off, the person is looking. _See_ STASH, with which it is
synonymous.—_Ancient Cant._
~Stow~, to put away, to hide. A hungry man is said to STOW his food
rapidly. He is also said to hide it.
~Stow faking!~ leave off there, be quiet! FAKING means anything that may
be going on.
~Straight~, an American phrase peculiar to dram-drinkers; similar to our
word NEAT, which _see_.
~Strap~, a barber. From _Roderick Random_.
~Straw.~ Married ladies are said to be “in the STRAW” at their
accouchements. The phrase is a coarse metaphor, and has reference to
farmyard animals in a similar condition. It may have originally been
suggested to the inquiring mind by the Nativity.
~Strawing~, “selling” straws in the streets (generally for a penny), and
“giving” the purchaser a paper (indecent or political) or a gold (!)
ring,—neither of which, the patterer states, he is allowed by Act of
Parliament to sell.
~Streak~, to decamp, run away.—_Saxon._ In America the phrase is “to
make STREAKS,” or “make TRACKS.”
~Streaky~, irritated, ill-tempered. Said of a short-tempered man who has
his good and bad times in STREAK.
~Street-pitchers~, negro minstrels, ballad-singers, long-song men, men
“working a board” on which have been painted various exciting scenes in
some terrible drama, the details of which the STREET PITCHER is bawling
out, and selling in a little book or broadsheet (price one penny); or
any persons who make a stand—_i.e._, a pitch—in the streets, and sell
articles or contribute entertainments for a living.
~Stretch~, a walk.—_University._
~Stretch~, abbreviation of “STRETCH one’s neck,” to hang, to be executed
as a malefactor. As, “The night before Larry was STRETCHED.”
~Stretch~, twelve months,—generally used to intimate the time any one
has been sentenced by the judge or magistrate. One STRETCH is twelve
months’ imprisonment, two STRETCH is two years, three STRETCH is three
years, and so on.
~Stretcher~, a falsehood; one that requires a STRETCH of imagination or
comprehension.
~Stretcher~, a contrivance with handles, used by the police to carry off
persons who are violent or drunk.
~Stretcher-fencer~, one who sells braces.
~Stretching match~, an execution. Often called a “hanging match.”
~Strike a jigger~, to pick a lock, or break open a door.
~Strike me lucky!~ an expression used by the lower orders when making a
bargain, derived from the old custom of striking hands together, leaving
in that of the seller a LUCK PENNY as an earnest that the bargain is
concluded. In Ireland, at cattle markets, &c., a penny, or other small
coin, is always given by the buyer to the seller to ratify the
bargain.—_Hudibras._ Anciently this was called a “God’s penny.”
“With that he cast him a God’s penny.”—_Heir of Linne._
The origin of the phrase being lost sight of, like that of many others,
it is often used as a modification of “Strike me blind!” and is now and
again corrupted into “Strike me silly!” A foolish variation of this is
“Strike me up a gum-tree!”
~Strills~, cheating lies.—_North Country Cant._
~String~, to hoax, to “get in a line.”
~Stroke~, the captain of a crew, the man who sets the pace, and is
generally the leading spirit in the boat. The coxswain usually looks
after University men when they are in training, so that they may not
fall into excesses, the STROKE having quite enough to do to attend to
his own training. Of late years University crews have placed themselves
under the guidance and tuition of “coaches,” generally ex-University men
of great ability and experience.
~Strommel~, straw.—_Ancient Cant._ Halliwell says that in Norfolk
STRUMMEL is a name for hair.
~Strong~, “to come it STRONG.” _See_ COME.
~Stuck~, moneyless. _See_ STICK.
~Stuck-up~, purse-proud—a form of snobbishness very common in those who
have risen in the world, especially among those who have risen rather
suddenly. Albert Smith wrote some amusing papers on the _Natural History
of STUCK-UP People_.
~Stuff~, money.
~Stuff~, to make false but plausible statements, to praise ironically,
to make game of a person,—literally, to STUFF or cram him with gammon
or falsehood.
