stealing with the arms crossed so as to distract attention, as in
stealing breast-pins, &c.
~Fanqui~, a European, literally foreign devil.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Fantail~, a dustman’s or coalheaver’s hat. So called from the shape.
~Farm~, to contract, after the manner of those who engage to feed and
lodge children belonging to the parish, at so much a head; a fruitful
cause of starvation and misery. _See Oliver Twist._ The baby farmings,
unconnected with the parishes in which they occurred, which ultimately
resulted in the trial and execution of Margaret Waters, on the 11th
October, 1870, have caused the word FARM as applied to any dealings with
children, parish or private, to be one of obloquy and reproach.
~Farmer.~ In Suffolk this term is applied to the eldest son of the
occupier of the farm. In London it is used derisively of a countryman,
and denotes a farm-labourer or clodpole. Both senses are different from
the proper meaning.
~Fast~, gay, spreeish, unsteady, thoughtless,—an Americanism that has
of late ascended from the streets to the drawing-room. The word has
certainly now a distinct meaning, which it had not thirty years ago.
QUICK is the synonym for FAST, but a QUICK MAN would not convey the
meaning of a FAST MAN,—a person who, by late hours, gaiety, and
continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast, and wears himself out. In
polite society a FAST young lady is one who affects mannish habits, or
makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment,—talks
slang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs,
horses, &c. An amusing anecdote is told of a fast young lady, the
daughter of a right reverend prelate, who was an adept in horseflesh.
Being desirous of ascertaining the opinion of a candidate for
ordination, who had the look of a bird of the same feather, as to the
merits of some cattle just brought to her father’s palace for her to
select from, she was assured by him they were utterly unfit for a lady’s
use. With a knowing look at the horses’ points, she gave her decision in
these choice words, “Well, I agree with you; they _are_ a rum lot, as
the devil said of the ten commandments.” Charles Dickens once said that
“fast,” when applied to a young man, was only another word for loose, as
he understood the term; and a fast girl has been defined as a woman who
has lost her respect for men, and for whom men have lost their respect.
~Fast~, embarrassed, wanting money, tied up. Sometimes synonymous with
“hard up.”—_Yorkshire._
~Fast and loose~, to play FAST AND LOOSE with a man, is to treat him as
a fast friend in the days while he is useful, and to cast him loose
when he is no longer necessary; also, to equivocate or vacillate. In old
days it was the name of a vulgar pastime. _See_ PRICK THE GARTER.
~Fat~, a printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which
he is paid at the same rate as for full or unbroken pages. Occasionally
called “grease,” and applied variously, but always as showing some undue
or uncommon amount of advantage.
~Fat~, rich, abundant, &c.; “a FAT lot;” “to cut it FAT,” to exaggerate,
to show off in an extensive or grand manner, to assume undue importance;
“cut up FAT,” see under CUT. As a theatrical term, a part with plenty of
FAT in it is one which affords the actor an opportunity of effective
display.
~Father~, or FENCE, a buyer of stolen property.
~Favourite~, the horse that has the lowest odds laid against it in the
betting list. When the FAVOURITE wins, the public or backers of horses
generally are the gainers. When an outsider wins, the ring, that is to
say, the persons who make a business of laying against the chances of
horses, are the gainers.
~Fawney~, a finger ring. _Irish_, FAINEE, a ring.
~Fawney bouncing~, selling rings for a pretended wager. This practice is
founded upon the old tale of a gentleman laying a wager that if he were
to offer “real gold sovereigns” at a penny a-piece at the foot of London
Bridge, the English public would be too incredulous to buy. The story
states that the gentleman stationed himself with sovereigns on a
tea-tray, and sold only two within the hour, thus winning the bet. This
tale the FAWNEY BOUNCERS tell the public, only offering brass,
double-gilt rings, instead of sovereigns.
