Lollybanger, subs. (nautical).—A ships’ cook. See Loblolly.
Lombard-fever, subs. (old).—The ‘idles’; loafing.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 55]. s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Lombard St. All Lombard Street to a China orange, phr. (old).—Said of a
certainty; the longest possible odds.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 38. All Lombard Street to ninepence on it.
*Note*. More usually Lombard st. to a China orange. There are
several of these fanciful forms of betting—Chelsea College to a
sentry-box; Pompey’s pillar to a stick of sealing-wax, etc. etc.
1849. Bulwer, Caxtons, iv. 3. ‘It’s Lombard St. to a China orange,’
quoth uncle Jack. ‘Are the odds in favor of fame against failure
really so great?’ answered my father.
1892. Evg. Standard, 9 Nov. i. 1. We describe the betting upon a
moral certainty as being all Lombard-street to a China orange.
London. To turn (or put) the best side to London, verb. phr.
(common).—To show one’s best: cf. Humphrey’s toppers.
1873. Cassell’s Mag., Jan., p. 248, col. 2. This placing the goods
in alternate rows of large and small was followed until the top of
the box was gained, and then a row of very fine fish indeed crowned
the whole. Venturing a remark upon this, the packer grinned as he
returned, ‘Allays put the best side to London, gov’nor. Wouldn’t do
to shove the big uns underneath. People wouldn’t b’lieve they was
there, not if yer swore it. And when we tells ’em up for sale, we
allays picks ’em up in double rows, takin’ care to keep the big
fish uppermost.’
London-ivy (or London Particular), subs. (common).—A thick fog.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. iii. I asked him whether there was
a great fire any-where.... ‘O dear no, miss,’ he said. ‘This is a
London particular.’
1889. Sporting Life, 4 Jan. A very severe cold caught by him during
a nine hours’ contact with London ivy.
1890. Sportsman, 13 Dec. If only from the question of cost it is
clear that a clean sweep should be made of London particular.
London ordinary, subs. (common).—The beach at Brighton. [Where trippers
feed].
Lone-duck (or -dove), subs. (common).—A woman out of keeping; also a
prostitute, who works away from home by means of houses of
accommodation. Also Quiet mouse (q.v.).
Lone-star State, subs. phr. (American).—Texas. [From the flag with a
single star in the centre].
Long, subs. (Stock Exchange).—1. A bull (q.v.); cf. short.
1888. Daily Telegraph, 19 Nov. The ramket continued somewhat
depressed on longs selling.