J W> UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE AMERICAN BY JAMES AUUTLAflU EMBODYING ALL AMERICAN AND ENGLISH SLANG PHRASES IN CURRENT USE, WITH THEIR DERIVATION AND PHILOLOGY. CHICAGO. 181. COPYRIGHT 1891 BY JAMES MAITLAND. CHICAGO, ILL. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY R. J. KITTREDGE & CO., 5* TO 58 WEST JACKSON STREET, 1891. To the army of newspaper workers in whose ranks the writer is proud to be enrolled this Dictionary of Slang is dedicated. The compiler will feel greatly obliged for sugges- tions of slang words of new mintage, or of any pop- ular expressions which he may have overlooked. PREFACE. In the preparation of this " Dictionary of American Slang" it has been the aim of the compiler to include as many as practicable of those words and phrases which, though they find no place in standard dictionaries, enter so largely into the everyday speech of the people. The United States, when it borrowed the language of the Mother Country, adopted also many of its colloquialisms and many more of its provincialisms. Ours is the tongue that Shakespeare spoke, and our inheritance includes much of the heterodox philology of our British cousins. Especially with respect to sporting and theatrical slang, and to the language common to the thief and the thief -catcher and known as "Thieves' patter," the majority of words, and phrases are as often used in one country as in the other. This __ work u theref pre x jwhile^ aiming to_present a $ full list of distinctively American slang, that which is born of the soil will include also the recognized slang words and phrases of English origin and use. No such collection has heretofore been made. The earlier English works such as those of Grose, Pearce Egan and their followers, copyists and plagi- arists cover but a narrow field. They deal largely with obsolete Cant, with the no less obsolete terms of the prize ring, with purely Cockney and provin- cial idioms in which not even an antiquarian interest can be felt. In addition to this they are disfigured by vulgarisms and indecency. A^ quarter of a century ago or more John C. Hotten, a London publisher, issued a " Slang Dic- tionary, "which, while a vast improvement on all itsjpredecessors, was confinedln its scope to jEngTTsh slang. Mr. Hotten, although as we believe, an American, entirely neglected the terse, distinctive, and epigrammatic colloquialisms of the New World. In his otherwise valuable work far too much space is devoted to the Cant of the Gipsies, to the thieves patter of St. Giles's clerks, and to obsolete matters generally. It gives an account of the hieroglyphics said to be used by English beggars as a guide for each other; a sketch of the macaronic dialect of English fashionable life in the eighteenth century; and glossaries of back slang, rhyming slang and the alleged centre slang. Some 300 pages are appor- tioned to definitions of slang words and phrases, and the average number of these to a page may be estimated as a dozen. In all less than 4000 defini- tions are given, while the present work furnishes over 6000. The present compiler holds, without the slightest disrespect to earlier searchers in this field, (to many of whom he is under great obligations) that no work heretofore published upon this subject meets the needs of the educated people of the United States in the present day. Np_ slang exists, although collections of Americanisms have been published, one of which (that of John Russell Bartlett) is valuable, but does not cover the field of American slang. No English work has so much as touched upon the great store-house of native American slang, which has been born of our development and was made necessary by our novel conditions. Hotten quotes "rumbumptious," "abskuze," "catawamp- iously," and "exfluncify" as samples of American slang in ordinary daily use. These are about on a par with the names invented in London and Paris for the so-called "American drinks" the "corpse reviver," the "nigger-girl's smile" and the "Pride of Columbia." No man living in the United States ever heard of the one or drank of the other, or if he did he never lived to tell the story. The same authorities who quote these unheard-of atrocities as representative Americanisms have failed in their researches to run across the words "boom' or "bonanza" or "boodle" now in common use here. They dignify their dandies as "swells" but never heard of our "duclejs" although curiously enough the last term is simply the old gipsy word for clothes, now corrupted into "duds." English writers apparently never heard of "striking oil;" of a "journey up Salt River;" of a man being "in the soup" or of a more lucky individual "making a ten- strike." Without multiplying instances it may then be claimed that a Slang Dictionary which shall embody within its covers the accepted slang of daily use in both the United States and Great Britain will be a useful book. In preparing such a work it was necessary to eliminate obsolete words and phrases. The Elizabethan dramatists bristle with the slang of a by-gone age, but it has been forgotten both in England and in this country. Much of the Gipsy cant is unintelligible and obsolete. The rubbishing back slang of the London school boy is not worth mention. When you know that a girl is a "Irig" and a boy is a "yob" then you know all there is to that. The rhyming slang which speaks of rain as "Mary Jane" or "alecampane" indifferently is of no possible interest. As to the so called "Medical Greek," of which Albert Smith gave us some examples in his amusing novels, its distinguishing characteristic is that a "stint of pout" means a pint of stout, and that you ".poke a smipe" instead of smoking a pipe. The alleged wit of the American newspaper humorist who evolves the "saccharine subsequently "as a varia- tion on the "sweet by-and-by" is of the same high order and we want none of it. For the omission of the indecent phrases which disfigure so many books upon slang no apology is needed. It^ has been attempted in this- callejct ion to include what may be termed the slang of the Anglo-Saxon, whether he dwell in London or New York, in Chicago or Sydney. The compilation has been the work of years, the information has been derived from books of all sorts and men of all classes, and the work is offered as an honestly-meant and pains- taking contribution to the literature of slang. So far as practicable the derivations of words and the country of their nativity have been given. But in dealing with slang the philologist has small oppor- tunity, for many of the brightest and strongest ex- pressions are destitute of known parentage. It is to gather together under one roof these foundlings, such of them at least as have proven themselves worthy to live, that the present asylum has been provided. JAMES MAITLAND. The abbreviations in brackets signify the original source of the word as (Eng.) England; (Fr.) France; (Ger.) Germany; (Gip.) Gipsy; (Hind.) Hindu; (Am.) American; (Sp.) Spanish; (P. R.) prize ring, etc. THE AMERICAN SLANG DICTIONARY. A. B., able seaman. Abaft (sea term), the rear part of a ship's deck. From AFT, the after part. Abeam (sea term), used to express the position of an object as seen from a ship. Abide (Eng.), to suffer. "I cannot abide him." Abigail (Eng.), a lady's maid. Said to be from the name of Mrs. Masham (Abigail Hill), who, as lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, distinguished herself as a mistress of intrigue. Aboard (Am.) "All aboard" is used on American railways as a direction to passengers. Aboou (Scotch), above. About right. "To give it to one about right" is to give it to him well; thoroughly. Above one's bend (Am.), beyond one's power. See Too HIGH FOR HIS NUT. Shakespeare makes Hamlet say, "They fool me to the top of my bent." Above par. Stocks issued nominally at 100 sometimes com- mand a premium and are then above par. The expression has been extended to other articles and means something superior or beyond the ordinary. Above snakes (Am.), tall. 13 i 4 ABR ADM Abraham-man (Old Eng.), a vagabond; one who obtains money by shamming sickness. It was at one time the practice to allow the inmates of the Abraham Ward of Bethlehem Hospital (Bedlam), London, to go out begging fcr the benefit of the hospital. Certain vagrants imposed on the charitable by pretending to be actual inmates, and were therefore known as ABRAM-MEN or SHAM ABRA- HAM (g. v.) Absquatulate (Am.), to run away. Equivalent to SKE- DADDLE or VAMOSE, (^. v.) According to Gunter (Am.) Anything thus done is done according to rule. Gunter, who lived in early colonial times, was the inventor of the measuring chain named after him, and of a slide-rule for gauging casks, which was adopted as the lawful measure. In England the equivalent is "According to Cocker," who was a famous mathemati- cian and author of a text-book on Arithmetic. Every card-player knows the expression, "According to Hoyle," supreme authority on games of chance. Account, of some value. See No ACCOUNT. Acknowledge the corn (Am.), to own up; to confess. Across lots (Am.), the most direct way; quicker than going around by the road. Adam's Ale (Eng.), water, Adam's Wine (Scotch), water. Added to the list (Eng.), a euphemism current among sporting writers, implying that a horse has been added to the list of geldings. Addlepate (Eng.), a foolish person. Admiral of the Red (Eng.), one whose rubicund nose shows his fondness for strong potations. Admire (Am.), is used by New Englanders in the sense of "wish." "I should admire to meet Mr. Jones." Macbeth' 1 s banquet broke up "with most admired disorder," and the ADO ALD 15 word is still used to express surprise or wonder. Adobe ( Span. ) Houses and walls in Arizona, New Mexico and other territories are built of adobe, otherwise sun-dried mud. Afeard (Old Eng.), afraid. See Macbeth, "What, a soldier and afeard!" Afoot or on horseback ( Am. ) When a man does not know whether he is the one or the other, he is all abroad, or all broke up. Afternoon farmer (Eng.), one who puts off his work to the latest moment. Against the grain, contrary ; in opposition to one's wish ; analogy drawn from the operations of the carpenter or wood-worker. Age, or Edge (Am.), in the game of poker. The player next to the dealer holds the "age" and is not compelled to bet until all the players have signified their intentions. Aggravators(Eng.),otherwise NEWGATE KNOCKERS (g. 7?.), are greasy locks of hair twisted back from the temples, and much affected by London costermongers and thieves. Aguardiente (Span.), a vile species of distilled liquor, com- mon in Mexico. Ahead, forward ; in advance. "Go-ahead," move on. "To get ahead of," to defeat. Airy, conceited. Akeybo (Eng,), a phrase used as follows: "He beats Akeybo and Akeybo beats the devil." See BEATS THE DUTCH. Albany Regency (Am.), the cabal of politicians who some forty years ago controlled the State politics of New York from Albany, and who cut a considerable figure in national politics as well. Alderman (Eng.), a half crown. Also a long clay pipe, otherwise known as a CHURCHWARDEN (y. v.) 16 ALD ALL Alderman (Eng.), a large crowbar used by burglars. Alderman in chains (Eng.), a turkey festooned with sau- sages. All any more (Am.), a provincialism for all gone. Alley, a large marble used by boys at play. AGATE is a glass marble. All-fired (Am.), a mild form of adjuration, probably a Pur- itan modification of hell-fired. All hollow (Am. ), to beat one "all hollow" is to knock him out entirely. All in the Downs (Eng.), miserable; dull. In the days of sailing ships whole fleets were often becalmed in the Downs off the south-east coast of England. The sailors did not take kindly to a period of enforced inactivity, and were miserable accordingly. All my eye (Eng.), an expression of incredulity. Some- times "All my eye and Betty Martin." Said to be a cor- ruption of an old-time invocation of St. Martin of Tours, "Oh, mihi beate Martine." All our side (Eng.), an expression of gratification over the success of a school nine or a local sport. All out (Old Eng.), by far. "He was all out the best of the lot." See Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy. All overish (Eng.), feeling unwell; the premonition of sickness. Allow (Am.), is used in the United States in the sense of intend or expect, or even of believe. "I allow to go to town," or "We allowed you would be here " are common instances. In the ballad of "Banty Tim" Tilman Joy says: " I come back here allowin' to vote as I used to do." All-possessed (Am.), affected by evil spirits and carrying on accordingly. "Swearing like all-possessed." All serene (Eng.), one of the many bits of street slang which had a brief run some years ago. It bore no ALL ANA 17 meaning, and was applied indifferently, on all occasions. All sorts, the drippings of glasses in saloons, collected and made to do duty, after a fashion, for drinkers who are not too particular so long as the stuff is cheap. All sorts of a man (Am.), a complimentary term equivalent to out-and-out; cute, clever. All the go, anything on which there is a great run, whether it be a new book or a new style of neck-tie. See ALL THE RAGE. All the rage, successful ; in great demand. Equivalent to "All the go." All there (Eng.), first rate, or "up to the mark." May be said of a well-dressed woman or of a fine horse, but is always used as a term of approval. Superlatively it is rendered "all there and a ha'porth over." All to pieces (Eng.), broken up. A term much in use among sporting men to express a break-down by a horse or a boat's crew in a race. All to smash (Eng.), ruined; bankrupt; gone beyond re- demption. All wool and a yard wide (Am.), first-class; genuine. Almighty Dollar (Am.), supposed to have been introduced by Washington Irving, but really much older. It repre- sents the manner in which money rules. Ben Jonson speaks of "almighty gold." Ambition (Am.), is sometimes used instead of grudge, or spite; as, "I had an ambition against him." Ambitious (Am.), may mean angry or spiteful, and in New England signifies industrious, business-like, energetic. Among the missing (Am.), dead, absent. Amort (Old Eng.), dead; dejected. "What, sweetheart, all amort?" Taming of the Shrew. Anan, an English provincialism for "How?" or "What did you say ?" Scarcely ever heard now-a-days. i8 ANE APP Anent (Scotch), pertaining to, or about. A good word, and often used in this country by writers. Angel (Am.), one who possesses the means and inclination to "stand treat." Anointed (Irish), superlative, as "an anointed scoundrel"; one pre-eminent among his class and deserving anointment as much as any other monarch. Anointing 1 (Irish), a beating, especially one severe enough to call for the application of ointment. Anonyma (Eng.), a euphemism for a woman of the demi- monde. INCOGNITA is also used for the same product of civilization. Ante (Am.) In the game of poker the player next to the dealer deposits a "chip" of an agreed value in the pool be- fore the cards are dealt. This is his ante, and the remain- ing players must also ante up if they conclude to play. Ante-up (Am.), to pay. Antic (Old Eng.), a fool. Anxious seat, in the slang of the conventicle, a seat occupied by those who are "under conviction" but have not yet "found peace." Otherwise known as the MOURNER'S BENCH. A 1, first-rate. Derived from the rating of ships at Lloyd's, and used in insurance business. Apartments to let (Eng.), said in reference to one with a vacancy where his brains should be. "Got a tile off," or "rooms to rent in the top story," or "attic to let unfur- nished" are equivalents. Apple-cart (Eng.) "To upset one's apple-cart" is to knock him over. Apple-jack, apple brandy. Apple-pie (Eng ), in good order. Appro (Eng.), a contraction of approbation. English ARA ATT 19 jewelers often sell goods "on appro," i. ., "on sale or return." Arab. Street Arabs are the gutter-snipes, boot-blacks, news- boys and GAMINS generally. Area Sneak (Eng.), a thief who gains admittance to kitchens by means of the area or outside court of the basement. Argol-bargol (Scotch), to dispute; to bandy words. Argot, the French term for slang, in which the language 'is very rich. Argufy, a vulgarism for "to argue ;" common in England, less known here. Arkansas Toothpick (Am.), a bowie-knife. Aries ( Scotch), earnest money ; something to bind a bargain. Arrastra ( Span.), a primitive mill for pulverizing ore. Arroyo (Span.), a small river or the dry bed of a stream. A ravine caused by the action of water. Ashepat, the Irish equivalent for Cinderella. Astern of the lighter, behind hand. At is used in a very curious way in some parts of the United States, as "Where are you going at?" At has another peculiar meaning, both in this country and in England. The English costermonger thrashes his wife because she is "always at him;" and "keeping at" a man is a method of getting him to do something not unknown on this side the Atlantic. Athwart (sea term), across; as, "athwart our hawse." Atomy (Old Eng.), used in contempt of a small person. See Shakespeare's //. King Henry IV.-, v. 4. Attic, the head. "Queer in the attic," weak-minded. Attic, the upper story of a building. Dr. Johnson so de- fined it, and in the same dictionary rendered "cock-loft" as "a room above the attic." Attic Salt, wit. 20 AUC AXL Auctioneer (Eng.) To "tip him the auctioneer" is to knock a man down. Auld Reekie (Scotch), the city of Edinburgh, from its smoky appearance. Aunty (Am.), a common term for an old negress. Avast (sea slang), go away; shut up; stop. Awake, or Wide-awake, knowing, understanding, or in other words, FLY, (^. z>.) Awful, a useful adjective in its proper place, but used by all classes of English society in a very ridiculous fashion: "an awful fine woman" ; "awfully jolly" ; "awful glad". Ax, to ask. A great favorite of the true-born cockney. Axe to grind. One who takes a lively interest in some mat- ter not directly concerning him, is sometimes suspected of having an axe to grind ; i. e., of having purposes of his own to serve. Axle-grease, money; especially that used for purposes of bribery. B Babes, a name given to Baltimore rowdies. Baby, a prostitute's lover, or "fancy man." Baby act, "to plead the" ; to plead infancy as a defense to a suit at law. Otherwise to beg off on the ground of youth or inexperience; to weaken. Bacli or Batch, young men living alone and doing their own cooking and cleaning are said to "batch it"; abbrevia- tion of bachelor. Back (Eng.), to bet that a horse will win. To LAY (g. v.) is to bet against the horse. Back (Eng.), to indorse a note; otherwise "to get up behind." Backbone (Am.), grit, sand, courage, moral stamina. Back (Eng.), "to get one's back up," to become angry and ready to fight, as a cat arches its back when enraged. Backcap (Am.), to do one an ill-turn by speaking evil of him or carrying tales, or otherwise to "spoil his game." Back country (Am.) See BACKWOODS. Back-down (Am.) See BACK OUT. Back-end (Eng.), that portion of the racing year after the close of the season proper, and when only minor races remain to be run. Back-bander (Eng.), a blow on the face with the back of the hand. Also to drink out of turn, or anything done secretly and in an underhand way. Backer^ Eng.), one who backs a horse to win. Backing and filling, like "backing water," is a metaphor 21 32 BAG BAD drawn from nautical use. It means indecision; shilly- shallying. Backlog 1 (Am.), a large log used in old fire-places where wood is burned. It serves to support the other fuel. Back-out or Back-down, to surrender. Back seat (Am.), an inferior position. Making a man take a back seat is setting him back ; taking him down. Backset, a check. Backshish, or Bucksheesli, the Eastern equivalent of the French pour-boire or the English TIP (^. v.) Back talk (Am.), an impertinent answer. Back track (Am.) "To take the back track" is to retreat. Back water (Am.), to retreat, to abandon an undertaking. Backwoods (Am.), the uncleared timber country of the West; the confines of civilization. Termed also BACK COUNTRY or BACK SETTLEMENTS, as lying back from the earlier settled Atlantic seaboard. Bacon (Eng.) "To save one's bacon," to escape from a diffi- culty. Bad, "to go to the," to be ruined. Bad, very much used instead of badly. "He wants it bad." Bad cess to you (Irish), may trouble come upon you. See BAD SCRAN. Bad egg, a rascal. Bad form (Eng.), anything incorrect; a breach of good taste or good manners. See FORM. Badger (Eng.), to tease or annoy. Derived from drawing or baiting a badger. Badger game (Am.), a variety of the PANEL GAME (g. v.) A woman gets a man in a compromising situation and her male accomplices rob him or extort money by threats. Badger State, Wisconsin. BAD BAI 23 Bad lot (Eng.), a person of disreputable character. Bad man (Am.), a bully or bruiser; a thief. "Bad" is used in the sense of "hard." Bad medicine (Am.), said of one who is objectionable for any reason. Derived from the Indian "medicine-man's" practice of making good or bad medicine ; that is, helpful or harmful drugs accordingJy as he is paid. Bad pill, a person of unenviable reputation. Bad scran to you (Irish), may you have poor food. See SCRAN. Bad to beat, difficult to beat: bad being used in the sense of hard. Bag 1 (Eng.), to steal or seize. Equivalent to "grab" or to "collar" or to "hook/' Baggage (Eng.), a term of opprobium applied to a child or a young girl. Baggage-smasher (Am.), a railroad porter or expressman who takes a fiendish delight in damaging trunks. Bagged (Eng.), captured; arrested. Bagman, the English equivalent for the American "drum- mer" or "apostle of commerce." Bag of tricks (Eng.) The whole of anything is spoken of as the "whole bag of tricks." Bag of wind (Am.), a boastful fellow. See WINDBAG. Bags (Eng.), trousers. Those of extravagant or "loud" pattern are "howling-bags." "Kicksies" is another equiva- lent for the American "pants," articles which Dr. Holmes says are worn only by "gents." Bags of mystery, sausages. Bail (Eng.), the handle of a bucket or pail. Bairn (Scotch), a child. Baiting (Am.), lunch in the harvest-field, or a feed for a horse on the road. 24 BAK BAN Baked, seasoned. See HALF-BAKED. Baker's dozen, thirteen. The term arose from the practice of bakers giving one extra loaf in every twelve to make up for the short weight. Balaam (Eng.), printers' term for standing matter. Balaam-box (Eng.), an equivalent for the waste-box or basket in an editorial room. Bald-headed (Am.), "to go it," is to rush things in a lively style. Bale up or Bail up, an Australian term equivalent to the English "shell out" or the Western "hold up your hands." Balk or Baulk (Am.), where a horse refuses to go or to draw a vehicle. In England a .balky horse is now known as a "jibber," although the other term was originally English. v Ballast (Eng.), money. A rich man is well ballasted. A drunken man has too much ballast on board. Balmy (Eng.), sleep. One of Dick Sniveller's pet phrases. Probably from "Tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep." Bamboozle (Gip.), to delude or cheat; sometimes used as a noun in the sense of a deception or "sell." Banagher, "that bangs Banagher and Banagher beats the devil." An Irish expression similar to "THAT BEATS THE DUTCH" (q. v.) Bandanna, (Eng.), a handkerchief. Banded (Eng.), hungry. From the practice of tying a strap or band around the middle or taking up a hole in the waist-strap when hungry. Bandy (Eng.), crippled; bow-legged. Applied to a bent coin. Bang, to explode with a loud noise. Bang, a fringe of hair on the forehead. BAN BAR 25 Bang:, to excel; also to thrash. Banging, a thrashing. Bang-up (Eng.), first-rate; otherwise "slap-up;" or (Am.) "bully." Bank (Eng.), the extent of one's wealth. At hazard and at other gambling games one player takes the bank against all the others. Bank, "to play" (Am.), means to play against the bank or gambling house. Bank also means to deposit money in a bank or other place of safety. To bank is also to go shares. Banker (Eng.), a father. Otherwise RELIEVING OFFICER (f: v>) Banner, "carrying the." An artisan or mechanic out of work is said to be "carrying the banner." Banquette (Fr.), the sidewalk. Used in the South only. Bantam, a pert boy or youth. Bantam- weight, the lightest at which men can fight. Equivalent to FEATHER-WEIGHT (q. v.) Banter, a challenge. Bantling (Old Eng.), a child. Probably from an infant in "bands'' or swaddling-clothes. Banyan day (sea slang), a day in which no meat is served as rations. Bar (Eng.), in betting language, to except. "Two to one, bar one," means that the bookmaker will lay such odds against any horse in a race barring the favorite. Barbecue (from the Spanish), an ox roasted whole at an open-air public entertainment. Barber's clerk (Eng.), an opprobious term for a shop-boy who apes the manners and dress of one of superior station. Bargain, a parcel ; an indefinite quantity or number. Bargee (Eng.), equivalent to a "canaller." The English 26 BAR bargee is credited with a capacity for pugilism and bad language which often gets him into a row with the colle- gians of Oxford and Cambridge. Barker (Eng.), a man employed at the doors of cheap shows and hand-me-down clothing stores. Equivalent to the American CAPPER or STEERER (y. v.) Barkers or Barking-irons (Eng.), pistols. Barking up the wrong- tree (Am.). A man is said to do this when his suspicions point in the wrong direction. When out 'coon-hunting the dogs sometimes make a mis- take of this kind. Barnacles (Eng.), spectacles. Possibly from binoculars. BUNKERS (g. z>.) is an equivalent. Barnburners (Am.), a political party which existed in New York some fifty years ago. They represented the young Democracy, and from their desire for reform at all costs were compared with the farmer who burned down his barn to get rid of the rats. Their opponents were known as HUNKERS (q. v.) Barney (Eng.), a lark or jollification. Also a crooked race or prize-fight; a "sell" or "cross." Barn-stormers (Eng.), traveling theatrical performers who play when and where they can. Barracoon (Sp.), a slave-pen or enclosure. Barrel (Am.), at election time candidates are currently re- ported to "open a barrel," presumably containing dollars, for the benefit of their henchmen and supporters. Mr. Tilden in 1876 was charged with opening a very large barrel, the first time the word was thus used. Barrel (Eng.), the stomach. Barrens (Am.), patches of poor soil fit only for growing small timber, as pine or oak. Barrikm (Gip.), jargon, speech. BAS BAW 27 Bash (Eng. or Gipsy), to beat. Probably from the old word "bashing," to beat a walnut tree with long poles. "Bashing a dona" is beating a woman. Bashing is also applied by criminals to prison floggings. Baste (Eng.), to beat. Basting- (Eng.), a beating. Bastile (Eng.), abbreviated to " Steel ", is a generic term for a prison or workhouse. Bat (Am.), "to bat the eyes" is to wink. Bat (Am.), on a bat," on a drunk. Bat, to strike ; " to bat a man over the head." Bat (Eng.), speed in running or walking. "He went off at a good bat." Bat (Eng.), " on his own bat," on his own account. Origi- nally a cricketing term where a player scores so many runs " off his own bat," or carries out his bat at the end of the game. Bate (Old Eng.), to abate or allow a deduction from the price asked. Bats (Eng.), a pair of dilapidated boots. Batta (Hindu), extra pay given to soldiers serving in India. Batter (Eng.), wear and tear; "on the batter," on the streets or on the town. Battery (Am.) In base ball parlance the pitcher and catcher are called the battery. Battery (Am.), a boat used for duck shooting, otherwise known as a SINK BOX (^. t>.) Baudrons (Scotch), a cat. "Auld Baudrons by the ingle sits." Burns. Baulk. See BALK ante. Bawcock (Old Eng.), a fine fellow. See Shakespeare, King Henry IV. 28 BAY-BEA Bayou (Am.), a stream running out of instead of into a river, only possible in low, alluvial regions. Bay State (Am.), Massachusetts. Bazoo (Am.), "to blow one's" to boast or talk freely about oneself; to brag. In the "woolly West " there are a few frontier newspapers known as the " Bazoo." Beach Combers (sea term), sailors on the Pacific coast. Beak (Eng. or Gip.), a magistrate. Ancient Cant gives Beck) perhaps from the Saxon Beag^ a gold collar emble- matic of authority. Beak-hunter, a poultry thief ; derivation obvious. Beam-ends. A ship thrown over on her side and in distress is on her beam-ends, and the term is applied to a man in trouble and poverty. Bean-eaters, natives of Boston, Mass. Beanpole, a very tall man. Beans (Eng.), money. Probably from the French Biens, property. Bear (Eng.), a Stock Exchange speculator who sells stock " short " which he does not possess and who speculates for a decline. See BULL. The name is probably derived from the old story about " sellii -r the bear's hide before catching him," which is what the speculator for a fall actually does. Bearing the market, trying to depress prices by selling large blocks of stock, gold, grain or other objects of specu- lation or by disseminating reports. Bear-leader (Eng.), a private tutor to a young gentleman. As a corollary the pupil is known as a " cub." Bear State, Arkansas. Bearer-up (Eng.), a "capper" for a gambling house or mock -auction shop, who encourages others to speculate by playing or bidding-up as the case may be. Beat, See DEAD-BEAT. BEA BEE 29 Beat, the ground supposed to be traveled over by a polke- man on duty. Beater-cases (Old Eng.), boots. Beat-hollow, to defeat entirely ; to beat " out of sight " or into fits." Beat-out, tired, fagged out. Beats the Dutch, something extraordinary. " That beats the Dutch and the Dutch beats the Devil " is the superla- tive. Beau (French), a lover or sweetheart. " To beau" is to court or gallant a girl. Beaver (Eng.), an old term for a top or stove-pipe hat, now made of silk, but formerly made of beaver. " Goss," " tile," " thatch," " cady," are a few of the equivalents. Bed-fagot (Eng.), a contemptuous term for a woman of ill- fame. Bed-post, " in the twinkling of," in a moment or very quickly. "In three shakes of a lamb's tail' is analogous. Bed-spread (Am.), a quilt or counterpane. Bed-rock (Am.), in mining phraseology, is the stratum which underlies the mineral-bearing rock or soil. Bee (Am.), a craze. Politicians occasionally get a Presiden- tial "bee in their bonnet." Bee (Am.), a gathering for work and social purposes com- bined, such as the old-time quilting bee, apple-paring bee, and spelling bee. Beef-headed (Eng.), stupid as an ox; dull, fatheaded. Beefy (Eng.), thick or fat, when applied to one's personal appearance. It also means rich, juicy, plenteous; such as playing in " beefy " luck. Beeliue (Am.), the straightest possible route to a given 3 o BEE BEN point. A bee when laden with honey makes a " beeline " for its hive. The English say, "as the crow flies." Beery (Eng.), intoxicated, bemused with beer. Beeswax (Eng.), poor, soft cheese. Beetle-crushers (Eng.), large feet. Beggar's velvet (Eng.), the fluff or down which accu- mulates under beds and other furniture where the maid is careless. Otherwise known as " Slut's wool." Begin to (Am.) An inferior article does not "begin to" equal a better one. Belclier (Eng.), a blue bird's eye handkerchief. Otherwise a "FooLE " (q. v.) Beliked (Am.), beloved ; liked. Bell (Old Cant), a song. Bellows (Eng.), the lungs. " Bellows to mend " means "out 01 wind." Bellowsed (Eng.), transported; knocked out of wind. Belly-timber (Eng.), food. Belly-vengeance (Eng.), sour small beer or cider. Bemused (Eng.), fuddled with beer or other drink. Ben, abbreviation for benefit (theatrical). Ben, abbreviation for Benjamin, an overcoat. Ben Gull (Gip.) a "pal "or companion. The Gipsies use Ben or JBien for good. Bend (Am.), above one's bend, beyond his power or out of his reach. tl Too high for his nut" is an equivalent. Bender, an English sixpence. Bender (Eng.), the arm. "Over the bender " see "OvER THE LEFT." Bender, On a bender," on a drunk. BEN BET 31 Bene (Gip.) good. Bonar, best. Compare the Latin Bona, Bonum. Benedict, a married man. From " Benedick," the husband of " Beatrice " in Much Ado about Nothing. Benjamin, or Upper Benjamin, an overcoat. Named after a Jew tailor in London and sometimes known as a "Joseph," that being also a common name among the ready-made clothiers of that city. Benjy, diminutive of Benjamin, a waistcoat. Beong (Gip.), an English shilling. Bess o' Bedlam (Old Eng.), a crazy woman. Best (Am.), to beat a man in a bargain; to defeat him. Best Licks (Am.), to put in one's best licks, is to do the best one can. Better (Eng.), more. " Better than a mile." Better (Am.), is used to assert a thing certain, as "you'd better believe it". Betterments, improvements. Bettermost, the best. Betting round, in betting parlance, means to lay equally against all horses, so that the bookmaker runs little risk. See HEDGE. Betty (Cant), a skeleton key. Between drinks (Am.), a long time. On one historical occasion the Governors of the sovereign States of North and South Carolina met to discuss matters of State comity, and the executive of the one commonwealth is reported to have said to the other dignitary "Governor, it's a long time between drinks." Between hay and grass (Am.), taken from farm language, a season at which there is nothing doing and nothing com- ing in. 32 BID BIL Biddable (Irish), manageable, obedient. Biddy, an Irish woman. Big, "to talk big," to boast. To "look big" is to assume an air of importance. Big-bug, or Big gun (Am.), one who is, or fancies him- self to be, a great personage. Biggest toad in the puddle (Am.), a consequential person in a small town. Big head (Am.), or Swelled head, said of one who has a great opinion of himself. Big wig (Eng.), a person in authority or office. Judges and other high officers in England wear wigs. Bilbo, a sword; from Bilboa, a town in Spain, where the best swords were made. Bilboes (Old Eng.), fetters or stocks. Biled owl (Am.), "drunk as a," very far gone. Biling (Am.), the whole boiling, entire lot. Bilk (Old Eng.), to defraud or cheat by means just outside the laws. A BILK is a swindler. Billingsgate (Eng.), foul language, from the common speech of the fishwives of Billingsgate market, London. Billy (Eng.), a policeman's club. Billy (Scotch), a silk pocket handkerchief. Billycock (Eng.), a soft felt hat; a "wide-awake." Billy-fencer (Eng.), a marine store dealer, or dealer in old junk and metal. Stolen metal of any kind is known as BILLY. Billy Patterson, "who struck," a question no nearer an answer now than when it was first propounded by a negro minstrel, who offered a pecuniary reward for the man who "struck his brother Bill." It ranks with the "song the siren sang" and the name which Achilles took when he dwelt among women as a mystery unsolved. BIN BIT 33 Bin, for been ; "With everything that pretty bin my lady sweet arise." This is the Old English form of been, has the authority of Dryden, Jonson, and Herrick, and in our own day of Whittier. Byron also used it, but quotes it. The New Englander pronounces it "ben." Biug (Gip.), Look out: Bing out, bien Morts and toure and toure Bing out, bien Morts and toure, For all your duds are binged avast The bien cove hath the loure." Old Gipsy song. Bingo (Old Cant), brandy. Bird-cage (Eng.), a four-wheeled cab. Also a prison. Bird of Freedom (Am.), the American Eagle. Birthday suit (Eng.), no clothes at all; same costume as worn by Adam and Eve at a very early period. Bishop (Eng.), a warm drink often mentioned by eighteenth century writers, but now out of date. Bit (Am.), 12^ cents; a short bit is a dime. The Penn- sylvanians speak of a "levy" for 12^ cents. In the West Indies sixpence, English money, is a bit. Bit, "did his bit," served his time in prison. A prisoner sentenced to three months imprisonment said to the judge, "I can do that bit on my head." Bit of blood (Eng.), a horse of good breeding. Bit of stuff (Eng.), a young woman. "Bit of calico," or "bit of muslin," are equivalents. Bite (Old Eng.), a cheat, a hard bargain. Bite, to cheat or swindle. To "be bitten" is to be taken in or defrauded. Bite-faker (Eng.), a counterfeiter. Bittock (Scotch.) If you ask a Scotchman the distance to any place, he will reply, after asking you in return where you came from, that it is so many miles and a bittock. The 34 BIV BLA bittock is generally a trifle longer than the miles. See Scott, Heart of Mid Lothian. Bivvy (Eng.), beer. A "shant of bivvy" is a quart of beer. The derivation is doubtless from beverage. .Biz (Am.), contraction of business. Blab (Eng.), to talk freely; to tell. Black (Eng.), a nick-name. Tom Brown (see Tom Brown's School Days}, gave the gamekeeper a "black" by calling him "Velveteens." Black and white (Eng.), hand-writing. "Let us have it in black and white," i. e., let there be a written contract. Black Diamonds (Eng.), coals. Black-eye, "to give a," is to inflict harm or damage on any scheme. Blackguard (Old Cant), a disreputable fellow. To black- guard is to abuse. Blackleg (Eng.), a rascal or swindler; a card cheat. See LEG. Blackmail (Scotch), money paid to avoid prosecution or exposure. Originally the "rent" in money or stock paid by the Lowland Scotch farmers to some Highland robber chief or "cateran," on condition that he protected them against others of his kind. See Scott, Rob Roy. Black Maria (Eng.), the van in which prisoners are con- veyed to the jail or bridewell. Black Monday (Eng.), the Monday on which boys return to school after the holidays. Black sheep (Eng.), a "bad lot." In French, mauvais sujet. Black snake (Am.), a long whip of rawhide. Black strap, port wine, or a mixture of molasses and spirits. BLA BLE 35 Bladder of lard (Eng.), a bald head. Blade (Eng.), a man; a "roaring blade," or a "knowing blade." Blamed, a New England euphemism for damned. In Eng- land they say "blarmed." Blarney (Irish), flattery. There is a stone in Blarney Castle, County Cork, and he or she who kisses that stone can persuade others to believe anything. And there's a stone there Which whoever kisses, Sure he never misses To grow eloquent. 