Commission or Mish, subs. (old).—A shirt. [From the Italian.—See
Camesa.] For synonyms, see Flesh bag.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65, s.v.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874),
s.v.
1622. John Fletcher, The Beggar’s Bush. I crown thy nab with a gag
of benbouse, And stall thee by the salmon into clowes To maund on
the pad and strike all the Cheats To mill from the Ruffmans, and
commission, and slates.
1630. Taylor (‘The Water Poet’), wks. quoted in Nares. As from our
beds we doe oft cast our eyes, Cleane linnen yeelds a shirt before
we rise, Which is a garment shifting in condition, And in the
canting tongue is a commission; In weale or woe, in joy or
dangerous drifts, A shirt will put a man unto his shifts.
1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.
Commister, subs. (old).—A clergyman. The same as camister (q.v.). For
synonyms, see Devil-dodger.
Commodity, subs. (old).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see
Monosyllable.
1596. Shakspeare, King John, ii., 2. Tickling commodity;
commodity—the bias of the world.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Common-Bounce, subs. (low).—One using a lad as a decoy to prefer a
charge of unnatural intercourse.
1886. M. Davitt, Leaves from a Prison Diary, p. 109. The common
bounce Of all the scoundrels that stalk abroad in the world unhung
for undetected enormities, this is the most infamous.
Common-Doings, subs. (American).—Every-day fare. [A phrase of Western
origin, at first restricted in its meaning, but now including ordinary
transactions as compared to those either large or peculiarly
profitable; applied to men, actions, and things. ‘What shall we do?’
says a poor frontiersman’s wife, when she hears of a Federal Officer
who is to take up his quarters at her cabin for a day; ‘I can’t give
him common-doings.’]
1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S. I guess I’ll
order supper. What shall it be? Cornbread and common doins, or
wheatbread and chicken fixins?
Commoner-Grub, subs. (Winchester College).—A dinner formerly given by
Commoners to College after cricket matches. [Commoners are boys not on
the foundation.]
Commoney, subs. (schoolboys’).—A clay marble. Cf., Alley.
1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 28 (ed. 1857).
On one occasion he patted the boy on the head, and after inquiring
whether he had won any alley tors or commoneys lately (both of
which I understand to be a particular species of marbles much
prized by the youth of this town), made use of this remarkable
expression—‘How should you like to have another father?’
Common-Jack, subs. (military).—A prostitute. For synonyms, see
Barrack-hack and Tart.
Common-Plugs, subs. (American).—Ordinary members of society.
Commonsensical, adj. (colloquial).—Marked with common sense.
1880. Frazer’s Magazine, Sep., p. 308. The manner in which he
(Alexander Russell) begins must have delighted the commonsensical
mind of old Charles Maclaren.
Common Sewer, subs. phr. (common).—1. A drink; dram; or ‘go.’ [From
common sewer = ‘a drain.’] For synonyms, see Go.