3. (colloquial).—A blockhead. For synonyms, see Cabbage-head and
Buffle.
A penny, twopence or threepence more and up goes the donkey, phr.
(common).—An exclamation of derision. [Street acrobats’: the custom was
to finish off the pitch by balancing a donkey at the top of a ladder on
receipt of ‘tuppence more’; which sum, however often subscribed, was
always re-demanded, so that the donkey never ‘went up’ at all.]
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 41, col. 2. Mr. Joseph Muggins begs to
inform his old crony, Punch, that the report of Sir John Pullon,
‘as to the possibility of elevating an ass to the head of the poll
by bribery and corruption’ is perfectly correct, provided there is
no abatement in the price. Let him canvass again, and Mr. J. M.
pledges himself, whatever his weight, if he will only stand one
penny more, up goes the donkey!
1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xv. He ... has left the
key in the lock; so I shall take the liberty of exploring a little;
I’ve a strong though undeveloped taste for architectural
antiquities. Twopence more, and up goes the donkey! Come along! So
saying, he flung open the door.
Who stole the donkey? phr. (common).—A street cry once in vogue on the
appearance of a man in a white hat. With a similar expression ‘Who
stole the leg of mutton’? applied to the police, it had its rise in a
case of larceny. J. H. Dixon, writing to Hotten, Nov. 6th, 1864,
remembered both. The first occurred at Hatton Garden Police Court,
where a man, wearing a white hat, was charged with stealing a
costermonger’s donkey.
1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 3, col. 5. Who stole the donkey?
The man with the white hat! This was a very popular street colloquy
some years ago.
To ride the donkey, verb. phr. (common).—To cheat with weights and
measures. Also donkey-riding = cheating as aforesaid. Cf., Ambush.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. Donkey-Riding.
Cheating in weight or measure; miscounting.
To talk the hind leg off a donkey.—See Talk.
Donkey-Drops, subs. phr. (cricket).—See quot.
1890. The Hon. and Rev. E. Lyttelton, Cricket, p. 69. Slow
round-hand bowling, such as is seldom seen in good matches, but is
effective against boys, and is known by the contumelious
designation of donkey-drops.
Donkey’s-ears, subs. (old).—An old-fashioned shirt-collar with long
points.
Donna.—See Dona.
Donnish, adj. Donnism, Donnishness, subs. (University).—Arrogant;
arrogance. [From Don (q.v.).]
1823. Hints for Oxford, p. 66. The Bachelors, we imagine, are the
most pleasant set of beings in Oxford.... They have luckily not
been so long emancipated as to have become stiff, and donnish, and
disagreeable.
c. 1830. Ballad, quoted in N. and Q., 2nd S., xii., 154. Our
Yankee, who’d commenced the fight and rather to be donnish meant,
Sam squabbled felt (as well he might) with genu-ine astonishment.
1853. Thackeray, in Scribner’s Mag., Oct., 1887, p. 415. At Boston
is very good literate company indeed; it is like Edinburgh for
that,—a vast amount of toryism and donnishness everywhere.
1888. Mrs. Ward, Robt. Elsmere, vol. I., bk. I., ch. ii., p. 48. He
was a curious man, a refined-looking, melancholy creature, with a
face that reminded you of Wordsworth, and cold donnish ways, except
to his children and the poor.
Donny.—See Dona.
Donovans, subs. (old).—Potatoes. Cf., Murphy. [Donovan, like Murphy, is
a common Irish patronym.]
Don’s Week, subs. phr. (tailors’).—The week before a general holiday.
Don’t get your Back up.—See Back, and Hold your Hair on.
Don’t-name-’ems, subs. phr. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms, see
Kicksies.
Don’t you wish you may get it, phr. (street).—A retort forcible.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 179. A thousand
marks, continued the confessor.... Sir Guy shrank from the monk’s
gaze; he turned to the window, and muttered to himself something
that sounded like, ‘don’t you wish you may get it?’
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 22, col. 2. Who would own her heart thine,
Though a monarch beset it, And love on unchanged, ‘don’t you wish
you may get it?’
1844. Puck, p. 14. The Proctor caught him in a spree, Asked his
name and college with courtesie; ‘Don’t you wish you may get it?’
and off he ran, Did my spicy swell small college man.
Doodle, subs. (old).—1. A dolt. For synonyms, see Buffle and
Cabbage-head. [Thought to be a corruption of Dawdle, to trifle.]
1775. Ash, Eng. Dict., s.v.
1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. v. I know it was
every word composed by that abominable old addlehead, Dr. ——, a
doodle that he is!