Chapter XII: Part 12

~Nurse~, a curious term applied to competition in omnibuses. Two omnibuses are placed on the road to NURSE, or take care of, each opposition “bus,” one before, the other behind. Of course the central or NURSED bus has very little chance, unless it happens to be a favourite with the public. Recent legislation and tramways have done much to do away with NURSING. NURSE also means to cheat or swindle; trustees are sometimes said to NURSE property, _i.e._, gradually eat it up themselves.

~Nut~, the head, in pugilistic slang. Used as an exclamation at a fight, it means to strike on the head. In tossing it is a direction to hide the head; to be “off one’s NUT,” to be crazed or idiotic.

~Nut-cut~, roguish, mischievous. A good-natured term of reproach.—_Anglo-Indian._

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

~Nux~, the “plant,” or object in view. “Stoll up to the NUX?” “Do you fully comprehend what is wanted?”—_North Country Cant._

~Oaf~, a lumbering, awkward fellow.

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

~Oar~, “to put in an OAR,” to interfere.

“I put my OAR in no man’s boat.”—_Thackeray._

~Oat~, an atom. Probable corruption of iota, or perhaps from the small size of an oat. “I never got an OAT of it,” I never received the smallest portion.

~Oat-stealer~, an ostler.

~Obfuscated~, intoxicated.

~Obliquitous~, oblivious of distinction between right and wrong.—_American._

~Obstropolous~, Cockney corruption of obstreperous.

~Ochre~, money, generally applied to gold, for a very obvious reason.

~O’clock~, “like ONE O’CLOCK,” a favourite comparison with the lower orders, implying briskness; otherwise “like winkin’.” “To know what’s O’CLOCK” is to be wide-awake, sharp, and experienced.

~Odd man out~, a street or public-house game at tossing. The number of players is three or more. Each tosses up a coin, and if two come down head, and one comes tail, or _vice versâ_, the ODD MAN loses or wins, as may have been agreed upon. Frequently used to victimize a “flat.” If all be alike, then the toss goes for nothing, and the coppers are again “skied.” It is easy for two men to arrange matters beforehand at this game, and so swindle a third.

~Odd man~, a man who trains in company with a boat’s crew, so that in the event of any one falling ill the seat will be fairly occupied.

~Odds~, a phrase equivalent to “consequence;” “what’s the ODDS?” _i.e._, what is the expected result? “It’s no ODDS,” _i.e._, of no consequence. ODDS, in sporting phraseology, refers to the proportions or differences of a bet. One bookmaker will lay ODDS of “six to one” against such a horse winning; whilst another, more speculative, or in the receipt of a first-rate “tip” (information about the horse in question) will lay “eight,” or even “ten to one.”

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

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

~Off at the head~, crazy.—_Oxfordshire._

~Off one’s chump.~ To be crazy is to be OFF ONE’S CHUMP; this is varied by the word CHUMPY. A mild kind of lunatic is also said to be “off his head,” which means of course exactly the same as the first phrase.

~Off one’s feed.~ To be unable to eat is to be OFF ONE’S FEED. Originally stable slang.

~Off the horn~, a term used in reference to very hard steak, which is fancifully said to be OFF THE HORN.

~Office~, “to give the OFFICE,” to give a hint dishonestly to a confederate, thereby enabling him to win a game or bet, the profits being shared. Also in sporting phraseology to give any information worth having.

~Offish~, distant, not familiar. Corruption of STAND-OFFISH.

~Ogle~, to look, or reconnoitre.

~Ogles~, eyes.—_Old Cant. French_, ŒIL.

~Oil of palms~, or PALM OIL, money.

~Ointment~, medical student slang for butter.

~O. K.~, a matter to be O. K. (OLL KORRECT, _i.e._, all correct), must be on the “square,” and perfectly in order. This is an Americanism, and is derived from the initials O. K., said to have been marked on a document by an official to signify that all was right and proper.

~Old boots~, a simile as general in its application as it is irrelevant. “Like OLD BOOTS” means like anything. “As cheeky as OLD BOOTS;” “As quick as OLD BOOTS,” seem a little more reasonable, new boots being somewhat unfavourable to speedy locomotion.

~Old dog~, a knowing blade, an experienced person. Butler uses the phrase, _Hudibras_, part ii. canto iii. 208, where it was said of Sidrophel, “And was OLD DOG at physiology.” An Irish proverb says, “OLD DOG for hard road,” meaning that it requires an experienced person to execute a difficult undertaking.

~Old gentleman~, the devil. Also a card almost imperceptibly longer than the rest of the pack, used by sharpers for the purpose of cheating.

~Old gooseberry~ (_see_ GOOSEBERRY), OLD HARRY (_Old Hairy_), OLD SCRATCH, all synonyms for the devil.

~Old gown~, smuggled tea.

~Old horse~, salt junk, or beef.—_Sea._

~Old hoss~, a term of endearment, originally an Americanism, but now in common use here among friends.

~Old Lady in Threadneedle Street~, the Bank of England.

~Old man~, in American merchant ships, the master. The phrase is becoming common in English ships.

~Old salt~, a thorough sailor.

~Old Tom~, extra strong gin; sometimes termed CAT’S WATER. Various reasons are given for the use of the words OLD TOM. The distillers have the sign of a tom cat on their illuminated placards. The origin of the phrase is, however, in the fact that the managing clerk of a once celebrated “gin-spinning” firm, who was known as OLD TOM, used to keep a special bottle of extra good stuff with which to regale customers when they settled their accounts. To get a drink of OLD TOM’S was then a great favour. Gradually the title became popular as representing very good strong gin.

~Oliver~, the moon; “OLIVER don’t widdle,” _i.e._, the moon does not shine. _Nearly obsolete._

~Ollapod~, a country apothecary. From George Coleman’s comedy of _The Poor Gentleman_.

~Omee~, a master or landlord; “the OMEE of the carsey’s a nark on the pitch,” the master of the house will not let us perform. _Italian_, UOMO, a man; “UOMO DELLA CASA,” the master of the house. _Latin_, HOMO.—_Lingua Franca._

~Omnium gatherum~, an indiscriminate collection of articles; a numerous and by no means select assemblage.

