which footpads used to steal from open windows, &c., and from which
HOOK, to take or steal, has been derived. Mentioned in _Hudibras_ as a
cant term.
~Hook it~, “get out of the way,” or “be off about your business;”
generally varied by “take your HOOK.” “To HOOK it,” to run away, to
decamp; “on one’s own HOOK,” dependent upon one’s own exertions.
Originally connected with the preceding, but now perfectly “on its own
HOOK.”
~Hookey walker!~ ejaculation of incredulity, usually shortened to
WALKER!—which _see_.
~Hooks~, “dropped off the HOOKS,” said of a deceased person—possibly
derived from the ancient practice of suspending on hooks the quarters of
a traitor or felon sentenced by the old law to be hung, drawn, and
quartered, which dropped off the hooks as they decayed.
~Hook um snivey~ (formerly “HOOK and SNIVEY”), a low expression, meaning
to cheat by feigning sickness or other means. Also a piece of thick iron
wire crooked at one end, and fastened into a wooden handle, for the
purpose of undoing from the outside the wooden bolt of a door. Sometimes
used as an irrelevant answer by street boys. As, “who did that?”—“HOOK
UM SNIVEY”—actually no one.
~Hop~, a dance.—_Fashionable slang._
~Hop merchant~, a dancing master.
~Hop o’ my thumb~, an undersized person. From the story of that name.
Portion of a set of phrases established for the benefit of the small, in
which Tomtit, Little Breeches, Daniel Lambert, Sixfoot, Twentystun, &c.,
play a prominent part.
~Hopping Giles~, a cripple. St. Ægidius or Giles, himself similarly
afflicted, was the patron saint of lazars and cripples. The ancient
lazar houses were dedicated to him.
~Hoppo~, custom-house officer, or custom-house. Almost anything
connected with custom-house business.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Hop the twig~, to run away; also, a flippant expression meaning to die.
Many similar phrases are used by the thoughtless and jocose, as “laying
down one’s knife and fork,” “pegging out,” from the game of cribbage,
and “snuffing it.” A new form of this phraseology is to say that a man
has “given up” or “given in.”
~Hornswoggle~, nonsense, humbug. Believed to be of American origin.
~Horrors~, the low spirits, or “blue devils,” which follow intoxication.
Incipient _del. trem._
~Horse~, contraction of Horsemonger-Lane Gaol, also a slang term for a
five-pound note.
~Horse~, to flog. From the old wooden horse or flogging-stool.
~Horsebreaker.~ _See_ PRETTY HORSEBREAKER.
~Horse chaunter~, a dealer who takes worthless horses to country fairs
and disposes of them by artifice. He is generally an unprincipled
fellow, and will put in a glass eye, fill a beast with shot, plug him
with ginger, or in fact do anything so that he sells to advantage. _See_
COPER.
~Horse marine~, an awkward person. In ancient times the “jollies,” or
Royal Marines, were the butts of the sailors, from their ignorance of
seamanship. “Tell that to the MARINES, the blue jackets wont believe
it!” was a common rejoinder to a “stiff yarn.” A HORSE MARINE (an
impossibility) was used to denote one more awkward even than an ordinary
“jolly.” Nowadays the MARINES are deservedly appreciated as one of the
finest regiments in the service.
~Horse nails.~ At the game of cribbage, when a player finds it his
policy to keep his antagonist back, rather than push himself forward,
and plays accordingly, he is sometimes said “to feed his opponent on
HORSE NAILS.”
~Horse nails~, money.—_Compare_ BRADS.
~Horse’s nightcap~, a halter; “to die in a HORSE’S NIGHTCAP,” to be
hanged.
~Horsey~, like a groom or jockey. Applied also to persons who affect the
turf in dress or conversation.
~Hot coppers~, the feverish sensations experienced in the morning by
those who have been drunk over-night.
~Hot tiger~, an Oxford mixture of hot-spiced ale and sherry.
~House of Commons~, a humorous term for the closet of decency.
