Chapter VI: Part 6

~Choker~, a cravat, a neckerchief. WHITE-CHOKER, the white neckerchief worn by mutes at a funeral, waiters at a tavern, and gentlemen in evening costume. Clergymen and Exeter Hallites are frequently termed WHITE-CHOKERS.

~Choker~, or WIND-STOPPER, a garotter.

~Chonkeys~, a kind of mincemeat, baked in a crust, and sold in the streets.

~Choops~, a corruption of CHOOPRAHO, keep silence.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Chootah~, small, insignificant.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Chop~, in the Canton jargon of _Anglo-Chinese_, this word has several significations. It means an official seal, a permit, a boat load of teas. FIRST CHOP signifies first quality; and CHOP-CHOP, to make haste.

~Chop~, to exchange, to “swop.” To CHOP and change, to be as variable as the wind.

~Chops~, properly CHAPS, the mouth, or cheeks; “down in the CHOPS,” or “down in the mouth,” _i.e._, sad or melancholy.

~Chouse~, to cheat out of one’s share or portion. _Hackluyt_, CHAUS; _Massinger_, CHIAUS. From the _Turkish_, in which language it signifies an interpreter. _Gifford_ gives a curious story as to its origin:—

“In the year 1609 there was attached to the Turkish embassy in
England an Interpreter, or CHIAOUS, who, by cunning, aided by his
official position, managed to cheat the Turkish and Persian
merchants, then in London, out of the large sum of £4000, then
deemed an enormous amount. From the notoriety which attended the
fraud, and the magnitude of the swindle, any one who cheated or
defrauded was said to _chiaous_, or _chause_, or CHOUSE; to do, that
is, as this _Chiaous_ had done.”—_See Trench, Eng. Past and
Present._

CHIAUS, according to _Sandys_ (_Travels_, p. 48), is “one who goes on embassies, executes commandments,” &c. The particular Chiaus in question is alluded to in _Ben Jonson’s Alchymist_, 1610.

“_D._ What do you think of me?
That I am a CHIAUS?
_Face._ What’s that?
_D._ The Turk [who] was here.
As one would say, do you think I am a Turk?”

~Chout~, an entertainment.—_East-end of London._

~Chovey~, a shop.—_Costermonger._

~Chow-Chow~, a mixture, food of any kind. Also chit-chat and gossip.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Chowdar~, a fool.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Christening~, erasing the name of the maker, the number, or any other mark, from a stolen watch, and inserting a fictitious one in its place.

~Chubby~, round-faced, plump. Probably from the same derivative as CHUB, which means literally a fish with a big head.

~Chuck~, bread or meat; in fact, anything to eat. Also a particular kind of beefsteak.

~Chuck~, a schoolboy’s treat.—_Westminster School._ Provision for an entertainment. Hard CHUCK is sea biscuit.

~Chuck~, to throw or pitch.

~Chuck a Jolly~, to bear up or bonnet, as when a costermonger praises the inferior article his mate or partner is trying to sell. _See_ CHI-IKE.

~Chuck a Stall~, to attract a person’s attention while a confederate picks his pockets, or otherwise robs him.

~Chuck in~, to challenge—from the pugilistic custom of throwing a hat into the ring; a modern version of “throwing down the gauntlet.” This term seems to have gone out of fashion with the custom which gave rise to it.

~Chuckle-head~, much the same as “buffle head,” “cabbage head,” “chowder head,” “cod’s head,”—all signifying that large abnormal form of skull generally supposed to accompany stupidity and weakness of intellect; as the Scotch proverb, “muckle head and little wit.”—Originally Devonshire, but now general.

~Chucks!~ Schoolboy’s signal on the master’s approach.

~Chuck up~, to surrender, give in—from the custom of throwing up the sponge at a prize-fight in token of yielding. This is very often corrupted into “jack up.”

~Chuff it~, _i.e._, be off, or take it away, in answer to a street seller who is importuning you to purchase. _Halliwell_ mentions CHUFF as a “term of reproach,” surly, &c.

~Chull~, make haste. An abbreviation of the _Hindostanee_ CHULLO, signifying “go along.” CHULL is very commonly used to accelerate the motions of a servant, driver, or palanquin-bearer.

~Chum~, an intimate acquaintance. A recognised term, but in such frequent use with slangists that it almost demands a place here. Stated to be from the _Anglo-Saxon_, CUMA, a guest.

~Chum~, to occupy a joint lodging with another person. _Latin_, CUM.

~Chumming-up~, an old custom amongst prisoners before the present regulations were in vogue, and before imprisonment for debt was abolished; when a fresh man was admitted to their number, rough music was made with pokers, tongs, sticks, and saucepans. For this ovation the initiated prisoner had to pay, or “fork over,” half-a-crown—or submit to a loss of coat and waistcoat.

~Chummy~, a chimney-sweep—probably connected with _chimney_; also a low-crowned felt hat. Sometimes, but rarely, a sweep is called a clergyman—from his colour.

~Chump~, the head or face. Also one end of a loin of mutton. A half-idiotic or daft person is said to be off his chump.

~Chunk~, a thick or dumpy piece of any substance, as a CHUNK of bread or meat.—_Kentish._

~Church a yack~ (or watch), to take the works of a watch from its original case, and put them into another one, to avoid detection.—_See_ CHRISTEN.

~Churchwarden~, a long pipe, “a yard of clay;” probably so called from the dignity which seems to hedge the smoker of a churchwarden, and the responsibility attached to its use. Sometimes called an Alderman.

~Cinder~, any liquor used in connexion with soda-water, as to “take a soda with a CINDER in it.” The cinder may be sherry, brandy, or any other liquor.

~Circumbendibus~, a roundabout way, a long-winded story.

~Clack-box~, a garrulous person, so called from the rattle formerly used by vagrants to make a rattling noise and attract attention.—_Norfolk._

⁂ A common proverb in this county is, “your tongue goes like A BAKER’S CLAP-DISH,” which is evidently a modern corruption of the beggars’ CLAP or CLACK-DISH mentioned in _Measure for Measure_. It was a wooden dish with a movable cover.

~Claggum~, boiled treacle in a hardened state, hardbake.—_See_ CLIGGY.

~Clam, or clem~, to starve.—_North._

~Clap~, to place; “do you think you can CLAP your hand on him?” _i.e._, find him out. CLAP is also a well-known form of a contagious disease.

~Clapper~, the tongue. Said of an over-talkative person, to be hung in the middle and to sound with both ends.

