Chapter M: B. COAT, i.e., Mark of the Beast, a name given to the long (1)

surtout worn by the clergy,—a modern Puritan form of abuse, said to have been accidentally disclosed to a Tractarian customer by a tailor’s orders to his foreman.

MEALY-MOUTHED, plausible, deceitful.

MEDICAL GREEK, the slang used by medical students at the hospitals. At the London University they have a way of disguising English, described by Albert Smith as the _Gower-street Dialect_, which consists in transposing the initials of words, _e.g._, “_poke a smipe_”—smoke a pipe, “_flutter-by_”—butterfly, &c. This disagreeable nonsense is often termed MARROWSKYING.—_See_ GREEK, St. Giles’ Greek, or the “_Ægidiac_” dialect, Language of ZIPH, &c.

MENAGERY, the orchestra of a theatre.—_Theatrical._

MIDDY, abbreviation of MIDSHIPMAN.—_Naval._

MIDGE NET, a lady’s veil.

MIKE, to loiter; or, as a costermonger defined it, to “lazy about.” The term probably originated at St. Giles’, which used to be thronged with Irish labourers (Mike being so common a term with them as to become a generic appellation for Irishmen with the vulgar) who used to loiter about the Pound, and lean against the public-houses in the “Dials” waiting for hire.

MILKY ONES, white linen rags.

MILL, a fight, or SET TO. _Ancient cant_, MYLL, to rob.

MILL, to fight or beat.

MILL, the tread_mill_, prison.

MILL-TOG, a shirt—most likely the prison garment.

MISH, a shirt, or chemise. From COMMISSION, the _Ancient cant_ for a shirt, afterwards shortened to K’MISH or SMISH, and then to MISH. _French_, CHEMISE; _Italian_, CAMICIA.

“With his snowy CAMESE and his shaggy capote.”—_Byron._

MITTENS, fists.—_Pugilistic._

MIZZLE, to run away, or decamp; to disappear as in a mist. From MIZZLE, a drizzling rain; a Scotch mist.

“And then one _mizzling_ Michaelmas night
The Count he MIZZLED too.”—_Hood._

MOB. Swift informs us, in his _Art of Polite Conversation_, that MOB was, in his time, the slang abbreviation of _Mobility_, just as NOB is of _Nobility_ at the present day.—_See_ SCHOOL.

MOBILITY, the populace; or, according to _Burke_, the “great unwashed.” _Johnson_ calls it a cant term, although _Swift_ notices it as a proper expression.

MOBS, companions; MOBSMEN, dressy swindlers.

MOKE, a donkey.—_Gipsey._

MOKO, a name given by sportsmen to pheasants killed by mistake in partridge shooting during September, before the pheasant shooting comes in. They pull out their tails, and roundly assert they are no pheasants at all, but MOKOS.

MOLL, a girl; nickname for Mary.—_Old cant._

MOLL’D, followed, or accompanied by a woman.

MOLLISHER, a low girl or woman; generally a female cohabiting with a man, and jointly getting their living by thieving.

MOLLSACK, a reticule, or market basket.

MOLL-TOOLER, a female pickpocket.

MOLLYCODDLE, an effeminate man; one who caudles amongst the women, or does their work.

MOLLYGRUBS, or MULLIGRUBS, stomach-ache, or sorrow—which to the costermonger is much the same, as he believes, like the ancients, that the viscera is the seat of all feeling.

MOLROWING, “out on the _spree_,” in company with so-called “gay women.” In allusion to the amatory serenadings of the London cats.

MONEKEER, a person’s name or signature.

MONKEY, spirit, or ill temper; “to get one’s MONKEY up,” to rouse his passion. A man is said to have his MONKEY up, or the MONKEY on his back, when he is “_riled_,” or out of temper; also to have his BACK or HUMP up.

MONKEY, a padlock.

MONKEY, the instrument which drives a rocket.—_Army._

MONKEY, £500.

MONKEY WITH A LONG TAIL, a mortgage.—_Legal._

MONKEY’S ALLOWANCE, to get blows instead of alms, more kicks than half-pence.

MONKERY, the country, or rural districts. _Old_ word for a quiet, or monastic life.—_Hall._

MOOCH, to sponge; to obtrude yourself upon friends just when they are about to sit down to dinner, or other lucky time—of course quite accidentally.—Compare HULK. To slink away, and allow your friend to pay for the entertainment. _In Wiltshire_, ON THE MOUTCH is to shuffle.

MOOCHING, or ON THE MOOCH, on the look out for any articles or circumstances which may be turned to a profitable account; watching in the streets for odd jobs, scraps, horses to hold, &c.

MOOE, the mouth; the female generative organ.—_Gipsey_ and _Hindoo_. _Shakespere_ has MOE, to make mouths.

MOON, a month—generally used to express the length of time a person has been sentenced by the magistrate; thus “ONE MOON” is one month.—_See_ DRAG. It is a curious fact that the Indians of America and the roaming vagabonds of England should both calculate time by the MOON.

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

MOONLIGHT, or MOONSHINE, smuggled gin.

MOONSHINE, palaver, deception, humbug.

MOP, a hiring place (or fair) for servants. Steps are being taken to put down these assemblages, which have been proved to be greatly detrimental to the morality of the poor.

MOP UP, to drink, or empty a glass.—_Old._

MOPS AND BROOMS, intoxicated.—_Ho. Words_, No. 183.

MOPUSSES, money; “MOPUSSES ran taper,” money ran short.

MORRIS, to decamp, be off. Probably from the ancient MORESCO, or MORRIS DANCE.

MORTAR-BOARD, the term given by the vulgar to the square college caps.

MOTT, a girl of indifferent character. Formerly _Mort_. _Dutch_, MOTT-KAST, a harlotry.

MOUNTAIN-DEW, whisky, advertised as from the Highlands.

MOUNTAIN PECKER, a sheep’s head.—_See_ JEMMY.

MOUNTER, a false swearer. Derived from the borrowed clothes men used to MOUNT, or dress in, when going to swear for a consideration.

MOUTHPIECE, a lawyer, or counsel.

MOVE, a “dodge,” or cunning trick; “up to a move or two,” acquainted with tricks.

MRS. JONES, the house of office, a water-closet.

MRS. HARRIS and MRS. GAMP, nicknames of the _Morning Herald_ and _Standard_ newspapers, while united under the proprietorship of Mr. Baldwin. MRS. GAMP, a monthly nurse, was a character in Mr. Charles Dickens’ popular novel of _Martin Chuzzlewit_, who continually quoted an imaginary _Mrs. Harris_ in attestation of the superiority of her qualifications, and the infallibility of her opinions; and thus afforded a parallel to the two newspapers, who appealed to each other as independent authorities, being all the while the production of the same editorial staff.

MUCK, to beat, or excel; “it’s no use, luck’s set in him; he’d MUCK a thousand.”—_Mayhew_, vol. i, p. 18. TO RUN A MUCK, or GO A MUCKER, to rush headlong into certain ruin. From a certain religious phrenzy, which is common among the Malays, causing one of them, kreese in hand, to dash into a crowd and devote every one to death he meets with, until he is himself killed, or falls from exhaustion—_Malay_, AMOK, slaughter.

MUCK OUT, to clean out,—often applied to one utterly ruining an adversary in gambling. From the _Provincial_ MUCK, dirt.

MUCK-SNIPE, one who has been “MUCKED OUT,” or beggared, at gambling.

