applied to vulgar language, may have been derived from CHAUNT.
~Chaunt~, “to CHAUNT the play,” to explain the tricks and manœuvres of
thieves.
~Chaunter-culls~, a singular body of men who used to haunt certain
well-known public-houses, and write satirical or libellous ballads on
any person, or body of persons, for a consideration. 7_s._ 6_d._ was the
usual fee, and in three hours the ballad might be heard in St. Paul’s
Churchyard, or other public spot. Strange as it may appear, there are
actually two men in London at the present day who gain their living in
this way. Very recently they were singing before the establishment of a
fashionable tailor in Regent Street; and not long since they were
bawling their doggrel rhymes outside the mansion of a Norfolk M.P., in
Belgravia.[57]
~Chaunters~, those street sellers of ballads, last copies of verses, and
other broadsheets, who sang or bawled the contents of their papers. They
often termed themselves PAPER WORKERS. Cheap evening papers and private
executions have together combined to improve these folks’ occupations
off the face of the earth. _See_ HORSE-CHAUNTERS.
~Chaw~, to chew; CHAW UP, to get the better of one, finish him up;
CHAWED UP, utterly done for.
~Chaw-bacon~, a rustic. Derived from the popular idea that a countryman
lives entirely on bread and fat bacon. A country clown, a joskin, a
yokel, a clodcrusher. These terms are all exchangeable.
~Chaw over~, to repeat one’s words with a view to ridicule.
~Cheap~, “doing it on the CHEAP,” living economically, or keeping up a
showy appearance with very little means.
~Cheap Jacks~, or JOHNS, oratorical hucksters and patterers of hardware,
who put an article up at a high price, and then cheapen it by degrees,
indulging all the time in volleys of coarse wit, until it becomes to all
appearance a bargain, and as such it is bought by one of the crowd. The
popular idea is that the inverse method of auctioneering saves them
paying for the auction licence.—_See_ DUTCH AUCTION.
~Checks~, counters used in games at cards. In the Pacific States of
America a man who is dead is said to have handed (or passed) in his
checks. The gamblers there are responsible for many of the
colloquialisms current.
~Chee-Chee~, this word is used in a rather offensive manner to denote
Eurasians,[58] or children by an English father and native mother. It
takes its origin in a very common expression of half-caste females,
“CHEE-CHEE,” equivalent to our Oh, fie!—Nonsense!—For
shame!—_Anglo-Indian._
~Cheek~, share or portion; “where’s my CHEEK?” where is my allowance?
“All to his own CHEEK,” all to himself.
~Cheek~, impudence, assurance; CHEEKY, saucy or forward.
~Cheek~, to irritate by impudence, to accuse.
~Cheek by Jowl~, side by side—said often of persons in such close
confabulation that their faces almost touch.
~Cheese~, anything good, first-rate in quality, genuine, pleasant, or
advantageous, is termed the CHEESE. The _London Guide_, 1818, says it
was from some young fellows translating “c’est une autre CHOSE” into
“that is another CHEESE.” But the expression CHEESE may be found in the
Gipsy vocabulary, and in the Hindostanee and Persian languages. In the
last CHIZ means a thing—that is the thing, _i.e._, the CHEESE.
~Cheese~, or CHEESE IT (evidently a corruption of _cease_), leave off,
or have done; “CHEESE your barrikin,” hold your noise. Term very common.
~Cheesecutter~, a prominent and aquiline nose. Also a large square peak
to a cap. Caps fitted with square peaks are called cheesecutter caps.
~Cheesemongers~, once a popular name for the First Lifeguards. Until the
Peninsular War the First Lifeguards, from their almost exclusive service
at home, were nicknamed CHEESEMONGERS. This term then fell into
desuetude; but at Waterloo the commanding officer of the regiment had
not forgotten it, and when leading his men to the charge, called out,
“Come on, you damned CHEESEMONGERS!” an invitation complied with so
readily, that the title was restored, with the difference that it was no
longer a word of reproach.
