinger, City Madam, ii. 2. May the great fiend, booted and spurred, With a sithe at his girdle, as the Scotchman says, Ride headlong down her throat.

1633. Fletcher, Tamer Tamed, v. 2. A Sedglv curse light on him, which is, Pedro, The fiend ride through him booted and spurred With a sythe at his back.

1636. Suckling, Goblins, i. 1. Now the Sedgly curse upon thee, And the great fiend ride through thee Booted and spurr'd, with a scythe on his neck.

rf.1660. Howell [Ray, Proverbs, Staffordshire. The devil, &c. . . . This is Sedgely curse. Mr. Howel.]

See, subs, (common).—In//. =the eyes (Grose). Also Seer = the eye.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 3 [Note]. To close up their eyes—alias, to sew up their sees.

1827. Lytton, Paul Clifford, lxxxii. Strike me blind if my sees don't tout your bingo muns in spite of the darkmans.

2. (American). — A sight ; a glance.

Verb, (colloquial).—I. To believe ; to credit ; to consent : e.g., ¹1 don't see that.'

1882. Anstey, Vice-Versa, iii. If I were to go back to my governor now, he wouldn't see it. It would put him in no end of a bait.

2. (prostitutes' ). —To copulate :

also to see stars lying on

one's back.

Phrases. To see it out = (1) to finish a matter, (2) to keep up a carouse, and (3) to come to an understanding, or know the reason why ; to see one through = to help to a finish; to see a man = to have a drink; to see the devil = to get tipsy : see Screwed ; to see the back of = to get rid of ; to see one coming = to impose on ; to see double = (i) to be drunk (see Screwed), and (2) to squint ; to see one's aunt = to evacuate : see Bury a Quaker ; to see as far into

a millstone (or milestone) as . . . = to be as able or cute as... ; to see stars (spots Or candles)

= to be dazed : spec, from a blow. Also see Brickwall, Elephant, Show, &c.

1546. Heywood, Proverbs. She had

seene far in a milstone.

1628. Earle, Micro-cosmog., ii. His eyes like a drunkard's see all double.

1692. Dryden, Juvenal, vi. When vapours to their swimming brains advance, And double tapers on their tables dance.

1710. Congreve, Art 0/Love. From all intemperance keep, Nor drink till you see double, lisp, or sleep.

1716. Addison, Freeholder, 22. I had a mind to see him out, and therefore did not care for contradicting him.

Seed.

139 Seek.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias (1812), x. x. Falling into a passion he gave me halfa-dozen boxes on the face . . . that made me see more candles than ever burnt in Solomon's temple. Ibid. (1751), Peregrine Pickle, c. Notwithstanding the disgrace and discouragement they had met with in their endeavours to serve our adventurer, they were still resolved to perse» vere in their good offices, or, in the vulgar phrase, to see him out.

1857. Dickens, Xmas Stories (Perils of Prisoners'), (Household ed.), 46. We saw out all the drink that was produced, like good men and true, and then took our leaves, and went down to the beach.

Seed, subs, (venery).—The semen : see Spendings. Hence seedplot (or seed-land) = the female pudendum : see Monosyllable ; run to seed = pregnant, lumpy

*555> A Pore Helpe, 84. They saye ye leade euyll lyues With other mennes wyues . . . And so your sede is sowne In other mennes grounde.

1656. Fletcher, Martiall, xi. 105. The Phrygian Boyes in secret spent their seed As oftas Hector's wife rid on his steed.

1719. Durfey, Pills, iii. 107. For there where other gardeners here been sowing their seed . . .

1865. Swinburne, Atalanta in Calydon, xoj. Thou, I say Althea, since my father's ploughshare, drawn Through fatal seedland of a female field, Furrowed thy body.

Run to seed, adv. phr. (colloquial).—i. Shabby; gone off the bloom ; seedy (q.v.).

1837. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (1857), 20. Large boots running rapidly to seed.

1891. Ally Slower, 4 Ap. He had run very much to seed : there was no gloss on his hat or boots, but any amount of it on the sleeves of his coat.

Seedy, adj. and adv. (colloquial). —Generic for depreciation = (1) weak or out-of-sorts in health,

(2) worn or out at elbows in dress,

(3) poor in pocket, (4) suspicious or shady in character (Grose). Hence, seediness.

1743. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, i. xii. However seedy Mr. Bagshot may be now . . , when he is in cash, you may depend on a restoration.

1768. Goldsmith, Good Natured Man, iii. Little Flanigan here, to be sure, has ... a very good face ; but then, he is a little seedy, as we say among us that practise the law.

1789. Parker, Bunter's Christening [Life's Painter]. A queer procession of seedy brims and kids.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 27. The Prince of Rag Rhino, who stood . . . bail for the seedy Right Liners.

1835. Fisher, Garland. Oh, let my hat be e'er sae brown, My coat be e'er sae seedy, O !

1840. Lytton, Paul Clifford, vi. You look cursed seedy to be sure.

1854. Martin and Aytoun, Bon Gualtier Ballads, ' The Knight, &c.' I feel extremely seedy, Languishing in vile duresse.

1857-9. Thackeray, Virginians, ix. A seedy raff who has gone twice or thrice into the Gazette.

1864. Tangled Talk, 169. One of the flattering unctions that I lay to my soul when it strikes me that I am becoming morally seedy is, that I have not lost the child's capacity for wonder.

1873. Blackie, Self culture, 74. What is called seediness, after a debauch, is a plain proof that nature has been outraged, and will have her penalty.

1883. D. Telegraph, 6 Jan., 6, 1. Gradually his habiliments become what is vulgarly but expressively termed seedy.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xvi. The 'oss is very bad and very seedy.

1899. Pot and Swears, Scarlet City, 119. I've sent a wire to old Dibbler the stage manager to say I'm seedy.

Seek. To seek others and lose oneself, verb. phr. (old colloquial).—See quot.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, S.v. Lanternare ... to play the foole, TO seeke others AND loose himselfe.

Seek-sorrow. 140

Semper.

Seek-sorrow (or -trouble), subs, phr. (old).—A whining malcontent.

1580. Sidney, Arcadia, i. Afield they go, where many lookers be, And thou seek-sorrow Claius them among,

1902. Daudet, Sapho [Farmer], xi. She was a seek-sorrow, a sappy mopester, a poor gutless doll.

Seeley's Pigs, subs. phr. (nautical).—Pig iron in Government dockyards. [Some of the yards were half paved with pigs, which waste was brought to public notice by Mr. Seeley, M.P. for Lincoln.]

See-saw, subs. phr. (gaming).—A double ruff (q.v.) ; a saw {q.v.) : at whist.

Seggon, subs, (old colloquial).—A term of contempt : spec, a poor labourer. Also seg-head = a blockhead; seg-kite = an overgrown and greedy person [Halliwell].

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, 174. Poore seggons hälfe staured worke faintly and dull.

Sell, subs, (common).--A successful hoax ; a swindle : see Gammon. As verb. — to betray ; to impose on ; to swindle ; see Bargain. Whence to sell a pup

= to fool ; to be sold like

A bullock in Smithfield (Grose) = ' to fall badly by treachery ' ; Sold again ! = Done! (q.v.),

1597. Shakespeare, Rich. III. v. 3. Jockey of Norfolk, be not so bold, For Dickon thy master is bought and sold.

1605. Drayton, Mortinteriados. Is this the kindness that thou offerest me ? And in thy country am I bought and

SOLD.

1605. Jonson, Volpone, Argument. New tricks for safety are sought ; they thrive : when bold, each tempts the other again, and all are sold.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, 145. He called it . . . ' no end of a something or other'-"sell," suggested

Freddy. Ibid. (1851), Lewis Arundel, xxiv. You're not going to try and cut out Bellefield . . . are you ? I wish you would, it would sell Bell so beautifully.

1856. (Tales from Blackwood) Drtep' daily Burg Its, 2. I had been idiot enough to make my debut in the sporting world . . . and as a matter of course, was remorselessly sold by my advisers.

1864. Glasgow Citizen, 10 Dec. People pretend to have read Spenser and Chaucer, and it is rude ... to sell the affable pretender by getting him to remember non-existent passages and minor poems.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Lud' low, i S., xxvi., 465. It's an awful sell . . . no hunting, and no shooting, and no nothing.

1883. D. News, 18 Ap. 5, 4^ Lord

Randolph Churchill has been making Mr. Gladstone the victim of what, in . . . Addison's time, would have been called a bite, and what in . . . our own time is called a sell.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, x. Some day he'll sell us all, I really do believe.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz. 16 Jan. But suppose that he should take our money and sell us.

Semi-bejan. See Bejan.

Seminary, subs, (venery).—The pudendum : see Monosyllable. [With a pun on semen = the liquor séminale.]

Semper, adj. (Winchester).— See quot.

c.1840. Mansfield, School Life (1866), 233. A very common prefix ; e.g., a boy was said to be semper continent, tardy, or extrumps if he was often at Sick House, or late for Chapel, or habitually went up to Books without having looked at his lessons. An official who was always at the College meetings went by the name of Semper Testis.

Send.

141 Sentimental-journey.

Send. To send up, verb. phr. (American).—To commit to prison ; to fully (q.v.).

1852. Judson, Myst. of New York, III. 7. They'd blow on me for some of my work, and I'd be sent up.

1879. Scribner's, viii. 619. Some of them seem rather proud of the number of times they have been sent up.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 20 Oct. They sent me up for thirty days.

To send down (or away), verb. phr. (University). — 1. To expel ; and (2) to rusticate (q.v.).

1714. Spectator, 596. After this I was deeply in love with a milliner, and at last with my bedmaker, upon which I was sent away, or, in university phrase, rusticated for ever.

1863. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, i. 179. How dare you say ' deuce ' in my presence? You can go down, my Lord.

1891. Harry Fludyer, Zq. Next day they were hauled and sent down.

1891. Felstedian, Ap. 32. They sent him down for two terms for smashing a shop window.

To send in, verb. phr. (old). —' To drive or break in : Hand down the jemmy and send it in ; apply the crow to the door and drive it in ' (Grose).

See Coventry ; Daylight ; Flea in ear ; Green River ; Owls ; Packing ; Salt River ; Up.

Send-off, subs. phr. (colloquial). —A start ; a God-speed. Sendoff notice = an obituary.

1872. Clemens, Roughing It, 332. One of the boys has passed in his checks, and we want to give him a good send off.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly . . . After the funeral Huggins . . . wrote a beautiful send-off notice saying what a loss the community had suffered in Scrimmy's untimely end.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 Nov., 6, 1. It looks as if Adelina Patti's send-off concert on Monday night would be a very brilliant affair.

1894. Morrison, Mean Streets, 132. In the beginning [he] might even have been an office boy, if only his mother had been able to give him a good send off in the matter of clothes.

1897. Referee, 14 Mar. 1, 1. These departers were to be patted on the back, given a good send-off, and helped on the road.

Sender, subs, (common).--Asevere blow.

Sensation, subs, (common).—A small quantity ; as much as can be perceived by the senses : spec, a half-quartern.

Sense, verb, (once literary; now American colloquial.—To feel ; to take in ; to understand.

165T. Cartwright, Poems [Nares]. 'Twas writ, not to be understood, but read, He that expounds it must come from the dead ; and undertake to sense it true, For he can tell more than himself e'er knew.

1665. Glanville, Scepsis, Seientifica, xxii. Is he sure that objects are not otherwise sensed by others, than they are by him ?

1885. Merriam, S. Bowles, 1, 101. He . . . got at the plans of the leaders, the temper of the crowd, sensed the whole situation.

Sentimental-club (The), subs, phr. (literary).—The Athenaeum.

Sentimental-journey. To

arrive at the end of the

sentimental journey, phr.

(common).—To possess a woman [That, so it is said, being the finish of Sterne's novel—'I put out my hand and caught hold of

the fille-de-chambre's--.

Finis '].

Sentinel.

142

Servant.

Sentinel, subs. (Irish).—A wake candle ; a glim (q.v.). Fr. une flambarde.

Sentry. On sentry, adv. phr. (common). — Drunk : see Screwed.

Sentry-box. Chelsea Hospital to a Sentry-box, phr. (old).— A fanciful bet.

1891. Lie. Vict. Mirror, 30 Jan., 7, 2. Tom's hit of the opening round, and led Aaron's friends to call out in their jubilation : " It's all your own, my boy; Chelsea Hospital to a sentry-box."

Sep, subs. (American cadet).—A cadet joining in September.

Separate, subs, (prison).—See quot. 1877.

1862. Comhill Mag., vi. 640. [Criminals] count by many thousands . . . In prison and out of it . . . doing their separates at Pentonville and among the rocks of Gibraltar wherever they are they develop and increase criminal tendencies, and spread criminal knowledge.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, v. 333. A new large prison at Dartmoor, in which convicts could be confined in cells to do their separates, as the first eleven or twelve months' probationary imprisonment is termed.

* Seraglietto, subs. (B. E.,c. 1696). —" A lowly, sorry Bawdy-house, a meer Dog-hole."

Seraglio, subs. (B. E.,^. 1696, and Grose, 1785). — " A Bawdyhouse ; also the Great Turk's Palace."

Serene. See All Serene.

Sergeant. See Come.

Sergeant-major, subs. phr. (butchers').—A fat loin of mutton.

Sergeant-major's brandy and soda, subs. phr. (military).—A gold-laced stable jacket.

Sergeant-major's wash cat,

subs. phr. (cavalry).—(1) A new kit ; and (2) the troop store-man.

Serpent. Stung by a serpent, phr. (old).—With child (Ray).

TO hold a serpent by the tail, verb. phr. (old).—To act foolishly.

Servant, subs, (venery).—1. A lover en parade ; and (2) a stallion (q.V.) : cf. mistress.

Hence, service = copulation ; to serve = subagitare.

1369. Chaucer, Troilus, v. 1345. If any servaunt durst or oghte aryght Upon his lady pitously compleyne. laid, (c. 1387), Queen Annelida, 293. He was servaunt unto her ladyship . . . she had him at her oune will.

1595. Shakspeare, Two Gent. Verona, ii. 4. Too low a mistress for so high a servant. Ibid. (1605), Lear, iii. 4, 87. a serving man . . . that . . . served the lust of my mistress's heart, and did the act of darkness with her.

1609. Beaumont and Fletcher, Scornful Lady, v. 1 Was I not once your mistress, and you my servant ?

1609. Jonson, Epicœne, ii. 2. Where the first question is—if her present servant love her? next, if she shall have a new servant? and how many.

1611. Chapman, May-Day, v. 2. A woman of good parts . . . helps maids to services, restores maidenheads, brings women to bed, and men to their bedsides. Ibid. (1612), Widow's Tears, ii. 4. Madam, I am still the same . . . not pressing to your bed but your pleasure shall be first known, if you will command me any service.

c.1619. Field and Massinger, Fatal Dowry, ii. 2. The only distinction betwixt a husband and a servant is, the first will lie with you when he pleases, the last shall lie with you when you please.

1635. Davenant, News from Plymouth, ii. i. He loves and honours ladies ; for whose service He's still a ready champion.

Serve. 143 Set-down.

1685. Crownb, Sir Courtly Nice, ii. i. You may proclaime at Mercat-cross, how great an Adorer you are of such a Woman's Charms? how much you desire to be admitted into her service ; that is, how lusty a Centaur you are.

169». Drvden, Juvenal, x. In form of law, a common hackney-jade Sole heir for secret services is made.

1720. Durfby, Pills, v. 227. To shew he could a Lady serve, As well as the Hollander.

1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesque, 302. And all the virgins in the town Expect they shall be ravished soon . . . At any time they'll let you serve 'em.

Serve, verb. (old).—1. To rob : e.g., 'I served him for his thimble ' = ' I robbed him of his watch ' (Grosk and Vaux).

2. See Servant and Time.

3. (thieves').—'To find guilty, convict, and sentence ' (Grose).

4. (old).—To maim; to wound; to punish {q.v.): whence to serve out = to take revenge ; to serve out and out = to kill (Grose and Vaux).

1819. Moore, Tom Crib. Whoso'er grew unpolite The well-bred champion served him out.

1821. Egan, Life in London, ii. ii. Squinting Nan, full of jealousy . . ., is getting over the box to Sarve her out for her duplicity.

1837-40. Haliburton, Clockmaker (1848), 12. Now the bees know how to sarve out such chaps, for they have their drones, too.

1853. Bulwbr, My Novel, xii. 25. The Right Honourable Gentleman had boasted be had served his country for twenty years ... He should have said served her out.

1868. Greenwood, Purgatory oj Peter the Cruel, i. 22. I am doomed to become a blackbeetle because of the many of the sort I have hurt and smashed, and more especially because I served this wretched cockroach out. .

To serve up, verb. phr. (American). To ridicule.

See Slops.

Sessions, intj. (common).—An

exclamation of surprise.

Set, subs, (cricketers').—1. A determined stand ; to get set =s to 'collar' the bowling.

2. (common).—A grudge; a sustained attack : in argument or conduct. Also dead-set.

Phrases. To set the

hare's head to the goose giblets = to balance matters; to give tit for tat ; to set jewels (see quot. 1874); all set = 'Desperate fellows, ready for any kind of mischief (Duncombe).

1607. Dekker and Webster, West' ward Hoe, v. 3. They came to Brainford to be merry, you were caught in Birdlime, and therefore set the hare's head against the goose giblets.

1874. Hotten, SlangDiet., s.v. Setting jewels. The taking the best portions of a clever book not much known to the general public, and incorporating them quietly in a new work by a thoroughly original author. The credit of this term belongs to Mr. Charles Reade, who explained that the process is accountable for the presence of some writing by one Jonathan Swift, in a story published at Christmas, 1872, and called The Wandering Heir.

See Cap ; Dead-set ; Ears ; Hard-set ; Shoulder ; Wheel.

S et-Back. See Back-set.

Set-down, subs. phr. (colloquial). —i. A snub ; an unexpected or overwhelming reply. Also as verb. = to take to task ; to rebuff ; to get the better of.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 166. Among new substantives are a set-down, blinkers, . . .].

Set-off.

144

Setter.

2. (American tramps'). — See quot.

1900. Flynt, Tramps, 105. He will almost always give a beggar a set-down (square meal).

SET-OFF, subs. phr. (colloquial).— I. A contrast ; an alternative ; a quid pro quo {(/.V.)

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 151. As a set-off against his hen-pecked cowardice ... he gave me fifty ducats. Ibid., 249. You will not have much spare room . . . but as a setoff I promise that you shall be superbly lodged at Lisbon.

1844. Mill, Polit. Econ., 111. xii. 6. If the cheque is paid into a different bank, it will not be presented for payment, but liquidated by set-off against other cheques.

</.i868. Brougham {Century}. A poor set-off against constant outrages.

1879. _ Froude, Cœsar, 454. He pleaded his desertion of Pompey as a setoff against his faults.

2. (colloquial). — An adornment ; an ornament.

1619. Fletcher, Wildgoose Chase, iii. i. This coarse creature That has no more set-off but his jugglings, His travell'd tricks.

SET-OUT, subs. phr. (colloquial).— A company, clique, display, or turn-out—any arrangement, state of things, or event.

1816. Austen, Emma, xlii. 'There shall be cold meat in the house.' ' As you please ; only don't have a great set-out.'

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 11. 46. The whole set-out . . . pony included, Cost ^50 when new.

1837. Dickens, Pick-wick (1857), 11. "P.C.," said the stranger,—"queer set out—old fellow's likeness, and P.C.— What does P.C. stand for—Peculiar coat, eh?" Ibid. (1854), Hard Times, i. 8. She must just hate and detest the whole set-out of us.

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, iv. As we pulled up in front of the Castle Hotel . . . "Ere'sa spicy setout, Bill," said one.

S etta, adj. (theatrical).—Seven. Also setter.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xiv. Then he placed a large piece of boiled bacon and a dish of potatoes and a dish of greens before three road scavengers, and said, " I'll take setta soldi from you gents."

Setter, subs. (old).—1. quots.; also (modern) a police spy: see Nark (Grose).

1591. Greene, Notable Discovery [ Works, x. 15]. The nature of the Setter, is to draw any person familiarly to drinke with him, which person they call thebonie.

1598. Shaksi'EARe, / Hen. IV., ii. 2, 53. 'Tis our setter : I know his voice.

1607. Dekker, Jests to make you Merie [Wks. (Grosart), ii. 310]. Your theenes trauelling mort is partly a setter of robberies, partly a theefe herselfe.

1680. Cotton, Complete Gamester, 333. Shoals of huffs, hectors, setters, gilts, pads, biters, &c., may all pass under the general appellation of rooks.

c.1696. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, s.v. Setters, or Setting-dogs, they that draw in Bubbles, for old Gamesters to Rook ; also a Seigeant's Yeoman, or Bailiffs Follower, or Second, and an Excize-Officer to prevent the Brewers defrauding the King.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), 7. There are also Setters of both Sexes, that make it their Business to go about upon Information, to pry into the Disposition and Avenues of Houses, and bring notice of the Booty.

rf.1745. Swift, Last Speech Eben. Elliston. We had setters watching in corners, and by dead walls.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Diet. (2nd ed.), s.v. Setter . . . (3) an associate of sharpers to get them bubbles.

1866. Lemon, Leyton Hall. Old Crookfinger, the most notorious setter, barnacle, and foist in the city.

2. (auctioneers').—A runner-up of prices ; a bonnet {q.v.).

Clock-setter, subs. phr. (nautical).—1. One who tampers with the clock to shorten his watch ; also (2) a busy-body, a sea-lawyer (q.v.).—Century.

Settle.

Seven.

Settle, verb, (common).—1. To knock down ; to do for (q.v.). —Grose. To settle one's hash (see Hash). Hence settler = (1) a knock-down blow; and (2) a finishing stroke.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 15. He tipp'd him a settler.

1827. The Fancy, ' King Tims the First.' That thrust you gave me, Tims, has proved a nettler. Your stab turns out, what I have been, a settler !

1836. Scott, Cruise of the Midge, 102. Like a cannon-shot right against me, giving me such a settlek.

1845. Buckstone, Green Bushes, ii. 2. Whoever that lady aimed at, she has certainly brought down. . . . She settled the settler, and no mistake.

1857. Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, vi. 1 hat slight tension about the nostrils which the consciousness of carrying a settler in the form of a fact or a revolver gives the individual thus armed.

C.1866. Music Nail Song, 'What a fool.' My darling wife and Ma-in-law Have nearly settled me.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, iii. "'É see the engine a coming, . . .and chucked hisself bang in front of it, and it soon settled 'im."

1888. Sportsman, 22 Dec. A mistake at the last hurdles proved a complete settler, and he succumbed by six lengths.

2. (thieves').—To give (or get) penal servitude for life.

Settlement-in-tail, sttbs. phr. (venery).—An act of generation : see Greens and Ride.

Settler, subs, (common).—1. A parting drink : see Screwed.

2. See Settle, i.

Set-to, subs. phr. (pugilists').—i. A bout at fisticuffs, with, or without, the gloves. Whence (2) = determined opposition (Grose). Also as verb.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, ' Account of the Grand Set-to between Long, Sandy and Georgy the Porpus ' [Title].

1825. Scott, St. Ronan's Well, xxx. The alacrity of gentlemen of the Fancy hastening to a set-to.

1837. Barham, Im;oldsby Leg., 1. 317. As prime a set-to And regular turnup as ever you knew.

1859. Whitty, Political Portraits, 217. The bludgeon blows of the old Parliamentary set-tos ended in hand-shaking.

1864. London Society, Dec. I generally warms up in the set-to with Judy, and by the time the ghost business comes on, I'm all of a glow.

1879. Payn, Nigh Spirits {Finding His Level). He had had it laid down with turf instead of a carpet, for the greater convenience of his set-tos.

1889. Modem Society, 19 Oct., 1294, i. They settled the affair with a good set-to with raw potatoes.

1892. National Observer, 27 Feb., 378. Give me a snug little set-to down in Whitechapel.

Set-up, sttbs. (colloquial). — 1. Port ; bearing ; carriage.

1890. T. C. Crawford, Eng. Life, 147. [English soldiers] have a set-up not to be found in any of the soldiers of the Continental armies.

2. (American). — A treat

(q.V.) to set-up = to * stand sam ' : cf. set-down.

1887. T. Stevens, Around World on a Bicycle . . . They threaten to make him set 'em up every time he tumbles in hereafter.

Adv. (American).—Conceited.

Seven. To be more than seven, phr. (common). Wide-awake. Also, more than twelve.

c.1876. Music Hall Song, 'You're more than seven ' [Title].

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweet, heart, 195. Yes, I really do think that the naughty boy is more than seven.

1898. Gissing, Town Traveller, v'm. ' We all know that Mr. Gammon's more than seven,'

Sevendible. 146

Sewer.

Sevendible, adj. adv. (Irish).—¹A very curious word, used only in the North of Ireland, to denote something particularly severe, strong, or sound. It is, no doubt, derived from sevendouble—that is, sevenfold—and is applied to linen cloth, a heavy beating, a harsh reprimand, &c.' (Hotten).

Seven-pennorth (or Sevenpence), subs. phr. (old).— See quot.

1821. Egan, Life in London, n. iii. ' My lord, if I am to stand sevenpenck [7 yrs transportation), my lord, I hope you'll take it into your consideration.'

Seven-sided animal (or sevensided son of a bitch), phr. (old).—⁴ A one-eyed person : as as he has a right side and a left side, a front side and a back side, an inside and an outside, and a blind side ' (Grose).

Seven-year, subs. phr. (old).—A long time : proverbial.

15 ['■]• Four Elements [Halliwell], That is the best daunce without a pype that I saw this seven veke.

1579. Mariage of Witt and Wisdome. Thay ware not so hack this seven yeere.

1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, iii. 3. He has been a vile thief this seven year.

Severely, adv. (colloquial). — A generic intensive: e.g.. 'to be left severely alone' = to be altogether neglected.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, xii. That officer has dined severely, as he calls it, and is slightly inebriated.

Sew. To sew up one's stocking, verb. phr. (C. Reade).—To silence ; to confute.

1859. Reade, Love Me Little, xxvi. Eh ! Miss Lucy, . . . but ye've got a tongue in your head. Ye've sewed üp my

STOCKING,

Sewed up, adj. phr. (common).— i. Pregnant; knocked-up(^.».). To sew up = to get with child.

2. (pugilists'). —Severely punished : spec, with bloated eyes.

3. (common). — Exhausted ; drunk ; sick.

1829. Buckstone, Billy Taylor. Kitty. {Aside, and taking out a vial.) This liquid, sent me by Monsieur Chabert, The fire-king, will sew him up.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, lv. " Busy ! " replied Pell ; " I'm completely sewn up, as my friend the late Lord Chancellor many a time used to say to me."

1841. Punch, i., 278. We had a great night in London before I started only I got rascally screwed, not exactly sewed up, you know, but hit under the wing so that I could not very well fly.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 33. A most excellent first number—just the thing —sew the lower town up.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, xiv. " She's in first-rate training, 'pon my word : I thought she'd have sewn me up at one time—the pace was terrific."

i860. Haliburton, The SeasonTicket, No. x. " Are you sure you wasn't drunk, uncle?" said I. "Quite certain," he said ; "I might have been overtaken . . . but I am sure I wasn't sewed up."

1884. C. Russell, Jack's^ Courtship, xiii. if Alphonso carried his daughter away from England, I should be sewed up, as Jack says, for want of funds to stick to his skirts.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xxii. She's about sewn-up . . . tired herself out at the game.

4. (nautical).—Grounded : also Sued up.

Sewer, subs. (London). — The Metropolitan and Metropolitan District Railways.

2. (Stock Exchange).—In pi. — The East London Railway shares.

Sex.

147 Shack.

Common Sewer, subs. phr. (common). —(1) An indiscriminate tippler ; (2) the throat ; and (3) see quot.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 90. You may truly be termed a common sewer of erudition.

Sex, subs, (venery).—1. The female pudendum : generic. See Monosyllable. 2. The sex = womankind.

Sey (Se or Say) (back slang).— Yes : pronounced See.

Shab, verb, (old colloquial). — 1. To get (or make) shabby, which = (1) 'in sorry rigging' (B. E. and Grose), out-at-elbows ; and (2) mean, base, seedy (q.v.). Whence shabbaroon (shabroon, shabrag, or shabster) = a ragamuffin, ' a mean spirited fellow ' (B. E. and Grose). Also shabby-genteel = aping gentility, but really shabby ; to shab off = ' to sneak or slide away ' (B. E.).

1680. Aubrey, Lives, ' Lettes ' [Oliphant, New Engl., ii. 121.] Among new words are Sketch . . . Shabby (from scabby.)

1688. Clarendon, Diary, 7 Dec. They were very shabby fellows, pitifully mounted, and worse armed.

1691-2. Wood, Athena" Oxon., 11. 743. They mostly had short hair, and went in a shabbed condition.

1698. Farquhar, Levé and a Bottle, iv. 3. I would have shabbed him off.

1703. Ward, London Spy, xv. 365. Some loose shabroon in Bawdy-Houses Bred.

rf.1704. T. Brown, Works, ii. 184. My wife, too, ... let in an inundation of shabroons to gratify her concupiscence.

1729. Swift, Hamilton's Baron. The dean was so shabby, and look'd like a ninny.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, xv. He's a shabby body.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii. 6. We haven't had a better job a long vile nor the shabby genteel lay.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, ¹ Lay of St. Nicholas.' And how in the Abbey No one was so shabby, As not to say yearly four masses a head.

1840. Thackeray, Shabby Genteel Story [Title].

1862. Thackeray, Philip, xxii. Her mother felt more and more ashamed of the shabby fly . . . and the shabby cavalier.

1894. W. M. Baker, New Timothy, 153. Keeping up a fragmentary conversation with the shabby gentleman.

2. (old).—To scratch oneself: like a lousy man or mangy dog.

Shabby-woman (The), subs. phr. (literary).—See quot.

1864. Athentrum, 29 Oct., 'Rev. of Slang Diet.' There is the shabby woman, a term pointing to the statue of Minerva which guards the portal of the Athena;um, and looks so little like ' Eve on hospitable thoughts intent,'—for since the Athenœum Club was established, no member has ever afforded the simplest rites of hospitality to a friend.

Shack, subs. (old).—1. A shiftless fellow ; a vagabond : also shackaback, shackbag,

shackrag, a shakerag. As verb. = to go on tramp ; to idle, to loaf. As adj. (also shacknasty) = contemptible : cf. shagbag.

1740. North, Examen, 293. Great ladies are more apt to take sides with talking, flattering gossips than such a shack as Fitzharris.

18... Widow Bedott Papers, 34. Her father was a poor drunken shack, and her mother took in washin'.

1856. Dow, Sermons, m. General fly-offs and moral unhitches incident to poor shackly mortality.

1865. Good Words, Feby., 125. What makes the work come so heavy at the end of the week, is, that the men are shacking at the beginning.

1882. W. Andrews, Book of Oddities^ 84. ' Ripley ruffians, Butterley blacks, Swanwick bull-dogs, Alfreton shacks.'. . . For generations past Alfreton always had, down to twenty years ago, a notorious set

Shackle. 148

Shadow.

of idlers in it, ready for anything except working for an honest living—easily earning the cognomen of Alfreton shacks. . . . The date of the origin of the rhyme is probably about 1800.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 29 Sep. The meanest, wickedest, low-down, shacknasty lot of heathens in America.

1896. Oppenheim, False Evidence, xxvi. What would you have me do? Shack about with my hands in my pockets all day.

2. (American).—See qnots. In Canada shack = dwelling.

1887. Roberts, Western Avcmus. I . . . and Mitchell were in one of the shacks or huts.

1881. New York Times, 18 Dec. [quoted in ¹ Noll' 6 S., v. 65. Shack.— A log cabin. The average shack comprises but one room, and is customarily roofed with earth, supported by poles.

1S82. Century Mag., 511. A shack is a one-story house built of cotton-wood logs, driven in the ground like piles, or laid one upon another. The roof is of sticks and twigs covered with dirt, and if there is no woman to insist on tidiness, the floor will be of pounded earth.

3. (Post Office).—Amisdirected or returned letter.

Shackle, subs. (American).—A raffle.

1885. Western Gaz., 30 Jan. [Notes and Queries, 6 S., xi. 245]. [He] was asked by a young man to join in a shackle for live tame rabbits.

Shackly (or Shackling), adj. (American). — Ricketty ; ramshackle (q.v.).

1872. J. T. Trowbridge, Coupon Bonds, 387. The gate itself was such a shackling concern, a child couldn't have leaned on it without breaking it down.

1876. Century, xxv. 672. An unpainted and shackly dwelling.

1884. Clemens, Huck. Finn., xxi. All kinds of old shackly wagons.

1885. J. W. Palmer, New and Old, 55. Very small mean, slender and brittlelooking, or what old coloured nurses call shackly.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, v. Caliente, a shackly frontier settlement.

Shack-stoner, subs. phr.—As in

quot. [?6d.].

1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, xvii. Oh ! I knows 'em all and can recon 'em up, from a shack-stoner to a cold 'later. You see I've been at the stand for twelve years. Ibid., xx. You see, if yer get a rozzer to call yer up he wants a schackstoner, but if I call 'em up I gets a thrummer a week.

Shad, subs. (American).—A prostitute. See Tart.

Shadbelly, subs. (American).— A Quaker : the Quaker coat from neck to skirt follows the ventral line of the shad—hence shad-bellied = sloping in front like a Quaker coat. Cj. cutaway.

1869. Stowe, Old town, 8. He was kind 'o mournfnl and thin and shadbellied.

1870. Judd, Margaret, i. 13. Three cornered hats, shad-bellied coats, shoe and knee buckles.

Shade, subs, (common).—In= wine-vaults : also as in quot. 1823.

1823. Bee, Diet. Tur/^s.v. Shades. The Shades at London Bridge are under Fishmongers' Hall. . . . The Shades at Spring Gardens is a subterranean ale-shop.

Verb, (thieves').—To conceal ; to keep secret.

Shadkin, stibs. (American). — A marriage-broker.

Shadow, subs, and verb. (old).— i. A spy or close attendant : e.g. ( i ) a detective ; (2) see quot. 1869 ; (3) a bosom friend ; and (4) a jackal (q.v.). As verb. = (1) to track, to spy, to dog (q.v.) ; and (2) to be inseparable.

1607. Tourneur, Revengers Tra-

gedy, ii. 3. Ven. I'd almost forgot-

the bastard 1 Lus. What of him ? Ven.

This night, this hour, this minute, now-

Lus. What? what? Ven. Shadows the duchess——.

S had räch.

149 Shady.

3.1859. Providence J I. [Bartlett]. She was shadowed, and her ways of life ascertained.

1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. She's a dress-woman . . . one . . . they tog out that they may show off at their best, and make the most of their faces. They can't trust 'em . . . you might tell that by the shadder.

1876. Neiu York Herald, 23 Mar. Barr was decoyed ... by a member of the secret service, who shadowed him.

1888. Pinkerton, Midnight ExPress, 23. A man had shadowed the detective since his departure from the railway office.

1891. G. F. Griffiths [Tr. Fouard, Christ, The Son of God, i. 238]. He was shadowed by spies, who were stirring up the crowd against Him.

1897. Weekly Dispatch, 24 Oct., 2. 4. They proved to be two well-known and expert burglars . . . and the shadowing was continued for several days, the police hoping to secure the receiver.

1902. Lynch, High Stakes, xxviii. It is not a shadowing expedition. It is a hold-up.

2. (Westminster School).—See quot.

1867. Collins, Public Schools, 187. When a boy is first placed in the school, he is attached to another boy in the same form, something in the relation of an apprentice. The new boy is called the shadow, the other the ' substance.' In the first week the shadow follows the substance everywhere, takes his place next to him in class . . . and is exempt from any responsibility for his own mistakes in or out of school. During this interval of indulgence his patron is expected to initiate him in all the work of the school . . . in short to teach him by degrees to enter upon . . . a responsible existence of his own.

May your shadow never be (or grow) less, phr. (colloquial). = May you prosper !

1887. Referee, 2 Jan. The recipients . . . hope that Sara's shadow may never grow less.

Shadrach, subs, (founders').—A mass of badly smelted iron. [Cf. Daniel, iii. 26, 27.]

Shadscales (or Scales), subs. (American).—See quot.

1875. American English [Cham. Journal, 25 Sept., 610]. Money has different names ; as . . . shadscales, charms ...

Shady, adj. and adv. (orig. University : now generally colloquial. ) — Generic for decadence and deterioration, moral, physical, and material. Hence, on the shady side of [e.g., 40] = beyond (or older) than 40 years of age ; to keep shady (American) = to keep in the background, to be cautious and reticent.

1852. Bristed, Five Years in an Eng. University, 147. Some . . . are rather shady in Greek and Latin.

1862. Clough, The Bothee of Tober. Na-Vuolich. Shady in Latin, said Lindsay, but topping in Plays and Aldrich.

1863. Kingsley, Austin Elliott, xii. Hayton had come for his hour's logic . . . Hayton was the only shady man of the lot ; the only " pass" man of the whole.

1864. Spectator, 1186. The University word shady meaning simply poor and inefficient, as when a man is said to be " shady in Latin but topping in Greek plays" is obviously University slang.

r874. Hatton, Clytie, in. xiii. No more seedy clients, no more shady cases ; Simon Cuffing shall be known for his intense respectability.

1883. Hawley Smart, At Fault, III. vii. Mr. Andernore engaged in a good many transactions that, though not illegal exactly, were of the kind denominated shady.

1886. D. Telegraph, 11 Sep. The public might be misled into subscribing to a shady undertaking. Ibid, f 1888), 30 Nov. Between these, however, and the shadiest pickpocket who calls himself a Count there are infinite degrees of assumption and sham.

1897. Marshall, ' Pomes,' 8. If this isn't a shady lot. Ibid., 9. And luck of the shadiest sort.

The Shady Groves of the Evangelist, subs. phr. (London).—St. John's Wood. [A favourite haunt of loose women.]

Shady Spring. 150 Shag-bag.

Shady Spring, subs. phr. (venery). — The female pudendum : see Monosyllable.

1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesque,

62. Not that for Greece she car'd a f-1,

But hated Paris in her heart, Because he'd seen her shady spring, And did not think it was the thing.

Shaft. To make a shaft or a bolt of it, verb. phr. (old). —To take a risk for what it is worth ; to venture.

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives, iii. 4, 24. I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't : 'slid, 'tis but venturing.

1617. Howell, Letters, i, iii. 24. The Prince is preparing for his journey ; I shall to it again closely when he is gone, or make a shaft or a bolt on it.

Shaft of Cupid (or Delight),

subs. phr. (venery).—The penis : see Prick.

1719. Dukfey, Pills, iv. 72. It is a shaft of Cupid's cut, 'Twill serve to Rove, to Prick, to Butt.

1782. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satirycal, 'The Picture.' For Cupid's Pantheon, the Shaft of Delight must spring from the masculine base.

Shafts bury, subs. (B.E. e.ityb). ¹ A gallon-pot full of wine, with a Cock.'

Shag, subs, (venery).—1. The act of kind ; (2) = a performer (q.v) : e.g., * lie's but a bad shag ' = ' He's no able woman's man' (Grose). As verb. = (1) to copulate : see Greens and Ride ; and (2) to frig {q.v.).

To shag back, verb. phr. (hunting).—To hesitate ; to hang back ; to refuse a fence.

As wet as a shag, phr. (provincial).—As wet as may be. [shag = cormorant].

Shag(or shake-) bag (or rag),

subs. phr. (old).— 1. 'A poor shabby fellow' (B. E.); 'a man of no spirit : a term borrowed from the cock-pit ' (Grose) : originally as in quot. 1611. Also as adj. = mean ; beggarly. See Rag.

1588. Marlowe, Jew of Malta. Act iv. Bara. Was ever Jew tormented as I am? To have a shag-rag knave to come, &c

1611. Cotgrave, Diet, s.v. Guerlu. set, somewhat like our shag rag, a byword for a beggerlie souldier.

1611. Chapman, May-day, Act 11. 281 (Plays, 1874). If I thought 'twould ever come to that, I'd hire some shagrag or other for half a zequine to cut's throat.

1612. Chapman, Widow's Tears, Act v., 338 (Plays, 1874). To send a man abroad under guard of one of your silliest shack-rags ; that he may beat the knave, and run's way ?

1615. Exch. Ware at the Second Hand [Halliwell]. A scurrie shagragge gentleman.

1616. Scot, Certain Pieces, âïc. For . . . honestie is fellow shakerag with simplicitie.

1630. Taylor, Urania, 7. The shak-rag shag-haird crue.

1641. Brome, Jovial Crew, iii. Do you talk shake-rag ? heart ! yond's more of 'em ; I shall be beggar-mawl'd if I stay.

1665. R. Head, English Rogue. I. ix., 71 (1874). From what Dunghil didst thou pick up this shakerag, this squire of the body ?

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering,\. 269. He was a shake-rag like fellow.

2. (cockers' : also colloquial). —A fighting-cock ; and so, by implication, a ' hen of the game ' (q.v.).

1700. Congreve, Way of the World, N. 11. Wit. Come Knight . . . will you go to a cock-match ? Sir Wil. With a wench, Tony? Is she a shake-bag, sirrah ?

Shake. 151 Shake.

1771. Smollett, Humphrey Clinker [1900], i. 68. ' I bless God . . . that Mrs. Tabitha Bramble did not take the field to-day ! ' I would pit her . . . against the best shakebag of the whole main.

Shake, subs, (venery). — 1. A whore, and (2) an act of coition. 3. (common) a standard of value, usually in the phrase no great shakes = anything of small account. 4. (American) = a show. Also fair shakes = a tolerable bargain or chance.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 41. Though NO great shakes at learned chat.

1820. Byron, Letter [10 Murray], 28 Sep. I had my hands full, and my head too just then, so it can be no great shakes.

1834. AlNSWORTH, RookwOOd, iii. Ü.

I'll give you a chant composed upon Dick Turpin, the highwayman. It's no great shakes, to be sure, but it's the best I have.

1847. Chron. of Pineville, 34. Give Bill Sweeny a fair shake, and he can whoop blue blazes out of ye.

1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, 56. The Museum ... he didn't consider any very great shakes.

1855. Kingsley, Westward Ho, xxx. No great shakes of a man to look to, nether.

ci859. Newspaper Cutting ["S"], 200. "A shake. Hope no offence ; none so meant, mum. A shake's a party as is married and as isn't, if you understand me, mum. ' In keeping,' some calls it."

1865. Gaskell, Wives and Daughters, xxi. After all, a senior wangler was no great shakes. Any man might be one if he liked.

1888. Boi.dkewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxix. We didn't set up to be any great shakes ourselves, Jim and I.

1891. Newman, Scamping Tricks, 47. Here comes the shake.

1898. Pink ' Un and Pelican, 24. He was no great shakes as a scholar, but he understood racing and human nature.

2. (various).—In pi. — generic for unsteadiness : specifically delirium tremens.

b. 1859. Western Gazetteer [Bartlett], The springs fail once in a while since the shakes of 1812.

1884. Cornhill Mag., June, 616. Until she is pulled up by an attack of delirium tremens, or, as she and her neighbours style it, a fit of the shakes.

1898. Man of the World, 7 Dec, 5, 3. When John has a real attack of the shakes, we fasten the churn handle to him, and he brings the butter inside of fifteen minutes.

1900. Nisbet, Sheep's Clothing, iv. iv. AU had experienced the shakes, and so were able to sympathise.

5. (common).—A fad. Also in combination : as the milkshake, the vegetarian-shake, &c. Shook on = in love with.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxiv. He was awful shook on Madg ; but she wouldn't look at him. Ibid., xxxvi. I'm regular shook on the

f)olka. Ibid., xl. A steady-going he's a ittle—you understand—well, shook on me.

6. (colloquial). — Generic for quick action : e.g., a great shake = a quick pace ; in a

brace (or couple) of shakes (or in the shake of a lamb's

tail) = instantly.

[ ? ]. Hunilyng of the Hare, 96. Thei wente a nobull schakke.

1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg. (Babes in the Wood). I'll be back in a couple

of shakes.

1841. Punch, i. 135. A couple of agues Caught, to speak vulgarly, in a

brace of shakes.

1854. Martin and Aytoun, Bon Gaultier Ballads, ' Jupiter and the Indian Ale.' Quick I invent some other drink, Or, in a brace of shakes thou standest On Cocytus' sulph'ry brink.

1866. Reade, Cloister and Hearth, xciii. Now Dragon could kill a wolf in a

BRACE of shakes.

Shake.

152 Shake.

Verb, (venery).—1. See quots., and (2) to masturbate.

[ ? ]. Nominale M S S., Lascivus. Anglice a schäkere.

1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, âr*c., s.v. Shake ... (5) Futuo. This seems to be the ancient form of shag, given by Grose.

2. (old).—To steal : e.g., to

shake a swell = to rob

a gentleman ; to shake a chest of slop = to steal a chest of tea ; to be shook of a skin = to be robbed of a purse ; Have you shook ? = Have you stolen anything, &c. (Grose and Vaux).

1859. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, xix. 1 . . . got from bad to worse till I shook a nag, and got bowled out and lagged.

1885. Chambers's Journal, 21 Mar., 190. Each man on the best stock-horse he could beg, borrow, or shake.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxiv. Some well-bred horse you chaps have been shaking lately. Ibid., xxxiv. I've two minds to shake him and leave you my horse and a share of the gold to boot.

3. (common).—To shake hands ; generally Shake !

1825. Jones, True Bottom'd Boxer [Univ. Songst., ii. 96]. Spring's the boy for . . . shaking a flipper.

1891. Newman, Scamping Trieks, 59. Shake ! That's right. As we understand each other, I will now tell you how things ended.

1892. Lippincott's, Oct., 501. I'd cure thet kid, ef it bust the plan Of the whole durned universe. " Shake ! " says Dan.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, ii. ¹ Shake, honest Injun ! ' said the Texan.

4. (common).—To throw dice, or (printers') ' quads ' ; to gamble (Grose) : see Jeff ; and to shake an elbow [q.v., adding to the latter the following earlier and later quotations).

1613. Webster, DeviPs Law Case, ii. t. Shaking vour elbow at the tableboard . . . and resorting to your whore in hired velvet.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 3 Ap. Shaking his elbow at baccarat nearly every night.

5. (common).—To turn one's back on ; to desert.

Thrases and Colloquialisms. —More than one can shake a stick at = past counting ; nothing worth shaking a stick at = worthless ; to shake a foot (toe, or leg) = to dance ; to shake a loose leg (see Leg) ; to shake together = to get on well or smoothly ; to shake up = to upbraid ; to shake a fall = to wrestle ; to shake a tart = to possess a woman; to shake up = (1) to scold, and (2) to masturbate ; to shake a cloth in the wind = to be hanged (Grose) ; to shake down = (1) (see Shake-down), and (2) to accommode oneself to, to settle down ; to shake the ghost into one = to frighten ; to shake the bullet (or red rag) = (1) see Bullet and Red, and (2) to threaten to discharge (tailors') ; to shake up = to get (American) ; ' You may go and shake your ears '= advice to one who has lost his money ' (Ray).

1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, ii. i. Go, shake your ears.

[16?]. Holland, Camden, 628. Mabel did shake up in some hard and sharpe termes a young gentleman.

1826. Neal, Peter Brush. I've . . . got more black eyes and bloody noses than you could shake a stick at.

[?]. Crockett, Tour, 87. There was nothing to treat a friend to that was

Worth shaking a stick at.

1830. Buckstonh, Wreck Ashore, ii. i. Gaf. Dance? I havn't shaken a toe these twenty years.

Shake-bag.

153 Shake-lurk.

1854. Collins, Hide and Seek, 11. i. I can't shake up along with the rest of you ... I am used to hard lines and a wild country.

186t. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, i. xi. The rest of the men had

shaken Well together.

1865. Maj. Downing, May-day in New York. New York is an everlastin' great concern, and . . . there's about as many people in it as you could shake a stick at.

18 [?]. Thackeray, Mr. Malonys Account of the Ball. And I'd like to hear the pipers blow, And shake a put with Fanny there.

1880. Scribner's Mag., Mar., 655. I've heard my father play it at Arrah, and shook a foot myself with the lads on the green.

1892. Fenn, New Mistress, i. " I'm very, very glad to know you, my dear," she said warmly, " and I hope you'll come and see me often as soon as you get shaken down."

1892. Anstey, Voces Populi, ¹ At the Military Exhibition, 72. Ain't you shot enough ? Shake a leg, can't yer Jim '?

Shake-bag, subt. phr. (venery).— The female pudendum : see monosyllable. Cf. Shagbag, 2.

Shake-buckler, sues. phr. (old). —A swash-buckler ; a bully.

d.1570. Becon, Works, ii. 355. Such Sim Shake-bucklers as in their young years fall into serving, and in their old years fall into beggary.

Shake-down, suds. phr. (common).— I. An improvised bed. Also as verb. — (1) to sleep on a temporary substitute for a bed.

</.i849. M\ss Edgeworth, Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock, i. 3. I would not choose to put more on the floor than two beds and one shake-down.

1821. Egan, Real Life, 11. 164. Sure enough a shake-down is a two-penny layer of straw, and saving the tatters on my back, not a covering at all at all.

1838. Mrs. Hall, Irish Character, 137. A shake-down had been ordered even in Mr. Barry's own study.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., 1. 272. In the better lodging-houses the shakedowns are small palliasses or mattresses ; in the worst they are bundles of rags of any kind ; but loose straw is used only in the country for shakedowns.

1858. Dickens, Great Expectations, xli. He . . . advised me to look out at once for a "fashionable crib " near Hyde Park, in which he could have a shakedown.

i860. Russell, Diary in India, t. 40. Five or six of us shook down for the night and resigned ourselves to the musquitoes and to slumber.

i860. Mrs. Wood, Roland Yorke, xxxi. Where are you going to sleep?" ..." I dare say they can give me a shake-down at the mother's. The hearthrug will do."

1872. Sunday Times, 18 Aug., 'Fun and Riddle Club.' It was resolved : The members of this club do retire to their virtuous shakedowns to pass the rest of the night in the arms of Morpheus.

1883. Greenwood, Odd People, 51. Two or three of missus's younger children . . . have a shakedown on the pot-board beneath her, while father and mother share a mattress in the wash-house.

1886. D. Telegraph, 20 Mar. At night he had a shake-dow > in an adjacent outhouse.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xi. The butler made a collection for us and gave us a shake down in the stables on some nice clean hay.

1897. Mitford, Romance of Cape Frontier, 1. v. He had shaken-down in Hick's room, and the two had talked . . . themselves to sleep.

1901. Troddles, 122. Why not run on and get a shakedown there. They'll do us decently and cheap if they are not already full.

2. (xVmerican thieves'). — A brothel kept by a panel-thief (</.v.).

3. (American). —A rough dance; a break-down (q.v.).

Shake-lurk, subs. phr. (old Cant). — A begging petition : specifically one on account of shipwreck : shake-glim = one for fire.

Shaker. 154 Shallow.

1857-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 233. lhe patterer becomes a " lurker,"— that is, an impostor ; his papers certify any and every ill that flesh is heir to. Shipwreck is called a shake lurk.

Shaker, subs, (common). — 1. The hand : see Daddle.

2. (common).—A shirt : see Fleshbag (Snowdon, Mag. Assist. (1857) 446).

3. (busmen's).—An omnibus.

Shakerag. See Shagbag. Shakester. See Shickster.

Shake-up, subs.phr. (colloquial). —A commotion ; a disturbance.

Shaky, adj. (colloquial). — Anything questionable : generic — unstable, insolvent, unwell, dishonest, immoral, drunken, ignorant. Shakiness = hesitancy, degeneracy.

1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diamond. Our director was — what is not to be found in Johnson's Dictionary— rather shaky.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, xi. xvii. I must be off presently to those three shaky voters in Fish Lane.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, x. Is it not a noble ambition to arrive at terms of apparent intimacy with this shaky grandee ?

1858. N. V. Tribune, 21 Jan. Four . . . adverse, and several others shaky.

1859. Eliot, Adam Bede, xxviii. I feel terribly shaky and dizzy.

1861. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xviii. Affairs are getting somewhat shaky there : Welter's tradesmen can't get any money.

1890. Allen, Tents 0/ S hem, x. I expect your chances would have been

shaky.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, iv. A few women, faultless in attire, even if shaky in morals.

Shaler, subs, (common).—A girl.

Shalley-gonahey, subs. phr. (provincial). — A smock-frock (Hotten).

Shallow, subs, (old) — i. An empty-headed Justice of the Peace. [Cf. Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV. iii. 2.] Whence (2) = a fool ; also

shallow-ling and shallowpate (B. E. and Grose.)

1615. Sylvester, Tobacco Battered [Century]. — Can Wee suppose that any SHALLOWLiNG Can finde much good in oftTobaccoring.

