Chapter VI: Preface: To the First Edition (5)

FANCY-BLOAK, a fancy or sporting man.

FAN-TAIL, a dustman’s hat.

FAST, gay, spreeish, unsteady, thoughtless,—an Americanism that has of late ascended from the streets to the drawing-room. The word has certainly now a distinct meaning, which it had not thirty years ago. QUICK is the synonyme for FAST, but a QUICK MAN would not convey the meaning of a FAST MAN,—a person who by late hours, gaiety, and continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast and wears himself out. In polite society a FAST young lady is one who affects mannish habits, or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment,—talks slang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs, horses, &c. An amusing anecdote is told of a FAST young lady, the daughter of a right reverend prelate, who was an adept in _horseflesh_. Being desirous of ascertaining the opinion of a candidate for ordination, who had the look of a bird of the same feather, as to the merits of some cattle just brought to her father’s palace for her to select from, she was assured by him they were utterly unfit for a lady’s use. With a knowing look at the horses’ points, she gave her decision in these choice words, “Well, I agree with you; they _are_ a rum lot, as the Devil said of the ten commandments.”

FAST, embarrassed, wanting money. Synonymous with HARD UP.—_Yorkshire._

FAT, a printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as full or unbroken pages. This work afforded much FAT for the printers.

FAT, rich, abundant, &c.; “a FAT lot;” “to cut it FAT,” to exaggerate, to show off in an extensive or grand manner, to assume undue importance; “cut up FAT,” see under CUT. As a _Theatrical_ term, a part with plenty of FAT in it, is one which affords the actor an opportunity of effective display.

FATHER, or FENCE, a buyer of stolen property.

FAWNEY, a finger ring.

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

FAWNEY, or FAWNEY RIG, ring dropping. A few years ago, this practice, or RIG, was very common. A fellow purposely dropped a ring, or a pocket book with some little articles of jewellery, &c., in it, and when he saw any person pick it up, ran to claim half. The ring found, the question of how the booty was to be divided had then to be decided. The _Fawney_ says, “if you will give me eight or nine shillings for my share the things are yours.” This the FLAT thinks very fair. The ring of course is valueless, and the swallower of the bait discovers the trick too late.

FEATHERS, money, wealth; “in full FEATHER,” rich.

FEEDER, a spoon.—_Old cant._

FEELE, a daughter, or child.—_Corrupted French._

FELT, a hat.—_Old term, in use in the sixteenth century._

FENCE, or FENCER, a purchaser or receiver of stolen goods; FENCE, the shop or warehouse of a FENCER.—_Old cant._

FENCE, to sell or pawn stolen property to a FENCER.

FERRICADOUZER, a knock down below, a good thrashing. Probably derived through the _Lingua Franca_ from the _Italian_, FAR’ CADER’ MORTO, to knock down dead.

FIB, to beat, or strike.—_Old cant._

FIDDLE, a whip.

FIDDLE FADDLE, twaddle, or trifling discourse.—_Old cant._

FIDDLE STICKS! nonsense.

FIDDLER, or FADGE, a farthing.

FIDDLER, a sixpence.—_Household Words_, No. 183.

FIDDLER, a sharper, a cheat; also one who dawdles over little matters, and neglects great ones.

FIDDLERS’ MONEY, a lot of sixpences;—6d. was the remuneration to fiddlers from each of the company in old times.

FIDDLING, doing any odd jobs in the streets, holding horses, carrying parcels, &c., for a living. Among the middle classes, FIDDLING means idling away time, or trifling; and amongst sharpers, it means gambling.

FID FAD, a game similar to chequers, or drafts, played in the West of England.

FIDLUM BEN, thieves who take anything they can lay their hands upon.

FIELD-LANE-DUCK, a baked sheep’s head. _Field-lane_ is a low London thoroughfare, leading from the foot of Holborn-hill to the purlieus of Clerkenwell. It was formerly the market for stolen pocket handkerchiefs.

FIG, “to FIG a horse,” to play improper tricks with one in order to make him lively.

FIG, “in full FIG,” _i.e._, full dress costume, “extensively got up.”

FIGURE, “to cut a good or bad FIGURE,” to make a good or indifferent appearance; “what’s the FIGURE?” how much is to pay? FIGURE-HEAD, a person’s face.—_Sea term._

FILCH, to steal, or purloin. Originally a cant word, derived from the FILCHES, or hooks, thieves used to carry, to hook clothes, or any portable articles from open windows.—_Vide Decker._ It was considered a cant or Gipsey term up to the beginning of the last century. _Harman_ has “FYLCHE, to robbe.”

FILE, a deep, or artful man, a jocose name for a cunning person. Originally a term for a pickpocket, when TO FILE was to cheat or rob. FILE, an artful man, was used in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

FILLIBRUSH, to flatter, praise ironically.

FIMBLE-FAMBLE, a lame prevaricating excuse.—_Scand._

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

FINDER, one who FINDS bacon and meat at the market before they are lost, _i.e._, steals them.

FINUF, a five-pound note. DOUBLE FINUF, a ten-pound note.—_German_, FUNF, five.

FISHY, doubtful, unsound, rotten—a term used to denote a suspicion of a “screw being loose,” or “something rotten in the state of Denmark,” in alluding to an unsafe speculation.

FISH, a person; “a queer FISH,” “a loose FISH,” &c.

FIX, a predicament, dilemma; “an awful FIX,” a terrible position; “to FIX one’s flint for him,” _i.e._, to “settle his _hash_,” “put a spoke in his wheel.”

FIZZING, first-rate, very good, excellent; synonymous with STUNNING.

FLABERGAST, or FLABBERGHAST, to astonish, or strike with wonder.—_Old._

FLAG, a groat, or 4d.—_Ancient cant._

FLAG, an apron.

FLAG OF DISTRESS, poverty—when the end of a person’s shirt protrudes through his trousers.

FLAM, nonsense, blarney, a lie.—_Kentish_; _Anglo Saxon_.

FLAME, a sweetheart.

FLANNEL, or HOT FLANNEL, the old term for gin and beer, drank hot, with nutmeg, sugar, &c. Also called FLIP. There is an anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart of FLANNEL in a night house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter, and a demure grave looking gentleman, who continually introduced the words CRAP, STRETCH, SCRAG, and SWING. Upon the Doctor’s asking who this strange person might be, and being told his profession, he rushed from the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I been sitting all this while with a hangman?”

FLARE UP, a jovial social gathering, a “break down,” a “row.”

FLASH, showy, smart, knowing; a word with various meanings. A person is said to be dressed FLASH when his garb is showy, and after a fashion, but without taste. A person is said to be FLASH when he apes the appearance or manners of his betters, or when he is trying to be superior to his friends and relations. FLASH also means “fast,” roguish, and sometimes infers counterfeit or deceptive,—and this, perhaps, is its general signification. “FLASH, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classical language of the Holy Land; in other words, St. Giles’ Greek.”—_Tom and Jerry, by Moncreiff_. Vulgar language was first termed FLASH in the year 1718, by Hitchin, author of “_The Regulator of Thieves, &c., with account of_ FLASH _words_.”

