Chapter I

_Jabber_, to Talk thick and fast, as great Praters do, or to Chatter like a Magpye.

_Jack_, c. a Farthing, a small Bowl (the mark) to throw at, an Instrument to draw on Boots, hence Jack-boots; also a Leathern Vessel to Drink out of, and an Engine to set the Spit a going. _Jack in an Office_, of one that behaves himself Imperiously in it. _Every Jack will have a Gill_, or the Coursest He, will have as Coarse a She. _He wou’dn’t tip me Jack_, c. not a Farthing wou’d he give me.

_Jack-adams_, a Fool.

_Jack-a dandy_, a little impertinent insignificant Fellow.

_Jack Kitch_, c. the Hangman of that Name, but now all his Successors.

_Jack in a Box_, c. a Sharper, or Cheat.

_Jackanapes_, a Term of Reproach, a little sorry Whipper-snapper; also a well known waggish Beast. _As full of Tricks as a Jackanapes._

_Jack-sprat_, a Dwarf, or very little Fellow, a Hop-on-my-thumb.

_Jack at a Pinch_, a poor Hackney Parson.

_Jack-hawk_, the Male.

_Jacobites_, Zealous Sticklers for the late King _James_, and his Interest; also sham or Collar Shirts, and Hereticks _Anno_ 530, following one _Jacobus Syrus_, who held but one Will, Nature and Operation in Christ, Circumcision of both Sexes, _&c._

_Jade_, a Terme of Reproch given to Women, as _Idle Jade_, _Lazy Jade_, _Silly Jade_, _&c._ As dull Jade, tried Jade, to a heavy or over-ridden Horse.

_Jakes_, a House of Office.

_Jague_, c. a Ditch.

_Janizaries_, formerly, only the Grand Signior’s Foot Guard, chosen out of Tributary Christians, taken early from their Parents, and perverted to Mahumetanism, ever accounted their best Soldiers; but now any Prince’s or great Man’s Guards; also the Mob sometimes so called, and Bailives, Serjeants, Followers, Yeomen, Setters, and any lewd Gang depending upon others.

_Jarke_, c. a Seal.

_Jarke-men_, c. the Fourteenth Order of the Canting Tribe; also those who make Counterfeit Licences and Passes, and are well paid by the other Beggers for their Pains.

_Jarrs_, Quarrels, Disputes, Contentions.

_Jason’s Fleece_, c. a Citizen cheated of his Gold.

_Jayl-birds_, Prisoners.

_Ice-houses_, Repositories to keep Ice and Snow under Ground all Summer, as there are Conservatories to House Orange-Trees, Limes, and Myrtles in the Winter. _Break Ice in one place and it will Crack in more_, or find out one slippery Trick, and suspect another. _When the Ice is once broke_, or when the Way is open others will Follow. _Ice_ or _Icicles_, little pendulous pieces of Ice under the Eaves.

_Idioms_, Proprieties of any Speech or Language, Phrases or particular Expressions, peculiar to each Language.

_Idio-syncrasies_, peculiar Constitutions, or Affections, incident only in particular to some Temperaments, as several Sympathies and Antipathies, as different and unaccountable as the Variety of Gifts and Talents in Men.

_Jenny_, c. an Instrument to lift up a Grate, and whip any thing out of a Shop-window.

_Jesses_, short Strapps of Leather fastned to the Hawk’s Leggs.

_Jetting along_, or _out_, a Man Dancing in his Gate, or Going; also a House starting out farther than the rest in the Row.

_Jew_, any over-reaching Dealer, or hard, sharp Fellow. _He treated me like a Jew_, he used me very barbrously.

_Jews_, Brokers behind St. _Clement’s_ Church in _London_, so called by (their Brethren) the Tailers.

_Ignoramus_, Novice, or raw Fellow in any Profession; also, we are Ignorant, written by the Grand Jury upon Bills, when the Evidence is not Home, and the Party (thereupon) Discharg’d.

