3. (venery).—An unmarried woman who has taken her degree in carnal
lore.
Verb. (colloquial).—To seek and acquire experience: in life, love,
society, or trade; and so on.
Gradus, subs. (gamesters’).—A mode of cheating: a particular card is so
placed by the shuffler that when he hands the pack to be cut, it
projects a little beyond the rest; the chance being that it is the
turn-up. Also the step (q.v.). [From the Latin.]
Gradus-ad-parnassum, subs. (old literary).—The treadmill. For synonyms,
see Wheel-of-life.
Graft, subs. (common).—Work; employment; lay (q.v.).: e.g. What graft
are you on now? Great-graft = profitable labour; good biz (q.v.). Also
Grafting and Elbow-grease.
French Synonyms.—Le bastimage (thieves’); le goupinage (thieves’); la
laine (tailors’); le maquillage (thieves’); le massage (popular); la
masse; le mèche (printers’).
1878. Graphic, 6 July, p. 2. According to the well-known maxim in
the building trade, ‘Scotch masons, Welsh blacksmiths, English
bricklayers, Irish labourers’.... Perhaps in a generation or two
Paddy will fail us. He will have become too refined for hard
grafting.
1887. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip. The merry little dibbs you bag
At my graft, no matter what.
1892. Tit Bits, 19 Mar., p. 417, c. 1. Millbank for thick shins and
graft at the pump.
Verb (common).—1. To work. Fr., bausser; membrer.