To ride the goat, verb. phr. (common).—To be initiated into a secret
society. [From the vulgar error that a live goat, for candidates to
ride, is one of the standing properties of a Masonic lodge.]
Goatee, subs. (colloquial).—A tufted beard on the point of a shaven
chin. [In imitation of the tuft of hair on a goat’s chin.]
English Synonyms (for a beard generally).—Charley; imperial; Newgate
(or sweep’s) frill, or fringe.
French Synonyms.—Une marmouse (thieves’); un impériale (colloquial:
formerly une royale); un bouc or une bouquine (= a goatee); bacchantes
(thieves’: the beard, but more especially the whiskers, from bâche =
awning).
German Synonym.—Soken (from the Hebrew; also = old man).
Italian Synonyms.—Bosco di berlo (the forest on the face); settosa (=
full of hair); spinola (= thorny).
Spanish Synonym.—Bosque (= wood).
1869. Orchestra, 18 June. Working carpenters with a straggling
goatee on the chin, and a mass of unkempt hair on the head.
Goater, subs. (American thieves’).—Dress. For synonyms, see Togs.
Goat-house, subs. (old).—A brothel. [From Goat, subs., sense 1.] For
synonyms, see Nanny-shop.
Goatish, adj. (old, now recognised).—Lecherous. [As vieing with a goat
in lust.] Hence Goatishly, adv., and Goatishness, subs.
1622. Massinger and Dekker, Virgin Martyr, iii., 1. Give your
chaste body up to the embraces of goatish lust.
1605. Shakspeare, King Lear, i. 2. An admirable evasion of
whoremaster-man, to lay his goatish disposition to the charge of a
star.
Goat-Milker, subs. (venery).—1. A prostitute. For synonyms, see
Barrack-hack and Tart.