part ii

. canto iii. 208, where it was said of Sidrophel, “And was OLD DOG at physiology.” An Irish proverb says, “OLD DOG for hard road,” meaning that it requires an experienced person to execute a difficult undertaking.

~Old gentleman~, the devil. Also a card almost imperceptibly longer than the rest of the pack, used by sharpers for the purpose of cheating.

~Old gooseberry~ (_see_ GOOSEBERRY), OLD HARRY (_Old Hairy_), OLD SCRATCH, all synonyms for the devil.

~Old gown~, smuggled tea.

~Old horse~, salt junk, or beef.—_Sea._

~Old hoss~, a term of endearment, originally an Americanism, but now in common use here among friends.

~Old Lady in Threadneedle Street~, the Bank of England.

~Old man~, in American merchant ships, the master. The phrase is becoming common in English ships.

~Old salt~, a thorough sailor.

~Old Tom~, extra strong gin; sometimes termed CAT’S WATER. Various reasons are given for the use of the words OLD TOM. The distillers have the sign of a tom cat on their illuminated placards. The origin of the phrase is, however, in the fact that the managing clerk of a once celebrated “gin-spinning” firm, who was known as OLD TOM, used to keep a special bottle of extra good stuff with which to regale customers when they settled their accounts. To get a drink of OLD TOM’S was then a great favour. Gradually the title became popular as representing very good strong gin.

~Oliver~, the moon; “OLIVER don’t widdle,” _i.e._, the moon does not shine. _Nearly obsolete._

~Ollapod~, a country apothecary. From George Coleman’s comedy of _The Poor Gentleman_.

~Omee~, a master or landlord; “the OMEE of the carsey’s a nark on the pitch,” the master of the house will not let us perform. _Italian_, UOMO, a man; “UOMO DELLA CASA,” the master of the house. _Latin_, HOMO.—_Lingua Franca._

~Omnium gatherum~, an indiscriminate collection of articles; a numerous and by no means select assemblage.

~On~, “to be ON,” in public-house or vulgar parlance, is synonymous with getting “tight” or tipsy; “it’s St. Monday with him, I see he’s ON again,” _i.e._, drunk as usual, or on the road to it. “I’m ON” also expresses a person’s acceptance of an offered bet. To GET ON a horse or a man is to make bets on it or him. “Try it ON,” a defiant challenge to a person.

~On the fly~, getting one’s living by thieving or other illegitimate means; the phrase is applied to men the same as “on the loose” is to women. ON THE FLY also means on the drink.

~On the loose~, obtaining a living by prostitution; in reality, on the streets. The term is applied to females only, excepting in the case of “sprees,” when men carousing are sometimes said to be ON THE LOOSE.

~On the nose~, on the watch or look-out. _See_ NOSE.

~On the shelf~, transported. With old maids it has another and very different meaning.

~On the tiles~, out all night “on the spree,” or carousing,—in allusion to the London cats on their amatory excursions. _See_ CATERWAULING.

~One-er~, that which stands for ONE, a blow that requires no repeating. In _The Old Curiosity Shop_, the “Marchioness” tells Dick Swiveller that “her missus is a ONE-ER”—there a variation of “stunner.”

~One in ten~, a parson. In allusion to the tithing system.

~Onion~, a watch-seal.

~O. P.~ Publishers’ reply to an inquiry for a book or paper that is OUT OF PRINT.

~Open the ball~, to commence anything.

~Oracle~, “to work the ORACLE,” to plan, manœuvre, to succeed by a wily stratagem.

~Orate~, an Americanism, which means, to speak in public, or make an oration.

~Organ-grinder~, an itinerant who is supposed to “GRIND” music out of a barrel-organ.

~Originator~, an inventor of plans for the formation of joint-stock companies. The originator submits his schemes to the promoter, who accepts or rejects them.

~Otter~, eightpence. _Italian_, OTTO, eight.—_Lingua Franca._

~Ottomy~, a thin man, a skeleton, a dwarf. Vulgar pronunciation of ANATOMY. Shakspeare has ATOMY.

~Out~, a dram glass. These glasses are two-OUT (half-quartern), three-OUT, and four-OUT. An _habitué_ of a gin-shop, desirous of treating a brace of friends, calls for “a quartern of gin and three OUTS,” by which he means three glasses which will exactly contain the quartern. Really, the word glasses is understood. The man actually means, and one or more three-OUT glasses.

~Out~, in round games, where several play, and there can be but one loser, the winners in succession STAND OUT, while the others PLAY OFF.

~Out and out~, prime, excellent, of the first quality; beyond measure. OUT-AND-OUTER, one who is of an OUT-AND-OUT description, “up” to anything.

An ancient MS. has this couplet, which shows the antiquity of the phrase:—

“The Kyng was good alle aboute, And she was wycked OUTE AND OUTE.”

~Outcry~, an auction.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Outing~, a day’s holiday. The Oxford and Cambridge boatrace, the Derby, and other events of a like character, are each said to be simply excuses to the Cockneys for a day’s OUTING.

~Out of collar~, out of place,—in allusion to servants. When in place, the term is IN COLLAR. Most likely from “head in the COLLAR,” said of horses when hard at work.

~Out on the loose~, “on the spree,” in search of adventures. _See_ ON THE LOOSE.

~Out on the pickaroon.~ PICARONE is Spanish for a thief, but this phrase does not necessarily mean anything dishonest, but is often used to mean readiness for anything in the way of excitement. It also means to be in search of anything profitable, without much care as to honesty or otherwise.

~Outsider~, a person who does not habitually bet, or is not admitted to the “ring,” a duffer or good-for-nothing fellow. Also, a horse whose name does not appear among the “favourites.”—_Sporting._

~Over!~ or OVER THE LEFT, _i.e._, the left shoulder—a common exclamation of disbelief in what is being narrated,—sometimes implying that the results of a proposed plan will be OVER THE LEFT, _i.e._, in the wrong direction, loss instead of gain.

~Over~, generally used in connexion with come, as, “He came it rather strong OVER me,” _i.e._, tried to intimidate or compel me. The same phrase would also be used to imply that an excess of flattery or praise was being employed for a similar purpose, but that the adulation was being “laid on a little too thick” to be considered genuine. Also used thus sometimes: “You mustn’t come Shakspeare OVER me,” _i.e._, “you mustn’t assume an air of immeasurable literary superiority OVER me.” “You mustn’t come Rothschild OVER me,” &c.

~Over~, in cricket, four balls delivered from one end to another. After an OVER has been bowled, the fielders, wicket-keepers, &c., change ends, and the bowling goes on from the recent batting wicket. A MAIDEN-OVER is an OVER from which no runs are obtained. Four balls is the regulation number to an OVER in all important matches; but little clubs and practice elevens suit their own convenience.

~Overs~, the odd money remaining after the daily accounts are made up at a banking-house,—usually divided amongst the clerks. _See_ MENAVELINGS and SHORTS.

~Owned~, a slang expression used by the ultra-Evangelicals when a popular preacher makes many converts. The converts themselves are called his “seals.”

~P. P.~, an expression much in use among racing men, which means play or pay, _i.e._, either go on with the arrangement or forfeit the money. The following is a law of the turf on the subject:—

The following races shall be considered “play or pay”:—The Derby and Oaks at Epsom, the St. Leger at Doncaster, the Two Thousand Guineas, the One Thousand Guineas, the Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire, at Newmarket, the Ascot, Goodwood, and Doncaster Cups, and all handicaps above 200 sovs. value with two forfeits, the minor of which shall not be less than 5 sovs.; and the Committees of Tattersall’s, and of the Subscription Room at Newmarket, will take no cognisance of any disputes respecting “play or pay” bets on any other races, or of any bets made upon handicap races before the weights are published.

This is the exact law on the subject, but as a rule all bets on horse-racing are considered P. P. unless otherwise arranged. In all matches, though, whether turf, pedestrian, aquatic, or otherwise, a run is given for the money in ordinary betting transactions.

~P’s and q’s~, particular points, precise behaviour; “mind your P’S and Q’S,” be very careful. Originating, according to some, from the similarity of P’S and Q’S in the hornbook alphabet, and therefore the warning of an old dame to her pupils, or, according to others, of a French dancing-master to his pupils, to mind their _pieds_ (feet) and _queues_ (wigs) when bowing.

~Pack~, to go away; “now, then, PACK off there,” _i.e._, be off, don’t stop here any longer.—_Old._ “Make speede to flee, be PACKING awaie.”—_Baret’s Alvearie_, 1580. Contraction of “PACK up and be off.” Sometimes the term “sent PACKING” is used to indicate a sudden discharge, as of a servant or mistress.

~Packets~, hoaxing lies. Sometimes used as an exclamation of incredulity.—_North._

~Pad~, “to stand PAD,” to beg with a small piece of paper pinned on the breast, inscribed, “I am starving.”

~Pad~, the highway; also a tramp or itinerant musician.

~Pad the hoof~, to walk; “PADDING THE HOOF, on the high toby,” tramping or walking on the high road.

“Trudge, plod away o’ the HOOF.”—_Merry Wives_, i. 3.

~Padding~, the light articles in the monthly magazines, of which the serial stories are the main attraction. Publishers of magazines seem to think that if they get a serial story from a popular novelist they can pack any amount of rubbish into the remaining pages. This is not so in America, as magazines like the _Atlantic Monthly_ and the _Overland Monthly_ show.

~Padding-ken~, or CRIB, tramps’ and boys’ lodging-house.

~Paddle~, to go or run away.—_American._

~Paddy~, PAT, or PADDY WHACK, an Irishman. A nickname of PATRICK.

“I’m PADDY WHACK, from Ballyhack, Not long ago turn’d soldier; In storm and sack, in front attack, None other can be boulder.”—_Irish Song._

~Paddy’s goose~, the sign of the White Swan, a noted flash public-house in the east of London, supposed to be Paddy’s idea of a GOOSE.

~Paddy’s land~, “ould Ireland.”

~Padre~, a clergyman. From the Portuguese.

~Pal~, a partner, acquaintance, friend, an accomplice. _Gipsy_, a brother.