'Tis he can clamber To a lady's chamber, Or become a member Of Parliament. Father ProuCs Reliques. Blanket Indian (Am.), a semi-civilized aborigine who re- ceives blankets and rations from Uncle Sam when the agent does not steal them. Blather (Irish), stupid talk. Blatherskite (Irish), a wild and foolish talker and boaster; a cheap orator. Blaze (Am.), to mark trees with cuts by an ax for the pur- pose of finding one's way. A "blaze" (Eng.), is a white mark on the face of a horse or cow. Blazer, a striped tennis or rowing jacket of a "loud" pattern. Blazes, the infernal regions. "Like blazes I will" is a com- mon English asseveration. Sam Weller horrified the swell footman by addressing him as "Blazes," a delicate compli- ment to his bright red livery. Bleach, a family washing hung out to dry. 36 BLE BLI Bleaching-boards, the unsheltered upper seats at a base ball match. Bleed (Eng.), to victimize or extract money from a person. "To bleed" is to part with money. Bleeding-, an adjective much used in England; a modifica- tion of the word "bloody" in its vulgar sense. "The bloomin' little sparrow Went up the bleedin' spout, Along came the blasted rain And washed the bleedin' sparrow out. The blessed sun came out And dried up the blasted rain, And the bloomin' little sparrow Went up the bleedin' spout again." Ble wed (Eng.), spent. "Blewed it all in," spent all one's money. Blind (Am.), an arrangement of bushes used by duck hunters so as to secure themselves from observation. Blind (Am.), at the game of poker where the player has the privilege before seeing his hand of "going it blind," that is of taking the chances. In such a case the other players must "see" his blind if they want to play. Blind (Eng.), a pretense, or make-believe. Blind-drunk (Eng.), when a man can not see a hole in a ladder. Blind-hookey (Eng.), a gambling game, otherwise known as WILFUL MURDER. Blind in both eyes (Am.), eggs fried on both sides. Blindmau's holiday (Eng.), twilight. Blinker (Eng.), the eye. Blinkers (Eng.), spectacles. BLI BLO 37 Blizzard (Am.), a storm of wind and snow common on the northern prairies. The word has been adopted in England within the last few years. Bloater (Eng.), a herring. Block (Eng.), the head. Block (Am.), a city square. Block-ornaments (Eng.), the small trimmings made by butchers in preparing joints for sale, and sold to the poor at a low price. Blocks of five (Am.), an expression introduced into Ameri- can politics in 1888, when an Indiana politician was charged with bribing voters, whom he described as "blocks of five." Bloke (Eng.), a man, "a stupid bloke." Never used in a complimentary sense. Blood (Eng.), a fast youth. Blood-money (Eng.), money received by informers in crimi- nal cases. Blood-tubs (Am.), roughs, street-loafers. The term comes from Baltimore. Bloody (Eng.), a vulgar expletive, used without sense or reason, either as an adjective or an adverb. Bloody shirt (Am.), "waving the." Calling up the issues of the late Civil War for political purposes. Bloomer (Am.), a semi-masculine costume, invented and worn some thirty years ago by a Mrs. Bloomer. Blooming*, an adjective used in England as an alternative for "bleedin' " etc. "The whole blooming lot" means the full quantity. Blow (Eng.), to inform. "Blow the gaff," to give away the story of a crime. Blow (Am.), to brag or boast. Blow a cloud (Eng.), to smoke a pipe or cigar. 1215 Si 38 BLO BLU Blowed (Eng.), a mild and meaningless expletive. Some- times "blow me," or "blow me tight." If I've a soul to give me food, Or find me in employ By day or night, why blow me tight, He was a vulgar boy. Ingoldsby Legends. Blowen (Gip.), a girl. Generally applied to one of light character. Byron uses it in Don yuan. A famous slang song of Father Prout's reads: "As from ken to ken I was going, Doing a bit on the prigging lay Who should I meet but a jolly blowen, Who was fly to the time of day." Blower (Am.), a braggart; one who is full of gasconading stories. 15hm hard (Am.), a boaster. Blow in (Am. ), to spend one's money. "Jones blew in all his dust against the game" (faro). Blow-out (Eng.), a feast. TUCK-!N means the same. Afternoon teas are known as "tea-fights," or "muffin- worries." Blowsalinda, a country girl; from a character in an old play. Blow up (Eng.), to scold. Blue (Eng.), miserable, gloomy. Blue-blood (Eng.), an aristocrat. One "of the caste of Vere de Vere." Blue-bottle (Eng.), a policeman. See II. King Kenry 1 V., Act 5. See also BOBBY, PEELER, CRUSHER, COP and SLOP. The last is back-slang for police. Blue devils, misery. A man with delirium tremens has them. BLU BOA 39 Blue-grass country (Am.), Kentucky. Blue Hen State (Am.), Delaware. Blue Jackets (Eng.), seamen in the navy. Blue-laws, a set of rules or ordinances principally in regard to Sabbath observance, alleged to have been adopted in Connecticut in Puritan times. No such laws were ever passed by any legislature in this country, although the Sab- batarian laws of New England were harsh enough. Blue moon (Eng.), "once in a." An indefinite period, iden- tical with the Greek Kalends. Blue noses (Am.), natives of Nova Scotia. Blue Peter (Eng.), a signal for trumps at whist, made by playing a higher card unnecessarily in place of one of a lower denomination. Blue pigeon flyer (Eng.), a plumber who strips lead from roofs and sells it on his own account. Blue ruin (Eng.), gin. Blue stocking (Eng.), a learned lady. From the French Bas-bleu. Blues, got the, despondent, miserable. See BLUE DEVILS, ante. Bluff (Am.), an excuse or a brag. At the game of poker a man will stay in the game with a poor hand, and by heavy betting will try to "bluff" the game through, the other players being afraid to "call" him. Bluffs (Am.), hills of moderate size by the side of rivers. Blummies (Dutch), wild flowers. Blunt (Eng.), money. Board of green cloth (Eng.), the gaming table. Boated (Eng.), transported, from the prisoners being sent abroad in ships. Now applied to penal servitude, which has replaced transportation as a punishment. 40 BOB BOG Bob (Eng.), one shilling. Bob (Am.), immature veal, the sale of which is prohibited by law. Bob, "So help me." An English euphemism for "so help me God," the usual oath in courts of justice. Bobbery (Anglo-Hindu), a tumult or bother. Bobbish. (Eng.), feeling well. A cockney will say he "feels bobbish." Bobby (Eng.), a policeman. From the name of Sir Robert Peel, who introduced the metropolitan police force. See also PEELER. Bodewash (Am.). (Fr. Bois de vctche;} BUFFALO CHIPS, (9- v.) Bodkin (Eng.), "to sit." One person sitting between two others in a carriage "sits bodkin." Bodle (Scotch), a penny. Body-snatcher (Eng.), one who steals dead bodies for the dissecting room; a resurrectionist. Also applied of old time to a bailiff or sheriff's officer. Bogie (Eng.), a ghost or apparition; also applied to his Sa- tanic majesty, who is known as "Old Bogie." In Scotland a "bogle" is a mythical creature of evil appearance and dis- position. See Burns, Tarn d 1 Shanter. Bog oranges (Irish), potatoes. Bogie-engine (Am.), a form of locomotive used for work in railroad yards. Bog-trotter, an Irishman. The term was formerly applied to the inhabitants of the "debateable land" on the borders of England and Scotland. Bogus (Am.), imitation, fraudulent; as bogus titles, bogus degrees, etc. Said to be from the name of an Italian swindler named Borghese, who pretended to be a prince, BOH BON 4I and who defrauded a great many in the United States some fifty years ago. Bohemian, a literary man, artist or actor, who ignores con- ventionalities. The French speak of the vie de Boheme, and in most European languages the word has a similar meaning. Boiled shirt (Am.), more often "biled";a white linen shirt. Boko (Eng. P. R.), the nose. Bolt (Eng.), to run away. Also to swallow without chew- ing. Bolt, in American politics, to desert a political party or con- vention. Bolus (Eng.), an apothecary or a dose of medicine. Bonanza (Sp.), originally a very rich mine or deposit of precious metals. Now applied to any extremely well-pay- ing business. Bona-roba (Old Eng.), a woman of the town. Originally from the Lingua Franca. Justice Shallow in King Henry IV, boasts of his old-time acquaintance with the bona- robas. Bone (Old Cant), to steal. Bone (Gip.), good. From the Latin bonum or the French bon. Bones (Eng.), "made no bones of it," did it without diffi- culty ; or without hesitation. Bones (Am.), substitutes for castanets; used by negro min- strels. Bones (Eng.), dice. Boniface (Old Eng.), the landlord of an inn. Bonnet (Scotch), a cap. To BONNET a man is to knock his hat over his eyes. Bonnet or Bearer-lip (Eng.) One who plays with his 43 BON BOO "pals" at some gambling game to induce outsiders to ven- ture their money. In the United States he is known as a CAPPER (g. v.) Bonny (Scotch), handsome, fine. Boodle (Am.), money obtained as a bribe, or in return for crooked or corrupt work. The Commissioners of Cook County, 111., who awarded contracts to their friends for valuable consideration, and some of whom were sent to the penitentiary, were known as "boodlers." Boo-hoo, to cry ; to bawl out. Book (Eng.), "to make a," to bet against all horses in a race. Thousands of bookmakers find a first-class living in Eng- land and this country, thanks to the innate passion for backing horses which exists in the community. If the bookmaker sticks to his business and abstains from backing horses on his own account it is a mathematical certainty that he will win, always provided that he fills his book in accordance with the system on which the business is based. In effect, he keeps a bank at which others gamble, and he gets the benefit. Booked, caught; disposed of. Booked for a long term (in prison.) Bookie, a bookmaker. One who makes a book on a race; that is, one who stands ready to lay the odds against any or every horse in a race. Books, a deck of cards, "the devil's picture book." See also PAPERS. Boom (Am.), a rush of business. In the lumber districts of the United States logs are cut and stored to await the rise of the river, [see FRESHET], and the accumulated logs form a boom. When the water rises to a sufficient height the boom breaks, and the logs go out "booming." Western cities boom and are boomed, politicians have booms, and real estate dealers boom their property by advertising. BOO BOS 43 Boom (sea term.) "To top one's boom," to start off. Boomer (Am.), a recent invention to describe those persons who, in anticipation of the opening of Oklahoma and other territories to settlement, attempted to exploit the country on their own account, and who went in with or in advance of the "boom," generally to come back "broke." Boomerang (Am.), a story put forth for political purposes, the untruth of which being exposed reacts against its dis- seminators. Practically the same as a ROORBACK, (g. v.) Boon-companion, doubtless from bon, good, a good fellow; a comrade in a drinking bout. Boost (Am.), to help up. "Give me a boost up this tree," says one boy to another. Boot (Eng.), a premium paid with anything bartered or ex- changed. Boot, "to boot a man," is to kick him. Booze (Old English, bouse), to drink. Boozy, drunk. Probably from the dutch buyzen, to tipple. Boozing-ken (Gip.), a drinking-house. Boozy, drunk. Other equivalents are tight, muzzy, lushy, got a jag, on a bender or spree, full as a goose, or as David's sow, or as St. Antony's pig, or as a fiddler's bitch, tight as bricks, been in the sun, and perhaps a hundred more. Bore (Old Eng.), a troublesome acquaintance; one who wearies and annoys you. Shakespeare has it in King Henry VIII. Bore, in the language of the prize ring, is to bear an oppo- nent down by superior weight, and thus force him to the ropes. Used also 10 express the practice of jockeys who by foul riding drive their competitors to the rails. Bosh (Hindu and Gip.), nonsense; empty talk. Boss (Dutch), an employer. The chief of a political ring, 44 BOS BOU as "Boss" Tweed in the palmy days of Tammany. The word is simply an equivalent for "master," which latter term goes not well among our "fierce democracy." To boss is to manage. Boss-eyed (Eng.), one who squints; otherwise swivel- eyed. Bossy ( Am.), a calf or cow. Bother, Botheration and Botheroo, all signify trouble or annoyance. Bottle-holder, the supporter of a pugilist in the ring, so- called from his having had charge of the water-bottle for refreshment purposes. Bottom (Eng.), stamina, pluck. "Sand" or "grit" are equivalents. Bottom dollar (Am.), the last of one's money. Bottom fact (Am.), an undoubted fact. Boughten (Am.), that which is purchased, as distinguished from articles home-made or home-grown. Thus country people speak of "boughten bread," "boughten carpets," or "boughten stockings," instead of home-made bread, or home-woven carpets or hose. Bounce (Eng.), impudence, brag. See CHEEK. Bounce (Am.), to throw out; to fire. "To get the grand bounce," is to be discharged from work. Bouncer (Am.), one hired in in a saloon, dive, or low thea- tre or other place of entertainment for the purpose of throw- ing out objectionable visitors. Bouncer (Eng.), an extravagant falsehood. Bounceable (Eng.), given to bragging and boasting. Bound, determined, resolved. Bounty-jumper (Am.) During the late Civil War thous- ands of scoundrels enlisted for the sake of the bounties BOUBOY 45 offered by States, municipalities and individuals, and de- serted as soon as they had obtained the money. A few of them were punished, but the trade was for a time a profit- able one, as the bounties paid were large. Bourbon (Am.), a variety of whisky and a species of Demo- crat. Bow-catcher (Eng.), properly BEAU-CATCHER, a small curl twisted on the cheek or temple of young ladies. The French call them accroche cceurs^ and in the United States they are known as "spit curls." Bowdlerizing, emasculating a standard work in order to ren- der it "fit for the family circle." One Dr. Bowdler many years ago did this with Shakespeare, and thus "damned himself to everlasting fame." Bower (Ger., bauer^ knave), the knave of trumps at euchre is the right bower; the other knave of the same color (black or red as it may be), is the left bower. The right bower is the best trump, and the left bower ranks the ace. A man will speak of his partner or business assistant as hit "right bower." Bowie (Am.), a knife invented and often used by one Col. Bowie. Bowled-out (Eng.), beaten. From the game of cricket, and now in general use. Box (Am.), a boat used for duck-shooting; a SINK-BOAT or BATTERY, which see. Box-car (Am.), a closed freight car. Box coat (Eng.), a heavy overcoat worn by coachmen. Boy (Am.), a negro servant of any age. Boycott is a comparatively new word of which the origin is absolutely known. A certain Captain Boycott, an Irish landowner, proved obnoxious to the people of his district, and they unanimously resolved to have nothing to 46 BRA do with him. He found it impossible to hire men to assist in getting in the harvest, tradesmen would not supply him with provisions, and nobody would buy or sell with him. The English government sent him assistance, and the case became famous. The system of "boycotting" has been adopted on a large scale by trade organizations. Thus if a shop-keeper sells goods made by non-union labor, the mem- bers of trade unions can bring him to time by refusing to deal with him. The limit to the capacity of this system (which cuts in many directions), has not yet been reached. It is denounced by some as conspiracy, but is difficult to reach by law. Meantime the word "Boycott" has come to stay. Bracelets (Eng.), handcuffs. Brace game (Am.), a swindling operation. Brace up (Am.), pull yourself together; get to business. Brack (Old Eng.), a break or crack; a flaw in cloth. Brads (Eng.), money. Brag (Eng,), boast. Also a game of cards where "bluff" is the chief element. Brain pan (Eng.), the skull. Brakes, "put on the," (Am.), adapted from railroad use; means to go slow. Branch (Am.), a brook or small stream. Otherwise a FORK (**) Brandy Pawnee (Anglo-Hindu), brandy and water. See Thackeray, The Nevjcomes. Bran new (Eng.), properly Brand new; showing the man- ufacturer's mark or brand. Brash (Am.), fresh, impertinent. It has also the meaning of brittle. Brass (Eng.), money. The word is principally used in BRA BRE 47 Lancashire; less often by the London cockneys, who have a hundred equivalents of their own for "the needful." Brass (Eng.), impudence. Brazen is applied to hard and polished cheek, probably from the qualities of the metal. Brat (Old Eng.), a child. Used as a term of opprobrium. Brave (Am.), an adult Indian. Braw (Scotch), rich, well-dressed, fine-looking. Braws are good clothes. "Dirty braw" is the equivalent of the Eng- lish "shabby-genteel." Brazen-faced, impudent. Breachy (Am.), said of unruly oxen, such as break down fences. Bread basket, the stomach, in prize ring language. Break (Am.), "a bad break;" a mistake. Breakbone (Am.), a species of fever, otherwise known as" dengue. Breakdown (Am.), a dance, generally identified with negro song and dance performers. Breaking the ice (Eng.), making a beginning. Breaking out in a fresh place (Am.), doing something new and unexpected. Breaky leg 1 (Old Cant), drink. From the capacity of strong potations to tangle up the lower extremities. See TANGLE- FOOT. Breathe a prayer, to drink. Breeches, "to wear the." Said of a woman who usurps the entire control of her husband's affairs. In such cases the dame is known as the "Grey Mare," or the "White Sergeant." Breeks (Scotch), trousers. An old proverb says "It's ill taking the breeks off a Highlandman," the mountaineers wearing kilts only. 48 BRE BRO Breezy, noisy, fresh. Brer', negro for brother. See Uncle Remus Stories. Brick (Eng.), a good fellow. Brick in liis hat (Am.), tipsy, intoxicated. Bridge, a cheating trick at cards, where the particular card desired is curved by the pressure of the hand so as to make the deck cut at that point. The French call the trick Faire le pont; to make the bridge. Brief (Eng.), a card cut down for cheating purposes. In Old English, breef. Brief, a pawn ticket, or a raffle ticket. Bring to, to stop suddenly, as a ship at sea is brought to. Briny (Eng.), the sea. Britisher, a native of Great Britain. Broad-brim (Eng.), a Quaker. Broad-faker (Eng.), a swindling card player; sometimes known as a BROADSMAN. Broads (Eng.), cards. Broadway Statue (Am.), an over-dressed "masher;" very prominent on a New York thoroughfare. The genus is ubiquitous and has many aliases. Broady (Eng.), an abbreviation of broadcloth. BROADY WORKERS are fellows who sell cloth goods of villainous quality in the piece, pretending either that it is the product of a bankrupt sale or has evaded the customs, or been "ob- tained on the cross." Brogaus (Irish), shoes. Brogues, breeches; from the Dutch. Broke (Am.), ruined, bankrupt, out of money. ALL BROKE UP means either miserable or in hard luck financially. Brolly (Eng.), an umbrella. Broncho (Sp.), a small horse pony, indigenous on the plains. BRO BUB 49 Brother Chip, Brother Whip, etc., are terms of familiarity among carpenters, coachmen and others. "Ditto, Brother Smut," is a sort of tu quoque argument. Brother Jonathan (Am.), shares with UNCLE SAM the dignity of being the tutelary genius of the United States. It is alleged, on insufficient evidence, that Washington was wont to say when questions of importance came up, "We must ask Brother Jonathan about that," referring to Jona- than Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, and that the phrase thus passed into use. Lowell has immortalized it by his famous "Jonathan to John." Broth of a boy (Irish), a good fellow. B rot us (Am.), something given in as make- weight; the su- perfluity of a helping ; heaped measure. The word is used in the South exclusively. Brown or Bronze (Eng.), a half -penny. See also FLATCH. Brown (Eng.), "done up brown," deceived, taken in. Brown study (Eng.), a reverie. Brown to (Eng.), to understand, to "tumble" to. Bruiser (Eng.), a pugilist. Brummagem, provincial pronunciation of Birmingham, England, and probably approaching nearer to the old-time name than the present word. Brummagem goods are imi- tation, the city being famous for its production of cheap jewelry, etc. Brush (Eng.), a journeyman painter. Brush (Am.), undergrowth of a forest. Brush (Eng.), a fox's taiL Brush (Eng.), a fight or scrimmage. "We had a smart brush with the enemy." Brush (Old Eng.), to run away. Bub or Bubby (Old Cant), drink. 50 BUB BUF Bubble (Old Eng.), to swindle. Much used by eighteenth century dramatists and novelists. BUBBLE COMPANIES are swindling associations, such as the Anglo- Bengalee Insurance Company, projected by Tigg Montague, Esq. Bubble and squeak (Eng.), a dish of cold roast meat and vegetables fried together in a pan. Bubbly Jock (Scotch), a turkey, from the noise it makes. Buck (Am.), an adult male Indian or negro. Buck, an English sixpence. "Two and a buck;" two shil- lings and sixpence. Buck (Eng.), a smart, dressy man. Buckeye State, Ohio. Buck fever (Am.), the feeling which overcomes an inexpe- rienced hunter when he gets a shot at a deer. Buckle (Eng.), to marry. Buckle-beggar (Eng.), a hedge-priest; one who stands ready to perform a marriage ceremony without much trouble about a license; generally an unfrocked minister. Buckled, married. See HITCHED; also taken into custody. Buckle to, to yield, to bend, to give in. Shakespeare has it. See also the old ballad, " 'Twas within a mile of Edinboro' town." Buckra, a negro term for a white man. Bud (society slang), a young lady in her first season. Budge (Eng.), strong drink. BUDGING KEN, a public house. Budge (Eng.), to move, to go away. Buff (Eng.), the bare skin. See BIRTHDAY SUIT, ante. Buff (Old Cant), to swear to or give evidence. Buffalo (Am.), a robe or coat made of buffalo hide. Buffalo chips or Bode wash (Am.), the droppings of buf- falo; used formerly for fuel on the plains. BUF BUL 51 Buffalo wallow (Am.), a sink or marshy place in which the buffalo roll. Buffer (Eng.), an old man; a good-humored term. "A jolly old buffer." Buffy (Eng.), intoxicated. Bug, the common term in the United States for all kinds of beetles. Bug juice (Am.), whisky. Bugmaster-General (Am.) Pet name fcr a State Ento- mologist or scientific man interested in entomology. Bug walk (Eng.), a coarse term for a bed; not always un- deserved. Build (Eng.), the make or style of an article; specially ap- plied to clothing. Bull (Eng.), a stock exchange speculator who "goes long" on stocks, trusting to a rising market. See BEAR, ante. Bull, an English crown piece. Bull-dogs or Barkers (Eng.), pistols. Bull-dogs (Eng.), assistants to the proctors of English uni- versities. Bulldoze (Am.), to over-awe, to terrify, to silence by threats. In Louisiana, about 1876, it was alleged that the negroes were "bulldozed" by the whites to prevent them from ex- ercising the elective franchise. Bullet (Eng.), "to get the bullet," to be discharged from work. Bulls-eye, in target shooting, is the center of the target. To hit the bull's eye in the center is to succeed in one's object. Bull's-eye, a large, old-fashioned watch. Bully, in Old English, in which sense the word is still, to a certain extent, used in this country; a good fellow, a jolly companion. "Bully for you," and "that's bully," or "I feel 52 BUL BUN bully," are thus used. But the word has another meaning, a bully being a low blackguard, who lives on women of the town, and thrashes them or others. A bully is a brag- gart and a coward. Bullyrag- (Eng.), to scold or abuse. Bull-whacker (Am.), a cow-boy or cattle-herder. Bum or Bummer (Am.), a loafer or vagabond, who in- habits a ten-cent lodging-house, and gets victuals on the free-lunch system. ON THE BUM, on a drunk. Bum-boat (Eng.), a shore-boat which supplies sailors with provisions. In the United States, a floating drink-shop or resort for "toughs." Bummer (Am.), a tramp or loafer. Bummers followed the army during the Civil War. See Hans Breitmarts Bal- lads. Bumper (Eng.), full measure. Bumptious (Eng.), self-sufficient, arrogant, Bunch of fives (P. R.), the fist. Bunco or Banco (Am.), a swindle generally affected by in- ducing a greenhorn to play cards. The bunco-steerer pro- fesses an acquaintance with his victim, and usually two or three are implicated in the game. Bundle (Eng.), to pack one off. Bundling is a Welsh practice, and also prevails, or did until lately, in some parts of Pennsylvania. Courting is there done in bed, the parties being fully dressed, to prevent undue familiarity. Bung (Eng.), to close up. Bung (Eng.), the landlord of a public house. Bunk, a bed, cot or hammock. Bunk it (Eng.), be off, decamp. Bunker (Eng.), beer. BUN BUT 53 Bunkum (Am.), pretense, flap-doodle, gas. Said to be from a member of the North Carolina Legislature, who made a flamboyant speech, not with a view of impressing his fel- low-legislators, but for effect upon his constituents in Bun- combe County. Burying the hatchet (Am.), ending a feud or difficulty. The aborigines were said to dig up the war hatchet when going on the war-path and to bury it with certain solemni- ties when peace was attained. Bus, an omnibus. Bush, in Australia means the equivalent of the American "backwoods." The "bush" is not properly forest, but small, scrubby timber and shrubs. Bushwhackers (Am.), during the Civil War were a sort of irregular cavalry in the South, analogous to the "bum- mers," and practically identical with the "Jayhawkers" of that time. Buss, a kiss. Old English, no doubt derived from the French baiser^ to kiss. Bust or Burst, to tell tales ; to split or inform. Busted (Am.), out of money; broke. Buster (Eng.), a spree or frolic. Buster (Eng.), a small loaf. A still smaller one is called a "starver." Bustle (Eng.), money. Butcher (Eng.), the king in playing cards. Bute (Am. ), abbreviation of beauty. "He's a 'buteV Butte (Sp.), is the Western name for small hills or mounds; an alternative for bluffs. The only English equivalent is KNOBS. Butter, flattery ; same as "soft soap," "soft sawder." Butter-fingered, apt to let things fall; one who drops the ball at base ball or cricket. \ 54 BUT BY Butternuts (Am.), from their home-spun clothing. A term applied during the Civil War to Southern country people. Button (Eng.), a decoy or sham purchaser. Otherwise known as a BONNET or CAPPER. Button-holing, engaging a man in conversation when he would rather be about his own business. From the sup- posed practice of holding a button of the victim's coat to prevent his escape. Buttons, the generic name for a page boy in England ; his jacket being usually adorned with several rows of gilt buttons. Buttons (Eng.), "not to have all his buttons," to be deficient in intellect. Butty (Eng.), an overseer in the mining district. Buz (Eng.), to talk, to whisper. Buz (Eng.), to pick pockets. Buzzard dollar (Am.), a term applied in derision to the silver dollar, the uncomplimentary allusion being to the buzzard-like eagle on the coin. Buzzer (Eng.), a pickpocket. By and large (Am.), on the whole; speaking generally. By blow (Eng.), an illegitimate child. See LOVE-CHILD. By hook or by crook (Eng.), by fair means or foul. By the skin of his teeth, although used in the Bible (see Book of Job), is certainly slang, and is used to express a narrow escape. Cab (Eng.), a light carriage drawn by one horse. The name is an abbreviation of the French cabriolet. The driver is styled "cabby." Cabbage (Eng.), cloth stolen by tailors and claimed as law- ful perquisites. Cabbagehead (Eng.), a stupid person. Cablegram, a message sent by submarine cable. This word, like telegram and a score of others, has been coined in re- cent years and is in common use, although hardly to be considered good English. Caboodle (Am.), the whole lot. Caboose, the galley or cook-house of a ship. Used in the United States for the car on a train devoted to the use of the trainbands. Cache (Am.), to hide. This is an old French word intro- duced by hunters and trappers who, when hard pressed by Indians, would cache their belongings, that is, bury them. Cackle, to talk. A CACKLE-TUB is a pulpit, and a CACK- LING COVE is a preacher or an actor. Cad (Eng.), an omnibus driver. In its wider sense applied to the objectionable class known as SNOBS (g. v.) Cadge (Eng.), to beg. A whining beggar is a CADGER. "On the cadge" is applied to the regular "rounders" who wander from town to town telling in each place a pitiful story of distress. In Scotland a "cadger" is an itinerant peddler of fish. 56 CAD CAM Cadging, begging. Cady (Am.), a hat. Cage, a prison. Often BIRD-CAGE. Lovelace says: "Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage." Cagmag (Eng.), scraps of food. Cahoots (Am.), in company with, or associated together "Smith and Brown were in cahoots to rob Jones." Cain (Am.), "to raise," to create trouble. (See To RAISE. NED.) Caird /Scotch), a tinker. Cake (Eng.), a soft person, doughy. Cake is dough, said when one makes a failure. Calaboose (Sp.), a prison. Calash, a ladies' head-dress. Also a carriage with a hood. From the Frenqh caleche. Calculate (Am.), an alternative for GUESS or RECKON (q. v.) Calico, bit of, a girl. Also BIT OF MUSLIN, BIT OF STUFF (? v -) Call, occasion. "He had no call to go." Call, an invitation to a clergyman to accept a pulpit. Call, on the Stock Exchange, a time-bargain or speculative contract which entitles the holder to call for certain stock at a certain price. Caller (Scotch), fresh, cool. Calumet, the Indian peace pipe. Ca'me, ca'thee (Scotch). In English, "Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Camesa or Misli, a shirt or chemise. From the Spanish. Italian is Camicia. CAM CAN 57 Campaign (Am.), the period antecedent to an election, dur- ing which the candidates take the field, meetings are held and speeches delivered. The imagery of all such contests is taken from the battle-field. Canard (Fr.), an unreliable story. Canary, an English sovereign, from the color. Candy-Butcher, an offensive nuisance, who accompanies traveling circuses, and peddles candy therein. Canister (P. R.), the head. Cannikin (Old Eng.), a small can. See lago's song in Othello. Canny (Scotch), clever, nice, neat. Canoe (Am.), "to paddle one's own," is to go it alone; to make one's own way in the world. Canon (Sp.), a narrow valley or passageway between rocks, often of great height. The Grand Canon of the Colorado is the largest known. Cant, the slang of the Gipsies. Cant (Eng.), a blow or a toss in wrestling. Cant, to overturn ; to throw. Cantab (Eng.), a student at Cambridge University (Cant- abrium). Cantankerous, bad-tempered, litigious. Probably a corrup- tion of contentious. Canting, as applied to a professor of religion, means that he is a pretentious hypocrite. The word is said to have been derived from the name of one Andrew Cant, a Scotch clergyman, but this is extremely doubtful. Cant of togs, a suit of clothes. Canuck, a Canadian. Canvaseens, sailors' trousers. 58 CAP CAR Cap, to outdo. "That caps the climax." Capping verses was an old-time amusement of the learned. Cap, "to set her cap," as a woman does at a man whom she wants to marry. Cape Cod turkey, salt pork. Caper, proper. The proper caper is the "right thing," the style. Caper-dealer (Eng.), or HOP MERCHANT; a dancing mas- ter. Or in thieves' slang, one who is hanged, cuts capers, *. ., "dances on nothing." Capper, one who is employed in a gambling house to play in order to "rope in outsiders." Mock auction shops of the "Peter Funk" order employ "cappers" to bid, so as to run up prices. Cap-sheaf (Eng.), the top, the summit. Card (Eng.), a character. "A queer card" is synonymous with "an odd fish." Carking (Eng.), anxious, careful. Carle (Scotch), an old man, a companion. Carneying (Irish), flattering, wheeling. Carnish (Old Gant), meat. Doubtless from the Lingua Franca. A CARNISH-KEN is an eating-house. Thus we have Carnival, which, as Byron says, means "farewell to flesh." Caroon, five shillings ; from the French, couroune, a crown. (Gipsy), courna\ (Span.), corona. Carpet, "on the carpet," said to be from the French sur le tapis, but not used in the same sense in France. CARPETED means to be hauled before some superior au- thority for a reprimand. "On the carpet," anything cur- rent for discussion. * Carpet-bagger (Am.), a term invented during the recon- struction period to identify Northern men who went into CAR CAS 59 the Southern States to obtain political office, and whose sole property was the carpet bag or valise which the^r carried with them. Carry (Am.) In the Southern States this word is used in the sense of "escort," or "accompany," e. g. y "Mr. G. carried Miss M. to the ball." The English novelists of the eighteenth century used the word in exactly the same way. Carry-all (French, Carriole)^ a large carriage; in Canada a sleigh. Carrying water on both shoulders, playing a double part; agreeing ostensibly with both parties in interest; double- faced action. Carry me out (Eng.), an exclamation of pretended astonish- ment. The Irish add, "and bury me dacent." Sometimes varied to "Oh ! let me die," or in the United States, "You can have my hat." Carry-on, to frolic or "cut up didoes." Carser (Gip.), a house or inn. Probably from the Spanish casa. Cart-wheel, an English crownpiece or an American silver dollar. Casa (Sp. or It.), a house, generally not a respectable one. A MOTT-KASK is a brothel ; from the Low Dutch MOTTE KAST. Case (Eng.), a curious fellow; about the same as 'a rum card," an "odd fish," or a "queer duck." Case (Am.), one dollar. From the Hebrew caser, or crown. Cash up (Am.), to pay. Cassan (Gip.) cheese. From the German case. Castles in Spain, a mythical possession, equivalent to estates on the Island of Dunnowhere. From the French Cha- teaux en Espagne, 60 CAS CAU Castor (Eng.), a hat. From the Latin name for a beaver, from whose fur top-hats were formerly made. A silk hat is still often spoken of as a beaver, and prize-fight reports invariably set forth that "Muggins shied his castor into the ring," preparatory to entering it himself. Cat, a lady's muff; sometimes applied to the lady herself. Cat, or "cat o' nine-tails," a whip formerly used for flogging seamen. Catamaran, a disagreeable old woman. Thackeray uses the word. Catch a weasel asleep (Eng.), a task requiring much acuteness. Catch on (Am.), to appreciate; to be alive to the situation. "Do you catch on?" is varied to "Do you tumble?" Catch-up (Am.), a Western phrase, signifying to harness the horses. Catch-weight. Prize-fights are sometimes arranged to be fought irrespective of the weight of the contestants; in other words, you take them as you catch them. Caterwaul, to sing loudly and out of tune, as pussy does on the tiles when enjoying a night out. Catgut scraper, a fiddler. Burns uses the word in his Jolly Beggars. Cat-in-pan, a turncoat. See The Vicar of Bray. Cat-lap, weak drink. Cats and Dogs, said to rain that way sometimes; occasion- ally it rains "pitchforks." Catspaw, a dupe or tool; one who is made use of. From the old story of the monkey who used the cat's paw to re- move his chestnuts from the fire. A catspaw at sea means a light breeze. Cat's water, gin. Caubeen (Irish), a hat or cap. CAU CHA 61 Caucus (Am.), a meeting of a party to select candidates for office, or to determine upon a course of policy. The word has been adopted into use in England. It is asserted, but so far as we can ascertain, without any evidence to back it, that the word was derived from a meeting of caulkers held in Boston, prior to the Revolutionary War. Caught on the fly. This comes from the base ball field; its origin is palpable ; its adaptation can be readily made. Caulker (Eng.), more often CORKER, a drink. A caulker is also a story of the Munchausen order. Caution (Am.), anything extraordinary. "He's a caution" is used to characterize a man who may be a "caution" to drink, or a "caution" to work. "A caution to snakes" is the superlative. > Cave-in (Am.), from the caving or sinking in of an aban- doned mine, or of a well or shaft. A beaten man caves-in ; if in the prize-ring he "throws up the sponge." Cavort (Am.), cavorting around; prancing about in a play- ful and purposeless way. From the French curvet, as ap- plied to a horse's actions. Century (Eng.), a hundred pounds. Chaff, to joke or quiz. Originally to "queer" or to "smoke" or "roast," had the same meaning. Chaffer (Old Eng.), the mouth. "Moisten your chaffer," take a drink. Chain lightning (Am.), bad whisky. Chal (Gip.), a man. CHIE is the Romany for a woman. Chalks (Eng.), walk your chalks, to go. To "beat by a long chalk," to be superior by many degrees. Chalk up (Eng.), to credit. From the old practice of chalk- ing tavern scores behind the bar-door. Chancery, in difficulties. To get an opponent in the prize- ring in chancery is to get his head firmly under one's arm, 62 CHA when he is practically defenceless against severe punish- ment. The analogy is doubtless drawn from the help- less condition of a litigant under the old equity practice. Chance the ducks (Eng.), an absurd equivalent for "come what may." "I'll do it and chance the ducks." Probably the corruption of an oath, or of Chance the Dux^ or mas- ter. Change, small money. Change your breath, take a drink. Chap, a man or boy. He may be a "rum chap," a "queer" one, or any other adjective may be used. The word was introduced into the English public schools about the same time as the word MUFF (.), is a horse-dealer of a low order, who chants the praises of some old "screw." Chauuter, a street ballad singer. CHA CHI 63 Chaw, past participle of chew. A "chaw" of tobacco is a sufficient modicum. "All chawed up" means "done for," finished. Chaw-bacon (Eng.), a rustic. - JOSKIN, YOKEL and CLOD- CRUSHER are English equivalents. In the United States the animal is known as a "jay," or "country -jake," or a "greeny." Cheap (Eng.), "on the cheap," living economically. Cheap Jack (Eng.), a street-corner peddler; a FAKIR (9- V-) Cheater (Old Eng.), a decoy. See // Henry IV, ii. 3. Checks, money or equivalents for it. Checks (Am.), "passed in his checks" or chips, said of one dead. A gambler cashes in his chips at the close of the game. Cheek (Eng.), impudence, brass. "All to his own cheek," all for himself. To "cheek" a man is to "give him lip," to sauce him. Cheek by jowl (Old Eng.), side by side. Cheese, anything good. "That's the cheese." Said to be derived from the Persian Chiz the thing. Cheese it, leave off. "Cheese your barrikin" (from bark- ing), hold your tongue. Cheese-cutter (Eng.), a prominent, aquiline nose. Also a cap with a square peak in front. Chestnut (Am.), an old story; an often repeated yarn. The average chestnut of the "dago" fruit stand has claims to respect on account of its age, but is not desirable as an article of diet, and ancient stories are equally tiresome. Chic (Fr.), the correct thing, the style, or "proper caper." 