STOW, to leave off, or have done; “STOW IT, the gorger’s leary,”
leave off, the person is looking. _See_ STASH, with which it is
synonymous.—_Ancient cant._
STOW FAKING! leave off there, be quiet! FAKING implying anything that
may be going on.
STRAW. Married ladies are said to be “in THE STRAW” at their
_accouchements_. The phrase is a coarse allusion to farm-yard animals
in a similar condition.
STRAWING, _selling_ straws in the streets (generally for a penny) and
_giving_ the purchaser a paper (indecent or political), or a gold (!)
ring,—neither of which the patterer states he is allowed to sell.
STREAK, to decamp, run away.—_Saxon._ In _America_ the phrase is “to
make STREAKS,” or “make TRACKS.”
STREAKY, irritated, ill-tempered.
STREET PITCHERS, negro minstrels, ballad singers, long song men, men
“working a board” on which have been painted various exciting scenes in
some terrible drama, the details of which the STREET PITCHER is bawling
out, and selling in a little book or broadsheet (price one penny); or
any persons who make a stand in the streets, and sell articles for
their living.
STRETCH, abbreviation of “STRETCH one’s neck,” to hang, be executed as
a malefactor.—_Bulwer’s Paul Clifford._
STRETCH, twelve months,—generally used to intimate the time any one
has been sentenced by the judge or magistrate. ONE STRETCH is to be
imprisoned twelve months, TWO STRETCH is two years, THREE STRETCH is
three years, and so on.
STRETCHER, a falsehood.
STRETCHER, a contrivance with handles, used by the police to carry off
persons who are violent or drunk.
STRETCHER FENCER, one who sells braces.
STRETCHING MATCH, an execution.—_See_ STRETCH.
STRIKE ME LUCKY! an expression used by the lower orders when making
a bargain, derived from the old custom of striking hands together,
leaving in that of the seller a LUCK PENNY as an earnest that the
bargain is concluded. In Ireland, at cattle markets, &c., a penny, or
other small coin, is always given by the buyer to the seller to ratify
the bargain.—_Hudibras._ Anciently this was called a GOD’S PENNY.
“With that he cast him a God’s peny.”—_Heir of Linne._
The origin of the phrase being lost sight of, like that of many others,
it is often corrupted now-a-days into STRIKE ME SILLY.
STRIKE THE JIGGER, to pick the lock, or break open the door.
STROMMEL, straw.—_Ancient cant._ Halliwell says that in Norfolk
STRUMMEL is a name for hair.
STRONG, “to come it STRONG.”—_See_ COME.
STUCK-UP, “purse-proud”—a form of snobbishness very common in those
who have risen in the world. Mr. Albert Smith has written some amusing
papers on the _Natural History of_ STUCK-UP _People_.
STUFF, money.
STUFF, to make false but plausible statements, to praise ironically, to
make game of a person,—literally, to STUFF or CRAM him with gammon or
falsehood.
STUMP, to go on foot.
STUMPED, bowled out, done for, bankrupt, poverty stricken.—_Cricketing
term._
STUMPS, legs, or feet.
STUMPY, money.
STUMP UP, to pay one’s share, to pay the reckoning, to bring forth the
money reluctantly.
STUN, to astonish.
STUNNER, a first-rate person or article.
STUNNERS, feelings of great astonishment; “it put the STUNNERS on me,”
it confounded me.
STUNNING, first-rate, very good. “STUNNING pears,” shouts the coster,
“only eight a penny.”—_Vide Athenæum_, 26th March, 1859. Sometimes
amplified to STUNNING JOE BANKS! when the expression is supposed to be
in its most intense form. JOE BANKS was a noted character in the last
generation. He was the proprietor of a public-house in Dyott-street,
Seven Dials, and afterwards, on the demolition of the Rookery, of
another in Cranbourne-alley. His houses became well-known from their
being the resort of the worst characters, at the same time that the
strictest decorum was always maintained in them. JOE BANKS also
acquired a remarkable notoriety by acting as a medium betwixt thieves
and their victims. Upon the proper payment to Joe, a watch or a snuff
box would at any time be restored to its lawful owner—“no questions in
any case being asked.” The most daring depredators in London placed the
fullest confidence in Joe, and it is believed (although the _Biographie
Universelle_ is quiet upon this point) that he never, in any instance,
“sold” them. He was of the middle height, stout, and strongly made, and
was always noted for a showy pin, and a remarkably STUNNING _neck-tie_.
It was this peculiarity in the costume of Mr. Banks, coupled with
those true and tried qualities as a friend, for which, as I have just
remarked, he was famous, that led his customers to proclaim him as
STUNNING JOE BANKS! The Marquis of Douro, Colonel Chatterley, and men
of their stamp, were accustomed to resort to a private room at his
house, when too late or too early to gain admittance to the clubs or
more aristocratic establishments.
STUNNED ON SKILLY, to be sent to prison and compelled to eat SKILLY, or
SKILLIGOLEE.
STURABAN, a prison. _Gipsey_, DISTARABIN.