tramps usually twist forward from the ear; a large greasy curl upon the
cheek, seemingly licked into shape. These locks are also called NUMBER
SIXES, from their usual shape. The opposite of NEWGATE-KNOCKER, which
_see_.
~Cow’s grease~, butter.
~Coxy-loxy~, good-tempered, drunk.—_Norfolk._
~Crab~, a disagreeable old person. Name of a wild and sour fruit.
~Crab~, “to catch a CRAB,” to fall backwards by missing a stroke in
rowing. From the crab-like or sprawling appearance of the man when in
the bottom of the boat.
~Crab~, to offend, or insult; to expose or defeat a robbery, to inform
against. CRAB, in the sense of “to offend,” is _Old English_.
“If I think one thing and speak another,
I will both CRAB Christ and our Ladie His mother.”
_Packman’s Paternoster._
~Crabs~, in dicing, a pair of aces.
~Crabshells~, or TROTTER-CASES, shoes.—_See_ CARTS.
~Crack~, the favourite horse in a race. Steeplechase and hunting CRACKS
have been made the subjects of well-known pictures, and “the gallops of
the CRACKS” is a prominent line in the sporting papers.
~Crack~, first-rate, excellent; “a CRACK HAND,” an adept; a “CRACK
article,” a good one. “A CRACK regiment,” a fashionable one.—_Old._
~Crack~, dry firewood.—_Modern Gipsy._
~Crack~, “in a CRACK (of the finger and thumb),” in a moment.
~Crack~, to break into a house; “CRACK A CRIB,” to commit burglary.
~Crack a bottle~, to drink. Shakspeare uses CRUSH in the same slang
sense.
~Cracked up~, penniless or ruined.
~Cracking a crust~, rubbing along in the world. CRACKING A TIDY CRUST,
means doing very well. This is a very common expression among the lower
orders.
~Crackle~, or CRACKLING, the scored rind on a roast leg or loin of pork;
hence applied to the velvet bars on the gowns of the students at St.
John’s College, Cambridge, long called “Hogs,” and the covered bridge
which connects one of the courts with the grounds, Isthmus of Suez
(SUES, _Lat._ SUS, a swine).
~Cracksman~, a burglar, _i.e._, the man who CRACKS.
~Crack up~, to boast or praise.—_Ancient English._
~Cram~, to lie or deceive, implying to fill up or CRAM a person with
false stories; to impart or acquire learning quickly, to “grind” or
prepare for an examination.
~Crammer~, one skilled in rapidly preparing others for an examination.
One in the habit of telling lies.
~Crammer~, a lie.
~Cranky~, foolish, idiotic, rickety, capricious (not confined to
persons). _Ancient cant_, CRANKE, simulated sickness. _German_, KRANK,
sickly. A CRANK or CRANKY vessel is one which pitches very much.
~Crap~, to ease oneself by evacuation.
~Crapping case~, or KEN, the water-closet. Generally called
CRAPPING-CASTLE.
~Crawler~, a mean, contemptible, sycophantic fellow. Also a cab which is
driven slowly along while its driver looks out for a fare. Crawling is
by recent statute a punishable offence.
~Crawly mawly~, in an ailing, weakly, or sickly state.
~Craw thumper~, a Roman Catholic. Compare BRISKET-BEATER.
~Cream of the valley~, gin; as opposed to or distinguished from
“mountain dew,” whisky.
~Crib~, house, public or otherwise; lodgings, apartments; a situation.
Very general in the latter sense.
~Crib~, to steal or purloin; to appropriate small things.
~Crib~, a literal translation of a classic author.—_University._
~Crib biter~, an inveterate grumbler; properly said of a horse which has
this habit, a sign of its bad digestion.
~Cribbage-faced~, marked with the small-pox, full of holes like a
cribbage-board. Otherwise crumpet-face.
~Crikey~, profane exclamation of astonishment; “Oh, CRIKEY, you don’t
say so!” corruption of “O Christ!” Sometimes varied by “O crimes!”
~Cripple~, a bent sixpence.
~Cripple~, an awkward or clumsy person. Also one of dull wits.
~Croak~, to die—from the gurgling sound a person makes when the breath
of life is departing.