~Palampo~, a quilt or bed-cover. Probably from PALANPORE, a town in India, renowned for its manufacture of chintz counterpanes.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Palaver~, to ask, or talk—deceitfully or otherwise, as occasion requires; “PALAVER to his nibs for a shant of bivvy,” ask the master for a pot of beer. NANTEE PALAVER (pronounced PERLARVER), cease talking. In this sense used by tramps. Derived from the Portuguese.

~Pall~, to stop; “PALL that,” spoken authoritatively, means, cease what you are doing. From PALL, a small instrument which is used to stop the windlass or capstan at sea. When a man says, “I am PALLED,” he means he cannot or dare not say any more. A sailor, on receiving any extraordinary intelligence, will say, “You PALL me,” _i.e._, you confound me. Most likely from the order frequently given on board ship, “Ease and PALL.”

~Palm~, to impose upon. “You can’t PALM that off upon me,” is said when an intending purchaser is suspicious of the quality of the article offered.

~Palm oil~, or PALM SOAP, money; also, a bribe.

~Palmer~, a swindler who used to visit shops under the pretence of collecting harp halfpence. To induce shopkeepers to search for them, he offered thirteenpence for one shilling’s-worth, when many persons were silly enough to empty a large quantity of copper on their counters. The PALMER, a proficient with his fingers, generally contrived to conceal some before he left the shop.

~Palming~, robbing shops by pairs—one thief bargaining with apparent intent to purchase, whilst the other watches his opportunity to steal. The following anecdote will give an idea of their _modus operandi_. A man once entered a “ready-made” boot and shoe shop, and desired to be shown a pair of boots—his companion staying outside and amusing himself by looking in at the window. The one who required to be fresh shod was apparently of a humble and deferential turn, for he placed his hat on the floor directly he stepped into the shop. Boot after boot was tried on until at last a fit was obtained, when in rushed a man, snatched up the customer’s hat left near the door, and ran down the street as fast as his legs could carry him. Away went the customer after his hat, and Crispin, standing at the door, clapped his hands, and shouted, “Go it, you’ll catch him!”—little thinking that it was a concerted trick, and that neither his boots nor the customer would ever return. Instances of this kind of work frequently occur. PALMING sometimes refers to secreting money or rings in the hand, as well as to bribing. PALMING is also the generic term for all that kind of conjuring which depends on manual dexterity, and which is totally distinct from the mechanical-contrivance department.

~Pam~, the knave of clubs at the game of loo; or, in street phraseology, while the “Judicious Bottleholder” was alive, Lord Palmerston.

~Pannikin~, a small pan.

~Pannum~, food, bread.—_Lingua Franca_, PANNEN; _Latin_, PANIS; _Ancient Cant_, YANNAM.

~Pannum-bound~, said of a pauper or prisoner when his food is stopped. PANNUM-STRUCK, very hungry, starving.

~Panny~, a house—public or otherwise; “flash PANNY,” a public-house used by thieves; PANNY-MEN, housebreakers. PANNY, in thieves’ cant, also signifies a burglary.

~Pantalettes~, the drawers worn in America by little girls.

~Pantile~, a hat. The term PANTILE is properly applied to the mould into which the sugar is poured which is afterwards known as “loaf sugar.” Thus, PANTILE, from whence comes the phrase, “a sugar-loaf hat,” originally signified a tall, conical hat, in shape similar to that usually represented as the head-gear of a bandit. From PANTILE the more modern slang term TILE has been derived. Halliwell gives PANTILE SHOP, a meeting-house, from the steeple-crowned or PANTILE hats of its frequenters. PANTILE also means a flat cake with jam on it, given to boys at boarding-schools instead of pudding.

~Pantiler~, a Dissenting preacher. Probably from the practice of the Quakers, and many Dissenters, of not removing their hats in a place of worship; or from the sugar-loaf hats originally worn by Puritans. Another derivation is from the earthen tiles, technically PANTILES (tiles hollowed in the middle, as distinguished from “pintiles,” the older sort, which are flat, smaller, and pinned or nailed to the rafters), with which meeting-houses of Dissenters are usually covered; hence the meeting-house came to be called a PANTILE, and its frequenters PANTILERS.

~Pants~, American term for trousers. Here used to represent the long drawers worn underneath.

~Panupetaston~, a loose overcoat with wide sleeves, now out of fashion.—_Oxford University._

~Paper-maker~, a rag-gatherer, or gutter-raker—similar to the chiffonnier of Paris. Also, a man who tramps through the country, and collects rags on the pretence that he is an agent to a paper mill.

~Paper-Worker~, a wandering vendor of street literature; one who sells ballads, dying speeches, and confessions, sometimes termed a “running stationer.”

~Parachute~, a parasol.

~Paradise~, French slang for the gallery of a theatre, “up amongst the GODS,” which _see_.

~Parish lantern~, the moon.

~Parish prig~, or PARISH BULL, a parson.—_Thieves’ cant._

~Parney~, rain; “dowry of PARNEY,” a quantity of rain. _Anglo-Indian_ slang from the _Hindoo_, PANI, water; _Gipsy_, PANE. Old Indian officers always call brandy-and-water “brandy PAWNEE.”

~Parson~, a signpost. Common term in the north, where they say that the PARSON points, but does not lead. This is given, as the lawyers say, “without prejudice.”

~Parson Trulliber~, a rude, vulgar, country clergyman, devoted to agricultural pursuits; the race is most probably now extinct. From the pig-feeding and pig-headed parson in _Joseph Andrews_.

~Parson’s nose~, the hind part of a goose—a savoury mouthful. Sometimes called the POPE’S NOSE.

~Part~, to pay, restore, or give up; “he’s a right un, he is; I know’d he’d PART,” _i.e._, he is a liberal (or punctual) person, and pays his debts, or bestows gratuities. The term is in general use in sporting circles, and is very commonly employed when speaking of the settlement of bets after a race. It is probably derived from the very common reference to stingy people, who are described as not liking to PART with their money.

~Parter~, a free, liberal person. Sometimes called a “good PARTER.” Any one who looks twice at his money, or who doesn’t pay it at all, is called a “bad PARTER.”

~Party~, a person—term in very general use, similar in application to the German pronoun, MAN, a person, people; “where’s the PARTY as ’ad a’ orter be lookin’ after this ’ere ’oss?” policeman’s inquiry of the wrong cabman; “old PARTY,” an elderly person. The term is said to have arisen in our old justice courts, where, to save “his worship” and the clerk of the court any trouble in exercising their memories with the names of the different plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses, the word PARTY was generally employed. Dean Alford remarked:—

“The word PARTY for a man is especially offensive. Strange to say, the use is not altogether modern. It occurs in the English version of the Apocryphal book of Tobit, vi. 7. ‘If an evil spirit trouble any, one must make a smoke thereof before the man or the woman, and the PARTY shall be no more vexed.’”

In Shakspeare we find the term:—

“_Stephano._ How now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring me to the PARTY?”—_Tempest_, iii. 2.

This is not the only instance of the word being used by the immortal bard. “I once heard,” said the Dean just quoted, “a venerable dignitary pointed out by a railway porter as an old PARTY in a shovel.” The last word is the vulgar term applied to the peculiar hat worn by clerical dignitaries.

~Pash~, to strike; now corrupted to BASH, which _see_.—_Shakspeare._

~Paste~, to beat, to thrash vigorously.

~Pasteboard~, a visiting card; “to PASTEBOARD a person,” to drop a card at an absent person’s house.

~Paste-horn~, the nose. Shoemakers nickname any shopmate with a large nose “old PASTE-HORN,” from the shape of the horn in which they keep their paste.

~Pasty~, a bookbinder.

~Patch.~ This old English term of reproach, long obsolete in polite language, may yet occasionally be heard in sentences like these:—“Why, he’s not a PATCH upon him,” _i.e._, he is not to be compared with him; “one’s not a PATCH on the other,” &c. Shakspeare uses the word in the sense of a paltry fellow:—

“What a pied ninny’s this? thou scurvy PATCH!”

In old English PATCH meant a fool, a wearer of patched clothes of motley.

~Patent coats~, the first coat, with the pockets inside the skirt, were so termed.

~Patter~, a speech or discourse, a pompous street oration, a judge’s summing up, a trial. Ancient word for muttering. Probably from the _Latin_, PATERNOSTER, or Lord’s Prayer. This was said, before the Reformation, in a “low voice” by the priest, until he came to “and lead us not into temptation,” to which the choir responded, “but deliver us from evil.” In the reformed Prayer Book this was altered, and the Lord’s Prayer directed to be said “with a _loud voice_.” Dr. Pusey takes this view of the derivation in his _Letter to the Bishop of London_, p. 78, 1851. Scott uses the word twice, in _Ivanhoe_ and the _Bride of Lammermoor_.

~Patter~, to talk. PATTER FLASH, to speak the language of thieves, talk cant.

~Patteran~, a gipsy trail, made by throwing down a handful of grass occasionally, especially where they have turned off from the main road.

~Patter-crib~, a flash house.

~Patterer~, one of a race now nearly defunct, who cried last dying speeches, &c., in the streets. The term is also applied to those who help off their wares by long harangues in the public thoroughfares. These men, to use their own term, “are the aristocracy of the street sellers,” and despise the costermongers for their ignorance, boasting that they live by their intellect, which, as they do not live wonderfully well, is no particularly wise boast.

~Pattern~, a common vulgar phrase for “patent.”

~Paul Pry~, an inquisitive person. From the well-known comedy.

~Paw~, the hand. PAW-CASES, gloves. Boots are in some parts of Ireland called “gloves for the feet.”

~Pay~, to beat a person, or “serve him out.” Originally a nautical term, meaning to stop the seams of a vessel with pitch (_French_, POIX); “here’s the d‑‑‑‑l to PAY, and no pitch hot,” said when any catastrophe occurs which there is no means of averting; “to PAY over face and eyes, as the cat did the monkey;” “to PAY through the nose,” to give a ridiculous price,—an expressive phrase of which no one seems to know the origin. Shakspeare uses PAY in the sense of to beat or thrash.

~Pay~, to deliver. “PAY that letter to Mr. So-and-so” is a very common direction to a Chinese servant.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Pay-away~, “go on with your story, or discourse.” From the nautical phrase PAY-AWAY, meaning to allow a rope to run out of a vessel. When the hearer considers the story quite long enough, he, carrying out the same metaphor, exclaims “hold on.”