~Clap-trap~, high-sounding nonsense. An ancient theatrical term for a “TRAP to catch a CLAP by way of applause from the spectators at a play.”—_Bailey’s Dictionary._

~Claret~, blood.—_Pugilistic._ Otherwise Badminton—which _see_.

~Clashy~, a low fellow, a labourer.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Class~, the highest quality or combination of highest qualities among athletes. “He’s not CLASS enough,” _i.e._, not good enough. “There’s a deal of CLASS about him,” _i.e._, a deal of quality. The term as used this way obtains to a certain extent among turfites.

~Clawhammer coat~, an American term for a tail-coat used in evening costume. Also known as a steel-pen coat.

~Clean~, quite, or entirely; “CLEAN gone,” entirely out of sight, or away.—_Old_, see Cotgrave and Shakspeare. CLEAN CONTRARY, quite different, opposite.

~Clean out~, to ruin, or make bankrupt any one; to take all he has got, by purchase, chicane, or force. De Quincey, in his article on Richard Bentley, speaking of the lawsuit between that great scholar and Dr. Colbatch, remarks that the latter “must have been pretty well CLEANED OUT.” The term is very general.

~Click~, a knock or blow. CLICK-HANDED, left-handed.—_Cornish._ A term in Cumberland and Westmoreland wrestling for a peculiar kind of throw, as “an inside CLICK,” or “an outside CLICK.”

~Click~, to snatch, to pull away something that belongs to another.

~Clicker~, a female touter at a bonnet shop. In Northamptonshire, the cutter out in a shoemaking establishment. In the _Dictionary of the Terms, Ancient and Modern, of the Canting Crew_, Lond. n. d. (but prior to 1700), the CLICKER is described as “the shoemaker’s journeyman or servant, that cutts out all the work, and stands at or walks before the door, and saies—‘What d’ye lack, sir? what d’ye buy, madam?’” In a printing-office, a man who makes up the pages, and who takes work and receives money for himself and companions.

~Clift~, to steal.

~Cliggy~, or CLIDGY, sticky.—_Anglo-Saxon_, CLÆG, clay.—_See_ CLAGGUM.

~Clinch~ (to get the), to be locked up in jail.

~Clincher~, that which rivets or confirms an argument, an incontrovertible position. Also a lie which cannot be surpassed, a stopper-up, said to be derived as follows:—Two notorious liars were backed to outlie each other. “I drove a nail through the moon once,” said the first. “Right,” said the other; “I recollect the circumstance well, for I went round to the back part of the moon and _clinched_ it”—hence CLINCHER.

~Cling-rig~, stealing tankards from public-houses, &c.

~Clipper~, a fine fast-sailing vessel. Applied also as a term of encomium to a handsome woman.

~Clipping~, excellent, very good. CLIPPER, anything showy or first-rate.

~Clock~, a watch. Watches are also distinguished by the terms “red clock,” a gold watch, and “white clock,” a silver watch. Generally modified into “red’un” and “white’un.”

~Clock~, “to know what’s O’CLOCK,” to be “up, down, fly and awake,” to know everything about everything—a definition of knowingness in general.—_See_ TIME O’ DAY.

~Clod-hopper~, a country clown.

~Cloud~, TO BE UNDER A, to be in difficulties, disgrace or disrepute; in fact, to be in shady circumstances.

~Clout~, or RAG, a cotton pocket-handkerchief.—_Old Cant._ Now “_clouts_” means a woman’s under-clothes, from the waist downwards, _i.e._, petticoats when they are on the person; but the term is extended to mean the whole unworn wardrobe. Probably St. Giles’s satire, having reference to the fact that few women there possess a second gown.

~Clout~, an intentional heavy blow.

~Clover~, happiness, luck, a delightful position—from the supposed extra enjoyment which attends cattle when they suddenly find their quarters changed from a barren field to a meadow of clover. Among betting men he who has arranged his wagerings so satisfactorily before an event that he cannot possibly lose, and may win a good deal, is said to be in clover, a phrase which is sometimes varied by the remark that “he stands on velvet.” Any one who is provided for, so that he can look forward to a term of ease and enjoyment for the rest of his life, is also said to be in clover.

~Club~, in manœuvring troops, so to blunder in giving the word of command that the soldiers get into a position from which they cannot extricate themselves by ordinary tactical means. Young officers frequently “CLUB” their men, and get consequently “wigged” by the inspecting general.

~Clump~, to strike, to beat.—_Prov._

~Cly~, a pocket.—_Old Cant_ for to steal. A correspondent derives this word from the _Old English_, CLEYES, claws; _Anglo-Saxon_, CLEA. This pronunciation is still retained in Norfolk; thus, to CLY would mean to pounce upon, to snatch.—_See_ FRISK. _Gael._, CLIAH (pronounced CLEE), a basket.

~Cly-faker~, a pickpocket.

~Coach~, a private tutor. Originally University, but now general. Any man who now trains or teaches another, or others, is called a coach. To coach is to instruct as regards either physical or mental acquirements. A private tutor is sometimes termed a RURAL COACH when he is not connected with a college. At Rugby a flogging is termed a “coaching.”

~Coach-wheel~, or TUSHEROON, a crown-piece, or five shillings.

~Coal~, money; “post the COAL,” put down the money. The phrase was used by Mr. Buckstone at the Theatrical Fund Dinner of 1863. From this is derived the theatrical term COALING, profitable, very good, which an actor will use if his part is full of good and telling speeches—thus, “my part is full of COALING lines.” This term was used in the sporting world long anterior to Mr. Buckstone’s speech. _See_ COAL.

~Coals~, “to haul (or pull) over the COALS,” to take to task, to scold. Supposed by Jamieson to refer to the ordeal by fire. To “take one’s coals in,” is a term used by sailors to express their having caught the venereal disease. It means that they have gotten that which will keep them hot for a good many months.

~Cobbing~, a punishment inflicted by sailors and soldiers among themselves. _See_ Grose and Captain Marryat’s novels. A hand-saw is the general instrument of punishment.

~Cock~, a familiar term of address; “jolly old COCK,” a jovial fellow, “how are you, old COCK?” Frequently rendered nowadays, COCK-E-E, a vulgar street salutation—probably a corruption of COCK-EYE. The latter is frequently heard as a shout or street cry after a man or boy.

~Cock~, a smoking term; “COCKING a Broseley,” _i.e._, smoking a pipe. Broseley in Shropshire is famous for “churchwardens.” A “COCK” is an apocryphal story, generally, of a murder or elopement bawled about the streets by the Seven Dials’ “patterers.”

~Cock~, a pugilistic term for a man who is knocked out of time. “Knocked him a reg’lar COCK.” Sometimes used to signify knocked out of shape, as, “Knocked him A-COCK,” probably connected with “cocked-hat shape.” A horse who has been backed by the public, but who does not run, or, running, does not persevere.

