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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5402.txt b/5402.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..808e52b --- /dev/null +++ b/5402.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14849 @@ +Project Gutenberg's 1811 Dictionary in the Vulgar Tongue, by Francis Grose + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: 1811 Dictionary in the Vulgar Tongue + +Author: Francis Grose + +Posting Date: January 10, 2011 [EBook #5402] +Release Date: April, 2004 +First Posted: July 6, 2002 +[Last updated: April 10, 2016] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICTIONARY IN VULGAR TONGUE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + + + +1811 DICTIONARY OF THE VULGAR TONGUE. + + A + DICTIONARY + OF +BUCKISH SLANG, UNIVERSITY WIT, + AND + PICKPOCKET ELOQUENCE. + + +UNABRIDGED FROM THE ORIGINAL 1811 EDITION WITH A FOREWORD BY +ROBERT CROMIE + +COMPILED ORIGINALLY BY CAPTAIN GROSE. + +AND NOW CONSIDERABLY ALTERED AND ENLARGED, WITH THE MODERN +CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS, BY A MEMBER OF THE WHIP CLUB. + +ASSISTED BY HELL-FIRE DICK, AND JAMES GORDON, +ESQRS. OF CAMBRIDGE; AND WILLIAM SOAMES, ESQ. OF +THE HON. SOCIETY OF NEWMAN'S HOTEL. + + + + + +PREFACE. + +The merit of Captain Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue has +been long and universally acknowledged. But its circulation was +confined almost exclusively to the lower orders of society: he +was not aware, at the time of its compilation, that our young men +of fashion would at no very distant period be as distinguished +for the vulgarity of their jargon as the inhabitants of Newgate; +and he therefore conceived it superfluous to incorporate with his +work the few examples of fashionable slang that might occur to +his observation. + +But our Jehus of rank have a phraseology not less peculiar to +themselves, than the disciples of Barrington: for the uninitiated +to understand their modes of expression, is as impossible as for +a Buxton to construe the Greek Testament. To sport an Upper +Benjamin, and to swear with a good grace, are qualifications +easily attainable by their cockney imitators; but without the aid +of our additional definitions, neither the cits of Fish-street, +nor the boors of Brentford would be able to attain the language +of whippism. We trust, therefore, that the whole tribe of +second-rate Bang Ups, will feel grateful for our endeavour to render +this part of the work as complete as possible. By an occasional +reference to our pages, they may be initiated into all the +peculiarities of language by which the man of spirit is +distinguished from the man of worth. They may now talk bawdy +before their papas, without the fear of detection, and abuse +their less spirited companions, who prefer a good dinner at home +to a glorious UP-SHOT in the highway, without the hazard of a +cudgelling. + +But we claim not merely the praise of gratifying curiosity, or +affording assistance to the ambitious; we are very sure that the +moral influence of the Lexicon Balatronicum will be more certain +and extensive than that of any methodist sermon that has ever +been delivered within the bills of mortality. We need not descant +on the dangerous impressions that are made on the female mind, by +the remarks that fall incidentally from the lips of the brothers +or servants of a family; and we have before observed, that +improper topics can with our assistance be discussed, even before +the ladies, without raising a blush on the cheek of modesty. It +is impossible that a female should understand the meaning of +TWIDDLE DIDDLES, or rise from table at the mention of BUCKINGER'S +BOOT. Besides, Pope assures us, that "VICE TO BE HATED NEEDS BUT +TO BE SEEN;" in this volume it cannot be denied, that she is seen +very plainly; and a love of virtue is, therefore, the necessary +result of perusing it. + +The propriety of introducing the UNIVERSITY SLANG will be readily +admitted; it is not less curious than that of the College in the +Old +Bailey, and is less generally understood. When the number and +accuracy of our additions are compared with the price of the +volume, we have no doubt that its editors will meet with the +encouragement that is due to learning, modesty, and virtue. + + + + +DICTIONARY OF THE VULGAR TONGUE. + + + + +ABBESS, or LADY ABBESS, A bawd, the mistress of a + brothel. + +ABEL-WACKETS. Blows given on the palm of the hand + with a twisted handkerchief, instead of a ferula; a jocular + punishment among seamen, who sometimes play at cards + for wackets, the loser suffering as many strokes as he has + lost games. + +ABIGAIL. A lady's waiting-maid. + +ABRAM. Naked. CANT. + +ABRAM COVE. A cant word among thieves, signifying a + naked or poor man; also a lusty, strong rogue. + +ABRAM MEN. Pretended mad men. + +TO SHAM ABRAM. To pretend sickness. + +ACADEMY, or PUSHING SCHOOL. A brothel. The Floating + Academy; the lighters on board of which those persons + are confined, who by a late regulation are condemned to + hard labour, instead of transportation.--Campbell's + Academy; the same, from a gentleman of that name, who had + the contract for victualling the hulks or lighters. + +ACE OF SPADES. A widow. + +ACCOUNTS. To cast up one's accounts; to vomit. + +ACORN. You will ride a horse foaled by an acorn, i.e. the + gallows, called also the Wooden and Three-legged Mare. + You will be hanged.--See THREE-LEGGED MARE. + +ACT OF PARLIAMENT. A military term for small beer, five + pints of which, by an act of parliament, a landlord was + formerly obliged to give to each soldier gratis. + +ACTEON. A cuckold, from the horns planted on the head + of Acteon by Diana. + +ACTIVE CITIZEN. A louse. + +ADAM'S ALE. Water. + +ADAM TILER. A pickpocket's associate, who receives the + stolen goods, and runs off with them. CANT. + +ADDLE PATE. An inconsiderate foolish fellow. + +ADDLE PLOT. A spoil-sport, a mar-all. + +ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE, who carries his flag on the main-mast. + A landlord or publican wearing a blue apron, as + was formerly the custom among gentlemen of that vocation. + +ADMIRAL OF THE NARROW SEAS. One who from drunkenness + vomits into the lap of the person sitting opposite to + him. SEA PHRASE. + +ADRIFT. Loose, turned adrift, discharged. SEA PHRASE. + +AEGROTAT, (CAMBRIDGE), A certificate from the apothecary + that you are INDISPOSED, (i. e.) to go to chapel. He + sports an Aegrotat, he is sick, and unable to attend Chapel. + or Hall. It does not follow, however, but that he can STRUM + A PIECE, or sport a pair of oars. + +AFFIDAVIT MEN. Knights of the post, or false witnesses, + said to attend Westminster Hall, and other courts of + justice, ready to swear any thing for hire. + +AFTER-CLAP. A demand after the first given in has been + discharged; a charge for pretended omissions; in short, + any thing disagreeable happening after all consequences of + the cause have been thought at an end. + +AGAINST THE GRAIN. Unwilling. It went much against + the grain with him, i.e. it was much against his + inclination, or against his pluck. + +AGOG, ALL-A-GOG. Anxious, eager, impatient: from the + Italian AGOGARE, to desire eagerly. + +AGROUND. Stuck fast, stopped, at a loss, ruined; like a + boat or vessel aground. + +AIR AND EXERCISE. He has had air and exercise, i.e. he + has been whipped at the cart's tail; or, as it is generally, + though more vulgarly, expressed, at the cart's a-se. + +ALDERMAN. A roasted turkey garnished with sausages; + the latter are supposed to represent the gold chain worn + by those magistrates. + +ALDGATE. A draught on the pump at Aldgate; a bad bill + of exchange, drawn on persons who have no effects of the + drawer. + +ALE DRAPER. An alehouse keeper. + +ALE POST. A may-pole. + +ALL-A-MORT. Struck dumb, confounded. What, sweet + one, all-a-mort? SHAKESPEARE. + +ALL HOLIDAY. It is all holiday at Peckham, or it is all holiday + with him; a saying signifying that it is all over + with the business or person spoken of or alluded to. + +ALL HOLLOW. He was beat all hollow, i.e. he had no + chance of conquering: it was all hollow, or a hollow thing, + it was a decided thing from the beginning. See HOLLOW. + +ALL NATIONS. A composition of all the different spirits + sold in a dram-shop, collected in a vessel into which + the drainings of the bottles and quartern pots are emptied. + +ALLS. The five alls is a country sign, representing five human + figures, each having a motto under him. The first + is a king in his regalia; his motto, I govern all: the second, + a bishop in pontificals; motto, I pray for all: third, + a lawyer in his gown; motto, I plead for all: fourth: a + soldier in his regimentals, fully accoutred; motto, I + fight for all: fifth, a poor countryman with his scythe + and rake; motto, I pay for all. + +ALTAMEL. A verbal or lump account, without particulars, + such as is commonly produced at bawdy-houses, + spunging-houses, &c. Vide DUTCH RECKONING. + +ALTITUDES. The man is in his altitudes, i.e. he is drunk. + +AMBASSADOR. A trick to duck some ignorant fellow or + landsman, frequently played on board ships in the warm + latitudes. It is thus managed: A large tub is filled with + water, and two stools placed on each side of it. Over + the whole is thrown a tarpaulin, or old sail: this is + kept tight by two persons, who are to represent the king + and queen of a foreign country, and are seated on the + stools. The person intended to be ducked plays the Ambassador, + and after repeating a ridiculous speech dictated + to him, is led in great form up to the throne, and seated + between the king and queen, who rising suddenly as soon + as he is seated, he falls backwards into the tub of water. + +AMBASSADOR OF MOROCCO. A Shoemaker. (See Mrs. + Clarke's Examination.) + +AMBIDEXTER. A lawyer who takes fees from both plaintiff + and defendant, or that goes snacks with both parties + in gaming. + +AMEN CURLER. A parish clerk. + +AMEN. He said Yes and Amen to every thing; he agreed to + every thing. + +AMINADAB. A jeering name for a Quaker. + +AMES ACE. Within ames ace; nearly, very near. + +TO AMUSE. To fling dust or snuff in the eyes of the person + intended to be robbed; also to invent some plausible tale, + to delude shop-keepers and others, thereby to put them + off their guard. CANT. + +AMUSERS. Rogues who carried snuff or dust in their pockets, + which they threw into the eyes of any person they + intended to rob; and running away, their accomplices + (pretending to assist and pity the half-blinded person) + took that opportunity of plundering him. + +ANABAPTIST. A pickpocket caught in the fact, and punished + with the discipline of the pump or horse-pond. + +ANCHOR. Bring your a-se to an anchor, i.e. sit down. To let + go an anchor to the windward of the law; to keep within + the letter of the law. SEA WIT. + +ANGLERS. Pilferers, or petty thieves, who, with a stick + having a hook at the end, steal goods out of shop-windows, + grates, &c.; also those who draw in or entice unwary persons + to prick at the belt, or such like devices. + +ANGLING FOR FARTHINGS. Begging out of a prison window + with a cap, or box, let down at the end of a long + string. + +ANKLE. A girl who is got with child, is said to have sprained + her ankle. + +ANODYNE NECKLACE. A halter. + +ANTHONY or TANTONY PIG. The favourite or smallest pig + in the litter.--To follow like a tantony pig, i.e. St. + Anthony's pig; to follow close at one's heels. St. Anthony + the hermit was a swineherd, and is always represented + with a swine's bell and a pig. Some derive this saying + from a privilege enjoyed by the friars of certain convents + in England and France (sons of St. Anthony), whose swine + were permitted to feed in the streets. These swine would + follow any one having greens or other provisions, till they + obtained some of them; and it was in those days considered + an act of charity and religion to feed them. + +TO KNOCK ANTHONY. Said of an in-kneed person, or one + whose knees knock together; to cuff Jonas. See JONAS. + +APE LEADER. An old maid; their punishment after + death, for neglecting increase and multiply, will be, it is + said, leading apes in hell. + +APOSTLES. To manoeuvre the apostles, i.e. rob Peter to + pay Paul; that is, to borrow money of one man to pay + another. + +APOSTLES. (CAMBRIDGE.) Men who are plucked, refused + their degree. + +APOTHECARY. To talk like an apothecary; to use hard or + gallipot words: from the assumed gravity and affectation + of knowledge generally put on by the gentlemen of this + profession, who are commonly as superficial in their + learning as they are pedantic in their language. + +APOTHECARY'S BILL. A long bill. + +APOTHECARY'S, or LAW LATIN. Barbarous Latin, vulgarly + called Dog Latin, in Ireland Bog Latin. + +APPLE CART. Down with his apple-cart; knock or throw + him down. + +APPLE DUMPLIN SHOP. A woman's bosom. + +APPLE-PYE BED. A bed made apple-pye fashion, like what + is called a turnover apple-pye, where the sheets are so + doubled as to prevent any one from getting at his length + between them: a common trick played by frolicsome + country lasses on their sweethearts, male relations, or + visitors. + +APRIL FOOL. Any one imposed on, or sent on a bootless + errand, on the first of April; which day it is the custom + among the lower people, children, and servants, by dropping + empty papers carefully doubled up, sending persons + on absurd messages, and such like contrivances, to impose + on every one they can, and then to salute them with + the title of April Fool. This is also practised in + Scotland under the title of Hunting the Gowke. + +APRON STRING HOLD. An estate held by a man during + his wife's life. + +AQUA PUMPAGINIS. Pump water. APOTHECARIES LATIN. + +ARBOR VITAE. A man's penis. + +ARCH DUKE. A comical or eccentric fellow. + +ARCH ROGUE, DIMBER DAMBER UPRIGHT MAN. The + chief of a gang of thieves or gypsies. + +ARCH DELL, or ARCH DOXY, signifies the same in rank + among the female canters or gypsies. + +ARD. Hot. CANT. + +ARMOUR. In his armour, pot valiant: to fight in armour; + to make use of Mrs. Philips's ware. See C--D--M. + +ARK. A boat or wherry. Let us take an ark and winns, let + us take a sculler. CANT. + +ARK RUFFIANS. Rogues who, in conjunction with watermen, + robbed, and sometimes murdered, on the water, by + picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, boarding + it, plundering, stripping, and throwing them overboard, &c. + A species of badger. CANT. + +ARRAH NOW. An unmeaning expletive, frequently used by + the vulgar Irish. + +ARS MUSICA. A bum fiddle. + +ARSE. To hang an arse; to hang back, to be afraid to + advance. He would lend his a-e and sh-te through his ribs; + a saying of any one who lends his money inconsiderately. + He would lose his a-e if it was loose; said of a careless + person. A-e about; turn round. + +ARSY YARSEY. To fall arsy varsey, i.e. head over heels. + +ARTHUR, KING ARTHUR, A game used at sea, when near + the line, or in a hot latitude. It is performed thus: A man + who is to represent king Arthur, ridiculously dressed, + having a large wig made out of oakum, or some old swabs, is + seated on the side, or over a large vessel of water. Every + person in his turn is to be ceremoniously introduced to + him, and to pour a bucket of water over him, crying, + hail, king Arthur! if during this ceremony the person + introduced laughs or smiles (to which his majesty endeavours + to excite him, by all sorts of ridiculous gesticulations), he + changes place with, and then becomes, king Arthur, till + relieved by some brother tar, who has as little command + over his muscles as himself. + +ARTICLES. Breeches; coat, waistcoat, and articles. + +ARTICLE. A wench. A prime article. A handsome girl. + She's a prime article (WHIP SLANG), she's a devilish good + piece, a hell of a GOER. + +ASK, or AX MY A-E. A common reply to any question; + still deemed wit at sea, and formerly at court, under the + denomination of selling bargains. See BARGAIN. + +ASSIG. An assignation. + +ATHANASIAN WENCH, or QUICUNQUE VULT. A forward + girl, ready to oblige every man that shall ask her. + +AUNT. Mine aunt; a bawd or procuress: a title of eminence + for the senior dells, who serve for instructresses, midwives, + &c. for the dells. CANT. See DELLS. + +AVOIR DU POIS LAY. Stealing brass weights off the counters + of shops. CANT. + +AUTEM. A church. + +AUTEM BAWLER. A parson. CANT. + +AUTEM CACKLERS, AUTEM PRICKEARS. Dissenters of every + denomination. CANT. + +AUTEM CACKLETUB. A conventicle or meeting-house for + dissenters. CANT. + +AUTEM DIPPERS. Anabaptists. CANT. + +AUTEM DIVERS. Pickpockets who practice in churches; + also churchwardens and overseers of the poor. CANT. + +AUTEM GOGLERS. Pretended French prophets. CANT. + +AUTEM MORT. A married woman; also a female beggar + with several children hired or borrowed to excite charity. + CANT. + +AUTEM QUAVERS. Quakers. + +AUTEM QUAVER TUB. A Quakers' meeting-house. CANT. + +AWAKE. Acquainted with, knowing the business. Stow the + books, the culls are awake; hide the cards, the fellows + know what we intended to do. + +BABES IN THE WOOD. Criminals in the stocks, or pillory. + +BABBLE. Confused, unintelligible talk, such as was used at + the building the tower of Babel. + +BACK BITER. One who slanders another behind his back, + i.e. in his absence. His bosom friends are become his back + biters, said of a lousy man. + +BACKED. Dead. He wishes to have the senior, or old + square-toes, backed; he longs to have his father on six + men's shoulders; that is, carrying to the grave. + +BACK UP. His back is up, i.e. he is offended or angry; an + expression or idea taken from a cat; that animal, when + angry, always raising its back. An allusion also sometimes + used to jeer a crooked man; as, So, Sir, I see somebody + has offended you, for your back is up. + +BACON. He has saved his bacon; he has escaped. He has a + good voice to beg bacon; a saying in ridicule of a bad voice. + +BACON-FACED. Full-faced. + +BACON FED. Fat, greasy. + +BACK GAMMON PLAYER. A sodomite. + +BACK DOOR (USHER, or GENTLEMAN OF THE). The same. + +BAD BARGAIN. One of his majesty's bad bargains; a + worthless soldier, a malingeror. See MALINGEROR. + +BADGE. A term used for one burned in the hand. He has got + his badge, and piked; he was burned in the hand, and is + at liberty. Cant. + +BADGE-COVES. Parish Pensioners. Cant. + +BADGERS. A crew of desperate villains who robbed near + rivers, into which they threw the bodies of those they + murdered. Cant. + +BAG. He gave them the bag, i.e. left them. + +BAG OF NAILS. He squints like a bag of nails; i. e. + his eyes are directed as many ways as the points of a bag + of nails. The old BAG OF NAILS at Pimlico; originally + the BACCHANALS. + +BAGGAGE. Heavy baggage; women and children. Also a + familiar epithet for a woman; as, cunning baggage, + wanton baggage, &c. + +BAKERS DOZEN. Fourteen; that number of rolls being allowed + to the purchasers of a dozen. + +BAKER-KNEE'D. One whose knees knock together in + walking, as if kneading dough. + +BALDERDASH. Adulterated wine. + +BALLOCKS. The testicles of a man or beast; also a vulgar + nick name for a parson. His brains are in his ballocks, + a cant saying to designate a fool. + +BALUM RANCUM. A hop or dance, where the women are + all prostitutes. N. B. The company dance in their + birthday suits. + +BALSAM. Money. + +BAM. A jocular imposition, the same as a humbug. See + HUMBUG. + +TO BAM. To impose on any one by a falsity; also to + jeer or make fun of any one. + +TO BAMBOOZLE. To make a fool of any one, to humbug or + impose on him. + +BANAGHAN. He beats Banaghan; an Irish saying of one + who tells wonderful stories. Perhaps Banaghan was a + minstrel famous for dealing in the marvellous. + +BANDBOX. Mine a-se on a bandbox; an answer to the + offer of any thing inadequate to the purpose for which + it is proffered, like offering a bandbox for a seat. + +BANBURY STORY OF A COCK AND A BULL. A roundabout, + nonsensical story. + +BANDOG. A bailiff or his follower; also a very fierce + mastiff: likewise, a bandbox. CANT. + +BANG UP. (WHIP.) Quite the thing, hellish fine. Well + done. Compleat. Dashing. In a handsome stile. + A bang up cove; a dashing fellow who spends his money + freely. To bang up prime: to bring your horses up in a + dashing or fine style: as the swell's rattler and prads are + bang up prime; the gentleman sports an elegant carriage + and fine horses. + +TO BANG. To beat. + +BANGING. Great; a fine banging boy. + +BANG STRAW. A nick name for a thresher, but applied + to all the servants of a farmer. + +BANKRUPT CART. A one-horse chaise, said to be so + called by a Lord Chief Justice, from their being so + frequently used on Sunday jaunts by extravagant + shop-keepers and tradesmen. + +BANKS'S HORSE. A horse famous for playing tricks, the + property of one Banks. It is mentioned in Sir Walter + Raleigh's Hist. of the World, p. 178; also by Sir + Kenelm Digby and Ben Jonson. + +BANTLING. A young child. + +BANYAN DAY. A sea term for those days on which no + meat is allowed to the sailors: the term is borrowed + from the Banyans in the East Indies, a cast that eat + nothing that had life. + +BAPTIZED, OR CHRISTENED. Rum, brandy, or any other + spirits, that have been lowered with water. + +BARBER'S CHAIR. She is as common as a barber's chair, in + which a whole parish sit to be trimmed; said of a prostitute. + +BARBER'S SIGN. A standing pole and two wash balls. + +BARGAIN. To sell a bargain; a species of wit, much in + vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, + and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the + maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It + consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in + answer to the question, What? which the buyer was + artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following + instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, + apparently in a fright, crying out, It is white, and follows + me! On any of the company asking, What? she sold + him the bargain, by saying, Mine a-e. + +BARGEES. (CAMBRIDGE.) Barge-men on the river. + +BARKER. The shopman of a bow-wow shop, or dealer in + second hand clothes, particularly about Monmouth-Street, + who walks before his master's door, and deafens every + passenger with his cries of--Clothes, coats, or gowns--what + d'ye want, gemmen?--what d'ye buy? See BOW-WOW SHOP. + +BARKSHIRE. A member or candidate for Barkshire, said of + one troubled with a cough, vulgarly styled barking. + +BARKING IRONS. Pistols, from their explosion resembling + the bow-wow or barking of a dog. IRISH. + +BARN. A parson's barn; never so full but there is still room, + for more. Bit by a barn mouse, tipsey, probably from an + allusion to barley. + +BARNABY. An old dance to a quick movement. See Cotton, + in his Virgil Travesti; where, speaking of Eolus he has + these lines, + + Bounce cry the port-holes, out they fly, + And make the world dance Barnaby. + +BARNACLE. A good job, or snack easily got: also shellfish + growing at the bottoms of ships; a bird of the goose + kind; an instrument like a pair of pincers, to fix on the + noses of vicious horses whilst shoeing; a nick name for + spectacles, and also for the gratuity given to grooms by the + buyers and sellers of horses. + +BARREL FEVER. He died of the barrel fever; he killed + himself by drinking. + +BARROW MAN. A man under sentence of transportation; + alluding to the convicts at Woolwich, who are principally + employed in wheeling barrows full of brick or dirt. + +BARTHOLOMEW BABY. A person dressed up in a tawdry + manner, like the dolls or babies sold at Bartholomew fair. + +BASKET. An exclamation frequently made use of in cock-pits, + at cock-fightings, where persons refusing or unable + to pay their losings, are adjudged by that respectable + assembly to be put into a basket suspended over the pit, there + to remain during that day's diversion: on the least demur + to pay a bet, Basket is vociferated in terrorem. He grins + like a basket of chips: a saying of one who is on the broad + grin. + +BASKET-MAKING. The good old trade of basket-making; + copulation, or making feet for children's stockings. + +BASTARD. The child of an unmarried woman. + +BASTARDLY GULLION. A bastard's bastard. + +TO BASTE. To beat. I'll give him his bastings, I'll beat + him heartily. + +BASTING. A beating. + +BASTONADING. Beating any one with a stick; from baton, + a stick, formerly spelt baston. + +BAT. A low whore: so called from moving out like bats in + the dusk of the evening. + +BATCH. We had a pretty batch of it last night; we had a + hearty dose of liquor. Batch originally means the whole + quantity of bread baked at one time in an oven. + +BATTNER. An ox: beef being apt to batten or fatten those + that eat it. The cove has hushed the battner; i.e. has + killed the ox. + +BATCHELOR'S FARE. Bread and cheese and kisses. + +BATCHELOR'S SON. A bastard. + +BATTLE-ROYAL. A battle or bout at cudgels or fisty-cuffs, + wherein more than two persons are engaged: perhaps from + its resemblance, in that particular, to more serious + engagements fought to settle royal disputes. + +BAWBEE. A halfpenny. Scotch. + +BAWBELS, or BAWBLES. Trinkets; a man's testicles. + +BAWD. A female procuress. + +BAWDY BASKET. The twenty-third rank of canters, who + carry pins, tape, ballads, and obscene books to sell, but live + mostly by stealing. Cant. + +BAWDY-HOUSE BOTTLE. A very small bottle; short measure + being among the many means used by the keepers of those + houses, to gain what they call an honest livelihood: indeed + this is one of the least reprehensible; the less they give a + man of their infernal beverages for his money, the kinder + they behave to him. + +BAY FEVER. A term of ridicule applied to convicts, who + sham illness, to avoid being sent to Botany Bay. + +BAYARD OF TEN TOES. To ride bayard of ten toes, is to + walk on foot. Bayard was a horse famous in old romances, + +BEAK. A justice of-peace, or magistrate. Also a judge or + chairman who presides in court. I clapp'd my peepers + full of tears, and so the old beak set me free; I began to + weep, and the judge set me free. + +BEAN. A guinea. Half bean; half a guinea. + +BEAR. One who contracts to deliver a certain quantity of + sum of stock in the public funds, on a future day, and at + stated price; or, in other words, sells what he has not got, + like the huntsman in the fable, who sold the bear's skin + before the bear was killed. As the bear sells the stock he + is not possessed of, so the bull purchases what he has not + money to pay for; but in case of any alteration in the price + agreed on, either party pays or receives the difference. + Exchange Alley. + +BEAR-GARDEN JAW or DISCOURSE. Rude, vulgar language, + such as was used at the bear-gardens. + +BEAR LEADER. A travelling tutor. + +BEARD SPLITTER. A man much given to wenching. + +BEARINGS. I'll bring him to his bearings; I'll bring him to + reason. Sea term. + +BEAST. To drink like a beast, i.e. only when thirsty. + +BEAST WITH TWO BACKS. A man and woman in the act of + copulation. Shakespeare in Othello. + +BEATER CASES. Boots. Cant. + +BEAU-NASTY. A slovenly fop; one finely dressed, but dirty. + +BEAU TRAP. A loose stone in a pavement, under which + water lodges, and on being trod upon, squirts it up, to the + great damage of white stockings; also a sharper neatly + dressed, lying in wait for raw country squires, or ignorant + fops. + +BECALMED. A piece of sea wit, sported in hot weather. I + am becalmed, the sail sticks to the mast; that is, my shirt + sticks to my back. His prad is becalmed; his horse knocked up. + +BECK. A beadle. See HERMANBECK. + +BED. Put to bed with a mattock, and tucked up with a + spade; said of one that is dead and buried. You will go up + a ladder to bed, i.e. you will be hanged. In many country + places, persons hanged are made to mount up a ladder, + which is afterwards turned round or taken away, whence the + term, "Turned off." + +BEDFORDSHIRE. I am for Bedfordshire, i.e. for going to bed. + +BEDIZENED. Dressed out, over-dressed, or awkwardly ornamented. + +BED-MAKER. Women employed at Cambridge to attend + on the Students, sweep his room, &c. They will put their + hands to any thing, and are generally blest with a pretty + family of daughters: who unmake the beds, as fast as they + are made by their mothers. + +BEEF. To cry beef; to give the alarm. They have cried beef + on us. Cant.--To be in a man's beef; to wound him with + a sword. To be in a woman's beef; to have carnal + knowledge of her. Say you bought your beef of me, a jocular + request from a butcher to a fat man, implying that he + credits the butcher who serves him. + +BEEF EATER. A yeoman of the guards, instituted by Henry + VII. Their office was to stand near the bouffet, or + cupboard, thence called Bouffetiers, since corrupted to Beef + Eaters. Others suppose they obtained this name from the + size of their persons, and the easiness of their duty, as + having scarce more to do than to eat the king's beef. + +BEETLE-BROWED. One having thick projecting eyebrows. + +BEETLE-HEADED. Dull, stupid. + +BEGGAR MAKER. A publican, or ale-house keeper. + +BEGGAR'S BULLETS. Stones. The beggar's bullets began + to fly, i.e. they began to throw stones. + +BEILBY'S BALL. He will dance at Beilby's ball, where the + sheriff pays the music; he will be hanged. Who Mr. + Beilby was, or why that ceremony was so called, remains + with the quadrature of the circle, the discovery of the + philosopher's stone, and divers other desiderata yet + undiscovered. + +BELCH. All sorts of beer; that liquor being apt to cause + eructation. + +BELCHER. A red silk handkerchief, intermixed with yellow + and a little black. The kiddey flashes his belcher; the + young fellow wears a silk handkerchief round his neck. + +BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE. They cursed him with bell, + book, and candle; an allusion to the popish form of + excommunicating and anathematizing persons who had + offended the church. + +TO BEAR THE BELL. To excel or surpass all competitors, to + be the principal in a body or society; an allusion to the + fore horse or leader of a team, whose harness is commonly + ornamented with a bell or bells. Some suppose it a term + borrowed from an ancient tournament, where the victorious + knights bore away the BELLE or FAIR LADY. Others derive + it from a horse-race, or other rural contentions, where bells + were frequently given as prizes. + +BELLOWS. The lungs. + +BELLOWER. The town crier. + +BELLOWSER. Transportation for life: i.e. as long. + +BELLY. His eye was bigger than his belly; a saying of a + person at a table, who takes more on his plate than he + can eat. + +BELLYFULL. A hearty beating, sufficient to make a man + yield or give out. A woman with child is also said to + have got her belly full. + +BELLY CHEAT. An apron. + +BELLY PLEA. The plea of pregnancy, generally adduced by + female felons capitally convicted, which they take care to + provide for, previous to their trials; every gaol having, as + the Beggar's Opera informs us, one or more child getters, + who qualify the ladies for that expedient to procure a respite. + +BELLY TIMBER. Food of all sorts. + +BELL SWAGGER. A noisy bullying fellow. + +BELLWETHER. The chief or leader of a mob; an idea + taken from a flock of sheep, where the wether has a bell + about his neck. + +BENE. Good--BENAR. Better. Cant. + +BENE BOWSE. Good beer, or other strong liquor. Cant. + +BENE COVE. A good fellow. Cant. + +BENE DARKMANS. Goodnight. Cant. + +BENE FEARERS. Counterfeiters of bills. Cant. + +BENE FEAKERS OF GYBES. Counterfeiters of passes. Cant. + +BENESHIPLY. Worshipfully. Cant. + +BEN. A fool. Cant. + +BENISH. Foolish. + +BENISON. The beggar's benison: May your ***** and + purse never fail you. + +BERMUDAS. A cant name for certain places in London, + privileged against arrests, like the Mint in Southwark, + Ben. Jonson. These privileges are abolished. + +BESS, or BETTY. A small instrument used by house-breakers + to force open doors. Bring bess and glym; bring the + instrument to force the door, and the dark lantern. Small + flasks, like those for Florence wine, are also called betties. + +BESS. See BROWN BESS. + +BEST. To the best in Christendom: i.e. the best **** in + Christendom; a health formerly much in vogue. + +BET. A wager.--TO BET. To lay a wager. + +BETTY MARTIN. That's my eye, Betty Martin; an answer + to any one that attempts to impose or humbug. + +BETWATTLED. Surprised, confounded, out of one's senses; + also bewrayed. + +BEVER. An afternoon's luncheon; also a fine hat; beaver's + fur making the best hats, + +BEVERAGE. Garnish money, or money for drink, demanded + of any one having a new suit of clothes. + +BIBLE. A boatswain's great axe. Sea term. + +BIBLE OATH. Supposed by the vulgar to be more binding + than an oath taken on the Testament only, as being the + bigger book, and generally containing both the Old and New + Testament. + +BIDDY, or CHICK-A-BIDDY. A chicken, and figuratively + a young wench. + +BIDET, commonly pronounced BIDDY. A kind of tub, contrived + for ladies to wash themselves, for which purpose they + bestride it like a French poney, or post-horse, called in + French bidets. + +BIENLY. Excellently. She wheedled so bienly; she coaxed + or flattered so cleverly. French. + +BILL AT SIGHT. To pay a bill at sight; to be ready at all + times for the venereal act. + +BILBOA. A sword. Bilboa in Spain was once famous for + well-tempered blades: these are quoted by Falstaff, where + he describes the manner in which he lay in the buck-basket. + Bilboes, the stock; prison. Cant. + +TO BILK. To cheat. Let us bilk the rattling cove; let us + cheat the hackney coachman of his fare. Cant. Bilking a + coachman, a box-keeper, and a poor whore, were formerly, + among men of the town, thought gallant actions. + +BILL OF SALE. A widow's weeds. See HOUSE TO LET. + +BILLINGSGATE LANGUAGE. Foul language, or abuse. Billingsgate is + the market where the fishwomen assemble to + purchase fish; and where, in their dealings and disputes, + they are somewhat apt to leave decency and good manners + a little on the left hand. + +BING. To go. Cant. Bing avast; get you gone. Binged + avast in a darkmans; stole away in the night. Bing we to + Rumeville: shall we go to London? + +BINGO. Brandy or other spirituous liquor. Cant. + +BINGO BOY. A dram drinker. Cant. + +BINGO MORT. A female dram drinker. Cant. + +BINNACLE WORD. A fine or affected word, which sailors + jeeringly offer to chalk up on the binnacle. + +BIRD AND BABY. The sign of the eagle and child. + +BIRD-WITTED. Inconsiderate, thoughtless, easily imposed + on. + +BIRDS OF A FEATHER. Rogues of the same gang. + +BIRTH-DAY SUIT. He was in his birth-day suit, that is, + stark naked. + +BISHOP. A mixture of wine and water, into which is put a + roasted orange. Also one of the largest of Mrs. Philips's + purses, used to contain the others. + +BISHOPED, or TO BISHOP. A term used among horse-dealers, for + burning the mark into a horse's tooth, after he has + lost it by age; by bishoping, a horse is made to appear + younger than he is. It is a common saying of milk that is + burnt too, that the bishop has set his foot in it. Formerly, + when a bishop passed through a village, all the inhabitants + ran out of their houses to solicit his blessing, even leaving + their milk, &c. on the fire, to take its chance: which, went + burnt to, was said to be bishoped. + +TO BISHOP the balls, a term used among printers, to water + them. + +BIT. Money. He grappled the cull's bit; he seized the + man's money. A bit is also the smallest coin in Jamaica, + equal to about sixpence sterling. + +BITCH. A she dog, or doggess; the most offensive appellation + that can be given to an English woman, even more + provoking than that of whore, as may he gathered from the + regular Billinsgate or St. Giles's answer--"I may be a + whore, but can't be a bitch." + +TO BITCH. To yield, or give up an attempt through fear. + To stand bitch; to make tea, or do the honours of the + tea-table, performing a female part: bitch there standing for + woman, species for genius. + +BITCH BOOBY. A country wench. Military term. + +BITE. A cheat; also a woman's privities. The cull wapt + the mort's bite; the fellow enjoyed the wench heartily. + Cant. + +TO BITE. To over-reach, or impose; also to steal.--Cant.--Biting + was once esteemed a kind of wit, similar to the + humbug. An instance of it is given in the Spectator: A + man under sentence of death having sold his body to a surgeon + rather below the market price, on receiving the money, cried, A + bite! I am to be hanged in chains.--To bite + the roger; to steal a portmanteau. To bite the wiper, to + steal a handkerchief. To bite on the bridle; to be pinched + or reduced to difficulties. Hark ye, friend, whether do + they bite in the collar or the cod-piece? Water wit to + anglers. + +BITER. A wench whose **** is ready to bite her a-se; a + lascivious, rampant wench. + +BLAB. A tell-tale, or one incapable of keeping a secret + +BLACK AND WHITE. In writing. I have it in black and + white; I have written evidence. + +BLACK ART. The art of picking a lock. Cant. + +BLACK A-SE. A copper or kettle. The pot calls the kettle + black a-se. Cant. + +BLACK BOOK. He is down in the black book, i.e. has a + stain in his character. A black book is keep in most regiments, + wherein the names of all persons sentenced to punishment + are recorded. + +BLACK BOX. A lawyer. Cant. + +BLACK EYE. We gave the bottle a black eye, i.e. drank it + almost up. He cannot say black is the white of my eye; + he cannot point out a blot in my character. + +BLACK FLY. The greatest drawback on the farmer is the + black fly, i.e. the parson who takes tithe of the harvest. + +BLACK GUARD. A shabby, mean fellow; a term said to be + derived from a number of dirty, tattered roguish boys, who + attended at the Horse Guards, and Parade in St. James's + Park, to black the boots and shoes of the soldiers, or to do + any other dirty offices. These, from their constant attendance + about the time of guard mounting, were nick-named + the black-guards. + +BLACK JACK. A nick name given to the Recorder by the + Thieves. + +BLACK JACK. A jug to drink out of, made of jacked leather. + +BLACK JOKE. A popular tune to a song, having for the + burden, "Her black joke and belly so white:" figuratively + the black joke signifies the monosyllable. See MONOSYLLABLE. + +BLACK INDIES. Newcastle upon Tyne, whose rich coal + mines prove an Indies to the proprietors. + +BLACKLEGS. A gambler or sharper on the turf or in the cockpit: + so called, perhaps, from their appearing generally in + boots; or else from game-cocks whose legs are always black. + +BLACK MONDAY. The first Monday after the school-boys + holidays, or breaking up, when they are to go to school, + and produce or repeat the tasks set them. + +BLACK PSALM. To sing the black psalm; to cry: a saying + used to children. + +BLACK SPICE RACKET. To rob chimney sweepers of + their soot, bag and soot. + +BLACK SPY. The Devil. + +BLACK STRAP. Bene Carlo wine; also port. A task of + labour imposed on soldiers at Gibraltar, as a punishment + for small offences. + +BLANK. To look blank; to appear disappointed or confounded. + +BLANKET HORNPIPE. The amorous congress. + +BLARNEY. He has licked the blarney stone; he deals in the + wonderful, or tips us the traveller. The blarney stone is a + triangular stone on the very top of an ancient castle of that + name in the county of Cork in Ireland, extremely difficult + of access; so that to have ascended to it, was considered + as a proof of perseverance, courage, and agility, whereof + many are supposed to claim the honour, who never atchieved + the adventure: and to tip the blarney, is figuratively + used telling a marvellous story, or falsity; and also + sometimes to express flattery. Irish. + +A BLASTED FELLOW or BRIMSTONE. An abandoned + rogue or prostitute. Cant. + +To BLAST. To curse. + +BLATER. A calf. Cant. + +BLEACHED MORT. A fair-complexioned wench. + +BLEATERS. Those cheated by Jack in a box. CANT.--See + JACK IN A BOX. + +BLEATING CHEAT. A sheep. Cant. + +BLEATING RIG. Sheep stealing. Cant. + +BLEEDERS. Spurs. He clapped his bleeders to his prad; + be put spurs to his horse. + +BLEEDING CULLY. One who parts easily with his money, + or bleeds freely. + +BLEEDING NEW. A metaphor borrowed from fish, which + will not bleed when stale. + +BLESSING. A small quantity over and above the measure, + usually given by hucksters dealing in peas, beans, and + other vegetables. + +BLIND. A feint, pretence, or shift. + +BLIND CHEEKS. The breech. Buss blind cheeks; kiss + mine a-se. + +BLIND EXCUSE. A poor or insufficient excuse. A blind ale-house, + lane, or alley; an obscure, or little known or frequented + ale-house, lane, or alley. + +BLIND HARPERS. Beggars counterfeiting blindness, playing + on fiddles, &c. + +BLINDMAN'S BUFF. A play used by children, where one + being blinded by a handkerchief bound over his eyes, + attempts to seize any one of the company, who all endeavour + to avoid him; the person caught, must be blinded in + his stead. + +BLIND CUPID. The backside. + +BLINDMAN'S HOLIDAY. Night, darkness. + +BLOCK HOUSES. Prisons, houses of correction, &c. + +BLOCKED AT BOTH ENDS. Finished. The game is blocked + at both ends; the game is ended. + +BLOOD. A riotous disorderly fellow. + +BLOOD FOR BLOOD. A term used by tradesmen for bartering + the different commodities in which they deal. Thus a + hatter furnishing a hosier with a hat, and taking payment + in stockings, is said to deal blood for blood. + +BLOOD MONEY. The reward given by the legislature on the + conviction of highwaymen, burglars, &c. + +BLOODY BACK. A jeering appellation for a soldier, alluding + to his scarlet coat. + +BLOODY. A favourite word used by the thieves in swearing, + as bloody eyes, bloody rascal. + +BLOSS or BLOWEN. The pretended wife of a bully, or + shoplifter. Cant. + +TO BLOT THE SKRIP AND JAR IT. To stand engaged or + bound for any one. Cant. + +BLOW. He has bit the blow, i.e. he has stolen the goods. + Cant. + +BLOWEN. A mistress or whore of a gentleman of the + scamp. The blowen kidded the swell into a snoozing + ken, and shook him of his dummee and thimble; the + girl inveigled the gentleman into a brothel and robbed him + of his pocket book and watch. + +BLOWER. A pipe. How the swell funks his blower and + lushes red tape; what a smoke the gentleman makes + with his pipe, and drinks brandy. + +TO BLOW THE GROUNSILS. To lie with a woman on the + floor. Cant. + +TO BLOW THE GAB. To confess, or impeach a confederate. + Cant. + +BLOW-UP. A discovery, or the confusion occasioned by one. + +A BLOWSE, or BLOWSABELLA. A woman whose hair is + dishevelled, and hanging about her face; a slattern. + +BLUBBER. The mouth.--I have stopped the cull's blubber; + I have stopped the fellow's mouth, meant either by gagging + or murdering him. + +TO BLUBBER. To cry. + +TO SPORT BLUBBER. Said of a large coarse woman, who + exposes her bosom. + +BLUBBER CHEEKS. Large flaccid cheeks, hanging like + the fat or blubber of a whale. + +BLUE, To look blue; to be confounded, terrified, or disappointed. + Blue as a razor; perhaps, blue as azure. + +BLUE BOAR. A venereal bubo. + +BLUE DEVILS. Low spirits. + +BLUE FLAG. He has hoisted the blue flag; he has commenced + publican, or taken a public house, an allusion to + the blue aprons worn by publicans. See ADMIRAL OF + THE BLUE. + +BLUE PIGEONS. Thieves who steal lead off houses and + churches. Cant. To fly a blue pigeon; to steal lead + off houses or churches. + +BLUE PLUMB. A bullet.--Surfeited with a blue plumb; + wounded with a bullet. A sortment of George R--'s + blue plumbs; a volley of ball, shot from soldiers' firelocks. + +BLUE SKIN. A person begotten on a black woman by a + white man. One of the blue squadron; any one having + a cross of the black breed, or, as it is termed, a lick of + the tar brush. + +BLUE TAPE, or SKY BLUE. Gin. + +BLUE RUIN. Gin. Blue ribband; gin. + +BLUFF. Fierce, surly. He looked as bluff as bull beef. + +BLUFFER. An inn-keeper. Cant. + +BLUNDERBUSS. A short gun, with a wide bore, for carrying + slugs; also a stupid, blundering fellow. + +BLUNT. Money. Cant. + +TO BLUSTER. To talk big, to hector or bully. + +BOARDING SCHOOL. Bridewell, Newgate, or any other + prison, or house of correction. + +BOB. A shoplifter's assistant, or one that receives and carries + off stolen goods. All is bob; all is safe. Cant. + +BOB. A shilling. + +BOBBED. Cheated, tricked, disappointed. + +BOBBISH. Smart, clever, spruce. + +BOB STAY. A rope which holds the bowsprit to the stem or + cutwater. Figuratively, the frenum of a man's yard. + +BOB TAIL. A lewd woman, or one that plays with her tail; + also an impotent man, or an eunuch. Tag, rag, and bobtail; + a mob of all sorts of low people. To shift one's bob; + to move off, or go away. To bear a bob; to join in chorus + with any singers. Also a term used by the sellers of game, + for a partridge. + +BODY SNATCHERS. Bum bailiffs. + +BODY OF DIVINITY BOUND IN BLACK CALF. A parson. + +BOG LANDER. An Irishman; Ireland being famous for its + large bogs, which furnish the chief fuel in many parts + of that kingdom. + +BOG TROTTER. The same. + +BOG HOUSE. The necessary house. To go to bog; to go to + stool. + +BOG LATIN. Barbarous Latin. Irish.--See DOG LATIN, + and APOTHECARIES LATIN. + +BOGY. Ask bogy, i.e. ask mine a-se. Sea wit. + +BOH. Said to be the name of a Danish general, who so terrified + his opponent Foh, that he caused him to bewray + himself. Whence, when we smell a stink, it is custom + to exclaim, Foh! i.e. I smell general Foh. He cannot say + Boh to a goose; i.e. he is a cowardly or sheepish fellow. + There is a story related of the celebrated Ben Jonson, who + always dressed very plain; that being introduced to the + presence of a nobleman, the peer, struck by his homely + appearance and awkward manner, exclaimed, as if in doubt, + "you Ben Johnson! why you look as if you could not say + Boh to a goose!" "Boh!" replied the wit. + +BOLD. Bold as a miller's shirt, which every day takes a + rogue by the collar. + +BOLT. A blunt arrow. + +BOLT UPRIGHT. As erect, or straight up, as an arrow + set on its end. + +TO BOLT. To run suddenly out of one's house, or hiding + place, through fear; a term borrowed from a rabbit-warren, + where the rabbits are made to bolt, by sending + ferrets into their burrows: we set the house on fire, and + made him bolt. To bolt, also means to swallow meat + without chewing: the farmer's servants in Kent are + famous for bolting large quantities of pickled pork. + +BONES. Dice. + +BONE BOX. The mouth. Shut your bone box; shut your + mouth. + +BONE PICKER. A footman. + +BONED. Seized, apprehended, taken up by a constable. CANT. + +BOLUS. A nick name for an apothecary. + +BONESETTER. A hard-trotting horse. + +BOOBY, or DOG BOOBY. An awkward lout, clodhopper, or + country fellow. See CLODHOPPER and LOUT. A bitch + booby; a country wench. + +BOOBY HUTCH. A one-horse chaise, noddy, buggy, or + leathern bottle. + +BOOKS. Cards to play with. To plant the books; to place + the cards in the pack in an unfair manner. + +BOOK-KEEPER. One who never returns borrowed books. + Out of one's books; out of one's fevor. Out of his books; + out of debt. + +BOOT CATCHER. The servant at an inn whose business + it is to clean the boots of the guest. + +BOOTS. The youngest officer in a regimental mess, whose + duty it is to skink, that is, to stir the fire, snuff the + candles, and ring the bell. See SKINK.--To ride in any one's + old boots; to marry or keep his cast-off mistress. + +BOOTY. To play booty; cheating play, where the player + purposely avoids winning. + +BO-PEEP. One who sometimes hides himself, and sometimes + appears publicly abroad, is said to-play at bo-peep. + Also one who lies perdue, or on the watch. + +BORACHIO. A skin for holding wine, commonly a goat's; + also a nick name for a drunkard. + +BORDE. A shilling. A half borde; a sixpence. + +BORDELLO. A bawdy house. + +BORE. A tedious, troublesome man or woman, one who + bores the ears of his hearers with an uninteresting tale; + a term much in fashion about the years 1780 and 1781. + +BORN UNDER A THREEPENNY HALFPENNY PLANET, NEVER TO BE WORTH A GROAT. + Said of any person remarkably unsuccessful in his attempts or + profession. + +BOTCH. A nick name for a taylor. + +BOTHERED or BOTH-EARED. Talked to at both ears by different + persons at the same time, confounded, confused. IRISH + PHRASE. + +BOTHERAMS. A convivial society. + +BOTTLE-HEADED. Void of wit. + +BOTTOM. A polite term for the posteriors. Also, in the + sporting sense, strength and spirits to support fatigue; as + a bottomed horse. Among bruisers it is used to express + a hardy fellow, who will bear a good beating. + +BOTTOMLESS PIT. The monosyllable. + +BOUGHS. Wide in the boughs; with large hips and posteriors. + +BOUGHS. He is up in the boughs; he is in a passion. + +TO BOUNCE. To brag or hector; also to tell an improbable + story. To bully a man out of any thing. The kiddey + bounced the swell of the blowen; the lad bullied the + gentleman out of the girl. + +BOUNCER. A large man or woman; also a great lie. + +BOUNCING CHEAT. A bottle; from the explosion in + drawing the cork. CANT. + +BOUNG. A purse. CANT. + +BOUNG NIPPER. A cut purse. CANT.--Formerly purses + were worn at the girdle, from whence they were cut. + +BOOSE, or BOUSE. Drink. + +BOOSEY. Drunk. + +BOWSING KEN. An ale-house or gin-shop. + +BOWSPRIT. The nose, from its being the most projecting + part of the human face, as the bowsprit is of a ship. + +BOW-WOW. The childish name for a dog; also a jeering + appellation for a man born at Boston in America. + +BOW-WOW MUTTON. Dog's flesh. + +BOW-WOW SHOP. A salesman's shop in Monmouth-street; + so called because the servant barks, and the master bites. + See BARKER. + +BOWYER. One that draws a long bow, a dealer in the marvellous, + a teller of improbable stories, a liar: perhaps from + the wonderful shots frequently boasted of by archers. + +TO BOX THE COMPASS. To say or repeat the mariner's + compass, not only backwards or forwards, but also to + be able to answer any and all questions respecting its + divisions. SEA TERM. + +TO BOX THE JESUIT, AND GET COCK ROACHES. A sea + term for masturbation; a crime, it is said, much practised + by the reverend fathers of that society. + +BRACE. The Brace tavern; a room in the S.E. corner of the + King's Bench, where, for the convenience of prisoners + residing thereabouts, beer purchased at the tap-house was + retailed at a halfpenny per pot advance. It was kept by + two brothers of the name of Partridge, and thence called + the Brace. + +BRACKET-FACED. Ugly, hard-featured. + +BRAGGET. Mead and ale sweetened with honey. + +BRAGGADOCIA. vain-glorious fellow, a boaster. + +BRAINS. If you had as much brains as guts, what a clever + fellow you would be! a saying to a stupid fat fellow. To + have some guts in his brains; to know something. + +BRAN-FACED. Freckled. He was christened by a baker, + he carries the bran in his face. + +BRANDY-FACED. Red-faced, as if from drinking brandy. + +BRANDY. Brandy is Latin for a goose; a memento to + prevent the animal from rising in the stomach by a + glass of the good creature. + +BRAT. A child or infant. + +BRAY. A vicar of Bray; one who frequently changes his + principles, always siding with the strongest party: an + allusion to a vicar of Bray, in Berkshire, commemorated + in a well-known ballad for the pliability of his conscience. + +BRAZEN-FACED. Bold-faced, shameless, impudent. + +BREAD AND BUTTER FASHION. One slice upon the + other. John and his maid were caught lying bread and + butter fashion.--To quarrel with one's bread and butter; + to act contrary to one's interest. To know on which + side one's bread is buttered; to know one's interest, or + what is best for one. It is no bread and butter of mine; + I have no business with it; or rather, I won't intermeddle, + because I shall get nothing by it. + +BREAK-TEETH WORDS. Hard words, difficult to pronounce. + +BREAKING SHINS. Borrowing money; perhaps from the + figurative operation being, like the real one, extremely + disagreeable to the patient. + +BREAD. Employment. Out of bread; out of employment. + In bad bread; in a disagreeable scrape, or situation. + +BREAD BASKET. The stomach; a term used by boxers. + I took him a punch in his bread basket; i.e. I gave him + a blow in the stomach. + +BREAST FLEET. He or she belongs to the breast fleet; i.e. is + a Roman catholic; an appellation derived from their custom + of beating their breasts in the confession of their sins. + +BREECHED. Money in the pocket: the swell is well + breeched, let's draw him; the gentleman has plenty of + money in his pocket, let us rob him. + +BREECHES. To wear the breeches; a woman who governs + her husband is said to wear the breeches. + +BREECHES BIBLE. An edition of the Bible printed in + 1598, wherein it is said that Adam and Eve sewed figleaves + together, and made themselves breeches. + +BREEZE. To raise a breeze; to kick up a dust or breed a + disturbance. + +BRIDGE. To make a bridge of any one's nose; to push the + bottle past him, so as to deprive him of his turn of filling + his glass; to pass one over. Also to play booty, or + purposely to avoid winning. + +BRIM. (Abbreviation of Brimstone.) An abandoned woman; + perhaps originally only a passionate or irascible + woman, compared to brimstone for its inflammability. + +BRISKET BEATER. A Roman catholic. SEE BREAST + FLEET, and CRAW THUMPER. + +BRISTOL MILK. A Spanish wine called sherry, much + drunk at that place, particularly in the morning. + +BRISTOL MAN. The son of an Irish thief and a Welch + whore. + +BRITISH CHAMPAIGNE. Porter. + +BROGANIER. One who has a strong Irish pronunciation or + accent. + +BROGUE. A particular kind of shoe without a heel, + worn in Ireland, and figuratively used to signify the + Irish accent. + +BROTHER OF THE BLADE. A soldier + BUSKIN. A player. + BUNG. A brewer + QUILL. An author. + STRING. A fiddler. + WHIP. A coachman. + +BROTHER STARLING. One who lies with the same woman, + that is, builds in the same nest. + +BROUGHTONIAN. A boxer: a disciple of Broughton, + who was a beef-eater, and once the best boxer of his day. + +BROWN BESS. A soldier's firelock. To hug brown Bess; to + carry a firelock, or serve as a private soldier. + +BROWN GEORGE. An ammunition loaf, A wig without + powder; similar to the undress wig worn by his majesty. + +BROWN MADAM, or MISS BROWN. The monosyllable. + +BROWN STUDY. Said of one absent, in a reverie, or + thoughtful. + +BRUISER. A boxer; one skilled in the art of boxing also + an inferior workman among chasers. + +BREWES, or BROWES. The fat scum from the pot in + which salted beef is boiled. + +TO BRUSH. To run away. Let us buy a brush and lope; + let us go away or off. To have a brush with a woman; to + lie with her. To have a brush with a man; to fight with + him. The cove cracked the peter and bought a brush; + the fellow broke open the trunk, and then ran away. + +BRUSHER. A bumper, a full glass. See BUMPER. + +BUB. Strong beer. + +BUBBER. A drinking bowl; also a great drinker; a + thief that steals plate from public houses. CANT. + +THE BUBBLE. The party cheated, perhaps from his + being like an air bubble, filled with words, which are + only wind, instead of real property. + +TO BUBBLE. To cheat. + +TO BAR THE BUBBLE. To except against the general + rule, that he who lays the odds must always be adjudged + the loser: this is restricted to betts laid for liquor. + +BUBBLY JOCK. A turkey cock. SCOTCH. + +BUBBLE AND SQUEAK. Beef and cabbage fried together. + It is so called from its bubbling up and squeaking whilst + over the fire. + +BUBE. The venereal disease. + +BUCK. A blind horse; also a gay debauchee. + +TO RUN A BUCK. To poll a bad vote at an election.--IRISH + TERM. + +BUCK BAIL. Bail given by a sharper for one of the gang. + +A BUCK OF THE FIRST HEAD. One who in debauchery + surpasses the rest of his companions, a blood or choice + spirit. There are in London divers lodges or societies of + Bucks, formed in imitation of the Free Masons: one was + held at the Rose, in Monkwell-street, about the year + 1705. The president is styled the Grand Buck. A buck + sometimes signifies a cuckold. + +BUCK'S FACE. A cuckold. + +BUCK FITCH. A lecherous old fellow. + +BUCKEEN. A bully. IRISH. + +BUCKET. To kick the bucket; to die. + +BUCKINGER'S BOOT. The monosyllable. Matthew + Buckinger was born without hands and legs; notwithstanding + which he drew coats of arms very neatly, and + could write the Lord's Prayer within the compass of a + shilling; he was married to a tall handsome woman, + and traversed the country, shewing himself for money. + +BUCKLES. Fetters. + +BUDGE, or SNEAKING BUDGE. One that slips into houses + in the dark, to steal cloaks or other clothes. Also + lambs' fur formerly used for doctors' robes, whence they + were called budge doctors. Standing budge; a thief's + scout or spy. + +TO BUDGE. To move, or quit one's station. Don't budge + from hence; i.e. don't move from hence, stay here. + +BUDGET. A wallet. To open the budget; a term used + to signify the notification of the taxes required by the + minister for the expences of the ensuing year; as To-morrow + the minister will go to the house, and open the + budget. + +BUFE. A dog. Bufe's nob; a dog's head. CANT. + +BUFE NABBER. A dog stealer. CANT. + +BUFF. All in buff; stript to the skin, stark naked. + +BUFF. To stand buff; to stand the brunt. To swear as a + witness. He buffed it home; and I was served; he + swore hard against me, and I was found guilty. + +BUFFER. One that steals and kills horses and dogs for + their skins; also an inn-keeper: in Ireland it signifies a + boxer. + +BUFFER. A man who takes an oath: generally applied to + Jew bail. + +BUFFLE-HEADED. Confused, stupid. + +BUG. A nick name given by the Irish to Englishmen; + bugs having, as it is said, been introduced into Ireland by + the English. + +TO BUG. A cant word among journeymen hatters, signifying + the exchanging some of the dearest materials of + which a hat is made for others of less value. Hats are + composed of the furs and wool of divers animals among + which is a small portion of beavers' fur. Bugging, is + stealing the beaver, and substituting in lieu thereof an equal + weight of some cheaper ingredient.--Bailiffs who take + money to postpone or refrain the serving of a writ, are + said to bug the writ. + +BUG-HUNTER. An upholsterer. + +BUGABOE. A scare-babe, or bully-beggar. + +BUGAROCH. Comely, handsome. IRISH. + +BUGGY. A one-horse chaise. + +BUGGER. A blackguard, a rascal, a term of reproach. Mill + the bloody bugger; beat the damned rascal. + +BULK AND FILE. Two pickpockets; the bulk jostles the + party to be robbed, and the file does the business. + +BULKER. One who lodges all night on a bulk or projection + before old-fashioned shop windows. + +BULL. An Exchange Alley term for one who buys stock + on speculation for time, i.e. agrees with the seller, called + a Bear, to take a certain sum of stock at a future day, at a + stated price: if at that day stock fetches more than the + price agreed on, he receives the difference; if it falls or is + cheaper, he either pays it, or becomes a lame duck, and + waddles out of the Alley. See LAME DUCK and BEAR. + +BULL. A blunder; from one Obadiah Bull, a blundering + lawyer of London, who lived in the reign of Henery VII. + by a bull is now always meant a blunder made by an Irishman. + A bull was also the name of false hair formerly + much worn by women. To look like bull beef, or as bluff + as bull beef; to look fierce or surly. Town bull, a great + whore-master. + +BULL. A crown piece. A half bull; half a crown. + +BULL BEGGAR, or BULLY BEGGAR. An imaginary + being with which children are threatened by servants + and nurses, like raw head and bloody bones. + +BULL CALF. A great hulkey or clumsy fellow. See + HULKEY. + +BULL CHIN. A fat chubby child. + +BULL DOGS. Pistols. + +BULL HANKERS. Persons who over-drive bulls, or + frequent bull baits. + +BULL'S EYE. A crown-piece. + +BULL'S FEATHER. A horn: he wears the bull's feather; he + is a cuckold. + +TO BULLOCK. To hector, bounce, or bully. + +BULLY. A cowardly fellow, who gives himself airs of + great bravery. A bully huff cap; a hector. See HECTOR. + +BULLY BACK. A bully to a bawdy-house; one who is + kept in pay, to oblige the frequenters of the house to submit + to the impositions of the mother abbess, or bawd; and + who also sometimes pretends to be the husband of one of + the ladies, and under that pretence extorts money from + greenhorns, or ignorant young men, whom he finds with her. + See GREENHORN. + +BULLY COCK. One who foments quarrels in order to rob + the persons quarrelling. + +BULLY RUFFIANS. Highwaymen who attack passengers + with paths and imprecations. + +BULLY TRAP. A brave man with a mild or effeminate + appearance, by whom bullies are frequently taken in. + +BUM. the breech, or backside. + +TO BUM. To arrest a debtor. The gill bummed the + swell for a thimble; the tradesman arrested the + gentleman for a watch. + +BUM TRAP. A sheriff's officer who arrests debtors. + Ware hawke! the bum traps are fly to our panney; keep a + good look out, the bailiffs know where our house is + situated. + +BUM BAILIFF. A sheriff's officer, who arrests debtors; so + called perhaps from following his prey, and being at their + bums, or, as the vulgar phrase is, hard at their a-ses. + Blackstone says, it is a corruption of bound bailiff, from + their being obliged to give bond for their good behaviour. + +BUM BRUSHER. A schoolmaster. + +BUM BOAT. A boat attending ships to retail greens, + drams, &c. commonly rowed by a woman; a kind of + floating chandler's shop, + +BUM FODDER. Soft paper for the necessary house or + torchecul. + +BUMFIDDLE. The backside, the breech. See ARS MUSICA. + +BUMBO. Brandy, water, and sugar; also the negro name for + the private parts of a woman. + +BUMKIN. A raw country fellow. + +BUMMED. Arrested. + +BUMPER. A full glass; in all likelihood from its convexity + or bump at the top: some derive it from a full glass + formerly drunk to the health of the pope--AU BON PERE. + +BUMPING. A ceremony performed on boys perambulating + the bounds of the parish on Whit-monday, when they + have their posteriors bumped against the stones marking + the boundaries, in order to fix them in their memory. + +BUN. A common name for a rabbit, also for the monosyllable. + To touch bun for luck; a practice observed among + sailors going on a cruize. + +BUNDLING. A man and woman sleeping in the same bed, he + with his small clothes, and she with her petticoats on; an + expedient practised in America on a scarcity of beds, where, + on such an occasion, husbands and parents frequently + permitted travellers to bundle with their wives and daughters. + This custom is now abolished. See Duke of Rochefoucalt's + Travels in America, + +BUNG UPWARDS. Said of a person lying on his face. + +BUNG YOUR EYE. Drink a dram; strictly speaking, to + drink till one's eye is bunged up or closed. + +BUNT. An apron. + +BUNTER. A low dirty prostitute, half whore and half beggar. + +BUNTLINGS. Petticoats. CANT. + +BURN CRUST. A jocular name for a baker. + +BURN THE KEN. Strollers living in an alehouse without paying + their quarters, are said to burn the ken. CANT. + +BURNING SHAME. A lighted candle stuck into the parts of a + woman, certainly not intended by nature for a candlestick. + +BURNER. A clap. The blowen tipped the swell a burner; + the girl gave the gentleman a clap. + +BURNER. He is no burner of navigable rivers; i.e. he is no + conjuror, or man of extraordinary abilities; or rather, + he is, but a simple fellow. See THAMES. + +BURNT. Poxed or clapped. He was sent out a sacrifice, and + came home a burnt offering; a saying of seamen who have + caught the venereal disease abroad. He has burnt his + fingers; he has suffered by meddling. + +BURR. A hanger on, or dependant; an allusion to the field + burrs, which are not easily got rid of. Also the Northumbrian + pronunciation: the people of that country, but + chiefly about Newcastle and Morpeth, are said to have a + burr in their throats, particularly called the Newcastle + burr. + +BUSHEL BUBBY. A full breasted woman. + +BUSK. A piece of whalebone or ivory, formerly worn by + women, to stiffen the forepart of their stays: hence the + toast--Both ends of the busk. + +BUSS BEGGAR. An old superannuated fumbler, whom none + but beggars will suffer to kiss them. + +BUS-NAPPER. A constable. CANT. + +BUS-NAPPER'S KENCHIN. A watchman. CANT. + +BUSY. As busy is the devil in a high wind; as busy as a hen + with one chick. + +BUTCHER'S DOG. To be like a butcher's dog, i.e. lie by the + beef without touching it; a simile often applicable to + married men. + +BUTCHER'S HORSE. That must have been a butcher's + horse, by his carrying a calf so well; a vulgar joke on an + awkward rider. + +BUTT. A dependant, poor relation, or simpleton, on whom + all kinds of practical jokes are played off; and who serves + as a butt for all the shafts of wit and ridicule. + +BUTTER BOX. A Dutchman, from the great quantity of + butter eaten by the people of that country. + +BUTTERED BUN. One lying with a woman that has just lain + with another man, is said to have a buttered bun. + +BUTTER AND EGGS TROT. A kind of short jogg trot, such + as is used by women going to market, with butter and + eggs.--he looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth, + yet I warrant you cheese would not choak her; a saying + of a demure looking woman, of suspected character. Don't + make butter dear; a gird at the patient angler. + +BUTTOCK. A whore. CANT. + +BUTTOCK BROKER. A bawd, or match-maker. CANT. + +BUTTOCK BALL. The amorous congress. CANT. + +BUTTOCK AND FILE. A common whore and a pick-pocket. + Cant. + +BUTTOCK AND TWANG, or DOWN BUTTOCK AND SHAM + FILE. A common whore, but no pickpocket. + +BUTTOCK AND TONGUE. A scolding wife. + +BUTTOCKING SHOP. A brothel. + +BUTTON. A bad shilling, among coiners. His a-se makes + buttons; he is ready to bewray himself through fear. CANT. + +BUZMAN. A pickpocket. CANT. + +BUZZARD. A simple fellow. A blind buzzard: a + pur-blind man or woman. + +BYE BLOW. A bastard. + +CABBAGE. Cloth, stuff, or silk purloined by laylors from + their employers, which they deposit in a place called + HELL, or their EYE: from the first, when taxed, with their + knavery, they equivocally swear, that if they have taken + any, they wish they may find it in HELL; or, alluding to the + second, protest, that what they have over and above is + not more than they could put in their EYE.--When the scrotum + is relaxed or whiffled, it is said they will not cabbage. + +CAB. A brothel. Mother: how many tails have you in + your cab? how many girls have you in your bawdy house? + +CACAFEOGO. A sh-te-fire, a furious braggadocio or bully + huff. + +CACKLE. To blab, or discover secrets. The cull is leaky, + and cackles; the rogue tells all. CANT. See LEAKY. + +CACKLER. A hen. + +CACKLER'S KEN. A hen roost. CANT. + +CACKLING CHEATS. Fowls. CANT. + +CACKLING FARTS. Eggs. CANT. + +CADDEE. A helper. An under-strapper. + +CADGE. To beg. Cadge the swells; beg of the gentlemen. + +CAFFAN. Cheese. CANT. + +CAGG. To cagg; a military term used by the private soldiers, + signifying a solemn vow or resolution not to get + drunk for a certain time; or, as the term is, till their cagg + is out: which vow is commonly observed with the strictest + exactness. Ex. I have cagg'd myself for six months. + Excuse me this time, and I will cagg myself for + a year. This term is also used in the same sense among + the common people of Scotland, where it is performed + with divers ceremonies. + +CAG. To be cagged. To be sulky or out of humour. The + cove carries the cag; the man is vexed or sullen. + +CAG MAGG. Bits and scraps of provisions. Bad meat. + +CAGG MAGGS. Old Lincolnshire geese, which having been + plucked ten or twelve years, are sent up to London to + feast the cockneys. + +CAKE, or CAKEY. A foolish fellow. + +CALF-SKIN FIDDLE. A drum. To smack calf's skin; to + kiss the book in taking an oath. It is held by the St. + Giles's casuists, that by kissing one's thumb instead of + smacking calf's skin, the guilt of taking a false oath is + avoided. + +CALVES. His calves are gone to grass; a saying of a man + with slender legs without calves. Veal will be cheap, + calves fall; said of a man whose calves fall away. + +CALVES HEAD CLUB. A club instituted by the Independents + and Presbyterians, to commemorate the decapitation + of King Charles I. Their chief fare was calves heads; and + they drank their wine and ale out of calves skulls. + +CALIBOGUS. Rum and spruce beer, American beverage. + +CALLE. A cloak or gown. CANT. + +CAMBRIDGE FORTUNE. A wind-mill and a water-mill, + used to signify a woman without any but personal endowments. + +CAMBRIDGE OAK. A willow. + +CAMBRADE. A chamber fellow; a Spanish military term. + Soldiers were in that country divided into chambers, five + men making a chamber, whence it was generally used to + signify companion. + +CAMESA. A shirt or shift. CANT. SPANISH. + +CAMP CANDLESTICK. A bottle, or soldier's bayonet. + +CAMPBELL'S ACADEMY. The hulks or lighters, on + board of which felons are condemned to hard labour. + Mr. Campbell was the first director of them. See + ACADEMY and FLOATING ACADEMY. + +CANARY BIRD. A jail bird, a person used to be kept in + a cage; also, in the canting sense, guineas. + +CANDLESTICKS. Bad, small, or untunable bells. Hark! + how the candlesticks rattle. + +CANDY. Drunk. IRISH. + +CANE. To lay Cane upon Abel; to beat any one with a + cane or stick. + +CANK. Dumb. + +CANNISTER. The head. To mill his cannister; to break + his head. + +CANNIKIN. A small can: also, in the canting sense, + the plague. + +CANT. An hypocrite, a double-tongue palavering fellow. + See PALAVER. + +CANT. To cant; to toss or throw: as, Cant a slug into + your bread room; drink a dram. SEA WIT. + +CANTICLE. A parish clerk. + +CANTING. Preaching with a whining, affected tone, perhaps + a corruption of chaunting; some derive it from Andrew + Cant, a famous Scotch preacher, who used that whining + manner of expression. Also a kind of gibberish used by + thieves and gypsies, called likewise pedlar's French, the + slang, &c. &c. + +CANTERS, or THE CANTING CREW. Thieves, beggars, and + gypsies, or any others using the canting lingo. See LINGO. + +CANTERBURY STORY. A long roundabout tale. + +TO CAP. To take one's oath. I will cap downright; I will + swear home. CANT. + +TO CAP. To take off one's hat or cap. To cap the quadrangle; + a lesson of humility, or rather servility, taught + undergraduates at the university, where they are obliged to + cross the area of the college cap in hand, in reverence to + the fellows who sometimes walk there. The same ceremony + is observed on coming on the quarter deck of ships of + war, although no officer should be on it. + +TO CAP. To support another's assertion or tale. To assist + a man in cheating. The file kidded the joskin with sham + books, and his pall capped; the deep one cheated the + countryman with false cards, and his confederate assisted + in the fraud. + +CAP ACQUAINTANCE. Persons slightly acquainted, or only + so far as mutually to salute with the hat on meeting. A + woman who endeavours to attract the notice of any particular + man, is said to set her cap at him. + +CAPER MERCHANT. A dancing master, or hop merchant; + marchand des capriolles. FRENCH TERM.--To cut papers; to + leap or jump in dancing. See HOP MERCHANT. + +CAPPING VERSES. Repeating Latin Verses in turn, beginning + with the letter with which the last speaker left off. + +CAPON. A castrated cock, also an eunuch. + +CAPRICORNIFIED. Cuckolded, hornified. + +CAPSIZE. To overturn or reverse. He took his broth till + he capsized; he drank till he fell out of his chair. SEA + TERM. + +CAPTAIN. Led captain; an humble dependant in a great + family, who for a precarious subsistence, and distant hopes + of preferment, suffers every kind of indignity, and is the + butt of every species of joke or ill-humour. The small + provision made for officers of the army and navy in time of + peace, obliges many in both services to occupy this wretched + station. The idea of the appellation is taken from a led horse, + many of which for magnificence appear in the retinues + of great personages on solemn occasions, such as processions, + &c. + +CAPTAIN COPPERTHORNE'S CREW. All officers; a saying + of a company where everyone strives to rule. + +CAPTAIN LIEUTENANT. Meat between veal and beef, the + flesh of an old calf; a military simile, drawn from the + officer of that denomination, who has only the pay of a + lieutenant, with the rank of captain; and so is not entirely + one or the other, but between both. + +CAPTAIN PODD. A celebrated master of a puppet-shew, in + Ben Johnson's time, whose name became a common one + to signify any of that fraternity. + +CAPTAIN QUEERNABS. A shabby ill-dressed fellow. + +CAPTAIN SHARP. A cheating bully, or one in a set of + gamblers, whose office is to bully any pigeon, who, suspecting + roguery, refuses to pay what he has lost. CANT. + +CAPTAIN TOM. The leader of a mob; also the mob itself. + +CARAVAN. A large sum of money; also, a person cheated + of such sum. CANT. + +CARBUNCLE FACE. A red face, full of pimples. + +CARDINAL. A cloak in fashion about the year 1760. + +To CAROUSE. To drink freely or deep: from the German + word expressing ALL OUT. + +CARRIERS. A set of rogues who are employed to look out + and watch upon the roads, at inns, &c. in order to carry + information to their respective gangs, of a booty in + prospect. + +CARRIERS. Pigeons which carry expresses. + +CARRION HUNTER. An undertaker; called also a cold + cook, and death hunter. See COLD COOK and DEATH + HUNTER. + +CARROTS. Red hair. + +CARROTTY-PATED. Ginger-hackled, red-haired. See + GINGER-HACKLED. + +CARRY WITCHET. A sort of conundrum, puzzlewit, or + riddle. + +CART. To put the cart before the horse; to mention the + last part of a story first. To be flogged at the cart's a-se or + tail; persons guilty of petty larceny are frequently + sentenced to be tied to the tail of a cart, and whipped by the + common executioner, for a certain distance: the degree + of severity in the execution is left to the discretion of the + executioner, who, it is said, has cats of nine tails of all + prices. + +CARTING. The punishment formerly inflicted on bawds, + who were placed in a tumbrel or cart, and led through + a town, that their persons might be known. + +CARVEL'S RING. The private parts of a woman. Ham + Carvel, a jealous old doctor, being in bed with his wife, + dreamed that the Devil gave him a ring, which, so long as + he had it on his finger, would prevent his being made a + cuckold: waking he found he had got his finger the Lord + knows where. See Rabelais, and Prior's versification of + the story. + +TO CASCADE. To vomit. + +CASE. A house; perhaps from the Italian CASA. In the canting + lingo it meant store or ware house, as well as a dwelling + house. Tout that case; mark or observe that house. + It is all bob, now let's dub the gig of the case; now the + coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house. + +CASE VROW. A prostitute attached to a particular bawdy + house. + +CASH, or CAFFAN. Cheese; CANT. See CAFFAN. + +CASTER. A cloak. CANT. + +CASTOR. A hat. To prig a castor; to steal a hat. + +CASTING UP ONE'S ACCOUNTS. Vomiting. + +CAT. A common prostitute. An old cat; a cross old woman. + +CAT-HEADS. A Woman's breasts. SEA PHRASE. + +TO CAT, or SHOOT THE CAT. To vomit from drunkenness. + +CAT AND BAGPIPEAN SOCIETY. A society which met at + their office in the great western road: in their summons, + published in the daily papers, it was added, that the kittens + might come with the old cats without being scratched. + +CAT CALL. A kind of whistle, chiefly used at theatres, to + interrupt the actors, and damn a new piece. It derives + its name from one of its sounds, which greatly resembles + the modulation of an intriguing boar cat. + +CAT HARPING FASHION. Drinking cross-ways, and not, as + usual, over the left thumb. SEA TERM. + +CAT IN PAN. To turn cat in pan, to change sides or + parties; supposed originally to have been to turn CATE or CAKE + in pan. + +CAT'S FOOT. To live under the cat's foot; to be under the + dominion of a wife hen-pecked. To live like dog and cat; + spoken of married persons who live unhappily together. + As many lives as a cat; cats, according to vulgar + naturalists, have nine lives, that is one less than a woman. + No more chance than a cat in hell without claws; said of + one who enters into a dispute or quarrel with one greatly + above his match. + +CAT LAP. Tea, called also scandal broth. See SCANDAL + BROTH. + +CAT MATCH. When a rook or cully is engaged amongst + bad bowlers. + +CAT OF NINE TAILS. A scourge composed of nine strings + of whip-cord, each string having nine knots. + +CAT'S PAW. To be made a cat's paw of; to be made a tool + or instrument to accomplish the purpose of another: an + allusion to the story of a monkey, who made use of a cat's + paw to scratch a roasted chesnut out of the fire. + +CAT'S SLEEP. Counterfeit sleep: cats often counterfeiting + sleep, to decoy their prey near them, and then suddenly + spring on them. + +CAT STICKS. Thin legs, compared to sticks with which + boys play at cat. See TRAPSTICKS. + +CAT WHIPPING, or WHIPPING THE CAT. A trick often + practised on ignorant country fellows, vain of their strength, + by laying a wager with them that they may be pulled + through a pond by a cat. The bet being made, a rope is + fixed round the waist of the party to be catted, and the + end thrown across the pond, to which the cat is also + fastened by a packthread, and three or four sturdy fellows + are appointed to lead and whip the cat; these on a signal + given, seize the end of the cord, and pretending to whip + the cat, haul the astonished booby through the water.--To + whip the cat, is also a term among tailors for working + jobs at private houses, as practised in the country. + +CATAMARAN. An old scraggy woman; from a kind of float + made of spars and yards lashed together, for saving + ship-wrecked persons. + +CATCH CLUB. A member of the patch club; a bum bailiff. + +CATCH FART. A footboy; so called from such servants + commonly following close behind their master or mistress. + +CATCH PENNY. Any temporary contrivance to raise a + contribution on the public. + +CATCH POLE. A bum bailiff, or sheriff's officer. + +CATCHING HARVEST. A dangerous time for a robbery, + when many persons are on the road, on account of a + horse-race, fair, or some other public meeting. + +CATER COUSINS. Good friends. He and I are not cater + cousins, i.e. we are not even cousins in the fourth degree, + or four times removed; that is, we have not the least + friendly connexion. + +CATERPILLAR. A nick name for a soldier. In the year + 1745, a soldier quartered at a house near Derby, was desired + by his landlord to call upon him, whenever he came + that way; for, added he, soldiers are the pillars of the + nation. The rebellion being finished, it happened the same + regiment was quartered in Derbyshire, when the soldier + resolved to accept of his landlord's invitation, and + accordingly obtained leave to go to him: but, on his arrival, + he was greatly surprised to find a very cold reception; + whereupon expostulating with his landlord, he reminded him of + his invitation, and the circumstance of his having said, + soldiers were the pillars of the nation. If I did, answered the + host, I meant CATERpiliars. + +CATERWAULING. Going out in the night in search of + intrigues, like a cat in the gutters. + +CATHEDRAL. Old-fashioned. An old cathedral-bedstead, + chair, &c. + +CATTLE. Sad cattle: whores or gypsies. Black cattle, + bugs. CANT. + +CAVAULTING SCHOOL. A Bawdy-house. + +CAUDGE-PAWED. Left-handed. + +CAULIFLOWER. A large white wig, such as is commonly + worn by the dignified clergy, and was formerly by physicians. + Also the private parts of a woman; the reason for + which appellation is given in the following story: A + woman, who was giving evidence in a cause wherein it was + necessary to express those parts, made use of the term + cauliflower; for which the judge on the bench, a peevish + old fellow, reproved her, saying she might as well call it + artichoke. Not so, my lord, replied she; for an artichoke + has a bottom, but a **** and a cauliflower have none. + +CAUTIONS. The four cautions: I. Beware of a woman + before.--II. Beware of a horse behind.--III. Beware of a cart + side-ways.--IV. Beware of a priest every way. + +CAW-HANDED, or CAW-PAWED. Awkward, not dextrous, + ready, or nimble. + +CAXON. An old weather-beaten wig. + +CENT PER CENT. An usurer. + +CHAFED. Well beaten; from CHAUFFE, warmed. + +CHALKERS. Men of wit, in Ireland, who in the night amuse + themselves with cutting inoffensive passengers across the + face with a knife. They are somewhat like those facetious + gentlemen some time ago known in England by the title + of Sweaters and Mohocks. + +CHALKING. The amusement above described. + +CHAP. A fellow; An odd chap; A strange fellow. + +CHAPERON. The cicisbeo, or gentleman usher to a lady; + from the French. + +CHAPT. Dry or thirsty. + +CHARACTERED, or LETTERED. Burnt in the hand. They + have palmed the character upon him; they have burned + him in the hand, CANT.--See LETTERED. + +CHARM. A picklock. CANT. + +CHARREN. The smoke of Charren.--His eyes water from + the smoke of Charren; a man of that place coming out + of his house weeping, because his wife had beat him, told + his neighbours the smoke had made his eyes water. + +CHATTER BOX. One whose tongue runs twelve score to the + dozen, a chattering man or woman. + +CHATTER BROTH. Tea. See CAT LAP and SCANDAL BROTH. + +CHATTS. Lice: perhaps an abbreviation of chattels, lice + being the chief live stock of chattels of beggars, gypsies, + and the rest of the canting crew. CANT.--Also, according + to the canting academy, the gallows. + +CHATES. The gallows. CANT. + +CHAUNTER CULLS. Grub-street writers, who compose + songs, carrols, &c. for ballad-singers. CANT. + +CHAUNT. A song. + +TO CHAUNT. To sing. To publish an account in the newspapers. + The kiddey was chaunted for a toby; his examination + concerning a highway robbery was published in + the papers. + +CHAW BACON. A countryman. A stupid fellow. + +CHEAPSIDE. He came at it by way of Cheapside; he gave + little or nothing for it, he bought it cheap. + +CHEATS. Sham sleeves to put over a dirty shift or shirt. + See SHAMS. + +CHEEK BY JOWL. Side by side, hand to fist. + +CHEEKS. Ask cheeks near cunnyborough; the repartee of a + St. Gilse's fair one, who bids you ask her backside, anglice + her a-se. A like answer is current in France: any one + asking the road or distance to Macon, a city near Lyons, + would be answered by a French lady of easy virtue, + 'Mettez votre nez dans mon cul, & vous serrez dans les + Fauxbourgs.' + +CHEESE-TOASTER. A sword. + +CHEESE IT; Be silent, be quiet, don't do it. Cheese it, the + coves are fly; be silent, the people understand our discourse. + +CHEESER. A strong smelling fart. + +CHELSEA. A village near London, famous for the military + hospital. To get Chelsea; to obtain the benefit of that + hospital. Dead Chelsea, by G-d! an exclamation uttered by + a grenadier at Fontenoy, on having his leg carried away by + a cannon-ball. + +CHEST OF TOOLS. A shoe-black's brush and wig, &c. Irish. + +CHERRY-COLOURED CAT. A black cat, there being black + cherries as well as red. + +CHERUBIMS. Peevish children, because cherubims and seraphims + continually do cry. + +CHESHIRE CAT. He grins like a Cheshire cat; said of anyone + who shews his teeth and gums in laughing. + +CHICK-A-BIDDY. A chicken, so called to and by little children. + +CHICKEN-BREASTED. Said of a woman with scarce any breasts. + +CHICKEN BUTCHER. A poulterer. + +CHICKEN-HAMMED. Persons whose legs and thighs are bent + or archward outwards. + +CHICKEN-HEARTED. Fearful, cowardly. + +CHICKEN NABOB. One returned from the East Indies with but + a moderate fortune of fifty or sixty thousand pounds, a + diminutive nabob: a term borrowed from the chicken turtle. + +CHILD. To eat a child; to partake of a treat given to the + parish officers, in part of commutation for a bastard child + the common price was formerly ten pounds and a greasy + chin. See GREASY CHIN. + +CHIMNEY CHOPS. An abusive appellation for a negro. + +CHINK. Money. + +CHIP. A child. A chip of the old block; a child who either + in person or sentiments resembles its father or mother. + +CHIP. A brother chip; a person of the same trade or calling. + +CHIPS, A nick name for a carpenter. + +CHIRPING MERRY. Exhilarated with liquor. Chirping glass, + a cheerful glass, that makes the company chirp like birds + in spring. + +CHIT. An infant or baby. + +CHITTERLINS. The bowels. There is a rumpus among my + bowels, i.e. I have the colic. The frill of a shirt. + +CHITTY-FACED. Baby-faced; said of one who has a childish + look. + +CHIVE, or CHIFF. A knife, file: or saw. To chive the + darbies; to file off the irons or fetters. To chive the bouhgs + of the frows; to cut off women's pockets. + +CHIVEY. I gave him a good chivey; I gave him, a hearty +Scolding. + +CHIVING LAY. Cutting the braces of coaches behind, on + which the coachman quitting the box, an accomplice robs + the boot; also, formerly, cutting the back of the coach to + steal the fine large wigs then worn. + +CHOAK. Choak away, the churchyard's near; a jocular saying + to a person taken with a violent fit of coughing, or who + has swallowed any thing, as it is called the wrong way; + Choak, chicken, more are hatching: a like consolation. + +CHOAK PEAR. Figuratively, an unanswerable objection: also + a machine formerly used in Holland by robbers; it was of + iron, shaped like a pear; this they forced into the mouths + of persons from whom they intended to extort money; and + on turning a key, certain interior springs thrust forth a + number of points, in all directions, which so enlarged it, + that it could not be taken out of the mouth: and the iron, + being case-hardened, could not be filed: the only methods + of getting rid of it, were either by cutting the mouth, or + advertizing a reward for the key, These pears were also + called pears of agony. + +CHOAKING PYE, or COLD PYE, A punishment inflicted + on any person sleeping in company: it consists in wrapping + up cotton in a case or tube of paper, setting it on + fire, and directing the smoke up the nostrils of the sleeper. + See HOWELL'S COTGRAVE. + +CHOCOLATE. To give chocolate without sugar; to reprove. + MILITARY TERM. + +CHOICE SPIRIT. A thoughtless, laughing, singing, drunken fellow. + +CHOP. A blow. Boxing term. + +TO CHOP AND CHANGE. To exchange backwards and forwards. + To chop, in the canting sense, means making + dispatch, or hurrying over any business: ex. The AUTEM + BAWLER will soon quit the HUMS, for he CHOPS UP the WHINERS; + the parson will soon quit the pulpit, for he hurries over + the prayers. See AUTEM BAWLER, HUMS, and WHINERS, + +CHOP CHURCHES. Simoniacal dealers in livings, or other + ecclesiastical preferments. + +CHOPPING, LUSTY. A chopping boy or girl; a lusty + child. + +CHOPS. The mouth. I gave him a wherrit, or a souse, + across the chops; I gave him a blow over the mouth, + See WHERRIT. + +CHOP-STICK. A fork. + +CHOUDER. A sea-dish, composed of fresh fish, salt pork, + herbs, and sea-biscuits, laid in different layers, and stewed + together. + +TO CHOUSE. To cheat or trick: he choused me out of it. + Chouse is also the term for a game like chuck-farthing. + +CHRIST-CROSS ROW. The alphabet in a horn-book: called + Christ-cross Row, from having, as an Irishman observed, + Christ's cross PREFIXED before and AFTER the twenty-four + letters. + +CHRISTENING. Erasing the name of the true maker from + a stolen watch, and engraving a fictitious one in its place. + +CHRISTIAN PONEY. A chairman. + +CHRISTIAN. A tradesman who has faith, i.e. will give credit. + +CHRISTMAS COMPLIMENTS. A cough, kibed heels, and a snotty nose. + +CHUB. He is a young chub, or a mere chub; i.e. a foolish + fellow, easily imposed on: an illusion to a fish of that + name, easily taken. + +CHUBBY. Round-faced, plump. + +CHUCK. My chuck; a term of endearment. + +CHUCK FARTHING. A parish clerk. + +CHUCKLE-HEADED. Stupid, thick-headed. + +CHUFFY. Round-faced, chubby. + +CHUM. A chamber-fellow, particularly at the universities + and in prison. + +CHUMMAGE. Money paid by the richer sort of prisoners + in the Fleet and King's Bench, to the poorer, for their + share of a room. When prisons are very full, which is + too often the case, particularly on the eve of an insolvent + act, two or three persons are obliged to sleep in a room. A + prisoner who can pay for being alone, chuses two poor + chums, who for a stipulated price, called chummage, + give up their share of the room, and sleep on the stairs, + or, as the term is, ruff it. + +CHUNK. Among printers, a journeyman who refuses to + work for legal wages; the same as the flint among taylors. + See FLINT. + +CHURCH WARDEN. A Sussex name for a shag, or cormorant, probably + from its voracity. + +CHURCH WORK. Said of any work that advances slowly. + +CHURCHYARD COUGH. A cough that is likely to terminate + in death. + +CHURK. The udder. + +CHURL. Originally, a labourer or husbandman: figuratively + a rude, surly, boorish fellow. To put a churl upon a gentleman; + to drink malt liquor immediately after having drunk wine. + +CINDER GARBLER. A servant maid, from her business of + sifting the ashes from the cinders. CUSTOM-HOUSE WIT. + +CIRCUMBENDIBUS. A roundabout way, or story. He + took such a circumbendibus; he took such a circuit. + +CIT. A citizen of London. + +CITY COLLEGE. Newgate. + +CIVILITY MONEY. A reward claimed by bailiffs for executing + their office with civility. + +CIVIL RECEPTION. A house of civil reception; a bawdy-house, + or nanny-house. See NANNY-HOUSE. + +CLACK. A tongue, chiefly applied to women; a simile drawn + from the clack of a water-mill. + +CLACK-LOFT. A pulpit, so called by orator Henley. + +CLAMMED. Starved. + +CLAN. A family's tribe or brotherhood; a word much used + in Scotland. The head of the clan; the chief: an allusion + to a story of a Scotchman, who, when a very large + louse crept down his arm, put him back again, saying he + was the head of the clan, and that, if injured, all the rest + would resent it. + +CLANK. A silver tankard. CANT. + +CLANK NAPPER. A silver tankard stealer. See RUM BUBBER. + +CLANKER. A great lie. + +CLAP. A venereal taint. He went out by Had'em, and came + round by Clapham home; i.e. he went out a wenching, + and got a clap. + +CLAP ON THE SHOULDER. An arrest for debt; whence a + bum bailiff is called a shoulder-clapper. + +CLAPPER. The tongue of a bell, and figuratively of a man + or woman. + +CLAPPER CLAW. To scold, to abuse, or claw off with the + tongue. + +CLAPPERDOGEON. A beggar born. CANT. + +CLARET. French red wine; figuratively, blood. I tapped + his claret; I broke his head, and made the blood run. + Claret-faced; red-faced. + +CLAWED OFF. Severely beaten or whipped; also smartly + poxed or clapped. + +CLEAR. Very drunk. The cull is clear, let's bite him; the + fellow is very drunk, let's cheat him. CANT. + +CLEAVER. One that will cleave; used of a forward or + wanton woman. + +CLEAN. Expert; clever. Amongst the knuckling coves he + is reckoned very clean; he is considered very expert as + a pickpocket. + +CLERKED. Soothed, funned, imposed on. The cull will + not be clerked; i.e. the fellow will not be imposed on by + fair words. + +CLEYMES. Artificial sores, made by beggars to excite + charity. + +CLICK. A blow. A click in the muns; a blow or knock + in the face. CANT. + +TO CLICK. To snatch. To click a nab; to snatch a hat. + CANT. + +CLICKER. A salesman's servant; also, one who proportions + out the different shares of the booty among thieves. + +CLICKET. Copulation of foxes; and thence used, in a + canting sense, for that of men and women: as, The cull + and the mort are at clicket in the dyke; the man and + woman are copulating in the ditch. + +CLIMB. To climb the three trees with a ladder; to ascend + the gallows. + +CLINCH. A pun or quibble. To clinch, or to clinch the + nail; to confirm an improbable story by another: as, A + man swore he drove a tenpenny nail through the moon; + a bystander said it was true, for he was on the other side + and clinched it. + +CLINK. A place in the Borough of Southwark, formerly + privileged from arrests; and inhabited by lawless vagabonds + of every denomination, called, from the place of + their residence, clinkers. Also a gaol, from the clinking + of the prisoners' chains or fetters: he is gone to clink. + +CLINKERS. A kind of small Dutch bricks; also irons worn + by prisoners; a crafty fellow. + +TO CLIP. To hug or embrace: to clip and cling. To clip + the coin; to diminish the current coin. To clip the king's + English; to be unable to speak plain through drunkenness. + +CLOAK TWITCHERS. Rogues who lurk about the entrances + into dark alleys, and bye-lanes, to snatch cloaks from the + shoulders of passengers. + +CLOD HOPPER. A country farmer, or ploughman. + +CLOD PATE. A dull, heavy booby. + +CLOD POLE. The same. + +CLOSE. As close as God's curse to a whore's a-se: close as + shirt and shitten a-se. + +CLOSE-FISTED. Covetous or stingy. + +CLOSH. A general name given by the mobility to Dutch + seamen, being a corruption of CLAUS, the abbreviation of + Nicholas, a name very common among the men of that + nation. + +CLOTH MARKET. He is just come from the cloth market, + i.e. from between the sheets, he is just risen from bed. + +CLOUD. Tobacco. Under a cloud; in adversity. + +CLOVEN, CLEAVE, or CLEFT. A term used for a woman + who passes for a maid, but is not one. + +CLOVEN FOOT. To spy the cloven foot in any business; to + discover some roguery or something bad in it: a saying + that alludes to a piece of vulgar superstition, which is, + that, let the Devil transform himself into what shape he + will, he cannot hide his cloven foot + +TO CHUCK. To shew a propensity for a man. The mors + chucks; the wench wants to be doing. + +CLOUT. A blow. I'll give you a clout on your jolly nob; + I'll give you a blow on your head. It also means a + handkerchief. CANT. Any pocket handkerchief except + a silk one. + +CLOUTED SHOON. Shoes tipped with iron. + +CLOUTING LAY. Picking pockets of handkerchiefs. + +CLOVER. To be, or live, in clover; to live luxuriously. + Clover is the most desirable food for cattle. + +CLOWES. Rogues. + +CLOY. To steal. To cloy the clout; to steal the handkerchief. + To cloy the lour; to steal money. CANT. + +CLOVES. Thieves, robbers, &c. + +CLUB. A meeting or association, where each man is to spend + an equal and stated sum, called his club. + +CLUB LAW. Argumentum bacculinum, in which an oaken + stick is a better plea than an act of parliament. + +CLUMP. A lump. Clumpish; lumpish, stupid. + +CLUNCH. An awkward clownish fellow. + +TO CLUTCH THE FIST. To clench or shut the hand. Clutch + fisted; covetous, stingy. See CLOSE-FISTED. + +CLUTCHES. Hands, gripe, power. + +CLUTTER. A stir, noise, or racket: what a confounded + clutter here is! + +CLY. Money; also a pocket. He has filed the cly; he + has picked a pocket. CANT. + +CLY THE JERK: To be whipped. CANT. + +CLYSTER PIPE. A nick name for an apothecary. + +COACH WHEEL. A half crown piece is a fore coach wheel, + and a crown piece a hind coach wheel; the fore wheels of + a coach being less than the hind ones. + +TO COAX. To fondle, or wheedle. To coax a pair of stockings; + to pull down the part soiled into the shoes, so as to + give a dirty pair of stockings the appearance of clean ones. + Coaxing is also used, instead of darning, to hide the holes + about the ancles. + +COB. A Spanish dollar. + +COB, or COBBING. A punishment used by the seamen for + petty offences, or irregularities, among themselves: it + consists in bastonadoing the offender on the posteriors with + a cobbing stick, or pipe staff; the number usually inflicted + is a dozen. At the first stroke the executioner repeats + the word WATCH, on which all persons present are to take + off their hats, on pain of like punishment: the last stroke + is always given as hard as possible, and is called THE PURSE. + Ashore, among soldiers, where this punishment is sometimes + adopted, WATCH and THE PURSE are not included in the + number, but given over and above, or, in the vulgar phrase, + free gratis for nothing. This piece of discipline is also + inflicted in Ireland, by the school-boys, on persons coming + into the school without taking off their hats; it is there + called school butter. + +COBBLE. A kind of boat. + +TO COBBLE. To mend, or patch; likewise to do a thing in + a bungling manner. + +COBBLE COLTER. A turkey. + +COBBLER. A mender of shoes, an improver of the understandings of + his customers; a translator. + +COBBLERS PUNCH. Treacle, vinegar, gin, and water. + +COCK, or CHIEF COCK OF THE WALK. The leading man + in any society or body; the best boxer in a village or + district. + +COCK ALE. A provocative drink. + +COCK ALLEY or COCK LANE. The private parts of a woman. + +COCK AND A BULL STORY. A roundabout story, without + head or tail, i.e. beginning or ending. + +COCK OF THE COMPANY. A weak man, who from the desire of being the + head of the company associates with low + people, and pays all the reckoning. + +COCK-A-WHOOP. Elevated, in high-spirits, transported with joy. + +COCK BAWD. A male keeper of a bawdy-house. + +COCK HOIST. A cross buttock. + +COCKISH. Wanton, forward. A cockish wench; a forward + coming girl. + +COCKLES. To cry cockles; to be hanged: perhaps from the + noise made whilst strangling. CANT.--This will rejoice + the cockles of one's heart; a saying in praise of wine, ale, + or spirituous liquors. + +COCK PIMP. The supposed husband of a bawd. + +COCK ROBIN. A soft, easy fellow. + +COCK-SURE. Certain: a metaphor borrowed front the cock + of a firelock, as being much more certain to fire than the + match. + +COCK YOUR EYE. Shut one eye: thus translated into apothecaries + Latin.--Gallus tuus ego. + +COCKER. One fond of the diversion of cock-fighting. + +COCKNEY: A nick name given to the citizens of London, + or persons born within the sound of Bow bell, derived + from the following story: A citizen of London, being in + the country, and hearing a horse neigh, exclaimed, + Lord! how that horse laughs! A by-stander telling him + that noise was called NEIGHING, the next morning, when + the cock crowed, the citizen to shew he had not forgot + what was told him, cried out, Do you hear how the COCK + NEIGHS? The king of the cockneys is mentioned among + the regulations for the sports and shows formerly held in + the Middle Temple on Childermas Day, where he had + his officers, a marshal, constable, butler, &c. See DUGDALE'S + ORIGINES JURIDICIALES, p. 247.--Ray says, the interpretation of + the word Cockney, is, a young person coaxed or conquered, made + wanton; or a nestle cock, delicately bred and brought up, so + as, when arrived a man's estate, to be unable to bear the least + hardship. Whatever may be the origin of this appellation, we + learn from the following verses, attributed to Hugh Bigot, Earl + of Norfolk, that it was in use, in the time of king Henry II. + + Was I in my castle at Bungay, + Fast by the river Waveney, + I would not care for the king of Cockney; + + i.e. the king of London. + +COCKSHUT TIME. The evening, when fowls go to roost. + +COD. A cod of money: a good sum of money. + +CODDERS. Persons employed by the gardeners to gather + peas. + +CODGER. An old codger: an old fellow. + +COD PIECE. The fore flap of a man's breeches. Do they + bite, master? where, in the cod piece or collar?--a jocular + attack on a patient angler by watermen, &c. + +CODS. The scrotum. Also a nick name for a curate: a rude + fellow meeting a curate, mistook him for the rector, and + accosted him with the vulgar appellation of Bol--ks the + rector, No, Sir, answered he; only Cods the curate, at + your service. + +COD'S HEAD. A stupid fellow. + +COFFEE HOUSE. A necessary house. To make a coffee-house + of a woman's ****; to go in and out and spend + nothing. + +COG. The money, or whatsoever the sweeteners drop to + draw in a bubble. + +COG. A tooth. A queer cog; a rotten tooth. How the + cull flashes his queer cogs; how the fool shews his rotten + teeth. + +TO COG. To cheat with dice; also to coax or wheedle, To + cog a die; to conceal or secure a die. To cog a dinner; + to wheedle one out of a dinner. + +COGUE. A dram of any spirituous liquor. + +COKER. A lie. + +COKES. The fool in the play of Bartholomew Fair: perhaps + a contraction of the word COXCOMB. + +COLCANNON. Potatoes and cabbage pounded together in a + mortar, and then stewed with butter: an Irish dish. + +COLD. You will catch cold at that; a vulgar threat or + advice to desist from an attempt. He caught cold by + lying in bed barefoot; a saying of any one extremely tender + or careful of himself. + +COLD BURNING. A punishment inflicted by private soldiers + on their comrades for trifling offences, or breach of their + mess laws; it is administered in the following manner: + The prisoner is set against the wall, with the arm which is + to be burned tied as high above his head as possible. The + executioner then ascends a stool, and having a bottle of + cold water, pours it slowly down the sleeve of the delinquent, + patting him, and leading the water gently down his + body, till it runs out at his breeches knees: this is repeated + to the other arm, if he is sentenced to be burned in both. + +COLD COOK. An undertaker of funerals, or carrion hunter. + See CARRION HUNTER. + +COLD IRON. A sword, or any other weapon for cutting or + stabbing. I gave him two inches of cold iron into his beef. + +COLD MEAT. A dead wife is the beat cold meat in a man's + house. + +COLD PIG. To give cold pig is a punishment inflicted on + sluggards who lie too long in bed: it consists in pulling off + all the bed clothes from them, and throwing cold water + upon them. + +COLD PUDDING. This is said to settle one's love. + +COLE. Money. Post the cole: pay down the money. + +COLIANDER, or CORIANDER SEEDS. Money. + +COLLAR DAY. Execution day. + +COLLEGE. Newgate or any other prison. New College: + the Royal Exchange. King's College: the King's Bench + prison. He has been educated at the steel, and took his + last degree at college; he has received his education at + the house of correction, and was hanged at Newgate. + +COLLEGE COVE. The College cove has numbered him, and if he + is knocked down he'll be twisted; the turnkey of Newgate + has told the judge how many times the prisoner has been + tried before and therefore if he is found guilty, he certainly + will be hanged. It is said to be the custom of the Old Bailey + for one of the turnkeys of Newgate to give information to + the judge how many times an old offender has been tried, + by holding up as many fingers as the number of times the + prisoner has been before arraigned at that bar. + +COLLEGIATES. Prisoners of the one, and shopkeepers of + the other of those places. + +COLLECTOR. A highwayman. + +TO COLLOGUE. To wheedle or coax. + +COOK RUFFIAN, who roasted the devil in his feathers. A + bad cook. + +COOL CRAPE. A shroud. + +COOLER. A woman. + +COOLER. The backside. Kiss my cooler. Kiss my a-se. + It is principally used to signify a woman's posteriors. + +COOL LADY. A female follower of the camp, who sells + brandy. + +COOL NANTS. Brandy. + +COOL TANKARD. Wine and water, with lemon, sugar, and + burrage. + +COLQUARRON. A man's neck. His colquarron is just about + to be twisted; he is just going to be hanged. CANT. + +COLT. One who lets horses to highwaymen; also a boy newly + initiated into roguery; a grand or petty juryman on his + first assize. CANT. + +COLTAGE. A fine or beverage paid by colts on their first + entering into their offices. + +COLT BOWL. Laid short of the jack by a colt bowler, i.e. + a person raw or unexperienced in the art of bowling. + +COLT'S TOOTH. An old fellow who marries or keeps a young + girl, is said to have a colt's tooth in his head. + +COLT VEAL. Coarse red veal, more like the flesh of a colt + than that of a calf. + +COMB. To comb one's head; to clapperclaw, or scold any + one: a woman who lectures her husband, is said to comb + his head. She combed his head with a joint stool; she + threw a stool at him. + +COME. To come; to lend. Has he come it; has he lent it? + To come over any one; to cheat or over reach him. + Coming wench; a forward wench, also a breeding woman. + +COMING! SO IS CHRISTMAS. Said of a person who has long + been called, and at length answers, Coming! + +COMFORTABLE IMPORTANCE. A wife. + +COMMISSION. A shirt. CANT. + +COMMODE. A woman's head dress. + +COMMODITY. A woman's commodity; the private parts of + a modest woman, and the public parts of a prostitute. + +COMMONS. The house of commons; the necessary house. + +COMPANY. To see company; to enter into a course of prostitution. + +COMPLIMENT. See CHRISTMAS. + +COMUS'S COURT. A social meeting formerly held at the + Half Moon tavern Cheapside. + +CONFECT. Counterfeited. + +CONGER. To conger; the agreement of a set or knot of + booksellers of London, that whosoever of them shall buy + a good copy, the rest shall take off such a particular number, + in quires, at a stated price; also booksellers joining to + buy either a considerable or dangerous copy. + +CONGO. Will you lap your congo with me? will you drink + tea with me? + +CONNY WABBLE. Eggs and brandy beat up together. IRISH. + +CONSCIENCE KEEPER. A superior, who by his influence + makes his dependants act as he pleases. + +CONTENT. The cull's content; the man is past complaining: + a saying of a person murdered for resisting the robbers. CANT. + +CONTENT. A thick liquor, in imitation of chocolate, made + of milk and gingerbread. + +CONTRA DANCE. A dance where the dancers of the different + sexes stand opposite each other, instead of side by side, as + in the minuet, rigadoon, louvre, &c. and now corruptly called a + country dance. + +CONUNDRUMS. Enigmatical conceits. + +CONVENIENT. A mistress. CANT. + +CONVENIENCY. A necessary. A leathern conveniency, a coach. + +COOPED UP. Imprisoned, confined like a fowl in a coop. + +COQUET. A jilt. + +CORINTH. A bawdy-house. CANT. + +CORINTHIANS: Frequenters of brothels. Also an impudent, + brazen-faced fellow, perhaps from the Corinthian + brass. + +CORK-BRAINED. Light-headed, foolish. + +CORNED. Drunk. + +CORNISH HUG. A particular lock in wrestling, peculiar to + the people of that county. + +CORNY-FACED. A very red pimpled face. + +CORPORAL. To mount a corporal and four; to be guilty + of onanism: the thumb is the corporal, the four fingers + the privates. + +CORPORATION. A large belly. He has a glorious corporation; + he has a very prominent belly. + +CORPORATION. The magistrates, &c. of a corporate + town. Corpus sine ratione. Freemen of a corporation's + work; neither strong nor handsome. + +COSSET. A foundling. Cosset colt or lamb; a colt or + lamb brought up by hand. + +COSTARD. The head. I'll smite your costard; I'll give + you a knock on the head. + +COSTARD MONGER. A dealer in fruit, particularly apples. + +COT, or QUOT. A man who meddles with women's household + business, particularly in the kitchen. The punishment + commonly inflicted on a quot, is pinning a greasy + dishclout to the skirts of his coat. + +COVE. A man, a fellow, a rogue. The cove was bit; the + rogue was outwitted. The cove has bit the cole; the + rogue has got the money. CANT. + +COVENT, or CONVENT GARDEN, vulgarly called COMMON + GARDEN. Anciently, the garden belonging to a + dissolved monastery; now famous for being the chief + market in London for fruit, flowers, and herbs. The + theatres are situated near it. In its environs are + many brothels, and not long ago, the lodgings of the + second order of ladies of easy virtue were either there, or + in the purlieus of Drury Lane. + +COVENT GARDEN ABBESS. A bawd. + +COVENT GARDEN AGUE. The venereal disease. He broke + his shins against Covent Garden rails; he caught the + venereal disorder. + +COVENT GARDEN NUN. A prostitute. + +COVENTRY. To send one to Coventry; a punishment inflicted + by officers of the army on such of their brethren + as are testy, or have been guilty of improper behaviour, + not worthy the cognizance of a court martial. The person + sent to Coventry is considered as absent; no one must + speak to or answer any question he asks, except relative + to duty, under penalty of being also sent to the same place. + On a proper submission, the penitent is recalled, and + welcomed by the mess, as just returned from a journey to + Coventry. + +COVEY. A collection of whores. What a fine covey here + is, if the Devil would but throw his net! + +TO COUCH A HOGSHEAD. To lie down to sleep. CANT. + +COUNTERFEIT CRANK. A general cheat, assuming all sorts + of characters; one counterfeiting the falling sickness. + +COUNTRY HARRY. A waggoner. CANT. + +COUNTRY PUT. An ignorant country fellow. + +COUNTY WORK. Said of any work that advances slowly. + +COURT CARD. A gay fluttering coxcomb. + +COURT HOLY WATER, COURT PROMISES. Fair speeches and promises, + without performance. + +COURT OF ASSISTANTS. A court often applied to by young + women who marry old men. + +COW. To sleep like a cow, with a **** at one's a-se; said + of a married man; married men being supposed to sleep + with their backs towards their wives, according to the + following proclamation: + + All you that in your beds do lie, + Turn to your wives, and occupy: + And when that you have done your best, + Turn a-se to a-se, and take your rest. + +COW JUICE. Milk. + +COW'S BABY. A calf. + +COW'S COURANT. Gallop and sh---e. + +COW-HANDED. Awkward. + +COW-HEARTED. Fearful. + +COW ITCH. The product of a sort of bean, which excites an + insufferable itching, used chiefly for playing tricks. + +COW'S SPOUSE. A bull. + +COW'S THUMB. Done to a cow's thumb; done exactly. + +COXCOMB. Anciently, a fool. Fools, in great families, + wore a cap with bells, on the top of which was a piece of + red cloth, in the shape of a cock's comb. At present, + coxcomb signifies a fop, or vain self-conceited fellow. + +CRAB. To catch a crab; to fall backwards by missing one's + stroke in rowing. + +CRAB LANTHORN. A peevish fellow. + +CRAB LOUSE. A species of louse peculiar to the human body; + the male is denominated a cock, the female a hen. + +CRAB SHELLS. Shoes. IRISH. + +CRABS. A losing throw to the main at hazard. + +CRABBED. Sour, ill-tempered, difficult. + +CRACK. A whore. + +TO CRACK. To boast or brag; also to break. I cracked his + napper; I broke his head. + +THE CRACK, or ALL THE CRACK. The fashionable theme, + the go. The Crack Lay, of late is used, in the cant + language, to signify the art and mystery of house-breaking. + +CRACKER. Crust, sea biscuit, or ammunition loaf; also the + backside. Farting crackers; breeches. + +CRACKISH. Whorish. + +CRACKING TOOLS. Implements of house-breaking, such as + a crow, a center bit, false keys, &c. + +CRACKMANS. Hedges. The cull thought to have loped by + breaking through the crackmans, but we fetched him back + by a nope on the costard, which stopped his jaw; the man + thought to have escaped by breaking through the hedge, + but we brought him back by a great blow on the head, + which laid him speechless. + +CRACKSMAN. A house-breaker. The kiddy is a clever + cracksman; the young fellow is a very expert house-breaker. + +CRAG. The neck. + +CRAMP RINGS. Bolts, shackles, or fetters. CANT. + +CRAMP WORDS. Sentence of death passed on a criminal by + a judge. He has just undergone the cramp word; sentence + has just been passed on him. CANT. + +CRANK. Gin and water; also, brisk, pert. + +CRANK. The falling sickness. CANT. + +TO CRASH. To kill. Crash that cull; kill that fellow. CANT. + +CRASHING CHEATS. Teeth. + +CRAW THUMPERS. Roman catholics, so called from their + beating their breasts in the confession of their sins. See + BRISKET BEATER, and BREAST FLEET. + +CREAM-POT LOVE. Such as young fellows pretend to + dairymaids, to get cream and other good things from them. + +TO CREEME. To slip or slide any thing into the hands of + another. CANT. + +CREEPERS. Gentlemen's companions, lice. + +CREW. A knot or gang; also a boat or ship's company. The + canting crew are thus divided into twenty-three orders, + which see under the different words: + + MEN. + + 1 Rufflers + 2 Upright Men + 3 Hookers or Anglers + 4 Rogues + 5 Wild Rogues + 6 Priggers of Prancers + 7 Palliardes + 8 Fraters + 9 Jarkmen, or Patricoes + 10 Fresh Water Mariners, or Whip Jackets + 11 Drummerers + 12 Drunken Tinkers + 13 Swadders, or Pedlars + 14 Abrams. + + WOMEN. + + 1 Demanders for Glimmer or Fire + 2 Bawdy Baskets + 3 Morts + 4 Autem Morts + 5 Walking Morts + 6 Doxies + 7 Delles + 8 Kinching Morts + 9 Kinching Coes + +CRIB. A house. To crack a crib: to break open a house. + +TO CRIB. To purloin, or appropriate to one's own use, + part of any thing intrusted to one's care. + +TO FIGHT A CRIB. To make a sham fight. BEAR GARDEN + TERM. + +CRIBBAGE-FACED. Marked with the small pox, the pits + bearing a kind of resemblance to the holes in a + cribbage-board. + +CRIBBEYS, or CRIBBY ISLANDS. Blind alleys, courts, or + bye-ways; perhaps from the houses built there being cribbed + out of the common way or passage; and islands, from + the similarity of sound to the Caribbee Islands. + +CRIM. CON. MONEY. Damages directed by a jury to be + paid by a convicted adulterer to the injured husband, for + criminal conversation with his wife. + +CRIMP. A broker or factor, as a coal crimp, who disposes + of the cargoes of the Newcastle coal ships; also persons + employed to trapan or kidnap recruits for the East Indian + and African companies. To crimp, or play crimp; to + play foul or booty: also a cruel manner of cutting up fish + alive, practised by the London fishmongers, in order to + make it eat firm; cod, and other crimped fish, being a + favourite dish among voluptuaries and epicures. + +CRINKUM CRANKUM. A woman's commodity. See SPECTATOR. + +CRINKUMS. The foul or venereal disease. + +CRIPPLE. Sixpence; that piece being commonly much bent + and distorted. + +CRISPIN. A shoemaker: from a romance, wherein a prince + of that name is said to have exercised the art and mystery + of a shoemaker, thence called the gentle craft: or rather + from the saints Crispinus and Crispianus, who according + to the legend, were brethren born at Rome, from whence + they travelled to Soissons in France, about the year 303, + to propagate the Christian religion; but, because they + would not be chargeable to others for their maintenance, + they exercised the trade of shoemakers: the governor of + the town discovering them to be Christians, ordered them + to be beheaded, about the year 303; from which time they + have been the tutelar saints of the shoemakers. + +CRISPIN'S HOLIDAY. Every Monday throughout the year, + but most particularly the 25th of October, being the + anniversary of Crispinus and Crispianus. + +CRISPIN'S LANCE. An awl. + +CROAKER. One who is always foretelling some accident + or misfortune: an allusion to the croaking of a raven, + supposed ominous. + +CROAKUMSHIRE. Northumberland, from the particular + croaking the pronunciation of the people of that + county, especially about Newcastle and Morpeth, where + they are said to be born with a burr in their throats, which + prevents their pronouncing the letter r. + +CROAKERS. Forestallers, called also Kidders and Tranters. + +CROCODILE'S TEARS. The tears of a hypocrite. Crocodiles + are fabulously reported to shed tears over their prey before + they devour it. + +CROCUS, or CROCUS METALLORUM. A nick name for a + surgeon of the army and navy. + +CROKER. A groat, or four pence. + +CRONE. An old ewe whose teeth are worn out; figuratively, + a toothless old beldam. + +CRONY. An intimate companion, a comrade; also a confederate + in a robbery. + +CROOK. Sixpence. + +CROOK BACK. Sixpence; for the reason of this name, see + CRIPPLE. + +CROOK YOUR ELBOW. To crook one's elbow, and wish it + may never come straight, if the fact then affirmed is not + true--according to the casuists of Bow-street and St. + Giles's, adds great weight and efficacy to an oath. + +CROOK SHANKS. A nickname for a man with bandy legs. + He buys his boots in Crooked Lane, and his stockings + in Bandy-legged Walk; his legs grew in the night, therefore + could not see to grow straight; jeering sayings of men + with crooked legs. + +CROP. A nick name for a presbyterian: from their cropping + their hair, which they trimmed close to a bowl-dish, + placed as a guide on their heads; whence they were likewise + called roundheads. See ROUNDHEADS. + +CROP. To be knocked down for a crop; to be condemned + to be hanged. Cropped, hanged. + +CROPPING DRUMS. Drummers of the foot guards, or Chelsea + hospital, who find out weddings, and beat a point of + war to serenade the new married couple, and thereby + obtain money. + +CROPPEN. The tail. The croppen of the rotan; the tail + of the cart. Croppen ken: the necessary-house. CANT. + +CROPSICK. Sickness in the stomach, arising from drunkenness. + +CROSS. To come home by weeping cross; to repent at the + conclusion. + +CROSS DISHONEST. A cross cove; any person who lives by + stealing or in a dishonest manner. + +CROSS BITE. One who combines with a sharper to draw in + a friend; also, to counteract or disappoint. CANT.--This + is peculiarly used to signify entrapping a man so as to obtain + CRIM. COM. money, in which the wife, real or supposed, + conspires with the husband. + +CROSS BUTTOCK. A particular lock or fall in the Broughtonian + art, which, as Mr. Fielding observes, conveyed more + pleasant sensations to the spectators than the patient. + +CROSS PATCH. A peevish boy or girl, or rather an unsocial + ill-tempered man or woman. + +TO CROW. To brag, boast, or triumph. To crow over any + one; to keep him in subjection: an image drawn from a + cock, who crows over a vanquished enemy. To pluck a + crow; to reprove any one for a fault committed, to settle a + dispute. To strut like a crow in a gutter; to walk proudly, + or with an air of consequence. + +CROWD. A fiddle: probably from CROOTH, the Welch name + for that instrument. + +CROWDERO. A fiddler. + +CROWDY. Oatmeal and water, or milk; a mess much eaten + in the north. + +CROW FAIR. A visitation of the clergy. See REVIEW OF + THE BLACK CUIRASSIERS. + +CROWN OFFICE. The head. I fired into her keel upwards; + my eyes and limbs Jack, the crown office was full; I s--k-d + a woman with her a-e upwards, she was so drunk, that her + head lay on the ground. + +CRUISERS. Beggars, or highway spies, who traverse the + road, to give intelligence of a booty; also rogues ready to + snap up any booty that may offer, like privateers or pirates + on a cruise. + +CRUMMY. Fat, fleshy. A fine crummy dame; a fat woman. + He has picked up his crumbs finely of late; he has + grown very fat, or rich, of late. + +CRUMP. One who helps solicitors to affidavit men, or false + witnesses.