A NEW
DICTIONARY
OF THE
Terms Ancient and Modern
OF THE
Canting Crew,
In its several
TRIBES,
OF
_Gypsies, Beggers, Thieves, Cheats_, &c.
WITH
An Addition of some Proverbs,
Phrases, Figurative Speeches, _&c._
Useful for all sorts of People, (especially
Foreigners) to secure their _Money_ and preserve their
_Lives_; besides very Diverting and Entertaining, being
wholly New.
By _B. E._ Gent.
_LONDON_,
Printed for _W. Hawes_ at the _Rose_ in _Ludgate-street_,
_P. Gilbourne_ at the Corner of _Chancery-lane_ in _Fleet-street_,
and _W. Davis_ at the _Black Bull_ in _Cornhill_.
THE PREFACE.
Before I present the Reader, with the following Dictionary of the
_Beggers_ and _Gypsies Cant_, I think it not amiss to premise a few
Words concerning the _Beggers_ and _Gypsies_ themselves, by way of an
Historical Account, of the Antiquity of the one, and the Universality of
the other.
It makes not a little for the Honour of the _Beggers_, that their
Original according to some Accounts, is no less Ancient than that of
_Christianity_ it self; for in the Opinion of _Charron_, as the _Slaves_
went off, the _Beggers_ came in their Place. So much at least is granted,
That the _Jews_ who allow’d of _Slaves_, had no _Beggers_. What shall we
say, but that if it be true, that the Emancipating or Freeing of _Slaves_
was indeed the making of _Beggers_; it follows that Christianity which is
daily employed in Redeeming _Slaves_ from the _Turks_, Ransom’d no less
than all at once from _Pagan Slavery_ at first, at no dearer a Rate, than
the Rent-charge of maintaining the _Beggers_, as the Price and Purchace
of our Freedoms.
As for the Antiquity of the _English Beggers_, it may be observed, That
the first _Statute_ which makes Provision for the _Parish-Poor_, is no
older than Queen _Elizabeth_; from which it may be fairly Collected,
That they entred with us upon the _Dissolution_ of the _Abbeys_, as with
them abroad, upon the _Delivery_ of the _Slaves_.
For the _Gypsies_, they and the _Foul Disease_ have alike the Fate to
run through a _Geography_ of _Names_, and to be made free of as many
_Countries_, as almost there are _Languages_ to call them Names in; for
as the _French_ call the _Pox_, the _Italian_ Disease, they again give
it to the _Spaniards_, as these to the _French_; so the _French_ call
the Gypsies _Boemie_, or _Bohemians_, belike, because they made their
first Appearance in _Bohemia_ of any Part of _Europe_; the _Italians_
Name them _Zingari_ or _Saracens_, the _Spaniards_ _Ilanos_ as we
_Egyptians_; whether it be, that the _Italians_ give them the _Turks_, as
the _Spaniards_ give them the _Moors_, as being both the next Neighbors
to each; I take not upon me to Determine, only it may be observed,
betwixt the Complement of either kind, the Odds is no greater than this,
of giving a Nation a Clap, or of laying a brood of Bastards at it’s Door.
Though _Holland_ has no Beggers, if the _Dutch_ themselves are not the
greatest Beggers in the World; and _Switzerland_ has no Thieves, if the
_Swiss_ who are altogether Soldiers, are not the greatest of Thieves.
Yet, I say, neither the _States_ that are without _Beggers_, nor the
_Cantons_ that are without _Thieves_, are notwithstanding either the one
or the other, without _Gypsies_. So as what they want of _Beggers_ and
_Thieves_ in point of Antiquity, the _Gypsies_ claim above both, in point
of Universality.
But though _Gypsies_ are found in all Christian Countries, yet are they
not in all Countries alike; their Nature and Genius being diverse, in
proportion to the Countries amongst whom they Stroul; so that the same
Question remains upon them, as is started of the _Winds_, as Universal
Travellers as the _Gypsies_, that it seems a Doubt, Whether they partake
more of the Nature of the Countries whence they rise, or of those through
which they Pass?
Nor is it also new to meet the _Beggers_ and the _Proverbs_ together, for
the Fashion is as old as _Plautus_, who puts the Proverbs and the Jests
in the Mouth of his _Slaves_. And in the Character of _Sancho Pancha_,
_Cervantes_ has Trod in the same Steps; in the History of _Don Quixot_,
_Sancho_ being distinguished no less by his _Proverbs_, than his _Asse_.
And between the _Slaves_ and the _Beggers_, the Difference is no greater,
than between _Fathers_ and their _Heirs_.
If some Terms and Phrases of better Quality and Fashion, keep so ill
Company, as Tag-Rag and Long-Tail; you are to remember, that it is no
less then Customary, for _Great Persons_ a broad to hide themselves often
in Disguises among the _Gypsies_; and even the late L. of _Rochester_
among us, when time was, among other Frolicks, was not ashamed to keep
the _Gypsies_ Company.
A NEW DICTIONARY.
_Abram-cove_, c. a Naked or poor Man, also a lusty strong Rogue.
_Abram-men_, c. the seventeenth Order of the Canting-crew. Beggers
antickly trick’d up with Ribbands, Red Tape, Foxtails, Rags, _&c._
pretending Madness to palliate their Thefts of Poultrey, Linnen, _&c._
_Academy_, c. a Bawdy-house, also an University or School to learn
Gentleman-like Exercises.
_Accutrements_, c. fine rigging (now) for Men or Women, (formerly) only
Trappings for Horses. _Well accoutred_, c. gentilly dress’d.
_Acquests_, and _Acquisitions_, the rights of Fortune purchased by
Labour, Arts or Arms, oppos’d to Hereditary and Paternal.
_Acteon_, a Cuckold.
_Acteon’d_, Cuckolded, or made a Cuckold of.
_Adam’s-ale_, Water.
_Adam-tiler_, c. a Pick-pocket’s Camerade, who receives Stolen Money or
Goods, and scowers off with them.
_Addle-pate_, one full of Whimsies and Projects, and as empty of Wit.
_Addle-plot_, a Martin-mar-all.
_Adrift_, loose. _I’ll turn ye adrift_, a Tar-phrase; I’ll prevent ye
doing me any harm.
_Affidavit men_, Knights of the Post, Mercenary Sweaters for Hire,
Inhabitants (formerly) of White Friers, now dispersed.
_Aft_ and _Abase_, towards the Stern, or hinder Part of the Ship.
_Aim_, Endeavour or Design. _To aim_ or _level at a Mark, he has mist his
Aim_ or _End_.
_Air of a Song_, the Tune.
_Air of a Face or picture_, the Configuration and consent of Parts in
each.
_Airy_, Light, brisk, pleasant; also a Nest of Hawks; He is an Airy
Fellow.
_Alabaster_, mixt by all the knavish Perfumers with the Hair-Powder they
sell, to make it weigh heavy, being of it self very cheap, that their
Gain may be the greater, found destructive to the Hair and Health.
_Alsatia_, White Friers.
_Alsatia the higher_, the same.
_Alsatia the lower_, the Mint in Southwark.
