with SLANG, another Gipsy word. Somner says, “_French_, GABBER; _Dutch_,
GABBEREN; and our own GAB, GABBER; hence also, I take it, our GIBBERISH,
a kind of canting language used by a sort of rogues we vulgarly call
gipsies, a gibble-gabble understood only among themselves.” _See
Introduction._ The GIBBERISH of schoolboys is formed by placing a
consonant between each syllable of a word, and is called the GIBBERISH
of the letter inserted. Thus, if F were the letter, it would be termed
the F GIBBERISH; if L, the L GIBBERISH—as in the sentence, “How do you
do?—_Howl dol youl dol?_” A GIBBERISH is sometimes formed by adding
_vis_ to each word, in which the previous sentence would be—“_Howvis
dovis youvis dovis?_” These things are worthy of schoolboys, as they are
in ability far below the rhyming, the back, or the centre slang, each of
which is constructed by people possessing no claim to literary
excellence whatever. Schoolboys in France form a GIBBERISH, in a
somewhat similar manner, by elongating their words two syllables, in the
first of which an _r_, in the second a _g_, predominates. Thus the words
_vous êtes un fou_ are spoken, _vousdregue esdregue undregue foudregue_.
Fast persons in Paris, of both sexes, frequently adopt terminations of
this kind, from some popular song, actor, exhibition, or political
event. In 1830, the favourite termination was _mar_, saying _épicemar_
for épicier, _cafémar_ for café. In 1823, when the diorama created a
sensation in Paris, the people spoke in _rama_ (_on parlait en rama_.)
In Balzac’s beautiful tale, _Le Père Goriot_, the young painter at the
boarding-house dinner-table mystifies the landlady by saying, “What a
beautiful _soupeaurama_!” To which the old woman replies, to the great
laughter of the company, “I beg your pardon, sir, it is _une soupe à
choux_.” These adaptations can hardly be called slang, or we shall have
everybody making a slang of his own, and refusing to believe in any
one’s else—a sort of secondhand edition of the Tower of Babel.
~Gib-face~, a heavy, ugly face; GIB is properly the lower lip of a
horse; “to hang one’s GIB,” to pout the lower lip, to be angry or
sullen.
~Gibus~, an opera hat. From the inventor of the crush hat.
~Giffle-gaffle~, or GIBBLE-GABBLE, nonsense. _See_ CHAFF. _Icelandic_,
GAFLA.
~Gig~, a farthing. Formerly GRIG.
~Gig~, fun, frolic, a spree. _Old French_, GIGUE, a jig, a romp.
“In search of lark, or some delicious GIG,
The mind delights on, when ’tis in prime twig.”
_Randall’s Diary_, 1820.
“‘No heirs have I,’ said mournful Matt;
But Tom, still fond of GIG,
Cried out, ‘No hairs? don’t fret at that,
When you can buy a wig.’”
~Gig lamps~, spectacles; also a person who wears spectacles is often
called GIG-LAMPS. Connexion obvious. This term has been in use probably
as long as GIG-LAMPS themselves—if GIG-LAMPS were invented after
spectacles.
~Gill~, or JILL, a homely woman; “Jack and Gill,” &c.
~Gills~, the lower part of the face.—_Bacon._ “To grease one’s GILLS,”
“to have a good feed,” or make a hearty meal. A man suffering from the
effects of a previous night’s debauch, is said to “look queer about the
gills.”
~Gills~, overlarge shirt collars.
~Gilt~, money. _German_, GELD; _Dutch_, GELT.
~Gimcrack~, a bijou, a slim piece of mechanism. Old slang for “a spruce
wench.”—_New Bailey._ Any things which are gaudy and easily breakable,
are known now as GIMCRACKS.
~Ginger~, a showy, fast horse—as if he had been figged with GINGER
under his tail; a red-haired man. Term commonly used in depreciation of
a person’s appearance.
~Ginger hackled~, having flaxen, light yellow hair. Term originally used
to describe a certain colour or colours in game-cocks.—_See_ HACKLE.
~Gingerly~, to do anything with great care.—_Cotgrave._
~Gingham~, an umbrella. Term very common in London.
~Gingumbob~, a bauble.
~Gin-spinner~, a distiller, or rectifier of gin.
~Give~, to strike, to scold; “I’ll GIVE it to you,” _i.e._, I will
thrash you. To lead to, in the sense of directions. Thus, in one of the
Christmas numbers of _All the Year Round_ we are told that “a side
portal and a passage, dark at noon, GAVE upon Paradise Alley.” This
usage of the word, from the French idiomatic use of _donner_, is
becoming by no means uncommon.