~Fawney rig~, the ring-dropping trick. A few years ago this practice was
very common. A fellow purposely dropped a ring, or a pocket-book with
some little articles of jewellery, &c., in it, and when he saw any
person pick it up, ran to claim half. The ring found, the question of
how the booty was to be divided had then to be decided. The sharper
says, “If you will give me eight or nine shillings for my share, the
things are yours.” This the “flat” thinks very fair. The ring of course
is valueless, and the swallower of the bait discovers the trick too
late. For another way of doing this trick, _see_ RING-DROPPING.
~Feathers~, money, wealth; “in full FEATHER,” rich. FEATHERS is also a
term applied to dress; “in full FEATHER,” means very often in full
costume. It also means, at times, in high spirits.
~Feed~, a meal, generally a dinner. Originally stable slang, now pretty
general.
~Feele~, a daughter, or child.—Corrupted _French_.
~Fellow-commoner~, uncomplimentary epithet used at Cambridge for an
empty bottle.
~Felt~, a hat.—_Old term_, in use in the sixteenth century.
~Fence~, a purchaser or receiver of stolen goods; also, the shop or
warehouse of a FENCER.—_Old Cant._
~Fen-nightingales~, toads and frogs, from their continued croaking at
night.
~Feringee~, a European—that is, a Frank.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Ferricadouzer~, a knock-down blow, a good thrashing. Probably derived,
through the _Lingua Franca_, from the _Italian_, “far’ cader’ douser,”
to knock down. “Far’ cader’ morto,” is to knock down dead.
~Few~, used to signify the reverse, thus:—“Don’t you call this
considerably jolly?” “I believe you, my bo-o-oy, A FEW.” Sometimes the
reply is, “just a FEW.” Another expression of the same kind is RATHER,
which _see_.
~Fib~, to beat or strike.—_Old Cant._
~Fib~, to lie, to romance.
~Fibbing~, a series of blows delivered quickly, and at a short
distance.—_Pugilistic._
~Fiddle~, a sharper, “a street mugger.” In America, a swindle or an
imposture.
~Fiddle~, “to play second FIDDLE,” to act subordinately, or follow the
lead of another. From the orchestral practice.
~Fiddle-face~, a person with a wizened countenance.
~Fiddle-faddle~, twaddle, or trifling discourse.—_Old Cant._
~Fiddler~, a sharper, a cheat; also a careless, negligent, or dilatory
person. On board some ocean steamers the FIDDLER is the capstan-house,
the only place on board where passengers are permitted to smoke. The
term FIDDLER is easily traceable to the fact that, while the seamen are
working the capstan-bars, a man sometimes plays on the fiddle to cheer
them at their toil.
~Fiddler~, a sixpence. Fiddler’s money is small money; generally from
the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence.
~Fiddler~, or FADGE, a farthing.
~Fiddlers’ green~, the place where sailors expect to go when they die.
It is a place of fiddling, dancing, rum, and tobacco, and is undoubtedly
the “Land of Cocaigne,” mentioned in mediæval manuscripts. A story is
told of a drunken sailor who heard a street preacher threatening all
listeners with eternal damnation, and who went up and asked where he
(the sailor) was going after death. “To hell, of course,” replied the
preacher. “No, you lubberly son of a sea-cook!” shouted the seaman,
knocking the itinerant down; “I’m going to FIDDLER’S GREEN; and if you
say I’m not, I’ll throttle you.” Under compulsion, the preacher admitted
the existence of FIDDLER’S GREEN, _pro tempore_.
~Fiddles~, transverse pieces of wood used on shipboard to protect the
dishes at table during stormy weather. Swing tables obviate the use of
FIDDLES.
~Fiddle-sticks!~ an exclamation signifying nonsense. Sometimes
“Fiddle-de-dee.”
~Fiddling~, doing any odd jobs in the streets, holding horses, carrying
parcels, &c., for a living. Among the middle classes, FIDDLING means
idling away time, or trifling, and amongst sharpers it means gambling.
~Fid-fad~, a game similar to chequers, or drafts, played in the West of
England.
