Chapter XI: Part 11

~Long-shore butcher~, a coast-guardsman.—_Sea._ All people who get their livings by the side of the Thames below bridge are called LONG-SHORE folk.

~Long-tailed beggar~, a cat. The tale that hangs thereby runs thus:—A boy, during his first very short voyage to sea, had become so entirely a seaman, that on his return he had forgotten the name of the cat, and was obliged, pointing to puss, to ask his mother “what she called that ’ere LONG-TAILED BEGGAR?” Accordingly, sailors, when they hear a freshwater tar discoursing too largely on nautical matters, are very apt to say, “But how, mate, about that ’ere LONG-TAILED BEGGAR?”

~Long-tailed-one~, a bank-note or “flimsy” for a large amount.

~Long-tails~, among shooters, are pheasants; among coursers and dog-fanciers they are greyhounds.

~Longs~, the latrine at Brasenose, so called because built by LADY LONG.—_Oxford University._

~Longs-and-shorts~, cards made for cheating.

~Looking-glass~, a facetious synonym for a _pot de chambre_. This is very old. The term arose from the fact that in ancient times this utensil was the object of very frequent examination by the medical fraternity. There is an old story of a lady who called at an inn, and called for a LOOKING-GLASS to arrange her hair, and who was presented with a chamber utensil.

~Loony~, a silly fellow, a natural. Corruption of LOONEY TICK (lunatic). Sometimes corrupted to LOOBY.

~Loose.~ _See_ ON THE LOOSE.

~Loose-box~, a brougham or other vehicle kept for the use of a _dame de compagnie_. A more vulgar appellation is “mot-cart,” the contemptuous sobriquet applied by the envious mob to a one-horse covered carriage.

~Loose-box~, a stable in which a horse is not tethered, but remains loose.

~Loot~, swag or plunder; also used as a verb. The word came much into vogue during the latest Chinese campaign.

~Lope~, this old form of leap is often heard in the streets. To LOPE is also to steal. _German_, LAUFEN.

~Lop-sided~, uneven, one side larger than the other. _See Jacob Faithful._

~Lord~, a humpbacked man. _See_ MY LORD.

~Lord~, “drunk as a LORD,” a common saying, probably referring to the facilities a man of fortune has for such a gratification; perhaps a sly sarcasm at the supposed habits of the aristocracy. This phrase had its origin in the old hard drinking days, when it was almost compulsory on a man of fashion to get drunk regularly after dinner.

~Lord-mayor’s-fool~, an imaginary personage who likes everything that is good, and plenty of it.

~Lothario~, a “gay” deceiver; generally a heartless, brainless villain.

~Loud~, flashy, showy, as applied to dress or manner. _See_ BAGS.

~Lour~, or LOWR, money; “gammy LOWR,” bad money. From the Wallachian Gipsy word, LOWE, coined money. Possibly connected with the French, LOUER, to hire.—_Ancient Cant_ and _Gipsy_.

~Louse-trap~, a small-tooth comb.—_Old Cant._ _See_ CATCH-’EM-ALIVE.

~Love~, at billiards, rackets, and many other games, nothing: five points to none would be “five LOVE,”—a LOVE game being when one player does not score at all. The term is also used at whist, “six LOVE,” “four LOVE,” when one side has marked up six, four, or any other number, and the other none. A writer in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for July, 1780, derives it either from LUFF, an old Scotch word for the hand, or from the _Dutch_, LOEF, the LOOF, weather-gauge (_Sewell’s Dutch Dictionary_, 4to, 1754); but it more probably, from the sense of the following, denotes something done without reciprocity.

~Love~, “to do a thing for LOVE,” _i.e._, for nothing. A man is said to marry for LOVE when he gets nothing with his wife; and an Irishman, with the bitterest animosity against his antagonist, will fight him for LOVE, _i.e._, for the mere satisfaction of beating him, and not for a stake.

~Loveage~, tap droppings, a mixture of stale spirits, sweetened and sold to habitual dram-drinkers, principally females. Called also “alls.”

~Low-water~, but little money in pocket, when the finances are at a low ebb.

~Lubber~, a clown, or fool.—_Ancient Cant_, LUBBARE. Among seamen an awkward fellow, a landsman.

~Lubber’s hole~, an aperture in the maintop of a ship, by which a timid climber may avoid the difficulties of the “futtock shrouds;” hence as a sea-term the LUBBER’S HOLE represents any cowardly way of evading duty.

~Luck~, “down on one’s LUCK,” wanting money, or in difficulty.

~Lucky~, “to cut one’s LUCKY,” to go away quickly. _See_ STRIKE.

~Ludlam’s dog.~ An indolent, inactive person is often said to be “as lazy as LUDLAM’S DOG, which leaned its head against the wall to bark.” Sailors say “as lazy as Joe the Marine, who laid down his musket to sneeze.”

~Lug~, “my togs are in LUG,” _i.e._, in pawn.

~Lug~, to pull, or slake thirst.—_Old._

~Lug chovey~, a pawnbroker’s shop.

~Luke~, nothing.—_North Country Cant._

~Lully~, a shirt.

~Lully prigger~, a rogue who steals wet clothes hung on lines to dry.

~Lumber~, to pawn or pledge. Probably from LOMBARD.

~Lumbered~, pawned; sometimes imprisoned.

~Lummy~, jolly, first-rate.

~Lump~, anything exceptionally large, “as a LUMP of a man,” “a great LUMP of a fellow,” &c.

~Lump~, the workhouse; also called the Pan.

~Lump it~, to dislike it; “if you don’t like it, you may LUMP IT;” sometimes varied to, “if you don’t like it, you may do the other thing.” Probably from the fact that, in bulk or in lump, the good has to be taken with the bad. What you don’t like must be reckoned with the LUMP. To LUMP IT is also to take off at a draught, as medicine or a dram. “He LUMPED IT down at once.”

~Lump the lighter~, to be transported.

~Lump work~, work contracted for, or taken by the LUMP.

~Lumper~, a contractor. On the river more especially a person who contracts to deliver a ship laden with timber.