~Croaker~, one who takes a desponding view of everything, a misanthrope;
an alarmist. From the croaking of a raven.—_Ben Jonson._
~Croaker~, a beggar.
~Croaker~, a dying person beyond hope; a corpse. The latter is generally
called a “stiff’un.”
~Croaks~, last dying speeches, and murderers’ confessions.
~Crocodiles’ tears~, the tears of a hypocrite. An ancient phrase,
introduced into this country by Mandeville, or other early English
traveller, who believed that the crocodile made a weeping noise to
attract travellers, and then devoured them. See Shakspeare’s use of the
term in _Othello_.
~Crocus~, or CROAKUS, a quack or travelling doctor; CROCUS-CHOVEY, a
chemist’s shop.
~Crone~, a termagant or malicious old woman. CRONY, an intimate friend.
~Crooked~, a term used among dog-stealers and the “fancy” generally, to
denote anything stolen. “Got on the CROOK” is exchangeable with “Got on
the cross,” CROOK and cross generally being synonymous.
~Crooky~, to hang on to, to lead, to walk arm-in-arm; to court or pay
addresses to a girl.
~Cropped~, hanged. Sometimes topped. “May I be topped.”
~Cropper~, a heavy fall, a decided failure. Term originally used in the
hunting-field, but now general, and not at all confined to physical
matters.
~Cropper~, “to go a CROPPER,” or “to come a CROPPER,” _i.e._, to fail
badly.
~Croppie~, a person who has had his hair cut, or CROPPED, in prison.
Formerly those who had been CROPPED (_i.e._, had their ears cut off and
their noses slit) by the public executioner were called CROPPIES, then
the Puritans received the reversion of the title.
~Crop up~, to turn up in the course of conversation. “It CROPPED UP
while we were speaking.”
~Cross~, a deception—two persons pretending hostility or indifference
to each other, being all the while in concert for the purpose of
deceiving a third. In the sporting world a CROSS is an arrangement made
between two men that one shall win without reference to relative merits.
This is sometimes done with the backer’s consent for the public benefit,
at other times a backer is himself the sufferer, the men having “put
some one in to lay,” according to instructions.—_See_ DOUBLE CROSS.
~Cross~, a general term amongst thieves expressive of their plundering
profession, the opposite of square. “To get anything on the CROSS” is to
obtain it surreptitiously. “CROSS-FANNING in a crowd,” robbing persons
of their scarf-pins, so called from the peculiar position of the arms.
This style of thieving is not confined to the conveying of scarf-pins.
CROSSMAN, a thief, or one who lives by dishonest practices.
~Cross.~—For not paying his term bills to the bursar (treasurer), or
for cutting chapels, or lectures, or other offences, the undergrad can
be “CROSSED” at the buttery, or kitchen, or both, _i.e._, a CROSS is put
against his name by the Don, who wishes to see him, or to punish him. Of
course it is easy to get one’s buttery commons out in some one else’s
name, and to order dinner in from the confectioner’s. The porter is
supposed to allow no dinners to be sent in, but, between his winking and
a little disguise, it is possible. As another instance, a barrel of beer
will not be admitted; but if it is in a hamper it will pass!—_Oxford
University._
~Cross-buttock~, an unexpected fling down or repulse; from a peculiar
throw practised by wrestlers.
~Cross cove and molisher~, a man and woman who live by thieving.
~Cross-crib~, a house frequented by thieves.
~Crossed~, prohibited from taking food from the buttery.—_University._
~Crow~, or COCK-CROW, to exult over another’s abasement, as a
fighting-cock does over his vanquished adversary.
~Crow~, “a regular CROW,” a success, a stroke of luck,—equivalent to a
FLUKE.
~Crow~, one who watches whilst another commits a theft, a confederate in
a robbery. The CROW looks to see that the way is clear, whilst the
SNEAK, his partner, commits the depredation.
~Crow~, “I have a CROW to pick with you,” _i.e._, an explanation to
demand, a disagreeable matter to settle. Sometimes the article picked is
supposed to be a bone.
~Crowsfeet~, wrinkles which gather in the corners of the eyes of old or
dissipated people.
~Crug~, food. Christ’s Hospital boys apply it only to bread.