~Cock~, “to COCK your eye,” to shut or wink one eye, to make “sheep’s-eyes.”

~Cock-a-hoop~, in high spirits. Possibly the idea is from the fact that, if a cock wins a fight, he will mount on anything near, and crow lustily and jubilantly. It is noticeable that under these circumstances a cock always gets off the ground-level if he can.

~Cockalorum~, or COCKYLORUM, amplification of cock or cocky.

~Cock and bull story~, a long, rambling anecdote.—_See_ Peroration to _Tristram Shandy_.

~Cock-and-hen-club~, a free and easy gathering, or “sing-song,” where females are admitted as well as males.

~Cock-and-pinch~, the old-fashioned beaver hat, affected by “swells” and “sporting gents” forty years ago—COCKED back and front, and PINCHED up at the sides.

~Cock-a-wax~, an amplification of the simple term COCK, sometimes “Lad of WAX,” originally applied to a cobbler, but now general.

~Cocked-hat-club~, the principal clique amongst the members of the Society of Antiquaries, who virtually decide whether any person proposed shall be admitted or not. The term comes from the “cocked-hat” placed before the president at the sittings. There was another cocked-hat club in London not many years back, which had nothing peculiar about it beyond the fact that every member wore during club sittings, a “fore-and-aft” cocked-hat. Otherwise the proceedings were of the most ordinary kind.

~Cocked-hat-shaped~, shapeless: Anything which has been altered beyond recognition, or any man who has been put completely _hors de combat_, is said to have been knocked into a COCKED-HAT.

~Cocker~, “It is all right, according to Cocker,” meaning that everything has been done in accordance with the present system of figures. The phrase refers to the celebrated writing-master of Charles II.’s time, whose Arithmetic, Dictionary, &c., were long the standard authorities. The Arithmetic was first published in 1677-8, and, though it reached more than sixty editions, is considered a very scarce book. Professor de Morgan says that the main goodness of Cocker’s _Tutor_ consists in his adopting the abbreviated system of division; and suggests that it became a proverbial representative of arithmetic from Murphy’s farce of _The Apprentice_, 1756, in which the strong point of the old merchant, Wingate, is his extreme reverence for Cocker and his arithmetic. A curious fact may here be mentioned in connexion with this saying. It has been stated, and very well proved, that many words popular in Shakspeare’s time, and now obsolete in this country, are still in every-day use in the older English settlements of North America. The original compiler of this work was surprised, when travelling through Western Canada, to find that, instead of the renowned Cocker, the people appealed to another and more learned authority. “According to Gunter,” is a phrase in continual Transatlantic use. This scientific worthy invented the sector in 1606; and in 1623, about the time of the great Puritan exodus to North America, he brought out his famous _Rule of Proportion_. This was popularly known as Gunter’s Proportion, or _Gunter’s Line_, and the term soon became a vulgar standard of appeal in cases of doubt or dispute.

~Cock-eye~, a term of opprobrium often applied to one that squints.

~Cockles~, “to rejoice the COCKLES of one’s heart,” a vulgar phrase implying great pleasure. Also, to “warm one’s COCKLES,” said of any hot, well-spiced drink, taken in cold weather. COCKLES altogether seem to be an imaginary portion—of great importance—in the internal economy of the human frame.

~Cockney~, a native of London. Originally, a spoilt or effeminate boy, derived from COCKERING, or foolishly petting a person, rendering him of soft and luxurious manners. Halliwell states, in his admirable essay upon the word, that “some writers trace the word with much probability to the imaginary land of COCKAYGNE, the lubber land of the olden times.” Grose gives Minsheu’s absurd but comical derivation:—A citizen of London being in the country, and hearing a horse neigh, exclaimed, “Lord! how that horse laughs!” A bystander informed him that the noise was called neighing. The next morning when the cock crowed, the citizen, to show that he had not forgotten what was told him, cried out, “Do you hear how the COCK NEIGHS?”—_See_ MARE’S NEST.

~Cock of the walk~, a master spirit, head of a party. Places where poultry are fed are called WALKS, and the barn door cocks invariably fight for the supremacy till one has obtained it. At schools where this phrase was originally much used, it has been diminished to “COCK” only.

~Cock one’s toes~, to die. Otherwise “turn-up one’s toes.”

~Cock-robin shop~, a small printing-office, where cheap and nasty work is done and low wages are paid.

~Cocks~, fictitious narratives, in verse or prose, of murders, fires, and terrible accidents, sold in the streets as true accounts. The man who hawks them, a patterer, often changes the scene of the awful event to suit the taste of the neighbourhood he is trying to delude. Possibly a corruption of _cook_, a cooked statement, or maybe “the story of a cock and a bull” may have had something to do with the term. Improvements in newspapers, especially in those published in the evening, and increased scepticism on the part of the public, have destroyed this branch of a once-flourishing business.

~Cockshy~, a game at fairs and races, where trinkets are set upon sticks, and for one penny three throws at them are accorded, the thrower keeping whatever he knocks off. From the ancient game of throwing or “shying” at live cocks. Any prominent person abused in the newspapers is said to be a common COCKSHY.

~Cocksure~, certain.

~Cocky~, pert, saucy.

~Cocoa-nut~, the head. A pugilistic term. Also, when anything is explained to a man for the first time, it is not unusual for him to say, “Ah, that accounts for the milk in the cocoa-nut”—a remark which has its origin in a clever but not very moral story.

~Cocum~, shrewdness, ability, luck; “Jack’s got COCUM, he’s safe to get on, he is,”—viz., he starts under favourable circumstances; “to fight COCUM” is to be wily and cautious. Allied perhaps to the Scottish KEEK, _German_, GUCKEN, to peep or pry into.

~Cod~, to hoax, to take a “rise” out of one. Used as a noun, a fool.

~Coddam~, a public-house game, much affected by medical students and cabmen, generally three on each side. The game is “simplicity itself,” but requires a great amount of low cunning and peculiar mental ingenuity. It consists in guessing in which of the six hands displayed on the table, a small piece of marked money lies hid. If the guesser “brings it home,” his side takes the “piece,” and the centre man “works” it. If the guess is wrong, a chalk is taken to the holders, who again secrete the coin. Great fun is to be obtained from this game when it is properly played.

~Codds~, the “poor brethren” of the Charter House. In _The Newcomes_, Thackeray writes, “The Cistercian lads call these old gentlemen CODDS; I know not wherefore.” A probable abbreviation of CODGER.