_Jig_, a Trick; also a well known Dance. _A Pleasant Jig_, a witty, arch Trick.

_Jigget_, (of Mutton) the Leg cut off with part of the Loin.

_Jilt_, a Tricking Whore.

_Jilted_, abused by such a one; also deceived or defeated in one’s Expectation, especially in Amours.

_Jingling_, the Noise of Carriers Horses Bells, or Ringing of Money that chinks in the Pocket.

_Jingle-boxes_, c. Leathern Jacks tipt and hung with Silver Bells formerly in use among Fuddle caps.

_Jinglers_, c. Horse-Coursers frequenting Country Fairs.

_Jingle-brains_, a Maggot-pated Fellow.

_Jiniper-Lecture_, a round scolding Bout.

_Ill fortune_, c. a Nine-pence.

_Ill-mann’d_, a Hawk not well broke, taught or train’d.

_Impost-taker_, c. one that stands by and Lends Money to the Gamester at a very high Interest or Premium.

_Implement_, Tool, a Property or Fool, easily engag’d in any (tho’ difficult or Dangerous) Enterprize.

_Importunate_, Dunning, pressing.

_Importunity of Friends_, the stale Excuse for coming out in Print, when Friends know nothing of the Matter.

_Inadvertency_, any slip or false step, for want of Thinking and Reflection.

_Inching-in_, Encroaching upon. _One of his Inches_, of his Size or Stature. _Won by Inches_, dearly or by little and little. _Give you an Inch and you’ll take an Ell_, of one that presumes much on little Encouragement.

_Incog_, for Incognito, a Man of Character or Quality concealed or in disguise.

_Incongruous_, or _an Incongruity_; Treating any Person not according to his Character, or appearing in any Country, without conforming to the Habits and Customs of the Place, as teaching a General the Art of War, talking with an Ambassador without his Language, or the help of an Interpreter, moving the Hat to _Turks_, that never stirr their Turbants, or calling for a Chair with such Nations, as sit alwaies crosse-legg’d upon Carpets.

_Indecorum_, any violation of the Measures of Congruity, in Story, Painting, or Poetry, as introducing Persons together that are not Contemporaries, and of the same Age, or representing them with Habits, Arms or Inventions, unknown to their Times, as the _Romans_ with Gunns or Drumms, which wou’d be no less Preposterous and Absurd than Painting the Noblemen of _Venice_ on Horseback, or describing the _West Indians_ before the Arrival of the _Spaniards_, with the Shipping, Horses, and Arms of the _Europeans_.

_Indulto_, his Catholic Majesty’s Permission to the Merchants to unlade the Galeons, after his Demands are adjusted.

_In his Ale_ or _Beer_, Drunk, tho’ it be by having too much of that in him.

_Iniskilling-men_, fam’d for their Prowess, in the late Irish Wars; also the Royal Regiment (of Citizens) in derision so called, soon raised, and as soon laid down.

_Inke_, the Neck from the Head to the Body of any Bird the Hawk doth prey upon.

_Inkle_, Tape. _As great at two Inkle-makers_, or as great as Cup and Cann.

_Inlayed_, _well inlayed_, at ease in his Fortune, or full of Money.

_Inmates_, Supernumeraries, who have no House or Being of their own, and yet are no Members of the House or Family they Live in, from whom they differ in the same Nature, as the Excrescences of Trees do from the Fruits either Genuin or Grafted; as Misletoe of the Oak, Galls, _&c._ differ from the Mast or Acorns.

_Insipids_, Block-heads; also things that are castless.

_Interlopers_, Hangers on, retainers to, or dependers upon other folks; also Medlers and Busy-bodies, intruders into other Men’s Professions, and those that intercept the Trade of a Company, being not legally authorized.

_Intrigues_, Finesses, Tricks of War, or State, as Court-tricks, Law-quirks, tho’ in War they are rather called Stratagems.