~Lumper~, a low thief who haunts wharves and docks, and robs vessels, also a person who sells old goods as new.

~Lumpy~, intoxicated. Also used to signify _enceinte_.

~Lunan~, a girl.—_Gipsy._

~Lurch~, a term at the game of cribbage. A is said to LURCH B when the former attains the end, or sixty-first hole, of the board before the latter has pegged his thirty-first hole; or, in more familiar words, before B has turned the corner. A LURCH sometimes, and then only by agreement, counts as a double game or rub.

~Lurk~, a sham, swindle, or representation of feigned distress. An imposition of any kind is a LURK.

~Lurker~, an impostor who travels the country with false certificates of fires, shipwrecks, &c. Also, termed a SILVER BEGGAR, which _see_.

~Lush~, intoxicating drinks of all kinds, but generally used for beer. It is generally allowed, as has been stated, that LUSH and its derivatives claim Lushington, the brewer, as sponsor.

~Lush~, to drink, or get drunk.

~Lush-crib~, a public-house.

~Lushington~, a drunkard, or one who continually soaks himself with lush. Some years since there was a LUSHINGTON CLUB in Bow Street, Covent Garden.

~Lushy~, intoxicated. Johnson says, “opposite to pale,” so red with drink. He must, however, have been wrong, as the foregoing derivation shows.

~Lylo~, come hither.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Lynch-law~, summary punishment. From an American judge famous for hanging first and trying afterwards.

~Mab~, a cab, or hackney-coach.

~Mace~, to sponge, swindle, or beg, in a polite way: “give it him (a shopkeeper) on the MACE,” _i.e._, obtain goods on credit and never pay for them; also termed “striking the MACE.”

~Mace~, to welsh, to obtain money without any expectation of being able to pay or intention of paying.

~Maceman~, or MACER, a welcher, magsman, or general swindler; a “street-mugger.”

~Madza~, half. _Italian_, MEZZA. This word enters into combination with various cant phrases, mainly taken from the _Lingua Franca_, as MADZA CAROON, half-a-crown, two-and-sixpence; MADZA SALTEE, a halfpenny [_see_ SALTEE]; MADZA POONA, half-a-sovereign; MADZA ROUND THE BULL, half a pound of steak, &c. This word is, in street phraseology, invariably pronounced MEDZER.

~Mag~, a halfpenny.—_Ancient Cant_, MAKE. MEGS were formerly guineas.—_B. M. Carew._ MAKE, the old form, is still used by schoolboys in Scotland. “Not a blessed MAG!” would be the phrase of a cadger down on his luck to express his penniless state.

~Mag~, literary and printers’ slang for magazine.

~Mag~, to talk; hence MAGPIE. To MAG in thieves’ slang is to talk well and persuasively.

~Maggoty~, fanciful, fidgety. Whims and fancies were formerly termed MAGGOTS, from the popular belief that a maggot in the brain was the cause of any odd notion or caprice a person might exhibit. Deer are sometimes found to have maggots in their brains, which, perhaps, accounts for the origin of the term.

~Magsman~, a street swindler, who watches for countrymen and “gullible” persons, and persuades them out of their possessions. MAGSMEN are wonderful actors. Their work is done in broad daylight, without any stage accessories; and often a wink, a look, or a slip of the tongue would betray their confederacy. Their ability and perseverance are truly worthy of a better cause. MAGSMEN are very often men of superior education. Those who “work” the tidal trains and boats are often faultlessly dressed and highly accomplished.

~Mahcheen~, a merchant. Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Mahogany~, “to have one’s feet under another man’s MAHOGANY,” to sit at his table, be supported on other than one’s own resources; “amputate your MAHOGANY,” _i.e._, go away, elaboration of “cut your stick.”

~Mahogany flat~, a bug.

~Mail~, to post a letter; “this screeve is mailed by a sure hand.”

~Main-toby~, the highway, or the main road. _See_ TOBY.

~Make~, any one is said to be “on the MAKE” who asks too high a price for his goods, or endeavours in any way to overreach.

~Make~, to steal, a successful theft or swindle. A man on the look-out for swindling opportunities is said to be “on the MAKE.”

~Make tracks~, an Americanism synonymous with skedaddle; to make oneself scarce.

~Make-up~, personal appearance.—_Theatrical._

~Makings~, materials. A man is often said to have the MAKINGS of a good politician (or whatever he may aspire to be) in him, if they were but properly applied.

~Malapropism~, an ignorant, vulgar misapplication of language, so named from Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Sheridan’s famous comedy of the _Rivals_. Mrs. Partington afterwards succeeded to the mantle of Mrs. Malaprop; but the phrase Partingtonism is as yet uncoined, for the simple reason that Mrs. Malaprop was the original, Mrs. Partington the imitation.

~Malley~, a gardener.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Manablins~, broken victuals.

~Man a-hanging~, a man in difficulties. _See_ HANGING.

~Mandozy~, a term of endearment among East-end Jews; probably from the valiant fighter named Mendoza.

~Mang~, to talk.—_Scotch._

~Man-handle~, to use a person roughly, as to take him prisoner, turn him out of a room, or give him a beating.

~Man in the moon~, the gentleman who is supposed to find the “pieces” to pay election expenditure and electors’ expenses, so long as the latter vote his way. _See_ ELECTION INQUIRIES.

~Marbles~, furniture, movables; “money and MARBLES,” cash and personal effects.

~Marchioness~, a little, dirty, old-fashioned maid-of-all-work; a title now in regular use, but derived from the remarkable character in the _Old Curiosity Shop_.

~Mare’s nest~, a supposed discovery of marvels, which turn out no marvels at all; from a story similar to that about the cock neighing. Three Cockneys, out ruralizing, had determined to find out something about nests. Accordingly, when they ultimately came upon a dungheap, they judged by the signs therein that it must be a MARE’S NEST, especially as they could see the mare close handy. An old preacher in Cornwall up to very lately employed a different simile, as, “It’s like a cow calving up in a tree.”

