jacket.”—_L’Estrange._ Perhaps to give a beating with a lace or lash.
Perhaps, also, a figurative phrase for ornamenting the article in
question with stripes.
~Ladder~, “can’t see a hole in a LADDER,” said of any one who is
intoxicated. It was once said that a man was never properly drunk until
he could not lie down without holding, could not see a hole through a
LADDER, or went to the pump to light his pipe.
~Ladies’ mile~, that part of Hyde Park where the feminine beauty, rank,
and fashion most do congregate during the airing hours of the London
season.
~Lag~, a returned transport, or ticket-of-leave convict.
~Lag~, to void urine.—_Ancient Cant._ In modern slang to transport, as
regards bearing witness, and not in reference to the action of judge or
jury.
~Lagged~, imprisoned, apprehended, or transported for a crime. From the
Old Norse, LAGDA, “laid,”—laid by the leg.
~Lagger~, a sailor. Also, one who gives evidence; an informer.
~Lagging gage~, a chamber-pot.—_Ancient Cant._
~Lambasting~, a beating. Perhaps LUMB-BASTING, from the lumbar-regions.
~Lamb’s wool~, spiced ale, of which the butler at Brasenose every Shrove
Tuesday supplies as much as is required at Hall, with a copy of verses
on the subject, generally written by a Brasenose man. One of these poems
began:—
Antiquum et vetus est {Ale Æn Nas} dicere laudes.
{alienas }
_Oxford University._
LAMB’S WOOL is also a hot drink, well known to the community for
centuries. Supposed by some to be derived from Lammas, at which time it
was drunk, and by others to be derived from the similarity between the
foam of the drink and the white wool obtained from lambs.
~Lame duck~, a stockjobber who speculates beyond his capital, and cannot
pay his losses. Upon retiring from the Exchange he is said to “waddle
out of the Alley.”
~Lamming~, a beating.—_Old English_, LAM; used by Beaumont and
Fletcher. Not as Sir Walter Scott supposed, from one Dr. Lamb, but from
the _Old Norse_, LAM, the hand; also, _Gaelic_.
~Lammy~, a blanket.
~Land-lubber~, sea term for “a landsman.” _See_ LOAFER.
~Land-shark~, a sailor’s definition of a lawyer.
~Lane~, a familiar term for Drury Lane Theatre, just as Covent Garden
Theatre is constantly spoken of as “the Garden.”
~Lap~, liquor, drink. LAP is the term invariably used in the ballet
girls’ dressing-room for gin.
~Lap~, one circuit of a pedestrian enclosure. In running a race of any
distance one man is said to LAP another when he is one entire circuit in
front.
~Lap.~ LAP THE GUTTER, to get beastly and helplessly drunk. LAP means to
drink. LAP THE GATTER, to drink up the beer; a “rare LAPPER,” a hard
drinker.
~Lark~, a frolic, a joke; “let’s have a jolly good LARK,” let us have a
piece of fun.—_Anglo-Saxon_, LAC, sport; but more probably from the
nautical term SKYLARKING, _i.e._, mounting to the highest yards and
sliding down the ropes for amusement, which is allowed on certain
occasions.
~Lark~, to sport boisterously, to show a disposition for “going on the
spree.”
~Larrence~, an imaginary being, supposed by the Scottish peasantry to
have power over indolent persons. Hence laziness is often called
LARRENCE.
~Larrup~, to beat or thrash.
~Larruping~, a good beating or hiding.—_Irish._
~Lashins~, large quantities; as, “LASHINS of whisky.” An Irishism in
common use.
~Latchpan~, the lower lip—properly a dripping-pan; “to hang one’s
LATCHPAN,” to pout, be sulky.—_Norfolk._
~Lavender~, “to be laid up in LAVENDER;” to be in pawn; to be out of the
way for an especial purpose. From the practice among housewives of
placing LAVENDER in drawers in which linen and clothes are to be kept
for any period.
~Law~, “to give LAW to an animal” is a sporting term signifying to give
the hare or stag a chance of escaping, by not setting on the hounds till
the quarry has run some distance. Also, used for giving any one a chance
of succeeding in a difficult undertaking by allowing him so much grace
or preliminary notice.
~Lay~, a pursuit or practice, a dodge. Term in this sense much used by
thieves.
