for a BUSTER,” determined on an extensive frolic or spree. _Scotch_,
BUSTUOUS; _Icelandic_, BOSTRA.
~Bustle~, money; “to draw the BUSTLE.”
~Busy-Sack~, a carpet-bag.
~Butcha~, a Hindoo word in use among Englishmen for the young of any
animal. In England we ask after the children; in India the health of the
BUTCHAS is tenderly inquired for.
~Butcher~, the king in playing-cards. When card-playing in public houses
was common, the kings were called butchers, the queens bitches, and the
knaves jacks. The latter term is now in general use.
~Butcher’s Mourning~, a white hat with a black mourning hatband.
Probably because, under any circumstances, a butcher would rather not
wear a black hat. White hats and black bands have, however, become
genteel ever since the late Prince Consort patronized them, though they
retain a deal of the old sporting leaven.
~Butter~, or BATTER, praise or flattery. To BUTTER, to flatter, cajole.
Same as “soft soap” and “soft sawder.” Soft words generally. Maybe from
the old proverb, “Fine words butter no parsneps.”
~Butter-Fingered~, apt to let things fall; greasy or slippery-fingered.
~Button~, a decoy, sham purchaser, &c. At any mock or sham auction seedy
specimens may be seen. Probably from the connexion of buttons with
Brummagem, which is often used as a synonym for a sham.—_See_ BONNET.
~Buttoner~, a man who entices another to play.
~Buttons~, a page,—from the rows of gilt buttons which adorn his
jacket.
~Buttons~, “not to have all one’s BUTTONS;” to be deficient in
intellect. To “make BUTTONS” means for some occult reason to look sorry
and sad. “He was making BUTTONS,” _i.e._, he was looking sorrowful.
Perhaps because button-making is a sorry occupation.
~Butty~, a word used in the mining districts to denote a kind of
overseer. Also used by the Royal Marines in the sense of comrade; a
policeman’s assistant, one of the staff in a _mêlée_.
~Buz~, to share equally the last of a bottle of wine, when there is not
enough for a full glass to each of the party.
~Buz~, a well-known public-house game, played as follows:—“The chairman
commences saying “one,” the next on the left hand “two,” the next
“three,” and so on to _seven_, when “BUZ” must be said. Every seven and
multiple of 7, as 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, &c., must not be mentioned, but
“BUZ” instead. Whoever breaks the rule pays a fine, which is thrown on
the table, and the accumulation expended in drink for the company. _See_
“SNOOKS and WALKER” for more complicated varieties of a similar game.
These “parlour pastimes” are often not only funny, but positively
ingenious. But the Licensing Act and a zealous police are fast clearing
them all out.
~Buz~, to pick pockets; BUZZING or BUZ-FAKING, robbing.
~Buz-Bloke~, a pickpocket who principally confines his attention to
purses and loose cash. _Grose_ gives BUZ-GLOAK, an ancient cant word.
GLOAK was old cant for a man. BUZ-NAPPER, a young pickpocket.
~Buz-man~, an informer; from BUZ, to whisper, but more generally a
thief.
~Buz-napper’s Academy~, a school in which young thieves were trained.
Figures were dressed up, and experienced tutors stood in various
difficult attitudes for the boys to practise upon. When clever enough
they were sent on the streets. Dickens gives full particulars of this
old style of business in _Oliver Twist_.
~Buzzer~, a pickpocket. _Grose_ gives BUZ-COVE and, as above mentioned,
BUZ-GLOAK.
~Byblow~, an illegitimate child.
~By George~, an exclamation similar to BY JOVE. The term is older than
is frequently imagined—vide _Bacchus and Venus_ (p. 117), 1737. “’Fore
(or by) GEORGE, I’d knock him down.” Originally in reference to Saint
George, the patron saint of England, or possibly to the House of
Hanover.
~By Golly~, an ejaculation, or oath; a compromise for “by God.” BY GUM
is another oblique oath. In the United States, small boys are permitted
by their guardians to say GOL DARN anything, but they are on no account
allowed to commit the profanity of G--d d----n anything. A manner of
“sailing close to the wind” which is objectionable to the honest mind. A
specimen ejaculation and moral waste-pipe for interior passion or wrath
is seen in the exclamation—BY THE EVER-LIVING JUMPING-MOSES—a harmless
and ridiculous phrase, that from its length is supposed to expend a
considerable quantity of fiery anger.
