Intj. (schoolboys’).—A signal of a masters’ approach.
Lobscouse, subs. (nautical).—A hash of meat and vegetable; an olio; a
gallimaufrey (q.v.); see Soap-and-bullion.
[Other nautical food names, mostly derisive, are choke-dog; daddy
funk; dead horse; dogbody; dough Jehovahs; hishee-hashee; measles;
sea-pie; soft tack; soap-and-bullion; tommy; twice-laid.]
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ix. This genial banquet was
entirely composed of sea-dishes ... the sides being furnished with
a mess of that savoury composition known by the name of
lob’s-course.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1840. R. H. Dana, Two Years before the Mast, v. The cook had just
made for us a mess of hot scouse—that is, biscuit pounded fine,
salt beef cut into small pieces, and a few potatoes, boiled up
together and seasoned with pepper.
1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, i. It takes a sailor a long
time to straighten his spine and get quit of the bold sheer that
earns him the name of shell-back. That is not all. Lobscouse eats
into the system.
Lobscouser, subs. (nautical).—A sailor [An eater of lobscouse (q.v.)].
1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, xix. ‘And besides, how many
bunks does an old lobscouser like you want to sleep in?’
1891. W. C. Russell, Ocean Tragedy, 148. ‘He is superstitious, like
most old lobscousers, no doubt.’
Lobsneak (or -crawler), subs. (common).—1. A till-robber; a till-sneak
(q.v.).
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.