PIT, a breast pocket.
PITCH, a fixed locality where a patterer can hold forth to a gaping
multitude for at least some few minutes continuously; “to do a PITCH in
the drag,” to perform in the street.
PITCH INTO, to fight; “PITCH INTO him, Bill,” _i.e._, give him a
thrashing.
PITCH THE FORK, to tell a pitiful tale.
PITCH THE NOB, PRICK THE GARTER, which see.
PLANT, a dodge, a preconcerted swindle; a position in the street to
sell from. PLANT, a swindle, may be thus described: a coster will join
a party of gambling costers that he never saw before, and commence
tossing. When sufficient time has elapsed to remove all suspicions of
companionship, his mate will come up and commence betting on each of
his PAL’S throws with those standing around. By a curious quickness
of hand, a coster can make the toss tell favourably for his wagering
friend, who meets him in the evening after the play is over and shares
the spoil.
PLANT, to mark a person out for plunder or robbery, to conceal, or
place.—_Old cant._
PLEBS, a term used to stigmatise a tradesman’s son at Westminster
School. _Latin_, PLEBS, the vulgar.
PLOUGHED, drunk.—_Household Words_, No. 183. Also a _University_ term
equivalent to PLUCKED.
PLUCK, the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal,—all that is PLUCKED
away in connection with the windpipe, from the chest of a sheep or hog;
among low persons, courage, valour, and a stout heart.—_See_ MOLLYGRUBS.
PLUCK’D-’UN, a stout or brave fellow; “he’s a rare PLUCKED-’UN,”
_i.e._, dares face anything.
During the Crimean war, PLUCKY, signifying courageous, seemed likely
to become a favourite term in May-Fair, even among the ladies. An
eminent critic, however, who had been bred a butcher, having informed
the fashionable world that in his native town the _sheep’s head_ always
went with the PLUCK, the term has been gradually falling into discredit
at the West End.
It has been said that a brave soldier is PLUCKY in attack, and GAME
when wounded. Women are more GAME than PLUCKY.