~Give in~, to admit oneself defeated, to “throw up the sponge,” or
“strike one’s flag.”
~Give it mouth~, a rude request to an actor or orator, which means,
speak up. Low folk can fancy nothing higher in the way of encomium on an
actor than, “He’s the cove to GIVE IT MOUTH—rather!”
~Gladstone~, cheap claret. GLADSTONE reduced the duty on French wines.
~Glasgow magistrate~, a salt herring. When George IV. visited Scotland,
a wag placed some salt herrings on the iron guard of the carriage
belonging to a well-known GLASGOW MAGISTRATE, who made one of a
deputation to receive his Majesty.
~Glaze~, glass; generally applied to windows. To “star the GLAZE” is to
break a window.
~Glib~, a tongue; “slacken your GLIB,” _i.e._, “loosen your tongue.”
~Glim~, a light, a lamp; “dowse the GLIM,” put out the candle. _Sea and
Old Cant._ GLIMS, spectacles. _Gaelic_, GLINN, light. _German_
(provincial), GLIMM, a spark.
~Glim lurk~, a begging paper, giving a circumstantial account of a
dreadful fire—which never happened.
~Gloak~, a man. Term much used in old thieves’ cant.
~Glum~, sulky, stem; “to look GLUM,” to appear annoyed or disconcerted.
~Glump~, to sulk.
~Glumpish~, of a stubborn, sulky temper.
~Go~, a GO of gin, a quartern of that liquor. (This word, as applied to
a measure of liquor, is stated to have arisen from the following
circumstance:—Two well-known actors once met at the bar of a tavern to
have a “wet” together. “One more glass and then we’ll GO,” was repeated
so often on either hand, that in the end GO was out of the question with
both of them, and so the word passed into a saying.) GO is also
synonymous with circumstance or occurrence; “a rummy GO,” and “a great
GO,” signify curious and remarkable occurrences; “all the GO,” when
anything creates unusual interest, “no GO,” no good; “here’s a pretty
GO!” here’s a trouble; GO, a term in the game of cribbage; “to GO the
jump,” to enter a house by the window.—_See_ LITTLE GO; also
CALL-A-GO.
“Gemmen (says he), you all well know
The joy there is whene’er we meet;
It’s what I call the primest GO,
And rightly named, ’tis—‘quite a treat,’”
_Jack Randall’s Diary_, 1820.
~Go along~, a fool, a cully, one of the most contemptuous terms in a
thieves’ vocabulary.
~Gob~ or GOBBET, a portion. Generally applied to meat by schoolboys.
~Gob~, the mouth, as in pugilistic slang “a spank on the GOB, drawing
the gravy.” Also mucus, or saliva. Sometimes used for GAB, talk—
“There was a man called Job,
Dwelt in the land of Uz;
He had a good gift of the GOB;
The same case happen us.”
ZACH. BOYD.
_Gaelic_—GAB and GOB, a mouth. _See_ GAB.
~God bless the Duke Of Argyle!~ a Scottish insinuation made when one
shrugs his shoulders, of its being caused by parasites or cutaneous
affections.—_See_ SCOTCH FIDDLE, SCOTCH GREYS. It is said to have been
originally the thankful exclamation of the Glasgow folk, at finding a
certain row of iron posts, erected by his grace in that city to mark the
division of his property, very convenient to rub against. Some say the
posts were put up purposely for the benefit of the good folk of Glasgow,
who were at the time suffering from the “Scotch fiddle.” This is,
however, but a Southern scandal.
~Gods~, the people in the upper gallery of a theatre; “up amongst the
GODS,” a seat amongst the persons in the gallery—so named from the high
position of that part, and the blue sky generally painted on the ceiling
of the theatre; termed by the French, “paradis.”
~Gods~, the quadrats used by printers in throwing on the imposing stone,
similar to the movement in casting dice.—_Printers’ term._
~Go due north~, to become bankrupt, to go to Whitecross Street.—_Nearly
obsolete._
~Go for the gloves~, to lay against a horse on the chance of its losing,
without having the wherewithal to pay if it wins. Probably from the
custom of ladies who bet GLOVES, and expect, as the racing men say, to
“stand them to nothing,” _i.e._, to be paid if they win, but not to pay
if they lose. This is a last resource of the bankrupt turfite;
and the big handicaps at the end of the year, the Cesarewitch and
Cambridgeshire, offer both temptation and opportunity to those who can
only hope to recoup themselves for their previous losses by “GLOVING IT”
successfully. When, in the sporting papers it is stated that a settling
at Tattersall’s was more than usually unsatisfactory, it may be fairly
assumed that the GLOVES have not been won by those who most desired
them.
