THE SLANG DICTIONARY. (continued 3)

Dimber-damber, very pretty; a clever rogue who excels his fellows; chief of a gang. Old Cant in the latter sense.

Dimmock, money; “how are you off for DIMMOCK?” diminutive of DIME, a small foreign silver coin, in the United States 10 cents.

Dinarly, money; “NANTEE DINARLY,” I have no money, corrupted from the Lingua Franca, “NIENTE DINARO,” not a penny. Turkish, DINARI; Spanish, DINERO; Latin, DENARIUS.

Dine out, to go without dinner. “I DINED OUT to-day,” would express the same among the very lower classes that “dining with Duke Humphrey” expresses among the middle and upper.

Ding, to strike; to throw away, or get rid of anything; to pass to a confederate by throwing. Old, used in old plays.

Dingy, a small boat. Generally the smallest boat carried by a ship. The g in this is pronounced hard.

Dipped, mortgaged.

Dirt, TO EAT, an expression derived from the East, nearly the same as “to eat humble (Umble) pie,” to put up with a mortification or insult.

Dirty Half-hundred, a nickname given to the 50th Regiment on account of their tattered and soiled appearance during the Peninsular War. A term to be proud of, as it implies much work and little reward.

Disguised, intoxicated. A very old term is that of “DISGUISED in drink.”

Dish, to stop, to do away with, to suppress; DISHED, done for, floored, beaten, or silenced. To “do brown” and to “DISH,” both verbs with very similar meanings, have an evident connexion so far as origin is concerned, and most likely were both first used in the kitchen as synonymous with “done for.” The late Lord Derby made the word “DISH” famous by his latest public act, that of “DISHING the Whigs.”

Dithers, nervous or cold shiverings; “it gave me the DITHERS.”

Dittoes, A SUIT OF, coat, waistcoat, and trousers of the same material.—Tailor’s term.

Ditty-bag, the bag or huswife in which sailors keep needles, thread, buttons, &c., for mending their clothes.

Diver, a pickpocket. Also applied to fingers, no doubt from a similar reason. To DIVE is to pick pockets.

Do, this useful and industrious verb has for many years done service as a slang term. To DO a person is to cheat him. Sometimes another tense is employed, such as “I DONE him,” meaning, I cheated or “paid him out;” this is only used in the lowest grades of society. Done brown, cheated thoroughly, befooled; DONE OVER, upset, cheated, knocked down, ruined. Among thieves DONE OVER means that a man’s pockets have been all quietly searched; the term also means among low people seduced; DONE UP, used up, finished, or quieted. Done also means convicted, or sentenced; so does DONE-FOR. To DO a person in pugilism is to beat him. Humphreys, who fought Mendoza, a Jew, wrote this laconic note to his supporter—“I have DONE the Jew, and am in good health.—Rich. Humphreys.” Tourists use the expression, “I have DONE France and Italy,” meaning I have been through those countries.

Dobie, an Indian washerman; and though women wash clothes in this country, Anglo-Indians speak of a washerwoman as a DOBIE.

Doctor, to adulterate or drug liquor; to poison, to hocus; also to falsify accounts. A publican who sells bad liquors is said to keep the DOCTOR in his cellars. On board ship the cook is always termed “the DOCTOR.”—See COOK.

Doddy, a term applied in Norfolk to any person of low stature. Sometimes HODMANDOD and “HODDY-DODDY, all head and no body.” Dodman in the same dialect denotes a garden snail.

Dodge, a cunning trick. “Dodge, that homely but expressive phrase.”—Sir Hugh Cairns on the Reform Bill, 2nd March, 1859. Anglo-Saxon, DEOGIAN, to colour, to conceal. The TIDY DODGE, as it is called by street-folk, consists in dressing up a family clean and tidy, and parading in the streets to excite compassion and obtain alms.

Dodger, a dram. In Kent, a DODGER signifies a nightcap; which name is often given to the last dram at night.

Dodger, a tricky person, or one who, to use the popular phrase, “knows too much.” Also one who knows all phases of London life, and profits by such knowledge.

Dogberry, a foolish constable.—Shakspeare.

Dog cheap, or DOG-FOOLISH, very or singularly cheap, or foolish. Latham, in his English Language, says:—“This has nothing to do with dogs. The first syllable is god=good, transposed, and the second, the ch‑‑p, is chapman, merchant: compare EASTCHEAP.”—Old term.

Doggery, nonsense, transparent attempts to cheat.

Dog gone, a form of mild swearing used by boys.

Dog in a blanket, a kind of pudding, made of preserved fruit spread on thin dough, and then rolled up and boiled. This pudding is also called “rolly-polly” and “stocking.”

Dog in the manger, a scurvy, ill-conditioned, selfish fellow. From the fable of that title.

Dog Latin, barbarous Latin, such as was formerly used by lawyers in their pleadings. Now applied to medical Latin.

Dogs, TO GO TO THE, to be commercially or socially ruined. Originally a stable term applied to old or worthless horses, sold to feed hounds.

Dog’s body, a kind of pease pudding.—Sea.

Dog’s ears, the curled corners of the leaves of books, which have been carelessly treated. The use of this term is so common that it is hardly to be considered slang.

Dog’s nose, gin and beer, so called from the mixture being cold, like a dog’s nose.

Dog stealer, a DOG DEALER. There is sometimes less difference between the two trades than between “d” and “st.”

Doing time, working out a sentence in prison. “He’s done time,” is a slang phrase used in reference to a man who is known to have been in gaol.

Doldrums, difficulties, low spirits, dumps.—Sea.

Dollop, a lump or portion.—Norfolk. Anglo-Saxon, DALE, dole.

Dollop, to dole up, to give up a share.—Ibid.

Dolly, a very mild gambling contrivance, generally used in sweetmeat and other child’s-ware shops, until stopped by the authorities a few years back, and consisting of a round board and the figure of an old man or “DOLLY,” down which was a spiral hole. A marble dropped “down the DOLLY,” would stop in one of the small holes or pits (numbered) on the board. The bet was decided according as the marble stopped on a high or low figure. See DOLLY-SHOP.

Dollymop, a tawdrily-dressed maid-servant, a semi-professional street-walker.

Dolly shop, an illegal pawnshop,—where goods, or stolen property, not good enough for the pawnbroker, are received, and charged at so much per day. If not redeemed the third day the goods are forfeited. Originally these shops were rag shops as well, and were represented by the black doll, the usual sign of a rag shop. Twenty years ago, a DOLLY SHOP was, among boys, a small sweetstuff and fruit shop where a hollow wooden figure, of the kind described above, was kept. A wager was made, and the customer got double quantity for his money, or nothing. A paternal legislature, and a police system worthy of the task, have long since wiped this blot from a nation’s face. The amount at stake was generally a halfpenny, sometimes less.

Dominie, a parson, or master at a grammar school.

Domino, a common ejaculation of soldiers and sailors when they receive the last lash of a flogging. The allusion may be understood from the game of dominoes. A DOMINO means either a blow, or the last of a series of things, whether pleasant or otherwise, so the ejaculation savours somewhat of wit.

Dominoes, the teeth.

Don, a clever fellow, the opposite of a muff; a person of distinction in his line or walk. At the English Universities, the Masters and Fellows are the DONS. Don is also used as an adjective, “a DON hand at a knife and fork,” i.e., a first-rate feeder at a dinner-table.

Dona and feeles, a woman and children. Italian or Lingua Franca, DONNE E FIGLIE. The word DONA is usually pronounced DONER.

Done! the expression used when a bet is accepted. To be DONE, is to be considerably worsted.—See also DO.

Done up, an equivalent expression to “dead beat.”

Donkey, “tuppence 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 amount was first paid up, and “tuppence more” was generally the sum demanded.

Donkey, in printers’ slang, means a compositor. In the days before steam machinery was invented, the men who worked at press—the pressmen—were so dirty and drunken a body that they earned the name of pigs. In revenge, and for no reason that can be discovered, they christened the compositors DONKEYS.

Don Pedro, a game at cards. It is a compound of All Fours, and the Irish game variously termed All Fives, Five and Ten, Fifteen, Forty-five, &c. It was probably invented by the mixed English and Irish rabble who fought in Portugal in 1832-3.

Dookin, fortune-telling. Gipsy, DUKKERIN.

Dose, three months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Doss, a bed. Probably from DOZE, though quite as likely from DORSE, the back. Least likely of all, as any one who knows aught about the surrounding circumstances of those who use the term will admit, is it from the Norman, DOSSEL, a hanging or bed canopy, from which some have professed to derive it.

Doss, to sleep, formerly spelt DORSE. Gael., DOSAL, slumber. In the old pugilistic days a man knocked down, or out of time, was said to be “sent to DORSE,” but whether because he was senseless, or because he lay on his back, is not known, though most likely the latter.

Dossing-ken, a lodging-house.

Dot and go one, a lame or limping man.

Do the high, to walk up and down High Street on Sunday evenings, especially just after Church.—Oxford University.

Double, “to tip (or give) the DOUBLE,” to run away from any person; to double back, turn short round upon one’s pursuers, and so escape, as a hare does.—Sporting.

Double cross, a CROSS in which a man who has engaged to lose breaks his engagement, and “goes straight” at the last moment. This proceeding is called “doubling” or “putting the double on,” and is often productive of much excitement in athletic circles.—See CROSS.

Double lines, ship casualties. So called at Lloyd’s from the manner of entering in books kept for the purpose.