--'I wish you had, Mrs. Crump;' a Gloucestershire + saying, in answer to a wish for any thing; implying, + you must not expect any assistance from the speaker. It + is said to have originated from the following incident: + One Mrs. Crump, the wife of a substantial farmer, dining + with the old Lady Coventry, who was extremely deaf, said + to one of the footmen, waiting at table, 'I wish I had a + draught of small beer,' her modesty not permitting her to + desire so fine a gentleman to bring it: the fellow, conscious + that his mistress could not hear either the request or + answer, replied, without moving, 'I wish you had, Mrs. + Crump.' These wishes being again repeated by both parties, + Mrs. Crump got up from the table to fetch it herself; + and being asked by my lady where she was going, related + what had passed. The story being told abroad, the expression + became proverbial. + +CRUMP-BACKED. Hump-backed. + +CRUSTY BEAU. One that uses paint and cosmetics, to obtain + a fine complexion. + +CRUSTY FELLOW. A surly fellow. + +CUB. An unlicked cub; an unformed, ill-educated young + man, a young nobleman or gentleman on his travels: an + allusion to the story of the bear, said to bring its cub into + form by licking. Also, a new gamester. + +CUCKOLD. The husband of an incontinent wife: cuckolds, + however, are Christians, as we learn by the following story: + An old woman hearing a man call his dog Cuckold, reproved + him sharply, saying, 'Sirrah, are not you ashamed + to call a dog by a Christian's name?' To cuckold the + parson; to bed with one's wife before she has been churched. + +CUCUMBERS. Taylors, who are jocularly said to subsist, + during the summer, chiefly on cucumbers. + +CUFF. An old cuff; an old man. To cuff Jonas; said of one + who is knock-kneed, or who beats his sides to keep himself + warm in frosty weather; called also Beating the + booby. + +CUFFIN. A man. + +CULL. A man, honest or otherwise. A bob cull; a good-natured, + quiet fellow. CANT. + +CULLABILITY. A disposition liable to be cheated, an + unsuspecting nature, open to imposition. + +CULLY. A fog or fool: also, a dupe to women: from the + Italian word coglione, a blockhead. + +CULP. A kick or blow: from the words mea culpa, being + that part of the popish liturgy at which the people beat their + breasts; or, as the vulgar term is, thump their craws. + +CUNDUM. The dried gut of a sheep, worn by men in the + act of coition, to prevent venereal infection; said to have + been invented by one colonel Cundum. These machines + were long prepared and sold by a matron of the name of + Philips, at the Green Canister, in Half-moon-street, in the + Strand. That good lady having acquired a fortune, retired + from business; but learning that the town was not well + served by her successors, she, out of a patriotic zeal for the + public welfare, returned to her occupation; of which she + gave notice by divers hand-bills, in circulation in the year + 1776. Also a false scabbard over a sword, and the oil-skin + case for holding the colours of a regiment. + +CUNNINGHAM. A punning appellation for a simple fellow. + +CUNNING MAN. A cheat, who pretends by his skill in + astrology to assist persons in recovering stolen goods: and + also to tell them their fortunes, and when, how often, + and to whom they shall be married; likewise answers all + lawful questions, both by sea and land. This profession + is frequently occupied by ladies. + +CUNNING SHAVER. A sharp fellow, one that trims close, + i.e. cheats ingeniously. + +CUNNY-THUMBED. To double one's fist with the thumb inwards, + like a woman. + +C**T. The chonnos of the Greek, and the cunnus of the Latin + dictionaries; a nasty name for a nasty thing: un con Miege. + +CUP OF THE CREATURE. A cup of good liquor. + +CUP-SHOT. Drunk. + +CUPBOARD LOVE. Pretended love to the cook, or any other + person, for the sake of a meal. My guts cry cupboard; + i.e. I am hungry + +CUPID, BLIND CUPID. A jeering name for an ugly blind + man: Cupid, the god of love, being frequently painted + blind. See BLIND CUPID. + +CUR. A cut or curtailed dog. According to the forest laws, + a man who had no right to the privilege of the chase, was + obliged to cut or law his dog: among other modes of + disabling him from disturbing the game, one was by depriving + him of his tail: a dog so cut was called a cut or + curtailed dog, and by contraction a cur. A cur is figuratively + used to signify a surly fellow. + +CURBING LAW. The act of hooking goods out of windows: + the curber is the thief, the curb the hook. CANT. + +CURE A-SE. A dyachilon plaister, applied to the parts galled + by riding. + +CURLE. Clippings of money, which curls up in the operation. CANT. + +CURMUDGEON. A covetous old fellow, derived, according + to some, from the French term coeur mechant. + +CURRY. To curry favour; to obtain the favour of a person + be coaxing or servility. To curry any one's hide; to beat + him. + +CURSE OF SCOTLAND. The nine of diamonds; diamonds, it + is said, imply royalty, being ornaments to the imperial + crown; and every ninth king of Scotland has been observed + for many ages, to be a tyrant and a curse to that country. + Others say it is from its similarity to the arms of Argyle; + the Duke of Argyle having been very instrumental in + bringing about the union, which, by some Scotch patriots, + has been considered as detrimental to their country. + +CURSE OF GOD. A cockade. + +CURSITORS. Broken petty-fogging attornies, or Newgate + solicitors. CANT. + +CURTAILS. Thieves who cut off pieces of stuff hanging out + of shop windows, the tails of women's gowns, &c.; also, + thieves wearing short jackets. + +CURTAIN LECTURE. A woman who scolds her husband + when in bed, is said to read him a curtain lecture. + +CURTEZAN. A prostitute. + +CUSHION. He has deserved the cushion; a saying of one + whose wife is brought to bed of a boy: implying, that + having done his business effectually, he may now indulge or + repose himself. + +CUSHION THUMPER, or DUSTER. A parson; many of whom + in the fury of their eloquence, heartily belabour their + cushions. + +CUSTARD CAP. The cap worn by the sword-bearer of the + city of London, made hollow at the top like a custard. + +CUSTOM-HOUSE GOODS. The stock in trade of a prostitute, + because fairly entered. + +CUT. Drunk. A little cut over the head; slightly + intoxicated. To cut; to leave a person or company. To cut + up well; to die rich. + +TO CUT. (Cambridge.) To renounce acquaintance with any + one is to CUT him. There are several species of the CUT. + Such as the cut direct, the cut indirect, the cut sublime, + the cut infernal, &c. The cut direct, is to start across the + street, at the approach of the obnoxious person in order to + avoid him. The cut indirect, is to look another way, and + pass without appearing to observe him. The cut sublime, + is to admire the top of King's College Chapel, or the beauty + of the passing clouds, till he is out of sight. The cut + infernal, is to analyze the arrangement of your shoe-strings, + for the same purpose. + +TO CUT BENE. To speak gently. To cut bene whiddes; + to give good words. To cut queer whiddes; to give foul + language. To cut a bosh, or a flash; to make a figure. + CANT. + +TO CUTTY-EYE. To look out of the corners of one's eyes, + to leer, to look askance. The cull cutty-eyed at us; the + fellow looked suspicious at us. + +DAB. An adept; a dab at any feat or exercise. Dab, + quoth Dawkins, when he hit his wife on the a-se with a + pound of butter. + +DACE. Two pence. Tip me a dace; lend me two pence. + CANT. + +DADDLES. Hands. Tip us your daddle; give me your hand. + CANT. + +DADDY. Father. Old daddy; a familiar address to an old + man. To beat daddy mammy; the first rudiments of + drum beating, being the elements of the roll. + +DAGGERS. They are at daggers drawing; i.e. at enmity, + ready to fight. + +DAIRY. A woman's breasts, particularly one that gives + suck. She sported her dairy; she pulled out her breast. + +DAISY CUTTER. A jockey term for a horse that does not + lift up his legs sufficiently, or goes too near the ground, + and is therefore apt to stumble. + +DAISY KICKERS. Ostlers at great inns. + +DAM. A small Indian coin, mentioned in the Gentoo code + of laws: hence etymologists may, if they please, derive + the common expression, I do not care a dam, i.e. I do + not care half a farthing for it. + +DAMBER. A rascal. See DIMBER. + +DAMME BOY. A roaring, mad, blustering fellow, a scourer + of the streets, or kicker up of a breeze. + +DAMNED SOUL. A clerk in a counting house, whose sole + business it is to clear or swear off merchandise at the + custom-house; and who, it is said, guards against the crime + of perjury, by taking a previous oath, never to swear truly + on those occasions. + +DAMPER. A luncheon, or snap before dinner: so called + from its damping, or allaying, the appetite; eating and + drinking, being, as the proverb wisely observes, apt to take + away the appetite. + +DANCE UPON NOTHING. To be hanged. + +DANCERS. Stairs. + +DANDY. That's the dandy; i.e. the ton, the clever thing; + an expression of similar import to "That's the barber." + See BARBER. + +DANDY GREY RUSSET. A dirty brown. His coat's dandy + grey russet, the colour of the Devil's nutting bag. + +DANDY PRAT. An insignificant or trifling fellow. + +To DANGLE. To follow a woman without asking the question. + Also, to be hanged: I shall see you dangle in the + sheriff's picture frame; I shall see you hanging on the + gallows. + +DANGLER. One who follows women in general, without + any particular attachment + +DAPPER FELLOW. A smart, well-made, little man. + +DARBIES. Fetters. CANT. + +DARBY. Ready money. CANT. + +DARK CULLY. A married man that keeps a mistress, whom + he visits only at night, for fear of discovery. + +DARKEE. A dark lanthorn used by housebreakers. Stow + the darkee, and bolt, the cove of the crib is fly; hide the + dark lanthorn, and run away, the master of the house + knows that we are here. + +DARKMANS. The night. CANT. + +DARKMAN'S BUDGE. One that slides into a house in the + dark of the evening, and hides himself, in order to let some + of the gang in at night to rob it. + +DART. A straight-armed blow in boxing. + +DASH. A tavern drawer. To cut a dash: to make a figure. + +DAVID JONES. The devil, the spirit of the sea: called + Necken in the north countries, such as Norway, Denmark, + and Sweden. + +DAVID JONES'S LOCKER. The sea. + +DAVID'S SOW. As drunk as David's sow; a common + saying, which took its rise from the following circumstance: + One David Lloyd, a Welchman, who kept an alehouse at + Hereford, had a living sow with six legs, which was greatly + resorted to by the curious; he had also a wife much + addicted to drunkenness, for which he used sometimes + to give her due correction. One day David's wife having + taken a cup too much, and being fearful of the + consequences, turned out the sow, and lay down to sleep herself + sober in the stye. A company coming in to see the sow, + David ushered them into the stye, exclaiming, there is a + sow for you! did any of you ever see such another? all + the while supposing the sow had really been there; to + which some of the company, seeing the state the woman + was in, replied, it was the drunkenest sow they had ever + beheld; whence the woman was ever after called David's + sow. + +DAVY. I'll take my davy of it; vulgar abbreviation of affidavit. + +TO DAWB. To bribe. The cull was scragged because he + could not dawb; the rogue was hanged because he could + not bribe. All bedawbed with lace; all over lace. + +DAY LIGHTS. Eyes. To darken his day lights, or sow up + his sees; to close up a man's eyes in boxing. + +DEAD CARGO. A term used by thieves, when they are + disappointed in the value of their booty. + +DEAD HORSE. To work for the dead horse; to work for + wages already paid. + +DEAD-LOUSE. Vulgar pronunciation of the Dedalus ship of + war. + +DEAD MEN. A cant word among journeymen bakers, for + loaves falsely charged to their masters' customers; also + empty bottles. + +DEADLY NEVERGREEN, that bears fruit all the year round. + The gallows, or three-legged mare. See THREE-LEGGED + MARE. + +DEAR JOYS. Irishmen: from their frequently making use + of that expression. + +DEATH HUNTER. An undertaker, one who furnishes the + necessary articles for funerals. See CARRION HUNTER. + +DEATH'S HEAD UPON A MOP-STICK. A poor miserable, + emaciated fellow; one quite an otomy. See OTOMY.--He + looked as pleasant as the pains of death. + +DEEP-ONE. A thorough-paced rogue, a sly designing + fellow: in opposition to a shallow or foolish one. + +DEFT FELLOW. A neat little man. + +DEGEN, or DAGEN. A sword. Nim the degen; steal the + sword. Dagen is Dutch for a sword. CANT. + +DELLS. Young buxom wenches, ripe and prone to venery, + but who have not lost their virginity, which the UPRIGHT + MAN claims by virtue of his prerogative; after which they + become free for any of the fraternity. Also a common + strumpet. CANT. + +DEMURE. As demure as an old whore at a christening. + +DEMY-REP. An abbreviation of demy-reputation; a woman + of doubtful character. + +DERBY. To come down with the derbies; to pay the money. + +DERRICK. The name of the finisher of the law, or hangman + about the year 1608.--'For he rides his circuit with + the Devil, and Derrick must be his host, and Tiburne + the inne at which he will lighte.' Vide Bellman of + London, in art. PRIGGIN LAW.--'At the gallows, + where I leave them, as to the haven at which they must + all cast anchor, if Derrick's cables do but hold.' Ibid. + +DEVIL. A printer's errand-boy. Also a small thread in + the king's ropes and cables, whereby they may be + distinguished from all others. The Devil himself; a small + streak of blue thread in the king's sails. The Devil may + dance in his pocket; i.e. he has no money: the cross on + our ancient coins being jocularly supposed to prevent him + from visiting that place, for fear, as it is said, of breaking + his shins against it. To hold a candle to the Devil; to + be civil to any one out of fear: in allusion to the story of + the old woman, who set a wax taper before the image of + St. Michael, and another before the Devil, whom that + saint is commonly represented as trampling under his feet: + being reproved for paying such honour to Satan, she answered, + as it was uncertain which place she should go + to, heaven or hell, she chose to secure a friend in both + places. That will be when the Devil is blind, and he has + not got sore eyes yet; said of any thing unlikely to happen. + It rains whilst the sun shines, the Devil is beating + his wife with a shoulder of mutton: this phenomenon is + also said to denote that cuckolds are going to heaven; on + being informed of this, a loving wife cried out with great + vehemence, 'Run, husband, run!' + + The Devil was sick, the Devil a monk would be; + The Devil was well, the Devil a monk was he. + + a proverb signifying that we are apt to forget promises + made in time of distress. To pull the Devil by the tail, + to be reduced to one's shifts. The Devil go with you and + sixpence, and then you will have both money and company. + +DEVIL. The gizzard of a turkey or fowl, scored, peppered, + salted and broiled: it derives its appellation from being hot + in the mouth. + +DEVIL'S BOOKS. Cards. + +DEVIL CATCHER, or DEVIL DRIVER. A parson. See + SNUB DEVIL. + +DEVIL'S DAUGHTER. It is said of one who has a termagant + for his wife, that he has married the Devil's daughter, and + lives with the old folks. + +DEVIL'S DAUGHTER'S PORTION: + + Deal, Dover, and Harwich, + The Devil gave with his daughter in marriage; + And, by a codicil to his will, + He added Helvoet and the Brill; + + a saying occasioned by the shameful impositions practised + by the inhabitants of those places, on sailors and travellers. + +DEVIL DRAWER. A miserable painter. + +DEVIL'S DUNG. Assafoetida. + +DEVIL'S GUTS. A surveyor's chain: so called by farmers, + who do not like their land should be measured by their + landlords. + +DEVILISH. Very: an epithet which in the English vulgar + language is made to agree with every quality or thing; + as, devilish bad, devilish good; devilish sick, devilish well; + devilish sweet, devilish sour; devilish hot, devilish cold, + &c. &c. + +DEUSEA VILLE. The country. Cant. + +DEUSEA VILLE STAMPERS. Country carriers. Cant. + +DEW BEATERS. Feet. Cant. + +DEWS WINS, or DEUX WINS. Two-pence. Cant. + +DEWITTED. Torn to pieces by a mob, as that great statesman + John de Wit was in Holland, anno 1672. + +DIAL PLATE. The face. To alter his dial plate; to + disfigure his face. + +DICE. The names of false dice: + A bale of bard cinque deuces + A bale of flat cinque deuces + A bale of flat sice aces + A bale of bard cater traes + A bale of flat cater traes + A bale of fulhams + A bale of light graniers + A bale of langrets contrary to the ventage + A bale of gordes, with as many highmen as lowmen, + for passage + A bale of demies + A bale of long dice for even and odd + A bale of bristles + A bale of direct contraries. + +DICK. That happened in the reign of queen Dick, i. e. + never: said of any absurd old story. I am as queer as + Dick's hatband; that is, out of spirits, or don't know what + ails me. + +DICKY. A woman's under-petticoat. It's all Dicky with + him; i.e. it's all over with him. + +DICKED IN THE NOB. Silly. Crazed. + +DICKEY. A sham shirt. + +DICKEY. An ass. Roll your dickey; drive your ass. Also + a seat for servants to sit behind a carriage, when their + master drives. + +TO DIDDLE. To cheat. To defraud. The cull diddled + me out of my dearee; the fellow robbed me of my sweetheart. + See Jeremy Diddler In Raising The Wind. + +DIDDEYS. A woman's breasts or bubbies. + +DIDDLE. Gin. + +DIGGERS. Spurs. Cant. + +DILBERRIES. Small pieces of excrement adhering to the + hairs near the fundament. + +DILBERRY MAKER. The fundament. + +DILDO. [From the Italian DILETTO, q. d. a woman's delight; + or from our word DALLY, q. d. a thing to play withal.] + Penis-succedaneus, called in Lombardy Passo Tempo. Bailey. + +DILIGENT. Double diligent, like the Devil's apothecary; + said of one affectedly diligent. + +DILLY. (An abbreviation of the word DILIGENCE.) A public + voiture or stage, commonly a post chaise, carrying + three persons; the name is taken from the public stage + vehicles in France and Flanders. The dillies first began + to run in England about the year 1779. + +DIMBER. Pretty. A dimber cove; a pretty fellow. Dimber + mort; a pretty wench. CANT. + +DIMBER DAMBER. A top man, or prince, among the canting + crew: also the chief rogue of the gang, or the completest + cheat. CANT. + +DING. To knock down. To ding it in one's ears; to + reproach or tell one something one is not desirous of hearing. + Also to throw away or hide: thus a highwayman who + throws away or hides any thing with which he robbed, to + prevent being known or detected, is, in the canting lingo, + styled a Dinger. + +DING BOY. A rogue, a hector, a bully, or sharper. CANT. + +DING DONG. Helter skelter, in a hasty disorderly manner. + +DINGEY CHRISTIAN. A mulatto; or any one who has, as the + West-Indian term is, a lick of the tar-brush, that is, some + negro blood in him. + +DINING ROOM POST. A mode of stealing in houses that + let lodgings, by rogues pretending to be postmen, who + send up sham letters to the lodgers, and, whilst waiting + in the entry for the postage, go into the first room they see + open, and rob it. + +DIP. To dip for a wig. Formerly, in Middle Row, Holborn, + wigs of different sorts were, it is said, put into a + close-stool box, into which, for three-pence, any one + might dip, or thrust in his hand, and take out the first + wig he laid hold of; if he was dissatisfied with his prize, + he might, on paying three halfpence, return it and dip + again. + +THE DIP. A cook's shop, under Furnival's Inn, where many + attornies clerks, and other inferior limbs of the law, take + out the wrinkles from their bellies. DIP is also a punning + name for a tallow-chandler. + +DIPPERS. Anabaptists. + +DIPT. Pawned or mortgaged. + +DIRTY PUZZLE. A nasty slut. + +DISGUISED. Drunk. + +DISGRUNTLED. Offended, disobliged. + +DISHED UP. He is completely dished up; he is totally ruined. + To throw a thing in one's dish; to reproach or twit one with + any particular matter. + +DISHCLOUT. A dirty, greasy woman. He has made a napkin + of his dishclout; a saying of one who has married his + cook maid. To pin a dishclout to a man's tail; a punishment + often threatened by the female servants in a kitchen, + to a man who pries too minutely into the secrets of that + place. + +DISMAL DITTY. The psalm sung by the felons at the gallows, + just before they are turned off. + +DISPATCHES. A mittimus, or justice of the peace's warrant, + for the commitment of a rogue. + +DITTO. A suit of ditto; coat, waistcoat, and breeches, all + of one colour. + +DISPATCHERS. Loaded or false dice. + +DISTRACTED DIVISION. Husband and wife fighting. + +DIVE. To dive; to pick a pocket. To dive for a dinner; + to go down into a cellar to dinner. A dive, is a thief who + stands ready to receive goods thrown out to him by a little + boy put in at a window. Cant. + +DIVER. A pickpocket; also one who lives in a cellar. + +DIVIDE. To divide the house with one's wife; to give her + the outside, and to keep all the inside to one's self, i.e. to + turn her into the street. + +DO. To do any one; to rob and cheat him. I have done + him; I have robbed him. Also to overcome in a boxing + match: witness those laconic lines written on the field of + battle, by Humphreys to his patron.--'Sir, I have done + the Jew.' + +TO DO OVER. Carries the same meaning, but is not so briefly + expressed: the former having received the polish of the + present times. + +DOASH. A cloak. Cant. + +DOBIN RIG. Stealing ribbands from haberdashers early in + the morning or late at night; generally practised by women + in the disguise of maid servants. + +TO DOCK. To lie with a woman. The cull docked the dell + all the darkmans; the fellow laid with the wench all night. + Docked smack smooth; one who has suffered an amputation + of his penis from a venereal complaint. He must + go into dock; a sea phrase, signifying that the person spoken + of must undergo a salivation. Docking is also a punishment + inflicted by sailors on the prostitutes who have + infected them with the venereal disease; it consists in cutting + off all their clothes, petticoats, shift and all, close to + their stays, and then turning them into the street. + +DOCTOR. Milk and water, with a little rum, and some nutmeg; + also the name of a composition used by distillers, + to make spirits appear stronger than they really are, or, + in their phrase, better proof. + +DOCTORS. Loaded dice, that will run but two or three + chances. They put the doctors upon him; they cheated + him with loaded dice. + +DODSEY. A woman: perhaps a corruption of Doxey. CANT. + +DOG BUFFERS. Dog stealers, who kill those dogs not + advertised for, sell their skins, and feed the remaining dogs + with their flesh. + +DOG IN A DOUBLET. A daring, resolute fellow. In + Germany and Flanders the boldest dogs used to hunt the boar, + having a kind of buff doublet buttoned on their bodies, + Rubens has represented several so equipped, so has Sneyders. + +DOG. An old dog at it; expert or accustomed to any thing. + Dog in a manger; one who would prevent another from + enjoying what he himself does not want: an allusion to + the well-known fable. The dogs have not dined; a + common saying to any one whose shirt hangs out behind. To + dog, or dodge; to follow at a distance. To blush like a + blue dog, i.e. not at all. To walk the black dog on any + one; a punishment inflicted in the night on a fresh prisoner, + by his comrades, in case of his refusal to pay the usual + footing or garnish. + +DOG LATIN. Barbarous Latin, such as was formerly used + by the lawyers in their pleadings. + +DOG'S PORTION. A lick and a smell. He comes in for only + a dog's portion; a saying of one who is a distant admirer + or dangler after women. See DANGLER. + +DOG'S RIG. To copulate till you are tired, and then turn + tail to it. + +DOG'S SOUP. Rain water. + +DOG VANE. A cockade. SEA TERM. + +DOGGED. Surly. + +DOGGESS, DOG'S WIFE or LADY, PUPPY'S MAMMA. + Jocular ways of calling a woman a bitch. + +DOLL. Bartholomew doll; a tawdry, over-drest woman, + like one of the children's dolls at Bartholomew fair. To + mill doll; to beat hemp at Bridewell, or any other house + of correction. + +DOLLY. A Yorkshire dolly; a contrivance for washing, by + means of a kind of wheel fixed in a tub, which being turned + about, agitates and cleanses the linen put into it, with + soap and water. + +DOMINE DO LITTLE. An impotent old fellow. + +DOMINEER. To reprove or command in an insolent or + haughty manner. Don't think as how you shall domineer + here. + +DOMMERER. A beggar pretending that his tongue has been + cutout by the Algerines, or cruel and blood-thirsty Turks, + or else that he yas born deaf and dumb. Cant. + +DONE, or DONE OVER. Robbed: also, convicted or hanged. + Cant.--See DO. + +DONE UP. Ruined by gaming and extravagances. Modern + Term. + +DONKEY, DONKEY DICK. A he, or jack ass: called donkey, + perhaps, from the Spanish or don-like gravity of + that animal, intitled also the king of Spain's trumpeter. + +DOODLE. A silly fellow, or noodle: see NOODLE. Also a + child's penis. Doodle doo, or Cock a doodle doo; a + childish appellation for a cock, in imitation of its note + when crowing. + +DOODLE SACK. A bagpipe. Dutch.--Also the private parts + of a woman. + +DOPEY. A beggar's trull. + +DOT AND GO ONE. To waddle: generally applied to persons + who have one leg shorter than the other, and who, as the + sea phrase is, go upon an uneven keel. Also a jeering + appellation for an inferior writing-master, or teacher of + arithmetic. + +DOUBLE. To tip any one the double; to run away in his or + her debt. + +DOUBLE JUGG. A man's backside. Cotton's Virgil. + +DOVE-TAIL. A species of regular answer, which fits into + the subject, like the contrivance whence it takes its name: + Ex. Who owns this? The dovetail is, Not you by your + asking. + +DOUGLAS. Roby Douglas, with one eye and a stinking + breath; the breech. Sea wit. + +DOWDY. A coarse, vulgar-looking woman. + +DOWN HILLS. Dice that run low. + +DOWN. Aware of a thing. Knowing it. There is NO DOWN. + A cant phrase used by house-breakers to signify that the + persons belonging to any house are not on their guard, + or that they are fast asleep, and have not heard any noise + to alarm them. + +TO DOWSE. To take down: as, Dowse the pendant. Dowse + your dog vane; take the cockade out of your hat. Dowse + the glim; put out the candle. + +DOWSE ON THE CHOPS. A blow in the face. + +DOWSER. Vulgar pronunciation of DOUCEUR. + +DOXIES. She beggars, wenches, whores. + +DRAB. A nasty, sluttish whore. + +DRAG. To go on the drag; to follow a cart or waggon, in + order to rob it. CANT. + +DRAG LAY. Waiting in the streets to rob carts or waggons. + +DRAGGLETAIL or DAGGLETAIL. One whose garments are + bespattered with dag or dew: generally applied to the + female sex, to signify a slattern. + +DRAGOONING IT. A man who occupies two branches of + one profession, is said to dragoon it; because, like the + soldier of that denomination, he serves in a double capacity. + Such is a physician who furnishes the medicines, and + compounds his own prescriptions. + +DRAIN. Gin: so called from the diuretic qualities imputed + to that liquor. + +DRAM. A glass or small measure of any spirituous liquors, + which, being originally sold by apothecaries, were estimated + by drams, ounces, &c. Dog's dram; to spit in + his mouth, and clap his back. + +DRAM-A-TICK. A dram served upon credit. + +DRAPER. An ale draper; an alehouse keeper. + +DRAUGHT, or BILL, ON THE PUMP AT ALDGATE. A bad + or false bill of exchange. See ALDGATE. + +DRAW LATCHES. Robbers of houses whose doors are + only fastened with latches. CANT. + +TO DRAW. To take any thing from a pocket. To draw a + swell of a clout. To pick a gentleman's pocket of a + handkerchief. To draw the long bow; to tell lies. + +DRAWERS. Stockings. CANT. + +DRAWING THE KING'S PICTURE. Coining. CANT. + +TO DRESS. To beat. I'll dress his hide neatly; I'll beat him + soundly. + +DRIBBLE. A method of pouring out, as it were, the dice + from the box, gently, by which an old practitioner is + enabled to cog one of them with his fore-finger. + +DRIPPER. A gleet. + +DROMEDARY. A heavy, bungling thief or rogue. A purple + dromedary; a bungler in the art and mystery of thieving. + CANT. + +DROMMERARS. See DOMMERER. + +DROP. The new drop; a contrivance for executing felons at + Newgate, by means of a platform, which drops from + under them: this is also called the last drop. See LEAF. + See MORNING DROP. + +DROP A COG. To let fall, with design, a piece of gold or + silver, in order to draw in and cheat the person who sees + it picked up; the piece so dropped is called a dropt cog. + +DROP IN THE EYE. Almost drunk. + +DROPPING MEMBER. A man's yard with a gonorrhoea. + +DROP COVES. Persons who practice the fraud of dropping + a ring or other article, and picking it up before the + person intended to be defrauded, they pretend that the + thing is very valuable to induce their gull to lend them + money, or to purchase the article. See FAWNY RIG, + and MONEY DROPPERS. + +TO DROP DOWN. To be dispirited. This expression is + used by thieves to signify that their companion did not + die game, as the kiddy dropped down when he went to + be twisted; the young fellow was very low spirited when + he walked out to be hanged. + +TO DRUB. To beat any one with a stick, or rope's end: + perhaps a contraction of DRY RUB. It is also used to signify + a good beating with any instrument. + +DRUMMER. A jockey term for a horse that throws about + his fore legs irregularly: the idea is taken from a kettle + drummer, who in beating makes many flourishes with + his drumsticks. + +DRUNK. Drunk as a wheel-barrow. Drunk as David's + sow. See DAVID'S SOW. + +DRURY LANE AGUE. The venereal disorder. + +DRURY LANE VESTAL. A woman of the town, or prostitute; + Drury-lane and its environs were formerly the residence + of many of those ladies. + +DRY BOB. A smart repartee: also copulation without + emission; in law Latin, siccus robertulus. + +DRY BOOTS. A sly humorous fellow. + +DUB. A picklock, or master-key. CANT. + +DUB LAY. Robbing houses by picking the locks. + +DUB THE JIGGER. Open the door. CANT. + +DUB O' TH' HICK. A lick on the head. + +DUBBER. A picker of locks. CANT. + +DUCE. Two-pence. + +DUCK. A lame duck; an Exchange-alley phrase for a + stock-jobber, who either cannot or will not pay his losses, + or, differences, in which case he is said to WADDLE OUT OF + THE ALLEY, as he cannot appear there again till his debts + are settled and paid; should he attempt it, he would be + hustled out by the fraternity. + +DUCKS AND DRAKES. To make ducks and drakes: a + school-boy's amusement, practised with pieces of tile, + oyster-shells, or flattish stones, which being skimmed + along the surface of a pond, or still river, rebound many + times. To make ducks and drakes of one's money; to + throw it idly away. + +DUCK F-CK-R. The man who has the care of the poultry + on board a ship of war. + +DUCK LEGS. Short legs. + +DUDDERS, or WHISPERING DUDDERS. Cheats who travel + the country, pretending to sell smuggled goods: they + accost their intended dupes in a whisper. The goods + they have for sale are old shop-keepers, or damaged; + purchased by them of large manufactories. See DUFFER. + +DUDDERING RAKE. A thundering rake, a buck of the + first head, one extremely lewd. + +DUDGEON. Anger. + +DUDS. Clothes. + +DUFFERS. Cheats who ply in different parts of the town, + particularly about Water-lane, opposite St. Clement's + church, in the Strand, and pretend to deal in smuggled + goods, stopping all country people, or such as they think + they can impose on; which they frequently do, by selling + them Spital-fields goods at double their current price. + +DUGS. A woman's breasts, + +DUKE, or RUM DUKE. A queer unaccountable fellow. + +DUKE OF LIMBS. A tall, awkward, ill-made fellow. + +DUKE HUMPHREY. To dine with Duke Humphrey; to + fast. In old St. Paul's church was an aisle called Duke + Humphrey's walk (from a tomb vulgarly called his, but + in reality belonging to John of Gaunt), and persons who + walked there, while others were at dinner, were said to + dine with Duke Humphrey. + +DULL SWIFT. A stupid, sluggish fellow, one long going on + an errand. + +DUMB ARM. A lame arm. + +DUMB-FOUNDED. Silenced, also soundly beaten. + +DUMB GLUTTON. A woman's privities. + +DUMB WATCH. A venereal bubo in the groin. + +DUMMEE. A pocket book. A dummee hunter. A pick-pocket, + who lurks about to steal pocket books out of + gentlemen's pockets. Frisk the dummee of the screens; take + all the bank notes out of the pocket book, ding the dummee, + and bolt, they sing out beef. Throw away the pocket + book, and run off, as they call out "stop thief." + +DUMPLIN. A short thick man or woman. Norfolk dumplin; + a jeering appellation of a Norfolk man, dumplins being + a favourite kind of food in that county. + +DUMPS. Down in the dumps; low-spirited, melancholy: + jocularly said to be derived from Dumpos, a king of Egypt, + who died of melancholy. Dumps are also small pieces of + lead, cast by schoolboys in the shape of money. + +DUN. An importunate creditor. Dunny, in the provincial + dialect of several counties, signifies DEAF; to dun, then, + perhaps may mean to deafen with importunate demands: + some derive it from the word DONNEZ, which signifies GIVE. + But the true original meaning of the word, owes its birth + to one Joe Dun, a famous bailiff of the town of Lincoln, so + extremely active, and so dexterous in his business, that it + became a proverb, when a man refused to pay, Why do not + you DUN him? that is, Why do not you set Dun to attest + him? Hence it became a cant word, and is now as old as + since the days of Henry VII. Dun was also the general + name for the hangman, before that of Jack Ketch. + + And presently a halter got, + Made of the best strong hempen teer, + And ere a cat could lick her ear, + Had tied it up with as much art, + As DUN himself could do for's heart. + + Cotton's Virgil Trav. book iv. + +DUNAKER. A stealer of cows and calves. + +DUNEGAN. A privy. A water closet. + +DUNGHILL. A coward: a cockpit phrase, all but gamecocks + being styled dunghills. To die dunghill; to repent, or shew + any signs of contrition at the gallows. Moving dunghill; + a dirty, filthy man or woman. Dung, an abbreviation of + dunghill, also means a journeyman taylor who submits to + the law for regulating journeymen taylors' wages, therefore + deemed by the flints a coward. See FLINTS. + +DUNNOCK. A cow. CUNT. + +TO DUP. To open a door: a contraction of DO OPE or OPEN. + See DUB. + +DURHAM MAN. Knocker kneed, he grinds mustard with + his knees: Durham is famous for its mustard. + +DUST. Money. Down with your dust; deposit the money. + To raise or kick up a dust; to make a disturbance or riot: + see BREEZE. Dust it away; drink about. + +DUSTMAN. A dead man: your father is a dustman. + +DUTCH COMFORT. Thank God it is no worse. + +DUTCH CONCERT. Where every one plays or signs a + different tune. + +DUTCH FEAST. Where the entertainer gets drunk before + his guest. + +DUTCH RECKONING, or ALLE-MAL. A verbal or lump + account, without particulars, as brought at spungiug or + bawdy houses. + +DUTCHESS. A woman enjoyed with her pattens on, or by a + man-in boots, is said to be made a dutchess. + +DIE HARD, or GAME. To die hard, is to shew no signs of + fear or contrition at the gallows; not to whiddle or squeak. + This advice is frequently given to felons going to suffer the + law, by their old comrades, anxious for the honour of the + gang. + +EARNEST. A deposit in part of payment, to bind a bargain. + +EARTH BATH. A Grave. + +EASY. Make the cull easy or quiet; gag or kill him. As + easy as pissing the bed. + +EASY VIRTUE. A lady of easy virtue: an impure or prostitute. + +EAT. To eat like a beggar man, and wag his under jaw; a + jocular reproach to a proud man. To eat one's words; to + retract what one has said. + +TO EDGE. To excite, stimulate, or provoke; or as it is + vulgarly called, to egg a man on. Fall back, fall edge; i.e. + let what will happen. Some derive to egg on, from the + Latin word, AGE, AGE. + +EIGHT EYES. I will knock out two of your eight eyes; a + common Billingsgate threat from one fish nymph to + another: every woman, according to the naturalists of that + society, having eight eyes; viz. two seeing eyes, two + bub-eyes, a bell-eye, two pope's eyes, and a ***-eye. He has + fallen down and trod upon his eye; said of one who has a + black eye. + +ELBOW GREASE. Labour. Elbow grease will make an oak + table shine. + +ELBOW ROOM. Sufficient space to act in. Out at elbows; + said of an estate that is mortgaged. + +ELBOW SHAKER. A gamester, one who rattles Saint Hugh's + bones, i.e. the dice. + +ELLENBOROUGH LODGE. The King's Bench Prison. Lord + Ellenborough's teeth; the chevaux de frize round the top + of the wall of that prison. + +ELF. A fairy or hobgoblin, a little man or woman. + +EMPEROR. Drunk as an emperor, i.e. ten times as drunk as + a lord. + +ENGLISH BURGUNDY. Porter. + +ENSIGN BEARER. A drunken man, who looks red in the + face, or hoists his colours in his drink. + +EQUIPT. Rich; also, having new clothes. Well equipt; + full of money, or well dressed. The cull equipped me + with a brace of meggs; the gentleman furnished me with. + a couple of guineas. + +ESSEX LION. A calf; Essex being famous for calves, and + chiefly supplying the London markets. + +ESSEX STILE. A ditch; a great part of Essex is low marshy + ground, in which there are more ditches than Stiles. + +ETERNITY Box. A coffin. + +EVES. Hen roosts. + +EVE'S CUSTOM-HOUSE, where Adam made his first entry. + The monosyllable. + +EVES DROPPER. One that lurks about to rob hen-roosts; + also a listener at doors and windows, to hear private + conversation. + +EVIL. A halter. Cant, Also a wife. + +EWE. A white ewe; a beautiful woman. An old ewe, drest + lamb fashion; an old woman, drest like a young girl. + +EXECUTION DAY. Washing day. + +EXPENDED. Killed: alluding to the gunner's accounts, + wherein the articles consumed are charged under the title + of expended. Sea phrase. + +EYE. It's all my eye and Betty Martin. It's all nonsense, all + mere stuff. + +EYE-SORE. A disagreeable object. It will be an eye-sore as + long as she lives, said by a limn whose wife was cut for a + fistula in ano. + +FACE-MAKING. Begetting children. To face it out; to + persist in a falsity. No face but his own: a saying of one + who has no money in his pocket or no court cards in his + hand. + +FACER. A bumper, a glass filled so full as to leave no room + for the lip. Also a violent blow on the face. + +FADGE. It won't fadge; it won't do. A farthing. + +TO FAG. To beat. Fag the bloss; beat the wench; Cant. + A fag also means a boy of an inferior form or class, who + acts as a servant to one of a superior, who is said to fag him, + he is my fag; whence, perhaps, fagged out, for jaded or tired. + To stand a good fag; not to be soon tired. + +FAGGER. A little boy put in at a window to rob the house. + +FAGGOT. A man hired at a muster to appear as a soldier. + To faggot in the canting sense, means to bind: an allusion + to the faggots made up by the woodmen, which are + all bound. Faggot the culls; bind the men. + +FAITHFUL. One of the faithful; a taylor who gives long + credit. His faith has made him unwhole; i.e. trusting + too much, broke him. + +FAIR. A set of subterraneous rooms in the Fleet Prison. + +FAKEMENT. A counterfeit signature. A forgery. Tell + the macers to mind their fakements; desire the swindlers + to be careful not to forge another person's signature. + +FALLALLS. Ornaments, chiefly women's, such as ribands, + necklaces, &c. + +FALLEN AWAY FROM A HORSE LOAD TO A CART LOAD. + A saying on one grown fat. + +FAMILY MAN. A thief or receiver of stolen goods. + +FAM LAY. Going into a goldsmith's shop, under pretence + of buying a wedding ring, and palming one or two, by + daubing the hand with some viscous matter. + +FAMS, or FAMBLES. Hands. Famble cheats; rings or + gloves. CANT. + +TO FAMGRASP. To shake bands: figuratively, to agree + or make up a difference. Famgrasp the cove; shake hands + with the fellow. CANT. + +FAMILY OF LOVE. Lewd women; also, a religious sect. + +FANCY MAN. A man kept by a lady for secret services. + +TO FAN. To beat any one. I fanned him sweetly; I beat + him heartily. + +FANTASTICALLY DRESSED, with more rags than ribands. + +FART. He has let a brewer's fart, grains and all; said of + one who has bewrayed his breeches. + + Piss and fart. + Sound at heart. + Mingere cum bumbis, + Res saluberrima est lumbis. + + I dare not trust my a-se with a fart: said by a person troubled + with a looseness. + +FART CATCHER. A valet or footman from his walking + behind his master or mistress. + +FARTING CRACKERS. Breeches. + +FARTLEBERRIES. Excrement hanging about the anus. + +FASTNER. A warrant. + +FASTNESSES. Bogs. + +FAT. The last landed, inned, or stowed, of any sort of + merchandise: so called by the water-side porters, carmen, &c. + All the fat is in the fire; that is, it is all over with us: a + saying used in case of any miscarriage or disappointment + in an undertaking; an allusion to overturning the + frying pan into the fire. Fat, among printers, means void + spaces. + +AS FAT AS A HEN IN THE FOREHEAD. A saying of a meagre person. + +FAT CULL. A rich fellow. + +FAT HEADED. Stupid. + +FAULKNER. A tumbler, juggler, or shewer of tricks; perhaps + because they lure the people, as a faulconer does his + hawks. CANT. + +FAYTORS, or FATORS. Fortune tellers. + +FAWNEY RIG. A common fraud, thus practised: A fellow + drops a brass ring, double gilt, which he picks up before + the party meant to be cheated, and to whom he disposes + of it for less than its supposed, and ten times more than + its real, value. See MONEY DROPPER. + +FAWNEY. A ring. + +FEAGUE. To feague a horse; to put ginger up a horse's + fundament, and formerly, as it is said, a live eel, to make + him lively and carry his tail well; it is said, a forfeit is + incurred by any horse-dealer's servant, who shall shew a + horse without first feaguing him. Feague is used, + figuratively, for encouraging or spiriting one up. + +FEAK. The fundament. + +To FEATHER ONE'S NEST. To enrich one's self. + +FEATHER-BED LANE. A rough or stony lane. + +FEE, FAW, FUM. Nonsensical words, supposed in childish + story-books to be spoken by giants. I am not to be frighted + by fee, faw, fum; I am not to be scared by nonsense. + +FEEDER. A spoon. To nab the feeder; to steal a spoon. + +FEET. To make feet for children's stockings; to beget + children. An officer of feet; a jocular title for an officer + of infantry. + +FEINT. A sham attack on one part, when a real one is meant + at another. + +FELLOW COMMONER. An empty bottle: so called at the + university of Cambridge, where fellow commoners are + not in general considered as over full of learning. At + Oxford an empty bottle is called a gentleman commoner + for the same reason. They pay at Cambridge 250 l. a year + for the privilege of wearing a gold or silver tassel to their + caps. The younger branches of the nobility have the + privilege of wearing a hat, and from thence are denominated HAT + FELLOW COMMONERS. + +FEN. A bawd, or common prostitute. CANT. + +TO FENCE. To pawn or sell to a receiver of stolen goods. + The kiddey fenced his thimble for three quids; the young + fellow pawned his watch for three guineas. To fence + invariably means to pawn or sell goods to a receiver. + +FENCING KEN. The magazine, or warehouse, where + stolen goods are secreted. + +FERME. A hole. CANT. + +FERMERDY BEGGARS. All those who have not the sham + sores or clymes. + +FERRARA. Andrea Ferrara; the name of a famous sword-cutler: + most of the Highland broad-swords are marked + with his name; whence an Andrea Ferrara has become + the common name for the glaymore or Highland + broad-sword. See CLAYMORE. + +FERRET. A tradesman who sells goods to young unthrift + heirs, at excessive rates, and then continually duns them + for the debt. To ferret; to search out or expel any one + from his hiding-place, as a ferret drives out rabbits; also + to cheat. Ferret-eyed; red-eyed: ferrets have red eyes. + +FETCH. A trick, wheedle, or invention to deceive. + +FEUTERER. A dog-keeper: from the French vautrier, or + vaultrier, one that leads a lime hound for the chase. + +TO FIB. To beat. Fib the cove's quarron in the rumpad + for the lour in his bung; beat the fellow in the highway + for the money in his purse. CANT.--A fib is also a tiny lie. + +FICE, or FOYSE. A small windy escape backwards, more + obvious to the nose than ears; frequently by old ladies + charged on their lap-dogs. See FIZZLE. + +FID OF TOBACCO. A quid, from the small pieces of tow + with which the vent or touch hole of a cannon is stopped. + SEA TERM. + +FIDDLE FADDLE. Trifling discourse, nonsense. A mere + fiddle faddle fellow; a trifier. + +FIDDLESTICK'S END. Nothing; the end of the ancient + fiddlesticks ending in a point; hence metaphorically used + to express a thing terminating in nothing. + +FIDGETS. He has got the fidgets; said of one that cannot + sit long in a place. + +FIDLAM BEN. General thieves; called also St. Peter's sons, + having every finger a fish-hook. CANT. + +FIDDLERS MONEY. All sixpences: sixpence being the + usual sum paid by each couple, for music at country + wakes and hops. Fiddler's fare; meat, drink, and money. + Fiddler's pay; thanks and wine. + +FIELD LANE DUCK. A baked sheep's head. + +FIERI FACIAS. A red-faced man is said to have been served + with a writ of fieri facias. + +FIGDEAN. To kill. + +FIGGER. A little boy put in at a window to hand out + goods to the diver. See DIVER. + +FIGGING LAW. The art of picking pockets. CANT. + +FIGURE DANCER. One who alters figures on bank notes, + converting tens to hundreds. + +FILCH, or FILEL. A beggar's staff, with an iron hook at + the end, to pluck clothes from an hedge, or any thing out + of a casement. Filcher; the same as angler. Filching + cove; a man thief. Filching mort; a woman thief. + +FILE, FILE CLOY, or BUNGNIPPER. A pick pocket. To + file; to rob or cheat. The file, or bungnipper, goes + generally in company with two assistants, the adam tiler, and + another called the bulk or bulker, Whose business it is to + jostle the person they intend to rob, and push him against + the wall, while the file picks his pocket, and gives'the booty + to the adam tiler, who scours off with it. CANT. + +FIN. An arm. A one finned fellow; a man who has lost + an arm. SEA PHRASE. + +FINE. Fine as five pence. Fine as a cow-t--d stuck with + primroses. + +FINE. A man imprisoned for any offence. A fine of eighty-four + months; a transportation for seven years. + +FINGER IN EYE. To put finger in eye; to weep: commonly + applied to women. The more you cry the less + you'll p-ss; a consolatory speech used by sailors to their + doxies. It is as great a pity to see a woman cry, as to + see a goose walk barefoot; another of the same kind. + +FINGER POST. A parson: so called, because he points out + a way to others which he never goes himself. Like the + finger post, he points out a way he has never been, and + probably will never go, i.e. the way to heaven. + +FINISH. The finish; a small coffee-house in Coven Garden, + market, opposite Russel-street, open very early in the + morning, and therefore resorted to by debauchees shut out + of every other house: it is also called Carpenter's coffee-house. + +FIRING A GUN. Introducing a story by head and shoulders. + A man wanting to tell a particular story, said to the + company, Hark! did you not hear a gun?--but now we are + talking of a gun, I will tell you the story of one. + +TO FIRE A SLUG. To drink a dram. + +FIRE PRIGGERS. Villains who rob at fires under pretence + of assisting in removing the goods. + +FIRE SHIP. A wench who has the venereal disease. + +FIRE SHOVEL. He or she when young, was fed with a fire + shovel; a saying of persons with wide mouths. + +FISH. A seaman. A scaly fish; a rough, blunt tar. To + have other fish to fry; to have other matters to mind, + something else to do. + +FIT. Suitable. It won't fit; It will not suit or do. + +FIVE SHILLINGS. The sign of five shillings, i.e. the crown. + Fifteen shillings; the sign of the three crowns. + +FIZZLE. An escape backward, + +FLABAGASTED. Confounded. + +FLABBY. Relaxed, flaccid, not firm or solid. + +FLAG. A groat. CANT.--The flag of defiance, or bloody flag + is out; signifying the man is drunk, and alluding to the + redness of his face. SEA PHRASE. + +FLAM. A lie, or sham story: also a single stroke on a drum. + To flam; to hum, to amuse, to deceive. Flim flams; idle + stories. + +FLAP DRAGON. A clap, or pox. + +To FLARE. To blaze, shine or glare. + +FLASH. Knowing. Understanding another's meaning. The + swell was flash, so I could not draw his fogle. The + gentleman saw what I was about, and therefore I could not + pick his pocket of his silk handkerchief. To patter flash, + to speak the slang language. See PATTER. + +FLASH PANNEYS. Houses to which thieves and prostitutes + resort. + + Next for his favourite MOT (Girl) the KIDDEY (Youth) looks + about, + And if she's in a FLASH PANNEY (Brothel) he swears he'll have + her out; + So he FENCES (Pawns) all his TOGS (Cloathes) to buy her DUDS, + (Wearing Apparel) and then + He FRISKS (Robs) his master's LOB (Till) to take her from the + bawdy KEN (House). + + FLASH SONG. + +FLASH. A periwig. Rum flash; a fine long wig. Queer + flash; a miserable weather-beaten caxon. + +To FLASH. To shew ostentatiously. To flash one's ivory; + to laugh and shew one's teeth. Don't flash your ivory, but + shut your potatoe trap, and keep your guts warm; the + Devil loves hot tripes. + +To FLASH THE HASH. To vomit. CANT. + +FLASH KEN. A house that harbours thieves. + +FLASH LINGO. The canting or slang language. + +FLASH MAN. A bully to a bawdy house. A whore's bully. + +FLAT. A bubble, gull, or silly fellow. + +FLAT COCK. A female. + +FLAWD. Drunk. + +FLAYBOTTOMIST. A bum-brusher, or schoolmaster. + +To FLAY, or FLEA, THE FOX. To vomit. + +FLEA BITE. A trifling injury. To send any one away with + a flea in his ear; to give any one a hearty scolding. + +To FLEECE. To rob, cheat, or plunder. + +FLEMISH ACCOUNT. A losing, or bad account. + +FLESH BROKER. A match-maker, a bawd. + +FLICKER. A drinking glass. CANT. + +FLICKERING. Grinning or laughing in a man's face. + +FLICKING. Cutting. Flick me some panam and caffan; + cut me some bread and cheese. Flick the peter; cut off + the cloak-bag, or portmanteau. + +To FLING. To trick or cheat. He flung me fairly out of it: + he cheated me out of it. + +FLINTS. Journeymen taylors, who on a late occasion refused + to work for the wages settled by law. Those who submitted, + were by the mutineers styled dungs, i.e. dunghills. + +FLIP. Small beer, brandy, and sugar: this mixture, with + the addition of a lemon, was by sailors, formerly called Sir + Cloudsly, in memory of Sir Cloudsly Shovel, who used + frequently to regale himself with it. + +FLOATING ACADEMY. See CAMPBELL'S ACADEMY. + +FLOATING HELL. The hulks. + +TO FLOG. To whip. + +FLOGGER. A horsewhip. CANT. + +FLOGGING CULLY. A debilitated lecher, commonly an old + one. + +FLOGGING COVE. The beadle, or whipper, in Bridewell. + +FLOGGING STAKE. The whipping-post. + +TO FLOOR. To knock down. Floor the pig; knock down + the officer. + +FLOURISH. To take a flourish; to enjoy a woman in a hasty + manner, to take a flyer. See FLYER. + +TO FLOUT. To jeer, to ridicule. + +FLUMMERY. Oatmeal and water boiled to a jelly; also + compliments, neither of which are over-nourishing. + +FLUSH IN THE POCKET. Full of money. The cull is + flush in the fob. The fellow is full of money. + +FLUSTERED. Drunk. + +FLUTE. The recorder of a corporation; a recorder was an + antient musical instrument. + +TO FLUX. To cheat, cozen, or over-reach; also to salivate. + To flux a wig; to put it up in curl, and bake it. + +FLY. Knowing. Acquainted with another's meaning or + proceeding. The rattling cove is fly; the coachman + knows what we are about. + +FLY. A waggon. CANT. + +FLY-BY-NIGHT. You old fly-by-night; an ancient term of + reproach to an old woman, signifying that she was a witch, + and alluding to the nocturnal excursions attributed to + witches, who were supposed to fly abroad to their + meetings, mounted on brooms. + +FLY SLICERS. Life-guard men, from their sitting on + horseback, under an arch, where they are frequently observed + to drive away flies with their swords. + +FLYER. To take a flyer; to enjoy a woman with her + clothes on, or without going to bed. + +FLYERS. Shoes. + +FLY-FLAPPED. Whipt in the stocks, or at the cart's tail. + +FLYING CAMPS. Beggars plying in a body at funerals. + +FLYING GIGGERS. Turnpike gates. + +FLYING HOUSE. A lock in wrestling, by which he who + uses it throws his adversary over his head. + +FLYING PASTY. Sirreverence wrapped in paper and + thrown over a neighbour's wall. + +FLYING PORTERS. Cheats who obtain money by pretending + to persons who have been lately robbed, that they + may come from a place or party where, and from whom, + they may receive information respecting the goods stolen + from them, and demand payment as porters. + +FLYING STATIONERS. Ballad-singers and hawkers of penny + histories. + +FLYMSEY. A bank note. + +FOB. A cheat, trick, or contrivance, I will not be fobbed off + so; I will not be thus deceived with false pretences. The + fob is also a small breeches pocket for holding a watch. + +FOG. Smoke. CANT. + +FOGEY. Old Fogey. A nickname for an invalid soldier: + derived from the French word fougeux, fierce or fiery. + +FOGLE. A silk handkerchief, + +FOGRAM. An old fogram; a fusty old fellow. + +FOGUS. Tobacco. Tip me a gage of fogus; give me a + pipe of tobacco. CANT. + +FOOL. A fool at the end of a stick; a fool at one end, and + a maggot at the other; gibes on an angler. + +FOOL FINDER. A bailiff. + +FOOLISH. An expression among impures, signifying the + cully who pays, in opposition to a flash man. Is he + foolish or flash? + +FOOT PADS, or LOW PADS. Rogues who rob on foot. + +FOOT WABBLER. A contemptuous appellation for a foot + soldier, commonly used by the cavalry. + +FOOTMAN'S MAWND. An artificial sore made with unslaked + lime, soap, and the rust of old iron, on the back + of a beggar's hand, as if hurt by the bite or kick of a horse. + +FOOTY DESPICABLE. A footy fellow, a despicable fellow; + from the French foutue. + +FOREFOOT, or PAW. Give us your fore foot; give us your hand. + +FOREMAN OF THE JURY. One who engrosses all the talk + to himself, or speaks for the rest of the company. + +FORK. A pickpocket. Let us fork him; let us pick his + pocket.--'The newest and most dexterous way, which is, + to thrust the fingers strait, stiff, open, and very quick, + into the pocket, and so closing them, hook what can + be held between them.' N.B. This was taken from a + book written many years ago: doubtless the art of picking + pockets, like all others, must have been much improved + since that time. + +FORLORN HOPE. A gamester's last stake. + +FORTUNE HUNTERS. Indigent men, seeking to enrich + themselves by marrying a woman of fortune. + +FORTUNE TELLER, or CUNNING MAN. A judge, who tells + every prisoner his fortune, lot or doom. To go before the + fortune teller, lambskin men, or conjuror; to be tried at + an assize. See LAMBSKIN MEN. + +FOUL. To foul a plate with a man, to take a dinner with him. + +FOUL-MOUTHED. Abusive. + +FOUNDLING. A child dropped in the streets, and found, and + educated at the parish expence. + +FOUSIL. The name of a public house, where the + Eccentrics assemble in May's Buildings, St. Martin's Lane. + +Fox. A sharp, cunning fellow. Also an old term for a + sword, probably a rusty one, or else from its being dyed red + with blood; some say this name alluded to certain swords + of remarkable good temper, or metal, marked with the + figure of a fox, probably the sign, or rebus, of the maker. + +FOX'S PAW. The vulgar pronunciation of the French + words faux pas. He made a confounded fox's paw. + +FOXED. Intoxicated. + +FOXEY. Rank. Stinking. + +FOXING A BOOT. Mending the foot by capping it. + +FOYST. A pickpocket, cheat, or rogue. See WOTTON'S GANG. + +TO FOYST. To pick a pocket. + +FOYSTED IN. Words or passages surreptitiously interpolated + or inserted into a book or writing. + +FRATERS. Vagabonds who beg with sham patents, or briefs, + for hospitals, fires, inundations, &c. + +FREE. Free of fumblers hall; a saying of one who cannot + get his wife with child. + +FREE AND EASY JOHNS. A society which meet at the Hole + in the Wall, Fleet-street, to tipple porter, and sing bawdry. + +FREE BOOTERS. Lawless robbers and plunderers: originally + soldiers who served without pay, for the privilege of + plundering the enemy. + +FREEHOLDER. He whose wife accompanies him to the alehouse. + +FREEMAN'S QUAY. Free of expence. To lush at Freeman's + Quay; to drink at another's cost. + +FREEZE. A thin, small, hard cider, much used by vintners + and coopers in parting their wines, to lower the price of + them, and to advance their gain. A freezing vintner; a + vintner who balderdashes his wine. + +FRENCH CREAM. Brandy; so called by the old tabbies + and dowagers when drank in their tea. + +FRENCH DISEASE. The venereal disease, said to have been + imported from France. French gout; the same. He suffered + by a blow over the snout with a French faggot-stick; + i.e. he lost his nose by the pox. + +FRENCH LEAVE. To take French leave; to go off without + taking leave of the company: a saying frequently applied + to persons who have run away from their creditors. + +FRENCHIFIED. Infected with the venereal disease. The + mort is Frenchified: the wench is infected. + +FRESH MILK. Cambridge new comers to the university. + +FRESHMAN. One just entered a member of the university. + +FRIBBLE. An effeminate fop; a name borrowed from a + celebrated character of that kind, in the farce of Miss in her + Teens, written by Mr. Garrick. + +FRIDAY-FACE. A dismal countenance. Before, and even + long after the Reformation, Friday was a day of abstinence, + or jour maigre. Immediately after the restoration of king + Charles II. a proclamation was issued, prohibiting all + publicans from dressing any suppers on a Friday. + +TO FRIG. Figuratively used for trifling. + +FRIG PIG. A trifling, fiddle-faddle fellow. + +FRIGATE. A well-rigged frigate; a well-dressed wench. + +FRISK. To dance the Paddington frisk; to be hanged. + +TO FRISK. Used by thieves to signify searching a person +whom they have robbed. Blast his eyes! frisk him. + +FROE, or VROE, A woman, wife, or mistress. Brush to your + froe, or bloss, and wheedle for crop; run to your mistress, + and sooth and coax her out of some money. DUTCH. + +FROGLANDER. A Dutchman. + +FROSTY FACE. One pitted with the small pox. + +FROG'S WINE. Gin. + +FRUITFUL VINE. A woman's private parts, i.e. that has + FLOWERS every month, and bears fruit in nine months. + +FRUMMAGEMMED. Choaked, strangled, suffocated, or + hanged. CANT. + +FUBSEY. Plump. A fubsey wench; a plump, healthy + wench. + +FUDDLE. Drunk. This is rum fuddle; this is excellent + tipple, or drink. Fuddle; drunk. Fuddle cap; a drunkard. + +FUDGE. Nonsense. + +FULHAMS. Loaded dice are called high and lowmen, or + high and low fulhams, by Ben Jonson and other writers of + his time; either because they were made at Fulham, or from + that place being the resort of sharpers. + +FULL OF EMPTINESS. Jocular term for empty. + +FULL MARCH. The Scotch greys are in full march by the + crown office; the lice are crawling down his head. + +FUMBLER. An old or impotent man. To fumble, also + means to go awkwardly about any work, or manual + operation. + +FUN. A cheat, or trick. Do you think to fun me out of + it? Do you think to cheat me?--Also the breech, perhaps + from being the abbreviation of fundament. I'll kick your + fun. CANT. + +TO FUNK. To use an unfair motion of the hand in plumping + at taw. SCHOOLBOY'S TERM. + +FUNK. To smoke; figuratively, to smoke or stink through + fear. I was in a cursed funk. To funk the cobler; a + schoolboy's trick, performed with assafoettida and cotton, + which are stuffed into a pipe: the cotton being lighted, and the + bowl of the pipe covered with a coarse handkerchief, the + smoke is blown out at the small end, through the crannies + of a cobler's stall. + +FURMEN. Aldermen. + +FURMITY, or FROMENTY. Wheat boiled up to a jelly. To + simper like a furmity kettle: to smile, or look merry about + the gills. + +FUSS. A confusion, a hurry, an unnecessary to do about + trifles. + +FUSSOCK. A lazy fat woman. An old fussock; a frowsy + old woman. + +FUSTIAN. Bombast language. Red fustian; port wine. + +FUSTY LUGGS. A beastly, sluttish woman. + +TO FUZZ. To shuffle cards minutely: also, to change the + pack. + +GAB, or GOB. The mouth. Gift of the gab; a facility + of speech, nimble tongued eloquence. To blow the gab; + to confess, or peach. + +GAB, or GOB, STRING. A bridle. + +GABBY. A foolish fellow. + +GAD-SO. An exclamation said to be derived from the + Italian word cazzo. + +GAFF. A fair. The drop coves maced the joskins at the + gaff; the ring-droppers cheated the countryman at the fair. + +TO GAFF. To game by tossing up halfpence. + +GAG. An instrument used chiefly by housebreakers and + thieves, for propping open the mouth of a person robbed, + thereby to prevent his calling out for assistance. + +GAGE. A quart pot, or a pint; also a pipe. CANT. + +GAGE, or FOGUS. A pipe of tobacco. + +GAGGERS. High and Low. Cheats, who by sham + pretences, and wonderful stories of their sufferings, impose on + the credulity of well meaning people. See RUM GAGGER. + +GALIMAUFREY. A hodgepodge made up of the remnants + and scraps of the larder. + +GALL. His gall is not yet broken; a saying used in prisons + of a man just brought in, who appears dejected. + +GALLEY. Building the galley; a game formerly used at + sea, in order to put a trick upon a landsman, or fresh-water + sailor. It being agreed to play at that game, one + sailor personates the builder, and another the merchant or + contractor: the builder first begins by laying the keel, + which consists of a number of men laid all along on their + backs, one after another, that is, head to foot; he next + puts in the ribs or knees, by making a number of men sit + feet to feet, at right angles to, and on each side of, the + keel: he now fixing on the person intended to be the object + of the joke, observes he is a fierce-looking fellow, + and fit for the lion; he accordingly places him at the head, + his arms being held or locked in by the two persons next + to him, representing the ribs. After several other + dispositions, the builder delivers over the galley to the + contractor as complete: but he, among other faults and + objections, observes the lion is not gilt, on which the builder + or one of his assistants, runs to the head, and dipping a + mop in the excrement, thrusts it into the face of the lion. + +GALLEY FOIST. A city barge, used formerly on the lord + mayor's day, when he was sworn in at Westminster. + +GALLIED. Hurried, vexed, over-fatigued, perhaps like a + galley slave. + +GALLIGASKINS. Breeches. + +GALLIPOT. A nick namefor an apothecary, + +GALLORE, or GOLORE. Plenty. + +GALLOPER. A blood horse. A hunter. The toby gill clapped his + bleeders to his galloper and tipped the straps the + double. The highwayman spurred his horse and got + away from the officers. + +GALLOWS BIRD. A grief, or pickpocket; also one that + associates with them. + +GAMES. Thin, ill-shapped legs: a corruption of the French + word jambes. Fancy gambs; sore or swelled legs. + +GAMBADOES. Leathern cases of stiff leather, used in + Devonshire instead of boots; they are fastened to the saddle, + and admit the leg, shoe and all: the name was at first + jocularly given. + +GAMBLER. A sharper, of tricking, gamester. + +GAME. Any mode of robbing. The toby is now a queer + game; to rob on the highway is now a bad mode of + acting. This observation is frequently made by thieves; + the roads being now so well guarded by the horse patrole; + and gentlemen travel with little cash in their pockets. + +GAME. Bubbles or pigeons drawn in to be cheated. Also, + at bawdy-houses, lewd women. Mother have you any + game; mother, have you any girls? To die game; to + suffer at the gallows without shewing any signs of fear or + repentance. Game pullet; a young whore, or forward + girl in the way of becoming one. + +GAMON. To humbug. To deceive, To tell lies. What + rum gamon the old file pitched to the flat; how finely the + knowing old fellow humbugged the fool. + +GAMON AND PATTER. Common place talk of any + profession; as the gamon and patter of a horse-dealer, sailor, + &c. + +GAN. The mouth or lips. Cant. + +GANDER MONTH. That month in which a man's wife-lies + in: wherefore, during that time, husbands plead a sort of + indulgence in matters of gallantry. + +GANG. A company of men, a body of sailors, a knot of + thieves, pickpockets, &c. A gang of sheep trotters; the + four feet of a sheep. + +GAOLER'S COACH. A hurdle: traitors being usually + conveyed from the gaol, to the place of execution, on a + hurdle or sledge. + +GAP STOPPER. A whoremaster. + +GAPESEED. Sights; any thing to feed the eye. I am come + abroad for a little gapeseed. + +GARNISH. An entrance fee demanded by the old prisoners + of one just committed to gaol. + +GARRET, or UPPER STORY. The head. His garret, or + upper story, is empty, or unfurnished; i.e. he has no + brains, he is a fool. + +GARRET ELECTION. A ludicrous ceremony, practised every + new parliament: it consists of a mock election of two + members to represent the borough of Garret (a few + straggling cottages near Wandsworth in Surry); the + qualification of a voter is, having enjoyed a woman in the open + air within that district: the candidates are commonly fellows + of low humour, who dress themselves up in a ridiculous + manner. As this brings a prodigious concourse of + people to Wandsworth, the publicans of that place jointly + contribute to the expence, which is sometimes considerable. + +GAWKEY. A tall, thin, awkward young man or woman. + +GAYING INSTRUMENT. The penis. + +GAZEBO. An elevated observatory or summer-house. + +GEE. It won't gee; it won't hit or do, it does not suit or + fit. + +GELDING. An eunuch. + +GELT. Money, GERMAN.--Also, castrated. + +GENTLE CRAFT. The art of shoemaking. One of the gentle + craft: a shoemaker: so called because once practised + by St. Crispin. + +GENTLEMAN COMMONER. An empty bottle; an university + joke, gentlemen commoners not being deemed over full + of learning. + +GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION. A louse. + +GENTLEMAN'S MASTER. A highway robber, because he + makes a gentleman obey his commands, i.e. stand and deliver. + +GENTLEMAN OF THREE INS. In debt, in gaol, and in danger + of remaining there for life: or, in gaol, indicted, and + in danger of being hanged in chains. + +GENTLEMAN OF THREE OUTS. That is, without money, + without wit, and without manners: some add another + out, i.e. without credit. + +GENTRY COVE. A gentleman. CANT. + +GENTRY COVE KEN. A gentleman's house. CANT. + +GENTRY MORT. A gentlewoman. + +GEORGE. Yellow George; a guinea. Brown George: an + ammunition loaf. + +GERMAN DUCK. Haifa sheep's head boiled with onions. + +GET. One of his get; one of his offspring, or begetting. + +GIB CAT. A northern name for a he cat, there commonly + called Gilbert. As melancholy as a gib cat; as melancholy + as a he cat who has been caterwauling, whence they + always return scratched, hungry, and out of spirits. + Aristotle says, Omne animal post coitum est triste; to which an + anonymous author has given the following exception, + preter gallum gallinaceum, et sucerdotem gratis fornicantem. + +GIBBERISH. The cant language of thieves and gypsies, + called Pedlars' French, and St. Giles's Greek: see ST. + GILES'S GREEK. Also the mystic language of Geber, + used by chymists. Gibberish likewise means a sort of + disguised language, formed by inserting any consonant + between each syllable of an English word; in which case it + is called the gibberish of the letter inserted: if F, it is the + F gibberish; if G, the G gibberish; as in the sentence + How do you do? Howg dog youg dog. + +GIBBE. A horse that shrinks from the collar and will not + draw. + +GIBLETS. To join giblets; said of a man and woman who + cohabit as husband and wife, without being married; + also to copulate. + +GIBSON, or SIR JOHN GIBBON, A two-legged stool, used to + support the body of a coach whilst finishing. + +GIFTS. Small white specks under the finger nails, said to + portend gifts or presents. A stingy man is said to be + as full of gifts as a brazen horse of his farts. + +GIFT OF THE GAB. A facility of speech. + +GIGG. A nose. Snitchel his gigg; fillip his nose. Grunter's + gigg; a hog's snout. Gigg is also a high one-horse + chaise, and a woman's privities. To gigg a Smithfield + hank; to hamstring an over-drove ox, vulgarly called a + mad bullock. + +GIGGER. A latch, or door. Dub the gigger; open the + door. Gigger dubber; the turnkey of a jaol. + +To GIGGLE. To suppress a laugh. Gigglers; wanton women. + +GILES'S or ST. GILES'S BREED. Fat, ragged, and saucy; + Newton and Dyot streets, the grand head-quarters-of most + of the thieves and pickpockets about London, are in St. Giles's + Giles's parish. St. Giles's Greek; the cant language, + called also Slang, Pedlars' French, and Flash. + +GILFLURT. A proud minks, a vain capricious woman, + +GILL. The abbreviation of Gillian, figuratively used for + woman. Every jack has his gill; i.e. every jack has his + gillian, or female mate. + +GILLS. The cheeks. To look rosy about the gills; to have + a fresh complexion. To look merry about the gills: to + appear cheerful. + +GILLY GAUPUS. A Scotch term for a tall awkward + fellow. + +GILT, or RUM DUBBER. A thief who picks locks, so called + from the gilt or picklock key: many of them are so + expert, that, from the lock of a church door to that of + the smallest cabinet, they will find means to open it; + these go into reputable public houses, where, pretending + business, they contrive to get into private rooms, up + stairs, where they open any bureaus or trunks they happen + to find there. + +GIMBLET-EYED. Squinting, either in man or woman. + +GIMCRACK, or JIMCRACK. A spruce wench; a gimcrack + also means a person who has a turn for mechanical + contrivances. + +GIN SPINNER. A distiller. + +GINGAMBOBS. Toys, bawbles; also a man's privities. See + THINGAMBOBS. + +GINGER-PATED, or GINGER-HACKLED. Red haired: a + term borrowed from the cockpit, where red cocks are + called gingers, + +GINGERBREAD. A cake made of treacle, flour, and grated + ginger; also money. He has the gingerbread; he is + rich. + +GINGERBREAD WORK. Gilding and carving: these terms + are particularly applied by seamen on board Newcastle + colliers, to the decorations of the sterns and quarters of + West-Indiamen, which they have the greatest joy in defacing. + +GINGERLY. Softly, gently, tenderly. To go gingerly to + work: to attempt a thing gently, or cautiously. + +GINNY. An instrument to lift up a great, in order to steal + what is in the window. CANT. + +GIP from gups a WOLF. A servant at college. + +GIRDS. Quips, taunts, severe or biting reflections. + +GIZZARD. To grumble in the gizzard; to be secretly + displeased. + +GLASS EYES. A nick name for one wearing spectacles. + +GLAYMORE. A Highland broad-sword; from the Erse + GLAY, or GLAIVE, a sword; and MORE, great. + +GLAZE. A window. + +GLAZIER. One who breaks windows and shew-glasses, to + steal goods exposed for sale. Glaziers; eyes. CANT.--Is + your father a glazier; a question asked of a lad or young + man, who stands between the speaker and the candle, or + fire. If it is answered in the negative, the rejoinder + is--I wish he was, that he might make a window through + your body, to enable us to see the fire or light. + +GLIB. Smooth, slippery. Glib tongued; talkative. + +GLIM. A candle, or dark lantern, used in housebreaking; + also fire. To glim; to burn in the hand. CANT. + +GLIMFENDERS. Andirons. CANT. + +GLIMFLASHY. Angry, or in a passion. CANT. + +GLIM JACK. A link-boy. CANT. + +GLIMMER. Fire. CANT. + +GLIMMERERS. Persons begging with sham licences, + pretending losses by fire. + +GLIMMS. Eyes. + +GLIMSTICK. A candlestick. CANT. + +GLOBE. Pewter. CANT. + +GLOVES. To give any one a pair of gloves; to make them + a present or bribe. To win a pair of gloves; to kiss a man + whilst he sleeps: for this a pair of gloves is due to any lady + who will thus earn them. + +GLUEPOT. A parson: from joining men and women together + in matrimony. + +GLUM. Sullen. + +GLUTTON. A term used by bruisers to signify a man who + will bear a great deal of beating. + +GNARLER. A little dog that by his barking alarms the + family when any person is breaking into the house. + +GO, THE. The dash. The mode. He is quite the go, he + is quite varment, he is prime, he is bang up, are + synonimous expressions. + +GLYBE. A writing. CANT. + +GO BETWEEN. A pimp or bawd. + +GO BY THE GROUND. A little short person, man or woman. + +GO SHOP. The Queen's Head in Duke's court, Bow street, + Covent Garden; frequented by the under players: where + gin and water was sold in three-halfpenny bowls, called + Goes; the gin was called Arrack. The go, the fashion; + as, large hats are all the go. + +GOADS. Those who wheedle in chapmen for horse-dealers. + +GOAT. A lascivious person. Goats jigg; making the beast + with two backs, copulation. + +GOB. The mouth; also a bit or morsel: whence gobbets. + Gift of the gob; wide-mouthed, or one who speaks fluently, + or sings well. + +GOB STRING. A bridle. + +GOBBLER. A turkey cock. + +GODFATHER. He who pays the reckoning, or answers for + the rest of the company: as, Will you stand godfather, and + we will take care of the brat; i.e. repay you another + time. Jurymen are also called godfathers, because they + name the crime the prisoner before them has been guilty + of, whether felony, petit larceny, &c. + +GOG. All-a-gog; impatient, anxious, or desirous of a thing. + +GOG AND MAGOG. Two giants, whose effigies stand on + each side of the clock in Guildhall, London; of whom + there is a tradition, that, when they hear the clock strike + one, on the first of April, they will walk down from their + places. + +GOGGLES. Eyes: see OGLES. Goggle eyes; large prominent eyes. To + goggle; to stare. + +GOING UPON THE DUB. Going out to break open, or pick + the locks of, houses. + +GOLD DROPPERS. Sharpers who drop a piece of gold, + which they pick up in the presence of some unexperienced + person, for whom the trap is laid, this they pretend to + have found, and, as he saw them pick it up, they invite + him to a public house to partake of it: when there, two + or three of their comrades drop in, as if by accident, and + propose cards, or some other game, when they seldom fail + of stripping their prey. + +GOLD FINDER. One whose employment is to empty necessary + houses; called also a tom-turd-man, and night-man: + the latter, from that business being always performed in + the night. + +GOLDFINCH. One who has commonly a purse full of gold. + Goldfinches; guineas. + +GOLGOTHA OR THE PLACE OF SCULLS. Part of the Theatre + at Oxford, where the heads of houses sit; those + gentlemen being by the wits of the university called sculls. + +GOLLUMPUS. A large, clumsy fellow. + +GOLOSHES, i.e. Goliah's shoes. Large leathern clogs, worn + by invalids over their ordinary shoes. + +GOOD MAN. A word of various imports, according to the + place where it is spoken: in the city it means a rich man; + at Hockley in the Hole, or St. Giles's, an expert boxer; + at a bagnio in Covent Garden, a vigorous fornicator; at + an alehouse or tavern, one who loves his pot or bottle; + and sometimes, though but rarely, a virtuous man + +GOOD WOMAN. A nondescript, represented on a famous + sign in St. Giles's, in the form of a common woman, but + without a head. + +GOODYER'S PIG. Like Goodyer's pig; never well but when + in mischief. + +GOOSE. A taylor's goose; a smoothing iron used to press + down the seams, for which purpose it must be heated: + hence it is a jocular saying, that a taylor, be he ever so + poor, is always sure to have a goose at his fire. He cannot + say boh to a goose; a saying of a bashful or sheepish + fellow. + +GOOSE RIDING. A goose, whose neck is greased, being suspended + by the legs to a cord tied to two trees or high posts, + a number of men on horseback, riding full speed, attempt + to pull off the head: which if they effect, the goose is + their prize. This has been practised in Derbyshire within + the memory of persons now living. + +GOOSEBERRY. He played up old gooseberry among them; + said of a person who, by force or threats, suddenly puts an + end to a riot or disturbance. + +GOOSEBERRY-EYED. One with dull grey eyes, like boiled + gooseberries. + +GOOSEBERRY WIG. A large frizzled wig: perhaps from a + supposed likeness to a gooseberry bush. + +GOOSECAP. A silly fellow or woman. + +GORGER. A gentleman. A well dressed man. Mung + kiddey. Mung the gorger; beg child beg, of the gentleman. + +GOSPEL SHOP. A church. + +GOREE. Money, chiefly gold: perhaps from the traffic + carried on at that place, which is chiefly for gold dust. + CANT. + +GORMAGON. A monster with six eyes, three mouths, four + arms, eight legs, live on one side and three on the other, + three arses, two tarses, and a *** upon its back; a man on + horseback, with a woman behind him. + +GOTCH-GUTTED. Pot bellied: a gotch in Norfolk signifying + a pitcher, or large round jug. + +TO GOUGE. To squeeze out a man's eye with the thumb: + a cruel practice used by the Bostonians in America. + +To GRABBLE. To seize. To grabble the bit; to seize any + one's money. CANT. + + +GRAFTED. Cuckolded, i.e. having horns grafted on his + head. + +To GRAB. To seize a man. The pigs grabbed the kiddey + for a crack: the officers, seized the youth for a burglary. + +GRANNAM. Corn. + +GRANNUM'S GOLD. Hoarded money: supposed to have + belonged to the grandmother of the possessor. + +GRANNY. An abbreviation of grandmother; also the name + of an idiot, famous for licking, her eye, who died Nov. 14, + 1719. Go teach your granny to suck eggs; said to such + as would instruct any one in a matter he knows better than + themselves. + +GRAPPLE THE RAILS. A cant name used in Ireland for + whiskey. + +GRAPPLING IRONS. Handcuffs. + +GRAVE DIGGER. Like a grave digger; up to the a-se in + business, and don't know which way to turn. + +GRAVY-EYED. Blear-eyed, one whose eyes have a running + humour. + +TO GREASE. To bribe. To grease a man in the fist; to + bribe him. To grease a fat sow in the a-se; to give to a + rich man. Greasy chin; a treat given to parish officers in + part of commutation for a bastard: called also, Eating a + child. + +GREAT INTIMATE. As great as shirt and shitten a-se. + +GREAT JOSEPH. A surtout. CANT. + +GREEDY GUTS. A covetous or voracious person. + +GREEK. St. Giles's Greek; the slang lingo, cant, or gibberish. + +GREEN. Doctor Green; i.e. grass: a physician, or rather + medicine, found very successful in curing most disorders + to which horses are liable. My horse is not well, I shall + send him to Doctor Green. + +GREEN. Young, inexperienced, unacquainted; ignorant. How + green the cull was not to stag how the old file planted the + books. How ignorant the booby was not to perceive + how the old sharper placed the cards in such a manner + as to insure the game. + +GREEN BAG. An attorney: those gentlemen carry their + clients' deeds in a green bag; and, it is said, when they + have no deeds to carry, frequently fill them with an old + pair of breeches, or any other trumpery, to give themselves + the appearance of business. + +GREEN GOWN. To give a girl a green gown; to tumble her + on the grass. + +GREEN SICKNESS. The disease of maids occasioned by celibacy. + +GREENHEAD. An inexperienced young man. + +GREENHORN. A novice on the town, an undebauched young + fellow, just initiated into the society of bucks and bloods. + +GREENWICH BARBERS. Retailers of sand from the pits at + and about Greenwich, in Kent: perhaps they are styled + barbers, from their constant shaving the sandbanks. + +GREENWICH GOOSE. A pensioner of Greenwich Hospital. + +GREGORIAN TREE. The gallows: so named from Gregory + Brandon, a famous finisher of the law; to whom Sir William + Segar, garter king of arms (being imposed on by + Brooke, a herald), granted a coat of arms. + +GREY BEARD. Earthen jugs formerly used in public house + for drawing ale: they had the figure of a man with a large + beard stamped on them; whence probably they took + the name: see BEN JONSON'S PLAYS, BARTHOLOMEW FAIR, + &c. &c. Dutch earthen jugs, used for smuggling gin on + the coasts of Essex and Suffolk, are at this time called + grey beards. + +GREY MARE. The grey mare is the better horse; said of + a woman who governs her husband. + +GREY PARSON. A farmer who rents the tithes of the rector + or vicar. + +GRIG. A farthing. A merry grig; a fellow as merry as a + grig: an allusion to the apparent liveliness of a grig, or + young eel. + +GRIM. Old Mr. Grim; death. + +GRIMALKIN. A cat: mawkin signifies a hare in Scotland. + +GRIN. To grin in a glass case; to be anatomized for murder: + the skeletons of many criminals are preserved in glass + cases, at Surgeons' hall. + +GRINAGOG, THE CAT'S UNCLE. A foolish grinning fellow, + one who grins without reason. + +GRINDERS. Teeth. Gooseberry grinder; the breech. Ask + bogey, the gooseberry grinder; ask mine a-se. + +TO GRIND. To have carnal knowledge of a woman. + +GROATS. To save his groats; to come off handsomely: at + the universities, nine groats are deposited in the hands of an + academic officer, by every person standing for a degree; + which if the depositor obtains with honour, the groats are + returned to him. + +GROG. Rum and water. Grog was first introduced into the + navy about the year 1740, by Admiral Vernon, to prevent + the sailors intoxicating themselves with their allowance of + rum, or spirits. Groggy, or groggified; drunk. + +GROG-BLOSSOM. A carbuncle, or pimple in the face, caused + by drinking. + +GROGGED. A grogged horse; a foundered horse. + +GROGHAM. A horse. CANT. + +GROPERS. Blind men; also midwives. + +GROUND SWEAT. A grave. + +GROUND SQUIRREL. A hog, or pig. SEA TERM. + +GRUB. Victuals. To grub; to dine. + +GRUB STREET. A street near Moorfields, formerly the supposed + habitation of many persons who wrote for the booksellers: + hence a Grub-street writer means a hackney author, + who manufactures booss for the booksellers. + +GRUB STREET NEWS. Lying intelligence. + +TO GRUBSHITE. To make foul or dirty. + +GRUMBLE. To grumble in the gizzard; to murmur or repine. + He grumbled like a bear with a sore head. + +GRUMBLETONIAN. A discontented person; one who is always + railing at the times or ministry. + +GRUNTER. A hog; to grunt; to groan, or complain of sickness. + +GRUNTER'S GIG. A smoaked hog's face. + +GRUNTING PECK. Pork, bacon, or any kind of hog's flesh. + +GRUTS. Tea. + +GUDGEON. One easily imposed on. To gudgeon; to swallow + the bait, or fall into a trap: from the fish of that name, + which is easily taken. + +GULL. A simple credulous fellow, easily cheated. + +GULLED. Deceived, cheated, imposed on. + +GULLGROPERS. Usurers who lend money to the gamesters. + +GUM. Abusive language. Come, let us have no more of + your gum. + +GUMMY. Clumsy: particularly applied to the ancles of + men or women, and the legs of horses. + +GUMPTION, or RUM GUMPTION. Docility, comprehension, + capacity. + +GUN. He is in the gun; he is drunk: perhaps from an allusion + to a vessel called a gun, used for ale in the universities. + +GUNDIGUTS. A fat, pursy fellow. + +GUNNER'S DAUGHTER. To kiss the gunner's daughter; to + be tied to a gun and flogged on the posteriors; a mode of + punishing boys on board a ship of war. + +GUNPOWDER. An old Woman. CANT. + +GUTS. My great guts are ready to eat my little ones; my + guts begin to think my throat's cut; my guts curse my + teeth: all expressions signifying the party is extremely + hungry. + +GUTS AND GARBAGE. A very fat man or woman. More + guts than brains; a silly fellow. He has plenty of guts, but + no bowels: said of a hard, merciless, unfeeling person. + +GUTFOUNDERED. Exceeding hungry. + +GUT SCRAPER, or TORMENTOR of CATGUT. A fiddler. + +GUTTER LANE. The throat, the swallow, the red lane. + See RED LANE. + +GUTTING A QUART POT. Taking out the lining of it: i. e. + drinking it off. Gutting an oyster; eating it. Gutting a + house; clearing it of its furniture. See POULTERER. + +GUY. A dark lanthorn: an allusion to Guy Faux, the principal + actor in the gunpowder plot. Stow the guy: conceal the + lanthorn. + +GUZZLE. Liquor. To guzzle; to drink greedily. + +GUZZLE GUTS. One greedy of liquor. + +GYBE, or JYBE. Any writing or pass with a seal. + +GYBING. Jeering or ridiculing. + +GYLES, or GILES. Hopping Giles; a nick name for a lame + person: St. Giles was the tutelar saint of cripples. + +GYP. A college runner or errand-boy at Cambridge, called + at Oxford a scout. See SCOUT. + +GYPSIES. A set of vagrants, who, to the great disgrace of + our police, are suffered to wander about the country. + They pretend that they derive their origin from the + ancient Egyptians, who were famous for their knowledge + in astronomy and other sciences; and, under the pretence + of fortune-telling, find means to rob or defraud the ignorant + and superstitious. To colour their impostures, they + artificially discolour their faces, and speak a kind of + gibberish peculiar to themselves. They rove up and down the + country in large companies, to the great terror of the + farmers, from whose geese, turkeys, and fowls, they take very + considerable contributions. + + When a fresh recruit is admitted into the fraternity, he is to + take the following oath, administered by the principal + maunder, after going through the annexed forms: + + First, a new name is given him by which he is ever after to + be called; then standing up in the middle of the assembly, + and directing his face to the dimber damber, or principal + man of the gang, he repeats the following oath, which is + dictated to him by some experienced member of the fraternity: + + I, Crank Cuffin, do swear to be a true brother, and that I will + in all things obey the commands of the great tawney + prince, and keep his counsel and not divulge the secrets of + my brethren. + + I will never leave nor forsake the company, but observe and + keep all the times of appointment, either by day or by + night, in every place whatever. + + I will not teach any one to cant, nor will I disclose any of + our mysteries to them. + + I will take my prince's part against all that shall oppose him, + or any of us, according to the utmost of my ability; nor + will I suffer him, or any one belongiug to us, to be abused + by any strange abrams, rufflers, hookers, pailliards, + swaddlers, Irish toyles, swigmen, whip jacks, jarkmen, + bawdy baskets, dommerars, clapper dogeons, patricoes, + or curtals; but will defend him, or them, as much as I + can, against all other outliers whatever. I will not conceal + aught I win out of libkins or from the ruffmans, but + will preserve it for the use of the company. Lastly, I + will cleave to my doxy wap stiffly, and will bring her + duds, marjery praters, goblers, grunting cheats, or tibs + of the buttery, or any thing else I can come at, as + winnings for her weppings. + + The canters have, it seems, a tradition, that from the three + first articles of this oath, the first founders of a certain + boastful, worshipful fraternity (who pretend to derive their + origin from the earliest times) borrowed both the hint and + form of their establishment; and that their pretended + derivation from the first Adam is a forgery, it being only + from the first Adam Tiler: see ADAM TILER. At the + admission of a new brother, a general stock is raised for + booze, or drink, to make themselves merry on the occasion. + As for peckage or eatables, they can procure without + money; for while some are sent to break the ruffmans, + or woods and bushes, for firing, others are detached to + filch geese, chickens, hens, ducks (or mallards), and pigs. + Their morts are their butchers, who presently make + bloody work with what living things are brought them; and + having made holes in the ground under some remote hedge + in an obscure place, they make a fire and boil or broil their + food; and when it is enough, fall to work tooth and nail: + and having eaten more like beasts than men, they drink + more like swine than human creatures, entertaining one + another all the time with songs in the canting dialect. + + As they live, so they lie, together promiscuously, and know + not how to claim a property either in their goods or children: + and this general interest ties them more firmly together + than if all their rags were twisted into ropes, to bind + them indissolubly from a separation; which detestable + union is farther consolidated by the above oath. + + They stroll up and down all summer-time in droves, and + Dexterously pick pockets, while they are telling of fortunes; + and the money, rings, silver thirribles, &c. which they + get, are instantly conveyed from one hand to another, + till the remotest person of the gang (who is not suspected + because they come not near the person robbed) gets possession + of it; so that, in the strictest search, it is impossible to + recover it; while the wretches with imprecations, + oaths, and protestations, disclaim the thievery. + + That by which they are said to get the most money, is, + when young gentlewomen of good families and reputation + have happened to be with child before marriage, a round + sum is often bestowed among the gypsies, for some one + mort to take the child; and as that is never heard of + more by the true mother and family, so the disgrace is + kept concealed from the world; and, if the child lives, it + never knows its parents. + +HABERDASHER OF PRONOUNS. A schoolmaster, or + usher. + +HACKNEY WRITER. One who writes for attornies or + booksellers. + +HACKUM. Captain Hackum; a bravo, a slasher. + +HAD'EM. He has been at Had'em, and came home by Clapham; + said of one who has caught the venereal disease. + +HAIR SPLITTER. A man's yard. + +HALBERT. A weapon carried by a serjeant of foot. To get + a halbert; to be appointed a serjeant. To be brought to + the halberts; to be flogged a la militaire: soldiers of the + infantry, when flogged, being commonly tied to three halberts, + set up in a triangle, with a fourth fastened across + them. He carries the halbert in his face; a saying of one + promoted from a serjeant to a commission officer. + +HALF A HOG. Sixpence. + +HALF SEAS OVER. Almost drunk. + +HAMLET. A high constable. Cant. + +HAMS, or HAMCASES Breeches. + +HAND. A sailor. We lost a hand; we lost a sailor. Bear a + hand; make haste. Hand to fist; opposite: the same as + tete-a-tete, or cheek by joul. + +HAND AND POCKET SHOP. An eating house, where ready + money is paid for what is called for. + +HAND BASKET PORTION. A woman whose husband receives + frequent presents from her father, or family, is + said to have a hand-basket portion. + +HANDLE. To know how to handle one's fists; to be skilful + in the art of boxing. The cove flashes a rare handle to + his physog; the fellow has a large nose. + +HANDSOME. He is a handsome-bodied man in the face; a + jeering commendation of an ugly fellow. Handsome is that + handsome does: a proverb frequently cited by ugly women. + +HANDSOME REWARD. This, in advertisements, means a + horse-whipping. + +To HANG AN ARSE. To hang back, to hesitate. + +HANG GALLOWS LOOK. A thievish, or villainous appearance. + +HANG IN CHAINS. A vile, desperate fellow. Persons + guilty of murder, or other atrocious crimes, are frequently, + after execution, hanged on a gibbet, to which + they are fastened by iron bandages; the gibbet is commonly + placed on or near the place where the crime was committed. + +HANG IT UP. Score it up: speaking of a reckoning. + +HANG OUT. The traps scavey where we hang out; the officers + know where we live. + +HANGER ON. A dependant. + +HANGMAN'S WAGES. Thirteen pence halfpenny; which, + according to the vulgar tradition, was thus allotted: one + shilling for the executioner, and three halfpence for the + rope,--N. B. This refers to former times; the hangmen of the + present day having, like other artificers, raised their prices. + The true state of this matter is, that a Scottish mark was + the fee allowed for an execution, and the value of that + piece was settled by a proclamation of James I. at thirteen + pence halfpenny. + +HANK. He has a hank on him; i.e. an ascendancy over + him, or a hold upon him. A Smithfield hank; an ox, + rendered furious by overdriving and barbarous treatment. + See BULL HANK. + +HANKER. To hanker after any thing; to have a longing + after or for it. + +HANS IN KELDER. Jack in the cellar, i.e. the child in the + womb: a health frequently drank to breeding women or + their husbands. + +HARD. Stale beer, nearly sour, is said to be hard. Hard + also means severe: as, hard fate, a hard master. + +HARD AT HIS A-SE. Close after him. + +HARE. He has swallowed a hare; he is drunk; more probably + a HAIR, which requires washing down, + +HARK-YE-ING. Whispering on one side to borrow money. + +HARMAN. A constable. CANT. + +HARMAN BECK. A beadle. CANT. + +HARMANS. The stocks. CANT. + +HARP. To harp upon; to dwell upon a subject. Have + among you, my blind harpers; an expression used in throwing + or shooting at random among the crowd. Harp is also + the Irish expression for woman, or tail, used in tossing + up in Ireland: from Hibernia, being represented with a + harp on the reverse of the copper coins of that country; + for which it is, in hoisting the copper, i.e. tossing up, + sometimes likewise called music. + +HARRIDAN. A hagged old woman; a miserable, scraggy, + worn-out harlot, fit to take her bawd's degree: derived + from the French word HARIDELLE, a worn-out jade of a horse + or mare. + +HARRY. A country fellow. CANT.--Old Harry; the Devil. + +HARUM SCARUM. He was running harum scarum; said of + any one running or walking hastily, and in a hurry, after + they know not what. + +HASH. To flash the hash; to vomit. CANT. + +HASTY. Precipitate, passionate. He is none of the Hastings + sort; a saying of a slow, loitering fellow: an allusion to the + Hastings pea, which is the first in season. + +HASTY PUDDING. Oatmeal and milk boiled to a moderate + thickness, and eaten with sugar and butter. Figuratively, + a wet, muddy road: as, The way through Wandsworth is + quite a hasty pudding. To eat hot hasty pudding for a + laced hat, or some other prize, is a common feat at wakes + and fairs. + +HAT. Old hat; a woman's privities: because frequently + felt. + +HATCHES. Under the hatches; in trouble, distress, or debt. + +HATCHET FACE. A long thin face. + +HAVIL. A sheep. CANT. + +HAVY CAVY. Wavering, doubtful, shilly shally. + +HAWK. Ware hawk; the word to look sharp, a bye-word + when a bailiff passes. Hawk also signifies a sharper, in + opposition to pigeon. See PIGEON. See WARE HAWK. + +HAWKERS. Licensed itinerant retailers of different commodities, + called also pedlars; likewise the sellers of news-papers. + Hawking; an effort to spit up the thick phlegm, called + OYSTERS: whence it is wit upon record, to ask the person + so doing whether he has a licence; a punning allusion to the + Act of hawkers and pedlars. + +To HAZEL GILD. To beat any one with a hazel stick. + +HEAD CULLY OF THE PASS, or PASSAGE BANK. The top + tilter of that gang throughout the whole army, who + demands and receives contribution from all the pass banks in + the camp. + +HEAD RAILS. Teeth. SEA PHRASE. + +HEARING CHEATS. Ears. CANT. + +HEART'S EASE. Gin. + +HEARTY CHOAK. He will have a hearty choak and caper + sauce for breakfast; i.e. he will be hanged. + +HEATHEN PHILOSOPHER. One whose breech may be seen + through his pocket-hole: this saying arose from the old + philosophers, many of whom depised the vanity of dress to + such a point, as often to fall into the opposite extreme. + +TO HEAVE. To rob. To heave a case; to rob a house. + To heave a bough; to rob a booth. CANT. + +HEAVER. The breast. CANT. + +HEAVERS. Thieves who make it their business to steal + tradesmen's shop-books. CANT. + +HECTOR. bully, a swaggering coward. To hector; to + bully, probably from such persons affecting the valour of + Hector, the Trojan hero. + +HEDGE. To make a hedge; to secure a bet, or wager, laid + on one side, by taking the odds on the other, so that, let + what will happen, a certain gain is secured, or hedged in, + by the person who takes this precaution; who is then said + to be on velvet. + +HEDGE ALEHOUSE. A small obscure alehouse. + +HEDGE CREEPER. A robber of hedges. + +HEDGE PRIEST. An illiterate unbeneficed curate, a patrico. + +HEDGE WHORE. An itinerant harlot, who bilks the bagnios + and bawdy-houses, by disposing of her favours on the + wayside, under a hedge; a low beggarly prostitute. + +HEELS. To he laid by the heels; to be confined, or put in + prison. Out at heels; worn, or diminished: his estate or + affairs are out at heels. To turn up his heels; to turn up + the knave of trumps at the game of all-fours. + +HEEL TAP. A peg in the heel of a shoe, taken out when it + is finished. A person leaving any liquor in his glass, is + frequently called upon by the toast-master to take off his + heel-tap. + +HELL. A taylor's repository for his stolen goods, called + cabbage: see CABBAGE. Little hell; a small dark covered + passage, leading from London-wall to Bell-alley. + +HELL-BORN BABE. A lewd graceless youth, one naturally + of a wicked disposition. + +HELL CAT. A termagant, a vixen, a furious scolding woman. + See TERMAGANT and VIXEN. + +HELL HOUND. A wicked abandoned fellow. + +HELL FIRE DICK. The Cambridge driver of the Telegraph. + The favorite companion of the University fashionables, + and the only tutor to whose precepts they attend. + +HELTER SKELTER. To run helter skelter, hand over head, + in defiance of order. + +HEMP. Young hemp; an appellation for a graceless boy. + +HEMPEN FEVER. A man who was hanged is said to have + died of a hempen fever; and, in Dorsetshire, to have been + stabbed with a Bridport dagger; Bridport being a place + famous for manufacturing hemp into cords. + +HEMPEN WIDOW. One whose husband was hanged. + +HEN-HEARTED. Cowardly. + +HEN HOUSE. A house where the woman rules; called also + a SHE HOUSE, and HEN FRIGATE: the latter a sea phrase, + originally applied to a ship, the captain of which had his + wife on board, supposed to command him. + +HENPECKED. A husband governed by his wife, is said to + be henpecked. + +HEN. A woman. A cock and hen club; a club composed + of men and women. + +HERE AND THEREIAN. One who has no settled place of + residence. + +HERRING. The devil a barrel the better herring; all equally + bad. + +HERRING GUTTED. Thin, as a shotten herring. + +HERRING POND. The sea. To cross the herring pond at + the king's expence; to be transported. + +HERTFORDSHIRE KINDNESS. Drinking twice to the same + person. + +HICK. A country hick; an ignorant clown. CANT. + +HICKENBOTHOM. Mr. Hickenbothom; a ludicrous name + for an unknown person, similar to that of Mr. Thingambob. + Hickenbothom, i.e. a corruption of the German + word ickenbaum, i.e. oak tree. + +HICKEY. Tipsey; quasi, hickupping. + +HIDE AND SEEK. A childish game. He plays at hide and + seek; a saying of one who is in fear of being arrested for + debt, or apprehended for some crime, and therefore does + not chuse to appear in public, but secretly skulks up and + down. See SKULK. + +HIDEBOUND. Stingy, hard of delivery; a poet poor in invention, + is said to have a hidebound muse. + +HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY. Confusedly mixed. + +HIGH EATING. To eat skylarks in a garret. + +HIGH FLYERS. Tories, Jacobites. + +HIGH JINKS. A gambler at dice, who, having a strong + head, drinks to intoxicate his adversary, or pigeon. + +HIGH LIVING. To lodge in a garret, or cockloft + +HIGH PAD. A highwayman. CANT. + +HIGH ROPES. To be on the high ropes; to be in a passion. + +HIGH SHOON, or CLOUTED SHOON. A country clown. + +HIGH WATER. It is high water, with him; he is full of + money. + +HIGHGATE. Sworn at Highgate--a ridiculous custom formerly + prevailed at the public-houses in Highgate, to administer + a ludicrous oath to all travellers of the middling + rank who stopped there. The party was sworn on a pair + of horns, fastened on a stick: the substance of the oath + was, never to kiss the maid when he could kiss the mistress, + never to drink small beer when he could get strong, with + many other injunctions of the like kind; to all which was + added the saving cause of "unless you like it best." The + person administering the oath was always to be called + father by the juror; and he, in return, was to style him + son, under the penalty of a bottle. + +HIKE. To hike off; to run away. CANT. + +HIND LEG. To kick out a hind leg; to make a rustic bow. + +HINNEY, MY HONEY. A north country hinney, particularly + a Northumbrian: in that county, hinney is the general + term of endearment. + +HISTORY OF THE FOUR KINGS, or CHILD'S BEST GUIDE TO + THE GALLOWS. A pack of cards. He studies the history + of the four kings assiduously; he plays much at cards. + +HOAXING. Bantering, ridiculing. Hoaxing a quiz; joking + an odd fellow. UNIVERSITY WIT. + +HOB, or HOBBINOL, a clown. + +HOB OR NOB. Will you hob or nob with me? a question + formerly in fashion at polite tables, signifying a request or + challenge to drink a glass of wine with the proposer: if the + party challenged answered Nob, they were to chuse whether + white or red. This foolish custom is said to have + originated in the days of good queen Bess, thus: when + great chimnies were in fashion, there was at each corner + of the hearth, or grate, a small elevated projection, called + the hob; and behind it a seat. In winter time the beer + was placed on the hob to warm: and the cold beer was + set on a small table, said to have been called the nob; so + that the question, Will you have hob or nob? seems only + to have meant, Will you have warm or cold beer? i.e. + beer from the hob, or beer from the nob. + +HOBBERDEHOY. Half a man and half a boy, a lad between + both. + +HOBBLED. Impeded, interrupted, puzzled. To hobble; + to walk lamely. + +HOBBLEDYGEE. A pace between a walk and a run, a dog-trot. + +HOBBY. Sir Posthumous's hobby; one nice or whimsical + in his clothes. + +HOBBY HORSE. A man's favourite amusement, or study, + is called his hobby horse. It also means a particular kind + of small Irish horse: and also a wooden one, such as is + given to children. + +HOBBY HORSICAL. A man who is a great keeper or rider + of hobby horses; one that is apt to be strongly attached + to his systems of amusement. + +HOBNAIL. A country clodhopper: from the shoes of country + farmers and ploughmen being commonly stuck full of + hob-nails, and even often clouted, or tipped with iron. + The Devil ran over his face with hobnails in his shoes; + said of one pitted With the small pox. + +HOBSON'S CHOICE. That or none; from old Hobson, a + famous carrier of Cambridge, who used to let horses to the + students; but never permitted them to chuse, always + allotting each man the horse he thought properest for his + manner of riding and treatment. + +HOCKS. vulgar appellation for the feet. You have left + the marks of your dirty hocks on my clean stairs; a frequent + complaint from a mop squeezer to a footman. + +HOCKEY. Drunk with strong stale beer, called old hock. + See HICKEY. + +HOCKING, or HOUGHING. A piece of cruelty practised by + the butchers of Dublin, on soldiers, by cutting the tendon + of Achilles; this has been by law made felony. + +HOCUS POCUS. Nonsensical words used by jugglers, previous + to their deceptions, as a kind of charm, or incantation. A + celebrated writer supposes it to be a ludicrous corruption + of the words hoc est corpus, used by the popish priests in + consecrating the host. Also Hell Hocus is used to express + drunkenness: as, he is quite hocus; he is quite drunk. + +HOD. Brother Hod; a familiar name for a bricklayer's + labourer: from the hod which is used for carrying bricks and + mortar. + +HODDY DODDY, ALL A-SE AND NO BODY. A short clumsy + person, either male or female. + +HODGE. An abbreviation of Roger: a general name for a + country booby. + +HODGE PODGE. An irregular mixture of numerous things. + +HODMANDODS. Snails in their shells. + +HOG. A shilling. To drive one's hogs; to snore: the noise + made by some persons in snoring, being not much unlike + the notes of that animal. He has brought his hogs to a + fine market; a saying of any one who has been remarkably + successful in his affairs, and is spoken ironically to signify + the contrary. A hog in armour; an awkward or mean + looking man or woman, finely dressed, is said to look like + a hog in armour. To hog a horse's mane; to cut it short, + so that the ends of the hair stick up like hog's bristles. + Jonian hogs; an appellation given to the members of St. + John's College, Cambridge. + +HOG GRUBBER. A mean stingy fellow. + +HOGGISH. Rude, unmannerly, filthy. + +HOGO. Corruption of haut goust, high taste, or flavour; + commonly said of flesh somewhat tainted. It has a + confounded hogo; it stinks confoundedly. + +HOIST. To go upon the hoist; to get into windows + accidentally left open: this is done by the assistance of a + confederate, called the hoist, who leans his head against the + wall, making his back a kind of step or ascent. + +HOISTING. A ludicrous ceremony formerly performed on + every soldier, the first time he appeared in the field after + being married; it was thus managed: As soon as the + regiment, or company, had grounded their arms to rest a + while, three or four men of the same company to which + the bridegroom belonged, seized upon him, and putting a + couple of bayonets out of the two corners of his hat, to + represent horns, it was placed on his head, the back part + foremost. He was then hoisted on the shoulders of two + strong fellows, and carried round the arms, a drum and fife + beating and playing the pioneers call, named Round Heads + and Cuckolds, but on this occasion styled the Cuckold's + March; in passing the colours, he was to take off his hat: + this, in some regiments, was practised by the officers on + their brethren, Hoisting, among pickpockets, is, setting + a man on his head, that his money, watch, &c. may fall + out of his pockets; these they pick up, and hold to be + no robbery. See REVERSED. + +HOITY-TOITY. A hoity-toity wench; a giddy, thoughtless, + romping girl. + +HOLBORN HILL. To ride backwards up Holborn hill; to + go to the gallows: the way to Tyburn, the place of + execution for criminals condemned in London, was up that + hill. Criminals going to suffer, always ride backwards, + as some conceive to increase the ignominy, but more + probably to prevent them being shocked with a distant view + of the gallows; as, in amputations, surgeons conceal the + instruments with which they are going to operate. The + last execution at Tyburn, and consequently of this + procession, was in the year 1784, since which the criminals + have been executed near Newgate + +HOLIDAY. A holiday bowler; a bad bowler. Blind man's + holiday; darkness, night. A holiday is any part of a + ship's bottom, left uncovered in paying it. SEA TERM. It + is all holiday; See ALL HOLIDAY. + +HOLY FATHER. A butcher's boy of St. Patrick's Market, + Dublin, or other Irish blackguard; among whom + the exclamation, or oath, by the Holy Father (meaning + the Pope), is common. + +HOLY LAMB. A thorough-paced villain. IRISH. + +HOLY WATER. He loves him as the Devil loves holy water, + i.e. hates him mortally. Holy water, according to the + Roman Catholics, having the virtue to chase away the Devil + and his imps. + +HOLLOW. It was quiet a hollow thing; i.e. a certainty, or + decided business. + +HONEST MAN. A term frequently used by superiors to inferiors. + As honest a man as any in the cards when all the + kings are out; i.e. a knave. I dare not call thee rogue for + fear of the law, said a quaker to an attorney; but I wil + give thee five pounds, if thou canst find any creditable + person who wilt say thou art an honest man. + +HONEST WOMAN. To marry a woman with whom one has + cohabitated as a mistress, is termed, making an honest + woman of her. + +HONEY MOON. The first month after marriage. A poor + honey; a harmless, foolish, goodnatured fellow. It is all + honey or a t--d with them; said of persons who are + either in the extremity of friendship or enmity, either + kissing or fighting. + +HOOD-WINKED. Blindfolded by a handkerchief, or other + ligature, bound over the eyes. + +HOOF. To beat the hoof; to travel on foot. He hoofed it + or beat the hoof, every step of the way from Chester to + London. + +HOOK AND SNIVEY, WITH NIX THE BUFFER. This rig + consists in feeding a man and a dog for nothing, and is + carried on thus: Three men, one of who pretends to be + sick and unable to eat, go to a public house: the two well + men make a bargain with the landlord for their dinner, + and when he is out of sight, feed their pretended sick + companion and dog gratis. + +HOOKEE WALKER. An expression signifying that the story + is not true, or that the thing will not occour. + +HOOKED. Over-reached, tricked, caught: a simile taken + from fishing. **** hooks; fingers. + +HOOKERS. See ANGLERS. + +HOOP. To run the hoop; an ancient marine custom. Four + or more boys having their left hands tied fast to an iron + hoop, and each of them a rope, called a nettle, in their + right, being naked to the waist, wait the signal to begin: + this being made by a stroke with a cat of nine tails, given + by the boatswain to one of the boys, he strikes the boy before + him, and every one does the same: at first the blows are + but gently administered; but each irritated by the strokes + from the boy behind him, at length lays it on in earnest. + This was anciently practised when a ship was wind-bound. + +TO HOOP. To beat. I'll well hoop his or her barrel, I'll + beat him or her soundly. + +TO HOP THE TWIG. To run away. CANT. + +HOP MERCHANT. A dancing master. See CAPER MERCHANT. + +HOP-O-MY-THUMB. A diminutive person, man or woman. + She was such a-hop-o-my thumb, that a pigeon, sitting + on her shoulder, might pick a pea out of her a-se. + +HOPKINS. Mr. Hopkins; a ludicrous address to a lame or + limping man, being a pun on the word hop. + +HOPPING GILES. A jeering appellation given to any person + who limps, or is lame; St. Giles was the patron of + cripples, lepers, &c. Churches dedicated to that saint + commonly stand out of town, many of them having been + chapels to hospitals. See GYLES. + +HOPPER-ARSED. Having large projecting buttocks: from + their resemblance to a small basket, called a hopper or + hoppet, worn by husbandmen for containing seed corn, + when they sow the land. + +HORNS. To draw in one's horns; to retract an assertion + through fear: metaphor borrowed from a snail, who on the + apprehension of danger, draws in his horns, and retires to + his shell. + +HORN COLIC. A temporary priapism. + +HORN FAIR. An annual fair held at Charlton, in Kent, on St. + Luke's day, the 18th of October. It consists of a riotous + mob, who after a printed summons dispersed through the + adjacent towns, meet at Cuckold's Point, near Deptford, + and march from thence in procession, through that town + and Greenwich, to Charlton, with horns of different kinds + upon their heads; and at the fair there are sold rams + horns, and every sort of toy made of horn; even the gingerbread + figures have horns, The vulgar tradition gives the + following history of the origin of this fair; King John, + or some other of our ancient kings, being at the palace of + Eltham, in this neighbourhood, and having been out a + hunting one day, rambled from his company to this place, + then a mean hamlet; when entering a cottage to inquire + his way, he was struck with the beauty of the mistress, + whom he found alone; and having prevailed over her + modesty, the husband returning suddenly, surprised them + together; and threatening to kill them both, the king was + obliged to discover himself, and to compound for his safety + by a purse of gold, and a grant of the land from this + place to Cuckold's Point, besides making the husband + master of the hamlet. It is added that, in memory of this + grant, and the occasion of it, this fair was established, for + the sale of horns, and all sorts of goods made with that + material. A sermon is preached at Charlton church on + the fair day. + +HORN MAD. A person extremely jealous of his wife, is + said to be horn mad. Also a cuckold, who does not cut + or breed his horns easily. + +HORN WORK. Cuckold-making. + +HORNIFIED. Cuckolded. + +HORSE BUSS. A kiss with a loud smack; also a bite. + +HORSE COSER. A dealer in horses: vulgarly and corruptly + pronounced HORSE COURSER. The verb TO COSE was used by + the Scots, in the sense of bartering or exchanging. + +HORSE GODMOTHER. A large masculine woman, a + gentlemanlike kind of a lady. + +HORSE LADDER. A piece of Wiltshire wit, which consists + in sending some raw lad, or simpleton, to a neighbouring + farm house, to borrow a horse ladder, in order to get up + the horses, to finish a hay-mow. + +HORSE'S MEAL. A meal without drinking. + +HOSTELER, i.e. oat stealer. Hosteler was originally the + name for an inn-keeper; inns being in old English styled + hostels, from the French signifying the same. + +HOT POT. Ale and brandy made hot. + +HOT STOMACH. He has so hot a stomach, that he burns + all the clothes off his back; said of one who pawns his + clothes to purchase liquor. + +HOUSE, or TENEMENT, TO LET. A widow's weeds; also + an atchievement marking the death of a husband, set up + on the outside of a mansion: both supposed to indicate + that the dolorous widow wants a male comforter. + +HOYDON. A romping girl. + +HUBBLE-BUBBLE. Confusion. A hubble-bubble fellow; + a man of confused ideas, or one thick of speech, whose + words sound like water bubbling out of a bottle. Also an + instrument used for smoaking through water in the East + Indies, called likewise a caloon, and hooker. + +HUBBLE DE SHUFF. Confusedly. To fire hubble de shuff, + to fire quick and irregularly. OLD MILITARY TERM. + +HUBBUB. A noise, riot, or disturbance. + +HUCKLE MY BUFF. Beer, egg, and brandy, made hot. + +HUCKSTERS. Itinerant retailers of provisions. He is in + hucksters hands; he is in a bad way. + +TO HUE. To lash. The cove was hued in the naskin; + the rogue was soundly lashed in bridewell. CANT. + +TO HUFF. To reprove, or scold at any one; also to bluster, + bounce, ding, or swagger. A captain huff; a noted bully. + To stand the huff; to be answerable for the reckoning in + a public house. + +HUG. To hug brown bess; to carry a firelock, or serve as a + private soldier. He hugs it as the Devil hugs a witch: + said of one who holds any thing as if he was afraid of losing + it. + +HUGGER MUGGER. By stealth, privately, without making + an appearance. They spent their money in a hugger + mugger way. + +HUGOTONTHEONBIQUIFFINARIANS. A society existing in + 1748. + +HULKY, or HULKING. A great hulky fellow; an over-grown + clumsy lout, or fellow. + +HULVER-HEADED. Having a hard impenetrable head; hulver, + in the Norfolk dialect, signifying holly, a hard and + solid wood. + +TO HUM, or HUMBUG. To deceive, or impose on one by + some story or device. A humbug; a jocular imposition, + or deception. To hum and haw; to hesitate in speech, + also to delay, or be with difficulty brought to consent to + any matter or business, + +HUMS. Persons at church. There is a great number of hums + in the autem; there is a great congregation in the church. + +HUM BOX. A pulpit. + +HUM CAP. Very old and strong beer, called also stingo. + See STINGO. + +HUM DRUM. A hum drum fellow; a dull tedious narrator, + a bore; also a set of gentlemen, who (Bailey says) used to + meet near the Charter House, or at the King's Head in St. + John's-street, who had more of pleasantry, and less of mystery, + than the free masons. + +HUM DURGEON. An imaginary illness. He has got the + humdurgeon, the thickest part of his thigh is nearest his a-se; + i.e. nothing ails him except low spirits. + +HUMBUGS. The brethren of the venerable society of humbugs + was held at brother Hallam's, in Goodman's Fields. + +HUMMER. A great lye, a rapper. See RAPPER. + +HUMMING LIQUOR. Double ale, stout pharaoh. See PHARAOH. + +HUMMUMS. A bagnio, or bathing house. + +HUM TRUM. A musical instrument made of a mopstick, a + bladder, and some packthread, thence also called a bladder + and string, and hurdy gurdy; it is played on like a violin, + which is sometimes ludicrously called a humstrum; sometimes, + instead of a bladder, a tin canister is used. + +HUMP. To hump; once a fashionable word for copulation. + +HUMPTY DUMPTY. A little humpty dumpty man or woman; + a short clumsy person of either sex: also ale boiled + with brandy. + +TO HUNCH. To jostle, or thrust. + +HUNCH-BACKED. Hump-backed. + +HUNG BEEF. A dried bull's pizzle. How the dubber + served the cull with hung beef; how the turnkey beat the + fellow with a bull's pizzle. + +HUNKS. A covetous miserable fellow, a miser; also the + name of a famous bear mentioned by Ben Jonson. + +HUNT'S DOG. He is like Hunt's dog, will neither go to + church nor stay at home. One Hunt, a labouring man at + a small town in Shropshire, kept a mastiff, who on being + shut up on Sundays, whilst his master went to church, + howled so terribly as to disturb the whole village; wherefore + his master resolved to take him to church with him: + but when he came to the church door, the dog having perhaps + formerly been whipped out by the sexton, refused to + enter; whereupon Hunt exclaimed loudly against his dog's + obstinacy, who would neither go to church nor stay at + home. This shortly became a bye-word for discontented + and whimsical persons. + +HUNTING. Drawing in unwary persons to play or game. + CANT. + +HUNTING THE SQUIRREL. An amusement practised by + postboys and stage-coachmen, which consists in following + a one-horse chaise, and driving it before them, passing close + to it, so as to brush the wheel, and by other means terrifying + any woman or person that may be in it. A man whose + turn comes for him to drink, before he has emptied his former + glass, is said to be hunted. + +HUNTSUP. The reveillier of huntsmen, sounded on the + French horn, or other instrument. + +HURDY GURDY. A kind of fiddle, originally made perhaps + out of a gourd. See HUMSTRUM. + +HURLY BURLY. A rout, riot, bustle or confusion. + +HUSH. Hush the cull; murder the fellow. + +HUSH MONEY. Money given to hush up or conceal a robbery, theft, + or any other offence, or to take off the evidence + from appearing against a criminal. + +HUSKYLOUR. A guinea, or job. Cant. + +HUSSY. An abbreviation of housewife, but now always + used as a term of reproach; as, How now, hussy? or She + is a light hussy. + +HUZZA. Said to have been originally the cry of the huzzars + or Hungarian light horse; but now the national shout of + the English, both civil and military, in the sea phrase + termed a cheer; to give three cheers being to huzza thrice. + +HYP, or HIP. A mode of calling to one passing by. Hip, + Michael, your head's on fire; a piece of vulgar wit to a + red haired man. + +HYP. The hypochondriac: low spirits. He is hypped; he + has got the blue devils, &c. + +JABBER. To talk thick and fast, as great praters usually + do, to chatter like a magpye; also to speak a foreign + language. He jabbered to me in his damned outlandish + parlez vous, but I could not understand him; he chattered + to me in French, or some other foreign language, but + I could not understand him. + +JACK. A farthing, a small bowl serving as the mark for + bowlers. An instrument for pulling off boots. + +JACK ADAMS. A fool. Jack Adams's parish; Clerkenwell. + +JACK AT A PINCH, A poor hackney parson. + +JACK IN A BOX, A sharper, or cheat. A child in the mother's + womb. + +JACK IN AN OFFICE, An insolent fellow in authority. + +JACK KETCH. The hangman; vide DERRICK and KETCH. + +JACK NASTY FACE. A sea term, signifying a common + sailor. + +JACK OF LEGS. A tall long-legged man; also a giant, said + to be buried in Weston church, near Baldock, in Hertfordshire, + where there are two stones fourteen feet distant, + said to be the head and feet stones of his grave. This + giant, says Salmon, as fame goes, lived in a wood here, and + was a great robber, but a generous one; for he plundered + the rich to feed the poor: he frequently took bread for + this purpose from the Baldock bakers, who catching him + at an advantage, put out his eyes, and afterwards hanged + him upon a knoll in Baldock field. At his death he made + one request, which was, that he might have his bow and + arrow put into his hand, and on shooting it off, where the + arrow fell, they would bury him; which being granted, + the arrow fell in Weston churchyard. Above seventy + years ago, a very large thigh bone was taken out of the + church chest, where it had lain many years for a show, + and was sold by the clerk to Sir John Tradescant, who, + it is said, put it among the rarities of Oxford. + +JACK PUDDING. The merry andrew, zany, or jester to a + mountebank. + +JACK ROBINSON. Before one could say Jack Robinson; a + saying to express a very short time, originating from a + very volatile gentleman of that appellation, who would call + on his neighbours, and be gone before his name could + be announced. + +JACK SPRAT. A dwarf, or diminutive fellow. + +JACK TAR. A sailor. + +JACK WEIGHT. A fat man. + +JACK WHORE. A large masculine overgrown wench. + +JACKANAPES. An ape; a pert, ugly, little fellow. + +JACKED. Spavined. A jacked horse. + +JACKMEN. See JARKMEN. + +JACKEY. Gin. + +JACOB. A soft fellow. A fool. + +JACOB. A ladder: perhaps from Jacob's dream. CANT. Also + the common name for a jay, jays being usually taught to + say, Poor Jacob! a cup of sack for Jacob. + +JACOBITES. Sham or collar shirts. Also partizans for the + Stuart family: from the name of the abdicated king, i.e. + James or Jacobus. It is said by the whigs, that God + changed Jacob's name to Israel, lest the descendants of + that patriarch should be called Jacobites. + +JADE. A term of reproach to women. + +JAGUE. A ditch: perhaps from jakes. + +JAIL BIRDS. Prisoners. + +JAKES. A house of office, a cacatorium. + +JAMMED. Hanged. CANT. + +JANIZARIES. The mob, sometimes so called; also bailiffs, + their setters, and followers. + +JAPANNED. Ordained. To be japanned; to enter into holy + orders, to become a clergyman, to put on the black cloth: + from the colour of the japan ware, which is black. + +JARK. A seal. + +JARKMEN. Those, who fabricate counterfeit passes, licences, + and certificates for beggars. + +JARVIS. A hackney coachman. + +JASON'S FLEECE. A citizen cheated of his gold. + +JAW. Speech, discourse. Give us none of your jaw; let us + have none of your discourse. A jaw-me-dead; a talkative + fellow. Jaw work; a cry used in fairs by the sellers of + nuts. + +JAZEY. A bob wig. + +IDEA POT. The knowledge box, the head. See KNOWLEDGE + BOX. + +JEFFY. It will be done in a jeffy; it will be done in a short + space of time, in an instant. + +JEHU. To drive jehu-like; to drive furiously: from a king + of Israel of that name, who was a famous charioteer, and + mentioned as such in the Bible. + +JEM. A gold ring. CANT. + +JEMMY FELLOW. A smart spruce fellow. + +JEMMY. A crow. This instrument is much used by housebreakers. +Sometimes called Jemmy Rook. + +JENNY. An instrument for lifting up the grate or top of a + show-glass, in order to rob it. CANT. + +JERRYCUMMUMBLE. To shake, towzle, or tumble about. + +JERRY SNEAK. A henpecked husband: from a celebrated + character in one of Mr. Foote's plays, representing a man + governed by his wife. + +JESSAMY. A smart jemmy fellow, a fopling. + +JESIUT. See TO BOX THE JESUIT. + +JESUITICAL. Sly, evasive, equivocal. A jesuitical answer; + an equivocal answer. + +JET. A lawyer. Autem jet; a parson. + +JEW. An over-reaching dealer, or hard, sharp fellow; an + extortioner: the brokers formerly behind St. Clement's + church in the Strand were called Jews by their brethren + the taylors. + +JEW. A tradesman who has no faith, i.e. will not give credit. + +JEW BAIL. Insufficient bail: commonly Jews, who for a + sum of money will bail any action whatsoever, and justify, + that is, swear to their sufficiency; but, when called on, are + not to be found. + +JEW'S EYE. That's worth a Jew's eye; a pleasant or agreeable + sight: a saying taken from Shakespeare. + +JIBBER THE KIBBER. A method of deceiving seamen, by + fixing a candle and lanthorn round the neck of a horse, + one of whose fore feet is tied up; this at night has the + appearance of a ship's light. Ships bearing towards it, run + on shore, and being wrecked, are plundered by the inhabitants. + This diabolical device is, it is said, practised by the + inhabitants of our western coasts. + +JIG. A trick. A pleasant jig; a witty arch trick. Also a + lock or door. The feather-bed jig; copulation. + +JIGGER. A whipping-post. CANT. + +JILT. A tricking woman, who encourages the addresses of + a man whom she means to deceive and abandon. + +JILTED. Rejected by a woman who has encouraged one's + advances. + +JINGLE BOXES. Leathern jacks tipped with silver, and + hung with bells, formerly in use among fuddle caps. + CANT. + +JINGLE BRAINS. A wild, thoughtless, rattling fellow. + +JINGLERS. Horse cosers, frequenting country fairs. + +IMPOST TAKERS. Usurers who attend the gaming-tables, + and lend money at great premiums. + +IMPUDENT STEALING. Cutting out the backs of coaches, + and robbing the seats. + +IMPURE. A modern term for a lady of easy virtue. + +INCHING. Encroaching. + +INDIES. Black Indies; Newcastle. + +INDIA WIPE. A silk handkerchief. + +INDORSER. A sodomite. To indorse with a cudgel; to drub + or beat a man over the back with a stick, to lay CANE upon + Abel. + +INEXPRESSIBLES. Breeches. + +INKLE WEAVERS. Supposed to be a very brotherly set of + people; 'as great as two inkle weavers' being a proverbial + saying. + +INLAID. Well inlaid; in easy circumstances, rich or well + to pass. + +INNOCENTS. One of the innocents; a weak or simple person, + man or woman. + +INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. The inside of a **** and the outside + of a gaol. + +JOB. A guinea. + +JOB'S COMFORT. Reproof instead of consolation. + +JOB'S COMFORTER. One who brings news of some + additional misfortune. + +JOB'S DOCK. He is laid up in Job's dock; i.e. in a salivation. + The apartments for the foul or venereal patients in St. + Bartholomew's hospital, are called Job's ward. + +JOBATION. A reproof. + +JOBBERNOLE. The head. + +TO JOB. To reprove or reprehend. CAMBRIDGE TERM. + +JOB. Any robbery. To do a job; to commit some kind of + robbery. + +JOCK, or CROWDY-HEADED JOCK. A jeering appellation for + a north country seaman, particularly a collier; Jock being + a common name, and crowdy the chief food, of the lower + order of the people in Northumberland. + +TO JOCK, or JOCKUM CLOY. To enjoy a woman. + +JOCKUM GAGE. A chamber-pot, jordan, looking-glass, or + member-mug. CANT. + +JOGG-TROT. To keep on a jogg-trot; to get on with a slow + but regular pace. + +JOHNNY BUM. A he or jack ass: so called by a lady that + affected to be extremely polite and modest, who would + not say Jack because it was vulgar, nor ass because it + was indecent. + +JOINT. To hit a joint in carving, the operator must think + of a cuckold. To put one's nose out of joint; to rival one + in the favour of a patron or mistress. + +JOLLY, or JOLLY NOB. The head. I'll lump your jolly + nob for you; I'll give you a knock on the head. + +JOLLY DOG. A merry facetious fellow; a BON VIVANT, who + never flinches from his glass, nor cries to go home to + bed. + +JOLTER HEAD. A large head; metaphorically a stupid fellow. + +JORDAIN. A great blow, or staff. I'll tip him a jordain if + I transnear; i.e. I'll give him a blow with my staff, if I + come near him. CANT. + +JORDAN. A chamber-pot. + +JORUM. A jugg, or large pitcher. + +JOSEPH. A woman's great coat. Also, a sheepish bashful + young fellow: an allusion to Joseph who fled from Potiphar's + wife. You are Josephus rex; you are jo-king, i. e. + joking. + +JOSKIN. A countryman. The dropcove maced the Joskin + of twenty quid; The ring dropper cheated the + countryman of twenty guineas. + +JOWL. The cheek. Cheek by jowl; close together, or cheek + to cheek. My eyes how the cull sucked the blowen's + jowl; he kissed the wench handsomely. + +IRISH APRICOTS. Potatoes. It is a common joke against + the Irish vessels, to say they are loaded with fruit and + timber, that is, potatoes and broomsticks. + +IRISH ASSURANCE. A bold forward behaviour: as being dipt in the + river Styx was formerly supposed to render persons invulnerable, + so it is said that a dipping in the river Shannon totally + annihilates bashfulness; whence arises the saying of an + impudent Irishman, that he has been dipt in the Shannon. + +IRISH BEAUTY. A woman with two black eyes. + +IRISH EVIDENCE. A false witness. + +IRISH LEGS. Thick legs, jocularly styled the Irish arms. + It is said of the Irish women, that they have a dispensation + from the pope to wear the thick end of their legs downwards. + +IRISH TOYLES. Thieves who carry about pins, laces, and + other pedlars wares, and under the pretence of offering + their goods to sale, rob houses, or pilfer any thing they + can lay hold of. + +IRON. Money in general. To polish the king's iron with + one's eyebrows; to look out of grated or prison windows, + or, as the Irishman expresses them, the iron glass + windows. Iron doublet; a prison. See STONE DOUBLET. + +IRONMONGER'S SHOP. To keep an ironmonger's shop by + the side of a common, where the sheriff sets one up; to be + hanged in chains. Iron-bound; laced. An iron-bound + hat; a silver-laced hat. + +ISLAND. He drank out of the bottle till he saw the island; + the island is the rising bottom of a wine bottle, which + appears like an island in the centre, before the bottle is + quite empty. + +IVORIES. Teeth. How the swell flashed his ivories; how + the gentleman shewed his teeth. + +ITCHLAND, or SCRATCHLAND. Scotland. + +JUG. See DOUBLE JUG. + +JUGGLER'S BOX. The engine for burning culprits in the + hand. CANT. + +JUKRUM. A licence. + +JUMBLEGUT LANE. A rough road or lane. + +JUMP. The jump, or dining-room jump; a species of robbery + effected by ascending a ladder placed by a sham lamp-lighter, + against the house intended to be robbed. It is so + called, because, should the lamp-lighter be put to flight, + the thief who ascended the ladder has no means of escaping + but that of jumping down. + +JUMPERS. Persons who rob houses by getting in at the windows. + Also a set of Methodists established in South + Wales. + +JUNIPER LECTURE. A round scolding bout. + +JURY LEG. A wooden leg: allusion to a jury mast, which + is a temporary substitute for a mast carried away by a + storm, or any other accident. SEA PHRASE. + +JURY MAST. A JOURNIERE mast; i.e. a mast for the day or + occasion. + +JUST-ASS. A punning appellation for a justice. + +IVY BUSH. Like an owl in an ivy bush; a simile for a + meagre or weasel-faced man, with a large wig, or very + bushy hair. + +KATE. A picklock. 