1646. British Bellman [Harl. Misc., vii. 633. Whores, when they have drawn in silly shallowlings, will ever find some trick to retain them.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xxvi. The local shallows thought this mode ot entrance added dignity.

3. (old).—A low-crowned hat ; 'a whip-hat': whence lillyshallow = a white whip-hat (Grose and Vaux).

4. (costermongers').—(a) The peculiar barrow used by street traders (also Trolley and Whitechapel brougham : Fr. une bagnole) ; and (b) see quot. 1851.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 29. The square and oval shallows are willow baskets, about four inches deep, and thirty inches long, by eighteen broad. Ibid., i. 146. Two or three customers with their shallows slung over their back.

1875. Greenwood, Low Life Depths. Here they are after it—in vehicles for the greater part ; in carts and half-carts, and shallows and barrows.

1876. Hindlev, CJteap Jack, 184. With a proviso that he did not go travelling in the country with his shallow.

1891. M. Advertiser, 30 Mar. The connexion between Lord Lonsdale's travels . . . and his capacity to drive anything on wheels from a Pickford's van to a costermonger's shallow, is, one would fancy, remote enough.

1896. Sala, London Up-to-date, 45. The free and independent costermonger, with his pal in the shallow.

Sham. 155 Sham.

1899. Ev. Standard, 13 March, 8, 2. 'A China Episode.' Mathew Leveret, a peripatetic dealer in crockery ware, was driving his pony and shallow . . . laden with crockeryware of all kinds.

4. (tramps').—See quots. and Shivering Jemmy.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lonaon Lab., \. 262. He scraped acquaintance with a ' school of shallow coves ' ; that is, men who go about half-naked, telling frightful tales about shipwrecks, hair-breadth escapes from houses on fire, and such like aqueous and igneous calamities. . . , People got ' fly ' to the shallow brigade, so Peter came up to London to ' try his hand at something else.'

1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. The shaller, or more properly shallow dodge, is for a beggar to make capital of his rags, and a disgusting condition of semi-nudity. ... A pouncing of the exposed parts with common powder blue is found to heighten the frost-bitten effect.

1877. Turner, Vagrants, &*c, 641. I have been a shallow-coye, also a highflyer.

1893. RiPon Chronicle, 23 Aug. ' A Queer Life Story.' Billy Brum has been running shallow at intervals in these parts for the past five years. By running shallow I mean that he never wears either boots, coat, or hat, even in the depths of the most dismal winter.

1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, x. I only do the shallow on the pinch. I shall have to come back to the nigger business, its more respectable. Ibid., x. One thing, I always go very 'spectable—clean collar, clean scarf, clean boots. It's far better to go that way than shallow.

1900. Flynt, Tramps, 240. One day he is a shallow-cove, or ' Shivering Jimmy.'

To live shallow, verb. phr. (thieves').—To live quietly and in retirement, as when wanted {q.v.)

Sham, subs. adj. and verb. (old). —Generic for false. As subs. = (1) a cheat, a trick ; (2) a substitute, as a pillow-sham, false sleeves, fronts, or cuffs. As adj.

— spurious, counterfeit. As verb. = to cheat; to feign: also to cut a sham =⁴ to play a rogue's Trick ' (B. E. and Grose) ; shamocrat = one who apes rank or wealth.

1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, iii. i. Shamming is telling you an insipid dull Lie with a dull Face, which the sly Wag the Author only laughs at himself ; and, making himself believe 'tis a good Jest, puts the sham only upon himself.

1689. Prior, To Fleetwood Shepherd. Your Wits that fleer and sham, Down from Don Quixote to Tom Tram.

1700. Congreve, Way of the World, v. 10. That sham is too gross to pass on me! Ibid., i. 1. The discovery of your sham addresses to her, to Conceal your Love to her Niece, has provok'd this Separation.

1722. Steele, Conscious Lovers, i. Wearing shams to make linen last clean a fortnight.

1740. North, Examen, 231. The word sham is true cant of the Newmarket breed. It is contracted of ' ashamed.' The native signification is a town lady of diversion in country maid's cloaths, who to make good her disguise, pretends to be so 'sham'd.' Thence it became proverbial ... so annex'd to a plot it means one that is fictitious and untrue.

1778. Sheridan, The Rivals, i. 1. Why does your master pass only for ensign ?—now if he had shamm'd general.

1790. Franklin, Auto., 257. He stayed some time to exercise the men in sham attacks upon sham forts.

1813. Aubrey, Lives, ' Henry Blount.' Two young gent, that heard Sr. H. tell this sham . . . rode the next day to St. Albans to enquire . . . 'twas altogether false.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxvii. He shammed ill, and his death was given publicly out in the French papers.

3. (common). — Champagne ; boy {q.v.) : also shammy.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, iv. A bottle of sherry, a bottle of sham, a bottle of port and a shass caffy, it ain't so bad, hay, Pen. ?

See Abraham ; Snite.

Shamble. 156 Shaney.

Shamble, subs. (old).—In //. = the legs. Whence Shake your shambles = Begone ! As verb. — ' to walk awkwardly' ; shamble-legged = shuffling (B. E. and Grose).

Shambrogue, subs. (old). —The Shamrock. Also shamroot.

1613. Withers, Abuses Strict and Whipt, 71, And for my cloathing in a mantle goe, And feed on sham-roots as the Irish doe.

1712. Spectator, 455. I could easily observe . . . the Spanish myrtle, the English oak, the Scotch thistle, the Irish shambrogue.

Shameless, subs, (old : B. E., c. 1696).—' A bold forward Blade. '

Sham-legger, subs. phr. (common).—A man offering worthless stuff for sale cheap.

Sham mock, verb. (old).—To loaf (q.v.).

.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 184. Pox take you both for a couple of shammocking rascals.

Shamrock. To drown the Shamrock, verb. phr. (Irish).— To go drinking on St. Patrick's Day (Mar. 17th).

1888. D. Telegraph, 22 Mar. An Irishman of strong national instincts, and resident, or 'comniorant,' in Edinburgh, on Saturday last resolved to drown the shamrock in the orthodox fashion.

Shan (orShan d), subs. (Old Cant). —Base coin. Hence as adj. — worthless (Grose and Vaux).

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxxii. ' I doubt Glossin will prove but shand* after a', mistress,' said Jabot, as he passed through the little lobby beside the bar ; ' but this is a gude half-crown ony way.' * [Cant expression for base coin.]

Shandrydan (or Shan dry), jm^t. (Irish).— A light two-wheeled, one-horsed cart : hence, any old ricketty trap.

1843. Thackeray, Irish Sketch Book, xii. Where all the vehicles, the cars, barouches and shandrydans, the carts, the horseand donkey-men could have found stable and shelter, who can tell?

1861. Comhill Mag., v. 440. An ancient rickety-looking vehicle of the kind once known as shandrydan.

1863. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, xxix. I ha' been to engage a shandry this very morn.

1876. Braddo ■, Joshua Haggard, iii. An ancient white pony, which the Squire drove himself in a shandrydan of the chaise tribe, completed the Pentreath stud.

1886. D. Telegraph, 10 Sep. Until an immense procession of buggies, wagonnettes, chaise carts, and shandrydans had rattled by.

1896. Sala, London Up-to-date, 43. I have done the Derby ... in every style —gigs, landaus, barouches, hansoms, shandrydans. . . .

Shandy-gaff, subs phr.(common). —Beer and ginger-beer.

1853. Bradley, Verd. Green, 1. 118. ' He taught me to grill a devil.' 'Grill a devil,' groaned Miss Virginia. ' And to make shandy-gaff and sherry cobbler, and brew bishop and egg flip : oh, its capital ! '

1864 Eton School Days, v. Chorley took him up the river and inducted him into the mysteries of shandy-gaff at Surly.

1871. Chambers' Journal, 9 Dec, 771. I am sitting with him drinking

s handy-gaff.

1872. Fun, 10 Aug. ' A Ditton Ditty.' So let us quaff Our shandy-gakf.

1880. Mortimer Collins, Thoughts in my Garden, ii. 198. They bear about the same resemblance to real literature as shandy-gaff to dry champagne.

Shaney (or Shanny), subs, (common).—A fool.

d. 1823. Bloomfield, The Horkey. And out ran every soul beside, A shannypated crew.

Shanghai.

157 Shank.

Shanghai, subs. (American).— 1. A tall dandy [Bartlett : In allusion to the long-legged fowls fiom Shanghai, all the rage a few years ago].

1859. Gt. Republic Mag., Jan., 70. I degenerated into a fop, and became a Shanghai of the most exotic breed.

2. (Australian).— A catapult: also as verb.

3. (American).—See quot.

1880. Scribner's Mag., Jan., 365. The shanghai is the glaring daub required by some frame-makers for cheap auctions. They are turned out at so much by the day's labor, or at from 12 dollars to 24 dollars a dozen, by the piece. All the skies are painted at once, then all the foregrounds. Sometimes the patterns are stenciled. The dealer attaches the semblance of some well-known name, of which there are several, and without initials.

3. (American). — See quot. 1871.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, 347. Shanghai applied to sailors refers not to lhe bird, but, according to a seaman's statement, to the town of Shanghai, where the process so called is said to have been once very common. The latter consists in drugging the unlucky sailor, when he enjoys himself after a long cruise, on shore, and carrying him, while in a state of insensibility, to a vessel about to depart, where he finds himself upon his recovery, entered in all forms on the book.

1871. New York Tribune, 1 Mar. They would have been drugged, shanghaied, and taken away from all means of making complaint.

Shank, subs. (B. E. and Grose).— In pi. = the legs; gams (q.v.).

to shank it (or to ride

shanks's mare, or nag) = (1) to go on foot or by the Marylebone stage (q.v.): and (2) to leave without ceremony (B. E. and Grose).

1302-11. Political Songs [Camden Soc] 223. He [King Edward 1] with the longe skonkes.

rf.1529. Skelton [Dyce, Works, i. 117]. Your wynde schakyn shankkes . . . crokyd as a camoke. Ibid. 168 [Oliphant, New Eng. i. 371. The word shank had not then the lowering idea of our days ; it is applied to the limbs of Christ on the cross].

d.\c,ssLyndsay, Thrie Estaitis [E.E.T.S. 469].

1598. Florio, Worlde 0/ Wördes, s.v. Gambe, legges or shankes.

1600. Shakespeare, As You Like It, ii. 7, 161. His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide, For his skrunk shank.

163S. [Glapthorne], Lady Mother Bullen's, Old Plays, ii. 131]. But come, stir your shanks nimbly or lie hough ye.

1785. Burns, Epistle to J. Lapraik, Postcript. The youngsters took the sands Wi' nimble shanks.

1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxii. Sitting on the bed, to rest his shanks, as he was pleased to express the accommodation which that posture afforded him.

1843. Thackeray, Irish Sketch Book, xvi. Along the banks you see all sorts of strange figures washing all sorts of wonderful rags, with red petticoats and redder shanks standing in the stream.

1847. Porter, Quarter Race, 90. Dick and Jule had to ride shanks' mar'.

1855. Kingsley, Westward Ho, xv. I am away to London town to speak to Mr. Frank!! "To London! how wilt get there?" "On shanks his mare," said Jack, pointing to his bandy legs.

1857. Hood, Pen and Pencil Pictures, 118. Three pairs of woollen socks . . . will cherish thy lean shanks, old fellow 1

1885. Chambers' Journal, 2 May, 287. Your true swagsman detests the sight of a horse . . . give him shanks' mare.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 9 Jan. The distance had choked off those whose only mode of locomotion was shanks's mare.

1891. Russell, Ocean Tragedy, 194. I could see his naked yellow shanks.

1891. Globe, 5 June, 3, 3. People would be deprived of their habitual method of locomotion. Some would solve the difficulty by staying at home. Others would resort to shanks's pony ; and the minority to cabs.

Shanker.

158 Shanty.

1901. D. Telegraph, 28 Oct., 10, 5. He was much more interested in two old. fashioned animals, the horse and another strange animal enjoying the name—the origin of which he had never yet been able to discover—ofsHANKs's pony.

2. (colloquial).—The fag end.

1880. Harkis, Uncle Remus, xv. Bimeby, to'rds de shank er de evenin'.

1888. Paton, Down the Islands. The old Kentuckian who in the shanks of the evening was wont to maintain there was no such thing as bad Kentucky whiskey.

Shanker, subs, (venery).—⁴ A little Scab or Pox on the Nut or Glans of the Yard. ' ( B. E. ).

1660. Old Ballad, 'An Hist. Ballad* [Ane Pleasant Garden (c.i8oo)]. A shankkr's a damn'd loveing thing where it seizes.

1731. Swift, Young Nymph Going to Bed. With gentlest touch she next explores Her shankers, issues, running sores.

1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesque, 491. But Ajax gave him two such spankers, They smarted worse than nodes and

shankers.

Shannon. ' It is said, persons dipped in that river are perfectly and for ever cured of bashfulness' (Grose).

Shant, subs, (tramps').—A quart; a pot : e.g., shant of gatter = a pot of beer. Also shanty.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab. i. 232. They have a shant of gatter at the nearest boozing ken.

1893. Emerson, Lippo. v. I should jusf think you would beg my pardon, and to show you mean it stand a couple of SHANTS of bevarly to square the boys.

Sha'n't, verb, (colloquial). — Shall not. Now we shan't be long = It's all right : a general note of satisfaction or agreement : a street catch of the late nineties.

1897. Maugham, Liza of Lambeth, v. Now we shan't be long I she remarked.

Shanty, subs, (common).—1. A rough and tumble hut ; 2. (Australian and showmen's) a publichouse ; (3) a brothel (sailors') ; and (4) a quart ; whence (5) beer money. Also as verb. — (1) to dwell in a hut, and (2) to take shelter.

1848. Cooper, Oak Openings, 26. This was the second season that le Bourdon had occupied ' Castle Meal,' as he himself called the shanty.

1857. Hammond, Wild Northern Scenes, 197. Mark ShufT and a friend . . . shantied on the outlet, just at the foot of Tupper's Lake. Ibid. 212. We shantied on the Ohio.

£.1859. New York Courier [Bartlett]. The sportsmen . . . brace themselves to meet the rude exigencies of a tramp and shanteeing out for a few days.

1861. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, liv. There was weeping in the reed-thatched hovels of the Don, and in the mud-built shanties of the Dnieper.

1878. Century Mag., Dec, 5x0. These droll and dirty congeries of shanties and shacks.

1886-96. Marshall, ' He Slumbered' ['Pomes,' 118]. She scooted from the shanty.

1887. All Year Round, 30 July, 67. Inns do not exist in Australia, every house of refreshment is a 'hotel.' It may be only a wooden shanty up-country.

1889. Haddon Chambers, In Australian Wilds, 53. I knew that there was no public house or shanty within twelve miles.

1890. Dilke, Prob. Greater Britain, iii. i. Kimberley is still a huge aggregation of shanties, traversed by tramways, and lit by electric light.

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweet heart, 34. " Yes ; and did you run that shanty long, Stringy '? " For three months and more, and did a roaring trade besides.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 3. A sand-parlour'd shanty.

1S93. Emerson, Lippo, v. Any shanty in your sky-rocket? Ibid., xiv. Then we went out for a shanty, and when we came back Blower and Bottlenose were clearing up.

S hap. 159 Shappo.

2. See Chantey.

Shap, subs, (venery). — 1. The female pudendum : see Monosyllable. Also Shape.

[ ? ]. Oivayne M y les [MS. Cott. Calig. AH. 91]. And some were yn to shappus And some were vp to the pappus.

[ ? ]. Relig. Antic., ii. 20. Semeramis hir name . . . Which wold no man in eny wyse denye, But wyth her croked shap encreece and multeply.

.1529. Skelton, Elynour Rummyng, 492. An old rybybe . . . had broken her shyn At the the threshold comying in, And fell so wyde open That one myght see her token . . . Said Elynour Rummyng . . . Fy, couer thy shap With sum flyp flap.

1530. Palsgrave, Lang. Francoyse, fol. xxvi. Count, a womans shappe, con.

1538. Elyot, Diet., s.v. Hippomares. The shape of a mare.

1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, s.v. Shape. The A.S. gesceapu, verenda, pudenda . . . Still in common use in Lincolnshire, used especially in the case of infants and children.

2. (Western American).—See quot.

1885. Stavely Hill, From Home to Home. A pair of shaps, or leather overalls, with tags and fringes down the seams.

Shape, subs, (vulgar).—In pi. = (i) an ill-made man (B. E.), and (2) a tight-laced girl (Halliwell). Hence to show one's shape = (1) to strip : specifically (old) 'to peel (q.v.) at the whipping-post' (Grose), and (2) to turnaboutand march off ; stuck on one's shape = pleased with one's appearance ; ' There's a shape for you ' = an ironical comment on a skeletonlike person or animal—a rackof-bones (q.v.); to travel on one's shape = to swindle, to live by one's appearance ; to spoil one's shape = to be got with child ; shapesmith=a stay-maker j in good

shape = quite correct ; to cut up (or show) one's shape = to frolic.

1678. Cotton, Virgil Travestie [Works C1725), 74]. My son's so big

(which rarely falls) About his -, and

Genitals, That I am half afraid lest he Should chance to spoil her Majesty.

d. 1704. _ Brown, Works, ii. 97. The French king who had spoil'd the shape ... of several mistresses . . . had a mind to do the same by me.

1715. Garth, Claremont, 98. No shape-smith set up shop and drove a trade To mend the work wise Providence bad made.

1896. Crane, Maggie, vi. Say, Mag, I'm stuck on yer shape.

Verb, (colloquial). — To turn out ; to behave.

1369. Chaucer, Troilus, ii. 61. So shop it that hym fil that day a tene In love, for whiche in wo to bedde he wente.

1605. Shakspeare, Cymbeline, v. 5, 346. Their dear loss, The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shaped Unto my end of stealing them.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxxvii. ' Well, I'm in your power, now,' says he, ¹ let's see how you'll shape." Ibid., xxii. We shall have to shape after a bit.

1891. Gould, Double Event, 123. I am very anxious to see how my horse shapes.

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 71. Briggs or no Briggs I shaped spiffin.

1898. Gould, Landed at Last, v. ' He shapes as well as ever ' . . . ' Moves splendidly.'

T902. Pall Mall Gaz., 7 Feb., 1, 2. We should wait to see how he shaped, before deciding whether he was a personage to be encouraged or taught his place.

1902. Delannoy, £iq,ooo, xxvi. How do you shape? . . . without bedclothes and with rodent company, or will you give me the letter? Ibid., xxix. He seems to be shaping himself for a straight jacket.

Shappo, subs. (old).—A hat, 'the newest Cant, Nab being very old, and grown too common ' (B. E.,

c. 1696) ; also shappeau, shoppo,

shopo, shapo [Fr. chapeau].

Shard.

160 Shark.

Shard. To take a shard, verb, phr. (provincial).—To get tipsy : see Screwed.

Share, subs. (old).— The pubes.

[ ? ]. Ms. Porkington, 10. Sychone se I nevere ere Stondynge opone schare.

1609. Holland, A mmianus Mareell. [Nares]. Arrayed from the heele to the share in manner of a nice and pretie page.

1624. Burroughs, Method of Physich [Nares]. They cannot make water, the share becometh hard, and hath Vehement pain.

Share-penny, subs. phr. (old).— A miser ; a skinflint (q.v.)

1606. Wily Beguifd [Hawkins, Eng. Drama, iii. 299]. I'll go near to cozen old father sharepenny of his daughter.

Sharge, verb, (provincial).— To copulate : see Greens and Ride (Halliwell).

Shark, subs, and verb. (old).—i. A greedy adventurer ; a swindler : also sharker (B. E. and Grose). As verb, (or to live on the shark) = to live by roguery or thieving. Whence sh<\rk-gull = a flat-catcher (q.v.) ; to shark up —to press, to enlist on terms of piracy ; sharking = (1) roguery, and (2) greedy, tricky.

1590. Sir Thomas More [Oliphant, New Eng. ii. 8]. There are the new verbs rooke (plunder) and sharke (prey)].

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, i. 1. Of unimproved mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, Shark'd up a list of landless resolutes For food and diet.

1599. Jonson, Ev. Man Out of His Humour. Characters . . . Shift. A threadbare shark . . . His profession is skeldring and odling. Ibid. (1609) Silent Woman, iv. 2. A very shark ; he set me in the nick t'other night at Primero.

1606-8. Beaumont and Fletcler, Love's Cure. Dram. Pers. A sharking, panderly constable.

1608. Dekker, Belman or London [Grosart, Works, in. 162]. A crue of sharking companions (of which there be sundry consorts lurking about the suburbs of this City).

1609. Rowlands, Knave of Clubs (Hunterian Club's Repr., 1872), 10. Two hungry sharkes did trauell Paules, Vntill their guts cride out, And knew not how, with both their wits, To bring one meale about.

i6it. Chapman, May-Day, ii. (1874) 288. Though y'are sure of this money again at my hands, yet take heed how this same Lodovico get it from you, he's a great sharker.

1628. Earle, Micro-cosmog. 14. A sharke is one whome all other means haue fayl'd, and hee now Hues of himselfe. Ibid. [Bliss] 206 That does it fair and above-board, without legerdemain, and neither sharks for a cup or a reckoning.

rf.1639. Wotton, Letter to M. Velserus. " A dirty sharker about the Romish court, who only scribbles that he may dine."

1653. Mid dleton, Spanish Gipsy, 11. i. A trade brave as a courtier's ; for some of them do but shark, and so do we.

1678-1715. South, Sermons, ii. 214. " Wretches who live upon the shark, and other men's sins, the common poisoners of youth."

T748. Smollett. Hod. Random, iii. We returned to the village, my uncle muttering all the way against the old shark.

1760. Johnston, Chrysal, 1. iv. Making my fortune a prey to every sharking projector who flattered my vanity with promises of success.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxx. ' We want our goods, which we have been robbed of by these sharks,' said the fellow.

1857. Trollope, Three Clerks, iii. He expected to pay ^200 a year for his board and lodging, which he thought might as well go to his niece as to some shark, who would probably starve him.

t891. Newman, Scamping Tricks, 2. Is part of the stock of such rare old

sharks.

1898. Nisbet, Hagar, 8. 'You'd take my money to yourself,' interrupted Dix with irony. ' Not if I know it, you SHARK I '

Sharp. i6i Sharp.

2. (old). — ' A custom-house

officer or tide-waiter ' (Grose).

Also in //. = the press-gang.

1828. Douglas Jerrold, Ambrose Gwinett, i. 3. Gil. A word with you—the sharks are out to-night. Label. The sharks? Gil. Ay, the blue-jackets—the press-gang.

3. (old). — ' One of the first order of pickpockets. Bow St. term, a.d. 1785' (Grose).

4. (military).—A recruit.

5. (American College). — At Yale = reckless absence from college duties : of persons and conduct.

6. (Western American).— A lean hungry hog (Bartlett).

Verb, (colloquial). — 1. To fawn for a dinner.

2. See subs.

Sharp, subs. (old).—i. A swindler; ' one that lives by his Witts ' (B.E). ; a rook (q.v.) : the opposite of Flat (/.v.) : also

sharper: cf. sharker (grose

and Vaux). As verb. = to cheat ; sharping (or on the sharp) subs, and adi. = swindling ; sharper's tools = (i) fools, and (2) false dice (B. E. and Grose). See Bible-sharp ; Flats-and-sharps.

1688. Shadwell, Squire of Alsatia {Works (1720), iv. 18]. ' Tatts . . . what's that ? ' ' The tools of sharpers, false dice.'

1690. Dryden, Don Sebastian, Epilogue, 1. 35. All these young sharpers would my grace importune. Ibid. (1691), King Arthur, Prol. 38. Among the rest there are a sharping set That pray for us, and yet against us bet.

1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, Dram. Pers. Sharper.

1706. Mrs. Centlivre, Basset Table, iv. i. But if he has got the knack of winning thus, he shall sharp no more here, I promise him.

1729. Gay, Polly, iii. 5. Death, sir, I won't be cheated. Cul. The money is mine. D'you take me for a sharper, sir?

1748. Smollett, Rod. Randovi, lviiii. Who supported myself in the appearance^ of a gentleman by sharping and other infamous practices.

1749. Lucas, Gamesters, 250. She would play altogether on the sharp.

1768. Goldsmith, Good Natured Man, i. How can I be proud of a place in a heart, where every sharper and coxcomb find an easy entrance.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, 142. Sharps . . . This term is applied to sharpers in general.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 1. ii. From autumn to winter, from winter to June, The "flat" and the sharp must still play the same tune.

1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford (Ed. 1854), 190. ' They are both gone on the sharp to-night,' replied the old lady.

1837. Warren, Diary of Physician, xi. I began to suspect that he was neither more nor less than a systematic London sharper—a gamester—a hanger-on about town.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxxvii. Tom's evil genius did not . . . mark him out as the prey of . . . those bloodless sharpers.

_ 1849. Macaulay, Hist, oj Eng., xviii. The crowd of pilferers, ring-droppers, and sharpers who infested the capital.

1861. Trollope, Framley Parsonage, xxxiii. What an ass I have been to be so cozened by a sharper.

1872. Besant and Rice, R. M. Mortiboy, xxiv. It is not usual to see men play in your fashion. You have sharped us, sir—sharped us.'

1886-96. Marshall, Beautiful Dreamer ['Pomes' 65]. The sharps tipped The Lump, and left Pip in the lurch.

2. (old).—A pointed weapon : a sword as contrasted with a foil.

..... Joseph of Arim. [E.E.T.S.],

17. Mony swoughninge lay thorw schindringe of scharpe.

1679. Behn, Feigned Curtizan, iii. These dangerous sharps I never lov'd,

Sharp. 162 Sharp Stick.

1697. Collier, Essays, ' Duelling.' If butchers had but the manners to go to sharps, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs.

1763. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, ii. Why lookye, Major Sturgeon, I don't much care for your poppers and sharps.

3. (American).—An expert.

c.1889. Scientific Anter. [Century], One entomological sharp, who is spoken of as good authority estimates the annual loss at 300,000,000 dois.

Adj. (B. E. r.1696, and Grose). ' Subtil, ready, quick or nimblewitted, forward, of lively Apprehension ; also Poor and Needy.'

Adv. (colloquial). — To the moment : e.g. ' I'll be there at five o'clock sharp.'

1847-8. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxvii. Captain Osborne . . . will bring him to the . . . mess at five o'clock sharp.

Mr. Sharp, phr. (traders').— A similar expression to ' twopun-ten' (q.v.), to signify that a customer of suspected honesty is about. The shopman asks one of the assistants, in a voice loud enough to be generally heard, ' Has Mr. Sharp come in yet ? ' The signal is at once understood, and a general look-out kept (Hotten).

Sharp as the corner of a round table, phr, (common). —Stupid.

Sharp's the word ! phr. (colloquial).— 1. 'Of anyone very attentive to his own interest, and apt to take all advantage' : sometimes with ' and quick's the motion ' (Grose) ; also (2) a call to brisk movement, or ready obedience.

1706. Vanbrugh, Mistake [Old Dram., 448]. Sharp's the word [i.e., watchword].

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, iii. Lady Answ. . . . They must rise early that would cheat her of her Money ; Sharp's the Word with her ; Diamonds cut Diamonds.

Sharp-AND-Blunt, suds. phr. (rhyming).—The female pudendum ; the cunt (q.v.) : see Monosyllable.

Sharp's Alley Bloodworms,

suds. phr. (old). — I. Beef sausages ; and (2) black puddings. [A noted abattoir near Smithfield.]

Sharp-set, adj. phr. (B. E. and Grose).—1. Hungry; (2) harddriven.

1577. Stanihurst, Ireland, 19. So sharpe set as to eat fried flies, butterd bees, stued snailes.

1579-80. Lyly, Euphues [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 611. He has the following phrases that only just appeared in English . . . Clounish, sharp set . . .].

</.i742. S Omer ville, Officious Messenger. The sharp-set squire resolves at last, Whate'er befall him, not to fast.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 58. My appetite was sharp-set for a comfortable meal.

Sharpshin, subs. (American).— The smallest quantity.

1854. Kennedy, Swallow Barn [De Vere]. This inconsiderable claim—for it is not the value of a sharpshin.

Sharpshooter, subs. (American). —A swift clipper-built schooner.

See Devil's Sharpshooters.

Sharp Stick, subs. phr. (American).—Persecution ; retribution.

1856. Western Scenes [De Vere]. If you stay much longer, the old man will be after you with a sharp stick, and I don't know what you'll do to keep him from killing you,

Shatterbrain. 163

Shave.

1871. Trenton State Sentinel, 26 May. The New York Tribune is still after Senators Carpenter, Conkling, and others, with a very sharp stick, for their ridiculous course in the arrest and imprisonment of the Tribune correspondents, for daring to be true to the profession.

Shatterbrain (or pate), subs. (colloquial).— A giddy person :

shatterbrain ed (or fated) =

heedless ; weak in intellect. See Shitterbrain and Shuttlehead.

Shave, subs, (common).—A narrow escape ; a squeak (q.v.) : usually with ¹ close,' ' near,' &c. Whence to make a shave (or to shave through) = to get through * by the skin of one's teeth.'

1844. Puck, 14. Of all the men that with me read There's never one . . . But got thro', if he made a shave on't.

i860. Russell, Diary in India, xxi. ' By Jove ! that was a near shave ! ' . . . a bullet whistled within an inch of our heads.

1871. Daily News, 7 Mar. In those famous telegrams of the King the expression, " Danke nur Gott!" means " It was a close shave ! "

1876. Burnabv, Ride to Khiva, Intro : I had, as it is commonly termed, a much closer shave for my life than . . . even if I had been taken prisoner by the most fanatical Turkomans in Central Asia.

1885. Field, 4 Ap. It was a desperately close shave.

1898. Gould, Landed at Last, vii. We've had some narrow squeaks of missing him ... [a] narrow shave was at York.

2. (common).—A false report ; a practical joke ; a sell {q.v.)

1854. Morning Chronicle, 13 Dec. "According to camp reports or camp shaves, as they are more expressively termed. "

i860. Russell, Diary in India, xii. At first a shave of old Smith, then a well authenticated report.

1874. Siliad, 29. The shaves are many ; so the nests of mares.

1882. D. Telegraph, 3 Oct., 5, 7. Rumours of Turkish troops being landed as our allies adding to the shaves that hourly came out.

1884. G. A. Sala, III. Lon. News, 26 Apiil, 391, 3. The legend is probably a mere barrack-room shave, but it is worth noting. Ibid. (1883), Living London, 115. Shave for hoax fir-^t obtained currency during the Crimean War.

3. (Stock Exchange). — A money consideration paid for the right to vary a contract, by extension of time for delivery or payment, &c.

4. (theatrical). — The proportion of the receipts paid to a travelling company by a local manager.

See Shaver.

Verb. (old).—To extort ; to strip; to cheat (B. E.). Hence shaving (or shavery) = (1) usury, and (2) overcharge (with drapers called shaving the ladies). Also shaver = (1) a cheat, a swindler ; (2) a banker, broker, or money-lender given to usury; and (3) shaver (q.v.) : whence shaving-shop = a

wild-catbank (q.V. ) shavingterms = make all you can.

1548. Latimer, Sermons, 100 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 515. Latimer coins shavery, something like slavery ; to express ûxs robbery of the Church].

1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks. They fell all into the hands of the cruel mountain people, living for the most part by theft, . . . by these shavers the Turks were stript of all they had.

1606. Dekker, Seven Deadly Sinnes (Arber's) 40. Then haue you Brokers yat shaue poore men by most iewish interest . . . Then haue you the Shauing of Fatherlessechildren, and of widowes, and that's done by Executors. Ibid., 39. The next . . . was ... a shauer of yong gentlemen, before euer a haire dare peepe out of their chinnes ; and these are Vsurers.

1638. Ford, Lady's _t Trial, ii. 1. Whoo ! the brace are fünch'd, The pair of shavers are sneak'd from us, Don.

Shaved.

164 Shaver.

1850. Dickens, David Copperfield, xxii. ' He pays well, I hope ' . . . ' Pays as he speaks . . . through the nose . . . None of your close shavers the Prince ain't.'

c. 1857. Parody on Emerson's Brahma, [Bartlett]. If the stock broker thinks he shaves, Or if the victim think's he's shaved, Let both the rascals have their say, And he that's cheated let him pay.

1862. North Am. Rev., July, 113. This Wall-Street note-shaving life is a new field, a very peculiar field.

1863. Once a Week, viii., 179. We have all heard for instance of an operation called shaving the ladies, yet we doubt if any lady is aware of the very clean shave she is constantly undergoing.

1864. Sala [Temple Bar, Dec, 40]. He is as dextrous as a Regent Street counter-jumper in the questionable art of shaving the ladies.

c. 1870. Life in New York [Bartlett]. Make your money by shaving notes or stock-jobbing, and every door is thrown open ; make the same amount by selling Indian candy, and the cold shoulder is turned upon you.

1871. D. Telegraph, 6 Oct. 'Official Corruption in America.' Tax-gatherers, brokers, shavers, &c, . . . pets of the Treasury.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xiv. What wages? says I. Shaving terms, shaving terms, my boy, says he.

Shaved, adj. (common).—Drunk :

see Screwed.

1598. Shakspeare, i Hen. IV., iii. 2. Bardolph was shaved . . . and I'll be sworn my pocket was picked.

1834. Atlantic Club-book, 1. 138. When I met him, he was about—yes—just about half shaved.

1837-40. Haliburton, Clockmaker (1862), 102. They remind me of Commodore Trip. When he was about halfshaved he thought everybody drunk but himself.

Shaveling (or Shorling), sites. (old).—i. A monk: cf. Beardling. Also (2) see Shaver.

d. i =63. Bale, Image of Both ChurcJies, xvii. 6. This Babylonish whore, or disguised synagogue of shorlings, &c.

1577. Kendall, Epigrammes [Nares]. Wouldst knowe the cause why Ponticus Abroade she doeth not rome ? It is her use these shavelyngs still With her to have at home.

i6or. Heywood, Death Rob., Earl of Huntingdon, F3. Through that lewd shaveling will her shame be wrought.

1630. Taylor, Epig., 1. Curse, exorcise with beads, with booke and bell, Polluted shavelings.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 11, xxx. [Note]. Pope Alexander VI. who was ras [a shaveling] was poisoned by another ras [a shaveling] with rat's bane.

a?. 1657. J. Bradford, Works [Parker Soc. (1858)], 11. 276. That is the prerogative of the priests and shaven shorlings. Ibid., 291. No matter ... so thou have the favour of the pope and his shavelings.

1694. Motteux, Rabelais, iv. 45. About him stood three priests, true shavelings, clean shorn and polled.

1767. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vii. 16. A poor soldier shows you his leg, or a shaveling his box.

rf.1859. Macaulay, Moncontour. Alas ! we must leave thee, dear desolate home, To the spearmen of Uri, the shavelings of Rome.

1883. Green, Conq. of England, ii. 63. Houses guarded only by priests and shavelings, who dared not draw sword.

Shaver, subs. (old).—i. A fellow ; a party : spec, (modern) = a more or less precocious youngster (B.E., Martin, and Grose) ; (2) a child, but see quot. 1664. Also Shaveling and Shave, verb.

1586. Marlowe, Tew of Malta, iii. 3. Bar. Let me see, sirrah, are you not an old shaver ? Slave. Alas, sir ! I am a very youth.

c.1597. Wily Beguiled [Hawkins, Eng. Drama, in. 376]. If he had not been a merry shaver, I would never have had him.

1630. Crimsall, Kind-Heartea Creature [Rox. Ball. (Brit. Mus.) iii. 166]. This bonny Lass had caught a clap It seems by some young shauer.

1635. Cranley, Amanda [Nares]. Thou art a hackney, that hast off beene tride, And art not coy to grant him such a favour, To try the courage of so .young a shaver.

Shaver. 165 Shears.

1654. Webster, Appius and Virginia, ii. 2. Was't you, my nimble shaver that would whet Your sword 'gainst your commander's throat?

1655. Hist, of Francion [Nares]. There were some cunning shavers amongst us, who were very well verst in the art of picking locks.

1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie (ist ed.), 62. And said, My Mother's a mad shaver, No man alive knows where to have her.

C.1685. Broadside Ballad, 'The London Lasses Folly \ [PePys Ball. (Bodleian) iii. 236]. Now will I ramble up and down to find out this young shaver.

1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, iii. i. Who wou'd imagine now, that this young shaver cou'd dream of a woman so soon ?

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ix. He drew a pistol, and fired it at the unfortunate shaver, who fell flat on the ground without speaking one word.

</.i796. Burns, A Dream. Funny, queer Sir John, He was an unco' shaver, For monie a day.

1834. Southey, The Doctor. ^ No one has ever given him credit for being a cunning shaver.

1836. Scott, Cruise of Midge, 3. A sharpish sort of a shaver. Ibid. Tom Cringle's Log (1836), x. A smart dandified shaver.

1837. Barham. Ingoldsby Legends (1863), 315. And all for a "shrimp" not as high as my hat—A little contemptible shaver like that.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxxiii. 323. ' Not these,' he added, looking down upon the boys, ' ain't them two young shavers as was so familiar to me.'

1854. _ Whyte Melville, General Bounce, xiv. The very youngest of the shavelings who aspire to dandyism call him "Buttercup" to his face.

1858. G. Eliot, Mr. Gilfil's LoveStory, i. Mr. Gilfil called it his wonderful pocket, because, as be delighted to tell the young shavers and " two-shoes "... whenever he put pennies into it, they turned into sugar-plums or gingerbread, or some other nice thing.

1874. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S. 25. The two children (little shavers in petticoats) set up a roar in court.

1889. Time, Aug., 153. The contemptible little shaver.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xvi. Well to see this young shaver pilot your horse to the post was a treat.

2. (common).—A short jacket ;

a bum-perisher (q.V.)

3. See Shave.

Shaving-brush, subs. phr. (venery). — The female pubic hair: see Fleece and Lather.

Shavings, subs, (old).—' The clippings of money '(B. E. and Grose).

Shay, subs, (common).—A chaise.

1840. Lytton, Paul Clifford, xxxi. When I puts myself out of the way To obleedge you with a shay.

She, subs, (once literary: now vulgar).—A woman : also sheone : cf. he = a man. Hence Shehouse (Grose) = a house under petticoat rule ; she-school = a girls' school.

1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, i. 5, 259. Lady, you are the cruell'st she alive. Ibid. (1605) Cymbeline, i. 3. The shes of Italy should not betray Mine interest and his honour.

1648-55. Fuller, Ch. Hist., vi. 297. Nunneries also were good shee-schools.

d.xbçp. Crashaw, To his Supposed Mistress. That not impossible she That shall command my heart and me.

1704. Steele, Lying Lover, i. 1. I . . . gaz'd . . . till I forgot 'twas winter, so many pretty she's marched by me.

2. (Charterhouse). — A plum pudding : also shee : cf. he.

Shearer's Joy, subs. thr. (Australian).—Colonial beer.

1892. Gilbert Parker, Round the Compass, 22. It was the habit afterwards among the seven to say that the officers of the Eliza Jane had been indulging in shearer's joy.

Shears. Pair of Shears, subs, phr. (old).—A striking likeness; little or no difference : e.g., ⁴ There's a pair of shears ⁵ = 'They're as like as two peas.'

Sheath. 166

Shed.

1603. Shakspeare, Measure for Measure, i. 2. There went but a pair ok sheers between us.

1623. Fletcher and Rowley, Maid of the Mill. There went but a pair of sheers and a bodkin between them.

1630. Overbury, Charact., 34. There went but a paire of sheeres between him and the pursuivant of hell, for they both delight in sinne.

1630. Taylor, Works, i. 103. And some report that both these fowles have scene Their like, that's but a payre of sheeres between.

1633. Rowley, Match at Midnight [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), vii. 367]. Why there goes but a pair of sheers between a promoter and a knave.

See Knight.

Sheath, subs, (venery).—1. The female pudendum : see Monosyllable.

2. (venery).—The prepuce or foreskin.

Shebang, subs. (American). — See quots.

T861-5. [Bartlett, Diet. Americanisms, s.v. Shebang]. A strange word that had its origin during the late civil war. It is applied alike to a room, a shop, or a hut, a tent, a cabin ; an engine-house.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, . . . Shebang . . . used even yet by students of Yale College and elsewhere to designate their rooms or a theatrical or other performance in a public hall, has its origin probably in a corruption of the French cabane, a hut, familiar to the troops that came from Louisiana, and constantly used in the Confederate camp for the simple huts, which they built with such alacrity and skill for their winter-quarters.

1872. Clemens, Roughing It, xlvii. There'll be a kerridge for you . . . We've got a shebang fixed up for you to stände behind.

1899. Binstead, Hounsditch Day by Day, 198. In a four-wheeled fever box you must take your beaver on your knees or get it hopelessly ruffled against the roof of the old shebang.

1902. Savage, Brought to Bay, ii. To-night, at your own shebang, alone.

Shebeen, subs. (Irish and Scots').—

(1) Any unlicensed place where excisable liquors are sold ; whence

(2) a low (or wayside) publichouse. Also as verb., shebeening, and shebeener : the last term applies to persons frequenting as well as to those keeping a

shebeen.

c.i 78 7. Kilmainham Minit [Ireland Sixty Years Ago (1847) 88]. With de stuff to a shebeen we hied.

1818. _ Lady Morgan, Flora Maearthy, 1. ii. 105. Fitted up a couple of bedrooms in what had lately been a mere

shebeen house.

1841. Lever, Charles O'Malley, vii. A little country ale-house, or in Irish parlance, shebeen, which stood at the meeting of four bleak roads.

1845. Buckstone, Green Bushes, i. 2. Have you been to the shebeen.

1870. Figaro, 14 Dec Three ex-, tensive captures of shebeeners were made in Glasgow on Sunday. One hundred and twenty persons were found in the dens. . . . Why are shebeens and shebeeners so numerous in the North?

1873. Scotsman, 15 Feb. TO OWNERS of INNS, HOTELS, and PUBLIC-HOUSES.—XXX (who is a brother Innkeeper) thinks it high time that we form an ASSOCIATION to protect ourselves against Grocers, Shebeeners, and others who sell LIQUORS which are consumed on their Premises, and who hold no Licence to do so. Suggestions, &c. . . .

1883. Jay, Connaught Cousins, 1. i. 22. There is a little shebeen close by where we will take a rest.

1892. D. Chronicle, 17 Aug., 3, 7. CARDIFF. The designation of this town as " The City of Shebeens," was further justified to-day.

Shed, verb, (provincial).—To piss

(q.V.) : also to shed a tear.

To shed a tear, verb. phr. —To take a drink : originally to take a dram of real or short (q.v.).

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 156. I always made time to call inand shed a tear with him for convenience and ' days o' lang syne.'

She-dragon. 167 Sheep.

She-dragon, subs. phr. (colloquial).—i. A vixen ; an elderly termagant.

2. (old).—A kind of wig.

Sheeney (orSHENEY).—I. A Jew; a Yid (q.v.): used by Gentiles and by Jews (jocosely by the latter). Whence (2) a pawnbroker : pawnbroking, like the fruit and fish trade, is mainly (in London at least) in the hands of Jews. Also as adj. — base, Jewish, fraudulent : also sheen.

1847. Thackeray, Snobs, xiv. Sheeney and Moses are . . . smoking their pipes before their lazy shutters, in Seven Dials.

1852. Judson, Myst. New York, iv. You hav'nt got no more stock than a broken-down sheney.

1862. Cornhill Mag., vi. 648. I shall let old Abraham, the Sheeney, have it at four punt and a half a nob.

1866. Sala, Trip to Barbary, 16. He was manifestly a Jew ... a most splendid Sheeny.

ci870. Broadside Ballad, 'Talkative Man from Poplar.' Last Sunday he went down Petticoat Lane, Talked a Sheeney out of his watch and chain.

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 307. Tell him that the little Sheney . . . don't forget his kindness.

1879. Horsley, Auto, oj Thier [Mac. Mag., xl. 501]. I took the daisies to a sheney down the gaff.

1888. Payn, Eavesdropper, 11. ii. ^c Can you smash a thick 'un for me ? ' inquired one, handing his friend a sovereign. ' You're sure it ain't sheen ? ' returned the other, with a diabolical grin.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz. 3 Ap. Down went the East-ender smothered in gore, and . . . from all parts of the crowd there came shouts of, " the Sheenie wins ! " Ibid. The Sheenies chuckled at the thought of the chosen race once more ' spoiling the Egyptians." Ibid., 23 Jan. ' Don't like that Sheeney friend of yours,' he said; 'if you don't look out he'll have you.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xxi. I used to spend a couple of thick 'uns a Friday in fish and greenstuff, and then fill up with oranges and nuts for Sunday, going down the lane for them, buying from the Sheeneys.

Sheep, subs, (colloquial). — 1. Sheep like pigeon (q.v.) is commonly generic for timidity and basfulness. Thus, as subs. = a simpleton ; sheep-faced (or sheepish) = bashful (B. E. and Grose) ; sheep's-head = a block-head (B. E., Dyche, and Grose) ; sheep-headed = stupid ; sheep's heart = a coward ; sheep-hearted = cowardly ; ' Like a sheep's head, all jaw ' = ' said of a talkative person ' (Grose) ; old sheepguts = a term of contempt.

d.i5$6. Udal, Eras. Apoph., 122. Those pereones who were sely poore soules . . . wer euen then ... by a common prouerbe called shepes heads or shepe.

1563. Fox, Acts and Monuments, iv. 51 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 542]. Orrmin's old sheepish now gets the new sense of stultus.

1592. Nashe, Piers Pennilesse, 45. I haue read ouer thy sheepish discourse . . . and entreated my patience to bee good to thee whilst I read it.

1593. Shakspeare, Com. Errors, iv.

i. Thou peevish sheep. Ibid. (1595), Verona, i. 1. Twenty to one then he is slipp'd already, And I have play'd the sheep in losing him. Ibid. A silly answer, and fitting well a sheep.

1605. Chapman, All Fools, ii. Ah, errant sheep's head, hast thou lived thus long, And darest not look a woman in the face ?

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares],

Simple sheep-headed fools.

1632. Massinger, Maid of Honour,

ii. 2. Page. You, sirrah sheep's-head, With a face cut on a cat-stick? You yeoman fewterer.

1693. Locke, Education, 70. A sheepish or conceited creature.

1749. Smollett, Gil Bias [Routledge], 216. The sheepish acquiescence of a man who stood in awe of an ecclesiastical rap on the knuckles.

Sheep-biter. 168 Sheep* s-eyes.

1768. Sterne, Sent. Journey, 20. I never felt the pain of a sheepish inferiority so miserably in my life.

¹773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, i. 1. Reserved and sheepish ; that's much against him.

1775. Sheridan, Rivals, iv. 1. Acres. A vile, sheep-hearted blockhead ! If I hadn't the valour of St. George and the Dragon to boot—

1818. Scott, Rob Roy, ix. Why, thou sheep's heart, how do ye ken but we may can pick up some speerings of your valise.

1835. Dana, Before the Mast, 155 (July 18). They've got a man for mate of that ship, and not a bloody sheep.

1863. Reade, Hard Cash, 1. 137. He wore a calm front of conscious rectitude ; under which peeped sheep-faced misgivings as to the result of their advance : for like all lovers, he was half impudence, half timidity, and both on the grand scale.

1878. John Payne, tr. Poems of Villon, 87. My poor orphans, all the three, Are grown in age, and wit likewise, No sheepsheads are they, I can see.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, vi. California mine manipulators going over . to_t shear those fat-witted sheep, the British investors.

2. (Aberdeen Univ.). — See quot.

1865. Macdonald, Alec Forbes of Hoivglen, 11. 5. At length a certain semi (second-classman, or more popularly sheep) stood up to give his opinion on some subject in dispute.

Phrases and Proverbs.—To

wash sheep with scalding water = to act absurdly ; to lose a sheep (erroneously ship) for a half-penny worth of tar = to go niggardly about a business ; ' as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.'

Sheep-biter, subs. phr. (old).— I. A slinking thief ; also sheepshearer and sheep-napper (the latter spec. =a sheep-stealer) ; SHEEP-BITING = sneaking.

1588. Lyly, Man in the Moone. A

sepulchre to seafish and others in ponds, moates, and rivers ; a sharpe sheep-biter, and a marvellous mutton-monger, a gosbelly glutton.

1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, ii. 5, 6. Wouldst thou not be glad to have the niggardly rascally sheep-biter come by some notable shame? Ibid. (1603), Meas. for Meas., v. 1, 359. You baidpated lying rascal . . . Show your sheepbiting face and be hanged an hour.

1611. Chapman, May-day, iii. 1. I wish all such old sheep-biters might dip their fingers in such sauce to their mutton.

1620. MiDDLETON, Chaste Maid, ii. 2. Sheep-biting mongrels, hand-basket freebooters.

rf.1704. L'Estrange [Century]. There are political sheep-biters as well as pastoral, betrayers of public trust as well as of private.

1712. Shirley, Triumph of Wit, ⁴ The Black Procession,' vi. The sixteenth a sheep-napper, whose trade is so deep, If he's caught in the corn, he's marked for a sheep.

2. (old). — ' A poor sorry, sneaking ill-lookt Fellow' (B.E.)

Sheep-dog,subs,phr. (colloquial). See quots.

1847. Thackeray, Vanity Fair. ir. ii. ' Rawdon,' said Becky . . . ' I must have a sheep-dog ' .. . ' What the devil's that ? ' said his Lordship. ¹A dog to keep the wolves off me,' Rebecca continued, 'a companion.'

1882. James Payne, Thicker than Water, viii. Under pretence of being my chaperon, or sheep-dog, everyone knows that Mary is here for the protection of the public.

Sheep's-clothing.—See Wolf.

Sheep's-eyes. To cast (or make) sheep's-eyes (or lamb'seyes), verb. phr. (common).—To ogle ; to leer (Grose) : formerly to look modestly and with diffidence but always with longing or affection. Fr. ginginer ; lancer son prospectus.

Sheefs-eyes. 169 Sheets.

1500-13. Skelton, Works (Dvce), 121. When ye kyst a shepys ie.

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

1600. T. Heywood, i Ed. IV. [Pearson, Works (1874), 1. 51]. Go to, Nell ; no more sheep's eyes ; . . . these be liquorish lads.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet. . . . Affectionate winke, a sheepeseye.

1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, v. 3. Who chances to come by but fair Nero in a sculler ; And seeing Leander's naked leg and goodly calf, Cast at him from the boat a sheep's eye an' a half.

1632. Massinger, Maid of Honour, iv. 5. His brother, nor his favourite, Fulgentio, Could get a sheep's eye from you, I being present.

1651. Cartwright, Ordinary [Nares]. If I do look on any woman, nay, If I do cast a sheepseye upon any.

1673. Wycherley, Gentleman Dancing Master, iv. 1. I saw her just now give him the languishing eye, as they call it, that is, the whiting's eye, of old called the sheep's-eye.

1675. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft [Works (1725), 192]. Observing what Sheeps-eyes he cast.

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, i. Pray, Miss, how do you like Mr. Spruce ? I swear I have often seen him cast a Sheep's Eye out of a Calf's Head at you.

1714. Spectator, No. 623. The steward was observed to cast a sheep's eye upon her, and married her within a month after the death of his wife.

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

1766. Old Song, 'The Butcher ' [ The Rattle], 3. Brisk Dolly, the Cookmaid . . . At whom the young Butcher soon cast a sheep's eye.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Leg., 11. 334. Her Charms will excuse one for casting sheep's eyes at her.

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

1892. Tit-Bits, 19 Mar., 425, 1. Sowerbutt had a silent regard for Ethel, . . . on more than one occasion . . . furtively casting sheep's eyes at my darling.

Sheepskin, subs, (common").—1. The diploma received on taking a degree ; also (2) a person who has taken a degree ; and (3) a deed or similar document [engrossed on parchment],

1843. Carlton, New Purchase, i. 203. I can say as well as the best o' them sheepskins, if you don't get religion and be saved, you'll be lost teetotally and forever. Ibid. This apostle of ourn never rubbed his back agin a college, nor toted about no sheepskins,—no, never ! . . . How you'd a perished in your sins, if the first preachers had stayed till they got sheepskins !

1853. Dickens, Bleak House, xxxii. The entanglement of real estate in the meshes of sheepskin.

Sheepskin-fiddle, subs. phr. (old).—A drum. Hence, sheepskin-fiddler = a drummer (Grose).

Sheepwalk, subs. (old).—A prison.

1781. Messink, Choice of Harlequin, ' Ye Scamps, &c.,' i. In Tothill-field's gay sheepwalk, like Iambs ye sport and play.

Sheepwash, verb. (Winchester).— To duck.

Sheet-alley, subs.phr. (common). — Bed; blanket-fair (q.v.).

Sheets, subs. (old).—Generic for sexual intercourse : thus, the shaking of the sheets = the act of kind (orig. the name of an old country dance). Also between the sheets = in the act; white(or cold-) sheets = chastity ; stained (or foul) -sheets = fornication ; lawful sheets = wedlock ; to possess a woman's sheets = to enjoy her.

