Chapter XIV: Part 14

1883. Miss Braddon, Golden Calf, ch. vii. ‘Yes, and you saw much of
each other, and you became heart-friends,’ gushed Miss Wolf,
beaming benevolently at Brian.

Gusher, subs. (colloquial).—A practitioner of gush (q.v.). Also Gushington.

1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. vi., p. 66 (1873). The
enthusiastic gusher who flings his or herself upon our necks, and
insists upon sharing our sorrow.

1882. Miss Braddon, Mount Royal, ch. viii. ‘But, surely there is
nothing improper in the play, dear Lady Cumberbridge,’ exclaimed
the eldest gusher, too long in society to shrink from sifting any
question of that kind.

Gushing, adj. (colloquial).—Extravagant; affected or irrational in expression; demonstratively affectionate. Also Gushingly.

1864. ‘The Campaigner’ (No. XVI.), in Fraser’s Mag., p. 627. Donald
did not belong to what, in the slang of translated Cockneys, is
called the Gushing School.

1864. Punch’s Almanack, ‘Our Growling Bard.’ Some, I admit, are
Milingtary Dears, As gushing ladies say, and some are Muffs.

1872. Sunday Times, 18 Aug. This however, was no surprise to the
plaintiff, it having been understood from the first that the
parties being past the gushing age the letters between them should
be of a business character.

1880. Ouida, Moths, ch. viii. Your heroics count for nothing. All
girls of sixteen are gushing and silly.

1883. Hargrave Jennings, quoted in Saturday Review, 28 Apr., p.
536, c. 1. Women are not the gushingly credulous creatures that man
in his constant condescension and in his appreciation of himself
would deem.

1884. F. Anstey, Giant’s Robe, ch. xx. ‘It’s not precisely
gushing,’ he said to himself, ‘but she couldn’t very well say more
just yet.’

Gusset, subs. (common).—Generic for the female sex. Thus, Brother (or Knight, or Squire) of the Gusset = a pimp; Gussetting = wenching; Gusseteer = a wencher; etc.

Gusset of the Arse, subs. phr. (common).—The inside edge of the buttocks.

d. 1796. Burns, Merry Muses, pp. 99–100. An’ he grippit her fast by
the gusset of her arse.

Gut, subs. (vulgar).—The vice or habit of gluttony; the belly [as opposed to the Groin (q.v.).]

2. in. pl. (common).—The stomach and intestines.

1609. Dekker, Gul’s Horne-Booke, chap. ii. The Neapolitan will
(like Derick, the hangman) embrace you with one arme, and rip your
guts with the other.

1640. Rawlins, The Rebellion, iii. (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed.,
1875, xiv., 48). Thou hast a gut could swallow a peck loaf.

1661. Brome, Poems, ‘A Satire on the Rebellion.’ The grumbling
guts, the belly of the State.

1713. Bentley, On Free Thinking, sect. 53. What then was our
writer’s soul? Was it brain or guts?

1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, bk. iv., c. 1. But so it was that
the knife, missing these noble parts (the noblest of many) the
guts, perforated only the hollow of his belly.

1787. Burns, Death and Dr. Hornbook, st. 27. A countra Laird had
ta’en the batts, Or some curmurring in his guts.

3. in. pl. (old).—A fat man; a forty-guts (q.v.). Also Guts-and-garbage. More Guts (also More Balls) than Brains = a fool.

1598. Shakspeare, Henry IV., pt. 1, ii., 2. Peace, ye fat-guts.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Gutts, a very fat gross Person.

4. (artists’ and colloquial).—Spirit; quality; a touch of force, or energy, or fire: e.g., a picture, a book, an actor. With guts = a strong thing. Put your guts into it (aquatic) = Row the very best you can. He (or it) has no guts in him (or it) = He (or it) is a common rotter (q.v.). Hence, Gutsy, adj. = having guts, and Gutsiness, subs. = the condition of being gutsy.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation, I. The fellow’s well enough if he
had any guts in his brain.

1893. Pall Mall Budget. No. 1292 (June 29), 1906. The body of the
cigar, or what might vulgarly be called the guts.

Verb (vulgar).—1. To plunder, or take out all or most of the contents (i.e., intestines) of a place or thing; to drain; to ‘clean out’: e.g., to gut a house (thieves’) = to rifle it; to gut an oyster = to eat it; to gut a book = to empty it of interesting matter; to gut a quart pot = to drain at a draught. Whence, Gutted = dead-broke.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 1. Whether diddling your subjects or
gutting their jobs.

1849–61. Macaulay, Hist. of England. The king’s printing-house ...
was, to use a coarse metaphor, which then for the first time came
into fashion, completely gutted.

1892. R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, The Wrecker, p. 373. Well,
we’ve got the guts out of you!

2. (schools’).—To eat hard, fast, and badly. For synonyms, see Wolf.

To fret one’s guts, verb. phr. (common).—To worry.

To have plenty of guts but no bowels, verb. phr. (common).—To be unfeeling, hard, merciless.

My great guts are ready to eat my little ones, phr. (old).—‘I am very hungry.’ Also, my guts begin to think my throat’s cut; my guts curse my teeth; and my guts chime twelve.—Grose.

Not fit to carry guts to a bear, phr. (common).—To be worthless; absolutely unmannerly; unfit for human food (q.v.).

Gut-entrance, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. Also front-gut. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Gut-foundered, adj. (old).—Exceedingly hungry.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Gut-pudding, subs. (old).—A sausage.—Nomenclator (1696). For synonyms, see Mysteries.

Gut-puller, subs. (common).—A poulterer; a chicken-butcher (q.v.).

Gut-scraper, subs. (common).—A fiddler. Also catgut scraper, and tormentor of catgut. For synonyms, see Rosin-the-bow.

1719. Durfey, Pills, ii., 218. ‘A Song’ etc. Strike up, drowsie
gut-scrapers.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1785. Burns, Jolly Beggars. Her charms had struck a sturdy Caird,
As weel’s a poor gut-scraper.

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 192 (ed. 1864). Make ready
there, you gut-scrapers, you shawm-shavers; I’ll put your lungs in
play for you presently. In the mean time—charge, pals, charge—a
toast, a toast!

1834. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xxxi. ‘You may save yourself the
trouble, you dingy gut-scraper,’ replied O’Brien [addressing a
fiddler].

Gut-stick, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick and Prick. To have a bit (or a taste) of the gut-stick = to copulate (of women only).

Gut-sticker, subs. phr. (venery).—A sodomite. Also gut-fucker and gut-monger. For synonyms, see Usher.

Gutter, subs. (American thieves’).—1. Porter.—Matsell. [Probably a corruption of gatter (q.v.).]

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Verb (Winchester College).—To fall in the water flat on the stomach. Fr., piquer un plat-ventre.

To lap the gutter, verb. phr. (common).—To be in the last stage of intoxication. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

Carry me out and leave me in the gutter, phr. (American).—See Carry me out.