~Marine~, or MARINE RECRUIT, an empty bottle. This expression having once been used in the presence of an officer of marines, he was at first inclined to take it as an insult, until some one adroitly appeased his wrath by remarking that no offence could be meant, as all that it could possibly imply was, “one who had done his duty, and was ready to do it again.”

~Mark~, to make one’s MARK is to achieve a success literary, artistic, or otherwise. Men of eminence are said to leave their MARKS on the earth’s surface. An American poet has described this ambitious, albeit somewhat rare, proceeding as leaving “footprints on the sands of time.”

~Marketeer~, a betting man who devotes himself, by means of special information, to the study of favourites, and the diseases incident to that condition of equine life. The MARKETEER is the principal agent in all milking and knocking-out arrangements.

~Market-horse~, a horse simply kept in the betting-lists for the purpose of being betted against.

~Marplot~, an officious bungler, who spoils everything he interferes with.

~Marriage lines~, a marriage certificate.—_Provincial._

~Marrow~, a mate, a fellow-workman, a pitman who works in a “shift” with another.—_Northumberland and Durham._

~Marrow-bones~, the knees; “I’ll bring him down upon his MARROW BONES,” _i.e._, I’ll make him bend his knees as he does to the Virgin Mary. Supposed to be from Mary Bones, an objectionable term used by the first Protestants in reference to the supposed adoration of the Virgin Mary by Catholics.

~Marrowskying.~ _See_ MEDICAL GREEK.

~Marry~, a very old term of asseveration, originally (in Popish times) a mode of swearing by the Virgin Mary; _q.d._, by Mary.

~Martingale~, a gambling term, which means the doubling of a stake every time you lose; so that when you win once you win back all that you have lost. So called from the fact that, as in all fair games you must win once, you have a safe hold of fortune. The difficulty is to obtain a bank large enough to do this effectively, or having the bank to find any one who will follow you far enough, in a fair game.

~Mary Ann~, the title of the dea ex machinâ evolved from trades-unionism at Sheffield, to the utter destruction of recalcitrant grinders. She is supposed to do all the “blow-ups,” steal all the bands, and otherwise terrorize over victims of the union.

~Marygold~, one million sterling. _See_ PLUM.

~Maskee~, never mind, no consequence.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Massacre of the innocents~, when the leader of the House of Commons goes through the doleful operation of devoting to extinction a number of useful measures at the end of the session, for want of time to pass them. _Vide Times_, 20th July, 1859: Mr. C. Foster, on altering the time of the legislative sessions.—_Parliamentary Slang._

~Master of the Mint~, a gardener.

~Master of the Rolls~, a baker.

~Mate~, the term a coster or low person applies to a friend, partner, or companion; “me and my MATE did so and so,” is a common phrase with a low Londoner. Originally a _sea term_.

~Matey~, a labourer in one of Her Majesty’s dockyards. Common elaboration of the word MATE.

~Maudlin~, Magdalen College, Oxford. This is the old English pronunciation of the word.

~Mauley~, a fist, that with which one strikes as with a mall.—_Pugilistic._

~Mauley~, a signature, from MAULEY, a fist; “put your fist to it,” is sometimes said by a tradesman when desiring a fellow-trader to put his signature to a bill or note.

~Maund~, to beg; “MAUNDERING on the fly,” begging of people in the streets.—_Old Cant._ MAUNG, to beg, is a term in use amongst the gipsies, and may also be found in the Hindoo vocabulary. MAUND, however, is pure Anglo-Saxon, from MAND, a basket. Compare BEG, which is derived from BAG—a curious parallel.

~Maw~, the mouth; “hold your MAW,” cease talking.

~Mawworm~, a hypocrite of the most unpleasant kind. From Bickerstaff’s play of _The Hypocrite_. Originally a MAWWORM was a worm in the stomach, the thread worm.

~Max~, gin; MAX upon tick, gin obtained upon credit.

~Mazarine~, the platform beneath the stage in large theatres. Probably corruption of _Italian_, MEZZANINO.

~M. B. coat~, (_i.e._, Mark of the Beast,) a name given to the long surtout worn by some of the clergy,—a modern Puritan form of abuse, said to have been accidentally disclosed to a High Church customer by a tailor’s orders to his foreman.

~Mealy-mouthed~, soft-spoken, plausible, deceitful. A specious liar is said to be MEALY-MOUTHED.

~Mean white~, a term of contempt among negroes, in the old slavery days, for white men without landed property. A white man in the Southern States had no _locus standi_ unless he possessed property, and the blackest of niggers would have felt insulted at any “poor white trash” claiming to be “a man and brother.”

~Measley~, mean, miserable-looking, “seedy;” “what a MEASLEY-looking man!” _i.e._, what a wretched, unhappy fellow.

~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, which has not even the recommendation of a little ability in its composition, is often termed Marrowskying. _See_ GREEK, ST. GILES’S GREEK, or the “_Ægidiac_” dialect, Language of ZIPH, &c.

~Meisensang~, a missionary, Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Menagerie~, the orchestra of a theatre.—_Theatrical._

~Menavelings~, odd money remaining after the daily accounts are made up at a railway booking-office,—usually divided among the clerks. _See_ OVERS and SHORTS.

~Men of Kent~, men born in that portion of the “garden of England” which lies east of the Medway, as distinguished from Kentish men born the other side. The MEN OF KENT are entitled to the benefit of the old laws of the county, that of gavelkind particularly.

~Merkin~, a term usually applied to a woman’s privities. Originally false hair for those parts.

~Merry Dun of Dover~, a large ship figuring in sailors’ yarns. She was so large that when passing through the Straits of Dover her flying jib-boom knocked down Calais steeple; while, at the same time, the fly of her ensign swept a flock of sheep off Dover cliffs. She was so lofty that a boy who attempted to go to her mast-head found himself a grey old man when he reached the deck again. This yarn is founded on a story in the Scandinavian mythology. There is also a legend among sailors of the gallant Thunderbomb, which had “ninety-nine decks and no bottom.”

~Mesopotamia~, a name given to Eaton Square and neighbourhood when first built. This part was also called Cubitopolis.—_Fashionable slang._

~Mess~, to interfere unduly. Costermongers refer to police supervision as MESSING. Among sailors, a dead man is said to have lost the number of his MESS.