'Tis a rum kate; it is a clever picklock. + CANT. + +KEEL BULLIES. Men employed to load and unload the coal + vessels. + +KEELHAULING. A punishment in use among the Dutch + seamen, in which, for certain offences, the delinquent is + drawn once, or oftener, under the ship's keel: ludicrously + defined, undergoing a great hard-ship. + +TO KEEP. To inhabit. Lord, where do you keep? i.e. + where are your rooms? ACADEMICAL PHRASE. Mother, your + tit won't keep; your daughter will not preserve her virginity. + +TO KEEP IT UP. To prolong a debauch. We kept it up + finely last night; metaphor drawn from the game of shuttle-cock. + +KEEPING CULLY. One who keeps a mistress, as he supposes, + for his own use, but really for that of the public. + +KEFFEL. A horse. WELSH. + +KELTER. Condition, order. Out of kelter; out of order. + +KELTER. Money. + +KEMP'S MORRIS. William Kemp, said to have been the original + Dogberry in Much ado about Nothing, danced a morris + from London to Norwich in nine days: of which he + printed the account, A. D. 1600, intitled, Kemp's Nine + Days Wonder, &c. + +KEMP'S SHOES. Would I had Kemp's shoes to throw after + you. BEN JONSON. Perhaps Kemp was a man remarkable + for his good luck or fortune; throwing an old shoe, or shoes, + after any one going on an important business, being by the + vulgar deemed lucky. + +KEN. A house. A bob ken, or a bowman ken; a well-furnished + house, also a house that harbours thieves. Biting + the ken; robbing the house. CANT. + +KEN MILLER, or KEN CRACKER. A housebreaker. CANT. + +KENT-STREET EJECTMENT. To take away the street door: + a method practised by the landlords in Kent-street, Southwark, + when their tenants are above a fortnight's rent in + arrear. + +KERRY SECURITY. Bond, pledge, oath, and keep the + money. + +KETCH. Jack Ketch; a general name for the finishers of the + law, or hangmen, ever since the year 1682, when the office + was filled by a famous practitioner of that name, of whom + his wife said, that any bungler might put a man to death, + but only her husband knew how to make a gentleman die + sweetly. This officer is mentioned in Butler's Ghost, page + 54, published about the year 1682, in the following lines: + + Till Ketch observing he was chous'd, + And in his profits much abus'd. + In open hall the tribute dunn'd, + To do his office, or refund. + + Mr. Ketch had not long been elevated to his office, for the + name of his predecessor Dun occurs in the former part of + this poem, page 29: + + For you yourself to act squire Dun, + Such ignominy ne'er saw the sun. + + The addition of 'squire,' with which Mr. Dun is here + dignified, is a mark that he had beheaded some state criminal + for high treason; an operation which, according to custom + for time out of mind, has always entitled the operator to + that distinction. The predecessor of Dun was Gregory + Brandon, from whom the gallows was called the Gregorian + tree, by which name it is mentioned in the prologue to + Mercurius Pragmaticus, tragi-comedy acted at Paris, &c. + 1641: + + This trembles under the black rod, and he + Doth fear his fate from the Gregorian tree. + + Gregory Brandon succeeded Derrick. See DERRICK. + +KETTLEDRUMS. Cupid's kettle drums; a woman's breasts, + called by sailors chest and bedding. + +KETTLE OF FISH. When a person has perplexed his affairs + in general, or any particular business, he is said to have + made a fine kettle of fish of it. + +KICKS. Breeches. A high kick; the top of the fashion. It + is all the kick; it is the present mode. Tip us your kicks, + we'll have them as well as your lour; pull off your breeches, + for we must have them as well as your money. A kick; + sixpence. Two and a kick; half-a-crown. A kick in the + guts; a dram of gin, or any other spirituous liquor. A + kick up; a disturbance, also a hop or dance. An odd kick + in one's gallop; a strange whim or peculiarity. + +To KICK THE BUCKET. To die. He kicked the bucket + one day: he died one day. To kick the clouds before the + hotel door; i.e. to be hanged. + +KICKERAPOO. Dead. NEGRO WORD. + +KICKSEYS. Breeches. + +KICKSHAWS. French dishes: corruption of quelque chose. + +KID. A little dapper fellow. A child. The blowen has + napped the kid. The girl is with child. + +TO KID. To coax or wheedle. To inveigle. To amuse a + man or divert his attention while another robs him. The + sneaksman kidded the cove of the ken, while his pall + frisked the panney; the thief amused the master of the house, + while his companion robbed the house. + +KID LAY. Rogues who make it their business to defraud + young apprentices, or errand-boys, of goods committed to + their charge, by prevailing on them to execute some trifling + message, pretending to take care of their parcels till they + come back; these are, in cant terms, said to be on the + kid lay. + +KIDDER. A forestaller: see CROCKER. Kidders are also + persons employed by the gardeners to gather peas. + +KIDDEYS. Young thieves. + +KIDDY NIPPERS. Taylors out of work, who cut off the + waistcoat pockets of their brethren, when cross-legged on + their board, thereby grabbling their bit. CANT. + +KIDNAPPER. Originally one who stole or decoyed children + or apprentices from their parents or masters, to send + them to the colonies; called also spiriting: but now used + for all recruiting crimps for the king's troops, or those of + the East India company, and agents for indenting servants + for the plantations, &c. + +KIDNEY. Disposition, principles, humour. Of a strange + kidney; of an odd or unaccountable humour. A man of + a different kidney; a man of different principles. + +KILKENNY. An old frize coat. + +KILL CARE CLUB. The members of this club, styled also + the Sons of Sound Sense and Satisfaction, met at their + fortress, the Castle-tavern, in Paternoster-row. + +KILL DEVIL. New still-burnt rum. + +KILL PRIEST. Port wine. + +To KIMBAW. To trick, cheat or cozen; also to beat or to + bully. Let's kimbaw the cull; let's bully the fellow. + To set one's arms a-kimbaw, vulgarly pronounced a-kimbo, + is to rest one's hands on the hips, keeping the elbows + square, and sticking out from the body; an insolent + bullying attitude. CANT. + +KINCHIN. A little child. Kinchin coes; orphan beggar + boys, educated in thieving. Kinchin morts; young girls + under the like circumstances and training. Kinchin + morts, or coes in slates; beggars' children carried at their + mother's backs in sheets. Kinchin cove; a little man. CANT. + +KING'S PLATE. Fetters. + +KING'S WOOD LION. An Ass. Kingswood is famous for + the great number of asses kept by the colliers who inhabit + that place. + +KING'S BAD BARGAIN. One of the king's bad bargains; a + malingeror, or soldier who shirks his duty. + +KING'S HEAD INN, or CHEQUER INN, IN NEWGATE + STREET. The prison of Newgate. + +KING JOHN'S MEN. He is one of king John's men, eight + score to the hundred: a saying of a little undersized man. + +KING OF THE GYPSIES. The captain, chief, or ringleader + of the gang of misrule: in the cant language called also the + upright man. + +KING'S PICTURES. Coin, money. + +KINGDOM COME. He is gone to kingdom come, he is dead. + +KIP. The skin of a large calf, in the language of the + Excise-office. + +KISS MINE A-SE. An offer, as Fielding observes, very + frequently made, but never, as he could learn, literally + accepted. A kiss mine a-se fellow; a sycophant. + +KISSING CRUST. That part where the loaves have touched + the oven. + +KIT. A dancing-master, so called from his kit or cittern, a + small fiddle, which dancing-masters always carry about + with them, to play to their scholars. The kit is likewise + the whole of a soldier's necessaries, the contents of his + knapsack: and is used also to express the whole of different + commodities: as, Here, take the whole kit; i.e. take + all. + +KIT-CAT CLUB. A society of gentlemen, eminent for wit + and learning, who in the reign of queen Anne and George + I. met at a house kept by one Christopher Cat. The + portraits of most of the members of this society were painted + by Sir Godfrey Kneller, of one size; thence still called the + kit-cat size. + +KITCHEN PHYSIC. Food, good meat roasted or boiled. A + little kitchen physic will set him up; he has more need of + a cook than a doctor. + +KITTLE PITCHERING. A jocular method of hobbling or + bothering a troublesome teller of long stories: this is done + by contradicting some very immaterial circumstance at + the beginning of the narration, the objections to which + being settled, others are immediately started to some new + particular of like consequence; thus impeding, or rather + not suffering him to enter into, the main story. Kittle + pitchering is often practised in confederacy, one relieving + the other, by which the design is rendered less obvious. + +KITTYS. Effects, furniture; stock in trade. To seize one's + kittys; to take his sticks. + +KNACK SHOP. A toy-shop, a nick-nack-atory. + +KNAPPERS POLL. A sheep's head. CANT. + +KNAVE IN GRAIN. A knave of the first rate: a phrase + borrowed from the dyehouse, where certain colours are said to + be in grain, to denote their superiority, as being dyed with + cochineal, called grain. Knave in grain is likewise a pun + applied to a cornfactor or miller. + +KNIGHT OF THE BLADE. A bully. + +KNIGHT OF THE POST. A false evidence, one that is ready + to swear any thing for hire. + +KNIGHT OF THE RAINBOW. A footman: from the variety + of colours in the liveries and trimming of gentlemen of + that cloth. + +KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. A highwayman. + +KNIGHT OF THE SHEERS. A taylor. + +KNIGHT OF THE THIMBLE, or NEEDLE. A taylor or stay-maker. + +KNIGHT OF THE WHIP. A coachman. + +KNIGHT OF THE TRENCHER. A great eater. + +KNIGHT AND BARROW PIG, more hog than gentleman. A + saying of any low pretender to precedency. + +KNOB. The head. See NOB. + +KNOCK. To knock a woman; to have carnal knowledge of + her. To knock off; to conclude: phrase borrowed from + the blacksmith. To knock under; to submit. + +KNOCK ME DOWN. Strong ale or beer, stingo. + +KNOT. A crew, gang, or fraternity. He has tied a knot + with his tongue, that he cannot untie with his teeth: i.e. + he is married. + +KNOWING ONES. Sportsmen on the turf, who from + experience and an acquaintance with the jockies, are supposed + to be in the secret, that is, to know the true merits or + powers of each horse; notwithstanding which it often happens + that the knowing ones are taken in. + +KNOWLEDGE BOX. The head. + +KNUCKLES. Pickpockets who attend the avenues to public + places to steal pocket-books, watches, &c. a superior kind + of pickpockets. To knuckle to, to submit. + +TO KNUCKLE ONE'S WIPE. To steal his handkerchief. + +KNUCKLE-DABS, or KNUCKLE-CONFOUNDERS. Ruffles. + +KONOBLIN RIG. Stealing large pieces of coal from coalsheds. + +LACED MUTTON. A prostitute. + +LACING. Beating. I'll lace your jacket handsomely. + +LADDER. To go up the ladder to rest; to be hanged. + +LADY. A crooked or hump-backed woman. + +LADY OF EASY VIRTUE. A woman of the town, an impure, + a prostitute. + +LADYBIRDS. Light or lewd women. + +LADY DACRE'S WINE. Gin. + +LAG. A man transported. The cove was lagged for a drag. + The man was transported for stealing something out of a + waggon. + +LAG FEVER. A term of ridicule applied to men who being + under sentence of transportation, pretend illness, to avoid + being sent from gaol to the hulks. + +TO LAG. To drop behind, to keep back. Lag last; the + last of a company. + +LAGE. Water. CANT. + +LAGE OF DUDS. A buck of linen. + +LAID ON THE SHELF, or LAID UP IN LAVENDER. Pawned. + +To LAMB, or LAMBASTE. To beat. Lamb pye; a beating: + from lambo. + +LAMB'S WOOL. Apples roasted and put into strong ale. + +LAMBSKIN MEN. The judges: from their robes lined and + bordered with ermine. + +LAMP. An eye. The cove has a queer lamp. The man + has a blind or squinting eye. + +LAND. How lies the land? How stands the reckoning? + Who has any land in Appleby? a question asked the man + at whose door the glass stands long, or who does not + circulate it in due time. + +LAND LOPERS, or LAND LUBBERS. Vagabonds lurking + about the country who subsist by pilfering. + +LAND PIRATES. Highwaymen. + +LANK SLEEVE. The empty sleeve of a one armed man. + A fellow with a lank sleeve; a man who has lost an arm. + +LANSPRISADO. One who has only two-pence in his pocket. + Also a lance, or deputy corporal; that is, one doing the + duty without the pay of a corporal. Formerly a lancier, or + horseman, who being dismounted by the death of his + horse, served in the foot, by the title of lansprisado, or + lancepesato, a broken lance. + +LANTHORN-JAWED. Thin-visaged: from their cheeks being almost + transparent. Or else, lenten jawed; i.e. having + the jaws of one emaciated by a too rigid observation of + Lent. Dark lanthorn; a servant or agent at court, who + receives a bribe for his principal or master. + +LAP. Butter-milk or whey. CANT. + +LARK. A boat. + +LARK. A piece of merriment. People playing together jocosely. + +LARRY DUGAN'S EYE WATER. Blacking: Larry Dugan + was a famous shoe-black at Dublin. + +LATCH. Let in. + +LATHY. Thin, slender. A lathy wench; a girl almost as + slender as a lath. + +LATITAT. A nick-name for an attorney; from the name of + a writ. + +LAVENDER. Laid up in lavender; pawned. + +LAUGH. To laugh on the wrong side of the mouth; to cry. + I'll make him laugh on the wrong (or t'other) side of his + mouth. + +LAUNCH. The delivery, or labour, of a pregnant woman; + a crying out or groaning. + +LAW. To give law to a hare; a sporting term, signifying to + give the animal a chance of escaping, by not setting on + the dogs till the hare is at some distance; it is also more + figuratively used for giving any one a chance of succeeding + in a scheme or project. + +LAWFUL BLANKET. A wife. + +LAY. Enterprize, pursuit, or attempt: to be sick of the + lay. It also means a hazard or chance: he stands a queer + lay; i.e. he is in danger. CANT. + +LAYSTALL. A dunghill about London, on which the soil + brought from necessary houses is emptied; or, in more + technical terms, where the old gold collected at weddings + by the Tom t--d man, is stored. + +LAZY. As lazy as Ludman's dog, who leaned against the + wall to bark. As lazy as the tinker, who laid down his + budget to f--t. + +LAZY MAN'S LOAD. Lazy people frequently take up more + than they can safely carry, to save the trouble of coming + a second time. + +LAZYBONES. An instrument like a pair of tongs, for old or + very fat people to take any thing from the ground without + stooping. + +LEAF. To go off with the fall of the leaf; to be hanged: + criminals in Dublin being turned off from the outside of + the prison by the falling of a board, propped up, and moving + on a hinge, like the leaf of a table. IRISH TERM. + +TO LEAK. To make water. + +LEAKY. Apt to blab; one who cannot keep a secret is said + to be leaky. + +LEAPING OVER THE SWORD. An ancient ceremonial said to + constitute a military marriage. A sword being laid down + on the ground, the parties to be married joined hands, + when the corporal or serjeant of the company repeated + these words: + + Leap rogue, and jump whore, + And then you are married for evermore. + + Whereupon the happy couple jumped hand in hand over + the sword, the drum beating a ruffle; and the parties were + ever after considered as man and wife. + +LEAST IN SIGHT. To play least in sight; to hide, keep + out of the way, or make one's self scarce. + +LEATHER. To lose leather; to be galled with riding on + horseback, or, as the Scotch express it, to be saddle sick. + To leather also meant to beat, perhaps originally with a + strap: I'll leather you to your heart's content. Leather-headed; + stupid. Leathern conveniency; term used by + quakers for a stage-coach. + +LEERY. On one's guard. See PEERY. + +LEFT-HANDED WIFE. A concubine; an allusion to an + ancient German custom, according to which, when a man + married his concubine, or a woman greatly his inferior, + he gave her his left hand. + +LEG. To make a leg; to bow. To give leg-bail and land + security; to run away. To fight at the leg; to take + unfair advantages: it being held unfair by back-sword + players to strike at the leg. To break a leg; a woman who has + had a bastard, is said to have broken a leg. + +LEGGERS. Sham leggers; cheats who pretend to sell smuggled + goods, but in reality only deal in old shop-keepers or + damaged goods. + +LENTEN FARE. Spare diet. + +LETCH. A whim of the amorous kind, out of the common + way. + +LEVITE. A priest or parson. + +TO LIB. To lie together. CANT. + +LIBBEGE. A bed. CANT. + +LIBBEN. A private dwelling-house. CANT. + +LIBKEN. A house to lie in. CANT. + +TO LICK. To beat; also to wash, or to paint slightly over. + I'll give you a good lick o' the chops; I'll give you a good + stroke or blow on the face. Jack tumbled into a cow + t--d, and nastied his best clothes, for which his father stept + up, and licked him neatly.--I'll lick you! the dovetail to + which is, If you lick me all over, you won't miss--. + +LICKSPITTLE. A parasite, or talebearer. + +LIFT. To give one a lift; to assist. A good hand at a + dead lift; a good hand upon an emergency. To lift + one's hand to one's head; to drink to excess, or to drink + drams. To lift or raise one's elbow; the same. + +LIFT. See SHOPLIFTER, &c. + +LIFTER. A crutch. + +LIG. A bed. See LIB. + +LIGHT BOB. A soldier of the light infantry company. + +LIGHT-FINGERED. Thievish, apt to pilfer. + +LIGHT-HEELED. Swift in running. A light-heeled wench; + one who is apt, by the flying up of her heels, to fall flat on + her back, a willing wench. + +LIGHT HOUSE. A man with a red fiery nose. + +LIGHT TROOPS. Lice; the light troops are in full march; + the lice are crawling about. + +LIGHTMANS. The day. CANT. + +LIGHTNING. Gin. A flash of lightning; a glass of gin. + +LIKENESS. A phrase used by thieves when the officers + or turnkeys are examining their countenance. As the + traps are taking our likeness; the officers are attentively + observing us. + +LILIPUTIAN. A diminutive man or woman: from Gulliver's + Travels, written by Dean Swift, where an imaginary + kingdom of dwarfs of that name is described. + +LILY WHITE. A chimney-sweeper. + +LILY SHALLOW. (WHIP SLANG) A white driving hat. + +LIMBS. Duke of limbs; a tall awkward fellow. + +LIMB OF THE LAW. An inferior or pettyfogging attorney. + +LIMBO. A prison, confinement. + +To LINE. A term for the act of coition between dog and + bitch. + +LINE OF THE OLD AUTHOR. A dram of brandy. + +LINE. To get a man into a line, i.e. to divert his attention + by a ridiculous or absurd story. To humbug. + +LINGO. Language. An outlandish lingo; a foreign tongue. + The parlezvous lingo; the French language. + +LINEN ARMOURERS. Taylors. + +LION. To tip the lion; to squeeze the nose of the party + tipped, flat to his face with the thumb. To shew the + lions and tombs; to point out the particular curiosities of + any place, to act the ciceroni: an allusion to Westminster + Abbey, and the Tower, where the tombs and lions are + shewn. A lion is also a name given by the gownsmen of + Oxford to an inhabitant or visitor. It is a standing joke + among the city wits to send boys and country folks, on + the first of April, to the Tower-ditch, to see the lions + washed. + +LIQUOR. To liquor one's boots; to drink before a journey: + among Roman Catholics, to administer the extreme unction. + +LITTLE BARBARY. Wapping. + +LITTLE BREECHES. A familiar appellation used to a little + boy. + +LITTLE CLERGYMAN. A young chimney-sweeper. + +LITTLE EASE. A small dark cell in Guildhall, London, + where disorderly apprentices are confined by the city + chamberlain: it is called Little Ease from its being so low + that a lad cannot stand upright in it. + +LITTLE SNAKESMAN. A little boy who gets into a house + through the sink-hole, and then opens the door for his + accomplices: he is so called, from writhing and twisting + like a snake, in order to work himself through the narrow + passage. + +LIVE LUMBER. A term used by sailors, to signify all landsmen + on board their ships. + +LIVE STOCK. Lice or fleas. + +LOAF. To be in bad loaf, to be in a disagreeable situation, + or in trouble. + +LOB. A till in a tradesman's shop. To frisk a lob; to rob + a till. See FLASH PANNEY. + +LOB. Going on the lob; going into a shop to get change + for gold, and secreting some of the change. + +LOB'S POUND. A prison. Dr. Grey, in his notes on Hudibras, + explains it to allude to one Doctor Lob, a dissenting + preacher, who used to hold forth when conventicles were + prohibited, and had made himself a retreat by means of a + trap door at the bottom of his pulpit. Once being pursued + by the officers of justice, they followed him through + divers subterraneous passages, till they got into a dark + cell, from whence they could not find their way out, but + calling to some of their companions, swore they had got + into Lob's Pound. + +LOBCOCK. A large relaxed penis: also a dull inanimate + fellow. + +LOBKIN. A house to lie in: also a lodging. + +LOBLOLLEY BOY. A nick name for the surgeon's servant + on board a man of war, sometimes for the surgeon himself: + from the water gruel prescribed to the sick, which is + called loblolley. + +LOBONIAN SOCIETY. A society which met at Lob Hall, at + the King and Queen, Norton Falgate, by order of Lob the + great. + +LOBSCOUSE. A dish much eaten at sea, composed of salt + beef, biscuit and onions, well peppered, and stewed + together. + +LOBSTER. A nick name for a soldier, from the colour of his + clothes. To boil one's lobster, for a churchman to + become a soldier: lobsters, which are of a bluish black, + being made red by boiling. I will not make a lobster + kettle of my ****, a reply frequently made by the nymphs + of the Point at Portsmouth, when requested by a soldier + to grant him a favour. + +LOCK. A scheme, a mode. I must fight that lock; I must + try that scheme. + +LOCK. Character. He stood a queer lock; he bore but an + indifferent character. A lock is also a buyer of stolen + goods, as well as the receptacle for them. + +LOCK HOSPITAL. An hospital for venereal patients. + +LOCK UP HOUSE. A spunging house; a public house kept + by sheriff's officers, to which they convey the persons they + have arrested, where they practise every species of + imposition and extortion with impunity. Also houses kept + by agents or crimps, who enlist, or rather trepan, men to + serve the East India or African company as soldiers. + +LOCKERAM-JAWED. Thin-faced, or lanthorn-jawed. See + LANTHORN JAWED. + +LOCKSMITH'S DAUGHTER. A key. + +LOGGERHEAD. A blockhead, or stupid fellow. We three + loggerheads be: a sentence frequently written under two + heads, and the reader by repeating it makes himself the + third. A loggerhead is also a double-headed, or bar shot + of iron. To go to loggerheads; to fall to fighting. + +LOLL. Mother's loll; a favourite child, the mother's darling, + +LOLL TONGUE. He has been playing a game at loll tongue; + he has been salivated. + +LOLLIPOPS. Sweet lozenges purchased by children. + +TO LOLLOP. To lean with one's elbows on a table. + +LOLLPOOP. A lazy, idle drone. + +LOMBARD FEVER. Sick of the lombard fever; i.e. of the + idles. + +LONG ONE. A hare; a term used by poachers. + +LONG. Great. A long price; a great price. + +LONG GALLERY. Throwing, or rather trundling, the dice + the whole length of the board. + +LONG MEG. A jeering name for a very tall woman: from + one famous in story, called Long Meg of Westminster. + +LONG SHANKS. A long-legged person. + +LONG STOMACH. A voracious appetite. + +LONG TONGUED. Loquacious, not able to keep a secret. + He is as long-tongued as Granny: Granny was an idiot + who could lick her own eye. See GRANNY. + +LONG-WINDED. A long-winded parson; one who preached + long, tedious sermons. A long-winded paymaster; one + who takes long credit. + +LOO. For the good of the loo; for the benefit of the company + or community. + +LOOBY. An awkward, ignorant fellow. + +LOOKING AS IF ONE COULD NOT HELP IT. Looking like a + simpleton, or as if one could not say boh! to a goose. + +LOOKING-GLASS. A chamber pot, jordan, or member mug. + +LOON, or LOUT. A country bumkin, or clown. + +LOONSLATE. Thirteen pence halfpenny. + +LOOPHOLE. An opening, or means of escape. To find a + loophole in an act of parliament; i.e. a method of + evading it, + +LOP-SIDED. Uneven, having one side larger or heavier than + the other: boys' paper kites are often said to be lop-sided. + +TO LOPE. To leap, to run away. He loped down the dancers; + he ran down stairs. + +LORD. A crooked or hump-backed man. These unhappy + people afford great scope for vulgar raillery; such as, 'Did + you come straight from home? if so, you have got confoundedly + bent by the way.' 'Don't abuse the gemman,' + adds a by-stander, 'he has been grossly insulted already; + don't you see his back's up?' Or someone asks him if the + show is behind; 'because I see,' adds he, 'you have the + drum at your back.' Another piece of vulgar wit is let + loose on a deformed person: If met by a party of soldiers + on their march, one of them observes that that gentleman + is on his march too, for he has got his knapsack at his back. + It is said in the British Apollo, that the title of lord was + first given to deformed persons in the reign of Richard III. + from several persons labouring under that misfortune being + created peers by him; but it is more probably derived + from the Greek word [GREEK: lordos], crooked. + +LOUSE. A gentleman's companion. He will never louse a + grey head of his own; he will never live to be old. + +LOVE BEGOTTEN CHILD. A bastard. + +LOUNGE. A loitering place, or gossiping shop. + +LOUSE BAG. A black bag worn to the hair or wig. + +LOUSE HOUSE. The round house, cage, or any other place +of confinement. + +LOUSE LADDER. A stitch fallen in a stocking. + +LOUSE LAND. Scotland. + +LOUSE TRAP. A small toothed comb. + +LOUT. A clumsy stupid fellow. + +LOWING RIG. Stealing oxen or cows. + +LOW PAD. A footpad. + +LOW TIDE, or LOW WATER. When there is no money in + a man's pocket. + +LOWRE. Money. Cant. + +LUBBER. An awkward fellow: a name given by sailors to + landsmen. + +LUCK, or GOOD LUCK. To tread in a surreverence, to be + bewrayed: an allusion to the proverb, Sh-tt-n luck is good + luck. + +LUD'S BULWARK. Ludgate prison. + +LUGS. Ears or wattles. See WATTLES. + +LULLABY CHEAT. An infant. Cant. + +LULLIES. Wet linen. Cant. + +LULLY TRIGGERS. Thieves who steal wet linen. Cant. + +LUMB. Too much. + +LUMBER. Live lumber; soldiers or passengers on board a + ship are so called by the sailors. + +LUMBER TROOP. A club or society of citizens of London. + +LUMBER HOUSE. A house appropriated by thieves for the + reception of their stolen property. + +To LUMP. To beat; also to include a number of articles + under one head. + +To LUMP THE LIGHTER. To be transported. + +LUMPERS. Persons who contract to unload ships; also + thieves who lurk about wharfs to pilfer goods from ships, + lighters, &c. + +LUMPING. Great. A lumping penny worth; a great quantity + for the money, a bargain. He has'got a lumping penny-worth; + frequently said of a man who marries a fat woman. + +LUN. Harlequin. + +LURCH. To be left in the lurch; to be abandoned by one's + confederates or party, to be left in a scrape. + +LURCHED. Those who lose a game of whist, without scoring five, + are said to be lurched. + +LURCHER. A lurcher of the law; a bum bailiff, or his setter. + +LURRIES. Money, watches, rings, or other moveables. + +LUSH. Strong beer. + +TO LUSH. To drink. + +LUSHEY. Drunk. The rolling kiddeys hud a spree, and got + bloody lushey; the dashing lads went on a party of pleasure, + and got very drunk. + +LYE. Chamber lye; urine. + +MACCARONI. An Italian paste made of flour and eggs. + Also a fop: which name arose from a club, called the + Maccaroni Club, instituted by some of the most dressy + travelled gentlemen about town, who led the fashions; whence + a man foppishly dressed, was supposed a member of that + club, and by contraction styled a Maccaroni. + +MACE COVE. A swindler, a sharper, a cheat. On the + mace; to live by swindling. + +MACHINES. Mrs. Phillips's ware. See CUNDUM. + +MACKEREL. A bawd: from the French maquerel. Mackerel-backed; + long-backed. + +MAD TOM, or TOM OF BEDLAM, otherwise an Abram + Man. A rogue that counterfeits madness. CANT. + +MADAM. A kept madam; a kept mistress. + +MADAM RAN. A whore. CANT. + +MADE. Stolen. CANT. + +MADGE. The private parts of a woman. + +MADGE CULLS. Sodomites. CANT. + +MAGG. A halfpenny. + +MAGGOT BOILER. A tallow-chandler. + +MAGGOTTY. Whimsical, capricious. + +MAGNUM BONUM. A bottle containing two quarts of wine. + See SCOTCH PINT. + +MAHOMETAN GRUEL. Coffee: because formerly used + chiefly by the Turks. + +MAIDEN SESSIONS. A sessions where none of the prisoners + are capitally convicted. + +MAKE. A halfpenny. CANT. + +MAKE WEIGHT. A small candle: a term applied to a little + slender man. + +MALINGEROR. A military term for one who, under pretence + of sickness, evades his duty. + +MALKIN, or MAULKIN. A general name for a cat; also a + parcel of rags fastened to the end of a stick, to clean an + oven; also a figure set up in a garden to scare the birds; + likewise an awkward woman. The cove's so scaly, he'd + spice a malkin of his jazey: the fellow is so mean, that he + would rob a scare-crow of his old wig. + +MALKINTRASH. One in a dismal garb. + +MALMSEY NOSE. A red pimpled snout, rich in carbuncles + and rubies. + +MAN OF THE TOWN. A rake, a debauchee. + +MAN OF THE TURF. A horse racer, or jockey. + +MANOEUVRING THE APOSTLES. Robbing Peter to pay + Paul, i.e. borrowing of one man to pay another. + +MAN TRAP. A woman's commodity. + +MAN OF THE WORLD. A knowing man. + +MAN, (CAMBRIDGE.) Any undergraduate from fifteen to thirty. + As a man of Emanuel--a young member of Emanuel. + +MANUFACTURE. Liquors prepared from materials of English + growth. + +MARE'S NEST. He has found a mare's nest, and is laughing + at the eggs; said of one who laughs without any + apparent cause. + +MARGERY PRATER. A hen. CANT. + +MARINE OFFICER. An empty bottle: marine officers being + held useless by the seamen. SEA WIT. + +MARPLOT. A spoil sport. + +MARRIAGE MUSIC. The squalling and crying of children. + +MARRIED. Persons chained or handcuffed together, in order + to be conveyed to gaol, or on board the lighters for + transportation, are in the cant language said to be married + together. + +MARROWBONES. The knees. To bring any one down on + his marrow bones; to make him beg pardon on his knees: + some derive this from Mary's bones, i.e. the bones bent in + honour of the Virgin Mary; but this seems rather far-fetched. + Marrow bones and cleavers; principal instruments + in the band of rough music: these are generally + performed on by butchers, on marriages, elections, riding + skimmington, and other public or joyous occasions. + +MARTINET. A military term for a strict disciplinarian: + from the name of a French general, famous for restoring + military discipline to the French army. He first disciplined + the French infantry, and regulated their method of + encampment: he was killed at the siege of Doesbourg in the + year 1672. + +MASON'S MAUND. A sham sore above the elbow, to counterfeit + a broken arm by a fall from a scaffold. + +MASTER OF THE MINT. A gardener. + +MASTER OF THE ROLLS. A baker. + +MASTER OF THE WARDROBE. One who pawns his clothes + to purchase liquor. + +MATRIMONIAL PEACE-MAKER. The sugar-stick, or + arbor vitae. + +MAUDLIN DRUNK. Crying drunk: perhaps from Mary + Magdalene, called Maudlin, who is always painted in + tears. + +MAULED. Extremely drunk, or soundly beaten. + +MAUNDERING BROTH. Scolding. + +MAUNDING. Asking or begging. CANT: + +MAWKES. A vulgar slattern. + +MAWLEY. A hand. Tip us your mawley; shake hands. + with me. Fam the mawley; shake hands. + +MAW-WALLOP. A filthy composition, sufficient to provoke + vomiting. + +MAX. Gin. + +MAY BEES. May bees don't fly all the year long; an answer + to any one who prefaces a proposition with, It may be. + +MEALY-MOUTHED. Over-modest or backward in speech. + +MEDLAR. A fruit, vulgarly called an open a-se; of which + it is more truly than delicately said, that it is never ripe + till it is as rotten as a t--d, and then it is not worth a + f--t. + +MELLOW. Almost drunk. + +MELTING MOMENTS. A fat man and woman in the amorous congress. + +TO MELT. To spend. Will you melt a borde? will you + spend a shilling? The cull melted a couple of decusses + upon us; the gentleman spent a couple of crowns upon us. + CANT. + +MEMBER MUG. A chamber pot. + +MEN OF STRAW. Hired bail, so called from having straw + stuck in their shoes to distinguish them. + +MEN OF KENT. Men born east of the river Medway, who + are said to have met the Conqueror in a body, each carrying + a green bough in his hand, the whole appearing like + a moving wood; and thereby obtaining a confirmation of + their ancient privileges. The inhabitants of Kent are divided + into Kentish men and men of Kent. Also a society held + at the Fountain Tavern, Bartholomew Lane, A.D. 1743. + +MERKIN. Counterfeit hair for women's privy parts. See + BAILEY'S DICT. + +MERRY ANDREW, or MR. MERRYMAN. The jack pudding, + jester, or zany of a mountebank, usually dressed in a + party-coloured coat. + +MERRY A-SE CHRISTIAN. A whore. + +MERRY-BEGOTTEN. A bastard. + +MAN OF THE WORLD. A knowing man. + +MESS JOHN. A Scotch presbyterian teacher or parson. + +MESSMATE. One who eats at the same mess, companion or + comrade. + +METTLE. The semen. To fetch mettle; the act of self pollution. + Mettle is also figuratively used for courage. + +METTLESOME. Bold, courageous. + +MICHAEL. Hip, Michael, your head's on fire. See HYP. + +MIDSHIPMAN'S WATCH AND CHAIN. A sheep's heart and + pluck. + +MILCH COW. One who is easily tricked out of his property; + a term used by gaolers, for prisoners who have money and + bleed freely. + +MILK AND WATER. Both ends of the busk. + +TO MILK THE PIGEON. To endeavour at impossibilities. + +MILLING COVE. A boxer. How the milling cove served + the cull out; how the boxer beat the fellow. + +MILL. A chisel. + +To MILL. To rob; also to break, beat out, or kill. I'll + mill your glaze; I'll beat out your eye. To mill a bleating + cheat; to kill a sheep. To mill a ken; to rob a house. + To mill doll; to beat hemp in bridewell. CANT. + +MILL LAY. To force open the doors of houses in order to + rob them. + +MILLER. A murderer. + +MINE A-SE ON A BANDBOX. An answer to the offer of any + thing inadequate to the purpose for which it is wanted, just + as a bandbox would be if used for a seat. + +MINE UNCLE'S. A pawnbroker's shop; also a necessary + house. Carried to my uncle's; pawned. New-married + men are also said to go to their uncle's, when they leave + their wives soon after the honey moon. + +MINIKIN. A little man or woman: also the smallest sort + of pin. + +MINOR CLERGY. Young chimney sweepers. + +MINT. Gold. A mint of money; common phrase for a + large sum. + +MISCHIEF. A man loaded with mischief, i.e. a man with + his wife on his back. + +MISH. A shirt, smock, or sheet. CANT. + +MISH TOPPER. A coat, or petticoat. + +MISS. A miss or kept mistress; a harlot. + +MISS LAYCOCK. The monosyllable. + +MITE. A nick name for a cheesemonger: from the small + insect of that name found in cheese. + +MIX METAL. A silversmith. + +MOABITES. Bailiffs, or Philistines. + +MOB; or MAB. A wench, or harlot. + +MOBILITY. The mob: a sort of opposite to nobility. + +MOHAIR. A man in the civil line, a townsman, or tradesman: + a military term, from the mohair buttons worn by persons + of those descriptions, or any others not in the army, the + buttons of military men being always of metal: this is + generally used as a term of contempt, meaning a bourgeois, + tradesman, or mechanic. + +MOIETY. Half, but vulgarly used to signify a share or portion: + as, He will come in for a small moiety. + +MOLL. A whore. + +MOLL PEATLY'S GIG. A rogering bout. + +MOLL THOMPSON'S MARK. M. T. i.e. empty: as, Take + away this bottle, it has Moll Thompson's mark upon it. + +MOLLY. A Miss Molly; an effeminate fellow, a sodomite. + +MONDAY. Saint Monday. See SAINT. + +MONEY. A girl's private parts, commonly applied to little + children: as, Take care, Miss, or you will shew your + money. + +MONEY DROPPERS. Cheats who drop money, which they + pretend to find just before some country lad; and by way + of giving him a share of their good luck, entice him into a + public house, where they and their confederates cheat or + rob him of what money he has about him. + +MONGREL. A hanger on among cheats, a spunger; also a + child whose father and mother are of different countries. + +MONKS AND FRIARS. Terms used by printers: monks are + sheets where the letters are blotted, or printed too black; + friars, those letters where the ink has failed touching the + type, which are therefore white or faint. + +MONKEY. To suck the monkey; to suck or draw wine, or + any other liquor, privately out of a cask, by means of a + straw, or small tube. Monkey's allowance; more kicks + than halfpence. Who put that monkey on horseback without + tying his legs? vulgar wit on a bad horseman. + +MONOSYLLABLE. A woman's commodity. + +MOONCURSER. A link-boy: link-boys are said to curse the + moon, because it renders their assistance unnecessary; + these gentry frequently, under colour of lighting passengers + over kennels, or through dark passages, assist in robbing + them. Cant. + +MOON-EYED HEN. A squinting wench. + +MOON MEN. Gypsies. + +MOON RAKERS. Wiltshire men: because it is said that + some men of that county, seeing the reflection of the + moon in a pond, endeavoured to pull it out with a rake. + +MOONSHINE. A matter or mouthful of moonshine; a trifle, + nothing. The white brandy smuggled on the coasts of + Kent and Sussex, and the gin in the north of Yorkshire, + are also called moonshine. + +MOP. A kind of annual fair in the west of England, where + farmers usually hire their servants. + +To MOP UP. To drink up. To empty a glass or pot. + +MOPED. Stupid, melancholy for want of society. + +MOPSEY. A dowdy, or homely woman. + +MOPSQUEEZER. A maid servant, particularly a housemaid. + +MOPUSSES. Money. + +MORGLAG. A brown bill, or kind of halbert, formerly + carried by watchmen; corruption of MORE, great or broad, + and GLAVE, blade. + +MORNING DROP. The gallows. He napped the king's pardon + and escaped the morning drop; he was pardoned, and + was not hanged. + +MORRIS. Come, morris off; dance off, or get you gone. + allusion to morris, i.e. MORISCO, or Moorish dancing. + +MORT. A woman or wench; also a yeoman's daughter. To + be taken all-a mort; to be confounded, surprised, or motionless + through fear. + +MOSES. To stand Moses: a man is said to stand Moses + when he has another man's bastard child fathered upon + him, and he is obliged by the parish to maintain it. + +MOSS. A cant term for lead, because both are found on the + tops of buildings. + +MOSSY FACE. The mother of all saints. + +MOT. A girl, or wench. See MORT. + +MOTHER, or THE MOTHER. A bawd. Mother abbess: + the same. Mother midnight; a midwife. Mother in + law's bit; a small piece, mothers in law being supposed + not apt to overload the stomachs of their husband's children. + +MOTHER OF ALL SAINTS. The Monosyllable. + +MOTHER OF ALL SOULS. The same. IRISH. + +MOTHER OF ST. PATRICK. The same. IRISH. + +MOTHER OF THE MAIDS. A bawd. + +MOUCHETS. Small patches worn by ladies: from the French + word mouches. + +MOVEABLES. Rings, watches, or any toys of value. + +MOUSE. To speak like a mouse in a cheese; i.e. faintly or + indistinctly. + +MOUSETRAP. The parson's mousetrap; the state of matrimony. + +MOUTH. A noisy fellow. Mouth half cocked; one gaping + and staring at every thing he sees. To make any one + laugh on the wrong, or t'other side of his mouth; to make + him cry or grieve. + +MOUTH. A silly fellow. A dupe. To stand mouth; i.e. + to be duped. + +To MOW. A Scotch word for the act of copulation. + +MOW HEATER. A drover: from their frequent sleeping on + hay mows. CANT. + +MOWER. A cow. + +MUCK. Money; also dung. + +MUCKWORM. A miser. + +MUCKINDER. A child's handkerchief tied to the side. + +MUD. A fool, or thick-sculled fellow; also, among printers + the same as dung among journeymen taylors. See + DUNG. + +MUD LARK. A fellow who goes about by the water side + picking up coals, nails, or other articles in the mud. Also + a duck. + +MUFF. The private parts of a woman. To the well wearing + of your muff, mort; to the happy consummation of + your marriage, girl; a health. + +MUFFLING CHEAT. A napkin. + +MUGGLETONIANS. The sect or disciples of Lodowick + Muggleton. + +MULLIGRUBS. Sick of the mulligrubs with eating chopped + hay: low-spirited, having an imaginary sickness. + +MUM. An interjection directing silence. Mum for that; I + shall be silent as to that. As mute as Mumchance, who + was hanged for saying nothing; a friendly reproach to any + one who seems low-spirited and silent. + +MUMCHANCE. An ancient game like hazard, played with + dice: probably so named from the silence observed in playing + at it. + +MUM GLASS. The monument erected on Fish-street Hill, + London, in memory of the great fire in 1666. + +MUMBLE A SPARROW. A cruel sport practised at wakes + and fairs, in the following manner: A cock sparrow + whose wings are clipped, is put into the crown of a hat; a + man having his arms tied behind him, attempts to bite off + the sparrow's head, but is generally obliged to desist, by + the many pecks and pinches he receives from the enraged + bird. + +MUMMER. The mouth. + +MUMPERS. Originally beggars of the genteel kind, but + since used for beggars in general. + +MUMPERS HALL. An alehouse where beggars are harboured. + +MUNDUNGUS. Bad or rank tobacco: from mondongo, a + Spanish word signifying tripes, or the uncleaned entrails + of a beast, full of filth. + +MUNG. To beg. + +MUNS. The face, or rather the mouth: from the German + word MUND, the mouth. Toute his muns; look at his face. + +MUNSTER PLUMS. Potatoes. IRISH. + +MUNSTER HEIFER. An Irish woman. A woman with + thick legs is said to be like a Munster heifer; i.e. beef to + the heels. + +MURDER. He looked like God's revenge against murder; + he looked angrily. + +MURPHIES. Potatoes. + +MUSHROOM. A person or family suddenly raised to riches + and eminence: an allusion to that fungus, which starts up + in a night. + +MUSIC. The watch-word among highwaymen, signifying + the person is a friend, and must pass unmolested. Music + is also an Irish term, in tossing up, to express the harp side, + or reverse, of a farthing or halfpenny, opposed to the head. + +MUTE. An undertaker's servant, who stands at the door of + a person lying in state: so named from being supposed + mute with grief. + +MUTTON-HEADED. Stupid. + +MUTTON MONGER. A man addicted to wenching. + +MUTTON. In her mutton, i.e. having carnal knowledge of a + woman. + +MUZZLE. A beard. + +MUZZLER. A violent blow on the mouth. The milling + cove tipped the cull a muzzler; the boxer gave the fellow + a blow on the mouth. + +MYNT. See MINT. + +MYRMIDONS. The constable's assistants, watchmen, &c. + +NAB, or NAB CHEAT. A hat. Penthouse nab; a large + hat. + +To NAB. To seize, or catch unawares. To nab the teaze; + to be privately whipped. To nab the stoop; to stand in + the pillory. To nab the rust; a jockey term for a horse + that becomes restive. To nab the snow: to steal linen + left out to bleach or dry. CANT. + +To NAB GIRDER, or NOB GIRDER. A bridle. + +NACK. To have a nack; to be ready at any thing, to have + a turn-for it. + +NACKY. Ingenious. + +NAILED. Secured, fixed. He offered me a decus, and I + nailed him; he offered me a crown, and I struck or fixed + him. + +NANNY HOUSE. A brothel. + +TO NAP. To cheat at dice by securing one chance. Also + to catch the venereal disease. You've napt it; you are + infected. + +NAPPING. To take any one napping; i.e. to come upon + him unexpectedly, to find him asleep: as, He caught him + napping, as Morse caught his mare. + +NAPPER. The head; also a cheat or thief. + +NAPPER OF NAPS. A sheep stealer. CANT. + +NAPPY ALE. Strong ale. + +NASK, or NASKIN. A prison or bridewell. The new nask; + Clerkenwell bridewell. Tothil-fields nask; the bridewell + at Tothil-fields. CANT. + +NATION. An abbreviation of damnation: a vulgar term used + in Kent, Sussex, and the adjacent counties, for very. + Nation good; very good. A nation long way; a very long + way. + +NATTY LADS. Young thieves or pickpockets. CANT. + +NATURAL. A mistress, a child; also an idiot. A natural + son or daughter; a love or merry-begotten child, a bastard. + +NAVY OFFICE. The Fleet prison. Commander of the + Fleet; the warden of the Fleet prison. + +NAY WORD. A bye-word, proverb. + +NAZAKENE FORETOP. The foretop of a wig made in imitation + of Christ's head of hair, as represented by the + painters and sculptors. + +NAZY. Drunken. Nazy cove or mort; a drunken rogue + or harlot. Nazy nabs; drunken coxcombs. + +NEB, or NIB. The bill of a bird, and the slit of a pen. + Figuratively, the face and mouth of a woman; as, She holds + up her neb: she holds up her mouth to be kissed. + +NECK STAMPER. The boy who collects the pots belonging + to an alehouse, sent out with beer to private houses. + +NECK VERSE. Formerly the persons claiming the benefit + of clergy were obliged to read a verse in a Latin + manuscript psalter: this saving them from the gallows, was + termed their neck verse: it was the first verse of the + fiftyfirst psalm, Miserere mei,&c. + +NECK WEED. Hemp. + +NEEDLE POINT. A sharper. + +NEGLIGEE. A woman's undressed gown, Vulgarly termed a + neggledigee. + +NEGROE. A black-a-moor: figuratively used for a slave. + I'll be no man's negro; I will be no man's slave. + +NEGROE'S HEADS. Brown leaves delivered to the ships in + ordinary. + +NESCIO. He sports a Nescio; he pretends not to understand + any thing. After the senate house examination for + degrees, the students proceed to the schools, to be + questioned by the proctor. According to custom + immemorial the answers MUST be Nescio. The following is + a translated specimen: + + Ques. What is your name?--Ans. I do not know. + Ques. What is the name of this university?--Ans. I do not + know. + Ques. Who was your father?-Ans. I do not know. + This last is probably the only true answer of the three! + +NETTLED. Teized, provoked, out of temper. He or she has + pissed on a nettle; said of one who is peevish or out of + temper. + +NEW COLLEGE STUDENTS. Golden scholars, silver bachelors, + and leaden masters. + +NEW DROP. The scaffold used at Newgate for hanging + of criminals; which dropping down, leaves them + suspended. By this improvement, the use of that vulgar + vehicle, a cart, is entirely left off. + +NEW LIGHT. One of the new light; a methodist. + +NEWGATE BIRD. A thief or sharper, frequently caged in + Newgate. + +NEWGATE SOLICITOR. A petty fogging and roguish attorney, + who attends the gaols to assist villains in evading + justice. + +NEWMAN'S LIFT. The gallows. + +NEWMAN'S TEA GARDENS. Newgate. + +NEWMAN'S HOTEL. Newgate. + +To NICK. To win at dice, to hit the mark just in the nick + of time, or at the critical moment. + +NICK. Old nick; the Devil. + +NICKNAME. A name given in ridicule or contempt: from + the French nom de niqne. Niqne is a movement of the head + to mark a contempt for any person or thing. + +NICK NINNY. A simpleton. + +NICKIN, NIKEY or NIZEY. A soft simple fellow; also a + diminutive of Isaac. + +NICKNACKS. Toys, baubles, or curiosities. + +NlCKNACKATORY. A toyshop. + +NICKUMPOOP, or NINCUMPOOP. A foolish fellow; also + one who never saw his wife's ****. + +NIFFYNAFFY FELLOW. A trifler. + +NIG. The clippings of money. Nigging; clipping. Nigler, + a clipper. Cant. + +NIGGLING. Cutting awkwardly, trifling; also accompanying + with a woman. + +NIGHT MAGISTRATE. A constable. + +NIGHTINGALE. A soldier who, as the term is, sings out + at the halberts. It is a point of honour in some + regiments, among the grenadiers, never to cry out, + become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the + cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet. + +NIGHTMAN. One whose business it is to empty necessary + houses in London, which is always done in the night; the + operation is called a wedding. See WEDDING. + +NIGMENOG. A very silly fellow. + +TO NIM. To steal or pilfer: from the German nemen, to + take. Nim a togeman; steal a cloak. + +NIMGIMMER. A physician or surgeon, particularly those + who cure the venereal disease. + +NINE LIVES. Cats are said to have nine lives, and women + ten cats lives. + +NINNY, or NINNYHAMMER. A simpleton. + +NIP. A cheat. Bung nipper; a cutpurse. + +NIP CHEESE. A nick name for the purser of a ship: from + those gentlemen being supposed sometimes to nip, or + diminish, the allowance of the seamen, in that and every + other article. It is also applied to stingy persons in + general. + +NIPPERKIN. A small measure. + +NIPPS. The sheers used in clipping money. + +NIT SQUEEGER, i.e. SQUEEZER. A hair-dresser. + +NIX. Nothing. + +NO CATCHY NO HAVY. If I am not caught, I cannot be hurt. + Negro saying. + +NOB. A king. A man of rank. + +NOB. The head. + +NOBTHATCHER. A peruke-maker. + +NOCK. The breech; from NOCK, a notch. + +NOCKY BOY. A dull simple fellow. + +NOD. He is gone to the land of nod; he is asleep. + +NODDLE. The head. + +NODDY. A simpleton or fool. Also a kind of low cart, + with a seat before it for the driver, used in and about + Dublin, in the manner of a hackney coach: the fare is + just half that of a coach, for the same distance; so + that for sixpence one may have a set down, as it is + called, of a mile and half, and frequently a tumble + down into the bargain: it is called a noddy from the + nutation of its head. Knave noddy; the old-fashioned + name for the knave of trumps. + +NOISY DOG RACKET. Stealing brass knockers from doors. + +NOKES. A ninny, or fool. John-a-Nokes and Tom-a-Stiles; + two honest peaceable gentlemen, repeatedly set together + by the ears by lawyers of different denominations: two + fictitious names formerly used in law proceedings, but + now very seldom, having for several years past been + supplanted by two other honest peaceable gentlemen, + namely, John Doe and Richard Roe. + +NOLL. Old Noll; Oliver Cromwell. + +NON-CON. A nonconformist, presbyterian, or any other + dissenter. + +NONE-SUCH. One that is unequalled: frequently applied + ironically. + +NONSENSE. Melting butter in a wig. + +NOOZED. Married, hanged. + +NOPE. A blow: as, I took him a nope on the costard. + +NORFOLK CAPON. A red herring. + +NORFOLK DUMPLING. A nick name, or term of jocular + reproach to a Norfolk man; dumplings being a favourite + food in that county. + +NORTH ALLERTONS. Spurs; that place, like Rippon, + being famous for making them. + +NORTHUMBERLAND. Lord Northumberland's arms; a black + eye: so called in the last century. + +NORWAY NECKCLOTH. The pillory, usually made of Norway + fir. + +NOSE. As plain as the nose on your face; evidently to be + seen. He is led by the nose; he is governed. To follow + one's nose; to go strait forward. To put one's nose + out of joint; to rival one in the favour of any person. + To make a bridge of any one's nose; to pass by him in + drinking. To nose a stink; to smell it. He cut off his + nose to be revenged of his face; said of one who, to be + revenged on his neighbour, has materially injured + himself. + +NOSE. A man who informs or turns king's evidence. + +TO NOSE. To give evidence. To inform. His pall nosed and + he was twisted for a crack; his confederate turned + king's evidence, and he was hanged for burglary. + +TO NOSE. To bully. + +NOSE BAG. A bag fastened to the horse's head, in which + the soldiers of the cavalry put the oats given to their + horses: whence the saying, I see the hose bag in his + face; i.e. he has been a private man, or rode private. + +NOSE GENT. A nun. + +NOSTRUM. A medicine prepared by particular persons + only, a quack medicine. + +NOTCH. The private parts of a woman. + +NOTE. He changed his note; he told another sort of a + story. + +NOUS-BOX. The head. + +NOZZLE. The nose of a man or woman. + +NUB. The neck; also coition. + +NUBBING. Hanging. Nubbing cheat: the gallows. Nubbing + cove; the hangman. Nubbing ken; the sessions + house. + +NUG. An endearing word: as, My dear nug; my dear love. + +NUGGING DRESS. An out-of-the-way old-fashioned dress, + or rather a loose kind of dress, denoting a courtesan. + +NUGGING-HOUSE. A brothel. + +TO NULL. To beat: as, He nulled him heartily. + +NUMBERS. To consult the book of numbers: a term used + in the House of Commons, when, instead of answering or + confuting a pressing argument, the minister calls for a + division, i.e. puts the matter to the vote. + +NUMBSCULL. A stupid fellow. + +NUMMS. A sham collar, to be worn over a dirty shirt. + +NUNNERY. A bawdy house. + +TO NURSE. To cheat: as, they nursed him out of it. An + estate in the hands of trustees, for the payment of + bdebts, is said to be at nurse. + +NUTS. It was nuts for them; i.e. it was very agreeable to + them. + +NUTS. Fond; pleased. She's nuts upon her cull; she's + pleased with her cully. The cove's nutting the blowen; + the man is trying to please the girl. + +NUTCRACKERS. The pillory: as, The cull peeped through + the nutcrackers. + +NUTMEGS. Testicles. + +NYP, or NIP. A half pint, a nip of ale: whence the + nipperkin, a small vessel. + +NYP SHOP. The Peacock in Gray's Inn Lane, where + Burton ale is sold in nyps. + +NYPPER. A cut-purse: so called by one Wotton, who in + the year 1585 kept an academy for the education and + perfection of pickpockets and cut-purses: his school was + near Billingsgate, London. As in the dress of ancient + times many people wore their purses at their girdles, + cutting them was a branch of the light-fingered art, + which is now lost, though the name remains. Maitland, + from Stow, gives the following account of this Wotton: + This man was a gentleman born, and sometime a merchant + of good credit, but fallen by time into decay: he kept + an alehouse near Smart's Key, near Billingsgate, + afterwards for some misdemeanor put down. He reared up a + new trade of life, and in the same house he procured all + the cut-purses about the city, to repair to his house; + there was a school-house set up to learn young boys to + cut purses: two devices were hung up; one was a pocket, + and another was a purse; the pocket had in it certain + counters, and was hung about with hawks bells, and over + the top did hang a little sacring bell. The purse had + silver in it; and he that could take out a counter, + without noise of any of the bells, was adjudged a + judicial NYPPER: according to their terms of art, a + FOYSTER was a pick-pocket; a NYPPER was a pick purse, + or cut-purse. + +O BE JOYFUL. I'll make you sing O be joyful on the + other side of your mouth; a threat, implying the party + threatened will be made to cry. To sing O be easy; to + appear contented when one has cause to complain, and + dare not. + +OAF. A silly fellow. + +OAFISH. Simple. + +OAK. A rich maa, a man of good substance and credit. + To sport oak; to shut the outward door of a student's + room at college. An oaken towel; an oaken cudgel. To + rub a man down with an oaken towel; to beat him. + +OATS. He has sowed his wild oats; he is staid, or sober, + having left off his wild tricks. + +OATHS. The favourite oaths of the thieves of the present + day are, "God strike me blind!" "I wish my bloody eyes + may drop out if it is not true!" "So help me God!" + "Bloody end to me!" + +OAR. To put in one's oar; to intermeddle, or give an + opinion unasked: as, To be sure, you must put in your + oar! + +OBSTROPULOUS. Vulgar misnomer of OBSTREPEROUS: as, I + was going my rounds, and found this here gemman very + obstropulous, whereof I comprehended him as an + auspicious parson. + +OCCUPY. To occupy a woman; to have carnal knowledge + of her. + +ODDFELLOWS. A convivial society; the introduction to + the most noble grand, arrayed in royal robes, is well worth + seeing at the price of becoming a member. + +ODDS PLUT AND HER NAILS. A Welch oath, frequently + mentioned in a jocular manner by persons, it is hoped, + ignorant of its meaning; which is, By God's blood, and + the nails with which he was nailed to the cross. + +ODD-COME-SHORTLYS. I'll do it one of these odd-come-shortly's; + I will do it some time or another. + +OFFICE. To give the office; to give information, or make + signs to the officers to take a thief. + +OGLES. Eyes. Rum ogles; fine eyes. + +OIL OF BARLEY, or BARLEY BROTH. Strong beer. + +OIL OF GLADNESS. I will anoint you with the oil of gladness; + ironically spoken for, I will beat you. + +OIL OF STIRRUP. A dose the cobler gives his wife whenever + she is obstropulous. + +OI POAAOI (Proofreaders Note: Greek Letters). + (CAMBRIDGE.) The many; the multitude; + who take degrees without being entitled for an honor. + All that is REQUIRED, are three books of Euclid, and as far + as Quadratic Equation's in Algebra. See PLUCKED. + +OLD. Ugly. CANT. + +OLD DOG AT IT. Expert, accustomed. + +OLD HAND. Knowing or expert in any business. + +OLD HARRY. A composition used by vintners to adulterate + their wines; also the nick-name for the devil. + +OLD DING. See OLD HAT. + +OLD MR. GORY. A piece of gold. + +OLD NICK. The Devil: from NEKEN, the evil spirit of the + north. + +OLD ONE. The Devil. Likewise an expression of quizzical + familiarity, as "how d'ye do, OLD ONE?" + +OLD PEGG. Poor Yorkshire cheese, made of skimmed + milk. + +OLD POGER. The Devil. + +OLD STAGER. One accustomed to business, one who knows + mankind. + +OLD TOAST. A brisk old fellow. CANT. + +OLD DOSS. Bridewell. + +OLIVER'S SCULL. A chamber pot. + +OLLI COMPOLLI. The name of one of the principal rogues + of the canting crew. CANT. + +OMNIUM GATHERUM. The whole together: jocular imitation + of law Latin. + +ONE IN TEN. A parson: an allusion to his tithes. + +ONE OF US, or ONE OF MY COUSINS. A woman of the + town, a harlot. + +ONION. A seal. Onion hunters, a class of young thieves + who are on the look out for gentlemen who wear their + seals suspended on a ribbon, which they cut, and thus + secure the seals or other trinkets suspended to the watch. + +OPEN ARSE. A medlar. See MEDLAR. + +OPTIME. The senior and junior optimes are the second + and last classes of Cambridge honors conferred on taking + a degree. That of wranglers is the first. The last + junior optime is called the Wooden Spoon. + +ORGAN. A pipe. Will you cock your organ? will you + smoke your pipe? + +ORTHODOXY AND HETERODOXY. Somebody explained these + terms by saying, the first was a man who had a doxy of + his own, the second a person who made use of the doxy + of another man. + +OSCHIVES. Bone-handled knives. CANT. + +OSTLER. Oatstealer. + +OTTOMY. The vulgar word for a skeleton. + +OTTOMISED. To be ottomised; to be dissected. You'll be + scragged, ottomised, and grin in a glass case: you'll be + hanged, anatomised, and your skeleton kept in a glass + case at Surgeons' Hall. + +OVEN. A great mouth; the old woman would never have + looked for her daughter in the oven, had she not been there + herself. + +OVERSEER. A man standing in the pillory, is, from his + elevated situation, said to be made an overseer. + +OUT AT HEELS, OR OUT AT ELBOWS. In declining circumstances. + +OUTRUN THE CONSTABLE. A man who has lived above his + means, or income, is said to have outrun the constable. + +OUTS. A gentleman of three outs. See GENTLEMAN. + +OWL. To catch the; a trick practised upon ignorant country + boobies, who are decoyed into a barn under pretence + of catching an owl, where, after divers preliminaries, the + joke ends in their having a pail of water poured upon their + heads. + +OWL IN AN IVY BUSH. He looks like an owl in an ivy + bush; frequently said of a person with a large frizzled wig, + or a woman whose hair is dressed a-la-blowze. + +OWLERS. Those who smuggle wool over to France. + +OX HOUSE. He must go through the ox house to bed; a saying + of an old fellow who marries a young girl. + +OYES. Corruption of oyez, proclaimed by the crier of all + courts of justice. + +OYSTER. A gob of thick phlegm, spit by a consumptive + man; in law Latin, UNUM VIRIDUM GOBBUM + +P'S. To mind one's P's and Q's; to be attentive to the + main chance. + +P.P.C. An inscription on the visiting cards of our modern + fine gentleman, signifying that they have called POUR + PRENDRE CONGE, i.e. 'to take leave,' This has of late been + ridiculed by cards inscribed D.I.O. i.e. 'Damme, I'm off.' + +PACKET. A false report. + +PACKTHREAD. To talk packthread; to use indecent language + well wrapt up. + +PAD. The highway, or a robber thereon; also a bed. Footpads; + foot robbers. To go out upon the pad; to go out + in order to commit a robbery. + +PAD BORROWERS. Horse stealers. + +TO PAD THE HOOF. See To BEAT THE HOOF. + +PADDINGTON FAIR DAY. An execution day, Tyburn being + in the parish or neighbourhood of Paddington. To dance + the Paddington frisk; to be hanged. + +PADDY. The general name for an Irishman: being the + abbreviation of Patrick, the name of the tutelar saint of that + island. + +PAINTER. I'll cut your painter for you; I'll send you off; + the painter being the ropfe that holds the boat fast to the + ship. SEA TERM. + +PAIR OF WINGS. Oars. CANT. + +TO PALAVER. To flatter: originally an African word for a + treaty, talk, or conference. + +PALLIARDS. Those whose fathers were clapperdogens, or + beggars born, and who themselves follow the same trade: + the female sort beg with a number of children, borrowing + them, if they have not a sufficient number of their own, + and making them cry by pinching in order to excite + charity; the males make artificial sores on different parts of + their bodies, to move compassion. + +PALL. A companion. One who generally accompanies + another, or who commit robberies together. + +PAM. The knave of clubs. + +PANNAM. Bread. + +PANNIER MAN. A servant belonging to the Temple and + Gray's Inn, whose office is to announce the dinner. This + in the Temple, is done by blowing a horn; and in Gray's + Inn proclaiming the word Manger, Manger, Manger, in + each of the three courts. + +PANNY. A house. To do a panny: to rob a house. See + the Sessions Papers. Probably, panny originally meant + the butler's pantry, where the knives and forks, spoons, + &c. are usually kept The pigs frisked my panney, and + nailed my screws; the officers searched my house, and + seized my picklock keys. CANT. + +PANTER. A hart: that animal is, in the Psalms, said to + pant after the fresh water-brooks. Also the human + heart, which frequently pants in time of danger. CANT. + +PANTILE SHOP. A presbyterian, or other dissenting meeting + house, frequently covered with pantiles: called also + a cock-pit. + +PANTLER. A butler. + +PAP. Bread sauce; also the food of infants. His mouth is + full of pap; he is still a baby. + +PAPER SCULL. A thin-scull'd foolish fellow. + +PAPLER. Milk pottage. + +PARELL. Whites of eggs, bay salt, milk, and pump water, + beat together, and poured into a vessel of wine to prevent + its fretting. + +PARENTHESIS. To put a man's nose into a parenthesis: to + pull it, the fingers and thumb answering the hooks or + crochets. A wooden parenthesis; the pillory. An iron + parenthesis; a prison. + +PARINGS. The chippings of money. CANT. + +PARISH BULL. A parson. + +PARISH. His stockings are of two parishes; i.e. they are + not fellows. + +PARISH SOLDIER. A jeering name for a militiaman: from + substitutes being frequently hired by the parish from + which one of its inhabitants is drawn. + +PARK PAILING. Teeth. + +PARSON. A guide post, hand or finger post by the road + side for directing travellers: compared to a parson, + because, like him, it sets people in the right way. See + GUIDE POST. He that would have luck in horse-flesh, + must kiss a parson's wife. + +PARSON'S JOURNEYMAN. A curate. + +PARSON PALMER. A jocular name, or term of reproach, + to one who stops the circulation of the glass by preaching + over his liquor; as it is said was done by a parson of that + name whose cellar was under his pulpit. + +PARTIAL. Inclining more to one side than the other, + crooked, all o' one hugh. + +PASS BANK. The place for playing at passage, cut into + the ground almost like a cock-pit. Also the stock or + fund. + +PASSAGE. A camp game with three dice: doublets, making + up ten or more, to pass or win; any other chances + lose. + +PAT. Apposite, or to the purpose. + +PATE. The head. Carroty-pated; red-haired. + +PATRICO, or PATER-COVE. The fifteenth rank of the canting + tribe; strolling priests that marry people under a + hedge, without gospel or common prayer book: the + couple standing on each side of a dead beast, are bid to live + together till death them does part; so shaking hands, the + wedding is ended. Also any minister or parson. + +PATTERING. The maundering or pert replies of servants; + also talk or palaver in order to amuse one intended to be + cheated. Pattering of prayers; the confused sound of a + number of persons praying together. + +TO PATTER. To talk. To patter flash; to speak flash, or + the language used by thieves. How the blowen lushes + jackey, and patters flash; how the wench drinks gin, and + talks flash. + +PAVIOUR'S WORKSHOP. The street. + +TO PAUM. To conceal in the hand. To paum a die: to + hide a die in the palm of the hand. He paums; he cheats. + Don't pretend to paum that upon me. + +PAUNCH. The belly. Some think paunch was the original + name of that facetious prince of puppets, now called + Mr. Punch, as he is always represented with a very + prominent belly: though the common opinion is, that both + the name and character were taken from a celebrated Italian + comedian, called Polichenello. + +PAW. A hand or foot; look at his dirty paws. Fore paw; + the hand. Hind paw; the foot. To paw; to touch or + handle clumsily. + +PAW PAW TRICKS. Naughty tricks: an expression used + by nurses, &c. to children. + +TO PAY. To smear over. To pay the bottom of a ship or + boat; to smear it over with pitch: The devil to pay, and + no pitch hot or ready. SEA TERM.--Also to beat: as, I will + pay you as Paul paid the Ephesians, over the face and eyes, + and all your d---d jaws. To pay away; to fight manfully, + also to eat voraciously. To pay through the nose: to pay + an extravagant price. + +To PEACH. To impeach: called also to blow the gab, squeak, + or turn stag. + +PEAK. Any kind of lace. + +PEAL. To ring a peal in a man's ears; to scold at him: his + wife rang him such a peal! + +PEAR MAKING. Taking bounties from several regiments + and immediately deserting. The cove was fined in the + steel for pear making; the fellow was imprisoned in the + house of correction for taking bounties from different + regiments. + +PECCAVI. To cry peccavi; to acknowledge one's self in an + error, to own a fault: from the Latin PECCAVI, I have sinned. + +PECK. Victuals. Peck and booze; victuals and drink. + +PECKISH. Hungry. + +PECULIAR. A mistress. + +PED. A basket. CANT. + +PEDLAR'S FRENCH. The cant language. Pedlar's pony; + a walking-stick. + +To PEEL. To strip: allusion to the taking off the coat or + rind of an orange or apple. + +PEEPER. A spying glass; also a looking-glass. Track up + the dancers, and pike with the peeper; whip up stairs, + and run off with the looking-glass. CANT. + +PEEPERS. Eyes. Single peeper, a one-eyed man. + +PEEPING TOM. A nick name for a curious prying fellow; + derived from an old legendary tale, told of a taylor of + Coventry, who, when Godiva countess of Chester rode at + noon quite naked through that town, in order to procure + certain immunities for the inhabitants, (notwithstanding + the rest of the people shut up their houses) shly peeped + out of his window, for which he was miraculously struck + blind. His figure, peeping out of a window, is still kept + up in remembrance of the transaction. + +PEEPY. Drowsy. + +To PEER. To look about, to be circumspect. + +PEERY. Inquisitive, suspicious. The cull's peery; that + fellow suspects something. There's a peery, tis snitch + we are observed, there's nothing to be done. + +PEG. Old Peg; poor hard Suffolk or Yorkshire cheese. A + peg is also a blow with a straightarm: a term used by the + professors of gymnastic arts. A peg in the day-light, + the victualling office, or the haltering-place; a blow in the + eye, stomach, or under the ear. + +PEG TRANTUM'S. Gone to Peg Trantum's; dead. + +PEGO. The penis of man or beast. + +PELL-MELL. Tumultuously, helter skelter, jumbled together. + +PELT. A heat, chafe, or passion; as, What a pelt he was + in! Pelt is also the skin of several beasts. + +PENANCE BOARD. The pillory. + +PENNY-WISE AND POUND FOOLISH. Saving in small matters, + and extravagant in great. + +PENNYWORTH. An equivalent. A good pennyworth; + cheap bargain. + +PENTHOUSE NAB. A broad brimmed hat. + +PEPPERED. Infected with the venereal disease. + +PEPPERY. Warm, passionate. + +PERKIN. Water cyder. + +PERRIWINKLE. A wig. + +PERSUADERS. Spurs. The kiddey clapped his persuaders + to his prad but the traps boned him; the highwayman + spurred his horse hard, but the officers seized him. + +PET. In a pet; in a passion or miff. + +PETER. A portmanteau or cloke-bag. Biter of peters; one + that makes it a trade to steal boxes and trunks from behind + stage coaches or out of waggons. To rob Peter to + pay Paul; to borrow of one man to pay another: styled + also manoeuvring the apostles. + +PETER GUNNER, will kill all the birds that died last summer. + A piece of wit commonly thrown out at a person + walking through a street or village near London, with a + gun in his hand. + +PETER LAY. The department of stealing portmanteaus, + trunks, &c. + +PETER LUG. Who is Peter Lug? who lets the glass stand + at his door, or before him. + +PETTICOAT HOLD. One who has an estate during his wife's + life, called the apron-string hold. + +PETTICOAT PENSIONER. One kept by a woman for secret + services. + +PETTISH. Passionate. + +PETTY FOGGER. A little dirty attorney, ready to undertake + any litigious or bad cause: it is derived from the French + words petit vogue, of small credit, or little reputation. + +PHARAOH. Strong malt liquor. + +PHILISTINES. Bailiffs, or officers of justice; also drunkards. + +PHOENIX-MEN. Firemen belonging to an insurance office, + which gave a badge charged with a phoenix: these men + were called likewise firedrakes. + +PHOS BOTTLE. A. bottle of phosphorus: used by housebreakers + to light their lanthorns. Ding the phos; throw + away the bottle of phosphorus. + +PHRASE OF PAPER. Half a quarter of a sheet. See VESSEL, PHYSOG. + +PHYSOG. The face. A vulgar abbreviation of physiognomy. + +PHYZ. The face. Rum phyz; an odd face or countenance. + +PICAROON. A pirate; also a sharper. + +PICKANINY. A young child, an infant. NEGRO TERM. + +PICKING. Pilfering, petty larceny. + +PICKLE. An arch waggish fellow. In pickle, or in the + pickling tub; in a salivation. There are rods in brine, or + pickle, for him; a punishment awaits him, or is prepared + for him. Pickle herring; the zany or merry andrew + of a mountebank. See JACK PUDDING. + +PICKT HATCH. To go to the manor of pickt hatch, a + cant name for some part of the town noted for bawdy + houses in Shakespeare's time, and used by him in that + sense. + +PICKTHANK. A tale-bearer or mischief maker. + +PICTURE FRAME. The sheriff's picture frame; the gallows + or pillory. + +To PIDDLE. To make water: a childish expression; as, + Mammy, I want to piddle. Piddling also means trifling, + or doing any thing in a small degree: perhaps from peddling. + +PIECE. A wench. A damned good or bad piece; a girl + who is more or less active and skilful in the amorous congress. + Hence the (CAMBRIDGE) toast, May we never have + a PIECE (peace) that will injure the constitution. Piece + likewise means at Cambridge a close or spot of ground + adjacent to any of the colleges, as Clare-hall Piece, &c. + The spot of ground before King's College formerly belonged + to Clare-hall. While Clare Piece belonged to King's, + the master of Clare-hall proposed a swop, which being + refused by the provost of King's, he erected before their + gates a temple of CLOACINA. It will be unnecessary to say + that his arguments were soon acceded to. + +PIG. A police officer. A China street pig; a Bow-street + officer. Floor the pig and bolt; knock down the officer + and run away. + +PIG. Sixpence, a sow's baby. Pig-widgeon; a simpleton. + To pig together; to lie or sleep together, two or more in + a bed. Cold pig; a jocular punishment inflicted by the + maid seryants, or other females of the house, on persons + lying over long in bed: it consists in pulling off all the + bed clothes, and leaving them to pig or lie in the cold. To + buy a pig in a poke; to purchase any thing without seeing. + Pig's eyes; small eyes. Pigsnyes; the same: a vulgar + term of endearment to a woman. He can have boiled + pig at home; a mark of being master of his own house: + an allusion to a well known poem and story. Brandy is + Latin for pig and goose; an apology for drinking a dram + after either. + +PIG-HEADED. Obstinate. + +PIG RUNNING. A piece of game frequently practised at + fairs, wakes, &c. A large pig, whose tail is cut short, and + both soaped and greased, being turned out, is hunted by + the young men and boys, and becomes the property of him + who can catch and hold him by the tail, above the height + of his head. + +PIGEON. A weak silly fellow easily imposed on. To pigeon; + to cheat. To milk the pigeon; to attempt impossibilities, + to be put to shifts for want of money. To + fly a blue pigeon; to steal lead off a church. + +PIGEONS. Sharpers, who, during the drawing of the lottery, + wait ready mounted near Guildhall, and, as soon as + the first two or three numbers are drawn, which they receive + from a confederate on a card, ride with them full + speed to some distant insurance office, before fixed on, + where there is another of the gang, commonly a decent + looking woman, who takes care to be at the office before + the hour of drawing: to her he secretly gives the number, + which she insures for a considerable sum: thus biting + the biter. + +PIGEON'S MILK. Boys and novices are frequently sent on + the first of April to buy pigeons milk. + +To PIKE. To run away. Pike off; run away. + +PILGRIM'S SALVE. A sirreverence, human excrement. + +PILL, or PEELE GARLICK. Said originally to mean one + whose skin or hair had fallen off from some disease, chiefly + the venereal one; but now commonly used by persons + speaking of themselves: as, there stood poor pill garlick: + i.e. there stood I. + +PILLALOO. The Irish cry or howl at funerals. + +PIMP. A male procurer, or cock bawd; also a small faggot + used about London for lighting fires, named from introducing + the fire to the coals. + +PIMP WHISKIN. A top trader in pimping. + +PIMPLE. The head. + +PIN. In or to a merry pin; almost drunk: an allusion to + a sort of tankard, formerly used in the north, having silver + pegs or pins set at equal distances from the top to the + bottom: by the rules of good fellowship, every person + drinking out of one of these tankards, was to swallow + the quantity contained between two pins; if he drank + more or less, he was to continue drinking till he ended at + a pin: by this means persons unaccustomed to measure + their draughts were obliged to drink the whole tankard. + Hence when a person was a little elevated with liquor, + he was said to have drunk to a merry pin. + +PIN BASKET. The youngest child. + +PIN MONEY. An allowance settled on a married woman + for her pocket expences. + +PINCH. At a pinch; on an exigency. + +PINCH. To go into a tradesman's shop under the pretence + of purchasing rings or other light articles, and while + examining them to shift some up the sleeve of the coat. + Also to ask for change for a guinea, and when the silver + is received, to change some of the good shillings for bad + ones; then suddenly pretending to recollect that you had + sufficient silver to pay the bill, ask for the guinea again, + and return the change, by which means several bad shillings + are passed. + +To PINCH ON THE PARSON'S SIDE. To defraud the parson + of his tithe. + +PINCHERS. Rogues who, in changing money, by dexterity + of hand frequently secrete two or three shillings out of + the change of a guinea. This species of roguery is called + the pinch, or pinching lay. + +To PINK. To stab or wound with a small sword: probably + derived from the holes formerly cut in both men and women's + clothes, called pinking. Pink of the fashion; the + top of the mode. To pink and wink; frequently winking + the eyes through a weakness in them. + +PINKING-DINDEE. A sweater or mohawk. IRISH. + +PINS. Legs. Queer pins; ill shapen legs. + +PIPER. A broken winded horse. + +PISCINARIANS. A club or brotherhood, A.D. 1743. + +PISS. He will piss when he can't whistle; he will be hanged. + He shall not piss my money against the wall; he shall not + have my money to spend in liquor. + + He who once a good name gets, + May piss a bed, and say he sweats. + +PISS-BURNED. Discoloured: commonly applied to a discoloured + grey wig. + +PISS MAKER. A great drinker, one much given to liquor. + +PISS POT HALL. A house at Clapton, near Hackney, built + by a potter chiefly out of the profits of chamber pots, in the + bottom of which the portrait of Dr. Sacheverel was depicted. + +PISS PROPHET. A physician who judges of the diseases of + his patients solely by the inspection of their urine. + +PISS-PROUD. Having a false erection. That old fellow + thought he had an erection, but his--was only piss-proud; + said of any old fellow who marries a young wife. + +PISSING DOWN ANY ONE'S BACK. Flattering him. + +PISSING PINS AND NEEDLES. To have a gonorrhea. + +PIT. A watch fob. He drew a rare thimble from the swell's + pit. He took a handsome watch from the gentleman's + fob. + +PIT. To lay pit and boxes into one; an operation in midwifery + or copulation, whereby the division between the + anus and vagina is cut through, broken, and demolished: + a simile borrowed from the playhouse, when, for the benefit + of some favourite player, the pit and boxes are laid together. + The pit is also the hole under the gallows, where + poor rogues unable to pay the fees are buried. + +PITT'S PICTURE. A window stopt up on the inside, to save + the tax imposed in that gentleman's administration. PARTY WIT + +PIT-A-PAT. The palpitation of the heart: as, my heart + went pit-a-pat. Pintledy-pantledy; the same. + +PITCH-KETTLED. Stuck fast, confounded. + +PITCHER. The miraculous pitcher, that holds water with + the mouth downwards: a woman's commodity. She has + crack'd her pitcher or pipkin; she has lost her maidenhead. + +PIZZY CLUB. A society held, A. D, 1744, at the sign of + the Tower, on Tower Hill: president, Don Pizzaro. + +PLAISTER OF WARM GUTS. One warm belly'dapped to another; + a receipt frequently prescribed for different disorders. + +PLANT. The place in the house of the fence where stolen + goods are secreted. Any place where stolen goods are concealed. + +To PLANT. To lay, place, or hide. Plant your wids and + stow them; be careful what you say, or let slip. Also to + bury, as, he was planted by the parson. + +PLATE. Money, silver, prize. He is in for the plate; he + has won the KEAT, i.e. is infected with the venereal disorder: + a simile drawn from horse-racing. When the plate + fleet comes in; when money comes to hand. + +PLATTER-FACED. Broad-faced. + +PLAY. To play booty; to play with an intention to lose. To + play the whole game; to cheat. To play least in sight; + to hide, or keep out of the way. To play the devil; to be + guilty of some great irregularity or mismanagement. + +PLUCK. Courage. He wants pluck: he is a coward. + Against the pluck; against the inclination. Pluck the + Ribbon; ring the bell. To pluck a crow with one; to + settle a dispute, to reprove one for some past transgression. + To pluck a rose; an expression said to be used by women + for going to the necessary house, which in the country usually + stands in the garden. To pluck also signifies to deny a + degree to a candidate at one of the universities, on account + of insufficiency. The three first books of Euclid, and as + far as Quadratic Equations in Algebra, will save a man + from being plucked. These unfortunate fellows are designated by + many opprobrious appellations, such as the twelve + apostles, the legion of honor, wise men of the East, &c. + +PLUG TAIL. A man's penis. + +PLUMB. An hundred thousand pounds. + +PLUMMY. It is all plummy; i.e. all is right, or as it ought + to be. + +PLUMP. Fat, full, fleshy. Plump in the pocket; full in + the pocket. To plump; to strike, or shoot. I'll give + you a plump in the bread basket, or the victualling office: + I'll give you a blow in the stomach. Plump his peepers, + or day-lights; give him a blow in the eyes. He pulled out + his pops and plumped him; he drew out his pistols and + shot him. A plumper; a single vote at an election. Plump + also means directly, or exactly; as, it fell plump upon + him: it fell directly upon him. + +PLUMP CURRANT. I am not plump currant; I am out of + sorts. + +PLUMPERS. Contrivances said to be formerly worn by old + maids, for filling out a pair of shrivelled cheeks. + +PLYER. A crutch; also a trader. + +POGY. Drunk. + +POINT. To stretch a point; to exceed some usual limit, to + take a great stride. Breeches were usually tied up with + points, a kind of short laces, formerly given away by the + churchwardens at Whitsuntide, under the denomination + of tags: by taking a great stride these were stretched. + +POISONED. Big with child: that wench is poisoned, see + how her belly is swelled. Poison-pated: red-haired. + +POKE. A blow with the fist: I'll lend you a poke. A poke + likewise means a sack: whence, to buy a pig in a poke, + i.e. to buy any thing without seeing or properly examining it. + +POKER. A sword. Fore pokers; aces and kings at cards. + To burn your poker; to catch the venereal disease. + +POLE. He is like a rope-dancer's polo, lead at both ends; + a saying of a stupid sluggish fellow. + +POLISH. To polish the king's iron with one's eyebrows; to be + in gaol, and look through the iron grated windows. To + polish a bone; to eat a meal. Come and polish a bone + with me; come and eat a dinner or supper with me. + +POLL. The head, jolly nob, napper, or knowledge box; + also a wig. + +POLT. A blow. Lend him a polt in the muns; give him a + knock in the face. + +TO POMMEL. To beat: originally confined to beating with + the hilt of a sword, the knob being, from its similarity to + a small apple, called pomelle; in Spanish it is still called + the apple of the sword. As the clenched fist likewise + somewhat resembles an apple, perhaps that might occasion the + term pommelling to be applied to fisty-cuffs. + +POMP. To save one's pomp at whist, is to score five before + the adversaries are up, or win the game: originally derived + from pimp, which is Welsh for five; and should be, I + have saved my pimp. + +POMPAGINIS. Aqua pompaginis; pump water. See + AQUA. + +POMPKIN. A man or woman of Boston in America: from, + the number of pompkins raised and eaten by the people + of that country. Pompkinshire; Boston and its dependencies. + +PONEY. Money. Post the poney; lay down the money. + +PONTIUS PILATE. A pawnbroker. Pontius Pilate's guards, + the first regiment of foot, or Royal Scots: so intitled from + their supposed great antiquity. Pontius Pilate's counsellor; + one who like him can say, Non invenio causam, I can find + no cause. Also (Cambridge) a Mr. Shepherd of Trinity + College; who disputing with a brother parson on the comparative + rapidity with which they read the liturgy, offered + to give him as far as Pontius Pilate in the Belief. + +POPE. A figure burned annually every fifth of November, + in memory of the gunpowder plot, which is said to have + been carried on by the papists. + +POPE'S NOSE. The rump of a turkey. + +POPS. Pistols. Popshop: a pawnbroker's shop. To pop; + to pawn: also to shoot. I popped my tatler; I pawned my + watch. I popt the cull; I shot the man. His means are + two pops and a galloper; that is, he is a highwayman. + +POPLERS. Pottage. CANT. + +PORK. To cry pork; to give intelligence to the undertaker + of a funeral; metaphor borrowed from the raven, whose + note sounds like the word pork. Ravens are said to smell + carrion at a distance. + +PORKER. A hog: also a Jew. + +PORRIDGE. Keep your breath to cool your porridge; i. e. + held your tongue. + +PORRIDGE ISLAND. An alley leading from St. Martin's + church-yard to Round-court, chiefly inhabited by cooks, + who cut off ready-dressed meat of all sorts, and also sell + soup. + +POSEY, or POESY. A nosegay. I shall see you ride backwards + up Holborn-hill, with a book in one hand, and a + posey in t'other; i.e. I shall see you go to be hanged. + Malefactors who piqued themselves on being properly + equipped for that occasion, had always a nosegay to smell + to, and a prayer book, although they could not read. + +POSSE MOBILITATIS. The mob. + +POST MASTER GENERAL. The prime minister, who has + the patronage of all posts and places. + +POST NOINTER. A house painter, who occasionally paints + or anoints posts. Knight of the post; a false evidence, + one ready to swear any thing for hire. From post to + pillar; backwards and forwards. + +POSTILION OF THE GOSPEL. A parson who hurries over the + service. + +POT. The pot calls the kettle black a-se; one rogue + exclaims against another. + +POT. On the pot; i.e. at stool. + +POT CONVERTS. Proselytes to the Romish church, made + by the distribution of victuals and money. + +POT HUNTER. One who hunts more tor the sake of the + prey than the sport. Pot valiant; courageous from drink. + Potwallopers: persons entitled to vote in certain + boroughs by having boiled a pot there. + +POTATOE TRAP. The mouth. Shut your potatoe trap and + give your tongue a holiday; i.e. be silent. IRISH WIT. + +POTHOOKS AND HANGEKS. A scrawl, bad writing. + +POT-WABBLERS. Persons entitled to vote for members of + parliament in certain boroughs, from having boiled their + pots therein. These boroughs are called pot-wabbling + boroughs. + +POULAIN. A bubo. FRENCH. + +POULTERER. A person that guts letters; i.e. opens them + and secretes the money. The kiddey was topped for the + poultry rig; the young fellow was hanged for secreting + a letter and taking out the contents. + +POUND. To beat. How the milling cove pounded the cull + for being nuts on his blowen; how the boxer beat the fellow + for taking liberties with his mistress. + +POUND. A prison. See LOB'S POUND. Pounded; imprisoned. + Shut up in the parson's pound; married. POWDER + +POWDER MONKEY. A boy on board a ship of war, whose + business is to fetch powder from the magazine. + +POWDERING TUB. The same as pickling tub. See + PICKLING TUB. + +PRAD LAY. Cutting bags from behind horses. CANT. + +PRAD. A horse. The swell flashes a rum prad: the + e gentleman sports a fine horse. + +PRANCER. A horse. Prancer's nab.; a horse's head, used + as a seal to a counterfeit pass. At the sign of the prancer's + poll, i.e. the nag's head. + +PRATE ROAST. A talkative boy. + +PRATING CHEAT. The tongue. + +PRATTS. Buttocks; also a tinder box. CANT. + +PRATTLE BROTH. Tea. See CHATTER BROTH, SCANDAL + BROTH, &c. + +PRATTLING BOX. The pulpit. + +PRAY. She prays with her knees upwards; said of a woman + much given to gallantry and intrigue. At her last prayers; + saying of an old maid. + +PREADAMITE QUACABITES. This great and laudable society + (as they termed themselves) held their grand chapter + at the Coal-hole. + +P---K. The virile member. + +PRICK-EARED. A prick-eared fellow; one whose ears are + longer than his hair: an appellation frequently given to + puritans, who considered long hair as the mark of the + whore of Babylon. + +PRICKLOUSE. A taylor. + +PRIEST-CRAFT. The art of awing the laity, managing their + consciences, and diving into their pockets. + +PRIEST-LINKED. Married. + +PRIEST-RIDDEN. Governed by a priest, or priests. + +PRIG. A thief, a cheat: also a conceited coxcomical + fellow. + +PRIG NAPPER. A thief taker. + +PRIGGERS. Thieves in general. Priggers of prancers; + horse stealers. Priggers of cacklers: robbers of hen-roosts. + +PRIGGING. Riding; also lying with a woman. + +PRIGSTAR. A rival in love. + +PRIME. Bang up. Quite the thing. Excellent. Well + done. She's a prime piece; she is very skilful in the + venereal act. Prime post. She's a prime article. + +PRIMINAKY. I had like to be brought into a priminary; + i.e. into trouble; from PREMUNIRE. + +PRINCE PRIG. A king of the gypsies; also the head thief + or receiver general. + +PRINCES. When the majesty of the people was a favourite + terra in the House of Commons, a celebrated wit, seeing + chimney sweepers dancing on a May-day, styled them the + young princes. + +PRINCOD. A pincushion. SCOTCH--Also a round plump + man or woman. + +PRINCOX. A pert, lively, forward fellow. + +PRINCUM PRANCUM. Mrs. Princum Prancum; a nice, + precise, formal madam. + +PRINKING. Dressing over nicely: prinked up as if he + came out of a bandbox, or fit to sit upon a cupboard's + head. + +PRINT. All in print, quite neat or exact, set, screwed up. + Quite in print; set in a formal manner. + +PRISCIAN. To break Priscian's head; to write or speak + false grammar. Priscian was a famous grammarian, who + flourished at Constantinople in the year 525; and who + was so devoted to his favourite study, that to speak false + Latin in his company, was as disagreeable to him as to + break his head. + +PRITTLE PRATTLE. Insignificant talk: generally applied + to women and children. + +PROG. Provision. Rum prog; choice provision. To prog; + to be on the hunt for provision: called in the military + term to forage. + +PROPS. Crutches. + +PROPERTY. To make a property of any one; to make + him a conveniency, tool, or cat's paw; to use him as one's + own. + +PROUD. Desirous of copulation. A proud bitch; a bitch + at heat, or desirous of a dog. + +PROVENDER. He from whom any money is taken on the + highway: perhaps provider, or provider. CANT. + +PROPHET. The prophet; the Cock at Temple Bar: so + called, in 1788, by the bucks of the town of the inferior + order. + +PRUNELLA. Mr. Prunella; a parson: parson's gowns being + frequently made of prunella. + +To PRY. To examine minutely into a matter or business. + A prying fellow; a man of impertinent curiosity, apt to + peep and inquire into other men's secrets. + +PUBLIC MAN. A bankrupt. + +PUBLIC LEDGER. A prostitute: because, like that paper, + she is open to all parties. + +PUCKER. All in a pucker; in a dishabille. Also in a + fright; as, she was in a terrible pucker. + +PUCKER WATER. Water impregnated with alum, or other + astringents, used by old experienced traders to + counterfeit virginity. + +PUDDINGS. The guts: I'll let out your puddings. + +PUDDING-HEADED FELLOW. A stupid fellow, one whose + brains are all in confusion. + +PUDDING SLEEVES. A parson. + +PUDDING TIME. In good time, or at the beginning of a + meal: pudding formerly making the first dish. To give + the crows a pudding; to die. You must eat some cold + pudding, to settle your love. + +PUFF, or PUFFER. One who bids at auctions, not with an + intent to buy, but only to raise the price of the lot; for + which purpose many are hired by the proprietor of the + goods on sale. + +PUFF GUTS. A fat man. + +PUFFING. Bidding at an auction, as above; also praising + any thing above its merits, from interested motives. The + art of puffing is at present greatly practised, and essentially + necessary in all trades, professions, and callings. + To puff and blow; to be out of breath. + +PUG. A Dutch pug; a kind of lap-dog, formerly much in + vogue; also a general name for a monkey. + +PUG CARPENTETER. An inferior carpenter, one employed + only in small jobs. + +PUG DRINK. Watered cyder. + +PUGNOSED, or PUGIFIED. A person with a snub or turned + up nose. + +PULLY HAWLY. To have a game at pully hawly; to romp +with women. + +PULL. To be pulled; to be arrested by a police officer. + To have a pull is to have an advantage; generally where + a person has some superiority at a game of chance or + skill. + +PUMP. A thin shoe. To pump; to endeavour to draw a + secret from any one without his perceiving it. Your + pump is good, but your sucker is dry; said by one to a + person who is attempting to pump him. Pumping was + also a punishment for bailiffs who attempted to act in + privileged places, such as the Mint, Temple, &c. It is also + a piece of discipline administered to a pickpocket caught + in the fact, when there is no pond at hand. To pump + ship; to make water, and sometimes to vomit. SEA PHRASE. + +PUMP WATER. He was christened in pump water; commonly + said of a person that has a red face. + +PUNCH. A liquor called by foreigners Contradiction, from + its being composed of spirits to make it strong, water to + make it weak, lemon juice to make it sour, and sugar to + make it sweet. Punch is also the name of the prince of + puppets, the chief wit and support of a puppet-show. + To punch it, is a cant term for running away. Punchable; + old passable money, anno 1695. A girl that is ripe for + man is called a punchable wench. Cobler's Punch. + Urine with a cinder in it. + +PUNK. A whore; also a soldier's trull. See TRULL. + +PUNY. Weak. A puny child; a weak little child. A + puny stomach; a weak stomach. Puny, or puisne judge; + the last made judge. + +PUPIL MONGERS. Persons at the universities who make it + their business to instruct and superintend a number of + pupils. + +PUPPY. An affected or conceited coxcomb. + +PURBLIND. Dim-sighted. + +PURL. Ale in which wormwood has been infused, or ale + and bitters drunk warm. + +PURL ROYAL. Canary wine; with a dash of tincture of + wormwood. + +PURSE PROUD. One that is vain of his riches. + +PURSENETS. Goods taken up at thrice their value, by young + spendthrifts, upon trust. + +PURSER'S PUMP. A bassoon: from its likeness to a syphon, + called a purser's pump. + +PURSY, or PURSIVE. Short-breathed, or foggy, from being + over fat. + +PUSHING SCHOOL. A fencing school; also a brothel. + +PUT. A country put; an ignorant awkward clown. To + put upon any one; to attempt to impose on him, or to + make him the but of the company. + +PUZZLE-CAUSE. A lawyer who has a confused understanding. + +PUZZLE-TEXT. An ignorant blundering parson. + +QUACK. An ungraduated ignorant pretender to skill in + physic, a vender of nostrums. + +QUACK-SALVER. A mountebank: a seller of salves. + +QUACKING CHEAT. A duck. + +QUAG. Abbreviation of quagmire; marshy moorish around. + +QUAIL-PIPE. A woman's tongue; also a device to take + birds of that name by imitating their call. Quail pipe + boots; boots resembling a quail pipe, from the number of + plaits; they were much worn in the reign of Charles II. + +QUAKERS. A religious sect so called from their agitations + in preaching. + +QUAKING CHEAT. A calf or sheep. + +QUANDARY. To be in a quandary: to be puzzled. Also + one so over-gorged, as to be doubtful which he should do + first, sh--e or spew. Some derive the term quandary from + the French phrase qu'en dirai je? what shall I say of it? + others from an Italian word signifying a conjuror's circle. + +QUARREL-PICKER. A glazier: from the small squares in + casements, called CARREUX, vulgarly quarrels. + +QUARROMES, or QUARRON. A body. CANT. + +QUARTERED. Divided into four parts; to be hanged, drawn, + and quartered, is the sentence on traitors and rebels. + Persons receiving part of the salary of an office from the + holder of it, by virtue of an agreement with the donor, are + said to be quartered on him. Soldiers billetted on a publican + are likewise said to be quartered on him. + +TO QUASH. To suppress, annul or overthrow; vulgarly pronounced + squash: they squashed the indictment. + +QUEAN. A slut, or worthless woman, a strumpet. + +QUEEN DICK. To the tune of the life and death of Queen + Dick. That happened in the reign of Queen Dick; i.e., + never. + +QUEEN STREET. A mart governed by his wife, is said to + live in Queen street, or at the sign of the Queen's Head. + +QUEER, or QUIRE. Base, roguish, bad, naught or worthless. + How queerly the cull touts; how roguishly the fellow + looks. It also means odd, uncommon. CANT. + +QUEER AS DICK'S HATBAND. Out of order, without knowing + one's disease. + +TO QUEER. To puzzle or confound. I have queered the + old full bottom; i.e. I have puzzled the judge. To queer + one's ogles among bruisers; to darken one's day lights. + +QUEER WEDGES. Large buckles. + +QUEER BAIL. Insolvent sharpers, who make a profession of + bailing persons arrested: they are generally styled Jew bail, + from that branch of business being chiefly carried on by + the sons of Judah. The lowest sort of these, who borrow + or hire clothes to appear in, are called Mounters, from + their mounting particular dresses suitable to the occasion. + CANT. + +QUEER BIRDS. Rogues relieved from prison, and returned + to their old trade. + +QUEER BIT-MAKERS. Coiners. CANT. + +QUEER BITCH. An odd, out-of-the-way fellow. + +QUEER BLUFFER. The master of a public-house the resort + of rogues and sharpers, a cut-throat inn or alehouse + keeper. + +QUEER BUNG. An empty purse. + +QUEER CHECKERS. Among strolling players, door-keepers + who defraud the company, by falsely checking the number + of people in the house. + +QUEER COLE FENCER. A putter off, or utterer, of bad + money. + +QUEER COLE MAKER. A maker of bad money. + +QUEER COVE. A rogue. CANT. + +QUEER CUFFIN. A justice of the peace; also a churl. + +QUEER DEGEN. An ordinary sword, brass or iron hilted. + +QUEER KEN. A prison. CANT. + +QUEER KICKS. A bad pair of breeches. + +QUEER MORT. A diseased strumpet. CANT. + +QUEER NAB. A felt hat, or other bad hat. + +QUEER PLUNGERS. Cheats who throw themselves into the + water, in order that they may be taken up by their accomplices, + who carry them to one of the houses appointed + by the Humane Society for the recovery of drowned + persons, where they are rewarded by the society with a + guinea each; and the supposed drowned persons, pretending + he was driven to that extremity by great necessity, + also frequently sent away with a contribution in his + pocket. + +QUEER PRANCER. A bad, worn-out, foundered horse; also + a cowardly or faint-hearted horse-stealer. + +QUEER ROOSTER. An informer that pretends to be sleeping, + and thereby overhears the conversation of thieves in + night cellars. + +QUEER STREET. Wrong. Improper. Contrary to one's + wish. It is queer street, a cant phrase, to signify + that it is wrong or different to our wish. + +QUITAM. A quitam horse; one that will both carry and + draw. LAW WIT. + +TO QUIBBLE. To make subtle distinctions; also to play + upon words. + +QUICK AND NIMBLE. More like a bear than a squirrel. + Jeeringly said to any one moving sluggishly on a business + or errand that requires dispatch. + +QUID. The quantity of tobacco put into the mouth at one + time. To quid tobacco; to chew tobacco. Quid est + hoc? hoc est quid; a guinea. Half a quid; half a guinea. + The swell tipped me fifty quid for the prad; the gentleman + gave fifty pounds for the horse. + +QUIDS. Cash, money. Can you tip me any quids? can + you lend me some money? + +QUIFFING. Rogering. See TO ROGER. + +QUIDNUNC. A politician: from a character of that name + in the farce of the Upholsterer. + +QUILL DRIVER. A clerk, scribe, or hackney writer. + +QUIM. The private parts of a woman: perhaps from the + Spanish quemar, to burn. (CAMBRIDGE) A piece's furbelow. + +QUINSEY. Choked by a hempen quinsey; hanged. + +QUIPPS. Girds, taunts, jests. + +QUIRE, or CHOIR BIRD. A complete rogue, one that has + sung in different choirs or cages, i.e. gaols. CANT. + +QUIRKS AND QUILLETS. Tricks and devices. Quirks in + law; subtle distinctions and evasions. + +QUIZ. A strange-looking fellow, an odd dog. OXFORD. + +QUOD. Newgate, or any other prison. The dab's in quod; + the poor rogue is in prison. + +QUOTA. Snack, share, part, proportion, or dividend. Tip + me my quota; give me part of the winnings, booty, or + plunder. CANT. + +RABBIT. A Welch rabbit; bread and cheese toasted, i.e. + a Welch rare bit. Rabbits were also a sort of wooden + canns to drink out of, now out of use. + +RABBIT CATCHER. A midwife. + +RABBIT SUCKERS. Young spendthrifts taking up goods on + trust at great prices. + +RACK RENT. Rent strained to the utmost value. To + lie at rack and manger; to be in great disorder. + +RACKABACK. A gormagon. See GORMAGON. + +RAFFS. An appellation given by the gownsmen of the university + of Oxford to the inhabitants of that place. + +RAG. Bank notes. Money in general. The cove has no + rag; the fellow has no money. + +RAG. A farthing. + +TO RAG. To abuse, and tear to rags the characters of the + persons abused. She gave him a good ragging, or ragged + him off heartily. + +RAG CARRIER. An ensign. + +RAG FAIR. An inspection of the linen and necessaries of a + company of soldiers, commonly made by their officers on + Mondays or Saturdays. + +RAG WATER. Gin, or any other common dram: these + liquors seldom failing to reduce those that drink them to + rags. + +RAGAMUFFIN. A ragged fellow, one all in tatters, a +tatterdemallion. + +RAILS. See HEAD RAILS. A dish of rails; a lecture, jobation, + or scolding from a married woman to her husband. + +RAINBOW. Knight of the rainbow; a footman: from being + commonly clothed in garments of different colours. A + meeting of gentlemen, styled of the most ancient order of + the rainbow, was advertised to be held at the Foppington's + Head, Moorfields. + +RAINY DAY. To lay up something for a rainy day; to + provide against a time of necessity or distress. + +RAKE, RAKEHELL, or RAKESHAME. A lewd, debauched + fellow. + +RALPH SPOONER. A fool. + +RAM CAT. A he cat. + +RAMMISH. Rank. Rammish woman; a sturdy virago. + +RAMMER. The arm. The busnapper's kenchin seized my + rammer; i.e. the watchman laid hold of my arm. CANT. + +TO RAMP. To snatch, or tear any thing forcibly from the + person. + +RAMSHACKLED. Out of repair. A ramshackled house; + perhaps a corruption of RANSACKED, i.e. plundered. + +RANDLE. A set of nonsensical verses, repeated in Ireland + by schoolboys, and young people, who have been guilty + of breaking wind backwards before any of their companions; + if they neglect this apology, they are liable to certain + kicks, pinches, and fillips, which are accompanied with + divers admonitory couplets. + +RANDY. Obstreperous, unruly, rampant. + +RANGLING. Intriguing with a variety of women. + +RANK. Stinking, rammish, ill-flavoured; also strong, great. + A rank knave; a rank coward: perhaps the latter may + allude to an ill savour caused by fear. + +RANK RIDER. A highwayman. + +RANTALLION. One whose scrotum is so relaxed as to be + longer than his penis, i.e. whose shot pouch is longer + that the barrel of his piece. + +RANTIPOLE. A rude romping boy or girl; also a gadabout + dissipated woman. To ride rantipole; the same as riding + St. George. See ST. GEORGE. + +RANTUM SCANTUM. Playing at rantum scantum; making + the beast with two backs. + +To RAP To take a false oath; also to curse. He rapped + out a volley; i.e. he swore a whole volley of oaths. To + rap, means also to exchange or barter: a rap is likewise an + Irish halfpenny. Rap on the knuckles; a reprimand. + +RAPPAREES. Irish robbers, or outlaws, who in the time of + Oliver Cromwell were armed with short weapons, called + in Irish RAPIERS, used for ripping persons up. + +RAPPER. A swinging great lie. + +RAREE SHEW MEN. Poor Savoyards, who subsist by shewing + the magic lantern and marmots about London. + +RASCAL. A rogue or villain: a term borrowed from the + chase; a rascal originally meaning a lean shabby deer, at + the time of changing his horns, penis, &c. whence, in the + vulgar acceptation, rascal is conceived to signify a man + without genitals: the regular vulgar answer to this reproach, + if uttered by a woman, is the offer of an ocular demonstration + of the virility of the party so defamed. Some derive + it from RASCAGLIONE, an Italian word signifying a man. + without testicles, or an eunuch. + +RAT. A drunken man or woman taken up by the watch, + and confined in the watch-house. CANT. To smell a rat; + to suspect some intended trick, or unfair design. + +RATS. Of these there are the following kinds: a black rat + and a grey rat, a py-rat and a cu-rat. + +RATTLE. A dice-box. To rattle; to talk without consideration, + also to move off or go away. To rattle one off; + to rate or scold him. + +RATTLE-PATE. A volatile, unsteady, or whimsical man or + woman. + +RATTLE-TRAPS. A contemptuous name for any curious + portable piece of machinery, or philosophical apparatus. + +RATTLER. A coach. Rattle and prad; a coach and horses. + +RATTLING COVE. A coachman. CANT. + +RATTLING MUMPERS. Beggars who ply coaches. CANT. + +RAWHEAD AND BLOODY BONES. A bull beggar, or scarechild, + with which foolish nurses terrify crying brats. + +READER. A pocket-book. CANT. + +READER MERCHANTS. Pickpockets, chiefly young Jews, + who ply about the Bank to steal the pocket-books of + persons who have just received their dividends there. + +READY. The ready rhino; money. CANT. + +REBUS. A riddle or pun on a man's name, expressed in + sculpture or painting, thus: a bolt or arrow, and a tun, + for Bolton; death's head, and a ton, for Morton. + +RECEIVER GENERAL. A prostitute. + +RECKON. To reckon with one's host; to make an erroneous + judgment in one's own favour. To cast-up one's reckoning + or accounts; to vomit. + +TO RECRUIT. To get a fresh supply of money. + +RECRUITING SERVICE. Robbing on the highway. + +RED FUSTIAN. Port wine. + +RED LANE. The throat. Gone down the red lane; swallowed. + +RED RIBBIN. Brandy. + +RED LATTICE. A public house. + +RED LETTER DAY. A saint's day or holiday, marked in + the calendars with red letters. Red letter men; Roman + Catholics: from their observation of the saint days + marked in red letters. + +RED RAG. The tongue. Shut your potatoe trap, and + give your red rag a holiday; i.e. shut your mouth, and + let your tongue rest. Too much of the red rag (too much + tongue). + +RED SAIL-YARD DOCKERS. Buyers of stores stolen out of + the royal yards and docks. + +RED SHANK. A Scotch Highlander. + +REGULARS. Share of the booty. The coves cracked the + swell's crib, fenced the swag, and each cracksman napped + his regular; some fellows broke open a gentleman's house, + and after selling the property which they had stolen, + they divided the money between them. + +RELIGIOUS HORSE. One much given to prayer, or apt to + be down upon his knees. + +RELIGIOUS PAINTER. One who does not break the commandment + which prohibits the making of the likeness of + any thing in heaven or earth, or in the waters under the + earth. + +THE RELISH. The sign of the Cheshire cheese. + +RELISH. Carnal connection with a woman. + +REMEDY CRITCH. A chamber pot, or member mug. + +REMEMBER PARSON MELHAM. Drink about: a Norfolk + phrase. + +RENDEZVOUS. A place of meeting. The rendezvous of + the beggars were, about the year 1638, according to the + Bellman, St. Quinton's, the Three Crowns in the Vintry, + St. Tybs, and at Knapsbury: there were four barns within + a mile of London. In Middlesex were four other harbours, + called Draw the Pudding out of the Fire, the Cross + Keys in Craneford parish, St. Julian's in Isleworth parish, + and the house of Pettie in Northall parish. In Kent, the + King's Barn near Dartford, and Ketbrooke near Blackheath. + +REP. A woman of reputation. + +REPOSITORY. A lock-up or spunging-house, a gaol. Also + livery stables where horses and carriages are sold by + auction. + +RESCOUNTERS. The time of settlement between the bulls + and bears of Exchange-alley, when the losers must pay + their differences, or become lame ducks, and waddle out + of the Alley. + +RESURRECTION MEN. Persons employed by the students + in anatomy to steal dead bodies out of church-yards. + +REVERENCE. An ancient custom, which obliges any person + easing himself near the highway or foot-path, on the + word REVERENCE being given him by a passenger, to take off + his hat with his teeth, and without moving from his station + to throw it over his head, by which it frequently falls + into the excrement; this was considered as a punishment + for the breach of delicacy, A person refusing to obey this + law, might be pushed backwards. Hence, perhaps, the + term, SIR-REVERENCE. + +REVERSED. A man set by bullies on his head, that his + money may fall out of his breeches, which they afterwards + by accident pick up. See HOISTING. + +REVIEW OF THE BLACK CUIRASSIERS. A visitation of the + clergy. See CROW FAIR. + +RHINO. Money. CANT. + +RIB. A wife: an allusion to our common mother Eve, + made out of Adam's rib. A crooked rib: a cross-grained + wife. + +RIBALDRY. Vulgar abusive language, such as was spoken + by ribalds. Ribalds were originally mercenary soldiers + who travelled about, serving any master far pay, but + afterwards degenerated into a mere banditti. + +RIBBIN. Money. The ribbin runs thick; i.e. there is + plenty of money. CANT. Blue ribbin. Gin. The cull + lushes the blue ribbin; the silly fellow drinks common + gin. + +To RIBROAST. To beat: I'll ribroast him to his heart's + content. + +RICH FACE, or NOSE. A red pimpled, face. + +RICHAUD SNARY. A dictionary. A country lad, having + been reproved for calling persons by their christian names, + being sent by his master to borrow a dictionary, thought + to shew his breeding by asking for a Richard Snary. + +RIDER. A person who receives part of the salary of a place + or appointment from the ostensible occupier, by virtue + of an agreement with the donor, or great man appointing. + The rider is said to be quartered upon the possessor, who + often has one or more persons thus riding behind him. See + QUARTERED. + +RIDGE. A guinea. Ridge cully; a goldsmith. CANT. + +RIDING ST. GEORGE. The woman uppermost in the amorous + congress, that is, the dragon upon St. George. This + is said to be the way to get a bishop. + +RIDING SKIMMINGTON. A ludicrous cavalcade, in ridicule + of a man beaten by his wife. It consists of a man riding + behind a woman, with his face to the horse's tail, holding + a distaff in his hand, at which he seems to work, the woman + all the while beating him with a ladle; a smock displayed + on a staff is carried before them as an emblematical standard, + denoting female superiority: they are accompanied + by what is called the ROUGH MUSIC, that is, frying-pans, bulls + horns, marrow-bones and cleavers, &c. A procession of + this kind is admirably described by Butler in his Hudibras. + He rode private, i.e. was a private trooper. + +RIFF RAFF. Low vulgar persons, mob, tag-rag and bob-tail. + +RIG. Fun, game, diversion, or trick. To run one's rig + upon any particular person; to make him a butt. I am + up to your rig; I am a match for your tricks. + +RIGGING. Clothing. I'll unrig the bloss; I'll strip the + wench. Rum Rigging; fine clothes. The cull has rum + rigging, let's ding him and mill him, and pike; the + fellow has good clothes, let's knock him down, rob him, + and scour off, i.e. run away. + +RIGHT. All right! A favourite expression among thieves, + to signify that all is as they wish, or proper for their + purpose. All right, hand down the jemmy; every thing is + in proper order, give me the crow. + +RIGMAROLE. Roundabout, nonsensical. He told a long + rigmarole story. + +RING. Money procured by begging: beggars so called it + from its ringing when thrown to them. Also a circle formed + for boxers, wrestlers, and cudgel-players, by a man + styled Vinegar; who, with his hat before his eyes, goes + round the circle, striking at random with his whip to + prevent the populace from crowding in. + +TO RING A PEAL. To scold; chiefly applied to women. + His wife rung him a fine peal! + +RING THE CHANGES. When a person receives silver in + change to shift some good shillings and put bad ones in + their place. The person who gave the change is then + requested to give good shillings for these bad ones. + +RIP. A miserable rip; a poor, lean, worn-out horse. A + shabby mean fellow. + +RIPPONS. Spurs: Rippon is famous for a manufactory of + spurs both for men and fighting cocks. + +ROARATORIOS AND UPROARS. Oratorios and operas. + +ROARING BOY. A noisy, riotous fellow. + +ROARER. A broken-winded horse. + +ROARING TRADE. A quick trade. + +TO ROAST. To arrest. I'll roast the dab; I'll arrest the + rascal.