~Peach~, an informer against omnibus conductors and drivers, one especially hired by the proprietors to count passengers and stoppages. The term is in frequent use amongst omnibus-men. This is about the only instance known of the verb being used as a substantive.

~Peach~, to inform against or betray. Webster states that the word “impeach” is now mostly used, and that PEACH is confined principally to the conversation of thieves and the lower orders. The word was originally “impeach,” though it was never until lately used in the same way as its abridgment.

~Peacock horse~, amongst undertakers, is one with a showy tail and mane, which holds its head up well. PEACOCKY refers to an objectionable high

## action among racehorses.

~Peaking~, remnants of cloth. Term amongst drapers and cloth warehousemen.

~Peaky~, sickly, delicate.

~Pec~, a term used by the Eton boys for money, an abbreviation, of course, of the _Latin_ PECUNIA.

~Peck~, food; “PECK and boose,” meat and drink.—_Lincolnshire._ _Ancient Cant_, PEK, meat.

~Peck~, to eat voraciously. A hearty eater is generally called “a rare PECKER.” Originally PECK was to eat delicately, “but we have changed all that now.”

~Peck-alley~, the throat.

~Pecker~, “keep your PECKER up,” _i.e._, don’t get down in the mouth,—literally, keep your beak or head well up, “never say die!”

~Peckham~, a facetious usage of the name of this district, implying a dinner; “all holiday at PECKHAM,” _i.e._, nothing to eat.

~Peckish~, hungry. _Old Cant_, PECKIDGE, meat.

~Peel~, to strip, or disrobe.—_Sporting._

~Peeler~, a policeman; so called from Sir Robert Peel (_see_ BOBBY); properly applied to the Irish Constabulary rather than the Metropolitan Police, the former force having been established by Sir Robert Peel.

~Peepers~, eyes; “painted PEEPERS,” eyes bruised or blackened from a blow.—_Pugilistic._

~Peery~, suspicious, or inquisitive.

~Peg~, brandy and soda-water. A PEG by which to pull oneself up again. Also, a shilling.—_Scotch._

~Peg~, “to PEG away,” to strike, run, or drive away; “PEG a hack,” to drive a cab; “to take him down a PEG or two,” to check an arrogant or conceited person,—possibly derived from the use of PEG tankards. _See_ PIN.

~Peg~, to drink frequently; generally used in reference to devotees of “S. and B.”

~Peggers~, people who constantly stimulate themselves by means of brandy and soda-water.

~Pegtops~, the loose trousers in fashion some years back, small at the ankle and swelling upwards, in imitation of the Zouave costume.

~Penang-lawyer~, a long cane, sometimes carried by a footman. PENANG-LAWYERS are also bludgeons which are carried by all classes in Singapore.

~Pencil-fever~, a supposititious disease among racehorses, the preliminary symptoms of which show that an animal has been pretty considerably “milked.” PENCIL-FEVER sets in when, despite the efforts of the “marketeers,” a horse can no longer be kept at a short price in the lists, through his actual condition being discovered, and when every layer of odds is anxious to write his name down. This disorder is also called “milk-fever,” “market-fever,” and other suggestive names.

~Penny-a-liner~, a contributor of local news, accidents, fires, and scandals to a newspaper; a man not regularly “on the paper;” one who is popularly believed to be paid for each contribution at the rate of a penny a line, and whose interest is, therefore, that his articles should be stuffed with fine words and long sentences. This wonderful person, to whom so much is daily attributed, is now generally called a LINER.

~Penny dreadfuls~, an expressive term for those penny publications which depend more upon sensationalism than upon merit, artistic or literary, for success.

~Penny gaff~, a shop turned into a temporary theatre (admission one penny), at which dancing and singing take place every night. Sometimes rude pictures of the performers are arranged outside to give the front a gaudy and attractive look, and at night-time coloured lamps and transparencies are displayed to draw an audience. Zest is given to these entertainments by the fact that now and again the police make raids upon the houses, and carry off both actors and spectators. These places are also called “dukeys,” for no reason that can be discovered. _See_ GAFF.

~Penny starver~, a penny roll. _See_ BUSTER.

~Pen’orth~, value for money; as, “I’ll have my PEN’ORTH,”—given irrespective of the actual amount.

~Pensioner~, a man of the most degraded condition who lives off the miserable earnings of a prostitute. There is an unmentionable prefix to the word PENSIONER. _See_ PONCE.

~Pepper~, to thrash, or strike.—_Pugilistic_, but used by Shakspeare.—_Eastern Counties._

~Pepper-boxes~, the buildings of the Royal Academy and National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. The name was first given by a wag, in allusion to the cupolas erected by Wilkins, the architect, upon the roof, which, from their form and awkward appearance, at a distance suggest to the stranger the fact of their being enlarged PEPPER-BOXES. _See_ BOILERS.

~Perch~, or ROOST, a resting-place; “I’m off to PERCH,” _i.e._, I am going to bed.

“Nor yet a single perch, for which my lucky stars to thank, Except the _perch_ I’ve taken on this damp rheumatic bank.”

_Lay of the Unsuccessful Angler._

~Perform~, to carry out a design, generally a dishonest one. To “PERFORM on a flat” is to cozen a fool.

~Perkin~, beer. Dandy or affected shortening of the widely-known firm, Barclay and Perkins.

~Perpendicular~, a lunch taken standing-up at a tavern bar. It is usual to call it lunch, often as the PERPENDICULAR may take the place of dinner.

~Persuaders~, spurs.

~Pesky~, an intensitive expression, implying annoyance; as, “A PESKY, troublesome fellow.” Corruption of PESTILENT; or, _Irish_, PEASGACH, rough, rugged. PESKY has now become more American than English. _Pesky Ike_ is the name of a popular American drama.

~Peter~, a partridge.—_Poacher’s term._

~Peter~, a bundle, or valise. Also, a cash-box.

~Peter~, to run short, or give out.—_American._

~Peter Funk~, an American term for a spurious auction or “knock-out.”

~Peter Grievous~, a miserable, melancholy fellow; a croaker.

~Petticoat~, a woman.

~Pewter~, money, like “tin,” used generally to signify silver; also a tankard. “Let me have my beer in the PEWTER,” is a common request to waiters, made by “City” men, and others who affect habits of rude health. The pots for which rowing men contend are often called PEWTERS.

~Philadelphia-lawyer~, a Transatlantic limb of the law considered to be the very acme of acuteness. Sailors relate many stories of his artful abilities, none, however, short enough to find a place here. The phrase, “Enough to puzzle a PHILADELPHIA-LAWYER,” means, enough to puzzle the sharpest man in the world.

~Philander~, to ramble on incoherently; to write discursively and weakly.

~Philip~, a policeman. The word is loudly given as a signal that the police are approaching.

~Philiper~, a thief’s accomplice, one who stands by and looks out for the police while the others commit a robbery, and who calls out “Philip!” when any one approaches.

~Philistine~, a policeman. The German students call all townspeople not of their body “Philister,” as ours say “cads.” The departing student says, mournfully, in one of the Burschenlieder—

“Muss selber nun PHILISTER sein!”

_i.e._, “I must now myself PHILISTINE be!” Also, a man who is of a set opposed to one’s own. Society is supposed to regard all outside its bounds as belonging to the PHILISTINE world. Bohemians regard all cleanly, orderly people who conform to conventionality as PHILISTINES.

~Physog~, or PHIZ, the face. Swift uses the latter word. Corruption of PHYSIOGNOMY.

~Picaroon~, a pirate or buccaneer originally; now an ordinary thief.

~Piccadilly butchers~, a satirical name applied by the crowd to the regiment of Horse Guards, known as the “Royal Blues,” from their savage onslaught upon the crowd on the occasion of the arrest of Sir Francis Burdett at his house in Piccadilly, by order of the Speaker of the House of Commons. _See_ CHEESEMONGERS.

~Piccadilly weepers~, long carefully combed-out whiskers of the Dundreary fashion.

~Pick~, “to PICK oneself up,” to recover after a beating or illness, sometimes varied to “PICK up one’s crumbs;” “to PICK a man up,” “to do,” or cheat him.

~Pickaninny~, a young child is thus styled by the West Indian negroes. The word is now completely naturalized among sailors and water-side people in England.

~Pickers~, the hands.—_Shakspeare._

~Pickle~, a miserable or comical position; “he is in a sad PICKLE,” said of any one who has fallen into the gutter, or got besmeared. “A PICKLE herring,” a comical fellow, a merry-andrew.—_Old._ Also, a mischievous boy; “what a PICKLE he is, to be sure!” Derived from his always getting into a PICKLE, or mess.

~Pickles!~ gammon; also a jeering and insulting exclamation.

~Pick-me-up~, a revivifying drink taken after a debauch; a tonic.

~Piece~, a contemptuous term for a woman; a strumpet.—_Shakspeare._ Not always objectionable nowadays. A “barber’s clerk” does not object to hear his sweetheart or wife called “a nice PIECE;” and gentlemen of the counter-jumping fraternity describe their “young ladies” as “nice PIECES of goods.”

~Pieman.~ In tossing, the man who cries is called the PIEMAN. In the old days when the itinerant PIEMAN’S duty was to toss or sell, and his call was, “Hot pies, toss or buy, toss or buy,” he was always supposed to be entitled to the cry, the intending eater “skying the copper.” An active and efficient police have, however, improved tossing—so far, at all events, as PIEMEN and poor people are concerned—off the face of the earth, and gaming of all descriptions is now a luxury confined to the rich.

~Pig~, a mass of metal,—so called from its being poured in a fluid state from a SOW, which _see_.—_Workman’s term._

~Pig~, a policeman; an informer. The word is now almost exclusively applied by London thieves to a plain-clothes man, or a “nose.”

~Pig~, a pressman in a printing office. _See_ DONKEY.

~Pig~, or SOW’S BABY, a sixpence.

~Pig~, to live in a crowded, filthy manner. The lower orders of Irish are said to PIG together. A suggestive, if not elegant, expression.

~Pig and Tinder-box~, the vulgar rendering of the well-known tavern sign, “Elephant and Castle.”