MUCKENDER, or MUCKENGER, a pocket handkerchief.—_Old._

MUDFOG, “The British Association for the Promotion of Science.”—_University._

MUD-LARKS, men and women who, with their clothes tucked above knee, grovel through the mud on the banks of the Thames, when the tide is low, for silver spoons, old bottles, pieces of iron, coal, or any articles of the least value, deposited by the retiring tide, either from passing ships or the sewers. Occasionally those men who cleanse the sewers, with great boots and sou’ wester hats.

MUFF, a silly, or weak-minded person; MUFF has been defined to be “a soft thing that holds a lady’s hand without squeezing it.”

MUFFIN-WORRY, an old ladies’ tea party.

MUFTI, the civilian dress of a naval or military officer when off duty.—_Anglo Indian._

MUG, to fight, or chastise.

MUG, “to MUG oneself,” to get tipsy.

MUG, the mouth, or face.—_Old._

MUGGING, a thrashing,—synonymous with slogging, both terms of the “ring,” and frequently used by fighting men.

MUGGY, drunk.

MUG-UP, to paint one’s face.—_Theatrical._ To “cram” for an examination.—_Army._

MULL, “to make a MULL of it,” to spoil anything, or make a fool of oneself.—_Gipsey._

MULLIGRUBS.—_Vide_ MOLLYGRUBS.

MULTEE KERTEVER, very bad.—_Italian_, MOLTO CATTIVO.

MUMMER, a performer at a travelling theatre.—_Ancient._ Rustic performers at Christmas in the West of England.

MUMPER, a beggar.—_Gipsey._ Possibly a corruption of MUMMER.

MUNDUNGUS, trashy tobacco. _Spanish_, MONDONGO, black pudding.

MUNGARLY, bread, food. MUNG is an _old word_ for mixed food, but MUNGARLY is doubtless derived from the _Lingua Franca_, MANGIAR, to eat.—See the following.

MUNGARLY CASA, a baker’s shop; evidently a corruption of some _Lingua Franca_ phrase for an eating house. The well known “Nix mangiare” stairs at Malta derive their name from the endless beggars who lie there and shout NIX MANGIARE, _i.e._, “nothing to eat,” to excite the compassion of the English who land there,—an expression which exhibits remarkably the mongrel composition of the _Lingua Franca_, MANGIARE being _Italian_, and _Nix_ an evident importation from Trieste, or other Austrian seaport.

MUNGING, or “MOUNGING,” whining, begging, muttering.—_North._

MUNS, the mouth. _German_, MUND.—_Old cant._

MURERK, the mistress of the house.—_See_ BURERK.

MURKARKER, a monkey,—vulgar cockney pronunciation of MACAUCO, a species of monkey. _Jackey Macauco_ was the name of a famous fighting monkey, which used about thirty years ago to display his prowess at the Westminster pit, where, after having killed many dogs, he was at last “chawed up” by a bull terrier.

MURPHY, a potato. Probably from the Irish national liking for potatoes, MURPHY being a common surname amongst the Irish.—_See_ MIKE. MURPHIES (_edible_) are sometimes called DUNNAMANS.

MURPHY, “in the arms of MURPHY,” _i.e._, fast asleep. Corruption of MORPHEUS.

MUSH, an umbrella. Contraction of _mushroom_.

MUSH, (or MUSHROOM) FAKER, an itinerant mender of umbrellas.

MUSLIN, a woman or girl; “he picked up a bit of MUSLIN.”

MUTTON, a lewd woman.—_Shakespere._

MUTTON-WALK, the saloon at Drury Lane Theatre.

MUZZLE, to fight or thrash.

MUZZLE, the mouth.

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

MY AUNT, a water-closet, or house of office.

MY LORD, a nickname given to a hunchback.

MY TULIP, a term of endearment used by the lower orders to persons and animals; “kim up, MY TULIP,” as the coster said to his donkey when thrashing him with an ash stick.

MY UNCLE, the pawnbroker,—generally used when any person questions the whereabouts of a domestic article, “Oh! only at MY UNCLE’S” is the reply. UP THE SPOUT has the same meaning.

NAB, to catch, to seize; “NAB the rust,” to take offence.—_Ancient_, fourteenth century.

NABOB, an Eastern prince, a retired Indian official,—hence a slang term for a capitalist.

NAIL, to steal, or capture; “paid on the NAIL,” _i.e._, ready money; NAILED, taken up, or caught—probably in allusion to the practice of NAILING bad money to the counter. We say “as dead as a DOOR-NAIL;”—why? _Shakespere_ has the expression in Henry IV.—

“_Falstaff._ What! is the old king dead?
_Pistol._ As nail in door.”

A correspondent thinks the expression is only alliterative humour, and compares as “_Flat as a Flounder_,” “straight as a soldier,” &c.

NAM, a policeman. Evidently _back slang_.

NAMBY PAMBY, particular, over nice, effeminate. This, I think, was of Pope’s invention, and first applied by him to the affected short-lined verses addressed by Ambrose Phillips to Lord Carteret’s infant children.—_See Johnson’s Life of Pope._

NAMUS, or NAMOUS, some one, _i.e._, “be off, somebody is coming.”—_Back slang_, but general.—_See_ VAMOS.

NANNY-SHOP, a disreputable house.

NANTEE, not any, or “I have none.” _Italian_, NIENTE, nothing.—_See_ DINARLY.

NANTEE PALAVER, no conversation, _i.e._, hold your tongue.—_Lingua Franca._—See PALAVER.

NAP, or NAB, to take, steal, or receive; “you’ll NAP it,” _i.e._, you will catch a beating!—_North_; also _old cant_.—_Bulwer’s Paul Clifford._

NAP, or NAPPER, a hat. From NAB, a hat, cap, or head.—_Old cant._

NAP ONE’S BIB, to cry, shed tears, or carry one’s point.

NAP THE REGULARS, to divide the booty.

NAP THE TEAZE, to be privately whipped in prison.

NARK, a person in the pay of the police; a common informer; one who gets his living by laying traps for publicans, &c.

NARK, to watch, or look after, “NARK the titter;” watch the girl.

NARP, a shirt.—_Scotch._

NARY ONE, provincial for NE’ER A ONE, neither.

NASTY, ill-tempered, cross-grained.

NATION, very, or exceedingly. Corruption of DAMNATION.

NATTY, pretty, neat, tidy.—_Old._

NATURAL, an idiot, a simpleton.

NECK, to swallow. NECK-OIL, drink of any kind.

NECK OR NOTHING, desperate.—_Racing phrase._

NEDDY, a life preserver.—Contraction of KENNEDY, the name of the first man, it is said in St. Giles’, who had his head broken by a poker.—_Vide Mornings at Bow Street._

NEDDY, a donkey.

NEDS, guineas. HALF-NEDS, half-guineas.

NED STOKES, the four of spades.—_North Hants._—_See Gentleman’s Magazine_ for 1791, p. 141.

NEEDFUL, money, cash.

NEEDY, a nightly lodger, or tramp.

NEEDY MIZZLER, a shabby person; a tramp who runs away without paying for his lodging.

NESTS, varieties.—_Old_.

NEVER-TRUST-ME, an ordinary phrase with low Londoners, and common in Shakespere’s time, _vide Twelfth Night_. It is generally used instead of an oath, calling vengeance on the asseverator, if such and such does not come to pass.

NEWGATE FRINGE, or FRILL, the collar of beard worn under the chin; so called from its occupying the position of the rope when Jack Ketch operates. Another name for it is a TYBURN COLLAR.

