1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 39. Daisy-kickers are
Hostlers belonging to large inns; and are known to each other by
this name.
Daisy-Roots (rhyming slang).—Boots. Also daisies. For synonyms, see
Trotter-cases. Fr., des salaires.
1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 501. I piped [saw] three
or four pair of daisy-roots (boots).
To pick a daisy, verbal phr. (common).—To evacuate in the open air;
also, to retire to make water.
Daisyville, subs. (thieves’).—The country. Also deuseaville.
English Synonym. Monkery.
French Synonyms. La camplouse; la cambrouse; le pasclin or pasquelin.
Italian Synonyms. Longa (literally = an expanse); polverosa (literally
= dusty); graziosa (literally = graceful).
1622. Head and Kirkman, ‘Canting Song.’ This Doxie Dell can cut
bien whids, And drill well for a win; And prig and cloy so
benshiply, All the deusea-vile within.
Dakma, verb (thieves’).—To silence.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.
1881. New York Slang Dict. I had to dakma the bloke to cly the
swag.
Dam. Not to care or be worth a dam, phr. (common).—To care or be worth
nothing. [The dam or dawm is an Indian coin worth barely the fortieth
part of a rupee.] Cf., Care and Fig.
Damage, subs. (colloquial).—The cost of anything; the sum total in the
sense of recompense. ‘What’s the damage?’ ‘what’s to pay?’ also What’s
the swindle? (q.v.). [An allusion to damages at law.]
b. 1788, d. 1824. Byron [quoted in Annandale]. Many thanks, but I
must pay the damage and will thank you to tell me the amount of the
engraving.
1852. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. xiv. Well, now, my good
fellow, what’s the damage, as they say in Kentucky; in short,
what’s to be paid out for this business.
1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 576. When he wishes to know what he
has to pay, he asks, What’s the damage? or not so charitably,
What’s the swindle?
Damaged, ppl. adj. (common).—Drunk; screwed (q.v. for synonyms).—See
Drinks.
Damber, subs. (old).—A man, cove, or cull belonging to the fraternity
of vagabonds. For synonyms, see Cove.
Damme, Dammy or Dammy-Boy, subs. (old).—A sixteenth and seventeenth
century roysterer; a blustering fellow. [So called from the excess to
which swearing was carried by the rakes of the day.]
1654. Witts, Recreations. To valiant dammee. Dam-me, thy brain is
valiant, ’tis confest; Thou more, that with it every day dar’st
jest Thy self into fresh braules; but call’d upon, With swearing
dam-me, answer’st every one. Keep thy self there, and think thy
valour right, He that dares damne himself, dares more than fight.
1687. Cleveland, Works. Depriver of those solid joys, Which sack
creates; author of noise Among the roaring punks and dammy-boys.
Dam Nasty Oath, subs. phr. (American).—A corruption of amnesty oath.
[Southerners, at the close of the Civil War, were required, as an
outward sign of submission to the Union, to subscribe to certain
conditions, upon which a free pardon was granted. The terms were deemed
unpalatable—hence dam nasty oath.]
Damned-Soul, subs. (old).—A Customs House clearing clerk. [Because to
avoid perjury he was alleged to have taken a general oath never to
swear truly in making ‘declarations.’] [Lexicon Balatronicum, 1811.]
Damp (Generally, something damp), subs. phr. (common).—A drink; or ‘go’
(q.v. for synonyms).
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxvii., p. 228. ‘So we’ll just give
ourselves a damp, Sammy.’ Saying this, Mr. Weller mixed two glasses
of spirits and water, and produced a couple of pipes.
Damper, subs. (thieves’).—1. A till or ‘lob.’ Drawing a damper =
robbing a till, i.e., ‘lob-sneaking.’
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 445, s.v.
2. (tailors’).—A sweater; one who takes as much as possible out of
workmen for a minimum of pay.