Double-shuffle, a low, shuffling, noisy dance, common amongst costermongers. Sometimes called “cellar flap,” from its being danced by the impecunious on the cellar-flaps of public-houses, outside which they must perforce remain.

Doublet, a spurious diamond, made up of two smaller stones for pawning or duffing purposes. These articles are cleverly manufactured and excellently set, and a practised eye can alone detect the imposition.—See Moskeneer.

Double up, to pair off, or “chum” with another man; to beat severely, so as to leave the sufferer “all of a heap.”

Doughy, a sufficiently obvious nickname for a baker.

Douse, to put out; “DOUSE that glim,” put out that candle. In Norfolk this expression is DOUT, which is clearly for DO OUT. Sometimes DOUSE means to rinse; and sometimes to throw water, clean or dirty, over any one, is to “DOUSE it.”

Dovercourt, a noisy assemblage; “all talkers and no hearers, like Dovercourt.” At Dovercourt, in Essex, a court is annually held; and as the members principally consist of rude fishermen, the irregularity noticed in the proverbial saying frequently prevails. Bramston in his Art of Politics says:—

This would seem to be more properly applied to a Court of Dover people, a Dover Court, not a Dovercourt Court.

Dove-tart, a pigeon pie. A snake tart is an eel pie.

Dowd, a woman’s nightcap.—Devonshire: also an American term; possibly from DOWDY, a slatternly woman.

Dowlas, a linendraper. Dowlas is a sort of towelling.

Down, to be aware of, or awake to, any move—in this meaning, exchangeable with UP; “DOWN upon one’s luck,” unfortunate; “DOWN in the mouth,” disconsolate; “to be DOWN on one,” to treat him harshly or suspiciously, to pounce upon him, or detect his tricks.

Downer, a sixpence; apparently the Gipsy word, TAWNO, “little one,” in course of metamorphosis into the more usual “tanner.”

Downs, Tothill Fields’ Prison.

Down the road, stylish, showy, after the fashion.

Down to the ground, an American rendering of the word entirely; as, “that suits me DOWN TO THE GROUND.”

Downy, knowing or cunning; “a DOWNY COVE,” a knowing or experienced sharper. Literally, a DOWNY person is one who is “DOWN to every move on the board.” In Norfolk, however, it means low-spirited, i.e., DOWN in the mouth.

Dowry, a lot, a great deal; “DOWRY of parny,” lot of rain or water.—See PARNY. Probably from the Gipsy.

Dowsers, men who profess to tell fortunes, and who, by the use of the divining rod, pretend to be able to discover treasure-trove.—Cornish.

Doxy, the female companion of a tramp or beggar. In the West of England, the women frequently call their little girls DOXIES, in a familiar or endearing sense. Orthodoxy has been described as being a man’s own DOXY, and heterodoxy another man’s DOXY.—Ancient Cant.

Drab, a vulgar or low woman.—Shakspeare.

Drab, poison.—Romany.

Draft on Aldgate Pump, an old mercantile phrase for a fictitious banknote or fraudulent bill.

Drag, a cart of any kind, term generally used to denote any particularly well-appointed turnout, drawn by a pair or four horses, especially at race meetings.

Drag, feminine attire worn by men. A recent notorious impersonation case led to the publication of the word in that sense.

Drag, a street, or road; BACK-DRAG, back street.

Drag, or THREE MOON, three months in prison.

Drag, THE, a favourite pursuit with fast-hunting sets; as, THE DRAG can be trailed over very stiff country.

Dragging, robbing carts, &c., by means of a light trap which follows behind laden vehicles. Cabs are sometimes eased of trunks in this way, though it is hard to say whether with or without the complicity of the cabmen.

Dragging time, the evening of a country fair day, when the young fellows begin pulling the wenches about.

Draggletail, a dirty, dissipated woman; a prostitute of the lowest class.

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.” In America to “DRAW on a man” is to produce knife or pistol, and to use it as well. Where lethal weapons are used in the States, no man raises his weapon till he means to use it, and a celebrated American writer has recently given a dissertation on the relative advantages of cocking and firing a pistol by an almost simultaneous action as it is raised, and of cocking as the instrument is raised, and of then dropping the muzzle slightly as the trigger is pulled. The former way is more speedy, the latter more effective. “Come, DRAW it mild!” i.e., don’t exaggerate; 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 window at a very low price, with a view of drawing in customers to purchase other and inferior articles at high prices. These gentry have fortunately found to their cost, on one or two occasions, by means of magisterial decisions, that DRAW-BOYS have drawn for their owners something other than profit.

Drawers, formerly the ancient cant name for very long stockings.

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.”

Draw the long bow, to tell extravagant stories, to exaggerate overmuch; same as “throw the hatchet.” From the extremely wonderful stories which used to be told of the Norman archers, and more subsequently of Indians’ skill with the tomahawk.

Dress a hat, TO, to rob in a manner very difficult of detection. The business is managed by two or more servants or shopmen of different employers, exchanging their master’s goods; as, for instance, a shoemaker’s shopman 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 potboy, in full expectation of their visit, has the tap-room fire bright and clear, and not only cooks the steak, but again, by means of collusion, this time with the barman or barmaid, “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 communistic operation is styled DRESSING A HAT. Most likely from the fact that a hat receives the attention of three or four people before it is properly fit for wear.

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. A man snoring hard is said to be “DRIVING his pigs to market.”

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 purport of which is not very evident.

Driz, lace. In a low lodging-house this singular autograph inscription appeared over the mantelpiece. “Scotch Mary, with DRIZ [lace], bound to Dover and back, please God.” It is a common thing for ignorant or superstitious people to make some mark or sign before going on a journey, and then to wonder whether it will be there when they return.

Driz-fencer, a person who sells lace.

Drop, “to DROP an acquaintance,” to relinquish a connexion, is very polite slang. Dropping is distinguished from cutting by being done gradually and almost imperceptibly, whereas cutting has outward and visible signs which may be unpleasantly resented. To “DROP money” at any form of speculation or gambling, is to lose it.

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 DROP into a person,” to give him a thrashing. See SLIP and WALK. “To DROP on a man,” to accuse or rebuke him suddenly.

Drop it, synonymous with “cut it” or “cheese it.” Probably from the signal given in the good old hanging days by the culprit, who used generally to drop a handkerchief when he was ready for the cart to be moved from under him.

Drum, a house, a lodging, a street; HAZARD-DRUM, a gambling-house; FLASH-DRUM, a house of ill-fame.

Drum, the ear.—Pugilistic. An example of slang synecdoche.

Drum, as applied to the road, is doubtless from the Wallachian gipsy word “DRUMRI,” derived from the Greek, δρόμος.

Drum, old slang for a ball or rout; afterwards called a hop.

Drummer, a robber who first makes his victims insensible by drugs or violence, and then plunders them.

Drumsticks, legs; DRUMSTICK CASES, trousers. The leg of a fowl is generally called a DRUMSTICK.

Dryasdust, an antiquary. From Scott.

Dry lodging, sleeping and sitting accommodation only, without board. This is lodging-house keepers’ slang, and is generally used in reference to rooms let to lodgers who take their meals at their clubs, or in the City, according to their social positions.

Dry nurse, when an inferior officer on board ship carries on the duty, on account of the captain’s ignorance of seamanship, the junior officer is said to DRY-NURSE his captain. Majors and adjutants in the army also not unfrequently DRY-NURSE the colonels of their regiments in a similar manner. The sergeant who coaches very young officers, is called a “wet nurse.” The abolition of purchase has, however, considerably modified all this.

D.T., a popular abbreviation of delirium tremens; sometimes written and pronounced del. trem. D.T. also often represents the Daily Telegraph.

Dub, to pay or give; “DUB UP,” pay up.

Dubash, a general agent.—Anglo-Indian.

Dubber, the mouth or tongue; “mum your DUBBER,” hold your tongue.

Dubsman, or SCREW, a turnkey.—Old Cant.

Ducats, money.—Theatrical Slang.

Duck, a bundle of bits of the “stickings” of beef sold for food to the London poor.—See FAGGOT.

Ducket, a ticket of any kind. Generally applied to pawnbroker’s duplicates and raffle cards. Probably from DOCKET.

Ducks, trousers. Sea term. The expression most in use on land is “white DUCKS,” i.e., white pantaloons or trousers.

Ducks and Drakes, “to make DUCKS AND DRAKES of one’s money,” to throw it away childishly—derived from children “shying” flat stones on the surface of a pool, which they call DUCKS AND DRAKES, according to the number of skips they make.

Dudder, or DUDSMAN, a person who formerly travelled the country as a pedlar, selling gown-pieces, silk waistcoats, &c., to countrymen. In selling a waistcoat-piece, which cost him perhaps five shillings, for thirty shillings or two pounds, he would show great fear of the revenue officer, and beg the purchasing clodhopper to kneel down in a puddle of water, crook his arm, and swear that it might never become straight if he told an exciseman, or even his own wife. The term and practice are nearly obsolete. In Liverpool, however, and at the East-end of London, men dressed up as sailors, with pretended silk handkerchiefs and cigars “only just smuggled from the Indies,” are still to be plentifully found.

Dudeen, or DUDHEEN, a short tobacco-pipe. Common term in Ireland and the Irish quarters of London.

Duds, clothes, or personal property. Gaelic, DUD; Ancient Cant; also Dutch.

Duff, to cheat, to sell spurious goods, often under pretence of their being stolen or smuggled.

Duff, pudding; vulgar pronunciation of dough.—Sea.

Duffer, a hawker of “Brummagem” or sham jewellery, or of shams of any kind, a fool, a worthless person. 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.