~Pigeon~, a gullible or soft person. The _French_ cant, or _Argot_, has the word PIGEON, dupe—“PECHON, PESCHON DE RUBY, apprenti gueux, enfant (sans doute dérobé)”. The vagabonds and brigands of Spain also used the word in their _Germania_, or robbers’ language, PALOMO (PIGEON), ignorant, simple. In the sporting world sharps and flats are often called “rooks and PIGEONS” respectively—sometimes “spiders and flies.”

~Pigeon~, business, simply the Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Pigeon-English~, the English spoken by the natives of Canton and other parts of China.

~Pigeon-flying~, or BLUEY CRACKING, breaking into empty houses and stealing lead.

~Pigeon’s milk~, an imaginary fluid for which boys and simpletons are frequently sent on the 1st of April.

~Pig-headed~, obstinate.

~Pig’s eye~, the ace of diamonds in cards.

~Pig’s whisper~, a low or inaudible whisper; also a short space of time, synonymous with “cockstride,” _i.e._, cock’s tread.

~Pike~, a turnpike; “to bilk a PIKE,” to cheat the keeper of the toll-gate. Mr. Tony Weller makes many amusing remarks on PIKES and PIKE-keepers. Since the first edition of this work was published, PIKES and PIKE-keepers have departed from amongst us, so far as London and its immediate vicinity are concerned.

~Pike~, to run, to be off with speed.

~Pike it~, is said as a hasty and contemptuous, if not angry, dismissal, “if you don’t like it, take a short stick and PIKE it.” This is but a form of the attempts at rhyming smartness common in London.

“Joe quickly his sand had sold, sir, And Bess got a basket of rags; Then up to St. Giles’s they roll’d, sir; To every bunter Bess brags. Then unto the gin-shop they PIKE IT, And Bess was admitted, we hear; For none of the crew dare but like it, As Joey, her kiddy, was there,”

_The Sand-man’s Wedding_, a Cantata.

“’Twas not our fault, dear Jack; we saw the watch going into the house the moment we came there, and we thought it proper to PIKE OFF.”—_The Prison Breaker_, a Farce.

~Pikey~, a tramp or gipsy. A PIKEY-cart is in various parts of the country one of those habitable vehicles suggestive of a wandering life. Possibly the term has reference to one who constantly uses the PIKE, or turnpike road.

~Pile~, a sum of money; generally the whole of a man’s private means. A term originally peculiar to Californian miners, in reference to their accumulated dust and nuggets. American gamblers speak of “putting all the PILE on” when they fancy anything very much. “To go the whole PILE” runs level with our sporting phrase, “To go a raker.”

~Pill~, a doctor.—_Military._ PILL-DRIVER, a peddling apothecary.

~Pill~, to blackball a man at a club. Sometimes a man who is blackballed is described as having received too much medicine.

~Pill-box~, a doctor’s carriage.

~Pin~, “to put in the PIN,” to refrain from drinking. From the ancient peg tankard, which was furnished with a row of PINS, or pegs, to regulate the amount which each person was to drink. Drunken people are often requested to “put in the PIN,” from some remote connexion between their unsteadiness and that of a carriage wheel which has lost its linch-PIN. The popular cry, “Put in the PIN,” can have no connexion with the drinking PIN or peg now, whatever it may originally have had. A MERRY PIN, a roysterer. _See_ PEG.

~Pinch~, to steal or cheat; also, to catch, or apprehend.

~Pinchbeck~, inferior, deteriorated. Anything pretending to more than its proper value is said to be PINCHBECK.

“Where, in these PINCHBECK days, can we hope to find the old agricultural virtue in all its purity?”—_Framley Parsonage._

PINCHBECK was an inferior metal, compounded of copper and zinc, to resemble gold. It was very fashionable in the last century, and derived its name from a Mr. PINCHBECK, a well-known London tradesman, who manufactured watches, buckles, and other articles out of it. PINCHBECK first obtained his notoriety by the invention of an ingenious candle-snuffers, which the author of _The Heroic Epistle to Sir William Chambers_ made the vehicle of a facetious Ode that went through eight editions. The title of this _jeu d’esprit_ ran thus:—

“_Ode to Mr. Pinchbeck, upon his Newly-invented Candle-Snuffers, by_ MALCOLM M’GREGOR, Esq., 1776.

“Illustrious PINCHBECK! condescend, Thou well-beloved, and best king’s friend, These lyric lines to view; Oh, may they prompt thee, ere too late, To snuff the candle of the State, That burns a little blue!”

PINCHBECK published a poetical reply, and the two pamphlets were for a long time the talk of the town.

~Pink~, the acme of perfection. The scarlet garb worn in the hunting-field.

~Pink~, to stab, or pierce. In the days of rapier-wearing a professed duellist was said to be “a regular PINKER and driller.”

~Pinnel~, or PENNEL,—corruption of penal servitude. As, “four-year PINNEL.”

~Pinner-up~, a seller of old songs, pinned against a wall or framed canvas. Formerly many of these street salesmen carried on their little “paper trade” in London. There are but one or two now left.

~Pins~, legs.

~Pipe~, to follow or dog a person; to watch, to notice.

~Pipe~, to shed tears, or bewail; “PIPE one’s eye.”—_Sea term._

“He first began to eye his pipe. And then to PIPE his eye.”—_Hood._

Metaphor from the boatswain’s pipe, which calls to duty.

~Pipe~, “to put one’s PIPE out,” to traverse his plans, “to take a rise” out of him. When any one meets with a rebuff or a sharp answer, he is often told to “put that in his PIPE and smoke it,” _i.e._, to digest it carefully.

~Piper~, a person employed by an omnibus proprietor to act as a spy on the conductor.

~Piper~, a broken-winded hack horse.

~Pipkin~, the stomach,—properly, an earthen round-bottomed pot—_Norwich._

~Pips~, the marks, no matter of what suit, on playing cards. The ace is often called “single PIP.”

~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. An itinerant is said to “make a PITCH” whenever he attempts to do any business.

~Pitch~, to utter base coin. Smashers are known to themselves and their friends, the rest of the dangerous classes, as “snide PITCHERS.” The confederacy is divided into makers, buyers, holders, and pitchers. The maker probably never sees the actual passers of base money, the buyer being generally the intercommunicating medium. The holder is generally a man who carries the bulk of the “snides,” and waits about; while the pitcher, often a woman—indeed, more often than not—runs the actual risk.

~Pitch~, to go to bed for less than the ordinary period. Journeymen bakers, and others whose work is disjointed, call any short interval of sleep a PITCH. Probably from the action.

~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_.

~Place~, to name the first three horses in a race. This is the duty of the judge, who sees nothing of the race but the finish. Sometimes an official will place more than the first three, but this in no way interferes with the meaning of the word as generally received. To run “nowhere” is to be unplaced.

~Place~, first, second, or third position in a race. Sometimes a PLACE is called a “situation” or a “shop.”

~Plant~, a dodge, a preconcerted swindle; a position in the street to sell from. All bearings-up, bonnetings, and such like arrangements, are the results of preconcerted schemes or PLANTS.

~Plant~, to mark a person out for plunder or robbery; to conceal or hide money, &c.—_Old Cant._ In the sense of conceal, there is a similar word in _Argot_, PLANQUER.

~Plant~, a hidden store of money or variables. To “spring a PLANT” is to unearth another person’s hoard.

~Platform~, a standpoint in an argument, a statement of political or general opinion. “Home rule’s my PLATFORM!” Originally _American_, but now general.

~Play~, to strike for higher wages, to be out of work.—_North._

~Plebs~, a term used to stigmatize a tradesman’s son at Westminster School. _Latin_, PLEBS, the vulgar.

~Plough.~ To be PLOUGHED is to fail to pass an examination. About twenty years ago “pluck,” the word then used, began to be superseded by PLOUGH. It is said to have arisen from a man who could not supply the examiner with any quotation from Scripture, until at last he blurted out, “And the ploughers ploughed on my back, and made long furrows.”—_University._

~Ploughed~, drunk.

~Pluck~, the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal,—all that is PLUCKED away in connexion with the windpipe, from the chest of a sheep or hog.

~Pluck~, to turn back at a University examination. The supposed origin of PLUCK is, that when, on degree day, the proctor, after having read the name of a candidate for a degree, walks down the hall and back, it is to give any creditor the opportunity of plucking his sleeve, and informing him of the candidate’s being in debt.

~Pluck~, courage, valour, stoutness. _See following._

~Plucked un~, a stout or brave fellow; “he’s a rare PLUCKED UN,” _i.e._, he dares face anything.

During the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny PLUCKY, signifying courageous, became a favourite term even among ladies; and the term British PLUCK will probably live—slangy as is its origin—as long as the language into which it has been adopted, for the history of the deeds with which it is associated can never die, while, indeed, a history remains to this country. The word met with great disfavour at first from the “genteel,” but of course they followed when aristocracy deigned to use it.

~Plum~, £100,000, usually applied to the dowry of a rich heiress, to a legacy, or to a sum made in business or by a lucky speculation.

~Plum-cash~, prime cost.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Plummy~, round, sleek, jolly, or fat; excellent, very good, first-rate.

~Plumper~, a single vote at an election, not a “split ticket.”

~Plunder~, a common word in the horse trade to express profit. Also an American term for baggage, luggage. In Lower Canada the French packmen call luggage “butin.”

~Plunger~, a heavy cavalry-man.—_Military slang._

~Plutocracy~, the wealthy classes. The Manchester merchants are often termed a millocracy, and words of a similar character are mobocracy and moneyocracy.

~Pocket~, to put up with. A man who does not resent an affront is said to POCKET it.

~Pocket-pistol~, a dram-flask.

~Podgy~, drunk; dumpy, short, and fat.

~Pogram~, a Dissenter, a fanatic, formalist, or humbug. So called from a well-known enthusiast of this name.

~Poke~, a bag, or sack; “to buy a pig in a POKE,” to purchase anything without seeing it. POKE was originally a pocket. Shakspeare says—

“And then he pulled a dial from his POKE.”

~Poke.~ “Come, none of your POKING fun at me,” _i.e._, you must not laugh at me.

~Poker.~ “By the holy POKER and the tumbling Tom!” an Irish oath.

