1608. Merry Devil of Edmonton [Dodsley, Old Plays, v. 285]. Come,
ye Hungarian pilchers, we are once more come under the zona torrida
of the forest.
1893. National Observer, ‘Spoliation,’ ix., 357. But, after all, it
is only another note in the gamut of spoliation, whereof Mr.
Gladstone’s hungarians (a good old word that!) would have the
mastery.
Hunk. To be (or get) hunk or all hunk, verb. phr. (American).—1. To hit
a mark; to achieve an object; to be safe. Also (2) to scheme. [From
Dutch honk = goal or home.]
1847. Darley, Drama in Pokerville, p. 50. I’ll allow you’re just
hunk this time.
1893. Detroit Free Press, June 23, ‘He Threatens to go back,’ p. 3.
I propose to have some of it, or I’ll get hunk.
Hunker (or Old Hunker), subs. (American).—In New York (1844) a
Conservative Democrat, as opposed to the Young Democracy or
Barn-Burners (q.v.). Hence, an anti-progressive in politics.
Hunks, subs. (old).—A miser; a mean, sordid fellow; a curmudgeon. For
synonyms, see Snide.
1602. Dekker, Satiro-Mastix, in Wks. (1873), i., 201. Blun. Nay
prethee deare Tucca, come you shall shake—Tuc. Not hands with great
Hunkes there, not hands, but Ile shake the gull-groper out of his
tan’d skinne.
1602. Campion, English Poesy (Works, Bullen, 1889, p. 247). But it
drinks up all: that hunks detestable.
1647–80. Rochester, Wks.; p. 11. There was an old coveteous hunks
in the neighbourhood, who had notwithstanding his age, got a very
pretty young wife.
1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, v., 2. Make a very pretty show in
the world, let me tell you; nay, a better than your close hunks.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hunks, a covetous Creature, a
miserable Wretch.
1712. Spectator, No. 264. Irus has ... given all the intimations he
skilfully could of being a close hunks with money.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1837. Marryat, Snarley-yow, ch. 12. So while they cut their raw
salt junks, With dainties you’ll be cramm’d. Here’s once for all my
mind, old hunks, Port Admiral, you be dammed!
1839. Buckstone, Brother Tom (Dick’s ed., p. 15). One calls him an
old hunks, another a selfish brute.
1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. vii., p. 35. That you become
the sole inheritor of the wealth of this rich old hunks.
1846. Melville, Moby Dick, 75 (ed. 1892). Bildad, I am sorry to
say, had the reputation of being an incorrigible old hunks.
1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. iii. I am sure he is a cross
old hunks, though Mamma says he’s not.
1893. Theodore Martin, Roman Elegies, ii. (Goethe Society Trans.,
1891–2, p. 72). Joys that he stints not his gold like the close
hunxes of Rome.
Hunky, adj. (American).—Good; jolly; a general superlative. Also
Hunkidorum.
d. 1867. Browne, ‘Artemus Ward,’ The Shakers (Railway ed.), p. 43.
‘Hunky boy! Go it my gay and festive cuss!’
1873. Justin McCarthy, Fair Saxon, ch. xxxviii. The guard dies, but
never surrenders! Fine, isn’t it? But the hunky-boy that said that
surrendered all the same.
1888. Texas Siftings, 20 Oct. Robert is all hunky, but he had a
mighty close call the week before last.
Hunt, verb. (old).—To decoy a pigeon (q.v.) to the tables. Hence
hunting = card-sharping. Flat-catching (q.v.).
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hunting (c.), decoying or
drawing others into Play.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
To hunt for soft spots, verb. phr. (American).—To make oneself
comfortable; to seek one’s ease.
1888. San Francisco Weekly Examiner, 22 Mar. It was demnition hot,
and I commenced to hunt for soft spots in my saddle.
To hunt grass, verb. phr. (pugilists’).—To be knocked down; to be
grassed (q.v.). Also, to be puzzled; to be dumfoundered.
1869. Clemens [Mark Twain], Innocents at Home, ch. ii. I hunt grass
every time.
To hunt leather, verb. phr. (cricketers’).—To field at cricket.
1892. Cassell’s Sat. Jour., 21 Sep. p. 13, c. 2. For nearly ten
years I earned a living—and a good one—by ‘wielding the willow’ and
hunting the leather.
To hunt the dummy, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To steal pocket books.
1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach, p. 171.
(Chorus)—Speak to the tattler, bag the swag, And finely hunt the
dummy.
To hunt the squirrel, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hunting the Squirrel, an amusement
practised by post boys, and stage coachmen, which consists in
following a one-horse chaise, and driving it before them, passing
close to it so as to brush the wheel, and by other means terrifying
any woman, or person that may be in it. A man whose turn comes for
him to drink, before he has emptied his former glass, is said to be
hunted.
In, or out of, the hunt, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Having a chance, or
none; in or out of the swim (q.v.). Admitted to, or outside, a circle
or society.
Hunt-about, subs. (colloquial).—1. A prying gossip.