~Crumbs~, “to pick up one’s CRUMBS,” to begin to have an appetite after
an illness; to improve in health, circumstances, &c., after a loss
thereof.
~Crummy~, fat, plump.—_North._ In London street slang, lousy.
~Crummy-doss~, a lousy or filthy bed.
~Crumpet-face~, a face pitted with small-pox marks.
~Crunch~, to crush. Perhaps from the sound of teeth grinding against
each other.
~Crush~, to run or decamp rapidly. CRUSH DOWN SIDES, run to a place of
safety, or the appointed rendezvous.—_North Country Cant._
~Crusher~, a policeman.
~Crushing~, excellent, first-rate.
~Crusty~, ill-tempered, petulant, morose.—_Old_, said to be a
corruption of the _Anglo-Norman_ CORUSEUX.
~Cub~, a mannerless uncouth lout.—_See_ UNLICKED.
~Cubitopolis~, an appellation, originally given by Londoners to the
Warwick and Eccleston Square districts. From the name of the builders.
~Cue~, properly the last word spoken by one actor, it being the CUE for
the other to reply. “Very often an actor knows nothing of a piece beyond
his own lines and the CUES.”
~Cull~, a man or boy.—_Old Cant._ RUM CULL, the manager of a theatre.
~Cullet~, broken glass. _French_, CUEILLETTE, a gathering or collection.
~Culling~, or CULING, stealing from the carriages at racecourses.
~Cully gorger~, a companion, a brother actor.—_Theatrical._ _See_
GORGER.
~Culver-headed~, weak and stupid.
~Cummer~, a gossip or acquaintance.
~Cumshaw~, a present or bribe.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Cupboard-headed~, an expressive designation of one whose head is both
wooden and hollow.—_Norfolk._
~Cupboard-love~, affection arising from interested motives.
“A CUPBOARD LOVE is seldom true;
A love sincere is found in few.”—_Poor Robin._
Cupboard is the fount-spring of the love supposed to exist among
policemen for the cooks upon their beats.
~Cup-tosser~, a person who professes to tell fortunes by examining the
grounds in tea or coffee cups. A cup or goblet, however, is the old
mystic symbol of a juggler. _French_, JOUEUR DE GOBELET.
~Cure~, an odd person; a contemptuous term, abridged from CURIOSITY,
which was formerly the favourite expression. The word cure, as
originally applied, was London street slang, and was, as just stated, an
abbreviation of curiosity, or, more correctly, of curious or queer
fellow. Of late years it has, however, been used to denote a funny,
humorous person, who can give and receive chaff.
~Curios~, a corruption of “curiosities;” any articles of vertu brought
from abroad. Used by naval and military travellers and others.
~Currency~, persons born in Australia are there termed CURRENCY, while
natives of England are termed STERLING. The allusion is to the
difference between colonial and imperial moneys, which it may be as well
to remark have no difference so far as actual value is concerned.
~Curse~, anything worthless. Corruption of the _Old English_ word KERSE,
a small sour wild cherry; _French_, CERISE; _German_, KIRSCH. _Vision of
Piers Ploughman_:—
“Wisdom and witt nowe is _not worth_ a KERSE,
But if it be carded with cootis as clothers
Kembe their woole.”
The expression “not worth a CURSE,” used frequently nowadays, is
therefore not properly profane, though it is frequently intensified by a
profane expletive. Horne Tooke says from KERSE, or CRESS. The expression
“not worth a tinker’s CURSE,” may or may not have arisen from
misapplication of the word’s origin, though as now used it certainly
means curse in its usual sense. Tinkers do curse, unfortunately, and it
will take a good deal of school-board work to educate them out of it, as
well as a fair amount of time. The phrase “not worth a tinker’s damn,”
is evidently a variation of this, unless indeed it should be spelt
“dam,” and used as a reference to the general worthlessness of the wives
and mothers of tinkers. This latter is merely offered to those who are
speculative in such matters, and is not advanced as an opinion.
