LENGTH, six months’ imprisonment.—_See_ STRETCH.
LET DRIVE, to strike, or attack with vigour.
LET IN, to cheat or victimise.
LET ON, to give an intimation of having some knowledge of a subject.
_Ramsay_ employs the phrase in the _Gentle Shepherd_. Common in
Scotland.
LETTY, a bed. _Italian_, LETTO.
LEVANTER, a card sharper, or defaulting gambler. A correspondent states
that it was formerly the custom to give out to the creditors, when a
person was in pecuniary difficulties, and it was convenient for him to
keep away, that he was gone to the _East_, or the LEVANT; hence, when
one loses a bet, and decamps without settling, he is said to LEVANT.
LICK, a blow; LICKING, a beating; “to put in big LICKS,” a curious and
common phrase meaning that great exertions are being made.—_Dryden;
North._
LICK, to excel, or overcome; “if you aint sharp he’ll LICK you,”
_i.e._, be finished first. Signifies, also, to whip, chastise, or
conquer. _Ancient cant_, LYCKE.
LIFER, a convict who is sentenced to transportation _for life_.
LIFT, to steal, pick pockets; “there’s a clock been LIFTED,” said when
a watch has been stolen. The word is as old as the Border forays, and
is used by _Shakespere_. SHOPLIFTER is a recognised term.
LIGHT, “to be able to get a LIGHT at a house” is to get credit.
LIGHT-FEEDERS, silver spoons.
LIGHTS, a “cake,” a fool, a soft or “doughy” person.
LIGHTS, the eyes.
LIGHTNING, gin; “FLASH O’ LIGHTNING,” a glass of gin.
LIMB OF THE LAW, a lawyer, or clerk articled to that profession.
LINE, calling, trade, profession; “what LINE are you in?” “the building
LINE.”
LINGO, talk, or language. Slang is termed LINGO amongst the lower
orders. _Italian_, LINGUA.
LIP, bounce, impudence; “come, none o’ yer LIP!”
LIQUOR, or LIQUOR UP, to drink drams.—_Americanism._ IN LIQUOR, tipsy,
or drunk.
LITTLE GO, the “Previous Examination,” at Cambridge the first
University examination for undergraduates in their second year of
matriculation. At Oxford, the corresponding term is THE SMALLS.
LITTLE SNAKES-MAN, a little thief, who is generally passed through a
small aperture to open any door to let in the rest of the gang.
LIVE-STOCK, vermin of the _insect_ kind.
LOAFER, a lazy vagabond. Generally considered an _Americanism_. LOPER,
or LOAFER, however, was in general use as a cant term in the early
part of the last century. LAND-LOPER, was a vagabond who begged in the
attire of a sailor; and the sea phrase, LAND-LUBBER, was doubtless
synonymous.—_See the Times_, 3rd November, 1859, for a reference to
LOAFER.
LOAVER, money.—_See_ LOUR.
LOB, a till, or money drawer.