FLASH IT, show it—said when any bargain is offered.

FLAT, a fool, a silly or “soft” person, the opposite of SHARP. The term appears to be shortenings for “sharp-witted” and “flat-witted.” “Oh! Messrs. Tyler, Donelson, and the rest, what FLATS you are.”—_Times_, 5th September, 1847.

FLATTIES, rustic, or uninitiated people.

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

FLESH AND BLOOD, brandy and port in equal quantities.

FLESH-BAG, a shirt.

FLICK, or OLD FLICK, an old chap or fellow.

FLICK, or FLIG, to whip by striking, and drawing the lash back at the same time, which causes a stinging blow.

FLIM FLAMS, idle stories.—_Beaumont and Fletcher._

FLIMP, to hustle, or rob.

FLIMSIES, bank notes.

FLIMSY, the thin prepared copying paper used by newspaper reporters and “penny-a-liners” for making several copies at once, thus enabling them to supply different papers with the same article without loss of time.—_Printers’ term._

FLINT, an operative who works for a “society” master, _i.e._, for full wages.

FLIP, corruption of FILLIP, a light blow.

FLIP-FLAPS, a peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers when merry or excited—better described, perhaps, as the DOUBLE SHUFFLE, danced with an air of extreme _abandon_.

FLIPPER, the hand; “give us your FLIPPER,” give me your hand.—_Sea._ Metaphor taken from the flipper or paddle of a turtle.

FLOG, to whip. Cited both by _Grose_ and the author of _Bacchus and Venus_ as a cant word. It would be curious to ascertain the earliest use; _Richardson_ cites Lord Chesterfield.—_Latin._

FLOGGER, a whip.—_Obsolete._

FLOOR, to knock down.—_Pugilistic._

FLOORER, a blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down.

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

FLUE FAKERS, chimney sweeps; also low sporting characters, who are so termed from their chiefly betting on the _Great Sweeps_.

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

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

FLUMMERY, flattery, gammon, genteel nonsense.

FLUMMUX, to perplex, hinder; FLUMMUXED, stopped, used up.

FLUMMUXED, done up, sure of a month in QUOD, or prison. In mendicant freemasonry, the sign chalked by rogues and tramps upon a gate-post or house corner, to express to succeeding vagabonds that it is unsafe for them to call there, is known as ☉, or FLUMMUXED, which signifies that the only thing they would be likely to get upon applying for relief would be “a month in QUOD.”—_See_ QUOD.

FLUNKEY, a footman, servant.—_Scotch._

FLUSH, the opposite of HARD UP, in possession of money, not poverty stricken.—_Shakespere._

FLY, to lift, toss, or raise; “FLY the _mags_,” _i.e._, toss up the halfpence; “to FLY a window,” _i.e._, to lift one for the purpose of stealing.

FLY, knowing, wide awake, fully understanding another’s meaning.

FLY THE KITE, or RAISE THE WIND, to obtain money on bills, whether good or bad, alluding to tossing paper about like children do a kite.

FLY THE KITE, to evacuate from a window,—term used in padding kens, or low lodging houses.

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

FLYING STATIONERS, paper workers, hawkers of penny ballads; “Printed for the Flying Stationers” is the _imprimatur_ on hundreds of penny histories and sheet songs of the last and present centuries.

FLYMY, knowing, cunning, roguish.

FOALED, “thrown from a horse.”—_Hunting term._—_See_ PURLED, and SPILT.

FOGEY, or OLD FOGEY, a dullard, an old-fashioned or singular person. _Grose_ says it is a nickname for an invalid soldier, from the _French_, FOURGEAUX, fierce or fiery, but it has lost this signification now. FOGGER, _old word_ for a huckster or servant.

FOGGY, tipsy.

FOGLE, a silk handkerchief—not a CLOUT, which is of _cotton_. It has been hinted that this may have come from the _German_, VOGEL, a bird, from the _bird’s eye_ spots on some handkerchiefs [_see_ BIRD’S-EYE-WIPE, under BILLY], but a more probable derivation is the Italian slang (_Fourbesque_) FOGLIA, a pocket, or purse; or from the _French argot_, FOUILLE, also a pocket.

FOGUS, tobacco.—_Old cant._ FOGO, _old word for stench_.

FOONT, a sovereign, or 20s.

FOOTING, “to pay FOOTING.”—_See_ SHOE.

FORAKERS, a water-closet, or house of office.—Term used by the boys at _Winchester school_.

FORK OUT, to bring out one’s money, to pay the bill, to STAND FOR or treat a friend; to hand over what does not belong to you.—Old cant term for picking pockets, and very curious it is to trace its origin. In the early part of the last century, a little book on purloining was published, and of course it had to give the latest modes. FORKING was the newest method, and it consisted in thrusting the fingers stiff and open into the pocket, and then quickly closing them and extracting any article.

FORKS, or GRAPPLING IRONS, fingers.

FORTY GUTS, vulgar term for a fat man.

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

“Whene’er to slumber you incline,
Take a _short_ NAP at 4 and 9.”—1844.

FOU, slightly intoxicated.—_Scotch._

FOURTH, or FOURTH COURT, the court appropriated to the water-closets at Cambridge; from its really being No. 4 at Trinity College. A man leaving his room to go to this FOURTH COURT, writes on his door “_gone to the_ FOURTH,” or, in algebraic notation, “GONE 4”—the Cambridge slang phrase.

FOX, to cheat or rob.—_Eton College._

FOXING, watching in the streets for any occurrence which may be turned to a profitable account.—_See_ MOOCHING.

FOXING, to pretend to be asleep like a fox, which is said to take its rest with one eye open.

FOXY, rank, tainted.—_Lincolnshire._

FREE, to steal—generally applied to horses.

FREE AND EASY, a club held at most public houses, the members of which meet in the taproom or parlour for the purpose of drinking, smoking, and hearing each other sing and “talk politics.” The name indicates the character of the proceedings.

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

FRENCH CREAM, brandy.

FRENCH LEAVE, to leave or depart slyly, without saying anything.

FRESH, said of a person slightly intoxicated.

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

FRISK A CLY, to empty a pocket.

FRIZZLE, champagne.

FROG, a policeman.

FRONTISPIECE, the face.

FROW, a girl, or wife. _German_, FRAU; _Dutch_, VROUW.

FRUMMAGEMMED, annihilated, strangled, garotted, or spoilt.—_Old cant._

FRUMP, a slatternly woman, a gossip.—_Ancient._

FRUMP, to mock, or insult.—_Beaumont and Fletcher._

FUDGE, nonsense, stupidity. _Todd and Richardson_ only trace the word to _Goldsmith_. _Disraeli_, however, gives the origin to a Captain Fudge, a great fibber, who told monstrous stories, which made his crew say in answer to any improbability, “you FUDGE it!”—_See Remarks on the Navy_, 1700.