~Lay~, in wagering, to bet against a man or animal. Betters are divided
in racing slang into layers and takers; they are otherwise known as
bookmakers and backers.
~Lay~, some, a piece. “Tip me a LAY of pannum,” _i.e._, give me a slice
of bread.—_North._
~Lay~, to watch; “on the LAY,” on the look-out.—_Shakspeare._
~Lay down the knife and fork~, to die. Compare PEGGING-OUT, HOPPING THE
TWIG, and similar flippancies.
~Lead~, or FRIENDLY LEAD, a gathering at a low public-house, for the
purpose of assisting some one who is “in trouble” (in these cases
trouble always means imprisonment), who has just “come out of trouble,”
or who is in want of a “mouthpiece.” A LEAD is different from a raffle,
inasmuch as no article is put up or thrown for, but in the course of the
evening some friend of the troubled one LEADS OFF by putting a certain
sum in a plate, and the remainder of the party follow the LEAD with
whatever they can spare. Sometimes people pay as they enter the room,
but this does not alter the title or character of the meeting. In every
other respect a LEAD is similar to a raffle; songs, dances, drinking,
and a general desire to increase the bastardy averages being the most
conspicuous features of the entertainment. Irish LEADS and raffles are
characterized by less vice and more quarrelling than those of the lower
orders of English people.
~Leary~, flash, knowing, artful, sly.
~Leary bloke~, a clever or artful person.
~Leather~, to beat or thrash. Probably from allusion to the skin, which
is often called LEATHER. Some think the term is from the LEATHER belts
worn by soldiers, which are often used as weapons in street rows. Most
likely from there being “nothing like LEATHER” with which to administer
a thrashing.
~Leathern conveniency~, a carriage. A Quaker being reprimanded by the
Society of Friends for keeping a carriage, “contrary to the ancient
testimonies,” said, “it is not a carriage I keep, but merely a
LEATHERN-CONVENIENCY.” _See_ under SIMON PURE, in the Introduction.
~Leaving shop~, or DOLLY SHOP, an unlicensed house where goods are taken
into pawn at exorbitant rates of interest.
~Led captain~, a fashionable spunger, a “swell” who by artifice
ingratiates himself into the favours of the master of the house, and
lives at his table. Probably from the fact that a real captain leads,
but that a sham one is led—to the dinner-table.
~Leer~, empty.—_Oxfordshire._ Pure _German_, as is nearly so the next
word.
~Leer~, print, newspaper. _German_, LEHREN, to instruct; hence _Old
English_, LERE, “spelt in the LEER.” _See_ SPELL.—_Old Cant._
~Leg~, a part of a game. In some old games there are so many LEGS to the
chalk, and so many chalks to the game. Sometimes the LEGS are called
chalks, and the chalks LEGS—one word is as good as another, provided an
agreement is made beforehand.
~Leg~, or BLACKLEG, a disreputable sporting character and racecourse
_habitué_; that is, one who is disreputable among sporting men.
~Leg-and-leg~, the state of a game when each player has won a LEG. In
Ireland a LEG is termed a horse, LEG-AND-LEG being there termed
“horse-and-horse.”
~Leg bail~, the bail or security given by absence. To give LEG BAIL is
to run away.
~Leg it~, to run; “to give a LEG,” to assist, as when one mounts a
horse; “making a LEG,” a countryman’s bow,—projecting the LEG from
behind as a balance to the head bent forward.—_Shakspeare._
~Leg-of-mutton~, humorous street term for a sheep’s trotter, or foot.
~Leg of mutton fist~, a large, muscular or bony hand.
~Length~, forty-two lines of a dramatic composition.—_Theatrical._
~Length~, six months’ imprisonment. _See_ STRETCH.
~Let alone~, an expression which signifies “much less” as used in
comparative statement or argument. “I cannot afford five shillings, LET
ALONE five pounds.” Barham, in one of the Ingoldsby Legends, says:—
“I have not had, this livelong day, one drop to cheer my heart,
Nor brown to buy a bit of bread with—LET ALONE a tart.”
~Let drive~, to strike at, or attack with vigour.
~Let in~, to cheat or victimize. “He let me in heavily.”
~Let on~, to give an intimation of having some knowledge of a subject.