~Field~, the whole of the runners in a race of any kind. “A FIELD of
fourteen runners was placed in care of the starter.” In betting
phraseology the FIELD represents the bulk of the horses, as opposed to
the favourite. “The FIELD for a pony,” means that the offerer will lay
25_l._ against the favourite, preferring the chances of a winner turning
up amongst the others. “Ten to one on the FIELD,” means that the price
named can be obtained about any horse in the race, that being the lowest
figure or favourite’s price. Laying against favourites is called
FIELDING, and bookmakers are often known as FIELDERS.
~Field~, “to look out,” at cricket. In the outings of an eleven the
FIELDERS are those who stand away from the wickets with a view to
checking the progress of the ball. FIELDING is a great essential to
cricket, and to be “a good FIELD” is no slight honour. Also to lay
against favourites in the betting.
~Field-lane duck~, a baked sheep’s head. Field Lane was a low London
thoroughfare leading from the foot of Holborn Hill to the purlieus of
Clerkenwell. It was formerly the market for stolen pocket-handkerchiefs.
Holborn Viaduct improved all but a small portion of Field Lane off the
face of the earth. There is but the smallest vestige of this famous (or
infamous) thoroughfare left. The neighbourhood has received an upheaval
within the past few years, and from one end the pedestrian must descend
to the remains of Field Lane by means of a flight of steps.
~Fieri-facias.~ A red-faced man is often jocularly said to have been
served with a writ of FIERI-FACIAS.
~Fi-fa~, a writ of Fieri-Facias.—_Legal._
~Fi-fi~, Thackeray’s term for Paul de Kock’s novels, and similar modern
French literature.
~Fig~, “in full FIG,” _i.e._, full-dress costume, “extensively got up.”
Possibly an allusion to the dress assumed by our first parents after
they were naked and not ashamed, or else an abbreviation of figure, in
the references to plates in books of fashions.
~Fig~, “to FIG a horse,” to play improper tricks with one in order to
make him lively. The FIG is a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse’s
tail for the purpose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price.
~Figaro~, a barber; from _Le Nozze di Figaro_.
~Fig-leaf~, a small apron worn by ladies.
~Figure~, “to cut a good or bad FIGURE,” to make good or indifferent
appearance; “what’s the FIGURE?” how much is to pay? FIGURE-HEAD, a
person’s face.—_Sea term._
~Filch~, to steal, or purloin. Originally a cant word, derived from the
FILCHES, or hooks, thieves used to carry, to hook clothes, or any
portable articles from open windows.—_Vide_ Decker. It was considered a
cant or gipsy term up to the beginning of the last century. Harman has
“FYLCHE, to robbe.” Probably from “FILICHI,” Romany for a handkerchief.
~File~, a deep or artful man, a jocose name for a cunning person.
Originally a term for a pickpocket, when to FILE was to cheat or rob.
FILE, an artful man, was used in the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries. To deal with an artful man is sometimes said to be like
biting a FILE.
~Filibuster~, an American adventurer, who, if successful, helps to
extend the boundaries of the United States, becomes a General, and
receives high honours, but who remains a FILIBUSTER, and is despised as
such, if he fails. The Texan, Nicaraguan, and kindred expeditions were
of a FILIBUSTERING order.
~Fillibrush~, to flatter, praise ironically.
~Fimble-famble~, a lame, prevaricating excuse.—_Scandinavian._
~Fin~, a hand; “come, tip us your FIN,” viz., let us shake
hands.—_Sea._
~Finder~, one who FINDS bacon and meat at the market before they are
lost, _i.e._, steals them.
~Finnuf~, a five-pound note. DOUBLE FINNUF, a ten-pound note.—_German_,
FUNF, five.
~Fire-eater~, a quarrelsome man, a braggadocio or turbulent person who
is always ready to fight.
~Firkytoodle~, to cuddle or fondle.
~First flight~, the first lot to finish in a foot or horse race, in a
fox hunt, &c.
~Fish~, a person; “a queer FISH,” “a loose FISH.” Term never used except
in doubtful cases, as those quoted.
~Fishfag~, originally a Billingsgate fishwife; now any scolding,
vixenish, foul-mouthed woman.