FULLAMS, false dice, which always turn up high.—_Shakes._

FULLY, “to be FULLIED,” to be committed for trial. From the slang of the penny-a-liner, “the prisoner was _fully_ committed for trial.”

FUNK, to smoke out.—_North._

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

FUNNY-BONE, the extremity of the elbow—or rather, the muscle which passes round it between the two bones, a blow on which causes painful tingling in the fingers. Facetiously derived, from its being the extremity of the _humerus_ (humorous).

FYE-BUCK, a sixpence. _Nearly obsolete._

GAB, GABBER, or GABBLE, talk; “gift of the GAB,” loquacity, or natural talent for speech-making.—_Anglo Norman._

GAD, a trapesing, slatternly woman.—_Gipsey._ _Anglo Saxon_, GADELYNG.

GADDING THE HOOF, going without shoes. GADDING, roaming about, although used in an old translation of the Bible, is now only heard amongst the lower orders.

GAFF, a fair, or penny-playhouse.—_See_ PENNY GAFF.

GAFFING, tossing halfpence, or counters.—_North_, where it means tossing up three pennies.

GALENY, old cant term for a fowl of any kind; now a respectable word in the West of England, signifying a Guinea fowl.—_Vide Grose._ _Latin_, GALLINA.

GALLAVANT, to wait upon the ladies.—_Old._

GALORE, abundance. _Irish_, GO LEOR, in plenty.

GALLOWS, very, or exceedingly—a disgusting exclamation; “GALLOWS poor,” very poor.

GAME, a term variously applied; “are you GAME?” have you courage enough? “what’s your little GAME?” what are you going to do? “come, none of your GAMES,” be quiet, don’t annoy me; “on the GAME,” out thieving.

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

GAMMON, deceit, humbug, a false and ridiculous story. _Anglo Saxon_, GAMEN, game, sport.

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

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

GANDER MONTH, the period when the monthly nurse is in the ascendant, and the husband has to shift for himself.

GAR, euphuistic corruption of the title of the Deity; “be GAR, you don’t say so!”—_Franco-English._

GARRET, the head.

GARRET, the fob pocket.

GARGLE, medical student Slang for physic.

GAS, “to give a person GAS,” to scold him or give him a good beating. Synonymous with “to give him JESSIE.”

GASSY, liable to “flare up” at any offence.

GATTER, beer; “shant of GATTER,” a pot of beer. A curious street melody, brimful and running over with slang, known in Seven Dials as _Bet, the Coaley’s Daughter_, thus mentions the word in a favourite verse:—

“But when I strove my flame to tell
Says she, ‘_Come, stow that patter_,’
If you’re a _cove_ wot likes a gal
Vy don’t you _stand_ some GATTER?
_In course_ I instantly complied—
Two brimming quarts of porter,
With four _goes_ of gin beside,
Drained Bet the Coaley’s daughter.”

GAWFS, cheap red-skinned apples, a favourite fruit with costermongers, who rub them well with a piece of cloth, and find ready purchasers.

GAWKY, a lanky, or awkward person; a fool. _Saxon_, GEAC; _Scotch_, GOWK.

GAY, loose, dissipated; “GAY woman,” a kept mistress, or prostitute.

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

GEN, a shilling. Also, GENT, silver. Abbreviation of the _French_, ARGENT.

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

GENT, silver. From the _French_, ARGENT.

GET-UP, a person’s appearance, or general arrangements. Probably derived from the decorations of a play.

“There’s so much GETTING UP to please the town,
It takes a precious deal of coming down.”

_Planché’s Mr. Buckstone’s Ascent of Parnassus._

GHOST, “the GHOST does’nt walk,” _i.e._, the manager is too poor to pay salaries as yet.—_Theat.; Ho. Words, No. 183._

GIB-FACE, properly the lower lip of a horse; “TO HANG ONE’S GIB,” to pout the lower lip, be angry or sullen.

GIBBERISH, unmeaning jargon; the language of the Gipseys, synonymous with SLANG, another _Gipsey_ word. Somner says, “_French_, GABBER; _Dutch_, GABBEREN; and our own GAB, GABBER; hence also, I take it, our GIBBERISH, a kind of canting language used by a sort of rogues we vulgarly call Gipseys, a _gibble gabble_ understood only among themselves.”—_Gipsey._ _See Introduction._

GIFFLE GAFFLE, nonsense.—See CHAFF. _Icelandic_, GAFLA.

GIFT, any article which has been stolen and afterwards sold at a low price.

GIG, a farthing. Formerly, GRIG.

GIG, fun, frolic, a spree.

“In search of _lark_, or some delicious gig,
The mind delights on, when ’tis in _prime twig_.”

_Randall’s Diary_, 1820.

GIGLAMPS, spectacles. In my first edition I stated this to be a _University_ term. Mr. CUTHBERT BEDE, however, in a communication to _Notes and Queries_, of which I have availed myself in the present edition, says—“If the compiler has taken this epithet from _Verdant Green_, I can only say that I consider the word not to be a ‘University’ word in general, but as only due to the inventive genius of Mr. Bouncer in particular.” The term, however, has been adopted, and is now in general use.

GILL, a homely woman; “Jack and GILL,” &c.—_Ben Jonson._

GILLS, the lower part of the face.—_Bacon._ “To grease one’s GILLS,” “to have a good feed,” or make a hearty meal.

GILLS, shirt collars.

GILT, money. _German_, GELD; _Dutch_, GELT.

GIMCRACK, a bijou, a slim piece of mechanism. _Old slang_ for “a spruce wench.”—_N. Bailey._

GIN AND GOSPEL GAZETTE, the _Morning Advertiser_, so called from its being the organ of the dissenting party, and of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association. Sometimes termed the TAP TUB, or the ’TIZER.

GINGER, a showy, fast horse—as if he had been FIGGED with GINGER under his tail.

GINGERLY, to do anything with great care.—_Cotgrave._

GINGER HACKLED, having flaxen light yellow hair.—_See_ HACKLE.

GINGUMBOB, a bauble.

GIVE, to strike or scold; “I’ll GIVE it to you,” I will thrash you. Formerly, _to rob_.

GLASGOW MAGISTRATES, salt herrings.—_Scotch._

GLAZE, glass—generally applied to windows.

GLIM, a light, a lamp; “dowse the GLIM,” put the candle out.—_Sea, and old cant._

GLIM LURK, a begging paper, giving a certified account of a dreadful fire—which never happened.

GLOAK, a man.—_Scotch._

GLUMP, to sulk.

GLUMPISH, of a stubborn, sulky temper.

GNOSTICS, knowing ones, or sharpers. _Nearly obsolete in this vulgar sense._

GO, a GO of gin, a quartern of that liquor; GO is also synonymous with circumstance or occurrence; “a rummy GO,” and “a great GO,” signify curious and remarkable occurrences; “no GO,” no good; “here’s a pretty GO!” here’s a trouble! “to GO the jump,” to enter a house by the window; “all the GO,” in fashion.—_See_ LITTLE GO.

“Gemmen (says he), you all well know
The joy there is whene’er we meet;
It’s what I call the primest GO,
And rightly named, ’tis—‘quite a treat.’”

