“What do you mean by the Earl of Cork?” asked Mr. Squander. “The ace
of diamonds, your honour. It’s the worst ace, and the poorest card in
the pack, and is called the Earl of Cork, because he’s the poorest
nobleman in Ireland.”—_Carleton’s Traits and Stories of the Irish
Peasantry._
EARWIG, a clergyman, also one who prompts another maliciously.
EARWIGGING, a rebuke in private; a WIGGING is more public.
EASE, to rob; “EASING a bloak,” robbing a man.
EGG, or EGG on, to excite, stimulate, or provoke one person to quarrel
with another, &c. _Cor. of edge, or edge on._—_Ancient._
ELBOW, “to shake one’s ELBOW,” to play at cards.
ELBOW GREASE, labour, or industry.
ELEPHANT, “to have SEEN THE ELEPHANT,” to be “_up_ to the latest
move,” or “_down_ to the last new trick;” to be knowing, and not
“green,” &c. Possibly a metaphor taken from the travelling menageries,
where the ELEPHANT is the _finale_ of the exhibition.—Originally an
_Americanism_. _Bartlett_ gives conflicting examples. _General_ now,
however.
EVAPORATE, to go, or run away.
EVERLASTING STAIRCASE, the treadmill. Sometimes called “Colonel
Chesterton’s everlasting staircase,” from the gallant inventor or
improver.
EXTENSIVE, frequently applied in a slang sense to a person’s appearance
or talk; “rather EXTENSIVE that!” intimating that the person alluded to
is showing off, or “cutting it fat.”
EYE WATER, gin.
FAD, a hobby, a favourite pursuit.
FADGE, a farthing.
FADGE, to suit or fit; “it won’t FADGE,” it will not do. Used by
_Shakespere_, but now heard only in the streets.
FAG, to beat, also one boy working for another at school.
FAG, a schoolboy who performs a servant’s offices to a superior
school-mate. _Grose_ thinks FAGGED OUT is derived from this.
FAGOT, a term of opprobrium used by low people to children; “you
little FAGOT, you!” FAGOT was originally a term of contempt for a dry,
shrivelled old woman, whose bones were like a bundle of sticks, only
fit to burn.—Compare the French expression for a heretic, _sentir le
fagot_.
FAKE, to cheat, or swindle; to do anything; to go on, or continue; to
make or construct; to steal, or rob,—a verb variously used. FAKED,
done, or done for; “FAKE away, there’s no down,” go on, there is nobody
looking. _Mayhew_ says it is from the _Latin_, FACIMENTUM.
FAKEMENT, a false begging petition, any act of robbery, swindling, or
deception.
FAKEMENT CHARLEY, the owner’s private mark.
FAKER, one who makes or FAKES anything.
FAKING A CLY, picking a pocket.
FAMBLES, or FAMMS, the hands.—_Ancient cant._ _German_, FAUGEN.
FAMILY MEN, or PEOPLE, thieves, or burglars.
FAN, a waistcoat.
FANCY, the favourite sports, pets, or pastime of a person, _the tan of
low life_. Pugilists are sometimes termed THE FANCY. _Shakespere_ uses
the word in the sense of a favourite, or pet; and the paramour of a
prostitute is still called her FANCY-MAN.
FANCY-BLOAK, a fancy or sporting man.
FAN-TAIL, a dustman’s hat.
FAST, gay, spreeish, unsteady, thoughtless,—an Americanism that has
of late ascended from the streets to the drawing-room. The word has
certainly now a distinct meaning, which it had not thirty years ago.
QUICK is the synonyme for FAST, but a QUICK MAN would not convey
the meaning of a FAST MAN,—a person who by late hours, gaiety, and
continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast and wears himself out. In
polite society a FAST young lady is one who affects mannish habits,
or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment,—talks
slang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs,
horses, &c. An amusing anecdote is told of a FAST young lady, the
daughter of a right reverend prelate, who was an adept in _horseflesh_.
Being desirous of ascertaining the opinion of a candidate for
ordination, who had the look of a bird of the same feather, as to the
merits of some cattle just brought to her father’s palace for her to
select from, she was assured by him they were utterly unfit for a
lady’s use. With a knowing look at the horses’ points, she gave her
decision in these choice words, “Well, I agree with you; they _are_ a
rum lot, as the Devil said of the ten commandments.”