~Cheesy~, fine or showy. The opposite of “dusty.”
~Cherry-bums~, or CHERUBIMS, a nickname given to the 11th Hussars, from
their crimson trousers.
~Cherry-colour~, either red or black, as you wish; a term used in a
cheating trick at cards. When the cards are being dealt, a knowing one
offers to bet that he will tell the colour of the turn-up card. “Done!”
says Mr. Green. The sum being named, Mr. Sharp affirms that it will be
CHERRY-COLOUR; and as cherries are either black or red, he wins, leaving
his victim a wiser man, it is to be hoped, and not a _better_ for the
future. It may be as well for the habitually unfortunate to know that
wagers of this kind are not recoverable even according to the sporting
code, which disacknowledges all kinds of catch-bets.
~Cherry-merry~, a present of money. CHERRY-MERRY-BAMBOO, a
beating.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Cherubs~, or still more vulgarly, CHERUBIMS, the chorister boys who
chaunt in the services at the abbeys and cathedrals. Possibly because in
some places their heads alone are visible.
~Cheshire Cat~, to grin like a CHESHIRE CAT, to display the teeth and
gums when laughing. Formerly the phrase was “to grin like a CHESHIRE CAT
eating cheese.” A hardly satisfactory explanation has been given of this
phrase—that Cheshire is a county palatine, and the cats, when they
think of it, are so tickled with the notion that they can’t help
grinning.[59]
~Chicken~, a term applied to anything young, small, or insignificant;
CHICKEN STAKES, small paltry stakes; “she’s no CHICKEN,” said of an old
maid.
~Chicken-hearted~, cowardly, fearful. With about the amount of pluck a
chicken in a fright might be supposed to possess.
~Chi-ike~, to hail in a rough though friendly manner; to support by
means of vociferation.
~Chi-ike~, a hail; a good loud word of hearty praise; term used by the
costermongers, who assist the sale of each other’s goods by a little
friendly, although noisy, commendation.
~Children’s Shoes~ (to make), to be made nought of.—_See_ SHOES.
~Chill~, to warm, as beer. This at first seems like reversing the order
of things, but it is only a contraction of “take the CHILL off.”
~Chimney-Sweep~, the aperient mixture commonly called a _black draught_.
~Chin-chin~, a salutation, a compliment.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Chink~, or CHINKERS, money.—_Ancient._ Derivation obvious.
~Chin-wag~, officious impertinence.
~Chip of the Old Block~, a child which physically or morally resembles
its father. BROTHER CHIP, one of the same trade or profession.
Originally brother carpenter, now general.
~Chips~, money; also a nickname for a carpenter.—_Sea._
~Chirp~, to give information, to “peach.”
~Chisel~, to cheat, to take a slice off anything. Hence the old
conundrum: “Why is a carpenter like a swindler?—Because he chisels a
deal.”
~Chit~, a letter; corruption of a _Hindoo_ word.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Chitterlings~, the shirt frills once fashionable and worn still by
ancient beaux; properly the _entrails of a pig_, to which they are
supposed to bear some resemblance. _Belgian_ SCHYTERLINGH.
~Chivalry~, coition. Probably a corruption from the _Lingua Franca_.
Perhaps from CHEVAULCHER.
~Chive~, or CHIVEY, a shout, a halloo, or cheer; loud tongued. Probably
from CHEVY-CHASE, a boy’s game, in which the word CHEVY is bawled aloud.
Dickens uses the word CHIVEY in _Bleak House_ rather freely, but there
it is from the other phase of CHEVY-CHASE which follows.
~Chive~, a knife; also used as a verb, to knife. In all these cases the
word is pronounced as though written CHIV or CHIVVY.
~Chive-Fencer~, a street hawker of cutlery.
~Chivey~, to chase round, or hunt about. Apparently from
CHEVY-CHASE.—_See_ above.
