_Standard_ newspapers, while united under the proprietorship of Mr.
Baldwin. MRS. GAMP, a monthly nurse, was a character in Charles
Dickens’s popular novel of _Martin Chuzzlewit_, who continually quoted
an imaginary MRS. HARRIS in attestation of the superiority of her
qualifications, and the infallibility of her opinions; and thus afforded
a parallel to the two newspapers, which appealed to each other as
independent authorities, being all the while the production of the same
editorial staff. _See_ introductory article.
~Mrs. Jones~, the house of office, a water-closet.
~M.T.~, railway slang used by porters and pointsmen for empties, or
empty carriages. _See_ MOLL THOMSON’S MARK.
~Much of a muchness~, alike, very much the same thing.
~Muck~, to beat, or excel. “It’s no use, his luck’s dead in; he’d MUCK a
thousand;” “he MUCKED me clean out,” &c. To RUN A MUCK, or GO A MUCKER,
to rush headlong into certain ruin. From a certain religious frenzy, or
intoxication caused by bhang, which is common among the Malays, and
which now and again causes an enthusiast, kreese in hand, to dash into a
crowd and devote every one he meets to death until he is himself killed,
or falls from exhaustion.—_Malay_, AMOK, slaughter.
~Muckender~, or MUCKENGER, a pocket-handkerchief.—_Old._ _Cf._
SNOTTINGER. The original name of the “Neckinger” in Bermondsey was “the
Devil’s Neck-handkerchief.” There is still a Neckinger Road and Messrs.
Bevington and Sons’ tannery in Bermondsey bears the name of the
Neckinger Mills.
~Mucker~, TO GO A, to go to grief, to ruin one’s prospects.—_Oxford
Univ._
~Muck-out~, to clean out; often applied to one utterly ruining an
adversary in gambling.
~Muck-snipe~, one who has been “MUCKED OUT,” or beggared, at gambling.
_See_ MUCK.
~Mud-crusher~, a word of contempt, used by the cavalry in reference to
the infantry.
~Mudfog~, “The British Association for the Advancement of Science.” Term
first used by Charles Dickens in _Bentley’s Miscellany_, about 1836.
~Mud-lark~, a man or woman who, with clothes tucked above the knee,
grovels through the mud on the banks of the Thames, when the tide is
low, for silver or pewter spoons, old bottles, pieces of iron, coal, or
any articles of the least value, deposited by the retiring tide, either
from passing ships or the sewers. Occasionally applied to those men who
cleanse the sewers, and who wear great boots and sou’-wester hats. Those
who are employed in banks and counting-houses, in collecting and other
out-door duties, have also this appellation.
~Mud-student~, a farming pupil. The name given to the students at the
Agricultural College, Cirencester.
~Muff~, a silly or weak-minded person, a duffer; MUFF has been defined
to be “a soft thing that holds a lady’s hand without squeezing it.”
~Muffin-cap~, a cap similar to that worn by a charity-boy.
~Muffin-face~, a white, soft, delicate, or whiskerless face.
~Muffin-worry~, an old lady’s tea party.
~Mufti~, the civilian dress of a naval or military officer when off
duty.—_Anglo-Indian._ From an Eastern word signifying a clergyman or
priest.
~Mug~, the mouth, or face.—_Old._
“‘GOBLET AND MUG.’—Topers should bear in mind that what they quaff
from the goblet afterwards appears in the MUG.”
~Mug~, to strike in the face, or fight. Also, to rob or swindle.
_Gaelic_, MUIG, to suffocate, oppress; _Irish_, MUGAIM, to kill,
destroy.
~Mug~, “to MUG oneself,” to get tipsy.
~Mugging~, a thrashing,—synonymous with “slogging,” both terms of the
“ring,” and frequently used by fighting men.
~Muggy~, drunk. Also, as applied to weather, stifling, oppressive.
~Mug-up~, to paint one’s face, or dress specially with a view to
impersonation.—_Theatrical._ To “cram” for an examination.—_Army._
~Mull~, “to make a MULL of it,” to spoil anything, or make a fool of
oneself.
~Mulligrubs.~ _Vide_ MOLLYGRUBS.
~Mullingar heifer~, a girl with thick ankles.—_Irish._ The story goes
that a traveller, passing through Mullingar, was so struck with this
local peculiarity in the women, that he determined to accost the next
one he met. “May I ask,” said he, “if you wear hay in your shoes?”