_Jack Randall’s Diary_, 1820.

GO-ALONG, a thief.—_Household Words_, No. 183.

GOB, the mouth; mucus, or saliva.—_North._ Sometimes used for GAB, talk—

“There was a man called _Job,_
Dwelt in the land of Uz;
He had a good gift of the GOB;
The same case happen us.”

ZACH. BOYD.

GOB, a portion.

GODS, the people in the upper gallery of a theatre; “up amongst the GODS,” a seat amongst the low persons in the gallery—so named from the high position of the gallery, and the blue sky generally painted on the ceiling of the theatre; termed by the _French_, PARADIS.

GODS, the quadrats used by printers in throwing on the imposing stone, similar to the movement in casting dice.—_Printers’ term._

GO IT, a term of encouragement, implying “keep it up!” Sometimes amplified to GO IT, YE CRIPPLES; said to have been a facetious rendering of the last line of _Virgil’s Eclogues_—

“Ite domum Saturæ, Venit Hesperus, _ite capellæ_;”

or, “GO IT, YE CRIPPLES, CRUTCHES ARE CHEAP.”

GOLDFINCH, a sovereign.

GOLGOTHA, a hat, “place of a skull.”

GOLOPSHUS, splendid, delicious, luscious.—_Norwich._

GOOSE, to ruin, or spoil. Also, to hiss a play.—_Theatrical._

GOOSE, a tailor’s pressing iron.—Originally a slang term, but now in most dictionaries.

GOOSEBERRY, to “play up old GOOSEBERRY” with any one, to defeat or silence a person in a quick or summary manner.

GOOSECAP, a booby, or noodle.—_Devonshire._

GOOSER, a settler, or finishing blow.

GORMED, a Norfolk corruption of a profane oath. So used by Mr. Peggotty, one of Dickens’ characters.

GORGER, a swell, a well dressed, or _gorgeous_ man—probably derived from that word.

GOSPEL GRINDER, a city missionary, or tract distributor.

GOSS, a hat—from the gossamer silk with which modern hats are made.

GONNOF, or GUN, a fool, a bungler, an amateur pickpocket. A correspondent thinks this may be a corruption of _gone off_, on the analogy of GO-ALONG; but the term is really as old as _Chaucer’s_ time. During Kett’s rebellion in Norfolk, in the reign of Edward VI., a song was sung by the insurgents in which the term occurs—

“The country GNOFFES, Hob, Dick, and Hick,
With clubbes and clouted shoon,
Shall fill up Dussyn dale
With slaughtered bodies soone.”

GOUROCK HAM, salt herrings. Gourock, on the Clyde, about twenty-five miles from Glasgow, was formerly a great fishing village.—_Scotch._

GOVERNMENT SIGNPOST, the gallows.

GOVERNOR, a father, a master or superior person, an elder; “which way, GUV’NER, to Cheapside?”

GRABB, to clutch, or seize.

GRABBED, caught, apprehended.

GRABBERS, the hands.

GRACE-CARD, the ace of hearts.

GRAFT, to work; “where are you GRAFTING?” _i.e._, where do you live, or work?

GRANNY, to know, or recognise; “de ye GRANNY the bloke?” do you know the man?

GRANNY, importance, knowledge, pride; “take the GRANNY off them as has white hands,” viz., remove their self-conceit.—_Mayhew_, vol. i., p. 364.

GRAPPLING IRONS, fingers.—_Sea._

GRASS, “gone to GRASS,” dead,—a coarse allusion to _burial_; absconded, or disappeared suddenly; “oh, go to GRASS,” a common answer to a troublesome or inquisitive person,—possibly a corruption of “go to GRACE,” meaning, of course, a directly opposite fate.

GRASS-WIDOW, an unmarried mother; a deserted mistress. In the United States, during the gold fever in California, it was common for an adventurer to put both his GRASS-WIDOW and his children to _school_ during his absence.

GRAVEL, to confound, to bother; “I’m GRAVELLED,” _i.e._, perplexed or confused.—_Old._

GRAVEL-RASH, a scratched face,—telling its tale of a drunken fall.

GRAY-COAT-PARSON, a lay impropriator, or lessee of great tithes.

GRAYS, or SCOTCH GRAYS, lice.—_Scotch._

GRAYS, halfpennies, with either two “heads” or two “tails,”—both sides alike. _Low gamblers_ use GRAYS, and they cost from 2d. to 6d. each.

GREASE-SPOT, a minute remnant, the only distinguishable remains of an antagonist after a terrific contest.

GREASING a man is bribing; SOAPING is flattering him.

GREEKS, the low Irish. ST. GILES’ GREEK, slang or cant language. _Cotgrave_ gives MERIE GREEK as a definition for a roystering fellow, a drunkard.—_Shakespere._—_See_ MEDICAL GREEK.

GREEN, ignorant, not wide awake, inexperienced.—_Shakespere._ “Do you see any GREEN in my eye?” ironical question in a dispute.

GREEN-HORN, a fresh, simple, or uninitiated person.

GRIDDLER, a person who sings in the streets without a printed copy of the words.

GRIEF, “to come to GRIEF,” to meet with an accident, be ruined.

GRIFFIN, in India, a newly arrived cadet; general for an inexperienced youngster. “Fast” young men in London frequently term an umbrella a GRIFFIN.

GRIND, “to take a GRIND,” _i.e._, a walk, or constitutional.—_University._

GRIND, to work up for an examination, to cram with a GRINDER, or private tutor.—MEDICAL.

GRINDERS, teeth.

GROGGY, tipsy; when a prize-fighter becomes “weak on his pins,” and nearly beaten, he is said to be GROGGY.—_Pugilistic._ The same term is applied to horses in a similar condition. _Old English_, AGGROGGYD, weighed down, oppressed.—_Prompt. Parvulorum._

GRUB, meat, or food, of any kind,—GRUB signifying food, and BUB, drink.

GRUBBING-KEN, or SPINIKIN, a workhouse; a cook-shop.

GRUBBY, musty, or old-fashioned.—_Devonshire._

GULFED, a University term, denoting that a man is unable to enter for the classical examination, from having failed in the mathematical. Candidates for classical honours were compelled to go in for both examinations. From the alteration of the arrangements the term is now obsolete.—_Camb._

GULPIN, a weak, credulous fellow.

GUMMY, thick, fat—generally applied to a woman’s ancles, or to a man whose flabby person betokens him a drunkard.

GUMPTION, or RUMGUMPTION, comprehension, capacity. From GAUM, to comprehend; “I canna GAUGE it, and I canna GAUM it,” as a Yorkshire exciseman said of a hedgehog.

GURRELL, a fob.

GUTTER BLOOD, a low or vulgar man—_Scotch._

GUTTER LANE, the throat.

GUY, a fright, a dowdy, an ill-dressed person. Derived from the effigy of Guy Fawkes carried about by boys on Nov. 5.