Sheets. 170 Sheffield Handicap.

1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, ii. 3. Claud. Now you talk of a sheet of paper, I remember a pretty jest your daughter told us of. Leon. O, when she had writ it and was reading it over, she found Benedick and Beatrice between the sheet. Ibid. (1604), Winter's Tale, i. 2. The purity and whiteness of my sheets. Ibid. (1605), Cymbeline, i. 6. Should he make me live . . . betwixt cold sheets whiles he is vaulting variable ramps? Ibid., ii. 2. The chastity . . . whiter t! .... the sheets ! That I might touch 1 Ibid. (1605), Lear, iv. 6. Let copulation thrive ; for Gloucester's bastard son Was kinder to his father than my daughters' Got 'tween the lawful sheets. Ibid. (1596), Hamlet, i. 2. O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets. Ibid. (1602), Othello, ii. 3. Iago. He hath not yet made wanton the night with her ; and she is sport for Jove . . . Well, happiness to their sheets.

£.1603. Heywood, Woman Kill'd with Kindness, i. 1. Yes, would she dance the shaking of the sheets But that's the dance her husband means to lead her.

1605. Chapman, Jonson, &c, Insatiate Countess, ii. You must not think to dance the shaking of the sheets alone, though there be not such rare phrases in't —'tis more to the matter.

1607. Dekker and Webster, Westward Hoe, v. 2. Scrapers appear under the wenches' . . . window . . . Cannot the shaking of the sheets be danced without your town piping?

1611. Barry, Ram Alley, v. i. The widow and myself Will scamble out the shaking of the sheets Without Musick.

1612. Chapman, Widow's Tears, i. 2. Eu. I'll have thee tossed in blankets. Tha. In blankets, madam? You must add your sheets, and you must be the tosser. Ra. Nay then, sir, y'are as gross as you are saucy. Ibid. Ars. Did not one of the Countess's serving men tell us . . . that he had already possessed her sheets.

1633. Rowley, Match at Midnight, iii. i. Thee and I shall dance the shaking of the sheets together.

1659. Massinger, City Madam, ii. i. In all these places . . . after tenpound suppers The curtain's drawn, my fiddlers playing all night The shaking of the sheets, which I have danced Again and again with my cockatrice.

1630. Taylor, Works, ii. 96. There are many pretty provocatory dances, as the kissing dance, the cushion dance, the shaking of the sheets, and such like, which are important instrumentall causes whereby the skilfull hath both clyents and custome.

1768. Gayton, Festivous Notes, 25. But you Sancho, had the Austrian Donzella betwixt the sheets, where I am afraid you did not behave so well as was wished.

A sheet [or three, or four sheets] in the wind (or wind's

eye).—More or less tipsy; half seas over (q.v.) : see Screwed.

1821. Egan, Real Life, 1. 385. Old Wax and Bristles is about three sheets

in the wind.

1835. Dana, Before the Mast, 185. Though S. might be thought tipsy—a sheet ok so in the wind—he was not more tipsy than was customary with him. He . . . seldom went up to the town without coming down three sheets in the wind.

1847. Porter, Big Bear, 172. When he gets three sheets spred, and is tryin' to unfarl the fourth, he can jist out-laugh the univarse.

1879. Chambers' /I., 14 June, 383. We had all messed together, and I'm afraid had got rather more than three sheets in the wind, had aboard more than we could carry.

1883. Stevenson, Treasure of Franchard, iv. [Longman's Mag., April, 693]. Desprez was inclined to be a sheet in the wind's eye after dinner, especially after Rhône wine, his favourite weakness.

1892. Henley and Stevenson, Three Plays, 209. Kit. What cheer, mother? I'm only a sheet in the wind ; and who's the worse for it but me ?

She-familiar, subs. phr. (old).— A kept mistress (Halliwell).

Sheffield handicap, subs. phr. (provincial).—A sprint race with no defined scratch [q.v.). The scratch man receives an enormous start from an imaginary flyer (q.v.).

She-flunkey. 171 Shell.

She-flunkey, subs, phr/ (common).—A lady's maid.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, Hi. 244. She were a she-flunkey, lady's maid, once—that's how she know'd all about being a swell lady.

Shekel, subs, (common).—In pi. = money : generic: see Rhino.

1886. Fun, 21 July, 29. Now that Henry Ward Beecher is over here, intent on making shekels_? the following anecdote concerning him is worth reviving.

1886-96. Marshall, Pomes [1897], 17. He'd a pedigree long, land and shekels galore.

1889. Referee, 6 Jan. H. is scooping in the shekels, but you mustn't infer from this that he is a " She "-nie.

1890. New York Herald, 16 April, 6. Mr. Philips's . . . novels bring him in as many shekels as Ouida's.

1892. Gunter, Miss Dividends, x. Plently of shekels to hire legal talent and pack juries.

1897. Casse It's Saturday Journal, 15 Sep. I do a great deal in the matrimonial line. One individual, more full of love than shekels, was in here just as the clock was striking nine one Saturday.

Shelf. On the shelf, phr. (various). — 1. (general) = laid aside, in reserve, past service : Fr. brûlé ; 2 (military) = under arrest ; 3 (old) = in pawn (Grose) ; 4 (thieves') = transported ; 5 (common) = dead : whence off the shelf = resurrected.

1587, Gascoigne, Fruits oj War, 132 [Chalmers, Eng. Poets, ii. 522, 2, 4]. And I that neuer yet was set on shelf, When any sayld . . . Went after him.

1655. Hkywood, Fortune by Land and Sea. The fates have cast us on the shelf To hang 'twix air and water.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. ii. Once a distinguished leader of fashion, . . . but he is on the shelf now.

1833. O'Connell [O'C. Correspondence (1888), i. 387]. Lord Anglesey now is obliged reluctantly to retire. Blackburne will be put on the shelf.

1842. Comic Almanack, 324. For though "six, seven, eight," have got, each of them, nicks, They, at last, lay the gambler undone on the shelf.

1857. Trollope, Three Clerks, iv. What, pension him ! put him on half-pay —shelf him for life, while he was still anxiously expecting . . . promotion.

c. 1870. Music Hall Song, 'Hands Off.' Some fine day, when I'm . . . Put to bed with a spade in the usual way, And yourself on the shelf a neglected old maid.

1894. Illus. Bits, 7 April, 4, 2. It should be explained here that [it] had been on the shelf some time.

1902. Hume, Crime of Crystal, i. Tell 'em to get back into their graves at once ... we don't take any folks off

the shelf.

Shell, subs, (military).—An undress jacket : also shell-jacket.

1886. St. James's Gazette, 22 Dec. Tunics and shells and messing-jackets and caps.

1889. Harper's Mag., lxxx. 396. Three turbaned soldiers in tight shelljackets and baggy breeches.

2. (school).—See quots.

1857. T. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, i. 5. The lower fifth, shell, and all the junior forms in order.

1867. Collins, Public Schools, 178 (Westminster). At the end of this room [the schoolroom] there is a kind of semicircular apse, in which the shell form were formerly taught, and the shape of which is said to have given rise to this name, since adopted at several other public schools.

1875. Jean Ingelow, Fated to be Free, xix. The shell [Harrow] . . . means a sort of class between the other classes.

3. (venery).—The female pudendum : see Monosyllable.

4. (old).—In pi. = money : see Rhino. Hence to shell out = to pay. Fr. allonger les radis. Shelling-out = 'clubbing money together ' (Grose).

1591. Greene, Notable Discovery [Works, x. 38]. The purse, the Bong, The monie, the Shels.

Shell-back. 172 Shemozzle.

1611. Middleton, Roaring Girl, v. i. 'Tis a question whether there be any silver shells amongst them, for all their satin outsides.

1810. Moore, Tom Crib, 27. Who knows but if coax'd, he may shell out the shiners.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. iii. Another kevarten . . . and if you are too scaly to tip for it, I'll shell out.

1825. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, m. xxxvii. Maybe you'll treat, won't you, if I shell out, fair ; all't I know o' the matter ?

1829. Old Song, ¹ The Prigging Lay [Vidocq's Memoirs, iv.]. Quickly draw the bolt of your ken, Or we'll not shell out a mag.

1844. Selby, London by Night, i. 1. By the bye, Shadrack, you must shell out at once for contingencies.

.1849. Edgeworth, Love and Law, i. i. Will you be kind enough, sir, to shell out for me the price of a daacent horse fit to mount a man like me.

1855. BArnum, Autobiography, 195. At the same time motioning to his trembling victim to shell out.

i860. CasseUs Mag., 4 Jan., 211. The grave shan't keep me quieter than the fifty suverins which Mr. Hewitt . . . will shell out in the morning.

1892. Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, 75. And after they have shelled out, what happens ?

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xiii. Are you prepared to keep on shelling out over her till kingdom come ?

5. (old).—A drinking glass.

See Brown Shell.

Shell-back, subs. phr. (nautical). —A sailor : also old shell.

1883. Graphic, 12 May, 487, 3. The marine was described as a joey, a jolly, a

shellback.

1884. Russell, Jack's Courtship, i. It takes a sailor a long time to straighten his spine and get quit of the bold sheer that earns him the name of shell-back.

1885. Runciman, Skippers and Shellbacks [Title].

1901. Walker, In the Blood, 29. All excepting the captain, who was a regular quiet old shell-back.

1902. Athenäum, 8 Feb., 176, 3. Any one of a dozen gaunt and hungry shell-backs in the forecastle would have supported him.

Shell-out, subs. phr. (billiards).

—A variety of pool.

1882. Braddon, Mount Royal, xxv. Refraining from the relaxation of pool, or shell-out—opining that the click of the balls might have an unholy sound so soon after a funeral.

S'help. See S'welp.

Shelta. A kind of cryptic Irish spoken by tinkers and confirmed tramps ; a secret jargon composed chiefly of Gaelic words disguised by changes of initial, transposition of letters, backslanging and similar devices. [Discovered by C. G. Leland and announced to the world in his book The Gypsies (1882) ; in 1886 there was a correspondence on the subject in The Academy ; in 1889 The Gypsy Lore Society was started and several articles on Shelta appeared in its Journal ; finally in Chamber's Encyclopœdia (1902) there is a long account of this once mysterious but now fully explained speech.]

Shelve, verb, (printers').—To hold over part of the weekly bill ; the reverse of horsing (q.v.).

Shemozzle (Shimozzel or Shlemozzle), subs. (East End). —A difficulty.

1899. Binstead, Hounsditch Day by Day. It was through no recklessness or extravagance that he was in this shlemozzle.

1900. From the Front, 183. We might look upon this little chimozzle as a kind of misunderstanding.

1901. J. Maclaren Cobban, Golden Tooth, 170. If Will comes out of this shemozzle.

Verb. (East End).—To be off; to decamp.

Shenanigan. 173

Shicer.

Shenanigan, subs. (American).— Bounce ; chaff ; nonsense ; trickery (Bartlett, 1877.)

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 80. Never mind their shenanigan.

1901. Walker, In the Blood, 332. We're mates all round, an' no more she-

nannikin.

1902. A. Pratt, Great Push Exper., 77. A real gentleman and no shenanigan.

1902. R. Barr, The Victor, 81. If I were to pay them they might think there was some shenanigan about it.

She-napper, subs.phr. (Old Cant). —⁴ A Woman Thief-catcher ; also a Cock (he) or Hen (she) Bawd, a Procuress and Débaucher of young Virgins ; a Maiden-headjobber' (B. E. and Grose.)

S h e-oak, subs. (Australian and New Zealand).—Colonial brewed ale.

Shepherd, verb, (colloquial).— To guard ; to keep under surveillance ; to chaperon : as a ticketof-leave man (see Nark, subs, and verb ) ; an unmarried woman, or (mining) as in quot. 1863. Also (football) to head off whilst one's side is runuing or kicking. At Harrow, shepherd, subs. = every sixth boy in the cricket-bill who answers for the five below him being present.

1863. Once a Week, vin. 507. Having sunk their holes, each about a foot, and placed in them a pick or shovel as a sign of ownership, they devoted themselves to the laborious occupation of shepherding, which consists in sitting by a huge fire with a pipe in your mouth, telling or listening to interminable yarns, . . . grumbling at your present and regretting your

!)ast luck, diversified by occasionally ounging up to the sinking party for the purpose of examining the ' tack ' thrown up, and criticising the progress made.

1886. Percy Clarke, New Chum, 71. The speculators who sat dangling their legs in their infant pits, shepherding their claims, awaiting with anxiety . . . the run of the vein,

Sherbetty, adv. (common).— Drunk : see Screwed.

1890. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 8 Feb. By the time one got to bed Tom was a bit

sherbetty.

Sheriff. The chief officer of justice within a county is naturally found in combination : thus sheriff's picture frame = the hangman's noose : see Nubbing-cheat; sheriff's-journeyman = a hangman ; sheriff's ball = an execution : whence to dance at the sheriff's ball and loll out one's tongue

at the company = to hang ; sheriff's bracelets = handcuffs ; sheriff's hotel = a prison (Grose).

1824. Egan, Boxiana, iii. 622. All in the sheriff's picture frame the call Exalted high, Dick parted with his flame, And all his comrades swore that he dy'd game.

Sherry (or Shirry), z/<?r£. (old).— To run away : also to shirry off (Grose) : see Absquatulate.

Sherry-fug, verb. (University).— To tipple sherry.

Sherry-moor, subs. phr. (provincial).—A fright [Halliwell : From the battle of Sheriffe-muir when ⁴ all was blood, uproar, and confusion 'J.

Shet. See Shut.

Shevvle, subs, (obsolete).—See

quot.

1864. D. News, 2 Dec. This is a term recently introduced as a genteel designation for cats' meat, and evidently derived from cheval, French for horse, as mutton from mouton, &c.

SmcER(orSHiCE), subs, (thieves').-I. Any worthless person or thi ng : generic for contempt. Also 1(2)

Shickster. 174

Shifter.

= nothingj nix (q.v.) : e.g. to work for SHiCE = to get no payment. Spec. Shice = base money; and, as adj., (i) spurious, shabby, bad : also shicery and shickery ; and (2) = tipsy.

1851-6. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., 1. 472. The hedge crocus is shickery togged.

1871. Illus. Sydney News, 21 Jan., ' The Digger.' The ne'er-do-wells . . . are . . . the first to rush to a new field, scrape it of its surface gold and then too lazy to seek further by deep sinking denounce the rush as a shicer.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, iii. 240. I ascertained while at Dartmoor that a very large ' business ' is done in SHiSE. Ibid., ii. Seeing how the fellow was acting he sent him two shise notes, which gave him a dose that cooked him.

1899. Binstead, Hounsditch Day by Day, 46. She comes over shikkur and vants to go to shleeb.

1901. Walker, In the Blood, 260. 'You're a damned good plucked un, Toby ! ' muttered Squiffy, 'an' ye're no shicer.'

Shickster (Shickser, or Schickster), subs, (common).— A woman : specifically (among Jews) = (1) a female servant not of the Jewish faith ; and (2) a woman of shady antecedents. Shickster-crabs = ladies' shoes.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3rd Ed.), 446. A lady—A shikster.

1899. Binstead, Hounsditch Day by Day, 91. ' No Mr. Motzaberger ' says the schveet young shiksa.

1891. Carew, Autobiography 0/ a Gipsy, 414. As I was leavin' the court a reg'lar 'igh-flying shickster comes up.

Shif, subs, (back slang).—Fish.

Shift, verb, (common).—1. To eat ; and especially to drink. Hence shifter = a drunkard.

2. (old). — To change one's

smock ; to change one's clothes.

1695. Congreve, Love for Love, i. 4. Bid Margery put more flocks in her bed, Shift twice a week, and not work so hard, that she may not smell so vigorously.

To do a shift, verb. phr. (common).—1. To go away ; to change one's quarters.

1892. National Observer, 27 Feb., 378. But if you arst me, do I ever do a shift? Am I particklerly partial to a fuss? . . . Speaking as one man to another,—Yuss 1

2. (common).—To evacuate.

To shift one's bob. See Bob.

Shifter, subs. (old).—i. An intriguer : shifty-cove = a trickster (Grose). Also (2) = a thief; (3) a sharper ; and (4) a drunkard. Whence shifty (or shifting) = tricky (now recognised) ; shifting = (1) shuffling, stealing, swindling ; and (2) = drinking.

1567. Awdeley, Fratemitye oj Vagabonds. As well as of rufling Vacabondes, as of beggerley, . . . with a Description of the Crafty Company of Cousoners and shifters. [Title.]

1584. Robinson, Pleasant Delights [Arber], 14. Maids must be manerly, not full of scurility, wherein I see you excel . . . You are a trim shifter.

1593. Shakspeare, Com. of Errors, iii. 2, 187. I see a man here needs not live by shifts.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, Bazaro ... a shifter, a conicatcher . . . a haltersacke.

1601. Jonson, Poetaster, iii. 1. Thou art an honest shifter ; I'll have the statue repealed for thee.

1607. Common Council Enactment. Shifters, people lyvinge by Cozeainge, Stealinge, and Imbeazellinge of Men's Goodes as opportunitye may serve them.

1608. WlTHALS, Diet. A SHIFTER

whome they call a cunny-catcher.

1610. Mir. for Mags., 144. Nought more than subtill shiftings did we please, With bloodshed, craftie undermining men.

1616. Richard Cabinet [Nares]. Shifting doeth many times incurre the indignitie of reproch, and to be counted a shifter, is as if a man would say in plaine tearmes a coosener,

Shifting-ballast. 175 Shilly-shally.

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. And let those shifters their own judges be, If they have not bin arrant thieves to me.

1637. Heywood, Royal King [Pearson, Works (1874), vi. 38]. He scorns to be a changeling or a shift.

1639. Fletcher, The Bloody Brother, iv. 2. " They have so little As well may free them from the name of

shifter."

1659. Milton, Civil Power [Century], Sly and shifting.

2. (thieves').—An alarm : as given by one thief in watching to another 'on the job.'—Vaux (1812).

Shi ft in g-bal last, subs. phr. (old nautical).—Landsmen on board ship : spec, soldiers (Grose).

Shift-work (or Service), subs, phr. (venery).—Fornication.

S h ig, subs. (East End).—In//. = money : specifically silver. At Winchester shig = a shilling (Mansfield, c. 1840).

Shiggers, subs. pi. (Winchester). —White football trousers costing ios. : see Shig.

Shikerry. See Shicer.

Shillagalee, subs. (American).—

A loafer.

Shilling. To take the King's (or Queen's) shilling, verb, phr. (colloquial).—To enlist.

c. 1702. [Ashton, Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne (1882-3), 11. 203]. The Queen's shilling once being taken . . . there was no help for the recruit unless he was bought out,

1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, ii. 3. Copt. P. Come my lads . . . the army is the place to make you men for ever. Pear. Captain, give me a shilling ; I'll follow you.

Shilling-shocker (or -dreadful), subs. phr. (literary).—A sensation novel sold at a shilling : a fashion initiated (1887) by The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, by Mr. Fergus Hume : cf. Pennyawful.

1885. Athena>um, 14 Nov., 638. Mr Stevenson is writing another shillingdreadful.

1887. ///. London News, 17 Sept., 349, i. The three-volume novel may be dying out, as they tell us ; but we have the shilling shocker rampant among us.

1890. Academy, 22 Feb., 130, 2. I have often wondered why the experiences of the Styrian arsenic-eaters . . . has not been utilised by the writer of some threevolume novel or shilling shocker.

Shilly-shally (also shallyshally), verb. phr. (colloquial). —To trifle ; not to know one's mind ; to stand shillyshally = to be irresolute (Grose). Hence shilly-shally (or shilly-shallying) = indecision [Shall I ? Shall I ?] ; shilly-shallier = a trifier.

1630. Taylor, Works, iii. 3. There's no delay, they ne're stand shall I shall I : Hermogenes with Dallila doth dally.

1065. Howard, Committee, iii. Tell her your mind ! ne'er stand shilly shally.

1699. Congreve, Way of the World, iii. 15. I don't stand shill I, shall I, then ; if I say't, I'll do't.

1703. Steele, Tender Husband, iii. i. Why should I stand shally-shally like a Country Bumpkin.

1709. King, Eagle and Robin, 92. Bob did not shill-I-shall-I go, Nor said one word of friend or foe.

1782. Burney, Cecilia, v. 119 [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 188. The shill I, shall I of Congreve becomes shilly shally].

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 27. I never stand shillyshally : begone, you are free.

1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford (1854), 177. Your friends starve before your eyes, while you are shilly-shallying about your mistress.

Shimmy. 176

Shindy.

1834. Southey, The Doctor, cv. He

Was no shilly shalliek.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxxvii. I'll have no more letters nor no more shilly-shally.

1883. James Payn, Thicker than Water, xvii. He says he will have no more shilly-shallying, but will you take the Lady or will you not ?

1884. Sat. Revierv, 8 March, 299, 2. He relapses into shilly-shally under cover of General Graham's feat.

Shimmy (or Shimmey), sttbs. (colloquial).—A chemise. Also (Felsted) = a shirt : obsolete.

1837. Marryatt, Snarley Vow, xliv. We have nothing here but petticoats and shimmeys . . . Never mind I'll lend you

a shimmey.

1856. Dow, Servions [Bartlett]. As interesting a sight ... as a skimmey in a wash-tub.

18 [?]. A Tale of Sleepy Hollow [Bartlett]. The ghost was Aunt Kate's shimmeys pinned on the line to dry.

Shin, verb, (colloquial).—Generic

for action : spec, to walk, to

tramp : also to shin it. Hence

to shin up = to climb ; to

shin it (shin round, or break

shins) = to go a round of lenders :

whence shinner = a borrower ;

to shin out of = to clear off ;

to break one's shins (see

above) ; also (2) to be in a hurry ;

and (3) to fall against, or over, a

person or thing ; against one's

shins = unwillingly (Ray). Also

shinny (American) = a negro

tramp : cf. Hoboe.

1836. Dana, Before the Mast, 284. We had to furl them again in a snowsquall, and shin up and down single ropes caked with ice.

1838. Neal, Charcoal Sketches, The Fleshy One, 11. 13. 'Shin it, good man,' ejaculated a good-natured urchin.

1845. New York Coin. Adv., 13 Dec. The Senator was shinning around, to get gold for the rascally bank-rags.

1857. Hughes, Toni Brown s Schooldays, i. 9. Nothing for it but the tree ; so Tom laid his bones to it shinning up as as fast he could,

i8[?]. Pearl St., 123 [Bartlett]. "Any thing over?" is an expression used by shinners, on applying to their acquaintances for the needful ; and if so, it is expected that you will oblige the shinner.

1868. C. Reade and Boucicault, Foul Play, 158. i know i didn't ought to ax a parson to shin up a tree for me.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms . . . To obtain money he has probably had much shinning to do, as slang calls the running about to friends and acquaintances.

1882. Anstey, Vice-Versa, xvi. Shin out of this, whatever y'are, we don't contrack to carry no imps on this line.

1884. Clemens, Huck. Finn, iv. I was up in a second and shinning down the hill.

1891. Russell, Ocean Tragedy, 86. I sprang and had soon shinned as high as the topgallant-yard.

1900. Gunter, Princess of C, 7. Lay low, but tell yer dad to shin up here quick.

1900. Flynt, Tramps, 109. My knowledge of the shinies is very meagre. Ibid., 323. The ' blanket stiff,' the 'gaycat,' 'the shinny,' the ' Frenchy,' and the ' ex-prushun ' were all there.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xxxiv. Hill . . . make a rope of the bed-clothes and shin down with her in his arms.

2. (common).—To kick on the shins.

1837. Barham, Ingold. Leg., 11. 351. A ring—give him room, or he'll shin you —stand clear.

1864. Eton School Days, xiii. He could not go out . . . without someone throwing a stone at him, or hissing, or shinning him if he passed near enough.

Shindy, subs. (old).—i. A dance (Grose) : in Western America shindig = a noisy dance.

2. (common).—A disturbance ; a quarrel : also shinty. Whence (3) a boisterous spree (q.v.).

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. iii. The Jack Tar is quite pleased with his night's cruise, and is continually singing out, "What a prime shindy, my messmates j"

Shine.

177

Shine.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends

(1863), 204.--he won't kick up such

shindies, Were she once fairly married and off to the Indies.

1841. Comic Almanack, 260. Veil, sartingly its vindy ; and here's a pretty

shindy.

1847. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, 11. xix. There's a regular shinty in the house ; and everything at sixes and sevens.

1864. Derby-day, 8. He asked them if they wanted to insult him grossly, and there was a very comfortable little shindy over it.

1869. Mrs. Wood, Roland Yorke, xiii. " Which cheque ? '' . . . "The one there's all this shindy over at Greatorex and Greatorex's."

1889. Casselfs Sat. J I., 19 Jan., 398. It was safe to prophecy that there would shortly be a shindy somewhere.

1892. Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads, ' The Legend of Evil.' He wlnt to stop the shindy, The Devil wid a stablefork bedivillin' their tails.

1897. Mitford, Romance of Cape Frontier, 11. iii. Did you get hit in that shindy just now?

4. (American).—A liking; a fancy.

1859. Haliburton, Human Nature, 70. Father took a wonderful shindy to essie ; for even old men can't help liking eauty.

Shine, subs, (common).—i. A happening ; a to-do (q-v.), whether warlike or not ; specifically a frolic. Hence (2) = show, or display ; and (3) a row, a shindy (q.V.). To cut a shine = to make a show ; every shine = every one. As verb. = (1) to make a stir, or impression, and (2) to raise or show money ; to take the shine out of = (1) to outwit, and (2) put in the shade ; to shine up (or take a shine) to = to make oneself agreeable ; to have a fancy for.

1818. Egan, Boxiana, 1. 23. Who was selected to punish this Venetian for his vain-boasting, that he would take the shine out of Englishmen ! Ibid. (1842), By-Blow of the Jug {Captain Machealh], To the end of your life cut a shine.

1835. Haliburton, Clockviaker i S., xvi. They fairly take the shine off creation—they are actilly equal to cash.

1843. Major Jones's Courtship, ii. They was all comin' to me bout it, and shinin' and disputin' so I couldn't hardly hear one from tother.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life. To make a shine with Sally I took her a new parasol.

1847. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, 11. xxv. A long, thin, queer-looking, oldish fellow—a dry fellow though, that took the shine out of a man in the talking line.

1848. Burton, Waggeries, 78. Quite careless as to what ' didoes and shines ' he might cut in future.

1848. Ruxton, Far West, 13. I say. It won't shine, and whar's the dollars? Ibid., 174. You can't shine.

1851. Cobb, Mississippi Scenes, 155. I'm pretty much like the old man, only I took a sort o' shine to old Cass.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, lvii. There'd be a pretty shine made if I was to go a-wisitin them, I think."

1853. Diogenes, 11. 46. And take out their shine With a jolly large fine.

1856. Dow, Sermons, 1. I've seen some evening twilights that take the shine off everything below.

c. 1859. New York Sp. of Times [Bartlett]. You will find heaps of bogus money here, but bogus men can't shine.

1861. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xli. There's mostly a shine of a Sunday evening.

1864. Hertford Post, 14 July. The public . . . will pronounce her the finest and most comfortable boat they have ever visited, and be satisfied that she is bound to shine.

1866. Major Downing's Letters, yj. I'm sorry he didn't bring his pitch-pipe with him, just to take the shine of them 'are singers.

1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 235. She needn't think she's goin' to come round me with any o' her shines, . . . with lying stories about me.

1883. T. Winthrop, John Brent, 17 I've tuk a middlin' shine to you, and don't want to see yer neck broke.

Shiner.

178

Shingle.

1886. Congregationalist, 4 Feb. Mother was always hecterin' me about getting married, and wantin' I should shine up to this likely girl and that.

i836. McClintock, Beedle's Marr. I took a great shine to the schoolma'am.

4. (common). — Money : generic : see Rhino.

1842. Egan, Bould Yeoman {Captain Macheath]. Then the High-toby gloque drew his cutlass so fine ; Says he to the farmer, you or I for the shine.

5. (venery).—In = copulation : see Greens and Ride.

6. (military).—A flash : e.g., from a rifle.

1892. Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads, ' The Young Brotish Soldier.' Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the

shine.

Shiner, subs. (old).—A coin: spec, a gold piece. In pi. = money : generic : Also shino and shinery.

1760. Foote, The Minor, ii. To let a lord of lands want shiners, 'tis a shame.

1781. Messink, Choice of Harlequin. ' Ye Scamps, &c.' First you touch the

shiners.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 27. Who knows but if coax'd he may shell out the

shiners.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, iii. i. But when from his pocket the shiners he drew, And offered to ' make up the hundred to two.'

1839. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xix. ' Fagin,' said Sykes. . . . 'is it worth fifty shiners extra, if it's sately done from the outside ? '

1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, 82. In one corner . . . was stowed away a goodly quantum of the shiners.

1857. Reade, Never too Late to Mend, i. We'll soon fill both pockets with the shinery in California.

1886-96. Marshall, ¹ Pomes' from the Pink ' Un, 8. I don't want a shiner (hat's only splashed,

1892. Chevalier, Idler, June, 549. I've got a little nipper, when 'e talks, III lay yer forty shiners to a quid, You'll take 'im for the father, me the kid.

1890. Detroit Free Press, 10 May. Come, down with the shino.

2. (old). — A looking-glass (Grose and Vaux).

3. (common).—A silk hat.

1885. Francis, On Angling, 179. A tall black hat, or one of the genus called shiner, I do not recommend.

1002. D. Telegraph, 31 Oct. 10, 6. The little man with the tall shiner.

4. (old).—A clever fellow.

5. (tailors').—A boaster. Also shine = to boast.

The shiners, subs, (military). —The Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly The 5th Foot. [From smart appearance at the time of The Seven Years' War.]

Shine(or Shiney-) rag. To

win the shine-rag, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., 20 He lost again, and some one bantering said, ' You'll win the shine-rag, Joe,' meaning that he would be ' cracked up,' or ruined, if he continued.

Shin feast, subs, (provincial).—A good fire (Halliwell).

Shingle, subs. (American).—A signboard. To hang out (or

stick up) one's shingle = to

start business ; shingle-splitting (obs. Tasmanian), see quot.

1830. Hobart Town Almanack, 80. When a man gets behindhand with his creditors . . . and rusticates in the country ... he is said to be shinglesplitting.

1848. NY. Com. Adv., 24 Dec. Doctors and dentists from the U. S. have stuck up their shingles in Mexico.

1852. Judson, Myst. of New York, xiv. The legal gentleman had no particular office, nor hung he out a shinql.e anywhere,

Shingle-tramper. 179 Shinscraper.

1884. Bellamy, Dr. Heidenhoß's Process, 99. There was a modest shingle bearing the name ' Dr. Gustav Heidenhoff' fastened up on the side of the house.

Verb, (common). To chastise.

TO have a shingle short, verb. phr. (Australian).—To be crazy ; to have a tile loose.

Shingle-tramper, subs. phr. (nautical).—A coastguardsman.

Shining-light, subs. phr. (common).—An exemplar.

d.ijaô. Burns, Holy Willy s Prayer. 2. A burnin' and a shinin* light To a' this place.

1892. Sala!s Jour., 2 July, 220. They are simply following the example of other shining lights in the profession.

Shinkin-ap-Morgan, subs. phr. (old) —A Welshman.

c.1660. Broadside Ballad, 'A Beggar I'll Be ' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 29]. With Shinkin-ap-Morgan, with Blue-cap, or Teague, We into no Covenant enter, nor League.

Shinner, subs. (old). See quots.

1585. Nomenclator, 167. An hose, a nether stocke, a shinner.

1598. Florio, Worlde 0/ Wördes. Calcette, hosen, or neather stockings, or

shinners.

See Shin, verb.

Shinny (or Shiny), adj. (American).—Drunk: rar Screwed.

Shinplaster, subs. (American). —See quot. 1890.

1838. Neal, Charcoal Sketches, 11. 23. If you have no brass and no tin, give us a shinplaster then—them's my terms.

1845. New York Tribune, 3 Dec. The people may whistle for protection, and put up with what shinplaster rags they can get.

1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, 135. The cards were dealt, a brace of hands were played, and I won his ' Red Dog' shinplaster.

1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers . . . If greenbacks ain't not just the cheese, I guess there's evils that's extremer ; For instance,—shinplaster idées, Like them put out by Gov'nor Seymour.

1852. L'Allegro: As Good as a Comedy, 60. A greasy citizen, holding out a couple of shinplasters of single dollar denomination.

1856. Dow, Sermons, 1. 309. Hope's brightest visions absquatulate with their golden promises before the least cloud of disappointment, and leave not a shinplaster behind.

1862. Punch, 19 July, Yankee Stories. King Dollar 'ginst us he may turn, But we have King Shinplaster.

c. 1866. The Disseminator. A grocer of New York, who had set up an opposition to the whole batch of suspended banks, found his shin-plasters returnedto him in such quantities, that, on counting over his "money," he found that he had redeemed about 100 dois, more than he had ever issued.

1890. Cent. Diet. s.v. Shinplaster ... A small paper note used as money ; a printed promise to pay a small sum issued as money without legal security. The name came into early use in the United States for notes issued on private responsibility, in denominations of from three to fifty cents, as substitutes for the small coins withdrawn from circulation during a suspension of specie payments ; people were therefore obliged to accept them, although very few of them were ever redeemed. Such notes abounded during the financial panic beginning with 1837, ^ar>d during the early part of the Civil War of 1861-5. After the latter period they were replaced by the fractional notes issued by the Government and properly secured, to which the name was transferred.

Shin-rapper, subs. phr. (knackers'). — 1. A disabling blow on the splint bone ; also (2) one who delivers such a blow.

1885. D. Tel., 30 Sep. Every great stable in England had the fear of the poisoner, the shin-rapper, and the nobbier constantly in view.

Shinscraper, subs, (thieves').— The treadmill : see Everlasting-staircase.

Ship.

180

Shirallee.

Ship, subs, (printers' colloquial).— A body of compositors working together ; one acts as clicker, takes charge and makes out the general bill which is shared and shared alike. [An abbreviation of "companionship."]

Verb, (common.)—1. To dismiss; to sack (ç.v.) Also (2) to expel ; to rusticate (American Univ.) ; (3) to turn out of bed, mattress on top (Sherborne School) ; and (4) to turn back in a lesson (Shrewsbury School).

1857. Trollope, Three Clerks, xviii. I'm to stay at the office till seven o'clock for a month, and old Foolscap says he'll ship me the next time I'm absent half-an-hour without leave.

Ship blown up at Point Nonplus, phr. (old). —' Exemplifies the quietus of a man when plucked penniless ; or, genteelly expelled. Oxf. Univ. cant' (Grose).

See Anno Domini ; Home ; Pump.

Ship-husband, subs. phr. (nautical).—See quot.

1842. Marryat, Percival Keene, xviii. He was, as we use the term at sea, a regular ship-husband—that is to say, he seldom put his foot on shore ; and if he did, he always appeared anxious to get on board again.

Ship-in-full-sail, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A pot of ale.

Ship of the Desert, subs. phr.

(common).—A camel.

1869. Notes and Queries, 4 S. iv. 3 July, 10. By whom was the camel first called "the ship of the desert? "

Ship-shape, adj. (colloquial). — Spick and span ; smart above and below : originally ship-shape and Bristol fashion. [Bristol's fame as a port in early days was far higher than now] (Grose).

1835, Dana, Be/ore the Mast, 25 Aug. Everything was ship-shape and Bristol fashion. There was no rust, no dirt, no rigging hanging slack, no fag ends of ropes and ' Irish pendants ' aloft, and the yards were squared 'toa/' by lifts and braces.

1848. Dickens, Dombey and Son, xxiii. Wal'r will have wrote home . . . and made all taut and ship-shape.

1874. E. L. Linton, Patricia Kenu ball, ii. Though we can go on very well as we are, she must have everything shipshape and nice when she comes.

1891. Lie. Vict. Mirror, 3 Jan. 7, 2. No time was lost in putting the ring shipshape.

Shirk, verb. (Eton College : obsolete).—See quot.

1857-64. Brinsley Richards, Seven Years at Eton (1883). Shirking was a marvellous invention. Fellows were allowed to boat on the river, but all the approaches to it were out of bounds ; we might walk on the terrace of Windsor Castle, but it was unlawful tobe caught in the streets of Windsor which led to the terrace ... If, out of bounds, you saw a master coming, you had to shirk, which was done by merely stepping into a shop. The master might see you but he was supposed not to see you. The absurdity was . . . that to buy anything in the shops in High Street, where all the school tradesmen dwelt, we were obliged to go out of bounds.

To shirk in, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To walk into water instead of plunging. To shirk out = to go out contrary to rules. Whence shirkster = one who shirks.

Shirker, subs, (hunting).—One who prefers the road to crosscountry riding : cf. skirter.

1885. Field, 4 Ap. Once in a way the roadsters and shirkers are distinctly favoured.

Shirallee, subs. (Australian).— Swag (ç.v.); a bundle of blankets.

Shirt. 181 Shit.

Shirt. To get one's shirt out (or lose one's shirt), verb.phr. (common).—To make (or get) angry. Hence, shirty = angry, ill-tempered.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., iii. 147. They knocked his back as they went over, and he got shirtey.

1897. Maugham, Liza of Lambeth, iii. You ain't shirty 'cause I kissed yer ?

Colloquialisms. —To bet one's shirt (or put one's shirt on) = to risk all ; to fly round and tear one's shirt = to bestir oneself; shirt (or flag) in the wind = a fragment seen through the fly, or through a hole in the breech ; 'that's up your shirt' = ¹ That's a puzzler for you ' ; ' Do as my shirt does'= 'Kiss my arse ! '

c. 1707. Ballad oj Old Proverbs [Durfey, Pills, &c. (1707)], ii. 112. But if she prove her self a Flurt, Then she may do as does my shirt.

See also Boiled shirt; Bloody shirt; PIistorical (or Illustrated) shirt.

Shirt-sleevie, subs. phr. (Stonyhurst). — A dance : on winter Saturday evenings, and sometimes in the open air at the end of summer term. [The costume is an open flannel shirt and flannel trousers. ]

Shise. See Shice.

Shit (or Shite), subs, (vulgar).— Excrement : as verb. — to ease the bowels. Whence, shit = violent abuse : generic. Thus shitsack = (i) 'a dastardly fellow,' and (2) a Nonconformist (Grose) : also shit-sticks, shit-rag, shitfellow, &c. ; shitten = worth-

less, contemptible ; shiddlecum-shite (shittle-cum-shaw or shittletidee) = nouns or exclamations of contempt ; shitfire = a bully ; shitters = the diarrhoea ; shit-bag = the belly : in pi. = the guts ; shit-house = a privy ; shit-pot = a rotten or worthless humbug ; shit-hunter (or stir-shit) = a sod ; shitshark = a gold-finder ; shitshoe (or shit-shod) = derisive to one who has bedaubed his boot ; shit-hole = the rectum ; and to shit through the teeth = to vomit. Also proverbs and proverbial sayings : ' Shitten-cum-shite's the beginning of love' (proverbial) ; ' Wish in one hand and shit in the other, and see which will first fill ' ; ' Only a little clean shit (Scotticé, ' clean dirt ') ' : derisive to one bedaubed or bewrayed ; ' He (she, or it) looks as though the Devil had shit 'em flying ' : of things and persons mean, dwarfed, eccentric, or ridiculous ; ' Like shit (sticking) to a shovel' : very adhesive indeed ; ' To swallow a sovereign and shit it in silver' = the height of convenience; ' Shit in your teeth' (old) = a foul retort on somebody who does not agree with you ; ' It shines like a shitten barn-door' (Grose) ; 'All is not butter the cow sh—ts ' ; ' Claw a churl by the breech (or culls—Jonson) and he'll sh— in your fist'; 'The devil sh—s upon a great heap' ; 'Shitten luck's good luck'; ' Lincolnshire, where hogs sh— soap, and crows sh— fire ' ; ' Go and eat coke and shit cinders' (popular) = derisive and defiant ; * Thought lay abed and shit himself, and thought he hadn't done it.'

Shit.

182 Shivaroo.

1576. Merie Tales of Skelton, ix. Skelton then caste downe the clothes, and the frere dyd lye starke naked : then Skelton dyd shite vpon the freeres nauil.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes. Dometa, an old worde for a shitten fellow, or good man turde, for meta is a heape of turde. Ibid., Cacastraccie, a shiterags, an idle lazie fellow. Ibid., Cacastecchi ... a shite-sticks.

e. 1600. Montgomery, Poems [S.T.S.], I. 85, 'Flyting.' Halland-shaker, draughtraiker, bannock-baiker, ale-BESHiTTEN.

c. 1616. Jonson, Epigrams, 'On the Famous Voyage. ' Alas ! they will beshite us. Ibid. And in so shitten sort so long had used him.

16 [?]. Taylor and Shipman, Grobiands Nuptials, Sc. 7 [MS.(Bodleian) 30, leaf 21]. Is shitten cum shites the beginnings of love ? why then, Tantoblin, thou art happye, Grobiana's thyne, the proverbe gives it thee.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. iv. Such shitten stuff! Ibid., 1. xi. He pissed in his shoes, shit in his shirt, and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

1656. Muses Reer. [Hotten], 24. Here have I seen old John Jones, From this hill, shite to yonder stones.

1658. Phillips, Mysteries of Love and Eloquence, 169. Q. Why is ' sweet mistress so usual a complement? ^.Because shitten comes shites IS the beginning of love.

1662. Rump Songs, ii. 3. That of all kinds of Luck, Shitten Luck is the best. Ibid., ii. 24. For it shit from Portsmouth to Wallingford House.

1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestierst ed.), 97. The Shit-breech'd elfe Would shoot like Robin-Hood himself.

1665. Pepys, Diary, 6 Ap. Sir G. Carteret . . . called Sir W. Batten in his discourse at the table to us . . . shitten foole, which vexed me.

1678. Cotton, Virgil Travestie [ Works (1725) 80]. Among his Mates, and wishes rather, (And so the Strippling told his Father) For noughty Vermin that would bite him, Or Throstle Neast though't did--.

1647-80. Rochester, The Restoration. Made them shit as small as rats.

rf.1704. T. Brown, Works, ii. 180. Knocking a shiting porter down ... in his own sir-reverence.

1706. Ward, Wooden World, 69. 'A Sailor.' No man can ever have a greater contempt for Death, for every day he constantly shits on his own grave. Ibid. (1718), Heiter Skelter. I say, sir, you're a mean shit-fire.

1707. Old Ballad, ' As the Fryer he Went along ' [Durfey, Pills, &c. (1707),

111. 130]. The Maid she sh-, and a

Jolly brown T-out of her Jolly brown

Hole.

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, ii. The young Gentlewoman is his Sweetheart ; . . . They say in our Country, that shitten-cum-shite is the beginning of Love.

c.i710. Broadside Song, 'The Lass with the Velvet Arse' [Farmer, Merry Songs and Ballads (1897), i. 214]. When

E'er she went to sh-If twas ne'er such

a little bit . . . She always wiped it with brown Paper.

c.1714. Swift, Miscell., ' On the Discovery of the Longitude.' Now Ditton and Whiston may both be be-piston, And Whiston and Ditton may both be be-shit on.

1719. Durfey, Pills to Purge, iv.

112. Shitten come shite the beginning of Love is, And for her Favour I care not a Pin.

c.i731. Windsor Medley, 13. How

the old Proverb lyes, that says, Sh-n

Luck's good.

b. 1749. Robertson of Struan, Poems. To be strain'd in Marriage-Press Is honourable ... I confess, But never when the Bed's beshit.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 96. May I be trampl'd, pist, and sh—t on, If I don't think you're right.

1787. Burns, Death and Dr. Hornbook. Just shit in a kail-blade and send't.

1826. Burton, Mugging Maid [Univ. Songs t., iii. 103. Why lie ye in

that ditch, so snug, With sand filth

bewrayed.

1838. Lucian Redivivus, Paradise

Lost, 80. Fearing he had-himself.

Ibid., 82. Don't make a bother, Wish in

one hand, and-■ in t'other, And which

will fill the first, says I, You'll soon discover if you try.

Shivaroo, subs. (Australian).—

A spree : see quot.

1888. Bulletin, 6 Oct. Both these fair Toby Tosspots are well-known in the Upper Circles of the Beautiful Harbour, and are seen at Government House shivaroos with the regularity of clockwork.

Shiver.

183 Shoe.

Shiver, subs, (colloquial). —In pi. = the ague ; chills.

See Beat and Timbers.

Shivering Jemmy (or James),

subs. phr. (streets').—See quot.

1887. Standard, 20 June, 5, 2. The half-hearted beggars . . . are the ' Shallow Coves' and Shivering Jemmies of London slang.

1900. Flynt, Tramps, 240. One day he is a 'shallow cove' or a Shivering-Jimmy.

Shivery-shaky, adv. phr. (common).— Trembling; shiveryshakes = chills.

1864. Derby-day, 54. He's all shiveky-shaky, as if he'd got the staggers, or the cold shivers.

Sho, intj. (American).—Pshaw !

1851. Seaworthy, Bertie, 36. 'True, as my name's James Ragsdale.' «Sho !'

Shoard. To take a shoard, verb. phr. (provincial).—To get tipsy : see Screwed.

Shoat (or Shote), subs. (American).—See quots.

i8[?]. Hill, Stones [Bartlett]. Seth Slope was what we call Down East a poor shote, his principal businesss being to pick up chips, feed the hogs, &c.

1856. Dow, Sermons [Bartlett]. If you . . . make a proper use of your time, happiness, peace, and contentment are yours ; if not, you will always be miserable shoats.

Shock, subs. (B. E., ^.1696).—'A Brunt. To stand the Shock, to bear the brunt.' Shocking, what is offensive, grating, grievous, and espec. indecent.

Shocker, subs, (common).—Anything to surprise or startle. See Shilling Shocker.

1898. Gould, Golden Ruin, vii. ' This is a surprise . . . but I am heartily glad to see you ' . . . ' Thought I should give you a shocker.'

Shocking. See Hat.

Shod. See Shoe.

Shoddy, subs, (colloquial). — 1. Old material—cloth, rags, &c.— ground up or shredded, and rewoven with a new warp. Hence (2) anything of poor quality or pretentious reputation : spec, (in derision) a workman in a woollen factory. Also as adj. = sham. Also derivatives such as shoddyite, shoddyise, &c.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., ii. 34. The fabric thus snatched, as it were, from the ruins of cloth, is known as

shoddy.

1864. Spectator, 355. The mixture of good wool and rotten shoddy we call broad-cloth.

1869. Froude, Address at St. Andrews, 12 Mar. We have false weights, false measures, cheating and shoddy everywhere.

1871. Lowell, Study Windows, 56. A horrible consciousness of shoddy running through p.olitics, manners, art, literature, nay, religion itself.

1872. Ev. Standard. 11 Dec. ' Ag. Lab. Movement.' There were things that Parliament could do. It could abolish the truck system, whether in shoddy or in cider, and could provide that money should be paid in the coin of the realm.

1880. Ouida, Moths, vii. In New York she and hers were deemed shoddy —the very shoddiest of shoddy—and were looked coldly on, and were left unvisited.

1881. D. M. Wallace, Russia, 176. The Russian merchant's ostention is . . . entirely different from English snobbery and American shoddyism . . . He never affects to be other than he really is.

1883. Belfast Weekly Northern Whig, 3 Feb. 1, 9. Cloaks lined with ostrich feathers are now in style, but the worst of this fashion is that if a woman leaves it unbuttoned, she is accounted a shoddyite, more anxious for vulgar display than comfort, while if she keeps it buttoned it might just as well be lined with red flannel for no one can see it.

1889. Academy, 11 May, 325. Philosophic Shoddy.

Shoe, sttbs. (old local).—»A room in Southgate Debtors' Prison.

Shoe. 184 Shoe.

Phrases, Colloquialisms, and Proverbial Sayings—To win one's shoes (old tournament) = to vanquish one's adversary ; to die in one's shoes (or boots) = to be hanged : see Ladder ; to shoe the wild colt = to be initiated, ' to exact footing ' (q.v.) ; also to shoe ; to shoe all round = to provide hat-band, gloves, and scarf at a funeral ; many shoeings being only partial (Grose) ; to

make children's shoes = to

look ridiculous ; to lick one's shoes = to fawn on; to cringe ; to make feet for children's shoes = to copulate : see Greens and Ride ; in another's shoes = in his place ; to put the shoe on the right foot = to lay blame (or praise) where justly due ; to

tread one's shoe straight

= to do what is right and proper ;

to tread one's shoe awry = ( i )

to play fast and loose ; and spec. (2) to play the whore ; to shoe the goose = to undertake anything absurd or futile : cf. ' He that will meddle with all things may go shoe the goslins ' ; and (2) to get tipsy : to shoe the cobbler = to tap the ice quickly with the forefoot when sliding : see Cobbler's-knock ; to wait for dead men's shoes (see Dead Men's Shoes) ; to throw an old shoe = ' to wish them Luck on their Business ' (B. E. ) ; 'theshoe pinches (of untoward circumstances or events) ; also ' No man knows where the shoe pinches but he who wears it' (B. E.) ; another pair of shoes = something quite different : Fr. une autre paire de manches ; over shoes, over boots = ' in for a sheep, in for a lamb ' ; ' One shoe will not fit all

feet ' = ' People nor circumstances are not all alike ' ; ' He came in hosed and shod ' = ' He was born to a good estate.'

[ ? ] MS. Lincoln. A. 1. t.-] f. 149. How that thir Knyghtis have wone

thair schone.

1383. Chaucer, Caste Tales, 9426. I wot best, wher wringeth me my sho.

.1529. Skelton, Colyn Clout. What hath lay men to do the gray

gose for to sho.

c. 1530. Parlament op Byrdes [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet., iii. 179]. Who wyll smatter what euery man doose, May go helpe to shoo the goose.

1546. Heywood, 46, sign. C. [Nares]. Now for good lucke cast an old shoe after me.

1573-9. Harvey, Letters [Camden Soc. 83 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 591. Men know where the shoe pincheth ; . . . substituted for Chaucer's wringeth].

1606. Ret. prom Parnassus [Nares]. Linden may shortly throw an old shoe after us.

1609. Shakspeake, Tempest, iii. 2. How does thy honour. Let me lick thy shoe.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet. [Halliwell], A woman to play false, enter a man more than she ought, or tread her shooe

awry.

1613. Fletcher, Honest Man's • Fort., v. i. Captain, your shoes are old, pray put them off, And let one fling 'em after us.

1621. Jonson, Masque of Gypsies. Hard after an old shoe, I'll be merry.

1630. Taylor, Works, ii. 145. For where true courage roots, The proverb says, Once over shoes, o'er boots.

1633. Marmyon, Fine Compan. [Nares]. Well, mistresse . . . pray throw an old shoe after us.

1653. Ukquhart, Rabelais, iv., xlv. [Bohn]. Whoever refused to do this should presently swing for it and die in his shoes.

1663. Stapylton, The Slighted Maid, 30. I'll throw Marc Antony's old shoe after you.

1663. Killigrew, Parson's Wedding [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), xi. 499]. Ay, with all my heart, there's AN

OLD SHOE AFTER YOU.

Shoe-buckles. 185

Shoemaker.

1682. Behn, Roundheads . . . Hews, " Who, pox ! shall we stand making children's shoes all the year? No : let's begin to settle the nation, I say, and go through-stitch with our work."

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation,

i. Col...... Mr. Buzzard has married

again ! Lady Smart. This is his Fourth Wife ; Then he has been shod round.

rf.1734. North, Life of Lord Guildford, ii. 96. He used to say George (his

SOn) Would die in his shoes.

1742. Branston [Walpole, Lett, to Mann (1833), 1. 180]. At the end of the walk hung a rogue on a gibbet ! He beheld it and wept, for it caus'd him to muse on Full many a Campbell, that died

with his shoes on.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 146. I promised to place him in

my late mistress's shoes.

1840. Barham, Ingold. Leg. And there is Sir Carnaby Jenks, of the Blues, All come to see a man die in his shoes.

1842. Taylor, Edwin the Fair, iii. 8. Not alone them that were placed by Edred in the shoes of seculars that by Edred were expulsed.

1861. Dickens, Great Expectations . . . We'll show 'em another pair of shoes than that, Pip, won't us ?

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Shoeing the wild colt. Exacting a fine called 'footing' from a new comer, who is called the ' colt.' Of course, the play is between the words ' shoeing ' and ' footing. '

Shoe-buckles. Not worth shoe-buckles, phr. (old).—Of little account (Ray).

Shoe-horn, verb. (old). — To cuckold.

C.1650. Brathwayte, Barnaby's J I. 1723), 45. Venus swore . . . She'd Shooe-horn her Vulcan's Forehead.

Shoeing-horn, subs. phr. (old). —A pretext or incitement.