~Houses;~ “safe as HOUSES,” an expression to satisfy a doubting person;
“Oh! it’s as safe as HOUSES,” _i.e._, perfectly safe, apparently in
allusion to the paying character of house property as an investment. It
is said the phrase originated when the railway bubbles began to burst,
and when people began to turn their attention to the more ancient forms
of speculation, which though slow were sure.
~Housewarming~, the first friendly gathering in a new or
freshly-occupied house.
~How-came-you-so?~ intoxicated.
~How much?~ A facetious way of asking for an explanation of any
difficult or pedantic expression. “Why don’t you cook your potatoes in
an anhydrohepsaterion?” A waggish listener might be excused for asking,
“An anhydro—HOW MUCH!”
~How’s your poor feet?~ an idiotic street cry with no meaning, much in
vogue a few years back.
~Hoxter~, an inside pocket.—_Old English_, OXTER. Probably the low
slang word HUXTER, money, is derived from this. OXTER is, among the
Irish, an armpit.
~Hubble bubble~, the Indian pipe termed a hookah is thus designated,
from the noise it makes when being smoked.
~Huey~, a town or village.—_Tramps’ term._
~Huff~, a dodge or trick; “don’t try that HUFF on me,” or “that HUFF
wont do.” Also a term in the game of draughts,—the penalty for failing
to take an opponent’s piece when an opportunity occurs.
~Huff~, to vex, to offend; a poor temper. HUFFY, easily offended.
HUFFED, annoyed, offended. Some folk are tersely and truly described as
easily HUFFED.
~Hugger-mugger~, underhand, sneaking. Also, “in a state of
HUGGER-MUGGER” means to be muddled.
~Hulk~, to hang about in hopes of an invitation. _See_ MOOCH.
~Hulky~, extra-sized.—_Shropshire._ From this and from hulk we probably
get our adjective HULKING, as applied to the great lazy ruffians who
infest low neighbourhoods.
~Hum and haw~, to hesitate, or raise objections.—_Old English._
~Humble pie~, to “eat HUMBLE PIE,” to knock under, to be submissive. The
UMBLES, or entrails, and other unprime parts of a deer, were anciently
made into a dish for servants, while their masters feasted off the
haunch.
~Hum-box~, a pulpit. This is a very old term.
~Humbug~, an imposition, or a person who imposes upon others. A very
expressive but slang word, synonymous at one time with HUM AND HAW.
Lexicographers for a long time objected to the adoption of this term.
Richardson uses it frequently to express the meaning of other words,
but, strange to say, omits it in the alphabetical arrangement as
unworthy of recognition! In the first edition of this work, 1785 was
given as the earliest date at which the word could be found in a printed
book. Since then HUMBUG has been traced half a century further back, on
the title-page of a singular old jest-book—“_The Universal Jester_; or
a pocket companion for the Wits: being a choice collection of merry
conceits, facetious drolleries, &c., clenchers, closers, closures,
bon-mots, and HUMBUGS,” by Ferdinando Killigrew. London, about 1735-40.
The notorious Orator Henley was known to the mob as ORATOR HUMBUG. The
fact may be learned from an illustration in that exceedingly curious
little collection of _Caricatures_, published in 1757, many of which
were sketched by Lord Bolingbroke—Horace Walpole filling in the names
and explanations. Halliwell describes HUMBUG as “a person who hums,” and
cites Dean Milles’s MS., which was written about 1760. In the last
century, the game now known as double-dummy was termed HUMBUG. Lookup, a
notorious gambler, was struck down by apoplexy when playing at this
game. On the circumstance being reported to Foote, the wit said—“Ah, I
always thought he would be HUMBUGGED out of the world at last!” It has
been stated that the word is a corruption of Hamburgh, from which town
so many false bulletins and reports came during the war in the last
century. “Oh, that is _Hamburgh_ [or HUMBUG],” was the answer to any
fresh piece of news which smacked of improbability. Grose mentions it in
his Dictionary, 1785; and in a little printed squib, published in 1808,
entitled _Bath Characters_, by T. Goosequill, HUMBUG is thus mentioned
in a comical couplet on the title-page:—
“Wee Thre Bath Deities bee,
HUMBUG, Follie, and Varietee.”