Gutter-alley (or Lane), subs. (common).—The throat. All goes down Gutter-lane = ‘He spends all on his stomach.’

English Synonyms.—Beer Street; common sewer; drain; funnel; Gin Lane; gulf; gullet; gully-hole; gutter; Holloway; Peck Alley; Red Lane; the Red Sea; Spew Alley; swallow; thrapple; throttle; whistle.

French Synonyms.—La carafe (tramps’); la creuse (popular = Holloway); le corridor; le cornet (popular); le couloir; le lampas; la goule (popular); le gose (popular: an abbreviation of gosier: also gésier); la gargoine (thieves’); la gargarousse (thieves’ = Old Gargles); le four (popular = the oven); le fanal (popular); l’entonnoir (popular = the funnel); l’avaloir (thieves’ = the swallow).

German Synonym.—Kollert (Hanoverian).

Spanish Synonym.—La gorja.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, g. (1811), p. 81. All goeth down
Gutter Lane. That is, the throat. This proverb is applicable to
those who spend all their substance in eating and drinking.

2. (common).—A urinal. For synonyms, see Pissing-post.

Gutter-blood, subs. (common).—1. See quot. Also (2) a vulgarian; an upstart from the rabble.

1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. v. In rushed a thorough
Edinburgh gutterblood—a ragged rascal.

Gutter-chaunter, subs. (common).—A street singer.

Gutter-hotel, subs. (tramps’).—The open air. For synonyms, see Hedge-square.

Gutter-literature. See Blood-and-thunder, and Awful.

Gutter-master, subs. (old).—A term of reproach.

1607. Marston, What You Will, iii, 1. And now my soule is skipt
into a perfumer, a guttermaster.

Gutter-prowler, subs. (thieves’).—A street thief. For synonyms, see Area-sneak and Thieves.

Gutter-snipe, subs. (common).—1. A street arab. Also Gutter-slush. For synonyms, see Mudlark.

2. (American printers’).—A poster for the kerb.

3. (American Commercial).—An ‘outside’ broker who does business chiefly in the street; a kerbstone broker (q.v.). Fr., un loup-cervier.

Guttie, subs. (golfers’).—1. A gutta-percha ball.

2. (colloquial).—A glutton.—For synonyms, see Stodger.

3. (colloquial).—A forty-guts, which see for synonyms.

Guttle, verb. (vulgar).—To eat greedily; to gormandize (q.v.). Also to drink: e.g., to guttle a pint = to take off, or do, a pint; ‘He’s been guttling swipes’ = he’s been drinking beer. Hence guttler = a coarse, or greedy eater; a sturdy pot-companion: a gorger (q.v.). Cf., Thackeray’s Book of Snobs for Guttlebury Fair. See Guzzle.

1672. Lestrange, Fables, p. 260. A jolly guttling priest.

Guttle-shop, subs. (Rugby).—A pastry-cook’s; a tuck-shop (q.v.).

Guv, subs. (common).—An abbreviation of governor (q.v.).

Guy, subs. (colloquial).—1. A Fifth of November effigy; whence (2) an ill-dressed person. As in the old street cry, ‘Hollo, boys, there goes another guy!’ (an abbreviation of Guy Fawkes) = a figure of fun; a fright.

English Synonyms.—Caution; Captain Queer-nabs; chivey; comic bird; ragamuffin; sight.

French Synonyms. Un paquet (popular); une hallebarde (popular = a clothes-prop); un nippe-mal (popular); une bécasse (= a gaby); un carnavale (popular = a figure of fun).

1806. W. Burrell, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), i., 277.
A month ago there was neither shape nor make in use ... no guy ever
matched me.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. ‘The Nurse’s Story.’ Did you see
her, in short, that mud-hovel within, With her knees to her nose,
and her nose to her chin, Leering up with that queer, indescribable
grin, You’d lift up your hands in amazement and cry, ‘Well!—I never
did see such a regular guy!’

1858. G. Eliot, Janet’s Repentance, ch. vi. Ned Phipps ...
whispered that he thought the Bishop was a guy, and I certainly
remember thinking that Mr. Prendergast looked much more dignified
with his plain white surplice and black hair.

1871. Morning Advertiser, 26 Jan. There is no imperative reason why
a constable should be a guy.

3. (common).—A dark lantern. [Obviously a reminiscence of the Gunpowder Plot].

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Guy, s.v. Stow the guy, conceal the
lanthorn.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.

4. (streets).—A jaunt; an expedition.

1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 5, c. 5. There was a gee, there
was a buggy, but there wasn’t a punctual Pitcher. So a cheerful guy
to Waterloo was the game.

Verb (common).—1. To quiz; to chaff; to roast (q.v.); to josh (q.v.).

1889. Detroit Free Press, 26 Jan. His advent here created much
merriment, and the operators guyed him loud enough for him to hear
them.

2. (common).—To escape; to hedge (q.v.); to run away. Also to do a guy (which also = to give a false name). For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., xl. 500. I planned with
another boy to guy (run away).

1887. Fun, 23 Mar., p. 125. ‘Boat-race Day, as per usual,’ said the
clerk to the court, ‘they’ll all be doing guys’ (giving false
names!).

1889. Clarkson and Richardson, Police, p. 321. To run away.... Do a
guy.

1892. Punch, 24 Sept. ‘’Arry at Arrygate.’ I just did a guy.

3. (American).—To spoil; to muddle; to disfigure or distort.

1891. New York Herald, 31 May, p. 12, c. 4. Finally, I would remind
them that they are apt to guy their cause by making ‘guys’ of
themselves, and that the best way of making women a power in the
land is by encouraging them to be womanly women.

4. (theatrical).—To damn; to hiss; to slate (q.v.) or give the bird (q.v.).

Guzzle (or Guttle), subs. (vulgar).—1. An insatiable eater or drinker. For synonyms, see Stodger and Lushington respectively.

2. (vulgar).—A debauch.

1876. Hindley, Adventures of Cheap Jack, 58. Doing a guzzle with
money he earned.

3. (common).—Drink.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, Bk. II., ch. i., note. It signifies
rum-booze, as our gipsies call good-guzzle.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1698–1700. Ward, London Spy, part III., p. 47. A Pennyworth of
burnt Bread soften’d in a Mug of Porter’s guzzle.

c. 1795. Wolcot [P. Pindar], Peter’s Pension, in wks. (Dublin,
1795), vol. i., p. 484. Lo, for a little meat and guzzle, This
sneaking cur, too, takes the muzzle.

Verb. (vulgar).—1. To drink greedily, or to excess.

1607. Dekker, Westward Ho, v., 1. My master and Sir Gosling are
guzzling; they are dabbling together fathom-deep.

1693. Dryden, Persius, vi., 51. And, lavish of suspense, Quaffs,
crams, and guttles, in his own defence.

1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, Act i. His education could reach
no farther than to guzzle fat ale.