NEWGATE KNOCKER, the term given to the lock of hair which costermongers and thieves usually twist back towards the ear. The shape is supposed to resemble the knocker on the prisoners’ door at Newgate—a resemblance that would appear to carry a rather unpleasant suggestion to the wearer. Sometimes termed a COBBLER’S KNOT, or cow-lick, which see.

NEWMARKET, in tossing halfpence, when it is agreed that the first toss shall be decisive, the play is said to be NEWMARKET.

NIBBLE, to take, or steal. NIBBLER, a petty thief.

NIBS, the master, or chief person; a man with no means but high pretensions,—a “shabby genteel.”

NICK, or OLD NICK, the evil spirit.—_Scandinavian._

NICK, to hit the mark; “he’s NICKED it,” _i.e._, won his point.

NICK-KNACK, a trifle.—Originally _cant_.

NIGGLING, trifling, or idling; taking short steps in walking.—_North._

NIL, half; half profits, &c.

NILLY-WILLY, _i.e._, _Nill ye, will ye_, whether you will or no, a familiar version of the _Latin_, NOLENS VOLENS.

NIMMING, stealing. Immediately from the _German_, NEHMEN. Motherwell, the Scotch poet, thought the old word NIM (to snatch or pick up) was derived from _nam_, _nam_, the tiny words or cries of an infant, when eating anything which pleases its little palate. A negro proverb has the word:—

“Buckra man _nam_ crab,
Crab _nam_ buckra man.”

Or, in the buckra man’s language—

“White man eat [or steal] the crab,
And the crab eats the white man.”

NINCOMPOOP, a fool, a hen pecked husband, a “Jerry Sneak.”—Corruption of _non compos mentis_.

NINE CORNS, a pipeful of tobacco.

NINES, “dressed up to the NINES,” in a showy or _recherché_ manner.

NINEPENCE, “right as NINEPENCE,” all right, right to a nicety.

NIP, to steal, take up quickly.

NIPPER, a small boy. _Old cant_ for a _boy_ cut-purse.

NIX, nothing, “NIX my doll,” synonymous with NIX. _German_, NICHTS, nothing.—_See_ MUNGARLY.

NIX! the signal word of school boys to each other that the master, or other person in authority, is approaching.

NIZZIE, a fool, a coxcomb.—_Old cant, vide Triumph of Wit_.

NOAH’S ARK, a long closely buttoned overcoat, recently in fashion. So named by _Punch_ from the similarity which it exhibits to the figure of Noah and his sons in children’s toy arks.

NOB, the head—_Pugilistic_; “BOB A NOB,” a shilling a head. _Ancient cant_, NEB. NOB is an early English word, and is used in the Romance of Kynge Alisaunder (thirteenth century) for a head; originally, no doubt, the same as _knob_.

NOB, a person of high position, a “swell,” a _nob_leman,—of which word it may be an abbreviation.—_See_ SNOB.

NOBBA, nine. _Italian_, NOVE; _Spanish_, NOVA,—the _b_ and _v_ being interchangeable, as Se_b_astópol and Se_v_astópol.

NOBBA SALTEE, ninepence. _Lingua Franca_, NOVE SOLDI.

NOBBING, collecting money; “what NOBBINGS?” _i.e._, how much have you got?

NOBBLE, to cheat, to overreach; to discover.

NOBBLERS, confederates of thimble-rigs, who play earnestly as if strangers to the “RIG,” and thus draw unsuspecting persons into a game.

NOBBY, or NOBBISH, fine or showy; NOBBILY, showily.—_See_ SNOB for derivation.

NOMMUS, be off.—_See_ NAMUS.

NO ODDS, no matter, of no consequence.—_Latimer’s sermon before Edward VI._

NOSE, a thief who turns informer, or Queen’s evidence; a spy or watch; “on the NOSE,” on the look out.

NOSE, “to pay through the NOSE,” to pay an extravagant price.

NOSE-BAGS, visitors at watering places, and houses of refreshment, who carry their own victuals.—_Term applied by waiters._

NOSE EM, or FOGUS, tobacco.

NOSER, a bloody or contused nose.—_Pugilistic._

NOUSE, comprehension, perception.—_Old_, apparently from the _Greek_, νοῦς.

NUB, a husband.

NUDDIKIN, the head.

_For Cant Numerals, see under_ SALTEE.

NURSE, a curious term lately applied to competition in omnibuses. Two omnibuses are placed on the road to NURSE, or oppose, each opposition “buss,” one before, the other behind. Of course the central or NURSED buss has very little chance, unless it happens to be a favourite with the public. NURSE, to cheat, or swindle; trustees are said to NURSE property, _i.e._, gradually eat it up themselves.

NUT, to be “off one’s NUT,” to be in liquor, or “ALL MOPS AND BROOMS.”

NUTS, to be NUTS upon anything or person is to be pleased with or fond of it; a self-satisfied man is said to be NUTS upon himself. NUTTED, taken in by a man who professed to be NUTS upon you.

NUTTY, amorous.

NYMPH OF THE PAVE (_French_, PAVÉ), a street-walker, a girl of the town.

OAK, the outer door of college rooms; to “sport one’s OAK,” to be “not at home” to visitors.—_See_ SPORT.—_University._

OBFUSCATED, intoxicated.

OBSTROPOLOUS, Cockney corruption of _obstreperous_.

OCHRE, money, generally applied to _gold_, for a very obvious reason.

O’CLOCK, or A’CLOCK, “like ONE O’CLOCK,” a favourite comparison with the lower orders, implying briskness; “to know what O’CLOCK it is,” to be wide awake, sharp, and experienced.

ODD MAN, a street or public-house game at tossing. The number of players is three. Each tosses up a coin, and if two come down head, and one tail, or _vice versâ_, the last is ODD MAN, and loses or wins as may have been agreed upon. Frequently used to victimise a “flat.” If all three be alike, then the toss goes for nothing, and the coppers are again “_skied_.”

OD DRAT IT, OD RABBIT (_Colman’s Broad Grins_), OD’S BLOOD, and all other exclamations commencing with OD, are nothing but softened or suppressed oaths. OD is a corruption of GOD, and DRAT of ROT.—_Shakespere._

OFF AND ON, vacillating; “an OFF AND ON kind of a chap,” one who is always undecided.

OFF ONE’S FEED, real or pretended want of appetite.—_Stable slang._

OFFISH, distant, not familiar.

OFFICE, “to give the OFFICE,” to give a hint dishonestly to a confederate, thereby enabling him to win a game or bet, the profits being shared.

OGLE, to look, or reconnoitre.

OGLES, eyes.—_Old cant._ _French_, ŒIL.

OIL OF PALMS, or PALM OIL, money.

OINTMENT, medical student slang for butter.

OLD GOOSEBERRY (_see_ GOOSEBERRY), OLD HARRY (query, _Old Hairy?_), OLD SCRATCH, all synonymes for the devil.

OLD GOWN, smuggled tea.

OLD HORSE, salt junk, or beef.—_Sea._

OLD TOM, gin.

OLIVER, the moon; “OLIVER don’t widdle,” _i.e._, the moon does not shine. _Nearly obsolete._—_Bulwer’s Paul Clifford._

OMEE, a master or landlord; “the OMEE of the cassey’s a nark on the pitch,” the master of the house will not let us perform. _Italian_, UOMO, a man; “UOMO DELLA CASA,” the master of the house.

ON, “to be ON,” in public-house or vulgar parlance, is synonymous with getting “tight,” or tipsy; “it’s _Saint Monday_ with him, I see he’s ON again,” _i.e._, drunk as usual, or ON _the road_ to it.

