1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Mermaid, subs. (old).—A strumpet. For synonyms see Barrack-hack and
Tart.
1599. Middleton, Rowley, and Massinger, Old Law, iv. 1. What, a
mermaid? No, but a maid.
Merry (or Merry-arsed), adj. (venery).—Wanton. Hence, merry-arsed
Christian = a whore (Grose, 1823); merry-begot (q.v.); merry-bit = a
willing wench; merry-maker = the penis; merry-legs = a light-skirts
(q.v.) or quicunque-vult (q.v.).
1610. Beaumont and Fletcher, Maid’s Tragedy, iii. 1. Diph. What
odds, he has not my sister’s maidenhead to-night?... She’s merry
enough of herself; she needs no tickling.
c. 1800. Burns, The Merry Muses of Caledonia [In title, and
passim].
1887. Henley, Book of Verses, ‘Ballade of a Toyokuni Colour-Print’,
When merry maids in Miyako.
Merry-andrew, subs. (common).—See quot. 1785. Also Mr. Merryman.
1682. Dryden, Epil. to Univ. of Oxford. ‘Th’Italian merry-andrews
took their place. And quite debauch’d the Stage with lewd grimace.’
1710. Rochester, Poems, p. 56. They ne’er had sent to Paris for
such fancies, As monster’s heads and merry-andrew’s dances.
1732. Henry Fielding, The Mock Doctor, i. 1. I waited on a
gentleman at Oxford, where I learned very near as much as my
master; from whence I attended a travelling physician six years,
under the facetious denomination of a merry andrew, where I learned
physic.
1770. St. Foix, Essays upon Paris, ii. 64, ii. cap. 6. The
merry-andrews told stories.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Merry Andrew or Mr. Merryman, the
jack-pudding, jester, or zany of a mountebank, usually dressed in a
party-colored coat.
1785. Burns, Jolly Beggars, R. iii. Poor merry-andrew in the neuk
Sat guzzling with a tinkler-hizzie. Ibid. S. iii. Poor andrew that
tumbles for sport.
1842. C. Lever, Jack Hinton, ... I wonder how a Christian would
make a merry-andrew of himself by wearing such clothes.
Merry-begot (or -begotten), subs. (old).—A bastard: cf. quot.
1377.—Grose (1785). For synonyms see Bloody escape, etc.
c. 1377. Langtoft, Chronicle [Brunne (1725), p. 50]. Knoute of his
body gate sonnes thre, Tuo bi tuo wifes, the thrid in jolifte [in
jollity].
1890. Hall Caine, The Bondman, i. ch. 6. Maybe you think it wise to
bring up your daughter with the merry-begot of any ragabash that
comes prowling along.
Merry-cain. See Cain, Raise and Jesse.
Merry-dancers, subs. (colloquial).—The Northern Lights. [From their
motion]. Fr. chèvres dansantes (= dancing goats).
Merry-dog, subs. (common).—A boon companion; a jolly-dog (q.v.).
1891. W. C. Russell, Ocean Tragedy, p. 18. He was a merry-dog
enough when Wilfrid was out of sight.
Merry Dun of Dover, subs. (nautical).—A ship so large that, passing
through the Straits of Dover, her flying jib-boom knocked down Calais
steeple; while the fly of her ensign swept a flock of sheep off Dover
Cliff. She was so lofty that a boy who went to her mast-head found
himself a grey old man when he reached the deck again. [This yarn is
founded on a story in Scandinavian mythology].
Merry-go-down, subs. (Old Cant).—Strong ale; stingo (q.v.). For
synonyms see Drinks and Swipes.
c. 1530. Hoow Gossip Mine [in Neuenglische Lezebuch (1895), p.
154]. I know a draught of merry-go-down, The best it is in all the
town.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Ded. [Harl. Misc. vi. 145]. I present
you with meate, and you ... can do no less than present mee with
the best morning’s draught of merry-go-downe in your quarters.
Merry-go-sorry, subs. (old colloquial).—Hysteria.
1600. Breton, Fortunes of Two Princes, 25. The ladie with a
merrie-go-sorrie.
Merry-go-up, subs. (old).—Snuff.
1821. Egan, Real Life, ii. 90. Short but pungent like a pinch of
merry-go-up.
Merry Greek, subs. phr. (old).—A jolly companion.
1602. Shakspeare, Troilus and Cressida, i. 2. Then she’s a merry
Greek indeed.
1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, ii. 2. Go home, and
tell the merry Greeks that sent you, Ilium shall burn, etc.
d. 1669. Prynne, Healthes Sicknesse, fol. B 2, b. Open, liberall,
or free housekeepers, merry Greeks, and such like stiles and
titles.
1820. Barn. Journ., i. p. 54. A true Trojan, and a mad merry grig,
though no Greek.
Merryman. See Merry-andrew.
Merry-men-of-May, subs. (nautical).—Currents formed by the ebb-tides.
Merry-pin, subs. (old).—A happy chance; a jolly time; a gay mood. In a
merry pin = jovially inclined. [See quot. 1655].
1560. Nice Wanton [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ii. 166]. I will set
my heart On a merry-pin, Whatever shall befall.
1655. Fuller, Church History, iii. 17. The Dutch, and English in
imitation of them, were wont to drink out of a cup marked with
certain pins, and he accounted the man who could nick the pin;
whereas, to go above or beneath it, was a forfeiture.
1670. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 174]. To be in a merry-pin.
1715. Pennecuik, Poems (1815), 332. Finding the brethren in a merry
pin.
1719. Durfey, Pills etc., i. ... Well, since you’re on the merry
pin And make so slight the counter-gin, I’ll do’t.
d. 1774. Fergusson, Poems (1851), ‘A Drink Eclogue,’ 114. And set
the saul upon a merry pin.
Merry thought, subs. (colloquial).—The furcula or forked bone of a
fowl’s breast.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Catriosso, the bone called
the merie thought.
1694. Echard, Plautus [Ency. Dict.]. ‘Let him not be breaking
merry-thoughts under the table with my cousin.’
d. 1719. Addison, Omens [Century]. I ... have seen a man in love
grow pale, and lose his appetite upon the plucking of a merry
thought.
Mesopotamia, subs. (obsolete).—1. Belgravia; Cubitopolis (q.v.). Cf.
Asia Minor, New Jerusalem etc.
1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, xv. p. 143 (1873). A house in
Great Adullam Street, Macpelah Square, in that district of London
whilom known as Mesopotamia.