“Faith an’ I do,” said the girl; “and what then?” “Because,” says the
traveller, “that accounts for the calves of your legs coming down to
feed on it.”
~Multee kertever~, very bad. _Italian_, MOLTO CATTIVO. Generally used
with the affix of bloke when referring to a man. Phrase much used by
circus riders.
~Mum~, “to keep MUM,” to hold one’s peace. Hence “MUM’S the word,”—a
phrase which implies to all hearers that the matter to which it refers
must remain secret.
~Mummer~, a performer at a travelling theatre.—_Ancient._ Rustic
performers at Christmas in the West of England.
~Mump~, to beg. In Lincolnshire, Boxing-day is known as MUMPING DAY.
~Mumper~, a beggar. A collector of holiday tribute.
~Mumps~, the miserables. To feel MUMPISH is to be heavy, dull, and
stupid.
~Mundungus~, trashy, coarse tobacco. Sometimes used to represent
the half-soddened, half-calcined residuum at the bottom of an
all-but-smoked-out pipe, which, when knocked out, is vulgarly called the
TOPPER, _q.v. Spanish_, MONDONGO, black pudding.
~Mungarly~, bread, food. MUNG is an old word for mixed food, but
MUNGARLY is doubtless derived from the _Lingua Franca_, MANGIAR, to eat.
_See_ the following.
~Mungarly casa~, a baker’s shop; evidently a corruption of a Lingua
Franca phrase for an eating-house. The well-known “Nix Mangiare” stairs
at Malta derive their name from the endless beggars who lie there and
shout, “Nix mangiare,” _i.e._, “Nothing to eat,” to excite the
compassion of the English who land there,—an expression which exhibits
remarkably the mongrel composition of the _Lingua Franca_, MANGIARE
being Italian, and _Nix_ (_German_, NICHTS), an evident importation from
Trieste, or other Austrian seaport.
~Munging~, or MOUNGING, whining, begging, muttering.—_North._
~Muns~, the mouth. _German_, MUND.—_Old Cant._
~Murerk~, the mistress of the house. _See_ BURERK.
~Murkarker~, a monkey,—vulgar Cockney pronunciation of MACAUCO, a
species of monkey. Jacko Macauco, or Maccacco, as he was mostly called,
was the name of a famous fighting monkey, who used nearly fifty years
ago to display his prowess at the Westminster pit, where, after having
killed many dogs, he was at last “chawed up” by a bull terrier.
~Murphy~, a potato. Probably from the Irish national liking for
potatoes, MURPHY being a surname common amongst the Irish. MURPHIES
(edible) are sometimes called DONOVANS.
~Murphy~, “in the arms of MURPHY,” _i.e._, fast asleep. Corruption of
MORPHEUS.
~Mush~, an umbrella. Contraction of MUSHROOM.
~Mush~ (or MUSHROOM) ~faker~, an itinerant mender of umbrellas.
~Mushroom~, a hat, shaped like the fungus from which it takes its name,
often worn by demure ladies.
~Muslin~, a woman or girl; “he picked up a bit of MUSLIN.”
~Musta~, or MUSTER, a pattern, one of a sort. Anglo-Indian term used in
describing the make or pattern of anything. A sample of any kind of
merchandize. This word is very generally used in commercial transactions
all over the world.
~Mutton~, a contemptuous term for a woman of bad character; sometimes
varied to LACED MUTTON. The expression was used as a cant term for a
“wild duck” in the reign of James I. As a slang term it was employed by
Ben Jonson in his masque of _Neptune’s Triumph_, which was written for
display at Court on Twelfth Night, 1623; “a fine LACED MUTTON or two,”
are the words applied to wantons. Shakspeare has the term. In that class
of English society which does not lay any claim to refinement, a fond
lover is often spoken of as being “fond of his MUTTON,” which, by the
way, in this place does not mean the woman so much as something else.
~Mutton chops~, a sheep’s-head. A man who has dined off sheep’s-head
dignifies his meal by calling it MUTTON CHOPS (chaps).
~Mutton-fist~, an uncomplimentary title for any one having a large and
muscular, bony, or coarse hand.
~Mutton-walk~, the saloon at Drury Lane Theatre. A vulgar appellation
applied to this place early in the last century, still in use in the
neighbourhood of Covent Garden, which was formerly the great resort for
the gay and giddy of both sexes.
~Muzzle~, the mouth.