~Metallician~, a racing bookmaker. Bookmakers use metallic books and pencils.

~Middy~, abbreviation of midshipman.—_Naval._

~Midge net~, a lady’s veil.

~Mike~, an Irish hodman, or general labourer.

~Mike~, to loiter; or “lazy about.” The term probably originated in St. Giles’s, which is thronged with Irish labourers, who rarely or never labour (MIKE being so common a term with them as to become a generic appellation for Irishmen), and who loiter and lean against the public-houses in the “Dials.” It has been said that the term is Old English, MICHE, to skulk, to loiter; Old Norse, MAK, leisure, idleness.

“Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove a MICHER?”

_Shakspeare’s Hen. IV._, ii. 4.

Whatever may have been its origin, there can be now no doubt that the word is supposed to have particular reference to the habits of the Irish MIKES, or labourers, though now and again it is borrowed in the interests of others.

~Mild~, second-rate, inferior. _See_ DRAW IT MILD. Also feeble, inefficient, as “a MILD attempt.” Weak young men who keep bulldogs, and dress in a “loud” stable style, from a belief that it is very becoming, are sometimes called “MILD bloaters.”

~Milk~, a term used in connexion with racing; when a horse is entered in a race for which his owner does not intend him to run, or at all events in which he does not intend him to win, and bets against him, the animal is said to “be MILKED.” MILKING, is keeping a horse a favourite, at short odds, for a race in which he has no chance whatever, or in which he will not be allowed to try, for the purpose of laying against him.

~Milky ones~, white linen rags.

~Mill~, a fight, or set to. _Ancient Cant_, MYLL, to rob. Probably from the special opportunities afforded to pickpockets when the ring was a “national institution.”

~Mill~, to fight or beat.

~Mill~, the old Insolvent Debtors’ Court. “To go through the MILL” was equivalent to being “whitewashed.”

~Mill~, the tread-MILL.

~Miller.~ To drown the MILLER is to put too much water in anything. The phrase was originally “to drown the MILLER’S thumb,” or go over the specified mark, _i.e._, the thumb-mark, in adding water to ardent spirits.

~Miller.~ “To give the MILLER” is to engage a person in conversation of an apparently friendly character, when all at once the bystanders surround and pelt him with flour, grease, and filth of various kinds, flour predominating. This mode of punishing spies, informers, and other obnoxious individuals, is used by cabmen, omnibus conductors, _et hoc genus omne_. Eggs are useful missiles in an engagement of this description. If rotten eggs are not obtainable, ordinary ones will do.

~Miller.~ This word is frequently called out when a person relates a stale joke. _See_ JOE.

~Milvader~, to beat.

~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._

~Mitey~, a cheesemonger.

~Mitten.~ “To get the MITTEN” is, in Canadian slang, to be jilted.

~Mittens~, the boxing gloves.

~Mizzle~, a frequentative form of MIST in both senses; as applied to weather, it is used by John Gadbury in his _Ephemeris_ in 1695—MISTY and MIZZLING—to come down as mist; while the other sense may be expressed as to fade away like a mist.

~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._

~Mizzler~, or RUM-MIZZLER, a person who is clever at effecting an escape, or getting out of a difficulty.

~Moab~, a name applied to the turban-shaped hat which was some few years back fashionable among ladies, and ladylike swells of the other sex. From the Scripture phrase, “MOAB is my washpot” (Ps. lx. 8), which latter article the hat in question was supposed to resemble.—_University._

~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.

“It is perhaps this humour of speaking no more words than we needs
must which has so miserably curtailed some of our words, that in
familiar writings and conversation they often lose all but their
first syllables, as in MOB., red., pos., incog., and the
like.”—_Addison’s Spectator._

~Mob~, a thief’s immediate companions, as,—“our own MOB;” MOBSMAN, a dressy swindler or pickpocket.

~Mob~, to hustle, crowd round, and annoy, necessarily the action of a large party against a smaller one, or an individual. Mobbing is generally a concomitant of street robbery.

~Mobility~, the populace; or, according to Burke, the “great unwashed.” Johnson calls it a cant term, although Swift notices it as a proper expression.

~Mockered~, holey, marked unpleasantly. A ragged handkerchief and a blotched or pitted face are both said to be MOCKERED.

~Modest quencher~, a glass of spirits and water. Dick Swiveller was fond of a MODEST QUENCHER.

~Moey~, the mouth.—_Gipsy_ and _Hindoo_. Shakspeare has MOE, to make mouths.

~Mofussilite~, an inhabitant of an up-country district.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Moisten your chaffer~, a slang phrase equivalent to “take something to drink.” Also “moisten your clay,” originally applied to smokers, now general, and supposed to have reference to the human clay.

~Moke~, a donkey.—_Gipsy_, but now general to all the lower orders. A “coster” and his “moke” are almost inseparable terms. Probably derived originally from the Arabic _al mocreve_, a carrier.

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

~Moll~, a girl; nickname for Mary.—_Old Cant._

~Molled~, followed, or accompanied by a woman. When a costermonger sees a friend walking with a woman he does not know, he says on the first opportunity afterwards, “I see yer the other night when yer was MOLLED up and too proud to speak.”

~Mollisher~, a low girl or woman; generally a female cohabiting with a man who gets his living by thieving.

~Mollsack~, a reticule, or market basket.

~Moll Thomson’s mark~, that is, M. T.—empty; as, “Take away this bottle, it has MOLL THOMSON’S MARK on it.” _See_ M. T.

~Moll-tooler~, a female pickpocket.

~Mollycoddle~, an effeminate man; one who “coddles” 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. Costermongers are not alone, even in the present day, in this belief.

~Molrowing~, “out on the spree,” in company with so-called “gay women.” In allusion to the amatory serenadings of the London cats. Another form of this is, “out on the tiles.”

~Mondayish~, or Mondayfied, disinclined for work. “St. Monday” is a great institution among artizans and small tradesmen.

~Monk~, a term of contempt; probably an abbreviation of MONKEY.