Duffer, anything of no merit. A term applied by artists to a picture below mediocrity, and by dealers in jewellery to any spurious article. It is now general in its application to a worthless fellow.

Duffing, false, counterfeit, worthless.

Duffy, a term for a ghost or spirit among the West Indian negroes. In all probability the DAVY JONES of sailors, and a contraction thereof originally.

Duke, gin, a term amongst livery servants.

Duke Humphrey. “To dine with Duke Humphrey” is a euphuism for dining not at all. Many reasons have been given for the saying, and the one most worthy of credence is this:—Some visitors were inspecting the abbey where the remains of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester lie, and one of them was unfortunately shut in, and remained there solus while his companions were feasting at a neighbouring hostelry. He was afterwards said to have dined with Duke Humphrey, and the saying eventually passed into a proverb.

Dukes, or DOOKS, the hands, originally modification of the rhyming slang, “Duke of Yorks,” forks = fingers, hands—a long way round, but quite true. The word is in very common use among low folk. “Put up your DOOKS” is a kind invitation to fight.

Dukey, or DOOKEY, a penny gaff, which see.

Dumbfound, to perplex, to beat soundly till not able to speak. Originally a cant word. Johnson cites the Spectator for the earliest use. Scotch, DUMBFOUNDER.

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. Chandlers’ shop keepers and small general dealers use dummies largely, half-tubs of butter, bladders of lard, hams, cheeses, &c., being specially manufactured for them. Dummies in libraries generally take the form of “Hume and Smollett’s History of England” and other works not likely to tempt the general reader.

Dummy, a deaf-and-dumb person; a clumsy, awkward fellow; any one unusually thick-witted.

Dummy, in three-handed whist the person who holds two hands plays DUMMY.

Dummy, a pocket-book. In this word the derivation is obvious, being connected with DUMB, i.e., that which makes no sound. As a thieves’ term for a pocket-book, it is peculiarly applicable, for the contents of pocket-books, bank-notes and papers, make no noise, while the money in a purse may betray its presence by chinking.

Dump fencer, a man who sells buttons.

Dumpish, sullen or gloomy.

Dumpy, short and stout.

Dun, to solicit payment.—Old Cant, from the French DONNEZ, give; or from Joe Din, or Dun, a famous bailiff; or simply a corruption of DIN, from the Anglo-Saxon DUNAN, to clamour.

Dunderhead, a blockhead.

Dundreary, an empty swell.

Dung, an operative who works for an employer who does not give full or “society” wages.

Dungaree, low, common, coarse, vulgar.—Anglo-Indian. Dungaree is the name of a disreputable suburb of Bombay, and also of a coarse blue cloth worn by sailors.

Dunkhorned, sneaking, shabby. Dunkhorn 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, baggage, clothes. Also, a sea term for wood or loose faggots laid at the bottom of ships, upon which is placed the cargo.

Dunnyken, originally Dannaken, a watercloset.—From DANNA and KEN, which see.

Durrynacking, offering lace or any other article as an introduction to fortune-telling; generally practised by women.

Dust, money; “down with the DUST,” put down the money.—Ancient. Dean Swift once took for his text, “He who giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord.” His sermon was short. “Now, my brethren,” said he, “if you are satisfied with the security, down with the DUST.”

Dust, a disturbance, or noise, “to raise a DUST,” to make a row.

Dust, to beat; “DUST one’s jacket,” i.e., give him a beating.

Dust-hole, Sidney Sussex College at Cambridge.—Univ. Slang.

Dust-hole, the Queen’s Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, was so called until comparatively recently, when it was entirely renovated and renamed, and now, as the Prince of Wales’s, it is one of the most fortunate and fashionable theatres in London.

Dustoorie, commission, douceur, bribe.—Anglo-Indian.

Dusty, a phrase used in answering a question where one expects approbation. “What do you think of this?” “Well, it’s not so DUSTY,” i.e., not so bad; sometimes varied to “none so DUSTY.”

Dutch, or Double Dutch, gibberish, or any foreign tongue. “To talk Double Dutch backwards on a Sunday” is a humorous locution for extraordinary linguistic facility.

Dutch auction, a method of selling goods, adopted by “CHEAP JOHNS,” to evade the penalties for selling without a licence. The article is offered all round at a high price, which is then dropped until it is taken. Dutch auctions need not be illegitimate transactions, and their economy (as likewise that of puffing) will be found minutely explained in Sugden (Lord St. Leonards) “On Vendors and Purchasers.”

Dutch concert, where each performer plays a different tune. Sometimes called a Dutch medley when vocal efforts only are used.

Dutch consolation, “thank God it is no worse.” “It might have been worse,” said a man whom the devil was carrying to hell. “How?” asked a neighbour. “Well, he’s carrying me—he might have made me carry him.”

Dutch courage, false courage, generally excited by drink—pot-valour.

Dutch feast, where the host gets drunk before his guest.

Dutch uncle, a personage often introduced in conversation, but exceedingly difficult to describe; “I’ll talk to him like a Dutch uncle!” conveys the notion of anything but a desirable relation.

Earl of Cork, the ace of diamonds.—Hibernicism.

“‘What do you mean by the Earl of Cork?’ asked Mr. Squander. ‘The ace of diamonds, your honour. It’s the worst ace, and the poorest card in the pack, and is called the Earl of Cork, because he’s the poorest nobleman in Ireland.’”—Carleton’s Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry.

Early, “to get up EARLY,” to prepare for a difficult task. “You’ll have to get up very EARLY in the morning to beat that.” Early rising and ability seem also closely connected by certain modifications of this expression. Possibly the belief is that a man who rises early for early rising’s sake deserves to be clever. Perhaps the greatest enjoyment a day labourer—whose work commences at six in the winter mornings, and who may have to rise at half-past four and trudge off—can have, is a “quiet snooze” after the usual time of rising. The early rising in “the steel” is the chief terror of that institution in the minds of habitual criminals.

Earwig, a clergyman, also one who prompts another maliciously and privately.

Earwigging, a private conversation; a rebuke in private; an attempt to defame another unfairly, and without chance of appeal; a WIGGING is more public.

Ease, to rob; “EASING a bloke,” robbing a man.

Eat his head off. A horse who is kept idle in the stable is said to EAT HIS HEAD OFF. Of late the phrase has been applied to servants who have little to do but constantly “dip their noses in the manger.”

Eavesdropper, a listener. The name is derived from the punishment which, according to Oliver, was directed in the Lectures, at the revival of Masonry in 1717, to be inflicted on a detected Cowan [g. v.], and which was

“To be placed 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.

Efter, a thief who frequents theatres.

Egg, or EGG ON, to excite, stimulate, or provoke one person to quarrel with another, &c. From the Anglo-Saxon eggian; or possibly a corruption of EDGE, or EDGE ON, or even from agere, to drive.—Ancient.

Egg-flip, or EGG-HOT, a drink made after the manner of purl and bishop, with beer, eggs, and spirits made hot and sweetened.

Elbow, “to shake one’s ELBOW,” to play with dice; “to crook one’s ELBOW,” to drink.

Elbow grease, labour, or industry. Anything that is rusty, or in household work dirty or dingy, is said to require ELBOW GREASE.

Elegant extracts, a Cambridge University title for those students who having failed only slightly in some one subject, and being “plucked” accordingly, were allowed their degrees. This applied 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 “down to the last new trick;” to be knowing, and not “green,” &c. Possibly a metaphor taken from the travelling menageries, where the ELEPHANT is the finale of the exhibition.—Originally an Americanism. Bartlett gives conflicting examples. General now, however. A modification of this is “having seen the king.” When a man becomes aware that he has been cheated or imposed on, and does not mean to stand it any longer, he is said to have seen the king, i.e., to have seen his adversary’s best card, and to be prepared for it.

Elevated, intoxicated. Elevation is the name of a drug-mixture much used in the fen-counties for keeping up the spirits and preventing ague. It consists mainly of opium.

Enemy, time, a clock, the ruthless enemy and tell-tale of idleness and of mankind generally; “what says the ENEMY?” i.e., how goes the time?

Essex lion, a calf. A calf is probably the only lively animal to be seen in a journey through Essex.

Essex stile, a ditch. A jocular allusion to the peculiarities of the “low county.”

Evaporate, to go, or run away.

Everlasting shoes, the feet. The barefooted children about the Seven Dials, and other low quarters of London, are said to wear EVERLASTING SHOES and stockings. Another expression in connexion with this want is, “the shoes and stockings their mothers gave them.”

Everlasting staircase, the treadmill. Sometimes, but very rarely now called “Colonel Chesterton’s EVERLASTING STAIRCASE,” from the gallant inventor or improver. Also known as “the STEPPER.”

Exasperate, to over-aspirate the letter H, or to aspirate it whenever it commences a word, as is commonly done by under-educated people who wish to show off their breeding. Exasperation does not refer to an omission of the aspirate.

Exes, expenses. “Just enough to clear our exes.”

Extensive, frequently applied in a slang sense to a person’s appearance or talk; “rather EXTENSIVE that!” intimating that the person alluded to is showing off, or “cutting it fat.”

Extracted, placed on the list of “ELEGANT EXTRACTS.”—Camb. Univ.

Eye teeth, supposed evidences of sharpness. A man is said to have, or have not, cut his EYE TEETH, according to possession or want of shrewdness.

Eye water, gin. Term principally used by printers.

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. “He’s got some FACE,” i.e., he has got lots of impudence.

Face entry, the entrée to a theatre. From the FACE being known, as distinguished from free-list entry.