~Choakee~, or CHOKEY, the black hole.—_Military Anglo-Indian._ Chokey
is also very vulgar slang for prison.
~Chock-Full~, full till the scale comes down with a shock. Originally
CHOKE-FULL, and used in reference to theatres and places of amusement.
~Choke Off~, to get rid of. Bulldogs can only be made to loose their
hold by choking them.[60] Suggestively to get rid of a man by saying
something to him which “sticks in his gizzard.”
~Choker~, a cravat, a neckerchief. WHITE-CHOKER, the white neckerchief
worn by mutes at a funeral, waiters at a tavern, and gentlemen in
evening costume. Clergymen and Exeter Hallites are frequently termed
WHITE-CHOKERS.
~Choker~, or WIND-STOPPER, a garotter.
~Chonkeys~, a kind of mincemeat, baked in a crust, and sold in the
streets.
~Choops~, a corruption of CHOOPRAHO, keep silence.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Chootah~, small, insignificant.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Chop~, in the Canton jargon of _Anglo-Chinese_, this word has several
significations. It means an official seal, a permit, a boat load of
teas. FIRST CHOP signifies first quality; and CHOP-CHOP, to make haste.
~Chop~, to exchange, to “swop.” To CHOP and change, to be as variable as
the wind.
~Chops~, properly CHAPS, the mouth, or cheeks; “down in the CHOPS,” or
“down in the mouth,” _i.e._, sad or melancholy.
~Chouse~, to cheat out of one’s share or portion. _Hackluyt_, CHAUS;
_Massinger_, CHIAUS. From the _Turkish_, in which language it signifies
an interpreter. _Gifford_ gives a curious story as to its origin:—
“In the year 1609 there was attached to the Turkish embassy in
England an Interpreter, or CHIAOUS, who, by cunning, aided by his
official position, managed to cheat the Turkish and Persian
merchants, then in London, out of the large sum of £4000, then
deemed an enormous amount. From the notoriety which attended the
fraud, and the magnitude of the swindle, any one who cheated or
defrauded was said to _chiaous_, or _chause_, or CHOUSE; to do, that
is, as this _Chiaous_ had done.”—_See Trench, Eng. Past and
Present._
CHIAUS, according to _Sandys_ (_Travels_, p. 48), is “one who goes on
embassies, executes commandments,” &c. The particular Chiaus in question
is alluded to in _Ben Jonson’s Alchymist_, 1610.
“_D._ What do you think of me?
That I am a CHIAUS?
_Face._ What’s that?
_D._ The Turk [who] was here.
As one would say, do you think I am a Turk?”
~Chout~, an entertainment.—_East-end of London._
~Chovey~, a shop.—_Costermonger._
~Chow-Chow~, a mixture, food of any kind. Also chit-chat and
gossip.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Chowdar~, a fool.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Christening~, erasing the name of the maker, the number, or any other
mark, from a stolen watch, and inserting a fictitious one in its place.
~Chubby~, round-faced, plump. Probably from the same derivative as CHUB,
which means literally a fish with a big head.
~Chuck~, bread or meat; in fact, anything to eat. Also a particular kind
of beefsteak.
~Chuck~, a schoolboy’s treat.—_Westminster School._ Provision for an
entertainment. Hard CHUCK is sea biscuit.
~Chuck~, to throw or pitch.
~Chuck a Jolly~, to bear up or bonnet, as when a costermonger praises
the inferior article his mate or partner is trying to sell. _See_
CHI-IKE.
~Chuck a Stall~, to attract a person’s attention while a confederate
picks his pockets, or otherwise robs him.
~Chuck in~, to challenge—from the pugilistic custom of throwing a hat
into the ring; a modern version of “throwing down the gauntlet.” This
term seems to have gone out of fashion with the custom which gave rise
to it.
~Chuckle-head~, much the same as “buffle head,” “cabbage head,” “chowder
head,” “cod’s head,”—all signifying that large abnormal form of skull
generally supposed to accompany stupidity and weakness of intellect; as
the Scotch proverb, “muckle head and little wit.”—Originally
Devonshire, but now general.