~On~, “to be ON,” in public-house or vulgar parlance, is synonymous with getting “tight” or tipsy; “it’s St. Monday with him, I see he’s ON again,” _i.e._, drunk as usual, or on the road to it. “I’m ON” also expresses a person’s acceptance of an offered bet. To GET ON a horse or a man is to make bets on it or him. “Try it ON,” a defiant challenge to a person.

~On the fly~, getting one’s living by thieving or other illegitimate means; the phrase is applied to men the same as “on the loose” is to women. ON THE FLY also means on the drink.

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

~On the nose~, on the watch or look-out. _See_ NOSE.

~On the shelf~, transported. With old maids it has another and very different meaning.

~On the tiles~, out all night “on the spree,” or carousing,—in allusion to the London cats on their amatory excursions. _See_ CATERWAULING.

~One-er~, that which stands for ONE, a blow that requires no repeating. In _The Old Curiosity Shop_, the “Marchioness” tells Dick Swiveller that “her missus is a ONE-ER”—there a variation of “stunner.”

~One in ten~, a parson. In allusion to the tithing system.

~Onion~, a watch-seal.

~O. P.~ Publishers’ reply to an inquiry for a book or paper that is OUT OF PRINT.

~Open the ball~, to commence anything.

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

~Orate~, an Americanism, which means, to speak in public, or make an oration.

~Organ-grinder~, an itinerant who is supposed to “GRIND” music out of a barrel-organ.

~Originator~, an inventor of plans for the formation of joint-stock companies. The originator submits his schemes to the promoter, who accepts or rejects them.

~Otter~, eightpence. _Italian_, OTTO, eight.—_Lingua Franca._

~Ottomy~, a thin man, a skeleton, a dwarf. Vulgar pronunciation of ANATOMY. Shakspeare has ATOMY.

~Out~, a dram glass. These glasses are two-OUT (half-quartern), three-OUT, and four-OUT. An _habitué_ of a gin-shop, desirous of treating a brace of friends, calls for “a quartern of gin and three OUTS,” by which he means three glasses which will exactly contain the quartern. Really, the word glasses is understood. The man actually means, and one or more three-OUT glasses.

~Out~, in round games, where several play, and there can be but one loser, the winners in succession STAND OUT, while the others PLAY OFF.

~Out and out~, prime, excellent, of the first quality; beyond measure. OUT-AND-OUTER, one who is of an OUT-AND-OUT description, “up” to anything.

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

“The Kyng was good alle aboute,
And she was wycked OUTE AND OUTE.”

~Outcry~, an auction.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Outing~, a day’s holiday. The Oxford and Cambridge boatrace, the Derby, and other events of a like character, are each said to be simply excuses to the Cockneys for a day’s OUTING.

~Out of collar~, out of place,—in allusion to servants. When in place, the term is IN COLLAR. Most likely from “head in the COLLAR,” said of horses when hard at work.

~Out on the loose~, “on the spree,” in search of adventures. _See_ ON THE LOOSE.

~Out on the pickaroon.~ PICARONE is Spanish for a thief, but this phrase does not necessarily mean anything dishonest, but is often used to mean readiness for anything in the way of excitement. It also means to be in search of anything profitable, without much care as to honesty or otherwise.

~Outsider~, a person who does not habitually bet, or is not admitted to the “ring,” a duffer or good-for-nothing fellow. Also, a horse whose name does not appear among the “favourites.”—_Sporting._

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

~Over~, generally used in connexion with come, as, “He came it rather strong OVER me,” _i.e._, tried to intimidate or compel me. The same phrase would also be used to imply that an excess of flattery or praise was being employed for a similar purpose, but that the adulation was being “laid on a little too thick” to be considered genuine. Also used thus sometimes: “You mustn’t come Shakspeare OVER me,” _i.e._, “you mustn’t assume an air of immeasurable literary superiority OVER me.” “You mustn’t come Rothschild OVER me,” &c.

~Over~, in cricket, four balls delivered from one end to another. After an OVER has been bowled, the fielders, wicket-keepers, &c., change ends, and the bowling goes on from the recent batting wicket. A MAIDEN-OVER is an OVER from which no runs are obtained. Four balls is the regulation number to an OVER in all important matches; but little clubs and practice elevens suit their own convenience.

~Overs~, the odd money remaining after the daily accounts are made up at a banking-house,—usually divided amongst the clerks. _See_ MENAVELINGS and SHORTS.

~Owned~, a slang expression used by the ultra-Evangelicals when a popular preacher makes many converts. The converts themselves are called his “seals.”

~P. P.~, an expression much in use among racing men, which means play or pay, _i.e._, either go on with the arrangement or forfeit the money. The following is a law of the turf on the subject:—

The following races shall be considered “play or pay”:—The Derby
and Oaks at Epsom, the St. Leger at Doncaster, the Two Thousand
Guineas, the One Thousand Guineas, the Cesarewitch and
Cambridgeshire, at Newmarket, the Ascot, Goodwood, and Doncaster
Cups, and all handicaps above 200 sovs. value with two forfeits, the
minor of which shall not be less than 5 sovs.; and the Committees of
Tattersall’s, and of the Subscription Room at Newmarket, will take
no cognisance of any disputes respecting “play or pay” bets on any
other races, or of any bets made upon handicap races before the
weights are published.

This is the exact law on the subject, but as a rule all bets on horse-racing are considered P. P. unless otherwise arranged. In all matches, though, whether turf, pedestrian, aquatic, or otherwise, a run is given for the money in ordinary betting transactions.

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

~Pack~, to go away; “now, then, PACK off there,” _i.e._, be off, don’t stop here any longer.—_Old._ “Make speede to flee, be PACKING awaie.”—_Baret’s Alvearie_, 1580. Contraction of “PACK up and be off.” Sometimes the term “sent PACKING” is used to indicate a sudden discharge, as of a servant or mistress.

~Packets~, hoaxing lies. Sometimes used as an exclamation of incredulity.—_North._

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

~Pad~, the highway; also a tramp or itinerant musician.