_Alsatians_, the Inhabitants, such as, broken Gentlemen, Tradesmen, _&c._
Lurking there.
_Allay_, the Embasing of a purer and finer Metal, by mixing it with an
inferior or coarser Metal, as of pale Gold with a Silver-Allay, or of
deep Gold with an Allay of Copper; also whatever is used to qualify what
is bitter or nauseous in Compositions, as gilding of Pills, sweetning of
Boluses, or Powders.
_Aloft_, above or over Head; also anciently an Upper-room or Garret, now
more us’d in Compounds, as _Cock-loft_, _Hay-loft_, &c.
_Altemall_, altogether.
_Altitudes_, _the Man is in his Altitudes_, he is Drunk.
_Ambidexter_, one that goes snacks in gaming with both Parties; also a
_Lawyer_ that takes Fees of _Plaintif_ and _Defendant_ at once.
_Ambient-Air_, Air abroad oppos’d to that pent and shut up in Wells,
Vaults, Caves, _&c._ Or else the outward Air in the House, oppos’d to
that shut up in the Cavities of Vessels, Glasses Vials, _&c._
_Ambrol_, among the Tarrs for Admiral.
_Amphibious Creatures_, of a doubtful kind or of a double Element; as a
Bat is between a Bird and a Beast; an Otter between a Beast and a Fish,
and a Puffin with the rest of the Sea-Fowl, between Fowl and Fish.
_Amuse_, to throw dirt in one’s Eyes, by diverting one from a serious
Thought to a pleasant one.
_Amusement_, a Blind or Disengagement from deep Thoughts to more
Diverting.
_An Ark_, c. a Boat or Wherry.
_Anglers_, c. Cheats, petty Thievs, who have a Stick with a hook at the
end, with which they pluck things out of Windows, Grates, _&c._ also
those that draw in People to be cheated.
_Animal_, a Fool. _He is a meer Animal_, he is a very silly Fellow.
_Antechambers_, forerooms for receiving of Visits, as the back and
Drawing Rooms are For Lodgings, anciently called Dining-rooms.
_Antidote_, a very homely Woman, also a medicine against Poyson.
_Antient_, at Sea, for Ensign, or Flag.
_Anticks_, little Images on Stone, on the out side of old Churches.
_Antick postures or dresses_, such as are odd, ridiculous and singular,
the habits and motions of Fools, Zanies, or Merry-andrews, of
Mountebanks, with Ribbands, mismatched colours and Feathers.
_Antiquary_, a curious Critick in old Coins, Stones and Inscriptions, in
Worm-eaten Records, and ancient Manuscripts; also one that affects and
blindly doats, on Relicks, Ruins, old Customs Phrases and Fashions.
_Antiquated-Rogue_, Old, out of date, that has forgot or left off his
Trade of Thieving, _&c._ also superannuated, obsolete Customs, or Words,
such as are worn out, out of use and Fashion.
_Apart_, severally, asunder.
_Apartments_, Rooms apart, private Lodgings, inner Chambers, secret
and withdrawn from the rest. Recesses of the House opposed to the
_Ante-chambers_.
_Arack_, an East-Indian Brandy, or strong Spirit drawn from Rice, and
(sometimes) Roes of Fish, best when old, much us’d in Punch, the double
distill’d _Goa_ most esteem’d.
{ _Rogue_, Witty.
_Areh_, { _Wag_, Pleasant.
{ _Whore_, Cunning.
_Armi_, _to bear Arms_, a Profession not unbecoming a Gentleman, for
_Books_ and _Arms_ are Gentlemens Burdens.
_Armour_, _in his Armour_, Pot-valiant.
_Aristippus_, a Diet-drink, or Decoction of _Sarsa_, _China_, &c. Sold at
certain Coffee-houses, and drank as _T_.
_Arsworm_, a little diminutive Fellow.
_Ascendant_, Power, Influence, as, _he has the Ascendant over him_, or an
Hank upon him; also the Horoscope, or point of the Ecliptic that rises at
one’s Nativity.
_Assig_, now us’d for Assignation, an Appointment or meeting.
_Assuming_, conceited, as, _an Assuming Fellow_, one that abounds in his
own Sense, and imposes it upon every Man else.
_Assurance_, Confidence, as, _a Man of Assurance_, one that has a stock
of Confidence.
_Aunt_, a Bawd, as _one of my Aunts_, one of the same Order.
_Autem_, c. a Church, also Married.
_Autem mort_, c. a Married-woman, also the Twenty fourth Order of the
Canting Tribe, Travelling, Begging (and often Stealing) about the
Country, with one Child in Arms another on Back, and (sometimes) leading
a third in the Hand.
_Auxiliary beauty_, Dress, Paint, Patches, setting of Eye-brows, and
licking the Lipps with red.
B
_Babler_, a great Talker.
_Backt_, dead, as _he wishes the old Man backt_, he longs to have his
Father upon six Mens shoulders, or as _his Back’s up_, he is in a fume,
or angry.
_Bacon_, as _he sav’d his Bacon_, he has escap’d with a whole Skin. _A
good voice to beg Bacon_, said in jear of an ill voice.
_Badge_, a mark of Distinction among poor People; as, Porters, Water-men,
Parish-Pensioners and Hospital-boys, Blew-coats and Badges being the
ancient Liveries.
_Badgers_, they that buy up a quantity of Corn and hoard it up in the
same Market, till the price rises; or carry it to another, where it bears
a better. Also a Beast for sport, _Badger Eartheth_, _Lodgeth_.
_Badjob_, an ill bout, bargain, or business.
_Baffle_, to worst, or defeat. _A baffled Cause_, worsted, defeated.
_Baggage_, a Whore or Slut.
_Bagonet_ or _Bisnet_, a _Dagger_.
_Bail-dock_, the place in the Court, where the Prisoners are kept till
called to be Arraign’d.
_Balsom_, c. Money.
_Balderdash_, ill, unpleasant, unwholesom mixtures of Wine, Ale, _&c._
_Banbury-story_, of a Cock and a Bull, silly chat.
_Banditti_, Highwaymen, (Horse or Foot) Rogues of any kind, now, but
strictly Italian Outlaws.
_Bandog_, a Bailiff, or his Follower, a Sergeant, or his Yeoman; also a
very fierce Mastive.
_Bandore_, a Widows mourning Peak; also a Musical Instrument.
_Bandy_, a play at Ball with a Bat; also to follow a Faction.
_Bandy-legg’d_, crooked.
_Bang_, a blow, _to Bang_, to beat.
_Banillas_, a Seed growing in a Cod, somewhat resembling a Kidney-bean,
on Trees in the _Indies_, much us’d in Chocolate.
_Banter_, a pleasant way of prating, which seems in earnest, but is in
jest, a sort of ridicule, _What do you banter me?_ i. e. do you pretend
to impose upon me, or to expose me to the Company, and I not know your
meaning.
_Bantling_, a Child.
_Barker_, a Salesman’s Servant that walks before the Shop, and cries,
Cloaks, Coats, or Gowns, what d’ye lack, Sir?
_Barketh_, the Noise a Fox makes at Rutting time.