64 CHI Chicagoed (Am.), the equivalent of "skunked" or beaten out of sight. Some years ago Chicago had a base-ball club which met with phenomenal succcess. Other com- peting clubs which ended the game without scoring were said to have been "Chicagoed." Chicken (Eng.), anything young. CHICKEN STAKES are races for two-year-olds, or where the stakes are very small. An old maid is described as being "no chicken." Chicken-feed (Am.), small change. Chicken-hearted (Eng.), cowardly, frightened. Childer (Old Eng.), children. Chill (Eng.), to "take the chill off," to warm beer. Chin, to talk impudently. Chinch or Chintz, a bed-bug. ( Cimex lectularius.) Chink (Eng.), money. Chin music (Am.), talk. A talkative person is said to have too much chin. Chinook (Am.), a wind which blows at certain seasons on I the Pacific Slope. Chinook jargon is a language of the Volapuk order, invented and used in Oregon. Chip (Am.), a disc of ivory or bone, used in playing cards. To avoid the use of money and of making change, the "bank" sells chips of various colors at prices agreed upon, and redeems them at the end of the game. Chip, a carpenter. Chip-in, to contribute toward a game or a collection. Chip of the old block, a child bearing a physical or moral resemblance to his putative parent. Chipper (Am.), lively. Chippy (Am.), a young girl; not a complimentary term. CHIPPY-CHASERS are the well-dressed loafers who lie in wait for shop girls and school children. CHI CHO 65 Chips, money. Chirk (Am.), cheerful, lively; in good spirits. Chirp (Eng.), to talk; usually to inform or to "peach." Chisel (Eng.), to cheat. Chit (Hindu), a letter. Chiv or Chive, a knife. Also used as a verb, to knife. The word is used by the Gipsies, and is probably of Hindu origin. Chive (Gip.), the tongue. Chive-fencer, a street-peddler of cutlery. Chivy (Eng.), to chase, as in boys' play. Probably from Chevy Chase. Also the shouting of boys at play. "Poor Jo," in Dicken's novel, Bleak House, objected to being "chivied," that is, ordered to "move on." Chock (Old Eng.), to choke. Chock-ftill (Eng.), full to the throat. Properly CHUCK- FULL. Choke-off (Eng.), to get rid of, to finish. Choker (Eng.), a white necktie. Chokey (Eng.), a prison. Generally applied to a military guard-nouse. Chop (Pidgin English), good. "First chop" signifies of best quality. A Chinaman makes his "chop" where a white man writes his name. Chop (Eng.), to swop or exchange. "Chopping about" means to vary one's actions, as "to chop and change." A "chopping sea" is one where the waves, although small, are contrary. Chops (Eng.), the mouth. Properly CHAPS. Chores, small jobs of work about the house or farm. Orig- inally English, but seldom heard in England now, although "charwoman" is used to signify an assistant in house work. 66 CHO CHU Chouse (Old Eng.), to cheat. Ben Jonson used the word in The Alchemist. The reference is to a Turkish interpre- ter or chiaous, who in the early part of the seventeenth century succeeded in swindling a number of London mer- chants. Chubby (Eng.), round-faced, plump. Chuck (Eng.), food. Chuck (Eng.), to throw. Chuck-a-luck (Am.), a game played with dice. Chucker-out (Am.), a bruiser hired by gambling-house keepers and the proprietors of "dives" and low places to preserve the peace by throwing out all who are obnoxious to the management. He is equally well-known as a "Bouncer." Chuck-full (Eng.), see CHOCK-FULL, ante. Chuck it up (Eng.), to surrender. Otherwise to "Jack up." Chuckle-head (Eng.), a stupid person. Chum (Eng.), an intimate friend. To chum with a man is to board and lodge with him. Probably from the Anglo- Saxon Cuma, a guest. An Englishman will say "Jones and I got quite chummy." Chummy (Eng.), a chimney-sweep. Chump (Am.), a stupid fellow; a fool. Chump (Eng.), the head. A silly or daft person is "off his chump." Chunk (Eng.), a thicker large shapeless portion of any- thing, as of bread or meat. Chunky (Am.), short, thick. A stout-built man of small stature is "chunky built." See STOCKY. Churchwarden (Eng.), a long clay pipe, otherwise known as a "yard of clay." Chute (Am.), a bayou or narrow portion of a river. Also applied to an artificial conduit. See SHOOT. CIN CLA 67 Cinch (Am.), "to have a cinch on" anything is to have "a dead pull." The word comes from the "cinch" or saddle- girth that, properly manipulated, holds the saddle or load in place. A "leadpipe" or "grapevine" cinch are superla- tives. This word is also applied to a modification of the game of Pedro. Cinder, "to take a cinder in it," is said in England where sodawater or lemonade is strengthened by the addition of brandy or other strong liquor. In this country we say "take a stick in it." Circumbendibus, round about ; a story with no end to it. Circumstance, "not a" (Am.), used as a comparison, as "That was not a circumstance to what happened once to me." Clabber, sour milk. Clack, talk. Clack-box, a garrulous person. Clack-dish (Old Cant), a dish carried by beggars in old time for the reception of food. Clag (Eng.), to stick. Claim (Am.), the land or mining property taken up by a settler or prospector. CLAIM-JUMPING is taking violent possession of another's claim, a common practice in the mining country, but risky. Clam "happy as a" (Am.). For some unknown reason this bivalve is supposed to enjoy perennial bliss and to be spec- ially happy at "high water." Clam-shell (Am.), the mouth. Common in New England, and used by Lowell in the BigloTv Papers. Clapper (Eng.), the tongue. Clapper-claw (Old Eng.), a row between women where caps are torn and faces clawed. See Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida. 68 CLA CLE Clap-trap (Eng.), high-sounding nonsense; bombast. "A trap to catch a clap (applause) from a theatre audience." Claque (French), the paid mob who attend the representa- tions or plays in France, and applaud at times arranged in advance. Claret (P. R.), blood. Class (Eng.), quality. "He cannot trot in that class" is said of an inferior horse in this country. Clutch (Old), a quantity; same as a BATCH or BROOD. Claver (Scotch) gossip. Clawhammer (Am.), a dress-coat; otherwise known as a "steel-pen" or "swallow-tail." Clay. "To moisten one's clay" (Eng.) is to drink. Clay-eater (Am.), a native South Carolinian. The "poor whites" in some of the back counties of that State eat con- siderable quantities of soft, white clay. Clean (Old Eng.), entirely "clean gone;" altogether gone; out of sight. Clean out (Eng.), to ruin; to exhaust financially or other- wise. Clear grit (Am.), decided; honest. Clear out (Am.), to go away. "Dig out" and "skip" are equivalent. Clem (North of England), to starve or to be thirsty. Clerk of the Weather, a mythical personage supposed to control the elements. See OLD PROBS. Clever, in the United States is used colloquially in the sense of good-natured, while in England it means handy, skillful, as "a clever mechanic." Where the Englishman says "clever" we say "smart," and where we would speak of a man as a "clever" fellow the Englishman would use the word "jolly." CLI CLY 69 Click (Eng.), to snatch or pull away. Clicker (Eng.), a female touterat a bonnet shop. Equiva- lent to the male "capper" or "steerer." Clinch (Eng.), a jail. Clinched (Eng.), locked up in jail. Clincher (Eng.), a statement which settles an argument; a lie which cannot be controverted. Clip, a blow or stroke with the hand. Clipper, a fast sailing vessel ; also applied to a showy, hand- some woman. CLIPPER-RIGGED means stylish; well-ar- ranged. Clipping: (Eng.), first class; excellent. Clock, (Eng.), a watch. A gold watch is a "red clock" or a red 'un; a silver watch is a "white 'un." Clock, "what's o'clock." To know this is to be "fly to the time of day;" wide-awake, knowing. Clodhopper (Eng.), a country clown. Clodpole (Eng.), an ignorant countryman. Clootie (Scotch), the Devil, from his supposed color; clootie, black. Cloud, "under a," to be in difficulties, disgrace, or disre- pute. Clout (Old Eng.) a cotton handkerchief. Clout (Eng.), a blow. Clout, to mend, as a tinker clouts a kettle, or a tailor clouts a garmet. Clover (Eng.), "to be in clover" is to be well off. The bookmaker who has so arranged his bets that he may win and cannot possibly lose is in clover, or "stands on velvet." Cly (Old Cant), the pocket. Cly-faker (Gip.), from Cly, a pocket; and FAKB (g. v.) t to rob, or to go on. See Father Prout's famous song, pur- porting to be a translation from the French. 70 COA COC Coach (Eng.), a private tutor; to coach is to instruct, and is used not only of mental but physical instruction. Thus it is said "The Oxford crew were coached from the tow-path by W. Blank, former stroke of the University crew." Coach-wheel or Cart-wheel, an English crown-piece, or five shillings. Coal (Eng.), money. Coals, "carrying." It is said of a pimp or pander that he will "carry coal." See Shakespeare, King Henry IV. Coals (Eng.), "to haul one over the," to take to task or to scold. Coast (Am.), to slide down hill on sleds in the snow. Cob (Eng.), a middle-sized horse. Cobbler (Am.), the name of a drink; "a sherry-cobbler." Cobbler (Eng.), a mender of old boots and shoes. Cock (Eng.), a jovial fellow; a "jolly old cock." Cock (Eng.), a story; a fake. Cock-a-hoop (Eng.), in high spirits. Cock-a-leekie (Scotch), a broth made of chicken. Cock and bull story, a long rambling anecdote. Cocked-hat, "knocked into a," knocked out of shape. Cocker, "according to." See ACCORDING TO GUNTER, ante. Cockey, impertinent. Cock-eyed, squinting. Cock laundress (Eng.), the male hanger-on of a laundry, who carries home the washing. Cockles (Eng.), "to warm one's cockles," a vulgar phrase implying great pleasure. Cockloft (Eng.), the upper room of a house; the attic. Cockney, a native of London, England. In order to be en- titled to this dis tinction the person must be born "within COG COL 71 the sound of Bow Bells," that is, of the bells of the Church of St. Mary le Bow, in Cheapside, London. Cock of the walk (Eng.), the master spirit; the head of a party. Cockshy (Eng.), from the game of that name in which arti- cles are set upon sticks to be thrown at. Any person abused in the newspapers is spoken of as a "cockshy." Cocksure ( Eng. ), certain. Cocktail (Am.), a mixed drink. Cocktail (Eng.),. an aged but lively horse. Cocky (Eng.), pert, swaggering, impudent. Cocoa-nut (P. R.), the head. Cocum (Gip.), shrewdness, luck. Cod (Eng.), to hoax, to "take a rise" out of one. C. O. D. (Am.), cash on delivery. Coddle (Eng.), to nurse; to make much of. Codfish aristocracy (Am.), the name applied to the nouveau riche of Massachusetts, who were said to have made their money out of the fisheries. Codger (Old Cant), an old man. Cog (Old Eng.), to cheat. See Merry Wives of Windsor, HI*3- Cogged (Old Eng.), loaded dice. Cold (Am.), certain, positive; as "I give it out cold" that I will do so-and-so. Cold coffee or Cold gruel (Eng.), bad luck. Cold deck (Am.), a pack of cards so arranged that the deal- er knows what kind of a hand he is giving his opponent. Cold meat (Eng.), a corpse. Cold scran (Irish), cold victuals. 7a COL "to give one," is to treat a friend with mod- ified civility, as when one calls at dinner time when no preparation has been made and is served with the remnant of yesterday's shoulder of mutton. Cold veal (Eng.), kissing one's sister. Cold "water (Eng.), "to throw on," to discourage. Cold water party (Am.), the Prohibitionists. Cold without (Eng.), spirits and cold water without sugar. Collar (Eng.), to seize hold of; to arrest. Also to steal. Collar (Am.), (as a noun) a policeman. Collar (Eng.), "out of," out of work. Same as "out of harness" or CARRYING THE BANNER. See BANNER, ante. Collide, to come into collision. Not recognized by English writers of to-day, although used by Dryden. Collogue (Irish), to conspire; to talk mysteriously. Prob- ably from colloquy or colleague, or a combination of both. Collop (Scotch), a small portion of meat. Color (Am.), in mining parlance a speck of gold; the small- est quantity which it will pay to work. Color (Eng.), complexion, tint. "I have not seen the color of his money," that is, he has not paid me yet. Colors (P. R.), handkerchiefs worn as distinctive emblems by prize-fighters on entering the ring. Boating crews have special colored caps; such as Oxford dark and Cam- bridge light blue. Jockeys are distinguished by their vari- colored caps and jackets. Colt, a professional cricketer or baseball player during his first season. Colt (Eng.), a weapon resembling a sling-shot. Also a piece of rope, formerly used in the navy for "colting" the ship-boys. COL COM 73 Colt (Eng.), to cause one to stand treat; to make him pay his looting. Colt's tooth (Eng.). The possession of one is alleged against certain elderly gentlemen of juvenile tastes. Comb (Am.), the ridge of a hill. Comb, "to cut one's" (Eng.), to take a person down; to mor- tify or disgrace him. From the practice of cutting the combs or wattles of domestic fowls. Combine (Am.), a word recently coined to express the same meaning as "trust" and supposed not to be quite so distaste- ful to the opponents of monopolies. Come-alongs (Am.), articles of twine or wire which may be twisted around the wrists and are used by policemen in lieu of handcuffs. Come down (Eng.), to pay; to milk down. Come off (Am.), go slow, let up, stop your conversation or tricks. Comether (Irish). It is said of some men, who have pre- sumably "kissed the Blarney stone," that they can "put the comether" on others ; that is, can cast a glamour over them and make them believe anything. Come out. In society parlance, a young lady "comes out" when she makes her debut or first formal appearance in society. Come-outers, in the slang of the conventicle, those who leave a religious organization because of some disagree- ment as to doctrine. Coming it (Eng.), proceeding at a great rate. Coming it strong (Eng.), putting on considerable style; at- tempting to do something hardly justified by the circum- stances. Coming tricks or Coming the old soldier (Eng.), trying to cheat or swindle one. 74 COM CON Commander, a sailor's term for a beetle or large rammer used for packing freight in a ship's hold. Commons, short, a scanty meal. Commons is English University slang for an allowance. Comp, abbreviation of compositor, a printer who works at the case ; a typo. Comprador (Sp.), an agent, sub-contractor, or boss steve- dore. Coney (Am.), counterfeit money. Coniacker (Am.), a counterfeiter. Conk, the nose. Con men (Am.), or confidence men, swindlers, bunko steer- ers. See BUNCO. Constable, "to overrun the" (Eng.), to exceed one's in- come. Constitutional (Eng.), a walk supposed to be taken for the benefit of the constitution. Contango, on the Stock Exchange, the price paid for carry- ing over bargains from day to day. Continental (Am.), first applied to the Congress which met in 1774; then to the army raised under its auspices, and then to the money or scrip issued by it. "Not worth a continental" has reference to the disrepute into which this money fell. Continuations (Eng.), trousers. Otherwise unmentiona- bles, inexpressibles, and other euphemisms of a mock- modest character. Contraband (Am.), which means properly anything for- bidden to be imported in time of war in neutral vessels, was applied during the Civil War, 1861-1865, to the negro slaves in the South. Gen. B. F. Butler held that negroes were "contraband of war" and declined to give them up. The negro was often spoken of later as "the intelligent contraband" by newspaper correspondents. CON COO 75 Contraption or Contription, a contrivance. Burns in Tarn (yShanter has "cantrip," doubtless the same thing. Convenient (Irish), near to, "handy by," to use another Hibernicism. Usually pronounced "convanient." Convey, to steal. "Convey the wise it call." So said an- cient Pistol. Conveyer or Conveyancer, a thief or "snapper-up of uncon- sidered trifles." Coof (Scotch), a fool. Cook, "to cook up accounts," to prepare such by false entries in order to produce a favorable impression. To "cook up a story" is to prepare a FAKE (.), a street fruit-peddler. Coster (Eng.), abbreviation of COSTERMONGER (see next). Shakespeare, Ben Jonson and Beaumont and Fletcher used the word in its present acceptation. Costermonger (Eng.), an itinerant peddler, of whom there are several thousands in London alone. Cotton, "to cotton to" is to take a fancy to or to like a per- son. Claimed as a native Americanism, but really Old English. Count, to suppose. "I counted on going." Counter (P. R.), to strike back; to exchange a blow. CROSS COUNTERING is hitting back with one hand in ex- change for a blow with the opposite one. Counter-jumper (Eng.), a shopman or clerk in a store. Counting ties (Am.); in many country places the railroads form the most direct and sometimes the only passable routes between towns. Tramps and others compelled to walk for lack of railroad fare speak of having "taken a contract to count ties," which is done one at a time. Country Jake, a greenhorn from the rural districts. County crop (Eng.), hair cut short as if by the prison bar- ber, at the expense of the county. Couple-beggar (Old Eng.), a degraded clergyman, or hedge priest, who marries people in irregular fashion. Course of Sprouts, "to put one through a," is to initiate him. Couter, an English sovereign. From the Gipsy cuta f a gold coin. Cove, a man or boy. Probably from the old Cant word cofe or cuffin. A GENTRY-COVE is a gentleman. COV CRA 79 Coventry, "sent to" (Eng.), banished or excluded from fel- lowship or society. The town of Coventry, England, was one where all trades were in the hands of the guilds of freemen, so that an outsider there had little chance. Cowan, a sneaking, prying, inquisitive person. The word is from the Greek for "dog." Freemasons speak of out- siders as "cowans," i. e. t strangers. Cowboy (Am.), a cattle-herder. During the Revolutionary War the name was applied to the country Tories of New York State. Cow-catcher (Am.), an appendage affixed to the front of a locomotive for the purpose of removing cattle or other ob- structions from the track. Cowhide or Rawhide (Am.), a whip made of twisted strips of rawhide. COWHIDING is thrashing one with such a weapon. Cow-lick (Eng.), a refractory lock of hair on the front of the head one which will neither curl nor lie down. Cow with the iron tail (Eng.), the pump. Cox (Eng.), the coxswain or steersman of a boat. Coyote (Am.), the prairie wolf. From the Mexican coyote. Crab, a sour, disagreeable person; no doubt from the crab or wild apple, which is a very ill-tempered fruit. Crab, "to catch a crab," (Eng.), to fall backwards by miss- ing a stroke in rowing. Crabbed (Eng.), ill-tempered; sour as a crab-apple. Crab-shells (Eng.), feet. Crabs, at dice, a pair of aces. Crack, first-rate, excellent; the favorite horse in a race. A crack hand, a crack article, a crack regiment. Crack (Gip.), kindling-wood. Derivation obvious. Crack a bottle (Eng.), to drink. In Old English "crush" is used, probably from the fact that the original bottles were of leather and presented a crushed appearance when empty. So CRA Crack a crib (Eng.), to break into a house. Cracked up (Eng.), ruined. Cracker (Am.), the poor whites of South Carolina. Crack-hemp (Old Eng.), a thief; one destined to the gal- lows. Cracking: a crust (Eng.), getting along after a fashion. "Cracking a tidy crust" denotes a more comfortable state of affairs. Crack on, to apply industriously ; to hurry along. Cracksman, a burglar, i. e., one who "cracks cribs." See CRIB. Crack up (Old Eng.), to praise or boast about; to boom. See BOOM, ante. Cradle (Am.), a scythe with a light frame work attached, used for cutting grain. Cradle (Am.), a machine shaped like a child's cradle and used for washing auriferous earth. See also ROCKER. Cradle of Liberty (Am.), Faneuil Hall, Boston. Cram (Eng.), to lie. Also to impart or acquire learning quickly, as in cramming for an examination. Crammer (Eng.), a University tutor who prepares pupils for competitive examinations by cramming them with in- formation on subjects which they are likely to be questioned on. Crammer (Eng.), a lie. Crank (Am.), an erratic person; one of ill-balanced mind. An unsteady ship is crank or cranky. Cranky, unsteady, foolish, erratic or cross in temper. An- cient Cant gives Cranke for simulated sickness, and Crankey-men for beggars. In German Krank means sickly. Craps (Am.), a game played by negroes with dice, and of CRA CRO 81 which the colored race are passionately fond. The mys- teries of "shooting craps," like the Chinese "fan-tan," are practically beyond the ken of white men. Crawfish (Am.), to back out; to retract one's statements. From the motion of the crawfish. Crawler or Growler, an English four-wheeled cab. Crazy-bone (Am.), the extremity of the elbow, a blow on which causes a painful tingling. See FUNNY-BONE. Crazy-quilt, an Americanism for the patch-work counter- pane. Cream of the valley or White satin (Eng.), gin. Crease (Am.), to shoot a horse or deer in the upper part of the neck, so that it falls stunned, but is not killed. Creek, which is properly a small bay, is the name applied in the Northern States and Canada to small streams. Creepy (Scotch), a stool. Crevasse (Sp.), a break in a levee or river bank. Crib (Eng.) a house, lodging or apartment. Otherwise a situation. Crib (Eng.), to steal or purloin. Crib (Eng.), a literal translation of a classical work, used by school-boys to save themselves the trouble of studying. Crikey, a stupid ejaculation used by cockneys as an expres- sion of astonishment. Possibly a corruption of Christ or Christus. Cripple (Eng.), a bent'coin. Crispin, a shoemaker, from the name of the patron saint of the craft. Croak (Eng.), to die. Croaker (Eng.), one who takes a despondent view of every- thing. From the ominous croaking of a crow or raven. Croaker (Eng.), a beggar. 82 CRO Croaks (Eng.), murderer's confessions; last dying speeches. Crock (Am.), an earthenware pot. Crocodile tears, the tears of a hypocrite. See Othello. Ancient travelers fabled that crocodiles wept to attract the attention of persons whom they then devoured. Crone (Eng.), an old woman. Crony, an intimate friend. See CHUM and PAL. Crook (Am.), a thief. Crooked (Am.), anything stolen. Crooked men, or familiarly "crooks," are thieves and crim- inals generally. Crooked stick (Eng.), an ugly tempered person. Crooked whisky (Am.), that upon which the government tax has not been paid. Crook one's elbow, to drink. Crop (Eng.), to cut short. See COUNTY CROP. Dog's ears are cropped. Crop (Eng.), a hunting whip. Cropped or Topped (Eng.), hanged. Cropper (Am.), one who cultivates a farm for a share of the crop. Cropper (Eng.), a fall in the hunting field. To "come a cropper" is applied also to a business failure or to disasters generally. Croppies, an opprobrious term applied to the Irish. "Crop- pies, lie down" is a line of a well-known song. Crop-up (Eng.), to turn up in the course of conversation. Cross, in the sporting world, is an arrangement for a fight or any contest to be won or lost irrespective of the merits of the contestants. A "double cross" is where the man who has "put up the job" plays straight at the last and swindles his associate swindler. CRO CRU 83 Cross, "on the" (Eng.), crooked, dishonest. Cross-crib (Eng.), a house frequented by thieves. Crossman (Eng.), a thief; a dishonest or crooked person. Crow (Am.), to exult over another as a cock does after a victorious battle. Crow, a lookout for thieves. Crows when foraging always set some of their number to watch and give the alarm. Crow, to eat crow (Am.). To take back what one has said. Politicians are sometimes compelled to eat considerable crow after an unsuccessful campaign. The story goes that a soldier shot the pet crow of a citizen, who, securing the soldier's gun, forced the man to eat a part of the unsavory bird. When the citizen returned the gun to the soldier the latter compelled the owner to finish the crow. The citizen complained to the commanding officer, who had the men paraded and the soldier picked out. "Do you know this gentleman?" said the officer. "Yes, sir, took breakfast with him this morning," was the answer. Crowbait, an aged and decrepit horse, only fit to feed the crows. Crowd (Am.), a company or gathering of any size. Crowdie (Scotch), oatmeal porridge. Crowding the mourners (Am.), pressing one too hard ; pre- suming on good nature. Mourners at a funeral have the first right to the carriages provided and are sometimes crowded by outsiders and chronic attendants at such occa- sions. Crow's feet (Eng.), wrinkles in the corners of the eyes. Crow to pick or Bone to pick (Eng.), a quarrel to settle. Cruel (Am.), used as a substitute for very, exceedingly. Crumbs, "to pick up" (Eng.), to be getting a living, or im- proving in appetite, health or circumstances. Crummy (Eng.), fat. In Cockney slang, lousy. 84 CRU CUR Crummy-doss (Eng.), a lousy, filthy bed. Crunch (Eng.), to crush. Crush (Eng.), to run away. Crush (Eng.), a crowd. Crusher (Eng.), a policeman. Crush-hat (Eng.), an opera hat. Crushing (Eng.), used as an adjective, much in the same way as "jolly" or "awfully," as "a crushing good time." Crusty (Eng.), ill-tempered, morose. Crutch and toothpick brigade, the name invented by the London Punch for the dude element. Cub, a mannerless youth; a lout. Cuddy (Scotch), a donkey. Cue (Eng.), the signal to an actor to reply to another, or for the curtain to fall, or the band to strike up. Cuffey (Am.), a negro. Cuffin (Old Cant), a man. Cul-de-sac (Fr.), the bottom of the bag; a street with no outlet, or blind passage. Cull or Cully (Gip.), a man or boy. Generally qualified as a ''rum cull" or "queer cull." Cully is almost a term of endearment. Cumber (Old Eng.), trouble. Cummer or Kiinmer (Scotch), a gossip or intimate ac- quaintance. Cunning (Am.), pretty, small, neat, cute. Cupboard love, the sentiment entered by the London police- man for the cook. Curbstone broker (Am.), a hanger-on of Boards of Trade or Stock Exchanges, who does his business on the sidewalk ; an irregular speculator with the street for his place of busi- ness and his office in his hat. CUR CUT 85 Cure (cockney), probably from curiosity; a funny fellow. Curios, abbreviation for curiosities; bric-a-brac. Curious (Eng.), often used for excellent, as "curious wines." Curious books are those which are "off-color." Curlicue (Am.), a fantastic ornament. Currency lads, native-born Australians. Curtain raiser, in theatrical language means a one-act farce which precedes the drama of the evening. In French lever de rideau. Cushion-sin it<>r or Tub-thumper or Bible-banker (Eng.), a clergyman. Cuss (Am.), a corruption of curse. Applied to a man as an "ugly cuss." Cussed ness (Am.), malice, spite. Customer (Eng.), a man; a "rum customer," a bad one to tackle or a queer fellow. Customer (Old Eng.), a common woman. Cut, has many meanings. "Cut and run" is to quit work and start off; "cut it," to desist; "cut that," be quiet; "cut your stick," go at once ; "cut your lucky," the same ; "cut up rough," to become obstreperous; "cut one's eye teeth," wide-awake, knowing. Cut, drunk. Cut, to ignore an acquaintance. Cut, to take cards from a pack to decide who shall deal. Cut and dried (Eng.), prepared or arranged in advance. Cuta or Couter (Gip.), an English sovereign or pound. Cut a splurge, to make a show or great display. Cute (Am.), abbreviation of acute. Cuteness, keenness. Cut of one's jib, the appearance of a man. Cut-off (Am.), where a river forms a new channel for itself 86 CUT by cutting through a bend ; a common occurrence on the Mississippi. See Mark Twain's river stories. Cut out (Eng.), defeated. Cutter (Am.), a sleigh. Cutter (Old Eng.), a highwayman, a thief. CUTTER'S LAW was the rule which governed outlaws in their deal- ings with each other. Cutting a swathe (Am.), same as CUTTING A DASH. Cutting capers or Cutting shines (Eng.), playing tricks. Cutting it fat (Eng.), overdoing it; making an extortionate profit. Cut up didoes (Eng.), to play tricks. Cutty (Eng.), a short clay pipe. Cutty (Scotch), short. See Tarn CPShanter'. "Tarn roars out 'Weel done, cutty sark,' And in an instant all was dark." Cut-under, to undersell in price. Cut up rough, to behave badly. Cut up well, is said of a wealthy man who dies and leaves a large fortune. Cut your lucky (Eng.), get away; run off. Cut your stick (Eng.), leave at once. D Dab or Dabster (Eng.), an expert. Daddle (Eng.), the hand. Daddy (Eng.), the stage manager of a theatre. Also a childish diminutive for father. Daddy longlegs (Eng.), a small insect with very long legs. Dade or Dadi (Gip.), a father. In English and Cymric, Dad. Daft (Scotch), silly; a harmless lunatic. Dago (Am.), a name given in the United States to the low- class Italians and Sicilians. Said to be derived from the Spanish Diego. Dago-shop, a low saloon or resort for depraved men and women, conducted by a Dago. Dags (Eng.), a corruption of daring. "I'll do your dags," I'll do anything you dare. Daisy, a young girl. Daisy-cutter, applied to a horse which trots or gallops with- out lifting its feet far from the ground. Also in the base- ball field to a straight "liner" which does not rise high. Damage, the cost. "What's the damage?" how much is to pay. Sometimes varied to "What is the extortion?" In England the bill\ in France f addition. Damaged (Am.), intoxicated. Damp (Am.), a drink. Damper (Eng.), a till or money drawer. Damper, an Australian term lor a cake, unleavened, and baked in the coals. 8? 88 DAM DAR Damper (Eng.), "to put a damper on," to discourage. Equivalent to "throw cold water" on a scheme. Dan to Beersheba, the extreme length of Ancient Pales- tine ; an expression used to signify great distance. A mod- ern equivalent is "from Jones's tavern to the forks of the road." Dance upon, nothing (Eng.), to be hanged. Dander (Am.), anger, passion. To "get one's dander up" is to get in a passion. Dandy, a fop. Byron uses the word, which originated about 1816. Prior to that time "macaroni" was the word. Later English is "swell" and sometimes "toff." In the United States "dude" is much used. Dandy (Irish), a small glass of whisky. Dandypratt (Old Eng.), a little fellow; a mannikin. Danites or Destroying angels (Am.), an organization with- in the Mormon ranks for the purpose of putting out of the way obnoxious Gentiles and apostate Mormons. They committed many murders, but their leader, Lee, was finally, 4 executed for his share in the "Mountain Meadow" massacre and the society exists no longer, at least for purposes of as- sassination. Darbies (Old Cant), handcuffs. Sir Walter Scott uses the term in Peveril of the Peak. Darby and Joan, an old married couple. Dark, blind. Dark (Eng.), secret, as "Keep it dark." Dark and bloody ground (Am.), Kentucky. Dark horse (Eng.), one cf whom little is known, but who may prove dangerous in a race. Dark mans (Gip.), night. Darky (Am.), a negro. DAR DBA 89 Darn (Am.), a euphemism for damn. Dash (Eng.), fire, vigor. Dash, an ejaculation much in favor with the "heavy father" on the stage, who in the old comedies "dashes his wig," his buttons and everything else. Dashing- (Eng.), showy, fast. David's sow, "drunk as," the exact state of intoxication at- tained by this animal is unrecorded, but he probably got along as far as his brother, "St. Anthony's pig." Davy (Eng.), "on my davy," or Alfred Davy; on my affi- davit. Davy's locker (Sea term), the bottom of the sea. Some- times DAVY JONES'S LOCKER. Dawdle (Eng.), to loiter or fritter away time. Daylights (Gip.), eyes. Dazed (Eng.), confounded or bewildered. Deacon (Am.), to deacon berries is to place the best fruit on top, a practice not entirely unknown outside of church cir- cles. "All deacons are good, but there's odds in deacons," is a Yankee proverb. Deacon (Am.), to deacon off a hymn is to give it out line by line. Deacon (Am.); the skin of a very young calf, which has been "killed to save its life," is known as a "deacon." Dead-alive (Eng.), stupid, dull. Dead-heat (Eng.), exhausted, "done up." Dead heat (Am.), a fellow who borrows money or obtains credit on all kinds of pretenses and pays nobody. With a wholesome fear of the law he keeps just outside of the statutes against fraud, and he seldom possesses the qualities of a first-class swindler. Dead-broke (Am.), out of cash; penniless. 90 DEA Dead gon^ (Am.), infatuated. A girl is "dead gone" on a man or vice versa. Dead-head (Am.), one who has free admission to theatres or free rides on railroads, etc. Dead-beat (Eng.), when two horses in a race finish so close together that the judges are unable to deeide between them. Dead horse, "working on the" (Eng.), doing work which has been paid for in advance. Dead letter, an action of no value or weight. Letters gone astray in the postoffice or which fail to reach their owners. Dead loads (Am.), a great quantity of anything. Dead-lock, a standstill. Perhaps the most famous is that in the Critic, when Mr. Puff gets all his characters with their daggers at each other's throats. Dead man (Eng.), a baker. Dead man or "dead *un" prop- erly means an extra loaf smuggled into the basket by the journeyman. Sometimes it represents an extra loaf charged to the customer but not delivered. Dead men (Eng.), empty bottles. Deadmen's shoes, "waiting for" (Eng.), is considered a wearisome task. Dead money (Eng.), bets laid by a bookmaker early in the racing season against horses which are struck out before the race, and on which the bookmaker of course wins the amount deposited by the backer. Dead nuts, to be "dead nuts" on one is to be in love with or fascinated with the person. Dead rabbit (Am.), a loafer or tough; the Baltimore equiv- alent for the New York plug-ugly, the ward striker or heeler, the saloon loafer and political bummer and thug everywhere. Dead-set (Eng.), a pointed and persistent attack on a per- DBA DEU 91 Dead soldier (Eng.), an empty bottle. Dead to rights (Am.), certain, positive. Having a man "dead to rights" is said by officers who have found absolute proof of crime against him. Dead 'tin, a horse which it is known is not meant to win. It is known also as a SHTUMER or SAFE 'UN (qr. v.) Deaner (Gip. denier), an English shilling. Dear me, an English ejaculation derived, probably, from Dio mio. Death (Eng.), "dressed to death" or "dressed to kill," the extreme of fashion. Death (Am.), "to be death on" anything is to be completely master of the subject or devoted to it. Deck (Old Eng.), a pack of cards. See Shakespeare, King Henry IV t v t z. General in the U. S.; not used now in England. Dee or D, a pocketbook ; a detective. Deed (Am.), to convey property by deed or assignment. Deft (Old), clever, neat. Dell (Gip.), a girl. Demi-rep (Eng.), a courtesan; one of demi-monde reputa- tion. Depot (French), a railway station. Derrick. This word, now in common use in the United States to signify a scaffold -like construction to support a crane, is derived from the name of an English hangman, who flourished early in the iyth century. Derringer (Am.), a revolver. Destroying angels (Am.), see DANITES, ante- Deuce, of cards, dice or dominoes, the two spot, Deuce, a euphemism for the devil. Said to be a corruption of Deus or Zeus. 92 DEV DIG Devil (Eng.), the Attorney General's devil, a young lawyer who assists in getting up cases for his leader. Devil-dodger (Eng.), a clergyman; also one who attends church semi-occasionally only. Devilled bones (Eng.), the "drumsticks" of a fowl, sprinkled with cayenne pepper and grilled. Devil, printer's, (Eng.), the press-boy, messenger or ap- prentice in a printing office. It is said that Fust, the orig- inal printer, employed a negro boy, wkom the ignorant populace thought was the devil. Devil's delight (Eng.), a row. Devil's picture books, cards. Burns uses the expression in The Two, Dogs. Devil's teeth or Devil's bones (Eng.), dice. Dew-beaters (Old Eng.), feet. Dibs or Dibbs (Old Eng.), money. Dice or Dicer (Am.), a silk hat. See also TILE. Dickens, the devil. See Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor. Dicker (Am.), a bargain or trade. Used as a verb, to dicker is to bargain. Dickey (Eng.), an imitation shirt front. Dickey (Eng.), a seat on a stage coach or traveling carriage usually occupied by a servant. Dickey (Eng.), inferior, sick, poor. Dicky (Old Eng.), a donkey. Diddle, to cheat or defraud. Jeremy Diddler, in the old farce of Raising the Wind^ was a type of this petty fraud. Didoes, "to cut up," to play tricks or capers. Possibly from "Widow" Dido's relations with yEneas. Dig (Eng.), a blow; "a dig in the ribs." Diggers (Eng.), spurs. Also the spades in cards. DIG DIT 93 Diggings (Eng.), lodgings. Digging up the hatchet (Am.), Indians when about to commence war are said to dig up the war-hatchet. See BURYING THE HATCHET, ante. Dight (Old Eng.), to clean or dress. Dig out (Am.), to go away. Dike (Scotch), a ditch or wall. Dilly-dally (Eng.), to trifle. Dimmock, money. Dinarly, from the Latin Denarius^ money. Ding (Old Eng. and Scotch), to strike; a heavy blow. Dingy, a flat-bottomed boat. Dining with Duke Humphrey (Eng.), going without din- ner. Dipper (Am.), a bowl with a handle. The constellation of the Great Bear, called in England Charles's Wain, is known in the United States as the Dipper. Dirt (Am.), real estate; any kind of earth. Miners speak of "poor dirt" and "pay dirt." Dirt, "to eat" (Eng.), to humble oneself. From the Orien- tal practice of grovelling on the earth in the presence of a superior. Disgruntled (Am.), disappointed, disconcerted. Disguised (Eng.), in drink. Dish, to suppress or defeat. Earl Derby boasted that he had "dished the Whigs," when he partly adopted their pol- icy and "stole their thunder." Disremember (Am.), to forget Distressed, wretched, miserable. Dittoes (Eng.), a suit of clothes, all the pieces of the same material. 