~Pad the hoof~, to walk; “PADDING THE HOOF, on the high toby,” tramping or walking on the high road.

“Trudge, plod away o’ the HOOF.”—_Merry Wives_, i. 3.

~Padding~, the light articles in the monthly magazines, of which the serial stories are the main attraction. Publishers of magazines seem to think that if they get a serial story from a popular novelist they can pack any amount of rubbish into the remaining pages. This is not so in America, as magazines like the _Atlantic Monthly_ and the _Overland Monthly_ show.

~Padding-ken~, or CRIB, tramps’ and boys’ lodging-house.

~Paddle~, to go or run away.—_American._

~Paddy~, PAT, or PADDY WHACK, an Irishman. A nickname of PATRICK.

“I’m PADDY WHACK, from Ballyhack,
Not long ago turn’d soldier;
In storm and sack, in front attack,
None other can be boulder.”—_Irish Song._

~Paddy’s goose~, the sign of the White Swan, a noted flash public-house in the east of London, supposed to be Paddy’s idea of a GOOSE.

~Paddy’s land~, “ould Ireland.”

~Padre~, a clergyman. From the Portuguese.

~Pal~, a partner, acquaintance, friend, an accomplice. _Gipsy_, a brother.

~Palampo~, a quilt or bed-cover. Probably from PALANPORE, a town in India, renowned for its manufacture of chintz counterpanes.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Palaver~, to ask, or talk—deceitfully or otherwise, as occasion requires; “PALAVER to his nibs for a shant of bivvy,” ask the master for a pot of beer. NANTEE PALAVER (pronounced PERLARVER), cease talking. In this sense used by tramps. Derived from the Portuguese.

~Pall~, to stop; “PALL that,” spoken authoritatively, means, cease what you are doing. From PALL, a small instrument which is used to stop the windlass or capstan at sea. When a man says, “I am PALLED,” he means he cannot or dare not say any more. A sailor, on receiving any extraordinary intelligence, will say, “You PALL me,” _i.e._, you confound me. Most likely from the order frequently given on board ship, “Ease and PALL.”

~Palm~, to impose upon. “You can’t PALM that off upon me,” is said when an intending purchaser is suspicious of the quality of the article offered.

~Palm oil~, or PALM SOAP, money; also, a bribe.

~Palmer~, a swindler who used to visit shops under the pretence of collecting harp halfpence. To induce shopkeepers to search for them, he offered thirteenpence for one shilling’s-worth, when many persons were silly enough to empty a large quantity of copper on their counters. The PALMER, a proficient with his fingers, generally contrived to conceal some before he left the shop.

~Palming~, robbing shops by pairs—one thief bargaining with apparent intent to purchase, whilst the other watches his opportunity to steal. The following anecdote will give an idea of their _modus operandi_. A man once entered a “ready-made” boot and shoe shop, and desired to be shown a pair of boots—his companion staying outside and amusing himself by looking in at the window. The one who required to be fresh shod was apparently of a humble and deferential turn, for he placed his hat on the floor directly he stepped into the shop. Boot after boot was tried on until at last a fit was obtained, when in rushed a man, snatched up the customer’s hat left near the door, and ran down the street as fast as his legs could carry him. Away went the customer after his hat, and Crispin, standing at the door, clapped his hands, and shouted, “Go it, you’ll catch him!”—little thinking that it was a concerted trick, and that neither his boots nor the customer would ever return. Instances of this kind of work frequently occur. PALMING sometimes refers to secreting money or rings in the hand, as well as to bribing. PALMING is also the generic term for all that kind of conjuring which depends on manual dexterity, and which is totally distinct from the mechanical-contrivance department.

~Pam~, the knave of clubs at the game of loo; or, in street phraseology, while the “Judicious Bottleholder” was alive, Lord Palmerston.

~Pannikin~, a small pan.

~Pannum~, food, bread.—_Lingua Franca_, PANNEN; _Latin_, PANIS; _Ancient Cant_, YANNAM.

~Pannum-bound~, said of a pauper or prisoner when his food is stopped. PANNUM-STRUCK, very hungry, starving.

~Panny~, a house—public or otherwise; “flash PANNY,” a public-house used by thieves; PANNY-MEN, housebreakers. PANNY, in thieves’ cant, also signifies a burglary.

~Pantalettes~, the drawers worn in America by little girls.

~Pantile~, a hat. The term PANTILE is properly applied to the mould into which the sugar is poured which is afterwards known as “loaf sugar.” Thus, PANTILE, from whence comes the phrase, “a sugar-loaf hat,” originally signified a tall, conical hat, in shape similar to that usually represented as the head-gear of a bandit. From PANTILE the more modern slang term TILE has been derived. Halliwell gives PANTILE SHOP, a meeting-house, from the steeple-crowned or PANTILE hats of its frequenters. PANTILE also means a flat cake with jam on it, given to boys at boarding-schools instead of pudding.

~Pantiler~, a Dissenting preacher. Probably from the practice of the Quakers, and many Dissenters, of not removing their hats in a place of worship; or from the sugar-loaf hats originally worn by Puritans. Another derivation is from the earthen tiles, technically PANTILES (tiles hollowed in the middle, as distinguished from “pintiles,” the older sort, which are flat, smaller, and pinned or nailed to the rafters), with which meeting-houses of Dissenters are usually covered; hence the meeting-house came to be called a PANTILE, and its frequenters PANTILERS.

~Pants~, American term for trousers. Here used to represent the long drawers worn underneath.

~Panupetaston~, a loose overcoat with wide sleeves, now out of fashion.—_Oxford University._

~Paper-maker~, a rag-gatherer, or gutter-raker—similar to the chiffonnier of Paris. Also, a man who tramps through the country, and collects rags on the pretence that he is an agent to a paper mill.

~Paper-Worker~, a wandering vendor of street literature; one who sells ballads, dying speeches, and confessions, sometimes termed a “running stationer.”

~Parachute~, a parasol.

~Paradise~, French slang for the gallery of a theatre, “up amongst the GODS,” which _see_.