~Stump~, to go on foot.
~Stump~, to go about speechmaking on politics or other subjects.
Originally an Americanism applied to the lowest class of candidates for
legislatorial honours, probably because they stood on a STUMP to address
their audiences. Maybe, also, because their utterances were short and
pithy. This latter reason would, however, hardly apply to our
representatives of the STUMP class, “the Leaguers,” who are, as a rule,
as long-winded as they are illogical.
~Stump up~, to give one’s share, to pay the reckoning, to bring forth
the money reluctantly.
~Stumped~, bowled out, done for, bankrupt, poverty-stricken. From the
cricketing term.
~Stumps~, legs, or feet.
~Stumpy~, money.
~Stun~, to astonish.
~Stunner~, a first-rate person or article.
~Stunners~, feelings of great astonishment; “it put the STUNNERS on me,”
_i.e._, it confounded me.
~Stunning~, first-rate, very good, really, astonishing. Costermongers
call anything extra good, STUNNING. Sometimes amplified to STUNNING JOE
BANKS! when the expression is supposed to be in its most intense form.
Joe Banks was a noted character in the last generation. He was the
proprietor of a public-house in Dyott Street, Seven Dials, and
afterwards, on the demolition of the Rookery, of another in Cranbourn
Alley. His houses became well-known from their being the resort of the
worst characters, while at the same time the strictest decorum was
always maintained in them. Joe Banks also acquired a remarkable
notoriety by acting as a medium betwixt thieves and their victims. Upon
the proper payment to Joe, a watch or a snuff-box would at any time be
restored to its lawful owner—“no questions in any case being asked.”
The most daring depredators in London placed the fullest confidence in
Joe, and it is believed (although the _Biographie Universelle_ is quiet
upon this point) that he never, in any instance, “sold” them. He was of
the middle height, stout, and strongly made, and was always noted for a
showy pin and a remarkably STUNNING neck-tie. It was this peculiarity in
the costume of Mr. Banks, coupled with those true and tried qualities as
a friend for which he was famous, that led his customers to proclaim him
as STUNNING JOE BANKS! The Marquis of Douro, Colonel Chatterley, and men
of their stamp, were accustomed to resort to a private-room at his
house, when too late (or too early) to gain admittance to the clubs or
more aristocratic establishments.
~Sub~, a subaltern officer in the army.
~Sub~, all.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Sub~, to draw money in advance; a term in use among workmen generally,
and those with casual employment in particular. Most likely from
subsidize.
~Sublime rascal~, a lawyer.
~Suck~, a parasite, a flatterer of the “nobs.”—_University._
~Suck~, to pump, or draw information from a person.
~Suck-casa~, a public-house.—_Lingua Franca._
~Suck the mop~, to be the victim of an omnibus nursing exploit. When an
omnibus is being nursed, the driver of the hindmost vehicle keeps so
close to his opponent that the horses get their heads almost into the
doorway. The nursed omnibus is then said to SUCK THE MOP. Nursing is,
thanks to tramways and the Metropolis Streets Act, almost a thing of the
past. At the East-end, however, it still goes merrily on.
~Suck the monkey~, to rob a cask of liquor by inserting a straw through
a gimlet-hole, and sucking a portion of the contents. Originally, as
Captain Marryatt states, to SUCK THE MONKEY, was to suck rum from
cocoa-nuts, which spirit had been inserted in place of the milk, for the
private use of the sailors. _See_ TAP THE ADMIRAL.
~Suck up~, “to SUCK UP to a person,” to insinuate oneself into his good
graces.
~Sudden death.~ In tossing, to be decided by the first call is to “GO
SUDDEN DEATH,” as distinguished from the longer forms of “best two out
of three,” and “first three.” At the Universities a crumpet, or Sally
Lunn, is so called.
~Sufferer~, a tailor; the loser at any game.
~Sugar~, money.
~Suicide~, four horses driven in a line. _See_ HARUM-SCARUM.
~Sulky~, a one-horse chaise, having only room for one person. Used
nowadays only in trotting matches.