Gradually from this time the word began to assume a place in periodical
literature, and in novels written by not over-precise authors. In the
preface to a flat, and most likely unprofitable poem, entitled, _The
Reign of HUMBUG, a Satire_, 8vo, 1836, the author thus apologizes for
the use of the word:—“I have used the term HUMBUG to designate this
principle [wretched sophistry of life generally], considering that, it
is now adopted into our language as much as the words dunce, jockey,
cheat, swindler, &c., which were formerly only colloquial terms.” A
correspondent, who in a number of _Adversaria_ ingeniously traced
bombast to the inflated Doctor Paracelsus Bombast, considers that HUMBUG
may, in like manner, be derived from Homberg, the distinguished chemist
of the court of the Duke of Orleans, who, according to the following
passage from Bishop Berkeley’s _Siris_, was an ardent and successful
seeker after the philosopher’s stone!
“§194.—Of this there cannot be a better proof than the experiment
of Monsieur Homberg, who made gold of mercury by introducing light
into its pores, but at such trouble and expense that, I suppose,
nobody will try the experiment for profit. By this injunction of
light and mercury, both bodies became fixed, and produced a
third different to either, to wit, real gold. For the truth
of which fact I refer to the memoirs of the French Academy of
Sciences.”—_Berkeley’s Works_, vol ii. p. 366 (Wright’s edition).
Another derivation suggested is that of AMBAGE, a Latin word adopted
into the English language _temp._ Charles I. (_see_ May’s translation
of Lucan’s _Pharsalia_), and meaning conduct the reverse of
straightforward. Again, in the (burlesque) _Loves of Hero and Leander_
(date 1642), we find “MUM-BUG, quoth he, ’twas known of yore,” a cant
expression, no doubt, commanding a person to “shut up,” or hold his
tongue, and evidently derived from the game of _mum-budget_ or
_silence_, upon which Halliwell (_Dict. Arch_.) has descanted.
AMBAGE is also used in the sense of “circumlocution.” “Without any
long studie or tedious AMBAGE.”—_Puttenham_, _Art of Poesie_.
“Umh! y’ are full of AMBAGE.”—_Decker’s Whore of Babylon_, 1607.
“Thus from her cell Cumæan Sibyl sings
Ambiguous AMBAGES, the cloyster rings
With the shrill sound thereof, in most dark strains.”
_Vicar’s Virgil_, 1632.
De Quincey thus discourses upon the word:—
“The word HUMBUG, for instance, rests upon a rich and comprehensive
basis; it cannot be rendered adequately either by German or by
Greek, the two richest of human languages; and without this
expressive word we should all be disarmed for one great case,
continually recurrent, of social enormity. A vast mass of villany,
that cannot otherwise be reached by legal penalties, or brought
within the rhetoric of scorn, would go at large with absolute
impunity were it not through the stern Rhadamanthean aid of this
virtuous and inexorable word.”—_Article on “Language.”_
The original collater of these notes purchased the collection of essays
known as the _Connoisseur_ at the sale of Thackeray’s library. At the
end of vol. i. he found a memorandum in the great humourist’s
handwriting—“p. 108, ‘HUMBUG,’ a new-coined expression.” On referring
to that page (in the 3rd edition, 1757) this paragraph was noted:—
“The same conduct of keeping close to their ranks was observed at
table, where the ladies seated themselves together. Their
conversation was here also confined wholly to themselves, and seemed
like the mysteries of the _Bona Dea_, in which men were forbidden to
have any share. It was a continued laugh and whisper from the
beginning to the end of dinner. A whole sentence was scarce ever
spoken aloud. Single words, indeed, now and then broke forth; such
as, odious, horrible, detestable, shocking, HUMBUG. This last
new-coined expression, which is only to be found in the nonsensical
vocabulary, sounds absurd and disagreeable whenever it is
pronounced; but from the mouth of a lady it is ‘shocking,’
‘detestable,’ ‘horrible,’ and ‘odious.’”
