Moisten, verb. (common).—To drink; to lush (q.v.). Also to moisten
one’s chaffer (or clay).
Moke, subs. (common).—1. An ass.
English synonyms. Baldwin; cuddy (Scots’); donkey; Dick; Edward;
Issachar; Jack; Jenny; Jerusalem; Jerusalem pony; King of Spain’s
trumpeter; long-ears; myla; Neddy.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., ii. 85. I had a good moke, and a tidyish
box of a cart.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xxx. The one who rides from market on a
moke.
1856. Punch, xxxi. 218. We understand that the directors have been
actually challenged by a sporting minded costermonger who has
offered to back his moke against the fastest engine.
1866. G. A. Sala, Trip to Barbary, iii. As one out of every three
Bedouins you meet in the country is mounted on a meek little moke
... I should put down the number of Arab asses at about one
million.
1888. Rolf Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, viii. I am regular shook
on this old moke, I believe.
1888. J. Runciman, The Chequers, 85. I got to go to market, and we
ain’t no bloomin’ moke.
1889. Illustrated Bits, 13 July. Billy Skipper once came to Ben
Bouncer to ask for the loan of his moke.
1894. Sketch, 28 March, 458, col. 2. ‘’E wants a barrer an’ a moke
of ‘is hown,’ said Nan. ‘’E’s tired of a barsket.’