_Intriguing_, Plotting, Tricking, Designing, full of Tricks and Subtilties.

_Inveterate_, either Enemies that are implacable and of long continuance, or Diseases that are confirmed, deep-rooted and riveted.

_Joan_, a _homely Joan_, a Coarse Ord’nary Woman, _Joan in the Dark is as good as my Lady_, or _when the Candles are out all Cats are Gray_.

_Job_, c. a Guinea, Twenty shillings, or a Piece. _Half a Job_, c. half 3 Guinea, Ten shillings, half a Piece, or an Angel.

_Jobbers_, see Badgers, Matchmakers, Salesmen, Stock-jobbers.

_Jobbernoll_, c. a very silly Fellow.

_Jock_ or _Jockumcloy_, c. to copulate with a Woman.

_Jockum-gage_, c. a Chamberpot. _Tip me the Jockumgage_, c. give me or hand me the Member-mug. _Rum Jockum-gage_, c. a Silver-chamberpot.

_Jockeys_, rank Horse-Coursers, Race Riders; also Hucksters or Sellers of Horses, very slippery Fellows to deal with.

_Jolter-head_, a vast large Head; also Heavy and Dull. To Jolt or Shake, jolting or shaking of a Coach.

_Jordain_, c. a great Blow or Staff; also a Chamberpot. _I’ll tip him a Jordain if I transnear_, c. I will give a Blow with my Staff if I get up to him.

_Joseph_, c. a Cloak or Coat. _A Rum Joseph_, c. a good Cloak or Coat. _A Queer Joseph_, c. a coarse ord’nary Cloak or Coat; also an old or Tatter’d one.

_Irish Toyles_, c. the Twelfth Order of Canters; also Rogues carrying Pinns, Points, Laces, and such like Wares about, and under pretence of Selling them, commit Thefts and Robberies.

_Iron-doublet_, a Prison.

_Itch-land_, Wales.

_Jugglers_, Nimble and expert Fellows at Tricks, and Slights of Hand, to distinguish them from Tumblers, that perform Bodily Feats, or Feats of Activity, by playing of Tricks with the whole Body.

_Jukrum_, c. a License.

_Jumble gut lane_, any very bad or rough Road. _To Jumble_, to shake much or often.

_Justice_, _I’ll do Justice Child_, c. I will Peach or rather Impeach or Discover the whole Gang, and so save my own Bacon; also in another Sense, _I’ll do you Justice Sir_, I will Pledge you.

K

_Kate_, c. a Pick-lock. _’Tis a Rum Kate_, c. that is a Cleaver Pick-lock.

_Keel-bullies_, Lighter-men that carry Coals to and from the Ships, so called in Derision.

_Keel-hale_, to draw by a Rope tied to the Neck and fastned to a Tackle (with a jerk) quite under the Keel or bottom of the Ship.

_Keffal_, a Horse.

_Kelter_, _out of Kelter_, out of sorts.

_Ken_, c. a House. _A bob Ken_, or _a Bowman-ken_, c. a good or well Furnished House, full of Booty, worth Robbing; also a House that Harbours Rogues and Thievs. _Biting the Ken_, c. Robbing the House.

_Ken-miller_, c. a House-breaker. _Friend John_, _or sweet Tom_, _’tis a bob Ken_, _Brush upon the Sneak_, c. ’tis a good House, go in if you will but Tread softly, and mind your Business. _Now we have Bit_, c. the House is Robb’d, or the Business is done. _There’s a Cull knows us, if we don’t pike he’ll Bone us_, c. that Fellow sees us, if we don’t scour off, he will Apprehend us. _Ding him_, c. Knock him Down. _Then we’ll pike, tis all Bowman_, c. we will be gone, all is well, the Coast is clear.

_Keaping Cully_, one that Maintains a Mistress, and parts with his Money very generously to her.