1727. Gay, Beggars Opera, i., 3. Tom Tipple, a guzzling soaking
sot, who is always too drunk to stand himself.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Guzzle (v.) to tipple, to
fuddle, to drink much and greedily.

1782. Wolcot [P. Pindar], Lyric Odes, Ode i. The poet might have
guttled till he split.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxi. Are you ... to tell me that
the aim of life is to guttle three courses and dine off silver?

Guzzle-guts, subs. (common).—A glutton; a hard drinker.—Lex. Bal. (1811). See Guzzle.

Guzzler, subs. (colloquial).—A hard drinker; a coarse, voracious feeder. See Guzzle.

a. 1760. T. Brown, Works, iii., 265 [ed. 1760]. Being an eternal
guzzler of wine, his mouth smelt like a vintner’s vault.

1841. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge, ch. xiii. To be looked upon as a
common pipe-smoker, beer-bibber, spirit-guzzler, and toss-pot.

Guzzling, subs. (vulgar).—Eating or drinking to excess; also eating or drinking in a coarse unmannerly fashion.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 28. What with snoozing, high-grubbing and
guzzling like Chloe.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. xv. There shall be no pocketing at
this table, sir. You will eat that pudding under my eye at once,
and you will stay in and write out French verbs for two days. That
will put an end to any more guzzling in the garden for a time, at
least.

Guzzum, subs. (American).—Chatter; noise. For synonyms, see Patter.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 22 Dec. ‘Now, Jerry, if yer don’t stop
yer guzzum I’ll skin yer alive!’ she exclaimed as she stood in the
door and flourished a skillet at him.

G.Y. All a G.Y., adv. phr. (North Country).—Crooked; all on one side; ‘all of a hugh.’

Gybe, subs. (old).—A written paper.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65 A gyb, a writing.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 104. His
office is to make counterfet licences, which are called gybes.

1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Gybe, any Writing or Pass.

1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, ch. xxv. He knows my gybe [pass]
as well as the jark [seal] of e’er a queer cuffin [justice of
peace] in England.

Verb (old).—1. To whip; to castigate. E.g., gybed at the cart’s arse = whipped at the cart’s tail.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Gyb’d, jerkt or whipt.

Gybing (also Gibery), subs. (old: now recognised).—Jeering.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Gyger. See Jigger.

Gymnasium, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Gyp, subs. (Cambridge University).—1. A college servant. At Oxford, a scout, at Dublin, a skip. [Etymology doubtful: according to Sat. Rev. an abbreviation of Gipsy Joe; according to Cambridge undergraduates from the Greek γύψ (gups) = a vulture; from the creature’s rapacity.]

1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. [A Cambridge college servant is called a
jip.]

1842. Tait’s Mag., Oct., ‘Reminiscences of Coll. Life.’ There is
attached to colleges and halls a person more useful than
ornamental, and better known than paid, whom Oxonians name Gyp,
from his supposed moral affinity to a vulture (γύψ). The same is in
Dublin denominated a Skip, because of the activity which is an
indispensable item in his qualifications.

1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. xii. I’ll send you in luncheon
as I go through the butteries; then, perhaps, you’d like to come
down and see the race. Ask the Gyp to tell you the way.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, p. 254. Fellow you call the gyp
wanted to make me believe you were out—thought I looked too like a
governor to be let in, I suppose.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. v. Who should we see coming
straight down on us but a Proctor with his bull-dogs (not dogs, you
know, but the strongest gyps in the college).

2. (American).—A thief. For synonyms, see Thieves.

Gypsies of Science, subs. phr. (literary.)—The British Association.

1846. Times, 5 Sept. On Thursday next, the Gipsies of Science (the
British Association) will have pitched their tents at Southampton.

Gyrotwistive, adj. (American).—Full of evasions and tricks; a ‘portmanteau word.’

Gyte, subs. (common).—1. A child; in contempt. [A corruption of goat.]

2. (Scots’).—A first year’s pupil in the Edinburgh High School.

Gyvel, subs. (Scots’ venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

d. 1796. Burns, The Merry Muses, ‘Nine Inches for a Lady,’ 33–4.
Come louse and lug your battering ram, An’ thrash him at my gyvel.

H

Haberdasher, subs. (old colloquial: now recognised).—1. A dealer in small wares; specifically (1) a hatter, and (2, humorously) a publican (i.e., a seller of tape [q.v.]). Now restricted to a retail draper.

1599. Minsheu, Dictionarie, s.v.

1632. Jonson, The Magnetic Lady, ‘Induction.’ Poetaccios,
poetasters, poetitos.... And all haberdashers of small wit.

d. 1680. Butler, Remains (1759), ii., 107. He set up haberdasher of
a small poetry.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, iii., 5. The haberdasher is the
whistler, otherwise the spirit-merchant, Jerry—and tape the
commodity he deals in.

Haberdasher of pronouns, subs. phr. (common).—A schoolmaster. For synonyms, see Bumbrusher.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Habit, subs. (old University).—See quot.

1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. Habit. College Habit, College dress,
called of old, Livery: the dress of the Master, Fellows, and
Scholars.

Hab-nab (or Hob-nob (q.v.)), adv. (old).—1. At random; promiscuously; helter-skelter; ding-dong.

1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, iii., 4. His incensement at this
moment is so great that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of
death and sepulchre. Hob-nob is his word; give’t, or take’t.

1664. Butler, Hudibras, ii., 3. Although set down hab-nab at
random.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. Hab-nab, at a Venture, Unsight,
Unseen, Hit or Miss.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

2. (old).—By hook or by crook; by fair means or foul.

1581. Lilly, Euphues, 109. Philantus determined habnab to send his
letters.

Verb (old).—To drink with; giving health for health.

1836. Horace Smith, The Tin Trumpet. ‘Address to a Mummy.’
Perchance that very hand now pinioned flat Has hob-and-nobbed with
Pharaoh glass for glass.

Hack (or Hackney), subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A person or thing let out for promiscuous use: e.g., a horse, a whore, a literary drudge. Whence (2) a coach that plies for hire; (3) (stables’) a horse for everyday use, as offered to one for a special purpose—hunting, racing, polo. (4) (Cambridge Univ.), see quot. 1803. Also Hackster.

1383. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, 16,027. His Hakeney, which that
was a pomele gris.

1540. Lyndsay, Satyre of the thrie Estaits, 3237. I may finde the
Earle of Rothus best hacknay.

1582. Hakluyt, Voyages, i., 400. There they use to put out their
women to hire as we do here hackney horses.

1594. Shakspeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost, iii., 1. The hobby-horse is
but a colt, and your love perhaps a hackney.

1594. Nashe, Unf. Traveller, 101 (Chiswick Press, 1890). Out whore,
strumpet, sixpenny hackster, away with her to prison!