The use of this term is almost universal; in California there is a town
called Humbug Flat—a name which gives a significant hint of the
acuteness of the first settler.
~Humdrum~, monotonous, tedious, tiresome, boring; “a society of
gentlemen who used to meet near the Charter House, and at the King’s
Head, St. John’s Street, Clerkenwell. They were characterized by less
mystery and more pleasantry than the Freemasons.”—_Bacchus and Venus_,
1737. In the West the term applies to a low cart.
~Humming~, strong as applied to drink. Extra strong ale is often
characterized as “HUMMING October.” Maybe from its effect on heads not
quite so strong.
~Hump~, low spirits. A costermonger who was annoyed or distressed about
anything would describe himself as having “the HUMP.”
~Hump~, to botch, or spoil.
~Hump up~, “to have one’s HUMP UP,” to be cross or ill-tempered—like a
cat with its back set up. _See_ BACK and MONKEY.
~Humpty-dumpty~, short and thick; all of a heap; all together, like an
egg.
“HUMPTY-DUMPTY sat on a wall.”
Also a hunchback. HUMPTY is an abbreviated form of the expression.
~Hunch~, to shove, or jostle.
~Hunks~, a miserly fellow, a curmudgeon.
~Hunky~, an American term which means good, jolly, &c. As, “a HUNKY
boy,” a good jovial fellow; and “everything went off HUNKY.”
~Hunter pitching~, the game of cockshies—three throws a penny.—_See_
COCKSHY.
~Hurdy-gurdy~, a droning musical instrument shaped like a large fiddle,
and turned by a crank, used by Savoyards and other itinerant foreign
musicians in England, now nearly superseded by the hand-organ. From the
peculiar noise made by the instrument, which in Italy is called “viola.”
~Hurkaru~, a messenger.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Husbands’ boat~, the Saturday afternoon packet to Margate during the
summer season. So called for obvious reasons. The passengers by this
boat come in for an unusual share of attention from the cads peculiar to
this watering-place.
~Husbands’ tea~, very weak tea. _See_ WATER BEWITCHED.
~Hush-money~, a sum given to quash a prosecution or stay evidence. Money
given to any one for the purpose of quieting him.
~Hush-shop~, or CRIB, a shop where beer and spirits are sold “on the
quiet”—no licence being paid.
~Huxter~, money. Term much in use among costermongers and low sharpers.
Probably from OXTER or HOXTER.
~Hyps~, or HYPO, the blue devils. From HYPOCHONDRIASIS.—_Swift._
~Hy-yaw!~ an interjectional exclamation of
astonishment.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Ikey~, a Jew “fence.” Corruption of Isaac, a common Hebrew name.
~Imperence~, servant-girl currency for impudence or impertinence. “Now,
then, Mr. IMPERENCE, leave off now, do,” seems, however, to have faded
away with Greenwich, Bartlemy, and kindred fairs.
~Improve the occasion~, a slang term much in use among Chadbands and
Stigginses, who never lose an opportunity of IMPROVING the condition of
either pockets or stomachs at the expense of the credulous.
~In~, “to be IN with a person,” to be even with, or up to him; also, to
be on intimate terms, or in partnership, with him.
~Inexpressibles~, UNUTTERABLES, UNMENTIONABLES, UNWHISPERABLES, or SIT
UPONS, trousers, the nether garments. All affected terms, having their
origin in a most unpleasant squeamishness.
~Infantry~, nursery term for children; LIGHT INFANTRY, fleas.
~In for it~, in trouble or difficulty of any kind. As, “You’re IN FOR
IT, I wouldn’t stand in your shoes for a trifle.”
~In for patter~, waiting for trial, referring to the speeches of
counsel, the statements of witnesses, the summing up of the judge,
&c.,—the fuss of which the prisoner sets down as “all so much PATTER.”
~Innings~, earnings, good fortune; “he’s had a long INNINGS,” _i.e._, a
good run of luck, with plenty of cash flowing in. From the distinction
between INNINGS and outings at cricket and kindred games.
