HEEL-TAPS, small quantities of wine or other beverage left in the
bottom of glasses, considered as a sign that the liquor is not liked,
and therefore unfriendly and unsocial to the host and the company.
HEIGH HO! a cant term for stolen yarn, from the expression used to
apprize the dishonest manufacturer that the speaker has stolen yarn to
sell.—_Norwich cant._
HELL, a fashionable gambling house. In printing offices, the term is
generally applied to the old tin box in which is thrown the broken
or spoilt type, purchased by the founders for re-casting. _Nearly
obsolete._
HEN AND CHICKENS, large and small pewter pots.
HEN-PECKED, said of one whose wife “wears the breeches.”
HERRING POND, the sea; “to be sent across the HERRING POND,” to be
transported.
HIDING, a thrashing. _Webster_ gives this word, but not its root, HIDE,
to beat, flay by whipping.
HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY, all together,—as hogs and pigs lie.
HIGH AND DRY, an epithet applied to the _soi disant_ “orthodox” clergy
of the last century, for whom, while ill-paid curates did the work, the
_comforts_ of the establishment were its greatest charms.
“Wherein are various ranks, and due degrees,
The Bench for honour, and the Stall for ease.”
Though often confounded with, they are utterly dissimilar to, the
modern High Church or Anglo-Catholic party. Their equally uninteresting
opponents deserved the corresponding appellation of LOW AND SLOW; while
the so-called “Broad Church” is defined with equal felicity as the
BROAD AND SHALLOW.
HIGH FLY, “ON THE HIGH FLY,” on the begging or cadging system.
HIGH JINKS, “ON THE HIGH JINKS,” taking up an arrogant position,
assuming an undue superiority.
HIGH-FLYER, a genteel beggar, or swindler.
HIGH FLYERS, large swings, in frames, at fairs and races.
HIGH-LOWS, laced boots reaching a trifle higher than ancle-jacks.
HIGHFALUTEN, showy, affected, tinselled, affecting certain pompous or
fashionable airs, stuck up; “come, none of yer HIGHFALUTEN games,”
_i.e._, you must not show off or imitate the swell here.—_American_
slang from the _Dutch_, VERLOOTEN.
HIP INSIDE, inside coat pocket.
HIP OUTSIDE, outside coat pocket.
HIVITE, a student of St. Begh’s College, Cumberland; pronounced ST.
BEE’S.—_University._
HOAX, to deceive, or ridicule,—_Grose_ says was originally a
_University_ cant word. Corruption of HOCUS, to cheat.
HOCKS, the feet; CURBY HOCKS, round or clumsy feet.
HOCUS, to drug a person, and then rob him. The HOCUS generally consists
of snuff and beer.
HOCUS POCUS, Gipsey words of magic, similar to the modern “presto
fly.” The Gipseys pronounce “_Habeas Corpus_,” HAWCUS PACCUS (_see
Crabb’s Gipsey’s Advocate_, p. 18); can this have anything to do with
the origin of HOCUS POCUS? _Turner_ gives OCHUS BOCHUS, an old demon.
Pegge, however, states that it is a burlesque rendering of the words
of the unreformed church service at the delivery of the host, HOC
EST CORPUS, which the early Protestants considered as a species of
conjuring, and ridiculed accordingly.
HODGE, a countryman or provincial clown. I don’t know that it has
been elsewhere remarked, but most country districts in England have
one or more families of the name of HODGE; indeed, GILES and HODGE
appear to be the favourite hobnail nomenclature. Not in any way writing
disrespectfully, was the slang word taken from Hog—with the _g_ soft,
which gives the _dg_ pronunciation? In old canting dictionaries HODGE
stands for a country clown; so, indeed, does ROGER, another favourite
provincial name.—_Vide Bacchus and Venus._
HOG, “to go the whole HOG,” to do anything with a person’s entire
strength, not “by halves;” realised by the phrase “in for a penny in
for a pound.” _Bartlett_ claims this to be a pure _American_ phrase;
whilst _Ker_, of course, gives it a _Dutch_ origin.—_Old._