1821. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Match—persons nearly of a size
are said to ‘make a good match,’ (ring). Horses’ match consists in
colour and size. A two-horses’ race, is a match, when specially
agreed upon. The agreement for a man-fight, is ‘making a match.’
Young folks are said to ‘make a match of it,’ when they marry; they
do the same when they do not wed frequently, but bring gyblets
together sans ceremonie.
To lose the match and pocket the stakes, verb. phr. (venery).—To
copulate: of women only. For synonyms see Greens and Ride.
Mate, subs. (colloquial).—A companion; a partner; a pal (q.v.). Also
matey.
1580. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. 113, st. 30, p. 212 (E. D. S.). As
for such mates, as vertue hates, ... small matter it is.
1630. Massinger, Renegado, iv. 1. Come, my mates, I hitherto have
lived an ill example, And, as your captain, led you on to mischief.
1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffry Hamlyn, ch. xxxi. I took him for a flash
overseer, sporting his salary, and I was as thick as you like with
him. And, ‘matey,’ says I, (you see I was familiar, he seemed such
a jolly sort of bird), ‘matey, what station are you on?’
1864. H. Kingsley, The Hillyars and the Burtons, chap. xxx. ‘Well,
then, I’ll tell you where it is,’ said Jack Marton [Blacksmith] ‘me
and my mates must look to ourselves’....
1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S. No. xxii. p. 403. ‘’Twasn’t
me that originated the strike. I but joined in it with the rest of
my mates.’
1892. Sydney Watson, Wops the Waif, ch. i. p. 2. ‘I say, Tickle
matey, wot’s all them a-readin’ of on that bill over there?’
interrupted Wops.
1892. Anstey, Model Music Hall Songs, 119. Way-oh ole matey, I
don’t bear no malice.
Mater, subs. (colloquial).—A mother; the old woman (q.v.). Fr. la
maternelle.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
1883. Braddon, Golden Calf, vi. The pater and mater are away.... So
we can have things all our own way.
Matin-bell, subs. (thieves’).—A thieves’ rendezvous; an evening-chimes
(q.v.).
Matriarch, subs. (American).—An old dowager.
Matrimonial, subs. (venery).—The act of kind in the natural position.
Also matrimonial polka. For synonyms see Greens and Ride.
Matrimonial peacemaker, subs. phr. (venery).—See quot. For synonyms see
Creamstick and Prick.
1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. Matrimonial peacemaker.
The sugar stick or arbor vitæ.
Matter. As near as no matter, phr. (colloquial).—Very nearly; as near
as may be.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 69. I’ve reported as near as no
matter.
Mattress-Jig, subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms see Greens
and Ride.
Maukes (Maux, or Mawkes), subs. (old).—See Mawkes.
Maukin. See Malkin.
Mauled, adj. (common).—See quot. For synonyms see Drinks and Screwed.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Maul’d, swingingly Drunk, or
soundly Beat.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Mauld.
Mauley (Morley or Mawley), subs. (common).—1. A fist; a hand. To tip a
mauley = to give a hand. Fam the mawley = shake hands.
1800. Parker, Life’s Painter, 139. The key of the street-door in
her mauley. Ibid. 144. When one asks the other to shake hands, that
is, sling us your mauly.
1821. Egan, Life in London, 207. Learn the use of your morleys.
1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii. 6. Mr. J. It was but t’other
day they took’d me up; slapp’d a pick-ax into one of my mauleys,
and shov’d a shovel into t’other, and told me to vork.
1852. Judson, Mysteries of New York, iv. Ello, Charley, my kid! tip
us your mawley.
1857. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, pt. ii. ch. iii. ‘I couldn’t
use my mawleys no how!’ and the Pet illustrated his remark in a
professional manner, by sparring at an imaginary opponent in a
feeble and unscientific fashion.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
1861. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, Bk. iv. ch. v. ‘Let the
man as murdered your uncle keep clear of my left mawley, if he
wants to preserve his beauty.’
1870. London Figaro, 2 July. ‘Milling Ancient and Modern.’ We think
mawleys is the correct sporting term for ‘bunches of fives.’
1888. Rolf Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, i. It takes a good man
to put me on my back, or stand up to me with the gloves, or the
naked mauleys.
1888. Sporting Life, 11 Dec. Lambert ducked and the mawley flew
over his head.
1890. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 31 Jan. Tip us your mawleys, old pal!