part III
., ch. 9, p. 58. Anybody could know that these was took by a greeny.
1887. Congregationalist, 7 April. Jim said I was a greeny ... [and] that he had a lot of houses.
Greetin’ Fu’, adv. phr. (Scots’), Drunk: literally ‘crying drunk.’ For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.
Greeze, subs. (Westminster School).—A crowd; a push (q.v.).
Gregorian, subs. (old).—A kind of wig worn in the 17th century. [After the inventor, one Gregory, a barber in the Strand.]
1658. Honest Ghost, p. 46. Pulling a little down his Gregorian.
Gregorian-tree, subs. (old).—The gallows. [After a sequence of three hangmen of the name.] For synonyms, see Nubbing-cheat.
1641. Mercurius Pragmaticus. This trembles under the black rod, and he Doth fear his fate from the Gregorian tree.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gregorine, subs. (common).—A louse; specifically, head vermin. [From the Italian.] For synonyms, see Chates.
Greshamite, subs. (old).—A Fellow of the Royal Society.—B. E. [1690.]
Grey.—See Gray, passim.
Griddle, subs. (streets’).—To sing in the streets. Whence, Griddling = street-singing; griddler = a street-singer.
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor. Got a month for griddling in the main drag.
1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, pt. I., ch. xii. Cardiff Jack’s never got so low as to be griddling on the main drag—singing, I mean, on the high-road.
1888. W. Besant, Fifty Years Ago, ch. iv., p. 53. They [street singers] have not yet invented Moody and Sankey, and therefore they cannot sing ‘Hold the Fort’ or ‘Dare to be a Daniel,’ but there are hymns in every collection which suit the gridler.
1890. Daily Telegraph, 20 May. Singing or shouting hymns in the streets on Sundays. To this system the name of gridling has been applied. The gridlers, it was stated, were known to boast, as they returned to their haunts in Deptford and Southwark, how much they could make in a few hours.
Gridiron, subs. (American).—1. The United States’ flag; the Stars and Stripes. Also Stars and Bars; Blood and Entrails; Gridiron and Doughboys; and, in speaking of the Eagle in conjunction with the flag, the Goose and Gridiron.
2. (common).—A County Court Summons. [Originally applied to Writs of the Westminster Court, the arms of which resemble a gridiron.]
1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxi. He collects debts for anybody in the neighbourhood, takes out the abhorred gridirons, or County Court summonses.
3. (thieves’).—The bars on a cell window. Fr., les gaules de Schtard.
The Gridiron, subs. phr. (common).—The Grafton Club. [Where the grill is a speciality.]
On the Gridiron, adv. phr. (common).—Troubled; harassed; in a bad way; on toast (q.v.).
The Whole Gridiron, subs. phr. (common).—See Whole Animal.
Grief, To Come to Grief, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To come to ruin; to meet with an accident; to fail. In quot., 1891 = trouble.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. x. We drove on to the Downs, and we were nearly coming to grief. My horses are young, and when they get on the grass they are as if they were mad.
1888. Cassell’s Saturday Jour., 8 Dec., p. 249. In the United States he had started a ‘Matrimonial Agency,’ in which he had come to grief, and he had been obliged to return to this country for a similar reason.
1891. Sportsman, 28 Feb. The flag had scarcely fallen than the grief commenced, as Midshipmite and Carlo rolled over at the first fence, Clanranald refused at the second, and Dog Fox fell at the third.
Griffin (or Griff), subs. (common).—1. A new-comer; a raw hand; a Greenhorn (q.v.) See Snooker and Sammy Soft. [Specific uses are (Anglo-Indian) = a new arrival from Europe; (military) = a young subaltern; (Anglo-Chinese) = an unbroken horse.] Griffinage (or Griffinism) = the state of greenhornism.
1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffry Hamlyn, ch. xxviii. All the griffins ought to hunt together.
1878. Besant and Rice, By Celia’s Arbour, ch. xxx. We were in the Trenches; there had been joking with a lot of griffs, young recruits just out from England.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mount Royal, ch. xxii. There was only one of the lads about the yard when he left, for it was breakfast-time, and the little griffin didn’t notice.
1883. Graphic, 17 March, p. 286, c. 3. Many a youngster has got on in his profession ... by having the good fortune to make a friend of the old Indian who took him in as a griffin or a stranger.
2. (colloquial).—A woman of forbidding manners or appearance; a Gorgon. Also a caretaker, chaperon, or sheep-dog (q.v.) [A reflection of the several griffins of ornithology and of heraldry: the former a feeder on birds, small mammals, and even children; the latter (as in Milton) a perfection of vigilance.]
1824. R. B. Peake, Americans Abroad, i., 2. It is always locked up by that she-griffin with a bunch of keys.
3. (thieves’).—A signal: e.g., to tip the griffin = to warn; to give the office (q.v.), or tip (q.v.). The straight griffin = the straight tip.
1888. Cassell’s Sat. Jour., 22 Dec., p. 305. Plank yourself at the corner to give the griffin if you hear or see owt.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 22. He’s got the straight griff for something.
1891. J. Newman, Scamping Tricks, p. 95. When he wanted to give the chaps in the office the straight griffin, he used to say, ‘Nelson’s my guide.’
4. in. pl. (trade).—The scraps and leavings from a contract feast, which are removed by the purveyor.
Griff-metoll, subs. (old).—Sixpence. For synonyms, see Tanner.
1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, s.v.
Grig, subs. (old).—1. An active, lively, and jocose person: as in the phrase ‘Merry as a Grig.’ [An allusion to the liveliness of the grasshopper, sand-eel, or to grig (= Greek: cf., Troilus and Cressida i. 2; iv. 4).]
1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie. Gale-bon-temps. A merry grig.
1673. Wycherley, Gent. Danc. Master, i., 1., wks. (1713) 251. Hah, ah, ah, cousin, dou art a merry grigg—ma foy.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Grig s.v. A merry grig; a merry fellow.
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., i., 43. The statesman that talks on the Woolsack so big, Could hustle to the open as merry as a grig.
1765. Goldsmith, Essays VI. I grew as merry as a grig, and laughed at every word that was spoken.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xix, p. 159. The learned gentleman ... is as merry as a grig at a French watering-place.
2. (thieves’).—A farthing; a gigg (q.v.). For synonyms, see Fadge.
1680. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Not a grig did he tip me, not a farthing would he give me.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 15. ‘He shall go through the whole course,’ replied Blueskin, with a ferocious grin, ‘unless he comes down to the last grig.’
Verb. (American).—To vex; to worry.
1855. Haliburton [S. Slick], Human Nature, p. 83. That word ‘superiors’ grigged me. Thinks I, ‘My boy, I’ll just take that expression, roll it up in a ball, and shy it back at you.’
Grim, subs. (American thieves’).—A skeleton. Also Grin.
Old Mr. Grim, subs. phr. (common).—Death. For synonyms, see Old Floorer.
Grin, verb. (American University, Virginia).—See quot.
1887. Lippincott, July, p. 99. If there are many ‘old men’ in the room they immediately begin to grin him; that is, they strike on their plates with their knives and forks, beat with their feet, and shout at the top of their voices, in the effort to make their victim grin. Woe to him if they succeed; for in that event the same thing will be repeated three times a day, until he ceases to notice it.
To grin in a Glass Case. verb. phr. (old).—To be shown as an anatomical preparation. [The bodies and skeletons of criminals were once preserved in glass cases at Surgeon’s Hall.—Grose.]
To flash the Upright Grin, verb. phr. (venery).—To expose the person (of women).
Grinagog, the Cat’s Uncle, subs. phr. (old).—A grinning simpleton.—Grose.
Grincums, subs. (old).—Syphilis. For synonyms, see Ladies’ Fever.
1608. Middleton, Family of Love, B. 1. I had a receipt for the grincomes in his own hand.
1635. Jones, Adrasta or the Woman’s Spleen, c. 2. You must know, sir, in a nobleman ’tis abusive; no, in him the serpigo, in a knight the grincomes, in a gentleman the Neapolitan scabb, and in a serving man or artificer the plaine pox.
1637. Massinger, Guardian, iv. The comfort is, I am now secure from the grincomes, I can lose nothing that way.
Grind, subs. (common).—1. A walk; a constitutional: e.g., ‘to take a grind’ or (University) ‘to go on the Grandchester (or Gog Magog Hills) grind.’
2. (common).—Daily routine; hard or distasteful work.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, pt. III., ch. xi. To a University man, a grind did not possess any reading signification, but a riding one. In fact, it was a steeple-chase, slightly varying in its details according to the college that patronised the pastime.
1870. London Figaro, 28 July. The world is a wearisome grind, love, Nor shirk we our turn at the wheel.
1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. xxv. ‘Isn’t it a great grind, sir?’ asked Silverbridge. ‘A very great grind, as you call it. And there may be the grind and not the success. But——’
1880. One and All, 27 Mar., p. 207. Soul-weary of life’s horrid grind, I long to come to thee.
3. (schools’).—Study; reading up for an examination; also a plodding student, i.e., a grinder.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School Days, pt. II., ch. v. ‘Come along, boys,’ cries East, always ready to leave the grind, as he called it.
1887. Chambers’ Jour., 14 May, p. 310. Smalls made just such a goal as was required, and the grind it entailed was frequently of no slight profit to him.
4. (medical students’).—A demonstration: as (1) a ‘public grind’ given to a class and free to all; and (2) a ‘private grind’ for which a student pays an individual teacher. In America, a quiz (q.v.).
5. (Oxford University).—Athletic sports. Also, a training run.
1872. Chambers’ Jour., April. Joe Rullock, the mighty gymnasiarch, the hero of a hundred grinds, the unwearied haunter of the palæstra, could never give the lie to his whole past life, and deny his own gymnastics.
6. (venery).—An act of sexual intercourse: e.g., To do a grind. [Mill and grindstone (venery) = the female pudendum.] For synonyms, see Greens and Ride.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes. Macinio, the grinding of grist. Also taken for carnal copulation.
1647. Ladies Parliament. Digbie’s lady takes it ill, that her Lord grinds not at her mill.
The grind, subs. phr. (Cambridge University).—The ferry-boat at Chesterton.
Verb. (University).—1. To prepare for examination to study: to read.
1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School Days, pt. II., ch. vii. ‘The thing to find out,’ said Tom meditatively, ‘is how long one ought to grind at a sentence without looking at the crib.’
