Leg-drama (or piece).—See Leg-shop.
Legem pone, subs. phr. (old).—Money: generic. [Nares: The origin of the
phrase is doubtless this: The first psalm for the twenty-fifth day of
the month has the title Legem pone, being the first words of the Latin
version. This psalm is the fifth portion of the 119th psalm, and, being
constantly used on the first great pay day of the year, March 25, was
easily connected with the idea of payment, while the laudable practice
of daily attendance on the public service was continued].
1557. Tusser, Good Hus. Lessons, 29. Use legem pone to pay at thy
day, But use not Oremus for often delay.
1611. Ruggle, Ignolamus, ii. 7. Hic est legem pone: hic sunt
sexcentæ coronæ.
1618. G. Minshul, Essayes in Prison, p. 26. But in this, here is
nothing to bee abated, all their speach is legem pone, or else with
their ill custome they will detaine thee.
d. 1662. Heylin, Voy., p. 292. In bestowing of their degrees here
they are very liberal, and deny no man that is able to pay his
fees. Legem ponere is with them more powerful than legem dicere.
1737. Ozell, Rabelais, iv. 12. They were all at our service for the
legem pone.
Leger, subs. (Old London Cant).—See quot. 1822. Also Legering = the
practice of cheating in the sale of coals.
1591. Greene, Discovery of Coosnage [Grosart (1881–6), x. 51]. The
law of legering, which is a deceit that colliers abuse the
commonwelth withall, in having unlawfull sackes.
1591. Greene, Notable Discovery [Grosart (1881–6), x. 52]. The
leger, the crafty collier I mean. Ibid. 51. There be ... in and
about London certaine caterpillars (colliers I should say) that
terme themselves (among themselves) by the name of legers.
1822. Nares, Glossary, s.v. Leger. A cant term for a Londoner who
formerly bought coals of the country colliers at so much a sack,
and made his chief profit by using smaller sacks, making pretence
he was a country collier. This was termed legering.
Legerdemain, subs. (old: now recognised).—Sleight of hand.
d. 1535. Sir T. More, Works, p. 813. Perceive theyr leygier
demaine, wyth which they would ingle forth thir falshood and shift
the trouth asyde.
1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse [Grosart (1883–4), ii. 108]. Making
their eyes and eares vassailes to the legerdemaine of these ingling
mountebankes.
1596. Spenser, Faery Queene, v. ix. 13. He in slights and jugling
feates did flow, And of legierdemayne the mysteries did know.
1653. Walton, Complete Angler, p. 112. All the money that had been
got that week ... by fortune telling or legerdemain.
1684. R. Head, Proteus Redivivus, 238. What trick they play, what
leidger-de-main they use.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1725. New Canting Dict., s.v.
Legged, adj. (old).—In irons.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Legger, subs. (old).—See quot.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. Legger. Sham leggers,
cheats who pretend to sell smuggled goods, but in reality only deal
in shop-keepers old and damaged wares.
Leggings, subs. (common).—Stockings.
Leggism, subs. (common).—The character, practices, or manners of a leg
(q.v.).
Leggy, adj. (colloquial).—Long-legged.
1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. x. You behold Slapper’s
long-tailed, leggy mare.
1884. Field, Dec. 6. Her colour and markings are capital, in
expression and style fair, but she is leggy and light in bone.
Legitimate, adj. (racing).—1. Flat-racing as distinguished from
steeplechasing or hurdle-racing; and (2) drama—especially the
Shaksperean—as opposed to burlesque.
1888. Sportsman, 28 Nov. It was certainly a change from the bustle
and excitement connected with the winding-up of the legitimate
season.
Leglin-girth. To cast a leglingirth, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To be got
with child. [Leglin = milkpail + girth = hoop].
d. 1758. Ramsay, Poems (1800), i. 274. Or bairns can read, they
first maun spell, I learn’d this frae my mammy, And coost a leglen
girth mysel, Lang or I married Tammie.
Leg of mutton, subs. phr. (common).—A sheep’s trotter.
Adj. (common).—Leg-of-mutton shaped; as in the case of sleeves,
whiskers, sails, etc.
1866. W. D. Howells, Venetian Life, xx. With their honest, heavy
faces comically anglicised by leg-of-mutton whiskers.
Leg of mutton fist. See Mutton fist.
Leg of the Law, subs. phr. (common).—A lawyer. Also limb of the law.
Legs-and-arms, subs. (tailors’).—Bodiless beer. For synonyms see Drinks
and Swipes.
Leg-shaker, subs. (common).—A dancer. Fr. un gambilleur.
Legshire, subs. (common).—The Isle of Man. [In allusion to the heraldic
bearings].
Leg-shop, subs. (common).—1. A theatre whose speciality is the display
of the female form. Hence, leg-piece = a play contrived to that end;
leg-business = the condition of a woman whose chief work is to show her
legs; and leg-show = the personnel of a leg-shop in action.
1871. A. E. Edwards, Ought We to Visit Her, p. . ‘She was,’ says
Adonis, ‘in the leg business.’
1875. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Screamers, p. 15. ‘Nothing, sir,’ was
the reply; ‘only they’re playing ‘Undine’ at the Opera House, and
some folks call it the leg-shop.’
1882. McCabe, New York, 206. They are liberal patrons of the drama,
especially the ballet and the leg-business.
Leg-stretcher, subs. (American).—A drink: i.e., an inducement or a
pretext for going out. See To stretch one’s legs. For synonyms see Go.
Lemon. To squeeze the lemon, verb. phr. (common).—To urinate. For
synonyms see Piss.
Lemon jolly. See Colly Molly.
Lend, subs. (old colloquial).—A loan: e.g. ‘For the lend of the ass you
might give me the mill’ (Old Ballad).
Length, subs. (thieves’).—1. Six months’ imprisonment. For synonyms see
Dose.