HUMBLE PIE, to “eat HUMBLE PIE,” to knock under, be submissive. The
UMBLES, or entrails of a deer, were anciently made into a dish for
servants, while their masters feasted off the haunch.
HUMBUG, an imposition, or a person who imposes upon others. A very
expressive but slang word, synonymous at one time with HUM AND HAW.
Lexicographers have fought shy at adopting this word. Richardson uses
it frequently to express the meaning of other words, but omits it in
the alphabetical arrangement as unworthy of recognition! In the first
edition of this work, 1785 was given as the earliest date at which
the word could be found in a printed book. Since then I have traced
HUMBUG half a century farther back, on the title-page of a singular old
jest-book—“_The Universal Jester_; or a pocket companion for the Wits:
being a choice collection of merry conceits, facetious drolleries, &c.,
clenchers, closers, closures, bon-mots, and HUMBUGS,” by _Ferdinando
Killigrew_. London, about 1735–40.
I have also ascertained that the famous Orator Henley was known to the
mob as ORATOR HUMBUG. The fact may be learnt from an illustration in
that exceedingly curious little collection of _Caricatures_, published
in 1757, many of which were sketched by Lord Bolingbroke—Horace
Walpole filling in the names and explanations. _Halliwell_ describes
HUMBUG as “a person who hums,” and cites Dean Milles’ MS., which was
written about 1760. It has been stated that the word is a corruption
of Hamburgh, from which town so many false bulletins and reports
came during the war in the last century. “Oh, that is _Hamburgh_ [or
HUMBUG],” was the answer to any fresh piece of news which smacked of
improbability. _Grose_ mentions it in his Dictionary, 1785; and in a
little printed squib, published in 1808, entitled _Bath Characters_, by
_T. Goosequill_, HUMBUG is thus mentioned in a comical couplet on the
title page:—
“Wee Thre Bath Deities bee,
HUMBUG, Follie, and Varietee.”
Gradually from this time the word began to assume a place in periodical
literature, and in novels not written by squeamish or over-precise
authors. In the preface to a flat, and, I fear, unprofitable poem,
entitled, _The Reign of_ HUMBUG, _a Satire_, 8vo., 1836, the author
thus apologises for the use of the word—“I have used the term HUMBUG
to designate this principle [wretched sophistry of life generally],
considering that it is now adopted into our language as much as
the words _dunce_, _jockey_, _cheat_, _swindler_, &c., which were
formerly only colloquial terms.” A correspondent, who in a late number
of _Adersaria_ ingeniously traced _bombast_ to the inflated Doctor
Paracelsus Bombast, considers that HUMBUG may, in like manner, be
derived from _Homberg_, the distinguished chemist of the court of the
Duke of Orleans, who, according to the following passage from Bishop
Berkeley’s “Siris,” was an ardent and successful seeker after the
philosopher’s stone!
“§ 194.—Of this there cannot be a better proof than the experiment of
Monsieur Homberg, WHO MADE GOLD OF MERCURY BY INTRODUCING LIGHT INTO
ITS PORES, but at such trouble and expense, that, I suppose, nobody
will try the experiment for profit. By this injunction of light and
mercury, both bodies became fixed, and produced a third different to
either, to wit, real gold. For the truth of which FACT I refer to the
memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences.”—_Berkeley’s Works_, vol.
ii., p. 366, (Wright’s edition).
The universal use of this term is remarkable; in California there is a
town called _Humbug Flat_—a name which gives a significant hint of the
acuteness of the first settler.
HUM-DRUM, tedious, tiresome, boring; “a society of gentlemen who used
to meet near the Charter House, or at the King’s Head, St. John’s
street. They were characterised by less mystery and more pleasantry
than the Freemasons.”—_Bacchus and Venus_, 1737. In the _West_ a low
cart.
HUMP, to botch, or spoil.
HUMP UP, “to have one’s HUMP UP,” to be cross or ill-tempered—like a
cat with its back set up.—_See_ MONKEY.
HUMPTY DUMPTY, short and thick.
HUNCH, to shove, or jostle.
HUNTER PITCHING, cockshies, or three throws a penny.—_See_ COCKSHY.
HUNTING THE SQUIRREL, when hackney and stage coachmen try to upset each
other’s vehicles on the public roads. _Nearly obsolete._
HURDY-GURDY, a droning musical instrument shaped like a large fiddle,
and turned by a crank, used by Savoyards and itinerant foreign
musicians in England, now nearly superseded by the hand-organ. A
correspondent suggests that the name is derived from being _girded_ on
the HARDIES, loins or buttocks.—_Scotch_; _Tam o’Shanter_. In _Italy_
the instrument is called VIOLA.
HUSH-MONEY, a sum given to quash a prosecution or evidence.
HUSH-SHOP, or CRIB, a shop where beer or spirits is sold “on the
quiet”—no licence being paid.
HYPS, or HYPO, the blue devils. _From Hypochondriasis._—SWIFT.
IN, “to be IN with a person,” to be even with, or UP to him.
IN FOR IT, in trouble or difficulty of any kind.
IN FOR PATTER, waiting for trial.
INEXPRESSIBLES, UNUTTERABLES, UNWHISPERABLES, or SIT-UPONS, trousers,
the nether garments.
INNINGS, earnings, money coming in; “he’s had long INNINGS,” _i.e._, a
good run of luck, plenty of cash flowing in.
INSIDE LINING, dinner, &c.
INTERESTING, “to be in an INTERESTING situation,” applied to females
when _enceinte_.
INTO, “hold my hat, Jim, I’ll be INTO him,” _i.e._, I will fight him.
In this sense equivalent to PITCH INTO or SLIP INTO.
INVITE, an invitation—a corruption used by stuck-up people of mushroom
origin.
IPSAL DIXAL, Cockney corruption of _ipse dixit_—said of one’s simple
uncorroborated assertion.
IT’S GOOD ON THE STAR, it’s easy to open.
IVORIES, teeth; “a box” or “cage of IVORIES,” a set of teeth, the
mouth; “wash your IVORIES,” _i.e._, “drink.” The word is also used to
denote DICE.
JABBER, to talk, or chatter. A cant word in _Swift’s_ time.
JACK, a low prostitute.
JACK KETCH, the public hangman.—_See_ KETCH.
JACK SPRAT, a diminutive boy or man.
JACK TAR, a sailor.
JACK-AT-A-PINCH, one whose assistance is only sought on an emergency;
JACK-IN-THE-WATER, an attendant at the watermen’s stairs on the river
and sea-port towns, who does not mind wetting his feet for a customer’s
convenience, in consideration of a douceur.
JACKS, HALF JACKS, card counters, resembling in size and appearance
sovereigns and half-sovereigns, for which they are occasionally passed
to simple persons. In large gambling establishments the “heaps of gold”
are frequently composed mainly of JACKS.
JACKETING, a thrashing.
JACKEY, gin.