~Codger~, or COGER, an old man; “a rum old CODGER,” a curious old fellow. CODGER is sometimes used as synonymous with CADGER, and then signifies a person who gets his living in a questionable manner. “COGERS,” the name of a debating society, formerly held in Shoe Lane, Fleet Street, and still in existence. The term is probably a corruption of COGITATORS.

~Coffee-Shop~, a watercloset, or house of office.

~Cog~, to cheat at dice.—_Shakspeare._ Also, to agree with, as one cog-wheel does with another, to crib from another’s book, as schoolboys often do. This is called “cogging over.”

~Cogged~, loaded like false dice. Any one who has been hocussed or cheated is sometimes said to have been COGGED.

~Coin~, “to post the COIN”—sometimes “post the coal”—a sporting phrase meaning to make a deposit of money for a match of any kind.

~Cold blood~, a house licensed for the sale of beer “NOT to be drunk on the premises.”

~Cold coffee~, misfortune; sometimes varied to COLD GRUEL. An unpleasant return for a proffered kindness is sometimes called COLD COFFEE.—_Sea._

~Cold coffee~, an Oxford synonym for a “sell,” which _see_.

~Cold cook~, an undertaker. Cold cook’s shop, an undertaker’s.

~Cold meat~, a corpse. COLD-MEAT BOX, a coffin.

~Cold meat train~, the last train at night by which officers can reach Aldershot per South Western Railway. So called because by this train corpses are often conveyed on account of the Necropolis Company to Woking.

~Cold shoulder~, “to show or give any one the COLD SHOULDER” is to “cut” in a modified form, to assume a distant manner towards anybody, to evince a desire to cease acquaintanceship. Sometimes termed “COLD SHOULDER of mutton.”

~Colfabias~, a Latinized Irish phrase signifying the closet of decency, applied as a slang term to a place of resort in Trinity College, Dublin.

~Collar~, “out of COLLAR,” _i.e._, out of place, no work. Probably a variation of the metaphorical expressions, “in, or out of harness,” _i.e._, in or out of work—the horse being in collar when harnessed for his work. COLLAR work is any very hard work, from the expression among drivers. Any uphill journey is said to be all “COLLAR work” for the horses.

~Collar~, to seize, to lay hold of. Thieves’ slang, _i.e._, to steal.

~Collar and elbow~, a term for a peculiar style of wrestling—the Cornwall and Devon style.

~Collections~, the College examinations at the end of each term, when undergraduates wear white ties and bands, and are trotted through the subjects of the term’s lecture. These are the occasions when the dons administer reproof or advice on the conduct of each individual undergrad.—_Oxford University._

~Collogue~, to conspire, talk mysteriously together in low tones, plot mischief. Connected with “colloquy” or “colleague.” Maybe mixture of both.

~Colly-wobbles~, the stomach-ache, a person’s bowels,—supposed by many to be the seat of feeling and nutrition.—_Devonshire._

~Colour~, complexion, tint; “I’ve not seen the COLOUR of his money,” _i.e._, he has never paid me any. In fortune-telling by cards, a _diamond colour_ is the fairest; _heart-colour_, fair, but not so fair as the last; _club colour_, rather dark; _spade colour_, an extremely swarthy complexion.

~Colour~, a handkerchief worn by each of the supporters of a professional athlete on the day of a match, so as to distinguish them from the partizans of the other side. The professional chooses his colours, and his backers, and as many of the general public as can be persuaded to do so, take one each to wear on the eventful day, the understanding being that the man is to be paid, say, a guinea if he wins, and nothing if he loses. Some of these handkerchiefs used to be, in the palmy days of pugilism and professional rowing on the Thames, very fine specimens of work; but as their purveyors expected to be paid whether they won or lost, and as the price was generally about four times the intrinsic value, colours are rather shyly dealt with now. The custom is, however, a very ancient one, and such men as Tom Sayers, Tom King, Harry Kelley, and Bob Chambers have, even in these degenerate days, received very large sums for their winning colours.

~Colt~, a murderous weapon, formed by slinging a small shot to the end of a rather stiff piece of rope. It is the original of the misnamed “life-preserver.”

~Colt~, a person who sits as juryman for the first time. In Cork an operative baker who does not belong to the union.

~Colt~, a professional cricketer during his first season. From the best colts in the annual match are selected new county players.

~Colt~, to fine a new juryman a sum to be spent in drink, by way of “wetting” his office; to make a person free of a new place, which is done by his standing treat, and submitting to be struck on the sole of the foot with a piece of board.

~Colt’s tooth~, elderly persons of juvenile tastes are said to have a COLT’S TOOTH, _i.e._, a desire to shed their teeth once more, to see life over again.

~Comb-cut~, mortified, disgraced, “down on one’s luck.”—_See_ CUT.

~Come~, a slang verb used in many phrases; “Aint he COMING IT?” _i.e._, is he not proceeding at a great rate? “Don’t COME TRICKS here,” “don’t COME THE OLD SOLDIER over me,” _i.e._, we are aware of your practices, and “twig” your manœuvre. COMING IT STRONG, exaggerating, going ahead, the opposite of “drawing it mild.” COMING IT also means informing or disclosing. Also, in pugilistic phraseology, to COME IT means to show fear; and in this respect, as well as in that of giving information, the expression “COME IT” is best known to the lower and most dangerous classes.

~Come down~, to pay down.

~Commemoration~, the end of Lent term at Oxford, when honorary degrees are conferred and certain prizes given, and when men have friends “up.”

~Commission~, a shirt.—_Ancient Cant._ _Italian_, CAMICIA.

“As from our beds, we doe oft cast our eyes,
Cleane linnen yeelds a shirt before we rise,
Which is a garment _shifting_ in condition;
And in the _canting tongue_ is a COMMISSION.
In weale or woe, in joy or dangerous drifts,
A _shirt_ will put a man unto his _shifts_.”

—_Taylor’s Works_, 1630.

For further particulars, _see_ CAMESA.

~Commister~, a chaplain or clergyman.—Originally _Old Cant_.

~Common sewer~, a DRAIN,—vulgar equivalent for a drink.

~Commons~, the allowance of anything sent out of the buttery or kitchen. “A COMMONS of bread,” or “of cheese,” for instance.—_University._ SHORT COMMONS (derived from the University slang term), a scanty meal, a scarcity.

~Competition wallah~, one who entered the Indian Civil Service by passing a competitive examination.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Compo~, a sailor’s term for his monthly advance of wages.