~Chucks!~ Schoolboy’s signal on the master’s approach.
~Chuck up~, to surrender, give in—from the custom of throwing up the
sponge at a prize-fight in token of yielding. This is very often
corrupted into “jack up.”
~Chuff it~, _i.e._, be off, or take it away, in answer to a street
seller who is importuning you to purchase. _Halliwell_ mentions CHUFF as
a “term of reproach,” surly, &c.
~Chull~, make haste. An abbreviation of the _Hindostanee_ CHULLO,
signifying “go along.” CHULL is very commonly used to accelerate the
motions of a servant, driver, or palanquin-bearer.
~Chum~, an intimate acquaintance. A recognised term, but in such
frequent use with slangists that it almost demands a place here. Stated
to be from the _Anglo-Saxon_, CUMA, a guest.
~Chum~, to occupy a joint lodging with another person. _Latin_, CUM.
~Chumming-up~, an old custom amongst prisoners before the present
regulations were in vogue, and before imprisonment for debt was
abolished; when a fresh man was admitted to their number, rough music
was made with pokers, tongs, sticks, and saucepans. For this ovation the
initiated prisoner had to pay, or “fork over,” half-a-crown—or submit
to a loss of coat and waistcoat.
~Chummy~, a chimney-sweep—probably connected with _chimney_; also a
low-crowned felt hat. Sometimes, but rarely, a sweep is called a
clergyman—from his colour.
~Chump~, the head or face. Also one end of a loin of mutton. A
half-idiotic or daft person is said to be off his chump.
~Chunk~, a thick or dumpy piece of any substance, as a CHUNK of bread or
meat.—_Kentish._
~Church a yack~ (or watch), to take the works of a watch from its
original case, and put them into another one, to avoid detection.—_See_
CHRISTEN.
~Churchwarden~, a long pipe, “a yard of clay;” probably so called from
the dignity which seems to hedge the smoker of a churchwarden, and the
responsibility attached to its use. Sometimes called an Alderman.
~Cinder~, any liquor used in connexion with soda-water, as to “take a
soda with a CINDER in it.” The cinder may be sherry, brandy, or any
other liquor.
~Circumbendibus~, a roundabout way, a long-winded story.
~Clack-box~, a garrulous person, so called from the rattle formerly used
by vagrants to make a rattling noise and attract attention.—_Norfolk._
⁂ A common proverb in this county is, “your tongue goes like A BAKER’S
CLAP-DISH,” which is evidently a modern corruption of the beggars’ CLAP
or CLACK-DISH mentioned in _Measure for Measure_. It was a wooden dish
with a movable cover.
~Claggum~, boiled treacle in a hardened state, hardbake.—_See_ CLIGGY.
~Clam, or clem~, to starve.—_North._
~Clap~, to place; “do you think you can CLAP your hand on him?” _i.e._,
find him out. CLAP is also a well-known form of a contagious disease.
~Clapper~, the tongue. Said of an over-talkative person, to be hung in
the middle and to sound with both ends.
~Clap-trap~, high-sounding nonsense. An ancient theatrical term for a
“TRAP to catch a CLAP by way of applause from the spectators at a
play.”—_Bailey’s Dictionary._
~Claret~, blood.—_Pugilistic._ Otherwise Badminton—which _see_.
~Clashy~, a low fellow, a labourer.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Class~, the highest quality or combination of highest qualities among
athletes. “He’s not CLASS enough,” _i.e._, not good enough. “There’s a
deal of CLASS about him,” _i.e._, a deal of quality. The term as used
this way obtains to a certain extent among turfites.
~Clawhammer coat~, an American term for a tail-coat used in evening
costume. Also known as a steel-pen coat.
~Clean~, quite, or entirely; “CLEAN gone,” entirely out of sight, or
away.—_Old_, see Cotgrave and Shakspeare. CLEAN CONTRARY, quite
different, opposite.