~Parish lantern~, the moon.

~Parish prig~, or PARISH BULL, a parson.—_Thieves’ cant._

~Parney~, rain; “dowry of PARNEY,” a quantity of rain. _Anglo-Indian_ slang from the _Hindoo_, PANI, water; _Gipsy_, PANE. Old Indian officers always call brandy-and-water “brandy PAWNEE.”

~Parson~, a signpost. Common term in the north, where they say that the PARSON points, but does not lead. This is given, as the lawyers say, “without prejudice.”

~Parson Trulliber~, a rude, vulgar, country clergyman, devoted to agricultural pursuits; the race is most probably now extinct. From the pig-feeding and pig-headed parson in _Joseph Andrews_.

~Parson’s nose~, the hind part of a goose—a savoury mouthful. Sometimes called the POPE’S NOSE.

~Part~, to pay, restore, or give up; “he’s a right un, he is; I know’d he’d PART,” _i.e._, he is a liberal (or punctual) person, and pays his debts, or bestows gratuities. The term is in general use in sporting circles, and is very commonly employed when speaking of the settlement of bets after a race. It is probably derived from the very common reference to stingy people, who are described as not liking to PART with their money.

~Parter~, a free, liberal person. Sometimes called a “good PARTER.” Any one who looks twice at his money, or who doesn’t pay it at all, is called a “bad PARTER.”

~Party~, a person—term in very general use, similar in application to the German pronoun, MAN, a person, people; “where’s the PARTY as ’ad a’ orter be lookin’ after this ’ere ’oss?” policeman’s inquiry of the wrong cabman; “old PARTY,” an elderly person. The term is said to have arisen in our old justice courts, where, to save “his worship” and the clerk of the court any trouble in exercising their memories with the names of the different plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses, the word PARTY was generally employed. Dean Alford remarked:—

“The word PARTY for a man is especially offensive. Strange to say,
the use is not altogether modern. It occurs in the English version
of the Apocryphal book of Tobit, vi. 7. ‘If an evil spirit trouble
any, one must make a smoke thereof before the man or the woman, and
the PARTY shall be no more vexed.’”

In Shakspeare we find the term:—

“_Stephano._ How now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring me to
the PARTY?”—_Tempest_, iii. 2.

This is not the only instance of the word being used by the immortal bard. “I once heard,” said the Dean just quoted, “a venerable dignitary pointed out by a railway porter as an old PARTY in a shovel.” The last word is the vulgar term applied to the peculiar hat worn by clerical dignitaries.

~Pash~, to strike; now corrupted to BASH, which _see_.—_Shakspeare._

~Paste~, to beat, to thrash vigorously.

~Pasteboard~, a visiting card; “to PASTEBOARD a person,” to drop a card at an absent person’s house.

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

~Pasty~, a bookbinder.

~Patch.~ This old English term of reproach, long obsolete in polite language, may yet occasionally be heard in sentences like these:—“Why, he’s not a PATCH upon him,” _i.e._, he is not to be compared with him; “one’s not a PATCH on the other,” &c. Shakspeare uses the word in the sense of a paltry fellow:—

“What a pied ninny’s this? thou scurvy PATCH!”

In old English PATCH meant a fool, a wearer of patched clothes of motley.

~Patent coats~, the first coat, with the pockets inside the skirt, were so termed.

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

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

~Patteran~, a gipsy trail, made by throwing down a handful of grass occasionally, especially where they have turned off from the main road.

~Patter-crib~, a flash house.

~Patterer~, one of a race now nearly defunct, who cried last dying speeches, &c., in the streets. The term is also applied to those who help off their wares by long harangues in the public thoroughfares. These men, to use their own term, “are the aristocracy of the street sellers,” and despise the costermongers for their ignorance, boasting that they live by their intellect, which, as they do not live wonderfully well, is no particularly wise boast.

~Pattern~, a common vulgar phrase for “patent.”

~Paul Pry~, an inquisitive person. From the well-known comedy.

~Paw~, the hand. PAW-CASES, gloves. Boots are in some parts of Ireland called “gloves for the feet.”

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

~Pay~, to deliver. “PAY that letter to Mr. So-and-so” is a very common direction to a Chinese servant.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Pay-away~, “go on with your story, or discourse.” From the nautical phrase PAY-AWAY, meaning to allow a rope to run out of a vessel. When the hearer considers the story quite long enough, he, carrying out the same metaphor, exclaims “hold on.”

~Peach~, an informer against omnibus conductors and drivers, one especially hired by the proprietors to count passengers and stoppages. The term is in frequent use amongst omnibus-men. This is about the only instance known of the verb being used as a substantive.

~Peach~, to inform against or betray. Webster states that the word “impeach” is now mostly used, and that PEACH is confined principally to the conversation of thieves and the lower orders. The word was originally “impeach,” though it was never until lately used in the same way as its abridgment.

~Peacock horse~, amongst undertakers, is one with a showy tail and mane, which holds its head up well. PEACOCKY refers to an objectionable high action among racehorses.

~Peaking~, remnants of cloth. Term amongst drapers and cloth warehousemen.

~Peaky~, sickly, delicate.

~Pec~, a term used by the Eton boys for money, an abbreviation, of course, of the _Latin_ PECUNIA.

~Peck~, food; “PECK and boose,” meat and drink.—_Lincolnshire._ _Ancient Cant_, PEK, meat.

~Peck~, to eat voraciously. A hearty eater is generally called “a rare PECKER.” Originally PECK was to eat delicately, “but we have changed all that now.”

~Peck-alley~, the throat.

~Pecker~, “keep your PECKER up,” _i.e._, don’t get down in the mouth,—literally, keep your beak or head well up, “never say die!”

~Peckham~, a facetious usage of the name of this district, implying a dinner; “all holiday at PECKHAM,” _i.e._, nothing to eat.

~Peckish~, hungry. _Old Cant_, PECKIDGE, meat.

~Peel~, to strip, or disrobe.—_Sporting._

~Peeler~, a policeman; so called from Sir Robert Peel (_see_ BOBBY); properly applied to the Irish Constabulary rather than the Metropolitan Police, the former force having been established by Sir Robert Peel.

