PE 3721 .H7 1664 Hft'jfrj CoDV 1 ^fe ' inpj &^ ;(P^0! P** IlIBRARY OF CONGRESS, / _ # I UXITED STATES OF AMERICA. ^ \ THE SLANG DICTIONARY. A CADGER'S MAP OF A BEGGING DISTRICT. EXPLANATION OF THE HIEROGLYPHICS. f\t STOP,— if you have what they want, they will buy. They are pretty "fly," Sf NO GOOD ; too poor, and know too much. ST , (knowing.) -y _ m GO IN THIS DIRECTION, it is better than the other road. Nothing that -^ way. f*K BONE, (good.) Safe for a "cold tatur," if for nothing else. "Cheese your V n O BONE, (good.) Safe for a "cold tatur," if for nothing else. patter" (don't talk much) here. COOPER'D, (spoilt,) by too many tramps calling there. GAMMY, (unfavourable,) likely to have you taken up. Mind the dog. FLUMMUXED, (dangerous,) sure of a month in "quod," (prison.) RELIGIOUS, but tidy on the whole. See imgc 30, THE SLANG DIOTIONAEY; OR, THE VULGAE WOEDS, STEEET PHEASES, AND "FAST" EXPEESSIONS OF HIGH AND LOW SOCIETY. MANY WITH THEIR ETYMOLOGY, AND A FEW WITH THEIR HISTORY TRACED. " and the " Wooden Spoon."— See p. 272. LONDON: JOHN CAMDEN^HOTTEN, PICCADILLY. 1864. Copies of this work, interleaved with finely-ruled paper, for the use of those who desire to collect such Slang and colloquial words as may start into exist- ence from, time to time, can b n . obtained from the publisher, price 9s. 6d. TENTH THOUSAND. >TfUNTED BY JOHN CAMDEN HOTTEN, PICCADILLY, LONDON. PREFACE. With this work is incorporated The Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words, issued by "a London Antiquary" in 1859. The first edition of that work con- tained about 3000 words ; the second, issued twelve months later, gave upwards of 5000. Both editions were reviewed by the critical press with an approval seldom accorded to small works of the kind. During the four years that have elapsed, the compiler has gone over the field of unrecog- nised English once more. The entire subject has been re- surveyed, out-lying terms and phrases have been brought in, new street- words have been added, and better illustra- tions of old colloquial expressions given. The result is the volume before the reader, which offers, for his amuse- ment or instruction, nearly 10,000 words and phrases com- monly deemed " vulgar," but which are used by the highest and lowest, the best, the wisest, as well as the worst and most ignorant of society. Any apology for an inquiry like the present is believed to be unnecessary. The philologist and the historian, usually find in such material the best evidences of a people's progress or decline It may not be out of place to say here — and I am sure he would not have objected — VI PREFACE. that the late Mr Buckle took the greatest interest in the subject, and that in a few instances I am indebted to that gentleman for the probable etymologies of some of the terms given in the Dictionary. "Many of these words and phrases," he used to say, " are but serving their apprenticeship, and will eventually become the active strength of our language." The widespread interest taken in the subject of Eng- lish vulgar speech has surprised me. From almost every capital in Europe I have received communications asking further particulars, or informing me that scraps of their lan- guage have become mixed with our street-talk ; and from India, China, the Cape, Australia, and North and South America I have received letters of advice or inquiry upon the subject. In German magazines numerous articles have appeared upon my former^book ; and, at Turin, Professor Ascoli has published a lengthy work upon the Lingua Eranca words in the speech of our lower orders, which the Dictionary of Modern Slang was the first to detect and make known. The Professor looks to the Lombard mer- chants, who flocked to London in the days of Elizabeth and James L, as the source from whence we derive this curious element in our vulgar speech. I am sorry to inform him that we have to thank the less dignified organ-grinders, as they are termed, for the introduction of this Italian peculiarity in our street-language. PREFACE. Vll The short history of Cant and Slang, which precedes the Dictionary, was first published in 1859, and has not since been re-written, although the Dictionary, which follows, has been more than trebled in size, and consequently con- tains many more illustrations of the different classes of colloquial speech than are given in the introduction. For the general style and aim of this preliminary performance, the compiler feels it necessary to offer some apology. The more vulgar and less known Cant or secret terms of the London thieves are given in the Dictionary at the foot of each page. The compiler scarcely knew what to do with some of the more repulsive of these words — those explana- tory of thieving, &c, and which continually occur in the language of low life. Their very existence is a lamentable fact ; and the dry, unpoetic way they explain criminal in- tentions and actions is miserable in the extreme. Crime is an awkward thing to deal with, and, as in the case of our own Legislature, when trying successfully to regulate the punishment, and at the same time provide for the reformation of criminal offenders/ he found the matter a singularly difficult one to manage. Slang is generally pithy and amusing, whereas Cant, like our lower orders in their thoughts and actions, is unrelieved by any feeling approaching to the poetic or the refined. A few Slang and Cant words will be observed in the plural. The compiler endeavoured, as far as possible, to Vlll PREFACE. give the singular number ; but in the case of some of the terms he found this impossible, as he never heard them used in any other form than the plural. The reader will please bear in mind that this is a Dic- tionary of modern Slang, — a list of colloquial words and phrases in present use, — whether of ancient or modern formation. Whenever Ancient or Ancient English is ap- pended to a Slang or Cant word, it is meant to signify that the expression was in respectable use in or previous to the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Ancient Cant indicates that the term was used as a Cant word in or previous to the same • reign. Old or Old English, affixed to a vulgar word, signifies that it was in general use as a proper expression in or previous to the reign of Charles II. Old Cant indicates that the term was in use as a Cant word during or before the same reign. Obsolete Slang terms are not given ; no notice, therefore, has been taken of the numerous expressions that occur in the play-books and other popular literature of the past three hundred years, which have served their day, and now form no part of our tongue. Only the living language of the time has been dealt with. Not long since the compiler purchased The History of a Manchester Cadger: Narrated in his own Language, price i d. He was certainly somewhat surprised on open- ing the pamphlet to find that it consisted of eight pages PREFACE. IX of his own little book, reprinted with a few errors, and withont any acknowledgment of the source from whence it was taken. He could from his heart recommend the Manchester Cadger to reprint the Ten Commandments, and study one of them, now that he has somewhat im- proved his fortune by the first pilfer. It is said that 40,000 copies have been sold of the History. H.I.H. the Prince Lucien Bonaparte very recently discovered one of his privately-printed little books, The Song of Solomon, in the Lancashire Dialect, being hawked around the same city in the form of a twopenny edition. The compiler will be thankful for any corrections, additional examples, or words omitted. He has occupied many spare hours in the formation of this Dictionary of unrecognised English, and he wishes in future editions to make it as perfect as possible. Based upon the present performance, a work of a similar but more extended character is in progress. It will give an appropriate extract from books, serials, broadsheets, or any other source which may afford material illustrative of the actual employment of the several Slang, Cant, and Vulgar terms in English printed literature. It is believed that the work will be of con- siderable value to the philologist. Further particulars may be obtained of the publisher, who will also receive subscribers' names. X PREFACE. In conclusion, the compiler begs to express his obliga- tions to those correspondents who have from time to time assisted him with their valuable suggestions. J. C. H. Piccadilly, 1st June 1 864. *i* The Prefaces to the compilers previous work are added, as it is believed that they will not prove uninterest- ing to the reader. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION DICTIONARY OF MODERN SLANG, ETC. If any gentleman of a studious turn of mind, who may have acquired the habit of carrying pencils and note- books, would for one year reside in Monmouth Court, Seven Dials; six months in Orchard Street, Westminster; three months in Mint Street, Borough; and consent to undergo another three months on the extremely popular but very much disliked treadmill, (yulgo the " Everlasting Staircase,") finishing, I will propose, by a six months' tramp, in the character of a cadger and beggar, over Eng- land, I have not the least doubt but that he would be able to write an interesting work on the languages, secret and vulgar, of the lower orders. In the matter of Slang, our studious friend would have to divide his time betwixt observation and research. Con- versations on the outsides of omnibuses, on steamboat piers, or at railway termini, would demand his most atten- tive hearing ; so would the knots of semi-decayed cabmen, standing about in bundles of worn-out great coats and haybands, betwixt watering-pails, and conversing in a Xll PREFACE. dialect every third word of which is without home or respectable relations. He would also have to station him- self for hours near gatherings of ragged boys playing or fighting, but ever and anon contributing to the note-book a pure street-term. He would have to "hang about" lobbies, mark the refined word-droppings of magniloquent flunkeys, " run after " all the popular preachers, go to the Inns of Court, be up all night and about all day — in fact, be a ubiquitarian, with a note-book and pencil in hand. As for research, he would have to turn over each page of our popular literature, wander through all the weekly serials, wade through the newspapers, fashionable and unfashionable, and subscribe to Mudie's, and scour the novels. This done, and if he has been an observant man, I will engage to say that he has made a choice gathering, and that we may reasonably expect an interesting little book. I give this outline of preparatory study to shew the reason the task has never been undertaken before. People in the present chase after respectability don't care to turn blackguards, and exchange cards with the Whitechapel Pecker, or the Sharp's-alley Chicken, for the sake of a few vulgar, although curious words ; and we may rest assured that it is quite impossible to write any account of vulgar or low language, and remain seated on damask in one's own drawing-room. But a fortunate circumstance attended PREFACE. xill the compiler of the present work, and tie has neither been required to reside in Seven Dials, visit the treadmill, nor wander over the country in the character of a vagabond or a cadger. In collecting old ballads, penny histories, and other printed street narratives, as materials for a History of Cheap or Popular Literature, he frequently had occasion to purchase in Seven Dials and the Borough a few old songs or dying speeches, from the chaunters and patterers who abound in those neighbourhoods. With some of these men (their names would not in the least interest the reader, and would only serve the purpose of making this Preface look like a vulgar page from the London Directory) an arrangement was made that they should collect the Cant and Slang words used by the different wandering tribes of London and the country. Some of these chaunters are men of respectable education, (although filling a vaga- bond's calling,) and can write good hands, and express themselves fluently, if not with orthographical correctness. To prevent deception and mistakes, the words and phrases sent in were checked off by other chaunters and tramps. Assistance was also sought and obtained, through an in- telligent printer in Seven Dials, from the costermongers in London, and the pedlars and hucksters who traverse the country. In this manner the greater number of Cant words were procured, very valuable help being continually XIV PREFACE. derived from Mayhem's London Labour and the London Poor, a work which had gone over much of the same ground. The Slang and vulgar expressions were gleaned from every source which appeared to offer any materials ; indeed the references attached to words in the Dictionary frequently indicate the channels which afforded them. Although in the Introduction I have divided Cant from Slang, and treated the subjects separately, yet in the Dictionary I have only, in a few instances, pointed out which are Slang, or which are Cant terms. The task would have been a difficult one. Many words which were once Cant are Slang now. The words peig and cove are in- stances in point. Once Cant and secret terms, they are now only street vulgarisms. The etymologies attempted are only given as contribu- tions to the subject, and the derivation of no vulgar term is guaranteed. The origin of many street-words will, per- haps, never be discovered, having commenced with a knot of illiterate persons, and spread amongst a public that cared not a fig for the history of the word, so long as it came to their tongues to give a vulgar piquancy to a joke, or relish to an exceedingly familiar conversation. The references and authorities given in italics frequently shew only the direction or probable source of the etymology. The author, to avoid tedious verbiage, was obliged, in so small a work, to be curt in his notes and suggestions. PREFACE. XV He lias to explain also that a few words will probably be noticed in the Slang and Cant Dictionary that are ques- tionable as coming under either of those designations- These have been admitted because they were originally either vulgar terms, or the compiler had something novel to say concerning them. The makers of our large diction- aries have been exceedingly crotchety in their choice of what they considered respectable words. It is amusing to know that Eichardson used the word humbug to explain the sense of other words, but omitted it in the alphabetical arrangement as not sufficiently respectable and ancient. The word Slang, too, he served in the same way. Filthy and obscene words have been carefully excluded, although street-talk, unlicensed and unwritten, abounds in these. " Immodest words admit of no defence, For want of decency is want of sense." It appears from the calculations of philologists, that there are 38,000 words in the English language, including deri- vations. I believe I have, for the first time, in consecutive order, added at least 3000 words to the previous stock, — ■ vulgar and often very objectionable, but still terms in every- day use, and employed by thousands. It is not generally known, that the polite Lord Chesterfield once desired Dr Johnson to compile a Slang Dictionary; indeed, it was Chesterfield, some say, who first used the word humbug. XVI PREFACE. Words, like peculiar styles of dress, get into public favour, and come and go in fashion. When great favourites and universal they truly become " household words," although generally considered Slang, when their origin or ante- cedents are inquired into. A few errors of the press, I am sorry to say, may be noticed; but, considering the novelty of the subject, and the fact that no fixed orthography of vulgar speech exists, it will, I hope, be deemed a not uninteresting essay on a new and very singular branch of human inquiry; for, as Mayhew remarks, " the whole subject of Cant and Slang is, to the philologist, replete with interest of the most pro- found character." The compiler will be much obliged by the receipt of any cant, slang, or vulgar words not mentioned in the dictionary. the probable origin, or etymology, of any fashionable or unfashionable vulgarism, will also be received by him with thanks. Piccadilly, June 30, 1859. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION DICTIONARY OF MODERN SLANG, ETC. The First Edition of this work had a rapid sale, and within a few weeks after it was published, the entire issue passed from the publisher's shelves into the hands of the public. A Second Edition, although urgently called for, was not immediately attempted. The First had been found incom- plete, and faulty in many respects, and the author deter- mined thoroughly to revise and recast before again going to press. The present Edition, therefore, will be found much more complete than the First; indeed, I may say that it has been entirely re-written, and that, whereas the First contained but 3000 words, this gives nearly 5000, with a mass of fresh illustrations, and extended articles on the more important Slang terms — humbug, for instance. The notices of a Lingua Franca element in the language of London vagabonds are peculiar to this Edition. My best thanks are due to several correspondents for valuable hints and suggestions as to the probable etymo- logies of various colloquial expressions. 6 XV111 PREFACE. One literary journal of high, repute recommended a division of Cant from Slang; but the annoyance of two indices in a small work appeared to me to more than coun- terbalance the benefit of a stricter philological classification, so I have for the present adhered to the old arrangement ; indeed, to separate Cant from Slang would be almost im- possible. Piccadilly, March 15, i860. CONTENTS. THE HISTORY OF CANT, OR THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF VAGABONDS. PAGE Black and Coloured Vagabonds — Vagabonds all over Europe — Vaga- bonds Universal, . . . . . .1-3 Etymology of Cant — Cant used in old times — Difference between Cant and Slang, . . . . . 3-5 The Gipsies — Gipsies taught English Vagabonds — The Gipsy- Vagabond alliance — The Origin of Cant — Vulgar words from the Gipsy — Gipsy element in the English language — The poet Moore on the origin of Cant — Borrow on the Gipsy lan- guage — The inventor of Canting not hanged, . . 5-11 Old Cant words still used — Old Cant words with modern meanings — The words "Rum," and " Queer" explained — Old Cant words entirely obsolete, . . . . . .11-14 The Oldest "Rogue's Dictionary," .... 14-20 " Jaw-breakers," or hard words, used as Cant — Were Highwaymen educated men? — Vagabonds used Foreign words as Cant — The Lingua Franca, or Bastard Italian — Cant derived from Jews and Showmen — Classic words used as English Cant — Old English words used as Cant — Old English words not fashionable now — Our old Authors very vulgar persons — Was Shakspeare a pugi- list? — Old Dramatists used Cant words — Curious systems of Cant, ........ 20-26 ACCOUNT OF THE HIEROGLYPHICS USED BY VAGABONDS. Mendicant Freemasonry — Hieroglyphics of Vagabonds — Maps used by Beggars — Account of a Cadger's Map — Explanation of the Hieroglyphics — Did the Gipsies invent them ? — The Mur- derer's Signal on the Gallows, .... 27-32 CONTENTS. A SHORT HISTORY OF SLANG, OR THE VULGAR LAN- GUAGE OF FAST LIFE. PAGE Slang at Babylon and Nineveh — Old English Slang — Slang in the time of Cromwell, and in the Court of Charles II. — Swift and Arbuthnot fond of Slang — The origin of " Cabbage " — " The Real Simon Pure " — Tom Brown and Ned Ward — Did Dr Johnson compile a Slang Dictionary ? — John Bee's absurd ety- mology of Slang — The true origin of the term — Derived from the Gipsies — Burns and his fat friend, Grose — Slang used by all classes, High and Low — Slang in Parliament, and amongst our friends — New words not so reprehensible as old words bur- dened with strange meanings — The poor Foreigner's perplexity — Long and windy Slang words — Vulgar corruptions, . 33-42 Fashionable Slang, . . . . . . 42 Parliamentary Slang, ...... 45 Military and Dandy Slang, . . . . . 47 University Slang, ...... 48 Religious Slang, ....... 49 Legal Slang, or Slang amongst the Lawyers, . . . • 52 Literary Slang — Punch on "Slang and Sanscrit," . . 53- Theatrical Slang, or Slang both before and behind the curtain, 56" Civic Slang, ....... 57 Slang Terms for Money — Her Majesty's coin is insulted by one hundred and thirty distinct Slang terms — Old Slang terms for money — The classical origin of Slang money-terms — The terms used by the Ancient Romans vulgarisms in the Nineteenth Century, ....... 58-61 Shopkeepers' Slang, . . . . . . 61 Workmen's Slang, or Slang in the workshop — Many Slang terms for money derived from operatives, .... 62 Slang Apologies for Oaths, or sham exclamations for passion and temper — Slang swearing, .... 63 Slang Terms for Drunkenness, and the graduated scale of fuddle- ment and intoxicatior, . ... 64 CONTENTS. XXI PAGE DICTIONARY OF MODERN SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR "WORDS; many with their etymologies traced, together with illustrations, and references to authorities, . . . 65-274 Some Account op the Back Slang, the secret language of Coster- mongers — The principle of the Back Slang — Boys and girls soon acquire it — The Back Slang unknown to the Police — Costermongers' terms for money — Arithmetic amongst the Costermongers, ...... 275-279 Glossary of the Back Slang, ..... 280-284 Some Account or the Rhyming Slang, the secret language of Chaunters and Patterers — The origin of the Rhyming Slang — Spoken principally by Vagabond Poets, Patterers, and Cheap Jacks — Patterers " well up " in Street Slang — Curious Slang Letter from a Chaunter, .... 285-288 Glossary of the Rhyming Slang, .... 289-292 The Bibliography of Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Language, or a list of the books which have been consulted in the com- pilation of this work, comprising nearly every known treatise upon the subject, ...... 293-305 THE SLANG DICTIONARY. THE HISTORY OF CANT, THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF VAGABONDS. Cant and Slang are universal and world-wide. Nearly every nation on the face of the globe, polite and bar- barous, may be divided into two portions, the stationary and the wandering, the civilised and the uncivilised, the respectable and the scoundrel, — those who have fixed abodes and avail themselves of the refinements of civilisation, and those who go from place to place picking up a precarious livelihood by petty sales, begging, or theft. This peculiarity is to be observed amongst the heathen tribes of the southern hemisphere, as well as in the oldest and most refined countries of Europe. As Mayhew very pertinently remarks, " It would appear, that not only are all races divisible into wanderers and settlers, but that each civilised or settled tribe has generally some wandering horde intermingled with and in a measure preying upon it." In South Africa, the naked and miserable Hottentots are pestered by the still more abject Son- quas; and it may be some satisfaction for us to know that our old enemies at the Cape, the Kaffirs, are troubled with a tribe of rascals called Fingoes, — the former term, we are informed by travellers, signifying beggars, and the latter wanderers and out- casts. In South America, and among the islands of the Pacific, matters are pretty much the same. Sleek and fat rascals, with not much inclination towards honesty, fatten, or rather fasten, like body insects, upon other rascals, who would be equally sleek and fat but for their vagabond dependents. Luckily for respect- able persons, however, vagabonds, both at home and abroad, shew certain outward peculiarities which distinguish them from A 2 VAGABONDS ALL OVER EUROPE. the great mass of lawful people off whom they feed and fatten. Personal observation, and a little research into books, enable me to mark these external traits. The wandering races are remark- able for the development of the bones of the face, as the jaws, cheek-bones, &c, high-crowned, stubborn-shaped heads, quick, restless eyes,* and hands nervously itching to be doing ;f for their love of gambling, — staking their very existence upon a single cast ; for sensuality of all kinds ; and for their use of a cant language with which to conceal their designs and plunder- ings. The secret jargon, or rude speech, of the vagabonds who hang upon the Hottentots is termed Cuze-cat. In Finland, the fellows who steal seal-skins, pick the pockets of bear-skin overcoats, and talk Cant, are termed Lappes. In France, the secret language of highwaymen, housebreakers, and pickpockets is named Argot. The brigands and more romantic rascals of Spain term their private tongue Germania,t or Robbers' Language. Rothwalsch.§ or foreign-beggar-talk, is synonymous with Cant and thieves' talk in Germany. The vulgar dialect of Malta, and the Scala towns of the Levant — imported into this country and incorporated with English cant — is known as the Lingua Franca, or bastard Italian. And the crowds of lazy beggars that infest the streets of Naples and Rome, and the brigands that Albert Smith used to describe near Pompeii — stopping a railway train, and deliber- ately rifling the pockets and baggage of the passengers — their * " Swarms of vagabonds, whose eyes were so sharp as Lynx." — Bullein's Simples and Surgery, 1562. t Mayhew has a curious idea upon the habitual restlessness of the nomadic tribes — i.e., "Whether it be that in the mere act of wandering there is a greater determina- tion of blood to the surface of the body, and, consequently, a less quantity sent to the brain." — London Labour, vol. i., p. 2. % Germania. probably from the Gipsies, who were supposed to come from Germany into Spain. § Rothwdlsch, from Rater, beggar, vagabond, and w'dlsch, foreign. See Dictionary of Gipsy language in Potts Zigeuner in Europa und Aden, vol. ii., Halle, 1844. The Italian cant is called Fourbesque, and the Portuguese, frdao. See Francisque- Michel, Dictionnaire d'ArcjoL Paris, 1856. ETYMOLOGY OF CANT. 3 secret language is termed Gergo. In England, as we all know, it is called Cant — often improperly Slang. Most nations, then, may boast, or rather lament, a vulgar tongue — formed principally from the national language — the hereditary property of thieves, tramps, and beggars, — the pests of civilised communities. The formation of these secret tongues vary, of course, with the circumstances surrounding the speakers. A writer in Notes and Queries* has well remarked, that "the investigation of the origin and principles of Cant and Slang language opens a curious field of inquiry, replete with consider- able interest to the philologist and the philosopher. It affords a remarkable instance of lingual contrivance, which, without the introduction of much arbitrary matter, has developed a system of communicating ideas, having all the advantages of a foreign language." An inquiry into the etymology of foreign vulgar secret tongues, and their analogy with that spoken in England, would be curious and interesting in the extreme ; but neither present space nor personal acquirements permit of the task, and therefore the writer confines himself to a short account of the origin of English Cant. The terms Cant and Canting were doubtless derived from chaunt or chaunting, — the " whining tone, or modulation of voice adopted by beggars, with intent to coax, wheedle, or cajole by pretensions of wretchedness." t For the origin of the other application of the word Cant, pulpit hypocrisy, we are indebted to a pleasant page in the Spectator, (No. 147 :) — "Cant is by some people derived from one Andrew Cant, who, they say, was a Presbyterian minister in some illiterate part of Scotland, who, by exercise and use, had obtained the faculty, alias gift, of talking in the pulpit in such a dialect that 'tis said he was * ¥r Thos. Lawrence, who promised an Etymological Cant and Slang Dictionary. Where is the book ? f Richardson's Dictionary. 4 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANT AND SLANG. understood by none but bis own congregation, — and not by all of them. Since Master Cant's time it has been understood in a larger sense, and signifies all exclamations, whinings, unusual tones, and, in fine, all praying and preaching like the unlearned of the Presbyterians." This anecdote is curious, if it is not cor- rect. It was the custom in Addison's time to have a fling at the true-blue Presbyterians, and the mention made by Whitelocke of Andrew Cant, a fanatical Scotch preacher, and the squib upon the same worthy, in Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence Displayed, may probably have started the whimsical etymology. As far as we are concerned, however, in the present inquiry, Cant was derived from chaunt, a beggar's whine; chatjnting being the recognised term amongst beggars to this day for begging orations and street whinings ; and chaunter, a street talker and tramp, the very term still used by strollers and patterers. The use of the word Cant, amongst beggars, must certainly have commenced at a very early date, for we find "to cante, to speake," in Harman's list of Rogues' Words in the year 1566 ; and Harrison about the same time/'* in speaking of beggars and Gipsies, says, "they have devised a language among themselves which they name Canting, but others Pedlars' Frenche." Now the word Cant in its old sense, and Slang f in its modern application, although used by good writers and persons of educa- tion as synonymes, are in reality quite distinct and separate terms. Cant, apart from religious hypocrisy, refers to the old secret language, by allegory or distinct terms, of Gipsies, thieves, tramps, and beggars. Slang represents that evanescent, vulgar language, ever changing with fashion and taste, which has princi- * Description of England, prefixed to Holinshed's Chronicle. t The word Slang, as will be seen in the chapter upon that subject, is purely a Gipsy term, although now-a-days it refers to low or vulgar language of any kind, other than cant. Slang and Gibberish in vhe Gipsy language are synonymous ; but, as English adoptions, have meanings very different from that given to them in their original. THE GIPSIES. 5 pally come into vogue during the last seventy or eighty years, spoken by persons in every grade of life, rich and poor, honest and dishonest.* Cant is old ; Slang is always modern and changing. To illustrate the difference : a thief in Cant language would term a horse a prancer or a pead ; while in Slang, a man of fashion would speak of it as a bit of blood, or a spanker, or a neat tit. A handkerchief, too, would be a billy, a fogle, or a kent rag, in the secret language of low characters ; whilst amongst vulgar persons, or those who aped their speech, it would be called a rag, a wipe, or a clout. Cant was formed for purposes of secrecy. Slang is indulged in from a desire to appear familiar with life, gaiety, town-humour, and with the transient nicknames and street jokes of the day. Eoth Cant and Slang, I am aware, are often huddled together as synonymes ; but they are distinct terms, and as such should be used. To the Gipsies beggars and thieves are undoubtedly indebted for their Cant language. The Gipsies landed in this country early in the reign of Henry VIII. They were at first treated as conjurors and magicians, — indeed, they were hailed by the popu- lace with as much applause as a company of English theatricals usually receive on arriving in a distant colony. They came here with all their old Eastern arts of palmistry, fortune - telling, doubling money by incantation and burial, — shreds of pagan idolatry ; and they brought with them, also, the dishonesty of the lower caste of Asiatics, and the vagabondism they had acquired since leaving their ancient dwelling-places in the East many centuries before. They possessed, also, a language quite distinct from anything that had been heard in England, and they claimed the title of Egyptians, and as such, when their thievish wandering propensities became a public nuisance, were cautioned * "The vulgar tongue consists of two parts : the first is the Cant Language; the second, those burlesque phrases, quaint allusions, and nicknames for persons, things, and places, which, from long uninterrupted usage, are made classical by prescription." — Groses Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, ist edition, 1785. 6 THE GIPSY-VAGABOND ALLIANCE. and proscribed in a royal proclamation by Henry VIII. * The Gipsies were not long in the country before they found native imitators. Vagabondism is peculiarly catching. The idle, the vagrant, and the criminal outcasts of society, caught an idea from the so-called Egyptians — soon corrupted to Gipsies. They learned from them how to tramp, sleep under hedges and trees, to tell fortunes, and find stolen property for a consideration — ■ frequently, as the saying runs, before it was lost. They also learned the value and application of a secret tongue; indeed, all the accompaniments of maunding and imposture, except thieving and begging, which were well known in this country long before the Gipsies paid it a visit, — perhaps the only negative good that can be said in their favour. Harman, in 1566, wrote a singular, not to say droll, book, entitled, A Caveat for commen Cvrsetors, vulgarly called Vaga- bones,- newly augmented and inlarged, wherein the history and various descriptions of rogues and vagabonds are given, together with their canting tongue. This book, the earliest of the kind, gives the singular fact that within a dozen years after the landing of the Gipsies, companies of English vagrants were formed, places of meeting appointed, districts for plunder and begging operations marked out, and rules agreed to for their common management. In some cases Gipsies joined the English gangs; in others, English vagrants joined the Gipsies. The fellowship was found convenient and profitable, as both parties were aliens to the laws and customs of the country, living in a great measure in the open air, apart from the lawful public, and often meeting each other on the same by-path, or in the same retired valley ; — but seldom intermarrying, or entirely adopting each other's habits. The common people, too, soon began to consider them as of one family, — all rogues, and from Egypt. The secret language spoken by the Gipsies, principally Hindoo, and extremely bar- * " Outlandish people calling themselves Egyptians." 1530. THE ORIGIN OF CANT. barous to English ears, was found incomprehensible and very difficult to learn. The Gipsies, also, found the same difficulty with the English language. A rude, rough, and most singular compromise was made, and a mixture of Gipsy, Old English, newly-coined words, and cribbings from any foreign, and there- fore secret language, mixed and jumbled together, formed what has ever since been known as the canting language, or ped- lars' French ; or, during the past century, st Giles's greek. Such was the origin of Cant ; and in illustration of its blend- ing with the Gipsy or Cingari tongue, dusky and Oriental from the sunny plains of Central Asia, I am enabled to give the accompanying list of Gips}^, and often Hindoo, words, with, in many instances, their English adoptions : — Gipsy. English. BAMBOOZLE, to perplex or mis- BAMBOOZLE, to delude, cheat, or lead by hiding. Modem Gipsy. make a fool of any one. BOSH, rubbish, nonsense, offal. Gipsy and Persian. CHEESE, thing or article, " That 'a the cheese," or thing. Gipsy and Hindoo. CHIVE, the tongue. Gipsy. BOSH, stupidity, foolishness. CHEESE, or cheesy, a first-rate or very good article. CHIVE, or chivet, a shout, or loud- tongued. CUTA, a gold coin. Danubian COUTER, a sovereign, twenty shil- Gipsy. lings. DADE, or Dadi, a father. Gipsy. DISTARABIN", a prison. Gipsy. GAD, or Gadsi, a wife. Gipsy. DADDY, nursery term for father.* STURABIN, a prison. GAD, a female scold ; a woman who tramps over the country with a beggar or hawker. GIBBERISH, rapid and unmeaning GIBBERISH, the language of Gip- sies, synonymous with Slang. Gipsy. * In those instances, indicated by a *, it is impossible to say whether or not we are indebted to the Gipsies for the terms. Dad, in WeUh, also signifies a father. Cur is stated to be a mere term of reproach, like "Dog," which in all European languages has been applied in an abusive sense. Objections may also be raised against Gad and Maund. VULGAR WORDS FROM THE GIPSY. Gipsy. ISCHUR, Schttr. or Cher, a thief. Gipsy and Hindoo. LAB, a word. Gipsy. LOWE, or Lowr, money. Gipsy and WallacMan. MAMI, a grandmother. Gipsy. MANG, or Maung, to beg. Gipsy and Hindoo. MORT, a free woman, — one for common use amongst the male Gipsies, so appointed by Gipsy custom. Gipsy. MXJ, the mouth. Gipsy and Hindoo. MULL, to spoil or destroy. Gipsy. PAL, a brother. Gipsy. PANE, water. Gipsy. Hindoo, PAWNEE. RIG, a performance. Gipsy. ROMANY, speech or language. Spanish Gipsy. ROME, or Rome, a man. Gipsy and Coptic. ROMEE, a woman. Gipsy. SLANG, the language spoken by Gipsies. Gipsy. TAWNO, little. Gipsy. TSCHIB, or Jebb, the tongue. Gipsy and Hindoo. English. CUR, a mean or dishonest man. LOBS, words. LOWRE, money. Ancient Cant. MAMMY, or Mamma, a mother, formerly sometimes used for grandmother. MAUND, to beg. MORT, or Mott, a prostitute. MOO, or Mxjn, the mouth. MULL, to spoil, or bungle. PAL, a partner, or relation. PARNEY, rain. RIG, a frolic, or "spree." ROMANY, the Gipsy language. RUM, a good man, or thing. In the Robbers' language of Spain, (partly Gipsy,) RUM signifies a harlot. RUM Y, a good woman or girl. SLANG, low, vulgar, unauthorised language. TANNY, Teeny, little. J IBB, the tongue ; Jabber,* quiek- tongued, or fast talk. Here, then, we have the remarkable fact of several words of pure Gipsy and Asiatic origin going the round of Europe, passing into this country before the Reformation, and coming down to us through numerous generations purely in the mouths of the people. They have seldom been written or used in books, and simply as vulgarisms have they reached our time. Only a few * Jabber, I am reminded, may be ouly another form of gaebee, gab, very common in Old English, from ths Anglo-Saxon, g^ebban. VULGAR WORDS FROM THE GIPSY. 9 are now Cant, and some are household words. The word jockey, as applied to a dealer or rider of horses, came from the Gipsy, and means in that language a whip. Our standard dictionaries give, of course, none but conjectural etymologies. Another word, bamboozle, has been a sore difficulty with lexicographers. It is not in the old dictionaries, although extensively used in familiar or popular language for the last two centuries ; in fact, the very word that Swift, Butler, L/Estrange, and Arbuthnot would pick out at once as a telling and most serviceable term. It is, as we have seen, from the Gipsy ; and here I must state that it was Boucher who first drew attention to the fact, although in his remarks on the dusky tongue he has made a ridiculous mistake by concluding it to be identical with its offspring, Cakt. Other parallel instances, with but slight variations from the old Gipsy meanings, could be mentioned ; but sufficient examples have been adduced to shew that Marsden, the great Oriental scholar in the last century, when he declared before the Society of Anti- quaries that the Cant of English thieves and beggars had nothing to do with the language spoken by the despised Gipsies, was in error. Had the Gipsy tongue been analysed and committed to writing three centuries ago, there is every probability that many scores of words now in common use could be at once traced to its source. Instances continually occur now-a-days of street vulgar- isms ascending to the drawing-rooms of respectable society. Why, then, may not the Gipsy-vagabond alliance three centuries ago have contributed its quota of common words to popular speech. 1 I feel confident there is a Gipsy element in the English lan- guage hitherto unrecognised ; slender it may be, but not, there- fore, unimportant. " Indeed," says Moore the poet, in a humorous little book, Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress, 1819, " the Gipsy language, with the exception of such terms as relate to their own peculiar customs, differs but little from the regular Flash or Cant Ian- IO BORROW ON THE GIPSY LANGUAGE. guage." But this was magnifying the importance of the alliance. Moore knew nothing of the Gipsy tongue other than the few Cant words put into the mouths of the beggars in Beaumont and Fletcher s Comedy of the Beggar's Bush, and Ben Jonson's Masque of the Gipsies Metamorphosed, — hence his confounding Cant with Gipsy speech, and appealing to the Glossary of Cant for so-called " Gipsy" words at the end of the Life of Bamfylde Moore Garew, to bear him out in his assertion. Still his remark bears much truth, and proof would have been found long ago if any scholar had taken the trouble to examine the " barbarous jargon of Cant," a.nd to have compared it with Gipsy speech. As George Borrow, in his Account of the Gipsies in Spain, eloquently concludes his second volume, speaking of the connexion of the Gipsies with Europeans: — "Yet from this temporary association were pro- duced two results : European fraud became sharpened by coining into contact with Asiatic craft ; whilst European tongues, by im- perceptible degrees, became recruited with various words, (some of them wonderfully expressive ) many of which have long been stumbling-blocks to the philologist, who, whilst stigmatising them as words of mere vulgar invention, or of unknown origin, has been far from dreaming that a little more research or reflection would have proved their affinity to the Sclavonic, Persian, or Romaic, or perhaps to the mysterious object of his veneration, the Sanscrit, the sacred tongue of the palm-covered regions of Ind; words originally introduced into Europe by objects too miserable to occupy for a moment his lettered attention, — the despised denizens of the tents of Roma." But the Gipsies, their speech, their character — bad enough, as all the world testifies — their history, and their religious belief, have been totally disregarded, and their poor persons buffeted and jostled about until it is a wonder that any trace of origin or na- tional speech exists in them. On the Continent they received better attention at the hands of learned men. Their language THE INVENTOR OF CANTING NOT HANGED. I I was taken down, their history traced, and their extraordinary customs and practice of living in the open air, and eating raw or putrid meat, explained. They ate reptiles and told fortunes because they had learnt to do so through their forefathers centu- ries back in Hindostan ; and they devoured carrion because the Hindoo proverb — " That which God kills is better than that hilled by man"* — was still in their remembrance. Grellman, a learned German, was their principal historian, and to him we are almost entirely indebted for the little we know of their language.t The first European settlement of the Gipsies was in the provinces ad- joining the Danube, Moldau and Theiss, where M. Cogalniceano, in his Essai sur les Cigains de la Moldo- Valachie, estimates them at 200,000. Not a few of our ancient and modern Cant and Slang terms are Wallachian and Greek words, brought in by these wanderers from the East. See Couter, Drum, Boxing, {Barman) Lowe, &c. Gipsy, then, started, and partially merged into Cant ; and the old story told by Harrison and others, that the first inventor of canting was hanged for his pains, would seem to be a fable, for jargon as it is, it was, doubtless, of gradual formation, like all other languages or systems of speech. The Gipsies at the pres- ent day all know the old Cant words, as well as their own tongue, — or rather what remains of it. As Borrow states, " The dialect of the English Gipsies is rriixed with English words." J Those of the tribe who frequent fairs, and mix with English tramps, readily learn the new words, as they are adopted by what Har- man calls " the fraternity of vagabonds." Indeed, the old Cant is a common language to vagrants of all descriptions and origin scattered over the British Isles. * This very proverb was mentioned by a young Gipsy to Crabb, a few years ago Qipsies' Advocate, p. 14. + I except, of course, the numerous writers who have followed Grellman, and based their researches upon his labours. % Gipsies in Spain, vol. i., p. 18. I 2 OLD CANT WORDS STILL USED. Ancient English cant has considerably altered since the first dictionary was compiled by Harman in 1566. A great many words are unknown in the present tramps' and thieves' vernacular. Some of them, however, bear still their old definitions, while others have adopted fresh meanings, — to escape detection, I sup- pose. "Abraham- man" is yet seen in our modern sham Abra- ham, or play the old soldier — i. e., to feign sickness or dis- tress. " Autum" is still a church or chapel amongst Gipsies; and " beck," a constable, is our modern Cant and Slang beek, a police- man or magistrate. " Bene," or bone, stands for good in Seven Dials and the back streets of Westminster; and "bowse" is our modern booze, to drink or fuddle. A " bowsing ken " was the old Cant term for a public-house ; and boozing ken, in modern Cant, has precisely the same meaning. " Bufe " was then the term for a dog, now it is buffer, — frequently applied to men. "Cass an" is both old and modern Cant for cheese; the same may be said of " chattes " or chatts, the gallows. " Cofe," or cove, is still the vulgar synonyme for a man. " Drawers " was hose, or " hosen," — now applied to the lining for trousers. "Dudes" was Cant for clothes; we now say dudds. "Flag" is still a fourpenny-piece ; and " fylche" means to rob. " Ken" is a house, and "lick" means to thrash; "prancer" is yet known amongst rogues as a horse ; and " to prig," amongst high and low, is to steal. Three centuries ago, if one beggar said anything disagreeable to another, the person annoyed would say, " stow you," or hold your peace ; low people now say, stow it, equivalent to "be quiet." " Trine" is still to hang; "wyx" yet stands for a penny. And many other words, as will be seen in the Dictionary, still retain their ancient meaning. As specimens of those words which have altered their original Cant signification, I may instance " chete," now written cheat. Chete was in ancient cant what chop is in the Canton-Chinese, — an almost inseparable adjunct. Everything was termed a CHANGES IN MEANINGS OF OLD CANT WORDS. I 3 chete, and qualified by a substantive-adjective, which shewed what kind of a chete was meant ; for instance, " ceashing- chetes" were teeth; a " moffling-chete," a napkin ; a " getjnt- ing-chete," a pig, &c, (fee. Cheat now-a-days means to defraud or swindle, and lexicographers have tortured etymology for an original — but without success. Escheats and escheatours have been named, but with great doubts; indeed, Stevens, the learned commentator on Shakspeare, acknowledged that he " did not recollect to have met with the word cheat in our ancient writers." * Cheat, to defraud, then, is no other than an old Cant term some- wiiat altered in its meaning, t and as such it should be described in the next etymological dictionary. Another instance of a change in the meaning of the old Cant, but the retention of the word, is seen in " cly," formerly to take or steal, now a pocket ; — remembering a certain class of low characters, a curious con- nexion between the two meanings will be discovered. " Make " was a halfpenny ; we now say mag, — make being modern Cant for appropriating, — " convey the wise it call." " Milling" stood for stealing, it is now a pugilistic term for fighting or beating. " ISTab" was a head, — low people now say nob, the former mean- ing, in modern Cant, to steal or seize. " Pek" was meat, — we still say peckish, when hungry. " Peygges, dronken Tinkers or beastly people" as old Harman wrote, would scarcely be under- stood now ; a peig, in the 19th century, is a pickpocket or thief. " Quiee," or queee, like cheat, was a very common prefix, and meant bad or wicked, — it now means odd, curious, or strange ; but to the ancient Cant we are indebted for the word, wdiich etymologists should remember.J " Piome," or eum, formerly * Sliaks. Henry IV., part ii., act ii., scene 4. t It is easy to see how cheat became synonymous with "fraud," when we remember that it was one of the most common words of the greatest class of cheats in the country. ' \ I am reminded by an eminent philologist that the origin of queer, is seen in the German quer, cro iked. — hence "odd." I agree with this etymoLgy, but still have reason to believe that the word was first used in this country in a Cant sense. Is it 14 OLD CANT WORDS ENTIRELY OBSOLETE. meant good, or of the first quality, and was extensively used like cheat and queer, — indeed as an adjective it was the opposite of the latter. Rum now means curious, and is synonymous with queer; thus, — a "rummy old fellow," or a " queer old man." Here again we see the origin of an every-day word, scouted by lexicographers and snubbed by respectable persons, but still a word of frequent and popular use. " Yannam" meant bread; PAiSrisruM is the word now. Other instances could be pointed out, but they will be observed in the Dictionary. Several words are entirely obsolete. "Alybbeg" no longer means a bed, nor "askew" a cup. " Booget,"* now-a-days, would not be understood for a basket ; neither would " gam " pass current for mouth. " Fullams" was the old Cant term for false or loaded dice, and although used by Shakspeare in this sense, is now unknown and obsolete. Indeed, as Tom Moore somewhere remarks, the present Greeks of St Giles's, themselves, would be thoroughly puzzled by many of the ancient canting songs, — taking, for example, the first verse of an old favourite — " Bing out, bien Morts, and toure and toure, Bing out, bien Morts, and toure ; For all your duds are bing'd awast ; The bien cove hath the loure." f But I think I cannot do better than present to the reader at once an entire copy of the first Canting Dictionary ever compiled. As before mentioned, it was the work of one Thomas Harman, a gentleman who lived in the days of Queen Elizabeth. Some mentioned anywhere as a respectable term before 1500? If not, it had a vulgar or Cant introduction into this country. * Booget properly signifies a leathern wallet, and is probably derived from the low Latin bulga. A tinker's budget is from the same source. t "Which, literally translated, means — " Go out, good girls, and look and see, Go out, good girls, and see ; For all your clothes are carried away, And the good man has the money." THE OLDEST "ROGUES' DICTIONARY." 15 writers have remarked that Decker* was the first to compile a Dictionary of the vagabonds' tongue ; whilst Borrow, t and Thomas Moore, the poet, stated that Richard Head performed that service in his Life of an English Rogue, published in the year 1680. All these statements are equally incorrect, for the first attempt was made more than a century before the latter work was issued. The quaint spelling and old-fashioned phrase- ology are preserved, and the reader will quickly detect many vulgar street words, old acquaintances, dressed in antique garb. J ABRAHAM-MEN be those that fayn themselves to have beene mad, and have bene kept either in Bethelem, or in some other pryson a good time. ALYBBEG, a bedde. ASKEW, a cuppe. A UTEM, a churche. A UTEM MORTES, married women as chaste as a cowe. BAUD YE BASNETS bee women who goe with baskets and capcases on their armes, wherein they have laces, pinnes, nedles, whyte inkel, and round sylke gyrdels of all colours. BECK, [Beek,] a constable. BELLY-CHETE, apron. BENE, good. Benar, better. BENSHIP, very good. BLETING CHETE, a calfe or sheepe. BOOGET, a travelling tinker's baskete. BORDE, a shilling. BOVNG, a purse. [Eriesic, pong ; Wallachian, punga; see note, page 11 .] The oldest form of this word is in Ulpkilas, puggs; it exists also in the Greek, Trovyyrj, BOWSE, drink. BOWSING-KEN, an alehouse. BTJFE, [buffer, a man,] a dogge. BYNGE A WASTE, go you hence. * Who wrote about the year 1610. f Gipsies in Spain, vol. i., p. 18. Borrow further commits himself by remarking that " Head's Vocabulary has always been accepted as the speech of the English Gipsies." Nothing of the kind. Head professed to have lived with the Gipsies, but in reality niched his words from Decker and Brome. J The modern meanings of a few of the old Cant words are given within brackets. 1 6 THE OLDEST "ROGUES' DICTIONARY." CACKLING-CHETE, a coke, [cock,] or capon. CASS AN, [cassam,] cheese. CASTERS, a cloake. CATETH, "the vpright Cofe cateth to the Roge," [probably a shortening or misprint of Canteth.] CRATTES, the gallowes. CRETE, [see what has been previously said about this word.] CLT, [a pocket,] to take, receive, or have. CORE, [cove,] a person. COMMISSION, [mish,] a shirt. COUNTERPET CRANK E, these that do counterfet the Cranke be yong knaves and yonge harlots, that deeply dissemble the falling sickness. CRANKE, [cranky, foolish,] falling evil, [or wasting sickness.] CRASEING-CHETES, teeth. CUFREN, a manne. [A cuif in Northumberland and Scotland signifies a lout or awkward fellow.] DARKEMANS, the night. DELL, a yonge wench. DEWSE-A-YYLE, the countrey. DOCK, to deflower. DOXES, harlots. DRAWERS, hosen. DUDES, [or dudds,] clothes. RAMBLES, handes. RAMBLING-CHETE, a ring on one's hand. FLAGG, a groat. I RATER, a beggar wyth a false paper. RRESHE-WATER-MARINERS, these kind of caterpillers counterfet great losses on the sea : — their shippes were drowned in the playne of Salisbury. FYLCHE, to robbe : Fylch-man, [a robber.] GAGE, a quart pot. GAN, a mouth. GENTRY COPE, a noble or gentle man. GENTRY-COPES-KEN, a noble or gentle man's house. GENTRY MORT, a noble or gentle woman. GERRY, excrement. GLASYERS, eyes. GLYMMAR, fyer. GRANNAM, corne. THE OLDEST "ROGUES' DICTIONARY:' I J GRUNTING-CHETE, a pygge. GYB, a writing. GYGER, [jigger,] a dore. HEARING-CHETES, eares. JARRE, a seale. JARKEMAN, one who make writings and set seales for [counterfeit] licences and passports. KEN, a house. KYNCHEN CO, [or cove,'] a young boye trained up like a " Kynching Morte." [From the German diminutive Kindschen.] KYNCHING MORTE, is a little gyrle, carried at their mothers' backe in a slate, or sheete, who brings them up sauagely. LAG, water. LAG OF DUDES a bucke [or basket] of clothes. LAGE, to washe. LAP, butter, mylke, or whey. LIGHT MANS, the day. LOWING-CHETE, a cowe. LOWRE, money. [From the WallacMan Gipsy word lowe, coined money. See M. Cogalniceano's Essai sur les Cigains de la Moldo-Valackie.] LUBBARES, — "sturdy Lublares," country bumpkins, or men of a low degree. LYB-BEG, a bed. LYCKE, [lick,] to beate. LYP, to lie down. LYPEEN, a house to lye in. MAKE, [mag,] a halfpenny. MARGERI PRATER, a hen. MILLING, to steale, [by sending a child in at a window.] MOFFLING-CHETE, a napkin. MORTES, [motts,] harlots. MYLL, to robbe. MYNT, gold. NAB, [nob,] a heade. NABCHET, a hat or cap. NASE, dronken. NOSEGENT, a nunne. PALLYARD, a borne beggar, [who counterfeits sickness, or incurable sores. They are mostly Welshmen, Harman says.] PAR AM, mylke. B 1 8 THE OLDEST "ROGUES' DICTIONARY: 1 PATRICO, a priest. PATRICOS KINCHEN, a pygge, [a satirical hit at the church, Patrico meaning a parson or priest, and Kinchen his little boy or girl.] PEK, [peckish,] meat. POPPELARS, porrage. PRAT, a buttocke. PRATLING-CHETE, a toung. PRA UNCER, a horse. PRIGGER OF PRA UNCERS be horsestealers, for to prigge signifieth in their language to steale, and a Prauncer is a hoi'se, so being put together, the matter was playn. [Thus writes old Thomas Harman, who concludes his description of this order of " pryggers," by very quietly saying, " I had the best gelding stolen out of my pasture, that I had amongst others, whyle this book was first a printing."] PR YGGES, dronken Tinkers, or beastly people. QUACEING-CHETE, a drake or duck. QUAROMES, a body. Q JJIER, [queer,] baclde, [See what has been previously said about this word.] QUYER CRAMPRINGES, boltes or fetters. QUIER CUE FIN, the iustice of peace. QUYER-KYN, a pryson house. RED SHANKE, a drake or ducke. ROGER, a goose. ROME, goode, [now curious, noted, or remarkable in any way. Rum is the modern orthography.] ROME BOUSE, [rum booze,] wyne. ROME MORT, the Queene, [Elizabeth.] ROME VYLE, [or Eum-villeJ London. RUFF PECK, baken, [short bread, common in old times at farm-houses.] RUFFMANS, the woods or bushes. SALOMON, an alter or masse. SKYPPER, a barne. SLA TE, a sheete or shetes. SMELLING-CEETE, a nose. SMELLING-CHETE, a garden or orchard. SNOWT FA YRE, [said of a woman who has a pretty face or is comely.] STALL, [to initiate a beggar or rogue into the rights and privileges of the canting order. Harman relates that when an upright man, or initiated first-class rogue, " mete any beggar, whether he be sturdy or impotent, he will demand of him whether ever he was 'stalled to the roge' or no. If he say he was, he will know of whom, and his name yt stalled him. And if he be not learnedly able to shew him the whole circumstance THE OLDEST "ROGUES' DICTIONARY:' 19 thereof, lie will spoyle him of his money, either of his best garment, if it be worth any money, and haue him to the bowsing-ken : which is, to some typpiing-house next adjoyninge, and layth there to gage the best thing that he hath for twenty pence or two shillings : this man obeyeth for feare of beatinge. Then dooth this upright man call for a gage of bowse, which is a quarte potte of drink, and powres the same vpon his peld pate, adding these words, — I, G. P., do stalle thee, W. T., to the Roge, and that from henceforth it shall be lawfull for thee to cant, that is, to aske or begge for thi liuing in al places. " Something like this treatment is the popular idea of freemasonry, and what schoolboys term "freeing."] STAMPES, legges. STAMPERS, shoes. ST A ULING-KEN, a house that will receyue stollen wares. ST A WLIXGEKENS, tippling-houses. STOW YOU, [stow it,] hold your peace. STRIKE, to steale. STROMMELL, strawe. SWADDER, or Pedler, [a man who hawks goods.] THE HIGH PAD, the highway. THE RUFFIAN CLY THEE, the devil take thee. TOGEMANS, [togg,] a cloake. TOGMAN, a coate. TO BOWSE, to drinke. TO CANTE, to speake. TO CLY THE GERKE, to be whipped. TO COUCH A HOGSHEAD, to lie down and slepe. TO CUTTE, to say. [Cut it, cut it short, &c, are modern slang phrases.] TO CUT BENE WHYDDES, to speake or give good words. TO CUTTE QUYER WHYDDES, to giue euil words or euil language. TO CUT BENLE, to speak gentle. TO DUP YE GYGER, [jigger,] to open the dore. TO FYLCHE, to robbe. TO HEUE A BOUGH, to robbe or rifle a boweth, [booth.] TO MA UNDE, to aske or require. TO MILL A KEN, to robbe a house.^ TO NYGLE, [coition.] TO NYP A BOUNG, [nip, to steal,] to cut a purse. TO SKOWER THE CRAMPRINGES, to weare boltes or fetters. TO STALL, to make or ordain. TO THE RUFFIAN, to the Devil. 20 "JAWBREAKERS" USED IN CANT. TO TOWRE, to see. TRYNING, [trine,] hanging. TYB OF THE BUTERY, a goose. WALKING MORTE, womene, [who pass for widows.] WAP PING [coition.] WHYDDES, wordes. WYN, a penny. [A correspondent of Notes and Queries suggests the con- nexion of this word with the Welch gwyn, white — i. e., the white silver penny. See other examples under Blunt, in the Dictionary; cf. also the Armorican, "gwennek/' a penny.] YANNAM, bread. Turning our attention more to the Cant of modern times, in connexion with the old, we find that words have been drawn into the thieves' vocabulary from every conceivable source. Hard or infrequent words, vulgarly termed crack-jaw, or jaw-breakers, were very often used and considered as Cant terms. And here it should be mentioned that at the present day the most inconsistent and far-fetched terms are often used for secret purposes, when they are known to be caviare to the million. It is really laugh- able to know that such words as incongruous, insipid, interloper, intriguing, indecorum, forestall, equip, hush, grapple, &c, &c, were current Cant words a century and a half ago ; but such was the case, as any one may see in the Dictionary of Canting Words at the end of Bacchus and Venus* 1737. They are inserted not as jokes or squibs, but as selections from the veritable pocket dictionaries of the Jack Sheppards and Dick Turpins of the day. If they were safely used as unknown and cabalistic terms amongst the commonalty, the fact would form a very curious illustration of the ignorance of our poor ancestors. One piece of information is conveyed to us — i.e., that the "knights" or "gentlemen of the road," using these polite words in those days of highwaymen, were really well-educated men, — which heretofore has always * This is a curious volume, and is worth from one to two guineas. The Canting Dictionary was afterwards reprinted, word for word, with the title of The Scoundrel's Dictionary, in 1751. It was originally published, without date, about the year 1710 by B. E., under the title of a Dictionary of the Canting Crew. VAGABONDS USED FOREIGN WORDS AS CANT. 21 been a hard point of belief, notwithstanding old novels and operas. Amongst those Cant words which have either altered their meaning, or have become extinct, I may cite lady, formerly the Cant for "a very crooked, deformed, and ill-shapen woman;"* and eaeman, " a pair of stocks, or a constable." The former is a pleasant piece of satire, whilst the latter indicates a singular method of revenge. Haeman was the first author who specially wrote against English vagabonds, and for his trouble his name became synonymous with a pair of stocks, or a policeman of the olden time. Apart from the Gipsy element, we find that Cant abounds in terms from foreign languages, and that it exhibits the growth of most recognised and completely-formed tongues, — the gathering of words from foreign sources. In the reign of Elizabeth and of King James I., several Dutch, Spanish, and Flemish words were introduced by soldiers who had served in the Low Countries, and sailors who had returned from the Spanish Main, who, like " mine ancient Pistol," were fond of garnishing their speech with out- landish phrases. Many of these were soon picked up and adopted by vagabonds and tramps in their Cant language. The Anglo- Norman and the Anglo-Saxon, the Scotch, the French, the Italian, and even the classic languages of ancient Italy and Greece, have contributed to its list of words, besides the various provincial dialects of England. Indeed, as Mayhew remarks, English Cant seems to be formed on the same basis as the Argot of the French and the Roth-Sprcec of the Germans, — partly meta- phorical, and partly by the introduction of such corrupted foreign terms as are likely to be unknown to the society amid which the Cant speakers exist. Aegot is the London thieves' word for their secret language; it is, of course, from the French, but that matters not so long as it is incomprehensible to the police and * Bacchus and Venus. 1737. 2 2 THE LINGUA FRANCA, OR BASTARD ITALIAN. the mob. Booze, or bouse, I am reminded by a friendly corre- spondent, comes from the Dutch buysen. Domine, a parson, is from the Spanish. Donna and feeles, a woman and children, is from the Latin ; and don, a clever fellow, has been niched from the Lingua Franca, or bastard Italian, although it sounds like an odd mixture of Spanish and French ; whilst dudds, the vulgar term for clothes, may have been pilfered either from the Gaelic or the Dutch. Feele, a daughter, from the French ; and frow, a girl or wife, from the German — are common tramps' terms. So are gent, silver, from the French fir gent; and vial, a country town, also from the French. Horrid-horn, a fool, is believed to be from the Erse ; and gloak, a man, from the Scotch. As stated before, the Dictionary will supply numerous other instances. The Celtic languages have contributed many Cant and vulgar words to our popular vocabulary. These have come to us through the Gaelic or Irish languages, so closely allied in their material as to be merely dialects of a primitive common tongue. This element may be from the Celtic population, which, from its ancient position as slaves or servants to the Anglo-Saxon conquerors, has contributed so largely to the lowest class of our population, and therefore to our Slang, provincial, or colloquial words ; or it may be an importation from Irish immigrants, who have undoubtedly contributed very largely to our criminal population. There is one source, however, of secret street terms, which in the first edition of this work was entirely overlooked, — indeed, it was unknown to the editor until pointed out by a friendly correspondent; — the Lingua Franca, or bastard Italian, spoken at Genoa, Trieste, Malta, Constantinople, Smyrna, Alexandria, and all Mediterranean seaport towns. The ingredients of this imported Cant are many. Its foundation is Italian, with a mix- ture of modern Greek, German, (from the Austrian ports,) Spanish, Turkish, and French. It has been introduced to the notice of CANT DERIVED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 23 the London wandering tribes by the sailors, foreign and English, who trade to and from the Mediterranean seaports, by the swarms of organ-players from all parts of Italy, and by the makers of images from Rome and Florence, — all of whom, in dense thoroughfares, mingle with our lower orders. It would occupy too much space here to give a list of these words. They are all noted in the Dictionary. "There are several Hebrew terms in our Cant language, obtained, it would appear, frorn the intercourse of the thieves with the Sew fences, (receivers of stolen goods ;) many of the Cant terms, again, are Sanscrit, got from the Gipsies ; many Latin, got by the beggars from the Catholic prayers before the Reformation ; and many, again, Italian, got from the wandering musicians and others ; indeed, the showmen have but lately introduced a number of Italian phrases into their Cant language."* The Hindostanee also contributes several words, and these have been introduced by the Lascar sailors, who come over here in the East Indiamen, and lodge during their stay in the low tramps' lodging-houses at the east end of London. Speaking of the learned tongues, I may mention that, precarious and abandoned as the vagabond's existence is, many persons of classical or refined education have from time to time joined the ranks, — occasionally from inclination, as in the popular instance of Bamfylde Moore Carew, but generally through indiscretion and loss of character. t This will in some measure account for numerous classical and learned words figuring as Cant terms in the vulgar Dictionary. In the early part of the last century, when highwaymen were by all accounts so plentiful, a great many new words were added to the canting vocabulary, whilst several old terms fell into disuse. * Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor, vol. iii., No. 43, Oct. 4, 1851. t Mayhew (vol. i., p. 217) speaks of a low lodging-house "in which there were at one time five university men, three surgeons, and several sorts of broken-down clerks." But old Harman's saying, that "a wylde Roge is he that is borne a roge," will perhaps explain this seeming anomaly. 24 OLD ENGLISH WORDS USED AS CANT. Cant, for instance, as applied to thieves' talk, was supplanted by the word flash. In the North of England, the Cant employed by tramps and thieves is known as "the gammy." It is mainly from the old Gipsy corrupted. In the large towns of Ireland and Scotland this secret language is also spoken. All those words derived from " the gammy " are inserted in the Dictionary as from the " North Country." A singular feature, however, in vulgar language, is the reten- tion and the revival of sterling old English words, long since laid up in ancient manuscripts, or the subject of dispute among learned antiquaries. Disraeli somewhere says, " The purest source of neology is in the revival of old words" — " Words that wise Bacon or brave Rawleigh spake ; " and Dr Latham honours our subject by remarking that "the thieves of London are the conservators of Anglo- Saxonisms." May- hew, too, in his interesting work, London Labour and the London Poor, admits that many Cant and Slang phrases are merely old English terms which have become obsolete through the caprices of fashion. And the reader who looks into the Dictionary of the vagabond's lingo, will see at a glance that these gentlemen were quite correct, and that we are compelled to acknowledge the singular truth that a great many old words, once respectable, and in the mouths of kings and fine ladies, are now only so many signals for shrugs and shudders amongst exceedingly polite people. A young gentleman from Belgravia, who had lost his watch or his pocket-handkerchief, would scarcely remark to his mamma that it had been boned — yet bone, in old times, meant, amongst high and low, to steal. And a young lady living in the precincts of dingy but aristocratic May-Fair, although enraptured with a Jenny Lind or a Eistori, would hardly think of turning back in the box to inform papa that she (Eistori or Lind) " made no bones of it" — yet the phrase was most respectable and well- OLD ENGLISH WORDS NOT FASHIONABLE NO W. 25 to-do before it met with a change of circumstances. " A ceack article," however first-rate, would, as far as speech is concerned, have greatly displeased Dr Johnson and Mr Walker — yet both crack, in the sense of excellent, and ceack up, to boast or praise, were not considered vulgarisms in the time of Henry VIII. Dodge, a cunning trick, is from the Anglo-Saxon ; and ancient nobles used to "get each other's dander up" before appealing to their swords, — quite flabeega sting (also a respect- able old word) the half score of lookers-on with the thumps and cuts of their heavy weapons. Galea v anting, waiting upon the ladies, was as polite in expression as in action ; whilst a clergy- man at Paule's Crosse thought nothing of bidding a noisy hearer " hold his gab, ; ' or " shut up his gob." Gadding, roaming about in an idle and trapesing manner, was used in an old trans- lation of the Bible ; and " to do anything gingerly" was to do it with great care. Persons of modern tastes will be shocked to know that the great Lord Bacon spoke of the lower part of a man's face as his gills. Shakspeare, or, as the French say, " the divine William/' also used many words which are now counted as dreadfully vulgar. " Clean gone," in the sense of out of sight, or entirely away; " you took me all a-moet," or confounded me ; " it won't fadge," or suit, are phrases taken at random from the great dramatist's works. A London costermonger, or inhabitant of the streets, instead of saying, "I'll make him yield," or "give in," in a fight or contest, would say, "I'll make him buckle under." Shakspeare, in his Henry the Fourth, (Part ii., act i., scene 1,) has the word; and Mr Halliwell, one of the greatest and most indus- trious of living antiquaries, informs us that "the commentators do not supply another example." How strange, then, that the Bard of Avon and the Cockney costermongers should be joint partners and sole proprietors of the vulgarism ! If Shakspeare was not a pugilist, he certainly anticipated the terms of the prize 26 CURIOUS SYSTEMS OF CANT. ring — or they were respectable words before the prize ring was thought of — for he has pay, to beat or thrash, and pepper, with a similar meaning ; also fancy, in the sense of pets and favourites, — pugilists are often termed the fancy. The cant word prig, from the Saxon, priccan, to filch, is also Shakspearian ; so indeed is piece, a contemptuous term for a young woman. Skakspeare was not the only vulgar dramatist of his time. Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, Brome, and other play-writers, occa- sionally put Cant words into the mouths of their low characters, or employed old words which have since degenerated into vulgarisms. Crusty, poor tempered ; " two of a kidney," two of a sort ; lark, a piece of fun ; lug, to pull : bung, to give or pass ; pickle, a sad plight ; frump, to mock, are a few specimens casually picked from the works of the old histrionic writers. One old English mode of canting, simple and effective when familiarised by practice, was the inserting a consonant betwixt each syllable: thus, taking g, "How do you do?" would be " How^ do# you^ do^ ?" The name very properly given to this disagreeable nonsense, we are informed by Grose, was Gibberish. Another Cant has recently* been attempted by transposing the initial letters of words, so that a mutton chop becomes a cutton wop, a pint of stout a stint of pout ; but it is satisfactory to know that it has gained no ground. This is called Marrow- skying, or Medical Greek, from its use by medical students at the hospitals. Albert Smith terms it the Gower Street Dialect. The Language of Ziph, I may add, is another rude mode of disguising English, in use among the students at Winchester College. Some notices of this method of conveying secret infor- mation, with an extensive Glossary of the Words,- Phrases, Customs, &c, peculiar to the College, may be found in Mr Mansfield's recently-published School Life at Winchester College. * "Before 1848," a correspondent writes. ACCOUNT HIEROGLYPHICS USED BY VAGABONDS. One of the most singular chapters in a History of Vagabondism would certainly be " An Account of the Hieroglyphic Signs used by Tramps and Thieves." The reader may be startled to know that, in addition to a sacred language, the wandering tribes of this country nave private marks and symbolic signs with which to score their successes, failures, and advice to succeeding beggars ; in fact, that the country is really dotted over with, beggars' finger- posts and guide-stones. The assertion, however strange it may appear, is no fiction. The subject was not long since brought under the attention of the Government by Mr Eawlinson.* " There is," he says in his report, " a sort of blackguards' literature, and the initiated understand each, other by Slang [Cant] terms, by pan- tomimic signs, and by hieroglyphics. The vagrant's mark may be seen in Havant, on corners of streets, on door-posts, on house-steps. Simple as these chalk-lines appear, they inform the succeeding va- grants of all they require to know; and a few white scratches may say, ' Be importunate,' or ' Pass on.' " Another very curious account was taken from a provincial newspaper, published in 1849, and fcrwarded to Notes and Queries.^ under the bead of Mendicant Freemasonry. " Per- sons," remarks the writer, " indiscreet enough to open their purses to the relief of the beggar tribe, would do well to take a readily-learned lesson as to the folly of that misguided bene- * Mr Raiclinsoris Report to the General Board of Health, Parish of Havant, Hamp- shire, t Vol. v., p. 210. 