~Pokers~, or SILVER POKERS, the Bedels of the Vice-Chancellor, who carry silver maces, and accompany him through the streets. They are also officers of his court.—_University._

“Around, around, all, all around. On seats with velvet lined, Sat Heads of Houses in a row, And Deans and College Dons below, With a POKER or two behind.”

_Rime of the New-made Baccalere_, 1841.

~Poky~, confined or cramped; “that corner is POKY and narrow.” Housewives describe a small uncomfortable room as “a POKY hole.” _Saxon_, POKE, a sack.

~Policeman~, a fly—more especially the kind known as “blue bottle.” Also, among the dangerous classes, a man who is unworthy of confidence, a sneak or mean fellow.

~Polish off~, to finish off anything quickly—a dinner, for instance; also to finish off an adversary.—_Pugilistic._

~Poll~, at Cambridge, the “ordinary degree” candidates for the B.A. Examination, who do not aspire to the “Honours” list. From the _Greek_, οἱ πόλλοι, “the many.”

~Poll~, to beat or distance, as in a race; to utterly vanquish in competition. Term much used by printers.

~Poll~, a female of unsteady character; “POLLED up,” means living with a woman in a state of unmarried impropriety. Also, if a costermonger sees one of his friends walking with a strange woman, he will say to him on the earliest opportunity, “I saw yer when yer was POLLED up.”

~Poll~, or POLLING, one thief robbing another of part of the booty. In use in ancient times, _vide Hall’s Union_, 1548.

~Poll parrot~, a talkative, gossiping woman. A term much used about Ratcliff Highway.

~Polony~, Cockney shortening and vulgar pronunciation of Bologna (sausage). The sausages which are sold under the name of POLONIES have, however, no nearer connexion with Bologna sausages than that of the word’s derivation.

~Pompadours~, the Fifty-sixth Regiment of Foot in the British army.

~Ponce~, a degraded man who lives upon a woman’s prostitution. Low-class East-end thieves even will “draw the line” at PONCES, and object to their presence in the boozing-kens.

~Pond~, or HERRING-POND, the sea; so called by those who were sent across it at the national expense.

~Ponge~, or PONGELOW, beer, half-and-half; the term is also used as a verb, as in the Cockney phrase, “let’s PONGELOW, shall we?”

~Pony~, twenty-five pounds.—_Sporting._

~Poona~, a sovereign. Corruption of “pound;” or from the _Lingua Franca_.

~Pop~, to pawn or pledge; “to POP up the spout,” to pledge at the pawnbroker’s,—an allusion to the spout up which the brokers send the ticketed articles until such times as they shall be redeemed. The spout runs from the ground-floor to the wareroom at the top of the house. Ginger-beer is also known as POP.

~Pop the question~, to make an offer of marriage.

~Pope’s-eye~, a peculiar little part in a leg of mutton, much esteemed by lovers of that joint.

~Pope’s nose~, the extremity of the rump of a roast fowl, sometimes devilled as a dainty for epicures. Also known as “the parson’s NOSE.”

~Pops~, pocket-pistols.

~Porterhouse steak~, an American term for a steak which contains a small bone. In the States, tender-loin steaks are much eaten. These are from what we call the undercut of the sirloin.

~Portrait~, a sovereign. Modification of “Queen’s picture.”

~Posa~, a treasurer. A corruption of “purser,” the name given to the treasurer in the large Anglo-Chinese mercantile establishments.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Posh~, a halfpenny, or trifling coin. Also a generic term for money.

~Post~, to pay down; “POST the pony” signifies to place the stakes played for on the table.

~Post-horn~, the nose. _See_ PASTE-HORN.

~Post-mortem~, at Cambridge, the second examination which men who have been “plucked” have to undergo.—_University._

~Posted up~, well acquainted with the subject in question, “up to the mark,”—metaphor drawn from the counting-house.

~Pot~, a favourite in the betting for a race. Probably so called because it is usual to say that a heavily-backed horse carries “a POT of money.” When a favourite is beaten the POT is said to be upset.

~Pot~, a sixpence, _i.e._, the price of a POT or quart of half-and-half. A half-crown, in medical student slang, is a FIVE-POT piece.

~Pot~, TO GO TO POT, to die; from the classic custom of putting the ashes of the dead in an urn; also, to be ruined or broken up,—often applied to tradesmen who fail in business. “Go to POT!” _i.e._, go and hang yourself, shut up and be quiet.—_L’Estrange._ “To put the POT on,” to overcharge or exaggerate. “To go to POT” most probably means to go out of all shape, as metal in the melting-pot.

~Pot~, to finish; “don’t POT me,” term used at billiards, when a player holes his adversary’s ball—generally considered shabby play. This word was much used by our soldiers in the Crimea in reference to shots from a hole or ambush. These were called POT-SHOTS. The term is still used to denote a shot taken sitting or at ease.

~Pot-boiler~, a picture hurriedly painted for the purpose of “keeping the POT BOILING.”—_Artistic slang._

~Pot-faker~, a hawker of crockery and general earthenware.

~Pot-hat~, a low-crowned hat, as distinguished from the soft wideawake and the stove-pipe.

~Pot-hunter~, a sportsman who shoots anything he comes across, having more regard to filling his bag than to the rules which regulate the sport. A man who fires at anything, regardless of the rules which govern true sportsmen.

~Pot-hunter~, a man who gives his time up to rowing or punting, or any sort of match in order to win the “pewters” which are given as prizes.—_University._ The term is now much used in aquatic and athletic circles; and is applied, in a derogatory sense, to men of good quality who enter themselves in small races they are almost sure to win, and thus deprive the juniors of small trophies which should be above the attention of champions, though valuable to beginners. Also an unwelcome guest, who manages to be just in time for dinner.

~Pot-luck~, just as it comes; to take POT-LUCK, _i.e._, one’s chance of a dinner, or of what there is for dinner. A hearty term, used to signify that whatever the pot contains the visitor is welcome to.

~Pot-valiant~, courageous through application to the bottle. Possessed of Dutch courage.

~Pot-walloper~, an elector in certain boroughs before the passing of the first Reform Bill, whose qualification consisted in being a housekeeper,—to establish which it was only necessary to boil a pot within the limits of the borough, by the aid of any temporary erection. This implied that he was able to provide for himself, and not necessitated to apply for parochial relief. Honiton, Tregoney, Ilchester, Old Sarum, &c., had this privilege before the passing of the first Reform Bill. Also, a scullion.

~Potato-trap~, the mouth.—Originally a Hibernicism.

~Potheen~, whisky made in an illicit still, once a favourite drink in Ireland, now almost unattainable. People resident in England who read of the charms of POTHEEN would be rather astonished if they were to taste it. It is real “fire-water” flavoured with peat-smoke.

~Potted~, or POTTED OUT, cabined, confined, figurative of crammed into a garden-pot. Also applied to burial,—a horticultural allusion.

~Potter~, to meddle without much judgment. Application various. A gentleman may describe himself as “POTTERING about in his garden,” and think the phrase pleasant. The gardener, who has to do the work all over again, may, however, use the word in quite a different sense.

~Power~, a large quantity; “a POWER of money.”—_Irish_ at first, but now general.

~Pow-wow~, a conference. Originally an Indian term.

~Prad~, a horse. PRAD-NAPPING was horse-stealing. Both these terms are old cant.

~Prancer~, a horse.—_Ancient Cant._ In modern slang an officer of cavalry.

~Praties~, potatoes.—_Irish._

~Precious~, used, in a slang sense, like very or exceeding; “a PRECIOUS little of that,” _i.e._, a very little indeed; a PRECIOUS humbug, rascal, &c., _i.e._, an eminent one.

~Pretty horsebreakers~, a phrase adopted some years back, in deference to common squeamishness, to denote the _demi-monde_, who dress so well and ride so daintily. Really, pretty heartbreakers.

~Prial~, a corruption of PAIR-ROYAL, a term at the game of cribbage, meaning three cards of a similar description. Often used metaphorically for three persons or things of a kind. DOUBLE-PRIAL, a corruption of DOUBLE PAIR-ROYAL, means four cards, persons, or things of a similar description.

~Prick the garter~, or PITCH THE NOB, a gambling and cheating game common at fairs, and generally practised by thimble-riggers. It consists of a GARTER or a piece of list doubled, and then folded up tight. The bet is made upon your asserting that you can, with a pin, PRICK the point at which the garter is doubled. The garter is then unfolded, and nine times out of ten you will find that you have been deceived, and that one of the false folds has been pricked. The owner of the GARTER holds the ends tightly with one hand, and there is little doubt that he can make the “flat” lose and the “bonnet” win at pleasure. This was, doubtless, originally a gipsy game, and we are informed by Brand that it was much practised by the gipsies in the time of Shakspeare. In those days it was termed PRICKING AT THE BELT, or FAST AND LOOSE.

~Prig~, a thief. Used by Addison in the sense of a coxcomb.—_Ancient Cant_, probably from the _Saxon_, PRICC-AN, to filch, &c.—_Shakspeare._ PRIG, to steal or rob. PRIGGING, thieving. In Scotland the term PRIG is used in a different sense from what it is in England. In Glasgow, or at Aberdeen, “to PRIG a salmon” would be to cheapen it, or seek for an abatement in the price. A story is told of two Scotchmen, visitors to London, who got into sad trouble a few years ago by announcing their intention of “PRIGGING a hat” which they had espied in a fashionable manufacturer’s window, and which one of them thought he would like to possess.

~Prig~, a conceited, stuck-up, over-knowing person; one who appropriates or adopts a manner or costume not suited to him.

~Priggish~, conceited.

~Primed~, said of a person in that state of incipient intoxication that if he took more drink it would become evident. Also, crammed for an examination.

~Pro~, a professional.—_Theatrical._

~Pro~, the proproctor, or second in command in the proctorial police. The two proctors generally appoint a certain number of proproctors each.—_Oxford University._

~Proctorized~, TO BE, to be stopped by the Proctor, and told to call on him.—_University._

~Prog~, meat, food, &c. Johnson calls it “a low word.” He was fond of “prog,” however.

~Proof~, the best ale at Magdalen College, Oxford.

~Prop~, a blow. As, “a PROP on the nose,”—more street slang than pugilistic.