~Peepers~, eyes; “painted PEEPERS,” eyes bruised or blackened from a blow.—_Pugilistic._

~Peery~, suspicious, or inquisitive.

~Peg~, brandy and soda-water. A PEG by which to pull oneself up again. Also, a shilling.—_Scotch._

~Peg~, “to PEG away,” to strike, run, or drive away; “PEG a hack,” to drive a cab; “to take him down a PEG or two,” to check an arrogant or conceited person,—possibly derived from the use of PEG tankards. _See_ PIN.

~Peg~, to drink frequently; generally used in reference to devotees of “S. and B.”

~Peggers~, people who constantly stimulate themselves by means of brandy and soda-water.

~Pegtops~, the loose trousers in fashion some years back, small at the ankle and swelling upwards, in imitation of the Zouave costume.

~Penang-lawyer~, a long cane, sometimes carried by a footman. PENANG-LAWYERS are also bludgeons which are carried by all classes in Singapore.

~Pencil-fever~, a supposititious disease among racehorses, the preliminary symptoms of which show that an animal has been pretty considerably “milked.” PENCIL-FEVER sets in when, despite the efforts of the “marketeers,” a horse can no longer be kept at a short price in the lists, through his actual condition being discovered, and when every layer of odds is anxious to write his name down. This disorder is also called “milk-fever,” “market-fever,” and other suggestive names.

~Penny-a-liner~, a contributor of local news, accidents, fires, and scandals to a newspaper; a man not regularly “on the paper;” one who is popularly believed to be paid for each contribution at the rate of a penny a line, and whose interest is, therefore, that his articles should be stuffed with fine words and long sentences. This wonderful person, to whom so much is daily attributed, is now generally called a LINER.

~Penny dreadfuls~, an expressive term for those penny publications which depend more upon sensationalism than upon merit, artistic or literary, for success.

~Penny gaff~, a shop turned into a temporary theatre (admission one penny), at which dancing and singing take place every night. Sometimes rude pictures of the performers are arranged outside to give the front a gaudy and attractive look, and at night-time coloured lamps and transparencies are displayed to draw an audience. Zest is given to these entertainments by the fact that now and again the police make raids upon the houses, and carry off both actors and spectators. These places are also called “dukeys,” for no reason that can be discovered. _See_ GAFF.

~Penny starver~, a penny roll. _See_ BUSTER.

~Pen’orth~, value for money; as, “I’ll have my PEN’ORTH,”—given irrespective of the actual amount.

~Pensioner~, a man of the most degraded condition who lives off the miserable earnings of a prostitute. There is an unmentionable prefix to the word PENSIONER. _See_ PONCE.

~Pepper~, to thrash, or strike.—_Pugilistic_, but used by Shakspeare.—_Eastern Counties._

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

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

“Nor yet a single perch, for which my lucky stars to thank,
Except the _perch_ I’ve taken on this damp rheumatic bank.”

_Lay of the Unsuccessful Angler._

~Perform~, to carry out a design, generally a dishonest one. To “PERFORM on a flat” is to cozen a fool.

~Perkin~, beer. Dandy or affected shortening of the widely-known firm, Barclay and Perkins.

~Perpendicular~, a lunch taken standing-up at a tavern bar. It is usual to call it lunch, often as the PERPENDICULAR may take the place of dinner.

~Persuaders~, spurs.

~Pesky~, an intensitive expression, implying annoyance; as, “A PESKY, troublesome fellow.” Corruption of PESTILENT; or, _Irish_, PEASGACH, rough, rugged. PESKY has now become more American than English. _Pesky Ike_ is the name of a popular American drama.

~Peter~, a partridge.—_Poacher’s term._

~Peter~, a bundle, or valise. Also, a cash-box.

~Peter~, to run short, or give out.—_American._

~Peter Funk~, an American term for a spurious auction or “knock-out.”

~Peter Grievous~, a miserable, melancholy fellow; a croaker.

~Petticoat~, a woman.

~Pewter~, money, like “tin,” used generally to signify silver; also a tankard. “Let me have my beer in the PEWTER,” is a common request to waiters, made by “City” men, and others who affect habits of rude health. The pots for which rowing men contend are often called PEWTERS.

~Philadelphia-lawyer~, a Transatlantic limb of the law considered to be the very acme of acuteness. Sailors relate many stories of his artful abilities, none, however, short enough to find a place here. The phrase, “Enough to puzzle a PHILADELPHIA-LAWYER,” means, enough to puzzle the sharpest man in the world.

~Philander~, to ramble on incoherently; to write discursively and weakly.

~Philip~, a policeman. The word is loudly given as a signal that the police are approaching.

~Philiper~, a thief’s accomplice, one who stands by and looks out for the police while the others commit a robbery, and who calls out “Philip!” when any one approaches.

~Philistine~, a policeman. The German students call all townspeople not of their body “Philister,” as ours say “cads.” The departing student says, mournfully, in one of the Burschenlieder—

“Muss selber nun PHILISTER sein!”

_i.e._, “I must now myself PHILISTINE be!” Also, a man who is of a set opposed to one’s own. Society is supposed to regard all outside its bounds as belonging to the PHILISTINE world. Bohemians regard all cleanly, orderly people who conform to conventionality as PHILISTINES.

~Physog~, or PHIZ, the face. Swift uses the latter word. Corruption of PHYSIOGNOMY.

~Picaroon~, a pirate or buccaneer originally; now an ordinary thief.

~Piccadilly butchers~, a satirical name applied by the crowd to the regiment of Horse Guards, known as the “Royal Blues,” from their savage onslaught upon the crowd on the occasion of the arrest of Sir Francis Burdett at his house in Piccadilly, by order of the Speaker of the House of Commons. _See_ CHEESEMONGERS.

~Piccadilly weepers~, long carefully combed-out whiskers of the Dundreary fashion.

~Pick~, “to PICK oneself up,” to recover after a beating or illness, sometimes varied to “PICK up one’s crumbs;” “to PICK a man up,” “to do,” or cheat him.