ON THE FLY, getting one’s living by thieving or other illegitimate means; the phrase is applied to men the same as ON THE LOOSE is to women.

ON THE LOOSE, obtaining a living by prostitution, in reality, on the streets. The term is applied to females only, excepting in the case of SPREES, when men carousing are sometimes said to be ON THE LOOSE.

ON THE NOSE, on the watch or look out.—_See_ NOSE.

ON THE SHELF, to be transported. With old maids it has another and very different meaning.

ON THE TILES, out all night “on the spree,” or carousing,—in allusion to the London cats on their amatory excursions.

ONE IN TEN, a parson.

ONE-ER, that which stands for ONE, a blow that requires no more. In _Dickens’_ amusing work, the “Marchioness” tells Dick Swiveller that “her missus is a ONE-ER at cards.”

ORACLE, “to work the ORACLE,” to plan, manœuvre, to succeed by a wily stratagem.

OTTER, eightpence.—_Italian_, OTTO, eight.

OTTOMY, a thin man, a skeleton, a dwarf. Vulgar pronunciation of _Anatomy_. _Shakespere_ has ’ATOMY.

OUT, a dram glass. The _habitué_ of a gin-shop, desirous of treating a brace of friends, calls for a quartern of gin and three OUTS, by which he means three glasses which will exactly contain the quartern.

OUT AND OUT, prime, excellent, of the first quality. OUT AND OUTER, “one who is of an OUT AND OUT description,” UP to anything.

An ancient MS. has this couplet, which shows the antiquity of the phrase—

“The Kyng was good alle aboute,
And she was wycked _oute and oute_.”

OUT OF COLLAR, out of place,—in allusion to servants. When in place, the term is COLLARED UP.—_Theatrical_ and _general_.

OUT ON THE LOOSE, “on the spree,” in search of adventures.

OUT ON THE PICKAROON. PICARONE is _Spanish_ for a thief, but this phrase does not necessarily mean anything dishonest, but ready for anything in the way of excitement to turn up; also to be in search of anything profitable.

OUT-SIDER, a person who does not habitually bet, or is not admitted to the “Ring.” Also, a horse whose name does not appear among the “favourites.”

OVER! or OVER THE LEFT, _i.e._, the left shoulder—a common exclamation of disbelief in what is being narrated,—implying that the results of a proposed plan will be “over the left,” _i.e._, in the wrong direction, loss instead of gain.

OWNED, a canting expression used by the ultra-Evangelicals when a popular preacher makes many converts. The converts themselves are called his “SEALS.”

P’s AND Q’s, particular points, precise behaviour; “mind your P’S AND Q’S,” be very careful. Originating, according to some, from the similarity of p’s and q’s in the hornbook alphabet, and therefore the warning of an old dame to her pupils; or, according to others, of a French dancing master to his pupils, to mind their _pieds_ (feet) and _queues_ (wigs) when making a bow.

PACK, to go away; “now, then, PACK off there,” _i.e._, be off, don’t stop here any longer. _Old_, “_Make speede to flee, be_ PACKING _and awaie_.”—_Baret’s Alvearie_, 1580.

PAD, “to stand PAD,” to beg with a small piece of paper pinned on the breast, inscribed “I’m starving.”

PAD, the highway; a tramp.—_Lincolnshire._

PAD THE HOOF, to walk, not ride; “PADDING THE HOOF on the high toby,” tramping or walking on the high road.

“Trudge, plod away o’ the hoof.”

_Merry Wives_, i., 3.

PADDING KENS, or CRIBS, tramps’ and boys’ lodging houses.

PADDLE, to go or run away.—_Household Words_, No. 183.

PADDY, PAT, or PADDY WHACK, an Irishman.

“I’m PADDY WHACK, from Bally hack,
Not long ago turned soldier;
In storm and sack, in front attack,
None other can be boulder.”

_Irish Song._

PADRE, a clergyman.—_Anglo Indian._

PAL, a partner, acquaintance, friend, an accomplice. _Gipsey_, a brother.

PALAVER, to ask, or talk,—not deceitfully, as the term usually signifies; “PALAVER to the nibs for a shant of bivvy,” ask the master for a quart of beer. In this sense used by _tramps_.—Derived from _French_, PARLER.

PALL, to detect.

PALM OIL, or PALM SOAP, money.

PALMING, robbing shops by pairs,—one thief bargaining with apparent intent to purchase, whilst the other watches his opportunity to steal. An amusing example of PALMING came off some time since. A man entered a “ready made” boot and shoe shop and desired to be shown a pair of boots,—his companion staying outside and amusing himself by looking in at the window. The one who required to be fresh shod was apparently of a humble and deferential turn, for he placed his hat on the floor directly he stepped in the shop. Boot after boot was tried on until at last a fit was obtained,—when lo, forth came a man, snatched up the customer’s hat left near the door, and down the street he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Away went the customer after his hat, and Crispin, standing at the door, clapped his hands and shouted “go it, you’ll catch him,”—little thinking that it was a concerted trick, and that neither his boots nor the customer would ever return. PALMING sometimes refers to secreting money or rings in the hand.

PAM, the knave of clubs; or, in street phraseology, Lord Palmerston.

PANNAM, food, bread.—_Lingua Franca_, PANNEN; _Latin_, PANIS; _Ancient cant_, YANNAM.

PANNAM-BOUND, stopping the prison food or rations to a prisoner. PANNAM-STRUCK, very hungry.

PANNIKIN, a small pan.

PANNY, a house—public or otherwise; “flash PANNY,” a public-house used by thieves; PANNY MEN, housebreakers.

PANTILE, a hat. The term PANTILE is properly applied to the mould into which the sugar is poured which is afterwards known as “loaf sugar.” Thus, PANTILE, from whence comes the phrase “a sugar-loaf hat,” originally signified a tall, conical hat, in shape similar to that usually represented as the head gear of a bandit. From PANTILE, the more modern slang term TILE has been derived. _Halliwell_ gives PANTILE SHOP, a meeting-house.

PANTILER, a dissenting preacher. Probably from the practice of the Quakers, and many dissenters, of not removing the hat in a place of worship.

PAPER MAKERS, rag gatherers and gutter rakers—similar to the chiffonniers of Paris. Also, those men who tramp through the country, and collect rags on the pretence that they are agents to a paper mill.

PAPER WORKERS, the wandering vendors of street literature; street folk who sell ballads, dying speeches and confessions, sometimes termed RUNNING STATIONERS.

PARADIS, _French_ slang for the gallery of a theatre, “up amongst the GODS,” which see.

PARISH LANTERN, the moon.

PARNEY, rain; “dowry of PARNEY,” a quantity of rain. _Anglo-Indian_ slang from the _Hindoo_, PÃNI, water; _Gipsey_, PANÉ. Old Indian officers always call brandy and water BRANDY PAWNEE.

PASH, to strike; now corrupted to BASH, which see.—_Shakes._

PASTE-HORN, the nose. Shoemakers nickname any shopmate with a large nose “old PASTEHORN,” from the horn in which they keep their paste.

PATENT COAT, a coat with the pockets inside the skirts,—termed PATENT from the difficulty of picking them.

