1850. L. Hunt, Autobiography, ch. iii. It was said, also, that
during the blissful era of the blue velvet, we had roast mutton for
supper; but that the small clothes not being then in existence, and
the mutton suppers too luxurious, the eatables were given up for
the ineffables.
Inexplicables, subs. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms see Bags and
Kicks.
1836. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, ch. ii. (C.D.Ed.) p. 182. He
usually wore a brown frock-coat without a wrinkle, light
inexplicables without a spot.
Inexpressibles, subs. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms see Bags and
Kicks.
1790. Wolcot, (P. Pindar) Rowland for an Oliver, in Wks. [Dublin
1795] Vol. ii. p. 154. I’ve heard, that breeches, petticoats, &
smock, Give to thy modest mind a grievous shock, And that thy brain
(so lucky its device) Christ’neth them inexpressibles, so nice.
1820. Reynolds, (Peter Corcoran), The Fancy ‘King Tim’, i. 1. That
single breasted coat, that sweet snub nose, Those inexpressibles: I
know the clothes.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, vi. While thus musing, he was suddenly
accosted by a gentleman in boots and spurs, having a riding whip in
one hand, and the other hand stuck in the pocket of his
inexpressibles.
1835. Buckstone, Dream at Sea, ii. 2. Tom. Body & breeches. Bid.
Hush: you should say inexpressibles—that’s the way genteel people
talk.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, ch. lv, p. 483. Symmetrical
inexpressibles, and scented pocket-handkerchiefs.
1836. Michael Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, xii. Whenever I get my
inexpressibles on, I will come to you there.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, i. 39. Condescend to don at the
same time an Elizabethan doublet and Bond-St. inexpressibles.
1842. Dickens, American Notes, ch. xxi., p. 100. He ... had grown
recently, for it had been found necessary to make an addition to
the legs of his inexpressibles.
1871. City Press, 21 Jan. ‘Curiosities of Street Literature’. The
sale of a wife, and full particulars of ‘Taking off Prince Albert’s
inexpressibles,’ done by a scamp.
Infant. See Woolwich Infant.
Infantry, subs. (common).—Children. In French, entrer dans l’infanterie
= to fall with child. For synonyms see Kid.
1623. Jonson, Time Vindicated.
Hangs all his school with sharp sentences,
And o’er the execution place hath painted,
Time whipt, as terror to the infantry.
1675. Cotton, Scoffer Scoffed [4th ed. 1725, p. 181]. Others a
spirit that doth lie In wait to catch up infantry.
Light Infantry, subs. phr. (common).—Fleas. Cf. Heavy Dragoons.
1894. Westminster Gazette, 15th Nov. p. 2, col. 1. An Irish lady of
good family was remonstrated with by a guest on account of the
nocturnal assaults of heavy cavalry, as well as light infantry
issuing after dark from the cracks of an old wood bedstead.
Infare (or Infair), subs. (Old Scots & American colloquial).—An
installation with ceremony and rejoicing; a house-warming; more
particularly an entertainment given by a newly married couple on their
return from the honeymoon.
1375. Barbour, The Bruce, xvi. 340 (MSS.) For he thoucht to mak an
infar, And to mak gud cher till his men.
1847. Porter, Big Bear, etc. p. 162. I hurried home to put up three
shotes and some turkies to fatten for the infare.
1878. E. Eggleston, Roxy, xxix. There could be no wedding in a
Hoosier village thirty or forty years ago without an infare on the
following day.
Inferior, subs. (Winchester College).—Any member of the School not a
Præfect (q.v.).
1870. Mansfield, School Life, p. 28. The Præfect of hall ... was
looked upon by the inferiors with something more than a becoming
awe and reverence.
Infernal, adj. (colloquial).—An intensitive: detestable; fit only for
Hell. Cf. Awful, Bloody. Also adv.
1602. Cooke, How a Man may Choose a Good Wife etc. [Dodsley: Old
Plays (1874), ix. 50]. Not these drugs Do send me to the infernal
bugs, But thy unkindness.
1646. Lady Mary Verney [in Seventh Report Hist. MSS. Com. 454].
Besides coaches which are most infe(r)nell dear.
1775. Sheridan, The Duenna, iii. 1. There is certainly some
infernal mystery in it I can’t comprehend!
1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xi. Besides, he’s such an infernal
character—a profligate in every way.
1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, xi. The nights are infernally
dark, though, in this beastly country.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, lxxv. What an infernal tartar and
catamaran!
1888. Rolf Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, ix. It had broken her
infernal neck.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, 114. ‘Never is any news in this
infernal hole,’ growled Smirk.
Infra-Dig, adj. (Winchester College).—Scornful; proud. E.g. ‘He sported
infra-dig duck,’ or ‘I am infra-dig to it.’
Ingle, subs. (old).—1. A pathic.
1593. Nashe, Strange Newes, in Works [Grosart, ii. 277]. I am
afraid thou wilt make me thy ingle.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Cinedo ... a bardarsh a
buggring boy, a wanton boy, an ingle.
1617. Minshew, Guide into Tongues, s.v. Ingle, or a boy kept for
sodomie.
1675. Cotton, Scoffer Scoffed, 4th ed., 1725, p. 186. Both at thy
ingles and thy jades.