--Also to jeer, ridicule, or banter. He stood the + roast; he was the butt.--Roast meat clothes; Sunday or + holiday-clothes. To cry roast meat; to boast of one's + situation. To rule the roast; to be master or paramount. + +ROAST AND BOILED. A nick name for the Life Guards, + who are mostly substantial house-keepers; and eat daily + of roast and boiled. + +ROBERT'S MEN. The third old rank of the canting crew, + mighty thieves, like Robin Hood. + +ROBY DOUGLASS, with one eye and a stinking breath. The + breech. + +ROCHESTER PORTION. Two torn smocks, and what nature gave. + +ROCKED. He was rocked in a stone kitchen; a saying + meant to convey the idea that the person spoken of is a + fool, his brains having been disordered by the jumbling of + his cradle. + +ROGER. A portmanteau; also a man's yard. Cant. + +ROGER, or TIB OF THE BUTTERY. A goose. Cant. Jolly + Roger; a flag hoisted by pirates. + +TO ROGER. To bull, or lie with a woman; from the name + of Roger being frequently given to a bull. + +ROGUES. The fourth order of canters. A rogue in grain; + a great rogue, also a corn chandler. A rogue in spirit; a + distiller or brandy merchant. + +ROGUM POGUM, or DRAGRUM POGRAM. Goat's beard, + eaten for asparagus; so called by the ladies who gather + cresses, &c. who also deal in this plant. + +ROMBOYLES. Watch and ward. Romboyled; sought after + with a warrant. + +ROME MORT. A queen. + +ROMEVILLE. London. Cant. + +ROMP. A forward wanton girl, a tomrig. Grey, in his + notes to Shakespeare, derives it from arompo, an animal + found in South Guinea, that is a man eater. See HOYDEN. + +ROOK. A cheat: probably from the thievish disposition of + the birds of that name. Also the cant name for a crow + used in house-breaking. To rook; to cheat, particularly + at play. + +ROOM. She lets out her fore room and lies backwards: + saying of a woman suspected of prostitution. + +ROOST LAY. Stealing poultry. + +ROPES. Upon the high ropes; elated, in high spirits, + cock-a-hoop. + +ROSE. Under the rose: privately or secretly. The rose + was, it is said, sacred to Harpocrates, the God of silence, + and therefore frequently placed in the ceilings of rooms + destined for the receiving of guests; implying, that + whatever was transacted there, should not be made public. + +ROSY GILLS. One with a sanguine or fresh-coloured countenance. + +ROTAN. A coach, cart, or other wheeled carriage. + +ROT GUT. Small beer; called beer-a-bumble--will burst + one's guts before it will make one tumble. + +ROVERS. Pirates, vagabonds. + +ROUGH. To lie rough; to lie all night in one's clothes: + called also roughing it. Likewise to sleep on the bare + deck of a ship, when the person is commonly advised to + chuse the softest plank. + +ROUGH MUSIC. Saucepans, frying-paps, poker and tongs, + marrow-bones and cleavers, bulls horns, &c. beaten upon + and sounded in ludicrous processions. + +ROULEAU. A number of guineas, from twenty to fifty or + more, wrapped up in paper, for the more ready circulation + at gaming-tables: sometimes they are inclosed in ivory boxes, + made to hold exactly 20, 50, or 100 guineas. + +ROUND DEALING. Plain, honest dealing. + +ROUNDHEADS. A term of reproach to the puritans and + partizans of Oliver Cromwell, and the Rump Parliament, + who it is said made use of a bowl as a guide to trim their + hair. + +ROUND ROBIN. A mode of signing remonstrances practised + by sailors on board the king's ships, wherein their + names are written in a circle, so that it cannot be + discovered who first signed it, or was, in other words, the + ringleader. + +ROUND SUM. A considerable sum. + +ROUND ABOUT. An instrument used in housebreaking. + This instrument has not been long in use. It will cut a + round piece about five inches in diameter out of a shutter + or door. + +ROUND MOUTH. The fundament. Brother round mouth, + speaks; he has let a fart. + +ROUT. A modern card meeting at a private house; also an + order from the Secretary at War, directing the march + and quartering of soldiers. + +ROW. A disturbance; a term used by the students at + Cambridge. + +ROW. To row in the same boat; to be embarked in the + same scheme. + +ROWLAND. To give a Rowland for an Oliver; to give an + equivalent. Rowland and Oliver were two knights famous + in romance: the wonderful achievements of the + one could only be equalled by those of the other. + +ROYAL SCAMPS. Highwaymen who never rob any but + rich persons, and that without ill treating them. See + SCAMP. + +ROYAL STAG SOCIETY. Was held every Monday evening, + at seven o'clock, at the Three tuns, near the Hospital + Gate, Newgate-street. + +ROYSTER. A rude boisterous fellow; also a hound that + opens on a false scent. + +TO RUB. To run away. Don't rub us to the whit; don't + send us to Newgate. CANT.--To rub up; to refresh: to + rub up one's memory. A rub: an impediment. A rubber; + the best two out of three. To win a rubber: to + win two games out of three. + +RUBY FACED. Red-faced. + +RUFF. An ornament formerly worn by men and women + round their necks. Wooden ruff; the pillory. + +RUFFIAN. The devil. CANT.--May the ruffian nab the + cuffin queer, and let the harmanbeck trine with his kinchins + about his colquarren; may the Devil take the justice, + and let the constable be hanged with his children about + his neck. The ruffian cly thee; the Devil take thee. + Ruffian cook ruffian, who scalded the Devil in his feathers; + a saying of a bad cook. Ruffian sometimes also means, + a justice. + +RUFFLES. Handcuffs. CANT. + +RUFFLERS. The first rank of canters; also notorious rogues + pretending to be maimed soldiers or sailors. + +RUFFMANS. The woods, hedges, or bushes. CANT. + +RUG. It is all rug; it is all right and safe, the game is + secure. CANT. + +RUG. Asleep. The whole gill is safe at rug; the people + of the house are fast asleep. + +RUM. Fine, good, valuable. + +RUM BECK. A justice of the peace. CANT. + +RUM BITE. A clever cheat, a clean trick. + +RUM BLEATING CHEAT. A fat wether sheep. CANT. + +RUM BLOWEN. A handsome wench. CANT. + +RUM BLUFFER. A jolly host. CANT. + +RUM BOB. A young apprentice; also a sharp trick. + +RUM BOOZE. Wine, or any other good liquor. Rum boozing + welts; bunches of grapes. CANT. + +RUM BUBBER. A dexterous fellow at stealing silver tankards + from inns and taverns. + +RUM BUGHER. A valuable dog. CANT. + +RUM BUNG. A full purse. CANT. + +RUM CHUB. Among butchers, a customer easily imposed + on, as to the quality and price of meat. CANT. + +RUM CHANT. A song. + +RUM CLOUT. A fine silk, cambric, or holland handkerchief. + CANT. + +RUM COD. A good purse of gold. CANT. + +RUM COLE. New money, or medals. + +RUM COVE. A dexterous or clever rogue. + +RUM CULL. A rich fool, easily cheated, particularly by + his mistress. + +RUM DEGEN. A handsome sword. CANT. + +RUM DELL. See RUM DOXY. + +RUM DIVER. A dextrous pickpocket. CANT. + +RUM DOXY. A fine wench. CANT. + +RUM DRAWERS. Silk, or other fine stockings. CANT. + +RUM DROPPER. A vintner. CANT. + +RUM DUBBER. An expert picklock. + +RUM DUKE. A jolly handsome fellow; also an odd eccentric + fellow; likewise the boldest and stoutest fellows lately + among the Alsatians, Minters, Savoyards, and other + inhabitants of privileged districts, sent to remove and guard + the goods of such bankrupts as intended to take sanctuary + in those places. CANT. + +RUM FILE. See RUM DIVER. + +RUM FUN. A sharp trick. CANT. + +RUM GAGGERS. Cheats who tell wonderful stories of + their sufferings at sea, or when taken by the Algerines, + CANT. + +RUM GHELT. See RUM COLE. CANT. + +RUM GLYMMER. King or chief of the link-boys. CANT. + +RUM KICKS. Breeches of gold or silver brocade, or richly + laced with gold or silver. CANT. + +RUM MAWND. One that counterfeits a fool. CANT + +RUM MORT. A queen, or great lady. CANT. + +RUM NAB. A good hat. + +RUM NANTZ. Good French brandy. CANT. + +RUM NED. A very rich silly fellow. CANT. + +RUM PAD. The highway. CANT. + +RUM PADDERS. Highwaymen well mounted and armed. + CANT. + +RUM PEEPERS. Fine looking-glasses. CANT. + +RUM PRANCER. A fine horse. CANT. + +RUM QUIDS. A great booty. CANT. + +RUM RUFF PECK. Westphalia ham. CANT. + +RUM SNITCH. A smart fillip on the nose. + +RUM SQUEEZE. Much wine, or good liquor, given among + fiddlers. CANT. + +RUM TILTER. See RUM DEGEN. + +RUM TOL. See RUM DEGEN. + +RUM TOPPING. A rich commode, or woman's head-dress. + +RUM VILLE. See ROMEVILLE. + +RUM WIPER. See RUM CLOUT. + +RUMBO. Rum, water, and sugar; also a prison. + +RUMBOYLE. A ward or watch. + +RUMBUMTIOUS. Obstreperous. + +RUMFORD. To ride to Rumford to have one's backside new + bottomed: i.e. to have a pair of new leather breeches. + Rumford was formerly a famous place for leather breeches. + A like saying is current in Norfolk and Suffolk, of Bungay, + and for the same reason.--Rumford lion; a calf. + See ESSEX LION. + +RUMP. To rump any one; to turn the back to him: an + evolution sometimes used at court. Rump and a dozen; + a rump of beef and a dozen of claret; an Irish wager, + called also buttock and trimmings. Rump and kidney + men; fiddlers that play at feasts, fairs, weddings, &c. + and live chiefly on the remnants. + +RUMPUS. A riot, quarrel, or confusion. + +RUN GOODS. A maidenhead, being a commodity never entered. + +RUNNING HORSE, or NAG. A clap, or gleet. + +RUNNING SMOBBLE. Snatching goods off a counter, and + throwing them to an accomplice, who brushes off with + them. + +RUNNING STATIONERS. Hawker of newspapers, trials, and + dying speeches. + +RUNT. A short squat man or woman: from the small cattle + called Welsh runts. + +RUSHERS. Thieves who knock at the doors of great houses + in London, in summer time, when the families are gone + out of town, and on the door being opened by a woman, + rush in and rob the house; also housebreakers who enter + lone houses by force. + +RUSSIAN COFFEE-HOUSE. The Brown Bear in Bow-street, + Covent Garden, a house of call for thief-takers and runners + of the Bow street justices. + +RUSTY. Out of use, To nab the rust; to be refractory; + properly applied to a restive horse, and figuratively + to the human species. To ride rusty; to be sullen; called + also to ride grub. + +RUSTY GUTS. A blunt surly fellow: a jocular misnomer of + RESTICUS. + +RUTTING. Copulating. Rutting time; the season, when + deer go to rut. + +SACHEVEREL. 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. + +SACK. A pocket. To buy the sack: to get drunk. To + dive into the sack; to pick a pocket. To break a bottle + in an empty sack; a bubble bet, a sack with a bottle in + it not being an empty sack. + +SAD DOG. A wicked debauched fellow; one of the ancient + family of the sad dogs. Swift translates it into Latin by + the words TRISTIS CANIS. + +SADDLE. To saddle the spit; to give a dinner or supper. + To saddle one's nose; to wear spectacles. To saddle a + place or pension; to oblige the holder to pay a certain + portion of his income to some one nominated by the donor. + Saddle sick: galled with riding, having lost leather. + +SAINT. A piece of spoilt timber in a coach-maker's shop, + like a saint, devoted to the flames. + +SAINT GEOFFREY'S DAY. Never, there being no saint of + that name: tomorrow-come-never, when two Sundays + come together. + +SAINT LUKE'S BIRD. An ox; that Evangelist being always + represented with an ox. + +SAINT MONDAY. A holiday most religiously observed by + journeymen shoemakers, and other inferior mechanics. A + profanation of that day, by working, is punishable by a + fine, particularly among the gentle craft. An Irishman + observed, that this saint's anniversary happened every + week. + +SAL. An abbreviation of SALIVATION. In a high sal; in the + pickling tub, or under a salivation. + +SALESMAN'S DOG. A barker. Vide BARKER. + +SALMON-GUNDY. Apples, onions, veal or chicken, and + pickled herrings, minced fine, and eaten with oil and + vinegar; some derive the name of this mess from the + French words SELON MON GOUST, because the proportions of + the different ingredients are regulated by the palate of the + maker; others say it bears the name of the inventor, who + was a rich Dutch merchant; but the general and most + probable opinion is, that it was invented by the countess + of Salmagondi, one of the ladies of Mary de Medicis, wife + of King Henry IV. of France, and by her brought into + France. + +SALMON or SALAMON. The beggars'sacrament or oath. + +SALT. Lecherous. A salt bitch: a bitch at heat, or proud + bitch. Salt eel; a rope's end, used to correct boys, &c. at + sea: you shall have a salt eel for supper. + +SAMMY. Foolish. Silly. + +SANDWICH. Ham, dried tongue, or some other salted meat, + cut thin and put between two slices of bread and butter: + said to be a favourite morsel with the Earl of Sandwich. + +SANDY PATE. A red haired man or woman. + +SANGAREE. Rack punch was formerly so called in bagnios. + +SANK, SANKY, or CENTIPEE'S. A taylor employed by + clothiers in making soldier's clothing. + +SAPSCULL. A simple fellow. Sappy; foolish. + +SATYR. A libidinous fellow: those imaginary things are + by poets reported to be extremely salacious. + +SAUCE BOX. A term of familiar raillery, signifying a bold + or forward person. + +SAVE-ALL. A kind of candlestick used by our frugal forefathers, + to burn snuffs and ends of candles. Figuratively, + boys running about gentlemen's houses in Ireland, who + are fed on broken meats that would otherwise be wasted, + also a miser. + +SAUNTERER. An idle, lounging fellow; by some derived + from SANS TERRE; applied to persons, who, having no lands + or home, lingered and loitered about. Some derive it + from persons devoted to the Holy Land, SAINT TERRE, who + loitered about, as waiting for company. + +SAW. An old saw; an ancient proverbial saying. + +SAWNY or SANDY. A general nick-name for a Scotchman, + as Paddy is for an Irishman, or Taffy for a Welchman; + Sawny or Sandy being the familiar abbreviation or + diminution of Alexander, a very favourite name among the + Scottish nation. + +SCAB. A worthless man or woman. + +SCALD MISERABLES. A set of mock masons, who, A.D. + 1744, made a ludicrous procession in ridicule of the + Free Masons. + +SCALDER. A clap. The cull has napped a scalder; the + fellow has got a clap. + +SCALY. Mean. Sordid. How scaly the cove is; how + mean the fellow is. + +SCALY FISH. An honest, rough, blunt sailor. + +SCAMP. A highwayman. Royal scamp: a highwayman + who robs civilly. Royal foot scamp; a footpad who + behaves in like manner. + +TO SCAMPER. To run away hastily. + +SCANDAL BROTH. Tea. + +SCANDAL PROOF. One who has eaten shame and drank + after it, or would blush at being ashamed. + +SCAPEGALLOWS. One who deserves and has narrowly escaped + the gallows, a slip-gibbet, one for whom the gallows + is said to groan. + +SCAPEGRACE. A wild dissolute fellow. + +SCARCE. To make one's self scarce; to steal away. + +SCARLET HORSE. A high red, hired or hack horse: a pun + on the word HIRED. + +SCAVEY. Sense, knowledge. "Massa, me no scavey;" + master, I don't know (NEGRO LANGUAGE) perhaps from the + French SCAVOIR. + +SCHEME. A party of pleasure. + +SCHISM MONGER. A dissenting teacher. + +SCHISM SHOP. A dissenting meeting house. + +A SCOLD'S CURE. A coffin. The blowen has napped the + scold's cure; the bitch is in her coffin. + +SCHOOL OF VENUS. A bawdy-house. + +SCHOOL BUTTER. Cobbing, whipping. + +SCONCE. The head, probably as being the fort and citadel + of a man: from SCONCE, an old name for a fort, derived + from a Dutch word of the same signification; To build a + sconce: a military term for bilking one's quarters. To + sconce or skonce; to impose a fine. ACADEMICAL PHRASE. + +SCOT. A young bull. + +SCOTCH GREYS. Lice. The headquarters of the Scotch + greys: the head of a man full of large lice. + +SCOTCH PINT. A bottle containing two quarts. + +SCOTCH BAIT. A halt and a resting on a stick, as practised + by pedlars. + +SCOTCH CHOCOLATE. Brimstone and milk. + +SCOTCH FIDDLE. The itch. + +SCOTCH MIST. A sober soaking rain; a Scotch mist will + wet an Englishman to the skin. + +SCOTCH WARMING PAN. A wench; also a fart. + +SCOUNDREL. A man void of every principle of honour. + +SCOUR. To scour or score off; to run away: perhaps from + SCORE; i.e. full speed, or as fast as legs would carry one. + Also to wear: chiefly applied to irons, fetters, or + handcuffs, because wearing scours them. He will scour the + darbies; he will be in fetters. To scour the cramp ring; + to wear bolts or fetters, from which, as well as from + coffin hinges, rings supposed to prevent the cramp are + made. + +SCOURERS. Riotous bucks, who amuse themselves with + breaking windows, beating the watch, and assaulting + every person they meet: called scouring the streets. + +SCOUT. A college errand-boy at Oxford, called a gyp at + Cambridge. Also a watchman or a watch. CANT. + +SCRAGGED. Hanged. + +SCRAGGY. Lean, bony. + +SCRAGG'EM FAIR. A public execution. + +SCRAP. A villainous scheme or plan. He whiddles the + whole scrap; he discovers the whole plan or scheme. + +SCRAPE. To get into a scrape; to be involved in a + disagreeable business. + +SCRAPER. A fiddler; also one who scrapes plates for + mezzotinto prints. + +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, as they think, too rigorous. + +SCRATCH. Old Scratch; the Devil: probably from the + long and sharp claws with which he is frequently + delineated. + +SCRATCH LAND. Scotland. + +SCRATCH PLATTER, or TAYLOR'S RAGOUT. Bread sopt in + the oil and vinegar in which cucumbers have been sliced. + +SCREEN. A bank note. Queer screens; forged bank notes. + The cove was twisted for smashing queer screens; the + fellow was hanged for uttering forged bank notes. + +SCREW. A skeleton key used by housebreakers to open a + lock. To stand on the screw signifies that a door is not + bolted, but merely locked. + +TO SCREW. To copulate. A female screw; a common + prostitute. To screw one up; to exact upon one in a + bargain or reckoning. + +SCREW JAWS. A wry-mouthed man or woman. + +SCRIP. A scrap or slip of paper. The cully freely blotted + the scrip, and tipt me forty hogs; the man freely signed + the bond, and gave me forty shillings.--Scrip is also a + Change Alley phrase for the last loan or subscription. + What does scrip go at for the next rescounters? what + does scrip sell for delivered at the next day of settling? + +SCROBY. To be tipt the scroby; to be whipt before the + justices. + +SCROPE. A farthing. CANT. + +SCRUB. A low mean fellow, employed in all sorts of dirty + work. + +SCRUBBADO. The itch. + +SCULL. A head of a house, or master of a college, at the + universities. + +SCULL, or SCULLER. A boat rowed by one man with a + light kind of oar, called a scull; also a one-horse chaise + or buggy. + +SCULL THATCHER. A peruke-maker. + +SCUM. The riff-raff, tag-rag, and bob-tail, or lowest order + of people. + +SCUT. The tail of a hare or rabbit; also that of a woman. + +SCUTTLE. To scuttle off; to run away. To scuttle a + ship; to make a hole in her bottom in order to sink her. + +SEA CRAB. A sailor. + +SEA LAWYER. A shark. + +SEALER, or SQUEEZE WAX. One ready to give bond and + judgment for goods or money. + +SECRET. He has been let into the secret: he has been + cheated at gaming or horse-racing. He or she is in the + grand secret, i.e. dead. + +SEEDY. Poor, pennyless, stiver-cramped, exhausted. + +SEES. The eyes. See DAYLIGHTS. + +SERVED. Found guilty. Convicted. Ordered to be + punished or transported. To serve a cull out; to beat a + man soundly. + +SERAGLIO. A bawdy-house; the name of that part of the + Great Turk's palace where the women are kept. + +SEND. To drive or break in. Hand down the Jemmy and + send it in; apply the crow to the door, and drive it in. + +SET. A dead set: a concerted scheme to defraud a person + by gaming. + +SETTER. A bailiff's follower, who, like a setting dog + follows and points the game for his master. Also + sometimes an exciseman. + +TO SETTLE. To knock down or stun any one. We settled + the cull by a stroke on his nob; we stunned the fellow + by a blow on the head. + +SEVEN-SIDED ANIMAL. A one-eyed man or woman, each + having a right side and a left side, a fore side and a back + side, an outside, an inside, and a blind side. + +SHABBAROON. An ill-dressed shabby fellow; also a mean-spirited person. + +SHAFTSBURY. A gallon pot full of wine, with a cock. + +To SHAG. To copulate. He is but bad shag; he is no able + woman's man. + +SHAG-BAG, or SHAKE-BAG. A poor sneaking fellow; a man + of no spirit: a term borrowed from the cock-pit. + +SHAKE. To shake one's elbow; to game with dice. To + shake a cloth in the wind; to be hanged in chains. + +SHAKE. To draw any thing from the pocket. He shook + the swell of his fogle; he robbed the gentleman of his silk + handkerchief. + +SHALLOW PATE. A simple fellow. + +SHALLOW. A WHIP hat, so called from the want of depth + in the crown. LILLY SHALLOW, a WHITE Whip hat. + +SHAM. A cheat, or trick. To cut a sham; to cheat or deceive. + Shams; false sleeves to put on over a dirty shirt, or + false sleeves with ruffles to put over a plain one. To sham + Abram; to counterfeit sickness. + +TO SHAMBLE. To walk awkwardly. Shamble-legged: + one that walks wide, and shuffles about his feet. + +SHANKER. A venereal wart. + +SHANKS. Legs, or gams. + +SHANKS NAGGY. To ride shanks naggy: to travel on foot. + SCOTCH. + +SHANNON. A river in Ireland: persons dipped in that river + are perfectly and for ever cured of bashfulness. + +SHAPES. To shew one's shapes; to be stript, or made peel, + at the whipping-post. + +SHAPPO, or SHAP. A hat: corruption of CHAPEAU. CANT. + +SHARK. A sharper: perhaps from his preying upon any + one he can lay hold of. Also a custom-house officer, or + tide-waiter. Sharks; the first order of pickpockets. + BOW-STREET TERM, A.D. 1785. + +SHARP. Subtle, acute, quick-witted; also a sharper or + cheat, in opposition to a flat, dupe, or gull. Sharp's the + word and quick's the motion with him; said of any one + very attentive to his own interest, and apt to take all + advantages. Sharp set; hungry. + +SHARPER. A cheat, one that lives by his wits. Sharpers + tools; a fool and false dice. + +SHAVER. A cunning shaver; a subtle fellow, one who + trims close, an acute cheat. A young shaver; a boy. + SEA TERM. + +SHAVINGS. The clippings of money. + +SHE HOUSE. A house where the wife rules, or, as the term + is, wears the breeches. + +SHE LION. A shilling. + +SHE NAPPER. A woman thief-catcher; also a bawd or pimp. + +SHEEP'S HEAD. Like a sheep's head, all jaw; saying of a + talkative man or woman. + +SHEEPISH. Bashful. A sheepish fellow; a bashful or + shamefaced fellow. To cast a sheep's eye at any thing; + to look wishfully at it. + +SHEEPSKIN FIDDLER. A drummer. + +SHELF. On the shelf, i.e. pawned. + +SHERIFF'S JOURNEYMAN. The hangman. + +SHERIFF'S BALL. An execution. To dance at the sheriff's + ball, and loll out one's tongue at the company; to be + hanged, or go to rest in a horse's night-cap, i.e. a halter. + +SHERIFF'S BRACELETS. Handcuffs. + +SHERIFF'S HOTEL. A prison. + +SHERIFF'S PICTURE FRAME. The gallows. + +TO SHERK. To evade or disappoint: to sherk one's duty. + +TO SHERRY. To run away: sherry off. + +SHIFTING. Shuffling. Tricking. Shifting cove; i.e. a + person who lives by tricking. + +SHIFTING BALLAST. A term used by sailors, to signify + soldiers, passengers, or any landsmen on board. + +SHILLALEY. An oaken sapling, or cudgel: from a wood + of that name famous for its oaks. IRISH. + +SHILLY-SHALLY. Irresolute. To stand shilly-shally; to + hesitate, or stand in doubt. + +SHINDY. A dance. SEA PHRASE. + +SHINE. It shines like a shitten barn door. + +SHIP SHAPE. Proper, as it ought to be. SEA PHRASE, + +SH-T SACK. A dastardly fellow: also a non-conformist. + This appellation is said to have originated from the + following story:--After the restoration, the laws against + the non-conformists were extremely severe. They + sometimes met in very obscure places: and there is a tradition + that one of their congregations were assembled in a barn, + the rendezvous of beggars and other vagrants, where the + preacher, for want of a ladder or tub, was suspended in + a sack fixed to the beam. His discourse that day being + on the last judgment, he particularly attempted to describe + the terrors of the wicked at the sounding of the trumpet, + on which a trumpeter to a puppet-show, who had taken + refuge in that barn, and lay hid under the straw, sounded + a charge. The congregation, struck with the utmost + consternation, fled in an instant from the place, leaving + their affrighted teacher to shift for himself. The effects + of his terror are said to have appeared at the bottom of + the sack, and to have occasioned that opprobrious appellation + by which the non-conformists were vulgarly distinguished. + +SH-T-NG THROUGH THE TEETH. Vomiting. Hark ye, + friend, have you got a padlock on your a-se, that you sh-te + through your teeth? Vulgar address to one vomiting. + +SHOD ALL ROUND. A parson who attends a funeral is said + to be shod all round, when he receives a hat-band, gloves, + and scarf: many shoeings being only partial. + +SHOEMAKER'S STOCKS. New, or strait shoes. I was in + the shoemaker's stocks; i.e. had on a new pair of shoes + that were too small for me. + +TO SHOOLE. To go skulking about. + +TO SHOOT THE CAT. To vomit from excess of liquor; + called also catting. + +SHOP. A prison. Shopped; confined, imprisoned. + +SHOPLIFTER. One that steals whilst pretending to purchase + goods in a shop. + +SHORT-HEELED WENCH. A girl apt to fall on her back. + +SHOT. To pay one's shot; to pay one's share of a reckoning. + Shot betwixt wind and water; poxed or clapped. + +SHOTTEN HERRING. A thin meagre fellow. + +To SHOVE THE TUMBLER. To be whipped at the cart's + tail. + +SHOVE IN THE MOUTH. A dram. + +SHOVEL. To be put to bed with a shovel; to be buried. + He or she was fed with a fire-shovel; a saying of a person + with a large mouth. + +SHOULDER FEAST. A dinner given after a funeral, to + those who have carried the corpse. + +SHOULDER CLAPPER. A bailiff, or member of the catch + club. Shoulder-clapped; arrested. + +SHOULDER SHAM. A partner to a file. See FILE. + +SHRED. A taylor. + +SHRIMP. A little diminutive person. + +TO SHUFFLE. To make use of false pretences, or unfair + shifts. A shuffling fellow; a slippery shifting fellow. + +SHY COCK. One who keeps within doors for fear of bailiffs. + +SICE. Sixpence. + +SICK AS A HORSE. Horses are said to be extremely sick + at their stomachs, from being unable to relieve themselves + by vomiting. Bracken, indeed, in his Farriery, gives an + instance of that evacuation being procured, but by a + means which he says would make the Devil vomit. Such + as may have occasion to administer an emetic either to + the animal or the fiend, may consult his book for the + recipe. + +SIDE POCKET. He has as much need of a wife as a dog of + a side pocket; said of a weak old debilitated man. He + wants it as much as a dog does a side pocket; a simile + used for one who desires any thing by no means necessary. + +SIDLEDYWRY. Crooked. + +SIGN OF A HOUSE TO LET. A widow's weeds. + +SIGN OF THE: FIVE SHILLINGS. The crown. + TEN SHILLINGS. The two crowns. + FIFTEEN SHILLINGS. The three crowns. + +SILENCE. To silence a man; to knock him down, or stun + him. Silence in the court, the cat is pissing; a gird upon + any one requiring silence unnecessarily. + +SILENT FLUTE. See PEGO, SUGAR STICK, &c. + +SILK SNATCHERS. Thieves who snatch hoods or bonnets + from persons walking in the streets. + +SILVER LACED. Replete with lice. The cove's kickseys + are silver laced: the fellow's breeches are covered with + lice. + +SIMEONITES, (at Cambridge,) the followers of the Rev. + Charles Simeon, fellow of King's College, author of + Skeletons of Sermons, and preacher at Trinity church; they + are in fact rank methodists. + +SIMKIN. A foolish fellow. + +SIMON. Sixpence. Simple Simon: a natural, a silly fellow; + Simon Suck-egg, sold his wife for an addle duck-egg. + +TO SIMPER. To smile: to simper like a firmity kettle. + +SIMPLETON. Abbreviation of simple Tony or Anthony, a + foolish fellow. + +SIMPLES. Physical herbs; also follies. He must go to + Battersea, to be cut for the simples--Battersea is a place + famous for its garden grounds, some of which were formerly + appropriated to the growing of simples for apothecaries, + who at a certain season used to go down to select their + stock for the ensuing year, at which time the gardeners + were said to cut their simples; whence it became + a popular joke to advise young people to go to Battersea, + at that time, to have their simples cut, or to be cut for + the simples. + +TO SING. To call out; the coves sing out beef; they call + out stop thief. + +TO SING SMALL. To be humbled, confounded, or abashed, + to have little or nothing to say for one's-self. + +SINGLE PEEPER. A person having but one eye. + +SINGLETON. A very foolish fellow; also a particular kind + of nails. + +SINGLETON. A corkscrew, made by a famous cutler of + that name, who lived in a place called Hell, in Dublin; + his screws are remarkable for their excellent temper. + +SIR JOHN. The old title for a country parson: as Sir John + of Wrotham, mentioned by Shakespeare. + +SIR JOHN BARLEYCORN. Strong beer. + +SIR LOIN. The sur, or upper loin. + +SIR REVERENCE. Human excrement, a t--d. + +SIR TIMOTHY. One who, from a desire of being the head + of the company, pays the reckoning, or, as the term is, + stands squire. See SQUIRE. + +SITTING BREECHES. One who stays late in company, is + said to have his sitting breeches on, or that he will sit + longer than a hen. + +SIX AND EIGHT-PENCE. An attorney, whose fee on several + occasions is fixed at that sum. + +SIX AND TIPS. Whisky and small beer. IRISH. + +SIXES AND SEVENS. Left at sixes and sevens: i.e. in + confusion; commonly said of a room where the furniture, + &c. is scattered about; or of a business left unsettled. + +SIZE OF ALE. Half a pint. Size of bread and cheese; a + certain quantity. Sizings: Cambridge term for the college + allowance from the buttery, called at Oxford battles. + +To SIZE. (CAMBRIDGE) To sup at one's own expence. If a + MAN asks you to SUP, he treats you; if to SIZE, you pay + for what you eat--liquors ONLY being provided by the + inviter. + +SIZAR (Cambridge). Formerly students who came to the + University for purposes of study and emolument. + But at present they are just as gay and dissipated as their + fellow collegians. About fifty years ago they were on a + footing with the servitors at Oxford, but by the exertions + of the present Bishop of Llandaff, who was himself a + sizar, they were absolved from all marks of inferiority + or of degradation. The chief difference at present between + them and the pensioners, consists in the less + amount of their college fees. The saving thus made induces + many extravagant fellows to become sizars, that + they may have more money to lavish on their dogs, + pieces, &c. + +SKEW. A cup, or beggar's wooden dish. + +SKEWVOW, or ALL ASKEW. Crooked, inclining to one side. + +SKIN. In a bad skin; out of temper, in an ill humour. + Thin-skinned: touchy, peevish. + +SKIN. A purse. Frisk the skin of the stephen; empty + the money out of the purse. Queer skin; an empty + purse. + +SKIN FLINT. An avaricious man or woman, + +SKINK. To skink, is 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. See BOOTS. + +SKINS. A tanner. + +SKIP JACKS. Youngsters that ride horses on sale, horse-dealers + boys. Also a plaything made for children with + the breast bone of a goose. + +SKIP KENNEL. A footman. + +SKIPPER. A barn. CANT.--Also the captain of a Dutch + vessel. + +TO SKIT. To wheedle. CANT. + +SKIT. A joke. A satirical hint. + +SKRIP. See SCRIP. + +SKULKER. A soldier who by feigned sickness, or other + pretences, evades his duty; a sailor who keeps below in + time of danger; in the civil line, one who keeps out of + the way, when any work is to be done. To skulk; to + hide one's self, to avoid labour or duty. + +SKY BLUE. Gin. + +SKY FARMERS. Cheats who pretend they were farmers + in the isle of Sky, or some other remote place, and were + ruined by a flood, hurricane, or some such public calamity: + or else called sky farmers from their farms being IN + NUBIBUS, 'in the clouds.' + +SKY PARLOUR. The garret, or upper story. + +SLABBERING BIB. A parson or lawyer's band. + +SLAG. A slack-mettled fellow, one not ready to resent an + affront. + +SLAM. A trick; also a game at whist lost without scoring + one. To slam to a door; to shut it with violence. + +SLAMKIN. A female sloven, one whose clothes seem hung + on with a pitch-fork, a careless trapes. + +SLANG. A fetter. Double slanged; double ironed. Now + double slanged into the cells for a crop he is knocked + down; he is double ironed in the condemned cells, and + ordered to be hanged. + +SLANG. Cant language. + +SLAP-BANG SHOP. A petty cook's shop, where there is + no credit given, but what is had must be paid DOWN + WITH THE READY SLAP-BANG, i.e. immediately. This is a + common appellation for a night cellar frequented by + thieves, and sometimes for a stage coach or caravan. + +SLAPDASH. Immediately, instantly, suddenly. + +SLASHER. A bullying, riotous fellow. IRISH. + +SLAT. Half a crown. CANT. + +SLATE. A sheet. CANT. + +SLATER'S PAN. The gaol at Kingston in Jamaica: Slater + is the deputy Provost-marshal. + +SLATTERN. A woman sluttishly negligent in her dress. + +SLEEPING PARTNER. 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. + +SLEEPY. Much worn: the cloth of your coat must be extremely + sleepy, for it has not had a nap this long time. + +SLEEVELESS ERRAND. A fool's errand, in search of what + it is impossible to find. + +SLICE. To take a slice; to intrigue, particularly with a + married woman, because a slice off a cut loaf is not missed. + +SLIPGIBBET. See SCAPEGALLOWS. + +SLIPPERY CHAP. One on whom there can be no dependance, + a shuffling fellow. + +SLIPSLOPS. Tea, water-gruel, or any innocent beverage + taken medicinally. + +SLIPSLOPPING. Misnaming and misapplying any hard + word; from the character of Mrs. Slipslop, in Fielding's + Joseph Andrews. + +SLOP. Tea. How the blowens lush the slop. How the + wenches drink tea! + +SLOPS. Wearing apparel and bedding used by seamen. + +SLOP SELLER. A dealer in those articles, who keeps a + slop shop. + +SLOUCH. A stooping gait, a negligent slovenly fellow. + To slouch; to hang down one's head. A slouched hat: + a hat whose brims are let down. + +SLUBBER DE GULLION. A dirty nasty fellow. + +SLUG. A piece of lead of any shape, to be fired from a + blunderbuss. To fire a slug; to drink a dram. + +SLUG-A-BED. A drone, one that cannot rise in the morning. + +SLUICE YOUR GOB. Take a hearty drink. + +SLUR. To slur, is a method of cheating at dice: also to + cast a reflection on any one's character, to scandalize. + +SLUSH. Greasy dish-water, or the skimmings of a pot + where fat meat has been boiled. + +SLUSH BUCKET. A foul feeder, one that eats much greasy food. + +SLY BOOTS. A cunning fellow, under the mask of simplicity. + +SMABBLED, or SNABBLED. Killed in battle. + +TO SMACK. To kiss. I had a smack at her muns: I kissed + her mouth. To smack calves skin; to kiss the book, i.e. + to take an oath. The queer cuffin bid me smack calves + skin, but I only bussed my thumb; the justice bid me + kiss the book, but I only kissed my thumb. + +SMACKSMOOTH. Level with the surface, every thing cut away. + +SMACKING COVE. A coachman. + +SMALL CLOTHES. Breeches: a gird at the affected delicacy + of the present age; a suit being called coat, waistcoat, + and articles, or small clothes. + +SMART. Spruce, fine: as smart as a carrot new scraped. + +SMART MONEY. Money allowed to soldiers or sailors for + the loss of a limb, or other hurt received in the service. + +SMASHER. A person who lives by passing base coin. The + cove was fined in the steel for smashing; the fellow was + ordered to be imprisoned in the house of correction for + uttering base coin. + +SMASH. Leg of mutton and smash: a leg of mutton and + mashed turnips. SEA TERM. + +TO SMASH. To break; also to kick down stairs. CANT. + To smash. To pass counterfeit money. + +SMEAR. A plasterer. + +SMEAR GELT. A bribe. GERMAN. + +SMELLER. A nose. Smellers: a cat's whiskers. + +SMELLING CHEAT. An orchard, or garden; also a nosegay. + CANT. + +SMELTS. Half guineas. CANT. + +SMICKET. A smock, or woman's shift. + +SMIRK. A finical spruce fellow. To smirk; to smile, or + look pleasantly. + +SMITER. An arm. To smite one's tutor; to get money + from him. ACADEMIC TERM. + +SMITHFIELD BARGAIN. A bargain whereby the purchaser + is taken in. This is likewise frequently used to express + matches or marriages contracted solely on the score of + interest, on one or both sides, where the fair sex are bought + and sold like cattle in Smithfield. + +SMOCK-FACED. Fair faced. + +TO SMOKE. To observe, to suspect. + +SMOKER. A tobacconist. + +SMOKY. Curious, suspicious, inquisitive. + +SMOUCH. Dried leaves of the ash tree, used by the smugglers + for adulterating the black or bohea teas. + +SMOUS. A German Jew. + +SMUG. A nick name for a blacksmith; also neat and spruce. + +SMUG LAY. Persons who pretend to be smugglers of lace + and valuable articles; these men borrow money of + publicans by depositing these goods in their hands; they + shortly decamp, and the publican discovers too late that he has + been duped; and on opening the pretended treasure, he + finds trifling articles of no value. + +SMUGGLING KEN. A bawdy-house. + +TO SMUSH. To snatch, or seize suddenly. + +SMUT. Bawdy. Smutty story; an indecent story. + +SMUT. A copper. A grate. Old iron. The cove was lagged + for a smut: the fellow was transported for stealing a + copper. + +SNACK. A share. To go snacks; to be partners. + +TO SNABBLE. To rifle or plunder; also to kill. + +SNAFFLER. A highwayman. Snaffler of prances; a horse + stealer. + +TO SNAFFLE. To steal. To snaffle any ones poll; to + steal his wig. + +SNAGGS. Large teeth; also snails. + +SNAKESMAN. See LITTLE SNAKESMAN. + +SNAP DRAGON. A Christmas gambol: raisins and almonds + being put into a bowl of brandy, and the candles + extinguished, the spirit is set on fire, and the company + scramble for the raisins. + +TO SNAP THE GLAZE. To break shop windows or show + glasses. + +SNAPPERS. Pistols. + +SNAPT. Taken, caught. + +SNATCH CLY. A thief who snatches women's pockets. + +SNEAK. A pilferer. Morning sneak; one who pilfers early + in the morning, before it is light. Evening sneak; an + evening pilferer. Upright sneak: one who steals pewter + pots from the alehouse boys employed to collect them. + To go upon the sneak; to steal into houses whose doors + are carelessly left open. CANT. + +SNEAKER. A small bowl. + +SNEAKING BUDGE. One that robs alone. + +SNEAKSBY. A mean-spirited fellow, a sneaking cur. + +SNEERING. Jeering, flickering, laughing in scorn. + +SNICKER. A glandered horse. + +TO SNICKER, or SNIGGER. To laugh privately, or in one's + sleeve. + +TO SNILCH. To eye, or look at any thing attentively: the + cull snilches. CANT. + +SNIP. A taylor. + +SNITCH. To turn snitch, or snitcher; to turn informer. + +TO SNITE. To wipe, or slap. Snite his snitch; wipe his + nose, i.e. give him a good knock. + +TO SNIVEL. To cry, to throw the snot or snivel about. + Snivelling; crying. A snivelling fellow; one that whines + or complains. + +TO SNOACH. To speak through the nose, to snuffle. + +SNOB. A nick name for a shoemaker. + +TO SNOOZE, or SNOODGE. To sleep. To snooze with a + mort; to sleep with a wench. CANT. + +SNOOZING KEN. A brothel. The swell was spiced in a + snoozing ken of his screens; the gentleman was robbed of + his bank notes in a brothel. + +SNOW. Linen hung out to dry or bleach. Spice the snow; + to steal the linen. + +SNOUT. A hogshead. CANT. + +SNOWBALL. A jeering appellation for a negro. + +TO SNUB. To check, or rebuke. + +SNUB DEVIL. A parson. + +SNUB NOSE. A short nose turned up at the end. + +SNUDGE. A thief who hides himself under a bed, in Order + to rob the house. + +SNUFF. To take snuff; to be offended. + +TO SNUFFLE. To speak through the nose. + +SNUFFLES. A cold in the head, attended with a running at + the nose. + +SNUG. All's snug; all's quiet. + +TO SOAK. To drink. An old soaker; a drunkard, one that + moistens his clay to make it stick together. + +SOCKET MONEY. A whore's fee, or hire: also money paid + for a treat, by a married man caught in an intrigue. + +SOLDIER'S BOTTLE. A large one. + +SOLDIER'S MAWND. A pretended soldier, begging with a + counterfeit wound, which he pretends to have received at + some famous siege or battle. + +SOLDIER'S POMATUM. A piece of tallow candle. + +SOLDIER. A red herring. + +SOLFA. A parish clerk. + +SOLO PLAYER. A miserable performer on any instrument, + who always plays alone, because no one will stay in the + room to hear him. + +SOLOMON. The mass. CANT. + +SON OF PRATTLEMENT. A lawyer. + +SONG. He changed his song; he altered his account or + evidence. It was bought for an old song, i.e. very cheap. + His morning and his evening song do not agree; he tells a + different story. + +SOOTERKIN. A joke upon the Dutch women, supposing + that, by their constant use of stoves, which they place + under their petticoats, they breed a kind of small animal in + their bodies, called a sooterkin, of the size of a mouse, + which when mature slips out. + +SOP. A bribe. A sop for Cerberus; a bribe for a porter, + turnkey, or gaoler. + +SOPH. (Cambridge) An undergraduate in his second year. + +SORREL. A yellowish red. Sorrel pate; one having red + hair. + +SORROW SHALL BE HIS SOPS. He shall repent this. Sorrow + go by me; a common expletive used by presbyterians + in Ireland. + +SORRY. Vile, mean, worthless. A sorry fellow, or hussy; + a worthless man or woman. + +SOT WEED. Tobacco. + +SOUL CASE. The body. He made a hole in his soul + case; he wounded him. + +SOUL DOCTOR, or DRIVER. A parson. + +SOUNDERS. A herd of swine. + +SOUSE. Not a souse; not a penny. FRENCH. + +SOW. A fat woman. He has got the wrong sow by the ear, + he mistakes his man. Drunk as David's sow; see DAVID'S + SOW. + +SOW'S BABY. A sucking pig. + +SOW CHILD. A female child. + +SPADO. A sword. SPANISH. + +SPANGLE. A seven shilling piece. + +SPANK. (WHIP) To run neatly along, beteen a trot and + gallop. The tits spanked it to town; the horses went + merrily along all the way to town. + +SPANISH. The spanish; ready money. + +SPANISH COIN. Fair words and compliments. + +SPANISH FAGGOT. The sun. + +SPANISH GOUT. The pox. + +SPANISH PADLOCK. A kind of girdle contrived by jealous + husbands of that nation, to secure the chastity of their + wives. + +SPANISH, or KING OF SPAIN'S TRUMPETER. An ass + when braying. + +SPANISH WORM. A nail: so called by carpenters when they + meet with one in a board they are sawing. + +SPANKS, or SPANKERS. Money; also blows with the open + hand. + +SPANKING. Large. + +SPARK. A spruce, trim, or smart fellow. A man that is + always thirsty, is said to have a spark in his throat. + +SPARKISH. Fine, gay. + +SPARKING BLOWS. Blows given by cocks before they close, + or, as the term is, mouth it: used figuratively for words + previous to a quarrel. + +SPARROW. Mumbling a sparrow; a cruel sport frequently + practised at wakes and fairs: for a small premium, a booby + having his hands tied behind him, has the wing of a cock + sparrow put into his mouth: with this hold, without any + other assistance than the motion of his lips, he is to get the + sparrow's head into his mouth: on attempting to do it, the + bird defends itself surprisingly, frequently pecking the + mumbler till his lips are covered with blood, and he is + obliged to desist: to prevent the bird from getting away, he + is fastened by a string to a button of the booby's coat. + +SPARROW-MOUTHED. Wide-mouthed, like the mouth of a + sparrow: it is said of such persons, that they do not hold + their mouths by lease, but have it from year to year; i.e. + from ear to ear. One whose mouth cannot be enlarged + without removing their ears, and who when they yawn + have their heads half off. + +SPATCH COCK. [Abbreviation of DISPATCH COCK.] A hen just + killed from the roost, or yard, and immediately skinned, + split, and broiled: an Irish dish upon any sudden occasion. + +TO SPEAK WITH. To rob. I spoke with the cull on the + cherry-coloured prancer; I robbed the man on the black + horse. CANT. + +SPEAK. Any thing stolen. He has made a good speak; he + has stolen something considerable. + +SPECKED WHIPER. A coloured hankerchief. CANT. + +SPICE. To rob. Spice the swell; rob the gentleman. + +SPICE ISLANDS. A privy. Stink-hole bay or dilberry creek. + The fundament. + +SPIDER-SHANKED. Thin-legged. + +TO SPIFLICATE. To confound, silence, or dumbfound. + +SPILT. A small reward or gift. + +SPILT. Thrown from a horse, or overturned in a carriage; + pray, coachee, don't spill us. + +SPINDLE SHANKS. Slender legs. + +TO SPIRIT AWAY. To kidnap, or inveigle away. + +SPIRITUAL FLESH BROKER. A parson. + +SPIT. He is as like his father as if he was spit out of his + mouth; said of a child much resembling his father. + +SPIT. A sword. + +SPIT FIRE. A violent, pettish, or passionate person. + +SPLICED. Married: an allusion to joining two ropes ends by + splicing. SEA TERM. + +SPLIT CROW. The sign of the spread eagle, which being + represented with two heads on one neck, gives it somewhat + the appearance of being split. + +SPLIT CAUSE. A lawyer. + +SPLIT FIG. A grocer. + +SPLIT IRON. The nick-name for a smith. + +SPOONEY. (WHIP) Thin, haggard, like the shank of a spoon; + also delicate, craving for something, longing for sweets. + Avaricious. That tit is damned spooney. She's a spooney + piece of goods. He's a spooney old fellow. + +SPOIL PUDDING. A parson who preaches long sermons, + keeping his congregation in church till the puddings are + overdone. + +TO SPORT. To exhibit: as, Jack Jehu sported a new gig + yesterday: I shall sport a new suit next week. To sport + or flash one's ivory; to shew one's teeth. To sport timber; + to keep one's outside door shut; this term is used in the + inns of court to signify denying one's self. N.B. The + word SPORT was in great vogue ann. 1783 and 1784. + +SPUNGE. A thirsty fellow, a great drinker. To spunge; to + eat and drink at another's cost. Spunging-house: a bailiff's + lock-up-house, or repository, to which persons arrested are + taken, till they find bail, or have spent all their money: a + house where every species of fraud and extortion is practised + under the protection of the law. + +SPUNK. Rotten touchwood, or a kind of fungus prepared + for tinder; figuratively, spirit, courage. + +SPOON HAND. The right hand. + +TO SPOUT. To rehearse theatrically. + +SPOUTING CLUB. A meeting of apprentices and mechanics + to rehearse different characters in plays: thus forming + recruits for the strolling companies. + +SPOUTING. Theatrical declamation. + +SPOUTED. Pawned. + +SPREAD. Butter. + +SPREAD EAGLE. A soldier tied to the halberts in order to + be whipped; his attitude bearing some likeness to that + figure, as painted on signs. + +SPREE. A frolic. Fun. A drinking bout. A party of + pleasure. + +SPRING-ANKLE WAREHOUSE. Newgate, or any other gaol: + IRISH. + +SQUAB. A fat man or woman: from their likeness to a + well-stuffed couch, called also a squab. A new-hatched + chicken. + +SQUARE. Honest, not roguish. A square cove, i.e. a + man who does not steal, or get his living by dishonest + means. + +SQUARE TOES. An old man: square toed shoes were + anciently worn in common, and long retained by old + men. + +SQUEAK. A narrow escape, a chance: he had a squeak for + his life. To squeak; to confess, peach, or turn stag. + They squeak beef upon us; they cry out thieves after + us. CANT. + +SQUEAKER. A bar-boy; also a bastard or any other child. + To stifle the squeaker; to murder a bastard, or throw It + into the necessary house.--Organ pipes are likewise called + squeakers. The squeakers are meltable; the small + pipes are silver. CANT. + +SQUEEZE CRAB. A sour-looking, shrivelled, diminutive + fellow. + +SQUEEZE WAX. A good-natured foolish fellow, ready to + become security for another, under hand and seal. + +SQUELCH. A fall. Formerly a bailiff caught in a barrack-yard + in Ireland, was liable by custom to have three tosses + in a blanket, and a squelch; the squelch was given by letting + go the corners of the blanket, and suffering him to + fall to the ground. Squelch-gutted; fat, having a prominent + belly. + +SQUIB. A small satirical or political temporary jeu d'esprit, + which, like the firework of that denomination, sparkles, + bounces, stinks, and vanishes. + +SQUINT-A-PIPES. A squinting man or woman; said to + be born in the middle of the week, and looking both + ways for Sunday; or born in a hackney coach, and looking + out of both windows; fit for a cook, one eye in the + pot, and the other up the chimney; looking nine ways at + once. + +SQUIRE OF ALSATIA. A weak profligate spendthrift, the + squire of the company; one who pays the whole reckoning, + or treats the company, called standing squire. + +SQUIRISH. Foolish. + +SQUIRREL. A prostitute: because she like that animal, covers + her back with her tail. Meretrix corpore corpus alit. + Menagiana, ii. 128. + +SQUIRREL HUNTING. See HUNTING. + +STAG. To turn stag; to impeach one's confederates: from + a herd of deer, who are said to turn their horns against + any of their number who is hunted. + +TO STAG. To find, discover, or observe. + +STAGGERING BOB, WITH HIS YELLOW PUMPS. A calf + just dropped, and unable to stand, killed for veal in Scotland: + the hoofs of a young calf are yellow. + +STALL WHIMPER. A bastard. CANT. + +STALLING. Making or ordaining. Stalling to the rogue; + an ancient ceremony of instituting a candidate into the + society of rogues, somewhat similar to the creation of a + herald at arms. It is thus described by Harman: the upright + man taking a gage of bowse, i.e. a pot of strong drink, + pours it on the head of the rogue to be admitted; saying,--I, + A.B. do stall thee B.C. to the rogue; and from henceforth + it shall be lawful for thee to cant for thy living in all + places. + +STALLING KEN. A broker's shop, or that of a receiver of + stolen goods. + +STALLION. A man kept by an old lady for secret services. + +STAM FLESH. To cant. CANT. + +STAMMEL, or STRAMMEL. A coarse brawny wench. + +STAMP. A particular manner of throwing the dice out of + the box, by striking it with violence against the table. + +STAMPS. Legs. + +STAMPERS. Shoes. + +STAND-STILL. He was run to a stand-still; i.e. till he could + no longer move. + +STAR GAZER. A horse who throws up his head; also a + hedge whore. + +TO STAR THE GLAZE. To break and rob a jeweller's show + glass. CANT. + +STARCHED. Stiff, prim, formal, affected. + +STARING QUARTER. An ox cheek. + +START, or THE OLD START. Newgate: he is gone to the + start, or the old start. CANT. + +STARTER. One who leaves a jolly company, a milksop; he + is no starter, he will sit longer than a hen. + +STARVE'EM, ROB'EM, AND CHEAT'EM. Stroud, Rochester, + and Chatham; so called by soldiers and sailors, and not + without good reason. + +STAR LAG. Breaking shop-windows, and stealing some article + thereout. + +STASH. To stop. To finish. To end. The cove tipped + the prosecutor fifty quid to stash the business; he gave + the prosecutor fifty guineas to stop the prosecution. + +STATE. To lie in state; to be in bed with three harlots. + +STAY. A cuckold. + +STAYTAPE. A taylor; from that article, and its coadjutor + buckram, which make no small figure in the bills of those + knights of the needle. + +STEAMER. A pipe. A swell steamer; a long pipe, such + as is used by gentlemen to smoke. + +STEEL. The house of correction. + +STEEL BAR. A needle. A steel bar flinger; a taylor, stay-maker, + or any other person using a needle. + +STEENKIRK. A muslin neckcloth carelessly put on, from + the manner in which the French officers wore their cravats + when they returned from the battle of Steenkirk. + +STEEPLE HOUSE. A name given to the church by Dissenters. + +STEPHEN. Money. Stephen's at home; i.e. has money. + +STEPNEY. A decoction of raisins of the sun and lemons in + conduit water, sweetened with sugar, and bottled up. + +STEWED QUAKER. Burnt rum, with a piece of butter: an + American remedy for a cold. + +STICKS. Household furniture. + +STICKS. Pops or pistols. Stow your sticks; hide your + pistols. CANT. See POPS. + +STICK FLAMS. A pair of gloves. + +STIFF-RUMPED. Proud, stately. + +STINGRUM. A niggard. + +STINGO. Strong beer, or other liquor. + +STIRRUP CUP. A parting cup or glass, drank on horseback + by the person taking leave. + +STITCH. A nick name for a taylor: also a term for lying + with a woman. + +STITCHBACK. Strong ale. + +STIVER-CRAMPED. Needy, wanting money. A stiver is a + Dutch coin, worth somewhat more than a penny sterling. + +STOCK. A good stock; i.e. of impudence. Stock and + block; the whole: he has lost stock and block. + +STOCK DRAWERS. Stockings. + +STOCK JOBBERS. Persons who gamble in Exchange Alley, + by pretending to buy and sell the public funds, but in + reality only betting that they will be at a certain price, at + a particular time; possessing neither the stock pretended + to be sold, nor money sufficient to make good the payments + for which they contract: these gentlemen are known + under the different appellations of bulls, bears, and lame + ducks. + +STOMACH WORM. The stomach worm gnaws; I am hungry. + +STONE. Two stone under weight, or wanting; an eunuch. + Stone doublet; a prison. Stone dead; dead as a stone. + +STONE JUG. Newgate, or any other prison. + +STONE TAVERN. Ditto. + +STOOP-NAPPERS, or OVERSEERS OF THE NEW PAVEMENT. + Persons set in the pillory. CANT. + +STOOP. The pillory. The cull was served for macing and + napp'd the stoop; he was convicted of swindling, and + put in the pillory. + +STOP HOLE ABBEY. The nick name of the chief rendzvous + of the canting crew of beggars, gypsies, cheats, + thieves, &c. &c. + +STOTER. A great blow. Tip him a stoter in the haltering + place; give him a blow under the left ear. + +STOUP. A vessel to hold liquor: a vessel containing a size + or half a pint, is so called at Cambridge. + +STOW. Stow you; be silent, or hold your peace. Stow + your whidds and plant'em, for the cove of the ken can + cant'em; you have said enough, the man of the house + understands you. + +STRAIT-LACED. Precise, over nice, puritanical. + +STRAIT WAISTCOAT. A tight waistcoat, with long sleeves + coming over the hand, having strings for binding them + behind the back of the wearer: these waistcoats are used in + madhouses for the management of lunatics when outrageous. + +STRAMMEL. See STAMMEL. + +STRANGER. A guinea. + +STRANGLE GOOSE. A poulterer. + +To STRAP. To work. The kiddy would not strap, so he + went on the scamp: the lad would not work, and therefore + robbed on the highway. + +STRAPPER. A large man or woman. + +STRAPPING. Lying with a woman. CANT. + +STRAW. A good woman in the straw; a lying-in woman. + His eyes draw straw; his eyes are almost shut, or he is + almost asleep: one eye draws straw, and t'other serves the + thatcher. + +STRETCH. A yard. The cove was lagged for prigging a + peter with several stretch of dobbin from a drag; the + fellow was transported for stealing a trunk, containing + several yards of ribband, from a waggon. + +STRETCHING. Hanging. He'll stretch for it; he will be + hanged for it. Also telling a great lie: he stretched stoutly. + +STRIKE. Twenty shillings. CANT. + +STRIP ME NAKED. Gin. + +STROKE. To take a stroke: to take a bout with a woman. + +STROLLERS. Itinerants of different kinds. Strolling morts; + beggars or pedlars pretending to be widows. + +STROMMEL. Straw. CANT. + +STRONG MAN. To play the part of the strong man, i.e. + to push the cart and horses too; to be whipt at the cart's + tail. + +STRUM. A perriwig. Rum strum: a fine large wig. + (CAMBRIDGE) To do a piece. Foeminam subagitare. CANT. + +To STRUM. To have carnal knowledge of a woman; also to + play badly on the harpsichord; or any other stringed + instrument. A strummer of wire, a player on any instrument + strung with wire. + +STRUMPET. A harlot. + +STUB-FACED. Pitted with the smallpox: the devil ran + over his face with horse stabs (horse nails) in his shoes. + +STUBBLE IT. Hold your tongue. CANT. + +STULING KEN. See STALLING KEN. CANT. + +STUM. The flower of fermenting wine, used by vintners to + adulterate their wines. + +STUMPS. Legs. To stir one's stumps; to walk fast. + +STURDY BEGGARS. The fifth and last of the most ancient + order of canters, beggars that rather demand than ask + CANT. + +SUCCESSFULLY. Used by the vulgar for SUCCESSIVELY: as + three or four landlords of this house have been ruined + successfully by the number of soldiers quartered on them. + IRISH. + +SUCH A REASON PIST MY GOOSE, or MY GOOSE PIST. Said + when any one offers an absurd reason. + +SUCK. Strong liquor of any sort. To suck the monkey; + see MONKEY. Sucky; drunk. + +To SUCK. To pump. To draw from a man all be knows. + The file sucked the noodle's brains: the deep one drew + out of the fool all he knew. + +SUCKING CHICKEN. A young chicken. + +SUDS. In the suds; in trouble, in a disagreeable situation, + or involved in some difficulty. + +SUGAR STICK. The virile member. + +SUGAR SOPS. Toasted bread soked in ale, sweetened with + sugar, and grated nutmeg: it is eaten with cheese. + +SULKY. A one-horse chaise or carriage, capable of holding + but one person: called by the French a DESOBLIGEANT. + +SUN. To have been in the sun; said of one that is drunk. + +SUNBURNT. Clapped; also haying many male children. + +SUNDAY MAN. One who goes abroad on that day only, for + fear of arrests. + +SUNNY BANK. A good fire in winter. + +SUNSHINE. Prosperity. + +SUPERNACOLUM. Good liquor, of which there is not even + a drop left sufficient to wet one's nail. + +SUPOUCH. A landlady of an inn, or hostess. + +SURVEYOR OF THE HIGHWAYS. One reeling drunk. + +SURVEYOR OF THE PAVEMENT. One standing in the pillory. + +SUS PER COLL. Hanged: persons who have been hanged + are thus entered into the jailor's books. + +SUSPENCE. One in a deadly suspence; a man just turned + off at the gallows. + +SUTRER. A camp publican: also one that pilfers gloves, + tobacco boxes, and such small moveables. + +SWABBERS. The ace of hearts, knave of clubs, ace and + duce of trumps, at whist: also the lubberly seamen, put + to swab, and clean the ship. + +SWAD, or SWADKIN. A soldier. CANT. + +To SWADDLE. To beat with a stick. + +SWADDLERS. The tenth order of the canting tribe, who not + only rob, but beat, and often murder passenges. CANT. + Swaddlers is also the Irish name for methodist. + +SWAG. A shop. Any quantity of goods. As, plant the swag; + conceal the goods. Rum swag; a shop full of rich goods. + CANT. + +SWAGGER. To bully, brag, or boast, also to strut. + +SWANNERY. He keeps a swannery; i.e. all his geese are + swans. + +SWEATING. A mode of diminishing the gold coin, practiced + chiefly by the Jews, who corrode it with aqua regia. Sweating + was also a diversion practised by the bloods of the last + century, who styled themselves Mohocks: these gentlemen + lay in wait to surprise some person late in the night, when + surrounding him, they with their swords pricked him in + the posteriors, which obliged him to be constantly turning + round; this they continued till they thought him sufficiently + sweated. + +SWEET. Easy to be imposed on, or taken in; also expert, + dexterous clever. Sweet's your hand; said of one dexterous + at stealing. + +SWEET HEART. A term applicable to either the masculine + or feminine gender, signifying a girl's lover, or a man's + mistress: derived from a sweet cake in the shape of a + heart. + +SWEETNESS. Guinea droppers, cheats, sharpers. To sweeten + to decoy, or draw in. To be sweet upon; to coax, wheedle, + court, or allure. He seemed sweet upon that wench; he seemed to + court that girl. + +SWELL. A gentleman. A well-dressed map. The flashman + bounced the swell of all his blunt; the girl's bully frightened + the gentleman out of all his money. + +SWELLED HEAD. A disorder to which horses are extremely + liable, particularly those of the subalterns of the army. + This disorder is generally occasioned by remaining too + long in one livery-stable or inn, and often arises to that + height that it prevents their coming out at the stable door. + The most certain cure is the unguentum aureum--not + applied to the horse, but to the palm of the master of the inn + or stable. N. B. Neither this disorder, nor its remedy, + is mentioned by either Bracken, Bartlet, or any of the + modern writers on farriery. + +SWIG. A hearty draught of liquor. + +SWIGMEN. Thieves who travel the country under colour of + buying old shoes, old clothes, &c. or selling brooms, mops, + &c. CANT. + +TO SWILL. To drink greedily. + +SWILL TUB. A drunkard, a sot. + +SWIMMER. A counterfeit old coin. + +SWIMMER. A ship. I shall have a swimmer; a cant phrase + used by thieves to signify that they will be sent on board + the tender. + +TO SWING. To be hanged. He will swing for it; he will + be hanged for it. + +SWING TAIL. A hog. + +TO SWINGE. To beat stoutly. + +SWINGING. A great swinging fellow; a great stout fellow. + A swinging lie; a lusty lie. + +SWINDLER. One who obtains goods on credit by false pretences, + and sells them for ready money at any price, in order + to make up a purse. This name is derived from the German + word SCHWINDLIN, to totter, to be ready to fall; these + arts being generally practised by persons on the totter, or + just ready to break. The term SWINDLER has since been + used to signify cheats of every kind. + +SWIPES. Purser's swipes; small beer: so termed on board + the king's ships, where it is furnished by the purser. + +SWISH TAIL. A pheasant; so called by the persons who + sell game for the poachers. + +TO SWIVE. To copulate. + +SWIVEL-EYED. Squinting. + +SWIZZLE. Drink, or any brisk or windy liquor. In North + America, a mixture of spruce beer, rum, and sugar, was so + called. The 17th regiment had a society called the Swizzle + Club, at Ticonderoga, A. D. 1760. + +SWORD RACKET. To enlist in different regiments, and on + receiving the bounty to desert immediately. + +SWOP. An exchange. + +SYEBUCK. Sixpence. + +SYNTAX. A schoolmaster. + +TABBY. An old maid; either from Tabitha, a formal + antiquated name; or else from a tabby cat, old maids being + often compared to cats. To drive Tab; to go out on a + party of pleasure with a wife and family. + +TACE. Silence, hold your tongue. TACE is Latin for a + candle; a jocular admonition to be silent on any subject. + +TACKLE. A mistress; also good clothes. The cull has + tipt his tackle rum gigging; the fellow has given his + mistress good clothes. A man's tackle: the genitals. + +TAFFY, i.e. Davy. A general name for a Welchman, St. + David being the tutelar saint of Wales. Taffy's day; the + first of March, St. David's day. + +TAG-RAG AND BOBTAIL. An expression meaning an assemblage + of low people, the mobility of all sorts. To tag + after one like a tantony pig: to follow one wherever one + goes, just as St. Anthony is followed by his pig. + +TAIL. A prostitute. Also, a sword. + +TAKEN IN. Imposed on, cheated. + +TALE TELLERS. Persons said to have been formerly hired + to tell wonderful stories of giants and fairies, to lull their + hearers to sleep. Talesman; the author of a story or + report: I'll tell you my tale, and my talesman. Tale bearers; + mischief makers, incendiaries in families. + +TALL BOY. A bottle, or two-quart pot. + +TALLY MEN. Brokers that let out clothes to the women of + the town. See RABBIT SUCKERS. + +TALLYWAGS, or TARRYWAGS. A man's testicles. + +TAME. To run tame about a house; to live familiarly in a + family with which one is upon a visit. Tame army; the + city trained bands. + +TANDEM. A two-wheeled chaise, buggy, or noddy, drawn + by two horses, one before the other: that is, AT LENGTH. + +TANGIER. A room in Newgate, where debtors were confined, + hence called Tangerines. + +TANNER. A sixpence. The kiddey tipped the rattling cove + a tanner for luck; the lad gave the coachman sixpence for + drink. + +TANTADLIN TART. A sirreverence, human excrement. + +TANTRUMS. Pet, or passion: madam was in her tantrums. + +TANTWIVY. Away they went tantwivy; away they went + full speed. Tantwivy was the sound of the hunting horn + in full cry, or that of a post horn. + +TAP. A gentle blow. A tap on the shoulder;-an-arrest. + To tap a girl; to be the first seducer: in allusion to a beer + barrel. To tap a guinea; to get it changed. + +TAPPERS. Shoulder tappers: bailiffs. + +TAPE. Red tape; brandy. Blue or white tape; gin. + +TAPLASH. Thick and bad beer. + +TAR. Don't lose a sheep for a halfpennyworth of tar: tar is + used to mark sheep. A jack tar; a sailor. + +TARADIDDLE. A fib, or falsity. + +TARPAWLIN. A coarse cloth tarred over: also, figuratively, + a sailor. + +TARRING AND FEATHERING. A punishment lately inflicted + by the good people of Boston on any person convicted, + or suspected, of loyalty: such delinquents being "stripped + naked", were daubed all over wilh tar, and afterwards put + into a hogshead of feathers. + +TART. Sour, sharp, quick, pert. + +TARTAR. To catch a Tartar; to attack one of superior + strength or abilities. This saying originated from a story + of an Irish-soldier in the Imperial service, who, in a battle + against the Turks, called out to his comrade that he had + caught a Tartar. 'Bring him along then,' said he. 'He + won't come,' answered Paddy. 'Then come along yourself,' + replied his comrade. 'Arrah,' cried he, 'but he + won't let me.'--A Tartar is also an adept at any feat, or + game: he is quite a Tartar at cricket, or billiards. + +TAT. Tit for tat; an equivalent. + +TATS. False dice. + +TATLER. A watch. To flash a tatler: to wear a watch. + +TAT MONGER. One that uses false dice. + +TATTERDEMALION. A ragged fellow, whose clothes hang + all in tatters. + +TATTOO. A beat of the drum, of signal for soldiers to go + to their quarters, and a direction to the sutlers to close the + tap, and draw no more liquor for them; it is generally + beat at nine in summer and eight in winter. The devil's + tattoo; beating with one's foot against the ground, as done + by persons in low spirits. + +TAW. A schoolboy's game, played with small round balls + made of stone dust, catted marbles. I'll be one upon your + taw presently; a species of threat. + +TAWDRY. Garish, gawdy, with lace or staring and discordant + colours: a term said to be derived from the shrine + and altar of St. Audrey (an Isle of Ely saintess), which + for finery exceeded all others thereabouts, so as to + become proverbial; whence any fine dressed man or woman + said to be all St Audrey, and by contraction, all + tawdry. + +TAWED. Beaten, + +TAYLE. See TAIL. + +TAYLE DRAWERS. Thieves who snatch gentlemens swords + from their sides. He drew the cull's tayle rumly; he + snatched away the gentleman's sword cleverly. + +TAYLOR. Nine taylors make a man; an ancient and + common saying, originating from the effeminacy of their + employment; or, as some have it, from nine taylors having + been robbed by one man; according to others, from the + speech of a woollendraper, meaning that the custom of + nine, taylors would make or enrich one man--A London + taylor, rated to furnish half a man to the Trained Bands, + asking how that could possibly be done? was answered, + By sending four, journeymen and and apprentice.--Puta + taylor, a weaver, and a miller into a sack, shake them + well, And the first that, puts out his head is certainly a + thief.--A taylor is frequently styled pricklouse, + assaults on those vermin with their needles. + +TAYLORS GOOSE. An iron with which, when heated, + press down the seams of clothes. + +TEA VOIDER. A chamber pot. + +TEA GUELAND. Ireland. Teaguelanders; Irishmen. + +TEARS OF THE TANKARD. The drippings of liquor on a + man's waistcoat. + +TEDDY MY GODSON. An address to a supposed simple + fellow, or nysey, + +TEIZE. To-nap the teize; to receive a whipping. CANT. + +TEMPLE PICKLING. Pumping a bailiff; a punishment + formerly administered to any of that fraternity caught + exercising their functions within the limits of Temple. + +TEN TOES. See BAYARD OF TEN TOES. + +TEN IN THE HUNDRED. An usurer; more than five in + the hundred being deemed usurious interest. + +TENANT AT WILL, One whose wife usually fetches him + from the alehouse. + +TENANT FOR LIFE. A married man; i.e. possessed of a + woman for life. + +TENDER PARNELL. A tender creature, fearful of the least + puff of wind or drop of rain. As tender as Parnell, who + broke her finger in a posset drink. + +TERMAGANT. An outrageous scold from Termagantes, a + cruel Pagan, formerly represented in diners shows and + entertainments, where being dressed a la Turque, in long + clothes, he was mistaken for a furious woman. + +TERRA FIRMA. An estate in land. + +TESTER. A sixpence: from TESTON, a coin with a head on it. + +TETBURY PORTION. A **** and a clap. + +THAMES. He will not find out a way to set the Thames + on fire; he will not make any wonderful discoveries, he is + no conjuror. + +THATCH-GALLOWS. A rogue, or man of bad character. + +THICK. Intimate. They are as thick as two inkle-weavers. + +THIEF. You are a thief and a murderer, you have killed a + baboon and stole his face; vulgar abuse. + +THIEF IN A CANDLE. Part of the wick or snuff, which falling + on the tallow, burns and melts it, and causing it to + gutter, thus steals it away. + +THIEF TAKERS. Fellows who associate with all kinds of + villains, in order to betray them, when they have committed + any of those crimes which entitle the persons taking + them to a handsome reward, called blood money. It is + the business of these thief takers to furnish subjects for a + handsome execution, at the end of every sessions. + +THIMBLE. A watch. The swell flashes a rum thimble; + the gentleman sports a fine watch. + +THINGSTABLE. Mr. Thingstable; Mr. Constable: a ludicrous + affectation of delicacy in avoiding the pronunciation + of the first syllable in the title of that officer, which in + sound has some similarity to an indecent monosyllable. + +THINGUMBOB. Mr. Thingumbob; a vulgar address or nomination + to any person whose name is unknown, the same + as Mr. What-d'ye-cal'em. Thingumbobs; testicles. + +THIRDING. A custom practised at the universities, where + two thirds of the original price is allowed by the upholsterers + to the students for household goods returned to them + within the year. + +THIRTEENER. A shilling in Ireland, which there passes for + thirteen pence. + +THOMOND. Like Lord Thomond's cocks, all on one side. + Lord Thomond's cock-feeder, an Irishman, being entrusted + with some cocks which were matched for a considerable + sum, the night before the battle shut them all together in + one room, concluding that as they were all on the same + side, they would not disagree: the consequence was, they + were most of them either killed or lamed before the morning. + +THOMAS. Man Thomas; a man's penis. + +THORNS. To be or sit upon thorns; to be uneasy, impatient, + anxious for an event. + +THORNBACK. An old maid. + +THOROUGH CHURCHMAN. A person who goes in at one door + of a church, and out at the other, without stopping. + +THOROUGH-GOOD-NATURED WENCH. One who being asked + to sit down, will lie down. + +THOROUGH GO NIMBLE. A looseness, a violent purging. + +THOROUGH COUGH. Coughing and breaking wind backwards + at the same time. + +THOROUGH STITCH. To go thorough stitch; to stick at nothing; + over shoes, over boots. + +THOUGHT. What did thought do? lay'in bed and beshat + himself, and thought he was up; reproof to any one who + excuses himself for any breach of positive orders, by + pleading that he thought to the contrary. + +THREE TO ONE. He is playing three to one, though sure to + lose; said of one engaged in the amorous congress. + +THREE-PENNY UPRIGHT. A retailer of love, who, for the + sum mentioned, dispenses her favours standing against a + wall. + +THREE-LEGGED MARE, or STOOL. The gallows, formerly + consisting of three posts, over which were laid three + transverse beams. This clumsy machine has lately given place + to an elegant contrivance, called the NEW DROP, by which + the use of that vulgar vehicle a cart, or mechanical + instrument a ladder, is also avoided; the patients being left + suspended by the dropping down of that part of the floor on + which they stand. This invention was first made use of for + a peer. See DROP. + +THREE THREADS. Half common ale, mixed with stale and + double beer. + +THREPS. Threepence. + +TO THROTTLE. To strangle. + +THROTTLE. The throat, or gullet. + +TO THRUM. To play on any instrument stringed with wire. + A thrummer of wire; a player on the spinet, harpsichord, + of guitar. + +THRUMS. Threepence. + +THUMB. By rule of thumb: to do any thing by dint of + practice. To kiss one's thumb instead of the book; a vulgar + expedient to avoid perjury in taking a false oath. + +THUMMIKINS. An instrument formerly used in Scotland, + like a vice, to pinch the thumbs of persons accused of + different crimes, in order to extort confession. + +THUMP. A blow. This is better than a thump on the back + with a stone; said on giving any one a drink of good liquor + on a cold morning. Thatch, thistle, thunder, and thump; + words to the Irish, like the Shibboleth of the Hebrews. + +THUMPING. Great! a thumping boy. + +THWACK. A great blow with a stick across the shoulders. + +TIB. A young lass + +TIBBY. A cat. + +TIB OF THE BUTTERY. A goose. CANT. Saint Tibb's + evening; the evening of the last day, or day of judgment: + he will pay you on St. Tibb's eve. IRISH. + +TICK. To run o'tick; take up goods upon trust, to run in + debt. Tick; a watch. SEE SESSIONS PAPERS. + +TICKLE TEXT. A parson. + +TICKLE PITCKEB. A thirsty fellow, a sot. + +TICKLE TAIL. A rod, or schoolmaster. A man's penis. + +TICKRUM. A licence. + +TIDY. Neat. + +TIFFING. Eating or drinking out of meal time, disputing + or falling out; also lying with a wench, A tiff of punch, + a small bowl of punch. + +TILBUKY. Sixpence; so called from its formerly being the + fare for Crossing over from Gravesend to Tilbury Fort. + +TILT. To tilt; to fight with a sword. To run full tilt + against one; allusion to the ancient tilling with the lance. + +TILTER. A sword. + +TIM WHISKY. A light one--horse chaise without a head. + +TIMBER TOE. A man with a wooden leg. + +TINY. Little. + +TO TIP. To give or lend. Tip me your daddle; give me + your hand. Tip me a hog; give me a shilling. To tip + the lion; to flatten a man's nose with the thumb, and, at + the same time to extend his mouth, with the fingers, thereby + giving him a sort of lion-like countenance. To tip the + velvet; tonguing woman. To tip all nine; to knock + down all the nine pins at once, at the game of bows or + skittles: tipping, at these gaines, is slightly touching the + tops of the pins with the bowl. Tip; a draught; don't + spoil his tip. + +TIP-TOP. The best: perhaps from fruit, that growing at + the top of the tree being generally the best, as partaking + most of the sun. A tip-top workman; the best, or most + excellent Workman. + +TIPPERARY FORTUNE. Two town lands, stream's town, + and ballinocack; said of Irish women without fortune. + +TIPPLE. Liquor. + +TIPPLERS. Sots who are continually sipping. + +TIPSEY. Almost drunk. + +TIRING. Dressing: perhaps abbreviation of ATTIRING. Tiring + women, or tire women: women that used to cut ladies + hair, and dress them. + +TIT. A horse; a pretty little tit; a smart little girl. + a *** or tid bit; a delicate morsel. Tommy tit; a smart lively + little fellow. + +TIT FOR TAT. An equivalent. + +TO TITTER. To suppress a laugh. + +TITTER TATTER. One reeling, and ready to fall at the least + touch; also the childish amusement of riding upon the + two ends of a plank, poised upon the prop underneath its + centre, called also see-saw. Perhaps tatter is a rustic + pronunciation of totter. + +TITTLE-TATTLE. Idle discourse, scandal, women's talk, + or small talk. + +TITTUP. A gentle hand gallop, or canter. + +TIZZY. Sixpence. + +TOAD EATER. A poor female relation, and humble companion, + or reduced gentlewoman, in a great family, the standing + butt, on whom all kinds of practical jokes are played + off, and all ill humours vented. This appellation is derived + from a mountebank's servant, on whom all experiments + used to be made in public by the doctor, his master; among + which was the eating of toads, formerly supposed poisonous. + Swallowing toads is here figuratively meant for swallowing + or putting up with insults, as disagreeable to a person + of feeling as toads to the stomach. + +TOAD. Toad in a hole; meat baked or boiled in pye-crust. + He or she sits like a toad on a chopping-block; a saying + of any who sits ill on horseback. As much need of it + as a toad of a side-pocket; said of a person who desires + any thing for which he has no real occasion. As full of + money as a toad is of feathers. + +TOAST. A health; also a beautiful woman whose health is + often drank by men. The origin of this term (as it is said) + was this: a beautiful lady bathing in a cold bath, one of + her admirers out of gallantry drank some of the water: + whereupon another of her lovers observed, he never drank + in the morning, but he would kiss the toast, and immediately + saluted the lady. + +TOASTING IRON, or CHEESE TOASTER. A sword. + +TOBY LAY. The highway. High toby man; a highway-man. + Low toby man; a footpad. + +TOBACCO. A plant, once in great estimation as a medicine: + + Tobacco hic + Will make you well if you be sick. + Tobacco hic + If you be well will make you sick. + +TODDY. Originally the juice of the cocoa tree, and afterwards + rum, water, sugar, and nutmeg. + +TODDLE. To walk away. The cove was touting, but + stagging the traps he toddled; be was looking out, and + feeing the officers he walked away. + +TODGE. Beat all to a todge: said of anything beat to mash. + +TOGE. A coat. Cant. + +TOGEMANS. The same. CANT. + +TOGS. Clothes. The swell is rum-togged. The gentleman + is handsomely dressed. + +TOKEN. The plague: also the venereal disease. She tipped + him the token; she gave him a clap or pox. + +TOL, or TOLEDO. A sword: from Spanish swords made at + Toledo, which place was famous for sword blades of an + extraordinary temper. + +TOLLIBAN RIG. A species of cheat carried on by a woman, + assuming the character of a dumb and deaf conjuror. + +TOM T--DMAN. A night man, one who empties necessary + houses. + +TOMBOY. A romping girl, who prefers the amusement used + by boys to those of her own sex. + +TOM OF BEDLAM. The same as Abram man. + +TOM CONY. A simple fellow. + +TOM LONG. A tiresome story teller. It is coming by Tom + Long, the carrier; said of any thing that has been long + expected. + +TOM THUMB. A dwarf, a little hop-o'my-thumb. + +TOMMY. Soft Tommy, or white Tommy; bread is so called + by sailors, to distinguish it from biscuit. Brown Tommy: + ammunition bread for soldiers; or brown bread given to + convicts at the hulks. + +TO-MORROW COME NEVER. When two Sundays come + together; never. + +TONGUE. Tongue enough for two sets of teeth: said of + a talkative person. As old as my tongue, and a little older + than my teeth; a dovetail in answer to the question, How + old are you? Tongue pad; a scold, or nimble-tongued + person. + +TONY. A silly fellow, or ninny. A mere tony: a simpleton. + +TOOLS. The private parts of a man. + +TOOL. The instrument of any person or faction, a cat's + paw. See CATS PAW. + +TOOTH Music. Chewing. + +TOOTH-PICK. A large stick. An ironical expression. + +TOPPER. A violent blow on the head. + +TOP ROPES. To sway away on all top ropes; to live + riotously or extravagantly. + +TO TOP. To cheat, or trick: also to insult: he thought to + have topped upon me. Top; the signal among taylors + for snuffing the candles: he who last pronounces that word + word, is obliged to get up and perform the operation.--to + be topped; to be hanged. The cove was topped for + smashing queerscreens; he was hanged for uttering forged + bank notes. + +TOP DIVER. A lover of women. An old top diver; one + who has loved old hat in his time. + +TOP HEAVY. Drunk. + +TOP LIGHTS. The eyes. Blast your top lights. See CURSE. + +Top SAIL. He paid his debts at Portsmouth with the topsail; + i.e. he went to sea and left them unpaid. SCT soldiers + are said to pay off their scores with the drum; that + is, by marching away. + +TOPER. One that loves his bottle, a soaker. SEE TO SOAK. + +TOPPING FELLOW. One at the top or head of his profession. + +TOPPING CHEAT. The gallows. CANT. + +TOPPING COVE. The hangman. CANT. + +TOPPING MAN. A rich man. + +TOFSY-TURVY. The top side the other way; i.e. the + wrong side upwards; some explain it, the top side turf + ways, turf being always laid the wrong side upwards. + +TORCHECUL. Bumfodder. + +TORMENTER OF SHEEP SKIN. A drummer. + +TORMENTER OF CATGUT. A fiddler. + +TORY. An advocate for absolute monarchy and church + power; also an Irish vagabond, robber, Or rapparee. + +TOSS POT. A drunkard. + +TOSS OFF. Manual pollution. + +TOTTY-HEADED. Giddy, hare-brained. + +TOUCH. To touch; to get money from any one; also + to arrest. Touched in the wind; broken winded. + Touched in the head; insane, crazy. To touch up a + woman; to have carnal knowledge of her. Touch bone + and whistle; any one having broken wind backwards, + according to the vulgar law, may be pinched by any of + the company till he has touched bone (i.e. his teeth) and + whistled. + +TOUCH BUN FOR LUCK. See BUN. + +TOVT. A look-out house, or eminence. + +TOUTING. (From TUERI, to look about) Publicans + fore-stalling guests, or meeting them on the road, and begging + their custom; also thieves or smugglers looking out to see + that the coast is clear. Touting ken; the bar of a public + house. + +TOW ROW. A grenadier. The tow row club; a club or + society of the grenadier officers of the line. + +TOWEL. An oaken towel, a cudgel. To rub one down + with an oaken towel; to beat or cudgel him. + +TOWER. Clipped money: they have been round the tower + with it. CANT. + +TO TOWER. To overlook, to rise aloft as in a high tower. + +TOWER HILL PLAY. A slap on the face, and a kick on the + breech. + +TOWN. A woman of the town; a prostitute. To be on + the town: to live by prostitution. + +TOWN BULL. A common whoremaster. To roar like a + town bull; to cry or bellow aloud. + +TO TRACK. To go. Track up the dancers; go up stairs. + CANT. + +TRADING JUSTICES. Broken mechanics, discharged footmen, + and other low fellows, smuggled into the commission + of the peace, who subsist by fomenting disputes, granting + warrants, and otherwise retailing justice; to the honour + of the present times, these nuisances are by no means, so + common as formerly. + +TRADESMEN. Thieves. Clever tradesmen; good thieves. + +TRANSLATORS. Sellers of old mended shoes and boots, + between coblers and shoemakers. + +TO TRANSMOGRAPHY, or TRANSMIGRIFY. To patch up + vamp, or alter. + +TO TRANSNEAR. To come up with any body. + +TRANTER. See CROCKER. + +TRAP. To understand trap; to know one's own interest. + +TRAP STICKS. Thin legs, gambs: from the sticks with + which boys play at trap-ball. + +TRAPS. Constables and thief-takers. CANT. + +TO TRAPAN. To inveigle, or ensnare. + +TRAPES. A slatternly woman, a careless sluttish woman. + +TRAVELLER. To tip the traveller; to tell wonderful + stories, to romance. + +TRAVELLING PIQUET. A mode of amusing themselves, + practised by two persons riding in a carriage, each + reckoning towards his game the persons or animals that pass + by on the side next them, according to the following + estimation: + + A parson riding a grey horse, without furniture; game. + An old woman under a hedge; ditto. + A cat looking out of a window; 60. + A man, woman, and child, in a buggy; 40. + A man with a woman behind him; 30. + A flock of sheep; 20. + A flock of geese; 10. + A post chaise; 5. + A horseman; 2. + A man or woman walking; 1. + +TRAY TRIP. An ancient game like Scotch hop, played on + a pavement marked out with chalk into different + compartments. + +TRENCHER CAP. The square cap worn by the collegians. + at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. + +TRENCHER MAN. A stout trencher man; one who has a + good appetite, or, as the term is, plays a good knife and + fork. + +TRESWINS. Threepence. + +TRIB. A prison: perhaps from tribulation. + +TRICKUM LEGIS. A quirk or quibble in the law. + +TRIG. The point at which schoolboys stand to shoot their + marbles at taw; also the spot whence bowlers deliver the + bowl. + +TO TRIG IT. To play truant. To lay a man trigging; to + knock him down. + +TRIGRYMATE. An idle female companion. + +TRIM. State, dress. In a sad trim; dirty.--Also spruce or + fine: a trim fellow. + +TRIM TRAM. Like master, like man. + +TRIMMING. Cheating, changing side, or beating. I'll + trim his jacket; I'll thresh him. To be trimmed; to be + shaved; I'll just step and get trimmed. + +TRINE. To hang; also Tyburn. + +TRINGUM TRANGUM. A whim, or maggot. + +TRINING. Hanging. + +TRINKETS. Toys, bawbles, or nicknacks. + +TRIP. A short voyage or journey, a false step or stumble, + an error in the tongue, a bastard. She has made a trip; + she has had a bastard. + +TRIPE. The belly, or guts. Mr. Double Tripe; a fat + man. Tripes and trullibubs; the entrails: also a jeering + appellation for a fat man. + +TO TROLL. To loiter or saunter about. + +TROLLY LOLLY. Coarse lace once much in fashion. + +TROLLOP. A lusty coarse sluttish woman. + +TROOPER. You will die the death of a trooper's horse, + that is, with your shoes-on; a jocular method of telling + any one he will be hanged. + +TROT. An old trot; a decrepit old woman. A dog trot; a + gentle pace. + +TROTTERS. Feet. To shake one's trotters at Bilby's ball, + where the sheriff pays the fiddlers; perhaps the Bilboes + ball, i.e. the ball of fetters: fetters and stocks were + anciently called the bilboes. + +To TROUNCE. To punish by course of law. + +TRUCK. To exchange, swop, or barter; also a wheel + such as ship's guns are placed upon. + +TRULL. A soldier or a tinker's trull; a soldier or tinker's + female companion.--Guteli, or trulli, are spirits like women, + which shew great kindness to men, and hereof it is + that we call light women trulls. RANDLE HOLM'S + ACADEMY OF ARMORY. + +TRUMPERY. An old whore, or goods of no value; rubbish. + +TRUMPET. To sound one's own trumpet; to praise one's + self. + +TRUMPETER. The king of Spain's trumpeter; a braying + ass. His trumpeter is dead, he is therefore forced to + sound his own trumpet. He would make an excellent + trumpeter, for he has a strong breath; said of one having + a foetid breath. + +TRUMPS. To be put to one's trumps: to be in difficulties, + or put to one's shifts. Something may turn up trumps; + something lucky may happen. All his cards are trumps: + he is extremely fortunate. + +TRUNDLERS. Peas. + +TRUNK. A nose. How fares your old trunk? does your + nose still stand fast? an allusion to the proboscis or trunk + of an elephant. To shove a trunk: to introduce one's + self unasked into any place or company. Trunk-maker + like; more noise than work. + +TRUSTY TROJAN, or TRUSTY TROUT. A true friend. + +TRY ON. To endeavour. To live by thieving. Coves who + try it on; professed thieves. + +TRYNING. See TRINING. + +TU QUOQUE. The mother of all saints. + +TUB THUMPER. A presbyterian parson. + +TUCKED UP. Hanged. A tucker up to an old bachelor or + widower; a supposed mistress. + +TUFT HUNTER. A it anniversary parasite, one who courts + the acquaintance of nobility, whose caps are adorned with + a gold tuft. + +TUMBLER. A cart; also a sharper employed to draw in + pigeons to game; likewise a posture-master, or rope-dancer. + To shove the tumbler, or perhaps tumbril; to-be + whipt at the cart's tail. + +TO TUNE. To beat: his father tuned him delightfully: + perhaps from fetching a tune out of the person beaten, or + from a comparison with the disagreeable sounds of instruments + when tuning. + +TO TUP. To have carnal knowledge of a woman. + +TUP. A ram: figuratively, a cuckold. + +TUP RUNNING. A rural sport practised at wakes and fairs + in Derbyshire; a ram, whose tail is well soaped and + greased, is turned out to the multitude; any one that can + take him by the tail, and hold him fast, is to have him for + his own. + +T--D. There were four t--ds for dinner: stir t--d, hold + t--d, tread t--d, and mus-t--d: to wit, a hog's face, feet + and chitterlings, with mustard. He will never sh--e a + seaman's t--d; i.e. he will never make a good seaman. + +TURF. On the turf; persons who keep running horses, or + attend and bet at horse-races, are said to be on the turf. + +TURK. A cruel, hard-hearted man. Turkish treatment; + barbarous usage. Turkish shore; Lambeth, Southwark, + and Rotherhithe side of the Thames. + +TURKEY MERCHANT. A poulterer. + +TURNCOAT. One who has changed his party from interested + motives. + +TURNED UP. Acquitted; discharged. + +TURNIP-PATED. White or fair-haired. + +TURNPIKE MAN. A parson; because the clergy collect + their tolls at our entrance into and exit from the world. + +TUZZY-MUZZY. The monosyllable. + +TWADDLE. Perplexity, confusion, or any thing else: a + fashionable term that for a while succeeded that of BORE. See + BORE. + +TWANGEY, or STANGEY. A north country name for a taylor. + +TWEAGUE. In a great tweague: in a great passion. Tweaguey; + peevish, passionate. + +TO TWEAK. To pull: to tweak any one's nose. + +TWELVER. A shilling. + +TWIDDLE-DIDDLES. Testicles. + +TWIDDLE POOP. An effeminate looking fellow. + +IN TWIG. Handsome; stilish. The cove is togged in + twig; the fellow is dressed in the fashion. + +TO TWIG. To observe. Twig the cull, he is peery; + observe the fellow, he is watching us. Also to disengage, + snap asunder, or break off. To twig the darbies; to knock + off the irons. + +TWISS. (IRISH) A Jordan, or pot de chambre. A Mr. Richard + Twiss having in his "Travels" given a very unfavourable + description of the Irish character, the inhabitants of + Dublin, byway of revenge, thought proper to christen this + utensil by his name--suffice it to say that the baptismal + rites were not wanting at the ceremony. On a nephew of + this gentleman the following epigram was made by + a friend of ouis: + + Perish the country, yet my name + Shall ne'er in STORY be forgot, + But still the more increase in fame, + The more the country GOES TO POT. + +TWIST. A mixture of half tea and half coffee; likewise + brandy, beer, and eggs. A good twist; a good appetite. + To twist it down apace; to eat heartily. + +TWISTED. Executed, hanged. + +TO TWIT. To reproach a person, or remind him of favours + conferred. + +TWITTER. All in a twitter; in a fright. Twittering is + also the note of some small birds, such as the robin, &c. + +TWITTOC. Two. CANT. + +TWO HANDED PUT. The amorous congress. + +TWO THIEVES BEATING A ROGUE. A man beating his + hands against his sides to warm himself in cold weather; + called also beating the booby, and cuffing Jonas. + +TWO TO ONE SHOP. A pawnbroker's: alluding to the + three blue balls, the sign of that trade: or perhaps to its + being two to one that the goods pledged are never redeemed. + +TWO-HANDED. Great. A two-handed fellow or wench; + a great strapping man orwoman, + +TYE. A neckcloth. + +TYBURN BLOSSOM. A young thief or pickpocket, who in + time will ripen into fruit borne by the deadly never-green. + +TYBURN TIPPET. A halter; see Latimer's sermon before. + Edward VI. A. D. 1549. + +TYBURN TOP, or FORETOP. A wig with the foretop + combed over the eyes in a knowing style; such being + much worn by the gentlemen pads, scamps, divers, and + other knowing hands. + +TYKE. A dog, also a clown; a Yorkshire tyke. + +TYNEY. See TINEY. + +VAGARIES. Frolics, wild rambles. + +VAIN-GLORIOUS, or OSTENTATIOUS MAN. One who + boasts without reason, or, as the canters say, pisses more + than he drinks. + +VALENTINE. The first woman seen by a man, or man seen + by a woman, on St. Valentine's day, the 14th of February, + when it is said every bird chuses his mate for the ensuing + year. + +TO VAMP. To pawn any thing. I'll vamp it, and tip you + the cole: I'll pawn it, and give you the money. Also to + refit, new dress, or rub up old hats, shoes or other wearing + apparel; likewise to put new feet to old boots. Applied + more particularly to a quack bookseller. + +VAMPER. Stockings. + +VAN. Madam Van; see MADAM. + +VAN-NECK. Miss or Mrs. Van-Neck; a woman with large + breasts; a bushel bubby. + +VARDY. To give one's vardy; i.e. verdict or opinion. + +VARLETS. Now rogues and rascals, formerly yeoman's servants. + +VARMENT. (Whip and Cambridge.) Natty, dashing. He is + quite varment, he is quite the go. He sports a varment + hat, coat, &c.; he is dressed like a gentleman Jehu. + +VAULTING SCHOOL. A bawdy-house; also an academy + where vaulting and other manly exercises are taught. + +VELVET. To tip the velvet; to put one's tongue into a + woman's mouth. To be upon velvet; to have the best + of a bet or match. To the little gentleman in velvet, i. e. + the mole that threw up the hill that caused Crop (King + William's horse) to stumble; a toast frequently drank by + the tories and catholics in Ireland. + +VENERABLE MONOSYLLABLE. Pudendum muliebre. + +VENUS'S CURSE. The venereal disease. + +VESSELS OF PAPER. Half a quarter of a sheet. + +VICAR OF BRAY. See BRAY. + +VICE ADMIRAL OF THE NARROW SEAS. A drunken man + that pisses under the table into his companions' shoes. + +VICTUALLING OFFICE. The stomach. + +VINCENT'S LAW. The art of cheating at cards, composed of + the following associates: bankers, those who play booty; + the gripe, he that betteth; and the person cheated, who + is styled the vincent; the gains acquired, termage. + +VINEGAR. A name given to the person who with a whip + in his hand, and a hat held before his eye, keeps the + ring clear, at boxing-matches and cudgel-playing; also, + in cant terms, a cloak. + +VIXEN. A termagant; also a she fox, who, when she has + cubs, is remarkably fierce. + +TO VOWEL. A gamester who does not immediately pay + his losings, is said to vowel the winner, by repeating the + vowels I. O. U. or perhaps from giving his note for the + money according to the Irish form, where the acknowledgment + of the debt is expressed by the letters I. O. U. which, + the sum and name of the debtor being added, is deemed a + sufficient security among gentlemen. + +UNCLE. Mine uncle's; a necessary house. He is gone to + visit his uncle; saying of one who leaves his wife soon after + marriage. It likewise means a pawnbroker's: goods pawned + are frequently said to be at mine uncle's, or laid up in + lavender. + +UNDERSTRAPPER. An inferior in any office, or department. + +UNDER DUBBER. A turnkey. + +UNFORTUNATE GENTLEMEN. The horse guards, who thus + named themselves in Germany, where a general officer + seeing them very awkward in bundling up their forage, + asked what the devil they were; to which some of them + answered, unfortunate gentlemen. + +UNFORTUNATE WOMEN. Prostitutes: so termed by the + virtuous and compassionate of their own sex. + +UNGRATEFUL MAN. A parson, who at least once a week + abuses his best benefactor, i.e. the devil. + +UNGUENTUM AUREUM. A bribe. + +UNICORN. A coach drawn by three horses. + +UNLICKED CUB. A rude uncouth young fellow. + +UNRIGGED. Undressed, or stripped. Unrig the drab; strip + the wench. + +UNTRUSS. To untruss a point; to let down one's breeches + in order to ease one's self. Breeches were formerly tied + with points, which till lately were distributed to the boys + every Whit Monday by the churchwardens of most of the + parishes in London, under the denomination of tags: these + tags were worsteds of different colours twisted up to a size + somewhat thicker than packthread, and tagged at both + ends with tin. Laces were at the same given to the + girls. + +UNTWISTED. Undone, ruined, done up. + +UNWASHED BAWDRY. Rank bawdry. + +UP TO THEIR GOSSIP. To be a match for one who attempts + to cheat or deceive; to be on a footing, or in the secret. + I'll be up with him; I will repay him in kind. + +UPHILLS. False dice that run high. + +UPPER BENJAMIN. A great coat. CANT. + +UPPER STORY, or GARRET. Figuratively used to signify the + head. His upper story or garrets are unfurnished; i.e. + he is an empty or foolish fellow. + +UPPING BLOCK. [Called in some counties a leaping stock, + in others a jossing block.] Steps for mounting a horse. + He sits like a toad on a jossing block; said of one who + sits ungracefully on horseback. + +UPPISH. Testy, apt to take offence. + +UPRIGHT. Go upright; a word used by shoemakers, taylors + and their servants, when any money is given to + make them drink, and signifies, Bring it all out in liquor, + though the donor intended less, and expects change, or + some of his money, to be returned. Three-penny upright. + See THREEPENNY UPRIGHT, + +UPRIGHT MAN. An upright man signifies the chief or + principal of a crew. The vilest, stoutest rogue in the + pack is generally chosen to this post, and has the sole + right to the first night's lodging with the dells, who + afterwards are used in common among the whole fraternity. + He carries a short truncheon in his hand, which he calls + his filchman, and has a larger share than ordinary in + whatsoever is gotten in the society. He often travels in + company with thirty or forty males and females, abram + men, and others, over whom he presides arbitrarily. Sometimes + the women and children who are unable to travel, + or fatigued, are by turns carried in panniers by an ass, or + two, or by some poor jades procured for that purpose. + +UPSTARTS. Persons lately raised to honours and riches + from mean stations. + +URCHIN. A child, a little fellow; also a hedgehog. + +URINAL OF THE PLANETS. Ireland: so called from the + frequent rains in that island. + +USED UP. Killed: a military saying, originating from a + message sent by the late General Guise, on the expedition + at Carthagena, where he desired the commander in chief + to order him some more grenadiers, for those he had were + all used up. + +WABLER. Footwabler; a contemptuous term for a + foot soldier, frequently used by those of the cavalry. + +TO WADDLE. To go like a duck. To waddle out of + Change alley as a lame duck; a term for one who has not + been able to pay his gaming debts, called his differences, + on the Stock Exchange, and therefore absents himself + from it. + +WAG. An arch-frolicsome fellow. + +WAGGISH. Arch, gamesome, frolicsome. + +WAGTAIL. A lewd woman. + +WAITS. Musicians of the lower order, who in most towns + play under the windows of the chief inhabitants at midnight, + a short time before Christmas, for which they collect + a christmas-box from house to house. They are said + to derive their name of waits from being always in waiting + to celebrate weddings and other joyous events happening + within their district. + +WAKE. A country feast, commonly on the anniversary of + the tutelar saint of the village, that is, the saint to whom + the parish church is dedicated. Also a custom of watching + the dead, called Late Wake, in use both in Ireland and + Wales, where the corpse being deposited under a table, + with a plate of salt on its breast, the table is covered with + liquor of all sorts; and the guests, particularly, the younger + part of them, amuse themselves with all kinds of + pastimes and recreations: the consequence is generally + more than replacing the departed friend. + +WALKING CORNET. An ensign of foot. + +WALKING POULTERER. One who steals fowls, and hawks + them from door to door. + +WALKING STATIONER. A hawker of pamphlets, &c. + +WALKING THE PLANK. A mode of destroying devoted + persons or officers in a mutiny or ship-board, by blindfolding + them, and obliging them to walk on a plank laid + over the ship's side; by this means, as the mutineers suppose, + avoiding the penalty of murder. + +WALKING UP AGAINST THE WALL. To run up a score, + which in alehouses is commonly recorded with chalk on + the walls of the bar. + +WALL. To walk or crawl up the wall; to be scored up at a + public-nouse. Wall-eyed, having an eye with little or + no sight, all white like a plaistered wall. + +TO WAP. To copulate, to beat. If she wont wap for a + winne, let her trine for a make; if she won't lie with a + man for a penny, let her hang for a halfpenny. Mort + wap-apace; a woman of experience, or very expert at the + sport. + +WAPPER-EYED. Sore-eyed. + +WARE. A woman's ware; her commodity. + +WARE HAWK. An exclamation used by thieves to inform + their confederates that some police officers are at hand. + +WARM. Rich, in good circumstances. To warm, or give + a man a warming; to beat him. See CHAFED. + +WARMING-PAN. A large old-fashioned watch. A Scotch + warming-pan; a female bedfellow. + +WARREN. One that is security for goods taken up on credit + by extravagant young gentlemen. Cunny warren; + a girl's boarding-school, also a bawdy-house. + +WASH. Paint for the face, or cosmetic water. Hog-wash; + thick and bad beer. + +WASP. An infected prostitute, who like a wasp carries a + sting in her tail. + +WASPISH. Peevish, spiteful. + +WASTE. House of waste; a tavern or alehouse, where idle + people waste both their time and money. + +WATCH, CHAIN, AND SEALS. A sheep's head And pluck. + +WATER-MILL. A woman's private parts. + +WATER SNEAKSMAN. A man who steals from ships or + craft on the river. + +WATER. His chops watered at it; he longed earnestly for it. + To watch his waters; to keep a strict watch on any one's + actions. In hot water: in trouble, engaged in disputes. + +WATER BEWITCHED. Very weak punch or beer. + +WATERPAD. One that robs ships in the river Thames. + +WATERY-HEADED. Apt to shed tears. + +WATER SCRIGER, A doctor who prescribes from inspecting + the water of his patients. See PISS PROPHET. + +WATTLES. Ears. CANT. + +WEAR A--E. A one-horse chaise. + +WEASEL-FACED. Thin, meagre-faced. Weasel-gutted; + thin-bodied; a weasel is a thin long slender animal with a + sharp face. + +WEDDING. The emptying of a necessary-house, particularly + in London. You have been at an Irish wedding, + where black eyes are given instead of favours; saying to + one who has a black eye. + +WEDGE. Silver plate, because melted by the receivers of + stolen goods into wedges. CANT. + +TO WEED. To take a part. The kiddey weeded the swell's + screens; the youth took some of the gentleman's bank + notes. + +WEEPING CROSS. To come home by weeping cross; to + repent. + +WELCH COMB. The thumb and four fingers. + +WELCH FIDDLE. The itch. See SCOTCH FIDDLE. + +WELCH MILE. Like a Welch mile, long and narrow. His + story is like a Welch mile, long and tedious. + +WELCH RABBIT, [i. e. a Welch rare-bit] Bread and cheese + toasted. See RABBIT.--The Welch are said to be so + remarkably fond of cheese, that in cases of difficulty their + midwives apply a piece of toasted cheese to the janua vita + to attract and entice the young Taffy, who on smelling it + makes most vigorous efforts to come forth. + +WELCH EJECTMENT. To unroof the house, a method + practised by landlords in Wales to eject a bad tenant. + +TO WELL. To divide unfairly. To conceal part. A cant + phrase used by thieves, where one of the party conceals + some of the booty, instead of dividing it fairly amongst + his confederates. + +WELL-HUNG. The blowen was nutts upon the kiddey because + he is well-hung; the girl is pleased with the youth + because his genitals are large. + +WESTMINSTER WEDDING. A match between a whore + and a rogue. + +WET PARSON. One who moistens his clay freely, in order + to make it stick together. + +WET QUAKER. One of that sect who has no objection to + the spirit derived from wine. + +WHACK. A share of a booty obtained by fraud. A paddy + whack; a stout brawney Irishman. + +WHAPPER. A large man or woman. + +WHEEDLE. A sharper. To cut a wheedle; to decoy by + fawning or insinuation. Cant. + +WHEELBAND IN THE NICK. Regular drinking over the + left thumb. + +WHELP. An impudent whelp; a saucy boy. + +WHEREAS. To follow a whereas; to become a bankrupt, + to figure among princes and potentates: the notice given + in the Gazette that a commission of bankruptcy is issued + out against any trader, always beginning with the word + whereas. He will soon march in the rear of a whereas. + +WHET. A morning's draught, commonly white wine, supposed + to whet or sharpen the appetite. + +WHETSTONE'S PARK. A lane between Holborn and Lincoln's-inn + Fields, formerly famed for being the resort of + women of the town. + +WHIDS. Words. Cant. + +TO WHIDDLE. To tell or discover. He whiddles; he + peaches. He whiddles the whole scrap; he discovers all + he knows. The cull whiddled because they would not + tip him a snack: the fellow peached because they would + not give him a share, They whiddle beef, and we must + brush; they cry out thieves, and we must make off. Cant. + +WHIDDLER. An informer, or one that betrays the secrets + of the gang. + +WHIFFLES. A relaxation of the scrotum. + +WHIFFLERS. Ancient name for fifers; also persons at the + universities who examine candidates for degrees. A whiffling + cur, a small yelping cur. + +WHIMPER, or WHINDLE. A low cry. + +TO WHINE. To complain. + +WHINYARD. A sword. + +TO WHIP THE COCK. A piece of sport practised at wakes, + horse-races, and fairs in Leicestershire: a cock being tied + or fastened into a hat or basket, half a dozen carters + blindfolded, and armed with their cart whips, are placed + round it, who, after being turned thrice about, begin to + whip the cock, which if any one strikes so as to make it + cry out, it becomes his property; the joke is, that instead + of whipping the cock they flog each other heartily. + +WHIP JACKS. The tenth order of the canting crew, rogues + who having learned a few sea terms, beg with counterfeit + passes, pretending to be sailors shipwrecked on the + neighbouring coast, and on their way to the port from whence + they sailed. + +TO WHIP OFF. To run away, to drink off greedily, to + snatch. He whipped away from home, went to the alehouse, + where he whipped off a full tankard, and coming + back whipped off a fellow's hat from his head. + +WHIP-BELLY VENGEANCE, or pinch-gut vengeance, of + which he that gets the most has the worst share. Weak + or sour beer. + +WHIPPER-SNAPPER. A diminutive fellow. + +WHIPSHIRE. Yorkshire. + +WHIPSTER. A sharp or subtle fellow. + +WHIPT SYLLABUB. A flimsy, frothy discourse or treatise, + without solidity. + +WHIRLYGIGS. Testicles. + +WHISKER. A great lie. + +WHISKER SPLITTER. A man of intrigue. + +WHISKIN. A shallow brown drinking bowl. + +WHISKY. A malt spirit much drank in Ireland and Scotland; + also a one-horse chaise. See TIM WHISKY. + +WHISTLE. The throat. To wet one's whistle; to drink. + +WHISTLING SHOP. Rooms in the King's Bench and Fleet + prison where drams are privately sold. + +WHIT. [i. e. Whittington's.] Newgate. Cant.--Five rum-padders + are rubbed in the darkmans out of the whit, and + are piked into the deuseaville; five highwaymen broke out + of Newgate in the night, and are gone into the country. + +WHITE RIBBIN. Gin. + +WHITE FEATHER. He has a white feather; he is a coward; + an allusion to a game cock, where having a white feather + is a proof he is not of the true game breed. + +WHITE-LIVERED. Cowardly, malicious. + +WHITE LIE. A harmless lie, one not told with a malicious + intent, a lie told to reconcile people at variance. + +WHITE SERJEANT. A man fetched from the tavern or ale-house + by his wife, is said to be arrested by the white serjeant. + +WHITE SWELLING. A woman big with child is said to have + a white swelling. + +WHITE TAPE. Geneva. + +WHITE WOOL. Geneva. + +WHITECHAPEL. Whitechapel portion; two smocks, and + what nature gave. Whitechapel breed; fat, ragged, and + saucy: see ST. GILES'S BREED. Whitechapel beau; + one who dresses with a needle and thread, and undresses + with a knife. To play at whist Whitechapel fashion; + i.e. aces and kings first. + +WHITEWASHED. One who has taken the benefit of an act + of insolvency, to defraud his creditors, is said to have been + whitewashed. + +WHITFIELITE. A follower of George Whitfield, a Methodist. + +WHITHER-GO-YE. A wife: wives being sometimes apt to + question their husbands whither they are going. + +WHITTINGTON'S COLLEGE. Newgate; built or repaired by + the famous lord mayor of that name. + +WHORE'S BIRD. A debauched fellow, the largest of all birds. + He sings more like a whore's bird than a canary bird; said + of one who has a strong manly voice. + +WHORE'S CURSE. A piece of gold coin, value five shillings + and three pence, frequently given to women of the town by + such as professed always to give gold, and who before the + introduction of those pieces always gave half a guinea. + +WHOHE'S KITLING, or WHORE'S SON. A bastard. + +WHORE-MONGER. A man that keeps more than one mistress. + A country gentleman, who kept a female friend, being reproved + by the parson of the parish, and styled a whore-monger, + asked the parson whether he had a cheese in his + house; and being answered in the affirmative, 'Pray,' + says he, 'does that one cheese make you a cheese-monger?' + +WHORE PIPE. The penis. + +WHOW BALL. A milk-maid: from their frequent use of the + word whow, to make the cow stand still in milking. Ball + is the supposed name of the cow. + +WIBBLE. Bad drink. + +WIBLING'S WITCH. The four of clubs: from one James + Wibling, who in the reign of King James I. grew rich by + private gaming, and was commonly observed to have that + card, and never to lose a game but when he had it not. + +WICKET. A casement; also a little door. + +WIDOW'S WEEDS. Mourning clothes of a peculiar fashion, + denoting her state. A grass widow; a discarded mistress. + a widow bewitched; a woman whose husband is abroad, + and said, but not certainly known, to be dead. + +WIFE. A fetter fixed to one leg. + +WIFE IN WATER COLOURS. A mistress, or concubine; + water colours being, like their engagements, easily effaced, + or dissolved. + +WIGANNOWNS. A man wearing a large wig. + +WIGSBY. Wigsby; a man wearing a wig. + +WILD ROGUES. Rogues trained up to stealing from their + cradles. + +WILD SQUIRT. A looseness. + +WILD-GOOSE CHASE. A tedious uncertain pursuit, like the + following a flock of wild geese, who are remarkably shy. + +WILLING TIT. A free horse, or a coming girl. + +WILLOW. Poor, and of no reputation. To wear the willow; + to be abandoned by a lover or mistress. + +WIN. A penny, + +TO WIN. To steal. The cull has won a couple of rum + glimsticks; the fellow has stolen a pair of fine candlesticks. + +WIND. To raise the wind; to procure mony. + +WINDER. Transportation for life. The blowen has napped + a winder for a lift; the wench is transported for life for + stealing in a shop. + +WIND-MILL. The fundament. She has no fortune but + her mills; i.e. she has nothing but her **** and a*se. + +WINDFALL. A legacy, or any accidental accession of property. + +WINDMILLS IN THE HEAD. Foolish projects. + +WINDOW PEEPER. A collector of the window tax. + +WINDWARD PASSAGE. One who uses or navigates the + windward passage; a sodomite. + +WINDY. Foolish. A windy fellow; a simple fellow. + +WINK. To tip one the wink; to give a signal by winking + the eye. + +WINNINGS. Plunder, goods, or money acquired by theft. + +WINTER CRICKET. A taylor. + +WINTER'S DAY. He is like a winter's day, short and dirty. + +WIPE. A blow, or reproach. I'll give you a wipe on the + chops. That story gave him a fine wipe. Also a handkerchief. + +WIPER. A handkerchief. CANT. + +WIPER DRAWER. A pickpocket, one who steals handkerchiefs. + He drew a broad, narrow, cam, or specked wiper; + he picked a pocket of a broad, narrow, cambrick, or coloured + handkerchief. + +TO WIREDRAW. To lengthen out or extend any book, letter, + or discourse. + +WISE. As wise as Waltham's calf, that ran nine miles to + suck a bull. + +WISE MEN OF GOTHAM. Gotham is a village in Nottinghamshire; + its magistrates are said to have attempted to + hedge in a cuckow; a bush, called the cuckow's bush, is + still shewn in support of the tradition. A thousand other + ridiculous stories are told of the men of Gotham. + +WISEACRE. A foolish conceited fellow. + +WISEACRE'S HALL. Gresham college. + +WIT. He has as much wit as three folks, two fools and a + madman. + +WITCHES. Silver. Witcher bubber; a silver bowl. Witcher + tilter; a silver-hilted sword. Witcher cully; a silversmith. + +TO WOBBLE. To boil. Pot wobbler; one who boils a + pot. + +WOLF IN THE BREAST. An extraordinary mode of imposition, + sometimes practised in the country by strolling + women, who have the knack of counterfeiting extreme + pain, pretending to have a small animal called a wolf in + their breasts, which is continually gnawing them. + +WOLF IN THE STOMACH. A monstrous or canine appetite. + +WOOD. In a wood; bewildered, in a maze, in a peck of + troubles, puzzled, or at a loss what course to take in any + business. To look over the wood; to ascend the pulpit, + to preach: I shall look over the wood at St. James's on + Sunday next. To look through the wood; to stand in the + pillory. Up to the arms in wood; in the pillory. + +WOOD PECKER. A bystander, who bets whilst another + plays. + +WOODCOCK. A taylor with a long bill. + +WOODEN HABEAS. A coffin. A man who dies in prison is + said to go out with a wooden habeas. He went out with + a wooden habeas; i.e. his coffin. + +WOODEN SPOON. (Cambridge.) The last junior optime. + See WRANGLER, OPTIME. + +WOODEN HORSE. To ride the wooden horse was a military + punishment formerly in use. This horse consisted of two + or more planks about eight feet long, fixed together so as + to form a sharp ridge or angle, which answered to the + body of the horse. It was supported by four posts, about + six feet long, for legs. A head, neck, and tail, rudely cut + in wood, were added, which completed the appearance of + a horse. On this sharp ridge delinquents were mounted, + with their hands tied behind them; and to steady them + (as it was said), and lest the horse should kick them off, + one or more firelocks were tied to each leg. In this situation + they were sometimes condemned to sit an hour or + two; but at length it having been found to injure the + soldiers materially, and sometimes to rupture them, it was + left off about the time of the accession of King George I. + A wooden horse was standing in the Parade at Portsmouth + as late as the year 1750. + +WOODEN RUFF. The pillory. See NORWAY NECKCLOTH. + +WOODEN SURTOUT. A coilin. + +WOMAN OF THE TOWN, or WOMAN OF PLEASURE. A + prostitute. + +WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND. A married couple, where + the woman is bigger than her husband. + +WOMAN'S CONSCIENCE. Never satisfied. + +WOMAN OF ALL WORK. Sometimes applied to a female + servant, who refuses none of her master's commands. + +WOOLBIRD. A sheep. CANT. + +WOOL GATHERING. Your wits are gone a woolgathering; + saying to an absent man, one in a reverie, or absorbed + in thought. + +WOOLLEY CROWN. A soft-headed fellow. + +WORD GRUBBERS. Verbal critics, and also persons who + use hard words in common discourse. + +WORD PECKER. A punster, one who plays upon words. + +WORD OF MOUTH. To drink by word of mouth, i.e. out + of the bowl or bottle instead, of a glass. + +WORLD. All the world and his wife; every body, a great + company. + +WORM. To worm out; to obtain the knowledge of a secret + by craft, also to undermine or supplant. He is gone to + the diet of worms; he is dead and buried, or gone to + Rothisbone. + +WRANGLERS. At CAMBRIDGE the first class (generally of + twelve) at the annual examination for a degree. There + are three classes of honours, wranglers, senior optimes, + and junior optimes. Wranglers are said to be born with + golden spoons in their mouths, the senior optimes with + silver, and the junior with leaden ones. The last junior + optime is called the wooden spoon. Those who are not + qualified for honors are either in the GULF (that is, + meritorious, but not deserving of being in the three first + classes) or among the pollot [Proofreaders Note: Greek Letters] + the many. See PLUCK, APOSTLES, &C. + +WRAP RASCAL. A red cloak, called also a roquelaire. + +WRAPT UP IN WARM FLANNEL. Drunk with spirituous + liquors. He was wrapt up in the tail of his mother's + smock; saying of any one remarkable for his success with + the ladies. To be wrapt up in any one: to have a good + opinion of him, or to be under his influence. + +WRINKLE. A wrinkle-bellied whore; one who has had + a number of bastards: child-bearing leaves wrinkles in a + woman's belly. To take the wrinkles out of any one's + belly; to fill it out by a hearty meal. You have one + wrinkle more in your a-se; i.e. you have one piece of + knowledge more than you had, every fresh piece of + knowledge being supposed by the vulgar naturalists to add a + wrinkle to that part. + +WRY MOUTH AND A PISSEN PAIR OF BREECHES. Hanging. + +WRY NECK DAY. Hanging day. + +WYN. See WIN. + +XANTIPPE. The name of Socrates's wife: now used to + signify a shrew or scolding wife. + +YAFFLING. Eating. CANT. + +TO YAM. To eat or stuff heartily. + +YANKEY, or YANKEY DOODLE. A booby, or country + lout: a name given to the New England men in North + America. A general appellation for an American. + +YARMOUTH CAPON. A red herring: Yarmouth is a + famous place for curing herrings. + +YARMOUTH COACH. A kind of low two-wheeled cart + drawn by one horse, not much unlike an Irish car. + +YARMOUTH PYE. A pye made of herrings highly spiced, + which the city of Norwich is by charter bound to present + annually to the king. + +YARUM. Milk. CANT. + +YEA AND NAY MAN. A quaker, a simple fellow, one who + can only answer yes, or no. + +YELLOW. To look yellow; to be jealous. I happened to + call on Mr. Green, who was out: on coming home, and + finding me with his wife, he began to look confounded + blue, and was, I thought, a little yellow. + +YELLOW BELLY. A native of the Fens of Lincolnshire; an + allusion to the eels caught there. + +YELLOW BOYS. Guineas. + +TO YELP. To cry out. Yelper; a town cryer, also one + apt to make great complaints on trifling occasions. + +YEST. A contraction of yesterday. + +YOKED. Married. A yoke; the quantum of labour performed + at one spell by husbandmen, the day's work being + divided in summer into three yokes. Kentish term. + +YORKSHIRE TYKE. A Yorkshire clown. To come Yorkshire + over any one; to cheat him. + +YOUNG ONE. A familiar expression of contempt for another's + ignorance, as "ah! I see you're a young one." How + d'ye do, young one? + +TO YOWL. To cry aloud, or howl. + +ZAD. Crooked like the letter Z. He is a mere zad, or + perhaps zed; a description of a very crooked or deformed + person. + +ZANY. The jester, jack pudding, or merry andrew, to a + mountebank. + +ZEDLAND. Great part of the west country, where the + letter Z is substituted for S; as zee for see, zun for sun, + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of 1811 Dictionary in the Vulgar Tongue, by +Francis Grose + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICTIONARY IN VULGAR TONGUE *** + +***** This file should be named 5402.txt or 5402.