Facer, a blow on the face. In Ireland, a dram.

Facer, a tumbler of whisky-punch. Possibly from the suffusion of blood to the face caused by it.

Fad, a hobby, a favourite pursuit.

Fadge, a farthing.

Fadge, a flat loaf.—North.

Fadge, to suit or fit; “it wont FADGE,” it will not do. Used by Shakspeare, but now heard only in the streets.

Fadger, a glazier’s frame. Otherwise called a “frail,” perhaps in reference to the fragile nature of its contents.

Fag, a schoolboy who performs a servant’s offices to a superior schoolmate. From FAG, to become weary or tired out. Low German, FAKK, wearied.

Fag, to beat.

Faggot, a bundle of bits of the “stickings” (hence probably its name) sold for food to the London poor. It is sometimes called a duck. In appearance it resembles a Scotch “haggis,” without, however, being nearly so good as that fragrant article. Probably the FAG-END of a thing, the inferior or remaining part, the refuse.

Faggot, a term of opprobrium used by low people to children and women; “you little FAGGOT, you!” Faggot was originally a term of contempt for a dry shrivelled old woman, whose bones were like a bundle of sticks, only fit to burn.—Compare the French expression for a heretic, sentir le fagot.

Faggot briefs, bundles of worthless papers tied up with red tape, carried by unemployed barristers in the back rows of the courts to simulate briefs.

Faggot vote, a phrase which belongs to the slang of politics, and which was applied to a class of votes, by no means extinct even now, though not so common as in the days preceding the first Reform Bill, when constituencies were smaller, and individual votes were consequently more valuable. Faggot votes were thus created:—A large landowner who was blessed with, say, seven sons and seven brothers, and had also on his estate fourteen labourers’ cottages worth about a shilling a week each, would go through the form of sale of one cottage to each son and each brother, it being perfectly understood that the title-deeds would be returned when the occasion for their use was at an end. And thus the squire would command fifteen votes instead of one. In a famous election for the West Riding of Yorkshire during the third decade of the present century, which cost upwards of half a million sterling, and ruined the successful candidate, it was said that six hundred FAGGOT VOTES were created by three noble lords. The origin of the term has been variously explained. One ingenious writer has suggested that as a FAGGOT may be split into a bundle of sticks, so was one estate thus split into a bundle of votes. It is, however, more reasonable to suppose that it was derived from the old word “FAGGOT,” which was used to describe a “nominal soldier,” one, that is, whose name appeared on the muster-roll, and for whom the colonel drew pay, but who was never to be found in the ranks. The connexion is evident enough.

Fake, in the sporting world, means to hocus or poison. Fake is also a mixture supposed to be used for purposes of “making safe.”

Fake, to cheat, or swindle; to do anything; to go on, or continue; to make or construct; to steal or rob,—a verb variously used. Faked, done, or done for; “FAKE away, there’s no down;” go on, there is nobody looking. From the Latin FACERE.

Fakement, a false begging petition, any act of robbery, swindling, or deception. Fakement is a word of most general application among the lower classes. Any things strange, and most things not strange, are called FAKEMENTS, particularly if there is anything peculiar or artistic in their production.

Fakement Charley, the owner’s private mark. Faker, is one who makes or FAKES anything. To “fake a cly,” is to pick a pocket.

Fal-lals, trumpery ornaments, gewgaws. Forby suggests as a derivation the Latin PHALERÆ, horse trappings.

Fambles, or FAMMS, the hands.—Ancient Cant. German, FANGEN.

Family men, or PEOPLE, thieves, or burglars.

Fan, a waistcoat.—Houndsditch term.

Fancy, the favourite sports, pets, or pastime of a person, the ton of low life. Pugilists are sometimes termed the FANCY. Shakspeare uses the word in the sense of a favourite or pet; and the paramour of a prostitute is still called her FANCY MAN.

Fancy bloak, a fancy or sporting man.

Fanning, a beating. Fanning is also stealing; CROSS-FANNING is stealing with the arms crossed so as to distract attention, as in stealing breast-pins, &c.

Fanqui, a European, literally foreign devil.—Anglo-Chinese.

Fantail, a dustman’s or coalheaver’s hat. So called from the shape.

Farm, to contract, after the manner of those who engage to feed and lodge children belonging to the parish, at so much a head; a fruitful cause of starvation and misery. See Oliver Twist. The baby farmings, unconnected with the parishes in which they occurred, which ultimately resulted in the trial and execution of Margaret Waters, on the 11th October, 1870, have caused the word FARM as applied to any dealings with children, parish or private, to be one of obloquy and reproach.

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 or clodpole. Both senses are different from the proper meaning.

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 synonym 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 horseflesh. 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 once said that “fast,” when applied to a young man, was only another word for loose, as he understood the term; and a fast girl has been defined as a woman who has lost her respect for men, and for whom men have lost their respect.

Fast, embarrassed, wanting money, tied up. Sometimes synonymous with “hard up.”—Yorkshire.

Fast and loose, to play FAST AND LOOSE with a man, is to treat him as a fast friend in the days while he is useful, and to cast him loose when he is no longer necessary; also, to equivocate or vacillate. In old days it was the name of a vulgar pastime. See PRICK THE GARTER.

Fat, a printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as for full or unbroken pages. Occasionally called “grease,” and applied variously, but always as showing some undue or uncommon amount of advantage.

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.

Father, or FENCE, a buyer of stolen property.

Favourite, the horse that has the lowest odds laid against it in the betting list. When the FAVOURITE wins, the public or backers of horses generally are the gainers. When an outsider wins, the ring, that is to say, the persons who make a business of laying against the chances of horses, are the gainers.

Fawney, a finger ring. Irish, FAINEE, a ring.

Fawney bouncing, selling rings for a pretended wager. This practice is founded upon the old tale of a gentleman laying a wager that if he were to offer “real gold sovereigns” at a penny a-piece at the foot of London Bridge, the English public would be too incredulous to buy. The story states that the gentleman stationed himself with sovereigns on a tea-tray, and sold only two within the hour, thus winning the bet. This tale the FAWNEY BOUNCERS tell the public, only offering brass, double-gilt rings, instead of sovereigns.

Fawney rig, the ring-dropping trick. A few years ago this practice was very common. A fellow purposely dropped a ring, or a pocket-book with some little articles of jewellery, &c., in it, and when he 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 decided. The sharper 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. For another way of doing this trick, see RING-DROPPING.

Feathers, money, wealth; “in full FEATHER,” rich. Feathers is also a term applied to dress; “in full FEATHER,” means very often in full costume. It also means, at times, in high spirits.

Feed, a meal, generally a dinner. Originally stable slang, now pretty general.

Feele, a daughter, or child.—Corrupted French.

Fellow-commoner, uncomplimentary epithet used at Cambridge for an empty bottle.

Felt, a hat.—Old term, in use in the sixteenth century.

Fence, a purchaser or receiver of stolen goods; also, the shop or warehouse of a FENCER.—Old Cant.

Fen-nightingales, toads and frogs, from their continued croaking at night.

Feringee, a European—that is, a Frank.—Anglo-Indian.

Ferricadouzer, a knock-down blow, a good thrashing. Probably derived, through the Lingua Franca, from the Italian, “far’ cader’ douser,” to knock down. “Far’ cader’ morto,” is to knock down dead.

Few, used to signify the reverse, thus:—“Don’t you call this considerably jolly?” “I believe you, my bo-o-oy, A FEW.” Sometimes the reply is, “just a FEW.” Another expression of the same kind is RATHER, which see.

Fib, to beat or strike.—Old Cant.

Fib, to lie, to romance.

Fibbing, a series of blows delivered quickly, and at a short distance.—Pugilistic.

Fiddle, a sharper, “a street mugger.” In America, a swindle or an imposture.

Fiddle, “to play second FIDDLE,” to act subordinately, or follow the lead of another. From the orchestral practice.

Fiddle-face, a person with a wizened countenance.

Fiddle-faddle, twaddle, or trifling discourse.—Old Cant.

Fiddler, a sharper, a cheat; also a careless, negligent, or dilatory person. On board some ocean steamers the FIDDLER is the capstan-house, the only place on board where passengers are permitted to smoke. The term FIDDLER is easily traceable to the fact that, while the seamen are working the capstan-bars, a man sometimes plays on the fiddle to cheer them at their toil.

Fiddler, a sixpence. Fiddler’s money is small money; generally from the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence.

Fiddler, or FADGE, a farthing.

Fiddlers’ green, the place where sailors expect to go when they die. It is a place of fiddling, dancing, rum, and tobacco, and is undoubtedly the “Land of Cocaigne,” mentioned in mediæval manuscripts. A story is told of a drunken sailor who heard a street preacher threatening all listeners with eternal damnation, and who went up and asked where he (the sailor) was going after death. “To hell, of course,” replied the preacher. “No, you lubberly son of a sea-cook!” shouted the seaman, knocking the itinerant down; “I’m going to FIDDLER’S GREEN; and if you say I’m not, I’ll throttle you.” Under compulsion, the preacher admitted the existence of FIDDLER’S GREEN, pro tempore.

Fiddles, transverse pieces of wood used on shipboard to protect the dishes at table during stormy weather. Swing tables obviate the use of FIDDLES.

Fiddle-sticks! an exclamation signifying nonsense. Sometimes “Fiddle-de-dee.”

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 gambling.

Fid-fad, a game similar to chequers, or drafts, played in the West of England.