GYP, an undergraduate’s valet at _Cambridge_. Corruption of GYPSEY JOE (_Saturday Review_); popularly derived by Cantabs from the _Greek_, GYPS (γύπς), a vulture, from their dishonest rapacity. At _Oxford_ they are called SCOUTS.

HACKLE, “to show HACKLE,” to be willing to fight. HACKLES are the long feathers on the back of a cock’s neck, which he erects when angry,—hence the metaphor.

HADDOCK, a purse.—_See_ BEANS.

HALF A BEAN, half a sovereign.

HALF A BULL, two shillings and sixpence.

HALF A COUTER, half a sovereign.

HALF A HOG, sixpence; sometimes termed HALF A GRUNTER.

HALF A STRETCH, six months in prison.

HALF A TUSHEROON, half a crown.

HALF AND HALF, a mixture of ale and porter, much affected by medical students; occasionally _Latinized_ into DIMIDIUM DIMIDIUMQUE.—_See_ COOPER.

HALF BAKED, soft, doughy, half-witted, silly.

HALF FOOLISH, ridiculous; means often _wholly_ foolish.

HALF JACK.—_See_ JACKS.

HALF ROCKED, silly, half-witted.—Compare HALF BAKED.

HALF SEAS OVER, reeling drunk.—_Sea._ Used by _Swift_.

HAND, a workman, or helper, a person. “A cool HAND,” explained by Sir Thomas Overbury to be “one who accounts bashfulness the wickedest thing in the world, and therefore studies impudence.”

HANDER, a second, or assistant, in a prize fight.

HANDLE, a nose; the title appended to a person’s name; also a term in boxing, “HANDLING one’s fists.”

HAND-SAW, or CHIVE FENCER, a man who sells razors and knives in the streets.

HANDSELLER, or CHEAP JACK, a street or open air seller, a man who carries goods to his customers, instead of waiting for his customers to visit him.

HANG OUT, to reside,—in allusion to the ancient custom of _hanging out_ signs.

HANGMAN’S WAGES, thirteenpence halfpenny.

HANSEL, or HANDSALE, the _lucky money_, or first money taken in the morning by a pedlar.—_Cocker’s Dictionary_, 1724. “Legs of mutton (street term for sheep’s trotters, or feet) two for a penny; who’ll give me a HANSEL? who’ll give me a HANSEL?”—_Cry at Cloth Fair at the present day._ Hence, earnest money, first fruits, &c. In Norfolk, HANSELLING a thing, is using it for the first time, as wearing a new coat, taking seizin of it, as it were.—_Anglo Saxon._ _N. Bailey._

HA’PURTH OF LIVELINESS, the music at a low concert, or theatre.

HARD LINES, hardship, difficulty.—_Soldiers’ term_ for hard duty on the _lines_ in front of the enemy.

HARD UP, in distress, poverty stricken.—_Sea._

HARD-UPS, cigar-end finders, who collect the refuse pieces of smoked cigars from the gutter, and having dried them, sell them as tobacco to the very poor.

HARRY, or OLD HARRY (_i.e._ _Old Hairy_?) the Devil; “to play OLD HARRY with one,” _i.e._, ruin or annoy him.

HARRY-SOPH (ἐρίσοφος, very wise indeed), an undergraduate in his last year of residence.—_Cambridge._

HASH, a mess, confusion; “a pretty HASH he made of it;” to HASH UP, to jumble together without order or regularity.

HATCHET, “to throw the HATCHET,” to tell lies.

HAWSE HOLES, the apertures in a ship’s bows through which the cables pass; “he has crept in through the HAWSE-HOLES,” said of an officer who has risen from the grade of an ordinary seaman.—_Navy._

HAY BAG, a woman.

HAZY, intoxicated.—_Household Words_, No. 183.

HEAD OR TAIL, “I can’t make HEAD OR TAIL of it,” _i.e._, cannot make it out.

HEAP, “a HEAP of people,” a crowd; “struck all of a HEAP,” suddenly astonished.

HEAVY WET, porter or beer,—because the more a man drinks of it, the heavier he becomes.

HEDGE, to secure a doubtful bet by making others.—_Turf._

HEEL-TAPS, small quantities of wine or other beverage left in the bottom of glasses, considered as a sign that the liquor is not liked, and therefore unfriendly and unsocial to the host and the company.

HEIGH HO! a cant term for stolen yarn, from the expression used to apprize the dishonest manufacturer that the speaker has stolen yarn to sell.—_Norwich cant._

HELL, a fashionable gambling house. In printing offices, the term is generally applied to the old tin box in which is thrown the broken or spoilt type, purchased by the founders for re-casting. _Nearly obsolete._

HEN AND CHICKENS, large and small pewter pots.

HEN-PECKED, said of one whose wife “wears the breeches.”

HERRING POND, the sea; “to be sent across the HERRING POND,” to be transported.

HIDING, a thrashing. _Webster_ gives this word, but not its root, HIDE, to beat, flay by whipping.

HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY, all together,—as hogs and pigs lie.

HIGH AND DRY, an epithet applied to the _soi disant_ “orthodox” clergy of the last century, for whom, while ill-paid curates did the work, the _comforts_ of the establishment were its greatest charms.

“Wherein are various ranks, and due degrees,
The Bench for honour, and the Stall for ease.”

Though often confounded with, they are utterly dissimilar to, the modern High Church or Anglo-Catholic party. Their equally uninteresting opponents deserved the corresponding appellation of LOW AND SLOW; while the so-called “Broad Church” is defined with equal felicity as the BROAD AND SHALLOW.

HIGH FLY, “ON THE HIGH FLY,” on the begging or cadging system.

HIGH JINKS, “ON THE HIGH JINKS,” taking up an arrogant position, assuming an undue superiority.

HIGH-FLYER, a genteel beggar, or swindler.

HIGH FLYERS, large swings, in frames, at fairs and races.

HIGH-LOWS, laced boots reaching a trifle higher than ancle-jacks.

HIGHFALUTEN, showy, affected, tinselled, affecting certain pompous or fashionable airs, stuck up; “come, none of yer HIGHFALUTEN games,” _i.e._, you must not show off or imitate the swell here.—_American_ slang from the _Dutch_, VERLOOTEN.

HIP INSIDE, inside coat pocket.

HIP OUTSIDE, outside coat pocket.

HIVITE, a student of St. Begh’s College, Cumberland; pronounced ST. BEE’S.—_University._

HOAX, to deceive, or ridicule,—_Grose_ says was originally a _University_ cant word. Corruption of HOCUS, to cheat.

HOCKS, the feet; CURBY HOCKS, round or clumsy feet.

HOCUS, to drug a person, and then rob him. The HOCUS generally consists of snuff and beer.

HOCUS POCUS, Gipsey words of magic, similar to the modern “presto fly.” The Gipseys pronounce “_Habeas Corpus_,” HAWCUS PACCUS (_see Crabb’s Gipsey’s Advocate_, p. 18); can this have anything to do with the origin of HOCUS POCUS? _Turner_ gives OCHUS BOCHUS, an old demon. Pegge, however, states that it is a burlesque rendering of the words of the unreformed church service at the delivery of the host, HOC EST CORPUS, which the early Protestants considered as a species of conjuring, and ridiculed accordingly.

