1599. Jonson, Every Man Out of His Humour, i. 2. I would ha’ those
mercuries should remember they had not their fingers for nothing.
Mercury-women, subs. (old).—See quot.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Mercury Women, Wholesale
News-sellers who retail to the Hawkers.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
Meridian, subs. (old).—Refreshment taken at noon. Ante-meridian = a
morning dram: Post-meridian = an appetizer before dinner.
1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, iv. Plumdamas joined the other
two gentlemen in drinking their meridian (a bumper-dram of brandy).
Merkin, subs. (old).—1. See quots. 1736 and 1796.
1620. Percy, Folio MS., p. 508. A health to all Ladyes that neuer
used merkin.
16[?]. Jonson, A Song of the Moon [Cunningham and Bell (1870), iii.
465]. The moon commends her to the merry beards in hall ... Morts
and mirkins that wag all, Tough, foul, or tender.
1647–80. Rochester, To the Author of a Play called ‘Sodom’. Or wear
some stinking merkin for a beard.
167[?]. Cotton, Voyage to Ireland, iii. 26. By these the true
colour one can no more know Than by mouse-skins above-stairs the
merkin below.
1688. Randal Holme, Academy of Armoury, 389. Some term it ...
merkin when set about the lower parts.
1720. Phillips, New World of Words, s.v.
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., Merkin (f. la mère, matrix) pubes
(eminentia) mulieris.
1736. Baily, Engl. Dict., s.v. Merkin ... counterfeit hair for the
privities of women.
1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. Merkin, counterfeit hair
for the private parts of a woman.
1873. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v.
1890. Barrère and Leland, Slang, Jargon, and Cant, s.v.