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/0/5402/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue + +Author: Captain Grose et al. + +Release Date: April, 2004 [EBook #5402] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 6, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1811 VULGAR DICTIONARY *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +1811 DICTIONARY OF THE VULGAR TONGUE. + + A + DICTIONARY + OF +BUCKISH SLANG, UNIVERSITY WIT, + AND + PICKPOCKET ELOQUENCE. + + +UNABRIDGED FROM THE ORIGINAL 1811 EDITION WITH A FOREWORD BY +ROBERT CROMIE + +COMPILED ORIGINALLY BY CAPTAIN GROSE. + +AND NOW CONSIDERABLY ALTERED AND ENLARGED, WITH THE MODERN +CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS, BY A MEMBER OF THE WHIP CLUB. + +ASSISTED BY HELL-FIRE DICK, AND JAMES GORDON, ESQRS. OF +CAMBRIDGE; AND WILLIAM +SOAMES, ESQ. OF THE HON. SOCIETY OF NEWMAN'S HOTEL. + + + + + + +PREFACE. + +The merit of Captain Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue has +been long and universally acknowledged. But its circulation was +confined almost exclusively to the lower orders of society: he +was not aware, at the time of its compilation, that our young men +of fashion would at no very distant period be as distinguished +for the vulgarity of their jargon as the inhabitants of Newgate; +and he therefore conceived it superfluous to incorporate with his +work the few examples of fashionable slang that might occur to +his observation. + +But our Jehus of rank have a phraseology not less peculiar to +themselves, than the disciples of Barrington: for the uninitiated +to understand their modes of expression, is as impossible as for +a Buxton to construe the Greek Testament. To sport an Upper +Benjamin, and to swear with a good grace, are qualifications +easily attainable by their cockney imitators; but without the aid +of our additional definitions, neither the cits of Fish-street, +nor the boors of Brentford would be able to attain the language +of whippism. We trust, therefore, that the whole tribe of second- +rate Bang Ups, will feel grateful for our endeavour to render +this part of the work as complete as possible. By an occasional +reference to our pages, they may be initiated into all the +peculiarities of language by which the man of spirit is +distinguished from the man of worth. They may now talk bawdy +before their papas, without the fear of detection, and abuse +their less spirited companions, who prefer a good dinner at home +to a glorious UP-SHOT in the highway, without the hazard of a +cudgelling. + +But we claim not merely the praise of gratifying curiosity, or +affording assistance to the ambitious; we are very sure that the +moral influence of the Lexicon Balatronicum will be more certain +and extensive than that of any methodist sermon that has ever +been delivered within the bills of mortality. We need not descant +on the dangerous impressions that are made on the female mind, by +the remarks that fall incidentally from the lips of the brothers +or servants of a family; and we have before observed, that +improper topics can with our assistance be discussed, even before +the ladies, without raising a blush on the cheek of modesty. It +is impossible that a female should understand the meaning of +TWIDDLE DIDDLES, or rise from table at the mention of BUCKINGER'S +BOOT. Besides, Pope assures us, that "VICE TO BE HATED NEEDS BUT +TO BE SEEN;" in this volume it cannot be denied, that she is seen +very plainly; and a love of virtue is, therefore, the necessary +result of perusing it. + +The propriety of introducing the UNIVERSITY SLANG will be readily +admitted; it is not less curious than that of the College in the +Old +Bailey, and is less generally understood. When the number and +accuracy of our additions are compared with the price of the +volume, we have no doubt that its editors will meet with the +encouragement that is due to learning, modesty, and virtue. + + + + +DICTIONARY OF THE VULGAR TONGUE. + + + + +ABBESS, or LADY ABBESS, A bawd, the mistress of a + brothel. + +ABEL-WACKETS. Blows given on the palm of the hand + with a twisted handkerchief, instead of a ferula; a jocular + punishment among seamen, who sometimes play at cards + for wackets, the loser suffering as many strokes as he has + lost games. + +ABIGAIL. A lady's waiting-maid. + +ABRAM. Naked. CANT. + +ABRAM COVE. A cant word among thieves, signifying a + naked or poor man; also a lusty, strong rogue. + +ABRAM MEN. Pretended mad men. + +TO SHAM ABRAM. To pretend sickness. + +ACADEMY, or PUSHING SCHOOL. A brothel. The Floating + Academy; the lighters on board of which those persons + are confined, who by a late regulation are condemned to + hard labour, instead of transportation.--Campbell's + Academy; the same, from a gentleman of that name, who had + the contract for victualling the hulks or lighters. + +ACE OF SPADES. A widow. + +ACCOUNTS. To cast up one's accounts; to vomit. + +ACORN. You will ride a horse foaled by an acorn, i.e. the + gallows, called also the Wooden and Three-legged Mare. + You will be hanged.--See THREE-LEGGED MARE. + +ACT OF PARLIAMENT. A military term for small beer, five + pints of which, by an act of parliament, a landlord was + formerly obliged to give to each soldier gratis. + +ACTEON. A cuckold, from the horns planted on the head + of Acteon by Diana. + +ACTIVE CITIZEN. A louse. + +ADAM'S ALE. Water. + +ADAM TILER. A pickpocket's associate, who receives the + stolen goods, and runs off with them. CANT. + +ADDLE PATE. An inconsiderate foolish fellow. + +ADDLE PLOT. A spoil-sport, a mar-all. + +ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE, who carries his flag on the main-mast. + A landlord or publican wearing a blue apron, as + was formerly the custom among gentlemen of that vocation. + +ADMIRAL OF THE NARROW SEAS. One who from drunkenness + vomits into the lap of the person sitting opposite to + him. SEA PHRASE. + +ADRIFT. Loose, turned adrift, discharged. SEA PHRASE. + +AEGROTAT, (CAMBRIDGE), A certificate from the apothecary + that you are INDISPOSED, (i. e.) to go to chapel. He + sports an Aegrotat, he is sick, and unable to attend Chapel. + or Hall. It does not follow, however, but that he can STRUM + A PIECE, or sport a pair of oars. + +AFFIDAVIT MEN. Knights of the post, or false witnesses, + said to attend Westminster Hall, and other courts of + justice, ready to swear any thing for hire. + +AFTER-CLAP. A demand after the first given in has been + discharged; a charge for pretended omissions; in short, + any thing disagreeable happening after all consequences of + the cause have been thought at an end. + +AGAINST THE GRAIN. Unwilling. It went much against + the grain with him, i.e. it was much against his + inclination, or against his pluck. + +AGOG, ALL-A-GOG. Anxious, eager, impatient: from the + Italian AGOGARE, to desire eagerly. + +AGROUND. Stuck fast, stopped, at a loss, ruined; like a + boat or vessel aground. + +AIR AND EXERCISE. He has had air and exercise, i.e. he + has been whipped at the cart's tail; or, as it is generally, + though more vulgarly, expressed, at the cart's a-se. + +ALDERMAN. A roasted turkey garnished with sausages; + the latter are supposed to represent the gold chain worn + by those magistrates. + +ALDGATE. A draught on the pump at Aldgate; a bad bill + of exchange, drawn on persons who have no effects of the + drawer. + +ALE DRAPER. An alehouse keeper. + +ALE POST. A may-pole. + +ALL-A-MORT. Struck dumb, confounded. What, sweet + one, all-a-mort? SHAKESPEARE. + +ALL HOLIDAY. It is all holiday at Peckham, or it is all holiday + with him; a saying signifying that it is all over + with the business or person spoken of or alluded to. + +ALL HOLLOW. He was beat all hollow, i.e. he had no + chance of conquering: it was all hollow, or a hollow thing, + it was a decided thing from the beginning. See HOLLOW. + +ALL NATIONS. A composition of all the different spirits + sold in a dram-shop, collected in a vessel into which + the drainings of the bottles and quartern pots are emptied. + +ALLS. The five alls is a country sign, representing five human + figures, each having a motto under him. The first + is a king in his regalia; his motto, I govern all: the second, + a bishop in pontificals; motto, I pray for all: third, + a lawyer in his gown; motto, I plead for all: fourth: a + soldier in his regimentals, fully accoutred; motto, I + fight for all: fifth, a poor countryman with his scythe + and rake; motto, I pay for all. + +ALTAMEL. A verbal or lump account, without particulars, + such as is commonly produced at bawdy-houses, + spunging-houses, &c. Vide DUTCH RECKONING. + +ALTITUDES. The man is in his altitudes, i.e. he is drunk. + +AMBASSADOR. A trick to duck some ignorant fellow or + landsman, frequently played on board ships in the warm + latitudes. It is thus managed: A large tub is filled with + water, and two stools placed on each side of it. Over + the whole is thrown a tarpaulin, or old sail: this is + kept tight by two persons, who are to represent the king + and queen of a foreign country, and are seated on the + stools. The person intended to be ducked plays the Ambassador, + and after repeating a ridiculous speech dictated + to him, is led in great form up to the throne, and seated + between the king and queen, who rising suddenly as soon + as he is seated, he falls backwards into the tub of water. + +AMBASSADOR OF MOROCCO. A Shoemaker. (See Mrs. + Clarke's Examination.) + +AMBIDEXTER. A lawyer who takes fees from both plaintiff + and defendant, or that goes snacks with both parties + in gaming. + +AMEN CURLER. A parish clerk. + +AMEN. He said Yes and Amen to every thing; he agreed to + every thing. + +AMINADAB. A jeering name for a Quaker. + +AMES ACE. Within ames ace; nearly, very near. + +TO AMUSE. To fling dust or snuff in the eyes of the person + intended to be robbed; also to invent some plausible tale, + to delude shop-keepers and others, thereby to put them + off their guard. CANT. + +AMUSERS. Rogues who carried snuff or dust in their pockets, + which they threw into the eyes of any person they + intended to rob; and running away, their accomplices + (pretending to assist and pity the half-blinded person) + took that opportunity of plundering him. + +ANABAPTIST. A pickpocket caught in the fact, and punished + with the discipline of the pump or horse-pond. + +ANCHOR. Bring your a-se to an anchor, i.e. sit down. To let + go an anchor to the windward of the law; to keep within + the letter of the law. SEA WIT. + +ANGLERS. Pilferers, or petty thieves, who, with a stick + having a hook at the end, steal goods out of shop-windows, + grates, &c.; also those who draw in or entice unwary persons + to prick at the belt, or such like devices. + +ANGLING FOR FARTHINGS. Begging out of a prison window + with a cap, or box, let down at the end of a long + string. + +ANKLE. A girl who is got with child, is said to have sprained + her ankle. + +ANODYNE NECKLACE. A halter. + +ANTHONY or TANTONY PIG. The favourite or smallest pig + in the litter.--To follow like a tantony pig, i.e. St. + Anthony's pig; to follow close at one's heels. St. Anthony + the hermit was a swineherd, and is always represented + with a swine's bell and a pig. Some derive this saying + from a privilege enjoyed by the friars of certain convents + in England and France (sons of St. Anthony), whose swine + were permitted to feed in the streets. These swine would + follow any one having greens or other provisions, till they + obtained some of them; and it was in those days considered + an act of charity and religion to feed them. + +TO KNOCK ANTHONY. Said of an in-kneed person, or one + whose knees knock together; to cuff Jonas. See JONAS. + +APE LEADER. An old maid; their punishment after + death, for neglecting increase and multiply, will be, it is + said, leading apes in hell. + +APOSTLES. To manoeuvre the apostles, i.e. rob Peter to + pay Paul; that is, to borrow money of one man to pay + another. + +APOSTLES. (CAMBRIDGE.) Men who are plucked, refused + their degree. + +APOTHECARY. To talk like an apothecary; to use hard or + gallipot words: from the assumed gravity and affectation + of knowledge generally put on by the gentlemen of this + profession, who are commonly as superficial in their + learning as they are pedantic in their language. + +APOTHECARY'S BILL. A long bill. + +APOTHECARY'S, or LAW LATIN. Barbarous Latin, vulgarly + called Dog Latin, in Ireland Bog Latin. + +APPLE CART. Down with his apple-cart; knock or throw + him down. + +APPLE DUMPLIN SHOP. A woman's bosom. + +APPLE-PYE BED. A bed made apple-pye fashion, like what + is called a turnover apple-pye, where the sheets are so + doubled as to prevent any one from getting at his length + between them: a common trick played by frolicsome + country lasses on their sweethearts, male relations, or + visitors. + +APRIL FOOL. Any one imposed on, or sent on a bootless + errand, on the first of April; which day it is the custom + among the lower people, children, and servants, by dropping + empty papers carefully doubled up, sending persons + on absurd messages, and such like contrivances, to impose + on every one they can, and then to salute them with + the title of April Fool. This is also practised in + Scotland under the title of Hunting the Gowke. + +APRON STRING HOLD. An estate held by a man during + his wife's life. + +AQUA PUMPAGINIS. Pump water. APOTHECARIES LATIN. + +ARBOR VITAE. A man's penis. + +ARCH DUKE. A comical or eccentric fellow. + +ARCH ROGUE, DIMBER DAMBER UPRIGHT MAN. The + chief of a gang of thieves or gypsies. + +ARCH DELL, or ARCH DOXY, signifies the same in rank + among the female canters or gypsies. + +ARD. Hot. CANT. + +ARMOUR. In his armour, pot valiant: to fight in armour; + to make use of Mrs. Philips's ware. See C--D--M. + +ARK. A boat or wherry. Let us take an ark and winns, let + us take a sculler. CANT. + +ARK RUFFIANS. Rogues who, in conjunction with watermen, + robbed, and sometimes murdered, on the water, by + picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, boarding + it, plundering, stripping, and throwing them overboard, &c. + A species of badger. CANT. + +ARRAH NOW. An unmeaning expletive, frequently used by + the vulgar Irish. + +ARS MUSICA. A bum fiddlle. + +ARSE. To hang an arse; to hang back, to be afraid to + advance. He would lend his a-e and sh-te through his ribs; + a saying of any one who lends his money inconsiderately. + He would lose his a-e if it was loose; said of a careless + person. A-e about; turn round. + +ARSY YARSEY. To fall arsy varsey, i.e. head over heels. + +ARTHUR, KING ARTHUR, A game used at sea, when near + the line, or in a hot latitude. It is performed thus: A man + who is to represent king Arthur, ridiculously dressed, + having a large wig made out of oakum, or some old swabs, is + seated on the side, or over a large vessel of water. Every + person in his turn is to be ceremoniously introduced to + him, and to pour a bucket of water over him, crying, + hail, king Arthur! if during this ceremony the person + introduced laughs or smiles (to which his majesty endeavours + to excite him, by all sorts of ridiculous gesticulations), he + changes place with, and then becomes, king Arthur, till + relieved by some brother tar, who has as little command + over his muscles as himself. + +ARTICLES. Breeches; coat, waistcoat, and articles. + +ARTICLE. A wench. A prime article. A handsome girl. + She's a prime article (WHIP SLANG), she's a devilish good + piece, a hell of a GOER. + +ASK, or AX MY A-E. A common reply to any question; + still deemed wit at sea, and formerly at court, under the + denomination of selling bargains. See BARGAIN. + +ASSIG. An assignation. + +ATHANASIAN WENCH, or QUICUNQUE VULT. A forward + girl, ready to oblige every man that shall ask her. + +AUNT. Mine aunt; a bawd or procuress: a title of eminence + for the senior dells, who serve for instructresses, midwives, + &c. for the dells. CANT. See DELLS. + +AVOIR DU POIS LAY. Stealing brass weights off the counters + of shops. CANT. + +AUTEM. A church. + +AUTEM BAWLER. A parson. CANT. + +AUTEM CACKLERS, AUTEM PRICKEARS. Dissenters of every + denomination. CANT. + +AUTEM CACKLETUB. A conventicle or meeting-house for + dissenters. CANT. + +AUTEM DIPPERS. Anabaptists. CANT. + +AUTEM DIVERS. Pickpockets who practice in churches; + also churchwardens and overseers of the poor. CANT. + +AUTEM GOGLERS. Pretended French prophets. CANT. + +AUTEM MORT. A married woman; also a female beggar + with several children hired or borrowed to excite charity. + CANT. + +AUTEM QUAVERS. Quakers. + +AUTEM QUAVER TUB. A Quakers' meeting-house. CANT. + +AWAKE. Acquainted with, knowing the business. Stow the + books, the culls are awake; hide the cards, the fellows + know what we intended to do. + +BABES IN THE WOOD. Criminals in the stocks, or pillory. + +BABBLE. Confused, unintelligible talk, such as was used at + the building the tower of Babel. + +BACK BITER. One who slanders another behind his back, + i.e. in his absence. His bosom friends are become his back + biters, said of a lousy man. + +BACKED. Dead. He wishes to have the senior, or old + square-toes, backed; he longs to have his father on six + men's shoulders; that is, carrying to the grave. + +BACK UP. His back is up, i.e. he is offended or angry; an + expression or idea taken from a cat; that animal, when + angry, always raising its back. An allusion also sometimes + used to jeer a crooked man; as, So, Sir, I see somebody + has offended you, for your back is up. + +BACON. He has saved his bacon; he has escaped. He has a + good voice to beg bacon; a saying in ridicule of a bad voice. + +BACON-FACED. Full-faced. + +BACON FED. Fat, greasy. + +BACK GAMMON PLAYER. A sodomite. + +BACK DOOR (USHER, or GENTLEMAN OF THE). The same. + +BAD BARGAIN. One of his majesty's bad bargains; a + worthless soldier, a malingeror. See MALINGEROR. + +BADGE. A term used for one burned in the hand. He has got + his badge, and piked; he was burned in the hand, and is + at liberty. Cant. + +BADGE-COVES. Parish Pensioners. Cant. + +BADGERS. A crew of desperate villains who robbed near + rivers, into which they threw the bodies of those they + murdered. Cant. + +BAG. He gave them the bag, i.e. left them. + +BAG OF NAILS. He squints like a bag of nails; i. e. + his eyes are directed as many ways as the points of a bag + of nails. The old BAG OF NAILS at Pimlico; originally + the BACCHANALS. + +BAGGAGE. Heavy baggage; women and children. Also a + familiar epithet for a woman; as, cunning baggage, + wanton baggage, &c. + +BAKERS DOZEN. Fourteen; that number of rolls being allowed + to the purchasers of a dozen. + +BAKER-KNEE'D. One whose knees knock together in + walking, as if kneading dough. + +BALDERDASH. Adulterated wine. + +BALLOCKS. The testicles of a man or beast; also a vulgar + nick name for a parson. His brains are in his ballocks, + a cant saying to designate a fool. + +BALUM RANCUM. A hop or dance, where the women are + all prostitutes. N. B. The company dance in their + birthday suits. + +BALSAM. Money. + +BAM. A jocular imposition, the same as a humbug. See + HUMBUG. + +TO BAM. To impose on any one by a falsity; also to + jeer or make fun of any one. + +TO BAMBOOZLE. To make a fool of any one, to humbug or + impose on him. + +BANAGHAN. He beats Banaghan; an Irish saying of one + who tells wonderful stories. Perhaps Banaghan was a + minstrel famous for dealing in the marvellous. + +BANDBOX. Mine a-se on a bandbox; an answer to the + offer of any thing inadequate to the purpose for which + it is proffered, like offering a bandbox for a seat. + +BANBURY STORY OF A COCK AND A BULL. A roundabout, + nonsensical story. + +BANDOG. A bailiff or his follower; also a very fierce + mastiff: likewise, a bandbox. CANT. + +BANG UP. (WHIP.) Quite the thing, hellish fine. Well + done. Compleat. Dashing. In a handsome stile. + A bang up cove; a dashing fellow who spends his money + freely. To bang up prime: to bring your horses up in a + dashing or fine style: as the swell's rattler and prads are + bang up prime; the gentleman sports an elegant carriage + and fine horses. + +TO BANG. To beat. + +BANGING. Great; a fine banging boy. + +BANG STRAW. A nick name for a thresher, but applied + to all the servants of a farmer. + +BANKRUPT CART. A one-horse chaise, said to be so + called by a Lord Chief Justice, from their being so + frequently used on Sunday jaunts by extravagant + shop-keepers and tradesmen. + +BANKS'S HORSE. A horse famous for playing tricks, the + property of one Banks. It is mentioned in Sir Walter + Raleigh's Hist. of the World, p. 178; also by Sir + Kenelm Digby and Ben Jonson. + +BANTLING. A young child. + +BANYAN DAY. A sea term for those days on which no + meat is allowed to the sailors: the term is borrowed + from the Banyans in the East Indies, a cast that eat + nothing that had life. + +BAPTIZED, OR CHRISTENED. Rum, brandy, or any other + spirits, that have been lowered with water. + +BARBER'S CHAIR. She is as common as a barber's chair, in + which a whole parish sit to be trimmed; said of a prostitute. + +BARBER'S SIGN. A standing pole and two wash balls. + +BARGAIN. To sell a bargain; a species of wit, much in + vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, + and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the + maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It + consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in + answer to the question, What? which the buyer was + artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following + instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, + apparently in a fright, crying out, It is white, and follows + me! On any of the company asking, What? she sold + him the bargain, by saying, Mine a-e. + +BARGEES. (CAMBRIDGE.) Barge-men on the river. + +BARKER. The shopman of a bow-wow shop, or dealer in + second hand clothes, particularly about Monmouth-Street, + who walks before his master's door, and deafens every + passenger with his cries of--Clothes, coats, or gowns--what + d'ye want, gemmen?--what d'ye buy? See BOW-WOW SHOP. + +BARKSHIRE. A member or candidate for Barkshire, said of + one troubled with a cough, vulgarly styled barking. + +BARKING IRONS. Pistols, from their explosion resembling + the bow-wow or barking of a dog. IRISH. + +BARN. A parson's barn; never so full but there is still room, + for more. Bit by a barn mouse, tipsey, probably from an + allusion to barley. + +BARNABY. An old dance to a quick movement. See Cotton, + in his Virgil Travesti; where, speaking of Eolus he has + these lines, + + Bounce cry the port-holes, out they fly, + And make the world dance Barnaby. + +BARNACLE. A good job, or snack easily got: also shellfish + growing at the bottoms of ships; a bird of the goose + kind; an instrument like a pair of pincers, to fix on the + noses of vicious horses whilst shoeing; a nick name for + spectacles, and also for the gratuity given to grooms by the + buyers and sellers of horses. + +BARREL FEVER. He died of the barrel fever; he killed + himself by drinking. + +BARROW MAN. A man under sentence of transportation; + alluding to the convicts at Woolwich, who are principally + employed in wheeling barrows full of brick or dirt. + +BARTHOLOMEW BABY. A person dressed up in a tawdry + manner, like the dolls or babies sold at Bartholomew fair. + +BASKET. An exclamation frequently made use of in cock-pits, + at cock-fightings, where persons refusing or unable + to pay their losings, are adjudged by that respectable + assembly to be put into a basket suspended over the pit, there + to remain during that day's diversion: on the least demur + to pay a bet, Basket is vociferated in terrorem. He grins + like a basket of chips: a saying of one who is on the broad + grin. + +BASKET-MAKING. The good old trade of basket-making; + copulation, or making feet for children's stockings. + +BASTARD. The child of an unmarried woman. + +BASTARDLY GULLION. A bastard's bastard. + +TO BASTE. To beat. I'll give him his bastings, I'll beat + him heartily. + +BASTING. A beating. + +BASTONADING. Beating any one with a stick; from baton, + a stick, formerly spelt baston. + +BAT. A low whore: so called from moving out like bats in + the dusk of the evening. + +BATCH. We had a pretty batch of it last night; we had a + hearty dose of liquor. Batch originally means the whole + quantity of bread baked at one time in an oven. + +BATTNER. An ox: beef being apt to batten or fatten those + that eat it. The cove has hushed the battner; i.e. has + killed the ox. + +BATCHELOR'S FARE. Bread and cheese and kisses. + +BATCHELOR'S SON. A bastard. + +BATTLE-ROYAL. A battle or bout at cudgels or fisty-cuffs, + wherein more than two persons are engaged: perhaps from + its resemblance, in that particular, to more serious + engagements fought to settle royal disputes. + +BAWBEE. A halfpenny. Scotch. + +BAWBELS, or BAWBLES. Trinkets; a man's testicles. + +BAWD. A female procuress. + +BAWDY BASKET. The twenty-third rank of canters, who + carry pins, tape, ballads, and obscene books to sell, but live + mostly by stealing. Cant. + +BAWDY-HOUSE BOTTLE. A very small bottle; short measure + being among the many means used by the keepers of those + houses, to gain what they call an honest livelihood: indeed + this is one of the least reprehensible; the less they give a + man of their infernal beverages for his money, the kinder + they behave to him. + +BAY FEVER. A term of ridicule applied to convicts, who + sham illness, to avoid being sent to Botany Bay. + +BAYARD OF TEN TOES. To ride bayard of ten toes, is to + walk on foot. Bayard was a horse famous in old romances, + +BEAK. A justice of-peace, or magistrate. Also a judge or + chairman who presides in court. I clapp'd my peepers + full of tears, and so the old beak set me free; I began to + weep, and the judge set me free. + +BEAN. A guinea. Half bean; half a guinea. + +BEAR. One who contracts to deliver a certain quantity of + sum of stock in the public funds, on a future day, and at + stated price; or, in other words, sells what he has not got, + like the huntsman in the fable, who sold the bear's skin + before the bear was killed. As the bear sells the stock he + is not possessed of, so the bull purchases what he has not + money to pay for; but in case of any alteration in the price + agreed on, either party pays or receives the difference. + Exchange Alley. + +BEAR-GARDEN JAW or DISCOURSE. Rude, vulgar language, + such as was used at the bear-gardens. + +BEAR LEADER. A travelling tutor. + +BEARD SPLITTER. A man much given to wenching. + +BEARINGS. I'll bring him to his bearings; I'll bring him to + reason. Sea term. + +BEAST. To drink like a beast, i.e. only when thirsty. + +BEAST WITH TWO BACKS. A man and woman in the act of + copulation. Shakespeare in Othello. + +BEATER CASES. Boots. Cant. + +BEAU-NASTY. A slovenly fop; one finely dressed, but dirty. + +BEAU TRAP. A loose stone in a pavement, under which + water lodges, and on being trod upon, squirts it up, to the + great damage of white stockings; also a sharper neatly + dressed, lying in wait for raw country squires, or ignorant + fops. + +BECALMED. A piece of sea wit, sported in hot weather. I + am becalmed, the sail sticks to the mast; that is, my shirt + sticks to my back. His prad is becalmed; his horse knocked up. + +BECK. A beadle. See HERMANBECK. + +BED. Put to bed with a mattock, and tucked up with a + spade; said of one that is dead and buried. You will go up + a ladder to bed, i.e. you will be hanged. In many country + places, persons hanged are made to mount up a ladder, + which is afterwards turned round or taken away, whence the + term, "Turned off." + +BEDFORDSHIRE. I am for Bedfordshire, i.e. for going to bed. + +BEDIZENED. Dressed out, over-dressed, or awkwardly ornamented. + +BED-MAKER. Women employed at Cambridge to attend + on the Students, sweep his room, &c. They will put their + hands to any thing, and are generally blest with a pretty + family of daughters: who unmake the beds, as fast as they + are made by their mothers. + +BEEF. To cry beef; to give the alarm. They have cried beef + on us. Cant.--To be in a man's beef; to wound him with + a sword. To be in a woman's beef; to have carnal + knowledge of her. Say you bought your beef of me, a jocular + request from a butcher to a fat man. implying that he + credits the butcher who serves him. + +BEEF EATER. A yeoman of the guards, instituted by Henry + VII. Their office was to stand near the bouffet, or + cupboard, thence called Bouffetiers, since corrupted to Beef + Eaters. Others suppose they obtained this name from the + size of their persons, and the easiness of their duty, as + having scarce more to do than to eat the king's beef. + +BEETLE-BROWED. One having thick projecting eyebrows. + +BEETLE-HEADED. Dull, stupid. + +BEGGAR MAKER. A publican, or ale-house keeper. + +BEGGAR'S BULLETS. Stones. The beggar's bullets began + to fly, i.e. they began to throw stones. + +BEILBY'S BALL. He will dance at Beilby's ball, where the + sheriff pays the music; he will be hanged. Who Mr. + Beilby was, or why that ceremony was so called, remains + with the quadrature of the circle, the discovery of the + philosopher's stone, and divers other desiderata yet + undiscovered. + +BELCH. All sorts of beer; that liquor being apt to cause + eructation. + +BELCHER. A red silk handkerchief, intermixed with yellow + and a little black. The kiddey flashes his belcher; the + young fellow wears a silk handkerchief round his neck. + +BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE. They cursed him with bell, + book, and candle; an allusion to the popish form of + excommunicating and anathematizing persons who had + offended the church. + +TO BEAR THE BELL. To excel or surpass all competitors, to + be the principal in a body or society; an allusion to the + fore horse or leader of a team, whose harness is commonly + ornamented with a bell or bells. Some suppose it a term + borrowed from an ancient tournament, where the victorious + knights bore away the BELLE or FAIR LADY. Others derive + it from a horse-race, or other rural contentions, where bells + were frequently given as prizes. + +BELLOWS. The lungs. + +BELLOWER. The town crier. + +BELLOWSER. Transportation for life: i.e. as long. + +BELLY. His eye was bigger than his belly; a saying of a + person at a table, who takes more on his plate than he + can eat. + +BELLYFULL. A hearty beating, sufficient to make a man + yield or give out. A woman with child is also said to + have got her belly full. + +BELLY CHEAT. An apron. + +BELLY PLEA. The plea of pregnancy, generally adduced by + female felons capitally convicted, which they take care to + provide for, previous to their trials; every gaol having, as + the Beggar's Opera informs us, one or more child getters, + who qualify the ladies for that expedient to procure a respite. + +BELLY TIMBER. Food of all sorts. + +BELL SWAGGER. A noisy bullying fellow. + +BELLWETHER. The chief or leader of a mob; an idea + taken from a flock of sheep, where the wether has a bell + about his neck. + +BENE. Good--BENAR. Better. Cant. + +BENE BOWSE. Good beer, or other strong liquor. Cant. + +BENE COVE. A good fellow. Cant. + +BENE DARKMANS. Goodnight. Cant. + +BENE FEARERS. Counterfeiters of bills. Cant. + +BENE FEAKERS OF GYBES. Counterfeiters of passes. Cant. + +BENESHIPLY. Worshipfully. Cant. + +BEN. A fool. Cant. + +BENISH. Foolish. + +BENISON. The beggar's benison: May your ***** and + purse never fail you. + +BERMUDAS. A cant name for certain places in London, + privileged against arrests, like the Mint in Southwark, + Ben. Jonson. These privileges are abolished. + +BESS, or BETTY. A small instrument used by house-breakers + to force open doors. Bring bess and glym; bring the + instrument to force the door, and the dark lantern. Small + flasks, like those for Florence wine, are also called betties. + +BESS. See BROWN BESS. + +BEST. To the best in Christendom: i.e. the best **** in + Christendom; a health formerly much in vogue. + +BET. A wager.--TO BET. To lay a wager. + +BETTY MARTIN. That's my eye, Betty Martin; an answer + to any one that attempts to impose or humbug. + +BETWATTLED. Surprised, confounded, out of one's senses; + also bewrayed. + +BEVER. An afternoon's luncheon; also a fine hat; beaver's + fur making the best hats, + +BEVERAGE. Garnish money, or money for drink, demanded + of any one having a new suit of clothes. + +BIBLE. A boatswain's great axe. Sea term. + +BIBLE OATH. Supposed by the vulgar to be more binding + than an oath taken on the Testament only, as being the + bigger book, and generally containing both the Old and New + Testament. + +BIDDY, or CHICK-A-BIDDY. A chicken, and figuratively + a young wench. + +BIDET, commonly pronounced BIDDY. A kind of tub, contrived + for ladies to wash themselves, for which purpose they + bestride it like a French poney, or post-horse, called in + French bidets. + +BIENLY. Excellently. She wheedled so bienly; she coaxed + or flattered so cleverly. French. + +BILL AT SIGHT. To pay a bill at sight; to be ready at all + times for the venereal act. + +BILBOA. A sword. Bilboa in Spain was once famous for + well-tempered blades: these are quoted by Falstaff, where + he describes the manner in which he lay in the buck-basket. + Bilboes, the stock; prison. Cant. + +TO BILK. To cheat. Let us bilk the rattling cove; let us + cheat the hackney coachman of his fare. Cant. Bilking a + coachman, a box-keeper, and a poor whore, were formerly, + among men of the town, thought gallant actions. + +BILL OF SALE. A widow's weeds. See HOUSE TO LET. + +BILLINGSGATE LANGUAGE. Foul language, or abuse. Billingsgate is + the market where the fishwomen assemble to + purchase fish; and where, in their dealings and disputes, + they are somewhat apt to leave decency and good manners + a little on the left hand. + +BING. To go. Cant. Bing avast; get you gone. Binged + avast in a darkmans; stole away in the night. Bing we to + Rumeville: shall we go to London? + +BINGO. Brandy or other spirituous liquor. Cant. + +BINGO BOY. A dram drinker. Cant. + +BINGO MORT. A female dram drinker. Cant. + +BINNACLE WORD. A fine or affected word, which sailors + jeeringly offer to chalk up on the binnacle. + +BIRD AND BABY. The sign of the eagle and child. + +BIRD-WITTED. Inconsiderate, thoughtless, easily imposed + on. + +BIRDS OF A FEATHER. Rogues of the same gang. + +BIRTH-DAY SUIT. He was in his birth-day suit, that is, + stark naked. + +BISHOP. A mixture of wine and water, into which is put a + roasted orange. Also one of the largest of Mrs. Philips's + purses, used to contain the others. + +BISHOPED, or TO BISHOP. A term used among horse-dealers, for + burning the mark into a horse's tooth, after he has + lost it by age; by bishoping, a horse is made to appear + younger than he is. It is a common saying of milk that is + burnt too, that the bishop has set his foot in it. Formerly, + when a bishop passed through a village, all the inhabitants + ran out of their houses to solicit his blessing, even leaving + their milk, &c. on the fire, to take its chance: which, went + burnt to, was said to be bishoped. + +TO BISHOP the balls, a term used among printers, to water + them. + +BIT. Money. He grappled the cull's bit; he seized the + man's money. A bit is also the smallest coin in Jamaica, + equal to about sixpence sterling. + +BITCH. A she dog, or doggess; the most offensive appellation + that can be given to an English woman, even more + provoking than that of whore, as may he gathered from the + regular Billinsgate or St. Giles's answer--"I may be a + whore, but can't be a bitch." + +TO BITCH. To yield, or give up an attempt through fear. + To stand bitch; to make tea, or do the honours of the tea- + table, performing a female part: bitch there standing for + woman, species for genius. + +BITCH BOOBY. A country wench. Military term. + +BITE. A cheat; also a woman's privities. The cull wapt + the mort's bite; the fellow enjoyed the wench heartily. + Cant. + +TO BITE. To over-reach, or impose; also to steal.--Cant. + --Biting was once esteemed a kind of wit, similar to the + humbug. An instance of it is given in the Spectator: A + man under sentence of death having sold his body to a surgeon + rather below the market price, on receiving the money, cried, A + bite! I am to be hanged in chains.--To bite + the roger; to steal a portmanteau. To bite the wiper, to + steal a handkerchief. To bite on the bridle; to be pinched + or reduced to difficulties. Hark ye, friend, whether do + they bite in the collar or the cod-piece? Water wit to + anglers. + +BITER. A wench whose **** is ready to bite her a-se; a + lascivious, rampant wench. + +BLAB. A tell-tale, or one incapable of keeping a secret + +BLACK AND WHITE. In writing. I have it in black and + white; I have written evidence. + +BLACK ART. The art of picking a lock. Cant. + +BLACK A-SE. A copper or kettle. The pot calls the kettle + black a-se. Cant. + +BLACK BOOK. He is down in the black book, i.e. has a + stain in his character. A black book is keep in most regiments, + wherein the names of all persons sentenced to punishment + are recorded. + +BLACK BOX. A lawyer. Cant. + +BLACK EYE. We gave the bottle a black eye, i.e. drank it + almost up. He cannot say black is the white of my eye; + he cannot point out a blot in my character. + +BLACK FLY. The greatest drawback on the farmer is the + black fly, i.e. the parson who takes tithe of the harvest. + +BLACK GUARD. A shabby, mean fellow; a term said to be + derived from a number of dirty, tattered roguish boys, who + attended at the Horse Guards, and Parade in St. James's + Park, to black the boots and shoes of the soldiers, or to do + any other dirty offices. These, from their constant attendance + about the time of guard mounting, were nick-named + the black-guards. + +BLACK JACK. A nick name given to the Recorder by the + Thieves. + +BLACK JACK. A jug to drink out of, made of jacked leather. + +BLACK JOKE. A popular tune to a song, having for the + burden, "Her black joke and belly so white:" figuratively + the black joke signifies the monosyllable. See MONOSYLLABLE. + +BLACK INDIES. Newcastle upon Tyne, whose rich coal + mines prove an Indies to the proprietors. + +BLACKLEGS. A gambler or sharper on the turf or in the cockpit: + so called, perhaps, from their appearing generally in + boots; or else from game-cocks whose legs are always black. + +BLACK MONDAY. The first Monday after the school-boys + holidays, or breaking up, when they are to go to school, + and produce or repeat the tasks set them. + +BLACK PSALM. To sing the black psalm; to cry: a saying + used to children. + +BLACK SPICE RACKET. To rob chimney sweepers of + their soot, bag and soot. + +BLACK SPY. The Devil. + +BLACK STRAP. Bene Carlo wine; also port. A task of + labour imposed on soldiers at Gibraltar, as a punishment + for small offences. + +BLANK. To look blank; to appear disappointed or confounded. + +BLANKET HORNPIPE. The amorous congress. + +BLARNEY. He has licked the blarney stone; he deals in the + wonderful, or tips us the traveller. The blarney stone is a + triangular stone on the very top of an ancient castle of that + name in the county of Cork in Ireland, extremely difficult + of access; so that to have ascended to it, was considered + as a proof of perseverance, courage, and agility, whereof + many are supposed to claim the honour, who never atchieved + the adventure: and to tip the blarney, is figuratively + used telling a marvellous story, or falsity; and also + sometimes to express flattery. Irish. + +A BLASTED FELLOW or BRIMSTONE. An abandoned + rogue or prostitute. Cant. + +To BLAST. To curse. + +BLATER. A calf. Cant. + +BLEACHED MORT. A fair-complexioned wench. + +BLEATERS. Those cheated by Jack in a box. CANT.--See + JACK IN A BOX. + +BLEATING CHEAT. A sheep. Cant. + +BLEATING RIG. Sheep stealing. Cant. + +BLEEDERS. Spurs. He clapped his bleeders to his prad; + be put spurs to his horse. + +BLEEDING CULLY. One who parts easily with his money, + or bleeds freely. + +BLEEDING NEW. A metaphor borrowed from fish, which + will not bleed when stale. + +BLESSING. A small quantity over and above the measure, + usually given by hucksters dealing in peas, beans, and + other vegetables. + +BLIND. A feint, pretence, or shift. + +BLIND CHEEKS. The breech. Buss blind cheeks; kiss + mine a-se. + +BLIND EXCUSE. A poor or insufficient excuse. A blind ale-house, + lane, or alley; an obscure, or little known or frequented + ale-house, lane, or alley. + +BLIND HARPERS. Beggars counterfeiting blindness, playing + on fiddles, &c. + +BLINDMAN'S BUFF. A play used by children, where one + being blinded by a handkerchief bound over his eyes, + attempts to seize any one of the company, who all endeavour + to avoid him; the person caught, must be blinded in + his stead. + +BLIND CUPID. The backside. + +BLINDMAN'S HOLIDAY. Night, darkness. + +BLOCK HOUSES. Prisons, houses of correction, &c. + +BLOCKED AT BOTH ENDS. Finished. The game is blocked + at both ends; the game is ended. + +BLOOD. A riotous disorderly fellow. + +BLOOD FOR BLOOD. A term used by tradesmen for bartering + the different commodities in which they deal. Thus a + hatter furnishing a hosier with a hat, and taking payment + in stockings, is said to deal blood for blood. + +BLOOD MONEY. The reward given by the legislature on the + conviction of highwaymen, burglars, &c. + +BLOODY BACK. A jeering appellation for a soldier, alluding + to his scarlet coat. + +BLOODY. A favourite word used by the thieves in swearing, + as bloody eyes, bloody rascal. + +BLOSS or BLOWEN. The pretended wife of a bully, or + shoplifter. Cant. + +TO BLOT THE SKRIP AND JAR IT. To stand engaged or + bound for any one. Cant. + +BLOW. He has bit the blow, i.e. he has stolen the goods. + Cant. + +BLOWEN. A mistress or whore of a gentleman of the + scamp. The blowen kidded the swell into a snoozing + ken, and shook him of his dummee and thimble; the + girl inveigled the gentleman into a brothel and robbed him + of his pocket book and watch. + +BLOWER. A pipe. How the swell funks his blower and + lushes red tape; what a smoke the gentleman makes + with his pipe, and drinks brandy. + +TO BLOW THE GROUNSILS. To lie with a woman on the + floor. Cant. + +TO BLOW THE GAB. To confess, or impeach a confederate. + Cant. + +BLOW-UP. A discovery, or the confusion occasioned by one. + +A BLOWSE, or BLOWSABELLA. A woman whose hair is + dishevelled, and hanging about her face; a slattern. + +BLUBBER. The mouth.--I have stopped the cull's blubber; + I have stopped the fellow's mouth, meant either by gagging + or murdering him. + +TO BLUBBER. To cry. + +TO SPORT BLUBBER. Said of a large coarse woman, who + exposes her bosom. + +BLUBBER CHEEKS. Large flaccid cheeks, hanging like + the fat or blubber of a whale. + +BLUE, To look blue; to be confounded, terrified, or disappointed. + Blue as a razor; perhaps, blue as azure. + +BLUE BOAR. A venereal bubo. + +BLUE DEVILS. Low spirits. + +BLUE FLAG. He has hoisted the blue flag; he has commenced + publican, or taken a public house, an allusion to + the blue aprons worn by publicans. See ADMIRAL OF + THE BLUE. + +BLUE PIGEONS. Thieves who steal lead off houses and + churches. Cant. To fly a blue pigeon; to steal lead + off houses or churches. + +BLUE PLUMB. A bullet.--Surfeited with a blue plumb; + wounded with a bullet. A sortment of George R--'s + blue plumbs; a volley of ball, shot from soldiers' firelocks. + +BLUE SKIN. A person begotten on a black woman by a + white man. One of the blue squadron; any one having + a cross of the black breed, or, as it is termed, a lick of + the tar brush. + +BLUE TAPE, or SKY BLUE. Gin. + +BLUE RUIN. Gin. Blue ribband; gin. + +BLUFF. Fierce, surly. He looked as bluff as bull beef. + +BLUFFER. An inn-keeper. Cant. + +BLUNDERBUSS. A short gun, with a wide bore, for carrying + slugs; also a stupid, blundering fellow. + +BLUNT. Money. Cant. + +TO BLUSTER. To talk big, to hector or bully. + +BOARDING SCHOOL. Bridewell, Newgate, or any other + prison, or house of correction. + +BOB. A shoplifter's assistant, or one that receives and carries + off stolen goods. All is bob; all is safe. Cant. + +BOB. A shilling. + +BOBBED. Cheated, tricked, disappointed. + +BOBBISH. Smart, clever, spruce. + +BOB STAY. A rope which holds the bowsprit to the stem or + cutwater. Figuratively, the frenum of a man's yard. + +BOB TAIL. A lewd woman, or one that plays with her tail; + also an impotent man, or an eunuch. Tag, rag, and bobtail; + a mob of all sorts of low people. To shift one's bob; + to move off, or go away. To bear a bob; to join in chorus + with any singers. Also a term used by the sellers of game, + for a partridge. + +BODY SNATCHERS. Bum bailiffs. + +BODY OF DIVINITY BOUND IN BLACK CALF. A parson. + +BOG LANDER. An Irishman; Ireland being famous for its + large bogs, which furnish the chief fuel in many parts + of that kingdom. + +BOG TROTTER. The same. + +BOG HOUSE. The necessary house. To go to bog; to go to + stool. + +BOG LATIN. Barbarous Latin. Irish.--See DOG LATIN, + and APOTHECARIES LATIN. + +BOGY. Ask bogy, i.e. ask mine a-se. Sea wit. + +BOH. Said to be the name of a Danish general, who so terrified + his opponent Foh, that he caused him to bewray + himself. Whence, when we smell a stink, it is custom + to exclaim, Foh! i.e. I smell general Foh. He cannot say + Boh to a goose; i.e. he is a cowardly or sheepish fellow. + There is a story related of the celebrated Ben Jonson, who + always dressed very plain; that being introduced to the + presence of a nobleman, the peer, struck by his homely + appearance and awkward manner, exclaimed, as if in doubt, + "you Ben Johnson! why you look as if you could not say + Boh to a goose!" "Boh!" replied the wit. + +BOLD. Bold as a miller's shirt, which every day takes a + rogue by the collar. + +BOLT. A blunt arrow. + +BOLT UPRIGHT. As erect, or straight up, as an arrow + set on its end. + +TO BOLT. To run suddenly out of one's house, or hiding + place, through fear; a term borrowed from a rabbit-warren, + where the rabbits are made to bolt, by sending + ferrets into their burrows: we set the house on fire, and + made him bolt. To bolt, also means to swallow meat + without chewing: the farmer's servants in Kent are + famous for bolting large quantities of pickled pork. + +BONES. Dice. + +BONE BOX. The mouth. Shut your bone box; shut your + mouth. + +BONE PICKER. A footman. + +BONED. Seized. apprehended, taken up by a constable. CANT. + +BOLUS. A nick name for an apothecary. + +BONESETTER. A hard-trotting horse. + +BOOBY, or DOG BOOBY. An awkward lout, clodhopper, or + country fellow. See CLODHOPPER and LOUT. A bitch + booby; a country wench. + +BOOBY HUTCH. A one-horse chaise, noddy, buggy, or + leathern bottle. + +BOOKS. Cards to play with. To plant the books; to place + the cards in the pack in an unfair manner. + +BOOK-KEEPER. One who never returns borrowed books. + Out of one's books; out of one's fevor. Out of his books; + out of debt. + +BOOT CATCHER. The servant at an inn whose business + it is to clean the boots of the guest. + +BOOTS. The youngest officer in a regimental mess, whose + duty it is to skink, that is, to stir the fire, snuff the + candles, and ring the bell. See SKINK.--To ride in any one's + old boots; to marry or keep his cast-off mistress. + +BOOTY. To play booty; cheating play, where the player + purposely avoids winning. + +BO-PEEP. One who sometimes hides himself, and sometimes + appears publicly abroad, is said to-play at bo-peep. + Also one who lies perdue, or on the watch. + +BORACHIO. A skin for holding wine, commonly a goat's; + also a nick name for a drunkard. + +BORDE. A shilling. A half borde; a sixpence. + +BORDELLO. A bawdy house. + +BORE. A tedious, troublesome man or woman, one who + bores the ears of his hearers with an uninteresting tale; + a term much in fashion about the years 1780 and 1781. + +BORN UNDER A THREEPENNY HALFPENNY PLANET, NEVER TO BE WORTH A +GROAT. + Said of any person remarkably unsuccessful in his attempts or + profession. + +BOTCH. A nick name for a taylor. + +BOTHERED or BOTH-EARED. Talked to at both ears by different + persons at the same time, confounded, confused. IRISH + PHRASE. + +BOTHERAMS. A convivial society. + +BOTTLE-HEADED. Void of wit. + +BOTTOM. A polite term for the posteriors. Also, in the + sporting sense, strength and spirits to support fatigue; as + a bottomed horse. Among bruisers it is used to express + a hardy fellow, who will bear a good beating. + +BOTTOMLESS PIT. The monosyllable. + +BOUGHS. Wide in the boughs; with large hips and posteriors. + +BOUGHS. He is up in the boughs; he is in a passion. + +TO BOUNCE. To brag or hector; also to tell an improbable + story. To bully a man out of any thing. The kiddey + bounced the swell of the blowen; the lad bullied the + gentleman out of the girl. + +BOUNCER. A large man or woman; also a great lie. + +BOUNCING CHEAT. A bottle; from the explosion in + drawing the cork. CANT. + +BOUNG. A purse. CANT. + +BOUNG NIPPER. A cut purse. CANT.--Formerly purses + were worn at the girdle, from whence they were cut. + +BOOSE, or BOUSE. Drink. + +BOOSEY. Drunk. + +BOWSING KEN. An ale-house or gin-shop. + +BOWSPRIT. The nose, from its being the most projecting + part of the human face, as the bowsprit is of a ship. + +BOW-WOW. The childish name for a dog; also a jeering + appellation for a man born at Boston in America. + +BOW-WOW MUTTON. Dog's flesh. + +BOW-WOW SHOP. A salesman's shop in Monmouth-street; + so called because the servant barks, and the master bites. + See BARKER. + +BOWYER. One that draws a long bow, a dealer in the marvellous, + a teller of improbable stories, a liar: perhaps from + the wonderful shots frequently boasted of by archers. + +TO BOX THE COMPASS. To say or repeat the mariner's + compass, not only backwards or forwards, but also to + be able to answer any and all questions respecting its + divisions. SEA TERM. + +TO BOX THE JESUIT, AND GET COCK ROACHES. A sea + term for masturbation; a crime, it is said, much practised + by the reverend fathers of that society. + +BRACE. The Brace tavern; a room in the S.E. corner of the + King's Bench, where, for the convenience of prisoners + residing thereabouts, beer purchased at the tap-house was + retailed at a halfpenny per pot advance. It was kept by + two brothers of the name of Partridge, and thence called + the Brace. + +BRACKET-FACED. Ugly, hard-featured. + +BRAGGET. Mead and ale sweetened with honey. + +BRAGGADOCIA. vain-glorious fellow, a boaster. + +BRAINS. If you had as much brains as guts, what a clever + fellow you would be! a saying to a stupid fat fellow. To + have some guts in his brains; to know something. + +BRAN-FACED. Freckled. He was christened by a baker, + he carries the bran in his face. + +BRANDY-FACED. Red-faced, as if from drinking brandy. + +BRANDY. Brandy is Latin for a goose; a memento to + prevent the animal from rising in the stomach by a + glass of the good creature. + +BRAT. A child or infant. + +BRAY. A vicar of Bray; one who frequently changes his + principles, always siding with the strongest party: an + allusion to a vicar of Bray, in Berkshire, commemorated + in a well-known ballad for the pliability of his conscience. + +BRAZEN-FACED. Bold-faced, shameless, impudent. + +BREAD AND BUTTER FASHION. One slice upon the + other. John and his maid were caught lying bread and + butter fashion.--To quarrel with one's bread and butter; + to act contrary to one's interest. To know on which + side one's bread is buttered; to know one's interest, or + what is best for one. It is no bread and butter of mine; + I have no business with it; or rather, I won't intermeddle, + because I shall get nothing by it. + +BREAK-TEETH WORDS. Hard words, difficult to pronounce. + +BREAKING SHINS. Borrowing money; perhaps from the + figurative operation being, like the real one, extremely + disagreeable to the patient. + +BREAD. Employment. Out of bread; out of employment. + In bad bread; in a disagreeable scrape, or situation. + +BREAD BASKET. The stomach; a term used by boxers. + I took him a punch in his bread basket; i.e. I gave him + a blow in the stomach. + +BREAST FLEET. He or she belongs to the breast fleet; i.e. is + a Roman catholic; an appellation derived from their custom + of beating their breasts in the confession of their sins. + +BREECHED. Money in the pocket: the swell is well + breeched, let's draw him; the gentleman has plenty of + money in his pocket, let us rob him. + +BREECHES. To wear the breeches; a woman who governs + her husband is said to wear the breeches. + +BREECHES BIBLE. An edition of the Bible printed in + 1598, wherein it is said that Adam and Eve sewed figleaves + together, and made themselves breeches. + +BREEZE. To raise a breeze; to kick up a dust or breed a + disturbance. + +BRIDGE. To make a bridge of any one's nose; to push the + bottle past him, so as to deprive him of his turn of filling + his glass; to pass one over. Also to play booty, or + purposely to avoid winning. + +BRIM. (Abbreviation of Brimstone.) An abandoned woman; + perhaps originally only a passionate or irascible + woman, compared to brimstone for its inflammability. + +BRISKET BEATER. A Roman catholic. SEE BREAST + FLEET, and CRAW THUMPER. + +BRISTOL MILK. A Spanish wine called sherry, much + drunk at that place, particularly in the morning. + +BRISTOL MAN. The son of an Irish thief and a Welch + whore. + +BRITISH CHAMPAIGNE. Porter. + +BROGANIER. One who has a strong Irish pronunciation or + accent. + +BROGUE. A particular kind of shoe without a heel, + worn in Ireland, and figuratively used to signify the + Irish accent. + +BROTHER OF THE BLADE. A soldier + BUSKIN. A player. + BUNG. A brewer + QUILL. An author. + STRING. A fiddler. + WHIP. A coachman. + +BROTHER STARLING. One who lies with the same woman, + that is, builds in the same nest. + +BROUGHTONIAN. A boxer: a disciple of Broughton, + who was a beef-eater, and once the best boxer of his day. + +BROWN BESS. A soldier's firelock. To hug brown Bess; to + carry a firelock, or serve as a private soldier. + +BROWN GEORGE. An ammunition loaf, A wig without + powder; similar to the undress wig worn by his majesty. + +BROWN MADAM, or MISS BROWN. The monosyllable. + +BROWN STUDY. Said of one absent, in a reverie, or + thoughtful. + +BRUISER. A boxer; one skilled in the ar of boxing also + an inferior workman among chasers. + +BREWES, or BROWES. The fat scum from the pot in + which salted beef is boiled. + +TO BRUSH. To run away. Let us buy a brush and lope; + let us go away or off. To have a brush with a woman; to + lie with her. To have a brush with a man; to fight with + him. The cove cracked the peter and bought a brush; + the fellow broke open the trunk, and then ran away. + +BRUSHER. A bumper, a full glass. See BUMPER. + +BUB. Strong beer. + +BUBBER. A drinking bowl; also a great drinker; a + thief that steals plate from public houses. CANT. + +THE BUBBLE. The party cheated, perhaps from his + being like an air bubble, filled with words, which are + only wind, instead of real property. + +TO BUBBLE. To cheat. + +TO BAR THE BUBBLE. To except against the general + rule, that he who lays the odds must always be adjudged + the loser: this is restricted to betts laid for liquor. + +BUBBLY JOCK. A turkey cock. SCOTCH. + +BUBBLE AND SQUEAK. Beef and cabbage fried together. + It is so called from its bubbling up and squeaking whilst + over the fire. + +BUBE. The venereal disease. + +BUCK. A blind horse; also a gay debauchee. + +TO RUN A BUCK. To poll a bad vote at an election.--IRISH + TERM. + +BUCK BAIL. Bail given by a sharper for one of the gang. + +A BUCK OF THE FIRST HEAD. One who in debauchery + surpasses the rest of his companions, a blood or choice + spirit. There are in London divers lodges or societies of + Bucks, formed in imitation of the Free Masons: one was + held at the Rose, in Monkwell-street, about the year + 1705. The president is styled the Grand Buck. A buck + sometimes signifies a cuckold. + +BUCK'S FACE. A cuckold. + +BUCK FITCH. A lecherous old fellow. + +BUCKEEN. A bully. IRISH. + +BUCKET. To kick the bucket; to die. + +BUCKINGER'S BOOT. The monosyllable. Matthew + Buckinger was born without hands and legs; notwithstanding + which he drew coats of arms very neatly, and + could write the Lord's Prayer within the compass of a + shilling; he was married to a tall handsome woman, + and traversed the country, shewing himself for money. + +BUCKLES. Fetters. + +BUDGE, or SNEAKING BUDGE. One that slips into houses + in the dark, to steal cloaks or other clothes. Also + lambs' fur formerly used for doctors' robes, whence they + were called budge doctors. Standing budge; a thief's + scout or spy. + +TO BUDGE. To move, or quit one's station. Don't budge + from hence; i.e. don't move from hence, stay here. + +BUDGET. A wallet. To open the budget; a term used + to signify the notification of the taxes required by the + minister for the expences of the ensuing year; as To-morrow + the minister will go to the house, and open the + budget. + +BUFE. A dog. Bufe's nob; a dog's head. CANT. + +BUFE NABBER. A dog stealer. CANT. + +BUFF. All in buff; stript to the skin, stark naked. + +BUFF. To stand buff; to stand the brunt. To swear as a + witness. He buffed it home; and I was served; he + swore hard against me, and I was found guilty. + +BUFFER. One that steals and kills horses and dogs for + their skins; also an inn-keeper: in Ireland it signifies a + boxer. + +BUFFER. A man who takes an oath: generally applied to + Jew bail. + +BUFFLE-HEADED. Confused, stupid. + +BUG. A nick name given by the Irish to Englishmen; + bugs having, as it is said, been introduced into Ireland by + the English. + +TO BUG. A cant word among journeymen hatters, signifying + the exchanging some of the dearest materials of + which a hat is made for others of less value. Hats are + composed of the furs and wool of divers animals among + which is a small portion of beavers' fur. Bugging, is + stealing the beaver, and substituting in lieu thereof an equal + weight of some cheaper ingredient.--Bailiffs who take + money to postpone or refrain the serving of a writ, are + said to bug the writ. + +BUG-HUNTER. An upholsterer. + +BUGABOE. A scare-babe, or bully-beggar. + +BUGAROCH. Comely, handsome. IRISH. + +BUGGY. A one-horse chaise. + +BUGGER. A blackguard, a rascal, a term of reproach. Mill + the bloody bugger; beat the damned rascal. + +BULK AND FILE. Two pickpockets; the bulk jostles the + party to be robbed, and the file does the business. + +BULKER. One who lodges all night on a bulk or projection + before old-fashioned shop windows. + +BULL. An Exchange Alley term for one who buys stock + on speculation for time, i.e. agrees with the seller, called + a Bear, to take a certain sum of stock at a future day, at a + stated price: if at that day stock fetches more than the + price agreed on, he receives the difference; if it falls or is + cheaper, he either pays it, or becomes a lame duck, and + waddles out of the Alley. See LAME DUCK and BEAR. + +BULL. A blunder; from one Obadiah Bull, a blundering + lawyer of London, who lived in the reign of Henery VII. + by a bull is now always meant a blunder made by an Irishman. + A bull was also the name of false hair formerly + much worn by women. To look like bull beef, or as bluff + as bull beef; to look fierce or surly. Town bull, a great + whore-master. + +BULL. A crown piece. A half bull; half a crown. + +BULL BEGGAR, or BULLY BEGGAR. An imaginary + being with which children are threatened by servants + and nurses, like raw head and bloody bones. + +BULL CALF. A great hulkey or clumsy fellow. See + HULKEY. + +BULL CHIN. A fat chubby child. + +BULL DOGS. Pistols. + +BULL HANKERS. Persons who over-drive bulls, or + frequent bull baits. + +BULL'S EYE. A crown-piece. + +BULL'S FEATHER. A horn: he wears the bull's feather; he + is a cuckold. + +TO BULLOCK. To hector, bounce, or bully. + +BULLY. A cowardly fellow, who gives himself airs of + great bravery. A bully huff cap; a hector. See HECTOR. + +BULLY BACK. A bully to a bawdy-house; one who is + kept in pay, to oblige the frequenters of the house to submit + to the impositions of the mother abbess, or bawd; and + who also sometimes pretends to be the husband of one of + the ladies, and under that pretence extorts money from + greenhorns, or ignorant young men, whom he finds with her. + See GREENHORN. + +BULLY COCK. One who foments quarrels in order to rob + the persons quarrelling. + +BULLY RUFFIANS. Highwaymen who attack passengers + with paths and imprecations. + +BULLY TRAP. A brave man with a mild or effeminate + appearance, by whom bullies are frequently taken in. + +BUM. the breech, or backside. + +TO BUM. To arrest a debtor. The gill bummed the + swell for a thimble; the tradesman arrested the + gentleman for a watch. + +BUM TRAP. A sheriff's officer who arrests debtors. + Ware hawke! the bum traps are fly to our panney; keep a + good look out, the bailiffs know where our house is + situated. + +BUM BAILIFF. A sheriff's officer, who arrests debtors; so + called perhaps from following his prey, and being at their + bums, or, as the vulgar phrase is, hard at their a-ses. + Blackstone says, it is a corruption of bound bailiff, from + their being obliged to give bond for their good behaviour. + +BUM BRUSHER. A schoolmaster. + +BUM BOAT. A boat attending ships to retail greens, + drams, &c. commonly rowed by a woman; a kind of + floating chandler's shop, + +BUM FODDER. Soft paper for the necessary house or + torchecul. + +BUMFIDDLE. The backside, the breech. See ARS MUSICA. + +BUMBO. Brandy, water, and sugar; also the negro name for + the private parts of a woman. + +BUMKIN. A raw country fellow. + +BUMMED. Arrested. + +BUMPER. A full glass; in all likelihood from its convexity + or bump at the top: some derive it from a full glass + formerly drunk to the health of the pope--AU BON PERE. + +BUMPING. A ceremony performed on boys perambulating + the bounds of the parish on Whit-monday, when they + have their posteriors bumped against the stones marking + the boundaries, in order to fix them in their memory. + +BUN. A common name for a rabbit, also for the monosyllable. + To touch bun for luck; a practice observed among + sailors going on a cruize. + +BUNDLING. A man and woman sleeping in the same bed, he + with his small clothes, and she with her petticoats on; an + expedient practised in America on a scarcity of beds, where, + on such an occasion, husbands and parents frequently + permitted travellers to bundle with their wives and daughters. + This custom is now abolished. See Duke of Rochefoucalt's + Travels in America, + +BUNG UPWARDS. Said of a person lying on his face. + +BUNG YOUR EYE. Drink a dram; strictly speaking, to + drink till one's eye is bunged up or closed. + +BUNT. An apron. + +BUNTER. A low dirty prostitute, half whore and half beggar. + +BUNTLINGS. Petticoats. CANT. + +BURN CRUST. A jocular name for a baker. + +BURN THE KEN. Strollers living in an alehouse without paying + their quarters, are said to burn the ken. CANT. + +BURNING SHAME. A lighted candle stuck into the parts of a + woman, certainly not intended by nature for a candlestick. + +BURNER. A clap. The blowen tipped the swell a burner; + the girl gave the gentleman a clap. + +BURNER. He is no burner of navigable rivers; i.e. he is no + conjuror, or man of extraordinary abilities; or rather, + he is, but a simple fellow. See THAMES. + +BURNT. Poxed or clapped. He was sent out a sacrifice, and + came home a burnt offering; a saying of seamen who have + caught the venereal disease abroad. He has burnt his + fingers; he has suffered by meddling. + +BURR. A hanger on, or dependant; an allusion to the field + burrs, which are not easily got rid of. Also the Northumbrian + pronunciation: the people of that country, but + chiefly about Newcastle and Morpeth, are said to have a + burr in their throats, particularly called the Newcastle + burr. + +BUSHEL BUBBY. A full breasted woman. + +BUSK. A piece of whalebone or ivory, formerly worn by + women, to stiffen the forepart of their stays: hence the + toast--Both ends of the busk. + +BUSS BEGGAR. An old superannuated fumbler, whom none + but beggars will suffer to kiss them. + +BUS-NAPPER. A constable. CANT. + +BUS-NAPPER'S KENCHIN. A watchman. CANT. + +BUSY. As busy is the devil in a high wind; as busy as a hen + with one chick. + +BUTCHER'S DOG. To be like a butcher's dog, i.e. lie by the + beef without touching it; a simile often applicable to + married men. + +BUTCHER'S HORSE. That must have been a butcher's + horse, by his carrying a calf so well; a vulgar joke on an + awkward rider. + +BUTT. A dependant, poor relation, or simpleton, on whom + all kinds of practical jokes are played off; and who serves + as a butt for all the shafts of wit and ridicule. + +BUTTER BOX. A Dutchman, from the great quantity of + butter eaten by the people of that country. + +BUTTERED BUN. One lying with a woman that has just lain + with another man, is said to have a buttered bun. + +BUTTER AND EGGS TROT. A kind of short jogg trot, such + as is used by women going to market, with butter and + eggs.--he looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth, + yet I warrant you cheese would not choak her; a saying + of a demure looking woman, of suspected character. Don't + make butter dear; a gird at the patient angler. + +BUTTOCK. A whore. CANT. + +BUTTOCK BROKER. A bawd, or match-maker. CANT. + +BUTTOCK BALL. The amorous congress. CANT. + +BUTTOCK AND FILE. A common whore and a pick-pocket. + Cant. + +BUTTOCK AND TWANG, or DOWN BUTTOCK AND SHAM + FILE. A common whore, but no pickpocket. + +BUTTOCK AND TONGUE. A scolding wife. + +BUTTOCKING SHOP. A brothel. + +BUTTON. A bad shilling, among coiners. His a-se makes + buttons; he is ready to bewray himself through fear. CANT. + +BUZMAN. A pickpocket. CANT. + +BUZZARD. A simple fellow. A blind buzzard: a + pur-blind man or woman. + +BYE BLOW. A bastard. + +CABBAGE. Cloth, stuff, or silkpurloined by laylors from + their employers, which they deposit in a place called + HELL, or their EYE: from the first, when taxed, with their + knavery, they equivocally swear, that if they have taken + any, they wish they may find it in HELL; or, alluding to the + second, protest, that what they have over and above is + not more than they could put in their EYE.--When the scrotum + is relaxed or whiffled, it is said they will not cabbage. + +CAB. A brothel. Mother: how many tails have you in + your cab? how many girls have you in your bawdy house? + +CACAFEOGO. A sh-te-fire, a furious braggadocio or bully + huff. + +CACKLE. To blab, or discover secrets. The cull is leaky, + and cackles; the rogue tells all. CANT. See LEAKY. + +CACKLER. A hen. + +CACKLER'S KEN. A hen roost. CANT. + +CACKLING CHEATS. Fowls. CANT. + +CACKLING FARTS. Eggs. CANT. + +CADDEE. A helper. An under-strapper. + +CADGE. To beg. Cadge the swells; beg of the gentlemen. + +CAFFAN. Cheese. CANT. + +CAGG. To cagg; a military term used by the private soldiers, + signifying a solemn vow or resolution not to get + drunk for a certain time; or, as the term is, till their cagg + is out: which vow is commonly observed with the strictest + exactness. Ex. I have cagg'd myself for six months. + Excuse me this time, and I will cagg myself for + a year. This term is also used in the same sense among + the common people of Scotland, where it is performed + with divers ceremonies. + +CAG. To be cagged. To be sulky or out of humour. The + cove carries the cag; the man is vexed or sullen. + +CAG MAGG. Bits and scraps of provisions. Bad meat. + +CAGG MAGGS. Old Lincolnshire geese, which having been + plucked ten or twelve years, are sent up to London to + feast the cockneys. + +CAKE, or CAKEY. A foolish fellow. + +CALF-SKIN FIDDLE. A drum. To smack calf's skin; to + kiss the book in taking an oath. It is held by the St. + Giles's casuists, that by kissing one's thumb instead of + smacking calf's skin, the guilt of taking a false oath is + avoided. + +CALVES. His calves are gone to grass; a saying of a man + with slender legs without calves. Veal will be cheap, + calves fall; said of a man whose calves fall away. + +CALVES HEAD CLUB. A club instituted by the Independents + and Presbyterians, to commemorate the decapitation + of King Charles I. Their chief fare was calves heads; and + they drank their wine and ale out of calves skulls. + +CALIBOGUS. Rum and spruce beer, American beverage. + +CALLE. A cloak or gown. CANT. + +CAMBRIDGE FORTUNE. A wind-mill and a water-mill, + used to signify a woman without any but personal endowments. + +CAMBRIDGE OAK. A willow. + +CAMBRADE. A chamber fellow; a Spanish military term. + Soldiers were in that country divided into chambers, five + men making a chamber, whence it was generally used to + signify companion. + +CAMESA. A shirt or shift. CANT. SPANISH. + +CAMP CANDLESTICK. A bottle, or soldier's bayonet. + +CAMPBELL'S ACADEMY. The hulks or lighters, on + board of which felons are condemned to hard labour. + Mr. Campbell was the first director of them. See + ACADEMY and FLOATING ACADEMY. + +CANARY BIRD. A jail bird, a person used to be kept in + a cage; also, in the canting sense, guineas. + +CANDLESTICKS. Bad, small, or untunable bells. Hark! + how the candlesticks rattle. + +CANDY. Drunk. IRISH. + +CANE. To lay Cane upon Abel; to beat any one with a + cane or stick. + +CANK. Dumb. + +CANNISTER. The head. To mill his cannister; to break + his head. + +CANNIKIN. A small can: also, in the canting sense, + the plague. + +CANT. An hypocrite, a double-tongue palavering fellow. + See PALAVER. + +CANT. To cant; to toss or throw: as, Cant a slug into + your bread room; drink a dram. SEA WIT. + +CANTICLE. A parish clerk. + +CANTING. Preaching with a whining, affected tone, perhaps + a corruption of chaunting; some derive it from Andrew + Cant, a famous Scotch preacher, who used that whining + manner of expression. Also a kind of gibberish used by + thieves and gypsies, called likewise pedlar's French, the + slang, &c. &c. + +CANTERS, or THE CANTING CREW. Thieves, beggars, and + gypsies, or any others using the canting lingo. See LINGO. + +CANTERBURY STORY. A long roundabout tale. + +TO CAP. To take one's oath. I will cap downright; I will + swear home. CANT. + +TO CAP. To take off one's hat or cap. To cap the quadrangle; + a lesson of humility, or rather servility, taught + undergraduates at the university, where they are obliged to + cross the area of the college cap in hand, in reverence to + the fellows who sometimes walk there. The same ceremony + is observed on coming on the quarter deck of ships of + war, although no officer should be on it. + +TO CAP. To support another's assertion or tale. To assist + a man in cheating. The file kidded the joskin with sham + books, and his pall capped; the deep one cheated the + countryman with false cards, and his confederate assisted + in the fraud. + +CAP ACQUAINTANCE. Persons slightly acquainted, or only + so far as mutually to salute with the hat on meeting. A + woman who endeavours to attract the notice of any particular + man, is said to set her cap at him. + +CAPER MERCHANT. A dancing master, or hop mercbant; + marchand des capriolles. FRENCH TERM.--To cut papers; to + leap or jump in dancing. See HOP MERCHANT. + +CAPPING VERSES. Repeating Latin Verses in turn, beginning + with the letter with which the last speaker left off. + +CAPON. A castrated cock, also an eunuch. + +CAPRICORNIFIED. Cuckolded, hornified. + +CAPSIZE. To overturn or reverse. He took his broth till + he capsized; he drank till he fell out of his chair. SEA + TERM. + +CAPTAIN. Led captain; an humble dependant in a great + family, who for a precarious subsistence, and distant hopes + of preferment, suffers every kind of indignity, and is the + butt of every species of joke or ill-humour. The small + provision made for officers of the army and navy in time of + peace, obliges many in both services to occupy this wretched + station. The idea of the appellation is taken from a led horse, + many of which for magnificence appear in the retinues + of great personages on solemn occasions, such as processions, + &c. + +CAPTAIN COPPERTHORNE'S CREW. All officers; a saying + of a company where everyone strives to rule. + +CAPTAIN LIEUTENANT. Meat between veal and beef, the + flesh of an old calf; a military simile, drawn from the + officer of that denomination, who has only the pay of a + lieutenant, with the rank of captain; and so is not entirely + one or the other, but between both. + +CAPTAIN PODD. A celebrated master of a puppet-shew, in + Ben Johnson's time, whose name became a common one + to signify any of that fraternity. + +CAPTAIN QUEERNABS. A shabby ill-dressed fellow. + +CAPTAIN SHARP. A cheating bully, or one in a set of + gamblers, whose office is to bully any pigeon, who, suspecting + roguery, refuses to pay what he has lost. CANT. + +CAPTAIN TOM. The leader of a mob; also the mob itself. + +CARAVAN. A large sum of money; also, a person cheated + of such sum. CANT. + +CARBUNCLE FACE. A red face, full of pimples. + +CARDINAL. A cloak in fashion about the year 1760. + +To CAROUSE. To drink freely or deep: from the German + word expressing ALL OUT. + +CARRIERS. A set of rogues who are employed to look out + and watch upon the roads, at inns, &c. in order to carry + information to their respective gangs, of a booty in + prospect. + +CARRIERS. Pigeons which carry expresses. + +CARRION HUNTER. An undertaker; called also a cold + cook, and death hunter. See COLD COOK and DEATH + HUNTER. + +CARROTS. Red hair. + +CARROTTY-PATED. Ginger-hackled, red-haired. See + GINGER-HACKLED. + +CARRY WITCHET. A sort of conundrum, puzzlewit, or + riddle. + +CART. To put the cart before the horse; to mention the + last part of a story first. To be flogged at the cart's a-se or + tail; persons guilty of petty larceny are frequently + sentenced to be tied to the tail of a cart, and whipped by the + common executioner, for a certain distance: the degree + of severity in the execution is left to the discretion of the + executioner, who, it is said, has cats of nine tails of all + prices. + +CARTING. The punishment formerly inflicted on bawds, + who were placed in a tumbrel or cart, and led through + a town, that their persons might be known. + +CARVEL'S RING. The private parts of a woman. Ham + Carvel, a jealous old doctor, being in bed with his wife, + dreamed that the Devil gave him a ring, which, so long as + he had it on his finger, would prevent his being made a + cuckold: waking he found he had got his finger the Lord + knows where. See Rabelais, and Prior's versification of + the story. + +TO CASCADE. To vomit. + +CASE. A house; perhaps from the Italian CASA. In the canting + lingo it meant store or ware house, as well as a dwelling + house. Tout that case; mark or observe that house. + It is all bob, now let's dub the gig of the case; now the + coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house. + +CASE VROW. A prostitute attached to a particular bawdy + house. + +CASH, or CAFFAN. Cheese; CANT. See CAFFAN. + +CASTER. A cloak. CANT. + +CASTOR. A hat. To prig a castor; to steal a hat. + +CASTING UP ONE'S ACCOUNTS. Vomiting. + +CAT. A common prostitute. An old cat; a cross old woman. + +CAT-HEADS. A Woman's breasts. SEA PHRASE. + +TO CAT, or SHOOT THE CAT. To vomit from drunkenness. + +CAT AND BAGPIPEAN SOCIETY. A society which met at + their office in the great western road: in their summons, + published in the daily papers, it was added, that the kittens + might come with the old cats without being scratched. + +CAT CALL. A kind of whistle, chiefly used at theatres, to + interrupt the actors, and damn a new piece. It derives + its name from one of its sounds, which greatly resembles + the modulation of an intriguing boar cat. + +CAT HARPING FASHION. Drinking cross-ways, and not, as + usual, over the left thumb. SEA TERM. + +CAT IN PAN. To turn cat in pan, to change sides or + parties; supposed originally to have been to turn CATE or CAKE + in pan. + +CAT'S FOOT. To live under the cat's foot; to be under the + dominion of a wife hen-pecked. To live like dog and cat; + spoken of married persons who live unhappily together. + As many lives as a cat; cats, according to vulgar + naturalists, have nine lives, that is one less than a woman. + No more chance than a cat in hell without claws; said of + one who enters into a dispute or quarrel with one greatly + above his match. + +CAT LAP. Tea, called also scandal broth. See SCANDAL + BROTH. + +CAT MATCH. When a rook or cully is engaged amongst + bad bowlers. + +CAT OF NINE TAILS. A scourge composed of nine strings + of whip-cord, each string having nine knots. + +CAT'S PAW. To be made a cat's paw of; to be made a tool + or instrument to accomplish the purpose of another: an + allusion to the story of a monkey, who made use of a cat's + paw to scratch a roasted chesnut out of the fire. + +CAT'S SLEEP. Counterfeit sleep: cats often counterfeiting + sleep, to decoy their prey near them, and then suddenly + spring on them. + +CAT STICKS. Thin legs, compared to sticks with which + boys play at cat. See TRAPSTICKS. + +CAT WHIPPING, or WHIPPING THE CAT. A trick often + practised on ignorant country fellows, vain of their strength, + by laying a wager with them that they may be pulled + through a pond by a cat. The bet being made, a rope is + fixed round the waist of the party to be catted, and the + end thrown across the pond, to which the cat is also + fastened by a packthread, and three or four sturdy fellows + are appointed to lead and whip the cat; these on a signal + given, seize the end of the cord, and pretending to whip + the cat, haul the astonished booby through the water. + --To whip the cat, is also a term among tailors for working + jobs at private houses, as practised in the country. + +CATAMARAN. An old scraggy woman; from a kind of float + made of spars and yards lashed together, for saving + ship-wrecked persons. + +CATCH CLUB. A member of the patch club; a bum bailiff. + +CATCH FART. A footboy; so called from such servants + commonly following close behind their master or mistress. + +CATCH PENNY. Any temporary contrivance to raise a + contribution on the public. + +CATCH POLE. A bum bailiff, or sheriff's officer. + +CATCHING HARVEST. A dangerous time for a robbery, + when many persons are on the road, on account of a + horse-race, fair, or some other public meeting. + +CATER COUSINS. Good friends. He and I are not cater + cousins, i.e. we are not even cousins in the fourth degree, + or four times removed; that is, we have not the least + friendly connexion. + +CATERPILLAR. A nick name for a soldier. In the year + 1745, a soldier quartered at a house near Derby, was desired + by his landlord to call upon him, whenever he came + that way; for, added he, soldiers are the pillars of the + nation. The rebellion being finished, it happened the same + regiment was quartered in Derbyshire, when the soldier + resolved to accept of his landlord's invitation, and + accordingly obtained leave to go to him: but, on his arrival, + he was greatly surprised to find a very cold reception; + whereupon expostulating with his landlord, he reminded him of + his invitation, and the circumstance of his having said, + soldiers were the pillars of the nation. If I did, answered the + host, I meant CATERpiliars. + +CATERWAULING. Going out in the night in search of + intrigues, like a cat in the gutters. + +CATHEDRAL. Old-fashioned. An old cathedral-bedstead, + chair, &c. + +CATTLE. Sad cattle: whores or gypsies. Black cattle, + bugs. CANT. + +CAVAULTING SCHOOL. A Bawdy-house. + +CAUDGE-PAWED. Left-handed. + +CAULIFLOWER. A large white wig, such as is commonly + worn by the dignified clergy, and was formerly by physicians. + Also the private parts of a woman; the reason for + which appellation is given in the following story: A + woman, who was giving evidence in a cause wherein it was + necessary to express those parts, made use of the term + cauliflower; for which the judge on the bench, a peevish + old fellow, reproved her, saying she might as well call it + artichoke. Not so, my lord, replied she; for an artichoke + has a bottom, but a **** and a cauliflower have none. + +CAUTIONS. The four cautions: I. Beware of a woman + before.--II. Beware of a horse behind.--III. Beware of a cart + side-ways.--IV. Beware of a priest every way. + +CAW-HANDED, or CAW-PAWED. Awkward, not dextrous, + ready, or nimble. + +CAXON. An old weather-beaten wig. + +CENT PER CENT. An usurer. + +CHAFED. Well beaten; from CHAUFFE, warmed. + +CHALKERS. Men of wit, in Ireland, who in the night amuse + themselves with cutting inoffensive passengers across the + face with a knife. They are somewhat like those facetious + gentlemen some time ago known in England by the title + of Sweaters and Mohocks. + +CHALKING. The amusement above described. + +CHAP. A fellow; An odd chap; A strange fellow. + +CHAPERON. The cicisbeo, or gentleman usher to a lady; + from the French. + +CHAPT. Dry or thirsty. + +CHARACTERED, or LETTERED. Burnt in the hand. They + have palmed the character upon him; they have burned + him in the hand, CANT.--See LETTERED. + +CHARM. A picklock. CANT. + +CHARREN. The smoke of Charren.--His eyes water from + the smoke of Charren; a man of that place coming out + of his house weeping, because his wife had beat him, told + his neighbours the smoke had made his eyes water. + +CHATTER BOX. One whose tongue runs twelve score to the + dozen, a chattering man or woman. + +CHATTER BROTH. Tea. See CAT LAP and SCANDAL BROTH. + +CHATTS. Lice: perhaps an abbreviation of chattels, lice + being the chief live stock of chattels of beggars, gypsies, + and the rest of the canting crew. CANT.--Also, according + to the canting academy, the gallows. + +CHATES. The gallows. CANT. + +CHAUNTER CULLS. Grub-street writers, who compose + songs, carrols, &c. for ballad-singers. CANT. + +CHAUNT. A song. + +TO CHAUNT. To sing. To publish an account in the newspapers. + The kiddey was chaunted for a toby; his examination + concerning a highway robbery was published in + the papers. + +CHAW BACON. A countryman. A stupid fellow. + +CHEAPSIDE. He came at it by way of Cheapside; he gave + little or nothing for it, he bought it cheap. + +CHEATS. Sham sleeves to put over a dirty shift or shirt. + See SHAMS. + +CHEEK BY JOWL. Side by side, hand to fist. + +CHEEKS. Ask cheeks near cunnyborough; the repartee of a + St. Gilse's fair one, who bids you ask her backside, anglice + her a-se. A like answer is current in France: any one + asking the road or distance to Macon, a city near Lyons, + would be answered by a French lady of easy virtue, + 'Mettez votre nez dans mon cul, & vous serrez dans les + Fauxbourgs.' + +CHEESE-TOASTER. A sword. + +CHEESE IT; Be silent, be quiet, don't do it. Cheese it, the + coves are fly; be silent, the people understand our discourse. + +CHEESER. A strong smelling fart. + +CHELSEA. A village near London, famous for the military + hospital. To get Chelsea; to obtain the benefit of that + hospital. Dead Chelsea, by G-d! an exclamation uttered by + a grenadier at Fontenoy, on having his leg carried away by + a cannon-ball. + +CHEST OF TOOLS. A shoe-black's brush and wig, &c. Irish. + +CHERRY-COLOURED CAT. A black cat, there being black + cherries as well as red. + +CHERUBIMS. Peevish children, becausecherubimsand seraphims + continually do cry. + +CHESHIRE CAT. He grins like a Cheshire cat; said of anyone + who shews his teeth and gums in laughing. + +CHICK-A-BIDDY. A chicken, so called to and by little children. + +CHICKEN-BREASTED. Said of a woman with scarce any breasts. + +CHICKEN BUTCHER. A poulterer. + +CHICKEN-HAMMED. Persons whose legs and thighs are bent + or archward outwards. + +CHICKEN-HEARTED. Fearful, cowardly. + +CHICKEN NABOB. One returned from the East Indies with but + a moderate fortune of fifty or sixty thousand pounds, a + diminutive nabob: a term borrowed from the chicken turtle. + +CHILD. To eat a child; to partake of a treat given to the + parish officers, in part of commutation for a bastard child + the common price was formerly ten pounds and a greasy + chiu. See GREASY CHIN. + +CHIMNEY CHOPS. An abusive appellation for a negro. + +CHINK. Money. + +CHIP. A child. A chip of the old block; a child who either + in person or sentiments resembles its father or mother. + +CHIP. A brother chip; a person of the same trade or calling. + +CHIPS, A nick name for a carpenter. + +CHIRPING MERRY. Exhilarated with liquor. Chirping glass, + a cheerful glass, that makes the company chirp like birds + in spring. + +CHIT. An infant or baby. + +CHITTERLINS. The bowels. There is a rumpus among my + bowels, i.e. I have the colic. The frill of a shirt. + +CHITTY-FACED. Baby-faced; said of one who has a childish + look. + +CHIVE, or CHIFF. A knife, file: or saw. To chive the + darbies; to file off the irons or fetters. To chive the bouhgs + of the frows; to cut off women's pockets. + +CHIVEY. I gave him a good chivey; I gave him, a hearty +Scolding. + +CHIVING LAY. Cutting the braces of coaches behind, on + which the coachman quitting the box, an accomplice robs + the boot; also, formerly, cutting the back of the coach to + steal the fine large wigs then worn. + +CHOAK. Choak away, the churchyard's near; a jocular saying + to a person taken with a violent fit of coughing, or who + has swallowed any thing, as it is called the wrong way; + Choak, chicken, more are hatching: a like consolation. + +CHOAK PEAR. Figuratively, an unanswerable objection: also + a machine formerly used in Holland by robbers; it was of + iron, shaped like a pear; this they forced into the mouths + of persons from whom they intended to extort money; and + on turning a key, certain interior springs thrust forth a + number of points, in all directions, which so enlarged it, + that it could not be taken out of the mouth: and the iron, + being case-hardened, could not be filed: the only methods + of getting rid of it, were either by cutting the mouth, or + advertizing a reward for the key, These pears were also + called pears of agony. + +CHOAKING PYE, or COLD PYE, A punishment inflicted + on any person sleeping in company: it consists in wrapping + up cotton in a case or tube of paper, setting it on + fire, and directing the smoke up the nostrils of the sleeper. + See HOWELL'S COTGRAVE. + +CHOCOLATE. To give chocolate without sugar; to reprove. + MILITARY TERM. + +CHOICE SPIRIT. A thoughtless, laughing, singing, drunken fellow. + +CHOP. A blow. Boxing term. + +TO CHOP AND CHANGE. To exchange backwards and forwards. + To chop, in the canting sense, means making + dispatch, or hurrying over any business: ex. The AUTEM + BAWLER will soon quit the HUMS, for he CHOPS UP the WHINERS; + the parson will soon quit the pulpit, for he hurries over + the prayers. See AUTEM BAWLER, HUMS, and WHINERS, + +CHOP CHURCHES. Simoniacal dealers in livings, or other + ecclesiastical preferments. + +CHOPPING, LUSTY. A chopping boy or girl; a lusty + child. + +CHOPS. The mouth. I gave him a wherrit, or a souse, + across the chops; I gave him a blow over the mouth, + See WHERRIT. + +CHOP-STICK. A fork. + +CHOUDER. A sea-dish, composed of fresh fish, salt pork, + herbs, and sea-biscuits, laid in different layers, and stewed + together. + +TO CHOUSE. To cheat or trick: he choused me out of it. + Chouse is also the term for a game like chuck-farthing. + +CHRIST-CROSS ROW. The alphabet in a horn-book: called + Christ-cross Row, from having, as an Irishman observed, + Christ's cross PREFIXED before and AFTER the twenty-four + letters. + +CHRISTENING. Erasing the name of the true maker from + a stolen watch, and engraving a fictitious one in its place. + +CHRISTIAN PONEY. A chairman. + +CHRISTIAN. A tradesman who has faith, i.e. will give credit. + +CHRISTMAS COMPLIMENTS. A cough, kibed heels, and a snotty nose. + +CHUB. He is a young chub, or a mere chub; i.e. a foolish + fellow, easily imposed on: an illusion to a fish of that + name, easily taken. + +CHUBBY. Round-faced, plump. + +CHUCK. My chuck; a term of endearment. + +CHUCK FARTHING. A parish clerk. + +CHUCKLE-HEADED. Stupid, thick-headed. + +CHUFFY. Round-faced, chubby. + +CHUM. A chamber-fellow, particularly at the universities + and in prison. + +CHUMMAGE. Money paid by the richer sort of prisoners + in the Fleet and King's Bench, to the poorer, for their + share of a room. When prisons are very full, which is + too often the case, particularly on the eve of an insolvent + act, two or three persons are obliged to sleep in a room. A + prisoner who can pay for being alone, chuses two poor + chums, who for a stipulated price, called chummage, + give up their share of the room, and sleep on the stairs, + or, as the term is, ruff it. + +CHUNK. Among printers, a journeyman who refuses to + work for legal wages; the same as the flint among taylors. + See FLINT. + +CHURCH WARDEN. A Sussex name fora shag, or cormorant, probably + from its voracity. + +CHURCH WORK. Said of any work that advances slowly. + +CHURCHYARD COUGH. A cough that is likely to terminate + in death. + +CHURK. The udder. + +CHURL. Originally, a labourer or husbandman: figuratively + a rude, surly, boorish fellow. To put a churl upon a gentleman; + to drink malt liquor immediately after having drunk wine. + +CINDER GARBLER. A servant maid, from her business of + sifting the ashes from the cinders. CUSTOM-HOUSE WIT. + +CIRCUMBENDIBUS. A roundabout way, or story. He + took such a circumbendibus; he took such a circuit. + +CIT. A citizen of London. + +CITY COLLEGE. Newgate. + +CIVILITY MONEY. A reward claimed by bailiffs for executing + their office with civility. + +CIVIL RECEPTION. A house of civil reception; a bawdy-house, + or nanny-house. See NANNY-HOUSE. + +CLACK. A tongue, chiefly applied to women; a simile drawn + from the clack of a water-mill. + +CLACK-LOFT. A pulpit, so called by orator Henley. + +CLAMMED. Starved. + +CLAN. A family's tribe or brotherhood; a word much used + in Scotland. The head of the clan; the chief: an allusion + to a story of a Scotchman, who, when a very large + louse crept down his arm, put him back again, saying he + was the head of the clan, and that, if injured, all the rest + would resent it. + +CLANK. A silver tankard. CANT. + +CLANK NAPPER. A silver tankard stealer. See RUM BUBBER. + +CLANKER. A great lie. + +CLAP. A venereal taint. He went out by Had'em, and came + round by Clapham home; i.e. he went out a wenching, + and got a clap. + +CLAP ON THE SHOULDER. An arrest for debt; whence a + bum bailiff is called a shoulder-clapper. + +CLAPPER. The tongue of a bell, and figuratively of a man + or woman. + +CLAPPER CLAW. To scold, to abuse, or claw off with the + tongue. + +CLAPPERDOGEON. A beggar born. CANT. + +CLARET. French red wine; figuratively, blood. I tapped + his claret; I broke his head, and made the blood run. + Claret-faced; red-faced. + +CLAWED OFF. Severely beaten or whipped; also smartly + poxed or clapped. + +CLEAR. Very drunk. The cull is clear, let's bite him; the + fellow is very drunk, let's cheat him. CANT. + +CLEAVER. One that will cleave; used of a forward or + wanton woman. + +CLEAN. Expert; clever. Amongst the knuckling coves he + is reckoned very clean; he is considered very expert as + a pickpocket. + +CLERKED. Soothed, funned, imposed on. The cull will + not be clerked; i.e. the fellow will not be imposed on by + fair words. + +CLEYMES. Artificial sores, made by beggars to excite + charity. + +CLICK. A blow. A click in the muns; a blow or knock + in the face. CANT. + +TO CLICK. To snatch. To click a nab; to snatch a hat. + CANT. + +CLICKER. A salesman's servant; also, one who proportions + out the different shares of the booty among thieves. + +CLICKET. Copulation of foxes; and thence used, in a + canting sense, for that of men and women: as, The cull + and the mort are at clicket in the dyke; the man and + woman are copulating in the ditch. + +CLIMB. To climb the three trees with a ladder; to ascend + the gallows. + +CLINCH. A pun or quibble. To clinch, or to clinch the + nail; to confirm an improbable story by another: as, A + man swore he drove a tenpenny nail through the moon; + a bystander said it was true, for he was on the other side + and clinched it. + +CLINK. A place in the Borough of Southwark, formerly + privileged from arrests; and inhabited by lawless vagabonds + of every denomination, called, from the place of + their residence, clinkers. Also a gaol, from the clinking + of the prisoners' chains or fetters: he is gone to clink. + +CLINKERS. A kind of small Dutch bricks; also irons worn + by prisoners; a crafty fellow. + +TO CLIP. To hug or embrace: to clip and cling. To clip + the coin; to diminish the current coin. To clip the king's + English; to be unable to speak plain through drunkenness. + +CLOAK TWITCHERS. Rogues who lurk about the entrances + into dark alleys, and bye-lanes, to snatch cloaks from the + shoulders of passengers. + +CLOD HOPPER. A country farmer, or ploughman. + +CLOD PATE. A dull, heavy booby. + +CLOD POLE. The same. + +CLOSE. As close as God's curse to a whore's a-se: close as + shirt and shitten a-se. + +CLOSE-FISTED. Covetous or stingy. + +CLOSH. A general name given by the mobility to Dutch + seamen, being a corruption of CLAUS, the abbreviation of + Nicholas, a name very common among the men of that + nation. + +CLOTH MARKET. He is just come from the cloth market, + i.e. from between the sheets, he is just risen from bed. + +CLOUD. Tobacco. Under a cloud; in adversity. + +CLOVEN, CLEAVE, or CLEFT. A term used for a woman + who passes for a maid, but is not one. + +CLOVEN FOOT. To spy the cloven foot in any business; to + discover some roguery or something bad in it: a saying + that alludes to a piece of vulgar superstition, which is, + that, let the Devil transform himself into what shape he + will, he cannot hide his cloven foot + +TO CHUCK. To shew a propensity for a man. The mors + chucks; the wench wants to be doing. + +CLOUT. A blow. I'll give you a clout on your jolly nob; + I'll give you a blow on your head. It also means a + handkerchief. CANT. Any pocket handkerchief except + a silk one. + +CLOUTED SHOON. Shoes tipped with iron. + +CLOUTING LAY. Picking pockets of handkerchiefs. + +CLOVER. To be, or live, in clover; to live luxuriously. + Clover is the most desirable food for cattle. + +CLOWES. Rogues. + +CLOY. To steal. To cloy the clout; to steal the handkerchief. + To cloy the lour; to steal money. CANT. + +CLOVES. Thieves, robbers, &c. + +CLUB. A meeting or association, where each man is to spend + an equal and stated sum, called his club. + +CLUB LAW. Argumentum bacculinum, in which an oaken + stick is a better plea than an act of parliament. + +CLUMP. A lump. Clumpish; lumpish, stupid. + +CLUNCH. An awkward clownish fellow. + +TO CLUTCH THE FIST. To clench or shut the hand. Clutch + fisted; covetous, stingy. See CLOSE-FISTED. + +CLUTCHES. Hands, gripe, power. + +CLUTTER. A stir, noise, or racket: what a confounded + clutter here is! + +CLY. Money; also a pocket. He has filed the cly; he + has picked a pocket. CANT. + +CLY THE JERK: To be whipped. CANT. + +CLYSTER PIPE. A nick name for an apothecary. + +COACH WHEEL. A half crown piece is a fore coach wheel, + and a crown piece a hind coach wheel; the fore wheels of + a coach being less than the hind ones. + +TO COAX. To fondle, or wheedle. To coax a pair of stockings; + to pull down the part soiled into the shoes, so as to + give a dirty pair of stockings the appearance of clean ones. + Coaxing is also used, instead of darning, to hide the holes + about the ancles. + +COB. A Spanish dollar. + +COB, or COBBING. A punishment used by the seamen for + petty offences, or irregularities, among themselves: it + consists in bastonadoing the offender on the posteriors with + a cobbing stick, or pipe staff; the number usually inflicted + is a dozen. At the first stroke the executioner repeats + the word WATCH, on which all persons present are to take + off their hats, on pain of like punishment: the last stroke + is always given as hard as possible, and is called THE PURSE. + Ashore, among soldiers, where this punishment is sometimes + adopted, WATCH and THE PURSE are not included in the + number, but given over and above, or, in the vulgar phrase, + free gratis for nothing. This piece of discipline is also + inflicted in Ireland, by the school-boys, on persons coming + into the school without taking off their hats; it is there + called school butter. + +COBBLE. A kind of boat. + +TO COBBLE. To mend, or patch; likewise to do a thing in + a bungling manner. + +COBBLE COLTER. A turkey. + +COBBLER. A mender of shoes, an improver of the understandings of + his customers; a translator. + +COBBLERS PUNCH. Treacle, vinegar, gin, and water. + +COCK, or CHIEF COCK OF THE WALK. The leading man + in any society or body; the best boxer in a village or + district. + +COCK ALE. A provocative drink. + +COCK ALLEY or COCK LANE. The private parts of a woman. + +COCK AND A BULL STORY. A roundabout story, without + head or tail, i.e. beginning or ending. + +COCK OF THE COMPANY. A weak man, who from the desire of being the + head of the company associates with low + people, and pays all the reckoning. + +COCK-A-WHOOP. Elevated, in high-spirits, transported with joy. + +COCK BAWD. A male keeper of a bawdy-house. + +COCK HOIST. A cross buttock. + +COCKISH. Wanton, forward. A cockish wench; a forward + coming girl. + +COCKLES. To cry cockles; to be hanged: perhaps from the + noise made whilst strangling. CANT.--This will rejoice + the cockles of one's heart; a saying in praise of wine, ale, + or spirituous liquors. + +COCK PIMP. The supposed husband of a bawd. + +COCK ROBIN. A soft, easy fellow. + +COCK-SURE. Certain: a metaphor borrowed front the cock + of a firelock, as being much more certain to fire than the + match. + +COCK YOUR EYE. Shut one eye: thus translated into apothecaries + Latin.--Gallus tuus ego. + +COCKER. One fond of the diversion of cock-fighting. + +COCKNEY: A nick name given to the citizens of London, + or persons born within the sound of Bow bell, derived + from the following story: A citizen of London, being in + the country, and hearing a horse neigh, exclaimed, + Lord! how that horse laughs! A by-stander telling him + that noise was called NEIGHING, the next morning, when + the cock crowed, the citizen to shew he had not forgot + what was told him, cried out, Do you hear how the COCK + NEIGHS? The king of the cockneys is mentioned among + the regulations for the sports and shows formerly held in + the Middle Temple on Childermas Day, where he had + his officers, a marshal, constable, butler, &c. See DUGDALE'S + ORIGINES JURIDICIALES, p. 247.--Ray says, the interpretation of + the word Cockney, is, a young person coaxed or conquered, made + wanton; or a nestle cock, delicately bred and brought up, so + as, when arrived a man's estate, to be unable to bear the least + hardship. Whatever may be the origin of this appellation, we + learn from the following verses, attributed to Hugh Bigot, Earl + of Norfolk, that it was in use. in the time of king Henry II. + + Was I in my castle at Bungay, + Fast by the river Waveney, + I would not care for the king of Cockney; + + i.e. the king of London. + +COCKSHUT TIME. The evening, when fowls go to roost. + +COD. A cod of money: a good sum of money. + +CODDERS. Persons employed by the gardeners to gather + peas. + +CODGER. An old codger: an old fellow. + +COD PIECE. The fore flap of a man's breeches. Do they + bite, master? where, in the cod piece or collar?--a jocular + attack on a patient angler by watermen, &c. + +CODS. The scrotum. Also a nick name for a curate: a rude + fellow meeting a curate, mistook him for the rector, and + accosted him with the vulgar appellation of Bol--ks the + rector, No, Sir, answered he; only Cods the curate, at + your service. + +COD'S HEAD. A stupid fellow. + +COFFEE HOUSE. A necessary house. To make a coffee-house + of a woman's ****; to go in and out and spend + nothing. + +COG. The money, or whatsoever the sweeteners drop to + draw in a bubble. + +COG. A tooth. A queer cog; a rotten tooth. How the + cull flashes his queer cogs; how the fool shews his rotten + teeth. + +TO COG. To cheat with dice; also to coax or wheedle, To + cog a die; to conceal or secure a die. To cog a dinner; + to wheedle one out of a dinner. + +COGUE. A dram of any spirituous liquor. + +COKER. A lie. + +COKES. The fool in the play of Bartholomew Fair: perhaps + a contraction of the word COXCOMB. + +COLCANNON. Potatoes and cabbage pounded together in a + mortar, and then stewed with butter: an Irish dish. + +COLD. You will catch cold at that; a vulgar threat or + advice to desist from an attempt. He caught cold by + lying in bed barefoot; a saying of any one extremely tender + or careful of himself. + +COLD BURNING. A punishment inflicted by private soldiers + on their comrades for trifling offences, or breach of their + mess laws; it is administered in the following manner: + The prisoner is set against the wall, with the arm which is + to be burned tied as high above his head as possible. The + executioner then ascends a stool, and having a bottle of + cold water, pours it slowly down the sleeve of the delinquent, + patting him, and leading the water gently down his + body, till it runs out at his breeches knees: this is repeated + to the other arm, if he is sentenced to be burned in both. + +COLD COOK. An undertaker of funerals, or carrion hunter. + See CARRION HUNTER. + +COLD IRON. A sword, or any other weapon for cutting or + stabbing. I gave him two inches of cold iron into his beef. + +COLD MEAT. A dead wife is the beat cold meat in a man's + house. + +COLD PIG. To give cold pig is a punishment inflicted on + sluggards who lie too long in bed: it consists in pulling off + all the bed clothes from them, and throwing cold water + upon them. + +COLD PUDDING. This is said to settle one's love. + +COLE. Money. Post the cole: pay down the money. + +COLIANDER, or CORIANDER SEEDS. Money. + +COLLAR DAY. Execution day. + +COLLEGE. Newgate or any other prison. New College: + the Royal Exchange. King's College: the King's Bench + prison. He has been educated at the steel, and took his + last degree at college; he has received his education at + the house of correction, and was hanged at Newgate. + +COLLEGE COVE. The College cove has numbered him, and if he + is knocked down he'll be twisted; the turnkey of Newgate + has told the judge how many times the prisoner has been + tried before and therefore if he is found guilty, he certainly + will be hanged. It is said to be the custom of the Old Bailey + for one of the turnkeys of Newgate to give information to + the judge how many times an old offender has been tried, + by holding up as many fingers as the number of times the + prisoner has been before arraigned at that bar. + +COLLEGIATES. Prisoners of the one, and shopkeepers of + the other of those places. + +COLLECTOR. A highwayman. + +TO COLLOGUE. To wheedle or coax. + +COOK RUFFIAN, who roasted the devil in his feathers. A + bad cook. + +COOL CRAPE. A shroud. + +COOLER. A woman. + +COOLER. The backside. Kiss my cooler. Kiss my a-se. + It is principally used to signify a woman's posteriors. + +COOL LADY. A female follower of the camp, who sells + brandy. + +COOL NANTS. Brandy. + +COOL TANKARD. Wine and water, with lemon, sugar, and + burrage. + +COLQUARRON. A man's neck. His colquarron is just about + to be twisted; he is just going to be hanged. CANT. + +COLT. One who lets horses to highwaymen; also a boy newly + initiated into roguery; a grand or petty juryman on his + first assize. CANT. + +COLTAGE. A fine or beverage paid by colts on their first + entering into their offices. + +COLT BOWL. Laid short of the jack by a colt bowler, i.e. + a person raw or unexperienced in the art of bowling. + +COLT'S TOOTH. An old fellow who marries or keeps a young + girl, is said to have a colt's tooth in his head. + +COLT VEAL. Coarse red veal, more like the flesh of a colt + than that of a calf. + +COMB. To comb one's head; to clapperclaw, or scold any + one: a woman who lectures her husband, is said to comb + his head. She combed his head with a joint stool; she + threw a stool at him. + +COME. To come; to lend. Has he come it; has he lent it? + To come over any one; to cheat or over reach him. + Coming wench; a forward wench, also a breeding woman. + +COMING! SO IS CHRISTMAS. Said of a person who has long + been called, and at length answers, Coming! + +COMFORTABLE IMPORTANCE. A wife. + +COMMISSION. A shirt. CANT. + +COMMODE. A woman's head dress. + +COMMODITY. A woman's commodity; the private parts of + a modest woman, and the public parts of a prostitute. + +COMMONS. The house of commons; the necessary house. + +COMPANY. To see company; to enter into a course of prostitution. + +COMPLIMENT. See CHRISTMAS. + +COMUS'S COURT. A social meeting formerly held at the + Half Moon tavern Cheapside. + +CONFECT. Counterfeited. + +CONGER. To conger; the agreement of a set or knot of + booksellers of London, that whosoever of them shall buy + a good copy, the rest shall take off such a particular number, + in quires, at a stated price; also booksellers joining to + buy either a considerable or dangerous copy. + +CONGO. Will you lap your congo with me? will you drink + tea with me? + +CONNY WABBLE. Eggs and brandy beat up together. IRISH. + +CONSCIENCE KEEPER. A superior, who by his influence + makes his dependants act as he pleases. + +CONTENT. The cull's content; the man is past complaining: + a saying of a person murdered for resisting the robbers. CANT. + +CONTENT. A thick liquor, in imitation of chocolate, made + of milk and gingerbread. + +CONTRA DANCE. A dance where the dancers of the different + sexes stand opposite each other, instead of side by side, as + in the minuet, rigadoon, louvre, &c. and now corruptly called a + country dance. + +CONUNDRUMS. Enigmatical conceits. + +CONVENIENT. A mistress. CANT. + +CONVENIENCY. A necessary. A leathern conveniency, a coach. + +COOPED UP. Imprisoned, confined like a fowl in a coop. + +COQUET. A jilt. + +CORINTH. A bawdy-house. CANT. + +CORINTHIANS: Frequenters of brothels. Also an impudent, + brazen-faced fellow, perhaps from the Corinthian + brass. + +CORK-BRAINED. Light-headed, foolish. + +CORNED. Drunk. + +CORNISH HUG. A particular lock in wrestling, peculiar to + the people of that county. + +CORNY-FACED. A very red pimpled face. + +CORPORAL. To mount a corporal and four; to be guilty + of onanism: the thumb is the corporal, the four fingers + the privates. + +CORPORATION. A large belly. He has a glorious corporation; + he has a very prominent belly. + +CORPORATION. The magistrates, &c. of a corporate + town. Corpus sine ratione. Freemen of a corporation's + work; neither strong nor handsome. + +COSSET. A foundling. Cosset colt or lamb; a colt or + lamb brought up by hand. + +COSTARD. The head. I'll smite your costard; I'll give + you a knock on the head. + +COSTARD MONGER. A dealer in fruit, particularly apples. + +COT, or QUOT. A man who meddles with women's household + business, particularly in the kitchen. The punishment + commonly inflicted on a quot, is pinning a greasy + dishclout to the skirts of his coat. + +COVE. A man, a fellow, a rogue. The cove was bit; the + rogue was outwitted. The cove has bit the cole; the + rogue has got the money. CANT. + +COVENT, or CONVENT GARDEN, vulgarly called COMMON + GARDEN. Anciently, the garden belonging to a + dissolved monastery; now famous for being the chief + market in London for fruit, flowers, and herbs. The + theatres are situated near it. In its environs are + many brothels, and not long ago, the lodgings of the + second order of ladies of easy virtue were either there, or + in the purlieus of Drury Lane. + +COVENT GARDEN ABBESS. A bawd. + +COVENT GARDEN AGUE. The venereal disease. He broke + his shins against Covent Garden rails; he caught the + venereal disorder. + +COVENT GARDEN NUN. A prostitute. + +COVENTRY. To send one to Coventry; a punishment inflicted + by officers of the army on such of their brethren + as are testy, or have been guilty of improper behaviour, + not worthy the cognizance of a court martial. The person + sent to Coventry is considered as absent; no one must + speak to or answer any question he asks, except relative + to duty, under penalty of being also sent to the same place. + On a proper submission, the penitent is recalled, and + welcomed by the mess, as just returned from a journey to + Coventry. + +COVEY. A collection of whores. What a fine covey here + is, if the Devil would but throw his net! + +TO COUCH A HOGSHEAD. To lie down to sleep. CANT. + +COUNTERFEIT CRANK. A general cheat, assuming all sorts + of characters; one conterfeiting the falling sickness. + +COUNTRY HARRY. A waggoner. CANT. + +COUNTRY PUT. An ignorant country fellow. + +COUNTY WORK. Said of any work that advances slowly. + +COURT CARD. A gay fluttering coxcomb. + +COURT HOLY WATER, COURT PROMISES. Fair speeches and promises, + without performance. + +COURT OF ASSISTANTS. A court often applied to by young + women who marry old men. + +COW. To sleep like a cow, with a **** at one's a-se; said + of a married man; married men being supposed to sleep + with their backs towards their wives, according to the + following proclamation: + + All you that in your beds do lie, + Turn to your wives, and occupy: + And when that you have done your best, + Turn a-se to a-se, and take your rest. + +COW JUICE. Milk. + +COW'S BABY. A calf. + +COW'S COURANT. Gallop and sh---e. + +COW-HANDED. Awkward. + +COW-HEARTED. Fearful. + +COW ITCH. The product of a sort of bean, which excites an + insufferable itching, used chiefly for playing tricks. + +COW'S SPOUSE. A bull. + +COW'S THUMB. Done to a cow's thumb; done exactly. + +COXCOMB. Anciently, a fool. Fools, in great families, + wore a cap with bells, on the top of which was a piece of + red cloth, in the shape of a cock's comb. At present, + coxcomb signifies a fop, or vain self-conceited fellow. + +CRAB. To catch a crab; to fall backwards by missing one's + stroke in rowing. + +CRAB LANTHORN. A peevish fellow. + +CRAB LOUSE. A species of louse peculiar to the human body; + the male is denominated a cock, the female a hen. + +CRAB SHELLS. Shoes. IRISH. + +CRABS. A losing throw to the main at hazard. + +CRABBED. Sour, ill-tempered, difficult. + +CRACK. A whore. + +TO CRACK. To boast or brag; also to break. I cracked his + napper; I broke his head. + +THE CRACK, or ALL THE CRACK. The fashionable theme, + the go. The Crack Lay, of late is used, in the cant + language, to signify the art and mystery of house-breaking. + +CRACKER. Crust, sea biscuit, or ammunition loaf; also the + backside. Farting crackers; breeches. + +CRACKISH. Whorish. + +CRACKING TOOLS. Implements of house-breaking, such as + a crow, a center bit, false keys, &c. + +CRACKMANS. Hedges. The cull thought to have loped by + breaking through the crackmans, but we fetched him back + by a nope on the costard, which stopped his jaw; the man + thought to have escaped by breaking through the hedge, + but we brought him back by a great blow on the head, + which laid him speechless. + +CRACKSMAN. A house-breaker. The kiddy is a clever + cracksman; the young fellow is a very expert house-breaker. + +CRAG. The neck. + +CRAMP RINGS. Bolts, shackles, or fetters. CANT. + +CRAMP WORDS. Sentence of death passed on a criminal by + a judge. He has just undergone the cramp word; sentence + has just been passed on him. CANT. + +CRANK. Gin and water; also, brisk, pert. + +CRANK. The falling sickness. CANT. + +TO CRASH. To kill. Crash that cull; kill that fellow. CANT. + +CRASHING CHEATS. Teeth. + +CRAW THUMPERS. Roman catholics, so called from their + beating their breasts in the confession of their sins. See + BRISKET BEATER, and BREAST FLEET. + +CREAM-POT LOVE. Such as young fellows pretend to + dairymaids, to get cream and other good things from them. + +TO CREEME. To slip or slide any thing into the hands of + another. CANT. + +CREEPERS. Gentlemen's companions, lice. + +CREW. A knot or gang; also a boat or ship's company. The + canting crew are thus divided into twenty-three orders, + which see under the different words: + + MEN. + + 1 Rufflers + 2 Upright Men + 3 Hookers or Anglers + 4 Rogues + 5 Wild Rogues + 6 Priggers of Prancers + 7 Palliardes + 8 Fraters + 9 Jarkmen, or Patricoes + 10 Fresh Water Mariners, or Whip Jackets + 11 Drummerers + 12 Drunken Tinkers + 13 Swadders, or Pedlars + 14 Abrams. + + WOMEN. + + 1 Demanders for Glimmer or Fire + 2 Bawdy Baskets + 3 Morts + 4 Autem Morts + 5 Walking Morts + 6 Doxies + 7 Delles + 8 Kinching Morts + 9 Kinching Coes + +CRIB. A house. To crack a crib: to break open a house. + +TO CRIB. To purloin, or appropriate to one's own use, + part of any thing intrusted to one's care. + +TO FIGHT A CRIB. To make a sham fight. BEAR GARDEN + TERM. + +CRIBBAGE-FACED. Marked with the small pox, the pits + bearing a kind of resemblance to the holes in a + cribbage-board. + +CRIBBEYS, or CRIBBY ISLANDS. Blind alleys, courts, or + bye-ways; perhaps from the houses built there being cribbed + out of the common way or passage; and islands, from + the similarity of sound to the Caribbee Islands. + +CRIM. CON. MONEY. Damages directed by a jury to be + paid by a convicted adulterer to the injured husband, for + criminal conversation with his wife. + +CRIMP. A broker or factor, as a coal crimp, who disposes + of the cargoes of the Newcastle coal ships; also persons + employed to trapan or kidnap recruits for the East Indian + and African companies. To crimp, or play crimp; to + play foul or booty: also a cruel manner of cutting up fish + alive, practised by the London fishmongers, in order to + make it eat firm; cod, and other crimped fish, being a + favourite dish among voluptuaries and epicures. + +CRINKUM CRANKUM. A woman's commodity. See SPECTATOR. + +CRINKUMS. The foul or venereal disease. + +CRIPPLE. Sixpence; that piece being commonly much bent + and distorted. + +CRISPIN. A shoemaker: from a romance, wherein a prince + of that name is said to have exercised the art and mystery + of a shoemaker, thence called the gentle craft: or rather + from the saints Crispinus and Crispianus, who according + to the legend, were brethren born at Rome, from whence + they travelled to Soissons in France, about the year 303, + to propagate the Christian religion; but, because they + would not be chargeable to others for their maintenance, + they exercised the trade of shoemakers: the governor of + the town discovering them to be Christians, ordered them + to be beheaded, about the year 303; from which time they + have been the tutelar saints of the shoemakers. + +CRISPIN'S HOLIDAY. Every Monday throughout the year, + but most particularly the 25th of October, being the + anniversary of Crispinus and Crispianus. + +CRISPIN'S LANCE. An awl. + +CROAKER. One who is always foretelling some accident + or misfortune: an allusion to the croaking of a raven, + supposed ominous. + +CROAKUMSHIRE. Northumberland, from the particular + croaking the pronunciation of the people of that + county, especially about Newcastle and Morpeth, where + they are said to be born with a burr in their throats, which + prevents their pronouncing the letter r. + +CROAKERS. Forestallers, called also Kidders and Tranters. + +CROCODILE'S TEARS. The tears of a hypocrite. Crocodiles + are fabulously reported to shed tears over their prey before + they devour it. + +CROCUS, or CROCUS METALLORUM. A nick name for a + surgeon of the army and navy. + +CROKER. A groat, or four pence. + +CRONE. An old ewe whose teeth are worn out; figuratively, + a toothless old beldam. + +CRONY. An intimate companion, a comrade; also a confederate + in a robbery. + +CROOK. Sixpence. + +CROOK BACK. Sixpence; for the reason of this name, see + CRIPPLE. + +CROOK YOUR ELBOW. To crook one's elbow, and wish it + may never come straight, if the fact then affirmed is not + true--according to the casuists of Bow-street and St. + Giles's, adds great weight and efficacy to an oath. + +CROOK SHANKS. A nickname for a man with bandy legs. + He buys his boots in Crooked Lane, and his stockings + in Bandy-legged Walk; his legs grew in the night, therefore + could not see to grow straight; jeering sayings of men + with crooked legs. + +CROP. A nick name for a presbyterian: from their cropping + their hair, which they trimmed close to a bowl-dish, + placed as a guide on their heads; whence they were likewise + called roundheads. See ROUNDHEADS. + +CROP. To be knocked down for a crop; to be condemned + to be hanged. Cropped, hanged. + +CROPPING DRUMS. Drummers of the foot guards, or Chelsea + hospital, who find out weddings, and beat a point of + war to serenade the new married couple, and thereby + obtain money. + +CROPPEN. The tail. The croppen of the rotan; the tail + of the cart. Croppen ken: the necessary-house. CANT. + +CROPSICK. Sickness in the stomach, arising from drunkenness. + +CROSS. To come home by weeping cross; to repent at the + conclusion. + +CROSS DISHONEST. A cross cove; any person who lives by + stealing or in a dishonest manner. + +CROSS BITE. One who combines with a sharper to draw in + a friend; also, to counteract or disappoint. CANT.--This + is peculiarly used to signify entrapping a man so as to obtain + CRIM. COM. money, in which the wife, real or supposed, + conspires with the husband. + +CROSS BUTTOCK. A particular lock or fall in the Broughtonian + art, which, as Mr. Fielding observes, conveyed more + pleasant sensations to the spectators than the patient. + +CROSS PATCH. A peevish boy or girl, or rather an unsocial + ill-tempered man or woman. + +TO CROW. To brag, boast, or triumph. To crow over any + one; to keep him in subjection: an image drawn from a + cock, who crows over a vanquished enemy. To pluck a + crow; to reprove any one for a fault committed, to settle a + dispute. To strut like a crow in a gutter; to walk proudly, + or with an air of consequence. + +CROWD. A fiddle: probably from CROOTH, the Welch name + for that instrument. + +CROWDERO. A fiddler. + +CROWDY. Oatmeal and water, or milk; a mess much eaten + in the north. + +CROW FAIR. A visitation of the clergy. See REVIEW OF + THE BLACK CUIRASSIERS. + +CROWN OFFICE. The head. I fired into her keel upwards; + my eyes and limbs Jack, the crown office was full; I s--k-d + a woman with her a-e upwards, she was so drunk, that her + head lay on the ground. + +CRUISERS. Beggars, or highway spies, who traverse the + road, to give intelligence of a booty; also rogues ready to + snap up any booty that may offer, like privateers or pirates + on a cruise. + +CRUMMY. Fat, fleshy. A fine crummy dame; a fat woman. + He has picked up his crumbs finely of late; he has + grown very fat, or rich, of late. + +CRUMP. One who helps solicitors to affidavit men, or false + witnesses.