1562-3. Still, Gammer Gurions Needle [Dodsley, Old Plays (Rked).ïu 8 J. Shall serve as a shoing-horne, to draw on two pots of ale.

1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse [Works, ii. 81]. To haue some shooing horne to pull on your wine, as a rasher of the coles, or a redde herring, to stirre it about with a candles ende to make it tastf; better, and not to holde your peace whiles the pot is stirring.

c. 1620. Fletcher and Massinger, False One, iv. 2. They swear they'll flea us, and then dry our quarters, A rasher of a salt lover is such a shoeing-horn.

1621. Burton, Anat. Melan., 246. By little and little, by that shoeing-horn of idleness . . . melancholy . . . is drawn on.

16 [?]. Haven of Health, cxxxii. 134. Yet a gamond of bacon well dressed is a good shooing horn to pull down a cup of wine.

c. 1620. Disc, of New World, 68. Then, sir, comes me up a service of shooinghornes (do yee see) of all sorts ; salt-cakes, red herrings, anchoves, and gammons of bacon—and aboundance of such pullers-on.

1712. Spectator, No. 536. Most of our fine young ladies . . . retain in their service, by some small encouragement, as great a number as they can of supernumerary and insignificant fellows, which they use like whifflers, and commonly call shoeing-horns. These are never designed to know the length of the foot, but only, when a good offer comes, to whet and spin him up to the point.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxiv. This, and some other desultory conversation, served as a shoeing-horn to draw on another cup of ale.

Shoe-leather ! intj. (thieves').— A cry of warning ; ' Look out ! ' Fr. 'Chouf chou!'' or ¹ Acres to !^y

Shoemaker. Phrases, Sec. 'Who goes worse shod than the shoemaker's wife' (B. E.) = an excuse for the lack of something one ought to possess; in the shoemaker's stocks = ' pincht with straight shoes ' (B. E. ) ; shoe-maker's pride = creaking shoes ; shoe-maker's holiday (see quot. 1793, ^an(i ^cfCrispin's holiday).

Shoesmith. 186 Shoo.

1793. European Mag., 172. There was nothing which he [Oliver Goldsmith] enjoyed better than what he used facetiously to term a shoemaker's holiday. . . . Three or four of his intimate friends rendevoused at his chambers to breakfast about ten o'clock in the morning ; at eleven they proceeded, by the City Road and through the fields, to Highbury Barn to dinner ; about six o'clock in the evening they adjourned to White Conduit House to drink tea ; and concluded the evening by supping at the Grecian or Temple Exchange coffee houses, or at the Globe in Fleet Street. . . . The whole expenses of this day's fête never exceeded a crown, and . . . oftener from three-and-sixpence to four shillings, for which the party obtained good air and exercise, good living, the example of simple manners, and good conversation.

Shoesmith, subs, (colloquial).— A cobbler.

Shoestring, subs. (American).— A small bet run up to a large amount.

Shoful (Showfull or Schofel),

subs, and adj. (common). — Generic for anybody or anything questionable. Spec, shoful, subs. = (1) base money (also shoful money) : whence shofulpitcher = a dealer in counterfeit ; shoful-pitching = shoving the queer (q.V.) ; shofuljewellery = pinchbeck gauds. Also (2) = a hansom cab (see quot. 1851), and shovel (q.v.).

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 26. Showfulls, bad money. Ibid., 1. 279. A racketty place, sir [of a beer-shop], one of the showfulls ; a dicky one ; a freeand-easy. Ibid., 11. 554. I don't think those shofuls (Hansoms) should be allowed—the fact is, if the driver is not a tall man he can't see his horse's head. Ibid., m. 363. The Hansom's, which are always called showfulls by the cabmen. Showfull, in slang, means counterfeit, and the showfull cabs are an infringement on Hansom's patent. Ibid. {1856), Gt. World 0/ London, 47. The shoful-men, or those who plunder by counterfeits, as coiners and forgers of checks and notes, and wills.

1866. London Miscellany, 3 Mar., 57. That ... is old Finlaison the fence. . . . He used to be a shoful man once—dealt in bad money, you know.

1882. Smythe-Palmer, Folk-Etymology, s.v. Showfull or shoful. A cant term which originated amongst the Jews, and is the Heb. S hajal (or shaphal), low, base, vile, the word which David applied to himself when he danced before the ark.

1890. Tit-Bits, 15 Mar., 362. There wasn't a shoful on the stand ; so I works the oracle, and drives him off easy.

1891. Carew, Auto, of a Gipsy, 417. Palmer çot down and heaved the sackful o* shoful into the river . . . and shoful it were right enough hevery bloomin' hounce. Ibid., 17. Shoful-pitching, fawneyrigging and the thousand and one ingenious devices whereby the impecunious endeavour to augment balances at their bankers.

1807. D. Telegraph, 14 Sept., 9, 3. There is plenty of room for improvement in the accommodation which 'growlers' and shofuls offer to the bicycle.

1899. Pot and Swears, Scarlet City, 177. When I had despatched the telegram—I found Anthony ensconced in what he called a spicy showful.

1901. Binstead, More Gats Gossip, 86. He stopped the shabby shoful.

Shog, subs. (old).—A jog: also as verb. = to be off.

1599. Shakspeare, Hen. V., ii. 3, 47. Shall we shog? The King will be gone from Southampton.

S h o l l, verb, (thieves'). — To bonnet (q.v.) ; to crush the hat over the eyes.

Shoo ! intj. (old).—Be off! Away ! As verb. = to scare away. ' Cannot say Shooh to a goose' (Ray) = a retort on timidity or bashfulness : see Boh.

1611. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Scioare, to cry Shooe, shooe, as women do to their hens.

1623. Fletcher and Rowley, Maid in the Mill, v. 1. Shough, shough » up to your coop, pea-hen.

Shook on. 187 Shoot.

1883. Century Mag., xxxvii. 788. He gave her an ivory wand, and charged her, on her life, to tell him what she would do with it, and she sobbed out she would shoo her mother's hens to roost with it.

Shook on. See Shake.

Shool, verb. (old).—To loaf ; to go on the tramp ; to beg. Whence shooling = idling ; shoolman = a loafer or vagabond. Fr. battre sa flême.

1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, xli. They went all hands to shooling and begging.

c. 1750. Humours 0/ the Fleet [Ashton, Eighteenth Cent. Waifs, 247]. Now mean, as once profuse, the stupid sot Sits by a Runner's side, and shules a Pot.

1842. Lover, Handy Andy, xxxiv. ' Oh, you always make out a good rayson for coming ; but we have nothing for you to-night.' ' Throth, you do me wrong,' said the beggar, 'if you think I came shooling.'

Shoon, subs, (thieves').—A fool; a lout : see Büffle.

Shoot, subs, (colloquial).—i. A shooting party.

^x573Sir T. More, Cum/ort against Tribulation, fol. 33. We shall now meat for ye shoot.

1885. Field, 4 Ap. At a big shoot in Warwickshire.

1887. Norris, Major and Minor, xxv. At the great shoots ... he was wont to be present with a walking-stick in his hand.

2. (builders').—A vacant piece of ground : where rubbish is got rid of.

3. (American).—A fancy.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life. That gal was the prettyest creatur I ever took a shute after.

TO shoot a BISHOP, verb, phr. (venery).—To have a wetdream (q.v.) : also TO SHOOT.

The Shoot, subs. phr. (London).—The Wal worth-road station on the S. E. & C. Ry. [A large number of workpeople alight there.]

Phrases.—Shoot as a generic verb of action is found in frequent combination : as to shoot

(jerk or whip) the cat =: (i)

to vomit ; see Cat (Grose), and (2) to sound a refrain in the infantry bugle call to defaulters' drill, which, it is fancied, follows the sound of the words 'shoot

the cat—shoot the cat' ; to shoot the crow = tO run oft without paying, to bilk (q.v.) ; to shoot horses (see quot.

1872) ; to shoot one's linen

= to jerk and display the cuffs ; to shoot one's lines = to declaim with vigour ; to shoot

(bolt or shove) the moon = to

remove furniture by night to prevent seizure for rent (Grose) : see Moon ; to shoot one's bolt = to exhaust one's credit or resources, to come to an end of things ; to go the whole shoot = to risk all ; to shoot off one's mouth (or taw) = to abuse ; to shoot one's roe (or MiLT) = to emit ; to do a shoot

up the straight = to possess a

woman ; tobeshot = (i) to make a disadvantageous bet which is instantly accepted (turf), and (2) to be photographed (photographers') : see Snap-shot ; to shoot on the post = to make a close win at the finish ; to shoot

over the pitcher = to brag of

one's shooting ; to shoot one's star = to die ; to shoot the sun = to determine the longitude (nautical) ; to shoot one's granny = to find a mare's nest; to be disappointed ; to shoot the market (Stock Exchange) =

Shoot.

188 Shoo tabou t.

¹ to make a man a close price in a stock without knowing if there would be a profit or loss on the bargain' (Atkin, House Scraps) ; shoot that [hat, man—anything] ! = (i) a mild imprecation, ' Bother ! ' ; Shoot that ! = an injunction to silence : e.g.,

shoot the shop ; to shoot

in the eye = to do an ill turn ;

TO be shot IN the neck = tO

be drunk ; to shoot in the TAIL = (i) to copulate, and (2) to sodomise ; to shoot tvvixt

wind and water = to pox Or

clap (B.E. and Grose); and (2) to do the act of kind : also as subs. ; 'I'll (or may I) be shot

IF--'= a mild imprecation or

strenuous denial. See also Shot.

1695. Congreve, Love for Love, ni, 15, 'A Soldier and a Sailor' [Durfey, Pills (1707), i. 227]. And then he let fly at her, A shot 'twixt wind and water, Which won this fair Maid's Heart.

1706. Ward, Wooden World, 45. 'The Surgeon.' His Captain, being disabled by some unlucky shot 'tvvixt wind and water, repairs to him for a Refitment.

1826. Buxton, Luke the Labourer, iii. i. Bob. He, he, he ! I'll be shot if Lunnun temptation be onything to this.

1837. Lytton, Ernest Maltravers, l, xv. 'Excuse—' again began Maltravers, half interested, half annoyed. ' I'll be shot if I do. Come.'

1853. Dickens, Bleak House, vii. I'll be shot if it ain't very curious.

1855. Brooklyn Journal, 18 Ap. The

Prisoners . . . had shot Under-Sheriff legeman in the head . . . Mr. Schumacher defended his client by observing that some of the attornies got as often shot in the neck as the Under-Sheriff did in the head.

1867. Bartlett, Americanisms, S.v. Shot. A slang term of recent origin. To say, ' Shoot that dress,' is meant to convey the idea that the dress is inferior ; thai it is not worth much ; or, to use another slang expression, ' it is no great shakes ' after all. Ibid. [Quotation from Danbury News.] Mother. Stand

still, Tommy, or I won't get your hair combed in time for school. Tommy (superciliously). Oh, shoot the school. Ibid., New York Herald. One lady . . . with derisive scorn . . . observed in the language of the day, ' Oh, shoot that hat ! '

1870. New Orleans Picayune, 17 Mar. I found this man dead drunk in the gutter ... he offered to fight me. saying that he was not drunk, but only shot in the neck.

1872. Echo, 29 July, ' Railway Porters' Strike.' The prisoner urged the men to shoot the horses in the vans . . . [i.e.] to take the horses out of the vans to prevent them from being unloaded. Prisoner was told if he had any grievances the shooting of the horses was not the way to redress them.

1876. Burton, Songs [Bartlett]. The slang the gang is using now, You'll hear from every lip ; It's shoot the hat ! and get it boiled ; And don't you lose your grip.

1878. Yates [World, 16 Jan.] Adjust your curls, youR linen shoot, your coat wide open fling.

1886. Daily News, 8 Oct. The boy who won never did anything in later life. He had shot his bolt.

1887. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. If he could kill Indians shooting off his mouth at them, he'd soon clean them out all there is.

1887. Fun, 8 June. 246. A canny Scot was recently sentenced to ten days' hard for shooting the crow—i.e., ordering half-a-quartern of whiskey, drinking it rapidly, and neglecting to pay.

1896. Crane, Maggie, xi. Youse fellers er lookin' fer a scrap, an' it's like yeh'll fin' one if yeh keeps on shootin' off yer mout's.

1897. Pearson's Mag., Sep., 254. He thought he saw the means of getting square with the millionaire who had done him such an unscrupulous shot in the

eye.

1899. Whiteing, John St., xxi. It it warn't ready, he give the shove to the

'ole shoot.

Shootabout, subs, (school : esp. Charterhouse). — An irregular form of football.

Shooter. 189 Shop.

Shooter, subs, (colloquial). —

Generic. Thus (l) = a revolver:

also, according to capacity, a

five, six, or seven-shooter ;

(2) = the guard of a mail coach

(old) : he was armed with a

blunderbuss; (3) = a shooting star;

(4)=a shooting-stick (printers');

a piece of hard word or metal

used with a mallet for tightening

quoins in a chase; (5) = a ball

(cricket) bowled full pitch but

shooting in close to the ground ;

and (6) = a black morning coat

(Harrow) as distinguished from

the tail coat worn by the Fifth

and Sixth Forms.

d. 1633. G. Herbert, Artillery. But I have also stars, and shooters too.

1840. Thackeray, Shabby Genteel Story. He had a word for the hostler about that grey mare, a nod for the shooter or guard.

1899. Scarlet City, 107. Miss Winks took the terrible shooter with a trembling hand. ' You're sure it's not loaded ? ' she ejaculated.

Shooter's-hill, subs. phr. (venery). — The mons veneris : see Venus. Hence, to take a

TURN on ShOOTER'S-HILL = to

copulate : see Greens and Ride.

Shooting-iron, subs. phr. (common).—A gun or revolver.

1847. Porter, Quarter Race, 135. He said his old shooting-iron would go off at a good imitation of a bear's breathing !

1848. Burton, Waggeries, 175. This antique shooting-iron had not been visible on board the boat.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms. . . . His rifle ... he loves with almost tender affection . . . and speaks of it as a shooting-iron. . . . The more recent revolver, now quite common in the West, is, on the other hand, his five or six

shooter.

1888. Harper's Mag., lxxvi. 78. Timothy . . . drew his shooting-iron . . . cocking it with a metallic click.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxx. Hev' ye nary shootin' iron ?

1894. To-Day, 21 Ap., 351, 1. Say, what's that for? you've emptied yure shooting iron into him ; what's he done ?

1897. Mitford, Romance Cape Frontier, 11. v. We'll just get out our shooting-irons and go and see.

1902. Kernahan, Scoundrels and Co., xxiii. Keep your shooting irons, Mr. Hall . . . I've got a brace of my own in my pocket.

Shooting-stars, subs. phr. (common).—Dizziness : as caused by a blow.

Shop, subs, and verb, (colloquial). —i. Generic for a place : of residence, business, manufacture, engagement, or resort (in quot. 1590 = the body) ; and (2) one's profession, business or occupation. Spec, (old, and thieves') = (3) a prison (B. E. and Grose) : whence, as verb. = to imprison, to confine (B. E. and Grose) ;

4. (army) = a guardroom : also see quot. 1890 ; and

5. (racing) a place : whence to

be shopped (or get a shop) =

to come in first, second, or third ; and (6) to kill, to burke (q.v.). Whence, to talk shop = to talk business in society : Fr. parler boutique ; to sink the shop = to refrain from

shop-talk ; shoppy (or full of

the shop) = wholly engrossed in business matters ; the other shop = a rival (trader, establishment, &c).

1548. Patten, Exped. to Scot I. [h.rqer (Eng. Garner, iii. 86)]. They had likewise shopped up themselves in the highest of their house.

1563. Foxe, Acts and Monuments [Cattley] iv. 652 [Oliphant, New Eng. i. 541. Foxe wishes that More had kept himself in his own shop (profession) ; hence our ' talk shop '].

1590. Spenser, Fairy Queen, 11. i. 43. Then [he] gan softly feel Her feeble pulse ... he hoped faire To call backe life to her forsaken shop.

Shop. 190 Shop.

1610. Shakespeare, Coriol., i. 1,137. I [the belly] am the storehouse and the shop Of the whole body.

c.1617. Howell, Letters, 1. iii. 30. The Liver . . . the Shop and source of the Blood.

1678. Four/or a Penny [Marl. Misc. iv. 147]. A main part of his office I a bumbailiffs] is to swear and bluster at their trembling prisoners, and cry, ' Confound us, why do we wait? Let us shop him ! '

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. iii. Public and other houses were explored without loss of time ; and it was a poor shop indeed that did not produce some little amusement.

1838. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xvi. It was Bartlemy time when I was shopped . . . Arter I was locked up for the night, the row and din outside made the thundering old jail so silent, that I could almost have beat my brains out.

c.1840. A. Clough, Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence we return to the shop.

1847-8. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxxiv. ' What is the other shop ?'said the lady . . . ' Cambridge, not Oxford,' said the scholar. Ibid. (1855), Newcomes, xliv. Now, when will you two gents come up to my shop to 'ave a family dinner ? '

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, 1. viii. Give us a song ! It's the punishment for talking shop, you know.

1855. Gaskell, North and South, ii. I don't like shoppy people.

1860. Punch, xxxix. 177. He's staid and he's solemn, talks shop by the column.

1861. Trollope, Framley Parsonage If we . . . have no voice of our own, I don't see what's the good of our going to the shop [House of Commons] at all.

1861. G. P. Marsh, Led. on the Eng. Lang., xi. All men, except the veriest, narrowest pedants in their craft, avoid the language of the shop.

d.x%6+. Josiah Quincy, Figures of the Past, 193. He sunk the shop ; though this same shop would have been a subject most interesting.

1868. Whyte-Melville, White Rose, 11. vii. Actors and actresses seem the only artists who are never ashamed of talking shop. Ibid. (1869), M. or N. If you was took and shopped . . . I'd go to quod with you if they'd give me leave.

1888. _ Boldrewood, Robbery Under Anns, xxiv. What sort of a shop is it? Are they getting much gold? Ibid., vi. We'll all be shopped if you run against the police like this.

1889. Rialto, 23 May. The latest term for the South African gold market is the shop.

1890. D. Chronicle, 4 Apr., 7, 2. The shop is the name given in the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers to the Establishment which turns out the bulk of the officers of those two distinguished corps.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 3 Apr. Then he went a raker on the favourite for the St. Leger, but the brute was not even shopped.

1892. Cassell's Saty. /I., 28 Sep., 27, 2. In the long summer months, when the actor is ' resting,' the artiste is frequently out of a shop, as he terms his engagement.

1897. Mitford, Romance of Cape Frontier, 11. iii. And one heard such a lot of war shop talked. Ibid., il. xxiii. What was this cowardly, egotistical, shoppy preacher to him?

Verb, (workmen's).—To work in a shop ; whence shopped = ( 1 ) in work, also (2) discharged.

1867. All Year Round, 13 July, 56. There are many men who would regard themselves as ingrates, were they not to celebrate their being shopped, after having been out of collar, by a spree.

Phrases.—To shut up shop = ( i ) to come to an end, to retire ; (2) to cease talking : (cf. shop = body, shut up, see quot. 1570); and (3) to finish, to ¹ do for' ; to come (or go) to the wrong shop = to make a mistake; all over the shop = confused ; awry.

c.1570. Gascoigne, Works [Chalmers, ii. 571]. Beautie shut up thy shop [i.e. mouth].

1630-40. Court and Times Chas. I., 11. 21. If it go on thus, the Commissioners may shut up shop.

1657. Middleton, Women Beware Women, ii. 2. I'll quite give o'er, and shut up shop in cunning.

Shopkeeper. 191 Shoreditch-fury.

1836. Dickens, Sketches, 289. And what does he want? . . . money? meat? drink? He's come to the wrong shop for that, if he does.

1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Oct. Our mercantile marine would shut up shop.

1888. Sf>. Life, 13 Dec. The left eye, which had till now gradually closed, shut up shop altogether.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 63. Things seemed all over the shop.

Shopkeeper, sttbs. (traders').—An article long in stock : sometimes

old shopkeeper.

Shop-lift (-lifter, or-bouncer),

subs. phr. (old).—' One that steals under Pretence of Cheap'ning ' (B. E. : also Head, Dyche, Grose, andSNOWDEN) : cf. lift. Hence shop-lifting and similar compounds.

1678. Four for a Penny [Harl. Misc. iv. 147]. He is the treasurer of the thieves' exchequer, the common fender of all balkers and shop-lifts in the town.

1703. Ward, London Spy, v. 108. The Light finger'd subtlety of shop-lifting.

1704. Swift, Tale op a Tub, Sect. vi. Like a discovered shop-lifter, left to the mercy of Exchange women.

1748. Dyche, Dictionary (5th Ed.) s.v. Lifter. Also one that goes into mercers or drapers shops under pretence of buying goods, and so conveys some away privately, is called a shop-lifter.

1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, 1. xi. More honest, well-meaning people were bubbled out of their goods and money by it in one twelve-month than by pocketpicking and shop-lifting in seven.

1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, 11. viii. Sally Wells, who was afterwards lagged for shoplifting.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, liii. There are children who are accomplished shop-lifters and liars almost as soon as they can toddle and speak.

shopocracy, subs, (colloquial).— The world of shopkeepers : cf. mobocracy, shamocracy, &c.

1853. Mrs. Gaskell, Ruth, xxxiii. The belles of the shopocracy of Eccleston.

i8[?]. Notes and Queries [Ency. Diet.]. Shopocracy . . . belongs to an objectionable class of words, the use of which is very common at the present day.

Shoppy, adj. and adv. (colloquial). —i. Commercial ; (2) full of shops ; and (3) see Shop.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 292. Thoroughfares which are wellfrequented, but which . . . are not so shoppy as others.

1855. Gaskell, North and South, xi. You were always accusing people of being shoppy.

Shop-shift, subs. phr. (old).— A tradesman's trick (Jonson : ' There's a shop-shift ! plague on 'em ! ')

Shop-'un, subs. phr. (colloquial). —A ' boxed ' or ' pickled ' egg : as distinguished from ' new-laid.'

1878. Byron, Our Boys, Perkin Middlewick. [Looking at eggs] ... I knows'em ! Shop-'uns ! Sixteen a shilling !

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 62. About colds, and cock-salmons and shop 'uns ; it's one of the rummiest sights.

Shoreditch (The Duke of).—A

mock title : see quots.

(5.1547. [Ellis, Hist, of Shoreditch, 170]. When Henry VIII. became king he gave a prize at Windsor to those who should excel in this exercise [archery], when Barlo, one of his guards, an inhabitant of Shoreditch, acquired such honour as an archer that the king created him Duke of Shoreditch on the spot. This . . . title continued so late as 1683.

1603. Poore Man's Peticion to the Kinge. Good king, make not good Lord of Lincoln Duke of Shorditche, for he is a . . ,

Shoreditch-fury, subs. phr. (obsolete).—A harlot : see Tart.

1599. HAhl., Satires, 1. ix. 21. What if some Shoreditch fury should incite some lust-stung lecher.

Shores. 192 Short.

Shores, subs. (Stock Exchange).— Lake Shore Ry. shares.

Short, subs, (gaming).—1. A card (all below the eight) prepared so that nothing above the eight can be cut : by which the chances of an honour turning up are reduced to two to one : cf. Long and Brief.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1862), 253. Ye youths, oh, beware, Of liquor, and how you run after the fair ! Shun playing at shorts.

2. (common).—In pi. — knee breeches ; small clothes.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick, xxxiii. A little emphatic man with a bald head and drab shorts.

1888. Besant, Fifty Years Ago, 49. The little old gentleman . . . follows him in black shorts and white silk stockings.

3. (Stock Exchange).—A bear (q.v.) ; one who has ' sold short,' and whose interest is to depress the market. As adj. or adv. — (1) not in hand when contracting to deliver ; or (2) unable to meet one's engagements : e.g., 'Short of Eries, Brighton A's,' &c.

1888. D. Telegraph, 13 Oct. The market continued to improve . . . coupled with shorts covering freely.

1902. D. Mail, 17 Nov., 2, 5. Wheat opened steady . . . shorts covering, and light acceptances.

4. (school).—In pi. = flannel trousers ; cuts (q.v.).

Adj. (common).—1. Unadulterated ; neat (q.v.). As subs. = 'a dram [spec, of gin] unlengthened by water ' (Grose).

1837. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (1857), 388. If you'll order waiter to deliver him anything short, he won't drink it off at once, won't he !—only try him !

1841. Rede, Sixteen String Jack, I. 2. Nelly, toddle to the bar, and be continually drawing drops of short.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab. i. 54. Saveloys, with a pint of beer or a glass of short, is with them another common week-day dinner.

1858. M. Chronicle, 8 Nov. A young man offered her some coffee, but she said she would prefer something short.

1858. Trollope, Dr. Thome, xvii. Come, Jack, let us have a drop of some'at short.

1883. D. Telegraph, 2 July, v. 3. All these are short drinks—that is to say, drams.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xvii. She wanted him to have a drop of something short, which he refused.

3. (commercial). — 'A term used by cashiers of banks, in asking how a cheque is to be paid, 'How will you take it ? ' i.e., in gold or notes ? If in notes, ' Long or short ? ' i.e., in notes for small or large amounts (Hotten).

4. (old).—Hard up; 'short of cash.'

1603. Dekker, Batchelars Banquet,

iv. They ... if their father keepe them short, will find some other friends that shall affoord it them.

1605. Chapman, &c. Eastward Ho,

v. And I not able to relieve her, neither, being kept so short by my husband.

1608. Day, Law Trickes, ii. And if your pursse grow short, Rather then spend the publique treasurie, He lend your grace a brace of thousand pounds.

1700. Farquhar, Constant Couple, ii. v. I am very short ... at present.

1857. Bradley, Verdant Green, 11. v. I wrote to her and said, ' I'm very short ; please to send me two ponies ; ' meaning, of course, that I wanted fifty pound.

Phrases and Colloquialisms. —To come short home = to be imprisoned ; to bite off short (tailors') = to dismiss abruptly, or refuse curtly ; to cut it short = to be as brief as may be ; short and sweet = a jesting regret, or sarcastic comment : frequently with the addi-

Short.

193 Short-one.

tion, like a donkey's gallop ;

the short and long (or the

short and plain) = (i) the whole truth : now usually the long and the short : also (2) a couple of persons, one of dwarf and one of giant stature walking together; short and thick, like a Welshman's prick = a person very short and broad in the beam ; short of puff = winded ; short (or short-waisted) = crusty, irritable ; short of a sheet = crazy; for short = for brevity's sake ; ' A short horse is soon curried ' = a simple matter is soon disposed of ; short commons = not too much to eat ; short-limbered = touchy ; a short shrift and a long rope = instant despatch ; a short memory = forgetfulness.

.... Int. ofFourElements [Hali.1well]. Yf ye will nedys know at short and longe, It is evyn a woman's tounge.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales [Oliphant, New Eng. i. 123. We have, this

is the SHORT and PLAIN (LONG and short Of it).]

1577. Stanihurst, Desc. Ireland [Oliphant, New Eng. i. 599. A man is said to be in talk, short and sweet].

1592. Shakspeare, Mid. Night's Dream, iv. 2. The short and the long is, onr play is preferred. Ibid. (1596), Merry Wives, ii. 1. He loves your wife ; there's the shout and the long. Ibid. (1600), As You Like It, iii. 5. I will be bitter with him and passing short.

1602. MiDDLETON, Blurt, Master Constable, i. 2. The rogue's made of piecrust, he's so short.

1611. Jonson, Cataline, ii. 1. How, pretty sullenness, So harsh and short !

1611. Letter [Nares]. In which service two or three of them came short home.

C.1617. Howell, Letters, 1. ii. 15. The French and English Ambassadors, interceding for a Peace, had a short Answer of Philip II.

1636. Heywood, Love's Mistress, 63. The short and the long of't is, she's an ugly creature.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 219. Don Alphonso cut him short in his explanation.

1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg., ' Brothers of Birchington.'—Father Dick, So they called him for short.

1870. Washington Watchman [De Vere]. My little gal's name is Helen, but we call her Heelen for short.

Short-ear, subs. phr. (American University).—A rowdy : see Lamb.

Shorter, subs. (old).—One who dwindles the surface and the edges of coins by clipping, filing, shaking together in a bag, precipitation, or other means ; a sweater (q.v.).

Short-head, subs.phr. (racing).— A horse that fails by a short head.

1883. Greenwood, Odd People, 107. Fancy him having that horribly anathematized short head all his own, to revile it, and punch it . . . all the while with a firm grip on the cruel twitch attached to its nose.

Shortheels, subs. (old).—A wanton : see Tart. Hence, shortheeled = unchaste (Grose).

1596. Chapman, Blind Beggar [Shepheard, Works (1874) 15]. Well, madam short-heels, I'll be even with you. Ibid. (1611), May-day, iv. 4. Take heed you slip not, coz, remember y'are short-heeled.

Short-length, subs.phr. (Scots'). —A small glass of brandy; a ' wee three.'

1864. Glasgow Citizen, 19 Nov. Is not the exhilarating short-length of brandy known beyond our own Queen Street ?

Short-one, subs. phr. (old coaching : obsolete). — A passenger whose name was not on the waybill ; a shoulderstick (q.v.); a bit of fish (q.V.).

Short-pot. 194 Shot.

Short-pot, subs. phr. (B. E. c. 1696).—'False, cheating Potts used at Ale-houses, and Brandyshops.'

Short-staff. a?* Gentleman.

Short-stick, subs.phr. (drapers'). —See quot.

1863. Once a Week, viii. 179. All goods again that are sold in the piece run short : short-stick in fact is a slang term for insufficient lengths.

Shot, subs, (old : still colloquial). —i. A reckoning ; a share of expense (B. E. and Grose). Hence (2) = money (generic) : as shot in the locker = money in hand, or at will. Also shotbag = a purse ; shot-free = nothing to pay : also scotfree ; shot-clog = a simpleton, tolerated because he is willing to pay reckonings ; shot-flagon = ' the hosts' pot, given where the guests have drank above a shilling's-worth of ale' (Halliwell) : whence shot-pot = one entitled to the shot-flagon ; shot-ship = a company sharing and sharing alike ; shot-shark =a waiter.

1591. Greene, Notable Discovery [Works, x. 47]. There he bestowed cheare and ipocras vpon them, drinking hard til the shot came to a noble.

1595. Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen, iii. 5. I'll to the alehouse with you presently ; where for one shot of five pence, thou shalt have five thousand welcomes.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Pagare lo scotto, to paie the shot or reckoning.

1596. Jonson, Ev. Man in His Humour, v. 4. Where be then these shotsharks? Ibid. (1601), Poetaster, i. 1. A gull, a rook, a shot-clog, to make suppers and be laughed at.

1604. Dekker, Honest Whore [Works (1873), ii. 51]. A brace of guiles, dwelling here in the city, came in, and paid all the shot,

1605. Chapman, Jonson, &c, Eastward Hoe, i. i. Thou common shotClog, dupe of all companies.

..... Amende for Ladies, 51.

Drawer, take your plate. For the reckoning there's some of their cloaks : I will be no shot-clog to such.

1630. T. Adams, Fatal Banket [The

Title of the fourth part runs-] ' The

Shot, or the wofull price which the wicked pay for the Feast of Vanitie.'

1715. Centlivre, Gotham Election, iv. We give the treat, but they shall pay the shot.

1800. C. Lamb, Letter [to Coleridge, 6 Aug.]. I have the first volume, and truth to tell, six shillings is a broad shot.

1821. Scott, Kenilworth, xix. Are you to stand shot to all this good liquor.

1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle*s Log, ii. I have wherewithal in the locker to pay my shot.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1862), 74. He bolted away without paying his shot, And the Landlady after him hurried.

1847-8. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxvi. My wife shall travel like a lady. As long as there's a shot in the locker she shall want for nothing.

1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, 57. Depositing the ' tin ' in his shot-bag.

1851. Seaworthy, Bertie, 42. I'll al'ays do the fair thing, and stan' shot till we git to Edentown.

1863. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, xxxiv. Bring him some victual, landlord. I'll stand shot.

1880. Sims, Three Brass Balls, Pledge xv. It shall never want a friend while I've a shot in the locker.

3. (old).—A corpse.

4. (colloquial).—A guess ; also (5) = an attempt, a venture.

1844. Kinglake, Eothen, viii. 137. I secretly smiled at this last prophecy as a bad shot.

1854. WhyteMelville, General Bounce, xiii. But here we are at Tattersail's ; ... so now for good information, long odds, a safe man, and a shot at the favourite !

Shot. 195 Shoulder.

18 57. Bradley, Verdant Green, 11. xi. Without hazarding his success by making bad shots, he contented himself by answering those questions only on which he felt sure.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford. Yes, you would have said so ... if you had seen him trying to put Jack up behind. He made six shots.

1879. L. B. MiLFORD, Cousins, i. It turned out to be a bad shot.

1891. N. Gould, Double Event, 104. ' Won't you take a shot about Caloola, Mr. Marston? '

1900. Flynt, Tramps, 281. They had just returned from the hop-country, and their money was well poised for another shot at the growler.

Adv. (common).—Drunk : see Screwed. Also shot in the neck : see Shoot.

Verb (horse-copers').—To fake a horse : a dose of small shot gives a temporary appearance of soundwindedness.

To pay the shot, verb. phr. (venery). — To copulate : see Greens and Ride. Also see subs. i.

c. 1630. Broadside Ballad, ¹ The Jovial Companions' [Bagford Ball. (Brit. Mus.) i. 88.] He laid her on her Back, and paid her the shot Without ever a stiver of mony.

1635. Broadside Ballad, 'The Industrious Smith' [Rox. Ball. (Brit. Mus.), i. 159]. Old debts must be paid, O why should they not, The fellow went home to

PAY the Old shot.

Intj. (Royal High School, Edin.).—A cry of warning at the approach of a master.

Phrases. Like a shot = quickly, at full drive ; shot in the neck = drunk : see Screwed ;

shot in the tail (or giblets )

= got with child ; not by a long shot = hopelessly out of reckoning : whence a long shot = a bold attempt or large undertaking. Also see Shoot.

1853. Wh.-Melville, Digby Grand, x. An extremely abrupt conclusion . . . empties every bumper of blackstrap like a shot.

1886-96. Marshall, ' Pomes' [1897], 27. So Zippy went in for a long shot.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 21. Put us all square like a shot.

1897. Mitford, Romance of Cape Frontier, 1. i. Back I went like a shot.

Shot-clog. See Shot, subs. i.

Shot-Soup, subs. phr. (nautical). —Bad pea-soup.

Shotten-herring, subs. phr. (old).—A term of contempt : spec, a lean meagre fellow (Grose). Hence, shotten-souled = despicable.

1598. Shakspeare, /. Hen. IV. ii. 4. 142. If manhood, good manhood, be not forgot upon the face of the earth, then am I a shotten herring.

1614. Fletcher, Wit without Money, iii. 4. Upbraid me with your benefits, you pilchers, You shotten-soul'd, slight fellc 5.

1639. Optick Glosse of Humours, 27. His conceit is as lanck as a shotten herring.

1640. Nabbes, Bride, sig. G ii. Thou art a shotten herring. Jackalent Spanyard.

Shoulder, verb, (old coaching).— See quot. Hence shoulderstick = a passenger not on the way-bill : see Short-one and cf. Swallow.

1828. Jon. Bee, Picture of London, 33. Shouldering, among coachmen and guards, is that species of cheating their employers in which they take the fares and pocket them, generally of such passengers as they overtake on the road, or who come across the country to the main road, and are not put down in the way-bill.

1886. Athenœum, 16 Jan., 99, 1. Some amusing anecdotes of what was known as shouldering are here related. This generation requires to be informed that the expression meant in coaching days allowing more than the number the coach authorized to carry was to ride in or upon

Shoulder-clapper. 196

Shout.

it. Of course such a permission meant extra fees and payment to the coachman and guard, and was a direct fraud on the proprietors.

1888. Tristram {Eng. III. Mag., June, 623]. Shouldering in the tongue of coachmen and guards meant taking a fare not on the way-bill, and unknown to the proprietor.

A slip of the shoulder,

subs. phr. (old).—Seduction. See Cold Shoulder, Wheel.

Shoulder-clapper, subs. phr. (old).—A bailiff ; ' a member of the hold-fast club' (B. E. and Grose) ; shoulder-clapped = arrested.

1593. Shakspeare, Com. of Errors, iv. 2. a back-friend, a shoulder-clapper, one that countermandes The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands.

1604. Dekker and Webster, Westward Hoe, v. 3. What a profane varlet is this shoulder-clapper to lie thus upon my wife.

1611. Chapman, May-day, iv. 2. These . . . pewter-buttoned shoulderclappers.

1839. AiNSWORTH, /. Shepfiard

(1840), 22. ' The shoulder-clappers ! '

added a lady, who . . . substituted her husband's nether habiliments for her own petticoats.

1886. Sala [///. L. News, 19 June, 644]. I do know that a sheriff's officer used to be called a shoulder-clapper.

Shoulder-feast, sttbs. phr. (old). —A dinner given to bearers after a funeral (Grose).

Shoulder-hitter, subs. phr. (American).—A bully ; a rowdy : spec, a gambling tout.

1858. New York Tribune, 30 Sep. A band of shoulder-hitters and balletbox stuffers.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, 319. In the West a striker is not only a shoulder-hitter, as might be suspected, but a runner for gambling establishments, who must be as ready to strike down a complaining victim as to ensnare an unsuspecting stranger.

1874. -N. Y. Commercial Advertiser, 9 Sept. So long as substantial citizens choose to leave politics to shoulder hitters, rum-sellers and bummers of every degree, so long will they be robbed at every turn.

1886. Sala [///. L. News, 19 June, 644]. A certain variety of the New York rough is a shoulder-hitter.

Shoulder-knot, subs. phr. (common).—A footman.

Shoulder-of-mutton fist, subs, phr. (common).—A coarse, big, broad hand : in contempt.

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jaca, 17. Sold again, and to a gentleman with a shoulder-of-mutton fist, that has never been washed since he had it.

Shoulder-pegged, adj. (common). —Stiff-limbed.

Shoulder-sham, subs. phr. (B.E. 1696).—'A Partner to a File.'

Shout, subs, (formerly Australian : now general).—A turn in paying for a round of drinks. Hence as verb. = to stand treat ; shouting = a general invitation to drink ; to shout oneself hoarse = to get drunk. See Charter the Bar.

1859. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, xxxi. I shouted for him, and he for me, and at last I says, 'Butty,' says I, 'who are those chaps round here on the lay ? '

1S73. Braddon, Bitter End, xxxix. When the lucky digger was wont to shout—that is to say, pay the shot—for the refreshment of his comrades.

1881. Grant, Bush Life, 1. 243. He must drink a nobbier with Tom, and be prepared to shout for all hands at least once a day.

1889. Star, 3 Jan. Good-natured, hearty Welsh diggers thronged in, and were willing to shout for us as long as we would drink.

1900. NiSBET, Sheep's Clothing, 196. They shouted drinks for all who were present.

Shouting. 197 Shove-halfpenny.

Shouting. All over but shouting, phr. (common).—Said of anything obviously finished.

1891. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 20 Mar. At Barnes it was estimated that he had a lead of 150 yards, and at this point, reached in 19 min. 50 sec, it looked all over but shouting.

Shove, verb, (venery).—To copulate : see Greens and Ride ; as subs. = the act of kind. Also (of women) to get a shove in one's blind(or the bull's-) eye. Shove-straight (or Shove-devil) = the penis: see Prick.

i6[?]. Old Ballad, 'King Edward and Jane Shore' [Durfey, Pills (1707) iii. 20]. Joan could make them groan that ardently did love her, But Jane Shore . . . King Edward he did shove her.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. xi. His governesses . . . would very pleasantly pass their time in taking you know what between their fingers . . . One . . . would call it her roger . . . lusty live sausage,

shove-DEVtL, &C.

1707. Ward, Hud. Rediv. 11. ii. 21. If Holy Sister, wanting Grace, By Chance supplies a Harlot's Place, And takes a kind refreshing shove Upon the Bed of lawless Love.

Phrases. To shove for (or to be on the shove) = to move, to try for ; to shove the moon = to remove secretly, by night : see Moon ; to shove the tumbler = ' to be whipped at the cart's tail' (B. E. and Grose) ; a shove in the mouth = a dram (Grose) ; to shove the queer = to pass bad money ; a shove in the eye = a punch in the eye : generic ; to give the shove = to send packing ; to get the shove = to be dismissed : see Bag.

1708. Hall, Memoirs, 15. Those cast for Petit-larceny shove the tumbler.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. iii. I vish'd to be a little curl to Dirty Suke, ... so I gov'd her a shove in the mouth.

1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford(1854), 9. ' Tom Zobyson is a good-for-naught,' returned the dame, and deserves to shove the tumbler ; but, oh, my child be not too venturesome in taking up the sticks for a blowen.

1884. Clemens, Huck. Finn., xxxviii. So Jim he was sorry, and said he wouldn't behave so no more, and then me and Tom shoved for bed.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 50. There is always some fun afoot there, as will keep a chap fair on the shove.

1899. Whiteing, JohnSt., iv. Mind your own bloomin' business, or I'll give yer a shove in the eye. Ibid. x. Did you get the shove to-day ? Ibid. xxi. If it wain't ready, he give the shove to the 'ole shoot.

Shove-halfpenny (also Shove[or Shovel-] board, Shovegroat, Slide-groat, Slidethrift, or Push-penny), subs, phr.—A gambling game, played on a table on which transverse lines have been drawn rather more than the width of a halfpenny apart. The play consists in sending a halfpenny by a smart stroke of the palm from the end of the table so as to make it rest in the compartments formed by the lines. [Ed. VI. shillings, as being smooth and easily pushed, were much in vogue as counters.]

1528. Stanihurst, Chron. of Ireland. When the lieutenant and he for their desporte wereplaieing at slidegrote or shoofleboard.

1596. Jonson, Ev. Man in His Humour, iii. 2. Made it run as smooth off the tongue as a shove-groat shilling.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV., ii. 4, 206. Quoit him down, Bardolph, like a shove-groat shilling.

1630. Taylor, Travels of Twelvepence [Nares]. With me [a shilling of Ed. VI.] the unthrifts every day, With my face downward, do at shove-board play.

Shovel.

198

Show.

1801. Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, 16. The game of shovelboard, though now considered as exceedingly vulgar, and practised by the lower classes of the people, was formerly in great repute amongst the nobility and gentry ; and few of their mansions were without a shovel-board.

1841. Punch, i. 232. The favourite game of shove-halfpenny was kept up till a late hour, when the party broke up highly delighted.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., i. 14. Shove-halkpenny is another game played by them [costermongers].

Shovel, subs, (common).—A hat, broad-brimmed, turned up at the sides, and scooped in front, as worn by deans and bishops of the Established Church : alsoSHOVELhat. Whence shovel-hatted.

1833-4. Carlyle, Sartor Resartus, iii. 6. Whereas the English Jonson only bowed to every clergyman, or man with a shovel-hat, I would bow to any man with any sort of hat, or with no hat whatever.

1845. Thackekay, Cornhill to Cairo, ii. The mitred bishops, the bigwigged marshals, the shovel-hatted abbés which they have borne. Ibid. (1855), Newcomes, xxvi. She was a good woman of business, and managed the hat-shop for nine years . . . My uncle, the Bishop, had his shovels there.

1849. Bronte, Shirley, xvi. Looming large in full canonicals, walking as became a beneficed priest, under the canopy of a shovel hat.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, xi. 2. The profession of this gentleman's companion was unmistakeable—the shovelhat, the clerical cut of the coat, the neckcloth, without collar.

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, i. 2. A queer old hat, something like a doctor of divinity's shovel.

1864. Alford, Queen's English, 222. I once heard a venerable dignitary pointed out by a railway porter as ' an old party in a shovel.'

1871. Parodies, lxxxi. 297. Now

about the same time the people of England were at loggerheads with the shovelhatted gentry that infest the upper house of St. Stephen's.

2. (common).—Ahansom-cab: see Shoful.

3. (nautical). — An ignorant marine engineer.

18 [?]. Engineer [Century], In the early days after the Crimea war, the engineers in the Navy were a rough lot. They were good men but without much education. They were technically known

as shovels.

Phrases. Put to bed with a shovel (or spade) = buried (Grose) ; ' He was fed with a shovel (or fire-shovel) = a jeer at a large mouth ' (Grose) ; ' That's before you bought your shovel ' =¹ You are too previous,' ' That's up against you,' ' That settles your hash.'

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, ' Hundren Stretches,' 3. With shovels they were put to bed A hundred stretches since.

Shover, subs, (thieves').—One who utters base money ; a smasher {q.v.); a sour-planter (q.v.) : also shover of the queer.

1871. Figaro, 20 Feb. He established a saloon in New York which became the headquarters of all the counterfeiters and shovers of the queer in the country.

Shove-up,phr. (old).—' Nothing' Vaux (1812).

Show, subs, (colloquial).—1. An entertainment; a spectacle (as the Lord Mayor's show) ; (2) one's business : cf. shop ; and (3) a piece of work. Also show-box (theatrical) = a theatre.

1530. Tyndale, Works [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 427. He loves shew as a synonym for appearance and spectacle].

1588-93. Tarleton,/«/j (1844), 71. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 12. The noun shew . . . means a pageant.

1592. Shakspeare, Mids. Night's Dream. The actors are at hand and by their show You shall know all that you are like to know.

1613. Drayton, Poly-Olbion, xv. By this, the wedding ends, and brake up all the show.

Show. 199 Show.

1811. Moore, Tom Crib, 27. One of Georgy's bright ogles was put On the bankruptcy list, with its shop-windows shut ; While the other soon made quite as tag-rag a show.

1886. Besant, Children of Gibeon, i. vi. We ain't a show. Lotty ain't a clown ; I ain't a jumping-horse.

1888. Haggard, Mr. Meeson's Will [Til. Lon. News, Summer No., 28, 3]. Mr. John Short . . . asked him the same question, explaining that their presence was necessary to the show.

1891. Newman, Scamping Tricks, 65. I would have stopped the show.

1892. Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads, 'The Widow's Party.' What was the end of all the show, Johnnie, Johnnie ?

1899. Whiteing, John St., xx. When the show was shut, I . . . sits down to my toke and pipe.

1900. Free Lance, 6 Oct., 20, 2. There goes Amy Lester . . . Just closed with ' The Face in the Lamplight.' That's the third show she's queered this season.

4. (colloquial).—A chance ; a turn ; an opportunity.

c. 1537-50. Robin Conscience [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poetry, iii. 239]. Bvt and I Hue another yeer, I will haue a better showe ; I will not goe thvs slvttishly, I trowe.

1886. Besant, Children of Gibeon, il. xiv. Many young men are ardently desirous of distinction or even notoriety ; they will stoop to tomfool tricks if they cannot get a show by any other way.

1887. Our American Cousins, 267. Do you think there's any—any—any show for me ?

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xii. If I could only have got his show three turns nightly at fifteen pounds a turn !

1896. Lillard, Poker Stories, 147. They told the management to trot out his wicker demijohn and give the sagebrushers a show.

1901. Troddles and Us, 11. You stick yourself down in the only decent chair . . . you don't give a fellow a show.

3. (women's : conventional).— The first signs of periodicity or parturition.

Phrases and Colloquialisms.

—to show away (or off) = to

give oneself airs : hence showing off = making the most of oneself ; to show a leg (nautical) = (i) to turn out ; and (2) see Leg ; to show up = ( i ) to make an appearance (also to show oneself), and (2) to expose : also as subs. in both senses ; to show the door (or the outside of the door) = to dismiss without ceremony ; to boss the show = to manage ; to show one London = (school) to hold one by the heels upside down ; to see London = to hang by the heels : as from a rail, trapeze ; to give the show away = to blab ; &c. Also see Agility ; Cold Shoulder ; Elephant; Heels; Leg ; Teeth ; Water ; White Feather.

1554. Tytler, Ed. VI. [Oliphant New Eng. 1. 538. Charles V. shows himself at a feast].

. . . . T. Hall, Genuine Letters, 11. 45. Never give yourself airs : never press to shew away as they call it.

1809. Malkin, Gil. Bias. [Routledge], 12. I boarded her [a kitchenmaid] with so little circumspection that Don Rodrigo . . . twitted me with my low taste ; and . . . showed the goddess of my devotions the outside of the door.

1811. Hawkins, Countess and Gertrude [Oliphant, New Eng. ii. 204. Certain phrases are marked to show that they are new ; as . . . shew himself (at a party).]

1819. Moore, Ton Crib, 26. . . . Could old Nap himself, in his glory, have wish'd To show up a fat Gemman more handsomely dish'd ?

1830. Jon. Bee, Samuel Foote, Ixxix. How far he was justified in showing up his friend Macklin may admit of question.

1848. Thackerav, Snobs, xi. Instead of showing up the parsons, are we indulging in maudlin praises of that monstrous black-coated race.

Shower.

200

Shrimp.

1870. Huxley, Lay Sermons, 30. It would be unprofitable to spend more time ... in shewing up the knots in the ravelled skeins of our neighbours.

1883. Black, Yolande, i. Don't you think it prudent of me to show up as often as I can in the House ... so that my good friends in Slagpool mayn't begin to grumble about my being away so frequently ?

1886. Times, 29 Mar. Certain persons in high stations of life would be shown up.

1891. Stevenson, Kidnapped, 287. Both got upon their knees to her ; and the upshot of the matter was that she showed both of them the door.

1899. Whiteing, John St., vi. She wants yer to show up at a sort o' bun struggle in 'er room.

1899. Delannoy, £iq,ooo, xxx. I didn't want to give the show away.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, i. I'm all right, if I show up at eleven. Ibid., Looks as if he could show up well in ... Le Sport.

Shower, subs, (colloquial). — A shower-bath.

1889. Answers, 9 Feb. After lunch comes the heavy work of the day. The crew assemble at the boathouse, and after going through exercise in a pair-oared boat, they carry out the eight. Returning to dinner after the refreshing ' shower,' they have a good, plain repast.

Showing. A front showing, subs. phr. (military).—Parade at short notice : i.e. without time to properly prepare accoutrements and kit.

Showman, subs, (theatrical).—&v quot.

1885. G. Dolby, Dickens as I knew Him, 125. The showmen, as the managers of the theatres and caterers for public amusements are popularly termed.

Show-Sunday, subs. phr. (various).—Among the commonalty = Easter Sunday, when if you don't wear something new, ' the rooks will shit on you ' ; at Oxford, the Sunday in Commemoration Week (a kind of University Parade

took place in the Broad Walk of Christ's, but the invasion of Town has stopped it) ; amongst artists, &c., the Sunday before sending-in day, when the studios are open to visitors and friends.

Shreds (or Shreds and Patches), subs. (old).—A tailor : see Snip (B. E. and Grose).

Shrieking (or Whining) Sisterhood, subs. phr. (journalistic).— The world of women reformers : hence, busybodies.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 208. Yesterday Ambrose stumbled upon one of our whining sisterhood.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 20. This yere shrieking sisterhood lay ain't 'arf bad.

Shrimp, subs. (old). — i. A drawf ; a pigmy : in contempt (Grose).

1383. Chaucer, Monk's Tale, Prol., 67. We borel men been shrympes ; of fielde trees ther comen wrecched ympes.

1582. _ Stanyhurst, AZneis [Arber], 89. À windbeaten hard shrimp, With lanck wan visadge, with rags iags patcherye clowted.

1623. Shakspeare, i Henry VI., 11. 3, 23. It cannot be, this weake and writhled shrimpe Should strike such terror to his enemies.

1772. Garrick, Irish Widow, i. iWhit. Why, your wife is five feet ten ! Kec. Without her shoes. I hate your little shrimps.

1786. Burns, Jolly Beggars. Despise that shrimp, that wither'd imp.

1840. Barham, Ingolds. Leg. (Aunt Fanny). And all for a shrimp not as high as my hat—A little contemptible shaver like that ! !

1888. Referee, 11 Nov. Other nippers —little shrimps of boys.

2. (old).—A prostitute : see Tart.

1638. Whiting, Albino andBellama, 52. Vat tough me vil not lye vit pimpes, And pend me's coyne on light-teale shrimpes.

Shrubbery. 201 Shut.

Shrubbery, sues, (venery).—The pubic hair : see Bush.

Shuck, subs. (American).—The lowest standard of value ; spec, the paper currency of the Confederate States. [At the close of the Civil War these notes became as valueless as pea-SHUCKs]. Hence, less than shuck = less than nothing ; to care (or be worth) not a shuck = to care (or be worth) little ; shuckless = worthless ; Shucks ! = Nonsense : a contemptuous denial or refusal.

Verb. (American). — To undress ; to peel (q.v.).

1847. Robb, Squatter Life [Bartlett]. If them thar is all he's got to offer, he ain't worth shucks ; and, if you don't lick him you ain't worth shucks either.