2. (University).—To teach; to instruct; to coach (q.v.).
3. (common).—To do a round of hard and distasteful work; to apply oneself to daily routine.
1880. Punch, 5 June, p. 253. ‘Fred on Pretty Girls and Pictures.’ And the pars in the Scanmag—he does them—are proper, and chock full of ‘go.’ Only paper I care to grind though.
4. (venery).—To copulate.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Grind, s.v.
5. trans. (American).—To vex; to ‘put out.’
1879. W. D. Howells, Lady of the Aroostook, ch. vii. After all, it does grind me to have lost that money!
Also grinding = (1) the act of reading or studying hard; (2) the act or occupation of preparing students, for an examination; and (3) the act of copulation.
On the grind, subs. phr. (venery).—Said of incontinent persons of both sexes. Also of prostitutes.
To grind an axe.—See Axe.
To get a grind on one, verb. phr. (American).—To play practical jokes; to tell a story against one; to annoy or vex.
To grind wind, verb. phr. (old prison).—To work the treadmill. See Everlasting Staircase.
1889. Clarkson and Richardson. Police, p. 322. On the treadmill ... grinding wind.
Grinder, subs. (college).—1. A private tutor; a coach (q.v.). Cf., Crammer.
1812. Miss Edgeworth, Patronage, ch. iii. Put him into the hands of a clever grinder or crammer, and they would soon cram the necessary portion of Latin and Greek into him.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 201. Then contriving to accumulate five guineas to pay a grinder, he routs out his old note books from the bottom of his box and commences to read.
1841. A. Smith, ‘The London Medical Student’ in Punch, i., p. 229. G was a grinder, who sharpen’d the the fools.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. v. She sent me down here with a grinder. She wants me to cultivate my neglected genius.
2. Usually in. pl. (common).—The teeth.
English Synonyms.—Bones; chatterers; cogs; crashing cheats; dining-room furniture (or chairs); dinner-set; dominoes; front-rails; Hampstead Heath (rhyming); head rails; ivories; park-palings (or railings); snagglers; tushes (or tusks); tomb-stones.
French Synonyms.—Les soeurs blanches (thieves’ = the ‘white sisters’ or ivories); les chocottes (thieves’); les cassantes (thieves’ = grinders); les broches (popular = head-rails); les crocs (popular = tusks); le clou de giroflé (common = a decayed, black tooth); les branlantes (popular = the quakers: specifically, old men’s teeth); le mobilier (thieves’ = furniture); les meules de moulin (popular = millstones); le jeu de dominos (thieves’ = dominoes); les osanores (thieves’); les osselets (thieves’ = bonelets); les palettes (popular and thieves’); la batterie (= the teeth, throat, and tongue).
German Synonyms.—Krächling (= grinderkin; from krachen = to crush).
Italian Synonyms.—Merlo (= battlement); sganascio; rastrelliera (= the rack).
1597. Hall, Satires, iv., 1. Her grinders like two chalk stones in a mill.
1640. Humphrey Mill, Night’s Search, Sect. 39, p. 194. Her grinders white, her mouth must show her age.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, bk. IV. Author’s Prologue. The devil of one musty crust of a brown George the poor boys had to scour their grinders with.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Grinder, s.v. The Cove has Rum Grinders, the Rogue has excellent Teeth.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, x., 365. One, who at sight of supper open’d wide His jaws before, and whetted grinders tried.
1740. Walpole, Correspondence. A set of gnashing teeth, the grinders very entire.
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xlv. Like a dried walnut between the grinders of a Templar in the pit.
1817. Scott, Ivanhoe, c. 16. None who beheld thy grinders contending with these peas.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 23. With grinders dislodg’d, and with peepers both poach’d.
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. iv., ch. i. A grinder having been dislodged, his pipe took possession of the aperture.
1836. M. Scott, Cruise of the Midge, p. 83. Every now and then he would clap his head sideways on the ground, so as to get the back grinders to bear on his prey.
1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. xiii. Sir Robert Peel, though he wished it ever so much, has no power over Mr. Benjamin Disraeli’s grinders, or any means of violently handling that gentleman’s jaw.
1871. Chambers’ Jour., 9 Dec., p. 772. My grinders is good enough for all the wittels I gets.
1888. Sporting Life, 28 Nov. Countered heavily on the grinders.
To take a grinder, verb. phr. (common).—To apply the left thumb to the nose, and revolve the right hand round it, as if to work a hand-organ or coffee-mill; to take a sight (q.v.); to work the coffee-mill (q.v.). [A street boy’s retort on an attempt to impose on his good faith or credulity.]
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxi. Here Mr. Jackson smiled once more upon the company; and, applying his left thumb to the tip of his nose, worked a visionary coffee-mill with his right hand, thereby performing a very graceful piece of pantomime (then much in vogue, but now, unhappily, almost obsolete) which was familiarly denominated taking a grinder.
1870. Athenæum, 8 July. ‘Rev. of Comic Hist. of United States.’ He finds himself confronted by a plumed and lightly-clad Indian, who salutes him with what street-boys term a grinder.
Grinding-house, subs. (old).—1. The House of Correction. For synonyms, see Cage.
1614. Terence in English. The fellow is worthy to be put into the grinding-house.
2. (venery).—A brothel. For synonyms, see Nanny-shop. [Grinding-tool = the penis.]
Grinding-mill, subs. (common).—The house of a tutor or Coach (q.v.) where students are prepared for an examination.
Grind-off (or Grindo), subs. (common).—A miller. [From a character in The Miller and his Men.]
Grindstone, subs. (common).—1. A tutor; a coach (q.v.).
2. (venery).—The female pudendum.
To bring (hold, put, or keep) one’s nose to the grindstone, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To oppress, harass, or punish; to treat harshly. To have one’s nose kept to the grindstone = to be held to a bargain, or at work.
1578. North, Plutarch, p. 241. They might be ashamed, for lack of courage, to suffer the Lacedæmonians to hold their noses to the grindstone.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hold. Hold his nose to the grindstone, to keep him Under, or Tie him Neck and Heels in a Bargain.
To have the grindstone on his back, verb. phr. (common).—Said of a man going to fetch the monthly nurse.—Grose.
Grinning-stitches, subs. (milliners’).—Slovenly sewing; stitches wide apart; ladders (q.v.).
Grip (or Gripsack), subs. (American).—A hand-bag or satchell.
To lose one’s grip, verb. phr. (American).—To fail; to lose one’s control.
Gripe, subs. (old).—1. A miser; a usurer. Also Griper or Gripe-fist (q.v.). For synonyms, see Hunks and Sixty-per-cent. Griping = extortion.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Gripe, or griper, s.v. An old covetous wretch. Also a banker, money scrivener, or usurer.
2. in. pl. (colloquial).—The colic; the stomach ache; the Collywobbles. For synonyms, see Jerry-go-nimble.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr. Prog., Pt. II. He concluded that he was sick of the gripes.
1705. Char. of a Sneake, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 356. He never looks upon her Majesty’s arms but semper eadem gives him the gripes.
1714. Spectator, No 559. Meeting the true father, who came towards him with a fit of the gripes, he begged him to take his son again, and give back his cholic.
1812. Coombe, Tour in Search of Picturesque, c. xxvi. That he who daily smokes two pipes, The tooth-ache never has—nor gripes.
Gripe-fist, subs. (common).—A miser; a grasping broker. For synonyms, see Hunks. Also Gripe-penny.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Grist, subs. (American).—A large number or quantity. [Swift uses grist = a supply; a provision.]
1848. Cooper, Oak Openings. There’s an unaccountable grist of bees, I can tell you.
a. 1852. Traits of American Humour, i., 305. I ... got pretty considerable soaked by a grist of rain.
To bring grist to the mill, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To bring profitable business; to be a source of profit.
1719. Poor Robin’s Almanack, May. Lawyers pleading do refrain A while, and then fall to ’t again; Strife brings grist unto their mill.
1770. Foote, Lame Lover, i. Well, let them go on, it brings grist to our mill.
1804. Horsley, Speech, 23 July. A sly old pope created twenty new saints, to bring grist to the mill of the London clergy.
1817. Scott, Ivanhoe, c. 16. Some three or four dried pease—a miserable grist for such a mill.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nickleby, ch. xxxiv., p. 268. Meantime the fools bring grist to my mill.
Gristle, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick and Prick.
Grit, subs. (originally American: now colloquial).—1. Character; pluck; spirit; sand (q.v.). Also clear grit. No grit = lacking in stamina; wanting in courage.
1825. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, bk. II., ch. xiv. A chap who was clear grit for a tussle, any time.
1848. Burton, Waggeries, etc., p. 13. The old folks ... began to think that she warn’t the clear grit.
1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. vi. A real lady—l’air noble—the rael genuine grit, as Sam Slick says.
1852. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. vii. You’re a right brave old girl. I like grit, wherever I see it.
1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. xxxi. If you were a chip of the old block you would be just what he called the grit.
1889. Referee, 6 Jan. They never did think there was any real grit about him.
1890. Scribner, Feb., 242. ‘Looks like he got grit, don’t it?’ Lige muttered.
1892. R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, The Wrecker, p. 249. I am as full of grit and work as ever, and just tower above our troubles.
2. (Canadian political).—A member of the Liberal party.
Gritty, adj. (American).—Plucky; courageous; resolute; full of character.
1847. Robb, Squatter Life, p. 106. There never was a grittyer crowd congregated on that stream.
Grizzle, verb. (colloquial).—To fret. Also to grizzle one’s guts.
1872. Miss Braddon, To the Bitter End, ch. xvi. ‘If the locket’s lost, it’s lost,’ she said philosophically; ‘and there’s no use in grizzling about it.’
Grizzle-guts (or Grizzle- or Glum-pot). subs. (common).—A melancholy or ill-tempered person; a sulkington (q.v.).
Groaner, subs. (old).—A thief plying his trade at funerals or religious gatherings.
1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Groaning, subs. (old).—The act of parturition. Also, adj., parturient; or appertaining to parturition: as in groaning-malt (Scots’) = drink for a lying-in; groaning-pains = the pangs of delivery; groaning-wife = a woman ready to lie-in.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav. (Chiswick Press, 1892), p. 92. As smoothe as a groaning-wive’s bellie.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, iii., 2. It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge.