~Fishy~, doubtful, unsound, rotten; used to denote a suspicion of a
“screw being loose,” or “something rotten in the state of Denmark,” in
referring to any proposed speculation.
~Fit~, an Americanism denoting the preterite of the verb to fight. A
Yankee once came upon the words _nihil fit_, and he immediately wrote
off to the editor of the paper to which he subscribed to know “Who was
Nihil, who he fit, what amount he fit for, and if he won.”
~Five fingers~, the five of trumps, at the game of Five-cards, or Don.
~Fives~, “bunch of FIVES,” the fist.
~Fix~, a predicament, or dilemma; “an awful FIX,” a terrible position;
“to FIX one’s flint for him,” _i.e._, to “settle his hash,” to “put a
spoke in his wheel.”
~Fixings~, an Americanism, equivalent to our word “trimmings,” which
_see_.
~Fiz~, champagne; any sparkling wine.
~Fizzing~, first-rate, very good, excellent; synonymous with “stunning.”
~Flabbergast~, or FLABBERGHAST, to astonish, or strike with wonder;
literally, to strike aghast.—_Old._
~Flag~, a groat, or 4_d._—_Ancient Cant._
~Flag~, an apron. People who wear their aprons when not at work, are
called “flag-flashers.”
~Flag of distress~, any overt sign of poverty; the end of a person’s
shirt when it protrudes through his trousers.
~Flam~, nonsense, blarney, a lie, humbug. “A regular FLAM,” a tale
devoid of truth.
~Flame~, a sweetheart.
~Flannel~, or HOT FLANNEL, the old term for gin and beer, drunk hot,
with nutmeg, sugar, &c.; a play on the old name “lambswool.” Also called
“flip.” There is an anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart
of FLANNEL in a night-house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter,
and a demure, grave-looking gentleman, who continually introduced the
words “crap,” “stretch,” “scrag,” and “swing.” Upon the Doctor asking
who this strange person might be, and being told his profession, he
rushed from the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I
been sitting all this while with a hangman!”
~Flap~, lead used for the coverings of roofs.
~Flapper~, or FLIPPER, the hand.
~Flare up~, a jovial social gathering, a “breakdown,” a “row.”
~Flash~, showy, smart, knowing; a word with various meanings. A person
is said to be dressed FLASH when his garb is showy, and after a fashion,
but without taste. A person is said to be FLASH when he apes the
appearance or manners of his betters, or when he is trying to be
superior to his friends and relations. FLASH also means “fast,” roguish,
and sometimes infers counterfeit or deceptive—and this, perhaps, is its
general signification. As it is used by those who best understand it
nowadays, the word means that which is not what it appears to
be—anything spurious, as jewellery and shoddy clothes. “FLASH, my young
friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classical language of the
Holy Land; in other words, St. Giles’s Greek.”—_Tom and Jerry_, by
Moncreiff. Vulgar language was first termed FLASH in the year 1718, by
Hitchin, author of “_The Regulator of Thieves, &c., with account of
flash words_.” “FLASH” is sometimes exchangeable with “fancy.”
“My FLASH man’s in quod,
And I’m the gal that’s willin,
So I’ll turn out to-night,
And earn an honest shillin’.
“Tooral, looral la,
What are wealth’s possessions?
Bless the man we love,
And blow the b---- Sessions.”—_Lyra Flagitiosa._
~Flash it~, show it—said when any bargain is offered.
~Flash o’ lightning~, the gold band on an officer’s cap.—_Sea._ Also in
street slang, a glass of gin.
~Flat~, a fool, a silly or “soft” person; the opposite of “sharp.” The
terms appear to be shortenings for “sharp-witted” and “flat-witted.” Or,
maybe, from musical notes.
~Flat-feet~, the battalion companies in the Foot Guards.
~Flats~, playing cards; sometimes called “broads.” Also the storeys of
large houses, built on the “independent” principle, each flat having
its separate and peculiar offices, street-door, &c.
~Flatty~, a rustic, or uninitiated person.