PATTER, a speech or discourse, a pompous street oration, a judge’s summing up, a trial. _Ancient_ word for muttering. Probably from the _Latin_, PATER NOSTER, or Lord’s Prayer. This was said, before the Reformation, in a _low voice_ by the priest, until he came to, “and lead us not into temptation,” to which the choir responded, “but deliver us from evil.” In our reformed Prayer Book this was altered, and the Lord’s Prayer directed to be said “with a _loud voice_.”—_Dr. Pusey_ takes this view of the derivation in his _Letter to the Bishop of London_, p. 78, 1851. _Scott_ uses the word twice in _Ivanhoe_ and the _Bride of Lammermoor_.

PATTER, to talk. PATTER FLASH, to speak the language of thieves, talk cant.

PATTERERS, men who cry last dying speeches, &c., in the streets, and those who help off their wares by _long harangues_ in the public thoroughfares. These men, to use their own term “are the haristocracy of the street sellers,” and despise the costermongers for their ignorance, boasting that they live by their intellect. The public, they say, do not expect to receive from them an equivalent for their money—they pay to hear them talk.—_Mayhew._ PATTERERS were formerly termed “mountebanks.”

PAWS, hands.

PAY, to beat a person, or “serve them out.” Originally a nautical term, meaning to stop the seams of a vessel with pitch (_French_, POIX); “here’s the d——l to PAY, and no pitch hot,” said when any catastrophe occurs which there is no means of averting; “to PAY over face and eyes, as the cat did the monkey;” “to PAY through the nose,” to give a ridiculous price.—whence the origin? _Shakespere_ uses PAY in the sense of to beat, or thrash.

PEACH, to inform against or betray. _Webster_ states that _impeach_ is now the modification mostly used, and that PEACH is confined principally to the conversation of thieves and the lower orders.

PEACOCK HORSE, amongst undertakers, is one with a showy tail and mane, and holds its head up well,—_che va favorreggiando_, &c., _Italian_.

PEAKING, remnants of cloth.

PECK, food; “PECK and booze,” meat and drink.—_Lincolnshire._ _Ancient cant_, PEK, meat.

PECKER, “keep your PECKER up,” _i.e._, don’t get down-hearted,—literally, keep your beak or head well up, “never say die!”

PECKISH, hungry. _Old cant_, PECKIDGE, meat.

PEEL, to strip, or disrobe.—_Pugilistic._

PEELER, a policeman; so called from Sir Robert Peel (_see_ BOBBY); properly applied to the Irish constabulary rather than the City police, the former force having been established by Sir Robert Peel.

PEEPERS, eyes; “painted PEEPERS,” eyes bruised or blackened from a blow.

PEERY, suspicious, or inquisitive.

PEG, brandy and soda water.

PEG, “to PEG away,” to strike, run, or drive away; “PEG a hack,” to drive a cab; “take down a PEG or two,” to check an arrogant or conceited person.

PEG, a shilling.—_Scotch._

PEG-TOPS, the loose trousers now in fashion, small at the ankle and swelling upwards, in imitation of the Zouave costume.

PENNY GAFFS, shops turned into temporary theatres (admission one penny), where dancing and singing take place every night. Rude pictures of the performers are arranged outside to give the front a gaudy and attractive look, and at night-time coloured lamps and transparencies are displayed to draw an audience.

PENNY-A-LINER, a contributor of local news, accidents, fires, scandal, political and fashionable gossip, club jokes, and anecdotes, to a newspaper; not regularly “on the paper;” one who is popularly believed to be paid for each contribution at the rate of a _penny a line_, and whose interest is, therefore, that his article should be horribly stuffed with epithets.

PENISULAR, or MOLL TOOLER, a female pickpocket.

PENSIONER, a man of the lowest morals who lives off the miserable earnings of a prostitute.

PEPPER, to thrash, or strike.—_Pugilistic_, but used by _Shakespere_.—_East._

PERCH, or ROOST, a resting place; “I’m off to PERCH,” _i.e._, I am going to bed.

PERSUADERS, spurs.

PESKY, an intensitive expression, implying annoyance; a PESKY, troublesome fellow. Corruption of PESTILENT?

PETER, a partridge.—_Poacher’s term._

PETER, a bundle, or valise.—_Bulwer’s Paul Clifford._

PETER, to run short, or give out.

PETERER, or PETERMAN, one who follows hackney and stage coaches, and cuts off the portmanteaus and trunks from behind.—_Nearly obsolete._ _Ancient_ term for a fisherman, still used at Gravesend.

PETTICOAT, a woman.

PEWTER, money, like TIN, used generally to signify silver; also, a pewter-pot.

PHYSOG, or PHIZ, the face. _Swift_ uses the latter. Corruption of _physiognomy_.

PIC., the Piccadilly Saloon.

PICK, “to PICK oneself up,” to recover after a beating or illness; “to PICK a man up,” “to do,” or cheat him.

PICKERS, the hands.—_Shakespere._

PICKLE, a miserable or comical position; “he is in a sad PICKLE,” said of any one who has fallen into the gutter, or got besmeared. “A PICKLE herring,” a comical fellow, a merry Andrew.—_Old._

PICKLES! gammon.

PIECE, a contemptuous term for a woman; a strumpet.—_Shakespere._

PIG, or SOW’S BABY, a sixpence.

PIG, a mass of metal,—so called from its being poured in a fluid state from a sow, which see.—_Workmen’s term._

PIG AND TINDER-BOX, the vulgar rendering of the well-known tavern sign, “_Elephant and Castle_.”

PEPPER-BOXES, the buildings of the Royal Academy and National Gallery, in Trafalgar-square. The name was first given by a wag, in allusion to the cupolas erected by Wilkins, the architect, upon the roof, and which at a distance suggest to the stranger the fact of their being enlarged PEPPER-BOXES, from their form and awkward appearance.—_See_ BOILERS.

PIGEON, a gullible or soft person. The _French_ slang, or _argot_, has the word PIGEON, dupe—“PECHON, PESCHON DE RUBY, apprenti gueux, enfant (sans doute dérobé).” The vagabonds and brigands of Spain also use the word in their _Germania_, or _Robbers’ Language_, PALOMO (pigeon), ignorant, simple.

PIGEON, or BLUEY CRACKING, breaking into empty houses and stealing lead.

PIG-HEADED, obstinate.

PIG’S WHISPER, a low or inaudible whisper; also a short space of time, synonymous with COCKSTRIDE, _i.e._, _cock’s tread_.

PIKE, to run away.

PIKE, a turnpike; “to bilk a PIKE,” to cheat the keeper of the toll-gate.

PILL, a doctor—_Military_. PILL-DRIVER, a peddling apothecary.

PIN, “to put in the PIN,” to refrain from drinking. From the ancient peg tankard, which was furnished with a row of PINS, or pegs, to regulate the amount which each person was to drink. A MERRY PIN, a roisterer.

PINCH, to steal, or cheat; also, to catch, or apprehend.

PINDARIC HEIGHTS, studying the odes of Pindar.—_Oxford._

PINK, to stab, or pierce.

PINK, the _acmé_ of perfection.—_Shakespere._

PINNERS-UP, sellers of old songs pinned against a wall, or framed canvas.

PINS, legs.

PIPE, to shed tears, or bewail; “PIPE one’s eye.”—_Sea term._

“He first began to eye his pipe,
And then to PIPE HIS EYE.”

_Old Song._

Metaphor from the boatswain’s pipe, which calls to duty.

PIPE, “to put one’s PIPE out,” to traverse his plans, “take a rise” out of him.

PIPKIN, the stomach,—properly, an earthen round-bottomed pot.—_Norwich._

PIT, a breast pocket.

PITCH, a fixed locality where a patterer can hold forth to a gaping multitude for at least some few minutes continuously; “to do a PITCH in the drag,” to perform in the street.