~Muzzle~, to fight or thrash; to throttle or garrotte.
~Muzzler~, a blow in the mouth; a dram of spirits.
~Muzzy~, intoxicated.
~My aunt~, AUNT JONES, or MRS. JONES, the closet of decency, or house of
office.
~My lord~, a nickname given to a hunchback.
~My tulip~, a term of endearment used by the lower orders to persons and
animals; “‘Kim up, MY TULIP,’ as the coster said to his donkey when
thrashing him with an ash stick.”
~My uncle~, the pawnbroker,—generally used when any person questions
the whereabouts of a domestic article. “Oh! only at MY UNCLE’S” is the
reply. “Up the spout” has the same meaning. It is worthy of remark that
the French call this useful relative “ma tante,” my aunt.
~Nab~, to catch, to seize; “NAB the rust,” to take offence.—_Ancient_,
fourteenth century. _See_ NAP.
~Nab the rust~, to take offence.
~Nabob~, an Eastern prince, a retired Indian official,—hence a slang
term for a capitalist. From Nawaub.
~Nabs~, self; my NABS, myself; his NABS, himself.—_North Country Cant._
~Nag~, to persistently talk in a scolding manner, after the manner of
Mrs. Caudle. NAGGING is supposed to be persistent, persevering,
passionless scolding.
~Nail~, to steal, or capture; “paid on the NAIL,” _i.e._, paid ready
money; NAILED, taken up, or caught,—probably in allusion to the
practice of NAILING bad money to the counter. We say, “as dead as a
door-NAIL;” most possibly because of “apt alliteration.” Shakspeare has
the expression in _Henry IV._—
“_Falstaff._ What! is the old king dead?
_Pistol._ As NAIL in door.”
Dickens, in that marvellous little book, _A Christmas Carol_, says:—
“Old Marley was as dead as a DOOR-NAIL.
“Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know of my own knowledge what
there is particularly dead about a DOOR-NAIL. I might have been
inclined myself to regard a COFFIN-NAIL as the deadest piece of
ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the
simile: and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the
country’s done for. You will, therefore, permit me to repeat,
emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a DOOR-NAIL.”
~Nail in one’s coffin~, a dram, “a drop o’ summat’ short,” a jocular,
but disrespectful phrase, used by the lower orders to each other at the
moment of lifting a glass of spirits to their lips. “Well, good luck!
here’s another NAIL IN MY COFFIN.” This is probably in ridicule of
teetotal or temperance preachers, and the arguments adduced by them.
Another phrase with old topers is “shedding a tear,” also “wiping an
eye.”
~Namby-pamby~, particular, over-nice, effeminate. This was possibly of
Pope’s invention, and first applied by him to the affected short-lined
verses addressed by Ambrose Phillips to Lord Carteret’s infant children.
_See Johnson’s Life of Pope._
~Nammus~, or NAMOUS, to be off, to get away; “let’s NAMMUS, somebody’s
coming.” _See_ VAMOS.
~Nanny-shop~, a disreputable house.
~Nantee~, not any, or “I have none.” NANTEE also means “shut up!” or
“leave off!” _Italian_, NIENTE, nothing. _See_ DINARLY.—_Lingua
Franca._
~Nantee palaver~, no conversation, _i.e._, hold your tongue. Very often
in this sense also shortened to NANTEE only. Originally _Lingua Franca_,
but now general.
~Nap~, or NAB, to take, steal, or receive; “you’ll NAP it,” _i.e._, you
will catch a beating.—_North_; also _Old Cant_.
~Nap~, to break, or rap with a hammer. _See_ KNAP.—_North._
~Nap~, or NAPPER, a hat. From “nab,” a hat, cap, or head.—_Old Cant._
~Nap nix~, a person who works at his trade, and occasionally goes on the
stage to act minor parts without receiving any pay. The derivation is
obvious. _See_ NAP and NIX, _i.e._, NICHTS.
~Nap one’s bib~, to cry, shed tears, or carry one’s point.
~Nap the regulars~, to divide the booty.
~Nap the teaze~, to be privately whipped in prison.
~Nark~, a person in the pay of the police; a common informer; one who
gets his living by laying traps for publicans, &c. Sometimes called a
“nose.”
~Nark~, to watch, or look after; “NARK the titter,” watch the girl.
~Narp~, a shirt.—_Scotch._
~Narrow~, mean, sordid.—_Scotch._ In common slang, dull of
comprehension, as distinguished from wide awake.