~Go in~, to enter for, to apply oneself in pursuit of. Men at the
Universities are said to GO IN for honours, aquatics, or whatever their
chief desire or employment may be. The expression is now general.
~Go it~, a term of encouragement, implying, “keep it up!” Sometimes
amplified to “GO IT, ye cripples;” said to have been a facetious
rendering of the last line of Virgil’s _Eclogues_—
“Ite domum saturæ, venit Hesperus, _ite capellæ_;”
or, “GO IT, ye cripples, crutches are cheap.”
~Goldbacked uns~, body lice. Sometimes called greybacked uns.
~Goldfinches~, sovereigns. Similar to Canaries.
~Gold-mine~, any profitable investment, from a fried-fish shop to a
remunerative speculation involving millions.
~Golgotha~, a hat, “place of a skull.” Hence the “Don’s gallery,” at St.
Mary’s, Cambridge, and that part of the theatre at Oxford where the
heads of houses sit.
~Gol-mol~, noise, commotion.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Golopshus~, splendid, delicious, luscious.—_Norwich._
~Gonnof~, an expert thief, a master of his craft; one of the greatest
compliments a London pickpocket can pay another is to say, “he’s a
reglar GONNOF.”—_See_ GUN. The word GONNOF is very old. During Kett’s
rebellion in Norfolk, in the reign of Edward VI., a song was sung by the
insurgents in which the term occurs—
“The country GNOFFES, Hob, Dick, and Hick,
With clubbes and clouted shoon,
Shall fill up Dussyn dale
With slaughter’d bodies soone.”
~Good people~, the name given by country folk, evidently from fear of
offending by any less decided term, to fairies, brownies, pixies, &c.
Mothers often say to querulous children, “I wish the GOOD PEOPLE would
run away with you.”
~Goods~, in the sporting world, men or horses. A horse or man of
exceptionable quality is called “good GOODS,” and a backer will speak of
either as being in his opinion “best GOODS,” as compared with others in
the race.
~Good time~, an expressive phrase, which means all earthly bliss to the
American mind. The finest reminiscence a Yankee can have is that of a
GOOD TIME, wherever it may have been spent. No moderate amount of
happiness is ever recorded in the register which denotes how often its
possessor has “had a GOOD TIME.”
~Good woman~, a not uncommon public-house sign, representing a woman
without a head,—the ungallant allusion is that she cannot scold. Maybe,
the publican does not think that it means also that she cannot drink.
The Honest Lawyer, another sign, is depicted in the same manner.
~Goose~, a tailor’s pressing iron. Originally a slang term, but now in
most dictionaries.
~Goose;~ “Paddy’s GOOSE,” _i.e._, the White Swan, a celebrated
public-house in Ratcliff Highway.
~Goose~, “to cook his GOOSE,” to kill him; the same as “to give him his
gruel,” or “settle his hash.”
~Goose~, “to get the GOOSE,” “to be GOOSED,” signifies to be hissed
while on the stage. The big-bird, the terror of actors. _See_ BIG
BIRD.—_Theatrical._
~Goose~, to ruin, or spoil; to hiss a play.—_Theatrical._ To be “sound
on the GOOSE” is in America to be orthodox in one’s political creed.
~Gooseberry~, to “play up old GOOSEBERRY” with any one, to defeat or
silence a person in a quick or summary manner.
~Gooseberry-pickers~, sharp children, who are ostensibly placed in
charge of their elder sisters, when the latter go out shopping, but who
are in reality a check on any chance of flirtation.
~Goosecap~, a simpleton, a booby, or noodle.—_Devonshire._
~Gooser~, a settler, or finishing blow.
~Go over~, in clerical slang, signifies to join the Church of Rome.
~Gorge~, to eat in a ravenous manner. “Rotten GORGERS” are those hungry
lads who hang about Covent Garden Market, and devour the discarded
fruit.
~Gorger~, a swell, a well-dressed, or gorgeous man—probably derived
from the latter adjective. Sometimes used to denote an employer, or
principal, as the manager of a theatre.
~Gormed~, a Norfolk corruption of a profane oath. So used by Mr.
Peggotty in _David Copperfield_.
