_Pillgarlick_ (Vol. ii., p. 393.; Vol. iii., pp. 42. 74.).--It seems to me
that the passage quoted from Skelton by F. S. Q. completely elucidates the
meaning of this word. Let us premise that, according to all principles of
English etymology, _pill-garlick_ is as likely to mean "the pillar of
garlick" as to be a syncopated form of "_pill'd garlick_." Now we see from
Skelton's verse that in his time the peeling of garlick was proverbially a
degraded employment--one which was probably thrust off upon the lowest
inmate of the servants' hall, in an age when garlick entered largely into
the composition of all made dishes. The disagreeable nature of the
occupation is sufficient to account for this. Accordingly we may well
suppose that the epithet "a poor pill-garlick" would be applied to any
person, in miserable circumstances, who might be ready to undertake mean
employment for a trifling gratuity.
This, I think, satisfactorily answers the original question, "Whence comes
the expression?" The verse quoted by F. S. Q. satisfactorily establishes
the orthography, viz., pi_ll_ garlick. A Query of some interest still
remains--In what author do we first find the compound word?