~Comprador~, a purveyor, an agent.—_Originally Spanish, now Anglo-Chinese._

~Concaves and convexes~, a pack of cards contrived for cheating, by cutting all the cards from the two to the seven concave, and all from the eight to the king convex. Then by cutting the pack breadthwise a convex card is cut, and by cutting it lengthwise a concave is secured.—_See_ LONGS AND SHORTS.

~Conjee~, a kind of gruel made of rice.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Conk~, a nose. Possibly from the _Latin_, CONCHA, a shell. _Greek_, κόγχη—hence anything hollow. Somewhat of a parallel may be found in the _Latin_, TESTA, an earthenware pot, a shell, and in later _Latin_, a _skull_; from whence the _French_ TESTE, or TÊTE, head. CONKY, having a projecting or remarkable nose. The first Duke of Wellington was frequently termed “Old CONKY” in satirical papers and caricatures.

~Connaught Rangers~, the Eighty-eighth Regiment of Foot in the British Army.

~Conshun’s price~, fair terms, without extortion. Probably conscience price.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Constable~, “to overrun the CONSTABLE,” to exceed one’s income, or get deep in debt. The origin of this phrase is unknown, but its use is very general.

~Constitutional~, a walk, or other exercise taken for the benefit of the health.

~Consumah~, a butler.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Contango~, among stockbrokers and jobbers, is a certain sum paid for accommodating a buyer or seller, by carrying the engagement to pay money or deliver shares over to the next account day.

~Continuations~, coverings for the legs, whether trousers or breeches. A word belonging to the same squeamish, affected family as unmentionables, inexpressibles, &c.

~Convey~, to steal; “CONVEY, the wise it call.”

~Conveyancer~, a pickpocket. Shakspeare uses the cant expression CONVEYER, a thief. The same term is also French slang.

~Cooey~, the Australian bush-call, now not unfrequently heard in the streets of London.

~Cook~, a term well known in the Bankruptcy Courts, in reference to accounts that have been meddled with, or COOKED, by the bankrupt; also to form a balance-sheet from general trade inferences; stated by a correspondent to have been first used in reference to the celebrated alteration of the accounts of the Eastern Counties Railway, by George Hudson, the Railway King. Any unfair statements of accounts or reports are now said to be COOKED.

~Cook~, in artistic circles, to dodge up a picture. Artists say that a picture will not COOK when it is excellent and unconventional, and beyond specious imitation.

~Cook one’s goose~, to kill or ruin a person.—_North._

~Cooler~, a glass of porter as a wind up, after drinking spirits and water. This form of drinking is sometimes called “putting the beggar on the gentleman.”

~Coolie~, a soldier, in allusion to the Hindoo COOLIES, or day labourers.

~Coon~, abbreviation of racoon.—_American._ A GONE COON—_ditto_, one in an awful fix, past praying for. This expression is said to have originated in the first American war with a spy, who dressed himself in a racoon skin, and ensconced himself in a tree. An English rifleman taking him for a veritable coon, levelled his piece at him, upon which he exclaimed, “Don’t shoot, I’ll come down of myself, I know I’m a GONE COON.” The Yankees say the Britisher was so “flummuxed,” that he flung down his rifle and “made tracks” for home. The phrase is pretty general in England. [There is one difficulty about this story—How big was the man who dressed himself in a racoon skin?]

~Cooper~, “stout half-and-half,” _i.e._, half stout and half porter. Derived from the coopers at breweries being allowed so much stout and so much porter a day, which they take mixed.

~Cooper~, to destroy, spoil, settle, or finish. COOPERED, spoilt, “done up,” synonymous with the Americanism caved in, fallen in, ruined. The vagabonds’ hieroglyph ▽, chalked by them on gate posts and houses, signifies that the place has been spoilt by too many tramps calling there.

~Cooper~, to forge, or imitate in writing; “COOPER a monniker,” to forge a signature.

~Cooter~, “a sovereign.”—_See_ COUTER. Gipsy, CUTA.

~Cop~, to seize or lay hold of anything unpleasant; used in a similar sense to _catch_ in the phrase “to COP (or catch) a beating.” “To get COPT,” is to be taken by the police. Probable contraction of Lat. _capere_.

~Cop~, beware, take care. A contraction of COPRADOR.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Coper~, properly HORSE-COUPER, a Scotch horse-dealer,—used to denote a dishonest one. COPING, like jockeying, is suggestive of all kinds of trickery.

~Copper~, a policeman, _i.e._, one who COPS, which _see_.

~Copper~, a halfpenny. COPPERS, mixed pence.

~Coppernose~, a nose which is supposed to show a partiality on its owner’s part for strong drink. Synonymous with “jolly nose.” Grog-blossoms are the jewels often set in a jolly nose.

~Copus~, a Cambridge drink, consisting of ale combined with spices, and varied by spirits, wines, &c. Corruption of HIPPOCRAS.

~Corduroy roads~, an American term for the rough roads made by simply laying logs along a clearing.

~Corinthianism~, a term derived from the classics, much in vogue some years ago, implying pugilism, high life, “sprees,” roystering, &c.—Shakspeare, 1 _Hen. IV._ ii. 4. The immorality of _Corinth_ was proverbial in Greece. Κορινθιάζεσθαι, to _Corinthianize_, indulge in the company of courtezans, was a Greek slang expression. Hence the proverb—

Οὐ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς εἰς Κόρινθον ἔσθ᾿ ὁ πλοῦς;

and _Horace_, Epist. lib. 1, xvii. 36—

“Non cuivis hommi contingit adire Corinthum,”

in allusion to the spoliation practised by the “hetæræ” on those who visited them. Pierce Egan, in his _Life in London_, is responsible for a deal of the modern use of this word; and after him _Bell’s Life_, as the oracle of Corinthian sport, was not idle.

~Cork~, a broken man, a bankrupt. Probably intended to refer to his lightness, as being without “ballast.”

~Cork~, “to draw a CORK,” to give a bloody nose.—_Pugilistic._

~Corkage~, money charged when persons at an hotel provide their own wine—sixpence being charged for each “cork” drawn.

~Corked~, said of wine which tastes of cork, from being badly decanted, or which has lost flavour from various other obvious causes.

~Corker~, “that’s a CORKER,” _i.e._, that settles the question, or closes the discussion.

~Corks~, a butler. Derivation very obvious.

~Corks~, money; “how are you off for CORKS?” a sailors’ term of a very expressive kind, denoting the means of “keeping afloat.”

~Corned~, drunk or intoxicated. Possibly from soaking or pickling oneself like CORNED beef.

~Corner~, “the CORNER,” Tattersall’s famous horse repository and betting rooms, so called from the fact of its situation, which was at Hyde Park Corner. Though Tattersall’s has been removed some distance, to Albert Gate, it is still known to the older habitués of the Subscription Room as “the CORNER.”