HODGE, a countryman or provincial clown. I don’t know that it has been elsewhere remarked, but most country districts in England have one or more families of the name of HODGE; indeed, GILES and HODGE appear to be the favourite hobnail nomenclature. Not in any way writing disrespectfully, was the slang word taken from Hog—with the _g_ soft, which gives the _dg_ pronunciation? In old canting dictionaries HODGE stands for a country clown; so, indeed, does ROGER, another favourite provincial name.—_Vide Bacchus and Venus._

HOG, “to go the whole HOG,” to do anything with a person’s entire strength, not “by halves;” realised by the phrase “in for a penny in for a pound.” _Bartlett_ claims this to be a pure _American_ phrase; whilst _Ker_, of course, gives it a _Dutch_ origin.—_Old._

HOG, a shilling.—_Old cant._

HOISTING, shoplifting.

HOLLOW, “to beat HOLLOW,” to excel.

HOLY LAND, Seven Dials,—where the St. Giles’ Greek is spoken.

HOOK, to steal or rob.—_See the following._

HOOK OR BY CROOK, by fair means or foul—in allusion to the hook which footpads used to carry to steal from open windows, &c., and from which HOOK, to take or steal, has been derived. Mentioned in _Hudibras_ as a cant term.

HOOK IT, “get out of the way,” or “be off about your business;” “TO HOOK IT,” to run away, to decamp; “on one’s own HOOK,” dependant upon one’s own exertions.—_See the preceding for derivation._

HOOKS, “dropped off the HOOKS,” said of a deceased person—derived from the ancient practice of suspending on hooks the quarters of a traitor or felon sentenced by the old law to be hung, drawn, and quartered, and which dropped off the hooks as they decayed.

HOOKEY WALKER! ejaculation of incredulity, usually shortened to WALKER!—which see. A correspondent thinks HOOKEY WALKER may have been a certain _Hugh K. Walker_.

HOOK-UM SNIVEY (formerly “hook _and_ snivey”), a low expression meaning to cheat by feigning sickness or other means. Also a piece of thick iron wire crooked at one end, and fastened into a wooden handle, for the purpose of undoing from the outside the wooden bolt of a door.

HOP, a dance.—_Fashionable slang._

HOP THE TWIG, to run away, or BOLT, which see.—_Old._

HOP-MERCHANT, a dancing-master.

HOPPING GILES, a cripple. St. Ægidius or Giles, himself similarly afflicted, was their patron saint. The ancient lazar houses were dedicated to him.

HORRID HORN, term of reproach amongst the street Irish, meaning a fool, or half-witted fellow. From the _Erse_ OMADHAUN, a brainless fellow. A correspondent suggests HERRIDAN, a miserable old woman.

HORRORS, the low spirits, or “blue devils,” which follow intoxication.

HORSE, contraction of Horsemonger-lane Gaol.

HORSE CHAUNTER, a dealer who takes worthless horses to country fairs and disposes of them by artifice. He is flexible in his ethics, and will put in a glass-eye, or perform other tricks.—_See_ COPER.

HORSE NAILS, money.—_Compare_ BRADS.

HORSE’S NIGHTCAP, a halter; “to die in a HORSE’S NIGHTCAP,” to be hung.

HORSE MARINE, an awkward person. In ancient times the “JOLLIES” or Royal Marines, were the butts of the sailors, from their ignorance of seamanship. “Tell that to the MARINES, the blue jackets won’t believe it!” was a common rejoinder to a “stiff yarn.” Now-a-days they are deservedly appreciated as the finest regiment in the service. A HORSE MARINE (an impossibility) was used to denote one more awkward still.

HOT COPPERS, the feverish sensations experienced next morning by those who have been drunk over night.

HOT TIGER, an Oxford mixture of hot-spiced ale and sherry.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, a water-closet.

HOXTER, an inside pocket.—_Old English_, OXTER.

HUEY, a town or village.

HUFF, to vex, or offend; a poor temper.

HUFF, a dodge or trick; “don’t try that HUFF on me,” or “that HUFF won’t do.”—_Norwich._

HULK, to hang about in hopes of an invitation.—_See_ MOOCH.

HULKY, extra sized.—_Shropshire._

HUM AND HAW, to hesitate, raise objections.—_Old English._

HUMBLE PIE, to “eat HUMBLE PIE,” to knock under, be submissive. The UMBLES, or entrails of a deer, were anciently made into a dish for servants, while their masters feasted off the haunch.

HUMBUG, an imposition, or a person who imposes upon others. A very expressive but slang word, synonymous at one time with HUM AND HAW. Lexicographers have fought shy at adopting this word. Richardson uses it frequently to express the meaning of other words, but omits it in the alphabetical arrangement as unworthy of recognition! In the first edition of this work, 1785 was given as the earliest date at which the word could be found in a printed book. Since then I have traced HUMBUG half a century farther back, on the title-page of a singular old jest-book—“_The Universal Jester_; or a pocket companion for the Wits: being a choice collection of merry conceits, facetious drolleries, &c., clenchers, closers, closures, bon-mots, and HUMBUGS,” by _Ferdinando Killigrew_. London, about 1735–40.

I have also ascertained that the famous Orator Henley was known to the mob as ORATOR HUMBUG. The fact may be learnt from an illustration in that exceedingly curious little collection of _Caricatures_, published in 1757, many of which were sketched by Lord Bolingbroke—Horace Walpole filling in the names and explanations. _Halliwell_ describes HUMBUG as “a person who hums,” and cites Dean Milles’ MS., which was written about 1760. It has been stated that the word is a corruption of Hamburgh, from which town so many false bulletins and reports came during the war in the last century. “Oh, that is _Hamburgh_ [or HUMBUG],” was the answer to any fresh piece of news which smacked of improbability. _Grose_ mentions it in his Dictionary, 1785; and in a little printed squib, published in 1808, entitled _Bath Characters_, by _T. Goosequill_, HUMBUG is thus mentioned in a comical couplet on the title page:—

“Wee Thre Bath Deities bee,
HUMBUG, Follie, and Varietee.”

Gradually from this time the word began to assume a place in periodical literature, and in novels not written by squeamish or over-precise authors. In the preface to a flat, and, I fear, unprofitable poem, entitled, _The Reign of_ HUMBUG, _a Satire_, 8vo., 1836, the author thus apologises for the use of the word—“I have used the term HUMBUG to designate this principle [wretched sophistry of life generally], considering that it is now adopted into our language as much as the words _dunce_, _jockey_, _cheat_, _swindler_, &c., which were formerly only colloquial terms.” A correspondent, who in a late number of _Adersaria_ ingeniously traced _bombast_ to the inflated Doctor Paracelsus Bombast, considers that HUMBUG may, in like manner, be derived from _Homberg_, the distinguished chemist of the court of the Duke of Orleans, who, according to the following passage from Bishop Berkeley’s “Siris,” was an ardent and successful seeker after the philosopher’s stone!

