1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 65. Sez I, gentle craft, said I.
Gentleman, subs. (thieves’).—A crowbar. For synonyms, see jemmy.
To put a churl (or beggar) upon a gentleman, verb. phr. (old).—To drink
malt liquor immediately after wine.—Grose.
Gentleman of the (Three, or Four, or Five) Outs (or Ins), subs. phr.
(old).—A varying and ancient wheeze, of which the following are
representative:—
Out of money, and out of clothes; Out at the heels, and out at the
toes; Out of credit, and in debt.
A man in debt, in danger, and in poverty; or in gaol, indicted, and
in danger of being hanged.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, ch. iv. Paul became a gentleman of
three outs—out of pocket, out of elbows, and out of credit.
1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, Bk. III., ch. v. Jerry Juniper was
what the classical Captain Grose would designate a gentleman with
three outs, and, although he was not entirely without wit, nor his
associates avouched, without money, nor certainly, in his own
opinion, had that been asked, without manners.
Gentleman of the Back (or Backdoor), subs. (old).—A sodomist. For
synonyms, see Usher.
Gentleman of fortune, subs. phr. (common).—An adventurer.
1890. R. L. Stevenson, Treasure Island, p. 149. ‘Why, in a place
like this, where nobody puts in but gentlemen of fortune, Silver
would fly the jolly roger, you don’t make no doubt of that.’
Gentleman of Observation, subs. phr. (turf).—A tout.
Gentleman of the Round, subs. phr. (old).—An invalided or disabled
soldier, making his living by begging.
1596. Jonson, Every Man in, etc., 2. Your decaied, ruinous,
worme-eaten gentlemen of the round.
Gentleman of the Short Staff, subs. phr. (old).—A constable.
1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard (1889), p. 12. In the language of
the gentleman of the short staff an important caption could be
effected.
Gentleman of the Fist, subs. phr. (pugilists’).—A prize-fighter.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 44. Furnish such gentlemen of the fist.
Gentleman in Brown, subs. phr. (common).—A bed bug. For synonyms, see
Norfolk Howard.
1885. G. A. Sala in Daily Telegraph, 14 Aug., 5/3. Bed bugs, the
convertible term for which is ‘chintzes,’ are the disagreeable
insects known in modern polite English as ‘Norfolk Howards,’ or
gentlemen in brown.
The Little Gentleman in Brown Velvet, subs. phr. (obsolete).—A mole.
[The Tory toast after the death of William III., whose horse was said
to have stumbled over a mole-hill.]
Gentleman of the Green Baize Road, subs. phr. (gamesters’).—A card
sharper.
Gentleman Commoner, subs. phr. (University).—1. A privileged class of
commoners at Oxford, wearing a special cut of gown and a velvet cap.
2. (common).—An empty bottle. Also fellow-commoner (q.v.). [A sarcastic
allusion to the mental capacity of this class of student.] For
synonyms, see Dead-man.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gentleman-ranker, subs. (military).—A broken gentleman serving in the
ranks.
1892. Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads. ‘Gentlemen Rankers.’
Gentleman-rankers out on the spree, Damned from here to eternity,
God ha’ mercy on such as we, Baa! Yah! Bah!
Gentleman’s Companion, subs. phr. (common).—A louse. For synonyms, see
Chates.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gentleman’s Master, subs. phr. (old).—A highwayman.—Grose.
Gentleman’s (or Ladies’) Piece, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A small or
delicate portion; a tit-bit.
Gentleman’s Pleasure-garden, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum.
For synonyms, see Monosyllable. [Hence, Gentleman’s Pleasure-Garden
Padlock = menstrual cloth.]
Gentlemen’s Sons, subs. phr. (common).—The three regiments of Guards.
Gently! intj. (stables’ and colloquial).—An interjection = stand still
(q.v.); hence, colloquially, = don’t get into a passion, go slow
(q.v.).
Gentry Cove (or Cofe), subs. (old cant).—A gentleman; a nib-cove
(q.v.). Fr., un messire de la haute.
1567. Harman, Caveat, s.v.
1656. Brome, Joviall Crew, Act ii. For all this bene Cribbing and
Peck let us then, Bowse a health to the gentry cofe of the Ken.
1654. Witts’ Recreations. As priest of the game, And prelate of the
same. There’s a gentry cove here.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. Tour the bien mort twiring the
gentry cove.
1837. Disraeli, Venetia, p. 71. The gentry cove will be ramboyled
by his dam.
Gentry Cove’s Ken (or Gentry-Ken), subs. phr. (Old Cant).—A gentleman’s
house.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A gentry cofe’s ken, a noble or
gentleman’s house. A gentry cofe, a noble or gentle man.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874).
Gentry cove’s ken, a gentleman’s house.
1690. B. E., Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gentry Mort, subs. phr. (old cant).—A lady.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A gentry mort, a noble or
gentle woman.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874).
Gentry mort, a gentlewoman.
1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Genuine, subs. (Winchester College).—Praise.
Adj. (colloquial).—Trustworthy; not false nor double-faced.
Verb. (Winchester College).—To praise. ‘He was awfully quilled and
genuined my task.’ [Probably from calling a thing genuine. Cf., to
blackguard, to lord, etc. But fifty years ago it was a subs.
only.—Notions.]
Geordie, subs. (North Country).—1. A pitman; also, a Northumbrian in
general.