1672. Ray, Proverbs. Hackney mistress, hackney maid.

1678. Butler, Hudibras, pt. iii., c. 1. That is no more than every
lover Does from his hackney-lady suffer.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. Hacks, or Hackneys, Hirelings. Ibid.,
Hackney Horses. Ibid., Hackney Scribblers. Ibid., Hackney Whores,
Common Prostitutes.

1738. Pope, Ep. to Sat. Shall each spurgall’d hackney of the day,
Or each new pension’d sycophant, pretend To break my windows?

1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, iv., 14. With wonderful alacrity he
had ended almost in an instant, and conveyed himself into a place
of safety in a hackney-coach.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hackney-writer, one who writes for
attornies or booksellers.

1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. Hacks. Hack Preachers; the common
exhibitioners at St. Mary’s, employed in the service of defaulters,
and absentees.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib. I first was hired to peg a hack.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, i., 7. A rattler is a rumbler,
otherwise a Jarvy! Better known, perhaps, by the name of a hack.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen String Jack, ii., 3. I’ll get a hack, be
off in a crack.

Verb (colloquial, football).—To kick shins. Hacking = the practice of kicking shins at football.

1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. i. I saw, too, more than
one player limp out of his path disconsolately, trying vainly to
dissemble the pain of a vicious hack.

1869. Spencer, Study of Sociology, ch. viii. p. 186 (9th ed.). And
thus, perhaps, the ‘education of a gentleman’ may rightly include
giving and receiving hacking of the shins at foot-ball.

1872. The Echo, 3 Nov. Some of the modern foot ball players have
the tips of their shoes tipped with iron, and others wear a kind of
armour or iron plate under their knicker-bockers to avoid ... what
is called hacking.

Hackle, subs. (common).—Pluck; spirit; bottom (q.v.). To show hackle = to show fight. [Hackle = a long shining feather on a cock’s neck.] Fr., avoir du foie; n’avoir pas le flubart, or avoir du poil au ciel.

Hackslaver, verb. (old).—To stammer; to splutter; to hesitate in speech.

Hackum (or Captain Hackum, or Hackster), subs. (old).—A bully; a bravo. For synonyms, see Furioso.

1657. Lady Alimony, 1, 3 (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv.,
p. 282). Vowing, like a desperate haxter that he has express
command to seize upon all our properties.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. Hackam, Fighting Fellow.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hackum, Captain Hackum, a bravo, a
slasher.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum. Hackum, a bravado, a slasher, ‘Capt.
Hackum,’ a fellow who slashes with a bowie-knife.

Had.—See Have.

Haddock, subs. (common).—1. A purse. Haddock of Beans = a purse of money. [Haddock = cod: O. Sw., Rudde; Ic., Koddi = a small bag. Cf., Codpiece.] For synonyms, see Poge.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes. Melrusio, the fish we call a
hadock, or a cod. Ibid. Metter la faua nel bacello, to put the
beane into the cod.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. xiii. ‘What’s here?’
cried he, searching the attorney’s pockets ... ‘a haddock, stuffed
with nothing, I’m thinking.’

2. in. pl. (Stock Exchange).—North of Scotland Ordinary Stock.

Haddums (or Had ’em).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew. The Spark has been at Haddums. He is
Clapt, or Poxt.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. He has been at Had’em and come home
by Clapham, said of one who has caught the venereal disease.

Hag, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A witch. Whence (2) an ugly old woman; a she-monster. Also (3) a nightmare. At Charterhouse, a female of any description; at Winchester, a matron. Hence, Hag-ridden = troubled with nightmare. Hag-born = witch-born. Hag-seed (Shakspeare, Tempest) = spawned of a witch. Hag-faced = foul-featured. In another sense, Hags = spots of firm ground in a moss or bog.

d. 1529. Skelton, Duke of Albany, Lyke a Scottish hag.

1606. Wily Beguiled (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, ix., 277).
Like to some hellish hag or some damned fiend.

1606. Shakspeare, Macbeth, iv., 1. How now, you secret, black, and
midnight Hags!

1627. Drayton, The Moon-calf (Chalmer’s English Poets, 1810, iv.,
133). The filthy hag abhoring of the light.

1632. Jonson, Magnetic Lady, v. 6. Out hag!

1637. Jonson, Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. As if you knew the sport of
witch-hunting, Or starting of a hag.

1680. Cotton, Poems, etc., ‘To Poet E.W.’ Adulterate hags, fit for
a common stew.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v.

1748. Thomson, Castle of Indolence, i., 73. Fierce fiends and Hags
of hell their only nurses were.

1773–83. Hoole, Orlando Furioso, xliii., 998. But such a Hag to
paradise conveyed, Had withered by her looks the blissful shade.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xliii. Hatteraick himself, and the
gypsy sailor, and that old hag.

1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 89. Old women were
there also, with hideous vice-stamped features, veritable hags all
of them.

Your Hagship! phr. (common).—In contempt (of women).

Hag-finder, subs. (old).—A witch finder.

1637. Jonson, Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. That I do promise, or I am no
good hag-finder.

Hagged, adj. (old, now [as Haggard] recognised).—Ugly; gaunt; hag-like.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. Hagged, Lean, Witched, Half-starved.

1716–1771. Gray, A Long Story. The ghostly prudes with Hagged face.

Haggisland, subs. (common).—Scotland.

Haggle, verb. (old, now recognised).—To bargain keenly; to stick at, or out for, trumpery points; to debate small issues.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v.

1849–61. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ch. xx. Haggling with the greedy,
making up quarrels.

Haggler, subs. (old).—Formerly a travelling merchant; a pedlar: now (in London vegetable markets) a middleman. Cf., Bummaree.

1662. Fuller, Worthies; Dorsetshire. Horses, on which Haglers used
to ride and carry their commodities.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. A Hagler, one that buys of the
Country Folks, and sells in the Market, and goes from Door to Door.

1697. Vanbrugh, Æsop, ii, 1. I’se no hagler, gadswookers; and he
that says I am—’zbud, he lies!

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 83. A
Haggler being, as I before explained, the middle-man.

Hail. To raise hail (or Ned, or Cain, or Hell), verb. phr. (American).—To make a disturbance; to kick up a row.

1888. Portland Transcript, 7 Mar. He is determined that they shall
have a clear deed to one hundred and sixty acres of land when the
question is settled, or he will raise hail.

To be hail fellow well met, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be on very easy terms: also at hail-fellow.

1574–1656. Hall’s Satires, III., i., p. 40. Now man, that erst
haile-fellow was with beast, Woxe on to weene himselfe a god at
least.

1665. Homer à la Mode. The cookes too, having done, were set At
table hay fellow well met. [Quoted by Nares].

1667–1745. Swift, My Lady’s Lamentation. Hail fellow, well met, all
dirty and wet; Find out, if you can, who’s master, who’s man.

1886. R. L. Stevenson, Kidnapped, p. 108. And at first he sings
small, and is hail-fellow-well-met with Sheamus—that’s James of the
Glens, my chieftain’s agent.

To be hailed for the last time, verb. phr. (nautical).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft.

