1865. Sporting Gazette, 1 April. If this letter had not already
reached a considerable length, I would discourse upon the
probability that to run a muck, and to go a mucker, which Mr.
Hotten treats as synonymous, are in reality unconnected. The
meaning and derivation of to run a muck are no doubt correctly
given; but to go a mucker as men frequently do on the Turf, seems
to be connected with muck, to clean out, and perhaps with
muckinger, a pocket handkerchief.
To go (or run) a muck (or a mucker), verb. phr. (common).—To go
headlong; also to be recklessly extravagant; to run amok (q.v.).
[Stanford Dict. The homicidal frenzy (of a Malay), used originally in
Port. forms amouca, amuco; hence, in a homicidal frenzy, furiously,
viciously; metaphorically, headlong. Rare as adv.. except with ‘run.’
Sometimes used as if it were the indef. art. ‘a’ with subs. ‘muck’].
1588. J. Hickock, Tr. C. Frederick’s Voyage, fol. 13, r8. This King
of Cochine ... hath a great number of gentlemen which he calleth
Amochy, and some are called Nayry; these two sorts of men esteeme
not their lives any thing. They will thrust themselves forward in
every danger, although they knowe they shall dye.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage [1626], ii. 557. There are also certaine
people called Amorichi, otherwise Chiani, which perceiving the end
of their life approach, lay hold on their weapons ... and going
forth kill every man they meet with, till somebody (by killing
them) make an end of their killing.
1665. Head, English Rogue, Sig. Hhh, 2 vo. A great crew of Indians
and Chineses ... fell upon them, killing whom they could, not
directing their revenge on any particular person, (which they call
a muck).
1684. J. P., Tr. Tavernier’s Travels, I. ii. iii. 202. Which the
Java lords seeing.... Cried a mocca on the English, killing a great
number of them.
1687. Dryden, Hind and Pauth, iii. 1188. He scours the streets And
runs an Indian muck at all he meets.
1754. Smollett, Ferd. Ct. Fathom, l. The Malays never run a muck,
but in consequence of misery and despair.
1821. De Quincey, Confessions (1823), ii. 135. Brought other Malays
with him ... that ran amuck at me.
1866. Lowell, Biglow Papers, viii. The late muck which the country
has been running.
To go a muck (or mucker), verb. phr. (common).—To go to smash. Also, to
risk one’s all; to put on one’s shirt (q.v.).
1877. C. Kingsley, Life, 275. Only four more doing it and one
receiving a mucker.
To muck about, verb. phr. (coster).—To fondle; to mess about (q.v.).
Muckcook, verb. (common).—To laugh behind one’s back.
Muckender (Muckinder, Muckinger, or Mucketer), subs. (Old Cant).—A
handkerchief. [From Sp. mocadero, (influenced by muck) from muco =
mucus]. For synonyms see Wipe.
1468. Cov. Mysteries, ‘Christ in the Temple’ p. 190. Goo hom lytyl
babe, and sytte on the moderes lappe And put a mokador upon thi
brest: And pray thi modyr to fede the with the pappe.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Bavaro, a bib or muckender.
1600. Weakest goes to Wall, sign. I. 2 b. Onely upon his muckiter
and band he had an F, By which I did suppose his name was
Ferdinand.
1607. Marston, What You Will, ii. 1. Wipe your nose: fie on your
sleeve! where’s your muckender your grandmother gave you?
1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch the Old One, iv. 5. One must wipe
his mouth for him with a muckinder.
1612. Chapman, Widow’s Tears, iv. 1, p. 327 (Plays, 1874). To which
all the Paphian widows shall after their husbands’ funerals offer
their wet muckinders, for monuments of the danger they have passed.
1633. Jonson, Tale of a Tub, iii. 1. Take my muckinder, And dry
thine eyes.
1658. On Dr. Corbet’s Marriage [Nares]. You knew her little, and
when her Apron was but a muckender.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char. Alph. Dict. Mucketer, wiping thing.
1719. Durfey, Pills to Purge, v. 220.... And now and then with a
greasy muckender wipe away the dripping that bastes their
foreheads.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1830. C. Lamb, Pawnbroker’s Daughter, i. 2. Scarce three clean
muckingers a week Would dry the brine that dew’d my cheek.
1847. Halliwell, Arch. & Prov. Words, s.v. muckinder.... The term
is still in use, but generally applied to a dirtied handkerchief.
Mucker, subs. (common).—See to go a muck: also to come a cropper.