1786. Burns, The Rantin’ Dog the Daddie O’t. Wha will bring the groaning-malt?
Groats, subs. (nautical).—The chaplain’s monthly allowance.
To save one’s groats, verb. phr. (old University).—To come off handsomely. [At the Universities nine groats are deposited in the hands of an academic officer by every person standing for a degree, which, if the depositor obtains, with honour, are returned to him.—Grose.]
Grocery, subs. (common).—1. Small change.
1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v.
2. (American).—A drinking bar. Also Confectionery and Groggery.
1847. Porter, Quarter Race, etc. 104. He went into his favourite grocery.
3. (common).—Sugar. [A restricted use of a colloquialism.]
1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, Bk. V., ch. ii. A private room and a pint of brandy, my dear. Hot water and lots of the grocery.
Grog, subs. (old: now recognised).—Spirits and water; strong drink generally. [Till Admiral Vernon’s time (1745) rum was served neat, but he ordered it to be diluted, and was therefore nicknamed ‘Old Grog,’ in allusion to his grogram coat: a phrase that was presently adapted to the mixture he had introduced.] Groggy = drunk.
Verb. (old).—To dilute or adulterate with water.
1878. Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford Mercury, 8 Mar. The defendants had grogged the casks by putting in hot water.
To have grog on board (or to be grogged), verb. phr. (common).—To be drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed.
1842. Comic Almanack, October. He stands and listens, sad and dogged, To ‘fined five bob’ for being grogged.
Grog-blossom, subs. (common).—A pimple caused by drinking to excess. Also Copper-nose and Jolly-nose. Fr., un nez culotté and un nez de pompettes.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, Grog-blossom, s.v.
1883. Thos. Hardy, The Three Strangers, in Longman’s Mag., March, p. 576. A few grog-blossoms marked the neighbourhood of his nose.
1888. W. Besant, Fifty Years Ago, ch. xi., p. 169. The outward and visible signs of rum were indeed various. First, there was the red and swollen nose, next, the nose beautifully painted with grog-blossoms.
Grog-fight, subs. (military).—A drinking party. Cf., Tea-fight.
1876. R. M. Jephson, Girl he Left Behind Him, ch. 1. He had been having a grog-fight in his room to celebrate the event.
Groggery, subs. (American).—A public bar; a grog-shop.
Groggy, adj. (colloquial).—1. Under the influence of drink. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.
1829. Buckstone, Billy Taylor. i., as a gay young woman, will delude Taylor away from Mary, make him groggy, then press him off to sea.
1863. Fun, 23 May, p. 98, c. 2. They fined drunkards and swearers, and there is a record in the parish-books, among others of a similar nature, of a certain Mrs. Thunder who was fined twelve shillings for being, like Mr. Cruikshank’s horse at the Brighton Review, decidedly groggy.
1872. Echo, 30 July. A model of perfection had she not shown more than necessary partiality to her elder friend’s brandy bottle during the journey, despite the latter’s oft-repeated caution not to become groggy.
2. (colloquial).—Staggering or stupified with drink. Also (stable) moving as with tender feet. Also (pugilists’) unsteady from punishment and exhaustion. Fr., locher = to be groggy.
1831. Youatt, The Horse, ch. xvi., p. 380. Long journeys at a fast pace will make almost any horse groggy.
1846–8. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, vol. ii., ch. v. Cuff coming up full of pluck, but quite reeling and groggy, the Fig-merchant put in his left as usual on his adversary’s nose, and sent him down for the last time.
1853. Diogenes, vol. ii., p. 177. The anxiety is not confined to the metropolis; as a respectable grazier, who rides a groggy horse, on hearing of it at a public-house the other day, affirmed it to be the mysterious cause of the rise in the value of horseflesh.
1888. Sportsman, 28 Nov. In the tenth Thompson, who had been growing groggy, to the surprise of Evans began to force the fighting.
Grogham, subs. (old).—A horse; a daisy-kicker (q.v.). Now mostly in contempt. For synonyms, see Prad.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Grog-shop, subs. (common).—The mouth. For synonyms, see Potatoe-trap.
1843. Thackeray, Men’s Wives, Frank Berry, ch. i. Claret drawn in profusion from the gown-boy’s grog-shop.
Grog-tub, subs. (nautical).—A brandy bottle.
Groom, subs. (gamesters’).—A croupier.
Groomed. See Well-groomed.
Groovy, subs. (American).—A sardine.
Adj. (popular).—Settled in habit; limited in mind.
Grope, verb. (venery).—To feel a woman; to fumble; to fam (q.v.).
1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie. Mariolement. Groping of a wench.
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., i., 194. Smoking, toping, Landlady groping.
Groper, subs. (old).—1. A blind man; hoodman (q.v.).
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. (old).—A pocket. For synonyms, see Brigh and Sky-rocket.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 143. Gropers. Pockets.
3. (old).—A midwife; a fingersmith (q.v.).
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Grotto, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Ground. To suit down to the ground, verb. phr. (common).—To be thoroughly becoming or acceptable.
1878. M. E. Braddon, Cloven Foot, ch. xlv. Some sea coast city in South America would suit me down to the ground.
1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 9 Feb. I knows the very bloke that’ll suit you down to the ground.
1891. Sporting Life, 28 Mar. At Knowle he is suited down to the ground.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. ii. They suit me right down to the ground.
To wipe (or mop) up the ground (or floor) with one, verb. phr. (common).—To administer the very soundest thrashing; to prove oneself absolutely superior to one’s opposite.
1887. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, i., 3. Muck! that’s my opinion of him; ... I’ll mop the floor up with him any day, if so be as you or any on ’em ’ll make it worth my while.
1888. Detroit Free Press, Aug. The Scroggin boy was as tough as a dogwood knot. He’d wipe up the ground with him; he’d walk all over him.
To go (or get) well to the ground, verb. phr. (old colloquial).—To defæcate; to rear (q.v.). For synonyms, see Mrs. Jones.
1608. Middleton, Family of Love, v. 3. Do you go well to the ground?
1856. Notes and Queries, 2 S., i., p. 324. To get to the ground, in medical phraseology, means to have the bowels opened.
Grounder, subs. (cricketers’).—A ball with a ground delivery; a sneak; a grub; and (in America) at base-ball, a ball struck low, or flying near the ground.
Ground-floor. To be let in on the Ground-floor, verb. phr. (American).—To share in a speculation on equal terms with the original promoters.
Ground-squirrel, subs. (old).—A hog; a grunter—Lex. Bal. For synonyms, see Sow’s Baby.
Ground-sweat. To have (or take) a ground-sweat, verb. phr. (old).—To be buried.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Ground sweat, s.v., a grave.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Grouse. To do a grouse (or to go grousing), verb. phr. (venery).—To quest, or to run down, a woman; to molrow (q.v.). Groused = Molled (q.v.).
Grouser, subs. (popular).—1. A grumbler. For synonyms, see Rusty-guts.
2. (venery).—One who goes questing after women; a molrower (q.v.).
3. (sporting).—A rowing man; a wet-bob (q.v.).
Grousing, subs. (venery).—Going in quest of women; sparrow-catching (q.v.); molrowing (q.v.).
Groute, verb. (Marlborough and Cheltenham Colleges).—To work or study hard; to swot (q.v.). For synonyms, see Wire In.
Grouty, adj. (common).—Crabbed; sulky.
Grove of Eglantine, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum; also the female pubic hair. For synonyms, see Monosyllable and Fleece.
1772. Carew, Poems. ‘A Rapture.’ Retire into thy Grove of Eglantine.
Grove of the Evangelist, subs. phr. (common).—St. John’s Wood; also Apostle’s Grove, and the Baptist’s Wood.
Grow, verb. (prison).—To be accorded the privilege of letting one’s hair and beard grow. Also to grow one’s feathers.
Growler, subs. (common).—A four-wheeled cab. Cf., Sulky.
English Synonyms.—Bird-cage; blucher; bounder; fever-trap; flounder-and-dab (rhyming); four-wheeler; groping hutch; mab (an old hackney); rattler; rumbler.
French Synonyms.—Un bordel ambulant (common = a walking brothel); un char numèroté (popular); un flatar (thieves’); un foutoir ambulant (= a fuckery on wheels); un mylord (popular).
1870. Orchestra, 21 Mar. A recent enigmatical bill-poster on the walls, with the device ‘Hie, Cabby, Hie!’ turns out to be a Patent Cab Call—an ingenious sort of lamp-signal for remote hansoms and growlers.
1873. Land and Water, 25 Jan. The knacker’s yard is baulked for a time, while the quadruped shambles along in some poverty-stricken growler.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 8 Jan., p. 5, c. 3. But while a great improvement has been made in hansoms of late years, the four-wheeler or growler is still as a rule a disgrace to the metropolis.
1890. Daily Graphic, 7 Jan., p. 14, c. 1. What with hansom cabs and growlers and private broughams; what with bonded carmen’s towering waggons.
1891. Globe, 15 July, p. 1, c. 3. Adapting the words of Waller to the condition of many of our growlers—The cab’s dull framework, battered and decayed, Lets in the air through gaps that time has made.
To rush (or work) the growler, verb. phr. (American workmen’s).—See quot. [Growler = pitcher.]
1888. New York Herald, 29 July. One evil of which the inspectors took particular notice was that of the employment by hands in a number of factories of boys and girls, under ten and thirteen years, to fetch beer for them, or in other words to rush the growler.
Grown-man’s-dose, subs. (common).—A lot of liquor. Also a long drink (q.v.). For synonyms, see Go.
Grown-up, subs. (colloquial).—An adult: among undertakers, a grown.
1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, Bk. ii., ch. 1. I always did like grown ups.
Grub, subs. (vulgar).—1. Food.
English Synonyms.—Belly-cheer (or chere); belly-furniture; belly-timber; Kaffir’s tightener (specifically, a full meal); chuck; corn; gorge-grease; manablins (= broken victuals); mouth harness; mungarly; peck; prog; scoff (S. African); scran; stodge; tack; tommy (specifically, bread); tuck; yam. Also, verbally, to bung the cask; to grease the gills; to have the run of one’s teeth; to yam. See also Wolf.