Field, the whole of the runners in a race of any kind. “A FIELD of fourteen runners was placed in care of the starter.” In betting phraseology the FIELD represents the bulk of the horses, as opposed to the favourite. “The FIELD for a pony,” means that the offerer will lay 25l. against the favourite, preferring the chances of a winner turning up amongst the others. “Ten to one on the FIELD,” means that the price named can be obtained about any horse in the race, that being the lowest figure or favourite’s price. Laying against favourites is called FIELDING, and bookmakers are often known as FIELDERS.

Field, “to look out,” at cricket. In the outings of an eleven the FIELDERS are those who stand away from the wickets with a view to checking the progress of the ball. Fielding is a great essential to cricket, and to be “a good FIELD” is no slight honour. Also to lay against favourites in the betting.

Field-lane duck, a baked sheep’s head. Field Lane was 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. Holborn Viaduct improved all but a small portion of Field Lane off the face of the earth. There is but the smallest vestige of this famous (or infamous) thoroughfare left. The neighbourhood has received an upheaval within the past few years, and from one end the pedestrian must descend to the remains of Field Lane by means of a flight of steps.

Fieri-facias. A red-faced man is often jocularly said to have been served with a writ of FIERI-FACIAS.

Fi-fa, a writ of Fieri-Facias.—Legal.

Fi-fi, 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 dress assumed by our first parents after they were naked and not ashamed, or else an abbreviation 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. The FIG is a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse’s tail for the purpose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price.

Figaro, a barber; from Le Nozze di Figaro.

Fig-leaf, a small apron worn by ladies.

Figure, “to cut a good or bad FIGURE,” to make 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 Decker. It was considered a cant or gipsy term up to the beginning of the last century. Harman has “FYLCHE, to robbe.” Probably from “FILICHI,” Romany for a handkerchief.

File, a deep or artful man, a jocose name for a cunning person. Originally a term for a pickpocket, when to FILE was to cheat or rob. File, an artful man, was used in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. To deal with an artful man is sometimes said to be like biting a FILE.

Filibuster, an American adventurer, who, if successful, helps to extend the boundaries of the United States, becomes a General, and receives high honours, but who remains a FILIBUSTER, and is despised as such, if he fails. The Texan, Nicaraguan, and kindred expeditions were of a FILIBUSTERING order.

Fillibrush, to flatter, praise ironically.

Fimble-famble, a lame, prevaricating excuse.—Scandinavian.

Fin, a hand; “come, tip us your FIN,” viz., let us shake hands.—Sea.

Finder, one who FINDS bacon and meat at the market before they are lost, i.e., steals them.

Finnuf, a five-pound note. Double finnuf, a ten-pound note.—German, FUNF, five.

Fire-eater, a quarrelsome man, a braggadocio or turbulent person who is always ready to fight.

Firkytoodle, to cuddle or fondle.

First flight, the first lot to finish in a foot or horse race, in a fox hunt, &c.

Fish, a person; “a queer FISH,” “a loose FISH.” Term never used except in doubtful cases, as those quoted.

Fishfag, originally a Billingsgate fishwife; now any scolding, vixenish, foul-mouthed woman.

Fishy, doubtful, unsound, rotten; used to denote a suspicion of a “screw being loose,” or “something rotten in the state of Denmark,” in referring to any proposed speculation.

Fit, an Americanism denoting the preterite of the verb to fight. A Yankee once came upon the words nihil fit, and he immediately wrote off to the editor of the paper to which he subscribed to know “Who was Nihil, who he fit, what amount he fit for, and if he won.”

Five fingers, the five of trumps, at the game of Five-cards, or Don.

Fives, “bunch of FIVES,” the fist.

Fix, a predicament, or dilemma; “an awful FIX,” a terrible position; “to FIX one’s flint for him,” i.e., to “settle his hash,” to “put a spoke in his wheel.”

Fixings, an Americanism, equivalent to our word “trimmings,” which see.

Fiz, champagne; any sparkling wine.

Fizzing, first-rate, very good, excellent; synonymous with “stunning.”

Flabbergast, or Flabberghast, to astonish, or strike with wonder; literally, to strike aghast.—Old.

Flag, a groat, or 4d.—Ancient Cant.

Flag, an apron. People who wear their aprons when not at work, are called “flag-flashers.”

Flag of distress, any overt sign of poverty; the end of a person’s shirt when it protrudes through his trousers.

Flam, nonsense, blarney, a lie, humbug. “A regular FLAM,” a tale devoid of truth.

Flame, a sweetheart.

Flannel, or HOT FLANNEL, the old term for gin and beer, drunk hot, with nutmeg, sugar, &c.; a play on the old name “lambswool.” Also called “flip.” There is an anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart of FLANNEL in a night-house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter, and a demure, grave-looking gentleman, who continually introduced the words “crap,” “stretch,” “scrag,” and “swing.” Upon the Doctor asking who this strange person might be, and being told his profession, he rushed from the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I been sitting all this while with a hangman!”

Flap, lead used for the coverings of roofs.

Flapper, or FLIPPER, the hand.

Flare up, a jovial social gathering, a “breakdown,” a “row.”

Flash, showy, smart, knowing; a word with various meanings. A person is said to be dressed FLASH when his garb is showy, and after a fashion, but without taste. A person is said to be FLASH when he apes the appearance or manners of his betters, or when he is trying to be superior to his friends and relations. Flash also means “fast,” roguish, and sometimes infers counterfeit or deceptive—and this, perhaps, is its general signification. As it is used by those who best understand it nowadays, the word means that which is not what it appears to be—anything spurious, as jewellery and shoddy clothes. “Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classical language of the Holy Land; in other words, St. Giles’s Greek.”—Tom and Jerry, by Moncreiff. Vulgar language was first termed FLASH in the year 1718, by Hitchin, author of “The Regulator of Thieves, &c., with account of flash words.” “Flash” is sometimes exchangeable with “fancy.”

Flash it, show it—said when any bargain is offered.

Flash o’ lightning, the gold band on an officer’s cap.—Sea. Also in street slang, a glass of gin.

Flat, a fool, a silly or “soft” person; the opposite of “sharp.” The terms appear to be shortenings for “sharp-witted” and “flat-witted.” Or, maybe, from musical notes.

Flat-feet, the battalion companies in the Foot Guards.

Flats, playing cards; sometimes called “broads.” Also the storeys of large houses, built on the “independent” principle, each flat having its separate and peculiar offices, street-door, &c.

Flatty, a rustic, or uninitiated person.

Flatty-ken, a public-house the landlord of which is ignorant of the practices of the thieves and tramps who frequent it.

Flay the fox, to vomit. Now replaced by the more popular “shoot the cat.”

Flemish account.—Old. Still used by sailors for a tangled and unsatisfactory account or reckoning.

Flesh and blood, brandy and port in equal quantities.

Flesh bag, a shirt. American humourists call a white shirt a “clean biled rag.” In the mining camps, and rough parts generally, a white shirt is called a “biled shirt” to distinguish it from the usual woollen garment, which cannot be boiled.

Flick, or OLD FLICK, a comical old chap or fellow. Term of endearment among low people.

Flick, or FLIG, to whip by striking, and drawing the lash back at the same time, which causes a stinging blow. A flicking is often administered by schoolboys with a damp towel or pocket-handkerchief.

Flies, trickery, nonsense. “There are no FLIES about me, sir.” Softening of lies.

Flim-flamn, idle story.—Beaumont and Fletcher.

Flimp, to hustle, or rob.

Flimsy, a bank-note. Bank of Elegance notes are sometimes called soft flimsies. In this particular case two good terms make a bad one, as both “soft” and “flimsies” used separately refer to good notes.

Flimsy, the thin prepared copying-paper used by newspaper reporters and “penny-a-liners” for making several copies at once, which enables them to supply different papers with the same article without loss of time.

Flint, an operative who works for a “society” master, i.e., for full wages.

Flip, corruption of FILLIP, a light blow. Also a hot drink. See FLANNEL.

Flip-flap, 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. Also, a kind of somersault, in which the performer throws himself over on his hands and feet alternately.

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.

Floating academy, the hulks.

Flog, to whip. Cited both by Grose and the author of Bacchus and Venus as a cant word. Many efforts have been made to ascertain the earliest use; Richardson cites Lord Chesterfield. From Flagellum. “Flawged,” for whipped, occurs in “The Presbyterian Lash, or Nockhoff’s Maid Whipt,” published in 1663. Nockhoff was the anagram for the name of the Rev. Zachary Crofton, who had scandalized the town by subjecting his servant-maid to the discipline of the nursery. There is a good story on the proper orthography of the convertible term for castigation related in a newspaper of 1841. A county magistrate, who had sentenced a boy to be birched, wrote in his warrant that the boy was to be “floged.” The scrupulous gaoler hesitated to inflict the punishment, and sent back the warrant to the justice for amendment, who thereupon drew his pen through “floged,” and ordered the boy to be “wiped.”

Flogger, a whip.—Almost obsolete. Flogger is still the term applied to a number of strips of cloth attached to a handle, and used in theatrical painting rooms to beat off the dust of the charcoal used in sketching a scene.

Flogster, one addicted to flogging. William IV., who was accused of unduly and excessively punishing the sailors whom he commanded when in the navy, was nicknamed in the newspapers “Prince William Henry Flogster.”

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 contradistinction to “skyed,” which see.

Floorer, a blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down, or bring him to the floor. Often used in reference to sudden and unpleasant news.

Flop, to plump; “to go FLOP down,” to fall suddenly, with violence and noise.