~Curse of Scotland~, the Nine of Diamonds. Various hypotheses have been
set up as to this appellation—that it was the card on which the
“Butcher Duke” wrote a cruel order with respect to the rebels after the
battle of Culloden; that the diamonds are the nine lozenges in the arms
of Dalrymple, Earl of Stair, detested for his share in the Massacre of
Glencoe; that it is a corruption of Cross of Scotland, the nine diamonds
being arranged somewhat after the fashion of a St. Andrew’s Cross. The
first supposition is evidently erroneous, for in Dr. Houston’s Memoirs
of his own Lifetime, 1747, p. 92, the Jacobite ladies are stated to have
nicknamed the Nine of Diamonds “the Justice Clerk,” after the rebellion
of 1715, in allusion to the Lord Justice-Clerk Ormistone, who, for his
severity in suppressing it, was called the Curse of Scotland. Gules a
cross of lozenges were also the arms of Colonel Packer, who attended
Charles I. on the scaffold, and commanded in Scotland afterwards with
great severity.—_See_ Chatto on the _Origin and History of Playing
Cards_, p. 267. The most probable explanation is, that in the game of
Pope Joan the nine of diamonds is the POPE, of whom the Scotch have an
especial horror.
~Curtail~, to cut off. Originally a Cant word—vide _Hudibras_, and
_Bacchus and Venus_, 1737. Evidently derived from the French _court
tailler_.
~Cushion~, to hide or conceal.
~Cushion-smiter~, polite rendering of tub-thumper, a clergyman, a
preacher.
~Cushmawaunee~, never mind. Sailors and soldiers who have been in India
frequently say—
“CUSHMAWAUNEE,
If we cannot get arrack,
We must drink pawnee.”
_Anglo-Indian._
~Customer~, synonymous with CHAP, a fellow; “a rum CUSTOMER,” _i.e._, a
man likely to turn the tables on any one who attacked him, and therefore
better be let alone, or very warily proceeded with; an “odd fish,” or
curious person.—_Shakspeare._
~Customhouse-officer~, an aperient pill.
~Cut~, to run away, move off quickly; to cease doing anything; CUT AND
RUN, to quit work, or occupation, and start off at once—_Sea_ phrase,
“CUT the cable and RUN before the wind;” to CUT DIDOES, synonymous with
to CUT CAPERS; CUT A DASH, make a show; CUT A CAPER, to dance or show
off in a strange manner; CUT A FIGURE, to make either a good or bad
appearance; CUT IT, desist, be quiet, go away, leave what you are doing
and run; CUT IT SHORT, cease being prolix, “make short work” of what you
have in hand; CUT OUT, to excel, thus in affairs of gallantry one Adonis
is said to CUT the other out in the affections of the wished-for
lady—_Sea_ phrase, from CUTTING out a ship from the enemy’s port. CUT
THAT! be quiet, or stop; CUT OUT OF, done out of; CUT OF ONE’S JIB, the
expression or cast of his countenance [_see_ JIB]; TO CUT ONE’S COMB, to
take down a conceited person, from the practice of cutting the combs of
capons [_see_ COMB CUT]; CUT AND COME AGAIN, plenty, if one cut does not
suffice, plenty remains to come at again; CUT UP, to mortify, to
criticise severely, or expose; CUT UP SHINES, to play tricks; CUT ONE’S
STICK, to be off quickly, _i.e._, to be in readiness for a journey,
further elaborated into AMPUTATE YOUR MAHOGANY [_see_ STICK]; CUT IT
FAT, to exaggerate or show off in an extensive manner; to CUT UP FAT, or
CUT UP WELL, to die, leaving a large property; CUT UNDER, to undersell;
CUT YOUR LUCKY, to run off; CUT ONE’S CART, to expose unfair tricks; CUT
AN ACQUAINTANCE, to cease friendly intercourse with him; “CUT UP ROUGH,”
to become obstreperous and dangerous; to have “CUT ONE’S EYE-TEETH,”
_i.e._, to be wide awake, knowing; to DRAW CUTS, to cast lots with
papers of unequal lengths.
~Cut~, to take cards from a pack, with a view to decide by comparison
which persons shall be partners, or which players shall deal. Not less
than four cards must be picked up by the cutter, and the bottom one is
the CUT. When cutting for a “turn-up,” the residuum is called the CUT.