--'I wish you had, Mrs. Crump;' a Gloucestershire + saying, in answer to a wish for any thing; implying, + you must not expect any assistance from the speaker. It + is said to have originated from the following incident: + One Mrs. Crump, the wife of a substantial farmer, dining + with the old Lady Coventry, who was extremely deaf, said + to one of the footmen, waiting at table, 'I wish I had a + draught of small beer,' her modesty not permitting her to + desire so fine a gentleman to bring it: the fellow, conscious + that his mistress could not hear either the request or + answer, replied, without moving, 'I wish you had, Mrs. + Crump.' These wishes being again repeated by both parties, + Mrs. Crump got up from the table to fetch it herself; + and being asked by my lady where she was going, related + what had passed. The story being told abroad, the expression + became proverbial. + +CRUMP-BACKED. Hump-backed. + +CRUSTY BEAU. One that uses paint and cosmetics, to obtain + a fine complexion. + +CRUSTY FELLOW. A surly fellow. + +CUB. An unlicked cub; an unformed, ill-educated young + man, a young nobleman or gentleman on his travels: an + allusion to the story of the bear, said to bring its cub into + form by licking. Also, a new gamester. + +CUCKOLD. The husband of an incontinent wife: cuckolds, + however, are Christians, as we learn by the following story: + An old woman hearing a man call his dog Cuckold, reproved + him sharply, saying, 'Sirrah, are not you ashamed + to call a dog by a Christian's name ?' To cuckold the + parson; to bed with one's wife before she has been churched. + +CUCUMBERS. Taylors, who are jocularly said to subsist, + during the summer, chiefly on cucumbers. + +CUFF. An old cuff; an old man. To cuff Jonas; said of one + who is knock-kneed, or who beats his sides to keep himself + warm in frosty weather; called also Beating the + booby. + +CUFFIN. A man. + +CULL. A man, honest or otherwise. A bob cull; a good- + natured, quiet fellow. CANT. + +CULLABILITY. A disposition liable to be cheated, an + unsuspecting nature, open to imposition. + +CULLY. A fog or fool: also, a dupe to women: from the + Italian word coglione, a blockhead. + +CULP. A kick or blow: from the words mea culpa, being + that part of the popish liturgy at which the people beat their + breasts; or, as the vulgar term is, thump their craws. + +CUNDUM. The dried gut of a sheep, worn by men in the + act of coition, to prevent venereal infection; said to have + been invented by one colonel Cundum. These machines + were long prepared and sold by a matron of the name of + Philips, at the Green Canister, in Half-moon-street, in the + Strand. That good lady having acquired a fortune, retired + from business; but learning that the town was not well + served by her successors, she, out of a patriotic zeal for the + public welfare, returned to her occupation; of which she + gave notice by divers hand-bills, in circulation in the year + 1776. Also a false scabbard over a sword, and the oil-skin + case for holding the colours of a regiment. + +CUNNINGHAM. A punning appellation for a simple fellow. + +CUNNING MAN. A cheat, who pretends by his skill in + astrology to assist persons in recovering stolen goods: and + also to tell them their fortunes, and when, how often, + and to whom they shall be married; likewise answers all + lawful questions, both by sea and land. This profession + is frequently occupied by ladies. + +CUNNING SHAVER. A sharp fellow, one that trims close, + i.e. cheats ingeniously. + +CUNNY-THUMBED. To double one's fist with the thumb inwards, + like a woman. + +C**T. The chonnos of the Greek, and the cunnus of the Latin + dictionaries; a nasty name for a nasty thing: un con Miege. + +CUP OF THE CREATURE. A cup of good liquor. + +CUP-SHOT. Drunk. + +CUPBOARD LOVE. Pretended love to the cook, or any other + person, for the sake of a meal. My guts cry cupboard; + i.e. I am hungry + +CUPID, BLIND CUPID. A jeering name for an ugly blind + man: Cupid, the god of love, being frequently painted + blind. See BLIND CUPID. + +CUR. A cut or curtailed dog. According to the forest laws, + a man who had no right to the privilege of the chase, was + obliged to cut or law his dog: among other modes of + disabling him from disturbing the game, one was by depriving + him of his tail: a dog so cut was called a cut or + curtailed dog, and by contraction a cur. A cur is figuratively + used to signify a surly fellow. + +CURBING LAW. The act of hooking goods out of windows: + the curber is the thief, the curb the hook. CANT. + +CURE A-SE. A dyachilon plaister, applied to the parts galled + by riding. + +CURLE. Clippings of money, which curls up in the operation. CANT. + +CURMUDGEON. A covetous old fellow, derived, according + to some, from the French term coeur mechant. + +CURRY. To curry favour; to obtain the favour of a person + be coaxing or servility. To curry any one's hide; to beat + him. + +CURSE OF SCOTLAND. The nine of diamonds; diamonds, it + is said, imply royalty, being ornaments to the imperial + crown; and every ninth king of Scotland has been observed + for many ages, to be a tyrant and a curse to that country. + Others say it is from its similarity to the arms of Argyle; + the Duke of Argyle having been very instrumental in + bringing about the union, which, by some Scotch patriots, + has been considered as detrimental to their country. + +CURSE OF GOD. A cockade. + +CURSITORS. Broken petty-fogging attornies, or Newgate + solicitors. CANT. + +CURTAILS. Thieves who cut off pieces of stuff hanging out + of shop windows, the tails of women's gowns, &c.; also, + thieves wearing short jackets. + +CURTAIN LECTURE. A woman who scolds her husband + when in bed, is said to read him a curtain lecture. + +CURTEZAN. A prostitute. + +CUSHION. He has deserved the cushion; a saying of one + whose wife is brought to bed of a boy: implying, that + having done his business effectually, he may now indulge or + repose himself. + +CUSHION THUMPER, or DUSTER. A parson; many of whom + in the fury of their eloquence, heartily belabour their + cushions. + +CUSTARD CAP. The cap worn by the sword-bearer of the + city of London, made hollow at the top like a custard. + +CUSTOM-HOUSE GOODS. The stock in trade of a prostitute, + because fairly entered. + +CUT. Drunk. A little cut over the head; slightly + intoxicated. To cut; to leave a person or company. To cut + up well; to die rich. + +TO CUT. (Cambridge.) To renounce acquaintance with any + one is to CUT him. There are several species of the CUT. + Such as the cut direct, the cut indirect, the cut sublime, + the cut infernal, &c. The cut direct, is to start across the + street, at the approach of the obnoxious person in order to + avoid him. The cut indirect, is to look another way, and + pass without appearing to observe him. The cut sublime, + is to admire the top of King's College Chapel, or the beauty + of the passing clouds, till he is out of sight. The cut + infernal, is to analyze the arrangement of your shoe-strings, + for the same purpose. + +TO CUT BENE. To speak gently. To cut bene whiddes; + to give good words. To cut queer whiddes; to give foul + language. To cut a bosh, or a flash; to make a figure. + CANT. + +TO CUTTY-EYE. To look out of the corners of one's eyes, + to leer, to look askance. The cull cutty-eyed at us; the + fellow looked suspicious at us. + +DAB. An adept; a dab at any feat or exercise. Dab, + quoth Dawkins, when he hit his wife on the a-se with a + pound of butter. + +DACE. Two pence. Tip me a dace; lend me two pence. + CANT. + +DADDLES. Hands. Tip us your daddle; give me your hand. + CANT. + +DADDY. Father. Old daddy; a familiar address to an old + man. To beat daddy mammy; the first rudiments of + drum beating, being the elements of the roll. + +DAGGERS. They are at daggers drawing; i.e. at enmity, + ready to fight. + +DAIRY. A woman's breasts, particularly one that gives + suck. She sported her dairy; she pulled out her breast. + +DAISY CUTTER. A jockey term for a horse that does not + lift up his legs sufficiently, or goes too near the ground, + and is therefore apt to stumble. + +DAISY KICKERS. Ostlers at great inns. + +DAM. A small Indian coin, mentioned in the Gentoo code + of laws: hence etymologists may, if they please, derive + the common expression, I do not care a dam, i.e. I do + not care half a farthing for it. + +DAMBER. A rascal. See DIMBER. + +DAMME BOY. A roaring, mad, blustering fellow, a scourer + of the streets, or kicker up of a breeze. + +DAMNED SOUL. A clerk in a counting house, whose sole + business it is to clear or swear off merchandise at the + custom-house; and who, it is said, guards against the crime + of perjury, by taking a previous oath, never to swear truly + on those occasions. + +DAMPER. A luncheon, or snap before dinner: so called + from its damping, or allaying, the appetite; eating and + drinking, being, as the proverb wisely observes, apt to take + away the appetite. + +DANCE UPON NOTHING. To be hanged. + +DANCERS. Stairs. + +DANDY. That's the dandy; i.e. the ton, the clever thing; + an expression of similar import to "That's the barber." + See BARBER. + +DANDY GREY RUSSET. A dirty brown. His coat's dandy + grey russet, the colour of the Devil's nutting bag. + +DANDY PRAT. An insignificant or trifling fellow. + +To DANGLE. To follow a woman without asking the question. + Also, to be hanged: I shall see you dangle in the + sheriff's picture frame; I shall see you hanging on the + gallows. + +DANGLER. One who follows women in general, without + any particular attachment + +DAPPER FELLOW. A smart, well-made, little man. + +DARBIES. Fetters. CANT. + +DARBY. Ready money. CANT. + +DARK CULLY. A married man that keeps a mistress, whom + he visits only at night, for fear of discovery. + +DARKEE. A dark lanthorn used by housebreakers. Stow + the darkee, and bolt, the cove of the crib is fly; hide the + dark lanthorn, and run away, the master of the house + knows that we are here. + +DARKMANS. The night. CANT. + +DARKMAN'S BUDGE. One that slides into a house in the + dark of the evening, and hides himself, in order to let some + of the gang in at night to rob it. + +DART. A straight-armed blow in boxing. + +DASH. A tavern drawer. To cut a dash: to make a figure. + +DAVID JONES. The devil, the spirit of the sea: called + Necken in the north countries, such as Norway, Denmark, + and Sweden. + +DAVID JONES'S LOCKER. The sea. + +DAVID'S SOW. As drunk as David's sow; a common + saying, which took its rise from the following circumstance: + One David Lloyd, a Welchman, who kept an alehouse at + Hereford, had a living sow with six legs, which was greatly + resorted to by the curious; he had also a wife much + addicted to drunkenness, for which he used sometimes + to give her due correction. One day David's wife having + taken a cup too much, and being fearful of the + consequences, turned out the sow, and lay down to sleep herself + sober in the stye. A company coming in to see the sow, + David ushered them into the stye, exclaiming, there is a + sow for you! did any of you ever see such another? all + the while supposing the sow had really been there; to + which some of the company, seeing the state the woman + was in, replied, it was the drunkenest sow they had ever + beheld; whence the woman was ever after called David's + sow. + +DAVY. I'll take my davy of it; vulgar abbreviation of affidavit. + +TO DAWB. To bribe. The cull was scragged because he + could not dawb; the rogue was hanged because he could + not bribe. All bedawbed with lace; all over lace. + +DAY LIGHTS. Eyes. To darken his day lights, or sow up + his sees; to close up a man's eyes in boxing. + +DEAD CARGO. A term used by thieves, when they are + disappointed in the value of their booty. + +DEAD HORSE. To work for the dead horse; to work for + wages already paid. + +DEAD-LOUSE. Vulgar pronunciation of the Dedalus ship of + war. + +DEAD MEN. A cant word among journeymen bakers, for + loaves falsely charged to their masters' customers; also + empty bottles. + +DEADLY NEVERGREEN, that bears fruit all the year round. + The gallows, or three-legged mare. See THREE-LEGGEB + MARE. + +DEAR JOYS. Irishmen: from their frequently making use + of that expression. + +DEATH HUNTER. An undertaker, one who furnishes the + necessary articles for funerals. See CARRION HUNTER. + +DEATH'S HEAD UPON A MOP-STICK. A poor miserable, + emaciated fellow; one quite an otomy. See OTOMY.-- + He looked as pleasant as the pains of death. + +DEEP-ONE. A thorough-paced rogue, a sly designing + fellow: in opposition to a shallow or foolish one. + +DEFT FELLOW. A neat little man. + +DEGEN, or DAGEN. A sword. Nim the degen; steal the + sword. Dagen is Dutch for a sword. CANT. + +DELLS. Young buxom wenches, ripe and prone to venery, + but who have not lost their virginity, which the UPRIGHT + MAN claims by virtue of his prerogative; after which they + become free for any of the fraternity. Also a common + strumpet. CANT. + +DEMURE. As demure as an old whore at a christening. + +DEMY-REP. An abbreviation of demy-reputation; a woman + of doubtful character. + +DERBY. To come down with the derbies; to pay the money. + +DERRICK. The name of the finisher of the law, or hangman + about the year 1608.--'For he rides his circuit with + the Devil, and Derrick must be his host, and Tiburne + the inne at which he will lighte.' Vide Bellman of + London, in art. PRIGGIN LAW.--'At the gallows, + where I leave them, as to the haven at which they must + all cast anchor, if Derrick's cables do but hold.' Ibid. + +DEVIL. A printer's errand-boy. Also a small thread in + the king's ropes and cables, whereby they may be + distinguished from all others. The Devil himself; a small + streak of blue thread in the king's sails. The Devil may + dance in his pocket; i.e. he has no money: the cross on + our ancient coins being jocularly supposed to prevent him + from visiting that place, for fear, as it is said, of breaking + his shins against it. To hold a candle to the Devil; to + be civil to any one out of fear: in allusion to the story of + the old woman, who set a wax taper before the image of + St. Michael, and another before the Devil, whom that + saint is commonly represented as trampling under his feet: + being reproved for paying such honour to Satan, she answered, + as it was uncertain which place she should go + to, heaven or hell, she chose to secure a friend in both + places. That will be when the Devil is blind, and he has + not got sore eyes yet; said of any thing unlikely to happen. + It rains whilst the sun shines, the Devil is beating + his wife with a shoulder of mutton: this phenomenon is + also said to denote that cuckolds are going to heaven; on + being informed of this, a loving wife cried out with great + vehemence, 'Run, husband, run!' + + The Devil was sick, the Devil a monk would be; + The Devil was well, the Devil a monk was he. + + a proverb signifying that we are apt to forget promises + made in time of distress. To pull the Devil by the tail, + to be reduced to one's shifts. The Devil go with you and + sixpence, and then you will have both money and company. + +DEVIL. The gizzard of a turkey or fowl, scored, peppered, + salted and broiled: it derives its appellation from being hot + in the mouth. + +DEVIL'S BOOKS. Cards. + +DEVIL CATCHER, or DEVIL DRIVER. A parson. See + SNUB DEVIL. + +DEVIL'S DAUGHTER. It is said of one who has a termagant + for his wife, that he has married the Devil's daughter, and + lives with the old folks. + +DEVIL'S DAUGHTER'S PORTION: + + Deal, Dover, and Harwich, + The Devil gave with his daughter in marriage; + And, by a codicil to his will, + He added Helvoet and the Brill; + + a saying occasioned by the shameful impositions practised + by the inhabitants of those places, on sailors and travellers. + +DEVIL DRAWER. A miserable painter. + +DEVIL'S DUNG. Assafoetida. + +DEVIL'S GUTS. A surveyor's chain: so called by farmers, + who do not like their land should be measured by their + landlords. + +DEVILISH. Very: an epithet which in the English vulgar + language is made to agree with every quality or thing; + as, devilish bad, devilish good; devilish sick, devilish well; + devilish sweet, devilish sour; devilish hot, devilish cold, + &c. &c. + +DEUSEA VILLE. The country. Cant. + +DEUSEA VILLE STAMPERS. Country carriers. Cant. + +DEW BEATERS. Feet. Cant. + +DEWS WINS, or DEUX WINS. Two-pence. Cant. + +DEWITTED. Torn to pieces by a mob, as that great statesman + John de Wit was in Holland, anno 1672. + +DIAL PLATE. The face. To alter his dial plate; to + disfigure his face. + +DICE. The names of false dice: + A bale of bard cinque deuces + A bale of flat cinque deuces + A bale of flat sice aces + A bale of bard cater traes + A bale of flat cater traes + A bale of fulhams + A bale of light graniers + A bale of langrets contrary to the ventage + A bale of gordes, with as many highmen as lowmen, + for passage + A bale of demies + A bale of long dice for even and odd + A bale of bristles + A bale of direct contraries. + +DICK. That happened in the reign of queen Dick, i. e. + never: said of any absurd old story. I am as queer as + Dick's hatband; that is, out of spirits, or don't know what + ails me. + +DICKY. A woman's under-petticoat. It's all Dicky with + him; i.e. it's all over with him. + +DICKED IN THE NOB. Silly. Crazed. + +DICKEY. A sham shirt. + +DICKEY. An ass. Roll your dickey; drive your ass. Also + a seat for servants to sit behind a carriage, when their + master drives. + +TO DIDDLE. To cheat. To defraud. The cull diddled + me out of my dearee; the fellow robbed me of my sweetheart. + See Jeremy Diddler In Raising The Wind. + +DIDDEYS. A woman's breasts or bubbies. + +DIDDLE. Gin. + +DIGGERS. Spurs. Cant. + +DILBERRIES. Small pieces of excrement adhering to the + hairs near the fundament. + +DILBERRY MAKER. The fundament. + +DILDO. [From the Italian DILETTO, q. d. a woman's delight; + or from our word DALLY, q. d. a thing to play withal.] + Penis-succedaneus, called in Lombardy Passo Tempo. Bailey. + +DILIGENT. Double diligent, like the Devil's apothecary; + said of one affectedly diligent. + +DILLY. (An abbreviation of the word DILIGENCE.) A public + voiture or stage, commonly a post chaise, carrying + three persons; the name is taken from the public stage + vehicles in France and Flanders. The dillies first began + to run in England about the year 1779. + +DIMBER. Pretty. A dimber cove; a pretty fellow. Dimber + mort; a pretty wench. CANT. + +DIMBER DAMBER. A top man, or prince, among the canting + crew: also the chief rogue of the gang, or the completest + cheat. CANT. + +DING. To knock down. To ding it in one's ears; to + reproach or tell one something one is not desirous of hearing. + Also to throw away or hide: thus a highwayman who + throws away or hides any thing with which he robbed, to + prevent being known or detected, is, in the canting lingo, + styled a Dinger. + +DING BOY. A rogue, a hector, a bully, or sharper. CANT. + +DING DONG. Helter skelter, in a hasty disorderly manner. + +DINGEY CHRISTIAN. A mulatto; or any one who has, as the + West-Indian term is, a lick of the tar-brush, that is, some + negro blood in him. + +DINING ROOM POST. A mode of stealing in houses that + let lodgings, by rogues pretending to be postmen, who + send up sham letters to the lodgers, and, whilst waiting + in the entry for the postage, go into the first room they see + open, and rob it. + +DIP. To dip for a wig. Formerly, in Middle Row, Holborn, + wigs of different sorts were, it is said, put into a + close-stool box, into which, for three-pence, any one + might dip, or thrust in his hand, and take out the first + wig he laid hold of; if he was dissatisfied with his prize, + he might, on paying three halfpence, return it and dip + again. + +THE DIP. A cook's shop, under Furnival's Inn, where many + attornies clerks, and other inferior limbs of the law, take + out the wrinkles from their bellies. DIP is also a punning + name for a tallow-chandler. + +DIPPERS. Anabaptists. + +DIPT. Pawned or mortgaged. + +DIRTY PUZZLE. A nasty slut. + +DISGUISED. Drunk. + +DISGRUNTLED. Offended, disobliged. + +DISHED UP. He is completely dished up; he is totally ruined. + To throw a thing in one's dish; to reproach or twit one with + any particular matter. + +DISHCLOUT. A dirty, greasy woman. He has made a napkin + of his dishclout; a saying of one who has married his + cook maid. To pin a dishclout to a man's tail; a punishment + often threatened by the female servants in a kitchen, + to a man who pries too minutely into the secrets of that + place. + +DISMAL DITTY. The psalm sung by the felons at the gallows, + just before they are turned off. + +DISPATCHES. A mittimus, or justice of the peace's warrant, + for the commitment of a rogue. + +DITTO. A suit of ditto; coat, waistcoat, and breeches, all + of one colour. + +DISPATCHERS. Loaded or false dice. + +DISTRACTED DIVISION. Husband and wife fighting. + +DIVE. To dive; to pick a pocket. To dive for a dinner; + to go down into a cellar to dinner. A dive, is a thief who + stands ready to receive goods thrown out to him by a little + boy put in at a window. Cant. + +DIVER. A pickpocket; also one who lives in a cellar. + +DIVIDE. To divide the house with one's wife; to give her + the outside, and to keep all the inside to one's self, i.e. to + turn her into the street. + +DO. To do any one; to rob and cheat him. I have done + him; I have robbed him. Also to overcome in a boxing + match: witness those laconic lines written on the field of + battle, by Humphreys to his patron.--'Sir, I have done + the Jew.' + +TO DO OVER. Carries the same meaning, but is not so briefly + expressed: the former having received the polish of the + present times. + +DOASH. A cloak. Cant. + +DOBIN RIG. Stealing ribbands from haberdashers early in + the morning or late at night; generally practised by women + in the disguise of maid servants. + +TO DOCK. To lie with a woman. The cull docked the dell + all the darkmans; the fellow laid with the wench all night. + Docked smack smooth; one who has suffered an amputation + of his penis from a venereal complaint. He must + go into dock; a sea phrase, signifying that the person spoken + of must undergo a salivation. Docking is also a punishment + inflicted by sailors on the prostitutes who have + infected them with the venereal disease; it consists in cutting + off all their clothes, petticoats, shift and all, close to + their stays, and then turning them into the street. + +DOCTOR. Milk and water, with a little rum, and some nutmeg; + also the name of a composition used by distillers, + to make spirits appear stronger than they really are, or, + in their phrase, better proof. + +DOCTORS. Loaded dice, that will run but two or three + chances. They put the doctors upon him; they cheated + him with loaded dice. + +DODSEY. A woman: perhaps a corruption of Doxey. CANT. + +DOG BUFFERS. Dog stealers, who kill those dogs not + advertised for, sell their skins, and feed the remaining dogs + with their flesh. + +DOG IN A DOUBLET. A daring, resolute fellow. In + Germany and Flanders the boldest dogs used to hunt the boar, + having a kind of buff doublet buttoned on their bodies, + Rubens has represented several so equipped, so has Sneyders. + +DOG. An old dog at it; expert or accustomed to any thing. + Dog in a manger; one who would prevent another from + enjoying what he himself does not want: an allusion to + the well-known fable. The dogs have not dined; a + common saying to any one whose shirt hangs out behind. To + dog, or dodge; to follow at a distance. To blush like a + blue dog, i.e. not at all. To walk the black dog on any + one; a punishment inflicted in the night on a fresh prisoner, + by his comrades, in case of his refusal to pay the usual + footing or garnish. + +DOG LATIN. Barbarous Latin, such as was formerly used + by the lawyers in their pleadings. + +DOG'S PORTION. A lick and a smell. He comes in for only + a dog's portion; a saying of one who is a distant admirer + or dangler after women. See DANGLER. + +DOG'S RIG. To copulate till you are tired, and then turn + tail to it. + +DOG'S SOUP. Rain water. + +DOG VANE. A cockade. SEA TERM. + +DOGGED. Surly. + +DOGGESS, DOG'S WIFE or LADY, PUPPY'S MAMMA. + Jocular ways of calling a woman a bitch. + +DOLL. Bartholomew doll; a tawdry, over-drest woman, + like one of the children's dolls at Bartholomew fair. To + mill doll; to beat hemp at Bridewell, or any other house + of correction. + +DOLLY. A Yorkshire dolly; a contrivance for washing, by + means of a kind of wheel fixed in a tub, which being turned + about, agitates and cleanses the linen put into it, with + soap and water. + +DOMINE DO LITTLE. An impotent old fellow. + +DOMINEER. To reprove or command in an insolent or + haughty manner. Don't think as how you shall domineer + here. + +DOMMERER. A beggar pretending that his tongue has been + cutout by the Algerines, or cruel and blood-thirsty Turks, + or else that he yas born deaf and dumb. Cant. + +DONE, or DONE OVER. Robbed: also, convicted or hanged. + Cant.--See DO. + +DONE UP. Ruined by gaming and extravagances. Modern + Term. + +DONKEY, DONKEY DICK. A he, or jack ass: called donkey, + perhaps, from the Spanish or don-like gravity of + that animal, intitled also the king of Spain's trumpeter. + +DOODLE. A silly fellow, or noodle: see NOODLE. Also a + child's penis. Doodle doo, or Cock a doodle doo; a + childish appellation for a cock, in imitation of its note + when crowing. + +DOODLE SACK. A bagpipe. Dutch.--Also the private parts + of a woman. + +DOPEY. A beggar's trull. + +DOT AND GO ONE. To waddle: generally applied to persons + who have one leg shorter than the other, and who, as the + sea phrase is, go upon an uneven keel. Also a jeering + appellation for an inferior writing-master, or teacher of + arithmetic. + +DOUBLE. To tip any one the double; to run away in his or + her debt. + +DOUBLE JUGG. A man's backside. Cotton's Virgil. + +DOVE-TAIL. A species of regular answer, which fits into + the subject, like the contrivance whence it takes its name: + Ex. Who owns this? The dovetail is, Not you by your + asking. + +DOUGLAS. Roby Douglas, with one eye and a stinking + breath; the breech. Sea wit. + +DOWDY. A coarse, vulgar-looking woman. + +DOWN HILLS. Dice that run low. + +DOWN. Aware of a thing. Knowing it. There is NO DOWN. + A cant phrase used by house-breakers to signify that the + persons belonging to any house are not on their guard, + or that they are fast asleep, and have not heard any noise + to alarm them. + +TO DOWSE. To take down: as, Dowse the pendant. Dowse + your dog vane; take the cockade out of your hat. Dowse + the glim; put out the candle. + +DOWSE ON THE CHOPS. A blow in the face. + +DOWSER. Vulgar pronunciation of DOUCEUR. + +DOXIES. She beggars, wenches, whores. + +DRAB. A nasty, sluttish whore. + +DRAG. To go on the drag; to follow a cart or waggon, in + order to rob it. CANT. + +DRAG LAY. Waiting in the streets to rob carts or waggons. + +DRAGGLETAIL or DAGGLETAIL. One whose garments are + bespattered with dag or dew: generally applied to the + female sex, to signify a slattern. + +DRAGOONING IT. A man who occupies two branches of + one profession, is said to dragoon it; because, like the + soldier of that denomination, he serves in a double capacity. + Such is a physician who furnishes the medicines, and + compounds his own prescriptions. + +DRAIN. Gin: so called from the diuretic qualities imputed + to that liquor. + +DRAM. A glass or small measure of any spirituous liquors, + which, being originally sold by apothecaries, were estimated + by drams, ounces, &c. Dog's dram; to spit in + his mouth, and clap his back. + +DRAM-A-TICK. A dram served upon credit. + +DRAPER. An ale draper; an alehouse keeper. + +DRAUGHT, or BILL, ON THE PUMP AT ALDGATE. A bad + or false bill of exchange. See ALDGATE. + +DRAW LATCHES. Robbers of houses whose doors are + only fastened with latches. CANT. + +TO DRAW. To take any thing from a pocket. To draw a + swell of a clout. To pick a gentleman's pocket of a + handkerchief. To draw the long bow; to tell lies. + +DRAWERS. Stockings. CANT. + +DRAWING THE KING'S PICTURE. Coining. CANT. + +TO DRESS. To beat. I'll dress his hide neatly; I'll beat him + soundly. + +DRIBBLE. A method of pouring out, as it were, the dice + from the box, gently, by which an old practitioner is + enabled to cog one of them with his fore-finger. + +DRIPPER. A gleet. + +DROMEDARY. A heavy, bungling thief or rogue. A purple + dromedary; a bungler in the art and mystery of thieving. + CANT. + +DROMMERARS. See DOMMERER. + +DROP. The new drop; a contrivance for executing felons at + Newgate, by means of a platform, which drops from + under them: this is also called the last drop. See LEAF. + See MORNING DROP. + +DROP A COG. To let fall, with design, a piece of gold or + silver, in order to draw in and cheat the person who sees + it picked up; the piece so dropped is called a dropt cog. + +DROP IN THE EYE. Almost drunk. + +DROPPING MEMBER. A man's yard with a gonorrhoea. + +DROP COVES. Persons who practice the fraud of dropping + a ring or other article, and picking it up before the + person intended to be defrauded, they pretend that the + thing is very valuable to induce their gull to lend them + money, or to purchase the article. See FAWNY RIG, + and MONEY DROPPERS. + +TO DROP DOWN. To be dispirited. This expression is + used by thieves to signify that their companion did not + die game, as the kiddy dropped down when he went to + be twisted; the young fellow was very low spirited when + he walked out to be hanged. + +TO DRUB. To beat any one with a stick, or rope's end: + perhaps a contraction of DRY RUB. It is also used to signify + a good beating with any instrument. + +DRUMMER. A jockey term for a horse that throws about + his fore legs irregularly: the idea is taken from a kettle + drummer, who in beating makes many flourishes with + his drumsticks. + +DRUNK. Drunk as a wheel-barrow. Drunk as David's + sow. See DAVID'S SOW. + +DRURY LANE AGUE. The venereal disorder. + +DRURY LANE VESTAL. A woman of the town, or prostitute; + Drury-lane and its environs were formerly the residence + of many of those ladies. + +DRY BOB. A smart repartee: also copulation without + emission; in law Latin, siccus robertulus. + +DRY BOOTS. A sly humorous fellow. + +DUB. A picklock, or master-key. CANT. + +DUB LAY. Robbing houses by picking the locks. + +DUB THE JIGGER. Open the door. CANT. + +DUB O' TH' HICK. A lick on the head. + +DUBBER. A picker of locks. CANT. + +DUCE. Two-pence. + +DUCK. A lame duck; an Exchange-alley phrase for a + stock-jobber, who either cannot or will not pay his losses, + or, differences, in which case he is said to WADDLE OUT OF + THE ALLEY, as he cannot appear there again till his debts + are settled and paid; should he attempt it, he would be + hustled out by the fraternity. + +DUCKS AND DRAKES. To make ducks and drakes: a + school-boy's amusement, practised with pieces of tile, + oyster-shells, or flattish stones, which being skimmed + along the surface of a pond, or still river, rebound many + times. To make ducks and drakes of one's money; to + throw it idly away. + +DUCK F-CK-R. The man who has the care of the poultry + on board a ship of war. + +DUCK LEGS. Short legs. + +DUDDERS, or WHISPERING DUDDERS. Cheats who travel + the country, pretending to sell smuggled goods: they + accost their intended dupes in a whisper. The goods + they have for sale are old shop-keepers, or damaged; + purchased by them of large manufactories. See DUFFER. + +DUDDERING RAKE. A thundering rake, a buck of the + first head, one extremely lewd. + +DUDGEON. Anger. + +DUDS. Clothes. + +DUFFERS. Cheats who ply in different parts of the town, + particularly about Water-lane, opposite St. Clement's + church, in the Strand, and pretend to deal in smuggled + goods, stopping all country people, or such as they think + they can impose on; which they frequently do, by selling + them Spital-fields goods at double their current price. + +DUGS. A woman's breasts, + +DUKE, or RUM DUKE. A queer unaccountable fellow. + +DUKE OF LIMBS. A tall, awkward, ill-made fellow. + +DUKE HUMPHREY. To dine with Duke Humphrey; to + fast. In old St. Paul's church was an aisle called Duke + Humphrey's walk (from a tomb vulgarly called his, but + in reality belonging to John of Gaunt), and persons who + walked there, while others were at dinner, were said to + dine with Duke Humphrey. + +DULL SWIFT. A stupid, sluggish fellow, one long going on + an errand. + +DUMB ARM. A lame arm. + +DUMB-FOUNDED. Silenced, also soundly beaten. + +DUMB GLUTTON. A woman's privities. + +DUMB WATCH. A venereal bubo in the groin. + +DUMMEE. A pocket book. A dummee hunter. A pick-pocket, + who lurks about to steal pocket books out of + gentlemen's pockets. Frisk the dummee of the screens; take + all the bank notes out of the pocket book, ding the dummee, + and bolt, they sing out beef. Throw away the pocket + book, and run off, as they call out "stop thief." + +DUMPLIN. A short thick man or woman. Norfolk dumplin; + a jeering appellation of a Norfolk man, dumplins being + a favourite kind of food in that county. + +DUMPS. Down in the dumps; low-spirited, melancholy: + jocularly said to be derived from Dumpos, a king of Egypt, + who died of melancholy. Dumps are also small pieces of + lead, cast by schoolboys in the shape of money. + +DUN. An importunate creditor. Dunny, in the provincial + dialect of several counties, signifies DEAF; to dun, then, + perhaps may mean to deafen with importunate demands: + some derive it from the word DONNEZ, which signifies GIVE. + But the true original meaning of the word, owes its birth + to one Joe Dun, a famous bailiff of the town of Lincoln, so + extremely active, and so dexterous in his business, that it + became a proverb, when a man refused to pay, Why do not + you DUN him? that is, Why do not you set Dun to attest + him? Hence it became a cant word, and is now as old as + since the days of Henry VII. Dun was also the general + name for the hangman, before that of Jack Ketch. + + And presently a halter got, + Made of the best strong hempen teer, + And ere a cat could lick her ear, + Had tied it up with as much art, + As DUN himself could do for's heart. + + Cotton's Virgil Trav. book iv. + +DUNAKER. A stealer of cows and calves. + +DUNEGAN. A privy. A water closet. + +DUNGHILL. A coward: a cockpit phrase, all but gamecocks + being styled dunghills. To die dunghill; to repent, or shew + any signs of contrition at the gallows. Moving dunghill; + a dirty, filthy man or woman. Dung, an abbreviation of + dunghill, also means a journeyman taylor who submits to + the law for regulating journeymen taylors' wages, therefore + deemed by the flints a coward. See FLINTS. + +DUNNOCK. A cow. CUNT. + +TO DUP. To open a door: a contraction of DO OPE or OPEN. + See DUB. + +DURHAM MAN. Knocker kneed, he grinds mustard with + his knees: Durham is famous for its mustard. + +DUST. Money. Down with your dust; deposit the money. + To raise or kick up a dust; to make a disturbance or riot: + see BREEZE. Dust it away; drink about. + +DUSTMAN. A dead man: your father is a dustman. + +DUTCH COMFORT. Thank God it is no worse. + +DUTCH CONCERT. Where every one plays or signs a + different tune. + +DUTCH FEAST. Where the entertainer gets drunk before + his guest. + +DUTCH RECKONING, or ALLE-MAL. A verbal or lump + account, without particulars, as brought at spungiug or + bawdy houses. + +DUTCHESS. A woman enjoyed with her pattens on, or by a + man-in boots, is said to be made a dutchess. + +DIE HARD, or GAME. To die hard, is to shew no signs of + fear or contrition at the gallows; not to whiddle or squeak. + This advice is frequently given to felons going to suffer the + law, by their old comrades, anxious for the honour of the + gang. + +EARNEST. A deposit in part of payment, to bind a bargain. + +EARTH BATH. A Grave. + +EASY. Make the cull easy or quiet; gag or kill him. As + easy as pissing the bed. + +EASY VIRTUE. A lady of easy virtue: an impure or prostitute. + +EAT. To eat like a beggar man, and wag his under jaw; a + jocular reproach to a proud man. To eat one's words; to + retract what one has said. + +TO EDGE. To excite, stimulate, or provoke; or as it is + vulgarly called, to egg a man on. Fall back, fall edge; i.e. + let what will happen. Some derive to egg on, from the + Latin word, AGE, AGE. + +EIGHT EYES. I will knock out two of your eight eyes; a + common Billingsgate threat from one fish nymph to + another: every woman, according to the naturalists of that + society, having eight eyes; viz. two seeing eyes, two + bub-eyes, a bell-eye, two pope's eyes, and a ***-eye. He has + fallen down and trod upon his eye; said of one who has a + black eye. + +ELBOW GREASE. Labour. Elbow grease will make an oak + table shine. + +ELBOW ROOM. Sufficient space to act in. Out at elbows; + said of an estate that is mortgaged. + +ELBOW SHAKER. A gamester, one who rattles Saint Hugh's + bones, i.e. the dice. + +ELLENBOROUGH LODGE. The King's Bench Prison. Lord + Ellenborough's teeth; the chevaux de frize round the top + of the wall of that prison. + +ELF. A fairy or hobgoblin, a little man or woman. + +EMPEROR. Drunk as an emperor, i.e. ten times as drunk as + a lord. + +ENGLISH BURGUNDY. Porter. + +ENSIGN BEARER. A drunken man, who looks red in the + face, or hoists his colours in his drink. + +EQUIPT. Rich; also, having new clothes. Well equipt; + full of money, or well dressed. The cull equipped me + with a brace of meggs; the gentleman furnished me with. + a couple of guineas. + +ESSEX LION. A calf; Essex being famous for calves, and + chiefly supplying the London markets. + +ESSEX STILE. A ditch; a great part of Essex is low marshy + ground, in which there are more ditches than Stiles. + +ETERNITY Box. A coffin. + +EVES. Hen roosts. + +EVE'S CUSTOM-HOUSE, where Adam made his first entry. + The monosyllable. + +EVES DROPPER. One that lurks about to rob hen-roosts; + also a listener at doors and windows, to hear private + conversation. + +EVIL. A halter. Cant, Also a wife. + +EWE. A white ewe; a beautiful woman. An old ewe, drest + lamb fashion; an old woman, drest like a young girl. + +EXECUTION DAY. Washing day. + +EXPENDED. Killed: alluding to the gunner's accounts, + wherein the articles consumed are charged under the title + of expended. Sea phrase. + +EYE. It's all my eye and Betty Martin. It's all nonsense, all + mere stuff. + +EYE-SORE. A disagreeable object. It will be an eye-sore as + long as she lives, said by a limn whose wife was cut for a + fistula in ano. + +FACE-MAKING. Begetting children. To face it out; to + persist in a falsity. No face but his own: a saying of one + who has no money in his pocket or no court cards in his + hand. + +FACER. A bumper, a glass filled so full as to leave no room + for the lip. Also a violent blow on the face. + +FADGE. It won't fadge; it won't do. A farthing. + +TO FAG. To beat. Fag the bloss; beat the wench; Cant. + A fag also means a boy of an inferior form or class, who + acts as a servant to one of a superior, who is said to fag him, + he is my fag; whence, perhaps, fagged out, for jaded or tired. + To stand a good fag; not to be soon tired. + +FAGGER. A little boy put in at a window to rob the house. + +FAGGOT. A man hired at a muster to appear as a soldier. + To faggot in the canting sense, means to bind: an allusion + to the faggots made up by the woodmen, which are + all bound. Faggot the culls; bind the men. + +FAITHFUL. One of the faithful; a taylor who gives long + credit. His faith has made him unwhole; i.e. trusting + too much, broke him. + +FAIR. A set of subterraneous rooms in the Fleet Prison. + +FAKEMENT. A counterfeit signature. A forgery. Tell + the macers to mind their fakements; desire the swindlers + to be careful not to forge another person's signature. + +FALLALLS. Ornaments, chiefly women's, such as ribands, + necklaces, &c. + +FALLEN AWAY FROM A HORSE LOAD TO A CART LOAD. + A saying on one grown fat. + +FAMILY MAN. A thief or receiver of stolen goods. + +FAM LAY. Going into a goldsmith's shop, under pretence + of buying a wedding ring, and palming one or two, by + daubing the hand with some viscous matter. + +FAMS, or FAMBLES. Hands. Famble cheats; rings or + gloves. CANT. + +TO FAMGRASP. To shake bands: figuratively, to agree + or make up a difference. Famgrasp the cove; shake hands + with the fellow. CANT. + +FAMILY OF LOVE. Lewd women; also, a religious sect. + +FANCY MAN. A man kept by a lady for secret services. + +TO FAN. To beat any one. I fanned him sweetly; I beat + him heartily. + +FANTASTICALLY DRESSED, with more rags than ribands. + +FART. He has let a brewer's fart, grains and all; said of + one who has bewrayed his breeches. + + Piss and fart. + Sound at heart. + Mingere cum bumbis, + Res saluberrima est lumbis. + + I dare not trust my a-se with a fart: said by a person troubled + with a looseness. + +FART CATCHER. A valet or footman from his walking + behind his master or mistress. + +FARTING CRACKERS. Breeches. + +FARTLEBERRIES. Excrement hanging about the anus. + +FASTNER. A warrant. + +FASTNESSES. Bogs. + +FAT. The last landed, inned, or stowed, of any sort of + merchandise: so called by the water-side porters, carmen, &c. + All the fat is in the fire; that is, it is all over with us: a + saying used in case of any miscarriage or disappointment + in an undertaking; an allusion to overturning the + frying pan into the fire. Fat, among printers, means void + spaces. + +AS FAT AS A HEN IN THE FOREHEAD. A saying of a meagre person. + +FAT CULL. A rich fellow. + +FAT HEADED. Stupid. + +FAULKNER. A tumbler, juggler, or shewer of tricks; perhaps + because they lure the people, as a faulconer does his + hawks. CANT. + +FAYTORS, or FATORS. Fortune tellers. + +FAWNEY RIG. A common fraud, thus practised: A fellow + drops a brass ring, double gilt, which he picks up before + the party meant to be cheated, and to whom he disposes + of it for less than its supposed, and ten times more than + its real, value. See MONEY DROPPER. + +FAWNEY. A ring. + +FEAGUE. To feague a horse; to put ginger up a horse's + fundament, and formerly, as it is said, a live eel, to make + him lively and carry his tail well; it is said, a forfeit is + incurred by any horse-dealer's servant, who shall shew a + horse without first feaguing him. Feague is used, + figuratively, for encouraging or spiriting one up. + +FEAK. The fundament. + +To FEATHER ONE'S NEST. To enrich one's self. + +FEATHER-BED LANE. A rough or stony lane. + +FEE, FAW, FUM. Nonsensical words, supposed in childish + story-books to be spoken by giants. I am not to be frighted + by fee, faw, fum; I am not to be scared by nonsense. + +FEEDER. A spoon. To nab the feeder; to steal a spoon. + +FEET. To make feet for children's stockings; to beget + children. An officer of feet; a jocular title for an officer + of infantry. + +FEINT. A sham attack on one part, when a real one is meant + at another. + +FELLOW COMMONER. An empty bottle: so called at the + university of Cambridge, where fellow commoners are + not in general considered as over full of learning. At + Oxford an empty bottle is called a gentleman commoner + for the same reason. They pay at Cambridge 250 l. a year + for the privilege of wearing a gold or silver tassel to their + caps. The younger branches of the nobility have the + privilege of wearing a hat, and from thence are denominated HAT + FELLOW COMMONERS. + +FEN. A bawd, or common prostitute. CANT. + +TO FENCE. To pawn or sell to a receiver of stolen goods. + The kiddey fenced his thimble for three quids; the young + fellow pawned his watch for three guineas. To fence + invariably means to pawn or sell goods to a receiver. + +FENCING KEN. The magazine, or warehouse, where + stolen goods are secreted. + +FERME. A hole. CANT. + +FERMERDY BEGGARS. All those who have not the sham + sores or clymes. + +FERRARA. Andrea Ferrara; the name of a famous sword- + cutler: most of the Highland broad-swords are marked + with his name; whence an Andrea Ferrara has become + the common name for the glaymore or Highland broad- + sword. See GLAYMORE. + +FERRET. A tradesman who sells goods to youug unthrift + heirs, at excessive rates, and then continually duns them + for the debt. To ferret; to search out or expel any one + from his hiding-place, as a ferret drives out rabbits; also + to cheat. Ferret-eyed; red-eyed: ferrets have red eyes. + +FETCH. A trick, wheedle, or invention to deceive. + +FEUTERER. A dog-keeper: from the French vautrier, or + vaultrier, one that leads a lime hound for the chase. + +TO FIB. To beat. Fib the cove's quarron in the rumpad + for the lour in his bung; beat the fellow in the highway + for the money in his purse. CANT.--A fib is also a tiny lie. + +FICE, or FOYSE. A small windy escape backwards, more + obvious to the nose than ears; frequently by old ladies + charged on their lap-dogs. See FIZZLE. + +FID OF TOBACCO. A quid, from the small pieces of tow + with which the vent or touch hole of a cannon is stopped. + SEA TERM. + +FIDDLE FADDLE. Trifling discourse, nonsense. A mere + fiddle faddle fellow; a trifier. + +FIDDLESTICK'S END. Nothing; the end of the ancient + fiddlesticks ending in a point; hence metaphorically used + to express a thing terminating in nothing. + +FIDGETS. He has got the fidgets; said of one that cannot + sit long in a place. + +FIDLAM BEN. General thieves; called also St. Peter's sons, + having every finger a fish-hook. CANT. + +FIDDLERS MONEY. All sixpences: sixpence being the + usual sum paid by each couple, for music at country + wakes and hops. Fiddler's fare; meat, drink, and money. + Fiddler's pay; thanks and wine. + +FIELD LANE DUCK. A baked sheep's head. + +FIERI FACIAS. A red-faced man is said to have been served + with a writ of fieri facias. + +FIGDEAN. To kill. + +FIGGER. A little boy put in at a window to hand out + goods to the diver. See DIVER. + +FIGGING LAW. The art of picking pockets. CANT. + +FIGURE DANCER. One who alters figures on bank notes, + converting tens to hundreds. + +FILCH, or FILEL. A beggar's staff, with an iron hook at + the end, to pluck clothes from an hedge, or any thing out + of a casement. Filcher; the same as angler. Filching + cove; a man thief. Filching mort; a woman thief. + +FILE, FILE CLOY, or BUNGNIPPER. A pick pocket. To + file; to rob or cheat. The file, or bungnipper, goes + generally in company with two assistants, the adam tiler, and + another called the bulk or bulker, Whose business it is to + jostle the person they intend to rob, and push him against + the wall, while the file picks his pocket, and gives'the booty + to the adam tiler, who scours off with it. CANT. + +FIN. An arm. A one finned fellow; a man who has lost + an arm. SEA PHRASE. + +FINE. Fine as five pence. Fine as a cow-t--d stuck with + primroses. + +FINE. A man imprisoned for any offence. A fine of eighty- + four months; a transportation for seven years. + +FINGER IN EYE. To put finger in eye; to weep: commonly + applied to women. The more you cry the less + you'll p-ss; a consolatory speech used by sailors to their + doxies. It is as great a pity to see a woman cry, as to + see a goose walk barefoot; another of the same kind. + +FINGER POST. A parson: so called, because he points out + a way to others which he never goes himself. Like the + finger post, he points out a way he has never been, and + probably will never go, i.e. the way to heaven. + +FINISH. The finish; a small coffee-house in Coven Garden, + market, opposite Russel-street, open very early in the + morning, and therefore resorted to by debauchees shut out + of every other house: it is also called Carpenter's coffee- + house. + +FIRING A GUN. Introducing a story by head and shoulders. + A man wanting to tell a particular story, said to the + company, Hark! did you not hear a gun?--but now we are + talking of a gun, I will tell you the story of one. + +TO FIRE A SLUG. To drink a dram. + +FIRE PRIGGERS. Villains who rob at fires under pretence + of assisting in removing the goods. + +FIRE SHIP. A wench who has the venereal disease. + +FIRE SHOVEL. He or she when young, was fed with a fire + shovel; a saying of persons with wide mouths. + +FISH. A seaman. A scaly fish; a rough, blunt tar. To + have other fish to fry; to have other matters to mind, + something else to do. + +FIT. Suitable. It won't fit; It will not suit or do. + +FIVE SHILLINGS. The sign of five shillings, i.e. the crown. + Fifteen shillings; the sign of the three crowns. + +FIZZLE. An escape backward, + +FLABAGASTED. Confounded. + +FLABBY. Relaxed, flaccid, not firm or solid. + +FLAG. A groat. CANT.--The flag of defiance, or bloody flag + is out; signifying the man is drunk, and alluding to the + redness of his face. SEA PHRASE. + +FLAM. A lie, or sham story: also a single stroke on a drum. + To flam; to hum, to amuse, to deceive. Flim flams; idle + stories. + +FLAP DRAGON. A clap, or pox. + +To FLARE. To blaze, shine or glare. + +FLASH. Knowing. Understanding another's meaning. The + swell was flash, so I could not draw his fogle. The + gentleman saw what I was about, and therefore I could not + pick his pocket of his silk handkerchief. To patter flash, + to speak the slang language. See PATTER. + +FLASH PANNEYS. Houses to which thieves and prostitutes + resort. + + Next for his favourite MOT (Girl) the KIDDEY (Youth) looks + about, + And if she's in a FLASH PANNEY (Brothel) he swears he'll have + her out; + So he FENCES (Pawns) all his TOGS (Cloathes) to buy her DUDS, + (Wearing Apparel) and then + He FRISKS (Robs) his master's LOB (Till) to take her from the + bawdy KEN (House). + + FLASH SONG. + +FLASH. A periwig. Rum flash; a fine long wig. Queer + flash; a miserable weather-beaten caxon. + +To FLASH. To shew ostentatiously. To flash one's ivory; + to laugh and shew one's teeth. Don't flash your ivory, but + shut your potatoe trap, and keep your guts warm; the + Devil loves hot tripes. + +To FLASH THE HASH. To vomit. CANT. + +FLASH KEN. A house that harbours thieves. + +FLASH LINGO. The canting or slang language. + +FLASH MAN. A bully to a bawdy house. A whore's bully. + +FLAT. A bubble, gull, or silly fellow. + +FLAT COCK. A female. + +FLAWD. Drunk. + +FLAYBOTTOMIST. A bum-brusher, or schoolmaster. + +To FLAY, or FLEA, THE FOX. To vomit. + +FLEA BITE. A trifling injury. To send any one away with + a flea in his ear; to give any one a hearty scolding. + +To FLEECE. To rob, cheat, or plunder. + +FLEMISH ACCOUNT. A losing, or bad account. + +FLESH BROKER. A match-maker, a bawd. + +FLICKER. A drinking glass. CANT. + +FLICKERING. Grinning or laughing in a man's face. + +FLICKING. Cutting. Flick me some panam and caffan; + cut me some bread and cheese. Flick the peter; cut off + the cloak-bag, or portmanteau. + +To FLING. To trick or cheat. He flung me fairly out of it: + he cheated me out of it. + +FLINTS. Journeymen taylors, who on a late occasion refused + to work for the wages settled by law. Those who submitted, + were by the mutineers styled dungs, i.e. dunghills. + +FLIP. Small beer, brandy, and sugar: this mixture, with + the addition of a lemon, was by sailors, formerly called Sir + Cloudsly, in memory of Sir Cloudsly Shovel, who used + frequently to regale himself with it. + +FLOATING ACADEMY. See CAMPBELL'S ACADEMY. + +FLOATING HELL. The hulks. + +TO FLOG. To whip. + +FLOGGER. A horsewhip. CANT. + +FLOGGING CULLY. A debilitated lecher, commonly an old + one. + +FLOGGING COVE. The beadle, or whipper, in Bridewell. + +FLOGGING STAKE. The whipping-post. + +TO FLOOR. To knock down. Floor the pig; knock down + the officer. + +FLOURISH. To take a flourish; to enjoy a woman in a hasty + manner, to take a flyer. See FLYER. + +TO FLOUT. To jeer, to ridicule. + +FLUMMERY. Oatmeal and water boiled to a jelly; also + compliments, neither of which are over-nourishing. + +FLUSH IN THE POCKET. Full of money. The cull is + flush in the fob. The fellow is full of money. + +FLUSTERED. Drunk. + +FLUTE. The recorder of a corporation; a recorder was an + antient musical instrument. + +TO FLUX. To cheat, cozen, or over-reach; also to salivate. + To flux a wig; to put it up in curl, and bake it. + +FLY. Knowing. Acquainted with another's meaning or + proceeding. The rattling cove is fly; the coachman + knows what we are about. + +FLY. A waggon. CANT. + +FLY-BY-NIGHT. You old fly-by-night; an ancient term of + reproach to an old woman, signifying that she was a witch, + and alluding to the nocturnal excursions attributed to + witches, who were supposed to fly abroad to their + meetings, mounted on brooms. + +FLY SLICERS. Life-guard men, from their sitting on + horseback, under an arch, where they are frequently observed + to drive away flies with their swords. + +FLYER. To take a flyer; to enjoy a woman with her + clothes on, or without going to bed. + +FLYERS. Shoes. + +FLY-FLAPPED. Whipt in the stocks, or at the cart's tail. + +FLYING CAMPS. Beggars plying in a body at funerals. + +FLYING GIGGERS. Turnpike gates. + +FLYING HOUSE. A lock in wrestling, by which he who + uses it throws his adversary over his head. + +FLYING PASTY. Sirreverence wrapped in paper and + thrown over a neighbour's wall. + +FLYING PORTERS. Cheats who obtain money by pretending + to persons who have been lately robbed, that they + may come from a place or party where, and from whom, + they may receive information respecting the goods stolen + from them, and demand payment as porters. + +FLYING STATIONERS. Ballad-singers and hawkers of penny + histories. + +FLYMSEY. A bank note. + +FOB. A cheat, trick, or contrivance, I will not be fobbed off + so; I will not be thus deceived with false pretences. The + fob is also a small breeches pocket for holding a watch. + +FOG. Smoke. CANT. + +FOGEY. Old Fogey. A nickname for an invalid soldier: + derived from the French word fougeux, fierce or fiery. + +FOGLE. A silk handkerchief, + +FOGRAM. An old fogram; a fusty old fellow. + +FOGUS. Tobacco. Tip me a gage of fogus; give me a + pipe of tobacco. CANT. + +FOOL. A fool at the end of a stick; a fool at one end, and + a maggot at the other; gibes on an angler. + +FOOL FINDER. A bailiff. + +FOOLISH. An expression among impures, signifying the + cully who pays, in opposition to a flash man. Is he + foolish or flash? + +FOOT PADS, or LOW PADS. Rogues who rob on foot. + +FOOT WABBLER. A contemptuous appellation for a foot + soldier, commonly used by the cavalry. + +FOOTMAN'S MAWND. An artificial sore made with unslaked + lime, soap, and the rust of old iron, on the back + of a beggar's hand, as if hurt by the bite or kick of a horse. + +FOOTY DESPICABLE. A footy fellow, a despicable fellow; + from the French foutue. + +FOREFOOT, or PAW. Give us your fore foot; give us your hand. + +FOREMAN OF THE JURY. One who engrosses all the talk + to himself, or speaks for the rest of the company. + +FORK. A pickpocket. Let us fork him; let us pick his + pocket.--'The newest and most dexterous way, which is, + to thrust the fingers strait, stiff, open, and very quick, + into the pocket, and so closing them, hook what can + be held between them.' N.B. This was taken from a + book written many years ago: doubtless the art of picking + pockets, like all others, must have been much improved + since that time. + +FORLORN HOPE. A gamester's last stake. + +FORTUNE HUNTERS. Indigent men, seeking to enrich + themselves by marrying a woman of fortune. + +FORTUNE TELLER, or CUNNING MAN. A judge, who tells + every prisoner his fortune, lot or doom. To go before the + fortune teller, lambskin men, or conjuror; to be tried at + an assize. See LAMBSKIN MEN. + +FOUL. To foul a plate with a man, to take a dinner with him. + +FOUL-MOUTHED. Abusive. + +FOUNDLING. A child dropped in the streets, and found, and + educated at the parish expence. + +FOUSIL. The name of a public house, where the + Eccentrics assemble in May's Buildings, St. Martin's Lane. + +Fox. A sharp, cunning fellow. Also an old term for a + sword, probably a rusty one, or else from its being dyed red + with blood; some say this name alluded to certain swords + of remarkable good temper, or metal, marked with the + figure of a fox, probably the sign, or rebus, of the maker. + +FOX'S PAW. The vulgar pronunciation of the French + words faux pas. He made a confounded fox's paw. + +FOXED. Intoxicated. + +FOXEY. Rank. Stinking. + +FOXING A BOOT. Mending the foot by capping it. + +FOYST. A pickpocket, cheat, or rogue. See WOTTON'S GANG. + +TO FOYST. To pick a pocket. + +FOYSTED IN. Words or passages surreptitiously interpolated + or inserted into a book or writing. + +FRATERS. Vagabonds who beg with sham patents, or briefs, + for hospitals, fires, inundations, &c. + +FREE. Free of fumblers hall; a saying of one who cannot + get his wife with child. + +FREE AND EASY JOHNS. A society which meet at the Hole + in the Wall, Fleet-street, to tipple porter, and sing bawdry. + +FREE BOOTERS. Lawless robbers and plunderers: originally + soldiers who served without pay, for the privilege of + plundering the enemy. + +FREEHOLDER. He whose wife accompanies him to the alehouse. + +FREEMAN'S QUAY. Free of expence. To lush at Freeman's + Quay; to drink at another's cost. + +FREEZE. A thin, small, hard cider, much used by vintners + and coopers in parting their wines, to lower the price of + them, and to advance their gain. A freezing vintner; a + vintner who balderdashes his wine. + +FRENCH CREAM. Brandy; so called by the old tabbies + and dowagers when drank in their tea. + +FRENCH DISEASE. The venereal disease, said to have been + imported from France. French gout; the same. He suffered + by a blow over the snout with a French faggot-stick; + i.e. he lost his nose by the pox. + +FRENCH LEAVE. To take French leave; to go off without + taking leave of the company: a saying frequently applied + to persons who have run away from their creditors. + +FRENCHIFIED. Infected with the venereal disease. The + mort is Frenchified: the wench is infected. + +FRESH MILK. Cambridge new comers to the university. + +FRESHMAN. One just entered a member of the university. + +FRIBBLE. An effeminate fop; a name borrowed from a + celebrated character of that kind, in the farce of Miss in her + Teens, written by Mr. Garrick. + +FRIDAY-FACE. A dismal countenance. Before, and even + long after the Reformation, Friday was a day of abstinence, + or jour maigre. Immediately after the restoration of king + Charles II. a proclamation was issued, prohibiting all + publicans from dressing any suppers on a Friday. + +TO FRIG. Figuratively used for trifling. + +FRIG PIG. A trifling, fiddle-faddle fellow. + +FRIGATE. A well-rigged frigate; a well-dressed wench. + +FRISK. To dance the Paddington frisk; to be hanged. + +TO FRISK. Used by thieves to signify searching a person +whom they have robbed. Blast his eyes! frisk him. + +FROE, or VROE, A woman, wife, or mistress. Brush to your + froe, or bloss, and wheedle for crop; run to your mistress, + and sooth and coax her out of some money. DUTCH. + +FROGLANDER. A Dutchman. + +FROSTY FACE. One pitted with the small pox. + +FROG'S WINE. Gin. + +FRUITFUL VINE. A woman's private parts, i.e. that has + FLOWERS every month, and bears fruit in nine months. + +FRUMMAGEMMED. Choaked, strangled, suffocated, or + hanged. CANT. + +FUBSEY. Plump. A fubsey wench; a plump, healthy + wench. + +FUDDLE. Drunk. This is rum fuddle; this is excellent + tipple, or drink. Fuddle; drunk. Fuddle cap; a drunkard. + +FUDGE. Nonsense. + +FULHAMS. Loaded dice are called high and lowmen, or + high and low fulhams, by Ben Jonson and other writers of + his time; either because they were made at Fulham, or from + that place being the resort of sharpers. + +FULL OF EMPTINESS. Jocular term for empty. + +FULL MARCH. The Scotch greys are in full march by the + crown office; the lice are crawling down his head. + +FUMBLER. An old or impotent man. To fumble, also + means to go awkwardly about any work, or manual + operation. + +FUN. A cheat, or trick. Do you think to fun me out of + it? Do you think to cheat me?--Also the breech, perhaps + from being the abbreviation of fundament. I'll kick your + fun. CANT. + +TO FUNK. To use an unfair motion of the hand in plumping + at taw. SCHOOLBOY'S TERM. + +FUNK. To smoke; figuratively, to smoke or stink through + fear. I was in a cursed funk. To funk the cobler; a + schoolboy's trick, performed with assafoettida and cotton, +which + are stuffed into a pipe: the cotton being lighted, and the + bowl of the pipe covered with a coarse handkerchief, the + smoke is blown out at the small end, through the crannies + of a cobler's stall. + +FURMEN. Aldermen. + +FURMITY, or FROMENTY. Wheat boiled up to a jelly. To + simper like a furmity kettle: to smile, or look merry about + the gills. + +FUSS. A confusion, a hurry, an unnecessary to do about + trifles. + +FUSSOCK. A lazy fat woman. An old fussock; a frowsy + old woman. + +FUSTIAN. Bombast language. Red fustian; port wine. + +FUSTY LUGGS. A beastly, sluttish woman. + +TO FUZZ. To shuffle cards minutely: also, to change the + pack. + +GAB, or GOB. The mouth. Gift of the gab; a facility + of speech, nimble tongued eloquence. To blow the gab; + to confess, or peach. + +GAB, or GOB, STRING. A bridle. + +GABBY. A foolish fellow. + +GAD-SO. An exclamation said to be derived from the + Italian word cazzo. + +GAFF. A fair. The drop coves maced the joskins at the + gaff; the ring-droppers cheated the countryman at the fair. + +TO GAFF. To game by tossing up halfpence. + +GAG. An instrument used chiefly by housebreakers and + thieves, for propping open the mouth of a person robbed, + thereby to prevent his calling out for assistance. + +GAGE. A quart pot, or a pint; also a pipe. CANT. + +GAGE, or FOGUS. A pipe of tobacco. + +GAGGERS. High and Low. Cheats, who by sham + pretences, and wonderful stories of their sufferings, impose on + the credulity of well meaning people. See RUM GAGGER. + +GALIMAUFREY. A hodgepodge made up of the remnants + and scraps of the larder. + +GALL. His gall is not yet broken; a saying used in prisons + of a man just brought in, who appears dejected. + +GALLEY. Building the galley; a game formerly used at + sea, in order to put a trick upon a landsman, or fresh- + water sailor. It being agreed to play at that game, one + sailor personates the builder, and another the merchant or + contractor: the builder first begins by laying the keel, + which consists of a number of men laid all along on their + backs, one after another, that is, head to foot; he next + puts in the ribs or knees, by making a number of men sit + feet to feet, at right angles to, and on each side of, the + keel: he now fixing on the person intended to be the object + of the joke, observes he is a fierce-looking fellow, + and fit for the lion; he accordingly places him at the head, + his arms being held or locked in by the two persons next + to him, representing the ribs. After several other + dispositions, the builder delivers over the galley to the + contractor as complete: but he, among other faults and + objections, observes the lion is not gilt, on which the builder + or one of his assistants, runs to the head, and dipping a + mop in the excrement, thrusts it into the face of the lion. + +GALLEY FOIST. A city barge, used formerly on the lord + mayor's day, when he was sworn in at Westminster. + +GALLIED. Hurried, vexed, over-fatigued, perhaps like a + galley slave. + +GALLIGASKINS. Breeches. + +GALLIPOT. A nick namefor an apothecary, + +GALLORE, or GOLORE. Plenty. + +GALLOPER. A blood horse. A hunter. The toby gill clapped his + bleeders to his galloper and tipped the straps the + double. The highwayman spurred his horse and got + away from the officers. + +GALLOWS BIRD. A grief, or pickpocket; also one that + associates with them. + +GAMES. Thin, ill-shapped legs: a corruption of the French + word jambes. Fancy gambs; sore or swelled legs. + +GAMBADOES. Leathern cases of stiff leather, used in + Devonshire instead of boots; they are fastened to the saddle, + and admit the leg, shoe and all: the .name was at first + jocularly given. + +GAMBLER. A sharper, of tricking, gamester. + +GAME. Any mode of robbing. The toby is now a queer + game; to rob on the highway is now a bad mode of + acting. This observation is frequently made by thieves; + the roads being now so well guarded by the horse patrole; + and gentlemen travel with little cash in their pockets. + +GAME. Bubbles or pigeons drawn in to be cheated. Also, + at bawdy-houses, lewd women. Mother have you any + game; mother, have you any girls? To die game; to + suffer at the gallows without shewing any signs of fear or + repentance. Game pullet; a young whore, or forward + girl in the way of becoming one. + +GAMON. To humbug. To deceive, To tell lies. What + rum gamon the old file pitched to the flat; how finely the + knowing old fellow humbugged the fool. + +GAMON AND PATTER. Common place talk of any + profession; as the gamon and patter of a horse-dealer, sailor, + &c. + +GAN. The mouth or lips. Cant. + +GANDER MONTH. That month in which a man's wife-lies + in: wherefore, during that time, husbands plead a sort of + indulgence in matters of gallantry. + +GANG. A company of men, a body of sailors, a knot of + thieves, pickpockets, &c. A gang of sheep trotters; the + four feet of a sheep. + +GAOLER'S COACH. A hurdle: traitors being usually + conveyed from the gaol, to the place of execution, on a + hurdle or sledge. + +GAP STOPPER. A whoremaster. + +GAPESEED. Sights; any thing to feed the eye. I am come + abroad for a little gapeseed. + +GARNISH. An entrance fee demanded by the old prisoners + of one just committed to gaol. + +GARRET, or UPPER STORY. The head. His garret, or + upper story, is empty, or unfurnished; i.e. he has no + brains, he is a fool. + +GARRET ELECTION. A ludicrous ceremony, practised every + new parliament: it consists of a mock election of two + members to represent the borough of Garret (a few + straggling cottages near Wandsworth in Surry); the + qualification of a voter is, having enjoyed a woman in the open + air within that district: the candidates are commonly fellows + of low humour, who dress themselves up in a ridiculous + manner. As this brings a prodigious concourse of + people to Wandsworth, the publicans of that place jointly + contribute to the expence, which is sometimes considerable. + +GAWKEY. A tall, thin, awkward young man or woman. + +GAYING INSTRUMENT. The penis. + +GAZEBO. An elevated observatory or summer-house. + +GEE. It won't gee; it won't hit or do, it does not suit or + fit. + +GELDING. An eunuch. + +GELT. Money, GERMAN.--Also, castrated. + +GENTLE CRAFT. The art of shoeniaking. One of the gentle + craft: a shoemaker: so called because once practised + by St. Crispin. + +GENTLEMAN COMMONER. An empty bottle; an university + joke, gentlemen commoners not being deemed over full + of learning. + +GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION. A louse. + +GENTLEMAN'S MASTER. A highway robber, because he + makes a gentleman obey his commands, i.e. stand and deliver. + +GENTLEMAN OF THREE INS. In debt, in gaol, and in danger + of remaining there for life: or, in gaol, indicted, and + in danger of being hanged in chains. + +GENTLEMAN OF THREE OUTS. That is, without money, + without wit, and without manners: some add another + out, i.e. without credit. + +GENTRY COVE. A gentleman. CANT. + +GENTRY COVE KEN. A gentleman's house. CANT. + +GENTRY MORT. A gentlewoman. + +GEORGE. Yellow George; a guinea. Brown George: an + ammunition loaf. + +GERMAN DUCK. Haifa sheep's head boiled with onions. + +GET. One of his get; one of his offspring, or begetting. + +GIB CAT. A northern name for a he cat, there commonly + called Gilbert. As melancholy as a gib cat; as melancholy + as a he cat who has been caterwauling, whence they + always return scratched, hungry, and out of spirits. + Aristotle says, Omne animal post coitum est triste; to which an + anonymous author has given the following exception, + preter gallum gallinaceum, et sucerdotem gratis fornicantem. + +GIBBERISH. The cant language of thieves and gypsies, + called Pedlars' French, and St. Giles's Greek: see ST. + GILES'S GREEK. Also the mystic language of Geber, + used by chymists. Gibberish likewise means a sort of + disguised language, formed by inserting any consonant + between each syllable of an English word; in which case it + is called the gibberish of the letter inserted: if F, it is the + F gibberish; if G, the G gibberish; as in the sentence + How do you do? Howg dog youg dog. + +GIBBE. A horse that shrinks from the collar and will not + draw. + +GIBLETS. To join giblets; said of a man and woman who + cohabit as husband and wife, without being married; + also to copulate. + +GIBSON, or SIR JOHN GIBBON, A two-legged stool, used to + support the body of a coach whilst finishing. + +GIFTS. Small white specks under the finger nails, said to + portend gifts or presents. A stingy man is said to be + as full of gifts as a brazen horse of his farts. + +GIFT OF THE GAB. A facility of speech. + +GIGG. A nose. Snitchel his gigg; fillip his nose. Grunter's + gigg; a hog's snout. Gigg is also a high one-horse + chaise, and a woman's privities. To gigg a Smithfield + hank; to hamstring an over-drove ox, vulgarly called a + mad bullock. + +GIGGER. A latch, or door. Dub the gigger; open the + door. Gigger dubber; the turnkey of a jaol. + +To GIGGLE. To suppress a laugh. Gigglers; wanton women. + +GILES'S or ST. GILES'S BREED. Fat, ragged, and saucy; + Newton and Dyot streets, the grand head-quarters-of most + of the thieves and pickpockets about London, are in St. Giles's + Giles's parish. St. Giles's Greek; the cant language, + called also Slang, Pedlars' French, and Flash. + +GILFLURT. A proud minks, a vain capricious woman, + +GILL. The abbreviation of Gillian, figuratively used for + woman. Every jack has his gill; i.e. every jack has his + gillian, or female mate. + +GILLS. The cheeks. To look rosy about the gills; to have + a fresh complexion. To look merry about the gills: to + appear cheerful. + +GILLY GAUPUS. A Scotch term for a tall awkward + fellow. + +GILT, or RUM DUBBER. A thief who picks locks, so called + from the gilt or picklock key: many of them are so + expert, that, from the lock of a church door to that of + the smallest cabinet, they will find means to open it; + these go into reputable public houses, where, pretending + business, they contrive to get into private rooms, up + stairs, where they open any bureaus or trunks they happen + to find there. + +GIMBLET-EYED. Squinting, either in man or woman. + +GIMCRACK, or JIMCRACK. A spruce wench; a gimcrack + also means a person who has a turn for mechanical + contrivances. + +GIN SPINNER. A distiller. + +GINGAMBOBS. Toys, bawbles; also a man's privities. See + THINGAMBOBS. + +GINGER-PATED, or GINGER-HACKLED. Red haired: a + term borrowed from the cockpit, where red cocks are + called gingers, + +GINGERBREAD. A cake made of treacle, flour, and grated + ginger; also money. He has the gingerbread; he is + rich. + +GINGERBREAD WORK. Gilding and carving: these terms + are particularly applied by seamen on board Newcastle + colliers, to the decorations of the sterns and quarters of + West-Indiamen, which they have the greatest joy in defacing. + +GINGERLY. Softly, gently, tenderly. To go gingerly to + work: to attempt a thing gently, or cautiously. + +GINNY. An instrument to lift up a great, in order to steal + what is in the window. CANT. + +GIP from gups a WOLF. A servant at college. + +GIRDS. Quips, taunts, severe or biting reflections. + +GIZZARD. To grumble in the gizzard; to be secretly + displeased. + +GLASS EYES. A nick name for one wearing spectacles. + +GLAYMORE. A Highland broad-sword; from the Erse + GLAY, or GLAIVE, a sword; and MORE, great. + +GLAZE. A window. + +GLAZIER. One who breaks windows and shew-glasses, to + steal goods exposed for sale. Glaziers; eyes. CANT.-- + Is your father a glazier; a question asked of a lad or young + man, who stands between the speaker and the candle, or + fire. If it is answered in the negative, the rejoinder is-- + I wish he was, that he might make a window through + your body, to enable us to see the fire or light. + +GLIB. Smooth, slippery. Glib tongued; talkative. + +GLIM. A candle, or dark lantern, used in housebreaking; + also fire. To glim; to burn in the hand. CANT. + +GLIMFENDERS. Andirons. CANT. + +GLIMFLASHY. Angry, or in a passion. CANT. + +GLIM JACK. A link-boy. CANT. + +GLIMMER. Fire. CANT. + +GLIMMERERS. Persons begging with sham licences, + pretending losses by fire. + +GLIMMS. Eyes. + +GLIMSTICK. A candlestick. CANT. + +GLOBE. Pewter. CANT. + +GLOVES. To give any one a pair of gloves; to make them + a present or bribe. To win a pair of gloves; to kiss a man + whilst he sleeps: for this a pair of gloves is due to any lady + who will thus earn them. + +GLUEPOT. A parson: from joining men and women together + in matrimony. + +GLUM. Sullen. + +GLUTTON. A term used by bruisers to signify a man who + will bear a great deal of beating. + +GNARLER. A little dog that by his barking alarms the + family when any person is breaking into the house. + +GO, THE. The dash. The mode. He is quite the go, he + is quite varment, he is prime, he is bang up, are + synonimous expressions. + +GLYBE. A writing. CANT. + +GO BETWEEN. A pimp or bawd. + +GO BY THE GROUND. A little short person, man or woman. + +GO SHOP. The Queen's Head in Duke's court, Bow street, + Covent Garden; frequented by the under players: where + gin and water was sold in three-halfpenny bowls, called + Goes; the gin was called Arrack. The go, the fashion; + as, large hats are all the go. + +GOADS. Those who wheedle in chapmen for horse-dealers. + +GOAT. A lascivious person. Goats jigg; making the beast + with two backs, copulation. + +GOB. The mouth; also a bit or morsel: whence gobbets. + Gift of the gob; wide-mouthed, or one who speaks fluently, + or sings well. + +GOB STRING. A bridle. + +GOBBLER. A turkey cock. + +GODFATHER. He who pays the reckoning, or answers for + the rest of thecompany: as, Will you stand godfather, and + we will take care of the brat; i.e. repay you another + time. Jurymen are also called godfathers, because they + name the crime the prisoner before them has been guilty + of, whether felony, petit larceny, &c. + +GOG. All-a-gog; impatient, anxious, or desirous of a thing. + +GOG AND MAGOG. Two giants, whose effigies stand on + each side of the clock in Guildhall, London; of whom + there is a tradition, that, when they hear the clock strike + one, on the first of April, they will walk down from their + places. + +GOGGLES. Eyes: see OGLES. Goggle eyes; large prominent eyes. To + goggle; to stare. + +GOING UPON THE DUB. Going out to break open, or pick + the locks of, houses. + +GOLD DROPPERS. Sharpers who drop a piece of gold, + which they pick up in the presence of some unexperienced + person, for whom the trap is laid, this they pretend to + have found, and, as he saw them pick it up, they invite + him to a public house to partake of it: when there, two + or three of their comrades drop in, as if by accident, and + propose cards, or some other game, when they seldom fail + of stripping their prey. + +GOLD FINDER. One whose employment is to empty necessary + houses; called also a tom-turd-man, and night-man: + the latter, from that business being always performed in + the night. + +GOLDFINCH. One who has commonly a purse full of gold. + Goldfinches; guineas. + +GOLGOTHA OR THE PLACE OF SCULLS. Part of the Theatre + at Oxford, where the heads of houses sit; those + gentlemen being by the wits of the university called sculls. + +GOLLUMPUS. A large, clumsy fellow. + +GOLOSHES, i.e. Goliah's shoes. Large leathern clogs, worn + by invalids over their ordinary shoes. + +GOOD MAN. A word of various imports, according to the + place where it is spoken: in the city it means a rich man; + at Hockley in the Hole, or St. Giles's, an expert boxer; + at a bagnio in Covent Garden, a vigorous fornicator; at + an alehouse or tavern, one who loves his pot or bottle; + and sometimes, though but rarely, a virtuous man + +GOOD WOMAN. A nondescript, represented on a famous + sign in St. Giles's, in the form of a common woman. but + without a head. + +GOODYER'S PIG. Like Goodyer's pig; never well but when + in mischief. + +GOOSE. A taylor's goose; a smoothing iron used to press + down the seams, for which purpose it must be heated: + hence it is a jocular saying, that a taylor, be he ever so + poor, is always sure to have a goose at his fire. He cannot + say boh to a goose; a saying of a bashful or sheepish + fellow. + +GOOSE RIDING. A goose, whose neck is greased, being suspended + by the legs to a cord tied to two trees or high posts, + a number of men on horseback, riding full speed, attempt + to pull off the head: which if they effect, the goose is + their prize. This has been practised in Derbyshire within + the memory of persons now living. + +GOOSEBERRY. He played up old gooseberry among them; + said of a person who. by force or threats, suddenly puts an + end to a riot or disturbance. + +GOOSEBERRY-EYED. One with dull grey eyes, like boiled + gooseberries. + +GOOSEBERRY WIG. A large frizzled wig: perhaps from a + supposed likeness to a gooseberry bush. + +GOOSECAP. A silly fellow or woman. + +GORGER. A gentleman. A well dressed man. Mung + kiddey. Mung the gorger; beg child beg, of the gentleman. + +GOSPEL SHOP. A church. + +GOREE. Money, chiefly gold: perhaps from the traffic + carried on at that place, which is chiefly for gold dust. + CANT. + +GORMAGON. A monster with six eyes, three mouths, four + arms, eight legs, live on one side and three on the other, + three arses, two tarses, and a *** upon its back; a man on + horseback, with a woman behind him. + +GOTCH-GUTTED. Pot bellied: a gotch in Norfolk signifying + a pitcher, or large round jug. + +TO GOUGE. To squeeze out a man's eye with the thumb: + a cruel practice used by the Bostonians in America. + +To GRABBLE. To seize. To grabble the bit; to seize any + one's money. CANT. + + +GRAFTED. Cuckolded, i.e. having horns grafted on his + head. + +To GRAB. To seize a man. The pigs grabbed the kiddey + for a crack: the officers, seized the youth for a burglary. + +GRANNAM. Corn. + +GRANNUM'S GOLD. Hoarded money: supposed to have + belonged to the grandmother of the possessor. + +GRANNY. An abbreviation of grandmother; also the name + of an idiot, famous for licking, her eye, who died Nov. 14, + 1719. Go teach your granny to suck eggs; said to such + as would instruct any one in a matter he knows better than + themselves. + +GRAPPLE THE RAILS. A cant name used in Ireland for + whiskey. + +GRAPPLING IRONS. Handcuffs. + +GRAVE DIGGER. Like a grave digger; up to the a-se in + business, and don't know which way to turn. + +GRAVY-EYED. Blear-eyed, one whose eyes have a running + humour. + +TO GREASE. To bribe. To grease a man in the fist; to + bribe him. To grease a fat sow in the a-se; to give to a + rich man. Greasy chin; a treat given to parish officers in + part of commutation for a bastard: called also, Eating a + child. + +GREAT INTIMATE. As great as shirt and shitten a-se. + +GREAT JOSEPH. A surtout. CANT. + +GREEDY GUTS. A covetous or voracious person. + +GREEK. St. Giles's Greek; the slang lingo, cant, or gibberish. + +GREEN. Doctor Green; i.e. grass: a physician, or rather + medicine, found very successful in curing most disorders + to which horses are liable. My horse is not well, I shall + send him to Doctor Green. + +GREEN. Young, inexperienced, unacquainted; ignorant. How + green the cull was not to stag how the old file planted the + books. How ignorant the booby was not to perceive + how the old sharper placed the cards in such a manner + as to insure the game. + +GREEN BAG. An attorney: those gentlemen carry their + clients' deeds in a green bag; and, it is said, when they + have no deeds to carry, frequently fill them with an old + pair of breeches, or any other trumpery, to give themselves + the appearance of business. + +GREEN GOWN. To give a girl a green gown; to tumble her + on the grass. + +GREEN SICKNESS. The disease of maids occasioned by celibacy. + +GREENHEAD. An inexperienced young man. + +GREENHORN. A novice on the town, an undebauched young + fellow, just initiated into the society of bucks and bloods. + +GREENWICH BARBERS. Retailers of sand from the pits at + and about Greenwich, in Kent: perhaps they are styled + barbers, from their constant shaving the sandbanks. + +GREENWICH GOOSE. A pensioner of Greenwich Hospital. + +GREGORIAN TREE. The gallows: so named from Gregory + Brandon, a famous finisher of the law; to whom Sir William + Segar, garter king of arms (being imposed on by + Brooke, a herald), granted a coat of arms. + +GREY BEARD. Earthen jugs formerly used in public house + for drawing ale: they had the figure of a man with a large + beard stamped on them; whence probably they took + the name: see BEN JONSON'S PLAYS, BARTHOLOMEW FAIR, + &c. &c. Dutch earthen jugs, used for smuggling gin on + the coasts of Essex and Suffolk, are at this time called + grey beards. + +GREY MARE. The grey mare is the better horse; said of + a woman who governs her husband. + +GREY PARSON. A farmer who rents the tithes of the rector + or vicar. + +GRIG. A farthing. A merry grig; a fellow as merry as a + grig: an allusion to the apparent liveliness of a grig, or + young eel. + +GRIM. Old Mr. Grim; death. + +GRIMALKIN. A cat: mawkin signifies a hare in Scotland. + +GRIN. To grin in a glass case; to be anatomized for murder: + the skeletons of many criminals are preserved in glass + cases, at Surgeons' hall. + +GRINAGOG, THE CAT'S UNCLE. A foolish grinning fellow, + one who grins without reason. + +GRINDERS. Teeth. Gooseberry grinder; the breech. Ask + bogey, the gooseberry grinder; ask mine a-se. + +TO GRIND. To have carnal knowledge of a woman. + +GROATS. To save his groats; to come off handsomely: at + the universities, nine groats are deposited in the hands of an + academic officer, by every person standing for a degree; + which if the depositor obtains with honour, the groats are + returned to him. + +GROG. Rum and water. Grog was first introduced into the + navy about the year 1740, by Admiral Vernon, to prevent + the sailors intoxicating themselves with their allowance of + rum, or spirits. Groggy, or groggified; drunk. + +GROG-BLOSSOM. A carbuncle, or pimple in the face, caused + by drinking. + +GROGGED. A grogged horse; a foundered horse. + +GROGHAM. A horse. CANT. + +GROPERS. Blind men; also midwives. + +GROUND SWEAT. A grave. + +GROUND SQUIRREL. A hog, or pig. SEA TERM. + +GRUB. Victuals. To grub; to dine. + +GRUB STREET. A street near Moorfields, formerly the supposed + habitation of many persons who wrote for the booksellers: + hence a Grub-street writer means a hackney author, + who manufactures booss for the booksellers. + +GRUB STREET NEWS. Lying intelligence. + +TO GRUBSHITE. To make foul or dirty. + +GRUMBLE. To grumble in the gizzard; to murmur or repine. + He grumbled like a bear with a sore head. + +GRUMBLETONIAN. A discontented person; one who is always + railing at the times or ministry. + +GRUNTER. A hog; to grunt; to groan, or complain of sickness. + +GRUNTER'S GIG. A smoaked hog's face. + +GRUNTING PECK. Pork, bacon, or any kind of hog's flesh. + +GRUTS. Tea. + +GUDGEON. One easily imposed on. To gudgeon; to swallow + the bait, or fall into a trap: from the fish of that name, + which is easily taken. + +GULL. A simple credulous fellow, easily cheated. + +GULLED. Deceived, cheated, imposed on. + +GULLGROPERS. Usurers who lend money to the gamesters. + +GUM. Abusive language. Come, let us have no more of + your gum. + +GUMMY. Clumsy: particularly applied to the ancles of + men or women, and the legs of horses. + +GUMPTION, or RUM GUMPTION. Docility, comprehension, + capacity. + +GUN. He is in the gun; he is drunk: perhaps from an allusion + to a vessel called a gun, used for ale in the universities. + +GUNDIGUTS. A fat, pursy fellow. + +GUNNER'S DAUGHTER. To kiss the gunner's daughter; to + be tied to a gun and flogged on the posteriors; a mode of + punishing boys on board a ship of war. + +GUNPOWDER. An old Woman. CANT. + +GUTS. My great guts are ready to eat my little ones; my + guts begin to think my throat's cut; my guts curse my + teeth: all expressions signifying the party is extremely + hungry. + +GUTS AND GARBAGE. A very fat man or woman. More + guts than brains; a silly fellow. He has plenty of guts, but + no bowels: said of a hard, merciless, unfeeling person. + +GUTFOUNDERED. Exceeding hungry. + +GUT SCRAPER, or TORMENTOR of CATGUT. A fiddler. + +GUTTER LANE. The throat, the swallow, the red lane. + See RED LANE. + +GUTTING A QUART POT. Taking out the lining of it: i. e. + drinking it off. Gutting an oyster; eating it. Gutting a + house; clearing it of its furniture. See POULTERER. + +GUY. A dark lanthorn: an allusion to Guy Faux, the principal + actor in the gunpowder plot. Stow the guy: conceal the + lanthorn. + +GUZZLE. Liquor. To guzzle; to drink greedily. + +GUZZLE GUTS. One greedy of liquor. + +GYBE, or JYBE. Any writing or pass with a seal. + +GYBING. Jeering or ridiculing. + +GYLES, or GILES. Hopping Giles; a nick name for a lame + person: St. Giles was the tutelar saint of cripples. + +GYP. A college runner or errand-boy at Cambridge, called + at Oxford a scout. See SCOUT. + +GYPSIES. A set of vagrants, who, to the great disgrace of + our police, are suffered to wander about the country. + They pretend that they derive their origin from the + ancient Egyptians, who were famous for their knowledge + in astronomy and other sciences; and, under the pretence + of fortune-telling, find means to rob or defraud the ignorant + and superstitious. To colour their impostures, they + artificially discolour their faces, and speak a kind of + gibberish peculiar to themselves. They rove up and down the + country in large companies, to the great terror of the + farmers, from whose geese, turkeys, and fowls, they take very + considerable contributions. + + When a fresh recruit is admitted into the fraternity, he is to + take the following oath, administered by the principal + maunder, after going through the annexed forms: + + First, a new name is given him by which he is ever after to + be called; then standing up in the middle of the assembly, + and directing his face to the dimber damber, or principal + man of the gang, he repeats the following oath, which is + dictated to him by some experienced member of the fraternity: + + I, Crank Cuffin, do swear to be a true brother, and that I will + in all things obey the commands of the great tawney + prince, and keep his counsel and not divulge the secrets of + my brethren. + + I will never leave nor forsake the company, but observe and + keep all the times of appointment, either by day or by + night, in every place whatever. + + I will not teach any one to cant, nor will I disclose any of + our mysteries to them. + + I will take my prince's part against all that shall oppose him, + or any of us, according to the utmost of my ability; nor + will I suffer him, or any one belongiug to us, to be abused + by any strange abrams, rufflers, hookers, pailliards, + swaddlers, Irish toyles, swigmen, whip jacks, jarkmen, + bawdy baskets, dommerars, clapper dogeons, patricoes, + or curtals; but will defend him, or them, as much as I + can, against all other outliers whatever. I will not conceal + aught I win out of libkins or from the ruffmans, but + will preserve it for the use of the company. Lastly, I + will cleave to my doxy wap stiffly, and will bring her + duds, marjery praters, goblers, grunting cheats, or tibs + of the buttery, or any thing else I can come at, as + winnings for her weppings. + + The canters have, it seems, a tradition, that from the three + first articles of this oath, the first founders of a certain + boastful, worshipful fraternity (who pretend to derive their + origin from the earliest times) borrowed both the hint and + form of their establishment; and that their pretended + derivation from the first Adam is a forgery, it being only + from the first Adam Tiler: see ADAM TILER. At the + admission of a new brother, a general stock is raised for + booze, or drink, to make themselves merry on the occasion. + As for peckage or eatables, they can procure without + money; for while some are sent to break the ruffmans, + or woods and bushes, for firing, others are detached to + filch geese, chickens, hens, ducks (or mallards), and pigs. + Their morts are their butchers, who presently make + bloody work with what living things are brought them; and + having made holes in the ground under some remote hedge + in an obscure place, they make a fire and boil or broil their + food; and when it is enough, fall to work tooth and nail: + and having eaten more like beasts than men, they drink + more like swine than human creatures, entertaining one + another all the time with songs in the canting dialect. + + As they live, so they lie, together promiscuously, and know + not how to claim a property either in their goods or children: + and this general interest ties them more firmly together + than if all their rags were twisted into ropes, to bind + them indissolubly from a separation; which detestable + union is farther consolidated by the above oath. + + They stroll up and down all summer-time in droves, and + Dexterously pick pockets, while they are telling of fortunes; + and the money, rings, silver thirribles, &c. which they + get, are instantly conveyed from one hand to another, + till the remotest person of the gang (who is not suspected + because they come not near the person robbed) gets possession + of it; so that, in the strictest search, it is impossible to + recover it; while the wretches with imprecations, + oaths, and protestations, disclaim the thievery. + + That by which they are said to get the most money, is, + when young gentlewomen of good families and reputation + have happened to be with child before marriage, a round + sum is often bestowed among the gypsies, for some one + mort to take the child; and as that is never heard of + more by the true mother and family, so the disgrace is + kept concealed from the world; and, if the child lives, it + never knows its parents. + +HABERDASHER OF PRONOUNS. A schoolmaster, or + usher. + +HACKNEY WRITER. One who writes for attornies or + booksellers. + +HACKUM. Captain Hackum; a bravo, a slasher. + +HAD'EM. He has been at Had'em, and came home by Clapham; + said of one who has caught the venereal disease. + +HAIR SPLITTER. A man's yard. + +HALBERT. A weapon carried by a serjeant of foot. To get + a halbert; to be appointed a serjeant. To be brought to + the halberts; to be flogged a la militaire: soldiers of the + infantry, when flogged, being commonly tied to three halberts, + set up in a triangle, with a fourth fastened across + them. He carries the halbert in his face; a saying of one + promoted from a serjeant to a commission officer. + +HALF A HOG. Sixpence. + +HALF SEAS OVER. Almost drunk. + +HAMLET. A high constable. Cant. + +HAMS, or HAMCASES Breeches. + +HAND. A sailor. We lost a hand; we lost a sailor. Bear a + hand; make haste. Hand to fist; opposite: the same as + tete-a-tete, or cheek by joul. + +HAND AND POCKET SHOP. An eating house, where ready + money is paid for what is called for. + +HAND BASKET PORTION. A woman whose husband receives + frequent presents from her father, or family, is + said to have a hand-basket portion. + +HANDLE. To know how to handle one's fists; to be skilful + in the art of boxing. The cove flashes a rare handle to + his physog; the fellow has a large nose. + +HANDSOME. He is a handsome-bodied man in the face; a + jeering commendation of an ugly fellow. Handsome is that + handsome does: a proverb frequently cited by ugly women. + +HANDSOME REWARD. This, in advertisements, means a + horse-whipping. + +To HANG AN ARSE. To hang back, to hesitate. + +HANG GALLOWS LOOK. A thievish, or villainous appearance. + +HANG IN CHAINS. A vile, desperate fellow. Persons + guilty of murder, or other atrocious crimes, are frequently, + after execution, hanged on a gibbet, to which + they are fastened by iron bandages; the gibbet is commonly + placed on or near the place where the crime was committed. + +HANG IT UP. Score it up: speaking of a reckoning. + +HANG OUT. The traps scavey where we hang out; the officers + know where we live. + +HANGER ON. A dependant. + +HANGMAN'S WAGES. Thirteen pence halfpenny; which, + according to the vulgar tradition, was thus allotted: one + shilling for the executioner, and three halfpence for the rope, + --N. B. This refers to former times; the hangmen of the + present day having, like other artificers, raised their prices. + The true state of this matter is, that a Scottish mark was + the fee allowed for an execution, and the value of that + piece was settled by a proclamation of James I. at thirteen + pence halfpenny. + +HANK. He has a hank on him; i.e. an ascendancy over + him, or a hold upon him. A Smithfield hank; an ox, + rendered furious by overdriving and barbarous treatment. + See BULL HANK. + +HANKER. To hanker after any thing; to have a longing + after or for it. + +HANS IN KELDER. Jack in the cellar, i.e. the child in the + womb: a health frequently drank to breeding women or + their husbands. + +HARD. Stale beer, nearly sour, is said to be hard. Hard + also means severe: as, hard fate, a hard master. + +HARD AT HIS A-SE. Close after him. + +HARE. He has swallowed a hare; he is drunk; more probably + a HAIR, which requires washing down, + +HARK-YE-ING. Whispering on one side to borrow money. + +HARMAN. A constable. CANT. + +HARMAN BECK. A beadle. CANT. + +HARMANS. The stocks. CANT. + +HARP. To harp upon; to dwell upon a subject. Have + among you, my blind harpers; an expression used in throwing + or shooting at random among the crowd. Harp is also + the Irish expression for woman, or tail, used in tossing + up in Ireland: from Hibernia, being represented with a + harp on the reverse of the copper coins of that country; + for which it is, in hoisting the copper, i.e. tossing up, + sometimes likewise called music. + +HARRIDAN. A hagged old woman; a miserable, scraggy, + worn-out harlot, fit to take her bawd's degree: derived + from the French word HARIDELLE, a worn-out jade of a horse + or mare. + +HARRY. A country fellow. CANT.--Old Harry; the Devil. + +HARUM SCARUM. He was running harum scarum; said of + any one running or walking hastily, and in a hurry, after + they know not what. + +HASH. To flash the hash; to vomit. CANT. + +HASTY. Precipitate, passionate. He is none of the Hastings + sort; a saying of a slow, loitering fellow: an allusion to the + Hastings pea, which is the first in season. + +HASTY PUDDING. Oatmeal and milk boiled to a moderate + thickness, and eaten with sugar and butter. Figuratively, + a wet, muddy road: as, The way through Wandsworth is + quite a hasty pudding. To eat hot hasty pudding for a + laced hat, or some other prize, is a common feat at wakes + and fairs. + +HAT. Old hat; a woman's privities: because frequently + felt. + +HATCHES. Under the hatches; in trouble, distress, or debt. + +HATCHET FACE. A long thin face. + +HAVIL. A sheep. CANT. + +HAVY CAVY. Wavering, doubtful, shilly shally. + +HAWK. Ware hawk; the word to look sharp, a bye-word + when a bailiff passes. Hawk also signifies a sharper, in + opposition to pigeon. See PIGEON. See WARE HAWK. + +HAWKERS. Licensed itinerant retailers of different commodities, + called also pedlars; likewise the sellers of news-papers. + Hawking; an effort to spit up the thick phlegm, called + OYSTERS: whence it is wit upon record, to ask the person + so doing whether he has a licence; a punning allusion to the + Act of hawkers and pedlars. + +To HAZEL GILD. To beat any one with a hazel stick. + +HEAD CULLY OF THE PASS, or PASSAGE BANK. The top + tilter of that gang throughout the whole army, who + demands and receives contribution from all the pass banks in + the camp. + +HEAD RAILS. Teeth. SEA PHRASE. + +HEARING CHEATS. Ears. CANT. + +HEART'S EASE. Gin. + +HEARTY CHOAK. He will have a hearty choak and caper + sauce for breakfast; i.e. he will be hanged. + +HEATHEN PHILOSOPHER. One whose breech may be seen + through his pocket-hole: this saying arose from the old + philosophers, many of whom depised the vanity of dress to + such a point, as often to fall into the opposite extreme. + +TO HEAVE. To rob. To heave a case; to rob a house. + To heave a bough; to rob a booth. CANT. + +HEAVER. The breast. CANT. + +HEAVERS. Thieves who make it their business to steal + tradesmen's shop-books. CANT. + +HECTOR. bully, a swaggering coward. To hector; to + bully, probably from such persons affecting the valour of + Hector, the Trojan hero. + +HEDGE. To make a hedge; to secure a bet, or wager, laid + on one side, by taking the odds on the other, so that, let + what will happen, a certain gain is secured, or hedged in, + by the person who takes this precaution; who is then said + to be on velvet. + +HEDGE ALEHOUSE. A small obscure alehouse. + +HEDGE CREEPER. A robber of hedges. + +HEDGE PRIEST. An illiterate unbeneficed curate, a patrico. + +HEDGE WHORE. An itinerant harlot, who bilks the bagnios + and bawdy-houses, by disposing of her favours on the + wayside, under a hedge; a low beggarly prostitute. + +HEELS. To he laid by the heels; to be confined, or put in + prison. Out at heels; worn, or diminished: his estate or + affairs are out at heels. To turn up his heels; to turn up + the knave of trumps at the game of all-fours. + +HEEL TAP. A peg in the heel of a shoe, taken out when it + is finished. A person leaving any liquor in his glass, is + frequently called upon by the toast-master to take off his + heel-tap. + +HELL. A taylor's repository for his stolen goods, called + cabbage: see CABBAGE. Little hell; a small dark covered + passage, leading from London-wall to Bell-alley. + +HELL-BORN BABE. A lewd graceless youth, one naturally + of a wicked disposition. + +HELL CAT. A termagant, a vixen, a furious scolding woman. + See TERMAGANT and VIXEN. + +HELL HOUND. A wicked abandoned fellow. + +HELL FIRE DICK. The Cambridge driver of the Telegraph. + The favorite companion of the University fashionables, + and the only tutor to whose precepts they attend. + +HELTER SKELTER. To run helter skelter, hand over head, + in defiance of order. + +HEMP. Young hemp; an appellation for a graceless boy. + +HEMPEN FEVER. A man who was hanged is said to have + died of a hempen fever; and, in Dorsetshire, to have been + stabbed with a Bridport dagger; Bridport being a place + famous for manufacturing hemp into cords. + +HEMPEN WIDOW. One whose husband was hanged. + +HEN-HEARTED. Cowardly. + +HEN HOUSE. A house where the woman rules; called also + a SHE HOUSE, and HEN FRIGATE: the latter a sea phrase, + originally applied to a ship, the captain of which had his + wife on board, supposed to command him. + +HENPECKED. A husband governed by his wife, is said to + be henpecked. + +HEN. A woman. A cock and hen club; a club composed + of men and women. + +HERE AND THEREIAN. One who has no settled place of + residence. + +HERRING. The devil a barrel the better herring; all equally + bad. + +HERRING GUTTED. Thin, as a shotten hering. + +HERRING POND. The sea. To cross the herring pond at + the king's expence; to be transported. + +HERTFORDSHIRE KINDNESS. Drinking twice to the same + person. + +HICK. A country hick; an ignorant clown. CANT. + +HICKENBOTHOM. Mr. Hickenbothom; a ludicrous name + for an unknown person, similar to that of Mr. Thingambob. + Hickenbothom, i.e. a corruption of the German + word ickenbaum, i.e. oak tree. + +HICKEY. Tipsey; quasi, hickupping. + +HIDE AND SEEK. A childish game. He plays at hide and + seek; a saying of one who is in fear of being arrested for + debt, or apprehended for some crime, and therefore does + not chuse to appear in public, but secretly skulks up and + down. See SKULK. + +HIDEBOUND. Stingy, hard of delivery; a poet poor in invention, + is said to have a hidebound muse. + +HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY. Confusedly mixed. + +HIGH EATING. To eat skylarks in a garret. + +HIGH FLYERS. Tories, Jacobites. + +HIGH JINKS. A gambler at dice, who, having a strong + head, drinks to intoxicate his adversary, or pigeon. + +HIGH LIVING. To lodge in a garret, or cockloft + +HIGH PAD. A highwayman. CANT. + +HIGH ROPES. To be on the high ropes; to be in a passion. + +HIGH SHOON, or CLOUTED SHOON. A country clown. + +HIGH WATER. It is high water, with him; he is full of + money. + +HIGHGATE. Sworn at Highgate--a ridiculous custom formerly + prevailed at the public-houses in Highgate, to administer + a ludicrous oath to all travellers of the middling + rank who stopped there. The party was sworn on a pair + of horns, fastened on a stick: the substance of the oath + was, never to kiss the maid when he could kiss the mistress, + never to drink small beer when he could get strong, with + many other injunctions of the like kind; to all which was + added the saving cause of "unless you like it best." The + person administering the oath was always to be called + father by the juror; and he, in return, was to style him + son, under the penalty of a bottle. + +HIKE. To hike off; to run away. CANT. + +HIND LEG. To kick out a hind leg; to make a rustic bow. + +HINNEY, MY HONEY. A north country hinney, particularly + a Northumbrian: in that county, hinney is the general + term of endearment. + +HISTORY OF THE FOUR KINGS, or CHILD'S BEST GUIDE TO + THE GALLOWS. A pack of cards. He studies the history + of the four kings assiduously; he plays much at cards. + +HOAXING. Bantering, ridiculing. Hoaxing a quiz; joking + an odd fellow. UNIVERSITY WIT. + +HOB, or HOBBINOL, a clown. + +HOB OR NOB. Will you hob or nob with me? a question + formerly in fashion at polite tables, signifying a request or + challenge to drink a glass of wine with the proposer: if the + party challenged answered Nob, they were to chuse whether + white or red. This foolish custom is said to have + originated in the days of good queen Bess, thus: when + great chimnies were in fashion, there was at each corner + of the hearth, or grate, a small elevated projection, called + the hob; and behind it a seat. In winter time the beer + was placed on the hob to warm: and the cold beer was + set on a small table, said to have been called the nob; so + that the question, Will you have hob or nob? seems only + to have meant, Will you have warm or cold beer? i.e. + beer from the hob, or beer from the nob. + +HOBBERDEHOY. Half a man and half a boy, a lad between + both. + +HOBBLED. Impeded, interrupted, puzzled. To hobble; + to walk lamely. + +HOBBLEDYGEE. A pace between a walk and a run, a dog-trot. + +HOBBY. Sir Posthumous's hobby; one nice or whimsical + in his clothes. + +HOBBY HORSE. A man's favourite amusement, or study, + is called his hobby horse. It also means a particular kind + of small Irish horse: and also a wooden one, such as is + given to children. + +HOBBY HORSICAL. A man who is a great keeper or rider + of hobby horses; one that is apt to be strongly attached + to his systems of amusement. + +HOBNAIL. A country clodhopper: from the shoes of country + farmers and ploughmen being commonly stuck full of + hob-nails, and even often clouted, or tipped with iron. + The Devil ran over his face with hobnails in his shoes; + said of one pitted With the small pox. + +HOBSON'S CHOICE. That or none; from old Hobson, a + famous carrier of Cambridge, who used to let horses to the + students; but never permitted them to chuse, always + allotting each man the horse he thought properest for his + manner of riding and treatment. + +HOCKS. vulgar appellation for the feet. You have left + the marks of your dirty hocks on my clean stairs; a frequent + complaint from a mop squeezer to a footman. + +HOCKEY. Drunk with strong stale beer, called old hock. + See HICKEY. + +HOCKING, or HOUGHING. A piece of cruelty practised by + the butchers of Dublin, on soldiers, by cutting the tendon + of Achilles; this has been by law made felony. + +HOCUS POCUS. Nonsensical words used by jugglers, previous + to their deceptions, as a kind of charm, or incantation. A + celebrated writer supposes it to be a ludicrous corruption + of the words hoc est corpus, used by the popish priests m + consecrating the host. Also Hell Hocus is used to express + drunkenness: as, he is quite hocus; he is quite drunk. + +HOD. Brother Hod; a familiar name for a bricklayer's + labourer: from the hod which is used for carrying bricks and + mortar. + +HODDY DODDY, ALL A-SE AND NO BODY. A short clumsy + person, either male or female. + +HODGE. An abbreviation of Roger: a general name for a + country booby. + +HODGE PODGE. An irregular mixture of numerous things. + +HODMANDODS. Snails in their shells. + +HOG. A shilling. To drive one's hogs; to snore: the noise + made by some persons in snoring, being not much unlike + the notes of that animal. He has brought his hogs to a + fine market; a saying of any one who has been remarkably + successful in his affairs, and is spoken ironically to signify + the contrary. A hog in armour; an awkward or mean + looking man or woman, finely dressed, is said to look like + a hog in armour. To hog a horse's mane; to cut it short, + so that the ends of the hair stick up like hog's bristles. + Jonian hogs; an appellation given to the members of St. + John's College, Cambridge. + +HOG GRUBBER. A mean stingy fellow. + +HOGGISH. Rude, unmannerly, filthy. + +HOGO. Corruption of haut goust, high taste, or flavour; + commonly said of flesh somewhat tainted. It has a + confounded hogo; it stinks confoundedly. + +HOIST. To go upon the hoist; to get into windows + accidentally left open: this is done by the assistance of a + confederate, called the hoist, who leans his head against the + wall, making his back a kind of step or ascent. + +HOISTING. A ludicrous ceremony formerly performed on + every soldier, the first time he appeared in the field after + being married; it was thus managed: As soon as the + regiment, or company, had grounded their arms to rest a + while, three or four men of the same company to which + the bridegroom belonged, seized upon him, and putting a + couple of bayonets out of the two corners of his hat, to + represent horns, it was placed on his head, the back part + foremost. He was then hoisted on the shoulders of two + strong fellows, and carried round the arms, a drum and fife + beating and playing the pioneers call, named Round Heads + and Cuckolds, but on this occasion styled the Cuckold's + March; in passing the colours, he was to take off his hat: + this, in some regiments, was practised by the officers on + their brethren, Hoisting, among pickpockets, is, setting + a man on his head, that his money, watch, &c. may fall + out of his pockets; these they pick up, and hold to be + no robbery. See REVERSED. + +HOITY-TOITY. A hoity-toity wench; a giddy, thoughtless, + romping girl. + +HOLBORN HILL. To ride backwards up Holborn hill; to + go to the gallows: the way to Tyburn, the place of + execution for criminals condemned in London, was up that + hill. Criminals going to suffer, always ride backwards, + as some conceive to increase the ignominy, but more + probably to prevent them being shocked with a distant view + of the gallows; as, in amputations, surgeons conceal the + instruments with which they are going to operate. The + last execution at Tyburn, and consequently of this + procession, was in the year 1784, since which the criminals + have been executed near Newgate + +HOLIDAY. A holiday bowler; a bad bowler. Blind man's + holiday; darkness, night. A holiday is any part of a + ship's bottom, left uncovered in paying it. SEA TERM. It + is all holiday; See ALL HOLIDAY. + +HOLY FATHER. A butcher's boy of St. Patrick's Market, + Dublin, or other Irish blackguard; among whom + the exclamation, or oath, by the Holy Father (meaning + the Pope), is common. + +HOLY LAMB. A thorough-paced villain. IRISH. + +HOLY WATER. He loves him as the Devil loves holy water, + i.e. hates him mortally. Holy water, according to the + Roman Catholics, having the virtue to chase away the Devil + and his imps. + +HOLLOW. It was quiet a hollow thing; i.e. a certainty, or + decided business. + +HONEST MAN. A term frequently used by superiors to inferiors. + As honest a man as any in the cards when all the + kings are out; i.e. a knave. I dare not call thee rogue for + fear of the law, said a quaker to an attorney; but I wil + give thee five pounds, if thou canst find any creditable + person who wilt say thou art an honest man. + +HONEST WOMAN. To marry a woman with whom one has + cohabitated as a mistress, is termed, making an honest + woman of her. + +HONEY MOON. The first month after marriage. A poor + honey; a harmless, foolish, goodnatured fellow. It is all + honey or a t--d with them; said of persons who are + either in the extremity of friendship or enmity, either + kissing or fighting. + +HOOD-WINKED. Blindfolded by a handkerchief, or other + ligature, bound over the eyes. + +HOOF. To beat the hoof; to travel on foot. He hoofed it + or beat the hoof, every step of the way from Chester to + London. + +HOOK AND SNIVEY, WITH NIX THE BUFFER. This rig + consists in feeding a man and a dog for nothing, and is + carried on thus: Three men, one of who pretends to be + sick and unable to eat, go to a public house: the two well + men make a bargain with the landlord for their dinner, + and when he is out of sight, feed their pretended sick + companion and dog gratis. + +HOOKEE WALKER. An expression signifying that the story + is not true, or that the thing will not occour. + +HOOKED. Over-reached, tricked, caught: a simile taken + from fishing. **** hooks; fingers. + +HOOKERS. See ANGLERS. + +HOOP. To run the hoop; an ancient marine custom. Four + or more boys having their left hands tied fast to an iron + hoop, and each of them a rope, called a nettle, in their + right, being naked to the waist, wait the signal to begin: + this being made by a stroke with a cat of nine tails, given + by the boatswain to one of the boys, he strikes the boy before + him, and every one does the same: at first the blows are + but gently administered; but each irritated by the strokes + from the boy behind him, at length lays it on in earnest. + This was anciently practised when a ship was wind-bound. + +TO HOOP. To beat. I'll well hoop his or her barrel, I'll + beat him or her soundly. + +TO HOP THE TWIG. To run away. CANT. + +HOP MERCHANT. A dancing master. See CAPER MERCHANT. + +HOP-O-MY-THUMB. A diminutive person, man or woman. + She was such a-hop-o-my thumb, that a pigeon, sitting + on her shoulder, might pick a pea out of her a-se. + +HOPKINS. Mr. Hopkins; a ludicrous address to a lame or + limping man, being a pun on the word hop. + +HOPPING GILES. A jeering appellation given to any person + who limps, or is lame; St. Giles was the patron of + cripples, lepers, &c. Churches dedicated to that saint + commonly stand out of town, many of them having been + chapels to hospitals. See GYLES. + +HOPPER-ARSED. Having large projecting buttocks: from + their resemblance to a small basket, called a hopper or + hoppet, worn by husbandmen for containing seed corn, + when they sow the land. + +HORNS. To draw in one's horns; to retract an assertion + through fear: metaphor borrowed from a snail, who on the + apprehension of danger, draws in his horns, and retires to + his shell. + +HORN COLIC. A temporary priapism. + +HORN FAIR. An annual fair held at Charlton, in Kent, on St. + Luke's day, the 18th of October. It consists of a riotous + mob, who after a printed summons dispersed through the + adjacent towns, meet at Cuckold's Point, near Deptford, + and march from thence in procession, through that town + and Greenwich, to Charlton, with horns of different kinds + upon their heads; and at the fair there are sold rams + horns, and every sort of toy made of horn; even the gingerbread + figures have horns, The vulgar tradition gives the + following history of the origin of this fair; King John, + or some other of our ancient kings, being at the palace of + Eltham, in this neighbourhood, and having been out a + hunting one day, rambled from his company to this place, + then a mean hamlet; when entering a cottage to inquire + his way, he was struck with the beauty of the mistress, + whom he found alone; and having prevailed over her + modesty, the husband returning suddenly, surprised them + together; and threatening to kill them both, the king was + obliged to discover himself, and to compound for his safety + by a purse of gold, and a grant of the land from this + place to Cuckold's Point, besides making the husband + master of the hamlet. It is added that, in memory of this + grant, and the occasion of it, this fair was established, for + the sale of horns, and all sorts of goods made with that + material. A sermon is preached at Charlton church on + the fair day. + +HORN MAD. A person extremely jealous of his wife, is + said to be horn mad. Also a cuckold, who does not cut + or breed his horns easily. + +HORN WORK. Cuckold-making. + +HORNIFIED. Cuckolded. + +HORSE BUSS. A kiss with a loud smack; also a bite. + +HORSE COSER. A dealer in horses: vulgarly and corruptly + pronounced HORSE COURSER. The verb TO COSE was used by + the Scots, in the sense of bartering or exchanging. + +HORSE GODMOTHER. A large masculine woman, a + gentlemanlike kind of a lady. + +HORSE LADDER. A piece of Wiltshire wit, which consists + in sending some raw lad, or simpleton, to a neighbouring + farm house, to borrow a horse ladder, in order to get up + the horses, to finish a hay-mow. + +HORSE'S MEAL. A meal without drinking. + +HOSTELER, i.e. oat stealer. Hosteler was originally the + name for an inn-keeper; inns being in old English styled + hostels, from the French signifying the same. + +HOT POT. Ale and brandy made hot. + +HOT STOMACH. He has so hot a stomach, that he burns + all the clothes off his back; said of one who pawns his + clothes to purchase liquor. + +HOUSE, or TENEMENT, TO LET. A widow's weeds; also + an atchievement marking the death of a husband, set up + on the outside of a mansion: both supposed to indicate + that the dolorous widow wants a male comforter. + +HOYDON. A romping girl. + +HUBBLE-BUBBLE. Confusion. A hubble-bubble fellow; + a man of confused ideas, or one thick of speech, whose + words sound like water bubbling out of a bottle. Also an + instrument used for smoaking through water in the East + Indies, called likewise a caloon, and hooker. + +HUBBLE DE SHUFF. Confusedly. To fire hubble de shuff, + to fire quick and irregularly. OLD MILITARY TERM. + +HUBBUB. A noise, riot, or disturbance. + +HUCKLE MY BUFF. Beer, egg, and brandy, made hot. + +HUCKSTERS. Itinerant retailers of provisions. He is in + hucksters hands; he is in a bad way. + +TO HUE. To lash. The cove was hued in the naskin; + the rogue was soundly lashed in bridewell. CANT. + +TO HUFF. To reprove, or scold at any one; also to bluster, + bounce, ding, or swagger. A captain huff; a noted bully. + To stand the huff; to be answerable for the reckoning in + a public house. + +HUG. To hug brown bess; to carry a firelock, or serve as a + private soldier. He hugs it as the Devil hugs a witch: + said of one who holds any thing as if he was afraid of losing + it. + +HUGGER MUGGER. By stealth, privately, without making + an appearance. They spent their money in a hugger + mugger way. + +HUGOTONTHEONBIQUIFFINARIANS. A society existing in + 1748. + +HULKY, or HULKING. A great hulky fellow; an over-grown + clumsy lout, or fellow. + +HULVER-HEADED. Having a hard impenetrable head; hulver, + in the Norfolk dialect, signifying holly, a hard and + solid wood. + +TO HUM, or HUMBUG. To deceive, or impose on one by + some story or device. A humbug; a jocular imposition, + or deception. To hum and haw; to hesitate in speech, + also to delay, or be with difficulty brought to consent to + any matter or business, + +HUMS. Persons at church. There is a great number of hums + in the autem; there is a great congregation in the church. + +HUM BOX. A pulpit. + +HUM CAP. Very old and strong beer, called also stingo. + See STINGO. + +HUM DRUM. A hum drum fellow; a dull tedious narrator, + a bore; also a set of gentlemen, who (Bailey says) used to + meet near the Charter House, or at the King's Head in St. + John's-street, who had more of pleasantry, and less of mystery, + than the free masons. + +HUM DURGEON. An imaginary illness. He has got the + humdurgeon, the thickest part of his thigh is nearest his a-se; + i.e. nothing ails him except low spirits. + +HUMBUGS. The brethren of the venerable society of humbugs + was held at brother Hallam's, in Goodman's Fields. + +HUMMER. A great lye, a rapper. See RAPPER. + +HUMMING LIQUOR. Double ale, stout pharaoh. See PHARAOH. + +HUMMUMS. A bagnio, or bathing house. + +HUM TRUM. A musical instrument made of a mopstick, a + bladder, and some packthread, thence also called a bladder + and string, and hurdy gurdy; it is played on like a violin, + which is sometimes ludicrously called a humstrum; sometimes, + instead of a bladder, a tin canister is used. + +HUMP. To hump; once a fashionable word for copulation. + +HUMPTY DUMPTY. A little humpty dumpty man or woman; + a short clumsy person of either sex: also ale boiled + with brandy. + +TO HUNCH. To jostle, or thrust. + +HUNCH-BACKED. Hump-backed. + +HUNG BEEF. A dried bull's pizzle. How the dubber + served the cull with hung beef; how the turnkey beat the + fellow with a bull's pizzle. + +HUNKS. A covetous miserable fellow, a miser; also the + name of a famous bear mentioned by Ben Jonson. + +HUNT'S DOG. He is like Hunt's dog, will neither go to + church nor stay at home. One Hunt, a labouring man at + a small town in Shropshire, kept a mastiff, who on being + shut up on Sundays, whilst his master went to church, + howled so terribly as to disturb the whole village; wherefore + his master resolved to take him to church with him: + but when he came to the church door, the dog having perhaps + formerly been whipped out by the sexton, refused to + enter; whereupon Hunt exclaimed loudly against his dog's + obstinacy, who would neither go to church nor stay at + home. This shortly became a bye-word for discontented + and whimsical persons. + +HUNTING. Drawing in unwary persons to play or game. + CANT. + +HUNTING THE SQUIRREL. An amusement practised by + postboys and stage-coachmen, which consists in following + a one-horse chaise, anddriving it before them, passing close + to it, so as to brush the wheel, and by other means terrifying + any woman or person that may be in it. A man whose + turn comes for him to drink, before he has emptied his former + glass, is said to be hunted. + +HUNTSUP. The reveillier of huntsmen, sounded on the + French horn, or other instrument. + +HURDY GURDY. A kind of fiddle, originally made perhaps + out of a gourd. See HUMSTRUM. + +HURLY BURLY. A rout, riot, bustle or confusion. + +HUSH. Hush the cull; murder the fellow. + +HUSH MONEY. Money given to hush up or conceal a robbery, theft, + or any other offence, or to take off the evidence + from appearing against a criminal. + +HUSKYLOUR. A guinea, or job. Cant. + +HUSSY. An abbreviation of housewife, but now always + used as a term of reproach; as, How now, hussy? or She + is a light hussy. + +HUZZA. Said to have been originally the cry of the huzzars + or Hungarian light horse; but now the national shout of + the English, both civil and military, in the sea phrase + termed a cheer; to give three cheers being to huzza thrice. + +HYP, or HIP. A mode of calling to one passing by. Hip, + Michael, your head's on fire; a piece of vulgar wit to a + red haired man. + +HYP. The hypochondriac: low spirits. He is hypped; he + has got the blue devils, &c. + +JABBER. To talk thick and fast, as great praters usually + do, to chatter like a magpye; also to speak a foreign + language. He jabbered to rne in his damned outlandish + parlez vous, but I could not understand him; he chattered + to me in French, or some other foreign language, but + I could not understand him. + +JACK. A farthing, a small bowl serving as the mark for + bowlers. An instrument for pulling off boots. + +JACK ADAMS. A fool. Jack Adams's parish; Clerkenwell. + +JACK AT A PINCH, A poor hackney parson. + +JACK IN A BOX, A sharper, or cheat. A child in the mother's + womb. + +JACK IN AN OFFICE, An insolent fellow in authority. + +JACK KETCH. The hangman; vide DERRICK and KETCH. + +JACK NASTY FACE. A sea term, signifying a common + sailor. + +JACK OF LEGS. A tall long-legged man; also a giant, said + to be buried in Weston church, near Baldock, in Hertfordshire, + where there are two stones fourteen feet distant, + said to be the head and feet stones of his grave. This + giant, says Salmon, as fame goes, lived in a wood here, and + was a great robber, but a generous one; for he plundered + the rich to feed the poor: he frequently took bread for + this purpose from the Baldock bakers, who catching him + at an advantage, put out his eyes, and afterwards hanged + him upon a knoll in Baldock field. At his death he made + one request, which was, that he might have his bow and + arrow put into his hand, and on shooting it off, where the + arrow fell, they would bury him; which being granted, + the arrow fell in Weston churchyard. Above seventy + years ago, a very large thigh bone was taken out of the + church chest, where it had lain many years for a show, + and was sold by the clerk to Sir John Tradescant, who, + it is said, put it among the rarities of Oxford. + +JACK PUDDING. The merry andrew, zany, or jester to a + mountebank. + +JACK ROBINSON. Before one could say Jack Robinson; a + saying to express a very short time, originating from a + very volatile gentleman of that appellation, who would call + on his neighbours, and be gone before his name could + be announced. + +JACK SPRAT. A dwarf, or diminutive fellow. + +JACK TAR. A sailor. + +JACK WEIGHT. A fat man. + +JACK WHORE. A large masculine overgrown wench. + +JACKANAPES. An ape; a pert, ugly, little fellow. + +JACKED. Spavined. A jacked horse. + +JACKMEN. See JARKMEN. + +JACKEY. Gin. + +JACOB. A soft fellow. A fool. + +JACOB. A ladder: perhaps from Jacob's dream. CANT. Also + the common name for a jay, jays being usually taught to + say, Poor Jacob! a cup of sack for Jacob. + +JACOBITES. Sham or collar shirts. Also partizans for the + Stuart family: from the name of the abdicated king, i.e. + James or Jacobus. It is said by the whigs, that God + changed Jacob's name to Israel, lest the descendants of + that patriarch should be called Jacobites. + +JADE. A term of reproach to women. + +JAGUE. A ditch: perhaps from jakes. + +JAIL BIRDS. Prisoners. + +JAKES. A house of office, a cacatorium. + +JAMMED. Hanged. CANT. + +JANIZARIES. The mob, sometimes so called; also bailiffs, + their setters, and followers. + +JAPANNED. Ordained. To be japanned; to enter into holy + orders, to become a clergyman, to put on the black cloth: + from the colour of the japan ware, which is black. + +JARK. A seal. + +JARKMEN. Those, who fabricate counterfeit passes, licences, + and certificates for beggars. + +JARVIS. A hackney coachman. + +JASON'S FLEECE. A citizen cheated of his gold. + +JAW. Speech, discourse. Give us none of your jaw; let us + have none of your discourse. A jaw-me-dead; a talkative + fellow. Jaw work; a cry used in fairs by the sellers of + nuts. + +JAZEY. A bob wig. + +IDEA POT. The knowledge box, the head. See KNOWLEDGE + BOX. + +JEFFY. It will be done in a jeffy; it will be done in a short + space of time, in an instant. + +JEHU. To drive jehu-like; to drive furiously: from a king + of Israel of that name, who was a famous charioteer, and + mentioned as such in the Bible. + +JEM. A gold ring. CANT. + +JEMMY FELLOW. A smart spruce fellow. + +JEMMY. A crow. This instrument is much used by housebreakers. +Sometimes called Jemmy Rook. + +JENNY. An instrument for lifting up the grate or top of a + show-glass, in order to rob it. CANT. + +JERRYCUMMUMBLE. To shake, towzle, or tumble about. + +JERRY SNEAK. A henpecked husband: from a celebrated + character in one of Mr. Foote's plays, representing a man + governed by his wife. + +JESSAMY. A smart jemmy fellow, a fopling. + +JESIUT. See TO BOX THE JESUIT. + +JESUITICAL. Sly, evasive, equivocal. A jesuitical answer; + an equivocal answer. + +JET. A lawyer. Autem jet; a parson. + +JEW. An over-reaching dealer, or hard, sharp fellow; an + extortioner: the brokers formerly behind St. Clement's + church in the Strand were called Jews by their brethren + the taylors. + +JEW. A tradesman who has no faith, i.e. will not give credit. + +JEW BAIL. Insufficient bail: commonly Jews, who for a + sum of money will bail any action whatsoever, and justify, + that is, swear to their sufficiency; but, when called on, are + not to be found. + +JEW'S EYE. That's worth a Jew's eye; a pleasant or agreeable + sight: a saying taken from Shakespeare. + +JIBBER THE KIBBER. A method of deceiving seamen, by + fixing a candle and lanthorn round the neck of a horse, + one of whose fore feet is tied up; this at night has the + appearance of a ship's light. Ships bearing towards it, run + on shore, and being wrecked, are plundered by the inhabitants. + This diabolical device is, it is said, practised by the + inhabitants of our western coasts. + +JIG. A trick. A pleasant jig; a witty arch trick. Also a + lock or door. The feather-bed jig; copulation. + +JIGGER. A whipping-post. CANT. + +JILT. A tricking woman, who encourages the addresses of + a man whom she means to deceive and abandon. + +JILTED. Rejected by a woman who has encouraged one's + advances. + +JINGLE BOXES. Leathern jacks tipped with silver, and + hung with bells, formerly in use among fuddle caps. + CANT. + +JINGLE BRAINS. A wild, thoughtless, rattling fellow. + +JINGLERS. Horse cosers, frequenting country fairs. + +IMPOST TAKERS. Usurers who attend the gaming-tables, + and lend money at great premiums. + +IMPUDENT STEALING. Cutting out the backs of coaches, + and robbing the seats. + +IMPURE. A modern term for a lady of easy virtue. + +INCHING. Encroaching. + +INDIES. Black Indies; Newcastle. + +INDIA WIPE. A silk handkerchief. + +INDORSER. A sodomite. To indorse with a cudgel; to drub + or beat a man over the back with a stick, to lay CANE upon + Abel. + +INEXPRESSIBLES. Breeches. + +INKLE WEAVERS. Supposed to be a very brotherly set of + people; 'as great as two inkle weavers' being a proverbial + saying. + +INLAID. Well inlaid; in easy circumstances, rich or well + to pass. + +INNOCENTS. One of the innocents; a weak or simple person, + man or woman. + +INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. The inside of a **** and the outside + of a gaol. + +JOB. A guinea. + +JOB'S COMFORT. Reproof instead of consolation. + +JOB'S COMFORTER. One who brings news of some + additional misfortune. + +JOB'S DOCK. He is laid up in Job's dock; i.e. in a salivation. + The apartments for the foul or venereal patients in St. + Bartholomew's hospital, are called Job's ward. + +JOBATION. A reproof. + +JOBBERNOLE. The head. + +TO JOB. To reprove or reprehend. CAMBRIDGE TERM. + +JOB. Any robbery. To do a job; to commit some kind of + robbery. + +JOCK, or CROWDY-HEADED JOCK. A jeering appellation for + a north country seaman, particularly a collier; Jock being + a common name, and crowdy the chief food, of the lower + order of the people in Northumberland. + +TO JOCK, or JOCKUM CLOY. To enjoy a woman. + +JOCKUM GAGE. A chamber-pot, jordan, looking-glass, or + member-mug. CANT. + +JOGG-TROT. To keep on a jogg-trot; to get on with a slow + but regular pace. + +JOHNNY BUM. A he or jack ass: so called by a lady that + affected to be extremely polite and modest, who would + not say Jack because it was vulgar, nor ass because it + was indecent. + +JOINT. To hit a joint in carving, the operator must think + of a cuckold. To put one's nose out of joint; to rival one + in the favour of a patron or mistress. + +JOLLY, or JOLLY NOB. The head. I'll lump your jolly + nob for you; I'll give you a knock on the head. + +JOLLY DOG. A merry facetious fellow; a BON VIVANT, who + never flinches from his glass, nor cries to go home to + bed. + +JOLTER HEAD. A large head; metaphorically a stupid fellow. + +JORDAIN. A great blow, or staff. I'll tip him a jordain if + I transnear; i.e. I'll give him a blow with my staff, if I + come near him. CANT. + +JORDAN. A chamber-pot. + +JORUM. A jugg, or large pitcher. + +JOSEPH. A woman's great coat. Also, a sheepish bashful + young fellow: an allusion to Joseph who fled from Potiphar's + wife. You are Josephus rex; you are jo-king, i. e. + joking. + +JOSKIN. A countryman. The dropcove maced the Joskin + of twenty quid; The ring dropper cheated the + countryman of twenty guineas. + +JOWL. The cheek. Cheek by jowl; close together, or cheek + to cheek. My eyes how the cull sucked the blowen's + jowl; he kissed the wench handsomely. + +IRISH APRICOTS. Potatoes. It is a common joke against + the Irish vessels, to say they are loaded with fruit and + timber, that is, potatoes and broomsticks. + +IRISH ASSURANCE. A bold forward behaviour: as being dipt in the + river Styx was formerly supposed to render persons invulnerable, + so it is said that a dipping in the river Shannon totally + annihilates bashfulness; whence arises the saying of an + impudent Irishman, that he has been dipt in the Shannon. + +IRISH BEAUTY. A woman with two black eyes. + +IRISH EVIDENCE. A false witness. + +IRISH LEGS. Thick legs, jocularly styled the Irish arms. + It is said of the Irish women, that they have a dispensation + from the pope to wear the thick end of their legs downwards. + +IRISH TOYLES. Thieves who carry about pins, laces, and + other pedlars wares, and under the pretence of offering + their goods to sale, rob houses, or pilfer any thing they + can lay hold of. + +IRON. Money in general. To polish the king's iron with + one's eyebrows; to look out of grated or prison windows, + or, as the Irishman expresses them, the iron glass + windows. Iron doublet; a prison. See STONE DOUBLET. + +IRONMONGER'S SHOP. To keep an ironmonger's shop by + the side of a common, where the sheriff sets one up; to be + hanged in chains. Iron-bound; laced. An iron-bound + hat; a silver-laced hat. + +ISLAND. He drank out of the bottle till he saw the island; + the island is the rising bottom of a wine bottle, which + appears like an island in the centre, before the bottle is + quite empty. + +IVORIES. Teeth. How the swell flashed his ivories; how + the gentleman shewed his teeth. + +ITCHLAND, or SCRATCHLAND. Scotland. + +JUG. See DOUBLE JUG. + +JUGGLER'S BOX. The engine for burning culprits in the + hand. CANT. + +JUKRUM. A licence. + +JUMBLEGUT LANE. A rough road or lane. + +JUMP. The jump, or dining-room jump; a species of robbery + effected by ascending a ladder placed by a sham lamp- + lighter, against the house intended to be robbed. It is so + called, because, should the lamp-lighter be put to flight, + the thief who ascended the ladder has no means of escaping + but that of jumping down. + +JUMPERS. Persons who rob houses by getting in at the windows. + Also a set of Methodists established in South + Wales. + +JUNIPER LECTURE. A round scolding bout. + +JURY LEG. A wooden leg: allusion to a jury mast, which + is a temporary substitute for a mast carried away by a + storm, or any other accident. SEA PHRASE. + +JURY MAST. A JOURNIERE mast; i.e. a mast for the day or + occasion. + +JUST-ASS. A punning appellation for a justice. + +IVY BUSH. Like an owl in an ivy bush; a simile for a + meagre or weasel-faced man, with a large wig, or very + bushy hair. + +KATE. A picklock. 