~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; this is old, and was probably in allusion originally to the evil spirit which was supposed to be always present with a man; also under similar circumstances a man is said to have his back or hump up.

~Monkey~, the instrument which drives a rocket.—_Army._

~Monkey~, 500_l._-_-Sporting Slang._

~Monkey~, the vessel in which a mess receives its full allowance of grog.—_Sea._

~Monkey-board~, the place or step attached to an omnibus, on which the conductor stands.

~Monkey-boat~, a peculiar, long, narrow, canal boat.

~Monkey with a long tail~, a mortgage.—_Legal._

~Monkey’s allowance~, to get blows instead of alms, more kicks than halfpence.

~Monkery~, the country, or rural districts. Originally an old word for a quiet or monastic life.—_Hall._

~Monniker~, a person’s name or signature.

~Month of Sundays~, an indefinite period, a long time.

~Mooch~, to sponge; to obtrude oneself 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, TO MOOCH is to shuffle. _See_ the following.

~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, horses to hold, &c.; also scraps of food, drinks, old clothes, &c.

~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 of four weeks. A calendar month is known as a “callingder” or long MOON. A “lunar MOON,” ridiculous as the phrase may seem, is of constant use among those who affect slang of this description.

~Mooney~, intoxicated, a name for a silly fellow.

~Mooning~, loitering, wandering about in a purposeless manner.

~Moonlight~, or MOONSHINE, smuggled spirits. From the night-work of smugglers.

~Moon-raker~, a native of Wiltshire; because it is said that some men of that county, seeing the reflection of the moon in a pond, took it to be a cheese, and endeavoured to pull it out with a rake.

~Moonshee~, a learned man, professor, or teacher.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Moonshine~, palaver, deception, humbug.

~Mop~, a hiring place (or fair) for servants. Steps are often “about to be taken” to put down these assemblies, which have been proved to be greatly detrimental to the morality of the poor. They are supposed to contribute largely to the bastardy percentages.

~Mop~, an habitual drunkard. Also a period of intoxication. “To be on the MOP” is to be on the drink from day to day—to be perpetually “stale drunk.”

~Mop up~, to drink, or empty a glass.—_Old Sea term._

~Mops and brooms~, intoxicated. Supposed by an imaginative person to be the appearance presented by the world to a very drunken man. Possibly the term was first used to express sea-sickness.

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

~Moral~, a forthcoming result which appears certain—originally MORAL certainty. This is racing slang, as, “The race is a MORAL for Cremorne.” These MORALS are often, however, of very uncertain tenure.

~More-ish.~ When there is scarcely enough of an eatable or drinkable, it is said to taste MORE-ISH; as, “This wine is very good, but it has a slight MORE-ISH flavour.”

~Morris~, to decamp, be off. Probably from the ancient MORESCO, of MORRIS-DANCE. _See Shakspeare._

~Mortar-board~, a square college cap.

~Mortgage-deed~, a pawnbroker’s duplicate.

~Moskeneer~, to pawn with a view to obtaining more than the actual value of an article. There are, in various parts of the country, men who make MOSKENEERING a profession—that is, they buy jewellery which, though fairly good, is not so good as it seems, and pawn it as opportunity occurs. It is notorious that some men can obtain a much larger sum on a given article than others can; though the smallest of these professionals generally manage to get good livings, which does not say much for the judgment of those constant inspectors of personal property—pawnbrokers’ assistants.

~Mot~, a girl of indifferent character. Formerly, _Mort_. _Dutch_, MOTT-KAST, a harlotry. MOT-CART, _see_ LOOSE-BOX.

~Mouchey~, a Jew.

~Mouldy~, grey-headed. Servants wearing hair-powder are usually termed MOULDY-PATES by street boys.

~Mouldy-grubs~, travelling showmen, mountebanks who perform in the open air without tent or covering. Doing this is called MOULDY-GRUBBING.

~Mount~, a saddle-horse. According to quality, “a good MOUNT,” or “a bad MOUNT.”

~Mount~, in theatrical parlance, to prepare for production on the stage. “The piece was excellently MOUNTED.”

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

~Mountain-dew~, whisky, advertised as from the Highlands.

~Mountain-pecker~, a sheep’s head. _See_ JEMMY.

~Mourning~, “a full suit of MOURNING,” two black eyes; HALF-MOURNING, one black eye.

~Mouse~, a black eye. By a façon de parler, any one with “a MOUSE” is supposed to have been to Blackwall.

~Mouth-almighty~, a noisy, talkative person.

~Mouthpiece~, a lawyer, or counsel. Thieves and their associates always speak of a counsel as a MOUTHPIECE.

~Move~, a “dodge,” or cunning trick; “up to a MOVE or two,” acquainted with tricks. Probably derived from the game of chess.

~M.P.~, member of the police, one of the slang titles of the Force.

~Mrs. Grundy~, the representative of the censorious world, “What will MRS. GRUNDY say?” Originally a character in the comedy of _Speed the Plough_.

~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 Charles Dickens’s 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, which appealed to each other as independent authorities, being all the while the production of the same editorial staff. _See_ introductory article.

~Mrs. Jones~, the house of office, a water-closet.

~M.T.~, railway slang used by porters and pointsmen for empties, or empty carriages. _See_ MOLL THOMSON’S MARK.

~Much of a muchness~, alike, very much the same thing.

~Muck~, to beat, or excel. “It’s no use, his luck’s dead in; he’d MUCK a thousand;” “he MUCKED me clean out,” &c. To RUN A MUCK, or GO A MUCKER, to rush headlong into certain ruin. From a certain religious frenzy, or intoxication caused by bhang, which is common among the Malays, and which now and again causes an enthusiast, kreese in hand, to dash into a crowd and devote every one he meets to death until he is himself killed, or falls from exhaustion.—_Malay_, AMOK, slaughter.

~Muckender~, or MUCKENGER, a pocket-handkerchief.—_Old._ _Cf._ SNOTTINGER. The original name of the “Neckinger” in Bermondsey was “the Devil’s Neck-handkerchief.” There is still a Neckinger Road and Messrs. Bevington and Sons’ tannery in Bermondsey bears the name of the Neckinger Mills.

