Verb. (thieves’).—To watch; to pick out a victim. See Marking, sense 2.
To toe the mark. See Toe.
The mark of the beast, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. Also
Mark. For synonyms see Monosyllable.
1719. Durfey, Pills etc., iv. 116. Now all my Friends are laid in
grave, And nothing they have left me But a mark a Year my mother
gave, By which for to protect me. Yet I live.... As brave as any
Lady, And all is with a mark a year, The which my mother gave me.
To mark up, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To know all about (cf. verb.)
persons.
Mark of mouth, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The tale told by the teeth.
(Originally horse-copers’). Cf. the proverb:—‘You mustn’t look a gift
horse in the mouth.’
1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, viii. From a distant corner
two ancient virgins, long past mark of mouth.
Marker, subs. (Cambridge University).—A person employed to walk up and
down chapel during a part of the service, pricking off the names of the
students present.
1849. Blackwood’s Mag., May. His name, pricked off upon the
marker’s roll, No twinge of conscience racks his easy soul.
Market, subs. (racing).—The betting ring.
To drive pigs to market. See Pigs.
Market-dame, subs. (old).—A strumpet. For synonyms see Barrack-hack and
Tart.
1705–7. E. Ward, Hudibras Rediv., II. ii. (1715), 25. Punks,
Strolers, market dames, and Bunters.
Marketeer, subs. (racing).—A betting man who devotes himself, by means
of special information, to the study of favourites and their diseases:
the principal agent in all milking (q.v.) and knocking-out (q.v.)
transactions.
1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 116. The marketeer started a few rods
with him.
Market-fever. See Pencil-fever.
Market-horse, subs. (racing).—A horse kept on the lists for the sake of
the betting.
Market-place, subs. (provincial).—The front teeth.
Marking, subs. (thieves’).—1. A watcher; a stall (q.v.).—Matsell.