~Flatty-ken~, a public-house the landlord of which is ignorant of the
practices of the thieves and tramps who frequent it.
~Flay the fox~, to vomit. Now replaced by the more popular “shoot the
cat.”
~Flemish account.~—_Old._ Still used by sailors for a tangled and
unsatisfactory account or reckoning.
~Flesh and blood~, brandy and port in equal quantities.
~Flesh bag~, a shirt. American humourists call a white shirt a “clean
biled rag.” In the mining camps, and rough parts generally, a white
shirt is called a “biled shirt” to distinguish it from the usual woollen
garment, which cannot be boiled.
~Flick~, or OLD FLICK, a comical old chap or fellow. Term of endearment
among low people.
~Flick~, or FLIG, to whip by striking, and drawing the lash back at the
same time, which causes a stinging blow. A flicking is often
administered by schoolboys with a damp towel or pocket-handkerchief.
~Flies~, trickery, nonsense. “There are no FLIES about me, sir.”
Softening of lies.
~Flim-flamn~, idle story.—_Beaumont and Fletcher._
~Flimp~, to hustle, or rob.
~Flimsy~, a bank-note. Bank of Elegance notes are sometimes called soft
flimsies. In this particular case two good terms make a bad one, as both
“soft” and “flimsies” used separately refer to good notes.
~Flimsy~, the thin prepared copying-paper used by newspaper reporters
and “penny-a-liners” for making several copies at once, which enables
them to supply different papers with the same article without loss of
time.
~Flint~, an operative who works for a “society” master, _i.e._, for full
wages.
~Flip~, corruption of FILLIP, a light blow. Also a hot drink. _See_
FLANNEL.
~Flip-flap~, a peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers
when merry or excited—better described, perhaps, as the “double-shuffle”
danced with an air of extreme _abandon_. Also, a kind of somersault,
in which the performer throws himself over on his hands and feet
alternately.
~Flipper~, the hand; “give us your FLIPPER,” give me your hand.—_Sea._
Metaphor taken from the flipper or paddle of a turtle.
~Floater~, a small suet dumpling put into soup.—_Whitechapel._
~Floating academy~, the hulks.
~Flog~, to whip. Cited both by Grose and the author of _Bacchus and
Venus_ as a cant word. Many efforts have been made to ascertain the
earliest use; Richardson cites Lord Chesterfield. From _Flagellum_.
“Flawged,” for whipped, occurs in “The Presbyterian Lash, or Nockhoff’s
Maid Whipt,” published in 1663. Nockhoff was the anagram for the name
of the Rev. Zachary Crofton, who had scandalized the town by subjecting
his servant-maid to the discipline of the nursery. There is a good story
on the proper orthography of the convertible term for castigation
related in a newspaper of 1841. A county magistrate, who had sentenced a
boy to be birched, wrote in his warrant that the boy was to be “floged.”
The scrupulous gaoler hesitated to inflict the punishment, and sent back
the warrant to the justice for amendment, who thereupon drew his pen
through “floged,” and ordered the boy to be “wiped.”
~Flogger~, a whip.—_Almost obsolete._ FLOGGER is still the term applied
to a number of strips of cloth attached to a handle, and used in
theatrical painting rooms to beat off the dust of the charcoal used in
sketching a scene.
~Flogster~, one addicted to flogging. William IV., who was accused of
unduly and excessively punishing the sailors whom he commanded when in
the navy, was nicknamed in the newspapers “Prince William Henry
FLOGSTER.”
~Floor~, to knock down.—_Pugilistic._
~Floored~, when a picture is hung on the lowest row at the Exhibition of
the Royal Academy, it is, in artistic slang, said to be FLOORED, in
contradistinction to “skyed,” which _see_.
~Floorer~, a blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down, or bring him
to the floor. Often used in reference to sudden and unpleasant news.
~Flop~, to plump; “to go FLOP down,” to fall suddenly, with violence and
noise.