Ramsay employs the phrase in the _Gentle Shepherd_. Common in Scotland.
~Let the cat out~, or LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, a common phrase, which
implies that a secret is to be or has been let out.
~Letty~, a bed. _Italian_, LETTO.—_Lingua Franca._
~Levanter~, a card-sharper, or defaulting gambler. It was formerly the
custom to give out to the creditors, when a person was in pecuniary
difficulties, and it was convenient for him to keep away, that he was
gone to the East, or the LEVANT; hence, when one loses a bet, and
decamps without settling, he is said to LEVANT. The LEVANT was also a
notorious place for queer customers, who would do anything rather than
pay. Its reputation is not particularly odorous even now.
~Levy~, a shilling.—_Liverpool._ Among labourers a LEVY is a sum
obtained before it is due, something to keep a man going till
Saturday-night comes, or his task is finished.
~Liberty~, ground let in parts of Yorkshire for shooting purposes.
~Lick~, a blow; LICKING, a beating; “to put in big LICKS,” a curious and
common phrase, meaning that great exertions are being made.—_Dryden_;
_North_.
~Lick~, to excel, or overcome; “if you ain’t sharp, he’ll LICK you,”
_i.e._, be finished first. Signifies, also, to whip, chastise, or
conquer. _Ancient cant_, LYCKE. _Welsh_, LLACHIO, to strike.
~Lickspittle~, a coarse but singularly expressive term for a parasite,
who puts up with indignities for the sake of advantages.
~Lifer~, a convict who is sentenced to imprisonment for life.
~Lift~, to steal, pick pockets; “there’s a clock been LIFTED,” said when
a watch has been stolen. The word is as old as the Border forays, and is
used by Shakspeare. SHOPLIFTER is a recognised term. _Old Gothic_,
LLIFAN, to steal; _Lower Rhenish_, LÖFTEN.
~Lig~, a lie, a falsehood.—_Lancashire._ In old ballads the word “lie”
is often spelt “LIG.” In old Saxon, LIG is to lie, but to lie as in a
bed.
~Light~, credit, trust; “to get a LIGHT at a house” is to get credit.
When a man’s credit is stopped, his LIGHT is said to be put out. LIGHT
also means life. “I’ll put your LIGHT out” is a murderous threat.
~Light Bob~, a light infantry soldier.—_Military._
~Light Feeder~, a silver spoon.
~Lightning~, gin; “flash o’ LIGHTNING,” a glass of gin.
~Lights~, a worthless piece of meat; applied metaphorically to a fool, a
soft or stupid person.
~Lights~, the eyes. Also, the lungs; animals’ lungs are always so
called.
~Lil~, a book, generally a pocket-book.—_Gipsy._
~Lily Benjamin~, a great white coat. _See_ BENJAMIN.
~Limb~, a troublesome or precocious child.
~Limb of the law~, a lawyer, or clerk articled to that profession.
~Limbo~, a prison, from LIMBUS or LIMBUS PATRUM, a mediæval theological
term for purgatory. The Catholic Church teaches that LIMBO was that part
of hell where holy people who died before the Redemption were kept.
~Line~, a hoax, a fool-trap; as, “to get him in a LINE,” _i.e._, to get
some sport out of him.
~Line~, calling, trade, profession; “what LINE are you in?” “the
building LINE.”
~Liner~, a casual reporter, paid by the line. Diminutive of
“penny-a-liner.”
~Lingo~, talk, or language. Slang is termed LINGO amongst the lower
orders. _Italian_, LINGUA.—_Lingua Franca._
~Lint-scraper~, a young surgeon. Thackeray, in _Lovel the Widower_,
uses the phrase, and gives, also, the words “Æsculapius,”
“Pestle-grinder,” and “Vaccinator,” for the same character.
~Lionesses~, ladies visiting an Oxford man, especially at
“Commemoration,” which is the chief time for receiving feminine visitors
at the University.
~Lion-hunter~, one who hunts up, and has a devout veneration for, small
celebrities. Mrs. Leo Hunter, in _Pickwick_, is a splendid specimen of
this unpleasant creature.
~Lionize~, to make much of any visitor with small or moderate claims to
distinction; to conduct a stranger round the principal objects of
attraction in a place; to act as cicerone.