~Inside lining~, dinner, &c.
~Interesting~, “to be in an INTERESTING situation,” applied to females
when _enceinte_.
~Interview~, to inspect privately with a view to obtaining information
which shall be afterwards published. Both the verb and its use have
their origin with our Transatlantic cousins, and “interviewing” by means
of special reporters, who question most minutely, is of frequent
occurrence,—of occurrence whenever opportunity offers. Should a man be
found guilty of murder, or start as a candidate for the Presidency, he
will be INTERVIEWED by “our special correspondent,” and there are
already signs of this objectionable form of newspaper work finding its
way here. Should a visitor of importance arrive in New York, the
conversation which passes, or is supposed to pass, between him and the
reporter will be found minutely described, with an elaborate
introduction. It is but fair to Americans, however, to say that the
gentleman to whom the credit, or discredit, of the invention of this
system belongs was a native of Great Britain, who invented many other
startling Americanisms during his residence in New York.
~Into~, “hold my hat, Jim, I’ll be INTO him,” _i.e._, I will fight him.
In this sense equivalent to pitch INTO, or slip INTO.
~Invite~, an invitation—a corruption used by stuck-up people of
mushroom origin. Often used, also, by people who know better, from their
desire for slang of any kind.
~Ipsal dixal~, Cockney corruption of _ipse dixit_—said of one’s simple
uncorroborated assertion.
~Irish American~, an Irishman who has been for some time resident in the
States; sometimes a man born in America of Irish parents. The Irish
American body is a power in the United States, and is the fount-spring
as well as the maintaining power of all Fenianism.
~Irish apricots~, potatoes.
~Irish Cockney~, a child born of Irish parents in any part of the
southern counties of England. It is a singular fact that Irishmen born
profess great abhorrence of IRISH COCKNEYS, while the latter despise all
Irish, and use the word as one of reproach. IRISH COCKNEYS were
originally only Cockneys born of an Irish strain, but the term has
proved very elastic, and threatens soon to mean any English-born person
whose descent is Hibernian. Liverpool will, however, always prove an
exception to the rule, as the name “Liverpool Irishmen” is given to
those who would in any southern part be called Cockneys.
~Irish theatre~, the temporary prison, guard-room, or lock-up in a
barracks. The fond fancy of the soldier supplies it with other
figurative appellations, as “the mill,” “the jigger,” “the house that
Jack built.” In Edinburgh Castle it is termed “the dryroom.”
~Irons in the fire~, a man is said to have too many IRONS IN THE FIRE
when he turns his attention to too many occupations or enterprises at
once.
~Isthmus of Suez~, the covered bridge at St. John’s College, Cambridge,
which connects the college with its grounds on the other side of the
river.—_See_ CRACKLE.
~Ivories~, teeth; “a box of IVORIES,” a set of teeth, the mouth; “wash
your IVORIES,” _i.e._, “drink.” The word is also used to denote dice.
~Jabber~, to talk, or chatter. A cant word in Swift’s time. Probably
from GIBBER.
~Jack~, the knave of trumps, at the game of all-fours.
~Jack-at-a-pinch~, one whose assistance is only sought on an emergency.
Jack-in-the-water, an attendant at the watermen’s stairs on the river
and sea-port towns, who does not mind wetting his feet for a customer’s
convenience, in consideration of a douceur.
~Jacked-up~, ruined, done for. To JACK-UP is to leave off doing anything
suddenly. _See_ CHUCK-UP.
~Jacket~, the skin of a potato which has not been pared before cooking.
In Ireland potatoes are generally served “with their JACKETS on.”
~Jacketing~, a thrashing. Similar term to leathering, cowhiding, &c.
~Jackey~, gin. _Seven Dials_ originally. Nearly general now.
~Jack-in-the-box~, a small but powerful kind of screw, used by burglars
to break open safes.
~Jack Ketch~, the public hangman.—_See_ KETCH.
~Jack Nasty-face~, a sailor.—_Sea._ NASTY-FACE is a term applied often
in London streets to an ugly or unpleasant-looking person.