94 DIT DOG Ditty-bag, a sailor's bag containing his thread, needles, etc., for mending his clothes. Dive (Am.), a basement saloon, wine room or low variety show. Diver (Eng.), a pickpocket. Divide (Am.), the mountain ridge which forms a backbone of the country and divides the watersheds of the rivers. Divy (Am.), an abbreviation of dividend; the share coming to each person. Dixie (Am.), the South. Do or Done, has a dozen meanings, such as to cheat, to knock out in a prize-fight, or briefly to accomplish any- thing. "I done him" means I cheated him, while to "do one up" means to thrash him. Dock, to cut down one's wages. Dock-walloper (Am.), a laborer on the wharves or docks. Doctor (Eng.), to adulterate or to drug or poison. A ship's cook is called "the doctor" by the sailors. Dodge, a trick, to dodge, to escape. The "Artful Dodger" will be remembered by all readers of Dickens' Oliver Twist. Dodger (Eng.), a drink. Dodger (Am.), a cake of meal. See CORN-DODGER, ante. Dodman (Eng.), a snail. See David Copperfield. Dog, to follow a person's footsteps as a dog would do; to spy- Dog-cheap, very cheap; far below the actual value. Doggery (Am.), a low "dive" or unlicensed whisky shop. Doggone (Am.), a mild form of oath dog being God trans posed. Dog's age, a long time. See COON'S AGE. Dogs ears, the curled corners of the leaves of a book. DOG DON 95 Dogs, "gone to the," ruined. An old or worthless horse sold to feed hounds goes to the dogs. Dog's nose (Eng.), a mixture of gin and beer. Otherwise known as "a h'aporth and a penn'orth." That is, one cent's worth of beer and two cents' worth of gin. Dog-tired, played out ; like a dog after a hard day's run. Dog, "too much" (Am.), is the equivalent for "too mucn side" or style. Doing time (Eng.), working out a prison sentence. Doings (Am.), prepared food; otherwise fixings. Doldrums, a sea term for difficulties or low spirits. A sail- ing vessel in a calm is in the doldrums. Dollar (Eng.), five shillings. Half a dollar, two shillings and sixpence. Dollar of the dads (Am.), the 412^ grain silver dollar, claimed to be the coin favored by the fathers of the re- public. Dollop (Old Eng.), a lump. From the Anglo-Saxon dole, a portion. Dolly-shop (Eng.), an unlicensed pawn-shop. These were originally rag shops or junk shops, and had for a sign a black doll. Domestics (Am.), cotton goods. Dominie (Scotch), a school-master. In the United States often applied to a clergyman. From the Latin Dominus t master. Domino, the last. Dominoes (Eng.), or box of ivories, the teeth. Don (Eng.), the Head or master of a college or the Fellows. Don as an adjective means a smart or clever fellow, as "He is a don at billiards." 96 DON DOU Dona (Gip.), probably from the Spanish Donna, a girl or woman. Donate (Am.), to contribute; to give. Donation party (Am.). In the rural districts church mem- bers sometimes supplement the meagre salary of their pas- tor by descending upon him in a body, each person carry- ing a load of groceries or other useful articles which are presented to him. The affair partakes of the nature of a jollification, and it is said that sometimes, thanks to the healthy appetites of the visitors, the "dominie's" larder is emptier after they leave than before they came. Done (Am.), is used by Southern negroes, "done gone" or "done come," etc. Done (Eng.), cheated. See Do. Done brown (Eng.), completely swindled. Done up (Eng.), finished, beaten. Donnet (Scotch), a stupid person. Dope, to dose, to poison. Dorados (Gip.), gold pieces. Dornick (Am.), a stone or "rock." Dose (Eng.), a sufficiency, either of thrashing or drink Doss (Gip.), a bed, or to sleep. Perhaps from doze. Dossing-ken (Gip.), a lodging house. Do tell (Am.), a Yankeeism for "really," "indeed.' Double (Eng.), to turn or dodge, as a hare does when pur- sued. Double-decker (Am.), two "cocktails," or other morning refreshers in one; a drink for a thirsty man. Double harness (Eng.), wedded life. Double set up, two kinds of bread served in a restaurant. Double-shuffle, a dance of the flip-flap order. Double up (Eng.), to beat severely. DOU DOX 97 Douce (Scotch), wise, careful, pious and most of the other vir- tues combined. Such a character as "Douce David Deans" in the Heart of Midlothian. Dough, money. Doughface (Am.), according to Lowell "a contented licks- pittle, a common variety of Northern politician." The genus was common enough in Congress and outside that body during slavery times. Dough-head, a stupid fellow. Doughy (Eng.), a baker. Douse the glim (Gip.), put out the light. Down East (Am.), New England. Down in the mouth (Eng.), disconsolate. Down on a man, to detect his tricks. Also to dislike or to be opposed to a person. Down on your luck (Am.), unfortunate, miserable. Downs, "all in the" (Eng.), miserable. See ALL IN THE DOWNS, ante. Down the road (Eng.), fancy, stylish, showy. Down to the ground (Am.), entirely. "That suits me down to the ground." UP TO THE HANDLE has the same meaning. Downy (Eng.), knowing, cunning. A "downy cove" is a sharper; one who is "fly." Dowry (Gip. ), a lot. A "dowry" of "parny" is a lot of rain. Do you see any green in my eye (Eng.), a common inquiry when a catch or fraud is attempted. Doxy (Gip.), a girl. An English bishop asked to define ortho- doxy said, "Orthodoxy is my doxy; heterodoxy is another man's doxy." Sometimes spelt DOXIE and applied to little girls as a term of endearment. 98 DRA DRE Drab (Old Eng.), a low woman. Used by Shakespeare. Draff, brewer's grains or swill fed to hogs. "Still swine eat all the draff." Old Proverb. Drag (Eng.), feminine apparel worn by men. Drag (Eng.), a wagon or brake drawn by two or four horses. Generally a "swell turnout." Drag (Eng.), a street or road. BACK DRAG, an alley or back street. Drag (Eng.), three months in jail. Drag (Eng.), an anise-seed bag used in imitation fox hunts to furnish scent for the hounds, the bag being dragged across country. Draggletail (Old Eng.), a dirty, slovenly woman. Dragon, an English sovereign, from the St. George and Dragon on the obverse of the coin. Drag out (Am.), a "knockdown and drag out" is a fight of a rough and tumble character. Drain (Eng.), a drink. Draw has many meanings. A theatrical performance "draws good houses ;" a man can be "drawn on ;" a pick- pocket "draws a wipe" or a "ticker," and a man in a fight "gets the draw" on his pistol in a hurry, if he wants to get the "drop" on his opponent. Draw (Am.), the game of draw-poker. Draw a bead (Am.), to take aim with a rifle. Draw it mild (Eng.), do not exaggerate. Draw one in the dark ( Am.), a cheap restaurant order for a cup of coffee. Draw tbe long bow, to tell an extravagant, Munchausen- like story. Equivalent to "pitching the hatchet," (y. v.) Dreadful, greatly, very. Used and misused like the words awful and awfully, as a dreadful good man, a dreadful fine house. DRE DUB 99 Dressed to kill or Dressed to death or Dressed up to the nines, all mean the same thing, viz., dressed too much; too showy. Drink (Am.), a river; any body of water. Drive (Am.), a mass of logs accumulated on a stream and floated down at high water. Drive (Am.), the annual "round-up" of cattle on the plains for the purpose of branding them. Driver (Am.), a hustler; a hard taskmaster. Driving at, "What are you driving at?" what are you do- ing? Drop (Am.), to get the drop on a man is to pull and fire a revolver before he can get his revolver in hand. Drop (Eng.), to drop an acquaintance. A mild form of cut- ting. Drop game (Eng.), See RING DROPPING. Drop it (Eng.), quit, let up. Drum (Eng.), a house or lodging. FLASH DRUM, a house of ill-fame. Drum (Eng.), fashionable slang for a ball or rout, now al- most obsolete. Drum (Eng.), the road. Drum ulo (Old Eng.), to drone, to be sluggish. See Merry Wives of Windsor. Drummer (Am.) a commercial traveler. Drumsticks (Eng.), legs. Drunk, a drinking bout. "On a big drunk." Dry up (Am.), make an end, quit. D. T., Delirium tremens. Dub or Dup (Old Eng.), to open or close a door. Dub (Eng.), to pay "dub up," pay up. Dnbber (Gip.), the tongue. ioo DUB DUN Dubersome (Am.), doubtful, a corruption of dubious. Ducats, money. Dude, a swell or dressy man. From the old Gipsy dudes, clothes, that being all there is to the modern dude. Dudecn or Dudheen (Irish), a short pipe. Duds (Gip.), clothes. Duff (Eng.), pudding. Duffer (Eng.), anything worthless. A man of no account is a duffer and sham jewelry is duffing. Dug-out (Am.), a house made by excavating the prairie and throwing up the soil to form sides and a roof. Dug-out (Am.), a canoe. Duke Humphrey, "to dine with" (Eng.), to go without dinner altogether. Dukes or Dooks (P. R.), the hands or fists. "Put up your dukes" is an invitation to fight or spar. Dull (Eng.), stupid, or hard of hearing. Dumb-founded (Eng.), perplexed confused. Dummy (Eng.), a deaf mute. Dummy (Eng.), a pocket-book. Dummy (Eng.), an empty bottle or box, used to fill up store shelves. Dump (Am.), to unload. Dump (Am.), the place at the mouth of a coal pit where the waste is deposited. Any place where dirt or rubbish is un- loaded. Dumpish (Eng.), dull, stupid. Dumpy (Eng.), short and stout; also surly. Dun, probably from <#, noise; to demand payment of a bill. Dunderhead (Eng.), a blockhead; a stupid person. DUN DYE 101 Dunnage (Sea term), baggage, clothing. JLMmop (Back slang), an English pound or sovereign. Dupe f Am.), in printing office parlance, means the duplicate proofs, by which the amount of matter set by a compositor is measured; the aggregate "dupes" pasted together form- ing his "string." Durned or Darned, a corruption of damned ; a Puriten oath. Dust (Eng.), "raise a dust," to make a row. Dust (Eng.), money. Dust (Eng.), to go away. "Dust out of this." Dust (Eng.), to beat To "dust one's jacket" Duster (Am.), an outside coat of linen used when traveling. Dusty, "not so" (Eng.), not so bad. Dutch (Am.), the German people. Said to be from Dcutsck, German. But 200 years ago it was in common English use, and as the early settlers of New York were Hollanders and not Germans, the term was adopted in this country. Dutch courage, that which comes from gin. "And there the sachem learnt the rule He taught to kith and kin: Run from the white man when you find He smells of Holland's gin. 0. W. ffolmet. Dutch Uncle. I talked to him like a Dutch uncle" probably has a meaning, but what that exactly is or whence the phrase comes is unknown. Dyed in the wool (Am.), applied to old-time politicians who have strictly kept the faith, their principles, like home- spun clothing, being "dyed in the wooL" There are very few left / V/Oo- 5^4 ,^y ,,,.4/C.. 'I* '4 *" ^ 's- L v- fi - v - q AV * - -J I c~~- vb* ^ Eager (Old Eng.), sharp. See Hamlet. "The air biteth shrewdly. * * * * It is a nipping and an eager air." Eagle (Am.), a ten-dollar gold coin. A double eagle is twenty dollars; a half eagle five dollars. Ear-bob (Am.), an ear-drop. Earmark (Eng.), the token by which anything is known. Earth, "wants the" (Am.), said of anyone who evinces a greedy disposition. Earwig (Eng.), a clergyman. Ease (Eng.), to rob. East (Am.). "About East" is about right Eat Ms head off (Eng.), a horse kept idle in the stable is said to do this. Ebony (Am.), a negro. "God's image carved in ebony." Egg 1 , "to egg on," to stir one up to strife. Probably from the Anglo-Saxon eggian. Grose gives it as agging^ and the derivation as the French agacer^ to provoke. Egypt (Am.), Southern Illinois, either because there is corn in it or, as its enemies say, because it is the land of dark- ness. Elbow, "to shake one's" (Am.), to throw dice. "To crook [ one's elbow," to drink, from the motions made. Elbow grease (Eng.), labor. Said by notable housewives to be the best kind of furniture polish. Elephant, "to see the" (Am.), to "do" the town; to see the sights, especially those of an immoral character. ELE EVE 103 Elevated (Eng.), Intoxicated. Emerald Isle, Ireland. Empire State, the State of New York. New York City is sometimes styled the Empire City. E nipt ins (Am.), yeast. Twill take more emptin's by a long chalk than this new party's got To give such heavy cakes as these a start, I'll tell you what." Biglow Papers. Enemy, "the" (Eng.), time. "What says the enemy ?" what o'clock is it. English (Am.), in the game of billiards, is the peculiar twist or "side" given to the cue-ball by striking it on one side or the other. Enthuse (Am.), to manifest delight; to become enthusiastic. A mere newspaper barbarism. Ephesian (Old Cant),a toper. See II King Henry IV, Act //, Scene 2. Essence peddler (Am.), mephitis mephatica, the native American skunk. Essex lion (Eng.), a calf. The people of Essex, England, are charged by their neighbors with considering a calf a wild beast. "Essex calves" is the generic term for the na- tives of the county. Euchre (Am.), to defraud or cheat; to beat, as one is "eu- chred" who fails to make his point at the card game of that name. Eventuate (Am.), to happen. Often used, but not good English. Ever faithful isle, Cuba. Everlasting, great, exceeding. Everlasting staircase (Eng.), the treadmill, better known as the "mill." Every which way (Am.), anyhow, anyway. 104 EXC EYE Exchange (Am.), a euphemism for a drinking shop or saloon. Ex's, expenses. Eye-opener, a morning drink. Eye's skinned, "to keep one's," to be on the alert; watch- ful. Eye teeth, "to cut one's," to be wide-awake ; sharp. Eye water (Eng.), gin. Face (Eng.), to run one's face, to obtain credit; impudence. Facer (P. R.), a blow in the face. In Ireland a stiff drink of whisky. Face the music (Am.), to meet the emergency; to stand up against trouble. "To come up to the scratch," or to "toe the mark." Fad (Eng.), a hobby. Fadge (Eng.), a farthing; one-fourth of an English penny. Fudge (Old Eng.), a burden. Fadge (Shakespeare), to suit. See Love's Labor Lost. Fag (Eng.), a lower school-boy in the English public schools who performs menial offices and fetches and carries for his elder schoolmates. See Thomas Hughes' Tom Brown at Rugby. Faggott (Eng.), a collection of odds and ends of meat, pop- ular among the London poor. It consists of "fag-ends." Faggott (Eng.), an opprobrious term used by English women of the lower class in speaking of one of their own sex. Fair and square, honorable, straightforward. Fairings (Eng.), gifts brought from a country fair. Fair off (Am.), said of clearing weather. Fair shake, "to give one a" (Am.), is to use him properly; to give him a fair chance. Fake (Eng.), to cheat or swindle; otherwise to go on. "Fake away" is an encouragement given by thieves to their pals. See Ainsworth's Jack Shephard. 105 106 FAK FAR Fake (Eng.), to hocus or poison a horse with a view to making him safe in a race. Fake (Am.), has come to mean in the United States a story without foundation. Some persons, known as "fakirs," have achieved an unenviable reputation in press circles by their indulgence in this practice. Fakement (Eng.), a begging petition or writing of any kind. In effect, anything new or strange is a fakement. Fall, "riding for a" (Eng.); in the hunting field and when steeple-chasing, if a rider finds that he has no chance to win he sometimes "rides for a fall," that is, picks out a soft place to be thrown off. Business men in difficulties fix their books so that when the inevitable crash comes there is something left for them, and thus ride for a fall. Fall (Am.), the season of autumn, when the leaves fall. Fal-lals (Eng.), trumpery ornaments or gew-gawsj super- fluous ribbons, etc. Falling weather (Am.), rainy or snowy weather. Fambles (Old Cant), the hands. Family, "the" (of thieves). The predatory class speak of each other as of "the family." See Father Prout and Ainsworth. Fancy (Eng.), the prize ring and its adherents. The para- mour of a prostitute is known as her "fancy man." Fandango (Sp.), a dance. Fanning (Eng.), stealing. Fanning, a beating. Fanning around, making a good deal of fuss about noth- ing. Fantegue or Fanteeg, bewilderment, flustration. Fardel, a burden. See Hamlet'. "Who would fardels bear?" FAR FEA 107 Fardowner (Irish), a native of Connaugbt. Fash (Scotch), to bother, to trouble or tease. Fast, gay, thoughtless, inclined to dissipation. Alleged by Hotten to be an Americanism, but without authority. Fast, tied up for want of money. Fast and loose, "to play" (Eng.), to equivocate or dodge. Fat, in the language of the printer (compositor) means the void spaces in a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as for solid matter. Actors talk, too, of "fat" parts. Some- times spelled "phat" by phonetically inclined "comps." Father (Eng.), a fence or receiver of stolen property. Prac- tically the same thing as "Uncle" when applied to "shady" pawn-brokers. Favor (Old Eng.), to resemble. Favorite, in racing parlance the horse which stands best in the betting. A "hot favorite" may start with money on him, that is odds may be laid that he will win even though there are several horses in the race. Fawney (Old Cant), a ring. The FAWNEY-RIC is the old ring-dropping trick, where the operator pretends to pick up a ring, which he tells the victim behind him is no good to him. He is a poor man, etc., and will sell it for what the other man pleases. The dupe, thinking he has a sure thing, pays, of course, for a worthless fraud. Faze or Phaze (Am.), to bother or knock out. "You can- not faze Smith would be considered a compliment by that gentleman. The word is sometimes pronounced Feaze. Feather (Eng.), in rowing is to so carry the oar as to meet the least possible resistance. Feather, "in full" (Eng.), well-dressed. Feathered his nest, said of one who has well-provided lor himself at the expense of others. Feather-weight (P. R.), a pugilist who fights at a very io8 FEA FFV low weight, or a jockey who can ride a yearling or two-year old. Featly (Old Eng.), neatly, dexterously. Feed, a dinner. Feed, "off one*s"(Eng.), having lost one's appetite. Feele (Gip.), a girl. From the French fille. Feel to do (Am.), to be inclined to do anything. Feet, "to feel one's," said of a child learning to walk, and by analogy of a boy or girl beginning to "take notice." Fellow (Am.), a vulgarism for sweetheart. Felt, a hat, whether of that or any other soft material, but not applied to a silk hat, which is a "dicer" or "high dicer" or a dozen other things. Fence, "on the" (Am.). See ON THE FENCE. Fence (Eng.), a receiver of stolen property, such as Dickens' Fagin. Fend (Old Eng.), to take care of; to shift for. Fennits (Eng.), probably from "feign it," a word used by children at play when they seek to avoid being caught while resting without leaving the game. A sort of armis- tice is declared by the utterance of the word. Ferninst or Fernenst (Irish), opposite, over against; often erroneously used in the sense of opposed to. Fetich, an object of superstitious reverence. A savage will make a fetich of a stone or an animal or of almost any- thing. Fettle, "in good fettle," in good condition. Few (Eng.), used to signify the exact opposite, as "Did you have a good time?" "Just a few." "Rather" is an equiva- lent. In Scotland few signifies a quantity, as "Will you have a few porridge?" F. F. V. (Am.), an abbreviation for "first families of Vir- FIB FIG 109 ginia," a race supposed to be descended from English aristo- crats and Indian princesses. Fib, to lie. Fibbing, in the prize-ring means blows delivered rapidly and from a short distance. Fid, a drink. The word is used by sailors and especially by whalers. Fid, a plug of tobacco. Fiddle, "to play second," to act a subordinate part. riddle-fuddle, trifling talk, twaddle. Fiddler, a cheat or sharper. Fiddler, an English sixpence. Fiddler's green, the place where sailors go to when they die, a sort of Limbo of rum and tobacco, with plenty of fid- dling and dancing. Fiddler's money (Eng.), small change. See CHICKEN- FEED. Fiddlesticks (Eng.), an ejaculation signifying nonsense. Fiddling (Eng.), wasting time, idling, trifling. Field, the whole number of competitors in a race. In bet- ting the "field" represents the bulk of the horses as op- posed to the favorite. Field, to look out at cricket, base-ball or foot ball. Fig, "in full fig" (Eng.), in dress costume. Probably from the fig-leaf costume which Eve assumed when she first re- alized the necessity of clothes. Figaro, a barber. From the Barber of Seville. Fight shy (Eng.), to keep away from. Fight the tiger (Am.), to gamble. Figure, the price. "What's the figure?" is the equivalent of "How much is the damage?" or "What's the robbery (or extortion)?" addressed to a hotel or shop-keeper. no FIG FIR Figure, to consider, to count the cost. Figure, "to cut a good figure," to make a good appearance. Figure-head (Eng.), the face. Filch (Old Eng.), iromfylcke, to rob. File (Eng.), "a deep file," spoken of a cunning or artful man. Filibuster, the name given to the adventurers who made raids on Cuba, Nicaragua and Mexico,and of whom Walker was a type. The word is from the Spanish filibustero^ a freebooter. Filibustering (Am.), in legislation, the ue of irregular means to defeat a proposed measure. Filly, a young girl, from the French fille, or from filly, a young mare. Fin, the hand. Used mostly by sailors. Finder, one who finds things before they are lost; like the Highlander who found the tongs beside the kitchen fire. Finger in the pie, "to have a," to be connected with an un- dertaking or business. Finish, a fight to a," a prize-fight where it is specified that one of the contestants shall be knocked out. Finnuf, a five-pound Bank of England note. Doubtless from the German finif^ five. Fip or Fippuns, five pence, English money. A FIP in the United States, one-sixteenth of a dollar; a half -real or PIC- AYUNE, (g. v.) Fire (Am.), to throw out, to discharge, to bounce. Fire-away, go in, make a start. Fire-eater ( Eng.), a quarrelsome man, a braggart. As a rule the professional fire-eater eats all the men he kills; in other words his brag is seldom backed by action. Fire-water (Am.), whisky. First-chop (Pidgin Eng.), excellent. First class, the best, capable, great. FIRFIX nt First Luff (Sea term), first lieutenant in the navy. First rate, of the first class or order; applied to a war-res- sel of heavy armament. First robber, the box-office man of a theatre. Fish, "an odd fish," or "a queer fish" is said of erratic or doubtful people. Fish-fag, a market-woman ; any vixenish or foul-mouthed woman. No doubt from the obscene and vulgar language of the Billingsgate market-women. Fish out of water, a man out of his right place; not in his proper element. Fishy, a doubtful story. "It smells fishy" is said of a yarn that passes belief. Fish-stories are proverbially exagger- ated. Fits, "to give one," to punish him. Five-pence, otherwise FIPPUNS, "fine as," an absolutely meaningless comparison. Fives, "bunch of" (P. R.), the fist. Fivses (Cockney), fingers. "Fivses were made before forks.'* Five water grog, very weak rum and water. What the sailors call "water bewitched and rum begrudged." Fix (Am.), is used in the United States in many forms. A housewife fixes the dinner ot the furniture, fixes her dress or her obstreperous boy, the latter by a summary process. A man in a predicament is in an awful fix. No so-called Americanism has been so much derided by English writ- ers, but the word is after all a useful one, and by no means so often misplaced as is alleged. At least while used in the sense of to put in place, "fix" is a good enough word, and if Mary fixes her "bangs" or Tommy fixes his sled they are well within the limit. Fixings (Am.), the accompaniments of a dish. The Amer. ii2 v FIZ FLI lean speaks of "chicken fixings;" the Englishman of a leg of mutton and "trimmings." Fiz, champagne. Fizzing (Eng.), excellent, first rate. Fizzle, a failure. Flabbergast (Old Eng.), to astonish or strike with wonder. Flag (Eng.), the aprons worn by auctioneer's assistants, touts and porters. Flam (Eng.), nonsense; a tale which cannot be believed. Flame (Eng.), a sweetheart. Flapdoodle (Am.), nonsense; stuff they feed fools on. Flap-jack (Old Eng.), a pancake. See Shakespeare, Peri- cles, Prince of Tyre. Flare (Old Eng.), to blaze up. Flare up, a social gathering. Otherwise a row. Flash, the language of Cant or Slang. A flashy man is one who is dressed with more regard to cost than good taste. Flash jewelry is that of the "Brummagem" variety, better known as "Snide" (g. z>.) Flash money is counterfeit. Flashing a roll (Am.), to display a lot of money. Flash in the pan, a failure, from the flashing of the powder in an old-fashioned gun. Flat, a fool or stupid person. Flat broke, out of money ; destitute. Flatch, an English half-penny. Flat-footed, "to come out" (Am.), to make an authoritative statement. Downright, resolute. Flatten out, to fail, to collapse. Flick or Old flick, (Eng.), a term of endearment used by the vulgar. Flick, to strike with a whip. FLI FLU 113 Flicker, "let her flicker." Let her go. Flies, (Am.), "no flies on him;" no nonsense about him. Flim-flam (Old Eng.), nonsense; a stupid story. See Beau- mont and Fletcher. Flimsy (Eng.), a Bank of England note. Flimsy, copying paper used by reporters. Fling, "to have one's" to indulge or dissipate. Flip, fresh, fly, impudent. Flip-flop, a dance or break-down ; a somersault. Flipper, the hand. Sailor's slang. Flit (Scotch and Old Eng.), to remove from one house to another. Floater (Am.), a body found in the river or lake. Floor (P. R.), to knock down. Floored, beaten, knocked out. Floorer, a knock-down blow. Flop, to fall over suddenly, as one who faints. Flop (Am.), in politics, to change front on a question. Fluke (Eng.), an accidental shot at billiards, or indeed any- thing gained when not expected. Flume (Am.), in the mining districts "flumes" are used to convey water for the purpose of washing out pay-dirt. A man who dies is said to have "gone up the flume." Flummery, flattery, gammon, nonsense. The name is also given to a light pudding. Flummoxed, perplexed. Sometimes pronounced "kerflum- mixed." Flunk, to fail, to back out. See FUNK. Flunkey (Eng.), a man servant or footman. Flunky, frightened, timid. Flush (Am.), having plenty of money. 1 14 FLU FOO Flush, in the game of cribbage, where the hand of cards consists all of one suit, or where the "crib" and the turn-up card are all of one suit. Flutter, to try, as "I will have a flutter for it." Also to toss coppers. Fly, knowing, wide-awake. Fly, to toss or lift. FLY AROUND, to be active. Fly cop, a detective, probably on the lucus a non lucendo principle. Flyer (Am.), a speculation on the Board of Trade or Stock Exchange, as a "flyer in wheat." Flying high, spending lots of money ; living at a great rate. Flying kites, raising money on accommodation bills. Flying mess, a soldier's term for having no mess at all and being compelled to eat where he can. Flying stationer (Eng.), a hawker of penny ballads or cheap pamphlets. Foggy, intoxicated. Fogle (Old Cant), a silk handkerchief. Fogle-faker, a pickpocket. Folks (Scotch), people; one's family. "How's all the folks?" Folio \v-nie-larts, curls hanging over a lady's shoulder. In the French "Suivez-moi^jeune homme" Foot, "to put one's foot in it," to make a bad mistake ; to blunder foolishly. Foot and Walker's line; persons who cannot afford to ride are said to patronize this old fashioned system of getting there. Footing, "to pay one's footing" is to "stand treat" when in- itiated as an apprentice to a trade, or into a society or lodge. FOO FRA 115 Foot it, to walk. Forehanded (Am.), well-provided, economical. Fork out or Fork over, to pay. Forks (Eng.), fingers. Forks (Am.), where a road divides or a river branches. Often applied to various streams which unite to form a river, as "the Republican fork of the Kansas." Form, condition, training. Used of either horse or man in the sporting world. A breach of good manners is also bad form, ($. v.) Forty-rod (Am.), New Jersey whisky, which kills at that distance. Known also as "Jersey lightning." Forty winks, a short nap or sleep. Forward (Old Eng.), drunk, or getting that way. Fou (Scotch), intoxicated. See Burns, "Willie brewed a peck o* maut," or Buchanan's "Wedding of Shan Mac- Lean," when "every piper was fou." Foul, to jostle in a race. Foul-tip (Am.), at base-ball, a ball touched by the bat, but which falls within the foul-line. Four-eyes, one who wears spectacles. Four hundred (Am.), the "society" class of New York city, said to be limited to that number. See UPPER TEN. Fourth estate (Eng.), the press. Fox, to cheat or rob. Also to watch. Fox, to mend, as a cobbler repairs boots and shoes. Fox's sleep, sleeping with one eye open; keeping watch while pretending indifference. Foxy, cunning. Foxy, red-haired. Frampold (Old Eng.), peevish, cross, fretful. Frapping, from the French / "rapper , a beating. n6 FRA FRI Fraud, used as a noun; a cheat, a swindle. Free-and-easy (Eng.), a club held at a public house where the members themselves furnish the harmony. Known also as a SING-SONG. Free-fight, a row in which everybody takes a hand. Some- thing after the style of Donnybrook Fair. Free-for-all, in racing or other sporting contests, means that no competitor is barred by reason of weight or record. Free list, to be on the free list is to obtain admission to thea- tres, etc., without paying at the door. Free sellers (Am.), the early settlers of Kansas and Ne- braska territories, who were opposed to slavery and its ex- tension into those territories. The Free-soil party cut a considerable figure in politics 1852-56, but practically merged into the Republican party by 1860. Freeze-out (Am.), a variety of the game of POKER. Freeze to (Am.), to attach oneself strongly to another per- son. Fremit (Old Eng.), strange, unneighborly. French cream (Eng.), brandy. French leave, "to take" (Eng.), to go away without obtain- ing permission. Fresh, slightly intoxicated. Fresh (Am.), said of a man who thinks he knows every- thing and who talks freely and pushes himself forward. Freshet (Am.), a sudden rise in a stream or river. Freshman, a college or university student in his first year. Frijoles (Sp.), beans. Friendly lead, a gathering at an English public house of the lower order, which combines in itself features of busi- ness, convivial and social character. Jones, it may be as- sumed, is either in or has just come out of trouble trouble with the law, that is. His friends hold a session at a pub- FRI FUL 117 He house Where songs are sung, fishy stories told and a con- tribution taken up for the benefit of the troubled one. This is done by one of the organizers of the meeting "leading" off, as a deacon fattens the plate before handing it around the church, and the visitors follow the "lead" thus set. Frills (Am.), "to put on frills" is to make considerable shew on small justification. Frisk (Eng.), to search. Frisk a cly, to rob a pocket. Frog (Eng.), a policeman. Frog's march (Eng.). Drunken or disorderly persons who decline to walk to the station house are given the frog's march. Four policemen seize each a leg or an arm and the victim is thus marched along, face downwards. Frolic (Am.), a party or social gathering. From soda to hock (Am.). See HOCK supra. Frontispiece, the face. Front name, a Christian or "given" name. Frow, a woman or wife. From the German frau; Dutch Vrauw t a housewife. Frowsy, dirty, slatternly, untidy. Frump (Eng.), a slatternly old woman. Sometimes ap- plied to a prim elderly lady ; the feminine equivalent of what would be an "old fogey." See FOGKY ante. Frying-pan, a large, old fashioned watch. Fudge, nonsense, bosh. See The Vicar of Wakefield. Fudge, to fudge a day's work is to pretend to be working while really "sojering." The word comes from the Gaelic Fugg) deception. Full, intoxicated ; "full as a goose" or a tick, or a score of other things. Full against. When a bookmaker has laid all the money n8 FUL FUR he cares to against a certain horse he announces that he is "full against him." Fullains or Fulloms, false dice (Shakespeare). Obsolete now. Full blast, in good going order. Derived from the technol- ogy of the steam engine. Full leather, good condition, high spirits. A person well- dressed is said to be in full feather, otherwise in FULL FIG, (g. v.) Full fig. In uniform or full dress. See FIG ante. Full of Beans (English stable slang), said of one whom prosperity has rendered offensive and bumptious. Full team (Am.), a powerful man. Full tilt, at a great pace. Full swing, very fast. Fully ( Eng. ), "to be f ullied," fully committed for trial. The invention of a penny-a-liner in order to swell his report. The prisoner can be no more than committed anyhow. Funeral (Am.), "it is none of my funeral.;" no business of the person speaking. Funk, cowardice. To funk is to be afraid. Funk, to smoke out, or to terrify. Funny-bone (Eng.), the extremity of the elbow. Possibly because of its connection with the humerus. See CRAZY- BONE. Furrow (Am.), "to draw a straight furrow" is to mind one's own business and to work straight along. Gab (Old Eng.), talk. "Gift of the gab," loquacity. Gabble (Old Eng.), to talk rapidly. Gaby (Am.), a simpleton. Gad (Eng.), a stick with a sharp point used for driving cat- tle; a goad. Gad (Eng.), to go about purposelessly. GAD- ABOUT is a woman who attends to the business of everyone else to the neglect of her own and that of her family. Gaff (Eng.), a play-house of the lowest order, admission to which is generally one penny or two pence. Gaffer (Eng.), master. Probably from Grandfather and often applied by rustics to an old man. Gaffing (Eng.), tossing. See JEFFING. Gag, to hoax. Gag (Eng.), a lie. Gag, language introduced by an actor and not found in the play as written. Designed to tickle the ears of the ground- lings. Galeny (Old Eng.), from gallinaceous, applied to any fowl, but chiefly to the guinea-hen. Galanty show (Eng.), from gallant or gallantry; an exhi- bition in which black figures are exhibited on a white sheet to the accompaniment of the showman's "patter." Gale (Am.), a state of excitement. Gall (Am.), impudence, otherwise known as "cheek." Galley yarn (Sea slang), a doubtful story. 120 GAL GAM Gallimaufry (Sea slang), a stew made up of scraps from the cook's galley. Gall i nipper (Am.), an insect resembling a mosquito. Gallipot (Old), a druggist or apothecary. Gallivant (Old Eng.), to wait upon the ladies. Gallows bird, a young thief one likely to bring up on the gallows. Gallus, an adjective used in England in the sense of "very," as "gallus poor," "gallus bad grub." Never a very com- plimentary term. Galluses, braces or suspenders. Galoot (Am.), a man; not a complimentary term. Jim Bludsoe, in John Hay's ballad swore, that he would "Hold her nozzle agin" the bank Till the last galoot's ashore." Galore (Irish, from Go Leor, plenty), abundance. "Lashings of whisky and tobacco galore" are the necessary concomi- tants of a well-organized wake. Gam (Sea slang), a visit or gossip. Game, plucky. Game, a trick. "What is your little game?" Game leg, a stiff or wounded leg. Gamester, a gambler. Gammer (Eng.), no doubt from grandmother, the mistress of a house, or an old woman. Gammon (Old Eng.), deceit, humbug. To gammon is "to make game on." "And 'cause he gammons so the flats We calls him Veeping Bill." Ingoldsby Legends. Gammy, bad, ill-tempered. Gamp, an umbrella; from the lamented Satry, friend of Mrs. Harris, who always carried one. CAN GAZ 121 Gander party, a gathering of men only. See STAG PARTY. Gang (Scotch), go on. "Gang your gait," go about your business. Gang (Am.) j a gathering of men; not a complimentary term. Ganger (Eng.), the overseer or "boss" of a gang of laborers. Gape-seed, something to look at. A "country jake" visit- ing a large city generally finds plenty of gape-seed. Garden truck or Garden sass (Am.), vegetables. Gargle, drink. Gas (Am.), bounce, brag, lots of talk. Gas-bag, a man who boasts habitually of his own doings and importance. Gassy, very talkative, bounceable. Gate money, the price charged for admission to a race, fight or other sporting event. See GATE RACE below. Gate race, a race or sporting contest where the prize is only a nominal consideration ; the whole affair being gotten up for the sake of the admission fee charged. Gatter (Eng.), beer or more properly porter. ''Lots of gatter, quoth she, is flowing Laid me a lift in the family way." Father Front. Gaum (Eng.), to smear; to make dirty. Gawky, an awkward person ; a fool. Gay, a euphemism for dissipated. "Gay women" are wo- men of the town. The London Punch some years ago had a picture of two disreputables, standing under an arch- way in the pouring rain. To the one says the other, "How long have you been gay ?" Gazebo (Irish), a cupola or other adornment on top of a building. Mrs. Major McDowd, in Vanity Fair, found fault with the "gazeybo" on the market-house of a Flemish city. 132 GAZ GHO Gazelle, "that's where the gazelle comes in ;" that explains the cause of the occurrence. See MILK IN THE COCOA- NUT. Gear up (Am.), to harness. Gee (Scotch), (pronounced with a hard G), to disagree with: "Then hey! play up the runaway bride For she has ta'en the gee." Old Scotch Song. Gee-whillikens, an ejaculation. Gemmen (-Cockney), contraction of gentlemen. Gent, silver. From the French argent. Gents, a vulgar contraction of gentleman. According to Oliver Wendell Holmes "gents are persons who wear pants." Gerrymander (Am.), to manipulate legislative or congres- sional districts for the benefit of one party and to the detri- ment of another. In the time of Governor Gerry the State of Massachusetts was thus served and the map of the districts so laid out presented a fanciful resemblance to a lizard or salamander. Gerry was charged with the work and hence, "Gerrymander." Get (Am.), go away. Get a move on (Am. ), go away, move along. Get around, to get the better of one ; to persuade. Get there (Am.), a smart, intelligent fellow who displays business aptitude and meets with success is said to "get there." Sometimes he "gets there with both feet." Get up, a person's appearance or style. "Got up regardless" means dressed without reference to expense. Get up and get, one who is prompt and energetic is said to have plenty of this. Ghost, when there is no money in the treasury to pay sala- ries theatrical people say "the ghost doesn't walk." The use of the word has become general. GHO GIN 123 Ghost dance (Am.), a war dance introduced among the Sioux Indians of Dakota early in 1891, those who partici- pated wearing long shirts of fantastic appearance. Ghost of a chance, "not having the," with no probability of success. Gib, a cat which has been castrated. Gibberish (Gip.), unmeaning jargon, sometimes formed by school boys by the insertion of extra consonants as "g" or "1" in common words. Gibus, an opera or crush hat, from the name of the inven- tor. Giff-gaff( Scotch), like ca' me, ca' thee," means in effect "Scratch my back and I'll scratch your back." In other words doing something for another who returns the com- pliment. "Giff-gaff" makes good friends. Gig, "the language of," a Macaronic dialect used by eigh- teenth century exquisites, now happily extinct. Gig lamps, spectacles. Giglot (Old Eng.), a silly girl. Gilderoy's kite, "higher than," out of sight, completely gone. Gills, the lower part of the face. Gilt, money ; from the Dutch gelt. Gilt-edged (Am.), first class, the best of its kind. Even butter is advertised as "gilt-edged dairy." Gimcrack (Old Eng. ), any thing gaudy and easily break- able. Ginger (Eng.), red hair. Gingerly, to do anything with great care. Gingham, an umbrella. Ghmiill, a tippling house. Gin-spinner, a dealer in spirituous liquors. 