'Tis a rum kate; it is a clever picklock. + CANT. + +KEEL BULLIES. Men employed to load and unload the coal + vessels. + +KEELHAULING. A punishment in use among the Dutch + seamen, in which, for certain offences, the delinquent is + drawn once, or oftener, under the ship's keel: ludicrously + defined, undergoing a great hard-ship. + +TO KEEP. To inhabit. Lord, where do you keep? i.e. + where are your rooms? ACADEMICAL PHRASE. Mother, your + tit won't keep; your daughter will not preserve her virginity. + +TO KEEP IT UP. To prolong a debauch. We kept it up + finely last night; metaphor drawn from the game of shuttle- + cock. + +KEEPING CULLY. One who keeps a mistress, as he supposes, + for his own use, but really for that of the public. + +KEFFEL. A horse. WELSH. + +KELTER. Condition, order. Out of kelter; out of order. + +KELTER. Money. + +KEMP'S MORRIS. William Kemp, said to have been the original + Dogberry in Much ado about Nothing, danced a morris + from London to Norwich in nine days: of which he + printed the account, A. D. 1600, intitled, Kemp's Nine + Days Wonder, &c. + +KEMP'S SHOES. Would I had Kemp's shoes to throw after + you. BEN JONSON. Perhaps Kemp was a man remarkable + for his good luck or fortune; throwing an old shoe, or shoes, + after any one going on an important business, being by the + vulgar deemed lucky. + +KEN. A house. A bob ken, or a bowman ken; a well-furnished + house, also a house that harbours thieves. Biting + the ken; robbing the house. CANT. + +KEN MILLER, or KEN CRACKER. A housebreaker. CANT. + +KENT-STREET EJECTMENT. To take away the street door: + a method practised by the landlords in Kent-street, Southwark, + when their tenants are above a fortnight's rent in + arrear. + +KERRY SECURITY. Bond, pledge, oath, and keep the + money. + +KETCH. Jack Ketch; a general name for the finishers of the + law, or hangmen, ever since the year 1682, when the office + was filled by a famous practitioner of that name, of whom + his wife said, that any bungler might put a man to death, + but only her husband knew how to make a gentleman die + sweetly. This officer is mentioned in Butler's Ghost, page + 54, published about the year 1682, in the following lines: + + Till Ketch observing he was chous'd, + And in his profits much abus'd. + In open hall the tribute dunn'd, + To do his office, or refund. + + Mr. Ketch had not long been elevated to his office, for the + name of his predecessor Dun occurs in the former part of + this poem, page 29: + + For you yourself to act squire Dun, + Such ignominy ne'er saw the sun. + + The addition of 'squire,' with which Mr. Dun is here + dignified, is a mark that he had beheaded some state criminal + for high treason; an operation which, according to custom + for time out of mind, has always entitled the operator to + that distinction. The predecessor of Dun was Gregory + Brandon, from whom the gallows was called the Gregorian + tree, by which name it is mentioned in the prologue to + Mercurius Pragmaticus, tragi-comedy acted at Paris, &c. + 1641: + + This trembles under the black rod, and he + Doth fear his fate from the Gregorian tree. + + Gregory Brandon succeeded Derrick. See DERRICK. + +KETTLEDRUMS. Cupid's kettle drums; a woman's breasts, + called by sailors chest and bedding. + +KETTLE OF FISH. When a person has perplexed his affairs + in general, or any particular business, he is said to have + made a fine kettle of fish of it. + +KICKS. Breeches. A high kick; the top of the fashion. It + is all the kick; it is the present mode. Tip us your kicks, + we'll have them as well as your lour; pull off your breeches, + for we must have them as well as your money. A kick; + sixpence. Two and a kick; half-a-crown. A kick in the + guts; a dram of gin, or any other spirituous liquor. A + kick up; a disturbance, also a hop or dance. An odd kick + in one's gallop; a strange whim or peculiarity. + +To KICK THE BUCKET. To die. He kicked the bucket + one day: he died one day. To kick the clouds before the + hotel door; i.e. to be hanged. + +KICKERAPOO. Dead. NEGRO WORD. + +KICKSEYS. Breeches. + +KICKSHAWS. French dishes: corruption of quelque chose. + +KID. A little dapper fellow. A child. The blowen has + napped the kid. The girl is with child. + +TO KID. To coax or wheedle. To inveigle. To amuse a + man or divert his attention while another robs him. The + sneaksman kidded the cove of the ken, while his pall + frisked the panney; the thief amused the master of the house, + while his companion robbed the house. + +KID LAY. Rogues who make it their business to defraud + young apprentices, or errand-boys, of goods committed to + their charge, by prevailing on them to execute some trifling + message, pretending to take care of their parcels till they + come back; these are, in cant terms, said to be on the + kid lay. + +KIDDER. A forestaller: see CROCKER. Kidders are also + persons employed by the gardeners to gather peas. + +KIDDEYS. Young thieves. + +KIDDY NIPPERS. Taylors out of work, who cut off the + waistcoat pockets of their brethren, when cross-legged on + their board, thereby grabbling their bit. CANT. + +KIDNAPPER. Originally one who stole or decoyed children + or apprentices from their parents or masters, to send + them to the colonies; called also spiriting: but now used + for all recruiting crimps for the king's troops, or those of + the East India company, and agents for indenting servants + for the plantations, &c. + +KIDNEY. Disposition, principles, humour. Of a strange + kidney; of an odd or unaccountable humour. A man of + a different kidney; a man of different principles. + +KILKENNY. An old frize coat. + +KILL CARE CLUB. The members of this club, styled also + the Sons of Sound Sense and Satisfaction, met at their + fortress, the Castle-tavern, in Paternoster-row. + +KILL DEVIL. New still-burnt rum. + +KILL PRIEST. Port wine. + +To KIMBAW. To trick, cheat or cozen; also to beat or to + bully. Let's kimbaw the cull; let's bully the fellow. + To set one's arms a-kimbaw, vulgarly pronounced a-kimbo, + is to rest one's hands on the hips, keeping the elbows + square, and sticking out from the body; an insolent + bullying attitude. CANT. + +KINCHIN. A little child. Kinchin coes; orphan beggar + boys, educated in thieving. Kinchin morts; young girls + under the like circumstances and training. Kinchin + morts, or coes in slates; beggars' children carried at their + mother's backs in sheets. Kinchin cove; a little man. CANT. + +KING'S PLATE. Fetters. + +KING'S WOOD LION. An Ass. Kingswood is famous for + the great number of asses kept by the colliers who inhabit + that place. + +KING'S BAD BARGAIN. One of the king's bad bargains; a + malingeror, or soldier who shirks his duty. + +KING'S HEAD INN, or CHEQUER INN, IN NEWGATE + STREET. The prison of Newgate. + +KING JOHN'S MEN. He is one of king John's men, eight + score to the hundred: a saying of a little undersized man. + +KING OF THE GYPSIES. The captain, chief, or ringleader + of the gang of misrule: in the cant language called also the + upright man. + +KING'S PICTURES. Coin, money. + +KINGDOM COME. He is gone to kingdom come, he is dead. + +KIP. The skin of a large calf, in the language of the + Excise-office. + +KISS MINE A-SE. An offer, as Fielding observes, very + frequently made, but never, as he could learn, literally + accepted. A kiss mine a-se fellow; a sycophant. + +KISSING CRUST. That part where the loaves have touched + the oven. + +KIT. A dancing-master, so called from his kit or cittern, a + small fiddle, which dancing-masters always carry about + with them, to play to their scholars. The kit is likewise + the whole of a soldier's necessaries, the contents of his + knapsack: and is used also to express the whole of different + commodities: as, Here, take the whole kit; i.e. take + all. + +KIT-CAT CLUB. A society of gentlemen, eminent for wit + and learning, who in the reign of queen Anne and George + I. met at a house kept by one Christopher Cat. The + portraits of most of the members of this society were painted + by Sir Godfrey Kneller, of one size; thence still called the + kit-cat size. + +KITCHEN PHYSIC. Food, good meat roasted or boiled. A + little kitchen physic will set him up; he has more need of + a cook than a doctor. + +KITTLE PITCHERING. A jocular method of hobbling or + bothering a troublesome teller of long stories: this is done + by contradicting some very immaterial circumstance at + the beginning of the narration, the objections to which + being settled, others are immediately started to some new + particular of like consequence; thus impeding, or rather + not suffering him to enter into, the main story. Kittle + pitchering is often practised in confederacy, one relieving + the other, by which the design is rendered less obvious. + +KITTYS. Effects, furniture; stock in trade. To seize one's + kittys; to take his sticks. + +KNACK SHOP. A toy-shop, a nick-nack-atory. + +KNAPPERS POLL. A sheep's head. CANT. + +KNAVE IN GRAIN. A knave of the first rate: a phrase + borrowed from the dyehouse, where certain colours are said to + be in grain, to denote their superiority, as being dyed with + cochineal, called grain. Knave in grain is likewise a pun + applied to a cornfactor or miller. + +KNIGHT OF THE BLADE. A bully. + +KNIGHT OF THE POST. A false evidence, one that is ready + to swear any thing for hire. + +KNIGHT OF THE RAINBOW. A footman: from the variety + of colours in the liveries and trimming of gentlemen of + that cloth. + +KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. A highwayman. + +KNIGHT OF THE SHEERS. A taylor. + +KNIGHT OF THE THIMBLE, or NEEDLE. A taylor or stay-maker. + +KNIGHT OF THE WHIP. A coachman. + +KNIGHT OF THE TRENCHER. A great eater. + +KNIGHT AND BARROW PIG, more hog than gentleman. A + saying of any low pretender to precedency. + +KNOB. The head. See NOB. + +KNOCK. To knock a woman; to have carnal knowledge of + her. To knock off; to conclude: phrase borrowed from + the blacksmith. To knock under; to submit. + +KNOCK ME DOWN. Strong ale or beer, stingo. + +KNOT. A crew, gang, or fraternity. He has tied a knot + with his tongue, that he cannot untie with his teeth: i.e. + he is married. + +KNOWING ONES. Sportsmen on the turf, who from + experience and an acquaintance with the jockies, are supposed + to be in the secret, that is, to know the true merits or + powers of each horse; notwithstanding which it often happens + that the knowing ones are taken in. + +KNOWLEDGE BOX. The head. + +KNUCKLES. Pickpockets who attend the avenues to public + places to steal pocket-books, watches, &c. a superior kind + of pickpockets. To knuckle to, to submit. + +TO KNUCKLE ONE'S WIPE. To steal his handkerchief. + +KNUCKLE-DABS, or KNUCKLE-CONFOUNDERS. Ruffles. + +KONOBLIN RIG. Stealing large pieces of coal from coalsheds. + +LACED MUTTON. A prostitute. + +LACING. Beating. I'll lace your jacket handsomely. + +LADDER. To go up the ladder to rest; to be hanged. + +LADY. A crooked or hump-backed woman. + +LADY OF EASY VIRTUE. A woman of the town, an impure, + a prostitute. + +LADYBIRDS. Light or lewd women. + +LADY DACRE'S WINE. Gin. + +LAG. A man transported. The cove was lagged for a drag. + The man was transported for stealing something out of a + waggon. + +LAG FEVER. A term of ridicule applied to men who being + under sentence of transportation, pretend illness, to avoid + being sent from gaol to the hulks. + +TO LAG. To drop behind, to keep back. Lag last; the + last of a company. + +LAGE. Water. CANT. + +LAGE OF DUDS. A buck of linen. + +LAID ON THE SHELF, or LAID UP IN LAVENDER. Pawned. + +To LAMB, or LAMBASTE. To beat. Lamb pye; a beating: + from lambo. + +LAMB'S WOOL. Apples roasted and put into strong ale. + +LAMBSKIN MEN. The judges: from their robes lined and + bordered with ermine. + +LAMP. An eye. The cove has a queer lamp. The man + has a blind or squinting eye. + +LAND. How lies the land? How stands the reckoning? + Who has any land in Appleby? a question asked the man + at whose door the glass stands long, or who does not + ciculate it in due time. + +LAND LOPERS, or LAND LUBBERS. Vagabonds lurking + about the country who subsist by pilfering. + +LAND PIRATES. Highwaymen. + +LANK SLEEVE. The empty sleeve of a one armed man. + A fellow with a lank sleeve; a man who has lost an arm. + +LANSPRISADO. One who has only two-pence in his pocket. + Also a lance, or deputy corporal; that is, one doing the + duty without the pay of a corporal. Formerly a lancier, or + horseman, who being dismounted by the death of his + horse, served in the foot, by the title of lansprisado, or + lancepesato, a broken lance. + +LANTHORN-JAWED. Thin-visaged: from their cheeksbeing almost + transparent. Or else, lenten jawed; i.e. having + the jaws of one emaciated by a too rigid observation of + Lent. Dark lanthorn; a servant or agent at court, who + receives a bribe for his principal or master. + +LAP. Butter-milk or whey. CANT. + +LARK. A boat. + +LARK. A piece of merriment. People playing together jocosely. + +LARRY DUGAN'S EYE WATER. Blacking: Larry Dugan + was a famous shoe-black at Dublin. + +LATCH. Let in. + +LATHY. Thin, slender. A lathy wench; a girl almost as + slender as a lath. + +LATITAT. A nick-name for an attorney; from the name of + a writ. + +LAVENDER. Laid up in lavender; pawned. + +LAUGH. To laugh on the wrong side of the mouth; to cry. + I'll make him laugh on the wrong (or t'other) side of his + mouth. + +LAUNCH. The delivery, or labour, of a pregnant woman; + a crying out or groaning. + +LAW. To give law to a hare; a sporting term, signifying to + give the animal a chance of escaping, by not setting on + the dogs till the hare is at some distance; it is also more + figuratively used for giving any one a chance of succeeding + in a scheme or project. + +LAWFUL BLANKET. A wife. + +LAY. Enterprize, pursuit, or attempt: to be sick of the + lay. It also means a hazard or chance: he stands a queer + lay; i.e. he is in danger. CANT. + +LAYSTALL. A dunghill about London, on which the soil + brought from necessary houses is emptied; or, in more + technical terms, where the old gold collected at weddings + by the Tom t--d man, is stored. + +LAZY. As lazy as Ludman's dog, who leaned against the + wall to bark. As lazy as the tinker, who laid down his + budget to f--t. + +LAZY MAN'S LOAD. Lazy people frequently take up more + than they can safely carry, to save the trouble of coming + a second time. + +LAZYBONES. An instrument like a pair of tongs, for old or + very fat people to take any thing from the ground without + stooping. + +LEAF. To go off with the fall of the leaf; to be hanged: + criminals in Dublin being turned off from the outside of + the prison by the falling of a board, propped up, and moving + on a hinge, like the leaf of a table. IRISH TERM. + +TO LEAK. To make water. + +LEAKY. Apt to blab; one who cannot keep a secret is said + to be leaky. + +LEAPING OVER THE SWORD. An ancient ceremonial said to + constitute a military marriage. A sword being laid down + on the ground, the parties to be married joined hands, + when the corporal or serjeant of the, company repeated + these words: + + Leap rogue, and jump whore, + And then you are married for evermore. + + Whereupon the happy couple jumped hand in hand over + the sword, the drum beating a ruffle; and the parties were + ever after considered as man and wife. + +LEAST IN SIGHT. To play least in sight; to hide, keep + out of the way, or make one's self scarce. + +LEATHER. To lose leather; to be galled with riding on + horseback, or, as the Scotch express it, to be saddle sick. + To leather also meant to beat, perhaps originally with a + strap: I'll leather you to your heart's content. Leather- + headed; stupid. Leathern conveniency; term used by + quakers for a stage-coach. + +LEERY. On one's guard. See PEERY. + +LEFT-HANDED WIFE. A concubine; an allusion to an + ancient German custom, according to which, when a man + married his concubine, or a woman greatly his inferior, + he gave her his left hand. + +LEG. To make a leg; to bow. To give leg-bail and land + security; to run away. To fight at the leg; to take + unfair advantages: it being held unfair by back-sword + players to strike at the leg. To break a leg; a woman who has + had a bastard, is said to have broken a leg. + +LEGGERS. Sham leggers; cheats who pretend to sell smuggled + goods, but in reality only deal in old shop-keepers or + damaged goods. + +LENTEN FARE. Spare diet. + +LETCH. A whim of the amorous kind, out of the common + way. + +LEVITE. A priest or parson. + +TO LIB. To lie together. CANT. + +LIBBEGE. A bed. CANT. + +LIBBEN. A private dwelling-house. CANT. + +LIBKEN. A house to lie in. CANT. + +TO LICK. To beat; also to wash, or to paint slightly over. + I'll give you a good lick o' the chops; I'll give you a good + stroke or blow on the face. Jack tumbled into a cow + t--d, and nastied his best clothes, for which his father stept + up, and licked him neatly.--I'll lick you! the dovetail to + which is, If you lick me all over, you won't miss--. + +LICKSPITTLE. A parasite, or talebearer. + +LIFT. To give one a lift; to assist. A good hand at a + dead lift; a good hand upon an emergency. To lift + one's hand to one's head; to drink to excess, or to drink + drams. To lift or raise one's elbow; the same. + +LIFT. See SHOPLIFTER, &c. + +LIFTER. A crutch. + +LIG. A bed. See LIB. + +LIGHT BOB. A soldier of the light infantry company. + +LIGHT-FINGERED. Thievish, apt to pilfer. + +LIGHT-HEELED. Swift in running. A light-heeled wench; + one who is apt, by the flying up of her heels, to fall flat on + her back, a willing wench. + +LIGHT HOUSE. A man with a red fiery nose. + +LIGHT TROOPS. Lice; the light troops are in full march; + the lice are crawling about. + +LTGHTMANS. The day. CANT. + +LIGHTNING. Gin. A flash of lightning; a glass of gin. + +LIKENESS. A phrase used by thieves when the officers + or turnkeys are examining their countenance. As the + traps are taking our likeness; the officers are attentively + observing us. + +LILIPUTIAN. A diminutive man or woman: from Gulliver's + Travels, written by Dean Swift, where an imaginary + kingdom of dwarfs of that name is described. + +LILY WHITE. A chimney-sweeper. + +LILY SHALLOW. (WHIP SLANG) A white driving hat. + +LIMBS. Duke of limbs; a tall awkward fellow. + +LIMB OF THE LAW. An inferior or pettyfogging attorney. + +LIMBO. A prison, confinement. + +To LINE. A term for the act of coition between dog and + bitch. + +LINE OF THE OLD AUTHOR. A dram of brandy. + +LINE. To get a man into a line, i.e. to divert his attention + by a ridiculous or absurd story. To humbug. + +LINGO. Language. An outlandish lingo; a foreign tongue. + The parlezvous lingo; the French language. + +LINEN ARMOURERS. Taylors. + +LION. To tip the lion; to squeeze the nose of the party + tipped, flat to his face with the thumb. To shew the + lions and tombs; to point out the particular curiosities of + any place, to act the ciceroni: an allusion to Westminster + Abbey, and the Tower, where the tombs and lions are + shewn. A lion is also a name given by the gownsmen of + Oxford to an inhabitant or visitor. It is a standing joke + among the city wits to send boys and country folks, on + the first of April, to the Tower-ditch, to see the lions + washed. + +LIQUOR. To liquor one's boots; to drink before a journey: + among Roman Catholics, to administer the extreme unction. + +LITTLE BARBARY. Wapping. + +LITTLE BREECHES. A familiar appellation used to a little + boy. + +LITTLE CLERGYMAN. A young chimney-sweeper. + +LITTLE EASE. A small dark cell in Guildhall, London, + where disorderly apprentices are confined by the city + chamberlain: it is called Little Ease from its being so low + that a lad cannot stand upright in it. + +LITTLE SNAKESMAN. A little boy who gets into a house + through the sink-hole, and then opens the door for his + accomplices: he is so called, from writhing and twisting + like a snake, in order to work himself through the narrow + passage. + +LIVE LUMBER. A term used by sailors, to signify all landsmen + on board their ships. + +LIVE STOCK. Lice or fleas. + +LOAF. To be in bad loaf, to be in a disagreeable situation, + or in trouble. + +LOB. A till in a tradesman's shop. To frisk a lob; to rob + a till. See FLASH PANNEY. + +LOB. Going on the lob; going into a shop to get change + for gold, and secreting some of the change. + +LOB'S POUND. A prison. Dr. Grey, in his notes on Hudibras, + explains it to allude to one Doctor Lob, a dissenting + preacher, who used to hold forth when conventicles were + prohibited, and had made himself a retreat by means of a + trap door at the bottom of his pulpit. Once being pursued + by the officers of justice, they followed him through + divers subterraneous passages, till they got into a dark + cell, from whence they could not find their way out, but + calling to some of their companions, swore they had got + into Lob's Pound. + +LOBCOCK. A large relaxed penis: also a dull inanimate + fellow. + +LOBKIN. A house to lie in: also a lodging. + +LOBLOLLEY BOY. A nick name for the surgeon's servant + on board a man of war, sometimes for the surgeon himself: + from the water gruel prescribed to the sick, which is + called loblolley. + +LOBONIAN SOCIETY. A society which met at Lob Hall, at + the King and Queen, Norton Falgate, by order of Lob the + great. + +LOBSCOUSE. A dish much eaten at sea, composed of salt + beef, biscuit and onions, well peppered, and stewed + together. + +LOBSTER. A nick name for a soldier, from the colour of his + clothes. To boil one's lobster, for a churchman to + become a soldier: lobsters, which are of a bluish black, + being made red by boiling. I will not make a lobster + kettle of my ****, a reply frequently made by the nymphs + of the Point at Portsmouth, when requested by a soldier + to grant him a favour. + +LOCK. A scheme, a mode. I must fight that lock; I must + try that scheme. + +LOCK. Character. He stood a queer lock; he bore but an + indifferent character. A lock is also a buyer of stolen + goods, as well as the receptacle for them. + +LOCK HOSPITAL. An hospital for venereal patients. + +LOCK UP HOUSE. A spunging house; a public house kept + by sheriff's officers, to which they convey the persons they + have arrested, where they practise every species of + imposition and extortion with impunity. Also houses kept + by agents or crimps, who enlist, or rather trepan, men to + serve the East India or African company as soldiers. + +LOCKERAM-JAWED. Thin-faced, or lanthorn-jawed. See + LANTHORN JAWED. + +LOCKSMITH'S DAUGHTER. A key. + +LOGGERHEAD. A blockhead, or stupid fellow. We three + loggerheads be: a sentence frequently written under two + heads, and the reader by repeating it makes himself the + third. A loggerhead is also a double-headed, or bar shot + of iron. To go to loggerheads; to fall to fighting. + +LOLL. Mother's loll; a favourite child, the mother's darling, + +LOLL TONGUE. He has been playing a game at loll tongue; + he has been salivated. + +LOLLIPOPS. Sweet lozenges purchased by children. + +TO LOLLOP. To lean with one's elbows on a table. + +LOLLPOOP. A lazy, idle drone. + +LOMBARD FEVER. Sick of the lombard fever; i.e. of the + idles. + +LONG ONE. A hare; a term used by poachers. + +LONG. Great. A long price; a great price. + +LONG GALLERY. Throwing, or rather trundling, the dice + the whole length of the board. + +LONG MEG. A jeering name for a very tall woman: from + one famous in story, called Long Meg of Westminster. + +LONG SHANKS. A long-legged person. + +LONG STOMACH. A voracious appetite. + +LONG TONGUED. Loquacious, not able to keep a secret. + He is as long-tongued as Granny: Granny was an idiot + who could lick her own eye. See GRANNY. + +LONG-WINDED. A long-winded parson; one who preached + long, tedious sermons. A long-winded paymaster; one + who takes long credit. + +LOO. For the good of the loo; for the benefit of the company + or community. + +LOOBY. An awkward, ignorant fellow. + +LOOKING AS IF ONE COULD NOT HELP IT. Looking like a + simpleton, or as if one could not say boh! to a goose. + +LOOKING-GLASS. A chamber pot, jordan, or member mug. + +LOON, or LOUT. A country bumkin, or clown. + +LOONSLATE. Thirteen pence halfpenny. + +LOOPHOLE. An opening, or means of escape. To find a + loophole in an act of parliament; i.e. a method of + evading it, + +LOP-SIDED. Uneven, having one side larger or heavier than + the other: boys' paper kites are often said to be lop-sided. + +TO LOPE. To leap, to run away. He loped down the dancers; + he ran down stairs. + +LORD. A crooked or hump-backed man. These unhappy + people afford great scope for vulgar raillery; such as, 'Did + you come straight from home? if so, you have got confoundedly + bent by the way.' 'Don't abuse the gemman,' + adds a by-stander, 'he has been grossly insulted already; + don't you see his back's up?' Or someone asks him if the + show is behind; 'because I see,' adds he, 'you have the + drum at your back.' Another piece of vulgar wit is let + loose on a deformed person: If met by a party of soldiers + on their march, one of them observes that that gentleman + is on his march too, for he has got his knapsack at his back. + It is said in the British Apollo, that the title of lord was + first given to deformed persons in the reign of Richard III. + from several persons labouring under that misfortune being + created peers by him; but it is more probably derived + from the Greek word [GREEK: lordos], crooked. + +LOUSE. A gentleman's companion. He will never louse a + grey head of his own; he will never live to be old. + +LOVE BEGOTTEN CHILD. A bastard. + +LOUNGE. A loitering place, or gossiping shop. + +LOUSE BAG. A black bag worn to the hair or wig. + +LOUSE HOUSE. The round house, cage, or any other place +of confinement. + +LOUSE LADDER. A stitch fallen in a stocking. + +LOUSE LAND. Scotland. + +LOUSE TRAP. A small toothed comb. + +LOUT. A clumsy stupid fellow. + +LOWING RIG. Stealing oxen or cows. + +LOW PAD. A footpad. + +LOW TIDE, or LOW WATER. When there is no money in + a man's pocket. + +LOWRE. Money. Cant. + +LUBBER. An awkward fellow: a name given by sailors to + landsmen. + +LUCK, or GOOD LUCK. To tread in a surreverence, to be + bewrayed: an allusion to the proverb, Sh-tt-n luck is good + luck. + +LUD'S BULWARK. Ludgate prison. + +LUGS. Ears or wattles. See WATTLES. + +LULLABY CHEAT. An infant. Cant. + +LULLIES. Wet linen. Cant. + +LULLY TRIGGERS. Thieves who steal wet linen. Cant. + +LUMB. Too much. + +LUMBER. Live lumber; soldiers or passengers on board a + ship are so called by the sailors. + +LUMBER TROOP. A club or society of citizens of London. + +LUMBER HOUSE. A house appropriated by thieves for the + reception of their stolen property. + +To LUMP. To beat; also to include a number of articles + under one head. + +To LUMP THE LIGHTER. To be transported. + +LUMPERS. Persons who contract to unload ships; also + thieves who lurk about wharfs to pilfer goods from ships, + lighters, &c. + +LUMPING. Great. A lumping penny worth; a great quantity + for the money, a bargain. He has'got a lumping penny-worth; + frequently said of a man who marries a fat woman. + +LUN. Harlequin. + +LURCH. To be left in the lurch; to be abandoned by one's + confederates or party, to be left in a scrape. + +LURCHED. Those who lose a game of whist, without scoring five, + are said to be lurched. + +LURCHER. A lurcher of the law; a bum bailiff, or his setter. + +LURRIES. Money, watches, rings, or other moveablcs. + +LUSH. Strong beer. + +TO LUSH. To drink. + +LUSHEY. Drunk. The rolling kiddeys hud a spree, and got + bloody lushey; the dashing lads went on a party of pleasure, + and got very drunk. + +LYE. Chamber lye; urine. + +MACCARONI. An Italian paste made of flour and eggs. + Also a fop: which name arose from a club, called the + Maccaroni Club, instituted by some of the most dressy + travelled gentlemen about town, who led the fashions; whence + a man foppishly dressed, was supposed a member of that + club, and by contraction styled a Maccaroni. + +MACE COVE. A swindler, a sharper, a cheat. On the + mace; to live by swindling. + +MACHINES. Mrs. Phillips's ware. See CUNDUM. + +MACKEREL. A bawd: from the French maquerel. Mackerel- + backed; long-backed. + +MAD TOM, or TOM OF BEDLAM, otherwise an Abram + Man. A rogue that counterfeits madness. CANT. + +MADAM. A kept madam; a kept mistress. + +MADAM RAN. A whore. CANT. + +MADE. Stolen. CANT. + +MADGE. The private parts of a woman. + +MADGE CULLS. Sodomites. CANT. + +MAGG. A halfpenny. + +MAGGOT BOILER. A tallow-chandler. + +MAGGOTTY. Whimsical, capricious. + +MAGNUM BONUM. A bottle containing two quarts of wine. + See SCOTCH PINT. + +MAHOMETAN GRUEL. Coffee: because formerly used + chiefly by the Turks. + +MAIDEN SESSIONS. A sessions where none of the prisoners + are capitally convicted. + +MAKE. A halfpenny. CANT. + +MAKE WEIGHT. A small candle: a term applied to a little + slender man. + +MALINGEROR. A military term for one who, under pretence + of sickness, evades his duty. + +MALKIN, or MAULKIN. A general name for a cat; also a + parcel of rags fastened to the end of a stick, to clean an + oven; also a figure set up in a garden to scare the birds; + likewise an awkward woman. The cove's so scaly, he'd + spice a malkin of his jazey: the fellow is so mean, that he + would rob a scare-crow of his old wig. + +MALKINTRASH. One in a dismal garb. + +MALMSEY NOSE. A red pimpled snout, rich in carbuncles + and rubies. + +MAN OF THE TOWN. A rake, a debauchee. + +MAN OF THE TURF. A horse racer, or jockey. + +MANOEUVRING THE APOSTLES. Robbing Peter to pay + Paul, i.e. borrowing of one man to pay another. + +MAN TRAP. A woman's commodity. + +MAN OF THE WORLD. A knowing man. + +MAN, (CAMBRIDGE.) Any undergraduate from fifteen to thirty. + As a man of Emanuel--a young member of Emanuel. + +MANUFACTURE. Liquors prepared from materials of English + growth. + +MARE'S NEST. He has found a mare's nest, and is laughing + at the eggs; said of one who laughs without any + apparent cause. + +MARGERY PRATER. A hen. CANT. + +MARINE OFFICER. An empty bottle: marine officers being + held useless by the seamen. SEA WIT. + +MARPLOT. A spoil sport. + +MARRIAGE MUSIC. The squalling and crying of children. + +MARRIED. Persons chained or handcuffed together, in order + to be conveyed to gaol, or on board the lighters for + transportation, are in the cant language said to be married + together. + +MARROWBONES. The knees. To bring any one down on + his marrow bones; to make him beg pardon on his knees: + some derive this from Mary's bones, i.e. the bones bent in + honour of the Virgin Mary; but this seems rather far- + fetched. Marrow bones and cleavers; principal instruments + in the band of rough music: these are generally + performed on by butchers, on marriages, elections, riding + skimmington, and other public or joyous occasions. + +MARTINET. A military term for a strict disciplinarian: + from the name of a French general, famous for restoring + military discipline to the French army. He first disciplined + the French infantry, and regulated their method of + encampment: he was killed at the siege of Doesbourg in the + year 1672. + +MASON'S MAUND. A sham sore above the elbow, to counterfeit + a broken arm by a fall from a scaffold. + +MASTER OF THE MINT. A gardener. + +MASTER OF THE ROLLS. A baker. + +MASTER OF THE WARDROBE. One who pawns his clothes + to purchase liquor. + +MATRIMONIAL PEACE-MAKER. The sugar-stick, or + arbor vitae. + +MAUDLIN DRUNK. Crying drunk: perhaps from Mary + Magdalene, called Maudlin, who is always painted in + tears. + +MAULED. Extremely drunk, or soundly beaten. + +MAUNDERING BROTH. Scolding. + +MAUNDING. Asking or begging. CANT: + +MAWKES. A vulgar slattern. + +MAWLEY. A hand. Tip us your mawley; shake hands. + with me. Fam the mawley; shake hands. + +MAW-WALLOP. A filthy composition, sufficient to provoke + vomiting. + +MAX. Gin. + +MAY BEES. May bees don't fly all the year long; an answer + to any one who prefaces a proposition with, It may be. + +MEALY-MOUTHED. Over-modest or backward in speech. + +MEDLAR. A fruit, vulgarly called an open a-se; of which + it is more truly than delicately said, that it is never ripe + till it is as rotten as a t--d, and then it is not worth a + f--t. + +MELLOW. Almost drunk. + +MELTING MOMENTS. A fat man and woman in the amorous congress. + +TO MELT. To spend. Will you melt a borde? will you + spend a shilling? The cull melted a couple of decusses + upon us; the gentleman spent a couple of crowns upon us. + CANT. + +MEMBER MUG. A chamber pot. + +MEN OF STRAW. Hired bail, so called from having straw + stuck in their shoes to distinguish them. + +MEN OF KENT. Men born east of the river Medway, who + are said to have met the Conqueror in a body, each carrying + a green bough in his hand, the whole appearing like + a moving wood; and thereby obtaining a confirmation of + their ancient privileges. The inhabitants of Kent are divided + into Kentish men and men of Kent. Also a society held + at the Fountain Tavern, Bartholomew Lane, A.D. 1743. + +MERKIN. Counterfeit hair for women's privy parts. See + BAILEY'S DICT. + +MERRY ANDREW, or MR. MERRYMAN. The jack pudding, + jester, or zany of a mountebank, usually dressed in a + party-coloured coat. + +MERRY A-SE CHRISTIAN. A whore. + +MERRY-BEGOTTEN. A bastard. + +MAN OF THE WORLD. A knowing man. + +MESS JOHN. A Scotch presbyterian teacher or parson. + +MESSMATE. One who eats at the same mess, companion or + comrade. + +METTLE. The semen. To fetch mettle; the act of self pollution. + Mettle is also figuratively used for courage. + +METTLESOME. Bold, courageous. + +MICHAEL. Hip, Michael, your head's on fire. See HYP. + +MIDSHIPMAN'S WATCH AND CHAIN. A sheep's heart and + pluck. + +MILCH COW. One who is easily tricked out of his property; + a term used by gaolers, for prisoners who have money and + bleed freely. + +MILK AND WATER. Both ends of the busk. + +TO MILK THE PIGEON. To endeavour at impossibilities. + +MILLING COVE. A boxer. How the milling cove served + the cull out; how the boxer beat the fellow. + +MILL. A chisel. + +To MILL. To rob; also to break, beat out, or kill. I'll + mill your glaze; I'll beat out your eye. To mill a bleating + cheat; to kill a sheep. To mill a ken; to rob a house. + To mill doll; to beat hemp in bridewell. CANT. + +MILL LAY. To force open the doors of houses in order to + rob them. + +MILLER. A murderer. + +MINE A-SE ON A BANDBOX. An answer to the offer of any + thing inadequate to the purpose for which it is wanted, just + as a bandbox would be if used for a seat. + +MINE UNCLE'S. A pawnbroker's shop; also a necessary + house. Carried to my uncle's; pawned. New-married + men are also said to go to their uncle's, when they leave + their wives soon after the honey moon. + +MINIKIN. A little man or woman: also the smallest sort + of pin. + +MINOR CLERGY. Young chimney sweepers. + +MINT. Gold. A mint of money; common phrase for a + large sum. + +MISCHIEF. A man loaded with mischief, i.e. a man with + his wife on his back. + +MISH. A shirt, smock, or sheet. CANT. + +MISH TOPPER. A coat, or petticoat. + +MISS. A miss or kept mistress; a harlot. + +MISS LAYCOCK. The monosyllable. + +MITE. A nick name for a cheesemonger: from the small + insect of that name found in cheese. + +MIX METAL. A silversmith. + +MOABITES. Bailiffs, or Philistines. + +MOB; or MAB. A wench, or harlot. + +MOBILITY. The mob: a sort of opposite to nobility. + +MOHAIR. A man in the civil line, a townsman, or tradesman: + a military term, from the mohair buttons worn by persons + of those descriptions, or any others not in the army, the + buttons of military men being always of metal: this is + generally used as a term of contempt, meaning a bourgeois, + tradesman, or mechanic. + +MOIETY. Half, but vulgarly used to signify a share or portion: + as, He will come in for a small moiety. + +MOLL. A whore. + +MOLL PEATLY'S GIG. A rogering bout. + +MOLL THOMPSON'S MARK. M. T. i.e. empty: as, Take + away this bottle, it has Moll Thompson's mark upon it. + +MOLLY. A Miss Molly; an effeminate fellow, a sodomite. + +MONDAY. Saint Monday. See SAINT. + +MONEY. A girl's private parts, commonly applied to little + children: as, Take care, Miss, or you will shew your + money. + +MONEY DROPPERS. Cheats who drop money, which they + pretend to find just before some country lad; and by way + of giving him a share of their good luck, entice him into a + public house, where they and their confederates cheat or + rob him of what money he has about him. + +MONGREL. A hanger on among cheats, a spunger; also a + child whose father and mother are of different countries. + +MONKS AND FRIARS. Terms used by printers: monks are + sheets where the letters are blotted, or printed too black; + friars, those letters where the ink has failed touching the + type, which are therefore white or faint. + +MONKEY. To suck the monkey; to suck or draw wine, or + any other liquor, privately out of a cask, by means of a + straw, or small tube. Monkey's allowance; more kicks + than halfpence. Who put that monkey on horseback without + tying his legs? vulgar wit on a bad horseman. + +MONOSYLLABLE. A woman's commodity. + +MOONCURSER. A link-boy: link-boys are said to curse the + moon, because it renders their assistance unnecessary; + these gentry frequently, under colour of lighting passengers + over kennels, or through dark passages, assist in robbing + them. Cant. + +MOON-EYED HEN. A squinting wench. + +MOON MEN. Gypsies. + +MOON RAKERS. Wiltshire men: because it is said that + some men of that county, seeing the reflection of the + moon in a pond, endeavoured to pull it out with a rake. + +MOONSHINE. A matter or mouthful of moonshine; a trifle, + nothing. The white brandy smuggled on the coasts of + Kent and Sussex, and the gin in the north of Yorkshire, + are also called moonshine. + +MOP. A kind of annual fair in the west of England, where + farmers usually hire their servants. + +To MOP UP. To drink up. To empty a glass or pot. + +MOPED. Stupid, melancholy for want of society. + +MOPSEY. A dowdy, or homely woman. + +MOPSQUEEZER. A maid servant, particularly a housemaid. + +MOPUSSES. Money. + +MORGLAG. A brown bill, or kind of halbert, formerly + carried by watchmen; corruption of MORE, great or broad, + and GLAVE, blade. + +MORNING DROP. The gallows. He napped the king's pardon + and escaped the morning drop; he was pardoned, and + was not hanged. + +MORRIS. Come, morris off; dance off, or get you gone. + allusion to morris, i.e. MORISCO, or Moorish dancing. + +MORT. A woman or wench; also a yeoman's daughter. To + be taken all-a mort; to be confounded, surprised, or motionless + through fear. + +MOSES. To stand Moses: a man is said to stand Moses + when he has another man's bastard child fathered upon + him, and he is obliged by the parish to maintain it. + +MOSS. A cant term for lead, because both are found on the + tops of buildings. + +MOSSY FACE. The mother of all saints. + +MOT. A girl, or wench. See MORT. + +MOTHER, or THE MOTHER. A bawd. Mother abbess: + the same. Mother midnight; a midwife. Mother in + law's bit; a small piece, mothers in law being supposed + not apt to overload the stomachs of their husband's children. + +MOTHER OF ALL SAINTS. The Monosyllable. + +MOTHER OF ALL SOULS. The same. IRISH. + +MOTHER OF ST. PATRICK. The same. IRISH. + +MOTHER OF THE MAIDS. A bawd. + +MOUCHETS. Small patches worn by ladies: from the French + word mouches. + +MOVEABLES. Rings, watches, or any toys of value. + +MOUSE. To speak like a mouse in a cheese; i.e. faintly or + indistinctly. + +MOUSETRAP. The parson's mousetrap; the state of matrimony. + +MOUTH. A noisy fellow. Mouth half cocked; one gaping + and staring at every thing he sees. To make any one + laugh on the wrong, or t'other side of his mouth; to make + him cry or grieve. + +MOUTH. A silly fellow. A dupe. To stand mouth; i.e. + to be duped. + +To MOW. A Scotch word for the act of copulation. + +MOW HEATER. A drover: from their frequent sleeping on + hay mows. CANT. + +MOWER. A cow. + +MUCK. Money; also dung. + +MUCKWORM. A miser. + +MUCKINDER. A child's handkerchief tied to the side. + +MUD. A fool, or thick-sculled fellow; also, among printers + the same as dung among journeymen taylors. See + DUNG. + +MUD LARK. A fellow who goes about by the water side + picking up coals, nails, or other articles in the mud. Also + a duck. + +MUFF. The private parts of a woman. To the well wearing + of your muff, mort; to the happy consummation of + your marriage, girl; a health. + +MUFFLING CHEAT. A napkin. + +MUGGLETONIANS. The sect or disciples of Lodowick + Muggleton. + +MULLIGRUBS. Sick of the mulligrubs with eating chopped + hay: low-spirited, having an imaginary sickness. + +MUM. An interjection directing silence. Mum for that; I + shall be silent as to that. As mute as Mumchance, who + was hanged for saying nothing; a friendly reproach to any + one who seems low-spirited and silent. + +MUMCHANCE. An ancient game like hazard, played with + dice: probably so named from the silence observed in playing + at it. + +MUM GLASS. The monument erected on Fish-street Hill, + London, in memory of the great fire in 1666. + +MUMBLE A SPARROW. A cruel sport practised at wakes + and fairs, in the following manner: A cock sparrow + whose wings are clipped, is put into the crown of a hat; a + man having his arms tied behind him, attempts to bite off + the sparrow's head, but is generally obliged to desist, by + the many pecks and pinches he receives from the enraged + bird. + +MUMMER. The mouth. + +MUMPERS. Originally beggars of the genteel kind, but + since used for beggars in general. + +MUMPERS HALL. An alehouse where beggars are harboured. + +MUNDUNGUS. Bad or rank tobacco: from mondongo, a + Spanish word signifying tripes, or the uncleaned entrails + of a beast, full of filth. + +MUNG. To beg. + +MUNS. The face, or rather the mouth: from the German + word MUND, the mouth. Toute his muns; look at his face. + +MUNSTER PLUMS. Potatoes. IRISH. + +MUNSTER HEIFER. An Irish woman. A woman with + thick legs is said to be like a Munster heifer; i.e. beef to + the heels. + +MURDER. He looked like God's revenge against murder; + he looked angrily. + +MURPHIES. Potatoes. + +MUSHROOM. A person or family suddenly raised to riches + and eminence: an allusion to that fungus, which starts up + in a night. + +MUSIC. The watch-word among highwaymen, signifying + the person is a friend, and must pass unmolested. Music + is also an Irish term, in tossing up, to express the harp side, + or reverse, of a farthing or halfpenny, opposed to the head. + +MUTE. An undertaker's servant, who stands at the door of + a person lying in state: so named from being supposed + mute with grief. + +MUTTON-HEADED. Stupid. + +MUTTON MONGER. A man addicted to wenching. + +MUTTON. In her mutton, i.e. having carnal knowledge of a + woman. + +MUZZLE. A beard. + +MUZZLER. A violent blow on the mouth. The milling + cove tipped the cull a muzzler; the boxer gave the fellow + a blow on the mouth. + +MYNT. See MINT. + +MYRMIDONS. The constable's assistants, watchmen, &c. + +NAB, or NAB CHEAT. A hat. Penthouse nab; a large + hat. + +To NAB. To seize, or catch unawares. To nab the teaze; + to be privately whipped. To nab the stoop; to stand in + the pillory. To nab the rust; a jockey term for a horse + that becomes restive. To nab the snow: to steal linen + left out to bleach or dry. CANT. + +To NAB GIRDER, or NOB GIRDER. A bridle. + +NACK. To have a nack; to be ready at any thing, to have + a turn-for it. + +NACKY. Ingenious. + +NAILED. Secured, fixed. He offered me a decus, and I + nailed him; he offered me a crown, and I struck or fixed + him. + +NANNY HOUSE. A brothel. + +TO NAP. To cheat at dice by securing one chance. Also + to catch the venereal disease. You've napt it; you are + infected. + +NAPPING. To take any one napping; i.e. to come upon + him unexpectedly, to find him asleep: as, He caught him + napping, as Morse caught his mare. + +NAPPER. The head; also a cheat or thief. + +NAPPER OF NAPS. A sheep stealer. CANT. + +NAPPY ALE. Strong ale. + +NASK, or NASKIN. A prison or bridewell. The new nask; + Clerkenwell bridewell. Tothil-fields nask; the bridewell + at Tothil-fields. CANT. + +NATION. An abbreviation of damnation: a vulgar term used + in Kent, Sussex, and the adjacent counties, for very. + Nation good; very good. A nation long way; a very long + way. + +NATTY LADS. Young thieves or pickpockets. CANT. + +NATURAL. A mistress, a child; also an idiot. A natural + son or daughter; a love or merry-begotten child, a bastard. + +NAVY OFFICE. The Fleet prison. Commander of the + Fleet; the warden of the Fleet prison. + +NAY WORD. A bye-word, proverb. + +NAZAKENE FORETOP. The foretop of a wig made in imi- + tation of Christ's head of hair, as represented by the +painters and sculptors. + +NAZY. Drunken. Nazy cove or mort; a drunken rogue + or harlot. Nazy nabs; drunken coxcombs. + +NEB, or NIB. The bill of a bird, and the slit of a pen. + Figuratively, the face and mouth of a woman; as, She holds + up her neb: she holds up her mouth to be kissed. + +NECK STAMPER. The boy who collects the pots belonging + to an alehouse, sent out with beer to private houses. + +NECK VERSE. Formerly the persons claiming the benefit + of clergy were obliged to read a verse in a Latin + manuscript psalter: this saving them from the gallows, was + termed their neck verse: it was the first verse of the + fiftyfirst psalm, Miserere mei,&c. + +NECK WEED. Hemp. + +NEEDLE POINT. A sharper. + +NEGLIGEE. A woman's undressed gown, Vulgarly termed a + neggledigee. + +NEGROE. A black-a-moor: figuratively used for a slave. + I'll be no man's negro; I will be no man's slave. + +NEGROE'S HEADS. Brown leaves delivered to the ships in + ordinary. + +NESCIO. He sports a Nescio; he pretends not to understand + any thing. After the senate house examination for + degrees, the students proceed to the schools, to be + questioned by the proctor. According to custom + immemorial the answers MUST be Nescio. The following is + a translated specimen: + + Ques. What is your name?--Ans. I do not know. + Ques. What is the name of this university?--Ans. I do not + know. + Ques. Who was your father?-Ans. I do not know. + This last is probably the only true answer of the three! + +NETTLED. Teized, provoked, out of temper. He or she has + pissed on a nettle; said of one who is peevish or out of + temper. + +NEW COLLEGE STUDENTS. Golden scholars, silver bachelors, + and leaden masters. + +NEW DROP. The scaffold used at Newgate for hanging + of criminals; which dropping down, leaves them + suspended. By this improvement, the use of that vulgar + vehicle, a cart, is entirely left off. + +NEW LIGHT. One of the new light; a methodist. + +NEWGATE BIRD. A thief or sharper, frequently caged in + Newgate. + +NEWGATE SOLICITOR. A petty fogging and roguish attorney, + who attends the gaols to assist villains in evading + justice. + +NEWMAN'S LIFT. The gallows. + +NEWMAN'S TEA GARDENS. Newgate. + +NEWMAN'S HOTEL. Newgate. + +To NICK. To win at dice, to hit the mark just in the nick + of time, or at the critical moment. + +NICK. Old nick; the Devil. + +NICKNAME. A name given in ridicule or contempt: from + the French nom de niqne. Niqne is a movement of the head + to mark a contempt for any person or thing. + +NICK NINNY. A simpleton. + +NICKIN, NIKEY or NIZEY. A soft simple fellow; also a + diminutive of Isaac. + +NICKNACKS. Toys, baubles, or curiosities. + +NlCKNACKATORY. A toyshop. + +NICKUMPOOP, or NINCUMPOOP. A foolish fellow; also + one who never saw his wife's ****. + +NIFFYNAFFY FELLOW. A trifler. + +NIG. The clippings of money. Nigging; clipping. Nigler, + a clipper. Cant. + +NIGGLING. Cutting awkwardly, trifling; also accompanying + with a woman. + +NIGHT MAGISTRATE. A constable. + +NIGHTINGALE. A soldier who, as the term is, sings out + at the halberts. It is a point of honour in some + regiments, among the grenadiers, never to cry out, + become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the + cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet. + +NIGHTMAN. One whose business it is to empty necessary + houses in London, which is always done in the night; the + operation is called a wedding. See WEDDING. + +NIGMENOG. A very silly fellow. + +TO NIM. To steal or pilfer: from the German nemen, to + take. Nim a togeman; steal a cloak. + +NIMGIMMER. A physician or surgeon, particularly those + who cure the venereal disease. + +NINE LIVES. Cats are said to have nine lives, and women + ten cats lives. + +NINNY, or NINNYHAMMER. A simpleton. + +NIP. A cheat. Bung nipper; a cutpurse. + +NIP CHEESE. A nick name for the purser of a ship: from + those gentlemen being supposed sometimes to nip, or + diminish, the allowance of the seamen, in that and every + other article. It is also applied to stingy persons in + general. + +NIPPERKIN. A small measure. + +NIPPS. The sheers used in clipping money. + +NIT SQUEEGER, i.e. SQUEEZER. A hair-dresser. + +NIX. Nothing. + +NO CATCHY NO HAVY. If I am not caught, I cannot be hurt. + Negro saying. + +NOB. A king. A man of rank. + +NOB. The head. + +NOBTHATCHER. A peruke-maker. + +NOCK. The breech; from NOCK, a notch. + +NOCKY BOY. A dull simple fellow. + +NOD. He is gone to the land of nod; he is asleep. + +NODDLE. The head. + +NODDY. A simpleton or fool. Also a kind of low cart, + with a seat before it for the driver, used in and about + Dublin, in the manner of a hackney coach: the fare is + just half that of a coach, for the same distance; so + that for sixpence one may have a set down, as it is + called, of a mile and half, and frequently a tumble + down into the bargain: it is called a noddy from the + nutation of its head. Knave noddy; the old-fashioned + name for the knave of trumps. + +NOISY DOG RACKET. Stealing brass knockers from doors. + +NOKES. A ninny, or fool. John-a-Nokes and Tom-a-Stiles; + two honest peaceable gentlemen, repeatedly set together + by the ears by lawyers of different denominations: two + fictitious names formerly used in law proceedings, but + now very seldom, having for several years past been + supplanted by two other honest peaceable gentlemen, + namely, John Doe and Richard Roe. + +NOLL. Old Noll; Oliver Cromwell. + +NON-CON. A nonconformist, presbyterian, or any other + dissenter. + +NONE-SUCH. One that is unequalled: frequently applied + ironically. + +NONSENSE. Melting butter in a wig. + +NOOZED. Married, hanged. + +NOPE. A blow: as, I took him a nope on the costard. + +NORFOLK CAPON. A red herring. + +NORFOLK DUMPLING. A nick name, or term of jocular + reproach to a Norfolk man; dumplings being a favourite + food in that county. + +NORTH ALLERTONS. Spurs; that place, like Rippon, + being famous for making them. + +NORTHUMBERLAND. Lord Northumberland's arms; a black + eye: so called in the last century. + +NORWAY NECKCLOTH. The pillory, usually made of Norway + fir. + +NOSE. As plain as the nose on your face; evidently to be + seen. He is led by the nose; he is governed. To follow + one's nose; to go strait forward. To put one's nose + out of joint; to rival one in the favour of any person. + To make a bridge of any one's nose; to pass by him in + drinking. To nose a stink; to smell it. He cut off his + nose to be revenged of his face; said of one who, to be + revenged on his neighbour, has materially injured + himself. + +NOSE. A man who informs or turns king's evidence. + +TO NOSE. To give evidence. To inform. His pall nosed and + he was twisted for a crack; his confederate turned + king's evidence, and he was hanged for burglary. + +TO NOSE. To bully. + +NOSE BAG. A bag fastened to the horse's head, in which + the soldiers of the cavalry put the oats given to their + horses: whence the saying, I see the hose bag in his + face; i.e. he has been a private man, or rode private. + +NOSE GENT. A nun. + +NOSTRUM. A medicine prepared by particular persons + only, a quack medicine. + +NOTCH. The private parts of awoman. + +NOTE. He changed his note; he told another sort of a + story. + +NOUS-BOX. The head. + +NOZZLE. The nose of a man or woman. + +NUB. The neck; also coition. + +NUBBING. Hanging. Nubbing cheat: the gallows. Nubbing + cove; the hangman. Nubbing ken; the sessions + house. + +NUG. An endearing word: as, My dear nug; my dear love. + +NUGGING DRESS. An out-of-the-way old-fashioned dress, + or rather a loose kind of dress, denoting a courtesan. + +NUGGING-HOUSE. A brothel. + +TO NULL. To beat: as, He nulled him heartily. + +NUMBERS. To consult the book of numbers: a term used + in the House of Commons, when, instead of answering or + confuting a pressing argument, the minister calls for a + division, i.e. puts the matter to the vote. + +NUMBSCULL. A stupid fellow. + +NUMMS. A sham collar, to be worn over a dirty shirt. + +NUNNERY. A bawdy house. + +TO NURSE. To cheat: as, they nursed him out of it. An + estate in the hands of trustees, for the payment of + bdebts, is said to be at nurse. + +NUTS. It was nuts for them; i.e. it was very agreeable to + them. + +NUTS. Fond; pleased. She's nuts upon her cull; she's + pleased with her cully. The cove's nutting the blowen; + the man is trying to please the girl. + +NUTCRACKERS. The pillory: as, The cull peeped through + the nutcrackers. + +NUTMEGS. Testicles. + +NYP, or NIP. A half pint, a nip of ale: whence the + nipperkin, a small vessel. + +NYP SHOP. The Peacock in Gray's Inn Lane, where + Burton ale is sold in nyps. + +NYPPER. A cut-purse: so called by one Wotton, who in + the year 1585 kept an academy for the education and + perfection of pickpockets and cut-purses: his school was + near Billingsgate, London. As in the dress of ancient + times many people wore their purses at their girdles, + cutting them was a branch of the light-fingered art, + which is now lost, though the name remains. Maitland, + from Stow, gives the following account of this Wotton: + This man was a gentleman born, and sometime a merchant + of good credit, but fallen by time into decay: he kept + an alehouse near Smart's Key, near Billingsgate, + afterwards for some misdemeanor put down. He reared up a + new trade of life, and in the same house he procured all + the cut-purses about the city, to repair to his house; + there was a school-house set up to learn young boys to + cut purses: two devices were hung up; one was a pocket, + and another was a purse; the pocket had in it certain + counters, and was hung about with hawks bells, and over + the top did hang a little sacring bell. The purse had + silver in it; and he that could take out a counter, + without noise of any of the bells, was adjudged a + judicial NYPPER: according to their terms of art, a + FOYSTER was a pick-pocket; a NYPPER was a pick purse, + or cut-purse. + +O BE JOYFUL. I'll make you sing O be joyful on the + other side of your mouth; a threat, implying the party + threatened will be made to cry. To sing O be easy; to + appear contented when one has cause to complain, and + dare not. + +OAF. A silly fellow. + +OAFISH. Simple. + +OAK. A rich maa, a man of good substance and credit. + To sport oak; to shut the outward door of a student's + room at college. An oaken towel; an oaken cudgel. To + rub a man down with an oaken towel; to beat him. + +OATS. He has sowed his wild oats; he is staid, or sober, + having left off his wild tricks. + +OATHS. The favourite oaths of the thieves of the present + day are, "God strike me blind!" "I wish my bloody eyes + may drop out if it is not true!" "So help me God!" + "Bloody end to me!" + +OAR. To put in one's oar; to intermeddle, or give an + opinion unasked: as, To be sure, you must put in your + oar! + +OBSTROPULOUS. Vulgar misnomer of OBSTREPEROUS: as, I + was going my rounds, and found this here gemman very + obstropulous, whereof I comprehended him as an + auspicious parson. + +OCCUPY. To occupy a woman; to have carnal knowledge + of her. + +ODDFELLOWS. A convivial society; the introduction to + the most noble grand, arrayed in royal robes, is well worth + seeing at the price of becoming a member. + +ODDS PLUT AND HER NAILS. A Welch oath, frequently + mentioned in a jocular manner by persons, it is hoped, + ignorant of its meaning; which is, By God's blood, and + the nails with which he was nailed to the cross. + +ODD-COME-SHORTLYS. I'll do it one of these odd-come-shortly's; + I will do it some time or another. + +OFFICE. To give the office; to give information, or make + signs to the officers to take a thief. + +OGLES. Eyes. Rum ogles; fine eyes. + +OIL OF BARLEY, or BARLEY BROTH. Strong beer. + +OIL OF GLADNESS. I will anoint you with the oil of gladness; + ironically spoken for, I will beat you. + +OIL OF STIRRUP. A dose the cobler gives his wife whenever + she is obstropulous. + +OI POAAOI (Proofreaders Note: Greek Letters). + (CAMBRIDGE.) The many; the multitude; + who take degrees without being entitled for an honor. + All that is REQUIRED, are three books of Euclid, and as far + as Quadratic Equation's in Algebra. See PLUCKED. + +OLD. Ugly. CANT. + +OLD DOG AT IT. Expert, accustomed. + +OLD HAND. Knowing or expert in any business. + +OLD HARRY. A composition used by vintners to adulterate + their wines; also the nick-name for the devil. + +OLD DING. See OLD HAT. + +OLD MR. GORY. A piece of gold. + +OLD NICK. The Devil: from NEKEN, the evil spirit of the + north. + +OLD ONE. The Devil. Likewise an expression of quizzical + familiarity, as "how d'ye do, OLD ONE?" + +OLD PEGG. Poor Yorkshire cheese, made of skimmed + milk. + +OLD POGER. The Devil. + +OLD STAGER. One accustomed to business, one who knows + mankind. + +OLD TOAST. A brisk old fellow. CANT. + +OLD DOSS. Bridewell. + +OLIVER'S SCULL. A chamber pot. + +OLLI COMPOLLI. The name of one of the principal rogues + of the canting crew. CANT. + +OMNIUM GATHERUM. The whole together: jocular imitation + of law Latin. + +ONE IN TEN. A parson: an allusion to his tithes. + +ONE OF US, or ONE OF MY COUSINS. A woman of the + town, a harlot. + +ONION. A seal. Onion hunters, a class of young thieves + who are on the look out for gentlemen who wear their + seals suspended on a ribbon, which they cut, and thus + secure the seals or other trinkets suspended to the watch. + +OPEN ARSE. A medlar. See MEDLAR. + +OPTIME. The senior and junior optimes are the second + and last classes of Cambridge honors conferred on taking + a degree. That of wranglers is the first. The last + junior optime is called the Wooden Spoon. + +ORGAN. A pipe. Will you cock your organ? will you + smoke your pipe? + +ORTHODOXY AND HETERODOXY. Somebody explained these + terms by saying, the first was a man who had a doxy of + his own, the second a person who made use of the doxy + of another man. + +OSCHIVES. Bone-handled knives. CANT. + +OSTLER. Oatstealer. + +OTTOMY. The vulgar word for a skeleton. + +OTTOMISED. To be ottomised; to be dissected. You'll be + scragged, ottomised, and grin in a glass case: you'll be + hanged, anatomised, and your skeleton kept in a glass + case at Surgeons' Hall. + +OVEN. A great mouth; the old woman would never have + looked for her daughter in the oven, had she not been there + herself. + +OVERSEER. A man standing in the pillory, is, from his + elevated situation, said to be made an overseer. + +OUT AT HEELS, OR OUT AT ELBOWS. In declining circumstances. + +OUTRUN THE CONSTABLE. A man who has lived above his + means, or income, is said to have outrun the constable. + +OUTS. A gentleman of three outs. See GENTLEMAN. + +OWL. To catch the; a trick practised upon ignorant country + boobies, who are decoyed into a barn under pretence + of catching an owl, where, after divers preliminaries, the + joke ends in their having a pail of water poured upon their + heads. + +OWL IN AN IVY BUSH. He looks like an owl in an ivy + bush; frequently said of a person with a large frizzled wig, + or a woman whose hair is dressed a-la-blowze. + +OWLERS. Those who smuggle wool over to France. + +OX HOUSE. He must go through the ox house to bed; a saying + of an old fellow who marries a young girl. + +OYES. Corruption of oyez, proclaimed by the crier of all + courts of justice. + +OYSTER. A gob of thick phlegm, spit by a consumptive + man; in law Latin, UNUM VIRIDUM GOBBUM + +P'S. To mind one's P's and Q's; to be attentive to the + main chance. + +P.P.C. An inscription on the visiting cards of our modern + fine gentleman, signifying that they have called POUR + PRENDRE CONGE, i.e. 'to take leave,' This has of late been + ridiculed by cards inscribed D.I.O. i.e. 'Damme, I'm off.' + +PACKET. A false report. + +PACKTHREAD. To talk packthread; to use indecent language + well wrapt up. + +PAD. The highway, or a robber thereon; also a bed. Footpads; + foot robbers. To go out upon the pad; to go out + in order to commit a robbery. + +PAD BORROWERS. Horse stealers. + +TO PAD THE HOOF. See To BEAT THE HOOF. + +PADDINGTON FAIR DAY. An execution day, Tyburn being + in the parish or neighbourhood of Paddington. To dance + the Paddington frisk; to be hanged. + +PADDY. The general name for an Irishman: being the + abbreviation of Patrick, the name of the tutelar saint of that + island. + +PAINTER. I'll cut your painter for you; I'll send you off; + the painter being the ropfe that holds the boat fast to the + ship. SEA TERM. + +PAIR OF WINGS. Oars. CANT. + +TO PALAVER. To flatter: originally an African word for a + treaty, talk, or conference. + +PALLIARDS. Those whose fathers were clapperdogens, or + beggars born, and who themselves follow the same trade: + the female sort beg with a number of children, borrowing + them, if they have not a sufficient number of their own, + and making them cry by pinching in order to excite + charity; the males make artificial sores on different parts of + their bodies, to move compassion. + +PALL. A companion. One who generally accompanies + another, or who commit robberies together. + +PAM. The knave of clubs. + +PANNAM. Bread. + +PANNIER MAN. A servant belonging to the Temple and + Gray's Inn, whose office is to announce the dinner. This + in the Temple, is done by blowing a horn; and in Gray's + Inn proclaiming the word Manger, Manger, Manger, in + each of the three courts. + +PANNY. A house. To do a panny: to rob a house. See + the Sessions Papers. Probably, panny originally meant + the butler's pantry, where the knives and forks, spoons, + &c. are usually kept The pigs frisked my panney, and + nailed my screws; the officers searched my house, and + seized my picklock keys. CANT. + +PANTER. A hart: that animal is, in the Psalms, said to + pant after the fresh water-brooks. Also the human + heart, which frequently pants in time of danger. CANT. + +PANTILE SHOP. A presbyterian, or other dissenting meeting + house, frequently covered with pantiles: called also + a cock-pit. + +PANTLER. A butler. + +PAP. Bread sauce; also the food of infants. His mouth is + full of pap; he is still a baby. + +PAPER SCULL. A thin-scull'd foolish fellow. + +PAPLER. Milk pottage. + +PARELL. Whites of eggs, bay salt, milk, and pump water, + beat together, and poured into a vessel of wine to prevent + its fretting. + +PARENTHESIS. To put a man's nose into a parenthesis: to + pull it, the fingers and thumb answering the hooks or + crochets. A wooden parenthesis; the pillory. An iron + parenthesis; a prison. + +PARINGS. The chippings of money. CANT. + +PARISH BULL. A parson. + +PARISH. His stockings are of two parishes; i.e. they are + not fellows. + +PARISH SOLDIER. A jeering name for a militiaman: from + substitutes being frequently hired by the parish from + which one of its inhabitants is drawn. + +PARK PAILING. Teeth. + +PARSON. A guide post, hand or finger post by the road + side for directing travellers: compared to a parson, + because, like him, it sets people in the right way. See + GUIDE POST. He that would have luck in horse-flesh, + must kiss a parson's wife. + +PARSON'S JOURNEYMAN. A curate. + +PARSON PALMER. A jocular name, or term of reproach, + to one who stops the circulation of the glass by preaching + over his liquor; as it is said was done by a parson of that + name whose cellar was under his pulpit. + +PARTIAL. Inclining more to one side than the other, + crooked, all o' one hugh. + +PASS BANK. The place for playing at passage, cut into + the ground almost like a cock-pit. Also the stock or + fund. + +PASSAGE. A camp game with three dice: doublets, making + up ten or more, to pass or win; any other chances + lose. + +PAT. Apposite, or to the purpose. + +PATE. The head. Carroty-pated; red-haired. + +PATRICO, or PATER-COVE. The fifteenth rank of the canting + tribe; strolling priests that marry people under a + hedge, without gospel or common prayer book: the + couple standing on each side of a dead beast, are bid to live + together till death them does part; so shaking hands, the + wedding is ended. Also any minister or parson. + +PATTERING. The maundering or pert replies of servants; + also talk or palaver in order to amuse one intended to be + cheated. Pattering of prayers; the confused sound of a + number of persons praying together. + +TO PATTER. To talk. To patter flash; to speak flash, or + the language used by thieves. How the blowen lushes + jackey, and patters flash; how the wench drinks gin, and + talks flash. + +PAVIOUR'S WORKSHOP. The street. + +TO PAUM. To conceal in the hand. To paum a die: to + hide a die in the palm of the hand. He paums; he cheats. + Don't pretend to paum that upon me. + +PAUNCH. The belly. Some think paunch was the original + name of that facetious prince of puppets, now called + Mr. Punch, as he is always represented with a very + prominent belly: though the common opinion is, that both + the name and character were taken from a celebrated Italian + comedian, called Polichenello. + +PAW. A hand or foot; look at his dirty paws. Fore paw; + the hand. Hind paw; the foot. To paw; to touch or + handle clumsily. + +PAW PAW TRICKS. Naughty tricks: an expression used + by nurses, &c. to children. + +TO PAY. To smear over. To pay the bottom of a ship or + boat; to smear it over with pitch: The devil to pay, and + no pitch hot or ready. SEA TERM.--Also to beat: as, I will + pay you as Paul paid the Ephesians, over the face and eyes, + and all your d---d jaws. To pay away; to fight manfully, + also to eat voraciously. To pay through the nose: to pay + an extravagant price. + +To PEACH. To impeach: called also to blow the gab, squeak, + or turn stag. + +PEAK. Any kind of lace. + +PEAL. To ring a peal in a man's ears; to scold at him: his + wife rang him such a peal! + +PEAR MAKING. Taking bounties from several regiments + and immediately deserting. The cove was fined in the + steel for pear making; the fellow was imprisoned in the + house of correction for taking bounties from different + regiments. + +PECCAVI. To cry peccavi; to acknowledge one's self in an + error, to own a fault: from the Latin PECCAVI, I have sinned. + +PECK. Victuals. Peck and booze; victuals and drink. + +PECKISH. Hungry. + +PECULIAR. A mistress. + +PED. A basket. CANT. + +PEDLAR'S FRENCH. The cant language. Pedlar's pony; + a walking-stick. + +To PEEL. To strip: allusion to the taking off the coat or + rind of an orange or apple. + +PEEPER. A spying glass; also a looking-glass. Track up + the dancers, and pike with the peeper; whip up stairs, + and run off with the looking-glass. CANT. + +PEEPERS. Eyes. Single peeper, a one-eyed man. + +PEEPING TOM. A nick name for a curious prying fellow; + derived from an old legendary tale, told of a taylor of + Coventry, who, when Godiva countess of Chester rode at + noon quite naked through that town, in order to procure + certain immunities for the inhabitants, (notwithstanding + the rest of the people shut up their houses) shly peeped + out of his window, for which he was miraculously struck + blind. His figure, peeping out of a window, is still kept + up in remembrance of the transaction. + +PEEPY. Drowsy. + +To PEER. To look about, to be circumspect. + +PEERY. Inquisitive, suspicious. The cull's peery; that + fellow suspects something. There's a peery, tis snitch + we are observed, there's nothing to be done. + +PEG. Old Peg; poor hard Suffolk or Yorkshire cheese. A + peg is also a blow with a straightarm: a term used by the + professors of gymnastic arts. A peg in the day-light, + the victualling office, or the haltering-place; a blow in the + eye, stomach, or under the ear. + +PEG TRANTUM'S. Gone to Peg Trantum's; dead. + +PEGO. The penis of man or beast. + +PELL-MELL. Tumultuously, helter skelter, jumbled together. + +PELT. A heat, chafe, or passion; as, What a pelt he was + in! Pelt is also the skin of several beasts. + +PENANCE BOARD. The pillory. + +PENNY-WISE AND POUND FOOLISH. Saving in small matters, + and extravagant in great. + +PENNYWORTH. An equivalent. A good pennyworth; + cheap bargain. + +PENTHOUSE NAB. A broad brimmed hat. + +PEPPERED. Infected with the venereal disease. + +PEPPERY. Warm, passionate. + +PERKIN. Water cyder. + +PERRIWINKLE. A wig. + +PERSUADERS. Spurs. The kiddey clapped his persuaders + to his prad but the traps boned him; the highwayman + spurred his horse hard, but the officers seized him. + +PET. In a pet; in a passion or miff. + +PETER. A portmanteau or cloke-bag. Biter of peters; one + that makes it a trade to steal boxes and trunks from behind + stage coaches or out of waggons. To rob Peter to + pay Paul; to borrow of one man to pay another: styled + also manoeuvring the apostles. + +PETER GUNNER, will kill all the birds that died last summer. + A piece of wit commonly thrown out at a person + walking through a street or village near London, with a + gun in his hand. + +PETER LAY. The department of stealing portmanteaus, + trunks, &c. + +PETER LUG. Who is Peter Lug? who lets the glass stand + at his door, or before him. + +PETTICOAT HOLD. One who has an estate during his wife's + life, called the apron-string hold. + +PETTICOAT PENSIONER. One kept by a woman forsecret + services. + +PETTISH. Passionate. + +PETTY FOGGER. A little dirty attorney, ready to undertake + any litigious or bad cause: it is derived from the French + words petit vogue, of small credit, or little reputation. + +PHARAOH. Strong malt liquor. + +PHILISTINES. Bailiffs, or officers of justice; also drunkards. + +PHOENIX-MEN. Firemen belonging to an insurance office, + which gave a badge charged with a phoenix: these men + were called likewise firedrakes. + +PHOS BOTTLE. A. bottle of phosphorus: used by housebreakers + to light their lanthorns. Ding the phos; throw + away the bottle of phosphorus. + +PHRASE OF PAPER. Half a quarter of a sheet. See VESSEL, PHYSOG. + +PHYSOG. The face. A vulgar abbreviation of physiognomy. + +PHYZ. The face. Rum phyz; an odd face or countenance. + +PICAROON. A pirate; also a sharper. + +PICKANINY. A young child, an infant. NEGRO TERM. + +PICKING. Pilfering, petty larceny. + +PICKLE. An arch waggish fellow. In pickle, or in the + pickling tub; in a salivation. There are rods in brine, or + pickle, for him; a punishment awaits him, or is prepared + for him. Pickle herring; the zany or merry andrew + of a mountebank. See JACK PUDDING. + +PICKT HATCH. To go to the manor of pickt hatch, a + cant name for some part of the town noted for bawdy + houses in Shakespeare's time, and used by him in that + sense. + +PICKTHANK. A tale-bearer or mischief maker. + +PICTURE FRAME. The sheriff's picture frame; the gallows + or pillory. + +To PIDDLE. To make water: a childish expression; as, + Mammy, I want to piddle. Piddling also means trifling, + or doing any thing in a small degree: perhaps from peddling. + +PIECE. A wench. A damned good or bad piece; a girl + who is more or less active and skilful in the amorous congress. + Hence the (CAMBRIDGE) toast, May we never have + a PIECE (peace) that will injure the constitution. Piece + likewise means at Cambridge a close or spot of ground + adjacent to any of the colleges, as Clare-hall Piece, &c. + The spot of ground before King's College formerly belonged + to Clare-hall. While Clare Piece belonged to King's, + the master of Clare-hall proposed a swop, which being + refused by the provost of King's, he erected before their + gates a temple of CLOACINA. It will be unnecessary to say + that his arguments were soon acceded to. + +PIG. A police officer. A China street pig; a Bow-street + officer. Floor the pig and bolt; knock down the officer + and run away. + +PIG. Sixpence, a sow's baby. Pig-widgeon; a simpleton. + To pig together; to lie or sleep together, two or more in + a bed. Cold pig; a jocular punishment inflicted by the + maid seryants, or other females of the house, on persons + lying over long in bed: it consists in pulling off all the + bed clothes, and leaving them to pig or lie in the cold. To + buy a pig in a poke; to purchase any thing without seeing. + Pig's eyes; small eyes. Pigsnyes; the same: a vulgar + term of endearment to a woman. He can have boiled + pig at home; a mark of being master of his own house: + an allusion to a well known poem and story. Brandy is + Latin for pig and goose; an apology for drinking a dram + after either. + +PIG-HEADED. Obstinate. + +PIG RUNNING. A piece of game frequently practised at + fairs, wakes, &c. A large pig, whose tail is cut short, and + both soaped and greased, being turned out, is hunted by + the young men and boys, and becomes the property of him + who can catch and hold him by the tail, abpve the height + of his head. + +PIGEON. A weak silly fellow easily imposed on. To pigeon; + to cheat. To milk the pigeon; to attempt impossibilities, + to be put to shifts for want of money. To + fly a blue pigeon; to steal lead off a church. + +PIGEONS. Sharpers, who, during the drawing of the lottery, + wait ready mounted near Guildhall, and, as soon as + the first two or three numbers are drawn, which they receive + from a confederate on a card, ride with them full + speed to some distant insurance office, before fixed on, + where there is another of the gang, commonly a decent + looking woman, who takes care to be at the office before + the hour of drawing: to her he secretly gives the number, + which she insures for a considerable sum: thus biting + the biter. + +PIGEON'S MILK. Boys and novices are frequently sent on + the first of April to buy pigeons milk. + +To PIKE. To run away. Pike off; run away. + +PILGRIM'S SALVE. A sirreverence, human excrement. + +PILL, or PEELE GARLICK. Said originally to mean one + whose skin or hair had fallen off from some disease, chiefly + the venereal one; but now commonly used by persons + speaking of themselves: as, there stood poor pill garlick: + i.e. there stood I. + +PILLALOO. The Irish cry or howl at funerals. + +PIMP. A male procurer, or cock bawd; also a small faggot + used about London for lighting fires, named from introducing + the fire to the coals. + +PIMP WHISKIN. A top trader in pimping. + +PIMPLE. The head. + +PIN. In or to a merry pin; almost drunk: an allusion to + a sort of tankard, formerly used in the north, having silver + pegs or pins set at equal distances from the top to the + bottom: by the rules of good fellowship, every person + drinking out of one of these tankards, was to swallow + the quantity contained between two pins; if he drank + more or less, he was to continue drinking till he ended at + a pin: by this means persons unaccustomed to measure + their draughts were obliged to drink the whole tankard. + Hence when a person was a little elevated with liquor, + he was said to have drunk to a merry pin. + +PIN BASKET. The youngest child. + +PIN MONEY. An allowance settled on a married woman + for her pocket expences. + +PINCH. At a pinch; on an exigency. + +PINCH. To go into a tradesman's shop under the pretence + of purchasing rings or other light articles, and while + examining them to shift some up the sleeve of the coat. + Also to ask for change for a guinea, and when the silver + is received, to change some of the good shillings for bad + ones; then suddenly pretending to recollect that you had + sufficient silver to pay the bill, ask for the guinea again, + and return the change, by which means several bad shillings + are passed. + +To PINCH ON THE PARSON'S SIDE. To defraud the parson + of his tithe. + +PINCHERS. Rogues who, in changing money, by dexterity + of hand frequently secrete two or three shillings out of + the change of a guinea. This species of roguery is called + the pinch, or pinching lay. + +To PINK. To stab or wound with a small sword: probably + derived from the holes formerly cut in both men and women's + clothes, called pinking. Pink of the fashion; the + top of the mode. To pink and wink; frequently winking + the eyes through a weakness in them. + +PINKING-DINDEE. A sweater or mohawk. IRISH. + +PINS. Legs. Queer pins; ill shapen legs. + +PIPER. A broken winded horse. + +PISCINARIANS. A club or brotherhood, A.D. 1743. + +PISS. He will piss when he can't whistle; he will be hanged. + He shall not piss my money against the wall; he shall not + have my money to spend in liquor. + + He who once a good name gets, + May piss a bed, and say he sweats. + +PISS-BURNED. Discoloured: commonly applied to a discoloured + grey wig. + +PISS MAKER. A great drinker, one much given to liquor. + +PISS POT HALL. A house at Clapton, near Hackney, built + by a potter chiefly out of the profits of chamber pots, in the + bottom of which the portrait of Dr. Sacheverel was depicted. + +PISS PROPHET. A physician who judges of the diseases of + his patients solely by the inspection of their urine. + +PISS-PROUD. Having a false erection. That old fellow + thought he had an erection, but his--was only piss- + proud; said of any old fellow who marries a young wife. + +PISSING DOWN ANY ONE'S BACK. Flattering him. + +PISSING PINS AND NEEDLES. To have a gonorrhea. + +PIT. A watch fob. He drew a rare thimble from the swell's + pit. He took a handsome watch from the gentleman's + fob. + +PIT. To lay pit and boxes into one; an operation in midwifery + or copulation, whereby the division between the + anus and vagina is cut through, broken, and demolished: + a simile borrowed from the playhouse, when, for the benefit + of some favourite player, the pit and boxes are laid together. + The pit is also the hole under the gallows, where + poor rogues unable to pay the fees are buried. + +PITT'S PICTURE. A window stopt up on the inside, to save + the tax imposed in that gentleman's administration. PARTY WIT + +PIT-A-PAT. The palpitation of the heart: as, my heart + went pit-a-pat. Pintledy-pantledy; the same. + +PITCH-KETTLED. Stuck fast, confounded. + +PITCHER. The miraculous pitcher, that holds water with + the mouth downwards: a woman's commodity. She has + crack'd her pitcher or pipkin; she has lost her maidenhead. + +PIZZY CLUB. A society held, A. D, 1744, at the sign of + the Tower, on Tower Hill: president, Don Pizzaro. + +PLAISTER OF WARM GUTS. One warm belly'dapped to another; + a receipt frequently prescribed for different disorders. + +PLANT. The place in the house of the fence where stolen + goods are secreted. Any place where stolen goods are concealed. + +To PLANT. To lay, place, or hide. Plant your wids and + stow them; be careful what you say, or let slip. Also to + bury, as, he was planted by the parson. + +PLATE. Money, silver, prize. He is in for the plate; he + has won the KEAT, i.e. is infected with the venereal disorder: + a simile drawn from hofse-racing. When the plate + fleet comes in; when money comes to hand. + +PLATTER-FACED. Broad-faced. + +PLAY. To play booty; to play with an intention to lose. To + play the whole game; to cheat. To play least in sight; + to hide, or keep out of the way. To play the devil; to be + guilty of some great irregularity or mismanagement. + +PLUCK. Courage. He wants pluck: he is a coward. + Against the pluck; against the inclination. Pluck the + Ribbon; ring the bell. To pluck a crow with one; to + settle a dispute, to reprove one for some past transgression. + To pluck a rose; an expression said to be used by women + for going to the necessary house, which in the country usually + stands in the garden. To pluck also signifies to deny a + degree to a candidate at one of the universities, on account + of insufficiency. The three first books of Euclid, and as + far as Quadratic Equations in Algebra, will save a man + from being plucked. These unfortunate fellows are designated by + many opprobrious appellations, such as the twelve + apostles, the legion of honor, wise men of the East, &c. + +PLUG TAIL. A man's penis. + +PLUMB. An hundred thousand pounds. + +PLUMMY. It is all plummy; i.e. all is right, or as it ought + to be. + +PLUMP. Fat, full, fleshy. Plump in the pocket; full in + the pocket. To plump; to strike, or shoot. I'll give + you a plump in the bread basket, or the victualling office: + I'll give you a blow in the stomach. Plump his peepers, + or day-lights; give him a blow in the eyes. He pulled out + his pops and plumped him; he drew out his pistols and + shot him. A plumper; a single vote at an election. Plump + also means directly, or exactly; as, it fell plump upon + him: it fell directly upon him. + +PLUMP CURRANT. I am not plump currant; I am out of + sorts. + +PLUMPERS. Contrivances said to be formerly worn by old + maids, for filling out a pair of shrivelled cheeks. + +PLYER. A crutch; also a trader. + +POGY. Drunk. + +POINT. To stretch a point; to exceed some usual limit, to + take a great stride. Breeches were usually tied up with + points, a kind of short laces, formerly given away by the + churchwardens at Whitsuntide, under the denomination + of tags: by taking a great stride these were stretched. + +POISONED. Big with child: that wench is poisoned, see + how her belly is swelled. Poison-pated: red-haired. + +POKE. A blow with the fist: I'll lend you a poke. A poke + likewise means a sack: whence, to buy a pig in a poke, + i.e. to buy any thing without seeing or properly examining it. + +POKER. A sword. Fore pokers; aces and kings at cards. + To burn your poker; to catch the venereal disease. + +POLE. He is like a rope-dancer's polo, lead at both ends; + a saying of a stupid sluggish fellow. + +POLISH. To polish the king's iron with one's eyebrows; to be + in gaol, and look through the iron grated windows. To + polish a bone; to eat a meal. Come and polish a bone + with me; come and eat a dinner or supper with me. + +POLL. The head, jolly nob, napper, or knowledge box; + also a wig. + +POLT. A blow. Lend him a polt in the muns; give him a + knock in the face. + +TO POMMEL. To beat: originally confined to beating with + the hilt of a sword, the knob being, from its similarity to + a small apple, called pomelle; in Spanish it is still called + the apple of the sword. As the clenched fist likewise + somewhat resembles an apple, perhaps that might occasion the + term pommelling to be applied to fisty-cuffs. + +POMP. To save one's pomp at whist, is to score five before + the adversaries are up, or win the game: originally derived + from pimp, which is Welsh for five; and should be, I + have saved my pimp. + +POMPAGINIS. Aqua pompaginis; pump water. See + AQUA. + +POMPKIN. A man or woman of Boston in America: from, + the number of pompkins raised and eaten by the people + of that country. Pompkinshire; Boston and its dependencies. + +PONEY. Money. Post the poney; lay down the money. + +PONTIUS PILATE. A pawnbroker. Pontius Pilate's guards, + the first regiment of foot, or Royal Scots: so intitled from + their supposed great antiquity. Pontius Pilate's counsellor; + one who like him can say, Non invenio causam, I can find + no cause. Also (Cambridge) a Mr. Shepherd of Trinity + College; who disputing with a brother parson on the comparative + rapidity with which they read the liturgy, offered + to give him as far as Pontius Pilate in the Belief. + +POPE. A figure burned annually every fifth of November, + in memory of the gunpowder plot, which is said to have + been carried on by the papists. + +POPE'S NOSE. The rump of a turkey. + +POPS. Pistols. Popshop: a pawnbroker's shop. To pop; + to pawn: also to shoot. I popped my tatler; I pawned my + watch. I popt the cull; I shot the man. His means are + two pops and a galloper; that is, he is a highwayman. + +POPLERS. Pottage. CANT. + +PORK. To cry pork; to give intelligence to the undertaker + of a funeral; metaphor borrowed from the raven, whose + note sounds like the word pork. Ravens are said to smell + carrion at a distance. + +PORKER. A hog: also a Jew. + +PORRIDGE. Keep your breath to cool your porridge; i. e. + held your tongue. + +PORRIDGE ISLAND. An alley leading from St. Martin's + church-yard to Round-court, chiefly inhabited by cooks, + who cut off ready-dressed meat of all sorts, and also sell + soup. + +POSEY, or POESY. A nosegay. I shall see you ride backwards + up Holborn-hill, with a book in one hand, and a + posey in t'other; i.e. I shall see you go to be hanged. + Malefactors who piqued themselves on being properly + equipped for that occasion, had always a nosegay to smell + to, and a prayer book, although they could not read. + +POSSE MOBILITATIS. The mob. + +POST MASTER GENERAL. The prime minister, who has + the patronage of all posts and places. + +POST NOINTER. A house painter, who occasionally paints + or anoints posts. Knight of the post; a false evidence, + one ready to swear any thing for hire. From post to + pillar; backwards and forwards. + +POSTILION OF THE GOSPEL. A parson who hurries over the + service. + +POT. The pot calls the kettle black a-se; one rogue + exclaims against another. + +POT. On the pot; i.e. at stool. + +POT CONVERTS. Proselytes to the Romish church, made + by the distribution of victuals and money. + +POT HUNTER. One who hunts more tor the sake of the + prey than the sport. Pot valiant; courageous from drink. + Potwallopers: persons entitled to vote in certain + boroughs by having boiled a pot there. + +POTATOE TRAP. The mouth. Shut your potatoe trap and + give your tongue a holiday; i.e. be silent. IRISH WIT. + +POTHOOKS AND HANGEKS. A scrawl, bad writing. + +POT-WABBLERS. Persons entitled to vote for members of + parliament in certain boroughs, from having boiled their + pots therein. These boroughs are called pot-wabbling + boroughs. + +POULAIN. A bubo. FRENCH. + +POULTERER. A person that guts letters; i.e. opens them + and secretes the money. The kiddey was topped for the + poultry rig; the young fellow was hanged for secreting + a letter and taking out the contents. + +POUND. To beat. How the milling cove pounded the cull + for being nuts on his blowen; how the boxer beat the fellow + for taking liberties with his mistress. + +POUND. A prison. See LOB'S POUND. Pounded; imprisoned. + Shut up in the parson's pound; married. POWDER + +POWDER MONKEY. A boy on board a ship of war, whose + business is to fetch powder from the magazine. + +POWDERING TUB. The same as pickling tub. See + PICKLING TUB. + +PRAD LAY. Cutting bags from behind horses. CANT. + +PRAD. A horse. The swell flashes a rum prad: the + e gentleman sports a fine horse. + +PRANCER. A horse. Prancer's nab.; a horse's head, used + as a seal to a counterfeit pass. At the sign of the prancer's + poll, i.e. the nag's head. + +PRATE ROAST. A talkative boy. + +PRATING CHEAT. The tongue. + +PRATTS. Buttocks; also a tinder box. CANT. + +PRATTLE BROTH. Tea. See CHATTER BROTH, SCANDAL + BROTH, &c. + +PRATTLING BOX. The pulpit. + +PRAY. She prays with her knees upwards; said of a woman + much given to gallantry and intrigue. At her last prayers; + saying of an old maid. + +PREADAMITE QUACABITES. This great and laudable society + (as they termed themselves) held their grand chapter + at the Coal-hole. + +P---K. The virile member. + +PRICK-EARED. A prick-eared fellow; one whose ears are + longer than his hair: an appellation frequently given to + puritans, who considered long hair as the mark of the + whore of Babylon. + +PRICKLOUSE. A taylor. + +PRIEST-CRAFT. The art of awing the laity, managing their + consciences, and diving into their pockets. + +PRIEST-LINKED. Married. + +PRIEST-RIDDEN. Governed by a priest, or priests. + +PRIG. A thief, a cheat: also a conceited coxcomical + fellow. + +PRIG NAPPER. A thief taker. + +PRIGGERS. Thieves in general. Priggers of prancers; + horse stealers. Priggers of cacklers: robbers of hen- + roosts. + +PRIGGING. Riding; also lying with a woman. + +PRIGSTAR. A rival in love. + +PRIME. Bang up. Quite the thing. Excellent. Well + done. She's a prime piece; she is very skilful in the + venereal act. Prime post. She's a prime article. + +PRIMINAKY. I had like to be brought into a priminary; + i.e. into trouble; from PREMUNIRE. + +PRINCE PRIG. A king of the gypsies; also the head thief + or receiver general. + +PRINCES. When the majesty of the people was a favourite + terra in the House of Commons, a celebrated wit, seeing + chimney sweepers dancing on a May-day, styled them the + young princes. + +PRINCOD. A pincushion. SCOTCH--Also a round plump + man or woman. + +PRINCOX. A pert, lively, forward fellow. + +PRINCUM PRANCUM. Mrs. Princum Prancum; a nice, + precise, formal madam. + +PRINKING. Dressing over nicely: prinked up as if he + came out of a bandbox, or fit to sit upon a cupboard's + head. + +PRINT. All in print, quite neat or exact, set, screwed up. + Quite in print; set in a formal manner. + +PRISCIAN. To break Priscian's head; to write or speak + false grammar. Priscian was a famous grammarian, who + flourished at Constantinople in the year 525; and who + was so devoted to his favourite study, that to speak false + Latin in his company, was as disagreeable to him as to + break his head. + +PRITTLE PRATTLE. Insignificant talk: generally applied + to women and children. + +PROG. Provision. Rum prog; choice provision. To prog; + to be on the hunt for provision: called in the military + term to forage. + +PROPS. Crutches. + +PROPERTY. To make a property of any one; to make + him a conveniency, tool, or cat's paw; to use him as one's + own. + +PROUD. Desirous of copulation. A proud bitch; a bitch + at heat, or desirous of a dog. + +PROVENDER. He from whom any money is taken on the + highway: perhaps provider, or provider. CANT. + +PROPHET. The prophet; the Cock at Temple Bar: so + called, in 1788, by the bucks of the town of the inferior + order. + +PRUNELLA. Mr. Prunella; a parson: parson's gowns being + frequently made of prunella. + +To PRY. To examine minutely into a matter or business. + A prying fellow; a man of impertinent curiosity, apt to + peep and inquire into other men's secrets. + +PUBLIC MAN. A bankrupt. + +PUBLIC LEDGER. A prostitute: because, like that paper, + she is open to all parties. + +PUCKER. All in a pucker; in a dishabille. Also in a + fright; as, she was in a terrible pucker. + +PUCKER WATER. Water impregnated with alum, or other + astringents, used by old experienced traders to + counterfeit virginity. + +PUDDINGS. The guts: I'll let out your puddings. + +PUDDING-HEADED FELLOW. A stupid fellow, one whose + brains are all in confusion. + +PUDDING SLEEVES. A parson. + +PUDDING TIME. In good time, or at the beginning of a + meal: pudding formerly making the first dish. To give + the crows a pudding; to die. You must eat some cold + pudding, to settle your love. + +PUFF, or PUFFER. One who bids at auctions, not with an + intent to buy, but only to raise the price of the lot; for + which purpose many are hired by the proprietor of the + goods on sale. + +PUFF GUTS. A fat man. + +PUFFING. Bidding at an auction, as above; also praising + any thing above its merits, from interested motives. The + art of puffing is at present greatly practised, and essentially + necessary in all trades, professions, and callings. + To puff and blow; to be out of breath. + +PUG. A Dutch pug; a kind of lap-dog, formerly much in + vogue; also a general name for a monkey. + +PUG CARPENTETER. An inferior carpenter, one employed + only in small jobs. + +PUG DRINK. Watered cyder. + +PUGNOSED, or PUGIFIED. A person with a snub or turned + up nose. + +PULLY HAWLY. To have a game at pully hawly; to romp +with women. + +PULL. To be pulled; to be arrested by a police officer. + To have a pull is to have an advantage; generally where + a person has some superiority at a game of chance or + skill. + +PUMP. A thin shoe. To pump; to endeavour to draw a + secret from any one without his perceiving it. Your + pump is good, but your sucker is dry; said by one to a + person who is attempting to pump him. Pumping was + also a punishment for bailiffs who attempted to act in + privileged places, such as the Mint, Temple, &c. It is also + a piece of discipline administered to a pickpocket caught + in the fact, when there is no pond at hand. To pump + ship; to make water, and sometimes to vomit. SEA PHRASE. + +PUMP WATER. He was christened in pump water; commonly + said of a person that has a red face. + +PUNCH. A liquor called by foreigners Contradiction, from + its being composed of spirits to make it strong, water to + make it weak, lemon juice to make it sour, and sugar to + make it sweet. Punch is also the name of the prince of + puppets, the chief wit and support of a puppet-show. + To punch it, is a cant term for running away. Punchable; + old passable money, anno 1695. A girl that is ripe for + man is called a punchable wench. Cobler's Punch. + Urine with a cinder in it. + +PUNK. A whore; also a soldier's trull. See TRULL. + +PUNY. Weak. A puny child; a weak little child. A + puny stomach; a weak stomach. Puny, or puisne judge; + the last made judge. + +PUPIL MONGERS. Persons at the universities who make it + their business to instruct and superintend a number of + pupils. + +PUPPY. An affected or conceited coxcomb. + +PURBLIND. Dim-sighted. + +PURL. Ale in which wormwood has been infused, or ale + and bitters drunk warm. + +PURL ROYAL. Canary wine; with a dash of tincture of + wormwood. + +PURSE PROUD. One that is vain of his riches. + +PURSENETS. Goods taken up at thrice their value, by young + spendthrifts, upon trust. + +PURSER'S PUMP. A bassoon: from its likeness to a syphon, + called a purser's pump. + +PURSY, or PURSIVE. Short-breathed, or foggy, from being + over fat. + +PUSHING SCHOOL. A fencing school; also a brothel. + +PUT. A country put; an ignorant awkward clown. To + put upon any one; to attempt to impose on him, or to + make him the but of the company. + +PUZZLE-CAUSE. A lawyer who has a confused understanding. + +PUZZLE-TEXT. An ignorant blundering parson. + +QUACK. An ungraduated ignorant pretender to skill in + physic, a vender of nostrums. + +QUACK-SALVER. A mountebank: a seller of salves. + +QUACKING CHEAT. A duck. + +QUAG. Abbreviation of quagmire; marshy moorish around. + +QUAIL-PIPE. A woman's tongue; also a device to take + birds of that name by imitating their call. Quail pipe + boots; boots resembling a quail pipe, from the number of + plaits; they were much worn in the reign of Charles II. + +QUAKERS. A religious sect so called from their agitations + in preaching. + +QUAKING CHEAT. A calf or sheep. + +QUANDARY. To be in a quandary: to be puzzled. Also + one so over-gorged, as to be doubtful which he should do + first, sh--e or spew. Some derive the term quandary from + the French phrase qu'en dirai je? what shall I say of it? + others from an Italian word signifying a conjuror's circle. + +QUARREL-PICKER. A glazier: from the small squares in + casements, called CARREUX, vulgarly quarrels. + +QUARROMES, or QUARRON. A body. CANT. + +QUARTERED. Divided into four parts; to be hanged, drawn, + and quartered, is the sentence on traitors and rebels. + Persons receiving part of the salary of an office from the + holder of it, by virtue of an agreement with the donor, are + said to be quartered on him. Soldiers billetted on a publican + are likewise said to be quartered on him. + +TO QUASH. To suppress, annul or overthrow; vulgarly pronounced + squash: they squashed the indictment. + +QUEAN. A slut, or worthless woman, a strumpet. + +QUEEN DICK. To the tune of the life and death of Queen + Dick. That happened in the reign of Queen Dick; i.e., + never. + +QUEEN STREET. A mart governed by his wife, is said to + live in Queen street, or at the sign of the Queen's Head. + +QUEER, or QUIRE. Base, roguish, bad, naught or worthless. + How queerly the cull touts; how roguishly the fellow + looks. It also means odd, uncommon. CANT. + +QUEER AS DICK'S HATBAND. Out of order, without knowing + one's disease. + +TO QUEER. To puzzle or confound. I have queered the + old full bottom; i.e. I have puzzled the judge. To queer + one's ogles among bruisers; to darken one's day lights. + +QUEER WEDGES. Large buckles. + +QUEER BAIL. Insolvent sharpers, who make a profession of + bailing persons arrested: they are generally styled Jew bail, + from that branch of business being chiefly carried on by + the sons of Judah. The lowest sort of these, who borrow + or hire clothes to appear in, are called Mounters, from + their mounting particular dresses suitable to the occasion. + CANT. + +QUEER BIRDS. Rogues relieved from prison, and returned + to their old trade. + +QUEER BIT-MAKERS. Coiners. CANT. + +QUEER BITCH. An odd, out-of-the-way fellow. + +QUEER BLUFFER. The master of a public-house the resort + of rogues and sharpers, a cut-throat inn or alehouse + keeper. + +QUEER BUNG. An empty purse. + +QUEER CHECKERS. Among strolling players, door-keepers + who defraud the company, by falsely checking the number + of people in the house. + +QUEER COLE FENCER. A putter off, or utterer, of bad + money. + +QUEER COLE MAKER. A maker of bad money. + +QUEER COVE. A rogue. CANT. + +QUEER CUFFIN. A justice of the peace; also a churl. + +QUEER DEGEN. An ordinary sword, brass or iron hilted. + +QUEER KEN. A prison. CANT. + +QUEER KICKS. A bad pair of breeches. + +QUEER MORT. A diseased strumpet. CANT. + +QUEER NAB. A felt hat, or other bad hat. + +QUEER PLUNGERS. Cheats who throw themselves into the + water, in order that they may be taken up by their accomplices, + who carry them to one of the houses appointed + by the Humane Society for the recovery of drowned + persons, where they are rewarded by the society with a + guinea each; and the supposed drowned persons, pretending + he was driven to that extremity by great necessity, + also frequently sent away with a contribution in his + pocket. + +QUEER PRANCER. A bad, worn-out, foundered horse; also + a cowardly or faint-hearted horse-stealer. + +QUEER ROOSTER. An informer that pretends to be sleeping, + and thereby overhears the conversation of thieves in + night cellars. + +QUEER STREET. Wrong. Improper. Contrary to one's + wish. It is queer street, a cant phrase, to signify + that it is wrong or different to our wish. + +QUITAM. Aquitam horse; one that will both carry and + draw. LAW WIT. + +TO QUIBBLE. To make subtle distinctions; also to play + upon words. + +QUICK AND NIMBLE. More like a bear than a squirrel. + Jeeringly said to any one moving sluggishly on a business + or errand that requires dispatch. + +QUID. The quantity of tobacco put into the mouth at one + time. To quid tobacco; to chew tobacco. Quid est + hoc? hoc est quid; a guinea. Half a quid; half a guinea. + The swell tipped me fifty quid for the prad; the gentleman + gave fifty pounds for the horse. + +QUIDS. Cash, money. Can you tip me any quids? can + you lend me some money? + +QUIFFING. Rogering. See TO ROGER. + +QUIDNUNC. A politician: from a character of that name + in the farce of the Upholsterer. + +QUILL DRIVER. A clerk, scribe, or hackney writer. + +QUIM. The private parts of a woman: perhaps from the + Spanish quemar, to burn. (CAMBRIDGE) A piece's furbelow. + +QUINSEY. Choked by a hempen quinsey; hanged. + +QUIPPS. Girds, taunts, jests. + +QUIRE, or CHOIR BIRD. A complete rogue, one that has + sung in different choirs or cages, i.e. gaols. CANT. + +QUIRKS AND QUILLETS. Tricks and devices. Quirks in + law; subtle distinctions and evasions. + +QUIZ. A strange-looking fellow, an odd dog. OXFORD. + +QUOD. Newgate, or any other prison. The dab's in quod; + the poor rogue is in prison. + +QUOTA. Snack, share, part, proportion, or dividend. Tip + me my quota; give me part of the winnings, booty, or + plunder. CANT. + +RABBIT. A Welch rabbit; bread and cheese toasted, i.e. + a Welch rare bit. Rabbits were also a sort of wooden + canns to drink out of, now out of use. + +RABBIT CATCHER. A midwife. + +RABBIT SUCKERS. Young spendthrifts taking up goods on + trust at great prices. + +RACK RENT. Rent strained to the utmost value. To + lie at rack and manger; to be in great disorder. + +RACKABACK. A gormagon. See GORMAGON. + +RAFFS. An appellation given by the gownsmen of the university + of Oxford to the inhabitants of that place. + +RAG. Bank notes. Money in general. The cove has no + rag; the fellow has no money. + +RAG. A farthing. + +TO RAG. To abuse, and tear to rags the characters of the + persons abused. She gave him a good ragging, or ragged + him off heartily. + +RAG CARRIER. An ensign. + +RAG FAIR. An inspection of the linen and necessaries of a + company of soldiers, commonly made by their officers on + Mondays or Saturdays. + +RAG WATER. Gin, or any other common dram: these + liquors seldom failing to reduce those that drink them to + rags. + +RAGAMUFFIN. A ragged fellow, one all in tatters, a +tatterdemallion. + +RAILS. See HEAD RAILS. A dish of rails; a lecture, jobation, + or scolding from a married woman to her husband. + +RAINBOW. Knight of the rainbow; a footman: from being + commonly clothed in garments of different colours. A + meeting of gentlemen, styled of the most ancient order of + the rainbow, was advertised to be held at the Foppington's + Head, Moorfields. + +RAINY DAY. To lay up something for a rainy day; to + provide against a time of necessity or distress. + +RAKE, RAKEHELL, or RAKESHAME. A lewd, debauched + fellow. + +RALPH SPOONER. A fool. + +RAM CAT. A he cat. + +RAMMISH. Rank. Rammish woman; a sturdy virago. + +RAMMER. The arm. The busnapper's kenchin seized my + rammer; i.e. the watchman laid hold of my arm. CANT. + +TO RAMP. To snatch, or tear any thing forcibly from the + person. + +RAMSHACKLED. Out of repair. A ramshackled house; + perhaps a corruption of RANSACKED, i.e. plundered. + +RANDLE. A set of nonsensical verses, repeated in Ireland + by schoolboys, and young people, who have been guilty + of breaking wind backwards before any of their compa- + nions; if they neglect this apology, they are liable to certain + kicks, pinches, and fillips, which are accompanied with + divers admonitory couplets. + +RANDY. Obstreperous, unruly, rampant. + +RANGLING. Intriguing with a variety of women. + +RANK. Stinking, rammish, ill-flavoured; also strong, great. + A rank knave; a rank coward: perhaps the latter may + allude to an ill savour caused by fear. + +RANK RIDER. A highwayman. + +RANTALLION. One whose scrotum is so relaxed as to be + longer than his penis, i.e. whose shot pouch is longer + that the barrel of his piece. + +RANTIPOLE. A rude romping boy or girl; also a gadabout + dissipated woman. To ride rantipole; the same as riding + St. George. See ST. GEORGE. + +RANTUM SCANTUM. Playing at rantum scantum; making + the beast with two backs. + +To RAP To take a false oath; also to curse. He rapped + out a volley; i.e. he swore a whole volley of oaths. To + rap, means also to exchange or barter: a rap is likewise an + Irish halfpenny. Rap on the knuckles; a reprimand. + +RAPPAREES. Irish robbers, or outlaws, who in the time of + Oliver Cromwell were armed with short weapons, called + in Irish RAPIERS, used for ripping persons up. + +RAPPER. A swinging great lie. + +RAREE SHEW MEN. Poor Savoyards, who subsist by shewing + the magic lantern and marmots about London. + +RASCAL. A rogue or villain: a term borrowed from the + chase; a rascal originally meaning a lean shabby deer, at + the time of changing his horns, penis, &c. whence, in the + vulgar acceptation, rascal is conceived to signify a man + without genitals: the regular vulgar answer to this reproach, + if uttered by a woman, is the offer of an ocular demonstration + of the virility of the party so defamed. Some derive + it from RASCAGLIONE, an Italian word signifying a man. + without testicles, or an eunuch. + +RAT. A drunken man or woman taken up by the watch, + and confined in the, watch-house. CANT. To smell a rat; + to suspect some intended trick, or unfair design. + +RATS. Of these there are the following kinds: a black rat + and a grey rat, a py-rat and a cu-rat. + +RATTLE. A dice-box. To rattle; to talk without consideration, + also to move off or go away. To rattle one off; + to rate or scold him. + +RATTLE-PATE. A volatile, unsteady, or whimsical man or + woman. + +RATTLE-TRAPS. A contemptuous name for any curious + portable piece of machinery, or philosophical apparatus. + +RATTLER. A coach. Rattle and prad; a coach and horses. + +RATTLING COVE. A coachman. CANT. + +RATTLING MUMPERS. Beggars who ply coaches. CANT. + +RAWHEAD AND BLOODY BONES. A bull beggar, or scarechild, + with which foolish nurses terrify crying brats. + +READER. A pocket-book. CANT. + +READER MERCHANTS. Pickpockets, chiefly young Jews, + who ply about the Bank to steal the pocket-books of + persons who have just received their dividends there. + +READY. The ready rhino; money. CANT. + +REBUS. A riddle or pun on a man's name, expressed in + sculpture or painting, thus: a bolt or arrow, and a tun, + for Bolton; death's head, and a ton, for Morton. + +RECEIVER GENERAL. A prostitute. + +RECKON. To reckon with one's host; to make an erroneous + judgment in one's own favour. To cast-up one's reckoning + or accounts; to vomit. + +TO RECRUIT. To get a fresh supply of money. + +RECRUITING SERVICE. Robbing on the highway. + +RED FUSTIAN. Port wine. + +RED LANE. The throat. Gone down the red lane; swallowed. + +RED RIBBIN. Brandy. + +RED LATTICE. A public house. + +RED LETTER DAY. A saint's day or holiday, marked in + the calendars with red letters. Red letter men; Roman + Catholics: from their observation of the saint days + marked in red letters. + +RED RAG. The tongue. Shut your potatoe trap, and + give your red rag a holiday; i.e. shut your mouth, and + let your tongue rest. Too much of the red rag (too much + tongue). + +RED SAIL-YARD DOCKERS. Buyers of stores stolen out of + the royal yards and docks. + +RED SHANK. A Scotch Highlander. + +REGULARS. Share of the booty. The coves cracked the + swell's crib, fenced the swag, and each cracksman napped + his regular; some fellows broke open a gentleman's house, + and after selling the property which they had stolen, + they divided the money between them. + +RELIGIOUS HORSE. One much given to prayer, or apt to + be down upon his knees. + +RELIGIOUS PAINTER. One who does not break the commandment + which prohibits the making of the likeness of + any thing in heaven or earth, or in the waters under the + earth. + +THE RELISH. The sign of the Cheshire cheese. + +RELISH. Carnal connection with a woman. + +REMEDY CRITCH. A chamber pot, or member mug. + +REMEMBER PARSON MELHAM. Drink about: a Norfolk + phrase. + +RENDEZVOUS. A place of meeting. The rendezvous of + the beggars were, about the year 1638, according to the + Bellman, St, Quinton's, the Three Crowns in the Vintry, + St. Tybs, and at Knapsbury: there were four barns within + a mile of London. In Middlesex were four other harbours, + called Draw the Pudding out of the Fire, the Cross + Keys in Craneford parish, St. Julian's in Isleworth parish, + and the house of Pettie in Northall parish. In Kent, the + King's Barn near Dartford, and Ketbrooke near Blackheath. + +REP. A woman of reputation. + +REPOSITORY. A lock-up or spunging-house, a gaol. Also + livery stables where horses and carriages are sold by + auction. + +RESCOUNTERS. The time of settlement between the bulls + and bears of Exchange-alley, when the losers must pay + their differences, or become lame ducks, and waddle out + of the Alley. + +RESURRECTION MEN. Persons employed by the students + in anatomy to steal dead bodies out of church-yards. + +REVERENCE. An ancient custom, which obliges any person + easing himself near the highway or foot-path, on the + word REVERENCE being given him by a passenger, to take off + his hat with his teeth, and without moving from his station + to throw it over his head, by which it frequently falls + into the excrement; this was considered as a punishment + for the breach of delicacy, A person refusing to obey this + law, might be pushed backwards. Hence, perhaps, the + term, SIR-REVERENCE. + +REVERSED. A man set by bullies on his head, that his + money may fall out of his breeches, which they afterwards + by accident pick up. See HOISTING. + +REVIEW OF THE BLACK CUIRASSIERS. A visitation of the + clergy. See CROW FAIR. + +RHINO. Money. CANT. + +RIB. A wife: an allusion to our common mother Eve, + made out of Adam's rib. A crooked rib: a cross-grained + wife. + +RIBALDRY. Vulgar abusive language, such as was spoken + by ribalds. Ribalds were originally mercenary soldiers + who travelled about, serving any master far pay, but + afterwards degenerated into a mere banditti. + +RIBBIN. Money. The ribbin runs thick; i.e. there is + plenty of money. CANT. Blue ribbin. Gin. The cull + lushes the blue ribbin; the silly fellow drinks common + gin. + +To RIBROAST. To beat: I'll ribroast him to his heart's + content. + +RICH FACE, or NOSE. A red pimpled, face. + +RICHAUD SNARY. A dictionary. A country lad, having + been reproved for calling persons by their christian names, + being sent by his master to borrow a dictionary, thought + to shew his breeding by asking for a Richard Snary. + +RIDER. A person who receives part of the salary of a place + or appointment from the ostensible occupier, by virtue + of an agreement with the donor, or great man appointing. + The rider is said to be quartered upon the possessor, who + often has one or more persons thus riding behind him. See + QUARTERED. + +RIDGE. A guinea. Ridge cully; a goldsmith. CANT. + +RIDING ST. GEORGE. The woman uppermost in the amorous + congress, that is, the dragon upon St. George. This + is said to be the way to get a bishop. + +RIDING SKIMMINGTON. A ludicrous cavalcade, in ridicule + of a man beaten by his wife. It consists of a man riding + behind a woman, with his face to the horse's tail, holding + a distaff in his hand, at which he seems to work, the woman + all the while beating him with a ladle; a smock displayed + on a staff is carried before them as an emblematical standard, + denoting female superiority: they are accompanied + by what is called the ROUGH MUSIC, that is, frying-pans, bulls + horns, marrow-bones and cleavers, &c. A procession of + this kind is admirably described by Butler in his Hudibras. + He rode private, i.e. was a private trooper. + +RIFF RAFF. Low vulgar persons, mob, tag-rag and bob-tail. + +RIG. Fun, game, diversion, or trick. To run one's rig + upon any particular person; to make him a butt. l am + up to your rig; I am a match for your tricks. + +RIGGING. Clothing. I'll unrig the bloss; I'll strip the + wench. Rum Rigging; fine clothes. The cull has rum + rigging, let's ding him and mill him, and pike; the + fellow has good clothes, let's knock him down, rob him, + and scour off, i.e. run away. + +RIGHT. All right! A favourite expression among thieves, + to signify that all is as they wish, or proper for their + purpose. All right, hand down the jemmy; every thing is + in proper order, give me the crow. + +RIGMAROLE. Roundabout, nonsensical. He told a long + rigmarole story. + +RING. Money procured by begging: beggars so called it + from its ringing when thrown to them. Also a circle formed + for boxers, wrestlers, and cudgel-players, by a man + styled Vinegar; who, with his hat before his eyes, goes + round the circle, striking at random with his whip to + prevent the populace from crowding in. + +TO RING A PEAL. To scold; chiefly applied to women. + His wife rung him a fine peal! + +RING THE CHANGES. When a person receives silver in + change to shift some good shillings and put bad ones in + their place. The person who gave the change is then + requested to give good shillings for these bad ones. + +RIP. A miserable rip; a poor, lean, worn-out horse. A + shabby mean fellow. + +RIPPONS. Spurs: Rippon is famous for a manufactory of + spurs both for men and fighting cocks. + +ROARATORIOS AND UPROARS. Oratorios and operas. + +ROARING BOY. A noisy, riotous fellow. + +ROARER. A broken-winded horse. + +ROARING TRADE. A quick trade. + +TO ROAST. To arrest. I'll roast the dab; I'll arrest the + rascal.