Flowery, lodging, or house entertainment; “square the omee for the FLOWERY,” pay the master for the lodging.—Lingua Franca.

Flue-faker, a chimney-sweep.

Fluff it, a term of disapprobation, implying “take it away, I don’t want it.”

Fluff, railway ticket clerks’ slang for short change given by them. The profits thus accruing are called “fluffings,” and the practice is known as “fluffing.”

Fluke, at billiards, playing for one thing and getting another. Hence, generally what one gets accidentally, as an unexpected advantage, “more by luck than judgment.”

Flummery, flattery, gammon, genteel nonsense. In American ships a peculiar kind of light sweet pudding.

Flummux, to perplex or hinder.

Flummuxed, 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 vagabonds that it is unsafe for them to call there, is known as , or FLUMMUXED, which signifies that the only thing they would be likely to get upon applying for relief would be a “month in quod.”—See QUOD.

Flunkey, a footman or other man-servant.

Flunkeyism, blind worship of rank, birth, or riches, or of all three; toadyism.

Flush, the opposite of “hard up,” in possession of money, not poverty-stricken.—Shakspeare.

Flush, to whip; “FLUSHED on the horse,” to be privately whipped in gaol; to deluge with water, as in “FLUSHING the sewers;” to come upon suddenly and completely,—“I came FLUSH upon him.”

Flush, a term in cribbage, signifying a hand of cards composed entirely of one suit.

Flutter, to try hard in defence or pursuit of an object. “I’ll have a FLUTTER for it,” means I’ll have a good try for it. Also to toss for anything. Probably from the spinning of the coin.

Fly, knowing, wide-awake, fully understanding another’s meaning.

Fly, TO BE ON THE, to be out for a day’s drink or pleasure.

Fly, to lift, toss, or raise; “FLY the mags,” i.e., toss up the halfpence; “to FLY a window,” i.e., to lift one for the purpose of stealing.

Fly-boys, men employed to clear the printed copies from the Hoe machines, on which daily papers are “worked.” So called to distinguish them from the “machine boys,” a superior grade of labourers who “lay on” the sheets.

Flying mare, a throw in wrestling.

Flying mess, “to be in FLYING MESS” is a soldier’s phrase for being hungry and having to mess where he can.

Flying stationer, a paper-worker, hawker of penny ballads; “Printed for the Flying Stationers” is the imprimatur on hundreds of penny histories and sheet songs of the last and present centuries.

Flymy, knowing, cunning, roguish.—Seven Dials and Low Life.

Fly the kite, or RAISE THE WIND, to obtain money on bills, whether good or bad, probably in allusion to tossing paper about as children do kites.

Fly the kite, to evacuate from a window,—term used in padding-kens, or low lodging-houses.

Fobbed, old slang for robbed. From FOB, the ancient breeches-pocket for the watch.

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 fougueux, fierce or fiery, but it has lost this signification now.

Fogger, old word for a huckster.

Fogger, a farm servant who feeds cattle. Probably a corruption of fodderer.

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, 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.

Follow-me-lads, curls hanging over a lady’s shoulder.

Foont, a sovereign, or 20s. Probably a corruption of vingt.

Footing, “to pay FOOTING.” See SHOE.

Forakers, the closet of decency, or house of office. Term used by the boys at Winchester School. Very likely from “four acres,” the original necessary having been in all likelihood a field behind the school.

Force the voucher, a term in use among sporting tricksters, who advertise to send certain winners, and on receipt of letters enclose vouchers similar to those sent out by respectable commission agents, but with double or treble the current odds marked thereon, in reference to the horse named. A plausible letter is sent with the voucher, and the victim is informed that on account of early investments made by the firm, which has of course a high-sounding title, the extra odds can be laid by them, and a remittance to the amount named, or part of it, is requested. Of course the firm “dries up” when claims become heavy, and, with a new name and new address, appears in the next week’s advertising columns. Forcing the voucher was a fine game when it was first started, but it was soon overdone, as it required no particular ingenuity, and offered special immunities, theft of this kind being rather favoured than otherwise by the authorities. Certainly the law that punishes honest betting men seems powerless with regard to these plunderers, otherwise we should hardly be treated as often as we are to the spectacle of one man being fined for honest dealing, while another escapes simply because he is not a betting man, but a welcher.

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 in its origin. In the early part of the last century, a little book was published on purloining, 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. Costermongers and other clumsy feeders have a proverb which seems to justify their taking bones and choice morsels in their hands during the progress of a meal. It is, “Fingers were the first FORKS;” sometimes varied to “Fingers were made before FORKS.”

Form, condition, training. “In good FORM” or “in bad FORM” refers to a man’s or horse’s state of being in the sporting world. Form has also had a moral significance of late years, and with the qualifying adjectives attached as occasion requires, is extensively used in general conversation. As, “It was bad FORM of Brown to do that.” “That article was bad FORM.” In the latter cases the word “in” rarely appears.

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, rather more than slightly intoxicated.—Scotch.

Foul, to jostle or bore unfairly in a race. See BORE. To touch any foreign substance during a race—particularly a boat-race—is to FOUL it.

Foul, a touch, no matter how slight, of bodies or machinery in a race of any kind. Fouls in boat-racing are often inevitable, and are not always the result of boring or any other malicious practice.

Foul riding, riding which after a horse-race is made the subject of complaint, such as refusing to let a competitor pass, boring him against the rails, &c. Some jockeys are great adepts at this work, and are invaluable to a confederacy as a means, not so much of attaining victory themselves, as of preventing its attainment in others. Of course unless proof of jostling can be given, or evidence of malicious intent shown, jockeyship of this kind is not considered foul riding.

Four-and-nine, or FOUR-AND-NINEPENNY GOSS, a cheap hat, so called from 4s. 9d., the price at which a once noted advertising hat-maker sold his hats—

Four-eyes, a man or woman who habitually wears spectacles.

Four kings, HISTORY OF THE, an old name for a pack of playing cards. See Sir Thomas Urquhart’s Translation of Rabelais. In Argot, LIVRE DES QUATRE ROIS.

Fourth, or FOURTH COURT, the court appropriated to the waterclosets at Cambridge; from its really being No. 4 at Trinity College. A man leaving his room to go to the FOURTH COURT, writes on his door, in algebraic notation, GONE⁴, which expresses the Cambridge slang phrase, “gone to the FOURTH.”

Fourth estate, the complete body of journalists of all descriptions. This term is much in use among “liners.”

Fox, to cheat or rob.—Eton College. In London to watch closely and narrowly.

Foxed, a term 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. Also in street slang FOXING means watching slyly.

Fox’s Sleep, or FOXING, a purposely assumed indifference to what is going on. A fox, as well as a weasel, is said to sleep with one eye open.

Foxy, rank, tainted, from the odour of the animal.—Lincolnshire.

Foxy, said also of a red-haired person.

Frapping, a beating. French, FRAPPER.

Free-and-easy, a club held at a low public-house, the members of which meet in the tap-room or parlour for the purpose of drinking, smoking, and hearing each other sing. These gatherings are generally called harmonic meetings by the landlord, but FREE-AND-EASY best indicates the character of the proceedings.

Free fight, a fight conducted on the Irishman’s principle—“Sure, wherever you see a head, hit it.” The term is, however, American, so the practice may be considered fairly general.

Freeman’s quay, “drinking at Freeman’s Quay,” i.e., at another’s cost. This quay was formerly a celebrated wharf near London Bridge, and the saying arose from the beer which was given gratis to porters and carmen who went there on business.

French cream, brandy.

French gout, a certain disease, which is also known as “ladies’ fever.”

French leave, TO TAKE, to leave or depart slyly, without saying anything; or obtaining permission.

Fresh, said of a person slightly intoxicated.

Freshman, a University man during his first year. The official appellation for the students until they have passed the Previous or First Cambridge Examination, otherwise called the Smalls or Little Go, is Junior Sophs or Sophisters. After this they are Senior Sophs until their last term, when they are Questionists, or preparing “ad respondendum quæstioni.” At Oxford the title FRESHMAN lasts for the first term.

Friday-face, a gloomy-looking man. Most likely from Friday being a day of meagre fare among Catholics and High Church Protestants.

Frisk, to search; FRISKED, searched by a constable or other officer.

Frisk a cly, to empty a pocket.

Frog, a policeman. Because, by a popular delusion, he is supposed to pounce suddenly on delinquents.

Frog’s march, the manner in which four or more policemen carry a drunken or turbulent man to the station-house. The victim is held face downwards, one constable being at each shoulder, while the others hold on above the knees. Often there is another active and intelligent officer who beats time to the march on the recalcitrant hero’s posteriors.

Frontispiece, the face.

Frow, a girl, or wife. German, FRAU; Dutch, VROUW.

Frummagemmed, annihilated, strangled, garrotted, or spoilt.—Old Cant.

Frump, a slatternly woman, a gossip.—Ancient. In modern slang it is the feminine of FOGEY, and means a prim old lady, who is generally termed “a regular old FRUMP.”

Frump, to mock or insult.—Beaumont and Fletcher.

F sharps, fleas. Compare B flats.

Fudge, nonsense, stupidity. Todd and Richardson only trace the word to Goldsmith. Disraeli, however, gives the origin to a Captain Fudge, 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, 1712), 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 Judges Hyde and 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.”

Some persons believe that the word comes from the Gaelic, FFUG, deception.

Fuggies, hot rolls.—School.