1891. W. C. Russell, Ocean Tragedy, p. 322. He’s been hailed for
the last time.

Hair, subs. (venery).—1. The female pubes. Whence (2) generic for the sex: e.g., after hair = in quest of a woman; plenty of hair = lots of girls; hair to sell = a woman with a price; hair-monger = a wencher; bit of hair = the sexual favour. For synonyms, see Fleece.

To go against the Hair, verb. phr. (old colloquial).—To go against the grain, or contrary to nature. [From the texture of furs.]

1589. Nashe, Martin’s Months Minde (Grosart), i., 188. For hee euer
went against the haire.

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives, ii., 3. If you should fight, you go
against the hair of your professions.

1661. Middleton, Mayor of Queenborough, C. P. xi., 122. Books in
women’s hands are as much against the hair, methinks, as to see men
wear stomachers, Or night-railes.

Both of a Hair, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Very much alike. Also, two of a trade, and two in a tale.

Not worth a Hair, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Utterly worthless. Cf., Cent, Rap, Dump, etc.

To a Hair, adv. phr.—(colloquial).—Exactly; to a nicety. Cf., To fit to a Hair = to fit perfectly.

1697. Vanbrugh, Æsop, i, 1. Here was a young gentlewoman but just
now pencilled me out to a hair.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation. Miss. Well I love a Lyar with all
my Heart; and you fit me to a hair.

1891. W. C. Russell, Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. The fellow fits my
temper to a hair.

To split Hairs, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To cavil about trifles; to quibble; to be over-nice in argument.

1693. Congreve, Old Bachelor, ii., 2. Now, I must speak; it will
split a hair by the Lord Harry.

Suit of Hair, subs. phr. (American).—A head of hair (q.v.).

To raise (or lift) Hair, verb. phr. (American).—To scalp; hence, idiomatically, to defeat; to kill. To keep one’s hair = to escape a danger.

1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 194. Kit Carson ... had
raised more hair from the red-skins than any two men in the Western
country.

1891. Gunter, Miss Nobody, p. 101. If you’ll take the chances of
keeping your hair.

To comb one’s Hair, verb. phr. (common).—To castigate; to monkey (q.v.). See Comb one’s Hair, ante.

To hold (or keep) one’s Hair (or Wool) on, verb. phr. (common).—To keep one’s temper; to avoid excitement; to take easily. Also to keep one’s shirt on, or to pull down one’s jacket (or vest). Fr., être calme et inodore.

1885. Bret Harte, A Ship of ’49, ch. vi. ‘But what the devil——’
interrupted the young man impetuously. ‘Keep yer hair on!’
remonstrated the old man with dark intelligence.

1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 78. Do keep your ’air on, dear
pal.

1892. Cassell’s Sat. Jour., 5 Oct., p. 45, c. 1. ‘Who make devil’s
row like that all night?’ he asked. ‘Keep your hair on, Moses
Trinko,’ replied the reception officer, cheerily.

A Hair of the Black Bear (or B’ar), subs. phr. (American).—A spice of the devil.

1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 6. Thar was old grit in him,
too, and a hair of the black b’ar at that.

To get one’s Hair Cut, verb. phr. (venery).—To visit a woman; to see a sick friend (q.v.). For synonyms, see Greens and Ride.

1892. Anstey, Model Music Hall, 154. Tommy. What, Uncle, going? The
W. U. (with assumed jauntiness). Just to get my hair cut.

To make one’s hair stand on end, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To astonish.

1697. Vanbrugh, Provoked Wife, lv., 4. It’s well you are come: I’m
so frightened, my hair stands on end.

1886. J. S. Winter, Army Society, ch. iii. If I were to tell you
some incidents of my life since you and I last met, I should make
your hair stand on end.

A Hair of the Dog that Bit you, subs. phr. (common).—A ‘pick-me-up’ after a debauch. [Apparently a memory of the superstition, which was and still is common, that, being bitten by a dog, one cannot do better than pluck a handful of hair from him, and lay it on the wound. Also figuratively, see quot. 1888.]

1531. Bovilli, Prov. ii., xvi. siècle, t. i., p. 102. Du poil de la
beste qui te mordis, Ou de son sanc sera guéris.

1546. Heywood, Proverbs [1874], 79. What how fellow, thou knave, I
pray thee let me and my fellow have A haire of the dog that bit us
last night. And bitten were we bothe to the braine aright.

1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fayre, I. ’Twas a hot night with some of
us, last night, John: shall we pluck a hair of the same wolf
to-day, proctor John?

1738. Swift, Polite Convers., Dial. 2. Lady Gur. But, Sir John,
your ale is terrible strong and heady.... Sir John. Why, indeed,
it is apt to fox one; but our way is to take a hair of the same dog
next morning.

1841. Dickens, B. Rudge, ch. lii. Put a good face upon it, and
drink again. Another hair of the dog that bit you, captain!

1888. Detroit Free Press. ‘Talk of the Day,’ 3 Nov. Travis.—‘Hello,
De Smith! You’re looking better than I expected. I understood that
you were completely crushed by that love affair. How did you
recover?’ De Smith.—‘Hair of the dog that bit me. Fell in love with
another girl.’

Hair-butcher, subs. (American).—A barber. For synonyms, see Nob-thatcher.

1888. Puck’s Library, May, p. 15. ’Oi ’m wullin’ thot bloomin’
hair-butcher shud have a fit, av he wants.

Hair-court, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable. To take a turn in Hair-court = to copulate.

Hair-divider (or -splitter), subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick and Prick. Also Beard-splitter.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Hair-splitter, a man’s yard.

Hair-pin, subs. (American).—An individual, male or female: e.g., That’s the sort of hair-pin I am = that’s my style.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. ‘That’s the kind of hairpins we
are,’ said the enthusiastic swain.

Hairy, adj. (Oxford University).—1. Difficult.

d. 1861. Arthur Clough, Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence
we return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason, Three weeks
hence unbury Thicksides and hairy Aldrich.

1864. The Press, 12 Nov. Hairy for difficult is a characteristic
epithet.

2. (colloquial).—Splendid; famous; conspicuous; uncommon.

1892. Rudyard Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads. ‘The Sons of the
Widow.’ Did you hear of the Widow of Windsor with a hairy gold
crown on her head?

3. (venery).—Desirable; full of sex; fuckable (q.v.). [Said only of women: e.g., Hairy Bit = an amorous and taking wench.] See Hair.

To feel hairy, verb. phr. (venery).—To be inclined for coition; to have a must (q.v.).

Hairyfordshire, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. To go to Hairyfordshire = to copulate. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Hairy-oracle (or -ring), subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. Working the hairy-oracle = wenching. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Halbert. To get the halbert, verb. phr. (old military).—To rise to sergeant’s rank. [The weapon was carried by sergeants of foot.] To be brought to the halberts = to be flogged; to carry the halbert in one’s face = to show that one rose from the ranks (of officers in commission).