~Lions~, notabilities, either persons or sights worthy of inspection; an
expression dating from the times when the royal lions at the Tower,
before the existence of Zoological Gardens and travelling menageries,
were a London wonder, to visit which country cousins and strangers of
eminence were constantly taken. Visitors taken round at Cambridge to see
the sights are, or were, called LIONS. The origin of the Tower
collection was the three leopards sent by the Emperor Frederic to Henry
III., as a living illustration of the royal arms of England. In the roll
of John de Cravebeadell, constable of the Tower (_B. M. Top.
Collections_, iii. p. 153), is a charge of 3_d._ per day “in support of
the leopard of our lord the king.” Edward III., when Prince of Wales,
appears to have taken great interest in the animals; and after he became
king, there was not only the old leopard, but “one lion, one lioness,
and two cat-lions,” says Stowe, “in the said Tower, committed to the
custody of Robert, son of John Bowre.” The menagerie was only abolished
in 1834; and the practice was to allow any person to enter gratis who
brought with him a little dog to be thrown to the lions!—_Dr. Doran’s
Princes of Wales._
~Lip~, talk, bounce, impudence; “come, none o’ yer LIP!”
~Lip~, to sing; “LIP us a chant,” sing a song.
~Liquor~, or LIQUOR UP, to drink drams.—_Americanism._ In LIQUOR,
tipsy, or drunk.
~Little go~, the old term for the examination now called SMALLS.
~Little snakes-man~, a little thief, who is generally passed through a
small aperture to open a door and let in the rest of the gang.
~Liverpool Irishman~, any man born in Liverpool of Irish parents. See
IRISH COCKNEY.
~Liverpudlian~, a native of Liverpool.
~Live-stock~, vermin of the insect kind, especially of that more than
usually unpleasant kind found on tramps, &c.
~Loafer~, a lazy vagabond. Generally considered an Americanism. LOPER,
or LOAFER, however, was in general use as a cant term in the early part
of the last century. LANDLOPER was a vagabond who begged in the attire
of a sailor; and the sea-phrase, LAND-LUBBER, was doubtless synonymous.
~Loaver~, money. _See_ LOUR.—_Lingua Franca._
~Lob~, a till, or money-drawer.
~Lob-sneaking~, stealing money from tills; occasionally stealing tills
and all.
~Lobb~, the head.—_Pugilistic._
~Loblolly~, gruel.—_Old_: used by Markham as a sea-term for grit gruel,
or hasty pudding.
~Loblolly boy~, a derisive term for a surgeon’s mate in the navy.
“LOB-LOLLY-BOY is a person who on board of a man-of-war attends the
surgeon and his mates, and one who knows just as much of the
business of a seaman as the author of this poem.”—_The Patent, a
Poem_, 4to, 1776.
~Lobs!~ schoolboys’ signal on the master’s approach. Also, an assistant
watcher, an under gamekeeper.
~Lobs~, words, talk.—_Gipsy._
~Lobscouse~, a dish made of potatoes, meat, and biscuits, boiled
together.
~Lobster~, a soldier. A policeman, from the colour of his coat, is
styled an unboiled, or raw LOBSTER.
~Lobster-box~, a barrack, or military station.
~Loggerheads~, “to come to LOGGERHEADS,” to come to blows.
~Logie~, theatrical jewellery, made mostly of tin.
~Loll~, to lie about lazily. “He would LOLL upon the handle of the
door,” said of an incorrigibly lazy fellow.
~Lolly~, the head. _See_ LOBB.—_Pugilistic._
~London ordinary~, the beach at Brighton, where the
“eight-hours-at-the-sea-side” excursionists dine in the open-air.
~Long-bow.~ _See_ DRAW THE LONG BOW.
~Long firm~, a gang of swindlers who obtain goods by false pretences.
They generally advertise or answer advertisements. The word LONG is
supposed to be from a playful allusion made by one of the firm to the
length of their credit.
~Long-ghost~, a tall, thin, awkward person. Sometimes called
“lamp-post.”
~Long-headed~, far-seeing, clever, calculating.
~Long-hundred~, a Billingsgate expression for 120 fresh herrings, or
other small fish, the long-hundred being six score.
~Long-odds~, the odds which denote that the man or animal laid against
has, or is supposed to have, little or no chance.