1847. Dar ley, Drama in Pokerville, 68. Mr. Bagly was there with five more barrels [revolver] to do the same for any gentleman who might say ' shucks ! '

1848. Jones, Sketches of Travel, 117. I shucked out of my old clothes, and got into my new ones.

1850. Longstreet, Southern Sketches, 31. He'd get mad as all wrath . . . and the first thing you know'd, he'd shuck off his coat to fight.

c.1852. Traits of Amer. Humour, 56. Arch he hopped down off n his ole hoss, an' commenced shuckin' hisself fur er fight.

1856. Major Jones's Courtship, 48. One great, big, yellow cow, what wasn't worth shucks to trail.

1888. Detroit Free Press, S Dec. Did you ever see a family which amounted to shucks which didn't keep a dog? Ibid., 29 Dec. Might hev bin the biggest lawyer or doctor or preacher in these Yunited Staits if he hadn't bin so slashin' shuckless.

Shuffle, verb. (Grose).—i. 'To make use of false pretences or unfair shifts.' Shuffling-fellow (B. E. and Grose) = ' A slippery, shiteing Fellow.'

2. (Winchester).—To pretend ; to feign : as to shuffle sleep. Hence shuffler.

Shum, subs. (American Circus).— In pi. = money : see Rhino.

Shunter, subs. (Stock Exchange). —See quot.

1871. Atkin, House Scraps, . . . Shunter . . . one who buys or sells stocks on the chance of undoing his business, on one of the provincial Stock Exchanges, at a profit.

Shurk, subs. (old).—A sharper (B. E.).

Shut. To shut up, verb. phr. (old : now vulgar). — To hold one's tongue ; to compel silence ; to dry up (q.v.). Also shut your neck (mouth, head, or

face ; Shut-up ! or Shut it !) : Fr. ferme ta boîte. Hence, to be shut up = to be silenced, exhausted, or done for.

1563. Foxe, Acts and Monuments [Cattlev], viii. 216. I have shut up your lips with your own book.

c. 1570. Gascoigne, Poems [Chalmers, Eng. Poets, ii. 571]. Beautie shut up thy shop [mouth].

1605. Shakspeare, Lear, v. 3, 155. Shut your mouth, dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it?

1614. Jonson, Bartholomeiu Fair, v. 3. Hold thy peace, thy scurrility, shut up thy mouth.

1856. Stowe, Dred., 1. 312. This is the Lord's ground here ; so shut up your swearing, and don't fight.

1857. Dickens, Little Dorrit, i, 13. It shuts them up ! They haven't a word to answer.

1858. Mursell, Lecture on Slang. When a man speaks, he spouts ; when he holds his peace, he shuts up.

1865. Fun, 29 July, ' English Undefiled." I sigh, " Carina ! how I suffer ; Be thou my Juliet ! Be my queen !" She only says, " Shut up, you duffer ! "

Shut.

202 Shuttle-head.

1877. Jowett, Plato, in. 6. A mere child in argument, and unable to foresee that the next "move" (to use a Platonic expression) will shut him up.

1886-96. Marshall, Pomes [1897], 54. Oh, shut it ! Close your mouth until I tell you when.

1888. Runciman, Chequers, 80. Shet your neck.

1892. Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads, 'The Young British Soldier.' You shut up your rag-box, an' 'ark to my lay.

1895. Pocock, Rules of the Game, 1. "Shut your mouth," he said, " or I'll knife you 1

1896. Crane, Maggie, ix. ' Shet yer face, an' come home yeh old fool ! ' roared Jimmie.

1807. Maugham, Liza of Lambeth, V. Shut it ! she answered, cruelly. Ibid., xi. "Shut up!" said Jim. ... "I shan't shut up."

1901. Troddles and Us, 75. Murray's pleasantry struck us as being untimely, and we told him to shut up.

2. verb, (racing).—See quot.

..... Krik, Guide to the Turf To

shut up . . . to give up, as one horse when challenged by another in a race.

To be shut of, verb. phr. (once literary : now vulgar).—To be rid of, freed from, quit of. As subs. (Halliwell) = a riddance.

1596. Nashe, Haue with You, To the Reader. And doo what I can, I shall not be shut of him.

1639. Massinger, Unnatural Combat, iii. i. We are shut of him, He will be seen no more here.

1639. Shirley, Maids Revenge, ii. 2. We'll bring him out of doors—Would we were shut of him.

rf.1704. L'Estrange [Bartlett]. We must not pray in one breath to find a thief, and in the next to get shut of him.

1847. Chronicles of Pineville, 34. Never mind, doctor, we'll get shut of him.

1848. Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, v. And as for a bad man, one's glad enough to get shut on him.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, ii. Father was one of those people that gets shut of a deal of trouble in this world by always sticking to one thing.

1891. Stevenson, Kidnapped, 96. What we want is to be shut of him.

1896. Kipling, The Big Drunk Draf. I never knew how I liked the gray garron till I was shut of him an' Asia.

Shuts, subs. (Christ's Hospital).— A hoax, a sell [q.v.). As intj. = ' Sold again ! '

Shutters. To put up the

shutters, verb. phr. (pugilists'). —i. To 'bung up' an opponent's eyes.

2. (common). — To announce oneself a bankrupt ; to stop payment.

Shutter-racket, subs. phr. (old). —' The practice of robbing houses or shops, by boring a hole in the window shutters and taking out a pane of glass ' (Grose and Vaux).

Shuttle-bag. To swallow the shuttle-b\g, verb. phr. (provincial).—To get husky.

Shuttle-head (-brain, or -wit),

subs. phr. (old).—An eccentric ; a scatterling. Whence shuttleheaded, &c. = flighty, scatterbrained ; shuttleness = rashness, thoughtlessness. Also shittle-head, &c.

c.1440. Paston Letters, 1. 69. I am aferd that Jon of Sparham is . . . schyttl-wytted.

1564. Udall, Erasmus, 341. Metellus was so shuttle-brained that even in themiddes of his tribuneship he left his office in Rome.

1580. Baket, Alvearie[Halliwell]. The vain shittlenesse of an unconstant head.

1590. Greene, Quip for Upstart Courtier [Harl. Misc., v. 417]. Upstart boies, and shittle-witted fools.

Shy. 203 Shy.

d.1601. Nash, Tom Nash his Ghost [Old Book Coll. Misc.]. I would wish these shuttle-heads that desire to take in the embers of rebellion, to give over blowing the coals too much.

1625-49. MS. Poem [Halliwell : temp. Chas. I.]. Nor can you deem them shuttle-headed fellows Who for the Lord are so exceeding zealous.

1639-61. Rump Songs (1662), i. 7. Is it not strange that in their shuttle-head three Kingdoms ruines should be buried?

rf.1894. Stevenson, Olalla. I wondered what had called forth in a lad so shuttle-witted this enduring sense of duty.

Shy, subs, (colloquial).—Generic for a piece of action : as a throw, a chance, an attempt, a jibe. As verb. = to do, to make, to throw, and all other verbs of action (Grose and Bee).

1824. Egan, Boxiana, iv. 149. I like to have a shy for my money.

1827. Scott, Diary, 26 Mar. I cannot keep up with the world without shying a letter now and then.

1849-50. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxxv. I went with my last ten florin and had a shy at the roulette. Ibid. (1854-5), Newcomes, xvi. There you go, Polly, you're always having a shy at Lady Anne . . . ' A shy ! how can you use such vulgar words.'

1847. Robb, Squatter Life [Bartlett]. Just to make matters lively, I . . . shied a few soft things at her.

1857. Reade, Never Too Late, xv. He . . . shied the pieces of glass carefully over the wall.

1859. Lever, Davenport Dunn, xx. Though the world does take liberties with the good-tempered fellows, it shies them many a stray favour.

1863-4. Chambers, Book of Days, 1. 238. Where the cock belonged to some one disposed to make it a matter of business, twopence was paid for three shies at it, the missile used being a broomstick.

1885. D. Telegraph, 17 Sep. With a grievous ' clod ' in his hand to shy at it.

1888. Black, Far Lochaber, vi. He has an abject fear of cats . . . and if he can shy a stone at one when it doesn't see him, that is delight.

1889. Norris, Miss Shafto, viii. An honest man has a much better chance on the turf than he has in the City . . . I've had a shy at both.

Adj., adv. and verb, (colloquial).—i. Missing, hard to find : whence shycock = 'one who keeps within doors for fear of bailiffs' (Grose). Hence (2) = ' coy, squeamish, cold, or averse' (B. E. and Grose). Cf. verb. Also (3) of dubious repute or character. As verb, (in quot. 1796 = a wary man) ; to fight shy of = to keep out of the way, to abstain.

1796. Reynolds, Fortune's Fool, v. The members rose, lock'd the door, and call'd me a shycock.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 311. We have all our weak side . . . does he wench? . . . Do not fight shy I beseech you. Ibid (1771), Humph. Clinker (1900), 78. The doctor being a shy cock would not be caught with chaff.

1821. Haggart, Life, 30. Although I had not been idle during these three months, I found my blunt getting shy.

1825. Jones, True Bottom'd Boxer [Univ. Songst. ii. 96]. You shy-cocks, he shows 'em no favour, 'od rot 'em all.

1826. Old Song, ' Bobby and His Mary' [Univ. Songst. iii. 108]. The blunt ran shy, and Bobby brush'd, To get more rag not fearing.

1840. Barham, Ingolds. Legends (Old Woman Clothed in Grey). That all who espied her, Immediately shied her, And strove to get out of her way.

1841. Lever, Charles O'Malley, lxxix. His friends shy him.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxv. Mr. Wagg . . . said, ' Rather a shy place for a sucking county member, ay, Pynsent? ' Ibid.^ (i860), Philip, xix. The dinner, I own, is shy unless I come and dine with my friends ; and then I make up for banyan days.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab. iii. 136. They bring 'em out, when business is shy, for a draw, which they always find them answer.

Shyster.

204

Sick.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, xiii. If ' Sennacherib ' breaks down, and Blanche Kettering fights shy, . . . have I not still got something to fall back upon ?

i860. Dickens, Uncommercial Traveller, x. 60. Nothing in shy neighbourhoods perplexes my mind more than the bad company birds keep.

1864. H. J. Byron, Paid in Full, v. Hadn't shy turf-transactions been more than hinted at.

1865. Glasgow Herald, 23 Sept. The guests shy all European topics.

1870. D. Telegraph, 7 Feb. The reader who wades through the rather hopeful jungle of the title-page, will certainly shy at Mr. Beste's preface.

Shyster, subs. (American).—t. See quot. 1859. 2. (common) = a swindler, duffer, or vagabond : a generic term (1903) of contempt.

1857. New York Tribune, 13 Mar. The shysters or Tombs lawyers . . . sought to intercede for their clients ; but the magistrates would listen to no appeals.

1859. Bartlett, A mericanism (1896), 590, s.v. Shyster, a set of men who hang about the police courts of New York and other large cities, and practise in them as lawyers, but who in many cases have never been admitted to the bar. They are men who have served as policemen, turnkeys, sheriff s officers, or in any capacity by which they have become familiar with criminals and criminal courts.

1864. D. Telegraph, 26 July. Shyster who goes to bed in his boots.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, . . . This is the shyster . . . Ill-reputed men [who] offer their services to the new-comer, compel him to pay a fee in advance, and then—do nothing. On the contrary, they fight shy of him, and hence they have obtained their name.

1877. Mark, Green Past., xli. They held aloof from ordinary society—looked on a prominent civic official as a mere shyster—and would have nothing to do with a system of local government controlled by 30,000 bummers, loafers, and dead-beats.

1882. McCade, New York, xxv. 4178. If the prisoner has no money, the shyster will take his pay out in any kind of personal property that can be pawned or sold.

1902. Booth by, Uncle Joe's Legacy, 98. The shyster lawyer, the bigamist Henry Druford, and last but not least . . . the company promoter.

Sice, subs. (Old Cant).—Sixpence: see Rhino (B. e. and Grose).

1672. Covent Garden Drollery, ' Greenwich Strowlers.' The prizes they took, were a Londoner's groat, A Gentleman's sice, but his skipkennel's pot.

1688. Shadwell, Squire of A Isatia. [In list of cant words.]

1704. Brown, Works, ii. 266. Some pretty nymphs . . . but are sometimes forced to tick half a sice a-piece for their watering.

1707. Ward, Hud. Rediv., 11. iii. 27. For who'd not readily advance A sice to see the Devil dance.

1840. Lytton, Paul Clifford, iii. As Mrs. Lobkins expressed it, two bobs for the Latin, and a sice for the vartue !

SlCK, adj. (colloquial). — In its primary, extended, and old literary sense (as in the Bible and Shakspeare), sick (= disabled by disease or bad health) now borders on the colloquial, having been superseded by "ill," whilst sick is confined to vomiting or nausea. There are also exceptional usages. Thus sick ( = muddy) wine ; sick ( = stale) fish ; a sick hand (at cards, esp. whist = without trumps) ; a sick ( = pale) look ; a sick ( = ruffled) temper, &c. Also, ' It makes me sick (or gives me the sick) ' = ' I am disgusted with it ' ; sick as a horse (dog, rat, cat, cushion, or what not) = sick as may be (Grose) ; sick

of the idles (the lombard fever, or the idle crick and the belly work in the heel,

Ray) = ' a pretence to be idle upon no apparent cause ' ; to

speak in the sick tune = to

affect sickness ; sickly (adv.) — untoward or disgusting ; sickrel

Sickener.

205

Side.

(B. E.) = ' a puny, sickly Creature.' Also (American) = lacking, in need of : as paint-siCK, nail-

sick : cf. home-sick, mothersick, sleep-sick, &c. Likewise (venery) sitting up with a sick friend = an excuse for marital absence all night.

1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, iii. 4, 44. Why, how now? Do you speak in the sick tune?

1626. Sylvester, Du Bartas, 1. 7. Such a sleep-sick Elf.

1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, ii. 3. I swear you'd make one sick to hear you.

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conv., i. Poor Miss, she's sick as a cushion, she wants nothing but stuffing.

1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vu. ii. I am sick as a horse, quoth I, already.

1870. Medbery, Men and Mysteries of Wall St. [Bartlett]. _ When brokers hesitate to buy there is said to be a sick

market.

1888. D. News, 4 Dec. When the barrel came to his place from Burton it was in a very dull condition, and was what was known as sick.

1889. RiALTO, 23 Mar. Even Kaffirs raised their sickly heads.

1867. Harper's Weekly, xxxiv. 554. My boats kinder giv' out. She ain't nothin' mor'n nail-sick, though.

1893. E. S. Sheppard, Counterparts, Intro. The Shelley [a boat], she lays down at it, sick of paint.

1895. Pocock, Rules of the Gaine, i. I've quit reading lest I should find myself in print. Makes me sick.

1897. Maugham, 'Liza of Lambeth,

i. It gives me the sick.

1900. Kipling, Stalky and Co., 25. Keep your eye on King, and, if he gives us a chance, appeal to the Head. That always makes 'em sick.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xxxiv. You make me sick with your silly fears.

Sickener, subs, (common).—Too much (even of a good thing) ; a cause of disgust. Cf. Bellyful.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 180. Enough to have given a sickener to the inveterate stomachs of a regiment.

1818. Egan, Boxiana, 1. 267. Ward's friends were now in high spirits, and the betting went forwards, as it was thought that Dan had received rather a sickener.

1827. Peake, Comfortable Lodgings,

i. 2. I took a favourable opportunity to insult him : this morning I gave him a sic kener.

1884. Russell, Jack's Courtship, xxxii. But sometimes you will get a dreary sickener betwixt the Channel and the parallel where the steady breeze is picked up.

1889. Stevenson, Master of Ballantrae, ii. It was plain this lucky shot had given them a sickener of their trade.

Side, subs, (common).—Swagger (q.v.)', conceit: thus, to put on siDE = to 'give oneself airs' : Fr. se hancher.

1878. Hatton, Cruel London, vm.

ii. Cool, downy cove, who puts side on.

1880. Payn, Confid. Agent, xi. The captain sauntered up the mews, with a good deal of side on, which became a positive swagger as he emerged into the more fashionable street.

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, xiii. He has proved a most apt pupil in the acquisition of what, in the slang of the day, is denominated side, which, translated into dictionary language, meaneth the conceit of the young.

1886-96. Marshall, Pomes [1897], 10. I'd no notion he be coming it with such a lot of side.

1895. Iota, Comedy in Spasms, i. Rugby boy, lately back from a seven years residence in England,—the possessor of unimpaired health, abounding side, but limited sentiment.

1901. Sp. Times, 27 April, 1, 4. Her belief that she moves in a ' classy ' set, And the side ... all are due to being badly bred.

Intj. (North Country).—Yes !

See Blanket ; Best side ; Blind side; Jack; Mouth; Pull ; Right side ; Seamy ; Set; Shady; Shinny; Split; Wrong side.

Sideboard.

206

Sight.

Sideboard, subs, (obsolete).—1. A shirt-collar of the 'stand-up' order. Also (2) in = whiskers, side-wings, gills (q.V.).

Side-pocket, subs. phr. (American).—An out-of-the-way drinking saloon.

Wanted as much as a dog (or a toad) wants a sidepocket, phr. (old).—'A simile used for one who desires anything by no means necessary' (Grose). See also Wife.

Side-sim, subs. phr. (old).—A fool : see Buffle.

1612. Passenger of Benevenuto [NaresJ. Reach me that platter there, you side simme. This fellow the higher hee is in stature the more foole he grows.

Side-slip, subs. phr. (common).— bastard ; a bye-blow (q.v.)

1872. Eliot, Middlemarch, xl. The old man . . . left it to this side-slip of a son that he kept in the dark.

Side-splitter, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A funny story. Hence, side-splitting = 'screamingly'

1893. MiLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 36. Side splitters, spice, and the like.

Sidetrack, verb. (American).—To shunt (q.v.) ; to avoid ; to place on one side ; to discontinue.

1889. Det. Free Press, 12 Jan. Then he said to Beverly, who had been sidetracked : ' Now I'll be Tucker for a while, and you can be Tucker's brother.'

1892. Gunter, Miss Dividends, vi. Call me Buck! side-track the 'Mr. Powers ' !

Side-winder, subs. phr. (pugilistic).—A heavy blow with the fist : also sidewipe.

1850. Southern Sketches [Bartlett]. Arch would fetch him a side-wipe on the head, and knock him into the middle of next week.

Sidledywry,adj. (old).—Crooked (Grose).

Sidney-bird. See Sydney sider.

Siege, subs, (old colloquial).—1. Excrement ; faecal matter ; (2) a jakes ; and (3) defecation : as verb. = to stool (B. E., 1696).

1548. Barclay, Eclogues [Cunningham]. For sure the lord's siege and the rural man's Is of like savour.

1603. Jonson, Sejanus, i. 2. I do not ask you of their urines, Whose smell's most violet, or whose siege is best, Or who makes hardest faces on her stool.

1609. Shakspeare, Tempest, ii. 2. How cam'st thou to be in the siege of this mooncalf? Can he vent Trinculos.

1646. Browne, Vulgar Errors. It accompanieth the unconvertible part in the

SIEGE.

Sieve, subs. (old).—A loose-spoken person; a blab (q.v.) : cf. 'As well pour water into a sieve as tell him ' (Ray).

d.1701. Dryden, Mock Astrologer, i. i. Why then, as you are a waiting-woman, as you are the sieve of all your lady's secrets, tell it me.

SlFT, verb, (thieves').—To embezzle small coins : such as might pass through a sieve.

Sifter, subs. (American).—A drink composed of whiskey, honey, strawberry-syrup, lemon, and ice.

Sight, subs. (colloquial). — i. Generic for magnitude (that is, something worth looking at) : thus a sight of people = a multitude ; a sight of work = untiring industry or ' enough and to spare ' ; a sight of money = a large amount (Bee). Hence, out of sight = unrivalled, beyond comparison ; a smart (pretty, precious, powerful, &c.) sight = a great deal; a sight for sore eyes = something to please : also in sarcasm.

Sight,

207

Sight.

1393. Gower, Conf. A mantis (Pauli, i. i2t). A wonder sight of flowers.

1440-50. Plumpton Papers [Olihant, New En?., i. 268. There are the nouns karving knyves ; a sight (number) of people . . .].

c.14 [?]. [Marsh, Eng. Lang., 1. viii. Juliana Berners, lady prioress of the nunnerv of Sopwell in the fifteenth century, informs us that in her time ' a bomynable syght of monkes ' was elegant English for a large company of friars].

1534. Tyndale, Bible, Heb. xii. 22. Ye are come vnto the Mounte Sion . . . and to an innumerable sight of angels.

1540. Palsgrave, Acolastus. Where is so great a strength of money, Where is so huge a syght of mony.

1848. Carleton, New Purchase, it. 74. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I'd a powerful sight sooner go into retiracy . . . nor consent to that bill.

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, 11. vii. It's a precious sight harder than I thought.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, iii. This 'ere Dartmoor is a blessed sight better than Chatham, I can tell you.

1888. Owosso (Mich.) Press, April. Doctor, I'm a dead man ! . . . Not by a blankety blank blank sight.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 14. That beats any sermon a sight.

1899. Marsh, Crime and Criminal, xxiii. He was a sight for sore eyes . . . I like to see a man that is a man.

2. (colloquial). — An opportunity ; a chance ; a show (q.v. ). To get within sight = to near the end.

3. (colloquial).—An oddity ; a scarecrow : also contemptuously, ' Her new jacket was a perfect sight,' or ' You've made yourself a regular sight ' = 'Not fit to be seen.'

1694. Penn, Rise . . . 0/ Quakers, ii. It was not very easy to our primitive friends to make themselves sights and spectacles, and the scorn and derision of the world.

4. (American).—As far as can be seen at one time, as the reach of a river, or a bend in a road : thus, in directing a person, * Go three sights on, and take,' &c.

Also a look.

5. (common). —A gesture of derision : the thumb on the nose-tip and the fingers spread fan-wise : also Queen Anne's Fan. A double sight is made by joining the tip of the little finger (already in position) to the thumb of the other hand, the fingers being similarly extended. Emphasis is given by moving the fingers of both hands as if playing a piano. Similar actions are taking a grinder (q.v.) or working the

coffee-mill (q.V.); pulling bacon (q.v.); making a nose (or long nose) ; cocking snooks, &c.

1702. Eng. Theophrastus, ' Frontispiece.' [Truth stripping a fine lady of her false decorations, with one hand removes a painted mask, and with the other pulls away her "borrowed" hair and headdress, showing an ugly face, and a head as round and smooth as a bullet. Below there are four little satyrs, one of whom is taking a single sight, or making " a nose " at the lady ; whilst a second is taking a double sight, or "long nose," towards the spectator.—N. &*Q., 5 S., iii. 298.]

1712. Spectator, 354. The 'prentice speaks his disrespect by an extended finger, and the porter by stealing out his tongue.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, ' Nell Cook.' He put his thumb unto his nose and spread his fingers out.

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, xxxviii. Even Mr. Chuckster would sometimes condescend to give him a slight nod, or to honour him with that peculiar form of recognition which is called taking a sight.

1871. Morning Advertiser, 11 Sept. The fame of mighty Nelson shall not with his compare, Who . . . thrusts his tongue into his cheek, and takes a sight at Death.

Sign.

208

Silk.

1875. Notes and Queries, 5 S., iii. 298. Taking a sight.—Pictorial illustrations of this gesture prior to the time of the Georges, are, I believe, not very common.

1S86. Household Words, 2 Oct. 453. [This] peculiar action has, I believe, almost invariably been described as taking a sight. A solicitor, however, in a recent police case at Manchester, described it as pulling bacon.

To put out of sight, verb, phr. (common).—To eat; to consume.

Sign. Here may be arranged two or three obsolete colloquialisms—

sign of a house to let = a

widow's weeds (Grose) ; the sign of the feathers = a woman's best good graces ; at the sign of the horn = in cuckoldom ; the sign of the prancer = the Nag's Head ; the sign of the three balls = a pawnbroker's ; sign of the five (ten or fifteen) shillings = The Crown (The Two Crowns, or The Three Crowns).—Grose (1785) ; to live at the sign of the cats' foot = to be hen-pecked.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), 85. A bene mort hereby at the sign of the

prauncer.

Signboard, subs, (common). — The face : see Dial.

Sign-man ual, subs. phr. (old).— The mark of a blow.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, xxiii. i bear some marks of the parson about me . . . The man of God bears my sign-manual too, but the Duke made us friends again.

Sikes. See Bill Sikes.

Sil. See Silver-beggar.

Silence, verb, (old: now recognised). — To knock down ; to * stun ; to kill (Grose). Whence silencer = a knock-down or stunning blow.

Silence in the court, the cat is pissing,phr. (old).—'A gird upon anyone requiring silence unnecessarily ' (Grose).

Silent-beard, subs.phr. (venery). —The female pubic hair : see Fleece.

.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 202. It is not fit the silent beard should know how much it has been abus'd . . . for, if it did, it would . . . make it open its sluice to the drowning of the low countries in an inundation of salt-water.

Silent-flute. See Flute.

Silk, subs, (common). — 1. A King's Counsel ; also silk-gown. [The canonical K.C.'s robe is of silk ; that of a Junior Counsel of stuff.] Hence to take silk = to attain the rank of King's (or Queen's) Counsel. 2. (clerical) = a bishop : the apron is of silk.

1838. Jerrold, Men of Character (John Applejohn), viii. The finest lawn [bishop] makes common cause with any linen bands—the silken apron shrinks not from poor prunella.

1853. Dickens, Bleak House, i. Mr. Blowers, the eminent silk-gown.

1872. Standard, 16 Aug., Second Leader. Mr. J. P. Benjamin (an American gentleman) has, in the professional phrase, received silk ; in other words has been raised to the rank of Queen's Counsel at the English Bar.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 Nov., 6, 1. Some time ago the presence of a learned silk was required in court at eleven o'clock.

1890. Globe, 6 May, 6, 1. Mr. Reid's rise has been steady and sure. Called at the age of twenty-five, he took silk only eleven years later, and is now a Bencher of his Inn at the age of forty-four.

To carry (or sport) silk, verb. phr. (racing).—To run (or ride) in a race.

1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, 219. One thing he was clear about—that there could be no hope of his passing unrecognised if he wore silk on the Town Moor,

Silk-petticoat. 209

Silly-season.

1889. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 18 Jan. The largest number we saw carry silk during the two days.

Silk-petticoat. See Silk-stocking.

Silk post, subs. phr. (Grose).— ' Assumption of a gentleman commoner's gown. Ox/. Univ. Cant.''

Silk-purse. See Sow's-ear.

Silk-snatch er, subs. phr. (Grose).—'Thieves who snatch hoods or bonnets from persons walking in the streets. '

Silk-stocking, subs. phr. (old).— A rich man or woman. [Silken hose were regarded as extravagant and luxurious.] Hence,

the silk-stocking gentry (or

element) = the wealthy classes ; and silken = luxurious ; Your silkiness ! = Mr. Luxury. Also silk-petticoat = a woman of fashion (in quot. 1706 = a whore of price).

1596. Shakspeare, King John, v. i, 70. A cocker'd silken wanton.

1601. Jonson, Poetaster, iii. i. Sir, your silkiness clearely mistakes Maecenas and his bouse.

1706. Ward, Wooden World, 62, ' A Midship-Man.' He will have a Whore . . . tho' he pay for it . . . Silk-petticoats are not to be had for the uptaking.

Silkworm, subs. (old).—See quot.

1712. Steele, Spectator, No. 1564. The fellow who drove her came to us, and discovered that he was ordered to come again in an hour, for that she was a silkworm. I was surprised with this phrase, but found it was a cant among the hackney fraternity for their best customers, women who ramble twice or thrice a week from shop to shop, to turn over all the goods in town without buying anything. The silkworms are, it seems, indulged by the tradesmen ; for though they never buy, they are ever talking of new silks, laces, and ribbons, and serve the owners, in getting them customers.

Silly, subs, (colloquial).—A simpleton: also silly-billy (or willy), see quot. 1851, sillyton and sillikin. Hence to knock one siLLY = to hit out of time, or to affect au possible: e.g., 'She knocked him silly ' =¹ She sent him off his chump (wits, onion) about her.'

c. 1620-t;o. Percy Folio MS., 199. I . . . proffered him a favour ; he kist me, and wisht me to beare with his behauior ; but hie tro lolly lolly, le silly willy cold not doe, all content with him was spent.

1725. Bailey, Erasmus, 586. Sillyton, forbear railing, and hear what's said to you.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 144. Silly Billy is a kind of clown, or rather a clown's butt ; but not after the style of Pantaloon, for the part is comparatively juvenile. Silly Billy is supposed to be a schoolboy, although not dressed in a charity-boy's attire. He is very popular with the audience at the fairs ; indeed, they cannot do without him.

c. 1876. Music Hall Song, 'Blessed Orphan.' They think I am a sillikin, But I am rather knowing.

1869. Spurgeon, John Ploughman's Talk, 101. Poor sillies they have wind on the brain.

Silly-season, subs. phr. (journalists').—The parliamentary recess : in the absence of debates, with a real or assumed dearth of news, the newspapers are driven to print all kinds of political and social twaddles : cf. gigantic goosebery, shower of frogs, Lord Rosebery's latest.

1882. Payn, For Cash Only, viii. Sir Peter's eyes grew big as gooseberries in the silly season, in his earnest intentness.

1883. G. A. S[ala] [///. London News, 22 Sep., 275, 1]. The Silly Season, forsooth ! Why September is a month when, perhaps, the daily newspapers are fuller of instructive and entertaining matter than is the case at any other season of the year.

Silver.

2 [O

Silver State.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 Aug., 4, 2. Signs of the so-called silly season, which has been somewhat delayed this year owing to the political crisis, are now beginning to appear.

Silver, subs. (Stock Exchange).— In = India Rubber, Gutta Percha, and Telegraph Co. shares. [The works are at Silvertown.]

See Penny.

Silver-beggar (or -lurker),

subs. phr. (common).—A tramp with briefs (q.v.) ox fakements (q.v.) concerning bogus losses by fire, shipwreck, accident, and the like ; guaranteed by forged signatures or shams (q.v. ) of clergymen, magistrates, &c., the false subscription-books being known

as delicates (q.V.). Also sil

= ( i ) a forged document, and (2) a note on ' The Bank of Elegance ' or ' The Bank of Engraving.'

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, xiii. Did you never hear of cadgers, silver-beggars, shallow-coves ?

Silver-cooper, subs.phr. (Scots'). —See quot.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. You rob and you murder, and you want me to rob and murder, and play the silvercooper, or kidnapper, as you call it, a dozen times over, and then, Hagel and Sturm ! You speak to me of conscience !

Silver-fork, subs. phr. (Winchester : obsolete).—A wooden skewer : used as a chop-stick when forks were scarce (Mansfield, c. 1840).

The Silver Fork School, subs. phr. (obsolete literary).—A school of novelists which laid especial stress on the etiquette of the drawing room : as Theodore Hook, Lady Blessington, Mrs. Trollope, and Lord Lytton. [It is only within the last forty years

that the old two-pronged steel fork has been ousted by cheap four-prongs in imitation of silver ware.]

Silver-grays, subs. phr. (American).—At a convention of New York State certain measures being unacceptable, ' many withdrew whose locks were silvered by age,' drawing forth the remark, ' There go the silver grays!' 'The term remains and is the only one now (1859) used to distinguish one branch of the Whig party' (Bartlett).

Silver-hell, subs.phr. (common). —A low-class gambling den : where silver is the usual stake.

1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, i. i. He's the principal partner in all the silver hells at the West End.

Silver-hook. To catch fish with a silver-hook, verb. phr. (anglers').—To purchase a catch in order to conceal unskilful angling : It. pescar col ha??io cfargenta (Ray).

Silver-laced, adj. phr. (old).— Lousy : e.g., ' The cove's kicksies are silver-laced ' = ' The fellow's breeches are covered with lice' (Grose).

Silver-spoon. Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth, adj. phr. (colloquial). — Born rich : It. aver la pera monda ( = to have his pear ready pared, Ray).

1830. Buckstone, Wreck Ashore, i. 2. Mag. A branch of the aristocracy, and to be one of that order means a man born to a good place ; or, as we say in the vulgar tongue, with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Silver State (The), subs. phr. (American). —Nevada,

Sim.

211

Simple.

Sim, subs. (Cambridge University). —A Simeonite, or member of the Evangelical section of the Church of England ; a Low Churchman. The modern equivalent is Plman. [The Rev. Charles Simeon (1759-1836) was 54 years Vicar of Holy Trinity, Cambridge] : Grose (1785).

1826. W. W. Todd, The Sizars Table [Whibley, Cap and Gown, 109]. Some carnally given to women and wine, Some apostles of Simeon all pure and divine.

1851. Bristed, Eng. Univ., 39. While passing for a terribly hard-reading man, and a Sim of the straightest kind with the 'empty bottles.'

SiMKiN. SeeSiMPKiNand Simple.

'Simmon, ^Persimmon.

Simon, subs. (Old Cant).—1. Sixpence : see Rhino (B. E. ; Hall, 1714 ; Grose).

18S5. Household Words, 20 June, 155. The old joke . . . about St. Peter's banking transaction, when he "lodged with one Simon a tanner." And this reminds us that simon is also a slang term for sixpence, and may possibly owe its origin to this play upon the other word.

2. (circus).—A trained horse.

3. (King Edward's School, B'gham). — A cane : obsolete. [See Acts ix. 43.]

Simon Pure, sttbs. phr. (old).— The genuine article : also as ad;'.

1717. Centlivre, Bold Stroke for a Wife. Dram. Fers. Simon Pure. [See Act v. i.]

1785. Wolcot [P. Pindar], Lyric Odes, x. [Wks. (Dublin, 1795), i. 90]. Flattery's a mountebank so spruce — gets riches ; Truth, a plain Simon Pure, a Quaker Preacher.

1015. Scott, Guy Manncring, lvi. A young seafaring man came forward.— "Here," proceeded the counsellor, "is the real Simon Pure--"

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, xvii. Fearing every moment the arrival of the real Simon Pure should cover me with shame and disgrace.

1871. Spectator, 2 Dec, 'George Cruikshank.' Nagler, the author of the Kunstlerlexicon, studying the controversy about the Cruikshanks, read that ' George Cruikshank was the true Simon Pure' with the utmost gravity, therefore catalogued him as ' Pure (Simon),' calling himself George Cruikshank.

1879. Howells, Lady of the Aroostook, xxv. I should like to see what you call the simon-pure American.

1883. Century, xxxvii., 337. The home of the Simon-pure wild horse is on the southern plains.

Simkpin (or S\mk\n),sttbs. (AngloIndian). — i. Champagne. [A native pronunciation.]

1885. J. W. Palmer, New and Old. A basket of simkin . . . behind the chariot.

1886. Sala [///. Lon. News, 24 July, 90]. There is a good deal of simpkin or champagne consumed in the three Presidencies.

2. (theatrical).—The fool in comic ballets.

See Simple.

Simple, subs. (old).—In= folly (B. E.), hence, as in proverb, ' To go to Battersea to be cut for the simples' = to take means to cure of foolishness (Battersea was famous for its herb gardens.). Also Simpleton (Simkin or Simple Simon) = a credulous person (B. E. and Grose) : ^k Simple Simon Suck-egg Sold his wife for an addled duckegg' (Ray).

c. 17jo. Swift, Polite Conversation, i. Indeed, Mr. Neverout, you should be cut for the simples this morning.

1834. Southey, Doctor, cxxxvi. What evils might be averted ... in the Lords and Commons by clearing away bile . . . and occasionally by cutting for the simples.

Simple Arithmetic. 212

Sing.

1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 7. Many more are cut for the simples.

Simple Arithmetic. ^Arithmetic.

Simple Infanticide, subs. phr. (venery). Masturbation : see Frig.

Simpson (or Simson), subs, (obsolete).—i. Water : spec, when used for diluting milk ; hence, Mrs. Simpson (or Simpson's cow) = the pump ; ' the cow with the iron tail.' Whence (2) = poor milk : see Sky-blue and Chalkers.

i860. Holmes, Professor at the Breakfast Table. It is a common saying of a jockey that he is all horse, and I have often fancied that milkmen get a stiff upright carriage, and an angular movement, that reminds one of a pump and the working of a handle.

1871. Daily News, 17 Ap. He had, he stated on inquiry, a liquid called Simpson on his establishment.

1871. Standard, 11 May. Police Report. If they annoyed him again he would christen them with Simpson, which he did by throwing a can of milk over the police.

1872. Times, 24 Dec. Police Report. His master supplied wholesale dealers, who, he believed, watered it. That was called Simpson. Ibid. Witness generally milked the cows for himself, and then added Simpson at discretion.

1872. Standard, 25 Dec. Simpson is . . . universally accepted as the title for that combined product of the cow natural and the "cow with the iron tail."

1880. Punch, 31 Jan., 48. In the first rank of the Committee of Management of The Householders' Pure Milk Supply Assn. stands the name of our old friend Simpson—Simpson, who has so often milked the cow with the iron tail, that in the language of the milk walk he has become identified with the animal Simpson-Pump !

Sin, subs, (colloquial).—The Devil : as the incarnation of evil.

1858. Pratt, Ten Nights in Barroom, i. i. I'll defy sin to say that I ever neglected my work.

Sin bad, subs, (nautical).—An old sailor.

Sines, subs. (Winchester).—Bread: a sines = a small loaf.

Sinews of war, subs. phr. (old). Money : generic : see Rhino.

d.1626. Bacon, Works (Spedding), x. 324. The proverb . . . taken first from a speech of Mucianus, that moneys are the sinews of war.

1653. Urquhart, Babelais, 1. xlvi. Coin is the sinews of war.

Sing, verb, (common).—To cry : usually as a threat to a crying child, ' I'll give you something to sing for.'

Phrases.—To sing out = (i) to raise the voice ; (2) to cry, or call out, from excess of emotion ; and (3), see quot. 1815 ; to sing small = to lessen one's pretensions, to eat humble pie (Grose) ; to sing (or pipe)

another song (or tune) = to

modify one's conduct, manner,

&c ; to sing the same song =

to repeat the weakness ; to sing it = to exaggerate, to swagger, ' to chant the poker' ; to sing out beef (thieves') = to call out ' stop thief ! ' (Grose). Also proverb, 'He could have sung well before he broke his left shoulder with whistling.' See Black Psalm ; Placebo ; Te Deum.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, ' Friar's Tale.' Certes, lecchours, did he gretest wo ; They sholde singen if that they were bent.

1530. Palsgrave, Lang. Franc. Synge out, chanter a playne voyx.

Singed-cat.

213

S ingle-woman.

1609. Heywood, If you know not me [IVorks, i. 207]. Const. The Queene must hear you sing another song . . . Eitz. My God doth know I can no note but truth.

1753. Richardson, Grandison, 1. 120. I must myself sing small in her company.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering; xxviii. " But old Meg's asleep now," said another ; " she grows a driveller, and is afraid of her own shadow. She'll sing out* some of these odd-come-shortlies, if you don't look sharp." Ibid. [Note]. *To sing out, or whistle in the cage, is when a rogue, being apprehended, peaches against his comrades.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 24. His spunkiest backers were forced to sing small.

1830. Lever. Harry Lorrequer, xvi. When the call-boy would sing out for Captain Beaugarde . . . we'd find that he had levanted.

1836. Scott, Tom Cringle's Log, i. Who's there? sung out the lieutenant.

1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg, 'Row in an Omnibus Box.' So after all this terrible squall, Doldrum and Fal-de-ral-tit

sing small.

1848. Ruxton, Far West, 3. They made 'em sing out.

1884. Russell, Jack's Courtship, xiii. ' Read the letter aloud, Sophie,' said my uncle. ' Sing it out, my love.'

1885. Clement Scott [///. Lon. News, 3 Oct., 339, 1]. There would not be so much reason for complaint, if heroism and virtue were not made to sing small, by the side of this apotheosis of iniquity.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xvi. Go and have a wash and sing out for that breakfast.

Sing Ed-cat, subs. phr. (American). —See quots.

1839. Haliburton, Old Judge, 1. 44. That critter is like a singed cat, better nor he seems.

1858. New Orleans Bulletin, May. Parson Brownlow has found an antagonist in the Rev. Mr. Pryne, of Cincinnati . . . We reckon there'll be fun, as a Cincinnati paper says Pryne is a perfect singed cat !

1859. Bartlett, Americanisms, s.v. Singed-cat. An epithet applied to a person whose appearance does him injustice.

1876. Clemens, Tom Sawyer, 20. You're a kind of singed cat, as the saying is.

Single-broth (or -tiff) subs.phr. (old). — Small beer : see Screwed.

d. 1635. Corbet, On Dawson, the Butler of Christ Church. And as the conduits ran with claret at the coronation so let your channels flow with single tiff.

1654. Witts Recreations, 154. Sack's but single broth ; Ale's meat, drink, and cloth.

Single-peeper, subs.phr. (old.)— A one-eyed person (Grose).

Single-Pennif, subs. phr. (back slang).—A five-pound note: see

finnup.

1891. Carew, Auto, of Gipsy, 416. I gets clean off with the scawfer and 'bout 'er thirty quid in single pennifs and silver.

Single-soldier, subs. phr. (old). —A private.

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, viii. I'se e'en turn a single sodger mysell, or may be a sergeaunt or a captain.

Singleton, subs. (B. E.).—1. 'A

very silly, foolish Fellow.'

2. (old).—A corkscrew : from the name of a Dublin cutler famous for his tempering (Grose).

3. (gaming).—A single card of any suit in a hand : whist. Also a hand containing such a card.

1885. Field, 12 Dec. Nor was it to prove that the lead of a singleton was sometimes good play.

1885. Proctor, How to Play Whist, Pref. Outside . . . modern signalling . . . and the absolute rejection of the singleton lead there is very little difference between the whist of to-day and the whist of Hoyle and Mathews.

Single-woman, subs. phr. (old). See quot. and Tart.

Sing-song.

214

Sinner.

1530. Palsgrave, Lang. Francoyse, syngle-woman, a harlot, putayn.

1657. Howell, Londinopolis, 337. No Stew-holder, or his wife, should let or stay any single woman to go and come freely at all times. No single woma to take money to lye with any man except she lie with him all night till the morrow.

Sing-song (various).—1. (old) = a poem; 2. (common) = a convivial meeting at a public house at which each person is expected to contribute a song ; a free-and-easy (q.v. ) ; 3. (nautical) = a Chinese theatre ; and 4. (colloquial) = ' crooning.' As adj. = musical.

1656-61. Choyce Drolleries [EbsworthJ [Oliphant, New Eng. ii. 97. The new substantives are blobber-lips, a sing-song (poem)].

d. 1704. Brown, Works, iii. 39. From huffing Dryden to sing-sung Durfey.

1857. Ritchie, Night Side of London, 192. The gay have their theatres— the philanthropic their Exeter Hall—the wealthy their "ancient concerts"—the costermongers what they term their singsong.

i86y. Greenwood, Seven Curses, 19. She has her ' young man ' and accompanies him of evenings to sing-songs and raffles.

1S77. Tennyson, Queen Mary, ii. i. You sit sing-songing here.

1891. Stevenson, Kidnapped, 197. I was amazed at the clipping tones and the odd sing-song in which he spoke.

1893. MlLLiKEN, 'Arry Ballads, 3. A sand-parlour'd shanty devoted to singsong.

1896. Kipling, Only a Subaltern. The illustrated programme of the singsong, whereof he was not a little proud.

1399. Whiteing,/öä«vSY., x. There's a little bit of a kick-up to-night with a few of us—sort of sing-song.

SINK, subs, (colloquial). — I. A slum; a rookery: also sinkhole. Also (2) a centre of anything disreputable.

t565. Calfhill, Aus. Martialls Treatise of the Cross (Parker Soc), 176. [The Palace] a sink of sectaries.

1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, 621. The sinke of Fez, where every one may be a Vintner and a Bawde.

rf.1842. Channing, Perfect Life, 70. The sinks of intemperance . . . shops reeking with vapours of intoxicating drink.

3. (common).—A confirmed tippler ; and (4) the throat : see Sewer. Hence to fall down the sink = to take to drink.

5. (The Leys School).—A heavy feed ; a stodge (q.v.) ; and (6) = a glutton.

Phrases. — To sink the

nobleman (lover, &c.) = to

suppress, to keep in the background : cf. shop ; sink me ! = a mild imprecation.

1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesqued, 13. But sink me if I . . . understand.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 100. I am the idol of my wife, and I have not sunk the lover in the husband. Ibid., 283. I . . . sunk the secretary . . . till I should ascertain what solid profit might accrue from all my bows and scrapes.

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

Sinker, subs. (old).—i. In = base money (Snowden, 1857).

2. (American), see quot.

1900. Flynt, Tramps, 129. When he returned with a " poke out " (food given at the door) and a sinker (dollar).

Sinner, subs, (common). 1. A publican : cf. Luke xviii. ; 2. (old), a harlot : see Tart. Old sinner = a jesting reproach.

i6ot. Jonson, Poetaster, iii. t. Tue. I would fain come with my cockatrice . . . and see a play if I knew when there were a good bawdy one. Hist. We have as much ribaldry in our plays ... as you would wish, Captain : all the sinners in the suburbs come and applaud.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 106. Seasoned exactly to the taste of these old sinners.

Sip.

21 ç Sir John Barleycorn.

Sip, and z><?r£. (back slang).

—piss ( .z/.).

SlPPER, subs, (common).—Gravy.

Si quis, subs. phr. (old).—I. A public notice of ordination. [These commenced " Si QUis," " If any"]. Whence (2) a candidate for holy orders ; and (3) any public announcement. As verb. — to make hue and cry.

1599. Hall, Satires, 11. v. Saws't thou ever siquis patch'd on Paul's Church door, To seek some vacant vicarage before.

1607. Marston, What You Will, iii. My end is to paste up a si QUis.

1609. Dekker, Gulls Horne-Booke, chap. iv. The first time that you venture into Powles, passe through the body of the Church like a Porter, yet presume not to fetch so much as one whole turne in the middle He, no nor to cast an eye to si quis doore (pasted and plaistered up with Seruing-mens supplications) before you haue paid tribute to the top of Powles steeple with a single penny.

1704. Gentleman Instructed, 312. He may ... si quis me in the next Gazette.

Sir (Sir John or Mass-John),

subs. (old).—A parson; spec. (B. E.) 'a country Parson or Vicar ' : see Sky-pilot (Grose). See John.

1380. WiCLiFFE, Works [E. E. T. S.l, 192. [Oliphant, New English, i. 147. The priest Sir John, becomes Sir Jacke . . . this change is unusual.]

1426. Sir Jon Audlay [Percy Soc. : the title of a description of a priest].

c.i4[?]. Tale of the Basyn [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet., iii. 47]. Hit is a preest, men callis Sir John. Ibid. 49. Sir John con wake, And nedis water he must make.

d. 1555. Latimer, Works [Century], They hire a Sir John which hath better skill in playing at tables . . . than in God's word.

1560. Becon, Works [Parker Soc] 270. Hold up, Sir John, heave it [the Host] a little higher.

1591. Spenser, Mother Hubb. Tale, v. 390. But this good sir did follow the plaine word.

1596. Lambard, Peramb., 317. A poore Chapell, served with a single Sir John, and destitute both of font and churchyard.

1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, iv. 2. Make him believe you are Sir Thopas, the curate. Do it quickly.

c. 1609. Fletcher, M. Thomas, v. 2. Close by the nunnery, there you'll find a night-priest, Little Sir Hugh, and he can say his matrimony, Over without book.

1633. Jonson, Tale of a Tub, i. 1. Though Sir Hugh of Paneras, Be hither come to Totten.

1648. Herrick, Hesperides, ' The Tythe.' If children you have ten, Sir John won't for his tenth part ask you one.

1817. Drake, Shakspeare, &c., i. 88. The language of our Univei shies . . . confers the designation of Dominus on those who have taken their first degree of Bachelor of Arts ; the word Dominus was naturally translated Sir, and, as almost e\ ery clergyman had taken his first degree, it became customary to apply the term to the lower class of the hierarchy.

Sir Garnet, subs. phr. (street's). —All right, or as it should be. [An echo of the days when Sir Garnet (now Viscount) Wolseley was in the forefront of military matters.]

1886-96. Marshall, Une Affaire d Honneur [' Pomes,' no], And the start was all Sir Garnet, Jenny went for Emma's Barnet.

Sir Harry, subs. phr. (old).—A jakes : see Mrs. Jones. To visit (or go to) Sir Harry = to evacuate the bowels.

Sir Hugh's bones. See Bones.

Sir Jack Sauce. See Jack Sauce and Sauce.

Sir John Barleycorn. See

Barleycorn.

Sir John Lack-Latin. 216

Sir-reverence.

Sir John Lack-Latin. See

Lack-latin and add earlier quot. infra.

1535. Sir Francis Bygod, ' Against Impropriations.' [Oliphant, New Eng:, i. 481. Bygod talks of a Sir John Lackelatin.]

Sir Martin Wagstaffe, subs, phr. (venery).—The penis: see Prick.—Urquhart.

Sir Oliver. See Oliver.

Sir Petronel Flash. See

Petronel.

Sirrah ! intj. (old).—An angry, contemptuous, or jesting address : also (modern) sirree ! (or

sirree, bob !)

1526. Rastell, Hundred Merry Tales, 74. [The Sir is lengthened into]

SIRRA.

1570. Levins, Manip. Vocab., i. 6. serrha, heus, io.

1600. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, ii, i. Page, boy, and sirrah : these are ali my titles.

1608. Shakspeare, Antony and Cleopatra, v. 2, 229. Sirrah Iras, go !

1617. Minsheu, Guide to Tongues. Sirra, a contemptuous word, ironically compounded of Sir and a, ha, as much as to say ah, sir, or sir boy, &c.

1615. Daniel, Hymen's Triumph, 313. Ah, sirrah, have I found you ? are you heere.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, ii. Look on my finger, sirrah, look here ; here's a famble.

d. 1721. Prior, Cupid and Ganymede. Guess how the goddess greets her son : Come hither, sirrah ; no begone.

1848. Ruxton, Far West, 3. No sirre-e ; I went out when Spiers lost his animals.

1857. Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 'Sir, are you drunk?' The juror ... in a bold, half-defiant tone replied, ' No, Sirree, bob ! ' ' Well ... I fine you five dollars for the ' ree ' and ten for the ' bob.'

1900. Brought to Bay, ii. ¹ So the title is secure? ' . . . ' Yes, sir-ee ! '

Si rr etch, subs, (back slang).—A cherry.

Sir(or save-) reverence, subs, verb, and intj. (old colloquial).— i. An apology : the commonest of expressions, for nearly six centuries, on mentioning anything likely to offend, or for which an excuse was thought necessary. Whence (2) = excrement, a turd (q.v. ) ; and as verb. = ( i ) to shit (q.v.), and (2) to excuse oneself. [Lat. salvâ reverentiâ, whence

sa' reverence. sur-reverence, and sir-reverence.]

1356. Mandeville, Travels, 185. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me,

savynge here reverence, that it is

more.

1586. Warner, Alb. Eng., ii. 10. And all for love (surreverence love !) did make her chew the cudde.

1592. Greene, Blocke Bookes Messenger [Works, xi. 33]. His head, and his necke, were all besmeared with the soft sirrevenence, so as he stunke worse than a Jakes Farmer.

1593. Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors, iii. 2. A very reverend body : ay, such a one as a man may not speak of, without he say, sir-reverence. Ibid. (1595), Romeo and Juliet, i. 4. We'el draw you from the mire Of this sirreverence, love, wherein thou stickest Up to the ears.

1594. Lyly Mother Bombie, i. 2. Saving a reverence, that's a lie !

1596. Harrington, Metam. Ajax [Letter prefixed to]. The third I cannot name wel without save-reverence, and yet it sounds not unlike the shooting place.

1605. Jonson, Chapman, &c, Eastward Hoe, iv. i. We shall as soon get a fart from a dead man . . . Sister, sirreverence !

1607. Puritan, iii. 1. A man that would ... go ungartered, unbuttoned, nay (sir-reverence !) untrussed, to morning prayer.

1614. _ Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, iv. r. His wife, sir reverence, cannot get him make his water, or shift his shirt, without his warrant.

Sir Sauce.

217

Siserara.

1626. Fletcher, Fair Maid of the Inn, iii. 1. The . . . suitors that attend to usher Their loves, sir-reverence, to your daughter.

1630. Taylor, Epig., 40. If to a foule discourse thou hast pretence, Before thy foule words name sir-reverence.

d.\6$o. Fletcher, Poems, 10. A puppy licks Manneia's lipps, the sense I grant, a dog may kiss-sir-reverence.

1655. Massinger, Very Woman, ii. 3. The beastliest man . . . (Sir-reverence of the company !)—a rank whoremaster.

1665. Head, English Rogue (1874), i. iii. 30. Another time sirreverencing in a paper, and running to the window with it.

1662. Rump Songs, ii. 47. First with a sirreverence ushers the Rump.

1703. Ward, London Spy, 11. 38. A narrow Lane, as dark as a Burying Vault, which Stunk of stale Sprats . . . and sirreverence.

rf.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 180. Knocking a shiting porter down, when you were drunk, back in his own sir-reverence.