28 HIEROGLYPHICS OF VAGABONDS. volence which, encourages and perpetuates vagabondism. Every door or passage is pregnant with instruction as to the error com- mitted by the patron of beggars; as the beggar-marks shew that a system of freemasonry is followed, by which a beggar knows whether it will be worth his while to call into a passage or knock at a door. Let any one examine the entrances to the passages in any town, and there he will find chalk marks, unintelligible to him, but significant enough to beggars. If a thousand towns are examined, the same marks will be found at every passage entrance. The passage mark is a cypher with a twisted tail : in some cases the tail projects into the passage, in others out- wardly ; thus seeming to indicate whether the houses down the passage are worth calling at or not. Almost every door has its marks : these are varied. In some cases there is a cross on the brick work, in others a cypher : the figures i, 2, 3, are also used. Every person may for himself test the accuracy of these state- ments by the examination of the brick-work near his own door- way — thus demonstrating that mendicity is a regular trade, carried out upon a system calculated to save time, and realise the largest profits." These remarks refer mainly to provincial towns, London being looked upon as the tramps' home, and therefore too fly, or experienced, to be duped by such means. The only other notice of the hieroglyphics of vagabonds that I have met with is in Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor/' Mayhew obtained his information from two tramps, who stated that hawkers employ these signs as well as beggars. One tramp thus described the method of working t a small town. "Two hawkers (PALst) go together, but separate when they enter a village, one taking one side of the road, and selling different things ; and so as to inform each other as to the character of the people at whose houses they call, they chalk certain marks on their door-posts" Another informant stated that " if * Vol. i., pp. 218 and 247. t See Dictionary. ACCOUXT OF A CADGER'S MAP. 29 a patterer * has been crabbed (that is, offended) at any of the cribs, (houses,) he mostly chalks a signal at or near the door" Another use is also made of these hieroglyphics. Charts of successful begging neighbourhoods are rudely drawn, and sym- bolical signs attached to each house to shew whether benevolent or adverse, t " In many cases there is over the kitchen mantel piece " of a tramps' lodging-house " a map of the district, dotted here and there with memorandums of failure or success/' % A correct facsimile of one of these singular maps has been placed as a frontispiece. It was obtained from the patterers and tramps who supplied a great many words for this work, and who have been employed by me for some time in collecting Old Ballads, Christmas Carols, Dying Speeches, and Last Lamentations, as materials for a History of Popular Literature. The reader will no doubt be amused with the drawing. The locality depicted is near Maidstone, in Kent; and I am informed that it was prob- ably sketched by a wandering scree ver§ in payment for a night's lodging. The English practice of marking everything, and scratching names on public property, extends itself to the tribe of vagabonds. On the map, as may be seen in the left- hand corner, some traveller § has drawn a favourite or noted female, singularly nicknamed Three-quarter Sarah. What were * See Dictionary. + Sometimes, as appears from the following', the names of persons and houses are written instead. "In almost every one of the padding-kens, or low lodging-houses in the country, there is a list of walks pasted up over the kitchen mantel-piece. Now at St Albans, for instance, at the , and at other places, there is a paper stuck up in each of the kitchens. This paper is headed 'Walks out of this Town,' and underneath it is set down the names of the villages in the neighbourhood at which a beggar may call when out on his walk, and they are so arranged as to allow the cadger to make a round of about six miles each day, and return the same night. In many of these papers there are sometimes twenty walks set down. No villages that are in any way "gammy" [bad] are ever mentioned in these papers, and the cadger, if he feels inclined to stop for a few days in the town, will be told by the lodging-house keeper, or the other cadgers that he may meet there, what gentlemen's seats or private houses are of any account on the walk that he means to take. The names of the good houses are not set down in the paper for fear of the police." — Mayhew, voL i., p. 41S. t Mayhew, vol. i., p. 218. § See Dictionary. 30 EXPLANATION OF THE HIEROGLYPHICS. the peculiar accomplishments of this lady to demand so uncom- mon a name, the reader will be at a loss to discover ; but a patterer says it probably refers to a shuffling dance of that name, common in tramps' lodging-houses, and in which " |- Sarah" may have been a proficient. Above her, three beggars or hawk- ers have reckoned their day's earnings, amounting to 13s.; and on the right a tolerably correct sketch of a low hawker, or coster- monger, is drawn. " To Dover, the nigh way," is the exact phraseology; and "hup here," a fair specimen of the self- acquired education of the tribe of cadgers. No key or explana- tion to the hieroglyphics was given in the original, because it would have been superfluous, when every inmate of the lodging-house knew the marks from their cradle — or rather their mother's back. Should there be no map, in most lodging-houses there is an old man who is guide to every " walk" in the vicinity, and who can tell on every round each house that is "good for a cold tatiir." The hieroglyphics that are used are : — yf NO GOOD ; too poor, and know too much. f*. STOP, — If you have what they want, they will buy. They are ' *=f pretty "fly" (knowing.) ~n GO IX THIS DIRECTION, it is better than the other road. — "^ Nothing that way. OBONE, (good.) Safe for a " eold tatur," if for nothing else. " Cheese your patter" (don't talk much) here. Y7 COOPERE, (spoilt,) by too many tramps calling there. 1 — , GAMMY (unfavourable,) like to have you taken up. Mind the LJ dog. Q\ FLUMMUXED, (dangerous,) sure of a month in "quod" (prison.) (J) RELIGIOUS, but tidy on the whole. Where did these signs come from, and when were they first used 1 are questions which I have asked myself again and again, whilst endeavouring to discover their history. Knowing the DID THE GIPSIES INVENT THEM? 31 character of the Gipsies, and ascertaining from a tramp that they are well acquainted with the hieroglyphics, " and have been as long ago as ever he could remember," I have little hesitation in ascribing the invention to them. And strange it would be if some modern Belzoni, or Champollion, discovered in these beggars' marks fragments of ancient Egyptian or Hindoo hiero- glyphical writing ! But this, of course, is a simple vagary of the imagination. That the Gipsies were in the habit of leaving memorials of the road they had taken, and the successes that had befallen them, there can be no doubt. In an old book, The Triumph of Wit, 1724, there is a passage which appears to have been copied from some older work, and it runs thus : — " The Gipsies set out twice a year, and scatter all over England, each parcel having their appointed stages, that they may not interfere, nor hinder each other ; and for that purpose, when they set forward in the country, they stick up boughs in the way of divers kinds, according as it is agreed among them, that one company may know which way another is gone, and so take another road. v The works of Hoyland and Borrow supply other instances. I cannot close this subject without drawing attention to the extraordinary fact, that actually on the threshold of the gibbet the sign of the vagabond is to be met with ! " The murderer's signal is even exhibited from the gallows; as a red hand- kerchief held in the hand of the felon about to be executed is a token that he dies without having betrayed any professional secrets." * Since the first edition of this work was published, the author has received from various parts of England numerous evidences of the still active use of beggars' marks and mendicant hiero- glyphics. One gentleman writes from Great Yarmouth to say * Mr Rawlinson's Report to the General Board of Health, Parish of Havant, Hamp- shire. 32 BOW A CLERGYMAN EVADED BEGGARS. that only a short time since, whilst residing in Norwich, he used frequently to see them on the houses and street corners in the suburbs. From another gentleman, a clergyman, I learn that he has so far made himself acquainted with the meanings of the signs employed, that by himself marking the characters Q (Gammy) and (Flummuxed) on the gate posts of his parson- age, he enjoys a singular immunity from alms- seekers and cadgers on the tramp. In a popular constable's Guide, giving the practice of justices in petty sessions, I have recently met with the following inter- esting paragraph, corroborating what has just been said on the hieroglyphics used by vagabonds : — " Gipsies follow their brethren by numerous marks, suck as strewing kandf uls of grass in the day time at a four lane or cross roads ; the grass being strewn down the road the gang have taken ; also, by a cross being made on the ground with a stick or knife — the longest end of the cross de- notes the route taken. In the night time a cleft stick is placed in the fence at the cross roads, with an arm pointing down the road their com- rades have taken. The marks are always placed on the left-hand side, so that the stragglers can easily and readily find them." * From the cleft stick here alluded to, we learn the origin and use of ^— , the third hieroglyphic in the vagabond's private list. * Snowden's Magistrate's Assistant, 1852, p. 444. "All ridiculous words make their first entry into a language by familiar phrases; I dare not answer for these that they will not in time be looked upon as a part of our tongue." — Addison's Spectator. A SHORT HISTORY OF SLANG, THE VULGAR LANGUAGE OF FAST LIFE. Slang is the language of street humour, of fast, high, and low life. Cant, as was stated in the chapter upon that subject, is the vulgar language of secrecy. They are both universal and ancient, and appear to have been the peculiar concomitants of gay, vulgar, or worthless persons in every part of the world at every period of time. Indeed, if we are to believe implicitly the saying of the wise man, that " there is nothing new under the sun," the "fast" men of buried Nineveh, with their knotty and door-matty-looking beards, may have cracked Slang jokes on the steps of Sennacherib's palace ; and the stocks and stones of ancient Egypt, and the bricks of venerable and used-up Babylon, may, for aught we know, be covered with Slang hieroglyphics, un- known to modern antiquaries, which have long been stumbling- blocks to the philologist ; so impossible is it at this day to say what was then authorised, or what vulgar language. Slang is as old as speech and the congregating together of people in cities. It is the result of crowding, and excitement, and artificial life. Even to the Classics it was not unknown, as witness the pages of Aristophanes and Plautus, Terence and Athenaeus. Martial, the epigrammatist, is full of Slang. When an uninvited guest 34 OLD ENGLISH SLANG. accompanied his friend, the Slang of the day styled him his umbra ; when a man was trussed, neck and heels, it called him jocosely quadrupus. Old English Slang was coarser, and depended more upon downright vulgarity than our modern Slang. It was a jesting speech, or humorous indulgence for the thoughtless moment, or the drunken hour, and it acted as a vent-peg for a fit of temper or irritability ; but it did not interlard and permeate every de- scription of conversation as now. It was confined to nicknames and improper subjects, and encroached but to a very small extent upon the domain of authorised speech. Indeed, it was exceed- ingly limited when compared with the vast territory of Slang in such general favour and complete circulation at the present day. Still, although not an alarming encumbrance, as in our time, Slang certainly did exist in this country centuries ago, as we may see if we look down the page of any respectable History of England. Cromwell was familiarly called old noll, — just the same as Bonaparte was termed boney, and Wellington conkey, or nosey, only a few years ago. His Legislature, too, was spoken of in a high-flavoured way as the barebones, or rump Parlia- ment, and his followers were nicknamed roundheads, and the peculiar religious sects of his protectorate were styled puritans and Quakers.* The Civil- War pamphlets, and the satirical hits of the Cavaliers and the Commonwealth men, originated numer- ous Slang words and vulgar similes in full use at the present moment. Here is a field of inquiry for the Philological Society, indeed I may say a territory, for there are thirty thousand of these partisan tracts. Later still, in the court of Charles II., the naughty ladies and the gay lords, with Rochester at their head, talked Slang ; and very naughty Slang it was too ! Fops, in those days, when "over head and ears''' in debt, and in * This term, with, a singular literal downrightness, which would be remarkable in any other people Uian the French, is translated by them as the sect of Trembleurs. SWIFT AND ARBUTIINOT FOND OF SLANG. 35 continual fear of arrest, termed their enemies, the bailiffs, Philistines* or moabites. At a later period, when collars were worn detached from shirts, in order to save the expense of washing — an object it would seem with needy " swells" in all ages — they obtained the name of Jacobites. One half of the coarse wit in Butler's Hudibras lurks in the vulgar words and phrases which he was so fond of employing. They were more homely and forcible than the mild and elegant sentences of Cowley, and the people, therefore, hurrahed them, and pronounced Butler one of themselves, — or, as we should say, in a joyful moment, " a jolly good fellow. 5 ' Orator Henley preached and prayed in Slang, and first charmed and then swayed the dirty mobs in Lincoln's- Inn- Fields by vulgarisms. Burly Grose men- tions Henley, with the remark that we owe a great many Slang phrases to him. Swift, and old Sir Roger L'Estrange, and Arbuthnot, were all fond of vulgar or Slang language ; indeed,, we may see from a Slang word used by the latter how curious is the gradual adoption of vulgar terms in our standard dictionaries. The worthy doctor, in order to annihilate (or, as we should say, with a fitting respect to the subject under consideration, smash) an opponent, thought proper on an occasion to use the word cabbage, not in the ancient and esculentary sense of a flatulent vegetable of the kitchen garden, but in the at once Slang sense of purloining or cribbing. Johnson soon met with the word, looked at it, examined it, weighed it, and shook his head, but out of respect to a brother doctor inserted it in his dictionary, labelling it, however, prominently " Cant ; " whilst Walker and Webster, years after, when to cabbage was to 'pilfer all over England, placed the term in their dictionaries as an ancient and very respectable word. Another Slang term, gull, to cheat, or delude, sometimes varied to gully, is stated to be connected with the Dean of St Patrick's. Gull, a dupe, or a fool, is often used by * Swift; alludes to this term in his Art of Polite Conversation, p. 14. 3738. 36 THE REAL SIMON PURE. our old dramatists, and is generally believed to have given rise to the verb ; but a curious little edition of Bamfylde Moore Carew, published in 1827, says that to gull, or gully, is derived from the well-known Gulliver, the hero of the famous Travels. How crammed with Slang are the dramatic works of the last century ! The writers of the comedies and farces in those days must have lived in the streets, and written their plays in the public-houses, so filled are they with vulgarisms and unauthorised words. The popular phrases, " I owe you one," " That 's one for his nob," and " Keep moving, dad," arose in this way.* The second of these sayings was, doubtless, taken from the card-table, for at cribbage the player who holds the knave of the suit turned up counts " one for his nob," and the dealer who turns up a knave counts " two for his heels." In Mrs Centlivre's admirable comedy of A Bold Stroke for a Wife, we see the origin of that popular street phrase, the real simojst pure. Simon Pure is the Quaker name adopted by Colonel Feignwell as a trick to obtain the hand of Mistress Anne Lovely in marriage. The veritable Quaker, the "real Simon Pure," recommended by Aminadab Holdfast, of Bristol, as a fit sojourner with Obadiah Prim, arrives at last, to the discomfiture of the Colonel, who, to maintain his position and gain time, con- cocts a letter in which the real Quaker is spoken of as a house- breaker who had travelled in the "leather conveniency" from Bristol, and adopted the garb and name of the western Quaker in order to pass off as the " real simon pure," but only for the purpose of robbing the house and cutting the throat of the per- plexed Obadiah. The scene in which the two Simon Pures, the real and the counterfeit, meet, is one of the best in the comedy. Tom Brown, of " facetious memory," as his friends were wont to say, and Ned Ward, who wrote humorous books, and when tired drew beer for his customers at his alehouse in Long * See Notes and Queries, vol. i, p. 185. 1850. WAS DR JOHNSON WELL ''UP" IN SLANG? 37 Acre,* were both great producers of Slang in the last century, and to them we owe many popular current phrases and house- hold words. Written Slang was checked, rather than advanced, by the pens of Addison, Johnson, and Goldsmith; although John Bee, the bottle-holder and historiographer of the pugilistic band of brothers in the youthful days of flat-nosed Tom Crib, has gravely stated that Johnson, when young and rakish, contributed to an early volume of the Gentleman's Magazine a few pages, by way of speci- men, of a Slang dictionary, the result, Mr Bee says, " of his mid- night ramblings ! ;; t And Goldsmith, I must not forget to re- mark, certainly coined a few words, although, as a rule, his pen was pure and graceful, and adverse to neologisms. The word fudge, it has been stated, was first used by him in literary com- position^ although it originated with one Captain Fudge, a notorious fibber, nearly a century before. Street phrases, nick- names, and vulgar words were continually being added to the great stock of popular Slang up to the commencement of the present century, when it received numerous additions from pugil- ism, horse-racing, and " fast " life generally, which suddenly came into great public favour, and was at its height when the Prince Piegent was in his rakish minority. Slang in those days was generally termed flash language. So popular was it with the " bloods" of high life, that it constituted the best paying literary capital for certain authors and dramatists. Pierce Egan issued Boxiana, and Life in London, six portly octavo volumes, crammed with Slang ; and Moncrieff wrote the most popular farce of the day, Tom and Jerry, (adapted from the latter work,) which, to use newspaper Slang, " took the town by storm," and, with its then fashionable vulgarisms, made the fortune of the old Adelphi * He afterwards kept a tavern at Wapping, mentioned by Pope in the Dunciad. t Si)ortsman's Dictionary, 1825, p. 15. I have searched the venerable magazine in vain for this Slang glossary. X This is incorrect. See under Fudge in the Dictionary. $8 WHERE DID THE WORD "SLANG" COME FROM? Theatre, and was, without exception, the most wonderful instance of a continuous theatrical eun in ancient or modern times. This, also, was brimful of Slang. Other authors helped to popularise and extend Slang down to our own time, when it has taken a somewhat different turn, dropping many of the Cant and old vulgar words, and assuming a certain quaint and fashionable phraseology — Frenchy, familiar, utilitarian, and jovial. There can be no doubt but that common speech is greatly influenced by fashion, fresh manners, and that general change of ideas which steals over a people once in a generation. But before I proceed further into the region of Slang, it will be well to say something on the etymology of the word. The word Slang is only mentioned by two lexicographers — Webster and Ogilvie.* Johnson, Walker, and the older compilers of dictionaries, give slang the preterite of sling, but not a word about Slang in the sense of low, vulgar, or unrecognised lan- guage. The origin of the word has often been asked for in lite- rary journals and books, but only one man, as far as I can learn, has ever hazarded an etymology — Jonathan Bee, the vulgar chronicler of the prize-ring.f With a recklessness peculiar to pugilism, Bee stated that Slang was derived from " the slangs or fetters worn by prisoners, having acquired that name from the manner in which they were worn, as they required a sling of string to keep them off the ground." Bee had just been nettled at Pierce Egan producing a new edition of Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, and was determined to excel him in a vulgar dictionary of his own, which should be more racy, more pugilistic, and more original. How far he succeeded in this latter particular, his ridiculous etymology of Slang will shew. Slang is not an English word ; it is the Gipsy term for their secret language, and * This introduction was written in 1859, before the new edition of Worcester, and Nuttall's recent work were published. t Introduction to Bee's Sportsman's Dictionary, 1825. SLANG USED BY ALL CLASSES. 39 its synonyme is gibberish — another word which was believed to have had no distinct origin.* Grose — stout and burly Captain Grose — whom we may characterise as the greatest antiquary, joker, and porter-drinker of his day, was the first lexicographer to recognise the word Slang. It occurs in his Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, of 1785, with the signification that it im- plies " Cant or vulgar language." Grose, I may remark in pass- ing, was a great favourite with the poet Burns, and so pleased him by his extensive powers of story-telling and grog-imbibing, that the companionable and humour-loving Scotch bard wrote for his fat friend — or, to use his own words, " the fine, fat, fodgel wight" — the immortal poem of " Tarn O'Shanter." Without troubling the reader with a long account of the trans- formation into an English term of the word Slang, I may remark in passing that it is easily seen how we obtained it from the Gipsies. Hucksters and beggars on tramp, or at fairs and races, associate and frequently join in any rough enterprise with the Gipsies. t The word would be continually heard by them, and would in this manner soon become Cant;^ and, when carried by " fast" or vulgar fashionables from the society of thieves and low characters to their own drawing-rooms, would as quickly become Slang, and the representative term for all vulgar or Slang lan- guage. * The Gipsies use the word Slang as the Anglican synonyme for Romany, the con- tinental (or rather Spanish) term for the Cingari or Gipsy tongue. Grabb. who wrote the Gipncs' Advocate in 1S31, thus mentions the word: — " This language [Gipsy] called by themselves Slang, or Gibberish, invented, as they think, by their forefathers for secret purposes, is not merely the language of one or a few of these wandering ti-ibes, ■which are found in the European nations, but is adopted by the vast numbers who inhabit the earth." t See what the Druid says, in Silk and Scarlet, Post and Paddock, and his other sporting works, about the card-sellers, booth-men, horse-holders, cockshy-men, and other well-known frequenters of race-courses. J The word Slang assumed various meanings amongst costermongers, beggars, and vagabonds of all orders. It was, and is still, used to express " cheating by false weights," "a raree show," " retiring by a back door," " a watch-chain," their " secret language," &c. 40 SLANG UNIVERSAL. Any sudden excitement, peculiar circumstance, or popular lite- rary production, is quite sufficient to originate and set agoing a score of Slang words. Nearly every election or public agitation throws out offshoots of the excitement, or scintillations of the humour in the shape of Slang terms — vulgar at first, but at length adopted as semi-respectable from the force of habit and custom. There is scarcely a condition or calling in life that does not possess its own peculiar Slang. The professions, legal and medical, have each familiar and unauthorised terms for peculiar circumstances and things, and I am quite certain that the clerical calling, or " the cloth" is not entirely free from this peculiarity. Every workshop, warehouse, factory, and mill throughout the country has its Slang, and so have the public schools of Eton, Harrow, and Westminster, and the great Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Sea Slang constitutes the principal charm of a sailor's "yarn;" and our soldiers and officers have each their peculiar nicknames and terms for things and subjects proper and improper. A writer in Household Words (No. 183) has gone so far as to remark, that a person " shall not read one single parliamentary debate, as re- ported in a first-class newspaper, without meeting scores of Slang words;" and "that from Mr Speaker in his chair, to the Cabinet Ministers whispering behind it — from mover to seconder, from true-blue Protectionist to extremest Eadical — Mr Barry's New House echoes and re-echoes with Slang." Really it seems as if our boasted English tongue were a very paltry and ill-provided contrivance after all ; or can it be that we are the most vulgar of people ? The universality of Slang is extraordinary. Let any person for a short time narrowly examine the conversation of their dearest and nearest friends, ay, censor-like, even slice and ana- lyse their own supposed correct talk, and they shall be amazed at the numerous unauthorised, and what we can only call vulgar, words they continually employ. It is not the number of new THE POOR FOREIGNER'S PERPLEXITY. 41 words that we are ever introducing that is so reprehensible, there is not so much harm in this practice (frequently termed in books "the licence of expression") if neologisms are really required, but it is the continually encumbering of old words with fresh and strange meanings. Look at those simple and useful verbs, do, cut, go, and lake, and see how they are hampered and overloaded, and then let us ask ourselves how is it possible for a French or German gentleman, be he ever so well educated, to avoid con- tinually blundering and floundering amongst our little words when trying to make himself understood in an ordinary conver- sation 1 He may have studied our language the required time, and have gone through the usual amount of "grinding," and practised the common allotment of patience, but all to no pur- pose as far as accuracy is concerned. I am aware that most new words are generally regarded as Slang, although afterwards they may become useful and respectable additions to our standard dictionaries. Jabber and hoax were Slang and Cant terms in Swift's time ; so indeed were mob and sham.* Words directly from the Latin and Greek, and Carlyleisms, are allowed by an indulgent public to pass and take their places in books. Sound contributes many Slang words — a source tnat etymologists too fre- quently overlook. Nothing pleases an ignorant person so much as a high-sounding term " full of fury." How melodious and drum- like are those vulgar coruscations rumbumptious, slantingdicu- lar, SPLENDIFEROUS, t RUMBUSTIOUS, and FERRICADOUZER. What a " pull" the sharp-nosed lodging-house-keeper thinks she has over her victims if she can but hurl such testimonies of a liberal * North, in his Examen, p. 574, says, "I may note that the rabble first changed their title, and were called the mob in the assemblies of this [Green Ribbon] club. It ■was their beasts of burden, and called first mobile vulgus, but fell naturally into the contraction of one syllable, and ever since is become proper English." In the same work, p. 231, the disgraceful origin of sham is given. t It is somewhat singular that Drayton, the poet of Queen Elizabeth's time, should have coined a similar word, Splendidious. The Latin, Splendidus, however, was probably what he meant to employ. 42 VULGAR CORRUPTIONS. education at them when they are disputing her charges, and threatening to absquatulate ! In the United States the vulgar-genteel even excel the poor " stuck-up" Cockneys in their formation of a native fashionable language. How charming to a refined ear are abskize, catawampously, exflunctify, ob- scute, keslosh, kesouse, keswollop, and kewhollux ! Vul- gar words representing action and brisk movement often owe their origin to sound. Mispronunciation, too, is another great source of vulgar or Slang words — ramshackle, shackly, nary- one for neither or neither one, ottomy or atomy for anatomy, bench for rinse, are specimens. The commonalty dislike fre- quently-occurring words difficult of pronunciation, and so we have the street abridgments of bimeby for by and by, caze for because, gin for given, hankercher for handkerchief, rumatiz for rheumatism, backy for tobacco, and many others, not perhaps Slang, but certainly all vulgarisms. Archbishop Whately, in his interesting Remains of Bishop Copleston, has inserted a leaf from the Bishop's note-book on the popular corruption of names, men- tioning among others kickshaws, as from the French, quelques choses ; beefeater, the lubberly guardian of royalty in a pro- cession, and the supposed devourer of enormous beefsteaks, as but a vulgar pronunciation of the French, buffetier ; and george and cannon, the sign of a public-house, as nothing but a corruption (although so soon !) of the popular premier of the last generation, George Canning. Literature has its Slang terms ; and the desire on the part of writers to say funny and startling things in a novel and curious way (the late Household Words* for instance) contributes many unauthorised words to the great stock of Slang. Fashionable or Upper-class Slang is of several varieties. There is the Belgravian, military and naval, parliamentary, dandy, and * It is rather singular that this popular journal should have contained a long article on Slang a short tirue ago. FASHIONABLE SLANG. 43 the reunion and visiting Slang. English officers, civilians, and their families, who have resided long in India, have contributed many terms from the Hindostanee to our language. Several of these, such as chit, a letter, or tiffin, lunch, are fast losing their Slang character, and becoming regularly-recognised English words. Jungle, as a term for a forest or wilderness, is now an English phrase ; a few years past, however, it was merely the Hindostanee junkul. The extension of trade in China, and the English settlement at Hong Kong, have introduced among us several examples of Canton Jargon, that exceedingly curious Anglo-Chinese dialect spoken in the seaports of the Celestial Empire. While these words have been carried as it were into the families of the upper and middle classes, persons in a hum- bler rank of life, through the sailors, soldiers, Lascar and Chinese beggars that haunt the metropolis, have also adopted many Anglo-Indian and Anglo-Chinese phrases. As this Dictionary would have been incomplete without them, they are all carefully recorded in its columns. Concerning the Slang of the fashion- able world, a writer in Household Words curiously, but not alto- gether truthfully, remarks, that it is mostly imported from France ; and that an unmeaning gibberish of Gallicisms runs through English fashionable conversation, and fashionable novels, and accounts of fashionable parties in the fashionable newspapers. Yet, ludicrously enough, immediately the fashionable magnates of England seize on any French idiom, the French themselves not only universally abandon it to us, but positively repudiate it altogether from their idiomatic vocabulary. If you were to tell a well-bred Frenchman that such and such an aristocratic marriage was on the tapis, he would stare with astonishment, and look down on the carpet in the startled endeavour to find a mar- riage in so unusual a place. If you were to talk to him of the beau monde, he would imagine you meant the world which God made, not half-a-dozen streets and squares between Hyde Park 44 FASHIONABLE SLANG. Corner and Chelsea Bun House. The the dansante* would be completely inexplicable to him. If you were to point out to him the Dowager Lady Grimgriffin acting as chaperon to Lady Amanda Creamville, he would imagine you were referring to the petit Chaperon rouge — to little Red-Eiding Hood. He might just understand what was meant by vis-a-vis, entremets, and some others of the flying horde of frivolous little foreign slangisms hovering about fashionable cookery and fashionable furniture ; but three-fourths of them would seem to him as barbarous French provincialisms, or, at best, but as antiquated and obso- lete expressions, picked out of the letters of Mademoiselle Scuderi, or the tales of Crebillon the " younger." Servants, too, appropriate the scraps of French conversation which fall from their masters' guests at the dinner table, and forthwith in the world of flunkeydom the word " know" is disused, and the lady's- maid, in doubt on a particular point, asks John whether or no he saveys it ?* What, too, can be more abominable than that heartless piece of fashionable newspaper Slang, regularly em- ployed when speaking of the successful courtship of young people in the fashionable world : — MARRIAGE m HIGH LIFE.— We understand that a marriage is akbakged (!) betwixt the Lady, &c. &c, and the Honourable, &c. &c. Arranged ! Is that cold-blooded Smithfield or Mark-Lane term for a sale or a purchase the proper word to express the hopeful, joyous, golden union of young and trustful hearts'? Which is the proper way to pronounce the names of great people, and what the correct authority 1 Lord Cowper, we are often assured, is Lord Cooper — on this principle Lord Cowley would certainly be Lord Cooley — and Mr Carew, we are told, should be Mr * The writer is quite correct in instancing this piece of fashionable twaddle. The mongrel formation is exceedingly amusing to a polite Parisian. f Savez-vous cela? PARLIAMENTARY SLANG. 45 Carey, Ponsonby should be Punsunby, Eyre should be Aire, Cholmondeley should be Chumley, St John Singen, Majoribanks Marshhanls, and Powell should always be Poel. I don't know that these lofty persons have as much cause to complain of the illiberality of fate in giving them disagreeable names as did the celebrated Psyche, (as she was termed by Tom Moore,) whose original name, through her husband, was Teague, but which was afterwards altered to Tighe. The pronunciation of proper names has long been an anomaly in the conversation of the upper classes of this country. Hodge and Podge, the clodhoppers of Shaks- peare's time, talked in their mug-houses of the great Lords Darbie, Barhelie, and Bartie. In Pall Mall and May Fair these personages are spoken of in exactly the same manner at the present day, whilst in the City, and amongst the middle classes, we only hear of Derby, Berkley, &c, — the correct pronunciations, if the spelling is worth aught. A costermonger is ignorant of such a place as Birmingham, but understands you in a moment if you talk of Brummagem. "Why do not Pall Mall join with the costermongers in this pronunciation? It is the ancient one.* Parliamentary Slang, excepting a few peculiar terms connected with "the House," (scarcely Slang, I suppose,) is mainly com- posed of fashionable, literary, and learned Slang. When mem- bers, however, get excited, and wish to be forcible, they are often not very particular which of the street terms they select, pro- viding it carries, as good old Dr South said, plenty of " wild-fire " in it. Sir Hugh Cairns very lately spoke of "that homely but expressive phrase, dodge." Out of " the House," several Slang terms are used in connexion with Parliament or members of Parliament. If Lord Palmerston is known by name to the * At page 24 of a curious old Civil- War tract, entitled, The Oxonian Antippodes, by I. B., Gent., 1644, the town is called Brummidgham, and this was the general render- ing in the printed literature of the seventeenth century. 46 PARLIAMENTARY SLANG. tribes of the Caucasus and Asia Minor as a great foreign diplo- matist, when the name of our Queen Victoria is an unknown title to the inhabitants of those parts — as was stated in the Times a short time ago — I have only to remark that amongst the costers and the wild inhabitants of the streets he is better known as pam. I have often heard the cabmen on the " ranks n in Piccadilly remark of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he has been going from his residence at Grosvenor Gate to Derby House in St James's Square, " Hollo, there ! de yer see old dizzy doing a stump 1 " A plumper is a single vote at an election — not a split-ticket ; and electors who have occupied a house, no matter how small, and boiled a pot in it, thus qualify- ing themselves for voting, are termed pot-wallopers. A quiet walk over is a re-election without opposition and much cost. A caucus meeting refers to the private assembling of politicians before an election, when candidates are chosen, and measures of action agreed upon. The term comes from America. A job, in political phraseology, is a government office or contract obtained by secret influence or favouritism. Only the other day the Times spoke of " the patriotic member of Parliament potted out in a dusty little lodging somewhere about Bury Street." The term quockepwodger, although referring to a wooden toy figure which jerks its limbs about when pulled by a string, has been supplemented with a political meaning. A pseudo-politician, one whose strings of action are pulled by somebody else, is now often termed a quockepwodger. The term rat, too, in allusion to rats deserting vessels about to sink, has long been employed towards those turncoat politicians who change their party for interest. Who that occasionally passes near the Houses of Parliament has not often noticed stout or careful M.P.s walk briskly through the Hall, and on the curb-stone in front, with umbrella or walking cane uplifted, shout to the cabmen on the rank, four-wheeler ! The term is a useful one, but I am afraid MILITARY AND DANDY SLANG. 47 we must consider it Slang, until it is stamped with the mint mark of lexicographical authority.* Military, or Officers' Slang, is on a par, and of a character, with Dandy Slang. Inconvenient friends, or elderly and lectur- ing relatives, are pronounced dreadful boe.es. Four-wheeled cabs are called bounders; and a member of the Four-in-hand Club, driving to Epsom on the Derby Day, would, using fashion- able phraseology, sneak of it as tooling his drag down to the derby. A vehicle, if not a drag (or dwag) is a trap, or a cask ; and if the turn out happens to be in other than a trim condi- tion, it is pronounced at once as not down the road. Your City swell would say it is not up to the mark ; whilst the costermonger would call it wery dickey. In the army a barrack or military station is known as a lobster-box ; to " cram " for an examination is to mug-up ; to reject from the examination is to spin ; and that part of the barrack occupied by subalterns is frequently spoken of as the rookery. In dandy or swell Slang, any celebrity, from Paul Bedford, to the Pope of Rome, is a swell. Wrinkled-faced old professors, who hold dress and fashionable tailors in abhorrence, are called awful swells, — if they happen to be very learned or clever. I may remark that in this upper-class Slang, a title is termed a handle; trousers, inexpressibles ; or, when of a large pattern, or the inflated Zouave cut, howling bags ; a superior appearance, extensive ; a four-wheeled cab, a birdcage ; a dance, a hop ; dining at another man's table, "sitting under his mahogany;" anything flashy or showy, loud ; the peculiar make or cut of a coat, its build ; full dress, full-fig ; wearing clothes which re- * From an early period politics and partyism have attracted unto themselves quaint Slang terms. Horace Walpole quotes a party nickname of February 1742, as a Slang word of the day:— "The Tories declare against any further prosecution, if Tories there are, for now one hears of nothing but the broad-bottom ; it is the reigning Cant word, and means the taking all parties and people, indifferently, into the Ministry." Thus broad-bottom in those days was Slang for coalition. 43 UNIVERSITY SLANG. present the very extreme of fashion, "dressing to death;" a reunion, a spread ; a friend, (or a " good fellow,") a trump ; a difficulty, a screw loose ; and everything that is unpleasant, " from bad sherry to a writ from a tailor," jeuced infernal. The military phrase, " to send a man to Coventry," or permit no person to speak to him, although an ancient saying, must still be considered Slang. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the great public schools, are the hotbeds of fashionable Slang. Growing boys and high-spirited young fellows detest restraint of all kinds, and prefer making a dash at life in a Slang phraseology of their own, to all the set forms and syntactical rules of Alma Mater. Many of the most expressive words in a common chit-chat, or free-and-easy conversation, are old university vulgarisms. Cut, in the sense of dropping an acquaintance, was originally a Cam- bridge form of speech ; and hoax, to deceive or ridicule, we are informed by Grose, was many years since an Oxford term. Among the words that fast society has borrowed from our great scholastic (I was going to say establishments, but I remember the linen-drapers' horrid and habitual use of the word) institutions, I find crib, a house or apartments; dead-men, empty wine bottles ; drawing teeth,* wrenching off knockers ; fizzing, first-rate, or splendid; governor, or relieving -officer, the general term for a male parent; plucked, defeated or turned back ; quiz, to scrutinise, or a prying old fellow ; and row, a noisy disturbance. The Slang words in use at Oxford and Cam- bridge would alone fill a volume. As examples I may instance scout, which at Oxford refers to an undergraduate's valet, whilst the same menial at Cambridge is termed a gyp, — popularly derived by the C.intabs from the Greek, gyps, (7^,) a vulture ; scull, the head, or master of a college; battles, the Oxford * This is more especially an amusement with medical students, and is comparatively unknown out of London. RELIGIOUS SLANG. 49 term for rations, changed at Cambridge into commons. The term dickey, a half shirt, I am told, originated with the students of Trinity College, Dublin, who at first styled it a tommy, from the Greek, to,u>% a section. Crib, a literal translation, is now universal ; grind refers to " working up ,; for an examination, also, to a walk, or " constitutional ; " hivite is a student of St Begh's (St Bee's) College, Cumberland ; to japan, in this Slang speech, is to ordain ; mortar-board is a square college cap ; sim, a student of a Methodistical turn — in allusion to the Rev. Charles Simeon ; sloggers, at Cambridge, refers to the second division of race boats, known at Oxford as torpids ; sport is to shew or exhibit ; trotter is the jocose term for a tailor's man who goes round for orders ; and tufts are wealthy students who dine with the dons, and are distinguished by golden tufts, or tassels, in their caps. There are many terms in use at Oxford not known at Cambridge ; and such Slang names as coach, gulf, harry- soph, poker, or post-mortem, common enough at Cambridge, are seldom or never heard at the great sister university. For numerous other examples of college Slang the reader is referred to the Dictionary. Religious Slang, strange as the compound may appear, exists with other descriptions of vulgar speech at the present day. Punch, a short time since, in one of those half-humorous, half- serious articles in which he is so fond of lecturing any national abuse or popular folly, remarked that Slang had "long since penetrated into the Forum, and now we meet it in the Senate, and even the pulpit itself is no longer free from its intrusion.''' I would not, for one moment, wish to infer that the practice is general. On the contrary, and in justice to the clergy, it must be said that the principal disseminators of pure English through- out the country are the ministers of our Established Church. Yet it cannot be denied but that a great deal of Slang phrase- ology and disagreeable vulgarism have gradually crept into the 50 RELIGIOUS SLANG. very pulpits which should give forth as pure speech as doc- trine. Dean Conybeare, in his able Essay on Church Parties* has noticed this wretched addition to our pulpit speech. As stated in his Essay, the practice appears to confine itself mainly to the exaggerated forms of the High and Low Church — the Tractarians and the " Becordites." f By way of illustration, the Dean cites the evening parties, or social meetings, common amongst the wealthier lay members of the Eecordite (exaggerated Evangelical) Churches, where the principal topics discussed — one or more favourite clergymen being present in a quasi-official manner — are " the merits and demerits of different preachers, the approach- ing restoration of the Jews, the date of the Millennium, the progress of the ' Tractarian heresy/ and the anticipated ' perver- sion ' of High-Church neighbours." These subjects are can- vassed in a dialect differing considerably from common English. The words faithful, tainted, acceptable, decided, legal, and many others, are used in a technical sense. We hear that Mr A. has been more owned than Mr B. ; and that Mr C. has more seals J than Mr D. Again, the word geacious is invested with a meaning as extensive as that attached by young ladies to nice. Thus, we hear of a " geacious sermon," a " geacious meeting/' a "geacious child," and even a " geacious whipping." The word daek has also a new and peculiar usage. It is applied to every person, book, or place, not impregnated with Eecordite principles. We once were witnesses of a ludicrous misunderstanding result- ing from this phraseology. " What did you mean/' said A. to B., " by telling me that was such a very daek village 1 I rode over there to-day, and found the street particularly broad and * Edinburgh Review, October 1853. t A term derived from the Record Newspaper, the exponent of this singular section of the Low, or so-called Evangelical Church. t A preacher is said, in this phraseology, to be owned whin he makes many con- verts, and his converts are called his seals. BEL 10 10 US SLANG. 5 I cheerful, and there is not a tree in the place." " The gospel is not preached there" was B.'s laconic reply. The conclusion of one of these singular evening parties is generally marked by an " exposition " — an unseasonable sermon of nearly one hour's duration, circumscribed by no text, and delivered from the table by one of the clerical visitors with a view to "improve the occasion." In the same Essay, the religious Slang terms for the two great divisions of the Established Church receive some explanation. The old-fashioned High-Church party — rich and ant," noted for its "sluggish mediocrity, hatred of zeal, dread of innovation, abuse of Dissent, blundering and languid utterance" — is called the high and dry; whilst the corresponding division, known as the Low Church — equally stagnant with the former, but poorer, and more lazily inclined (from absence of edu- cation) to Dissent — receives the nickname of the low and sloav. Already have these terms become so familiar that they are short- ened, in ordinary conversation, to the dry and the slow. The so-called " Broad Church," I should remark, is often spoken of as the broad and shallow. What can be more objectionable than the irreverent and offensive manner in which many of the Dissenting ministers continually pronounce the names of the Deity — God and Lord '? God, instead of pronouncing in the plain and beautiful simple old English way, g-o-d, they drawl out into gorde or gaude ; and Lord, instead of speaking in the proper way, they desecrate into loard or loerd, — lingering on the u, or the r, as the case may be, until an honest hearer feels disgusted, and almost in- clined to run the gantlet of beadles and deacons, and pull the vulgar preacher from his pulpit. I have observed that many young preachers strive hard to acquire this peculiar pronuncia- tion, in imitation of the older ministers. What can more properly, then, be called Slang, or, indeed, the most objectionable of Slang, than this studious endeavour to pronounce the most 52 SLANG AMONGST THE LA WYERS. sacred names in a uniformly vulgar and unbecoming manner? If the old-fashioned preacher whistled Cant through his nose, the modern vulgar reverend whines Slang from the more natural organ. These vagaries of speech will, perhaps, by an apologist, be termed " pulpit peculiarities," and the writer dared to inter- meddle with a subject that is or should be removed from his criticisms. The terms used by the mob towards the Church, however illiberal and satirically vulgar, are within his province in such an inquiry as the present. A clergyman, iu vulgar language, is spoken of as a chokek, a cushion - thumper, a DOMINIE, an EARWIG, a GOSPEL-GRINDER, a GRAY-COAT PARSON ; if he is a lessee of the great tithes, one in ten, padre ; if spoken of by an Anglo-Indian, a rook, a spouter, a white- choker, or a warming-pan rector, if he only holds the living pro tempore, or is simply keeping the place warm for his succes- sor. If a Tractarian, his outer garment is rudely spoken of as a pygostole, or m.p>. (mark of the beast) coat. His profession is termed the cloth, and his practice tub-thumping. Should he belong to the Dissenting body, he is probably styled a pan- tiler, or a psalm-smiter, or, perhaps, a swaddler. His chapel, too, is spoken of as a schism shop. A Koman Catholic, I may remark, is coarsely named a brisket-beater. Particular as lawyers generally are about the meaning of words, they have not prevented an unauthorised phraseology from arising, which we may term Legal Slang. So forcibly did this truth impress a late writer, that he wrote in a popular journal, "You may hear Slang every day in term from barristers in their robes, at every mess-table, at every bar-mess, at every college commons, and in every club dining-room." Swift, in his Art of Polite Conversation, (p. 15,) published a century and a half ago, states that vardi was the Slang in his time for " verdict." A few of the most common and well-known terms used out of doors, with reference to legal matters, are cook, to hash or make up a bal- LITER A R Y SLANG. 5 3 ance-sheet; dipped, mortgaged ; dun, to solicit payment; ful- lied, to be "fully committed for trial ;" land-shaek, a sailor's definition of a lawyer ; limb of the law, a milder term for the same " professional ; " monkey with a long tail, a mortgage — phrase used in the well-known case for libel, Smith v. Jones ; mouthpiece, the costers term for his counsel; "to go through the ping," to take advantage of the Insolvency Act ; smash, to become bankrupt ; snipe, an attorney with a long bill ; and whitewashed, said of any debtor who has taken the benefit of the Insolvent Act. Lawyers, from their connexion with the police courts, and transactions with persons in every grade of society, have ample opportunities for acquiring street Slang, which, in cross-questioning and wrangling, they frequently avail themselves of. It has been said there exists a Literary Slang, or " the Slang of Criticism — dramatic, artistic, and scientific. Such words as 'aesthetic/ 'transcendental/ the 'harmonies/ the 'unities/ a ' myth : ' such phrases as ' an exquisite morceau on the big drum/ a ' scholarlike rendering of John the Baptist's great toe/ 'keeping harmony/ 'middle distance/ 'aerial perspective/ 'deli- cate handling/ ' nervous chiaroscuro/ and the like." More than one literary journal that I could name are fond of employing such terms in their art-criticisms ; but it is questionable, after all, whether they are not allowable as the generous inflections and bendings of a bountiful language, for the purpose of express- ing fresh phases of thought, and ideas not yet provided with representative words.'"* The well-known and ever-acceptable Punch, with his fresh and choice little % pictorial bits by Leech, often employs a Slang term to give point to a joke, or humour to a * "All our newspapers contain more or less colloquial words; in fact, there seems no other way of expressing certain ideas connected with passing events of every-day life with the requisite force and piquancy. In the English newspapers the same thing is observable, and certain of them contain more of the class denominated Slang words than our own." — Bartktl's Americanisms, p. 10, 1859. 54 "PUNCH" ON SLANG AND SANSCRIT. line of satire. A short time since (4th May 1859) lie gave an original etymology of the schoolboy-ism slog. Slog, said the classical and studious Punch, is derived from the Greek word slogo, to baste, to wallop, to slaughter. And it was not long ago that he amused his readers with two columns on Slang and Sanscrit : — "The allegory which pervades the conversation of all Eastern nations," remarked the philosophical Punch, "is the foundation of Western Slang; and the increased number of students of the Oriental languages, especially since Sanscrit and Arabic have been made subj ects for the Indian Civil Service examinations, may have contributed to supply the English language with a large portion of its new dialect. While, however, the spirit of allegory comes from the East, there is so great a difference between the brevity of Western expression and the more cumbrous diction of the Oriental, that the origin of a phrase becomes difficult to trace. Thus, for instance, whilst the Turkish merchant might address his friend somewhat as follows — ' That which seems good to my father is to his servant as the perfumed breath of the west wind in the calm night of the Arabian summer;' the Western negotiator observes more briefly, ' all serene ! '" But the vulgar term, bkick, Punch remarks, in illustration, " must be allowed to be an exception, its Greek derivation being universally admitted, corresponding so exactly as it does in its rectangular form and compactness to the perfection of manhood, according to the views of Plato and Simonides ; but any deviation from the simple expression, in which locality is indicated, — as, for instance, ' a genuine Bath,' — decidedly breathes the Oriental spirit." It is singular that what Punch says unwittingly and in humour respecting the Slang expression, bosh, should be quite true. Bosh, remarks Punch, after speaking of it as belonging to the stock of words pilfered from the Turks, " is one whose innate force and beauty the slangographer is reluctantly compelled to admit. It is the only word which seems a proper appellation for a great deal which we are obliged to hear and to read every day of our life." Bosh, nonsense or stupidity, is derived from the LITERARY SLANG. 5 5 Gipsy and the Persian. The universality of Slang, I may here remark, is proved by its continual use in the pages of Punch. Whoever thinks, unless belonging to a past generation, of asking a friend to explain the stray vulgar words employed by the London Charivari ? The Athenceum, the most learned and censor-like of all the " weeklies," often indulges in a Slang word, when force of expres- sion or a little humour is desired, or when the writer wishes to say something which is better said in Slang, or so-called vulgar speech, than in the authorised language of Dr Johnson or Lindley Murray. It was but the other day that a writer in its pages employed an old and favourite word, used always when we were highly pleased with any article at school — stunning. Bartlett, the compiler of the Dictionary of Americanisms, continually cites the Athenceum as using Slang and vulgar expressions; but the magazine the American refers to is not the excellent literary journal which is so esteemed at the present day — it was a smaller, and now defunct "weekly." Many other highly respectable journals often use Slang words and phrases. The Times (or, in Slang, the thunderer) frequently employs unauthorised terms ; and, following a " leader ' : * of the purest and most eloquent com- position, may sometimes be seen another " article " * on a totally different subject, containing, perhaps, a score or more of exceed- ingly questionable words. Among the words and phrases which may be included under the head of Literary Slang are, Balaam, matter kept constantly in type about monstrous productions of nature, to fill up spaces in newspapers ; balaam-box, the term given in Blackwood to the repository for rejected articles ; and slate, to pelt with abuse, or cut up in a review. The Slang names given to newspapers are curious; — thus, the Morning * The terms leader and article can scarcely be called Slang, yet it would be desirable to know upon what authority they were first employed in their present peculiar 56 THEATRICAL SLANG. Advertiser is known as the tap-tub, the tizer, and the gin and gospel gazette. The Morning Post has obtained the suggestive sobriquet of jeames ; whilst the Morning Herald has long been caricatured as mrs Harris, and the Standard as mrs gamp.* The Stage, of course, has its Slang — " both before and behind the curtain," as a journalist remarks. The stage-manager is familiarly termed daddy ; and an actor by profession, or a " pro- fessional," is called a pro. A man who is occasionally hired at a trifling remuneration to come upon the stage as one of a crowd, or when a number of actors are wanted to give effect, is named a sup, — an abbreviation of " supernumerary." A surf is a third-rate actor who frequently pursues another calling ; and the band, or orchestra between the pit and the stage, is generally spoken of as the menagery. A ben is a benefit : and sal is the Slang abbreviation of " salary." Should no wages be forthcom- ing on the Saturday night, it is said that the ghost doesn't walk. The travelling or provincial theatricals, who perform in any large room that can be rented in a country village, are called barn-stormers. A length is forty-two lines of any dramatic composition ; and a run is the good or bad success of a per- formance. A saddle is the additional charge made by a manager to an actor or actress upon their benefit night. To mug up is to paint one's face, or arrange the person to represent a particular character ; to corpse, or to stick, is to balk, or put the other actors out in their parts by forgetting yours. A performance is spoken of as either a gooser or a screamer, should it be a failure or a great success ; — if the latter, it is not infrequently termed a hit. To star it is to perform as the centre of attrac- tion, with none but subordinates and indifferent actors in the same performance. The expressive term clap-trap, high-sound- ing nonsense, is nothing but an ancient theatrical term, and * For some account of the origin of these nicknames see under Mrs Harris in the Dictionary. CIVIC SLAXG. 57 signified a trap to catch a clap by way of applause. "Up amongst the gods," refers to being among the spectators in the gallery, — termed in French Slang paradis. There exists, too, in the great territory of vulgar speech what may not inappropriately be termed Civic Slang. It consists of mercantile and Stock-Exchange terms, and the Slang of good living and wealth. A turkey hung with sausages is facetiously styled an alderman in chains \ and a half-crown, perhaps from its rotundity, is often termed an alderman. A bear is a speculator on the Exchange ; and a bull, although of another order, follows a like profession. There is something very humor- ous and applicable in the Slang term lame duck:, a defaulter in stock-jobbing speculations. The allusion to his "waddling out of the Alley," as they say, is excellent. Breaking shins, in City Slang, is borrowing money ; a rotten or unsound scheme is spoken of as fishy ; " rigging the market " means playing tricks with it ; and stag was a common term during the railway mania for a speculator without capital, a seller of " scrip " in " Diddlesex Junction" and other equally safe lines. In Lombard Street a monkey is £500, a plum £100,000, and a marygold is one million sterling. But before I proceed further in a sketch of the different kinds of Slang, I cannot do better than speak here of the extraordinary number of Cant and Slang terms in use to represent money — from farthings to bank-notes the value of fortunes. Her Majesty's coin, collectively or in the piece, is in- sulted by no less than one hundred and thirty distinct Slang words, from the humble brown (a halfpenny) to flimsies, or long-tailed ones, (bank-notes.) " Money," it has been well remarked, " the bare, simple word itself, has a sonorous, significant ring in its sound," and might have sufficed, one would have imagined, for all ordinary purposes. But a vulgar or "fast" society has thought differently, and so we have the Slang synonymes — beans, blunt, (i. e., specie, — not stiff 58 SLANG TERMS FOR MONEY. or rags, bank-notes,) beads, bkass, bustle, coppers, (copper money, or mixed pence,) chink, chinkers, chips, corks, dibbs, dinaely, dimmock, dust, feathees, gent, (silver, — from argent,) haddock, (a purse of money,) hoese nails, loavee, lour, (the oldest Cant term for money,) mopusses, needful, nobblngs, (money collected in a hat by street-performers,) ochee, (gold,) pewter, palm oil, posh, queen's pictuees, quids, eags, (bank- notes,) EEADY, Or EEADY GILT, HEDGE, (gold,) EHINO, EOWDY, shinees, (sovereigns,) skin, (a purse of money,) stiff, (paper, or bill of acceptance,) stuff, stumpy, tin, (silver,) wedge, (silver,) and yellow-boys, (sovereigns ;) — just forty -three vulgar equiva- lents for the simple word money. So attentive is Slang speech to financial matters, that there are seven terms for bad, or " bogus" coin, (as our friends, the Americans, call it :) a case is a coun- terfeit five-shilling piece ; half a case represents half that sum ; grays are halfpence made double for gambling purposes ; queer- soft is counterfeit or lead coin ; schofel refers to coated or spurious coin ; sheen is bad money of any description ; and sinkers bears the same and not inappropriate meaning. Flying the kite, or obtaining money on bills and promissory-notes, is closely connected with the allegorical expression of raising the wind, which is a well-known phrase for procuring money by immediate sale, pledging, or by a forced loan. In winter or in summer any elderly gentleman who may have prospered in life is pronounced warm ; whilst an equivalent is immediately at hand in the phrase il his pockets are well lined." Each separate piece of money has its own Slang term, and often half a score of synonymes. To begin with that extremely humble coin, a farthing: first we have fadge, then fiddlee, then gig, and lastly quaeteeeen. A halfpenny is a beown or a madza saltee, (Cant.) or a mag, or a posh, or a eap, — whence the popular phrase, " I don't care a eap." The useful and universal penny has for Slang equivalents a copper, a saltee, (Cant.) and SLANG TERMS FOR MONEY. 59 a winn. Twopence is a deuce, and threepence is either a thrums or a THRUPS. Foiirpence, or a groat, may in vulgar speech be termed a bit, a flag, or a joey. Sixpence is well repre- sented in street talk, and some of the slangisms are very comical — for instance, bandy, bender, cripple, and downer; then we have fye-buck, half a hog, kick, (thus " two and a kick," or 2s. Cd.,) lord of the manor, pig, pot, (the price of a pot of beer — thus a half-a-crown is a "five pot piece,") snid, sprat, sow's baby, tanner, tester, tizzy, — sixteen vulgar words to one coin. Sevenpence being an uncommon amount has only one Slang synonyme, setter. The same remark applies to eight pence and ninepence, the former being only represented by otter, and the latter by the Cant phrase nobba-saltee. Tenpence is dacha- saltee, and elevenpence dacha-one, — both Cant expressions. One shilling boasts eleven Slang equivalents ; thus we have beong, bob, breaky-leg, deaner, gen, (either frora argent, silver, or the back Slang,) hog, levy, peg, stag, teviss, and twelver. One shilling and sixpence is a ky-bosh. Half-a- crown is known as an alderman, half a bull, half a tushe- roon, and a madza caroon ; whilst a crown piece, or five shil- lings, may be called either a bull, or a caroon, or a cartwheel, or a coachwheel, or a thick-un, or a tusheroon. The next advance in Slang money is ten shillings, or half-a-sovereign, which may be either pronounced as half a bean, half a couter, a madza poona, or half A quid. A sovereign, or twenty shillings, is a BEAN, CANARY, COUTER, FOONT, GOLDFINCH, JAMES, POONA, POR- TRAIT, quid, a thick-un, or a yellow-boy. Guineas are nearly obsolete, yet the terms neds, and half neds, are still in use. Bank-notes are flimsies, long-tailed ones, or soft. A finuf is a five-pound note. One hundred pounds, (or any other " round sum/') quietly handed over as payment for services performed, is curiously termed "a cool hundred." Thus ends, with several omissions, this long list of Slang terms for the coins of the realm, 60 CLASSICAL ORIGIN OF TERMS FOR MONEY. which for copiousness, I will engage to say, is not equalled by any other vulgar or unauthorised language in Europe. The antiquity of many of these Slang names is remarkable. Winis" was the vulgar term for a penny in the days of Queen Elizabeth j and tester, a sixpence, (formerly a shilling,) was the correct name in the days of Henry VIII. The reader, too, will have remarked the frequency of animals' names as Slang terms for money. Little, as a modern writer has remarked, do the persons using these phrases know of their remote and some- what classical origin, which may, indeed, be traced to the period antecedent to that when monarchs monopolised the surface of coined money with their own image and superscriptions. They are identical with the very name of money among the early Romans, which was pecunia, from pecus, a flock. The collections of coin-dealers amply shew that the figure of a hog was anciently placed on a small silver coin ; and that that of a bull decorated larger ones of the same metal. These coins were frequently deeply crossed on the reverse ; this was for the convenience of easily breaking them into two or more pieces, should the bargain for which they were employed require it, and the parties making it had no smaller change handy to complete the transaction. Thus we find that the half bull of the itinerant street-seller, or " traveller/'* so far from being a phrase of modern invention, as is generally supposed, is in point of fact referable to an era extremely remote. We may learn from Erizzo, in his Discorso, a further illustration of the proverb "that there is nothing new under the sun ;" for he says that the Roman boys at the time of Hadrian tossed up their coppers and cried, "Head or ship; ,; of which tradition our "heads or tails" and "man or woman" is certainly a less-refined version. We thence gather, however, that the prow of a vessel would appear to have been the more ordinary device of the reverse of the brass coin of that ancient period. * See Dictionary. SHOPKEEPERS' SLANG. 6 I There are many other Cant words directly from a classic source, as will be seen in the Dictionary. Shopkeepers' Slang is perhaps the most offensive of all Slang. It is not a casual eyesore, as newspaper Slang, neither is it an occasional discomfort to the ear, as in the case of some vulgar byword of the street ; but it is a perpetual nuisance, and stares you in the face on tradesmen's invoices, on labels in the shop- windows, and placards on the hoardings, in posters against the house next to your own door — if it happens to be empty for a few weeks — and in bills thrust into your hand, as you peaceably walk through the streets. Under your door, and down your area, Slang hand-bills are dropped by some pushing tradesman ; and for the thousandth time you are called upon to learn that an ALAEMING sacrifice is taking place in the next street; that prices are down again ; that, in consequence of some other tradesman not driving a roaring trade, being, in fact, sold up, and for the time being a resident in burdon's hotel, (Whitecross-Street Prison,) the pushing tradesman wishes to sell out at awfully low prices, " to the kind patrons, and numerous customers," &c. &c, " that have on every occasion," &c. &c. In this Slang any occupation or calling is termed a line, — thus, the " building line." A tailor usurps to himself a good deal of Slang. Amongst operatives he is called a snip, or a steel-bar driver ; by the world, a ninth part of a man ; and by the young collegian, or " fast" man, a sufferer. If he takes army contracts, it is sank work ; if he is a slop tailor, he is a springer up, and his garments are blown together. Per- quisites with him are spiffs, and remnants of cloth peaking, or cabbage. The per-centage he allows to his assistants (or counter jumpers) on the sale of old-fashioned articles is termed tinge. If he pays his workmen in goods, or gives them tickets upon other tradesmen, with, whom he shares the profit, he is soon known as a tommy master. If his business succeeds, it takes ; 62 SLANG IN THE WORKSHOP. if neglected, it becomes shaky, and goes to pot ; if lie is deceived by a creditor, (a not by any means unusual circumstance,) he is let est, or, as it is sometimes varied, taken in. I need scarcely remark that any credit he may give is termed tick. Operatives or Workmen' s Slang, in quality, is but slightly removed from tradesmen's Slang. When belonging to the same shop or factory, they graft there, and are brother chips. They generally dine at slap-bang shops, and are often paid at tommy shops. At the nearest pub, or public-house, they generally have a score chalked up against them, which has to be wiped off regularly on the Saturday night. When out of work, they borrow a word from the flunkey vocabulary, and describe themselves as being out of collar. They term each other flints and dungs, if they are "society" or "non-society" men. Their salary is a screw, and to be discharged is to get the sack. When they quit work, they knock off ; and when out of employ, they ask if any hands are wanted. Fat is the vulgar synonyme for per- quisites ; elbow-grease signifies labour ; and saint Monday is the favourite day of the week. Names of animals figure plenti- fully in the workman's vocabulary • thus we have goose, a tailors smoothing-iron ; sheep's-foot, an iron hammer ; sow, a receptacle for molten iron, whilst the metal poured from it is termed pig. I have often thought that many of the Slang terms for money originally came from the worshop, thus — brads, from the ironmonger ; chips, from the carpenter ; dust, from the goldsmith ; feathers, from the upholsterer ; horse-nails, from the farrier; haddock, from the fishmonger; and tanner, from the leather-dresser. The subject is curious. Allow me to call the attention of numismatists to it. There yet remain several distinct divisions of Slang to be examined : — the Slang of the stable, or jockey Slang ; the Slang of the prize ring; the Slang of servitude, or flunkey dom ; vulgar, or street Slang; the Slang of softened oaths; and the SLAXG APOLOGIES FOR OATHS. 6$ Slang of intoxication. I shall only examine the last two. If society, as has been remarked, is a sham, from the vulgar foundation of commonalty to the crowning summit of royalty, especially do we perceive the justness of the remark in the Slang makeshifts for oaths, and sham exclamations for passion and temper. These apologies for feeling are a disgrace to our vernacular, although it is some satisfaction to know that they serve the purpose of reducing the stock of national profanity. "You be blowed," or "I'll be beowed if," &c, is an exclama- tion often heard in the streets. Beazes, or " like beazes," came probably from the army. Beast, too, although in general vulgar use, may have had a like origin ; so may the phrase, " I wish I may be shot, if," &c. Blow me tight, is a very windy and common exclamation. The same may be said of strike me lucky, never trust me, and so help me davy j the latter derived from the truer old phrase, I 'el take my davy on 't — i. e., my affidavit, davy being a corruption of that word. By golly, gol darn it, and so help me bob, are evident shams for profane oaths. Nation is but a softening of damnation; and od, whether used in od drat it, or od's blood, is but an apology for the name of the Deity. Marry, a term of asseveration in common use, was originally, in Popish times, a mode of swearing by the Virgin Mary; q. d., by Mary. — So also marrow-bones, for the knees. I'll bring him down upon his marrow-hones — i.e., I'll make him bend his knees as he does to the Virgin Mary. The Irish phrase, bad scran to yer ! is equivalent to wishing a person bad food. "I'm sniggered if you will," and "I'm jiggered," are other stupid forms of mild swearing, — fearful of committing an open profanity, yet slily nibbling at the sin. Both deuce and dickens are vulgar old synonymes for the devil ; and zounds is an abbreviation of god's wounds, — a very ancient Catholic oath. In a casual survey of the territory of Slang, it is curious to 64 SLANG TERMS FOR DRUNKENNESS. observe how well represented are the familiar wants and failings of life. First, there is money, with one hundred and twenty- Slang terms and synonymes ; then comes drink, from small beer to champagne ; and next, as a very natural sequence, intoxication, and fuddlement generally, with some half a hundred vulgar terms, graduating the scale of drunkenness from a slight inebriation, to the soaky state of gutterdom and stretcherdom, — I pray the reader to forgive the expressions. The Slang synonymes for mild intoxication are certainly very choice, — they are beery, bemused, BOOZY, BOSKY, BUFFY, CORNED, FOGGY, FOTT, FEESH, HAZY, ELE- VATED, KISKY, LUSHY, MOONY, MUGGY, MUZZY, ON, SCREWED, stewed, tight, and winey. A higher or more intense state of beastliness is represented by the expressions, podgy, beargered, BLUED, CUT, PRIMED, LUMPY, PLOUGHED, MUDDLED, OBFUSCATED, SWIPEY, THREE SHEETS IN THE WIND, and TOP-HEAVY. But the climax of fuddlement is only obtained when the disguised indi- vidual can't see a hole in a ladder, or when he is all mops and brooms, or off his nut, or with his main-brace well spliced, or with the sun in his eyes, or when he has lapped the gutter, and got the gravel rash, or on the ran-tan, or on the re-raw, or when he is sewed up, or regularly scammered, — then, and not till then, is he entitled, in vulgar society, to the title of lushington, or recommended to put in the pin. SLANG DERIVATIONS. Slang derivations are. generally indirect, turning upon metaphor and fanciful allusions, and other than direct etymological connexion. Such allusions and fancies are essentially temporary or local; they rapidly pass out of the public mind: the word remains, while the key to its origin is lost. A DICTIONARY OF MODERN SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS ; MANY WITH THEIR ETYMOLOGIES TRACED. A I, first-rate, the very best ; " she's a prime girl, she is ; she is A I." — Sam SlicTc. The highest classification of ships at Lloyd's ; common term in the United States ; also at Liverpool and other English sea- ports. Another, even more intensitive, form is, " first-class, letter A, No. i. ABIGAIL, a lady's-maid ; derived from old comedies. ABOUT RIGHT, " to do the thing about right," i.e., to do it properly, soundly, correctly ; " he guv it 'im about right," i.e., he heat him severely. ABRAM-MAN, a vagabond, such as were driven to beg about the country after the dissolution of the monasteries. — See bess o' bedlam, infra. They are well described under the title of Bedlam Beggars. — Shah- spear e's K. Lear ii. 3. " And these, what name or title e'er they bear, Jarkman, or Patrico, Cranke, or Clapper-dudgeon, Frater, or abram-man ; I speak to all That stand in fair election lor the title Of king of beggars." — Beaumont and Fletcher's Begg. Bush. ii. 1. It appears to have been the practice in former days to allow certain inmates of Bethlehem Hospital to have fixed days " to go begging ; " hence impostors were said to " sham Abraham " (the Abraham Ward in Bedlam having for its inmates these mendicant lunatics) when they pretended they were licensed beggars in behalf of the hospital. — See review of 2d edition of this work in The Bookseller, May 26, i860. Abandannad, " an abandannad (abandoned) boy," is one who picks pockets of bandanna handkerchiefs. — Westminster. E 66 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN ABRAM-SHAM, or sham Abraham, to feign sickness or distress. From abram-man, the ancient Cant term for a begging impostor, or one who pretended to have been mad. — Burton s Anatomy of Melancholy, vol. i. p. 360. When Abraham Newland was Cashier of the Bank of Eng- land, and signed their notes, it was sung : — ■ " I have heard people say That sham Abraham you may, But you mustn't sham Abraham Xewland." ABSQUATULATE, to run away, or abscond ; a hybrid American expres- sion, from the Latin ab, and " squat," to settle. ACRES, a coward. ADAM'S ALE, water. — English. The Scotch term is adam's wine. "ADMIRAL OF THE RED," a person whose very red face evinces a fondness for strong potations. AFFYGRAPHY. " It fits to an affygraphy," i.e., to a nicety — to a T. AFTERNOON FARMER, one who wastes his best opportunity, and drives off the large end of his work to the little end of his time. AGGERAWATOR, (corruption of Aggravator,) the greasy lock of hair in vogue among costermongers and other street folk, worn twisted from the temple back towards the ear. They are also, from a supposed resemblance in form, termed Newgate knockers, which see.