124 GIV GO A Give, is to strike or scold. A small boy in a fight is told to "give it" to his opponent, while his mother "gives it" to him when he gets home. Give away, to inform ; to peach or split. "That is a give away" is said of a damaging admission. Given name, a Christian name. Give in, to surrender. To "throw up the sponge." Give it mouth, speak up. Give out, to fail, to be exhausted. Give us a rest, a slang phrase of recent introduction used when a tedious story is being told. Equivalent to You MAKE MB TIRED. Glaze, "to star the," to break a window, often done for pur- poses of robbery. Glib, the tongue. A glib talker is one who has the "gift of the gab." Glim, a light. "Dowse that glim," put out the light Doubtless from glim or glimmer, a spark. Glimmer (Old Cant), a fire. Globe-trotter, a traveler; one who has visited many coun- tries. Glorious, intoxicated. Glum or Glumpy, sulky, stern. Go, is used in a score of ways. "A rum go" and a "great go" are curious and remarkable occurrences; "all the go" is synonymous with "all the rage ;" "here's a pretty go" means here's a trouble [see INGOLDSBY]. The "go" at cribbage is the last card. Go (Eng.), a glass of gin. Go (Am.), "to made a go of it," to make a success. do ahead (Sea slang), go on, proceed in a forward direc- tion. GOA GOI 125 Go ahead (Am.), as an adjective means advancing, pro- gressing. Goat, "to ride the," to be initiated into a secret society. It is vulgarly held that a live goat is among the properties of a masonic lodge, and that candidates have to ride him. Gob (P. R.), the mouth. Also used for GAB, talk. Both words are from the Gaelic GAB, the mouth. Go back on (Am.), to abandon a friend or an undertaking. Gobbler (Am.), a turkey. ' Go by, "to give one the go by" is to cut his acquaintance. God bless the Duke of Argyle. It is alleged that a former Duke of Argyle, taking pity on his afflicted compatriots, caused posts to be erected in order that those suffering from the "Scotch fiddle," in other words the itch, might rub their backs whenever necessary. The thankfulness of die benificiaries was expressed in the exclamation. Gods, the frequenters of the theatre gallaries, not always the least critical part of the audience. So called from the height at which they sit. The French term for the upper gallery is Paradis. God's mercy (Eng.), ham or bacon and eggs. At country inns, remote from a butcher, you will be told that there is nothing in the house but God's mercy. Go for the gloves (Eng.), to lay against a horse on the chance of its losing, without possessing the wherewithal to settle in the other event. Probably from the practice of ladies betting gloves on sporting events, expecting to be paid if they win and not to pay if they lose. Go in, to enter for a race or any contest. "Go in and win" is the advice given to a small boy in a street fight by inter- ested spectators. Going, traveling, as "the going is bad, the roads being all mud." 126 GOI-GON Going the pace, living fast; cutting a dash. Go it (Eng.), to keep it up. To "go it strong" is applied to a man on a drunk, who is in for a continued spree. Go it alone (Am.), a player at euchre if satisfied that he can make a "march" will "go it alone," in which case his part- ner lays down his hand, and the adventurous one plays against the other two men. Go it blind (Am .), an expression used at the game of poker. See BLIND, ante. Go it strong, to act energetically and vigorously. Goldfinch, an English sovereign. Gold-mine, any profitable investment. See BONANZA, ante. Golden wedding (Am.), the fiftieth anniversary of a wed- ding often celebrated by aged couples. The silver wed- ding is the twenty-fifth anniversary. Golly, an ejaculation used by negroes. Gone case (Am.), said of a man who is altogether broken up. Gone coon (Am.), one who is completely lost or beaten. See COON, ante. Gone goose (Am.), one lost beyond recovery. Gone over to the majority, dead. Goner (Am.), "he's a goner," means that he is lost or ruined. Gone under, ruined. Also used to express the supposed whereabouts of a party deceased, who is not likely to have taken the other route. Gone up, lost, ruined. Gone up Salt River or Salt Creek (Am.), is said of politi- cians rejected at the polls. Gone up the spout (Eng.), lost, much as one's personal be- longings are when entrusted to the tender mercies of the pawnbroker. GON GOO 127 Gonnof (Old Eng.), a thief. Goobers, peanuts. Good as gold, very good ; said of children. Good as they make em, superlatively good. Good as wheat (Eng.), staple, first-class. Goods (Eng.), is applied by sports to either men or horses. Anything which promises well or turns out satisfactory is "good goods." Good time (Am.), applied indifferently to a carouse, an en- joyable concert or other performance, a friendly gathering or almost anything pleasant. "Did you have a good time ?" is asked of a man returning from a vacation or of a lady who has been to a ball. Good woman, an English public house sign representing a headless woman. Sometimes known as the Silent Wo- man. Goody, something nice to eat ; children call candies and cakes "goodies." Goody-goody, well-meaning, but petty ; offensively pious. Goose, a tailor's pressing iron. It is said to live on CAB- BAGE (y. v.) Goose, "to cook one's goose," is otherwise rendered "to set- tle his hash," or "to give him his gruel." May be used to characterize manslaughter or any milder form of knocking a man out. Goose, to hiss or condemn a play. From the anserine cus- tom of hissing when annoyed. Goose (Am.), "sound on the goose," a term signifying that one is orthodox on the question at issue. Leland treats the phrase humorously in one of his famous Ballads of Hans Breitmann. Gooseberry Old, his Satanic majesty. To "play Old Gooseberry" with anyone is to do him harm. 138 GOO GOT Gooseberry picker (Irish), one who assists fond lovers to means of communicating; a matchmaker. Gooseberry season (Eng.), the dull time of year in which newspapers are filled with stories of gigantic fruits, sea-ser- pents and other lusus natures. Otherwise known as the "silly season." Goose-egg (Am.), when a man scores a nought or "round O" at any game he makes a "goose-egg." Gooser, a knock-out blow. Goose-step, one of the preliminary steps in the English sys- tem of military drill ; the pons asinorum of the new recruit. G. O. P. (Am.), Grand Old Party; the Republican party. Gopher (Am.), in police language, a young sneak-thief or associate of burglars, who is passed into a room through a transom or window. Gopher (Am.), in the South, the name of a rude wooden plow. Gospel grinder (Eng.), a clergyman or missionary. Gospel-shop (Eng.), a church or meeting house. Goss (Eng.), an abbreviation of gossamer, a hat. Gossoon (Irish), a boy or lad. Goth, an uncivilized or uncultivated person. See Philis- tine* Gotham, New York City, where the wise men dwell. Washington Irving first applied the term to that city but its origin is English, and dates from the time when the vil- lagers of Gotham in Lincolnshire raked the pond to get the moon out. Go the big figure (Am.), or the whole figure, to do any- thing on a large scale. Go the whole hog (Am.), to put everything on one chance. Go through (Am.), to complete or finish; to go through a GOT GRA 129 man is to "hold him up" and rob him. Stage and train robbers "go through the passengers." Go through the mill (Am.), to gain experience. Go to grass (Am.), be off, get out. Gouge, to cheat or defraud. Go under, to die, to perish. Government mule, "stupid as a," or "obstinate as a," said of any stupid or stubborn person. The contract mules during the Civil War tried the patience of the soldiers sorely. Governor (Eng.), a father. In the last century applied to a teacher in charge of a youth of good fortune, now known as a "bear-leader." The gilded youth of England speak of their fathers as the Governor, Pater, Old Man or Re- lieving Officer and occasionally as "His Nibs." Gowk (Old Scotch), a fool or silly person. Hunting the gowk is equivalent to making an "April fool" of one, by sending him on a bootless errand. Gownsman (Eng.), a University student. Gowpen (Scotch), a double handful. Grab, to clutch or sieze. Grabbed, caught. See NABBED. Graft, work ; anything done ; "great graft" is anything sat- isfactory. Granger (Am.), a farmer. The "Patrons of Husbandry" called the lodges "granges." Granite State (Am.), the State of New Hampshire. Granny's knot (Eng.), a knot which will not hold. Grapevine (Am.), a hold in wrestling. Grapplers, fingers. Grass, "brought to," in the prize-ring, means a knock-down blow. Grass, "gone to," dead. "Go to grass," said to a trouble- 130 GRA ORE some person, may be derived from "go to grace," which means, of course, "go to " somewhere else. Grass widow (Am.), properly GRACE WIDOW, or widow by the grace of circumstances, a married woman living apart from her husband. It is also applied to divorcees. Gravelled (Old Eng.), bothered, perplexed, angry. Gravel-rash, a scratched face caused by a fall upon the earth. Gray backs (Am.), body lice. Gray mare, the better horse; the wife who "wears the breeches" (^. v.) Grease (Am.), money used for bribery. See BOODLE. Grease spot, "nothing left but a" (Am.), is said of a man badly used up in a fight. Greaser (Am.), a Mexican. Greasy chin, a dinner. See Ingoldsby Legends. Great go, the most important examination at the English universities. The minor "exam's" are known as "smaKs" or "little go." Great go, a success; anything which has a "boom." See ALL. THE GO, ante. Great unwashed (Eng.), the lower classes. Greek (Old Eng.), a sharper. Greek Kalends (Anc.), an indefinite period; never. The Greeks had no Kalends and the term was used in ancient Rome in its present significance. Green (Eng.), ignorant, inexperienced. "Do you see any- thing green in my eye?" is an ironical inquiry often made by cockneys. Green (Old Eng.), fresh, simple. Greenbacks (Am.), the paper money issued by the United States. ORE GRI 131 Greenbackers (Am.), the advocates of an unlimited issue of paper money. Green goods (Am.), counterfeit bills, doubtless from "green- backs." Greenhorn or Greenie (Eng.), a fresh or unsophisticated person. Green Isle, Ireland. Green Mountain State (Am.), Vermont. Greet (Scotch), to weep. Gridiron, an instrument alleged to be used in the initiation of candidates to secret societies. "On the gridiron" means "roasted." Gridiron (Am.), the stars and stripes. Grief, "to come to" (Eng.), to meet with an accident, phys- ically or financially. Griffin (Fr. griffon), a mulatto. Griffin or Griff, a term applied in India to a newly arrived cadet, probably because the inexperienced consider a griffin as one of the indigenous animals of that country. Grind (Eng.), daily toil or study; also a walk. Mr. Man- talini in Nicholas Nickelby objected to the "demnition grind" of his daily life. Grinder (Eng.), a tooth. Grinder (Eng.), a university tutor or COACH (q. v.) Grin in the sack, or in the basket (Fr.), to be beheaded. The head of a guillotined person falls into a basket. Grip, to lose one's" (Am.), to lose control of anything or to fail in business or other effort. Grist to the mill, anything which brings in money. Grit (Am.), pluck, sand, spirit. Grit, in Canadian politics, a member of the Liberal party. Grizzle, to fret or cry. 133 GRI GRU Grizzled, light or brown hair turning gray. Dark hair in such a case is known as IRON-GRAY (y. v.) Grog, spirits and water. Said to be derived from an old English naval officer named Grogram, who mixed his liquor in that fashion. Seven-water grog is where the milder liquor predominates largely. Grog* blossoms, the rubicund facial appearance resulting from hard drinking. Groggery (Am.), a low-class tavern or grog-shop. Groggy, a prize-fighter who is unsteady on his limbs, or a horse "weak on his pins" is said to be groggy. Grounder (Am.), at base-ball, a ball which is struck low or flies near the ground. Ground floor, "let in on the" (Am.), to be admitted into a speculation or scheme on even terms with the original pro- jectors. Grouty (Eng.), crabbed, surly. Growler (Eng.), a f cur- wheeled cab. Supposed to be from the dissatisfied mood in which the driver is invariably found when settling time comes. Grub, food. Grubbing-ken, a cook-shop, hotel or restaurant. Grubby, dirty. Grub-stake (Am.), food and other necessaries furnished to prospectors in the mining districts by men who share in the profits of a mine, if one is found by the men they back. Grub street, in the eighteenth century the abiding place of London writers and booksellers' hacks. Gruel, "gave him his," to kill a man. In the prize ring to knock him out for good. Gruudy, Mrs., the embodiment of feminine public opinion. "What will Mrs. Grundy say ?" is taken from a last century play. CUE GUS 133 Guess, in the United States has many significations. It means to believe, to surmise, to fancy, and even (but im- properly )is used as an affirmation of certainty. Shakespeare, Chaucer, Coleridge, and Byron among the great English writers use the word in the sense in which it is now ac- cepted in England, that of conjecture. The American usage, as "I guesss not" (imperative) or "I guess I'll go," /: e., "I think," is slang, for it is not good English. Guillotine or Axe, the weapon which descends on politi- cians whose friends and party fail of election. Gulch (Am.), a deep ravine caused by the action of water; sometimes with a stream flowing through it. Gulf (Old Eng.), the throat. Gulfed (Eng.), university slang for a man who fails to take honors. See PLUCKED or PLOUGHED. Gull, to cheat or deceive. Gully (Scotch), a pocket-knife. See Burns, Death and Doctor Hornbook. Gum (Am.), to impose on. Gummy, thick, fat.' Gump, a foolish fellow ; a dullard. Gumption, sense. Much used in Yorkshire, England, and in New England. Gums, india-rubber overshoes. Gun (Am.), a revolver. Gunner's daughter, 'marrying the" (sea slang). Boys in the navy ordered for punishment were formerly lashed to the cannon so as to give the boatswain's mate a good chance at them ; hence the term. See Marryatt's works. Gush, nonsense, sentiment. The kind of literature found in "society" papers and periodicals designed for young ladies. Gusher (Am.), a flowing oil-well. i 3 4 [GUT GYP Gut scraper, a fiddler. See Burns in The Jolly Beggars. Gutter lane, the throat. Gutter-snipe, a street loafer. Guttle. See GUZZLE. Guy, a fright; an ill-dressed person. Derived from the ef- figies of Guy Fawkes which are carried in London streets on the 5th of November in remembrance of the Gunpowder Plot. Guy, to make fun of; to'roast or "josh" a person. Guzzle, to eat or.drink to excess. "There was guzzling Dick and guttling Ned, And likewise was little Billee." Sea Song. Gyp, an undergraduate's servant at Cambridge University, England. Said to be derived from the Greek gyps, a vul- ture. Their congeners at Oxford are known as SCOUTS H Habitant (Fr.), a small landed proprietor in Canada. Hack (Am.), a common carriage. In England a horse used for riding, as a "park hack" or a "cover hack." Hack, "booksellers," a literary man who does general work for a publisher. Hackle (Eng.), pluck; "to show hackle" is to be willing to fight. Hackles are the long feathers on the back of the neck of a domestic cock, which he erects when angry. Haddock ( E ng. ) , a purse. Hair of the dog, a drink taken in the morning after an over- night debauch, on the principle of similia similibus curan- tar. "Hair of the dog, good for the bite." Hair-splitting:, finding foolish and trumpery arguments. Half a bean (Eng.), half a sovereign; ten shillings. Half a couter (Eng.), half a sovereign. From the Gipsy cuta, a gold coin. Half a hog; (Eng.), sixpence. Half and half (Eng.), a mixture of mild ale and porter. Haifa stretch (Eng.), six months in prison, A "stretch" is a year. Half a tusheron, half -a-crown, English money. Half baked (Eng.), soft witted; doughy. Half bull (Eng.), half a crown; two shillings and sixpence. Otherwise "two bob and a bender" or "half a dollar." Half-cocked, "to go off' (Am.), to start before one is ready. 35 136 HAL HAN Half mourning (Eng.), a. black eye. Where both optics are discolored it is known as "deep grief." Half seas over (Old Eng.), drunk. Hamfatter (Am.), or more briefly "ham," a tenth-rate actor or variety performer. Hand, "a cool hand," a person with plenty of assurance. Sometimes "a cool bird." Hand (Eng.), a workman or helper, as a "factory hand." I lander (Eng.), a second or assistant. Handicap (Eng.), the adjustment of competitors in a race according to their ages, recorded speed, or supposed capac- ity, so as to as nearly as possible equalize them. Handle (Eng.), the nose. Handle, to manage; to overcome. Handle "to fly off the" (Am.), to lose one's temper. Handle to one's name (Eng.), a title. Handling (Eng.), at cards, means the concealment of valua- ble cards for the purpose of cheating. Hand-me-downs (Eng.), second-hand clothes, or slop-made garmets. Hand out (Am.), a cold lunch given to a tramp. Hand-running, consecutively. Hang (Am.), "to get the hang of," to acquire the knack of doing anything. Hang around (Am.), to loiter about or loaf. Hanging (Eng.), said of one in difficulties; a man to whom any change must be an improvement. Hang it up, to obtain credit. Equivalent to "put it on the slate" or on the ice. Hangman's wages, thirteen pence half penny of English money. HAN HAR 137 Hangout (Eng.), to reside. "Where do you hang out?" "your sign" being implied. Hang* up (Am.), to pawn. Hang up (Am.), to rob with violence on the street. See HOLD UP. Hannah, "that's what's the matter with" (Am.), an expres- sion used to corroborate an asseveration, expressive of cer- tainty. Hansel or Handsel (Old Eng.), the first money taken in on any day. The vendor generally spits on the coin for luck. Happy as a clam (Am.), a New England simile for joyful- ness. Happy-go-lucky (Eng.), careless; indifferent to fortune. Hard case (Am.), a dissipated man; a tough. Hard-headed, obstinate. Hard lines (Old), hardship, poverty. Lines is the equiva- lent of lot; thus in the Bible: "The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places." Hard mouthed f un (Eng. stable slang), a difficult person to manage, like a hard-mouthed horse. Hard pan, the rock which lies below the surface soil ; the foundation or bottom. "Getting down to hard pan" is get- ting down to business. Hard pushed, in difficulties ; short of money. Hard row to hoe (Am.), a difficult task to perform; analogy drawn from work in the corn or cotton field. Hard run, in want of money. Hard shell, a variety of Baptists, who consider themselves the only orthodox crowd. Hard stuff, money. Also applied to whisky. Hard tack, ship biscuit. SOFT TOMMY is fresh bread. Hard-up, poor and in distress. 138 HAR HE A Hard-up, a. fellow who picks up stumps of cigars from the gutters. Hare-brained, reckless, foolish. The hare is credited with little wisdom. Harris, Mrs., the mythical friend of Sairy Gamp, whom she quoted on all occasions. See Martin Ckuzzlewit. Harry or Old Harry, the Devil. "To raise Old Harry" is to create a disturbance. Harum-scarum, wild, reckless. Hash, a mess, confusion. To "hash up" is to jumble to- gether. Hash, "to settle one's" is to finish him. Hatchet, "to bury" or "to dig up" (Am.). When Indians are about to go to war they are said to dig up the war hatchet; after peace is made the symbolic weapon is buried again. Hatchet, "to throw the," to tell lies. See LONG BOW. Hawbuck (Eng.), a clodpole or greenhorn; an ignorant country fellow. Hawkeye State (Am.), Iowa. Hawse-holes, "to come in through," to begin on board a ship as an ordinary seaman instead of "coming on board through the cabin windows," as the "middies" are said to do. Haze (Eng.), to bully or annoy a subordinate or a freshman at college. "Hazing" has caused much trouble at West Point Academy and at different universities. Hazy (Eng.), half drunk; also dull, stupid. Header (Eng.), a plunge foremost into the water. In the "tank drama" at theatres of the transpontine order the hero takes sensational "headers" into the water to the great de- light of the gallery "gods." HEA HEE 139 Head or tail, "I can't make head or tail of it," i. e., cannot understand. Head like a sieve (Am.), said of one which holds no knowl- edge. Head-rails (Eng.), teeth. Head serag, the master or overseer; anyone in authority. Derived from the Hindu serang, for boatswain. Heap, "a heap of people," a number. "Struck all of a heap," astonished. Heat, in horse-racing, a round or turn. Mile heats, best three in five, means, for instance, that the horses trot or run in each turn one mile, the losers dropping out and the win- ners finally settling the race between them. Heave, to throw. Heavies (Eng.), the heavy dragoon regiments. Heavy, large; a "heavy" amount. Heavy-weight, a pugilist of the first rank. Heavy wet (Eng.), malt liquor, especially stout or porter. Hedge, in the language of the betting ring means to secure oneself from loss over one bet by making another or several others. Thus, early in the racing season, A backs the horse Highflyer at 50 to I say $i,oooto $20. The horse from one cause or another is made a favorite and starts at 4 to I against him. A then lays that price, $80 to $ao, against Highflyer. If the horse wins A receives $1,000 and has to pay out $80. If the horse loses A receives $20 and has to pay out $20. If he has backed several horses which appreciate enough to enable him to "hedge" properly he may "stand to win" on any one of them and not lose in any case. This is known as STANDING ON VELVET, (y. v.) Heeled, armed or provided for. Heeler, the backer of another, as of a gambler or a striker- A heeler also "stakes" gamblers who are "dead broke." i 4 o HEE HIG Heels, "two for his heels," two points taken in cribbage by the dealer who turns up the jack. Heel-taps, small quantities of wine left in the bottoms of the glasses. Heft (Am.), weight. To heft anything is to lift it. A "hefty" man is a heavy, chunky fellow; a man of his hands. Hell, a gambling house, formerly divided into "gold" and "silver" hells. Hell and Tommy, utter destruction. Help (Am.), a domestic servant or hired hand. Helter-skelter, confused ; without order or precedence. Hemp cravat, the hangman's noose. Hempen garter, the hangman's rope. Hempen widow (Old Cant), the widow of one who has been hanged. "In the box of a stone jug I was born, Of a hempen widow the lad forlorn. Nix my dolly, pals, Fake away." Ainsworth. Hen convention (Am.), a gathering of women for political or social purposes. Henpecked (Eng.), said of one who permits his wife to have everything her own way. Herring-pond (Eng.), the sea. "Gone across the pond," transported. Hey, Rube (Am.), the rallying cry of circus employees when attacked by outsiders. The Guelfs and Ghibellines rallied their followers by the cries "Hie Waiblingen," "Hie Welf." Hiding, a thrashing. "Tanning the hide," beating severely. Higgledy-piggledy, confusedly, all of a heap, as pigs lie. HIG HIT 141 Highbinder (Am.), a class of Chinese in San Francisco who blackmail gamblers and prostitutes, and who '"remove" by the knife or pistol those who incur the enmity of their organization. High Church, the ritualistic or Puseyite party in the Angli- can or Episcopalian church. Low churchmen are the so- called Evangelicals, who affect little respect for forms which they pronounce papistical. High, "how is that for high?" an inquiry often made a few years ago on all occasions, but now out of .date, Meaning it has none. High (Am.), "too high for his nut," beyond one's reach; above his bend. Highfalutin' ( Am.), showy, stuck up, affected ; high-sound- ing, bombastic. High-flyer, one who lives well, spends money freely, and goes in for society and life in general. High jinks ( Scotch), a jollification. See Scott in Guy Man- nering. High-kicker, a ballet dancer. Highlows (Eng.), laced boots. High-roller (Am.), a fast liver; one who gambles freely and for large sums. High-toned (Am.), aristocratic, stylish, fashionable. Hill of beans, "not worth a, w used to express absolute worthlessness. Hipped, low spirited, dull, hypochondriacal. Hire a hall (Am.), advice offered to a man who talks too long to suit his audience. His nibs, anyone in authority, from President to Police Court Justice. Hitch, a difficulty; a knot tied in a rope. 142 HIT HOE Hitched (Am.), mirried. From the hitching necessary for harness. Where the couple do not agree they are said "not to hitch." Hitch up, to harness horses to a wagon or buggy. Hit the pipe (Am.), to smoke opium. Opium "joints" are found in most large cities where Chinese and others "hit the pipe" until reduced to insensibility. Hoax, to deceive, was originally Cant and is a corruption of Hocus, (g. v.) The word is now, however, given in standard dictionaries. Hob and nob, to drink together. Hobble, "in a," in trouble. Hobbled, fastened as horses are, by the feet. Hobbledehoy, a youth in his callow stage ; neither man nor boy. Hobson's choice, that or nothing; take it or leave it. From the name of a livery stable keeper in the town of Cambridge who insisted on his customers always taking the horse nearest the stable door, no matter what their preference might be. Hock (Am.), the last card remaining in the deal-box at faro. The soda card is the top card of the deck when the cards are placed in the dealing-box. Hence the phrase "from Soda to Hock," (^. z;.), equivalent to from Alpha to Omega. Hocus, to drug for the purpose of robbery. To hocus a horse is to poison him. Hocus-pocus, cabalistic words used by gipsies and conjurers, and supposed to be a corruption of Monkish Latin. Hodge (Eng.), generic name for a countryman. Sometimes Giles is used in the same sense, both being common names among the rural population. Hoe-cake (Am.), a cake made of corn-meal unleavened and baked in the ashes on the side of a hoe. HOE HOO 143 Hoe-down (Am.), a negro dance; same as BREAKDOWN, (? *) Hoe one's own row (Am.), to do one's appointed task, as in work in the corn or cotton field. Hog (Eng.), a shilling. Hogged (Eng.), is said of a horse's mane, cut so as to stick up like a hog's bristles. ROACHED is the American equiv- alent. Hog wallow (Am.), a sink hole or mud spring on the prai- rie where the hogs delight to roll. Hogwash, worthless newspaper matter, otherwise known as slush, swash and flub-dub. Hoisting, shoplifting. Hold on (German Halt an), stop. Hold out (Am.), an apparatus used by gamblers for the pur- pose of cheating by "holding out" desirable cards. Hold your horses, go easy ; don't become excited. Hole in a ladder; a man unable to see one is either very stupid or very drunk. Hollow, "to beat hollow," to excel. Holt, "to take," to take hold. Homely (Am.), not handsome; plain in appearance. In England the word means homelike, plain, unpretending. Hommock or Hummock, a small elevation or knob of land, Hummocky ice is that which has been elevated by the winds or waves above the other ice. ~f ^~rr Homo (Lingua Franca), a man, from the Latin. ^ Honey-fugle, to cheat or deceive; to delude by means of fine phrases. Honor bright (Eng.), an asseveration of truth. Hoodlum (Am.), a tough or street loafer. The name orig- inated in San Francisco 144 ftOO HOR Hoodoo, a negro phrase signifying that a person or thing has been bewitched. Anything or any person may be a hoodooy"that is, have the power to bring bad luck, just as any person or thing may be a MASCOT (j-. z>.), and bring good luck. Hooky "on his own hook," doing business for himself. Hook it or Sling- your hook (Eng.), go away. Compare GIT (Am.) Hooks, fingers. "Then his dies my hooks I throw in, And collar his dragons clean away." Slang song by Father Prout. Hooks, "dropped off the," dead. Hook or crook, "by," by fair means or foul. Hookey (Am.), to play truant. English boys say "playing the wag." Hoosier (Am.), an Indiana man. Hop (Am.), a dance. Hop merchant, a dancing master. Hopping- mad (Am.), exceedingly angry, mad enough to hop about. Hop the twig, to die. See "Kick the bucket," "Peg out," etc. Horn (Am.), a drink of spirits. Horn (Am.), "in a horn," as applied to any statement means the exact reverse of the words spoken. The English equivalent is OVER THE LEFT (g. v.) Hornio or Auld Hornie (Scotch), the deviL Hornswoggle (Am.), to cheat. See SHENANEGAN and SKULLDUGGERY. Horrors, low spirits, incipient delirium tremens, otherwise known as D. T. HOR HOW 145 Horse (Eng.)j tt flog, from the old wooden horse used as a flogging stool. Horse and horse or Horse and (Am.), in throwing poker dice when each player wins one throw; the third horse de- cides the game. Horseback, in miner's parlance, a fault in a seam of coal. Horse-fhaunter (Eng.), a low-class horse dealer who chaunts the praises of some miserable screw. Horse marine (Am.), an awkward person. Sailors have little respect for marines. Horse nails (Eng.), money. Horse on me (Am.), one against the speaker. See HORSE AND HORSE. Horse sense (Am.), a very desirable quality; good, sound, practical common-sense. Horsey (Eng.), like a groom or jockey. Men whose talk is of the turf and of little else. Hoss (Am.), corruption of horse. "Old Hoss" is a term of endearment. An Englishman calls a horse a "hoss." Hotfoot, pursuit on the moment. Or to get away in a hurry. Hot coppers (Eng.), fever in the mouth and throat follow- ing an overnight debauch. Houses, "safe as" (Eng.), certain; real estate and buildings being held to be a safer investment than any other form of property. House-warming, an entertainment given to celebrate settle- ment in a new house. How? for "What did you say?" is a common New England- ism. How came you so, intoxicated. Howdie (Scotch), a midwife. 146 HOW HUM Howdy, a provincialism for "How do you do ?" How is that for high? (Am.), an inquiry often made now- a-days in regard to practically any happening. Hubble-bubble, a hookah or water-pipe. Hub of the Universe (Am.), the city of Boston. Huckster, a peddler. Hue and cry, to follow a fugitive criminal with a hastily- summoned posse. Huff, a dodge or trick. Huff, in the game of draughts means the penalty for not tak- ing an opponent's piece when the game requires it. The Scotch say "blow." Huff, to vex or offend. Huffy means short-tempered. Hugger-mugger, all mixed up. Also to hush up or to plot clandestinely. Hulking, a hulking brute is a big ruffian, such as hang about street corners. Human (Am.), for human being; a man. A term much used in the United States. Hum and haw, to hesitate or to raise objections of a trivial character. Humble pie, to eat ; to give in or be submissive. Hum-box (Old Eng.), a pulpit. "Old Cotton humming his pray." Humbug, an imposition ; a fraud. The word came first into use about the middle of the eighteenth century. The game of double-dummy whist was formerly known as humbug. It is probably derived from ambiguous. Humdrum, tedious, monotonous. Humming, as applied to ale means strong. Probably from the humming in the ears which follows strong potations. Hummock (See HOMMOCK, a/e), small elevations on the prairie. HUM HU3 147 Hump, "having the hump," out of sorts, annoyed, low-spir- ited. "It gives me the hump." Hump up, to have one's," to be cross or ill-tempered, as a cat sets its back up when annoyed. Hunch (Eng.), a piece of anything. Hunch, to push or jostle. Hung beef, that which is hung up in the sun to dry. Hunk (See CHUNK) a large piece or lump. Hunk (Dutch honk^ the goal or home in a child's game. Thence applied to mean safe. Hunkers (Am.), a section of the Democratic party in New York State forty or more years ago. See BARNBURNERS, ante. Hunki-dori (Am.), all right Hunks, "Old Hunks," a miser. Hunky (Am.), "all hunky," good, jolly, all right. Hurdy-gurdy, an alleged musical instrument worked by a crank, and known in Italy as the "viola." Hurly-burly (Old Eng.), noise, confusion. See Macbeth. Hurrah, a noisy expression of delight. "On a hurrah" means on a triumphant drunk. Hurry up (Am.), hasten. Within the last twenty years the expression has largely supplanted the old-fashioned "make haste" in England. Husband's tea (Eng.), very weak tea, such as a man gets who comes late to the table. Hush-money, blackmail. Hush-shop (Eng.), a place where liquor is sold on the quiet and without a license. Hush up, be silent; be quiet. Husky (Am.), stout, well-built i 4 8 HUS-r-HYP If ussy (Eng.), an opprobrious term applied to a girl. Orig- inally its character stood much higher than now, being identical with housewife. Hustler (Am.), one who is energetic and pushing in busi- ness Otherwise a RUSTIER. Hypocrites, pillow-shams; false covers for pillows. Hyps, blue devils. J^yppED or HIPPED, out of sorts. I Ilk (O. E.ylk "the same"), an old form found both in Eng- lisn and Scotch, meaning the same. Thus,Chaucer has this "ilk worthe knight" and "that ilk man." It is still not unknown in Scotland in connection with family designa- tions; thus, "Kinloch of that ilk" means "Kinloch of the es- tate" of the same name, or "Kinloch of Kinloch." Often ig- norantly used to mean "of that description," as in "carpet- baggers and politicians of that ilk." HI, in England a person in bad health is "ill;" in this country he is always "sick," even if his trouble arises from a broken leg. In* to be in with one is to be on terms of intimacy or friendship with him. Infantry, young children. Influence (Am.), the peculiar "inflooence" possessed by pol- iticians and used to obtain office. See PULL. In for it, in trouble. Ingle (Old Eng.), the chimney corner. In it, is a recent English coinage and is about equivalent to "In the swim," which it has practically supplanted. Inkslinger (Am.), a writer or editor. Innings (Eng.), good fortune, a run of luck. "He has had a long inning" is said of a man who dies in the fullness of years. Taken from the cricket field. Inside lining, food. Inside of (Am.), within; in less time than. Inside track, the position nearest the rail on a race-track, 149 150 INT ISH desirable as keeping close to it shortens the distance which has to be traversed. Interesting situation, "as ladies wish to be who love their lords." In the heart of the city, to be at home; to succeed. In the soup (Am.). This expression originated about 1888 and is applied to any unsuccessful politician who "gets left" or who of old was said to be "Sent up Salt River," (f- *) In the straw, a vulgar expression to signify a woman in child-bed. Possibly from the Nativity, when the Holy Child was laid in the manger. In the swim, in society, or in with sporting men with regard to some coming event. To be "playing in good luck." In touch with (Eng.), in sympathy, or having a full knowl- edge. Invite (Am.), a vulgar corruption of "invitation" used by parvenu society people. Inwick and outwick, at the game of curling, signify the peculiar "twist" or "side" given to stones by the player, and which causes them to pass inside or outside of stones which lie between them and the goal or "tee." Irish apricots or Irish lemons, potatoes. See BOG ORANGES, ante. Irish, "to get one's Irish up," to become angry. To get one's Dutch up means the same thing. Iron-gray, black hair turning gray. Iron horse, a locomotive. Irons in the fire, schemes for making money ; varied occu- pations. I should smile 01 snicker or murmur, vulgarisms much in use to signify acquiescence with a statement made. "Are ITE IVO 151 you going to the picnic?" "Well, I should smile." A little of this goes a long way, but scores of expressions of this character are in use, so some reference to them is necessary. Item, knowledge of ; to get item is to obtain information. Ivories, teeth. A set of teeth is a box of "Ivories" or DOM- INOBS. "Rinse your ivories" means take a drink. Jab, to strike or thrust. Jabber, to talk fast. FromjiM orjabb (Gip.), the tongue. Jack, the knave in cards. Jack and half jack, imitation gold coins used by swindlers to convey the idea that they have lots of money. Jacked up (Eng.), done for, knocked out. Jacket, the skin of a potato. Jacketing, a thrashing. Jackey (Eng.), gin. Jack In office, an official who presumes above his position. Jack in the box, a tool used by burglars to break open safes. Jack Ketch (Eng.), the common hangman, from the name of a public executioner in England in the seventeenth cen- tury. The corresponding functionary in France is known as Monsieur de Paris. Jack of all trades, one who has a smattering of several branches of knowledge. Jackpot (Am.), in the game of poker, is where the game cannot be opened except by a player who holds a pair of jacks or better. Jack Robinson, "before you can say" (Eng.), presumably means in a great hurry, but who Robinson was is as much a mystery as the identity of the man who struck Billy Pat- terson, and why one should say Jack Robinson is equally mysterious. Jack Sprat, a diminutive person. JAC-JAY 153 Jack Tar, a sailor. Jacques ISoiihomme, a countryman. The French equiva- lent for the English Hodge as applied to a rustic. Jade, an uncomplimentary term applied to a girl. Like hussy, knave and some other Old Saxon words it once had a milder meaning. Jag (Am.) a decided and emphatic drunk; a load. The word, now unused in England, is still used by the descend- ants of the Puritans in the East, where a jag (load) of hay is often spoken of. In Norfolk, England, according to Grose, a jag was a load or parcel of any kind. Jail-bird, one who has "done time." Jam (Eng.), an obstruction, as a jam of logs or of ice in a river. Jam (Eng.), anything nice. A pretty girl is "real jam." See also TART. Jamboree (Am.), a spree. Jam up, good, prime. Same as "bang up" or "slap up." James, an English sovereign or pound sterling. Jargon, involved language of a barbarous character. Jark (Old Cant), a seal, or a pass, or safe conduct. Jarvey (Eng.), a coachman. Jasey or Jazey (Old), a wig. Jaw, to talk. "Hold your jaw;" "What are you jawing about?" Jawbone, credit. To live on jawbone is to "stand off' one's creditors. Jawbreaker, a long word or one