~Clean out~, to ruin, or make bankrupt any one; to take all he has got,
by purchase, chicane, or force. De Quincey, in his article on Richard
Bentley, speaking of the lawsuit between that great scholar and Dr.
Colbatch, remarks that the latter “must have been pretty well CLEANED
OUT.” The term is very general.
~Click~, a knock or blow. CLICK-HANDED, left-handed.—_Cornish._ A term
in Cumberland and Westmoreland wrestling for a peculiar kind of throw,
as “an inside CLICK,” or “an outside CLICK.”
~Click~, to snatch, to pull away something that belongs to another.
~Clicker~, a female touter at a bonnet shop. In Northamptonshire, the
cutter out in a shoemaking establishment. In the _Dictionary of the
Terms, Ancient and Modern, of the Canting Crew_, Lond. n. d. (but prior
to 1700), the CLICKER is described as “the shoemaker’s journeyman or
servant, that cutts out all the work, and stands at or walks before the
door, and saies—‘What d’ye lack, sir? what d’ye buy, madam?’” In a
printing-office, a man who makes up the pages, and who takes work and
receives money for himself and companions.
~Clift~, to steal.
~Cliggy~, or CLIDGY, sticky.—_Anglo-Saxon_, CLÆG, clay.—_See_
CLAGGUM.
~Clinch~ (to get the), to be locked up in jail.
~Clincher~, that which rivets or confirms an argument, an
incontrovertible position. Also a lie which cannot be surpassed, a
stopper-up, said to be derived as follows:—Two notorious liars were
backed to outlie each other. “I drove a nail through the moon once,”
said the first. “Right,” said the other; “I recollect the circumstance
well, for I went round to the back part of the moon and _clinched_
it”—hence CLINCHER.
~Cling-rig~, stealing tankards from public-houses, &c.
~Clipper~, a fine fast-sailing vessel. Applied also as a term of
encomium to a handsome woman.
~Clipping~, excellent, very good. CLIPPER, anything showy or first-rate.
~Clock~, a watch. Watches are also distinguished by the terms “red
clock,” a gold watch, and “white clock,” a silver watch. Generally
modified into “red’un” and “white’un.”
~Clock~, “to know what’s O’CLOCK,” to be “up, down, fly and awake,” to
know everything about everything—a definition of knowingness in
general.—_See_ TIME O’ DAY.
~Clod-hopper~, a country clown.
~Cloud~, TO BE UNDER A, to be in difficulties, disgrace or disrepute; in
fact, to be in shady circumstances.
~Clout~, or RAG, a cotton pocket-handkerchief.—_Old Cant._ Now
“_clouts_” means a woman’s under-clothes, from the waist downwards,
_i.e._, petticoats when they are on the person; but the term is extended
to mean the whole unworn wardrobe. Probably St. Giles’s satire, having
reference to the fact that few women there possess a second gown.
~Clout~, an intentional heavy blow.
~Clover~, happiness, luck, a delightful position—from the supposed
extra enjoyment which attends cattle when they suddenly find their
quarters changed from a barren field to a meadow of clover. Among
betting men he who has arranged his wagerings so satisfactorily before
an event that he cannot possibly lose, and may win a good deal, is said
to be in clover, a phrase which is sometimes varied by the remark that
“he stands on velvet.” Any one who is provided for, so that he can look
forward to a term of ease and enjoyment for the rest of his life, is
also said to be in clover.
~Club~, in manœuvring troops, so to blunder in giving the word of
command that the soldiers get into a position from which they cannot
extricate themselves by ordinary tactical means. Young officers
frequently “CLUB” their men, and get consequently “wigged” by the
inspecting general.
~Clump~, to strike, to beat.—_Prov._
~Cly~, a pocket.—_Old Cant_ for to steal. A correspondent derives this
word from the _Old English_, CLEYES, claws; _Anglo-Saxon_, CLEA. This
pronunciation is still retained in Norfolk; thus, to CLY would mean to
pounce upon, to snatch.—_See_ FRISK. _Gael._, CLIAH (pronounced CLEE),
a basket.