“§ 194.—Of this there cannot be a better proof than the experiment of
Monsieur Homberg, WHO MADE GOLD OF MERCURY BY INTRODUCING LIGHT INTO
ITS PORES, but at such trouble and expense, that, I suppose, nobody
will try the experiment for profit. By this injunction of light and
mercury, both bodies became fixed, and produced a third different to
either, to wit, real gold. For the truth of which FACT I refer to the
memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences.”—_Berkeley’s Works_, vol.
ii., p. 366, (Wright’s edition).

The universal use of this term is remarkable; in California there is a town called _Humbug Flat_—a name which gives a significant hint of the acuteness of the first settler.

HUM-DRUM, tedious, tiresome, boring; “a society of gentlemen who used to meet near the Charter House, or at the King’s Head, St. John’s street. They were characterised by less mystery and more pleasantry than the Freemasons.”—_Bacchus and Venus_, 1737. In the _West_ a low cart.

HUMP, to botch, or spoil.

HUMP UP, “to have one’s HUMP UP,” to be cross or ill-tempered—like a cat with its back set up.—_See_ MONKEY.

HUMPTY DUMPTY, short and thick.

HUNCH, to shove, or jostle.

HUNTER PITCHING, cockshies, or three throws a penny.—_See_ COCKSHY.

HUNTING THE SQUIRREL, when hackney and stage coachmen try to upset each other’s vehicles on the public roads. _Nearly obsolete._

HURDY-GURDY, a droning musical instrument shaped like a large fiddle, and turned by a crank, used by Savoyards and itinerant foreign musicians in England, now nearly superseded by the hand-organ. A correspondent suggests that the name is derived from being _girded_ on the HARDIES, loins or buttocks.—_Scotch_; _Tam o’Shanter_. In _Italy_ the instrument is called VIOLA.

HUSH-MONEY, a sum given to quash a prosecution or evidence.

HUSH-SHOP, or CRIB, a shop where beer or spirits is sold “on the quiet”—no licence being paid.

HYPS, or HYPO, the blue devils. _From Hypochondriasis._—SWIFT.

IN, “to be IN with a person,” to be even with, or UP to him.

IN FOR IT, in trouble or difficulty of any kind.

IN FOR PATTER, waiting for trial.

INEXPRESSIBLES, UNUTTERABLES, UNWHISPERABLES, or SIT-UPONS, trousers, the nether garments.

INNINGS, earnings, money coming in; “he’s had long INNINGS,” _i.e._, a good run of luck, plenty of cash flowing in.

INSIDE LINING, dinner, &c.

INTERESTING, “to be in an INTERESTING situation,” applied to females when _enceinte_.

INTO, “hold my hat, Jim, I’ll be INTO him,” _i.e._, I will fight him. In this sense equivalent to PITCH INTO or SLIP INTO.

INVITE, an invitation—a corruption used by stuck-up people of mushroom origin.

IPSAL DIXAL, Cockney corruption of _ipse dixit_—said of one’s simple uncorroborated assertion.

IT’S GOOD ON THE STAR, it’s easy to open.

IVORIES, teeth; “a box” or “cage of IVORIES,” a set of teeth, the mouth; “wash your IVORIES,” _i.e._, “drink.” The word is also used to denote DICE.

JABBER, to talk, or chatter. A cant word in _Swift’s_ time.

JACK, a low prostitute.

JACK KETCH, the public hangman.—_See_ KETCH.

JACK SPRAT, a diminutive boy or man.

JACK TAR, a sailor.

JACK-AT-A-PINCH, one whose assistance is only sought on an emergency; JACK-IN-THE-WATER, an attendant at the watermen’s stairs on the river and sea-port towns, who does not mind wetting his feet for a customer’s convenience, in consideration of a douceur.

JACKS, HALF JACKS, card counters, resembling in size and appearance sovereigns and half-sovereigns, for which they are occasionally passed to simple persons. In large gambling establishments the “heaps of gold” are frequently composed mainly of JACKS.

JACKETING, a thrashing.

JACKEY, gin.

JACOB, a ladder. _Grose_ says from Jacob’s dream.—_Old cant._

JAGGER, a gentleman.—_German_, JAGER, a sportsman.

JAIL-BIRD, a prisoner, one who has been in jail.

JAMES, a sovereign, or twenty shillings.

JANNOCK, sociable, fair dealing.—_Norfolk._

JAPAN, to ordain.—_University._

JARK, a seal, or watch ornament.—_Ancient cant._

JARVEY, the driver of a hackney coach; JARVEY’S UPPER BENJAMIN, a coachman’s over-coat.

JAW, speech, or talk; “hold your JAW,” don’t speak any more; “what are you JAWING about?” _i.e._, what are you making a noise about?

JAW-BREAKERS, hard or many-syllabled words.

JAZEY, a wig. A corruption of JERSEY, the name for flax prepared in a peculiar manner, and of which common wigs were formerly made.

JEAMES, (a generic for “flunkies,”) the _Morning Post_ newspaper—the organ of Belgravia and the “Haristocracy.”

JEHU, old slang term for a coachman, or one fond of driving.

JEMMY, a crowbar.

JEMMY, a sheep’s head.—_See_ SANGUINARY JAMES.

JEMMY JESSAMY, a dandy.

JERRY, a beer house.

JERRY, a chamber utensil, abbreviation of JEROBOAM.—_Swift_. JERRY-COME-TUMBLE, a water-closet.

JERRY, a fog.

JERUSALEM PONY, a donkey.

JESSIE, “to give a person JESSIE,” to beat him soundly.—_See_ GAS.

JEW’S EYE, a popular simile for anything valuable. Probably a corruption of the _Italian_, GIOJE; _French_, JOUAILLE, a jewel. In ancient times, when a king was short of cash, he generally issued orders for so many _Jew’s eyes_, or equivalent sums of money. The Jews preferred paying the ransom, although often very heavy. We thus realise the popularly believed origin of JEW’S EYE. Used by _Shakespere_.

JEW-FENCER, a Jew street salesman.

JIB, the face, or a person’s expression; “the cut of his JIB,” _i.e._ his peculiar appearance. The sail of a ship, which in position and shape corresponds to the nose on a person’s face.—_See_ GIB.—_Sea._

JIB, or JIBBER, a horse that starts or shrinks. _Shakespere_ uses it in the sense of a worn out horse.

JIBB, the tongue.—_Gipsey and Hindoo._

JIFFY, “in a JIFFY,” in a moment.

JIGGER, a secret still, illicit spirits.—_Scotch._

JIGGER, “I’m JIGGERED if you will,” a common form of mild swearing.—_See_ SNIGGER.

JIGGER, a door; “dub the JIGGER,” shut the door. _Ancient cant_, GYGER. In billiards the _bridge_ on the table is often termed the JIGGER.

JIGGER-DUBBERS, term applied to jailors or turnkeys.

JILT, a crowbar or housebreaking implement.