~Sumsy~, an action of _assumpsit_.—_Legal Slang._
~Sun in the eyes~, too much drink. A person who is tipsy is said to have
the SUN IN HIS EYES. He is also said to have been “standing too long in
the SUN.”
~Supe~, or super, abbreviation of SUPERNUMERARY.—_Theatrical._
~Super~, a watch; SUPER-SCREWING, stealing watches.
~Surat~, an adulterated article of inferior quality. This word affords a
remarkable instance of the manner in which slang phrases are coined. In
the report of an action for libel in the _Times_, some few years back,
it was stated “that, since the American civil war, it has been not
unusual for manufacturers to mix American cotton with surat, and, the
latter being an inferior article, the people in Lancashire have begun to
apply the term SURAT to any article of inferior or adulterated quality.
The plaintiffs were brewers, and the action was brought to recover
special damages resulting from the publication of an advertisement in
these words:—‘All in want of beerhouses must beware of Beaumont and
White, the SURAT brewers.’”
~Surf~, an actor who frequently pursues another calling.—_Theatrical._
SURF, or SERF, is also a term much in use among the lower orders to
denote a crawling or sycophantic wretch.
~Suspicion~, a scarcely perceptible flavour; as, “There was just a
SUSPICION of oil in the mixture.” _French_, SOUPÇON.
~Swab~, an epaulet.—_Sea._
~Swack-up~, a falsehood.
~Swaddler~, a Wesleyan Methodist; a name originally given to members of
that body by the Irish mob; said to have originated with an ignorant
Romanist, to whom the words of the English Bible were a novelty, and
who, hearing one of John Wesley’s preachers mention the swaddling
clothes of the Holy Infant, in a sermon on Christmas-day at Dublin,
shouted out in derision, “A SWADDLER! a SWADDLER!” as if the whole story
were the preacher’s invention.—_Southey’s Life of Wesley_, vol. ii. p.
109. _See_ introductory article.
~Swaddler~, _see_ SOUPER.
~Swaddy~, or COOLIE, a soldier. The former was originally applied to a
discharged soldier, and perhaps came from SHODDY, which is made from
soldiers’ and policemen’s worn-out coats. The term was one of
opprobrium, and was probably the result of a long peace, for it became
obsolete as soon as the Crimean War commenced.
~Swag~, a lot or plenty of anything, a portion or division of property.
In Australia the term is used for the luggage carried by diggers.
_Scotch_, SWEG, or SWACK; _German_, SWEIG, a flock. Old cant for a shop.
~Swag-shop~, a warehouse where “Brummagem” and general wares, fancy
trinkets, plated goods, &c., are sold. Jews are the general proprietors;
and the goods are very low-priced, trashy, and showy. SWAG-SHOPS were
formerly plunder depôts.—_Old Cant._
~Swagsman~, one who carries the booty after a burglary.
~Swank~, to boast or “gas” unduly.
~Swankey~, cheap or small beer. Any weak fermented beverage.
~Swap~, to exchange. Grose says it is Irish cant, but the term is now
included in most dictionaries as an allowed vulgarism.
~Swarry~, a boiled leg of mutton and trimmings. Sam Weller’s adventure
with the Bath footmen originated the term. _See_ TRIMMINGS.
~Swatchel-cove~, the master of a Punch-and-Judy exhibition who “fakes
the slum,” and does the necessary squeak for the amusement of the
bystanders. _See_ SCHWASSLE BOX. The orthography of many of these
colloquial expressions differs. It was thought best to give the various
renderings as collected.
~Sweat~, to extract money from a person, to “bleed.” Also, to squander
riches.—_Bulwer._
~Sweat~, to violently shake up a lot of guineas or sovereigns in a
leathern bag for the purpose of benefiting by the perspiration.
~Sweater~, common term for a “cutting” or “grinding” employer,—one who
SWEATS his workpeople. A cheap tailor, who pays starvation wages.
~Sweep~, a contemptuous term for a low or shabby man.