~Cornered~, hemmed in a corner, placed in a position from which there is no escape.

~Corner-man~, the end singer of a corps of Ethiopian or nigger minstrels. There are two corner men, one generally plays the bones and the other the tambourine. Corner-men are the grotesques of a minstrel company.

~Corn in Egypt~, a popular expression which means a plentiful supply of materials for a dinner, &c., or a good supply of money. Its origin is of course Biblical.

~Corporation~, the protuberant front of an obese person. Probably from the old announcements which used to be made, and are made now in some towns where improvements are made by the municipal authorities, “Widened at the expense of the CORPORATION.”

~Corpse~, to stick fast in the dialogue; to confuse, or put out the actors by making a mistake.—_Theatrical._

~Cosh~, a neddy, a life-preserver; any short, loaded bludgeon.

~Cossack~, a policeman.

~Costard~, the head. A very old word, generally used in connexion with “cracked.”

~Coster~, the short and slang rendering of “costermonger,” or “costardmonger,” who was originally an apple-seller. COSTERING, _i.e._, costermongering, acting as a costermonger would.

~Costermonger~, a street seller of fish, fruit, vegetables, poultry, &c. The London costermongers number more than 30,000. They form a distinct class, occupying whole neighbourhoods, and were at one time cut off from the rest of metropolitan society by their low habits, general improvidence, pugnacity, love of gambling, total want of education, disregard for lawful marriage ceremonies, and their use of a peculiar slang language. They have changed a good deal of this, though, now. COSTERMONGER _aliter_ COSTARDMONGER, _i.e._, an apple-seller. In Nares’s _Glossary_ (Ed. H. & W.) they are said to have been frequently Irish. So, Ben Jonson—

“Her father was an Irish COSTAR-MONGER.”

_Alchym._, iv. x.

“In England, sir, troth I ever laugh when I think on ’t,
----Why, sir, there all the COSTER-MONGERS are Irish.”

_2 P. Hen. IV., O. Pl._, iii. 375.

Their noisy manners are alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher’s _Scornful Lady_, iv. I.

“And then he’ll rail like a rude COSTER-MONGER
That school-boys had couzened of his apples,
As loud and senseless.”

~Cotton~, to like, adhere to, or agree with any person; “to COTTON on to a man,” to attach yourself to him, or fancy him, literally, to stick to him as cotton would. _Vide_ Bartlett, who claims it as an Americanism, and Halliwell, who terms it an archaism; also _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737.

“Her heart’s as hard as taxes, and as bad;
She does not even COTTON to her dad.”

_Halliday and Lawrance_, _Kenilworth Burlesque_.

~Cotton Lord~, a Manchester manufacturer.

~Cottonopolis~, Manchester. A term much in use among the reporters of the sporting press engaged in that locality.

~Council-of-ten~, the toes of a man who turns his feet inward.

~Counter~, to hit back, to exchange blows. A cross COUNTER is a blow with the right hand given in exchange for one with the left, the counterer preferring to strike rather than to “stop” the blow.—_Pugilistic._

~Counter-jumper~, a shopman, a draper’s assistant.

~Country-captain~, a spatch-cocked fowl, sprinkled with curry-powder. A favourite breakfast dish with the captains of country-ships.—_Indian._

~Country-ship~, a ship belonging to the East Indies, and trading from port to port in that country.

~County-crop~ (_i.e._, COUNTY-PRISON CROP), haircut close and round, as if guided by a basin—an indication of having been in prison. Since short hair has become fashionable the expression has fallen somewhat into disuse. In the times when long hair was worn, a man with his hair cut as described was said to have had it done with a knife and fork.

~Couple-beggar~, a degraded person, who officiated as a clergyman in performing marriages in the Fleet Prison.

~Couter~, a sovereign. HALF-A-COUTER, half-a-sovereign. From the Danubian-gipsy word CUTA, a gold coin.

~Cove~, or COVEY, a boy or man of any age or station. A term generally preceded by an expressive adjective, thus a “flash COVE,” a “rum COVE,” a “downy COVE,” &c. The feminine, COVESS, was once popular, but it has fallen into disuse. Originally ancient cant (temp. Henry VII.), COFE, or CUFFIN, altered in Decker’s time to COVE. _See Witts’ Recreations_, 1654: “there’s a gentry-COVE here,” _i.e._, a gentleman. Probably connected with CUIF, which, in the North of England, signifies a lout or awkward fellow. Amongst Negroes, CUFFEE.

~Coventry~, “to send a man to COVENTRY,” not to speak to or notice him. Coventry was one of those towns in which the privilege of practising most trades was anciently confined to certain privileged persons, as the freemen, &c. Hence a stranger stood little chance of custom, or countenance, and “to send a man to COVENTRY” came to be equivalent to putting him out of the pale of society.

~Cover-down~, a tossing coin with a false cover, enabling either head or tail to be shown, according as the cover is left on or taken off. The cover is more generally called a CAP. This style of cheating is now obsolete. A man who cannot manage to cheat at tossing without machinery is a sorry rogue.

~Cowan~, a sneak, an inquisitive or prying person. _Greek_, κύων, a dog. Term given by Freemasons to all uninitiated persons. Used in Anderson’s _Constitutions_, edit. 1769, p. 97. If derived from κύων, its use was probably suggested by such passages in the N. T. as Matt. vii. 6, and Phil. iii. 2. The Moslems apply dog in a similar manner. It is probably Oriental. Other authorities say it is from COWAN, or KIRWAN, a Scottish word signifying a man who builds rough stone walls without mortar—a man who, though he builds, is not a practical mason.

~Cow-cow~, to be very angry, to scold or reprimand violently.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Cow-hocked~, clumsy about the ankles; with large or awkward feet.

~Cow-lick~, the term given to the lock of hair which costermongers and tramps usually twist forward from the ear; a large greasy curl upon the cheek, seemingly licked into shape. These locks are also called NUMBER SIXES, from their usual shape. The opposite of NEWGATE-KNOCKER, which _see_.

~Cow’s grease~, butter.

~Coxy-loxy~, good-tempered, drunk.—_Norfolk._

~Crab~, a disagreeable old person. Name of a wild and sour fruit.

~Crab~, “to catch a CRAB,” to fall backwards by missing a stroke in rowing. From the crab-like or sprawling appearance of the man when in the bottom of the boat.

~Crab~, to offend, or insult; to expose or defeat a robbery, to inform against. CRAB, in the sense of “to offend,” is _Old English_.

