Corner, subs. (colloquial).—1.—See verbal sense.
1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 309. Mr. Bill Greyson
thought it much more likely that a syndicate of bookmakers had
plotted to make a good thing out of the horse by working him in the
betting-market like any other corner on the Stock Exchange.
2. (sporting).—Tattersall’s Subscription Rooms once situate at the top
of Grosvenor Place, near Hyde Park Corner; now removed to Albert Gate,
but still known by the old nickname.
1848. W. M. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. x. He is a regular
attendant at the corner, where he compiles a limited but
comfortable libretto.
1874. G. A. Lawrence, Hagarene, ch. v. She heard how—without
anticipating the stable commission, or making any demonstration at
the corner—the cream of the long odds against the Pirate had been
skimmed.
3. (sporting).—Short for Tattenham Corner, a crucial point on the Derby
course on Epsom Downs.
4. (thieves’).—A share; an opportunity of ‘standing in’ for the
proceeds of a robbery.
Verb (colloquial).—To get control of a stock or commodity and so
monopolize the market; applied to persons, to drive or force into a
position of difficulty or surrender, e.g., in an argument. [Probably
American, being a simple extension of the legitimate meaning of the
word to drive or force into a corner or place from which there is no
means of escape.] French equivalents are être en fine pégrène, and se
mettre sur les fonts de baptême. Tailors speak of a man as cornered who
has pawned work entrusted to him, and cannot redeem it. Also used as a
ppl. adj.
1848. Lowell, Fable for Critics, p. 24. Such [books] as Crusoe
might dip in, altho’ there are few so Outrageously cornered by fate
as poor Crusoe.
1851. Hawthorne, House of Seven Gables, ch. v. A recluse, like
Hepzibah, usually displays remarkable frankness, and at least
temporary affability, on being absolutely cornered, and brought to
the point of personal intercourse.
1883. Graphic, April 21, p. 406, col. 2. Chief member of a ring
which has cornered colza oil this winter to such an extent that the
price has been very considerably enhanced during the last few
months.
To be round the corner, verbal phr. (common).—To get round or ahead of
one’s fellows by dishonest cuts, doublings, twists, and turns. For
synonyms, see Knowing.
To turn the corner, phr. (common).—To get over the worst; to begin to
mend in health or fortune.
To be cornered, verbal phr. (common).—To be in a ‘fix.’ Fr., être dans
le lac.
Corner-Man or Cove, subs. (common).—1. A loafer; literally a lounger at
corners.
1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 445. I mean by
corner-coves them sort of men who is always a standing at the
corners of the streets and chaffing respectable folks a-passing by!
1885. Chamb. Journal, Feb. 28, p. 136. Curley Bond was well known
in the district as a loafer and corner-man.
2. (music hall).—The ‘Bones’ and ‘Tambourine’ in a band of negro
minstrels.
Corn In Egypt, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Plenty of all kinds.
[Biblical.]
Cornish Duck, subs. (trade).—A pilchard. Cf., Yarmouth capon.
Corn-Juice, subs. (American).—Whiskey. For synonyms, see Drinks.
1888. Detroit Free Press, May. ... Don’t be for ever loafing whar
the corn-juice flows.
Cornstalk, subs. (Australian).—Generic for persons of European descent,
but especially applied to girls. The children of Anglo-Australians are
generally taller and slighter in build than their parents. Originally a
native of New South Wales; now general. Cf., Bananalander.
1885. Chambers’ Journal, March 21, p. 191. The stockman—a young
six-foot Cornstalk (or native of New South Wales).
1887. G. L. Apperson, in All the Year Round, 30 July, p. 67, col.
2. A native of New South Wales is known as a cornstalk.
1888. Colonies and India, 14 Nov. Auld Jamie Inglis has written
‘anither buik, ye ken’ ... for the delectation of the youthful
Cornstalk’s mind.
Cornstealers, subs. (American).—The hands. For synonyms, see Bunch of
fives and Daddle.
1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker. ‘How is you been,
my old bullock?’ and he squeezed his cornstealers till the old
gineral began to dance like a bear on red-hot iron.
Corny-Faced, adj. (old).—Red and pimply with drink. [From corn, to
render intoxicated, + faced.]