~Nasty~, ill-tempered, cross-grained. “He was very NASTY,” _i.e._, he
was ill-humoured.
~Nation~, or TARNATION, very, or exceedingly. Corruption of damnation.
~Natty~, pretty, neat, tidy.—_Old._
~Natural~, an idiot, a simpleton. Sometimes HALF-NATURAL.
~Navvy~, an excavator employed in making railways, canals, &c.
Originally slang, but now a recognised term. Short for navigator, a term
humorously applied to excavators when their chief work was that of
cutting and banking canals, making dykes to rivers, &c.
~N. C.~, “enough said,” being the initials of NUF CED. A certain
theatrical manager spells, it is said, in this style.
~Near~, mean and stingy.
~Neardy~, a person in authority over another; master, parent, or
foreman.—_North._
~Neat~, unmixed with water. “Two half goes of gin, one NEAT, the other
cold,” meaning one as drawn, the other diluted with cold water. The
Americans use the word “straight” instead of NEAT: “I’ll take mine
straight.”
~Neck~, to swallow. Neck-oil, drink of any kind.
~Neck and crop~, entirely, completely; “he chuck’d him NECK AND CROP out
of window.”
~Neck and neck.~ Horses run NECK AND NECK in a race when they are so
perfectly equal that one cannot be said to be before the other.
~Neck or nothing~, desperate. Originally a steeplechase phrase.
~Neck beef~, a synonym for coarseness. “As coarse as neck ends of beef.”
~Neckinger~, a cravat. _See_ MUCKENGER.
~Ned~, a guinea. HALF-NED, half-a-guinea.
~Neddy~, a considerable quantity, as “a NEDDY of fruit,” “a NEDDY of
fish,” &c.—_Irish slang._
~Neddy~, a donkey. On Sunday, when a costermonger, if at all well to do,
takes his family out for an airing in his “shallow,” the donkey is
called “Eddard.”
~Neddy~, a life preserver. Possibly contraction of Kennedy, the name of
the first man, it is said in St. Giles’s, who had his head broken by a
poker.
~Ned Stokes~, the four of spades.—_North Hants._ _See Gentleman’s
Magazine_ for 1791, p. 141.
~Needful~, money, cash; the “one thing NEEDFUL” for the accomplishment
of most pet designs.
~Needle~, to annoy. To “cop the NEEDLE” is to become vexed or annoyed.
~Needy mizzler~, a shabby person; a tramp who runs away without paying
for his lodging.
~Never trust me~, an ordinary phrase with low Londoners, and common in
Shakspeare’s time, _vide Twelfth Night_. It is generally used instead of
an oath, calling vengeance on the asseverator, if such-and-such does
not come to pass.
~Newgate fringe~, or FRILL, the collar of beard worn under the chin; so
called from its occupying the position of the rope when Jack Ketch
operates. Another name for it is a TYBURN COLLAR.
~Newgate Knocker~, the term given to the lock of hair which
costermongers and thieves usually twist back towards the ear. The shape
is supposed to resemble the knocker on the prisoners’ door at Newgate—a
resemblance that carries a rather unpleasant suggestion to the wearer.
Sometimes termed a COBBLER’S KNOT, or COW-LICK.
~Newmarket~, in tossing, when the game is “two out of three,” that is,
when he who gains the first two tosses wins. When the first toss is
decisive, the game is termed “sudden death.”
~Nibble~, to take, or steal. NIBBLER, a petty thief.
~Nib-cove~, a gentleman. NIBSOMEST CRIBS, best or gentlemen’s
houses.—_Beggar’s Cant._
~Nib-like~, gentlemanly.
~Nibs~, self. His NIBS, means any one who may be referred to. As, “I
told his NIBS,” or “stag his NIBS.” “Your NIBS,” yourself.
~Nick~, or OLD NICK, the devil.—_Scandinavian_, KNICKAR, one of the
names of Odin, as the destroying or evil principle.
~Nick~, to hit the mark; “he’s NICKED it,” _i.e._, won his point. Also
to steal. To be “out on the NICK,” is to be out thieving. Sometimes
described as being “on the pinch.”
~Nick-nack~, a trifle.—Originally _Cant_.
~Niggling~, trifling, or idling; taking short steps in
walking.—_North._
~Nightcap~, a glass of “warm with” taken the last thing at night.