~Gospel grinder~, a City missionary, or tract-distributor.
~Gospel Shop~, an irreverent term for a church or chapel of any
denomination. Mostly in use among sailors.
~Goss~, a hat—from the gossamer silk of which modern hats are made.
~Goss~, “to give a man GOSS,” to requite an injury, to beat, or kill.
This is an Americanism, and is applied variously. A steamboat captain on
the Mississippi, determined to pass his rival, called out, so the story
goes, to the fireman, “Give her GOSS and let her rip, as I mean to pass
that boat, or bust.”
~Goth~, an uncultivated person. One who is ignorant of the ways of
society.
~Go the whole pile~, to put all one’s bank on a solitary chance. An
Americanism which had its origin in the PILES of gold dust used as
circulating medium by gambling miners.
~Gourock ham~, a salt herring. GOUROCK, on the Clyde, about twenty-five
miles from Glasgow, was formerly a great fishing village.—_Scotch._
~Government sign-post~, the gallows. This is necessarily almost
obsolete.
~Governor~, a father, a master or superior person, an elder; “which way,
GUV’NER, to Cheapside?”
~Gowler~, a dog.—_North Country Cant._ _Query_, GROWLER.
~Gownsman~, a student at one of the universities, as distinguished from
a TOWNSMAN.
~Grab~, to clutch, or seize; GRABBED, caught, apprehended.
~Grace-card~, the six of hearts, so termed in Ireland. A Kilkenny
gentleman, named GRACE, being solicited, with promises of royal favour,
to espouse the cause of William III., gave the following answer, written
on the back of the six of hearts, to an emissary of Marshal Schomberg’s,
who had been commissioned to make the proposal to him:—“Tell your
master I despise his offer; and that honour and conscience are dearer to
a gentleman than all the wealth and titles a prince can bestow.” This
would have been a much better story had James II. been a better King,
and had he not earned for himself, even among Catholic Irishmen, a
disgraceful name, through his craven conduct at the Battle of the Boyne.
~Graft~, work; “where are you GRAFTING?” _i.e._, where do you work?
“What GRAFT are you at?” what are you doing? Perhaps derived from
gardening phraseology; or a variation of _craft_.
~Granny~, a knot which will not hold, from its being wrongly and
clumsily tied.—_Sea._
~Granny~, to know, or recognise; “do ye GRANNY the bloke?” do you know
the man?
~Grappling irons~, fingers.—_Sea._
~Grass~, “gone to GRASS,” dead,—a coarse allusion to burial; absconded,
or disappeared suddenly; also, gone to waste; it is said of wasted limbs
that they have “gone to GRASS;” “oh, go to GRASS,” a common answer to a
troublesome or inquisitive person,—possibly a corruption of “go to
GRACE,” meaning, of course, a directly opposite fate.
~Grass~, to knock down. Also to throw in a wrestling-match. “He GRASSED
his man with a heavy righthander,” or “He brought his man to GRASS by
means of a swinging hipe.”
~Grass-comber~, a country fellow, a haymaker.
~Grasshopper~, a waiter at a tea-garden.
~Grass widow~, an unmarried mother; a deserted mistress. In the United
States, during the gold fever in California, it was common for an
adventurer to put both his wife (termed in his absence a GRASS-WIDOW)
and his children to school during his absence. Also a married woman,
resident in England, whose husband is in India or the colonies.
~Gravel~, to confound, to bother; “I’m GRAVELLED,” _i.e._, perplexed or
confused.—_Old._ Also, to prostrate, to beat to the ground.
~Gravel-rash~, a scratched face,—telling its tale of a drunken fall. A
person subject to this is called a GRAVEL-GRINDER.
~Gravesend sweetmeats~, shrimps. GRAVESEND TWINS are solid particles of
sewage.
~Gray~, a halfpenny, with either two “heads” or two “tails”—both sides
alike. They are used for cheating the unwary at “Tommy Dodd,” or pitch
and toss. They are often “rung in” with a victim’s own money, so that
the caller of “heads” or “tails” cannot lose. Thus if A has to call, he
or a confederate manages to mix the selected GRAYS with B’s tossing
halfpence. There are various and almost obvious uses for them.
~Gray-coat parson~, a lay impropriator, or lessee of great tithes.
~Gray mare~, a wife who “wears the breeches.” From an old story in which
the point is to show that the “GRAY MARE,” the wife’s choice, “is the
better horse,” and by parity of reasoning that the wife is superior to
the husband.
