SHAKE, to take away, to steal, or run off with anything; “what SHAKES,
Bill?” “None,” _i.e._, no chance of committing a robbery.—_See the
following._
SHAKE, or SHAKES, a bad bargain is said to be “no great SHAKES;”
“pretty fair SHAKES” is anything good or favourable.—_Byron._ In
_America_, a fair SHAKE is a fair trade or a good bargain.
SHAKE LURK, a false paper carried by an impostor, giving an account of
a “dreadful shipwreck.”
SHAKER, a shirt.
SHAKESTER, or SHICKSTER, a prostitute. Amongst costermongers this term
is invariably applied to _ladies_, or the wives of tradesmen, and
females generally of the classes immediately above them.
SHAKY, said of a person of questionable health, integrity, or solvency;
at the _University_, of one not likely to pass his examination.
SHALER, a girl.
SHALLOW, a flat basket used by costers.
SHALLOWS, “to go on the SHALLOWS,” to go half naked.
SHALLOW-COVE, a begging rascal who goes about the country half
naked,—with the most limited amount of rags upon his person, wearing
neither shoes, stockings, nor hat.
SHALLOW-MOT, a ragged woman,—the frequent companion of the SHALLOW-COVE.
SHALLOW-SCREEVER, a man who sketches and draws on the pavement.—_See_
SCREEVER.
SHAM ABRAHAM, to feign sickness.—_See_ ABRAHAM.
SHANDY-GAFF, ale and ginger beer; perhaps SANG DE GOFF, the favourite
mixture of one GOFF, a blacksmith.
SHANKS, legs.
SHANKS’ NAG, “to ride SHANKS’ NAG,” to go on foot.
SHANT, a pot or quart; “SHANT of bivvy,” a quart of beer.
SHAPES, “to cut up” or “show SHAPES,” to exhibit pranks, or flightiness.
SHARP, or SHARPER, a cunning cheat, a rogue,—the opposite of FLAT.
SHARP’S-ALLEY BLOOD WORMS, beef sausages and black puddings.
Sharp’s-alley was very recently a noted slaughtering place near
Smithfield.
SHARPING-OMEE, a policeman.
SHARK, a sharper, a swindler. _Bow-street_ term in 1785, now in most
dictionaries.—_Friesic_ and _Danish_, SCHURK.—_See_ LAND-SHARK.
SHAVE, a false alarm, a hoax, a sell. This was much used in the Crimea
during the Russian campaign.
SHAVE, a narrow escape. At Cambridge, “just SHAVING through,” or
“making a SHAVE,” is just escaping a “pluck” by coming out at the
bottom of the list.
“My terms are anything but dear,
Then read with me, and never fear;
The examiners we’re sure to queer,
And get through, if you make a SHAVE on’t.”
_The Private Tutor._