PITCH INTO, to fight; “PITCH INTO him, Bill,” _i.e._, give him a thrashing.

PITCH THE FORK, to tell a pitiful tale.

PITCH THE NOB, PRICK THE GARTER, which see.

PLANT, a dodge, a preconcerted swindle; a position in the street to sell from. PLANT, a swindle, may be thus described: a coster will join a party of gambling costers that he never saw before, and commence tossing. When sufficient time has elapsed to remove all suspicions of companionship, his mate will come up and commence betting on each of his PAL’S throws with those standing around. By a curious quickness of hand, a coster can make the toss tell favourably for his wagering friend, who meets him in the evening after the play is over and shares the spoil.

PLANT, to mark a person out for plunder or robbery, to conceal, or place.—_Old cant._

PLEBS, a term used to stigmatise a tradesman’s son at Westminster School. _Latin_, PLEBS, the vulgar.

PLOUGHED, drunk.—_Household Words_, No. 183. Also a _University_ term equivalent to PLUCKED.

PLUCK, the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal,—all that is PLUCKED away in connection with the windpipe, from the chest of a sheep or hog; among low persons, courage, valour, and a stout heart.—_See_ MOLLYGRUBS.

PLUCK’D-’UN, a stout or brave fellow; “he’s a rare PLUCKED-’UN,” _i.e._, dares face anything.

During the Crimean war, PLUCKY, signifying courageous, seemed likely to become a favourite term in May-Fair, even among the ladies. An eminent critic, however, who had been bred a butcher, having informed the fashionable world that in his native town the _sheep’s head_ always went with the PLUCK, the term has been gradually falling into discredit at the West End.

It has been said that a brave soldier is PLUCKY in attack, and GAME when wounded. Women are more GAME than PLUCKY.

PLUCKED, turned back at an examination.—_University._

PLUNDER, a common word in the horse trade to express profit. Also an _American_ term for baggage, luggage.

PLUM, £100,000, usually applied to the dowry of a rich heiress, or a legacy.

PLUMMY, round, sleek, jolly, or fat; excellent, very good, first rate.

PLUMPER, a single vote at an election, not a “split ticket.”

PODGY, drunk; dumpy, short and fat.

POGRAM, a dissenter, a fanatic, formalist, or humbug.

POKE, “come, none of your POKING fun at me,” _i.e._, you must not laugh at me.

POKE, a bag, or sack; “to buy a pig in a POKE,” to purchase anything without seeing it.—_Saxon._

POKER, “by the holy POKER and the tumbling Tom!” an Irish oath.

POKERS, the Cambridge slang term for the Esquire Bedels, who carry the silver maces (also called POKERS) before the Vice-Chancellor.

POKY, confined or cramped; “that corner is POKY and narrow.”—_Times_ article, 21st July, 1859.

POLE-AXE, vulgar corruption of policeman.

POLICEMAN, a fly.

POLISH OFF, to finish off anything quickly—a dinner for instance; also to finish off an adversary.—_Pugilistic._

POLL, or POLLING, one thief robbing another of part of their booty.—_Hall’s Union_, 1548.

POLL, the “ordinary degree” candidates for the B.A. Examination, who do not aspire to the “Honours” list. From the _Greek_, ὁι πόλλοι, “the many.” Some years ago, at Cambridge, Mr. Hopkins being the most celebrated “honour coach,” or private tutor for the wranglers, and Mr. Potts the principal “crammer” of the non-honour men, the latter was facetiously termed the “POLLY HOPKINS” by the undergraduates.

POLL, a prostitute; POLLED UP, living with a woman without being married to her.

POLONY, a _Bologna_ sausage.

POONA, a sovereign.—Corruption of _pound_; or from the _Lingua Franca_?

PONY, twenty-five pounds.—_Sporting._

POPS, pocket pistols.

POP, to pawn or pledge; “to POP up the spout,” to pledge at the pawnbroker’s,—an allusion to the spout up which the brokers send the ticketed articles until such times as they shall be redeemed. The spout runs from the ground floor to the wareroom at the top of the house.

POSH, a halfpenny, or trifling coin. Also a generic term for money.

POSTERIORS, a correspondent insists that the vulgar sense of this word is undoubtedly slang (Swift, I believe, first applied it as such), and remarks that it is curious the word _anterior_ has not been so abused.

POST-HORN, the nose.—_See_ PASTE-HORN.

POST-MORTEM, at Cambridge, the second examination which men who have been “plucked” have to undergo.—_University._

POT, a sixpence, _i.e._, the price of a pot or quart of half-and-half. A half crown, in medical student slang, is a FIVE-POT PIECE.

POT, “to GO TO POT,” to die; from the classic custom of putting the ashes of the dead in an urn; also, to be ruined, or broken up,—often applied to tradesmen who fail in business. GO TO POT! _i.e._, go and hang yourself, shut up and be quiet. _L’Estrange_, to PUT THE POT ON, to overcharge, or exaggerate.

POT, to finish; “don’t POT me,” term used at billiards. This word was much used by our soldiers in the Crimea, for firing at the enemy from a hole or ambush. These were called POT-SHOTS.

POT-HUNTER, a sportsman who shoots anything he comes across, having more regard to filling his bag than to the rules which regulate the sport.

POT-LUCK, just as it comes; to take POT-LUCK, _i.e._, one’s chance of a dinner,—a hearty term used to signify whatever the pot contains you are welcome to.

POT-WALLOPERS, electors in certain boroughs before the passing of the Reform Bill, whose qualification consisted in being housekeepers,—to establish which, it was only necessary to boil a pot within the limits of the borough, by the aid of any temporary erection. This implied that they were able to provide for themselves, and not necessitated to apply for parochial relief. WALLOP, a word of _Anglo Saxon_ derivation, from the same root as _wall_.

POTTED, or POTTED OUT, cabined, confined; “the patriotic member of Parliament POTTED OUT in a dusty little lodging somewhere about Bury-street.”—_Times_ article, 21st July, 1859. Also applied to burial.

POTTY, indifferent, bad looking.

POTATO TRAP, the mouth. A humorous _Hibernicism_.

POWER, a large quantity.—Formerly _Irish_, but now general; “a POWER of money.”

PRAD, a horse.

PRAD NAPPING, horse stealing.

PRANCER, a horse.—_Ancient cant._

PRICK THE GARTER, or PITCH THE NOB, a gambling and cheating game common at fairs, and generally practised by thimble riggers. It consists of a “garter” or a piece of list doubled, and then folded up tight. The bet is made upon your asserting that you can, with a pin, “prick” the point at which the garter is doubled. The garter is then unfolded, and nine times out of ten you will find that you have been deceived, and that you pricked one of the false folds. The owner of the garter, I should state, holds the ends tightly with one hand. This was, doubtless, originally a Gipsey game, and we are informed by _Brand_ that it was much practised by the Gipseys in the time of _Shakespere_. In those days, it was termed PRICKING AT THE BELT, or FAST AND LOOSE.

PRIG, a thief. Used by _Addison_ in the sense of a coxcomb. _Ancient cant_, probably from the _Saxon_, PRICC-AN, to filch, &c.—_Shakespere._ PRIG, to steal, or rob. PRIGGING, thieving. In _Scotland_ the term PRIG is used in a different sense from what it is in England. In Glasgow, or at Aberdeen, “to PRIG a salmon,” would be to cheapen it, or seek for an abatement in the price. A story is told of two Scotchmen, visitors to London, who got into sad trouble a few years ago by announcing their intention of “PRIGGING a hat” which they had espied in a fashionable manufacturer’s window, and which one of them thought he would like to possess.