17T4. Memoirs of John Hal I {4 Ed.), 15. The Lower-Ward [of Newgate], where the tight-slovenly Dogs lye upon ragged Blankets, spread near sir-reverence.

1771. Smollett, Humph. Clinker (1900), i. 66. Asked if he did not think such a . . . mixture would improve the whole mass, ' Yes ... as a plate of marmalade would improve a pan of sirreverence.

1785. Grose, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. Reverence. An ancient custom which obliges any person easing himself near the highway ... on the word reverence being given him by a passenger to take off his hat with his teeth, and without moving ... to throw it over his head, by which it frequently falls into the excrement . . . A person refusing to obey might be pushed backwards. Ibid., s.v. Tartaddlin Tart.

1347. Halliwell, Arch, and Prov. Words, s.v. Reverence. A woman of Devon describing something not peculiarly delicate, apologised with " saving your reverence." This is not uncommon in the country.

Sir Sauce. See Jack Sauce and Sauce.

Sir Sydney, subs. phr. (old).—A clasp knife (Grose and Vaux).

Sir Thomas Gresham. To sup

with Sir Thomas Gresham, verb. phr. (old).—To go hungry : see Duke Humphrey.

1628. Hayman, Quidlibet [Epigram on a Loafer]. For often with duke Humphrey thou dost dine, And often with sir Thomas Gresham sup.

See Perthshire Greybreeks.

Sir Timothy, subs. phr. (B. E. and Grose.—^k One that Treats every Body, and Pays the Reckonings every where.'

Sir Tristam's Knot. subs. phr. (old).—The hangman's noose : see Ladder and Horsecollar.

[ ? ]. Wilyam Bullein. Light fellows merrily will call . . . neckweede, or Sir Tristam's knot.

Sir Walter Scott, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A pot of beer.

Siserara (Sarsara, Siserara, Sasarara, &c,, subs. (old).—1. A writ of removal from a lower to a higher Court. Hence (2) = a blow, a scolding, an outburst ; with a sarsara = with a vengeance, suddenly.

1607. Tourneur, Revenger's Mag. [Dodsley, Old Plays [Reed), iv. 379]. Pray . . . that their sins may be removed by a writ of error, and their souls fetched up to heaven with a sasarara.

1607. Puritan, iii. 3. If it be lost or stole ... a cunning kinsman of mine . . . would fetch it again with a sesarara.

1758. Sterne, Trislam Shandy, vi. 47. I fell in love all at once with a sisserara.

1766. Goldsmith, Vicar, xxi. Gentle or simple, out she shall pack with a

sussarara.

1771. Smollett, Humphrey Clinker, i. 80. I have gi'en the dirty slut a siserary.

Sister.

Sit-on-a-rock.

.1832. Scott [Century]. He attacked it with such a siserary of Latin as might have scared the devil himself.

Sister, subs. (old).—A disguised whore : see Tart.

1607. Dekker, Westward Ho, ii. 2. The serving-man has his punk, the student his nun . . . the Puritan his sister.

See Brother Smut.

Sisterhood, subs. (old).—Harlotry in general.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. i. She certainly must be considered a female . . . materially different from the sisterhood in general.

Sit, subs. (American printers').— Situation : e.g. out of a sit = out of a job.

Phrases.—To sit on one's knees = to kneel ; tosit under = to attend the ministry of some particular divine ; to sit a woman = to keep the nightcourtship (q.v.) : cf. Bundle ; to sit on (or upon) = (i) to take to task, to snub—in anger, contempt, or jest : also sat-upon, adj. = reprimanded, snubbed ; and (2) to allow milk to brim in the pan ; to sit eggs = to outstay one's welcome ; to sit in = to adhere firmly ; to sit up = to pull oneself together ; to make one sit up = to astonish, disconcert, or get an advantage. See also Bodkin, Skirts.

1474-85. Paston Letters [Arber] 235. [Oliphant, New Eng., 1, 341. Our slang use of sit upon is foreshadowed . . . the King intends to sitte uppon a criminal; that is, in judgment.]

[ ? ]. Battle of Babrinnes [Child, Ballads, vn. 229. When they cam to the hill againe They sett doune on thaik

knees.

1644. Milton, Of Education. There would then also appear in pulpits other visages, other gestures, and stuff otherwise wrought than what we now sit under.

1754. Connoisseur, No. 27. The . . . audience that sits under our preachers.

1821. Scott, Kenilworth, xxxii. I protest, Rulland, that while he sat on his knees before me ... I had much ado to forbear cutting him over the pate.

1830. Southey, Bunyan, 25. At this time he sat (in puritanical language) under the ministry of holy Mr. Gifford.

1852. Notes and Queries, 1 S., iv. 43. It is said a young man is sitting a young woman when he is wooing or courting her.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomcs, ii. Each to sit under his or her favourite minister.

1876. C. H. Wall, tr. Molière, i. 411. The jester shall be sat upon in his turn ; he shall have a rap over the knuckles, by Jove.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke's Children, xxvi. Experience had taught him that the less people demanded the more they were sat upon.

1883. James Payn, Thicker than Water, xxi. The only person to whom he had ever known Mary distinctly antagonistic . . . He had seen her sit upon him . . . rather heavily more than once.

1883. Referee, March 25, 2, 4. In the years gone by when I was good, and used to sit under Newman Hall at Surrey Chapel.

1888. G. Gissing, A Life's Morning, iii. He allowed himself to be sat upon gracefully ; a snub well administered to him was sure of its full artistic, and did not fail in its moral effect.

1891. Harry Fludyer, 15. I forgot to open last term's bills. I found them yesteiday all stowed away in a drawer, and they made me sit up.

1893. Chambers's Jour., 25 Feb., 128. With that sat-upon sort of man . . . you never know where he may break out.

1902. Free Lance, 6 Oct., 4, 2. The fashion papers of Paris make even America sit up.

Sith-nom, subs. phr. (back slang). —A month.

Sit-on-a-rock, subs. phr. (American).—Rye whiskey.

Sil-still-nest.

219

Six.

Sit-still-nest, subs. phr. (provincial).—A cow-turd ; quaker {q.V.) ; pancake (q.v.).

Sitter, subs. (Harrow).—A sitting room ; cf. Brekker, Footer, Saccer, &c.

Sitting-breeches. To wear one's sitting breeches, verb, phr. (old).—'To stay long in company ' (Grose) : also to sit

longer than a hen : cf. to sit eggs.

Situation, subs, (racing).—A place.

1882. " Thormanby," Famous Racing Men, 105. The three worst horses, probably, that ever monopolized the Derby

situations.

SiT-upons, sttbs. phr. (common).— Trousers : see Kicks.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, 25. I put a piece of cobbler's wax on the seat of Mildinan's chair, and ruined his best Sunday-going sit-upons.

1857. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, 11. x. I should advise you, old fellow, to get your sit-upons seated with wash-leather.

Sivvy, subs, (common).—Word of honour ; asseveration : e.g., "pon my sivvy ' = ' It's true, Honour bright ! ' Cj. davy.

1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, and Co. 'Pon my sivvy, if you were to see her pecking, you'd think she was laying on pounds weight in a day instead of losing.

1884. Daily Telegraph, 2 Feb., 3, 1. " You'll'scuse the cheek i gave you just now, mister," the scowling young gentleman remarked, "but, 'pon my sivvy, we took you for the police."

1892. Watson, Wops the Waif, n. Now I'll be as quiet as a dummy ; I will, 'pon my sivy !

Six, subs. (old).—1. Beer sold at 6s. a barrel ; small beer : cf. four-half and (modern) six ALE.

1631. Clitus's Whimsies, 97. How this threede-bare philosopher shrugges, shiffs, and shuffles for a cuppe of six.

1633. Rowley, Match at Midnight,

1. i. Look if he be not drunk ! The very sight of him makes one long for a cup of six.

2. (Oxford (Jniv. ).—A privy.

At sixes and sevens, phr. (old).—In confusion ; at loggerheads (Grose) : also to set on seven = to confuse, to disarray.

c. 1340. Avowyne of King Arther, 64 [Camden Soc, Eng. Mein. Rom., 89]. Alle in sundur hit [a tun] brast In six ok in seuyn.

1369. Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 622. Lat not this wreched wo thyne herte gnawe, But manly, set the worlde on six and sevene.

[?]. Morte Arthure [E. E. T. S.], 2131. Thus he settez on sevene with his sekyre knyghttes . . . And thus at the joyenyge the geauntez are dystroyede.

1596. Nashe, Saffron Waiden [Works, iii. 38]. Caring for all other things else, sets his owne estate at sixe and seauen.

1597. Shakspeare, Richard II., ii.

2. All is uneven, And everything is left at

six and seven.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wördes, s.v. Asbaraglio ... at sixe and seauen, in vaine.

1678. Cotton, Virgil Travestie [Works (1725) 73]. But, like a Dame of Wits bereaven, Let all Things go at six and seven.

d.1704. Brown, Works, i. 68. May thy Affairs . . . All the World o'er at sixes lie and sevens.

1768. Goldsmith, Good Natured Man, i. Haven't I reason to be out of my senses, when I see things going at sixes and sevens?

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 481. Whilst things went on at six and seven, Jove smok'd a serious pipe in heaven.

1781. Gentleman's Mag., Ii. 367. At sixes and sevens, as the old woman left her house.

Six-and-Eightpence. 220 Sixty-per-cent.

1790. D'Arbley, Diary (1876), iii. 240. All my workmen in the country are at sixes and sevens, and in want of my directions.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 432. The affairs of the treasurer . . . are all at sixes and sevens.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, xxii. All goes to sixes and sevens—an universal saturnalia seems to be proclaimed in my peaceful and orderly family.

Six of one and half a

dozen of the other, phr.

(common).—Much alike ; not a pin to choose between them ; ' never a barrel the better herring.'

SlX-AN D-ElGHTPENCE, subs. phr. (old). — i. A solicitor : see Green-bag (Grose).

1756. Foote, Englishman Ret. from Paris. [An attorney is hailed as] Good six-and-eightpence.

2. (old).—See quot.

c. 1696. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. Six and eight-pence, the usual Fee given, to carry back the Body of the Executed Malefactor, to give it Christian Burial.

Six-AND-TiPS, subs. phr. (Irish).— Whiskey and small beer (Grose).

Sixer, subs, (thieves'). — 1. Six months' hard labour. Also 2. (prison) see quot. 1877.

1869. Temple Bar, xxvi. 75. The next bit I did was a sixer.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, iii. 194. He keeps a sharp eye on that man to see he does not "filch" a sixer, as the six-ounce loaf, served with the dinner, is called.

1886-96. Marshall, Bleary Bill [' Pomes ' 61]. I see what the upshot will be, Dear me ! A sixer with H.A.R.D.

Six-footer, subs. phr. (colloquial). A person six-feet (or more) in height.

c. 1886. Scientific A merican [ Century], The centenarian is a six-footer, chews tobacco, and loves a good story.

Sixpence. See Spit.

Sixpenny, subs. (Eton).—A playing field.

1864. Eton School Days, vi. If you are not in sixpenny after twelve, I will do my best to give you a hiding wherever I meet you.

Adj. (old). — Cheap ; mean ; worthless : generic. Hence sixpenny strikers = petty footpads.

1598. Shakspeare, i Hen. IV., ii. i, 82. I am joined with no foot-land rakers, no long-staff sixpenny strikers.

1605. London Prodigal, v. 1. I'll not let a sixpenny purse escape me.

c. 1619. Massinger, &c. , City Madam, iii. i. I know them, swaggering, suburbian roarers, Sixpenny truckers.

Six-shooter, subs.phr. (common). A six chambered revolver. Sixshooter horse = a swift horse.

1887. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. A six-shooter horse is a heap better than a six-shooter gun in these cases.

1894. W. M. Baker, New Timothy, 177. ' The weapons of our warfare are not carnal ' — bowie-knives, sixshooters, an' the like.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, viii. With a quiet smile, he loaded his sixshooter ... 'for contingencies."

Sixty, subs, (common). — Generic for magnitude.

1886. Household Words, 18 Sept., 415. "Like one o'clock," "Like winking," and " To go like sixty," all imply briskness and rapidity of motion.

Sixty-per-cent, subs. phr. (old). — A usurer : also cent-percent.

1616. Fletcher, Custom of the Country, ii. 3. There are few gallants . . . that would receive such favours from the devil, though he appeared like a broker, and demanded sixty 1' th' hundred.

1853. Reade, Gold, i. i. What you do on the sly, I do on the sly, old sixty

PER cent.

Six-upon-four.

221

»5* i % C.

i8sp. KiNGSLEY, Geoffry Hamlyn, xiii. Good night, old mole," said Hawker; "good night, old bat, old parchment skin, old sixty per cent. Ha, ha!"

1889. Marsh, Crime and Criminal, xii. Was he going to develop into a sixty per cent, and offer me a loan ?

Six-upon-four, phr. (nautical).— See quot.

1838. Glascock, Land Sharks and Sea Gulls, 11. 193. It was wicked work with them when it came to be six upon four, in other words, when long cruizes produced short commons.

1885. Household Words, 25 July, 260. In his time ' there were often six UPON four aboard ship, and two banyan days in a week,' which being translated is, the rations of four men were served out amonest six, in addition to which, on two days in the week no rations were served out at all.

Six-water grog, subs. phr. (nautical).—Six of water to one of spirit.

1834. Marryat, Peter Simple, xxxv. " Take care I don't send for another helmsman, that's all, and give the reason why. You'll make a wry face upon sixwater grog to-morrow, at seven bells."

Size [subs, and verb, and SizarJ, subs. (Cambridge Univ. and Trin. Coll., Dublin).—1. See quots. : the grade no longer exists ; practically speaking, it has ceased to exist for a century.

T592. Nashe, Piers Pennilesse, 45. [Oliphant, New Eng-., 2, n. A Cambridge butler sets up a size (allowance of bread) ; hence come sizars].

1594. Greene, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. Friar Bacon's sub-sizer is the greatest blakhead in all Oxford.

1605. Shakspear, Lear, ii. 4, 178. 'Tis not in thee to grudge my pleasures . . . to scant my sizes.

1606. Ret. from Parnassus [Nares]. So ho, maister recorder, you that are one of the divel's fellow commoners, one that sizeth the devil's butteries.

1617. Minshen, Guide unto Tongues, s.v. A size is a portion of bread or drinke,

1. is a farthing, which Schollers in Cambridge haue at the butterie ; it is noted with the letter S., as in Oxeford with the letter Q. for hälfe a farthing and q/u. for a farthing ; and whereas they say in Oxford to Battle in the butterie booke, i. to set downe on their names what they take in Bread, Drinke, Butter, Cheese, &c, so in Cambridge they say to size, i. to set downe their quantum, i. how much they take on their names in the Butterie booke.

1626. Fletcher and Rowley, Wit at Sev. Weapons, ii. To be so strict A niggard to your Commons, that you're fain To size your belly out with shoulder fees.

1630. Randolph, Aristippus [Hazlitt, Worhs(i8js), 14]. Drinking College tap-lash . . . will let them have no more learning than they size.

1633. Shirley, Witty Fair One, iv.

2. I know what belongs to sizing, and have answered to my cue in my days ; I am free of the whole university.

.1635. Corbet, Answ. to a Certain Poem. How lackeys and sub-sizers press And scramble for degrees.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Size. To sup at one's own expense. If a man asks you to sup, he treats you : if to size, you pay for what you eat, liquor only being provided by the inviter. Ibid. Sizingparty's. A number of students who contribute each his part towards a supper.

1787. Gentleman s Mag., 1147. The term sub-sizar became forgotten, and the sizar was supposed to be the same as the servitor. Ibid. (1795), 21. In general, a size is a small plateful of any eatable ; and at dinner to size is to order for yourself any little luxury that may chance to tempt you . . . for which you are expected to pay the cook at the end of the term.

1798. Laws of Harvard College [Hall, College Words and Customs, 428]. When they come into town after commons, they may be allowed to size a meal at the kitchen.

18... Hawkins, Orig. of Drama, iii. 271. You are still at Cambridge with your size cue

1811. Laws of Yale College [Hall, College Words and Customs, 428]. At the close of each quarter the Butlershall make up his bill against each student, in which every article sized, or taken up by him at the Buttery shall be particularly charged.

Sise.

222 Skedaddle.

1824. Gradus ad Cantab., s.v. Sizar. The distinction between pensioners and sizers is by no means considerable . . . Nothing is more common than to see pensioners and sizers taking sweet counsel together, and walking arm-in-arm to St. Mary's as friends.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, xiii. The unlucky boys who have no tassels to their caps are called sizars—servitors [sic] at Oxford ... A distinction is made in their clothes because they are poor ; for which reason they wear a badge of poverty, and are not allowed to take their meals with their fellow students.

185 . Macaulay, Oliver Goldsmith. The sizars paid nothing for food and tuition, and very little for lodging ; but they had to perform some menial services from which they have long been relieved. They swept the court ; they carved up the dinner to the fellows' table, and changed the plates, and poured out the ale of the rulers of the society.

1851. Bristed, Eng. Univ.,20. 'Go through a regular second course instead of the siziNGS.' Ibid., 19. Soup, pastry and cheese can be sized for.

18... Peirce, Hist. Harvard Univ., 219. We were allowed at dinner a cue of beer, which was a half-pint, and a sizing of bread, which I cannot describe to you. It was quite sufficient for one dinner.

1861. O'Curry, Ancient Irish, 1. iv. Public schools where the sons of the lower classes waited on the sons of the upper classes, and received certain benefits (in food, clothes, and instruction) from them in return. In fact the sizar-ships in our modern colleges appear to be a mcdified continuation of this ancient system.

1864. Hotten, SlangDiet., s.v. Sizer. Poor scholars at Cambridge, annually elected, who got their dinners (including sizings) from what was left at the upper, or Fellows' table, free, or nearly so. They paid rent of rooms, and some other fees, on a lower scale than the "Pensioners " or ordinary students, and were equal with the "battlers" and "servitors" at Oxford.

1889. Cambridge Univ. Cal., 5. Sizars are generally Students of limited means. They usually have their commons free, and receive various employments.

2. (old).—Half-a-pint (Grose).

3. (colloquial).—Result; state; fact.

1861. Br addon, Trail of the Serpent, iv, vii. " Dead ?" said Richard . . . " That's about the size of it, sir," replied Mr. Peters.

1889. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 8 Feb. They don't like to see a man's figure-head battered, that's about the size of it.

1891. Gould, Double Event, 295. ' That's about the size of it,' said Jack, ' and I don't think you could do better.'

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 22. That's the size of it, Charlie.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xviii. That's about the size of it ... I could have got away.

Verb, (colloquial).—To measure ; to gauge ; to reckon up : also to size up.

1380. Mirk, Inst. Parish Priests [E. E. T. S.], 39. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 106. The old noun syse is used for measure ; hence our to size men on parade.]

1847. Porter, Big Bear, 94. You see, Mr. Porter, I thot I'd size her pile.

1889. Puck's Library, 25 Ap. If you want to know just how thoroughly the community has sized you up, and to get the exact dimensions, ask for the best part in the amateur theatricals.

1891. Marriott-Watson, Web of Spider, xi. I haven't seen your little girl's face yet ... It was dark . . . and I hadn't time to size her.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, i. The two . . . had sized up the other guests as not worth . . . powder.

Skary. See Skeer.

Skedaddle, subs, and verb, (common).—As subs. = hasty flight: also skedaddling. As verb. = to scamper off ; to scatter ; to spill. For synomyns see Bunk.

1861. New York Tribune [Bartlett]. With the South-east clear and General Price retiring into Arkansas in the South-west, we may expect to witness such a grand skedaddle of Secesh and its colored property as was never seen before.

1861. Missouri Democrat, Aug. No sooner did the traitors discover their approach than they skedaddled, a phrase the Union boys up here apply to the good use the Seceshers make of their legs in time of danger.

Skeer.

223

Skelder.

1862. New York Tribune, 27 May, ' War Correspondence.' Rebel skedaddling is the next thing on the programme.

1864. Hotten, Slang Diet., 292. Lord Hill wrote [to The Times] to prove that it was excellent Scotch. The Americans only misapply the word . . . in Dumfries — ' to spill ' — milkmaids . . . saying, ' You are skedaddling all that milk.'

1874. Baker, Ismailia, 211. Their noisy drums had ceased, and suddenly I perceived a general skedaddle.

1877. Atlantic Monthly, xl. 234. We used to live in Lancashire and heard skedaddle every day of our lives. It means to scatter, or drop in a scattering way.

1880. Mortimer Collins, Thoughts in my Garden, i. 50. The burghers skedaddled, and the Squire, thanks to his faint-hearted butler, had no chance of using his cavalry sword.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 17 Oct., 2, 1. One fine day it happens that two Irish leaders skedaddle in a trawler to the Continent.

1898. Gould, Landed at Last, vii. They pays regular. There's no midnight skedaddling about them.

1901. Walker, In the Blood, 261. 'E's a "goner," buried in a fall of earth, blown up, killed, skedaddled out o' this camp.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xxxiv. And the bars, are they cut ready for a

skedaddle.

Skeer, verb. (American). — To scare. Hence skeery (skary, scary) = (1) dreadful ; (2) frightened, nervous.

1582. Stanihurst, yEneid, iv. 438. But toe thee, poore Dido, this sight so skearye beholding.

1825. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, 1. iv. Ye wasn't skeered, nor nothin', was ye, tho'.

1841. The Kinsmen, 1. 150. 'Don't you be scarey,' said he.

1848. Robb, Squatter Life [Bartlett]. I got a little scary and a good deal mad.

1852. Haliburton, Traits of Amer. Humour, 1. 222. He's the scariest horse you ever saw.

1869. Blackmore, Loma Doone, lix. The horses were a little skeary.

1880. Scribners Mag., Jan., 332. I seen they was mighty skeered.

1885. Hawley Smart, Struck Down, xi. Women get skeary, and desperate afraid of being compromised.

.1892. Whittier, Poems {Century]. I'm scary always to see her shake Her wicked hand.

Skeesicks, subs. (American).—A good-for-nothing ; also like ' dog,' ' rogue,' ' rascal,' in playful address. — Bartlett. [Leland (S. J. & C): 'I take it rather to mean a fidgetty, fussy, little fellow.']

1858. Evening Star (Washington), Nov. "Oh, he be d—d ! " replied the fellow : " he's the little skeezicks that told me to call for Long." This brought down the house.

1870. Bret Harte, Miggles {Century], Thar ain't nobody but him within ten miles of the shanty, and that ar' . . . old Skeesicks knows it.

Skeet, verb. (old).—A variant of scoot (q.v.); to run, or decamp. As adj. and adv. (old literary) = swift, fleet.

c.1360. Allit. Poems [Morris], iii. 195. Thenne ascryed thay him skete.

c.1400. Tale of Gamelyn, 185. A steede ther sadeled smertely and skeet.

c.1430. Destr. of Troy [E. E. T. S.], 13434. This Askathes, the skathill, had sket sons thre.

1848. Burton, Waggeries, 17. The critter . . . skeeted over the side o' the ship into the water.

Skeeter, subs. (American).—A

mosquito.

1852. Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, xx. Law, Miss Feely whip!—[she] wouldn't kill a skeeter.

Skelder, subs. (old).—A rogue ; a sponge (q.v.) : as verb. = to cheat ; to play the sponge : cf. Skellum. Hence skeldering = swindling ; sponging.,

Skeleton. 224

Skewer.

1599. Jonson, Ev. Man Out of Humour. His profession is skeldering and odling. Ibid. (1601), Poetaster, iii. 4. A man may skelder ye now and then of half a dozen shillings or so. Ibid. i. There was the mad skeldering captain . . . that presses every man he meets, with an oath to lend him money.

1609. Dekker, Gulls Hor?ie-Booke, v. If he be poore, he shall now and then light upon some Gull or other, whom he may skelder (after the gentile fashion) of mony.

1611. MiDDLETON and Dekker, Roaring Girl, v. 1. Soldiers ? You skeldering varlets !

1633. Marmion, Fine Companion. Wandring abroad to skelder for a shilling Amongst your bowling alleys.

1773. Hawkins, Orig. Eng. Drama, iii. 119. If SKELDRiNG fall not to decay, thou shalt flourish.

1823. Scott, Peveril, xxxviii. She hath many a thousand stitched to her petticoat ; such a wife would save thee from skeldering on the public.

Skeleton. A skeleton in the

cupboard (locker, closet, house), subs. phr. (colloquial). —A secret source of trouble, fear, or annoyance. Fr. tin cadavre.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xvii. Barnes' Skeleton Closet [Title].

Skellum (or Scellum), subs. (Old Cant).—A rascal : a vagabond : cf. Skelder.

1611. Coryat, Crudities. He longs for sweet grapes, but going to steale 'em, He findeth soure graspes and gripes from a Dutch SKELUM.

1630. Taylor, Works, ii. 123. None hold him, but all cry, Lope, scellum, lope !

1663. Pepys, Diary, 3 Ap. He ripped up Hugh Peters (calling him the execrable skellum), his preaching stirred up the maids of the city to bring their bodkins and thimbles.

1690. Pagan Prince. Let me send that skellum to perdition.

1719. Durfey, Pills, i. 210. Now to leave off writing, Skellums pine and grieve, When we're next for Fighting We'll not ask you leave.

1791. Burns, Tarn o'Shanter. She tauld thee weel thou wast a skellum, A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum.

Skelper, subs, (provincial).—Anything big or striking : see Spanker and Whopper. [Skelp = a blow, and as verb, to strike.]

Skelter. See Helter-skelter.

Skensmadam, subs, (provincial).— A show dish, sometimes real, sometimes sham.

Skerfer, subs, (pugilists'). — A blow on the neck.

Sket, subs, (thieves').—A skeletonkey.

skevington's-daughter (or

(-irons). See Scavenger'sdaughter.

Skew, subs. (Old Cant).—i. 'A Begger's Wooden Dish or Cup ' (B. E. and Grose).

1641. Brome, Jovial Crew, ii. This is Bien Bowse . . . Too little is my skew.

1754. Song [Scoundrels' Diet.]. To thy Bugher and thy Skew, Filch and Jybes, I bid adieu.

2. (Harrow). — An entrance examination at the end of term : that at the commencement is the 'dab,' after which there is no further chance ; a shaky candidate tries the dab first. As verb. = to turn back, to fail.

Skewer, subs. (American).—i. A sword. Hence, as verb. =(1) to run through ; and (2) to impose on.

1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, 147. Our enterprising journal, which had purchased the news, in company with its sharp friends, had been skewered.

2. (common).—A pen. Fr. une griffarde (or griffonante).

Skew-fisted. 225

Skilt.

Skew-fisted, adj. phr. (old).— 'Awkward, ungainly' (B. E.).

Skew-gee, subs, (colloquial).—A squint :as adj. — crooked, skew'd, squinting.

Skewgy-mewgy, subs. phr. (nautical).—See quot.

1886. St. James's Gaz., 7 Ap. The skipper rejoices in a steady drizzling rain, which keeps a certain caustic composition, known to yachtsmen by the mysterious name of skewgy-mewgy, damp and active under the scrubbing-brushes and holystones of her crew.

Skewing, subs, (gilders). In pi. = perquisites ; makings (q.v.). [Properly skew (gilders') — to remove superfluous gold leaf, and to make good defects.] Analogous terms are cabbage (tailors') ; blue-pigeon (plumbers') ; menavelings (beggars') ; fluff (railway clerks') ; pudding, or jam (common).

Skew-the-dew, subs. phr. (common).—A splay-footed person ; a bumble-FOOT (q.v.).

Skewvow, adj. (old). —' Crooked, inclining to one side ' (Grose) : also all askew.

Skid (or Skiv), subs, (common).— A sovereign : see Rhino.

2. (American).—A volunteer; a militiaman.

To put on the skid, verb, phr. (colloquial).—To speak or act with caution.

1885. Punch, 31 Jan., 60. I could pitch you a yarn on that text ; but I fear I must put on the skid.

Skiff, subs, (common).—A leg [?].

1891. M. Advertiser, 6 Ap. Now, 16s. 3d. wanted a lot of earning, more especially when a man had to drive an "old crock" with "skinny skiffs."—

None of them could deny that the " S.T."

cabs were horsed by very old racehorses, bad platers, and what were termed "chin backed horses."

Skiffle, subs, (common).—A great hurry : cf. scuffle.

Skill, subs, (football).—A goal kicked between posts.

Skillet, subs, (nautical).—A ship's cook.

Skillingers (The), subs, (military). — The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons: also "The Old Inniskillings."

Skilly (or Skilligolee), subs. (formerly nautical and prison : now common).—1. A thin broth or soup of oatmeal and water. Hence (2) anything of little or no value. Skilly and toke = prison fare.

1846. Marryat, Peter Simple, xi. I am not worth a skillagolee, and that is the reason which induces me to condescend to serve his Majesty.

1857. Snowden, Magistrate's Assistant (3rd Ed.), 446, s.v. Skilly. The broth in prisons.

1870. Chambers's Miscellany, No. 77, 6. Burgoo, or as it was sportively called, skillagallée, was oatmeal boiled in water to the consistency of hasty pudding.

1871. Figaro, 7 Oct. They christened the latter " Cardwell's skilly," and a course of it would soon turn our Life Guards into the lightest of cavalry.

1883. D. Telegraph, 19 May, 5, 4. England did not wish her to eat skilly, and to wear the " parish dress."

1889. Sportsman, 2 Jan. The worthy ones who play hole-and-corner with society are made to partake of the toke of contrition, and the skilly of repentance.

1902. Desart, Heme Lodge Myst., xvi. The thought of skilly ... i had very vague ideas . . . came into my mind.

Skilt, subs, (common).—In pi. = trousers : see Kicks.

Skim.

226

Skin.

Skim, subs, (thieves').—See quot.

1869. Daily News, 29 July, 'Police Reports.' They thought it contained his skim (money). They took down the bag without wakening him, and found that, instead of skim, the parcel contained two revolvers.

Skimble-skamble, subs., adj., and adv. (old colloquial).—Rigmarole, nonsense ; wandering, confused ; incoherently.

1598. Shakspeare, i Hen. IV., iii.

i, 154. Such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff.

1630. Taylor, Works, Desc. of a Wanton. Here's a sweet deal of scimble-

scamble Stuff.

Ski m m ery, subs. (Oxford Univ.). St. Mary's Hall.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, viii. I swopped the beggar to a skimmeryman.

i860. G. and P. Wharton, Wits and Beaux of Society, 427. After leaving Westminster School he was sent to immortal Skimmery, Oxford.

Skimmington, subs. (old).—1. See quots : also to ride the skimmington (or [Scots'] the stang). [For a long description see Butler, Hudibras, 11. ii. 585.] Hence (2) a row, a quarrel.

1562. Stowe's London [Strype], B.

ii, 258. Shrove Monday at Charing Cross was a man carried of four men, and before him a bagpipe playing, a shawm, and a drum beating, and twenty men with links burning round about him. The cause was his next neighbour's wife beat her husband ; it being so ordered that the next should ride about to expose her.

1685. Oldham, Satyrs. When I'm in pomp on high processions shown, Like pageants of lord may'r, or skimmington.

t-ISZWalpole, Letters, i. 289. There was danger of a skimmington between the great wig and the coif, the former having given a flat lie to the latter.

1785. Grose, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. Riding skimmington. A ludicrous cavalcade, in ridicule of a man beaten by his wife. A man behind a woman, face to horse's tail, distaff in hand, which he

seems to work, the woman beating him with a ladle ; a smock on a staff is carried before them denoting female superiority. They are accompanied by rough music, frying pans, bull's horns, marrowbones and cleavers, &c.—Abridged.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, xxi. Note. The skimmington has been long discontinued in England.

1865. Exeter Police Report, 9 Sep. Summary justice had been done by a skimmington match [sic], on two married persons, whose ill and faithless example had scandalised the neighbourhood.

Skimp, verb, (colloquial). —To stint; to scamp (q.v.). As adj. = insufficient, meagre ; skimping (or skimpy) = scanty, carelessly made, slightingly treated.

1864. Sun, 28 Dec, Review Hotten's Slang Diet. Mr. Hotten has made no mention of a dress that is describable as

skimpy.

1879. Brewer, Eng. Studies, 444. The work was not skimping work by any means.

1885. Craddock, Proph. Gt. Smoky Mountains, iv. Grey hair drawn into a skimpy knot at the back of the head.

1888. Eggleston, Graysons, xix. The woman who has . . . schemed and skimped to achieve her attire knows the real pleasure and victory of self-adornment.

Skimshander. See Scrimshaw.

Skin, subs. (old).—i. A purse; a pocket-book ; any receptacle for money. Thus a queer skin = an empty purse ; frisk the skin = ' clean him out' (Grose and Vaux).

1821. Haggart, Life, 15. Young McGuire had taken some skins with a few shillings in each.

1852. Judson, Myst. of New York, vii. The offisare ave frisk me ; he ave not found ze skin or ze dummy, eh ?

1856. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, iii. The London buzman can keep his pony by abstracting skins from gentlemen's pockets.

2. (old).—A sovereign ; 20/: see Rhino.

Skin.

227

Skin.

3. (old).—In pl. = a tanner (Grose).

4. (American). ^Skinner.

5. (American).—A translation ; a crib (q.v.); a bohn (q.v.). Also as verb. = to copy a solution ; and skinner = one using an irregular aid to study.

1851. Bristed, Five Years, 394. Barefaced copying from books and reviews in their compositions is familiar to our students, as much so as skinning their mathematical examples. Ibid., 457. Classical men were continually tempted to skin the solution of these examples.

1855. Yale College Songs. 'Twas plenty of skin with a good deal of bohn.

18 [?]. Yale Lit. Mag. [Bartlett]. Never skin a lesson which it requires any ability to learn.

1856. Hall, College Words and Customs, 430. In examinations . . . many . . . cover the palms . . . with dates, and when called upon for a given date they read it off . . . from their hands. Such persons skin.

i8[?]. Trumbull, Story of the Sheepskin [Bartlett]. But now that last Biennial's past ; I skinned and fizzled through.

6. (American).—Punch made in the glass : as a whiskey-skin, a rum-skin, &c.

1871. Hay, Little Breeches. Says he, ' Young man, the Phins, know their own whiskey-skins.'

7. (common). ^Skinflint.

Verb (old colloquial).—1. To rob ; to strip ; to clean out (q.v.)\ spec, (racing) to win all one's bets ; (bookmakers') skin

the lamb (or have a skinner)

= to win with an unbacked horse ; (2) = to swindle ; and (3) = to take toll (q.v.). Hence skingame (e.g., skin-faro : see quot. 1882)= a swindle : skin-house = a gambling den ; skinner =

( i ) a sharping cheat, a thief : spec. (American) a looter infesting both camps ; (2) a pirate ; and (3) a race, which being won by a rank outsider, skins the ring.

1821. Cooper, Spy, i. This poor opinion of the skinners was not confined to Mr. Caesar Thompson.

1836. Milner, Turpins Ride to York, ii. 5. Sam. Peel my skin and dub up the browns ! What do you mean? Bal. Just this—that if you do not hand over your money I shall blow out your brains !

1855. Irving, Wol/ert's Roost, 17. The Skinners and Cowboys of the Revolution, when they wrung the neck of a rooster, did not trouble . . . whether they crowed for Congress or King George.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Labour, 11. 81. Perhaps he gets skinned . . . and sells them for what he can.

1869. Bradwood, O.V.H., xix. And a carefully roped and bottled animal, that dropped like a meteor upon the racing public for the Chester Cup, skinned the lamb for Mr. Bacon, landed every bet standing in his book.

1882. McCabe, New York, xxxix. 545. Skin-faro the only game played here, offers no chance whatever to the player. In skin-faro the dealer can take two cards from the box instead of one whenever he chooses to do so.

1883. Sat. Review, 28 April, 533, 2. His victory proved a gold mine to the professional bookmakers, many of whom did not bet against the horse at all, thus performing the profitable operation technically known in the betting-ring as skinning the lamb.

1883. Graphic, 21 April, 410, 2. The Ring are enormous winners on the race, the majority having skinned the lamb.

1883. Greenwood, In Strange Co7iipany. Amongst themselves they are skinners, knock-outs, odd-trick men, and they work together in what . . . their profession calls a "swim."

1884. Referee, 10 August, 1, 1. The winner being found in Quilt, who had sufficient support to leave the result anything but a skinner for the bookmakers. Ibid. (1889), 2 June. They had made a

Skin.

228

Skin.

little overtime at an inn near the station, and, by way of grace after meat, gone over the landlord, left him skinned, and the furniture smashed.

1890. Atlantic Monthly, lxvi. 511. There were two sets of these scapegraces— the 'Cow-boys,' or cattle thieves, and the Skinners, who took everything they could find.

1891. M. Advtr., 21 Mar. The prisoner was entrusted with two tons of coal to deliver. Sergeant Hiscock, of the V division, watched his movements, and saw him skinning the sacks—that is, removing lumps from the tops and placing them in an empty sack.

1896. Lillard, Poker Stories, 51. Southern planters used to lose money just like fun, and were skinned right and left.

1902. D. Mail, 17 Nov., 6, 1. What they shudderingly designate a skinner was enjoyed by a majority of the layers when old Fairyfield credited Mr. George Edwardes with the Belper Selling Plate.

2. (thieves'). — To shadow (q.v.): spec, when previous to arrest. See Nark.

3. (common).—To strip, to peel (q.v.) ; and (venery), to retire the prepuce, to skin the live rabbit. Whence skinner (see quot. 1856).

1856. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, 46. Skinners, or women and boys who strip children of their clothes.

1861. Dickens, Great Expectations, xxxi. Skin the stockings off ... or you'll bust 'em.

1896. Lillard, Poker Stories, 59. 1 have seen a game player just skin off his watch and ring and studs and play them in.

4. (gaming). — To plant a deck (q.v.): see concave, Broads, and Reflector.

5. (common). — To abate a price ; to lower a value : cf. shaving the ladies (s.v. shave).

6. (common). — To thrash : also to skin alive.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 22 Dec. ' If yer don't stop your guzzum I'll skin yer alive'. . . She flourished a skillet at him.

1895. Idler, Aug., 63. I'm sure that her parents would skin her, If they thought that she smiled on my suit.

1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xxxiv. I'd have skinned the 'ussy if I'd caught her prying into my grounds.

Other Colloquialisms and Phrases.—By the skin of one's teeth = a narrow escape, the closest of close shaves ; to skin out = io decamp ; to skin the cat (gymnasts') = to grasp the bar with both hands, raise the feet, and so draw the body, between the arms, over the bar ;

like eels, used to skinning

= of good heart ; to skin the eyes (see Keep) ; all skin and whipcord = well-trussed ; in good condition ; in (or with) a whole skin = uninjured, with impunity ; to save one's skin = to escape unhurt : see Bacon ; to skin a flint (see Skinflint) ; honest as the skin

between his brows (or horns) :

see Brow ; to skin a razor = to drive a hard-and-fast bargain ; to skin one's skunk = to do one's own dirty work ; in a bad skin = angry (Grose) ; cleanskin (Australian) = an unbranded beast ; cf. Maverick ; to leap (or jump) out of one's skin = to be startled or pleased ; in her or his) skin = evasive as to a person's whereabouts.

i6[?]. Marq. of Huntley's Retreat [Child, Ballads, vii. 271]. He had resolved that day To sleep in a whole skin.

1605. Marston, Dutch Courtezan, iii. i. Blesse me, I was never so out of my skinne in my life.

1611. Bible, 'Authorised Version,' Job xix. 20. I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

Skin.

229

Skinflint.

1616-25. Court and Times Jas. I. Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 71. Amongst Romance words are save his skin, refreshed with money . . .]

1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie (ist ed.), 72. ^Eneas, was so glad on's kin, He ready was t'leap out on's skin.

rf.1704. L'Estrange, Works [Century], Dangerous civilities, wherein 'tis hard for a man to save both his skin and his credit.

1708. Centlivre, Busy-Body, v. 1. Confirm it ! Make me leap out of my skin.

1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, i. Col. Pray, Miss, where is your old Acquaintance, Mrs. Wayward. Miss. Why, where should she be ? You must needs know ; she's in her Skin.

1798. G. Colman (the younger), Blue Devils, i. 1. Made me jump out of my skin with joy.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 26. At these words I was ready

to jump out of my skin for joy.

TR36. Scott, Tom Cringle's Log, i. Who says that eels can not be made used to skinning ? The poor girls continued their preparations with an alacrity and presence of mind that truly surprised me. There was neither screaming nor fainting.

1841. Thackeray, Snobs, xii. I should be ready to jump out of my skin if two Dukes would walk down Pall Mall with me.

1877. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, xxxiii. You jest gather up your traps and skin out of this.

1882. Grant, Bush Life, 1. 206. These clean skins . . . are supposed to belong to the cattle owner, on whose run they emerge from their shelter.

1888. Phil. Ev. Bulletin, 23 Feb. Another Presidential candidate who is abroad, it will be remembered, utilized a pole daily for skinning the cat.

1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xx. Brought out a horse—the same I'd ridden from Gippsland, saddled and bridled, and ready to jump out of his skin.

1891. Gould, Double Event, 101. The horse was regularly worked, and he looked in splendid health and condition, fit to jump out of his skin, to use a racing term.

1896. Sala, London up to Date, 66. At the election I had no less than seventeen black balls ; but ... I got in by the skin of my teeth.

Skin-coat, subs. phr. (venery).— The female pudendum: see Monosyllable. Hence shaking a skin-coax = copulating.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 11. xvii. And by God, I will have their skincoat shaken once yet before they die.

TO curry one's skincoat, verb. phr. (old).—To thrash.

Ski n-disejkse, subs. phr. (common). —Fourpenny ale.

Skinflint (or Skin), subs. (old). —' A griping, sharping, closefisted Fellow' (B. E., (r.1696, and Grose). As verb, (or to

skin, or flay, a flint, fly,

stone, &c. ) = to pinch, to screw, to starve: cf. (proverbial) 'to skin a flea, and bleed a cabbage ' ; skinny = mean, stingy ; the skinflinteries = The Museum of Economic [now Practical] Geology, Jermyn St., W. See File, Flay, Flea, and Flint for additional quots.

1761. Murphy, Citizen, ii. An old miserly good-for-nothing skin-flint.

1789. Parker, Life's Painter, ' The Masqueraders.' The miser, that skinflint old elf.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 212. The skinflint would not trust me for six ells of cloth.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, xi. It would have been long . . . ere my womankind could have made such a reasonable bargain with that old skinflint. Ibid. Fortunes oj Nigel, xxxi. ' Plague on ye,' he muttered, ' for a cunning auld skinflint ! '

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple (1846), 11. 194. Report says she would skin a flint if she could.

Skinful.

230

Skink.

1868. Putnam's Mag., Jan. Old miser Dyser, skin a fly, Sir, Sell the skin and turn the money in.

1869. Byron, Not such a Fool as He Looks [French], 12. Sharp old skinflint, downy old robber as he is.

1884. Century Mag-., xxxix. 227. He would refer to . . . his former employer as that skin.

1889. D. Tel., 11 May. It was suggested that the obstructive vehicles should stop in front of the Museum of Economic [sic] Geology—popularly known as the Skinflinteries.

1890. Lancet, 11. 246. As a rule the whole of the men in a factory would contribute, and skinny ones were not let off easily.

1898. Hume, Hagar, i. He was . . . so avaricious that throughout the neighbourhood he was called skinflint.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, vi. This old skinflint is such a character that you should keep all the working results sealed, till he certifies his own.

Skinful, subs, (common).—A bellyful—liquor or food.

1600. Kemp, Dœnce to Norwich [Akber, Eng. Garner, vii.]. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 52. A man takes a jump ; he may have his skinfull of drink.]

1640-50. Howell, Letters, iii. 5. [Howell calls his body a skinfull of bones.]

1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, . . . I'll wager the rascals a crown, They always preach best with a

skinful.

1868. W. S. Gilbert, Bab Ballads, ' Sir Macklin.' He wept to think each thoughtless youth Contained of wickedness a skinful.

1888. Runciman, Chequers, 85They were reasonably anxious to secure a skinful, and they feared lest my powers might prove abnormal.

1897. D. Mail, 25 Sep., 7, 3. The elastic skin man comes over here for the first time, and the Custom House authorities will need to look out that he is not employed for smuggling purposes—he has certainly been known many a time to have his skinful.

Skink, verb. (old).—Primarily to draw, serve, or offer drink. Whence as subs.= drink or lap {q.v.); and skinker = (i) a tapster, or waiter (B. E.); (2) a landlord, and (3) see quots. 1785 and 1847.

1205. Layamon [Madden], 8124. Weoren tha bernes [men], i-sœngte mid beore, & tha drihliche gumen, weoren windrunken.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, 'Merchant's Tale,' 478. Bacus the wyn hem skynketh al aboute.

1582-7. Hakluyt, Voyages, 1. 480. For that cause called this new city by the name of Naloi : that is skinck or poure in.

1594. Green and Lodge, Looking Glass for London and England. i'll have them skink my standing bowls with wine. Ibid. Jack Skinker, fill it full.

1600. Haughton, Grim the Collier [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), xi. 222]. I must be skinker then . . . They all shall want ere Robin shall have none.

1601. Jonson, Poetaster, iv. 3. Alb. i'll ply the table with nectar, and make them friends. Her. Heaven is like to have but a lame skinker, then. Ibid. (1614), Bartholomew Fair, ii. Then skink out the first glass ever, and drink with all companies. Ibid. (d. 1637), Verses at A polio, vii. 295. Hang up all the poor hop-drinkers, Cries old Sym, the King of skinkers.

1606. Marston, Sophon, v. 2. Let me not drink 'Till my breast burst, O Jove, thy nectar skinke.

1609. Dekker, Gull's Hornbook, 26. Awake thou noblest drunkard Bacchus— teach me, thou sovereign skinker.

1617. Fletcher, Knight oj Malta, iii. i. Our glass of life runs wine, the vintner skinks it.

c.1650. Brathwayte, Barnaby's Jo. (1723), 57. There i toss'd it with my skinkers, Not a drop of Wit remained Which the Bottle had not drained.

1652. Shirley, Impost., A5, 57. Such wine as Ganymede doth skinke to Jove.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Skink ... to wait on the company, ring the bell, stir the fire, and snuff the candles ; the duty of the youngest officer in the military mess.

Skin-merchant. 231

Skip.

1818. Scott, Rob Roy, iv. I give my vote and interest to Jonathan Brown, our landlord, to be the King and Prince of skinkers, conditionally that he fetches us another bottle as good as the last.

1831. Lamb, Satan in Search of a Wife, 11. xxvii. No Hebe fair stood cupbearer there, The guests were their own

skinkers.

1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, s.v. Skink. In a family the person latest at breakfast is called the skink, or the skinker, and some domestic office is imposed or threatened for the day, such as ringing the bell, putting coal on the fire, or in other cases, drawing the beer for the family.

1852. Hawthorne, Blithedale Romance, 245. Some old-fashioned skinkers and drawers were spreading a banquet on the leaf-strewn earth.

Skin-merchant, subs. phr. (old). —A recruiting officer.

1783. Burgoyne, Lord of the Manor, iii. 2. I am a manufacturer of honour and glory—vulgarly call'd a recruiting dealer, or more vulgarly still, a skin-merchant.

Skinned-rabbit, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A very spare person.

Skinner, i. See Skin.

2. (sporting). — A bird fat enough to burst its skin when shot.

Skin-of-the-Creature (or crater), subs. phr. (Irish).—A bottle : see Creature.

Skin-the-lamb, subs. phr. (old). —Lansquenet : see also Skin, verb. i.

Skin-the-pizzLE. subs. phr. (venery).—The femalepttdendum: see Monosyllable.

Skintight, subs, (common).—A sausage.

Skintling, adv. (American).—See quot.

i8[?]. Science [Century]. [The bricks] are carried in wheelbarrows, and set skintling, or at right angles across each other.

Skip, subs. (old).—1. A footman; a grasshopper (q.v.). Whence spec. 2 (Trin. Coll., Dublin), a college servant : cf. gyp and

scout. Also skipkennel (B.

E. and Grose).

1672. A. Brome, Covent Garden Drollery. The prizes they took were a Londoner's groat, A gentleman's size, but his skipkennel's pot.

1703. Ward, London Spy, vu. 151. As a Courtier's Footman when he meets his Brother skip in the middle of Covent Garden.

.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 120. Pluto's skipken^jels are not so insolent as yours are.

1721. Amhurst, Terrœ Fillius. No. Z. Every scullion and skipkennel had liberty to tell his master his own.

1729. Swift, Directions to Servants, ' Footman.' My lady's waiting-woman . . . apt to call you skip-kennel.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, xi. Conducting himself in all respects ... as his . . . own man, skip, valet, or flunkey.

1842. _ Tait's Mag., Oct., 'Rem. College Life.' The skip, or according to the Oxford etymology, 'the man vulture,' is not fit for his calling who cannot time his business so as to be present simultaneously at several places.

1845. Thackeray, Pendennis, xx. His wounded tutor, his many duns, the skip and bedmaker who waited on him.

Verb, (common).—1. To decamp : see Bunk. Also to skip out (or off), and to do a skip.

1872. Clemens, Roughing It, ix. The Indian had skipped around so's to spile everything.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 19 Dec. I knew he was getting ready to skip out of town the moment he saw the jig was up.

1889. Ally Sloper, 29 June. This base myrmidon of the law endeavoured to execute his task just as Andrew was about to lead a second bouncing bride to the altar. But Andrew espied him and quietly

skipped.

Skip-brain. 232

Skipper.

1892. Kipling, Barrack-Room Ballads, ¹ Gunga Din.' With 'is mussick on 'is back, 'E would skip with our attack.

1895. Pocock, Rules of the Game, 11. 10. If I had known of this warrant, I'd have gone on my knees and implored him for your dear sake not to skip the train.

2. (common). — To die : see Hop the Twig.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, xv. The dark pool of blood . . . told its awful story . . . Skipped out . . . game to the last, and never flinched.

3. (common).—To read hastily, picking out passages here and there. Hence 4 (University), to shirk work. Also skipper = a hasty reader; and skippable = easily and quickly read.

1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 Feb. Two classes of readers, however, may get not a little that is interesting out of this book— the pachydermatous plodder and the judicious skipper.

Skip-brain, adj. (old).—Flighty; volatile ; fickle.

1603. Davies, Microcosmus, 30. This SKiPP-BRAiNE Fancie.

Skipjack, subs. (old).—i. A horsedealer's jockey (B. E. and Grose).

1568. Fulwel, Like will to Like [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 565. Here we see knave of clubs, skipjack, snip-snap].

1608-9. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, x. The boyes, striplings, &c, that have the riding of the jades up and downe are called skip-jackes.

2. —A nobody ; a trifler : also

skipper.

1580. Sidney, Arcadia, in. Now the devil, said she, take these villains, that can never leave grinning, because I am not so fair as mistress Mopsa ; to see how this skip-jack looks at me.

d. 1592. Greene, Alfihonsus, i. What, know'st thou, skip-jack, whom thou villain call'st.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming oj Shrew, ii. t, 341. Skipper, stand back ; 'tis age that nourisheth.

1611. Cotgrave, Nimbot. Adwarfe, dandiprat, little skip-jacke.

1670. Cotton, Scoffer Scoff t {.Works (1725), 190]. But till thou hadst this Skip-Jack got.

Skipper, subs. (Old Cant).—i. A barn (Awdeley, Harman, Rowlands, Head, B. E., and Grose). Whence as verb, (or to skipper it) = to sleep in the straw or in Hedge Square (q.v.) ; skipper-bird = a barnrooster or hedge-tramp.

1652. Broome, Jovial Crew, ii. Now let each tripper Make a retreat into the skipper.

1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab., ii. 83. When I get down I go to sleep for a couple of hours. I skipper it—turn in under a hedge or anywhere. Ibid., i. 336. Here is the best places in England for skipper-birds (parties that never go to lodging-houses, but to barns or outhouses, sometimes without a blanket) . . . ' Keyhole whistlers,' the skipper-birds are sometimes called.

2. (common).—The Devil. For

synonyms see Black Spy.

3. (B. E. and Grose : still colloquial).—' A Dutch Master of a Ship or Vessell ' ; in modern use any ship's captain ; and (4) a leader or chief in any enterprise, adventure, or business. Hence 5. (general) a master, boss (q.v.), governor (q.v.).

1485-1500. Gardner, Letters of

Rich. III. and Hen. VII. [Oliphant,

New Eng., i. 352. There is the skippar of a ship, and the Northern form raid].

Ibid. 341 (1509). [James IV. speaks of a

crew as including] Master, 2 factours, skippar, sterisman.