difficult to pronounce. JAWTWISTER means the same. Jay (Am.), a countryman or greenhorn. Jayhawker (Am.), an irregular (very irregular) cavalry- man who performed for the Confederacy services very 154 JEA JEW similar to those rendered by the "bummers" to the Union forces. The jayhawker was a guerilla by nature, a thief by practice and often a murderer and pillager. Jeames, generic name for an English "flunkey" or liveried servant. See Thackeray, Memoirs of Jeames De la Pluche. Jeff, in printer's slang, to gamble by throwing "quads." Printers will "jeff" for anything for the choice of the first "take" on the hook or for the beer, or their week's wages. Jehu, a driver. From Jehu, the son of Nimshi, who "drove furiously." Jemiiiy or Jimminy crikes (Eng.), a vulgar expression of surprise. Jemmy (Eng.), a sheep's head. Jemmy and Jessamy, a pair of "spooning" lovers. Jemmy ducks (Sea term), the man who takes care of the poultry and other live stock on board ship. Jemmy or Jimmy, a short crowbar, used by burglars. Jeremy Diddler, an adept at borrowing. From a character in the farce of Raising the Wind. Jerked meat (Am.), that dried in the open air. Probably from the Spanish Charqui. Jerry, a watch. "Jerry nicking" is making a bold snatch at a watch chain and running off with the "super." Jerry shop (Eng.), a beer shop. Jerry sneak, a watch thief. See JERRY, ante. Jersey lightning, bad face. Jerusalem pony (Eng.), an ass or donkey. Jesse, "to give one," to beat or scold him. Often incorrectly given as "Jessie." Jew, to beat down in a bargain; a habit of the Israelite trader. JEW-JIN 155 Jew's eye, anything of great value is said to be worth a Jew's eye, as it is sometimes said "a king's ransom." Shakes- peare uses the expression. See Merchant of Venice: "There will come a Christian by Will be worth a Jewess' eye." Jezebel, a woman of indifferent character; a termagant or shrew. From the wife of Ahab, king of Israel. Jib (Eng.), to baulk. A JIBBER is a baulky horse. Jib, the face. "Cut of his jib," his appearance Jibb (Gip.), the tongue. From the Hindu. Jibe (Am.), to agree, to harmonize. Jiffy, "in a," on the moment, quickly. Jig (Am.). "The jig's up," it is all over. Jigger (Am.), a small measure used by barkeepers. Jigger (Am.), the bridge or rest used in billiards. Jigger (Eng.), a door, "dub the jigger," close the door. Also applied by soldiers to a prison. Jiggered. "I'll be jiggered," a mild form of Cockney oath. Jim- jams, delirium tremens. Jimmy or James (Eng.), a sheep's head. Jingo, "by Jingo," a mild oath, said to be a corruption of St. Gengulphus. See Ingoldsby Legends. Sometimes "by the living Jingo." By supporter! of the Basque etymol- ogy the expression is alleged to have originated in Wales, whither Edward I is said to have had a party of Basque soldiers conveyed during his Welsh wars ; but "Hey Jingo" is first met with in literature in Oldham's Satyrs upon the Jesuits (1679). Jingoism is now understood to be a sort of British Chauvinism, and in this respect dates only from the Russo-Turkish war of 1878. At the time there was a strong anti-Russian feeling in London, and the most popu- lar music-hall song of the day was a sort of doggerel threat against Russia, beginning: We don't want to fight, but by jingo if we do, We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money, too. 156 JO JOH Jo (Scotch), a lover or sweetheart. "John Anderson, my Jo." Job or Jab, a blow with a knife or sharp instrument. Job (Eng.), a piece of work. "A bad job," misfortune. JOB, in political phraseology, a scheme of plunder, favorit- ism. A "put-up job" is a planned scheme. Jobation or, more properly, Jawbation, a scolding. Jobbery, the arrangement of unfair schemes or plans for political plunder. Job lot, miscellaneous goods offered at a bargain. Job's comforter, one who reproves or brings additional trouble instead of giving consolation. The prophet Job had three friends of this kind and made some sarcastic re- marks to them when they had finished talking. Job's turkey, "as poor as" (Am. ), hard up, thin, badly fed. Job possessed camels and asses and a wife, but there is no record that he owned a poultry-farm. Jock, a jockey. Joctelegr (Scotch), a knife. Joe Miller, an old and oft-told story; a "chestnut." One Joseph Miller, an English clown, is credited with the pub- lication of a book of moss-covered jests, now in the posses- sion of Chauncey M. Depew. Joey (Eng.), a four-penny bit. Named after Joseph Hume, who caused them to be coined. Jog-trot, a slow pace, a trifle faster than a walk. John, common name for a Chinaman in the United States. John Bull, generic term for an Englishman; beefy, brawny and obstinate. John Company, the old East India Company. John Dorados (Gip.), gold coin. Johnny (Am.), a Confederate soldier. JOH-JUV 157 Johnny cake (Am.), a cake of unleavened meal baked on the hearth. Johnny Crapaud, old name for a Frenchman. Johnny Raw, a greenhorn ; a new recruit. John Thomas (See JEAMES), an English footman or "flunkey." Joint (Am.), an opium-smoking den or gambling- house, or any resort of bad repute is spoken of as a "joint." Joker or Little joker (Am.), at euchre is an additional (53d) card which ranks as the highest trump. Jolly (Eng), a marine. Jolly, to speak well of a friend is to "jolly him." Josh (Am.), to hoax, chaff or roast a person; to make fun of him. Joskin (Eng.), a countryman, a greenhorn. Joss, the Chinese God, from the Spanish Dios, Jour., a journeyman. Jug- or Stone jugf, a prison. See SPIKE PARK. Jugful, "not by a;" not by a good deal. Jug-handle (Am.), anything one-sided. Jump, "to jump on a man," to rob him by violence. Jumper, a jacket or short coat. Jumping a claim (Am.), to occupy by force a land or min- ing claim rightfully belonging to another. The refuting argument is generally a Winchester rifle. Jumping bail (Am.), absconding while under bail. Jumping-off place (Am.), the end of a road or railroad; the place where civilization stops. Jumping-up-behind, to endorse an accommodation bill, usually an expensive luxury. Junk (Am.), old iron, rags and other like material. Junk, salt beef. Junk-dealer, one who deals in old metals, rags and the like. Juvenal (Old), a boy. K Kanaka, a native of the Sandwich Islands. Keel over, to capsize or upset. Keep, food. Keep it up, to prolong a spree. Keeps, "to play for," said by boys in playing marbles where the winner keeps the winning*. Applied also to anything meant in earnest. Kelter, money. Probably from the German gelt. Ken (Gip.), a house. BOOZING or LUSHING-KEN, a tavern or drinking-house. Probably from the Persian khan, a house or inn. Ken (Scotch), to know. Kenspeckle (Scotch), easily known because marked or branded. Ketch, Jackj the English hangman. According to Macau- lay a person of that name officiated as public executioner temp Charles II. See JACK KETCH, ante. Kettle offish (Eng.), trouble of any kind. "Here's a pretty kettle of fish" is said of a muddle or mess. Key of the street (Eng.), an imaginary instrument said to be possessed by one locked out of doors. Keystone State (Am.), Pennsylvania. Kibosh, nonsense, stuff, humbug, palaver. To put the kibosh on one is to deceive him. Another meaning is to put a stop to anything. Kick (Eng.), a pocket, purse, or pocket-book. 158 KIC KIN 159 Kick (Am.), to object or protest. Back, "I'll be there in a kick," I'll be there in a minute. Kick (Eng.), sixpence. "Two and a kick" represents half a crown. Kicked in, smitten, mashed. Kicked the bucket, dead. Kick over the traces, to be independent of control, or to spend money extravagantly. Kicks, shoes. Kickshaw (Eng.), a made dish. See II Henry IV, v. i. Kicksies (Eng.), trousers. Kick up, a noise or disturbance. "To kick up a row" or "kick up the dust." Kid, a child. Kid, to joke, chaff or hoax. Kiddily, fashionably dressed. Kid nap, from kid, a child, and nab, to steal, both originally Gipsy words and now as combined meaning to abduct or carry away a person. Kidney, "of that kidney," of that kind. Kid on (Eng.), to induce a person to do anything. Ki dsniaii (Eng.), a trainer of young thieves. Killock (Am.), a small anchor. Kilter, "out of" (Am.), off the level, out of sorts. Kimbo or A-Kimbo, holding the arms in a bent position from the body and resting the hands on the hips. Ki minor or Cummer (Scotch), an acquaintance or gossip- Kinchin (Gip.), a child. Kinchin cove (Gip.), one who robs children. Kinchin lay (Gip.), robbing children on the streets. "Noah Claypole" in Oliver Twist was a proficient in this art. 160 KIN KNI Kindlings (Am.), broken wood used for lighting fires. King-pin (Am.), the tallest pin at skittles or ten-pins. Used by analogy to signify the chief or superior. King's pictures or Queen's pictures (Eng.), coin. Kink, a knot or twist. Kinky, curly, like a negroes hair. Kirk (Scotch), a church. Kiss, at billiards, when two balls strike each other in the course of their movement on the table, the stroke not being intended by the player. Kiss-curl or Bowcatcher, a small curl twisted on the fore- head. Kisser (P. R.), the mouth. Kissing-crust (Eng.), the soft crust which marks where one loaf has touched another in the oven. Kiss-me-quick, a short veil ; a bonnet not now in fashion. Kit, baggage or personal belongings. Also a "kit" of tools. Kite-flying, raising money on accommodation bills. See FLYING KITES, ante. Kittle (Scotch), fickle, uncertain. Kitty, in the game of draw-poker, each player raking in a pot with two pairs or better, or winning a jack-pot, puts a "chip" into a hole in the table for the good of the house. Knacker, an old and decrepit horse. Also the man who slaughters such. Knap (Eng.), to steal. No doubt from NAB, (g. v.) Knap, to receive or take. Knee-high, of diminutive stature. "Knee-high to a grass- hopper. " Knickerbocker (Am.), a descendant of one of the old Dutch families of New York. KNI KNU 161 Knife (Am.), to knife a person, is to do him harm, to stab him in character if not in person. Knife-board, the long seat on top of a London omnibus. Knobstick (Eng.), a non-union workman. See RAT Knock-down, strong ale. Knock-down (Am.), to embezzle. Knocked-up (Eng.), tired, played out. Knocker, "up to the," swell, in the height of fashion. Knocked into a cocked bat, knocked out of shape. Knock oflF, to quit work. Knock-out, in racing parlance, to drive a horse out of the betting list. A bankrupt is said to be "knocked-out." Knock out (Am.), an arrangement by brokers at auction sales to refrain from competition. Anyone of the gang acquires the coveted lots and at a subsequent sale confined to the members of the knock-out each man has the right to bid for the articles he wants. The proceeds are then divided among the confederates. Knock-out, a fight in which one of the combatants is rend- ered senseless or is so badly damaged as to be unable to re- spond to the call of time. Knock under (Old), to submit. Knowing, sharp, shrewd, fly, sometimes dishonest. Knowledge-box (Eng.), the head. Know-nothings, the so-called American party, which from 1852 to 1856 cut a considerable figure in politics. They composed a secret society and got their name from always professing to know nothing when questioned as to the ob- jects of the order. Knuckle-dusters, iron or brass instruments worn on the hands and used as a means of offence. Knuckle under, to yield or submit 1 62 KON KYE Koniacker (Am.), a counterfeiter. Kosher (Heb., right, from yashar^ to be right), pure, ac- cording to the Jewish ordinances. Thus "Kosher meat" is meat killed and prepared by Jews after the Jewish maner, and so fit to be eaten by Jews. Kotoo or Kotow, to bow down to, to cringe or flatter. From the Chinese ceremony where those who approach the Em- peror do so on their hands and knees. Kudos (from the Greek), honor, praise, reputation. Ku-Klux-Klan, a secret society in the Southern States, now extinct. Kye (Scotch), cattle. La ! or Lawks, a foolish ejaculation used by women and probably a perversion of "Lord." Lac or Lakh (Hindu), one hundred thousand, as a "lac of rupees." Lace, to thrash. Laced (Eng.), tea with something stronger in it. Laced mutton (Old Eng.), a woman; not a complimentary term. Lacing (Eng.), a beating. Ladder, "a hole in a," when a man cannot see this he is very drunk indeed. Lag (Old Eng.), to stay behind. Lag-, a returned convict. Lagged, sent to prison or transported. Lagger, an informer. Lallycooler, one who is pre-eminently successful in his line ; a "daisy," a "dandy," a "darling," a "lulu." Lam (Eng.), to beat. Lamb, on the Stock Exchange, the unfortunate speculators who are shorn by the luckier dealers. Lambasting (Eng.), a beating. Lambs (Eng.), roughs, loafers. Lame duck, a bankrupt stock-jobber or broker. Lamming, a beating. Lamps, "under the," said of London or any other large city. Land-crab, in sailor's phrase, a land-lubber. 1 64 LAN LAV Land-grabbers (Am.), people who under the forms of law or in defiance of them get possession of the public domain or of the property of individuals. Land-lubber, a sailor's term for a landsman. Land-shark, a sailor's term for a lawyer. Also applied to the keepers of sailor's boarding-houses who rob poor Jack through thick and thin. Land's sake (Am.), an expression of surprise. Lap, once around a short circular or elliptical course; so many laps to the mile. Lariat (Sp.), la riata), a rope of rawhide, hemp or sea-grass used for catching Texas steers and mustangs. Practically the same as LASSO, (g. v.) Lark, a frolic, a spree. Larrikin, street loafers are known in Sydney, N. S. W., by this name. In New York they are -'Broadway statues;" in Baltimore "plug-uglies;" in San Francisco "hoodlums," and everywhere "rowdies." Larrup (Irish), to beat. Larrupping (Irish), a beating. Lashins (Irish), plenty. "Lashins of whisky and tobacco galore" are the necessary accompaniments of a well-con- ducted "wake." Lass or Lassie (Scotch), a girl. Lassitudinous, a Malapropian expresion for languid, lazy. Lasso (See LARIAT, afe), a rope used by cowboys to catch cattle or ponies, the noose being thrown around the ani- mals horns or neck. Latchpan, the lower lip. Late Unpleasantness, the American Civil War of 1861-65. Lathy, thin, like a lath. Lave (Scotch) the remainder. LAV LED 165 Lavender, "laid up in," put carefully somewhere; in pawn or in a debtor's prison. Law, "to give," to give a start as true sportsmen give a hare or other animal before laying the dogs on. Lawin (Scotch), the reckoning. Lawing, going to law. Lay, to bet against a horse in a race or a man in any contest. Betters are divided into layers and backers. The BOOK- MAKER (q. v.) lays against everything at the market odds or less. Lay, a dodge ; a pursuit or practice. Lay, "on the lay," a thieves term for the particular branch of conveyancing in which they may be engaged. See KIN- CHIN-LAY. Lay, "What lay are you on?" What scheme or work have you on hand. Laying pipe, making arrangements to ensure the passage or defeat of some measure before a legislative body. See PIPE-LAYING, WIRE-PULLING and LOG-ROLLING. Lay on thick, to flatter. Lay-out, the painted table at faro, representing the cards. Lead, "friendly." See FRIENDLY LEAD, ante. Lean-to, an addition to a house or barn, generally of one story, with the roof leaning against the wall of the main building. Lear (Scotch), learning. Leary, flash, knowing, sly. Leather, to thrash. Leather (Am.), a pocketbook. Leaving shop (Eng.), an unlicensed pawnshop. Led captain (Eng.), a fashionable pimp. Doll Tearsheet objected strongly to Ancient Pistol styling himself "cap- 166 LEELEV tain," and said the word had become as odious as "occupy" which was a good word until it became ill-sorted. See II King Kenry IV. act zY, sc. 4. Leer (Gip.), a newspaper. Leery or Leary, doubtful, uncertain. Also drunk. Left out in the cold, neglected, shut out. Leg 1 , in playing cards the game is sometimes scored with chalk marks crossed ; one "leg" of each mark being rubbed out for each point scored. Leg, an abbreviation of BLACKLEG (^. z;.), a swindler. Leg 1 , in seamanship, tacking; "a long and a short leg." Leg and leg, the state of a game when each member has lost a "leg." Same as HORSE AND HORSE, ante. Leg-bail, "to give" to forfeit one's bail by absconding. Leg it, to run away. Leg piece, a burlesque or opera bouffe performance, in which the chief attraction is the young ladies of the ballet. Let alone, a Cockneyism for "much less.' Let drive, to strike at. Let her rip (Am.), let things go: move on ahead. Let in, swindled. Let on, to tell, to acknowledge. Let the cat out of the hag, to divulge a secret. Letup, a rest; a relief; to quit. Levant, to abscond. Levee, a reception. French, lever. Levee (Fr.), an embankment on the side of a river, very frequent along the lower Mississippi. Level best, "to do one's," to go to the full extent of one's ability. Level-headed, of good judgment. LEV LIM 167 Levy (Am.), a shilling. Lick, a blow; to lick is to thrash Licking, a beating. Lickspittle, a parasite who submits to indignities for the sake of advantages. One who "crooks the pregnant hinges of the knee, that thrift may follow fawning." Lie out of whole cloth (Am.), an absolute fabrication. Lifer, a convict sentenced for life. Lift, to steal; to pick pockets. Shakespeare uses the word. Lifter (Old Eng.), a thief. See Troilus and Cressida /, 2. Lig (Old Eng.), to lie down. Light, credit. "To get a light" is to obtain credit, while to have one's "light put out" is to have credit stopped. The last expression refers also to death. Lightmans (Gip.), the day. The Gipsy term for night is DARKMANS. Lightning, gin. Jersey lightning is a variety of alleged whiskey, which kills at forty rods; otherwise known as SUDDEN DEATH (, applied to the aborigines, from Pope's lines: Lo! the poor Indian, whose untutored mind, Sees God in clouds, or hears Him in the wind. Thus we get "Poor Lo." Load, "he has a load," he is drunk. Loafer (Dutch laufer), a lazy vagabond; an idle lounger. Lob, a till or money drawer. Lobb, the head. Lobby (Am.), to lobby is to work among a legislative body to influence them in favor of or in opposition to proposed legislation. Lobbyists form a large and obnoxious class and have much to do with the corruption of politics in the National and State government. Women as well as men are engaged in this business. Loblolly, a sailor's term for gruel. Loblolly-boy (Sea term), a surgeon's mate or assistant. Lobs (Gip.), words, talk. Lobscouse, a dish of potatoes, meat and sea biscuit all boiled together. Lobsneaking-, stealing from tills and money drawers. Lobster, an English soldier is a boiled lobster from his red coat. A policeman, who has a blue uniform, is a raw lob- ster. It does not please a London "bobby" to ask him, "Who stole the lobster." Lobster-box, military barracks. Loco-foco, a name given in 1835 * a sec tion of the Demo- cratic party. Loco-foco matches, then recently introduced, were used to obtain a light at one of their meetings and hence the name. Locust, a policeman's club, also known as a ''hickory" from the nature of the wood. 170 LOD LOO Lodge, an Indian house, tepee or wigwam. Loggerheads, "to come to," to come to blows; to quarrel. Loggy or Logy, stupid. Log-rolling (Am.), in the legislature means a system of co- operation by which one member will vote for the pet meas- ure of another in return for a like service on his own bill. The name comes from the practice of lumbermen from dif- ferent camps assisting each other in turn to roll their logs to the river. Loll, to lie around in a lazy manner. Lolliper (Eng.), the tongue. Lone Star State (Am.), Texas. Long, in Stock Exchange language means when a man has bought stock, grain or other goods on time which he can call for at any time. To be SHORT is to sell stock which one does not posses. Long and short of it, the whole of anything. Long bow, "to draw the," to exaggerate; to tell extravagant stories. See PITCHING THE HATCHET. Long chalk, "not by a," not by a good deal. Long green (Am.), counterfeit bills of large denominations. Long-headed, farseeing, smart, calculating. Long home, the grave. Long odds, such odds as go to show that the man or horse or whatever they are laid against has, or is supposed to have little chance to win. Longtail, a banknote for a large amount. Longtails, English pheasants. Loof (Scotch), the hand. Look out or Looker out (Am.), an assistant to the dealer at faro. Loon (Am.), a foolish fellow; "stupid as a loon." LOO LUM 171 Loony, short for looney-tick (lunatic), silly, stupid. Loose, "on the," on the spree. Loot, plunder. To loot is to pillage. Lope, to leap. "Loping along." Lop-sided, uneven. Lord, "drunk as a," very drunk indeed the antithesis of "sober as a judge," showing the difference between the ar- tocracy and the bench. Lost cause (Am.), that of the Southern Confederacy Lothario, generally used with the prefix "gay," a deceiver; a seducer of women. From a character in an old play. Loud (Eng.), showy, flashy, over-dressed. Lounce (Eng.), an abbreviation of allowance. "He's had his lounce," he has had enough to drink. Lour or Lowr (Gip.), money. Lout, a heavy, awkward fellow. Love, nothing. Five points to none at any game would be "five to love." Love-child (Eng.), an illegitimate child. Low-downer (Am.), a native of North Carolina. Low-water, out of money. Lubber (Sea slang), a fool or awkward person. Luck, "down on your luck," in trouble or difficulty, un- happy. Lucky (Eng.), "to cut one's lucky," to go away quickly. Lug, the ear. Lug, to carry. Probably from luggage, baggage. Luni (Scotch), a chimney. Lumber, to put in pawn. Probably from the Lombards, the original pawnbrokers. Lumbered, pawned. 173 LUM LYN Lummox, a stupid fellow. Lump, anything large, as a "lump of a man," Lumper, a dockyard workman; also a wharf -rat or dock- thief. Lump it, leave it. "If you don't like it you can lump it." Lumpy, intoxicated. Luuk-lieucl, a stupid man; a fool. Lunnon, Cockney for London. Lurch (Eng.), the players who make the double point at whist are said to have "lurched" their opponents At crib- bage a man is "lurched" or "skunked" if he fails to get around the corner, that is to peg 31 holes before his oppon- ent gets out. Lurk, a dodge, trick or swindle; a tale of feigned poverty and distress made up for begging purposes. Lurker (Eng.), an impostor who travels about with false stories of sickness and distress. Lush, drink. Lushlng-crib or Ken, a drinking-house. Lushington, a drunkard. Lushy, intoxicated. Lynching-bee (Am.), a gathering of men for the purpose of lynching a criminal. Lynch law, the execution of a criminal by a mob. M Mace (Eng.), to obtain money by threats; to "sponge" or to swindle. Maceman, a swindler. Mad (Old Eng.), angry. Used in the same sense in the United States. Mad as a March hare, crazy. "Mad as thunder" means the same. Mad as a wet hen, angry, vexed. Mag (Eng.), a halfpenny. "Haven't got a mag" expresses utter destitution. Maggotty, fanciful. "Got a maggot in his brain" or "a bee in his bonnet." Magpie, in target shooting, a white and a black flag, not so good as a bull's eye. Magsman, a street swindler or "faker." Mahogany, said of a dinner table; "to have one's leg's under another man's mahogany," is to sit at his table as a guest. Mahound (Obs.), Mahomet, the Prophet of Islam. Mail (Am.) : to place a letter in the postoffice. An English- man "posts" his letter. Main (Old Eng.), very; "main glad," very glad. Main guy (Am.), the chief or leader of any organization. Make it hot, to make things uncomfortable for any one; to persecute him. Make, "on the" (Am.), looking out for what one can get Make tracks (Am.), to get away in a hurry; to SKEDAD- DLE (g. v.) 173 174 MAK MAR Make-up, in the parlance of the theatre, applied to actors dressing tbeir faces with paint, etc. Makings, perquisites, or less mildly, stealings. Maltee, a native of Malta. Main! (Gip.), a grandmother or old woman, doubtless from mamma. Mammy or Maumer, an old negro woman. Man Above (Irish), the Almighty. Man Friday, a useful assistant, from the name of the savage who acted as servant to Robinson Crusoe. Man of straw (Eng.), a person without resources or capital. Man up a tree, "the way it looks to a," the way anything appears to one who possesses special advantages for ob- serving. Marbles (Eng.), money. March, at euchre, to win all the tricks. Mare's nest, a supposed discovery of something wonderful which turns out to be nothing at all. Marine, an empty bottle. Mark, "a soft mark," one easily swindled. Mark, "to make one's," to achieve success. Mark, "to toe the," to be ready ; "to come up to the scratch." Marriage lines (Eng.), a marriage certificate. Marrow (Old Eng.), a companion; a "mate" or fellow. Marrow-bones (Old), the knees. Martingale, in the language of the gaming-table, a method of playing roulette or rouge et noir, by doubling the stake every time one loses, and so continuing until one wins. Like all "systems" for breaking the bank this is open to the objection that the method may have to be carried to an amount beyond the limit allowed before the player wins. MAS MEA 175 In addition to this there is the chance that the game may not be fair, and the bank's percentage of "splits" or "zeros" is to be considered. Mascot (Am.), anything lucky; a sort of FETICH ($. v.) Mash (Am.), a school-girl's term for a street flirtation. Masheen, "to run with the" (Am.), to serve with the vol- unteer fire department. Masher (Am.), a well-dressed loafer who spends his time in ogling women on the street and who travels on his shape. Master of the rolls (Eng.), a baker. Mate (Eng.), a companion or "pal." Mate, to match or pair. Mauley orMawley (P. R.), the fist: also the signature Maund (Gip.), to beg. Maunder (Old), a beggar. Maunder (Scotch), to mutter. Maundering, wandering, spoken of traveling beggars as well as those who maunder or meander in their speech. Maung (Gip.), in English MAUND, to beg. Maverick (Am.), an unmarked yearling steer. Maw, the mouth. Mawkin (Scotch, a cat. Max (Eng.), gin. Bryon uses the word in Don Juan. Mealy-mouthed (Eng.), soft-spoken, plausible. Mean (Am.), which in England is used for stingy or close, is applied in this country in an entirely different sense. When one young girl says to another "Now, Sadie, you're real mean," she desires to express, not that Sadie is close in money matters, but that she is bad-tempered or has done something to the detriment of her friend. The word is abominably misused. 176 MEA MIL Mean white (Am.), a low class white person in the South. Measly, mean, miserable-looking. Medical Greek (Eng.), a wretched apology for slang used by London medical students, and consisting of the trans- position of the initials of words. In this jargon "poking a smipe" means smoking a pipe, and a "stint of pout" is a pint of stout. Medicine man (Am.), an Indian doctor or priest. Mending fences (Am.), the politician, who, having been elected to Congress or other office requiring his residence away from home returns occasionally to heal up differences which may have arisen among his supporters and to pre- pare for a renomination. Then he is "mending his fences." Mesa (Sp.), a table land. Mess to lose the number of one's" (Sea term), to die. Mess, a quantity of anything, as a "mess of milk." Miching (Old Eng.), stealing or playing truant. Micks, Irishmen. Midden (Old Eng.), a dung heap. Middle-weight (P. R.), as applied to pugilists, one who fights at 145 to 155 pounds. Middy (Sea), abbreviation of midshipman. Mighty, used improperly as an adjective or adverb in much the same way as AWFULLY (. #.), is making arrangements for political success without much considera- tion as to the means employed. Pipe, "put that in your pipe," a clincher to an argument. Piper-off, a spy or "spotter." Pippin (Eng.), a term of endearment or friendship. "How are you, my pippin ?" Pips, the spots on playing cards. Pistaroon or Pistareen, a silver coin worth twenty cents. Pitch (Eng.), any locality selected by a hawker or street patterer for his operations. Pitch, to pass base coin. Smashers are also known as SNIDE PITCHERS ( q. v.) Pitch (Eng.), to sleep for a short time, as on the floor or on a lounge. London journeymen bakers "pitch in" every night while waiting for their dough to rise. Pitching- the hatchet, telling incredible yarns of the Mun- chausen order. Pitch into, to fight. Pitch the fork, to tell a pitiful story. Place, to name the first three horses in a race in their order. Placee (Am.), a name formerly given in the South to a col- ored mistress of a white man. Placer-diggings (Am.), are localities where gold is found scattered in the surface dirt. 206 PLA PLU Plack (Scotch), a half penny. Plank (Am.), to lay down; to pay out money. Plank (Am.), the component parts of a political platform are known as planks. Plant, a swindle, a put-up job, a dodge. Plant, a hidden store of money or valuables. Planted, buried. Plates of meat (Eng.), feet. Platform (Am.), a declaration of principles by a political party, convention or candidate. Play, to go on strike; to be out of work. Play ball (Am.), go on with what you are about. Played out, ended, ruined. Playing 'possum (Am.), act a part, deceiving. The opos- sum when struck often pretends to be dead. Plaza (Sp.), a public square. Used in New Mexico and Lower California. Plebs, name given by boys at English public schools to the town boys, with whom they are always at war. Ploughed (Eng.), failing to pass an examination at one of the universities. See PLUCKED. Ploughed, drunk. Pluck (Eng.), courage, valor. Pluck (Eng.), the liver and lungs of a sheep or hog. Plucked (Eng.), failing to pass an examination. See PLOUGHED, ante. Plug (Am.), a hat. Also a cake of chewing tobacco. Plug (Am.), a name applied by telegraph operators to a poor hand at telegraphy or to the operator at a small "plug" station. Plugger (Am.), one who plays in a gambling house to in- duce the belief that a game is going on. PLUPOL 207 Plug-ugly (Am.), name given to the rowdies of Baltimore. Plum (Eng.), directly, exactly. Plum (Eng.), one hundred thousand pounds. Perhaps from pluma, a feather, the idea being that the possessor of such a sum had "well-feathered his nest." Plummy (Eng.), round, sleek, jolly, fat. Plumper (Eng.), a single or straight vote at an election, the opposite of a "split ticket." Plunder (Eng.), baggage, personal belongings, profit. Plunger (Eng.), a heavy dragoon. Plunger (Eng.), a man who bets heavily; a "high roller." Plunk (Am.), a dollar. Pocket (Am.), in mining phrase, a small deposit of the prec- ious metal ; not a true fissure vein. Pocket, "to put up with" (Eng.), a man who fails to resent an affront is said to pocket it, while a poor man is compelled to "pocket his pride." Pocket-pistol, a spirit flask. Podgy, short, dumpy. Pogy (Am.), a jail or workhouse. Point or Pointer, information ; a tip. Poke (Am.), to dawdle. Poke (Old Eng.), a sack or bag. There is an old proverb about "buying a pig in a poke." See ante. Poker, a stupid person ; a bore. Poker, a game of cards, otherwise known as "Draw." Poky, confined, cramped, as a "poky" room. Policy, a game based on the choice of numbers supposed to be drawn by lot. It is a great favorite with negroes. Two chosen numbers coming out constitute a "saddle;" three a "gig" and four a "horse," and each pays accordingly. 2o8 POL POP Polish off (P. R.), to finish, as in a fight. Poll, to beat or distance. Pollywog, a tadpole. Polony, a Cockneyism for bologna sausage. Pompadour, the style of brushing the hair high up in front, much affected by dudes. The name comes from Mme. de Pompadour. Pompeyed, a ridiculous equivalent for pampered. See Dickens, Great Expectations. Ponce (Eng.), a pimp who lives upon the earnings of a pros- titute. See PENSIONER. Pond or Herring-pond, the ocean. Pone (Am.), a cake made of corn meal. The name is a cor- ruption of an Indian word. Pony (Eng.), twenty-five pounds. Pony, a translation of a classical work used by students. In England it is a "crib." Pony, a small glass of spirits. Pony up, to pay. Poo-Bah, one full of business; a jack of all trades. From a character in the opera of The Mikado, on whom all manner of work is thrust. Pooh-pooh, an exclamation signif y ing unbelief ; to deride. Pool, to unite issues, to aggregate funds and combine as is done by railroad corporations. See TRUST and COM- BINE. Poona (Gip.), an English sovereign or pound. Poor Lo, the American Indian. See Lo, ante. Poorly (Eng.), in bad health. Pop, to pawn or pledge. To "pop up the spout." Pop, a mild drink, like ginger-beer. POP POT 209 Pop (Am.), a pistol or revolver. Pope's nose. See PARSON'S NOSE, ante. Poppycock, nonsense, silly boasting. Pop the question, to make an offer of marriage. Popular (Am.), conceited, fussy. "As popular as a hen with one chicken." Portage (Am.), a carrying-place over land from one naviga- ble stream to another, or around falls or rapids. Post, to pay out money ; to "post the coal" is a sporting t^rm signifying to make one's stake good. Posted, when a man refuses to pay his gambling debts his name is posted. Also if he refuses to fight a duel he may be posted as a coward. Posted-up, well-acquainted with a subject. Pot, a favorite in the betting. Pot, to finish. "Gone to pot" means dead, from the classic custom of placing the ashes of the dead in an urn. Pot (Am.), the accumulated bets in a game of poker. A "jack-pot" is one which can only be opened by a player who holds a pair of jacks or better. Potato-trap (Eng.), the mouth. Potboiler (Eng.), a picture painted or sketch written hur- riedly and for the purpose of "keeping the pot boiling." Potheen, Irish whisky of the home-made kind, prepared from potatoes and flavored with peat smoke. Pot-hunter (Eng.), an alleged sportsman who shoots every- thing he comes across, whether game or not. Pot luck (Eng.), just as it comes; anything there may be in the house for dinner. Potted (Eng.), buried. Also said of anything put out of the way, as to "pot" the ball at pool. Potter, to meddle without judgment; to mess about. 210 POT PRI Pot-valiant (Eng.), courageous through application to the bottle. Full of DUTCH COURAGE, (q. v.) Pot-wrestler or Pot-walloper (Am.), a scullion or dish- Pour-boire (Fr.), a small gift or tip, literally "for beer." Pow (Scotch), the head. "Now blessings on thy frosty pow, John Anderson, my Jo." Powder monkey, a boy who carries ammunition and supplies for gunners on board ship. Power, a large quantity, as a "power of money." Pow-wow (Am. Indian), a conference. P. P., play or pay, in racing parlance means that the bet must be paid whether the backer "gets a run for his money" or not. P. B., the prize ring. Prad (Gip.), a horse. Prairie State (Am. ), the State of Illinois. See also SUCKER STATE. Prancer (Gip.), a horse. Praties (Irish), potatoes. Precious, very or great, as "precious few," or "a precious rascal." Presently (Scotch), directly; at present. Pretty, in Scotland, a tall, fine-looking man is described as a "pretty" man. Previousness, freshness. Prial, a corruption of pair-royal, a term used in cribbage to signify any three cards of a similar description. Four such cards form a double prial. Prig (Old Eng.), a thief; used as a verb, to steal. See Win- ter's Tale, iv, 2. PRI PUE 211 Prig (Eng.), a conceited, stuck-up person. Prig (Scotch), to beat down in price; to bargain. Priggish (Eng.), conceited. Primed (Eng.), well-loaded with drink. Primp up, to dress up. Probably the same as PRINK. See next article. Prink, to make neat or fine. Prinked out, well dressed. Pro (Theatrical), an actor; a member of "the" profession. Prog, food. Prop, a necktie or scarf-pin. Prop, a blow. Proper, very, exceedingly, good. A "proper" man is a tall, fine-looking fellow. Props, theatrical properties; articles used in presenting a drama, as pictures, tables, sham jewelry, etc. Props, crutches. Prospecting, searching for gold or other mineral deposits- A "prospect" is a fair outlook for successful mining. Prosser (Eng.), one who lives on the earnings of a prosti- tute. Provider (Am.), spoken of a husband. "He is a good pro- vider," (for his family implied). P's and Q's, precise behavior. "Mind your P's and Q's,' be careful. Pub (Eng.), a public house; a tavern. Pucker, "in a," in a temper. Pucker, a snarl or tangle. Pucker up, to twist up the mouth, as one does who eats an olive, a lemon, or a persimmon. Pueblo (Sp.), a village or house. 