~Prop~, a scarf pin.

~Prop-nailer~, a man who “sneaks,” or rather snatches, pins from gentlemen’s scarves.

~Proper~, very, exceedingly, sometimes used ironically; “you are a PROPER nice fellow,” meaning a great scamp. A “PROPER man” generally means a perfect man, as far as can be known.

~Props~, crutches.

~Props~, stage properties.—_Theatrical._

~Pros~, a water-closet. Abbreviated form of πρὸς τινα τόπον. Some say, πρὸς τον τόπον.—_Oxford University._

~Pross~, to break in or instruct a stage-infatuated youth. Also, to spunge upon a comrade or stranger for drink. In this latter capacity the word is in connexion with prostitute, a PROSSER being considered a most degraded being, and the word being supposed by many to represent a man who lives on a woman’s prostitution.

~Psalm-smiter~, a “Ranter,” one who sings at a conventicle. _See_ BRISKET-BEATER.

~Pub~, or PUBLIC, a public-house; “what PUB do you use?” _i.e._, which inn or public-house do you frequent?

~Public patterers~, swell mobsmen who pretend to be Dissenting preachers, and harangue in the open air to attract a crowd for their confederates to rob.

~Pucker~, poor or bad temper, difficulty, _déshabillé_. PUCKER UP, to get in a bad temper.

~Puckering~, talking privately.

~Puckerow~, to seize, to take hold of. From the _Hindostanee_, PUCKERNA.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Pudding-snammer~, one who robs a cook-shop.

~Puff~, to blow up, or swell with praise; declared by a writer in the _Weekly Register_, as far back as 1732, to be illegitimate.

“PUFF has become a cant word, signifying the applause set forth by writers, &c. to increase the reputation and sale of a book, and is an excellent stratagem to excite the curiosity of gentle readers.”

Lord Bacon, however, used the word in a similar sense a century before. Sheridan also seems to have remembered the use of the word, _vide_ Mr. PUFF.

~Pug~, a fighting man’s idea of the contracted word to be produced from pugilist.

~Pull~, an advantage, or hold upon another; “I’ve the PULL over (or of) you,” _i.e._, you are in my power—perhaps an oblique allusion to the judicial sense. See the following.

~Pull~, to have one apprehended; “to be PULLED up,” or more recently “to be PULLED” only, to be taken before a magistrate. The police are constantly “pulling” loitering, furiously driving, or drunken cabmen.

~Pull~, to drink; “come, take a PULL at it,” _i.e._, drink up.

~Pull~, to prevent a horse from winning, that is, so far as the rider’s

## action is concerned.

~Pullet~, a young girl. Filly is an exchangeable term.

~Pummel~, to thrash,—from POMMEL.

~Pump~, to extract information by roundabout questioning.

~Pundit~, a person who assumes to be very grave and learned.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Punkah~, a fan, usually a fan of very large size, worked with a string, and used to ventilate rooms.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Punt~, to gamble; PUNTING-SHOP, a gambling-house. Common in ancient writers, but now disused. The word seems confined to playing for “chicken stakes.” PUNT means now in the sporting world to back horses for small stakes.

~Punter~, a small professional backer of horses.

~Pup and ringer~, _i.e._, the “Dog and Bell,” the sign of a flash public-house.

~Purdah~, a curtain.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Pure finders~, street-collectors of dogs’ dung.—_Humorous._

~Purl~, to spill; PURLED is a hunting and steeplechasing term synonymous with “foaled,” or “spilt” (thrown); “he’ll get PURLED at the rails.”

~Purl~, a mixture of hot ale and sugar, with wormwood infused in it, a favourite morning drink to produce an appetite; sometimes with gin and spice added:—

“Two penn’orth o’ PURL— Good ‘early PURL,’ ’Gin all the world To put your hair into a curl, When you feel yourself queer of a mornin’.”

~Purler~, a heavy fall from a horse in the hunting or steeplechasing field.

~Push~, a robbery or swindle. “I’m in this PUSH,” the notice given by one magsman to another that he means to “stand in.”

~Push~, a crowd.—_Old Cant._

~Pussey-cats~, corruption of Puseyites, a name constantly, but improperly, given to the Tractarian party in the Church, from the Oxford Regius Professor of Hebrew, who by no means approved of the Romanizing tendencies of some of its leaders. The name still sticks, however, to this day.

~Put~, a game at cards, once fashionable, but now played among thieves and costermongers only.

~Put~, an obsolete slang term representing the modern “bloke” or “cove.” It was generally applied to elderly persons.

~Put on~, to promise another money or valuables in the event of an anticipated success. “You’re ON a quid if Kaiser wins,” might often have been heard before last St. Leger. Many hangers-on of the turf live almost entirely by what they are PUT ON, by bookmakers and backers for whom they do odd work.

~Put that in your pipe and smoke it~, said of a blow or repartee, and equivalent to take that and think over it, or digest it, or let it be a warning to you.

~Put the pot on~, to put too much money upon one horse.—_Sporting._

~Put up~, to suggest, to incite, “he PUT me UP to it;” he prompted me to do it. PUT UP, to stop at an hotel or a tavern for entertainment.

~Put up~, to inspect or plan out with a view of robbery. To obtain full

## particulars with regard to a house and its occupants, so that danger

shall be reduced to a minimum, and the chances of success enlarged.

~Put upon~, cheated, victimized, oppressed.

~Putter up~, a man who travels about for the purpose of obtaining information useful to professional burglars. A man of this description will assume many characters, sometimes ingratiating himself with the master of a house, sometimes with the servants, but all to one end, that of robbery. He rarely or never joins in the actual burglary, his work being simply to obtain full particulars as to how, when, and where, for which he receives his full share of the “swag.”

~Puttun~, regiment.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Pyah~, weak, useless, paltry. This word, much in use among sailors, is evidently derived from the Indian term PARIAH, signifying the lowest caste of Hindoos. Thus the Pariah dogs in India are termed PYAH dogs; and the Pariah descendants of the old Portuguese settlers are called PYAH Portuguese. Sailors term the natives of St. Helena—a wretched-looking set of individuals—PYAH Englishmen.

~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.’”

_See_ M. B.

~Pyjands~, a kind of drawers or loose pantaloons.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Quad.~ _See_ QUOD.

~Quaker~, a lump of excrement.

~Quality~, gentry, the upper classes.

~Quandary~, described in the dictionaries as a “low word,” may fittingly be given here. It illustrates, like “hocus-pocus,” and other compound colloquialisms, the singular origin of slang expressions. QUANDARY, a dilemma, a doubt, a difficulty, is from the French, QU’EN DIRAI-JE?—_Skinner._

~Quartereen~, a farthing.—_Gibraltar term._ _Italian_, QUATTRINO.

~Quaver~, a musician.

~Quean~, a strumpet. In Scotland, a lower-class woman. _Saxon_, CWEAN, a barren old cow.

~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.

~Queen’s tobacco-pipe~, the kiln in which all contraband tobacco seized by the Custom-house officers is burned.

~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 gipsies, 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.

~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_, xi. 19.

~Queer bail~, worthless persons who for a consideration formerly stood bail for any one in court. Insolvent Jews generally performed this office, which gave rise to the term JEW-BAIL, otherwise STRAW BAIL.

~Queer-bit-makers~, coiners.

~Queer cuffen~, a justice of the peace, or magistrate,—a very ancient term, mentioned in the earliest slang dictionary. In this sense, as well as in that of the verb just given, the term is evidently derived from _quæro_, to inquire, to question. Quiz and _quis?_ have also an undoubted connexion.

~Queer-soft~, bad notes.

~Queer-street~, “in QUEER STREET,” in difficulty or in want.

~Querier~, a chimney-sweep who calls from house to house soliciting employment,—formerly termed KNULLER, which _see_.

~Qui-hi~, an English resident at Calcutta.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Quick sticks~, in a hurry, rapidly; “to cut QUICK STICKS,” to start off hurriedly, or without more ado. _See_ CUT ONE’S STICK.

~Quid~, or THICK UN, a sovereign; “half a QUID,” half a sovereign; QUIDS, money generally; “QUID for a QUOD,” one good turn for another. The word is used by old French writers:—

“Des testamens qu’on dit le maistre De mon fait n’aura QUID ne QUOD.”

_Grand testament de Villon._

~Quid~, a small piece of tobacco—one mouthful. _Quid est hoc?_ asked one, tapping the swelled cheek of another; _Hoc est quid_, promptly replied the other, exhibiting at the same time a “chaw” of the weed. CUD is probably a corruption. Derivation, _O. F._, or _Norman_, QUIDER, to ruminate.

~Quid-nunc~, an inquisitive person, always seeking for news. The words translated simply signify, “What now?”

~Quiet~, “on the QUIET,” clandestinely, so as to avoid observation, “under the rose.”

~Quill-driver~, a scrivener, a clerk,—satirical phrase similar to “steel bar driver,” a tailor.

~Quiller~, a parasite, a person who sucks neatly through a quill. _See_ SUCK UP.

~Quilt~, to thrash, or beat.

~Quisby~, bankrupt, poverty-stricken. Amplification of QUEER.

~Quisi~, roguish, low, obscene.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Qui-tam~, a solicitor. _He who_, _i.e._, “he who, as much for himself as for the King,” seeks a conviction, the penalty for which goes half to the informer and half to the Crown. The term would, therefore, with greater propriety, be applied to a spy than to a solicitor.

~Quiz~, a prying person, an odd fellow. Originally Oxford slang, but now general, and lately admitted into some dictionaries. _See_ QUEER CUFFEN.

~Quiz~, to pry, or joke; to hoax.

~Quizzical~, jocose, humorous.

~Quizzing-glass~, an eyeglass. This was applied to the old single eyeglass, which was not stuck in the eye, as now, but was held in the hand.

~Quockerwodger~, a wooden toy figure which, when pulled by a string, jerks its limbs about. The term is used in a slang sense, to signify a pseudo-politician, one whose strings of action are pulled by somebody else.

~Quod~, a prison, a lock-up; QUODDED, put in prison. QUOD is really a shortening of quadrangle; so to be QUODDED is to be within four walls. The expression is, however, seldom used now except to mean in prison. At Oxford, where it is spelt QUAD, the word has its original signification.