~Cut~, in theatrical language, means to strike out portions of a
dramatic piece, so as to render it shorter for representation. A late
treasurer of one of the so-called Patent Theatres when asked his opinion
of a new play, always gave utterance to the brief but safe piece of
criticism, “Wants cutting.”
~Cut~, tipsy.—_Old._
~Cut~, to compete in business; “a CUTTING trade,” one conducted on
competitive principles, where the profits are very closely shaved.
~Cut-throat~, a butcher, a cattle-slaughterer; a ruffian.
~Cute~, sharp, cunning. Abbreviation of ACUTE.
~Cutter~, a ruffian, a cut-purse. Of Robin Hood it was said—
“So being outlaw’d (as ’tis told),
He with a crew went forth
Of lusty CUTTERS, bold and strong,
And robbed in the north.”
CUTTER, a swashbuckler—_balaffreux taillebras, fendeur de
naseaux._—_Cotgrave._
“He’s out of cash, and thou know’st by CUTTER’S LAW,
We are bound to relieve one another.”
_Match at Midn._, O. Pl., vii. 553.
This ancient cant word now survives in the phrase, “to swear like a
CUTTER.”
~Cutting-shop~, a place where cheap rough goods are sold.
~Cutty-pipe~, a short clay pipe. _Scotch_, CUTTY, short.
~Cutty-sark~, a short chemise.—_Scotch._ A scantily-draped lady is so
called by Burns.
“‘Weel done, CUTTY-SARK!’
And in an instant all was dark.”
~Dab~, or DABSTER, an expert person. Most probably derived from the
Latin _adeptus_.
~Dab~, street term for small flat fish of any kind.—_Old._
~Dacha-saltee~, tenpence. Probably from the _Lingua Franca_. _Modern
Greek_, δέκα; _Italian_, DIECI SOLDI, tenpence; _Gipsy_, DIK, ten. So
also DACHA-ONE (oney), _i.e._, _dieci uno_, elevenpence.—_See_ SALTEE.
~Daddle~, the hand; “tip us your DADDLE,” _i.e._, shake hands.
~Daddy~, a stage manager.—_Theatrical._ Also the person who gives away
the bride at a wedding.
~Daddy;~ at mock raffles, lotteries, &c., the DADDY is an accomplice,
most commonly the getter-up of the swindle, and in all cases the person
that has been previously selected to win the prize.
~Daddy~, the old man in charge—generally an aged pauper—at casual
wards. Most people will remember “kind old DADDY.”
~Daffy~, gin. A term with monthly nurses, who are always extolling the
virtues of Daffy’s Elixir, and who occasionally comfort themselves with
a stronger medicine under Daffy’s name. Of late years the term has been
altered to “soothing syrup.”
~Dags~, feat or performance; “I’ll do your DAGS,” _i.e._, I will do
something that you cannot do. Corruption of DARINGS.
~Dairies~, a woman’s breasts, which are also called CHARLIES.
~Daisy-cutter~, a horse that trots or gallops without lifting its feet
much from the ground.
~Daisy-kicker~, the name ostlers at large inns used to give each other,
now nearly obsolete. DAISY-KICKER, or GROGHAM, was likewise the cant
term for a horse. The DAISY-KICKERS were sad rogues in the old posting
days; frequently the landlords rented the stables to them, as the only
plan to make them return a profit.
~Damage~, in the sense of recompense; “what’s the DAMAGE?” _i.e._, what
is to pay? or actually, what is the DAMAGE to my pocket?
~Damper~, a shop till; to DRAW A DAMPER, _i.e._, rob a till. A till is
more modernly called a “lob,” and stealing from tills is known as
“lob-sneaking.”
~Dancer, or dancing-master~, a thief who prowls about the roofs of
houses, and effects an entrance by attic windows, &c. Called also a
“garreter.”
~Dance upon nothing~, to be hanged.
~Dander~, passion or temper; “to get one’s DANDER up,” to rouse his
passion.—_Old_, but now much used in America.
~Dando~, a great eater, who cheats at hotels, eating shops,
oyster-cellars, &c., from a person of that name who lived many years
ago, and who was an enormous oyster-eater. According to the stories
related of him, Dando would visit an oyster-room, devour an almost
fabulous quantity of bivalves, with porter and bread and butter to
match, and then calmly state that he had no money.
