In lug, phr. (old).—In pawn; in pledge; up the spout (q.v.).
To lug in, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To include; to insert unnecessarily
or unexpectedly.
1762. Churchill, The Ghost, Bk. iv. Physic and divinity are lugged
in by the head and shoulders.
1830. Greville, Memoirs, 27 Feb. He could not tell that story which
I begged him to do, and which would not have been lugged in neck
and shoulders, because every body was telling just such stories.
1864. A. Trollope, The Small House at Allington, x. Joseph Cradell
Esqre to John Eames Esqre.... ‘I want you to write me at once,
saying what you know about the matter. I ask you as I don’t want to
lug in any of the other people at Roper’s.’
To lug out, verb. phr. (old).—To draw (as a sword).
1688. T. Shadwell, Squire of Alsatia. The Prigster lugg’d out in
defence of his natural, the Captain whipt his Porker out, and away
rubb’d Prigster and call’d the watch.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1690. Dryden, Don Sebastian, iv. 1. They will be heard, or they lug
out and cut.
To blaw in one’s lug, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To cajole; to flatter.
Hence, blaw-in-my-lug = a flatterer; a wheedler.
If worth his lugs (he would do such a thing), phr. (Scots’).—Used in
approbation, or the reverse. [From the mediæval punishment of lopping
the ears].
1362. Langland, Piers Plowman, A. ii. a. Were the bishop blessed
and worth both his eares His seale shold not be sent to deceyue the
people.
To have a flea in one’s lug. See Ear.
To lay one’s lugs, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To wager.
Lug-chovey, subs. (thieves’).—A pawnbroker’s shop.
Lugger, subs. (American thieves’).—A sailor.—Matsell (1859).
Lug-loaf, subs. (old).—A blockhead.
1606. Wily Beguiled [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ix. 275]. She had
little reason to take a cullion lug-loaf, milksop slave, when she
may have a lawyer, a gentleman.
Luke, (old).—Nothing.—Haggart (1821).
Lull, subs. (old).—Ale.
c. 1636. London Chanticleers, Sc. 9. Mine host, Welcome, has a cup of
blessed lull.
Lullaby, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see Creamstick and
Prick.
Lullaby-Cheat, subs. (old).—A baby.
1671. Head, English Rogue. Carried at her back a lullaby-cheat.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Lullaby-cheat.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1839. W. H. Ainsworth, J. Sheppard, p. 25 (ed. 1840). ‘Let’s have a
look at the kinchen that ought to have been throttled,’ added he,
snatching the child from Wood. ‘My stars! here’s a pretty
lullaby-cheat to make a fuss about—ho! ho!’
Lully, subs. (old).—See quot. 1785. Hence lully-prigger = a filcher of
wet or drying linen. Fr. défleurir la picouse = lully-prigging.
1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, p. 40. They are great priggers
of lully.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Lulleys, wet linen.
1789. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 120. Upon the old slang, and
sometimes a little lully-prigging.
Lumb, adv.. (old).—Too much.—New Cant. Dict. (1725); Grose (1796).
Lumber, subs. (thieves’).—1. A room. [From the Lombard Room in which
the mediæval pawnbrokers and bankers stored their pledges].
1789. Parker, Life’s Painter, 117. Have you any-body in the lumber
behind the bar?
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v., p. 188.