JINGO, “by JINGO,” a common form of oath, said to be a corruption of _St. Gingoulph_.—_Vide Halliwell._

JOB, a short piece of work, a prospect of employment. _Johnson_ describes JOB as a low word, without etymology. It is, and was, however, a cant word, and a JOB, two centuries ago, was an arranged robbery. Even at the present day it is mainly confined to the streets, in the sense of employment for a short time. Amongst undertakers a JOB signifies a funeral; “to do a JOB,” conduct any one’s funeral; “by the JOB,” _i.e._, _piece_-work, as opposed to _time_-work. A JOB in political phraseology is a Government office or contract, obtained by secret influence or favouritism.

To JOE BLAKE THE BARTLEMY, to visit a low woman.

JOEY, a fourpenny piece. The term is derived (like BOBBY from Sir Robert Peel) from Joseph Hume, the late respected M.P. The explanation is thus given in _Hawkins’ History of the Silver Coinage of England_.

“These pieces are said to have owed their existence to the pressing
instance of Mr. Hume, from whence they, for some time, bore the
nickname of JOEYS. As they were very convenient to pay short cab
fares, the Hon. M.P. was extremely unpopular with the drivers,
who frequently received only a _groat_ where otherwise they would
have received a sixpence without any demand for change.” The term
originated with the London cabmen, who have invented many others.

JOG-TROT, a slow but regular trot, or pace.

JOGUL, to play up, at cards or other game. _Spanish_, JUGAR.

JOHN THOMAS, a generic for “flunkies,”—footmen popularly represented with large calves and bushy whiskers.

JOLLY, a word of praise, or favourable notice; “chuck Harry a JOLLY, Bill!” _i.e._, go and praise up his goods, or buy of him, and speak well of the article, that the crowd standing around his stall may think it a good opportunity to lay out their money. “Chuck a JOLLY,” literally translated, is to throw a shout or a good word.

JOLLY, a Royal Marine.—_See_ HORSE MARINE.

JOMER, a sweetheart, or favourite girl.—_See_ BLOWER.

JORDAN, a chamber utensil.—_Saxon._

JOSKIN, a countryman.

JUG, a prison, or jail.

JUMP, to seize, or rob; “to JUMP a man,” to pounce upon him, and either rob or maltreat him; “to JUMP a house,” to rob it.—_See_ GO.

JUNIPER, gin.—_Household Words_, No. 183.

JUNK, salt beef.—_See_ OLD HORSE.

KEEL-HAULING, a good thrashing or mauling, rough treatment,—from the old nautical custom of punishing offenders by throwing them overboard with a rope attached and hauling them up from under the ship’s keel.

KEEP IT UP, to prolong a debauch, or the occasion of a rejoicing—a metaphor drawn from the game of shuttlecock.—_Grose._

KEN, a house.—_Ancient cant._ KHAN, _Gipsey_ and _Oriental_.

⁂ All slang and cant words which end in KEN, such as SPIELKEN, SPINIKEN, BAWDYKEN, or BOOZINGKEN, refer to _houses_, and are partly of _Gipsey_ origin.

KEN-CRACKERS, housebreakers.

KENNEDY, to strike or kill with a poker. A St. Giles’ term, so given from a man of that name being killed by a poker. Frequently shortened to NEDDY.

KENT RAG, or CLOUT, a cotton handkerchief.

KERTEVER-CARTZO, the venereal disease. From the _Lingua Franca_, CATTIVO, bad, and CAZZO, the male generative organ.

KETCH, or JACK KETCH, the popular name for a public hangman—derived from a person of that name who officiated in the reign of Charles II.—_See Macaulay’s History of England_, p. 626.

KIBOSH, nonsense, stuff, humbug; “it’s all KIBOSH,” _i.e._, palaver or nonsense; “to put on the KIBOSH,” to run down, slander, degrade, &c.—_See_ BOSH.

KICK, a moment; “I’ll be there in a KICK,” _i.e._, in a minute.

KICK, a sixpence; “two and a KICK,” two shillings and sixpence.

KICK, a pocket.

KICK THE BUCKET, to die.—_Norfolk._ According to Forby, a metaphor taken from the descent of a well or mine, which is of course absurd. The Rev. E. S. Taylor supplies me with the following note from his MS. additions to the work of the East-Anglian lexicographer:—

“The allusion is to the way in which a slaughtered pig is hung up,
viz., by passing the ends of a bent piece of wood behind the tendons
of the hind legs, and so suspending it to a hook in a beam above.
This piece of wood is locally termed _a bucket_, and so by a coarse
metaphor the phrase came to signify to die. Compare the Norfolk
phrase “as wrong as a bucket.”

The natives of the West Indies have converted the expression into KICKERABOO.

KICK-UP, a noise or disturbance.

KICK UP, “to KICK UP a _row_,” to create a tumult.

KICKSHAWS, trifles; made, or French dishes—not English, or substantial. Corruption of the _French_, QUELQUES CHOSES.

KICKSIES, trousers.

KICKSY, troublesome, disagreeable.

KID, an infant, or child.

KID, to joke, to quiz, to hoax anybody.

KID-ON, to entice, or incite a person on to the perpetration of an act.

KID-RIG, cheating children in the streets sent on errands, or entrusted with packages. _Nearly obsolete._

KIDDEN, a low lodging house for boys.

KIDDIER, a pork-butcher.

KIDDILY, fashionably, or showily; “KIDDILY togg’d,” showily dressed.

KIDDLEYWINK, a small shop where they retail the commodities of a village store. Also, a loose woman.

KIDDY, a man or boy. Formerly a low thief.

KIDDYISH, frolicsome, jovial.

“Think on the KIDDYISH spree we had on such a day.”

_Randall’s Diary_, 1820.

KIDMENT, a pocket-handkerchief fastened to the pocket, and partially hung out to entrap thieves.

KIDNAPPER, one who steals children or adults. From KID, a child, and NAB (corrupted to NAP), to steal, or seize.

KIDNEY, “of that KIDNEY,” of such a stamp: “strange KIDNEY,” odd humour; “two of a KIDNEY,” two persons of a sort, or as like as two peas, _i.e._, resembling each other like two kidneys in a bunch.—_Old._ “Attempt to put their hair out of KIDNEY.”—_Terræ Filius_, 1763.

KIDSMAN, one who trains boys to thieve and pick pockets successfully.

KILKENNY CAT, a popular simile for a voracious or desperate animal or person, from the story of the two cats in that county, who are said to have fought and bitten each other until a small portion of the tail of one of them alone remained.

KILLING, bewitching, fascinating. The term is akin to the phrase “dressing to DEATH.”

KIMBO, or A-KIMBO, holding the arms in a bent position from the body, and resting the hands upon the hips, in a bullying attitude. Said to be from A SCHEMBO, _Italian_; but more probably from KIMBAW, the old cant for beating, or bullying.—_See Grose._

KINCHIN, a child.—_Old cant._ From the _German_ diminutive, KINDCHEN, a baby.

KINCHIN COVE, a man who robs children; a little man.—_Ancient cant._