PRIME PLANT, a good subject for plunder.—_See_ PLANT.

PRIMED, said of a person in that state of incipient intoxication that if he takes more drink it will become evident.

PRO, a professional.—_Theatrical._

PROG, meat, food, &c. _Johnson_ calls it “a low word.”

PROP, a gold scarf pin.

PROP-NAILER, a man who steals, or rather snatches, pins from gentlemen’s scarfs.

PROPS, crutches.

PROPER, very, exceedingly, sometimes ironically; “you are a PROPER nice fellow,” meaning a great scamp.

PROS, a water-closet. Abbreviated form of πρὸς τινα τόπον.—_Oxford University._

PROSS, breaking in, or instructing, a stage-infatuated youth.—_Theatrical._

PSALM-SMITER, a “Ranter,” one who sings at a conventicle.—_See_ BRISKET BEATER.

PUB, or PUBLIC, a public-house.

PUCKER, poor temper, difficulty, _déshabillé_.

PUCKER, or PUCKER UP, to get in a poor temper.

PUCKERING, talking privately.

PUDDING SNAMMER, one who robs a cook shop.

PUFF, to blow up, swell with praise, was declared by a writer in the _Weekly Register_, as far back as 1732, to be illegitimate.

“PUFF has become a cant word, signifying the applause set forth by
writers, &c., to increase the reputation and sale of a book, and is
an excellent stratagem to excite the curiosity of gentle readers.”

Lord Bacon, however, used the word in a similar sense a century before.

PULL, an advantage, or hold upon another; “I’ve the PULL over you,” _i.e._, you are in my power—perhaps an oblique allusion to the judicial sense.—_See the following._

PULL, to have one apprehended; “to be PULLED up,” to be taken before a magistrate.

PULL, to drink; “come, take a PULL at it,” _i.e._, drink up.

PULLEY, a confederate thief,—generally a woman.

PUMMEL, to thrash,—from POMMEL.

PUMP SHIP, to evacuate urine.—_Sea._

PURE FINDERS, street collectors of dogs’ dung.

PURL, hunting term for a fall, synonymous with FOALED, or SPILT; “he’ll get PURLED at the rails.”

PURL, a mixture of hot ale and sugar, with wormwood infused in it, a favourite morning drink to produce an appetite; sometimes with gin and spice added:—

“Two penn’orth o’ PURL—
Good ‘early PURL,’
’Gin all the world
To put your hair into a curl,
When you feel yourself queer of a mornin’.”

PUSH, a crowd.—_Old cant._

PUSSEY CATS, corruption of _Puseyites_, a name constantly, but improperly, given to the “Tractarian” party in the Church, from the Oxford Regius Professor of Hebrew, who by no means approved of the Romanising tendencies of some of its leaders.

PUT, a game at cards.

PUT THE POT ON, to bet too much upon one horse.—_Sporting._

PUT UP, to suggest, to incite, “he PUT me UP to it;” to have done with; PUT IT UP, is a vulgar answer often heard in the streets. PUT UP, to stop at an hotel or tavern for entertainment.

PUT UPON, cheated, deluded, oppressed.

PYGOSTOLE, the least irreverent of names for the peculiar “M.B.” coats worn by Tractarian curates.—

“It is true that the wicked make sport
Of our PYGOSTOLES, as we go by;
And one gownsman, in Trinity Court,
Went so far as to call me a ‘Guy,’”

QUARTEREEN, a farthing.—_Gibraltar term._ _Ital._, QUATTRINO.

QUEAN (not QUEEN), a strumpet.

QUEER, an old cant word, once in continual use as a prefix, signifying base, roguish, or worthless,—the opposite of RUM, which signified good and genuine. QUEER, in all probability, is immediately derived from the cant language. It has been mooted that it came into use from a _quære_ (?) being set before a man’s name; but it is more than probable that it was brought into this country by the Gipseys from Germany, where QUER signifies “_cross_,” or “_crooked_.” At all events, it is believed to have been first used in England as a cant word.

QUEEN BESS, the Queen of Clubs,—perhaps because that queen, history says, was of a swarthy complexion.—_North Hants._—_See Gentleman’s Magazine for 1791_, p. 141.

QUEER, “to QUEER a flat,” to puzzle or confound a “gull” or silly fellow.

“Who in a _row_ like Tom could lead the van,
_Booze_ in the _ken_, or at the _spellken_ hustle?
Who QUEER a flat,” &c.

_Don Juan_, canto xi., 19.

QUEER BAIL, worthless persons who for a consideration would stand bail for any one in court. Insolvent Jews generally performed this office, which gave rise to the term JEW-BAIL.—_See_ MOUNTERS: both nearly obsolete.

QUEER BIT-MAKERS, coiners.

QUEER SCREENS, forged bank notes.

QUEER SOFT, bad money.

QUEER STREET, “in QUEER STREET,” in difficulty or in want.

QUEER CUFFEN, a justice of the peace, or magistrate—a very ancient term, mentioned in the earliest slang dictionary.

QUERIER, a chimney-sweep who calls from house to house,—formerly termed KNULLER, which see.

QUI-HI, an English resident at Calcutta.—_Anglo Indian._

QUICK STICKS, in a hurry, rapidly; “to cut QUICK STICKS,” to be in a great hurry.

QUID, or THICK UN, a sovereign; “half a QUID,” half a sovereign; QUIDS, money generally; “QUID for a QUOD,” one good turn for another. The word is used by _Old French_ writers:—

“Des testamens qu’on dit le maistre
De mon fait n’aura QUID ne QUOD.”

_Grand Testament de Villon._

QUID, a small piece of tobacco—one mouthful. _Quid est hoc?_ asked one, tapping the swelled cheek of another; _hoc est quid_, promptly replied the other, exhibiting at the same time “a chaw” of the weed. Probably a corruption of CUD.

QUIET, “on the QUIET,” clandestinely, so as to avoid observation, “under the rose.”

QUILL-DRIVER, a scrivener, a clerk—satirical phrase similar to STEEL BAR-DRIVER, a tailor.

QUILT, to thrash, or beat.

QUISBY, bankrupt, poverty stricken.—_Ho. Words_, No. 183.

QUIZ, a prying person, an odd fellow. _Oxford slang_; lately admitted into dictionaries. Not noticed by _Johnson_.

QUIZ, to pry, or joke.

QUIZZICAL, jocose, humorous.

QUOCKERWODGER, a wooden toy figure, which, when pulled by a string, jerks its limbs about. The term is used in a slang sense to signify a pseudo-politician, one whose strings of action are pulled by somebody else.—_West._

QUOD, a prison, or lock up; QUODDED, put in prison. A slang expression used by Mr. Hughes, in _Tom Brown’s Schooldays_ (Macmillan’s Magazine, January, 1860), throws some light upon the origin of this now very common street term:—“Flogged or whipped in QUAD,” says the delineator of student life, in allusion to chastisement inflicted within the _Quadrangle_ of a college. Quadrangle is the term given to the prison inclosure within which culprits are allowed to walk, and where whippings were formerly inflicted. Quadrangle also represents a building of four sides; and to be “within FOUR WALLS,” or prison, is the frequent slang lamentation of unlucky vagabonds.

RABBIT, when a person gets the worst of a bargain he is said “to have bought the RABBIT.”

RACKET, a dodge, manœuvre, exhibition; a disturbance.