~Long-shore butcher~, a coast-guardsman.—_Sea._ All people who get
their livings by the side of the Thames below bridge are called
LONG-SHORE folk.
~Long-tailed beggar~, a cat. The tale that hangs thereby runs thus:—A
boy, during his first very short voyage to sea, had become so entirely a
seaman, that on his return he had forgotten the name of the cat, and was
obliged, pointing to puss, to ask his mother “what she called that ’ere
LONG-TAILED BEGGAR?” Accordingly, sailors, when they hear a freshwater
tar discoursing too largely on nautical matters, are very apt to say,
“But how, mate, about that ’ere LONG-TAILED BEGGAR?”
~Long-tailed-one~, a bank-note or “flimsy” for a large amount.
~Long-tails~, among shooters, are pheasants; among coursers and
dog-fanciers they are greyhounds.
~Longs~, the latrine at Brasenose, so called because built by LADY
LONG.—_Oxford University._
~Longs-and-shorts~, cards made for cheating.
~Looking-glass~, a facetious synonym for a _pot de chambre_. This is
very old. The term arose from the fact that in ancient times this
utensil was the object of very frequent examination by the medical
fraternity. There is an old story of a lady who called at an inn, and
called for a LOOKING-GLASS to arrange her hair, and who was presented
with a chamber utensil.
~Loony~, a silly fellow, a natural. Corruption of LOONEY TICK (lunatic).
Sometimes corrupted to LOOBY.
~Loose.~ _See_ ON THE LOOSE.
~Loose-box~, a brougham or other vehicle kept for the use of a _dame de
compagnie_. A more vulgar appellation is “mot-cart,” the contemptuous
sobriquet applied by the envious mob to a one-horse covered carriage.
~Loose-box~, a stable in which a horse is not tethered, but remains
loose.
~Loot~, swag or plunder; also used as a verb. The word came much into
vogue during the latest Chinese campaign.
~Lope~, this old form of leap is often heard in the streets. To LOPE is
also to steal. _German_, LAUFEN.
~Lop-sided~, uneven, one side larger than the other. _See Jacob
Faithful._
~Lord~, a humpbacked man. _See_ MY LORD.
~Lord~, “drunk as a LORD,” a common saying, probably referring to the
facilities a man of fortune has for such a gratification; perhaps a sly
sarcasm at the supposed habits of the aristocracy. This phrase had its
origin in the old hard drinking days, when it was almost compulsory on a
man of fashion to get drunk regularly after dinner.
~Lord-mayor’s-fool~, an imaginary personage who likes everything that is
good, and plenty of it.
~Lothario~, a “gay” deceiver; generally a heartless, brainless villain.
~Loud~, flashy, showy, as applied to dress or manner. _See_ BAGS.
~Lour~, or LOWR, money; “gammy LOWR,” bad money. From the Wallachian
Gipsy word, LOWE, coined money. Possibly connected with the French,
LOUER, to hire.—_Ancient Cant_ and _Gipsy_.
~Louse-trap~, a small-tooth comb.—_Old Cant._ _See_ CATCH-’EM-ALIVE.
~Love~, at billiards, rackets, and many other games, nothing: five
points to none would be “five LOVE,”—a LOVE game being when one player
does not score at all. The term is also used at whist, “six LOVE,” “four
LOVE,” when one side has marked up six, four, or any other number, and
the other none. A writer in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for July, 1780,
derives it either from LUFF, an old Scotch word for the hand, or from
the _Dutch_, LOEF, the LOOF, weather-gauge (_Sewell’s Dutch Dictionary_,
4to, 1754); but it more probably, from the sense of the following,
denotes something done without reciprocity.
~Love~, “to do a thing for LOVE,” _i.e._, for nothing. A man is said to
marry for LOVE when he gets nothing with his wife; and an Irishman, with
the bitterest animosity against his antagonist, will fight him for LOVE,
_i.e._, for the mere satisfaction of beating him, and not for a stake.
~Loveage~, tap droppings, a mixture of stale spirits, sweetened and sold
to habitual dram-drinkers, principally females. Called also “alls.”
~Low-water~, but little money in pocket, when the finances are at a low
ebb.
~Lubber~, a clown, or fool.—_Ancient Cant_, LUBBARE. Among seamen an
awkward fellow, a landsman.