French Synonyms.—La becquetance (popular = peck); le biffre (popular); la frigousse (popular); la fripe (popular, from O. Fr., fripper = to eat); la gringue (common); les matériaux (freemason’s = materials); la briffe (popular); la boustifaille (popular); le harnois de gueule (Rabelais: = mouth-harness); le coton (popular, an allusion to a lamp-wick); les comestaux (popular = comestibles); le tortorage (thieves’); la broute (popular = grazing); la morfe (O. Fr. Also, in a verbal sense = to feed); tortiller du bec (popular = to wag a jaw); se calfater le bec (nautical: also = to drink); becqueter (popular = to ‘peck’); béquiller (popular); chiquer (popular = to ‘chaw’); bouffer (popular); boulotter (common); taper sur les vivres (popular = to assault the eatables); pitancher (common: also = to drink); passer à la tortore (thieves’); se l’envoyer; casser la croustille (thieves’ = to crack a crust); tortorer (thieves’); briffer; passer à briffe (popular); brouter (Villon = to browse); se caler, or se caler les amygdales (popular); mettre de l’huile dans la lampe (common = to trim the lamp); se coller quelque chose dans le fanal, dans le fusil, or dans le tube (popular = to trim one’s beacon-light; to load one’s gun, etc.); chamailler des dents (popular = to ‘go it’ with the ivories); jouer des badigoinces (common: badigoinces = chaps); jouer des dominos (popular: dominos = teeth); déchirer la cartouche (military); gobichonner (popular); engouler (popular = to bolt); engueuler (colloquial = to gobble); friturer (popular: also = to cook); gonfler (popular: to blow out); morfiaillier (Rabelaisian); morfigner, or morfiler (From O. Fr., morfier; cf., Ital., morfire or morfizzare); cacher (popular = to stow away); se mettre quelque chose dans le cadavre (popular = to stoke); se lester la cale (nautical: to lay in ballast); se graisser les balots (thieves’: to grease the gills); se caresser (to do oneself a good turn); effacer (popular = to put away); travailler pour M. Domange (popular: M. Domange was a famous goldfinder or gong farmer [q.v.]); clapoter (popular); debrider la margoulette (popular = to put one’s nose in the manger); croustiller (popular); charger pour la guadaloupe (popular); travailler pour Jules (common: Jules = Mrs. Jones); se faire le jabot (popular, jabot = stomach); jouer des osanores (popular: osanores = teeth); casser (thieves’); claquer (familiar = to rattle one’s ivories); klebjer (popular); faire trimer les mathurins (popular = to make the running with one’s teeth); se coller quelque chose dans le bocal (common: bocal = paunch); estropier (popular = to maim); passer à galtos (nautical); bourrer la paillasse (common = to stuff the mattress); faire trimer le battant (thieves’); jouer des mandibules (popular); s’emplir le gilet (popular = to fill one’s waistcoat); se garnir le bocal (popular: to furnish one’s paunch); se suiver la gargarousse (nautical: also = to drink); babouiner (popular); charger la canonnière (popular: canonnière = the breech); gousser (popular); gouffier (obsolete).
German Synonyms.—Achile, Achelinchen, or Acheliniken (from Heb. Ochal); Achelputz (from Heb. ochal + putzen from O.H.G. bizan or pizzan = to eat).
Italian Synonyms.—Artibrio; and, verbally, sbattere (= to beat, to struggle); intappare il fusto (= to bung the cask); smorfire.
Spanish Synonyms.—Papar (colloquial: from papa = pap); hacer el buche (low: buche = craw or crop); echar (colloquial); manducar; meter.
1659. Dialogue betwixt an Exciseman and Death, transcribed from a Copy in British Museum, printed in London by J. C[lark]. I’ll pass my word this night Shall yield us grub before the morning light.
1725. New Cant. Dict. Grub, s.v., victuals.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 171. How did you procure your grub and Bub?
1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 149. Bub and Grub. A mighty low expression, signifying victuals and drink.
1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. iii. Poor Purser! de people call him Purser, sir, because him knowing chap; him cabbage all de grub, slush, and stuff in him own corner.
d. 1842. Maginn, Vidocq’s Song. Any bubby and grub, I say?
1857. Thackeray, Shabby Genteel Story, ch. i., p. 9. He used to ... have his grub too on board.
1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. i., p. 45. I at once congratulated myself on not being a large eater, as there was no doubt but my grub would run very short if it depended on my oakum-picking.
1889. Star, 3 Dec., p. 2, c. 6. Of course it was grub. It was for food, the food for which they beg, and steal, and go willingly to prison, for a certain good square meal of meat.
1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 154. That sad, sad secret about Mary would keep him in grub for the next day or two at ‘The Rose in Bloom.’
2. (old).—A short thick-set man; a dwarf. In contempt. For synonyms, see Hop-o’-my-Thumb.
3. (colloquial).—A dirty sloven; generally used of elderly people.
4. (American).—A careful student; a hard reader.
1856. Hall, College Words and Phrases, quoted from Williams’ Coll. Quarterly, ii., 246. A hard reader or student: e.g., not grubs or reading men, only wordy men.
5. (American).—Roots and stumps; whatever is ‘grubbed up.’
6. (cricketers’).—A ball delivered along the ground; a grounder (q.v.); a daisy-cutter (q.v.). For synonyms, see Lob-sneak.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf. Grub, s.v.
Verb. (old).—1. To take or supply with food. For synonyms, see subs. sense 1.
1725. New Cant. Dict. Grub, s.v., to eat.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Grub, s.v., to dine.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxii., p. 184. I never see such a chap to eat and drink; never. The red-nosed man warn’t by no means the sort of person you’d like to grub by contract, but he was nothin’ to the shepherd.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 18 May, p. 3, c. 1. ‘They are not bound to grub you, don’t you know,’ said Mr. Sleasey, ‘and they try the starving dodge on you sometimes.’
2. (old).—To beg; to ask for alms, especially food.
3. (American).—To study, or read hard; to ‘sweat.’
To ride grub, verb. phr. (old).—To be sulky; crusty (q.v.); disagreeable.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. To ride grub, to be sullen or out of temper.
To grub along, verb. phr. (common).—To make one’s way as best one can; ‘to rub along.’
1888. Daily Telegraph, 19 Oct. When a youth left school to follow the pursuits of life he found that he had to grub along as best he could.
Grubbing, subs. (common).—Eating.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib. What with snoozing, high grubbing, and guzzling like Cloe.
Grubbery, subs. (common).—(1) an eating-house. Also (2) a dining-room, and (3) the mouth.
Grubbing-crib, subs. (general).—1. An eating-house. Grubbing-crib faker = the landlord of a cheap cookshop. Fr., le nourrisseur; Sp., un ostalero. See Grub Shop, sense 2.
English Synonyms.—Grubbery; grubby-, or grubbing-ken; grub-shop; guttle-shop; hash-house; mungarly casa; prog-shop; slap-bang shop; tuck-shop; waste-butt.
French Synonyms.—Un bourre-boyaux (popular = a stuff-your-guts); un claquedents (popular, also = a brothel, or punting-house); une guingette (general); une mangeoire (popular = a grubbery: manger = to eat); un mattais (popular); un gargot (thieves’).
German Synonym.—Achilebajes (from Heb., Ochal = to eat).
Spanish Synonym.—Ostaleria, or Osteria (also = lush-crib).
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v.
2. (tramps’).—A workhouse. For synonyms, see Spinniken. Sometimes Grubbiken.
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, iii., 416. I know all the good houses, and the tidy grubbikens—that’s the unions where there’s little or nothing to do for the food we gets.
Grubble, verb. (colloquial).—(1) To feel for at random or in the dark; and (2) (venery) to grope (q.v.).
1684. Dryden, The Disappointment. ‘Prologue.’ The doughty bullies enter bloody drunk, Invade and grubble one another’s punk.
Grubby, subs. (thieves’).—Food. [A diminutive of Grub (q.v.).]
d. 1842. Maginn, Vidocq’s Song. I pattered in flash like a covey knowing, Tol lol, etc. Ay, bub or grubby, I say.
Adj. (colloquial).—Dirty; slovenly.
d. 1845. Hood, A Black Job. Like a grubby lot of sooty sweeps or colliers.
Grub-hunting, subs. (tramps’).—Begging for food.
Grub-shite, verb. (old).—To make foul or dirty; to bewray.—Grose.
Grub-shop, (or -crib, -trap, etc.), subs. (common).—1. The mouth; and (2) a grubbery (q.v.). For synonyms, see Potato-trap.
1840. Thackeray, Comic Almanack, p. 229. ‘That’s the grub shop,’ said my lord, ‘where we young gentlemen wot has money buys our wittles.’
3. See Grubbing-crib in both senses.
Grub-stake, subs. (American).—Food and other necessaries furnished to mining prospectors in return for a share in the ‘finds.’ Hence, to grub-stake = to speculate after this fashion.
1884. Butterworth, Zig-zag Journeys. When miners become so poor that they are not able to furnish the necessary tools and food with which to ‘go prospecting’, a third party of sufficient means offers to furnish tools and provisions on condition that he is to have a certain interest in anything that may be found.
1891. Gunter, Miss Nobody of Nowhere, p. 100. He grub-staked us and we used to work on the Tillie mine together.
Grub-street, subs. (colloquial).—The world of cheap, mean, needy authors. [Originally a street near Moorfields, changed in 1830 to Milton Street.]
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Grub-street news, false, forg’d.
1728. Pope, Dunciad, iii., 135. Shall take through grub-street his triumphant round.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. A Grub-street writer means a hackney author, who manufactures books for the booksellers.
1813. J. and H. Smith, Horace in London, ‘The Classic Villa.’ Grub-street, ’tis called.
1821. Egan, Life in London, i. Few, if any, writers, out of the great mass of living scribblers, whether of Grub-Street fabrication, or of University passport ... possess souls above buttons.
1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 119. We are going it, have got our agents in Grub Street.
Gruel, subs. (common).—1. A beating; punishment (q.v.). For synonyms, see Tanning. Hence, to get (or give) one’s gruel = to castigate, or be well beaten; also killed. In the prize ring = to knock a man out for good. Gruelled = floored; also Gruelling.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. He gathered in general, that they expressed great indignation against some individual. ‘He shall have his gruel,’ said one.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. ‘Babes in the Wood.’ He that was mildest in mood gave the truculent rascal his gruel.
1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. xii. They were as well gruelled as so many posters, before they got to the stile.
1888. Sporting Life, 15 Dec. Preferred to be easily knocked out to taking his gruel like a man.
1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 23 Jan. Both men were badly punished, but George had, of course, the lion’s share of the gruel.