—Sala's Gaslight, &c. AKEYBO, a slang phrase used in the following manner: — "He beats akeybo, and akeybo beat the devil." ALBERTOPOLIS, a facetious appellation given by the Londoners to the Kensington Gore district. ALDERMAN, a half-crown — possibly from its rotundity. ALDERMAN, a turkey; "alderman in chains," a turkey hung with sausages. ALL, equal, a term used in various games; thus, if both parties have scored six points each, the marker cries, " Six all!" " ALL OF A HUGH ! " all on one side ; falling with a thump ; the word HUGH being pronounced with a grunt. — Suffolk. "ALL MY EYE," answer of astonishment to an improbable story; "all my eye and betiy martin," a vulgar phrase with similar meaning, said to be the commencement of a Popish prayer to St Martin, " Oh, mihi, beate Martine," and fallen into discredit at the Reformation. ALL OUT, "by far;"— "he was all out the best of the lot." Old— frequently used by Burton, in his Anatomy of Melancholy. ALL-OVERISH, neither sick nor well, the pi-emonitory symptoms of illness. ALL-ROUNDER, the fashionable shirt collar of the present time worn meeting in front. ALL SERENE, an ejaculation of acquiescence.— See serene. ALLS, tap-droppings, refuse spirits sold at a cheap rate in gin-palaces. — See loveage. SLANG, CANT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. 67 ALL THERE, in strict fashion, first-rate, " up to the mark ; " a vulgar person would speak of a spruce, showily-dressed female as being all- there. An artisan would use the same phrase to express the capa- bilities of a skilful fellow-workman. Sometimes all the way there. A mudern song has — *' Says little Tom Sayers, ' If the blues do not stay us, 1 11 kad him a dance for the Island; He shall see how we fight here in my land ! "We 're all thi: way there in the Island. Although he's so tall, he Shall yet feel my mawley Ere I give up the " Belt" of the Island.' " "ALL TO PIECES," utterly, excessively; "he beat him all to pieces," i.e., excelled or surpassed him exceedingly. " ALL TO SMASH," or " gone to pieces," bankrupt, or smashed to pieces. — Somersetsh ire. ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, an American expression for the "power or money," first introduced by Washington Irving in 1 83 7.* AMIXADAB, a quaker; from old comedies. ANDREW MILLAR, a ship of war.— Sea. AN'T, or ain't, the vulgar abbreviation of " am not," or "are not." AXOIXTED, used in a bad sense, to express eminent rascality in any one ; "an anointed scoundrel," as if he were the king of scoundrels. — Irish. AXOIXTIXG, a good beating. AXOXYMA, a lady of the demi-monde — or worse — a pretty horse-breaker. — Times. Incognita was the term at first. ANY HOW, in any way, or at any rate, bad; "he went on ANY how/' i.e., badly or indifferently. AXTISCRIPTURAL, oaths," foul language. "APARTMENTS TO LET," said of one who has a somewhat empty head. APOSTLE'S GROYE, the London district known as St John's Wood. APOSTLES, The Twelve, the last twelve names on the Poll, or " Ordinary Degree" List at the Cambridge Examinations, when it was arranged in order of merit, and not alphabetically, and in classes, as at present ; so called from there being post alies, after the others.f — See poll. * The idea of this phrase, at any rate, is far older than the time of Irxing. Ben Jonson's Epistle to Elizabeth, Countess of Rutland, commences thus : — " Whilst that for which all virtue now is sold, And almost every vice, almigktie gold." t The last of all was called St Paul, (or Saint Poll,) as being the least of the apostles, and "not meet to be called an apostle," (see 1 Cor. xv. 9.) As in the " Honour" list, (see Gulf,) students who had failed only slightly in one or more subjects were occasion- ally allowed their degrees, and these were termed elegant extracts. — Camb. Univ. Slang. 68 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN APPLE-PIE BED, a trick played at schools on new comers, or on any boy disliked by the rest. One of the sheets is removed, and the other is doubled in the middle, so that both edges are brought to the top, and look as if both sheets were there ; but the unhappy occupant is prevented getting more than half way down, and his night's rest is in all probability spoiled. APPLE-CART, " down with his apple-cart," i.e., upset him. — North. APPLE-PIE ORDER, in exact or very nice order. ARTICLE, derisive term for a weak specimen of humanity. ARY, corruption of " ever a," " e'er a;" ary one, i.e., e'er a one. " AS YOU WERE," a military phrase in drilling; used in a Slang sense to one who is going on too fast in his assertions, and wants recalling to moderation. ATOMY, a diminutive or deformed person. From anatomy. ATTACK, to carve, or commence operations on; "attack that beef, and oblige ! " ATTIC, the head; "queer in the attic," intoxicated. — Pugilistic. AUNT SALLY, a favourite game on race-courses and at fairs, consisting of a wooden head mounted on a stick, firmly fixed in the ground ; in the nose of which, or rather in that part of the facial arrangement of aunt sally which is generally considered incomplete without a nasal projection, a tobacco pipe is inserted. The fun consists in standing at a distance and demolishing aunt sally's pipe-clay projection with short bludgeons, very similar to the half of a broom-handle. The Duke of Beaufort is a "crack hand" at smashing pipe noses; and his performances a few years ago on Brighton race-course are yet fresh in remembrance. Aunt Sally proprietors are indebted to the noble duke for having brought the game into fashionable notoriety. AYAST, a sailor's phrase for stop, shut up, go away, — apparently connected with the old Cant, bynge a waste ; or from the Italian, basta, hold ! enough. AWAKE, or fly, knowing, thoroughly understanding, not ignorant of. The phrase wide awake carries the same meaning in ordinary conversation. AWFUL, (or, with the Cockneys, orful,) a senseless expletive, used to in- tensify a description of anything good or bad ; " what an awful fine woman !" i.e., how handsome, or showy! Area-sneak, a boy thief who commits depredations upon kitchens and cellars. — See crow. Argot, a term used amongst London thieves for their secret or Cant lan- guage. French term for Slang. Autumn, a Slang term for an execution by hanging. When the drop was introduced instead of the old gallows, cart, and ladder, and a man was for the first time " turned-oif" in the present fashion, the mob were so pleased with the invention that they spoke of the operation as at autumn, or the fall of the leaf, (sc, the drop,) with the man about to be hanged. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 69 AXE, to ask. — Saxon, acsiax. AYAH, a lady's-maid or nurse. — Anglo-Indian. BABES, the lowest order of knock-outs, (which see,) who are . prevailed upon not to give opposing biddings at auctions, in consideration of their receiving a small sum, (from one shilling to half-a-crown,) and a certain quantity of beer. Babes exist in Baltimore, U.S., where they are known as blackguards and " rowdies." BACK, to support, or "lay" money on a particular horse in a race. The term is very generally used in the " ring," as well as on the " turf." BACK OUT, to retreat from a difficulty ; the reverse of GO ahead. Meta- phor burrowed from the stables. " BACK SLANG IT," to go out the back way. BACK-HANDER, a blow on the face with the back of the hand, a back- handed tip. Also a drink out of turn, as when a greedy person delays the decanter to get a second glass. BACKER, one who bets, or "lays" his money, on a favourite horse; a one- sided supporter in a contest. Sporting, and very general. . BACON, " to save one's bacon," to escape. BAD, " to go to the bad," to deteriorate in character, be ruined. Virgil has an exactly similar phrase, in pejus ruere. BADMINTON, blood, — properly a peculiar kind of claret-cup invented at the Duke of Beaufort's seat of that name. Badminton proper is made of claret, sugar, spice, and cucumber peel iced, and is used by the Prize Ring as a synonyme for blood out of compliment to a well-known patron. BAFFATY, calico. Used in the drapery trade. BAGMAN, a commercial traveller. BAGS, trousers. Trousers of. an extensive pattern, or exaggerated fashion- able cut, have lately been termed howling-bags, but only when the style has been very " loud." The word is probably an abbreviation for b-mbags. " To have the bags off," to be of age and one's own master, to have plenty of money. " Bags of mystery" is another phrase in frequent use. BAKE, "he's only half baked," i.e., soft, inexperienced. BAKER'S DOZEN. This consists of thirteen or fourteen; the surplus number, called the inbread, being thrown in for fear of incurring the penalty for short weight. To " give a man a baker's dozen," in a Slang sense, means to give him an extra good beating or pummelling. BALAAM, printers' Slang for matter kept in type about monstrous pro- ductions of nature, &c, to fill up spaces in newspapers that would otherwise be vacant. The term balaam-box has long been used in Blackwood as the name of the depository for rejected articles.. Evi- dently from Numbers xxii. 30, and denoting the " speech of an ass," or any story difficult of deglutition, not contained in Scripture. Back Jump, a back window. — Prison term, 70 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN BALD-FACED STAG, a term of derision applied to a person with a bald head. Also, still more coarsely, " bladder-of-lard." Another name is " Marquis of Granby," which see. BALE UP ! the Australian bushrangers' " Stand and deliver ! " now im- ported into the streets of London as a synonyme for " Stop ! " BALLAMBANGJANG. The Straits of Ballambangjang, though unno- ticed by geographers, are frequently mentioned in sailors' yarns as being so narrow, and the rocks on each side so crowded with trees inhabited by monkeys, that the ship's yards cannot be squared, on account of the monkeys' tails getting jammed into, and choking up, the brace blocks. — Sea. BALMY, insane. BALMY, sleep; "have a dose of the balmy" — go to sleep. BAMBOO IN" G, a beating — from the instrument employed. BAMBOOZLE, to deceive, make fun of, or cheat a person; abbreviated to bam, which is used also as a substantive — a deception, a sham, a " sell." Swift says bamboozle was invented by a nobleman in the reign of Charles II. ; but this I conceive to be an error. The probability is that a nobleman first used it in polite society. The term is derived from the Gipsies. BANDED, hungry. BANDY, or cripple, a sixpence, so called from this coin being generally bent or crooked; old term for flimsy or bad cloth, temp. Q. Elizabeth. BANG, to exeel or surpass ; banging, great or thumping. BANG-UP, first-rate. BANK, to put in a place of safety. " Bank the rag," i.e., secure the note. BANTLING, a child; stated in Bacchus and Venus, 1737, and by Grose, to be a Cant term. BANYAN-DAY, a day on which no meat is served out for rations ; prob- ably derived from the banians, a Hindoo caste, who abstain from animal food. — Sea. BAR, or barring, excepting ; in common use in the betting-ring ; " I bet against the field bar two." The Irish use of barrin' is very similar. BARBER'S CAT, said of a half -starved, sickly-looking person, in connexion with an expression too coarse to print. BARKER, a man employed to cry at the doors of " gaffs," shows, and puffing shops, to entice people inside. BARNACLES, a pair of spectacles; corruption of binoctjli. Derived by some from the barnacle,* a kind of conical shell adhering to ships' bottoms. Hence a marine term for goggles, which they resemble in shape, and for which they are used by sailors in case of ophthalmic derangement. * Lepas Anatifcra. Ball, prison allowance, viz., six ounces of meat. Barking- Iron, a pistol. Term used by footpada. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. J I BARNEY, a lark, spree, rough enjoyment ; " get up a barney," to have a " lark." Also, a deception, a " cross." BARNEY, a mob, a crowd. BARN-STORMERS, theatrical performers who travel the country and act in barns, selecting short and frantic pieces to suit the rustic taste. — Theatrical. BARRIKIN", jargon, speech, or discourse; "we can't tumble to that barrikin," i.e., we don't understand what he says. Mitge calls it " a sort of stuff; " Old French, baracan. BASH, to beat, thrash; "bashing a donna," beating a woman; originally a provincial word, and chiefly applied to the practice of beating walnut trees, when in bud, with long poles, to increase their productiveness. Hence the West country proverb — " A -woman, a whelp, and a walnut tree, The more you bash 'em, the better they be." BASTE, to beat, properly to pour gravy on roasting meat to keep it from burning. Also, a sewing term. BASTILE, the workhouse. General name for " the Union " amongst the lower orders of the North. Formerly used to denote a prison, or " lock-up; " but its abbreviated form, steel, is now the favourite expression with the lower orders. - BAT, " on his own bat," on his own account. — See hook. BATS, a pair of bad boots. BATTER, wear and tear ; " can't stand the batter," i.e., not equal to the task; "on the batter," literally "on the streets," or given up to roistering and debauchery. BATTLES, the students' term at Oxford for rations. At Cambridge, commons. Qy. Battells. BATTY, wages, perquisites. Derived from batta, an extra pay given to soldiers while serving in India. BATTY-FANG, to beat; battt-fanging, a beating; also batter-fang. Used metaphorically as early as 1630. " So batter-fanged and belabour'd with tongue mettle, that he was weary of his life."— Taylor's Works, 1630. BAZAAR, a shop or counter. Gipsy and Hindoo, a market. BEACH-COMBER, a fellow who prowls about the sea-shore to plunder wrecks, and pick up waifs and strays of any kind. — Sea. BEAK, a magistrate, judge, or policeman; " to baffle the beak," to get re- manded. Ancient Cant, beck. Saxon, beag, a necklace or gold col- lar — emblem of authority. Sir John Fielding was called the blind- beak in the last century. Query, if connected with the Italian becco, which means a (bird's) beak, and also a blockhead? See, however, under walker ! for another derivation. Beaker-Hunter, a stealer of poultry. 72 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN BEANS, money ; " a haddock of beans," a purse of money ; formerly, bean meant a guinea; French, biens, property; also used as a syno- nyme for brick, which see. BEAR, one who contracts to deliver or sell a certain quantity of stock in the public funds on a forthcoming day at a stated place, but who does not possess it, trusting to a decline in public securities to enable him to fulfil the agreement and realise a profit. — See bull. Both words are Slang terms on the Stock Exchange, and are frequently used in the business columns of newspapers. *' He who sells that of which he is not possessed is proverbially said to sell the skin before he has caught the bear. It was the practice of stock-jobbers, in the year 1720, to enter into a contract for transferring South Sea stock at a future time for a certain price; but he who contracted to sell had fre- quently no stock to transfer, nor did he who bought intend to receive any in consequence of his bargain; the seller was, therefore, called a bkar, in allusion to the proverb, and the buyer a bull, perhaps only as a similar dis- tinction. The contract was merely a wager, to be determined by the rise or fall of stock ; if it rose, the seller paid the difference to the buj'er, pro- portioned to the sum determined by the same computation to the seller." — Br Warton on Pope. BEARGERED, to be drunk. BEAT, the allotted range traversed by a policeman on duty. BEAT, or beat-hollow, to surpass or excel; also "beat into fits." BEAT, "dead-beat," wholly worn out, done for. BEATER-CASES, boots. Nearly obsolete. BEAVER, old street term for a hat ; goss is the modern word, beaver, except in the country, having fallen into disuse. BE-BLOWED, a windy exclamation equivalent to an oath. — See blow-me. BED-POST, "in the twinkling of a bed-post," in a moment, or very quickly. Originally bed-staff, a stick placed vertically in the frame of a bed to keep the bedding in its place. — Shadicell's Virtuoso, 1676, act i., scene I. This was used sometimes as a defensive weapon. BED-FAGOT, a contemptuous term for a bed-fellow. — See fagot. BEDFORDSHIRE, bed; when a person says, "I'm off for Bedfordshire," he means that he is going to bed. BEE, " to have a bee in one's bonnet," i.e., to be not exactly sane. BEEBEE, a lady.— Anglo-Indian. BEEF-HEADED, stupid. BEEFY, unduly thick or fat, commonly said of women's ancles. — See MULL1NGAR. BEERY, intoxicated, or fuddled with beer. BEESWAX, poor soft cheese. BEETLE-CRUSHER, or squasher, a large flat foot. The expression was first used in one of Mr Leech's caricatures in Punch. BEGGAR'S VELVET, downy particles which accumulate under furniture from the negligence of house-maids. Otherwise called slut's- wool. BELCHER, a handkerchief. — See under billy for description. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 73 BELL, a song. Tramps' term. BELLOWS, the lungs. Belt.owser, a blow in the "wind," or pit of the stomach ; taking one's breath away. " BELLOWS TO MEND," said of a person out of breath. BELLY-TIMBER, food, or "grub." BELLY-YENGEANCE, .small sour beer, apt to cause gastralgia. BEMUSE, to fuddle one's-self with drink, "bemusing himself with beer," &c. — Sola's Gaslight and Daylight, p. 308. BEN", a benefit.— Theatrical BEND, "that's above my bend," i.e., beyond my power, too expensive, or too difficult for me to perform. BENDER, a sixpence, — from its liability to bend. BENDER, the arm; "over the bender," synonymous with "over the left." — See over. Also an ironical exclamation similar to walker ! BENDIGO, a rough fur cap worn in the midland counties, named after a noted pugilist of that name. BENE, good. — Ancient Cant; benar was the comparative. — See bone. Latin. BENEDICT, a married man. BENJAMIN, a coat. Formerly termed a Joseph, in allusion, perhaps, to Joseph's coat of many colours. — See upper-benjamin. BEN JOLTRAM, brown bread and skimmed milk; a Norfolk term for a ploughboy's breakfast. BENJY, a waistcoat, — the diminutive of benjamin. BEONG-, a shilling. — See saltee. — Lingua Franca. BESS. — See brown-bess. BESS-O'-BEDLAM, a lunatic vagrant.— Norfolk. BEST, to get the better or "best" of a man in any way — not necessarily to cheat — to have the best of a bargain. Bested, taken in, or defrauded. Bester, a low betting cheat. BETTER, more ; " how far is it to town ? " " Oh, better 'n a mile." — Saxon and Old English, now a vulgarism. BETTING ROUND. See book, and book-making. B. FLATS, bugs. — Compare p. sharps. BIBLE-CARRIER, a person who sells songs without singing them. — Seven Dials. BIG, "to look big," to assume an inflated address, or manner; "to talk big," i.e., boastingly, or with an "extensive" air. " BIG-BIRD, to get the," i.e., to be hissed, as actors occasionally are by the " gods." — Theat. Slang. BellowseDj or lagged, transported. Ben Cull, a friend, or " pal." — Millbank Penitentiary . Betty, a skeleton key, or picklock. — Old Prison Cant. 74 -4 DICTIONARY OF MODERN BIG-HOUSE, the work-house, — a phrase used by the very poor. BIG-WIG, a person in authority or office. BILBO, a sword; abbrev. of "bilboa blade." Spanish swords were an- ciently very celebrated, especially those of Toledo, Bilboa, &c. BILK, a cheat, or a swindler. Formerly in general use, now confined to the streets, where it is very common. Gothic, bilaican. BILK, to defraud, or obtain goods, &c, without paying for them; "to bilk the schoolmaster," to get information or experience without pay- ing for it. BILLINGSGATE, (when applied to speech,) foul and coarse language. Not many years since, one of the London notorieties was to hear the fishwomen at Billingsgate abuse each other. The anecdote of Dr Johnson and the Billingsgate virago is well known. BILLY, a silk pocket-handkerchief. — Scotch. — See wipe. *„* A list of the Slang terms descriptive of the various patterns of handkerchiefs, pocket and neck, is here subjoined : — Belcher, darkish blue ground, large round white spots, with a spot iu the centre of darker blue than the ground. This was adopted by Jim Belcher, the pugilist, and soon became popu- lar amongst " the fancy." Bird's-eye wipe, same as preceding. Blood-red fancy, red. Blue billy, blue ground with white spots. Cream fancy, any pattern on a white ground. Green king's man, any pattern on a green ground. Randal's man, green, with white spots; named after Jack Randal, pugilist. "Water's man, sky coloured. Yellow fancy, yellow, with white spots. Yellow man, all yellow. BILLY-BARLOW, a street clown; sometimes termed a jim crow, or Saltimbanco, — so called from the hero of a Slang song. — Buhcer's Paul Clifford. — Billy was a real person, semi-idiotic, and, though in dirt and rags, fancied himself a swell of the first water. Occasionally he came out with real witticisms. He was a well-known street character about the east end of London, and died in Whitechapel Workhouse. — (P.) BILLY-COCK, a hat of the Jim Crow or "wide-awake " description, prin- cipally worn by carters. BIXGY, a term largely used in the butter trade to denote bad ropy butter; nearly equivalent to vinnied. BINGO, brandy.— Bulwer's Paul Clifford. BIRD-CAGE, a four-wheeled cab. Billy, a policeman's staff. Billy, stolen metal of any kind. Billy-hunting, buying old metal. — See billy-fencer. Billy-fencer, a marine-store dealer. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 75 BIT, fourpence; in America 12 S cents are called a bit, and a defaced 20 cent piece is termed a LONG bit. A BIT is the smallest coin in Jamaica, equal to 6d. BIT, money. Charles Bannister, the witty singer and actor, one day meet- ing a Bow -Street runner with a man in custody, asked what the prisoner had done ; and being told that he had stolen a bridle, and had been detected in the act of selling it, said, " Ah ! then, he wanted to touch the bit." BITCH, tea; "a bitch party," a tea-drinking. — Oxford. BITE, a cheat ; " a Yorkshire bite," a cheating fellow from that county. — North; also old Slang — used by Pope. Swift says it originated with a nobleman in his day. BITE, to cheat ; " to be bitten," to be taken in or imposed upon. Origin- ally a Gipsy term.* — See Bacchus and Venus. BITTERS, "to do bitters," to drink beer.— Oxford. BITTOCK, a distance of very undecided length. If a north countryman be asked the distance to a place, he will most probably reply, " a mile and a bittock; " and the latter may be considered any distance from one hundred yards to ten miles ! B. K. S. Military officers in mufti, when out on a spree, and not wishing their profession to be known, speak of their barracks as the B. K s. BIVVY, or gatter, beer; "shant of bivvy," a pot or quart of beer. In Suffolk, the afternoon refreshment of reapers is called bever. It is also an old English term. "He is none of those same ordinary eaters, that will devour three breakfasts, and as many dinners, without any prejudice to their bevers, drinkings, or suppers." — Beaumont and Fletcher s Woman Hater, i. 3. Both words are probably from the Italian, bevere, bere. Latin, bibere. English, beverage. "BLACK AND WHITE," handwriting, or print. BLACK- A-VISED, having a very dark complexion. BLACKBIRD-CATCHING, sea Slang for the slave-trade. BLACK DIAMONDS, coals; talented persons of dingy or unpolished ex- terior; rough jewels. BLACK-LEG, a rascal, swindler, or card cheat. The derivation of this term was solemnly argued before the full court of Queen's Bench, upon a motion for a new trial for libel, but was not decided by the learned tribunal. Probably it is from the custom of sporting and turf men wearing black top-boots. Hence black-leg came to be the phrase for a professional sporting man. * Cross- biter, for a cheat, continually occurs in writers of the sixteenth century. N. Bailey has cross-bite, a disappointment, probably the primary sense; and bite is ■very probably a contraction of this. — See Nares's Glossary, s. v. Bit, a purse, or any sum of money. — Prison Cant. Bit-faker, or turner out, a coiner of bad money. Blackberry-swagger, a person who hawks tapes, boot-laces, &c. 76 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN BLACK-SHEEP, a " bad lot," " mauvais sujet; " also a workman who re- fuses to join in a strike. BLACK-STRAP, port wine. BLACKGUARD, a low, or dirty fellow. "A Cant word amongst the vulgar, by which is implied a dirty fellow of the meanest kind, Dr Johnson says, and he cites only the modern authority of Swift. But the introduction of this word into our language belongs not to the vulgar, and is more than a century prior to the time of Swift. Mr Malone agrees with me in exhibiting the two first of the following ex- amples: — The black-guard is evidently designed to imply a fit attendant on the devil. Mr Gifford, however, in his late edition of Ben Jonson's works, assigns an origin of the name different from what the old examples which I have cited seem to countenance. It has been formed, lie says, from those •mean and dirty dependants, in great houses, who were selected to carry coals to the kitchen, halls, &c. To this smutty regiment, who attended the progresses, and rode in the carts with the pots and kettles, which, with every other article of furniture, were then moved from palace to palace, the people, in derision, gave the name of black guards; a term since become sufficiently familiar, and never pi-operly explained.' — Ben Jonson, ii. 169, vii. 250." — Todd's Johnson's Dictionary. BLADE, a man — in ancient times the term for a soldier; "knowing blade," a wide-awake, sharp, or cunning man. BLADDER-OF-LARD, a coarse, satirical nickname for a bald-headed person. BLARNEY, flattery, exaggeration. A castle in the county of Cork. It if said that whoever kisses a certain stool in this castle will be able to persuade others of whatever he or she pleases. The name of the castle is derived from bladh, a blossom, i.e., the flowery or fertile demesne. Bladh is also flattery; hence the connexion. — Irish. BLAST, to curse. Originally a Military expression. BLAZES, a low synonyme for the infernal regions. Also as applied to the brilliant habiliments of flunkeys. — See Pickwick Papers. BLEST, a vow; "blest if I'll do it," i.e., I am determined not to do it; euphemism for curst. BLEED, to victimise, or extract money from a person, to sponge on, to make suffer vindictively. BLEW, or blow, to inform, or peach. BLE WED, got rid of, disposed of, spent ; " I blewed all my blunt last night," I spent all my money. BLIND, a pretence, or make-believe. BLIND - HALF - HUNDRED, the fiftieth regiment of foot; so called through their great sufferings from ophthalmia, when serving in Egypt. BLIND-HOOKEY, a gambling game at cards; called also wilful murder. BLIND-MAN'S-HOLIDAY, night, darkness. BLINKER, a blackened eye. — Norivich Slang. Blinkers, spectacles. Blln'K-eencer, a person who sells spectacles. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. ~J BLOAK, or bloke, a man ; "the bloak with a jasey," the man with a w:u r , i.e., the Judge. Gipsy and Hindoo, loke. North, bloacher, any large animal. BLOATER.— See mild. BLOCK, the head. "To block a hat," is to knock a man's hat down over his eyes. — See bonnet. BLOCK ORNAMENTS, the small dark-coloured pieces of meat exposed on the cheap butchers' blocks or counters, — debateable points to all the sharp-visaged argumentative old women in low neighbourhoods. BLOOD, a fast or high-mettled man. Nearly obsolete in the sense in which it was used in George the Fourth's time. BLOOD-RED FANCY, a particular kind of handkerchief worn by pugi- lists and frequenters of prize fights. — See billy. BLOOD Y-JEMMY, an uncooked sheep's head. — See sanguinary james. " BLOW A CLOUD," to smoke a cigar or pipe — a phrase in use two cen- turies ago. BLOW ME, or blow me tight, a vow, a ridiculous and unmeaning ejacula- tion, inferring an appeal to the ejaculator ; " I 'm blowed if you will " is a common expression among the lower orders ; " blow me up " was the term a century ago. — See Parker s Adventures, 1 781. — The expres- sion be-blowed is now more general. Tom Hood used to tell a story : — "I was once asked to contribute to a new journal, not exactly gratuitously, but at, a very small advance upon nothing - — and avowedly because the work had been planned according to that estimate. However, I accepted the terms conditionally — that is to say, provided the principle could be properly carried out. Accordingly, I wrote to my butcher, baker, and other tradesmen, in- forming them that it was necessary, for the sake of cheap literature and the interest of the reading public, that they should furnish me with their several commodities at a very trifling per-centage above cost price. It will, be sufficient to quote the answer of the butcher : — ' Sir, — Respectin' your note. Cheap literater be blowed! Butchers must live as well as other pepel —and if so be you or the readin' publick wants to have meat at prime cost, you must buy your own beastesses, and kill yourselves.— I remane, etc., "'John Stokes.'" BLOW OUT, or tuck in, a feast. BLOW UP, to make a noise, or scold ; formerly a Cant expression used amongst thieves, now a recognised and respectable phrase. Blowing UP, a jobation, a scolding. Blob, (from blab,) to talk. Beggars are of two kinds, — those who sceeeve, (introduce themselves with a fakement, or false document,) and those who blob, or state their case in their own truly " unvar- nished " language. Blow, to expose, or inform ; " blow the gaff," to inform against a person. " 'As for that,' says Will, 'I could tell it well enough, if I had it, but I must not be seen anywhere amongr my old acquaintances, for I am blown, and they will all betray me.' "—History of Colond Jack, 1723. In America, "to blow" is Slang for to taunt. Blower, a girl ; a contemptuous name in opposition to jomeb. J 8 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN BLOWEN", a showy or flaunting female. In Wilts, a blowen is a blossom. Germ, bluhen, to bloom. In German, also, buhlen is to court, and BUHLE, a sweetheart. " O du bluhende Madclien viel scheme "Willkomm ! " — German Song. Possibly, however, the street term blowen may mean one whose re- putation has been blown upon, or damaged. BLUBBER, to cry in a childish manner. — Ancient. A correspondent says, "probably from hanging the lip." BLUE, said of talk that is smutty or indecent. When the convei-sation has assumed an entirely opposite character, it is then said to be brown, or Quakerish. BLUE, a policeman ; "disguised in blue and liquor." — Boots at the Swart. " The gentleman in blue and white" — i.e., a policeman — was frequently called upon for a song at the pleasant camp-fire meetings on Wimbledon Common, during the volunteer encampment there in 1 863. BLUE, or blew, to pawn or pledge. BLUE, confounded or surprised; " to look blue," to be astonished or disap- pointed. BLUE BILLY, the handkerchief (blue ground with white spots) worn and used at prize fights. Before a " SET to," it is common to take it from the neck and tie it round the leg as a garter, or round the waist, to "keep in the wind." Also, the refuse ammoniacal lime from gas factories. BLUE-BLANKET, a rough overcoat made of coarse pilot cloth. BLUE-BOTTLE, a policeman. It is singular that this well-known Slang term for a London constable should have been used by Shakspewre. In Part ii. of King Henry IV., act v., scene 4, Doll Tearsheet calls the beadle, who is dragging her in, a " thin man in a censer, a blue-bottle rogue." ELUED, or blewed, tipsy, or drunk. BLUE DEVILS, the apparitions supposed to be seen by habitual drunkards. BLUE MOON, an unhmited period. BLUE MURDER, a desperate or alarming cry. — French, mortbleu. BLUE RUIN, gin. BLUES, a fit of despondency. — See blue devils. BLUFF, an excuse ; more frequently used as an adjective, in the sense of rough, coarse, plain-spoken. BLUFF, to turn aside, stop, or excuse. Bludger, a low thief, who does not hesitate to use violence. — PAson Cant. Blue-pigeon-flyer, a journeyman plumber, glazier, or other workman, who, under the plea of repairing houses, strips off the lead, and makes away with it. -Sometimes they get off with it by wrapping it round their bodies. Bluet, lead. — German, blei. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 79 BLUNT, money. It has been said that this term is from the French blond, sandy or golden colour, and that a parallel may be found in brown or browns, the slang for halfpence. Far-fetched as this etymology may be, it is doubtless correct, as it is borne out by the analogy of similar expressions. Cf. blanquillo, a word used in Morocco and Southern Spain for a small Moorish coin. The "asper" (asnpav) of Constan- tinople is called by the Turks akcheh, i.e., " little white." See also "Winn, (Harman,) above, p. 20. BLURT OUT, to speak from impulse, and without reflection. — Shalcspeare. BOARD-OF-GREEN-CLOTH, a facetious synonyme for a card-table. BOB, a shilling. Formerly bobstick, which may have been the original. Bob-a-nob, a shilling a-head. Query, if connected with Sir Rob. Walpole, as Joey is with Joseph Hume ? BOB, " s' help my bob," a street oath, equivalent to " so help me God." Other words are used in street language for a similarly evasive purpose, i.e., cat, greens, tatur, &c, all equally profane and disgusting. BOB IT, drop it, give it up. BOBBERY, a squabble, tumult. — Anglo-Indian. BOBBISH, very well, clever, spruce. " How are you doing ? " " Oh ! pretty BOBBISH." — Old, BOBBY, a policeman. Both bobby and peeler were nicknames given to the new police, in allusion to the Christian and surnames of the late Sir Robert Peel, who was the prime mover in effecting their introduction and improvement. The term bobby is, however, older than the Saturday Reviewer imagines. The official square-keeper, who is always armed with a cane to drive away idle and disorderly urchins, has, time out of mind, been called by the said urchins, bobby the Beadle. Bobby is also, I may remark, an old English word for striking or hitting, a quality not unknown to policemen. — See HalliwelV 's Dictionary. BODKHST, a small, or young person, sitting in the centre, between two others, in a carriage, is said "to ride bodkin." Amongst sporting men, applied to a person who takes his turn between the sheets on alternate nights, when the hotel has twice as many visitors as it can comfortably lodge. BODY-SNATCHER, a bailiff or runner : snatch, the trick by which the bailiff captures the delinquent. BODY-SNATCHER, a cat-stealer. BOG-ORANGES, potatoes. BOG, or bog-house, a privy as distinguished from a water-closet. — School term. In the Inns of Court, I am informed, the term is very common. BOG-TROTTER, satirical name for an Irishman.- — Miege. Camden, how- ever, speaking of the "debateable land" on the borders of England and Scotland, says, " both these dales breed notable bog-trotters." BOLUS, an apothecary. BOILERS, or Brompton boilers, the Slang name given to the New Ken- sington Museum and School of Art, in allusion to the peculiar form 80 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN of the buildings, and the fact of their being mainly composed of, and covered with, sheet iron. — See pepper-boxes. BOLT, to run away, decamp, or abscond. BOLT, to swallow without chewing. BOMBAY DUCKS; in the East India Company's army the Bombay regi- ments were so designated. The name is now given to a dried fish, (bummelow,) much eaten by natives and Europeans in Western India. — Anglo-Indian. BOISTE, to steal or appropriate what does not belong to you. Boxed, seized apprehended. — Old. BONE-PICKER, a footman. BONES, to rattle the bokes, to play at dice ; also called st hugh's bones. BONES, " he made no bones of it," he did not hesitate, i.e., undertook and finished the work without difficulty, "found no bones in the jelly." — Ancient, vide Cotgrave. BONIFACE, landlord of a tavern or inn. BONNET, a gambling cheat. " A man who sits at a gaming-table, and appears to be playing against the table ; when a stranger enters, the bonnet generally wins." — Times, Nov. 17, 1856. Also, a pretence, or make-believe, a sham bidder at auctions, one who metaphorically blinds or bonnets others. — See the following. BONNET, to strike a man's cap or hat over his eyes. BONNETER, one who induces another to gamble. BOOBY-TRAP, a favourite amusement of boys at school. It consists in placing a pitcher of water on the top of a door set ajar for the pur- pose ; the person whom they wish to drench is then enticed to pass through the door, and receives the pitcher and its contents on his un- lucky head. Books are sometimes used. BOOK, an arrangement of bets for and against, chronicled in a pocket-book made for that purpose; " making a book upon it," a common phrase to denote the general arrangement of a person's bets on a race. " That does not suit my book," i.e., does not accord with my other arrange- ments. The principle of making a book, or betting round, as it is sometimes termed, is to lay out a previously-determined sum against every horse in the race, or as many as possible ; and should the book- maker get round, i.e., succeed in laying against as many horses as will more than balance the odds laid, he is certain to be a winner. — See Hedge. BOOKED, caught, fixed, disposed of. — Term in Book-keeping. Bone, good, excellent. (), the vagabond's hieroglyphic for bone, or good, chalked by them on houses and street corners, as a hint to succeeding beggars. French, BON. Bone-grubber, a person who hunts dust-holes, gutters, and all likely spots for refuse bones, which he sells at the rag-shops, or to the bone- grinders. SLANG, CANT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. 8 1 BOOKS, a pack of cards. Term used by professional card-players. — See Devil's Books. BOOK-HOLDER, a prompter.— Theatiical. BOOM, " to top one's boom off," to be off, or start in a certain direction. — Sea. BOOM-PASSENGER, a sailor's Slang term for a convict on board ship.— Sea. BOOZE, drink. Ancient Cant, bowse. Booze, or suck-casa, a public house. BOOZE, to drink, or more properly, to use another Slang term, to ''lush," viz., to drink continually, until drunk, or nearly so. The term is an old one. Harmon, in Queen Elizabeth's days, speaks of "bousing (or boozing) and belly-cheere." The term was good English in the four- teenth century, and came from the Dutch, buyzen, to tipple. BOOZIXG-KEN, a beer-shop, a low public-house. — Ancient. BOOZY, intoxicated or fuddled. BORE, a troublesome friend or acquaintance, a nuisance, anything which wearies or annoys, so called from his unvaried and pertinacious push- ing. The Gracilis ad Cantabrigiam suggests the derivation of bore from the Greek Bdpos, a burden. Shahspeare uses it, King Henry VIII. i. 1— " at tins instant- He bores me with some trick. 1 ' Grose speaks of this word as being much in fashion about the year 1780-81, and states that it vanished of a sudden, without leaving a trace behind. Not so, burly Grose, the term is still in favour, and is as piquant and expressive as ever. Of the modern sense of the word bore, the Prince Consort made an amusing and effective use in his masterly address to the British Association, at Aberdeen, September 14, 1859. He said, (as reported by the Times :) — "I will not weary yon by further examples, with which most of you are better acquainted than I am myself, but merely express my satisfaction that there should exist bodies of men who will bring the well-considered and under- stood wants of science before the public and the Government, who will even hand round the begging-box, and expose themselves to refusals and rebuffs, to which all beggars all liable, with the certainty besides of being considered great bores. Please to recollect that this species of " bore " is a most useful animal, well adapted for the ends for which nature intended him. He alone. by constantly returning to the charge, and repeating the same truths and the same requests, succeeds in awakening attention to the cause which he advocates, and obtains that hearing which is granted him at last for self- protection, as the minor evil compared to his importunity, but which is requisite to make his cause understood." BORE, (Pugilistic,) to press a man to the ropes of the ring by superior weight. BOSH, nonsense, stupidity. — Gipsy and Persian. Also pure Turkish, bosh Lakerdi, empty talk. A person, in the Saturday Review, has stated that bosh is coeval with Morier's novel, Hadji Babi, which was pub- lished in 1828; but this is a blunder. The term was used in this country as early as 1760, and may be found in the Student, vol. ii., p. 217. A correspondent asserts that this colloquial expression is from the German bosh, or bossch, answering to our word "swipes." F 82 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN BOSKY, inebriated.— Household Words, No. 183. BOSS-EYED, a person with one eye, or rather with one eye injured. BOTANY BAY, Worcester Coll. Oxon, so called from its remote situation. BOTHER, (from the Hibernicism pother,) trouble, or annoyance. Grose has a singular derivation, bother, or both-eared, from two persons talking at the same time, or to both ears. Blother, an old word, signifying to chatter icily. — See Halliwell. BOTHER, to teaze, to annoy. BOTHERATION! trouble, annoyance; " botheration to it," " confound it," or " deuce take it" — an exclamation when irritated. BOTTLE-HOLDER, an assistant to a "Second," {Pugilistic;) an abettor; also, the bridegroom's man at a wedding. Slang term for Lord Pal- merston, derived from a speech he made some years ago when foreign secretary, in which he described himself as acting the part of a judicious "bottle-holder" among the foreign powers. A lately-invented in- strument to hold a bottle has thus received the name of a palmerston. BOTTOM, stamina in a horse or man. Power to stand fatigue; endurance to receive a good beating, and still fight on. " A fellow of pluck, sound wind, and good bottom is fit to fight anything." BOTTS, the colic or bellyache. — Stable Slang. Burns uses it. See Death and, Dr Hornbook. BOTTY, conceited, swaggering. — Stable. BOUNCE, impudence. A showy swindler. BOUNCE, to boast, cheat, or bully. — Old Cant. Also to lie. BOUNCE ABLE, prone to bouncing or boasting. BOUNCING-BEN, a learned man. BOUNDER, a four-wheeled cab. Lucus a non lucendo? Also a University term for a trap. " The man who drives has a well-appointed ■ bounder ' of his own, to the splashboard of which is affixed a mysterious box, containing clamps and cords, straps and buckles, with a view to breakages and other accidents." — Hints to Freshman, 1842. BOW-CATCHER, or kiss-curl, a small curl twisted on the cheeks or temples of young — and often old — girls, adhering to the face as if gummed or pasted. Evidently a corruption of beau-catcher. In old times this was called a lovelock, when it was the mark at which all the Puritan and ranting preachers levelled their pulpit pop-guns, loaded with sharp and virulent abuse. Hall and Prynne looked upon Bosh, a fiddle. Bosh-faker, a violin-player. Terms only used by the lower orders. Bos-ken, a farm-house. Ancient. — See ken. Bosman, a farmer; "faking a BOSMAN on the main toby," robbing a farmer on the highway. Boss, a master. — American. Both terms from the Dutch, bosch-man, one who lives in the woods ; otherwise Boschjeman, or Bushman. Bouncer, a person who steals whilst bargaining with a tradesman ; a lie. SLANG, CAXT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. §3 all women as strumpets who dared to let the hair depart from a straight line upon their cheeks. The French prettily term them accroche- caurs, whilst in the United States they are plainly and unpleasantly called spit-curls. Bartlett says : — " Spit-curl, a detached lock of hair curled upon the temple ; probably from having been at first plas- tered into shape by the saliva. It is now understood that the muci- lage of quince seed is used by the ladies for this purpose." " You may prate of your lips, and your teeth of pearl, And your eyes so brightly flashing ; My s..ng shall be of that saliva curl 'Which threatens my heart to smash in." — Boston Transcript, October 30, 1858. "When men twist the hair on each side of their faces into ropes they are sometimes called bell-ropes, as being wherewith to draw the belles. Whether bell-ropes or bow-catchers, it is singular they should form part of the prisoner's paraphernalia, and that a janty little kiss-me- quick curl should, of all things in the world, ornament a jail dock ; yet such was formerly the case. Hunt, " the accomplice after the fact and king's evidence against" the murderer of Weare, on his trial, we are informed by the Athenceum, appeared at the bar with a highly poma- tumed love-lock sticking tight to his forehead. Young ladies, think of this! BOWL OUT, to put out of the game, to remove out of one's way, to detect. — Cricketing term. BOWLAS, round tarts made of sugar, apple, and bread, sold in the streets. BOWLES, shoes. BOX-HARRY, a term with bagmen or commercial travellers, implying dinner and tea at one meal ; also dining with " Duke Humphrey," i.e., going without. — Lincolnshire,. BOX-OF-MINUTES, a watch, or watchmaker's shop. '•'BOX THE COMPASS," to repeat the thirty-two points of the compass .\\ either in succession or irregularly. The method used at sea to learn \ >\ boys the points of the mariner's compass. — Sea. BRADS, money. Properly a small kind of naik used by cobblers. — Compare HORSE NAILS. BRAIN-PAN, the skull. BRAIN-CANISTER, the iead.— Pugilistic. BRAMBLE-GELDER, a derisive appellation for an agriculturist. — Suffolk. Brace up, to pawn stolen goods. Bracelets, handcuffs. Brad-faking, playing at cards. Probably from broads. Braggadocio, three months' imprisonment as a reputed thief or old offen- der, — sometimes termed a dose, or a dollop. — Household Words, vol. i., p. 5 79- s 84 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN BRANDY PAWNEE, brandy and water.— Anglo-Indian, BRAN-NEW quite new. Properly, Brent, brand, or Fire-new, i.e., fresh from the anvil. BRASS, money. BRASS, impudence. In 1803 some artillery-men stationed at Norwich were directed to prove some brass ordnance belonging to the city. To the report delivered to the corporation was appended this note : — " N.B. — It is customary for the corporal to have the old metal when any of the pieces burst." Answer. — "The corporation is of opinion that the corporal does not want brass." BRAZEN-FACED, impudent, shameless. See brass. Such a person is said " to have rubbed his face with a brass candlestick." BRAZIL, a hard red wood ; " hard as Brazil," a common expression. Quai'les in his Emblems says : — " Thou know'st my brittle temper's prone to break. Are my bones brazil or my flesh, of oak? " BREAD-BAGS, a nickname given in the army and navy to any one con- nected with the victualling department, as a purser, or purveyor in the Commissariat. BREAD-BASKET, dumpling-depot, victualling-office, &c, are terms given by the " Fancy" to the digestive organ. BREAK-DOWN, a noisy dance, and violent enough to break the floor down ; a jovial, social gathering, a flare up; in Ireland, a wedding— (Qy. American ?) " BREAK ONE'S BACK," a figurative expression, implying bankruptcy, or the crippling of a person's means. " A story is current of a fashionable author answering a late and rather violent knock at his door one evening. A coal-heaver -wanted to know if the gentle- man would like a cheap ton of coals ; he was sorry for troubling him so late, but ' the party as had a-ordered the two ton and a-half couldn't be found,' although he had driven his ' waggon for six blessed hour3 up and down the neighbourhood. Five-and-twenty is the price, but yer shall have them for 20s.' Our author was not to be tempted, he had heard of the trick before ; so bidding the man go away from his house, he shut the door. The man, however, lingered there, expatiating on the quality of his coals — ' Acterly givin 'em away, and the gent won't have 'em,' said he, addressing the neighbourhood in a loud voice; and the last that was heard of him was his anything but sweet voice whistling through the key-hole, ' Will eighteen bob BREAK YER BACK?' " BREAK SHINS, to borrow money. BEKAK UP, the conclusion of a performance of any kind — originally a school term. BREAKY-LEG, a shilling. BREAKT-LEG, strong drink : " he 's been to Bungay fair, and broke both HIS legs," i.e., got drunk. In the ancient Egyptian language the i ~~ ~^^^ 1 determinative character in the hieroglyphic verb ) ra 1^&38I i " t0 1:>e drunk."' has the significant form of the ( ^^^ - ^ e S °^ a man heing amputated. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WOLDS. 85 BREECHED, or to have the bags off, to have plenty of money ; " to be well breeched," to be in good circumstances. BREECHES, "to wear the breeches," said of a wife who usurps the husband's prerogative. BREEF, probably identical with brief, q. v., a plan of cheating at cards ; thus described in an old book of games of about 1 720 : — " Take a pack of cards and open them, then take out all the honours . . . and cut a little from the edges of the rest all alike, so as to make the honours broader than the rest, so that when your adversary cuts to you, you are certain of an honour. When you cut to your adversary cut at the ends, and then it is a chance if you cut him an honour, because the cards at the ends are all of a length. Thus you may make breefs end-ways, as well as side- ways." BREEKS, breeches. — Scotch, now common. BRICK, a " jolly good fellow ;" " a regular brick," a staunch fellow. " I bonneted Whewell when we gave the Tiads their gruel, And taught them to eschew all their addresses to the Queen. If again they try it on, why to floor them I'll make one, Spite of Peeler or of Don, like a brick and a Bean." — The Jolly Bachelors, Cambridge, 1840. Said to be derived from an expression of Aristotle's — Terpaycdi/os dvrjp. A recently current story informs us that Lillywhite, the cricketer, was originally a brickmaker, and that from him a " stumping bowl" acquired the name of a "regular brick." BRIDGE, a cheating trick at cards, by which any particular card is cut by previously curving it by the pressure of the hand. Used in France as well as in England, and termed in the Parisian Argot faire le poxt. BRIEF, a pawnbroker's duplicate. Derived from the following : — BRIEFS, cards constructed on a cheating principle. Sec bridge, concaves and convexes, longs and shorts, reflectors, &c. From the German, briefe, which Baron Heinecken says was the name given to the cards manufactured at Ulm. Brief is also the synonyme for a card in the German Rothwalsch dialect, and briefen to play at cards. " Item — beware of the J oners, (gamblers.) who practise Beseflery with the brief, (cheating at cards,) who deal falsely and cut one for the other, cheat with Boglein and spies, pick one brief from the ground, and another from a cupboard," &c. — Liber Vagatorum, ed. by Martin Luther, in 1529. English translation, by J. C. Hotten, 1S60, p. 47. See BREEF. BRIM, a violent irascible woman, as inflammable and unpleasant as brim- stone, from which the word is contracted. BRIXEY, the sea. BRITT, the street shortening for the Britannia Theatre. BRISKET-BEATER, a Roman Catholic. BROAD -COOPER, a person employed by brewers to negotiate with publicans. BROADS, cards. Broadsman, a card-sharper. 86 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN "BROAD AND SHALLOW," an epithet applied to the so-called "Broad Church," in contradistinction to the " High " and " Low " Churches, See HIGH AND DRY. BROAD-FENCER, card-seller at races. BROSIER, a bankrupt. — Cheshire. Brosier-my-dame, school term, imply- ing a clearing of the housekeeper's larder of provisions, in revenge for stinginess. — Eton. BROTHER-CHIP, fellow carpenter. Also, brother-whip, a fellow coach- man ; and brother-blade, of the same occupation or calling — originally a fellow-soldier. BROWN", a halfpenny. — See blunt. BROWN, "to do brown," to do well or completely, (in allusion to roasting;) " doing it brown," prolonging the frolic, or exceeding sober bounds ; "done brown," taken in, deceived, or surprised. BROWN BESS, the old Government regulation musket; a musket with a browned barrel ; also black bess. A suggestion has been made that bess may be from the German busche, or bosche, a barrel. BROWN SALVE ! an exclamation of surprise at what is heard, and at the same time means, "I understand you." BROWN-STUDY, a reverie. Very common even in educated society, but hardly admissible in writing, and therefore considered a vulgarism. It is derived, by a writer in Notes and Queries, from brow study, and he cites the old German braun, or aug-braun, an eye-brow. — Ben Jonson. BROWN TALK, conversation of an exceedingly proper character, Quaker- ish. Compare blue. BROWN-TO, to understand, to comprehend. — American. BRUISER, a fighting man, a pugilist. — Pugilistic. Slialcspeare uses the word bruising in a similar sense. BRUSH, a fox's tail, a house-painter. BRUSH, or brush-off, to run away, or move on. — Old Cant. BUB, drink of any kind.— See grub. Middleton. the dramatist, mentions bubber, a great drinker. BUB, a teat, woman's breast, plural bubbies ; no doubt from bibe. Also the preceding. BUBBLE, to over-reach, deceive. — Old. (Acta Regia, ii. 248, 1726.) BUBBLE-AND-SQUEAK, a dish composed of pieces of cold boiled meat and greens, and afterwards fried, which have thus first bubbled in the 'pot, and then squeaked or hissed in the pan. BUBBLE-COMPANY, a swindling association. Brown papermen, low gamblers. Brum, a counterfeit coin. Nearly obsolete. Corruption of Brummagem, (Bromwicham.) the ancient name of Birmingham, tne great emporium for plated goods and imitation jewellery. SLANG, CANT. AND VULGAR WORDS. 87 BUCK, a gay or smart man ; also an unlicensed cabman. BUCKHORSE, a smart blow or box on the ear; derived from the name of a celebrated " bruiser" of that name. BUCKLE, to bend; "I can't buckle to that," I don't understand it; to yield or give in to a person. Shalspeare uses the word in the latter sense, Henry IV.,i.i; and IlalliweU says that "the commentators do not supply another example." How strauge that in our own streets the term should be used every day ! Stop the first costerroonger, and he will soon inform you of the various meanings of buckle. — See Notes and Queries, vols, vii., viii., ix. BUCKLE-BEGGAR, a couple-beggar, which see. BUCKLEY, "Who struck buckley ? " a common phrase used to irritate Irishmen. BUCKLE-TO, to bend to one's work, to begin at once, and with great energy — from buckling on one's armour before a combat. BUCKRA, a white man. — West Indian Negro. BUCKSHISH, a present of money. Over all India, and the East generally, the natives lose no opportunity of asking for buckshish. The usage is such a complete nuisance, that the word is sometimes answered with a blow ; this is termed bajiboo buckshish. BUDGE, to move, to inform, to split, or tell tales. BUFF, the bare skin; "stripped to the buff." BUFF, to swear to, or accuse; to split, or peach upon. — Old word for boasting, 1582. BUFFER, a navy term for a boatswain's mate, part of whose duties is to administer the " cat." BUFFER, a familiar expression for a jolly acquaintance, probably from the French bouffaro, a fool or clown; a "jolly old buffer," said of a good-humoured or liberal old man. In 1737, a buffer was a "rogue that killed good sound horses for the sake of their skins, by running a long wire into them." — Bacchus and Venus. The term was once applied to those who took false oaths for a consideration. BUTFLE-HEAD, a stupid or obtuse person. — Miege. German, buffel- haupt, buffalo-headed. Occurs in Plautui Comedies made English, 1694. BUFFS, the third regiment of foot in the British army. BUFFY, intoxicated. — Household Words, No. 183. BUGGY, a gig, or light chaise. Common term in America and in India. BUG- WALK, a coarse term for a bed. Bubbley-jock, a turkey, or silly boasting fellow ; a prig. — Scottish. In the north of England the bird is called a bobble-cock. Both names no doubt from its cry. Budge, strong drink; budgy, drunk; budging- ken, a public-house; "cove of the budging- ken," the landlord. Probably a corruption of booze. — North. 88 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN BUILD, applied in fashionable Slang to the make or style of dress, &c. ; " it 's a tidy build, who made it ? " BULGER, large ; synonymous with buster. BULL, one who agrees to purchase stock at a future day, at a stated price, but who does not possess money to pay for it, trusting to a rise in public securities to render the transaction a profitable one. Should stocks fall, the bull is then called upon to pay the difference. See bear, who is the opposite of a bull, the former selling, the latter pur- chasing — the one operating for a fall or a pull down, whilst the other operates for a rise or toss up. BULL, a crown-piece, formerly bull's eye. See " work the bulls." BULL-BEEF, a term of contempt; "as ugly as bull-beef," "go to the billy-fencer and sell yourself for bull-beef." " BULL THE CASK," to pour hot water into an empty rum puncheon, and let it stand until it extracts the spirit from the wood. The result is drunk by sailors in default of something stronger.— Sea. BULLFINCH, a hunting term for a large, thick, quickset hedge, difficult alike to " top " or burst through. Query, corruption of bolefe:s'ce ? DULLY, a braggart; but in the language of the streets, a man of the most degraded morals, who protects fallen females, and lives off their miser- able earnings. — Shakspeare, Midsummer Night's Dream, iii. I : iv. 2. This epithet is often applied in a commendable sense among the vul- gar ; thus — a good fellow or a good horse will be termed " a bully fellow," " a bully horse ; " and " a bully woman " signifies a right, good, motherly old soul. HULLYRAG, to abuse or scold vehemently ; to swindle one out of money by intimidation and sheer abuse, as alleged in a late cab case, {Evans v. Robinson.) BUM, the part on which we sit. — Shakspeare. Bumbags, trousers; Gad. and Fr., bun, a base or bottom; Welsh, box, the lowest or worst part of anything. BUM-BAILIFF, a sheriffs-officer, — a term, some say, derived from the proximity which this gentleman generally maintains to his victims. Blackstone says it is a corruption of " bound bailiff." BUMBLE, to muffle. Bumble-footed, club-footed. BL'MBLES, coverings for the eyes of horses apt to shy in harness. BUMBLE, a beadle. Adopted from Dickens's character in Oliver Twist This and "bumbledom" are now common. Buffer, a dog. Their skins were formerly in great request — hence the term buff meaning in old English to shin. It is still used in the ring, buffed meaning stripped to the skin. In Irish Cant, buffer is a boxer. The buffer of a railway carriage doubtless received its very appropriate name from the old pugilistic application of this term. Bug-hunter; a low wretch who plunders drunken men. Bull, term amongst prisoners for the meat served to them in jail. Bulky, a constable. — North. SLANG, CAST, AXD VULGAR WORDS. 89 BUMBLE-PUPPY, a game played in public-houses on a large stone, placed in a slanting direction, on the lower end of which holes are ex- cavated, and numbered like the holes in a bagatelle-table. The player rolls a stone ball from the higher end, and according to the number of the hole it falls into the game is counted. It is undoubtedly the very ancient game of Troule-in-madamc. BUM-BOAT, a shore boat which supplies ships with provisions, and serves as means of communication between the sailors and the shore. BUM-CURTAIN, an old name for an academical gown when they were worn scant and short, especially those of the students of St John's College. —Camb. Univ. BUMMAREE. This term is given to a class of speculating salesmen at Billingsgate market, not recognised as such by the trade, but who get a living by buying large quantities of fish from the salesmen and re-sell- ing them to smaller buyers. The word has been used in the statutes and bye-laws of the market for upwards of 200 years. It has been variously derived. Some persons think it may be from the French bonne maree, good fresh fish ! " Maree signifie toute sorte de poisson de mer que n'est pas sale; bonne maree— maree fraiche, vendeur de maree." — Diet, de I'Acad. Franc. The bummarees are accused of many trade tricks. One of them is to blow up cod-fish with a pipe until they look double their actual size. Of course when the fish come to table they are flabby, sunken, and half dwindled away. In Norwich, to bum- maree one is to run up a score at a public-house just open, and is equivalent to " running into debt with one." One of the advertise- ments issued by Hy. Robinson's " Office," over against Threadneedle Street, was this : — "Touching Advice from the OFFICE, you are desired to give and take notice as folioweth : — " AF Monies to be taken up, or delivered on Botto-maria, commonly called 1 Boma ■ F money to be put out or taken upon interest," &c. — The Publick Intelligencer, numb. 17, 25th June 1660. BUMPER, according to Johnson from "bump," but probably from French bon-pere, the fixed toast in monastic life of old, now used for "full measure." A match at quoits, bowls, &c, may end in a "bumper game," if the play and score be all on one side. BUMPTIOUS, arrogant, self-sufficient. - BUNCH-OF-FIVES, the hand, or fist. BUNDLE, " to bundle a person off," i.e., to pack him off, send him flying. BUNDLING, a custom in Wales, and now frequently in America, of men and women sleeping, where the divisions of the house will not permit of better or more decent accommodation, with all their clothes on. BUNG, the landlord of a public-house. BUNG, to give, pass, hand over, drink, or indeed to perform any action. Bung up, to close up. — Pugilistic. " Bung over the rag," hand over the money. — Old, used by Beaumont and Fletcher, and Shakspeare. Also, to deceive one by a lie, to cram, which see. 90 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN BUNKER, beer. BUNKUM, American importation, denoting false sentiments in speaking, pretended enthusiasm, &c. The expression arose from a speech made by a North Carolina Senator. BUNTS, costermongers' perquisites ; the money obtained by giving light weight, &c. ; costermongers' goods sold by boys on commission. Prob- ably a corruption of bonus, bone, being the Slang for good. Bunce, Grose gives as the Cant word for money. BURDON'S HOTEL, Whitecross Street Prison, of which the Governor is or was a Mr Burdon. Every prison has a nickname of this kind, either from the name of the Governor, or from some local circumstance. The Queen's Bench has also an immense number of names — spike park, &c. ; and every Chief -Justice stands godfather to it. BURKE, to kill, to murder, secretly and without noise, by means of strangulation. From Burke, the notorious Edinburgh murderer, who, with an accomplice named Hare, used to decoy people into the den he inhabited, kill them, and sell their bodies for dissection. The wretches having been apprehended and tried, Burke was executed, while Hare, having turned king's evidence, was released. Bishop was their London imitator. The term burke is now usually applied to any project that is quietly stopped or stifled — as " the question has been burked." A book suppressed before publication is said to be burked. BURR AH, great; as burra saib, a great man; burra khanah, a great dinner. — A nglo-In diet n . BUS or buss, abbrevation of "omnibus," a public carnage. Also, a kiss, abbrev. of Fr. baiser. A Mr Shillibeer started the first BUS in London. Why is Temple Bar like a lady's veil? Because it wants to be removed to make way for the busses. BUS, business (of which it is a contraction) or action, on the stage. — Theatrical. BUST, or burst, to tell tales, to split, to inform. Busting, informing against accomplices when in custody. BUSTER, (burster,) a small new loaf; "twopenny buster," a twopenny leaf. "A pennorth o' bees-wax (cheese) and a penny buster," a cum- mon snack at beershops. BUSTER, an extra size ; " what a buster," i.e., what a large one ; " in for a buster," determined on an extensive frolic or spree. Scotch, bus- tuous ; Icelandic, bostra. BUSY-SACK, a carpet-bag. BUTCHA, a Hindoo word in use among Englishmen for the young of any Bunk, to decamp. " Bunk it ! " i.e., be off. Burerk, a lady, a showily-dressed woman. " Burt a Moll," to run away from a mistress. Busker, a man who sings or performs in a public-house. — Scotch. Busk, (or busking,) to sell obscene songs and books at the bars and in the tap-rooms of public-houses. Sometimes implies selling any articles. Bustle, (money;) " to draw the bustle." SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 0,1 animal. In England we ask after the children ; in India the health of the butchas is tenderly inquired for. BUTCHER, the king in playing-cards. BUTCHER'S MOURNING, a white hat with a black mourning hat-band. This meaning is given on the authority of Mr George Cruikshank. BUTTER, or batter, praise or flattery. To butter, to flatter, cajole. Punch defines flattery as " the milk of human kindness churned into BUTTER." BUTTER-FINGERED, apt to let things fall. BUTTON", a decoy, sham purchaser, &c. At any mock or sham auction seedy specimens may be seen. Probably from the connexion of but- tons with Brummagem, which is often used as a synonyme for a sham. — See bonnet. BUTTONER, a man who entices another to play. See bonneter. BUTTONS, a page, — from the rows of gilt buttons which adorn his jacket. BUTTONS, " not to have all one's buttons ; " to be deficient in intellect. BUTTY, a word used in the mining districts to denote a kind of overseer. (2.) Also used by the Royal Marines in the sense of comrade; a police- man's assistant, one of the staff in a melee. BUZ, to share (equally the last of a bottle of wine, when there is not enough for a full glass to each of the party. BUZ, a well-known flash game, played as follows : — The chairman com- mences saying "one," the next on the left hand "two," the next " three," and so on to seven, when " buz " must be said. Every seven and multiple of 7, as 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, &c, must not be mentioned, but "buz" instead. Whoever breaks the rule pays a fine, which is thrown on the table, and the accumulation expended in drink for the company. See " snooks and walker " for more complicated varieties of a similar game. BY GEORGE, an exclamation similar to by jove. The term is older than is frequently imagined — vide Bacchus and Venus, (p. 1 1 7,) 1 73 7. " 'Fore (or by) GEORGE, I 'd knock him down." A street compliment to Saint Buz, to pick pockets ; buz-faking, robbing. Buz-man, an informer. Buzzer, a pickpocket. Grose gives buz-cove and buz-gloak ; the latter is very ancient Cant. Buz-Bloak, a pickpocket, who principally confines his attention to purses and loose cash. Grose gives buz-gloak, (or cloak ?) an ancient Cant word. BUZ-NAPrER, a young pickpocket. Bcz-napper's Academy, a school in which young thieves are trained. Figures are dressed up, and experienced tutors stand in various diffi- cult attitudes for the boys to practise upon. When clever enough they are sent on the streets. It is reported that a house of this nature is situated in a court near Hatton Garden. The system is well ex- plained in DicJcens's Oliver Tvrist. Also buz-knacker. 92 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN George, the patron Saint of England, or possibly to the House of Hanover. BY GOLLY, an ejaculation, or oath; a compromise for "by God." By gum, is another oblique oath. In the United States, small boys are permitted by their guardians to say gol darx anything, but they are on no account allowed to commit the profanity of G — d d g any- thing. An effective ejaculation and moral waste-pipe for interior pas- sion or wrath is seen in the exclamation— by the ever- living jumping- moses — a harmless phrase, that from its length expends a considerable quantity of fiery anger. CAB, in statutory language, "a hackney carriage drawn by one horse." Abbreviated from cabriolet, French ; originally meaning " a light, low chaise." The wags of Paris playing upon the word (quasi cabri au lait) used to call a superior turn-out of the kind a cabri au crime. Our abbreviation, which certainly smacks of Slang, has been stamped with the authority of "George, Ranffer." See the notices affixed to the carriage entrances of St James's Park. CAB, to stick together, to muck, or tumble up. — Devonshire. CABBAGE, pieces of cloth said to be purloined by tailors. CABBAGE, to pilfer or purloin. Termed by Johnson a " Cant word," but adopted by later lexicographers as a respectable term. Said to have been first used in the above sense by Arbuthnot. CABBAGE-HEAD, a soft-headed person. CABOBBLE, to confuse.— Suffolk. CABBY, the driver of a cab. CACKLIXG-COVE, an actor. Also called a mummery-cove. Theat. CACKLE-TUB, a pulpit. CAD, or cadger, (from which it is shortened.) a mean or vulgar fellow ; a beggar; one who would rather live on other people than work for him- self ; a man who tries to worm something out of another, either money or information. Johnson uses the word, and gives huckster as the meaning, but I never heard it used in this sense. Apparently from cager, or gager, the old Cant term for a man. The exclusives at the English Universities apply the term cad to all non-members. CAD, an omnibus conductor. CADGE, to beg in an artful wheedling manner. — North. In Scotland to cadge is to wander, to go astray. See under codger. CADGIXG, begging with an eye to pilfering when an opportunity occurs. CAG, to irritate, affront, anger. CAG-MAGr, bad food, scraps, odds and ends ; or that which no one could relish. Grose gives cagg maggs, old and tough Lincolnshire sent to London to feast the poor cockneys. Gael., French, and Welsh, cac, and magx. A correspondent at Trinity College, Dublin, con- siders this as originally a University Slang term for a bad cook, Kaliice before an election, &c. This is an rican term, and a corruption of CAULK] . being derived from an association of the shipping interest at Boston, previous to the War of Independent-, who were very active in getting up opposition to England. — See Pickering's Vocabulary. CAULK, to take a surreptitious nap, sleep generally from the ordinary meaning of the term ; stopping leaks, repairing damages, so as to come out as good as new. — Sea term. CAULKER, a dram. — Nodes Ambrosiance. CAULKER, a too marvellous story, a lie. Choker has the same sense. CA VAULTING, a vulgar phrase equivalent to "horsing." The Italian cayallino, signifies a rake or debauchee. — Lingua Franca, cavolta. CAYE. or cave in*, to submit, shut up. — American. Metaphor taken from the sinking of an abandoned mining shaft. CA-VE ! Latin, beware ! used by school-boy3 to give warning of the ap- proach of the master. — See nix. CAYE - 0E- HARMOXY, the cider cellars, or Evans's singing saloon. — Thackeray. CHAFF, to gammon, joke, quiz, or praise ironically. CHAFF-bone, the jaw- bone. — Yorkshire. Chaff, jesting. In Anglo-Saxon, <: and ceafl. bill, beak, or jaw. In the Ana-en iLiudc, AJ). 1221, ceafle is used in the sense of idle discourse. CHAFFER, the mouth; " moisten your chaffer," i.e., take something to drink. '• Cat and Kitten* Sneaking," stealing pint and quart pots from houses. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 97 CHALK OUT, or chalk down, to mark out a line of conduct or action; to make a rule or order. Phrase derived from the Workshop. CHALK UP, to credit, make entry in account books of indebtedness ; " I can't pay you now, but you can chalk it up," i.e., charge me with the article in your day-book. From the old practice of chalking one's score for drink behind the bar doors of public-houses. CHALKS, " to walk one's chalks," to move off, or run away. An ordeal for drunkenness used on board ship, to see whether the suspected person can walk on a chalked line without overstepping it on either side. — See the following. CHALKS, degrees, marks; so called from being made by a piece of chalk ; / " to beat by long chalks," i.e, to be superior by many degrees. CHANCERY, " to get a man's head into chancery," i.e., to get an op- ponent's head firmly under one's arm, where it can be pummelled with immense power, and without any possibility of immediate extrication. — Pugilistic term. CHANGE, small money. The overplus returned after paying for a thing in a round sum. Hence a Slang expression used when a person receives a " settler " in the shape either of a repartee or a blow — " Take your change out of that ! " CHAP, a fellow, a boy ; " a low chap," a low fellow — abbreviation of chap- man, a huckster. Used by Byron in his Critical Remarks. CHAPEL, a printer's assembly, held for the purpose of discussing differ- ences between employer and workmen, trade regulations, &c. The term is scarcely Slang, but some compos, ask its insertion in this work. CHAPEL-OF-EASE. French, cabinet d'aisance, a house of office. CHARLEY, a watchman, a beadle. CHATTER-BASKET, common term for a prattling child amongst nurses. CHATTER-BOX, an incessant talker or chatterer. CH ATTS, lice, or body vermin. Prov., any small things of the same kind. CHATTY, a filthy person, one whose clothes are not free from vermin ; chatty doss, a lousy bed. CHAUNTER-CULLS, a singular body of men who used to haunt certain well-known public-houses, and write satirical or libellous ballads en any person, or body of persons, for a consideration. 7s. 6d. was the usual fee, and in three hours the ballad might be heard in St Paul's Churclryard, or other public spot. As strange as it may appear, there are actually two men in London at the present day who gain their living in this way. Very recently they were singing before the establishment of a fashionable tailor in Regent Street ; and not long since they were bawling their doggerel rhymes outside the mansion of a Norfolk M.P. in Belgravia. Chariot-buzzing, picking pockets in an omnibus. Charley- pitcher, a low, cheating gambler. CnATTRT-FEEDER, a spoon.— Millbank Prison. Chatts, dice, — formerly the gallows ; a bunch of seals. G 95 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN CHAUNTERS, those street sellers of ballads, last copies of verses, and other broadsheets, who sing or bawl the contents of their papers. They often term themselves paper workers. — See horse-chaunters. CHAUNT, to sing the contents of any paper in the streets. Cant, as ap- plied to vulgar language, was, in all probability, derived from chaunt. - — See Introduction for origin of the term. CHAW, to chew; chaw up, to get the better of one, finish him up; chawed up, utterly done for. CHAW OVER, to repeat one's words with a view to ridicule ; chaw-bacon a rustic. CHEAP, "doing it on the cheap," living economically, or keeping up a showy appearance with very little means. CHEAP JACKS, or johns, oratorical hucksters and patterers of hardware, &c, at fairs and races. They put an article up at a high price, and then cheapen it by degrees, indulging all the time in vollies of coarse wit, until it becomes to all appearance a bargain, and as such it is bought by one of the crowd. The popular idea is that the inverse method of auctioneering saves them paying for the auction licence. — See dutch auction. CHEE-CHEE, this word is used in a rather offensive manner to denote Eurasians, or children by an English father and native mother. It takes its origin in a very common expression of these half-caste female, "Chee-chee," equivalent to our Oh, fie ! — Nonsense ! — For shame ! — Anglo-Indian. CHEEK, share or portion; " where 's my cheek ?" where is my allowance? CHEEK, impudence, assurance; cheeky, saucy or forward. CHEEK, to irritate by impudence, to accuse. — Lincolnshire. " CHEEK BY JOWL," side by side — said often of persons in such close confabulation as almost to have their faces touch. CHEEKS ! a jeering and insulting exclamation, believed to be of Scotch origin. CHEESE, anything good, first-rate in quality, genuine, pleasant, or ad- vantageous, is termed the cheese. Mayhew thinks cheese, in this sense, is from the Saxon ceosan, to choose, and quotes Chancer, who uses chese in the sense of choice. The London Guide, 1818, says it was from some young fellows translating " c'est une autre chose " into "that is another cheese." But the expression cheese may be found in the Gipsy vocabulary, and in the Hlndodanee and Persian Ian. In the last chiz means a thing. — See under stilton ; also p. 7 Introd. CHEESE, or cheese it, (evidently a corruption of cease,) leave off, or have done ; " cheese your barrikin," hold your noise. CHEESY, fine or showy. Chacnt, '• : to chaunt the play," to explain the tricks and manoeuvres of thieves. SLAXG, CAXT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 99 CHERRY-BUMS, or cherfbims, a nickname given to the 11th Hussars, (Prince Albert's Own,) from their crimson overalls. CHERRY-COLOUR, a term used in a cheating trick at cards. When the cards are being dealt, a knowing one offers to bet that he will tell the colour of the turn -up card. " Done ! " says Mr Green. The sum being named, Mr Sharp affirms that it will be cherry-colour ; and as cherries are either black or red, he wins, leaving his victim a wiser man, it is to be hoped, and not a letter for the future. CHERRY-MERRY, a present of money. Cherry-merry-bamboo, a beat- ing. — A nglo- Indian. CHERUBS, or cherubims, the chorister boys who chaunt in the services at the abbeys. CHESHIRE CAT, "to grin like a Cheshire cat," to display the teeth and gums when laughing. Formerly the phrase was "to grin like a Cheshire cat eating cheese." A hardly satisfactory explanation has been given of this phrase — that Cheshire is a county palatine, and the cats, when they think of it, are so tickled with the notion that they can't help grinning. CHICKEN, a term applied to anything young, small, or insignificant ; chicken stakes ; " she 's no chicken," said of an old maid. CHICKEN-HEARTED, cowardly, fearful. CHI-IKE, a hurrah ; a good word, or hearty praise ; term used by the Costermongers, who assist the sale of each other's goods by a little friendly although noisy commendation. CHILDREN'S SHOES, to make, to be made naught of.