“If I think one thing and speak another,
I will both CRAB Christ and our Ladie His mother.”

_Packman’s Paternoster._

~Crabs~, in dicing, a pair of aces.

~Crabshells~, or TROTTER-CASES, shoes.—_See_ CARTS.

~Crack~, the favourite horse in a race. Steeplechase and hunting CRACKS have been made the subjects of well-known pictures, and “the gallops of the CRACKS” is a prominent line in the sporting papers.

~Crack~, first-rate, excellent; “a CRACK HAND,” an adept; a “CRACK article,” a good one. “A CRACK regiment,” a fashionable one.—_Old._

~Crack~, dry firewood.—_Modern Gipsy._

~Crack~, “in a CRACK (of the finger and thumb),” in a moment.

~Crack~, to break into a house; “CRACK A CRIB,” to commit burglary.

~Crack a bottle~, to drink. Shakspeare uses CRUSH in the same slang sense.

~Cracked up~, penniless or ruined.

~Cracking a crust~, rubbing along in the world. CRACKING A TIDY CRUST, means doing very well. This is a very common expression among the lower orders.

~Crackle~, or CRACKLING, the scored rind on a roast leg or loin of pork; hence applied to the velvet bars on the gowns of the students at St. John’s College, Cambridge, long called “Hogs,” and the covered bridge which connects one of the courts with the grounds, Isthmus of Suez (SUES, _Lat._ SUS, a swine).

~Cracksman~, a burglar, _i.e._, the man who CRACKS.

~Crack up~, to boast or praise.—_Ancient English._

~Cram~, to lie or deceive, implying to fill up or CRAM a person with false stories; to impart or acquire learning quickly, to “grind” or prepare for an examination.

~Crammer~, one skilled in rapidly preparing others for an examination. One in the habit of telling lies.

~Crammer~, a lie.

~Cranky~, foolish, idiotic, rickety, capricious (not confined to persons). _Ancient cant_, CRANKE, simulated sickness. _German_, KRANK, sickly. A CRANK or CRANKY vessel is one which pitches very much.

~Crap~, to ease oneself by evacuation.

~Crapping case~, or KEN, the water-closet. Generally called CRAPPING-CASTLE.

~Crawler~, a mean, contemptible, sycophantic fellow. Also a cab which is driven slowly along while its driver looks out for a fare. Crawling is by recent statute a punishable offence.

~Crawly mawly~, in an ailing, weakly, or sickly state.

~Craw thumper~, a Roman Catholic. Compare BRISKET-BEATER.

~Cream of the valley~, gin; as opposed to or distinguished from “mountain dew,” whisky.

~Crib~, house, public or otherwise; lodgings, apartments; a situation. Very general in the latter sense.

~Crib~, to steal or purloin; to appropriate small things.

~Crib~, a literal translation of a classic author.—_University._

~Crib biter~, an inveterate grumbler; properly said of a horse which has this habit, a sign of its bad digestion.

~Cribbage-faced~, marked with the small-pox, full of holes like a cribbage-board. Otherwise crumpet-face.

~Crikey~, profane exclamation of astonishment; “Oh, CRIKEY, you don’t say so!” corruption of “O Christ!” Sometimes varied by “O crimes!”

~Cripple~, a bent sixpence.

~Cripple~, an awkward or clumsy person. Also one of dull wits.

~Croak~, to die—from the gurgling sound a person makes when the breath of life is departing.

~Croaker~, one who takes a desponding view of everything, a misanthrope; an alarmist. From the croaking of a raven.—_Ben Jonson._

~Croaker~, a beggar.

~Croaker~, a dying person beyond hope; a corpse. The latter is generally called a “stiff’un.”

~Croaks~, last dying speeches, and murderers’ confessions.

~Crocodiles’ tears~, the tears of a hypocrite. An ancient phrase, introduced into this country by Mandeville, or other early English traveller, who believed that the crocodile made a weeping noise to attract travellers, and then devoured them. See Shakspeare’s use of the term in _Othello_.

~Crocus~, or CROAKUS, a quack or travelling doctor; CROCUS-CHOVEY, a chemist’s shop.

~Crone~, a termagant or malicious old woman. CRONY, an intimate friend.

~Crooked~, a term used among dog-stealers and the “fancy” generally, to denote anything stolen. “Got on the CROOK” is exchangeable with “Got on the cross,” CROOK and cross generally being synonymous.

~Crooky~, to hang on to, to lead, to walk arm-in-arm; to court or pay addresses to a girl.

~Cropped~, hanged. Sometimes topped. “May I be topped.”

~Cropper~, a heavy fall, a decided failure. Term originally used in the hunting-field, but now general, and not at all confined to physical matters.

~Cropper~, “to go a CROPPER,” or “to come a CROPPER,” _i.e._, to fail badly.

~Croppie~, a person who has had his hair cut, or CROPPED, in prison. Formerly those who had been CROPPED (_i.e._, had their ears cut off and their noses slit) by the public executioner were called CROPPIES, then the Puritans received the reversion of the title.

~Crop up~, to turn up in the course of conversation. “It CROPPED UP while we were speaking.”

~Cross~, a deception—two persons pretending hostility or indifference to each other, being all the while in concert for the purpose of deceiving a third. In the sporting world a CROSS is an arrangement made between two men that one shall win without reference to relative merits. This is sometimes done with the backer’s consent for the public benefit, at other times a backer is himself the sufferer, the men having “put some one in to lay,” according to instructions.—_See_ DOUBLE CROSS.

~Cross~, a general term amongst thieves expressive of their plundering profession, the opposite of square. “To get anything on the CROSS” is to obtain it surreptitiously. “CROSS-FANNING in a crowd,” robbing persons of their scarf-pins, so called from the peculiar position of the arms. This style of thieving is not confined to the conveying of scarf-pins. CROSSMAN, a thief, or one who lives by dishonest practices.

~Cross.~—For not paying his term bills to the bursar (treasurer), or for cutting chapels, or lectures, or other offences, the undergrad can be “CROSSED” at the buttery, or kitchen, or both, _i.e._, a CROSS is put against his name by the Don, who wishes to see him, or to punish him. Of course it is easy to get one’s buttery commons out in some one else’s name, and to order dinner in from the confectioner’s. The porter is supposed to allow no dinners to be sent in, but, between his winking and a little disguise, it is possible. As another instance, a barrel of beer will not be admitted; but if it is in a hamper it will pass!—_Oxford University._

~Cross-buttock~, an unexpected fling down or repulse; from a peculiar throw practised by wrestlers.

~Cross cove and molisher~, a man and woman who live by thieving.