Full against, opposed to. As, “I’m FULL AGAINST him,” I decidedly object to, or dislike him, or I am opposed to him. The term originated with the bookmakers; who, when they have laid all their money against a certain horse, put a mark against his name, and reply to all inquiries, “FULL AGAINST him.” This grew to “FULL AGAINST his winning,” and was thus taken, when shortened, to express feeling the reverse of friendly.

Fullams, false dice, which always turn up high.—Shakspeare.

Full blast, a term evidently borrowed from the technology of the engine-room, and now frequently used to express the heyday or apogee of anything. As, “By the middle of the day matters were in FULL BLAST, and proceedings generally were very satisfactory.”

Full feather, good condition, high spirits. Also any one gaily dressed is said to be in FULL FEATHER.

Full fig, full costume, male or female uniform or evening dress.

Full of beans, arrogant, purseproud. A person whom sudden prosperity has made offensive and conceited, is said to be too “FULL OF BEANS.” Originally stable slang.

Fully, “to be FULLIED,” to be committed for trial. Term in general use among thieves. Possibly from the reports which, in the slang of the penny-a-liner, say “the prisoner was FULLY committed for trial.” The magistrates often say FULLY committed also, whatever that may mean.

Funk, trepidation, nervousness, cowardice. To FUNK, to be afraid or nervous.

Funk, to smoke out, or terrify.

Funking the cobbler, a bold schoolboy trick, performed with assafœtida and cotton stuffed into a hollow tube or cow’s horn. The cotton being lighted, the smoke is blown in through the keyhole of a door, or the crannies of a cobbler’s stall. A funny song, much in vogue some years back, gave all the agonies of a drunken cobbler, who believed the devil had come for him, with all sorts of accessories, till

Funny, a rowing boat with both ends pointed and out of the water.

Funny-bone, the extremity of the elbow—or rather, the muscle which passes round it between the two bones, a blow on which causes painful tingling in the fingers. Facetiously derived, from its being the extremity 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.

Gaby, a simpleton, a country bumpkin. Probably from gape.

Gad, a trapesing slatternly woman.—Gipsy. Anglo-Saxon, GÆDELING.

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 penny play-house, in which talking is not permitted on the stage. See PENNY GAFF.

Gaffer, 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 halfpennies. One man tosses, and another calls. Sometimes the coins are tossed from a stick, and the tosser keeps those which fall heads uppermost.

Gag, a lie; “a GAG he told to the beak.”—Thieves’ Cant.

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 chief among these. Many actors, however, take French leave in this respect with most pieces.—Theatrical slang.

Mr. Robson at Belfast.—We (Northern Whig) suspected a little bit of what is professionally termed GAG in Mr. Robson’s Daddy Hardacre last night. He had occasion to say that one of the characters in the piece “understands me 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 having 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 be humorous or pathetic—only because Mr. Robson has fame as a comic actor.

When another Robson shall arise, no one will object to his GAGGING a little. The public could afford that to such a man in these days of “creations.”

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. Gage was, in the last century, a chamber utensil.

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, GALLINA.

Gallanty show, an exhibition in which black figures are shown on a white sheet to accompanying dialogue. Generally given at night by “Punch and Judy” men.

Gallimaufry, a kind of stew, made up of scraps of various kinds. Sea term, and probably meaning the galley scraps.

Gallipot, an apothecary.

Gallivant, to wait upon the ladies.—Old.

Gallows, or GALLUS, very, or exceedingly—an unpleasant exclamation; “GALLOWS poor,” very poor. Term originally applied to anything bad enough to deserve hanging.

Gallows bird, an incorrigible thief; often applied to denote a ruffian-like appearance.

Gallowses, in the North of England a pair of braces.

Gally-yarn, a sailor’s term for a hoaxing story. He expresses disbelief by saying only “G. Y.”

Galoot.—See GEELOOT.

Galore, abundance. Irish, GO LEOR, in plenty.

Gamb, a leg. Still used as an heraldic term, as well as by thieves, who probably get it from the Lingua Franca. Italian, GAMBA; French, JAMBE, a leg.

Game, a term variously applied; “are you GAME?” have you courage enough? “what’s your little GAME?” what are you going to do? “come, none of your GAMES,” be quiet, don’t annoy me; “on the GAME,” out thieving. To “play the GAME” is among sporting men to do a thing thoroughly and properly.

Game leg, a lame or wounded leg.

Gameness, pluck, endurance, courage generally.

Gammon, deceit, humbug, a false and ridiculous story. Anglo-Saxon, GAMEN, game, sport.

Gammon, to hoax, to deceive merrily, to laugh at a person, to tell an untrue but plausible story, to make game of, or, in the provincial dialect, to make GAME on;—“who’s thou makin’ thy GAM’ on?” i.e., of whom are you making a fool?—Yorkshire.

Gammy, bad, unfavourable, poor tempered. Those householders who are known enemies to the street folk and tramps are pronounced by them to be GAMMY. Gammy sometimes means forged, as “GAMMY-MONNIKER,” a forged signature; GAMMY STUFF, spurious medicine; GAMMY LOWR, counterfeit coin. Hants, GAMY, dirty. The hieroglyphic used by beggars and cadgers to intimate to those of the tribe coming after that things are not very favourable is known as , or GAMMY. Gaelic, Welsh, and Irish, CAM (GAM), crooked.

Gammy-vial (Ville), a town where the police will not let persons hawk.

Gander Month, the period when the monthly nurse is in the ascendant, and the husband has to shift for himself. Probably from the open choice he has during that period.

Ganger, the person who superintends the work of a gang, or a number of navigators.

Gape, to stare about in an astonished manner. “GAPING about like a country bumpkin.” Sometimes pronounced GARP. There is no reference in the use of this phrase by Cockneys to GAPE in its correct sense.

Gape-seed, something to look at, cause for astonishment; a lazy fellow, unmindful of his work, is said to be “looking for GAPE-SEED.” Rustics are said to find plenty of “GAPE-SEED” in London streets.

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 theatrical performers, Covent Garden Theatre.

Gardener, an awkward coachman; an insinuation that he is both coachman 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. Men who in small families do the coach, garden, and general work, are sometimes called “teakettle grooms,” or “teakettle coachmen.”

Gargle, medical-student slang for drinkables.

Garnish, the douceur or fee which, before the time of Howard the philanthropist, was openly exacted by the keepers of gaols from their unfortunate prisoners for extra comforts. The practice of garnishing is by no means so defunct as some folk seem to think, and its influence may often be traced by those who wish.

Garnish, footing money.—Yorkshire.

Garreter, a thief who crawls over the tops of houses, and enters garret-windows. Called also a “dancer,” or “dancing-master,” from the light and airy nature of his occupation.

Garrotte, a system of robbery with violence much practised on dark winter nights by ruffians who during summer infest racecourses and fairs. Their victims are generally weak men and delicate women. From the Spanish GARROTTE, because the practice generally commences with a throttling attack. Procedure is, however, various, these gentlemen being possessed of much ingenuity in the way of torture. “The cat” has within the past year or so done much to modify this offensive state of things, but the sympathetic appeals of certain tenderhearted M.P.’s and other philanthropists, who are not themselves likely to be garrotted, on behalf of the garrotters, will probably before long result in a withdrawal of the lex talionis, and a natural resumption of the garrotte system, with new adornments.

Garrotting, a mode of cheating practised amongst card-sharpers, by concealing certain cards at the back of the neck.

Gas, to give off superfluous conceit, to bounce or brag; “his game is GAS.” “To give a person GAS,” is 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, Billingsgate. Sometimes Newgate, according to the occupation and condition of the speaker. In the same way Paternoster Row is by publishers known as “the Row.”

Gate, to order an undergrad not to pass beyond the college GATE. As a rule, the GATE begins after hall, but in extreme cases the offender is GATED for the whole day.—University.

Gate-race, among pedestrians a mock race, got up not so much for the best runner to win, as for the money taken from spectators, at the gate. This sort of business is not peculiar to pedestrians; there are such things as gate-money meetings at horse-racing.

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 mentions the word in a favourite verse:—

Gaudy, the annual dinner of the Fellows of a College, in memory of founders and benefactors. From GAUDEAMUS.—Oxford University.

Gawfs, cheap red-skinned apples, 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, GEAK; Scotch, GOWK.

Gay, loose, dissipated; “GAY woman,” a kept mistress or prostitute. Many people will remember Leech’s celebrated caricature of two wretched females on an equally wretched night, and the question asked by one woman of the other, “How long have you been GAY?”

Gay tyke boy, a dog-fancier.

Gee, to agree with, or be congenial to a person.

Geeloot, or GALOOT, a recruit, or awkward soldier. A clumsy person, also a term of contempt in America.

Gen, a shilling. See back-slang article.

Gent, a contraction of “gentleman,”—in more senses than one. A dressy, showy, foppish man, with a little mind, who vulgarizes the prevailing fashion.

Gent, silver. From the French, ARGENT.

Gentleman of four outs; in Ireland when a vulgar, blustering fellow asserts that he is a gentleman, the retort generally is, “Yes, a GENTLEMAN OF FOUR OUTS”—that is, without wit, without money, without credit, and without manners.

Gentleman of three ins,—that is, in debt, in danger, and in poverty.

Geordie, general term in Northumberland and Durham for a pitman, or coal-miner. From the Greek, George meaning one who works the earth, originally a cultivator; the term has been in use more than a century.

German Duck, a sheep’s-head stewed with onions; a favourite dish among the German sugar-bakers in the East-end of London.

German Ducks, bugs.—Yorkshire.

Get up, a person’s appearance or general arrangements. Probably derived from the decorations of a play.