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Half. It’s half past kissing time and time to kiss again. phr. (common).—The retort impudent (to females) when asked the time. A snatch from a ballad. [In Swift (Polite Conversation) = an hour past hanging time.]

Half-a-crack (or jiffy, or tick).—Half a second.

Half-and-half, subs. (colloquial).—Equal quantities of ale and porter; Cf., Four-half and Drinks.

1824. Reynolds, Peter Corcoran, 41. Over my gentle half-and-half.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 111. We were never tired of
wondering how the hackney-coachmen on the opposite stand could ...
drink pots of half-and-half so near the last drop.

1841. Albert Smith (in Punch). ‘The Physiology of the London
Medical Student.’ Half-and-half ... is ... ale and porter, the
proportion of the porter increasing in an inverse ratio to the
respectability of the public house you get it from.

1854. Martin and Aytoun, Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘My Wife’s Cousin.’
Half-and-half goes down before him, Gurgling from the pewter-pot;
And he moves a counter motion For a glass of something hot.

1872. Fun, July. ‘The Right Tap.’ If the lever, meaning a plumper,
were labelled ‘stout,’ and those recording a split vote half and
half, the illusion would be complete.

Adj. (common).—Half-drunk; half-on (q.v.). For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London. Half and half, half seas over,
tipsy.

Half-and-half-coves (or men, boys, etc.), subs. (old).—Cheap or linsey-woolsey dandies; half-bucks (q.v.) and half-tigers (q.v.).

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, i., 7. Jerry. The half-and-half
coves are somewhat different from the swaddies, and gay tyke boys,
at the dog pit—Eh, Tom?

Half-an-eye. To see with half an eye, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To discern readily; to be quick at conclusions.

Half-baked (or Soft-baked), adj. (common).—Halfwitted; cracked; soft (q.v.); doughy (q.v.); also half-rocked (q.v.). For synonyms, see Apartments and Tile Loose. Fr., n’avoir pas la tête bien cuite.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ii., 221. He must scheme forsooth,
this half-baked Scotch cake! He must hold off and on, and be
cautious, and wait the result, and try conclusions with me, this
lump of natural dough!

1857. C. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, ch. iv. ‘A sort of half-baked
body,’ said Kate.

1886. W. Besant, Children of Gibeon, Bk. II., ch. xiv. A daughter
of seventeen not quite right in her head—half-baked, to use the
popular and feeling expression.

1890. Answers, Xmas No., p. 19, c. 3. ‘You needn’t be so crusty,’
said Todkins to his better half. ‘Better be a little crusty than
not half-baked,’ was the reply of his amiable spouse.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., p. 2, c. 3. Mr. Vane Tempest as
serenest of half-baked cynics, and Mr. H. Vincent as most credulous
of bibulous optimists.

Half-breed, subs. (American political).—A nick-name applied to certain New York Republicans, who wavered in their allegiance during an election to the Senate in 1881.—Norton.

Half-cocked, adv. (common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

1887. H. Smart, Saddle and Sabre, ch. xvii. ‘Black Bill,’ as he was
called by his brother jockeys, was very often half-cocked when he
got up to ride.... The man could ride as well half-drunk as sober.

To go off at half-cock (or half-cocked), verb. phr. 1. (sporting).—To fail through hasty and ill considered endeavours; and 2. (venery) = to ejaculate before completing erection.

1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers [Wk. 1891], p. 231. Now don’t go off
half-cock: folks never gains By usin’ pepper-sarse instid o’
brains.

Half-cracked, adv. (common).—Lacking in intelligence. See Apartments and Tile Loose.

1887. W. P. Frith, Autobiog., i., 129. Who was what is vulgarly
called half-cracked.

Half-crown Word, subs. phr. (common).—1. A difficult or uncommon vocable; a jaw-breaker (q.v.) or crack-jaw. Also (tailors’) = a sleeveboard (q.v.).

Half-crowner, subs. (booksellers’).—A publication costing 2s. 6d.

Half-cut, adv. (common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

Half-fly Flat, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A thief’s jackal; a man (or woman) hired to do rough or dirty work.

Half-grown Shad, subs. phr. (American).—A dolt. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

1838. Neal, Charcoal Sketches. No more interlect than a half-grown
shad.

Half Laugh and Purser’s Grin, subs. phr. (nautical).—A sneer; a half-and-half meaning.—Clark Russell.

Halflings, adj. (Scots’).—Betwixt and between. [Usually said of a boy or girl just leaving childhood.]

1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, xi. In my youth, nay, when I was
a hafflins callant.

Half-man, subs. (nautical).—A landsman rated as A.B.

Half-marrow, subs. (old Scots’).—1. A faithless spouse; also a parcel husband or wife.

1600–61. Rutherford, Letters, i., 123. Plead with your
harlot-mother, who hath been a treacherous half-marrow to her
husband Jesus.

2. (nautical).—An incompetent seaman.

Half-moon, subs. (old).—1. A wig; and (2) the female pudendum. For synonyms, see Periwinkle and Monosyllable.

1611. Lodowick Barry, Ram Alley (Dodsley, Old Plays, vii., 326, ed.
1875). Is not her half-moon mine?

Half-mourning, subs. (common).—A black eye. Full-mourning = two black eyes or deep grief.

Half-nab (or nap), adv. (old).—See quot.

1791. Bampfylde-Moore Carew, Life. Half-nab—at a venture, unsight
unseen, hit or miss.

Half-on, adj. (colloquial).—Half-drunk.

Half-rocked, adv. (common).—Half-witted; silly. [From a West Country saying that all idiots are nursed bottom upwards.] See Apartments and Tile Loose.

Half-saved, adv. (common).—Weak-minded; shallow-brained. See Apartments and Tile Loose.

1834. Southey, The Doctor, ch. x. William Dove’s was not a case of
fatuity. Though all was not there, there was a great deal. He was
what is called half-saved.

1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. xlii. This groom was what they call
in the west country half-saved.

Half-screwed, adj. (common).—More or less in liquor. See Drinks and Screwed.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. ii. He was, in Kilrush phrase,
half-screwed, thereby meaning more than half tipsy.

Half-seas Over, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Loosely applied to various degrees of inebriety. Formerly = half way on one’s course, or towards attainment. For synonyms, see Screwed.

[In its specific sense Gifford says, “a corruption of the Dutch op-zee zober, ‘over-sea beer,’ a strong heady beverage introduced into Holland from England.” ‘Up-zee Freese’ is Friezeland beer. The German zauber means ‘strong beer’ and ‘bewitchment.’ Thus (1610) in Jonson, Alchemist, iv., 2. ‘I do not like the dulness of your eye, It hath a heavy cast, ’tis upsee Dutch.’ Other nautical terms = drunk are water-logged; sprung; slewed; with one’s jib well bowsed; three sheets in the wind; channels under, but see Drinks and Screwed.]