— See shoes. CHIMNEY-SWEEPER, the aperient mixture commonly called a black dose. CHINCHIN, a salutation, a compliment. — Anglo-Chinese, CHINK, money. — Ancient. — See elorio. CHINKERS, money. CHIN-WAG, officious impertinence. "CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK," a child who resembles its father. Brother chip, one of the same trade or profession. CHIPS, money; also a nickname for a carpenter. — Sea. CHIRP, to give information, " peach." CHISEL, to cheat, to take a slice off anything. CHIT, a letter; corruption of a Hindoo word. — Anglo-Indian. CHITTERLINGS, the shirt frills worn still by ancient beaux; properly the entrails of a pig, to which they are supposed to bear some resem- blance. Belgian, schyterlingh. CHIVE, or chivey, a shout, a halloo, or cheer; loud tongued. From chevy-chase, a boy's game, in which the word chevy is bawled aloud ; or from the Gipsy / — See Introduction. CHIVE-FENCER, a street hawker of cutlery. CHIVEY, to chase round, or hunt about. Apparently from chivey-chase. CHOAKEE, the black hole. — Military — Anglo-Indian. IOO A DICTIONARY OF MODERN CHOCK-FULL, full till the scale comes clown with a shock. — French, choc. A correspondent suggests choked-full. CHOKE OFF, to get rid of. Bull-dogs can only be made to loose their hold by choking them. CHOKER, a cravat, a neckerchief. "White-choker, the white neckerchief worn by mutes at a funeral, and waiters at a tavern. Clergymen are frequently termed white-chokers. CHOKER, or wind-stopper, a garotter. CHOXKEYS, a kind of mince-meat baked in a crust, and sold in the streets. CHOOPS, a corruption of chooprao, keep silence. — Anglo-Indian. CHOOTAH, small, insignificant. — Anglo-Indian. CHOP, in the Canton jargon of Anglo-Chinese, this word has several signi- fications. It means an official seal, a permit, a boat-load of teas. First chop signifies first quality ; and chop-chop, to make haste. CHOP, to exchange, to "swop." — old. CHOPS, properly OHAPS, the mouth, or cheeks; "down in the chops," or " down in the mouth," i.e., sad or melancholy. CHOUSE, to cheat out of one's share or portion. Hackluyt, chaus: Mas- singer, CHIAus. From the Turkish, in which language it signifies an interpreter. Gifford gives a curious story as to its origin : — "In the year n6og there was attached to the Turkish embassy in England an interpreter, or , who, by c inning, aided by his official | and Persian merchants, then in Lou of the large sum of ^4000, then deemed an enormous amount. ! notoriety which attended the fraud, and the magnitude of the swindle, any one who cheated or d - Baid to chiaous, or eh to do, that is, as this Chiaous had done." — See Trench, Eng. l J ast an p. 87. Chiaus, according to Sandys, (Travels, p. 48,) is "one who on embassies, executes commandments," &c. The particular in question is alluded to in Ben Jonson's Alchymist, 1G10. " D. What do you think of me? That I am a CHIAUS ? Face. What 's that ? D. The Turk [who] was here As one would say, do y >u think I am a Turk? " CHOUT, an entertainment. — East end of London. CHOYEY, a shop. — Costcrmonger. CHOYf-CHOW, a mixture, food of any kind. — Anglo-Chinese. CHUBBY, round-faced, plump. CHIVALRY, coition. Probably a corruption from the Lingua Franca. Chive, a knife ; a sharp tool of any kind. — Old Cant. This term is especially applied to the tin knives used in gaols. Chive, to cut, saw, or file. — Prison. Christening, erasing the name of the maker from a stolen watch, and in- serting a fictitious one in its place. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 10 1 CHUCK, a schoolboy's treat. — Westminster School. Food, provision for au entertainment. — Norwich. CHUCK, to throw or pitch. CHUCK IX, to challenge — from the pugilistic custom of throwing a hat into the ring; a modern version of " throwing down the gauntlet." "CHUCKIXG A JOLLY," when a costermonger praises the inferior article his mate or partner is trying to sell. See chi-ike. CHUCKLE-HEAD, much the same as "buffle-head," "cabbage-head," " chowder-head," "cods-head/' — all signifying that large abnormal form of skull always supposed to accompany stupidity and weakness of in- tellect ; as the Scotch proverb, " muckle head and little wit." — Devon- shire. CHUCK UP, to surrender, give in — from the custom of throwing up the sponge at a prize fight in token of yielding. CHUCKS ! Schoolboy's signal on the master's approach. CHUFF IT, i.e., be off, or take it away, in answer to a street seller who is importuning you to purchase. Mallhvell mentions chuff as a "term of reproach," surly, &c. CHULL, make haste. An abbreviation of the Hindostanee chullo, signi- fying " go along." Chull is very commonly used to accelerate the motions of a servant, driver, or palanquin-bearer. CHUM, an acquaintance. A recognised term, but in such frequent use with the lower orders that it demanded a place in this glossary. Stated to be from the Gael, caomh, a friend. CHUM, to occupy a joint lodging with another person. Latin, cum. CHUMMIXG-UP, an old custom amongst prisoners when a fresh culprit is admitted to their number, consisting of a noisy welcome — rough music made with pokers, tongs, sticks, and saucepans. For this ova- tion the initiated prisoner has to pay, or fork over, half a crown — or submit to a loss of coat and waistcoat. The practice is ancient. CHUMMY, a chimney-sweep — probably connected with chimney ; also a low-crowned felt hat. CHUMP, the head or face. CHUXK, a thick or dumpy piece of any substance. — Kentish. CHURCHWARDEX, a long pipe, "a yard of clay ;" probably so called from the long pipes which are usually placed before those function- aries as marks of respect when they honour the parlours of public- houses with their company. CIXDER, any liquor used in connexion with soda water, as to "take a soda with a cinder in it." The cinder may be sherry, brandy, or any other liquor. " Chuck a Stall," where one rogue walks in front of a person while another picks his pockets. " Church a Yack," (or watch,) to take the works of a watch from its ori- ginal case and put them into another one, to avoid detection. — See CHRISTEN. 102 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN CIRCUMBENDIBUS, a round-about way, or story. CLACK-BOX, a garrulous person, so called from the rattle formerly used by vagrants to make a rattling noise and attract attention. — Norfolk. "%* A common proverb in this county is, " your tongue goes like A baker's clap-dish," which is evidently a modern corruption of beggars' clap or clack dish mentioned in Shakspeare's Measure for Measure, iii. 2. It was a wooden dish with a movable cover. CLAGGUM, boiled treacle in a hardened state, Hardbake. — See CLiGGY. CLAP, to place ; " do you think you can clap your hand on him ? " i.e., find him out. CLAPPER, the tongue. CLAP-TRAP, high-sounding nonsense. An ancient Theatrical terra for a " trap to catch a clap by way of applause from the spectators at a play." — Bailey's Dictionary. CLARET, blood — Pugilistic. Said to have originated at Badminton. CLASHY, a low fellow, a labourer. — Anglo- J f CLEAN, quite, or entirely ; " clean gone," entirely out of sight, or away. — Old, see Cotgrave. — Shakespeare. Clean contrary, quite different, opposite. CLEAN (JUT, to thrash, or beat; to ruin, or bankrupt any one; to take all they have got, by purchase or force. Be Quincey, in his article on Richard Bentley, speaking of the lawsuit between that great scholar and Dr Colbatch, remarks that the latter " must have been pretty well CLEANED OUT." CLICK, a knock, or blow. Click-handed, left-handed. — Cornish. CLICK, to snatch, to pull away something that belongs to another. CLICKER, a female touter at the bonnet shops in Cranbourn Alley. In ^Northamptonshire, the cutter out in a shoemaking establishment.* CLIGGY, or clidgy, sticky. — Anglo-Saxon, cljeg, clay. — See claggum. CLINCHER, that which rivets or confirms an argument, an incontrovert- ible position. Also a lie which cannot be surpassed, a 6topper-up, said to be derived as follows : — Two notorious liars were backed to out- lie each other. " I drove a nail through the moon once," said the first. "Right," said the other ; " I recollect the circumstance well, for I went round to the back part of the moon and clinched it" — hence clincher. CLIPPING, excellent, very good. Clipper, anything showy or first-rate. * In the Dictionary of the Terms, Ancient and Modern, of the Canting Crew, Lond. n. d. (but prior to 1700,) the clicklr. is described as " the shoemaker's journeyman or servant, that cutts out all the work, and stands at or walks before the door, and saies — ' What d'ye lack, sir? what d'ye buy, madam ? ' " Cleft, to steal. Clinch, to get the, to be locked up in jail. Cling-rig, stealing tankards from public-houses, &c. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 03 CLOCK, " to know what's o'clock," a definition of knowingness in general. — See TIME O' DAT. CLOD-HOPPER, a country clown. /" CLOUD, to be under a," to be in disgrace, or disrepute. CLOUD, to blow a, to smoke a pipe. CLOUT, or rag, a cotton pocket-handkerchief. — Old Cant. CLOUT, a blow, or intentional strike. — Ancient. CLOVER, happiness, luck, a delightful position — from the supposed hap- piness which attends cattle when they suddenly find their quarters changed from a barren field to a meadow of clover. CLUMP, to strike, to beat. — Prov. CLY, a pocket. — Old Cant for to steal. A correspondent derives this word from the Old English cleyes, claws ; Anglo-Saxon clea. This pro- nunciation is still retained in Norfolk ; thus, to clt would mean to pounce upon, snatch. — See frisk. Gael, cliah, (pronounced clee,) a basket. COACH, a Cambridge term for a private tutor, termed a rtjeal coach when he is not connected with a college. COxiCH-WHEEL, or tusheroon, a crown-piece, or five shillings. COALS, " to haul (or pull) over the coals," to take to task, to scold. Sup- posed by Jamieson to refer to the ordeal oy fire. COAL, money ; " post the coal," put down the money. The phrase was used by Mr Buckstone at the Theatrical Fund Dinner of 1863. From this is derived the theatrical term coaling, profitable, very good, which an actor will use if his part is full of good and telling speeches — thus, " my part is full of coaling lines." COBBING, a punishment inflicted by sailors and soldiers among them- selves. See Grose, and Captain Marryat's novels. A hand-saw is the general instrument of punishment. COCK, a familiar term of address ; "jolly old COCK," a jovial fellow, "how are you, old cock ? " Frequently rendered now-a-days, cock-e-e, a vul- gar street salutation — corruption of cock-eye. The latter is frequently heard as a shout or street cry after a man or boy. COCK, a smoking term; "cocking a Brosely," i.e., smoking a pipe. Broseley in Staffordshire is famous for " churchwardens." COCK-A-HOP, in high spirits. COCK-A-WAX, an amplification of the simple term cock, sometimes " Lad of wax" in S. S. " COCK AND A BULL STORY," a long, rambling anecdote.— See Notes and Queries, vol. iv., p. 313. COCK-AND-HEN-CLUB, a free and easy gathering, where females are admitted as well as men. Cly-faker, a pickpocket. 104 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN COCK-AND-PINCH, the old-fashioned beaver hat, affected by "swells" and "sporting gents" forty years ago — cocked back and front, and pinched up at the sides. COCKER, "it is all right, according to Cocker," meaning that everythinghas been done en regie. The phrase refers to the celebrated writing-master of Charles IL's time, whose Arithmetic, Dictionary, &c, were long the standard authorities. The Arithmetic, probably the work referred to, was first published in 1677-8, and though it reached more than sixty editions, is considered a very scarce book.* A curious fact may here be mentioned in connexion with this saying. It has been stated, and very well proved, that many words popular in Shakspeare's time, and now obsolete in this country, are still in every-day use in the older English settlements of North. America. The editor of this work was .surprised, when travelling through Western Canada, to find that in- stead of the renowned Cocker the people appealed to another and more learned authority. "According to Guntek," is a phrase in continual Transatlantic use. This scientific worthy invented the sector in 1606; and in 1623, about the time <>f the great Puritan exodus to North America, he brought out his famous Rule of Proportion. This was popularly known as Gunter's Proportion, or " (lunti /•'.->• Line," and the term soon became a vulgar standard of appeal in cases of doubt or dis- pute. COCK-EYE, one that squints. COCKED-HAT-CLUB, the principal clique amongst the members of the Society of Antiquaries, who virtually decide whether any person pro- posed shall be admitted or not. The term comes from the " cocked- hat" placed before the president at the sittings. / COCKLES, " to rejoice the cockles of one's heart," a vulgar phrase imply- ing great pleasure. — See Pluck. COCKNEY, a native of London. Originally, a spoilt or effeminate boy, derived from cockering, or foolishly petting a person, rendering them of soft or luxurious manners. J/ alii axil states, in his admirable essay upon the word, that "some writers trace the word with much probabi- lity to the imaginary land of cockaygxe, the lubber land of the olden times.'' Grose gives Minsheu's absurd but comical derivation: — A citizen of London being in the country, and hearing a horse neigh, exclaimed, " Lord f how that hor. >int of the old merchant, Wingate, is his extreme reverence for Cocker and his arithmetic. K JBAJFER, the treadmill. SLANG, CANT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. 105 "COCK OF THE WALK," a master spirit, head of a party. Place* where poultry are fed are culled walks, and the barn-door cocks in- variably fight for the supremacy till one has obtained it. COCKS, fictitious narratives, in verse or prose, of murders, fires, and ter- rible accidents, sold in the streets as true accounts. The man who hawks them, a patterer, often changes the scene of the awful event to suit the taste of the neighbourhood he is trying to delude. Possibly a corruption of caul; a cooked statement, or, as a correspondent sug- gests, the COCK lane ghost may have given rise to the term. This had a great run, and was a rich harvest to the running stationers. "COCK ONE'S TOES," to die. COCK-ROBIX SHOP, a small printer's office, where low wages are paid to journeymen who have never served a regular apprenticeship. COCKSHY, a game at fairs and races, where trinkets are set upon sticks, and for one penny three throws at them are accorded, the thrower keeping whatever he knocks off. From the ancient game of throwing or " shying" at live cocks. COCKSURE, certain. COCKY, pert, saucy. COCKYOLY BIRD, a little bird, frequently called "a dickey bird."— Kingsley's Two Years Ago. COCK, "to cock your eye," to shut or wink one eye. COCUM, advantage, luck, resources; "Jack's got cocum, he's safe to get on, he is," — viz., he starts under favourable circumstances. See the fol- lowing. COCUM, cunning, sly, "to fight COCUM," to be wily and cautious. Allied perhaps to the Scottish keek. German, gucken, to peep or pry into. COD, to hoax, take a " rise " out of one. CODDS, the "poor brethren" of the Charter House. At p. 133 of the Newcomes, Mr Thackeray writes, " The Cistercian lads call these old gentlemen codds, I know not wherefore." An abbreviation of codger. CODDAM, a low public-house game, much affected by medical students and cabmen, three on each side. The game is " simplicity itself," but requires a great amount of low cunning, and peculiar mental ingenuity. CODGER, or coger, an old man; "a rum old codger," a curious old fel- low. Codger is sometimes used as synonymous with cadger, and then signifies a person who gets his living in a questionable manner. " Cogers," the name of a debating society, formerly held in Bride Court, Fleet Street, and still in existence. The term is probably a corruption of cogitators. COFFEE-SHOP, a water-closet, or house of office. COG, to cheat at dice. — ShaJcspeare. Also, to agree with, as one cog-wheel does with another. COLD BLOOD, a house licensed for the sale of beer "not to be drunk on the premises." 106 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN COLD COFFEE, misfortune ; sometimes varied to cold gruel. — Sea. COLD COFFEE, an Oxford synonyme for a " Sell," which see. COLD COOK, an undertaker. COLD MEAT, a corpse. Cold meat box, a coffin. COLD SHOULDER, "to shew or give anyone the cold shoulder," to assume a distant manner towards them, to evince a desire to cease acquaintanceship. Sometimes it is tei*med "cold shoulder of mutton." COLFABIAS, a Latinised Irish phrase signifying the closet of decency, applied as a Slang term to a place of resort in Trinity College, Dublin. COLLAR, "out of collar," i.e., out of place, no work. Probably a varia- tion of the metaphorical expressions "in, or out of harness," ?'.<■., in or out of work — the horse being in collar when harnessed for his work. COLLAR, to seize, to lay hold of. Thieves' Slang, i.e., to steal. "COLLAR AND ELBOW, a term for a peculiar throw in wrestling. COLLOGUE, to c ther In low tones, plot mischief. More connected with "colloquy" than "colleague." — East COLLY-W '< ted by many of the lower orders to be tl Ling and nutrition ; an idea r b irrowed t nts.- /> vonskire. COLOUR, <•■ tint; " I *ve not seen the colour of his money," i.e., he has never paid me any. In fortune-telling by cards, a di \ fair, but D Jt; club colour, an extremely dark complexion. COLT, a murderous weapon, formed by slinging a small shot to the end of a rather still' piece of rope. It is the original of the mis-named '• life- presi rver." t I >LT, a I- rson who sits as juryman for the first t;: COLT, to line a new juryman a sum to be spent in drink, by v. ting " his office. COLT, to make a person free of a new place, which is done by his standing treat, and submitting to be struck on the sole of the foot with a of board. — I COLT'S TOOTH, elderly persons of juvenile tastes are said to have a colt's tooth, <'.<.., a desire to shed their teeth once more, to see life over again. COMB-CUT, mortified, disgraced, "down on one's luck." — See cut. COME, a Slang verb used in many Tihrases; "an't he coming it?" i.e., is he not proceeding at a great rate ? " Don't come tricks here," "don't come the old soldier over me," i.e., we are aware of your practices, and "twig" your manoeuvre. Coming it strong, exaggerating, going ahead, the opposite of "drawing it mild." Coming it also means in- forming or disclosing. COME DOWN, to pay down. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 07 COMMISSION, a shirt. — Ancient Cant. Italian, camicia " As from our beds, we doe oft cast our eyes, Cleane iinnen yeelds a shirt before we rise, Which is a garcnent shifting in condition ; And in the canting tongue, is a commission. In weale or woe, in joy or dangerous drifts, A shirt will put a man unto his shifts." — Taylor's Works, 1630. COMMISTER, a chaplain or clergyman. — Originally Old Cant. COMMON SEWER, a drain, — vulgar equivalent for a drink. COMMONS, rations, because eaten in common. — University. Short com mons, (derived from the University Slang term,) a scanty meal, a scarcity. COMPRADOR, a purveyor. — Anglo-Chinese. CONCAVES AND CONVENES, a pack of cards con- Y^ .. half stout and half porter. De- rived from the coopers a1 brev< [lowed so much stout and bo much porter a day, which they have mixed sooner than drink the porter after the stout. COOPKK. • finish. Coopered, spoilt, "done up," synonymous with the Americanism oavbd in, fallen in, ruined. Th • Lyphic v, chalked by them I - and houses, by too many tramps calling there. COOTER, " a sovereign." — See COUTEB. Gipsy, cuta. COP, to Beize or lay hold of anything unpl< I in a similar . to catch in tl bo COP (or catch) a beating," " to get COPT," &e. C< >P, beware, take care. A contraction of coprador. — Anglo-Indian. COPER, properly HOBSE-OOUFEB, a Scotch horse-dealer, — used to denote a dishonest one. COPPER, a policeman, i.e., one who cops, which see. COPPER, a halfpenny. COPPERS, mixed pence. Cambridge drink, consisting of ale combined with spices, and varied by spirits, . &c. Corruption of HIPPOCBAS. COBINTHIANISM, •■ term derived from the classics, much in vogue - -ilism. high life, "sprees,' . &c. — Skakq . i . . TV., ii. 4. The immorality of Corinth * in Greece. Koptv6iu£ taBat, to Corinthianise, indulge in the company of courtesans, was a Greek Slang expression. Hence the proverb — Ov Travrbs dvdpus eh KopivOov tv& 6 t:\q\js : and Horace, Epist. lib. I, xvii. 36 — "Xon cuivis homini oontingit adire Corinthum," in allusion to the spoliation practised by the " hetaerae " on th* visited them. CORK. " to draw a cork," to give a bloody nose — Pugilistic. CORKED, said of wine which tastes of cork, from being badly decanted. Cooper, to forge, or imitate in writing; " cooper a moneker," to f or§ signature. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 09 CORKER, " that's a corker," i.e., that settles the question, or closes the discussion. CORKS, a butler. CORKS, money ; "how are you off for corks?" a soldier's term of a very expressive kind, denoting the means of " keeping afloat." Cork is also used in connexion with money when persons at a hotel provide their own wine — sixpence being charged for each "cork" drawn. CORNED, drunk or intoxicated. Possibly from soaking or pickling one's- self like corned beef. CORNER, "the corner," Tattersall's famous horse repository and betting rooms, so called from the fact of its situation, which is at Hyde-Park Corner. CORNERED, hemmed in a corner, placed in a position from which there is no escape. — American. CORNER-MAN, the end singer of a corps of Ethiopian or nigger minstrels. In a theatrical advertisement in the Era there was, " Wanted a good corner-man Tambo, who can dance." A particularly clever man is required for the corner station, and in this case he was required to play on the tambourine as well. We insert it as a specimen of Theai. Slang. CORPORATION, the protuberant front of an obese person. CORPSE, to confuse, or put out the actors by making a mistake. — Theat. COSSACK, a policeman. COSTERMONGER, a street seller of fish, fruit, vegetables, poultry, &c. The London costermongers number more than 30,000. They form a distinct class, occupying whole neighbourhoods, and are cut off from the rest of metropolitan society by their low habits, general improvi- dence, pugnacity, love of gambling, total want of education, disregard for lawful marriage ceremonies, and their use of a Cant (or so-called lack Slang) language. Costermonger aliter costardmonger, i.e., an apple-seller. In Nares's Glossary (Ed. H. & W.) they are said to have been frequently Irish. So, Ben Jonson — " Her father was an Irish costar-monger." — Alchym., iv. 1. " In England, Sir, troth I ever laugh when I think on't. Why, sir, there all the coster-mongers are Ii-ish." —2 P. Hen. IV., 0. PI. in. 375. Their noisy manners are alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher's Scorn- ful Lady, iv. I. " And then he'll rail like a rude coster-monger That school-boys had couzened of his apples, As loud and senseless." COSTER, the short and Slang rendering of "costermonger," or "costard- monger," who was originally an apple-seller. Costering, i.e., coster- mongering, acting as a costermonger would. COTTON, to like, adhere to, or agree with any person; "to cotton on to a man," to attach yourself to him, or fancy him, literally, to stick to IIO A DICTIONARY OF MODERN him as cotton would. Vide Bwtlett, who claims it as an Americanism , and Halliwell, who terms it an Archaism; also Bacchus and Venus, 1737. " Her heart 's as hard as taxes, and as bad ; She does not even cotton to her dad." —Halliday and Lavorance, Kenilworth Burlesque. COTTON" LORD, a Manchester manufacturer. COUNCIL-OF-TEN, the toes of a man who turns his feet inward. COUNTER, to hit back, exchange blows. — Pugilistic term. COUNTER-JUMPER, a shopman, a draper's assistant. COUNTRY-SHIP, a ship belonging to the East Indies, and trading from port to port in that country. COUNTRY-CAPTAIN", a spatchcocked fowl, sprinkled with curry-powder. A favourite breakfast dish with the captains of COUNTRY-SHIPS. COUPLE-BEGGAR, :i degraded person, who officiated as a clergyman in performing - COUTEl: BALF-A-O0UTEB,ha]f-a-8overeign. From the Danu- bicm-gipsy word* -111. 1 !l >VE, "i- < "Vi v, a boy or man of any age or station. A term generally ded by au «\ . thus a "flash cove," a "rum oov] . • opular, but it has fallen into d '. originally (temp. Henry l 'II, WitU? . I'm: " ;: . ■•••'- b gentry-coYE here," i.e., a gentleman. Probably connect) . which, in the North of England, signi- low. Amongst Negroes, t n COVENTRY, " to send a man to COVENTRY," not to Bpeak to or notice him Coventry was one of those towns in which the privilege <»f practising most trades was anciently confined to certain privileged pe freem. 11. & ■. 1 1 -nee a stranger stood little chance of custom, or coun- tenance, and "to send a man I " came to be equivalent to putting him out of the pale of B i ►OWN, a tossing coin with a false cover, enabling either head or tail to be shown, according as the cover is left on or taken off. The r Lb more generally called a cap. 'W, to be very angry, to scold or reprimand violently. — Anglo- Chi COWAN, a sneak, an inquisitive or prying person. Greek, kvohv. a dog. Term given by Freemasons to all uninitiated persons. Used in Aw: 'utions, edit. 1769, p. 97. If derived from iriW, its use was probably suggested by such passages in the N. T. as Matt, vii. 6, and Phil. iii. 2. The Moslems apply dog in a similar manner. It is probably Oriental. Other authorities say it is from COWAN, or B3RWAN, a Sc \tti& word signifying a man who builds rough stone walls without mortar — a man who, though he builds, is not a practical mason. County-crop, (i&, county-pkisox crop,) hair cut close and round, as if guided by a basin — an indication of having been in prison. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. in COWS GREASE, butter. COW-LICK, the term given to the lock of hair which costermongers and tramps usually twist forward from the ear ; a large greasy curl upon the cheek, seemingly licked into shape. The opposite of newgate- knocker, which see. COXY-LOXY, good-tempered, drunk.— Norfolk. CRAB, or grab, a disagreeable old person. Name of a wild and sour fruit. CRAB, " to catch a crab," to fall backwards by missing a stroke in rowing. An allusion, of course, to fishing for crabs. CRAB, to offend, or insult; to expose or defeat a robbery, to inform against. Crab, in the sense of " to offend," is Old English. " If I think one thing and speak another, I will both crab Christ and our Ladie His mother." — Packman's Paternoster, CRABSHELLS, or trotting cases, shoes. — See carts. CRACK, the favourite horse in a race. CRACK, first-rate, excellent ; " a crack hand," an adept ; a " crack article," a good one. — Old. CRACK, dry firewood. — Modern Gipsy. CRACK, " in a crack (of the finger and thumb)," in a moment. " CRACK A BOTTLE," to drink. Shalcspeare uses crush in the same Slang sense. CRACK UP, to boast or praise. — Ancient English. CRACKED-UP, penniless, or ruined. CRACKLE, the scored rind on a roast leg of pork ; hence applied to the velvet bars on the gowns of the students at St John's College, Cam- bridge, long called " Hogs," and the covered bridge which connects one of the courts with the grounds, Isthmus of Suez, (sets, Lat. sus, a swine.) CRAM, to lie or deceive, implying to fill up or cram a person with false stories ; to impart or acquire learning quickly, to "grind " or prepare for an examination. CRAMMER, one skilled in rapidly preparing others for an examination. CRAMMER, a lie; or a person who commits a falsehood. CRANKY, foolish, idiotic, rickety, capricious, not confined to persons. Ancient Cant, cranke, simulated sickness. German, krank, sickly. CRAPPING CASE, or ken, the closet of decency. CRAWLY-MA WLY, in an ailing, weakly, or sickly state. CRAW-THUMPER, a Roman Catholic. Compare brisket-beater. Crack, to break into a house ; " crack a crib," to commit burglary. Crack- fencer, a man who sells nuts. Cracksman, a burglar. Crapped, hanged. 112 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN " CREAM OF THE VALLEY," gin. CRIB, house, public or otherwise; lodgings, apartments; a situation. Very general in the latter sense. CRIB, to steal or purloin; to appropriate small things. CRIB, a literal translation of a classic author. — University. CRIB-BITER, an inveterate grumbler; properly said of a horse which has this habit, a sign of its bad digestion. CRIBB AGE-FACED, marked with the small-pox, full of holes like a crib- bage board. CRIKEY, profane exclamation of astonishment; " Oh, crikey, you don't say so !" corruption of " U CJvritt." CRIPPLE, a bent sixpence. CROAK, to die— from the gurgling sound a pei >• m makes when the breath of life is departing. — (>. CROAKER, one who of everything; an alarmist. From tfu croaking of a raven.— Ben Ji CROAKER, a beg . < !R( >AK ER, a ad hope; a c CROAK shea, and murderers' confessions. a hypocrite. An ancient phrase, introduced into this country by Mandeville, or other early Eng] . . i. CR< 'X V. ;. tei ... ilicious old woman ; an intimate friend. John- son calls i\ ' CROOKV. to hang on to, to lead, to walk arm-in-arm; to court or pay addressee to a girl. CROPPER, ." i.e., fail or fall. CROSS, la pretending hostility or u each ill the while in concert for the purpose a third. BUTTl " IK, i unexpected fling down or repulse; from a peculiar throw pracl tiers. CROCUS, or CROAKUS, a quack or travelling doctor; crocts-chovly, a chemist's shop. Crooked, a term used among dog-stealers, and the "fancy" generally, to denote anything stolen. CRorPiE, a person who has had his hair cut, or CROPPED, in prison. Cropped, hang . Cross, a general term amongst thieves expressive of their plundering pro- fession, the opposite of square. ; ' To get anything on the CB< to obtain it surreptitiously. " CfiOSS-FANKING in a crowd." i persons of their scarf-pins. Crossmax, a thief, or one who lives by dishonest practices. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. I I 3 CROSSED, prohibited from taking food from the "Buttery." — University. CROW, or cock-crow, to exult over another's abasement, as a fighting-c<>ck does over his vanquished adversary. CROW, "a regular crow," a success, a stroke of luck, — equivalent to a FLUKE. CROW, " I have a crow to pick with you," i.e., an explanation to demand, a disagreeable matter to settle. CRUG, food.— Household Words, No. 1S3. Peculiar to the Christ's Hos- , pital boys, who apply it only to bread. CRUMBS. " to pick up one's crumbs," to begin to have an appetite after an illness; to improve in health, circumstances, &c, after a loss thereof. CRUMMY, fat, plump.— North. CRUMMY-DOSS, a lousy or filthy bed. CRUNCH, to crush. Corruption; or, perhaps from the sound of teeth grinding against each other. CRUSH, to run, decamp rapidly. Crush down sides, run to a place of safety, or the appointed rendezvous. — North Country CanL CRUSHER, a policeman. CRUSHING, excellent, first-rate. CRUSTY, ill-tempered, petulant, morose. — Old, said to be a corruption of. the Anglo-Norman coruseux. CUB, a mannerless, uncouth lout. — See unlicked. CUBITOPOLIS, an appellation given by Londoners to the Warwick and Eccleston Square districts. Another name for it is Mesopotamia. CUE, properly the last word spoken by one actor, it being the cue for the other to reply. CULL, a man or boy. — Old Cant. Rum cull, the manager of a theatre. GULLET, broken glass. French, cueillette, a gathering or collection. CULLY GORGER, a companion, a brother actor. Theatrical. See gorger. CULVER-HEADED, weak and stupid. CUMSHAW, a present or bribe. — Anglo-Chinese. CUPBOARD-HEADED, an expressive designation of one whose head is both wooden and hollow. — Norfolk. CUPBOARD-LOYE, affection arising from interested motives. " A cupboard love is seldom true ; A love sincere is found in few." — Poor Rohm. Cross Cove and Mollisher, a man and woman who live by thieving. Cross-Crib, a house frequented by thieves. Crow, one who watches whilst another commits a theft, a confederate in a robbery. The crow looks to see that the way is clear, whilst the sneak, his partner, commits the depredation. Cule, thieves' term. Abbreviation of Reticule. Culling, or culing, stealing from the carriages on race-courses. IX 114 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN CUP-TOSSER, a person who professes to tell fortunes by examining the grounds in tea or coffee cups. A cup or goblet, however, is the old mystic symbol of a juggler. French, joueur de gobelet. CURE, an odd person ; a contemptuous term, abridged from CURIOSITY, which was formerly the favourite expression. — Compare stipe. A correspondent objects to this definition as insufficient and erroi A CUBE, according to him, is an exceedingly cunning, clever chaffer, who does not vulgarly insult like the old chaffers, but keeps the person he is chaffing in an alternate - r and complaisance. The cure is impertinent, but by his submissive manners, and the turns he gives the conversation, cubes the wounds as booh as he inilicts them. CURIOS, a corruption of "curiosities;" any articles of virtu broi from abroad. Used by naval and military travellers and CURRENCY, a person born u . while . is to the differ- ence I CURS small . eor8( a. Vision <>j Pit n J ''I on 'eux, tailhhras fendeur de na&eaax.— " ** e ' s ou . t of cash - rind thou know'st by cutter'a i uv "W e are bound to relieve one anui ( W ^ — Match at Mil,,, o. PL, vii. 553 . This ancient Cant word now survives in the phra.se, " to awea- like a CUT! CUTTING-SHOP, a place where cheap rough goods are sold. CUTTY PIP ; !y pipe, fi Bhorfc CUT ^rt Oim&A-Seat*. A acantUy-draped lady is so DAB or dabster, an expert person. Moat probably derived from the Lat • DAB. DAB. DA CHA-SALTEE „ Mft(lirn 1>u H ■ . elevenpence. — See B DADDLE, th fa aid; "tip us your daddle," i.e., shake hands. DADDY, the stage manager.— Theatrical. Also the person who rives ;• the bride at a wedding. b DAFFY, gin. A term with monthly nurses, who are always extollW the virtues of /• ■, and who oceas a stronger medicine under Daffy's name. DAGS, feat or performance; "I'll do your ] | will do something thai you cannot do. h DAISY-CUTTER, a horse that trots or gallops without lifting its feet much I DAISY-KICKER, the name hostlers at large inns used to give each other now nearly .. I B dete. DAISY-KICKER, or cm Cant term for a horse. The daisy-kickers were sad rogues in the old posting flays- fre- quently the landlords rented the stables to them, as the only plan to make them return a profit. DAMAGE, in the sense of recompense ; "what's the da stage ? " ie what is to pay ! Daddy; at mock raffles, lotteries. &c., the daddy is an accomplice, most commonly the getter up of the swindle, and in all cases the person that has been previously arranged to win the prize. Dasiper, a shop till ; to draw a bamieb, i.e., rob a tilL SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. I I 7 , "DANCE UPON NOTHING;' to be hanged. DANDO, a greo,t eater, -who cheats hotel's, eating shops, oyster-cellars, &c. ; from a person of that name. DANDi: or temper; "to get one's dander up," to rouse his ion. — Old. DANDY, a fop, or fashionable nondescript. This word, in the sense of a lodern origin. Egan says it was first used in 1820, and Bee in 1816. Johnson does not mention it, although it is to be found in all late dictionaries. Dandies wore stays, studied feminity, and tried to u ahood. Lord Petersham headed them. At the pres- ent day dandies of this stamp are fast disappearing. The feminine of DY was dandizette, but the term only lived for a short season. DANDY, a small glass of whisky. — Irish. "Dimidium, cyathi vero apud anos Hibernicos dicitur dandy." — Father Tom and the Pope, Magazine for May 1838. DANDY, a boatman. — Anglo-Indian. DANDYPRAT, a funny little feliow, a mannikin; originally a half- farthing. DANNA, human ordure; danna drag, a nightman's or dustman's cart; hence dcnny-ken, which see. DARBLE, the devil. — French, diable. DARK, " keep it dark," i.e., secret. Dark horse, in racing phraseology, a horse whose chance of success is unknown, and whose capabilities have not been made the subject of comment. DARKEY, twilight ; also a negro. Darkmans, the night, DARN, vulgar corruption of d n. — American. DASHING, showy, fast. DAUB, in low language, an artist. DAVID'S SOW, "as drunk as david 7 s bow,"' i.e., beastly drunk. — See origin of the phrase in Grose's Dictionary. DAVY, " on my davt," on my affidavit , of which it is a vulgar corruption. Latterly davt has become synonymous in street language with the name of the Deity ; " so help me davy," Slang rendering of the con- clusion of the oath usually exacted of witnesses;" Dancers, stairs. — Old Cant. Dancer, or dancing-master, a thief who prowls about the roofs of houses, and effects an entrance- by attic windows, &c. Called also a Garreter. Darbies, handcuffs. — Old Cant. — See johny darbies. Sir Walter Scott mentions these, in the sense of fetters, in his Peveril of the Peak — "'Hark ye! Jem Clink will fetch you the darbies.' 'Derby!' interrupted Julian, ' has the Earl or Countess' " Had Sir Walter known of any connexion between them and this family he would undoubtedly have mentioned it. The mistake of the speaker is corrected in the next paragraph. Il8 A DICTIONARY OF MODE EX DAVY'S LOCKER, or davy jones'-lockfr, the sea, the common recep- tacle for all things thrown overboard;— a nautical phrase for death, the other world. — See duffy. DAWDLE, to loiter, or fritter away time. DAWK, the post. — Anglo-Indian. DAYLIGHTS, eyes ; " to darken his dayligttts," to eive a person black eyes. Also the s; □ the liquor and the brim, — not allowed wi. drunk. The toast-master in such cases cries, " no daylights or HEELTAPS '. " DAZE, to confound or bewilder; an ancient form of dazzle used by DEAD-ALIVE, Btupid, dulL DEAD AMISS, said of a horse that from illness is utterly unabl a race. ( DEAD-BEAT, LEAT, when two horses run in bo exactly equal that tl ■ . 1 e run - 1 DEAD HORSE, ' DEAD-LETTER, an aeti □ i I do y-'. owing to plied rument in wri rently trivial IVst-Office. DEAD-MAN, a baker. Propi rly the I the l>lal> iLi but s livered. rni for wine bottles after they are emptied DEAD-MEN'S SHOES, expectation of property after dece for a pair of dead osidered a wearisome affair. It is used by Fletcher : — ^hatmost me- waiting dead ii — 1 -.'.cUer's Porrespondent thinks it may have been derived from the Hack doll, the usual sign of a rag shop. SLANG, CANT. AND VULGAR WORDS. 123 DOMINE, a | DOMINO, a eommon ejaculation of soldiers and sailors when they receive tiie last lash of a flogging. The allusion may be understood from the game of domino. . the teeth. DON, a elever fellow, the opposite of a muff; a person of distinction in hie line or walk. At the English Universities, the Masters and Fel- Dok is also used as an adjective, "a DON hand at a knife and fork," i.c, a first-rate feeder at a dinner tabic. — Spanish. DON PEDRO, a low game at cards. It is a compound of All Fours, and game variously termed All Fives, Five and Ten, Fifteen, &c. It was, no doubt, invented by the mixed English and Irish rabble who fought in Portugal in 1832-3. DONE ! the expression used when a bet is accepted. — See also DO.' DONE UP, an equivalent expression to "dead beat." DONKEY, "three more and up goes the donkey," a vulgar street phrase for extracting as much money as possible before performing any task. , The phrase had its origin with a travelling showman, the finale of ' whose performance was the hoisting of a donkey on a pole or ladder ; but this consummation was never arrived at unless the required num- ber of "'browns" was first paid up, and " three more" was generally the unfortunate deficit. DONKEY. I am unable to explain the phrase, but any one wearing a white hat, whether in town or country, is shouted after invariably by the street urchins, " Who stole the donkey?" to which another in the gang replies, " The man in the white hat," and they then disperse. DONNA and FEELES, a woman and children. Italian or Lingua Franca, DONNE E FIGLIE. DOOKIN, fortune-telling. Gipsy, dukkerin. DOSS, a bed. — North. Probably from doze. Mayhew thinks it is from the Norman, dossel, a hanging or bed canopy. DOSS, to sleep, formerly spelt dorse. Perhaps from the phrase to lie on one's dorsum, back. Gael, dosal, slumber. DOSS-KEN, a lodging house. DOUBLE, " to tip (or give) the double," to run away from any person ; to double back, turn snort round upon one's pursuers, and so escape as a hare does. — Sporting. DOUBLE-UP, to pair off, or " chum " with another man ; to beat severely. DOUBLE-SHUFFLE, a low, shuffling, noisy dance, common amongst cos- termongers. — See flip-flaps. DOUGHEY, a sufficiently obvious nickname for a baker. DOUSE, to put out; "douse that glim," put out that candle. In Norfolk "Done for a Ramp," convicted for thieving. Dose, three months' imprisonment as a known thief. — Sec braggadocio. 124 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN this expression is dout, which is clearly for do out — variations prob- ably of the same word. — Sea. Also to knock down. DOVER COURT, a noisy assemblage; "all talkers and no hearers,like dover court." At Dover Court in Essex, a court is annually held; and ;is the members principally r ide fishermen, the irregularity noticed in the proverbial saying frequently prevails. Bramston in hia Art of Pontics says : — • who would captivate the well-bred throng - DOWI). a rican term; pos- sibly from j DOWL ' DOW ' Dony- with dp; '■ • '..." unfortui . in the :. . :. • .. ' . Dl >WN V. i. rexperi "DOWN THE DOLLY," a favouril often seen in the tap rooms conai sting of a roun ; an old man .. bich is a sph tops in i the small 1. i m the- board. The bet is c low figure. DOWN-THE-Rl >A1\ ,-ylish, showy, after the fashion. DOWRY, a lot, a great deal; " ran or water. — See Pabny. Pn il ly fr m DOXY of a tramp or beggar. In the "fl land, the women frequently call their little girls DOXIES, in a familiar or endearing sen.se. A learned divine on XT, and heterodoxy another man's DOXY. — . DRAB, a vulgar, or low woman. — Shatepcare. 1 >RAG, a c irt & any kind, a coach ; gentlemen drive to the races in drags. 1 >RA< ;. a Btreet, or road ; back-drag, back street. DRAGGING-TDME, the evening of a country fair day, when the young fellows begin pulling the wenches about. Downs, Tothill Fields' Prison. Drag, or three moo^, three months in prison. Dragging, robbing carts, &c. DragSMKN, fellows who cut trunks from the backs of carriages. They sometimes have a light cart, and li drop " behind the plundered vehicle, SLANG, CANT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. I 25 DRAIN, a drink ; " to do a DRAIN," to take a friendly drink—" do a wet ; " sometimes called a common sewer. DRAW, used in several senses : — 1, of a theatre, new piece or exhibition, when it attracts the public and succeeds ; 2, to induce — as " draw him on;" 3, of pocket-picking — as "DRAW his wipe," " DRAW his ticker." In sporting parlance it is used with an ellipsis of " trigger" " I drew on it as it rose before me," " Come, draw it mild ! " i.e., don't exag- gerate ; opposite of " come it strong," from the phraseology of the bar (of a public,) where customers desire the beer to be drawn mild. DRAW-BOY, a cunning device used by puffing tradesmen. A really good article is advertised or ticketed and exposed for sale in the shop win- dow at a very low price, with a view of drawing in customers to pur- chase other and inferior articles at high prices. DRAWERS, formerly the ancient Cant name for very long stockings, now a hosier's term. DRAWING TEETH, wrenching off knockers.— Medical Student Slang. DRAWLATCH, a loiterer. DRAW-OFF, to throw back the body to give impetus to a blow; "he drew off, and delivered on the left drum." — Pugilistic. A sailor would say, " he hauled off and slipped in." DRIPPING, a cook. DRIVE, a term used by tradesmen in speaking of business; "he's driving a roaring trade," i.e., a very good one; hence, to succeed in a bargain, " I drove a good bargain," i.e., got the best end of it. To let drive at one, to strike out. DRIVE AT, to aim at ; "what is he driving at ?" "what does he intend to imply ? " a phrase often used when a circuitous line of argument is adopted by a barrister, or a strange set of questions asked, the purpose of which is not very evident. DRIZ, lace. In a low lodging house this singular autograph inscription and then drive off in an Gpposite direction with the booty. — Old Cant. The Slang meaning is the drivers of drags. Dress a Hat, to — a system of robbery very difficult of detection. It is managed by two or more servants or shopmen of different employers, exchanging their master's goods — as, for instance, a shoemaker's shop- man receives shirts or other articles from a hosier's, in return for a pair of boots. Another very ingenious method may be witnessed about eleven o'clock in the forenoon in any of the suburban districts of London. A butcher's boy, with a bit of steak filched from his master's shop, or from a customer, falls in with a neighbouring baker's man, who has a loaf obtained in a similar manner. Their mutual friend, the pot-boy, in full expectation of their visit, has the tap-room fire bright and clear, and not only cooks the steak but " stands a shant of gatter" as his share. So a capital luncheon is improvised for the three, without the necessity of paying for it ; and this practical com- munistic operation is styled dressing a hat. 126 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN appeared over the mantelpiece, " Scotch Mary, with DRiz, (lace,) bound to Dover and back, please God." DRIZ FENCER, a person who sells lace. DROP, to quit, go off, or turn aside; "Drop the main Toby," go off the main road. DROP, "to drop a man," to knock him down ; "to rnop into a pei to give him a tin- tip and walk. " To DBOP ox to a man," to uccii.v.- or rebuke him Buddi DRUM, a a street; hazard-drum, a gambling -house; I, the ear.— / .iple of Slang synecdoche. DRUM, as ap] lied t the F ' ' ■ word •■ p. — See note i • **• DRUMS! I' users. DRYJ lary. duty, utants in the their regiments in H. similar mai DUB 1 >UBASH, a genei DUBBER, i : • ::;i y..ur IjI'l: u-. DUBLIN PACKET, t«. turn run i . ner, — probably a pun on d'ju'ji<; Slang. DUCK, a bund] -.,, the - :id i.s "DUCKS AND DRAKES, "tomakeDucra .. which they call D DUDDER, or Dl rho formerly travelled the count?- . • ■ countrymen. Ju - five shilling | the revenue officer, and beg of the purchasing clodh n in a puddle Drummer, a robber who first makes his victims insensible by drugs or nee, and then plunders thern. Ddtbs, a bunch of keys. Nearly obsolete. DuBSMAN, or SCREW, a turnkey. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 12 J of water, crook his arm, and swear that it might never become straight if he told an exciseman, or even his own v:ife. The term and practice are nearly obsolete. Iu Liverpool, however, and at the east end of Lon- don, men dressed up as sailors, with pretended silk handkerchiefs and cigars " only just smuggled from the Indies," are still to be plentifully found. DUDDS, clothes, or personal property. Gaelic, dud; Ancient Cant ; also Dutch. DUFF, pudding; vulgar pronunciation of dough. — Sea. DUFFER, a hawker of "Brummagem" or sham jewellery; a sham of any kind; a fool, a worthless person. So Arthur Smith, in his Summer Idyll .— " But Robinson, a thorough duffer he, Troll'd out some feeble song about King Cole." Duffer was formerly synonymous with dudder, and was a general term given to pedlars. It is mentioned in the Frauds of London (1760) as a word in frequent use in the last century to express cheats of all kinds. From the German, durfen, to want ? DUFFING, false, counterfeit, worthless. DUFFY, a term for a ghost or spirit among the West India negroes. In all probability the DAVY JONES of sailors. DUKE, gin, a term amongst livery servants. — Household Words, No. 183. DUMBFOUND, to perplex, to beat soundly till not able to speak. Ori- ginally a Cant word. Johnson cites the Spectator for the earliest use. Scotch, DUMFOUNDER. DUMMACKER, a knowing or acute person. DUMMIES, empty bottles, and drawers in an apothecary's shop, labelled so as to give the idea of an extensive stock. DUMMY, in three-handed whist the person who holds two hands plays DUMMY. DUMPY, short and stout. DUMPISH, sullen, or glummy. DUN, to solicit payment. — Old Cant, from the French donnez, give; or from joe din, the famous bailiff of Lincoln ; or simply a corruption of din, from the Anglo-Saxon dunan, to clamour 1 DUNDERHEAD, a blockhead. DUNDREARY, an empty swell. DUNG, an operative who works for an employer who does not give full or '•'society" wages. DUMMY, a pocket-book. In this word, as in the two preceding, (see dummy and dummies,) the idea is connected with dumb, i.e., that which gives no sign. As a thieves' term for a pocket-book, it is peculiarly ap- plicable, for the contents of pocket-books, bank-notes, and papers make no noise, while the money in a purse betrays its presence by chinking. Dump-Fencer, a man who sells buttons. Dunaker, a stealer of cows or calves. Nearly obsolete. 128 A DICTIONARY OF MODE XX DUNGAREE, low, common, vulgar. — Anglo-Indian. Dungaree is the name of a disreputable suburb of Bombay, and also of a coarse, blue cloth, worn by sailors. " As Bmart a y ung fellow as ever you 'd see, Iu jacket and trousers of blue Dungaree." DUNKHORNED, sneaking, shabby. Dukkhobm in Norfolk is the short, blunt horn of a beast, and the adjective is applied to a cuckold who has not spirit to resist his disgrace. DUNNAGE, 1 or loose fagots laid at the bottom of ships, upon which ia placed the <• . DUNNY-KEN, a v. . anna and ken, whi DUS' n the money. — A n J Van Swift once took for his text, " B b bo the poor lendeth to the Lord." 1 1 w, ray bn th " if j d with the D DUST, a disturbance, or i. row. 1 >UST, to beat; 1 )i rSTY, b ppro- I i BTY," i.< .. no< .-•■ i bad; " none bo di DUST 11". Jiang. DUST-HOL ring. ] >UST< " 'l: 1 ' '. . n, doceur, bribe. — Anglo-In DUT< H A • all roi . which is then dropped till it is taken. DUTCH CO! DUTCH CONCERT, where each ; I tune. DUTCH COURAGE, false courage, generally i drink,— pot- >tr. DUTCH FEAST, wher 1 d'T< SH UNCLE, < i ; "I'll i ilk t . him life bing but a desirable relatiun.- . DUTCH, or double dot inie. EARL-OF CORK, the '•'What do you m< - uander. "T diamon lied the EARL OF CORK : . EARWIG, a clergyman, aiso one who prompts another malici-. EARW1GGING, a rebuke in private; a wigging is more public. DurryNaCking. offering lace or any other article as an introduction to fortune-telling ; generally pursued by women, SLANG, CAXT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. 129 EAVES-DROPPER, a listener. The name is derived from the punish- ment which, according to Oliver, was directed in the Lectures, at the revival of Masonry in 1 71 7, to be inflicted on a detected Cowan, [g. v.,] and which was "To be jilnced under the eaves of the house in rainy weather, till the water runs in at his shoulders and out at his heels." — Mackey's Lexicon of Freemasonry. EFF, the vulgar abbreviation of effingham saloon, a favourite music hall at the east eud of London. EGG, or egg on, to excite, stimulate, or provoke one person to quarrel with another, &c. Corruption of edge, or edge on. — Ancient. ELBOW, "to shake one's elbow," to play at ea#ds. ELBOW GREASE, labour, or industry. — See palm oil. ELEGANT EXTRACTS, a Cambridge University title for those students who, having unfortunately failed only slightly in some one subject, and being '"plucked" accordingly, were allowed their degrees. This ap- plied to the "Poll" List, as the "Gulf" did to the "Honours." ELEPHANT, "to have. seen the elephant," to be "up to the latest move," or " denvn to the last new trick ; " to be knowing, and not / "green," &c. Possibly a metaphor taken from the travelling menage- ries, where the elephant is the finale of the exhibition. — Originally an Americanism. Bartlett gives conflicting examples. General now, however. ENEMY, time, a'clock, the ruthless enemy and tell-tale of idleness ; " what says the enemy ? " i.e., how goes the time ? ENTIRE ANIMAL.— See hog. ESSEX STILE, a ditch. ESSEX LION, a calf. EVAPORATE, to go, or run away. EXES, expenses ; written thus — E x S. EXTENSIVE, frequently applied in a Slang sense to a person's appear- ance or talk ; " rather extensive that ! " intimating that the person alluded to is shewing off, or " cutting it fat." EXTRACTED, placed on the list of "elegant extracts."— Camb. Univ. EYE- WATER, gin. FACE, credit at a public-house, impudence, confidence, brass; thus a brazen face. " To run one's face," is to obtain credit in a bounceable manner. Ease, to rob; "easing a bloak," robbing a man. Efter, a thief who frequents theatres. Everlasting staircase, the treadmill. Sometimes called " Colonel Chesterton's everlasting staircase," from the gallant inventor or improver. I 130 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN FACER, a tumbler of whisky-punch. "Cyatbi dicti sunt faceves." — Fatlur Tom and the Pope. FACER, a blow on the face. In Ireland, a dram. FAD, a hobby, a favourite pursuit. FADGE, a farthing. FADGE, a flat loaf.— North. FADGE, to suit or fit ; " it won't fadge," it will not do. Used by Shals- peare, but now heard only in the streets. FADGER, a glazier's frame. offices to a superior school- in.it'-. Probably from P. a a., the fifth problem of Euclid. thinks FAGGED 01 FAQ, ( FAGGOT, ab bably its name) sold : k. In . :>d of a thing, the infer: . FAGOT, a ten dbylowpe< >n and women; inally a term of contempt for a dry, shrivel] ■ a bundle of ;it to burn. — Compare the French expression for a 1, FARM; "]■ , stand treat. FAL-LA ' . gew-gaws. Forhj suggests as a tion I ings. FAMBLESj ■ hands. — Ancient Cant. German, fab 1'A X. a waistc •. — FANCY, th ■ i v write sports, pets, or pastime of a person, '^ r U - termed the pan< y. SZ the v. . ; and the paramour of a I FANCY-BLOAK, a fancy or sporting man. Fake, to cheat, or swindle; to do anything; to go on, or continue; to make or construct; to steal, i i used. Faked, done, or done for; " fake away, there's no down; " go on, there is nobody looking. Afaykew Bays it is from the Latin, fa&mentum. Gaelic, faigh, to get, acquire, reach. Fakement, a false begging petition, any act of robbery, swindling, or de- ception. Fakement Charley, the owner's private marl' Faker, one who makes or fakes anything. " Fake a cly," to pick a pocket. Family men, or people, thieves, or burglars. SLANG, CAXT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 131 FANNING, a beating. FAN-QUI, a European; literally, foreign devil. — Anglo-Chinese. FANTADLINS, pastry. FAN-TAIL, a dustman's hat. FARMER. In Suffolk this term is applied to the eldest son of the occupier of the farm. In London it is used derisively of a countryman, and denotes a farm-labourer, clodpole. Both senses are different from the general acceptation. FAST, gay. spreeish, unsteady, thoughtless, — an Americanism that has of late ascended from the streets to the drawing-room. The word has certainly now a distinct meaning, which it had not thirty years ago. Quick is the synonyme for fast, but a quick man would not convey the meaning of a fast man, — a person who, by late hours, gaiety, and continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast, and wears himself out. In polite society a fast young lady is one who affects mannish habits, or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment, — talks Slang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs, horses, &c. An amusing anecdote is told of a fast young lady, the daughter of a right reverend prelate, who was an adept in horse- flesh. Being desirous of ascertaining the opinion of a candidate for ordination, who had the look of a bird of the same feather, as to the merits of some cattle just brought to her father's palace for her to select from, she was assured by him they were utterly unfit for a lady's use. "With a knowing look at the horses' points, she gave her decision in these choice words, " Well, I agree with you ; they are a rum lot, as the devil said of the ten commandments." Charles Dickens, in the Christmas number of All the Year Round for 1859, says that "fast," when applied to a young man, is only another word for loose, as he understands the term; and the Saturday Review for July 28, i860, defines a fast girl as a woman who has lost her respect for men, and for whom men have lost their respect also. FAST, embarrassed, wanting money, tied up. Synonymous with hard up. — Yorkshire. FAT, a printer's term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as full or unbroken pages. This work afforded much FAT for the printers. FAT, rich, abundant, &c. ; "a fat lot ;" "to cut it fat," to exaggerate, to show off in an extensive or grand manner, to assume undue importance ; " cut up fat," see under cut. As a Theatrical term, a part with plenty of fat in it is one which affords the actor an opportunity of effective display. FAVOURITE, the horse that has the lowest odds laid against it in the betting list. When the favourite wins, the public generally are the gainers. When an outsider wins, the ring, that is to say, the persons who make a business of betting, are generally the gainers. Father, or fence, a buyer of stolen property. Fawney, a finger ring. Irish, fainee, a ring. 1 3 2 A DICTIOXA R Y OF MODERN" FEATHERS, money, wealth; "in full feather," rich. FEED, a meal, generally a dinner. — Stable Slang. FEEDER, a spoon.— Old Cant. FEELE, a daughter, or child. — Corrupted French. FELLOW-COMMOXER, uncomplimentary epithet used at Cambridge for an empty bottle. FELT, a bat. — Old term, in use m the sixteenth centum/. FEN-NIGHTINGALES, toads and frogs, from their continued croaking at nigbt. FERINGEE, a European. — Anglo-Indian, FERRICADOUZER, a knock-down blow, a good thrashing. Probably derived, through the Lingua Franca, from the Italian, fah' oadjbr' morto, to knock down dead. FEW, used in a SI 1: -''1 >on't you call this considerably jolly f" "I b< Another expression of the same kind is RATHER, W b FIB, to 1 eat, or Btrike. FIBBING, a series of blows delivered quickly, and at a short distance. — . FIDDLE, a whip. FIDDLE, ' ad fiddle," to act subordinately, or succumb to another. FIDDLE-FA* !E, a person with a wis ncd countenance. FIDDLE-FADDLE, twaddle, or trilling discourse.— Old Cant. FIDDLER, or pabob, a farthing. Fawney boun ino, selling rings .■ er. This practice is founded upon the old tale of a g< atleman laying a wager that if he " real gold - ' at a penny a-piece at the foot of 1. Bridge, the English public would be tec incredulous to buy. Th-j story states that the gentleman stationed himself with sovereigns on a tea bray, and sold only two within the hour, — winning the bet. tale the FAWJ > tell the public, unly offering brass, double gilt-rings, instead of sovereigns. Fawney, or fawney bio, ring-dropping. A few years ago, this practice, or Rio, was very common. A fellow purposely dropped a ring, or a pocket-book with some little articles of jewellery, &c, in it, and when lie saw any person pick it up, ran to claim half. The ring found, the question of how the booty was to be divided had then to be de The FAWNEY says, " If you will give me eight or nine shillings for my share, the things are yours." This the flat thinks very fair. The ring of course is valueless, and the swallower of the bait discovers the trick too late. Fence, or fencer, a purchaser or receiver of stolen goods; fence, the shop or warehouse of a fencer. — Old Cant. Fence, to sell or pawn stolen property to a fencer. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 133 FIDDLER, a sixpence.— TTouseliold Words, No. 183. FIDDLER, a sharper, a cheat ; also one who dawdles over little matter?, and neglects great ones. FIDDLERS' GREEN, the place where sailors go to when they die. It is a place of fiddling, dancing, rum, and tobacco, and is undoubtedly the land OF cocaigne, mentioned in mediseval manuscripts. FIDDLERS' MONEY, a lot of sixpences; 6d. was the remuneration to fiddlers from each of the company in old times. FIDDLE STICKS ! an exclamation signifying nonsense. FIDDLING, doing any odd jobs in the streets^ holding horses, carrying parcels, &c. , for a living. Among the middle classes, fiddling means idling away time, or trifling ; and amongst sharpers, it means gam- bling. FID FAD, a game similar to chequers, or drafts, played in the West of England. FIELD-LANE DUCK, a baked sheep's-head. Field Lane is a low London thoroughfare, leading from the foot of Holborn Hill to the purlieus of Clerkenwell. It was formerly the market for stolen pocket-handkerchiefs. FIERA-FACIAS, a red-faced man is often jocularly said to have been served, with a writ of fieri-facias. FI-FA, a writ of Fiera-Facias. — Legal. FI-FI, Mr Thackeray's term for Paul de Kock's novels, and similar modern French literature. FIG, "in full fig," i.e., full-dress costume, "extensively got up." Possibly an allusion to the primeval dress of our first parents, or else an abbre- viation of figure, in the references to plates in books of fashions. FIG, " to fig a horse," to play improper tricks with one in order to make him lively. FIGARO, a barber. FIGURE, " to cut a good or bad figure," to make a good or indifferent appearance; "what's the figure?" how much is to pay? Figure- head, a person's face. — Sea term. FILCH, to steal, or purloin. Originally a Cant word, derived from the filches, or hooks, thieves used to carry, to hook clothes, or any portable articles from open windows. — Vide Lecher. It was con- sidered a Cant or Gipsy term up to the beginning of the last century. Harman has " fylche, to robbe." FILE, a deep or artful man, a jocose name for a cunning person. Origin- ally a term for a pickpocket, when to file was to cheat or rob. File, an artful man, was used in the thirteenth and fourteenth cen- turies. FILLIBRUSH, to flatter, praise ironically. FIMBLE-FAMBLE, a lame, prevaricating excuse. — Scandinavian. Fidlum ben, thieves who take anything they can lay their hands upon. 134 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN FIN, a hand; "come, tip us your fin," viz., let us shake hands. — Sea. FINUF, a five-pound note. Double flnuf, a ten-pound note. — German, funf, five. FIRE-EATER, a "swell" of any kind, a braggadocio or turbulent person who is always ready to fight. FISH, a person; " a queer fish," " a loose FISH," &c. FISHi r , doubtful, unsound, rotten — a term used to denote a suspicion of a "screw being loose/' or " something rotten in the state of Denmark," in alluding t" an unsafe speculation. FIVES, "bunch of fives," the fist. FIVE FINGERS, the five of trumps, at the game of Five-cards, or Don. FIX, a predicament, dilemma; "an awful fix," a terrible position; "to fix one's flint for him," his hash" " put a spoke in his v. In ■<•!." I'IZ. champagne, v FIZZIN • >hymous with BTUsnmrck FLABERGAST, or b .., or strike with wonder.—- Old. FLA4 \, l'I.A< ;. .in apron. FLA( I i >F DIS hiri pro- tru - FLAM, nonsense, blarney, a lie. — Kentish ; A J-' LA.'.. FLANNEL, or HOT FLANNEL, the r gin and beer, drunk hot, with nutmeg, to told in company with George Park r, and a demure, grave- looking gentleman, who continually inti >m the ting all this while with a hangm i FLARE DP, a jovial Bocial gathering, a "break down," a u i FLASH. . A person is said ( I FLASH when his garb is si but without taste. A | hen he apes the . or when he is trying to [s friends and l I also means "fast," roguish, and sometimes infers counterfeit or deceptive, — and thi haps, is its general signification. " Flash, my young friend, or as others call it, is the classical language of the Holy Land; in other Finder, one who finds bacon and :. . they are lost, . -reals them. Flam, a ring. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 35 words, St Giles's Greek." — Tom and Jerry, by Moncre'ff. Vulgar lan- guage was first termed flash in the year 173 8, by Hitchin, author of " The Reyu.la.tor of Thieves, $*c., with account of flash words." FLASH IT, show it — said when any bargain is offered. FLASH-O'-LIGHTXING, the gold band on an officer's cap.— Sea. FLAT, a fool, a silly or " soft" person, the opposite of sharp. The terms appear to be shortenings for "sharp-witted" and " flat-witted." " Oh, Messrs Tyler, Donelson, and the rest, what flats you are ! " —Tunes, 5th September 1847. FLATS, playing cards. Also called broads. FLATTY, a rustic, or uninitiated person. FLAT-FEET, the battalion companies in the Foot Guards. FLEMISH ACCOUNT.— Ota. Still used by sailors for a tangled and unsatisfactory account or reckoning. FLESH-AND-BLOOD, brandy and port in equal quantities. FLESH-LAG, a shirt. FLICK, or old flick, a comical old chap or fellow. FLICK, or flig, to whip by striking, and drawing the lash back at the same time, which causes a stinging blow. FLIES, trickery, nonsense. " There are no flies about me, sir." Con- nected with fly, wide-awake, &c. FLIM-FLAM, an idle story. — Beaumont and Fletcher. FLIMSY, a bank-note. See the following. FLIMSY, the thin prepared copying-paper used by newspaper reporters and " penny-a-liners" for making several copies at once, thus ena- bling them to supply different papers with the same article without loss of time. — Printer s term. FLINT, an operative who works for a "society" master, i.e., for full wages. FLIP, corruption of fillip, a light blow. FLIPPER, the hand ; " give us your flipper," give me your hand. — Sea. Metaphor taken from the flipper or paddle of a turtle. FLOATER, a small suet dumpling put into soup. — Whitechapel. FLOG, to whip. Cited both by Grose and the author of Bacchus and Venus as a Cant word. It would be curious to ascertain the earliest use ; Richardson cites Lord Chesterfield. — Latin. Flatty-ken, a public-house, the landlord of which is ignorant of the practices of the thieves and tramps who frequent it. Flimp, to hustle, or rob. Flip-flaps, a peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers when merry or excited — better described, perhaps, as the double shuffle, danced with an air of extreme abandon. Originally a kind of somersault, in which the performer throws himself over on his hands and feet alternately. — Showman's Slang. Floating Academy, the hulks. 136 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN FLOGGER, a whip. — Almost obsolete: FLOOR, to knock down. — Pugilistic. FLOORED, when a picture is hung on the lowest row at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, it is in artistic Slang said to be FLOORED, in con- tra-distinction to skyed, which see. FLOORER, a blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down. FLOP, plump ; " to go flop down," to fall suddenly, and with violence and noise. FLOWERY, lodging, or house entertainment; "square the omee for the F!.' the master for the lodging. — Lingua Franca. FLUE-FAKER, a chimney-sweep ; also applied to low .-parting characters, who are so termed from their chiefly betting on the Great Sweeps. FLUFF IT, a term of disapprobation, implying "take it away, I don't want it." FLUKE, at billiards, playing for one thing and getting another. Hence, generally wh ntally, an unexpected advantage, "more by luck than wit." FLUMMERY, fl ittery, gammon, genteel nonsense. FLUMMUX, to perplex, hi d up. FLUNKEY, a 1" >tman, servant. — Scotch. FLUSH, the < OF, in possession of money, not poverty- stricken— v FLUSH, to whip; "FLUSHED on the horse," to be privately whipped in jail. FLY, knowing, wide-awake, fully understanding another's meaning. FLY, to lift, toss, or 'fpence; "to fly a window," i.r., to lift one for the purpose of stealing. "FLY THE KITE," or "RAISE toe wind," to obtain money on bills, whether good or bad, alluding to tossing paper about as children do a kite. " FLY THE KITE," to evacuate from a window, — term used in padding- kens, or low lodging-ho FLYING-MARE, a throw in wrestling. FLYING-MESS, "to be in PLYING mess" is ph rase for being hungry and having to rne^s where he can. — Military. FLYING STATIONER, a paper-worker, hawker of penny ballads; " Printed for the is the imprimatur on hundreds of penny histories and sheet songs of the last and present centuries. Flumxuxed, done up, sure of a month in QUOD, or prison. In mendicant freemasonry, the sign chalked by rogues and tramps upon a gate-post or house corner, to express to succeeding v unsafe for them to call there, is known as 0, or flummuxed, which .-:. that the only thing they would be likely to get upon applying for relief would be a " month in quod." — S'ee qt;od. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 37 FLYMY, knowing, cunning, roguish. — Seven Dials and Low Life. /■FOALED, " thrown from a horse." — Hunting term. — See purled and spilt. FOGEY, or old fogey, a dullard, an old-fashioned or singular person. Grose says it is a nickname for an invalid soldier, from the French, FOCRGEAUX, fierce or fiery, but it has lost this signification npw. Fogger, old word for a huckster or servant. FOGGY, tipsy. FOGLE, a silk handkerchief — not a CLOUT, which is of cotton. It has been hinted that this may have come from the German, vogel, a bird, from the "bird's-eye spots on some handkerchiefs, [see bird's-eye- wipe under billy,] but a more probable derivation is the Italian Slang (Fourbesque), foglia, a pocket, or purse ; or from the French Argot, fouille, also a pocket. FOGUS, tobacco. — Ancient Cant. Fogo, old word for stench. FOONT, a sovereign, or 20s. FOOTING, " to pay footing." — See shoe. FORAKERS, the closet of decency, or house of office. — Term used by the boys at Winchester school. FORK OUT, to bring out one's money, to pay the bill, to " stand for" or treat a friend ; to hand over what does not belong to you. — Old Cant term for picking pockets, and very curious it is to trace its origin. In the early part of the last century, a little book was published on pur- loining, and of course it had to give the latest modes. Forking was the newest mode, and it consisted in thrusting the fingers stiff and open into the pocket, and then quickly closing them and extracting any article thus caught. FORKS, or grappling-irons, fingers. FORTY-FOOT, a derisive appellation for a very short person. FORTY-GUTS, vulgar term for a fat man. FORTY-TWA, the common place of retirement on a well-known French plan at Edinburgh, so called from its accommodating that number of persons at once. FORTY WINKS, a short sleep or nap. FOU, slightly intoxicated. — Scotch. FOUR-AND-NINE, or four-and-nlnepenny goss, a cheap hat, so called from 4s. o,d., the price at which a noted advertising hat-maker sold his hats — " Whene'er to slumber you incline, Take a short nap at 4 and 9." — 1844. " FOUR KINGS, history of the," an old name for a pack of playing cards. See Sir Thomas Urquharfs Translation of Rabelais. In Argot, livre des quatre rois. FOUNTY, water, — from " fountain," probably. — North. FOURTH, or fourth court, the court appropriated to the water-closets at Cambridge ; from its really being No. 4 at Trinity College. A man leaving his room to go to this fourth court, writes on his door, in 138 A DICTIONARY OF MODE EX algebraic notation, gone 4 , which expresses the Cambridge Slang phrase, " gone to the fourth." FOX, to cheat or rob. — Eton College. FOXED, a terra used by print and book collectors to denote the brown spotted appearance produced by damp on paper. FOXING, when one actor criticises another's performance. — Theatrical. FOX'S SLEEP, or FOXING, purposely assumed indifference to what is going on. A fox is said to Bleep with one eye open. FOXY, rank, tainted, from the odour of the animal. — Lincolnshire. FOXY, said also of a FRAPPING, a beating. . rrt. FREE-i blic-1 the members of which. meet in the r parlour forthe purpose of drinking, smoking, an balk publics." The name indicates the cha FREEMAN'S QUAY -.v." ir., at another's This quay ; which was given gratis to :i who went there on bu- in INCH CREAM, bi mdy. FRENCH LEAVE, -'yly, without saying anything. FRESHMAN, a Uni r. The official appel- lation forth until they have passed the Previous or First Uni. . otherwise called tl . Little Go, in Juni < until their last term, when they are Questionists, or preparing " ad r . FR1ZJ ■man. FRONTISPIECE, the face. FRi >W, a girl, or wife. German, rn.\r; Dutch, vbouw. FRUMMAGEMMED, annihilated, strangled, garroted, or spoilt— Old Cant. FRUMP, a - man, a gossip. — An FRUMP, to mock or insult. — Beaumont and Fid her. F SHARPS, fleas. Compare B flats. FUDGE, nonsense, stupidity. Todd a. n only trace the word to Goldsmith. Disraeli, however, gives the origin to a Captain Fudge, Fox, to watch in the streets for any occurrence which may b^ turned to a profitable account. — See MOOCHING. Free, to steal — generally applied to horses. Frisk, to search ; frisked, searched by a constable or other officer. "Frlsk. a CLY," to empty a p. ... SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 139 a great fibber, who told monstrous stories, which made his crew say in answer to any improbability, " you fudge it ! " — See Remarks on the Navy, 1700. At page 87 of A Collection of some papers of William Crouch, (8vo, 1 7 12,) the Quaker, we find a mention of this Captain. Degory Marshall informed Crouch that — "In the year 1664 we were sentenced for banishment to Jamaica by Judg-es .1 Twisden, and our number was 55. We were put on board the ship Black Eagle ; the master's name was Fudge, by some called Lying FUDGE." A correspondent asserts that, in his belief, the word comes from the Gaelic, FFUG, deception. FUGGIES, hot rolls.— School. FULLAMS, false dice, which always turn up high. — Shalspeare. FULLY, "to be fullied," to be committed for trial. From the Slang of the penny-a-liner, " the prisoner was fully committed for trial." FUNK, trepidation, nervousness, cowardice. To funk, to be afraid or nervous. FUNK, to smoke out. — North. '•FUNKING THE COBBLEE," a schoolboy's trick, performed with asa- fcetida and cotton stuffed into a hollow tube or cow's horn. The cot- ton being lighted, the smoke is blown in through the keyhole of a door, or the crannies of a cobbler's stall. FUNNY-BONE, the extremity of the elbow — or rather, the rrwifirle which passes round it between the two bones, a blow on which causes pain- ful tingling in the fingers. Facetiously derived, from its being the ex- tremity of the humerus, (humorous.) FYE-BUCK, a sixpence. — Nearly obsolete. GAB, gabber, or gabble, talk; "gift of the gab," loquacity, or natural talent for speech-making. — Anglo-Norman ; gab is also found in the Danish and Old Norse. GAD, a trapesing, slatternly woman. — Gipsy. Anglo-Saxon, g^deling. " GADDING THE HOOF," going without shoes. Gadding, roaming about, although used in an old translation of the Bible, is now only heard amongst the lower orders. GAFF, a fair, or penny play-house. — See penny gaff. GAFFEE, a master, or employer; term used by "navvies," and general in Lancashire and North of England. Early English for an old man. See " blow the gaff." GAFFING, tossing halfpence, or counters. — North, where it means tossing up three pennies. GAG, language introduced by an actor into his part. In certain pieces this is allowed by custom, and these are called gag-pieces. The Critic, or a Tragedy Rehearsed, is one of these. Many actors, however, take French leave in this respect with most pieces. — Theatrical Slang. Mb Robsost at Belfast.