2. One who gives moral support; a backer; an adviser. In the Times of
1851, Lord Palmerston was reported to consider himself the
bottle-holder of oppressed states: and in Punch of the same year, a
cartoon appeared representing that statesman as the ‘judicious
bottle-holder.’
1753. Smollett, Ct. Fathom (l.). An old bruiser makes a good
bottle-holder.
1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. xxxix. Petrie ... recommends, upon his
own experience, as tutor in a family of distinction, this attitude
to all led captains, tutors, dependents, and bottle-holders of
every description.
1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. ii. Cold water, and a
little vinegar, applied according to the scientific method
practised by the bottle-holders in a modern ring.
1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. xl. ‘Do you remember his tremendous
fight with Biggs?’ ‘Remember? who didn’t? Marston was Berry’s
bottle-holder.’
Bottle-Holding, verbal subs. (common).—Backing; supporting.
1878–80. Justin MacCarthy, History of Our Own Times, II., p. 115.
The noble lord (Palmerston) told the deputation that the past
crisis was one which required on the part of the British Government
much generalship and judgment, and that a good deal of judicious
bottle-holding was obliged to be brought into play.
Bottle of Brandy in a Glass, phr. (common).—A glass of beer; a recent
and absurd slang introduction.
Bottle of Spruce, subs. (rhyming slang).—Twopence. The play of words is
upon ‘deuce’ = two.
Bottles, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Barrett’s Brewery and Bottling Co.
Shares.
Bottle-Sucker, subs. (nautical).—An able-bodied seaman; the
abbreviation is A.B.S., and a bottle-sucker is supposed to be a
humorous rendering.
Bottle-Up, verb (old).—To restrain (temper, feelings, etc.); to keep or
hold back.
1622. T. Scott, Belg. Pismire, 53. Vapours ... botteled up in
cloudes.
1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xi. Austin played very bad,
trumped his partner’s ... knave, led out strong suits of trumps
without any suit to follow, bottled them when his partner led them
first time round.
1871. Cincinnati Commercial, April, p. 637. He will bottle up his
wrath, having had some experience in the line of bottling up during
the war, and pour out his vials upon General Farnsworth’s head,
whenever the occasion offers.
Bottom, subs. (colloquial).—1. The posteriors; not now in literary use.
For synonyms, see Blind-cheeks and Bum.
1794–6. E. Darwin, Zoon. (1801), III., 253. So as to have his head
and shoulders much lower than his bottom.
1822–36. J. Wilson, Noctes Ambr., xxxix. (1864), iv., 79. The
Dunghill cock ... hides his head in a hole ... unashamed of the
exposure of his enormous bottom.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II., iv., i., 185. Patriot women take
their hazel wands, and fustigate ... broad bottom of priests.