1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, xi. In my wretched occupation of
a saddler, horse-milliner, and harness maker, we are out
unconscionable sums just for barkened hides and leather.
Horse-nails, subs. (common).—1. Money. For synonyms, see Actual and
Gilt.
To feed on horse-nails, verb. phr. (cribbage).—So to play as not so
much to advance your own score as to keep down your opponent’s.
To knock into horse-nails, verb. phr. (common).—To knock to pieces; to
be absolutely victorious.
Horse-nightcap, subs. (old).—See Horse’s-Collar.
Horse-pox, subs. (old).—A superlative of Pox (q.v.). Used in
adjuration. E.g., A horse-pox on you! Ay, with a horse-pox, etc.
Horse-Protestant, subs. (tailors’).—A churchman.
Horse-sense, subs. (American).—Sound and practical judgment.
1893. Lippincott, Mar., p. 260. A round bullet head, not very full
of brains, perhaps, yet reputed to be fairly stocked with what is
termed horse sense.
Horses-and-Mares. To play at horses-and-mares, verb. phr.
(schoolboys’).—To copulate. For synonyms, see Greens and Ride.
Horse’s-head, subs. (cobblers’).—The boot-sole, heel, and what is left
of the front after the back and part of the front have been used to fox
(q.v.) other boots withal.
Horse-shoe, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. [In German, Sie hat
ein Hufeisen verloren (of women) = she has been seduced, i.e., she has
lost a horse-shoe.]
Horse’s-meal, subs. (old).—Meat without drink.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Horse-sovereign, subs. (common).—A twenty-shilling piece with
Pistrucci’s effigies of St. George and the Dragon.
1871. London Figaro, 26 Jan. A number of those coins, sometimes
known as horse sovereigns, are to be issued.
Hortus, subs. (venery).—See quot. [Cf., Garden.] For synonyms, see
Monosyllable.
1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v. Hortus [by some writers] the privy
parts of a woman.
Hose. In my other hose, subs. phr. (old). A qualification of refusal or
disbelief; in a horn (q.v.); over the left (q.v.).
1598. Florio. A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Zoccoli Zoccoli, tushtush,
awaie, in faith sir no, yea in my other hose.
Hoss. See Horse.
Hoss-fly (or Old Hoss-fly), subs. (American).—A familiar address; cf.,
Horse, subs. sense 3.
Host. To reckon without one’s host, verb. phr. (old: now
recognised).—To blunder.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Host. To reckon without one’s
host, or count your Chickens before they are Hatched.
Mine Host, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A taverner.
Hosteler, subs. (old).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hosteler, i.e., oat stealer.
Hot, subs. (Winchester College).—1. A mellay at football.