_Barnacle_, c. a good job, or a snack easily got, also Fish growing on
Ships sides when foul, and a Brake for unruly Horses Noses, also the
Gratuity to _Jockeys_, for selling or buying Horses.
_Barnacles_, c. the Irons Fellons wear in Goal.
_Bar-wig_, between a bob and a long one.
_Basset_, a Game at Cards.
_Baste_, to beat, as, _I’ll baste your sides Sirrah_, I’ll bang you
lustily.
_Bastonado-ing_, a Cudgelling.
_Batten_, c. to Fatten.
_Battner_, c. an Ox.
_Batter_, the ingredients for a Pudding or Pan-cake, when they are all
mixt and stirred together.
_Battery_, beating, assault, also, striking with the Edge and _feble_ of
one’s Sword, upon the edge and _feble_ of his Adversaries.
_Batter’d-bully_, an old well cudgell’d and bruis’d huffing Fellow.
_Baubee_, a half-penny.
_Baubels_, c. Jewels, also trifles and Childrens Play-things.
_Bawdy-baskets_, c. the Twenty third Rank of Canters, with Pins, Tape,
Obscene Books, _&c._ to sell, but live more by Stealing.
_Bawdy-batchelors_, that live long Unmarried.
_Bawdy-house-bottle_, a very small one.
_Bay-windows_, embowed, as of old, standing out from the rest of the
Building. _Stand at bay_, as Deer will, when closely pursued, or being
hard run, turn Head against the Hounds.
_Beach_, the Sea-shore, or Strand.
_Bear-garden-discourse_, common, filthy, nasty Talk. _If if had been a
Bear it would have bit you_, of him that makes a close search after what
just lies under his Nose. _As good take a Bear by the Tooth_, of a bold
desperate Undertaking. _Go like the Bear to the Stake_, or hang an Arse.
_As many tricks as a dancing Bear_, or more than are good.
_Beard-splitter_, an enjoyer of Women.
_Beateth_, the noise a Hare makes at Rutting time.
_Beating_, striking the _Feble_ of the Adversary’s Sword, with the _Fort_
and edge of one’s own.
_Beau_, a silly Fellow that follows the Fashions nicely, Powdering his
Neck, Shoulders, _&c._
_Beautrap_, a Sharper.
_Beck_, c. a Beedle.
_Beetle-head_, a heavy dull Block-head.
_Beldam_, a scolding old Woman.
_Belle_, a nice, gay, fluttring foolish Woman that follows every Fashion,
also fair.
_Belloweth_, see Roe.
_Belly-cheat_, c. an Apron.
_Belsh_, all Mault drinks.
_Belweather_, chief or Leader of the Flock, Master of misrule, also a
clamorous noisy Man.
_Bene_, c. good.
_Bene-cove_, c. a good Fellow.
_Bene-ship_, c. very good, also Worship.
_Bene-bowse_, c. strong Liquor, or very good Drink.
_Bene-darkmans_, c. good night.
_Benfeakers of Gyoes_, c. Counterfeiters of Passes.
_Benefit of Clergy_, see Neck-verse.
_Ben_, a Fool.
_Bennish_, Foolish.
_Beside-himself_, distracted, _beside the Cushion_, a mistake, _beside
the Lighter_, in a bad condition.
_Besom_, a Broom.
_Bestrid_, Mounted or got up astride.
_Bess_, c. _bring bess and glym_, c. forget not the Instrument to break
open the Door and the Dark-lanthorn.
_Betty_, c. a small Engin to force open the Doors of Houses; also, a
quarter Flask of Wine.
_Bever_, an afternoon’s Lunchion.
_Beveridge_, a Garnish-money, for any thing; also Wine and Water.
_Bevy_, a company of Roes, Quails, _&c._ _Bevy Grease_, Roes fat.
_Bewildred_, at a stand or nonplus in Business, not knowing what to do,
also lost in a Wood.
_Biddy_, a Chicken, also Bridget.
_Big_, choice Barley-making, the best Mault.
_Biggin_, a Woman’s Coif.
_Biggot_, an obstinate blind Zealot.
_Biggotry_, an obstinate blind Zeal.
_Bil-boa_, c. a Sword.
_Bite the Bil from the Cull_, c. whip the Sword from the Gentleman’s side.
_Bilk_, c. to cheat. _Bilk the Ratling-cove_, c. to sharp the Coach-man
of his hire.
_Bilk’d_, c. defeated, disappointed.
_Billeting_, Foxes Excrements. _Billeting_ of Soldiers, Quartering them.
_Billet-doux_, a Love letter.
_Bill-of-sale_, a Bandore, or Widow’s Peak.
_Billingsgate-dialect_, Scolding, ill Language, foul Words.
_Binding_, securing the Adversary’s Sword with Eight or ten Inches of
one’s one, upon Five or six of his.
_Bing_, c. _to go_, _&c._
_Bing-awast_, c. get you hence. _Bing’d awast in a Darkmans_, c. stole
away in the Night-time. _Bing we to Rume vile_, c. go we to _London_.
_Bingo_, c. Brandy.
_Bingo-boy_, c. a great Drinker or Lover thereof.
_Bingo-club_, c. a set of Rakes, Lovers of that Liquor.
_Birds of a Feather_, c. Rogues of the same gang; also, those of the same
Profession, Trade or Employment. _To kill two Birds with one Stone_, to
dispatch two Businesses at one Stroke.
_Bird-witted_, Wild-headed, not Solid or Stayed, opposed to a Sober-Wit.
_Bit_, c. Robb’d, Cheated or Out-witted. Also Drunk, as, _he has bit his
Grannam_; he is very Drunk. _Bit the Blow_, c. accomplish’d the Theft,
plaied the Cheat, or done the Feat: _You have Bit-a great Blow_, c. you
have Robb’d some body of a great deal, or to a considerable value.
_Bite_, c. a Rogue, Sharper or Cheat; also a Woman’s Privities.
_Bite the Biter_, c. to Rob the Rogue, Sharp the Sharper, or Cheat the
Cheater.
_Bite the Cully_, c. to put the cheat on the silly Fellow.
_Bite the Roger_, c. to Steal the Portmanteau. _Bite the Wiper_, c. to
Steal the Handkerchief. _The Cull wapt the Morts bite_, c. the Fellow
enjoyed the Whore briskly. _He will not bite, or swallow the Bait._ He
won’t be drawn in, _to bite on the bit_; to be pinched, or reduced to
hard Meat, a scanty or sorry sort of Living.
_Bitter-cold_, very Cold.
_Black and White_, under one’s Hand, or in Writing.
_Blab_, a Sieve of Secrets, a very prating Fellow that tells all he
knows.
_Black-box_, a Lawyer.
_Black-coat_, a Parson.
_Black-guard_, Dirty, Nasty, Tatter’d roguish Boys, that attend (at the
Horse-Guards) to wipe Shoes, clean Boots, water Horses, or run of Errands.
_Blackjack_, a Leather-Jug to drink in.
_Black-Indies_, Newcastle, from whence the Coals are brought.
_Blackmuns_, c. Hoods and Scarves of Alamode and Lustrings.
_Black-mouth_, foul, malicious, Railing, or Reflecting.
_Blacken_, to blast or asperse.