1600. Decker, Show. Holiday [Grosart, Wks. (1873), i. 30]. Do you remember the shippe my fellow Hans told you of, the skipper and he are both drinking at the Swan ?

1636. Suckling, Goblins, iv. With as much ease as a skipper Would laver against the wind.

Skippers-daughter. 233

Skit.

1699. Congreve, Way of the World, iii. 15. Mrs. Mar. No doubt you will return very much improv'd. Witw. Yes, refined like a Dutch skipper from a whale fishing.

1710. Gay, Wine [Whs. (1811), 351]. Chase brutal feuds of Belgian skippers hence.

1751. Smollett, Per. Pickle, xxxiv. By the skipper's advice the servants [carried] wine and provision on board.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, iv. The young skipper exultingly stamped his foot on a deck he could really call his own.

d.1882. Longfellow, Wreck of Hesperus. And the skipper had taken his little daughter To bear him company.

6. (American). — The cheesehopper : hence skippery = full of mites.

1856. Dow, Sermons, 11. 258. The earth appears as animated as a plate of skippery cheese.

See Skip and Skipjack.

Skipper's-daughter, subs. phr. (common).—A crested wave ; a white-cap (or horse).

.1894. Stevenson, Education of an Engineer. The swell ran pretty high, and out in the open there were skipper's

daughters.

Skipping, adj. (Shakespeare).— Light, giddy, volatile.

1594. Shakspeare, Love's Laboar Lost, v. 2, 771. All wanton as a child, skipping and vain. Ibid. (1598), Merchant of Venice, ii. 2, 196. Allay with some cold drops of modesty Thy skipping spirit. Ibid. (1602), Twelfth Night, i. 5. 'Tis not that time of moon with me to make one in so skipping a dialogue.

Skirry, subs. (old).—A run : also as verb. = to scurry (Parker, 1781).

1821. Haggart, Life, 36. He went into an entry as I skirry'd past him. Ibid., 37. The skirry became general.

Skirt, subs, (common).—In pi. = women (generic). Hence (venery)

to skirt (or flutter a skirt)

= to walk the streets ; to do a bit of skirt = to copulate : see Ride and cf. Placket, Petticoat, Muslin, &c.

1899. Hyne, Fur. Adv. Capl. Kettle, xii. If . . . you rats of men shove your way down here . . . before all the skirt is ferried across, you'll get knocked on the head.

TO sit upon one's skirts, verb. phr. (old).—To pursue.

^I5²5^-37Ellis, Original Letters, 1. iii. She will sit upon my skyrtes.

1620. Idle Houre [Halliwell], Cross me not, Liza, nether be so perte, For if thou dost, I'll sit upon thy skirte.

1650. Howell, Familiar Letters. Touching the said archbishop, he had not stood neutrall as was promised, therefore he had justly set on his skirts.

Skirter, subs, (hunting).—1. See quot ; whence (2) a hunter who does not ride straight to hounds, but make short cuts : cf. Shirker.

1870. Maine, Ency. Rural Sports, 386. À hound that has a habit of running wide of the pack is called a skirter.

.1875. Kingsley, Go Harki Leave cravens and skirters to dangle behind.

Skirt-foist, subs. phr. (old).—A general amorist ; a poacher (q.v.).

d.1652. Wilson, Inconstant Lady [Nares]. I think there is small good intended, that Emilia did prefer him. I do not like that skirt-foist.

Skit, subs. (Grose).—i. A jest, a satire : also as verb. (Grose) = * to wheedle.'

1779. Mrs. Cowley, Who's the Dupe? ii. 2. Come, come, none of your tricks upon travellers. I know you mean all that as a skit upon my edication.

Skitter-brain. 234

Skulker.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxxii. But if he really shot young Hazlewood— But I canna think it, Mr. Glossin ; this will be some o' yonr skits* now—I conna think it o' sae douce a lad ;—na, na, this is just some o' your auld skits—ye'U be for having a horning or a caption after him. [*Tricks.j

1884. Graphic, 20 Sept., 299, 1. When will be produced the new GilbertSullivan opera, which is reported to be a skit on "Thought-reading."

1885. D. News, 28 Sep. Of these many are skits at the expense of that unfailing object of Thackeray's love of banter.

2. subs. (old).—A wanton : see Tart.

1583. Howard, Def. agst. Superst. Prophesies. [Herod] at the request of a dancing skit stroke off the head of St. John the Baptist.

Skitter-brain (or -wit), subs. (common).—A flighty person. Also Skitterbrained, &c.

Skitting-dealer, subs. phr. (Old Cant).—A sham dumby.

Skittles, intj. (common).—Nonsense !

Other Colloquialisms are— All beer and skittles = Everything easy or to one's liking ; all up, as skittles when down = a difficulty, something to tackle or do again.

1864. Orchestra, 12 Nov., 106. 'To Correspondents.' Se faire applaudir is not " to make onesself applauded," and "joyous comedian" is simply skittles.

1886. Kipling, Departmental Ditties, ' Padgate, M.P.' 'Where is your heat ? ' said he. ' Coming,' said I to Padgate. 'Skittles ! ' said Padgate, M.P.

1889. Lie. Vict. Gaz., 8 Feb. Plunging was not all beer and skittles, as the Viscount had playfully and elegantly observed when a special pot had boiled over.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 4 Nov., 3, 1. It would present a useful object lesson to those who think that the artist's life is all

BEER AND skittles.

1900. Boothby, Maker of Nations, v. Skittles it would have been and of the most desperate description ... I can tell you I was just about played out.

Skiv (or Sciv), subs, (common).— A sovereign ; 20/: see Rhino.

1870. London Figaro, 19 Dec. ' A Swell on Stalls.' I am anxious to pay more ; indeed, what do I want with change? Assure you I should much prefer to pay half-a-skiv, or even a " sov." for my seat.

1887. Payn, Glow Worm Tales, 246. Please to send me the skiv by return, for I sadly want some comfort.

Skowbanker, subs. (Australian). —A loafer ; a hanger-on : also showbanker.

Skower. See Scoure.

Skrimp (or Skru mp), verb, (provincial).—To steal apples.

Skrimshanker, subs, (military).

—See Scrimshanker and add quots. infra.

1890. Tit-Bits, 26 Ap., 35, i. Of course, besides the dread of being considered asKRiMSHANKER, a soldier dislikes the necessary restraints of a hospital.

1893. Kipling, Many Inventions, ' His Private Honour.' If Mulvaney stops scrimshank in'—gets out o' . . . 'orspital ... I lay your lives will be trouble to you.

Skrunt, subs. (Scots').—A prostitute : see Tart.

Skue, subs. (old).—See quot.

1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wördes, Codurza, the rump or skue of a bird.

Skug. See Scug.

Skulker, subs. (Grose)—' A soldier who . . . evades his duty ; a sailor who keeps below in time of danger ; one who keeps out of the way when work is to be done. To skulk, to hide oneself ; to avoid labour or duty.'

Skull.

235 Sky.

Skull, subs. (University).—I. The

head of a college : see Golgotha ; whence skull-race = a university examination. 2. (American) = any chief, as the President, the head of a business, the captain of a vessel, &c.

My skull's afly, phr. (old). —Awake (q.v.) ; fly (q.v.)

Skull and Crossbones (The),

subs. phr. (military).—The 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers. [The Regimental Badge.] Also "The Death or Glory Boys " ; " Bingham's Dandies" ; "The Gentlemen Dragoons"; and "The Horse Marines."

Skullduggery. See Sculldud-

dery.

Skull-thatch er, subs. phr. (old). —i. A straw-bonnet maker ; hence (2) a hatter ; and (3) a wig-maker. Skull-thatch = a hat or wig.

1863. Braddon, Aurora Floyd, xxiv. ' I'll find my skull-thatcher it I can,' said Captain Prodder, groping for his hat amongst the brambles and the long grass.

Skungle, verb. (American).—A generic verb of action : to decamp, to steal a watch, to gobble up food, &c. : cf. Skyugle.

Skunk, subs. (American).—1. A mean, paltry wretch ; a stinkard (q.v.).

1841. The Kinsmen, 1. 171. He's a skunk—a bad chap about the heart.

1876. Bret Harte, Gabriel Conroy, I. i. i. 14. Ain't my husband dead, and isn't that skunk—an entire stranger—still livin' ?

1884. Referee, 1 June, 7, 3. The bloodthirsty and cowardly skunks, who rob servant girls in America of their money in order to blow servant girls in London to pieces.

2. (American). Utter defeat : as verb. = to disgrace : cf. Slam.

1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, 135. In the second hand of the third game, I made high, low, game, and skunked him, outright again.

Verb. 2. (American Univ.).— To neglect to pay.

Sky (or Ski), subs. (Westminster). —I. See quot. [An abbreviation or corruption of Volsci : the Westminster boys being Romans. ]

1867. Stanley, Westminster Abbey, 453. Conflicts between Westminster scholars and the skys of London, as the outside world was called.

2. See Skyrocket.

F^. (common).—1. To hang, throw, or hit high (e.g., a picture at the Royal Academy : whence the sky = the upper rows of exhibitors ; a ball at cricket : hence skyer, or skyscraper = a high hit). Whence (2) to spend freely till all's blued (q.v.). To sky a copper = to spin a coin.

1802. Edgeworth, Irish Bulls. ¹ Billy,' says I, ' will you sky a copper.'

i8[?]. Reynolds, The Fancy, Glossary. Toss for sides—the seconds sky a copper, before every battle, to decide which man shall face the sun.

1874. Collins, Frances, xxvii. The ball had been struck high in air, and longfield had almost flown into air to meet it, catching it as it came down like a thunderbolt with his left hand only, and skying it at once with triumphant delight.

1881. Jas. Payn, Grapes from a Thorn, ii. His pictures of the abbey having been skied in the Academy . . . made his humour a little tart that year.

1884. Sat. Rev., 31 May. The high wind made skyers difficult to judge.

1885. Smart, Post to Finish, 134. Two or three more slashing hits, and then the Rector skyed one which his opponents promptly secured.

1886-96. Marshall, Pomes, 40. With the takings safely skyed.

Sky-blue. 236 Skylark.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 23 Sept., 2, 1. " Lost ball ! " was cried . . . When, overhead, supremely skied, I saw that awful ball descending.

1890. Globe, 7 May, 6, 1. It was skied at the Royal Academy last year.

2. (Harrow).—1. To charge, or knock down : at football. Also (2) to throw away.

If the sky falls we shall catch larks = a retort to a wild hypothesis : cf. 'if pigs had wings they'd be likely birds to fly.'

1654. Webster, Appius and Virginia [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), iv.

124]. If hap the sky-fall, we may hap tO have larks.

Sky-blue, subs.phr. (old).—i. Gin (Grose).

1755. Connoisseur, No. 53. Madam Gin has been christened by as many names as a German princess : every petty chandler's shop will sell you Sky-blue.

2. (common). — Diluted or ' separated ' milk.

1800. Bloomfield, Farmer's, Boy. And strangers tell of three times skimmed sky-blue.

d. 1845. Hood, Retrospective Review. That mild sky-blue, That washed my sweet meals down.

1864. Sala, Quite Alone, xv. Cake and wine existed no more in her allure ; she was suggestive only of bread and scrape and sky-blue.

Sky-farmer, subs. phr. (old).— See quot. : Grose (1785).

1754. Disc. John Poulter, 39. Skyfarmers are People that go about the country with a false pass, signed by the Church Wardens and Overseers of the Parish or Place that they lived in, and some Justice of the Peace, but the Names are all forged ; in this manner they extort money, under pretence of sustaining Loss by Fire, or the Distemper amongst the horned Cattle.

Skygazer, subs, (nautical). — A

sky sail.

Sky-godlin, adv. (American). —

Obliquely ; askew.

1869. Overland Monthly, iv. 128. He will run sky-godlin.

Sky-lantern, subs. phr. (old).— The moon : see Oliver.

1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, i. 2. You won't want a light—you can see by the sky-lantern up above.

Skylark, subs, (common).—Originally tricks in the rigging of H. M. Navy ; hence any roughand-tumble horseplay. As verb. = to frolic, to play the fool ; skylarking = boisterous merriment or fooling ; and skylarker = a practical joker.

1829. Marry at, Frank Mildmay, iv. I had become ... so fond of displaying my newly acquired gymnastics, called by the sailors sky-larking, that my speedy exit was often prognosticated. Ibid. (1834), Peter Simple (1846), 1. 62. There was such bawling and threatening, laughing and crying ... all squabbling or skylarking, and many of them drunk.

1835. Dana, Before the Mast, xvii. We . . . ran her chock up to the yard. ' Vast there ! vast ! ' said the mate ; ' none of your skylarking !

1836. M. Scott, Cruise of Midge, 188. Come on deck, man—come on deck —this is no time for skylarking. Ibid. (1852), Tom Cringle's Log, iii. ' It's that sky-larking son of a gun, Jem Sparkle's monkey, sir.'

_ 1855. C. Kingsley, Westward Ho, xviii. Lucky for them . . . they were not skylarking.

1858. New York Courier. ' Election.' There was a considerable amount of skylarking carried on from sunset until midnight in the halls and passages of the building, hats were smashed, and members tumbled on the floor.

1863. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, iv. When his father wouldn't stand him any longer, he used to go out and skylark with the clerks.

Skylarker. 237 Skyscraper.

1871. Morning Advertizer, 2 Feb. Give warning of what is going on to all husbands who skylark around." The precise nature of the diversion, indicated by skylarking around, is a little foggy ; but, taken in conjunction with the context, it is clearly not inconsistent with staying from home until the small hours.

t888. Boldrewood, Robbery under Arms, xxiv. Talking and skylarking, like a lot of boys.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 7. If yer don't find it a 'Oliday skylark, wy, never trust 'Arry.

Skylarker, subs, (old thieves').— A housebreaker following bricklaying as a blind.

2. See Skylark.

Skylight, subs, (nautical).—The eye.

1836. Scott, Tom Cringle's Log, iii. After a long look through his starboard blinker (his other skylight had been shut up ever since Aboukir) . . .

Sky-par lour, subs. phr. (common).—A garret (Grose).

1807-8. Irving, Salmagundi, No. ii. I beg leave to repeat the advice so often given by the illustrious tenants of the theatrical sky-parlour to the gentlemen who are charged with the " nice conduct " of chairs and tables—" Make a bow, Johnny. Johnny, make a bow."

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. v. Bob . . . proposed to see the author safe to his sky parlour.

1836. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, ' First of May.' Now ladies, up in the sky-parlour ; only once a year, if you please. Ibid. (1855), Dorrit, 1. viii. She has a lodging at the turnkey's. First home there . . . sky parlour.

1847. Rhodes, Bombastes Furioso, 15. My parlour that's next to the sky I'd quit, her blest mansion to share.

1883. Dobson, Hogarth, 43. The poor verseman, high in his Grub-Street or " Porridge-Island " sky-parlour.

1891. Herald, 31 May, 3, 1. Skyparlours may be very well, but I'm certain there is something wrong with my friend's "upper story."

1895. Le Queux, Temptress, iii. The necessaries of life which she would convey to his sky parlour.

Sky-pilot, ^j.^r.(common),—A clergyman : see Bible-pounder.

1889. Sporting Times, 29 June. The Sky Pilot, having regard to muttered remarks which might be heard emanating from the Englishman, gave his professional opinion that his service was anything divine.

1895. Le Queux, Temptress, ix. Have you seen the Sky Pilot?

Skyrocket, subs, (rhyming).—1. A pocket : also sky.

1879. J. W. Horsley in Macm. Mag., xl. 502. A slavey piped [saw] the spoons sticking out of my skyrocket [pocket].

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xiv. See everything is bono, and keep the split in your skyrocket. Ibid., xx. I'd two bob in my sky, so paid three night's letty.

1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 237. After thirty-six 'ands 'ad bin all over him, —why, even then we never found his sky.

2. (old).—Eccentricity.

1690. Dryden, Mistakes, Prol. [Works (Globe), 473]. He's no highflyer —he makes no skyrockets. His squibs are only levelled at your pockets.

Skyscraper, subs, (common).— Generic for height : e.g. (1) a very tall man ; (2) a very lofty building : spec. (American) erections sometimes twenty stories high \ (3) ^a triangular sail set above the royals, a sky-sail, skygazer, or angel's footstool (q.v.); and (4) a skied ball. Hence skyscraping and other derivatives.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, v. Run out the bolt-sprit, up main-sail, top and top-gallant sails, royals, and skyscrapers, and away—follow who can !

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 47. It's a bloominger sky-scraping Topper.

Skypper. 238 Slack.

1902. Free Lance, 19 July, 364, 1. Unsightly blocks of sky-scraping buildings ; vulgar self-advertisement, loudness, and beef Trusts, bluff and billionaires.

5. (old nautical).—A cocked hat.

6. (venery).—The penis: see Prick and cf. Heaven = female pudendum.

Skypper. See Skipper, subs., sense 1.

Skyte, subs. (Shrewsbury).—See quot. : cf. Scots' skyte = fool.

1881. Pascoe, Every-Day Life, àr'c. Day boys . . . live or lodge in the town ; and the designation of skytes was formerly applied to them.

Verb. (old).—1. Skite (q.v.) ; and (2) Squitter {q.v.).

On the skyte, phr. (Scots'). —Drunk : see Screwed.

1872. Paston Letters, i. 85. Robert Weryngton to Thomas Daniel, May, 1449. And there I came about the Admirale, and bade them stryke in the Kyngys name of England, and they bade me skyte in the Kyngs name of England.

Skyugle, verb. (American).—See quots.

1873. Tribune, 27 Jan. Not knowing exactly what it is to skyugle a message, we cannot say whether our re-

Eorter was guilty of that offence or not ; ut we have no hesitation in admitting that he procured a copy of the message in advance, and that our reporters do such things almost every day.

1880. Collins, Thoughts in my Garden, 1. 49. The scoundrels skyugled one excellent old gentleman's choice plate.

1864. Army and Navy Journal (American), 11 July. A corps staff officer informed me that he had been out on a general scyugle ; that he had scyugled along the front, when the rebels scyugled a bullet through his clothes ; that he should scyugle his servant ; who, by the way, had scyugled three fat chickens ; that after he had scyugled his dinner, he proposed to scyugle a nap.

Sky-WANNOCKiNG, subs. phr. (common).—A drunken frolic.

Slab, subs. (old).—1. A milestone (Bee).

2. (provincial).—A bricklayer's boy (Halliwell).

3. (common).—A thick slice of bread and butter : cf. Doorstep.

4. (Durham School).—In pi. = a flat cake.

To slab off, verb. phr. (American).—To reject [Bartlett].

1835. Crockett, Tour Down East, 212. You must take notice that I am slabb'd off from the election, and am nothing but a voter.

Slabbering-bit, subs. phr. (old). —A neck-band : clerical or legal (Grose).

Slabberdegullion. See Slub-

berdegullion.

Slab-sided, adj. (colloquial).— Tall ; lank ; ' up and down ' in figure : also slap-sided.

1825. Neal, Brother Jonathan, ii. Great, long, slab-sided gawkeys from the country.

1856. Dow, Sermons, 11. 200. I like to see a small waist . . . and females with hour-glass shapes suit my fancy better than your Dutch-churn, soap-barrel, slabsided sort of figures.

1856. Leland, New Sloper Sketches {Knickerbocker Mag., Mar.]. The real slab-sided whittler is indigenous to Varmount and New Hampshire.

1859. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, 353. One of those long-legged, slabsided, lean, sunburned, cabbage-tree hatted lads.

(f.1891. Lowell, Fitz-Adam's Story. You didn't chance to run ag'inst my son, A long slab-sided youngster with a gun?

Slack, subs, (common).—In = overall trousers.

Slack-jaw. 239 Slaney.

1883. Greenwood, Odd People. Unwashed, and in their working slacks and guernseys.

2. (pugilistic).—A smashing or knock-down blow. [Jack Slack, champion 1750-60, was known for his powerful delivery]. Also

SlACK-'UN : cf. auctioneer and mendoza.

3. (colloquial).—A slack time.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., in. 237. When there is a slack the merchants are all anxious to get their vessels delivered as fast as they can.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, 11. xxi. Though there's a slack we haven't done with sharp work yet, I see.

Verb, (common). — To piss (q.v.) : also to SLACK off.

TO hold on the slack, Verb.

phr. (nautical).—To skulk ; to loaf.

Slack-jaw, subs.phr. (American). —Impertinence.

1883. Century Mag., xxxvii. 407. I mought do it fur you, bein' as how ye got so much slack-JAW.

Slag, subs. (old). — * A slackmettled fellow, one not ready to resent an affront' (Grose).

Slake, verb, (provincial). — See quot.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, &"c, s.v. Slake ... 3. To lick . . . vulgarly used in the sense ... of to kiss.

Slam, subs. (old). — 1. A trick (Grose).

2. (cards').—At whist a game lost without scoring : also as verb. = to take every trick : cf. skunk (B. E. and Grose).

[?]. Loyal Songs [Ency. Diet.]. Until a noble general came And gave the cheaters a clean slam.

3. (old). — A sloven : also

slamkin (Grose : ' One whose

clothes seem hung on with a

pitchfork') ; and (4) any ill-made,

awkward, ungainly wretch.

1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, v. 6. Hoyd. I don't like my lord's shapes, nurse. Nurse. Why in good truly, as a body may say, he is but a slam.

Verb, (common).—I. To brag; spec, (military) to feign drunkenness and boast of many drinks : cf. slum.

2. (strollers'). — To patter

(q. v. ) ; to talk in the way of trade.

1884. Henley, Villon's Good Night. You swatchel coves that pitch and slam.

Slam-bang. See Slap, adv.

Slamkin (Slammocks, or Slammerkin), subs. (old).—A slut (q.v.). As verb. = to slouch.

Slammer, subs, (colloquial). — Anything exceptional : see Whopper. Hence slamming (adj.) = large, exceptional.

s la mp am (slampaine, slam-

pambes, or Slampant), subs. (old).—A blow : see Wipe. To cut of (or give the) slampambes = to circumvent ; to get the better of.

c.1563. New Custome [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), i. 230]. I wyll cut him of the slampambes, I hold him a crowne, Wherever I meete him, in countrie or towne.

1577-87. Holinshed, Desc. Ireland, iii. That one rascal in such scornefull wise should giue them the slampaine.

1582. Stanyhurst, /Encid [Arber], 116. Shal hee scape thus? shal a stranger

geue me the slampan?

Slamtrash, subs, (provincial).— A sloven (Halliwell).

Slaney, subs, (thieves').—A theatre.

Slang.

240 Slang.

Slang, subs., adj., and verb, (old : now recognised).—Terminal Essay and quots. As verb. = (1) to speak slang; and (2) to scold or abuse. As adj. = ( 1 ) relating to slang ; (2) = low, unrefined ; and (3) = angry : also SLANGY and

slangular. SlANGINESS = the

state of being slangy ; slangboys (or boys of the slang)

(see quot. 1789) ; slangster = a master of flash (q.v.) ; slangwhanger = a speaker addicted to slang : whence slang whanging, and slang whang, verb. = to scold ; slangander (American) = to backbite ; slangoosing (American) = tittle-tattle, backbiting, esp. of women.

1743. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, 'Advice to His Successor.' The master who teaches them [young thieves] should be a man well versed in the cant language, commonly called the slang patter, in which they should by all means excel.

1761. Foote, Lyar. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 180. A man begs " in the College cant " to tick a little longer (remain in debt) ; this cant was soon to make way for slang]. Ibid. (1762), Orators, 1. Foote. Have you not seen the bills? Scamper. What, about the lectures? ay, but that's all slang, I suppose, . . . no, no.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Flash lingo. The canting or slang language. Ibid., Giles'. St. Giles Greek, the cant language, called also slang, Pedler's French, and Flash.

1789. Parker, Variegated Characters. Slang boys, fellows who speak the slang language which is the same as flash and cant.

1796. W. Taylor, Monthly Rev., xx. 543-4. The personages have mostly the manners and language of elegant middle life, removed alike from the rant of tragedy or the slang of farce.

1798. Anti-Jacobin, 5 Mar. Stanzas . . . conceived rather in the slang or Brentford dialect.

1807. Irving, Salmagundi, No. 14. It embraces alike all manner of concerns ; ... to the personal disputes of two miserable slangwhangers, the cleaning of the streets . . . Ibid. (1824). T. Trav., i. 273. Slang talk and cant jokes.

T809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 47. He [a doctor] had got into reputation with the public by a certain professional slang.

1813. Edgevvorth, Patronage, iii. The total want of proper pride and dignity ... a certain slang and familiarity of tone, gave superficial observers the notion that he was good-natured.

1816. Gentleman s Mag., lxxxvi, 418. Unwilling to be a disciple of the stable, the kennel, and the sty, as of the other precious slang, the dialect of Newgate.

1817. Coleridge, Biog., 11. xvi. To make us laugh by . . . slang phrases of the day.

1819. Robert Rabelais the Younger, Abeillard and Heloisa, 35. For filthy talk and slang discourse, They every day grow worse and worse.

1820. Blackwoods Mag., viii. 261. Living on the town, as it is slangishly called.

1821. De Quincey, Con/. (1862), 234. According to the modern slang phrase.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, 5. Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classical language of the Holy Land ; in other words, St Giles's Greek.

1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, xiii. What did actually reach his ears was disguised so completely by the use of cant words and the thieves'-Latin called slang, that even when he caught the words, he found himself as far as ever from the sense of their conversation.

1827. Lytton, Pelham, xlix. We rowed, swore, slanged.

1830. Knight, Tr. Acharnians, 106. Drunk he shall slang with the harlots.

1837. Hood, ' Ode to Rae Wilson.' With tropes from Billingsgates' slangwhanging Tartars. Ibid. (1845), 36. Tale of a Trumpet. The smallest urchin whose tongue could tang Shock'd the dame with a volley of slang.

1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, 62. In spite of a slang air, a knowing look, and the use of certain insignificant phrases that are most current in London . . .

1845. N. Y. Com. Advtr., 10 Oct. Part of the customary slang-whanging against all other nations which is habitual to the English press,

Slang.

241 Slang.

1849. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ii. Be quiet, you fool . . . you're a pretty fellow to chaff the orator ; he'll slang you up the chimney before you get your shoes_ on. Ibid. vi. A tall, handsome, conceited, slangy boy.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., m. 350. To slang with the fishwives.

1852. Bristed, Up. Ten Thousand, 205. Here I have been five days . . . hazing—what you call slanging—upholsterers.

1853. Dickens, Bleak House, xi. His strength lying in a slangular direction. Ibid. (1865); Our Mutual Lriend, 11. iv. Both were too gaudy, too slangy, too odorous of cigars, and too much given to horseflesh.

1857. H. Reed, Led. Brit. Poets, ix. 308. A freedom and coarseness of diction denominated slang, a word belonging to the very vocabulary it denotes.

1872. Eliot, Middlemarch, xi. All choice of words is slang. . . . Correct English is the slang of prigs who write history and essays. And the strongest slang of all is the slang of poets.

1875. Whitney, Lije and Growth of Language, vii. There are grades and uses of slang whose charm no one need be ashamed to feel and confess ; it is like reading a narrative in a series of rude and telling pictures instead of in words.

1879-81. Skeat, Etymological Did., s.v. Slang ... is from the Norwegian sleng, a slinging, a device, a bürden of a song. Slengja, to sling ; slengja kieften, to slang, abuse (lit. to sling the jaw ; sleng-jenamn, a slang (i.e., an abusive name) ; slengje-ord, an insulting word ; all from slengja, to sling.

1881-9. Encyclopaedic Did., s.v. Slang. A kind of colloquial language current amongst one particular class, or amongst various classes of society, uneducated or educated, but which, not having received the stamp of general approval, is frequently considered as inelegant or vulgar. Almost every profession or calling has its own slang ... In this sense it means any colloquial words or phrases, vulgar or refined, used conventionally by each particular class of people in speaking of particular matters connected with their own calling. Slang is sometimes allied to, but not quite identical with cant.

1884. H. James, Jr., Little Tour, 89. As the game went on, and he lost . . . he . . . slanged his partner, declared he wouldn't play any more, and went away in a fury.

1886. D. Telegraph, 11 Sep. A tipsy virago slanging the magistrate to the high amusement of the top-booted constables. Ibid., i Jan. It is the business of slanginess to make everything ugly. Ibid., 13 Sep. 'Don't be so slangy, Julia.' remonstrates her father.

1888. Poor Nellie, 17. Looked awfully slangy then? I'm sure she was in a wax.

1898. Century Did., s.v. Slang, i. The cant words or jargon used by thieves, peddlers, beggars, and the vagabond classes generally. 2. In present use, colloquial words and phrases which have originated in the cant or rude speech of the vagabond or unlettered classes, or, belonging in form to standard speech, have acquired or have had given them restricted, capricious, or extravagantly metaphorical meanings, and are regarded as vulgar or inelegant . . . Slang as such is not necessarily vulgar or ungrammatical ; indeed, it is generally correct in idiomatic form, and though frequently censured on this ground, it often, in fact, owes its doubtful character to other causes.

1899. Whiteing, John St., vi. A slanging match . . . and the unnameable in invective and vituperation rises, as in blackest vapour from our pit to the sky.

1900. Nation, 9 Oct., 289. Slang in the sense of the cant language of thieves appears in print as early as the middle of the last century [see quot. 1743 supra]. Scott when using the word felt the necessity of defining it ; and his definition shows not only that it was generally unknown but that it had not then begun to depart from its original sense.

2. (old).—A leg iron; a fetter (Grose and Vaux). [Formerly about three three feet long, the slang being attached to an iron anklet rivetted on the leg : the slack (q.v.) was slung to the waistbelt.] Whence (3) = a watch-chain. In Dutch slang, slang = (1) a snake, and (2) a chain.

Slang.

242

Slant.

C.1790. Kilmainham Minit [Ireland Sixty Years Ago, 88]. If dat de slang you run sly, De scrag-boy may yet be outwitted, And I scout again on de lay.

c.1866. Vance, Chickaleary Cove. How to do a cross-fan for a super or slang.

1877. Horsley, JOttings from Jail. Fullied for a clock and slang.

1900. Major Arthur Griffiths, Fast and Loose, xxxiii. If I am caught it'll mean a 'bashing' and the slangs.

1901. Walker, In the Blood, 138. A watch and chain, or in thieves' language " white lot " and thimble and slang.

4. (old).—False weights and measures {e.g., a slang quart = 1^ pts.). As verb. = to cheat by short weight or measure : also ' to defraud a person of any part of his due ' (Grose and Vaux). Slanging-dues (see quot. 1785).

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Slanging-dues. When a man suspects that he has been curtailed of any portion of his j'ust right, he will say, There has been slanging-dues concerned.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 11. 104. Some of the street weights, a good many of them, are slangs.

5. (old).—A beggar's pass ; a hawker's license : any official instrument. On the slang = begging or peddling. Hence (6) a pursuit ; a lay (q.v.) ; a lurk (q.v.).

1789. Parker, Variegated Characters. How do you work now ? Oh, upon the old slang and sometimes a little bully-prigging.

7. (showmen's).—(a) A travelling show ; a cheap-jack's van ; and (b) a performance ; a turn (q.v.) : e.g., the first, second, or third slang = the first, second, or third house {q.v.), when more than one performance is given during the evening. Also The slangs = (i) a collection of shows, and (2) the showman's profession; slanging and slangcull (see quot. 1789) ; slang-

and-pitcher shop = (1) a cheap-jack's van, and (2) a wholesale dealer in cheap-jack wares ; slang-tree = (1) a stage, and (2) a trapeze : hence

to climb up the slang tree

= (1) to perform, and (2) to make an exhibition of oneself.

1789. Parker, Var. Characters. To exhibit anything in a fair or market, such as a tall man, or a cow with two heads, that's called slanging, and the exhibitor is called a slang-cull.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., i. 353. The slang-coves (the showmen) have . . . been refused.

1887. Henley, Villon's Straight Tip, 2. Pad with a slang, or chuck a fag.

1888. Hood, Comic Annual, 52. There were all kinds of fakes on the slangs . . . amongst others some Chinese acrobatic work.

TO slang the mauleys,

verb. phr. (streets').—To shake hands. [That is to sling (q.v.)].

Slangrill (or Slangam), subs. (old).—A lout.

1592. Greene, Quip for Upstart Courtier [Harl. Misc., v. 407]. The third was a long leane, olde, slavering slangrill.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet., s.v. Longis. A tall and dull slangam, that hath no making to his height, nor wit to his making ; also one that being sent on an errand is long in returning.

Slant, subs, (colloquial).—i. An opportunity ; a chance. [Originally nautical = a favourable wind : e.g., ⁽ a slant across the Bay.']

2. (American).—A side blow (Bartlett).

Verb, (thieves').—I. To run away : see Bolt.

2. (colloquial). — To exaggerate ; to ' draw the long bow ' (q.v.).

3. (racing).— To wager: see Lay.

S lantendicular. 243

Slap.

Slantendicular, adj. (colloquial).—Indirect ; a slant [q.v.). Also as adv.

1844. Haliburton, The Attache, xxviii. Pony got mad and sent the Elder right slap over his head slantendicularly, on the broad of his back, into the river.

1872. De Morgan, Budg. of Paradoxes, 289. He must put himself [in the Calendar] under the first saint, with a slantendicular reference to the other.

Slap, subs. (old). — 1. Booty ; plunder.

c.1790. Kilmainham Minit [Ireland Sixty Years Ago, 87]. And when dat he milled a fat slap, He merrily melted de winners.

2. (theatrical).—Make-up. Also as verb. : [cf. slap = to rough

1897. Marshall, Pomes, 98. You could just distinguish faintly That she favoured the judicious use of slap.

Adj. (colloquial).—First-rate ; smart (q.v.) ; prime (q.v.) : also slap-up : cf. bang-up (Grose). Whence slapper = anything exceptional : see Whopper ; slapping = very big, excellent.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 11. 119. People's got proud now . . . and must have everything slap. Ibid., 122. A smart female servant in slap-up black.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xxxi. Might it not be more slap-up still to have the two shields painted on the panels with the coronet over.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum. Kerseymere kicksies . . . built very slap with the artful dodge.

1865. Dickens, O. M. Friend. A slap-up gal in a bang-up chariot.

1880. Ainsworth, Auriol. He's a regular slap-up swell.

1885. Stage, 129. Whitechapel costers, who wore slap-up kicksies.

Adv. (colloquial).—Violently ; plump ; offhand : also slapbang, slam-bang and slap-

dash. As subs. = (1) careless work, and (2) indiscriminate action ; as verb. = to go recklessly to work.

1671. Buckingham, Rehearsal [Arber], 67. He is upon him, slap, with a repartee ; then he is at him again, dash, with a new conceit.

1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, iv. 9. I am slap dash down in the mouth, and have not one word to say.

1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, iv. Very genteel, truly ! Go, slap dash, and offer a woman of her scruples money, bolt in her face !

1712. Centlivre, Perpl. Lovers, iii. If you don't march oft, I shall play you such an English courant of slap dash presently, that shan't out of your ears this twelvemonth.

1717. Prior, Alma, i. 17. And yet, slapdash, is all again, In every sinew, nerve, and vein.

1753. Richardson, Grandison, i. 170. In so peremptory, in so unceremonious a manner, slapdash as I may say.

1759-67. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, m. 38. The whips and short turns which in one stage or other of my life have come slap upon me.

c.i 790. Kilmainham Minit [Ireland Sixty Years Ago], 87. Slap dash tro de Poddle we lark it.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 42. He came down slap-dash on all the rest of the dishes.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, 11. 143. His horse, coming slap on his knees . . . threw . . . him head over heels.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, in. vi. It was a slapdash style.

c.1866. Vance, Jolly Dogs. Slapbang, here we are again.

1882. Lowell [Century Mag., xxxv. 515]. The slapdash judgments upon artists . . . are very characteristic.

1884. C. Reade, Art, 20. He . . . executed a marvellously grotesque bow . . . this done, he . . . strode away again slap-dash.

1885. Weekly Echo, 5 Sep. This most eccentric of quill-drivers gets up his facts in a slaf-dash fashion.

Slap-bang shop. 244 Slasher.

18... Athenœum, 3197, 146. As a specimen of newspaper slapdash we may point to the description of General Ignatieff as ' the Russian Mr. Gladstone.'

A slap (or slat) in the face, phr. (colloquial).—A rebuff ; a reproach (Bee).

See Slop up.

Slap-bang shop, subs. phr. (old). —i. See quot. 1785. AIsoSlambang Shop (Bee).

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Slap-bang shop. a petty cook's shop, where there is no credit given, but what is had must be paid for, down with the ready slap-bang, i.e. immediately. This is a common appellation for a night cellar frequented by thieves.

1856. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, ' Making a Night of it.' They dined at the same slap-bang every day, and revelled in each other's company every night.

2. (old).—A stage coach, or caravan (Grose).

See Slap, adv.

Slap-jack. See Flap-jack.

Slappaty-pouch (or Slatterpouch), subs. (old).—Beating the arms on the chest to keep warm.

1654. Gayton, Festivous Notes, 86. When they were boyes at trap, or Slatterpouch They'd sweat.

.1704. Brown, Works, 11. 126. We have . . . tir'd our palms and our ribs at slappaty-pouch.

Slap-sauce, subs. phr. (old).—A hanger-on ; a toady. As adj. — to sponge (q.v.).

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, 188. Ere tongue be too free, Or slapsauce be noted too saucie to bee.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. xxv. Slapsauce fellows . . . lubbardly louts.

Slap-sided. See Slab-sided.

Slash, subs, (thieves').—An outside pocket [cf. Grose, s.v. Slip, ' the slash pocket in the skirt of a coat behind.'].

Verb, (literary).—To criticise severely, sarcastically, or at random ; to cut up (q.v.). : also to slash in. Hence slashing, subs. = damning criticism ; as adj. =trenchent. harsh ; slasher = a vigorous critic.

.1859. De Quincey, Homer, i. The Alexandrian critics with all their slashing insolence . . . groped about in twilight.

1874. Mortimer Collins, Frances, xvii. The slashing writers who delight to cut up a book, especially if the author is a friend or a rival.

1888. Athenœum, 14 Jan., 43. He may be called the inventor of the modern slashing article.

Slasher,subs. (old).—i. A bully; a bravo : see Furioso (Grose and Matsell). Also (2) a pounding pugilist, a Hittite (q.v.) ; and (3) see Slash.

1593. Harvey [Grosart, Works, ii. 57]. That most threatening slassher.

4. (old).—A sword.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxxiii. ' Had he no arms '?...' Ay, ay, he was never without barkers and slashers.

5. (colloquial).—Anything exceptional : see Whopper. Hence slashing = exceptionally brilliant, vigorous, successful, expert, &c. Also as adv., as a slashing fine woman ; a slashing good race ; and so forth.

1854. Dickens, Hard Times [Ency. Diet.]. A slashing fortune.

The Slashers, subs. phr. (military).—The ist Batt. Gloucestershire Regiment, formerly The 28th Foot. Also "The Old Braggs" and "The Rightabouts."

Slat. 245 Slathers.

Slat, subs. (old).—Half-a-crown : 2/6 ; see Rhino (Grose) ; also (B. E.) slate.

Verb. (American).—To throw, beat, or move with violence.

1604. M a r s t o n, Malcontent. Slatted his brains out, then soused him in the briny sea.

1846. N. Y. Com. Advtr., iq May. Aunt Nancy would retire to the kitchen, and taking up the dipper, would slat round the hot water from a kettle.

c. 1859. Lay/ayette Chronicle [Bartlett], Suz alive ! but warn't my dander up to hear myself called a flat? down I slat the basket, and upsought all the berries.

1865. Major Jack Downing, 200. With that I handed him my axe, and he slatted about the chamber a spell.

Slate, subs. (Old Cant). — 1. A sheet (Dekker and Grose) : also (B. E.) slat.

1567. Harman, Caveat [E. E. T. S.], 76. A kynching morte is a lytle gyrle ; the Mortes their mothers carries them at their backs in their slates.

1611. MiDDLETON, Roaring Girl, v. i. I have, by the Salomon, a doxy that carries a kinchin-mort in her slate at her back.

1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bush, iii. 3. To mill from the Ruffmans commission and slates.

2. (American political). — A preliminary list of candidates recommended to office ; a party programme. [In practice a secret understanding between leaders as to the candidates they desire the nominating Convention to adopt.] To smash (or break) the slate = to defeat the wire-pullers ; to slate = (i) to prepare, and (2) to be included in such a list. Slate-smasher = a leader who ignores the wishes of his party.

1877. N. Y. Tribune, 1 Mar. The facts about the latest Cabinet slate . . . are interesting as showing . . . the course of President Hayes in choosing his advisers.

Verb. (colloquial). — 1. To reprimand or criticise ; to cut up (q.v.). [Formerly slat = to bait.] Hence slating (or a slate) = a blowing up ; severe censure ; unsparing criticism.

c.1300. R. de Brunne, MS. Bowes, 55. The apostille says that God thaim hatys, And over alle other with thaim slatys.

1889. Blackmore, Kit and Kitty, xxxi. And instead of being grateful you set to and slate me.

1890. Kipling, Light that Failed, iv. None the less I'll slate him. I'll slate him ponderously in the catacylsm.

1902. Kernahan, Scoundrels, iv. If crimes were ' reviewed ' in the same way as stories a critic might slate the two offences [lack of originality in crime and books] in almost identical words.

2. (Halliwell).—' A woman is said to be slated when her petticoat falls below her gown.'

3. (common). — To bash a man's hat over the eyes ; to bonnet (q.v.).

4. (sporting).—To bet heavily against an entry.

A slate off (loose, &C.), subs. phr. (common).—Crazy ; a tile loose (q.V.).

Slater's Pan, subs. phr. (obsolete).—' The gaol of Kingston in Jamaica ; Slater is the deputy provost-marshall ' (Grose).

Slathers, subs. (American).— Abundance ; ' lashin's an' lavin's.'

1876. Clemens, Tom Sawyer, 75. I am going to be a clown at a circus. They get slathers of money—most a dollar a day.

18 [?]. New Princeton Rev. [Century].

Mr.-can repeat slathers and

slathers of another man's literature.

Slaughter. 246

Sleeper.

Slaughter, verb, (trade).—1. To sell at a sacrifice (q.v.). Hence slaughter-house = a shop or auction-room where goods are bought or sold for what they will bring; slaughterer = (1) a vendor at cost, and (2) a buyer for re-manufacture : as books for pulp, cloth for shoddy, &c.

1851-61. Mavhew, Lond. Lab. . . • One East End slaughterer used habitually to tell that wet Saturday afternoons . . . put £20 extra in his pocket . . . Under such circumstances the poor workman is at the mercy of the slaughterer.

Slaughter of the Innocents. See Innocent.

Slave-driver, subs, (colloquial).— i. A harsh taskmaster; a strict master.

2. (Harrow cricket).—See quot.

1890. Great Public Schools, 95. The upper ground on these days is given up to practice at the nets for the eleven and the 'Sixth Form' game, and to practice in fielding and catching. Boys below the Removes have to fag for them, and these fags are managed by slave-drivers, three or four boys appointed for the purpose.

Slavey, subs. (common). — A drudge : male or female ; ⁴ a servant of either sex ' (Grose). Also

(old) slaving-gloke.

1821. Egan, Life in London, 11. i. The slavey and her master—the surgeon and the resurrection-man— . . . they are "all there."

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 472. The first enquiry is for the missus or a daughter, and if they can't be got at they are on to the slaveys.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xi. The boy Thomas, otherwise called slavey . . . has been instructed to bring soda whenever he hears the word slavey pronounced from above.

1879. Horsley [Macm. Mag., xl. 501 ]. I piped a slavey come out of a chat, so when she had got a little way up the double, I pratted in the house.

1886. D. Telegraph, 1 Ap. No wellconducted English girl need be a slavey at all.

1893. Emerson, Lippo, xvi. She knew all the cant, and used to palarie thick to the slaveys.

1901. Free Lance, 16 Mar., 586, 1. Joan Burnett . . . has inherited both her mother's and her father's talent, as all will have noticed who saw her play the curiously pathetic slavey in " The Wedding Guest. '

Sledge-hammer, verb, (colloquial).—To hit hard ; to batter.

1834. Lewis, Letters, 32. You may see what is meant by sledge-hammering a man.

Sleek. See Slick.

Sleek-and-slum shop,stibs.pkr. (Bee).—⁴ A public house or tavern where single men and their wives resort. '

Sleep, verb, (colloquial).—To provide sleeping accommodation : cf. room.

1887. RiBTON-Turner, Vagrants and Vagrancy, 399. They were to have a double row of beds, 'two tire' high, to admit of sleeping 100 men and 60 women.

To sleep on bones, verb. phr. (old).—To sleep in a lap: e.g., ⁴ Let not the child sleep on bones, i.e., in the nurse's lap ' (Ray).

To sleep on both ears, verb, phr. (old).—To sleep soundly, without a care.

1633. Massinger, Guardian, ii. 2. Sleep you secure on either ear.

Sleep-drunk, adj. phr. (colloquial).—Drowsy ; confused : as on waking from heavy sleep.

Sleeper, subs. (American). — A

sleeping-car.

1886. Referee, 26 Dec. Our . . . sleeper as the natives prefer to call these much-vaunted American inventions.

2. (American gaming).—Unclaimed money.

Sleeping-house. 247 Sleeveless.

Sleeping-house, subs. phr. (B. E. c. 1696). — ' Sleepinge House, without Shop, Ware-House, or Cellar, only for a private Family.'

Sleeping-partner, subs. phr. (Grose).—1. 'A partner in a trade, or shop, who lends his name and money, for which he receives a share of the profit, without doing any part of the business.'

2. (common).—A bed-fellow.

Sleepy, adj. and adv. (old).—Much worn ; threadbare : e.g., a sleepy pear = a pear beginning to decay ; a sleepless-hat = shabby headgear 'with nap worn off' (Grose). See Golgotha.

Sleepy-head, subs. phr. (common). —A dullard.

Sleepy Queens (The), subs. phr. (military).—The Queen's Royal Regiment, late the 2nd Foot.

Sleepy-seed, subs. phr. (nursery). —In pi. =The mucous secretion about the eyelids during sleep : cf. Sand-man.

Sleeve. Here occur one or two Phrases and Colloquialisms :

TO hang on (or upon) a

sleeve = to be dependent ; to

laugh in one's sleeves = to

deride or exult in secret (B. E.) ;

to wear one's heart upon one's sleeve = to make no mystery, to be artless ; in (or up) one's sleeve = hidden, in reserve, ready for use ; to pin to one's sleeve = to flaunt ; to

hang on another's sleeve =

to accept another's authority. 1546. Heywood, Proverbs. To

laugh in my sleeve.

1580. Lyly, Euphues [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 607. Among the verbs are match (marry), pin a man to hek sleeve].

1589. Puttenham, Art of Eng. Poesy, 251. The better to winne his purposes ... to have a iourney or sicknesse in his sleeve, thereby to shake off other importunities of greater consequence.

d. 1600. Hooker, Eccles. Polity [Ency. Diet.]. It is not ... to ask why we should hang our judgment upon the Church's sleeve.

1602. Shakspeare, Othello, i. 1. I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at.

1713. Arbuthnot, Hist. John Bull. John laughed heartily in his sleeve at the pride of the esquire.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 79. I made him a thousand low bows though I felt for him in my sleeve the contempt and hatred, &c. Ibid., 227. I could not help laughing in my sleeve when I considered who and what they were.

1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, ii. Sir Everard was a close enough old man . . . We, none of us, wear our hearts on our sleeve. Ibid., viii. He is the equal of any man. The sort of fellow who always has something up his sleeve.

Sleeveboard, subs, (tailors').—A hard word to pronounce ; a jawbreaker (q.v.).

Sleeveless,adj. (old).—Fruitless; inadequate ; wanting a cover or excuse ; ' impertinent or trifling ' (Bailey) : now only in phrase, 'a sleeveless errand' = (B. E. and Grose) ' a fool's errand, in search of what it is impossible to find,' Chaucer, Test. Love, ii.

334-

14t?]. Reliq. Antiq., 1. 83. Syrrus, thynke not lonke, and y schall tell yow a sleveles reson.

1579. Lyly, Euphues, ' Anat. of Wit,' 114. Neither faine for thy selfe any

sleeveless excuse.

1593. Passionate Morrice [Shaks. Soc. ], 63. Shee had dealt better if shee had sent himselfe away with a crabbed answere, then so vnmannerly to vse him

by sleeveles excuses.

1599. Hall, Satires, iv. 1. Worse than the logogryphes of later times, Or hundreth riddles shak'd to slekvelesse rhymes.

Slewed.

248

Slick.

1602. Shakspeare, Troilus and Crcssida, v. 4, 10. That same young Trojan ass, that loves the whore there, might send that Greekish whoremasterly villain, with the sleeve, back to the dissembling luxurious drab, of a sleeveless

errand.

rf.1612. Harington, Epigrams, in. 9. My men came back as from a sleeveless Arrant.

1620. Fletcher, Little French Lawyer, ii. To be despatch'd upon a sleeveless errand, To leave my friend engag'd, mine honour tainted.

1630. Taylor, Works, 11. iii. A neat laundresse, or a hearbwife can Carry a sleeveless message now and then.

1633. Jonson, Tale of a Tub, iv. 4. It [a coat] did play me such a sleeveless errand As I had nothing where to put mine arms in, And then I threw it off.

d.xàio. Butler, Works, ii. 296. They are the likelier, quoth Bracton, To bring us many a sleeveless action.

c. 1696. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, s.v. Sleeveless Story, a Tale of a Tub, or of a Cock and a Bull.

1706. Ward, Wooden World, 22. He sends him upon a thousand sleeveless errands to the great Consolation of the Footman.

^I737"4^IWarburton, Div. Leg., iii. To save himself from the vexation of a sleeveless errand.

Slewed, adj. (common).—Drunk : see Screwed. Also Slued.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxviii. He came into our place one night to take her home ; rather slued, but not much.

1855. Whig Almanack [Bartlett]. I went to bed slewed last night—didn't dream of such a thing in the morning.

Slewer, subs. (American).—A servant-girl : cf. Dutch slang sluer (or sloor) = a poor, common woman.

Slibber-slabber, adj. (colloquial).—Careless.

Slice. To take a slice, verb, phr. (venery). — To intrigue ; ' particularly (Grose) with a married woman, because a slice off a cut loaf is not missed.'

Slick, adv. (Old English : then American). — 1. Quick ; bold ; direct ; perfect. Whence (2) = clever ; plausible ; expert ; smart (q.v.). Also sleek.

1605. Jonson, Chapman, &c, Eastware Hoe, ii. i. They be the smoothest and slickest knaves in a country.

1832. Haliburton, Traits of Am. Humour, 11. 18. Courtin' is the hardest thing in the world to begin, though it goes on so slick arterwards.

1835. Crockett, Tour down East, 120. The Senate could not pass Mr. Stevenson through for England . . . He was a-going through right slick till he came to his coat-pockets, and they were so full of papers written by Ritchie that he stuck fast.

1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg., 1. 241. The hare, making play, Progress'd right slick away, As them tarnation chaps, the Americans, say.

1841. Knickerbocker Mag. [Bartlett]. Singin' is a science which comes pretty tough at first, but it goes slick afterwards.

1844. Major Jones's Courtship, 94. I done it as slick as a whistle.

1847. Blackwood s Mag. The railroad company, out of sheer parsimony, have neglected to fence in their line, which goes slick through the centre of your garden.

1856. Dow, Sermons [Bartlett]. Nobody can waltz real slick unless they have the spring-halt in one leg, as horses sometimes have.

1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 253. He [read] it off slicker than any on us could ; he did—there wa'n't no kind o' word could stop him.

1896. Lillard, Poker Stories, 243. One of the slickest young fellows that ever turned a card . . . could work the shells and the elusive pea like a circus sharper . . .

Slick-a-die.

249

Slim.

To slick up, verb. phr. (American).— To tittivate (q.V.)', to smarten ; to put in order.

1840. Clavers, Montacute, 211. Mrs. Flyer was slicked up for the occasion, in the snuff-colored silk she was married in.

1843. Carlton, New Purchase, 1. 72. The caps most in vogue then were made of dark, coarse, knotted twine, like a cabbage-net, worn, as the wives said, to save slicking up, and to hide dirt.

1865. Major Downing, Mayday, 43. The house was all slicked up as neat as a pin, and the things in every room all sot to rights.

Slick-a-die, subs. phr. (thieves'). —A pocket-book : see Dee.

Slicker, subs. (Western American). — An overcoat : spec, a waterproof : also sleeker.

1882. Roosevelt {Century Mag., xxxv. 864]. We had turned the horses loose, and in our oilskin slickers covered, soaked and comfortless, under the lee of the wagon.

Slide, verb, (colloquial).—1. To decamp; to skip (q.v.) : also to slide out = (1) to leave stealthily ; and (2) to shirk : by artifice.

i8[?]. R. S. Willis, Student's Song [Bartlett]. Broken is the band that held us, We must cut our sticks and slide.