~Mucker~, TO GO A, to go to grief, to ruin one’s prospects.—_Oxford Univ._

~Muck-out~, to clean out; often applied to one utterly ruining an adversary in gambling.

~Muck-snipe~, one who has been “MUCKED OUT,” or beggared, at gambling. _See_ MUCK.

~Mud-crusher~, a word of contempt, used by the cavalry in reference to the infantry.

~Mudfog~, “The British Association for the Advancement of Science.” Term first used by Charles Dickens in _Bentley’s Miscellany_, about 1836.

~Mud-lark~, a man or woman who, with clothes tucked above the knee, grovels through the mud on the banks of the Thames, when the tide is low, for silver or pewter 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 applied to those men who cleanse the sewers, and who wear great boots and sou’-wester hats. Those who are employed in banks and counting-houses, in collecting and other out-door duties, have also this appellation.

~Mud-student~, a farming pupil. The name given to the students at the Agricultural College, Cirencester.

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

~Muffin-cap~, a cap similar to that worn by a charity-boy.

~Muffin-face~, a white, soft, delicate, or whiskerless face.

~Muffin-worry~, an old lady’s tea party.

~Mufti~, the civilian dress of a naval or military officer when off duty.—_Anglo-Indian._ From an Eastern word signifying a clergyman or priest.

~Mug~, the mouth, or face.—_Old._

“‘GOBLET AND MUG.’—Topers should bear in mind that what they quaff
from the goblet afterwards appears in the MUG.”

~Mug~, to strike in the face, or fight. Also, to rob or swindle. _Gaelic_, MUIG, to suffocate, oppress; _Irish_, MUGAIM, to kill, destroy.

~Mug~, “to MUG oneself,” to get tipsy.

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

~Muggy~, drunk. Also, as applied to weather, stifling, oppressive.

~Mug-up~, to paint one’s face, or dress specially with a view to impersonation.—_Theatrical._ To “cram” for an examination.—_Army._

~Mull~, “to make a MULL of it,” to spoil anything, or make a fool of oneself.

~Mulligrubs.~ _Vide_ MOLLYGRUBS.

~Mullingar heifer~, a girl with thick ankles.—_Irish._ The story goes that a traveller, passing through Mullingar, was so struck with this local peculiarity in the women, that he determined to accost the next one he met. “May I ask,” said he, “if you wear hay in your shoes?” “Faith an’ I do,” said the girl; “and what then?” “Because,” says the traveller, “that accounts for the calves of your legs coming down to feed on it.”

~Multee kertever~, very bad. _Italian_, MOLTO CATTIVO. Generally used with the affix of bloke when referring to a man. Phrase much used by circus riders.

~Mum~, “to keep MUM,” to hold one’s peace. Hence “MUM’S the word,”—a phrase which implies to all hearers that the matter to which it refers must remain secret.

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

~Mump~, to beg. In Lincolnshire, Boxing-day is known as MUMPING DAY.

~Mumper~, a beggar. A collector of holiday tribute.

~Mumps~, the miserables. To feel MUMPISH is to be heavy, dull, and stupid.

~Mundungus~, trashy, coarse tobacco. Sometimes used to represent the half-soddened, half-calcined residuum at the bottom of an all-but-smoked-out pipe, which, when knocked out, is vulgarly called the TOPPER, _q.v. 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 a 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_ (_German_, NICHTS), 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. Jacko Macauco, or Maccacco, as he was mostly called, was the name of a famous fighting monkey, who used nearly fifty 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 surname common amongst the Irish. MURPHIES (edible) are sometimes called DONOVANS.

~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.

~Mushroom~, a hat, shaped like the fungus from which it takes its name, often worn by demure ladies.

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

~Musta~, or MUSTER, a pattern, one of a sort. Anglo-Indian term used in describing the make or pattern of anything. A sample of any kind of merchandize. This word is very generally used in commercial transactions all over the world.

~Mutton~, a contemptuous term for a woman of bad character; sometimes varied to LACED MUTTON. The expression was used as a cant term for a “wild duck” in the reign of James I. As a slang term it was employed by Ben Jonson in his masque of _Neptune’s Triumph_, which was written for display at Court on Twelfth Night, 1623; “a fine LACED MUTTON or two,” are the words applied to wantons. Shakspeare has the term. In that class of English society which does not lay any claim to refinement, a fond lover is often spoken of as being “fond of his MUTTON,” which, by the way, in this place does not mean the woman so much as something else.

~Mutton chops~, a sheep’s-head. A man who has dined off sheep’s-head dignifies his meal by calling it MUTTON CHOPS (chaps).

~Mutton-fist~, an uncomplimentary title for any one having a large and muscular, bony, or coarse hand.

~Mutton-walk~, the saloon at Drury Lane Theatre. A vulgar appellation applied to this place early in the last century, still in use in the neighbourhood of Covent Garden, which was formerly the great resort for the gay and giddy of both sexes.

~Muzzle~, the mouth.

~Muzzle~, to fight or thrash; to throttle or garrotte.

~Muzzler~, a blow in the mouth; a dram of spirits.

~Muzzy~, intoxicated.

~My aunt~, AUNT JONES, or MRS. JONES, the closet of decency, 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. It is worthy of remark that the French call this useful relative “ma tante,” my aunt.

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

~Nab the rust~, to take offence.

~Nabob~, an Eastern prince, a retired Indian official,—hence a slang term for a capitalist. From Nawaub.

~Nabs~, self; my NABS, myself; his NABS, himself.—_North Country Cant._

~Nag~, to persistently talk in a scolding manner, after the manner of Mrs. Caudle. NAGGING is supposed to be persistent, persevering, passionless scolding.

~Nail~, to steal, or capture; “paid on the NAIL,” _i.e._, paid 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;” most possibly because of “apt alliteration.” Shakspeare has the expression in _Henry IV._—

“_Falstaff._ What! is the old king dead?

_Pistol._ As NAIL in door.”

Dickens, in that marvellous little book, _A Christmas Carol_, says:—

“Old Marley was as dead as a DOOR-NAIL.

“Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know of my own knowledge what
there is particularly dead about a DOOR-NAIL. I might have been
inclined myself to regard a COFFIN-NAIL as the deadest piece of
ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the
simile: and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the
country’s done for. You will, therefore, permit me to repeat,
emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a DOOR-NAIL.”

~Nail in one’s coffin~, a dram, “a drop o’ summat’ short,” a jocular, but disrespectful phrase, used by the lower orders to each other at the moment of lifting a glass of spirits to their lips. “Well, good luck! here’s another NAIL IN MY COFFIN.” This is probably in ridicule of teetotal or temperance preachers, and the arguments adduced by them. Another phrase with old topers is “shedding a tear,” also “wiping an eye.”

~Namby-pamby~, particular, over-nice, effeminate. This was possibly 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._

~Nammus~, or NAMOUS, to be off, to get away; “let’s NAMMUS, somebody’s coming.” _See_ VAMOS.

~Nanny-shop~, a disreputable house.

~Nantee~, not any, or “I have none.” NANTEE also means “shut up!” or “leave off!” _Italian_, NIENTE, nothing. _See_ DINARLY.—_Lingua Franca._

~Nantee palaver~, no conversation, _i.e._, hold your tongue. Very often in this sense also shortened to NANTEE only. Originally _Lingua Franca_, but now general.

~Nap~, or NAB, to take, steal, or receive; “you’ll NAP it,” _i.e._, you will catch a beating.—_North_; also _Old Cant_.

~Nap~, to break, or rap with a hammer. _See_ KNAP.—_North._

~Nap~, or NAPPER, a hat. From “nab,” a hat, cap, or head.—_Old Cant._

~Nap nix~, a person who works at his trade, and occasionally goes on the stage to act minor parts without receiving any pay. The derivation is obvious. _See_ NAP and NIX, _i.e._, NICHTS.

~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. Sometimes called a “nose.”

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

~Narp~, a shirt.—_Scotch._

~Narrow~, mean, sordid.—_Scotch._ In common slang, dull of comprehension, as distinguished from wide awake.

~Nasty~, ill-tempered, cross-grained. “He was very NASTY,” _i.e._, he was ill-humoured.

~Nation~, or TARNATION, very, or exceedingly. Corruption of damnation.

~Natty~, pretty, neat, tidy.—_Old._

~Natural~, an idiot, a simpleton. Sometimes HALF-NATURAL.

~Navvy~, an excavator employed in making railways, canals, &c. Originally slang, but now a recognised term. Short for navigator, a term humorously applied to excavators when their chief work was that of cutting and banking canals, making dykes to rivers, &c.

~N. C.~, “enough said,” being the initials of NUF CED. A certain theatrical manager spells, it is said, in this style.

~Near~, mean and stingy.

~Neardy~, a person in authority over another; master, parent, or foreman.—_North._

~Neat~, unmixed with water. “Two half goes of gin, one NEAT, the other cold,” meaning one as drawn, the other diluted with cold water. The Americans use the word “straight” instead of NEAT: “I’ll take mine straight.”

~Neck~, to swallow. Neck-oil, drink of any kind.

~Neck and crop~, entirely, completely; “he chuck’d him NECK AND CROP out of window.”

~Neck and neck.~ Horses run NECK AND NECK in a race when they are so perfectly equal that one cannot be said to be before the other.

~Neck or nothing~, desperate. Originally a steeplechase phrase.

~Neck beef~, a synonym for coarseness. “As coarse as neck ends of beef.”

~Neckinger~, a cravat. _See_ MUCKENGER.

~Ned~, a guinea. HALF-NED, half-a-guinea.

~Neddy~, a considerable quantity, as “a NEDDY of fruit,” “a NEDDY of fish,” &c.—_Irish slang._

~Neddy~, a donkey. On Sunday, when a costermonger, if at all well to do, takes his family out for an airing in his “shallow,” the donkey is called “Eddard.”

~Neddy~, a life preserver. Possibly contraction of Kennedy, the name of the first man, it is said in St. Giles’s, who had his head broken by a poker.

~Ned Stokes~, the four of spades.—_North Hants._ _See Gentleman’s Magazine_ for 1791, p. 141.

~Needful~, money, cash; the “one thing NEEDFUL” for the accomplishment of most pet designs.

~Needle~, to annoy. To “cop the NEEDLE” is to become vexed or annoyed.

~Needy mizzler~, a shabby person; a tramp who runs away without paying for his lodging.

~Never trust me~, an ordinary phrase with low Londoners, and common in Shakspeare’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 carries a rather unpleasant suggestion to the wearer. Sometimes termed a COBBLER’S KNOT, or COW-LICK.

~Newmarket~, in tossing, when the game is “two out of three,” that is, when he who gains the first two tosses wins. When the first toss is decisive, the game is termed “sudden death.”

~Nibble~, to take, or steal. NIBBLER, a petty thief.

~Nib-cove~, a gentleman. NIBSOMEST CRIBS, best or gentlemen’s houses.—_Beggar’s Cant._

~Nib-like~, gentlemanly.

~Nibs~, self. His NIBS, means any one who may be referred to. As, “I told his NIBS,” or “stag his NIBS.” “Your NIBS,” yourself.

~Nick~, or OLD NICK, the devil.—_Scandinavian_, KNICKAR, one of the names of Odin, as the destroying or evil principle.

~Nick~, to hit the mark; “he’s NICKED it,” _i.e._, won his point. Also to steal. To be “out on the NICK,” is to be out thieving. Sometimes described as being “on the pinch.”

~Nick-nack~, a trifle.—Originally _Cant_.

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

~Nightcap~, a glass of “warm with” taken the last thing at night.

~Night-hunter~, a poacher.—_North._ Also a London prostitute. Sometimes in the latter capacity varied to night-hawk.

~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. Generally written now, WILLY-NILLY.

~Nimming~, stealing. _Old English_, NIM, to take. 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,
Cram NAM buckra man.”

Or, in the buckra man’s language—

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

Shakspeare evidently had the word NIM in his head when he portrayed Nym.