_Black-spy_, c. the Devil.
_Blank_, baffled, down-look’t, sheepish, guilty.
_Bleak_, sharp, piercing Weather.
_Bleach_, to whiten.
_Bleaters_, c. they that are cheated by Jack-in-a box.
_Bleating cheat_, c. a Sheep.
_Bleed freely_, c. part with their Money easily.
_Blemish_, when Hounds or Beagles find where the Chace has been, and make
a proffer to enter, but return.
_Blew-John_, Wash, or Asterwort.
_Blind-cheeks_, the Breech _Kiss my Blind-cheeks_, Kiss my Ar—.
_Blind-excuse_, a sorry shift. _A Blind Ale-house, or Blind Lane_,
obscure, of no Sign, Token, or Mark.
_Blind harpers_, c. Beggers counterfeiting blindness, with Harps or
Fiddles.
_Blind-man’s-buff_, a play us’d by Children blindfolded. _Bluffed_,
contracted from Blind-man’s-buff, he that is Blinded in the Play.
_Blind-man’s-holiday_, when it is too dark to see to Work.
_Blind side_, every Man’s weak Part.
_Bloated_, Smoked Herrings; also, one puffed or swelled with false Fat,
and has not a Healthy Complexion.
_Blobber-lipp’d_, very thick, hanging down, or turning over.
_Block_, a silly Fellow.
_Block-houses_, c. Prisons, also Forts upon Rivers.
_Blockish_, Stupid.
_Blockstock_, See _Block_.
_Bloss_, c. a Thief or Shop-lift, also, a Bulhes pretended Wife, or
Mistress, whom he guards, and who by her Trading supports him, also a
Whore.
_Blot the Skrip and jark it_, c. to stand Engaged, or be Bound for any
body.
_Blot in the Tables_, what is fair to be hit.
_Blot in a Scutcheon_, a blemish or imputation upon any one.
_Bloud_, _’twill breed ill Bloud_, of what will produce a
misunderstanding or Difference.
_Blower_, c. a Mistress, also a Whore.
_Blowing_, c. _the same_.
_Blow-off-on the grounsills_, c. to lie with a Woman on the Floor or
Stairs.
_Blown upon_, seen by several, or slighted; _not blown upon_, a secret
piece of News or Poetry, that has not taken air, spick and span-new. _To
blow Hot and Cold_ with a Breath, or play fast and loose.
_Blow off the loose corns_, c. to Lie now and then with a Woman. _It is
blow’d_, c. it is made publick, and all have notice.
_Blubber_, Whale-oyl, (imperfect.)
_Blubbering_, much Crying.
_Bluffer_, c. a Host, Inn-keeper or Victualler, _to look bluff_, to look
big, or like Bull-beef.
_Blunder_, an Ignorant Mistake.
_Blunderbuss_, a Dunce, an unganely Fellow, also a short Gun carrying
Twenty Pistol-Bullets at one Charge.
_Bluster_, to huff, a _blustring Fellow_, a rude ratling Fellow.
_Boor_, see wild Boar.
_Boarding-school_, c. Bridewell.
_Boarding-scholars_, c. Bridewell-birds.
_Bob_, c. a Shop-lift’s camrade, assistant, or receiver, also a very
short Periwig, and for Robert. _It’s all bob_, c. all is safe, the Bet is
secured.
_Bob’d_, c. Cheated, Trick’d, Disappointed, or Baulk’d.
_Bob-tail_, a light Woman, also a short Arrow-head.
_Bode-ill_, to presage or betoken ill. Also in _Holland_, a _Bode_ is a
Messinger, attending the Burgo-Masters, and executing their Orders.
_Bodle_, Six make a Penney, Scotch Coin.
_Boer_, a Country-Fellow or Clown.
_Boerish_, Rude, Unmannerly, Clownish.
_Boggs_, Irish Fastnesses or Marshes.
_Bog-houses_, Privies.
_Bog-landers_, Irish Men.
_Bog-trotters_, Scotch or North Country Moss-troopers or High-way Men
formerly, and now Irish Men.
_Boisterous Fellow_ or, _Sea_, Blustering, Rude, Rough.
_Boldface_, Impudent. _A Bold Harbour_, where Ships may Ride at Anchor
with safety, _a bold Shore_ where Ships may Sail securely.
_Bolter of White Friers_, c. one that Peeps out, but dares not venture
abroad, as a Coney bolts out of the Hole in a Warren, and starts back
again.
_Bolting_, the leaping by one’s Adversary’s Left-side quite out of all
measure.
_Boltsprit_, a Nose. _He has broke his Boltsprit_, he has lost his Nose
with the Pox.
_Bombast-poetry_, in Words of lofty Sound and humble Sense.
_Bone_, c. to Apprehend, _Seize_, Take or Arrest. _I’ll Bone ye_, c.
I’ll cause you to be Arrested. _We shall be Bon’d_, c. we shall be
Apprehended for the Robbery. _The Cove is Bon’d and gon to the Whit_, c.
the Rogue is taken up and carried to Newgate, or any other Gaol. _The
Cull has Bon’d the Fen_, (for _Fence_) _or Bloss that bit the Blow_,
c. the Man has Taken the Thief that Robb’d his House, Shop, or Pickt
his Pocket. _He has bit his Blow, but if he be Bon’d, he must shove the
Tumbler_, c. he has Stole the Goods, or done the Feat, but if he be
Taken, he’ll be Whipt at the Cart-tail. _I have Bon’d her Dudds Fagg’d,
and Brush’d_, c. I have took away my Mistress Cloathes, Beat her, and am
troop’d off. _Boning the Fence_, c. finding the Goods where Conceal’d,
and Seizing, _he made no bones of it_, he swallow’d it without Drinking
after it.
_Bonny-clapper_, sower Butter-milk.
_Booby_, a dull heavy Lob.
_Booberkin_, the same.
_Boon_, a Gift, Reward, or Gratification.
_Boon-companion_, a merry Drinking Fellow.
_Boot_, a Scotch Torture, or Rack, for the Leg, is to draw to Confession.
_What Boots it?_ What Avails it?
_Booty-play_, false, Cheating, also Plunder, _the Bowls Booty_, when
great Odds are laid, and he goes Halves, his Cast is designed by Bad.
_Boracho_, a But, a Drunkard, and a Hogskin.
_Borde_, c. a Shilling, _half a Borde_, c. Sixpence.
_Bordel-lo_, a Bawdy-House.
_Boreson or Bauson_, a Badger.
_Bottle-head_, void of Wit.
_Bottom_, _a Man of no Bottom_, of no Basis of Principles, or no
settlement of Fortune, or of no Ground in his Art. _Let every Tub stand
on it’s own Bottom_, or every one look to his own footing. _A Tale of a
Tub with the Bottom out_, a sleeveless frivolous Tale.
_Boughs_, _he is up in the Boughs, or a top of the House_, of one upon
the Rant, or in a great Ferment.
_Bounce_, to boast and vapour. _A meer Bounce_, a Swaggering Fellow.
_Bouncer_, c. a Bully.
_Bout_, a Tryal, Act, Essay.
