Heavy. See Heavy-wet.
Adj. (American).—Large: e.g., a heavy amount = a considerable sum of
money.
To come (or do) the heavy, verb. phr. (common).—To affect a vastly
superior position; to put on airs or frills (q.v.). See Come and Do.
The heavies, subs. phr. (military).—The regiments of Household Cavalry,
4th and 5th Dragoon Guards, and 1st and 2nd Dragoons. [From their
equipment and weight.]
1841. Lever, Chas. O’Malley, ch. lviii. I’m thinking we’d better
call out the heavies by turns.
Heavy-arsed (old colloquial), adj. phr.—Slow to move; inert; hard to
stir. See Arse.
d. 1691. Richard Baxter. Shove to heavy-arsed Christians. [Title.]
Heavy-Cavalry (or Dragoons), subs. (common).—Bugs; light-infantry =
fleas. Also heavy horsemen, the heavy troop, and the heavies.
Heavy-grog, subs. (workmen’s).—Hard work.
Heavy-grubber, subs. (common).—1. A hearty eater; a glutton. For
synonyms, see Stodger.
1858. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. xl., p. 190. ‘I’m a heavy
grubber, dear boy,’ he said, as a polite kind of apology when he
had made an end of his meal, ‘but I always was. If it had been in
my constitution to be a lighter grubber, I might ha’ got into
lighter trouble.’
Heavy-plodder, subs. (old).—A stock-broker.
1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.
Heavy- (or Howling-) swell, subs. (common).—A man or woman in the
height of fashion: a spiff (q.v.).
1892. Anstey, Model Music Hall, 74. We look such heavy swells, you
see, we’re all aristo-crats.
Heavy-wet, subs. (common).—1. Malt liquor; specifically porter and
stout. Also heavy. For synonyms, see Drinks and Swipes.
1821. Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 75. The soldiers and their companions
were seen tossing off the heavy wet and spirits.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, ch. vii. I had been lushing heavy wet.
1838. Grant, Sketches in London, p. 92. If it be heavywet, the
favorite beverage ... of Dr. Wade.
1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. ii. Here comes the heavy. Hand
it here to take the taste of that fellow’s talk out of my mouth.
1852. Judson, Mysteries of New York, bk. II., ch. x. What’ll it be,
my covies? Heavy wet, cold or warm?
1888. J. Runciman, The Chequers, p. 86. Mother up with your heavy
wet and try suthin’ short.