OLD TOM, gin.
OLIVER, the moon; “OLIVER don’t widdle,” _i.e._, the moon does not
shine. _Nearly obsolete._—_Bulwer’s Paul Clifford._
OMEE, a master or landlord; “the OMEE of the cassey’s a nark on the
pitch,” the master of the house will not let us perform. _Italian_,
UOMO, a man; “UOMO DELLA CASA,” the master of the house.
ON, “to be ON,” in public-house or vulgar parlance, is synonymous with
getting “tight,” or tipsy; “it’s _Saint Monday_ with him, I see he’s ON
again,” _i.e._, drunk as usual, or ON _the road_ to it.
ON THE FLY, getting one’s living by thieving or other illegitimate
means; the phrase is applied to men the same as ON THE LOOSE is to
women.
ON THE LOOSE, obtaining a living by prostitution, in reality, on the
streets. The term is applied to females only, excepting in the case of
SPREES, when men carousing are sometimes said to be ON THE LOOSE.
ON THE NOSE, on the watch or look out.—_See_ NOSE.
ON THE SHELF, to be transported. With old maids it has another and very
different meaning.
ON THE TILES, out all night “on the spree,” or carousing,—in allusion
to the London cats on their amatory excursions.
ONE IN TEN, a parson.
ONE-ER, that which stands for ONE, a blow that requires no more. In
_Dickens’_ amusing work, the “Marchioness” tells Dick Swiveller that
“her missus is a ONE-ER at cards.”
ORACLE, “to work the ORACLE,” to plan, manœuvre, to succeed by a wily
stratagem.
OTTER, eightpence.—_Italian_, OTTO, eight.
OTTOMY, a thin man, a skeleton, a dwarf. Vulgar pronunciation of
_Anatomy_. _Shakespere_ has ’ATOMY.
OUT, a dram glass. The _habitué_ of a gin-shop, desirous of treating a
brace of friends, calls for a quartern of gin and three OUTS, by which
he means three glasses which will exactly contain the quartern.
OUT AND OUT, prime, excellent, of the first quality. OUT AND OUTER,
“one who is of an OUT AND OUT description,” UP to anything.
An ancient MS. has this couplet, which shows the antiquity of the
phrase—
“The Kyng was good alle aboute,
And she was wycked _oute and oute_.”
OUT OF COLLAR, out of place,—in allusion to servants. When in place,
the term is COLLARED UP.—_Theatrical_ and _general_.
OUT ON THE LOOSE, “on the spree,” in search of adventures.
OUT ON THE PICKAROON. PICARONE is _Spanish_ for a thief, but this
phrase does not necessarily mean anything dishonest, but ready for
anything in the way of excitement to turn up; also to be in search of
anything profitable.
OUT-SIDER, a person who does not habitually bet, or is not admitted
to the “Ring.” Also, a horse whose name does not appear among the
“favourites.”
OVER! or OVER THE LEFT, _i.e._, the left shoulder—a common exclamation
of disbelief in what is being narrated,—implying that the results of a
proposed plan will be “over the left,” _i.e._, in the wrong direction,
loss instead of gain.
OWNED, a canting expression used by the ultra-Evangelicals when a
popular preacher makes many converts. The converts themselves are
called his “SEALS.”
P’s AND Q’s, particular points, precise behaviour; “mind your P’S
AND Q’S,” be very careful. Originating, according to some, from the
similarity of p’s and q’s in the hornbook alphabet, and therefore the
warning of an old dame to her pupils; or, according to others, of a
French dancing master to his pupils, to mind their _pieds_ (feet) and
_queues_ (wigs) when making a bow.
PACK, to go away; “now, then, PACK off there,” _i.e._, be off, don’t
stop here any longer. _Old_, “_Make speede to flee, be_ PACKING _and
awaie_.”—_Baret’s Alvearie_, 1580.
PAD, “to stand PAD,” to beg with a small piece of paper pinned on the
breast, inscribed “I’m starving.”