Coroner, subs. (common).—A severe fall. [Literally a fall likely to
produce a coroner’s inquest.]
Corporal, To mount a corporal and four, verbal phr. (old).—To practice
masturbation.—See Frig.
Corporation, subs. (colloquial).—A protuberant stomach. For synonyms,
see Bread-basket and Victualling office.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue.
1849. C. Bronté, Shirley, ch. xvi. The former, looming large in
full canonicals, walking as became a beneficed priest, under the
canopy of a shovel hat, with the dignity of an ample corporation.
1887. W. P. Frith, Autobiog., i., 49. Very stout men ... each
possessing larger corporations than are commonly seen.
Corpse, subs. (sporting).—A horse in the betting for market purposes
alone; otherwise a stiff’un.—See Cock, subs., sense 4.
Verb (theatrical).—1. To confuse; ‘to queer’; to blunder and so ‘put
out’ one’s fellows: to spoil a scene.—See Regular corpser.
1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v.
1886. Graphic, April 10, p. 399. An actor who forgets his words is
said to ‘stick,’ or be ‘corpsed.’
1886. Cornhill Mag., Oct., p. 436. He expressed a hope that Miss
Tudor ‘wouldn’t corpse his business’ over the forge-door again that
evening.
2. (common).—To kill (literally to make a corpse of one). A Fr.
equivalent is parler sur quelqu’un. For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.
1884. Editor of Notes and Queries [in ‘Answers to Correspondents’
(6 S., ix., 120), says that]. ‘To corpse ... is one of many
customary and coarse ways of menacing the infliction of death. It
is horribly familiar in London.’
1887. W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, Act 4.
Moore. And is he thundering well corpsed?... Then damme, I don’t
mind swinging.
Corpse-Provider, subs. (common).—A doctor or physician. For synonyms,
see Crocus.
Corpse Reviver, subs. phr. (American).—A mixed drink.—See Drinks.
1871. Birmingham Daily Post, 22 Dec. And our American refreshment
bars, In drinks of all descriptions cut a dash, From corpse
revivers down to ‘brandy smash.’
1883. Daily Telegraph, March 8, p. 7, col. 1. In winter the dash
into the open air or the standing for a few minutes in a line of
comrades will certainly enhance the joys of the English equivalents
for the Yankee corpse reviver.
Correct or K’rect Card.—See Card.
Corroboree, subs. (Australian).—A disturbance. [Properly a tremendous
native dance.]
Verb.—To boil.—See preceding.
Corsican, subs. (sporting).—Something out of the common; a ‘buster.’ [A
‘Burnandism.’]
1889. Polytechnic Mag., 18 April, p. 232, col. 2. This heat was a
Corsican.
Corybungus, subs. (pugilistic).—The posteriors.—See Blind cheeks, Bum,
and Monocular eye glass.
Cosh, subs. (popular and thieves’).—A ‘neddy’; a life-preserver; a
short, loaded bludgeon. Also a policeman’s truncheon.
Cosouse.—See Come Souse.
Cossack, subs. (common).—A policeman. For synonyms, see Beak and
Copper.
1886. Graphic, Jan. 30, p. 130, col. 1. A policeman is also called
a ‘cossack,’ a ‘Philistine,’ and a ‘frog.’
Costard, subs. (old).—The head. [Properly an apple.] For synonyms, see
Crumpet.
1534. N. Udall, Roister Doister, III., v., p. 58 (Arber). I knocke
youre costarde if ye offer to strike me.
1605. Shakspeare, King Lear, Act iv. Sc. 6. Edg. ... Nay, come not
near th’ old man; keep out, che vor ye, or ise try whether your
costard or my bat be the harder.
1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, Costard, the head; a kind of
opprobrious word, used by way of contempt, probably alluding to a
costard apple.
1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. xii. ‘It’s hard I should get raps over
the costard.’
Cotch, verb (vulgar).—To catch. [A corruption.] Also ppl. adj.,
cotched.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., Oct. 12, p. 5, col. 2. Taken before some
French beak whom he did not know, and an interpreter brought, the
cotched culprit was made to pay 20 f.