312 PUF PUN Puff, an advertisement; to puff is to praise unduly. Pug, short for pugilist. Puke, nickname for a Missourian. Pukka (Hindustani). In India anything that is good and nice is "pukka," and the word is used as an adjective much as "awful" is in England. Pull (Am.), an advantage held over another person. Pull (Am.), to arrest, or to raid a gambling- house or house of ill -fame. Pull, to pull a horse in a race, is for the jockey to hold him in or so ride as to prevent him winning. Pull (Am.), "to have a pull," to be possessed of influence; a word much used in the political world. Pull down your vest, a stupid expression which originated a few years ago, became a catch phrase on the streets and then faded into deserved oblivion. Pullet (Eng.), a young girl. Pull foot (Am.), to start off rapidly; to run. Pull through, to succeed ; to recover from an illness. Pull up stakes (Am.), to remove bag and baggage. Pull wool over one's eyes, to deceive; to humbug. Pummel or Pommel, to thrash. Pump, to extract information by cross-questioning. Pundit (Hindu), a grave and reverend seignior; a learned man. Punkah (Hindu), a swinging fan used for ventilating houses in the East Indies. I* a M kins, "some" (Am.) (pumpkins), good, smart. About the opposite of SMALL. POTATOES (.); a swindler and confidence man. Shenanigan (Irish), cheating, playing tricks, fooling. Shent (Old Eng.), blamed, rebuked. See Coriolanus^ v, 2. Shent is also used in the sense of hurt. Shepherd, to look after; to watch. Shice (Hebrew), nothing; "to work for shice," is to work gratis. Shicer, a mean or worthless fellow. Shickery, shabby, bad. Shickster (Heb.), a woman. Shiftless (Am.), worthless, lazy; having no business instinct. Slugs, money, silver. Shilling (Am.), twenty-five cents. Shilling shockers, cheap books of the sensational order sold in England at one shilling each. Shilly-shally (Eng.), to fritter away time; to hesitate or be irresolute. SHI SHO 239 Shimmy (Cockney), a chemise. Shin (Am.), to walk; "shinning around," hustling, moving about briskly. Shindy, a row, noise or disturbance. Shine, a noise or row. Sometimes "monkey shines," applied to larking or jocularity. Shine, "to cut a," to dress well; to "put on side." Shine, "to take the shine out of one," to surpass or excel him. Shiners, gold coin, and particularly English sovereigns. Shines, "cutting up," joining in a frolic or racket of any kind. Shine up to, to take a fancy to ; to go courting or to set one's cap for a person. Shingle (Am.), to cut one's hair short. Shingle (Am.), a sign, as "The Doctor hung out his shingle." Shinny (Am.), a game played with sticks and a ball, some- times played on ice and by a large party. The boys are di- vided into sides and the aim is to knock the ball into the enemy's camp. "Shinny on your own side;" an expression used in the game. Shinplaster (Am.), a bank note or bill. Shin-up (Am.), to climb a tree by using the hands and feet only. Shiny, dressy, SPIFF (y. v.) Ship-shape, in good order. Sometimes "ship-shape and Bristol fashion." Ship's husband (Sea term), a purser. Shirty (Eng.), ill-tempered, quarrelsome. Shiver my timbers, a sailor's ejaculation. Shoat or Shote (Old Eng.), a hog. 240 SHO Shoddy, an inferior kind of cloth, made from old stuff worked over. Shoddy (Am.), anything at once pretentious and inferior. Shoddyocracy (Am.), people who have become rich by making contracts for shoddy goods or in any other disrep- utable way ; the parvenu rich. Shoe (Eng.), to initiate a person; to make him free of his trade. Equivalent to ''paying one's footing." Shoe leather (Eng.), warning given by a thief to his "pal," meaning, of course, to make use of his legs. Shoes, "to die in one's," to be hanged. Shoful (Eng.), a hansom cab. Shoful (Heb.), bad money or imitation jewelry; anything inferior. Shoful pitcher, one who passes bad money. Shoful pullet, a girl of doubtful reputation. Shool, to saunter idly about. See Roderick Randon. Shog (Old Eng.), to walk or move away. "Shog along." Shool (Heb.), a synagogue. Shoot or Shute (properly chute), a passageway by which logs are shot down the hill sides. Shooting-iron (Am.), a revolver or gun of any kind. Shooting-stick (Am.), an article used by printers to tighten the quoins which lock up a form. Shoot the cat, to vomit. Shoot the hat (Am.), a street call directing the hearer to get rid of an objectionable tile. Shoot the moon (Eng.), to remove one's household goods between two days for the purpose of evading the payment of rent. Shop (Eng.), a "place" in a race; first, second or third. Sometimes called a "situation." SHO 241 Shop, a house, office or abiding-place of any kind. "How are they all at the shop. ?" Shop, to discharge a person. In the English army to "shop" an officer is to place him under arrest. Shop-lifter, a thief who steals articles from the counters of stores. Shakespeare uses "lifter" for thief. Shop, "to talk" (Eng.), to be full of nothing but one's call- ing or profession, as a doctor talks of medicine or a farmer of his crops. Short, hard up, out of money. Short, on the Stock Exchange, having sold stock which one does not possess. The "shorts" are those who speculate for a fall. Short-commons, short allowance of food. Short-hair (Am.), descriptive term for low-grade politicians and ward bummers. The Democratic party in the cities is divided into "swallow-tails" and "short hairs" well-dressed men and toughs. Short metre (New Eng.), directly, in short order. See the BigloTU Papers. Shorts, breeches. Shot, money. Shot (Old Eng.), the reckoning at an inn. See Two Gen- tlemen of Verona ii, 5. Shot in the locker ( Sea term), money in the treasury. Shot in the neck (Eng.), intoxicated. Shoulder-hitter, a bully or pugilist; a "slugger." Shout (Am.), to pay for drinks round. "It's my shout." Shove, to pawn. Also to pass counterfeit money; to "shove the queer." 242 SHO SHY Shove-halffrenny (Eng.), a gambling game played by pushing coins along a table, the aim being to get them near to certain lines. Shovel, a peculiar hat worn by dignitaries of the Church of England. Show (Am.), "give him a show," give him a chance. "I had no show to win." Show off, to make a display. Show up, to appear. Shrieking sisterhood, the army of female suffragists and woman's rights women. Shrimp, a diminutive person ; a small boy. Shtumer, a horse which it is known will not be run to win. See STIFF 'UN. Shuck (Am.), the outer covering or husk, as of a walnut or an ear of corn. To shuck corn is to strip off the husks. Shucks, "not worth" (Am.), worthless; of no value. Shunt (Eng.), to avoid; to turn aside. Railroad cars which are "switched" in this country are "shunted" in England. Shut of, "to get," to get rid of. Shut up, be quiet; stop. The phrase also means exhausted, done for. Shy (Eng.), a throw; to throw. A cockshy is a game played at fairs, when sticks are thrown at articles set upon other sticks a few feet away, the striker sometimes getting what he hits. Shy (Eng.), to stop suddenly or swerve to one side, as a horse does when frightened. Shy, "to fight shy," to keep away from a person, to avoid him. Shyster (Am.), a low-class lawyer who touts openly for bus- SIC SIM 243 iness and who undertakes shady cases ana every trick of the law ; a pettifogger. Sick (Am.), afflicted with disease. In England a person afflicted is "ill," and "sick" is only applied to express sick- ness of the stomach or nausea. Sick as a horse, or as a dog or a cat ; popular similes, curi- ously misplaced in the first instance as horses never vomit. Sickener, a dose too much of anything. Sicker (Scotch), sure, certain. Side, "to put on," to put on style. "Too much dog," means the same thing. Side, a Gipsy equivalent for "yes," probably from the Span- ish St. Side-wheeler (Am.), a pacing horse. Siege, "had a siege of it," a hard time; a long sickness Sight, a great many ; "a sight of people. Sight, "to take a" (Eng.), to place the thumb to the nose and spread the fingers out. "The Sacristan, he said no word to indicate a doubt, But he put his thumb up to his nose And he spread his fingers out." Ingoldsby Legends. Silk stockings (Am.), the moneyed class, commonly accred- ited with wearing silken hose. Applied to a section of the Democratic party. See SHORT HAIRS, ante. Silver Grays (Am.), a name applied to a branch of the Whig party some forty years ago. A convention was held at which Francis Granger presided and as the chairman and many of the delegates were advanced in years it was called the "Silver Gray" convention. Silver wedding (Am)., the twenty-fifth anniversary of a wedding, often celebrated with much pomp. Simon, an English sixpence. 344 SIM SIX Simon Pure, the genuine article, from a character in the old comedy of A Bold Stroke for a Wife. Simpson (Eng.), water used in place of milk; applied also to the milk dealer himself. Sinews of war (Eng.), money, funds. Singed cat, "like a," better than he looks, said of a person whose appearance does him injustice. Sing out, to call aloud. Sing- small, to lessen one's boasting. Sing 1 song- (Eng.), a harmonic meeting at a public house; a "free and easy." Sink (Fr. cinq} a throw of five at dice. Sink-boat (Am.), a boat used for duck shooting. See BATTERY, ante. Sinkhole (Am.), a depression or hole in limestone forma- tion in which streams sink and are lost. Sinkers, bad money. Sinkers, doughnuts. Sirree; "Yes, sirree, Bob," a vulgar emphasizing of an af- firmation. Siserara, a hard blow. See Vicar of Wakeffeld. Sit under, to regularly attend the ministrations of a preacher. Sit-upons, trousers. Siwy, a corruption of asseveration ; "upon my sivvy," upon my word. Sixes and sevens, "all at," all in confusion. Six-shooter, a revolver of six chambers. Sixty, "like sixty," at a rapid rate, briskly. Sixty per cent, a bill discounter. Sixwatergrog (Sea term), very thin of the rum and very strong of the water. SIZ SKI 245 Sizz, to make a hissing sound, as to sizzle. Skates, "got them on," said of a man when drunk. Skedaddle, to run away, now a common Americanism and claimed to have originated in the Civil War. As a matter of fact the word has been in use in the West of Scotland for many years, and is used there and in Lancashire, Eng- land, in the sense of to spill or to scatter, as to skedaddle the milk. Skeery (Am.), scary, frightened. Skeezicks (Am.), a paltry little fellow. Skid, a contrivance placed before a wagon wheel to prevent it going too fast down hill. Otherwise a DRAG or SHOE. Skid or Skiv, an English sovereign. Skid, a slide used for loading barrels or heavy goods or for moving timber. Skied (Eng.), when pictures exhibited publicly are hung near the ceiling they are said to be "skied." If hung too low they are "floored." The most desirable position is "on the line" of sight. Skillag-alee (Irish), thin gruel. Skilly (Eng.), workhouse or prison gruel. Skimping or Skimpy, scant. Skin (Am.), to get the best of; to get all that one has. Skin (Am.), a purse or pocketbook. See LEATHER, ante. Skin, to use a "crib" or "pony" in order to pass an examina- tion. Skinflint (Eng.), a mean, stingy person. It is said of such a one that he would "skin a flint for a penny and spoil a shilling knife." Skin game (Eng.), a crooked game at cards; to swindle. Skink (Old Eng.), to drink. 246 SKI SKY Skinker (Old Eng.), a tavern waiter. See I King Henry I V, u, 4. Skinning- the lamb (Eng.), when an outsider wins a race bookmakers are said to "skin the lamb," as they have in all probability laid very little against the winner. The term is also used on the Stock Exchange. Skin your own skunk (Am.), do your own dirty work. Skip, get out, run away. Skip or Skep (Scotch), the captain of a side in the game of curling. Skipper (Sea), the master or captain of a merchant vessel. Skipper, a cheese-mite. Skit, a joke, squib orj'eu d? esprit. Skive (Am.), to pare leather or skin so as to leave a bevelled edge. Skivings (Am.), waste pieces of leather. Skullduggery ( Am.), dirty, mean actions ; conspiracy or plot- ting. Skunk (Am.), an objectionable person; one of bad charac- ter. Skunked (Am.), signifies beaten out of sight; DISTANCED or CHICAGOED (g. v.) At cards and other games the player who fails to reach a certain point in the game is skunked. Thus, at cribbage, if he fails to turn the last row he is in this predicament. Sky (Eng.), to throw up in the air, as with pennies in toss- ing. Sky-blue (Eng.), milk diluted with water. Skylarking- (Sea), playing tricks or rough games as sailors do on board ship. Sky-parlor (Eng.), an attic or garret. Sky-pilot, a navy chaplain or other minister. SKY SLA 247 Skyscraper (Am.), a very tall building such as are now be- ing built in Chicago. Slab, thick, as gruel, porridge, etc. Shakespeare uses the word in Macbeth. Slab-sided (Am.), applied to men or women of angular ap- pearance. Slack or Sleek (Eng.), small coal. Slack (Am.), lazy, shiftless. Slack baked, stupid, deficienfin character. Slack, "too much slack," too much talk. Slain, to strike or push violently, as "slamming the door." Slum, at whist j when two partners take the whole thirteen tricks, thus constituting a slam, it is counted to them as a rubber. Slang 1 , a traveling show. Slung-, a watch chain. Slang-, the language which, though unrecognized in diction- aries, is in common daily use not only among the vulgar but in every branch of life. Originally slang meant the secret language of the English Gipsies and was synonymous with GIBBERISH (y. v.) Later it came to express all vulgar language not included as Cant. It is sometimes termed FLASH, and the French equivalent is argot. Slang- whang-cr, (Am.), a long-winded speaker. Slangy, loud, flash, vulgar. Slant, a side-blow. Slantindicular, oblique, awry. Slap (Eng.), euphemism for rogue. Slap, exactly. "Slap in the wind's eye," exactly to wind- ward. Slap-bang*, suddenly, violently. 248 SLA SLI Slap-dash, immediately, in great haste; with more force than necessary. Slap-tip, first- rate, excellent; the ne plus ultra of style. Slasher, a clever fighter; a roaring blade. Slashes (Am.), swampy or wet grounds overgrown with bushes. Henry Clay was known as "the Mill-boy of the Slashes." Slate (Am.), in politics, a programme or list of appoint- ments. Slate (Eng.), to abuse or "cut up" in the newspapers or re- views. Slated (Am.), placed on a list, as one who is slated for a specified position. Slate loose (Eng.); see TILE LOOSE, off one's head, crazy. Slate, "put it on the" (Eng.), to give credit. Equivalent to CHALK IT UP or PUT IT ON ICE or HANG IT UP (y. v.) Slathers (Irish), a large quantity; equivalent to LASHINS (y. v.) Slats, narrow pieces of board or timber, as the slats of a lad- der or of a wagon or cart, or of a wooden bedstead. Slaughter in the pan (Am.), a steak order at a cheap res- taurant. Slavey (Eng.), a maid servant. Sleeper (Am.), a railroad car fitted up for the sleeping accom- odations of the passengers. Sleepers (Am.), drunken men in the gutters. "Laying for sleepers or for "plain drunks," is the occupation of street thieves. Sleuth (Am.), a detective or professional thief -catcher. Slewed (Sea term), drunk, intoxicated. "Three sheets in the wind," or "half seas over." Slick, from sleek, unctuous, smooth. SLI SLU 249 Slide, "let it slide," for let it pass. Shakespeare has "Let the world slide." See "Taming of the Shrew" Sling your hook (Eng.), get away. Otherwise "hook it." American equivalents are "skip." "dig out" and "vamose'" Slip, "to give the slip," to run away or to elude pursuit. Slipping (Eng.), a card-sharping trick by which a desired card is produced from the deck. It is the faire sauter la coupe of the French and is a favorite trick with crooked ecarte players. Slips, the side galleries in a theatre. Slip up, to fail in any undertaking. Slobber or Slubber, to slop over; to make a great fuss over one. Slog (P. R.), to fight or beat. Applied to pugilists, who are known as good sloggers. Slogging (P. R.), fighting. Slop, to gush, to slop over. Slop (Eng.), back slang for police; now in general use. Slop, cheap ready-made work, such as clothing. Slope, to abscond or run away; otherwise to "mizzle." Slops, light food for invalids or any weak beverage. Slop-shop, a ready made tailor's shop, where the goods are of an inferior quality. Slouch (Am.), of no account; generally used with the neg- ative, as "he is no slouch." Slonr (Eng.), to lock up or fasten. Slowcoach (Eng.), a lumbering, dull person. Slowed, locked up, imprisoned. Slubberdegulllon, a term of contempt. See Hudibras. Slug, to strike. See SLOG, ante. Slugger, a prizefighter or bully. 250 SLU SMI Slum (Thieves Cant), a letter. Slum, to hide. Slumgullion (Old Eng.), a term of derision. Slumming (Eng.), visiting the poor in their homes from curiosity or a desire to give them assistance. Slung-shot or Sling-shot (Am.), a weapon of offense made by placing a stone or piece of lead in a bag. See SAND- BAG, ante. Slush (Am.), newspaper term for reporter's copy. Slushy, a ship's cook. Smack, smooth. See Ten Thousand a Tear. Small beer, "he doesn't think small beer of himself," means that a man has a high sense of his own importance. Small hours, the early hours after midnight. What Burns speaks of as "The wee short hours ayont the twal." Small potatoes (Am.), a term of contempt. Smalls, Oxford University term for the first or minor exam- ination of students. At Cambridge the corresponding term is LITTLE GO (q. z>.) Smart, in this country means active, intelligent or quick. In England it means dressy. Smart chance (Am.), a good opportunity. Smash (Eng.), to become bankrupt; "to go all to smash," same as "to go to the dogs." Smasher (Eng.), a maker or passer of counterfeit money. Smear-case (Dutch), soft cheese made from sour milk. Smeller (P. R.), the nose; a punch on the smeller is a blow on the nose. Smile, a drink or to drink. Smish or Mish (Gip.), a shirt or chemise. SMI SNA 251 Smithereens, "all to," all to smash. Smither is an English provincialism for a fragment. Smock (Old Eng.), a woman's undergarment; See Shakes- peare. Smockfaced (Eng.), white faced, delicate. Smoke, a Cant term for London. Going into the country is "going out of the smoke." Smoke (Old Eng.), to detect an artifice, in other words "to tumble to the racket." Smoke-stack (Am.), the funnel of a steamer. Smoke-wagon (Am.), a revolver. The word is used by the negroes of the Chicago levee. Smouch, to take advantage of. Smudge, to smear or daub. Smudge (Am.), smoke from a fire made of damp combusti- bles and intended to drive away insects. Smug (Eng.), neat, smooth. Smuggins (Cockney schoolboy), snatching or purloining marbles, tops or other toys. Smut (Eng.), indecent conversation. Snack (Gip,), a share or division. Also a light meal or lunch. Snack, to quiz or chaff; an innuendo. Snacks, "to go," to go halves. Snaffle (Eng.), talk on private or professional subjects; equivalent to "talking shop." Snaffled, arrested. Snaggle-teeth, irregular and uneven teeth. Snaggling, angling with a pin or hook. Snaggy, ill-tempered, cross. 252 SNA SNE Snags and Sawyers (Am.), are obstructions to the naviga- tion of rivers caused by trees having their roats fastened to the bottom or by large branches of submerged trees. Very common in the Mississippi. Snag-, "struck a" (Am.), run against an obstruction. See preceding definition. Snake, to follow in an underhand way; to crawl like a snake. Snake, to steal or carry off; probably a corruption of SNEAK (y- v -) Snakes, "to see" (Am.), to have the horrors, as in delirium tremens. Snakes, "to wake" (Am.), to get oneself into trouble. Snake-head (Am.), an upturned broken rail on a railroad which may pierce through the bottom of a car and cause a disaster. Snake in, to take in ; to draw in. Snake out (Am.), to drag or haul out, as stumps of trees are dragged out by horse-power. Snap (Am.), a spell of weather, as "a cold snap." Snap (Am.), energy, smartness. Snap, rapid, off-hand. Snap (Am.), anything good. A "soft snap" is an easy job. Snapps (Dutch schnapps), spirits. Snaps (Old Eng.), share or portion. Snarl, a tangle or contest. Snarl, a number or quantity, as a snarl of children. Sneak, -'Get a sneak on you," move on, get away Sneak, to steal or carry off. Sneakman (Eng.), a shoplifter or petty thief. Sneap, an insult or affront. Shakespeare has it. SNE SNI 253 Sneck (Scotch) the latch of a door. Sneezed at, "not to be," not to be despised. Sneeze-lurker (Eng.), a thief who throws snuff or red pep- per into the eyes of a pedestrian and then robs him. Sneezer (Eng.), a snuff box. Snell-fencer (Eng.), an itinerant peddler of needles, which are known as "snells." Snicker, a drinking cup. Snickersnee (Sea slang), a knife. See Thackeray's Ballad of Little Billee. Snide, spurious, inferior. Said of flash jewelry or of flash men. Used as a noun also, as "He's a snide." Snide-pitcher, a cheat or passer of bad money. Snifter (Am.), a drink of liquor. Snigger, to sneer. Sniggering- (Eng.), laughing to oneself. Snip (Eng.), a tailor. Snipe, an impertinent boy. Snipe, in Stock exchange slang, a curbstone broker. Snipe, applied to a tailor's bill, from its extreme length- Snipe, to steal. Snipe, the butt of a cigar. Snipe-hunting, going round the streets looking for cigar ends. Snippy, an insignificant, but self-assertive person; as applied to personal appearance, a sharp-visaged small woman. Snitch, to give information to the police ; to turn informer. Byron uses it in Don Juan. Snitchers, informers. Snitchers (Scotch), handcuffs. 254 SNO SOB Snob (Eng.), a low and vulgar person; one who pretends to be what he is not and who apes the manners of those above him in social position. For a full definition of the genus in all its varieties see Thackeray's Book of Snobs. Snobbish, stuck up, proud; having the characteristics of a SNOB, ante. Snooks (corruption of SNACKS) "to go snooks," to go halves. Snoop, "to snoop around," to go around in an inquisitive and prying style, looking into petty matters; to wander around aimlessly. Snooser or Snoozer, a term hardly complimentary applied to a man. "He is a queer old snoozer." Snooze (Eng.), to sleep or doze. Snorter, a drink of liquor. Snorter, a blow on the nose. Snorter (Am.), a wild Westerner. "A rip-roaring snorter." Snow (Gip.), wet linen hung out to dry and available for predatory purposes by the "snow-gatherer." Snuffed out (Eng.), dead; gone out like the flame of a can- dle. Snuff, "up to" (Eng.), knowing and sharp. Snuffy, out of temper. Snuffy, partly drunk. Snug, to purloin. Snuggle, to lie cosily and closely. Soak, "an old soak," a confirmed drunkard. Soak, to pawn. Soap, flattery. Soap, money. Sober as a judge, may be considered as the antithesis of DRUNK AS A LOUD. SOC SOM 355 Sociable (Am.), a church festival. Sock (Eng.^, credit. Sockdollager (Am.), a heavy blow; a finisher. Socket-money (Eng.), blackmail. Sock it to him (Am.), give him a good thrashing. Soda. See HOCK. Soft (Am.), bank notes. Soft (Eng.), foolish, green. Soft money (Am.), paper money. Soft-sawder (Eng.), flattery. Soft snap (Am.), an easy and well-paying job. Soft soap (Eng.), flattery, blarney. Soft tack, sea term for fresh bread. "Soft Tommy" is the equivalent. Soft thing (Am.), an easy time. Softy (Eng.), a foolish or stupid person. Soiled dove (Eng.), a prostitute or kept mistress. So-called because many of them live in St. John's Wood, London. Sojer or Soldier, a red herring or bloater. Otherwise known as a "Billingsgate Pheasant" or a "two-eyed steak." Sold, gulled, deceived. Soldier, "to soldier" or "sojer," is to dodge one's work. Sold up or Sold out (Eng.), bankrupt, ruined. Solid, responsible, wealthy. "Solid men of Boston." So long, an Americanism used instead of good-bye. "See you later" comes under the same category. Some, is used in the United States for somewhat or some- thing, as "Jones is some on shooting." Some pumpkins (Am.) (pronounced punkins), anything large. The antithesis of SMALL POTATOES, ante. 256 SOP SOW Sop (Eng.), a soft or foolish man; a milksop. Sop, bread and milk or other nursery food. Soph, abbreviation of Sophomore, college term for a student in his second year. Sorehead, a disgruntled politician. Sort, "that's your sort," a term of approbation or encourage- ment. So-so (Eng.), not particularly reputable; off-color as to char- acter. Sossle or Sozzle, to splash. Sot (Am.), the past participle of set. "They knew the mule was dead because the critters eyes were sot." Sou, the French five centime piece, equivalent to an Ameri- can cent. Sou marquee, "not worth a," of no value ; not worth a sou which has been marked or crossed. Sound, to pump, to get information from. Sound on the goose (Am.), of orthodox political belief. Leland has an amusing story (Hans Brett-man's Ballads} of a Pennsylvania politician who assured men of all parties that he was sound on the goose and thus escaped more defi- nite pledging. Souper, a contemptuous term applied to those Irish Catho- lics who during the famine conformed, at least outwardly, to Protestantism for the purpose of obtaining the soup and other food provided by the narrow bigotry of the age for starving people of the Protestant faith only. Sou'wester (Sea), a hat with a projection or "fantail" behind to protect the back of the neck during dirty weather. Sov, contraction for an English sovereign or pound sterling. Sow, the receptacle into which molten metal is poured in order to make "Pig-iron." ( SOW SPE 257 Sowbelly (Air..), the soldier's name for salt pork, which largely consisted of back and belly pieces. Sowing 1 wild oats, dissipating, having one's fling. Sow's baby, sixpence. Space, "to work on," to write by the line or column. Spalpeen (Irish), a term of reproach, but used half jocularly and sometimes almost as a term of endearment. Span (Am.), a team of horses. Spanish (Eng.), money. Spanish, "to walk Spanish," means about the same as to "toe the line" or to "come up to the mark." Spank, a slap or smack. Also used as a verb. Spanker, a fast traveler or a rapid goer of any kind. Spanking, large, fine, strong, as "A spanking pace or breeze." Spark, a sweetheart (male) comp. FLAME, the female equivalent. Sparking (Am.), courting. Sparks, diamonds. Spat (Irish), a petty quarrel, a slap. Spec, short for speculation, as "he bought those goods on spec." Speckled beauties, trout; generally those which an amateur fails to land. Specs, spectacles. Speech, in turf language a TIP or WRINKLE. Equivalent to being GIVEN THE OFFICE. Speel, to run away. Spell (Am.), a turn of work. To "spell" another is to go on with the work while he rests. Spell, to advertise. Also to desire or hanker after. 258 SPE SPI Spellken, a theatre, from the German spielen, to play, and the Gipsy or Cant, ken, a house. Often abbreviated to "spell." Spelling-bee (Am.), a competition in spelling, which orig- inated in the rural districts of New England and has been translated to Old England, where for a time it became a fad. Spelter, money. Spick and Span, new and fresh. Butler has it in Hudibras. Spider (Am.), a cooking utensil. Spidereen (Sea), an imaginary ship. A sailor when asked what ship he belongs to will say if he does not care to tell the truth "the Spidereen frigate with seven decks and no bottom." Spiel (Ger.), play, go-ahead. Spielken (from the German), a play-house. See SPELLKEN ante. Spier (Scotch), to ask, to enquire. Spiff (Eng.), well-dressed, swellish. Spiffed, partly drunk. Spiffiicate, to confound, silence or stifle. Probably it was manufactured from the last-named word and from suffo- cate, and was originally "stiflicate." Spike Park (Eng.), originally the Queen's Bench prison, and now applied to any place of detention. Spiketail (Am.), a dress coat or SWALLOW TAIL (q. v.) Spill (Am.), to upset. Spilt Milk (Eng.), that which is gone beyond recovery and which as the proverb says "it is no use crying over." Spin (Eng.), to reject. A man is "spun" who fails to pass his army examination. College equivalents are PLOUGHED and PLUCKED (f robbery. Starver, a very small loaf of bread. Otherwise a "duffer." Stash it (Eng.), stop it; let up. Staving, great, strong. Stayer (Eng.), one not easily discouraged; a good long-dis- tance horse. Steep, extravagant, great; "the price is too steep." Steer (Am.), to steer one against a gambling game or other swindle, to induce him to play or speculate by false pretences. Steerer (Am.), one who lays in wait for "suckers" and shows them where they can find a little game in which he has an interest. Steering committee (Am.), a committee appointed to take charge of a political campaign. Stems, or Pipe-stems, the legs. Step and fetch it, a lame man ; one with one leg shorter than the other. Sometimes called DOT AND CARRY ONE. Step it, go away, make off. Stepper, the treadmill. Stepper, a "high stepper" is a well-dressed lively woman. Sternwheeler (Am.), a steamboat with one paddle-wheel placed at the rear, much used on the Ohio and Mississippi. Stick, a poor actor or a fellow of little account ; "a poor stick." Stick, in theatrical phrase, to break down in the dialogue. Stick, a billiard cue. Stick, "cut your," go away. 266 STI STO Sticker, a stayer, one who does not know when to quit or how to let go; one not easily gotten rid of. Stickful, about twelve lines of type, as much as the compos- itor's "stick" will hold. Stickings (Eng.), coarse and damaged meat. Stickler, a very particular person. Sticks, furniture. Stick, "to stick a man" is to get in his debt or leave him in the lurch. Stick up, an Australian term for highway robbery in the Bush. Stick up for, to back up; to assist. Stiff (Am.), a corpse. Stiff (Eng.), an accommodation bill. To "do a bit of stiff' is to negotiate a bill or "fly a kite." Stiff (Am.), a lie or fake. Stiff (Am.), a worthless fellow. "An old stiff." Stiff f un (Eng.), see SAFE ONE ante. Still drunk, (Am.), a long continued drunk never reaching to a violent stage and never descending to sobriety. Stingo, (Eng.), strong ale. "This Franklin, sirs, he brewed good ale And he called it rare old Stingo. Ingold$by. Stinker, or Stinkerandos brand, a bad cigar. Stint (Am.), to stop. A stint of work is a certain task. Stir, a prison. From the Gipsy STIRABIN. Stitch, generic name for a tailor. Stived up, close, sultry, not ventilated. Stock, "to take stock in," to believe in one. To "take stock of" one on the other hand is to "size him up," to scrutinize STO STR Stock (Am.), to stock cards is to arrange them for cheating purposes **But the cards they were stocked In a way that I grieve And my feelings were shocked At the state of Nye's sleeve Which was stuffed full of aces and bowers And the same with intent to deceive." Bret Harte, Heathen Chinee. Stocky (Am.), short and stoutly built. Stoll (Gip.), to understand. Stomach (Eng.), to bear with. Mostly used in the negative as "I couldn't stomach that." Stone fence (Am.), a mixture of whisky and cider. Stone jug (Eng.), a prison. Ainsworth's disreputable hero sings: "In the box of a stone-jag I was bom Of a hempen widow the kid forlorn." Stook, a pocket-handkerchief. A STOCK HAULER is a handkerchief thief or pickpocket. Stool-pigeon, a decoy. One employed by the police to lead his associates into a trap. Stoop (Dutch), the front steps of a house. Story, a falsehood. -^ Stot (Scotch), a young bullock. Stoat (Old Eng. and Scotch), a cup. Stoughton bottle, a term of derision. Stowaway, one who hides on board ship to get a passage without paying. Stow it, (Eng.), or STOW YOUR GAB, leave off; quit talking. Synonymous with STASH, (g. v.) Straddle, on the Stock Exchange, a contract under which the holder may either call for or deliver stock at a certain fixed price. 268 STR Straddle, at poker, to double the ante. Straddle-bug, a beetle. Straight (Am.), undiluted spirits. See NEAT. Straight, honest, square, the opposite of CROOKED (y. v.) Straight (Am.), in the game of Poker is a sequence of five cards. A straight may count either way from an ace as Ace, King, Queen, etc., or Ace, Deuce, Trey, etc. The game may be played with or without straights as may be agreed. Straight as a string, honest. Straight ticket (Am.), the ticket nominated by a political party caucus or convention and voted as a whole, without scratching. Strap, a barber. Strapped, hard up, out of money. Straw bail, worthless bail furnished by professional bailors, who are "men of straw" instead of men of wealth. Of old times in England men who were willing to become bail for others for a consideration hung about the courts with straws stuck in their shoes, as it was forbidden to openly solicit the job. Dickens has a reference to the practice in Pickwick. Straw, in the," (Eng,), ladies are said to be so at their accouchement. Streak, to decamp, to run away. Streak, a vein ; "a streak of good luck." Streaked, tired out, sweated out. Streaky, ill-tempered ; irritable. Street, "the," Wall Street, New York City. Street Arabs, the gamins of the street, bootblacks, newsboys, et id genus omne. Stretch, a walk. Stretch, one year's imprisonment. STR STU 269 Stretch, to hang. Stretched, hanged. "The night before Larry was stretched The boys they all paid him a visit A bit in their sacks too they fetched They sweated their duds tell they riz it." Stretcher, a falsehood, one that requires a stretch of the im- agination to swallow it. Strike a jigger, to pick a lock or break open a door. Strike it (Am.), or STRIKE IT RICH, to make a success. Strike me, a Cockney asseveration ; often STRIKE ME BLIND. Striker (Am.), a ward striker or worker is a fellow who has or professes to have political influence in the neighbor- hood where he lives and who uses it for all it is worth and strikes a candidate for money. String, "to get in a" or to "get in a line" is to hoax. String, "with a string to it," (Am.), is said of an offer or promise made contingent on something else being done or subject to recall. Stripe, "the right," the right kind of pattern. Stroke, the leading oarsman in a boat, the one who sets the pace and pulls the stroke oar. S trommel (Gip.), straw. Strong, to "come it strong" or to "pitch it strong," explains itself. Strong-minded, said of woman suffragists and advanced woman generally. Struck, impressed with. Struck it rich (Am.), having made a winning. Struck Oil (Am.), same as the foregoing; having become suddenly rich as those did who struck a flowing oil-well. Stub, to strike, as one stubs one's toe. 270 STU Stuck, out of money, in distress. Also to be taken in. Stuck, to be stuck on a person or on any article is to be fond of him or it, thus Jones is stuck on a girl and the girl is stuck on candy. Stuck up (Eng.), purse-proud. Stuff, money. Stuff, to stuff a person, is to gammon or hoax him, to cram him with falsehood. Stump, to puzzle or confound. Also to challenge. See Lowell, "It don't seem hardly right, John When both my hands was full To stump me to a fight, John Your cousin too, John Bull." Jonathan to John. Stump, to go on foot. Stump, "to take the," (Am.), to make electioneering speeches in various places. Such speeches were formt:rly made from the stumps of trees, affording the speaker a vantage ground. Stumped, puzzled, unable to reply. Stumped (Eng.), knocked out, from the cricketing term. Stumper, a puzzler, an unanswerable question. Stump it, walk off; STIR YOUR STUMPS. Stump-speaker (Am.), one who speaks from the stump. Stumps, legs or feet. Stumptail (Am.), bank notes of doubtful value; depreciated paper currency. Stump up, to pay one's share. Stumpy (Eng.), money. Stunner (Eng.), anything astonishing or overwhelming. Stunning, very fine, large, astonishing, first rate. SUB SUR 271 Sub, a sub. heri officer. Sub, one who fills a place temporarily in the absence of the regular employe; an abbreviation of substitute. Sub, to draw money in advance; probably from subsidize. Subjects, medical term for corpses. Suck, a drunkard. Suck, to pump. Suck, a parasite or flatterer. Suck Casa (Lingua Franca) a drinking house. Sucked in, deceived, swindled. See ROPED IN ante. Sucker (Am.), a resident of Illinois. Sucker, a victim of sharpers; a greenhorn. Sucking the monkey, stealing liquor from a barrel by means of a straw inserted through a gimlet hole. Sudden death (Eng.), in tossing where the first call decides, as differing from the "best two out of three." Sufferer, a tailor ; one who gives tick and fails to collect. Sugar, money. Sulky (Am.), a two-wheeled carriage. In France a des- obllgeante. Sundown (Am.), sunset. Sun in the eyes or Been in the sun, intoxicated. Sunup, sunrise. Supe or Super, abbreviation of supernumerary ; one who plays Roman citizens, soldiers, and other inferior parts in a theatre. Super, a watch. A "red super" is a gold watch; a "white super," a silver one. Supply, a clergyman who fills a pulpit temporarily during the absence of the regular pastor. Sure and Sure-enough;real, genuine, certainly. 272 SUR SWE Surprise Party (Am.), a party of friends descend upon the house of a mutual friend and take possession of it, each bringing some contribution toward a jollification. Suspenders (Am.), braces. Suspicion, a slight flavor, probably from the French sou-peon. Suspicion, "to," (Am.), often wrongly used for "to suspect." Swab (Sea term), an epaulet. Swab (Sea term) a term of derision. Swag, (Eng.), plunder, baggage. Swagger, to put on style or SIDE (q. v.) The word is old. In King Henry I V, 'part 77, Doll Tearsheet speaks of Ancient Pistol as a "swaggerer," much to the alarm of Dame Quickly, who refuses to admit him until Falstaff assures her that Pistol is no "swaggerer, but a tame cheater, who will not swagger with a Barbary hen if her feathers turn back in any show of resistance." Swagsman, one who carries off the proceeds of a robbery. Swale, a tract of low land. Swallow-tail, a dress coat. Swamped, in overwhelming trouble, as when one is head over heels in debt ; ruined. Swankey, a mixture of molasses and vinegar; small beer. Swap or Swop, to barter or exchange. Swashbuckler, or Swingebuckler, a bully. Formerly applied to a swordsman of the pattern of Ancient Pistol; "the cankers of a long peace" with a "horrid suit of the camp and a beard of the general's cut." Swath, "to cut a wide" to live high; to make a big splurge; to cut a figure in the world. Swear off, to take an oath to refrain from drinking. Sweat, to bleed, to extort money from. SWESWI 273 Sweat-box (Am.), a cell in which suspected persons are con- fined and subjected to examination by the police for the purpose of extorting confessions from them; an illegal method but often practiced. Sweath-cloth (Am.), part of the apparatus used by thimble- riggers and "shell- workers." It can be spread out any- where and a game inaugurated at a moment's notice. Sweated (Eng.), said of gold coins which have been shook up in a bag to reduce their weight. Sweated, pawned. Sweater, a cheap tailor who pays starvation wages. Also applied to the poor devils who sweat for his benefit. Sweater, one who "sweats" gold coin. Sweep, a contumelious term. Sweet, "to be sweet on," to be fond of. Sweetener, a bribe or gift. Swell, a dressy man. In England the lower classes speak of anyone of superior position as a ''swell." But there are many varieties of the genus, of which the "howling swell" is the most obnoxious. Swelled head (Am.), vanity. See BIG HEAD ante. Swig, to drink ; also a drink. Swill (Am.), drink; to guzzle. Swill, to drink. Swill, which means hog-wash, is also applied to any inferior drink. Swim, "in the," in good luck; in a good line of business; on the inside. Swing, to have one's full swing is to have a good chance and unfettered action. Swing, to hang ; to be hanged. Swinge, to beat with a whip. Swingeing, large, powerful, as a "swingeing blow." 274 SWI SYN Swipe, a sweeping blow ; at cricket to hit hard with a full swing of the bat. Swipes, sour or small beer. To SWIPE is to drink. Swipey, intoxicated. Swished, flogged. Switch, to flog. Switch (Am.), to turn cars from one line of rails to another. In England the process is called SHUNTING. A switch is the movable rail by which this process is effected. Switch, a wisp of false hair used by women for their supposed adornment. Swivel-eye, a squinting eye. See Boss-EvE AND COCK- EYE ante. Swizzle (Eng.), small beer. Swop or Swap, to exchange or barter. Swot or Swat, a blow, or to strike. Syne (Scotch), long ago, as "Auld Lang Syne." T to suit to a T," to fit to a nicety. Tab, (Am.), a ticket; "to keep tab" is equivalent to keeping tally or to score. Tabby, an old woman, one of cattish disposition. Tabby party, a party composed entirely of women. Tabooed, forbidden, from the savage custom of setting apart certain things as being "tabu ;" that is, sacred and not to be touched. Tack, "hard," sea biscuit. Tacked, tied down, beaten. Tackle, harness. Also clothing. Tackle, to encounter a person either in argument or physical contest; to seize hold of. Tackling, is used in New England to signify harnessing. Tads, small boys. Taffy, a Welshman. "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief." Taffy (Am.), candy. Also flattery. Tag (Am.), a slight touch; the name of a boy's game. Tag (Am.), a ticket. See TAB, ante. Tag-rag (Eng.), a mixed crowd; low people. Tailings (Am.), refuse ore. Take, the allowance of "copy" given out to a compositor to set. Take (Eng.), to understand. M 276 TAK TAN Take, to succeed. Take a fall, to down one in argument or physically. Take after, to resemble. Take down, to humiliate. Take in, to swindle or defraud. Used both as a verb and as a noun, a "take in" being a swindle. Take it out. To take it out of one is to thrash him or get even witn him. Taken in, arrested. See RUN IN. Take on, to grieve or lament bitterly. Takes the cake (Am.), or takes the bun, or the bakery, etc. etc. Said of a tall fish story or of anything superlative. Take up, to adopt the cause of another or to accept a challenge. Take water (Am.), to back down. Talking shop (Eng.), talking business always, as a company of lawyers talking law or doctors discussing medicine. Talking turkey (Am.), speaking to the point. Tall, fine, extravagant. Tall talk (Am.), romance, brag, bombast. Tally, "to keep," to keep count. This was formerly done with tally -sticks, but the word is now applied to any system of counting. Tan, to beat. Tandem (Eng.), two horses in line. Tang-, a sting. Shakespeare has it, "She had a tongue with a tang." Tangle-foot (Am.), bad whisky. Tank, a man with an infinite capacity for liquor. Tanner, an English sixpence. Tantrums (Eng.), ill-temper. TAP TEA 277 Tap, to extract information. Tape (Eng.), gin. Taper off, to quit drinking gradually. Tapsalterie (Scotch), upside down. Taradiddle, a falsehood. Tarbrush. A person with negro blood in his veins is said to have "had a dip of the tar-brush." Tarpaulin, a sailor. Tart (Eng.), a girl, generally applied to one of light behavior. See TOTTIE. Tartar, a savage fellow ; a rough customer. To "catch a Tartar" is to tackle somebody who proves very hard to manage. A French soldier in Russia captured a Tartar and called out to his companions that he had done so. "Bring him along" was the order. "He won't come" said the soldier. "Then come without him." "I can't," said the Frenchman, "he won't let me." Tatler, a watch. Tats, lice. Tats, old rags. Tatterdemalion (Eng.), a ragged vagrant. Taw, a boys's marble. Taw, "come up to," to toe the mark. Tax-eater (Am.), one who holds political office, elective or appointive ; a feeder at the public crib. Tax-fighter (Am.), one who resists the payment of taxes and contests them in court. Tea-fight (Eng.), a tea-party. Team or Teem (Old Eng.), to pour out. Team, "a whole team," (Am.), an expression of admiration. Tear, "on a," (Am.), on a spree or debauch. 