--Also to jeer, ridicule, or banter. He stood the + roast; he was the butt.--Roast meat clothes; Sunday or + holiday-clothes. To cry roast meat; to boast of one's + situation. To rule the roast; to be master or paramount. + +ROAST AND BOILED. A nick name for the Life Guards, + who are mostly substantial house-keepers; and eat daily + of roast and boiled. + +ROBERT'S MEN. The third old rank of the canting crew, + mighty thieves, like Robin Hood. + +ROBY DOUGLASS, with one eye and a stinking breath. The + breech. + +ROCHESTER PORTION. Two torn smocks, and what nature gave. + +ROCKED. He was rocked in a stone kitchen; a saying + meant to convey the idea that the person spoken of is a + fool, his brains having been disordered by the jumbling of + his cradle. + +ROGER. A portmanteau; also a man's yard. Cant. + +ROGER, or TIB OF THE BUTTERY. A goose. Cant. Jolly + Roger; a flag hoisted by pirates. + +TO ROGER. To bull, or lie with a woman; from the name + of Roger being frequently given to a bull. + +ROGUES. The fourth order of canters. A rogue in grain; + a great rogue, also a corn chandler. A rogue in spirit; a + distiller or brandy merchant. + +ROGUM POGUM, or DRAGRUM POGRAM. Goat's beard, + eaten for asparagus; so called by the ladies who gather + cresses, &c. who also deal in this plant. + +ROMBOYLES. Watch and ward. Romboyled; sought after + with a warrant. + +ROME MORT. A queen. + +ROMEVILLE. London. Cant. + +ROMP. A forward wanton girl, a tomrig. Grey, in his + notes to Shakespeare, derives it from arompo, an animal + found in South Guinea, that is a man eater. See HOYDEN. + +ROOK. A cheat: probably from the thievish disposition of + the birds of that name. Also the cant name for a crow + used in house-breaking. To rook; to cheat, particularly + at play. + +ROOM. She lets out her fore room and lies backwards: + saying of a woman suspected of prostitution. + +ROOST LAY. Stealing poultry. + +ROPES. Upon the high ropes; elated, in high spirits, + cock-a-hoop. + +ROSE. Under the rose: privately or secretly. The rose + was, it is said, sacred to Harpocrates, the God of silence, + and therefore frequently placed in the ceilings of rooms + destined for the receiving of guests; implying, that + whatever was transacted there, should not be made public. + +ROSY GILLS. One with a sanguine or fresh-coloured countenance. + +ROTAN. A coach, cart, or other wheeled carriage. + +ROT GUT. Small beer; called beer-a-bumble--will burst + one's guts before it will make one tumble. + +ROVERS. Pirates, vagabonds. + +ROUGH. To lie rough; to lie all night in one's clothes: + called also roughing it. Likewise to sleep on the bare + deck of a ship, when the person is commonly advised to + chuse the softest plank. + +ROUGH MUSIC. Saucepans, frying-paps, poker and tongs, + marrow-bones and cleavers, bulls horns, &c. beaten upon + and sounded in ludicrous processions. + +ROULEAU. A number of guineas, from twenty to fifty or + more, wrapped up in paper, for the more ready circulation + at gaming-tables: sometimes they are inclosed in ivory boxes, + made to hold exactly 20, 50, or 100 guineas. + +ROUND DEALING. Plain, honest dealing. + +ROUNDHEADS. A term of reproach to the puritans and + partizans of Oliver Cromwell, and the Rump Parliament, + who it is said made use of a bowl as a guide to trim their + hair. + +ROUND ROBIN. A mode of signing remonstrances practised + by sailors on board the king's ships, wherein their + names are written in a circle, so that it cannot be + discovered who first signed it, or was, in other words, the + ringleader. + +ROUND SUM. A considerable sum. + +ROUND ABOUT. An instrument used in housebreaking. + This instrument has not been long in use. It will cut a + round piece about five inches in diameter out of a shutter + or door. + +ROUND MOUTH. The fundament. Brother round mouth, + speaks; he has let a fart. + +ROUT. A modern card meeting at a private house; also an + order from the Secretary at War, directing the march + and quartering of soldiers. + +ROW. A disturbance; a term used by the students at + Cambridge. + +ROW. To row in the same boat; to be embarked in the + same scheme. + +ROWLAND. To give a Rowland for an Oliver; to give an + equivalent. Rowland and Oliver were two knights famous + in romance: the wonderful achievements of the + one could only be equalled by those of the other. + +ROYAL SCAMPS. Highwaymen who never rob any but + rich persons, and that without ill treating them. See + SCAMP. + +ROYAL STAG SOCIETY. Was held every Monday evening, + at seven o'clock, at the Three tuns, near the Hospital + Gate, Newgate-street. + +ROYSTER. A rude boisterous fellow; also a hound that + opens on a false scent. + +TO RUB. To run away. Don't rub us to the whit; don't + send us to Newgate. CANT.--To rub up; to refresh: to + rub up one's memory. A rub: an impediment. A rubber; + the best two out of three. To win a rubber: to + win two games out of three. + +RUBY FACED. Red-faced. + +RUFF. An ornament formerly worn by men and women + round their necks. Wooden ruff; the pillory. + +RUFFIAN. The devil. CANT.--May the ruffian nab the + cuffin queer, and let the harmanbeck trine with his kinchins + about his colquarren; may the Devil take the justice, + and let the constable be hanged with his children about + his neck. The ruffian cly thee; the Devil take thee. + Ruffian cook ruffian, who scalded the Devil in his feathers; + a saying of a bad cook. Ruffian sometimes also means, + a justice. + +RUFFLES. Handcuffs. CANT. + +RUFFLERS. The first rank of canters; also notorious rogues + pretending to be maimed soldiers or sailors. + +RUFFMANS. The woods, hedges, or bushes. CANT. + +RUG. It is all rug; it is all right and safe, the game is + secure. CANT. + +RUG. Asleep. The whole gill is safe at rug; the people + of the house are fast asleep. + +RUM. Fine, good, valuable. + +RUM BECK. A justice of the peace. CANT. + +RUM BITE. A clever cheat, a clean trick. + +RUM BLEATING CHEAT. A fat wether sheep. CANT. + +RUM BLOWEN. A handsome wench. CANT. + +RUM BLUFFER. A jolly host. CANT. + +RUM BOB. A young apprentice; also a sharp trick. + +RUM BOOZE. Wine, or any other good liquor. Rum boozing + welts; bunches of grapes. CANT. + +RUM BUBBER. A dexterous fellow at stealing silver tankards + from inns and taverns. + +RUM BUGHER. A valuable dog. CANT. + +RUM BUNG. A full purse. CANT. + +RUM CHUB. Among butchers, a customer easily imposed + on, as to the quality and price of meat. CANT. + +RUM CHANT. A song. + +RUM CLOUT. A fine silk, cambric, or holland handkerchief. + CANT. + +RUM COD. A good purse of gold. CANT. + +RUM COLE. New money, or medals. + +RUM COVE. A dexterous or clever rogue. + +RUM CULL. A rich fool, easily cheated, particularly by + his mistress. + +RUM DEGEN. A handsome sword. CANT. + +RUM DELL. See RUM DOXY. + +RUM DIVER. A dextrous pickpocket. CANT. + +RUM DOXY. A fine wench. CANT. + +RUM DRAWERS. Silk, or other fine stockings. CANT. + +RUM DROPPER. A vintner. CANT. + +RUM DUBBER. An expert picklock. + +RUM DUKE. A jolly handsome fellow; also an odd eccentric + fellow; likewise the boldest and stoutest fellows lately + among the Alsatians, Minters, Savoyards, and other + inhabitants of privileged districts, sent to remove and guard + the goods of such bankrupts as intended to take sanctuary + in those places. CANT. + +RUM FILE. See RUM DIVER. + +RUM FUN. A sharp trick. CANT. + +RUM GAGGERS. Cheats who tell wonderful stories of + their sufferings at sea, or when taken by the Algerines, + CANT. + +RUM GHELT. See RUM COLE. CANT. + +RUM GLYMMER. King or chief of the link-boys. CANT. + +RUM KICKS. Breeches of gold or silver brocade, or richly + laced with gold or silver. CANT. + +RUM MAWND. One that counterfeits a fool. CANT + +RUM MORT. A queen, or great lady. CANT. + +RUM NAB. A good hat. + +RUM NANTZ. Good French brandy. CANT. + +RUM NED. A very rich silly fellow. CANT. + +RUM PAD. The highway. CANT. + +RUM PADDERS. Highwaymen well mounted and armed. + CANT. + +RUM PEEPERS. Fine looking-glasses. CANT. + +RUM PRANCER. A fine horse. CANT. + +RUM QUIDS. A great booty. CANT. + +RUM RUFF PECK. Westphalia ham. CANT. + +RUM SNITCH. A smart fillip on the nose. + +RUM SQUEEZE. Much wine, or good liquor, given among + fiddlers. CANT. + +RUM TILTER. See RUM DEGEN. + +RUM TOL. See RUM DEGEN. + +RUM TOPPING. A rich commode, or woman's head-dress. + +RUM VILLE. See ROMEVILLE. + +RUM WIPER. See RUM CLOUT. + +RUMBO. Rum, water, and sugar; also a prison. + +RUMBOYLE. A ward or watch. + +RUMBUMTIOUS. Obstreperous. + +RUMFORD. To ride to Rumford to have one's backside new + bottomed: i.e. to have a pair of new leather breeches. + Rumford was formerly a famous place for leather breeches. + A like saying is current in Norfolk and Suffolk, of Bungay, + and for the same reason.--Rumford lion; a calf. + See ESSEX LION. + +RUMP. To rump any one; to turn the back to him: an + evolution sometimes used at court. Rump and a dozen; + a rump of beef and a dozen of claret; an Irish wager, + called also buttock and trimmings. Rump and kidney + men; fiddlers that play at feasts, fairs, weddings, &c. + and live chiefly on the remnants. + +RUMPUS. A riot, quarrel, or confusion. + +RUN GOODS. A maidenhead, being a commodity never entered. + +RUNNING HORSE, or NAG. A clap, or gleet. + +RUNNING SMOBBLE. Snatching goods off a counter, and + throwing them to an accomplice, who brushes off with + them. + +RUNNING STATIONERS. Hawker of newspapers, trials, and + dying speeches. + +RUNT. A short squat man or woman: from the small cattle + called Welsh runts. + +RUSHERS. Thieves who knock at the doors of great houses + in London, in summer time, when the families are gone + out of town, and on the door being opened by a woman, + rush in and rob the house; also housebreakers who enter + lone houses by force. + +RUSSIAN COFFEE-HOUSE. The Brown Bear in Bow-street, + Covent Garden, a house of call for thief-takers and runners + of the Bow street justices. + +RUSTY. Out of use, To nab the rust; to be refractory; + properly applied to a restive horse, and figuratively + to the human species. To ride rusty; to be sullen; called + also to ride grub. + +RUSTY GUTS. A blunt surly fellow: a jocular misnomer of + RESTICUS. + +RUTTING. Copulating. Rutting time; the season, when + deer go to rut. + +SACHEVEREL. 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. + +SACK. A pocket. To buy the sack: to get drunk. To + dive into the sack; to pick a pocket. To break a bottle + in an empty sack; a bubble bet, a sack with a bottle in + it not being an empty sack. + +SAD DOG. A wicked debauched fellow; one of the ancient + family of the sad dogs. Swift translates it into Latin by + the words TRISTIS CANIS. + +SADDLE. To saddle the spit; to give a dinner or supper. + To saddle one's nose; to wear spectacles. To saddle a + place or pension; to oblige the holder to pay a certain + portion of his income to some one nominated by the donor. + Saddle sick: galled with riding, having lost leather. + +SAINT. A piece of spoilt timber in a coach-maker's shop, + like a saint, devoted to the flames. + +SAINT GEOFFREY'S DAY. Never, there being no saint of + that name: tomorrow-come-never, when two Sundays + come together. + +SAINT LUKE'S BIRD. An ox; that Evangelist being always + represented with an ox. + +SAINT MONDAY. A holiday most religiously observed by + journeymen shoemakers, and other inferior mechanics. a + profanation of that day, by working, is punishable by a + line, particularly among the gentle craft. An Irishman + observed, that this saint's anniversary happened every + week. + +SAL. An abbreviation of SALIVATION. In a high sal; in the + pickling tub, or under a salivation. + +SALESMAN'S DOG. A barker. Vide BARKER. + +SALMON-GUNDY. Apples, onions, veal or chicken, and + pickled herrings, minced fine, and eaten with oil and + vinegar; some derive the name of this mess from the + French words SELON MON GOUST, because the proportions of + the different ingredients are regulated by the palate of the + maker; others say it bears the name of the inventor, who + was a rich Dutch merchant; but the general and most + probable opinion is, that it was invented by the countess + of Salmagondi, one of the ladies of Mary de Medicis, wife + of King Henry IV. of France, and by her brought into + France. + +SALMON or SALAMON. The beggars'sacrament or oath. + +SALT. Lecherous. A salt bitch: a bitch at heat, or proud + bitch. Salt eel; a rope's end, used to correct boys, &c. at + sea: you shall have a salt eel for supper. + +SAMMY. Foolish. Silly. + +SANDWICH. Ham, dried tongue, or some other salted meat, + cut thin and put between two slices of bread and butter: + said to be a favourite morsel with the Earl of Sandwich. + +SANDY PATE. A red haired man or woman. + +SANGAREE. Rack punch was formerly so called in bagnios. + +SANK, SANKY, or CENTIPEE'S. A taylor employed by + clothiers in making soldier's clothing. + +SAPSCULL. A simple fellow. Sappy; foolish. + +SATYR. A libidinous fellow: those imaginary things are + by poets reported to be extremely salacious. + +SAUCE BOX. A term of familiar raillery, signifying a bold + or forward person. + +SAVE-ALL. A kind of candlestick used by our frugal forefathers, + to burn snuffs and ends of candles. Figuratively, + boys running about gentlemen's houses in Ireland, who + are fed on broken meats that would otherwise be wasted, + also a miser. + +SAUNTERER. An idle, lounging fellow; by some derived + from SANS TERRE; applied to persons, who, having no lands + or home, lingered and loitered about. Some derive it + from persons devoted to the Holy Land, SAINT TERRE, who + loitered about, as waiting for company. + +SAW. An old saw; an ancient proverbial saying. + +SAWNY or SANDY. A general nick-name for a Scotchman, + as Paddy is for an Irishman, or Taffy for a Welchman; + Sawny or Sandy being the familiar abbreviation or + diminution of Alexander, a very favourite name among the + Scottish nation. + +SCAB. A worthless man or woman. + +SCALD MISERABLES. A set of mock masons, who, A.D. + 1744, made a ludicrous procession in ridicule of the + Free Masons. + +SCALDER. A clap. The cull has napped a scalder; the + fellow has got a clap. + +SCALY. Mean. Sordid. How scaly the cove is; how + mean the fellow is. + +SCALY FISH. An honest, rough, blunt sailor. + +SCAMP. A highwayman. Royal scamp: a highwayman + who robs civilly. Royal foot scamp; a footpad who + behaves in like manner. + +TO SCAMPER. To run away hastily. + +SCANDAL BROTH. Tea. + +SCANDAL PROOF. One who has eaten shame and drank + after it, or would blush at being ashamed. + +SCAPEGALLOWS. One who deserves and has narrowly escaped + the gallows, a slip-gibbet, one for whom the gallows + is said to groan. + +SCAPEGRACE. A wild dissolute fellow. + +SCARCE. To make one's self scarce; to steal away. + +SCARLET HORSE. A high red, hired or hack horse: a pun + on the word HIRED. + +SCAVEY. Sense, knowledge. "Massa, me no scavey;" + master, I don't know (NEGRO LANGUAGE) perhaps from the + French SCAVOIR. + +SCHEME. A party of pleasure. + +SCHISM MONGER. A dissenting teacher. + +SCHISM SHOP. A dissenting meeting house. + +A SCOLD'S CURE. A coffin. The blowen has napped the + scold's cure; the bitch is in her coffin. + +SCHOOL OF VENUS. A bawdy-house. + +SCHOOL BUTTER. Cobbing, whipping. + +SCONCE. The head, probably as being the fort and citadel + of a man: from SCONCE, an old name for a fort, derived + from a Dutch word of the same signification; To build a + sconce: a military term for bilking one's quarters. To + sconce or skonce; to impose a fine. ACADEMICAL PHRASE. + +SCOT. A young bull. + +SCOTCH GREYS. Lice. The headquarters of the Scotch + greys: the head of a man full of large lice. + +SCOTCH PINT. A bottle containing two quarts. + +SCOTCH BAIT. A halt and a resting on a stick, as practised + by pedlars. + +SCOTCH CHOCOLATE. Brimstone and milk. + +SCOTCH FIDDLE. The itch. + +SCOTCH MIST. A sober soaking rain; a Scotch mist will + wet an Englishman to the skin. + +SCOTCH WARMING PAN. A wench; also a fart. + +SCOUNDREL. A man void of every principle of honour. + +SCOUR. To scour or score off; to run away: perhaps from + SCORE; i.e. full speed, or as fast as legs would carry one. + Also to wear: chiefly applied to irons, fetters, or + handcuffs, because wearing scours them. He will scour the + darbies; he will be in fetters. To scour the cramp ring; + to wear bolts or fetters, from which, as well as from + coffin hinges, rings supposed to prevent the cramp are + made. + +SCOURERS. Riotous bucks, who amuse themselves with + breaking windows, beating the watch, and assaulting + every person they meet: called scouring the streets. + +SCOUT. A college errand-boy at Oxford, called a gyp at + Cambridge. Also a watchman or a watch. CANT. + +SCRAGGED. Hanged. + +SCRAGGY. Lean, bony. + +SCRAGG'EM FAIR. A public execution. + +SCRAP. A villainous scheme or plan. He whiddles the + whole scrap; he discovers the whole plan or scheme. + +SCRAPE. To get into a scrape; to be involved in a + disagreeable business. + +SCRAPER. A fiddler; also one who scrapes plates for + mezzotinto prints. + +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, as they think, too rigorous. + +SCRATCH. Old Scratch; the Devil: probably from the + long and sharp claws with which he is frequently + delineated. + +SCRATCH LAND. Scotland. + +SCRATCH PLATTER, or TAYLOR'S RAGOUT. Bread sopt in + the oil and vinegar in which cucumbers have been sliced. + +SCREEN. A bank note. Queer screens; forged bank notes. + The cove was twisted for smashing queer screens; the + fellow was hanged for uttering forged bank notes. + +SCREW. A skeleton key used by housebreakers to open a + lock. To stand on the screw signifies that a door is not + bolted, but merely locked. + +TO SCREW. To copulate. A female screw; a common + prostitute. To screw one up; to exact upon one in a + bargain or reckoning. + +SCREW JAWS. A wry-mouthed man or woman. + +SCRIP. A scrap or slip of paper. The cully freely blotted + the scrip, and tipt me forty hogs; the man freely signed + the bond, and gave me forty shillings.--Scrip is also a + Change Alley phrase for the last loan or subscription. + What does scrip go at for the next rescounters? what + does scrip sell for delivered at the next day of settling? + +SCROBY. To be tipt the scroby; to be whipt before the + justices. + +SCROPE. A farthing. CANT. + +SCRUB. A low mean fellow, employed in all sorts of dirty + work. + +SCRUBBADO. The itch. + +SCULL. A head of a house, or master of a college, at the + universities. + +SCULL, or SCULLER. A boat rowed by one man with a + light kind of oar, called a scull; also a one-horse chaise + or buggy. + +SCULL THATCHER. A peruke-maker. + +SCUM. The riff-raff, tag-rag, and bob-tail, or lowest order + of people. + +SCUT. The tail of a hare or rabbit; also that of a woman. + +SCUTTLE. To scuttle off; to run away. To scuttle a + ship; to make a hole in her bottom in order to sink her. + +SEA CRAB. A sailor. + +SEA LAWYER. A shark. + +SEALER, or SQUEEZE WAX. One ready to give bond and + judgment for goods or money. + +SECRET. He has been let into the secret: he has been + cheated at gaming or horse-racing. He or she is in the + grand secret, i.e. dead. + +SEEDY. Poor, pennyless, stiver-cramped, exhausted. + +SEES. The eyes. See DAYLIGHTS. + +SERVED. Found guilty. Convicted. Ordered to be + punished or transported. To serve a cull out; to beat a + man soundly. + +SERAGLIO. A bawdy-house; the name of that part of the + Great Turk's palace where the women are kept. + +SEND. To drive or break in. Hand down the Jemmy and + send it in; apply the crow to the door, and drive it in. + +SET. A dead set: a concerted scheme to defraud a person + by gaming. + +SETTER. A bailiff's follower, who, like a setting dog + follows and points the game for his master. Also + sometimes an exciseman. + +TO SETTLE. To knock down or stun any one. We settled + the cull by a stroke on his nob; we stunned the fellow + by a blow on the head. + +SEVEN-SIDED ANIMAL. A one-eyed man or woman, each + having a right side and a left side, a fore side and a back + side, an outside, an inside, and a blind side. + +SHABBAROON. An ill-dressed shabby fellow; also a mean- + spirited person. + +SHAFTSBURY. A gallon pot full of wine, with a cock. + +To SHAG. To copulate. He is but bad shag; he is no able + woman's man. + +SHAG-BAG, or SHAKE-BAG. A poor sneaking fellow; a man + of no spirit: a term borrowed from the cock-pit. + +SHAKE. To shake one's elbow; to game with dice. To + shake a cloth in the wind; to be hanged in chains. + +SHAKE. To draw any thing from the pocket. He shook + the swell of his fogle; he robbed the gentleman of his silk + handkerchief. + +SHALLOW PATE. A simple fellow. + +SHALLOW. A WHIP hat, so called from the want of depth + in the crown. LILLY SHALLOW, a WHITE Whip hat. + +SHAM. A cheat, or trick. To cut a sham; to cheat or deceive. + Shams; false sleeves to put on over a dirty shirt, or + false sleeves with ruffles to put over a plain one. To sham + Abram; to counterfeit sickness. + +TO SHAMBLE. To walk awkwardly. Shamble-legged: + one that walks wide, and shuffles about his feet. + +SHANKER. A venereal wart. + +SHANKS. Legs, or gams. + +SHANKS NAGGY. To ride shanks naggy: to travel on foot. + SCOTCH. + +SHANNON. A river in Ireland: persons dipped in that river + are perfectly and for ever cured of bashfulness. + +SHAPES. To shew one's shapes; to be stript, or made peel, + at the whipping-post. + +SHAPPO, or SHAP. A hat: corruption of CHAPEAU. CANT. + +SHARK. A sharper: perhaps from his preying upon any + one he can lay hold of. Also a custom-house officer, or + tide-waiter. Sharks; the first order of pickpockets. BOW- + STREET TERM, A.D. 1785. + +SHARP. Subtle, acute, quick-witted; also a sharper or + cheat, in opposition to a flat, dupe, or gull. Sharp's the + word and quick's the motion with him; said of any one + very attentive to his own interest, and apt to take all + advantages. Sharp set; hungry. + +SHARPER. A cheat, one that lives by his wits. Sharpers + tools; a fool and false dice. + +SHAVER. A cunning shaver; a subtle fellow, one who + trims close, an acute cheat. A young shaver; a boy. + SEA TERM. + +SHAVINGS. The clippings of money. + +SHE HOUSE. A house where the wife rules, or, as the term + is, wears the breeches. + +SHE LION. A shilling. + +SHE NAPPER. A woman thief-catcher; also a bawd or pimp. + +SHEEP'S HEAD. Like a sheep's head, all jaw; saying of a + talkative man or woman. + +SHEEPISH. Bashful. A sheepish fellow; a bashful or + shamefaced fellow. To cast a sheep's eye at any thing; + to look wishfully at it. + +SHEEPSKIN FIDDLER. A drummer. + +SHELF. On the shelf, i.e. pawned. + +SHERIFF'S JOURNEYMAN. The hangman. + +SHERIFF'S BALL. An execution. To dance at the sheriff's + ball, and loll out one's tongue at the company; to be + hanged, or go to rest in a horse's night-cap, i.e. a halter. + +SHERIFF'S BRACELETS. Handcuffs. + +SHERIFF'S HOTEL. A prison. + +SHERIFF'S PICTURE FRAME. The gallows. + +TO SHERK. To evade or disappoint: to sherk one's duty. + +TO SHERRY. To run away: sherry off. + +SHIFTING. Shuffling. Tricking. Shifting cove; i.e. a + person who lives by tricking. + +SHIFTING BALLAST. A term used by sailors, to signify + soldiers, passengers, or any landsmen on board. + +SHILLALEY. An oaken sapling, or cudgel: from a wood + of that name famous for its oaks. IRISH. + +SHILLY-SHALLY. Irresolute. To stand shilly-shally; to + hesitate, or stand in doubt. + +SHINDY. A dance. SEA PHRASE. + +SHINE. It shines like a shitten barn door. + +SHIP SHAPE. Proper, as it ought to be. SEA PHRASE, + +SH-T SACK. A dastardly fellow: also a non-conformist. + This appellation is said to have originated from the + following story:--After the restoration, the laws against + the non-conformists were extremely severe. They + sometimes met in very obscure places: and there is a tradition + that one of their congregations were assembled in a barn, + the rendezvous of beggars and other vagrants, where the + preacher, for want of a ladder or tub, was suspended in + a sack fixed to the beam. His discourse that day being + on the last judgment, he particularly attempted to describe + the terrors of the wicked at the sounding of the trumpet, + on which a trumpeter to a puppet-show, who had taken + refuge in that barn, and lay hid under the straw, sounded + a charge. The congregation, struck with the utmost + consternation, fled in an instant from the place, leaving + their affrighted teacher to shift for himself. The effects + of his terror are said to have appeared at the bottom of + the sack, and to have occasioned that opprobrious appellation + by which the non-conformists were vulgarly distinguished. + +SH-T-NG THROUGH THE TEETH. Vomiting. Hark ye, + friend, have you got a padlock on your a-se, that you sh-te + through your teeth? Vulgar address to one vomiting. + +SHOD ALL ROUND. A parson who attends a funeral is said + to be shod all round, when he receives a hat-band, gloves, + and scarf: many shoeings being only partial. + +SHOEMAKER'S STOCKS. New, or strait shoes. I was in + the shoemaker's stocks; i.e. had on a new pair of shoes + that were too small for me. + +TO SHOOLE. To go skulking about. + +TO SHOOT THE CAT. To vomit from excess of liquor; + called also catting. + +SHOP. A prison. Shopped; confined, imprisoned. + +SHOPLIFTER. One that steals whilst pretending to purchase + goods in a shop. + +SHORT-HEELED WENCH. A girl apt to fall on her back. + +SHOT. To pay one's shot; to pay one's share of a reckoning. + Shot betwixt wind and water; poxed or clapped. + +SHOTTEN HERRING. A thin meagre fellow. + +To SHOVE THE TUMBLER. To be whipped at the cart's + tail. + +SHOVE IN THE MOUTH. A dram. + +SHOVEL. To be put to bed with a shovel; to be buried. + He or she was fed with a fire-shovel; a saying of a person + with a large mouth. + +SHOULDER FEAST. A dinner given after a funeral, to + those who have carried the corpse. + +SHOULDER CLAPPER. A bailiff, or member of the catch + club. Shoulder-clapped; arrested. + +SHOULDER SHAM. A partner to a file. See FILE. + +SHRED. A taylor. + +SHRIMP. A little diminutive person. + +TO SHUFFLE. To make use of false pretences, or unfair + shifts. A shuffling fellow; a slippery shifting fellow. + +SHY COCK. One who keeps within doors for fear of bailiffs. + +SICE. Sixpence. + +SICK AS A HORSE. Horses are said to be extremely sick + at their stomachs, from being unable to relieve themselves + by vomiting. Bracken, indeed, in his Farriery, gives an + instance of that evacuation being procured, but by a + means which he says would make the Devil vomit. Such + as may have occasion to administer an emetic either to + the animal or the fiend, may consult his book for the + recipe. + +SIDE POCKET. He has as much need of a wife as a dog of + a side pocket; said of a weak old debilitated man. He + wants it as much as a dog does a side pocket; a simile + used for one who desires any thing by no means necessary. + +SIDLEDYWRY. Crooked. + +SIGN OF A HOUSE TO LET. A widow's weeds. + +SIGN OF THE: FIVE SHILLINGS. The crown. + TEN SHILLINGS. The two crowns. + FIFTEEN SHILLINGS. The three crowns. + +SILENCE. To silence a man; to knock him down, or stun + him. Silence in the court, the cat is pissing; a gird upon + any one requiring silence unnecessarily. + +SILENT FLUTE. See PEGO, SUGAR STICK, &c. + +SILK SNATCHERS. Thieves who snatch hoods or bonnets + from persons walking in the streets. + +SILVER LACED. Replete with lice. The cove's kickseys + are silver laced: the fellow's breeches are covered with + lice. + +SIMEONITES, (at Cambridge,) the followers of the Rev. + Charles Simeon, fellow of King's College, author of + Skeletons of Sermons, and preacher at Trinity church; they + are in fact rank methodists. + +SIMKIN. A foolish fellow. + +SIMON. Sixpence. Simple Simon: a natural, a silly fellow; + Simon Suck-egg, sold his wife for an addle duck-egg. + +TO SIMPER. To smile: to simper like a firmity kettle. + +SIMPLETON. Abbreviation of simple Tony or Anthony, a + foolish fellow. + +SIMPLES. Physical herbs; also follies. He must go to + Battersea, to be cut for the simples--Battersea is a place + famous for its garden grounds, some of which were formerly + appropriated to the growing of simples for apothecaries, + who at a certain season used to go down to select their + stock for the ensuing year, at which time the gardeners + were said to cut their simples; whence it became + a popular joke to advise young people to go to Battersea, + at that time, to have their simples cut, or to be cut for + the simples. + +TO SING. To call out; the coves sing out beef; they call + out stop thief. + +TO SING SMALL. To be humbled, confounded, or abashed, + to have little or nothing to say for one's-self. + +SINGLE PEEPER. A person having but one eye. + +SINGLETON. A very foolish fellow; also a particular kind + of nails. + +SINGLETON. A corkscrew, made by a famous cutler of + that name, who lived in a place called Hell, in Dublin; + his screws are remarkable for their excellent temper. + +SIR JOHN. The old title for a country parson: as Sir John + of Wrotham, mentioned by Shakespeare. + +SIR JOHN BARLEYCORN. Strong beer. + +SIR LOIN. The sur, or upper loin. + +SIR REVERENCE. Human excrement, a t--d. + +SIR TIMOTHY. One who, from a desire of being the head + of the company, pays the reckoning, or, as the term is, + stands squire. See SQUIRE. + +SITTING BREECHES. One who stays late in company, is + said to have his sitting breeches on, or that he will sit + longer than a hen. + +SIX AND EIGHT-PENCE. An attorney, whose fee on several + occasions is fixed at that sum. + +SIX AND TIPS. Whisky and small beer. IRISH. + +SIXES AND SEVENS. Left at sixes and sevens: i.e. in + confusion; commonly said of a room where the furniture, + &c. is scattered about; or of a business left unsettled. + +SIZE OF ALE. Half a pint. Size of bread and cheese; a + certain quantity. Sizings: Cambridge term for the college + allowance from the buttery, called at Oxford battles. + +To SIZE. (CAMBRIDGE) To sup at one's own expence. If a + MAN asks you to SUP, he treats you; if to SIZE, you pay + for what you eat--liquors ONLY being provided by the + inviter. + +SIZAR (Cambridge). Formerly students who came to the + University for purposes of study and emolument. + But at present they are just as gay and dissipated as their + fellow collegians. About fifty years ago they were on a + footing with the servitors at Oxford, but by the exertions + of the present Bishop of Llandaff, who was himself a + sizar, they were absolved from all marks of inferiority + or of degradation. The chief difference at present between + them and the pensioners, consists in the less + amount of their college fees. The saving thus made induces + many extravagant fellows to become sizars, that + they may have more money to lavish on their dogs, + pieces, &c. + +SKEW. A cup, or beggar's wooden dish. + +SKEWVOW, or ALL ASKEW. Crooked, inclining to one side. + +SKIN. In a bad skin; out of temper, in an ill humour. + Thin-skinned: touchy, peevish. + +SKIN. A purse. Frisk the skin of the stephen; empty + the money out of the purse. Queer skin; an empty + purse. + +SKIN FLINT. An avaricious man or woman, + +SKINK. To skink, is 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. See BOOTS. + +SKINS. A tanner. + +SKIP JACKS. Youngsters that ride horses on sale, horse- + dealers boys. Also a plaything made for children with + the breast bone of a goose. + +SKIP KENNEL. A footman. + +SKIPPER. A barn. CANT.--Also the captain of a Dutch + vessel. + +TO SKIT. To wheedle. CANT. + +SKIT. A joke. A satirical hint. + +SKRIP. See SCRIP. + +SKULKER. A soldier who by feigned sickness, or other + pretences, evades his duty; a sailor who keeps below in + time of danger; in the civil line, one who keeps out of + the way, when any work is to be done. To skulk; to + hide one's self, to avoid labour or duty. + +SKY BLUE. Gin. + +SKY FARMERS. Cheats who pretend they were farmers + in the isle of Sky, or some other remote place, and were + ruined by a flood, hurricane, or some such public calamity: + or else called sky farmers from their farms being IN + NUBIBUS, 'in the clouds.' + +SKY PARLOUR. The garret, or upper story. + +SLABBERING BIB. A parson or lawyer's band. + +SLAG. A slack-mettled fellow, one not ready to resent an + affront. + +SLAM. A trick; also a game at whist lost without scoring + one. To slam to a door; to shut it with violence. + +SLAMKIN. A female sloven, one whose clothes seem hung + on with a pitch-fork, a careless trapes. + +SLANG. A fetter. Double slanged; double ironed. Now + double slanged into the cells for a crop he is knocked + down; he is double ironed in the condemned cells, and + ordered to be hanged. + +SLANG. Cant language. + +SLAP-BANG SHOP. A petty cook's shop, where there is + no credit given, but what is had must be paid DOWN + WITH THE READY SLAP-BANG, i.e. immediately. This is a + common appellation for a night cellar frequented by + thieves, and sometimes for a stage coach or caravan. + +SLAPDASH. Immediately, instantly, suddenly. + +SLASHER. A bullying, riotous fellow. IRISH. + +SLAT. Half a crown. CANT. + +SLATE. A sheet. CANT. + +SLATER'S PAN. The gaol at Kingston in Jamaica: Slater + is the deputy Provost-marshal. + +SLATTERN. A woman sluttishly negligent in her dress. + +SLEEPING PARTNER. 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. + +SLEEPY. Much worn: the cloth of your coat must be extremely + sleepy, for it has not had a nap this long time. + +SLEEVELESS ERRAND. A fool's errand, in search of what + it is impossible to find. + +SLICE. To take a slice; to intrigue, particularly with a + married woman, because a slice off a cut loaf is not missed. + +SLIPGIBBET. See SCAPEGALLOWS. + +SLIPPERY CHAP. One on whom there can be no dependance, + a shuffling fellow. + +SLIPSLOPS. Tea, water-gruel, or any innocent beverage + taken medicinally. + +SLIPSLOPPING. Misnaming and misapplying any hard + word; from the character of Mrs. Slipslop, in Fielding's + Joseph Andrews. + +SLOP. Tea. How the blowens lush the slop. How the + wenches drink tea! + +SLOPS. Wearing apparel and bedding used by seamen. + +SLOP SELLER. A dealer in those articles, who keeps a + slop shop. + +SLOUCH. A stooping gait, a negligent slovenly fellow. + To slouch; to hang down one's head. A slouched hat: + a hat whose brims are let down. + +SLUBBER DE GULLION. A dirty nasty fellow. + +SLUG. A piece of lead of any shape, to be fired from a + blunderbuss. To fire a slug; to drink a dram. + +SLUG-A-BED. A drone, one that cannot rise in the morning. + +SLUICE YOUR GOB. Take a hearty drink. + +SLUR. To slur, is a method of cheating at dice: also to + cast a reflection on any one's character, to scandalize. + +SLUSH. Greasy dish-water, or the skimmings of a pot + where fat meat has been boiled. + +SLUSH BUCKET. A foul feeder, one that eats much greasy food. + +SLY BOOTS. A cunning fellow, under the mask of simplicity. + +SMABBLED, or SNABBLED. Killed in battle. + +TO SMACK. To kiss. I had a smack at her muns: I kissed + her mouth. To smack calves skin; to kiss the book, i.e. + to take an oath. The queer cuffin bid me smack calves + skin, but I only bussed my thumb; the justice bid me + kiss the book, but I only kissed my thumb. + +SMACKSMOOTH. Level with the surface, every thing cut away. + +SMACKING COVE. A coachman. + +SMALL CLOTHES. Breeches: a gird at the affected delicacy + of the present age; a suit being called coat, waistcoat, + and articles, or small clothes. + +SMART. Spruce, fine: as smart as a carrot new scraped. + +SMART MONEY. Money allowed to soldiers or sailors for + the loss of a limb, or other hurt received in the service. + +SMASHER. A person who lives by passing base coin. The + cove was fined in the steel for smashing; the fellow was + ordered to be imprisoned in the house of correction for + uttering base coin. + +SMASH. Leg of mutton and smash: a leg of mutton and + mashed turnips. SEA TERM. + +TO SMASH. To break; also to kick down stairs. CANT. + To smash. To pass counterfeit money. + +SMEAR. A plasterer. + +SMEAR GELT. A bribe. GERMAN. + +SMELLER. A nose. Smellers: a cat's whiskers. + +SMELLING CHEAT. An orchard, or garden; also a nosegay. + CANT. + +SMELTS. Half guineas. CANT. + +SMICKET. A smock, or woman's shift. + +SMIRK. A finical spruce fellow. To smirk; to smile, or + look pleasantly. + +SMITER. An arm. To smite one's tutor; to get money + from him. ACADEMIC TERM. + +SMITHFIELD BARGAIN. A bargain whereby the purchaser + is taken in. This is likewise frequently used to express + matches or marriages contracted solely on the score of + interest, on one or both sides, where the fair sex are bought + and sold like cattle in Smithfield. + +SMOCK-FACED. Fair faced. + +TO SMOKE. To observe, to suspect. + +SMOKER. A tobacconist. + +SMOKY. Curious, suspicious, inquisitive. + +SMOUCH. Dried leaves of the ash tree, used by the smugglers + for adulterating the black or bohea teas. + +SMOUS. A German Jew. + +SMUG. A nick name for a blacksmith; also neat and spruce. + +SMUG LAY. Persons who pretend to be smugglers of lace + and valuable articles; these men borrow money of + publicans by depositing these goods in their hands; they + shortly decamp, and the publican discovers too late that he has + been duped; and on opening the pretended treasure, he + finds trifling articles of no value. + +SMUGGLING KEN. A bawdy-house. + +TO SMUSH. To snatch, or seize suddenly. + +SMUT. Bawdy. Smutty story; an indecent story. + +SMUT. A copper. A grate. Old iron. The cove was lagged + for a smut: the fellow was transported for stealing a + copper. + +SNACK. A share. To go snacks; to be partners. + +TO SNABBLE. To rifle or plunder; also to kill. + +SNAFFLER. A highwayman. Snaffler of prances; a horse + stealer. + +TO SNAFFLE. To steal. To snaffle any ones poll; to + steal his wig. + +SNAGGS. Large teeth; also snails. + +SNAKESMAN. See LITTLE SNAKESMAN. + +SNAP DRAGON. A Christmas gambol: raisins and almonds + being put into a bowl of brandy, and the candles + extinguished, the spirit is set on fire, and the company + scramble for the raisins. + +TO SNAP THE GLAZE. To break shop windows or show + glasses. + +SNAPPERS. Pistols. + +SNAPT. Taken, caught. + +SNATCH CLY. A thief who snatches women's pockets. + +SNEAK. A pilferer. Morning sneak; one who pilfers early + in the morning, before it is light. Evening sneak; an + evening pilferer. Upright sneak: one who steals pewter + pots from the alehouse boys employed to collect them. + To go upon the sneak; to steal into houses whose doors + are carelessly left open. CANT. + +SNEAKER. A small bowl. + +SNEAKING BUDGE. One that robs alone. + +SNEAKSBY. A mean-spirited fellow, a sneaking cur. + +SNEERING. Jeering, flickering, laughing in scorn. + +SNICKER. A glandered horse. + +TO SNICKER, or SNIGGER. To laugh privately, or in one's + sleeve. + +TO SNILCH. To eye, or look at any thing attentively: the + cull snilches. CANT. + +SNIP. A taylor. + +SNITCH. To turn snitch, or snitcher; to turn informer. + +TO SNITE. To wipe, or slap. Snite his snitch; wipe his + nose, i.e. give him a good knock. + +TO SNIVEL. To cry, to throw the snot or snivel about. + Snivelling; crying. A snivelling fellow; one that whines + or complains. + +TO SNOACH. To speak through the nose, to snuffle. + +SNOB. A nick name for a shoemaker. + +TO SNOOZE, or SNOODGE. To sleep. To snooze with a + mort; to sleep with a wench. CANT. + +SNOOZING KEN. A brothel. The swell was spiced in a + snoozing ken of his screens; the gentleman was robbed of + his bank notes in a brothel. + +SNOW. Linen hung out to dry or bleach. Spice the snow; + to steal the linen. + +SNOUT. A hogshead. CANT. + +SNOWBALL. A jeering appellation for a negro. + +TO SNUB. To check, or rebuke. + +SNUB DEVIL. A parson. + +SNUB NOSE. A short nose turned up at the end. + +SNUDGE. A thief who hides himself under a bed, in Order + to rob the house. + +SNUFF. To take snuff; to be offended. + +TO SNUFFLE. To speak through the nose. + +SNUFFLES. A cold in the head, attended with a running at + the nose. + +SNUG. All's snug; all's quiet. + +TO SOAK. To drink. An old soaker; a drunkard, one that + moistens his clay to make it stick together. + +SOCKET MONEY. A whore's fee, or hire: also money paid + for a treat, by a married man caught in an intrigue. + +SOLDIER'S BOTTLE. A large one. + +SOLDIER'S MAWND. A pretended soldier, begging with a + counterfeit wound, which he pretends to have received at + some famous siege or battle. + +SOLDIER'S POMATUM. A piece of tallow candle. + +SOLDIER. A red herring. + +SOLFA. A parish clerk. + +SOLO PLAYER. A miserable performer on any instrument, + who always plays alone, because no one will stay in the + room to hear him. + +SOLOMON. The mass. CANT. + +SON OF PRATTLEMENT. A lawyer. + +SONG. He changed his song; he altered his account or + evidence. It was bought for an old song, i.e. very cheap. + His morning and his evening song do not agree; he tells a + different story. + +SOOTERKIN. A joke upon the Dutch women, supposing + that, by their constant use of stoves, which they place + under their petticoats, they breed a kind of small animal in + their bodies, called a sooterkin, of the size of a mouse, + which when mature slips out. + +SOP. A bribe. A sop for Cerberus; a bribe for a porter, + turnkey, or gaoler. + +SOPH. (Cambridge) An undergraduate in his second year. + +SORREL. A yellowish red. Sorrel pate; one having red + hair. + +SORROW SHALL BE HIS SOPS. He shall repent this. Sorrow + go by me; a common expletive used by presbyterians + in Ireland. + +SORRY. Vile, mean, worthless. A sorry fellow, or hussy; + a worthless man or woman. + +SOT WEED. Tobacco. + +SOUL CASE. The body. He made a hole in his soul + case; he wounded him. + +SOUL DOCTOR, or DRIVER. A parson. + +SOUNDERS. A herd of swine. + +SOUSE. Not a souse; not a penny. FRENCH. + +SOW. A fat woman. He has got the wrong sow by the ear, + he mistakes his man. Drunk as David's sow; see DAVID'S + SOW. + +SOW'S BABY. A sucking pig. + +SOW CHILD. A female child. + +SPADO. A sword. SPANISH. + +SPANGLE. A seven shilling piece. + +SPANK. (WHIP) To run neatly along, beteeen a trot and + gallop. The tits spanked it to town; the horses went + merrily along all the way to town. + +SPANISH. The spanish; ready money. + +SPANISH COIN. Fair words and compliments. + +SPANISH FAGGOT. The sun. + +SPANISH GOUT. The pox. + +SPANISH PADLOCK. A kind of girdle contrived by jealous + husbands of that nation, to secure the chastity of their + wives. + +SPANISH, or KING OF SPAIN'S TRUMPETER. An ass + when braying. + +SPANISH WORM. A nail: so called by carpenters when they + meet with one in a board they are sawing. + +SPANKS, or SPANKERS. Money; also blows with the open + hand. + +SPANKING. Large. + +SPARK. A spruce, trim, or smart fellow. A man that is + always thirsty, is said to have a spark in his throat. + +SPARKISH. Fine, gay. + +SPARKING BLOWS. Blows given by cocks before they close, + or, as the term is, mouth it: used figuratively for words + previous to a quarrel. + +SPARROW. Mumbling a sparrow; a cruel sport frequently + practised at wakes and fairs: for a small premium, a booby + having his hands tied behind him, has the wing of a cock + sparrow put into his mouth: with this hold, without any + other assistance than the motion of his lips, he is to get the + sparrow's head into his mouth: on attempting to do it, the + bird defends itself surprisingly, frequently pecking the + mumbler till his lips are covered with blood, and he is + obliged to desist: to prevent the bird from getting away, he + is fastened by a string to a button of the booby's coat. + +SPARROW-MOUTHED. Wide-mouthed, like the mouth of a + sparrow: it is said of such persons, that they do not hold + their mouths by lease, but have it from year to year; i.e. + from ear to ear. One whose mouth cannot be enlarged + without removing their ears, and who when they yawn + have their heads half off. + +SPATCH COCK. [Abbreviation of DISPATCH COCK.] A hen just + killed from the roost, or yard, and immediately skinned, + split, and broiled: an Irish dish upon any sudden occasion. + +TO SPEAK WITH. To rob. I spoke with the cull on the + cherry-coloured prancer; I robbed the man on the black + horse. CANT. + +SPEAK. Any thing stolen. He has made a good speak; he + has stolen something considerable. + +SPECKED WHIPER. A coloured hankerchief. CANT. + +SPICE. To rob. Spice the swell; rob the gentleman. + +SPICE ISLANDS. A privy. Stink-hole bay or dilberry creek. + The fundament. + +SPIDER-SHANKED. Thin-legged. + +TO SPIFLICATE. To confound, silence, or dumbfound. + +SPILT. A small reward or gift. + +SPILT. Thrown from a horse, or overturned in a carriage; + pray, coachee, don't spill us. + +SPINDLE SHANKS. Slender legs. + +TO SPIRIT AWAY. To kidnap, or inveigle away. + +SPIRITUAL FLESH BROKER. A parson. + +SPIT. He is as like his father as if he was spit out of his + mouth; said of a child much resembling his father. + +SPIT. A sword. + +SPIT FIRE. A violent, pettish, or passionate person. + +SPLICED. Married: an allusion to joining two ropes ends by + splicing. SEA TERM. + +SPLIT CROW. The sign of the spread eagle, which being + represented with two heads on one neck, gives it somewhat + the appearance of being split. + +SPLIT CAUSE. A lawyer. + +SPLIT FIG. A grocer. + +SPLIT IRON. The nick-name for a smith. + +SPOONEY. (WHIP) Thin, haggard, like the shank of a spoon; + also delicate, craving for something, longing for sweets. + Avaricious. That tit is damned spooney. She's a spooney + piece of goods. He's a spooney old fellow. + +SPOIL PUDDING. A parson who preaches long sermons, + keeping his congregation in church till the puddings are + overdone. + +TO SPORT. To exhibit: as, Jack Jehu sported a new gig + yesterday: I shall sport a new suit next week. To sport + or flash one's ivory; to shew one's teeth. To sport timber; + to keep one's outside door shut; this term is used in the + inns of court to signify denying one's self. N.B. The + word SPORT was in great vogue ann. 1783 and 1784. + +SPUNGE. A thirsty fellow, a great drinker. To spunge; to + eat and drink at another's cost. Spunging-house: a bailiff's + lock-up-house, or repository, to which persons arrested are + taken, till they find bail, or have spent all their money: a + house where every species of fraud and extortion is practised + under the protection of the law. + +SPUNK. Rotten touchwood, or a kind of fungus prepared + for tinder; figuratively, spirit, courage. + +SPOON HAND. The right hand. + +TO SPOUT. To rehearse theatrically. + +SPOUTING CLUB. A meeting of apprentices and mechanics + to rehearse different characters in plays: thus forming + recruits for the strolling companies. + +SPOUTING. Theatrical declamation. + +SPOUTED. Pawned. + +SPREAD. Butter. + +SPREAD EAGLE. A soldier tied to the halberts in order to + be whipped; his attitude bearing some likeness to that + figure, as painted on signs. + +SPREE. A frolic. Fun. A drinking bout. A party of + pleasure. + +SPRING-ANKLE WAREHOUSE. Newgate, or any other gaol: + IRISH. + +SQUAB. A fat man or woman: from their likeness to a + well-stuffed couch, called also a squab. A new-hatched + chicken. + +SQUARE. Honest, not roguish. A square cove, i.e. a + man who does not steal, or get his living by dishonest + means. + +SQUARE TOES. An old man: square toed shoes were + anciently worn in common, and long retained by old + men. + +SQUEAK. A narrow escape, a chance: he had a squeak for + his life. To squeak; to confess, peach, or turn stag. + They squeak beef upon us; they cry out thieves after + us. CANT. + +SQUEAKER. A bar-boy; also a bastard or any other child. + To stifle the squeaker; to murder a bastard, or throw It + into the necessary house.--Organ pipes are likewise called + squeakers. The squeakers are meltable; the small + pipes are silver. CANT. + +SQUEEZE CRAB. A sour-looking, shrivelled, diminutive + fellow. + +SQUEEZE WAX. A good-natured foolish fellow, ready to + become security for another, under hand and seal. + +SQUELCH. A fall. Formerly a bailiff caught in a barrack- + yard in Ireland, was liable by custom to have three tosses + in a blanket, and a squelch; the squelch was given by letting + go the corners of the blanket, and suffering him to + fall to the ground. Squelch-gutted; fat, having a prominent + belly. + +SQUIB. A small satirical or political temporary jeu d'esprit, + which, like the firework of that denomination, sparkles, + bounces, stinks, and vanishes. + +SQUINT-A-PIPES. A squinting man or woman; said to + be born in the middle of the week, and looking both + ways for Sunday; or born in a hackney coach, and looking + out of both windows; fit for a cook, one eye in the + pot, and the other up the chimney; looking nine ways at + once. + +SQUIRE OF ALSATIA. A weak profligate spendthrift, the + squire of the company; one who pays the whole reckoning, + or treats the company, called standing squire. + +SQUIRISH. Foolish. + +SQUIRREL. A prostitute: because she like that animal, covers + her back with her tail. Meretrix corpore corpus alit. + Menagiana, ii. 128. + +SQUIRREL HUNTING. See HUNTING. + +STAG. To turn stag; to impeach one's confederates: from + a herd of deer, who are said to turn their horns against + any of their number who is hunted. + +TO STAG. To find, discover, or observe. + +STAGGERING BOB, WITH HIS YELLOW PUMPS. A calf + just dropped, and unable to stand, killed for veal in Scotland: + the hoofs of a young calf are yellow. + +STALL WHIMPER. A bastard. CANT. + +STALLING. Making or ordaining. Stalling to the rogue; + an ancient ceremony of instituting a candidate into the + society of rogues, somewhat similar to the creation of a + herald at arms. It is thus described by Harman: the upright + man taking a gage of bowse, i.e. a pot of strong drink, + pours it on the head of the rogue to be admitted; saying, + --I, A.B. do stall thee B.C. to the rogue; and from henceforth + it shall be lawful for thee to cant for thy living in all + places. + +STALLING KEN. A broker's shop, or that of a receiver of + stolen goods. + +STALLION. A man kept by an old lady for secret services. + +STAM FLESH. To cant. CANT. + +STAMMEL, or STRAMMEL. A coarse brawny wench. + +STAMP. A particular manner of throwing the dice out of + the box, by striking it with violence against the table. + +STAMPS. Legs. + +STAMPERS. Shoes. + +STAND-STILL. He was run to a stand-still; i.e. till he could + no longer move. + +STAR GAZER. A horse who throws up his head; also a + hedge whore. + +TO STAR THE GLAZE. To break and rob a jeweller's show + glass. CANT. + +STARCHED. Stiff, prim, formal, affected. + +STARING QUARTER. An ox cheek. + +START, or THE OLD START. Newgate: he is gone to the + start, or the old start. CANT. + +STARTER. One who leaves a jolly company, a milksop; he + is no starter, he will sit longer than a hen. + +STARVE'EM, ROB'EM, AND CHEAT'EM. Stroud, Rochester, + and Chatham; so called by soldiers and sailors, and not + without good reason. + +STAR LAG. Breaking shop-windows, and stealing some article + thereout. + +STASH. To stop. To finish. To end. The cove tipped + the prosecutor fifty quid to stash the business; he gave + the prosecutor fifty guineas to stop the prosecution. + +STATE. To lie in state; to be in bed with three harlots. + +STAY. A cuckold. + +STAYTAPE. A taylor; from that article, and its coadjutor + buckram, which make no small figure in the bills of those + knights of the needle. + +STEAMER. A pipe. A swell steamer; a long pipe, such + as is used by gentlemen to smoke. + +STEEL. The house of correction. + +STEEL BAR. A needle. A steel bar flinger; a taylor, stay- + maker, or any other person using a needle. + +STEENKIRK. A muslin neckcloth carelessly put on, from + the manner in which the French officers wore their cravats + when they returned from the battle of Steenkirk. + +STEEPLE HOUSE. A name given to the church by Dissenters. + +STEPHEN. Money. Stephen's at home; i.e. has money. + +STEPNEY. A decoction of raisins of the sun and lemons in + conduit water, sweetened with sugar, and bottled up. + +STEWED QUAKER. Burnt rum, with a piece of butter: an + American remedy for a cold. + +STICKS. Household furniture. + +STICKS. Pops or pistols. Stow your sticks; hide your + pistols. CANT. See POPS. + +STICK FLAMS. A pair of gloves. + +STIFF-RUMPED. Proud, stately. + +STINGRUM. A niggard. + +STINGO. Strong beer, or other liquor. + +STIRRUP CUP. A parting cup or glass, drank on horseback + by the person taking leave. + +STITCH. A nick name for a taylor: also a term for lying + with a woman. + +STITCHBACK. Strong ale. + +STIVER-CRAMPED. Needy, wanting money. A stiver is a + Dutch coin, worth somewhat more than a penny sterling. + +STOCK. A good stock; i.e. of impudence. Stock and + block; the whole: he has lost stock and block. + +STOCK DRAWERS. Stockings. + +STOCK JOBBERS. Persons who gamble in Exchange Alley, + by pretending to buy and sell the public funds, but in + reality only betting that they will be at a certain price, at + a particular time; possessing neither the stock pretended + to be sold, nor money sufficient to make good the payments + for which they contract: these gentlemen are known + under the different appellations of bulls, bears, and lame + ducks. + +STOMACH WORM. The stomach worm gnaws; I am hungry. + +STONE. Two stone under weight, or wanting; an eunuch. + Stone doublet; a prison. Stone dead; dead as a stone. + +STONE JUG. Newgate, or any other prison. + +STONE TAVERN. Ditto. + +STOOP-NAPPERS, or OVERSEERS OF THE NEW PAVEMENT. + Persons set in the pillory. CANT. + +STOOP. The pillory. The cull was served for macing and + napp'd the stoop; he was convicted of swindling, and + put in the pillory. + +STOP HOLE ABBEY. The nick name of the chief rendzvous + of the canting crew of beggars, gypsies, cheats, + thieves, &c. &c. + +STOTER. A great blow. Tip him a stoter in the haltering + place; give him a blow under the left ear. + +STOUP. A vessel to hold liquor: a vessel containing a size + or half a pint, is so called at Cambridge. + +STOW. Stow you; be silent, or hold your peace. Stow + your whidds and plant'em, for the cove of the ken can + cant'em; you have said enough, the man of the house + understands you. + +STRAIT-LACED. Precise, over nice, puritanical. + +STRAIT WAISTCOAT. A tight waistcoat, with long sleeves + coming over the hand, having strings for binding them + behind the back of the wearer: these waistcoats are used in + madhouses for the management of lunatics when outrageous. + +STRAMMEL. See STAMMEL. + +STRANGER. A guinea. + +STRANGLE GOOSE. A poulterer. + +To STRAP. To work. The kiddy would not strap, so he + went on the scamp: the lad would not work, and therefore + robbed on the highway. + +STRAPPER. A large man or woman. + +STRAPPING. Lying with a woman. CANT. + +STRAW. A good woman in the straw; a lying-in woman. + His eyes draw straw; his eyes are almost shut, or he is + almost asleep: one eye draws straw, and t'other serves the + thatcher. + +STRETCH. A yard. The cove was lagged for prigging a + peter with several stretch of dobbin from a drag; the + fellow was transported for stealing a trunk, containing + several yards of ribband, from a waggon. + +STRETCHING. Hanging. He'll stretch for it; he will be + hanged for it. Also telling a great lie: he stretched stoutly. + +STRIKE. Twenty shillings. CANT. + +STRIP ME NAKED. Gin. + +STROKE. To take a stroke: to take a bout with a woman. + +STROLLERS. Itinerants of different kinds. Strolling morts; + beggars or pedlars pretending to be widows. + +STROMMEL. Straw. CANT. + +STRONG MAN. To play the part of the strong man, i.e. + to push the cart and horses too; to be whipt at the cart's + tail. + +STRUM. A perriwig. Rum strum: a fine large wig. + (CAMBRIDGE) To do a piece. Foeminam subagitare. CANT. + +To STRUM. To have carnal knowledge of a woman; also to + play badly on the harpsichord; or any other stringed + instrument. A strummer of wire, a player on any instrument + strung with wire. + +STRUMPET. A harlot. + +STUB-FACED. Pitted with the smallpox: the devil ran + over his face with horse stabs (horse nails) in his shoes. + +STUBBLE IT. Hold your tongue. CANT. + +STULING KEN. See STALLING KEN. CANT. + +STUM. The flower of fermenting wine, used by vintners to + adulterate their wines. + +STUMPS. Legs. To stir one's stumps; to walk fast. + +STURDY BEGGARS. The fifth and last of the most ancient + order of canters, beggars that rather demand than ask + CANT. + +SUCCESSFULLY. Used by the vulgar for SUCCESSIVELY: as + three or four landlords of this house have been ruined + successfully by the number of soldiers quartered on them. + IRISH. + +SUCH A REASON PIST MY GOOSE, or MY GOOSE PIST. Said + when any one offers an absurd reason. + +SUCK. Strong liquor of any sort. To suck the monkey; + see MONKEY. Sucky; drunk. + +To SUCK. To pump. To draw from a man all be knows. + The file sucked the noodle's brains: the deep one drew + out of the fool all he knew. + +SUCKING CHICKEN. A young chicken. + +SUDS. In the suds; in trouble, in a disagreeable situation, + or involved in some difficulty. + +SUGAR STICK. The virile member. + +SUGAR SOPS. Toasted bread soked in ale, sweetened with + sugar, and grated nutmeg: it is eaten with cheese. + +SULKY. A one-horse chaise or carriage, capable of holding + but one person: called by the French a DESOBLIGEANT. + +SUN. To have been in the sun; said of one that is drunk. + +SUNBURNT. Clapped; also haying many male children. + +SUNDAY MAN. One who goes abroad on that day only, for + fear of arrests. + +SUNNY BANK. A good fire in winter. + +SUNSHINE. Prosperity. + +SUPERNACOLUM. Good liquor, of which there is not even + a drop left sufficient to wet one's nail. + +SUPOUCH. A landlady of an inn, or hostess. + +SURVEYOR OF THE HIGHWAYS. One reeling drunk. + +SURVEYOR OF THE PAVEMENT. One standing in the pillory. + +SUS PER COLL. Hanged: persons who have been hanged + are thus entered into the jailor's books. + +SUSPENCE. One in a deadly suspence; a man just turned + off at the gallows. + +SUTRER. A camp publican: also one that pilfers gloves, + tobacco boxes, and such small moveables. + +SWABBERS. The ace of hearts, knave of clubs, ace and + duce of trumps, at whist: also the lubberly seamen, put + to swab, and clean the ship. + +SWAD, or SWADKIN. A soldier. CANT. + +To SWADDLE. To beat with a stick. + +SWADDLERS. The tenth order of the canting tribe, who not + only rob, but beat, and often murder passenges. CANT. + Swaddlers is also the Irish name for methodist. + +SWAG. A shop. Any quantity of goods. As, plant the swag; + conceal the goods. Rum swag; a shop full of rich goods. + CANT. + +SWAGGER. To bully, brag, or boast, also to strut. + +SWANNERY. He keeps a swannery; i.e. all his geese are + swans. + +SWEATING. A mode of diminishing the gold coin, practiced + chiefly by the Jews, who corrode it with aqua regia. Sweating + was also a diversion practised by the bloods of the last + century, who styled themselves Mohocks: these gentlemen + lay in wait to surprise some person late in the night, when + surrouding him, they with their swords pricked him in + the posteriors, which obliged him to be constantly turning + round; this they continued till they thought him sufficiently + sweated. + +SWEET. Easy to be imposed on, or taken in; also expert, + dexterous clever. Sweet's your hand; said of one dexterous + at stealing. + +SWEET HEART. A term applicable to either the masculine + or feminine gender, signifying a girl's lover, or a man's + mistress: derived from a sweet cake in the shape of a + heart. + +SWEETNESS. Guinea droppers, cheats, sharpers. To sweeten + to decoy, or draw in. To be sweet upon; to coax, wheedle, + court, or allure. He seemed sweet upon that wench; he seemed to + court that girl. + +SWELL. A gentleman. A well-dressed map. The flashman + bounced the swell of all his blunt; the girl's bully frightened + the gentleman out of all his money. + +SWELLED HEAD. A disorder to which horses are extremely + liable, particularly those of the subalterns of the army. + This disorder is generally occasioned by remaining too + long in one livery-stable or inn, and often arises to that + height that it prevents their coming out at the stable door. + The most certain cure is the unguentum aureum--not + applied to the horse, but to the palm of the master of the inn + or stable. N. B. Neither this disorder, nor its remedy, + is mentioned by either Bracken, Bartlet, or any of the + modern writers on farriery. + +SWIG. A hearty draught of liquor. + +SWIGMEN. Thieves who travel the country under colour of + buying old shoes, old clothes, &c. or selling brooms, mops, + &c. CANT. + +TO SWILL. To drink greedily. + +SWILL TUB. A drunkard, a sot. + +SWIMMER. A counterfeit old coin. + +SWIMMER. A ship. I shall have a swimmer; a cant phrase + used by thieves to signify that they will be sent on board + the tender. + +TO SWING. To be hanged. He will swing for it; he will + be hanged for it. + +SWING TAIL. A hog. + +TO SWINGE. To beat stoutly. + +SWINGING. A great swinging fellow; a great stout fellow. + A swinging lie; a lusty lie. + +SWINDLER. One who obtains goods on credit by false pretences, + and sells them for ready money at any price, in order + to make up a purse. This name is derived from the German + word SCHWINDLIN, to totter, to be ready to fall; these + arts being generally practised by persons on the totter, or + just ready to break. The term SWINDLER has since been + used to signify cheats of every kind. + +SWIPES. Purser's swipes; small beer: so termed on board + the king's ships, where it is furnished by the purser. + +SWISH TAIL. A pheasant; so called by the persons who + sell game for the poachers. + +TO SWIVE. To copulate. + +SWIVEL-EYED. Squinting. + +SWIZZLE. Drink, or any brisk or windy liquor. In North + America, a mixture of spruce beer, rum, and sugar, was so + called. The 17th regiment had a society called the Swizzle + Club, at Ticonderoga, A. D. 1760. + +SWORD RACKET. To enlist in different regiments, and on + receiving the bounty to desert immediately. + +SWOP. An exchange. + +SYEBUCK. Sixpence. + +SYNTAX. A schoolmaster. + +TABBY. An old maid; either from Tabitha, a formal + antiquated name; or else from a tabby cat, old maids being + often compared to cats. To drive Tab; to go out on a + party of pleasure with a wife and family. + +TACE. Silence, hold your tongue. TACE is Latin for a + candle; a jocular admonition to be silent on any subject. + +TACKLE. A mistress; also good clothes. The cull has + tipt his tackle rum gigging; the fellow has given his + mistress good clothes. A man's tackle: the genitals. + +TAFFY, i.e. Davy. A general name for a Welchman, St. + David being the tutelar saint of Wales. Taffy's day; the + first of March, St. David's day. + +TAG-RAG AND BOBTAIL. An expression meaning an assemblage + of low people, the mobility of all sorts. To tag + after one like a tantony pig: to follow one wherever one + goes, just as St. Anthony is followed by his pig. + +TAIL. A prostitute. Also, a sword. + +TAKEN IN. Imposed on, cheated. + +TALE TELLERS. Persons said to have been formerly hired + to tell wonderful stories of giants and fairies, to lull their + hearers to sleep. Talesman; the author of a story or + report: I'll tell you my tale, and my talesman. Tale bearers; + mischief makers, incendiaries in families. + +TALL BOY. A bottle, or two-quart pot. + +TALLY MEN. Brokers that let out clothes to the women of + the town. See RABBIT SUCKERS. + +TALLYWAGS, or TARRYWAGS. A man's testicles. + +TAME. To run tame about a house; to live familiarly in a + family with which one is upon a visit. Tame army; the + city trained bands. + +TANDEM. A two-wheeled chaise, buggy, or noddy, drawn + by two horses, one before the other: that is, AT LENGTH. + +TANGIER. A room in Newgate, where debtors were confined, + hence called Tangerines. + +TANNER. A sixpence. The kiddey tipped the rattling cove + a tanner for luck; the lad gave the coachman sixpence for + drink. + +TANTADLIN TART. A sirreverence, human excrement. + +TANTRUMS. Pet, or passion: madam was in her tantrums. + +TANTWIVY. Away they went tantwivy; away they went + full speed. Tantwivy was the sound of the hunting horn + in full cry, or that of a post horn. + +TAP. A gentle blow. A tap on the shoulder;-an-arrest. + To tap a girl; to be the first seducer: in allusion to a beer + barrel. To tap a guinea; to get it changed. + +TAPPERS. Shoulder tappers: bailiffs. + +TAPE. Red tape; brandy. Blue or white tape; gin. + +TAPLASH. Thick and bad beer. + +TAR. Don't lose a sheep for a halfpennyworth of tar: tar is + used to mark sheep. A jack tar; a sailor. + +TARADIDDLE. A fib, or falsity. + +TARPAWLIN. A coarse cloth tarred over: also, figuratively, + a sailor. + +TARRING AND FEATHERING. A punishment lately infliced + by the good people of Boston on any person convicted, + or suspected, of loyalty: such delinquents being "stripped + naked", were daubed all over wilh tar, and afterwards put + into a hogshead of feathers. + +TART. Sour, sharp, quick, pert. + +TARTAR. To catch a Tartar; to attack one of superior + strength or abilities. This saying originated from a story + of an Irish-soldier in the Imperial service, who, in a battle + against the Turks, called out to his comrade that he had + caught a Tartar. 'Bring him along then,' said he. 'He + won't come,' answered Paddy. 'Then come along yourself,' + replied his comrade. 'Arrah,' cried he, 'but he + won't let me.'--A Tartar is also an adept at any feat, or + game: he is quite a Tartar at cricket, or billiards. + +TAT. Tit for tat; an equivalent. + +TATS. False dice. + +TATLER. A watch. To flash a tatler: to wear a watch. + +TAT MONGER. One that uses false dice. + +TATTERDEMALION. A ragged fellow, whose clothes hang + all in tatters. + +TATTOO. A beat of the drum, of signal for soldiers to go + to their quarters, and a direction to the sutlers to close the + tap, anddtew nomore liquor for them; it is generally + beat at nine in summer and eight in winter. The devil's + tattoo; beating with one's foot against the ground, as done + by persons in low spirits. + +TAW. A schoolboy's game, played with small round balls + made of stone dust, catted marbles. I'll be one upon your + taw presently; a species of threat. + +TAWDRY. Garish, gawdy, with lace or staring and discordant + colours: a term said to be derived from the shrine + and altar of St. Audrey (an Isle of Ely saintess), which + for finery exceeded all others thereabouts, so as to + become proverbial; whence any fine dressed man or woman + said to be all St Audrey, and by contraction, all + tawdry. + +TAWED. Beaten, + +TAYLE. See TAIL. + +TAYLE DRAWERS. Thieves who snatch gentlemens swords + from their sides. He drew the cull's tayle rumly; he + snatched away the gentleman's sword cleverly. + +TAYLOR. Nine taylors make a man; an ancient and + common saying, originating from the effeminacy of their + employment; or, as some have it, from nine taylors having + been robbed by one man; according to others, from the + speech of a woollendraper, meaning that the custom of + nine, taylors would make or enrich one man--A London + taylor, rated to furnish half a man to the Trained Bands, + asking how that could possibly be done? was answered, + By sending four, journeymen and and apprentice.--Puta + taylor, a weaver, and a miller into a sack, shake them + well, And the first that, puts out his head is certainly a + thief.--A taylor is frequently styled pricklouse, + assaults on those vermin with their needles. + +TAYLORS GOOSE. An iron with which, when heated, + press down the seams of clothes. + +TEA VOIDER. A chamber pot. + +TEA GUELAND. Ireland. Teaguelanders; Irishmen. + +TEARS OF THE TANKARD. The drippings of liquor on a + man's waistcoat. + +TEDDY MY GODSON. An address to a supposed simple + fellow, or nysey, + +TEIZE. To-nap the teize; to receive a whipping. CANT. + +TEMPLE PICKLING. Pumping a bailiff; a punishment + formerly administered to any of that fraternity caught + exercising their functions within the limits of Temple. + +TEN TOES. See BAYARD OF TEN TOES. + +TEN IN THE HUNDRED. An usurer; more than five in + the hundred being deemed usurious interest. + +TENANT AT WILL, One whose wife usually fetches him + from the alehouse. + +TENANT FOR LIFE. A married man; i.e. possessed of a + woman for life. + +TENDER PARNELL. A tender creature, fearful of the least + puff of wind or drop of rain. As tender as Parnell, who + broke her finger in a posset drink. + +TERMAGANT. An outrageous scold from Termagantes, a + cruel Pagan, formerly represented in diners shows and + entertainments, where being dressed a la Turque, in long + clothes, he was mistaken for a furious woman. + +TERRA FIRMA. An estate in land. + +TESTER. A sixpence: from TESTON, a coin with a head on it. + +TETBURY PORTION. A **** and a clap. + +THAMES. He will not find out a way to set the Thames + on fire; he will not make any wonderful discoveries, he is + no conjuror. + +THATCH-GALLOWS. A rogue, or man of bad character. + +THICK. Intimate. They are as thick as two inkle-weavers. + +THIEF. You are a thief and a murderer, you have killed a + baboon and stole his face; vulgar abuse. + +THIEF IN A CANDLE. Part of the wick or snuff, which falling + on the tallow, burns and melts it, and causing it to + gutter, thus steals it away. + +THIEF TAKERS. Fellows who associate with all kinds of + villains, in order to betray them, when they have committed + any of those crimes which entitle the persons taking + them to a handsome reward, called blood money. It is + the business of these thief takers to furnish subjects for a + handsome execution, at the end of every sessions. + +THIMBLE. A watch. The swell flashes a rum thimble; + the gentleman sports a fine watch. + +THINGSTABLE. Mr. Thingstable; Mr. Constable: a ludicrous + affectation of delicacy in avoiding the pronunciation + of the first syllable in the title of that officer, which in + sound has some similarity to an indecent monosyllable. + +THINGUMBOB. Mr. Thingumbob; a vulgar address or nomination + to any person whose name is unknown, the same + as Mr. What-d'ye-cal'em. Thingumbobs; testicles. + +THIRDING. A custom practised at the universities, where + two thirds of the original price is allowed by the upholsterers + to the students for household goods returned to them + within the year. + +THIRTEENER. A shilling in Ireland, which there passes for + thirteen pence. + +THOMOND. Like Lord Thomond's cocks, all on one side. + Lord Thomond's cock-feeder, an Irishman, being entrusted + with some cocks which were matched for a considerable + sum, the night before the battle shut them all together in + one room, concluding that as they were all on the same + side, they would not disagree: the consequence was, they + were most of them either killed or lamed before the morning. + +THOMAS. Man Thomas; a man's penis. + +THORNS. To be or sit upon thorns; to be uneasy, impatient, + anxious for an event. + +THORNBACK. An old maid. + +THOROUGH CHURCHMAN. A person who goes in at one door + of a church, and out at the other, without stopping. + +THOROUGH-GOOD-NATURED WENCH. One who being asked + to sit down, will lie down. + +THOROUGH GO NIMBLE. A looseness, a violent purging. + +THOROUGH COUGH. Coughing and breaking wind backwards + at the same time. + +THOROUGH STITCH. To go thorough stitch; to stick at nothing; + over shoes, over boots. + +THOUGHT. What did thought do? lay'in bed and beshat + himself, and thought he was up; reproof to any one who + excuses himself for any breach of positive orders, by + pleading that he thought to the contrary. + +THREE TO ONE. He is playing three to one, though sure to + lose; said of one engaged in the amorous congress. + +THREE-PENNY UPRIGHT. A retailer of love, who, for the + sum mentioned, dispenses her favours standing against a + wall. + +THREE-LEGGED MARE, or STOOL. The gallows, formerly + consisting of three posts, over which were laid three + transverse beams. This clumsy machine has lately given place + to an elegant contrivance, called the NEW DROP, by which + the use of that vulgar vehicle a cart, or mechanical + instrument a ladder, is also avoided; the patients being left + suspended by the dropping down of that part of the floor on + which they stand. This invention was first made use of for + a peer. See DROP. + +THREE THREADS. Half common ale, mixed with stale and + double beer. + +THREPS. Threepence. + +TO THROTTLE. To strangle. + +THROTTLE. The throat, or gullet. + +TO THRUM. To play on any instrument sttfnged with wire. + A thrummer of wire; a player on the spinet, harpsichord, + of guitar. + +THRUMS. Threepence. + +THUMB. By rule of thumb: to do any thing by dint of + practice. To kiss one's thumb instead of the book; a vulgar + expedient to avoid perjury in taking a false oath. + +THUMMIKINS. An instrument formerly used in Scotland, + like a vice, to pinch the thumbs of persons accused of + different crimes, in order to extort confession. + +THUMP. A blow. This is better than a thump on the back + with a stone; said on giving any one a drink of good liquor + on a cold morning. Thatch, thistle, thunder, and thump; + words to the Irish, like the Shibboleth of the Hebrews. + +THUMPING. Great! a thumping boy. + +THWACK. A great blow with a stick across the shoulders. + +TIB. A young lass + +TIBBY. A cat. + +TIB OF THE BUTTERY. A goose. CANT. Saint Tibb's + evening; the evening of the last day, or day of judgment: + he will pay you on St. Tibb's eve. IRISH. + +TICK. To run o'tick; take up goods upon trust, to run in + debt. Tick; a watch. SEE SESSIONS PAPERS. + +TICKLE TEXT. A parson. + +TICKLE PITCKEB. A thirsty fellow, a sot. + +TICKLE TAIL. A rod, or schoolmaster. A man's penis. + +TICKRUM. A licence. + +TIDY. Neat. + +TIFFING. Eating or drinking out of meal time, disputing + or falling out; also lying with a wench, A tiff of punch, + a small bowl of punch. + +TILBUKY. Sixpence; so called from its formerly being the + fare for Crossing over from Gravesend to Tilbury Fort. + +TILT. To tilt; to fight with a sword. To run full tilt + against one; allusion to the ancient tilling with the lance. + +TILTER. A sword. + +TIM WHISKY. A light one--horse chaise without a head. + +TIMBER TOE. A man with a wooden leg. + +TINY. Little. + +TO TIP. To give or lend. Tip me your daddle; give me + your hand. Tip me a hog; give me a shilling. To tip + the lion; to flatten a man's nose with the thumb, and, at + the same time to extend his mouth, with the fingers, thereby + giving him a sort of lion-like countenauce. To tip the + velvet; tonguing woman. To tip all nine; to knock + down all the nine pins at once, at the game of bows or + skittles: tipping, at these gaines, is slightly touching the + tops of the pins with the bowl. Tip; a draught; don't + spoil his tip. + +TIP-TOP. The best: perhaps from fruit, that growing at + the top of the tree being generally the best, as partaking + most of the sun. A tip-top workman; the best, or most + excellent Workman. + +TIPPERARY FORTUNE. Two town lands, stream's town, + and ballinocack; said of Irish women without fortune. + +TIPPLE. Liquor. + +TIPPLERS. Sots who are continually sipping. + +TIPSEY. Almost drunk. + +TIRING. Dressing: perhaps abbreviation of ATTIRING. Tiring + women, or tire women: women that used to cut ladies + hair, and dress them. + +TIT. A horse; a pretty little tit; a smart little girl. + a *** or tid bit; a delicate morsel. Tommy tit; a smart lively + little fellow. + +TIT FOR TAT. An equivalent. + +TO TITTER. To suppress a laugh. + +TITTER TATTER. One reeling, and ready to fall at the least + touch; also the childish amusement of riding upon the + two ends of a plank, poised upon the prop underneath its + centre, called also see-saw. Perhaps tatter is a rustic + pronunciation of totter. + +TITTLE-TATTLE. Idle discourse, scandal, women's talk, + or small talk. + +TITTUP. A gentle hand gallop, or canter. + +TIZZY. Sixpence. + +TOAD EATER. A poor female relation, and humble companion, + or reduced gentlewoman, in a great family, the standing + butt, on whom all kinds of practical jokes are played + off, and all ill humours vented. This appellation is derived + from a mountebank's servant, on whom all experiments + used to be made in public by the doctor, his master; among + which was the eating of toads, formerly supposed poisonous. + Swallowing toads is here figuratively meant for swallowing + or putting up with insults, as disagreeable to a person + of feeling as toads to the stomach. + +TOAD. Toad in a hole; meat baked or boiled in pye-crust. + He or she sits like a toad on a chopping-block; a saying + of any who sits ill on horseback. As much need of it + as a toad of a side-pocket; said of a person who desires + any thing for which he has no real occasion. As full of + money as a toad is of feathers. + +TOAST. A health; also a beautiful woman whose health is + often drank by men. The origin of this term (as it is said) + was this: a beautiful lady bathing in a cold bath, one of + her admirers out of gallantry drank some of the water: + whereupon another of her lovers observed, he never drank + in the morning, but he would kiss the toast, and immediately + saluted the lady. + +TOASTING IRON, or CHEESE TOASTER. A sword. + +TOBY LAY. The highway. High toby man; a highway-man. + Low toby man; a footpad. + +TOBACCO. A plant, once in great estimation as a medicine: + + Tobacco hic + Will make you well if you be sick. + Tobacco hic + If you be well will make you sick. + +TODDY. Originally the juice of the cocoa tree, and afterwards + rum, water, sugar, and nutmeg. + +TODDLE. To walk away. The cove was touting, but + stagging the traps he toddled; be was looking out, and + feeing the officers he walked away. + +TODGE. Beat all to a todge: said of anything beat to mash. + +TOGE. A coat. Cant. + +TOGEMANS. The same. CANT. + +TOGS. Clothes. The swell is rum-togged. The gentleman + is handsomely dressed. + +TOKEN. The plague: also the venereal disease. She tipped + him the token; she gave him a clap or pox. + +TOL, or TOLEDO. A sword: from Spanish swords made at + Toledo, which place was famous for sword blades of an + extraordinary temper. + +TOLLIBAN RIG. A species of cheat carried on by a woman, + assuming the character of a dumb and deaf conjuror. + +TOM T--DMAN. A night man, one who empties necessary + houses. + +TOMBOY. A romping girl, who prefers the amusement used + by boys to those of her own sex. + +TOM OF BEDLAM. The same as Abram man. + +TOM CONY. A simple fellow. + +TOM LONG. A tiresome story teller. It is coming by Tom + Long, the carrier; said of any thing that has been long + expected. + +TOM THUMB. A dwarf, a little hop-o'my-thumb. + +TOMMY. Soft Tommy, or white Tommy; bread is so called + by sailors, to distinguish it from biscuit. Brown Tommy: + ammunition bread for soldiers; or brown bread given to + convicts at the hulks. + +TO-MORROW COME NEVER. When two Sundays come + together; never. + +TONGUE. Tongue enough for two sets of teeth: said of + a talkative person. As old as my tongue, and a little older + than my teeth; a dovetail in answer to the question, How + old are you? Tongue pad; a scold, or nimble-tongued + person. + +TONY. A silly fellow, or ninny. A mere tony: a simpleton. + +TOOLS. The private parts of a man. + +TOOL. The instrument of any person or faction, a cat's + paw. See CATS PAW. + +TOOTH Music. Chewing. + +TOOTH-PICK. A large stick. An ironical expression. + +TOPPER. A violent blow on the head. + +TOP ROPES. To sway away on all top ropes; to live + riotously or extravagantly. + +TO TOP. To cheat, or trick: also to insult: he thought to + have topped upon me. Top; the signal among taylors + for snuffing the candles: he who last pronounces that word + word, is obliged to get up and perform the operation.-- + to be topped; to be hanged. The cove was topped for + smashing queerscreens; he was hanged for uttering forged + bank notes. + +TOP DIVER. A lover of women. An old top diver; one + who has loved old hat in his time. + +TOP HEAVY. Drunk. + +TOP LIGHTS. The eyes. Blast your top lights. See CURSE. + +Top SAIL. He paid his debts at Portsmouth with the topsail; + i.e. he went to. sea and left them unpaid. SCT soldiers + are said to pay off their scores with the drum; that + is, by marching away. + +TOPER. One that loves his bottle, a soaker. SEE TO SOAK. + +TOPPING FELLOW. One at the top or head of his profession. + +TOPPING CHEAT. The gallows. CANT. + +TOPPING COVE. The hangman. CANT. + +TOPPING MAN. A rich man. + +TOFSY-TURVY. The top side the other way; i.e. the + wrong side upwards; some explain it, the top side turf + ways, turf being always laid the wrong side upwards. + +TORCHECUL. Bumfodder. + +TORMENTER OF SHEEP SKIN. A drummer. + +TORMENTER OF CATGUT. A fiddler. + +TORY. An advocate for absolute monarchy and church + power; also an Irish vagabond, robber, Or rapparee. + +TOSS POT. A drunkard. + +TOSS OFF. Manual pollution. + +TOTTY-HEADED. Giddy, hare-brained. + +TOUCH. To touch; to get money from any one; also + to arrest. Touched in the wind; broken winded. + Touched in the head; insane, crazy. To touch up a + woman; to have carnal knowledge of her. Touch bone + and whistle; any one having broken wind backwards, + according to the vulgar law, may be pinched by any of + the company till he has touched bone (i.e. his teeth) and + whistled. + +TOUCH BUN FOR LUCK. See BUN. + +TOVT. A look-out house, or eminence. + +TOUTING. (From TUERI, to look about) Publicans + fore-stalling guests, or meeting them on the road, and begging + their custom; also thieves or smugglers looking out to see + that the coast is clear. Touting ken; the bar of a public + house. + +TOW ROW. A grenadier. The tow row club; a club or + society of the grenadier officers of the line. + +TOWEL. An oaken towel, a cudgel. To rub one down + with an oaken towel; to beat or cudgel him. + +TOWER. Clipped money: they have been round the tower + with it. CANT. + +TO TOWER. To overlook, to rise aloft as in a high tower. + +TOWER HILL PLAY. A slap on the face, and a kick on the + breech. + +TOWN. A woman of the town; a prostitute. To be on + the town: to live by prostitution. + +TOWN BULL. A common whoremaster. To roar like a + town bull; to cry or bellow aloud. + +TO TRACK. To go. Track up the dancers; go up stairs. + CANT. + +TRADING JUSTICES. Broken mechanics, discharged footmen, + and other low fellows, smuggled into the commission + of the peace, who subsist by fomenting disputes, granting + warrants, and otherwise retailing justice; to the honour + of the present times, these nuisances are by no means, so + common as formerly. + +TRADESMEN. Thieves. Clever tradesmen; good thieves. + +TRANSLATORS. Sellers of old mended shoes and boots, + between coblers and shoemakers. + +TO TRANSMOGRAPHY, or TRANSMIGRIFY. To patch up + vamp, or alter. + +T0 TRANSNEAR. To come up with any body. + +TRANTER. See CROCKER. + +TRAP. To understand trap; to know one's own interest. + +TRAP STICKS. Thin legs, gambs: from the sticks with + which boys play at trap-ball. + +TRAPS. Constables and thief-takers. CANT. + +TO TRAPAN. To inveigle, or ensnare. + +TRAPES. A slatternly woman, a careless sluttish woman. + +TRAVELLER. To tip the traveller; to tell wonderful + stories, to romance. + +TRAVELLING PIQUET. A mode of amusing themselves, + practised by two persons riding in a carriage, each + reckoning towards his game the persons or animals that pass + by on the side next them, according to the following + estimation: + + A parson riding a grey horse, witholue furniture; game. + An old woman under a hedge; ditto. + A cat looking out of a window; 60. + A man, woman, and child, in a buggy; 40. + A man with a woman behind him; 30. + A flock of sheep; 20. + A flock of geese; 10. + A post chaise; 5. + A horseman; 2. + A man or woman walking; 1. + +TRAY TRIP. An ancient game like Scotch hop, played on + a pavement marked out with chalk into different + compartments. + +TRENCHER CAP. The square cap worn by the collegians. + at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. + +TRENCHER MAN. A stout trencher man; one who has a + good appetite, or, as the term is, plays a good knife and + fork. + +TRESWINS. Threepence. + +TRIB. A prison: perhaps from tribulation. + +TRICKUM LEGIS. A quirk or quibble in the law. + +TRIG. The point at which schoolboys stand to shoot their + marbles at taw; also the spot whence bowlers deliver the + bowl. + +TO TRIG IT. To play truant. To lay a man trigging; to + knock him down. + +TRIGRYMATE. An idle female companion. + +TRIM. State, dress. In a sad trim; dirty.--Also spruce or + fine: a trim fellow. + +TRIM TRAM. Like master, like man. + +TRIMMING. Cheating, changing side, or beating. I'll + trim his jacket; I'll thresh him. To be trimmed; to be + shaved; I'll just step and get trimmed. + +TRINE. To hang; also Tyburn. + +TRINGUM TRANGUM. A whim, or maggot. + +TRINING. Hanging. + +TRINKETS. Toys, bawbles, or nicknacks. + +TRIP. A short voyage or journey, a false step or stumble, + an error in the tongue, a bastard. She has made a trip; + she has had a bastard. + +TRIPE. The belly, or guts. Mr. Double Tripe; a fat + man. Tripes and trullibubs; the entrails: also a jeering + appellation for a fat man. + +TO TROLL. To loiter or saunter about. + +TROLLY LOLLY. Coarse lace once much in fashion. + +TROLLOP. A lusty coarse sluttish woman. + +TROOPER. You will die the death of a trooper's horse, + that is, with your shoes-on; a jocular method of telling + any one he will be hanged. + +TROT. An old trot; a decrepit old woman. A dog trot; a + gentle pace. + +TROTTERS. Feet. To shake one's trotters at Bilby's ball, + where the sheriff pays the fiddlers; perhaps the Bilboes + ball, i.e. the ball of fetters: fetters and stocks were + anciently called the bilboes. + +To TROUNCE. To punish by course of law. + +TRUCK. To exchange, swop, or barter; also a wheel + such as ship's guns are placed upon. + +TRULL. A soldier or a tinker's trull; a soldier or tinker's + female companion.--Guteli, or trulli, are spirits like women, + which shew great kindness to men, and hereof it is + that we call light women trulls. RANDLE HOLM'S + ACADEMY OF ARMORY. + +TRUMPERY. An old whore, or goods of no value; rubbish. + +TRUMPET. To sound one's own trumpet; to praise one's + self. + +TRUMPETER. The king of Spain's trumpeter; a braying + ass. His trumpeter is dead, he is therefore forced to + sound his own trumpet. He would make an excellent + trumpeter, for he has a strong breath; said of one having + a foetid breath. + +TRUMPS. To be put to one's trumps: to be in difficulties, + or put to one's shifts. Something may turn up trumps; + something lucky may happen. All his cards are trumps: + he is extremely fortunate. + +TRUNDLERS. Peas. + +TRUNK. A nose. How fares your old trunk? does your + nose still stand fast? an allusion to the proboscis or trunk + of an elephant. To shove a trunk: to introduce one's + self unasked into any place or company. Trunk-maker + like; more noise than work. + +TRUSTY TROJAN, or TRUSTY TROUT. A true friend. + +TRY ON. To endeavour. To live by thieving. Coves who + try it on; professed thieves. + +TRYNING. See TRINING. + +TU QUOQUE. The mother of all saints. + +TUB THUMPER. A presbyterian parson. + +TUCKED UP. Hanged. A tucker up to an old bachelor or + widower; a supposed mistress. + +TUFT HUNTER. A it anniversary parasite, one who courts + the acquaintance of nobility, whose caps are adorned with + a gold tuft. + +TUMBLER. A cart; also a sharper employed to draw in + pigeons to game; likewise a posture-master, or rope-dancer. + To shove the tumbler, or perhaps tumbril; to-be + whipt at the cart's tail. + +TO TUNE. To beat: his father tuned him delightfully: + perhaps from fetching a tune out of the person beaten, or + from a comparison with the disagreeable sounds of instruments + when tuning. + +TO TUP. To have carnal knowledge of a woman. + +TUP. A ram: figuratively, a cuckold. + +TUP RUNNING. A rural sport practised at wakes and fairs + in Derbyshire; a ram, whose tail is well soaped and + greased, is turned out to the multitude; any one that can + take him by the tail, and hold him fast, is to have him for + his own. + +T--D. There were four t--ds for dinner: stir t--d, hold + t--d, tread t--d, and mus-t--d: to wit, a hog's face, feet + and chitterlings, with mustard. He will never sh--e a + seaman's t--d; i.e. he will never make a good seaman. + +TURF. On the turf; persons who keep running horses, or + attend and bet at horse-races, are said to be on the turf. + +TURK. A cruel, hard-hearted man. Turkish treatment; + barbarous usage. Turkish shore; Lambeth, Southwark, + and Rotherhithe side of the Thames. + +TURKEY MERCHANT. A poulterer. + +TURNCOAT. One who has changed his party from interested + motives. + +TURNED UP. Acquitted; discharged. + +TURNIP-PATED. White or fair-haired. + +TURNPIKE MAN. A parson; because the clergy collect + their tolls at our entrance into and exit from the world. + +TUZZY-MUZZY. The monosyllable. + +TWADDLE. Perplexity, confusion, or any thing else: a + fashionable term that for a while succeeded that of BORE. See + BORE. + +TWANGEY, or STANGEY. A north country name for a taylor. + +TWEAGUE. In a great tweague: in a great passion. Tweaguey; + peevish, passionate. + +TO TWEAK. To pull: to tweak any one's nose. + +TWELVER. A shilling. + +TWIDDLE-DIDDLES. Testicles. + +TWIDDLE POOP. An effeminate looking fellow. + +IN TWIG. Handsome; stilish. The cove is togged in + twig; the fellow is dressed in the fashion. + +TO TWIG. To observe. Twig the cull, he is peery; + observe the fellow, he is watching us. Also to disengage, + snap asunder, or break off. To twig the darbies; to knock + off the irons. + +TWISS. (IRISH) A Jordan, or pot de chambre. A Mr. Richard + Twiss having in his "Travels" given a very unfavourable + description of the Irish character, the inhabitants of + Dublin, byway of revenge, thought proper to christen this + utensil by his name--suffice it to say that the baptismal + rites were not wanting at the ceremony. On a nephew of + this gentleman the following epigram was made by + a friend of ouis: + + Perish the country, yet my name + Shall ne'er in STORY be forgot, + But still the more increase in fame, + The more the country GOES TO POT. + +TWIST. A mixture of half tea and half coffee; likewise + brandy, beer, and eggs. A good twist; a good appetite. + To twist it down apace; to eat heartily. + +TWISTED. Executed, hanged. + +TO TWIT. To reproach a person, or remind him of favours + conferred. + +TWITTER. All in a twitter; in a fright. Twittering is + also the note of some small birds, such as the robin, &c. + +TWITTOC. Two. CANT. + +TWO HANDED PUT. The amorous congress. + +TWO THIEVES BEATING A ROGUE. A man beating his + hands against his sides to warm himself in cold weather; + called also beating the booby, and cuffing Jonas. + +TWO TO ONE SHOP. A pawnbroker's: alluding to the + three blue balls, the sign of that trade: or perhaps to its + being two to one that the goods pledged are never redeemed. + +TWO-HANDED. Great. A two-handed fellow or wench; + a great strapping man orwoman, + +TYE. A neckcloth. + +TYBURN BLOSSOM. A young thief or pickpocket, who in + time will ripen into fruit borne by the deadly never-green. + +TYBURN TIPPET. A halter; see Latimer's sermon before. + Edward VI. A. D. 1549. + +TYBURN TOP, or FORETOP. A wig with the foretop + combed over the eyes in a knowing style; such being + much worn by the gentlemen pads, scamps, divers, and + other knowing hands. + +TYKE. A dog, also a clown; a Yorkshire tyke- + +TYNEY. See TINEY. + +VAGARIES. Frolics, wild rambles. + +VAIN-GLORIOUS, or OSTENTATIOUS MAN. One who + boasts without reason, or, as the canters say, pisses more + than he drinks. + +VALENTINE. The first woman seen by a man, or man seen + by a woman, on St. Valentine's day, the 14th of February, + when it is said every bird chuses his mate for the ensuing + year. + +TO VAMP. To pawn any thing. I'll vamp it, and tip you + the cole: I'll pawn it, and give you the money. Also to + refit, new dress, or rub up old hats, shoes or other wearing + apparel; likewise to put new feet to old boots. Applied + more particularly to a quack bookseller. + +VAMPER. Stockings. + +VAN. Madam Van; see MADAM. + +VAN-NECK. Miss or Mrs. Van-Neck; a woman with large + breasts; a bushel bubby. + +VARDY. To give one's vardy; i.e. verdict or opinion. + +VARLETS. Now rogues and rascals, formerly yeoman's servants. + +VARMENT. (Whip and Cambridge.) Natty, dashing. He is + quite varment, he is quite the go. He sports a varment + hat, coat, &c.; he is dressed like a gentleman Jehu. + +VAULTING SCHOOL. A bawdy-house; also an academy + where vaulting and other manly exercises are taught. + +VELVET. To tip the velvet; to put one's tongue into a + woman's mouth. To be upon velvet; to have the best + of a bet or match. To the little gentleman in velvet, i. e. + the mole that threw up the hill that caused Crop (King + William's horse) to stumble; a toast frequently drank by + the tories and catholics in Ireland. + +VENERABLE MONOSYLLABLE. Pudendum muliebre. + +VENUS'S CURSE. The venereal disease. + +VESSELS OF PAPER. Half a quarter of a sheet. + +VICAR OF BRAY. See BRAY. + +VICE ADMIRAL OF THE NARROW SEAS. A drunken man + that pisses under the table into his companions' shoes. + +VICTUALLING OFFICE. The stomach. + +VINCENT'S LAW. The art of cheating at cards, composed of + the following associates: bankers, those who play booty; + the gripe, he that betteth; and the person cheated, who + is styled the vincent; the gains acquired, termage. + +VINEGAR. A name given to the person who with a whip + in his hand, and a hat held before his eye, keeps the + ring clear, at boxing-matches and cudgel-playing; also, + in cant terms, a cloak. + +VIXEN. A termagant; also a she fox, who, when she has + cubs, is remarkably fierce. + +TO VOWEL. A gamester who does not immediately pay + his losings, is said to vowel the winner, by repeating the + vowels I. O. U. or perhaps from giving his note for the + money according to the Irish form, where the acknowledgment + of the debt is expressed by the letters I. O. U. which, + the sum and name of the debtor being added, is deemed a + sufficient security among gentlemen. + +UNCLE. Mine uncle's; a necessary house. He is gone to + visit his uncle; saying of one who leaves his wife soon after + marriage. It likewise means a pawnbroker's: goods pawned + are frequently said to be at mine uncle's, or laid up in + lavender. + +UNDERSTRAPPER. An inferior in any office, or department. + +UNDER DUBBER. A turnkey. + +UNFORTUNATE GENTLEMEN. The horse guards, who thus + named themselves in Germany, where a general officer + seeing them very awkward in bundling up their forage, + asked what the devil they were; to which some of them + answered, unfortunate gentlemen. + +UNFORTUNATE WOMEN. Prostitutes: so termed by the + virtuous and compassionate of their own sex. + +UNGRATEFUL MAN. A parson, who at least once a week + abuses his best benefactor, i.e. the devil. + +UNGUENTUM AUREUM. A bribe. + +UNICORN. A coach drawn by three horses. + +UNLICKED CUB. A rude uncouth young fellow. + +UNRIGGED. Undressed, or stripped. Unrig the drab; strip + the wench. + +UNTRUSS. To untruss a point; to let down one's breeches + in order to ease one's self. Breeches were formerly tied + with points, which till lately were distributed to the boys + every Whit Monday by the churchwardens of most of the + parishes in London, under the denomination of tags: these + tags were worsteds of different colours twisted up to a size + somewhat thicker than packthread, and tagged at both + ends with tin. Laces were at the same given to the + girls. + +UNTWISTED. Undone, ruined, done up. + +UNWASHED BAWDRY. Rank bawdry. + +UP TO THEIR GOSSIP. To be a match for one who attempts + to cheat or deceive; to be on a footing, or in the secret. + I'll be up with him; I will repay him in kind. + +UPHILLS. False dice that run high. + +UPPER BENJAMIN. A great coat. CANT. + +UPPER STORY, or GARRET. Figuratively used to signify the + head. His upper story or garrets are unfurnished; i.e. + he is an empty or foolish fellow. + +UPPING BLOCK. [Called in some counties a leaping stock, + in others a jossing block.] Steps for mounting a horse. + He sits like a toad on a jossing block; said of one who + sits ungracefully on horseback. + +UPPISH. Testy, apt to take offence. + +UPRIGHT. Go upright; a word used by shoemakers, taylors + and their servants, when any money is given to + make them drink, and signifies, Bring it all out in liquor, + though the donor intended less, and expects change, or + some of his money, to be returned. Three-penny upright. + See THREEPENNY UPRIGHT, + +UPRIGHT MAN. An upright man signifies the chief or + principal of a crew. The vilest, stoutest rogue in the + pack is generally chosen to this post, and has the sole + right to the first night's lodging with the dells, who +afterwards + are used in common among the whole fraternity. + He carries a short truncheon in his hand, which he calls + his filchman, and has a larger share than ordinary in + whatsoever is gotten in the society. He often travels in + company with thirty or forty males and females, abram + men, and others, over whom he presides arbitrarily. Sometimes + the women and children who are unable to travel, + or fatigued, are by turns carried in panniers by an ass, or + two, or by some poor jades procured for that purpose. + +UPSTARTS. Persons lately raised to honours and riches + from mean stations. + +URCHIN. A child, a little fellow; also a hedgehog. + +URINAL OF THE PLANETS. Ireland: so called from the + frequent rains in that island. + +USED UP. Killed: a military saying, originating from a + message sent by the late General Guise, on the expedition + at Carthagena, where he desired the commander in chief + to order him some more grenadiers, for those he had were + all used up. + +WABLER. Footwabler; a contemptuous term for a + foot soldier, frequently used by those of the cavalry. + +TO WADDLE. To go like a duck. To waddle out of + Change alley as a lame duck; a term for one who has not + been able to pay his gaming debts, called his differences, + on the Stock Exchange, and therefore absents himself + from it. + +WAG. An arch-frolicsome fellow. + +WAGGISH. Arch, gamesome, frolicsome. + +WAGTAIL. A lewd woman. + +WAITS. Musicians of the lower order, who in most towns + play under the windows of the chief inhabitants at midnight, + a short time before Christmas, for which they collect + a christmas-box from house to house. They are said + to derive their name of waits from being always in waiting + to celebrate weddings and other joyous events happening + within their district. + +WAKE. A country feast, commonly on the anniversary of + the tutelar saint of the village, that is, the saint to whom + the parish church is dedicated. Also a custom of watching + the dead, called Late Wake, in use both in Ireland and + Wales, where the corpse being deposited under a table, + with a plate of salt on its breast, the table is covered with + liquor of all sorts; and the guests, particularly, the younger + part of them, amuse themselves with all kinds of + pastimes and recreations: the consequence is generally + more than replacing the departed friend. + +WALKING CORNET. An ensign of foot. + +WALKING POULTERER. One who steals fowls, and hawks + them from door to door. + +WALKING STATIONER. A hawker of pamphlets, &c. + +WALKING THE PLANK. A mode of destroying devoted + persons or officers in a mutiny or ship-board, by blindfolding + them, and obliging them to walk on a plank laid + over the ship's side; by this means, as the mutineers suppose, + avoiding the penalty of murder. + +WALKING UP AGAINST THE WALL. To run up a score, + which in alehouses is commonly recorded with chalk on + the walls of the bar. + +WALL. To walk or crawl up the wall; to be scored up at a + public-nouse. Wall-eyed, having an eye with little or + no sight, all white like a plaistered wall. + +TO WAP. To copulate, to beat. If she wont wap for a + winne, let her trine for a make; if she won't lie with a + man for a penny, let her hang for a halfpenny. Mort + wap-apace; a woman of experience, or very expert at the + sport. + +WAPPER-EYED. Sore-eyed. + +WARE. A woman's ware; her commodity. + +WARE HAWK. An exclamation used by thieves to inform + their confederates that some police officers are at hand. + +WARM. Rich, in good circumstances. To warm, or give + a man a warming; to beat him. See CHAFED. + +WARMING-PAN. A large old-fashioned watch. A Scotch + warming-pan; a female bedfellow. + +WARREN. One that is security for goods taken up on credit + by extravagant young gentlemen. Cunny warren; + a girl's boarding-school, also a bawdy-house. + +WASH. Paint for the face, or cosmetic water. Hog-wash; + thick and bad beer. + +WASP. An infected prostitute, who like a wasp carries a + sting in her tail. + +WASPISH. Peevish, spiteful. + +WASTE. House of waste; a tavern or alehouse, where idle + people waste both their time and money. + +WATCH, CHAIN, AND SEALS. A sheep's head And pluck. + +WATER-MILL. A woman's private parts. + +WATER SNEAKSMAN. A man who steals from ships or + craft on the river. + +WATER. His chops watered at it; he longed earnestly for it. + To watch his waters; to keep a strict watch on any one's + actions. In hot water: in trouble, engaged in disputes. + +WATER BEWITCHED. Very weak punch or beer. + +WATERPAD. One that robs ships in the river Thames. + +WATERY-HEADED. Apt to shed tears. + +WATER SCRIGER, A doctor who prescribes from inspecting + the water of his patients. See PISS PROPHET. + +WATTLES. Ears. CANT. + +WEAR A--E. A one-horse chaise. + +WEASEL-FACED. Thin, meagre-faced. Weasel-gutted; + thin-bodied; a weasel is a thin long slender animal with a + sharp face. + +WEDDING. The emptying of a neoessary-hovise, particularly + in London. You have been at an Irish wedding, + where black eyes are given instead of favours; saying to + one who has a black eye. + +WEDGE. Silver plate, because melted by the receivers of + stolen goods into wedges. CANT. + +TO WEED. To take a part. The kiddey weeded the swell's + screens; the youth took some of the gentleman's bank + notes. + +WEEPING CROSS. To come home by weeping cross; to + repent. + +WELCH COMB. The thumb and four fingers. + +WELCH FIDDLE. The itch. See SCOTCH FIDDLE. + +WELCH MILE. Like a Welch mile, long and narrow. His + story is like a Welch mile, long and tedious. + +WELCH RABBIT, [i. e. a Welch rare-bit] Bread and cheese + toasted. See RABBIT.--The Welch are said to be so + remarkably fond of cheese, that in cases of difficulty their + midwives apply a piece of toasted cheese to the janua vita + to attract and entice the young Taffy, who on smelling it + makes most vigorous efforts to come forth. + +WELCH EJECTMENT. To unroof the house, a method + practised by landlords in Wales to eject a bad tenant. + +TO WELL. To divide unfairly. To conceal part. A cant + phrase used by thieves, where one of the party conceals + some of the booty, instead of dividing it fairly amongst + his confederates. + +WELL-HUNG. The blowen was nutts upon the kiddey because + he is well-hung; the girl is pleased with the youth + because his genitals are large. + +WESTMINSTER WEDDING. A match between a whore + and a rogue. + +WET PARSON. One who moistens his clay freely, in order + to make it stick together. + +WET QUAKER. One of that sect who has no objection to + the spirit derived from wine. + +WHACK. A share of a booty obtained by fraud. A paddy + whack; a stout brawney Irishman. + +WHAPPER. A large man or woman. + +WHEEDLE. A sharper. To cut a wheedle; to decoy by + fawning or insinuation. Cant. + +WHEELBAND IN THE NICK. Regular drinking over the + left thumb. + +WHELP. An impudent whelp; a saucy boy. + +WHEREAS. To follow a whereas; to become a bankrupt, + to figure among princes and potentates: the notice given + in the Gazette that a commission of bankruptcy is issued + out against any trader, always beginning with the word + whereas. He will soon march in the rear of a whereas. + +WHET. A morning's draught, commonly white wine, supposed + to whet or sharpen the appetite. + +WHETSTONE'S PARK. A lane between Holborn and Lincoln's-inn + Fields, formerly famed for being the resort of + women of the town. + +WHIDS. Words. Cant. + +TO WHIDDLE. To tell or discover. He whiddles; he + peaches. He whiddles the whole scrap; he discovers all + he knows. The cull whiddled because they would not + tip him a snack: the fellow peached because they would + not give him a share, They whiddle beef, and we must + brush; they cry out thieves, and we must make off. Cant. + +WHIDDLER. An informer, or one that betrays the secrets + of the gang. + +WHIFFLES. A relaxation of the scrotum. + +WHIFFLERS. Ancient name for fifers; also persons at the + universities who examine candidates for degrees. A whiffling + cur, a small yelping cur. + +WHIMPER, or WHINDLE. A low cry. + +TO WHINE. To complain. + +WHINYARD. A sword. + +TO WHIP THE COCK. A piece of sport practised at wakes, + horse-races, and fairs in Leicestershire: a cock being tied + or fastened into a hat or basket, half a dozen carters + blindfolded, and armed with their cart whips, are placed + round it, who, after being turned thrice about, begin to + whip the cock, which if any one strikes so as to make it + cry out, it becomes his property; the joke is, that instead + of whipping the cock they flog each other heartily. + +WHIP JACKS. The tenth order of the canting crew, rogues + who having learned a few sea terms, beg with counterfeit + passes, pretending to be sailors shipwrecked on the + neighbouring coast, and on their way to the port from whence + they sailed. + +TO WHIP OFF. To run away, to drink off greedily, to + snatch. He whipped away from home, went to the alehouse, + where he whipped off a full tankard, and coming + back whipped off a fellow's hat from his head. + +WHIP-BELLY VENGEANCE, or pinch-gut vengeance, of + which he that gets the most has the worst share. Weak + or sour beer. + +WHIPPER-SNAPPER. A diminutive fellow. + +WHIPSHIRE. Yorkshire. + +WHIPSTER. A sharp or subtle fellow. + +WHIPT SYLLABUB. A flimsy, frothy discourse or treatise, + without solidity. + +WHIRLYGIGS. Testicles. + +WHISKER. A great lie. + +WHISKER SPLITTER. A man of intrigue. + +WHISKIN. A shallow brown drinking bowl. + +WHISKY. A malt spirit much drank in Ireland and Scotland; + also a one-horse chaise. See TIM WHISKY. + +WHISTLE. The throat. To wet one's whistle; to drink. + +WHISTLING SHOP. Rooms in the King's Bench and Fleet + prison where drams are privately sold. + +WHIT. [i. e. Whittington's.] Newgate. Cant.--Five rum-padders + are rubbed in the darkmans out of the whit, and + are piked into the deuseaville; five highwaymen broke out + of Newgate in the night, and are gone into the country. + +WHITE RIBBIN. Gin. + +WHITE FEATHER. He has a white feather; he is a coward; + an allusion to a game cock, where having a white leather + is a proof he is not of the true game breed. + +WHITE-LIVERED. Cowardly, malicious. + +WHITE LIE. A harmless lie, one not told with a malicious + intent, a lie told to reconcile people at variance. + +WHITE SERJEANT. A man fetched from the tavern or ale-house + by his wife, is said to be arrested by the white serjeant. + +WHITE SWELLING. A woman big with child is said to have + a white swelling. + +WHITE TAPE. Geneva. + +WHITE WOOL. Geneva. + +WHITECHAPEL. Whitechapel portion; two smocks, and + what nature gave. Whitechapel breed; fat, ragged, and + saucy: see ST. GILES'S BREED. Whitechapel beau; + one who dresses with a needle and thread, and undresses + with a knife. To play at whist Whitechapel fashion; + i.e. aces and kings first. + +WHITEWASHED. One who has taken the benefit of an act + of insolvency, to defraud his creditors, is said to have been + whitewashed. + +WHITFIELITE. A follower of George Whitfield, a Methodist. + +WHITHER-GO-YE. A wife: wives being sometimes apt to + question their husbands whither they are going. + +WHITTINGTON'S COLLEGE. Newgate; built or repaired by + the famous lord mayor of that name. + +WHORE'S BIRD. A debauched fellow, the largest of all birds. + He sings more like a whore's bird than a canary bird; said + of one who has a strong manly voice. + +WHORE'S CURSE. A piece of gold coin, value five shillings + and three pence, frequently given to women of the town by + such as professed always to give gold, and who before the + introduction of those pieces always gave half a guinea. + +WHOHE'S KITLING, or WHORE'S SON. A bastard. + +WHORE-MONGER. A man that keeps more than one mistress. + A country gentleman, who kept a female friend, being reproved + by the parson of the parish, and styled a whore-monger, + asked the parson whether he had a cheese in his + house; and being answered in the affirmative, 'Pray,' + says he, 'does that one cheese make you a cheese-monger?' + +WHORE PIPE. The penis. + +WHOW BALL. A milk-maid: from their frequent use of the + word whow, to make the cow stand still in milking. Ball + is the supposed name of the cow. + +WIBBLE. Bad drink. + +WIBLING'S WITCH. The four of clubs: from one James + Wibling, who in the reign of King James I. grew rich by + private gaming, and was commonly observed to have that + card, and never to lose a game but when he had it not. + +WICKET. A casement; also a little door. + +WIDOW'S WEEDS. Mourning clothes of a peculiar fashion, + denoting her state. A grass widow; a discarded mistress. + a widow bewitched; a woman whose husband is abroad, + and said, but not certainly known, to be dead. + +WIFE. A fetter fixed to one leg. + +WIFE IN WATER COLOURS. A mistress, or concubine; + water colours being, like their engagements, easily effaced, + or dissolved. + +WIGANNOWNS. A man wearing a large wig. + +WIGSBY. Wigsby; a man wearing a wig. + +WILD ROGUES. Rogues trained up to stealing from their + cradles. + +WILD SQUIRT. A looseness. + +WILD-GOOSE CHASE. A tedious uncertain pursuit, like the + following a flock of wild geese, who are remarkably shy. + +WILLING TIT. A free horse, or a coming girl. + +WILLOW. Poor, and of no reputation. To wear the willow; + to be abandoned by a lover or mistress. + +WIN. A penny, + +TO WIN. To steal. The cull has won a couple of rum + glimsticks; the fellow has stolen a pair of fine candlesticks. + +WIND. To raise the wind; to procure mony. + +WINDER. Transportation for life. The blowen has napped + a winder for a lift; the wench is transported for life for + stealing in a shop. + +WIND-MILL. The fundament. She has no fortune but + her mills; i.e. she has nothing but her **** and a*se. + +WINDFALL. A legacy, or any accidental accession of property. + +WINDMILLS IN THE HEAD. Foolish projects. + +WINDOW PEEPER. A collector of the window tax. + +WINDWARD PASSAGE. One who uses or navigates the + windward passage; a sodomite. + +WINDY. Foolish. A windy fellow; a simple fellow. + +WINK. To tip one the wink; to give a signal by winking + the eye. + +WINNINGS. Plunder, goods, or money acquired by theft. + +WINTER CRICKET. A taylor. + +WINTER'S DAY. He is like a winter's day, short and dirty. + +WIPE. A blow, or reproach. I'll give you a wipe on the + chops. That story gave him a fine wipe. Also a handkerchief. + +WIPER. A handkerchief. CANT. + +WIPER DRAWER. A pickpocket, one who steals handkerchiefs. + He drew a broad, narrow, cam, or specked wiper; + he picked a pocket of a broad, narrow, cambrick, or coloured + handkerchief. + +TO WIREDRAW. To lengthen out or extend any book, letter, + or discourse. + +WISE. As wise as Waltham's calf, that ran nine miles to + suck a bull. + +WISE MEN OF GOTHAM. Gotham is a village in Nottinghamshire; + its magistrates are said to have attempted to + hedge in a cuckow; a bush, called the cuckow's bush, is + still shewn in support of the tradition. A thousand other + ridiculous stories are told of the men of Gotham. + +WISEACRE. A foolish conceited fellow. + +WISEACRE'S HALL. Gresham college. + +WIT. He has as much wit as three folks, two fools and a + madman. + +WITCHES. Silver. Witcher bubber; a silver bowl. Witcher + tilter; a silver-hilted sword. Witcher cully; a silversmith. + +TO WOBBLE. To boil. Pot wobbler; one who boils a + pot. + +WOLF IN THE BREAST. An extraordinary mode of imposition, + sometimes practised in the country by strolling + women, who have the knack of counterfeiting extreme + pain, pretending to have a small animal called a wolf in + their breasts, which is continually gnawing them. + +WOLF IN THE STOMACH. A monstrous or canine appetite. + +WOOD. In a wood; bewildered, in a maze, in a peck of + troubles, puzzled, or at a loss what course to take in any + business. To look over the wood; to ascend the pulpit, + to preach: I shall look over the wood at St. James's on + Sunday next. To look through the wood; to stand in the + pillory. Up to the arms in wood; in the pillory. + +WOOD PECKER. A bystander, who bets whilst another + plays. + +WOODCOCK. A taylor with a long bill. + +WOODEN HABEAS. A coffin. A man who dies in prison is + said to go out with a wooden habeas. He went out with + a wooden habeas; i.e. his coffin. + +WOODEN SPOON. (Cambridge.) The last junior optime. + See WRANGLER, OPTIME. + +WOODEN HORSE. To fide the wooden horse was a military + punishment formerly in use. This horse consisted of two + or more planks about eight feet long, fixed together so as + to form a sharp ridge or angle, which answered to the + body of the horse. It was supported by four posts, about + six feet long, for legs. A head, neck, and tail, rudely cut + in wood, were added, which completed the appearance of + a horse. On this sharp ridge delinquents were mounted, + with their hands tied behind them; and to steady them + (as it was said), and lest the horse should kick them off, + one or more firelocks were tied to each leg. In this situation + they were sometimes condemned to sit an hour or + two; but at length it having been found to injure the + soldiers materially, and sometimes to rupture them, it was + left off about the time of the accession of King George I. + A wooden horse was standing in the Parade at Portsmouth + as late as the year 1750. + +WOODEN RUFF. The pillory. See NORWAY NECKCLOTH. + +WOODEN SURTOUT. A coilin. + +WOMAN OF THE TOWN, or WOMAN OF PLEASURE. A + prostitute. + +WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND. A married couple, where + the woman is bigger than her husband. + +WOMAN'S CONSCIENCE. Never satisfied. + +WOMAN OF ALL WORK. Sometimes applied to a female + servant, who refuses none of her master's commands. + +WOOLBIRD. A sheep. CANT. + +WOOL GATHERING. Your wits are gone a woolgathering; + saying to an absent man, one in a reverie, or absorbed + in thought. + +WOOLLEY CROWN. A soft-headed fellow. + +WORD GRUBBERS. Verbal critics, and also persons who + use hard words in common discourse. + +WORD PECKER. A punster, one who plays upon words. + +WORD OF MOUTH. To drink by word of mouth, i.e. out + of the bowl or bottle instead, of a glass. + +WORLD. All the world and his wife; every body, a great + company. + +WORM. To worm out; to obtain the knowledge of a secret + by craft, also to undermine or supplant. He is gone to + the diet of worms; he is dead and buried, or gone to + Rothisbone. + +WRANGLERS. At CAMBRIDGE the first class (generally of + twelve) at the annual examination for a degree. There + are three classes of honours, wranglers, senior optimes, + and junior optimes. Wranglers are said to be born with + golden spoons in their mouths, the senior optimes with + silver, and the junior with leaden ones. The last junior + optime is called the wooden spoon. Those who are not + qualified for honors are either in the GULF (that is, + meritorious, but not deserving of being in the three first + classes) or among the pollot [Proofreaders Note: Greek Letters] + the many. See PLUCK, APOSTLES, &C. + +WRAP RASCAL. A red cloak, called also a roquelaire. + +WRAPT UP IN WARM FLANNEL. Drunk with spirituous + liquors. He was wrapt up in the tail of his mother's + smock; saying of any one remarkable for his success with + the ladies. To be wrapt up in any one: to have a good + opinion of him, or to be under his influence. + +WRINKLE. A wrinkle-bellied whore; one who has had + a number of bastards: child-bearing leaves wrinkles in a + woman's belly. To take the wrinkles out of any one's + belly; to fill it out by a hearty meal. You have one + wrinkle more in your a-se; i.e. you have one piece of + knowledge more than you had, every fresh piece of + knowledge being supposed by the vulgar naturalists to add a + wrinkle to that part. + +WRY MOUTH AND A PISSEN PAIR OF BREECHES. Hanging. + +WRY NECK DAY. Hanging day. + +WYN. See WIN. + +XANTIPPE. The name of Socrates's wife: now used to + signify a shrew or scolding wife. + +YAFFLING. Eating. CANT. + +TO YAM. To eat or stuff heartily. + +YANKEY, or YANKEY DOODLE. A booby, or country + lout: a name given to the New England men in North + America. A general appellation for an American. + +YARMOUTH CAPON. A red herring: Yarmouth is a + famous place for curing herrings. + +YARMOUTH COACH. A kind of low two-wheeled cart + drawn by one horse, not much unlike an Irish car. + +YARMOUTH PYE. A pye made of herrings highly spiced, + which the city of Norwich is by charter bound to present + annually to the king. + +YARUM. Milk. CANT. + +YEA AND NAY MAN. A quaker, a simple fellow, one who + can only answer yes, or no. + +YELLOW. To look yellow; to be jealous. I happened to + call on Mr. Green, who was out: on coming home, and + finding me with his wife, he began to look confounded + blue, and was, I thought, a little yellow. + +YELLOW BELLY. A native of the Fens of Licoinshire; an + allusion to the eels caught there. + +YELLOW BOYS. Guineas. + +TO YELP. To cry out. Yelper; a town cryer, also one + apt to make great complaints on trifling occasions. + +YEST. A contraction of yesterday. + +YOKED. Married. A yoke; the quantum of labour performed + at one spell by husbandmen, the day's work being + divided in summer into three yokes. Kentish term. + +YORKSHIRE TYKE. A Yorkshire clown. To come Yorkshire + over any one; to cheat him. + +YOUNG ONE. A familiar expression of contempt for another's + ignorance, as "ah! I see you're a young one." How + d'ye do, young one? + +TO YOWL. To cry aloud, or howl. + +ZAD. Crooked like the letter Z. He is a mere zad, or + perhaps zed; a description of a very crooked or deformed + person. + +ZANY. The jester, jack pudding, or merry andrew, to a + mountebank. + +ZEDLAND. Great part of the west country, where the + letter Z is substituted for S; as zee for see, zun for sun, + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue +by Captain Grose et al. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1811 VULGAR DICTIONARY *** + +This file should be named dcvgr10.txt or dcvgr10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, dcvgr11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, dcvgr10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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