~Flowery~, lodging, or house entertainment; “square the omee for the
FLOWERY,” pay the master for the lodging.—_Lingua Franca._
~Flue-faker~, a chimney-sweep.
~Fluff it~, a term of disapprobation, implying “take it away, I don’t
want it.”
~Fluff~, railway ticket clerks’ slang for short change given by them.
The profits thus accruing are called “fluffings,” and the practice is
known as “fluffing.”
~Fluke~, at billiards, playing for one thing and getting another. Hence,
generally what one gets accidentally, as an unexpected advantage, “more
by luck than judgment.”
~Flummery~, flattery, gammon, genteel nonsense. In American ships a
peculiar kind of light sweet pudding.
~Flummux~, to perplex or hinder.
~Flummuxed~, done up, sure of a month in quod, or prison. In mendicant
freemasonry, the sign chalked by rogues and tramps upon a gate-post or
house corner, to express to succeeding vagabonds that it is unsafe for
them to call there, is known as ⦿, or FLUMMUXED, which signifies that
the only thing they would be likely to get upon applying for relief
would be a “month in quod.”—_See_ QUOD.
~Flunkey~, a footman or other man-servant.
~Flunkeyism~, blind worship of rank, birth, or riches, or of all three;
toadyism.
~Flush~, the opposite of “hard up,” in possession of money, not
poverty-stricken.—_Shakspeare._
~Flush~, to whip; “FLUSHED on the horse,” to be privately whipped in
gaol; to deluge with water, as in “FLUSHING the sewers;” to come upon
suddenly and completely,—“I came FLUSH upon him.”
~Flush~, a term in cribbage, signifying a hand of cards composed
entirely of one suit.
~Flutter~, to try hard in defence or pursuit of an object. “I’ll have a
FLUTTER for it,” means I’ll have a good try for it. Also to toss for
anything. Probably from the spinning of the coin.
~Fly~, knowing, wide-awake, fully understanding another’s meaning.
~Fly~, TO BE ON THE, to be out for a day’s drink or pleasure.
~Fly~, to lift, toss, or raise; “FLY the mags,” _i.e._, toss up the
halfpence; “to FLY a window,” _i.e._, to lift one for the purpose of
stealing.
~Fly-boys~, men employed to clear the printed copies from the Hoe
machines, on which daily papers are “worked.” So called to distinguish
them from the “machine boys,” a superior grade of labourers who “lay on”
the sheets.
~Flying mare~, a throw in wrestling.
~Flying mess~, “to be in FLYING MESS” is a soldier’s phrase for being
hungry and having to mess where he can.
~Flying stationer~, a paper-worker, hawker of penny ballads; “Printed
for the Flying Stationers” is the _imprimatur_ on hundreds of penny
histories and sheet songs of the last and present centuries.
~Flymy~, knowing, cunning, roguish.—_Seven Dials and Low Life._
~Fly the kite~, or RAISE THE WIND, to obtain money on bills, whether
good or bad, probably in allusion to tossing paper about as children do
kites.
~Fly the kite~, to evacuate from a window,—term used in padding-kens,
or low lodging-houses.
~Fobbed~, old slang for robbed. From FOB, the ancient breeches-pocket
for the watch.
~Fogey~, or OLD FOGEY, a dullard, an old-fashioned or singular person.
Grose says it is a nickname for an invalid soldier, from the French
_fougueux_, fierce or fiery, but it has lost this signification now.
~Fogger~, old word for a huckster.
~Fogger~, a farm servant who feeds cattle. Probably a corruption of
fodderer.
~Foggy~, tipsy.
~Fogle~, a silk handkerchief,—not a clout, which is of cotton. It has
been hinted that this may have come from the German _Vogel_, a bird,
from the bird’s-eye spots on some handkerchiefs, but a more probable
derivation is the Italian slang (_Fourbesque_), FOGLIA, a pocket, or
purse; or from the French Argot, FOUILLE, also a pocket.
~Fogus~, tobacco.—_Ancient Cant._ FOGO, old word for stench.
~Follow-me-lads~, curls hanging over a lady’s shoulder.