~Cly-faker~, a pickpocket.
~Coach~, a private tutor. Originally University, but now general. Any
man who now trains or teaches another, or others, is called a coach. To
coach is to instruct as regards either physical or mental acquirements.
A private tutor is sometimes termed a RURAL COACH when he is not
connected with a college. At Rugby a flogging is termed a “coaching.”
~Coach-wheel~, or TUSHEROON, a crown-piece, or five shillings.
~Coal~, money; “post the COAL,” put down the money. The phrase was used
by Mr. Buckstone at the Theatrical Fund Dinner of 1863. From this is
derived the theatrical term COALING, profitable, very good, which an
actor will use if his part is full of good and telling speeches—thus,
“my part is full of COALING lines.” This term was used in the sporting
world long anterior to Mr. Buckstone’s speech. _See_ COAL.
~Coals~, “to haul (or pull) over the COALS,” to take to task, to scold.
Supposed by Jamieson to refer to the ordeal by fire. To “take one’s
coals in,” is a term used by sailors to express their having caught the
venereal disease. It means that they have gotten that which will keep
them hot for a good many months.
~Cobbing~, a punishment inflicted by sailors and soldiers among
themselves. _See_ Grose and Captain Marryat’s novels. A hand-saw is the
general instrument of punishment.
~Cock~, a familiar term of address; “jolly old COCK,” a jovial fellow,
“how are you, old COCK?” Frequently rendered nowadays, COCK-E-E, a
vulgar street salutation—probably a corruption of COCK-EYE. The latter
is frequently heard as a shout or street cry after a man or boy.
~Cock~, a smoking term; “COCKING a Broseley,” _i.e._, smoking a pipe.
Broseley in Shropshire is famous for “churchwardens.” A “COCK” is an
apocryphal story, generally, of a murder or elopement bawled about the
streets by the Seven Dials’ “patterers.”
~Cock~, a pugilistic term for a man who is knocked out of time. “Knocked
him a reg’lar COCK.” Sometimes used to signify knocked out of shape, as,
“Knocked him A-COCK,” probably connected with “cocked-hat shape.” A
horse who has been backed by the public, but who does not run, or,
running, does not persevere.
~Cock~, “to COCK your eye,” to shut or wink one eye, to make
“sheep’s-eyes.”
~Cock-a-hoop~, in high spirits. Possibly the idea is from the fact that,
if a cock wins a fight, he will mount on anything near, and crow lustily
and jubilantly. It is noticeable that under these circumstances a cock
always gets off the ground-level if he can.
~Cockalorum~, or COCKYLORUM, amplification of cock or cocky.
~Cock and bull story~, a long, rambling anecdote.—_See_ Peroration to
_Tristram Shandy_.
~Cock-and-hen-club~, a free and easy gathering, or “sing-song,” where
females are admitted as well as males.
~Cock-and-pinch~, the old-fashioned beaver hat, affected by “swells” and
“sporting gents” forty years ago—COCKED back and front, and PINCHED up
at the sides.
~Cock-a-wax~, an amplification of the simple term COCK, sometimes “Lad
of WAX,” originally applied to a cobbler, but now general.
~Cocked-hat-club~, the principal clique amongst the members of the
Society of Antiquaries, who virtually decide whether any person proposed
shall be admitted or not. The term comes from the “cocked-hat” placed
before the president at the sittings. There was another cocked-hat club
in London not many years back, which had nothing peculiar about it
beyond the fact that every member wore during club sittings, a
“fore-and-aft” cocked-hat. Otherwise the proceedings were of the most
ordinary kind.
~Cocked-hat-shaped~, shapeless: Anything which has been altered beyond
recognition, or any man who has been put completely _hors de combat_, is
said to have been knocked into a COCKED-HAT.