1891. Licensed Vict. Mirror, 30 Jan., p. 7, c. 3. All the advantage rested with the same side for some little time, Paddock getting such a gruelling that his head swelled out like a pumpkin.
2. (American thieves’).—Coffee.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Grueller, subs. (common).—A knock-down blow; a settler; a floorer (q.v.).
Grumble-guts, subs. (popular).—An inveterate croaker. Also Grumble-gizzard.
Grumbles. To be all on the grumbles, verb. phr. (popular).—To be discontented; cross; on the snarly-yow (q.v.).
Grumbletonian, subs. (common).—A pattern of discontent: one ever on the grumble. [Grumbleton (during the reigns of the later Stuarts) = an imaginary centre of discontent; hence, Grumbletonian, a nickname of the County party, distinguished from the Court, as being in opposition.]
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Grumbletonians, malecontents, out of Humour with the Government, for want of a Place, or having lost one.
1705–7. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. 1, p. 24 (2nd Ed.). But all the grumbletonian throng Did with such violence rush along.
1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act 1. Now, if I pleased, I could be so revenged upon the old grumbletonian.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Grumbletonian, s.v., a discontented person.
1849–61. Macaulay, Hist. of Eng., ch. xix. Who were sometimes nicknamed the grumbletonians, and sometimes honoured with the appellation of the County party.
Grummet, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Grumpy (or Grumpish), adj. (colloquial).—Surly; cross; angry.
1840. Mrs. Trollope, Michael Armstrong, ch. vi. If you blubber or look grumpish.
1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 3 a.m., par. 13. Calling you a ‘cross, grumpy, old thing,’ when you mildly suggest that it is very near bed-time.
1868. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, bk. IV., ch. i. A grumpy old deaf keeper, and a boy, his assistant.
1883. Punch, 19 May, p. 230, c. 2. They all looked grumpy and down in the mouth.
Grundy, subs. (old).—A short fat man; a forty-guts (q.v.).—See Mrs. Grundy.
1563. Fox, Acts and Monuments (London, 1844), iii., 1104. For that he being a short grundy, and of little stature, did ride commonly with a great broad hat.
Grunter, subs. (old).—1. A pig; a grunting-cheat (q.v.). In quot. 1652 = pork. For synonyms, see Sow’s Baby.
1656. Brome, Jovial Crew. Here’s grunter and bleater, with tib-of-the-buttry.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Grunter, s.v. A sucking pig.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Grunter, s.v.
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 266. And the squeaking grunter is loose on the green.
1847–50. Tennyson, Princess, v. 26. A draggled mawkin, That tends her bristled grunters in the sludge.
2. (common).—A sixpence. In quot. 1785 = 1s. Cf., Hog and Pig.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, Grunter, s.v. A shilling.
1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. iii., p. 267. One of the men ... had only taken three ‘twelvers’ [shillings] and a grunter.
1885. Household Words, 20 June. p. 155. The sixpence ... is variously known as a ‘pig,’ a ‘sow’s baby,’ a grunter, and ‘half a hog.’
3. (common).—A policeman; a trap (q.v.); a pig (q.v. sense 2). For synonyms, see Beak.
1820. London Magazine, i., 26. As a bonnet against ... grunters.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum. Grunter, s.v., a country constable.
4. (tailors’).—An habitual grumbler; a grumble-guts (q.v.)
Grunter’s-gig, subs. (old).—A smoked pig’s chap.—Grose.
Grunting-cheat, subs. (old).—A pig. See Chete. For synonyms, see Sow’s Baby.
1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 86. She has a cackling-chete, a grunting-chete, ruff pecke, cassan, and poplarr of yarum.
1622. Fletcher, Beggars Bush, v., 1. Or surprising a boor’s ken for grunting-cheats? Or cackling-cheats?
Grunting-peck, subs. (old).—Pork or bacon.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Grunting-peck, s.v., pork.
1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1836. Smith, Individual. ‘The Thieves’ Chaunt.’ But dearer to me Sue’s kisses far Than grunting peck or other grub are.
Gruts, subs. (common).—Tea; For synonyms, see Scandal-broth.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
G. T. T. Gone to Texas, phr. (American).—Absconded. [Moonshining gentry used to mark G. T. T. on the doors of their abandoned dwellings as a consolation for inquiring creditors.] Fr., aller en Belgique. For synonyms, see Swartwort.
1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 5 S., ch. viii. Before this misfortin’ came I used to do a considerable smart chance of business; but now it’s time for me to cut dirt, and leave the country. I believe I must hang out the G. T. T. sign.—‘Why, what the plague is that?’ says I. ‘Gone to Texas,’ said he.
Guage.—See Gage.
Gubbins, subs. (old).—Fish-offal.
1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie, q.v.
Gudgeon, subs. (old).—1. A bait; an allurement. Hence, To gudgeon (or to swallow a gudgeon) = to be extremely credulous or gullible.
1598. Shakspeare, Merchant of Venice, i., 1. But fish not with this melancholy bait, For this fool’s gudgeon, this opinion.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, Bersela, s.v. To swallow a gudgeon ... to believe any tale.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, Gudgeon, s.v. To swallow the bait, or fall into a trap, from the fish of that name which is easily taken.
1892. National Observer, 23 July, vii., 235. It has educated Hodge into an increased readiness to gorge any gudgeon that may be offered him.
2. (colloquial).—An easy dupe; a buffle (q.v.).
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Guerrilla, subs. (American sharpers’).—See quot.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. This name is applied by gamblers to fellows who skin suckers when and where they can, who do not like the professional gamblers, but try to beat them, sometimes inform on them, and tell the suckers that they have been cheated.
Guff, subs. (common).—Humbug; bluff; jabber. For synonyms, see Gammon.
1889. Sportsman, 19 Jan. Hereafter he can have the newspapers to himself, and with that windbag Mitchell fill them with guff and nonsense, but I won’t notice them.
Guffy, subs. (nautical).—A soldier. For synonyms, see Mudcrusher.
Guiders, subs. (general).—1. Reins; ribbons (q.v.).
2. (common).—Sinews; leaders (q.v.).
Guinea. A guinea to a gooseberry, phr. (sporting).—Long odds. See Lombard Street to a China Orange.
1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, ch. vli. What! old Writson against Sam Pearson? Why, it’s a guinea to a gooseberry on Sam!
Guinea-dropper, subs. (old).—A sharper. Specifically one who let drop counterfeit guineas in collusion with a gold-finder (q.v.). For synonyms, see Rook.
1712, Gay, Trivia, iii., 249. Who now the guinea dropper’s bait regards, Tricked by the sharper’s dice or juggler’s cards.
Guinea-hen, subs. (old).—A courtezan. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.
1602. Shakspeare, Othello, i., 3. Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon.
1630. Glapthorne, Albertus Wallenstein. Yonder’s the cock o’ the game About to tread yon guinea-hen, they’re billing.
Guinea-pig, subs. (old).—1. A general term of reproach.
1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, xxiv. A good seaman he is, as ever stepp’d on forecastle—none of your guinea-pigs,—nor your freshwater, wishy-washy, fair-weather fowls.
2. (old).—Any one whose nominal fee for professional services is a guinea: as vets., special jurymen, etc. Now mainly restricted to clergymen acting as deputies, and (in contempt) to directors of public companies. Hence Guinea-trade = professional services of any kind.
1821. Coombe, Dr. Syntax, Tour III., c. iv. ‘Oh, oh,’ cried Pat, ‘how my hand itches, Thou guinea-pig [a ‘vet.’], in boots and breeches, to trounce thee well.’
1871. Temple Bar, vol. xxxi., p. 320. A much more significant term is that of guinea pigs, the pleasant name for those gentlemen of more rank than means, who hire themselves out as directors of public companies, and who have a guinea and a copious lunch when they attend board meetings.
1880. Church Review, 2 Jan. Guinea pigs ... are, for the most part, unattached or roving parsons, who will take any brother cleric’s duty for the moderate remuneration of one guinea.
1883. Saturday Review, 25 Aug., p. 246, c. 2. A country parson was suddenly attacked with diphtheria, late in the week. Recourse was had in vain to the neighbours, and it was decided at last to telegraph to London for a guinea pig.
1884. Echo, 19 May, p. 1, c. 5. Let us apply the principle further, and imagine ... limited liability swindlers tried by a jury of guinea-pigs and company promoters.
1884. Graphic, 29 Nov., p. 562, c. 3. And the guinea-pig, whose name is on a dozen different Boards, is justly regarded with suspicion.
1886. Chambers’s Jour., 24 Apr., p. 258. In order to be considered of any value as Director of a Company, a guinea-pig ought to have a handle to his name.
1887. Payn, Glow Worm Tales. ‘A Failure of Justice.’ He is best known to the public as a guinea-pig, from his habit of sitting at boards and receiving for it that nominal remuneration, though in his case it stands for a much larger sum.
1889. Drage, Cyril, vii. The rector has, as usual, got the gout, and we live under a régime ... of guinea-pigs.
1890. Standard, 26 June, p. 5, c. 4. The least attempt to saddle responsibility for misleading statements upon Boards of Directors would drive prudent, ‘respectable’ men out of what is vulgarly called the guinea-pig business.
3. (nautical).—See quot.
1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, ch. xxvi. While Bramble was questioned by the captain and passengers, I was attacked by the midshipmen, or guinea-pigs as they are called.
Guise’s Geese, subs. phr. (military).—The Sixth Foot or ‘Saucy Sixth.’ [From its Colonel’s name, 1735–63.]
Guiver, subs. (theatrical).—(1) Flattery, and (2) artfulness (q.v.). For synonyms, see Soft Soap.
Adj. (common).—Smart; fashionable; on it (q.v.). Guiver lad = a low-class dandy; also an artful member (q.v.).
a. 1866. Vance, Chickaleary Cove. The stock around my squeeze of a guiver colour see.
Verb (sporting).—To humbug; to fool about (q.v.); to show off.
1891. Sporting Life, 25 Mar. He goes into a ring to fight his man, not to spar and look pretty, and run, and dodge, and guiver.
Gulf, subs. (old).—1. The throat; also the maw. For synonyms, see Gutter-alley.