~Sweet~, loving or fond; “how SWEET he was upon the moll,” _i.e._, what
marked attention he paid the girl.
~Sweetener~, a person who runs up the prices of articles at an auction.
_See_ JOLLYING, BONNET, &c.
~Swell~, a man of importance; a person with a showy, jaunty exterior, “a
rank SWELL,” a very flashily dressed person, a man who by excessive
dress apes a higher position than he actually occupies. Any one
occupying a superior position in society is by the mob called a SWELL.
Anything is said to be SWELL or SWELLISH that looks showy, or is many
coloured, or is of a desirable quality. Dickens and Thackeray were
termed great SWELLS in literature, and so are the first persons in the
learned professions SWELLS in their way.
~Swell hung in chains~, said of a showy man in the habit of wearing much
jewellery.
~Swell street~, the West-end of London.
~Swig~, a hearty drink.
~Swig~, to drink. _Saxon_, SWIGAN.
~Swill~, to drink inordinately. SWILL, hog-wash. From which the verb has
possibly been derived.—_Norfolk._
~Swim~, “a good SWIM,” a good run of luck, a long time out of the
policeman’s clutches.—_Thieves’ term._ Among anglers “a good SWIM” is a
good pitch for a part where fish are plentiful—that is, because a lot
of fish keeping together are called a SWIM. Thus one who is in luck, is
well connected, or is doing a good business, is said to be in a good
SWIM.
~Swindler~, although a recognised word in standard dictionaries,
commenced service as a slang term. It was used as such by the poor
Londoners against the German Jews who set up in London about the year
1762, also by our soldiers in the German war about that time.
SCHWINDELN, in _German_, signifies to cheat.
~Swing.~ To have one’s SWING is to have a full turn at anything.
~Swing~, to be hanged; “if you don’t do what’s right, I’ll SWING for
you,” _i.e._, take your life,—a common threat in low neighbourhoods.
~Swingeing~, large, huge, powerful. As a SWINGEING blow, SWINGEING
damages, &c.
~Swipe~, at cricket, to hit hard with a full swing of the bat. Most
probably a condensation of “wipe swingeing” or “swinging wipe.”
~Swipes~, sour or small beer. SWIPE, to drink.—_Sea._
~Swipey~ (from SWIPES), intoxicated.
~Swish~, to flog, derived perhaps from the sound. Maybe, a corruption of
SWITCH.
~Swished~, or SWITCHED, married.
~Swivel-eye~, a squinting eye.
~Swizzle~, small beer, drink.
~Swot~, mathematics; also, a mathematician; as a verb, to work hard for
an examination, to be diligent in one’s studies.—_Army._
This word originated at the great slang manufactory for the army, the
Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in the broad Scotch pronunciation by
Dr. Wallace, one of the Professors, of the word sweat. It has since
become fashionable at the Universities.
~Syce~, a groom.—_Anglo-Indian._
~T~, “to suit to a T,” to fit to a nicety.—_Old._ Perhaps from the
T-square of carpenters, by which the accuracy of work is tested.
~Tabby party~, a party consisting entirely of women, a tea and tattle
gathering. In America, a gathering of men only is called a “stag party.”
~Tabooed~, forbidden. This word, now very common, is derived from a
custom of the South-Sea islanders, first noticed in _Cook’s Voyages_.
~Tack~, a taste foreign to what was intended; a barrel may get a TACK
upon it, either permanently mouldy, sour, or otherwise.
~Tacked~, tied down. When a man has another vanquished, or for certain
reasons bound to his service, he is said to have “got him TACKED.”
~Tackle~, clothes.—_Sea._ Also to encounter a person in argument.
~Taffy~ (corruption of David), a Welshman. Compare Sawney (from
Alexander), a Scotchman; Paddy (from Patrick), an Irishman; and Johnny
(from John Bull), an Englishman.
~Tag-rag-and-bobtail~, a mixed crowd of low people, the lower orders
generally.
~Tail-block~, a watch.—_Sea._
~Tail-buzzer~, a thief who picks coat-pockets.