~Dandy~, a fop, or fashionable nondescript. This word, in the sense of a
fop, is of modern origin. Egan says it was first used in 1820, and Bee
in 1816. Johnson does not mention it, although it is to be found in all
late dictionaries. DANDIES wore stays, studied a feminine style, and
tried to undo their manhood by all manner of affectations which were not
actually immoral. Lord Petersham headed them. At the present day dandies
of this stamp have almost entirely disappeared, but the new school of
muscular Christians is not altogether faultless. The feminine of DANDY
was DANDIZETTE, but the term only lived for a short season.
~Dandy~, a small glass of whisky.—_Irish._ “Dimidium cyathi vero apud
Metropolitanos Hibernicos dicitur DANDY.”—_Father Tom and the Pope_, in
_Blackwood’s Magazine_ for May 1838.
~Dandy~, a boatman.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Dandypratt~, a funny little fellow, a mannikin; originally a
half-farthing of the time of Henry VII.
~Danna~, human ordure; DANNA DRAG, a nightman’s or dustman’s cart;
hence DUNNA-KEN, which _see_.
~Darbies~, handcuffs.—_Old Cant._—_See_ JOHNNY DARBIES. Sir Walter
Scott mentions these, in the sense of fetters, in his _Peveril of the
Peak_—
“‘Hark ye! Jem Clink will fetch you the DARBIES.’ ‘Derby!’
interrupted Julian, ‘has the Earl or Countess’”----
Had Sir Walter known of any connexion between them and this family he
would undoubtedly have mentioned it. The mistake of Julian is corrected
in the next paragraph. It is said that handcuffs were, when used to keep
two prisoners together, called DARBIES and JOANS—a term which would
soon be shortened as a natural consequence.
~Darble~, the devil. _French_, DIABLE.
~Dark~, “keep it DARK,” _i.e._, secret. A DARK horse is, in racing
phraseology, a horse of whom nothing positive is known, but who is
generally supposed to have claims to the consideration of all
interested, whether bookmakers or backers.
~Darky~, twilight; also a negro. DARKMANS, the night.
~Darn~, vulgar corruption of DAMN.—_American._
~Dash~, to jot down suddenly. “Things I have DASHED off at a moment’s
notice.”
~Dash~, fire, vigour, manliness. Literary and artistic work is often
said to be full of DASH.
~Dash~, an ejaculation, as “DASH my wig!” “DASH my buttons!” A relic of
the attempts made, when cursing was fashionable, to be in the mode
without using “bad words.”
~Dashing~, showy, fast.
~Daub~, in low language, an artist. Also a badly painted picture.
~David’s sow~, “as drunk as DAVID’S sow,” _i.e._, beastly drunk. _See_
origin of the phrase in Grose’s _Dictionary_.
~Davy~, “on my DAVY,” on my affidavit, of which it is a vulgar
corruption. Latterly DAVY has become synonymous in street language with
the name of the Deity; “so help me DAVY,” generally rendered, “swelp my
DAVY.” Slang version of the conclusion of the oath usually exacted of
witnesses.
~Davy’s locker~, or DAVY JONES’S LOCKER, the sea, the common receptacle
for all things thrown overboard;—a nautical phrase for death, is “gone
to DAVY JONES’S LOCKER,” which there means the other world.—_See_
DUFFY.
~Dawdle~, to loiter, or fritter away time.
~Dawk~, the post.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Daylights~, eyes; “to darken his DAYLIGHTS,” to give a person black
eyes. Also the spaces left in glasses between the liquor and the
brim,—not allowed when bumpers are drunk. The toast-master in such
cases cries “no DAYLIGHTS or heeltaps!”
~Daze~, to confound or bewilder; an ancient form of dazzle used by
Spenser, Drayton, &c. This is more obsolete English than slang, though
its use nowadays might fairly bring it within the latter category.
~Dead-against~, decidedly opposed to.
~Dead-alive~, stupid, dull.
~Dead-amiss~, said of a horse that from illness is utterly unable to run
for a prize.
~Dead-beat~, utterly exhausted, utterly “done up.”