~Lubber’s hole~, an aperture in the maintop of a ship, by which a timid
climber may avoid the difficulties of the “futtock shrouds;” hence as a
sea-term the LUBBER’S HOLE represents any cowardly way of evading duty.
~Luck~, “down on one’s LUCK,” wanting money, or in difficulty.
~Lucky~, “to cut one’s LUCKY,” to go away quickly. _See_ STRIKE.
~Ludlam’s dog.~ An indolent, inactive person is often said to be “as
lazy as LUDLAM’S DOG, which leaned its head against the wall to bark.”
Sailors say “as lazy as Joe the Marine, who laid down his musket to
sneeze.”
~Lug~, “my togs are in LUG,” _i.e._, in pawn.
~Lug~, to pull, or slake thirst.—_Old._
~Lug chovey~, a pawnbroker’s shop.
~Luke~, nothing.—_North Country Cant._
~Lully~, a shirt.
~Lully prigger~, a rogue who steals wet clothes hung on lines to dry.
~Lumber~, to pawn or pledge. Probably from LOMBARD.
~Lumbered~, pawned; sometimes imprisoned.
~Lummy~, jolly, first-rate.
~Lump~, anything exceptionally large, “as a LUMP of a man,” “a great
LUMP of a fellow,” &c.
~Lump~, the workhouse; also called the Pan.
~Lump it~, to dislike it; “if you don’t like it, you may LUMP IT;”
sometimes varied to, “if you don’t like it, you may do the other thing.”
Probably from the fact that, in bulk or in lump, the good has to be
taken with the bad. What you don’t like must be reckoned with the LUMP.
To LUMP IT is also to take off at a draught, as medicine or a dram. “He
LUMPED IT down at once.”
~Lump the lighter~, to be transported.
~Lump work~, work contracted for, or taken by the LUMP.
~Lumper~, a contractor. On the river more especially a person who
contracts to deliver a ship laden with timber.
~Lumper~, a low thief who haunts wharves and docks, and robs vessels,
also a person who sells old goods as new.
~Lumpy~, intoxicated. Also used to signify _enceinte_.
~Lunan~, a girl.—_Gipsy._
~Lurch~, a term at the game of cribbage. A is said to LURCH B when the
former attains the end, or sixty-first hole, of the board before the
latter has pegged his thirty-first hole; or, in more familiar words,
before B has turned the corner. A LURCH sometimes, and then only by
agreement, counts as a double game or rub.
~Lurk~, a sham, swindle, or representation of feigned distress. An
imposition of any kind is a LURK.
~Lurker~, an impostor who travels the country with false certificates of
fires, shipwrecks, &c. Also, termed a SILVER BEGGAR, which _see_.
~Lush~, intoxicating drinks of all kinds, but generally used for beer.
It is generally allowed, as has been stated, that LUSH and its
derivatives claim Lushington, the brewer, as sponsor.
~Lush~, to drink, or get drunk.
~Lush-crib~, a public-house.
~Lushington~, a drunkard, or one who continually soaks himself with
lush. Some years since there was a LUSHINGTON CLUB in Bow Street, Covent
Garden.
~Lushy~, intoxicated. Johnson says, “opposite to pale,” so red with
drink. He must, however, have been wrong, as the foregoing derivation
shows.
~Lylo~, come hither.—_Anglo-Chinese._
~Lynch-law~, summary punishment. From an American judge famous for
hanging first and trying afterwards.
~Mab~, a cab, or hackney-coach.
~Mace~, to sponge, swindle, or beg, in a polite way: “give it him (a
shopkeeper) on the MACE,” _i.e._, obtain goods on credit and never pay
for them; also termed “striking the MACE.”
~Mace~, to welsh, to obtain money without any expectation of being able
to pay or intention of paying.
~Maceman~, or MACER, a welcher, magsman, or general swindler; a
“street-mugger.”
~Madza~, half. _Italian_, MEZZA. This word enters into combination with
various cant phrases, mainly taken from the _Lingua Franca_, as MADZA
CAROON, half-a-crown, two-and-sixpence; MADZA SALTEE, a halfpenny [_see_
SALTEE]; MADZA POONA, half-a-sovereign; MADZA ROUND THE BULL, half a
pound of steak, &c. This word is, in street phraseology, invariably
pronounced MEDZER.