~Tail-down~, “to get the TAIL DOWN,” generally means to lose courage.
When a professional at any game loses heart in a match he is said to get
his TAIL DOWN. “His TAIL was quite DOWN, and it was all over.” The
origin is obvious.
~Take~, to succeed, or be patronized. “Do you think the new opera will
TAKE?” “No, because the same company TOOK so badly under the old
management.” “To TAKE on,” to grieve; Shakspeare uses the word TAKING in
this sense. To “TAKE up for any one,” to protect or defend a person; “to
TAKE off,” to mimic; “to TAKE heart,” to have courage; “to TAKE down a
peg or two,” to humiliate, or tame; “to TAKE up,” to reprove; “to TAKE
after,” to resemble; “to TAKE in,” to cheat or defraud, probably from
the lower class lodging-house-keepers’ advertisements, “Single men TAKEN
in and done for,”—an engagement which is as frequently performed in a
bad as a good sense; in reference to this performance, Scripture is
often quoted: “I was a stranger and ye TOOK me in.” “To TAKE the field,”
when said of a general, to commence operations against the enemy. When a
racing man TAKES the field he stakes his money against the favourite,
that is, he takes the chances of the field against the chance of one
horse.
~Take beef~, to run away.
~Take in~, a cheating or swindling transaction,—sometimes termed “a
dead TAKE IN.” Shakspeare has TAKE IN in the sense of conquering. To be
“had,” or to be “spoken to,” were formerly synonymous phrases with to be
TAKEN IN.
~Take it out~, to obtain value for money, labour, &c. A rich man is said
to “TAKE IT (_i.e._, his money) OUT in fine footmen, fine feeding,” &c.
A poor man “TAKES IT (_i.e._, his trouble) OUT in drink.”
~Talking~, a stable term, of a milder kind, applied to those horses
which are addicted to ROARING. _See_ the latter expression.
~Talk shop~, to intrude oneself or one’s private business too freely
into conversation. Any one who does this is said to be shoppy.
~Tall~, extensive, exaggerated,—generally applied to conversation, as
“loud” is to dress, or personal appearance; “TALL talk that,” _i.e._,
conversation too boastful or high-flown to be true. Among pedestrians a
great rate of speed is spoken of as TALL.
~Tally~, five dozen bunches of turnips.—_Costermongers’ term._
~Tally~, “to live TALLY,” to live in a state of unmarried impropriety;
TALLY-WIFE, a woman who cohabits with a man to whom she is not married.
~Tallyman~, an accommodating salesman who takes payment by instalments
to suit the convenience of the purchaser, but who is anything but
accommodating when payments are irregular. TALLYMEN are the cause of
much misfortune to the working classes, from their high and exorbitant
rates, and the temptations they offer to weak-minded women, who purchase
in haste and repent at leisure.
~Tan~, to beat or thrash; “I’ll TAN your hide,” _i.e._, I’ll give you a
good beating.
~Tan~, an order to pull.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Tanner~, a sixpence. Perhaps _Gipsy_, TAWNO, little, or _Latin_, TENER,
slender.
~Tanny~, or TEENY, little. _Gipsy_, TAWNO, little.
~Tantrems~, pranks, capers, frolicking; from the _Tarantula_ dance.
_See_ account of the involuntary frenzy and motions caused by the bite
of the tarantula in Italy.—_Penny Cyclopædia._
~Tantrums~, ill-tempers. “He’s in his TANTRUMS this morning,” is often
said of a peevish, querulous man. They are not peculiar to the one sex,
however.
~Tap the Admiral~, to suck liquor from a cask by means of a straw, said
to have been done with the rum-cask in which Lord Nelson’s body was
brought to England, to such an extent as to leave the gallant Admiral
dry.
~Tap-tub~, the _Morning Advertiser_,—so called by vulgar people from
the fact that this daily newspaper is the principal organ of the London
brewers and publicans. Sometimes termed the _Gin and Gospel Gazette_,
though this title is fast fading out since the paper has been in the
hands of its present editor.
