1885. Household Words, 20 June, p. 155. fiddler. This same word
also does duty as an equivalent for a farthing.
Fiddlers’-Fare, subs. (old).—Meat, drink, and money—Grose, 1785.
Fiddlers’-Green, subs. (nautical).—A sailor’s elysium (situate on the
hither and cooler side of hell) of wine, women, and song.
1837. Marryat, Snarley-Yow, ch. ix. At Fiddler’s Green, where
seamen true, When here they’ve done their duty, The bowl of grog
shall still renew, And pledge to love and beauty.
1842. Lover, Handy Andy, ch. xii. ‘He would as soon go into Squire
Egan’s house as go to Fiddler’s Green.’ ‘Faith, then, there’s worse
places than Fiddler’s Green,’ said Andy, ‘as some people may find
out one o’ these days.’
1884. Henley and Stevenson, Admiral Guinea, iv., 4. Jack Gaunt, ...
it’s thanks to you I’ve got my papers, and this time I’m shipped
for Fiddler’s Green.
Fiddlers’-Money, subs. (old).—Sixpences. [From the custom at country
merry-makings of each couple paying the fiddler sixpence.] Also
generically, small silver.
Fiddlestick! intj. (colloquial).—Nonsense; sometimes fiddle-stick’s end
and fiddle-de-dee.
1600. Nashe, Summer’s Last Will, in wks. (Grosart) VI., 130. A
fiddle-sticke! ne’re tell me I am full of words.
1701. Farquhar, Sir Harry Wildair, Act IV., Sc. ii. Golden
pleasures! Golden fiddlesticks—What d’ye tell me of your canting
stuff?
1834. Southey, The Doctor, ch. clxxxix. At such an assertion he
would have exclaimed, a fiddlestick! Why and how that word has
become an interjection of contempt I must leave those to explain
who can.
Subs.—1. See quot.
1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 172. Fiddlestick, a spring
saw.