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

~Nine corns~, a pipeful of tobacco.

~Ninepence~, “nice as NINEPENCE,” all right, right to a nicety. A correspondent says:—“This most undoubtedly should be NINE-PINS. For at the game of that name, in fairness to both parties, the nine pins must always be set up with great accuracy. There is no nicety in NINEPENCE!” Evidently this correspondent does not know how nice it is to have ninepence, after being without money. At all events the phrase _is_ “nice as NINEPENCE.”

~Nines~, “dressed up to the NINES,” in a showy or _recherché_ manner. Up to the NINES, up to the dodges and “wrinkles” of life.

~Nine Shillings~, cool audacity; most probably derived from the _French_, NONCHALANCE.

~Ning-nang~, horse-coupers’ term for a worthless thoroughbred.

~Ninnyhammer~, a foolish, ignorant person. Generally shortened to NINNY. NINNY is also short for nincompoop.

~Nip~, to steal, to take up quickly. _See_ NAP and NIB.

~Nipcheese~, a purser.—_Old Sea Slang._

~Nipper~, a sharp lad. Originally a superior grade among cut-purses.

~Nix~, nothing. _German_, NICHTS. _See_ MUNGARLY.

~Nix!~ the signal word of schoolboys and workpeople to each other that the master, or other person in authority, is approaching.

~Nix my dolly~, once a very popular slang song, beginning—

“In a box of a stone jug I was born,
Of a hempen widow all forlorn;
And my old dad, as I’ve heard say,
Was a famous merchant in capers gay;
NIX MY DOLLY, pals, fake away!”

“Capers” of course here refers to the mode of the old gentleman’s decease.

~Niz-priz~, a writ of nisi-prius.—_Legal._

~Nizzie~, a fool, a coxcomb.—_Old Cant, vide Triumph of Wit_.

~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 Alinaunder_ (thirteenth century) for a head; originally, no doubt, the same as _knob_.

~Nob~, a person of high position, a “swell,” a NOBleman,—of which word it may be an abbreviation, or of NOBILIS. _See_ SNOB.

~Nob.~ When the knave of trumps is held at the game of cribbage, the holder counts “one for his NOB.”

~Nobba~, nine. _Italian_, NOVE; _Spanish_, NOVA,—the _b_ and _v_ being interchangeable, as in sa_b_e and sa_vv_ey. Slang introduced by the “organ-grinders” from Italy.

~Nobba saltee~, ninepence. _Lingua Franca_, NOVE SOLDI.

~Nobbing cheat~, the gallows.—_Old Cant._

~Nobbing~, collecting money; “what NOBBINGS?” _i.e._, how much have you got or collected from the crowd? This term is much used by “buskers.”

~Nobble~, to cheat, to overreach; to discover. In the racing world, to “NOBBLE” a horse, is to “get at,” and lame or poison him.

~Nobbler~, a blow on the NOB, a finishing stroke; “that’s a NOBBLER for him,” _i.e._, a settler.—_Pugilistic._

~Nobbler~, a confederate of thimble-riggers and card-sharpers, who plays earnestly, as if a stranger to the “rig,” and thus draws unsuspecting persons into a game. The same as a “bonnet” or “bearer-up.” In the North of England, a low, cunning lawyer.

~Nobby~, or NOBBISH, fine or showy; NOBBILY, showily. _See_ SNOB for derivation.

~No flies~, an emphatic addition made to an assertion for the purpose of giving it weight. It really means “no error” or “no mistake.” Both of them popular; as, “A jolly fine girl, and NO FLIES!”

~No-fly~, artful, designing. Term much used among printers, who shorten it to “N.F.”

~Noli-me-tangere~, the Scotch fiddle, or other contagious disease.

~Non-com~, a non-commissioned officer in the army.

~No odds~, no matter, of no consequence.—_Latimer’s Sermon before Edward VI._

~Nooning~, an interval for rest and refreshment, taken at midday by travellers in hot countries.

~Norfolk-Howards~, bugs; a person named Ephraim Bug some few years back advertised, that for the future he would call himself by the more aristocratic appellation of NORFOLK HOWARD.

~North~, cunning. The inhabitants of Yorkshire and the Northern counties are supposed, like the canny Scots, to get the better of other people in dealing; hence the phrase, “He’s too far NORTH for me,” _i.e._, too cunning for me to deal with.

~North country compliment~, to give or offer anything that is not wanted by either giver or receiver is to pass a NORTH COUNTRY COMPLIMENT.

~Norwicher~, more than one’s share; said of a person who leaves less than half the contents of a tankard for his companion. In what way the term originated, or why Norwich was selected before any other city is not known. Most likely from the slanders which the inhabitants of one town are always inventing about their neighbours.

~Nose~, a thief who turns informer; a paid spy; generally called a policeman’s NOSE; “on the NOSE,” on the look-out.

~Nose~, to give information to the police, to turn approver.

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

~Nose-bag~, a visitor at a watering-place, or house of refreshment, who carries his own victuals. Term applied by waiters.

~Nose ’em~, or FOGUS, tobacco. NOSE ’EM is but a contraction of the rhyming slang, which _see_.

~Nose-ender~, a straight blow delivered full on the nasal promontory.

~Nose in the manger~, TO PUT ONE’S, to sit down to eat. To “put on the nose-bag” is to eat hurriedly, or to eat while continuing at work.

~Nose out of joint~, TO PUT ONE’S; to supplant, supersede, or mortify a person by excelling him.

~Noser~, a hard blow, leading to a bloody or contused nose.—_Pugilistic._

~Notional~, imaginative, full of ideas. Used in America to express a wife’s imaginations with regard to her husband’s doings.

~Nouse~, comprehension, perception.—_Old_, apparently from the _Greek_, νοῦς. _Gaelic_ and _Irish_, NOS, knowledge, perception.

~Nowhere~, horses not placed in a race—that are neither first, second, nor third—are said to be NOWHERE, especially when this lack of position happens to favourites.

~Number of his mess~, when a man dies in the army or navy, he is said to “lose the NUMBER OF HIS MESS.”