RACKETY, wild or noisy.

RACKS, the bones of a dead horse. Term used by horse slaughterers.

RACLAN, a married woman.—_Gipsey._

RAFE, or RALPH, a pawnbroker’s duplicate.—_Norwich._

RAG, to divide or share; “let’s RAG IT,” or GO RAGS, _i.e._, share it equally between us.—_Norwich._

RAGAMUFFIN, a tattered vagabond, a tatterdemalion.

RAG SPLAWGER, a rich man.

RAGS, bank notes.

RAG-SHOP, a bank.

RAIN NAPPER, umbrella.

RAISE THE WIND, to obtain credit, or money—generally by pawning or selling off property.

RAMP, to thieve or rob with violence.

RAMPSMAN, a highway robber who uses violence when necessary.

RAMSHACKLE, to shatter as with a battering ram; RAMSHACKLED, knocked about, as standing corn is after a high wind. Corrupted from _ram-shatter_, or possibly from _ransack_.

RANDOM, three horses driven in line, a very appropriate term.—_See_ TANDEM.

RANDY, rampant, violent, warm, amorous. _North_, RANDY-BEGGAR, a gipsey tinker.

RAN-TAN, “on the RAN-TAN,” drunk.—_Ho. Words_, No. 183.

RANTIPOLE, a wild noisy fellow.

RAP, a halfpenny; frequently used generically for money, thus: “I hav’nt a RAP,” _i.e._, I have no money whatever; “I don’t care a RAP,” &c. Originally a species of counterfeit coin used for small change in _Ireland_, against the use of which a proclamation was issued, 5th May, 1737. Small copper or base metal coins are still called RAPPEN in the Swiss cantons. Irish robbers are called RAPPAREES.

RAP, to utter; “he RAPPED out a volley of oaths.”

RAPPING, enormous; “a RAPPING big lie.”

RAPSCALLION, a low tattered wretch.

RAT, a sneak, an informer, a turn-coat, one who changes his party for interest. The late Sir Robert Peel was called the RAT, or the TAMWORTH RATCATCHER, for altering his views on the Roman Catholic question. From rats deserting vessels about to sink.

RAT, term amongst printers to denote one who works under price. _Old cant_ for a clergyman.

RATHER! a ridiculous street exclamation synonymous with yes; “do you like fried chickens?” “RATHER!” “are you going out of town?” “RATHER!”

RATHER OF THE RATHEREST, a phrase applied to anything slightly in excess or defect.

RATTLECAP, an unsteady, volatile person.

RATTLER, a cab, coach, or cart.—_Old cant._

RATTLERS, a railway; “on the RATTLERS to the stretchers,” _i.e._, going to the races by railway.

RAW, uninitiated; a novice.—_Old._ Frequently a JOHNNY RAW.

RAW, a tender point, a foible; “to touch a man up on the RAW” is to irritate one by alluding to, or joking him on, anything on which he is peculiarly susceptible or “thin-skinned.”

READER, a pocket-book; “give it him for his READER,” _i.e._, rob him of his pocket-book.—_Old cant._

READY, or READY GILT (properly GELT), money. Used by _Arbuthnot_, “Lord Strut was not very _flush_ in READY.”

REAM, good or genuine. From the _Old cant_, RUM.

REAM-BLOAK, a good man.

RECENT INCISION, the busy thoroughfare on the Surrey side of the Thames, known by sober people as the NEW CUT.

REDGE, gold.

RED HERRING, a soldier.

RED LANE, the throat.

RED LINER, an officer of the Mendicity Society.

RED RAG, the tongue.

REGULARS, a thief’s share of the plunder. “They were quarrelling about the REGULARS.”—_Times_, 8th January, 1856.

RELIEVING OFFICER, a significant term for a father.—_Univ._

RENCH, vulgar pronunciation of RINSE. “_Wrench_ your mouth out,” said a fashionable dentist one day.—_North._

RE-RAW, “on the RE-RAW,” tipsy or drunk.—_Household Words_, No. 183.

RHINO, ready money.

RHINOCERAL, rich, wealthy, abounding in RHINO.

RIB, a wife.—_North._

RIBBONS, the reins.—_Middlesex._

RIBROAST, to beat till the ribs are sore.—_Old_; but still in use:—

“And he departs, not meanly boasting
Of his magnificent RIBROASTING.”—_Hudibras._

RICH, spicy; also used in the sense of “too much of a good thing;” “a RICH idea,” one too absurd or unreasonable to be adopted.

RIDE, “to RIDE THE HIGH HORSE,” or RIDE ROUGH-SHOD over one, to be overbearing or oppressive; to RIDE THE BLACK DONKEY, to be in an ill humour.

RIDER, in a University examination, a problem or question appended to another, as directly arising from or dependent on it;—beginning to be generally used for any corollary or position which naturally arises from any previous statement or evidence.

RIG, a trick, “spree,” or performance; “run a RIG,” to play a trick—_Gipsey_; “RIG the market,” in reality to play tricks with it,—a mercantile slang phrase often used in the newspapers.

RIGGED, “well RIGGED,” well dressed.—_Old slang_, in use 1736.—_See Bailey’s Dictionary._—_Sea._

RIGHT AS NINEPENCE, quite right, exactly right.

RIGHTS, “to have one to RIGHTS,” to be even with him, to serve him out.

RIGMAROLE, a prolix story.

RILE, to offend, to render very cross, irritated, or vexed. Properly, to render liquor turbid.—_Norfolk._

RING, a generic term given to horse-racing and pugilism,—the latter is sometimes termed the PRIZE-RING. From the practice of forming the crowd into a _ring_ around the combatants, or outside the race-course.

RING, “to go through the RING,” to take advantage of the Insolvency Act, or be _whitewashed_.

RING DROPPING, _see_ FAWNEY.

RINGING CASTORS, changing hats.

RINGING THE CHANGES, changing bad money for good.

RIP, a rake; “an old RIP,” an old libertine, or debauchee. Corruption of _Reprobate_. A person reading the letters R. I. P. (_Requiescat in Pace_) on the top of a tombstone as one word, said, soliloquising, “Rip! well, he was an old RIP, and no mistake.”—_Cuthbert Bede._

RIPPER, a first-rate man or article.—_Provincial._

RIPPING, excellent, very good.

RISE, “to take a RISE out of a person,” to mortify, outwit, or cheat him, by superior cunning.

RISE (or RAISE) A BARNEY, to collect a mob.

ROARER, a broken-winded horse.

ROARING TRADE, a very successful business.

ROAST, to expose a person to a running fire of jokes at his expense from a whole company, in his presence. QUIZZING is done by a single person only.

ROCK A LOW, an overcoat. Corruption of the _French_ ROQUELAURE.

ROCKED, “he’s only HALF-ROCKED,” _i.e._, half witted.

ROLL OF SNOW, a piece of Irish linen.

ROMANY, a Gipsey, or the Gipsey language; the speech of the Roma or Zincali.—_Spanish Gipsey._

ROOK, a clergyman, not only from his black attire, but also, perhaps, from the old nursery favourite, the _History of Cock Robin_.

“I, says the ROOK,
With my little book,
I’ll be the parson.”

ROOK, a cheat, or tricky gambler; the opposite of PIGEON.—_Old._

ROOKERY, a low neighbourhood inhabited by dirty Irish and thieves—as ST. GILES’ ROOKERY.—_Old._ In _Military slang_ that part of the barracks occupied by subalterns, often by no means a pattern of good order.

ROOKY, rascally, rakish, scampish.