1631–1701. Dryden. I am half-seas over to death.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. Half-seas over, almost Drunk.

1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, iii., 3. Good; that’s thinking half-seas
over. One tide more brings us into port.

1714. Spectator, No. 616. The whole magistracy was pretty well
disguised before I gave them the slip. Our friend the alderman was
half-seas over before the bonfire was out.

1738. Swift, Pol. Convers., Dial. 1. You must own you had a drop in
your eye; when I left you, you were half seas over.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. ix. Who, by this time, had
entered into all the jollity of his new friends, and was indeed
more than half-seas-over.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1829. J. B. Buckstone, Billy Taylor. The public-houses will not
close till morn, And wine and spirituous liquors are so cheap, That
we can all get nicely half seas over, And see no sea at all.

1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 40. Mr. Smith, now being
more than half-seas over, became very uproarious.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xxx. It’s pay-day with the General
... and he’s a precious deal more than half-seas over.

1866. G. Eliot, Felix Holt, ch. xxviii. There’s truth in wine, and
there may be some in gin and muddy beer.... I’ve got plenty of
truth in my time out of men who were half-seas-over, but never any
that was worth a sixpence to me.

1890. Globe, 16 Apr., p. 2, c. 1. The familiar phrase half-seas
over, for example, is wanting, and for this we appear to be
indebted to the Dutch.

1892. The Cosmopolitan, Oct., p. 724. The fellow half-seas-over
everyone excuses.

Half-slewed, adj. (common).—Parcel drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed.

Half-snacks (or Half-snags), adv. phr. (colloquial).—Half-shares. See quots.

1683. Earl of Dorset, A Faithful Catalogue. She mounts the price
and goes half snack herself.

1887. Walford’s Antiquarian, p. 252. Half-snags is a corrupted form
of half snacks, i.e., half shares. If one of a party of arabs finds
any article it becomes his entire property unless his fellows say
Half-Snags, or ‘Quarter-bits,’ or ‘Some for your neighbours.’

Half-’un, subs. (common).—Half-a-glass of spirits and water; Half-a-Go (q.v.).

Half-widow, subs. (American).—A woman with a lazy and thriftless husband.

[For Half in combination, see also Bean: Borde; Bull; Case:
Century; Couter; Dollar; George; Go; Grunter; Hog; Jack; James;
Ned; Ounce; Quid; Skiv; Stretch; Tusheroon; Wheel.]

Halifax. Go to Halifax, verb. phr. (American).—Be off! go to hell (q.v.). The full text is Go to Hell, Hull, or Halifax. Cf., Bath, Blazes, Hull, Putney, etc.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (Grosart, 1883–84, p. 284). If frier
Pendela and his fellowes, had any thing to say to him, in his
admiral court of the sea, let them seek him, and neither in hull,
hell, nor halifax.

1875. Notes and Queries, 5 S., iv., p. 66. Go to Halifax. This
expression is sometimes used in the United States as a mild
substitute for a direction to go to a place not to be named to ears
polite.

Hall, subs. (fishmongers’).—1. Specifically the hall = Leadenhall Market. Cf., Garden, Lane, etc.

2. (Oxford Univ.).—Dinner. [Which is taken in College hall.] To hall = to dine.

Go and Hire a Hall. phr. (American).—A retort upon loquacious bores.

Hall by the Sea, subs. phr. (medical students’).—The Examination Hall of the conjoined Board of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. [Situate on the Embankment at the foot of Waterloo Bridge.]

Hall of Delight, subs. phr. (Australian).—A music hall.

1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 53. I thought you
coons would find your way to this hall of delight.

Hallan-shaker (or Hallen-shaker), subs. (old).—A vagabond or sturdy beggar. For synonyms, see Cadger and Mumper.

c. 1503–4. Dunbar, A General Satyre wks. (ed. David Laing, 1834),
ii., 26. Sic knavis and crakkeris to play at cartis and dyce. Sic
halland-schakkaris.

c. 1600. Montgomerie, Poems (Scottish Text Soc., 1885–7), ‘Polwart
and Montgomerie’s Flyting,’ p. 85. halland-shaker, draught-raiker,
bannock-baiker, ale-beshitten.

(?) 1642. Old Ballad. ‘Maggie Lauder.’ Right scornfully she
answered him, Begone, you Hallan-shaker.

1724. Journal from London, p. 4. Had seen me than staakin about
like a hallen-shaker, You wou’d hae taen me for a water-wraith.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. iv. I, and a wheen Hallenshakers like
mysel’.

Halliballo.—See Hulliballo.

Hallion (or Hallyon), subs. (old).—1. A rogue; a clod; a gentleman’s servant out of livery; also (2) a shrew. Cf., Hell-cat.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iv. This is a decentish hallion.

1847. Porter, Big Bear, etc., p. 69. The scoundrels! the oudacious
little hellions!

Halloo. To halloo with the under dog, verb. phr. (American).—To take the losing side.

Halo. To work the halo racket, verb. phr. (common).—To grumble; to be dissatisfied. [From the story of the Saint in Heaven who got dissatisfied with his nimbus.]

Haltersack, subs. (old).—A gallows-bird; a general term of reproach and contempt.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, Bazaro, a shifter, a conicatcher
... a haltersacke.

1619. Beaumont and Fletcher, King and no King, ii., 2. Away, you
haltersack, you.

Halves, subs. (Winchester College).—(pro. Hāves.) Half-Wellington boots, which were strictly non licet (obs.).—Notions.

To go (or cry) halves, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To take (or claim) a half share or chance. In America, at the halves.

1831. Neal, Down Easters, ch. iv., p. 45. ‘Lives by preachin’ at
the halves a sabba’-days.’ ‘Preaching at the halves—how’s that?’
‘Why don’t you know? in partnership for what’s taken arter the
sarmon’s over.’

1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, III., 122. He’ll then
again ask if anybody will go him halves.

Ham, subs. (old).—1. (in. pl.) Trousers: also Ham-cases. For synonyms, see Kicks.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Hams, Breeches.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1791. Bampfylde-Moore Carew, Life. Hams—breeches.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Hams. Pants.

2. (American).—A loafer (q.v.). Also Ham-fatter. [The American Slang Dict. says ‘A tenth-rate actor or variety performer.’]

1888. Missouri Republican, 27 Mar. Connelly ... is a good fighter,
but will allow the veriest ham to whip him, if there is any money
to be made by it.

1888. New York Herald, 29 July. The ... more prosperous
professional brother of the hamfatter.

No ham and all hominy, phr. (American).—Of indifferent quality; ‘no great shakes’; ‘all work and no play’; ‘much cry and little wool.’

Hamlet, subs. (old and American). See quots.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. Hamlet ... a High Constable.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Hamlet, a High-Constable.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hamlet, a high constable (cant).

1791. Bampfylde-Moore Carew. Hamlet, a high-constable.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Hamlet. A captain of police.

Ham-match, subs. (common).—A stand-up luncheon.