_Bowse_, c. Drink, or to Drink, see _Benbowse_ and _Rumbowse_.
_Bowsy_, c. Drunk. _We Bows’d it about_, we Drank damn’d hard.
_Bowsingken_, c. an Ale-house. _The Cul tipt us a Hog, which we melted in
Rumbowse_, c. the Gentleman gave us a Shilling, which we spent in Strong
Drink.
_Box_, to Fight with the Fists. _Box it about Boys_, Drink briskly
round. _In a wrong Bow_, of one that has taken wrong measures, or made
false steps. _A pretty Box_, a Compleat little House, also a small
drinking place.
_Bracket-face_, Ugly, Homely, Illfavor’d.
_Bragget_, Meed, and Ale sweetned with Honey.
_Brag_, _Braggadocio_, A vapouring, Swaggering, Bullying Fellow.
_Brat_, a little Child.
_Branchers_, Canary-Birds of the first Year.
_Bravado_, a Vapouring, or Bouncing.
_Bravo_, a Mercenary Murderer, that will Kill any Body.
_Brawl_, Squabble, or Quarrel. _To Brangle, and Brawl_, to Squabble and
Scold.
_Brazen-fac’d_, Bold, Impudent, Audacious.
_Bread and Cheese Bowling-green_, a very ord’nary one, where they play
for Drink and Tobacco, all wet, as ’tis called.
_Bread and Cheese Constables_, that treats their Neighbors and Friends at
their coming into Office with such mean Food only.
_Breaking Shins_, c. borrowing of Money.
_Breast_, _in the breast of the Judge_, what he keeps in Reserve, or
Suspence.
_Briers_, _in the Briers_, in trouble.
_Brook_, _he cannot brook it_, bear or endure it.
_Brickle_, Brittle, ape to Break.
_Bristol-milk_, Sherry.
_Bristol-stone_, Sham-Diamonds.
_Broach’d_, Opinion or Doctrine, Published, Divulged.
_Brimming_, a Boor’s copulating with a Sow, also now us’d for a Man’s
with——
_Brim_, or _Brimstone_, a very Impudent, Lew’d Woman.
_Brock_, see Hart.
_Brock’s Sister_, see Hind.
_Broke_, Officers turn’d out of Commission, Traders Absconding, Quitting
their Business and Paying no Debts.
_Bromigham-conscience_, very bad, _Bromigham-protestants_, Dissenters or
Whiggs. _Bromigham-wine_, Balderdash, Sophisticate Taplash.
_Brother-starling_, that Lies with the same Woman, or Builds in the same
Nest.
{ _Blade_, a Sword-Man or Soldier.
_Brother_ of the { _Gussit_, a Pimp, Procurer, also, a Whore-Master.
{ _Quill_, of the Scribbling Tribe.
{ _String_, a Fidler, or Musician.
_Brothel-house_, a Bawdy House.
_Brow-beat_, to Cow, to Daunt, to awe with Big Looks, or Snub.
_Brown-study_, a Deep Thought or Speculation.
_Brush_, c. to Fly or Run away. _The Cully is Brusht or Rub’d_, c. the
Fellow is march’d off, or Broke. _Bought a Brush_, c. Run away: Also a
small Faggot, to light the other at Taverns, and a Fox’s Tail.
_Brusher_, c. an exceeding full Glass.
_Bub_, c. Drink. _Rum-bub_, c. very good Tip.
_Bub_, or _Bubble_, c. one that is Cheated; also an Easy, Soft Fellow.
_Bubber_, c. a drinking Bowl; also a great Drinker, and he that used to
Steal Plate from Publick-houses.
_Bube_, c. the Pox. _The Mort has tipt the Bube upon the Cully_, c. the
Wench has Clapt the Fellow.
_Buckaneers_, West-Indian Pirates, of several Nations; also the Rude
Rabble in _Jamaica_.
_Buckle_, to Bend or give Way. _He’ll buckle to no Man_, he won’t Yield
or Stoop to any Man.
_Buck_, _Great Buck_, the Sixth Year. _Buck of the first Head_, the Fifth
Year, a _Sore_, the Fourth Year, a _Sorel_, the Third Year, a _Pricket_,
the Second Year, a _Fawn_, the First Year. _A Buck Lodgeth._ _Rouze the
Buck_, Dislodge him. _A Buck Growneth or Troateth_, makes a Noise at
Rutting time.
_Buck-fitches_, c. old Leacherous, Nasty, Stinking Fellows; also He
Polecats, and their Fur.
_Buck’s Face_, a Cuckold.
_Buck_, Copulation of Conies.
_Bucksom_, Wanton, Merry.
_Budge_, c. one that slips into an House in the Dark, and taketh
Cloaks, Coats, or what comes next to Hand, marching off with them; also
Lambs-fur, and to stir, or move. _Standing Budge_, c. the Thieves Scout
or Perdu.
_Bufe_, c. a Dog.
_Buffcoat_, a Soldier, or Redcoat.
_Buffer_, c. a Rogue that kills good sound Horses, only for their Skins,
by running a long Wyre into them, and sometimes knocking them on the
Head, for the quicker Dispatch.
_Buffenapper_, c. a Dog-stealer, that Trades in _Setters_, _Hounds_,
_Spaniels_, _Lap_, and all sorts of Dogs, Selling them at a round Rate,
and himself or Partner Stealing them away the first opportunity.
_Buffers-nab_, c. a Dog’s Head, used in a Counterfeit Seal to a false
Pass.
_Buffle-head_, a Foolish Fellow.
_Buffoon_, a Great Man’s Jester or Fool.
_Buffoonery_, Jesting or playing the Fool’s Part. _To stand Buff_, to
stand Tightly or Resolutely to any thing.
_Bugher_, c. a Dog.
_Bugging_, c. taking Money by Bailiffs and Serjeants of the Defendant not
to Arrest him.
_Busy-bodies_, Pryers into other Folks Concerns, such as thrust their
Sickle in another’s Harvest; and will have an Oar in every Boat. _As busy
as a Hen with one Chick_, of one that has a great deal of business and
nothing to do.
_Bulchim_, a Chubbingly Boy or Lad.
_Bulls-Eye_, c. a Crown or Five shilling Piece.
_Bull-head_, see Miller’s Thumb.
_Bull_, an absurd contradiction or incongruity; also false Hair worn
(formerly much) by Women. _A Town-bull_, a Whore-master. _To look like
Bull-beef_, to look Big and Grim.
_Bulk and File_, c. one jostles while the other Picks the Pocket.
_Bulker_, c. one that lodges all Night on Shop-windows and Bulkheads.
_Bulky_, strong like common Oyl, also of large bulk or size.
_Bullet-headed_, a dull silly Fellow.
_Bully_, c. a supposed Husband to a Bawd, or Whore; also a huffing Fellow.
_Bully huff_, c. a poor sorry Rogue that haunts Bawdy-houses, and
pretends to get Money out of Gentlemen and others, Ratling and Swearing
the Whore is his Wife, calling to his assistance a parcel of Hectors.
_Bully-fop_, c. a Maggot-pated, huffing, silly ratling Fellow.
_Bully-rock_, c. a Hector, or Bravo.