~By Jingo~, an oath or exclamation having no particular meaning, and no
positive etymology, though it is believed by some that JINGO is derived
from the Basque _jenco_, the devil.
~Cab~, in statutory language, “a hackney carriage drawn by one horse.”
Abbreviated from the _French_ CABRIOLET; originally meaning “a light low
chaise.” The wags of Paris playing upon the word (quasi _cabri_ au lait)
used to call a superior turn-out of the kind a _cabri au crême_. Our
abbreviation, which certainly smacks of slang, has been stamped with the
authority of the Legislature, and has been honoured by universal custom.
~Cab~, to stick together, to muck, or tumble up.—_Devonshire._
~Cabbage~, pieces of cloth said to be purloined by tailors. Any small
profits in the way of material.
~Cabbage~, to pilfer or purloin. Termed by _Johnson_ a “cant word,” but
adopted by later lexicographers as a respectable term. Said to have been
first used in the above sense by _Arbuthnot_.
~Cabbage-Head~, a soft-headed person.
~Cabby~, popular name for the driver of a cab. This title has almost
supplanted the more ancient one of jarvey.
~Caboose~, the galley or cook-house of a ship; a term used by tramps to
indicate a kitchen.
~Cackle-Tub~, a pulpit.
~Cackling-Cove~, an actor. Also called a MUMMERY-COVE.—_Theatrical._
~Cad~, or CADGER (from which it is shortened), a mean or vulgar fellow;
a beggar; one who would rather live on other people than work for
himself; a man who tries to worm something out of another, either money
or information. _Johnson_ uses the word, and gives _huckster_ as the
meaning, in which sense it was originally used. Apparently from CAGER,
or GAGER, the _old Cant_ term for a man. The exclusives at the English
Universities apply the term CAD to all non-members. It has also been
suggested that the word may be a contraction of the _French_ CADET.
~Cad~, an omnibus conductor. Of late years the term has been generically
applied to the objectionable class immortalized by Thackeray under the
title of snob. A great deal of caddism is, however, perpetrated by those
who profess to have the greatest horror of it—the upper classes—a fact
which goes far to prove that it is impossible to fairly ascribe a
distinctive feature to any grade of society.
~Cadge~, to beg in an artful, wheedling manner.—_North._ In Scotland to
CADGE is to wander, to go astray. _See_ under CODGER.
~Cadging~, begging, generally with an eye to pilfering when an
opportunity occurs. To be “on the cadge” is almost synonymous with “on
the make.”
~Cag~, to irritate, affront, anger. Schoolboy slang.
~Cage~, a minor kind of prison. A country lock-up which contained no
offices.
~Cagmag~, bad food, scraps, odds and ends; or that which no one could
relish. _Grose_ give CAGG MAGGS, old and tough Lincolnshire geese, sent
to London to feast the poor cockneys. _Gael._, _French_, and _Welsh_,
CAC, and MAGN. A correspondent at Trinity College, Dublin, considers
this as originally a University slang term for a _bad cook_, κακὸς
μάγειρος. There is also a _Latin_ word used by Pliny, MAGMA, denoting
dregs or dross.
~Cake~, a “flat;” a soft or doughy person, a fool.
~Cakey-Pannum-Fencer~, or PANNUM-FENCER, a man who sells street pastry.
~Calaboose~, a prison.—_Sea_ slang, from the Spanish.
~Calculate~, a word much in use among the inhabitants of the Western
States U.S., as “I CALCULATE you are a stranger here.” New Englanders
use the word “guess” instead of CALCULATE, while the Virginians prefer
to say “reckon.”
~Caleb Quotem~, a parish clerk; a jack of all trades. From a character
in _The Wags of Windsor_.
~California~, or CALIFORNIANS, money. Term generally applied to gold
only. Derivation very obvious.
~Call~, a notice of rehearsal, or any other occasion requiring the
company’s presence, posted up in a theatre. “We’re CALLED for eleven
to-morrow morning.”