1579. Spencer, Shephearde’s Calendar, Sept. That with many a lamb had glutted his gulf.
2. (Cambridge Univ.).—The bottom of a list of ‘passes,’ with the names of those who only just succeed in getting their degree.
1852. Bristed, Five Years in an English University, p. 205. Some ten or fifteen men just on the line, not bad enough to be plucked, or good enough to be placed, are put into the gulf, as it is popularly called (the examiners’ phrase is ‘degrees allowed’), and have their degrees given them, but are not printed in the calendar.
3. (Oxford Univ.).—A man who, going in for honours, only gets a pass.
Verb (Cambridge Univ.).—To place in the gulf, subs., sense 2 (q.v.); to be gulfed = to be on such a list. [Men so placed were not eligible for the Classical Tripos]. Cf., Pluck and Plough.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, pt. iii., p. 89. I am not going to let them gulph me a second time.
1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, p. 123. The good Professor scolded, predicted that they would all be either gulfed or ploughed.
1865. Sporting Gaz., 1 Apr. A man who was gulfed for mathematical honours was certainly, in olden time, unable to enter for the classical examination; but though the arrangement is altered, the term is not obsolete. A man who is gulfed is considered to know enough mathematics for an ordinary degree, but not enough to be allowed his degree in mathematics only; he is consequently obliged to pass in all the ordinary subjects (except mathematics) for the ‘poll,’ before taking his degree.
1876. Trevelyan, Life of Macaulay (1884), ch. ii., p. 61. When the Tripos of 1822 made its appearance, his name did not grace the list. In short ... Macaulay was gulfed.
1852. Bristed, Five Years in an English University, p. 297. I discovered that my name was nowhere to be found—that I was gulfed.
Gulf-spin, subs. (American cadet).—A rascal; a worthless fellow; a beat (q.v.) a shyster (q.v.).
Gull, subs. (old, now recognised).—1. A ninny. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1596. Sir J. Davies, Book of Epigrams. A gull is he who feares a velvet gowne, And when a wench is brave dares not speak to her; A gull is he which traverseth the towne, And is for marriage known a common wooer; A gull is he, which while he proudly weares A silver-hilted rapier by his side. Indures the lye and knockes about the eares, While in his sheath his sleeping sword doth bide. But to define a gull in termes precise—A gull is he which seems, and is not, wise.
1598. Florio, A World of Wordes, passim.
1609. Jonson, Case is Altered, iv., 3. Jun. Tut, thou art a goose to be Cupid’s gull.
1609. Shakspeare, Timon of Athens. Lord Timon will be left a naked gull. Which flashes now a phœnix.
1614. Overbury, Characters. ‘A Roaring Boy.’ He cheats young guls that are newly come to town.
1618. Rowlands, Night Raven, p. 28 (H. C. Rept., 1872). I know the houses where base cheaters vse, And note what gulls (to worke vpon) they chuse.
1661. Brome, Poems, ‘The Cure of Care.’ Those gulls that by scraping and toiling.
1818. S. E. Ferrier, Marriage, ch. li. The poor gull was caught, and is now, I really believe, as much in love as it is in the nature of a stupid man to be.
1850. D. Jerrold, The Catspaw, Act i. Pshaw! some rascal that lives on simpletons and gulls.
1892. R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, The Wrecker, p. 231. I was a dweller under roofs; the gull of that which we call civilisation.
2. (old).—A cheat; a fraud; a trick.
1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado about Nothing, ii., 3. I should think this a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it.
1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie, q.v.
3. (Oxford Univ.).—A swindler; a trickster. Cf., Gull-catcher, of which it is probably an abbreviation.
1825. The English Spy, v. I., p. 161. ‘You’ll excuse me, sir, but as you are fresh, take care to avoid the gulls.’ ‘I never understood that gulls were birds of prey,’ said I. ‘Only in Oxford, sir, and here, I assure you, they bite like hawks.’
Verb (old: now recognised).—To cheat; to dupe; to victimise; to take in (q.v.). in any fashion and to any purpose.
1596. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, v. This is a mere trick, a device, you are gulled in this most grossly.
1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, ii., 3. Mar. For Monsieur Maluolio, let me alone with him; If I do not gull him into a nayword, and make him a common recreation, do not thinke I haue witte enough to lye straight in my bed; I know I can do it.
1607. Rowlands, Diogenes, his Lanthorne, p. 11 (H. C. Rept. 1873). He promist me good stuffe truly, a great pennyworth indeed, and verily did gull me.
1610. Jonson, Alchemist, v., 2. Hast thou gulled her of her jewels or her bracelets?
1639. Selden, Table Talk, p. 98 (Arber’s ed.). Presbyters have the greatest power of any Clergy in the world, and gull the Laity most.
1778. Sketches for Tabernacle-Frames, p. 25, note. These fanatical Preachers frequently squeeze out Tears to gull their Audience.
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, I., 472. It’s generally the lower order that he gulls.
1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, ix. Pay your debts, and gull the world a little longer.
Hence Gullible, adj., = easily duped.
1841. Thackeray, Character Sketches, ‘Fashionable Authoress.’ And, gulled themselves, gull the most gullable of publics.
Gullage, subs. (old colloquial).—The act of trickery; the state of being gulled.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, v., 5. Had you no quirk To avoid gullage, sir, by such a creature?
1611. Chapman, May Day, Act II., p. 284 (Plays, 1874). For procuring you the dear gullage of my sweetheart, Mistress Franceschina.
Gull-catcher (or Guller, Gull-sharper, etc.), subs. (old).—A trickster; a cheat. See Gull, senses 1 and 3.
1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, ii., 5. Here comes my noble gull-catcher.
Gullery, subs. (old colloquial).—Dupery; fraud; a cheat’s device. Cf., Gullage.
1596. Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, iii., 2. Your Balsamum and your St. John’s wort are all mere gulleries and trash to it.
1608. John Day, Humour out of Breath, Act iv., Sc. 3. I am gulld, palpably gulld ... and mine owne gullery grieves me not half so much as the Dukes displeasure.
1630. Taylor, Works. Neverthelesse, whosoever will but looke into the lying legend of golden gullery, there they shall finde that the poore seduced ignorant Romanists doe imitate all the idolatrous fornication of the heathen pagans and infidels.
1633. Ile of Guls. Upon you both, so, so, so, how greedily their inventions like beagles follow the sent of their owne gullery, yet these are no fooles, God forbid, not they.
1633. Marmion, Fine Companion. Lit. What more gulleries yet? they have cosend mee of my daughters, I hope they will cheate me of my wife too: have you any more of these tricks to shew, ha?
1689. Selden, Table Talk, p. 38 (Arber’s ed.). And how can it be proved, that ever any man reveal’d Confession, when there is no Witness? And no man can be Witness in his own cause. A meer gullery.
1819. H. More, Defence of Moral Cabbala, ch. iii. The sweet deception and gullery of their own corrupted fancy.
1821. Scott, Kenilworth, ch. xx. Do you think, because I have good-naturedly purchased your trumpery goods at your roguish prices, that you may put any gullery you will on me?
Gullet, subs. (old: now recognised).—The throat. For synonyms, see Gutter-alley.
1383. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, 12, 477. [Quoted in Ency. Dict.] Out of the harde bones knocken they The mary, for they casten nought away, That may go thurgh the gullet soft and sote.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Gullet, s.v. A Derisory Term for the Throat, from Gula.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. 15. So he puts a pistol to his mouth, and he fires it down his gullet.
1893. National Observer, x. 168. Through sympathetic gullets.
Gull-finch, subs. (old).—A simpleton; a fool. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1630. Taylor, Works. For ’tis concluded ’mongst the wizards all, To make thee master of Gul-finches hall.
Gull-groper, subs. (old).—A gamesters’ money-lender.
1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candle-light. The gul-groper is commonly an old mony-monger, who having travaild through all the follyes of the world in his youth, knowes them well, and shunnes them in his age, his whole felicitie being to fill his bags with golde and silver.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Gull-groper, s.v. A Bystander that Lends Money to the Gamesters.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gully, subs. (common).—1. The throat. For synonyms, see Gutter-alley.
2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
3. (old and Scots’).—A knife. For synonyms, see Chive.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, bk. I., ch. xxvii. Fair gullies which are little haulch-backed demi-knives.
1785. Burns, Death and Dr. Hornbook. I red ye weel, tak care o’ skaith, See, there’s a gully.
1789. Burns, Address to Captain Grose. The knife that nickit Abel’s craig, He’ll prove ye fully It was a faulding jocteleg, Or lang-kail gully.
Verb (common).—To gull (q.v.); to dupe; to swindle. For synonyms, see Stick.
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. I rode about and speechified, and everybody gullied.
Gully-fluff, subs. (colloquial).—Pocket-filth; beggar’s velvet (q.v.). Also Flue (q.v.).
Gully-gut, subs. and adj. (common).—A glutton. For synonyms, see Stodger.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes. Crapulatore, a surfeiter; a gormand; a glutton; a gullie-gut.
1672. Lestrange, Fables. A gulli-gut friar.
Gully-hole (or Gully), subs. (common).—1. The throat, or gullet. For synonyms, see Gutter-alley.
2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Gully-raker, subs. phr. (venery).—1. The penis; and (2) a wencher. For synonyms, see Creamstick, Prick, and Molrower.
2. (Australian). A cattle-whip; a cattle-thief.
1881. A. C. Grant, Bush Life in Queensland ... following up his admonition by a sweeping cut of his gully-raker, and a report like a musket-shot.
Gulpin, subs. (common).—A simpleton; a gapeseed (q.v.). Fr., un gobemouche; une éponge. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1886. W. Besant, World Went Very Well Then, ch. xxix. But Jack persisted, and I rose too. ‘Go then!’ the Admiral roared, with a great oath. ‘Go then, for a brace of gulpins!’
Gulpy, adj. (common).—Easily duped.
Gulsh. To hold one’s gulsh, verb. phr. (provincial).—To hold one’s tongue; to keep quiet.
Gum, subs. (old).—1. Chatter; talk; jaw (q.v.). Also abuse.
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xiv. There’s no occasion to bowse out so much unnecessary gum.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Come let us have no more of your gum.
1824. R. B. Peake, Americans Abroad, i., 1. Dou. Come, none of your gum—now you are but an underlin’, tho’ you are so uppish and twistical—where’s the chair?
2. (American).—A trick; a piece of dupery; a sell (q.v.). Also gummation.