~Jacks~, AND HALF-JACKS, card counters, resembling in size and
appearance sovereigns and half-sovereigns, for which they are
occasionally passed to simple persons. In large gambling establishments
the “heaps of gold” are frequently composed of JACKS. JACKS are not, as
they are sometimes supposed to be, counterfeit coins; they are simply
little medals, and so “magsmen” and “street muggers” carry them with
less concern than they would feel were their pockets loaded with
spurious money.
~Jack Sprat~, a diminutive boy or man.
~Jack Tar~, a sailor.
~Jacob~, a ladder. Grose says, from Jacob’s dream.—_Old Cant._
~Jacob’s ladder~, a longitudinal flaw in the leg of a ballet-girl’s
tights.
~Jagger~, a gentleman. _German_, JAGER, a sportsman.
~Jail-bird~, a prisoner, one who has been in jail.
~James~, a sovereign, or twenty shillings. From JACOBUS, the James II.
guinea.
~Jannock~, sociable, fair dealing.—_Norfolk._ Generally now JONNICK,
which _see_.
~Japan~, to ordain. Having evident reference to the black clothes which
follow ordination.—_University._
~Jark~, a “safe-conduct” pass.—_Oxford._ Old cant for a seal.
~Jarvey~, the driver of a hackney-coach; “JARVEY’S upper Benjamin,” a
coachman’s overcoat, with many capes. An ingenious etymology has been
found for JARVEY, thus:—JARVEY, vernacular for Geoffrey, which was
often written Geo. (gee-ho), hence JARVEY. This is open to considerable
objection, as George is shortened in similar manner to that shown above.
Still it is worthy of record, independently of its ingenuity, being as
exact as many accepted derivations.
~Jaw~, speech, or talk; “hold your JAW,” don’t speak any more; “what are
you JAWING about?” _i.e._, what are you making a noise about?
~Jaw~, to talk without cessation, to scold vehemently.
~Jawbone~, credit.
“We have a few persons whose pockets are to let—men who have more
complaints than dollars—individuals who, in digger’s parlance, live
on JAWBONE (credit), and are always to be found at saloons; a class
of men who, when they are here, wish themselves yonder, and when
yonder, wish themselves back.”—_Times Correspondent, San Francisco,
Oct. 21, 1862._
~Jaw-breaker~, a hard or excessively long word. Also, in pugilistic
sense, a hard blow on the side of the face.
~Jaw-twister~, a hard or many-syllabled word. Elaboration of preceding.
~Jazey~, a wig. A corruption of JERSEY, the name for flax prepared in a
peculiar manner, of which common wigs were formerly made; “the cove with
the JAZEY,” _i.e._, the judge.
~Jeames~ (a generic for “flunkeys”), the _Morning Post_ newspaper—the
organ of Belgravia and the “Haristocracy.”
~Jehu~, old slang term for a coachman, or one fond of
driving.—_Biblical._
~Jeminy O!~ a vulgar expression of surprise.
~Jemmy~, a sheep’s-head.—_See_ SANGUINARY JAMES.
~Jemmy~, a short crowbar, which generally takes to pieces, for the
convenience of housebreakers.
~Jemmy ducks~, the man whose business it is to look after the poultry on
board a ship.—_Sea._
~Jemmy Jessamy~, a dandy.
~Jemmy-John~, a jar for holding liquor; probably a corruption of
demi-gallon, by means of DEMI-JOHN.
~Jeremiad~, a lament; derived, of course, from the Book of Lamentations,
written by the Prophet Jeremiah.
~Jeremy Diddler~, an adept at raising the wind, _i.e._, at borrowing,
especially at borrowing with no intention of repaying. _See_ the farce
of _Raising the Wind_.
~Jericho~, an improper quarter of Oxford. A lady visitor once writing
her name down in the visitors’ book at the Bodleian or elsewhere, for a
joke put down her residence as “Jericho,” to the no small disgust of her
undergraduate friend.—_University._
~Jerry~, a chamber utensil; abbreviation of JEROBOAM.—_Swift._