~Cross-crib~, a house frequented by thieves.

~Crossed~, prohibited from taking food from the buttery.—_University._

~Crow~, or COCK-CROW, to exult over another’s abasement, as a fighting-cock does over his vanquished adversary.

~Crow~, “a regular CROW,” a success, a stroke of luck,—equivalent to a FLUKE.

~Crow~, one who watches whilst another commits a theft, a confederate in a robbery. The CROW looks to see that the way is clear, whilst the SNEAK, his partner, commits the depredation.

~Crow~, “I have a CROW to pick with you,” _i.e._, an explanation to demand, a disagreeable matter to settle. Sometimes the article picked is supposed to be a bone.

~Crowsfeet~, wrinkles which gather in the corners of the eyes of old or dissipated people.

~Crug~, food. Christ’s Hospital boys apply it only to bread.

~Crumbs~, “to pick up one’s CRUMBS,” to begin to have an appetite after an illness; to improve in health, circumstances, &c., after a loss thereof.

~Crummy~, fat, plump.—_North._ In London street slang, lousy.

~Crummy-doss~, a lousy or filthy bed.

~Crumpet-face~, a face pitted with small-pox marks.

~Crunch~, to crush. Perhaps from the sound of teeth grinding against each other.

~Crush~, to run or decamp rapidly. CRUSH DOWN SIDES, run to a place of safety, or the appointed rendezvous.—_North Country Cant._

~Crusher~, a policeman.

~Crushing~, excellent, first-rate.

~Crusty~, ill-tempered, petulant, morose.—_Old_, said to be a corruption of the _Anglo-Norman_ CORUSEUX.

~Cub~, a mannerless uncouth lout.—_See_ UNLICKED.

~Cubitopolis~, an appellation, originally given by Londoners to the Warwick and Eccleston Square districts. From the name of the builders.

~Cue~, properly the last word spoken by one actor, it being the CUE for the other to reply. “Very often an actor knows nothing of a piece beyond his own lines and the CUES.”

~Cull~, a man or boy.—_Old Cant._ RUM CULL, the manager of a theatre.

~Cullet~, broken glass. _French_, CUEILLETTE, a gathering or collection.

~Culling~, or CULING, stealing from the carriages at racecourses.

~Cully gorger~, a companion, a brother actor.—_Theatrical._ _See_ GORGER.

~Culver-headed~, weak and stupid.

~Cummer~, a gossip or acquaintance.

~Cumshaw~, a present or bribe.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Cupboard-headed~, an expressive designation of one whose head is both wooden and hollow.—_Norfolk._

~Cupboard-love~, affection arising from interested motives.

“A CUPBOARD LOVE is seldom true;
A love sincere is found in few.”—_Poor Robin._

Cupboard is the fount-spring of the love supposed to exist among policemen for the cooks upon their beats.

~Cup-tosser~, a person who professes to tell fortunes by examining the grounds in tea or coffee cups. A cup or goblet, however, is the old mystic symbol of a juggler. _French_, JOUEUR DE GOBELET.

~Cure~, an odd person; a contemptuous term, abridged from CURIOSITY, which was formerly the favourite expression. The word cure, as originally applied, was London street slang, and was, as just stated, an abbreviation of curiosity, or, more correctly, of curious or queer fellow. Of late years it has, however, been used to denote a funny, humorous person, who can give and receive chaff.

~Curios~, a corruption of “curiosities;” any articles of vertu brought from abroad. Used by naval and military travellers and others.

~Currency~, persons born in Australia are there termed CURRENCY, while natives of England are termed STERLING. The allusion is to the difference between colonial and imperial moneys, which it may be as well to remark have no difference so far as actual value is concerned.

~Curse~, anything worthless. Corruption of the _Old English_ word KERSE, a small sour wild cherry; _French_, CERISE; _German_, KIRSCH. _Vision of Piers Ploughman_:—

“Wisdom and witt nowe is _not worth_ a KERSE,
But if it be carded with cootis as clothers
Kembe their woole.”

The expression “not worth a CURSE,” used frequently nowadays, is therefore not properly profane, though it is frequently intensified by a profane expletive. Horne Tooke says from KERSE, or CRESS. The expression “not worth a tinker’s CURSE,” may or may not have arisen from misapplication of the word’s origin, though as now used it certainly means curse in its usual sense. Tinkers do curse, unfortunately, and it will take a good deal of school-board work to educate them out of it, as well as a fair amount of time. The phrase “not worth a tinker’s damn,” is evidently a variation of this, unless indeed it should be spelt “dam,” and used as a reference to the general worthlessness of the wives and mothers of tinkers. This latter is merely offered to those who are speculative in such matters, and is not advanced as an opinion.

~Curse of Scotland~, the Nine of Diamonds. Various hypotheses have been set up as to this appellation—that it was the card on which the “Butcher Duke” wrote a cruel order with respect to the rebels after the battle of Culloden; that the diamonds are the nine lozenges in the arms of Dalrymple, Earl of Stair, detested for his share in the Massacre of Glencoe; that it is a corruption of Cross of Scotland, the nine diamonds being arranged somewhat after the fashion of a St. Andrew’s Cross. The first supposition is evidently erroneous, for in Dr. Houston’s Memoirs of his own Lifetime, 1747, p. 92, the Jacobite ladies are stated to have nicknamed the Nine of Diamonds “the Justice Clerk,” after the rebellion of 1715, in allusion to the Lord Justice-Clerk Ormistone, who, for his severity in suppressing it, was called the Curse of Scotland. Gules a cross of lozenges were also the arms of Colonel Packer, who attended Charles I. on the scaffold, and commanded in Scotland afterwards with great severity.—_See_ Chatto on the _Origin and History of Playing Cards_, p. 267. The most probable explanation is, that in the game of Pope Joan the nine of diamonds is the POPE, of whom the Scotch have an especial horror.

~Curtail~, to cut off. Originally a Cant word—vide _Hudibras_, and _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737. Evidently derived from the French _court tailler_.

~Cushion~, to hide or conceal.

~Cushion-smiter~, polite rendering of tub-thumper, a clergyman, a preacher.

~Cushmawaunee~, never mind. Sailors and soldiers who have been in India frequently say—

“CUSHMAWAUNEE,
If we cannot get arrack,
We must drink pawnee.”

_Anglo-Indian._

~Customer~, synonymous with CHAP, a fellow; “a rum CUSTOMER,” _i.e._, a man likely to turn the tables on any one who attacked him, and therefore better be let alone, or very warily proceeded with; an “odd fish,” or curious person.—_Shakspeare._

~Customhouse-officer~, an aperient pill.