1700. Farquhar, Constant Couple, ii., 2. Sir H. Don’t you love
singing-birds, madam? Angel (aside). That’s an odd question for a
lover; (aloud) Yes, sir. Sir H. Why, then, madam, here is a nest of
the prettiest goldfinches that ever chirped in a cage.
1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. iv. Put your monies aside,
my lord; it is not well to be seen with such goldfinches chirping
about one in the lodgings of London.
1826. Buckstone, Luke the Labourer, iii., 4. Good-night, noble
captain. Pipe all hands at five o’clock, for I’ve a day’s work to
do. We’ll jig it to-morrow, to the piping of gold-finches.
1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 101 (ed. 1864). Here’s a
handful of goldfinches ready to fly.
Goldfinch’s Nest, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms,
see Monosyllable.
1827. The Merry Muses, p. 70. And soon laid his hand on the
goldfinch’s nest.
Gold-finder, subs. (old).—1. An emptier of privies. Also Tom-turd-man;
Gong-man; and Night-man. Fr., un fouille-merde; un fifi. Also passer la
jambe à Jules = to upset Mrs. Jones, i.e., to empty the privy tub.
1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie, Gadouard, a gould-finder,
Jakes-farmer.
1635. Feltham, Resolves. As our goldfinders ... in the night and
darkness thrive on stench and excrements.
1653. Middleton, Sp. Gipsy, ii., 2, p. 398 (Mermaid series). And if
his acres, being sold for a maravedii a turf for larks in cages,
cannot fill this pocket, give ’em to goldfinders.
1659. Torriano, Vocabolario, s.v.
1704. Gentleman Instructed, p. 445 (1732). We will commit the
further discussion of the poet to a committee of goldfinders, or a
club of rake-kennels.