_Bully-ruffins_, c. Highway-men, or Padders.
_Bully-trap_, c. or _Trapan_, c. a Sharper, or Cheat.
_Bum_, a Bailiff, or Serjeant; also one’s Breech.
_Bumbast_, see Bombast.
_Bumbaste_, to Beat much, or hard, on the Breech.
_Bumble_, Cloaths setting in a heap, or ruck.
_Bumfodder_, what serves to wipe the Tail.
_Bumpkin_, a Country Fellow or Clown.
_Bumper_, a full Glass.
_Bundletail_, a short Fat or squat Lass.
_Bungler_, an unperforming Husband, or Mechanic.
_Bung_, c. a Purse, Pocket, or Fob.
_Bung-nipper_, c. a Cut-purse, or Pickpocket. _Claying the Bung_, c.
cutting the Purse, or Picking the Pocket.
_Bunting-time_, when the Grass is high enough to hide the young Men and
Maids.
_Buntlings_, c. Pettycoats. _Hale up the Main-buntlings_, c. take up the
Woman’s Pettycoats.
_Bunny_, a Rabbit.
_Bur_, a Cloud, or dark Circle about the Moon, boding Wind and Rain;
also the part next to the Deer’s Head.
_Burlesque_, Raillery in Verse, or Verse in Ridicule.
_Burnish_, to spread, or grow broad; also to refresh Plate, being the
Trade of a
_Burnisher_, depending on Gold and Silver-Smiths.
_Burnt_, Poxt, or swingingly Clapt.
_Burnt the Town_, when the Soldiers leave the Place without paying their
Quarters.
_Burre_, a Hanger on, or Dependant.
_Bustle_, a Fray, Stir, Tumult in the Streets; also a Noise in any Place.
What a Bustle you make? What a Hurry or Rattle you Cause? _Bustle about_,
to be very Stirring, or bestir one’s Stumps.
_Butcher’d_, Barbarously Murder’d on the Ground, or Kill’d before his
Sword is out; also in Cold Bloud.
_Butter_, c. to double or treble the Bet or Wager to recover all Losses:
_No Butter will stick on his Bread_, nothing thrives or goes forward in
his Hand. _He knows on which side his Bread is Butter’d_, or the Stronger
side, and his own Interest.
_Butter-boxes_, Dutchmen.
_Butter’d Bun_, Lying with a Woman that has been just Layn with by
another Man.
_Buttock_, c. a Whore.
_Buttock-broker_, a Bawd, also a Match-maker. _A Buttock and File_, c.
both Whore and Pickpocket.
_Buttock and Twang, or a downright Buttock and sham File_, c. a Common
Whore but no Pickpocket.
_Buzzard_, c. a foolish soft Fellow, easily drawn in and Cullied or
Trickt.
_By-blow_, a Bastard.
C
_Cabal_, a secret Junto of Princes, a seated knot of Statesmen, or of
Conspirators against the State in Counter-Cabal.
_Cabbage_, a Taylor, and what they pinch from the Cloaths they make up;
also that part of the Deer’s Head where the Horns are Planted.
_Cabob_, a Loin of Mutton Roasted with an Onyon betwixt each joint; a
_Turkish_ and _Persian_ Dish but now used in _England_.
_Cacafuego_, a Shite-fire; also a furious fierce Felow.
_Cackle_, c. to discover. _The Cull Cackles_, c. the Rogue tells all.
_Cackling-cheats_, c. Chickens, Cocks or Hens.
_Cackling-farts_, c. Eggs.
_Cadet_, or _Cadee_, a Gentleman that Bears Arms in hopes of a
Commission; also a younger Brother.
_Caffan_, c. Cheese.
_Cakehis_, _Cake is Dough_, of a Miscarriage or failure of Business.
_The Devil ow’d her a Cake, and has pai’d her a Loaf_, when instead of a
small, a very great Disaster or Misfortune has happen’d to a Woman.
_Call_, a Lesson, Blowed on the Horn to comfort the Hounds.
_Caliver_, a small Sea-Gun.
_Calle_, c. a Cloak or Gown.
_Cambridge-Fortune_, a Woman without any Substance.
_Cameleon-Diet_, Air, or a very thin slender Diet.
_Cameronians_, Field-Conventiclers, (in _Scotland_) great outward
Zealots, and very squeemish Precisians.
_Camesa_, c. a Shirt or Shift.
_Campaign-coat_, Originally only such as Soldiers wore, but afterwards a
Mode in Cities. See _Surtout_.
_Canary-Bird_, a little Arch or Knavish, a very Wag.
_Cane upon Abel_, a good Stick or Cudgel well-favoredly laid on a Man’s
Shoulders.
_Canal_, a Channel, Kennel, Pipe, Passage, fine Pond, or small River.
_Cannal_, choice Coals, very Fat or Pitchy that Blaze and Burn pleasantly.
_Canibal_, a cruel rigid Fellow in dealing; also Men-Eaters.
_Cank_, c. Dumb. _The Cull’s Cank_, c. the Rogue’s Dumb.
_Cannikin_, c. the Plague, also (among the _Dutch_) a little Kan with a
Spout to pour out the Wine or Beer, making it Froth _As great as Cup and
Cann_; or _as great as two Inkle-makers_.
_Cant_, c. to speak, also (Cheshire) to grow Strong and Lusty; also to
Kick or throw any thing away.
_Canterbury_, a sort of a short or Hand-gallop; from the Road leading to
that famous City (of _Kent_) on which they Ride (for the most part) after
that manner.
_Canting_, c. the Cypher or Mysterious Language, of Rogues, Gypsies,
Beggers, Thieves, _&c._
_Canting-crew_, c. Beggers, Gypsies; also Dissenters in Conventicles,
who affect a disguised Speech, and disguised Modes of Speaking, and
distinguish themselves from others by a peculiar Snuffle and Tone, as the
Shibboleth of their Party; as Gypsies and Beggers have their peculiar
Jargon; and are known no less by their several Tones in Praying, than
Beggers are by their whining Note in Begging.
_Cap_, c. to Swear. _I’ll Cap downright_, c. I’ll Swear home. Or (in
another Sense) _he may fling up his Cap after it_, when a thing or
business is past Hope.
_Capitation-Drugget_, a Cheap, Slight Stuff, called so from the Tax of
that Name.
_Capricious_, Whimsical, Fantastic, Freakish.
_Captain-Hackum_, c. a Fighting, Blustring Bully.
_Captain-Queere nabs_, c. a Fellow in poor Cloths, or Shabby.
_Captain-Sharp_, c. a great Cheat; also a Huffing, yet Sneaking, Cowardly
Bully; and a noted English Buckaneer.
_Captain-Tom_, a Leader of, and the Mob.
_Captious_, Touchy, Snuffy, apt to take Exception.
_Caravan_, c. a good round sum of Money about a Man, and him that is
Cheated of it; also a great Convoy of _Arabian_, _Grecian_, _Persian_,
_Turkish_, and other Merchants, Travelling with Camels from Place to
Place; also a sort of Wagon.
_Carbuncle-Face_, very Red and full of large Pimples.