~Pickaninny~, a young child is thus styled by the West Indian negroes. The word is now completely naturalized among sailors and water-side people in England.

~Pickers~, the hands.—_Shakspeare._

~Pickle~, a miserable or comical position; “he is in a sad PICKLE,” said of any one who has fallen into the gutter, or got besmeared. “A PICKLE herring,” a comical fellow, a merry-andrew.—_Old._ Also, a mischievous boy; “what a PICKLE he is, to be sure!” Derived from his always getting into a PICKLE, or mess.

~Pickles!~ gammon; also a jeering and insulting exclamation.

~Pick-me-up~, a revivifying drink taken after a debauch; a tonic.

~Piece~, a contemptuous term for a woman; a strumpet.—_Shakspeare._ Not always objectionable nowadays. A “barber’s clerk” does not object to hear his sweetheart or wife called “a nice PIECE;” and gentlemen of the counter-jumping fraternity describe their “young ladies” as “nice PIECES of goods.”

~Pieman.~ In tossing, the man who cries is called the PIEMAN. In the old days when the itinerant PIEMAN’S duty was to toss or sell, and his call was, “Hot pies, toss or buy, toss or buy,” he was always supposed to be entitled to the cry, the intending eater “skying the copper.” An active and efficient police have, however, improved tossing—so far, at all events, as PIEMEN and poor people are concerned—off the face of the earth, and gaming of all descriptions is now a luxury confined to the rich.

~Pig~, a mass of metal,—so called from its being poured in a fluid state from a SOW, which _see_.—_Workman’s term._

~Pig~, a policeman; an informer. The word is now almost exclusively applied by London thieves to a plain-clothes man, or a “nose.”

~Pig~, a pressman in a printing office. _See_ DONKEY.

~Pig~, or SOW’S BABY, a sixpence.

~Pig~, to live in a crowded, filthy manner. The lower orders of Irish are said to PIG together. A suggestive, if not elegant, expression.

~Pig and Tinder-box~, the vulgar rendering of the well-known tavern sign, “Elephant and Castle.”

~Pigeon~, a gullible or soft person. The _French_ cant, or _Argot_, has the word PIGEON, dupe—“PECHON, PESCHON DE RUBY, apprenti gueux, enfant (sans doute dérobé)”. The vagabonds and brigands of Spain also used the word in their _Germania_, or robbers’ language, PALOMO (PIGEON), ignorant, simple. In the sporting world sharps and flats are often called “rooks and PIGEONS” respectively—sometimes “spiders and flies.”

~Pigeon~, business, simply the Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Pigeon-English~, the English spoken by the natives of Canton and other parts of China.

~Pigeon-flying~, or BLUEY CRACKING, breaking into empty houses and stealing lead.

~Pigeon’s milk~, an imaginary fluid for which boys and simpletons are frequently sent on the 1st of April.

~Pig-headed~, obstinate.

~Pig’s eye~, the ace of diamonds in cards.

~Pig’s whisper~, a low or inaudible whisper; also a short space of time, synonymous with “cockstride,” _i.e._, cock’s tread.

~Pike~, a turnpike; “to bilk a PIKE,” to cheat the keeper of the toll-gate. Mr. Tony Weller makes many amusing remarks on PIKES and PIKE-keepers. Since the first edition of this work was published, PIKES and PIKE-keepers have departed from amongst us, so far as London and its immediate vicinity are concerned.

~Pike~, to run, to be off with speed.

~Pike it~, is said as a hasty and contemptuous, if not angry, dismissal, “if you don’t like it, take a short stick and PIKE it.” This is but a form of the attempts at rhyming smartness common in London.

“Joe quickly his sand had sold, sir,
And Bess got a basket of rags;
Then up to St. Giles’s they roll’d, sir;
To every bunter Bess brags.
Then unto the gin-shop they PIKE IT,
And Bess was admitted, we hear;
For none of the crew dare but like it,
As Joey, her kiddy, was there,”

_The Sand-man’s Wedding_, a Cantata.

“’Twas not our fault, dear Jack; we saw the watch going into the
house the moment we came there, and we thought it proper to PIKE
OFF.”—_The Prison Breaker_, a Farce.

~Pikey~, a tramp or gipsy. A PIKEY-cart is in various parts of the country one of those habitable vehicles suggestive of a wandering life. Possibly the term has reference to one who constantly uses the PIKE, or turnpike road.

~Pile~, a sum of money; generally the whole of a man’s private means. A term originally peculiar to Californian miners, in reference to their accumulated dust and nuggets. American gamblers speak of “putting all the PILE on” when they fancy anything very much. “To go the whole PILE” runs level with our sporting phrase, “To go a raker.”

~Pill~, a doctor.—_Military._ PILL-DRIVER, a peddling apothecary.

~Pill~, to blackball a man at a club. Sometimes a man who is blackballed is described as having received too much medicine.

~Pill-box~, a doctor’s carriage.

~Pin~, “to put in the PIN,” to refrain from drinking. From the ancient peg tankard, which was furnished with a row of PINS, or pegs, to regulate the amount which each person was to drink. Drunken people are often requested to “put in the PIN,” from some remote connexion between their unsteadiness and that of a carriage wheel which has lost its linch-PIN. The popular cry, “Put in the PIN,” can have no connexion with the drinking PIN or peg now, whatever it may originally have had. A MERRY PIN, a roysterer. _See_ PEG.

~Pinch~, to steal or cheat; also, to catch, or apprehend.

~Pinchbeck~, inferior, deteriorated. Anything pretending to more than its proper value is said to be PINCHBECK.

“Where, in these PINCHBECK days, can we hope to find the old
agricultural virtue in all its purity?”—_Framley Parsonage._

PINCHBECK was an inferior metal, compounded of copper and zinc, to resemble gold. It was very fashionable in the last century, and derived its name from a Mr. PINCHBECK, a well-known London tradesman, who manufactured watches, buckles, and other articles out of it. PINCHBECK first obtained his notoriety by the invention of an ingenious candle-snuffers, which the author of _The Heroic Epistle to Sir William Chambers_ made the vehicle of a facetious Ode that went through eight editions. The title of this _jeu d’esprit_ ran thus:—

“_Ode to Mr. Pinchbeck, upon his Newly-invented Candle-Snuffers, by_
MALCOLM M’GREGOR, Esq., 1776.