— We (Northern Whiff) suspected a little bit of what is professionally termed "gag" in Mr Robson's Daddy Sardacre last night. 140 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN He had occasion to say that one of the characters in the piece " understands roe well enough," to which he added — " I wish some other people did the same," with an expressive glance at the pit ; which we interpreted as hav- ing special reference to those appreciative persons in the audience whom we have already mentioned, who think it absolutely needful to roar with laughter at every sentence Mr Robson utters, without the least regard to whether it he humorous or pathetic — only because Mr Robson has fame as a comic actor.— Jan. 1863, GAG, to hoax, " take a rise " out of one ; to cod. GAGE, a small quantity of anything ; as " a gage of tobacco," meaning a pipeful ; "a gage of gin," a glassful. GALENY, old Cant term for a fowl of any kind; now a respectable word in the West of England, signifying a Guinea fowl. — Vide Grose. Latin, GALL1XA. GALLAVANT, t< wait upon the ladies.— Old. GALLIMAUFRY, a kind of stew made up of .-craps of various kinds. (■ALL Il'fiT, an apothecacy. GALLON ing exclamation; "gallows GALORE, abundai Tri '•. oo lbor, in pl< GAMB, 1] as by thi- it it from tl GAME, a term variously applied; "are you •■ you courage ■ little GAME?" what are you going to do? ne of your games," be quiet, don't annoy me; ''on the • thieving, GAME LEG, a lame or wounded leg. GAMMON, deceit, humbug, a false and ridiculous atory. Anglo- •it. GAMM01 T <> deceive merrily, to laugh at a ] II an un- true . to make game of, or, in tl. ■ iialect, ke game on ; " who's thou makin' thy gam' u>' ? " i.e., who are I of ? — Yorkshire. CAM MY. ba i, unfavourable, poor tempered. Those householders who are know n *he street folk and tramps are pronounced by them to be gammy. ( rAMHY .-ometirnes means forged, as " gammy-mon ;nature; gammy stuff, spurious medicine; gammy lowr, counter! :r, dirty. The hieroglyphic used by - - rs to intimate to those of the tribe coming after that arable is known as Q, or gammy. Gaelic, oked, bad. GANDER MONTH, the period when the monthly nurse is in the ascend- ant, and the husband has to shift for himself. . lie : "a gag he told to the beak." — Thi -■..•■' Cant. Gammy a town where the police will not let persons hawk. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 141 GANGER, the person who superintends the work of a gang, or a number of navigators. GAPE-SEED, something to look at ; a lazy fellow, unmindful of his work, is said to be "looking for gape-seed." GAR, euphuistic rendering of the title of the Deity ; " be gar, you don't say so !" — Franco- English. GARDEN, among tradesmen signifies Covent Garden Market ; among thea- trical performers, Covent Garden Theatre. GARDENER, an awkward coachman ; an insinuation that he is both coach- man and gardener, and understands the latter branch of service better than the first; "get on, gardener," is a most insulting expression from a cabby to a real coachman. GARGLE, medical-student Slang for drinkables. GARNISH, the douceur or fee which, before the time of Howard the phil- anthropist, was exacted by the keepers of gaols from their unfortunate prisoners for extra comforts. GARNISH, footing-money. — Yorkshire. GARRET, the head. GARROTING, a mode of cheating practised amongst card-sharpers, by concealing certain cards at the back of the neck. GAS, " to give a person gas," to scold him or give him a good beating. Synonymous with "to give him jessie." GASSY, or gaseous, liable to " flare up " at any offence. GATE, the, Bilingsgate. GATE-RACE, among pedestrians a mock race, got up not so much for the best runner to win, but for the money taken from spectators at the gate. GATTER, beer ; " shant of gatter," a pot of beer. A curious Slang street melody, known in Seven Dials as Bet, the Coaley's Daughter, thus men- tions the word in a favourite verse : — ■ "But when I strove my flame to tell, Says she, ' Come, stow that patter, If you're a cove wot likes a gal, Vy don't you stand some gatter ? ' In course I instantly complied — Two brimming quarts of porter, With four goes of gin beside, Drain'd Bet the Coaley's daughter." GAWF, a cheap red-skinned apple, a favourite fruit with costermongers, who rub them well with a piece of cloth, and find ready purchasers. GAWKY, a lanky, or awkward person; a fool. Saxon, geac; Scotch, GOWK. GAY, loose, dissipated; " gat woman," a kept mistress or prostitute. Garreter, a thief who crawls over the tops of houses and enters garret- windows. Called also a dancer, or dancing-master. Garret, the fob pocket. — Prison term. 142 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN GAY-TYKE-BOY, a dog-fancier. GEE, to agree with, or be congenial to a person. GEELOOT, a recruit, or awkward soldier. GEN, a shilling. Also, gent, silver. Abbreviation of the French, argent. GENT, a contraction of "gentleman," — in more senses than one. A dressy, showy, foppish man, with a little mind, who vulgarises the prevailing fashion. CENT. silv< r. From the French, argent. "GENTLEMAN OP FOUR OUTS;" in Ireland when a mlgar, bluster. ing fellow asserta that he is a gentleman, the retort generally is, '• V' HAD OF FOUR OUTS— that IS, without wit, without money, without credit, and without maim " GENTLEMAN OF THREE INNS "-that is, in debt, in danger, and in ' : tv - oera] term in Northumberland and Durham for a pitman, or coal-miner. '.noun; the term has been in use mora than a bury. < IERMA N DUCK, rite dish among the German Bugar-bakers in bl of London. GERMAN ]>' GET-UPj i "ral arrangements. Probably de i '1 '}'• Lease the town, town." — PI . of Parnassus. GHOST, "the GHOST doesn't walk." i.e. the manager is too poor to pay salaries as yet.- — Ti vk, No. 183. (ili'.F.V I wer lip of ahorse; "to hang one's gib," to pout the lower lip, be angry or sullen. GIBBERISH, unm- ; the language of the ( nymous with // word. Somner Bays, "Fret : and our own gab, GABBER; hence also. I take it, our GIBBERISH, a kind of canting _' them- . formed by | jonant between each syllable, of a word, and is called the GD E the letter inserted. Thus, if F were the it would l-e termed the F GIBBERISH ; if L, the L GIBBEBISB the sentence, "How do you do ' — Hovel dol A gibbkrish is sometim- - adding vis to each word, in which the previous sentence would be — "J! - ■, France form a gibberish, in a somewhat similar manner, by elongating their words two syllables, in the first of which an r, in the second a g, predo- minates. Thus the words vous £te$ un fou are spoken, rorudregue esdregue tmdregue foudrcguc. Fast persons in Paris, of both sexe3, frequently adopt terminations of this kind, from some popular Bong, act-.-r, exhibition, or political event. In 1530, the favourite termina- SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 43 tion was mar, saying epi^emar for epicier, cofemar for cafe. In 1823, when the diorama created a sensation in Paris, the people spoke in rama (on parlait en rama.) In Balzac s beautiful tale, Le Pere Goriot, the young painter at the hoarding-house dinner-table mystifies the landlady by saying, " what a beautiful soupcaurama / " To which the old woman replies, to the great laughter of the company, " I beg your pardon, sir, it is une soupe a choux." GIFFLE-GAFFLE, nonsense. See chaff. Icelandic, gafla. GIG, a farthing. Formerly grig. GIG, fun, frolic, a spree. Old French, gigue, a jig, a romp. " In search of lark, or some delicious gig, Tue mind delights on, when 'tis in prime ttcig." — Randall's Diary, 1820. " No heirs have I," said mournful Matt ; But Tom, still fond of gig, Cried out, " No hairs ? don't fret at that, "When you can buy a wig." GIGLAMPS, spectacles. In my first edition I stated this to be a Univer- sity term. Mr Cuthbert Bede, however, in a communication to Notes and Queries, of which I have availed myself in the present edition, says — " If the compiler has taken this epithet from Verdant Green, I can only say that 1 consider the word not to be a ' University' word in general, but as only due to the inventive genius of Mr Bouncer in par- ticular." The term, however, has been adopted, and is now in general use. GILL, a homely woman ; " Jack and gill," &c. — Ben Jonson. GILLS, the lower part of the face. — Bacon. " To grease one's GILLS," " to have a good feed," or make a hearty meal. GILLS, a shirt collar. GILT, money. German, geld; _Di^cA,-gelt. GIMCRACK, a bijou, a slim piece of mechanism. Old Slang for " a spruce wench." — New Bailey. "GIN-AND-GOSPEL GAZETTE," the Morning Advertiser, so called from its being the organ of the Dissenting party, and of the Licensed Victuallers' Association. Sometimes termed the tap-tub, or the 'tizer. GINGER, a showy, fast horse — as if he had been figged with ginger under his tail. GINGERLY, to do anything with great care. — Cotgrave. GINGER HACKLED, having flaxen light yellow hair.— See hackle. GINGUMBOB, a bauble. " GIRNIGO-GABY THE CAT'S COUSIN," a reproachful expression said to a crying child. GIVE, to strike, to scold; " I '11 give it to you," i.e., I will thrash you. GLADSTONE, cheap claret, since that popular Chancellor of the Exchequer has reduced the duty on French wines. Gift, any article which has been stolen, and afterwards sold at a low price. 144 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN GLASGOW MAGISTRATE, a salt herring.— Scotch. GLAZE, glass; generally applied to windows. GLIB, a tongue ; " slacken your glib," i.e., " loosen your tongue." GLIM, alight, a lamp; "dowse the glim," put out the candle. — Sea and Old Cant. Glims, spectacles. Gaelic, glinn, light. German, (pro- vincial,) GLIMM, a spark. GLOAK, a man. — Scotch. GLUM, sulky, stern; " to look GLUM," to appear annoyed or disconcerted. GLUMP, to sulk. GLUMPISH, of a stubborn, sulky temper. GNOSTIC, a knowing one, or "sharper." — Xear!>/ obsolete in this vulyar sense. GO, a go of -rin, a quartern of that liquor. (This word, aa applied I sure of liqi pondent t«> bare arisen from the following i -Two well-known i of a tavern to have a "wet" together. "One i -1 then we'll oo " was re] band, that in tin- end oo :' them, and bo the word into : nymous with circumstance or occur- • go," signify curious and remark- : "no oo," no good; "hen go! "here's a troul . the jump," *■■> enter -he window; "all the gu," in fashion. — See little go ; al ::imen (says be,) you all well h meet ; t GO, And rightly uaiacd, 'tis— 'quite a treat.'" — Jack RandalVs Diary, 1820. "GO DUE NORTH," to become bankrupt, to go to Whitecrosa Street, GOB, the mouth ; mucus, or saliva. — North. Sometimes need for gad, talk— " There was a man c .'.'. It in the land 1 : .'.nc cuio bappej Zack Eovd. Gaelic — gab and gdb, a mouth. See gab. GOB, a portion. " GOD BLESS THE DUKE OF ABGYLE ! " a Scottish insinuation made when one shrugs his shoulders, of its being caused by parasites or cutaneous ;.. See scotch fiddle, scotch GREYS. It is said to have been originally the thankful exclamation of the Glasgow folks, at finding a certain row of iron posts, erected by his grace in that city to mark the division of his property, very convenient to rub against. Glim Lurk, a begging paper, giving a certified account of a dreadful fire — which never happened. Go-along, a thief. — Household Words, No. 1S3. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 145 GODS, the people in the upper gallery of a theatre; "up amongst the gods," a seat amongst the low persons in the gallery — so named from the high position of the gallery, and the blue sky generally painted on the ceiling of the theatre ; termed by the French, paradis. GODS, the quadrats used by printers in throwing on the imposing stone, similar to the movement in casting dice. — Printer s term. GO IT, a term of encouragement, implying, "keep it up!" Sometimes amplified to go it, te cripples ; said to have been a facetious render- ing of the last line of Virgil's Eclogues — ■ " Ite domum Saturae, Yenit Hesperus, He capellce;" Or, " GO IT, TE CRIPPLES, CRUTCHES ARE CHEAP." GOLDFINCH, a sovereign. GOLGOTHA, a hat, "place of a skull." Hence the "Don's gallery," at St Mary's, Cambridge. — Vide skull. GOL-MOL, noise, commotion. — Anglo-Indian. GOLOPSHUS, splendid, delicious, luscious. — Norwich. GONNOF, or gun, a fool, a bungler, an amateur pickpocket. A corre- spondent thinks this may be a corruption of gone off, on the analogy of go-along ; but the term is really as old as Chaucer s time. During Rett's rebellion in Norfolk, in the reign of Edward VI., a song was sung by the insurgents in which the term occurs : — "The country gnoffes, Hob, Dick, and Hick, "With clubbes and clouted shoon, Shall fill up Dussyn dale With slaughter" d bodies soone." GOOD-WOMAN", a not uncommon public-house sign, representing a woman without a head, — the ungallant allusion is that she cannot scold. The honest lawyer, another sign, is depicted in the same manner. GOOSE, a tailor's pressing iron. — Originally a Slang term, but now in most dictionaries. GOOSE ; " Paddy's goose," i.e., the white swan. GOOSE, "to cook his goose," to kill him ; the same as "to give him his gruel," or "settle his hash." GOOSE, "to get the goose," "to be goosed," signifies to be hissed while on the stage. The big-bird, the terror of actors. — See big-bird. — Theatrical. GOOSE, to ruin, or spoil; to hiss a play. — Theatrical. GOOSEBERRY, to "play up old gooseberry" with any one, to defeat or silence a person in a quick or summary manner. GOOSECAP, a booby, or noodle, — Devonshire. GOOSER, a settler, or finishing blow. GO-OVER, in clerical Slang, signifies to join the Church of Rome. GORMED, a Norfolk corruption of a profane oath. So used by Mr Peg- gotty, one of Dickens's characters. GORGER, a swell, a well-dressed, or gorgeous man — probably derived from K 146 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN that word. Sometimes employed in the sense of an employer, or prin- cipal, as the manager of a theatre. GOSPEL-GRINDER, a city missionary, or tract-distribntor. GOSS, a hat — from the gossamer silk with which modern hats are made. GOSS, "to give a man GOSS," to requite for an injury, to beat, or kill him. GOUROCK HAM, salt herrings. Gourock, on the Clyde, about twenty- live miles from Glasgow, was formerly a great fishing village. — Scotch, GOVERNMENT SIGN-POST, the gallows. ( JOVERNl 'I!, a father, a master or superior person, an elder; "which way, cuy'nki:, to Chea] - GOWLER, a dog. — North Country ■ ■■/. GROWLER, GOWNSM AX. a student at one of the ui »n of the town, not connected with "GOWN AN J) TOWN ROW," a fight between the students and townsmen at Cambridge. c, EtAB, to <■! .■ tnded. GRABBER, the hand. GRACE-CARD I in Ireland. A Kilkenny sman, named I 'royal favour, William Hi., gave the following answer, writ- 1 ahal Schom- -. who li id I 1 roposal to him : — mour and con are dearer to a gentleman than all the wealth and titles a prha IW." GRAET, to work; "where are you grafting?" it., where do you live, or work? GRANNY, importance, knowledge, pride: "take the cranny off them as has wl If-conceit. — Max fhew, voLL, p. 304. ( : HAN XV. a knot which will not hold, from its being wrongly and clumsily • GRANNY, to know, or recognise; "do ye gh^:k Ilia GOOSE." GftJLFED, a University term, denoting that a man is unable to enter fur the 1 1 from having failed in the mathematical.* Cand honours were compelled to ;, r <> in for both exa- Lteration of the arrangements, the term is now obsolete. GULL, to cheat, deceive ; also, one easily ch< GULl'lX, a weak, en d . ill gulp down anything. GUMMY, thick, fat — generally applied to a woman's ankles, or to a man wh him a drunkard. : [ON, or Ri »mprehenaion l capacity. From 1 I rehi nd; •• 1 canna QAUGBit] ami 1 cannaOAUM it," as a Yorkshire a hedgehog. GUNNER'S DAUGHTER, a term facetioualy applied to the method of punishing boya In the Royal Navy by tying them securely to the breech of a cannon, so as to present the proper part convenient for the cat. and flogging them. This is called "marrying" or "kissing the :i:r." GUP, -, r «8ip. — Anglo-Im GURRAWAUN, a coachman, a native Indian corruption of the English word coachman. For another curious corruption of a similar kind, B ; mk 1 n . — A nglo-In diet n . GUT-SCRAPER, a tiddler. GUTTER BLOOD, a low or vulgar num.— Scotch. GUTTER LANE, the throat. GUY, a fright, a dowdy, an ill-dressed person. Derived from the effigy of Guy Fawkes carried about by \ 0. * These men's names appeared in the list of "Degrees Allowed." The name "Gclf" for this list is said to have arisen from the boast of a former "wooden spoon." " I would have you to know there is a great gulf between me and the cap- tain of the poll." Gully-rakers, cattle thieves in Australia, the cattle being stolen out of almost inaccessible valleys, there termed gullies. Gurrell, a fob. — Westminster Sluins. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 49 GYP, an undergraduate's valet at Cambridge. Corruption of gypsy joe, (Saturday Review;) popularly derived by Cantabs from the Greek, gyps, {yvfy,) a vulture, from their dishonest rapacity. At Oxford they are called SCOUTS. HACKLE, " to show hackle," to be willing to fight. Hackles are the long feathers on the back of a cock's neck, which he erects when angry, — hence the metaphor. HACKSLAVER, to stammer in one's speech, like a dunce at his lesson. HADDOCK, a purse.— See beans. HAKIM, a medical man. — Anglo-Indian. HALF-A-BEAN, half-a-sovereign. HALF-A-BULL, two shillings and sixpence. HALF-A-COUTER, half-a-sovereign. HALF-A-HOG, sixpence; sometimes termed half-a-grunter. HALF-A-TUSHEROON, half-a-crown. HALF-AND-HALF, a mixture of ale and porter, much affected by medical students ; occasionally Latinised into dimidium dlmidiumqtje. — See cooper. HALF-BAKED, soft, doughy, half-witted, silly. Half-rocked has a simi- lar meaning. HALF-FOOLISH, ridiculous ; means often wholly foolish. HALF- JACK.— See jacks. HALF-MOURNING, to have a black eye from a blow. HALF-ROCKED, silly, half-witted. — Compare half-baked. HALF-SEAS-OVER, reeling drunk.— Sea. Used by Swift. HALL, the Leadenhall Market; the same as "the garden" refers to Covent Garden. HAND, a workman, or helper, a person. " A COOL hand," explained by Sir Thomas Overbury to be "one who accounts bashfulness the wickedest thing in the world, and therefore studies impudence." HANDER, a second, or assistant, in a piize fight. HANDICAP. Handicapping, in racing affairs, now signifies the adjudg- ment of various weights to horses differing in age, power, and speed, to place them as much as possible on an equality, and thereby enable one or all to have a fair chance of winning the race. The old game of handicap (hand i' the cap) is a very different affair ; and as it is now almost obsolete, being only played by gen- tlemen in Ireland, after hunting and racing dinners, when the wine has circulated pretty freely, merits a description here. It is played by three persons, in the following manner : — A wishes to obtain some article belonging to B, say a horse; and offers to "challenge" his watch against it. B agrees ; and C is chosen as handicapper to " make the award" — that is, to name the sum of money that the owner of the article of lesser value shall give with it, in exchange for the more Half-a-stretch, six months in prison. I50 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN valuable one. The three parties, A, B, and C, put down a certain stake each, and then the handicapper makes his award. If A and B are both satisfied with the award, the exchange is made between the horse and watch, and the handicapper wins, and takes up the stakes. Or if neither be satisfied with the award, the handicapper takes the stakes ; but if A be satisfied and B not, or rice versa, the party who declares himself satisfied gets the stakes. It is consequently the ob- ject of the handicapper to make .such award aa will cause the chal- lenger and • to be of the same mind; and considerable in- genuity is required and exhibited on hia part. The challenge having been e, each party puts hia hand Into a CAP or hat [or into hi while C makes the award, which h" pui . a mail- able. Tims, after hum 1 g the various : the superior gold . I the beautiful thorough- 1 half-crowns, thirte : :. : " A and B must instantly then draw out and open their h ode. If money appears in both, t) I, and the .■;■■ ad, they If money be only in one hand, alreai neither A nor B ai quick in thi . and not blowing «'ii the ■ the various sums in the award, ' : no money. As in this event the handicapper gets the stakes, the reason fur the complex nature- award is '■'!■ Wb ping has once commenced in a convivial party, it is .ke to refuse a So when th< and furious, 1 -hirts are challenge nbable scene of good-humoured joviall stent the true handicap. The application of the t D to make the av D equal 1 in power and speed for HANDLE, a nose; the fatli tine; also a term in boxing, '" to HANDLE on use them against an adversary. HANDLING, a method of concealing certain cards in the palm of the hand, one of the many modes of cheating practised by sb HAND-SAW, or " chiye-fe>*cer," a man who sells razors and knives in the streets. HANDSELLER, or cheap jack, a street or open-air seller, a man who carries goods to his customers, instead of waiting fur his customers to visit him. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 15 I HANG OUT, to reside, — in allusion to the ancient custom of hanging out signs. HANGMAN'S WAGES, thirteenpence halfpenny.— Old. i?th century. " 'Sfoot, what a witty rogue was this to leave this fair thirteenpence halfpenny, and this old halter," intimating aptly — " Ha i the hangman met us there, by these presages Here had buen his work, and here his waves." — Match at Midnight. Old Plays, vii. 357. HANNAH, " that's the man as married Hannah," a Salopian phrase to ' express a matter begun. HANSEL, or handsale, the lucky money, or first money taken in the morning by a pedlar. — Cockers Dictionary, 1724. " Legs of mutton (street term for sheep's trotters, or feet) two for a penny ; who '11 give me a HANSEL ? who '11 give me a hansel ? " — Cry at Cloth Fair at the present day. Hence, earnest money, first fruits, &c. In Norfolk, han- selling a thing is using it for the first time, as wearing a new coat, taking seizin of it, as it were. — Anglo-Saxon. Nich. Bailey. "HA'PURTH 0' COPPERS," Habeas Corpus.— Legal Slang. <•' HA'PURTH 0' LIVELINESS," the music at a low concert, or theatre. HARAMZADEH, a very general Indian term of contempt, signifying base- born. — Anglo-Indian. HARD LINES, hardship, difficulty. — Soldier's term for hard duty on the lines in front of the enemy. The editor of Notes and Queries proves Lines to have been formerly synonymous with Lots, from Ps. xvi. 6. — Bible version — " The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ; " Prayer-Book do. — " The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground." — Vol. xii., p. 2S7. HARDY, a stone.— North. HARD -UP, in distress, poverty stricken. — Sea. HARD-UP, a cigar-end finder, who collects the refuse pieces of smoked cigars from the gutter, and having dried them, sells them as tobacco to the very poor. HARRY, or old harry, (i.e., Old Hairy?) the Devil; "to play old harry with one," i.e., ruin or annoy him. HARRY-SOPH, (ep[cro or tail of it," ie, cannot make it out. HEAD-RAILS Sea. HEAD-SERAG, a m 1 tswain. — Bengalee, and Sea, HEAP, "a b ': all of a heap," Buddenly HEAT, a bout, or turn, in horse-racing; the gainer of two nEATS winning thr race. HEAVY DR ' '. in contradistinction to fleas, which are light INFANIUV.— I HEAVY WET, porter and beer,— because the more a man drinks of it, the heavier and more stupid he becomes. HEDGE, to secure a doubtful bet by making others. — Turf. Hedgixg, as a .-\ - : \Ki.vo. and 1. i'iit' HEDGER, : 1 r good judg- ment, selects, say, three horses, A, B, and C. likely to advance in the betth - 50 to 1 — say £iood I insteachoj them, As the race-day approaches the horse A may full out of the betting, from accM. re to be written off as a dead loss < 1 :.:o. But the , improve in public favour, ami the iiedger succeeds in . -.500 to £100 — against B, and 1 to 1 — say -500 to .t':p- against C. The account then stands thus — A is a certain loss of £20; but if B wins, the HEDGER will receive £1000 and pay £500; balance in favour, £500. If B loses, the iiedger will receive £100 and pay £20; balance in fa- vour, £So. If C wins, the hedger will receive £1000 and pay £500 ; balance in favour, £500. If C loses, the hedges will receive £250 and pay £20 ; balance in favour, £230. Deducting, then, the loss of £20 on A. the hedger's winnings will be considerable ; and he cannot lose, providing his information or judgment lead to the required result, which, in two cases out of three, may be considered a certainty. But it SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 153 must never "be forgotten that however well Turf speculations may look on paper, they are subject to the contingency of the bets being honour- ably paid on settling-day. "The Druid" in Post and Paddock remarks : — "The terra hedging has been quite superseded by "laying off;" and we had, in fact, quite forgotten it till we saw it stated in the papers lately, by a clergyman, who did not answer a question on doctrine as the Bishop of Exeter exactly liked, that his lordship addressed him to this effect : ' You are hedging, sir ; you are hedging ! ' " See book and bookhaking. HEDGE-POPPING, shooting small birds about the hedges, as boys do; unsportsmanlike kind of shooting. HEEL-TAP, the small quantity of wine or other beverage left in the bottom of a glass, considered as a sign that the liquor is not liked, and therefore unfriendly and unsocial to the host and the company. See DAY-LIGHT. HEIGH-HO ! a Cant term for stolen yarn, from the expression used to apprise the dishonest manufacturer that the speaker had stolen yarn to sell. — Norwich Cant HELL, a fashionable gambling-house. In printing-offices, the term is generally applied to the old tin box in which is thrown the broken or spoilt type, purchased by the founders for re-casting. Nearly obsolete. " HELL AND TOMMY," utter destruction. HEN-PECKED, said of one whose wife " wears the breeches." HERRING-POND, the sea; " to be sent across the herring-pond," to be transported. HIDING, a thrashing. Weoster gives this word, but not its root, hide, to beat, flay by whipping. HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY, all together — as hogs and pigs lie. HIGH CHURCH, in contradistinction to low church. See the following. "HIGH AND DRY," an epithet applied to the soi-disant " orthodox" clergy of the last century, for whom, while ill-paid curates did the work, the comforts of the establishment were its greatest charms. " Wherein are various ranks, and due degrees, The Bench for honour, and the Stall for ease." Though often confounded with, they are utterly dissimilar to, the modern High Church or Anglo-Catholic party. Their equally unin- teresting opponents deserved the corresponding appellation of " low and slow;" while the so-called " Broad Church " is defined with equal felicity as tho " broad and shallow." HIGH-FLY, " on the high-fly," on the begging or cadging system. HIGH JINKS, " ON the high jinks," taking up an arrogant position, as- suming an undue superiority. Scott explains this game in his Guy Mannering. " Hen and chickens," large and small pewter pots. High-flyer, a genteel beggar or swindler. 154 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN HIGH-FLYER, a large swing, in frames, at fairs and races. HIGH-LOWS, laced boats reaching a trifle higher than ankle-jacks. HIGHFALUTEX, showy, affected, tinselled, affecting certain pompous or fashionable airs, stuck up ; "come, none of yer highfaluten games," i.e., you must not show off or imitate the swell here. — American Slang, now common in Liverpool and the East End of London, from the Dutch, VERLOOTKN. Used recently by the Times in the sense of fustian, high- sounding, unmeaning eloquence, bombast. HIGH-STRIKES, corruption of Hysteric* HIP INSIDE, inside coat p HIP OUTSIDE, - icket Jl I PPE] >. pi | HITTITE, ' term for a prize-fighter. HIVITE, a Btudenl mberland; pronounced st bee's. - ' HOAX, 1 ■ was originally a I ■ HOBBLED L of animals fed by the way- •her. HOB COLLIN \ a North Country term for the : an unlucky card. ■ .-;t Cam- hire, and is said t<> have ■ the BtaU i.' ■ at all. He was a benefactor to the town, and II U as a memorial of him. "HOB AND NOB," to act in concert with another; to "layh - s in drinking ; to fraternise in a convivial c merry-maki HOCKS, the -. round or clumsy feet. HOCK-] -hoes. ind th n rob h:m. The nocus generally con- HOCUS POCUS jic, similar to the modern "presto fly." 'i'ii- G ".*," HAWOUfi wcate, p. iS ;) can this have anything to do with the origin ver gives ocu >tes that it is a burlesque rendering of the words of the unreformed church Bervice at the delivery of the i Cuhpus. which the early Protestants considered as a species of conjur- ing, and ridiculed accordh HODGE, a countryman or provincial clown. I don't know that it has been elsewhere remarked, but most country districts in Englan one or more families of the name of HODGE; indeed, gilks and hodge appear to be the favourite hobnail nomenclature. ILjD^l is said to be simply an abbreviation of Roger. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 155 HOG, a shilling.— Old Cant. HOG, " to go the whole hog ;'' " the whole hog or none," to do anything with a person's entire strength, not " by halves ; " realised by the phrase " in for a penny in for a pound." Bartlett claims this to be a pure American phrase; whilst Kcr, of course, gives it a Dutch origin. — Old. " To go the whole hog" is frequently altered into going the entire aniaial, or THE COMfLETE SWINE ! HOGA, do. "That won't hoga," i.e.. that won't do, is one of the very commonest of the Anglo-Indian Slang phrases. — Anglo-Indian. HOLLOW, " to beat hollow," to excel. HOLY LAXD, Seven Dials, — where the St Giles's Greek is spoken. HOMO, a man. Liagv.a Franca ; but see Oaiee, the more usual Cockney pronunciation. HOXDEY, a Manchester name for an omnibus, and the abbreviation o£ hondeybush, the Lancashire pronunciation of the word. HOOK, an expression at Oxford, implying doubt, either connected with Hookey Walker or with a note of interrogation (?) " Yes, with a hook at the end of it! " i.e., with some reservation. HOOK, to steal or rob. — See the following. " HOOK OR BY CROOK," by fair means or foul — in allusion to the hook which footpads used to carry to steal from open windows, &c, and from which hook, to take or steal, has been derived. Mentioned in Hudi- hras as a Cant term. HOOK IT, " get out of the way," or " be off about your business ;" " to hook it," to run away, to decamp; "on one's own hook," dependant xipon one's own exertions. — See the preceding for derivation. HOOKS, " dropped off the hooks," said of a deceased person — derived from the ancient practice of suspending on hooks the quarters of a traitor or felon sentenced by the old law to be hung, drawn, and quartered, and which dropped off the hooks as they decayed. HOOKEY WALKER ! ejaculation of incredulity, usually shortened to "walker ! — which see. A correspondent thinks hookey walker may have been a certain Hugh K. Walker. "HOOK UM SNIVEY," (formerly "hook and snivey,") a low expression, meaning to cheat by feigning sickness or other means. Also a piece of thick iron wire crooked at one end, and fastened into a wooden handle, for the purpose of undoing from the outside the wooden bolt of a door. HOP, a dance. — Fashionable Slang. "HOP THE TW T IG," to run away; also a flippant expression for to die. Many similar phrases are used by the thoughtless and jocose, as to " LAY DOWN ONE'S KNIFE AND FORK," " PIGGING OUT," " SNUFFING IT." —Old. HOP-MERCHANT, a dancing-master. Hoisting, shoplifting. 156 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN HOPPING GILES, a cripple. St ^gidius or Giles, himself similarly afflicted, was their patron saint. The ancient lazar houses were dedi- cated to him. HOPPO, custom-house officer, or custom-house. Almost anything connected with custom-house business. — Anglo-Chinese. HORRID HORX, term of reproach amongst the street Irish, meaning a fool, or half-witted fellow. From the Erse, OMADHAUN, a brainless fellow. A correspondent Bnggesta HERBIDAN, a miserable old woman. HORNSWOGGLE, nonsense, humbug. Relieved to be of American origin. HORRORS, the low Bpirits, or "bine devils," which follow intoxication. HORSE, contraction of Eorsemonger-Lane Gaol. HOBS] ' rm for a five-pound HORSE-CHAUNTER, a d< der who tab horses to eountry fairs and disj loses of them by arl See. He is . en irally an unprincipled fellow, and will put iii rm other tricks. — See HORSE NAILS, - HORSE-NAILS. hen a player finds it his : ■rw.ird, and p] S ULS." HORSE MARINE, an awkwai ' [n ancient times the "jollub," norance unanship. "Tell that to the marines, the bluejackets won't .•' it!" w;vs a common rejoinder to n." Now-a- daya they ar vice. marine (an impossibility; 1 denote one more awkward still. * nOT COPPERS, the feveri.sh sensations experienced next morning by th been drunk over night. HOT TIGER, an < Ixford mixture of hot-spiced ale and sherry. " HOUSE OF COMMONS," a humorous term for the closet of decency. 110' to satisfy a doubting pei " Oh ! it's perfectly safe, apparently in allu- sion to the paying character of house property as an investment. HOW MUCH! A facetious way of asking for an •■ f any pedantic expression. " Why don't you cook your potatoes in an anhy- drohepsaterion ? " A waggish listener might be excused for asking, An anhydro — now much I "HOW CAME YOU SO .." intoxicated. H< 'XTER. an inside pocket. — Old English, oxter. HUBBLE-BUBBLE, the Indian pipe termed a hookah is thus de- by sailors.— S HUEY, a town or village. — Tramps' term. House's Xightcap, a halter ; "to die in a horse's nightcap," to be hanged. SLAXG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 157 HUFF, a dodge or trick; "don't try that huff on me," or "that huff won't do." — Norwich. HUFF, to vex, or offend ; a poor temper. Huffy, easily offended. HUGGER-MUGGER, underhand, sneaking. HULK, to hang about in Lopes of an invitation. — See mooch. HULKY, extra-sized. — Shropshire. HUM-BOX, a pulpit. <; HUM AND HAW," to hesitate, raise objections. — Old English. HUMBLE PIE, to " eat humble pie," to knock under, be submissive. The umbles, or entrails of a deer, were anciently made into a dish for servants, while their masters feasted off the haunch. HUMBUG, an imposition, or a person who imposes upon others. A very expressive but Slang word, synonymous at one time with hum and haw. Lexicographers have fought shy at adopting this term. Richardson uses it frequently to express the meaning of other words, but, strange to say, omits it in the alphabetical arrangement as un- worthy of recognition! In the first edition of this work, 1 785 was given as the earliest date at which the word could be found in a printed book. Since then I have traced humbug half a century farther back, on the title-page of a singular old jest-book — "The Universal Jester; or a pocket companion for the Wits : being a choice collection of merry conceits, facetious drolleries, &c, clenchers, closers, closures, bon-mots, and humbugs," by Ferdinando Killigreio. London, about 1735-40. I have also ascertained that the famous Orator Henley was known to the mob as Orator Humbug. The fact may be learned from an illustration in that excedingly curious little collection of Caricatures, published in 1 75 7, many of which were sketched by Lord Bolingbroke — Horace Walpole filling in the names and explanations. Halliwell describes humbug as " a person who hums," and cites Dean Milles's MS., which was written about 1 760. In the last century, the game now known as double-dummy was termed humbug. Lookup, a notorious gambler, was struck down by apoplexy when playing at this game. On the circumstance being reported to Foote, the wit said — "Ah, I alwaj-s thought he would be humbugged out of the world at last ! " It has been stated that the word is a corruption of Hamburgh, from which town so many false bulletins and reports came during the war in the last century. " Oh, that is Hamburgh [or hum- bug,"] was the answer to any fresh piece of news which smacked of improbability. Grose mentions it in his Dictionary, 1 785; and in a little printed squib, published in 1808, entitled Bath Character*, by T. Goosequill, humbug is thus mentioned in a comical couplet on the title- page :— " Wee Thre Bath Deities bee, Humbug, Follie, and Varietee." Gradually from this time the word began to assume a place in periodi- cal literature, and in novels not written by over-precise authors. In the preface to a fat, and, I fear, unprofitable poem, entitled, The Reign 153 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN of humbug, a Satire, 8vo., 1836. the author thus apologises for the u=e of the word — " I have used the term humbug to designate this principle, [wretched sophistry of life generally,] considering that it is now adopted into our language as much as the words dunce, jockey, cheat, swindler ^ &c, which were formerly only colloquial terms." A corre- spondent, who in a late number of Adcrsaria ingeniously traced bom- bast to the inflated Doctor Paracelsus Bombast, considers that humbug may, in like manner, be derived from Romberg, the 1 chemist of the court of the Duke of Orleans, who, according to the following passage from / '. ,/..■ SirU, was an ardent and successful seeker after the philosopher's I — Of this there cannot be ah tter proof than the experiment of Mon- sieur Bomb rg, who mam: gold oi m into ty will I mercury, r, to wit, ■ ruth of which oira of the 1 ■ •!. ii ., i>. 366, (Wright's • 11.) Anotb • for May 26, 1R60) ■ /■ //'/-. ( I and meaning conduct the 1 1, in th<- (burlesque) ind '• Mum-bug, qu< known of Can! on, no doubt, command- ;- hold his tongue, and evident from the game of - r silence, upon which JJu ( Diet Arch.) has dec r "circumlocution." "Without ai .' " L'nili .' y' are full of ambage" — Dicker's Whort of Babylon, iGjj. "■Thus from her eel': I Ambiguous ami.m.i With the shrill sound I —Ficar't Virgil, 1632. De Qnincey thus discourses upon the word : — " The word ETOVBUO, for instance, r ich and comprehensive basis ; f buman languagee ; and without thin expressive word we should all Dormity. . or broo impunity were it not through the steru Rh ■ ... of this virtuous ana inexorable word.'' — Article on " Language." Since these notes were penned, I purchased the collection of essays known as the Connoisseur, from the late Mr Thackeray's library. At the end of vol. i. I found a memorandum in the great humorist's handwriting — " p. 108, ' humbug,' a new-coined expression," On re- ferring to that page, I note this para^Taph : — "The same conduct of keeping close to their ranks was observed at table, where the ladies seated themselves t also confined wholly to themselves, and seeme 1 lik B of the Buna Dea, iu which men were forbidden to have any share. " It was a con- SLANG, CANT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. 159 timid laugh and whisper from the beginning to the end of dinner. A •whole sentence was scarce ever spoken aloud. S ngle -words, indeed, now and then broke forth ; such as odious, horrible, detectable, shocking, humbug. This last new-coined expression, which is only to be found in the nonsen- sical vocabulary, sounds absurd and disagreeable whenever it is pro- n"Unced; but from the mouth of a lady it is 'shocking,' 'detestable,' ' hor- rible,' and ' odious.' " — From the third edition, 1757. The universal use of this term is remarkable ; in California there is a t jigger," "the house that jack it Lb termed " the dbybi " ISTHMUS OF SI at St John'i . ge with its grounds on the other side of the i Lver^ — S ■ • bacelb. IVORIES, teeth; "a box" or "c ge o£ tvoRiES," a set of teeth, the mouth ; " wash y< or r. • drink." The word id also used to JABBER, t > 1 ilk, or chatter. A Cant word in SvnfCs time. JACKED-UP, .-for. JACK KM i'CH, the public hangman. — See ketch* JACK HTASTY-FACE, a sailor. JACK SPRAT, a diminutive boy or man. JACK TAR, JACK-AT-A-PINCH, one whose assistance is only sought on an praer- E ur-THE-WATER, an attendant at tlie waterman's i-tairs on the river and wns, who does not mind wetting his feet fur a customer's convenience, in consideration of a douceur. JACK, HALE JAf ::. a card counter, resembling in size and appearance a sovereign and a half-sovereign, for which it is occasionally p;> simple persons. In large gambling establishments the " heaps of gold" are frequently composed of jacks. JACK, the knave of trumps, at the game of all-fours. JACKETING, a thrashing. Similar term to leathering, cowhidixg, &c. JACKET, gin. — Seven Dials originally. JACOB, a ladder. Grose says from Jacob's dream. — Old Cant. " It's good ox the stae," it 's easy to open. Jick-in-a-box, a small but powerful kind of screw, used by burglars to break open safes. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. i6l J AGGER, a gentleman. German, jaoer, a sportsman. JAIL-BIRD, a prisoner, one who has been in jail. JAMES, a sovereign, or twenty shillings. JANNOCK, sociable, fair dealing. — Norfolk. JAPAN, to ordain. — University. J ARK, a "safe-conduct" pass.— Oxford. Old Cant for a seal. JARVEY, the driver of a hackney-coach; jarvey's upper benjamin, a coachman's over-coat. JAW, speech, or talk; "hold your jaw," don't speak anymore; "what are you jawing about? " i.e., what are you making a noise about? JAWBONE, credit. " We have a few persons whose pockets are to let — men who have more com- plaints than dollars — individuals who, in digger's parlance, live on jawbone, (credit.) and are always to be found at saloons; a c ass of men who, when they are here, wish themselves yonder, and when yonder, wish themselves back " — Times' Correspondent, San Francisco, Oct. 21, 1862. JAW-BREAKER, a hard or many-syllabled word. JAZEY, a wig. A corruption of JERSEY, the name for flax prepared in a peculiar manner, and of which common wigs were formerly made; " the cove with the jazey," i.e., the judge. JEAMES, (a generic for " flunkeys,") the Morning Post newspaper — the organ of Belgravia and the " Haristocracy." JEHU, old Slang term for a coachman, or one fond of driving. JEMINY-0 ! a vulgar expression of surprise. JEMMY, a sheep's-head.— See sanguinary james. JEMMY-DUCKS, the man whose business it is to look after the poultry on board a ship. — Sea. JEMMY JESSAMY, a dandy. JEMMY-JOHN, a jar for holding liquor; probably a corruption of demi- gallon. JEREMIAD, a lament; derived, of course, from the Book of Lamentations, written by the prophet Jeremiah. JEREMY DIDDLER, an adept at raising the wind. JERRY, a beer-house. JERRY, a chamber utensil; abbreviation of jeroboam. — Swift. JERRY, a fog. ' JERRY-GO- NIMBLE, the diarrhoea. JERRY SNEAK, a hen-pecked husband, — a character in the Mayor of Garret. JERUSALEM PONY, a donkey. JESSIE, " to give a person jessie," to beat him soundly. — See gas. Jemmy, a crowbar. — Prison term. Jark, a seal, or watch ornament. — Ancient Cant. 1 62 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN JEW'S EYE, a popular simile for anything valuable. Probably a corrup- tion of the Italian, gioje ; French, joaille, a jewel. In ancient times, when a king was short of cash, he generally issued orders for so many Jew's eyes, or equivalent sums of money. The Jews preferred paying the ransom, although often very heavy. This explanation has been given of the origin of jew's eye. Used by Shakspeare. JEW-FEXCER, a Jew street salesman. JEZEBEL, a showily-dressed woman of suspected respectability ; de- rived, of course, from 2 Kings ix. 30, but applied in this sense from the time of the Puritans. JIB, a first-year man. — Dublin / JIB, the face, or a person's ■ "the cut of his jib," i.e., his pecu- liar appearance. The Bail of a ship, which in position and Bhape cor- responds to the nose on a ce. — Sea. A vessel ia known by the cut of the jib sail ; hence the popular phrase, "to know a man by THB cut of his jib." JIB, or jibber, a horse that starts or shrinks. Shakspeare uses it in the Bense of a worn-out I J FT. I >, the tongue.- ' "'"loo. (Tramps' term.) JIFFY, " in a JIFFY,*' in JIGGER, a secret still, illicit spii JIGGER, a door; "dub th '■■..' nent Cant, gygbr. In billiards, the bridgi on the table is often termed the jicgeii. Ah>o, tli.' curtain of at'. J I< ;t ; ER, " I 'm jiggered if you will," a common form of mild swearing. — [GGER. JIXCK », " by jingo," a common form of oath, said to be a corruption of St Gingotdph. — Vide HaUiwell. JOB, a short piece of work, a prospect of employment. Johnson describes Jon as a low word, without etymology. It is, and was, however, a Cant word, and a JOB, two centuries ago, was an arranged robbery. Even at the present day it is mainly confined to the streets, in the sense of employment for a short time. Amongst undertakers a Job signifies a funeral ; "to do a JOB," conduct any one's funeral ; " job," rk, as opposed to time-\\S1 1 stuff, humbug; " it's all Kinosn," i.e., palaver or non- to r m down, b! Le, • :. a bowl, a nest KICKERABl West Indian negro's phrase. — See kick tlie bucket, of which phra.se it is a corruption. KICK TH E 1 . According to Forty, a metaphor taken from I scent of a well or mine, which is of course TheJfev. F. S. Taylor supplies me with the following note from his as to the work of the East- Anglian lex:. Jug, a prison, or jail. Jump, to seize, or rob ; "to jump a man," to pounce upon him, and either rob or maltreat him; "to JUMP a house," to rob : Kex cracker, a housebreaker. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 105 "The allusion is to the way in which a slaughtered pig is hung up,— viz., by passing the ends of a bent piece of wood behind the tendons of the hind legs, and ?o suspending it to a hook iu a beam above. This piece of wood is locally termed a bucket, and fo by a coarse metaphor the phrase came to signify to die. Compare the Norfolk phrase, ' as wrong as a bucket.' " Another correspondent says the real signification of this phrase is to commit suicide by hanging, from a method planned and carried out by an ostler at an inn on the Great North Eoad. Standing on a bucket, he tied himself up to a beam in the stable ; he then kicked THE bucket away from under his feet, and in a few seconds was dead. The natives of the West Indies have converted the expression into KICKERABOO. KICK UP, a noise or disturbance. KICK UP, " to kick up a row" to create a tumult. KICKSHAWS, trifles ; made, or French dishes — not English, or substan- tial. Corruption of the French, quelques choses. KICKSIES, trousers. KICKSY, troublesome, disagreeable. German, keck, bold. KID, an infant, or child. KID, to joke, to quiz, to hoax anybody. KID-ON", to entice or incite a person to the perpetration of an act. KIDDIER, a pork-butcher. KIDDILY, fashionably or showily; "kiddily togg'd," showily dressed. KIDDLEYWINK, a small shop where they retail the commodities of a village store. Also, a woman of unsteady habits. KIDDY, a man or boy. Formerly a low thief. KIDDYISH, frolicsome, jovial. " Think on the kiddtish spree we had on such a day." — Randall's Diary, 1820. KIDNA, how nrach ? — Anglo- Indian. KIDNAPPER, one who steals children or adults. From kid, a child, and nab, (corrupted to nap,) to steal, or seize. KIDNEY, " of that kidney," of such a stamp : " strange kidney," odd humour; " two of a kidney," two persons of a sort, or as like as two peas, i.e., resembling each other like two kidneys in a bunch. — Old. " Attempt to put their hair out of kidney." — Terra? Filius, 1 763. Kidden, or kidken, a low lodging-house for boys. Kid-rig, cheating children in the streets sent on errands, or intrusted with packages. — Nearly obsolete. Kidment, a pocket-handkerchief fastened to the pocket, and partially hung out, to entrap thieves ; hence any inducement to dishonesty or crime. Also, a fictitious story or written statement got up to deceive the un- wary. A begging letter ; long rigmarole of any kind. Kidsman, one who trains boys to thieve and pick pockets successfully. 1 66 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN KILKENNY CAT, a popular simile for a voracious or desperate animal or person, from the story of the two cats in that county, who are said to have fought and bitten each other until a small portion of the tail of one of them alone remained. KILLING, bewitching, fascinating. The term is akin to the phrase "dressing to death." KIMBO, or A-KIMBO, holding the arms in a bent position from the body, and resting the hands upon the hips, in a bullying attitude. Said to be from a SOHEMBO, Italian : but more probably from kimbaw, the old Cant f< : I If, crooked. KIN* ' ! 1 1 X. a child. — Old Cant. From the German diminutive, kindciikn, a b KINCOB, uniform, fine clothes, rich embroidered dresses. — Anglo-Indian. KINGSMAN, ihief of the costermongers. riders. With both e of clothing. A . if his KINGS ■ Ii"t l tied either around a belt, or as a garter around I Tin- peculiar-colon bh was doubl I probably refers to an i long forg ;s. A strain be Hin- Red and yellow (or orange) are t b ad his robe; the Gipsy his breeches, and his wife her shawl or gown ; and the cosi tcoat and favourite I max. Among eitl he greatest re- gard is paid to the favourite coloured article of dress. The Hindoo lays Lde bia turban, the Gipsy folds up his scarlet breeches or coat, whilst the pugilistic costermonger of Covent Garden or Billiii_ as we have just seen, removes his favourite neckerchief to a part of his . by the rules of the "ring," comparatively out of danger. Amongst the various patterns of kerchiefs worn by the wai red and yellow are the oldest and most in f . intermixed with spots, is a late i . probably from the Navy, through sporting chara - KIN< "S PICTUBES, (now, of course, queers pictures,) money. KISKY, drunk, fuddled. 'R, the mouth.— Pugilistic term. KISS-CURL, a small curl twisted on the temple. — See bowcatcher, KISS -ME-QCTCK, the name given to the very small bonnets worn by females since 1S50. KixcHix cove, a man who robs children ; a little man. — A . Kirk, a church or chapel; "crack a kirk," i.e., to break into a church. — Prison Cant. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 67 KIT. a person's baggage. Also, a collection of anything, " the whole kit of 'em," the entire lot. Anglo-Saxon, kyth. — North. KITE, see fly the kite. KITMEGUR, an under-butler, a footman. — Anglo- Indian. KNACKER, an old horse ; a horse-slaughterer. — Gloucestershire. KNAP, to receive, to take ; " oh, my ! won't he just knap it when he can !" i.e., won't he take anything if he gets a chance. KNAP, i.q., nap, to break. — Old English, hut nearly obsolete. See Ps. xlvi. 9, {Prayer-book version,) " He breaketh the bow, and KNAPPETH the spear in sunder ; " probably sibilated into snap. KNAPPING-JIGGER, a turnpike gate; "to dub at the knapping-JIGGER," to pay money at the turnpike. KNARK, a hard-hearted or savage person. KNIFE, " to knife a person," to stab; an un-English, but now-a-days a very common expression. KNIFE IT, " cut it," cease, stop, don't proceed. KNIFE-BOARD, the seat running along the roof of an omnibus. . . . . " On 'busses' knifeboards stretcli'd, The City clerks all tougue-protruded lay." — A Summer Idyll, by Arthur Smith. KNIGHT, a common and ironical prefix to a man's calling, — thus " knight of the whip," a coachman; " knight of the thimble," a tailor. " KNOCK ABOUT THE BUB," to hand or pass about the drink. KNOCK-DOWN, or knock-me-down, strong ale. KNOCK-'EM-DO WNS, a public-house game. KNOCK OFF, to give over, or abandon. A saying used by workmen about dinner, or other meal times, for upwards of two centuries. KNOCKED UP, tired, jaded, used up, done for. In the United States, amongst females, the phrase is equivalent to being enceinte, so that Englishmen often unconsciously commit themselves when amongst our Yankee cousins. KNOCKER, " up to the knocker," finely or showily dressed, the height of fashion ; proficient, equal to the task. KNOCK-IN, the game of loo. KNOCK-OUTS, or knock-ins, disreputable persons who visit auction rooms and unite to purchase the articles at their own prices. One of their number is instructed to buy for the rest, and after a few small bids as blinds to the auctioneer and bystanders, the lot is knocked down to the knock-out bidders, at a nominal price — the competition to result from an auction being thus frustrated and set aside. At the conclusion of the sale the goods are paid for, and carried to a neigh- bouring public-house, where they are re-sold or knocked-out, and the difference between the first purchase and the second — or tap-room knock-out — is divided amongst the gang. As generally happens with Knap, to steal. — Prison Cant. 1 68 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN ill-gotten gains, the money soon finds its way to the landlord's pocket, and the knock-out is rewarded with a red nose and a bloated face. Cunning tradesmen join the knock-outs when an opportunity for money-making presents itself. The lowest description of KNOCK-OUTS, fellows with more tongue than capital, are termed BABES, — which see. KNOWING, a Slang term for sharpness; "knowing codger," or "a knowing blade," one who can take you in, or cheat you, in any trans- action you may have with him. It implies also deep cunning and foresight, and generally Bi| nesty. " Who, "ii a spree with black-eyed Sal, his blowcn, ."—Don Juan. Enow, inthi ■• i enow a trick worth • bat 1 am n< I in by such a shallow device. " . i thing <>r two," i.e., a cunning fellow. KN0WLEDGE-B03 KNUCKLE-DUSTER, an iron insti so as to pr I m injury wh . blow, adding to it a1 the same time, jecting, so as to mutil truck. 'J'hi.s brutal invention is American, ; KNl'i !KLE T' ». or Kisn i ki i . i :. | or submit. KNULLEB, old term fora chimney-E licited jobs by ringing a belL From the Saxon, cntllan, to knell, or sound a bell qbr, KOOTEE, a house. — Anglo-Indi KOTOOING, misapplied flattery. — Illustrated London News, 7th January >. From a t hinese eeremony. KUBBER, new.-. — Anglo-1 KUD» >S KYPSEY, a basket LA! a euphuistic rendering of lord, common amongst females and very . I by many I ption of look! but this is a mistake. Sometimes pronounced law, or lawks. LAC, one hundred thousand. — Anglo-Ii LACING, a 1 m the phrase "I '11 lace your jack< mge* Perhaps to give a be:. ting with a lace or lath. LADDER, " can't see a hole in a ladder," said of any one who is intoxi- cated. LADDLE, a lady. Term with chimney-sweeps on the 1st of M.y. A correspondent suggests that the term may come from the brass ladles for collecting money, always carried by ladies. Knuckle, to pick pockets after the most approved method. Knuckles, a pickpocket. Lag, a returned transport, or ticket-of-leave convict. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 69 LAG, to void urine. — Ancient Cant. LAGGER, a sailor. LAMBASTING, a beating. — See lamming. LAME DUCK, a stockjobber who speculates beyond his capital, and can- not pay his losses. Upon retiring from the Exchange he is said to " waddle out of the Alley." LAMMING, a beating. — Old English, lam ; used by Beaumont and Fletcher. Not, as Sir W. Scott supposed, from one Dr Lamb, but the Old Norse, lam, the hand ; also, Gaelic. LAMMY, a blanket. LAND-LUBBER, sea term for " a landsman." — See loafer. LAND- SHARK, a sailor's definition of a lawyer. LANE, a familiar term for Drury Lane Theatre, just as Covent Garden Theatre is constantly spoken of as " the gardes." LAP, liquor, drink. " LAP THE GUTTER," to get drunk. LARK, fun, a joke ; " let 's have a jolly good lark," let us have a piece of fun. Mayhew calls it "a convenient word covering much mischief." — Anglo-Saxon, lac, sport; but more probably from the nautical term skylarking, i.e., mounting to the highest yards and sliding down the ropes for amusement, which is allowed on certain occasions. LARRUP, to beat, or thrash. LARRUPING, a good beating or hiding. — Irish. LATCHPAN, the lower lip — properly a dripping-pan; "to hang one's latchpan," to pout, be sulky. — Norfolk. LAVENDER, " to be laid up in lavender," in pawn ; or, when a person is out of the way for an especial purpose. — Old. LAW, " to give law to an animal " is a sporting term signifying to give the hare or stag a chance of escaping, by not setting on the hounds till it has run some distance. Also, figuratively used for giving any one a chance of succeeding in a difficult undertaking. LAY, some, a piece. "Tip me a lay of pannum," i.e., give me a slice of bread. — North. LAY, to watch; "on the lay," on the look-out. — Shakspeare. " LAY DOWN THE KNIFE AND FORK," to die.— See " pigging-out," and (i hopping the twig," for similar flippancies. "LAY THEM DOWN," to play at cards. LEAF, the drop on which executions take place, which are defined as the " fall op the leaf" by the ribald spectators. — See autumn. Lagged, imprisoned, apprehended, or transported for a crime. From the Old Norse, lagda, "laid," laid by the leg. Leary, flash, or knowing. Leary, to look, or be watchful ; shy. — Old Cant. 170 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN LEATHER, to beat or thrash. From the leather belt worn by soldiers and policemen, often used as a weapon in street rows. LEATHERX-COXVEXIEXCY, a carriage. A Quaker being reprimanded by the Society of Friends for keeping a carriage, " contrary to the ancient testimonies," said, ''it is not a carriage I keep, but merely a LEATHERN-coxvENiEXcr." — See under SIMON puke, in the Introduction. LEAVING SHOP, an unlicensed house where goods are taken into pawn at exorbitant rates of interest. — Daily Telegraph, 1st August 1 LED CAPTAIN, a fashionable spunger, a "swell " who by artifice ingra- tiates himself into the of the master of the hou- lives at his table. LEEF, K I'd i I have no objection to do it. — Cor- ruption of }.: LEER, 1 re German, as is nearly so the, next word. LEER, print, - '.nee Old Eng- lish, .' part of a game. Ee who gains I ins the game or rub. LEG, or r .eecourse kabi D-LEG, • eli player has wans LBO. In [rel rod a being there when one mount? a hind as a balance I nt forward. — ShaTcspeare. LEG-OF-MUTTON, inflated street term for a sheep's trotter, or foot LENGTH, forty-two lines of a dramatic composition. — Theatrical. LET DRIVE, to strike or attack with vigour. LET IX. to cheat or vie! ■ jive an intimation of having some knowledge of a subject. Curnmon in LETT' I dian, LETTO.— Lingua Franca. LEVANTER, a a rd-eharper, or defaulting gambler. A correspondent 9 that it was formerly the custom to give out to the creditors, when a person was in pecuniary difficulties, and it was convenient for him to keep away, that he was gone to the East, or the 1 : hence, wheu one loses a bet, and decamps without settling, he is said to LEVANT. LEVY, a shilling. — Liverpool Leaky bloak, a person who dresses showily. :l, (to give.) to escape from prison or arrest. Legged, a prisoner in irons. Length, six months' imprisonment. — See stretch. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 171 LICK, a blow ; licking, a beating ; " to put in big licks," a curious and common phrase meaning that great exertions are being made. — Dry- den; North. LICK, to excel, or overcome ; "if you ain't sharp he'll lick you," i.e., he finished first. Signifies, also, to whip, chastise, or conquer. Ancient Cant, lycke. Welsh, llachio, to strike. LICKSPITTLE, a coarse term for a parasite, who puts up with indigni- ties for the sake of advantages. % LIG, a lie, a falsehood. — Lancashire. In old ballads the word " lie" is often spelt " LIG." LIGHT, " to be able to get a light at a house " is to get credit. LIGHTS, a worthless piece of meat, applied metaphorically to a fool, a soft or stupid person. LIGHTS, the eyes. Also, the lungs; animals' lungs are always so called. LIGHT BOB, a light infantry soldier.— Military. LIGHT FEEDER, a silver spoon. LIGHTNING, gin ; " flash 0' lightning," a glass of gin. LIL, a book, a pocket-book. — Gipsy. LILY-BENJAMIN, a white great-coat. — See benjamin. LIMBO, a prison, from limbus or limbus patrum, a mediaeval theological term for purgatory. LIMB-OF-THE-LAW, a lawyer, or clerk articled to that profession. LINE, calling, trade, profession , " what line are you in ? " " the building LINE." LINGO, talk, or language. Slang is termed lingo, amongst the lower r orders. Italian, lingua. — Lingua Franca. LINT-SCRAPER, a young surgeon. Thaclceray, in Lovel the Widower, uses the phrase, and gives, also, the words JEsculapius, Pestle-grinder, and Vaccinator, for the same character. LIONS, notabilities, either persons or sights worthy of inspection ; an ex- pression dating from the times when the royal lions at the Tower,* be- fore the existence of Zoological Gardens and travelling menageries, were a London wonder, to visit which country cousins and strangers of eminence were constantly taken. * The origin of the Tower collection was the three leopards sent by the Emperor Frederic to Henry III., as a living illustration of the royal arms of England. In the ■ roll of. John lor a reference to (, 60+f J tOAl nca. L 1 B, a till, LOB Ll >BLl ILLY, grueL — Old; dj - a sea term for grit gruel, or li.. LOBLOLLY BOY, a derisive term for a surgeon's mate in the navy. UtUy-boy is a per . noard of a man-of-war attends the - and his man as the B . :u." — Tne Potent, a Poem, 4to, 1776. LOBS ! schoolboys' signal on the master's ap] 0H1 watcher, an under gamekeeper. LOBS LOBSCOUSE, tde of potatoes, meat, and biscuits, boiled together. LOBSTE i : . from the colour of his coat, is styled an . LOBSTER BOX, a barrack, or military station. LOGGERHEADS, " to come to loggerheads," to come to blows. LOGIE, theatrical jewellery, made mostly of zinc. LOLLY, the head. — See lobb.— . after he became king, there was not only the old leopard, but "one lion, one lioness, and two cat-lions.' . >wer, committed to the custody of Robert, son of J -din Bowre." The menagerie was only abolished in 1834, and tLe practice was to allow any person to enter gratis who brought with him a little dog to be thrown to the lions ! — Dr DoranCs Princes of Wales, p. 120. Little Snakes- hax, a little thief, who is generally passed through a small aperture to open any door to let in the rest of the gang. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. I 73 LONDON ORDINARY, the beach at Brighton, where the " eight-hours-at the-sea-side " excursionists dine in the open-air. LONDRIX, London. Probably from the French, londres. LONG-BOW, " to draw," or " shoot with the long-bow," to exaggerate. LONG-GHOST, a tall, awkward person. LONG-ODDS, in a bet this means staking the greater proportion against the smaller. — See odds. LONG-TAIL LI M >NE, a bank-note or flimsy for a large amount. LONGS-AND-SHORTS, cards made for cheating. LONG-TAILS, among shooters, are pheasants; among coursers and dog- fanciers they are greyhounds. LONG-SHORE BUTCHER, a coast-guardsman.— Sea. LONG-TAILED BEGGAR, a cat. The tale that hangs thereby runs thus : — A boy, during his first, and a very short voyage, to sea, had be- come so entirely a seaman, that on his return he had forgotten the name of the cat, and was obliged, pointing to puss, to ask his mother " what she called that 'ere long-tailed beggar ? " Accordingly, sailors, when they hear a freshwater tar discoursing too largely on nautical matters, are very apt to say, " But how, mate, about that 'ere long-tailed beggar ? " LOOF-FAKER, a chimney-sweep. — See flue-faker. LOOKING-GLASS, a facetious synonyme for a pot de chambre. — Grose. See the story of Father Tom and the Pope in BlacJcivood's Magazine, by Maga, May 1843. In ancient times this utensil was the object of very frequent examination by the medical fraternity. LOOSE. — See on the loose. LOOSE-BOX, a brougham or other vehicle kept for the use of a dame de compagnie. A more vulgar appellation for one is mot-cart, the con- temptuous sobriquet applied by the envious mob to a one-horse covered carriage. LOOT, swag, or plunder. — Hindoo. LOPE, this old form of leap is often heard in the streets. LOP-SIDED, vineven, one side larger than the other. — Old. LORD, " drunk as a lord," a common saying, probably referring to the . facilities a man of fortune has for such a gratification ; perhaps a sly sarcasm at the supposed habits of the " haristocracy. " LORD, a hump-backed man. — See MY lord. LORD-MAYOR'S-FOOL, a personage who likes everything that is good, and plenty of it. LORD-OF-THE-MANOR, a sixpence. LOTHARIO, a gay deceiver. LOUD, flashy, showy^ as applied to dress or manner. — See bags. LOUR, or LOWR, money; '"'gammy lowr," bad money. From the Walla- chiari Gipsy word, lowe, coined money. — See note, supra, p. 11. — Old French, lower, revenue, wages. — Ancient Cant, and Gipsy. 174 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN LOUSE-TRAP, a small-tooth comb. — Old Cant. — See catch-' em-alive. LOVAGE, an old-fashioned cordial made from the carminative herb of that name, [Ligusticum Scoticum, linn,] and sold in gin-shops. LOVE, at billiards " five to none " would be " five love," — a love being the same as when one player does not score at all. The term is also used at whist, "six love," "four LOVE" when one of the parties has marked up six, four, or any other number, and the other none. A writer in the Gen <:inc, for July 17S0, derives it either from ltjpp, an old Scotch word for the hand, or from the Dutch, lost, the LOOP, , 4to, 1754;) but it ly, from the sense of the next word, denotes something d<>ne without . — Sea. LOVE, " to do a thing A man is said to marry :'•■ : and an Irishman, with the bitterest aninj ist, will 6ght him for love, for a stake. LOVEAGE, i ••:■ dr | pings, a mixture of spirits, sweetened and sold to I also ALLS. LOW CHURCHMAN. II . fined by the Timet as one "who loves a Jew and I L( IW-WATER, but little m • t, when the finances are at a low LUBBER, a clown, or fool. — Ancient Cant, lot LUBBER'S ! i l ■ !.! ■!. an a] erture in then T. by which a timid climl i the difficulties of the " futtock shrouds; " hence, a sea term for any cowardly way of evading duty. LU( K. '• di DTK," wanting money, or in difficulty. LU< IKY, '• to cut one's lucky," to go away quickly. - LL'l'l.A" - d induh.nt, inactive person is often said to be "as lazy as ludlam's DOG, which leaned its head against the wall to bark." Sailo ' as Joe the Marine, who laid down his inusket to . .'. ■.., in pawn. . to pull, or slake thirst— Old. LUG CHOVEY, a pawnbroker's shop. LUKE, notbii miry Cunt. LUMBER, to pawn or pledge. — Household Words, No. 183. LUMMY, jolly, first LUMPER, a contractor. On the river, more especially a person who con tracts to deliver a ship laden with timber. Lully prigger, a rogue who steals wet clothes hung on lines to dry. Lully, a shirt. Lumbered, imprisoned. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 175 LUMP IT, to dislike it ; "if you don't like it you may lump it; " some- times varied to " if you don't like it you may do the other thing." "LUMP THE LIGHTER," to be transported. LUMP-WORK, work contracted for, or taken by the lump. LUMPY, intoxicated. LUNAX, a girl. — Gipsy. LURCH, a term at the game of cribbage. A. is said to lurch B. when the former attains the end, or sixty-first hole of the board before the latter has pegged his thirty-first hole; or, in more familiar words, before B. has turned the corner. A lurch counts as a double game or rub. LUSH, intoxicating drinks of all kinds, but generally used for beer. The Globe, 8th September 1 859, says "lush and its derivatives claim Lushington, the brewer, as sponsor." LUSH, to drink, or get drunk. LUSH-CRIB, a public-house. LUSHINGTON, a drunkard, or one who continually soaks himself with drams and pints of beer. Some years since there was a " lushington Club " in Bow Street, Covent Garden. LUSHY, intoxicated. Johnson says "opposite to pale," so red with drink. LYLO, come hither. — Anglo-Chinese. LYMPS, the Olympic Theatre. — See lane. MAB, a cab, or hackney-coach. MAC TURK, a Scotch duellist, from a character in St Ronaris Well. MADZA, half. Italian, mezza. This word enters into combination with various Cant phrases, mainly taken from the Lingua Franca, as madza caroon, half-a-crown, two-and-sixpence ; madza sadtee, a halfpenny, [seeSALTEE;] madza poona, half-a-sovereign ; madza round the bull, half a pound of steak, &c. MAG, a halfpenny. — Ancient Cant, make. Megs were formerly guineas. — B. M. Carew. Make, the old form, is still used by schoolboys in Scotland. MAG, " not a blessed mag ! " would be the phrase of a cadger down on his luck to express his penniless state. MAG, to talk. A variation of nag. — Old ; hence magpie. Lumper, a low thief who haunts wharves and docks, and robs vessels ; also a person who sells old goods for new. Lurk, a sham, swindle, or representation of feigned distress. Lurker, an impostor who travels the country with false certificates of fires, shipwrecks, &c. Also, termed a silver beggar, which see. Mace, a dressy swindler who victimises tradesmen. Mace, to spunge, swindle, or beg, in a polite way ; " give it him (a shop- keeper) on the mace," i.e., obtain goods on credit and never pay for them; also termed "striking the mace." I 76 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN MAGGOTY, fanciful, fidgety. "Whims and fancies were formerly termed MAGGOTS, from the popular belief that a maggot in the brain was the cause of any odd notion or caprice a person might exhibit. MAHCHEEN, a merchant. Chinese pronunciation of the English word. — A nglo-Ch inese. MAHOGANY FLAT, a bug. MAHOGANY; "to have one's feet under another man's MAHOGANY," to sit at his table, be supported on other than one's own resources; "am- putate you] •" cut your stick." MAI L, to post a letter; "thi MAILED by a sure hand." MALAPROP1 ' | plication of language, so prop, a character in Sheridan's unrivalled dy of tin- Rivals. Mrs P L to the I hrase Partingtonism is as yet MALI.: - man a r.i.r. MANDOZY, a term y from the valiant fighter MANG, to I Ok.— & MAN-HAND] hly, as to take him prisoner, turn him out of a i MARBLES, furnii u and per« MAIM 'II -'all-work: a title i r use — but de= knameof a character in ' ns's Old Curl- MARE'S very <>f marvels, which turn out no mar- will xi j » to \ ad;; .v calving up in a * MALI V .'■it, an cm] '.':. is expression having • as an insult, until wra'i .'. nee could be '. that it could ne his duty, and was ready to do M Alii 'LOT, an officious bungler, who spoils everything he interferes with. fcreet swindler, who watches for country i gullible" - ns. Main-IOBY, the highway, or the main road. Make, a successful theft, or swindle. Make, to steal. Marinated, transported; from the salt pickling fish undergo in Cornwall. —01.. . SLANG, CANT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. 177 MARRIAGE LINES, a marriage certificate. — Provincial. MARROW, a mate, a fellow-workman, a pitman who works in a "shift" with auother. — Northumberland and Durham. MARROW-BONES, the knees; "I'll bring him down upon his marrow- boxes," i.e., I'll make him bend his knees as he does to the Virgin Mary.' MARROWSKYING.— See medical greek. MARRY, a term of asseveration in common use, was originally (in Popish times) a mode of swearing by the Virgin Mary ; q.d., " BY mary." MARTINGALE, a gambling term. To double the stake every time you lose. MARYGOLD, one million sterling. — See pltjm. MASKEE, never mind, no consequence. — Anglo-Chinese. "MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS," when the leader of the House of Commons goes through the doleful operation of devoting to extinction a number of useful measures at the end of the session, for want of time to pass them. — Vide Times, 20th July 1S59 : ^ r C. Foster, on altering the time of the legislative sessions. — Parliamentary Slang. " MASTER OF THE ROLLS," a baker. <• MASTER OF THE MINT," a gardener. MATE, the term a coster or low person applies to a friend, partner, or com- panion ; " me and my mate did so and so," is a common phrase with a low Londoner. — Originally a Sea term. MATEY, a labourer in one of her Majesty's dockyards. MAULEY, a signature, from mauley, a fist ; " put your fist to it," is sometimes said by a low tradesman when desiring a fellow-trader to put his signature to a bill or note. MAULEY, a fist, that with which one strikes as with a mall. — Pugilistic. MAUND, to beg; "maundering on the fly," begging of people in the streets. — Old Cant. Maung, to beg, is a term in use amongst the Gipsies, and may also be found in the Hindoo Vocabulary. Maund, however, is pure Anglo-Saxon, from mand, a basket. Compare " beg," which is derived from bag, a curious parallel. MAW, the mouth ; " hold your maw," cease talking. MAWWORM, a hypocrite. MAX, gin ; max upon tick, gin obtained upon credit. MAZARINE, the platform beneath the stage in large theatres. Probably corruption of Italian, mezzanino. M. B. COAT, i.e., Mark of the Beast, a name given to the long surtout worn by the clergy, — a modern Puritan form of abuse, said to have been accidentally disclosed to a Tractarian customer by a tailor's orders to his foreman. MEALY-MOUTHED, plausible, deceitful. MEASLEY, mean, miserable-looking, "seedy;" " what a MEASLEY-looking man ! " i.e., what a wretched, unhappy look he has. M 178 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN MEDICAL GREEK, the Slang used by medical students at the hospitals. At the London University they have a way of disguising English, described by Albert Smith as the Gower Street Dialect, which consists in transposing the initials of words, e.g., "poke a smipe" — smoke a pipe ; "flutter-by " — butterfly, &c. This disagreeable nonsense is often termed marrowskyixg. — See greek, St Giles' greek, or the "^Egidiac" dialect, Language of ziph, &c. MEISENSAXG, a missionary, Chinese pronunciation of the English word. — Anglo-Chinese. MEXAGERY, the orchestra of a theatre. — Theatrical. MENAVELINGS, odd money remaining after the duly accounts are made up at a railway booking-office, — usually divided among the clerks. — See overs and shorts. " MERRY DUN OF DOVER," a large ship figuring in sailors' yarns. She ■ tint when passing through the 3 •t her flying jib-boom knocked - rteeple; while, at the same time, the fly of her e a flock of sheep off Dover dill's. She lofty that a boy who attempted to go to her mast-head found him- self a gain. This yarn is foim I Linavian Myth MESOPOTAMIA, a name given to a district in London.— See cubitopolis. — Fash iona b U 8 '< 1 ng. METAL, SWI ' So- Indian. MIDDY, abl E midshipman*. — XavaL MIDGE NET. a lady MIKE, to loiter; or, as a costermonger defined it, to " lazy about." The term /mated at St Giles's, which used to be I Irish ; so common a term with them as to be- come a generic a] loiter about the Pound, and lean against the public-houses in the ''Dials" waiting for Lire. A correspondent object.- to this explana- the term is Old English, miche, to skulk, to loiter; Old None, m.vk, leisure, idleness. " Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove a >* 1 — Slmlctptaret Jim. IV., ii. 4. MILD, second-rate, inferior. — See draw it mild. Also feeble, inefficient, as "a mild attempt." Weak young men who keep bull-d< - dress in a "loud " stable style, from a belief that it is very becoming, are sometimes called mild bloaters. MILK, a term used in connexion with racing; when a horse is entered for a race which his owner does not intend him to win, and bets _ ost him, the animal is said to "be milked." — See milking. MILKIXG, a turf operation, described in the Times as " keeping a horse a favourite, at short odds, for a 1 h he has no chanc- ever, only to lay against him." Milky ones, white linen rags. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 179 MILL, a fight, or set to. Ancient Cant, myll, to rob. MILL, to fight or heat. MILL, the Insolvent Debtors' Court. To go through the mill is equivalent to being whitewashed. MILLER, to give the miller, is to engage a person in conversation of an apparently friendly character, when all at once the bystanders surround and pelt him with flour, grease, and filth of various kinds, flour pre- dominating. This mode of punishing spies, informers, and other ob- noxious individuals, is used by cabmen, omnibus conductors, et hoc s omne. MILLER, this word is frequently called out when a person relates a stale joke. — See joe. MILVADER, to beat. MISH, a shirt, or chemise. From commission, the Ancient Cant for a shirt, afterwards shortened to k'mish or smish, and then to mish. French, chemise ; Italian, camicia. " "With his snowy camese and his shaggy capote." — Byron. MITEY, a cheesemonger. MITTEN, the fist.— Pugilistic. MIZZLE, a frequentative form of "mist" in both senses; as applied to weather, it is used by John Gadburyva. his Ephemeris in 1695 — u misty and mizzling " — to come down as mist ; while the other sense may be expressed as to fade away like a mist, vanish into thin air, like the conclusion of the prayer of Aruns in the JEneid, lib. xi. 794 : — "Audiit, et voti Phoebus succedere partem Mente dedit ; partem volucres dispersit in auras." MIZZLE, to run away, or decamp ; to disappear as in a mist. From mizzle, a drizzling rain ; a Scotch mist. '* And then one mizzling Michaelmas night, The Count he mizzled too." — Hood. MIZZLER, or eum-mizzler, a person who is clever at effecting an escape, or getting out of a difficulty. MOAB, a name applied to the turban-shaped hat fashionable among ladies, and ladylike swells of the other sex, in 185S 9. From the Scripture phrase, " Moab is my washpot," (Ps. lx. 8,) which article the hat in question is supposed to resemble. — University. MOB. Swift informs us, in his Art of Polite Conversation, that mob was, in his time, the Slang abbreviation of Mobility, just as NOB is of No- bility at the present day. — See school. " It is perhaps this humour of speaking no more words than we needs must which has so miserably curtailed some of our words, that in familiar writ- ings and conversation they often lose all but their first syllables, as in mob., red., pos., incog, and the like." — Addison's Spectator. Mill, the tread-MiLL, prison. Mill-tog, a shirt ; most likely the prison garment. l80 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN MOBILITY, the populace; or, according to Burke, the "great unwashed.'' Johnson calls it a Cant term, although Swift notices it as a proper ex- pression. MODEST QUENCHER, a glass of gin and water. "MOISTEN YOUR CHAFFER," a Slang phrase equivalent to "take some- thing to drink." MOKE, a donkey. — Gipsy. MOKO, a name given by sport-men to pheasants killed by mistake in par- tridge-shooting during September, before the pheae in. They pull out their tails, and roundly assert that they arc no pheasants at all, but mokos. MOLL, a girl ; nickname for Mary. — Old Cant. MOLL'D, followed, ur accompanied by a woman. MOLLISHER, a low girl or woman ; generally a female cohabiting with a man, who jointly get their \x\ ing. MOLLS. \< IE '• MOLL Thomson's MARK, that is,M. T.— empty; as "take away this bott! - MARK on it."- — S'« M. T. MOLLYCODDLE, an effeminate man; one v. ho caudles amongst the women, or does their work, MOLLYGRUBS, or mullig irrow — which to the .. ^es, like the ancients, that the viscera is the MOLROWING, "«•'; in company with so-called "gay women." In allusion to the amatory serenadiugs of the London cats. MONK, a term of contempt ; probably an abbreviation of MONKEY. MONKEY, -pint, or ill temper; "to get one's MONKEY up, n. A man is Baid to have his monkeyup, or . rity of her quali- ind thus affl . parallel to the two . which appealed to each other as inde- pendent authorities, being all the while the production of the same editorial staff. M. T., railway Slang used by porters and pointsmen for empties, or empty carriages. — Sec MOLL THOMSON'S MAEK. •• MU< H OF A MUCHNESS," alike, very much the same thing. MUCK, to beat, or excel; "it's no use, luck's set in him; he'd thousand."' — Mat/hue, vol. i., p. iS. To RUN A MUCK, or GO A >: to rush headlong into certain ruin. 1 etioua phrenzy, which is common among the M .. to dash into a ci .. • meets with, until he is himself killed, or falls from exhaustion. — Malay, AMOK, slaughter. MUCK-OUT, to clean out; often applied to one utterly ruining an adver- bs gambling. MUCK-SNIPE, one who has been "mucked out," or beggared, at gambling. — Set MUCKENDER, or mucken'ger, a pocket-handkerchief.— Old. Cf. bnot- tixger. The original name of the " necking ek" in Bermondsey was the " devil's neck-handkerchief." See a review of this work in The Bookseller, May 26, 1S60. This is the name of a locality. There is still a "necklnger road ; " and Messrs Bevington &, Sons' tannery in Bermondsey bears the name of the " NECKENGEB mills." ft, a false swearer. Derived from the borrowed clothes men used to MOUNT, or dress in, when going to swear for a consideration. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 83 MUDFOG, "The British Association for the Promotion of Science."— University. MUD-LARK, a man or woman who, with clothes tucked above knee, grovels through the mud on the banks of the Thames, when the tide is low, for silver spoons, old bottles, pieces of iron, coal, or any articles of the least value, deposited by the retiring tide, either from passing ships or the sewers. Occasionally applied to those men who cleanse the sewers, with great boots and sou' wester hats. Those who are employed in banks and counting-houses, in collecting and other out- door duties, have also this appellation. MUD-STUDENT, a farming pupil. The name given to the students at the Agricultural College, Cirencester. MUFF, a silly, or weak-minded person ; muff has been defined to be " a soft thing that holds a lady's hand without squeezing it." MUFFIN-WORRY, an old ladies' tea party. MUFTI, the civilian dress of a naval or military officer when off duty. — Anglo-Indian. From an Eastern word signifying a clergyman or priest. MUG, the mouth, or face. — Old. " ' Goblet and mug.' — Topers should bear in mind that what they quaff from the goblet afterwards appears in the mug." MUG, to strike in the face, or fight. Also, to rob by the garrote. Gaelic, muig, to suffocate, oppress ; Irish, mugaim, to kill, destroy. MUG, "to mug one's-self," to get tipsy. MUGGING, a thrashing, — synonymous with slogging, both terms of the " ring," and frequently used by fighting men. MUGGY, drunk. MUG-UP, to paint one's face. — Theatrical. To " cram " for an examina- tion. — Army. MULL, " to make a mull of it," to spoil anything, or make a fool of one's- self. — Gipsy. MULLIGRUBS.— Vide molltgrubs. MULLINGAR HEIFER, a girl with thick ankles.— Irish. The story goes that a traveller, passing through Mullingar, was so struck with this j local peculiarity in the women, that he determined to accost the first he met next. "May I ask," said he, " if you wear hay in your shoes ?" "Faith an' I do," said the girl, "and what then ?" "Because," says the traveller, " that accounts for the calves of your legs coming down to feed on it." MULTEE KERTEVER, very bad. Italian, molto cattivo. — Lingua Franca. MUMMER, a performer at a travelling theatre. — Ancient. Rustic per- formers at Christmas in the West of England. MUMPER, a beggar. — Gipsy. Possibly a corruption of mummer. MUNDUNGUS, trashy tobacco. Spanish, mondongo, black pudding. — See the Gentleman s Magazine for 1821, vol. xxv. p. 137. MUNGARLY, bread, food. Mung is an old word for mixed food, but 184 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN mungakly is doubtless derived from the Lingua Franca, MAITGIAR, to eat. — See the following. MUNGARLY CASA, a baker's shop ; evidently a corruption of Bome Lingua Franca phrase for an eating-house. The well-known "Nix mangiare" stairs at Malta derive their name from the endless beggars who lie there and shout xix MANGIARE, i.e., "nothing to eat," to the compassion of the English who land there, — an expression which exhibits remarkably the mongrel composition of the Lii MANi and Nix an evident importation from T or other Austrian seaport. MUNGIN( 'lining, begging, muttering. — North. M [JNS, the moutli. kund. — Old < MURERK, the mistress of the house. — See BURRRK. MURKARKER, a monkey, kney pronunciation of u sped- I about thirty display his | at last "chawed up* by a bull I MURPHY, a] ' national likii murphy being a c »mm< □ i-iu. MURPHY, "in the . .iv," i.e., fa*t asleep. Corruption of MOR- MUSH, an umbrella. Contraction of mushroom. MUSH —(or MUSHROOM) — FAKER, an itinerant mender of umbrellas. MUSHROOM, an inel< gant round hat worn by demure lad MUSLIN, a woman or girl; ''he picked up a bit of MU8UN." M CTSTA, or MUSI I a, a pattern, one of a sort. Anglo-Indian term used in :. of anything, from the cut of a c the plan 1 : A sample of any kind of 1 •r: generally used in commercial transactions all over the MUTTi >N, a o nti mptuoua term for a woman of bad character, sometimes ttox. The expression was used as a Cant term for a " wild duck " in the reign of James I. A rm it was em- ployed by Ben Jcnson in his masque of Neptune'* Triumph, whi written for display at Court on Twelfth Ni^ a fine laced mgttoN' or tw< ." are the words applied to two wantons. has the term. In that class of English Bociety which does not lay any claim bo it. a fond lover is often spoken of as being " i his MUTTOK." MUTTON-CHOPS, a sheep's-head. MUTTON-FIST, an uncomplimentary title for any one having a large coarse red hand. MUTTON-WALK, the saloon at Drury Lane Theatre. A vulgar appella- tion applied to this in the last century, still in use in the SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1S5 neighbourhood of Covent Garden, which was formerly the great resort for the gay and giddy of both sexes. MUZZLE, the mouth. MUZZLE, to fight or thrash ; to throttle or garrote. MUZZY, intoxicated. — Household Words, No. 183. MY AUNT, the closet of decency, or house of office. MY LORD, a nickname given to a hunchback. MY NABS, myself ; in contradistinction to your nibs, which see. MY TULIP, a term of endearment used by the lower orders to persons and animals; "kim up, MY tulip," as the coster said to his donkey when thrashing him with an ash stick. MY UNCLE, the pawnbroker, — generally used when any person questions the whereabouts of a domestic article. " Oh ! only at my uncle's" is / the reply. Up the spout has the same meaning. It is worthy of remark that the French call this useful relative ma tante, " my aunt." NAB, to catch, to seize ; " nab the rust," to take offence. — Ancient, four- teenth century. — See nap. NABS, self; my nabs, myself; his nabs, himself. — North Country Cant. NAB THE RUST, to take offence. NABOB, an Eastern prince, a retired Indian official, — hence a Slang term for a capitalist. NAIL, to steal, or capture; "paid on the nail," i.e., ready money; nailed, taken up, or caught — probably in allusion to the practice of nailing bad money to the counter. We say "as dead as a door-nail;" — why ? Shahspeare has the expression in Henry IV. — " Falstaff. What ! is the old king dead? Pistol. As nail in door." A correspondent thinks the expression is only alliterative humour, and compares as " flat as a flounder," " straight as a soldier," &c. "NAIL IN ONE'S COFFIN," a dram, "a drop o' sumat' short," a jociilar, but disrespectful phrase, used by the lower orders to each other at the moment of lifting a glass of spirits to their lips. " Well, good luck ! here's another nail in my coffin." Another phrase wdth old topers is " SHEDDING A TEAR," also " WIPING AN EYE." NAM, a policeman. Evidently Bach Slang. NAMBY PAMBY, particular, over-nice, effeminate. This, I think, was of Pope's invention, and first applied by him to the affected, short-lined verses addressed by Ambrose Phillips to Lord Carteret's infant child- ren. — See Johnson's Life of Pope. NAMUS, or namous, some one, i.e., "be off, somebody is coming." — Bach Slang, but general. — See vamos. NANNY-SHOP, a disreputable house. NANTEE, not any, or " I have none." Italian, niente, nothing. — See DINarly. — Lingua Franca. 1 86 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN NANTEE PALAVER, no conversation, i.e., bold your tongue. — Lingua Franca. — See palaver. NAP, or nab, to take, steal, or receive; " you '11 nap it," i.e., you will catch a beating. — North ; also Old Cant. Bulwcrs Paul Clifford. NAP, to break, or rap with a hammer. — See knap. — North. NAP, or napper, a bat. From nab, a bat, cap, or bead. — Old Cant. NAP XIX, a person wbo works at bis trade, and occasionally goes on tbe stage to act minor parts without receiving any pay. Tbe derivation is obvious. — See nap and Nix, i.e., NIGHTS. '•' XAP ONE'S BIB," to cry, .-bed tears, or carry one's point. NATIONAL EXHIBITION, an execution at tbe Old Bailey; a term of tbe late ] dow usual NARK, a person in the pay of the polic □ informer; one who gets bis li\ . fcc. NARK, to watch, or look after; u etabk the titter;" watch tbe girl. XAK1\ aehirl NARY I IN E, pr n incia] for n 'i b a one, neither. NASTY, ill-temper NATION, Vi ry, or exceedingly. Corruption of damn ation. NATTY, NATURAL, an idiot, NAVVY, an exeat I in making railways, canals, &c. Origi- nal:;, nised term. X. ( '.. "." being tbe initials of nuf ced. A certain manager, it is said, spells in this style. — ThecU N BAR] » V. a person in authority over another ; master, parent, or i —North. •• NE< lv AND CROP," entirely, completely; "be cbuck'd him neck and crop out of window." N E( IKINGER, a cravat. — .See muckenger. NEDDY, a con lautity, as u a neddt of fruit," "a NEDDY of fish," &c. — Irish Slang. NECK, to swallow. Xeck-oil, drink of any kind. " NECK AXD NECK i m neck and neck in a race when they are so perfectly equal that one cannot be said to be before the other. "NECK OR NOTHING," desperate.— Racing phrase. NEDDY, a life preserver. — Contraction of Kennedy, the name of the first man, it is said in St Giles's, who bad his bead broken by a poker. — Vide Mornings at Bou- Street. NEDDY, a donkey. NED, a guinea. Half-ned, balf-a-guinea, '• Nap the regulars." to divide the booty. " Nap the teaze," to be privately whipped in prison. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. I&J NED STOKES, the four of spades. — North Hants. — See Gentleman s Maga- zine for iygi, p. 141. NEEDFUL, money, cash ; the " one thing needful," for the accomplish- ment of most pet designs. " NEVER TRUST ME," an ordinary phrase with low Londoners, and common in Shakspeare's time, vide Twelfth Night. It is generally used instead of an oath, calling vengeance on the asseverator, if such and such does not come to pass. NEWMARKET, in tossing halfpence, when the game is "two out of three," that is, he who gains the first two tosses wins. When the first toss is decisive, the game is termed sudden death. NIB-COVE, a gentleman. Nibsomest cribs, best or gentlemen's houses. — Beggars Cant. NIB-LIKE, gentlemanly. NIBS, the master, or chief person; a man with no means hut high pre- tensions, — a " shabby genteel." NICK, or old nick, the evil spirit. — Scandinavian, knickar, one of the names of Odin, as the destroying or evil principle. NICK, to hit the mark; "he 's nicked it,"i ,e., won his point. NICK-KNACK, a trifle.— Originally Cant. NIGGLING, trifling, or idling; taking short steps in walking. — North. NIL, half; half profits, &c. NILLY-W T ILLY, i.e , Nill ye, will ye, whether you will or no, a familiar version of the Latin, nolens volens. NIMMING, stealing. Immediately from the German, nehmen. Mother- well, the Scotch poet, thought the old word nim (to snatch or pick up) was derived from nam, nam, the tiny words or cries of an infant, when eating anything which pleases its little palate. A negro proverb has the word : — " Buckra man nam crab, Crab nam buckra man." Or, in the buckra man's language — " White man eat [or steal] the crab, And the crab eats the white man." Needy, a nightly lodger, or tramp. Needy Mizzler, a shabby person ; a tramp who runs away without paying for his lodging. Newgate Fringe, or erill, the collar of beard worn under the chin ; so called from its occupying the position of the rope when Jack Ketch operates. Another name for it is a tyburn collar. Newgate Knocker, the term given to the lock of hair which coster- mongers and thieves usually twist back towards the ear. The shape is supposed to resemble the knocker on the prisoners' door at Newgate — a resemblance that carries a rather unpleasant suggestion to the wearer. Sometimes termed a cobbler's knot, or cow-lick, which see Nieble, to take, or steal. Nibbler, a petty thief. I 88 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN NINCOMPOOP, a fool, a hen-pecked husband, a "Jerry Sneak." — Cor- ruption of non compos ma* tit. NINE CORNS, a pipeful of tobacco. NINES, "dressed up to the nines," in a showy or recherche" manner. NINEPENCE, " right as NINEPENOE," all right, right to a nicety. A cor- respondent says : — " This most undoubtedly should be nine-fins. For at the game of that name, in fairness to both parties, the nine pins must always be set up, with great accuracy, in this form .•*•, There is no nicety in Nil NINE SHILLINGS, ity ; most probably derived from th ■ NINO NAN';. re' term for a worthless thorough-bred. NINNYHAMMER, a foolish ignorant person. — Yorl NIPPER, a small b »y. '''■ / Cant for a boy cut-pui NIX.ii . Lth NEL Q nothing. — See mungably. NIX ! the Bignal v.- >• that the m othi r '" MX MY D0LL1 ular Slang song, beginning — " J Idd forlorn ; \/\\JL/ And i: v DOLLY, pais, NIZ-PRIZ, a writ of nisi-prius.- NIZZIE, a fooL a coxcoi I '. vide Triumph of Wit. NOAH'S ARK, a long closely-buttoned overcoat, recently in fashion. So named by P inch from the similarity which it exhibits t<> the figure of i and bis sons in children's toy arks. NOB, the head — Pugilistic; '"Bob a NOB," a shilling a ' neb. No] , and is used in the romance of r (thirteenth century) for a head ; originally, no doubt, the B NOB, a ••swell," a ttoMeman, — of which word it may be an abbreviation. — See snob. X< >B, the knave of trumps, when turned up at the game of cribbage. NOBBA. nine. Itali . NOVA, — the b and v being inter- changeable. - Sevastopol. Slang introduced I "org Italy. NOBBA SALTEE, ninepence. Lhv i.di. NOBBING, collecting mon ... how much have you • or collected from the crowd ! NOBBLE, to cheat, to overreach ; to discover. NuBBLER, a blow on the nob, a finishing stroke ; "that's a node;.;::* f< »r hin ." ■'.■ ., a 8 sttler.- Nip, to steal, take up quickly. — .i. — Derived from the French, PAULl.K. PALL, to stop ; " tall that," spoken authoritatively, means cease what you are doing. From pall, a small Instrument which wind] -!i at sea. When a man I a palled," he ofl he cannot or dare not say any more. - ing any extraordinary intelligence, will say, ''you pall me," i.e., you confound me. PALMER, a beggar who visits shops under the pretence of collecting harp halfpence. To induce shopkeepers to search for them, he thirteenpence for one shilling's-worth, when ina:< enough to I copper on their counter. 11 is a proficient with his fingers, and generally contrives to con- ceal a certain number before he leaves the shop. Since the bronze pence and halfpence have been introduced, the palmer, has been un- able to follow this branch of his prof' TALM OIL, or palm soap, money; also, a bribe. Padding-ken, or crlb, tramps' and boys' lodging-house. Pall, to detect. Palming, robbing shops "by pairs, — one thief bargaining with apparent intent to purchase, whilst the other watches his opportunity t An amusing example of palming came off some time since. A man entered a "ready-made" boot and shoe shop and desired to be shewn a pair of boots, — his companion staying outside and amusing 1 by looking in at the window. The one who required to be f re- was apparently of a humble and deferential turn, for he placed his hat on the floor directly he stepped into the sho^. Boot after boot was SLANG, CANT, AXD VULGAR WORDS. 195 PAM, the knave of clubs at the game of loo ; or, in street phraseology, Lord Palmerston. PANNAM, food, bread. — Lingua Franca, pannen; Latin, panis; Ancient Cant, TANNAM. PANNAM-BOUND, to stop the prison food or rations to a prisoner. Pan- nam-struck, very hungry. PANNIKIN, a small pau. PANTILE, a hat. The term pantile is properly applied to the mould into which the sugar is poured which is afterwards known as " loaf sugar." Thus, pantile, from whence comes the phrase, "a sugar-loaf hat," originally signified a tall, conical hat, in shape similar to that usually represented as the head gear of a bandit. From pantile, the more modern Slang term tile has been derived. Ealliwell gives pan- tile shop, a meeting-house. Pantile also means a flat cake with jam on it, given to boys at boarding-schools instead of pudding. PANTILER, a dissenting preacher. Probably from the practice of the Quakers, and many Dissenters, of not removing the hat in a place of worship. Another derivation is from the earthen tiles, technically pantiles, (tiles hollowed in the middle, as distinguished from "pin- tiles," the older sort, which are flat, smaller, and pinned or nailed to the rafters,) with which meeting-houses of Dissenters are visually covered ; hence the meeting-house came to be called a pantile, and its frequenters pantilers. PAPER-MAKER, a rag-gatherer, or gutter -raker — similar to the chiffonnier of Paris. Also a man who tramps through the country, and collects rags on the pretence that he is an agent to a paper mill. PAPER-WORKER, a wandering vendor of street literature ; one who sells ballads, dying speeches, and confessions, sometimes termed a running stationer. PARACHUTE, a parasol. PARADISE, French Slang for the gallery of a theatre, "up amongst the* gods," which see. PARISH LANTERN, the moon. tried on until at last a fit was obtained, — when lo, forth came a man, snatched up the customer's hat left near the door, and down the street he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Away went the customer after his hat, and Crispin, standing at the door, clapped his hands, and shouted, "go it, you'll catch him," — little thinking that it was a con- certed trick, and that neither his boots nor the customer would ever return. Palming sometimes refers to secreting money or rings in the hand ; also, bribing, bribery. Pannt, a house — public or otherwise; "flash panny," a public-house used by thieves ; panny-men, housebreakers. Panny in thieves' Cant also signifies a burglary. Parachute, a thief's word for a parasol or umbrella. Parish prig, or parish bull, a parson. — Thieves' Cant. 196 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN PARNEY, rain; "dowry of parley," a quantity of rain. Anglo-Indian Slang from the Hindoo, PANI, water; Gipsy, tank. Old Indian officers always call brandy -and-water "BRANDY PAWNEE." PARSON TRULLIBER, a rude, vulgar country clergyman; the race is most probably now extinct. PARSON'S NOSE, the hiud part of a goose, — a savoury mouthful. PART, to pay, restore, give up; "he's a right un, he is; I know'd he'd part." /.'.. he La a Liberal (or punctual) person, and paya hie debts, or bestows gratuities. The term La in general use in Sporting circles, and is very commonly employed when Bpeaking of the settlement of bets or a "mill." It La probably derived from the very com- mon colloquialism applii "liking to past with their PARTES, a free, liberal | PARTY, a person,— Mar in applic .' : ■ 'ad a' orter be lookin' arl . • E I he wrong cabman ; '* <>M pabi v." an elderly person. The term ia i in our old rship " and tl their memorii the names 1 t the was generally empl Alford remarks : — "The word pabty I p offensive. Stn . i. 7. * If an evil ,-j.int trouble any, 1 ea smoke the man ur the worn In Shakspeart we find the term : — 1 1 low now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring mo to the : :. 2. "I once heard," says the Dean just quoted, "a ' ignitary pointed ont by a railway porter as an old party in a shovel." The word is the vulgar term applied to the twisted hat worn by cleri- cal dignitaries. FASH, to strike ; now corrupted to BASH, which see. — Shdhpeare. PASTEBi >AIID, a visiting card ; " to pasteboard a person," to drop a card at person's house. PASTE-HORN, the nose. Shoemakers nickname any shopmate with a nose "old PASTE-HORN," from the horn in which they keep their TASTY, a bookbinder. PATCH. This Old English term of reproach, long obsolete in polite lan- guage, may yet occasionally be heard in sentences like these : — " Why, he 's not a patch upon him," i.e., he is not to be compared with him ; " one 's not a patch to the other," &c. JShaLspeare uses the word in the sense of a paltry fellow : — " What a pied ninny 's this ? thou scurvy patch ! " SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 197 TATEXT COAT, a coat with the pockets inside the skirts, — termed patent from the difficulty of picking them. PATTER, a speech or discourse, a pompous street oration, a judge's sum- ming up, a trial. Ancient word for muttering. Probably from the Latin, pater-noster, or Lord's Prayer. This was said, before the Reformation, in a low voice by the priest, until he came to, "and lead us not into temptation," to which the choir responded, " but deliver us from evil." In our reformed Prayer-Book this was altered, and the Lord's Prayer directed to be said " with a loud voice." Dr Pusey takes this view of the derivation in his Letter to the Bishop of London, p. 78, 1 85 1. Scott uses the word twice in Ivanhoe and the Bride of Lammermoor. PATTER, to talk. Patter plash, to speak the language of thieves, talk Cant, PATTERER, a man who cries last dying speeches, &c, in the streets ; ap- plied also to those who help off their wares by long harangues in the public thoroughfares. These men, to use their own term, "are the haristocracy of the street sellers," and despise the costermongers for their ignorance, boasting that they live by their intellect. The public, they say, do not expect to receive from them an equivalent for their money — they pay to hear them talk. — Mayhew. Patterers were formerly termed "mountebanks." PATTERN, a common vulgar phrase for "patent." PAUL PRY, an inquisitive person. From the well-known comedy. PAV., the Pavilion Theatre, — sometimes called the P. V., i.e., pe-ve. PAW, the hand. Paw-cases, gloves. PAY, to beat a person, or "serve him out." Originally a nautical term, meaning to stop the seams of a vessel with pitch, (French, porx;) "here's the d 1 to pat, and no pitch hot," said when any catas- / trophe occurs which there is no means of averting; "to pat over face and eyes, as the cat did the monkey ; " " to pat through the nose," to give a ridiculous price, — whence the origin ? ShaJcsjpeare uses pat in the sense of to beat, or thrash. PAY, to deliver. " Pat that letter to Mr So-and-So " is a very common direction to a Chinese servant. — Anglo-Chinese. PAY-AWAY, " go on with your story, or discourse." From the nautical phrase pat- a wat, meaning to allow a rope to run out of the vessel. When the hearer considers the story quite long enough, he, carrying out the same metaphor, exclaims hold on. PEACH, an informer against omnibus conductors and drivers, one especi- ally hired by the proprietors to count passengers and stoppages. The term is in frequent use amongst omnibus-men. PEACH, to inform against or betray. Webster states that impeach is now the modification mostly used, and that peach is confined principally to the conversation of thieves and the lower orders. Patter-crlb, a flash house. 190 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN PEACOCK HORSE, amongst undertakers, is one with a showy tail and mane, and holds its head up well, — che va favor •reggiando, fee, Italian. PEAKING, remnants of cloth. Term amongst drapers and cloth ware- housemen. PEC, a term used by the Eton boys for money, an abbreviation, of course, of the Latin, PECK, food; "peck and booze," meat and drink. — Lincolnshire. Ancient Cant, pek, meat. PECK-ALLEY, the ■" PECKER,"! , don't get down-hearted, — li PE< K 1 1 A M. brict, implying a dinner; " all holiday al eat. PECKISH, hun pry. 1 leat. NI1-T, a hyp icritical rascal From Dickens's Martin ChtuzdewU. PEEL, ■ PEELER, a p ' rl P '. 1 bobby;) pro- 1 Lty police, the R >bext Peel. PEEPE1 jyea bruised or blackened from a blow . PEEB lb, or inquisitive. tter. PEG, a abillj way,'' to Btrike, run. or drive away; "PEG a hack," to drive ;. or c — from the use of F£0 tankard PE( I T< >PS, the 1 ose fcr u» ra recently in fashion, small at the ankle and swelling upwards, in imitation of the Zouave costume. PENANG-LAWYER, the long cane, now carried by footmen, though formerly by gentlemen. — Anglo-Indi PENNY GAFF, a shop turned into a temporary theatre, (admie penny,) at which dancing and singing take place 1 Rude pictures of the performers are arrang the front a gaudy and attractive look, aud at night-time coloured lamps and trans- parencies are displayed to draw an audience. PENNY-A-LINER, a contributor of local news, accidents, fires, scandal, political and fashionable gossip, club jokes, and anecdotes, to a news- paper; not regularly '"'on the paper;" one who is p ipularly believed to be paid for each contribution at the rate of a peni whose interest is, therefore, that his article should be stuffed with fine words and long sen: PENNY STARVER, a penny roll— See buster. Peninsular, or moll tuuler, a female pickpocket. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 1 99 PENSIONER, a man of the most degraded morals who lives off the miser- able earnings of a prostitute. PEPPER, to thrash, or strike. — Pugilistic, but used by Shakspeare. — East- ern Counties. PEPPER-BOXES, the buildings of the Royal Academy and National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. The name was first given by a wag, in allusion to the cupolas erected by Wilkins, the architect, upon the roof, and which, from their form and awkward appearance, at a dis- tance suggest to the stranger the fact of their being enlarged pepper- boxes. — See boilers. PERCH, or boost, a resting-place; "I'm off to perch," i.e., I am going to bed. " Nor yet a single perch, for which my lucky stm-s to thank, Except the perch I've taken on this damp rheumatic bank." The Lay of the Unsuccessful Angler, by Arthur Smith. PERKINS, beer. Dandy or affected shortening of the more widely-known Slang phrase, BARCLAY AND PERKINS. PERSUADERS, spurs. PESKY, an intensitive expression, implying annoyance ; a pesky, trouble- some fellow. Corruption of pestilent ; or, Irish, PEASGach, rough, rugged. PETER, a partridge. — Poacher 's term. PETER, a bundle, or valise. — Bulwers Paul Clifford. Also, a cash-box. PETER, to run short, or give out. PETTICOAT, a woman. PEWTER, money, like tin, used generally to signify silver ; also a pewter- pot. " Let me have my beer in the pewter," is a common request to waiters, made by " City " men, and others who affect habits of rude health. PHILADELPHIA-LAWYER, this transatlantic limb of the law is con- sidered to be the very acme of acuteness. Sailors relate many stories of his artful abilities, none, however, short enough to find a place here. PHILISTINE, a policeman. The German students call all townspeople not of their body philister, as ours say cads. The departing student says, mournfully, in one of the Burschenlieder — " Muss selber nun philister seyn !" i.e., " I must now myself Philistine be ! " PHYSOG, or phiz, the face. Swift uses the latter. Corruption of "phy- siognomy." Feterer, or Peterman, one who follows hackney and stage coaches, and cuts off the portmanteaus and trunks from behind. — Nearly obsolete. Ancient term for a fisherman, still used at Gravesend. Philliper, a thief s accomplice, one who stands by and looks out for the police while the others commit the robbery. — Times, 5th September i860. 200 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN PIC, the Piccadilly Saloon. The earlier abbreviation was dilly. Very fast men were wont (it is now " used up ") to call it " the SANGOINABY DOUBLES, from the fact of its beiug situated at Xo. 222 in Piccadilly. PICCADILLY BUTCHERS, a satirical name applied by the crowd to the regiment of Life Guards, known as the "Royal Blues/' from their savage onslaught upon the crowd on the occasion of the arrest of Sir Francis Burdett at his house in Piccadilly, by order of the Speaker of the House of Commons. PICK, "to PICK one's-self up," to recover after a beating or illness, some- tim< "pick up one's crumbs;" "to pick a man up," '"to do," or cheat him. PICKANINNY, a young child La thus styli d by tin- West Indian nej 'l'li'' ituralised a:.. ad water-side PICKERS, tl ire. I'll K LE, '• he is in a sad PICKLE," said of Hen into thi . •■ A pickle Also, a mischie- ■■ PI( EL] ad insulting exclamation. I'll '( ;!".' IN, :i of the E word. PIECE, a contemptuous term for a woman; a strumpet.— { PIG, or ..a sixpence. 3 of metal, — so called from its being poured in a fluid state from a sow, which see. — Worh « PIG AND TINPER-BOX," the vulgar rendering of the well-known tavern ign, " 1. ■ 1 hunt PIGEOX, a gullible or soft person. The French Cant, - the word PI EON, dupe — " ; enfanl . The vagaboi I in their Germania, or Robberd . . ILOMO, rant, simple. PIGEON'S MILE, ■ quently sent, on the 1st of April, to "buy a pennyworth of pigeon's milk." PIG-HEADED, obstinate. - PIG*S EYE, the ace of diamonds in cards. PIG'S WHISPEPi. a low or inaudible whisper; also a short space of time, synonymous with cockjstride, i.e., cock's tread. PIKE, a turnpike ; i: to bilk a pike," to cheat the keeper of the toll-gate. '• No pike I 've seen, the only one was that unpleasant v. Where threepence I was forced to pay, an i 1 The Lo Pigeo>", or bluet ceackixg, breaking into empty houses and stealing lead. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 201 PIKE, to run, to be off with speed ; " pike it " is said as a hasty and con- temptuous, if not angry dismissal ; " if you don't like it, take a short stick and pike it." " Joe quickly his sand had sold, sir, And Bess got a basket of rags ; Then up to St Giles's they roll'd, sir ; To every hunter Bess brags. Then unto the gin-shop they pike it, And Bess was admitted, we hear ; For none of the crew dare but like it, As Joey, her kiddy, was there." The Sand-man's Wedding, a Cantata. "'Twaa not our fault, dear Jack; we saw the watch going into the house the moment we came there, and we thought it proper to pike off." — The Prison Breaker, a Farce. PILL, a doctor. — Military. Pill-driyer, a peddling apothecary. PILL-BOX, a doctor's carriage. , PIN, " to put in the pin," to refrain from drinking. From the ancient peg tankard, which was furnished with a row of PINS, or pegs, to regu- late the amount which each person was to drink. A correspondent gives a different explanation. " When an Irishman makes a vow or promise to abstain from drinking for a time, he puts a pin in the right- hand cuff of his coat. So that, in case he should ever forget his pro- mise, he will see the pin, like an accusing angel, when lifting the glass to his mouth." A merry pin, a roisterer. — See peg. PINCHBECK, inferior, deteriorated. " Where, in these pinchbeck days, can we hope to find the old agricultural virtue in all its purity?" — Framley Parsonage. Pinchbeck was an inferior metal, compounded of copper and zinc, to resemble gold. It was very fashionable in the last century, and derived its name from a Mr Pinchbeck, a well-known London tradesman, who manufactured watches, buckles, and other articles out of it. Pinch- beck first obtained his notoriety by the invention of an ingenious candle-snuffers, which the author of The Heroic Epistle to Sir William Chambers made the vehicle of a facetious Ode that went through eight editions. The title of this jeu d esprit ran thus : — " Ode to Mr Pinchbeck, upon his Newly-invented Candle-Snvffers, by Malcolm M'Gregok, Esq., 1776. " Illustrious pinchbeck! condescend, Thou well-beloved, and best king's friend, These lyric lines to view ; Oh may they prompt thee, e'er too late, To snuff the candle of the State, That burns a little blue ! " Pinchbeck published a poetical reply, and the two pamphlets were for a long time the talk of town. PINDARIC HEIGHTS, studying the odes of Pindar.— Oxford. PINK, the acme of perfection. — Shakspeare. PINK, to stab, or pierce. Pin, to catch, apprehend. Also, to steal rapidly. Pinch, to steal, or cheat ; also, to catch, or apprehend. 202 A DICTIONARY OF MODE EX PINNER-TJP, a seller of old songs, pinned against a wall or framed can- vass. Formerly many of these street salesmen carried on their little " paper trade " in London; now they are rarely seen. PINS, legs. PIPE, to follow or dog a person. Term used by dd< PIPE, to shed tears, or bewail ; " pipe one's eye." — S a U rm. '• Ee first began to • Metaphor from the boatswain's pipe, which calls fco duty. PIPE, ae'fl PIPE out," to traverse his plans, "to take a i out of him. PIPEB py on fch ■ oondu PITKIN, bl -; ronnd-bottomed \ PIT. PIT( if. a hold forth to a gaping multi- • B PITCH in I he »rm in the .-• PITCH INT'), l .thrashing. •• PITCH THE FORK," to tell a pitif "PITCH THE] k tiie garter, which see. PLANT, a dodge, a preconcerted swindle j a position in the street to sell from. be thus described : a coster will join a .- of gambling costers that he never saw be: ::uence ancient time has el ions ol ■ of his pals throws with those standing around. By a curious quick- him in the evening after the play is o. PLANT, to mark a person out for plunder • i conceal, or place, nceal, there is a similar word in A PLAKQUKE. TLEBS. a term i i tatise a tradesman's son at Westminster : i. pes. the vi ; PLOUGHED, drunk. — / '■'.'■ ■nls, So. 183. Also a University term equivalent to plucked. PLUCK, the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal, — all that is plucked away in connexion with the windpipe, from the chest of a -heep or hog; among low persons, courage, valour, and a stout hear: MOLLTGRUBS. PLUCK'D-'UN, a stout or brave fellow; "he's a rare pluck'd-'un," i.e., dares face anything. During the Crimean war. plucky, siemifying courageous, seemed likely to become a favourite term in May-Pair, even among the ladies. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 203 An eminent critic, however, who had been bred a butcher, having in- formed the fashionable world that in his native town the sheep's head always went with the pluck, the term has been gradually falling into discredit at the West End. It has been said that a brave soldier is plucky in attack, and game when wounded. Women are more game than plucky. PLUCKED, turned bach at an examination. — University . A correspondent says that "in ancient times it was the University practice of pulling (or plucking) the sleeve — by the proctor, if I recollect aright — of those whose degrees were refused." PLUM, £100,000, usually applied to the dowry of a rich heiress, or a legacy. — Civic Slang. PLUM-CASH, prime cost. — Anglo-Cliinese. PLUMMY, round, sleek, jolly, or fat ; excellent, very good, first rate. PLUMPER, a single vote at an election, not a " split ticket." PLUNDER, a common word in the horse trade to express profit. Also an American term for baggage, luggage. PLUNGER, a cavalry-man. — Military Slang. POCKET-PISTOL, a dram-flask. PODGY, drunk; dumpy, short, and fat. POGRAM, a Dissenter, a fanatic, formalist, or humbug. So called from a well-known dissenting minister of this name. POKE, a bag, or sack ; " to buy a pig in a poke," to purchase anything without seeing it. — Saxon. POKE, a Slang word for booty or plunder. — Times, Nov. 29, i860. POKE, "come, none of your poking fun at me," i.e., you must not laugh at me. POKER, "by the holy poker and the tumbling Tom ! " an Irish oath. POKERS, the Cambridge Slang term for the Esquire Bedels, who carry tbe silver maces (also called pokers) before the Vice-Chancellor. " Around, around, all, all around, On seats with velvet lined, Sat Heads of Houses in a row, And Deans, and College Dons below, With, a poker or two behind." Rime of the New-Made Baccalere, T841. POKY, confined or cramped ; " that corner is poky and narrow." — Times article, 21st July 1859. Saxon, poke, a sack. POLE-AXE, vulgar rendering of the word "police." POLICEMAN, a fly — more especially the earlier kind known as "blue bottles. " POLISH OFF, to finish off anything quickly — a dinner for instance ; also to finish off an adversary. — Pugilistic. Poll, or polling, one thief robbing another of part of the booty. In use in ancient times, vide Hall's Union, 1518. 204 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN POLL, the " ordinary degree " candidates for the E. A. Examination, who do not aspire to the "Honours" list. From the Oral-, ol ttoWoi, "the many." Some years air-, at Cambridge, Mr Hopkins being the most celebrated " honour coach," or private tutor for the wranglers, and Mr Putts the principal "crammer" of the non-honour men, the latter was facetiously termed the " POLLY HOPKINS" by the under- graduates. POLL, a female of unsteady character : " poll] d vv," living with a woman in a Btate of unmarried impro] i POLON ': ning and vulgar pronunciation of a . army. POND, or BERRING POND, the Bea; so c who are sent acr PONY, 1 or from the ■ to top up ;!. • he pawn- broker's,— an all p which tl. ad the The Bpout runs from the ground-f m at the top of the P( IPE'S N 1 »SE, the extremity of the rump of a rocust fowl, devilled as a dainty • ■Is. PORTRA [T, r twenty si.:' - :rer. A corrupt; i r," the name given to the in the large Anglo-Chinese mercantile establLshinenta. — . . or trifling coin. Also a generic term for money. POHT w place thestak. ■ POST-IIOEX. tb ABTK-HORN. POST-MORTEM, at Cambridge, the second examination which men who have been "plucl to undergo. — University. TOSTEOYS, THREE JOLLY, a method of t POSTERIORS, a >■ respondent insists that the vulgar sense of t: is un I beheve, 11: as such,) and remarks that it is curious the word anterior has not been so abused. POSTED UP. well acquainted with the subject in question, " up to the mark," — metaphor drawn from the counting-house. POT, a sixpence, i.e., the price of a pot or quart of half-and-half. A half- crown, in medical student Slang, is a fivl-pot pll._. SLANG, CANT. AND VULGAR WORDS. 205 POT, "to go to pot," to die ; from the classic custom of putting the ashes of the dead in an urn ; also, to be ruined, or broken up, — often applied to tradesmen who fail in business. Go to pot ! i.e., go and hang your- self, shut up and be quiet. V Estrange, to put the pot on, to over- charge, or exaggerate. A correspondent, however, prefers looking to the refiner's shop for the origin of the expression, where refuse metal and worn-out plate are daily condemned " to go to pot." POT, to finish ; " don't pot me," term used at billiards, when a player holes his adversary's ball — generally considered shabby play. This word was much used by our soldiers in the Crimea, for firing at the enemy from a hole or ambush. These were called pot-shots. POT-HUNTER, a sportsman who shoots anything he comes across, having more regard to filling his bag than to the rules which regulate the sport. POT LUCK, just as it comes; to take pot luck, i.e., one's chance of a r dinner, — a hearty term used to signify whatever the pot contains the ' visitor is welcome to. POT-AVALLOPER, an elector in certain boroughs before the passing of the Reform Bill, whose qualification consisted in being a housekeeper, — to establish which it was only necessary to boil a pot within the limits of the borough, by the aid of any temporary erection. This implied that he was able to provide for himself, and not necessitated to apply for parochial relief. Eoniton, Tregoney, Uchester, Old Sarum, &c, had this privilege before the passing of the Reform Bill. — See Gentle- man's Magazine for June 1852. Wallop, a word of Anglo-Saxon derivation, from the same root as well. POTATO-TRAP, the mouth.— Originally a Hibernicism. POTEEIST, whisky made in an illicit still, once a favourite drink in Ireland, now almost unattainable. POTTED, or potted out, cabined, confined; "the patriotic member of Parliament potted out in a dusty little lodging somewhere about Bury Street." — Times article, 21st July 1859. Also applied- to burial, — a gardening allusion. POTTY, indifferent, bad looking,— said of a rotten or unsound scheme. POAVER, a large quantity ;• " a power of money.'* — Especially Irish, but now general. Deriv. poer, Old French or Norman, large resources; also an army. P. P., in Turf Slang a contraction of "plat or pat;" that is, the money must be paid whether the horse runs or not. PRANCER, a horse. — Ancient Cant. PRECIOUS, used in a Slang sense like very or exceeding; "a PRECIOUS little of that," i.e., a very little indeed ; a precious humbug, rascal, &c, i.e., an eminent one. Prad, a horse. Prad-napping, horse-stealing. 206 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN PRETTY HORSE-BREAKER, a phrase of recent adoption, applied to the ladies of the demi-monde by the Times and other newspapers. It is said that the livery stable-keepers of the West End find it to their advantage to provide horses and "traps" for these pretty HORSE- breakers to display. PRIAL, a corruption of pair-royal, a term at the game of cribbage, glean- ing three cards of a similar description. Often used metaphorically for three persons or things of a kind. Double-priaL, a corruption of double tair-royal, means four persons or things of a similar descrip- tion. "PRICK THE GARTER/' or "HTCH the nor," a gambling and cheating game come ed by thimble-riggers. It consi ibled, and thru folded up made opon 3 1 in, with a pin, li '1. ' Tli.- garter is then unfol :' t 11 you v, iil find that yon have been folds has been pricked. The owner the ends tightly with one hand. are j n . form ,j by the I ripsiea in the t i 111 " of &. it was termed PRiOKraa at the BELT, or EAST AND 1 PRIG, a thief. indent ''ant, ire. Prig, term prig is used in ad from what it is in England. In Glasgow, or at Aberdi en, "to prig a salmon" would be to cheapen it, or seek for an abatement in the price. A Btory is told of two Scotchmen, visitors to London, who gol into sad trouble a few y announcing their intention of "PRIGGING a hat" which they d in a fashionable manufacturer's window, and which one of them thought ild like to possess. TRIG, a conceited, stuck-up person, and contemptible withal ; one who ap- :. dinner or costume not suited to him. PRIGGISH, conceited. PRIMED, e « in that state of incipient intoxication that if he takes more drink it will become evident. PRO, a professional. — ! PROG, meat, food, &c. Johnson calls it " a low word." PROP, a blow, the titer cut. PROPS, crutches. PROPS, stage properties. — Theatrical. Prime Plant, a good subject for plunder. — See plant. Prop, a gold scarf pin. Prop-nailer, a man who steals, or rather snatches, pins from gentlemen's scarfs. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 207 PROPER, very, exceedingly, sometimes ironically; "you are a proper nice fellow," meaning a great scamp. PROS, a water-closet. Abbreviated form of rrpos riva tottov. — Oxford University. PROSS, to break in or instruct a stage-infatuated youth. Also, to " sponge " upon a comrade or stranger for drink. PSALM-SMITER, a " Ranter," one who sings at a conventicle. — See brisket- beater. PUB, or public, a public-house ; "what pub do you use ?" i.e., which inn or public-house do you frequent ? PUCKER, poor temper, difficulty, deshabille. Pucker up, to get in a poor temper. PUCKERING, talking privately. PUCKEROTV, to seize, to take hold of. From the Hindostanee, puckeena. — Anglo-Indian. PUFF, to blow up, swell with praise ; declared by a writer in the Weekly Register, as far back as 1 732, to be illegitimate. " Puff has become a Cant word, signifying the applause set forth by writers, &c, to increase the reputation and sale of a book, and is an excellent strata- gem to excite the curiosity of gentle readers." Lord Bacon, however, used the word in a similar sense a century be- fore. PUG-, abbreviation of " pugilist." Sayers and Heenan would speak fami- liarly of themselves as " brother pugs." PULL, an advantage, or hold upon another ; -" I 've the pull over you," i.e., you are in my power — perhaps an oblique allusion to the judicial sense. — See the folloiving . PULL, to have one apprehended ; " to be pulled up," to be taken before a magistrate. PULL, to drink ; " come, take a PULL at it," i.e., drink up. PULLET, a young girl. PUMMEL, to thrash, — from pommel. PUMP, to extract information by roundabout questioning. PUNDIT, a person who assumes to be very grave and learned. — Anglo- Indian. PUNKAH, a fan. — Anglo-Indian. PUNT, to gamble; punting-shop, a gambling-house. Common in ancient writers, but now disused. The word seems confined to playing for " chicken stakes." Public Patterers, swell mobites who pretend to be dissenting preachers, and harangue in the open air to attract a crowd for their confederates to rob. Pudding-Snammer, one who robs a cook-shop. Pulley, a confederate thief, — generally a woman. 208 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN PUP AND RINGER, i.e., the " Dog and BeU," the sign of a flash public- house. PURDAH, a curtain. — Anglo-Indian. PURL, hunting term for a fall, synonymous with foaled, or spilt; " he '11 get purled at the rails." PURL, a mixture of hot ale and sugar, with wormwood infused in it, a favourite morning drink to produce an appetite; sometimes with gin — penn'orth o' viva. — 1 '< tin .-til the ■ your hair into a curl, When you feel yourself queer of a morninV PUSH, a crowd.- I PUSSEY-CATS, corrupti lonstantly, but impro- perly, given to i m" party in the Church, from the Hebrew, who by no means approved of the R i of e >me of its leaders. PUT, a game at ( "PUTTHAT IN 5TOUR PIPE AND SMOKE bloworrepar- :i-l profit by it," i.e., let it be a warn " PUT II I E PI >T I 'N." to bet too much upon one horse. — Sporting. PUT IJP,to£ be put me up to it; " to have done with; put is beard in the streets. Lux up, to ■- a hotel or tavern for entertainment. TUT UPON, cheated, victimised, oppressed. PUTTU . . PYAH, weak, useless, paltry. This word, much in use among sailors, is : in pariah, signifying the Thus the i i i India are termed PYAH dogs; and the Pariah d< :' the old Portuguese settlers are called PYAH POM 5 I ira term the natives of St Helena, — a wretched-1 . individuals, — PYAH I PYGOSTOLE. the least irreverent of names for the peculiar " M.-B." coats worn by Tractarian curates : — '• It is fame tl at the wicked make - ■ And one gownsman, in Trinity Court, 1 iuy."" See M b. PYJANDS, a kind of drawers or loose pantaloons.— Anglo- Indian. QUAD. See quod. QUAKER, an unlawful sir reverence. QUALITY, gentry, high life. Pure Feeders, street-collectors of dogs' dung. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 209 QUANDARY, described in the dictionaries as a "low word," may fittingly be given here. It illustrates, like hocus pocus, and other compound colloquialisms, the singular origin of Slang expressions. Quandary, a dilemma, a doubt, a difficulty, is from the French, qu'en dirai-je ? — Skinner. QUARTEREEN, a farthing. — Gibraltar term. Italian, quattrino. QUAVER, a musician. QUEEN BESS, the Queen of Clubs, — perhaps because that queen, history says, was of a swarthy complexion. — North Hants. — See Gentleman s Magazine for 1 791, p. I4I. QUEER, an old Cant word, once in continual use as a prefix, signifying base, roguish, or worthless, — the opposite of rum, which signified good and genuine. Queer, in all probability, is immediately derived from the Cant language. It has been mooted that it came into use from a qucere (?) being set before a man's name ; but it is more than probable that it was brought into this country by the Gipsies from Germany, where quer signifies "cross," or " croolceclP At all events it is be- lieved to have been first used in England as a Cant word. QUEER, " to queer a flat," to puzzle or confound a " gull " or silly fellow. " Who in a row like Tom could lead the van, Booze in the ken, or at the spellken hustle? Who queer a flat," &c. — Don Juan, canto xi. 19. QUEER BAIL, worthless persons who for a consideration formerly stood bail for any one in court. Insolvent Jews generally performed this office, which gave rise to the term jew-bail. — See mounters : both nearly obsolete. QUEER STREET, " in queer street," in difficulty or in want. QUEER CUFFEN. a justice of the peace, or magistrate — a very ancient term, mentioned in the earliest Slang dictionary. QUERIER, a chimney-sweep who calls from house to house soliciting employment — formerly termed knuller, which see. QUI-HI, an English resident at Calcutta. — Anglo-Indian. QUICK STICKS, in a hurry, rapidly ; " to cut quick sticks," to start off hurriedly, or without more ado. — See cut one's stick. QUID, or thick un, a sovereign; "half a quid," half a sovereign; quids, money generally; "quid for a quod," one good turn for another. The word is used by Old French writers : — "Des testamens qu'on dit le maistre De mon fait n'aura quid ne quod." — Grand Testament de Villon. QUID, a small piece of tobacco — one mouthful. Quid est hoc ? asked one, tapping the swelled cheek of another ; hoc est quid, promptly replied Quean, (not queen,) a strumpet. Saxon, cwean, a barren old cow. Queer-bit-makers, coiners. Queer-soft, bad money. O 2IO A DICTIONARY OF MODERN the other, exhibiting at the same time " a chaw " of the weed. Cud is probably a corruption. Derivation, 0. F. } or Norman, quideii, to ruminate. QUID-NUNC, an inquisitive person, always seeking for news. The words translated simply signify " What now \ " QUIET, " on the quiet," clandestinely, so as to avoid observation, "under the rose." QUILL-DRIVER, a scrivener, a clerk,— satirical phrase similar to STEEL BAB-DRIVER, a tailor. QUILLER, a parasite, a person who sucks neatly through a quill. — See SUCK UP. QUILT, to thrash, or beat. QUISBY, bankrupt, poverty-stricken.— 2To« . No. 183. QUISI, roguish, low, obscene. — J QUI-TAM, a solicil . [1 as " who so," and is the title given to -m action in th • nat are of an information on a penal suit. QUIZ, a prj 1 ingj lately admitted into biced by John QUIZ, to pry, or joi QUIZZICAL, jocose, humorous. QUIZZING GLASS, an eye-glass. QUOCKERWODGLR, a wooden toy figure, which, when pulled by a string, about. The 1 -''nseto signify a p- - m, one whose strings of action are pulled by Bomebody else. — Wist. QUOD, a ck-up; quodded, put in • used by Mi I Tom Brown. < January I860,) throws some light upon the origin of this now very comm t: — "Flogged or wl says the delineator of student life, in allusion to chastisement inflicted within the Quadrangle of a e rangle is the term given to the prison enclosure within which culprits are allowed to walk, and where whippings were formerly inflicted. Quadrangle also represents a building of I nd to be "within rouB WALLS," or prison, is the frequent Slang lamentation of unlucky vagabonds. " Bro ikf:i=t was done, white tie put on, • did we plod ; 1 art Into the greatrgo quod." — Iue Rime of the Sac-Made Baccalere, Oxford, 1841. QUODGER, a contraction, or corruption rather, of the Latin law phrase, quo juke, by what law. — Legal. RABBIT, when a person gets the worst of a bargain, he is said " to have bought the rabbit.'' RACKET, a dodge, manoeuvre, exhibition ; a disturbance. RACKETY, wild or noisy. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 2 1 1 RACKS, the bones of a dead horse. Term used by horse-slaughterers. RACLAN, a married woman. — Originally Gijjsy, but now a term with English tramps. RAFE, or ralph, a pawnbroker's duplicate. — Norwich. RAG, to divide or share ; " let's bag it," or "go bags," i.e., share it equally between us. — Norwich. RAGAMUFFIN", an ill-clad vagabond, a tatterdemalion. RAG SPLAWGER, a rich man. RAG, a bank-note. RAG-SHOP, a bank. RAIN NAPPER, an umbrella. "RAISE THE WIND," to obtain credit, or money, — generally by pawn- /" ing or selling property. Sometimes varied to "whistle up the BREEZE." RAMSHACKLE, to shatter as with a battering ram; ramshackled, knocked about, as standing corn is after a high wind. Corrupted from ram-shatter, or possibly from ransack. RANCHO, originally a Spanish- American word, signifying a htmting-lodge, or cattle-station, in a wood or desert far from the haunts of men. A hunting or fishing station in the Highlands or elsewhere. In Wash- ington, with their accustomed ingenuity in corrupting words and meanings, the Americans use the appellation for a place of evil report. RANDALS-MAN.— See billy. RANDAN, a boat impelled by three rowers, using four oars; the mid- ship rower having two sculls, the bowman and strokesman one oar each. RANDOM, three horses driven in line. — See tandem, sudden death, HARUM-SCARUM. RANDY, rampant, violent, warm. — North, randy-beggar, a Gipsy tinker. RANK, to cheat. RAN-TAN, "on the ran-tan," drunk. — Household Words, No. 183. RANTIPOLL, a noisy rude girl, a "mad-cap." RAP, a halfpenny; frequently used generically for money, thus : — I haven't a pap," i.e., I have no money whatever; "I don't care a rap," &c. Originally a species of counterfeit coin used for small change in Ire- land, against the use of which a proclamation was issued, 5th May 1737. Small copper or base metal coins are still called rappen in the Swiss cantons. Irish robbers were formerly termed rapparees. RAP, to utter; "he rapped out a volley of oaths." RAPPING, enormous; "a rapping big lie." RAPSCALLION, a low tattered wretch — not worth a rap. Ramp, to thieve or rob with violence. Rampsmas*, a highway robber who uses violence when necessary. 2 12 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN RAT, a sneak, an informer, a turn -coat, one who changes his party for in- terest. The late Sir Robert Peel was called the rat, or the tamworth ratcatcher, for altering his views on the Roman Catholic question. From rats deserting vessels about to sink. The term is often used amongst printers to denote one who works under price. Old Cant for a clergyman. RAT, to smell a, to suspect something, guess that there is something amiss. RATHER! a ridiculous street exclamation synonymous with yes; "do you like fried chick* Dfi .'* " BATHBB ! " " are you going out of town .'" " bathes !" Very often pronounced BATTHKB ! "RATHER OF Till: RATHEREST," a phrase applied to anything slightly in excess or defect. RATTLE* !AP, an unsteady. I Generally applied to girls. RATTLER, RATTLERS, a railway ; "on the • the stretchers," i.e., going to t!.' '.way. RAW, a ■ man UPOH the raw" is to irrit .• : king him on, anything on which he is peculiarly E ftlly Stable Slanj. ; jimds one ! He thiuks me kaw. J think I 'm rather dost.." — Phantom Barber. RAW, uninitiated; a novice.— Old. Frequently "johnny law." READY, or BEADY GILT, (properly GELT,) money. Used by ArbutJumt, — " Lord Strut was not very flush in heady." READY-RECKONERS, the Highland regiments of the British army. RECENT INCISION, the busy thoroughfare on the Surrey .side of the Thames, known by sober people us the new cut. REDGK RED HERRING, a soldier. RED LANE, the throat. RED LINER, an officer of the Mendicity Society. RED RAG. the tongue. RELIEVING OFFICER, a significant term for a father.— Unit* REN AGE, to revoke, a word used in Ireland at the game of five-carcL Rasping-gang, the mob of roughs and thieves who attend prize-fights. Reader, a pocl give it him for his reader," i.e., rob him of his pocket-book. — Old Cant. Ream, good or genuine. From the Old Cant, rum. Ream-bloak, a good man. Reddlng, a gold watch, probably RED 'un\ Regulars, a thief's share of the plunder. " They were quarrelling about the regulars." — Times, Sth January 1856. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 213 RENCH, vulgar pronunciation of rinse. " Wrench your mouth out," said a fashionable dentist one day. — North. RE-RAW, "on the ee-eaw," tipsy or drunk. — Household Words, No. 183. RESURRECTION" PIE, a school phrase, to denote a Saturday dish, made of the scraps and leavings of meat that have appeared before. RHINO, ready money. — Old. " Some as I know, Have parted with their ready rino." — The Staman's Adieu, Old Ballad, 1670. " Travelling forms a man ; but it at the same time forms a very large hole in his finances. In Switzerland it is pleasant to run up hills, but the wanderer must simultaneously run up bills ; and no Englishman can see the Rhine who does not possess the rhino." — Morning Star, Aug. 21, 1863. RHINOCERAL, rich, wealthy, abounding in rhino. RIB, a wife.— North. RIBBON, gin, or other spirits. — Servants' term. — See satin. RIBBONS, the reins. — Middlesex. RIBROAST, to beat till the ribs are sore. — Old; but still in use : — " And he departs, not meanly boasting Of his magnificent ribroasting." — Hudibras. RICH, spicy; also used in the sense of "too much of a good thing;" a a rich idea," one too absurd or unreasonable to be adopted. RICHARD, a dictionary. — See dick. RIDE, "to ride the high horse," or ride rough-shod over one, to be overbearing or oppressive ; to ride the black donkey, to be in an ill humour. RIDER, in a University examination, a problem or question appended to another, as directly arising from or dependent on it; — beginning to be generally used for any corollary or position which naturally arises from any previous statement or evidence. RIFF-RAFF, low, vulgar rabble. RIG, or trick, "spree," or performance ; "run a RIG," to play a trick. — Gipsy. " Rig the market," in reality to play tricks with it, — a mer- cantile Slang phrase often used in the newspapers. RIGGED, "well rigged," well dressed. — Old Slang, in use 1736. — See Bailey's Dictionary. — Sea. "RIGHT AS NINEPENCE," (corruption of nine-pins,) quite right, exactly right. — See ninepence. "RIGHT YOU ARE !" a phrase implying entire acquiescence in what has been said or done. The expression is singularly frequent and general amongst the lower and middle classes of the metropolis. RIGHTS, " to have one to rights," to be even with him, to serve him out. RIGMAROLE, a prolix story. RILE, to offend, to render very cross, irritated, or vexed. Properly, to render liquor turbid. — Norfolk. 214 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN KING, to change; " ringing castors," changing hats; "to ring the changes," in low life means to change bad money for good; in respect- able society the phrase is sometimes employed to denote that the aggressor has been paid back in his own coin, as in practical joking, when the laugh is turned against the jester. The expression origin- ally came from the belfry. RING, a generic term given to horse-racing and pugilism, — the latter is sometimes termed the PBIZE-BING, From the practice of forming the crowd into a ring around the combatants, or outside the race course. RING, "to go through the BING," to take advantage of the Insolvency Act, or be " whil RIP, a rake : "an . old libertine, or debauchee. Corruption of "B probate." A bera R.I. P. (Reqmueat in Pac<. -tone as one word, Baid, .soliloquising, '• Rip ! v.. U, he - -■• an old rip, and no mistake." — Cuthbert liede. RIPPER, a first-rate man or article. — Provincial. RIPPINl I y good. RISE bibb "'it oi r from fly-fishing, an artificial fly ; to mortify, out- wit. : cunning. ■ I nun are ernnomicaL and ti. I bo ily think it J I leir orde il us tion in their . even busy themselves in / termed, in getting bises ' out of them.' "— fit I Oxford, 1843. RISE (orBAlSE) A BARNEY, to collect a mob; term used by patterers, and " schwassle-box " (Punch and Judy) men. ROARER^ a I r I n-wind d h •:•. -■•• : 1 r, in the more polite speech of the slab??, ' ; A HIGH BLOWER." RoABlNG, as applied to hoi termed "talking" by "turf-men." ROARING TRADE, a yery successful busine peri Slang. VST, to expose a person to a running fire of jok< a a whole company. Quizzing is done by a single 1 • Bl-A-LOW, an overcoat. Corruption of the French BOQUELA ROCKED, '"he's only half-rocked," i.e., half-witted. ROGUE'S YARN, a thread of red or blue worsted, worked into the ropes manufactured in the Government dock; sntify them if stolen. Also a blue thread worked into canvas, for the same purpose. ROMANY, a Gipsy, or the Gipsy language ; the speech of the Roma or Zincali. — Spanish Gipsy. " Can you patter Romany !" i.e., can you talk " black," or Gipsy lingo ? ROOK, a cheat, or tricky gambler; the opposite of pigeon. — Old. Ring-dropping, see fawnet. " Roll of Snow," a piece of Irish linen. — Prison i. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 215 ROOK, a clergyman, not only from his black attire, but also, perhaps, from the old nursery favourite, the History of Cock Robin. " I, says the kook, With my little book, I '11 be the parson." ROOKERY, a low neighbourhood inhabited by dirty Irish and thieves — as st Giles's rookery. — Old. In Military Slang that part of the bar- racks occupied by subalterns, often by no means a pattern of good order. HOOKY, rascally, rakish, scampish. ROOST, synonymous with perch, which see. ROOTER, anything good, or of a prime quality; "that is a rooter," i.e., a first-rate one of the sort. ROPER, Mistress, 'Ho marry mrs roper" is to enlist in the Royal Marines. ROPING, the act of pulling or restraining a horse, by its rider, to prevent it winning a race — a trick not unfrequently practised on the turf. ROSE, an orange. ROSE, "under the rose" (frequently used in its Latin form, sub rosd,) i.e., under the obligation of silence and secrecy, of which the rose was anciently an emblem, perhaps, as Sir Thomas Browne remarks, from, the closeness with which its petals are enfolded in the bud. The Rose of Venus was given, says the classic legend, to Harpocrates, the God of Silence, by Cupid, as a bribe not to " peach " about the Goddess's amours. It was commonly sculptured on the ceilings of banqueting rooms, as a sign that what was said in free conversation there was not afterwards to be divulged; and about 1 5 26 was placed over the Roman confessionals as an emblem of secrecy. The White Rose was also an emblem of the Pretender, whose health, as king, his secret adherents used to drink "under the rose." ROSIN", beer or other drink given to musicians at a dancing party. ROSIN-THE-BOW, a fiddler. ROT, nonsense, anything bad, disagreeable, or useless. ROT-GUT, bad small beer, — in America, cheap whisky. ROUGH, bad ; " rough fish," bad or stinking fish. — Billingsgate. ROUGH-IT, to put up with chance entertainment, to take pot luck, and what accommodation " turns up," without sighing for better. " Rough- ing it in the Bush " is the title of an interesting work on Backwoods life. ROUGHS, coarse, or vulgar men. ROULEAU, a packet of sovereigns. — Gaming. ROUND, to tell tales, to " split," which see ; " to round on a man," to swear to him as being the person, &c. Synonymous with " BUFF," v which see. ShaJcspeare has rounding, whispering. ROUND, "round dealing," honest trading; "round sum," a large sum. Synonymous also in a Slang sense with square, which see. 2l6 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN ROUNDEM, a button. ROUNDS, shirt collars — apparently a mere shortening of '* All Rounds," or " All Rounders," names of fashionable collars. ROUND, (in the language of the street,) the beat or usual walk of the cos- termonger to sell his stock. A term used by street folk generally. " Watchmen, fometimes they marie their sallies, And walk'd their rounds t b and allies." — .'• US Brilannicus, 1710. ROUND ROBIN, a petition, or paper of remonstrance, with the signatures written in a circle, — to prevent the first signer, or ringleader, from being discovered. ROUNDABOUT, a 1 irge swing with four compartments, each the size, and very much the Bhape, of the body of a cart, capable of seating six or eight buys and girls, erected in a high frame, and turned round by men at a v. re and merry-makings generally abound with a tied in vans from fair to fair I ROW. "the i i ilywell Street is now called by i - . ROW, a noisy di&turl ince, tumult, or fcr al la Originally Cambridge, bow universal. S . which would in- irber of the peace. — VuU 122. ROWDY, money. In America, a ruffian, a brawler, a ''rough." ROWDY-DOW, low, vulgar; '"not the cheese," or thing. RUB, a quarrel or impediment; "there's the bub," i.e., that is the diffi- culty. — ShaJcspeart and L Estrange. RUBBED OUT. dead. — a melancholy expression, of late frequently used in fashionable n- RUBBER, a term at whist, &c, two games out of three. — Old, 1677. RUCK, the und I crowd; "to come in with the BU< .;," to arrive at the winning-post among the non-winning Br»;i;Y. fusty, frowsy. RUM. like its opposite, queer, was formerly a much-used prefix, signify- ing fine, good, gallant, or valuable, perhaps in Bome way connected with BOMB. jb it means indifferent, bad, or questionable, and we often hear even persons in polite society use such a phrase as u what a RUM fellow he is, to be sure," in - a man of sin- gular habits or appearance. The term, from its frequent use, long since claimed a place in our dictionaries; but, with the Johnson, wh r, a Cant word fur a clergyman (?), no lexico- grapher has deigned to notice it. " Thus ri'miy floor'd, the kind Acestes ran. And pitying, r i;ence, . . TEE . fourpenee, . quattbo soldl Cm: - ce, . . 'i-L»i. •e, sei soldi. Say i . or setter saltee, sevenpence, .... sette soldi. Say dooe saltee, or otter saltee, eightpence, .... otto soldl Say tkay saltee, or nobba saltee, ninepence, .... Nova soldi. Say QTTABTBBSB saltee, or dacha saltee, tenpence, . . . D1ECI SOLDI. Say chinker saltee, or dacha one Saltee, elevenpence . . DIECI UNO SOLDI, II 00, a fiery, noxious spirit, distilled from rice. Spirits generally. — A vglo- Ch in ese . SANDWICH, a human advertising medium, placed between two boards strapped over his shoulder. A " toad in the hole " is the term ap- plied to the same individual when his person is confined by a four- sided box. SANGUINARY JAMES, a raw sheep's-head. — See bloody jemmy. SANK WORK, making soldiers' clothes. Mayhew says from the Norman, sanc, blood, — in aliusion either to the soldiers calling, or the colour of his coat. 2 20 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN SAP, or sapscull, a poor green simpleton, with no heart for work. SATIN, gin; "a yard of satin," a glass of gin. Term used by females on make-believe errands, when the real object of their departure from home is to replenish the private bottle. With servants the words tape and ribbon are more common, the purchase of these feminine requirements being the general excuse for asking to " run out for a little while." — See WHITE satis. SAUCEBOX, a pert young person. In low life it also signifies the mouth. SAVEL< >Y. a BauE ige of bread and chopped beef smoked, a minor kind of SAVEY, to fa '.rv that? '* — French, savez-vous cela ? In t i Lb babbt, " me no sassy." 168 all over the world. It also means acuteneea or clew. that fellow has plenty of s.w SAW, a term at whist. A saw is established when two partners alter- other for the express purpose. '•SAW Yuri; TIMBER," "1 ff! "equivalent to cut your stick. Occa- Lth mock refinement^ to a::, b mahogany. SAWBONES, a Burgeon. SAWNEY, 01 3c tollman. Corruption of SAWNEY, a simp] og, awkward I SCAB, a worth IALD in a similar sense. SCABBY-NE( K. a native of Denmark.— Sea. SCAB-RAISER, a drummer in the army, so called from one of the dutieB perl I office, viz., inflicting corporal punishment on the soldier.-. — Military. pithet applied by the vulgar to a person who has been in q •; r under unholy influence, and become tainted. mean. Perhaps anything which betokens the ; of the S ■ r it maybe a variati [SHY." SUakt- of reproach, rider about without a settled purpose; — possibly in allusion to the wiuding course of the Homeric river of that name. MMERED, drunk SCAMP, a graceless fellow, a rascal; formerly the Cant term for plunder- ing and thieving. A ROYAL-SCAMP was a highwayman, whilst a foot- scamp was an ordinary thief with nothing but his legs to trust to in case of an attempt at capture. Some have derived scamp from qui ex campo exit, viz., one who leaves the field, a deserter. Sawney, bacon. Sawney hunter, one who steals bacon. Scaldrum Dodge, burning the body with a mixture of acids and gun- powder, so as to suit the hues and complexions of the accident to be deplored. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 22 1 SCAMP, to give short measure or quantity; applied to dishonest contrac- tors. Probably the same as skimp and scrimp. SCANDAL-WATER, tea; from old maids' tea-parties being generally a focus for scandal. SCARAMOUCH, properly a tumbler, or Saltimbanco. SCARCE, to make one's-self ; to be off; decamp. SCARLET-TOWN, Reading, in Berkshire. As the name of this place is pronounced Redding, scarlet-town is probably a rude pun upon it. SCARBOROUGH- WARNING, a warning too shortly given to be taken advantage of. When a person is driven over, and then told to keep out of the way, he receives scarborough-warnixg. Fuller says the proverb alludes to an event, which happened at that place in 1557, when Thomas Stafford seized upon Scarborough castle before the townsmen had the least notice of his approach. SCARPER, to run away. — Spanish, escapar, to escape, make off; Italian, scappare. " Scarper with the feele of the donna of the cassey," to run away with the daughter of the landlady of the house ; almost pure Italian, " scappare colla figlia della donna della casa." — Seven Dials and Prison Cant, from the Lingua Franca. SCHISM-SHOP, a Dissenters' meeting-house. — University. SCHROFF, a banker, treasurer, or confidential clerk. — Anglo-Indian. SCHWASSLE BOX, the street performance of Punch and Judy. — House- hold Words, No. 183. — See swatchel-cove. SCONCE, the head; judgment, sense. — Dutch. SCORE, " to run up a score at a public-house," to obtain credit there until pay-day, or a fixed time, when the debt must be wiped off. From the old practice of scoring a tippler's indebtedness on the inside of a public-house door. SCORF, to eat voraciously. SCOT, a quantity of anything, a lot, a share. — Anglo-Saxon, sceat, pro- nounced SHOT. SCOT, temper, or passion, — from the irascible temperament of that nation ; " oh ! what a scot he was in," i.e., what temper he shewed, — especi- ally if you allude to the following : — ■ SCOTCH-FIDDLE, the itch ; " to play the scotch fiddle," to work the index finger of the right hand like a fiddlestick between the index and middle finger of the left. This provokes a Scotchman in the highest, degree, it implying that he is afflicted with the itch. SCOTCH GRAYS, lice. Our northern neighbours are calumniously re- ported, from their living on oatmeal, to be peculiarly liable to cutane- ous eruptions and parasites. SCOTCH-COFFEE, biscuits toasted and boiled in water.— Sea. Schofel, bad money. — See show-full. School, or mob, two or more " patterers " working together in the streets. Schooling, a low gambling party. 2 2 2 A DIC^IOXA Ii 7 OF MODERN SCOTCHES, the legs ; also synonymous with notches. SCOUT, a college valet, or waiter. — Oxford. — See gyp. SCRAG, the neck. — Old Cant. Scotch, cratg. Still used by butchers. Hence, scrag, to hang by the neck, and scragging, an execution, — also Old Cant. SCRAN, pieces of meat, bi lis. Formerly the reckoning at a public-house. Sckanning, or " out on the bcran," victu . Irith malediction of a mild sort, "Lad scran to yer! " SCRAN BA« vng, PE, a difficulty; scrape, low wit for a shave. SCRAPE, ch< pi " the bread and butb to Bchool bo; lied from the butter being laid on, and then scraped off SCRAPING CASTLE, a \ SCRAT iite; "coming up to the ity, approaching the line u the ruli a i I the iust be placed at the scratch, so the ■ tie worth. SCRATCH, to Btrike a horse's name i ist of runners in a par* • 10 am., on Wednesday," from which peri nee to him (with id. — See PP. — Turf. One of c horses are "really made more li . SCRATCH-RAl IE, (on the Turf.) a race where any h< inner, or . can run with any v At I ce, where the crews are drawn b] SCREAMING, first-rate, splendid. i have been first used in the hi play-bilk ; UDfO farce," one calculated to make the . with laughter. Xow a general • ilk-note; qpeer screen, a forged bank-note. Screeve, a letter, a begging petition. . to write, or devise; "to screeve a fakement," to concoct, or write, ; letter, or other impostor's documents. From the Dutch, schbtvem ; German, schreebex; French, ecmvaot, (old form,) to write. Screever. a man who draws with coloured chalks on the pavement figures of our Saviour crowned with thorns, specimens of elaborate writing, thunderstorms, ships on fire, &c. The men who attend these pave- ment chalkings, and receive halfpence and sixpences from the admirers of street art. are not always the draughtsmen. The artist or screever draws, perhaps, in half-a-dozen places in the course of the morning, and rents the spots out to as many cadaverous-looking men. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 223 SCREW, an unsound, or broken-down horse, that requires both whip and spur to get him along. SCREW, a mean or stingy person. SCREW, salary or wages. SCREW, "to put on the screw," to limit one's credit, to be more exact and precise ; " to put under the screw; " to compel, to coerce, to in- fluence by strong pressure. SCREW LOOSE, when friends become cold and distant towards each other, it is said there is a screw loose betwixt them; the same phrase is also used when anything goes wrong with a person's credit or reputa- tion. SCREW, a small packet of tobacco. — A " tivist" of the "weed." SCREWED, intoxicated or drunk. SCRIMMAGE, or scrummage, a disturbance or row. — Ancient. Corrup- tion of skirmish ? SCRIMSHAW ; anything made by sailors for themselves in their leisure hours at sea, is termed scrimshaw-work. SCROUGE, to crowd or squeeze. — Wiltshire. SCRUFF, the back part of the neck seized by the adversary in an encounter. SCRUMPTIOUS, nice, particular, beautiful. SCUFTER, a policeman. — North Country. SCULL, or skull, the head, or master of a college. — University, but nearly obsolete ; the gallery, however, in St Mary's, (the University church,) where the " Heads of Houses" sit in solemn state, is still nicknamed the golgotha by the under -graduates. SCURF, a mean fellow. SEA-COISTISriE, the steersman of an Indian ship. By the insurance laws he must be either a ptah Portuguese, a European, or a Manilla man, — Lascars not being allowed to be helmsmen. SEA-COOK, " son of a sea-cook," an opprobrious phrase used on board ship, equivalent to "son op a gun," and other more vulgar expletives. SEALS, a religious Slang term for converts. — See owned. SEE. Like "go" and "do," this useful verb has long been supplemented with a Slang or unauthorised meaning. In street parlance, "to see" is to know or believe; "I don't see that," i.e., " I don't put faith in what you offer, or I know what you say to be untrue." SEEDY, worn-out, poverty-stricken, used-up, shabby. Metaphorical ex- pression from the appearance of flowers when off bloom and running to seed; hence said of one who wears clothes until they crack and become shabby; "how seedy he looks," said of any man whose clothes are woru threadbare, with greasy facings, and hat brightened up by Screw, a key — skeleton, or otherwise. Screw, a turnkey. Scroby, " to get scrcby," to be whipped in prison before the justices. 224 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN perspiration and continual polishing and wetting. When a man's coat begins to look worn-out and shabby he is said to look seedy and ready for cutting. This term has been "on the streets'' for nearly two centuries, and latterly has found its way into most dictionaries. Formerly Slang, it is now a recognised word, and one of the most expressive in the English language. The French are always amused with it, they having no similar term, "Oh, ] '•••• b ie brown, My whole turn-out Bcaroe worth a crown, "'' I 835- SELL, a d> pointment; also a lying joke. •• ical joke upon a person. A sham is a bell in street parlance. "Sold again, and got the money," a coa- iiccessfully d body. 8haia- IB6S 8J LUNG in B SU . ,/.., blinding or deceiving. SENSATION, SERENE, all right; "it'a * a street phrase of very modern -;n tlie - : i ." a counter* ; by some filibusters who ed by the intercession of \ i . ■ • ! SERGEANT KITE, a recruiting sergeant. SERGEANT BNAP has a liko SERVE l ►UT, to punish, or be revenged on ai SETTER. Bevenpence. Italian, sette. — See BALTEB. — Lingua Franca. SETTER, a person employed by the vendor at an auction to run the ga up; to bid against bond tide I . SETTLE, to kill, ruin, or effectually quiet a person. SET TO, a sparring match, a fight; "a dead set," a determined stand, in argument or in movement. SEWED-UP, done-up, used-up, intoxicated. F :, sick. SHACK, a •" chevalier d'industrie." A scainp, a blackguard. — Nottingham. SHACKLY, loose, rickety. — Devonshire. SE VENDIBLE, a very curious word, used only in the north of Ireland, to ihing particularly severe, si nd. It is no doubt derived from seven-double, — that is, seven- fold, — and is applied to linen . a reprimand. SEVEN-SIDED-ANIMAL, a one-eyed man. ss he has an inside, outside, left side, right side, fores id e, backside, and a blind side. SEVEN-UP, the game of All fours, when played for seven chalks, — that id, when seven points or chalks have to be made to win the game. Settled, transported; sometimes spoken of as wlnded-setiled. Seven-pekhobth, transportation fur seven years. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 225 SHACK- PER-SW AW, every one for himself, — a phrase in use amongst the lower orders at the east end of London, derived apparently from the French, chacun pour soi. SHADY, an expression implying decadence. On "the shady side of forty" implies that a person is considerably older. Shady also means inferi- ority in other senses. A shady trick is either a shabby one, mean or trumpery, or else it is one contemptible from the want of ability dis- played. SHAKE, a disreputable man or woman. — North. SHAKE, or shakes, a bad bargain is said to be "no great shakes;" "pretty fair shakes" is anything good or favourable. — Byron. In America, a fair shake is a fair trade or a good bargain. SHAKE-DOWN, an impromptu bed. SHAKER, a shirt. SHAKES ; " in a brace of shakes," i.e., in an instant. SHAKESTER, or shickster, a female. Amongst costermongers this term is invariably applied to ladies, or the wives of tradesmen and females, generally of the classes immediately above them. " SHAKE THE ELBOW," to, a roundabout expression for dice-playing. SHAKY, said of a person of questionable health, integrity, or solvency; at the University, of one not likely to pass his examination. SHALER, a girl. Corrupt form of Gaelic, caille, a young woman. SHALLOW, a flat basket used by costers. SHALLOW, a weak-minded country justice of the peace. SHAM ABRAHAM, to feign sickness.— See Abraham. SHANDY-GAFF, ale and gingerbeer; perhaps sang DE goff, the favour- ite mixture of one goff, a blacksmith. SHANKS, legs. SHANKS' NAG, " to ride shanks' nag," to go on foot. SHANT, a pot or quart ; " shant of bivvy," a quart of beer. Shake, to take away, to steal, or run off with anything; "what shakes, Bill ? " " None," i.e., no chance of committing a robbery. — See under shake, above. • Shake- lurk, a false paper carried by an impostor, giving an account of a " dreadful shipwreck." Shallows, " to go on the shallows," to go half naked. Shallow-cove, a begging rascal who goes about the country half naked, with the most limited amount of rags upon his person, wearing neither shoes, stockings, nor hat. Shallow-mot, a ragged woman, — the frequent companion of the shallow- cove. Shallow-screever, a man who sketches and draws on the pavement. — See screever. P 2 26 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN SHANTY, a rude, temporary habitation. The word is principally em- ployed to designate the huts inhabited by navigators, when construct- ing large lines of railway far distant from towns. It is derived from the French, chantier, used by the Canadians for a log hut, and has travelled from thence, by way of the United States, to England. SHAPES, " to cut up " or " shew shapes," to exhibit pranks, or flightiness. SHARE, a sharper, a swindler. Bow-Street term in 17S5, now in most dictionaries.— Friesic and Danish, SCHURK. — See land-shark. SHARP, or sharper, a cunning cheat, a rogue, — the opposite of flat. SHARP, a Bin d t<> "two pin* tj:n," (which see,) used by as- •i;fy that a c - ispected h< ■'■ amongst them, The shopman in this case would a.>k one of I sistai ily heard, " has Mr siiakp come in y- ." would prol reply; u bvA exp urate." The signal is at once understood, and a ral look-out kept upon the party. SHARF8-ALLEY BLOOD-WORMS, beef sausages and Mack pi r Smith- field. SHAVE, x. a sell. This was much used in the Crimea during SHAVE, in At Cambri shaving through," or ." is just escaping u. u pluck " by coming out bottom of tl I erme are anything but dear, Then 1 in 1 never fear; The examiners we're sure t«' And get through, if you make a siiavf on 'I " The 1'rivatt Tutor. SHAVE : "to SHAVE a customer," charge him more for an article than the marl. the draper}- trade. When the 1 is, he stiukes his chin, as a signal to nil ant v.':. the customer. SHAVER, a sharp fellow; "a young" or " old shaver," a boy or man. " SHED A TEAR," to take a dram, or glass of neat spirits; jocular phrase E grim earnestness, by old topers to each other. " N< »W then, old fellow, come and shed a tear ! " an invitation to take '• summat short." The origin may have been that ardent spirits. - neat by younger persons, usually brings water to their eyes. "With confirmed drinkers, however, the phr; ith an air of mingled humour and regret at their own posit: ...re pathetic | is — " putting a nail ln" one's coffin," which see. SHEEBEEX, an unlicensed place where spirit/. SHEEX, bad money. — Scotch. Shabpikg-omee, a policeman. Partly Lingua F SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 227 SHEEP'S EYES, " to make sheep's eyes at a person," to cast amorou3 t glances towards one on the sly. " But he, the beast, was casting sheep's eyes at her Out of his bullock head." — Colman, Broad Grins, p. 57. SHELF, " on the shelf," not yet disposed of ; young ladies are said to be f so situated when they cannot meet with a husband. " On the shelf " also means pawned, or laid by in trust. SHELL OUT, to pay or count out money. SHICE, nothing ; " to do anything for shice," to get no payment. The term was first used by the Jews in the last century. Grose gives the phrase chice-am-a-trice, which has a synonymous meaning. Spanish, chico, little; Anglo-Saxon, chiche, niggardly. SHICER, a mean man, a humbug, a " duffer," — a worthless person, one who will not work. SHICKERY, shabby, bad. SHICKSTER, a " gay " lady.— See shaxester. SHICKSTER-CRABS, ladies' shoes.— Tramps' term, SHIGS, money, silver. — East London. SHIKARI, a hunter, a sportsman. — Anglo-India. An English sportsman who has seen many ups and downs in the jungles of the East styles himself " the old shekary." — Anglo-Indian. SHILLY SHALLY, to trifle or fritter away time; irresolute. Corruption of " Shall I, shall I ? " SHINDY, a row, or noise. SHINE, a row, or disturbance. SHINE, " to take the shine out of a person," to surpass or excel him. SHINER, a looking-glass. — Last London. SHINERS, sovereigns, or money. , SHINEY RAG, " to win the shiney bag," to be ruined, — said in gambling, when any one continues betting after " luck has set in against him." SHIN-PLASTER, a bank-note. Originally an Americanism. + SHINS, "to break one's shins," figurative expression meaning to borrow money. SHIP-SHAPE, proper, in good order; sometimes the phrase is varied to " ship-shape and Bristol fashion." — Sea. SHIRTY, ill-tempered, or cross. When one person makes another in an ill humour he is said to have " got his shirt out." SHITTEN-SATURDAY, (corruption of shut-in-saturday,) the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, when our Lord's body was enclosed in the tomb. — School and Provincial. SHIVERING- JEMMY, the name given by street-folk to any cadger who exposes himself, half naked, on a cold day, to obtain alms. The "game" is unpleasant but exceedingly lucrative. SHODDY, old cloth worked up into new ; made from soldiers' and police- men's coats. The old cloth is pulled to pieces, the yarn unravelled 2 28 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN and carded over again. This produces shoddy, which is very short in the fibre, and from it are produced, on again twisting and weaving, the finest of cloth fabrics, used for ladies' mantle*, &c. Also, a term of derision applied to workmen in woollen factories. — Yorkshire. SHOE, to free or initiate a person, — a practice common in most trades to a new-comer. The shoeing consists in paying for beer, or other drink, which is drunk by the older hands. The cans emptied, and the bill paid, the stranger is considered properly shod. SHOES, " to die in one's shoes," to be hanged. "SHOES, CHILDREN'S. TO MAKE," to Buffer one's-self to be made sport of, or depreciated. Commonly used in Norfolk — Cf. Mn Behrii comedy, The Rowu Macs. " \\ ', all the year? No; through-stitch with our work. " SHOLL, to bonnet one, or crash 88. — North. SHOOL, to Baunter idly, become a \ r than work. — . SHOP, the House of Comm ly instance we have met with of the use of this word iu literature occurs in Mr Trollopefa Fi Pa/nonage : — " • If re no voice of our own, I don't Ifr Bowerby." SHOP, 1 man. In Mi . to shop an officer, is to put him un< ler . guard-room. SHOP-WALKER, a pi rson employed to walk up and down a shop, to hand seats to customers, and see that they arc properly served. Contracted " WALKER." SHOPPING, purchasing at shops. Termed by Todd a Slang word, but used by Cowper and S SHOPPY, to be full of nothing but one's own calling or profession; "to talk SHOP," to converse of nothing but professional subj-.-cts. , " SHOOT THE CAT," to vomit " SHOOT THIC MOON,*' to remove furniture from a house in the night without paying the landlord. " SHOOT WITH THE LONG BOW," to tell lies, to exaggerate. Synony- mous with THROWING THE HATCHET. SHORT, when spirit is drunk without any admixture of water, it if betaken "short;" " suramat shout." a dram. A similar phrase is used at the counters of banks ; upon presenting a cheque, the clerk asks, SuuE Leather! a thief's warning ory when he he i. This exclamation is used in the same spirit as Bruce's friend, who, when he suspected treachery towards him at King Edward's court, in 1306, sent him a purse and a pair of spurs, a.s a sign that he should use them in making his escape. Shop-bouncer, or shop-lifter, a person generally respectably attired, who, while being served with a small article at a shop, steals one of more value. Shabspca/x has the word litter, a thief. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 229 " how will you take it ?" i.e., in gold, or in notes ? Should it be desired to receive it in as small a compass as possible, the answer is, " short." SHORT, a conductor of an omnibus, or any other servant, is said to be short, when he does not give all the money he receives to his master. SHORT COMMON'S, short allowance of food.— See commons. SHORTER, one who makes a dishonest profit by reducing the coin of the realm by clipping and filing. From a crown-piece a shorter could gain 5d. Another way was by chemical means : a guinea laid in aqua- fortis would, in twelve hours, precipitate od.-worth of sediment ; in twenty-four, is. 6d. -worth. — Rommany Rye. SHOT, from the modern sense of the word to shoot, — a guess, a random conjecture; " to make a bad shot," to expose one's ignorance by mak- / ing a wrong guess, or random answer, without knowing whether it is right or wrong. SHOT, from the once English, but now provincial word, to shoot, to sub- scribe, contribute in fair proportion; — a share, the same as scot, both being from the Anglo-Saxon word, sceat ; "to pay one's shot," i.e., share of the reckoning, &c. "Yet still -while I have got Enough to pay the shot Of Boniface, both gruff and greedy ! " — Fisher's Garland for 1835. SHOT, " I wish I may be shot, if," &c, a common form of mild swearing. " SHOT IN THE LOCKER," money in pocket, or the having a resource of any kind in store. — Navy. " SHOVE IE" THE MOUTH," a glass of spirits. SHOVEL, a term appled by the vulgar crowd to the inelegant twisted hats worn by the dignitaries of the Church. Dean Alford says, " I once heard a venerable dignitary pointed out by a railway porter as " an old party in a shovel." — Queen's English, p. 228. SHOWFULL, or schoeell, a Hansom cab. This favourite carriage was the invention of a Mr Hansom, afterwards connected with the Builder newspaper. It has been asserted that the term showfull was derived from '" shovel," the earliest Slang term applied to Hansoms by other cab-drivers, who conceived their shape to be after the fashion of a scoop or shovel. SHOW-FULL, or schoful, bad money. Mayheiv thinks this word is from the Danish, skuffe, to shove, to deceive, cheat; Saxon, SCUFan, — whence the English, shove. The term, however, is possibly one of the many street words from the Hebrew, (through the low Jews;) shephel, in that language, signifying a low or debased estate. Chaldee, shaphal. — See Psalm cxxxvi. 23, " in our low estate" A correspondent suggests another very probable derivation, from the German, schofel, trash, rubbish, — the German adjective, schofelig, being the nearest possible translation of our shabby. Also, mock jewellery. Shoulder, when a servant embezzles his master's money, he is said to shoulder his employer. Shove-halfpenny, a gambling pot-house game, played on a table. 230 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN SHOWFULL PULLET, a "gay" or unsteady woman. SHRIMP, a diminutive person. — Chaucer. SHUNT, to throw, or turn aside. — Railway term. SHUT OF, or shot of, i.e., rid of. A very common expression amongst the London lower orders. One costermonger will say to another: — " Well, Ike, did yer get shut o' them there gawfa [apples] I " i.e., did you sell them all ( SHUT UP ! be quiet, don't make a noise ; to stop short, to make cease in a summary manner, to silence effectually. "Only the other day we heard of a preacher who, I in- Bcene with the doctors in the Temple, remarked ipletely shut them DP ! " — Athen. 30th July 1 s = 9. Shut if, utterly exhausted, done for. SUV, a throw. — v '. SHY, to fling; cock-shy, a game at fairs] - of throwing Bhort Bticke ts, — both name and practice de- live cocks. S1I V. ither from dislike, fear, or other 1 idy, un- f worthy. SICES, lice. •• SICK AS A 1; lar simile, — curious, because a horse never SICKS E I .' . .:. a dose too much of anything. SIDE-BOARDS, or btick-ups, Bhirl plied ten or fifteen before the " all-ruunderd" and i- turn-downs" came into fashion. SIGHT, " to take a siGnT at a person," a vulgar action employed by street bo denote incredulity, or contempt for authority, by placi thumb against the nose and closing all the fingers except the little one, which is agitated in token of 1 , ZBR. SIM, one of a Methodistical turn in religion ; a Low Churchman ; originally a follower of the late lie v. Charles Simeon. — Cambridge. SIMON, a sixpenny-piece. SIMON", or simple simot, a credulous gullible person. A character in a song, but now common. Showfull-pitcher, a passer of counterfeit money. Showfull-pitchen'g, passing bad money. Side, an affirmative expression in the Cant language of the northern towns. " Do you stoll the Gammy ? " (Do you understand Cant ?) An- swer, side, Cove, (yes, mate.) Sift, the same meaning as shoulder. The man having sifted the money and kept the larger pieces, that did not readily pass through the sieve ! Silver Beggar, or lurker. a vagabond who travels through the country with " briefs" containing false statements of losses by tire, shipwrecks, accidents, &e. Forged documents are exhibited with signatures of SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORD&. 23 1 SIMON PURE, " the real SIMON pure," the genuine article. Those who have witnessed Mr C. Mathews's performance in Mrs Centlivre's ad- mirable comedy of A Bold Stroke for a Wife, and the laughable cool- ness with which he, the false simon pure, assuming the Quaker dress • and character of the real one, elbowed that worthy out of his ex- pected entertainment, will at once perceive the origin of this phrase. — See act v., scene i. SIMPKIN, or simkin, champagne. — Anglo-Indian. Derived from the manner in which native servants pronounce champagne. SING OUT, to call aloud.— Sea. SING SMALL, to lessen one's boasting, and turn arrogance into humility. SING-SONG, a choral meeting at a pot-house, which then not unfrequently receives the name of "the Cave of Harmony." SINKERS, bad money, — affording a man but little assistance in "keeping afloat." SINKS, a throw of fives at dice. French, cinqs. SI QUIS, a candidate for "orders." From the notification commencing Si QUIS — if any one. SIR-HARRY, a close stool. SIR-REVERENCE, a corruption of the old phrase save your reverence, a sort of apology for alluding to anything likely to shock one's sense of decency. Latin, salva reverentia. ShaJcspeare's Romeo and Juliet act i., scene iv., from this it came to mean the thing itself — human ordure generally, but sometimes other indecencies. SISERARA, a hard blow. — Suffolk. Moor derives it from the story of Sisera in the Old Testament, but it is more probably a corruption of certiorari, a Chancery writ reciting a complaint of hard usage. SIT UNDER, a term employed in Dissenters' meeting-houses, to denote attendance on the ministry of any particular preacher. SIT-UPON, to overcome or rebuke, to express contempt for a man in a marked manner. SIT-UPONS, trousers. — See inexpressibles. SIVVY, " 'pon my sivvy," i.e., upon my soul or honour. Corruption of asseveration, like davy, which is an abridgment of affidavit. SIXES AND SEVENS, articles in confusion are said to be all sixes and sevens. The Deity is mentioned in the Toicneley Mysteries as He that " sett all on seven," i.e., set or appointed everything in seven days. A similar phrase at this early date implied confusion and dis- order, and from these, Halliwell thinks, has been derived the phrase " to be at sixes and sevens." A Scotch correspondent, however, states that the phrase probably came from the workshop, and that amongst needle-makers, when the points and eyes are " heads and magistrates and clergymen. Accompanying these are sham sub- scription-books. The former, in beggar parlance, is termed " a sham," whilst the latter is denominated " a delicate." Sitting-pad, sitting on the pavement in a begging position. 232 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN tails," ("heeds and thraws,") or in confusion, they are said to be sixes and sevens, because those numbers are the sizes most generally used, and in the course of manufacture have frequently to be distin- guished. SIXTY, "to go along like sixty," i.e., at a good rate, briskly. SIXTY-PER-CEXT, a bill-discounter. SIZE, to order extras over and above the usual commons at the dinner in college halls. Soup, pastry, &c, are SIZINGS, and are paid for at a certain specified rate per size, or portion, to the college cook. — /' to Cambridge. Hindu . a farthing which schollera in Cambridge have at the buttery, noted with the letter s." SIZERS, or BIZAR8, are certain poor scholars at Cambridge, annually tinners (inclu from what is left at the upper, or Fell y bo. They pay rent of rooms, and some other fees, on a lower scale than the or ordinary students, and answer to the "battlers'' and "servitors" SIZINGS. ! SKEDADDLE. D wand amusing word. A N " but a South larked on the word, and Lord Hill wrote to prove that it was excellent Scotch. The -. in Dumfri Bpill" : are "skedaddles that milk. The Timet and Lord Hill are both wrong, for the n neither oew nor in any way misapplied. Tl the root being that of " BKEDANNUMi/' to disperse, to "retire tumultu- ously," and it was probably set afloat by some professor at Harvard. SKID, a sovereign. Fashionable Slang. Occasionally SKIE, or sky. t ) throw upwards, to toss "coppers." — See odd U SKILLIQOLEE, prison gruel Also sailors' soup of many ingredients. The term is occasionally used in London workho; SKIX, a SKIX, to abate, or lower the value of anything ; " thin skinned," sensitive, touchy, liable to be raw on certain subjects. SKINFLINT, an old popular simile for a "close-fisted," stingy person. ■?rg, in his Northamptonshire Glossary. have the same expression. Abdul-Alalek, one of the Ommeyao- liphs, noted for his extreme avarice, was surnamed rasCHal-iiegiarah, literally, " the skinner of a flint." SKIX-THE-LAMB, a game at cards, a very expressive corruption of the term lansquenet, also a racing term. When a non-favourite wins a race, Skates-lurk, a begging impostor dressed as a sailor. Skilly, broth served on board the hulks to convicts. — Li ' ' ' e. Ab- breviation of SKILL1GJLEE. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 233 " bookmakers " are said to " skin the lamb," under the supposition that they win all their bets, no person having backed the winner. SKIPPER, the master of a vessel. Dutch, schiffer, from schijf, a ship ; sometimes used as synonymous with " governor." SKIPPER, a barn. — Ancient Cant. From the Welsh, ysgttbor, pronounced SCYBOR, or scibor, the proper word in that language for a barn. SKIPPER-BIRDS, or keyhole-whistlers, persons who sleep in barns or outhouses in preference to lodging-houses. SKIPPER-IT, to sleep in the open air, or in a rough way. SKIT, a joke, a squib. SKITTLES, a game similar to Ten Pins, which, when interdicted by the Government, was altered to Nln Pins, or skittles. They are set up in an alley, and are throivn at (not bowled) with a round piece of hard wood, shaped like a small flat cheese. The costers consider them- selves the best players in London. SKOW-BANKER, a fellow who loiters about the premises of any one willing to support him without the necessity of working for his living ; a rogue, a rascal. Common at Melbourne, Australia. SKROUGE, to push or squeeze.— North. SKULL-THATCHER, a straw-bonnet-maker, — sometimes called " a bon- net-BUILDER." SKY, a disagreeable person, an enemy. — Westminster School. SKY, to toss up towards the sky. Term used in tossing with halfpence ; " it 's all right, Jim skyed the browns," i.e., threw them up. SKY-BLUE, London milk much diluted with water, or from which the cream has been too closely skimmed. " Hence, Suffolk dairy wives run mad for cream, And leave their milk with nothing but the name ; Its name derision and reproach pursue, And strangers tell of three times-skimm'd — sky-blue." — BLoomjieLd' s Farmer's Boy. Sky-blue formerly meant gin. SKYED, artists say that a picture is skyed when it is hung on the upper line at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy. — See floored. SKY-LARK.— See under lark. SKY-PARLOUR, the garret. SKY-SCRAPER, a tall man; "are you cold up there, old sky-scraper?" Properly a sea term; the light sails, which some adventurous skippers set above the royals in calm latitudes, are termed sky-scrapers and MOON-RAKERS. SKYAYANXOCKING, unsteady, frolicking.— Norfolk. SLACK, " to hold on the slack," to skulk ; a slack rope not requiring to be held. — Sea. SLAM, a term at the game of whist. When two partners gain the whole thirteen tricks, they win a slam, which is considered equal to a rubber. SLAMMOCK, a slattern or awkward person. — West, and Norfolk. 234 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN SLAXG, low, vulgar, unwritten, or unauthorised language. Gipsy. Slang, the secret language of the Gipsies, synonymous with gibberish, another Gipsy word. The word is only to be found iu the Diction- aries of Webtter and Ogilvic. It is given, however, by Grose, hi his Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1 785. Slang, since it has been adopted as an English word, generally implies vulgar language not known or recognised as Cant ; and latterly, when applied to speech, has superseded the word flash. The earliest instance of the use of the word that we can find, is the following : — "Let proper Nurses be assigned to take c.iro of these Babes of Grace, [yoimcr ,] ... the 14 in whioh 1 seL"— -Jonathan H'Ud's Advice to his Sucassor. LoHixur, «/. Scott, 1758. SLANG, a travelling show. SLANG, to ch • E .1 language. SLANG-WHANGER, a I Momentary. SLANGY, !'. ishy, v . dress, manner, and conversation. SLANTINGDICULAR, obliqae, awry, — as opposed to pkkpexdicclar. inally an Ami n a part of the vocabulary of Loudon SLAT. SLAP, exactly, precisely ; " SLAP in the wind's eye," i.e., exactly to wind- wan 1. SLAP-BANG, Buddenly, violently. From the strike of a ball being f.-lt 1 afore the report reaches the ear, — the slap first, (J SLAP-BANG-SHOPS, low eating-houses, where you have to pay down idy money with a SLAr-BANG. — Grose. sLAT-DASH, immediately, or quickly. — See slap-bang. SLAP-UP, first-rate, excellent, very good. SLASH, a pocket in SLASHER, a powerful roisterer, a pugilist; " the tipton slash"ER." SLASHERS, the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Foot in the British army. SLATE, " he has a slate loose," i.e., he is slightly crazy. SLATE, to pelt with abuse, to beat, to " lick ; " or, in the language of the reviewers, to "cut up." SLATE, to knock the hat over one's eyes, to bonnet. — North. SLAVEY, a maid-servant. SLAYVM1XEYEUX. a Dutchman. Probably a corruption of the Dutch, .dicer; or German, ja Rietn Heir. — Sea. Slang, counterfeit or short weights and measures. A slang quart is a pint and a half. Slang measures are lent out at 2d. per day to street salesmen. The term is used principally by costermongers. Slang, a watch-chain. — Westminster. Slang, '"'out on the slang," i.e., to travel with a hawker's licence. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 235 SLEEPLESS-HATS, those of a napless character, better known as wide- awakes. SLENDER, a simple country gentleman. SLEWED, drunk, or intoxicated. — Sea term. When a vessel changes the tack she, as it were, staggers, the sails flap, she gradually heels over, and the wind catching the waiting canvas, she glides off at another angle. The course pursued by an intoxicated, or slewed man, is sup- posed to be analogous to that of the ship. SLICK, an Americanism, very prevalent in England since the publication of Judge Haliburton's facetious stories. As an adjective, slick means rapidly, effectually, utterly; as a verb, it has the force of "to despatch rapidly," turn off, get done with a thing. SLING, to pass from one person to another. SLIP, " to give the slip," to run away, or elude pursuit. ShaJcspeare has " you gave me the counterfeit," in Romeo and Juliet. Giving the slip, r however, is a Sea phrase, and refers to fastening an anchor and chain cable to a floating buoy, or water-cask, until such a time arrives that is convenient to return and take them on board. In fastening the cable, the home end is slipped through the hawse pipe. Weighing anchor is a noisy task, so that giving it the slip infers to leave it in quietness. SLIP, or let slip; "to slip into a man," to give him a sound beating; " to let slip at a cove," to rush violently upon him, and assault with vigour. SLIPPING, a trick of card-sharpers, in performance of which, by dex- terous manipulation, they place the cut card on the top, instead of at the bottom of the pack. It is the faire sauter la coupe of the French. SLOG, or slogger, (its original form,) to beat, baste, or wallop. German, schlagen ; or, perhaps a vulgar corruption of slaughter. The pre- tended Greeh derivation from aXoyco, which Punch puts in the mouth of the schoolboy, in his impression of 4th May 1S59, is of course only intended to mystify grandmamma, there being no such word in the language. SLOGGERS, i.e., slow-goers, the second division of race-boats at Cam- "bridge. At Oxford they are called torpids. — University. A hard hitter at cricket is termed a slogger. SLOGGING, a good beating. SLOP, a policeman. Probably at first bach Slang, but now general. SLOP, cheap, or ready made, as applied to clothing, is generally supposed to be a modern appropriation ; but it was used in this sense in 1691, by Maychnan, in his Naval Speculations; and by Chaucer two centuries before that. Slops properly signify sailors' working clothes, which are of a very cheap or unexpensive character. SLOPE, to decamp, to run, or rather slip away. Originally from lope, to make off; the s probably became affixed as a portion of the preceding Slick-a-dee, a pocket-book. 236 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN word, as in the case of "let's lope," let us run. — Americanism. A correspondent says that Tennyson is decidedly partial to Slai instances amongst other proofs a passage from the laureate's famous Locksley Hall : — "Many a night, from yonder ivied casement, ere I -went to resfe, Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the v SLOPS, chests or packages of tea; " he shook a slum of slops," i.e., stole a chest of tea. SLOUU'D buttoned up ; slour'd itoxter, an inside pocket buttoned up. SLUBBERDEGULLIOX, a paltry, dirty, sorry wretch. "Qu< ' : thou hast deserved, Bsei itb me, •y." —Iludibraa. SLUICERY, a gin-shop or public-house. "SLUICING ONE'S BOLT," drinking. SI.! [M,a ch( -•. or pa ■'. ■ — 8 SLUM, an in ii sl.l'.'. awake, knowing ■ I at, The rij.> o: this hi.iv tip-top 1 — Jac. . SLUM. .a dark retreat, low neighbourhood; " the W SLUM, to saunter about, with a suspicion, perhaps, of immoral pursuits — Oa Slang. "SLUM Till-: GORGER," t 1 cheat on the aly, to bean eye-servant in this Bense SLUSH, the grease obtained from boiling the salt pork eaten by seamen, and generally the cook's perquisite. SLUSHY, aship'a SLUTER, butter.— A ■OTH. even, level with the surface, quickly. SMALL-BEER ; " he doesn't think small-beer of himself,"' i.e.. I great opinion of his own importance. Small COALS is also used in the same sense. SMALL HOURS, the early hours after midnight. SMALLS, a University term for the first general examination of I Slotjb, to lock, or fasten. — I Slowed, to be locked up — in prison. Slum, a letter. — P Slumming, passing bad m . SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 237 dents. It is used at Cambridge, but properly belongs to Oxford. The Cambridge term is little go. SMASH, to become bankrupt, or worthless ; " to go all to smash," to break, " go to the dogs," to fall in pieces. SMASH, to pass counterfeit money. SMASHER, one who passes bad coin, or forged notes. SMASHFEEDER, a Britannia-metal spoon, — the best imitation shilling"? are made from this metal. SMASH-MAN-GEORDIE, a pitman's oath.-— Durham and Northumber- land. — See GEORDIE. SMELLER, a blow on the nose, or " a noser." SMIFF-BOX, the nose.— Pugilistic term. SMISH, a shirt, or chemise. Corruption of the Spanish commission. — Sec MISH. SMITHERS, or smithereens; "all to smithereens," all to smash. Smither, is a Lincolnshire word for a fragment. SMOKE, London. Country -people when going to the metropolis frequently say, they are on their way to the smoke ; and Londoners when leaving for the country say, they are going out of the smoke. SMOKE, to detect, or penetrate an artifice. Common term with London detectives. SMUDGE, to smear, obliterate, daub. Corruption of smutch. Times, ioth August 1859. SMUG, smuggling. — Anglo-Chinese. SMUG, extremely neat, after the fashion, in order. SMUG, to snatch another's property and run. SMUGGINGS, snatchings, or purloinings, — shouted out by boys, when snatching the tops, or small play property, of other lads, and then running off at full speed. " Tops are in ; spin 'em agin. Tops are out; smugging about." SMUT, a copper boiler. Also, the " blacks " from a furnace. SMUTTY, obscene, — vulgar as applied to conversation. SNACK, booty, or share. Also, a light repast. — Old Cant and Gipsy term. SNAFFLE, conversation on professional or private subjects which the rest of the company cannot appreciate. In East Anglia, to snaffle is to talk foolishly. SNAGGLE TEETH, those that are uneven, and unpleasant looking. — West. Snags, {Americanism,) ends of sunken drift-wood sticking out of the water, on which river steamers are often wrecked. Smiggins, soup served to convicts on board the hulks. Snaffled, arrested, " pulled up," — so termed from a kind of horse's bit, called a snaffle. 238 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN SXAGGLING, angling after geese with a hook and line, the bait being a worm or snail. The goose swallows the bait, and is quietly landed and bagged. SNAGGY, cross, crotchety, malicious. SNAM, to snatch, or rob from the person. SNAPPS, share, portion; any articles or circumstances out of which money may be made ; " looking out for snapps," waiting for windfalls, or odd jobs. — Old. Scotch, chits, — term also used for "coppers," or halfpence. SN AIM'S. Hollands pin.— Dutch, schnapps. SNEEZER, a snuff-box ; Ikerchief. SN tCK-A-SNEE, a 1 ises the term in his humour- . SN [CB EE, a drinking-oup. A B »BH-SNIGKBB, a drinking-horn. SN 1 1 >. a aixp d ■-.- i SNIGG ill," a mild form of swearing. An- other : SNIGGERED SNIP, a tailor, — apparent:-. . a pair <>f BC1 SNIPE, a long bill or account; a) : ittorneyB, — a race remark- SNTPES, "a pair of Bam f scissors. They are occasionally bird. SNOB, person. Supposed to be from the nick- • usually applied t<> Crispin, a maker of shoes; but believed by a writer in Notes and Queries to be a contraction of fchi OBOLO. A 1: just been f oi- ly an ndent. He supposes that NOBS ppended in lists to the names of persona of gentle birth, whilst those who had not that distinction were marked down as s. NOB., i.e., sine nubilitate, without marks of gentility, — thusrevei- rks that, as at college sons of noblemen wrote after their names in the admission lists, fil nob., son of a lord, and hence all young noblemen were called nobs, and what they did nobby, so those who imitated them would be called qw. " like a nob," which by a process of contraction would be shortened to . and then snob, one who pretends to be what he is not. and apes his betters. The short and expressive terms which many think fitly represent the three great estates of the realm, NOB, snob, and MOB, were all originally Slang words. The last has safely passed through the vulgar ordeal -, and found respectable quarters in the standard dictionaries. SnlaKsMan, a shoplifter; a petty, cowardly thief. Sneeze-lurker, a thief who throws snuff in a person's face, and then robs him. Snetchers, persons who turn Queen's evidence, or who tell tales. In Scot- land, snitchers signify handcuffs. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS, 239 SNOBBISH, stuck up, proud, make believe. SNOB-STICK, a workman who refuses to join in strikes, or trade unions. Query, properly nob-stick. SNOOKS, an imaginary personage often brought forward as the answer to an idle question, or as the perpetrator of a senseless joke. Said to be simply a shortening or abbreviation of " Sevenoaks," the Kentish village. SNOOKS -AND -WALKER, a game resembling buz, but more compli- cated. Every three and multiple of three must be termed snooks, and every five and multiple of five, walker; thus — One, two, snooks ; four, walker-snooks ; seven, eight, snooks- walker ; eleven, snooks-snooks ; fourteen, snooks- walker, the last being a multiple of both three and five. — See buz. SNOOZE, or snoodge, (vulgar pronunciation,) to sleep or doze. SNOOZE-CASE, a pillow-slip. SNOT, a term of reproach applied to persons by the vulgar when vexed or annoyed. In a Westminster school vocabulary for boys, published in the last century, the term is curiously applied. Its proper mean- ing is the glandular mucus discharged through the nose. SNOT, a small bream, a slimy kind of flat fish. — Norwich. SNOTTINGER, a coarse word for a pocket-handkerchief. The German schnupftuch is, however, nearly as plain. A handkerchief was also anciently called a mucklnger, or muckender. SNOW, wet linen. — Prison term and Old Cant. SNUFF, "up to snuff," knowing and sharp; "to take snuff," to be offended. Shalcspeare uses snuff in the sense of anger, or passion. SNUFF OUT, to die ; a flippant expression, similar to " laying down ONE'S KNIFE AND FORK," " HOPPING THE TWIG," &C SNUFFY, tipsy, drunk. SNYDER, a tailor. German, Schneider. SOAP, flattery. — See soft soap. SOCIAL EVIL, a name beginning to be applied to street-walkers in con- sequence of the articles in the newspapers being so headed, which treat on the evils of prostitution. A good story is told in the Saturday July 28, i860. "A well-known divine and philanthropist walking in a crowded street at night in order to distribute tracts to promising subjects. A young woman was walking up and down, and lie accosted her. He pointed out to her the error of her ways, emplored her to reform, and tendered her a tract with fervent en- treaties to go home and read it. The girl stared at him for a moment or two in sheer bewilderment ; at last it dawned on her what he meant, and for what he took her, and looking up with simple amazement in his face, she exclaimed, " Lor' bless you, sir, I ain't a social evil ; I 'm waitin' for the 'bus ! " Snotter, or wipe-hauler, a pickpocket who commits great depredations upon gentlemen's pocket-handkerchiefs. — North. Snow-gatherer, or snow-dropper, a rogue who steals linen from hedges and drying-grounds. 24O A DICTIONARY OF MODERN SOCK, the Eton-College term for a treat, synonymous with chuck used at Westminster and other schools. Believed to be derived from the monkish word soke. An old writer speaks of a pious man " who did not SOKE for three days," meaning he fasted. A correspondent informs me that the word is still used by the boys of Heriot's Hospital School at Edinburgh, and signifies a sweetmeat; being derived from the same source as sugar, suck, SUCRE, &c. " SOCK into HIM," i.e., give him a good drubbing; " give him SOCK," i.e., thrash him well. SOCKET-MONEY, money extorted by threats of exposure. SOFT, foolish, imxperienced. An old term for bank-notes. SI >FT-H< >RN, . a donkey, whose ears, the substitutes of horns, are - 1 isily laid on, or r» '.. 1. Probably intro- duced by v SOFT-SOAP, use. SOFT-TACK, brea*L- S< >FT-T< >M ": V. '. in c<>ntra c foolish man. Abbreviation of milksop. SOPH, of .^mphister,) a title peculiar to the University of ' ;ates are junior SOPHS I g their "Little C/o," or first University examination, — senior sopns after that. SOET, used in a Slang Bense thus — " That's your sort," as a term of ap- ttioiL Pitch it into him, that's your SORT, i.e., that is the proper kind of plan to adept. SOUND, to pump, or draw information from a person in an artful manner. SOW, the receptacle into which the liquid iron is poured in a gun-foundry. The melted metal poured from it is termed pig. — Workmen's U SOWS BABY, a pig ; sixpence. SPAXK, a smack, or hard slap. SPANK, to move along quickly; hence a fast horse or vessel is said to be " a spanker to go." STAXKIXG, large, fine, or strong; e.g., a spanking paoe, a spanking breeze, a spanking fellow. SPECKS, damaged oranges. — Costermongers term. I SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 24 1 SPECIALTY, any one's peculiar forte or weakness. From the French, specialit£. SPELL, a turn of work, an interval of time. " Take a spell at the cap- stern." — Sea. " He took a long spell at that tankard." " After a long SPELL." SPELL, " to spell for a thing," hanker after it, intimate a desire to pos- sess it. SPELL, to advertise, to put into print. " Spelt in the leer," i.e., adver- tised in the newsjjaper. SPELLKEISr, or speelken, a playhouse. German, spielex. — See ken. — Don Juan. SPICK AND SPAN", applied to anything that is quite new and fresh. — Hudibras. SPIDIE.EEN, the name of an imaginary ship, sometimes mentioned by sailors. If a sailor be asked what ship he belongs to, and does not wish to tell, he will most probably reply — " The spidireen frigate, with nine decks, and ne'er a bottom." SPIFFED, slightly intoxicated.— Scotch Slang. SPIFFS, the per-centage allowed by drapers to their young men when they effect a sale of old-fashioned or undesirable stock. SPIFFY, spruce, well-dressed, tout a la mode. SPIFLIC ATE, to confound, silence, annihilate, or stifle. A corruption of the last word, or of " suffocate." SPILL, to throw from a horse or chase. — See purl. SPIIST, to reject from an examination. — Army. SPINDLESHANKS, a nickname for any one who has thin legs. SPIN-'EM PtOUNDS, a street game consisting of a pieee of brass, wood, or iron, balanced on a pin, and turned quickly round on a board, when the point, arrow-shaped, stops at a number, and decides the bet one way or the other. The contrivance very much resembles a sea com- pass, and was formerly the gambling accompaniment of London pie- men. The apparatus then was erected on the tin lids of their pie-cans, and the bets were ostensibly for pies, but more frequently for " cop- pers," when no policemen frowned upon the scene, and when two or three apprentices or porters happened to meet. SPINIKEN, St Giles's Workhouse. Lump, Marylebone do. Pan, St Pancras. SPIRT, or spurt, " to put on a spert," to make an increased exertion for SPEEL, to run away, make off; " speel the drum," to go off with stolen property. — North. Spell, contracted from spellken. " Precious rum squeeze at the spell," i.e., a good evening's work at the theatre, would be the remark of a successful pickpocket ! Spike Park, the Queen's-Bench prison. — See burdon's hotel. Q 242 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN a brief space, to attain one's end ; a nervous effort. Abbreviation or shortening of spirit. — Old. "So here for a man to run well for a spurt, and then to pivc over, is enough to annul all his fori him in no better estate then if he had never Bet foot into the good waiea vi God."— Gatakefs >Sjiir . 1619. p. 10. SPITALFIELDS' BREAKFAST. At the East end of London this is undi iktieand a short pipe. Amongst workmen it is usual, I understand, to tighten the apron string wheu no dinner i- at hand. SPITFIRE, a passionate person. SPLASH, 1 ■: their nocks and in-, termed . rally employed. — 8et h at. SPLENDIFEROUS, sumptuous, first-rate. Splendacious, sunn.;: used with Minila: ■ si'l.I< IE, I d marry j "and I wife. ''SPLICE Till-: MAIN BRACE/ 1 Sid. IT. to inf >rm pun with a pei . :•> quarrel. SPLODQER, a I .• . d ■ SP< >FFY, a bustling I SPONGE, " I • throw up the Bl unit, give over the struggle, — from the practice of throwing prize fight, as a signal that the "mill" iscoia SPOON. Bynonym thing that touches a lady's lips without kissing them." SPOON l'.V. a wi ak-minded and foolish person, effeminate or fond ; "to be v "ii a girl," to be foolishly att SPOONS. '• when I was SPOONS with you." i.e., when young, and in our : re marriage. — Charles Mathews, in E SPOONS, a method of designating large sums of money, disclosed at the Bankruptcy Court during the examination of the great leather failures of Streatfield t!c Laurence in 1S60-61. The origin of tL stated to be the reply of the bankrupt Laurence to an offer of accom- modating him with £5000, — " Oh, you are feeding me with a tea- spoon." Hence £5000 came to be known in the firm, a3 a tea .£10,000, a :: ; /"i5,ooo, a table-spoon ; and £20,000, as a gka The public were amused at this tea-spoon phrase- ology, but were disgusted that such levity should cover a gi^ swindle of the kind It came out in evidence, however, that it was cot the ordinary Slang of the discount world, but it may not improb- ably become so. SPORT, to exhibit, to wear, 4c, — a word which is made to do duty in a variety of senses, especially at the University. — See the Gradus ad Cantabriaiam. " To sport a new tile ; " " to sport an JZgrotat,' a permission from the "Dons" to abstain from lectures &c, on ac- SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 243 count of illness;) " to SPORT one's oak," to shut the outer door and exclude the public, — especially duns, and boring acquaintances. Common also, in the Inns of Court. — See Notes and Queries, 2d series, vol. viii., p. 492, and Gentleman s Magazine, December 1794. SPORTING DOOR, the outer door of chambers, also called the oak.— See under sport. — University. SPOUT, " up the spout," at the pawnbroker's ; spouting, pawning. — See POP for origin. SPOUT, to preach, or make speeches; spouter, a preacher or lecturer. SPRAT, sixpence. SPREAD, butter. Term with workmen and schoolboys. SPREAD, a lady's shawl. Spread, at the East end of London, a feast, or a tightener; at the West end a fashionable re-union, an entertain- ment,- display of good things. SPREE, a boisterous piece of merriment ; " going on the spree," starting out with intent to have a frolic. French, esprit. In the Dutch language, spreeuw is a jester. SPRINGER-UP, a tailor who sells low-priced ready-made clothing, and gives starvation wages to the poor men and women who "makeup" for him. The clothes are said to be sprung-up, or "blown together.'' SPRY, active, strong, manly. — Originally an Americanism. SPUDDY, a seller of bad potatoes. In Scotland, a spud is a raw potato; and roasted spuds are those cooked in the cinders with their jackets on. SPUN, when a man has failed in his examination at Woolwich, he is said to be spun ; as at the Universities he is said to be plucked. SPUNGING-HOUSE, the sheriff's officer's house, where prisoners, when arrested for debt, are sometimes taken. As extortionate charges are made there for accommodation, the name is far from inappropriate. SPUNK, spirit, fire, courage, mettle. " In that snug room, where any man of spunk Would find it a hard matter to get drunk." — Peter Pindar, i., 24s. Common in America. For derivation see the following : — SPUNKS, lucifer-matches. — Herefordshire; Scotland. Spunk, says Urry, in his MS. notes to Ray, "is the excrescency of some tree, of which they make a sort of tinder to light their pipes with." SPUNK-FENCER, a lucifer-match seller. SPURT.— Ota. —See spirt. SQUABBY, flat, short and thick. SQUARE, honest; "on the SQUARE," i.e., fair and strictly honest; "to turn SQUARE," to reform, and get one's living in an honest manner, — the opposite of cross. The expression is, in all probability, derived from the well-known masonic emblem the "square," the symbol of evenness and rectitude. "You must keep within the compass, and act upon the square with all man- Spotted, to be known or marked by the police. 244 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN kind ; for your masonry is but a dead letter if you do not habitually per- form its reiterated injunctions."— Oliver's Lectures on Signs and Symbols, p. 190. SQUARE, " to be square with a man," to be even with him, or to be revenged; "to square up to a man," to offer to fi^ht him. Skdk- speare uses square in the sense of to quarrel. SQUARE RIG OKI), well dressed.— Sea. SQUARUM, a cobbler's lapstone. SQUASH, to crush j "to j to collapse. SQUEAL, to inform, peach. A north country variation of squt . illegitimate SQUIB, which, like tin- thvw<>rk of that denomi- nation, sparkles, I SQUIBS, 1 un1 I 1 SQUINNY-EYJbD, iting.—Shdkapeare. SQUIB "STAB YOURS :' and pass the STAT., "on tl it, of which word it is an i ■ STAB RAG, a ri gimental tail v.— Mi ' STAFF-NAKED, gin. STAC, a , hilling. STAG, a term applied during the railway mania to a speculator without L who took "scrip" in " ." and other lines, ■ ■ a premium, and then sold out. house of Hudson, " the Railway King," at Albert Gate, with a BTAQ on it, in allusion to this term. STA< • • . discover, or watch, — like a stag at gaze ; " stag the push," look at the crowd. Also, to dun, or demand payment. STAGE-WHISPER, one loud enough to be 1. STAGGERING-BOB, an animal to whom the knife only just anticipates death from natural disease or accident. — said of meat on that account unfit for human I STALL, to lodge, or put up at a public house. Also, to act a part. — 1 rival. Squabs Cove, an honest man. Square Moll, an honest woman. " Squaring his Nebs," giving a policeman money. ak ok a PERSON," to inform against, peach. Squeeze, silk; also, by a very significant figure, a thief s term for the neck. Stag, to demand money, to "'cadge." Stagger, one who looks out, or watches. Stall, or stall off. a dodge, a blind, an excuse. Stall is ancient Cant. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 245 "STALL YOUR MUG," go away; spoken sharply by any one who wishes to get rid of a troublesome or inconvenient person. STALKING-HORSE, originally a horse covered with loose trappings, under which the mediaeval sportsman concealed himself with his bow, so as to approach his game unobserved. Subsecpiently a canvas figure, made light, so as to be easily moved with one hand. STAMPERS, shoes.— Ancient Cant. STAND, "to stand treat," to pay for a friend's entertainment; to bear expense ; to put up with treatment, good or ill ; " this house stood me in £1000," i.e., cost that sum, (a correspondent queries the Latin constat, it cost me;) "to stand pad," to beg on the curb with a small piece of paper pinned on the breast, inscribed, " L'm starving.' 7 STAND IN, to make one of a party in a bet or other speculation ; to take a side in a dispute. STANDING, the position at a street corner, or on the curb of a market street, regularly occupied by a costermonger, or street seller. STANDING PATTERERS, men who take a stand on the curb of a public thoroughfare, and deliver prepared speeches to effect a sale of any articles they have to vend. — See patterer. STANGEY, a tailor; a person under petticoat government, — derived from the custom of " riding the Stang," mentioned in Hudibras : — "It is a custom used of course Where the gray mare is the better horse." STAR, a common abbreviation of the name of the well-known " Star and Garter" Inn at Richmond. STARCHY, stuck-up, high-notioned, showily dressed, stiff and unbending in demeanour. STARK-NAKED, (originally strip-he-naked, vide Randall's Diary, 1820,) raw gin. — Bidwer's Paul Clifford. STAR IT, to perform as the centre of attraction, with inferior subordinates to set off one's abilities. — Theatrical. START, " the start," London, — the great starting point for beggars and tramps. START, a proceeding of any kind; a "rum start," an odd circumstance; '• to get the start of a person," to anticipate him, overreach him. STARVE 'EM, ROB 'EM, and CHEAT 'EM, the adjoining towns of Stroud, J I ichester, and Chatham are so designated by soldiers and sailors ; prob- ably not without reason. Stall off, to blind, excuse, hide, to screen a robbery during the perpetra- tion of it by an accomplice. Stallsman, an accomplice. " Star tue glaze," to break the window or show-glass of a jeweller or other tradesman, and take any valuable articles, and run away. Sometimes the glass is cut with a diamond, and a strip of leather fastened to the piece of glass cut out to keep it from falling in and making a noise. Another plan is to cut the sash. 246 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN STASH, to cease doing anything, to refrain, be quiet, leave off; "stasif it, there, you sir !" i.e., be quiet, sir; to give uver a lewd or intemperate course of life is termed STASHING it. STEAM-EXGIXE, potato-pie at Manchester is so termed. STEEL-BAR-DRIVEltS, or flixgers, journeymen tailors. STEMS, the legs. STEP IT, to run away, or make ST J 1 IK, rson : " a rum " or "odd stick," a curioua man. M rial. STICK, "cut your - r -imply equivalent to • [or a journey — in alluai koning by notches or tali ' ■ I >■ 'in by cuts in a Btick, y mean ike your mark and pass on — an the meaning of the phra . .• Tenru nt, in phrase equivalent :i in the pro- 'e breaking tL Zech. xi. STICK, 1 in; I 'jr stuck, a common pill.: can neither play nor pay any . at in a rmance — Tin 1 S 1 r. to place in an account; "stick it up TO ive me credit for it; stick ox. to overtmarge or de- fraud; stick it i I a person, especially when Blandered in E UP to, to persevere in c fcher :ment; "to stick in one's gizzard," to rankle .. through adverse circumstances, — to cotton I STU IKS, furniture, or household chattels; " pick up your sticks and cut!" summary advice to a person to take himself and furniture away.— rland. STICK-UPS, or gills, shirt collars. STICKINGS ; meat sold to sausage-makers and penny pie Bhops. — North. STICKY, was. STIFF, paper, a bill of acceptance, &c. ; "how did you get it, BT hard?" i.e., did he pay you cash or give a bill? £ of stiff," to accept a bill. — See kite. STIFF-FENCERj a street-seller of writing paper. STIFF 'UN, a corpse. — Term used by undertakers. Steel, the house of correction in London, formerly named the EaUilc, but since shortened to steel. — See basi.. Stkks, pistols. — Nearly 0&1 SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 247 STILLS, the undertaker's Slang term for still-born children. The fee paid by nurses and others is usually 2s. 6d. A separate coffin is never given ; the stills are quietly introduced into one containing an adult about to be buried. Stills are allowed to accumulate at the under- taker's until they sometimes number as many as a dozen. STILTON, "that's the stilton," or "it is not the stilton," i.e., that is « quite the thing, or that is not quite the thing ; — polite rendering of / " that is not the cheese," which see. STINGO, strong liquor. — Yorkshire. STINK, a disagreeable exposure. STLNKOMALEE, a name given to the then New London University by Theodore Hook. Some question about Trincomalee was agitated at the same time. It is still applied by the students of the old Universi- ties, who regard it with disfavour from its admitting all denominations. STIPE, a stipendiary magistrate. — Provincial. STIR-UP SUNDAY, the Sunday next before Advent, the collect for that day commencing with the words " Stir up." School-boys, growing excited at the prospect of the vacation, irreverently commemorate it by stirring up — pushing and poking each other. Crib-crust Monday and tug-button Tuesday are distinguished by similar tricks ; while on PAY-OFF Wednesday they retaliate small grudges in a playful facetious way. Forby says good housewives in Norfolk consider themselves reminded by the name to mix the ingredients for their Christmas mince-pies. STOCK; "to stock cards" is to arrange cards in a certain manner for cheating purposes. STOCK, " to take stock of one," to scrutinise narrowly one whom you have reason to suspect ; taken from the tradesmen's term for the annual examination and valuation of their stock of goods. STOCKDOLAGER, a heavy blow, a "finisher." Italian, STOCCADO, a fen- cing term. Also (in a general sense) a disastrous event. — Americanism. STODGE, to surfeit, gorge, or clog with food. STOLL, to understand. — North Country Cant. STORY, a falsehood, — the soft synonyme for a lie, allowed in family circles and boarding-schools. A Puritanism that came into fashion with the tirade against romances, all novels and stories being considered as dangerous and false. STOT, a young bullock. In Northumberland the term stot means to re- bound. Stir, a prison, a lock-up; "in stir," in jail. Anglo-Saxon, styr, correc- tion, punishment. Stone- jug, a prison. Stook, a pocket-handkerchief. Stook-hauler, or buzzer, a thief who takes pocket-handkerchiefs. Stop, a detective policeman. 248 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN STOTOR, a heavy How, a settler.— Old Cant. STOW, to leave off, or have done; " stow it, the gorger 's leary," leave off, the person is looking. — See stash, with which it is synonymous. — Ancient Cant. STOW FAKING ! leave off there, be quiet ! faking implying anything that may be going on. STRAP, a barber. STRAW. Married L I ix the straw *' at their accouche- menU. The phrase is a coarse allusion to farm-yard animals in a similar COnd " STRAWING, setting straws in the streets, (generally for a penny,) and giving the ] neither of which, ment I STREAK, to decamp, run away.— Saxon. In - maki STREAKY, STKKKT - 1 ' 1T< IHERS which have been painted vai ■ I he BTREBT-P og in a little book or broadsheet (price one penny;) or any persons who make a Btand in the streets, and Bell Lii ing. STRETCH, a walk.- STRET( EER, a felsehood. STRETCHER, a contrivance with handles, used by the police to cany off persons wh I or drunk. ST 1 1 ET( '111:1;- 1 " 1 ". N ( ' ]■: I : . . >ne who sells braces. '• STR1 KE M E LUCKY!" an expression used by the lower ord< I making a I 1 from the old custom of striki gether, leaving in that of the seller ■ the I iluded. In Ireland, at cattle markets, &c, a • y the buyer to the seller to ratify the bargain. — 11. ed a god's pi "With that lie cast him a God's penny."—; The origin of the phrase being F, like that of many others, it is often corrupted now-a-days into strike me silly. Stretch, abbreviation of '-stretch one's neck," to hang, be executed as a malefactor. — Buhrcrs Paul Cli Stretch, twelve months. — generally used to intimate the time any one has been sentenced by the judge or magistrate. One ST] ETOB : imprisoned twelve'months, two stretch is two years, three stretch is three years, and so on. Stretching match, an execution. — See STRETCH. " Strike a JIGGER," to pick a lock, or break open a door. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 249 STRILLS, cheating lies. — North Country Cant. STROKE, a companion in a rowing boat who tiawsrhis oar with jours. — University. "He [the man who rows] looks round at a wine-party to see if his ' stroke ' be present, and, descrying him not, cannot see how a few glasses of wine, and a plate or so of ice, can possibly interfere with his training." — Hints to Freshmen, 1847. STROMMEL, straw. —Ancient Cant. Halliwell says that in Norfolk struji- MEL is a name for hair. STRONG, " to come it strong." — See coite. STUCK, moneyless.— See stick. STUCK-UP, "purse-proud" — a form of snobbishness very common in those who have risen in the world. Mr Albert Smith has written some amusing papers on the Natural History of stuck-up People. STUFF, money. STUFF, to make false but plausible statements, to praise ironically, to make game of a person, — literally, to stuff or cram him with gam- mon or falsehood. STUMP, to go on foot. STUMPED, bowled out, done for, bankrupt, poverty-stricken. — Cricketing term. STUMPS, legs, or feet. STUMPY, money. STUMP UP, to give one's share, to pay the reckoning, to bring forth the money reluctantly. STUN, to astonish. STUNNER, a first-rate person or article. STUNNERS, feelings of great astonishment; "it put the stunners on me," i.e., it confounded me. STUNNING, first-rate, very good. "Stunning pears," shouts the coster, "only eight a penny." — Vide Athenaeum, 26th March 1859. Some- times amplified to stunning joe banks ! when the expression is sup- posed to be in its most intense form. Joe Banks was a noted character in the last generation. He was the proprietor of a public- house in Dyott Street, Seven Dials, and afterwards, on the demolition of the Rookery, of another in Cranbourne Alley. His houses became well-known from their being the resort of the worst characters, at the same time that the strictest decorum was always maintained in them. Joe Banks also acquired a remarkable notoriety by acting as a medium betwixt thieves and their victims. Upon the proper pay- ment to Joe, a watch or a snuff-box would at any time be restored to its lawful owner — "no questions in any case being asked." The most daring depredators in London placed the fullest confidence in Joe, and it is believed (although the Biographic Universelle is quiet upon this point) that he never, in any instance, "sold" them. He was of the middle height, stout, and strongly made, and was always noted for a Strip-bush, a fellow who steals clothes put out to dry after washing. 250 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN showy pin, and a remarkably BTUNNTNO neck-tie. It was this peculi- arity in the costume of Mr Banks, coupled with those true and tried qualities as a friend, for which, as I have just remarked, he was famous, that led his customers to proclaim him as stunning job banks ! The Marquis of Douro, Colonel Chatterley, and men of their stamp, were accusfc »rt to a private room at his house, when too late or ' Imittance to the clubs or more aristo- cratic establiehmi SUB, a subaltern officer iu the army. SUB, all.— A SUBLIME RASCAL, a I SUCK SI N IK, to pump, or draw u SUCK CASA, a publi ■ I ouse. — Lii gxux Franca. "SUCK THE MONKEY," to rob a c r by inserting a straw ota. < iaptain Marr 1 c toa outs, in of the milk, the sailors. — Set iap-the- ELAIb SUCK I'l', "• ;ate one's-self into I SUDDEN DEATH, the first toss in 1 decided by >. SUFFERER, a tailor; the loser at any game. . SUICIDE, four horses driven in a line. — .Sec HABU1I SUIT, a watch and SULKY, a one-hors m for one per SUMSY, an \ IX THE E ve too much drink.— Dickens. deviation of " supernumerary." — Th> SURAT, an adulterated article of inferior quality. This word affords a remarkable instance of the manner in which Slang phrases ar<> c In tl r libel in the Times, May 8, 1 863, it is ; •'that, since the American civil war, it has been notunu manufacturers to mix American cott it, and, the latter being an inferior article, the people in Lancashire have begun to apply the term SURAT to any article of inferior or adulterated quality. The plaintiffs were brewers, and the action was brought to recover - damages resulting from the publication of an advertisement in "Stunned on Skilly," to be sent to prison and compelled to eat skilly, or skilligolee. StURABAN, a | I . ■ . DISTAP.ABIN. Super, a watch; suPER-SCREWlNa, stealing watches. SLANG, CAXT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 25 I words: — 'All in want of beerhouses must beware of Beaumont & White, the surat brewers.' " SURF, an actor who frequently pursues another calling. — Theatrical. SWAB, an epaulet. — Sea. SWACK-UP, a falsehood. SWADDLER, a Wesleyan Methodist; a name originally given to members of that body by the Irish mob; said to have originated with an ignorant Romanist, to whom the words of the English Bible were a novelty, and who, hearing one of John Wesley's preachers mention the swaddling clothes of the Holy Infant, in a sermon^ on Christmas-day at Dublin, shouted out in derision, " A swaddler ! a swaddler!" as if the whole story were the preacher's invention. — Southey's Life of Wesley, vol. ii., p. 109. SWADDY, or coolie, a soldier. The former was originally applied to a discharged soldier, and perhaps came from shoddy, which is made from soldiers' and worn-out policemen's coats. — See that term. SWAG, a lot or plenty of anything, a portion or division of property. In Australia the term is used for the luggage carried by diggers. Scotch, sweg, or swack ; German, sweig, a flock. Old Cant for a shop. SWAG-SHOP, a warehouse where "Brummagem" and general wares are sold, fancy trinkets, plated goods, &c. Jews are the general pro- prietors, and the goods are very low-priced, trashy, and showy. Swag- shops were formerly plunder depots. — Old Cant. SWANKEY, cheap beer.— West. SWAP, to exchange. Grose says it is Lrish Cant, but the term is now in- cluded in most dictionaries as an allowed vulgarism. SWATCHEL-COVE, the master of a Punch-and-Judy exhibition who " fakes the slum," and does the necessary squeak for the amusement of the bystanders. — See Schwassle box. The orthography of many of these colloquial expressions differs. It was thought best to give the various renderings as collected. SWEAT, to extract money from a person, to "bleed." Also, to squander riches. — Buluer. SWEATER, common term for a "cutting" or "grinding" employer, — one who sweats his work-people. SWEEP, a contemptuous term for a low or shabby man. SWEET, loving or fond; "how sweet he was upon the moll," i.e., what marked attention he paid the girl. SWEETENER, a person who runs up the prices of articles at an auction. — See JOLLYING, BONNET, &C. SWELL, a man of importance; a person with a showy, jaunty exterior ; "a rank swell," a very "flashy" dressed person, a man who by excessive dress apes a higher position than he actually occupies. Swag, booty, or plundered property ; " collar the swag," seize the booty. Swagsman, one who carries the booty after a burglary. 252 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN Anything is said to be swell or swelltsh that looks showy, or is many coloured, or is of a desirable quality. Dickens and Wilkie Collins are termed great swells in literature ; so indeed are the first persons in the learned professions. SWELL-FENCER, a street salesman of needles. "SWELL HUNG IX CHAINS," said of a showy man in the habit of wearing much jewellery. SWELL STREET, the West end of London. SWIG, a hearty drink. SWI( :. to drink. 8 SWILL, i" drink, Swill, hog-wash. — Norfolk. SWINDLER, althoi ed word in standard dictionarie menced bi i : og term. It was used as Buch by the poor Lond 1 ■■ ho Bel up in London about the our soldiers in the German war about that time. SOHWIND] 1 . SWING) ' you don't 1 . I'll bwtng for A ;. SWINGING, large, SWIPES, Jwipe, to drink. — Sea. SWIPE! SWIS I 1 the sound. SWISHED, or Switch] d, married. SWIVEL-EYE, a Bquint. SWIZZLE, small beer, drink. SWOT, mathematics; also a mathematician ; as a verb, to work hard for an examination, to be diligent u a. — Army. This t the great Slang manufactory for the army, the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in the broad Scotch proi ■. one of the Professors, of the word sweat. — Set ■ '-■• v- 3^9. SYCE, a groom. — A nglo-I; a it to a T." to fit to a nicety. — Old. Perhaps from the T rpenters, by which the accuracy of work is, tested. TABOOED, forbidden. This word, now very common, is derived from a im of the South-Sea Islanders, first noticed in " C •ok'fl Voj TACK, a taste foreign to what was intended; a barrel may get a tack upon it, either permanently mouldy, bout, or otherwise. TACKLE, clothes. — Sea. Also to encounter a person in argument. Swim, " a good swim," a good run of luck, a long time out of the police- man's clutches. — Thieves' term. A correspondent says this is really a piscatorial term — "a good swim" is a good pitch for a part wL are plentiful. Thus one who is in luck, or doing a good business, is said to be in a good swim. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 253 TAFFY, (corruption of David,) a Welshman. Compare sawney, (from Alexander,) a Scotchman. TAG, an actor. TAG-RAG- AND-BOBTAIL, a mixed crowd of low people, mobility. TAIL-BLOCK, a watch.— Sea. TAKE, to succeed, or be patronised ; " do you think the new opera will take?" "No, because the same company took so badly under the old management;" "to take on," to grieve; ShaTcspeare uses the word taking in this sense. To " take up for any one," to protect or defend a person ; "to take off," to mimic ; " to take heart," to have courage ; " to take down a peg or two," to humiliate, or tame ; " to take UP," to reprove; "to take after," to resemble; "to take in," to cheat or defraud, from the lodging house-keepers' advertisements, " single men taken in and done for," — an engagement which is as frequently performed in a bad as a good sense; "to take the field," when said of a General, to commence operations against the euemy; when a racing man takes the field he stakes his money against the favourite. TAKE BEEF, to run away. TAKE IN, a cheating or swindling transaction, — sometimes termed "a dead take in." Shalcspeare has take in in the sense of conquering. To be had, or to be spoken to, were formerly synonymous phrases With TO BE TAKEN IN. TALKING, a stable term, of a milder kind, applied to those horses which are addicted to roaring. — See the latter expression. TALL, extensive, exaggerated, — generally applied to conversation, as loud is to dress, or personal appearance; "tall talk that," i.e., conversation too boastful or high-flown to be true. TALLY, five dozen bunches of turnips. — Costermongers term. TALLY, "to live tally," to live in a state of unmarried impropriety; " tally- wife," a woman who cohabits with a man to whom she is not married; a "tallyman" is an accommodating salesman who takes payment by instalments to suit the convenience of the purchaser. TAN, to beat or thrash; "I'll tan your hide," i.e., give you a good beating. TAN, an order to pull. — Anglo-Indian. TANNER, a sixpence. Gipsy, tawno, little, or Latin, tener, slender? TANNY, or teeny, little. Gipsy, tawno, little. TANTREMS, pranks, capers, frolicking; from the Tarantula dance. — See account of the involuntary frenzy and motions caused by the bite of the tarantula in Italy. — Penny Cyclopedia. TAPE, gin, — term with female servants. Also, a military term used iu barracks when no spirits are allowed. — See ribbon. TAPER, to give over gradually, to run short. ■ " TAP THE ADMIRAL," to suck liquor from a cask by means of a straw, Tail-buzzer, a thief who picks coat pockets. 254 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN said to have been first done with the rum-cask in which Lord NeW-n's body was brought to England, to such an extent as to leave the gallant Admiral high and dry. TAP-TUB, the Morning Advertiser, — bo called by vulgar people from the fact that this dail is the principal organ of the London brewers and publicans. Sometimes termed the gin and gospel TARADIDDLE, a falsehood. TAR-BRUSH, a pe b< o, wo se complexion indicates a mixture of JS'egro blood, La Baid to L ive had a lick of the tab-brush. TAR < >UT, to pun out. TARPAULIN, a sailor. TART. My old Bervant, "'Jim • i of the coll( : thia work,) whose unfor- tunal to lend liiin •■. in tli.' hope thai I ot pay, and thus nut trouble me cently Bent me some words from Birminghao havii following, given in Mr Jim's own words : — ;. a term of .' with :i oolouri awl, and plenfr wnet — in • ty all over, like the jam tarts in the swe.l bakers' E TARTAR, a - . an "ugly customer." Catching a t., TAT-BOX, TATER, "s'elp my tater," another street evasion of a profane oath, sume- TATS, TATS, okLmgs; milky tats, white rags. TATTING^atherin TATTOO, a pony.— A TAW. a large or principal marble; "I'll be one on your taw.'' I will pay you out, or be even with le taken from boys aiming at winning the taw when playing at marbles. TEAGUELAND, Ireland. TEA-FIGHT, an evening party, alias a muffin-worry. TEA-SPOON, five thousand pounds.— .See sr TEETH, "he has cut his eye teeth," i.e., is old and 'cute enough. TEETH-DRAWIXG, wrenching off knockers.— Medical Students term. * The language used by Mr Jim is certainly far above his position in life. Thia evidence of e iucation existing amongst certain persons of the tramping fraternity alluded to at page 23. TaTLEB, a watch; ''nimrning a tatler," stealing a watch. SLAXG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 255 TEETOTALLER, a total abstainer from alcoholic drinks. TEETOTALLY, amplification of totally. TE-HE, to titter, " Upon this I te-he'd;" Madame d'Arblay. As an inter- jection it is as old as Chaucer. — See Miller s Tale" — " te-he, quod she, and clapt the window to." TELL ON, to tell about, to talk of. TEN COMMANDMENTS, a virago's fingers, or nails. Often heard in a female street disturbance. " TENPENCE TO THE SHILLING/' a vulgar phrase denoting a defi- ciency in intellect. TESTER, sixpence. From testone, a shilling in the reign of Henry VIII., but a sixpence in the time of Queen Elizabeth. — Shakspeare. French, teste, or tete, the head of the monarch on the coin. TEVISS, a shilling. — Costermonger and Tramps term, THICK, intimate, familiar. Scotch, chief ; " the two are very chief now," i.e., friendly. THICK ; " to lay it on thick," to flatter unduly, to surfeit with praise or adulation. THICK-UN, a sovereign ; a crown piece, or five shillings. THIMBLE-RIG, a noted cheating game played at fairs and places of great public thronging, consisting of two or three thimbles rapidly and dex- terously placed over a pea, when the thimble-rigger, suddenly ceas- ing, asks you under which thimble the pea is to be found. If you are not a practised hand you will lose nine times out of ten any bet you may happen to make with him. The pea is sometimes concealed under his nail. THINGUMY, THINGUMBOB, expressions used for the name of a thing which cannot be recollected at the instant. THINSKINNED, over nice, petulant, apt to get a raw. — See that term. THREE-CORNERED-SCRAPER, a cocked hat.— Sea. ■ " THREE SHEETS IN THE WIND," unsteady from drink.— Sea. THREE-UP, a gambling game played by costers. Three halfpennies are thrown up, and when they fall all " heads," or all "tails," it is a mark ; and the man who gets the greatest number of marks out of a given amount — three, five, or more — wins. The costers are very quick and skilful at this game, and play fairly at it amongst themselves ; but shoidd a stranger join in they invariably unite to cheat him. THRUMMER, a threepenny bit. Tench, the Penitentiary, of which it is a contraction. — See steel. Theatre, a police court ; a place for acting, or assuming a part which is not natural to the performer. Thimble, or tack, a watch. — Prison Cant. Thimble-twisters, thieves who rob persons of their watches. 