278 TEC TES Tec, a detective. Otherwise a "Dee" or "D." Tee (Scotch), the winning mark at the game of curling. Teeney, small ; from the Gipsy Taivno, little. Teeter, to see-saw. Teeth, "to cut one's eye teeth," to be wide-awake, fly and knowing. Teetotaller, a total abstainer from drink. The term is said to have arisen from the efforts of an enthusiast who stuttered when trying to express his t-t-total abstinence. Telie! to titter. Telegram, a despatch by telegraph. Telescope (Am.), in railroad collisions when the cars pass through each other in the smash-up. Tell, to tell good-by is to say farewell. Tell on, to tell about, to inform against. Ten Commandments, or Ten Talents, (the latter from talons); the ten ringers with which a virago threatens her opponent in a quarrel. Tend, to take care of or attend to, no longer holds that mean- ing in England, though it was used by Shakespeare and is still in use in this country. Tenderfoot (Am.), one newly arrived in the mining country. Ten-strike (Am.), a successful stroke, a thorough piece of work. From the game of ten-pins, where it means to knock down all the balls at one throw. Tepee, an Indian tent or wigwam. Terrier or Tarrier, a tough man, a loafer. Terror, "a holy terror," (Am.), a hard man, a passionate fellow. Tester (Old), an English sixpence. TEX THO 279 Texas (Am.), the upper deck of a Mississippi river steam- boat. * Tli auk ye ma'ams (Am.), hollows or depressions in a road which cause vehicles to bump up and down. A young fellow driving a girl in a sleigh is permitted to kiss the girl at each of these, the same as taking toll at the bridges. Thatch, a hat. Thick, stupid. Thick, "to be thick with one" to be intimate with him. Thick, "to lay it on to him," to flatter; to surfeit with adulation. Thick 'un, an English sovereign or pound sterling, other- wise a NEDDY. The latter was originally a guinea, or twenty-one shillings. Thimble, a watch. Thimble-rig (Eng.), a swindling game worked with three thimbles and a pea, the "sucker" being induced to bet under which thimble the evasive pea is lodged. Similar to the SHELL-GAME (j-. v.) Thimble-twisters, watch thieves, those who snatch at the chain and break it. Thin, "too thin," not to be believed, too gauzy and flimsy a tale. Said to be an Americanism, but used by Shakespeare in the same sense. Thing:, "the thing," (Eng.), the style, the proper proportion. Sometimes the "correct thing." Thin-skinned (Eng.), over nice, petulant, easily offended. Thirds, a widow's dower, being one-third of the estate of her husband. Thirty (Am.), in the telegrapher's code, means "That's all, good-night." Thole (Old Eng.) to endure, to put up with. 280 THO THU Thompson's colt, "stupid as." This animal is said to have swum the river in order to get a drink. Thousand of bricks, "to come down on one like a," is to descend heavily on one. Thrap, to strike. Three-card-men (Am.), gamblers who play monte and other swindling games and rob the unwary. Three "Us," the, reading, (w)riting and 'rithmetic. Three sheets in the wind (Sea term), unsteady from drink. Same as HALF-SEAS-OVER. Three-up (Eng.), a gambling game played with coppers or other coins. One man throws up three coins and another calls. The odd man loses or wins as may be agreed. Through, (Am.), finished. When a man has had enough to eat he says he is "through..* Through the mill, a man who has bought and paid for his experience is said to have "been through the mill." Throw over, to reject or abandon. Thrummer, an English threepenny bit. Thrums, three pence. Thrums, remnants of silk or dress goods. Thrups or Thrips, three pence English. Thug, a thief, thumper and street loafer. From the Hindu. Thumper, a lie of large dimensions. Thumper (Am.), a rough or bully, a pugilist. Thumping, large, fine or strong. Thunderbomb, an imaginary man o' war about which great yarns are spun. See SPIDIRKEN ante. Thundering, large, extra-sized. Thunder, 'stolen," the plans or speeches of some one else devoted to one's own purpose. TIB TIG 281 Tib, the head. Tibbing out, in English schoolboy slang, going out of bounds. Tib's eve, an indefinite period like the Greek Kalends. Tick (Eng.), credit, trust. Ticker, a watch. Ticker, the electric apparatus by which quotations of stock or grain, etc. are recorded. Ticket (Am.), the list of candidates for office as prepared by the party leaders or by caucus or convention. Ticket, "that's the," that's all right. Tickler, a puzzle. Tickler, a register of bills payable and notes falling due kept by merchants and bankers. Tiddly wink (Eng.), the name of a game. Tidy, tolerably well. Tidy (Am.), an ornamental cover for a sofa or chair; known in England as an Anti-macassar. Tie, a dead heat; where two sides have equal numbers. Tied or Tied up, married. Tie to, to rely upon. Tiff (Eng.), a petty quarrel. Tiffin, (Anglo Hindu) lunch. Tiffy, easily offended. Tiger (Am.), a final cheer, "three cheers and a tiger were given." Tiger, "to buck the;" to play against the bank in a gambling house. Tight, intoxicated. Tight, close, hard. The money market is said to be "tight" when discounters hold off. 282 TIG TIN Tight little island; Great Britain. Tight place "to be in a," to be in difficulty or danger, or to be short of money. Tightener, a hearty meal. Tights, coverings for the lower limbs worn by ballet-girls and chorus singers and by a certain class of actresses. Tike or Tyke, a dog. Tile, a hat. Tile loose, "got a;" not quite right in the head. Tilter, same as TEETER, a see-saw. Timber (Am.), woodland. Timber-merchant (Eng.), a pedler of matches. Timber-toes, a wooden-legged man. Time, "doing time," working out a sentence of imprison- ment. Time o* day, "to be fly to the," is to be smart, sharp, knowing, up to all the tricks on the board, to know what's o'clock. Time, "to call," in the language of the prize ring, the signal to begin or to renew a fight. Time, "to have a good," (Am.), or a "high old time," is to go on a spree or debauch or to indulge in pleasure. Tin, money. Tine (Scotch), to lose. Tinge (Eng.), a percentage allowed to dry goods salesmen on such inferior or old-fashioned articles as they can work off on customers as "bargains". Otherwise known as SPIFFS. Tinker's Dam. Menders of pots and kettles make a "dam" of bread to prevent the solder from wasting. The bread is of course worthless after this and "not worth a tinker's dam" is synonymous with absolute worthlessness. TIN TIB 383 Tinkler, a bell. "Jerk the tinkler," ring the bell, or "agitate the communicator." Tin-pot, small, petty, shabby, worthless. Tin wedding (Am.), celebration of the tenth anniversary of a marriage. Tip (Eng.), advice or information respecting anything, but especially applied to racing matters; "a straight tip" is one which comes direct from an owner or trainer and which is supposed reliable. Tip, in bookbinding, to insert new pages in a printed book in place of defective pages. Tip, a douceur or small gift to servants, waiters, etc. In France pour-boire. Tip the wink, to inform. Tip, "to miss one's tip," to fail in a scheme or undertaking. Tipper, ale. Mrs. Gamp's favorite drink when she "malted," was the "Brighton tipper." Tipster, one who furnishes tips on races; otherwise known as a "Sporting Prophet." Tip-top, first-rate, of the best kind ; away up. Tip-topper, a swell or dressy man ; a high-flyer. Tip us your fin, shake hands. Tired, "you make me," (Am.), is said to one who tells a stupid story or who bothers a person. Tish, among tradesmen, an allowance made to employes for disposing of inferior goods. See TINGE ante. Tit (Eng.), a horse. Tit for tat (Eng.), an equivalent, retaliation. Titivate (Eng.), to put in order or dress up. Probably from Tidy-vate. Titley, drink. 284. TITTOM Titmaii, the small pig of a litter, the runt. Titter, a girl. Tizzy or Tester (Eng.), sixpence. Toad in the hole (Eng.), a batter pudding with a piece of meat in it. Toasting-fork (Eng.), a regulation army sword. Toby, the highway. "On the high toby," on the main road. Byron uses the expression in Don Juan. Tod, a drink, abbreviation of Toddy. Toddle, to saunter about, to walk as a child. Toddle, get away. Toddy, spirits and water. See GROG ante. To-do, a disturbance, trouble "here's a pretty to-do." Toe, to kick. Toe the mark, to come forward, to "come up to the scratch," to respond when called. Ton* (Eng.), a swell; a dressy man. Tog, a coat, from the Latin toga. Togged out, dressed. Togs or Toggery, clothing. Toke, dry bread. Tol-lol or Tollolish, tolerable, fair. Toll-shop, a prison. Tom and Jerry, a mixed drink ; also applied to a drinking- house. Tom and Jerry were characters in Pierce Egan's Life in London. Tomhoy, a hoyden, a romping girl. Tombstone, a pawn-ticket "in memory of" whatever may have been pawned. Tomfoolery, nonsense. TOM TOO 285 Tommy, bread, food generally. A Tom my bag is that in which food is carried. Tommy Atkins, generic term for an English private soldier. Tommy DocLd, pitch and toss, where the odd man wins or loses as the agreement may be. Tommy master (Eng.), one who pays his workman in P goods or store orders instead of cash. See TRUCK. Tommy rot (Eng.), nonsense. Tommy-shop (Eng.), a baker's shop, or a shop where work- men take out goods instead of pay in cash. Toney (Am.), fancy, swellish. Tongue, "to give," to talk, or in the case of fox-hounds to yelp or bark when the fox is found. Too high for his nut (Am.), too good for any one, otherwise "too rich for his blooa." Tool (Eng.), to drive. Tool, "a poor tool," a bad hand at anything ; a duffer. Tooler (Eng.), a pickpocket. A MOLL-TOOLER is a female pickpocket. Tooley street tailors, self-conceited persons who claim to speak for the people at large. Three tailors of Tooley street, London, once presented a petition to Parliament beginning "We, the people of England." Toom (Scotch), empty. Toot (Am.), a spree. Toot, "on a," on a drunk. Tooth, "old in the tooth," far advanced in age. Simile drawn from the stable, as the age of horses cannot be told by the teeth after they are seven or eight years old. Too thin, not satisfactory, too evident to deceive. Shake- speare has it with exactly this meaning. 286 TOO TOU Tootsies, ladies or children's feet. Top-heavy, drunk. Top notch, the highest point attainable. Topped, hanged. Topper, a blow on the head. Topper, anything above the ordinary. Top-piece, a hat, tile or "dicer." Top sawyer, a master or head of his trade ; originally the man at the upper end of a whip-saw. Topsy-turvy (Old Cant), upside down. Top-up, a finishing drink. Torch (Am.), a cigar or cigarette. To rights, "dead to rights," excellent, very good, positive. Torn up, agitated, worried, grieved. Tory, in England the Conservative party. During the Revolutionary War the term was applied to the royalist sj'mpathizers. Tory is practically synonymous with retro- grade. Tot, an infant. Tot, a small glass. Tote (Am.), to carry. Tottie, a young girl, not a complimentary term. Tot-up or Tote-up, to reckon or count; to add together a column of figures. Touch (Am.), to obtain money from one, as a political worker will "touch" a candidate for anything from a "V" up. Touch, to extract money from a person, either by blackmail or larceny. Touch-and-go, very near; a close shave. Touched, robbed or blackmailed. TOU TRA 287 Toucher, "as near as a," as near as possible without actually coming in contact. Touch flesh, an invitation to shake hands. Touching committee (Am.), a self-appointed gang of pol- iticans and ward workers who "bleed" candidates for office. Touchy, pevish, irritable. Tough (Am.), a street loafer and bar-room bully. Toure (Gip.), to look out, to see. Tout, a solicitor for trade, such as stand outside cheap cloth- ing stores and importune passers-by. Cheap hotels employ touts at the railway depots to "rope in" travelers and immigrants. Tout, to watch or solicit. Tout, in sporting phraseology, one who watches race horses at exercise and reports to his employer as to their condition and performances. Touter, a hotel runner. Touzle (Scotch), to romp with or tumble. TOUZY is tumbled or disheveled. To wake snakes (Am.), to get into trouble. Towel (Eng.), to beat or whip. A cudgel was formerly known as an OAKEN TOWEL. Towelling, a beating or rubbing down with an OAKEN TOWEL. Tow-head, a person with light hair. Tracks, "to make," (Am.), to go away. Trade (Am.), to barter or exchange, to sell or dicker. Tradesman (Eng.), a mechanic or artisan; one who thoroughly understands his business. Trail (Am.), a path; the track left by man or animals. To "camp on the trail" is to follow in close pursuit. 288 TRA TRE Trailer (Am.), the street cars on the cable lines which are drawn by the "grip" Trailing one's coat, trying to get up a row, as the Irishman did at Donnybrook Fair by trailing his coat for somebody to tread upon. Train, to teach, to bring up. Train, "to train with," to associate with. Training-muster, in New England, the annual gathering of the militia or National Guard for exercise and instruction. Tramp, a traveling vagabond who works when he must, steals when he can and begs at all times. After the panic of 1873 a great many men who had been thrown out of work in the cities started to tramp the country in the hope of finding work and to these the above definition does not apply. But now-a-days the tramp who is honest and will- ing to work if he could get work to do is a rara avis. Translator, a cobbler who revamps old boots and shoes. Trap, a detective. Trap (Eng.), a light carriage with two wheels. Trapes, to gossip and gad-about. Trapesing, untidy, draggletailed. Traps (Eng.), baggage, personal effects. Trash, the leaves of the sugar cane. Trash, anything paltry or contemptible; worthless. See WHITE TRASH. Traveler, a tramp's name for tramps. Treasury, in theatrical parlance, the pay department of a theatre. ''No treasury" means no salary. Treat, to pay for a drink or cigar for another person. Tree, "up a tree," (Am.), in difficulties. Treed (Am.), cornered, caught, as a 'coon or other animal when compelled to seek refuge in a tree. TRE TRU 289 Trews (Scotch), tight fitting trousers. Trim, to beat, "I'll trim your jacket." Trimmings, the necessary adjuncts to anything cooked. Sam Weller was invited to a "swarry" by the swell footmen of Bath ; the refreshments consisting of a boiled leg of mutton and trimmings. Troll, a method of fishing by means of a line trailed from a boat in motion. Trollop, a slatternly woman. Trolly, a cart or two-wheeled conveyance used for freight. Trot out, to draw out or to exploit. Trotter cases, shoes. Trotters, feet. Truck (Am.), vegetables, *'garden-sass." Truck, to exchange or barter. Truck, to deal with. "I don't want any truck with you." Truck-patch, a piece of ground used for raising vegetables etc. Trucks, trousers. Truck system, that under which miners and other workmen are compelled to take a great part of their pay in orders on a store mantained by their employers. Trull (Old Eng.), a common woman or slut; a "tinker's trull> Trump, a good fellow, "a regular trump." Trump, to play a trump card is to score a success. To turn up trumps is to meet with good luck. Trust, a combination of manufacturers or dealers for the purpose of limiting production and advancing prices, or one of railroads, gas companies and other corporations for their own benefit and to the detriment of the public. See COMBINE ante. 290 TRY TUR Try-on, a dodge or attempt at extortion or overcharge; an attempt to swindle. Tub (Eng.), to bathe. Tub thumper, a preacher, usually applied to itinerant ranters. Tuck (Eng.), schoolboy's term for food, fruit, pastry etc. Tuckered out (Am.), tired out. Tuck in or Tuck out (Eng.), a hearty meal; "a good tuck in." Tuck on, to add to the price. Tuft (Eng.), a University swell, from the gilded tufts on the caps of fellow-commoners, who are wealthy men and often the sons of noblemen. Tufthunter, (Eng.). a hanger-on to persons of wealth and distinction. See TUFT ante. Tulip (Eng.), a complimentary term applied to a man or boy "How are you, my tulip?" Tumble^ to understand; to "fall." Tumble-bug, a beetle. Tune the old cow died of; any discordant music. Turf, horse racing and betting thereon. Turf, "on the," as to men those connected with racing and betting on races ; as to women synonymous with "on the town." Turn, "to call the," to guess right. In the game of faro when three cards are left in the box the player who can name the order in which they will come out "calls the turn" and wins accordingly. Turnip, an old fashioned watch. Turn it up, to quit, change or abandon. Turn out (Eng.), a carriage and horses. Turnpike sailors, beggars who pretend to be shipwrecked seamen. TUR TWO 291 Turn up, to appear unexpectedly, "something may turn up." Mr. Micawber was always waiting for something to turn up. Turnup, an impromptu fight. Turpentine State, North Carolina. Tusheroon, an English crown piece; five shillings, Tussle, a struggle, row or argument. Tussle, to struggle or wrestle with. Twaddle, idle talk, rubbish. Twelver, an English shilling or twelve pence. Twigr, to comprehend, same as TUMBLE or CATCH ON. "A landsman said, I twig the cove He's been upon the mill And 'cos he gammons so the flats We calls him Veeping Bill." Ingoldsby, Twist, appetite. Twist, brandy and gin mixed. Twitchety, nervous, fidgety, Twitter, to tremble. Twitter, to sing. Two-eyed-steak (Eng.), a herring or bloater. Two-handed, expert with the fists. Two penny or Tupp'ny (Eng.), the head. At the game of leap-frog one boy will call to another to "tuck in his tupp'ny." Two-penny half-penny (Eng.), paltry, small. The American equivalent is PICAYUNISH (g. v.) Two-penny rope (Eng.), a low lodging house where the bed clothing, such as it is, is suspended from or fastened to ropes as a guard against the predatory habits of the lodgers. In the morning the rope is pulled up as a signal that it is time to arise. 292 TWO TYP Two to one (Eng.), the pawnbroker's sign, it being two to one that you never again see the article pawned. Two upon ten (Eng.), two eyes upon ten fingers; a signal for watchfulness in shops when a person suspected of shop- lifting is noticed. Shortened to Two Pun' ten, it passes as a money term .2, los, od. and if it is not convenient to call out, that amount is written on a piece of paper and handed to the clerk. Tycoon, the master or "boss," often "Big Tycoon." From the Japanese ruler. Tyke or Tike (Eng.), a dog. Typo, a compositor. u * is used in the Northern States of the Union as an equivalent for ill-tempered. In England it means ill-favored, unpleasant to look upon. Ullages, dregs of wine left in glasses and bottles. Uncle (Am.), a term applied to an old negro man. Uncle Sam, the tutelary genius of the United States. All ye icebergs make salaam You belong to Uncle Sam. Bret ffarte. The phrase "Uncle Sam" arose during the war of 1812 with England An army contractor named Elbert Anderson had a storeyard at a small town on the Hudson. A government inspector named Samuel Wilson, who was always called "Uncle Sam," superintended the examination of the supplies, and when they were passed each cask, box, or package was marked "E. A. U. S.," the initials of the contractor and of the United States. The man whose duty it was to mark the casks, being asked what the letters meant, replied that they stood for Elbert Anderson and "Uncle Sam." The story was retold, printed, and spread throughout the army and the country. Under a cloud, in difficulties. Understandings, boots or feet. Understudy, one who studies a part for the stage with a view to taking the place of the regular actor or actress in case of their failure to appear. Under the rose, under the obligation of silence and secrecy. Usually quoted in its Latin form of sub rosa. Unfortunate, an euphemism for a woman of the town, derived from Thomas Hood's famous poem: "One more unfortunate Weary of breath Rashly importunate Gone to her death." 294 UNL USE Unlinked, ill-trained, loutish, rude. Unload, on the Stock Exchange or Board of Trade, to sell out stock. Unterrified (Am.), an adjective often applied to the Dem- ocratic party. Unwashed, "the great" (Eng.), the lower classes. Up, has many meanings. To be up to a thing or two is to be clever, knowing. To put a man up to anything is to post him, or teach him a trick. "All up" means that it is all over with him and "what's up?" signifies "what is the news ?" Upper crust, the higher classes of society. Upper story, the head. Upper ten or Upper ten thousand, the English aristocracy and the higher class of gentry. The New York equivalent is McAllister's "400." Uppish, proud, arrogant. Upright man, a Gipsy or initiated rogue. Up the flume (Am.), ruined. Up the spout, pawned. Up to dick, is about equal to UP TO SNUFF, that is knowing, smart. Used up, tired, beaten. Vagi, "to vag" in police parlance, is to run a man in as a vagabond ; one without visible means of support. Yalley tan (Am.), bad whisky. Yamose (Span), to go. Vamose the ranch," leave the place. Vamp, to cobble or tinker up. Vaqnero (Span), a horseman or cattle tender. Varmint, a corruption of vermin, an opprobrious term. The returned convict in Great Expectations speaks of himself in the third person as a "poor varmint." Yarnislier, one who passes imitation gold coin; otherwise a SNIDE-PITCHER (^. v.) 'Varsity (Eng.), either University; Oxford or Cambridge. Velvet, "to stand on," when a bookmaker has so shaped his * operations on a race by hedging that he cannot lose and f stands to win on one or more horses he stands on velvet. * Velvet also means winnings at any game of chance. Venduo (French vendre to sell), a public auction. In Scot- land it is called a ROUP (g. v.) Veneer, artificiality, polish, conventionality. Vest-pocket vote. Citizens who object to party dictation or who for other reasons do not care to accept tickets from the pedlers at the polls prepare them at home and carry them, (usually in the vest pocket as being handiest) to the polls. Vest, "pull down your;" one of the absurd street sayings which from time to time flourish and iade. It had a run 296 VET VOY some years ago but is now happily heard no more and scarcely deserves mention. Vet, a veterinary surgeon. Vigilance Committee (Am.), a self-appointed organization for the purpose of punishing criminals who have gone un- whipped of justice. The most famous was that which "regulated" San Francisco; the most recent that which hanged and shot the ''Mafia" suspects at New Orleans. Vim, spirit, energy. rencb)i a Canadian boatman. w Wabster (Scotch), from Web, a weaver. Wabble or Wobble, to move from side to side, to roll about. Wad (Am.), a roll of bills. Wad, a lunch or light meal. Wake (Irish), the friends of a dead man sit up all night with the corpse, the usual accompaniments being large quantities of whisky and much tobacco. Wake, an English country fair. Waking Snakes (Am.), getting into trouble. Waking up the wrong passenger, making a mistake in the man as is sometimes done by thieves on sleeping-cars and steamboats, who attempt to rob a man whom they suppose to be asleep and find him too much for them. Walker, sometimes HOOKEY WALKER, an ejaculation of in- credulity. Walking-papers, "to get one's," is to be discharged from employment. Walk into, to overcome, to demolish, to scold or thrash. It "*" also means to get in debt, "He walked into the tradesmen ;" and sometimes to "walk into the grub," i. e. to eat a big dinner. Walk-over, when there is no opposition one horse walks over the course and his owner claims the stakes. An un- opposed election is a walk-over. Walk Spanish, to make a man come up to time. 298 V/AL WAT Walk ttjf, aft expression which may be friendly or the con- trary. There is a great difference between "Walk up Moriarty" and "Moriarty, walk up." Walk your chalks, to walk straight or to behave properly. A drunken man finds great difficulty in walking along a chalk line. Wallflower, those who at a ball do not dance, either from lack of inclination or of partners, and who while the danc- ing is going on range up against the walls. Wallop, to beat or trash. Walloping-, a thrashing. Also used as an adjective to express size, greatness. Wampum (Indian), strings of shells or beads used as currency. Warm (Eng.), rich. Warm, to thrash. "I'll warm your jacket." Also to abuse; to make it hot for anybody. Warming-pan, one who holds an office or a benefice until another shall have become qualified to take it. Warming-pan, an old-fashioned gold watch of considerable size. Warm with (Eng.), hot spirits and water with sugar. War paint, full dress. Warpath, "on the," (Am.), ready for a fight. Wash, "that won't," that will not stand investigation; any- thing not genuine. Washed out, faded, sickly-looking. Wash-out (Am.), where a roadway, bridge or railroad em- bankment is carried away by a flood. Waste, to reduce one's weight by training. Watchmaker, a pickpocket or watch-thief. Watch out (Am.), look out. WAT WEL 299 Water; to water stock is to increase the capital stock of a railroad or other corporation without receiving value for the stock thus issued. Water bewitched (Sea), very weak tea or grog. Watering 1 stock. See WATER ante. Wattles, ears. Wax, (Eng.), a rage. Wax, to beat or overcome. Weak-kneed, undecided, not reliable. Weak Sister, any person who cannot be relied upon. Wearing the willow, is said of one disappointed in love: All round my hat I wears a green willow; All round my hat, for a twelvemonth and a day If any one should ask me the reason why I do so, I tell s 'em for my true love that's far, far away. Wears the breeches, said of a wife who runs the house her own way and whose husband has nothing to say about family matters. Weather eye, a cautious eye. One who keeps a sharp look- out is said to "keep his weather eye open." Wedge (Old Cant), silver. Wee (Scotch), little. Weed, a cigar, or tobacco in any form. Weed, a mourning hat band. Weeds, a widow's mourning. Weighing in, in racing phraseology, jockeys weighing before the race. Weight-for-age, where horses are penalized according" 1 to their ages, and not, as in handicaps, according to their per- formances. Thus a five year old may carry 14 to 20 pounds more than a three year old. Welclicr or Welsher (Eng.), the pests of a race-course who 300 WEL WHA make bets without ever intending to pay and abscond when the race goes against them. Welt, to thrash with a stick. Wench, an English provincialism for a young girl or servant man; in the United States applied to a negress. Wet, a drink, a drain. Wet Blanket, a kill-joy J to dampen one's prospects. Wet groceries (Am.), spirituous liquors. Wet Night (Eng.), an all-night debauch. Wet the other eye, take another drink. Wet your whistle, (properly lahet^ to sharpen); to take a drink. Whack, a share or lot. Whack, a blow; to whack, to beat. Whacker, a lie of fair and full proportions; a BOUNCER (9- ") Whacking, a thrashing. Whacking, large, fine, strong. Whacks, "to go," to divide equally. Whack up, to pay or to divide. Whale (Am.), to beat or thrash. Whale, "very like a," said of anything improbable. See Hamlet. Whaling (Am.), a thrashing. Whangdoodle (Am.), this mysterious animal, like the "gyascutis" of circus fame, has never been beheld of man and its attributes and habits are entirely unknown. Wharf-rat, a dock loafer and thief, who steals rope and any- thing else he can reach from ships at anchor or in the docks. WHA WHI 301 What's o'clock, "to know," to be "up to the time of day," to be knowing, cunning. Wheelhorse (Am.), a leader; "the wheelhorses of the Democratic Party." Wheels, <-to grease the," to furnish money for carrying out a scheme. Wheeze, a joke or anecdote not properly in the play but in- troduced by an actor on his own account; same as GAG (9- ") Wherewithal, money. Whet, to sharpen; an appetizer. Whids, (Old Eng.), words. "Cut bien whids." (Gip.), speak good words. Whig 1 , in England a member of the moderate Liberal party; during the Revolutionary War one who was loyal to the United States. Whim-wham, nonsense, rubbish, fancifulness. Whip (Am.), to surpass, to thrash. Whip, to take up quickly. Whip, in the English House of Commons, the member charged with the duty of keeping his party together and having them ready to vote when necessary. Whipper-snapper (Eng.), a diminutive insignificant person. Whipping" the devil around the stump, publicly denoun- cing some habit or practice and yet excusing it under certain circumstances ; in other words preaching one thing and practicing another. Whipsawed (Am.), left in the lurch. Whisper, a tip, information given secretly. Whisper, to borrow money in small sums. Whisperer, a constant borrower. 302 WHI Whistle, "clean as a;" neat, cleverly done. Whistle, "to pay for one's," to pay extravagantly for any fancy. Whistle, "to wet one's," to drink. See WET YOUR WHISTLE. Whistling-shop (Eng.), an unlicensed liquor- house. White Caps (Am.), irregular regulators of public morals; a sort of northern Ku-Klux. Whitechapel, in tossing coppers, where the "best two out of three" wins. Whitechapel, anything mean or paltry. White Choker, a white necktie of the kind affected by clergyman, lawyers and doctors and worn as full-dress. White eye, bad whisky; Same as RED-EYE ($. v.) White-feather, "to show the," to display cowardice. A game-cock with a white feather in his wing or tail is not pure bred and generally "flies the pit." White lie, a mild variety of falsehood. White liners (Am.), a political party in Louisiana opposed to negro domination. White-livered, cowardly. White prop, a diamond pin. White satin (Eng.), gin. White Sergeant, a wife who "wears the breeches." White trash (Am.), the poor whites of the South. White 'un (Eng.), a silver watch. Whitewash, to rehabilitate; a bankrupt or insolvent is "whitewashed" by process of court. White wine (Eng.), gin. White wings (Am.), poached eggs. WHI WIG 303 Whittle (Old Eng.), a knife. "A Sheffield whittle bore he in his belt." Chaucer. Whittle (Am.), to cut with a pocket knife. Whole Cloth (Am.), a lie made out of whole cloth is one without any substratum of truth. Whole hog or none, "to go the," to do anything thoroughly or not at all. Whole tea m (Am.), a good fellow is a whole team and superlatively "with a big yellow dog under the wagon." Whoop her up; to make things go. Whop, to trash or beat; a corruption of whip. Whopper, a lie ; anything large. Whopping, a beating. Wide-awake (Am.), abroad-brimmed soft hat, otherwise known as a billycock, (Eng.) Wide-awake (Eng.), knowing, smart. Compare UP TO SNUFF and "FLY." Wideawakes (Am.), a political organization, largely com- posed of marching clubs, named from the slouch hats worn by the members. It was formed in 1859 and was a prom- inent factor within the Republican party. Wido (Eng.), knowing, wide-awake. Wide open (Am.), "to run things," is to go on without much care for results; to cut a big swath. Widow, in card games, an extra hand which may be taken up by the players in turn. Wife, in thieves cant, a fetter fastened on one leg. Wigging (Eng.), a rebuke or scolding. Wiggle, to wriggle about, to bend the body from side to side. Wigwam (Indian), an Indian cabin, lodge or tepee, shaped like a tent. 304 WIL WIR Wild, vexed, cross, passionate, mad. Wild-cat (Am.), country bank-notes of more than doubtful reputation. Also known as RED DOG and STUMPTAIL. Wild oats (Eng.), youthful pranks, dissipation; fast young men are said to "sow their wild oats." William, a bill. Willow, a cricket bat. Wilt, to wither, to droop. Wind, empty talk, bragadoccio, gas, Wind, "to raise the," to procure money. Wind, "to slip one's," to die. Windbag, a bloviant braggart. Windfall, fruit shaken down by the winds. Also a slice of unexpected luck, or a legacy. Windows, the eyes; poetically "the windows of the soul;" in slang known as "peepers." Winey (Eng.), intoxicated. Winged, shot in the arm or shoulder. Winking 1 , "like," very quickly. Wipe, a handkerchief. Wipe, a blow, to strike. Wiped out, dead. Wipe-out (Am.), to destroy or finish. Wiping one's eye, taking a drink. Wire, to telegraph. Wire in, go in with a will; advice given by bystanders to a boy in a street fight. Wire-puller (Am.), a political "fine worker," who sets up plans for the election of candidates and the passage or defeat of legislative measures. Wire-pulling (Am.), political manipulation. WIS WOR 305 Wisdom tooth, a large back tooth which does not make its appearance until long after all the others, when a person has presumably arrived at the age of discretion. Wise woman, a midwife. The French call her sage-femme. Wishy-washy, weak, insipid. With a string to it (Am.), a gift or donation made con- ditionally and subject to withdrawal. Wobbler, a foot soldier. Wobbly, rickety, unsteady. Wolf, to eat ravenously ; to rob. Wolf, a hard man, a bargain-driver or extortioner. Wollop, to beat. Woodbine, "gone where the woodbine twineth;" passed away; out of sight. Wooden overcoat, a coffin. Wooden wedding (Am.), the fifth anniversary of a wedding. Wood up (Am.), to load a steamboat with wood for fuel. Wool, to tear the hair. Wool-gathering, wandering in mind ; in a reverie. Wool over the eyes, "to pull the," to impose upon one. Wooly (Eng.), a blanket. Wooly (Eng.), out of temper. Work, to plan, to scheme, to victimize. Working the oracle, maneuvering, scheming. Worm, a policeman. Worm-fence, an irregular rail fence, otherwise a SNAKE FENCE. Worriment, trouble, worry. Worrit (Old Eng.) to worry or scold. 306 WRA WUN Wrathy, angry. Wrestle, to strive with, as a boy wrestles with his lessons or a man with a tough job of work. Wrinkle, an idea; a dodge or trick. Wunner, a Cockneyism for "one *er." The Marchioness uses it in the Old Curiosity Shop, to express her apprecia- tion of the manifold virtues of Miss Sally Brass. Yack (Gip.), a watch. Yahoo, a low-class, vulgar person. See Swift, Gulliver's Travels. Yam, to eat. Yams, stupid people. Yank, to pull or jerk. Yankee, popular name for New Englanders. The English, who speak of Canadians as Americans, and of the United States as ''the States," term all citizens of the United States Yankees, even if they hail from Illinois, California or Georgia. The word is derived from "Yengees," an attempt of the Massachusetts Indians to say "English." Yankeedom, New England. Yankee Doodle, a doggerel song, the tune of which is often played as a march. The first recorded appearance of tne tune is in the old song, (temp Charles //.), "Lucy Locket lost her pocket." Yankee Doodle is used as a generic term for the United States. Yannam, bread. Yannap, an English penny. This is back-slang but has passed into common use. Yappy, soft, foolish. Yard of clay, a long clay pipe, otherwise a CHURCH- WARDEN (y. v.) Yarn, a sailor's story. To "spin a yarn," is to tell a tale and a "tough yarn" is one hard to believe. K7 3oS YCL YOU Yclept, or Clepped (Old Eng.), called, named. See Lovers Labor Lost. Yellow boy, an English sovereign or pound. Yellow Jack, the yellow fever. Yidden. the Jewish people. Yiddish, a kind of bastard Hebrew dialect, much used by London Jews of the lower order. Yokel, a countryman or greenhorn. Yorkshire, "to come," to cheat or overreach in a bargain. Yorkshiremen have a great reputation for sharpness, par- ticularly in trading horses. Y orkshire reckoning, or "TREAT," where every man pays his own share: same as a COPENHAGEN or PHILADELPHIA TREAT (g. v.) Younker, a boy or youngster. You 'uns and We 'uns, used in the South for "you" and "we." University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. A nnn """"'"' W'l/ll