1890. Daily Telegraph, 4 Feb. At one o’clock they relieve their
exhausted frames by taking perpendicular refreshment—vulgarly
termed a ham match—at some City luncheon bar.

Hammer, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A hard-hitter: especially with the right hand, like the illustrious Hammer Lane. Also Hammerer and Hammer-man.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 33. A letter written on the occasion by
Henry Harmer, the hammerer.

1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, 93. When a man hits very hard,
chiefly with a favorite hand, his blows are said to fall like those
of a sledge-hammer. Such boxers are hammering fighters, that do not
defend their own vitals, cannot make sure of a blow, and are termed
hammerers and hammermen.

2. (common).—An unblushing lie. For synonyms, see Whopper.

Verb (pugilistic).—1. To beat; to punish (q.v.).

1887. T. E. Brown, The Doctor, p. 159. And bedad I did, and before
herself too, And hammered him well.

1891. Gunter, Miss Nobody, ch. ii. ‘Hammer him? What with?—a club?’
‘No, with my fists.’

2. (American).—To bate; to drive down (prices, etc.).

1865. Harper’s Magazine, p. 619. The chronic bears were amusing
themselves by hammering, i.e., pressing down the price of Hudsons.

3. (Stock Exchange).—To declare one a defaulter.

1885. Fortnightly Review, xxxviii., p. 578. A ‘defaulter’ has been
declared or hammered, as it is technically termed.

1888. Echo, 28 Dec. If any unfortunate member be hammered to-day or
to-morrow it will in all probability be a bear.

1890. Daily Telegraph, 1 Nov. This being the third day after the
general settlement, a defaulter who had been unable to provide cash
was hammered, and private arrangements are reported in other
quarters without resort to this extreme measure.

1891. Pall Mall Gazette, 25 July, p. 1, c. 3. But what is an
‘outside broker?’ some (possibly lady) reader may ask. Well, he may
be, and often is, a regular, who has been hammered for failing to
meet his ‘differences.’

1891. Tit Bits, 15 Aug. I need not go into the circumstances which
led to my being expelled from that honourable body, or hammered as
it is familiarly called, owing to the taps with a hammer which the
head porter gives before he officially proclaims the name of a
defaulter.

Down as a hammer, adv. phr. (common).—1. Wide-awake; knowing (q.v.); fly (q.v.).

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 45. To be down to anything is pretty much
the same as being up to it, and down as a hammer is, of course, the
intensivum of the phrase.

2. (colloquial).—Instant; peremptory; merciless. Cf., Like a thousand of bricks. Also To be down on ... like a hammer.

At (or under) the hammer, adv. phr. (auctioneers’).—For sale at auction.

That’s the hammer, verb. phr. (colloquial).—An expression of approval or assent.

To be hammers to one, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To know what one means.

To hammer out (or into), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be at pains to deceive; to reiterate; to force to hear.

1596. Ben Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, iii., 3. Now am I, for
some five and fifty reasons, hammering, hammering revenge.

1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., iii., 23. If any Scholar be in doubt,
And cannot well bring this matter about; The Blacksmith can hammer
it out.

1888. J. McCarthy and Mrs. Campbell-Praed, The Ladies’ Gallery, ch.
i. I think the chaps that are always hammering on about repentance
and atonement and forgiveness of sin have got hold of the wrong
end.

Hammer-and-Tongs, adv. phr. (common).—Very violently; ding-dong.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 108. His master and mistress
were at it hammer and tongs.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xxxv. Our ships were soon hard at
it, hammer and tongs.

1837. Marryat, Snarleyow. Ods bobs! Hammer and Tongs! long as I’ve
been to sea.

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. lx. Mr. Malone fell upon them
hammer and tongs

1862. M. E. Braddon, Lady Audley’s Secret, ch. iv. ‘I always said
the old buffer would marry,’ he muttered, after about half an
hour’s reverie. ‘Alicia and my lady, the stepmother, will go at it
hammer and tongs.’

1884. Jas. Payn, Talk of the Town, ch. xx. Both parties went at it
hammer and tongs, and hit one another anywhere and with anything.

Hammer-headed, adj. (common).—1. Oafish; stupid.

1600. Nashe, Summers Last Will (Grosart), vi., 169. A number of
rude Vulcans, vnweldy speakers, hammer-headed clownes.

2. (colloquial).—Hammer-shaped: i.e., long and narrow in the head.

1865. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, i., 9. Mr. Boffin’s equipage
consisted of a long hammer-headed old horse, formerly used in the
business ... a driver being added in the person of a long
hammer-headed young man.

Hammering, subs. (pugilistic and colloquial).—1. A beating; excessive punishment (q.v.).

2. (printers’).—Over-charging time-work (as ‘corrections’).

Hammering-trade, subs. (pugilistic).—Pugilism.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 49. The other, vast, gigantic, as if
made, express, by Nature for the hammering trade.

Hammersmith. To go to Hammersmith, verb. phr. (common).—To get a sound drubbing.

Hampered, adj. (old: now recognised).—Let or hindered; perplexed; entangled. [From Old. Eng., hamper = a fetter: see quot. 1613].

1613. Browne, Britannia’s Pastorals, bk. i., s. 7. Shackles,
shacklockes, hampers, gives and chaines.

1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

Hampstead Donkey, subs. phr. (common).—See quot. For synonyms, see Chates.

c. 1870. Daily Paper. The witness testified to the filthy state of
the linen which she wore, and also the state of the sheets. Was
told not to get into bed until she had looked for the Hampstead
donkeys. ‘Did you know what that meant?’—‘No sir, not until I
looked on the pillow and saw three’ (loud laughter). ‘Do you mean
lice?’—‘Yes, sir, I do.’

Hampstead-heath, subs. phr. (rhyming).—The teeth. For synonyms, see Grinders.

1887. Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. She’d a Grecian ‘I suppose,’ And
of Hampstead Heath two rows, In her ‘Sunny South’ that glistened
Like two pretty strings of pearls.

Hampstead-heath Sailor, subs. phr. (common).—A landlubber (q.v.); a freshwater sailor (q.v.). Fr., un marin d’eau douce or un amiral Suisse (= a Swiss admiral: Switzerland having no seaboard).

Hanced, adj. (old).—In liquor. [From Hance = ‘to elevate.’] For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

1630. Taylor, Works. I doe finde my selfe sufficiently hanced, and
that henceforth I shall acknowledge it; and that whensoever I shall
offer to bee hanced again, I shall arme my selfe with the craft of
a fox, the manners of a hogge, the wisdom of an asse, mixt with the
civility of a beare.

Hand, subs. (colloquial).—Properly a seaman; now a labourer, a workman, an agent.

1658. Phillips, New World of Words, s.v. Hand ... a Word us’d among
Mariners ... when Men are wanted to do any Labour they usually Call
for more hands.

1632–1704. Locke, Wks. A dictionary containing a natural history
requires too many hands, as well as too much time.