1895. Pall Mall Gaz. 15 Aug. p. 3, col. 1. Andrew appears to have
been the lame duck of the family, and constantly wagged it from
school to go fishing in the lagoons or wallaby-hunting in the
mountains with the natives.
Lame-hand, subs. (old coaching).—An indifferent driver; a spoon (q.v.).
Lammas. At later Lammas, phr. (common).—Never; at the Greek kalends
(q.v.); at Tib’s eve (q.v.).
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Glas (ed. Arber), 55. Courtiers thrive at
latter lammas day.
1670. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 168]. At later lammas, ad Græcas
Calendas, i.e., never.
Lammermoor lion, subs. phr. (Scots’).—A sheep: cf. Cotswold lion, and
Essex lion.
Lammie Todd! phr. (tailors’).—‘I would if I could’.
Lammikin, subs. (old).—A blow.
1622. R. Hawkins, Observations [Hackluyt Soc. 1878, p. 228]. With a
truncheon which I had in mine hand, I gave the Indians three or
four good lammikins.
Lamming, subs. (old).—A beating; cf. Lamb. For synonyms see Tanning.
1619. Beaumont and Fletcher, King and no King, v. Bes. Gentlemen,
you hear my lord is sorry. Bac. Not that I have beaten you, but
beaten one that will be beaten; one whose dull body will require a
lamming, as surfeits do the diet spring and fall.
Lammy, subs. (nautical).—A blanket: originally a thick quilted frock,
or short jumper made of flannel or blanket cloth, worn by sailors as an
outside garment in cold weather.—Gentlemen’s Magazine (1866, Oct., p.
390).
Lamp, subs. (common).—1. See quot. 1811; and (2) in pl. = spectacles;
Giglamps (q.v.). For synonyms see Peepers.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Lamp, the cove has a queer lamp, the man has
a blind or squinting eye.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
1888. Sporting Life, 15 Dec. Why, bruise me ef ’e ain’t got his
lamps shut.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, 49. I lifted my lamps and saw Billy.
To smell of the lamp, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To show signs of labour
or study.
1615. Breton, Characters upon Essates [Grosart (1879), ii. q. 4. 1.
3, ad authorem]. He that shall read thy character ... they must say
they are well written. They taste the lampe.
1625. Jonson, Staple of News, Prol. A work not smelling of the lamp
to-night.
1647–80. Rochester, Wks. (1793), p. 16. Though he be very correct,
and has spared no pains to dress the Satires of Horace in good
French, yet it smells too much of the lamp.
Lamp-post, subs. (common).—A tall, or lanky person.
English synonyms. Clothes-prop; daddy-longlegs, Duke of Lankester; Duke
of Limbs; gawk; gas-pipe; lath-legs; long-ghost; Long-shanks; long-’un;
rasher-of-wind; sky-scraper; sky-topper; spindle-shanks; split-up;
tongs; matches.
French synonyms. Une asperge montée (popular); une brinde (popular: of
women only); un grand cadavre (popular: of men only); un faucheux
(thieves’ = a field spider); une planche à pain (military); une canne à
pêche (= fishing rod); une perche à houblon (= hop-pole).
Spanish synonyms. Cigueño; filisteo; varal; zanguayo; zangarullon.
Italian synonym. Longone (Florio).
Lamp of Life, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see
Creamstick and Prick.
Lamp of Love, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms
see Monosyllable.
Lance, subs. (old).—The penis. For synonyms see Creamstick and Prick.
1622. Atty, First Book of Airs, in Bullen, Speculum Amantis (1889),
15. And when I charge, my lance in rest, I triumph in delight.
1675. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft, in Works (1725), p. 208. And Mankind
must in darkness languish Whilst he his bawdy launce does brandish.
Lanceman (Lance-knight, or Lanceman-prigger), subs. (old).—A
highwayman.
1591. Greene, Second Part of Conny-catching [Grosart (1881–6), x.
76]. The Priggar if he be a launce-man, that is one that is already
horst. Ibid. Not long after ... this lanceman Priggar was brought
to Tenro gayle.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe [Grosart (1884), v. 278]. He fell into
the thieuish hands of ... lanceknights.
Lancepresado, subs. (old).—See quots.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Lanspresado, he that comes into
Company with but Two pence in his Pocket.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Lansprisado, one who has only
twopence in his pocket; also a lance, or deputy corporal, that is,
one doing the duty without the pay of corporal; formerly a lancier,
or horseman, who being dismounted by the death of his horse, served
in the foot by the title of lansprisado or lancepesato; a broken
lance.
Land, verb. (pugilistic).—1. To deliver; to get home (q.v.).
1888. Sporting Life, 1 Dec. The big ’un landed his left straight on
his opponent’s dial.
1888. J. Runciman, The Chequers, p. 93. Their object is to land one
cunning blow.
1891. Gentlemen’s Mag., Aug., p. 110. That’s right, Captain Kitty!
land him one in the eye.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, 31. The toff ketched the blade of
Tom’s scull, dragged ’im close, and jest landed ’im one.
2. (colloquial).—To bring or take to a position or place; to set down;
to catch; to arrive.
1850. McCosh, Divine Government, Appendix, p. 522. These rules may
land us in mistakes.
1862. Cuthbert Bede, Tales of College Life, p. 18. That’s the
ticket! that will just land me in time for Gates.
1871. Daily Telegraph, 26 Dec. I’ve landed him.
1872. Judy, 29 May, p. 59, col. 2. He’s bound to be on the grand
stand before the Derby’s run, and that’s where we’ll land him.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 32. The wrinkles and tips I’ve
landed a-bussing it to and from town.
1892. Pall Mall Gazette, 17 Oct., p. 2, col. 1. The song ‘If I was
only long enough’ landed me with one bound at the top of the tree.
1894. Tit Bits, 7 Ap., p. 8, col. 1. Mr. Jenkins had been three
years in Tooting when he was finally landed by a bold and
persistent widow.