~Call-a-Go~, in street “patter,” is to leave off trying to sell anything
and to remove to another spot, to desist. Also to give in, yield, at any
game or business. Probably from the “GO” call in cribbage.
~Cameronians~, THE, the Twenty-sixth Regiment of Foot in the British
Army.
~Camesa~, shirt or chemise.—_Span._ _See_ its abbreviated form, MISH,
from the _ancient Cant_, COMMISSION. Probably re-introduced by the
remains of De Lacy Evans’s Spanish Legion on their return. _See_
Somerville’s account of the Span. Leg., for the curious facility with
which the lower classes in England adopt foreign words as slang and cant
terms. _Italian_, CAMICIA. This latter is the more likely etymology, as
anyone who visits the various quarters where Irish, Italians, and a
mongrel mixture of half-a-dozen races congregate and pig together, will
admit.
~Camister~, a preacher, clergyman, or master.
~Canary~, a sovereign. From the colour. Very old slang indeed.
~Canister~, the head.—_Pugilistic._
~Canister-Cap~, a hat.
~Cannibals~, the training boats for the Cambridge freshmen, _i.e._,
“CANNOT-PULLS.” The term is applied both to boats and rowers.—_See_
SLOGGERS. Torpids is the usual term for the races in which these men and
machines figure.
~Cannikin~, a small can, similar to PANNIKIN. “And let the CANNIKIN
clink.”
~Cant~, a blow or toss; “a CANT over the kisser,” a blow on the mouth;
“a CANT over the buttock,” a throw or toss in wrestling.
~Cantab~, a student at Cambridge.
~Cantankerous~, litigious, bad-tempered. An American corruption probably
of contentious. A reviewer of an early edition of this book derives it
from the _Anglo-Norman_ CONTEK, litigation or strife. Others have
suggested “cankerous” as the origin. _Bailey_ has CONTEKE, contention as
a Spenserian word, and there is the _O.E._ CONTEKORS, quarrelsome
persons.
~Cant of Togs~, a gift of clothes.
~Canvasseens~, sailors’ canvas trousers.
~Cap~, a false cover to a tossing coin. The term and the instrument are
both nearly obsolete. _See_ COVER-DOWN.
~Cap~, “to set her CAP.” A woman is said to set her CAP at a man when
she makes overt love to him.
~Cap~, to outdo or add to, as in capping jokes.
~Cape Cod Turkey~, salt fish.
~Caper-Merchant~, a dancing-master. Sometimes a hop-merchant.
~Capers~, dancing, frolicking; “to cut CAPER-SAUCE,” _i.e._, to dance
upon nothing—be hanged. Old thieves’ talk.
~Capper-Clawing~, female encounter, where caps are torn and nails freely
used. Sometimes it is pronounced CLAPPER-CLAW. The word occurs in
_Shakspeare_, _Troilus and Cressida_, act v. sc. 4.
~Caravan~, a railway train, especially a train expressly chartered to
convey people to a prize fight.
~Caravansera~, a railway station. In pugilistic phraseology a tip for
the starting point might have been given thus. “The SCRATCH must be TOED
at sharp five, so the CARAVAN will start at four from the CARAVANSERA.”
~Carboy~, a general term in most parts of the world for a very large
glass or earthenware bottle.
~Card~, a character. “A queer CARD,” _i.e._, an odd fish.
~Cardinal~, a lady’s red cloak. A cloak with this name was in fashion in
the year 1760. It received its title from its similarity in shape to one
of the vestments of a cardinal. Also mulled red wine.
~Cardwell’s Men~, officers promoted in pursuance of the new system of
non-purchase.
~Carney~, soft hypocritical language. Also, to flatter, wheedle, or
insinuate oneself.—_Prov._
~Carnish~, meat, from the _Ital._ CARNE, flesh; a _Lingua Franca_
importation; CARNISH-KEN, a thieves’ eating-house; “cove of the
CARNISH-KEN,” the keeper thereof.—_North Country Cant._
~Caroon~, five shillings. _French_, COURONNE; _Gipsy_, COURNA;
_Spanish_, CORONA.
