Holy Poker (or Iron), subs. phr. (university).—The mace carried by an
esquire bedel (of Law, Physic, or Divinity) as a badge of authority.
[The term, which is applied to the bedels themselves, is very often
used as an oath.]
1840. Comic Almanack, ‘Tom the Devil,’ p, 214. A hotel’s the place
for me! I’ve thried em all, from the Club-house at Kilkinny, to the
Clarendon, and, by the holy poker, never wish mysilf worse luck
than such cantonments!
1870. London Figaro, 8 Oct., p. 2, col. 2. The bedels of a
University are very important persons, although derisive
undergraduates familiarly term them holy pokers.
1886. R. L. Stevenson, Kidnapped, p. 169. I swear upon the holy
iron I had neither art nor part.
2. (venery).—The penis (by a play upon words). Cf., Hole, sense 1, Holy
of Holies, sense 3, and Poke. For synonyms, see Creamstick and Prick.
Holy-water Sprinkler, subs. phr. (old).—A mediæval weapon of offence; a
morning star (q.v.).
Home, subs. (colonial).—England.
1893. Gentlemen’s Mag., Jan., p. 74. And then I learnt that by home
he meant England, which, moreover, is referred to as ‘home’ by
dusky myriads, who have never seen her cliffs rise above the waves.
To get home, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To achieve an object; to
succeed perfectly; and (athletic) to reach the winning post.
1891. Sportsman, 26 Mar. A close struggle for the Palace Selling
Plate ended in favour of Rosefield, who just got home a head in
front of Mordure.
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 23 Jan., 3, 2. It is delightful to watch Mr.
Charles Hawtrey telling lie after lie to his unbelieving wife, and
joyfully, in misplaced confidence, saying to himself, ‘I’ve got
home.’
2. (pugilists’).—To get in (a blow) with precision and effect; to land
(q.v.). Also (old) to give a mortal wound.
1559. Elyot, Dictionarium, 3rd. ed. Aere meo me lacessis, thou
gevest me scoffe for scoffe, or as we saie, thou paiest me home.
1631. Chettle, Hoffman. Sax. Not any, Austria; neither toucht I
thee. Aust. Somebody toucht me home; vaine world farewell, Dying I
fall on my dead Lucibell.
1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, iv., 3. But hark ye, George;
don’t push too home; have a care of whipping through the guts.
1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, ii., 1. That’s home.
1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. In the next round got home several
times without a return.
1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 19 June, p. 395, c. 3. Mac got home a
terrific cross-counter with the left on Bob’s left eye, which
seemed to split the flesh open both above and below.
3. (turf).—To recover a loss; neither to win nor lose; to come out
quits. Also, to bring oneself home.