3. (American).—A golosh; an india-rubber overshoe. [Short for ‘gum-shoes.’]
1872. Morning Post, 9 Jan. Forbidding him again to cross her threshold or to leave his gum-shoes in her hall.
Verb (common).—To cheat; to take in (q.v.), to roast (q.v.) or quiz. For synonyms, see Gammon.
1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 6 p.m., par. I. I began to think either that he was quizzing me—gumming is the proper Transatlantic colloquialism, I think.
1875. ‘American English’ in Chamb. Journal, 25 Sept., p. 611. To ‘gum-tree’ is to elude, to cheat [from opossum], and this again is shortened into ‘to gum,’ as the phrase, ‘Now don’t you try to gum me.’
Old Mother Gum, subs. phr. (common).—An old woman: in derision.
By gum! intj. (common).—A mild oath. For synonyms, see Oaths.
1860. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Season Ticket, No. ix. By gum, Squire Shegog, we have had the greatest bobbery of a shindy in our carriage you ever knowed in all our born days.
Bless your (or his, her, its, etc.) gums, phr. (common).—A piece of banter: a facetious way of saying ‘Bless your soul!’
Gummagy, adj. (common).—Snarling; of a scolding habit.
Gummed, adj. (billiards).—Said of a ball close to the cushion.
Gummy, subs. (common).—1. A toothless person; i.e., with nothing but gums to show. Generally, Old Gummy.
2. (thieves’).—Medicine. Also Gummy-stuff.—Matsell.
3. (common).—A dullard; a fool. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
Adj. (common).—Puffed; swollen; clumsy.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Gummey, clumsy, particularly applied to the ancles of men, or women, and the legs of horses.
To feel Gummy, verb. phr. (University).—To perspire.
Gump, subs. (common).—A dolt. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1825. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, bk. II., ch. xv. He’s ... sort of a nateral too, I guess; rather a gump, hey?
Gumption, subs. (colloquial).—Cleverness; understanding; nous (q.v.). Also Rum Gumption.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Gumption, or rum gumption, s.v., docility, comprehension, capacity.
1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, s.v. ‘Gawm.’ Gawm, to understand; I dinna gawm ye, I don’t understand you. Hence, possibly, gawmtion, or gumption, understanding.
1834. Atlantic Club-book, I., 33. D’ye think I’m a fellow of no more gumption than that?
1843. Comic Almanack. Poor beasts, ’tis very clear, To any one possess’d of gumption, That if they’d not come over here, They’d have been carried off by home consumption.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, bk. IV., ch. xii. Gumption—it means cleverness.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 25 June, p. 3, c. 2. But poor people—leastways, those that have got any gumption—know better than that.
1890. Notes and Queries, 7 S., x., 303. As familiar as the Greek word nous for what ... is known ... as gumption.
Gumptious, adj. (colloquial).—Shrewd; intelligent; vain.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, bk. IV., ch. xii. Landlord. There’s gumption and gumptious! Gumption is knowing, but when I say that sum un is gumptious, I mean—though that’s more vulgar like—sum un who does not think small beer of hisself. You take me, sir?
Gum-smasher (or tickler), subs. (common).—A dentist. For synonyms, see Snag-catcher.
Gum-suck, verb. (American).—To flatter; to humbug; to dupe. For synonyms, see Gammon.
Gum-sucker, subs. (Australian).—1. See quot. Cf., Corn-stalk.
1887. All the Year Round, 30 July, p. 67. A gum-sucker is a native of Tasmania, and owes his elegant nickname to the abundance of gum-trees in the Tasmanian forests.
2. (common).—A fool. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
Gum-tickler, subs. (colloquial).—1. A drink. Specifically, drop or short, or a dram. For synonyms, see Go.
1814. Quarterly Review, vol. X., p. 521. A gill, taken fasting, is called a gum-tickler.
1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. IV., ch. iii. I prefer to take it in the form of a gum-tickler.
2. See Gum-smasher.
Gum-tree. To be up a gum-tree, verb. phr. (American).—To be on one’s last legs; at the end of one’s rope. ‘He has seen his last gum-tree’ = It is all up with him.
Gun, subs. (old).—1. A lie. New Cant. Dict., 1725. For synonyms, see Whopper.
2. (common).—A thief; specifically, a magsman (q.v.) or street-artist. Also Gun-smith and Gunner. Gunning = thieving. [An abbreviation of Gonof (q.v.).] See Area-sneak and Thieves.
1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. II., ch. i., p. 70. I tell you you ain’t a-going to make a gun (thief) of this here young flat.
1868. Temple Bar, xxv., 213. ... returned to his old trade of gunsmith, gunning being the slang term for thieving, or going on the cross.
1882. Cornhill Mag., p. 649. Flats graft for guns.
1889. Clarkson and Richardson, Police. Gunners and grasshoppers sneak about watching their opportunities.
3. (American).—A revolver. For synonyms, see Meat-in-the Pot.
4. (Irish).—A toddy glass. See In the Gun.
Verb (American).—1. To consider with attention.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Gunned. The copper gunned me as if he was fly to my mug.
2. (American).—To strive hard; to make a violent effort: e.g., to gun a stock = to use every means to produce a ‘break’; when supplies are heavy and holders would be unable to resist.
In the Gun, phr. (old).—Drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Gun, s.v., he’s in the gun, he is drunk, perhaps from an allusion to a vessel called a gun, used for ale in the universities.
Son of a Gun. See Son.
Sure as a Gun, phr. (common).—Quite certain; inevitable.
1633. Jonson, Tale of a Tub, ii., 1. ’Tis right; he has spoke as true as a gun, believe it.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew.
1694. Congreve, Double Dealer, v., 20. All turned topsy-turvy, as sure as a gun.
1720. Gay, New Song of New Similes. Sure as a gun she’ll drop a tear.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. xviii., ch. ix. As sure as a gun I have hit o’ the very right o’t.
1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vol. vi., ch. xxvi. Think ye not that, in striking these in,—he might, peradventure, strike something out? as sure as a gun.
1825. Egan, Life of an Actor, iv. By gum! he roared out, sir, as sure as a gun.
d. 1842. Father Prout, Reliques, I. 19. ‘Vert-Vert, the Parrot.’ Scared at the sound,—‘Sure as a gun, The bird’s a demon!’ cried the nun.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lviii. In every party of the nobility his name’s down as sure as a gun.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 141. Nobbed, sure as a gun!
1892. Manville Fenn, New Mistress, xxxv. They were both down there about that school-money Betsey, as sure as a gun.
Gundiguts, subs. (common).—A fat man; a forty guts (q.v.).
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gunner’s Daughter. To Kiss (or Marry) the Gunner’s Daughter, verb. phr. (nautical). To be flogged. [Gunner’s daughter = the gun to which boys were lashed for punishment.]
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xxxii. I don’t know what officers are made of now-a-days. I’ll marry some of you young gentlemen to the gunner’s daughter before long. Quarter-deck’s no better than a bear-garden.
Gunpowder, subs. (old).—An old woman.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gunter.—See Cocker.
Gup, subs. (Anglo-Indian).—Gossip; scandal.
1868. Florence Marryat, Gup, xix. With regard to my title ... Gup is the Hindustani for ‘Gossip.’ Voilâ tout!
1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xxix. Our Eastern empire is much addicted to what they term gup, whereby they mean gossip, scandal, or by whatever other equivalent the taking away of one’s neighbours’ characters may be designated.
To be a gup, verb. phr. (American).—To be easy to take or steal.
Gurtsey, subs. (American Cadet).—A fat man; a podge (q.v.). For synonyms, see Forty-guts.
Gush, subs. (colloquial).—The expression of affected or extravagant sentiment.
1883. Saturday Review, 3 Feb., p. 148, c. 2. Mr. Picton’s style is pleasant and easy, as long as he allows himself to be natural, and does not fall into gush.
1886. Church Times, 17 Sep. Not mere gush or oratorical flip-flap.
Verb (colloquial).—To overflow with extravagant or affected sentiment.
1883. Miss Braddon, Golden Calf, ch. vii. ‘Yes, and you saw much of each other, and you became heart-friends,’ gushed Miss Wolf, beaming benevolently at Brian.
Gusher, subs. (colloquial).—A practitioner of gush (q.v.). Also Gushington.
1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. vi., p. 66 (1873). The enthusiastic gusher who flings his or herself upon our necks, and insists upon sharing our sorrow.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mount Royal, ch. viii. ‘But, surely there is nothing improper in the play, dear Lady Cumberbridge,’ exclaimed the eldest gusher, too long in society to shrink from sifting any question of that kind.
Gushing, adj. (colloquial).—Extravagant; affected or irrational in expression; demonstratively affectionate. Also Gushingly.
1864. ‘The Campaigner’ (No. XVI.), in Fraser’s Mag., p. 627. Donald did not belong to what, in the slang of translated Cockneys, is called the Gushing School.
1864. Punch’s Almanack, ‘Our Growling Bard.’ Some, I admit, are Milingtary Dears, As gushing ladies say, and some are Muffs.
1872. Sunday Times, 18 Aug. This however, was no surprise to the plaintiff, it having been understood from the first that the
## parties being past the gushing age the letters between them should
be of a business character.
1880. Ouida, Moths, ch. viii. Your heroics count for nothing. All girls of sixteen are gushing and silly.
1883. Hargrave Jennings, quoted in Saturday Review, 28 Apr., p. 536, c. 1. Women are not the gushingly credulous creatures that man in his constant condescension and in his appreciation of himself would deem.
1884. F. Anstey, Giant’s Robe, ch. xx. ‘It’s not precisely gushing,’ he said to himself, ‘but she couldn’t very well say more just yet.’
Gusset, subs. (common).—Generic for the female sex. Thus, Brother (or Knight, or Squire) of the Gusset = a pimp; Gussetting = wenching; Gusseteer = a wencher; etc.
Gusset of the Arse, subs. phr. (common).—The inside edge of the buttocks.
d. 1796. Burns, Merry Muses, pp. 99–100. An’ he grippit her fast by the gusset of her arse.
Gut, subs. (vulgar).—The vice or habit of gluttony; the belly [as opposed to the Groin (q.v.).]
2. in. pl. (common).—The stomach and intestines.
1609. Dekker, Gul’s Horne-Booke, chap. ii. The Neapolitan will (like Derick, the hangman) embrace you with one arme, and rip your guts with the other.