~Tape~, gin,—term with female servants. Also, a military term used in
barracks when no spirits are allowed. _See_ RIBBON.
~Taper~, to give over gradually, to run short.
~Taradiddle~, a falsehood.
~Tar-brush~, a person whose complexion indicates a mixture of negro
blood, is said to have had a lick of the TAR-BRUSH. Sometimes a man of
this description is said to have been dipped in the black-pot, and he is
often reminded that “another dip would have done it,” _i.e._, another
dip would have made a negro of him.
~Tar-out~, to punish, to serve out.
~Tarpaulin~, a sailor.
~Tartar~, a savage fellow, an “ugly customer.” To “catch a TARTAR,” is
to discover somewhat unpleasantly that a person is by no means so mild
or good-tempered as he or she at first appeared.
~Tat-box~, a dice-box.
~Tater~, “s’elp my TATER,” an evasion of a profane oath, sometimes
varied by “s’elp my greens.”
~Tatler~, a watch; “nimming a TATLER,” stealing a watch.
~Tats~, dice.
~Tats~, old rags; milky TATS, white rags.
~Tatterdemalion~, a ragged fellow.
~Tatting~, gathering old rags.
~Tattoo~, a pony.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Taw~, a large or principal marble; “I’ll be one on your TAW,” I will
pay you out, or be even with you,—a simile taken from boys aiming
always at winning the TAW when playing at marbles.
~Tea-fight~, an evening party, alias a “muffin-worry.”
~Tea-spoon~, five thousand pounds. _See_ SPOONS.
~Teagueland~, Ireland. From the national character of the name TEAGUE.
~Teeth~, “he has cut his eye TEETH,” _i.e._, is old and ’cute enough.
~Teeth-drawing~, wrenching off knockers. Medical students’ term.
~Teddy Hall~, St. Edmund Hall.—_Oxford University._
~Teetotaller~, a total abstainer from alcoholic drinks. The origin of
this term is not known. It is said to be from the expression of a
fanatical and stuttering enthusiast in the cause of total abstinence. It
has nothing to do with tea.
~Teetotally~, amplification of TOTALLY.
~Te-he~, to titter, “Upon this I TE-HE’D.”—_Madame d’Arblay._ As an
interjection it is as old as Chaucer. _See Miller’s Tale_:—
“TE-HE, quod she, and clapt the window to.”
~Tell on~, to tell about, to talk of, to inform against. (This is formed
by a simple misuse of the preposition.)
~Ten commandments~, a virago’s fingers, or nails. Often heard in a
female street disturbance. “I’ll leave the TEN COMMANDMENTS marked on
his chump,” shows that the term may be applied to either the fingers or
the scratchings. It would be a strange hand, however, that, with the
best opportunity, could made five marks simultaneously.
~Tench~, the Penitentiary, of which it is a contraction. _See_ STEEL.
~Tenpence to the shilling~, a vulgar phrase denoting a deficiency in
intellect.
~Testamur~, the slip of paper on which the examiners testify
(testari) to the fact that the candidate has satisfied their
requirements.—_University._
~Tester~, sixpence. From TESTONE, a shilling in the reign of Henry
VIII., but a sixpence in the time of Queen Elizabeth.—_Shakspeare._
_French_, TESTE, or TÊTE, the head of the monarch on the coin.
~Teviss~, a shilling. Costermongers’ and tramps’ term.
~Thatch~, the human hair. “He’s well THATCHED,” is said of a man with a
good head of hair.
~The Tavern~, New Inn Hall.—_Oxford University._
~The thing~, the style, the proper proportion. Application varied. A
good appearance, a decent dinner, or a fair bottle of wine, is said to
be “the THING,” sometimes “the correct THING.”
~Thick~, intimate, familiar. The Scotch use the word “chief” in this
sense, as, “the two are very chief now.”
~Thick;~ “to lay it on THICK,” to flatter unduly, to surfeit with praise
or adulation.
~Thick un~, a sovereign; originally a crown piece, or five shillings.
~Thimble~, or YACK, a watch.—_Prison Cant._