~Quodger~, a contraction, or corruption rather, of the _Latin_ law phrase, QUO JURE? by what law?—_Legal._

~R. M. D.~, cash down, immediate payment. The initial letters of READY MONEY DOWN. Another version of this is P. Y. C. (pay your cash), often seen in the market quotations,—as, “Meat fetched 6_s._ 4_d._ a stone, P. Y. C., and 6_s._ 6_d._ for the account.”

~Rabbit~, when a person gets the worst of a bargain, he is said “to have bought the RABBIT.” From an old story about a man selling a cat to a foreigner for a rabbit.

~Racket~, a dodge, manœuvre, exhibition; a disturbance.

~Rackety~, wild or noisy.

~Racks~, the bones of a dead horse. Term used by horse-slaughterers.

~Raclan~, a married woman. Originally Gipsy, but now a term with English tramps.

~Rafe~, or RALPH, a pawnbroker’s duplicate.—_Norwich._

~Raff~, a dirty, dissipated fellow; RAFFISH, looking like a RAFF.

~Rag~, to divide or share; “let’s RAG IT,” or “go RAGS,” _i.e._, share it equally between us.—_Norwich._

~Rag~, a bank-note.

~Rag and Famish~, the Army and Navy Club. From Ensign RAG and Captain FAMISH, imaginary characters, out of whom Leech some years back obtained much amusement.

~Rag-shop~, a bank.

~Rag-splawger~, a rich man.

~Ragamuffin~, an ill-clad vagabond, a tatterdemalion.

~Rain napper~, an umbrella.

~Raise the wind~, to obtain credit, or money,—generally by pawning or selling property, but not unusually by borrowing. Sometimes varied to WHISTLE UP THE BREEZE.

~Raker~, TO GO A, is, in racing parlance, to put more money than usual on a certain horse. “Going a RAKER” often leads to “coming a cropper.”

~Ramp~, to hustle, to rob with violence, to levy blackmail in a ferocious manner; to extort by means of threats. RAMPING is generally done in gangs.

~Rampage~, TO BE ON THE, on the drink, on the loose. Dickens, in _Great Expectations_, refers to Mrs. Jo as being on the RAMPAGE when she is worse tempered than usual.

~Ramper~, a ruffian of the most brutal description, who infests racecourses and similar places on welching expeditions during summer, and finds pleasure and profit in garrotte robberies during winter.

~Ramshackle~, queer, rickety, knocked about, as standing corn is after a high wind. Corrupted from RAM-SHATTER, or possibly from RANSACK.

~Rancho~, originally a Spanish-American word, signifying a hunting-lodge, or cattle-station, in a wood or desert far from the haunts of men. A hunting or fishing station in the Highlands or elsewhere. In Washington, with their accustomed ingenuity in corrupting words and meanings, the Americans use the appellation for a place of evil report. The word is generally pronounced RANCH now.

~Randals-man.~ _See_ BILLY.

~Randan~, a boat impelled by three rowers, the midship man sculling, and the bowman and strokesman rowing with oars.

~Random~, three horses driven in line. _See_ TANDEM, SUDDEN DEATH, HARUM-SCARUM.

~Randy~, rampant, violent, warm.—_North._ RANDY-BEGGAR, a gipsy tinker.

~Rank~, to cheat. Modification of RAMP.

~Ranker~, a commissioned officer in the army who has risen from the ranks. Usually employed in a disparaging sense. Purely military. Also, among street folk, a corruption of RANK DUFFER.

~Ran-tan~, “on the RAN-TAN,” drunk.

~Rantipoll~, a noisy rude girl, a madcap.

~Rap~, a halfpenny; frequently used generically for money, thus:—“I haven’t a RAP,” _i.e._, I have no money whatever; “I don’t care a RAP,” &c. Originally a species of counterfeit coin used for small change in Ireland, against the use of which a proclamation was issued, 5th May, 1737. Small copper or base metal coins are still called RAPPEN in the Swiss cantons. Irish robbers were formerly termed RAPPAREES.

~Rap~, to utter rapidly and vehemently; “he RAPPED out a volley of oaths.”

~Rapping~, enormous; “a RAPPING big lie.”

~Rapscallion~, a low tattered wretch—not worth a RAP.

~Raree-show~, a collection of curiosities.

~Rat~, a sneak, an informer, a turn-coat, one who changes his party for interest. The late Sir Robert Peel was called the RAT, or the TAMWORTH RATCATCHER, for altering his views on the Roman Catholic question. From RATS deserting vessels about to sink. The term is often used amongst printers to denote one who works under price. Old cant for a clergyman.

~Rat~, TO SMELL A, to suspect something, to guess that there is something amiss.

~Rather!~ a ridiculous street exclamation synonymous with yes; “Do you like fried chickens?” “RATHER!” “Are you going out of town?” “RATHER!” Very often pronounced “RAYTHER!”

~Rattening~, the punishment inflicted on non-unionists by Sheffield grinders, through the instrumentality of “Mary Ann.” _See_ Parliamentary Inquiry Report on the subject.

~Rattlecap~, an unsteady, volatile person. Generally applied to girls.

~Rattler~, a cab, coach, or cart.—_Old Cant._

~Rattletrap~, the mouth. Anything shaky and mean, but pretentious and vulgar, is said to belong to the RATTLETRAP order of things.

~Rattling~, jolly, pleasant, well-appointed. “A RATTLING good spread” means an excellent repast, while a true friend is said to be a “RATTLING good fellow.”

~Raw~, a tender point, or foible; “to touch a man upon the RAW,” is to irritate one by alluding to, or joking him on, anything on which he is peculiarly susceptible or “thin-skinned.” Originally stable slang.

“Liver and bacon, kidneys, ten pounds one! He thinks me RAW. I think I’m rather DONE.”

_Phantom Barber._

~Raw~, uninitiated; a novice.—_Old._ Frequently JOHNNY RAW.

~Reach me downs~, or HAND ME DOWNS, clothes bought at secondhand shops. From “REACH ME DOWN that, and let’s see if it fits.” In Houndsditch and other celebrated old clothes’ marts, the goods are kept hanging on pegs so as to be well within view of intending buyers.

~Reader~, a pocket-book; “Touch him for his READER,” _i.e._, rob him of his pocket-book.

~Ready~, or READY GILT (maybe GELT), money. Used by Arbuthnot—“Lord Strut was not very flush in READY.”

~Ready-reckoners~, the Highland regiments of the British army.

~Real jam~, a sporting phrase, meaning anything exceptionally good. It is said to be REAL JAM for those who back a horse at a long price, when the animal wins, or comes to a short figure.

~Recent incision~, the busy thoroughfare on the Surrey side of the Thames, known to sober people as the New Cut. Even this latter name has now been changed—if indeed the place ever was so called properly. Although to the general public the street which runs from opposite Rowland Hill’s Chapel to Westminster Bridge Road is known as the New Cut, its name to the Board of Works is Lower Marsh.

~Redge~, gold.

~Red herring~, a soldier. The terms are exchangeable, the fish being often called a “soldier.”

~Red lane~, the throat.

~Red liner~, an officer of the Mendicity Society.

~Red rag~, the tongue.

~Red un~, a gold watch.

~Redtape~, official routine. A term which was much in vogue during the Crimean campaign, so famous for War Office blunderings.

~Regulars~, a thief’s fair share of plunder.

~Reliever~, a coat worn in turn by any party of poor devils whose wardrobes are in pawn.

~Relieving Officer~, a significant term for a father.—_University._

~Renage~, to revoke, a word used in Ireland at the game of five-card.

~Rench~, vulgar pronunciation of RINSE. “(W)RENCH your mouth out,” said a fashionable dentist one day.

~Re-raw~, “on the RE-RAW,” tipsy or drunk.

~Resurrection pie~, once a school but now a common phrase, used in reference to a pie supposed to be made of the scraps and leavings that have appeared before.

~Ret~, an abbreviation of the word REITERATION, used to denote the forme which, in a printing-office, backs or perfects paper already printed on one side.

~Rhino~, ready money.—_Old._

“Some as I know, Have parted with their ready RINO.”

_The Seaman’s Adieu_, Old Ballad, 1670.

~Rhinoceral~, rich, wealthy, abounding in RHINO. At first sound it would seem as though it meant a man abounding in rhinoceroses.

~Rib~, a wife. Derivation, of course, Biblical.

~Ribbon~, gin, or other spirits. Modification of white satin.

~Ribbons~, the reins. “To handle the RIBBONS,” to drive.

~Ribroast~, to beat till the ribs are sore.—_Old_; but still in use:—

“And he departs, not meanly boasting Of his magnificent RIBROASTING.”—_Hudibras._

~Rich~, spicy; also used in the sense of “too much of a good thing;” “a RICH idea,” one too absurd or unreasonable to be adopted.

~Richard~, a dictionary. _See_ DICK.

~Ride~, “to RIDE the high horse,” or “RIDE roughshod over one,” to be overbearing or oppressive; “to RIDE the black donkey,” to be in an ill humour.

~Rider~, in a University examination, a problem or question appended to another, as directly arising from or dependent on it;—beginning to be generally used for any corollary or position which naturally arises from any previous statement or evidence.

~Rider~, a supplementary clause in a document.

~Riff-raff~, low, vulgar rabble.

~Rig~, or trick, “spree,” or performance; “run a RIG,” to play a trick.—_See_ JOHN GILPIN. “RIG the market,” in reality to play tricks with it,—a mercantile slang phrase often used in the newspapers.

~Rigged~, “well RIGGED,” well dressed.—_Old Slang_, in use in 1736. _See Bailey’s Dictionary.—Sea._

~Rigging~, a process well known in connexion with sales by auction, by which articles are secured at prices considerably below their real value. _See_ KNOCK-OUTS. To RIG the market is to do similar business on a larger scale for the purpose of affecting the supplies, and thereby increasing the profits on an original purchase of the goods thus made scarce.

~Right as ninepence~, or NICE AS NINEPENCE (possible corruption of NINE-PINS), quite right, exactly right, comfortable. _See_ NINEPENCE.

~Right you are~, a phrase implying entire acquiescence in what has been said or done. The expression is singularly frequent and general amongst the lower and middle classes of the metropolis.