1640. Rawlins, The Rebellion, iii. (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., 48). Thou hast a gut could swallow a peck loaf.
1661. Brome, Poems, ‘A Satire on the Rebellion.’ The grumbling guts, the belly of the State.
1713. Bentley, On Free Thinking, sect. 53. What then was our writer’s soul? Was it brain or guts?
1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, bk. iv., c. 1. But so it was that the knife, missing these noble parts (the noblest of many) the guts, perforated only the hollow of his belly.
1787. Burns, Death and Dr. Hornbook, st. 27. A countra Laird had ta’en the batts, Or some curmurring in his guts.
3. in. pl. (old).—A fat man; a forty-guts (q.v.). Also Guts-and-garbage. More Guts (also More Balls) than Brains = a fool.
1598. Shakspeare, Henry IV., pt. 1, ii., 2. Peace, ye fat-guts.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Gutts, a very fat gross Person.
4. (artists’ and colloquial).—Spirit; quality; a touch of force, or energy, or fire: e.g., a picture, a book, an actor. With guts = a strong thing. Put your guts into it (aquatic) = Row the very best you can. He (or it) has no guts in him (or it) = He (or it) is a common rotter (q.v.). Hence, Gutsy, adj. = having guts, and Gutsiness, subs. = the condition of being gutsy.
1738. Swift, Polite Conversation, I. The fellow’s well enough if he had any guts in his brain.
1893. Pall Mall Budget. No. 1292 (June 29), 1906. The body of the cigar, or what might vulgarly be called the guts.
Verb (vulgar).—1. To plunder, or take out all or most of the contents (i.e., intestines) of a place or thing; to drain; to ‘clean out’: e.g., to gut a house (thieves’) = to rifle it; to gut an oyster = to eat it; to gut a book = to empty it of interesting matter; to gut a quart pot = to drain at a draught. Whence, Gutted = dead-broke.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 1. Whether diddling your subjects or gutting their jobs.
1849–61. Macaulay, Hist. of England. The king’s printing-house ... was, to use a coarse metaphor, which then for the first time came into fashion, completely gutted.
1892. R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, The Wrecker, p. 373. Well, we’ve got the guts out of you!
2. (schools’).—To eat hard, fast, and badly. For synonyms, see Wolf.
To fret one’s guts, verb. phr. (common).—To worry.
To have plenty of guts but no bowels, verb. phr. (common).—To be unfeeling, hard, merciless.
My great guts are ready to eat my little ones, phr. (old).—‘I am very hungry.’ Also, my guts begin to think my throat’s cut; my guts curse my teeth; and my guts chime twelve.—Grose.
Not fit to carry guts to a bear, phr. (common).—To be worthless; absolutely unmannerly; unfit for human food (q.v.).
Gut-entrance, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. Also front-gut. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Gut-foundered, adj. (old).—Exceedingly hungry.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gut-pudding, subs. (old).—A sausage.—Nomenclator (1696). For synonyms, see Mysteries.
Gut-puller, subs. (common).—A poulterer; a chicken-butcher (q.v.).
Gut-scraper, subs. (common).—A fiddler. Also catgut scraper, and tormentor of catgut. For synonyms, see Rosin-the-bow.
1719. Durfey, Pills, ii., 218. ‘A Song’ etc. Strike up, drowsie gut-scrapers.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1785. Burns, Jolly Beggars. Her charms had struck a sturdy Caird, As weel’s a poor gut-scraper.
1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 192 (ed. 1864). Make ready there, you gut-scrapers, you shawm-shavers; I’ll put your lungs in play for you presently. In the mean time—charge, pals, charge—a toast, a toast!
1834. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xxxi. ‘You may save yourself the trouble, you dingy gut-scraper,’ replied O’Brien [addressing a fiddler].
Gut-stick, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick and Prick. To have a bit (or a taste) of the gut-stick = to copulate (of women only).
Gut-sticker, subs. phr. (venery).—A sodomite. Also gut-fucker and gut-monger. For synonyms, see Usher.
Gutter, subs. (American thieves’).—1. Porter.—Matsell. [Probably a corruption of gatter (q.v.).]
2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Verb (Winchester College).—To fall in the water flat on the stomach. Fr., piquer un plat-ventre.
To lap the gutter, verb. phr. (common).—To be in the last stage of intoxication. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.
Carry me out and leave me in the gutter, phr. (American).—See Carry me out.
Gutter-alley (or Lane), subs. (common).—The throat. All goes down Gutter-lane = ‘He spends all on his stomach.’
English Synonyms.—Beer Street; common sewer; drain; funnel; Gin Lane; gulf; gullet; gully-hole; gutter; Holloway; Peck Alley; Red Lane; the Red Sea; Spew Alley; swallow; thrapple; throttle; whistle.
French Synonyms.—La carafe (tramps’); la creuse (popular = Holloway); le corridor; le cornet (popular); le couloir; le lampas; la goule (popular); le gose (popular: an abbreviation of gosier: also gésier); la gargoine (thieves’); la gargarousse (thieves’ = Old Gargles); le four (popular = the oven); le fanal (popular); l’entonnoir (popular = the funnel); l’avaloir (thieves’ = the swallow).
German Synonym.—Kollert (Hanoverian).
Spanish Synonym.—La gorja.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, g. (1811), p. 81. All goeth down Gutter Lane. That is, the throat. This proverb is applicable to those who spend all their substance in eating and drinking.
2. (common).—A urinal. For synonyms, see Pissing-post.
Gutter-blood, subs. (common).—1. See quot. Also (2) a vulgarian; an upstart from the rabble.
1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. v. In rushed a thorough Edinburgh gutterblood—a ragged rascal.
Gutter-chaunter, subs. (common).—A street singer.
Gutter-hotel, subs. (tramps’).—The open air. For synonyms, see Hedge-square.
Gutter-literature. See Blood-and-thunder, and Awful.
Gutter-master, subs. (old).—A term of reproach.
1607. Marston, What You Will, iii, 1. And now my soule is skipt into a perfumer, a guttermaster.
Gutter-prowler, subs. (thieves’).—A street thief. For synonyms, see Area-sneak and Thieves.
Gutter-snipe, subs. (common).—1. A street arab. Also Gutter-slush. For synonyms, see Mudlark.
2. (American printers’).—A poster for the kerb.
3. (American Commercial).—An ‘outside’ broker who does business chiefly in the street; a kerbstone broker (q.v.). Fr., un loup-cervier.
Guttie, subs. (golfers’).—1. A gutta-percha ball.
2. (colloquial).—A glutton.—For synonyms, see Stodger.
3. (colloquial).—A forty-guts, which see for synonyms.
Guttle, verb. (vulgar).—To eat greedily; to gormandize (q.v.). Also to drink: e.g., to guttle a pint = to take off, or do, a pint; ‘He’s been guttling swipes’ = he’s been drinking beer. Hence guttler = a coarse, or greedy eater; a sturdy pot-companion: a gorger (q.v.). Cf., Thackeray’s Book of Snobs for Guttlebury Fair. See Guzzle.
1672. Lestrange, Fables, p. 260. A jolly guttling priest.
Guttle-shop, subs. (Rugby).—A pastry-cook’s; a tuck-shop (q.v.).
Guv, subs. (common).—An abbreviation of governor (q.v.).
Guy, subs. (colloquial).—1. A Fifth of November effigy; whence (2) an ill-dressed person. As in the old street cry, ‘Hollo, boys, there goes another guy!’ (an abbreviation of Guy Fawkes) = a figure of fun; a fright.
English Synonyms.—Caution; Captain Queer-nabs; chivey; comic bird; ragamuffin; sight.
French Synonyms. Un paquet (popular); une hallebarde (popular = a clothes-prop); un nippe-mal (popular); une bécasse (= a gaby); un carnavale (popular = a figure of fun).
1806. W. Burrell, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), i., 277. A month ago there was neither shape nor make in use ... no guy ever matched me.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. ‘The Nurse’s Story.’ Did you see her, in short, that mud-hovel within, With her knees to her nose, and her nose to her chin, Leering up with that queer, indescribable grin, You’d lift up your hands in amazement and cry, ‘Well!—I never did see such a regular guy!’
1858. G. Eliot, Janet’s Repentance, ch. vi. Ned Phipps ... whispered that he thought the Bishop was a guy, and I certainly remember thinking that Mr. Prendergast looked much more dignified with his plain white surplice and black hair.
1871. Morning Advertiser, 26 Jan. There is no imperative reason why a constable should be a guy.
3. (common).—A dark lantern. [Obviously a reminiscence of the Gunpowder Plot].
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Guy, s.v. Stow the guy, conceal the lanthorn.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
4. (streets).—A jaunt; an expedition.
1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 5, c. 5. There was a gee, there was a buggy, but there wasn’t a punctual Pitcher. So a cheerful guy to Waterloo was the game.
Verb (common).—1. To quiz; to chaff; to roast (q.v.); to josh (q.v.).
1889. Detroit Free Press, 26 Jan. His advent here created much merriment, and the operators guyed him loud enough for him to hear them.
2. (common).—To escape; to hedge (q.v.); to run away. Also to do a guy (which also = to give a false name). For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.
1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., xl. 500. I planned with another boy to guy (run away).
1887. Fun, 23 Mar., p. 125. ‘Boat-race Day, as per usual,’ said the clerk to the court, ‘they’ll all be doing guys’ (giving false names!).
1889. Clarkson and Richardson, Police, p. 321. To run away.... Do a guy.
1892. Punch, 24 Sept. ‘’Arry at Arrygate.’ I just did a guy.
3. (American).—To spoil; to muddle; to disfigure or distort.
1891. New York Herald, 31 May, p. 12, c. 4. Finally, I would remind them that they are apt to guy their cause by making ‘guys’ of themselves, and that the best way of making women a power in the land is by encouraging them to be womanly women.
4. (theatrical).—To damn; to hiss; to slate (q.v.) or give the bird (q.v.).
Guzzle (or Guttle), subs. (vulgar).—1. An insatiable eater or drinker. For synonyms, see Stodger and Lushington respectively.
2. (vulgar).—A debauch.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of Cheap Jack, 58. Doing a guzzle with money he earned.
3. (common).—Drink.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, Bk. II., ch. i., note. It signifies rum-booze, as our gipsies call good-guzzle.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1698–1700. Ward, London Spy,