Ghost, “the GHOST doesn’t walk,” a theatrical term which implies that there is no money about, and that there will be no “treasury.”

Gibberish, unmeaning jargon; the language of the gipsies, synonymous with SLANG, another Gipsy word. Somner says, “French, GABBER; Dutch, GABBEREN; and our own GAB, GABBER; hence also, I take it, our GIBBERISH, a kind of canting language used by a sort of rogues we vulgarly call gipsies, a gibble-gabble understood only among themselves.” See Introduction. The GIBBERISH of schoolboys is formed by placing a consonant between each syllable of a word, and is called the GIBBERISH of the letter inserted. Thus, if F were the letter, it would be termed the F GIBBERISH; if L, the L GIBBERISH—as in the sentence, “How do you do?—Howl dol youl dol?” A GIBBERISH is sometimes formed by adding vis to each word, in which the previous sentence would be—“Howvis dovis youvis dovis?” These things are worthy of schoolboys, as they are in ability far below the rhyming, the back, or the centre slang, each of which is constructed by people possessing no claim to literary excellence whatever. Schoolboys in 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, predominates. Thus the words vous êtes un fou are spoken, vousdregue esdregue undregue foudregue. Fast persons in Paris, of both sexes, frequently adopt terminations of this kind, from some popular song, actor, exhibition, or political event. In 1830, the favourite termination was mar, saying épicemar for épicier, cafémar for café. 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 Père Goriot, the young painter at the boarding-house dinner-table mystifies the landlady by saying, “What a beautiful soupeaurama!” To which the old woman replies, to the great laughter of the company, “I beg your pardon, sir, it is une soupe à choux.” These adaptations can hardly be called slang, or we shall have everybody making a slang of his own, and refusing to believe in any one’s else—a sort of secondhand edition of the Tower of Babel.

Gib-face, a heavy, ugly face; GIB is properly the lower lip of a horse; “to hang one’s GIB,” to pout the lower lip, to be angry or sullen.

Gibus, an opera hat. From the inventor of the crush hat.

Giffle-gaffle, or GIBBLE-GABBLE, nonsense. See CHAFF. Icelandic, GAFLA.

Gig, a farthing. Formerly GRIG.

Gig, fun, frolic, a spree. Old French, GIGUE, a jig, a romp.

Gig lamps, spectacles; also a person who wears spectacles is often called GIG-LAMPS. Connexion obvious. This term has been in use probably as long as GIG-LAMPS themselves—if GIG-LAMPS were invented after spectacles.

Gill, or JILL, a homely woman; “Jack and Gill,” &c.

Gills, the lower part of the face.—Bacon. “To grease one’s GILLS,” “to have a good feed,” or make a hearty meal. A man suffering from the effects of a previous night’s debauch, is said to “look queer about the GILLS.”

Gills, overlarge shirt collars.

Gilt, money. German, GELD; Dutch, GELT.

Gimcrack, a bijou, a slim piece of mechanism. Old slang for “a spruce wench.”—New Bailey. Any things which are gaudy and easily breakable, are known now as GIMCRACKS.

Ginger, a showy, fast horse—as if he had been figged with GINGER under his tail; a red-haired man. Term commonly used in depreciation of a person’s appearance.

Ginger hackled, having flaxen, light yellow hair. Term originally used to describe a certain colour or colours in game-cocks.—See HACKLE.

Gingerly, to do anything with great care.—Cotgrave.

Gingham, an umbrella. Term very common in London.

Gingumbob, a bauble.

Gin-spinner, a distiller, or rectifier of gin.

Give, to strike, to scold; “I’ll GIVE it to you,” i.e., I will thrash you. To lead to, in the sense of directions. Thus, in one of the Christmas numbers of All the Year Round we are told that “a side portal and a passage, dark at noon, GAVE upon Paradise Alley.” This usage of the word, from the French idiomatic use of donner, is becoming by no means uncommon.

Give in, to admit oneself defeated, to “throw up the sponge,” or “strike one’s flag.”

Give it mouth, a rude request to an actor or orator, which means, speak up. Low folk can fancy nothing higher in the way of encomium on an actor than, “He’s the cove to GIVE IT MOUTH—rather!”

Gladstone, cheap claret. Gladstone reduced the duty on French wines.

Glasgow magistrate, a salt herring. When George IV. visited Scotland, a wag placed some salt herrings on the iron guard of the carriage belonging to a well-known Glasgow magistrate, who made one of a deputation to receive his Majesty.

Glaze, glass; generally applied to windows. To “star the GLAZE” is to break a window.

Glib, a tongue; “slacken your GLIB,” i.e., “loosen your tongue.”

Glim, a light, a lamp; “dowse the GLIM,” put out the candle. Sea and Old Cant. Glims, spectacles. Gaelic, GLINN, light. German (provincial), GLIMM, a spark.

Glim lurk, a begging paper, giving a circumstantial account of a dreadful fire—which never happened.

Gloak, a man. Term much used in old thieves’ cant.

Glum, sulky, stem; “to look GLUM,” to appear annoyed or disconcerted.

Glump, to sulk.

Glumpish, of a stubborn, sulky temper.

Go, a GO of gin, a quartern of that liquor. (This word, as applied to a measure of liquor, is stated to have arisen from the following circumstance:—Two well-known actors once met at the bar of a tavern to have a “wet” together. “One more glass and then we’ll GO,” was repeated so often on either hand, that in the end GO was out of the question with both of them, and so the word passed into a saying.) Go is also synonymous with circumstance or occurrence; “a rummy GO,” and “a great GO,” signify curious and remarkable occurrences; “all the GO,” when anything creates unusual interest, “no GO,” no good; “here’s a pretty GO!” here’s a trouble; GO, a term in the game of cribbage; “to GO the jump,” to enter a house by the window.—See LITTLE GO; also CALL-A-GO.

Go along, a fool, a cully, one of the most contemptuous terms in a thieves’ vocabulary.

Gob or GOBBET, a portion. Generally applied to meat by schoolboys.

Gob, the mouth, as in pugilistic slang “a spank on the GOB, drawing the gravy.” Also mucus, or saliva. Sometimes used for GAB, talk—

Gaelic—GAB and GOB, a mouth. See GAB.

God bless the Duke Of Argyle! a Scottish insinuation made when one shrugs his shoulders, of its being caused by parasites or cutaneous affections.—See SCOTCH FIDDLE, SCOTCH GREYS. It is said to have been originally the thankful exclamation of the Glasgow folk, 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. Some say the posts were put up purposely for the benefit of the good folk of Glasgow, who were at the time suffering from the “Scotch fiddle.” This is, however, but a Southern scandal.

Gods, the people in the upper gallery of a theatre; “up amongst the GODS,” a seat amongst the persons in the gallery—so named from the high position of that part, 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.—Printers’ term.

Go due north, to become bankrupt, to go to Whitecross Street.—Nearly obsolete.

Go for the gloves, to lay against a horse on the chance of its losing, without having the wherewithal to pay if it wins. Probably from the custom of ladies who bet GLOVES, and expect, as the racing men say, to “stand them to nothing,” i.e., to be paid if they win, but not to pay if they lose. This is a last resource of the bankrupt turfite; and the big handicaps at the end of the year, the Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire, offer both temptation and opportunity to those who can only hope to recoup themselves for their previous losses by “GLOVING IT” successfully. When, in the sporting papers it is stated that a settling at Tattersall’s was more than usually unsatisfactory, it may be fairly assumed that the GLOVES have not been won by those who most desired them.

Go in, to enter for, to apply oneself in pursuit of. Men at the Universities are said to GO IN for honours, aquatics, or whatever their chief desire or employment may be. The expression is now general.

Go it, a term of encouragement, implying, “keep it up!” Sometimes amplified to “GO IT, ye cripples;” said to have been a facetious rendering of the last line of Virgil’s Eclogues—

or, “GO IT, ye cripples, crutches are cheap.”

Goldbacked uns, body lice. Sometimes called greybacked uns.

Goldfinches, sovereigns. Similar to Canaries.

Gold-mine, any profitable investment, from a fried-fish shop to a remunerative speculation involving millions.

Golgotha, a hat, “place of a skull.” Hence the “Don’s gallery,” at St. Mary’s, Cambridge, and that part of the theatre at Oxford where the heads of houses sit.

Gol-mol, noise, commotion.—Anglo-Indian.

Golopshus, splendid, delicious, luscious.—Norwich.

Gonnof, an expert thief, a master of his craft; one of the greatest compliments a London pickpocket can pay another is to say, “he’s a reglar GONNOF.”—See GUN. The word GONNOF is very old. During Kett’s rebellion in Norfolk, in the reign of Edward VI., a song was sung by the insurgents in which the term occurs—

Good people, the name given by country folk, evidently from fear of offending by any less decided term, to fairies, brownies, pixies, &c. Mothers often say to querulous children, “I wish the GOOD PEOPLE would run away with you.”

Goods, in the sporting world, men or horses. A horse or man of exceptionable quality is called “good GOODS,” and a backer will speak of either as being in his opinion “best GOODS,” as compared with others in the race.

Good time, an expressive phrase, which means all earthly bliss to the American mind. The finest reminiscence a Yankee can have is that of a GOOD TIME, wherever it may have been spent. No moderate amount of happiness is ever recorded in the register which denotes how often its possessor has “had a GOOD TIME.”

Good woman, a not uncommon public-house sign, representing a woman without a head,—the ungallant allusion is that she cannot scold. Maybe, the publican does not think that it means also that she cannot drink. 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, a celebrated public-house in Ratcliff Highway.

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.