256 A DICTIONARY OF MODEMS THRUMS, threepence. THRUPS, threepence. — See the preceding. THUMPING, large, fine, or strong. THUNDERER, the Times newspaper, Bometimea termed "the thunpeker of Printing-House Square," from the locality where it is printed. THUNDERING, large, extra sized. TIB'S EVE, " neither before Christmas nor after," an indefinite period; like the Greek Kalends, Tib's bve has ;i future application; an indefi- j said lobe "when Adam was 1 TIBBINQ OUT, going 'I'll !K, 1 On 1 1 1 k. therefore, is equivalent 1 .Cut] in N th an earlier date, from th nrim iu . u'ulU' MornOuvk, 1609. TICKER, 8 ;iig. TICKET, ; r pronuncia- tion, th to th or, perhaps, from ticket, a bill or un i into u that 'a the TICK] to the card given to beggars for iuime- dial — See tick. lerably, or pretty well; ' vou get on to-day f " — " Oh, TIDDLYWINK, .slim, puny; sometimes tillywink. TIED UP, given over, finis) vmcneal knot, unless a jocose allusion be intended to the halter, (altar.; TIFF, a pet, a fit of ill humour. TIFFIN, a break:"-- van Slang. TIFFY, easily offended, apt to be ann TIGER, a parasite ; also a term for a ferocious woman. TIGER, a b y employed to wait on gentlemen; one who waits on ladies i3 ge. TIGHT, close, stingy ; hard up, short of cash ; tight, spruce, strong, active; " a tight lad," a smart, active young fellow ; tight, drunk, or nearly e : " TiGHT-laced," puritanical, ney is said to be TIGHT, when the public, from want of confidence in the aspect of affairs, are not inclined to speculate. TIGHTNER, a dinner, or hearty meal. — See SPirALFTELDs' ereakfast. Tike, or buffer-lukki>-g, dog-stealing. — See gay kxksbot. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 257 TILE, a hat ; a covering for the head. " I 'm a gent, I 'm a gent, In the Regent-Street style, — Examine my vest. And look at my tile." — Popular Song. Sometimes used in another sense, "having a tile loose," i.e., being slightly crazy. — See pantile. TIMBER MERCHANT, or spunk fencer, a lucifer-match seller. TIME 0' DAY, a dodge, the latest aspect of affairs; "that's your time o' day," i.e., Euge, well done ; to put a person up to the time o' day, let him know what is o' clock, — to instruct him in the knowledge needful for him. TIME, cabman's Slang for money. If they wish to express 9s. 9d. they say that " it is a quarter to ten ; " if 3s. 6d., half -past three ; if I is. 9d., a quarter to twelve. Cab drivers exultingly say the police cannot con>- prehend the system. TIN, money, — generally applied to silver. TINGE, the per-centage allowed by drapers and clothiers to their assistants, upon the sale of old-fashioned articles. — See spiffs. TIN-POT, " he plays a tin-pot game," i.e., a low or shabby one. In the i Contes d'Eutrapel, a French officer at the siege of Chatillon is ridicu- lously spoken of as Captain tin-pot — Capitaine da Rot d'Etain. — Billiards. TIP, advice or information respecting a horse-race, so that the person tip- ped may know how to bet to the best advantage. Notice when and where a prize-fight is to come off. Private information of any kind. — See tipster. TIP, a douceur; "a good tip," a piece likely to be set in an Addiscombe or Sandhurst examination, hence, "that's the tip," i.e., that's the proper thing to do. " To miss one's tip," to fail in a scheme. — Old Cant. TIP, to give, lend, or hand over anything to another person ; " come, tip up the tin," i.e., hand up the money; "tip the wink," to inform by winking ; " tip us your fin," i.e., give me your hand; " tip one's boom off," to make off, depart. — Sea. TIPPER, a kind of ale brewed at Brighton. TIPSTER, a "tout," or "turf" agent who collects eai'ly information of the condition and racing capabilities of horses in the training districts, and posts the same to his subscribers to guide their betting. "The racing ttpsters have much less patronage than formerly, before "Geof- frey Greenhorn" laid a trap for them, and published the tips he received in The Life. Professor Ingledue, M. A., the mesmerist, is s.uent; and if their subscribers, ' for whose interests I have collected my old and able staff, with many additional ones, who are already at work in the training districts,' could only get a sight of the ' old and able staff,' they would find it consist- ing of a man and a boy, ' at work' in the back room of a London public- house, and sending different winners for every race to their subscribers." — Post and Paddock, by the Druid. Till-bot, an apprentice or shopman who makes free with the cash in his master's till. 258 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN " T jp THE DOUBLE," to "bolt," or run away from a creditor or officer. Sometimes tip the double to SHERRY, i.e., to the sheriff. TIP-TOP, first-rate, of the best kind. TIP-TOPPER, a " swell," or dressy man, a " Gorger." TIT, a favourite name for a horse. TIT FOR TAT, an equivalent. TITIVATE, to put in order, or dress up. TITLEY, drink, generally applied to intoxicating beverages. TITTER, a girl ; " nark the TITTER," i.e., look at the girl. — Tramps' term. 'TIZER, the tap tub. TIZZY, a sixpence. I TOAD-IN-THE-HOLE, a kind of pudd tingof apiece of meat surrounded with batter, and l> pplied to advertis- ing mediuD .vicii. T< >ASTIX< ;-l'< »l;K'. a regulation sword, indicative of the general useless- TODDLE, to wait ■ ' ance, trouble ; • difficulty. This i tall; lar T< MT. a dandy, a Bwell of rank. Corruption probably of tuft. — See toft. TOFFER, a well-dressed "gay" woman. TOFFICKY, vy. TOFT, a -ii iwy individual, a swell, a person who, in a Yorkshireman's . would be termed uppish. — See tu ft. TOG, : . TOGA. — .1 TOG, to dress, or equip with an outfit; " togged out to the nines," dressed in the TOGGERY, clothes, harness, domestic paraphernalia of any kind. i lothes ; " Sunday togs," best clothes. One of the oldest Cant words — in use in the time of Henry YI1I. — See cast. TOKE. dry bread. TOL-LOL, or tol-lollish, tolerable, or tolerably. TOLL-SHOP, a Yorkshire correspondent gives this word as denoting in that county a prison, and also the following verse of a song, popular at fairs in the East Riding : — " But if iwer he get out nwin, And can but raise a fnnd. Oh ! the divel may tak' toll shop, At Beverley town-end !" Toey Consabn, a highway expedition. Toby is Old Cant. Toby, a road ; u high toby." the turnpike road. " High toby spice," rob- bery on horseback. — Don Juan, canto xi., 19. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 259 TOM AND JERRY, a low drinking shop. Probably some allusion to Pierce Egan's famous characters in his Life in London. TOMBSTONE, a pawnticket — " In memory of," &c, a well-known Slang expression with those Londoners who are in the habit of following " My Uncle." TOM-FOOL'S COLOURS, scarlet and yellow, the ancient motley. Occa- sionally as a rhyme, " Red and yellow, Tom fool's colour." A proposition is said to be tom fool when it is too ridiculous to be entertained or discussed. TOMMY.— See dickey. TOMMY, bread, — generally a penny roll. Sometimes applied by workmen to the supply of food which they carry in a handkerchief as then- daily allowance. TOMMY, a truck, barter, the exchange of labour for goods, not money. Both term and practice general among English operatives for half-a- century. TOMMY DODD, in tossing when the odd man goes out. A phrase in frequent use at the London Music Halls. Origin not known. TOMMY-MASTER, one who pays his workmen in goods, or gives them tickets upon tradesmen, with whom he shares the profit. TOMMY-SHOP, where wages are generally paid to mechanics or others, who are expected to " take out " a portion of the money in goods. TOM-TOM, a street instrument, a kind of small drum beaten with the fingers, somewhat like the ancient tabor ; a performer on this instru- ment. It was imported, doubtless, with the Nigger melodies, tom- toms being a favourite instrument with the " darkies." TOM TOPPER, a waterman, from a popular song, entitled, " Overboard he vent. 1 ' TOM TUG, a waterman. TONGUE, " to tongue a person," i.e., talk him down. Tongued, talkative. TONY LUMPKIN, a young, clownish country fellow. TOOL, " a poor TOOL," a bad hand at anything. TOOL, to drive a mail coach, or any other vehicle. TOOTH, " he has cut his eye tooth," i.e., he is sharp enough, or old ' enough, to do so ; " up in the tooth," far advanced in age, — said often of old maids. Stable term for aged horses which have lost the distinguishing mark in their teeth. TOOTSIES, feet, those of ladies and children in particular. In married Tool, to pick pockets. Tool, a very little boy employed by burglars to put in at small apertures, so as to open a door for the larger thieves outside. Tooler, a pickpocket. Moll-tooler, a female pickpocket. 260 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN life it is said the husband uses this expression for the first six months, after that he terms them hoofs. TOOZLE, to romp.— Scotch. TOT, the signal among tailors and seamstresses for snuffing the candle ; one cries top, and all the others follow, he who last pronounces tho word has to snuff the candle. TOP-HEAVY, drunk. TOPPER, av;. thing or person above the ordinary. TOPPER, a blow on tbe i. im a topper and chance it," " let him b a for luck."- TOP-SAWYER, don. "Atop-bawteb B piece of -V \ rfolk being a great timber count; . able the wag Tl'KVY. the bottom u] ingenious ety- ." — turf being al\v.< TO-RIGHTS, Tl >RM EN 'l'« >RS, rka used by i TORPIDS boats at Oxford, answering to tl. bridge -- Tt >T. a Bm J] glass; a "tot o' Wl . ■ smallest quantity sold. Tub' H. a b! s which ex] i • to which a person La interested or affected as "a fourpenny Sfo an example in Mr, afterwards A Oxford, in 1720. (Note* and ', ght went to the ball at the Angel, tck" It is also used at E TOUCHED, slight' -aid of a consumptive pea TOUCHER, "as near as a near as possible without actually touchi he old jarveys, to shew their ski to drive against thing touch, yet without injury. This they called a TOUCHER, or, touch and go, which was hence applied to anything which was within an ace of ruin. TOUCHY, peevish, irritable. Johnson terms it a low word. TOUT, in sporting phraseology a tout signifies an agent in the training districts, on the look-out for information as to the condition and ' tilitiee of those horses entered for a coming race. — See TlPfi I TOUT, to look out, or watch.— Old < Topped, hanged, or executed. Tops, dying speeches and gallows' broad Toshers, men who steal copper from ships' bottoms in the Thames. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 26 1 TOUTER, a looker out, one who watches for customers, a hotel runner. A term in general use, derived from the old Cant word. TOWEL, to beat or whip. In Warwickshire an oaken stick is termed a towel — whence, perhaps, the vulgar verb. TOWELLING, a rubbing down with an oaken towel, a beating. TOWN-LOUT, a derogatory title at Rugby School for those pupils who reside with their parents in the town, in contradistinction to those who live in the boarding-houses. TOW-POWS, grenadiers. f TRACKS, " to make tracks," to run away. — See streak. TRANSLATOR, a man who deals in old shoes or clothes, and refits them for cheap wear. TRANSLATORS, second-hand boots mended and polished, and sold at a low price. Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, is a great market for TRANSLATORS. TRANSMOGRIPHY, to alter or change. TRAP, a " fast " term for a carriage of any kind. Traps, goods and chattels of any kind, but especially luggage and personal effects ; in Australia, swag. , TRAP, " up to trap," knowing, wide awake, — synonymous with " up to SNUFF." TRAP, a sheriff's officer. TRAPESING, gadding or gossiping about in a slatternly way. — North. Generally applied to girls and women in low neighbourhoods whose clothes are carelessly fastened, causing them to trail on the ground. TREE, " up a tree," in temporary difficulties, — out of the way. American expression, derived from raccoon or bear-hunting. When Bruin is treed, or is forced up a tree by the dogs, it means that then the tug of war begins. — See 'coon. Hence when an opponent is fairly run to bay, and can by no evasion get off, he is said to be treed. These expressions originated with Colonel Crockett, of Backwoods' celebrity. In Scotland the phrase is " up a close," i.e., a passage out of the usual track, or removed from observation. TRIANGLES, a Slang term for delirium tremens, during a fit of which everything appears out of the square. TRIMMINGS, the necessary adjuncts to a cooked leg of mutton, as turnips' bread, beer, salt, &c. Bets are frequently made for a leg of mutton and trimmings. Or one person will forfeit the mutton if another will "stand the trimmings." It is generally a supper feast, held in a public house, and the rule is for the landlord to charge as trimmings everything, except the mutton, placed on the table previous to the removal of the cloth. Traveller, name given by one tramp to another. " A traveller at her Majesty's expense," i.e., a transported felon, a convict. Trine, to hang. — Ancient Cant. 262 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN TRIPES, the bowels. " Next morning Miss DoHy complained of her tripes, Drinking cold water Lad given her the gripes." TROLLING, sauntering or idling, hence troll and trollocks, an idle slut, a jioll, which see. TROLLY, or trolly-carts, term given by costermongers to a species of narrow cart, which can either be drawn by a donkey, or driven by hand. TROT, to "run up," to oppose, to bid against at an auction. Private buyers at auctions know . . general is the op] • E sales, regard the I Liar domain; " we trotted him up ni , we made him (the private buyer) pay dearly for I TROTTER, a I a] r*e m in in 1 for orders. — University. TROT! TRl >T! iled sheep's feet, a favourite street . TRU< K. a fa • fa m the cap oi TRUCK!, TRUCK GUTTED, \ it-bellied, corpulent— & TRUCK TRUMP, a good fellow; "a regular trump," a jolly or good-natured person, — in allusion to aTBUMF card; "thumps may turn up," i.e., fortune. may yet favour me. TRUNKS, trousers— Tkea I a butterman. TUB-THUMPING, preaching or speech-making, from the old Puritan og forth" from a tub, or beer barrel, as a mark of their contempt for decorated p TUCK, a schoolboy's term for ii . Tuck, or, or tuck our, a good meal. -commoners. • at the University, generally the •men, who pay higher fees, dine with the Duns, and are distinguished by golden tufts, or tassels, in their caps. TUFT-HUNTER, a hanger on to persons of quality or wealth — one who seeks the society of wealthy students. Originally University .- but now generaL — See preceding. TL'MBLE. to comprehend or understand. A coster was asked what he ; <, — "the witches and the fighting was all very but the other moves I couldn't tumble to exactly ; few on U3 can TUMBLE to the jaw-breaker3 ; they licks us, they do." Truff, to steal. — North Country I TucK-uP-rAiR. the gallows. The notion of tucking up in connexion with hanging is derived from tucking up the bedclothes before gi i sleep — the last preparation. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 263 "TUNE THE OLD COW DIED OF," an epithet for any ill-played or dis- cordant piece of music. Originally the name of an old ballad, alluded to in the dramatists of Shakspeare's time. TUP, a young bullock. Smithfield, and drovers' term. TURF, horse-racing, and betting thereon ; " on the turf," one who occu- pies himself with race-course business; said also of a street- walker, nymph of the pave. TURKEY MERCHANTS, dealers in plundered or contraband silk. Poul- terers are sometimes termed turkey merchants in remembrance of Home Tooke's answer to the boys at Eton, who wished in an aristo- cratic way to know who his father was : a turkey merchant, replied Tooke — his father was a poulterer. Turkey merchant, also, was formerly Slang for a driver of turkeys or gee3e to market. TURNIP, an old-fashioned watch, so called from its thickness. TURN OUT, personal show or appearance ; a man with a showy carriage and horses is said to have a good turn out. TURN-OVER, an apprentice who finishes with a second master the inden- tures he commenced with the first. TURNPIKE SAILORS, beggars who go about dressed as sailors. TURN UP, a street fight; a sudden leaving, or making off. TURN UP, to appear unexpectedly. TURN UP, to quit, change, abscond, or abandon.; " Ned has turned up," i.e., run away; "I intend turning it up," i.e., leaving my present abode, or altering my course of life. Also to happen.; "let's wait, and see what will turn up." TUSHEROON, a crown piece, five shillings. TUSSLE, a pull, struggle, fight, or argument. Johnson and Webster call it a vulgar word. TUSSLE, to struggle, or argue. • TWELVER, a shilling. TWICE-LAID, a dish made out of cold fish and potatoes. — Sea. Compare bubble and squeak and resurrection pie. TWIG, style, a la mode ; " get your strummel faked in twig," i.e., have your hair dressed in style ; prime twig, in good order and high spirits. — Pugilistic. TWIG, "to hop the twig," to decamp, "cut one's stick," to die. Turned up, to be stopped and searched by the police. Turned over, remanded by the magistrate or judge for want of evidence. Turner out, a coiner of bad money. Twelve Godfathers, a jury, because they give a name to the crime the prisoner before them has been guilty of; whether murder or man- slaughter, felony or misdemeanour. Consequently it is a vulgar taunt to say, " You will be christened by twelve godfathers some day before long." 264 -4 DICTIONARY OF MODERN TWIG, to understand, detect, or observe. TWIST, brandy and gin mixed. TWIST, capacity for eating, appetite; " Will's got a capital twist." TWITCHETY, nervous, fidgety. TWITTER, u all in a twitter," in a fright or fidgety state. TWO-FISTED, expert at fisticuffs. TWO-HANDED, awkward, a angular reversing of meaning. TWOPENNY, the head; "tuck in your twopennt," bend down your head. TWOPENNY-HALFPENNY, paltry, insignificant. A twopenny-half- TW< >PENNY-H( IPS, was formerly— and not infn [uently now— twopence. T fi II entered into with great [JPON TEN," ■ makes . When a bu] pound) TEN 1 in knows at • and !. . ..-■ b isistant, bearing the to hi. 1 of - . . — Compare Sharp, Jonx Orderly. TYBURNIA, the Portman and I rrosvenor Squar It is facetiously divid ndoners into TYBURNIA FELIX, TYBURNIA DESEBTA, BBICA. The old gallows at Tyburn Bi N.E. med by the E and the top of 1 . this wa3 two miles out of London. TYE. or tie, a neckerchief. Proper hosier's term now, but Slang thirty md as early as 1 71 8. Called also SQL': . TYKE, a clownish Yorkshireman. TYPO, a printer. UNBLEACHED AMERICAN, the new Yankee term for coloured natives of the United States, the word nigger being now voted low. UNCLE, the pawnbroker. — See MT uncle. Tyburn collar, the fringe of beard worn under the chin. — See newgate collar. Uxbetty, to unlock — See BETTY. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 265 "UNDER THE ROSE."— See rose. UNICORN, a style of driving with two wheelers abreast and one leader — termed in the United States a spike team. Tandem is one wheeler and one leader. Random, three horses in line. — See harum-scarum. UNLICKED, ill-trained, uncouth, rude, and rough; an unlicked cub is a loutish youth who has never been taught manners ; from the tradition that a bear's cub, when brought into the world, has no shape or sym- metry until its dam licks it into form with her tongue. UNUTTERABLES, or UNWHISPERABLES, trousers.— See inexpres- sibles. UP, "to be UP to a thing or two," to be knowing, or understanding; "to put a man UP to a move," to teach him a trick ; " it 's all up with him," i.e., it is all over with him, often pronounced U.P., naming the two letters separately ; "up a tree," — see tree; "up to trap," "up to snuff," wide awake, acquainted with the last new move ; " up to one's cossip," to be a match for one who is trying to take you in ; " up to slum," proficient in roguery, capable of committing a theft successfully ; so also, "what's up?" i.e., what is the matter? what is the news? U. P., United Presbyterian. — Scotch clerical Slang. UPPER BENJAMIN, or benjt, a great coat. UPPER STORY, or upper loet, a person's head; "his upper story is unfurnished," i.e., he does not know very much. UPPISH, proud, arrogant. — Yorkshire. USED UP, broken-hearted, bankrupt, fatigued, vanquished. YAKEEL, a barrister. — Anglo-Indian. YAMOS, vamous, or vamoosh, to go, or be off. Spanish, vamos, "let us go !" Probably namus, or namous, the costermonger's word, was from this, although it is generally considered back Slang. VAMP, to spout, to leave in pawn. VAMPS, old stockings. From vamp, to piece. VARDO, to look ; " vardo the cassey," look at the house. Vardo formerly was Old Cant for a waggon. VARD Y, verdict, vulgarly used as opinion, thus, " My tardy on the matter is the same as yourn." VARMENT, " you young varment, you ! " you bad, or naughty boy. Cor- ruption of vermin. VELVET, the tongue. VERTICAL CARE-GRINDER, a Slang term for the treadmill. Vampers, fellows who frequent public-houses and pick quarrels with the wearers of rings and watches, in hopes of getting up a fight, and so enabling their " pals " to steal the articles. " Under the screw," to be in prison. Uptucker, the hangman, Jack Ketch. — See tuck-up. Varnish ek. an utterer of false sovereigns. 266 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN VIC, the "Victoria Theatre, London, — patronised principally by coster- mongers and low people ; also the street abbreviation of the Christian name of her Majesty the Queen. VILLAGE, or the village, i.e., London. — Sporting. Also a Cambridge term for a disreputable suburb of that town, viz., Barnwell, generally styled '•' the village." VILLE, or vile, a town or village — pronounced ph ial, or vial. — French. VINNIED, mildewed, or sour. — , VOKEB my?" can you speak the canting . V< >WEL, "to VOWEL a d y with an I U. WABBL about. Johnson terms it a wing. W ABLER, a foot soldier, i t cavalryman. WALK ER, a letter WALK ERI lity, Baid when y which you know to be all garni fears .-. who I y the erudite nami nion. Ee ■■ his pupils, telescope in kt at the moon and luditory, who freq 'took a sight' with thai :hed arm and adjusi le first garnish of the popular I The next step v. - phrase and gesture as the outwai Le mode of knowingness in general." A I .'.ever, denie ind incredulity, whose nook all his successors; and, i ire of applying the thumb to the nose and agitating the little finger, as an expre- • J > :.'• y uan the Btory in th - seem to indicate. There is a third ex- planation of hookey walker in Notes and Queries, iv., 425. "WALKING THE PEGS," a method of cheating at the game of c by a Bpeciee of legerdemain, the sharper either moving fa forward, or those of his antagonist backward, according to th of the game. WALK INTO, to overcome, to demolish; " I'll walk into his affections," Le., I will scold or thrash him. The word drive (which in an equally curious sense in Slang speech. Walk into also means : into the debt of any one. as, " he walked into the affections of all the tradesmen in the neighbourhood." WALK OVER, a re-election without opposition. — Parliamentary, but de- rived from the Turf, where a horse which has no rivals entered walks OVER the course, and wins without exertion. '• Walk the barber," to lead a girl astray. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WOLDS. 267 " WALK TOUR CHALKS," be off, or run away, — spoken sharply by any one who wishes to get rid of a troublesome person. — See chalks. "WALL-FLOWER, a person who goes to a ball, and looks on without dan- cing, either from choice or not being able to obtain a partner. WALL-FLOWERS, left-off and "regenerated" clothes exposed for sale on the bunks and shop-boards of Monmouth Street. WALLOP, to beat, or thrash. Mr John Gough Nichols derives this word from an ancestor of the Earl of Portsmouth's, one Sir John Wallop, Knight of the Garter, who in King Henry VIII.'s time distinguished himself by walloping the French ; but it is more probably connected with weal, a livid swelling in the skin after a blow. — See pot- walloper. WALLOPING, a beating or thrashing; sometimes used in an adjective sense, as big, or very large. WAPPING, or whopping, of a large size, great. WARM, rich, or well off. WARM, to thrash, or beat; "I'll warm your jacket." To warm the wax of one's ear is to give a severe blow on the side of the head. WARMING-PAN, a large old-fashioned watch. A person placed in an office to hold it for another. — See W. P. WAR PAINT, military uniform. WASH, " it won't wash," i.e., will not stand investigation, will not " bear the rub," is not genuine, can't be believed. WATCH AND SEALS, a sheep's head and pluck. WATER-BEWITCHED, very weak tea, the third brew, (or the first at some houses ; ) grog mueh diluted. WATER-DOGS, Norfolk dumplings. WATER OF LIFE, gin. Apparently from eau de vie. WATERMAN, a light blue silk handkerchief. The Oxford and Cambridge boats' crews always wear these — light blue for Cambridge, and a darker shade for Oxford. "WATER THE DRAGON," "water one's nag," hints for retiring, WATTLES, ears. WAXY, cross, ill-tempered. WEATHER-HEADED, so written by Sir Walter Scott in his Peveril of the Pecik, but it is more probably wether-headed, as applied to a person having a "sheepish" look. WEAVING, a notorious card-sharping trick, done by keeping certain cards on the knee, or between the knee and the underside of the table, and using them when required by changing them for the cards held in the hand. " WEAVING LEATHERN APRONS." When a knowing blade is asked y- what he has been doing lately, and does not choose to tell, his reply f is, that he has been very busy weaving leathern aprons. — (See news- Watohmaker, a pickpocket or stealer of watches. 268 A DICTIONARY OF MODERX paper reports of the trial for the gold robberies on the South-Western Railway.) Other similar replies, " I have been making a trundle for a goose's eye," or "a WHIM-WHAM to bridle a GOOSE." WEDGE, silver.— Old Cant. WEDGE-FEEDER, a silver spoon. WEED, a cigar; the weed, tobacco generally. WEED, a hat-band WEJEE, a chimney-pot Often applied to any clever invention, as "that's a regular v. WELCHER, a person who I without the remotest chance of • ■ pay, and, losing \\ r " makes hji In the :• ly handled upon his i . I z "Ci rfc "f Hie • :i tar barrel for the that neighbourhood. 'J i - • ■ w : I . modern, 1 i vucet,' for Po$l and l'add'jdc. WELL, ' WEST CENTRAL, the same as those of . that for this i i Licate ■ 1 maid, who lived in ti. ked at that she could not think of submitting to Buch an indi informed thai without bnoxious mil the 1' put r.o. on them, which will be more 'ondacenter than the tother.' " WET, a driii'.. WET. to drink. Low people generally ask an acquaintance to wet any ; '' WET yoiir * ike a drink; " wet the other eye," i.e., take another glass. — See sued a I WET QUAKER, a drunkard of that sc-ct : a man wi t > be re- on the >ly. WET 'UN, adi . unfit fur human food, but nevertheless .sold to make into sausages. — Compare staggering-bob. WHACK, a share or lot; "give me my whack," give me my share. — Scotch, SWEG, or BWACK. WHACK, or whacking, a blow, or a thrashing. WHACK, to beat. WHACKING, Large, fine, or strong. WHALE. '"' very like a whale in a teacup," said of anything that is very improbable ; taken from a speech of Pulonius's in J. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 269 "WHAT D'YE CALL 'EM, a similar expression to THDTGUMY. WHEEDLE, to entice by soft words. " This word cannot be found to derive itself from any other, and is therefore looked upon a3 wholly invented by the cakters." — Triumph of Wit, 1705. WHERRET, or worrit, to scold, trouble, or annoy. — Old English. WHID, a word.— Old Gipsy Cant. WHID, a fib, a falsehood, a word too much. — Modern Slang from the Ancient Cant. WHIDDLE, to enter into a parley, or hesitate with many words, &c. ; to inform, or discover. — See wheedle. WHIM-WHAM, an alliterative term, synonymous with fiddle-faddle, riff-raff, &c, denoting nonsense, rubbish, &c. WHIP, after the usual allowance of wine is drunk at mess, those who wish for more put a shilling each into a glass handed round to procure a further supply. — Naval and Military. WHIP, to "whip anything up," to take it up quickly; from the method of hoisting heavy goods or horses on board ship by a whip, or running tackle, from the yard-arm. Generally used to express anything dis- honestly taken. — L' Estrange and Johnson. WHIP JACK, a sham shipwrecked sailor, called also a turnpike sailor. r " WHIP THE CAT," when an operative works at a private house by the day. Term used amongst tailors and carpenters. WHIPPER-IN", the member of the House of Commons whose duty it is to collect and keep together his party to vote at divisions. To give him greater influence, the ministerial whipper-in holds, or is supposed to hold, the minor patronage of the Treasury. — See wooden spoon. W^HIPPER-SNAPPER, a waspish, diminutive person. WHISKER. There is a curious Slang phrase connected with this word. When an improbable story is told, the remark is, " the mother of that was a whisker," meaning it is a lie. W T HISTLE, "'as clean as a whistle," neatly, or "slickly done/' as an American would say; "to wet one's whistle," to take a drink. This last is a very old expression. Chaucer says of the Miller of Trumping- ton's wife (Canterbury Tales, 4153) — " So washir joly whistal well y-\vet ;" "to whistle for anything," to stand small chance of getting it, from the nautical custom of whistling for a wind in a calm, which of course comes none the sooner for it. WHITECHAPEL, or Westminster brougham, a costermonger's donkey- barrow. WHITECHAPEL, the "upper-cut," or strike. — Pugilistic. WHITECHAPEL, in tossing, two out of three wins. — See sudden death, WHITECHAPEL FORTUNE, a clean gown and a pair of pattens. 270 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN WHITE FEATHER, "to shew the white feather," to evince cowardice. In times when great attention was paid to the breeding of game-cock^, a white feather in the tail was considered a proof of cross-breeding. "WHITE LIE, a harmless lie, one told to reconcile people at variance; " mistress is not at home, sir," is a white lie often told by servants "WHITE-LIVERED, or liter-faced, cowardly, much afraid, very mean. WHITE PLOP, a diamond pin.—/.' ' /. WHITE SATIN, gin,— term amongst women. — See satin. Wil [TE SERJEANT, a man's superior officer in the person of his better- hali WHITE TAPEj gin, — term used principally by female servants. — See BOH. WHITEWASH of the Insolvent Act he is E I CEWASHKD, WHITEWASH, inking port and claret. WHITE WINE >r gin. • as Cne If he U'a Diary, 1820. WHOP, to beat, or hide. Corruption of whip; sometimes spelled WAP. WHOP-STRAW, Cant name fur a countryman; Johnny WHOP-STRAW, in allusion to threshing WHOPPER, a big one, a lie. WIDDLE, to shine. —See oliver. AV11 »r. AWAKE, a broad brimmed felt, or stuff hat, — so called because it never had a nap, and never wanl WID< WIFFLE-W* 'FFLES, in the dumps, sorrow, stomach ache. WIG, move off, go away. int. re comrades. If the head of a firm calls a clerk into the parlour, and rebukes him, it is an earwigglng; if done before the other clerks, it i3 a v, . WILD, a village. — Tramps term. — See vile. WILD, vexed, cross, passionate, — said to be from willed (.self- willed) in opposition to u tamed " or " subdued." In the Unit* word mad is supplemented with a vulgar meaning similar to oar Cockneyism WILD ; and to make a man mad on the other side of the Atlantic is to vex him, or "rile" his temper — not to render him a raving maniac, or a fit subject for Bedlam. WILD OATS, youthful pranks. WILLIAM, a bill. The derivation is obvious. Wife, a fetter fixed to one leg. — Prison. SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 2*] I WIND, "to raise the wind," to procure money; "to slip one's "wind/' coarse expression meaning to die. — See raise. WIND, " I'll "wind your cotton," i.e., I will give you some trouble. The Byzantine General, Narses, used the same kind of threat to the Greek Empress, — " I will spin such a thread that they shall not be able to unravel." WINDOWS, the eyes, or "peepers." WINEY, intoxicated. WINKIN, " he went off like winkin," i.e., very quickly. Probably con- nected with wink, to shut the eye quickly. WINKS, periwinkles. WINN, a penny. — Ancient Cant. — See ante, page 20» WIPE, a pocket-handkerchief. — Old Cant. WIPE, a blow. Frequently sibilated to swipe, a cricket term. WIPE, to strike ; " he fetcht me a wipe over the knuckles," he struck me on the knuckles; "to wipe a person down," to flatter or pacify; to wipe off a score, to pay one's debts, in allusion to the slate or chalk methods of account-keeping; " to wipe a person's eye," to shoot game which he has missed — Sporting term; hence to obtain an advantage by superior activity. With old topers " wiping one's eye," is equi- valent to giving or taking another drink. WIPcE-IN, a London street phrase in general use at the present time, the meaning of which I have not been able to discover. WOBBLE-SHOP, where beer is sold without a licence. WOODEN SPOON, the last junior optime who takes a University degree ; denoting one who is only fit to stay at home, and stir porridge. — Cambridge. The expression is also Parliamentary Slang. — See the following : — " Wooden Spoon. — We have said that a rigorous account is kept of all the divi- sions, and that every vote of every member of the Government is posted. "We will now tell our readers what is done with this list. Every year at the close of the session, as our readers know, the Ministers dine together at the Trafalgar. Well, after dinner, the chief whip produces his account and reads it aloud; and it is said that the man whose name appears in the division-list the smallest number of times has a wooden spoon presented to him. When the Derbyites were in power last, Sir John Pakington, it is asserted, was the successful candidate for the spoon, Mr Whiteside presenting it to the right honourable Baronet with infinite humour and fun. Why a wooden spoon is used we cannot tell. Perhaps in ancient times the poor man got that and nothing else. If any of our readers should be curious to know what is really symbolised by this ceremony, let them understand that we cannot help them. We refer them to the editor of Notes and Queries." — Illustrated Times. WOODEN SURTOUT, a coffin, generally spoken of as a wooden surtout with nails for buttons. Winded-settled, transported for life.. Wire, a thief with long fingers, expert at picking ladies' pockets 2/2 A DICTIONARY OF MODE EX WOODEN WEDGE, the last name in the classical honours list at Cam- bridge. The last in mathematical honours had long been known as the wooden spoon ; but when the classical Tripos was instituted, in 1S24, it was debated among the under- graduates what sobriquet Bhould be given to the Last "ii the examination list. Curiously : enough, the name that year which happened to be Last was wedgkwood (a disting Wrangler.) bitle. WOOLBIRD, a Lara E a woolhird," n»" ▼•*•"-* *•"*«." a Bhoulder of lamb. 1 ' AT i i BRIN< n'a wita when they are wandering, or in a n-\ erie. - I Wl M >L BOLE, the workh WOOLL WOOLLY, perform an] • h y manoeuvring, to concert plan, I bribes rourable ' i rying at each . . or ho bawling ife may know what y • 1 i The genera] plan is to drive a donkey barrow a short . implies thoroughn '• WORK a street well" is a common saying with u coster. WORM, the Latest Slang term for a p"liceman. WORMING, r< m >ving the beard of an oyster or muscle. W. 1'.. • ax, a clergyman who holds a living pro tempore, under a bond of resignation, ie styled a w. p., 1 r warming pah rector! because he rm for his bu WRINKLE, an idea, or fancy; an additional piece of knowledge which is 'Sed to be made by a WRINKLE a WRITE, " to write one's name on a joint," to have the first cut at any- thing ; leaving sensible traces of one's presence on it. WYLO, be off. — Anglo-Chinese. Wool, courage, pluck; " you are not hali-WuOLED," term of reproach from one thief to another. X, letter x, a method of arrest used by policemen with desperate ruffians, — by getting a firm grasp on the collar, and drawing the captive's over the holding arm, and pressing the fingers down in a peculi u — the captured person's arm in this way can be more easily broken than extricated SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS. 273 YAFFLE, to eat.— Old English. YAM, to eat. This word is used by the lowest class all over the world ; by the Wapping sailor, "West India negro, or Chinese coolie. When the fort, called the Dutch Folly, near Canton, was in course of erection by the Hollanders, under the pretence of being intended for an hospital, the Chinese observed a box containing muskets among the alleged hospital stores. " Hy-aw ! " exclaimed John Chinaman, " how can sick man yam gun?" The Dutch were surprised and massacred the same night. " YARD OF CLAY," a long, old-fashioned tobacco pipe, also called a CHURCH- WARDEN. YARMOUTH CAPON, a bloater, or red herring.— Old.— Rays Proverbs. YARMOUTH MITTENS, bruised hands.— Sea. YARN", a long story, or tale ; " a tough yarn, a tale hard to be believed ; " spin a yarn," tell a tale. — Sea. Y AY-NAY, " a poor yay-nay " fellow, one who has no conversational power, and can only answer yea or nay to a question. YELLOW- BELLY, a native of the Fens of Lincolnshire, or the Isle of Ely, — in allusion to the frogs and a yellow-bellied eel caught there ; they are also said to be web-footed. YELLOW-BOY, a sovereign, or any gold coin. YELLOW-GLOAK, a jealous man. YELLOW-JACK, the yellow fever prevalent in the West Indies. YELLOW-MAN, a yellow silk handkerchief. — Pugilistic and Sporting. YOKEL, a countryman. — West. YOKUFF, a chest, or large box. YORKSHIRE, "to Yorkshire," or "come Yorkshire over any person," to cheat or bite them. — North. The proverbial overreaching of the rustics of this county has given rise to this phrase, which is some- times pronounced yorshar. " Yorshar, to put Yorkshire to a man, is to trick or deceive him." — Lancashire Dialect, 1757. YORKSHIRE COMPLIMENT, a gift of something of no manner of use to the giver. YORKSHIRE ESTATES ; " I will do it when I come into my Yorkshire estates," — meaning if I ever have the money or the means. The phrase is said to have originated with Dr Johnson. YORKSHIRE, Yorkshire reckoning, where every one pays his own. YOUNKER, in street language, a lad or a boy. Term in general use amongst costermongers, cabmen, and old-fashioned people. Barne- Jield's Affectionate Shepherd, 1594, has the phrase, "a seemelie younker. " Danish and Friesic, jonker. In the Navy, a naval cadet is usually termed a younker. YOUR NIBS, yourself. Yack, a watch; to ''church a yack," to take it out of its case to avoid detection. 274 A DICTIONARY OF MODERN SLANG, ETC. ZIPH, language of, a way of disguising English in use among the students at Winchester College. Compare medical greek. Be Quincey, in hi* Autobiographic Sketches, (Edin. 1853, p. 209,) says that he acquired this language as a boy, from a Dr Mapleton, who had three sons at Winchester who had imported it from thence as their sole accomplish- ment, and that after the lapse of fifty years he could, and did with Lord Westport, converse in it with ease and rapidity. It was com- municated at Winchester to new-comers for a fixed fee of half a guinea. The secret is this, — repeat the vowel or diphthong of every syllable, prefixing to the peated the letter G, and placing the accent on the intercalated syllable. Thus, for example, " Shall we go away in an ho« 100 A.QAWAQA.Y IGIN hodgodr?" "Three hours we have already staid," "Threegee HOUGOURS WBQH li.v.AYi: A.QALREAQRADTGT NTAUAiD." Evidently any consonant will answer the purpose! F or L would be softer and so far lent Bays this system is not con- fined to Winchester Colli luch the appearance of a bequest of ancient times. It ie irately described amongst many other ptical communication, oral and visual, spoken, /• and a led on or suggested by a treatise pub- lished jusl Geo. Dalg me,) by John WiUeinu, JiUhop of foL 1668, and as the - not speak oi .it may probably at that time have been regarded as an antique device for conducting a conversation in secrecy amongst bystanders. ZOUNDS ! a sudden exclamation — abbreviation of God's wounds. turned from transportation before his time. Ziff, a juvenile thief. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE BACK SLANG, THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF COSTERMONGERS. The costermongers of London number between thirty and forty thousand. Like other low tribes, they boast a language, or secret tongue, in which they hide their earnings, movements, and other private affairs. This costers' speech offers no new fact, or approach to a fact, for philologists ; it is not very remarkable for originality of construction ; neither is it spiced with low humour, as other Cant. But the costermongers boast that it is known only to themselves; that it is far beyond the Irish, and puzzles the Jews. The main principle of this language is spelling the ivords bach- wards, — or rather, pronouncing them rudely backwards. Some- times, for the sake of harmony, an extra syllable is prefixed or annexed ; and occasionally the word is given quite a different turn in rendering it backwards, to what an uninitiated person would have expected. One coster told Mayhew that he often gave the end of a word "a new turn, just as if he chorused it with a tol-de-rol." Besides, the coster has his own idea of the proper way of spelling words, and is not to be convinced but by an overwhelming show of learning, — and frequently not then, for he is a very headstrong fellow. By the time a coster has spelt an ordinary word of two or three syllables in the proper way, and then spelt it backwards, it has become a tangled knot that no etymologist could unravel. The word generalise, for instance, 276 BOYS AXD GIRLS SOOX ACQUIRE IT. is considered to be "shilling" spelt backwards. Sometimes Slang and Cant words are introduced, and even these, when imagined to be tolerably well known, are pronounced backwards. Other terms, such as GEN, a shilling, and FLATCH, a halfpenny, help to confuse the outsider. After a time, this back language, or Back Slang, as it is called by the costermon;_ Ives, comes to be regarded by the rising generation of Btreet-sellers as a distinct and regular mode ch. Tiny never refer words, by inverting them, to their originals ; and the vi..\i:rs, ESCLOPS, and namows, are looked upon as proper, bi it i a curious fact, that lads who bee ithout previous associa- . ery ready command of the Ian and this though they are UOt only unable to spell, but 'don't know a Letter in 1 n obtain a considerable 1 that they converse rather from the memory than the uud the senior 1 era, and those who pride themselves on their proficiency in Back Slang, a conversation is often sustained for a whole evening, especially if any "flatti ••nt whom they wish to astonish or con- fuse. The women use it sparingly, but the girls are generally well acquainted with it. The additi I should state, always forms the plural, so that this is another source of complication. For instance, woman in the Back E ■ and namus, or namov. . not NEMOW. The explorer, then, in undoing the B and turning the word namus once more into English, would have suman, — a novel and very extraordinary rendering of 1 Where a word is refractory in submitting to a back rendering, as in the case of pound, letters are made to change positions for the sake of harmony ; thus, we have duxop, a pound, instead of dnuop, which nobody could pleasantly pronounce. This will remind the reader of the Jews' " old do! old clof' instead of old * Mayhew, vol. i., p. 24. BACK SLANG UNKNOWN TO THE POLICE. 2 J J clothes, old clothes, which would tire even the patience of a Jew to repeat all day. This singular Back tongue has been in vogue about twenty- five years. It is, as before stated, soon acquired, and is princi- pally used by the costermongers (as the specimen Glossary will shew) for communicating the secrets of their street tradings, the cost and profit of the goods, and for keeping their natural enemies, the police, in the dark. Cool the esclop (look at the police) is often said among them, when one of the constabulary makes his appearance. Perhaps on no subject is the costermonger so silent as on his money affairs. All costs and profits, he thinks, should be kept profoundly secret. The Back Slang, therefore, gives the various small amounts very minutely : — FLATCH, halfpenny. YENEP, penny. OWT-YENEPS, twopence. ERTH-YENEPS, threepence. ROUF-YENEPS, fourpence. EVIF, or EWIF-YENEPS, fivepence. EXIS-YENEPS, sixpence. NEVIS-YENEPS, sevenpence. TEAICH, or THEG-YENEPS, eightpence. ENIN-YENEPS, ninepence. NET-YENEPS, tenpence. NEVELE-YENEPS, elevenpence. EVLENET-YENEPS, twelvepence. GEN, or GENERALISE, one shilling, or twelvepence. YENEP-FLATCH, three halfpence. OWT- YENEP-FLATCH, twopence halfpenny. &c. &c. &c. GEN, or ENO-GEN, one shilling. OWT-GENS, two shiUings. ERTH-GENS, three shillings. The gens continue in the same sequence as the yeneps above, excepting theg-gens, 8s., which is usually rendered 2J& THE COSTERMONGER& TERMS FOR MONEY. tfieoguy, — a deviation with ample precedents in all civilised tongues. YENORK, a crown piece, or five shillings. FLATCH-YEXORK, half-a-crown. Beyond this amount the costermonger reckons after an intricate and complicated mode. Fifteen shillings would be erth-evif- gens, or, literally, three times 5s. ; seventeen shillings would be EBTH-YENOBK-FLATGH, or three crowns and a half; or, by another mode of reckoning, ebth-evif-gens flatch-yenoek, i.e., three times 53., ami half-a-crown. DUNOP, a Farther than which the costermon m goes in money reckon In the following Glossary only those words are given which cost* rmongers continually use, — the terms connected with street traffic, the names of the different coins, vegetables, fruit, and fish, technicalities of police courts, r Bold out with good pruiit. i". a pound. ERTH, three. EARTH* GEXS, three shillings. EARTH SITH-NOMS, three months. EARTH FANNOPS, or YBNKPS, threepence. ED GAB AC, cabbage. EDGEXARO, an orange. E FINK, knife. EKAME, a " make," or swindle. EKOMj a " moke," or donkey. ELRIG, a girl. EXIF, fine. EXIX GEXS. nine shillings. EXIX YEXEP, ninepence. EXIX YAXXOPS, or tes-eps, ninepence. EXO, one. ERIF, fire. ERTH GEXS, three shillings. * Iffy informant preferred earth to ertk, — for the reason, he said, *' that it looked more sensible ! ' GLOSSARY OF THE BACK SLANG. 28 I ERTH-PU, three-up, a street game. ERTH SITH-NOMS, three months, — a term of imprisonment unfortu- nately very familiar to the lower orders. ERTH-YENEPS, threepence. ESCLOP, the police. ES-ROPH, or es-roch, a horse. EVIF-YEXEPS, fivepence. EVLENET-GENS, twelve shillings. EVLENET SITH-NOMS, twelve months. EWIF-GENS, a crown, or five shillings. EWIF-YENEPS, fivepence. EXIS GENS, six shillings. EXIS-E\VIF-GENS, six times five shillings, i.e., 30s. All moneys may be reckoned in this manner, either with yeneps or gens. EXIS-EVIF YEXEPS, elevenpence, — literally, " sixpence and fivepence = elevenpence." This mode of reckoning, distinct from the preced- ing, is also common amongst those who use the Back Slang. EXIS SITH-NOMS, sixth months. EXIS-YENEPS, sixpence. FI-HEATH, a thief. FLATCH, a half, or halfpenny. FLATCH KEN-NURD, half drunk. FLATCH YENEP, a halfpenny. FLATCH-YENORK, half-a-crown. GEN, twelvepence, or one shilling. Possibly an abbreviation of argent, Cant term for silver. — See following. GENERALISE, a shilling, generally shortened to GEN. GEN-NET, or net gens, ten shillings. HEL-BAT, a table. HELP A, an apple. KENNETSEENO, stinking. KENNURD, drunk. KEW, a week. KEWS, or skew, weeks. KIRB, a brick. KOOL, to look. LAWT, tall. LEVEN, in Back Slang, is sometimes allowed to stand for eleven, for the reason that it is a number which seldom occurs. An article is either iod. or is. LUR-AC-HAM, mackerel. 282 GLOSSARY OF THE BACK SLANG. MOTTAB, bottom. MUR, rum. NALE, or nael, lean. NAM, a man. NAMESCLOP, a policeman. — See esclop. NAMOW, a woman ; dilo namow, an old woman. NEERGS, greens. NETENIN GENS, nineteen shillings. NEETEWIF I : ENS, fifteen shillings. NEETEXIS, or netexis gens, sixteen shillings. NETNEVIS GENS, seventeen sbillii. NET-TJ 1 EG GE N S, eighteen shillings. NEETRITH GENS, thirteen shillings. NEETROUF GEXS, fourteen shillings. NET-GEN, ten shillings, or half a sovereign. NET-YENEPS, tenpence. NEVELE GENS, eleven BhfflingB. NEVELE YENEPS, elevenpence, — generall) T leven* tenets. NEVIS GENS, seven shillings. NEVIS STRETCH, seven years' transportation, or imprisonment. — See stretch, in the Slang Dictionary. NEVIS YENEPS, sevenpence. NIRE, rain. NIG, gin. NI-OG OT TAKRAM, going to market. NITRAPH, a farthing. NOL, long. NOOM, the moon. NOS-RAP, a parson. OCCABOT, tobacco; " tib of occabot," bit of tobacco. ON, no. ON DOOG, no good. OWT GENS, two shillings. OWT YENEPS, twopence. PAC, a cap. PINURT POTS, turnip tops. POT, top. RAPE, a pear. REEB, beer. REV-LIS, silver. GLOSSARY OF THE BACK SLANG. 283 ROUF-EFIL, for life, — sentence of punishment. ROUF-GENS, four shillings. ROUF-YENEPS, fourpence. RUTAT, or rattat, a " tatur," or potato. SAY, yes. SEE-O, shoes. SELOPAS, apples. SHIF, fish. SIR-ETCH, cherries. SITH-NOM, a month. SLAOC, coals. SLOP, a policeman. — See under this term in the Dictionary of Slang and Cant Words. SNEERG, greens. SOUSH, a house. SPISTSRAP, parsnips. SRES-WORT, trousers. STARPS, sprats. STOOB, boots. STORRAC, carrots, STUN", nuts. STUNLAWS, walnuta, SWRET-SIO, oysters. TACH, a hat. TAF, or taffy, fat. THEG, or teaich gens, eight shillings. TEAICH-GUY, eight shillings, — a slight deviation from the numerical arrangement of GENS. TEXIP, a pint. THEG YENEPS, eightpence. TIB, a bit, or piece. TOAC, or tog, a coat. Tog is the Old Cant term.— See the Dictionary of Slang, &c. TOAC-TISAW, a waistcoat. TOL, lot, stock, or share. TOP 0' REEB, a pot of beer. TOP-YOB, a pot-boy. TORRAC, a carrot. TRACK, (or TRAG,) a quart. TROSSEISTO, literally, " one sort," but the costermongers use it to imply anything that is bad. 284 GLOSSARY OF THE BACK SLANG. WAR-BAB, a barrow. WEDGE, a Jew. YAD, a day; tads, days. YADNAB, brandy. YENEP, a penny. YENEP-A-TIME, penny each time, — term in betting. YEXEP-FLATCH, three halfpence, — all the halfpence and pennies con- tinue in the same sequence. YAP-POO, pay up. YEKXOD, or jerk-nod, a donkey. YENORK, a YOB, a boy. ZEB. best SOME ACCOUNT THE RHYMING SLANG, THE SECEET LANGUAGE OF CHAUNTERS AND PATTERERS. These exists in London a singular tribe of men, known amongst the " fraternity of vagabonds" as chaunters and patterers. Both classes are great talkers. The first sing or chaunt through the public thoroughfares ballads — political and humorous — carols, dying speeches, and the various other kinds of gallows and street literature. The second deliver street orations on grease-removing compounds, plating powders, high -polishing blacking, and the thousand-and-one wonderful pennyworths that are retailed to gaping mobs from a London kerb-stone. They are quite a distinct tribe from the costermongers ; indeed, amongst tramps, they term themselves the " harristocrats of the streets," and boast that they live by their intellects. Like the costermongers, however, they have a secret tongue or Cant speech known only to each other. This Cant, which has nothing to do with that spoken by the costermongers, is known in Seven Dials and elsewhere as the Rhyming- Slang, or the substitution of words and sentences which rhyme with other words intended to be kept secret. The chaunter's Cant, therefore, partakes of his call- ing, and he transforms and uses up into a rough speech the various odds and ends of old songs, ballads, and street nick-names, which are found suitable to his purpose. Unlike nearly all other systems of Cant, the Rhyming Slang is not founded upon alle- 286 THE ORIGIN OF THE RHYMING SLANG. gory; unless we except a few rude similes, thus — i'm afloat is the Rhyming Cant for " boat," sorrowful tale is equivalent to " three months in jail," artful dodger signifies a " lodger," and a snake in the grass stands for a "looking-glass" — a meaning that would delight a fat Chinaman, or a collector of Oriental proverbs. But, as in the case of the costers' speech and the old gipsy- 1 Cant, the chaunters and patterers so interlard this "Rhyming Slang" with their general remarks, while their ordinary language is so smothered and subdued, that, unless when they are professionally engaged, and talking of their wans, they might almost pass for foreigners. From the inquiries I have made of various patterers and "paper-workers," I learn that the Rhyming Slang was introduced about twelve or fifteen years ago.* Numbering this class of ora- torical and bawling wanderers at twenty thousand, scattered over Great Britain, including London and the large provincial towns, we thus see the number of English vagabonds who converse in rhyme and talk poetry, although their habitations and mode of life constitute a very unpleasant Arcadia. These nomadic poets, like the other talkers of Cant or secret languages, are stamped with the vagabond's mark, and are continually on the move. The married men mostly have lodgings in London, and come and go as occasion may require. A few never quit London streets, but the greater number tramp to all the large provincial fairs, and prefer the monkery (country) to town life. Some transact their business in a systematic way, sending a post-office order to the Seven Dials printer, for a fresh supply of ballads or penny books, or to the swag shop, as the case may be, for trinkets and gewgaws, to be sent on by rail to a given town by the time they shall arrive there. When any dreadful murder, colliery explosion, or frightful rail- way accident has happened in a country district, three or four chaunters are generally on the spot in a day or two after the * This was written in 1858. PATTEPERS AND CHEAP JACKS. 287 occurrence, vending and bawling "A True and Faithful Account" &c, which "true and faithful account" was concocted purely in the imaginations of the successors of Catnach and Tommy Pitts * behind the counters of their printing shops in Seven Dials. And but few fairs are held in any part of England without the patterer being punctually at his post, with his nostrums, or real gold rings, (with the story of the wager laid by the gentleman — see FAWNEY-BOUNCING, in the Dictionary,) or save- alls for candle- sticks, or paste which, when applied to the strop, makes the dullest razor keen enough to hack broom handles and sticks, and after that to have quite enough sharpness left for splitting hairs, or shaving them off the back of one of the hands of a clodhopper, looking on in amazement. And cheap johx, too, with his coarse jokes, and no end of six-bladed knives, and pocket-books, con- taining information for everybody, with pockets to hold money, and a pencil to "write with into the bargain, and a van stuffed with the cheap productions of Sheffield and " Brummagem," — he, too, is a patterer of the highest order, and visits fairs, and can hold a conversation in the Rhyming Slang. Such is a rough description of the men who speak this jargon ; and simple and ridiculous as the vulgar scheme of a Rhyming Slang may appear, it must always be regarded as a curious fact in linguistic history. In order that the reader's patience may not be too much taxed, only a selection of rhyming words has been given in the Glossary, — and these for the most part, as in the case of the Back Slang, are the terms of every-day life, as used by this order of tramps and hucksters. It must not be supposed, however, that the chaunter or patterer confines himself entirely to this Slang when conveying secret in- telligence. On the contrary, although he speaks not a " leash of languages," yet is he master of the beggars' Cant, and is thoroughly u up" in street Slang. The following letter, written by a chaunter * The famous printers and publishers of sheet songs and last dying speeches thirty years ago. 2 S3 CURIOUS LETTER FROM A CHAUNTER. to a gentleman who took an interest in his welfare, will shew his capabilities in this line : — Dear Friend,* Excuse the liberty, since i saw you last i have not earned a thickun, we have had such a Dowry of Parny that it completely Stumped or Coopered Drory the Bossman's Patter therefore i am broke up and not having another friend but you i wish to know if you would lend me the price of 2 Gross of Tops, Dies, or Croaks, which is 7 shillings, of the above-men- worthy and Sarah Chesham the Essex Burick for the ■ are both to bo topped at Springfield Stura- ban on Tuesday next, i hope you will oblige me if you can for it will be the means of putting a Quid or a .lames in my Clye. i will ''all at your I - mday Evening next for an answer, for i want a Speel on the Drum as soon as possible, hoping you and the family are All Squi I remain Your obedient Servant, The numerous allusions in the Glossary to well-known places in London, shew that this rude speech was mainly concocted in the metropolis. The police have made themselves partially ac- quainted with the Back Slang, but they are still profoundly ignorant of the Rhyming Slang. * The writer, a street eha inter of ballads and last dying speeches, alludes in his le ; ter to two celebrated criminals — Thos. Drory, the murderer of Jael Denny, and S:irah Chesham, who poisoned her husband, accounts of whose trials and "horrid deeds" he had been selling. I give a glossary of the Cant words : — ThicJcun, a cvown-piece. Dowry if Parny, a lot of rain. Stumped, bankrupt, Coopered, spoilt. Boss man, a farmer. %* Drory was a farmer. ratter, trial Tops, last dying speeches. Dies. 16. Croaks, ib. Burick, a woman. Topped, hung. >n, a prison. Qu id. a sovereign. James, ib. Clye. a pocket. Carser, a house or residence. Speel on the Drum, to be off to the country. All Square, all right, or quite GLOSSARY OF THE RHYMING SLANG. ABRAHAM'S WILLING, a shilling. ALACOMPAIN, rain. ALL AFLOAT, a coat. ANY RACKET, a penny faggot. APPLES AND PEARS, stairs. ARTFUL DODGER, a lodger. ARTICHOKE RIPE, smoke a pipe. BABY PAPS, caps. BARNET FAIR, hair. BATTLE OF THE NILE, a tile— vulgar term for a hat. BEN FLAKE, a steak. BILLY BUTTON, mutton. BIRCH BROOM, a room. BIRD-LIME, time. BOB, MY PAL, a gal, — vulgar pronunciation of girl. BONNETS SO BLUE, Irish stew. BOTTLE OF SPRUCE, a deuce,— Slang for twopence, BOWL THE HOOP, soup. BRIAN O'LINN, gin. BROWN BESS, yes— the affirmative. BROWN JOE, no— the negative. BULL AND COW, a row. BUSHY PARK, a lark. BUTTER FLAP, a cap. CAIN AND ABEL, a table. CAMDEN TOWN, a brown,— vulgar term for a halfpenny. CASTLE RAG, a flag, — Cant term for fourpence. CAT AND MOUSE, a house. CHALK FARM, the arm. CHARING CROSS, a horse. CHARLEY LANCASTER, a handkercher, — vulgar pronunciation ot handkerchief. CHARLEY PRESCOTT, waistcoat. CHERRY RIPE, a pipe. CHEVY CHASE, the face. CHUMP (or chunk) OF WOOD, no good. COW AND CALF, to laugh. T 29O GLOSSARY OF THE RHYMING SLANG. COVENT GARDEN", a farden,— Cockney pronunciation of farthing. COWS AND KISSES, mistres3 or missus — referring to the ladies. CURRANTS AND PLUMS, thrums,— Slang for threepence. DAISY RECROOTS, (so spelt by my informant of Seven Dials; he means, doubtless, recruits,) a pair of boots DAN TUCKER, butter. DING DONG, a song. DRY LAND, you understand. DUKE OF YORK, take a walk. EAST AND SOUTH, the mouth. EAT A FIG, to " crack a crib," to break into a house, or commit a bur- glary. EGYPTIAN HALL, a ball ELEPHANT'S TRUNK, drunk. EPSOM RACES, a pair of bxacea EVERTON TOFFEE, coffee. FANNY BLAIR, the hair. FILLET OF VEAL, the treadwheel, house of correction. FINGER AND THUMB, rum. FLAG UNFURLED, a man of the world. FLEA AND LOUSE, a bad house. FLOUNDER AND DAB, (two kinds of flat fish,) a cab. FLY MY KITE, a light. FROG AND TOAD, the main road. GARDEN GATE, a magistrate. GERMAN FLUTES, a pair of boots. GIRL AND BOY, a saveloy, — a penny sausage. GLORIOUS SINNER, a dinner. GODDESS DIANA, (pronounced dianer,) a tanner, — sixpence. GOOSEBERRY PUDDING, {vulgo pcddl.v,) a woman. HANG BLUFF, snuff. HOD OF MORTAR, a pot of porter. HOUNSLOW HEATH, teeth. I DESIRE, a fire. I "M AFLOAT, a boat. ISLE OF FRANCE, a dance. ISABELLER, (vulgar pronunciation of Isabella,) an umbrella. I SUPPOSE, the nose. JACK DAXDY, brandy. JACK RANDALL, (a noted pugilist,) a candle. JENNY' LINDER, a winder, — vulgar pronunciation of window. GLOSSARY OF THE RHYMING SLANG. 29 1 JOE SAVAGE, a cabbage. LATH AND PLASTER, a master LEAN" AND LURCH, a church. LEAN AND FAT, a hat. LINENDRAPER, paper. LIVE EELS, fields. LOAD OF HAY, a day. LONG ACRE, a baker. LONG ACRE, a newspaper. — See the preceding. LORD JOHN RUSSELL, a bustle. LORD LOVEL, a shovel. LUMP OF COKE, a bloak,— vulgar term for a man. LUMP OF LEAD, the head. MACARONI, a pony. MAIDS A DAWNING, (I suppose my informant means maids adorning,) the morning. MAIDSTONE JAILOR, a tailor. MINCE PIES, the eyes. MOTHER AND DARTER, (daughter,) water. MUFFIN BAKER, a Quaker, — an unlawful sir -reverence. NAVIGATORS, taturs, — vulgar pronunciation of potatoes NAVIGATOR SCOT, baked potatoes all hot. NEEDLE AND THREAD, bread. NEVER FEAR, a pint of beer. NIGHT AND DAY, go to the play. NOSE AND CHIN, a winn, — ancient Cant for a penny. NOSE-MY, backy, — vulgar pronunciation of tobacco. OATS AND BARLEY, Charley. OATS AND CHAFF, a footpath. . ORINOKO, (pronounced orinoker,) a poker. OVER THE STILE, sent for trial. PADDY QUICK, thick; or, a stick. PEN AND INK, a stink. PITCH AND FILL, Bill,— vulgar shortening for William, PLATE OF MEAT, a street. PLOUGH THE DEEP, to go to sleep. PUDDINGS AND PIES, the eyes. READ OF TRIPE, (?) transported for life. READ AND WRITE, to fight. READ AND WRITE, flight.— See preceding. 292 GLOSSARY OF THE RHYMING SLANG. RIVER LEA, tea. ROGUE AND VILLAIN", a shillin, — common pronunciation of stilling. RORY O'MORE, the floor. ROUND THE HOUSES, trouses— vulgar pronunciation of trousers. SALMON TROUT, the mouth. SCOTCH PEG, a leg. SHIP IN FULL SAIL, a pot of ale. SIR WALTER SCOTT, a pot,— of beer SLOOP OF WAR, a whore. SNAKE IN THE GRASS, a looking-glass. SORROWFUL TALE, three months in jail. SPLIT ASUNDER, a costermonger. SPLIT PEA, tea. SPORT AND WIN, Jim. STEAM PACKET, a jacket. ST MARTINS LE-GRAND, the hand. STOP THIEF, beef. SUGAR AND HONEY, money. SUGAR-CANDY, brandy. TAKE A J RIGHT, night. THREE-QUARTERS OF A PECK, the neck,— in writing, expressed "by the simple '':,." THROW ME IN THE DIRT, a shirt. TOMMY O'RANN, scran,— vulgar term for food. TOM TRIPE, a pipe. TOM RIGHT, night, TOP JINT, (vulgar pronunciation of joint,) a pint, — of beer. TOP OF ROME, home. TURTLE DOVES, a pair of gloves. TWO-FOOT RULE, a fool. WIND DO TWIRL, a fine girL THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR LANGUAGE; OK, A LIST OF THE BOOKS WHICH HAVE BEEN" CONSULTED IN COMPILING THIS WORK, COMPRISING NEARLY EVERY KNOWN TREATISE UPON THE SUBJECT. Slang has a literary history, the same as authorised language. More than one hundred works have treated upon the subject in one form or other, — a few devoting but a chapter, whilst many have given up their entire pages to expounding its history and use. Old Haraian, a worthy man, who interested himself in suppressing and exposing vagabondism in the days of good Queen Bess, was the first to write upon the subject. Decker followed fifty years afterwards, but helped himself, evidently, to his predecessor's labours. Shakspeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, Ben Jonson, and Brome, each employed beggars' Cant as part of the machinery of their plays. Then came Head (who wrote The English Rogue, in 1680) with a glossary of Cant words "used by the Gipsies." But it was only a reprint of what Decker had given sixty years before. About this time authorised dictionaries began to insert vulgar words, labelling them " Cant." The Jack Sheppards and Dick Turpins of the early and middle part of the last century made Cant popular, and many small works were published upon the subject. But it was Grose, burly, facetious Grose, who, in the year 1785, collected the scattered glossaries of Cant and secret words, and formed one large work, adding to it all the vulgar words and Slang terms used in his own day. I am aware that the indelicacy and extreme vulgarity of the work 294 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG AND CANT. renders it a disgrace to its compiler, still we must admit that it is by far the most important work which has ever appeared on street or popular language ; indeed, from its pages every succeed- ing work has, up to the present time, drawn its contents. The great fault of Grose's book consists in the author not contenting himself with Slang and Cant terms, but inserting every "smutty" and offensive word that could be raked out of the gutters of the streets. However, Harman and Grose are, after all, the only authors who have as yet treated the subject in an original manner, or have written on it from personal inquiry. AINSWORTH'S (William Harrison) Novels and Ballads. London, v. d. Some of this author's novels, such as Roolicnnd and Jack Skeppard, abound in Cant words, placed in the mouths of the The author's balladn feepeciauy "Nix my dully, pals, f^ke away "J have long been popul ix ANDREWS' (George) Dictionary of the Slang and Cant Languages, An- cient and Modern, i London, 1 809. A sixpenny pamphlet, with a coloured frontispiece representing a beggar's carnival. A NEW DICTIONARY OF THE JAUNTING CREW, i2mo. H. d. Mentioned by John Bee in the Introduction to his Sportsman's Slang Dic- tiOuai*y. ASH'S (John, LL.D.) New and Complete Dictionary of the English Lan- guage, 2 vols. Svo. 1775. Contains a great number of Cant words and phrases. BACCHUS AND VENUS ; or, A Select Collection of near Two Hundred of the most Witty and Diverting Song3 and Catches in Love and Gallantly, with Song3 in the Canting Dialect, with a Dictionary, explaining all Burlesque and Canting Terms, i2mo. 1738. Prefixed is a curious woodcut frontispiece of a Boozing-Ken. This work is scarce, and much prized by collectors. The Canting Dictionary appeared before, about 1710, with the initials B. E. on the title. It also came out afterwards, in the year 1751, under the title of the Scoundrel's Dictionary, — a mere reprint of the two former impressions. BAILEY'S (Nath.) Etymological English Dictionary, 2 vols. 8vo. 1737. Contains a great many Cant and Vulgar words ;— indeed, Bailey does not appear to ha~e been very particular what words he inserted, so long as they were actually in use. A Collection of Ancient and Modern Cant Words appears as an appendix to vol. ii. of this edition, (tLird.) BANG-UP DICTIONARY ; or, The Lounger and Sportsman's Yade Mecum, containing a copious and correct Glossary of the Language of the BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG AND CANT. 295 Whips, illustrated by a great variety of original and curious Anec- dotes, Svo. 18 1 2. A vulgar performance, consisting of pilferings from Grose, and made-up words with meanings of a degraded character. BARTLETT'S Dictionary of Americanisms ; a Glossary of "Words and Phrases colloquially used in the United States, Svo. New York, 1 859 It is a curio\is fact connected with Slang that a great number of vulgar words common in England are equally common in the United States ; and when we remember that America began to people two centuries ago, and that these colloquialisms must have crossed the sea with the first emigrants, we can form some idea of the antiquity of popular or street language. Many words, owing to the caprices of fashion or society, have wholly disappeared in the parent country, whilst in the colonies they are 3 T et heard. The words skink, to serve drink in company, and the old term Miching or m kecking, skulking or playing truant, for instance, are still in use in the United States, although nearly, if not quite, obsolete here. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER'S Comedy of The Beggars Bush, 4to, 1661, or any edition. Contains numerous Cant words. BEE'S (Jon.) Dictionary of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, the Pit, the Bon Ton, and the Varieties of Life, forming the completest and most authentic Lexicon Balatronicum hitherto offered to the notice of the Sporting World, by John Bee, [i.e., John Badcock,] Esq., Editor of the Fancy, Fancy Gazette, Living Picture of London, and the like of that, l2mo. 1823. This author published books on Stable Economy under the name of Hinds. He was the sporting rival of Pierce Egan. Professor Wilson, in an amus- ing article in Blackwood's Magazine, reviewed this work. BEE'S (Jon.) Living Picture of London for 1828, and Stranger's Guide through the Streets of the Metropolis ; shewing the Frauds, the Arts, Snares, and Wiles of all descriptions of Rogues that everywhere abound, l2mo. 1828. Professes to be a guide to society, high and low, in London, and to give an insight into the language of the streets. BEE'S (Jon.) Sportsman's Slang; a New Dictionary of Terms used in the Affairs of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, and the Cockpit; with those of Bon Ton and the Varieties of Life, forming a Lexicon Balatronicum et Macaronicum, N\S (William) Description of the Island of Britain, (prefixed to Jlulinshi.d'.- ■ Chr ■ folio. I577. Contains an account < ihonds. HAZLITT'S (William) Table Talk, 1211m, (vol. ii. contains a chapter on Familiar Style, with ;i not in- ms.) v. d. HEAD'S (Richard) English Rogue, described in the Life of Meriton Latroon, a Witty Extravagant, 4 vols. i2mo. From, h'irlman, 1671-S0. 1st of Cant words, evidently copied from Decker. HELL UPON EARTH, or the most pleasant and delectable History of Whittington's Colledge, otherwise vulgarly called Newgate, i2mo. I703- HENLEY'S (John, better known as orator HENLEY) Various Sermons and Orations. I 7 1 9~53- Contains numerous vulgarisms and Slang phrases. [HITCHING'S (Charles, form- rly City Marshal, now a Prisoner in Newgate)"] Discovery of the Thieves, Thief-Takers, and Locks, - in and about the City of London, also an Account of all the flash WORDS now in vo'jue amongst the 1 dr., 8vO., VERY BABE, With a curious U 1718. A violent attack upon Jonathan Wild. HOUSEHOLD WORDS, No. 1S3, September 24. Gives an interesting but badly-digested article on Slang ; many of I amples arc v. 1 JOHNSON'S (Dr Samuel) Dictionary, (the earlier editions.) v. D. Contains a great number of -words italicised as Ca,d, low, or barbarous. JONSON'S (Ben.) Bartholomew Fair, ii., 6. Sever.d Cant words are placed in the mouths of the characters. JONSON'S (Ben.) Masque of the Gipsies Metamorphosed, 4to. 16 — . Contains numerous Cant words. KENT'S (E.) Modern Flash Dictionary, containing all the Cant Words, g Terms, and Flash Phrases now in Vogue, iSmo, coloured frontis- 1825. L'ESTRANGE'S (Sir Roger) Works, (principally translations.) V. D. Abound in vulgar and Slang phrases. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG AND CANT. 30 1 LEXICON Balatronicum ; a Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence, by a Member of the Whip Club, assisted by Hell-fire Dick, 8 vo. 181 1. One of the many reprints of Groses second edition, put forth under a fresh, and what was then considered a more attractive title. It was given out in advertisements, &c, as a piece of puff, that it was edited by a Dr H. Clarke, but it contains scarcely a line more than Grose. LIBER VAGATORUM: Der Betler Orden, 4to. Recently translated: The Book of Vagabonds and Beggars, (Liber Vagatorum : Der Betler Orden,) with a vocabulary of their Language, {Rotwelsche SpracJij) edited, with preface, by Martin Luther, in the year 1528. Now first Translated into English, with Notes, by John Camden Hotten ; 4to, icith woodcuts. i§59- The first edition of this book appears to have been printed at Augsburg, by Erhard Oglin, or Ocellus, about 1514, — a small quarto of twelve leaves. It was frequently reprinted at other places in Germany; and in 1528 there appeared an edition at "Wirtemberg, with a preface by Martin Luther, who says that the " Rotwelsche Sprach," the Cant language of the beg- gars, comes from the Jews, as it contains many Hebrew words, as any one who understands that language may perceive. This book is divided into three parts, or sections ; the first gives a special account of the several orders of the " Fraternity of Vagabonds ; " the second, sundry "notabilia" relating to the different classes of beggars previously described ; and the third consists of a " Rotwelsche Vocabulary," or "Cantine Dictionary." There is a long notice of the "Liber Vagatorum " in the " Wiemarisches Jahrbuch," iote, Band, 1856. Mayhew, in his London Labour, states that many of our Cant words are derived from the Jew fences. It is singular that a similar statement should have been made by Martin Luther more than three centuries before. LIFE IN ST GEORGE'S FIELDS; or, The Rambles and Adventures of Disconsolate William, Esq., and his Surrey Friend, Flash Dick, with Songs and a flash dictionary, 8vo. 182 i. MAGINN (Dr.,) wrote Slang Songs in Blackwood's Magazine. 1827. MAYHEW' S (Henry) London Labour and the London Poor, 4 vols. 1S51-61. An invaluable work to the inquirer into popular or street language. MAYHEW'S (Henry) Great World of London, 8vo. 1S57. An unfinished work, but containing several examples of the use and applica- tion of Cant and Slang words. MIDDLETON (Thomas) and DECKER'S (Thomas) Roaring Girl ; or Moll Cut Purse, 4to. 161 1. The conver.-ation in one scene is entirely in the so-called Pedlar's French. It is given in Dodsley's Old Plays. MODERN FLASH DICTIONARY, 4Smo. 1825. The smallest Slang Dictionary ever printed; intended for the waistcoat- pockets of the " bloous" of the Prince Regent's time. MONCRIEFF'S Tom and Jerry, or Life in London, a Farce in Three Acts, l2mo. 1S20. An excellent exponent of the false and forced " high life " which was so popu- lar during the minority of George IV. The f irce had a run of a hundred nights, or more, and was a general favourite for years. It abounds in Cant, and the language of " gig," as it was then often termed. 302 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG AND CANT. MORNINGS AT BOW STREET, by T. Wright, i2mo, with Illustra- tions by George Cruikshank. Tegg, 1838. In this work a few etymologies of Slang words are attempted.! NEW CANTING DICTIONARY, i2mo. f. d. A copy of this work is described in Rodd's Catalogue of Elegant Literature, 1845, part iv., No. 2i2S, with manuscript notes and additions in the autograph of Isaac Reed, price £1, 8s. NEW DICTIONARY of the Terms, Ancient and Modern, of the Canting Crew in its several tribes of Gypsies, Beggars, Thieves, Cheats, &c, with an addition of some Proverbs, Phrases, Figurative Speeches, bbers of both Sexes, and the best Methods to pre- vent their Villanies : to which is added an Explanation of most of the Cant terms in the Thieving Language, 8vo, pp. 46. 1786. TOM CRIB'S Memorial to Congress, with a Preface, Notes, and Appendix by one of the Fancy [Tom Moore, the poet,] i2mo. 1819. A humorous poem, abounding in Shm^ and pugdistic terms, with a burlesque :i the classic or;gin of Slang. VACABONDES, the Fraternatye of, as well of ruflyng Vacabones, as of beggerly, of Women as of Men, of Gyrles as of Boyes, with their pro- per Names and Qualities, with a Description of the Crafty Company of Cousoners and Shifters, also the XXV. Orders of Knaves ; other- wise called a Quartern of Knaves, confirmed by Cocke Lorell, Svo. Imprinted at London by John Auxhley, dwellyngin little BHtayne streete without Aldcrsnate. 1 575- It is stated in Ames' T»pn?j. Anti*)., vol. ii., p 8S5, that an edition bearing the date 1365 is in existence, and that the compiler was no other than old John Audley, the printer, himself. This conjecture, however, is very doubtful. As stated by Watt, it is more than probable that it was w ten by Harmau, or was taken from his works, in MS. or print. YAUX'S (Count, de, a swindler and pickpocket) Life, written by h 2 vols., l2mo, to which is added a Canting Dictionary. These Memoirs were suppressed on account of the scandalous passages co. tained in them. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG AND CANT. 305 WEBSTER'S (Noah) Letter to the Hon. John Pickering, on the Subject of his Vocabulary, or Collection of Words and Phrases supposed to be peculiar to the United States, 8vo, pp. 69. Boston, 181 7. WILD (Jonathan) — History of the Lives and Actions of Jonathan Wild, Thieftaker, Joseph Blake, alias Blueskin, Footpad, and John Shep- pard, Housebreaker ; together with a Canting Dictionary by Jona- than Wild, woodcuts, i2mo. 1750. WILSOX (Professor) contributed various Slang pieces to Blackwood's Magazine; including a Review of Bee's Dictionary. WITHERSPOON'S (Dr of America) Essays on Americanisms, Perversions of Language in the United States, Cant phrases, &c, Svo., in the 4th vol. of his Works. Philadelphia, 1801. The earliest work on American vulgarisms. Originally published as a series of Essays, entitled the Druid, which appeared in a periodical in 1761. THE END. JOHN CAMDEN HOTTEN, PRINTER, PICCADILLY, LONDON. WW- A