~Night-hunter~, a poacher.—_North._ Also a London prostitute. Sometimes
in the latter capacity varied to night-hawk.
~Nil~, half; half profits, &c.
~Nilly-willy~, _i.e._, NILL YE, WILL YE, whether you will or no; a
familiar version of the _Latin_, NOLENS VOLENS. Generally written now,
WILLY-NILLY.
~Nimming~, stealing. _Old English_, NIM, to take. Motherwell, the Scotch
poet, thought the old word NIM (to snatch or pick up) was derived from
_nam, nam_, the tiny words or cries of an infant, when eating anything
which pleases its little palate. A negro proverb has the word:—
“Buckra man NAM crab,
Cram NAM buckra man.”
Or, in the buckra man’s language—
“White man eat [or steal] the crab,
And then crab eat the white man.”
Shakspeare evidently had the word NIM in his head when he portrayed Nym.
~Nincompoop~, a fool, a hen-pecked husband, a “Jerry Sneak.”—Corruption
of _non compos mentis_.
~Nine corns~, a pipeful of tobacco.
~Ninepence~, “nice as NINEPENCE,” all right, right to a nicety. A
correspondent says:—“This most undoubtedly should be NINE-PINS. For at
the game of that name, in fairness to both parties, the nine pins must
always be set up with great accuracy. There is no nicety in NINEPENCE!”
Evidently this correspondent does not know how nice it is to have
ninepence, after being without money. At all events the phrase _is_
“nice as NINEPENCE.”
~Nines~, “dressed up to the NINES,” in a showy or _recherché_ manner. Up
to the NINES, up to the dodges and “wrinkles” of life.
~Nine Shillings~, cool audacity; most probably derived from the
_French_, NONCHALANCE.
~Ning-nang~, horse-coupers’ term for a worthless thoroughbred.
~Ninnyhammer~, a foolish, ignorant person. Generally shortened to NINNY.
NINNY is also short for nincompoop.
~Nip~, to steal, to take up quickly. _See_ NAP and NIB.
~Nipcheese~, a purser.—_Old Sea Slang._
~Nipper~, a sharp lad. Originally a superior grade among cut-purses.
~Nix~, nothing. _German_, NICHTS. _See_ MUNGARLY.
~Nix!~ the signal word of schoolboys and workpeople to each other that
the master, or other person in authority, is approaching.
~Nix my dolly~, once a very popular slang song, beginning—
“In a box of a stone jug I was born,
Of a hempen widow all forlorn;
And my old dad, as I’ve heard say,
Was a famous merchant in capers gay;
NIX MY DOLLY, pals, fake away!”
“Capers” of course here refers to the mode of the old gentleman’s
decease.
~Niz-priz~, a writ of nisi-prius.—_Legal._
~Nizzie~, a fool, a coxcomb.—_Old Cant, vide Triumph of Wit_.
~Nob~, the head.—_Pugilistic_; “bob a NOB,” a shilling a head. _Ancient
Cant_, NEB. NOB is an early English word, and is used in the romance of
_Kynge Alinaunder_ (thirteenth century) for a head; originally, no
doubt, the same as _knob_.
~Nob~, a person of high position, a “swell,” a NOBleman,—of which word
it may be an abbreviation, or of NOBILIS. _See_ SNOB.
~Nob.~ When the knave of trumps is held at the game of cribbage, the
holder counts “one for his NOB.”
~Nobba~, nine. _Italian_, NOVE; _Spanish_, NOVA,—the _b_ and _v_ being
interchangeable, as in sa_b_e and sa_vv_ey. Slang introduced by the
“organ-grinders” from Italy.
~Nobba saltee~, ninepence. _Lingua Franca_, NOVE SOLDI.
~Nobbing cheat~, the gallows.—_Old Cant._
~Nobbing~, collecting money; “what NOBBINGS?” _i.e._, how much have you
got or collected from the crowd? This term is much used by “buskers.”
~Nobble~, to cheat, to overreach; to discover. In the racing world, to
“NOBBLE” a horse, is to “get at,” and lame or poison him.
~Nobbler~, a blow on the NOB, a finishing stroke; “that’s a NOBBLER for
him,” _i.e._, a settler.—_Pugilistic._
~Nobbler~, a confederate of thimble-riggers and card-sharpers, who plays
earnestly, as if a stranger to the “rig,” and thus draws unsuspecting
persons into a game. The same as a “bonnet” or “bearer-up.” In the North
of England, a low, cunning lawyer.