_Kicks_, c. Breeches. _A high Kick_, the top of the Fashion; also singularity therein. _Tip us your Kicks, we’ll have them as well as your Loure_, c. pull off your Breeches, for we must have them as well as your Money.

_Kid_, c. a Child; also the first Year of a Roe, and a young Goat.

_Kidnapper_, c. one that Decoys or Spirits (as it is commonly called) Children away, and Sells them for the Plantations.

_Kidder_, c. see Crocker.

_Kidlay_, c. one who meeting a Prentice with a Bundle or Parcel of Goods, wheedles him by fair Words, and whipping Sixpence into his Hand, to step on a short and sham Errand for him, in the mean time Runs away with the Goods.

_Kidney_, (Beans) _French_. _Of that Kidney_, of such a Stamp. _Of a strange Kidney_, of an odd or unaccountable Humor.

_Kilkenny_, c. an old sorry Frize-Coat.

_Kill-Devil_, Rum. _Kill two Birds with one Stone_, Dispatch two Businesses at one Stroak.

_Kimbaw_, c. to Trick, Sharp, or Cheat; also to Beat severely or to Bully. _Lets Kimbaw the Cull_, c. Let’s Beat that Fellow, and get his Money (by Huffing and Bullying) from him.

_Kinchin_, c. a little Child.

_Kinchin-coes_, c. the Sixteenth Rank of the Canting Tribe, being little Children whose Parents are Dead, having been Beggers; as also young Ladds running from their Masters, who are first taught Canting, then thieving.

_Kinchin-cove_, c. a little Man.

_King’s Head Inn_, or _the Chequer Inn in Newgate-street_, c. the Prison or Newgate.

_King’s Pictures_, c. Money.

_King of all Beasts of Venery_, a Hare.

_King of the Gypsies_, the Captain, Chief, or Ring-leader of the Gang, the Master of Misrule.

_Kindly_, Fruit, or Season, towardly. _Kindness will creep where it cannot go_.

_Kinchin-morts_, c. the Twenty seventh and last Order of the Canting Crew, being Girls of a Year or two old, whom the _Morts_ (their Mothers) carry at their Backs in _Slates_ (_Sheets_) and if they have no Children of their own, they borrow or Steal them from others.

_Kissing the Maid_, an Engine in _Scotland_, and at _Halifax_ in _England_, in which the Head of the Malefactor is Laid to be Cut off, and which this way is done to a Hair, said to be invented by Earl _Morton_ who had the ill Fate to Handsel it. _Kissing goes by Favour_, I suppose another sort is meant by this Proverb than the foremention’d.

_Knack_, or Slight in any Art, the Craft or Mystery in any Trade, a petty Artifice, or Trick like those upon the Cards. _Knacks_ or Toies, _a Knack-shop_, or Toy-shop, freight with pretty Devices to pick Pockets.

_Knave in Grain_, one of the First Rate. _Knaves and Fools are the Composition of the whole World._

_Knight Errant_, the Knight or Hero in Romances, that alwaies is to Beat the Giant, and Rescue the destressed Damsel.

_Knight-Errantry_, Romantick and Fabulous Exploits, out of the common Road, and above the ordinary Size, such as the wild Adventures of wandering Knights.

_Knight of the Blade_, c. a Hector or Bully.

_Knight of the Post_, c. a Mercenary common Swearer, a Prostitute to every Cause, an Irish Evidence.

_Knight of the Road_, c. the chief High-wayman best Mounted and Armed, the Stoutest Fellow among them.

_Knobber_, see Hart.

_Knock in the Cradle_, a Fool.

_Knock-down_, very strong Ale or Beer.

_Knock off_, to give over Trading; also to Abandon or Quit one’s Post or Pretensions.

_Knowledge is no Burden. Knowledge makes one laugh, but wealth makes one dance._

_Knot_, a choice Bird, something less than a Ruff.

_Knotting_, making Fringe.