“Illustrious PINCHBECK! condescend,
Thou well-beloved, and best king’s friend,
These lyric lines to view;
Oh, may they prompt thee, ere too late,
To snuff the candle of the State,
That burns a little blue!”

PINCHBECK published a poetical reply, and the two pamphlets were for a long time the talk of the town.

~Pink~, the acme of perfection. The scarlet garb worn in the hunting-field.

~Pink~, to stab, or pierce. In the days of rapier-wearing a professed duellist was said to be “a regular PINKER and driller.”

~Pinnel~, or PENNEL,—corruption of penal servitude. As, “four-year PINNEL.”

~Pinner-up~, a seller of old songs, pinned against a wall or framed canvas. Formerly many of these street salesmen carried on their little “paper trade” in London. There are but one or two now left.

~Pins~, legs.

~Pipe~, to follow or dog a person; to watch, to notice.

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

“He first began to eye his pipe.
And then to PIPE his eye.”—_Hood._

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

~Pipe~, “to put one’s PIPE out,” to traverse his plans, “to take a rise” out of him. When any one meets with a rebuff or a sharp answer, he is often told to “put that in his PIPE and smoke it,” _i.e._, to digest it carefully.

~Piper~, a person employed by an omnibus proprietor to act as a spy on the conductor.

~Piper~, a broken-winded hack horse.

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

~Pips~, the marks, no matter of what suit, on playing cards. The ace is often called “single PIP.”

~Pit~, a breast-pocket.

~Pitch~, a fixed locality where a patterer can hold forth to a gaping multitude for at least some few minutes continuously; “to do a PITCH in the drag,” to perform in the street. An itinerant is said to “make a PITCH” whenever he attempts to do any business.

~Pitch~, to utter base coin. Smashers are known to themselves and their friends, the rest of the dangerous classes, as “snide PITCHERS.” The confederacy is divided into makers, buyers, holders, and pitchers. The maker probably never sees the actual passers of base money, the buyer being generally the intercommunicating medium. The holder is generally a man who carries the bulk of the “snides,” and waits about; while the pitcher, often a woman—indeed, more often than not—runs the actual risk.

~Pitch~, to go to bed for less than the ordinary period. Journeymen bakers, and others whose work is disjointed, call any short interval of sleep a PITCH. Probably from the action.

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

~Pitch the fork~, to tell a pitiful tale.

~Pitch the nob~, PRICK THE GARTER, which _see_.

~Place~, to name the first three horses in a race. This is the duty of the judge, who sees nothing of the race but the finish. Sometimes an official will place more than the first three, but this in no way interferes with the meaning of the word as generally received. To run “nowhere” is to be unplaced.

~Place~, first, second, or third position in a race. Sometimes a PLACE is called a “situation” or a “shop.”

~Plant~, a dodge, a preconcerted swindle; a position in the street to sell from. All bearings-up, bonnetings, and such like arrangements, are the results of preconcerted schemes or PLANTS.

~Plant~, to mark a person out for plunder or robbery; to conceal or hide money, &c.—_Old Cant._ In the sense of conceal, there is a similar word in _Argot_, PLANQUER.

~Plant~, a hidden store of money or variables. To “spring a PLANT” is to unearth another person’s hoard.

~Platform~, a standpoint in an argument, a statement of political or general opinion. “Home rule’s my PLATFORM!” Originally _American_, but now general.

~Play~, to strike for higher wages, to be out of work.—_North._

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

~Plough.~ To be PLOUGHED is to fail to pass an examination. About twenty years ago “pluck,” the word then used, began to be superseded by PLOUGH. It is said to have arisen from a man who could not supply the examiner with any quotation from Scripture, until at last he blurted out, “And the ploughers ploughed on my back, and made long furrows.”—_University._

~Ploughed~, drunk.

~Pluck~, the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal,—all that is PLUCKED away in connexion with the windpipe, from the chest of a sheep or hog.

~Pluck~, to turn back at a University examination. The supposed origin of PLUCK is, that when, on degree day, the proctor, after having read the name of a candidate for a degree, walks down the hall and back, it is to give any creditor the opportunity of plucking his sleeve, and informing him of the candidate’s being in debt.

~Pluck~, courage, valour, stoutness. _See following._

~Plucked un~, a stout or brave fellow; “he’s a rare PLUCKED UN,” _i.e._, he dares face anything.

During the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny PLUCKY, signifying courageous, became a favourite term even among ladies; and the term British PLUCK will probably live—slangy as is its origin—as long as the language into which it has been adopted, for the history of the deeds with which it is associated can never die, while, indeed, a history remains to this country. The word met with great disfavour at first from the “genteel,” but of course they followed when aristocracy deigned to use it.

~Plum~, £100,000, usually applied to the dowry of a rich heiress, to a legacy, or to a sum made in business or by a lucky speculation.

~Plum-cash~, prime cost.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Plummy~, round, sleek, jolly, or fat; excellent, very good, first-rate.

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

~Plunder~, a common word in the horse trade to express profit. Also an American term for baggage, luggage. In Lower Canada the French packmen call luggage “butin.”

~Plunger~, a heavy cavalry-man.—_Military slang._

~Plutocracy~, the wealthy classes. The Manchester merchants are often termed a millocracy, and words of a similar character are mobocracy and moneyocracy.

~Pocket~, to put up with. A man who does not resent an affront is said to POCKET it.

~Pocket-pistol~, a dram-flask.

~Podgy~, drunk; dumpy, short, and fat.

~Pogram~, a Dissenter, a fanatic, formalist, or humbug. So called from a well-known enthusiast of this name.

~Poke~, a bag, or sack; “to buy a pig in a POKE,” to purchase anything without seeing it. POKE was originally a pocket. Shakspeare says—

“And then he pulled a dial from his POKE.”