_Card-Wool_, to cleanse and prepare it for Spinning: Also a Game; _a sure
Card_, a trusty Tool, or Confiding Man; a _cooling Card_, cold comfort,
no hope; a _Leading Card_, an Example or Precedent.
_Cargo_, c. a good round Sum of Money about a Man; also the Lading of a
Ship.
_Carouse_, to Drink hard, or Quaff heartily.
_Carpet-road_, Level and very good.
_Carriers_, Pigeons that will with safety, and almost incredible
Swiftness convey Letters from one Place to another, much used at _Smyrna_
and _Aleppo_; also Milk-womens Hirelings, or Servants, that carry the
Pail Morning and Evening.
_Carrots_, Red hair’d People, from the Colour of the well known Root of
that Name, whence came
_Carrot-pated_, used in derision.
_Carted-Whore_, Whipt publickly, and packt out of Town. _The Cart before
the Horse_, of a thing preposterous, and out of Place.
_Cash_, c. Cheese.
_Case_, c. a House, Shop, or Ware-house; also a Bawdy-house. _Toute the
Case_, c. to view, mark, or eye the House or Shop. _There’s a peerey,
’tis snitcht_, c. there are a great many People, there’s no good to be
done. _’Tis all Bob, and then to dub the gigg_, c. now the coast is
clear, there’s good Booty, let’s fall on, and Rob the House. A _Case
fro_, c. a Whore that Plies in a Bawdy-house.
_Caster_, c. a Cloak.
_Cast_, to Bowl. _A bad cast_, an ill laid Bowl, or at great distance
from the Jack. _He is Cast for Felon and Dose_, c. found guilty of Felony
and Burglary.
_Cat_, a common Whore or Prostitute.
_Catch-fart_, a Foot-Boy.
_Catching-harvest_, when the Weather is Showery and Unsettled.
_Catch-pole_, a Serjeant, or Bayliff that Arrests People.
_Cat-in-pan_, turn’d, of one that has chang’d Sides or Parties.
_Who shall hang the Bell about the Cat’s Neck_, said of a desperate
Undertaking.
_Catchup_, a high _East-India_ Sauce.
_Caterwauling_, Men and Women desirous of Copulation, a Term borrowed
from Cats.
_Cathedral_, old-fashioned, out of Date, Ancient; also a chief Church in
a Bishop’s See.
_Catharpin-fashion_, when People in Company Drink cross, and not round
about from the Right to the Left, or according to the Sun’s motion; also
small Ropes to keep the Shrouds, taut or tight, and the Mast from Rolling.
_Catting_, drawing a Fellow through a Pond with a Cat.
_Catstick_, used by Boies at Trap-ball.
_Cattle_, Whores. _Sad Cattle_, Impudent Lewd Women.
_Catmatch_, c. when a Rook is Engag’d amongst bad Bowlers.
_Cavalcade_, a publick Show on Horseback.
_Cavaulting School_, c. a Bawdy-house.
_Caudge-paw’d_, Left Handed.
_Caveating_, or _Disengaging_, flipping the Adversary’s Sword, when ’tis
going to bind or secure one’s own.
_Caw-handed_, awkward not dextrous, ready or nimble.
_Changeable-ribbon_, or _Silks_, of diverse Colours, resembling those of
Doves-necks, or of the _Opal_ Stone.
_Chafe_, _in a great Chafe_, a great heat or pet. _To Chafe_, to fret or
fume. _Chafing_, fretting or fuming, _Chafing and fretting_, being the
same with fretting and fuming, hence a
_Chafing dish_, that carries Fire.
_Chaft_, c. well beaten or bang’d; also much rub’d or bath’d.
_Chagrin_, moody, out of humour, pensive, melancholy, much troubled.
_Chalk_, used in Powder by the Perfumers to mix with their _Grounds_; and
also scented Hair-Powders, being cheap and weighing heavy; found to Burn
and destroy Wiggs and all Hair in general.
_Chanticlere_, a Cock.
_Chape_, the Tip at the End of a Fox’s Tail; also the Cap at the End of
the Scabbard of a Sword.
_Character_, a distinguishing Sign or Mark of Distinction, the same among
Great Men or Ministers, that a Badge is among Low and little People. As
_a Man of Character_, of Mark or Note, as Privy-Chancellors, Judges,
Foreign Ministers, Ministers of State, _&c._
_Chare-women_, Under-drudges, or Taskers, assistants to Servantmaids.
_Char_, a Task or Work. _A good Char well Char’d_, a Work well over.
_Chates_, c. the Gallows.
_Chat_, Talk, Prate.
_Chatter_, to Talk fast or jabber.
_Chattering fellow_, a noisy prating Man.
_Chatts_, c. Lice. _Squeeze the Chatts_, c. to Crack or Kill those Vermin.
_Cheap_, Contemptible. _How Cheap you make your self_, how Contemptible
you render your self or undervalue your self.
_Chear_, _good_ or _bad_, high or ordinary fare. _How Chear you?_ How
fare you? _Chear up_, be of good courage, hence _chearful_, or _chearly_,
for one in Heart, or that keeps up his Spirits, _prety chearly_,
indifferent hearty or lightsom.
_Cheats_, Sharpers, which see; also Wristbands or sham Sleeves worn (in
good Husbandry) for true, or whole ones.
_Chicken_, a feeble, little creature, of mean Spirit; whence _a
Chicken-hearted Fellow_, or _Hen-hearted Fellow_, a Dastard.
_Childish_, Foolish.
_Childing-women_, Breeding.
_China-Ale_, From the well known _East-Indian_ Drug of that Name, of
which they ought to put some, but they seldom do any into it, making it
sweet only and adding a little Spice.
_Chink_, c. Money, because it chinks in the Pocket.
_Chip_, a Child.
_Chip of the old Block_, a Son that is his Father’s likeness; more
particularly the Son of a Cooper, or one brought up to the same Trade.
_Chirping-merry_, very pleasant over a Glass of good Liquor.
_Chit_, a Dandyprat, or Dergen.
_Chittiface_, a little puiny Child.
_Chitchat_, idle Prate, or empty Talk.
_Chive_, c. a Knife.
_Chop_, to change, or barter.
_Chopping-boy_, a bouncing Boy. _To chop up Prayers_, to huddle them up,
or slubber them over in posthast. _A Chop by chance_, a rare Contingence,
an extraordinary or uncommon Event, out of course.
_Chopps_, (of a Man) his Face (of Mutton) a Bone or Cut.
_Chounter_, to talk pertly, and (sometimes) angrily.
_Chouse_, to cheat or trick.
_Chop-houses_, where Both boyl’d and roast Mutton (in chopps) are alwayes
ready.
_Chub_, c. _he is a young chub, or a meer chub_, c. very ignorant or
inexperienc’d in gaming, not at all acquainted with Sharping. _A good
Chub_, said by the Butchers; when they have met with a silly raw Customer
and they have Bit him.
_Chuck-farthing_, a Parish-Clerk (in the Satyr against Hypocrites) also a
Play among Boies.
_Chum_, a Chamber-fellow, or constant Companion.
_Church-yard-cough_, that will terminate in Death.