~Rights~, “to have one to RIGHTS,” to be even with him, to serve him out properly. “TO RIGHTS” is also an ejaculation signifying satisfaction of the highest order.

~Rigmarole~, a prolix story.

~Rile~, to offend, to render very cross, irritated, or vexed. Properly, to render liquor turbid.

~Ring~, to change; “RINGING castors,” changing hats; “to RING the changes,” in low life means to change bad money for good; in respectable society the phrase is sometimes employed to denote that the aggressor has been paid back in his own coin, as in practical joking, when the laugh is turned against the jester. The expression originally came from the belfry.

~Ring~, a generic term given to horse-racing and pugilism,—the latter was sometimes termed the PRIZE-RING. From the rings used for betting and fighting in, respectively.

~Ring~, formerly “to go through the RING,” to take advantage of the Insolvency Act, or be “whitewashed.” Now obsolete.

~Ring~, the open space in front of a racecourse stand, which is used for betting purposes. Betting men are nowadays known as members of the ring, especially if they are in the habit of attending race-meetings. RING, in America, is a combination of speculators whose object is to force the market for their own especial benefit without any regard to order or decency. We have similar arrangements here, but hitherto no one word has fairly described them.

~Ringdropping~, is a pursuit to which London “magsmen” and “street-muggers” are prone. A ring or other spurious article is supposed to be found just in front of a “soft-looking party,” and he or she is tempted to buy it at less than half its supposed value.

~Rip~, a rake, “an old RIP,” an old libertine, or a debauchee. Corruption of REPROBATE.

~Rip~, to go at a rare pace. This is an American term, and often means to burst up. “Let her RIP, I’m insured.”

~Ripper~, a first-rate man or article.—_Provincial._

~Ripping~, excellent, very good. Equivalent to “stunning.”

~Rise~, “to take a RISE out of a person.” A metaphor from fly-fishing, the silly fish RISING to be caught by an artificial fly; to mortify, outwit, or cheat him, by superior cunning.

“There is only one thing, unfortunately, of which Oxford men are economical, and that is, their University experience. They not only think it fair that Freshmen should go through their ordeal unaided, but many have a sweet satisfaction in their distresses, and even busy themselves in obtaining elevations, or, as it is vulgarly termed, in ‘getting RISES out of them.’”—_Hints to Freshmen_, Oxford, 1843.

~Rise, or raise, a Barney~, to collect a mob; term used by patterers and “schwassle-box” (Punch and Judy) men.

~Roarer~, a broken-winded horse; or, in the more polite speech of the stable, “a high blower.” ROARING, as applied to horses, is often termed “talking” by turf-men. It is often said delicately by sporting writers, when speaking of a broken-winded racehorse, that “he makes a noise.”

~Roaring trade~, a very successful business.—_Shopkeepers’ Slang._

~Roast~, to expose a person to a running fire of jokes for the amusement and with the assistance of a whole company. A performance not indulged in by gentlemen. QUIZZING is done by a single person only.

~Robin redbreast~, the ancient Bow Street runner. So called from the colour of his waistcoat.

~Rock-a-low~, an overcoat. Corruption of the _French_, ROQUELAURE.

~Rocked~, “he’s only HALF-ROCKED,” _i.e._, half-witted. _See_ HALF-ROCKED.

~Rogue’s yarn~, a thread of red or blue worsted, worked into the ropes manufactured in the Government dockyards, to identify them if stolen. Also a blue thread worked into canvas, for the same purpose.

~Roll of snow~, a piece of linen, or bundle of underclothing.

~Romany~, a gipsy, or the gipsy language; the speech of the Roma or Zincali.—_Spanish Gipsy._ “Can you patter ROMANY?” _i.e._, can you talk “black,” or gipsy lingo?

~Rook~, a cheat, or tricky gambler; the opposite of “pigeon.”

~Rook~, to cheat, to play “rook” to another’s “pigeon.”

~Rook~, a clergyman, not only from his black attire, but also, perhaps, from the old nursery favourite, the _History of Cock Robin_.

“I, says the ROOK, With my little book, I’ll be the parson.”

~Rookery~, a low neighbourhood inhabited by dirty Irish and thieves—as St. Giles’s ROOKERY.—_Old._ In military slang that part of the barracks occupied by subalterns, often by no means a pattern of good order.

~Rooky~, rascally, rakish, scampish.

~Roost~, synonymous with PERCH, which _see_.

~Rooster~, a cock, whether bantam, game, barndoor, or of any other kind. This is an Americanism which obtains full currency on the other side of the Atlantic, though its use would infer that hens do not roost. As the outcome of transpontine delicacy it must, however, be respected.

~Rooter~, anything good, or of a prime quality; “that is a ROOTER,” _i.e._, a first-rate one of the sort.

~Rope~, to lose a race of any kind purposely, to swindle one’s backers or the public by means of a “cross” or pre-arranged race, in which the best man or best horse is made to ROPE, or run behind.

~Roper~, MISTRESS, “to marry MRS. ROPER” is to enlist in the Royal Marines.

~Ropes~, the ways of London lower life. “To know the ROPES,” is to be conversant with the minutiæ of metropolitan dodges, as regards both the streets and the sporting world.

~Roping~, the act of pulling or restraining a horse, by its rider, to prevent its winning a race—a trick not unfrequently practised on the turf. Also when a pedestrian or other athlete loses where he should have won, according to his backer’s calculations, he is accused of ROPING.

~Rose~, “under the rose” (frequently used in its _Latin_ form, _sub rosâ_), _i.e._, under the obligation of silence and secrecy, of which the rose was anciently an emblem, perhaps, as Sir Thomas Browne remarks, from the closeness with which its petals are enfolded in the bud. The Rose of Venus was given, says the classic legend, to Harpocrates, the God of Silence, by Cupid, as a bribe to keep silent about the goddess’s amours. It was commonly sculptured on the ceilings of banqueting rooms, as a sign that what was said in free conversation there was not afterwards to be divulged; and about 1526 was placed over the Roman confessionals as an emblem of secrecy. The White Rose was also an emblem of the Pretender, whose health, as king, his secret adherents used to drink “under the ROSE.”

~Rosin~, beer or other drink given to musicians at a dancing party.

~Rosin-the-bow~, a fiddler. From a famous old song of that name.

~Rot~, nonsense, anything bad, disagreeable, or useless.

~Rot-gut~, bad, small beer. _See_ BUMCLINK. In America, cheap whisky.

~Rough~, bad; “ROUGH fish,” bad or stinking fish.—_Billingsgate._

~Rough-it~, to put up with chance entertainment, to take pot-luck and what accommodation “turns up,” without sighing for better.

~Roughs~, coarse, or vulgar men. By many thought to be RUFF, corruption of RUFFIAN.

~Rouleau~, a packet of sovereigns.—_Gaming._

~Round~, to tell tales, to SPLIT, which _see_; “to ROUND on a man,” to swear to him as being the person, &c. Synonymous with BUFF, which _see_. Also to turn round upon and abuse or rate. Shakspeare has ROUNDING, whispering.

~Round~, “ROUND dealing,” honest trading; “ROUND sum,” a large sum. Synonymous also, in a slang sense, with SQUARE, which _see_.

~Round~ (in the language of the street), the beat or usual walk of a costermonger to sell his stock. A term used by street folk generally.

“Watchmen, sometimes they made their sallies, And walk’d their ROUNDS through streets and allies.”

_Ned Ward’s Vulgus Britannicus_, 1710.

The word “beat” has, so far as our modern guardians are concerned, deposed “round.”

~Round robin~, a petition, or paper of remonstrance, with the signatures written in a circle,—to prevent the first signer, or ringleader, from being discovered.

~Round un~, an unblushingly given and well-proportioned lie. Sometimes known as a “whacker.”

~Roundabout~, a large swing with four compartments, each the size, and very much the shape, of the body of a cart, capable of seating six or eight boys and girls, erected in a high frame, and turned round by men at a windlass. Fairs and merry-makings generally abound with these swings. The frames take to pieces, and are carried in vans from fair to fair by miserable horses.

~Roundem~, a button.

~Row~, “the ROW,” _i.e._, Paternoster Row. The notorious Holywell Street is now called by its denizens “Bookseller’s Row.”

~Row~, a noisy disturbance, tumult, or trouble. Originally Cambridge, now universal. Seventy years ago it was written ROUE, which would almost indicate a French origin, from _roué_, a profligate or disturber of the peace.—_Vide_ George Parker’s _Life’s Painter_, 1789, p. 122. This is, however, very unlikely, as the derivation of the French word shows.

~Rowdy~, money. In America, a ruffian, a brawler, a “rough.” Rowdyism is the state of being of New York roughs and loafers.

~Rowdy-dow~, low, vulgar “not the CHEESE,” or thing.

~Rub~, a quarrel or impediment; “there’s the RUB,” _i.e._, that is the difficulty.—_Shakspeare and L’Estrange._

~Rubbed out~, dead,—a melancholy expression, of late frequently used in fashionable novels. RUBBED OUT is synonymous with WIPED OUT, which _see_.

~Rubber~, a term at whist, &c., the best of three games.

~Ruck~, the undistinguished crowd; “to come in with the RUCK,” to arrive at the winning-post among the thick of the unplaced horses.—_Racing term._

~Ruction~, an Irish row. A faction fight.

~Ruggy~, fusty, frowsy.

~Rule.~ “To run the RULE over,” is, among thieves, to try all a person’s pockets quietly, as done by themselves, or to search any one thoroughly, as at the police-station.

~Rule the roast~, to be at the head of affairs, to be “cock of the walk.”

~Rum~, like its opposite, QUEER, was formerly a much-used prefix, signifying fine, good, gallant, or valuable; perhaps in some way connected with ROME. Nowadays it means indifferent, bad, or questionable, and we often hear even persons in polite society use such a phrase as, “What a RUM fellow he is, to be sure,” in speaking of a man of singular habits or appearance. The term, from its frequent use, long since claimed a place in our dictionaries; but, with the exception of Johnson, who says RUM, a cant word for a clergyman(!), no lexicographer has deigned to notice it.

“Thus RUMLY floor’d, the kind Acestes ran, And pitying, raised from earth the game old man.”

_Virgil’s Æneid_,