~Carpet~, “upon the CARPET,” any subject or matter that is uppermost for
discussion or conversation. Frequently quoted as _sur le tapis_, or more
generally “on the _tapis_,” but it does not seem to be at all known in
France. Also servants’ slang. When a domestic is summoned by the master
or mistress to receive a warning or reprimand, he or she is said to be
CARPETED. The corresponding term in commercial establishments is a
WIGGING.
~Carpet-Knight~, an habitué of drawing-rooms, a “ladies’ man.”
~Carrier-Pigeon~, a swindler, one who formerly used to cheat
lottery-office keepers. Now used among betting men to describe one who
runs from place to place with “commissions.”
~Carriwitchet~, a hoaxing, puzzling question, not admitting of a
satisfactory answer, as—“How far is it from the first of July to London
Bridge?” “If a bushel of apples cost ten shillings, how long will it
take for an oyster to eat its way through a barrel of soap?”
~Carrot.~ “Take a CARROT!” a vulgar insulting phrase.
~Carrots~, the coarse and satirical term for red hair. An epigram gives
an illustration of the use of this term:—
“Why scorn red hair? The Greeks, we know,
(I note it here in charity)
Had taste in beauty, and with them
The graces were all Χάριται!”
Of late years CARROTY hair in all its shades has been voted beautiful,
_i.e._, fashionable.
~Carry Corn~, to bear success well and equally. It is said of a man who
breaks down under a sudden access of wealth—as successful horse-racing
men and unexpected legatees often do—or who becomes affected and
intolerant, that “he doesn’t CARRY CORN well.”
~Carry me Out!~ an exclamation of pretended astonishment on hearing news
too good to be true, or a story too marvellous to be believed. Sometimes
varied by “Let me die,” _i.e._, I can’t survive that. Profanely derived
from the _Nunc dimittis_ (Luke xi. 29). The Irish say, “CARRY ME OUT,
and bury me decently.”
~Carry-on~, to joke a person to excess, to CARRY ON a “spree” too far;
“how we CARRIED ON, to be sure!” _i.e._, what fun we had. _Nautical
term_—from carrying on sail.
~Carts~, a pair of shoes. In Norfolk the carapace of a crab is called a
_crab cart_; hence CARTS would be synonymous with CRAB SHELLS, which
_see_.
~Cart-wheel~, a five-shilling piece. Generally condensed to “WHEEL.”
~Ca-sa~, a writ of _capias ad satisfaciendam_.—_Legal slang._
~Casa~, or CASE, a house, respectable or otherwise. Probably from the
Italian CASA.—_Old Cant._ The Dutch use the word KAST in a vulgar sense
for a house, _i.e._, MOTTEKAST, a brothel. CASE sometimes means a
water-closet, but is in general applied to a “house of accommodation.”
CASA is generally pronounced _carzey_.
~Cascade~, to vomit.
~Case.~ Some years ago the term CASE was applied generally to persons or
things; “what a CASE he is,” _i.e._, what a curious person; “a rum CASE
that,” or “you are a CASE,” both synonymous with the phrase “odd fish,”
common half a century ago. This would seem to have been originally a
“case” for the police-court; drunkenness, &c. Among young ladies at
boarding-schools a CASE means a love-affair. CASE now means any
unfortunate matter. “I’m afraid it’s a CASE with him.”
~Case~, a bad crown-piece. HALF-A-CASE, a counterfeit half-crown. There
are two sources, either of which may have contributed this slang term.
CASER is the Hebrew word for a crown; and silver coin is frequently
counterfeited by coating or CASING pewter or iron imitations with
silver. Possibly from its being “a CASE” with the unfortunate owner.
~Cask~, fashionable slang for a brougham, or other private carriage. Not
very general. “PILLBOX” is the more usual term.
~Cassam~, cheese—not CAFFAN, which Egan, in his edition of _Grose_, has
ridiculously inserted.—_Ancient Cant._ _Latin_, CASEUS. _Gael._ and
_Irish_, CAISE.
~Cast~, to assist by lightening labour. Men in small boats who want to
be towed behind steamers or sailing vessels, say “Give us a CAST.” Also
used by waggoners and others, who sometimes vary the performance by
asking, when stuck on a hill, for a pound, possibly a pound of flesh,
horse or human.