~Poke.~ “Come, none of your POKING fun at me,” _i.e._, you must not laugh at me.

~Poker.~ “By the holy POKER and the tumbling Tom!” an Irish oath.

~Pokers~, or SILVER POKERS, the Bedels of the Vice-Chancellor, who carry silver maces, and accompany him through the streets. They are also officers of his court.—_University._

“Around, around, all, all around.
On seats with velvet lined,
Sat Heads of Houses in a row,
And Deans and College Dons below,
With a POKER or two behind.”

_Rime of the New-made Baccalere_, 1841.

~Poky~, confined or cramped; “that corner is POKY and narrow.” Housewives describe a small uncomfortable room as “a POKY hole.” _Saxon_, POKE, a sack.

~Policeman~, a fly—more especially the kind known as “blue bottle.” Also, among the dangerous classes, a man who is unworthy of confidence, a sneak or mean fellow.

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

~Poll~, at Cambridge, the “ordinary degree” candidates for the B.A. Examination, who do not aspire to the “Honours” list. From the _Greek_, οἱ πόλλοι, “the many.”

~Poll~, to beat or distance, as in a race; to utterly vanquish in competition. Term much used by printers.

~Poll~, a female of unsteady character; “POLLED up,” means living with a woman in a state of unmarried impropriety. Also, if a costermonger sees one of his friends walking with a strange woman, he will say to him on the earliest opportunity, “I saw yer when yer was POLLED up.”

~Poll~, or POLLING, one thief robbing another of part of the booty. In use in ancient times, _vide Hall’s Union_, 1548.

~Poll parrot~, a talkative, gossiping woman. A term much used about Ratcliff Highway.

~Polony~, Cockney shortening and vulgar pronunciation of Bologna (sausage). The sausages which are sold under the name of POLONIES have, however, no nearer connexion with Bologna sausages than that of the word’s derivation.

~Pompadours~, the Fifty-sixth Regiment of Foot in the British army.

~Ponce~, a degraded man who lives upon a woman’s prostitution. Low-class East-end thieves even will “draw the line” at PONCES, and object to their presence in the boozing-kens.

~Pond~, or HERRING-POND, the sea; so called by those who were sent across it at the national expense.

~Ponge~, or PONGELOW, beer, half-and-half; the term is also used as a verb, as in the Cockney phrase, “let’s PONGELOW, shall we?”

~Pony~, twenty-five pounds.—_Sporting._

~Poona~, a sovereign. Corruption of “pound;” or from the _Lingua Franca_.

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

~Pop the question~, to make an offer of marriage.

~Pope’s-eye~, a peculiar little part in a leg of mutton, much esteemed by lovers of that joint.

~Pope’s nose~, the extremity of the rump of a roast fowl, sometimes devilled as a dainty for epicures. Also known as “the parson’s NOSE.”

~Pops~, pocket-pistols.

~Porterhouse steak~, an American term for a steak which contains a small bone. In the States, tender-loin steaks are much eaten. These are from what we call the undercut of the sirloin.

~Portrait~, a sovereign. Modification of “Queen’s picture.”

~Posa~, a treasurer. A corruption of “purser,” the name given to the treasurer in the large Anglo-Chinese mercantile establishments.—_Anglo-Chinese._

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

~Post~, to pay down; “POST the pony” signifies to place the stakes played for on the table.

~Post-horn~, the nose. _See_ PASTE-HORN.

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

~Posted up~, well acquainted with the subject in question, “up to the mark,”—metaphor drawn from the counting-house.

~Pot~, a favourite in the betting for a race. Probably so called because it is usual to say that a heavily-backed horse carries “a POT of money.” When a favourite is beaten the POT is said to be upset.

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

~Pot~, TO GO TO POT, to die; from the classic custom of putting the ashes of the dead in an urn; also, to be ruined or broken up,—often applied to tradesmen who fail in business. “Go to POT!” _i.e._, go and hang yourself, shut up and be quiet.—_L’Estrange._ “To put the POT on,” to overcharge or exaggerate. “To go to POT” most probably means to go out of all shape, as metal in the melting-pot.

~Pot~, to finish; “don’t POT me,” term used at billiards, when a player holes his adversary’s ball—generally considered shabby play. This word was much used by our soldiers in the Crimea in reference to shots from a hole or ambush. These were called POT-SHOTS. The term is still used to denote a shot taken sitting or at ease.

~Pot-boiler~, a picture hurriedly painted for the purpose of “keeping the POT BOILING.”—_Artistic slang._

~Pot-faker~, a hawker of crockery and general earthenware.

~Pot-hat~, a low-crowned hat, as distinguished from the soft wideawake and the stove-pipe.

~Pot-hunter~, a sportsman who shoots anything he comes across, having more regard to filling his bag than to the rules which regulate the sport. A man who fires at anything, regardless of the rules which govern true sportsmen.

~Pot-hunter~, a man who gives his time up to rowing or punting, or any sort of match in order to win the “pewters” which are given as prizes.—_University._ The term is now much used in aquatic and athletic circles; and is applied, in a derogatory sense, to men of good quality who enter themselves in small races they are almost sure to win, and thus deprive the juniors of small trophies which should be above the attention of champions, though valuable to beginners. Also an unwelcome guest, who manages to be just in time for dinner.

~Pot-luck~, just as it comes; to take POT-LUCK, _i.e._, one’s chance of a dinner, or of what there is for dinner. A hearty term, used to signify that whatever the pot contains the visitor is welcome to.

~Pot-valiant~, courageous through application to the bottle. Possessed of Dutch courage.

~Pot-walloper~, an elector in certain boroughs before the passing of the first Reform Bill, whose qualification consisted in being a housekeeper,—to establish which it was only necessary to boil a pot within the limits of the borough, by the aid of any temporary erection. This implied that he was able to provide for himself, and not necessitated to apply for parochial relief. Honiton, Tregoney, Ilchester, Old Sarum, &c., had this privilege before the passing of the first Reform Bill. Also, a scullion.

~Potato-trap~, the mouth.—Originally a Hibernicism.