PUT UP, to suggest, to incite, “he PUT me UP to it;” to have done with;
PUT IT UP, is a vulgar answer often heard in the streets. PUT UP, to
stop at an hotel or tavern for entertainment.
PUT UPON, cheated, deluded, oppressed.
PYGOSTOLE, the least irreverent of names for the peculiar “M.B.” coats
worn by Tractarian curates.—
“It is true that the wicked make sport
Of our PYGOSTOLES, as we go by;
And one gownsman, in Trinity Court,
Went so far as to call me a ‘Guy,’”
QUARTEREEN, a farthing.—_Gibraltar term._ _Ital._, QUATTRINO.
QUEAN (not QUEEN), a strumpet.
QUEER, an old cant word, once in continual use as a prefix, signifying
base, roguish, or worthless,—the opposite of RUM, which signified good
and genuine. QUEER, in all probability, is immediately derived from the
cant language. It has been mooted that it came into use from a _quære_
(?) being set before a man’s name; but it is more than probable that it
was brought into this country by the Gipseys from Germany, where QUER
signifies “_cross_,” or “_crooked_.” At all events, it is believed to
have been first used in England as a cant word.
QUEEN BESS, the Queen of Clubs,—perhaps because that queen, history
says, was of a swarthy complexion.—_North Hants._—_See Gentleman’s
Magazine for 1791_, p. 141.
QUEER, “to QUEER a flat,” to puzzle or confound a “gull” or silly
fellow.
“Who in a _row_ like Tom could lead the van,
_Booze_ in the _ken_, or at the _spellken_ hustle?
Who QUEER a flat,” &c.
_Don Juan_, canto xi., 19.
QUEER BAIL, worthless persons who for a consideration would stand bail
for any one in court. Insolvent Jews generally performed this office,
which gave rise to the term JEW-BAIL.—_See_ MOUNTERS: both nearly
obsolete.
QUEER BIT-MAKERS, coiners.
QUEER SCREENS, forged bank notes.
QUEER SOFT, bad money.
QUEER STREET, “in QUEER STREET,” in difficulty or in want.
QUEER CUFFEN, a justice of the peace, or magistrate—a very ancient
term, mentioned in the earliest slang dictionary.
QUERIER, a chimney-sweep who calls from house to house,—formerly termed
KNULLER, which see.