~Grays~, or SCOTCH GRAYS, lice. These pretty little things are called by
many names, among others by those of GRAY-BACKS, and GOLD-BACKED UNS,
which are popular among those who have most interest in the matter.
~Grease spot~, a minute remnant, humorously the only distinguishable
remains of an antagonist after a terrific contest.
~Greasing~, bribing. Sometimes called “GREASING the palm” of a man’s
hand.
~Grecian bend~, modern milliner slang for an exaggerated bustle, the
effect of which is generally assisted by unnaturally high-heeled boots.
~Greek~, a wide-awake fellow, a sharper.
~Greek kalends~, an expression signifying an indefinite period; never.
Term used in making promises never intended to be carried out. The
Greeks had no KALENDS.
~Greeks~, the low Irish. St. Giles’s GREEK, slang or cant language.
Cotgrave gives merrie GREEK as a definition for a roystering fellow, a
drunkard. The GREEKS have always been regarded as a jolly, luxurious
race; so much so, that the Latins employed the verb _Græcari_ (lit. to
play the GREEK) to designate fine living and free potations, a sense in
which Horace frequently uses it; while Shakspeare often mentions the
merry GREEKS; and “as merry as a grig” (or GREEK) was long a favourite
allusion in old English authors. It is said by some that grig is in this
sense intended to represent the small eel of that name which from its
lively movements is supposed to be always merry; while others incline to
the belief that the cricket, which is also in some parts of the
provinces known as a grig, is meant. Readers may take their choice.
~Green~, ignorant, not wide-awake, inexperienced.—_Shakspeare._ “Do you
see any GREEN in my eye?” ironical question in a dispute.
~Greenbacks~, the paper money issued in the United States during the
war. The term was at first applied only to the notes for small amounts,
which were backed with green, but eventually the one word represented
all descriptions of what is now known in America as “currency.”
~Green-horn~, a fresh, simple, or uninitiated person.
~Greenlander~, an inexperienced person, a spoon. Sometimes an Irishman.
~Greenwich goose~, a pensioner of the Naval Hospital.
~Griddler~, a person who sings in the streets without a printed copy of
the words.—_Seven Dials._
~Gridiron~, a County Court summons. Originally a summons to the Court of
Westminster only; from the GRIDIRON arms. The Grafton Club is nearly
always known as the GRID or GRIDIRON, that instrument being brought into
requisition whenever possible in the cuisine.
~Gridiron and dough boys~, the flag of the United States, in allusion to
the stars and stripes.—_Sea._
~Grief~, “to come to GRIEF,” to meet with an accident, to be ruined.
~Griffin~, in India, a newly-arrived cadet; general for an inexperienced
youngster.
~Grind~, “to take a GRIND,” _i.e._, a walk, or constitutional. The daily
grind is a term representing employment containing much routine. At
Oxford college sports are called sometimes the GRIND.
~Grind~, to work up for an examination, to cram by oneself, or with a
private tutor.
~Grinder~, private tutor, a coach.—_University._
~Grinder~, a tooth.
~Grindoff~, a miller. From _The Miller and his Men_.
~Gripes~, the stomach-ache. _See_ TRIPES.
~Grist to the mill~, money to the pocket, food to the family; anything
which is supposed to add to a man’s immediate prospects, to his income,
or to his benefit in any way, is said to “bring GRIST TO THE MILL.”
~Grizzle~, to fret or cry continuously.
~Grog blossoms~, pimples on the face, caused by hard drinking. Of such a
person it is often said, “He bears his blushing honours thick upon him.”
~Grog-fight~, a drinking party.—_Military._
~Groggy~, tipsy; when a prize-fighter becomes “weak on his pins,” and
nearly beaten, he is said to be GROGGY. The same term is applied to
horses that are overworked and unsteady. From similarity of appearance
to the peculiarity of gait consequent on imbibing too much GROG.
~Grove of the Evangelist~, a facetious name for St. John’s Wood.
~Growler~, a four-wheeled cab. It is generally supposed that drivers of
these vehicles take a less favourable view of life than do their Hansom
brethren.
~Grub and bub~, victuals and drink of any kind,—GRUB signifying food,
and BUB, drink.
~Grubbing ken~, or SPINIKIN, a workhouse; a cook-shop.
~Grubby~, musty, or old-fashioned.—_Devonshire._
~Gruel~, “to give a person his GRUEL,” to kill him. An expression in all
probability derived from the report of a trial for poisoning, or from
the easiest manner of administering a dose of poison. In the old days a
similar phrase was “to drug a posset.” Compare “to settle his hash,” and
“cook his goose.”