1896. Lillard, Poker Stories, 150. He is supposed to gather his hat and coat, and slide at once.

1899. Whiteing, John St., xxi. Cheese it, an' slide.

2. (colloquial). —To backslide ; to weaken (q.v.) : e.g. from a resolution, attitude, or promise. As subs. = an error, a falling away; sliding = transgression.

1603. Shakspeare, Meas./or Meas., ii. 4, 115. Proved the sliding of your brother A merriment than a vice.

1620. Ford, Line of Life [Century]. The least blemish, the least slide, the least error, the least offence, is exasperated, made capital.

To let slide, verb. phr. (old colloquial).—To let go ; to allow things to take care of themselves.

1369. Chaucer, Troilus, v. 357. So sholdestow endure and laten slyde The time. Ibid. (1383), Cant. Tales, ' Clerkes Tale,' 26. Wei neigh all other cures let he

slide.

1420. Palladius, Hosbondrie [E. E. T. S.], 64. Lette that crafte

slyde.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of Shrew, Induct, i. 6. Let the world

slide.

TO do a slide up the board (or straight), verb. phr. (venery). — To copulate : see Greens and Ride.

Slide-groat, subs. phr. (old).— Shove-halfpenny (q.v.).

1528. Holinshed, Chron. of Ireland. The lieutenant and he for their disport were plaieing at slide-grote or shoofleboard.

Slider, subs. (old).— In pi. = drawers.

1700. Dickenson, Gods Prot. Prov. [Century]. A shirt and sliders.

Slide-thrift. See Shovel-

board.

Slim, subs. (Old Cant).—See quot.

1789. Parker, Variegated Characters. ... A bobstick of rum slim, a shilling's worth of rum

Adj. (colloquial). — Delicate ; feeble.

1877. Jewett, Deephaven, 169. She's had slim health of late years.

Adv. (colloquial).—Resourceful ; smart (q.v.). [In provincial English slim = sly, cunning, awry : the popular use of the word during the South African War, 1899-1902, largely, if not wholly = mere artfulness.]

Slime.

250

Slink.

Slime, verb. (Durham School).— i. To 'cut' games. Also (2) to lounge, to loaf : e.g., ' slimeing down town.'

3. (Felsted). —To sneak along ; to do a slime = to take a crafty advantage.

4. (Harrow).—To go round quietly.

1898. Warner, Harrow School, 282. His house-beak slimed and twug him.

5. (Harrow).—To make 'drops' at rackets.

Sling, verb, (common).—A generic verb of action. Thus 1 (thieves') = to throw away or pass to a confederate ; and 2 (general) to do easily ; to sling a pot = to drink ; to sling the booze = to stand treat ; to sling a bob (a tanner—anything) = to give ; to sling one's hook (bunk, or daniel) = to decamp ; to sling a daddle = to shake hands;

to sling a cat = to VOmit ; to

sling a tinkler = to ring the bell; to sling one's juice (or jelly) = to masturbate ; to sling

a poem, article, Or book = to

write; to sling a hat = to wave one in applause ; to sling the smash = to smuggle tobacco to prisoners ; to sling about = to loaf ; to sling ink (or a pen) = to write : hence inkslinger = a clerk or author ; to sling a foot = to dance ; to sling one in the eye = to blacken it ; to kill a crow with an empty

sling (Ray) = to gain without effort ; to sling off (or patter or jaw) = to talk, to abuse, to insinuate : cf. slang ; to sling a snot = to blow one's nose with the fingers : also to sling ; to sling (or jerk) a part = to undertake a rôle : to sling a

nasty part = to play so well that another would find it difficult to rival it ; to sling round on the loose = to act recklessly ; sling yourself (let her sling !) = ' Bestir yourself.'

1835. Crockett, Tour down East, 37. We swung round the wharf ; and when the captain told the people who I was, they slung their hats and gave three cheers.

1864. Browne (' Artemus Ward '), Works (1870), 277. The chaps that write for the Atlantic, Betsy, understand their bisness. They can sling ink, they can. Ibid., 305. You ask me, sir, to sling some ink for your paper.

1873. Greenwood, In Strange Company. He . . . swore . . . that if we did not that instant sling our Daniels . . . he would shy at us every heavenly article of crockery his apartment contained.

1884. Clemens, Huckleberry Finn. Teach singing . . . sling a lecture sometimes.

1899. Whiteing,/öä« St., vi. Blow me if I shan't be sold up, too, if I don't soon sling my 'ook. Ibid., xxi. If ever I ketch yer messin' abaht wi' any o' them, I'll sling him one in the eye.

Slinger,stibs. (common).—Apiece of bread floating in tea.

Slinging, adj. (colloquial). — Covering ; indefatigable ; effortless.

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, i. 7. Two well-known runners . . . started off at a long slinging trot across the fields.

Slink, subs, (common). — 1. A

sneak ; (2) a greedy starveling (Halliwell) ; and (3) a cheat. Hence as adj. (or slinky) = (1) sneaky, mean ; and 2 (America) = thin, lank (Bartlett).

1816. Scott, Antiquary, xv. He has na' settled his account wi'mygudeman the deacon for this twalmonth ; he's but slink, I doubt.

18 [?]. Chronicles 0/ Pineville, 139 [Bartlett]. I despise a slink.

Slip. 251 Slip-gibbet

4. (old).—A bastard : cf. slink = to miscarry (of beasts).

1702. Comberbatch, Byron and Elms, Comberbatch, 391. What did you go to London for but to drop your slink.

Slip, subs. (old).—See quots. : also slip-coin. Whence to be

nailed up for slips = to be tried and found wanting.

rf.1592. Greene, Theeves Falling-Out [Hart. Misc., viii. 399]. Certain slips, which are counterfeit pieces of money, being brasse, and covered over with silver, which the common people call slips.

1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, ii. 1. I shall goe for silver though, when you shall be nailed up for slips.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4. Rom. What counterfeit did I give you. Mer. The slip, sir, the slip : can you not conceive ?

rf.1637. Jonson, Epigrams, 64. First weigh a friend, then touch and try him too, For there are many slips and counterfeits.

rf.1655. Adams, Works, i. 247. To take a piece of slip-coin in hand.

2. (old).—A miscarriage; an abortion. Also as verb. = to miscarry.

Phrases. — To slip one's

cable (breath, Or wind) = to

to die : see Aloft ; to give the slip = to escape unobserved ; a slip (or fall) 'twixt cup and lip = a thing not done may spoil in the doing ; to slip into = (1) to attack, and (2) to execute with vigour ; to slip up = to err, to trip ; a slip of the tongue = an inadvertency in speech ; to make a slip = to give chastity the go-by : whence see Slip, ante 2.

1563-4. Edwardes, Damon and Pithias [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), iv.]. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 565. Among the verbs are give him the slip

1570. Lambarde, Peramb. of Kent, 422. Many things happen betweene the Cup and the Lippe.

1596. Jonson, Ev. Man in Humour, ii. 3. It's no matter ... if I cannot give him the slip at an instant.

1599. Chapman, Hum. Day's Mirth [ Works (1874), 39]. He gave us the slip before dinner.

d.i-joi,. Brown, Works, ii. 14. He had no sooner turn'd his back, but I pluck'd too the wicket, and gave him the slip.

1726. Vanbrugh, Provoked Husband, ii. 1. A plague on him, the monkey has gin us the slip. Ibid., v. 1. While she stood gaping, I gave her the slip.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, lxxiii. I told him [a doctor] as how I could slip my cable without his direction or assistance.

1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesqued, 109. Both those blades had slipt their wind, And in their rough fir coffins bound, Were safe from brabbles under ground.

ci796. Wolcot, P. Pindar, 69. And for their cats that happed to slip their breath, Old maids, so sweet, might mourn themselves to death.

1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 177. The sequel proved . . . that many things fall out between the cup and the lip.

1827. Lytton, Pelham, lxxvii. Oh, oh 1 Sir Reginald thought of giving me the slip, eh?

1856. Reade, Never Too Late, àfic, x. Give him the right stuff, doctor . . . and he won't slip his wind this time.

1883. Century Mag., xxxvi. 279. Slip up in my vernacular? How could I ? I talked it when I was a boy with the other boys.

1886. Field, 25 Sep. In agonies of fear lest our stag should give us the slip.

Slip-along. See Slipshod.

Slip-gibbet (-halter, -rope, -string, or -thrift), subs. phr. (old).—A prodigal ; one deserving of (or who has cheated) the gallows (Grose).

[ ? ]. MS. Bright, 170, f. 1. Such a SLiprsTRiNG trick As never till now befell us heretofore.

Slippery.

252

Slip-shop.

1593. Marlowe, Lusts' Dominion [Dodsley, Old Plays(i&j6), xiv. 149.] As I hope for mercy, I am half persuaded that this slip-halter has pawned my clothes.

1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, ii. 1. Thow art a slipstring I'le warrant.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet. s.v. Young rascals or scoundrels, rakehells, or slipstrings.

1619. Fletcher, A King and No King, ii. Well, slip-string, I shall meet with you.

1621. Granger, Eccles, 273. Thus it is in the house of prodigals, drinking slipthrifts, and Belials.

d. 1637. Dekker, Londons Tempe. We are making arrowes for my slip-string sonne.

Slippery, subs, (thieves').—Soap: Fr. glissant.

Adj. and adv. (old colloquial : now recognised). — Untrustworthy ; false ; wanton. Also slipper, slippy, and slip-skin. Whence slippery-fellow (or -trick) = 'deceitful' (B. E.) : ' one on whom there can be no dépendance ' (Grose).

1553. J. Brende, Tr. Quintus Curtius, vii. Fortune ... is slipper, and cannot bee kept against her will.

[ ? ]. Political Poems [E. E. T. S.], 60. He . . . ofhisherte. . . hath sliper holde.

[ ? ]. Taverner, Adag., C.i. Let this example teach menne not to truste on the slippernesse of fortune.

[ ? ]. Parad. of Dainty Devices, E.3. Slipper joy of certain pleasure here.

1579. Spenser, Shepheards Kal., Nov. 153. And slipper hope Of mortal men that swinck and sweate for nought. Ibid., Sep. Longtime he used this slippery prank.

1580. Lyly, Euphues [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 606. Adjectives are employed in new senses as a slippery pranke, a broad jest . . . ].

d.i5Ü]. Puttenham, Works, i. 4. Because it is more currant and slipper upon the tongue, and withal tunable and melodious.

1602. Shakspeare, Othello, ii. 1, 246. A slipper and subtle knave. Ibid. (1604), Winter's Tale, i. 2. My wife is slippery. Ibid. (1610), Coriol., iv. 4. O world, thy slippery turns.

d. 1607. Barnes, Works, 283. I know they bee slipper that I have to do wyth, and there is no holde of them.

1619. Fletcher, King and No King, ii. i. Servants are slippery : but I dare give my word for her and her honesty [chastity].

1641-2. Milton, Animad. Rem. Defence. A pretty slip-skin conveyance to sift mass into no mass. Ibid. (1641), Prel. Epis. Some bad and slippery men in that councell.

2. (common).—Quick.

1902. Kernahan, Scoundrels, vii. We must look slippy about it . . . It's lucky I haven't far to go.

Slip-shod, adj. (colloquial).— Careless ; slovenly. [That is 'slipper-shod.'] Also slip-along, slip-slop.

1605. Shakspeare, Lear, i. 5. Thy wit shall ne'er go slipshod.

1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, i. A sort of appendix to the half bound, and slip-shod volumes of the circulating library.

1849. Maitland, Reformation, 559. It would be less worth while to read Fox's slip-along stories.

1885. D. Tel., 29 Aug. Stilted phraseology is preferable to slip-shod.

Slip-slop, subs.phr. (colloquial).— i. A blunder. As adj. = slovenly, inaccurate : cf. slipshod.

1797. D'Arblay, Diary, iv. 14. He told us a great number of comic slip-slops of the first Lord Baltimore, who made a constant misuse of one word for another.

1849. Kingsley, Alton Locke, xxxviii. His . . . slip-slop trick of using the word natural to mean, in one sentence, ' material,' and in the next, as I use it, only 'normal and orderly.'

2. (common).—In pi. = Shoes (or slippers) down at the heels : also (Norfolk) slip-shoe.

Slip-thrift. 253

Slog.

Adj. (colloquial).—Here and there ; ' all over the shop ' : also slip-slap and verb.

1721. Centlivre, The Artifice, iii. I ha' found her fingers slip-slap this a-way and that a-way, like a flail upon a wheatsheaf.

1870. Farjeon, Griff, 105. The dirty, broken bluchers in which Griff's feet slipslopped constantly.

See Slop.

Slip-thrift. See Slip-gibbet.

Slit, subs, (venery).—i. Thefemale pudendum: see Monosyllable (Halliwell).

1647-8. Herrick, Hesperides, ' Upon Scobble.' Good Sir, make no more cuts i' th' outward skin, One slit's enough to let Adultry in.

2. (old).—A pocket.

i2[?]. King Horn [E. E. T. S.], 61. Thu most habbe redi mitte Twenti Marc ine thi slitte.

Slither, verb, (common).—i. To slip ; to make away ; to smooth ; and 3. (American) = to hurry. Also slithery = slippery (ç.v. ).

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, 11. iv. After getting up three or four feet they came slithering to the ground, barking their arms and faces.

1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, xxiv. Gay girls slithered past him, looked round at him, but in vain.

18... Tennyson, Northern Cobbler. Once of a frosty night, I slithered and hurted my huck.

1886. Field, 13 Feb. You could not estimate the distance or direction to which your horse might slither.

1901. Walker, In the Blood, 244. They might 'a' slithered with your goods if you 'adn't been so mighty sharp with your hands.

Slive, verb, (old colloquial).—To sneak or lounge away ; to idle. Slive-Andrew = a good-for-

nothing ; sliverly = artful ; SLiviNG = idle. To let slive (American) = to let fly.

1707. Centlivre, Platonick Love, iv. I know her gown agen : I minded her when she sliv'd off. Ibid. (1710), The Mans Bewitched, iii. The sliving baggage will not come to a resolution yet.

1725. Bailey, Erasmus, 41. What are you a sliving about, you drone? You are a year a lighting a candle.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life. As soon as I clapped peeper on him I let sliver, when the varmint dropped.

Slobber, subs, (printers').—Badly distributed ink.

Verb, (colloquial).—I. To kiss effusively. Also as subs, and

slabbering.

1583. Stubbes, Amat. Abuses, 114. What bussing, what smouching, and slabbering one of another.

.1897. Marshall, Pomes, 36. The amatory slobber which is comforting but low.

2. (colloquial). — To scamp work : also to SLOBBER over.

Slobberdegullion. See Slub-

berdegullion.

Slobberer, subs, (provincial).—1. A slovenly farmer ; and (2) a jobbing tailor (Halliwell).

Slobgollion, subs, (nautical).— ' Whaleman's term for an oozy, stringy substance found in sperm oil' (C. Russell).

Slog, subs, (common).—1. A blow; and (2) a bout of fisticuffs. As verb. = (1) to hit, or work hard ; (2) to punish (q.v.), to pound (pugilists'), and (3) to tackle a matter seriously. Whence slogGING-match = a hard fight or tussle ; slogger = (i) a pugilist given to hard hitting, and (2) a

S logger. 254

Slop.

steady worker ; slogging = a beating, a fight ; and to have a slog on = to put on a spurt. In America the spelling slug, slugger, &c., is accepted.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green. His whole person put in Chancery, slung, bruised, fibbed, propped, fiddled, slogged, and otherwise ill-treated.

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, i. v. The Slogger pulls up at last . . . fairly blown.

1878. Lang, Ballad of Boat-race. They catch the stroke, and they slog it through.

1885. Standard, 1 Dec. He was a vigorous slogger, and heartily objected to being bowled first ball.

1886. Phil. Times, 6 May. There was some terrible slogging . . . Cleary

Îlanted two rib-roasters, and a tap on «angdon's face.

1887. Fun, 9 Nov., 201. He had a "merry mill" with a Thames bargee, known as "Jim the Slogger," and the Slogger . . . got the worst of the scrap.

1891. Times, 14 Sep. ' Capital Punishment.' They top a lag out here [W. Aus.] for slogging a screw.

[ ? ]. E. B. Michell, Boxing and Sparring [Century], 162. Slogging and hard hitting with the mere object of doing damage . . . earn no credit in the eyes of a good judge.

2. (public schools').—A large portion : spec, a big slice of cake.

Slogger, sues. (Camb. Univ.).— 1. A boat in the second division : corresponding to the Oxford Torpids.

See Slog.

Slop, subs, (colloquial).—1. In pi. = liquid food : spec, weak tea : or ' any thin beverage taken medicinally' (Grose): also slip-slop. As adj. = feeble, poor, weak ; as verb. = to eat or drink greedily, to mop up (q.v.) : also to slop (or slap) up, Or to slop it ; slop-

PiNG-UP = a drinking bout ; slopfeeder = a tea-spoon; sloptubs = tea-things ; slip-sloppy = slushy, watery.

1515. De Generibus Ebriosorum, &c. [Hodgkin, Notes and Queries, 3 S. vii. 163. In this treatise occurs names of fancy drinks ... I select a few of the most presentable] slip-slop . . . Raise-head . . . Swell-nose.

1566. Still, Gammer Gurton's Needle [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), iii. 193]. To slop up milk.

1675. Cotton, Burlesque on Burlesque, 187. No, thou shalt feed instead of these Or your slip-slaps of curds and whey On Nectar and Ambrosia.

1692. Dryden, Juvenal, vi. 772. But thou, whatever slops she will have brought, Be thankful.

rf.1704. Lestrange, Works [Century]. The sick husband here wanted for neither slops nor doctors.

1821. Combe, Dr. Syntax, in. i. At length the coffee was announced . . . ' And since the meagre slip-slop's made, I think the call should be obeyed.'

a. 1832. Edgworth, Rose, Thistle and Shamrock, iii. 2. Does he expect tea can be keeping hot for him to the end of time '? He'll have nothing but slop-dash.

1837. Barham, Ingold. Leg., 11. 291. There was no taking refuge . . . On a slip-sloppy day, in a cab or a bus.

1900. Flynt, Tramps. Yonkers Slim was going to meet him in Washington with some money, and the bums intended to have a great sloppin'-up.

2. (nautical).—In //.^Wearing apparel and bedding used by seamen ' (Grose). Hence readymade clothing. Slop-seller = a dealer in ready-made clothes (Grose) ; slop-chest = a ship's supply of clothes and bedding : usually doled out at cost price ; slop-book = the register of supplies ; slop-work = (1) the cheapest : hence (2) any work poorly done; sloppy = ill-fitting. [Originally ' an outer garment made of linen ' (Wright)].

■

Slop.

255 Sloped s Island.

1530. Palsgrave, Lang. Francoyse. Payre of sloppe hoses, braiettes a marinier.

1555. Eden, Works [Arber], 327. [Oliphant, New English, i. 535. We hear of mariner's sloppes ; this old word for vestes seems henceforth to have been restricted to seamen.]

1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesque, 205. One kept a slop-shop in Rag Fair.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., 11. 47. It was good stuff and good make . . . that's the reason why it always bangs a

slop.

1882. Queen, 7 Oct. It must not be imagined that, to be easy, dress must necessarily be sloppy.

1886. D. News., 3 Dec. The harsh oppressive middleman, and the heartless indifferent slopseller have sat for their portraits again and again.

1887. Fish, of U. S., v. 2. 226 [Century], If a poor voyage has been made, or if the man has drawn on the slopchest . . . [so] as to ruin his credit, he becomes bankrupt ashore.

3. (common).—A tailor.

4. (back slang). — A policeman : a corruption of ' esclop.'

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. I wish I'd been there to have a shy at the

esclops.

c.1870. Music Hall Song [S. J. & C.]. Never to take notice of vulgar nicknames, such at slop, "copper," "rabbit-pie shifter," "peeler."

1886. Sims, Ballads of Babylon . . . I dragged you in here and saved you, and sent out a gal for the slops.

1887. Fun, 9 Nov., 201. A vanishing point [is] the corner you bunks round when the slop's after yer.

1899. Whiteing, John St., 49. She is Boadicea ... a right-down raughty gal leading her alley to battle against the Roman slops.

5. (Christ's Hospital).—A term of contempt.

Verb. (colloquial). — 1. To make a mess ; to walk or work in the wet.

1888. Murray, Weaker Vessel, xi. He came slopping on behind me, with the peculiar sucking noise at each footstep which broken boots make on a wet and level pavement.

To slop over, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To enter into with enthusiasm, and speak, write, or act like a fool ; to put on side (q.v.) ; to make a mistake.

1859. Browne, Fourth op July Oration [Works (1899), 124]. The pievailin' weakness of most public men is to slop over . . . They get filled up and slop. They rush things. Washington never

slopped over.

1888. Harper's Mag., lxxviii. 818. One of his great distinctions was his moderation ... he never slopped over.

Slope, verb, (common).—To run away ; to bunk (q.v.). As subs. = an escape : e.g., to do A

slope.

i8[?]. Ballad of Blouzelinda [Bartlett]. He . . . made a slope, and went off to Texas.

1844. Haliburton, The Attache, xxvii. They jist run like a flock of sheep . . . and slope off, properly skeered.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life. The Editor of the "Eagle" cannot pay his board bill, and fears are entertained that he will slope without liquidating the debt.

c. 1866. Vance, Chick-a-leary Cove. Now, my pals, I'm going to slope, See you soon again I hope.

1897. Marshall, Pomes, 17. So she sloped from her Brummy.

2. (Old Cant).—See quot.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all [Hunt. Club Rep. (1874), 38]. Cowch a hogshead ... is like an Alminacke that is out of date ; now the duch word to slope is with them vsed to sleepe, and liggen, to lie downe.

Sloper's Island, subs. phr. (London). — A weekly tenement neighbourhood : spec. c. 1870 the Artisan's Village near Loughborough Junction, originally in

Stopper.

256 Slouch.

the midst of fields ; now in the centre of a densely populated neighbourhood.

Slopper, subs. (The Leys School). —A slop basin : cf. Footer, Brekker, &c.

Sloppy, adj. (colloquial).—Loose ;

slovenly.

1890. Academy, 29 Mar., 218. [To] teach a great number of sciences and languages in an elementary and sloppy way.

Slosh, subs, (common).—A drink.

1888. Cornhill Mag., Oct. Barmeat and corn-cake washed down with a generous slosh of whiskey.

Verb. (American).—Togo here and there ; to knock about (q.v.).

1854. Cairo (III.) Times, Nov. To walk backward and forward through the crowd, with a big stick in his hand, and knock down every loose man in the crowd. That's what I call sloshing about.

1876. Clemens, Torn Sawyer, 67. How could [witches'] charms work till midnight?—and then it's Sunday. Devils don't slosh around much of a Sunday.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. When I was a young man I had to slosh around dark, wet nights in rubbers that didn't fit.

Slosh er, subs. (Cheltenham College).—A boarding-house assistant : they are charged with superintending dormitories, the evening work, &c.

Slouch, subs, (old and still colloquial).—i. A clumsy lout, an idler ; hence (2) anything indifferent : usually in phrase ' no slouch ' ; and (3) an awkward lumpish gait. As verb. = to walk lumpishly or sullenly ; slouching (or slouchy) = awkward, ungainly, heavy (Grose).

[ ? ]. MS. Gloucester . . . Slowch, a lazy lubber, who has nothing tight about him, with his stockings about his heels, his clothes unbutton'd, and his hat flapping about his ears.

1570. Levins, Manip. Vocab. [E. E. T. S.], 217. A slouke, iners, ertis, ignarus.

1578. Whetstone, Promos and Cassandra, 47. Thou filthie fine slouch.

1633. Jonson, Tale of a Tub, iv. 5. I think the idle slouch Be fallen asleep in the barn.

1705. Ward, Hud. Rediv., 1. vii. 20. You sooty, smutty, nasty slouch.

1714. Gay, Shepherd s Week, i. Begin thy carols then, thou vaunting slouch ; Be thine the oaken staff, or mine the pouch.

d.1745. Swift, Works [Century]. Our doctor . . . hath a sort of slouch in his walk.

1785. Cowper, Task, iv. 639. He stands erect ; his slouch becomes a walk.

1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg., ii. 374. In a few minutes his . . . figure was seen slouching up the ascent.

1866. Eliot, Felix Holt, Intro. The shepherd with a slow and slouching walk . . . moved aside, as if unwillingly.

1869. Clemens, The Innocents at Home, ii. He was always nifty himself, and so you bet his funeral ain't going to be no slouch.

1870. Chambers' Journal, 9 July, 447. He sees a slouching, shambling hulk of a fellow standing listlessly in a doorway.

1877. Scribner's Mag., Sep., 510. Bow-legged, slouchy, ungraceful and inactive.

1877. Century Mag., xxv. 176. Looking like a slouchy country bumpkin.

1881. O. W. Holmes, Old Volume of Life, 58. They looked slouch/, listless, torpid—an ill conditioned crew.

1885. West. Rev., cxxv. 85. He had a long, strong, uncouth body ; rather rough-hewn slouching features.

i8[?]. H. Kendall, Billy Vickers. He has, in fact, the slouch and dress, Which bullock-puncher stamp him.

1885. D. Tel., 14 Sep. A child taken by a slouching villain.

1887. Morley Roberts, Western Avernus. A rustler . . . means a worker, an energetic man, and no slouch can be a rustler.

1899. Whiteing, John St., xi. It is near bedtime, and those ... to stay for the night are slouching to the lairs.

Slour.

257

Slug.

4. (common). — A slouch-hat

(Le., a hat with a broad and

drooping brim).

1818. Scott, Midlothian, xliii. Even the old hat looked smarter ... instead of slouching backward or forward on the laird's head, as it was thrown on. Ibid., iii. A sailor's cap slouched over his face.

1871. Scribner's Mag., Sep. A big, farmer-looking fellow in a slouch-hat.

1889. Harper's Mag., Ixxix. 38. Middle-aged men in slouch hats lounee around with hungry eyes.

Slour, adv. (Old Cant).—' To lock up ; to fasten ; to button up one's coat; to make all secure' (Grose).

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, iii. v. No slour'd hoxter my snipes could stay.

Slow, subs, (old colloquial).—A sluggard ; a lazybones.

[ ? ]. M.S. Douce, 52 [Halliwell]. Lothe to bedde and lothe fro bedde, men schalle know the slow.

Adv. (colloquial).—1. Stupid ; spiritless ; tedious.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xlix. The party was what you young fellows call slow.

i86[?]. F. Locker, Reply to a Letter. The girls I love now vote me slow.

1874. Siliad, 97. Whither shall we go? The Judge and Jury? No, that's awful slow.

2. (Winchester).—Ignorant of Winchester notions (ç.v.).

Slow-back, subs. phr. (old).—A loafer.

1619. Favour, A ntiq. Triumph over Novelty, 63. The slow-backs and lazie bones uill none of this.

Slowcoach, subs, (colloquial).—i. A dullard ; a lout. Also (2) a dawdler. Hence (3) an antique ; a fossil.

1857. E. B. Ramsay, Scottish Life and Character, 114. I dare say the girl you are sending will be very useful to us : our present one is a very slow-coach.

S low-up, subs. phr. (colloquial).— A slackening of speed. Also as verb. = to go easy.

Slubberdegullion, subs. (old).— ' A slovenly, dirty, nasty Fellow ' (B. E. and Grose). Also Slabberdegullion. As adj. = paltry, dirty.

1619. Fletcher, Custom of the Country, i. 2. Yes, they are knit ; but must this slubberdegullion Have her maidenhead now?

1630. Taylor, Laugh and be Fat, 73. Contaminous, pestiferous, preposterous, stygmatical Slavonians, slubbekdegullions.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. xxv. Calling them . . . slapsauce fellows, slabberdegullion druggels, lubbardly louts . . .

1656. Mus. Del., 79. He's an oxe, and an asse, and a slubberdegullion.

1663. Butler, Hudibras, 1. iii. 885. Thow hast deserved, Base slubberdegullion, to be served As thou didst vow to deal with me.

Slued. See Slewed.

Slug, subs, (old colloquial). — Generic for sloth. Thus (i)=a drone, a lazybones : also slug-abed, and (now accepted) sluggard ; 2. (old) = a hindrance ; and (3) = a slow-paced boat, horse, &c, or(B. E.) a dull-edged tool. As adj. (also sluggish and sluggy) = lazy, slow ; as verb. — (1) to laze, and (2) to hinder.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, ' The Parson's Tale.' Then cometh . . . sluggy slumbring which maketh a man hevy.

1440. Prompt. Parv., 460. Sluggyn, desidio, torpeo.

14t?]. Political Poems [E. E. T. S.], 32. The slugge lokyth to be holpe of God that commawndyth men to waake in the worlde.

1590. Spenser, Fairy Queen, 11. i. 23, 3. To slug in slouth and sensuall delights. Ibid. (d. 1599), State of Ireland. He lay not all ni^ht slugging in a cabin under his mantle.

Slug.

258

Slum.

1593. Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors, ii. 2. Thou drone, thou snail, thou slug. Ibid. (1595), Romeo and Juliet, iv. 5, 2. Why, lamb ! why, lady ! fie, you

slug-a-bed.

1605. Bacon, Adv. 0/ Learning. They are . . . hindrances to stay and slug the ship for further sailing. Ibid. (1597-1624), Essays, ' Of Usury.' Money would be stirring if it were not for this slugge.

1611. Cotgrave, Diet., s. v. Paresser. To slugge it, to laze it, to liue idly.

1621. Burton, Anat. Melan, III. 11. iii. i. A slug, a fat lustilugs.

1635. Quarles, Emblems [Nares]. One spends his day in plots, his night in play ; another sleeps and slugs both night and day. Ibid., 1. 13. Lord, when we leave the world and come to thee, How dull, how slug are we.

1641. Milton, Reformation in Eng., i. It is still episcopacy that . . . worsens and sluggs the most learned and seeming religions of our ministers.

1648. Herrick, Hesperides, ' To Corinna Going a-Maying.' Get up sweet slug-a-bed, And see the dew bespangles herb and tree.

1652. Shirley, Brothers . . . Car. Will none deliver me? Lu. They are somewhat slug.

1659. Gauden, Tears of the Church, 381. Which soon grew a slug, when once the North-wind ceased to fill its sailes.

1666. Pepys, Diary, 17 Oct. His rendevouz for his fleet and for all sluggs to come.

1888. Ency. Brit., xii. 199. A slug [horse] must be kept going, and an impetuous one restrained.

4. (old).—A dram. Hence to fire (or cant) a slug = to drink (Grose).

1762. Smollett, L. Greaves, 11. v. He ordered the waiter . . . to . . . bring alongside a short allowance of brandy or grog that he might cant a slug into his breadroom.

5. (American). — An ingot of gold ; a twenty-dollar piece (Ency. Diet.), but in Century Diet, 'a gold coin of the value

of fifty dollars privately issued in San Francisco during the mining excitement of 1849.'

1890. San Francisco Bulletin, 10 May. An interesting reminder of early days in California in the shape of a round fifty-dollar slug. . . . But fifty of these round fifty-dollar pieces were issued when orders came from the East prohibiting private coinage.

Slugger. See Slogger.

Sluice, verb, (common).—i. The mouth : also sluice-house. As verb. : e.g., to sluice the bolt (dominoes, gob, or ivories) = to drink heartily : see Dominoes (Grose). Whence sluicery = a public-house (Grose).

1840. Egan, Book of Sports. Sam's sluice-house was again severely damaged.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum: see Monosyllable.

0^.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 184. That whore, my wife . . . that us'd to open her sluice ... to gratify her concupiscense.

Verb, (colloquial).—To paddle; to bathe (or wet) freely.

d. 1859. De Quincey, Works (Century). He dried his neck and face which he had been sluicing with cold water.

i860. Russell, Diary in India, 1. 4. The great seas . . . sluicing the decks with a mimic ocean.

To sluice off, verb. phr. (American).—To divert ; to lay aside.

1862. Congregationalist, 3 June. Some of present earning must thus be sluiced off, to repair the poverty of the past.

Slum, subs, (old and thieves').—i. Nonsense ; a trick ; a swindle : e.g., a sham begging letter, a roll of ' snide ' notes, &c. Hence up to slum = knowing, not to be had (q.V.) ; to fake the slum

= to do the trick. 2 (old) = idle talk (see quots. 1S21 and 1S23).

Slum. 259 Slump.

As verb. = (1) to trick, to cheat ; and (2) to talk idly, or to speak slang.

d.i%2z. Randall, Diary (Grose, 3rd ed. [1823]). And thus, without more slum, began.

1823. Bee, Diet. Turf, s.v. Slum— loose ridiculous talk is all slum ! ' None of your slum ' is said by a girl to a blarneying chap . . . The gypsy language, or cant, is slum . . . Dutch Sam excelled in slummery—' Willus youvus givibus glasso ginibus.'

1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. That was his leading slum, and pretty well he sponged them too. Ibid. (1856), Gt. World of London, 46. Screevers or the writers of slums and fakements.

2. (old).—Originally a room [Grose : also see quots. 1823, s.v. sense 1 and infra]. Also 3 (modern) = a squalid street or neighbourhood ; a rookery (q.v.) : usually inwith ' back.' As verb. — (1) to explore poor quarters out of curiosity or charity ; 2 (Univ.) to keep to back streets to avoid observation ; and 3 (common) to keep in the background.

1823. Bee, Diet. Turf, s.v. Slum . . . also the room in which persons meet who talk in that style [see sense 1] ; thus we may have ' the little slum,' or ' the great slum,' 'a dirty slum,' or ' a pretty slum,' ' the back slum,' and a slum in front. Derived from slumber, to sleep, the molls and coves napping nine winks at those places.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii. 3. Let's have a dive amongst the cadgers in the back slums in the Holy Land.

1872. Black, Adv. of Phaeton, xviii. When one gets clear of the suburban slums and the smoke of Liverpool, a very respectable appearance of real country-life becomes visible.

1884. Referee, 22 June. A wealthy lady went slumming through the Dials the other day.

1885. Echo, 8 Sep. There is little in the author's observations on slums and slum life that has not been said before.

.1894. Yates, London Life, 1. ii. Gone is the Rookery, a conglomeration of slums and alleys in the heart of St. Giles's.

1897. Marshall, Pomes, 74. It was really a slum, where the greens always hum. Ibid., 97. But it [love] wouldn't be slummed like a worm in the bud.

4. (thieves'). — A letter, a package : anything in hand.

5. (Punch and Judy).—The

call ; slum-fake = the coffin ;

slumming = acting.

1872. Br addon, Dead Sea Fruit, xiv. The gorger's awfully coally on his own slumming, eh?

Slumgullion, subs. (American).— I. A representative ; a servant [Bartlett].

Slumguzzle, verb. (American).— To deceive. Hence slumguzzling = humbuggery [Bartlett].

Slum my, subs, (common).—A servant-girl.

Slump, subs. (Stock Exchange and

colloquial).—i. A sudden fall:

of prices ; an ignominious failure :

e.g., a slump in Kaffirs. As

verb. = to fall heavily (Scots')

slump = all of a piece ; to come

down with a rush.

1888. Howells, Annie Kilburn, xxv. What a slump! . . . That blessed shortlegged little seraph has spoilt the best sport that ever was.

2. (common).—A gross amount ; the whole: e.g. 'a slump sum.' As verb. = to lump, or group together.

d. 1856. Sir W. Hamilton, Works (Century). The different groups . . . are exclusively slumped together under that sense.

1870. W. Mathews, Getting on in the World, 20. Slumping the temptations which were easy to avoid with those which were comparatively irresistible.

Slung.

260

Sly.

3. (American College). — To recite badly ; to fail ; to bungle.

Slung. Slung out on hands and knees, phr. (tailors').—Instantly dismissed.

Slur, subs. verb. (B. E. and Grose).—1. 'A Cheat at Dice ; also a slight Scandal or Affront.' Hence (2) to cheat.

1664. Butler, Hudibras, 11. ii. What was the public faith found out for But to slur men out of what they fought for. Ibid., Remains, 'Misc. Thoughts.' Some flug'ring trick or slur.

1680. Compleat Gamester, ii. Slurring—that is by taking up your dice as you will have them advantageously lie in your hand, placing the one atop the other, not caring if the uppermost run a millstone ... if the undermost run without turning.

Slush, subs, (nautical).—1. Food. Hence 2. (Grose) = a foul feeder : also slush-bucket ; slusher (or slushy), see quot. 1890. Also 3 (old) = a drunkard.

1890. Argus, 20 Sept., 13, 6. Sundays are the most trying days of all, say the cuisiniers . . . This man's assistant is called the slusher.

1896. Paterson, Man from Snowy River, 162. The tarboy, the cook, and the slushy . . . with the rest of the shearing horde.

4. (American journalists').—Indifferent matter; padding (q.v.).

Slut, subs. (old). — 1. A dirty housewife ; (2) = an awkward person or thing ; (3) a wench (q.v.) : cf. Quean ; (4) a bitch. As verb. = to befoul ; sluttery (also sluttishness) = neglect ; sluttish = (1) wanton; and (2) untidy.

14 [?]. Babces Book [E. E. T. S.J, 158. Crabbe is a slutt to kerve, and a wrawd wight ; Breke euery clawe a sondur.

1483. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, ' Prol. to Canon Yeoman's Tale,' 83. Why is thy

lord so sluttish ?

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, v. v. 50. Our radiant queen hates sluts and sluttery.

1615. Sylvester, Tobacco Battered. Don Tobacco's damnable Infection Slutting the Body.

1648. Herrick, Hesperides, ' Excesse.' Excesse is sluttish ; keepe the meane ; for why ? Vertue's clean conclave is sobriety.

1664. Pepys, Diary, 21 Feb. Our little girl Susan is a most admirable slut, and pleases us mightily, doing more service than both the others: Ibid. (1665), 7 Nov. He carried his glass with him foi his man to let him drink out of at the Duke of Albemarle's, where he intended to dine, though this he did to prevent sluttery.

.1704. Brown, Works, i. 338. The young slut never looked so gay and pleasant in her life.

1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, iii. 2. I have managed Master Gripe's little affairs for him these ten years, you slut, you !

1712. Addison, Spectator, No. 130. You see now and then some handsome young jades among them [gypsies] ; the sluts have very often white teeth and black eyes.

1862. Thackeray, Philip, xiii. I gave my cousin this dog . . . and the little slut remembers me.

Sly, adj. and adv. (Grose).— ' Under the rose ; transacting business privately is frequently said to be done upon the sly ' ; illicit : also by the sly ; to run sly = to escape, to evade.

c. 1787. Kilmainham Minit [Ireland Sixty Years Ago, 88]. But if dat de slang you run sly, The scrag-boy may yet be outwitted, And I scout again on de lay.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lou. Lab., 1. 318. A sly trade's always the best for paying, and for selling too.

1871*2. Eliot, Middlemarch, lxxviii. Selling myself for any devil's change by the sly.

1887. Henley, Culture in the Slums. I keeps a dado on the sly.

Slyboots. 261

Small.

Slyboots, subs. (old).—A seemingly simple but really clever and designing fellow (B. E. and Grose).

c.1680. North, Lives of tlie Norths, 169. [Lord Guildford was nicknamed] Slyboots.

1729. Addison, Adv. of Abdalla, 32. The frog call'd . . . several times, but in vain . . . though the sly-boots heard well enough all the while.

Smabbled (or Snabbled), adj. (Grose).—Killed in battle.

Smack (B. E. ^.1686).—i. 'A Twang or ill Taste.'

2. (tailors'). — A liking ; a fancy : e.g. ' He had a real smack for the old 'un ' : cf. (old colloquial) smackering = ' a longing for ' (Bailey).

3. (colloquial).—A kiss : also smacker. Whence to smack calf's skin (common) = to take oath.

1786. Burns, Jolly Beggars. Ilk smack still, did crack still, Just like a cadger's whip.

1809. Irving, Hist. N. York, 171. The gentlemen gallantly attended their fair ones to their respective abodes, and took leave of them with a hearty smack.

i860. Dickens, Uncom. Traveller, ' Titbull's Almshouses.' Heard the sound of a smack—a smack which was not a blow.

Smack smooth, phr. (colloquial).—' Level with the surface ; everything cut away ' (Grose).

1790. DiBDlN, Poor Jack. Though the tempest the topgallant mast smack smooth should smite.

Smacking-cove, subs. phr. (Old Cant). — A coachman (B. E., Bailey and Grose).

Small, subs, (colloquial).—i. In //. = breeches : spec, the closefitting knee-breeches of Lhe 18th

and early 19th centuries : also small-clothes [Grose : ' A gird at the affected delicacy of the present age ; a suit being called coat, waistcoat, and—articles or

small clothes'].

1812. Coombe, Syntax, i. 20. His small-clothes sat so close and tight, His boots, like jet, were black and bright.

1813. Stephens [Anti-Jacobin Rev. of Life of Home Took, quoted by Southey, Doctor, Interchap. xx.] His breeches he [Stephens] calls small clothes ; the first time we have seen this bastard term, the offspring of gross ideas and disgusting affectation, in print, in anything like a book.

1818. Byron, Beppo, iv. You'd better walk about begirt with briars, Instead of coat and small-clothes.

1836. Dickens, Sketches, ' The Last Cabdriver.' His boots were of the Wellington form, pulled up to meet his corduroy knee-smalls.

1840. Hood, Miss Kilmansegg. Wear a negative coat and positive smalls.

1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 52. His well-brushed Sunday coat and smallclothes.

2. (Univ. Oxon).—In //., see

quots. Little-go is the Cambridge equivalent. Properly ' Responsions.'

c.1840. E. A. Freeman [1823-92], Cont. Rev., Ii. 821. 'Greats,' so far as the name existed in my time, meant the Public Examination, as distinguished from Responsions, Little-go, or smalls.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, 11. xi. The little gentleman was going in for his degree, alias Great-go, alias Greats ; and our hero for his first examination in Uteris humaniorihus, alias Responsions, alias Little-go, alias Smalls.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, x. In our second term we are no longer freshmen, and begin to feel ourselves at home, while both smalls and greats are sufficiently distant to be altogether ignored if we feel that way inclined.

1863. Reade, Hard Cash .. . Julia reminded her that smalls was the new word for little go.

Small-and-Early. 262

Smart.

T878. Seribner's Mag., Dec, 283. Looking forward with annoyance to the rather childish first examination, in Oxford language known as Smalls.

3. (theatrical). — A one-night performance in a small town or village by a minor company carrying its own ' fit-up.'

Adv. (colloquial). — Timidly ; humbly : e.g. to sing (or speak) small (q.v.).

Small-and-Early, subs. phr.

(colloquial).—An evening party:

informal and breaking up at an

early hour.

1865. Dickens, Mutual Friend, xi. For the clearing off of these worthies, Mrs. Podsnap added a small and early evening to the dinner.

Small beer, sttbs. phr. (colloquial).— i. Weak beer; hence (2) trifles. Whence to chronicle small beer = (1) to engage in trivial occupations, and (2) to retail petty scandal ; to think

small beer of anything = to

have a poor opinion of it. Also small things. As adj. = petty.

1604. Shakspeare, Othello, ii. 1, 161. To suckle fools and chronicle

small beer.

<f.i666. A Brome, Works [Chalmers, vi. 648, 1]. A dull small-beer sinner.

1712. Addison, Spectator, 269, 8. I allow a double quantity of malt to my

small beer.

1832. Southey. The Doctor, Interch., xvi. He thought small beer at that time of some very great patriots and Queenites.

1840. De Quincey, Style [Works, xi. 174]. Should express her self-esteem by the popular phrase, that she did not ' think small beer of herself.'

1844. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, xiv. All the news of sport, assize, and quarter-sessions were detailed by this worthy chronicler of small beer. Ibid. (1855), Newcojues, xxxix. She thinks small beer of painters, J. J.— well, well, we don't think small beer of ourselves, my noble friend.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, iv. xii. When I say that sum un is gumptious, I mean—though that's more vulgar like— sum un who does not think small beer of hisself.

1880. Academy, 25 Sep., 219. Two such chroniclers of small beer as Boswell and Erskine.

1902. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Sep., 1. 3. Vogler had reason to think no small things of himself. He was emphatically the popular man of his day ; he was followed by enthusiastic admirers.

Small cap O, subs. phr. (printers'). —A second or inferior in command ; an under overseer.

Small cheque, subs. phr. (nautical).—A dram ; a drink. To

knock down a cheque = to

spend all in drink.

Small fry, subs. phr. (colloquial).

—Generic (1) for things little ;

and (2) for things trifling or

valueless.

18S8. Black, Houseboat, viii. While some of the small fry popped out their heads to have a look.

Small hours, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The first three or four hours after midnight : usually 'the small hours of the morning.' Also short hours.

d. 1796. Burns, Death and Dr. Hornbook. Some wee short hours ayont the twal'.

1903. D. Telegraph, 3 Jan., 9, ' Paris Day by Day.' An extraordinary assault has been committed in a third-class carriage of a train which left Paris in the small hours of yesterday morning for Brussels.

Small potatoes. See Potato.

Small pill, subs. phr. (The Leys School).—A diminutive football : used on runs.

Smart, adj. and adv. (colloquial). —Generic for superior, out of the common.distinguished. [Insensés I, 2, and 3 there is often, but not necessarily, an implied suspicion of something questionable.] (1)

Smart.

263

Smart.

— lively, witty, pert (B. E.) : e.g., a smart ( = clever) book ; a smart (= ready) reply; a smart (= bright) saying; a smart (= sparkling) speech ; a smart (= brisk) lad, &c. 2. = well-dressed, fashionable, brilliant : e.g., a smart (= elegant and modish) frock; a smart ( = attractive and amusing) show ; smart (= fashionable) society : hence smart, stibs. = (1) a dandy (old), and (2) one in advance of the prevailing standard of good taste. 3. = quick, expert, shrewd : e.g., a smart (= precocious) child; a smart (= clever) workman; a smart (= enterprising) tradesman ; a smart ( = capable, active and neat) soldier, sailor, hand, &c. 4 (American) = clever, knavish, and unscrupulous. 5 (prov. ) = cold : e.g., a smart ( = biting)morning. 6 (colloquial) = uncommon : e.g., smart (= hard) going ; smart (= resolute and lively) hitting ; smart (= capable) work. As adv. =very, large, considerable, vigorously : with such derivatives and combinations as smarty (subs.), smartness (subs.), and smartish (adj.).

[ ? ]. M.S. Cantab., Ff. ii. 38, f. 131 [Halliwell]. The swynehorde ioke out a knyfe smert. Ibid., Ff. v. 48, f. no. Smertlv then she callis a knave.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, ' Gen. Prol.' 149. If men smot it with a yerde

smerte.

[ ? ]. Book of Precedence [E. E. T. S], i. 50. When thi semantes haue do ther werke, To pay ther hyre loke thou be

smerte.

1641. Milton, De/. 0/ Humb. Remonstr., Pref. A voluble and smart fluence of tongue.

1662. Fuller, Worthies, Wiltshire, iii. 335. Thomas of Wilton wrote also a smart Book on this subject.

d.i6oq. Stillingfleet, Sermons, in. vii. These few words . . . contain a smart and serious expostulation.

d.jjoi. Dryden, Works [Century]. After show'rs The stars shine smarter.

c. 1704. Gentleman Instructed, 470. ' Sirrah,' says the youngster, 'make me a smart wig, a smart one, ye dog !' The fellow blessed himself : he had heard of a smart nag, a smart man, &c, but a smart wig was Chinese to the tradesman. . . . Within two days he had a smart wig with a smart price in the box. The truth is, he had been bred up with the groom, and translated the stable dialect into the dressing room.

.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 123. I was a smart child, and a smock-fac'd youth.

1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, v. 2. There's no need to be so smart upon him . . . If he's not a gentleman, he's a gentleman's fellow.

1708-10. Swift, Pol. Conv., Intro. So great a number of smart turns of wit and humour as I have produced.

1715. Addison, Drummer, iii. 1. Thou'st very smart my dear. But see ! Smoke the doctor.

1739. Townley, High Life Below Stairs, ii. The gay sparkling Belle who the whole town alarms, And with eyes, lips, and neck, sets the smarts all in arms.

1740. Richardson, Pamela, i. 51. I bought . . . two pairs of ordinary blue worsted hose that made a smartish appearance with white clocks. Ibid. (1753), Grandison, iv. 292. Our cousin is looked upon amongst his brother libertines and smarts as a man of first consideration.

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, 11. iv. All the smarts . . . were eclipsed in a moment. Ibid., m. iii. I resolved to quit all further conversation with beaux and smarts of every kind.

1753. Adventurer, 100. The scale consists of eight : Greenhorn, Jemmy, Jessamy, Smart, Honest Fellow, Joyous Spirit, Buck, and Blood.

1785. Cowper, Task, iv. 468. And sighs for the smart comrades he has left.

c.1812. Maher, The Night Before Larry was Stretched. He fetched a smart blow at his head.

1811. Austen, Sense and Sensibility, xix. I always preferred the church . . . but that was not smart enough for my family. They recommended the army, but that was a great deal too smart for me.

1826. Croker [Croker Papers, i. 331]. Where there was a smart young waiter, whom, however, these two Englishmen used to row exceedingly.

Smart. 264 Smash.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, iv. Corne, heave ahead, my lads, and be smart.

1835. Hoffman, Winter in the West. There's a smart chance of cigars there in the bar.

18^6. Scott, Cruise of Midge, 363. There's a smart hand ... a good seaman evidently by the cut of his jib.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, ii. Smart chap that cabman . . . but . . . punch his head ! Ibid. (1844), Martin Chuzzlcwit, xxxiii. Scadder is a smart man, sir . . . Scadder was a smart man, and had drawed a lot of British capital that was as sure as sun-up . . . Wish he might be sifted fine as flour, and whittled small as chips ; that if they didn't come off that fixing right smart too, he'd spill 'em in the drink. Ibid. (1853), Bleak House, ix. I scarcely knew him again, he was so uncommonly smart.

1843. Carlton, New Purchase, 1. 85. There was a smart sprinkle of rattlesnakes on Red Rum, and a powerful nice day to sun themselves.

1844. Haliburton, Attache, ix. He has a smart chance of getting a better character.

18 [?]. Macaulay [Trevelyan, i. 202]. A smart, impudent-looking young dog dressed like a sailor in a blue jacket and check shirt, marched up.

1849. Bronte, Shirley, xxiv. This stout lady in a quaint black dress, who looks young enough to wear much smarter raiment if she would.

1852. Stray Yankee in Texas [Bartlett]. A powerful smart-looking chunk of a pony.

t854._ Olmsted, Texas, 301. Each man's rations consisting of a pint of mouldy*¹' corn and a right smart chunk of bacon.

1856. Stowe, Bred, 1. 209. She had right smart of life in her.

1861.^ Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xxxv. He's a prig, and a smart one, too.

1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 57. She was a little thin woman, but tough as Inger rubber, and smart as a steel trap.

1884. Clemens, Huck. Finn, v. 34. I'll lay for you, mysMARTY, and if I catch you about that school I'll tan you good.

1885. Century Mag., xl. 271. For a time the Clays were seen and heard of, on the top wave of London's smart society.

1889. Harper's Mag., Ixxx. ' Lit. Notes.' The awfully smart boy is only smart—in the worst American sense of the word—as his own family make him so.

1889. Kipling, Rout of the White Hussars. It was all the Colonel's fault . . . He said the regiment was not smart enough.

1889. Answers, 27 July, 141, 1. He knew that if the manuscript got about the Yankees would think it a smart thing to crib it.

1891. Marriot-Watson, Web of Spider, xxii. 'Smart he was, but he had a smarter man against him.' . . . ' Yes, but you don't yet realise how smart.'

1900. White, West End, 19. Among the smart set, and under the surface, little is impossible.

1901. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 Nov., 2, 3. There can be no question that the smart tradesman of to-day thrusts himself upon the general notice with tiresome assiduity.

1903. The Smart Set, a Magazine oj Cleverness [Title].

See Smart-money.

Smart-money, subs. phr. (old).— i. ' Given by the King, when a Man in Land or Sea-Service has a Leg Shot or Cut off, or is disabled' (B. E. and Grose) : hence (2) a fine ; and (3) vindictive damages : also smart.

Smash, subs, (colloquial).—1. Iced brandy and water.

2. (common).—Mashed vegetables : potatoes, turnips, and the like (Grose).

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. The sweep asked him what he was going to have. ' A two-and-a-half plate and a ha'p'orth of smash.'

3. (prison).—Tobacco : hence

to sling the smash = to pass

tobacco to a prisoner.

Verb, (thieves').—To utter base coin. Hence smasher = ( 1 ) base coin or paper ; and (2) one who passes base money into circulation (Grose and Vaux). Also 2. (common) = to give change (Bee) : as subs. = loose change.

Smash. 265 Smectymnus.