~Cast up Accounts~, to vomit.—_Old._
~Castor~, a hat. Mostly used in pugilistic circles. Indeed many
hangers-on of the P.R. have considered that the term arose from the
custom of casting the hat into the ring, before entering oneself. CASTOR
was the _Latin_ name for the animal now known as the BEAVER; and,
strange to add, BEAVER was the slang for CASTOR, or hat, many years ago,
before gossamer came into fashion.
~Cat~, a lady’s muff; “to free a CAT,” _i.e._, steal a muff.
~Cat~, to vomit like a cat. Perhaps from CATARACT; but _see_ SHOOT THE
CAT.
~Cat~—CAT O’ NINE TAILS, a whip with that number of lashes used to
punish refractory sailors.—_Sea._ The “cat” is now a recognised term
for the punishmental whip.
~Catamaran~, a disagreeable old woman.—_Thackeray._
~Cat and Kitten Sneaking~, stealing pint and quart pots and small pewter
spirit measures from public-houses.
~Cataract~, once a black satin scarf arranged for the display of
jewellery, much in vogue among “commercial gents.” Now quite out of
date.
~Catchbet~, a bet made for the purpose of entrapping the unwary by means
of a paltry subterfuge. _See_ CHERRY COLOUR.
~Catch-’em-Alive~, a humane trap; also a small-tooth comb. A piece of
paper smeared with a sweet sticky substance which is spread about where
flies most abound, and in this sense not particularly humane. The
CATCH-’EM-ALIVE trap for rats and other such animals is humane compared
with the gin trap.
~Catch-penny~, any temporary contrivance to obtain money from the
public; penny shows, or cheap exhibitions. Also descriptions of murders
which have never taken place.
~Catchy~ (similar formation to _touchy_), inclined to take an undue
advantage.
~Caterwauling~, applied derisively to inharmonious singing; also
love-making, from the noise of cats similarly engaged.
~Catever~, a queer, or singular affair; anything poor, or very bad. From
the _Lingua Franca_, and _Italian_, CATTIVO, bad. Variously spelled by
the lower orders.—_See_ KERTEVER.
~Cat-faced~, a vulgar and very common expression of contempt in the
North of England.
~Catgut-Scraper~, a fiddler.
~Cat-in-the-Pan~, a traitor, a turncoat—derived by some from the
_Greek_, καταπαν, altogether; or—and more likely—from _cake in pan_, a
pan-cake, which is frequently turned from side to side.
~Cat-lap~, a contemptuous expression for weak drink. Anything a cat will
drink is very innocuous.
~Cats and Dogs.~ It is said to rain cats and dogs when a shower is
exceptionally heavy. Probably in ridicule of the remarkable showers
which used to find their way into the papers during the “silly season.”
~Cat’s-meat~, a coarse term for the lungs—the “lights” or lungs of
animals being usually sold to feed cats.
~Cat’s-paw~, a dupe or tool. From the old story of the monkey who used
the cat’s-paw to remove his roast chestnuts from the fire. A sea term,
meaning light and occasional breezes occurring in calm weather.
~Cat’s-water~, “old Tom,” or gin.
~Cattle~, a term of contempt applied to the mob, or to a lot of lazy,
helpless servants.
~Caucus~, a private meeting held for the purpose of concerting measures,
agreeing upon candidates for office before an election, &c. This is an
American term, and a corruption of CAULKER’S MEETING, being derived from
an association of the shipping interest at Boston, previous to the War
of Independence, who were very active in getting up opposition to
England.—_See Pickering’s Vocabulary._
~Caulk~, to take a surreptitious nap; sleep generally, from the ordinary
meaning of the term; stopping leaks, repairing damages, so as to come
out as good as new.—_Sea term._
~Caulker~, a dram. The term “caulker” is usually applied to a stiff
glass of grog—preferably brandy—finishing the potations of the
evening. _See_ WHITEWASH.
~Caulker~, a too marvellous story, a lie. CHOKER has the same sense.
~Caution~, anything out of the common way. “He’s a CAUTION,” is said of
an obdurate or argumentative man. The phrase is also used in many ways
in reference to places and things.