~Guardevine~, a cellaret.—_Scotch._
~Guinea pigs~, habitual directors of public companies; special jurymen;
and engineer officers doing civil duty at the War Office, and paid a
GUINEA per diem.
~Guinea to a goose~, a sporting phrase, meaning long odds in favour of,
or against, anything under notice. In the City this state of things is
represented by the phrase, Lombard Street to a China orange. There are
also other colloquialisms on this subject, but their power is, as a
rule, mainly dependent upon their indecency.
~Gulfed~, originally a Cambridge term, denoting that a man is unable
to enter for the classical examination from having failed in the
mathematical. These men’s names appeared in the list of “Degrees
Allowed.” The name GULF for this list is said to have arisen from the
boast of a former “wooden spoon.” “I would have you to know there is a
great GULF between _me_ and the captain of the poll.” Candidates for
classical honours were compelled to go in for both examinations. From
the alteration of the arrangements, the term as thus applied is now
obsolete. The expression is common now in Oxford as descriptive of a man
who goes in for honours, and only gets a pass. An Honorary Fourth is
when a candidate who only tries for a pass does so well that he is
raised to the honours’ list.
~Gull~, to cheat, to deceive; also one easily cheated. From the easy
manner in which the bird of that name is deceived.
~Gullyfluff~, the waste—coagulated dust, crumbs, and hair—which
accumulates imperceptibly in the pockets of schoolboys.
~Gully rakers~, cattle thieves in Australia, the cattle being stolen out
of almost inaccessible valleys, there termed GULLIES.
~Gulpin~, a weak, credulous fellow, who will GULP down anything.
~Gummy~, thick, fat—generally applied to a woman’s ankles, or to a man
whose flabby person betokens him a drunkard.
~Gumption~, or RUMGUMPTION, comprehension, capacity. From GAUM, to
comprehend; “I canna gauge it, and I canna GAUM it,” as a Yorkshire
exciseman said of a hedgehog.
~Gun~, a magsman or street thief. Diminutive of gonnuf or gunnof. A
GUN’S practice is known as GUNOVING.
~Gunner’s daughter~, a term facetiously applied to the method of
punishing boys in the Royal Navy by tying them securely to the breech of
a cannon, so as to present the proper part convenient for the cat, and
flogging them. This is called “marrying” or “kissing” the GUNNER’S
DAUGHTER.
~Gup~, gossip.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Gurrawaun~, a coachman, a native Indian corruption of the English word
coachman. For another curious corruption of a similar kind, _see_
SIMPKIN.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Gusher~, one overflowing with sentiment, a rhapsodizer. Romance-reading
young ladies are generally described as GUSHING, and of late years the
word GUSH has done duty as representing the newspaper work necessary for
a continuance of the “largest circulation.”
~Gut scraper~, a fiddler.
~Gutter blood~, a low or vulgar man.—_Scotch._
~Gutter lane~, the throat. Probably from GUTTUR.
~Guttle~, _see_ GUZZLE.
~Guy~, a fright, a dowdy, an ill-dressed person. Derived from the effigy
of Guy Fawkes carried about by boys on Nov. 5. “Hollo, boys, another
GUY!”
~Guy~, to get away. Same as HEDGE in street phraseology, which _see_.
~Guzzle~, to eat or drink to excess; to eat loudly, hastily, and
clumsily.
~Gyp~, an undergraduate’s servant at Cambridge. Popularly derived by
Cantabs from the _Greek_, GYPS, (γύψ), a vulture, from the dishonest
rapacity peculiar to GYPS. At Oxford servants are called scouts.
~Hackle~, pluck; “to show HACKLE,” to be willing to fight. HACKLES are
the long feathers on the back of a cock’s neck, which he erects when
angry,—hence the metaphor.
~Hackslaver~, to stammer in one’s speech, like a dunce at his lesson.
~Haddock~, a purse.—_See_ BEANS.
~Hair of the dog~, a “modest quencher,” taken the morning following a
debauch. Originally a “HAIR OF THE DOG that bit you.” This is very old,
and seems to show that homœopathy is by no means new, so far as topers,
at all events, are concerned.
~Half-a-bean~, half-a-sovereign.
~Half-a-bull~, two shillings and sixpence.
~Half-a-couter~, half-a-sovereign.
~Half-a-hog~, sixpence; sometimes termed HALF-A-GRUNTER.