_Churl_, an Ill-natur’d Fellow; a selfish, sordid Clown. _To put a Churl
upon a Gentleman_, to Drink Ale or any Mault-Liquor immediately after
Wine.
_Ciento_, an old Game at Cards.
_Citt_, for Citizen.
_Civil List_, all the Officers and Servants in the King’s Family.
_Clack_, a Woman’s Tongue.
_Clammed_, Starved, or Famished.
_Clan_, Family, Tribe, Faction, Party in _Scotland_ chiefly, but now
anywhere else.
_Clank_, c. a Silver-tankard.
_Clanker_, a swinging Lie.
_Clank-napper_, c. a Silver-tankard Stealer. See _Bubber_.
_Rum-clank_, c. a large Silver-tankard. _Tip me a rum Clank a Booz_, c.
give me a double Tankard of Drink.
_Clap_, a Venereal Taint.
_Clapperclaw’d_, beat soundly, or paid off in earnest.
_Clapperdogeon_, c. a Begger-born and Bred.
_Clark_, or _Clerk_, Scholar or Book-learned.
_Clerk-ship_, or _Clergy_, Scholarship or Book-learning, though of late
the one be more restrained to a Clergyman, and the other appropriate to
a Clergyman’s Skill or Qualifications; because it may be heretofore,
none but the Clergy were learned, or so much as taught to Read. Hence
the _Benefit of Clergy_, (or Reading) _&c._ _legit ut Clericus_, in the
Law, for him that cou’d Read his Neck-verse, like a Clerk or Scholar,
when so few perhaps were Scholars or Clerks, that every one that could
but only Read, passed for no less: We say still, the greatest Clarks (or
Scholars) are not the Wisest Men: And the Scots much to the same Effect.
An Ounce of Mother-Wit is worth a Pound of Clergy, or Book-learning.
_Claw’d off_, lustily lasht, also swingingly Poxt.
_Clear_, c. very Drunk. _The Cull is clear, let’s Bite him._ c. The
Fellow is Damn’d Drunk, let’s Sharp him.
_Cleave_, has two contrary Senses under one Sound; for _to cleave_, (Verb
Neuter) is to cling close or stick fast, and _to cleave_, (verb Active)
is to part or divide; as to cleave asunder, when _Cleft_ and _Cloven_.
_Clench_, a pun or quible; also to nick a Business by timing it.
_Cleymes_, c. Sores without Pain raised on Beggers Bodies by their
own Artifice and cunning, (to move charity) by bruising Crows-foot,
Speerwort, and Salt together, and clapping them on the Place, which frets
the Skin, then with a Linnen rag, which sticks close to it; they tear off
the Skin, and strew on it a little Powder’d Arsnick, which makes it look
angrily or ill favoredly, as if it were a real Sore.
_Click_, c. to Snatch. _I have Clickt the Nab from the Cull_, c. I whipt
the Hat from the Man’s Head. _Click the rum Topping_, c. Snatch that
Woman’s fine Commode.
_Clicker_, the Shoemaker’s Journey-man, or Servant, that Cutts out all
the Work, and stands at or walks before the Door, and saies, what d’ye’
lack Sir, what d’ye buy Madam.
_Clicket_, Copulation of Foxes, and sometimes, used waggishly for that of
Men and Women.
_Clinker_, c. a crafty Fellow.
_Clinkers_, c. the Irons Felons wear in Goals.
_Clip_, to hug or embrace. _To clip and cling_, of a close hug or fast
embrace. _To Clip the Coin_, to diminish or Impair it. _To clip the
King’s English_, not to Speak Plain, when one’s Drunk.
_Clod-hopper_, c. a Plough-man.
_Clodpate_, a heavy, dull Fellow.
_Close_, reserv’d, silent, not talkative, or open.
_Close-confident_, a trusty Bosom-friend.
_Close-fisted_, covetous, stingy, pinching.
_Clotts_, or thick dropps of Bloud clottered or in clots.
_Cloud_, c. Tobacco. _Will ye raise a Cloud_, c. shall we Smoke a Pipe?
_Clouds_, or _Cloudy-Sky_, in opposition to clear open Sky; as _Clouds in
Gemms and Stones_, to clear ones; and _Clouded Fate_, to a clear pleasant
one. _Under a Cloud_, in disgrace, under misfortunes or disasters;
_Speaks in the Clouds_, of one that flies or soars in Talking above the
common reach or capacity.
_Cloudy_, dark complexion’d.
_Clout_, c. a Handkerchief.
_Cloy_, c. to Steal. _Cloy the Clout_, c. to Steal the Handkerchief.
_Cloy the Lour_, c. to Steal the Money; also, in another Sense, _to
Cloy_, is to Nauseate or Satiate.
_Cloyers_, c. Thieves, Robbers, Rogues.
_Cloying_, c. Stealing, Thieving, Robbing; also Fulsom or Satiating.
_Clowes_, c. Rogues.
_Clown_, a Country-Fellow, also one very Ill-bred or unmannerly, Being.
_Clownish_, rustical, unpolish’d, uncouth.
_Club_, each Man’s particular Shot, also a Society of Men agreeing to
meet according to a Scheme of Orders under a slight Penalty to promote
Trade and Friendship.
_Cluck_, the noise made by Hens, when they set upon their Eggs to Hatch
and are disturb’d, or come off to Eat, and also when they wou’d have Eggs
put under them for that purpose.
_Clump_, a Heap or Lump.
_Clunch_, a clumsy Clown, an awkward or unhandy Fellow.
_Clutch the Fist_, or close the Hand, whence _Clutches_. I’ll keep out of
your Clutches or Claws; _the Clutches of the Parish_, the Constable or
Beadle.
_Clutchfisted_, the same as Closefisted.
_Clutter_, Stir. _What a Clutter you keep?_ What a stir you make?
_Cly_, c. Money. _To Cly the Jerk_, c. to be Whipt. _Let’s strike his
Cly_, c. let’s get his Money from him; also a Pocket, _Filed a cly_, c.
Pickt a Pocket.
_Coach-wheel_, { _Fore_ { _Half a Crown._
{ _Hind_ { _A Crown or Five Shilling-Piece._
_Coals to Newcastle_ when the Drawer carries away any Wine in the Pot or
Bottle. _To blow the Coals_, to raise differences between Parties. _He’ll
carry no Coals_, not be Pissed upon, or Imposed upon, nor bear a Trick,
or take an Affront, or tamely pass by any ill Treatment. _Let him that
has need blow the Coals_, Let him Labour that wants.
_Cob_, a Dollar (in _Ireland_.)
_Cobble_, to mend or patch.
_Cobbled_, bunglingly done.
_Cobble-colter_, c. a Turkey. _A rum Cobble-colter_, c. a fat large
Cock-Turkey.
_Cobweb-cheat_, easily found out.
_Cobweb-pretence_, slight, trivial, weak.
_Cock-a-hoop_, upon the high Ropes Rampant, Transported.
_Cockish_, wanton uppish, forward.
_Cockale_, pleasant Drink, said to be provocative.
_Cock-baw’d_, a Man that follows that base Employment.
_Cocker_, one skill’d in, or much delighted with the sport of
Cock-fighting.