~Cavaulting~, a vulgar phrase equivalent to “horsing.” The _Italian_
CAVALLINO, signifies a rake or debauchee.—_Lingua Franca_, CAVOLTA.
From this comes the Americanism “cavorting,” running or riding round in
a heedless or purposeless manner.
~Cave~, or CAVE IN, to submit, shut up.—_American._ Metaphor taken from
the sinking of an abandoned mining shaft.
~Chaff~, to gammon, joke, quiz, or praise ironically. Originally “to
queer” represented our modern word “CHAFF.” CHAFF-bone, the
jaw-bone.—_Yorkshire._ CHAFF, jesting. In _Anglo-Saxon_, CEAF is chaff;
and CEAFL, bill, beak, or jaw. In the _Ancren Riwle_, A.D. 1221, CEAFLE
is used in the sense of idle discourse.
~Chaffer~, the mouth; “moisten your CHAFFER,” _i.e._, take something to
drink.
~Chal~, old Romany term for a man; CHIE was the name for a woman.
~Chalk out~, or CHALK DOWN, to mark out a line of conduct or action; to
make a rule or order. Phrase derived from the _Workshop_.
~Chalk up~, to credit, make entry in account books of indebtedness; “I
can’t pay you now, but you can CHALK IT UP,” _i.e._, charge me with the
article in your day-book. From the old practice of chalking one’s score
for drink behind the bar-doors of public-houses.
~Chalks~, “to walk one’s CHALKS,” to move off, or run away. An ordeal
for drunkenness used on board ship, to see whether the suspected person
can walk on a chalked line without overstepping it on either side.
~Chalks~, degrees, marks; so called from being made by a piece of chalk;
“to beat by long CHALKS,” _i.e._, to be superior by many degrees.
“Making CHALKS” is a term connected with the punishment of boys on board
ship, and in the Naval School at Greenwich. Two chalk lines are drawn
wide apart on the deck or floor, and the boy to be punished places a
foot on each of these lines, and stoops, thereby presenting a convenient
portion of his person to the boatswain or master.
~Chance the Ducks~, an expression signifying come what may. “I’ll do it,
and CHANCE THE DUCKS.”
~Chancery~, a pugilistic phrase for difficulties; “to get a man’s head
into CHANCERY,” _i.e._, to get an opponent’s head firmly under one’s
arm, where it can be pommelled with immense power, and without any
possibility of immediate extrication. From the helplessness of a suitor
in Chancery. This opportunity was of very rare occurrence when the
combatants were at all evenly matched.
~Change~, small money. The overplus returned after paying for a thing in
a round sum. Hence a slang expression used when a person receives a
“settler” in the shape of either a repartee or a blow—“Take your CHANGE
out of that!”
~Chap~, a fellow, a boy; “a low CHAP,” a low fellow—abbreviation of
CHAPMAN, a huckster. Used by _Byron_ in his _Critical Remarks_.
~Chapel~, a printers’ assembly, held for the purpose of discussing
differences between employer and workmen, trade regulations, or other
matters. The term is scarcely slang, but some “comps” ask its insertion
in this work.
~Chapel.~ An undergrad is expected to attend seven out of the fourteen
services in chapel each week, and to let four or five be morning
chapels. Occasionally a Don—the Dean as a rule—will “CHAPEL” him, that
is, order him to attend to worship his Creator twice daily. The Bible
clerk “pricks the list,” _i.e._, marks down the names of all
present.—_Univ._
~Chapel-of-ease.~ _French_, CABINET D’AISANCE, a house of office.
~Chariot-buzzing~, picking pockets in an omnibus.
~Charley~, a watchman, a beadle. Almost obsolete now.
~Charley-pitcher~, a low, cheating gambler.
~Charlies~, a woman’s breasts. Also called dairies and bubbies.
~Chats~, lice, or body vermin. _Prov._, any small things of the same
kind.
~Chatter-basket~, common term for a prattling child amongst nurses.
~Chatter-box~, an incessant talker or chatterer.
~Chatty~, a filthy person, one whose clothes are not free from vermin;
CHATTY DOSS, a lousy bed. A CHATTY DOSSER or a CRUMMY DOSSER is a filthy
tramp or houseless wanderer.