~Nobby~, or NOBBISH, fine or showy; NOBBILY, showily. _See_ SNOB for
derivation.
~No flies~, an emphatic addition made to an assertion for the purpose of
giving it weight. It really means “no error” or “no mistake.” Both of
them popular; as, “A jolly fine girl, and NO FLIES!”
~No-fly~, artful, designing. Term much used among printers, who shorten
it to “N.F.”
~Noli-me-tangere~, the Scotch fiddle, or other contagious disease.
~Non-com~, a non-commissioned officer in the army.
~No odds~, no matter, of no consequence.—_Latimer’s Sermon before
Edward VI._
~Nooning~, an interval for rest and refreshment, taken at midday by
travellers in hot countries.
~Norfolk-Howards~, bugs; a person named Ephraim Bug some few years back
advertised, that for the future he would call himself by the more
aristocratic appellation of NORFOLK HOWARD.
~North~, cunning. The inhabitants of Yorkshire and the Northern counties
are supposed, like the canny Scots, to get the better of other people in
dealing; hence the phrase, “He’s too far NORTH for me,” _i.e._, too
cunning for me to deal with.
~North country compliment~, to give or offer anything that is not wanted
by either giver or receiver is to pass a NORTH COUNTRY COMPLIMENT.
~Norwicher~, more than one’s share; said of a person who leaves less
than half the contents of a tankard for his companion. In what way the
term originated, or why Norwich was selected before any other city is
not known. Most likely from the slanders which the inhabitants of one
town are always inventing about their neighbours.
~Nose~, a thief who turns informer; a paid spy; generally called a
policeman’s NOSE; “on the NOSE,” on the look-out.
~Nose~, to give information to the police, to turn approver.
~Nose~, “to pay through the NOSE,” to pay an extravagant price.
~Nose-bag~, a visitor at a watering-place, or house of refreshment, who
carries his own victuals. Term applied by waiters.
~Nose ’em~, or FOGUS, tobacco. NOSE ’EM is but a contraction of the
rhyming slang, which _see_.
~Nose-ender~, a straight blow delivered full on the nasal promontory.
~Nose in the manger~, TO PUT ONE’S, to sit down to eat. To “put on the
nose-bag” is to eat hurriedly, or to eat while continuing at work.
~Nose out of joint~, TO PUT ONE’S; to supplant, supersede, or mortify a
person by excelling him.
~Noser~, a hard blow, leading to a bloody or contused nose.—_Pugilistic._
~Notional~, imaginative, full of ideas. Used in America to express a
wife’s imaginations with regard to her husband’s doings.
~Nouse~, comprehension, perception.—_Old_, apparently from the _Greek_,
νοῦς. _Gaelic_ and _Irish_, NOS, knowledge, perception.
~Nowhere~, horses not placed in a race—that are neither first, second,
nor third—are said to be NOWHERE, especially when this lack of position
happens to favourites.
~Number of his mess~, when a man dies in the army or navy, he is said to
“lose the NUMBER OF HIS MESS.”
~Nurse~, a curious term applied to competition in omnibuses. Two
omnibuses are placed on the road to NURSE, or take care of, each
opposition “bus,” one before, the other behind. Of course the central or
NURSED bus has very little chance, unless it happens to be a favourite
with the public. Recent legislation and tramways have done much to do
away with NURSING. NURSE also means to cheat or swindle; trustees are
sometimes said to NURSE property, _i.e._, gradually eat it up
themselves.
~Nut~, the head, in pugilistic slang. Used as an exclamation at a fight,
it means to strike on the head. In tossing it is a direction to hide the
head; to be “off one’s NUT,” to be crazed or idiotic.
~Nut-cut~, roguish, mischievous. A good-natured term of
reproach.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Nuts~, to be NUTS on anything or person is to be pleased with or fond
of it or him; a self-satisfied man is said to be NUTS on himself.
NUTTED, taken in by a man who professed to be NUTS on you.
~Nux~, the “plant,” or object in view. “Stoll up to the NUX?” “Do you
fully comprehend what is wanted?”—_North Country Cant._
~Oaf~, a lumbering, awkward fellow.
~Oak~, the outer door of college rooms; to “sport one’s OAK,” to be “not
at home” to visitors. _See_ SPORT.—_University._
[Illustration: A “Sporting Door,” or “Oak.”]